Registered voters who would like to receive a vote-by-mail ballot can request it online at www.sdvote.com or by calling 858-565-5800. Voting by mail provides voters with the opportunity to take their time to complete the ballot and ensures that unforeseen circumstances such as work, illness or travel do not create barriers to voting. Voters who vote by mail have two weeks to complete and return their ballot. Voters also have the option of selecting permanent vote-by-mail status.

The January LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast will feature Lt. Carolyn Kendrick, the San Diego Police Department’s GLBT community liaison. The breakfast will take place on Friday, Jan. 18 from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Center.

Lt. Kendrick will discuss community empowerment in the areas of safety and crime prevention and reporting. She will also discuss hate incidents and hate crimes, as well as community safety concerns in the Hillcrest and North Park areas and how community members can work together to build a stronger, safer community.

A San Diego native, Kendrick began her tenure with the SDPD in 1979. Her patrol experience includes narcotics, the motorcycle tactical unit, as well as investigative experience in the gang, criminal intelligence and homicide units.

She was promoted to sergeant in 1995 and worked in internal affairs and the neighborhood-policing unit. She was promoted to lieutenant in 2001. Her assignments ranged from watch commander, vice unit, child abuse and sex crimes. She was recently selected by the chief’s office as the LGBT community liaison to replace Lt. Margy Schaufelberger, following Schaufelberger’s retirement.

The Community Coalition Breakfast takes place on the third Friday of each month. Its mission is to bring together fair-minded individuals to network, educate and discuss the diverse issues of concern to GLBT and allied neighbors and citizens of San Diego. A full breakfast is available for a $10 donation; coffee and tea are complimentary. RSVPs are not required. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request, and must be sent to Caroline Dessert at cdessert@thecentersd.org at least seven working days before the event. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center has announced that Marci Bair, coordinator of the Family Matters program, will step down in mid-January. Family Matters, the local group for GLBT parents and their families, as well as those considering parenthood, became a program of The Center in May of this year.

“I have loved working with Family Matters, and all the wonderful families who have been part of it over the years,” Bair said. “Now, after 10 years of working with Family Matters and the successful integration of the program into The Center, I have decided that it’s time that I devote my time and energy to my business and my own family. I can leave now with the full confidence that our diverse offerings for parents and those considering parenthood will be sustained and supported as a program of The Center. It has truly been my privilege to be a part of this dynamic organization for all of these years.”

“We’re so grateful for all the hard work of Marci Bair,” said Patrick Loose, The Center’s director of programs and operations. “She has been instrumental in ensuring that this merger was a success, and providing stability and solid infrastructure for Family Matters. While we will miss her day-to-day involvement, we have all been tremendously served by her efforts.”

The group’s longtime director, Bair will continue to be involved with Family Matters as part of its advisory committee, and the group’s signature events will continue to be offered, including its annual parenting conference, monthly parenting groups, its annual family barbecue and Considering Parenthood meetings.

For more information on how to get involved with Family Matters, please call 619-692-2077, ext. 121. A search for the new Family Matters program coordinator has begun. To view the job description, please go to http://www.thecentersd.org/jobs.php.

A fund-raising reception and holiday celebration will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13 for Marti Emerald, candidate for San Diego City Council District 7. Emerald, formerly known as the “Trouble Shooter” on Channel 10 news, will be joined by co-chairs Francine Busby, Robi Cox and Greg Scott, Eric Isaacson, “Big” Mike Phillips, Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, Ken Turek, and the San Diego Democratic Club at the event.

The event will be held at the La Jolla home of Eugene Iredale from 5-7 p.m. A private reception will be held from 4:30-5 p.m. for hosts. The suggested contribution for the co-chair level is $270; host committee is $150; and there is a $40 minimum to attend. Only personal contributions will be accepted. Contributions are also accepted online at www.martiforsandiego.com.

For more information or to RSVP contact 619-239-1721.

