This is the fourth year that Starbucks Coffee Company has sponsored its 2004 Grants for Giving Program. The program supports local nonprofit organizations and charitable agencies by awarding grants totaling $375,000.

A Letter of Intent to Starbucks that outlines the organization and project plan must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 27.

Eligibility and application information can be obtained from any Northern California Starbucks location, on the web at www.starbucks.com/grantsforgiving or by calling 866.535.GIVE.

A 30-year tradition in Willow Glen continues

Come revisit the 1970s by attending Willow Glen High School's "Peace, Love and Dance" on Feb. 25 for fathers and daughters and Feb. 26 for mothers and sons.

Both dinner dances have been held at Willow Glen High School for more than 30 years, according to dance organizer and parent Wendy Watkins-Smith. In fact, Watkins knows the event well, because she has attended nine mother and son dances and has five more to go.

She said the average ticket price per couple is $30. Both dances will be held in the Willow Glen High School cafeteria.

For more information about purchasing tickets, contact Wendy Watkins-Smith at 408.275.6367.

—Amy Wicks

Quik Stop permit on hold, protests filed

The Quik Stop Market at 1093 Minnesota Ave. is applying for a permit to sell hard liquor. The market already has a permit to sell beer and wine.

Franchise owner Mike Elmahmoud said that Quik Stop Markets Inc. was requiring all franchises to sell a greater variety of alcohol to increase profits. But residents fear that the increased liquor sales will contribute to increased loitering and vagrancy. Several Willow Glen residents were so concerned that they filed a protest form with the department of alcoholic beverage control.

Department of alcoholic beverage control licensing representative Leticia King said that a hold has been placed on the application because of police department and resident protests. She said an administrative judge in Sacramento will make a decision about the license at a future hearing. No date has been set.

—Beth Walker

Station 6 still might lose some services

The future of Willow Glen's Station 6 hose truck and fifth firefighter is still unclear.

On Feb. 17 the San Jose City Council approved the midyear budget review with a 9-1 vote and agreed to cut the public-safety budget by 1.5 percent. Councilman Chuck Reed, who was the lone voice of dissent, said he was not clear which cuts the council was voting on and that he "fears" the loss of sworn personnel and gaps in coverage.

Council members Linda LeZotte, Forrest Williams, Nora Campos and Terry Gregory said they wanted more information on how public-safety cuts would be implemented.

San Jose Acting Fire Chief Dale Foster did not give specifics, but said there is a "shutdown potential" for engine companies and no new hiring is planned.

The midyear budget calls for cuts to 100 vacant positions for nonsworn public safety personnel who are involved in programs such as fingerprinting and car-seat vouchers for low-income families unable to purchase car seats.

Mayor Ron Gonzalez asked all departments to implement the budget cuts by April 1 so cost reductions could take effect.

—Beth Walker

Grants are awarded to Willow Glen groups

Giving that keeps on giving is what grants from the Community Foundation Silicon Valley has been about for 50 years. The foundation has awarded two of its 12 winter 2004 grants to nonprofits based in Willow Glen.

Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley received $20,000 for professional development for teachers in arts education.

The Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley also received $20,000 in grants from the foundation to provide diabetes screening for 5,500 people in the county and follow-up services.

—Beth Walker