Participants of San Diego LGBT Pride’s second annual Equality Torch Relay will simultaneously deliver the message of LGBT equality to all corners of San Diego County, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, October 10. Team leaders and participants will carry banners and symbolic torches past dozens of landmarks and government buildings along routes that include San Diego city districts 1 through 8, as well as municipalities in East County, North County and South Bay.

The event culminates with a closing ceremony sponsored by VONS, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., the same day, in The Center’s auditorium, 3909 Centre St. It will feature live entertainment, free refreshments and a roster of speakers who will address the accomplishments and challenges of the LGBT movement from several perspectives: National, local, youth, higher education and allies.

Speakers include Linda Perine, board member for the Human Rights Campaign San Diego chapter; Karla Cruz, a San Diego Pride youth intern and Miss Gay Teen Pride of San Diego; longtime political activist Nicole Ramirez-Murray; Fernando Lopez, Marriage Equality activist; Professor Nancy Jennings of Grossmont Community College; and a representative from San Diego State University.

San Diego Pride co-chair Larry Ramey said “The relay is a unique countywide effort to raise awareness of LGBT equality within the many areas in which we live, work, shop, worship and raise our children,”

Frank Sabatini Jr., San Diego Pride’s Media Coordinator added, “Last years event was highly successful within a strong outreach to many areas in the County, attesting that LGBT people are everywhere. The Rainbow flag was largely well received in all areas of the County and this year’s event is an expansion and sustainment of last years relay.”

The Equality Torch Relay welcomes all LGBT community members and their supporters from every walk of life. Those interested in participating may register on the Pride web site: www.SanDiegoPride.org or take part in a Torch Relay workshop, scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, October 5, at the San Diego LGBT Pride offices, located at 3620 30th St. For more information, call 619-297-7683, ext. 118.

Want to see blue whales, pods of dolphins, sea lions, sea birds and more in their natural habitat? Now’s your chance as The San Diego Natural History Museum and H&M Landing have extended their nature trips at sea through October 10. Learn as you watch with commentary and interpretation by the Museum’s highly trained volunteers known as the “Museum Whalers.”

“By any measure, the blue whale has to be considered one of the most magnificent animals on the planet,” says Dr. Michael Wall, Director of the Museum’s Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias . There were once an estimated 300,000 of these 100-foot whales roaming the oceans, but their numbers have been reduced to less than 25,000 worldwide. “The species is making a comeback and we are especially lucky to have a population of them off the San Diego coast. And to be able to spend a day offshore watching these giants is a marvelous opportunity,” Dr. Wall said.

Operating from two boats (the 100-foot Bright & Morning Star, and the 85-foot Ocean Odyssey), the Museum offers two trips a week, Thursday and Sunday, with a capacity of 60 people each. Boats board at H&M Landing at 2803 Emerson St. in Pt. Loma. Trips run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 for Museum members and military and $80 for nonmembers and can be purchased through the Museum’s website at www.sdnhm.org or by calling 619.255.0210.

“We are pleased to partner with the Natural History Museum to make these cruises available to the public,” said H&M general manager Phil Lobred . “The Museum has been building its expertise in the natural wonders of our region for 135 years, and we are proud to be affiliated with it.”

The San Diego LGBT Community Center announced that the Fifth Annual Senior Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at The Center (3909 Centre St., SD 92103). The Senior Resource Fair is a day of no-cost services, resources and workshops focused on senior health and well-being designed to provide attendees with positive and affirming resources for staying healthy, active and engaged. The theme for this year’s fair is “Live, Love, Laugh and Be Happy.”

The Senior Resource Fair is free to attend and includes informative workshops, a lively vendor area staffed by representatives from local health and human services organizations, free lunch for all who attend and more. Free tote bags will be given to the first 100 attendees who come through the doors! The final deadline for vendor booth registration is Friday, October 1 — booth rental fees are $75 (non-profit) and $150 (business/private). Please see below for the event’s workshop schedule. For more information on the Senior Resource Fair or to request a booth application, please contact Abby Schwartz, at (619) 692-2077, ext.212, or seniors@thecentersd.org.

The Art Glass Association of Southern California and the Art Glass Guild, Studio 25, will be hosting the Fall Patio Show and Sale on Saturday, October 9th and Sunday, October 10th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. at Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, between the San Diego Zoo and the Natural History Museum, just off Park Blvd at 1770 Village Place. This is the largest art glass show in Southern California! All forms of Art Glass, including blown, fused, torch worked, stained glass, cast, etched and mosaic will be featured. Over 30 juried glass artists of the Art Glass Association of Southern California will be exhibiting their art. For more information visit www.agasc.org or the Art Glass Guild, Studio 25, 619-702-8006.

The resident artists of the 10th Avenue Arts Centre, Adam Lewis Smith, Gerald Montoya, and Theresa Wear, along with invited artist, Clyde Yoshida, present “Answers from the Universe“, an eclectic collection of art and photography, interconnected by nature, pattern, texture, and vibrant color. The exhibit will run concurrent with Mo’oeleo’s “Yellow Face” at the 10th Avenue Theatre, October 3-31, 2010.

The San Ysidro Health Center’s CASA (Coordinated Assistance Services Advocacy) Program is organizing a Clothes Drive. So go through your closet and pull out gently worn clothing, handbags, jewelry… and donate them for their women’s support group. Their clients will greatly benefit from your donation and you will have a clean and tidy closet! You will need the extra space for the winter jackets, coats and all the presents coming your way for Christmas. For more information or to schedule a pick up please contact the center on (619) 662-4161.

The mission of CASA is to provide a continuum of culturally competent, client-centered medical, social and support services that enrich and enhance the quality of live of people living with HIV/AIDS. In collaborative partnership with others, they offer a total concept of care, providing for the needs of our community and each person they serve.

MindMovies is hosting the first annual Mind Mastery World Summit in San Diego at the Hard Rock Hotel on October 9-10. The exclusive two-day event will feature eleven world-renown motivational leaders including: Ryan Higgins, Natalie Ledwell, Bob Proctor, Mahendra Trivedi, Bob Doyle, John Assaraf, Michele Blood, T Harv Eker, Nick Ortner, Janet Attwood and Trudy Stevens.