As part of its ongoing commitment to protect and enhance the environment, San Diego LGBT Pride held a tree-planting ceremony Nov. 4, donating 10 Quercus Suber (cork oak) trees to the west end of Balboa Park, just south of Upas Street between Sixth Avenue and Balboa Drive. It is the second year in a row that San Diego Pride has furnished the park with new flora, raising the donated number of trees to 20.

The latest trees, measuring eight to 10 feet tall, were planted by the Balboa Park forestry crew, Pride staffers and Board Chair Philip Princetta, along with Balboa Park Grounds Maintenance Manager Michael Tully. They were purchased by Pride for $2,000.

“Reforestation of Balboa Park is a priority of the Pride Green program,” said Executive Director Ron deHarte. This specific evergreen tree was selected because one was recently lost in the area and the tree has a historical tie to the park. Kate Sessions, ‘the Mother of Balboa Park’ frequently planted cork oak trees. It is also a low-water tree, so it will fit in with the water conservation goals of Balboa Park and the City of San Diego.”

The planting was made possible with funding from the Pride Green program and its sponsors Nutrisoda and Sempra Energy.

For more information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, call the Pride office at 619-297-7683 or visit www.SanDiegoPride.org.

Take part in The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s senior survey. Our seniors are our history and our heroes. They deserve our respect, our support and, when necessary, our help. This requires that we develop a real understanding of our seniors’ lives and of their needs. In order to help us do that, The Center is asking community members who are 50 and better to take part in the 50 and Better LGBT Senior Survey. If you’re 50 or better, take the survey now at http://alturl.com/udfr.

While the holidays are a time of joy and cheer, the festive season also brings endless planning, shopping lists and festive holiday events that can keep you on the go. As a result, you may be spending more time driving, which puts you at a higher risk of running into unexpected car trouble. Don’t let a flat tire or breakdown spoil your holiday spirit! Before going out to buy gifts, pick up food for your holiday feast or visit your loved ones, take a minute to learn about the SAFE 5-1-1 Mobile Call Box Program. If you do hit a bump in the road, calling 5-1-1 on your cell phone can help you and your loved ones stay safe amid a festive, yet hectic holiday season.

The SAFE 5-1-1 Mobile Call Box Program allows motorists driving on San Diego County freeways and highways to place a toll-free call to 5-1-1 on their cell phone for non-emergency roadside aid while remaining in the safety of their vehicle. Users will be connected to the same live answering center accessed through the yellow roadside call boxes; it’s like having your very own call box in your pocket! Whether you are need of a tow truck, tire change, gasoline or any other type of non-emergency roadside assistance, calling 5-1-1 will connect you to the help you need.

“No one likes having to deal with car trouble, especially during the holidays when schedules don’t allow for much leeway,” said Executive Director of the San Diego SAFE Call Box Program Eddie Castoria. “With Mobile Call Box, we’ve taken an important free public service and made receiving roadside aid safer and more convenient, helping San Diego motorists get to their desired destinations sooner.”

In addition to getting Mobile Call Box roadside aid, busy holiday shoppers and party-goers can also call 5-1-1 to get up-to-the-minute information about traffic conditions, incidents, driving times and public transit, ensuring that no time is wasted on congested roads.

For more information, visit www.511sd.com or www.sdcallbox.org.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride moved from its existing Hillcrest office on Robinson Street to a larger, modern space in North Park’s cabaret and arts district on Nov. 11.

The new offices, located three blocks south of University Avenue at 3620 30th St., features conference and training rooms, plus a patio, coffeehouse and ample street parking. It is also easily accessible by public transport. The P.O. Box mailing address and telephone numbers for the organization are unchanged.

“Pride has experienced an explosive growth in the number of activism and awareness programs since we moved into our previous office 12 years ago,” says Executive Director Ron deHarte. “These new offices will provide us with adequate space for the legions of volunteers required to produce programs such as the Equality Torch Relay, Rainbow Flag Project, Walk for Equality as well as the annual parade and festival.”

San Diego Pride recently announced its 2010 theme: “One Heart, One World, One Pride,” adopted from InterPride’s global theme. For 35 years, San Diego Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity. Core programs focus on activism and awareness, community services, youth, the environment and HIV/AIDS supportive services. The organization also produces the annual parade and festival, which have grown from a small grass roots march for equal rights, into the largest equal rights events in San Diego County.

Next year’s Pride weekend is scheduled for July 17 and 18.

For more information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, call the Pride office at 619-297-7683 or visit www.SanDiegoPride.org.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is offering free LED holiday lights in exchange for old incandescent holiday light strands at a series of local holiday lighting events.

SDG&E consumers can exchange up to three incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored LED holiday light strands. Those that attend will also receive a free home energy and water savings kit and an eco-friendly reusable shopping bag. The kit includes a low-flow showerhead and three faucet aerators.

To participate, SDG&E consumers must bring a valid California ID and/or a copy of a current SDG&E bill to the event. The lighting offer is limited to three incandescent holiday light strands and one home energy-savings kit per household per year.

For SDG&E’s holiday light exchange event times and locations, visit http://sdge.com/LEDs.

Did you know that lesbians have a greater risk for breast cancer than other women? This may be due to some life style differences, including:

• Not being pregnant or having fewer full term pregnancies than heterosexual women

• Increased body weight in comparison to heterosexual women

• Lower income, leading to an inability to pay for health care

• Lack of health care insurance, including domestic partner coverage

• Fear of homophobic health care providers

To address these issues, Family Health Centers of San Diego has been awarded a one year grant from the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to increase access to breast cancer screening and treatment for lesbians over 40. The Amazon Breast Project conducts monthly networking and outreach activities to increase awareness among lesbians of the need for breast cancer screening and treatment. Family Health Centers of San Diego also conducts a lesbian health clinic to provide lesbian women breast health education, clinical breast exams and referrals for mammograms.

Clinics are held on the fourth Saturday of the month, except in November and December when the clinic will be held on the 3rd Saturday because of the holidays. The next clinic will be held on Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Family Health Centers of San Diego’s North Park Family Health Center located at 3544 30th Ave. in North Park. Appointments for the clinic can be made by calling 619-515-2449. Walk-in appointments will also be available on the day of the clinic.

Family Health Centers of San Diego accepts private insurance, Medi-Cal and many other public health programs. For more information, call 619-515-2449.