Electronic waste, know as “e-waste” has become an increased burden on United States landfills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, two million tons of e-waste ended up in landfills in 2005, while only about 380,000 tons were recycled. E-waste is comprised of computers, laptops, videogame consoles, monitors, keyboards, printers, fax machines, televisions, VCRs, stereos, cell phones, items with LCD screens and business or commercial electronic waste.

As part of San Diego LGBT Pride Month, and in support of San Diego Pride’s “green” efforts, a free e-waste recycling event will be held on July 11 and 12 at the Birch North Park Theatre’s back parking lot. The event is co-sponsored by Sempra Energy and Recycle San Diego.

The public is invited to drop off any brand of used or outdated electronic devices for proper recycling. The recycling point will be open on July 11 from noon to 4 p.m. and on July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Birch North Park Theatre is located at 3829 29th Street in North Park. The theater’s back parking lot is along North Park Way between 29th and 30th streets.

For more information, visit www.sdpride.org.

The San Diego Women’s Chorus (SDWC) invites women of all ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations and skill levels to get involved with its organization. Women are invited to join the chorus or volunteer to support the chorus’ efforts.

The SDWC has already put together its 2008-09 lineup and invites new members to join its first rehearsal on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 4:30 p.m. Interested individuals should visit the group’s Web site to make sure they meet the membership requirements, and then RSVP to info@sdwc.org or call 619-291-FEMM.

The rehearsal will take place at the University Christian Church located at 3900 Cleveland Ave. in Hillcrest.

As record-high temperatures are expected to sweep San Diego County this summer, 131 sites have been designated as “Cool Zones.” These Cool Zones are located in public buildings and private businesses that have agreed to open their doors to offer the public a place to go to escape the heat. Sixty-six of the sites are located in the City of San Diego.

While the Cool Zones are open to everyone, heat-related illnesses are particularly prevalent in the elderly and infirm, and these populations are encouraged to utilize these resources.

Days and hours of service vary by location. A listing of Cool Zone sites and hours in San Diego County is available by calling 1-800-510-2020 or can be found online at www2.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/documents/CoolZoneSitesJune08.pdf.

On Saturday July 5, hundreds of community members and clubgoers spent the evening at Rich’s nightclub for a fund-raiser for The Center’s Advocacy Project. Nick Moede, owner of Rich’s, hosted the party and raised more than $7,000 for the project’s marriage equality efforts.

All of the door proceeds from the event will be donated to the project. Members of the San Diego Vow to Vote No on Prop 8 Field Team were on hand to register voters and sign people up to get involved with the campaign.

The Center’s Advocacy Project was formed earlier this year to secure equal civil and human rights for the GLBT and allied communities through public education, legislation and issue advocacy. The Center Advocacy Project engages in lobbying and campaigning on the core social issues that affect the GLBT community, including hate violence, employment discrimination, school safety and the freedom to marry.

For more information about The Center’s Advocacy Project, visit www.centeradvocacy.org.

The Center’s Women’s Resource Center will host the San Diego Women’s Fest on Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Center. The event is a day-long festival of workshops, entertainment and resources for lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women.

The goal of the free festival is to empower LBT women to learn new skills, celebrate women’s creativity, build a stronger and more diverse community and gain access to essential health resources. The festival will be centered around five themes: Health; Family & Relationships; Arts & Crafts; Community & Movement Building; and Building Skills for Power & Success. Each theme will offer some workshops in Spanish.

For more information call 619-692-2077, ext. 212 or e-mail wrc@thecentersd.org.

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

The second annual All Community Pride Breakfast will kick off Pride weekend at The Center on Friday, July 18. The entire community is invited to the 7:30 a.m. breakfast which will feature an omelet buffet and champagne for a $10 donation.

Community leaders and representatives from San Diego LGBT Pride will be on hand to toast the start of Pride weekend at the festive event.

For more information contact 619-692-2077.

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

Assemblymember Lori Saldaña’s office is reminding residents to conserve water this summer, as San Diego faces unprecedented water supply challenges. Water supplies imported from Northern California have been cut as a result of court-ordered restrictions on the State Water Project. Further, the state has endured two dry years in a row, which has reduced snow packs and runoff levels that provide water. Key reservoirs in the state are expected to reach historic lows by the end of this year.

These conditions have led to California’s first official drought declaration since 1991. If conditions do not improve, many water officials predict urban water shortages for Southern California as early as next year.

Residents have the power to make a difference by increasing their conservation efforts, Saldaña says. Saldaña is urging residents to join the “20-Gallon Challenge,” a call by the San Diego County Water Authority for businesses and residents to pitch in and help reduce the region’s overall water use by 20 gallons per person, per day.

There are a few ways to conserve water. Reductions in weekly watering schedules by one day will make a big difference. This will reduce overall water use and help cut down on the pollution that runs into our watersheds, beaches and bays when water runs off into the storm drains.

Those who live in homes without a yard can still save water easily by taking shorter showers, not running water while shaving or brushing teeth, and by washing only full loads of laundry or dishes.

Additional water-saving tips are available online at www.20gallonchallenge.com.

The Hillcrest Town Council (HTC), in conjunction with San Diego LGBT Pride, will host a community clean-up the day after San Diego Pride ends. The entire community is encouraged to come together to help clean the neighborhood that hosts the LGBT community’s biggest event of the year.

San Diego LGBT Pride will present a grant to the HTC based on the number of volunteer hours completed. The more volunteers that come out to assist will result in a cleaner Hillcrest and more funds for the HTC.

The event will take place in the early morning hours on Monday, July 21. Meeting location and time will be posted on www.hillquest.com and www.sdpride.org when the details have been finalized.

The Hillcrest History Guild (HHG) is selling tickets for its second annual Toast to Hillcrest event, to be held Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event gives participants the opportunity to celebrate Hillcrest, named one of the top 10 neighborhoods in America in 2007, while enjoying wine, spirits and appetizers at numerous restaurants and bars throughout the area. A red double-decker bus will also cruise the neighborhood providing transportation for participants. All proceeds from the event benefit the HHG.

Tickets are $19 before Aug. 1 and $25 after or on the day of. Visit www.hillcresthistory.org for more information or to purchase tickets.