OB man pleads not guilty to being ‘Big Boy Bandit’ An Ocean Beach man has denied he is the so-called “Big Boy Bandit,” a serial bank robber who has held up banks in La Jolla, Point Loma and Pacific Beach since 2006. Stephen Francis Colburn, 54, was arrested by San Diego police on Jan. 26 outside his Ocean Beach home. According to jail records, Colburn is 6’2″ and weighs 240 pounds. He is charged with nine armed bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery, six of which occurred at various Citibank branches. He was arrested after an attempted robbery at a Citibank in Mission Valley. He is also charged with robbing the California Bank & Trust on Wall Street in La Jolla twice in 2008. Colburn pleaded not guilty last week in San Diego Superior Court, and Judge David Szumowski set Colburn’s bail at $1 million. A preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 10. The first bank robbery in the series that Colburn is charged with occurred on July 12, 2006 in Pacific Beach. Another Citibank branch was held up in La Jolla on Oct. 5, 2006. He is also charged with robbing the Pacific Western Bank on Rosecrans Street in 2008. The amounts taken in the robberies have not been disclosed. Colburn remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility. Homelessness up 9% in 2 years, task force says The county Regional Task Force on the Homeless, which tracks, measures and analyzes trends in the homeless population, has reported that almost 7,600 county residents were without a home as of the end of January last year. This figure represents a nine percent increase in homelessness compared with that of 2006 figures. Some 400 enumerators on behalf of the task force recently fanned out across the county to conduct counts of those without homes. The point-in-time survey ended on Friday, Jan. 30. Due to the large volume of information, results can take up to a year to be sufficiently analyzed. Preliminary reports from various agencies suggest there are many “first-time” homeless — the most recent and hardest hit victims of the economic crisis — that are expected to drive numbers even higher. The 2008 count has been called the most comprehensive census of the San Diego region. The count includes people found living on the street, along with data from more than 90 agencies that provide emergency shelter and transitional housing programs. The Obama administration is considering proposals increasing the funding for homeless programs. The task force has stated its interest in working with the new administration to help create employment opportunities for those who are without homes. The Regional Homeless Profile for 2008, a fact sheet and more information are available online at www.rtfhsd.org. Fire-Rescue looking for a few good men/women The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is accepting applications from those seeking to join it until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 — and the application is the easiest part of the process. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high-school diploma and an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate from the state of California or the National Registry. A CPR certification or its equivalent from an American Heart Association member organization and a valid California driver’s license are also required. Following application approval, a written exam will be administered in April, and those who score highest will then take the city of San Diego physical ability test. Those men and women who successfully jump these hurdles will go through a 14-week academy in the fall, during which potential recruits will receive between $2,581 and $3,115 a month. Upon successful completion of the academy, recruits may be promoted to Fire Fighter I, with a salary range of $3,275 to $3,939 a month. If you feel you have the necessary stuff, the department strongly encourages you to submit an application. Information on the application process is online at www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/pdf/-recruitbulletin.pdf. Princess Project asks for prom gown donations Make the prom experience — a milestone of American youth culture — a little richer for those who may not be able to afford it. The Princess Project is now collecting new and nearly new formal gowns and accessories as part of its 2009 dress drive, which is set to take place between Feb. 8 and 14. There are some gown guidelines to keep in mind: Dresses should be either fashionable formal gowns, party dresses or cocktail dresses, in all lengths, sizes and colors. They should be in excellent condition and they must be dry-cleaned and on hangers upon donation. Locations that are accepting dresses: • Margaret’s Cleaners, 7511 La Jolla Blvd. (also Margaret’s locations in Del Mar and Kearny Mesa, www.margarets.com) • Mossy Nissan (El Cajon, Escondido, Kearny Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Poway, mossynissan.com) • Minx Hair Salon (5726 La Jolla Blvd. in Birdrock) • First Class Wax (Banker’s Hill, www.firstclasswax.com) To learn more about the Princess Project, visit www.princessproject.org. Peninsula Singers actively seeking new members Peninsula Singers, a nonprofit community organization which prides itself on building community appreciation of the arts by making music accessible to performers and audiences, is actively rehearsing and seeking new members. Peninsula Singers is a community chorus with members aged 15 to 85 and beyond which meets every Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library at 3701 Voltaire St. in Point Loma. According to organizers, the group is committed to enriching, educating and entertaining diverse audiences in the region and to building arts awareness through community connections. In addition to seeking new members, Peninsula Singers also encourages local talented musicians to join as vocal and instrumental soloists. The musical repertoire of this group is rich and varied and spans the range from Bach to Beatles to boogie and beyond. People of all musical abilities are invited to attend, and the choir particularly needs men to round out the tenor and bass sections. Rehearsals are held every Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. from September to June, reflecting the school calendar. Music classes are often held at 5 p.m. Mondays, just prior to rehearsals, and cover everything from basic music reading lessons, through vocal techniques and music appreciation. The group often performs with the Point Loma High School choir, which was reinstated largely due to the influence of Peninsula Singers. For more information, call (619) 804-6079 or (619) 222-0429 , or e-mail [email protected]. Also visit www.peninsulasingerssandiego.org.