NEWSBRIEFS: Fire Department: Wiring caused College Pizza fire

Eric Yates, owner of the neighboring Baskin Robbins, said the building's electrical circuit panel was 20 years old. Sunday's fire was the second fire to affect the restaurant this year. In February a fire tore through Convenient Food Mart, which was located next door to College Pizza. College Pizza reopened at half-capacity shortly after the fire, but closed down at the beginning of August in order to repair the space most seriously damaged by the fire. At this point, University officials and store neighbors do not know if or when College Pizza will be reopening. College Pizza owner Ulysses Lancellotti was unavailable for comment. -- Monica Leas Tabard charity ball tonight The Tabard Society will hold its annual charity ball tonight to benefit a local non-profit organization, Focus on Women's Health: Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The organization holds educational conferences for women and reaches 25,000 breast cancer survivors in the Greater Delaware Valley. The charity ball, which is black-tie optional with an open bar, will take place from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Ciboulette restaurant in the Bellevue Hotel at Broad and Walnut streets. Tickets cost $35 and will be sold on Locust Walk today as well as at the door tonight. The Tabard Society will also sell $2 raffle tickets, with prizes including dinner for 10 at Marrakesh, a massage at the Saturn Club and a gift certificate to Discovery Discs. -- Mike Madden Today is day to kick habit Today is the annual Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The Smokeout invites smokers to take the first step toward quitting the habit permanently by not smoking for the entire day. Smokers can pick up materials at Student Health Services or in room 310 of Houston Hall. -- Daniel Gingiss