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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene April 2019 - 04.01.2019SCENE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO April 2019 2019 Earth and Arbor Day Festival Page 6 - 7 PLUS SANTA CLARA COUNTY WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM Page 8 CUPERTINO TAKES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Page 4 ENVISION YOUR CLIMATE SMART HOME Page 5 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, 10350 TORRE AVE. VOLUNTEER & INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ▪ Mental Health ▪ Medical Field ▪ Animal Care ▪ Environmental ▪ Social Services ▪ Government For more info visit: cupertino.org/volunteer CONTENTS FEATURES 4 Taking Action on Climate Change Learn what efforts the City has taken to combat climate change locally. 5 Envision Your Climate Smart Home New carbon smart technology can save you money, energy, and water. IN S I D E 6 2019 Earth and Arbor Day Festival Activities, entertainment, food galore! Learn what is in store at this year’s event. 9 Get in the Know …The Cuperti-know, that is! What’s going on around town in April? Find out. 8 Growing Green Businesses The Green Business program welcomes new members. 12 The Scene Answers Learn about the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. A Greener Cupertino: We Are In This Together “I would encourage people who are building new homes on existing property or remodeling to deconstruct, reuse, or donate. That is what we did in 2010 when we decided to build a new home on our existing property as we did not have the heart to demolish our old home.” – Poonam B “I reuse water used for cleaning veggies to soak dishes in the sink to save water.” - Sangeetha K “We installed solar panels on our roof and planted sustainable plants in our front yard that is watered via drip irrigation. We also recycle, compost, and use low impact lighting” –Ruby E. How do you contribute to a greener and healthier Cupertino? These Cupertinians shared their stories. Share your story by emailing scene@cupertino.org or find the City on social media. Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 Cupertino Takes Action on Climate Change 1. Clean Energy • Silicon Valley Clean Energy provides electricity from solar, wind, and other carbon free sources to homes and businesses. • Residents and businesses installed over 3 MW of solar panels since 2015. • Municipal buildings and streetlights are now powered by 100% renewable energy through Silicon Valley Clean Energy. 2. Urban Forest • Over 4,000 new trees were planted or are in progress, cleaning Cupertino’s air (since 2015). 3. Save Water • Our community reduced water use by 25% (per capita from 2010 to 2017). 4. Green Businesses • Cupertino Certified Green Businesses have saved 5,892 MT of carbon emissions and diverted over 19 million pounds of waste from the landfill. (See page 8 for more on Cupertino Green Businesses.) 5. Travel Green • Renewable diesel for diesel-powered fleet vehicles and equipment is being used as a transition fuel. When available, electric vehi- cles and equipment are prioritized at time of replacement. • Cupertino was recognized by League of American Bicyclists as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Business in 2017. Since 2010, Cupertino’s greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 13% community wide. Together, we’re making Cupertino healthier and cleaner for families today and in the future. Here’s how: For the latest report on the City Climate Action Plan and progress visit: cupertino.org/ClimateAction Page 4 Envision Your Climate Smart Home Wifi Enabled Smart Thermostat Get the latest technology with a wifi thermostat. Find an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat and get a $50 rebate from PG&E: marketplace.pge.com/ thermostats Solar Panels Go solar and run your electric appliances on sunlight! Drought tolerant plants Replace your lawn with Bay Area friendly landscaping, Cupertino residents get paid $2 per square foot of turf removed - Check valleywater.org for rebates. Smart Appliances Switch to high efficient, ENERGY STAR appliances and connect to your smart thermostat to save money during high price times for electricity usage. Check for PG&E rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances: marketplace.pge.com Electric car Drive an electric car or plug-in hybrid to complete your climate smart home! Green your lighting Switch your old lightbulbs to LED and save tons of energy. Go ultra green and power your home with 100% renewable electricity - opt up to Green Prime through Silicon Valley Clean Energy! Call 1-844-474-7823 for more info. Efficient Water Heater Set your water heater to 120 degrees to save up to $460 per year. Time to replace your water heater? Consider an electric heat pump water heater for green and efficient water heating. Check for PG&E rebates: marketplace. pge.com/electric-water-heaters or Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s FutureFit Home program: svcleanenergy.org Keep your home as up-to-date as your phone! Save money, energy, and water with climate smart technology for your home: Page 5 Earth & Arbor Day Saturday, April 13th, 2019 Civic Center Plaza 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Join the City of Cupertino as we celebrate Earth and Arbor Day with hands-on activities, local organizations, delicious food, and live performances, all while learning new ways to protect our earth and urban forest. 