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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene July 2023 - 07.01.2023 JULY 2023SCENE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO Activities, Amenities, and Adventure Get Outdoors for Parks and Recreation Month PLUS: MEMORIAL PARK WINS PROJECT OF THE YEAR NEW AMENITIES AT WILSON PARK | REGISTER FOR CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE Register for Summer Fun! See what activities, summer camps, and classes the City has planned! CONTENTS FEATURES 3 Memorial Park Wins Project of the Year The Memorial Park Ponds Repurposing project won the American Public Works Association Silicon Valley Project of the Year Award! 4 Enjoy McClellan Ranch Preserve July is Parks and Recreation Month and there’s no better way to observe than checking out the activities at McClellan Ranch Preserve. IN S I D E 5 Summer Gardening Tips Read tips and find resources to help your garden flourish this summer. 6 Plastic-Free July Learn how you can reduce your single-use plastic consumption and help the environment. 10 Calendar of Events Find upcoming holiday events, classes, and more! 12 Directory and Contacts Keep this list of the most useful contacts for the City of Cupertino. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. 2 Enjoy New Amenities at Wilson Park: Basketball Court and Community Garden T he City of Cupertino is excited to announce the opening of two brand new amenities at Wilson Park: a full-size basketball court and a community garden. Since Wilson Park did not have a half or full-size basketball court, adding one helps activate the area. The full-size outdoor basketball court has a footprint of approximately 5,600 square feet and is located south of the existing play structure. Additionally, the City determined that Wilson Park will be the first of several gardens built on the east side of Cupertino, and is assessing the potential to add gardens at Creekside Park, Portal Parks, as well as other locations. The community garden has a footprint of approximately 2,500 square feet and is located just north of the Wilson Park restrooms, near the intersection of South Portal Avenue and Wintergreen Drive. The garden has 15 garden beds and includes beds designed for those with disabilities. To celebrate and introduce the new amenities, the City held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony last month to celebrate the opening of these new amenities. Thank you to the community members who attended! As July is Parks and Recreation Month, now is a great time to get outdoors and check out these brand new amenities. Memorial Park Project wins Project of the Year Award The City of Cupertino has been selected as the winner of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Silicon Valley Project of the Year Award. This year, the Memorial Park Ponds Repurposing project won the award for costing under $2 million. The final construction cost was $1.68 million, which allowed the project to qualify for this award. The Memorial Park Ponds Repurposing project removed the concrete liner for the old ponds, which have been drained since 2013 in response to drought restrictions. The City replaced the ponds with usable green space, planted garden areas, and did some minor paving to allow residents to walk through the area. In addition, the irrigation system was upgraded and modified to facilitate better water usage. 3 Enjoy the Outdoors at McClellan Ranch Preserve In 1976, McClellan Ranch Preserve was formally designated a nature and rural preserve, providing a rich history and protective area for native wildlife, flora, and fauna. The preserve is home to the City of Cupertino’s Community Gardens, Environmental Education Center, and the Baer Blacksmith Shop. Whether you are looking for an opportunity for education, study, research, or enjoyment—the preserve has it all! The City’s beautiful Community Gardens are helping cultivate and strengthen community bonds for all Cupertino residents who wish to apply. Renovated and reopened in August 2021, the program provides a welcoming and secure place for residents to experience the benefits of organic gardening, the promotion of healthy living, and education on safe gardening practices. You can also visit the Environmental Education Center during open house hours on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy a meet-and-greet with our animal ambassadors, learn about local ecology, participate in hands-on nature activities, and engage with our preserve staff. Looking for something else? Look no further than the Baer Blacksmith Shop. The forge is fired up, and our experienced blacksmith provides demonstrations on the last Saturday of every month. The preserve continues to welcome all visitors