Police identify victim in fatal Midway shooting Homicide investigators have named the victim of a fatal shooting at the Stonewood Gardens apartment complex in the Midway District on Jan. 25. Although the autopsy results and death investigation are still pending, police officials identified the man as Aviel Arce, 32. The family has been notified, according to Lt. Ernie Herbert of the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit, although a determination has not been made as to whether the case was a suicide, accidental shooting or homicide. Police were called to the complex in the 3800 block of Midway Drive around 9 a.m. after neighbors reported hearing a disturbance and the sound of a possible gunshot. Witnesses told police they saw the dead man’s girlfriend leaving the ground-floor apartment with a second man. The woman, who apparently lives in the apartment, then drove about a mile away and called 9-1-1 about 10 minutes after the initial reports, according to investigators. No arrests have been made in connection with the case. OB planners open board nominations The Ocean Beach Planning Board (OBPB) is welcoming applicants and potential advisory propositions for its 2011 board election on Tuesday, March 15. Interested applicants for the volunteer, two-year board positions have until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 to collect and submit 35 valid signatures for their name to appear on the ballot. In addition, candidates must meet one of the following requirements: • Have been a resident of their specific district for 30 days; • Be a property owner in that district; or • Be a business licensee in that district. Those interested in running must also have attended at least one OBPB general meeting during the preceding year. Applicants must also obtain and complete candidate materials by the Feb. 13 deadline. Interested candidates should contact OBPB Election Committee Chairman Ronson Shamoun at (619) 595-1655, or by e-mailing [email protected]. Applicant information can also be found by visiting www.oceanbeachpb .com/2011_OBPB_Election.html. Advisory propositions may also qualify for the March 15 election either by vote of a board majority or through the submission of an official, completed proposition petition signature form requiring 250 valid signatures of voters in the Ocean Beach planning area. Petition signature forms and paperwork may also be obtained by calling Shamoun or writing to the above e-mail address. Petition signatures and paperwork are also due by 6 p.m. on Feb. 13. The general election itself takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Ave. To cast ballots, community members are required to show eligibility to vote by providing one of the following: • A photo identification and current proof of address if not listed on the ID (such as a utility bill showing street address); • A photo ID and current valid property deed in your name, identifying street address of property; or • If you are a business licensee, you must provide a photo ID and current valid business license in your name, identifying street address of business. OBPB general meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. Additional committee or liaison activities may be required for successful board candidates, in addition to general meetings. PCPB seeks candidates for board seats The Peninsula Community Planning Board is seeking candidates to fill five open board seats for members whose three-year terms are up.  Terms are expiring for Chuck Mellor, Shelly Kilbourn, Donna Kaup, Jim Lester and Scott Brown. It is not yet clear whether any or all five will seek re-election in the March 17 balloting. To qualify as a candidate, interested parties must be at least 18 years of age and be affiliated with the community as: (1) a property owner, who is an individual identified as the sole or partial owner of record, of a real property (either developed or undeveloped), within the community planning area; (2) a resident, who is an individual whose primary address of residence is an address in the community planning area; or (3) a local business person, who is a local business or not-for-profit owner or operator at a non-residential real property address in the community planning area. A recognized community member may become an eligible candidate by: (a) attending one meeting of the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regular meetings (including a planned candidate forum on Thursday, March 10) occurring during the 12-month period prior to the March general election, with such attendance acknowledged by the planning board chair or secretary or reflected in minutes; and (b) submitting a completed application to the election subcommittee. The deadline to qualify for candidacy in the March general election is on or before the March 10 candidate forum. For additional information and/or to download an application, visit www.pcpb .net. Questions may be directed to PCPB Election Committee Chairwoman Helen Kinnaird at (619) 224-9897. Lions Club slates spaghetti dinner fundraiser The Peninsula Lions Club will once again serve up tasty tummy delights to the community with its 17th annual Spaghetti Dinner and Sauce Contest fundraiser, set to take place Feb. 12. The annual tradition features a silent auction and raffle prizes, with all proceeds going to benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert, the Dana Association, the Sunset Cliffs Surfers Association’s Spinal Cord Research fund, Oasis Christian Fellowship and Second Chance Bread of Life. The event features the music of Jay Rosso. Club members volunteer their time to organize the event, sell tickets, oversee the auction and the cooking of the spaghetti and sauce, also providing the judges for the sauce contest that features recipes from the community. The event has raised between $5,000 and $8,000 annually. Tickets for the event are $8 and can be purchased at the door or by calling Bill or Marti Klees at (619) 225-8200, ext. 10. The event takes place at the Masonic Center, located 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. CD being readied to benefit children’s cause Makua, the Point Loma-based women’s organization that raises money for the nonprofit group Voices for Children (VFC), is launching a new fundraising initiative to benefit foster children in San Diego by producing a compilation CD comprised of local San Diego area recording artists. Recording artists are welcome to make submissions to participate until March by accessing the direct link to SonicBids through Makua’s website, www.makua .org. Makua’s inaugural CD release will be available for purchase in April 2011, with all proceeds benefiting Voices for Children. For more information about VFC and the CASA program, visit www.speakup now.org. Teacher sets $5,000 goal for scholarship raising A Point Loma High School (PLHS) teacher is currently raising scholarship funds to honor students at a unique annual awards banquet. Teacher Patrick McElhaney has been celebrating student accomplishments in the study of history. His colleagues in history and social sciences honored more than 200 students last year at the Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island. Over 500 participants watched videos of students dressed in period costumes as they gave speeches, debated issues, and acted out events. Others were shown working at election precincts and conducting mock trials in San Diego Superior Court. McElhaney’s goal this year is to raise $5,000 to distribute in scholarship money to talented students. Representatives of local civic clubs and businesses are encouraged to contribute to the fund, with “every single cent going to the students,” McElhaney said. This year’s event is scheduled for June 1, again at the Bali Hai. Those wishing to donate may contact McElhaney at PLHS:  [email protected]. Deadline extended until Feb. 15 for OBMA directory The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) has extended the deadline for local merchants to submit advertising copy, ad coupons and listing information for the 2011-12 edition of the OB Local Business Directory. An estimated 23,000 copies will be printed and distributed in the 92106 and 92107 ZIP codes — some in the 92110 area — including some distribution inside The Peninsula Beacon as part of an ongoing partnership. Other copies will be distributed through high-traffic businesses and the OBMA office, along with other local special events like the Ocean Beach Farmers Market. OBMA officials said volunteers will also go door-to-door in March to deliver directories from Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to the ocean and from West Point Loma Boulevard to Point Loma Avenue. The OB Local Business Directory is a project of the OBMA Promotion Committee.  The cover art was designed by Ashley Lewis of Dog Beach Design. Merchants still wishing to participate in the directory and residents wishing to volunteer may contact the OBMA office at (619) 224-4906. Public restrooms temporarily closed at lighthouse The public restrooms at the Historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse will be closed from Feb. 27 until March 7 to replace inoperable lift stations used to pump sewage, according to officials at Cabrillo National Monument. The public restrooms at the visitor center will be unaffected by the work, however, and will be open for visitor use. For more information, call (619) 557-5450, or visit www.nps.gov/cabr/.