4th Annual Pedal 4 the Planet Bike Ride Registration Opens @ 9:00 a.m. Rides Depart @ 10:00 a.m. 2 Route Options: • There is a 5 mile and a 10 mile route. • Both rides will start and end at Cupertino City Center. Show up and ride, no pre-registration required! For more information visit our Cupertino Safe Routes to School website, cupertino.org/saferoutes. Yoga 11:00 a.m. in Community Hall Root yourself with the earth with Instructor Sa-ad Kongboon. 2019 City Tree Walking Tour 1:45 - 2:15 p.m. Meet at the Information Booth Learn about Cupertino’s urban forest as you take a walk around the neighborhood with City Arborist Jason Fauth. Animals Stop by the McClellan Ranch Preserve booth to interact with some reptiles and other animals. Live Entertainment Sing, dance, and learn while enjoying live performances from the Apple House Writers, Silicon Valley Shaolin Cultural Center, Martin and the Green Guitar, and Event Horizon Rock Band. Visit cupertino.org/earthday for the performance schedule. Local Organizations Learn, craft, and have fun with over 60 local organizations and businesses committed to caring for the environment. To see a full list of tabling partners, visit cupertino.org/earthday. Food Trucks Dine on delicious food and drinks from local food trucks. Rock ClimbingElectric Vehicle Demos Considering going electric? Peek under the hood of an electric vehicle with the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Electric Auto Association. Page 7 Reasons to SHOP GREEN 1. Green Businesses care about the future – Green Businesses are mindful of how their actions today will impact future generations 2. Green Businesses support the community – Our newest Certified Business, West Valley Community Services, unites the community to fight hunger and homeless - all while protecting the environment. 3. Green Businesses are team players – Green Businesses do their part to create a sustainable city 4. Green Businesses are innovative – Cupertino Soap uses biodegradable shrink-wrap on their products so that nothing ends up in the landfill 5. Any business can go Green – From hotels to home offices, every business or organization can take small steps that add to huge impacts. There are over 4,000 certified businesses in California and more joining every day. “We care about our kids’ future and the future of the environment” – Vardy’s Jewelers “One of the things we have to take seriously is our stewardship or our care of the earth” – Bethel Lutheran Church and School The Cupertino Green Business Program assists businesses in achieving advanced environmental standards in energy and water efficiency, waste management, employee health and wellness, and pollution prevention. Live up to your environmental values by supporting businesses that support our community. What businesses would you like to see certified? Let them know being green is important to their customers. Encourage them to get their Green Business Certification! To learn more and see a complete list of certified businesses, visit www.cupertino.org/greenbiz Page 8 Page 9 What’s going on around town? GET IN THE CUPERTI- know Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee The City is proposing a new fee for Clean Water and Storm Protection programs, which benefits your property and protects our environment. Cupertino.org/cleanwater Civic Center Master Plan Review City Council Meeting, Tuesday, April 16 Cupertino Community Hall Learn what options were considered and what process the City will go through moving forward. Big Bunny 5k Grab your family and friends and get energized for the Big Bunny 5K and Kids Fun Run. Register today at bigbunny5k.com Housing Commission Vacancy – Financial Representative The Financial Representative must represent a financial institution that is located in Cupertino to be eligible. The application deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2019. Interviews held May 21. Submit Completed Application to cupertino.org/vacancies COMMUNITY CALENDAR © TEENS National Caramel Day Thursday, April 4, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Blvd. Enjoy some treats with all things cara- mel. We’ll be serving them all up all day at the Teen Center! © <hack> Cupertino 2019 Saturday April 13 to Sunday April 14, 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 a.m. Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road Cupertino’s Teen Commission together with the Cupertino Recreation Depart- ment is hosting <hack> Cupertino, a 13-hour overnight hackathon designed to solve a problem presented during our Opening Ceremony. The winning team has the potential for their idea to be developed together with City staff and be implemented as an official City application. Find out more at www. cupertino.org/teens. © Teen Center Spring Break Extended Hours Monday, April 15 to Saturday, April 20, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Blvd. Be sure to come hang out at the Teen Center during out extended hours for Spring Break! © National Pajama Day Tuesday, April 16, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Blvd. Wear your most comfy pajamas to the Teen Center on National Pajama Day! We will vote to determine who has the funniest outfit and they will win a free snack! © Teen Info Night Monday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave Build leadership skills, get on-the-job training, and volunteer hours within the Cupertino community. Learn more about how you can volunteer in Cupertino at Teen Info Night! Programs include: Leaders In Training, Junior Lifeguards, Cupertino Teen Leadership Academy, and Teen Commission. © National Pigs in a Blanket Day Wed., April 24, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Blvd. Enjoy some hot and delicious pigs in a blanket with your favorite condiments at the Teen Center! Served all day. FAMILY-FRIENDLY West Coast Farmers Market Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Oaks Shopping Center Stop by the West Coast Farmers Market every Friday and Sunday in the Oaks Shopping Center parking lot. For more information visit www.wcfma.org. © Creekside Farmers Market Every Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Avenue Stop by the Creekside Farmers Market every Friday at Creekside Park in Cupertino. For more information visit, www.pcfma.org/visit/markets. © Holi Festival of Colors Saturday, April 7, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Memorial Park This is a free event open to the community of Cupertino and beyond, hosted by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. The festival celebrates the arrival of spring and for many a festive day to meet others, enjoy delicacies, play & laugh! © Community Meetings: Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. on the following dates: 4/9: Senior Center 4/13: City Hall,10300 Torre Ave. 4/30: Senior Center, 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd. The City is proposing a new fee for Clean Water and Storm Protection programs, which benefits your property and protects our environment. © Shredding and Environmental Recycling Event Saturday, April 13, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. De Anza College, Parking Lot A Drop off confidential documents for shredding electronics, batteries, and fluorescent lights for recycling, or usable furniture or clothing for donation. Visit www.cupertino.org/environmentalday for full list of acceptable items. © Earth and Arbor Day Festival Saturday, April 13, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cupertino Civic Center Plaza Take a yoga class, join our family- friendly bike ride, eat lunch from a food truck, watch live entertainment, and learn, craft, and play with over 75 local environmental organizations! © Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 13, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Memorial Park, 10185 N. Stelling Road Every year HOC5 and the City of Cupertino jointly hosts an Easter Egg Hunt community event for the family. There have Egg Hunts, Games, Bouncy House, and so much more! Silicon Valley Audubon Society Speaker Series: Birds of the American West Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. Redwood Hall, 373 Pine Lane, Los Altos This program will feature photographs of iconic birds of the Western U.S. from birding hotspots in New Mexico, Oregon, and California. http://www. scvas.org/speakerseries. © Budget and Bites Thursday, April 18, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road Join City budget staff, and take a bite out of City budgeting process. This lecture and practical exercise community workshop will help you digest City revenues, expenses, and balance your own City budget. © Big Bunny 5K Saturday, April 20, 8:00 a.m. Cupertino Civic Center Plaza Grab your family and friends and get energized for the Big Bunny 5K and Kids Fun Run. Register at bigbunny5k.com. © Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday & Sunday April 27 & 28, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Memorial Park This fun family festival honors Cuperti- no’s sister city relationship with Toyoka- wa, Japan by sharing Japanese arts & culture