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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene November 2017 - 11.01.2017SCENEThe Cupertino A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO NOVEMBER 2017 PLUS HONORING OUR HEROES ON VETERANS DAY Page 5 LAUREATE TO BRING POETRY TO CUPERTINO Page 6 DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE CITY’S SMALL BUSINESSES Page 8 GIVING THANKS November is the month that signals the season of gratitude. This issue of the Scene focuses on some of the things we can be thankful for in our community. — See Inside For More FOOD SCRAPS AREN’T GARBAGE WHEN FOOD SCRAPS ARE SENT TO THE LANDFILL THEY EMIT METHANE, WHICH IS 25 TIMES MORE POTENT OF A GREENHOUSE GAS THAN CARBON DIOXIDE. ADD FOOD SCRAPS TO YOUR YARD WASTE BIN CUPERTINO COMPOSTS & SO SHOULD YOU WWW.CUPERTINO.ORG/COMPOST It’s been said that the more you take, the less that you have. On the flip side of that is the more you give, the more you get in return. It’s good to remind ourselves of this every so often. Especially since our society is becoming more and more transactional. “I’m happy to do this for you, but what will I get in return?” we ask. In truth, research has shown over and over again that being gen- erous with our time, money, and resources boosts our physical and mental health. In short: Giving is good for the giver. A recent, and local, example of this is Monta Vista High School student Karen Ma who spent her time go- ing door-to-door around Cupertino asking if her neighbors would be willing to plant a tree. Karen didn’t go looking for accolades or for the City of Cupertino to pay her for her time. Instead, she told the City Council later, she did it because she cared and wanted to do the right thing by her community and the world. So what happened? The City end- ed up having one of the best tree plantings ever at last year’s Arbor Day. The Cupertino City Council did eventually present Karen with a proclamation. But that was far after the fact and without expec- tation. That’s commendable. But Karen isn’t alone. Cupertino is lucky enough to have quite a few residents and local organizations willing to give their time for the bet- terment of the community. I’ve found that volunteering in ways that interest us is the best way to add value to those around us. When we’ve bought in to the cause, whether it’s feeding the homeless, teaching English to non-native speakers, or volunteer- ing at a local school, the more self- lessly we’re willing to give ourselves to ensuring a positive outcome. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to give back in Cupertino, whether you’re a youth or adult. You can become a Block Leader, join the Citizen Corps, clean a creek, be- come a Leader in Training, or join a City Commission. I encourage you to at least browse the City’s volunteer opportunities at www.cupertino.org/volunteer. With all that’s going on around us, from the national political land- scape to the natural disasters, re- member that we’re all in this to- gether. And creating a healthier world and positive future can start right here at home. David Brandt City Manager MANAGING THE MESSAGE Page 3 CONTENTS FEATURES 12 Questions & Answers Cupertino’s minimum wage is increasing. Find out why.6 Poetic License Get to know Cupertino’s new poet laureate Kaecey McCormick. IN S I D E 8 Taking Care of Business Remember to support Cupertino’s local businesses this season. 5 Veterans Day Ceremony The annual event is back at Memorial Park on November 11.10 Community Calendar Find out what’s happening in Cupertino in November. 4 Looking to the Past Read about some of the wonderful things that have happened in the City. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. Page 4 PROUD TREE HUGGER Last month, the Cupertino City Council recognized Monta Vista High School student Karen Ma for her ef- forts to promote the planting of trees in Cupertino. Kar- en has spent the last six years of her life on this effort. She’s volunteered with the City, gone door-to-door ask- ing residents if they would like to plant a tree, assisted in the formation of the Silicon Valley Tree Planters, and created the website www.balanceourcarbon.com. CITY OF CUPERTINO TAKING A LOOK BACK WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST MONTH? Stay In Touch: www.cupertino.org / wwww.facebook.com/cityofcupertino / www.nextdoor.com TAKING THE PLUNGE Fifty-five dogs showed up with their humans in tow for the first ever “Pooch Plunge” at Blackberry Farm. The en- trance fee was $10 with all proceeds going to benefit the organization Best Friends, which is aiding canine hur- ricane victims. The pooches had a grand time playing, socializing, and (of course) swimming. Feedback from the humans was positive, so staff plans on making this an annual event. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. After years of being off due to the drought, the Civic Center Plaza fountain was turned back on in May. As the saying goes, “If you build it, they will come.” It turns out that works for fountains too. Once the water came back, children and families showed up in waves. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The fountains were turned off in October. But they will be back on in the spring. Page 5 On Saturday, November 11 members of the commu- nity will come together as one to honor and thank all of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The event will start at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park, 21121 Stevens Creek Boulevard. This year’s annual Cupertino Veterans Day Ceremony will commemorate the 11-year anniversary of the ded- ication of the Cupertino Veterans Memorial. The event will include a performance of the National Anthem and bagpipes, a placing of a wreath, as well as an invoca- tion and benediction. The guest speakers this year include retired Marine Corps General James M. Myatt and retired Rear Admiral Steve Oswald, a former NASA astronaut and military test pilot. The Cupertino Veterans Memorial includes a statue of “The Two Defenders.” The two soldiers represented are Cupertino’s own Matthew Axelson, and James Suh. The two Navy SEAL’s who died fighting the Taliban in Af- ghanistan during Operation Red Wings in June 2005. _____________________________________________________ For more information on the Veterans Day Ceremony and Cupertino Veterans Memorial, visit www.cupertinoveteransmemorial.org. Veterans Day Ceremony The annual Cupertino Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at Memorial Park on Saturday, November 11 POET LAUREATE The Scene caught up with Cupertino Poet Laureate Kaecey McCormick to find out what she has in store for the community in the next two years Page 6 In October, the Cupertino City Council approved the Cupertino Library Commission’s recommenda- tion to appoint Kaecey McCormick as the new Cupertino Poet Laure- ate. Kaecey is a poet, writer, artist, and teacher. The Cupertino Poet Laureate is a two-year, volunteer position spon- sored by the City of Cupertino and seated in its Cupertino Library. Spon- sors and support network include the Library Commission, Friends of the Cupertino Library, and the Cu- pertino Library Foundation. Following is an interview the Scene held with Kaecey: SCENE: What is it about poetry that originally caught your interest? KAECEY: I think it was poetry’s magic of capturing emotions on paper that first caught my interest. It is this same magic which keeps me returning to it. When I was a little girl, I was dumb- struck by the way poets took words, and in only a few lines, were able to put me in the experience there with the speaker. Instead of seeing a story unfold, I felt it – no matter the subject or ac- tion: gazing at a flower, standing at a grave, contemplating dinner, It didn’t matter because the poem helped me experience it too. I love word and sound play, and po- ets generally do these things well. It’s fun and exciting to hear familiar words used in unfamiliar ways. So hearing the different sounds of the language I thought I understood, and how poets combined this with the emotional side of poetry, defi- nitely caught my interest. SCENE: What has poetry brought to your life? KAECEY: So many things have brought poetry to my life, it’s hard to name only a few. Every day when I hear music, the lyrics and songs re- mind me that we are surrounded by poetry. My children have brought poetry to my life because kids often say or describe their feelings and experiences in unexpected and sur- prising ways. I try to take note and remember to have the same cour- age when I express myself in poems. Reading has also been instrumental in bringing poetry to my life, though it isn’t simply the reading of poet- ry. Reading fiction, nonfiction, my students’ essays… these all have shown me the different ways words and meaning work together to form ideas, comparisons, emotional un- dercurrents, descriptions and so on. And I think above all else, being open: listening to people and ideas, being willing to take five minutes to really read what someone has writ- ten in a note, being ready to observe without judgment. This openness has made it possible for poetry to seep Page 7 into my life in unforeseen places. SCENE: Why did you apply to be- come the next Cupertino Poet Lau- reate? KAECEY: I’m excited about the Poet Laureate movement that is gain- ing momentum around the United States, and I wanted to apply in part to support and be a part of this amazing collection of language art- ists who recognize the ability of po- etry and expression to help us heal, help us grow, help us understand each other better. In addition, I participated in current Poet Laureate Ann Muto’s poetry memoir workshops and was amazed at the positive impact they had on me personally and on my poetry. I couldn’t think of a better way to be involved with my community. SCENE: What do you hope to ac- complish in the next two years of your term? KAECEY: First and foremost, I want to continue the good work of the Poet Laureates who came before me and who worked hard to bring the experi- ence of poetry to the community. While I have specific ideas about programs, my overall goals are to help demonstrate the accessibility of poetry as well as the ways in which poetry can help make us better peo- ple. It doesn’t matter what your pro- fession is, what subjects you excel at in school. Poetry is a tool through which we can strengthen our creative