The worst firestorm in San Diego history resulted in the largest single animal rescue effort in our history as well. Many of those animals are still homeless, shocked and living in shelters around San Diego County. The North County Humane Society has a unique opportunity to raise money for those animals and others that need our care every day.

Local business leaders have teamed up with the North County Humane Society to organize a fundraiser where everyone wins. Five-dollar tickets are sold, a $100,000 Grand Prize will go to one lucky person, and the critters get food and shelter until they get homes. For more information, call Stacy Herro, Executive Director, North County Humane Society at (760) 420-0454 or Brian Yui, Fundraiser Chairman at (619) 887-0727

Auditions for the 2004 company of Culture Shock San Diego, a professional youth outreach hip-hop and breakdance troupe, will be held on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Culture Shock Dance Center located in the Midtown/Old Town area at 2110 Hancock Street (2nd level). Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and auditions will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Culture Shock Dance Troupe is a non-profit hip-hop dance company founded in San Diego by Angie Bunch in 1993 and now has companies across the U.S., Canada and Europe. They also have a youth outreach program called Future Shock. Their mission is to be “a troupe of individuals, who through the power of music and dance cultivate self-worth, dignity and respect for all people.”

The Victory Foundation will be holding a Candidates and Campaigns Training Institute in Tampa, FL, Feb. 5-8, 2004. Trainings provide comprehensive, nonpartisan training to present and future openly GLBT candidates, campaign personnel, and community leaders through four days of intensive instruction, skills building and technical education from seasoned political professionals. For each training there is an extensive outreach effort to seek out talented, ethical and capable individuals with great potential for serving in public life. For more information, call Lucy Bartlett at (202) 842-7312

Alternative Strategies and FloraStyle are hosting a Toy Drive for the Polinsky Center. You are invited to drop off your unwrapped toy through Dec. 22. Please deliver all toys to FloraStyle, located at 3807 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest.

The Gay Men’s Spiritual Retreat (GMSR) is hosting its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser — including the very popular Drag King/Drag Queen contest and dessert auction — from 6;00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 at The Center, 3909 Centre St. Sometimes the holidays can be challenging for the sober community. This event will provide a safe, sober environment filled with laughter, entertainment, camaraderie and fun. The one and only Ms. Kay Sedilla — international model, movie star and reigning Ms. Camp Stevens — will MC, and there will be many fantabulous door prizes. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Bring sponsors, sponsees, family and friends. For more information, call Johnny Flores at (619) 218-2130.

District Three Councilmember Toni Atkins and The Center will be hosting the monthly LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast on Friday, Dec. 19. The breakfast starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. The December breakfast will focus on law enforcement. Speakers will include District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne.

The cost is $6 per person and includes a full breakfast, panel presentation, Q&A and open networking. RSVPs are not required. For more information, contact AJ Davis-DeFeo at (619) 692-2077, ext. 212,. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request. Requests must be sent at least seven working days before the event.

The San Diego Workforce Partnership has received a $1.9 million grant for use in the San Diego County Workforce Investment Area to create temporary jobs to help with disaster relief following the recent wildfires.

The funds can be used for temporary job creation to provide disaster relief employment on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance. The money can also be used to support projects for demolition, cleaning, repair, renovation, and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed structures, facilities, and lands located within the wildfire disaster areas.

The grant funds may be expended through public and private agencies and other organizations engaged in such projects. There is a wage cap of $12,000, and workers cannot be employed for more than six months or 1040 hours.

For more information on employment opportunities under this grant, contact the San Diego Workforce Partnership at (619) 238-1445.

Cantor Leon Natker will lead a table service to celebrate Shabbat and Chanukah at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. It is the first night of Chanukah, so bring a favorite chanukiah (menorah) and candles. There will also be a contest for the best homemade chanukiah.

The Women’s Havdallah Havurah is putting the evening’s celebration together that will include a potluck dinner, and they have enlisted the help of three experienced latke makers. Each family unit is asked to pay $5 to help cover the cost of the latkes and the paper goods. For more information about the potluck and about what to bring, please RSVP to Teri Wilner at (858) 278-2837 or Barbara Chancy at (619) 475-9116 so the committee will know how many people to expect — and how many latkes to make.

Another boring Monday night in your life? Well there’s something new in town that can change that. Jeffery Evans at The Storefront is opening a new GLBTQ youth drop in center for youth ages 12-24. Surf the net or do homework at the computer station, browse through their newest music collection with all the latest artist and some classics, browse through their brand new GLBT video collection or for new releases, discuss the latest topics in the GLBTQ youth community in their discussion group, play some video games, or just simply get out and get to know people in the community. The grand opening was held on Dec. 1 and will continue every Monday at The Storefront, located at 3427 Fourth Ave. from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride has extended the deadline for its annual logo contest to Jan. 5, 2004. The organization is accepting all types of artistic styles from the community that correspond to its anniversary theme: “30 Years of Pride: Strength in Numbers.”

Community members will review logo submissions after the deadline, and the winning artist(s) will receive $500. “The contest is open to all supporters of San Diego LGBT Pride. And the selected design will appear on our widely distributed souvenir program as well as commemorative merchandise,” said Pride Executive Director Suanne Pauley.

The anniversary theme was coined through input offered by community members at an October town hall meeting — and then finalized by Pride’s board of directors.

“We wanted a message that directly frames this milestone anniversary while reflecting the enormous attendance seen over the years at the parade and festival,” Pauley added.

Pride’s 2004 celebration is scheduled for July 30, 31 and Aug. 1.

Those wishing to participate in the logo contest should call the Pride office for submission details, at (619) 297-7683.