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Home My WebLink AboutScene February 2007 - 02.01.2007IN THIS ISSUE: VOLUME XXV NO. 5 | February 2007 Roots .......................................................2-3 Simply Safe .................................................4 Comfort Food Recipes .................................5 Eco News .................................................6-7 Tree Regulations .........................................7 Cupertino Library .....................................8-9 Children’s Programs ...................................8 Adult, Teen and Family Programs.................9 Library Programs and Classes .....................9 Community Calendar ...........................10-11 Senior Center News .............................12-13 Better Part Awards ...................................12 Holiday Encore .........................................12 Lunch at the Senior Center .......................12 Senior Abuse ............................................13 Council Actions .........................................14 Focus on Education ...................................15 City Meetings ............................................16 CONTENTS Lunar New Year Unity Parade & International Fair Wireless LAN Coverage in Cupertino Saturday, March 10 The Lunar New Year Unity Parade Committee invites you and your family to come join in a special fun-filled day of celebra- tion, Year of the Pig, on Saturday, March 10, 2007. A big parade will begin at 10:30 am with a procession along Stelling Road that’s about 1.2 miles long from Jollyman Park to Memorial Park. You’ll see and hear marching bands from our schools, a fireworks display, dancers representing a tapestry of multicultural talents, martial arts demonstrations, parade teams from community service organizations, Chinese Lion Dancers for good New Year luck, and vintage cars. Many of you may have seen recent new articles about the Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network effort to deploy wireless networks to all the cities in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Here in Cupertino, we’ve enjoyed a citywide wireless network for sometime but with some challenges. The Technology, Information, and Communications Commission hears concerns about our wireless network in the city and this article addresses a common complaint. ~ Continued on Page 3 ~ Continued on Page 15 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 3p. 2 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 1865 - over 2,000 men, mostly Mexicans, were living on Mine Hill with their families. As a result of mines failing in Cornwall, England, Cornish miners came to New Almaden. Chinese labor- ers also came. Carbonated mineral water from a nearby spring was labeled “’Vichy Water” and sold for 12 bottles for $4. The full history of the town and mines of New Almaden is wonderful story of fi res and ﬂ oods, schools and shafthouses, reduction works and cemeteries. Over 1 million ﬂ asks of quicksilver came from the mines. The stories of the people who lived and worked there and the legacy they left are well worth a day trip. The museum is in the Casa Grande and houses the Connie Perham collection, begun in 1949. Cupertino Museum has a new exhibit which opened in January entitled “East Meets West- Weddings and Cultures of Cupertino.” Thank you to all who worked so hard on this new exhibit. Spring is coming - wildﬂ owers in the green foot- hills - a lovely time of year in Santa Clara Valley. Have you seen any “miner’s lettuce” yet? If you are looking for something different to do on a weekend in spring, go out to New Almaden for a hike and museum tour - just down Almaden Expy and Old Almaden Road is a step back into an important chapter in California history connected to the Gold Rush era. The tiny town of New Almaden is on the National Historic Reg- ister and the museum is excellent. Here’s a bit of chronology of the mines and the town. In 1824, Luis Chabolla and Antonio Sunol ex- perimented with some cinnabar ore they found in the foothills. About 10 years later they tried to amalgamate the ore but were unsuccessful. In 1845 Don Andres Castillero (do these names sound familiar?) a captain in the Mexican cavalry, on his way to Sutter’s Fort to buy out Sutter, no- ticed the Ohlone Indians at Mission Santa Clara using ground cinnabar as a paint pigment. He obtained a claim for gold and silver but changed it when he discovered liquid mercury. Yankee Thomas Larkin also visited the mine site in 1846 and sent quills fi lled with quicksilver to Wash- ington as evidence of yet another California resource (two years before Marshall discovered the gold that triggered the famous Gold Rush). In 1847 Castillero sold his shares in the mine to Alexander Forbes and James Forbes (no relation to Alexander) took over operations and changed the name of the mine to New Almaden after the world famous Almaden mines in Spain. 1848 - James Marshall discovered gold in Sutter’s Mill. Mercury is needed to amalgamate the gold. People come from all over the world to search for gold in the California foothills. 1850 - The New Almaden mine is completely taken over by the Barron and Forbes Co.. Henry Halleck becomes mine superintendent, remains so until 1863, the eve of the American Civil War. (As California was admitted to the Union as a slave-free state, gold from the mines supported the Union side in that war.) In 1851 over 200 men were employed at the mine and 13 furnaces of brick and cement were constructed. Remnants of these can be seen on the hills at New Almaden. 1854 - 31,860 ﬂ asks of mercury were produced. 1864 - the general merchandise store and el- ementary school were built in Englishtown. (New Almaden had Englishtown and Spanishtown.) Over 47,000 ﬂ asks of mercury were produced that year. By Gail Fretwell Hugger The Main Tunnel opened in 1847 at the head of Deep Gulch. Sherman Day, engi- neer and superintendent, stands at right. ROOTS Take a Drive to New Almaden Quicksilver Mines J.W. Revere, U.S.N., great grandson of Paul Revere, painted Castillero visiting the quicksilver mines in 1845. A donkey pulled the empty ore carts across the trestle over Deep Gulch to the reduction site. Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 3p. 2 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 3 Tom Derby and his wife at Yellow Kid Mine in 1890 on an inspection visit. At Memorial Park, there will be an exciting International Fair that will continue throughout the day until 5 pm. The Fair will feature a wide variety of energetic stage performances, music with an international ﬂ air, ethnic cuisines, family entertainment and exhibits from many countries. The mission of the Lunar New Year Unity Parade is to bring our community’s broad spectrum of cultures together while celebrating the Lunar New Year. In producing this event, the committee hopes to encourage people from all backgrounds to work together as a team and showcase our diverse heritage in a quality program. People of all ethnicities, ages and backgrounds are invited to participate and show their community support in this fun annual Cupertino festival. For event information, contact the Parade Com- mittee Co-Chairs: Kevin Wu at 873.7102 or Kevin-wu@sbcglobal.net and Elaine Glissmeyer at 351.2413 or eglissmeyer@scvymca.org. ~ Unity Parade Continued from Page 1 The American shafthouse was reopened in 1885. It was equipped to remove water from ﬂ ooding tunnels. The Hacienda School served youngsters from the Hacienda and nearby ranches. Formerly home to mine managers, the Casa Grande now houses New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. New Almaden was home to the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1939. Simply Safe February 2007 VOLuNtEErS NEEdEd All disasters are local. It is the responsibility of the local government – and its residents - to plan and prepare to respond. The success of Cuperti- no’s disaster response and recovery are a direct result of the partnership between residents, busi- nesses and the City. Do you know what the City’s response plan is? Do you know what to expect? Can you help if a disaster affects Cupertino? Let us know BEFORE it happens. That way, we know how to contact you and what your special skills are. Knowing how many people are willing to help allows us to create a more effective emergency plan. Call 777.3335 to get a Volunteer Regis- tration form. No training is required for many response functions that will be in high demand (answering phones, translation, typing, distribut- ing information, transporting supplies) – the list goes on and on. Every person, regardless of age has something to contribute. NEW EMErGENcy rEPOrtING LOcatIONS When the next earthquake strikes, it is very likely that telephones won’t work and/or 9-1-1 will be overwhelmed. That means that you may have to take care of the problem yourself. Learn how to use a fi re extinguisher, when to turn off the natural gas, and how to treat medical emer- gencies. That way, you can keep little problems from becoming big ones. If your situation is beyond your ability to man- age, you have another option. The City has emer- gency reporting locations, staffed by volunteers, that are designed to receive your request for assistance and relay it to people who can help. The current map of locations is on the Cupertino website at www.cupertino.org click on Emergen- cy Information. Locations include Monta Vista Fire Station, Cupertino Medical Center, Seven Springs Fire Station, DeAnza College, Garden Gate Elementary School, Lawson Middle School, and Hyde Middle School. We are happy to announce that DeAnza College and the College Nursing Program, have agreed to partner in Cupertino’s Disaster Response. One of our newest Emergency Reporting Loca- tions is on campus, on the Stelling Road side, next to the baseball fi eld. The College and City Citizen Corps volunteers will work cooperatively to train and practice for future emergencies. Another new partner is Cupertino Medical Center. When they move to 10050 Bubb Rd, this month, they also become an emergency reporting location and our disaster medical treatment site. Cupertino has its own AM radio station. The City’s Public Information Offi cer has had arrangements for Cupertino to have it’s own AM radio station. The station is 1670 AM and will be used to broad- cast day to day information about the City as well as Emergency Information during disasters. $300 GraNt! Get a jump start on neighborhood disaster response. The City Manager has implemented a grant program, of up to $300, to encourage neighbors to work together for the good of the neighborhood. Grant money can be used to pur- chase neighborhood emergency supplies. Before receiving the grant, the neighborhood must agree to: 1) Host a neighborhood meeting on neighborhood earthquake response - 2 hours 2) Hold a team training in your neighborhood - 4 hours 3) Have an earthquake exercise - 2 hours. Make a list of things your neighborhood thinks will help their response and request the identifi ed supplies – up to $300. Los Altos Gar- bage Company even donates a rolling garbage can to store them, if needed. The Offi ce of Emergency Services, and Citizen Corps volunteers will take you through the process. It’s fun. The most successful earthquake response starts close to home. uPcOMING cLaSSES Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshop Free! February 15, 9 am to Noon, March 10, 9 am to Noon, April 24, 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Kaleidoscope Public Safety training for 6th-12th Grade, $35/$45, February 19-23, 2007 during Winter Break, 9 am-1 pm. community Emergency response team Sept/Oct 2007. PrEParING FOr EMErGENcIES, ONE MONth at a tIME… Pretend that a very large earthquake “the big one” hits while you’re reading this article. Imagine how you will protect yourself. Imag- ing what your surroundings will look like after the shaking stops. Imagine the types of supplies you might need. Imagine what arrangements you wish you had made with family and friends before it happened. Simply Safe is a monthly article provided to inform the community about emergency preparedness, training schedules and volunteer opportunities. Contact the Cupertino Offi ce of Emergency Services (OES) at 408.777.3335, email OES@ cupertino.org, or go to the website www.cuper- tino.org/emergency for more information. Register for classes through Cupertino Parks & Recreation 777.3120. Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 5 Last week I was down with a bad case of ﬂ u. I instantly reached for my edible security blanket. The special food, which makes me feel cozy, calms me down and convinces my insides that everything is going to be all right. This ed- ible security blanket is simply Comfort Food. Food that slips down your alimentary canal with a relaxed, ‘‘Aaahhh.’’ The same sound that your feet make, when you kick off the stilettos for your bathroom slippers and feel at home again. There is a universal connection to comfort food eaten all around the world. It’s all to do with food that doesn’t require much cutting or chew- ing. It’s something hot and nourishing, something you can slurp. It’s the immediate answer to a runny nose and a bout of homesickness. For an American it would be macaroni and cheese, for a Scot it would be oatmeal and clotted cream, and for an Indian it would be the rice and bean porridge, Kitchadi When the world - or the weather - seems harsh and cruel, here are some of my favorite comfort food recipes to cuddle up with and help bring a smile back to you, your friends, and family. Kitchadi is the special food, which transports me to another time, another me, and brings back emotions of warmth and caring. Every time any- one in our family came down with cold or cough my grandma would make this rice and bean porridge. She would carefully grind the spices and make this humble dish, which had unique healing powers. The yellow split bean are very easy to digest and quick cooking. here is my grandma’s version of the humble Kitchadi: 1 cup rice ¾ cup split yellow moong beans 1 teaspoon ginger paste 1 teaspoon cumin seed 1 teaspoon whole black pepper 1 garlic clove (chopped) ½ teaspoon turmeric powder 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon brown sugar or jaggery 5 cups boiling water Salt to taste • Wash the rice and bean mix and drain in a colander. • Make a coarse mix of cumin, black pepper in a spice grinder (or coffee grinder used only for spices). • In a thick bottomed pot add all ingredients except lime juice. • Cook on high heat for 5 minutes uncovered. • Add lime juice and lower heat. Cover the pot with a tight fi tting lid and cook for 15 minutes on low heat. • Remove from heat but do not remove lid for next 10 minutes. The steam will fi nish the process of cooking. • Garnish with chopped carrots and serve with a dollop of ghee. Comfort food is basically a taste memory of childhood. When I was growing up in India, I loved books written by Enid Blyton. She wrote adventure and mystery series and was as popular as J. K. Rowling is now. Some of my favorite books by her were Famous Five, Secret Seven, and Malory Towers. The most charming part of these series was that the kids would solve mysteries and have fun adventures with a lot of wonderful food. I would be mesmerized by the treacle puddings, triﬂ e puddings, scones, and marble cakes these adventurers would eat. My mother, being a strict vegetarian would never cook these foods at home, as all these recipes called for eggs. Once I was very sick and I refused to eat Kitchadi that she had made for me. I insisted on having creamy tomato soup and croutons just like the kids in Enid Blyton series. I felt like royalty getting soup in bed. (One of the rare oc- casions when my mother gave into my tantrum.) here is my mother’s version of creamy tomato soup without any cream. 1 16 oz chopped tomato can 1 tablespoon peanuts 1 tablespoon coconut 1 inch ginger 1 green chili Salt and pepper to taste • Make a paste of peanuts, coconut, ginger and chili with ¼ cup water. • Add chopped tomatoes to make a smooth puree. Recipes Cheery Comfort Foods By Hema Kundargi ~ Continued on Page 7 Eco News BattErIES cOLLEctEd at curBSIdE Reminder: Household batteries are accepted at curbside for recycling. Place batteries in a clear, sealed bag, such as a Zip-lock® bag and leave the closed bag on top of your blue recycling cart on your regular collection day. Sorry, cell phone batteries are not accepted in the curbside program. Contact your local cell phone dealer for recycling options. cOMPutEr rEcycLING Cupertino residents can recycle computers and other electronic equipment including fax ma- chines, VCRs, stereo equipment, home copiers, DVD players and TVs, at no charge, at Apple’s facility located at 10300 Bubb Road. Days and hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 am- 4:30 pm. Call 408.862-2667 for additional recorded information. Please bring proof of residency. StOP JuNK MaIL – hErE’S hOW The average American home receives 1.5 trees in their mailbox in the form of unsolicited mail every year. That adds up to over 100 million trees cut down and over 28 billion gallons of water consumed to produce one year’s worth of this country’s junk mail. You can take action to stop this waste and it’s much easier than you think. To request a FREE Stop Junk Mail Kit, go online at www.StopJunkMail.org or call, toll-free, 877.STOPWASTE (786.7927). The Stop Junk Mail Kit shows you how to get off junk mailing lists and keep new junk mail from fi nding its way to your mailbox. The Kit also provides other important information on how to ensure that your name and address don’t get traded, rented, or sold to companies who send you unwanted mail. SPrING BacKyard cOMPOSt WOrKShOPS arE cOMING SOON The City will be holding free “how-to” backyard compost workshops on the fi rst Saturdays of the month, March 3, April 7, and May 5 from 10 to noon at McClellan Ranch meeting room. Call 918.4640 to register or to get information about compost bins, available for $40 from the County- wide Home Composting Program. EXtra WINtEr yard WaStE? Residents are reminded that an easy way to dispose of the extra yard waste that results from winter garden cleanups and pruning (that doesn’t fi t in the yardwaste toter) is to make an appoint- ment for a free “On-Call” Yardwaste/Woodwaste Recycling Day. All residents have the right to two Recycling or Trash Disposal Day appointments a year, starting each January. Branches can’t be larger than 6” in diameter and 6 ft. long. No loose piles. Please bundle or box branches and trimmings. The entire collection of yardwaste should not be bigger than 4’x 4’ x 8’. No plastic bags, please. Call the Los Altos Garbage Co. for an appointment: 725.4020. hOuSEhOLd haZardOuS WaStE dISPOSaL It is easy to properly dispose of unwanted haz- ardous cleaning, hobby and gardening products. Residents wishing to make an appointment for disposal should call 408.299.7300. Examples of typical items include: paint, pool chemicals, used motor oil and antifreeze, batteries, solvents, bad ﬂ uorescent tubes or bulbs, mercury thermom- eters, and fertilizers and pesticides. There is no SMALL EFFORTBIGREWARD Environmental Values at Work 2007 Green Business ConferenceMarch 16, 2007 Learn how your business can save both money and resources. Green Business practices can be. Register now at www.ReduceWaste.org or call (408) 441-1198 $20 per person for pre-registration by 5p.m. Friday, March 9 $25 after March 9 and at the door. Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 7 charge to residents. Small businesses also may be eligible to participate for a nominal fee. caLIFOrNIa rEdEMPtION VaLuE drOP- OFF cENtErS If residents would like to turn in bottles and cans to reclaim their California Refund Value (the deposit money), the following recycling centers are nearby: • Nob Hill Market parking lot (1179 S. DeAnza Blvd. @ Rollingdell) • Safeway parking lot (6150 Bollinger Rd. @ Miller Ave.) As of January 1, the redemption rate has in- creased to 5¢ for a single serve (under 24 ounces) glass, plastic and aluminum beverage container and 10¢ for beverage containers 24 ounces or more. They must have the words “California Cash Refund” or “California Redemption Value” printed on the container. 2007 GrEEN BuSINESS cONFErENcE Friday, March 16, 2007 8:30 am – 12 pm Learn how your business can save both money and resources. Industry experts and city representatives will be on hand to show you how easy and cost ef- fective Green Business practices can be. Attendees will learn simple steps to reduce waste, save energy, conserve water, and prevent pollution in their daily business operations. Businesses of all types are encouraged to attend and fi nd out how to help the environment while improving their bottom line. Topics at the conference will include green janito- rial products, pollution prevention in the workplace, and waste reduction strategies. The conference will be held at the Camden Com- munity Center (Multi-purpose Room) located at 3369 Union Ave. in San Jose. The cost for the half-day conference is $20 per person for pre- registration by March 9 and $25 per person after March 9 and at the door. Go to www.ReduceWaste.org to register for the 2007 Green Business Conference or to learn more about the County of Santa Clara Green Business Program. Contact: Zachary Devine, Public Communica- tion Specialist, County of Santa Clara – Inte- grated Waste Management Division Work: 408.441.4328, Cell: 408.348.6303 Email: Zachary.Devine@aem.sccgov.org • Add the tomato mix with 2 cups of water and boil for 3-5 minutes. • Add salt and pepper and serve piping hot with crouton. There are some days so bad, so stressful, and so overwhelming, that there is not a friend on this earth, not a backrub on the planet that could unknot your neck muscles. It is on days like these I turn to food for comfort. I vividly remember when I was in seventh grade, my friend and I had been, unfairly singled out in our class as troublemak- ers. We had to run an extra mile at lunch break. That evening I went to my friend’s house and we moaned and groaned about how unfair life was. Her older sister who was had just come back from college got tired of hearing us whine. She made this special pudding to help heal our bruised ego. It is no wonder that when the going gets tough, we turn to foods that remind us of happy times in our youth. So whether you’re nursing a bruised ego, a broken heart or a common cold, it’s comfort food that comes to the rescue. this aromatic cream of wheat pudding always calms me down and helps me put things in perspective. 1 cup cream of wheat 1/3 cup ghee or unsalted butter 4-5 cloves 1 cup sugar ½ cup almond powder 8-10 cardamom pods ¼ teaspoon saffron thread 2 cups milk • Heat ghee or butter in a pan. Add cloves and wait untill it puffs up. Add cream of wheat and roast for 10 minutes on low heat. Keep aside. • In a pot add milk and saffron and bring it to a boil. Add the roasted cream of wheat and stir vigorously to remove any lumps. • Cover and cook for 5 minutes on low heat. Add sugar and mix well. Cover the lid again and let the steam fi nish the process of cooking. • Discard the peel of cardamom and make a coarse mix of the seeds. Finally, add almond powder and cardamom powder and mix well. • Garnish with dried cranberries and serve pip- ing hot. For more info and other recipes like this, visit www.massala.com. ~ Comfort Food Continued from Page 5 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 9p. 8 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 ~CUPERTINO LIBRARY~ 10800 Torre Avenue, Cupertino. Cupertino Library Open Hours Monday ...................Closed Tuesday ....................12 to 9 Wednesday ...............10 to 9 Thursday .................10 to 9 Friday .......................10 to 6 Saturday ..................10 to 6 Sunday ....................2 to 6 Library telephone numbers: General Library Number 408.446.1677 Adult and Teen Reference 408.446.1677, ext. 3372 Children’s Reference 408.446.1677, ext. 3373 Accounts, Billing 800.286.1991 TeleCirc 800.471.0991 The library has a Web Catalog at www.santaclaracountylib.org. Bookmark these library web addresses: Santa Clara County Library Web Site: http://www.santaclaracountylib.org Teen Page Web Site: http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/teen Kids Page Web Site: http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/kids CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS StOrytIMES Bedtime Stories .................Wednesdays at 7 pm Toddler Storytime ............Thursdays at 10:15 am (ages 1-1/2 -3 years) MaKE VaLENtINES Schoolage children are invited to come to the library to make valentines with the Children’s Librar- ians, in the Story Room, on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, any time between 3 pm and 5 pm. cELEBratE chINESE NEW yEar Families are invited to join Librarian Lan-ying Kuo for a special story time in Mandarin, celebrating Chinese New Year, on Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 7 pm in the Children’s Room. MONthLy ScaVENGEr huNt Science questions to puzzle your mind! answer the questions online or in the library to win prizes. Get microscopic in February! Come by the library for resource lists and check out the book displays. For information on any of the Cupertino Library’s children’s programs, please call the Children’s Reference Desk at 408.446.1677, ext. 3373. Cupertino Library Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 9p. 8 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 9 ADULT, TEEN, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS FENG ShuI FOr thE yEar OF thE BOar Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 7 pm Cupertino Community Hall Feng Shui master, Y.C. Sun will use a combi- nation of Feng Shui and I-Ching, the 2000- year-old Chinese law of the universe, to make predictions on global events for 2007, the year of the Fire Boar. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Cupertino Library. SPEcIaL BOOK dIScuSSION OF Silicon Valley Reads 2007 selection: Tortilla Curtain Thursday, February 22 at 7 pm Cupertino Community Hall Join us for a video interview of author T.C. Boyle and for a drop-in book discussion of Tortilla Curtain. KNIttING at thE LIBrary! Bring your needles and yarn to the library every Tuesday, 4-6 pm and join the drop-in knitting program in the Story Room on the main ﬂ oor. Knitters of all skill levels are welcome to attend. INtErNEt cLaSSES IN MaNdarIN Beginning classes on how to use the Internet are available in Mandarin, by appointment. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call the library’s Reference Desk at 408.446.1677, ext 3372. tEEN dataBaSE cLaSSES Database instruction for teens, thirteen to nineteen, is available at the library, by appointment. If you would like to schedule an appointment to learn about the library’s subscription databases, please call the reference desk at 408.446.1677, ext 3372. INtErNEt BaSIcS FOr aduLtS Basic Internet classes for adults are held at the library on the second Saturday of every month at 2 to 2:30 pm. These drop-in classes are limited to fi ve participants and are fi lled on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. Participants must be able to use a computer keyboard and mouse. If interested, please come to the Adult Reference Desk at 2 pm on the second Saturday of the month. LIBrary tOurS Library tours are conducted the third Wednes- day of every month from 1 to 2 pm and the fourth Saturday of the month from 2 to 3 pm Tours include an explanation and demonstration of the library’s online catalog and subscription databases, and library collections and services. For more information about library tours, call 408.446.1677, ext. 3372. For more information on any of the Cupertino Library’s adult, teen, and family programs, please call the Reference Desk at 408.446.1677, ext 3372. dataBaSES aNd rESEarch tOOLS Santa Clara County Library subscribes to online databases for adults and children, on a variety of subjects, including business, science and literature. Many of the databases are available even when the library is closed. If you’re not at the library, just go to the library’s webpage at www.santaclaracountylib.org, click on databas- es, and enter your library card and PIN number to access a database. You may choose from any of the available data- bases. For example, you can research a company using Standard and Poor’s Net Advantage, prepare for an academic or professional exam with Learning Express or fi nd information for a state report in America the Beautiful. If you have any questions about the databases, please call the Reference desk, at 408.446.1677, ext. 3372 during the library’s open hours. thE FrIENdS OF thE cuPErtINO LIBrary BEStSELLEr cOLLEctION Funded by the Friends of the Cupertino Library, the Bestseller Collection is a special browsing collection designed to make it easier than ever to fi nd a bestseller on the library shelf when you visit the library. The books are available on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis (no reserves). All titles check out for one week. Located in the New Book / New Magazines / Media area right off the lobby. Friends of the Cupertino Library welcome ev- eryone to their ongoing Lobby Book Sales. The Friends also hold three annual book sales. The next Friends of the Library annual Book Sale will be held on February 10 and 11, 2007. FrIENdS OF thE LIBrary cOLLEct cELL PhONES The Friends of the Cupertino Library have placed a cabinet in the library lobby to collect used cell phones. Proceeds benefi t the Cuper- tino Library. Cupertino Library is located at 10800 Torre Avenue Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 11p. 10 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 11p. 10 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Feb.CLUB / ORGANIZATION TIME LOCATION PHONE ~1~ Thurs De Anza Lions Club* Cup. Host Lions Club* Northwest Y Service Club* Cupertino Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CARES) Connect Club I* Connect Club II* Business Networking Intl.* HP Communicators Toastmasters #4606 Overeaters Anonymous* Food Addicts in Recovery (FA)* Cupertino Las Madres* 6:45 am 7:15 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm Noon 8 am 7 am 7 am 7 pm 7 pm 10 to 1 pm Holders Country Inn Mariani’s Restaurant Northwest YMCA 20803 Alves Drive City Hall Holders Country Inn Chamber of Commerce BJ’s Brewery HP Cupt. Site, Bldg. 46T 19055 Pruneridge Ave. Union Church St. Jude’s Church Portal Park 255.3093 252.6262 650.964.3734 345.8372 252.7054 252.7054 996.9111 BNI.com 650.691.8724 253.8394 378.3499 861.0417 ~2~ Fri Alcoholics Anonymous* Fast Start Group De Anza Kiwanis* Cupertino Las Madres* 5 pm 7:15 am 10 to 1 pm Redeemer Lutheran Church 940 S. Stelling Rd. Intl. House of Pancakes Cupt. Library atrium 374.8511 973.1456 861.0417 ~4~ Sat De Anza Flea Market Organization of Special Needs Families* Overeaters Anonymous* Planetarium Shows* 8 to 4 pm 2 to 4 pm 9 am 7 pm De Anza College 20920 McClellan Rd. Union Church De Anza Planetarium 864.8946 996.0858 842.0688 864.8814 ~5~ Mon American Legion Post 642 Al-ANON Steps for Living* Take Off Pounds Sensibly* (TOPS) Overeaters Anonymous* Food Addicts in Recovery * (FA) 8 pm 7:30 pm 6:30 pm 7 pm 7 pm 10201 Imperial Ave., #3 940 S. Stelling Rd. First Baptist Church 10505 Miller Ave. Union Church St. Jude’s Church 374.6392 379.1051 252.2434 650.327.1649 246.1620 ~6~ Tues Alcoholics Anonymous* Women’s Group Al-ANON Family Group* Toughlove* Cupertino Kiwanis* Knights of Columbus 4981* Cupertino Men’s Service* Cupertino Sr. TV Production* Cupertino Las Madres* 6:30 pm 5:30 pm 7 pm Noon 8 pm Noon 9:30 am 3 to 5 pm Redeemer Luth. Church 940 S. Stelling Rd. Bethel Lutheran Church 10131 Finch Ave. Bethel Lutheran Church 10131 Finch Ave. The Blue Pheasant 10201 Imperial Ave., #3 The