Largest Old House Fair set for June 15

The South Park Business Group’s 15th annual Old House Fair scheduled for June 15 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. will be the largest yet, with over 75 exhibitors and vendors participating throughout South Park, organizers said. The free, daylong festival includes self-guided walking and biking tours, exhibits by craftspeople, contractors, shops and service organizations, live music and entertainment, and arts and crafts for children. Attendees will have the option of taking a hour-long Trolley Tour for $5, and there will be food vendors selling items as well. “An additional new feature of this year’s Old House Fair is the chance to visit a vintage 1953 camper restored to its mid-century beauty, which will be on display at the Vintage Row,” said Marsha Smelkinson, South Park Scene marketing director. The camper, presented by Urban Holiday Rentals, is available for vacation bookings. “Vendors of vintage home décor items, furniture and artwork will also be featured in the Vintage Row on 30th Street, between Cedar and Beech streets,” Smelkinson said. While the Old House Fair is free for attendees, there is a charge for tickets to that day’s Historic Home Tour, which also runs from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets for the tour are $25 and include five historic homes. Advance purchase tickets are available online and can be picked up via will call at the ticket booth located at 30th and Beech streets starting at 9:30 a.m. the day of the fair. For more information and tickets visit theoldhousefair.com.

Boardwalk Development selected for Uptown District shopping center

Regency Centers Corp. of Jacksonville, Fla. choose San Diego-based Boardwalk Development as the leasing agent for properties in the business complex housed by Ralphs supermarket and Trader Joe’s in Hillcrest. Called Uptown District, the 148,000-square-foot shopping center was recently acquired by Regency Centers for $81.1 million, becoming San Diego County’s largest retail sale in 2012. “One of the primary leasing objectives is to create a vibrant street scene along University Avenue,” said Ben Longwell of Boardwalk Development in a press release. “We are seeking two unique food and beverage operators that will ‘anchor’ the street presence … and bring life to the existing courtyard, which is anticipated to become one of Hillcrest’s most reassured and interesting public amenities.” When the sale was announced in January, the shopping center was 95 percent leased. “Uptown District is a vital asset to one of San Diego’s most densely populated trade areas. We believe our investment and rethinking of this 1980s visionary project will bring Hillcrest and San Diego a fantastic urban shopping experience,” said Gregg Sadowsky, Regency Centers senior vice president and senior market officer, in the release.

‘Caleb’s Crossing’ chosen for community reading program

After a month of accepting nominations, the One Book Advisory Committee selected “Caleb’s Crossing” by Geraldine Brooks as the 2013 One Book, One San Diego selection, announced May 14. Now in its seventh year, the community-reading program began as a partnership between KPBS and the San Diego Public Library. This year, the San Diego County Library joins as sponsoring partner, increasing the available libraries that will offer the book as well as One Book-specific events to 66. “Caleb’s Crossing” is inspired by the true story of the first Native American to graduate from Harvard, and is set in 1660s Martha’s Vineyard. Brooks, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her 2005 novel “March,” said she will attend a series of special community events later this year in conjunction with the citywide reading program. “It is exciting to think of a vibrant, contemporary city coming together to consider a story inspired by our shared past,” Brookes said in an announcement. Events and activities related to the novel will take place over eight weeks this fall, including discussions and film screenings. “One Book is an opportunity to bring our diverse communities throughout San Diego County together through reading,” County Library Director Jose Aponte said in the same announcement. For more information visit kpbs.org/onebook/.

Atkins bill to aid transgender name changes passes Assembly

A bill authored by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins that would streamline the process and provide additional privacy protection for transgender individuals seeking legal name changes passed the California Assembly May 9. AB 1121, which is sponsored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center, will now move to the State Senate for consideration. “Transgender people are entitled to have their official documents and their legal name reflect their true identity without a burdensome and expensive process that endangers their personal safety,” Atkins said in a press release. The current law requires obtaining a court order and publishing the name-change application in a newspaper, which can be expensive and expose the individual to “potential discrimination, harassment or even violence because of being transgender,” the release stated. If the bill becomes law, name changes will be handled directly with the Office of Vital Records, thus avoiding the public notice and court process.