with the entire community. CUPERTINO LIBRARY For more information on library programs, visit the Events section of the Cupertino Library’s website at sccl.org/cupertino . CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: Bookmobile Storytime Wed., 4/10, 2:00 p.m., Cupertino Library The Santa Clara County Library District Bookmobile will be stopping by Cuper- tino Library to celebrate National Book- mobile Week! Join us for a bookmobile storytime and take a peek inside. © LEGO Club Thur., 4/18, 4:00 p.m., Library Story Room Kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade can build with our LEGO bricks. All you need is your imagination! TEEN PROGRAMS Extracurricular Development: Standing Out from the Competition Wed., 4/17, 7:00p.m., Library Story Room Join FLEX as we discuss the relevance of extracurricular and summer activities, and introduce ways in which to build them seamlessly into a robust and cohesive application profile.Page 10 ADULT PROGRAMS Introduction to Ayurveda Sat., April 6, 2:00 p.m., Library Story Room Come journey with us into the vast and fascinating world of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine system which is the sister science of Yoga. You will learn fundamental concepts and how to cultivate wellness and balance in your life. Registration required at sccl.org/Locations/Cupertino/events. © Death by Design: A 2017 UNAFF Film Festival Selection Wed., 4/24, 7:00 p.m., Library Story Room In an investigation that spans the globe from China to New York to Silicon Valley, filmmaker Sue Williams explores the underbelly of the electronics industry and reveals how even the smallest devices have deadly environmental and health costs. SENIOR CENTER For more info on the Senior Center, or to sign up for classes or events, visit cupertino.org/senior or stop by 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard. EVENTS & SOCIALS Basic Conflict Resolution Workshop Tuesday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Led by Project Sentinel, learn under- standing conflict and managing your response to conflict situations, discover communication strategies, and create a plan for ways to improve your particu- lar response to conflict. © Around the World in 60 Minutes Tuesday, April 3, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Take part in an afternoon of musical fun and fellowship as the Harmonikatz and Ukulele Band take you around the globe! © Monday Night Basketball Social Monday, April 8, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Watch the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship our big screen while enjoying oven-roasted vegetables and creamy mac and cheese for dinner. Preregistration required. © Financial Wellness Lecture Tuesday, April 9, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Protecting your money is important – especially in retirement. Join Breathe California for a presentation on how you can avoid financial scams and learn about other tips to maximize savings. © April Birthday Bash Wednesday, April 10, 12:00 p.m. Celebrate April birthdays with a Rus- sian-themed meal accompanied by Russian entertainment. Vegetarian op- tion available when registering. Prereg- istration required as space is limited. Smart Living 50+ Health & Wellness Fair Friday, April 12, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Senior Center 21251, Stevens Creek Blvd Join the City of Cupertino for the second annual Smart Living 50+ Health & Wellness Fair and learn about services that are available to seniors. © Home Fire Safety and Fall Prevention Tuesday, April 23, 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m. Join Santa Clara County Fire to understand fire risks and how to practice fire safety habits while developing a home escape plan. Identify fall risks and learn simple, effective home fixes to prevent falls. CLASSES & PRESENTATIONS Flex Drop-in Passes Members can purchase Flex passes at the senior center front desk for $6 each. Look for the Flex pass logo on select classes. Flex passes are non-refundable. Please note: classes may be cancelled if minimum registration is not met. For members only. © Stay Active Fund The Stay Active Fund helps adults 50+ remain active, engaged, and partici- pating at the Cupertino Senior Center. This fund provides assistance to offset the cost for senior center membership and registration for classes and events. The fund is available beginning in No- vember through June 30, or until the fund is depleted. Please contact the se- nior center staff for more details. © 50+ Softball Thur., March 28 - December 5, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Come out and play with friends at Me- morial Park! Batting practice is at 9am and a pick-up game promptly starts at 10am each week. © Universal Workshop Wed., April 3, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Register for unlimited