muscles. It’s like cross training for the brain. And when you strengthen your creative muscles, every other area benefits from writing a different kind of code to the way we speak to the person in front of us in line. It is my hope to share with Cupertino the power po- etry holds. ___________________________________ For more information, visit www.cupertino.org/poetlaureate. We sit on the cool rocks and watch the stars swing past the moon kicking up the dirt, dropping pixelated tears as they go. It’s seeing this with you against the silhouette of our grief: the burned dreams, the small mounds of dirt under too-large stones, our fingers reaching for each other’s in the dark. Their laughter breaks through the glass of our memories turning our shroud to dust, tugging at our lips and pulling up the corners. They dry our eyes with handkerchiefs sewn from patchwork dresses dyed in kindergarten colors. They join us and the mood shifts, floats us toward the harvest moon raises our eyes from the dead. I’m watching you smile as you watch their joy and a quiet thrill grabs my throat because I know what we have though not enough is enough. And my fingers as they stroke the soft flesh on the inside of your arm whisper thank you. Thanks After Las Vegas by Kaecey McCormick “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” - Henry Ward Beecher Page 8 This month families throughout the nation will celebrate the Thanksgiving Day holiday. It is a time when we gather with family and friends to give thanks and reflect upon all the good things the year has brought. After enjoying large meals and festive gatherings, the day after Thanksgiving marks the first official day of the holiday shopping season. Small Business Saturday was launched by American Express in 2010 to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small and local brick and mortar businesses. Small businesses help shape our community character, strengthen economic vitality, as well as develop strong partnerships among neighbors, residents, other small busi- ness owners, community leaders, and schools. In fact, small businesses drive much of the United States economy. How many small businesses are there in the United States you may be wondering? There are approximately 28 million small businesses, which accounts for 54% of all U.S. sales. When you consider how many small businesses surround you in your everyday lives, it is inspiring to realize the amount of time, commitment, and labor these hard-working individuals put into making their businesses survive and thrive to serve you. As you may have personally experienced, many local businesses gen- erously give back to our community through sponsorships and donations to local organizations, schools, and worthwhile causes. Additionally, circulating money in the same locality helps our community thrive. When you shop locally, your money stays local, and it strengthens the local econ- omy in many ways. Shopping locally creates new employment and job opportu- nities for people within the community. Studies show, locally-owned businesses employ more people per unit of sales, and retain more employees. Furthermore, the expansion of local businesses helps create a more stable, reces- sion resistant local economy. Cash flow for local businesses recirculates a greater share of every dollar, as they create locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. A strong network of local funds enables individuals and businesses within a com- munity to support one another. Local businesses strengthen the city’s economic vitality and are an essential part of our community fabric, so why not show your appreciation by supporting local businesses and giving thanks to hardworking hands and generous hearts? This year Small Business Saturday will be on Saturday, November 25. A special com- munity celebration will be held throughout the Cupertino, including live entertain- ment, children’s activities, and discounts and giveaways by local businesses. Visit the City of Cupertino website at www.cupertino.org/smallbusinesssaturday for more details and to check out its new “Shop & Dine Local” app. ______________________________________________________________________________ For more information on businesses in Cupertino, visit www.InBusinessCupertino.com or contact Economic Development Manager Angela Tsui at angelat@cupertino.org. OPEN FOR BUSINESS Thanking Local Businesses Angela Tsui Economic Development Manager angelat@cupertino.org CELEBRATE CUPERTINO BUSINESSES ON SATURDAY, NOV. 25 11:00am - 4:00pm Enjoy FREE family activities and live music at Main Street Cupertino Town Square 25 www.cupertino.org/SmallBusinessSaturday First 100 attendees receive a free limited edition “Shop Small” totebag! Page 9 What’s going on around town? GET IN THE CUPERTI- know Type II Diabetes StudyStanford University Volunteers needed to study effects of exercise on hemoglobin More Information: med.stanford.edu/discover.html diabeticstudy@stanford.edu VTA MEETING ON 85 GUIDEWAY STUDYVTA invites community input as part of the study Nov. 13, 6 pm - 8 pm Quinlan Community Center 10185 N. Stelling Road Serve on a City Commission Residents are encouraged to apply for multiple vacancies Deadline: