Green Day Festival set for Aug. 7 at Liberty Station With environmental consciousness held dear by many locals, a special expo tabbed “It’s a Green Day Festival” is being planned for Saturday, Aug. 7 at NTC Park in Liberty Station. The free event, sponsored by Help Is Here Inc., All Green Electronics Recycling and The Green Expo, will combine an educational and fun experience for San Diegans, according to organizers. The festival is a multi-city campaign dedicated to connecting people to resources and information for a greener planet and life, with a focus on the dawning era of creativity and innovation in “green” or “clean” technology. The expo and festival brings together pioneers dedicated to the promise of a healthier planet, as well as the prospect of growing businesses that promote sustainability. According to organizers, participants will discover emerging and available technologies promoting solutions to environmental problems, ways to green the world by saving energy, reducing pollution, recycling, healthy living, green-home products, educational workshops and eco-businesses. The event will feature live entertainment, a free e-waste drop-off, raffles, exhibitors, educational workshops, speakers, children’s activities presented by Nature of Art — including mural painting — and an Eco Parade. Organizers said the expo and festival welcomes speakers, volunteers, exhibitors of green products, services related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building, healthy living, job opportunities, green education/transportation, and climate change. NTC Park is located at 2455 Cushing Road. For more information, call (858) 952-4650, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.- TheGreenExpo.net. Community Party, fundraiser slated to aid Haitians Coastal Sage Gardening in Ocean Beach will be hosting a community party and fundraiser on Sunday, Aug. 1 to assist the earthquake-stricken people of Haiti. Organizers said 20 percent of all sales and 100 percent of any donations will to go aid two groups: the HTC Foundation and Seeds for Haiti. The event will include crafts, talks, poetry, music and dance, along with performances by local musician John Tafolla and friends and demonstrations by Capoeira Brasil with Mindinho. The HTC Foundation is under the guidance of Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat MD from San Diego. She is in Haiti today working with children. Seeds for Haiti, founded by Bazelais Jean-Baptiste, is providing seeds to farmers and creating a seed bank for sustainability. The party and fundraiser will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Coastal Sage Gardening, 3685 Voltaire St. For more information, call (619) 223-5229, or e-mail [email protected]. SDYC unveils new multipurpose sailing center The San Diego Yacht Club officially opened the new Malin Burnham Sailing Center on July 5. The center is designed to provide a state-of-the-art facility for all of the club’s sailing needs. The structure houses the junior sailing program, regatta manager’s office, dock master’s office, history committee’s office, ham radio office, maintenance facilities for the club’s asset fleets, and restroom and shower facilities. In addition, the sailing center includes several multipurpose rooms for fleet- and race-related events, as well as events managed by the club’s catering department. Designed by architects Hanna, Gabriel, Wells, the facility is on track to qualify for Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. DPR Construction provided the general contracting services and B&G Consultants provided project management. The architecture incorporates modern use of materials while acknowledging that the clubhouse is the focal point. When compared to the country’s finest sailing centers, club officials said, “there will be no mistaking this facility as one of the world’s finest.” The yacht club is located at 1011 Anchorage Lane. For more information, call (619) 221-8400, or visit www.sdyc.org. OB book drive to benefit local families Mom to Madre, an Ocean Beach-based nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization, will a book drive Monday, Aug. 2 to collect children’s books and cookbooks — in “like new” condition — to distribute to mothers and children participating in Ocean Beach schools and preschools. According to organizers, the book drive will help local families have their own home library. Books can be dropped off at Saffran Packaging, 4876 Santa Monica Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon. Mom to Madre will host a table in front to provide information and free bookmarks with reading tips for families of young children, in both English and Spanish. A box will remain outside for book drop-off from Aug. 2 through Aug. 13. For more information, call (619) 309-5151. Registration opens for Girls on the Run fall season Registration is now open for the fall season of Girls on the Run, a 12-week running and character-building program for girls 8 – 12 years old. The program begins Sept. 14. The 75-minute workout and educational sessions will be offered at 14 San Diego sites on a twice-weekly basis, including Point Loma, Balboa Park and the La Jolla/University City areas. The classes are designed to prepare preteen girls for successful futures by helping them learn to set and achieve healthy goals. The program encourages healthy exercise, nutritious eating habits and good decision-making skills, according to organizers. The fall and spring semester programs are led by certified Girls on the Run volunteer coaches and culminate in non-competitive 5K events giving the girls a chance to celebrate their accomplishments. The sessions follow a progression of topics to foster self-esteem and healthy living. Each session has a specific topic, including learning to listen, body image, peer pressure, healthy decisions, contributing to the community, team building and saying “no” to drugs. San Diego locations for the 2010 fall sessions include: • Balboa Park, Morley Field • Point Loma, NTC Park • UTC, Jewish Community Center According to organizers, the objective of Girls on The Run San Diego is to decrease the number of at-risk behaviors among its participants, including reducing eating disorders and adolescent pregnancies, substance/alcohol abuse problems, depression and suicide attempts, and confrontations with the juvenile justice system. For more information about the fall program, call (619) 770-7605, or visit www.gotrsd.org.