CityTeam Ministries, a nonprofit organization serving the poor and homeless in the Bay Area needs 2,100 turkeys for Thanksgiving. The organization's food pantry program provides boxes of food for low-income families.

This year, however, CityTeam's supplies are low and will not be able to provide food boxes or Thanksgiving dinners without donations.

Items needed include canned goods, stuffing, rice, potatoes, pudding mixes and, of course, turkeys.

Donations of new toys for young children as well as clothes for the upcoming holidays are also needed and welcomed.

Donations can be dropped off at 1297 N. 13th St. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. After-hours drop-offs can be made at 580 Charles St. behind Family Services. CityTeam Ministries will be closed Nov. 24-25. For more information, call 408.232.5600 or visit www. cityteam.org/holidayofhope.

Nominations sought for MLK Jr. awards

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara Valley is seeking nominations for people or organizations that could be considered for this year's Mover of Mountains Awards.

The Mover of Mountains Award, previously the Good Neighbor Award, will honor those individuals who volunteer their time and have made significant contributions to the betterment of a community. The award can also be given an organization that has improved the community and made it a better place to live.

Residents may make multiple nominations. All nominations must be submitted by Dec. 15. For more information or to download a nomination form, visit www.mlkscv.org/mlk-mover-of-mountains.htm.

Holiday wreaths
add street charm

The North Willow Glen and Gardner neighborhoods want to show their streets off in style this holiday season by hanging holiday wreaths on their new, vintage street lamps.

To do so the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is asking community members to sponsor a wreath for $25. The donations are tax deductible.

The artificial wreaths will hang on the street lamps that line Delmas Avenue, between Virginia and Willow streets.

Those interested in sponsoring a wreath can call 408.537.0393 and leave a message.

Neighbors can also participate by helping to hang wreaths and other decorations on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. at Hummingbird Park.

The street lamps were installed this year through the efforts of the Greater Gardner Coalition's work. The $660,000 streetscape improvement project was funded through San Jose's Strong Neighborhoods Initiative program.

Apartment complex
helps troops overseas

Hidden Willows Apartments in Willow Glen is hosting an American Red Cross "Operation Care & Comfort" program to collect goods to send to military troops overseas for the holidays.

The program sends items including candy, gum, travel sized toiletries, DVDs, batteries and more.

Donations can be made at 850 Meridian Way on the corner of Race and Pedro streets. Donations made by Thanksgiving will reach the troops by Christmas but donations will be accepted until Jan.1. For more information For a complete list of items accepted, visit http://santaclaravalley.redcross.org/pages/carecomfortlist.html.

Ride the historic
San Jose trolleys

Hop on the free historic trolleys that are being added to downtown San Jose during the holidays.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority trolleys will begin service on Nov. 26 and operate through Dec. 31 on Saturdays only from 2:30 to 10 p.m. The free trolleys will run approximately every 45 minutes between the Civic Center and the Downtown Mall stations, weather permitting.

The historic holiday trolley offers a festive way to travel downtown during Christmas in the Park in Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Take VTA light rail or buses downtown to connect to the service. The closest stop to access the holiday activities is the Paseo de San Antonio Station on First Street.

The historic trolleys were the pioneers of modern-day public transportation. For a nickel, people could ride the trolley, which was state-of-the-art transit from the late 1880s to the late 1930s. The trolleys operated throughout the county on nearly 130 miles of track during its peak. The birth of bus and automobile travel derailed local trolley service.

Illegal tree removal
process goes to city

San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager's efforts to increase illegal tree removal penalties is making its way through the city and may come before the city council for approval within the next few months.

On Oct. 3, Yeager asked the city's rules committee to have city staff work with his office on a proposal to increase fines and mitigation, such as planting replacement trees, for those who remove trees without city permits.

Illegal tree removals have been a problem in neighborhoods such as Willow Glen and the Rose Garden. Residents have rallied for stiffer fines, arguing that San Jose has one of the most lax policies in the county.

On Oct. 5, the committee weighed two options. Under the first, the city would bring together members from the tree industry, community and developers to review the current ordinance. This process would consume 580 hours of city staff time and cause possible delays for street tree inspections at the city arborist office.

Instead, the rules committee opted for a limited level of case and data review to uncover potential trends and reasons for illegal tree removals. The staff will also research whether increasing fines and mitigation measures will deter property owners from illegally chopping trees. This process will require only 100 hours of city time.

Currently, trees larger than 56 inches or greater in circumference require permits for removal. Fines for trees removed without permits are $500, or $300 to $500 for street trees taller than 6 feet. Offenders are often asked to also plant one to four replacement trees.

During fiscal year 2004-05, the department of transportation issued 61 citations for illegal street tree removals and the code enforcement department received 25 complaints regarding private tree removals.