‘Big Boy Bandit’ suspect pleads not guilty 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 Jan. 26 outside his Ocean Beach home. According to jail records, Colburn is 6-foot-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 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. 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.princess project.org. City, enviro groups reach accord on wastewater San Diego environmental groups and the City Council agreed Jan. 27 to take on a “comprehensive assessment” of the city’s wastewater treatment system in Point Loma. The study would move the city toward a water reuse and recycling program. There are a few facilities in the region that could handle more water recycling, according to a 2005 water reuse report to the city. San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation had threatened to oppose the city’s choice to apply for a waiver exempting it from having to upgrade sewage treatment processes for the Point Loma wastewater treatment facility. The city took the waiver application before the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval on Jan. 21, according to a statement released by San Diego Coastkeeper. The agencies tentatively approved the five-year waiver with a final approval expected in March. It could be the last time the waiver is approved, according to the statement. San Diego is one of the largest cities that does not use upgraded treatment process for wastewater dumped just miles out into the ocean, according to the statement. The agreement is characterized as a move from opposition to cooperation between environmental groups and the city. Roundabouts to be awarded Golden Footprint WALKSanDiego will honor Bird Rock and its La Jolla Boulevard Revitalization Project as it presents two awards — a Golden Footprint to honor the project and an additional award to former San Diego City Council President Scott Peters — during the group’s 10th anniversary gala and Golden Footprint Awards Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at Mission Bay Yacht Club. The nonprofit group will host cocktails and a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m. “Councilman Peters provided the vision and leadership to make this project happen,” said Kenneth Grimes, executive director of WALKSanDiego. “Achieving the kind of dramatic changes we see today in the streetscape and economic vitality of La Jolla Boulevard is a credit to the entire community that participated in this groundbreaking project.” Peters said the Bird Rock makeover helped many La Jolla Boulevard businesses increase revenue. WALKSanDiego will present the Golden Footprint Awards to the La Jolla Boulevard makeover project for the group’s Projects Category; and the group will award Peters with an additional special award for his part in conjunction with the project, WALKSanDiego spokes-woman Cynthia Vicknair reported in a press release. Group members also will present a Golden Footprint Award to Lauderbach Park Improvements and Youth Leadership for their Youth Category; Eileen Moreno, principal of Mary Lanyon Fay Elementary School Pedestrian Safety, for its Adult Individual Category; and El Cajon Community Development Corporation, Pedestrian Advocacy Program, for the group’s Private/NonProfit Category. WALKSanDiego is a nonprofit group that promotes “walkable” communities. For information about the group, visit www.walksandiego.org. Tickets to the gala are $50. To RSVP, call (619) 544-9255. Mission Bay Yacht Club is at 1215 El Carmel Place.