The North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is preparing to hold a neighborhood-wide garage sale on May 31. Members of the association and nearby residents discussed the matter for nearly an hour at the association's March 25 meeting, which was one of the best-attended meetings, according to association president Alison England.

During the meeting the association voted to print fliers and require registration for all participating residents. No one will be asked to pay a fee to participate, but the association is asking for donations.

The association decided to hold the garage sale before the Fourth of July because the group wanted to raise awareness about the association and to "get people excited about the upcoming block party," association secretary Tom Smith said.

The association plans to spend the $1,925 it received from Community Foundation Silicon Valley for a Fourth of July block party along Delmas Avenue.

Association member Ed Rast, who lives on Spencer Avenue, applied for a $2,700 grant on behalf of the association.

England said she "wasn't too terribly concerned" when she learned the grant was $775 less than what was requested. "We hadn't made any concrete plans about what we'd do for the block party. So we'll just work within the constraints of the budget," she said.

A Fourth of July task force was formed at the association meeting to discuss how to allot the $1,925. Rast said that the party would close off a portion of Delmas to accommodate a neighborhood barbecue and potluck and enough space to set up blankets and chairs for the firework display from nearby Guadalupe Park.

The garage sale and the block party are the first major events for the young but active neighborhood association.

"We're hoping for people to feel there's a social side to the association" rather than just a business side, England said.

"This is more of an opportunity for people to meet their immediate neighbors, not just their next-door neighbors," she added.

For more information on the neighborhood-wide garage sale or the Fourth of July block party, contact the association at 408.297.9135 or visit www.northwillowglen.org.

The association meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Word of Faith Church at the northwest corner of Fuller and Delmas avenues.