For the past five years, Bryan Fear and Eric Eseke have been building a replica of an Ectomobile, the souped-up ambulance featured in the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters.”

Both of the men, who moved from Poway to Rancho Bernardo this week, have been re-creating the equipment featured in the popular movies for years and dressing up as characters for the San Diego Comic-Con.

They’ve built seven 35-pound proton packs, the ray-emitting backpacks the characters used to lasso in the undead, complete with sound systems to make the recognizable hum. They’ve also made ghost traps, “Ecto Goggles” and PKE meters built to emulate the movie props.

“It’s almost like we had to build the car to use it as a box to keep and carry all of that equipment,” said 41-year-old Fear, who started the hobby in 2002.

(CNS) - Authorities today were investigating who was responsible for growing 350 marijuana plants worth as much as $1.4 million in a North County grove near Poway owned by the City of San Diego.

Members of the San Diego County Narcotics Task Force, which includes federal and local law enforcement agents, seized the plants from an area off Highland Valley Road near Pomerado Road early Wednesday.

Poway Mayor Don Higginson will be challenged in November by 24-year resident Nick Stavros, who on Tuesday took out nomination papers.

Meanwhile, appointed Councilman Carl Kruse has become the first candidate to qualify for the election by returning his papers. Recently elected Councilman John Mullin is expected to do the same before the 5 p.m. Aug. 5 filing deadline. Also expected to return their papers are Higginson and council challenger Dave Grosch.

Voters will elect a mayor and two council members in November.

Stavros, 59, ran unsuccessfully for council in 2002 and 2004. In each race he received about 25 percent of the votes cast.

Keep the original RB logo, but add twinkle lights and musical entertainment to Rancho Bernardo’s “downtown” business district, said residents when asked how they want to see the community refreshed.

More than three dozen Rancho Bernardans gathered at the Rancho Bernardo Vons Town Center food court Saturday morning to discuss ways to make the retail area more appealing.

City Councilman Carl DeMaio organized the meeting, which he called “a good start” to the revitalization endeavor.

“I hope more people will take the opportunity to weigh in when they see the first designs,” DeMaio said. “Today was about the concept and (gathering) ideas. Next will be (fine tuning) the concept.”

After years of dreaming about a place to honor local veterans, a ground-breaking ceremony was held Monday at just such a site — the future Poway Veterans Park on Midland Road.

During the ceremony, Poway City Councilman Jim Cunningham said, “I know that many of the vets are still thinking, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’ but it’s going to happen.”

He applauded representatives from the Poway chapters of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Navy Fleet Reserve Association and the Elks for their dedication and determination in sticking to their goal.

The dream to have a dedicated site began about 15 years ago, said Ed Harmon, past president of the local American Legion.