Lightner hosts community meeting on UC crash District 1 San Diego City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner will host a meeting this evening, Jan. 22, 6 p.m., at University City’s Standley Middle School, in an effort to gather community members affected by last month’s crash of a military plane that killed four members of one family and demolished parts of a neighborhood. In a press release, Lightner described the meeting as “an opportunity for the community to share, listen and heal in response to the December 8, 2008 military jet crash in University City, emergency response and its aftermath.” “This isn’t an informational meeting, because we don’t have any new information,” Lightner spokesman Alex Varon said. Varon said the United States Marine Corps is investigating the incident, and Lightner’s office has handed over information dispersal to military officials. Although Lightner said she plans to create a civilian committee “task force” to represent UC regarding the military plane crash, Varon said the committee is separate from today’s meeting. Lightner said the meeting’s goal is about engaging in healthy dialogue to move forward. “I encourage the community to come, engage in a healthy dialogue with your neighbors and help identify ways in which the community can move forward from this tragedy,” Lightner said. Standley Middle School is located at 6298 Radcliffe Drive, 92122. For info, visit www.sandiego.gov. Principals alert parents after stalking incident A man who reportedly stalked a female Muirlands Middle School student Thursday, Jan. 8, at about 2:30 p.m. was arrested and taken into custody, but police dropped the case. “The guy was arrested for annoying a 13-year-old female as she was walking to her house from 7-Eleven,” San Diego Police Department Sgt. Ray Battrick said. Battrick said the girl noticed an apparently homeless man carrying a beer bottle staring at her. He slowed down his walking pace, Battrick said. The girl said the 53-year-old man tried to grab her arm, but she got away. “He tried several more times to grab her but was unsuccessful,” Battrick said. “The student was walking south on Draper Street when she was approached by an adult male,” Muirlands Principal Chris Hargrave said in a written statement. “The student was not harmed and the suspect was apprehended by [the San Diego Police Department].” Police said the case was cancelled “due to being unfounded.” But school administrators sent warnings to parents regarding the incident since several actual attacks have occurred over the past few months, including a Nov. 18 sexual assault at the bike path near Gravilla and Draper streets. A man jumped onto a woman, punched her in the face and then raped her at about 6:40 a.m. Police arrested a nearby man for that crime, according to SDPD Detective Gary Hassen. Hargrave and La Jolla High School Principal Dana Shelburne said they encourage parents to discuss the incident with their children and stressed the importance of using the buddy system while walking to and from school. “It is important for children to be aware of their environment and report any suspicious behavior to an adult, the police and the school,” Hargrave said. January is National Stalking Awareness Month, according to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. For info, visit www.sdcda.org/protecting/stalking.