Ed Rast, the new Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president, says his team will continue to tackle old concerns like airport noise, traffic, development issues, shrinking services and budget cuts, but the association will also take on new projects to improve the neighborhood.

In the works are plans to revamp the association's website to "make it more of a self-serve," said Rast, who is also a project area committee member with the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative.

For example, if residents need to know what to do if they find an abandoned vehicle, the website can steer them directly to where they can make a report, he said

Rast is also looking into table space once a month at the Willow Glen Farmers Market. Rast would like to promote the association and provide residents with information about city services, regulations and ordinances

"If someone needs information on how to hold a garage sale, we can answer questions and, if appropriate, hand out booklets or brochures the city already has on these issues," Rast said.

He hopes a series of digital photographs would show residents and developers how larger homes could aesthetically be integrated into the neighborhood.

"We want to give people examples of how they can remodel their homes and yet maintain the ambience on their street," Rast said.

Building on the association's experience and years of work in the community, the group will also continue to establish strong relationships with organizations such as the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association so they can have a more comprehensive understanding of issues that affect the community, Rast added.

Efforts to recruit more members will also continue. The association, which was formed in 1973, currently has about 500 members and an email list with close to 700 subscribers.

First vice president Ellen Santomauro, second vice president Jim Spence, secretary Carol Rossebo and treasurer Joan Bohnett also serve as officers. Elected board members include Larry Ames, Hugh Graham, Charley Luckhardt and a new face, Harvey Darnell.

Darnell, the vice president of the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and vice chairman of the Greater Gardner Coalition, sees coming on board as "the right thing to do."

With his wealth of experience in the North Willow Glen area, Darnell hopes to "bring those perspectives into the Willow Glen Neighborhood association." He is also interested in land use and planning issues. "It's a group effort," he said.

Helen Solinski, the association's president for the past two years, is confident of the association's ability to "keep Willow Glen a desirable place to live and raise children in."

Solinski and former treasurer Margaret Hardy are the appointed board members.

"Ed is a fabulous leader with a lot of energy and ideas," Solinski said. "There is a lot of work to do and challenges ahead but he has a great team supporting him."

For more information about the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, visit www.wgna.net. The association meets the second Wednesday of the month and meetings are open to residents. The meetings are held at Willow Glen Baptist Church, 1292 Minnesota Ave.