Blue Pheasant Senior Center Creekside Park - toddler area 650.903.0321 379.1051 946.7970 252.3830 243.8462 252.2667 861.0417 ~7~ Weds Al-ANON Family Group* Connect Club III* Cupertino Sanitary Dist* De Anza Optimist Club* Cupertino Optimist Club* Tandem Toastmasters* Macintalkers Toastmasters* 7 pm 8:15 am 8 pm 7:15 am 12:15 pm Noon 5:30 pm 940 S. Stelling Road Chamber of Commerce 20833 Stevens Creekk #104 Holder’s Restaurant Blue Pheasant HP, 19333 Vallco Parkway Apple Computer DeAnza 3 10500 No. DeAnza Blvd. 650.734.5869 252.7054 253.7071 253.4424 255.3212 285.4977 macintalkers.com vppr@macintalkers.com Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 11p. 10 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 11p. 10 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Feb.CLUB / ORGANIZATION TIME LOCATION PHONE ~7~ Weds Cont’d Cupertino Rotary Club* Philotesian Rebekah #145 Cup. Symphonic Band* Krazy Dazys Square Dance Club* Viewﬁ nders Noon 7:30 pm 7 pm 7 pm 7:30 pm Community Center Cupertino Odd Fellows Cupertino High School Hyde Middle School Community Center 920.2224 252.3954 262.0471 747.0943 996.0750 ~8~ Thurs Quota Service Club* (Aids hearing & speech impaired) Cupertino-West Valley Welcome Club Noon 11:30 am Blue Pheasant Blue Pheasant 252.8568 257.6136 252.1529 ~9~Fri Malihini Orchid Society Cupertino Coin Club 7:30 pm 7:45 pm Hewlett-Packard, Oak Rm. West Vally Pres. Church 267.3397 253.1232 ~10~Sat Daughters of Norway 9:30 am Sunnyview Retirement Com- munity 255.9828 ~12~Mon Cupertino Odd Fellows*8 pm 20589 Homestead Rd.252.3954 ~13~ Tues Sertoma Club*7:15 am 1366 S. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road 252.2584 255.5293 ~15~ Thurs Toyokawa Sister City West Valley Republican Women Rolling Hills 4H Club Embroiders’ Guild of America 7:30 pm 11:30 am 7 pm 7 pm City Hall Monta Vista Recreation Ctr. Sunnyview Lutheran Home 257.7424 252.6312 257.4745 578.5917 ~20~Tues African Violet Society 12:30 pm Sunnyview Lutheran Home 736.9262 ~27~ Tues Historical Society De Anza Youth Soccer League meeting 6:30 pm 7:30 pm Community Center Creekside Park 973.1495 deanzayouthsoccer.org ~26~Tues Historical Society De Anza Youth Soccer League meeting 6:30 pm 7:30 pm Community Center Creekside Park 973.1495 deanzayouthsoccer.org ~27~Weds Rancho Neighborhood Association The Powerful Pens 7:30 pm 7 pm Rancho Pool & Recreation Facility 18000 Chelmsford 626.9784 Submit information about clubs and organizations that meet in Cupertino to Linda Lagergren, City of Cupertino, 10300 Torre Ave., Cupertino, 95014 408.777.3202 lindal@cupertino.org Clubs with asterisks meet more than once monthly. Call the contact number for details. Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 13p. 12 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 SENIOR CENTER NEWS NEW day trIPS SchEduLEd The Cupertino Senior Center is pleased to offer eight new day trips and one fantastic extended trip to the central coast area, Santa Barbara, Solvang and the Channel Islands. We have a wonderful and wide variety of choices to choose from. Everything from the symphony to some- thing for the car enthusiast. February 15, thursday – Vintage and exotic cars and motorcycles are always interesting and fun to look at. We start off with Bruce Canepa’s col- lection of over 50 vintage, historic, exotic cars, motorcycles and SUV’s. Lunch on your own at the infamous Seabright Brewery. In the after- noon we’ll visit the Harley Davidson dealership where they have a collection of photographs, memorabilia and exhibits. February 21, Wednesday – “Legally Blonde” World Premier Comedy Musical. Join us for a matinee showing at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. “Golden-haired Elle Woods is not used to taking “no” for an answer. See what happens when she puts down the credit cards and picks up the books. Harvard will never be the same. Sounds like great fun for an afternoon in the City. February 27, tuesday – Herb Caen Dash with Gary. Come frolic with us in San Francisco as we duplicate a favorite all-weather route (mostly underground) from the newspaper offi ce to his favorite lunch spot at Le Central. Gary will sup- ply all the trivia and humor you can handle. March 8, thursday – “Its Off To The Races”. Our annual trip to Bay Meadows for a fun day at the track. Included is the scrumptious buffet and a complimentary Racing Program along with help placing your bets if you need it. March 22, thursday – “Bouquets to Art” at the new de Young Museum. A once a year event where art imitates art! Throughout the museum we’ll fi nd wonderful ﬂ oral arrangements repre- senting the artist’s interpretation of a particular artwork. The arrangements are very beautiful and unique. Also visit Vivienne Westwood Ex- hibition. Includes a special picnic lunch in the Piazzoni Gallery. March 27, tuesday – Tiburon and Corinthian Island with Gary. More adventures with Gray in historic downtown Tiburon. Lunch on your own in Sausalito, then off to the United States Army Corp of Engineers San Francisco Bay Model. This is a working hydraulic model of the SF Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta System. If laid out it would cover 2 football fi elds. april 5, thursday – San Francisco Symphony Matinee. On this day Michael Tilson Thomas will be conducting music by Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. Favorites like Winter’s Daydreams and Stravinsky’s The Fairy Kiss. We’ll also visit the Performing Arts Library and Museum. They are exhibiting artifacts from the hungry i, a leg- endary nightclub in the 50’s and 60’s. april 27, Friday – Walnut Creek II with Gary. We have a wonderful day planned. First stop, Ruth Bancroft Gardens started in the 1950’s. Next, the historical Shadelands Ranch built in 1903. Lunch on your own at Bing’s, named after that famous crooner. After lunch we’re off to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, founded in 1955. June 4 – 8, 2007 – Sights and Sounds On The Central Coast, featuring Santa Barbara, Solvang and the Channel Islands. The City of Murals in the Valley of Flowers iden- tifi es Lompoc. We’ll stop at an Ostrich Farm. The Horse Whisperer Flag is Up Farm and Firestone Winery are included in our visit to Solvang. A defi nite highlight of the tour is our 20 mile catamaran cruise to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands. Then we’re off to Santa Barbara where we have