Local bistro and wine bar Bite is donating 50 percent in sales of its two different holiday pies to YMCA’s Becky’s House, an emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse. The pies, spiced yam pie with marshmallow brule and apple cranberry crumb pie, are $10 each. The special pies can be ordered over the phone at 619-299-2493. The cutoff date for preordered pies is Monday, Dec. 21. Pies may be picked up at Bite on Tuesday, Dec. 22 and Wednesday, Dec. 23, after 3 p.m.

The YWCA’s Becky’s House provides women and families with the shelter and services they need to escape homelessness and domestic violence.

Bite is located at 1417 University Ave., near the intersection of Richmond Street, in Hillcrest.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center, in partnership with GLTNewsNow.com, will host Two Cents with Aaron Heier, a new Men @ The Center monthly event debuting Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Center’s Community Resource Room.

Two Cents with Aaron Heier is an entertaining, informative and interactive social event featuring Center personality and GLTNewsNow associate editor Aaron Heier interviewing the men who move San Diego’s LGBT community. Attendees will enjoy an informal talk show-style format followed by a mix and mingle cocktail hour that allows some rare up-close and personal face-time with the month’s special guest.

Two Cent’s inaugural special guest will be Joseph Christopher Rocha, the gay Navy veteran whose horrific story of hazing, harassment and abuse while serving as a dog handler in the Middle East has made international news. Rocha’s discharge and subsequent headlines are helping to keep the effort to end the military’s destructive “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gays in the armed forces at the forefront of the LGBT equal rights movement.

For more information on Two Cents with Aaron Heier or other Men @ The Center events, contact Jeffrey Wergeles at jwergeles@thecentersd.org.

Same-sex couples need to take additional precautions in order to ensure that their loved ones are protected. Even in states where domestic partnerships are legally recognized, the federal government does not recognize these unions. Because of this, it is imperative that GLBT couples go the extra mile to create legal documents to protect themselves, their

assets and their loved ones. Learn more about financial planning at the San Diego LGBT Community Center on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6-7 p.m. For more information, call 619-692-2077, ext. 212 or e-mail aschwartz@thecentersd.org.

Join Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network and featured guest Navy veteran Joseph Rocha on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The minimum suggested tax-deductible donation is $125 for individuals and $500/$750 for couple host committee and 1,000 for sponsors. To purchase tickets or make a donation, visit www.sldn.org/SanDiego2009.

The HIV Community Learning Center, a collaborative project between Priority/MOMs Pharmacy and Being Alive San Diego opened its doors on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The learning center is located at 3940 4th Ave. in Hillcrest.

Besides providing free, easy access to a wealth of HIV/AIDS information and services, key features of the HIV Community Learning Center include a community resource wall, an artist gallery, an onsite client advocate and private AIDS service organization office space.

“This collaboration with Being Alive is consistent with the MOMs Pharmacy philosophy,” said Anthony Luna, Vice President of Priority, a MOMs Pharmacy that donated the space for the new center.

“We recognize that during these difficult times when funding for HIV services is being cut, that it is not just enough to serve the community; you have to give back and be an active and involved part of it. We are excited to be collaborating with such a well-respected organization as Being Alive San Diego to help ensure that these valuable programs and services continue,” Luna said.

Priority/MOMs Pharmacy specializes in the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. For 20 years, Priority/MOMs has led the HIV/AIDS specialty pharmacy field, providing advanced treatment and compassionate care to patients. MOMs’ services have been recognized as improving patient outcomes by offering customized medication packaging to promote medication adherence. MOMs Pharmacy is an Allion Healthcare Company with locations throughout the United States.

“This center will serve to meet the increasing challenges facing the San Diego HIV/AIDS community,” said Shannon Wagner, executive director of Being Alive, a nonprofit organization that works to enrich and enhance the personal dignity and quality of life of people living with AIDS/HIV through mutual support, access to information, public advocacy and social interaction.

“Through MOMS’ generosity this project is not only providing expanded access to local AIDS service organizations, but it is also creating greater awareness of the many specialized services available to people living with HIV/AIDS in our community,” Wagner said.

The new learning center encompasses 1,400 square feet of the newly expanded Priority/MOMs Pharmacy space. The center provides a welcoming and safe space for people living with HIV/AIDS to obtain information on the many valuable programs and services offered by Being Alive and MOMs Pharmacy, as well as information on other local community AIDS Service Organizations. Through collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and local HIV providers, the HIV Community Learning Center will host a variety of culturally diverse HIV/AIDS educational programs, client support groups and provide private office space for one-on-one counseling, treatment education, peer advocacy, ADAP screening, community outreach, and HIV testing services.

“We are so honored to be a part of this effort,” said Antonio Munoz, of Bienestar, an AIDS Service Organization focused on the Latino / Spanish-speaking communities. “This HIV Community Learning Center will allow for greater HIV/AIDS awareness where people actually live and speak. Not only does this effort walk the walk, but most importantly, it talks the talk – en Espanol.”

The new HIV Community Learning Center provides several private offices for one-on-one client meetings, counseling, treatment education, ADAP screening and outreach efforts whereby an ASO representative may meet with, inform, and potentially enroll clients in their programs and services. The offices will be furnished with comfortable modular furniture allowing for flexibility in use of the space and free Internet access.

Another key feature of The HIV Community Learning Center is its “The Being Alive Family Room.” This dedicated space functions as a waiting area for pharmacy clients during normal pharmacy business hours, as well as serving as a casual meeting venue for smaller client support groups after hours. By adding additional temporary seating, the family room can be slightly modified to create “The Being Alive Classroom,” which will accommodate much larger groups for more formal HIV/AIDS education presentations and programs.