HILLCREST WIND ENSEMBLE PRESENTS RUSSIAN WINDS
The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble will present Russian Winds, on Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 4190 Front St. in Hillcrest. The all-Russian program will feature music of Shostakovich, Mussorgsky, Borodin, and more. Under the direction of John Winkelman, the 45-piece band is made up of a diverse cross section of the community. Tickets are $15.00 and are available from any band member, at The Windsmith 3875 Granada St. in North Park, or at the door. Concert proceeds go to The [LGBT Community] Center, which in turn funds the Wind Ensemble in buying music, equipment, rehearsal space and storage.

NORTH PARK AND NASIMI, AZERBAIJAN TO BECOME SISTER NEIGHBORHOODS
Mayor Sanders and the San Diego City Council will formally recognize the world’s first Sister Neigh¬borhood Partnership between Switzer Highland in North Park and Nasimi District in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Oct. 18.
Azerbaijan officials from Los Angeles, Washington and Baku will participate in the historic event during the City Council meeting at 10 a.m. at 202 C St.
The project focuses on education, arts, culture and business, and is helping to create partnerships involving elementary and middle schools, the American Language Institute at San Diego State and the Music Department at Grossmont College, among others. All parties involved are working with counterparts in Azerbaijan.

ART GLASS GUILD HOSTS FALL SHOW
The Art Glass Guild, an educational and retail art space dedicated to glass art, will be hosting their Fall Show and Patio Sale Oct. 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring various forms of glass art, such as blown, fused, torched, stained and mosaic glass, the show will help fund the classes, projects and equipment the Guild provides. Over 30 artists will offer pieces ranging from jewelry to weathervanes. The show will be at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. For more information, visit www.artglassguild.com or call 702 – 8006.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SEEKS LOCAL NOMINATIONS
Each year during National Small Business Week, the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes outstanding small business owners for their contributions to the American economy and society. The SBA is currently accepting nominations for several SBA award categories including the 2012 Small Business Person of the Year Award. The categories exclusively for San Diego businesses include: Women-Owned Small Business, Minority- Owned Small Business and Veteran-Owned Small Business. For more information about nomination criteria, contact Cynthia Harris at [email protected]. The deadline for submitting nominations to the San Diego office is Nov. 10.

“AMERICA’S MOST HAUNTED” READY FOR HALLOWEEN SEASON
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), which operates the historic Whaley House Museum in Old Town, has some “spirited” fun in store for visitors this Halloween season. In addition to being one of the most historic buildings in San Diego, the Whaley House has earned its reputation as “America’s Most Haunted.” This year’s festivities include extended hours, period lighting and music, Past & Presence Ghost Tours, “Scaryoke” at America’s Most Haunted, a Halloween at America’s Most Haunted and after-hours Ghost Hunts. Although advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended for the tours, no reservations are necessary for general admission to the museum. Details about the Whaley House and all events can be found at www. whaleyhouse.org.

TRASH COMING TO NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
The New Children’s Museum will feature its newest exhibit and block party, Trash, on Oct.15-16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Featuring the work of 12 artists from around the world, Trash aims to change the way people think about trash. As an “invisible but important issue,” the new pieces of art invite families to explore new perspectives and help shape the future. The Trash block party will have performances by family-friendly group Ozokidz and Junior Crew STOMP, along with America’s Got Talent winners the Platt Brothers, trapeze artists and exhibits. The New Children’s Museum is located at 200 West Island Ave. For more information, visit www.thinkplaycreate.org/trash.

GIRLS THINK TANK HOSTING PICNIC LUNCHEON
Girls Think Tank, Inc. (GTT) is a San Diego-based nonprofit organization that focuses on advocacy and activism in underserved communities. They do this by collaborating with other nonprofits, the homeless community and the general San Diego community. Celebrating five years of working with the homeless community, GTT will be hosting a picnic in Balboa Park on the Park Boulevard and Presidents Way Lawn, on Oct. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. The picnic will raise awareness about its programs and the challenges of homelessness in San Diego. Tickets cost $15, which covers the cost of lunch for the purchaser and a homeless neighbor. For more information, visit girlsthinktank.org/picnic or call 537 – 8736.

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
The 22nd Annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival presents a screening of The Human Resources Manager on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre. The Human Resources Manager of Jerusalem’s largest bakery is in trouble. He is separated from his wife, distanced from his daughter, and stuck in a job he hates. When one of his employees, a foreign worker, is killed in a suicide bombing, the bakery is accused of indifference, and the HR Manager is sent to the victim’s hometown in Romania to make amends. Far from home, on a mission to honor a woman he didn’t even know but has somehow grown to admire, the HR Manager fights to regain his company’s reputation – and possibly his own humanity.

GLORIA ALLOCATES FUNDS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS
Councilmember Todd Gloria recently allocated $3,400 of Community Projects, Programs and Services (CPPS) funds to two local projects. An allocation of $1,000 went to the Park and Recreation Department as matching funds for the purchase and installation of sod and seed for Grape Street Park. Dog owners of Grape Street raised and contributed $1,000 to the City for the other half of the expense. With the second contribution, San Diego’s beaches will be accessible to more wheelchair-bound residents and visitors. To supplement the $3,000 secured from the Disabled Services Advisory Board, Councilmember Gloria allocated $2,400 to the Park and Recreation Department to purchase manual beach wheelchairs. CPPS funds may be used to support the services of City departments and are distributed as desired by each City Council office.

KEHOE’S ANTI-STRANGULATION BILL SIGNED
San Diego senator Christine Kehoe’s anti-strangulation bill was recently signed into law. The adoption of the Diana Gonzalez Strangulation Prevention Act of 2011 makes California one of 30 states that clarify strangulation’s violent and life threatening nature. Recent research confirms that strangulation is one of the most lethal forms of violence in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. Experts say that victims of attempted strangulation are seven times more likely to become homicide victims. In the past, however, the lack of physical evidence in many “choking” cases meant they were treated as minor incidents. The bill is named in honor of a Diana Gonzalez, who filed domestic battery charges against her husband, which were dismissed, he then tried to strangle her and held her captive for three days. Gonzalez was killed in October 2010, and her husband has been charged with the murder.

ATKINS DISEASEPREVENTION BILL SIGNED
Governor Jerry Brown signed Disease Prevention Bill by State Assemblymember Toni Atkins on Oct. 9. The bill closes a gap in the law to allow young people to seek preventive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) without an involved parent. Currently, minors have access to diagnosis and treatment services, but not preventive services such as vaccinations. “It doesn’t make sense for our state’s laws to provide youth with direct access to treatment services after they have been infected, but to leave them without the medical options that would prevent them from catching these diseases in the first place,” says Atkins. “Requiring parental involvement is not always realistic or safe and we need to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to utilize life-saving preventive medicine.” The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012.

GOLDEN HILL MAD RULED INVALID
A state Court of Appeals ruled Sept. 22 that the Greater Golden Hill Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) is invalid. The Court said the MAD had been established illegally and declared that the assessments collected for it by the city are invalid. The decision was unanimous, 3 to 0. The Court ruled that the city of San Diego over-weighted the value of city-owned property in the neighborhood, which skewed the result of a vote in 2007 on whether to establish a MAD.