Is getting more involved in your community one of your New Year’s resolutions? Then join The San Diego LGBT Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, in its auditorium for the Third Annual San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council’s Community Volunteer Fair.

More than 30 GLBT and progressive organizations will be represented, providing information about their organizations and volunteering with them. The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is designed to reduce the barriers to becoming a volunteer by inviting community members to stop by, find out a little about opportunities for volunteering in the community, and sign-up if an organization sounds like a good fit. For more information, please contact Amanda Bejarano-Ligato at 619-692-2077 or at amandab@thecentersd.org.

According to the office of City Councilmember Toni Atkins, the City of San Diego recently began receiving and delivering fluoridated water to some of its customers. The Metropolitan Water District, an agency the city buys water from, started to fluoridate its water at the Lake Skinner water treatment plant to comply with state law.

Approximately half of the treated water used in San Diego County comes from the Skinner plant; therefore not all customers – none in District 3 – will receive fluoridated water. A map showing a general representation of the estimated fluoridation levels in the County can be viewed along with other fluoride information at www.sdcwa.org/manage/fluoridation.phtml. Citizens can also find a listing of frequently asked questions about fluoride on the City of San Diego Water Department’s Web site at www.sandiego.gov/water/.

The Center for Social Advocacy is now selling tickets for the 20th Annual All People’s Breakfast. The event, to be held on Monday, Jan. 21, celebrates the living legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The 7:30 a.m. breakfast will be held at Golden Hall in the San Diego Community Concourse. Tickets are $25 for main floor tables, which include a full breakfast and reserved seating, and $10 for general admission which includes a continental breakfast. The program will include presentations by community leaders and activists, and a keynote speech by Odetta.

Odetta performed onstage at the 1963 March on Washington and participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. King called her “Queen of American Folk Music.” Rosa Parks said that Odetta’s songs were her favorite music of the Civil Rights Movement. Poet Maya Angelou said, “If only one could be sure that every 50 years a voice and soul like Odetta’s would come along, the centuries would pass so quickly and painlessly we would hardly recognize the time.”

A benefit concert will be held later that day from 5-8 p.m. featuring Odetta, and some of San Diego’s acclaimed emerging vocalists, musicians, dancers and poets. The concert will also be held at Golden Hall, and all proceeds will benefit will the Center for Social Advocacy.

Tickets and more information are available online at www.centerforsocialadvocacy.org.

The 7th Annual Hillcrest Mardi Gras Street Party celebration will be held on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 5, on University Avenue between First and Fourth Avenues from 6-11 p.m.

The festival will take place rain or shine.

The event is sponsored by the GSDBA Charitable Foundation and the Hillcrest Business Association. All proceeds from the street party benefit both organizations. The GSDBA Charitable Foundation issues annual Youth Scholarships.

The festival will feature live entertainment, special guest performers and an exclusive VIP area. Food and other drink will be available for purchase from participating vendors and venues. Additionally, full liquor will also be served during the event. An array of other surprises, plenty of beads and various other party favors will also be part of the festive evening. Hillcrest Mardi Gras remains a 21-and-up event.

Tootie and the Lips Girls will be one of the performing acts on the Viejas Entertainment Stage. A dance area featuring a guest DJ will also be part of the entertainment.

Tickets are available now. Advance ticket price is $15 (or $20 day of) and $50 for VIP (or $75 day of). The VIP pass includes express entry, private reception area and private bathrooms.

Tickets are available at the following Hillcrest locations: Baja Betty’s at 1421 University Ave.; Urban Mo’s at 308 University Ave.; and Obelisk Bookstore at 1029 University Ave.

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.hillcrestmardigras.org. Ticket purchases are tax-deductible. No refunds are offered on ticket purchases, as the festival will take place rain or shine.

Hillcrest Mardi Gras is a fun-filled evening featuring many games, vendors, food, live entertainment, and costumes. More than 2,000 guests attended the event in 2007.