Last week, sexually active students at San Diego State University (SDSU) were notified that they should get tested for syphilis, a potentially serious bacterial infection caused by unsafe sex.

University officials began notifying students after there were “multiple, confirmed” students found to have the infection.

Health officials released a statement that said all students who are sexually active should get tested. They also said there is “immediate concern” due to the short amount of time left before students leave campus for the end of the semester.

“We are working closely with county health officials to notify our students of potential exposure,” said Dr. Gregg Lichtenstein, medical director of SDSU Student Health Services. “Any student who has engaged in unprotected sex in the past five months should come in for a test.”

Syphilis is a curable infection that begins with a primary lesion during the early stages of the disease. However, that lesion is normally painless and may not be clearly visible.

Health officials said the sore will go away, often with or without treatment, but the disease is still transmissible.

Primary syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics, and the best detection is through a simple blood test.

Anyone with questions is urged to call the campus Student Health Services at 619-594-5281. Free testing is available at the university’s Calpulli Center or at the County of San Diego Health Services Complex at 3851 Rosecrans St. Students can also see their personal physician.

The Center will host “Red Hot Mama: A Women’s Nightclub” at The Center on Saturday, May 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event, sponsored by The Center’s Women’s Resource Center and San Diego Pride, will provide women with an opportunity to help the GLBT community while socializing and dancing in an environment outside of the usual club scene.

“Red Hot Mama” will feature dance music and entertainment by DJ Sandra Ware, door prizes, a “Red Hot” dessert bar and a no-host bar. In addition, there will be special surprises at the door for all mothers.

Festive red attire is encouraged, and women ages 21 and older are welcome. Tickets are $45 and are available on a cash-only basis at the door.

For more information about “Red Hot Mama,” contact Lea Burgess-Carland at 619-692-2077, ext. 111, or e-mail lburgess-carland@thecentersd.org.

Volunteers from across San Diego County will come together for North County Community Cares 2007 on Saturday, May 19. During the first annual event, a series of community projects will be completed at nine sites in five communities, which include Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido and Poway.

Projects will be completed by individuals, families and company volunteers to rebuild and rejuvenate playgrounds, and complete other projects to help improve communities in these areas.

“This event is an opportunity for San Diegans to get involved in their community and make a difference in the lives of others,” said Stan Miller, executive director of North County Community Services.

In all, the North County Community Cares volunteer event will take on nine projects at various locations. All of the locations, including eight child development centers and the North County Food Bank, are operated by local non-profit North County Community Services.

North County Community Services Child Development Programs serve more than 450 children from economically challenged families each year. Local and corporate volunteers will work alongside families served by the centers to rebuild playgrounds and plant community gardens at each of the child development centers.

Refurbishing play structures and areas that are used daily is an important part of maintaining quality programming. Likewise, establishing small community gardens at each site will allow for educational opportunities about nutrition and healthy choices. Food grown in the community gardens will be incorporated into the meals served to the children at each center.

Volunteers at the North County Food Bank will sort and organize thousands of pounds of food to be distributed to those in need across Northern San Diego County.

Local Home Depot Stores and others will work with North County Community Services to ensure that all nine sites are rebuilt and rejuvenated in only one day.

To support the project with a financial gift, visit www.active.com/donate/ncccares. For more information and event locations, contact Christa Farmer at 760-707-4942 or e-mail cfarmer@sdnccs.org.

Diversionary Theatre will present Tom Jacobson’s new play, Bunbury, a serious play for trivial people, as the sixth and final show of it’s 2006-2007 season. The play will feature David McBean in the title role and will run May 18-June 17.

Community members can join The Center for a special opening night benefit performance on Friday, May 18, and enjoy wine, cheese and sweets before the show at 7 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Bunbury is the story of an offstage character who comes to life and changes the endings of several classic plays. It all begins when he finds out that he is only a fictitious character who never appears in The Importance of Being Earnest. Bunbury uses his double anonymity to infiltrate and alter classic literature, starting by accidentally giving Romeo and Juliet a happy ending. The resulting transformation of such classics as The Three Sisters, A Streetcar Named Desire, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Waiting for Godot and even Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, spawns a new sub-discipline in literary criticism and might even change the world. Bunbury is a comedy that proves everyone’s life means something – even if they don’t exist.

Tickets for the opening night benefit performance are limited and are $20. Fifty percent of all tickets purchased at http://thecentersd.org.kintera.org/bunbury will benefit programs and services at The Center. The final date for online purchases is Wednesday, May 16.

For more information, visit www.diversionary.org.

Senator Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, honored chiropractor Linda Barufaldi as the 39th Senate District’s “Small Business Owner of the Year.” Barufaldi owned the Chiropractor Clinic of Hillcrest for 17 years until her retirement earlier this year.

“Over the years, Linda has worked the kinks out of even the tightest back, shoulders or neck, and I’m sure her clients will dearly miss her,” said Kehoe during the award luncheon.

Kehoe commended Barufaldi as an enormous community asset because of her efforts to improve women’s health and protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

One of Barufaldi’s professional highlights included onsite care for firefighters working during the 2003 Cedar fires in San Diego.

Barufaldi began her small business career in 1978 with her life partner, Joyce Marieb, with whom Barufaldi owned the Amazon Sweet Shop in Hillcrest until 1984.

Kehoe also recognized Marieb today for her leadership of the Greater San Diego Business Association, the country’s second largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender chamber of commerce. Marieb has served as the organization’s executive director since 2000.

The annual small business award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs from each Senate District in California.

The Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) Charitable Scholarship Foundation is accepting applications from San Diego County GLBT students and their allies.

Each year, the fund attempts to award at least five educational scholarships of up to $2,000 each to the most qualified candidates. The awards are granted to self-identified GLBT students and those who have shown support and knowledge of the GLBT community. The scholarships may be used toward tuition, books, supplies, housing or living expenses.

The application deadline is Tuesday, May 15, and scholarship awards will be presented this summer.

Applications are available on the GSBDA Web site. For more information or to download an application, visit www.gsdbafoundation.org.

The community will honor seven outstanding San Diego women at The Center’s Annual Women’s Night at Paradise Point in Mission Bay on Saturday, June 16.

This year’s theme is “One Night in Paradise,” and the event will feature authentic Pacific Rim cuisine, a silent auction, live entertainment and dancing in a luxurious setting. The event is a benefit for women’s services at The Center.

“This event is so important for our San Diego LBT women’s community,” said Jennifer Jones, director of development for The Center. “Not only does this evening give us a chance to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of amazing women, but also provides an opportunity to support the empowerment of other women by funding the important work of The Center.”

Annual Women’s Night honorees were selected by a community-wide nomination process, with Araceli (Cheli) Mohamed chosen as Woman of the Year.

Currently an aide to City Councilmember Toni Atkins, Mohamed has worked in volunteer and program management for the former AIDS Foundation San Diego, The Center and the Family Pride Coalition. She has served for 14 years as a volunteer with San Diego Pride.

For more information about The Center’s Annual Women’s Night, contact Sarafina Scapicchio at 619-692-2077, ext. 247, or e-mail sscapicchio@thecentersd.org.