City Councilmember Toni Atkins’ office recently issued a release informing the community of the continued closure of Sixth Avenue between Upas Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The closure was originally scheduled to last just one week.

According to Atkins’ office, the City of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater Department (MWWD) commenced an accelerated sewer project in Seventh Avenue and Brookes Canyon on July 21. The project requires replacing and relocating 1,117 linear feet of eight-inch sewer main and replacing an existing 36 foot deep manhole with a 42 foot deep concrete vault in Sixth Avenue.

Part of the project requires that the portion of Sixth Avenue between Upas and Pennsylvania remain closed until the vault is safely in place. Once the vault is safely in place, one lane in each direction will be re-opened. The entire portion of Sixth Avenue is likely to remain closed until the end of September.

Detour signs have been posted to direct motorists to use Fourth Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Upas Street and Pennsylvania Avenue as alternatives to Sixth Avenue.

This accelerated sewer replacement project is part of the city’s plan to replace old and deteriorated water and sewer pipes throughout the City of San Diego. This project was accelerated because the existing sewer pipe was exposed in areas where the hillside was eroded. Timely action is needed to avoid the possibility of a sewage spill. Construction will occur both on Sixth Avenue and in the canyon for the duration of the project.

Questions regarding this project can be directed to project construction manager Michael Bourgalt at 858-495-7894.

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) at The San Diego LGBT Community Center is in the beginning stages of re-activating the Women’s Advisory Committee (WAC). As part of the process, the WRC is looking to assemble a diverse and dynamic group of LBT women interested in providing input and feedback on WRC events and activities.

Committee members should demonstrate a strong commitment to the WRC (as demonstrated by service as a WRC volunteer or by regular participation in WRC programs) and/or play an active role as a leader in the San Diego women’s community. WAC members are responsible for participating in quarterly dinner meetings, facilitated by the WRC coordinator. Those passionate about the women’s community are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact the Abby Schwartz at 619-692-2077, ext. 212, or aschwartz@thecentersd.org.

The Center Advocacy Project Issues PAC will host a No on 8 fund-raiser on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the home of Kevin Tilden and Philip Diamond. The event will run from 5:30-7 p.m.

The Center Advocacy Project and a number of other local and statewide organizations have put together a campaign to defeat Proposition 8, which, if passed, would amend the California State Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The event will include a reception and community campaign briefing while raising funds for the local effort to defeat Proposition 8.

Donations for the event are tiered: $75 per person for “guest” level; $150 per person for “supporter” level; and $300 per person for the “patron” level. Note that donations are not tax deductible, as The Center Advocacy Project Issues PAC is a political action committee. Donations can be made online at www.centeradvocacy.org or make checks payable to The Center Advocacy Project Issues PAC and mail to PO Box 3357, San Diego, CA 92163. Those writing checks should include the name of their employer and occupation on the check, as that information is required by state law.

The Center Advocacy Project is a partner in Equality For All’s No on 8 campaign.

To RSVP for the event, contact Delores Jacobs at djacobs@thecentersd.org by Sept. 8. Location details will be provided upon RSVP.

The Rubber Rose Boutique recently announced MTV will be filming a documentary about a young lesbian who recently came out to her mother. The documentary will look at the mother’s struggle to accept her daughter. A portion of the documentary will be filmed at The Rubber Rose’s North Park store.

MTV is currently casting for the new show, entitled Talking about Sex with Mom and Dad. The casting directors are looking for lesbian teenagers aged 18 and older and families with a lesbian child to discuss their coming out stories, the lifestyle and how to move toward acceptance. The ideal teen would be someone who struggled to come out to her family but has finally reached a common ground. The ideal family member would be a mother or father who has moved from denial to acceptance.

The stories of selected families will be shared in the documentary and will also provide support to the young girl and her mother who are featured in the show.

To be considered, families must be available for shooting on the weekend of Sept. 12. Interested families should email their story, photo and contact information to mtvshowcasting@gmail.com.

The Rubber Rose Boutique is located at 3812 Ray St. in North Park.

The next meeting of the Hillcrest Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Joyce Beers Community Center. All Hillcrest residents, including property owners and renters, are invited and encouraged to attend.

The September meeting will feature a candidate forum for the City Council District 3 race. Todd Gloria and Stephen Whitburn, both candidates in the race, will answer questions and speak to the group about their platforms.

For more information about the Hillcrest Town Council visit www.hillcresttowncouncil.com.

The Joyce Beers Community Center is located in the Uptown District Shopping Center on Vermont Street at University Avenue.

The Southwest Region of Scouting For All will host its annual rally and protest in front of the local Boy Scout headquarters on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to noon. The purpose of the rally is to protest and bring attention to what Scouting For All calls the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) exclusionary policies.

Scouting For All is assembling a diverse group of speakers from the GLBT, straight, non-theist, and faith-based communities to protest against the BSA’s policies of exclusion. Current BSA national policy specifically excludes youth who are gay, atheist or agnostic. Additionally, the BSA excludes youth who are the children of GLBT or non-theist parents. Scouting For All seeks to persuade the public to exert influence on the BSA so that all children and adults are once again welcome participants in the scouting program.

The mission of Scouting For All is to advocate on behalf of its members and supporters for unbiased values of scouting as expressed and embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and to influence the BSA to serve and include as participating members all youth and adult leaders, regardless of their spiritual belief, gender, or sexual orientation.

The community is encouraged to attend and participate in the protest. For more information, contact Brenda Watson at 760-747-4114 or Howard Menzer at 619-229-1612.

The local Boy Scout Headquarters are located at 1207 Upas St. in Hillcrest.

The fifth annual Transgender Community Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Balboa Park. The event is hosted by Project STAR and the Transgender Advocacy and Services Center (TASC).

Everyone is invited to attend this free, fun community event. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish to share.

Project STAR offers case-management, referral and supportive services for transgender persons at high risk for HIV and STDs, transition related issues, monitored hormone therapy, and those individuals experiencing barriers accessing health and social services. Project services are offered in English and Spanish.

TASC seeks to identify the needs of the transgender community, educate itself and others regarding those needs and advocate to make resources a reality. TASC’s goals are to make sure transgender voices are heard in the greater community, to help the transgender community find its place as a group and as individuals, and to act as a platform to help the community create the support network necessary to live healthy and happy lives.

The picnic will take place at Balboa Park along Sixth Avenue just beyond the Upas Street entrance. A transgender flag will be posted for identification. For more information contact Tracie at 619-515-2411 or Paola at 619-515-2446, ext. 2943.

Registration for the 19th annual AIDS Walk San Diego (AWSD) is now open and participants are encouraged to sign up individually or as part of a team. The walk will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28 in Balboa Park.

AIDS Walk is the largest one-day HIV/AIDS fund-raising event in San Diego. AWSD is also the largest nongovernmental provider of funds for San Diego County HIV/AIDS service organizations.

To register for AIDS Walk San Diego, visit www.aidswalksd.org. The registration page gives participants the options to register as an individual, start a team, or join a team. Individual adult registration is $35.

AWSD is presented by Nordstrom and organized by The San Diego LGBT Community Center.