What's going on in your neighborhood? Are you organizing a fundraiser? A plant sale or garden tour? Is there an upcoming class reunion? Contact me at 836-4954 or carol.jenkins@newsobserver.com and I'll do my best to get the word out to our 75,000 readers. Please send submissions at least a week in advance of your event.

BLOOD DRIVE

Quail Hollow Swim and Tennis Club is sponsoring Donate in '08 Neighborhood Blood Drive from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 at 800 Orleans Drive.

To sign up, e-mail qhblooddrive@gmail.com or go to www.membersforlife.org/cbsr/ schedule and click on 'search by sponsor code' and enter 13951.

Donors will enter into a raffle for a $500 gift card. Every donor will receive a Red Cross long sleeve T-shirt. You must be 17 years old to give. Any high school or college student who donates can enter a raffle for a $25 iTunes gift card. Children are welcome to accompany parents.

GET PLUGGED IN

Coffee and Contacts: Power Networking for Women is a weekly caffeine-charged hour for women who are looking for business contacts, mentors and ideas. Come early at 9:30 a.m. for unstructured mix and mingle time before the 10 o'clock meeting starts every Wednesday at The Percolator Lounge at 5039 Falls of Neuse Road.

Meetings include 30-second commercials, guest speakers and time for referrals.

For more information or to RSVP: http://businessnetwork.meetup.com/252/

HIKE OFF THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS

There are at least two New Year's Day hikes in the North Raleigh area for residents who want a holiday workout.

WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD STATE PARK

A group of regular Umstead hikers invites the public to join them for an afternoon hike at Umstead Park in northwest Raleigh. The group plans to hike three trails with a combined distance of about five miles. Each trail loops back to the parking area so hikers can opt out without going the distance. Sal's Branch, at 2.8 miles, will be first, followed by the Oak Rock and Pott's Branch trails.

Interested hikers should meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the park's main entrance at 8801 Glenwood Ave., east of the Interstate 540 exit. Drive past the visitors' center and meet at the last parking lot. The full hike should take a couple of hours, finishing about 3:30.

HORSESHOE FARM PARK

On the northeast side of town, Friends of Horseshoe Farm and the Wake Audubon Society are co-sponsoring an interpretive New Year's Day tour of Horseshoe Farm Park.

Visitors will learn about wildlife at the 146-acre park, surrounded on three sides by the Neuse River. It has been classified as a Regionally Significant Natural Heritage Area by the NC Natural Heritage Program.

The tour begins at 2 p.m. The park is near the intersection of U.S. 401 and Ligon Mill/Mitchell Mill Road. Heading north on U.S. 401, turn left onto Ligon Mill Road, then make a left left onto Horse Shoe Farm Road.

For more information, visit www.horseshoefarm.org.