American Red Cross blood banks are asking Willow Glen residents to roll up their sleeves and donate a pint of blood to rebuild its local blood supplies to a two-day level.

While Red Cross blood centers were filled for the past two weeks, attendance at Red Cross mobile blood drives were low. The mobile units have the capacity to almost double the number of pints of blood the Red Cross can bring in each day to the blood banks.

"We want to thank Bay Area residents for coming in to the Red Cross right away to help answer our community's need for blood," said Kay Crull, CEO American Red Cross Blood Services, Northern California Region. "Blood supplies are still critically low and the demand for blood is outpacing the donations received, so we still need donors to come in throughout January."

To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health.

For more information about giving blood, visit American Red Cross Blood Services, 2731 North 1st Street, San Jose or call 408.577.1000. To find a mobile drive, call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or visit www.BeADonor.com.

Interim Police Chief Wheatley bids adieu

Interim Acting San Jose Police Chief and Willow Glen resident Tom Wheatley was greeted by a barrage of well-wishers at his retirement party on Jan. 9 at the Britannia Arms pub in downtown San Jose.

An endless stream of rank-and-file officers and top brass were present to wish Wheatley all the best after serving the city for more than 30 years.

Wheatley, who is greatly liked and respected by those within the department and city, was considered to be the likely successor to former San Jose Police Chief Bill Lansdowne, who took the top cop job in San Diego. But health issues forced him to bow out of the running and take early retirement at age 52.