The San Jose City Council is looking for a few dedicated citizens.

The council is still accepting applications until 5 p.m. on June 11 for appointments to the San Jose Planning Commission. The city extended the deadline to make sure that the applications reflect the diversity of San Jose. Although three incumbents have applied for a second term, there are four open seats.

The planning commission advises and makes recommendations to the city council on matters relating to city land use and development, zoning and subdivision regulations and the city's capital-improvement programs.

All applications received by the deadline are submitted to the mayor and council members, who notify the city clerk as to whom they would like to interview. Those chosen applicants will be asked to appear at a regularly scheduled city council meeting scheduled for June 29, at which they will be interviewed by the mayor and council. The mayor and council then cast written ballots.

Applications can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk, Room 116, City Hall, 408.277.4424, or obtain it online at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/vacancy.htm. For additional information regarding the commission, call 408.277.4576 or Ken Yeager's office at 408.277.5166.

Caltrain thanks riders
with one free weekend

All Aboard!

Caltrain will offer free rides on any trains traveling from San Jose to San Francisco and back on June 12 and 13.

It's Caltrain's way of thanking its customers for their patience during the last two years of rail construction that disrupted weekend service. New rail work was being laid to facilitate express train service up and down the peninsula for Caltrain's speedy new 79 mile per hour Baby Bullet service, which began June 7.

Caltrain's Baby Bullet express service will zip passengers between San Jose and San Francisco in 57 minutes; its fastest current train takes 90 minutes for the trip.

For more information on free weekend Caltrain service or the Baby Bullet, visit http://www.caltrain.com/.