How cold it has gotten in sunny ol’ San Diego! Check this out: This past week, some days have beaten all-time records for cold weather – records set from 1888 to the 1960s. So bundle up and take your vitamins (I recommend Great Earth Vitamins in the Uptown Shopping Plaza) because it’s going to get colder!

Last week, Tom Felkner, Bob Lehman and I attended Mayor Jerry Sanders’ 2007 State of the City Address at a packed Golden Hall.

I’ve attended countless State of the City addresses, from Mayors Curran, Wilson, Hedgecock, O’Connor, Golding and Murphy, but this one was one of the most blunt, honest and down-to-earth reality checks, which we citizens deserve – not pipe dreams, false rosy pictures and the usual smoke and mirrors. This is why Mayor Sanders is so popular and respected and has such high approval ratings. He always “tells it like it is” and plays no political games.

It’s going to continue to be a most difficult year for our city, but I am confident in the continuing leadership of Mayor Sanders – there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

First of all, a big thank you to the San Diego LGBT Pride board, staff and volunteers for all the money they have given out to GLBT organizations (more than $1 million) and for their great community organization partnership grants.

What I’m concerned about is that at a community forum Pride held about four years ago, they agreed to re-establish our “community grand marshals” (that year, Eddie Conlon and Barbara Crusberg were named, and later that year we lost both to cancer).

Last year, it seemed like we did not name community grand marshals, who are usually members of our GLBT community. Please, Pride board, let’s return these positions to their rightful place because we have so many people who should receive this prestigious position. Thank you for listening to this old queen!

This past Monday morning, I got up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day “All People’s Breakfast.”

Once again, more than 1,000 people came together to break bread and celebrate the life of one of our nation’s most respected civil rights leaders. This event brings together one of our city’s most diverse crowds – from all walks of life and from all communities. It was good to see official representation from The Center, Pride, the San Diego Democratic Club, etc.

For the last three years, I have been proud to be a member of our city’s Human Relations Commission, which has officially hosted and organized this event. (Bravo to our executive director, Ashley Walker, as well as to our HRC staff, the volunteers and the breakfast committee.)

Next year, the Center for Social Advocacy will assume these responsibilities.

Approximately 40 Hillcrest residents (property owners and renters) showed up at the Joyce Beers Community Center to discuss forming a neighborhood town council or a similar organization like other neighborhoods have.

The meeting was spearheaded by the hard-working Ann Garwood (of HillQuest publication fame), who is a longtime community activist. A lot of issues were brought up, including the homeless problem, graffiti, nightclub noise, development projects and crime.

I totally support the formation of this long-overdue Hillcrest organization, and it was good to see both old and young, straight and GLBT residents in attendance.

What concerns me is that I spotted some very anti-growth and, yes, well-known constant critics of Councilmember Toni Atkins in attendance, and I hope when it comes to growth and development in Hillcrest that this organization will be a balanced one and won’t push one side of this important issue. Also, I hope this does not turn into a forum for some just to bash Councilmember Atkins.

It’s up to all of the residents of Hillcrest to get involved and build this organization. I urge your support and attendance.

For more information, phone Nancy or Ann (thank you, ladies, for your leadership) at (619) 260-1929 or log on to www.hillquest.com.

Have you ever wanted to join a GLBT organization? Well, now’s your chance to learn about our community’s many diverse and great organizations by attending the Community Volunteer Fair next Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Center, where numerous organizations and groups will have information booths. Even the Stonewall Citizens Patrol will be there with information about volunteering and training dates.

For more information, call The Center at (619) 692-2077.

In its regular reports, the Ben F. Dillingham Community Grant has shown it has helped bury 22 people who would not have had this last dignity if it wasn’t for this community-supported grant.

Many of these cremations have been for people with AIDS whose families abandoned them or could not afford to pay for their loved one’s cremation or burial.

This coming Sunday, Jan. 21, Big Mike’s birthday party at the US Grant from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. will benefit the Ben F. Dillingham Community Grant.

For more information about the grant, phone Julia Legaspi at (619) 993-8315.

For the third year in a row, popular Councilmember Donna Frye attended and supported (she stayed the entire evening) our county’s largest AIDS organization, Being Alive’s annual SoulPlates gala benefit.

Frye bought things and helped auction off her personally designed art plate (it went for $400), and two lunch dates with her (which went for $500 and $600).

SoulPlates III was a really fun event, and everyone had a great time. There was great food, especially Baja Betty’s taco station.

Among the items auctioned off were plates, pictures, etc. from Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Donna Summer, the Indigo Girls and Jerry Seinfeld. I got the Harvey Fierstein and Jack O’Brien art plates. There were also VIP tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres talk show, a walk-on part in the hit TV show “Numb3rs” (which Tom Felkner got) and many more exciting items. Auctioneer Daniel Haslam is one of the best in Southern California.

A big thank you to Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner, who were big financial donors to the success of this most worthy HIV/AIDS event. Outstanding job to Being Alive president Cathryn Guidry, executive director Shannon Wagner (two hard-working, dedicated and fabulous women!) and to all the many volunteers. I can’t wait until next year!

The SoulPlates III event is so much fun that I rushed back from Palm Springs to attend it! I was in Palm Springs to meet with José Sarria for two days to discuss him turning over the duties, responsibilities and authority of the International Court System of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to me, which will take place in a formal ceremony held in Seattle, Wash., on Feb. 18.

I will be leading this GLBT Shriners/Elks-like organization, which has more than 68 chapters in cities throughout these three countries. The International Court System is going on 42 years of service performing “noble deeds.” I look forward to taking this outstanding international organization to the next level.

Many San Diegans will be traveling to Seattle during Presidents Day weekend to witness this historic and formal ceremony and my, oh yes, “crowning.”

For more information about attending the event, phone (619) 254-6372 or (619) 478-9443.

Stepping Stone is one of our state’s most respected and outstanding recovery organizations for those trying to get off of drugs and alcohol. Countless lives have been saved or changed because of the good people (staff, board members and volunteers) at Stepping Stone.

As our nation’s drug problem continues to grow, especially in our communities, we need to support Stepping Stone and the Live & Let Live Alano Club more than ever! So mark your calendar for Feb. 8 at the Lyceum theater in Horton Plaza, where the unbelievable Edwards Twins (nationally renowned impersonators of the likes of Elton John, Cher, etc.) will entertain you like you’ve never been entertained! Also check out Universal Rhythms on Feb. 24 at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park, with entertainment and catering by The French Gourmet!

For further information and tickets, phone (619) 278-0777 ext. 103.