Suspect arrested in nighttime groping case A man was taken into custody after reportedly groping a sleeping Ocean Beach woman in her home on Oct. 24. The woman told police she was sleeping on her couch around 5:45 a.m. when she was awakened by a man groping her in a sexual manner. The woman ran to her bathroom and locked herself inside, where she was able to call police. The suspect, identified only as a Hispanic man, was located by officers as he hid in the rear yard of the victim’s residence. The man was later positively identified as the suspect, arrested and booked into jail. No injuries were reported. Western detectives are handling the investigation. Applications open for OB Holiday Parade on Dec. 1 The Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) has set Dec. 1 as the date for the 33rd annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade, the only nighttime parade in the city. Entry applications are available on the OBTC website and linked directly on the home page, www.obtowncouncil.org. From there, the application page offers people the option of either filling out the form and submitting online (as well as making their donation payment online directly following application submission), or downloading the application in PDF format to send in by mail. The deadline for parade applications either submitted online or through regular mail, is Nov. 15. For more information, visit www.obtowncouncil.org, or contact Parade Committee co-chair Gretchen Kinney Newsom at [email protected]. Portuguese SES sets Nov. 3 DrawDown fundraiser The United Portuguese SES Inc. Festa of Point Loma will host a “Noite do Galo,” DrawDown Dinner and auction fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 3 in support of the 103rd annual Festa do Espirito Santo 2013. The 6 p.m. event will include appetizers, sangria, craft-beer tasting, entertainment, dinner and auction, a $5,000 grand prize and a $500 second-chance prize. The event takes place at the United Portuguese SES Hall, 2818 Avenida de Portugal. Tickets are $40 per person for dinner, drawdown tickets are $50, and a special is available for two dinners and one drawdown ticket for $120. Various sponsorship levels are also available. For ticket reservations or inquiries, call Carla d Luz Boren at (760) 529.3461 or Jessica Gonclves Occhialini at (619) 840.2735, email [email protected] or visit Facebook at facebook.com/UPSESFESTA2013. College Night slated to aid students A specially focused event for families of high school students will be held at Point Loma High School’s annual College Night on Nov. 13. This session is titled “Creating Options in Your College Search,” and will focus on students who might be considering institutions outside California. Representatives of in-state colleges will also be present. The agenda includes a 6 p.m. presentation titled “Considering College Out-of-State” in the school’s Performing Arts Center. Later, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., the College Fair takes place in the main gym. — Scott Hopkins

Santa gears up to help local families in need The 2012 Operation Santa program is officially in effect. The college-student-run holiday donation drive — chaired this year by UCSD students Kelly Wong, Connie Tran, Joyce Hsiao and Michelle Cao — will be assisting San Diego families in need throughout the season to ensure as many families as possible fulfill their holiday wish lists. Hosted by community-service organization Alpha Phi Omega, Operation Santa helps families through a nomination and “adoption” program, wherein families either nominate themselves or are referred by a friend on the organization’s website, operationsantasd.org. Families are then “adopted” by members of the community or by Alpha Phi Omega, and wish lists — which typically consist of necessities, food and children’s toys — are fulfilled and delivered to each family. Last year, the organization set a record by helping 132 local families. Families must be nominated by midnight on Nov. 11. For more information about how to nominate families, to become a community adopter or for other ways to help, visit operationsantasd.org. Cancer Society shop slates holiday sale The holiday season has begun at the Point Loma American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, located at 3609 Midway Drive, Suite C. The shop is preparing to hold its annual holiday sale event on Friday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on.Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A wide selection of holiday decor featuring Christmas trees, wreaths, ornaments, stockings, lights and more will be available. All proceeds go to cancer research and education. Donations and volunteers are welcome. Free wigs for cancer patients and survivors are available in the wig salon. For more information, call (619) 224-4336.