access to over 500 free, non-credit online, continuing edu- cation courses! © iPad/iPhone Beginning in Mandarin Wed., April 3 - 25, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Become more familiar with your iPad/ iPhone and learn the basics including Settings, Control Center, Photo editing, downloading Applications and more! Members must bring their fully charged iPad/iPhone each time to class. © Nutrition Made Easy: Healthy Pastas Mon., April 15, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Create three different easy, healthy, and delicious pasta dishes with Instruc- tor Jen Oh that are perfect for one or two. All diets and food preferences wel- comed, and everything you make you get to take home to enjoy later! Nutrition Made Easy: Promote Brain Health Friday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Promoting brain health is the key to healthy aging and preventing demen- tia and Alzheimer’s. Discover key steps with Instructor Jen Oh with simple tips and techniques to keep our brains healthy and sharp. © Kumihimo (Beaded) Thursday, April 4 to April 25 3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Kumihimo, meaning “gathering of threads”, is a traditional Japanese art involving breading or weaving together various threads into a cord. You will learn how to make a simple braid and work up to beautiful beaded Kumihimo. Member fee $35. SOCIAL SERVICES Housing Mon., April 1, 15 | 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Information on resources for senior housing options. Please call (408) 777- 3150 to make an appointment. © Blood Pressure Check Tue., April 2, 16, 30 | 12:15p.m.-1:15p.m. Mon., April 8, 22 | 1:30p.m.-2:30p.m. Free blood pressure checks by volunteer nurse. Open to the public. © Senior Adult Legal Aid (SALA) Fri., April 5, 12, 19 | 10:30a.m. - 12:30p.m. Provides free assistance to elders for basic legal matters in public benefits, long-term care, elder abuse, housing, consumer issues, incapacity planning, probate alternative, and simple wills. Must be 60 or older and live in Santa Clara County. Please call (408)777-3150 to make an appointment. © Health Insurance Counseling (HICAP) Mon., April 8, 22 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Consultation on Medicare and health insurance. Please call 408.777.3150 to make an appointment. © Case Management Program This program helps seniors obtain community resources enabling them to remain independent and safe in their home. Case Managers provide assessments to determine the needs for services; coordinate and ensure legal services are in place. Home visits can be provided to homebound seniors living in Cupertino. Free service, membership required. Drop-in Consultations with Case Managers are Wed., 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. or by appointment Mon.- Fri., 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mandarin and Cantonese language appointments are available. Page 11 PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage PAID Cupertino, CA Permit No. 239 CUPERTINO SCENE Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 *******ECRWSSEDDM******* POSTAL CUSTOMER Q&A THE SCENE ANSWERS Have questions for staff? Send them to scene@cupertino.org or call (408) 777-3212. The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management and the City of Cupertino are working together to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative growth and the accumulation of combustible materials. Property owners are required to keep their property free of fire hazards—such as weeds— throughout the year. However, the Minimum Fire Safety Standards (MFSS)are required to be met each year by the April 30 deadline and then maintained through the fire season. Vegetation must not exceed six inches in height any time after the compliance deadline. The Weed Abatement Program is entirely funded from fees charged to residents if: 1. The County contractor must perform weed abatement work on the property, or 2. If the property is not in compliance with MFSS when it is first inspected by the County in the spring. Properties that fail the initial inspection will be charged an inspection fee, even if the resident completes the weed abatement. Properties that meet and maintain the MFSS will not be charged. County staff annually inspect parcels at the beginning of the fire season, which is typically in March or April. If the property is not in compliance, the property owner will pay a fee equal to the contractor’s charges plus a County administrative fee. All fees will be included in your property tax bill. For more information on the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program, visit sccgov.org/sites/wap/Pages/ wap.aspx. What is the Weed Abatement Program and Why Am I Receiving This Notice in the Mail? The Cupertino Scene is printed on 40% 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.