On Dec. 12, Jane and Jack Kroll held the 16th Annual "progressive dinner" for their neighbors in the Braly Corners Neighborhood Association. The practice started originally as an offshoot of their participation in the Sunnyvale Neighborhoods Actively Prepare—known as SNAP—program of emergency preparation.

"We did it partly because of emergency preparedness but also because we knew we'd get a chance to meet our neighbors," Jack said.

The SNAP participation couldn't have come at a better time, because less than a year later, the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked the Bay Area.

This progressive dinner is similar to a potluck in that participants each bring a dish to feed 15 people, but the meal itself is served at three or four different homes. Participants have appetizers at one house, then go to another for salad and the main courses, and a final house for dessert.

"We liked the idea of building a neighborhood, and when you go into someone's house, it helps to break down any strangeness," Jane said.

She said that usually there's a fourth house and salads and main courses are served separately, but there were only had three available houses this time.

The Krolls send dinner invitations to their neighbors close to Thanksgiving, and people volunteer to either bring a dish to one of the houses or offer their house up as one of the locations.

"It's a good turnout, people like it, and we make it easier for them by doing all the structuring," Jane said. "Its easy, if you're only doing one dish, you work on it more."

Families who host parts of the meal coordinate with neighbors to avoid duplication in dishes.

The turnout varies from year to year. Jane said this year 47 people participated, up from last year's 39, but down from 57 people two years ago.

And while the Krolls are quick to praise the diversity of their neighborhood—including neighbors born in Denmark, Sweden, India, Portugal and Japan—the meals are often "traditional" potluck faire, with people bringing simple salads, casseroles and pasta dishes, although the occasional batch of homemade spring rolls is always welcomed.

Over the years, the dinners have also served as welcoming parties for new neighbors, who use the get-togethers as a means of meeting the people living around them.

"We've seen a lot of turnover, so every new family that comes in gets invited to the dinner," Jack said.

Beyond simply getting together for food and fun, the dinner and other activities are part of the neighborhood's effort to stay close and connected in case an emergency should arise.

Although the 41 homes—on the 700 block of Lusterleaf Drive, Hydrangea Court and Gladiola Drive—traditionally met informally, they officially formed a neighborhood association last year, to benefit from better communication with the city of Sunnyvale.

Jack Kroll said that once every few years, the neighborhood gets together to practice emergency procedures and go over plans should an earthquake, natural disaster or other incident occur.

"Right after an earthquake, there's no problem getting people involved, but keeping them around can be more difficult," Jack said.

Over the years, according to Jane Kroll, the Braly Corners area has grown into a tight group; there most of the neighbors know one another. When neighbors know each other, they can see who doesn't belong in the area and look out for one another.

"One kid on the block said that if he was ever walking down the street, he felt he could go into any of the houses and feel safe," Jane said with pride.