Neighbors gathered during the group's monthly meeting to discuss the year ahead--focusing on community outreach, a neighborhood-wide garage sale and their signature event, the July 4 neighborhood block party.

The neighborhood association hopes to fund these projects through an $8,263 San Jose Community Action and Pride Grant, association co-secretary and treasurer Chuck Hudson said. Since the association was founded in 2000, it has received more than $16,000 in CAP grants.

The group plans to continue the newsletter and the holiday decoration contest it began last year. The association also wants to create a "Welcome to the Neighborhood" gift basket for new residents, full of information on businesses and services in the area along with how to deal with the city.

The association has applied for another grant from San Jose Beautiful to continue its tree-planting work. If the association receives the grant, it will help 12 homeowners pay for cement removal in their parking strips so each can plant a tree, Ken Eklund said.

The association will also revive the neighborhood garage sale after a one-year hiatus. The event is scheduled to place in North Willow Glen on May 20.