Police, FBI probe bank robbery on Rosecrans The police department’s Robbery Unit and the FBI are investigating the Nov. 21 robbery of the American West Bank in the Roseville/Fleetridge neighborhood, during which the suspect claimed to have a bomb. The man entered the bank on Rosecrans Street and demanded money around 5 p.m. before placing the device on the counter and fleeing. Officers arrived and determined the device to be a fake. The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and thin with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a gray beret, gray striped shirt, denim shorts, flip-flops and carrying a black backpack. Man who robbed teens of cellphones to learn fate An Ocean Beach man is awaiting sentencing Dec. 19 after pleading guilty to robbing two 14-year-olds of their cell phones at knifepoint on Oct. 29. Gibran Torres Perez, 19, could get up to four years in prison under an agreement he made with San Diego Superior Court Judge Dwayne Moring, according to court records. At the time of the robbery, Perez was on probation for a stabbing of a 20-year-old man that took place on Newport Avenue on April 14. The victim suffered injuries to the neck, hands and head. Perez pleaded guilty to felony assault in that earlier incident and had been sentenced to 180 days in jail. His probation has since been revoked in light of the October knifepoint robberies. Perez could receive more jail time for violating probation, but records indicate the judge may impose only a concurrent sentence for the violation. —Neal Putnam

PLNU takes second in hunger food drive Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) took second place in this year’s Colleges Rock Hunger food drive, sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. PLNU students donated about 4,500 pounds of food, a 5,598 percent increase from last year’s 80 pounds. The dramatic increase can be partially attributed to the new opportunities for donations available through PLNU dining services and to students doing a “walk and knock” campaign in local neighborhoods. Donations were also received at PLNU’s annual Fall Festival community event, online and in the local Point Loma Fresh and Easy. PLNU placed second to San Diego State University. The winning schools achieved the highest amount of donations calculated as pounds-per-student. PLNU gave the equivalent of 1.3 pounds per student. OBMA readying 2013-14 directories for merchants As 2012 comes to a close, the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) is preparing the local merchant directory that OBMA produces every two years. Members of the association are given a listing in the book and listed in up to three different business categories. The OBMA office will be distributing packets to each current member. Information will be provided based on what is currently listed for the business. OBMA officials said it’s up to each member to confirm or make changes to the paperwork and get it returned by the deadline. New to the program this year is an opportunity to purchase web advertising through the directory signup process. As an incentive, the OBMA has decided to offer the December 2012 ad rates until the end of 2014. Packets will be distributed in the next two weeks and will be due in December. PLA honors outstanding community partners The Point Loma Association (PLA), long an active beautification organization bringing dedication, civic service and cohesion to the Peninsula, honored a host of community partners and contributors during its annual PLA Awards Dinner gala on Oct. 4. Here are winners of this year’s beautification awards: • Point Loma Seafoods — outstanding architecture • La Playa Trail Association — Chinese Fisherman’s Monument (Ned Daugherty, designer) • Silver Gate Yacht Club — Sailor on the Mast Sculpture (Designers P.J Dixon, James Nelson, Brian Thomas) • Southwestern Yacht Club — sea artwork • Sharon Zell — Hope Garden • Westy’s Antiques and Tavern — creative signage • Dr. Dave De Rosier Dental Office — attractive signage • Con Pane Rustic Breads and Café — attractive signage • Karen Davis was honored with the special Lighthouse Award for her efforts on the Mean Green Team and beautification efforts. La Playa Trail Association to hosts history talks Beginning Jan. 22, The La Playa Trail Association will launch a series of informative programs to share the history of the Point Loma area. The first in the bimonthly series will be at the Point Loma Assembly, located at 3035 Talbot St., and will feature Dr. Stephen A. Colston discussing “The End of the Trail.” The La Playa Trail begins or ends at Ballast Point, depending on your viewpoint. The Kumeyaay Indians long used the trail to go to the coast from their inland settlements. European ships moored at Ballast Point and the sailors walked into Old Town along the trail. Colston, a member of the Department of History of San Diego State University, is a specialist in the history of Colonial Spanish North America and will share a perspective from the Spanish artillery battery at Ballast Point. The evening will begin with light refreshments at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. Donations of $10 will be accepted at the door. The focus of the La Playa Trail Association is the area between Ballast Point and Presidio hill, where one original marker has been refurbished and two new monuments built. The most recent monument honors the 19th century Chinese fisherman who lived and built their junks at a site along the trail. For more information, visit www.laplayatrail.org.