Legion commander Garry McLeod and member Gene Fanucchi gathered with Minnesota Avenue and De Anza Way neighbors at the post on Jan. 26. The meeting was a follow-up to a Jan. 15 discussion, where neighbors described how weekend party rentals flooded their homes with noise from parking lot activity, jump houses generators, music and parties that went late into the night.

McLeod and Fanucchi told residents that the group discussed these problems and possible solutions, but members were not willing to ban music, one of the suggestions proposed by the neighbors. However, the Legion is committed to reducing noise.

McLeod said sound buffering measures such as double pane windows and insulation were possible, as well as air conditioning, which would enable renters to keep the rear door closed during the warmer months.

Legion members also have made preliminary plans to hire a security guard for the party rentals, Fanucchi added. The security guard would be a point person for the neighbors and control noise, loitering in the parking lot and drunkenness.

"A security guard is going to be a big improvement," neighbor Tim Westcott said.

Legion representatives further indicated they would ban the use of generator-operated jump houses to mitigate noise. All other jump houses could operate only until a half-hour before sunset, Fanucchi said. The changes will not be reflected in current contracts effective during the next 60 to 90 days.

Fran Conte, the De Anza Way resident who organized the neighbors, said the jump house provision was not acceptable because the bounce houses would still operate from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer months.

Others neighbors were equally skeptical.

Many have already refitted their own homes with double pane windows, yet loud music continues to vibrate through their homes.

"It's a nice gesture, but I don't think it's more than that," De Anza Way resident Bill Gordon told McLeod and Fanucchi. "Why don't you retrofit the building?"

McLeod said the organization could not afford a major overhaul of the building, which was built in 1941.

Conte reiterated that there are noise problems throughout the week, with ongoing events at the post, including weekday meetings, parties on Saturdays and church services on Sundays. The loud, all-day Saturday parties are simply too much for the neighborhood, he said. He also requested that the building not be rented on Sundays, to give the neighbors a rest.

Although Conte said the gestures are cosmetic, neighbor Erin Werthmann saw the proposed changes as a step in the right direction.

"If that's where we have to start with things, let start here," she said.

Another meeting will be held on March 5.