Jan. 12, 2018 cupertino.org/vacancies REGNART CREEK TRAIL ‘WALKSHOP’ Saturday, November 18 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Access Gates @ Rodriguez Ave. www.cupertino.org/bikeplan Page 10 COMMUNITY CALENDAR © November Food Feature Wednesday, November 9, 6 to 7 p.m. Cupertino Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Boulevard The Cupertino Teen Center will be fea- turing pizza from Pizza My heart! Don’t miss out on getting your free snack. First come first serve, while supplies last. West Coast Farmers Market Every Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Oaks Shopping Center Stop by the West Coast Farmers Mar- ket every Friday and Sunday in the Oaks Shopping Center parking lot. For more information visit www.wcfma. org/cupertino.html. © Santa Clara County 2017 Heroes Run Saturday, November 4, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Civic Center, 10300 Torre Avenue The Heroes Run is an annual event that includes a 5K run/walk, obstacle course, and kid’s fun run. The Heroes Run is produced by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and the VMC Foundation. For more information visit www.heroesrunscc.com. © Veterans Day Ceremony Saturday, November 11, 11:00 a.m. Cupertino’s Memorial Park This year our Veterans Day ceremony will commemorate the 11th year an- niversary of the dedication of the Cu- pertino Veterans Memorial. Operation Red Wings was the catalyst for the de- sign and placement for the Cupertino Veterans Memorial and subject of the book and movie, “Lone Survivor.” © Lynbrook Holiday Craft Faire Saturday, November 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Lynbrook High, 1280 Johnson Avenue The 37th annual Lynbrook Holiday Craft Faire will feature handcrafted items from over 100 vendors. It is the perfect place to find a gift for young and old alike. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Workshop Wed., Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue Learn about the developing tech- nologies of Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning - basic concepts, algorithms, applications and how to develop further expertise. Sign up at http://learn-ai.net. © Wreaths Across America Saturday, December 16, 10:00 a.m. Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 22555 Cristo Rey Drive Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission of the organization to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arling- ton National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. VTA 85 Guideway Study Meeting Monday, November 13, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road The Valley Transportation Authori- ty (VTA) will be hosting a communi- ty meeting to discuss VTA’s “Vision Phase” for the “State Route 85 Guide- way Study.” For more information on the study, visit www.vta.org. SR2S Working Group Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Ave. Cupertino is actively working to ex- pand beyond its historical infrastruc- ture and enforcement-approach to traffic safety by teaming with lo- cal school districts, schools, parents and students to form a Safe Routes 2 School program. Get involved today! © Regnart Creek Trail ‘Walkshop’ Sat., Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Access Gates at Rodrigues Avenue The City is working with HMH Engineers to prepare a feasibility study for a pro- posed trail along Regnart Creek. Join us on Saturday to walk the site and provide your input. We will have a morning and afternoon session. Come by when you can. For more details, visit www.cupertino.org/bikeplan. For more information on library pro- grams, visit the Events section of the Cupertino Library’s website at www. sccl.org/cupertino. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS Family Game Day Wed., November 22, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cupertino Library Children’s Room Enjoy all your favorite board games! Play with friends or make new friends. TEENS FAMILY-FRIENDLY CUPERTINO LIBRARYADULTS Page 11 ADULT PROGRAMS Bay Breeze Chinese Chamber Music Saturday, November 4, 3:00 p.m. Cupertino Library Courtyard Bay Breeze is an acoustic music group founded by a group of first genera- tion Chinese immigrants who came to the US to study and work. The band, formed in 2009, composes its own mu- sic. With passion in music and deep connection with the Chinese culture, the band is touring Bay Area public li- braries to share their thoughts with you. © How to Launch an Entertainment Startup Sunday, November 12, 1:00 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall Join Star Trek writers and actors Sean Kenney, Gary Lockwood, Hana Ha- tae, Olivia D’Abo, and Marc Cush- man as they discuss both Star Trek and their new entertainment project, Alien Cross. © Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra Saturday, November 18, 4:00 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall Firebird Youth Chinese Symphony is a unique Bay Area music group. Youth ages 11-18 learn to play both tradition- al Chinese and Western instruments and perform music from both tradi- tions. Visit Cupertino Library for a free performance by these talented youth. For more info on the Senior Center, or to