The Bay Area Air Quality Management District board of directors is seeking an alternate member for its medical professional position. The appointed individual will be part of the hearing board.

Hearing board members are appointed by the board of directors and are all volunteers. The hearing board has five members—an engineer, a lawyer, medical professional and two members of the public. Each member also must have one alternate with the same qualifications. The group meets two to three times a month, and members receive $400 per meeting, plus expenses. Those interested need to apply by 5 p.m. on May 30.

For an information packet and an application form, write to the Clerk of the Boards, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis St., San Francisco, 94109.

For information on the air district, visit www.baaqumd.gov.

—Jennifer D. Shih


Flower Flour continues to expand, adds baker

Mimi Brown is excited that her new business, Flower Flour, is continuing to grow. Brown purchased the building located at 896 Willow St. in July 2002 and opened the pastry and florist shop in March 2003.

According to Brown, business was very good over the Mother's Day weekend, and she expects it to get even better when a new baker/artist comes to work for her.

Cara Ricci will soon be joining the Flower Flour team and will be specializing in wedding cakes.

Brown is hoping to have Ricci in place before the upcoming wedding season and thinks Willow Glen residents will be impressed with Ricci's expertise.

For more information, call Flower Flour at 408.279.0843.

—Staci Jameson


Nonprofit exceeds goal at its annual gala event

At its sixth annual fundraising gala at The Glen, the Support Network for Battered Women brought in $120,000 in ticket sales, $10,000 more than the network had anticipated.

The network has held all of its annual galas at The Glen since the Glen opened in 1996.

The money raised is used to empower battered women and their children while also helping them live violence-free lives and to educate the public about domestic violence.

The network provides support services such as a 24-hour toll-free crisis line, support groups, counseling, legal assistance, a residential shelter and children's programs.

Representatives from Philips Semiconductor, one of the network's biggest supporters, said the company donated $25,000.

"We try to support the organizations that our employees feel strongly about," said Christine Swanson, spokeswoman for Philips' Community Action Team.

Corey Takimoto, another Philips spokesperson, said that domestic violence "is a prevalent issue in our society today, and the community needs to know that this is very important."

For more information about the Support Network for Battered Women, write 1975 W. El Camino Real, Suite 205, Mountain View, 94040 or call 650.940.7850 or TDD: 650.940.7857. The number for the 24-hour crisis line (English and Spanish) is 800.572.2782.

—William Jeske