Around The Glen

Strong Neighborhoods community meetings

There are a few more opportunities for members of the Gardner, Atlanta and Gregory Plaza neighborhoods to suggest improvements to their community. The neighborhood advisory committee is working with city officials to devise a plan for using money from the strong neighborhoods initiative to make their streets and buildings safer and more attractive. The next NAC meetings are Jan. 29 and Feb. 26, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gardner Community Center (520 W. Virginia Ave.). The city will provide dinner at 6:30, City Planner Deborah Kim said.

She also said a progress report from the NAC meetings would be presented at community workshop in March. The last workshop to view the final draft of the plan is planned for late April, she added.

There is no need to RSVP for the meetings. For more information call Kim at 408.277.8578.

--Kate Carter

Million Mom March starts county chapter

Residents of Santa Clara County are getting the chance to get involved in the march.

The Million Mom March, an organization working for stricter gun-control laws, is holding the first meeting of a new local chapter next week. Chapter spokeswoman Vicky Gray Clark said they hope to get as many as 200 people at the meeting and interested in the movement that began last Mother's Day when about 750,000 people marched in Washington, D.C.

"People are getting really sick and tired of gun violence in our community," Clark said. "We just want sensible gun laws. We're not asking for a ban."

She said chapter president Janet Conn, San Jose Police Chief William Landsdowne and Los Gatos Police Chief Larry Todd will be on hand to welcome the group, provide an overview of the national group and discuss the goals of the county chapter and ways people can become involved.

The meeting will be held on Jan. 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Marriott Silicon Valley (formerly the Santa Clara Marriott) at 2700 Mission College Blvd. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 408.275.0709, or visit www.mmmsfbayarea.org.

--Kate Carter

Casting call for Senate Fellows

State Sen. Byron Sher is now accepting applications for the 2001-02 California Senate Fellows program.

Anyone graduating from a four-year college or university by September 2001, is eligible to apply, and applicants need not be recent graduates. Fellows are paid a stipend of $1,882 a month and receive health and dental benefits. They also earn 12 units of graduate credit from California State University, Sacramento, which runs the project through its center for California studies.

Applications may be requested from Sen. Sher's district office at 100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 206, in San Jose. Applicants can also call the program office at 916.322.7563, or visit the program website at www.csus.edu/calst/Programs/senate_fellows.html.

--Nathan R. Huff

Around the Glen

Deborah Taylor-Hollis: More than one way to shed pounds

Eitz Chaim Academy presents its Jazz Café

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