The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) recently arrested a suspect in the murder of Timothy Traaen, which occurred just after midnight on July 14, 2007 near 30th Street and Adams Avenue, according to a release issued by District 3 City Councilmember Toni Atkins’ office. SDPD Homicide Unit detectives arrested the suspect, Jessica Jones, at her home in Lemon Grove on July 10, 2008.

The statement also noted another incident occurred in the same vicinity as the 2007 homicide. At approximately 1:15 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2008, officers received several calls of shots fired near the intersection of 30th Street and Adams Avenue. Officers were directed to the east alley of 30th Street where they found the male victim, 27 year-old Miguel Leon-Fregoso, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Paramedics responded and the victim was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead a few hours later.

According to the police, the victim was attending a party located on the 4600 block of 30th Street. Shortly, after 1 a.m., the victim left the party with a male companion. As the two were walking towards their vehicle they were approached by the suspect, described as a Hispanic male, who exited his vehicle armed with a handgun. After a short verbal confrontation, the suspect fired three rounds from his handgun. One of the rounds struck the victim in the head while the other two rounds were directed at the male companion who escaped without injury.

SDPD Homicide Unit detectives, with the assistance of leads from witnesses, arrested the suspect the same day the incident occurred. Detectives staked out the home and arrested the suspect, David Barron, at approximately 2:15 p.m. as he was leaving his home on his motorcycle.

Atkins has appealed to District 3 residents to continue to be vigilant in reporting all suspicious activity to the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000.

As local universities gear up for the new school year, the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University will host events to welcome GLBT students to the campuses.

As part of the sixth annual Welcome Week Community Reception Series, the SDSU Department of Intercultural Relations will host a series of receptions designed to welcome incoming students who share similar backgrounds and cultural experiences. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to get involved on campus and in the community by interacting with student organizations, faculty and staff. The GLBT Community Reception will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 6-7 p.m. in the Aztec Center Council Chambers. All new and returning students, along with faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

At UCSD, the campus LGBT Resource Center will host its annual Q-Camp, which will help acquaint students with the campus’ GLBTQI-specific organizations, help students make connections with continuing and other incoming students, allow students to get connected with resources on and off campus, and give students an opportunity to ask questions about GLBTQI life at UCSD. Q-Camp will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the UCSD LGBT Resource Center. Students are asked to register for the event on the UCSD LGBT Resource Center Web site.

For more information about the SDSU reception and other Welcome Week activities visit www.sa.sdsu/edu/welcomeweek.

For more information about UCSD’s Q-Camp and other GLBT community activities visit lgbtrc.ucsd.edu.

A birthday celebration for the 2008 recipient of the Nicky Awards Outstanding Community Volunteer, Ben Gomez, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. In honor of his 40th birthday, Gomez will donate all proceeds from the event to The Center Advocacy Project. The event will take place at Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge in North Park.

Gomez currently serves as the Logistics Coordinator for the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol, and is president of the San Diego Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights. Gomez also volunteers for San Diego LGBT Pride, the No on 8 campaign, The Center Advocacy Project and other community organizations.

The $20 donation to attend the event will include one drink and appetizers throughout the night. The entire community is invited to come out and celebrate life, equality for all, and one of our community’s most active volunteers, while having a great time.

The Center Advocacy Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to secure equal civil and human rights for the GLBT and allied communities through public education, legislation, and issue advocacy. The Center Advocacy Project actively and consistently engages in lobbying and campaigning on the core social issues that affect the GLBT community. From hate violence, employment discrimination, school safety, and the freedom to marry, The Center Advocacy Project works to advocate for and protect GLBT San Diegans.

Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge is located at 2895 University Ave.

The North Park Community Association will sponsor a graffiti paint-out and removal event on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group is organizing one of North Park’s largest grass-roots community renewal efforts and is seeking volunteers.

Volunteers are needed in a number of areas, including pre-event activities such as set-up and registration as well as volunteers to actually help with the paint-out. Volunteers who help with the painting efforts will be situated to target graffiti close to their homes. Organizers hope that residents will be able to notice the difference around the places they live. There are hour slots available between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Volunteers are also needed to staff community information tables, and post- event clean-up.

Interested volunteers should register online at www.northparksd.org.

Local cancer survivors and their families are invited to participate in the Downtown San Diego Relay For Life to be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16-17, at Embarcadero North. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s premier community event, featuring a 24-hour campout to increase awareness of the incidence of cancer and how to prevent its occurrence.

Cancer survivors will be honored in a special lap around the track following opening ceremonies at 10 a.m., which include a symbolic release of doves. There is no fee to participate but prior registration is suggested.

Entertainment and activities for all ages are scheduled throughout the day and night. Live, local musical groups from Downtown clubs and coffee shops will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The luminaria ceremony, in which candle-lit luminaries decorated with the names of cancer survivors or those lost to cancer are placed around the track to light the way for walkers and runners, is at 9 p.m. Minimum suggested luminaria donations are $10 per bag.

Cancer survivors can register by calling 619-682-7454. For more information, visit www.sdrelayforlife.com.

The San Diego Women’s Film Festival, Southern California’s most notable and longest running women’s film festival, has announced its sixth annual festival will be held Oct. 2-5. More than 500 films are expected to be submitted.

The independent films included in the festival highlight positive messages about relevant social issues, including ethnicity, class, culture, race and gender. The festival has also hosted advanced screenings of films that have gone on to win Academy Awards.

Cox Communications will present this year’s San Diego Women’s Film Festival on Friday, Oct. 3 from 7-11p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1-11 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 5 from 1-11 p.m. at the UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley 7. The Festival Kick-Off & Preview Party will be on Thursday, Oct. 2 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets to the festival are $50 for an all-access pass ($25 student discount), $30 for a one-day pass ($15 student discount) and $10 ($5 student discount) for one film category. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance online or at the theater.

The San Diego Women Film Foundation’s mission is to empower, promote and mentor young women and women filmmakers by developing opportunities to expose the art of filmmaking and to tell women’s stories to broad and diverse audiences.

For more information, visit www.sdwff.org or contact Holly Jones at hollyjones@sdwff.org or 619-374-1121.

UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley 7 is located at at 7510 Hazard Center Dr. in Hazard Center.

The Center will be hosting a Grand Canyon getaway for men in the community from Aug. 30 through Sept. 3. The trip will include three nights of camping, a visit to the breathtaking waterfalls along the Havasu River in the Grand Canyon, and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit The Center. Participants will have the opportunity to swim in the natural travertine pools, explore the canyon and enjoy the camaraderie of men from San Diego. There will be no luxury hotels, no room service and no plumbing. Twenty-five spots are available and the trip is expected to sell out quickly.

For more information, contact Ken St. Pierre at (619) 692-2077, ext. 104, or ken@thecentersd.org.