The fifth annual North County Pride in the Park is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2. The event takes place at Brengle Terrace Park, located at 1200 Vale Terrace Dr. in Vista. The theme for this year’s festival is “5 Years of Expanding Community Through Awareness”. The free event runs from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m.

North County Pride in the Park offers a resource and health fair, live entertainment and a children’s area. Refreshments, food, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Visual artists will be able to display their work in a special exhibit space being sponsored by Real Individuals Seeking Expression (R.I.S.E.).

The resource and health fair featured almost 50 vendors in 2003 including both local non-profit organizations and businesses. The resource and health fair offers an opportunity to let the residents in and around San Diego’s North County learn about the many organizations and resources available to the GLBT community.

On Monday, Sept. 27, at 7:00 p.m. the San Diego chapter of PFLAG will host its monthly group meeting at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 4190 Front St. in Hillcrest. This month’s meeting features guest speaker David Rubin, who is in charge of the San Diego District Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Unit. Rubin will provide up-to-date information on the topic of hate crimes, and will speak following group sessions and a cookie social. For more information, call (619) 579-7640.

Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Transgender Health Project is researching the needs of the San Diego County transgender community. Funded by The California Endowment, the project is currently conducting a comprehensive needs assessment to document the specific needs of this community. The results of the project will culminate in the San Diego Transgender Healthcare Needs Report. Many transgender people live below poverty level with yearly incomes less than $10,000. Additionally, many health and social service agencies lack the training and experience to meet the specific needs of this population. The needs assessment acts as a blueprint for developing much-needed services. All individuals who identity on the transgender continuum are asked to participate in the needs assessment by contacting Tracie Jada O’Brien at the (619) 515-2411 or tracieo@fhcsd.org. There is an incentive for all who participate.

Fraternity House, Inc., invites the community to dine in style while simultaneously making a difference in the lives of men and women living with HIV/AIDS. As San Diego County’s only nonprofit organization licensed to provide residential care facilities for the chronically ill, Fraternity House presents its fifth annual Fraternity Feasts series, a sequence of elegant dining experiences designed to raise funds in support of the vital services Fraternity House provides. Guests enjoy sumptuous meals, beautiful homes and gardens and inspiring people. Each host has agreed to underwrite the cost of the evening so that the full proceeds from the dinner ticket sales go straight to the support of Fraternity House residents.

The dinner series concludes with “An Affaire to Remember”, taking place at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. George Schleder, executive chef from Affaire to Remember Catering, will host the dinner. The dinner will include cocktails and a five course, gourmet meal (including a main course of crown roast of pork with confetti stuffing). Following dinner, guests will be invited to explore Schleder’s home and view his extensive art and antique collections. Space is limited to 20 guests. To make reservations for the feast, contact Abby Schwartz at (760) 736-0292 ext.103.

During the fall scholarship cycle, from Aug. 16 to Oct. 18, San Diego State University will be accepting applications for the Cotton-Metzger Gay and Lesbian Scholarship and the Tobias “Toby” Edgmon Memorial Scholarship. These scholarships are made available to GLBT students from all class levels. SDSU encourages all GLBT students in need of financial support for their SDSU education to go to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship website to review additional information on these scholarships and apply online.

For more information, contact Patti Scott, associate development director for scholarships at SDSU, at (619) 594-0279.

For the fifth year running, Home Start, Inc. is teaming with Bourbon Street to host “Harvest Fest V”, a hip annual celebration to raise funds for child abuse prevention, on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bourbon Street. Support for the event, which drew over 100 attendees last year, is provided by Wells Fargo, 2004 lead sponsor, and by the Imperial Court de San Diego, Shaw Web Technologies, Frenz Designs, Cox & Scott Entertainment, Stu’s Carpet Clean and Beesworks. Frenz Designs’ owner, Big Mike, will chair this event. The guest emcee will be Dave Carlin, a reporter and anchor of KSWB’s News at 10, and Bourbon Street’s DJ Kenny will also participate. There will be surprise live entertainment and a silent auction.

The event will feature premium beer sampling, courtesy of Anheuser Busch Sales of San Diego, and hors d’oeuvres from Abellire, Chipotle Mexican Grill, The Abby Café, Taste of Italy, Hummingbird Confections and Twiggs Bakery. Admission is $30 and, because space is limited and the popularity of this event grows each year, reservations are encouraged. Contact Sharon Hudnall at (619) 692-0727 for more information.

The Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) unveiled their online Small Business Resource Center, funded by a grant from the San Diego’s Small Business Enhancement Program. The free service is linked to the GSDBA’s existing website, and offers business owners solutions in financing and management, permits and licenses, plus information about current labor and employment laws. Now available to everyone, it will soon be advertised to small business associations throughout the city.

According to GSDBA Executive Director Joyce Marieb, the site was constructed by the GSDBA’s tech committee, which is chaired by Cindy Turrietta. Added support was given by Robert Jones of InSiteful Solutions and Stephanie West of Go West Design.

In other business, the organization’s membership voted on a cover design for the upcoming 2005 business directory. William Lopez and the staff of Alternative Strategies submitted the winning entry. The theme, “A Community on the Go”, shows figures in action to represent the diverse and energetic participation of GSDBA members. Lopez will receive $700 for his work. Thirty thousand copies of the directory will be distributed by early January.

For information about GSDBA memberships and events, call (619) 296-4543.

Join San Diego’s Pagan community in celebrating the Autumn Harvest. The second annual Pagan Pride celebration will take place Saturday, Sept. 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Marston Point in the southwest corner of Balboa Park. The price of admission is a donation of goods or funds to a worthy charity; this year, Pagan Pride hosting a drive for the San Diego Food Bank and Project Wildlife.

The event will host a number of activities this year including various children’s activities, free Tarot, palmistry and horoscopes, drumming, workshops and discussions. Call (760) 473-6640 for more information.

After 10 years in University Heights, Persian Heritage Rugs & Antiques is closing its doors. Owner Ahmed Farid is selling all inventory at or below cost to expedite his move to New York, where he is pursuing another opportunity. The inventory includes handmade imported rugs and an array of hallway runners, as well as furniture, antiques and accessories such as hand-carved bookcases, altar tables, coffee tables, jade and wood art pieces.

Persian Heritage Rugs & Antiques, located at 4628 Park Blvd., will be open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until the inventory is sold. Call (619) 683-2696 for more information.