Bicycle Coalition receives Climate Smart grant

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative Fund. The grant, announced May 13, will help fund a regionally based Bike/Walk Alliance in an effort to bring together community bicycle and pedestrian transportation advocates to promote bicycling and walking as viable alternatives to automobiles. “We’re certainly appreciative of the San Diego Foundation funding our efforts to increase biking and walking in San Diego County,” said Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Andy Hansahw in the announcement. “Vehicles are major contributors to emissions causing climate change. We believe increasing active transportation like biking and walking in the region is a low-hanging fruit in decreasing those emissions.” Still in the early planning stages, the Bike/Walk Alliance will identify priorities in individual San Diego communities to improve transportation and influence policies, the announcement stated. The coalition currently collaborates with Walk San Diego and Move San Diego, which Hanshaw said have been important partners in providing “diverse transportation” alternatives. “We’re happy to continue collaboration with them on climate change and sustainability in San Diego,” he said.

Diplomacy Council honors Marisa Ugarte

North Park-based San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) will honor Marisa Ugarte, executive director of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC), and the Downtown San Diego Breakfast Rotary as global “Citizen Diplomats of the Year” at a ceremony held June 8. Ugarte founded the BSCC in 1997 to combat human trafficking, and has seen it grow to an alliance of over 60 government and non-profit agencies in the United States and Latin America. “For nearly 10 years, Marisa has been sharing her insights on … critical issues with hundreds of visitors who come to San Diego through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program,” said SDDC Director of Programs Enrique Meza in a press release. Ugarte has previously been honored by the International Foundation for Human Rights and tolerance, former President Bill Clinton, Voices of Women and the Chicano Foundation, among others. The Breakfast Rotary boasts over 110 members and is being honored in part because of their international programs that support education and health care access to people in Costa Rica, Uganda, Zambia, India and Mexico. The ceremony is part of the SDDC’s annual Diplomacy Day Luncheon, which will be from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Mission Valley Town & Country Resort’s Tiki Pavilion. Congressmember Scott Peters will deliver opening remarks and Congressmember Susan Davis will be the keynote speaker. For more information and tickets visit DiplomacyDay2013.eventbrite.com/.

The Center to launch transgender services program

Announced May 13, The San Diego LGBT Community Center will be implementing Project TRANS, a new transgender services program that will serve as an organizational umbrella for the various services previously offered at The Center, including discussion groups, health and HIV-prevention services, youth services and more. TRANS stands for Transgender Referrals, Assistance, Networking and Services. Additional focus areas for the new program will be on advocacy, referrals, outreach, cultural sensitive trainings, social activities and events, workshops and networking. In a partnership with the Transgender Law Center, the program will provide assistance for individuals seeking to change their name and gender marker on their state identification. Project TRANS will be led by Program Coordinator Connor Maddocks, a seven-year employee of The Center. “The Center has offered discussion groups and behavioral health counseling for a long time, but it is time to branch out to address some of the more specific and emerging needs of the community by having a designated program and program staff dedicated specifically to working on the issues that are really affecting the transgender and gender queer community right now,” Maddocks said in the announcement. “I’m hoping we can help build and strengthen the community, and make clear that the transgender and gender queer community are safe, welcomed and celebrated.” An informational session and kickoff meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St. For more information on Project TRANS visit thecentersd.org or contact Maddocks directly at [email protected] or 619-692-2077.

Being Alive to accept recycling products to support Daniel’s Pantry

Being Alive HIV/AIDS Services will now accept plastic bottles and cans for recycling to support Daniel’s Pantry, their program that feeds over 400 clients each month. Daniel’s Pantry provides canned goods, rice, fresh fruits and vegetable, as well as some frozen meat, to people affected by HIV and AIDS. There are currently donations bins for recycling products at local business, and representatives said they could accept donations at the Being Alive office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The nonprofit, formed in 1989, is also accepting small electronic devices including iPods, used cell phone and laptop computers, as well as used CDs, DVDs and video games, among others. “This not only helps the environment [but] it also raises needed money for the valuable services at Being Alive. Being Alive is located at 4070 Centre St. in Hillcrest For more information visit beingalive.org or call 619-291-1400.

San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus to host encore gala

“Summer of Love” is this year’s theme for the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus gala, scheduled for 7 p.m., June 15 at Liberty Station. All proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit and their mission of “creating positive musical experience through exciting performances,” a press release stated. “This is going to be a really fun evening,” board President Cheri Curtis said in the release. “We hope all our fans, friends and families come out and enjoy themselves while supporting a great arts organization.” Local award-winning band Rockola will be playing 1960s music to keep within the gala’s “psychedelic Sixties” theme, they said and John Little Catering will provide food. There will also be live and silent auctions, including a weekend package to San Francisco’s Pride weekend with tickets to the “I Am Harvey Milk” San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus world premiere concert. Tickets to the gala are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP, which allows for a preview admission at 6 p.m., among other perks. The gala will be held at the McMillin Company Event Center, 2875 Dewey Rd. For more information and tickets visit sdgmc.org or call 877-296-7664.