sign up for classes or events, visit www.cupertino.org/seniors or stop by 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard. EVENTS & SOCIALS Monthly Movie Wed., Nov. 29, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. This month’s movie us Gifted (2017). Members are free, senior guests pay $5 day pass. © Thanksgiving Lunch and Birthday Bash Wednesday, November 15, 12 p.m. Thanksgiving feast with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sa- vory green beans, and pumpkin pie. The Rhythmaires Band will help cele- brate the holiday with delightful music. Members with November birthdays will be honored. Members $12, senior guests add $5 day pass. Let’s Talk Current Events Wed., November 8, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Join this lively monthly discussion group to discuss important and inter- esting topics and learn about others’ points of view. Discover how goings-on around the world will affect you with Nancy McGinnis, legal specialist and current lecturer at San Francisco State University, facilitating the conversa- tion. Members are free, senior guests pay $5 day pass. Sign up at the Senior Center lobby table. CLASSES & PRESENTATIONS New Flex Drop-in Passes Now introducing Flex passes for select fitness classes if space is available. Members can purchase Flex passes at the front desk for $6 each. Look for the Flex pass logo on select classes. Flex passes are non-refundable. Note: classes may be cancelled if minimum registration is not met. Members only. © AARP Smart Driver Wed., November 1 & 8, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. This is a full 8-hour AARP Smart Driver class, split into two 4-hour sessions. For more information and to register, call Les Schreiber at (408) 316.8654. © Beading – Beginning Thurs., Nov. 2 – 30, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Learn about beading tools, different types of beading wires, threads and cords, and assorted beads. Practice learned techniques by creating assort- ed earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Medicare 2018 Monday, November 6, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Whether you are new to Medicare or want to know more, attend a pre- sentation by the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). The presenter will discuss the latest updates and the Part D plans for 2018 and an overview of Medicare. The open enrollment for 2018 Medi- care Part D begins on October 15, 2017 and ends on December 7, 2017. Please review your Medicare Part D plans, Open to public. SOCIAL SERVICES Housing Monday, Nov. 6, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. A list of housing resources and contact information are provided to help you search for housing. Call (408) 777-3150 to make an appointment. © Health Insurance Counseling (HICAP) Nov. 6, 13, 27, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Consultation on Medicare and health insurance. Appointments: 408.777.3150. © Senior Adult Legal Aid (SALA) Friday, November 3 & 17 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Provides free assistance to elders for basic legal matters in public benefits, long-term care, elder abuse, housing, consumer issues, incapacity plan- ning, 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. SENIOR CENTER 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 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 www.cupertino.org/GreenBiz. Q&A The Scene Answers Have questions for staff? Send them to scene@cupertino.org or call (408) 777-3212. Question: I read that Cupertino’s minimum wage is going up again. Why is it increasing, what will it be, and who does it apply to? Answer: Cupertino’s minimum wage will increase to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2018. The Cupertino City Council enacted Ordinance No. 2151 on October 4, 2016 that established a local minimum wage. This ordinance is part of a regional strategy to address affordability is-sues. The goal is to increase the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by 2019, then tie it to infla-tion. Council based its decision on a regional economic analysis, regional employer survey, and local input from businesses and residents. The economic analysis concluded that an increase to the minimum wage would significantly increase average earnings for low-wage workers and their families with relatively minor impacts to businesses and consumers. Additionally, the employer survey showed that the majority of surveyed employers believed a minimum wage increase made sense given the high cost of living in Silicon Valley and agreed with a regional approach. Resi-dents also supported the change and expressed a willingness to pay more for goods and services to help reduce income inequality. Keep in mind that Cupertino businesses may need to increase prices due to the higher minimum wage. We encourage you to continue supporting our Cupertino businesses and employees by shopping local. For more information, visit www.cupertino.org/wagewatch. Jaqui Guzmán is the City of Cupertino’s Deputy City Manager. She oversees the Sustainability and Public Affairs divisions and manages legislative affairs and policy issues in the City Manager’s Office.