Cold chases crowds from beaches over holiday City officials estimated 716,600 people ventured out to city beaches during the long Labor Day weekend — about two-thirds fewer than last year. Officials said several factors kept people away from the surf and sand over the holiday. “Weather and cool water temperatures continue to be the driving force for the reduction of beach attendance and related rescue activity,” said Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum. In the water, lifeguards made a total of 70 water rescues, 211 medical aids and 4,063 preventative acts at city beaches from Saturday through Monday — a significant decrease from last year. The average water temperature at city beaches during the weekend was below 60 degrees, nearly 15 degrees less than the same time period in 2009. On the sand, the San Diego Police Department’s Western Division had a special beach team assigned to Ocean Beach from Friday through Monday. That team made four felony arrests, 18 misdemeanor arrests, 64 misdemeanor citations and two detentions. “This is just what our beach team folks did,” said Western Division Sgt. Chris Sarot. “This is specifically the guys and gals that were assigned to work the beach areas proper for the weekend.” Sarot said Ocean Beach was not as busy as a normal summer weekend. He said the overall lack of activity was attributed to the weather, the beach alcohol ban and some area schools already being in session. “There really weren’t any incidents,” Sarot said. “It was actually kind of quiet.” Western Division did not set up any DUI checkpoints in the area. Police nab Poway bank robbery suspect in OB San Diego police detectives captured a suspect linked to a Poway bank robbery after the man was tracked down in Ocean Beach on Aug. 31 near the intersection of Cable Street and Narragansett Avenue. The arrest happened shortly before 9 p.m. San Diego Sheriffs Department officials informed the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) that a man believed to have robbed a Poway bank earlier that same day might be in the San Diego area. SDPD robbery detectives apparently spotted the getaway vehicle in Ocean Beach and pulled the unidentified driver over before arresting him. The FBI and SDPD robbery detectives continue to probe the case to determine if the suspect was involved in other area bank robberies. Anyone with information is urged to call the robbery division at (619) 531-2299. Airport Authority to host open house on options The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority will hold an open house next week to discuss airport alternatives within the county. The open house and presentation of the Regional Aviation Strategic Plan will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Airport Authority’s boardroom at 3225 N. Harbor Drive. The regional plan was mandated by Senate Bill 10, authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe and passed in 2007. The bill asks the Airport Authority, along with the San Diego Association of Governments, to prepare a plan that will be a part of the next update of the Regional Transportation Plan in 2011 and assess long-range capabilities for all of the public-use airports within the county. The Airport Authority boardroom is located in the commuter terminal of Lindbergh Field. For more information, visit www.sdrasp.com. Federal agents intercept alien-smuggling boat The federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency thwarted an apparent attempt to smuggle seven illegal aliens into the U.S. on Aug. 29, three miles off the coast of Point Loma, according to a statement released by the CBP. The crew of a CBP “marine interdiction vessel” stopped an 18-foot boat carrying seven individuals after federal officials took special interest in the boat. Marine interdiction agents and CBP agents encountered the red and white Chris Craft Cavalier at about 5 p.m. during a routine patrol. Aboard the small boat were five females and two males — none of whom were carrying identification, according to federal investigators. CBP agents seized the boat and took the seven occupants to the CBP dock on Shelter Island, where U.S. Border Patrol agents further investigated the citizenship of the suspected illegal aliens, said officials. Agents discovered that all seven people aboard the Criss Craft Cavalier were from Mexico, ranging in age from 22 to 56. An investigation continues to determine who was responsible for the smuggling attempt. Comedienne to headline for cat-rescue fundraiser Comedienne Christina Pazsitzky — a regular at the roundtable on E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately” and a writer for the same show — will headline a comedy benefit event tonight, Sept. 9. The comedy show will help raise money for the not-for-profit, county-approved Bone Appetit Cat and Kitten Rescue of Ocean Beach. Wild and Tame Comedy hosts the fundraiser, “Cougars, Kittens and Lions,” from 7 to 10 p.m. at Dream Street Live, located at 2228 Bacon St. Pazsitzky will share the stage with local comedians Jiavani Linayao and Sarah Burford. Other entertainment includes the co-ed acappella quartet Balboa 4, featuring Carnegie Hall-bound Natalie Mann and the talented OB-based hoop and belly dancer Valentina (Unity) of Unity Hoops, as seen on the Showtime Network. The program will also include a silent auction, raffle and door prizes. The show is hosted by comedienne Sindi Somers, and live music follows at 10 p.m. by Heidi Nosam, LoveMason and other special guests. All profits from the event will benefit the Bone Appétit Cat and Kitten Rescue of Ocean Beach. Advance tickets are $7 and $8 at the door. The show is for those 21 and older. Advance tickets are available at: • Bone Appétit Ocean Beach Pet Supply, 4845 Newport Ave., (619) 226-6250 • Dream Street Live, 2228 Bacon St., (619) 222-8131 For more information and advance tickets, call Somers at (619) 384-0761, or visit [email protected]. Point Loma Library sets 7th anniversary event With all the fanfare this summer surrounding plans for the new Central Library downtown, Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library officials are hosting a special event Wednesday, Sept. 15 to celebrate the local library’s seventh anniversary. Residents are invited to visit the Point Loma branch from 6 to 8 p.m. to learn more about the library system and all it has to offer, including guided tours of the print and digital resources that are available.   A panel presentation will include Matthew Hervey of the San Diego Library Board, along with Point Loma branch library architect Christina Bodenhamer, District 2 City Councilman Kevin Falconer, past librarian Pat Katka and present Point Loma branch manager Christine Gonzalez. A community discussion will follow. The event will give residents an opportunity to learn about the building of the Point Loma branch library, resources the library offers  and what a new Central Library downtown will mean for all residents. Pancake breakfast to benefit area’s popular Junior Lifeguard Foundation The San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation — which oversees the lifeguard-in-training program in Ocean Beach — will host its second annual Pancake Breakfast at the Santa Clara Recreation Center on Mission Bay on Saturday, Sept. 11. The event will give locals a chance to chow down to help fund the program. The event takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. at 1008 Santa Clara Place. “The Junior Lifeguard program teaches kids skills that are lifelong skills,” said Belinda Bencomo, a foundation volunteer. “With our close proximity here to the ocean and other bodies of water — that is just such an important skill for kids to learn.” All of the proceeds from the breakfast will benefit the foundation, which supports the junior lifeguards. Bencomo said she hopes to see between 200 and 300 people at the event. “The more, the better,” Bencomo said. “It’s going to be a great time and a beautiful morning out on the bay.” In addition to hotcakes, the breakfast will feature a raffle and outdoor games for kids. Last year’s pancake breakfast was held around Halloween and featured face painting and costumes. “They get things from the local surf shops and they’ve had lots of restaurant gift certificates and that type of thing,” Bencomo said. “There are pretty good prizes.” Tickets for the breakfast are $5 per person or five tickets for $20. The foundation’s programs include “Learn to Swim For Free” and “Bridge to the Beach,” along with a Junior Lifeguard scholarship fund. For more information, visit www.sdjgfoundation.org.