The newly formed group, 51% – A Woman’s Place is in Politics invites women of all walks of life to meet and interact with key political leaders who care about women’s livelihood at Hawthorn’s Restaurant on Tuesday, May 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. Past Deputy Mayor and City Councilmember, Toni Atkins and City Councilmember Todd Gloria will be guest speakers.

The event will open with a one-hour social, including informal introductions by the group’s co-founders Lisa N. Sanders, daughter of Mayor Jerry Sanders and Tryce Czyczynska, writer and host of Coffee & Conversation With Cool Women and followed by a half-hour interview with Atkins and Gloria, hosted by Czyczynska. The event will close with a final half-hour mixer. Participants are encouraged to speak with and ask Atkins and Gloria questions, both one-on-one and through the hosted interview.

51% events intend to connect politicians and women in a supportive and learning environment.

51% will hold quarterly meet and greets at various locations, highlighting at least one political guest or policy maker. Each event is a free public forum for women to get involved in politics, to talk directly with politicians and policy makers and to connect with other women interested in bettering women’s lives. 51% meet-and-greet events are open to every one of all ages and are nonpartisan. The group’s name comes from the fact that women comprise 51 percent of the global population. 51% believes that women deserve a prominent voice in politics and policies affecting all people.

Hawthorn’s Restaurant is located at 2895 University Avenue in North Park. For more information, call 619-269-6116 or e-mail 51percentsd@gmail.com.

San Diego Hoops Basketball is back in action this off season, following the conclusion of another successful season. The team hosts an open gym at Golden Hills Recreation Center every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. All you need to do is show up, bring a dark and light-colored shirt and $5 to play. Open gym will continue until October, when games begin for next season. This is a great chance to get your legs in shape, meet some of the guys from the league and network. Golden Hills Recreation Center is located at 2600 Golf Course Dr. in Balboa Park. For more information, visit www.sdhoops.net or e-mail jpraught@cox.net.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s HIV, STD and Hepatitis Branch will be offering free, anonymous and confidential HIV, STD and Hepatitis testing in its HIV testing van in the San Diego LGBT Community Center parking lot on Wednesday, May 20, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 619-692-2077, ext. 205 or e-mail dvangilder@thecentersd.org.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD) has received the prestigious Goodman Award for innovative programming for its Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. The award was presented to the JFSSD program at the AJFCA 37th Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill., on May 4.

The Hand Up Youth Food Pantry is dedicated to alleviating hunger in San Diego County. Jewish Family Services Board Member Marsha Berkson and several local Jewish teens created Hand Up Youth Food Pantry in January 2007. Today, 35 teenagers along with parent-volunteer coordinators and Jewish Family Service (JFS) staff run the program.

Since last year, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry has more than doubled its food bags distributed and number of people helped. Food is distributed once a week at Ohr Shalom Synagogue downtown, once a month at Camp Pendleton and Murphy Canyon Military Housing and as needed to clients at various JFS locations. By including a case manager at each distribution, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry helps people get back on their feet and return to self-sufficiency.

The Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies presents the award every two years to a reputable program that responds to a community problem through outreach and community building.

For more information about the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry and ways to get involved, visit www.jfssd.org or call 858-637-3088.

Chris Hassett and friends will perform at the First Unitarian Universalist Church to benefit the Hillcrest Youth Center on Saturday, May 16 at 8 p.m. Hassett will perform his compositions – many of them on social issues including same-sex marriage – with Drew Massicot on panio, Don Barrie on guitar and vocals, Dana Decker on bass and Dave Pschaida on percussion.

Reminiscent of the Friends and Lovers concerts that started in the late ’80s and raised tens of thousands of dollars for local AIDS support organizations, this concert will be an evening that celebrates the inherent dignity of every person and the need for communities in all their diversity – gay and straight, young and old and all ethnic backgrounds – to live and work together, to make this world a better place.

Tickets are $10 for children and teens up to 18, $15 for adults and $25 for sponsors. Tickets will be available at the church between its Sunday morning services. Parking will be available at the event in the street-level church lot and in the UCSD Medical Center parking structure. The church is wheelchair-accessible and the court will be signed for the hearing impaired. First Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 4190 Front Street in Hillcrest. For more information, call 619-298-9978 or visit www.firstuusandiego.org.

The Art Institute of California, San Diego unveiled a collaborative student mural in North Park’s Ray Street on May 8.

Grace Ann Piano, director of the mural and instructor at the institute, is a self-taught local muralist and seven-year owner of Murals by Grace Ann. Piano’s installations range from hotels and nightclubs to coffee shops and hospitals, and she has been a member of the institute’s faculty for two years. Students involved in the project include Frankie Padilla, Maurice Simmons, Dustin Dettmar, Heather Geisler, Adam Bauer, Beena Devram, Marilyn Salameh and Gilberto Andres. Raggle Taggle Le Jazz Hot will perform music and refreshments will be available.

The mural was initially a student final that required painting a mural that would incorporate the Ray Street surroundings. As other students came onboard, the project took on a life of its own. Now the mural is a 60- by 30-foot hand-painted masterpiece. The impressive size and imaginative design is a welcome installation for all to marvel. The event will take place at the north-wall parking-lot in the middle of Ray Street in North Park. For more information, call 858-598-1303 or e-mail jauslund@aii.edu.

Jan. 17, 1950 – April 28, 2009

Clayton Wayne Smith, known to friends and loved ones as “Clay,” left this earth on April 28, 2009 of complications from an auto accident the week prior. Born to Hubert C. Smith and Lucille C Smith on Jan. 17, 1950, in Lake Charles, La., Clay spent time in both Texas and Northern California before settling in San Diego. Clay’s sparkling charm drew many to his side, and he was the catalyst for literally hundreds of friendships. He is survived by his life partner, Dan Vineis of San Diego, sister Gwendolyn and her husband Gerald, and sister Marsha, all of Louisiana, and many nieces and nephews.

Two ceremonies are planned, a Celebration of Clay for his large group of friends and co-workers from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009, in the Redwood Circle at Balboa Park, and one for Clay’s “Family” of friends to be held at Pecs Bar on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Donations to Special Delivery San Diego are requested in lieu of flowers.