On March 29, he was successful in uniting dozens of them at the Los Gatos Neighborhood Center to talk about what service projects they would complete together.

After a brief welcome from Wasserman, Regina Falkner, the town's community services director, read a master list of 60 projects submitted before the meeting by a variety of organizations and individuals. The projects were divided into categories that would benefit seniors and at-risk populations, youth and the general community, as well as volunteer or partnership needs. Several of the approximately 100 people in attendance added suggestions to the project lists.

Arts commissioner Elke Groves suggested a "phantom gallery" program, through which empty storefronts are decorated with local art until they are occupied again.

Joanne Benjamin, Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center board chairwoman and a former Los Gatos councilwoman, asked for help creating a central senior center building.

Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department representative Heidi Fortwengler suggested several river, trail and park cleanup opportunities. Someone else said they thought the department was responsible for maintaining the trails.

"You might get to a section [of the Los Gatos Creek Trail] that's overgrown because there's discrepancy over whose jurisdiction it's in," Fortwengler explained.

"It won't be overgrown anymore if it's in Los Gatos," Wasserman responded.

After the additional projects were written down, group representatives had the opportunity to vote for as many as four projects on which they wanted to work—only two could be ones submitted by their organization. They voted by placing yellow sticky notes on the poster-size project lists.

Eight projects received more than five votes, with some receiving as many as eight. Those who volunteered for the projects filled out informational forms and met to discuss how they would be carried out. The projects chosen were:

* General repairs to homes

* Delivery of baskets to homebound residents

* Identification of sites for Under 21 Club events

* Collection of books for a sale to benefit the Los Gatos Public Library

* Maintenance and beautification of trails

* Design and installation of a community garden

* Cleanup, maintenance and implementation of safety measures at Santa Clara County parks

* Assistance with Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center programs

Community members said they were pleased with the direction of the meeting and the Community Unity concept.

"Really what it's going to do is highlight the things the community wants done," said Art Monk, past president of the Los Gatos Rowing Club.

Campbell resident Paul Clark, a member of the Los Gatos Rotary Club, said he was impressed with the number of quality projects suggested.

"I wish I lived in Los Gatos," he said. "I think [Community Unity] is a wonderful idea and I hope it's successful ... I think it's something people were ready for."

Wasserman plans to hold another meeting in September to assess the success of the first projects and select new ones. Even those projects not officially chosen had an opportunity to be completed through collaboration, he said.

"Whether you get one Post-It or 10 Post-Its doesn't matter," Wasserman said. "If you've walked away with three organizations who want to help, that makes tonight a success."