providing unique and memorable experiences for all ages, and we look forward to seeing you soon! Spotlighting Third-Grade Creek Tours Earlier this year, McClellan Ranch Preserve welcomed a new Recreation Coordinator, D’Miles Salmon! This spring, he led the Third-Grade Creek Tour Program, which hosted 43 third-grade classes from Cupertino Unified School District. The program introduces students to the local watershed, the importance of reducing pollutants for a healthy creek, and helps promote a healthy relationship with nature. D’Miles took the program one step further by revamping the curriculum to meet the third-grade standards, updating the educational materials, and adding in a component on adaptations! Learn more about what McClellan Ranch Preserve has to offer at cupertino.org/mcclellanranch. New Recreation Coordinator D’Miles Salmon leads the Third Grade Creek Tour Program. 4 Flourish Your Summer Garden If you are an avid gardener or just looking to get started, the summer season is a great time to enjoy the sunshine and cultivate your garden. Below we have some gardening tips related to your growing zone, integrated pest management, mulching, and watering. Understanding your growing zone As we enter July, many of the plants that are best suited to grow now will reach their full potential come fall season. To set you and your plants up for success, it is important to know your growing zone and which plants grow best in the summer. Based on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Cupertino’s growing zone is 10a. Some of the best fruits and vegetables to start start growing in zone 10a during the summer include beans, broccoli, celery, cucumber, onion, squash, and watermelon. View the map or for more information about your growing zone, you can visit: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. Integrated pest management (IPM) Pests in the garden are normal and healthy to maintain a balanced ecosystem, but infestations of pests can lead to unhealthy plants or even the destruction of them. To maintain a thriving garden while minimizing the use of chemical pesticides, integrated pest management (IPM) techniques provide a holistic and sustainable approach. Here are some natural alternatives to deal with common pests: • Introduce ladybugs into your garden to help ward off aphids. • Handpicking bugs off your plants or simply using your garden hose with a strong stream of water can help dislodge pesky bugs from your plants. • Spraying a solution of neem oil can help control aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, coddling moth, and meal worms. • Utilizing copper strips around your garden bed or sprinkling crushed eggshells around your plants can guard your plants from slugs and snails. For more IPM methods, visit mywatershedwatch. org/residents/less-toxic-gardening/integrated-pest- management-ipm. Mulching and watering The summer season may bring a lot of sunshine and heat, and that means your garden may need more frequent watering and additional shade. Watering in the early mornings or evenings when the sun is not out yet will help your plants absorb more water so that water doesn’t evaporate as quickly. Some plants may also require less sun, which means using a shade cloth could be beneficial. Utilizing mulch, such as wood chips or straw, and compost around your plants can help protect your soil and plants by helping them retain more water. The City offers free compost for pickup for Cupertino residents. For more information, please visit cupertino.org/compostsite. For more gardening tips and resources, visit: southbaygreengardens.org. Happy Gardening! 5 Switch to Plastic-Free this July Cupertino is reducing the dependence on single-use plastic by switching food to-go containers and other foodware rules for local restaurants. Why is reducing plastic waste necessary? Let’s look at an example of the lifecycle of plastic and see. Production: Up to 8% of the world’s oil production is used for plastics manufacturing. Plastic production involves a process called polymerization, which transforms raw materials derived from fossil fuels, such as crude oil and natural gas, into long chains of repeating units called polymers. They shape the plastic using techniques like injection molding to solidify it to the desired form. Finally, they apply finishing processes to achieve the desired appearance and functionality of the plastic product. This process consumes a significant amount of energy and water, wasting valuable resources and emitting tons of greenhouse gases. Approximately 380 million metric tons of plastic are produced worldwide every year, equivalent to roughly 1.04 million metric tons per day. Plastic production has been steadily increasing over the years due to its wide