The North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is holding its first-ever Neighborhood Service Day on March 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Hummingbird Park. The association is planning small projects like painting trash cans and pruning shrubs. Any interested neighbor is welcome to participate.

It's a chance to meet your neighbor and help the neighborhood, North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association President Tom Smith said.

The association's co-secretary/treasurer, Debbie Palmer, said the event would be advertised by a banner at the park and is a drop-in-style event.

Smith said he hoped to target the second Saturday of every month as Neighborhood Service Day for the neighborhood between Fuller and Coe avenues and Prevost Street and Bird Avenue.

"We'll do fun tasks and decide what we want to do in the neighborhood," Smith said.

—Beth Walker

Nominations requested for May 2004 elections

It's time for the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association's members to start thinking about nominations for the board member election in May.

The 2004 nominating committee, made up of Kris Cunningham, Sharon Fierro, Jim Gardner, Ann Leever, Susan Phillips and alternate Phyllis Ward, is soliciting nominations for members interested in volunteering on the board of directors. Nominations need to be received by March 19.

Members nominated for president, first vice president, second vice president, secretary and treasurer must have been members of the association for one year prior to the May 12 election.

The nominating committee will present the membership with a slate of recommended officers and directors at the May 12 general meeting. Members can vote at the general meeting or by mail.

To submit a nomination by March 19, mail the person's name to the nominating committee at P.O. Box 7706, San Jose, CA 95150-7706, call 408.294.WGNA or email nominations@wgna.net.

—Beth Walker

Residents can meet the new police chief

District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager is planning a community safety meeting on March 9 in Willow Glen. The meeting is an opportunity for residents to share any concerns they have pertaining to community safety and the latest rash of gang incidents.

San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis will also be on hand to discuss the city's gang prevention program, neighborhood watch and other anticrime programs. There will also be an opportunity for residents to meet San Jose's newest police chief.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Willow Glen United Methodist Church, 1420 Newport Ave.

For more information, contact Councilman Yeager's office at 408.277.2206.

—Amy Wicks

Business helps needy get through a winter

Coldwell Banker Northern California, in cooperation with the United States Marine Corps Reserve and Emergency Housing Consortium, collected more than 6,100 toys and 1,300 coats this holiday season as part of the Toys for Tots and Operation.