Thank you to the so many who have called or e-mailed your concern about my health and not having a column for two weeks. I am doing better, and I sincerely appreciate your concern and support. Getting old, for this queen, hasn’t been easy, but then, I’m blessed to have so many close friends who are truly my family in so many ways.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters are celebrating Hanukkah this week, and I wish them a beautiful, bright and blessed Hanukkah!

I want to thank Aaron Borovoy, Bruce Abrams, and the late Craig Silverman (the stepson of former Mayor Susan Golding and son of businessperson Richard Silverman). All three of these gentlemen for many decades have educated me and taught me about their Jewish faith, community and history. I owe much to Aaron, Bruce and Craig. So be sure to wish all your Jewish friends a most happy and joyous Hanukkah. Also, the best to JPride, the Jewish community’s GLBT organization.

The beautiful home of Murray Olson and Bob Nelson was the perfect setting for a fund-raiser for the re-election of our great Mayor Jerry Sanders. More than $40,000 was raised making this event one of the most successful campaigns for office in the history of our community. And checks are still coming in! I was honored to be on the committee, but Bob Nelson, Bill Beck, Robert Glean and Kevin Tilden (the four political musketeers) really deserve the bravos. I had the pleasure of presenting the mayor with a special award, and I recognized his beautiful wife, who wore a smashing outfit. Bob Lehman, co-founder of the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol, also presented Mayor Sanders with his organization’s Founders Award, for which the co-honoree was Police Chief William Lansdowne. I urge all to support the re-election of Mayor Sanders, whom GLBT Vote 2008 and a vast majority of GLBT leaders endorsed.

His dynamic leadership and quick action when our region faced severe firestorms and his restoration of the stability of our city finances alone have proven his true ability to continue to lead our city.

City Council District 3 is made up of 39 percent Latino/Latina residents (this council district is one of the most diverse in the city). Recently, one of San Diego’s most powerful and influential Latino organizations, the Latino Political Association, endorsed Todd Gloria for City Council. Gloria’s list of endorsements continues to grow every week (www.toddgloria.com). Gloria has been called the clear front-runner for City Council by most of the mainstream media.

This Saturday evening, Dec. 8, Lambda Archives will celebrate its 20th anniversary with its first-ever gala, 20 Years, 20 Heroes. It will be honoring 20 GLBT heroes who are all role models for our community, but also are outstanding citizens of our city. There will be entertainment and heavy hors d’oeuvres – all to be held at The Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. sharp! Tickets are only $50 general and $80 VIP, and it’s looking sold out, so for tickets or further information, call 619-692-1967, or visit www.lambdaarchives.org.

In the 1970s, the GLBT community held a Toy Drive for the Marines yearly Toys for Tots Drive. They refused to accept toys from the “homosexual community.” Yes, now they do, but they didn’t in the 1970s. So our community started its own Toys for Kids Drive, which has been organized since the 1970s by the Imperial Court de San Diego.

All these toys go to abused children living with AIDS, orphans, children of GLBT parents who can’t afford gifts for their children, etc. There are Toy Boxes all over our community, so please drop off a toy, as the demand from charities is getting longer.

A special thank you to the Greater San Diego Business Associaton, The Center’s Holiday Party and all the bars and businesses who have Toy Boxes.

Those great owners and true gentlemen of Martinis Above Fourth once again will be hosting a fun Wreath Auction that will benefit the Queen Eddie Conlon Youth Fund, which is financially managed by The LGBT Center and founded by the Imperial Court. This event, in the last three years, has raised more than $36,000! Every penny has benefitted our GLBT Youth Center, GLBT Youth Housing Program and GLBT teenage students for school supplies and clothing for homeless GLBT teens. The wreaths are always unbelievably beautiful and breathtaking. So please attend next Monday’s event, Dec. 10, at Martinis Above Fourth, at 7 p.m. There will be great hors d’oeuvres and surprises. And please take time to thank the owners of Martinis for their continuing support of our community in so many ways.

You’re all invited to a birthday bash for one of our community’s hardest working fund-raisers, volunteers, activists and leaders. Yes, former Marine Sgt. Bob Lehman, who is the founder of our local GLBT Veterans Chapter (AVER), co-founder of the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol, co-chair of GLBT VOTE 2008, first openly gay citizen appointed by the County Board of Supervisors to the Veterans Advisory Council, etc.

Bob and his life-long partner Tom Felkner are also two of our community’s biggest charity AIDS, political contributors. It’s going to be a great party, with the world-famous, all live Johnny Cash OUT LIVE country band, food, entertainment and a hosted bar from 6-8 p.m. There is no cover charge, except for an unwrapped Christmas toy or gift card for the Hillcrest Youth Center. Watch out for special guests Santa Claus and the always fun Ophelia, and I’ll be your outrageous but fun emcee. Just follow the crowd on Dec. 20 to The Hole.

Recently, I had a fabulous lunch with Lisa Sanders and her partner Meaghan Yaple at Baja Betty’s. As you all know, when Mayor Sanders announced that his daughter is a lesbian, it got national news coverage, and Lisa went through a mini-roller coaster ride of ups and downs. I’ve known Lisa for a while, and she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside – very down to earth and caring of others. In our lunch, Lisa and her partner Meaghan discussed their community involvement, now and in the future, which includes being on the Lambda Archives’ 20 Years, 20 Heroes working committee, being involved in the community’s annual Toys For Kids Drive and joining the 2008 Community Children’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt committee.

They are both also joining the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol as volunteers. These are two wonderful and giving women. Meaghan also is the producer and host of two popular women’s parties in our community – Touch, every Thursday night at Rich’s, and Milk, at The Flame every first and third Saturday of the month.

Every Wednesday at Bourbon Street’s Outrageous Bingo, people win color TVs, one hundred dollars, microwave ovens, etc. But next Wednesday, Dec. 19, those handsome men of Interactive Male who sponsor a Wednesday Bingo once a month, will give away a free Carnival Cruise package for two. So get your butts to Bingo at Bourbon Street every Wednesday, but especially on Dec. 19, and you might win a fabulous Carnival Cruise for two! Thank you Interactive Male. For more information, visit www.bourbonstreetsd.com.