range of applications and convenience in various industries. Usage: Around 50% of all plastic products are designed for single-use purposes. This means that after consuming energy, and water, and emitting tons of greenhouse gases, half of these products are used for a few minutes and then discarded as waste. Disposal: Landfill: Plastic waste takes centuries to decompose in landfills, some say they never decompose and just break into microplastics. Microplastics can escape from the landfill and are harmful to human health. Recycling: Recycling is not a comprehensive solution to our plastic problem. Many plastics are “downcycled,” meaning they are processed into new items of lower quality. For example, a plastic water bottle may be turned into clothing. The clothing cannot be recycled or downcycled and ends up in the landfill or ocean. Ocean: Unfortunately, around eight million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year, posing a threat to marine ecosystems. Animals often mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it, resulting in injury or death. Plastic will break into smaller pieces called microplastics which end up everywhere, including inside the human body. Solution: You can decrease your carbon footprint, minimize landfill waste, improve human health, and help keep our oceans free of debris by reducing your plastic use. Cupertino’s Single-use Plastic Foodware Ordinance is one of the local efforts reusing plastic waste. Starting in September, Cupertino restaurants will deliver to-go orders and box leftovers in compostable or recyclable containers and will serve food on reusable dishes for customers dining in. Help Cupertino go plastic-free this July! Plastic-Free July is an international movement that aims to educate and promote reduced plastic consumption. Learn more about reducing plastic use at plasticfreejuly.org. 6 Beat the Heat! Tips to Stay Cool We all look forward to summer fun during the warmer months, but it is important to keep safety in mind. Hot weather can result in heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, heat rash, and in some instances, death. Take measures to keep yourself safe and lend a helping hand to family, friends, and neighbors. If you see someone who may be having a life-threatening reaction to the heat, please call 911. TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEAT: • Drink plenty of water: Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, or lots of sugar which speeds up fluid loss. • Limit physical activity: Avoid physical activity during the hottest time of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. • Stay in air-conditioned areas whenever possible. • Take a cool bath or shower: Do not cool children in alcohol baths. Cool, plain water baths or moist towels work best. • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing: Keep cool in lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing such as cotton, so sweat can evaporate. • Never leave anyone or pets in closed, parked cars. • Do not bundle babies in blankets or heavy clothing: Infants do not tolerate heat well because their sweat glands are not fully developed. • Cover your head: Wear a wide-brimmed, vented hat or use an umbrella when outdoors because your head absorbs heat easily. • Wear sunglasses and sunscreen: Put on sunglasses and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher when outdoors • Rest often in shady areas: Find shady places to rest and cool down when outdoors. • Check on frail or elderly family, friends, and neighbors often. Learn more ways to prepare and find an active cooling center near you at bit.ly/heatsafetytipsSCC. Register for Annual Citywide Garage Sale Cupertino residents can sell their unwanted items during the Annual Citywide Garage Sale on September 23 and 24. Why host a garage sale? Hosting a garage sale can be a fun event for both sellers and buyers. It’s a win-win situation! • Get rid of clutter and earn some cash. • Find unexpected items at a reduced cost. • Reuse items that would otherwise go to the landfill. • Take advantage of this free advertising! Thousands of shoppers visit Cupertino for this annual event. How to participate? Now is the time to start accumulating your unwanted items to sell. Register your address between July 31 and September 8 at cupertino.org/garagesale. 