A public meeting to discuss changes in the proposed art and a new piece of art for the renovated Almaden Branch Library takes place on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Vineland Branch Library Community Room.

The meeting will include discussion of memorial pieces honoring the late Doris Dillon, for whom the children's center of the renovated library will be named. Before leaving office in December, Former District 10 Councilwoman Pat Dando agreed to appropriate $100,000 from her office's Construction and Conveyance Tax Fund for public art to recognize Dillon. The city council approved the appropriation in December.

Architectural and cosmetic changes that have been made to the original plans of the building to accommodate the new Dillon art will cost $25,000. The meeting will be to discuss how to spend the remaining $75,000.

Dando and Gary Dillon, Doris' widower, have made suggestions to the arts commission that include altering an existing planned sculpture and adding a new sculpture to the entrance.

Go Red For Women
month in February

A recent American Heart Association study indicated only 27 percent of American women say their health is a top priority. The Go Red For Women campaign seeks to reverse this lack of urgency.

Go Red for Women is the theme for American Heart Month in February and the goal is to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease.

"We believe Go Red For Women will raise women's awareness of heart disease being the number one killer of women," noted Dr. Valerie Kwai Ben, a Kaiser Permanente cardiologist and longtime volunteer for the American Heart Association in San Jose. "A lack of urgency about such a serious health threat contributes to the deaths of more than 500,000 American women every year.

"Red symbolizes women's power to take control of their health and passion for the women whose lives have been affected ... Friday, Feb. 4 is national Wear Red Day and we are urging everyone to wear red--such as a red dress, shirt, hat or other item--that day in support of all women who have been touched by heart disease or stroke."

The Go Red For Women campaign provides women tips and information on healthy eating, exercise, and risk factor reduction, such as smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control and blood cholesterol management.

Anyone can join Go Red For Women by calling 888.MY.HEART (888.694.3278) or visiting americanheart.org.

Volunteers needed
for civil grand jury

Volunteers are needed to serve on the 2005­06 civil grand jury, announced Alden E. Danner, the presiding judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara.

Residents who have lived in the county for one year, are United States citizens and 18 years of age or older, may apply for service. The 2005­06 term will begin on June 30.

The civil grand jury, as a part of the judicial branch of government, is an arm of the Superior Court and serves as the county's investigative body. It may examine all aspects of county and city government, special districts and school districts to ensure that the best interest of the county's citizens are served.

The amount of time required to serve on the grand jury is significant--a minimum of 20 to 25 hours per week. For more information, visit www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/jury/gj.html or call 408.882.2722. The deadline to apply is Feb. 22.

Air quality district is
seeking volunteers

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's board of directors is inviting applications for open positions on the district's hearing board. Hearing board members are appointed by the board of directors and serve on a voluntary basis.

State law requires that the hearing board have five members--a registered professional engineer, an attorney-at-law, a member from the medical profession and two public members. In addition, the law allows for an alternate for each member. Candidates are being sought for the two public member slots and their alternates.

For more information, visit www.baaqmd.gov or call 415.749.4965. The deadline to apply is Feb. 9.

YMCA memberships
for military families

The YMCA of Santa Valley is offering complimentary six-month memberships to families whose head of household or employed spouse have been called to active military duty in the National Guard or Reserves.

"This program was initiated following the tragedies of 9-11 and we want to continue this special service to support those serving in the National Guard or Reserves," said Dave Thornton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley. "The sacrifices being made by the families of active duty reservists deserve the support of the entire community."

The YMCA has a long history of service to military personnel and their families dating back to at least 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln praised the YMCAs for their service on the battlefields of the American Civil War, caring for soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

For immediate consideration, applicants must present a copy of active military orders for the National Guard or Reserves to any local Santa Clara Valley YMCA or telephone 408.351.6415 or 408.288.YMCA for information.