more fun things planned. Come join us, you’ll have a great time. Four nights and fi ve days. chINESE NEW yEar cELEBratION thursday, February 22, 12-1:30 pm The Year of the Boar is upon us, people born in the year of the Boar (1947, 1935, 1923) are said to be honest, chivalrous and gallant. Come and celebrate with us this most important Chinese holiday with a feast fi t for the emperor and traditional entertainment of folk dances and Chinese music performances. Only $8 for members and $10 for senior guests. For more information please call 408.777.3150 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 13p. 12 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 13 ShOWS ON MONdayS at 4:30, tuESdayS aNd FrIdayS at 7 PM ON caBLE chaNNEL 15. Feb. 5, 6, 9 Public Art in Cupertino. Learn about Cupertino’s Public Art Policy, see beautiful examples, and meet a local artist whose art has been used. Feb. 12, 13, 16 Roses: the Queen of Flowers (#801/rerun) Learn about the care and pruning of roses from a local Master Gardener. Feb. 19, 20, 23 Philosophy of exercise (#824/rerun). Time to get in shape! Our expert discusses the importance of the “do” and “don’t” of exercise. Feb. 26, 27, Mar 2 Wing Walker. A 96-year old man talks about his days per- forming on the wings of bi-planes in the 1920s. THE BETTER PART FuN at thE GaME: thE SuPEr BOWL Sunday, February 4, 2007 Pre Game at 2 pm Kickoff at 3 pm Join us at the Senior Center for this fun fi lled event. Enjoy pizza, salad, snacks and soda dur- ing the pre game festivities and the game plus a chance to win some super prizes. All this for $7 for members and $10 for senior guests. For more information and directions - call 408.777.3150 StrOKE: It’S NOt JuSt FOr SENIOrS. Wednesday, February 7, 1 pm, cupertino Senior center Learn the early symptoms. Know where to go for effective treatment. Understand how to reduce your stroke risk. See The Better Part ENCORE presentation of “Stroke.” Hear stroke survivor Bob Parsons talk about his experience with a stroke that occurred more than six years ago on a ﬂ ight to Taiwan. His computer will show you beautiful images of the brain before and after stroke. Mr. Parsons will answer your questions about this life-threatening event - one that can happen to any one of us at any time. cIty haLL cLOSEd FEBruary 19 IN hONOr OF PrESIdENtS’ day Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 15p. 14 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 COUNCIL ACTIONS cOuNcIL actIONS TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2006 Council Members Present: Wang, Kwok, Lowenthal, Ma- honey, and Sandoval Council Members Absent: None. Directed the City Manager to respond to the Historical Society’s request (closed session a request to lease the Stocklmeir property). Provided the City Manager with feedback and took no action (closed session regarding City Manager’s evaluation). Presented a proclamation to outgoing Hsinchu Sister City Committee Chairman William Shieh. Approved the minutes from the December 5 and 6 City Council meetings. Adopted resolutions accepting Accounts Payable for Novem- ber 22 and December. Adopt a resolution accepting Payroll for December. Accepted the Treasurer’s investment report for November 2006. Accepted application for an Alcoholic Beverage Licenses Kikusushi Japanese Restaurant. Authorized the destruction of records. Accepted municipal improvements at 21796 Stevens Creek Boulevard and 10091 Byrne Avenue. Approved grants of easement for roadway purposes at 22350 Cupertino Road and 22314 Cupertino Road. Accepted improvement agreements re 11081 S. Stelling Road and 22314 Cupertino Road. Approved ﬁ nal maps for 10752 and 10758 S. Stelling, and 20055 and 20065 De Palma Lane. Continued discussion of bingo permit renewals and appeals of a new residence at 21180 Grenola Avenue to February 6. Approved a “soft” closure of the Blackberry Farm until next year or the groundbreaking of the new park; and determined that catering shall be done by approved caterers at a ﬂ at rate. Adopted a resolution setting a voluntary expenditure cap for City Council candidates; cap shall be $1 per registered voter as of beginning of 2007. Continued discussion of library hours budget to April 17 so that representatives can discuss the matter with the Library Joint Powers Authority. Agreed not to open access (window or door) between the Library and the Coffee Society. Directed staff to add titles of Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Council member under the photos on display in the Library. Authorized the City Manager to sign an agreement regarding the Nathan Hall Tank House after receiving a memorandum of understanding with Los Gatos Rooﬁ ng; to complete the survey map exhibits for the agreement, and for staff to ﬁ nal- ize the agreement with the Cupertino Rotary Club and bring it back to Council for authorization. Authorized Council members Sandoval and Lowenthal to work with County ofﬁ cials to acquire and develop the Law- rence Expressway Linear Park. Authorized Mayor Wang to work with San Jose City Council to realign boundaries for an area west of Lawrence Express- way between 280 and Bollinger and for an area around Kentwood slated for housing. Authorized Mayor Wang to forward a letter to the ABAG executive committee regarding the revised regional housing needs formula. Approved festival funding request from the Hsinchu Sister City organization in the amount of $4,000 from the 2006/2007 budget. Made new City Council committee assignments. Conducted ﬁ rst reading of Ordinance 07-1992, water re- source protection for properties adjacent to a stream Received report on General Fund Revenue and Expenditures. Adjourned to January 22 at 6:00 for commission interviews. Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 15p. 14 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 Cupertino Scene | Volume 25, #5 | February 2007 p. 15 The single, most common question we get is about network coverage. Many users are sur- prised that they cannot connect to the MetroFi network from inside their home with a basic wireless card. There are two main issues that make it diffi cult to connect to the citywide wire- less network from inside most homes. The fi rst issue is distance from an antenna. The MetroFi antennas are currently located on city- owned light poles throughout the city. Accord- ing to MetroFi, if you are more than about 450 feet from an antenna, you may not be able to connect without an external antenna. The second reason for connection problems, even when the distance is less than 450 feet, is due to the construction of many homes in Cupertino. Quite a few homes in Cupertino have stucco walls that contain wire mesh. That wire mesh is the right size to act as a shield and can block the wireless signals to and from the MetroFi antennas. These issues could be overcome if different frequencies for the radio were used or the power from the antennas was greater. However, the wireless LAN standards that all wireless LANs are based on currently use unlicensed radio frequencies that are permitted to only run at very low power. As a result, the coverage is only hundreds of feet without specialized antennas. There are some solutions. You can try to locate your computer near a window or along a wall that isn’t made of stucco. If moving the comput- er doesn’t work, the most effective answer for a home user is to install an external antenna that is pointed at a MetroFi antenna. Information on this solution is available on the MetroFi web site at www.metroﬁ .com. MetroFi is also working to fi ll in areas of the city where coverage is poor by looking at alternatives to city-owned light poles. Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy answers using the current wireless LAN standards and the same problems are occurring in many other cities that are deploying wireless networks. Better coverage today in Cupertino would require many more antennas closer to everyone’s homes. New wireless standards under development may pro- vide a better solution but they are years away. Andy Radle, Vice-Chairman, Technology, Informa- tion, and Communication Commission FOcuS ON EducatION The city of Cupertino has long been a destination for people and families that value education. One of the most well-known features of our commu- nity is our schools. The Cupertino Union School District is made up of 20 elementary schools and 6 middle schools. It serves over 16,500 students in a richly diverse community representing 46 different languages in a 26-square mile area that includes the city of Cupertino and portions of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Santa Clara, and Los Altos. The school district has responded to community needs with a wide range of educational options. In addition to the many excellent neighborhood schools, residents also have the option of attend- ing one of fi ve alternative schools in the district. This month’s spotlight is on Christa McAuliffe Elementary and Middle School. Christa McAuliffe prides itself as being more than a school, but a way of thinking. Christa McAuliffe is a dynamic learning community, which practices a Whole Child integrative edu- cational philosophy. The school’s curriculum is based on immersing students in a rich variety of learning experiences. Students are appropriately challenged, feel accepted and respected and given choices in what and how they learn, they develop their innate desire to learn. Teachers embrace a Constructivist approach to education, designing classroom practices and curricula that are experiential and enhance student learning. Parent participation is an important part of sup- porting the Christa McAuliffe philosophy. Parents are trained to work in classrooms to facilitate effective small group instruction. The time and talents of parents make possible the rich, dynamic and ﬂ exible curriculum that challenges each child. The Christa McAuliffe learning experience has a positive impact for students - intellectually, so- cially, and personally -that will prevail throughout all of their educational and life experiences. An information night at Christa McAuliffe School is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, from 7 to 9 pm., 12211 Titus Ave, Saratoga. Tours are available from 9 am to noon on Thursday, February 8. For more information visit their web site at www.mcauliffeschool.org or call 408.253.4696 xl00. ~ Wireless LAN Continued from Page 1 “the principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.” ~ Jean Piaget CITY MEETINGS CUPERTINO SCENE Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CUPERTINO, CA PERMIT NO. 239 ECRWSS Feb. 1 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm. A) .............................5:30 pm Feb. 1 Parks and Recreation Commission*** ...................................7:00 pm Feb. 7 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm. A) .................4:30 pm Feb. 7 Teen Commission (Sports Center) .........................................6:00 pm Feb. 6 City Council mtg.*** .............................................................6:45 pm Feb. 7 Technology, Information & Communication Commission ......6:45 pm Feb. 7 Library Commission (Conf. Rm.)...........................................7:00 pm Feb. 8 Housing Commission (Conf. Rm.) .........................................9:00 am Feb. 8 Public Safety Commission (Conf. Rm. A) ..............................7:00 pm Feb. 13 Planning Commission*** ......................................................6:45 pm Feb. 15 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm. A) .............................5:30 pm Feb. 20 City Council mtg.*** .............................................................6:45 pm Feb. 21 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm. A) .................4:30 pm Feb. 21 Teen Commission (Sports Center) .........................................6:00 pm Feb. 27 Planning Commission*** ......................................................6:45 pm Feb. 27 Fine Arts Commission (Conf. Rm.) ........................................7:00 pm city ofﬁ ces will be closed Feb. 19 For the President’s day holiday. Unless otherwise noted, all City Council and commission meetings are held at 10350 Torre Ave. City Hall is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm; Fridays, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm For recorded meeting schedule/information after hours, call 777.3200. The City Channel (Comcast Cable Channel 26) offers agenda information, broadcasts of coun- cil/planning commission meetings and other programs. All meeting agendas are posted outside of City Hall 72 hours before the meeting. ***These meetings will be seen live via webcast at www.cupertino.org, or on The City Channel, Cable 26 www.cupertino.org