Suspected ice cream bandit faces 7 counts The alleged “this ain’t no joke” bandit who held up yogurt and ice cream stores in La Jolla and Pacific Beach will have a preliminary hearing on July 23. Jamel Powers, 24, is charged with robbing the La Jolla’s TF Yogurt shop in the 8800 block of Villa La Jolla on April 5 and California Pizza Kitchen on April 2. Powers is also charged with holding up Cold Stone Creamery on Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach on March 29. Powers faces seven robbery charges. According to San Diego police, the robber said the same thing during each hold-up: “This ain’t no joke. I’m serious. This is a robbery.” Hence the nickname. Powers allegedly first robbed the Cold Stone Creamery in Hillcrest on March 29 where he reportedly stole $7,184, according to court records. Powers was linked to that hold-up by fingerprints on a counter. Other alleged hold-ups occurred in Hillcrest, Mira Mesa and Mission Valley. Police arrested Powers May 12 at his El Cajon home, and he remains in the South Bay Detention Facility on $350,000 bail. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in San Diego Superior Court. UCSD offers info on newest La Jolla project The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) office of planning and research released its completed draft mitigated negative declaration (DMND), adding additional research facilities to the School of Medicine, including laboratories and a vivarium on June `18. “The building would include wet bench research and support space for growth in the biomedical research programs,” UCSD said in a press release. “The new building would incorporate faculty from several departments and schools, including medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology, neurosciences, and cellular and molecular medicine.” University representatives said the new four- to five-story rectangular-shaped laboratory building will include a basement level, a tunnel leading to the school’s pharmacy building and a “basement level and a five- to seven-story office component.” Officials reported the basement would hold an additional vivarium simulating natural habitats, allowing researchers to observe animals and plants in their own environments. A tunnel at the south would connect to the pharmacy building, which holds an existing vivarium, officials said. According to planning officials, planners designed upper floors to hold laboratories and laboratory support, in addition to office and research facilities at both ends of the building on each floor. “It has been determined that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment that has not already been examined in the 2004 long range development plan, Environmental Impact Report…,” officials reported. The public can review the draft initial study and MND at http://physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/pub_notice.html. Comments can be mailed to Catherine Presmyk UCSD Physical Planning 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0074, La Jolla, CA 92093. UC concerts kick off The Standley Park Summer Concerts series officially kicks off Sunday, July 12 with the Corvettes, performing at 5 p.m. at Standley Park, 3585 Governor Drive. The free 2009 Green Concerts Under Blue Skies take place each Sunday.