7 Host Your Next Event with Us! Discover the wide range of indoor spaces the City has available for rent, with customizable floor plans and rooms that accommodate anywhere from 10 to 280 guests. Whether it’s a vibrant birthday celebration, a professional corporate mixer, or a dreamy wedding, we have the perfect space tailored to your needs. Take a virtual tour of our facilities at cupertino.org/facilities. Quinlan Cupertino Room & Chef’s Kitchen Senior Reception HallCreekside Park Building VIEW OUR 360° VIRTUAL TOURS GET READY FOR EMERGENCIES—EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CLASSES Cupertino’s Office of Emergency Management is presenting a series of trainings specifically for your family and neighborhood. It is recommended you attend the two-part series: Personal Preparedness: July 25, 7 to 8 p.m. & August 5, 8 to 9 a.m. What you and everyone in your family need to know in case of an emergency—the City’s role, your role, communication plan, how to get help, first aid, supplies, etc. Family & Neighborhood Preparedness: July 27, 7 to 8 p.m. & August 12, 10 a.m. to noon What your family needs to have in place to have a better outcome after an emergency, and what your neighborhood can do together to check on each other, manage small events before they become too big to handle (fire, gas, electrical), get resources and information, and take care of each other until help arrives. Questions? Call (408) 777-3176 or email oem@cupertino.org. Register at bit.ly/emergencyprep2023. 8 Refuel Your Fun Reuse Your Propane Cylinders! During peak summer season, when campgrounds are packed, the spent gas canisters that people use to fuel their camping stoves and lanterns tend to pile up on the ground near dumpsters as if no one is quite sure what to do with them. California’s State Assembly has approved a bill to transition California away from wasteful single-use one- pound propane tank cylinders to refillable by 2028. It is estimated that more than four million one-pound canisters are sold annually in California, however, only one million are disposed of through a safe household hazardous waste collection program. The good news: You can gear up for greener grilling, eco-conscious camping, and tailgating with less trash by switching from disposable to reusable propane cylinders. They are an ideal solution for outdoor recreation enthusiasts and grill masters alike. Refillable canisters are sold at a reasonable price which saves you money, too! Find a location that sells, refills, or exchanges reusables at refuelyourfun.org. Don’t refill or throw away single-use canisters. Keeping the canisters out of the garbage is important because residual gas in the cylinders is an explosion hazard, especially if the container is punctured or crushed in a trash truck. If your cylinder contains words like “nonrefillable,” “disposable,” or “single trip,” do not try to refill it. Instead, make an appointment to drop it off at the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program at hhw.org. Disposable Propane Canister Refillable Propane Canister National Night Out is August 1! A connected community is a resilient community. But how can you start connecting? One way is to host a National Night Out event! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes public safety-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. You can also request a visit from the Sheriff’s Office, County Fire, or Office of Emergency Management to learn more about public safety. Want to join the fun? Register before Friday, July 14 using the QR code below. The first 20 groups to register will get a kit that will help spark conversations about safety! For more information go to cupertino.org/nno or email Marta Drown at martad@cupertino.org. If you would like to learn more about community building, go to cupertino.org/ blockleader or attend the program meeting on Wednesday, July 19. Deputies and firefighters are on duty and may not be able to attend or may leave early to respond to a call. Learn more about National Night Out and register for an event! 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Summer 2023 CONCERT SERIES Thursdays | Memorial Park June 15 to September 7 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. cupertino.org/summerconcert 2023 Concert Lineup June 15 Cupertino Symphonic Band June 22 Cocktail Monkeys Classic Rock, Pop, and R&B June 29 Snarky Cats Rock & Roll Party Band July 4 Arena Band 10:30 a.m. to noon 80s and 90s Epic Arena Bands July 6 Keep on Truckin’ Rock, Blues, Funk, and R&B July 13 Sonora San Jose Cumbia and Salsa July 20 Fog City Swampers 60s to 80s Classic Rock July 27 Phil N’ the Blanks 80s Rock Band August 3 Mixed Nuts Classic Rock and Soul August 10 Patron Latin Rhythms High Energy Latin Rhythms August 17 Big Blu Soul Revue 60s and 70s Soul, Funk, and Jazz August 24 Joint Chiefs Funk, Jazz, and Classic R&B September 7 Country Cougars Country and Classic Rock 10 OTHER EVENTS Parent’s Night Out Saturday, July 15 and Friday, July 28 6 to 10 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Need a sitter for a night out? Let us watch the kids! Drop them off for a night of games, crafts, a movie, and pizza. Learn more at bit.ly/3qPWsGy. Cupertino Campout July 22 at 4 p.m. to July 23 at 10 a.m. Creekside Park Pitch a tent at Creekside Park and enjoy a night under the stars with friends and family! No camping experience is necessary. Entertainment and continental breakfast is provided. Register at cupertino.org/campout. Shakespeare in the Park—Cymbeline Memorial Park Amphitheater 7/22, 7/23, 7/28, 7/29, 7/30, 8/4, 8/5, 8/6 6 to 7:30 p.m. Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s epic romantic adventure, is believed to be one of his final plays and is widely considered to be one of his greatest achievements. It features a dazzling mix of comedy, tragedy, and fairy tale that concludes with inventive scenes of revelation and joyous reconciliation. Movies in the Park Creekside Park 8 p.m. Grab your family and friends and join us for a free movie under the stars! August 11 — Big Hero 6 (PG, 1h 42m) August 18 — Super Mario Bros (PG, 1h 32m) August 25 — Finding Dory (PG, 1h 37m) September 8 — Jurassic World Dominion (PG-13, 2h 26m) Blackberry Farm Golf Course 22100 Stevens Creek Boulevard Set along the bank of Stevens Creek, Blackberry Farm Golf Course is a nine-hole facility with a Par of 29 comprised of seven par threes and two par fours. Play a round with us today! Book your tee time online at blackberryfarmgolfcourse.com or call (408) 253-9200. 11 CUPERTINO SCENE Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage PAID Cupertino, CA Permit No. 239 *******ECRWSSEDDM******* POSTAL CUSTOMER City Directory City of Cupertino Department Phone / Email Building Department ...................................(408) 777-3228 Building@Cupertino.org Business License ...........................................(408) 777-3221 BL@Cupertino.org City Clerk ......................................................(408) 777-3223 CityClerk@Cupertino.org City Manager ..............................................(408) 777-3212 Manager@Cupertino.org Code Enforcement .....................................(408) 777-3182 Code@Cupertino.org Planning Department .................................(408) 777-3308 Planning@Cupertino.org Recreation ...................................................(408) 777-3120 Recreation@Cupertino.org Senior Center ...............................................(408) 777-3150 Senior_Center@Cupertino.org Sports Center ...............................................(408) 777-3160 Recreation@Cupertino.org Street Light Maint. .......................................(408) 777-3342 StreetDivision@Cupertino.org Street Sweeping ..........................................(408) 777-3269 Engineering@Cupertino.org Tree Maint. ...................................................(408) 777-3410 Engineering@Cupertino.org Other Agencies Organization Phone Number Animal Control ........................................................(408) 794-7297 AT&T ..........................................................................(800) 331-0500 California Water Service .........................................(650) 917-0152 Chamber of Commerce ........................................(408) 252-7054 Comcast ..................................................................(800) 945-2288 Cupertino Library .....................................................(408) 540-3947 Cupertino Sanitary District ......................................(408) 253-7071 Cupertino Union School District .............................(408) 252-3000 Fremont Union High School District .......................(408) 522-2200 Hazardous Waste Drop-off .....................................(408) 299-7300 PG&E .........................................................................(800) 743-5000 Project Sentinel (Landlord/Tenant Issues) .............(408) 720-9888 Recology (Garbage & Recycling) ........................(408) 725-4020 San Jose Water Company .....................................(408) 279-7900 Santa Clara Registrar of Voters ..............................(408) 299-6863 VTA (Transportation Authority) ...............................(408) 321-2300 Vector Control, Santa Clara County ....................(408) 918-4770 First Responders Emergency Calls ...................................911 or (408) 299-3233 (Police, Fire, Medical) Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office ..............(408) 299-2311 (Non-Emergency) Santa Clara County Fire Department ...........(408) 378-4010 (Non-Emergency) Need to report an issue or have a City-related question? Visit: cupertino.org/cupertino311 or call (408) 777-3200. The Cupertino Scene is printed on post-consumer waste recycled paper with soy ink. The newsletter is produced by a certified Bay Area Green Business and is recyclable. For information on becoming a certified Green Business, visit cupertino.org/GreenBiz.