With its $40,000 donation at The Center’s 2007 Gala, San Diego Pride reached the $500,000 mark in its total donations to The Center.

“The ongoing relationship between The Center and San Diego Pride has been of enormous benefit to the entire San Diego LGBT community,” said Delores A. Jacobs, CEO of The Center. “Pride’s support has helped make it possible for us to provide the services and programs that make The Center home for our community. We thank Pride for their many years of support and look forward to working together for many more.”

“San Diego Pride remains committed to supporting the ongoing efforts of The Center,” said Pride executive director Ron deHarte. “San Diego LGBT Pride long ago recognized the importance of The Center to the entire LGBT community, and the two organizations have enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship ever since. As we celebrate giving $500,000 to support the vital services and programs of The Center, we salute the community for their support and the individuals who have served on the San Diego Pride Board of Directors since 1995 for their leadership.”

More than 70 environmentalists gathered Jan. 18 to support Stephen Whitburn, candidate for San Diego City Council District 3. Ian Trowbridge and Del Cunnamay hosted the event to celebrate Whitburn’s investment in protecting San Diego’s unique natural environment. Whitburn has received endorsements from the Sierra Club, Congressmember Bob Filner and City Councilmember Donna Frye.

Frye told those who gathered, “If you invest your time now to walk a precinct and help Stephen win, consider it an investment in your future. Because once Stephen is elected, you will spend less time at City Hall trying to convince your Councilmember to join you in support of your cause.”

“Protecting our environment would be one of my top priorities as a member of the City Council,” Whitburn said. “Parks and a healthy environment are essential parts of building strong neighborhoods.”

“We can count on Stephen Whitburn to stand up for our environment,” said Richard Miller, chair of the Sierra Club of San Diego Political Committee. “Stephen has been there when we needed help, from fighting for more park funding to pitching in to clean up our beaches.”

Whitburn was grateful for the organization’s support.

“I am proud to have the Sierra Club’s support. With over 10,000 members, the Sierra Club of San Diego is a powerful voice for the environment,” said Whitburn. “As a member of the City Council, I look forward to working with the club to protect our neighborhood canyons, creeks and beaches as well as the many other environmental challenges that we face.”

Whitburn is the spokesperson for the American Red Cross in San Diego. Whitburn served three terms as President of the San Diego Democratic Club and is currently an elected member of the North Park Planning Committee.

District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins will be termed out this year. The primary election will be held on June 3, 2008.

The Linx, a recently organized movement “in support of the minority lesbian and gay population residing in San Diego County,” held the first meeting of its new community and social group, “The First Family” on Sunday, Jan. 27.

According the group’s organizers, “in a city where we are often overlooked and/or forgotten, it is important for our community to stick together and seek out each other for support in order to progress.” The group’s mission is to stand up and create a professional organization and following of people who will be vital in the revitalization of events catered to San Diego’s GLBT community.

The group most recently held a New Year’s Eve Bash and has plans for more events in the future.

All interested community members are welcome to attend. For more information about The First Family or The Linx, e-mail firstfamily@live.com or visit www.myspace.com/thelinx.

Aging as Ourselves, a communitywide collaborative that provides a safe and comfortable environment for GLBT seniors to tap into culturally responsive legal, social and health-related services, is looking for volunteers. According to the group, “sometimes an older LGBT individual just needs a little help or companionship. Volunteers with Aging as Ourselves are able to make a difference in the life of those who were the pioneers of our community.”

Several opportunities are available, including one-on-one work with GLBT seniors, outreach and office volunteer work.

The next volunteer training will be held at the SAGE Center on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. A light breakfast will be provided at 8:30 a.m.

The SAGE Center is located at 3138 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest.

RSVPs are requested by calling 619-298-9900. For more information visit www.agingasourselves.org.

The Stonewall Young Democrats of San Diego (SYDSD) will host a candidate forum for the 78th State Assembly District. Members of the group, along with candidates, friends, and guests will gather Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at the Uptown Joyce Beers Community Center.

Candidates for the 78th district race currently include Auday Arabo, Marty Block and Arlie Ricasa. Each candidate will be given time to introduce themselves, and answer questions from the audience. Following the forum, members of the SYDSD will decide whether to endorse a candidate.

SYDSD is a group of GLBT-friendly people, 36 years old and younger, dedicated to progressive liberal values, advocacy of political candidates and issues, and inspiring political action in people of all ages. For more information about the candidate forum or the group, contact club President Brandon Tate at 619-840-5613 or brandonstate@gmail.com.

The Center’s Family Matters program will present a workshop titled “Developing Positive Relationships with Our Children, Toddler to Teen” on Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m. The workshop will be held at The Center.

Recheal Stewart-Brown, a licensed certified social worker, will present a workshop that focuses on three essential parenting strategies that will assist participants in creating a relationship that children want to have with their parents: teacher; nurturer; and disciplinarian.

Stewart-Brown has more than 20 years of experience working with children and families. Her background includes work at Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center, providing individual and group counseling to children and their families. At the San Diego Police Department Child Abuse Unit she worked with “at-risk” children and families. Stewart-Brown is also a public speaker and has presented at major conferences regarding child and family treatments.

The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

Childcare will be provided at the Center, but requests must be made to Jane Schmoll by Feb. 15. For more information or to RSVP, e-mail jschmoll@thecentersd.org or call 619-692-2077 ext. 121.

On Jan. 14, a one-year trial ban on alcohol at San Diego city beaches went into effect. San Diego Municipal Code section 56.54(b) prohibits the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on San Diego beaches and within the confines of Mission Bay Park, and on any public rights-of-way, including but not limited to public streets, parking lots, sidewalks, alleys, plazas, piers, jetties, including on or against seawalls, including all sidewalks along the outer perimeters of such areas and including any sidewalks, boardwalks and other public rights-of-way at any beach or coastal bluff, or any of the coastal parks in Council District 2, from Tourmaline Surfing Park south, including Tourmaline Park.

Alcohol consumption will continue to be allowed in the coastal parks of La Jolla along Coast Walk, including Ellen B Scripps Park, Coast Boulevard Park and Calumet Park from noon to 8 p.m.

Historically, police officers assigned to Northern Division issued citations for possession of an open container, when consumption was not witnessed but assumed based on evidence. The burden of proof required for an open container citation was lower than what was required for an illegal consumption citation. Officers will cite for 56.54(b) SDMC when they witness consumption. Officers will reserve discretion to cite for 25620 B&P when they witness someone in possession of an open container but not consuming the alcoholic beverage.

The San Diego Police Department will utilize a grace period to provide an appropriate warning to individuals who demonstrate a lack of knowledge of the alcohol ban. The grace period will be in effect until Feb. 14, 2008. Police officers will utilize discretion in determining if the offender had knowledge of the alcohol ban. Anyone consuming alcohol in violation of the new ordinance during the grace period is subject to the issuance of a citation if they are creating an unsafe environment; demonstrate blatant disregard of the law; have been previously warned; have knowledge of the law.

The grace period ends at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15.

For more information visit the San Diego City Attorney’s Web site at http://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/reports/beachban.shtml.