HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene February 2005 - 02.01.2005February 2005 vol. xxviii no. 5
A monthly publication of the city of Cupertino
CUPERTINO SCENE
FOUR SHOWS FOCUS
ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
By Kathy Phelan
Next time you’re watching Comcast cable
television, turn to channel 15. You might just
catch “The Better Part,” “On the Move,” “In-
dian Vegetarian Gour met” or “Steel &
Marsilio.” Each show is produced especially
by Cupertino residents and org anizations.
Through a partnership with KMVT Com-
munity Television, the producers, crew and
volunteers of these four shows commit them-
selves to create compelling, entertaining shows.
“Thanks to funding from the city of Cu-
pertino, KMVT Community Television is
proud to provide community members in
Cupertino with a place to go and create sto-
ries that connect their community,” said
KMVT Executive Director, Douglas
Broomfield.
For more than 20 years, the City of Cu-
pertino Senior Center has produced “The
CREST FORMS AVAILABLE
Those wishing to nominate a candidate for
the city’s CREST Award may pick up an
application for m online at
www.cuper tino.org, or at city hall, the Cu-
pertino Library, the Quinlan Community
Center or the Chamber of Commerce.
CREST (which stands for Cupertino Rec-
ognizes Extra Steps Taken) pays tribute to
up to 10 community volunteers each year
during an awards ceremony in May. Dead-
line for tur ning in nomination forms is
Wednesday, March 16.
Continued on page 7
NEW GARBAGE
AND RECYCLING CANS
By the end of Spring, Cupertino’s new gar-
bage and recycling service will get easier. Be-
tween February 21 and March 25, residents
will receive new, grey, wheeled carts (People in
the business call them "carts." The rest of us call
them "cans.") for trash collection. The carts will
replace trashcans they currently place at the
curb with the same volume as residents’ cur-
rent service.
Residents will also receive new, blue,
wheeled carts in April for weekly recyclables
collection. The new blue carts allow most
recyclables to be collected together in one cart.
Residents can begin using both carts as soon
as they receive them and for garbage and re-
cycling pick-up, on their regular garbage col-
lection day.
Yard waste also will be picked up weekly
as soon as the recyclables carts are delivered.
The new garbage and recycling program is
offered at no additional charge.
Details about the program can be found
on the City’s web site: www.cuper tino.org,
or by calling Los Altos Garbage Company
at 408.725.4020.
REBATES AVAILABLE FOR
SWITCH FROM WOOD TO GAS
The Air District is offering rebates to en-
courage residents of Santa Clara County to
burn gas instead of wood. They are offer-
ing these rebates:Continued on page 11
-2-
The Cupertino Scene is published monthly,
except in August and January, and distributed
to all residents and businesses in the city. In-
formation may be submitted via e-mail to
rickk@cupertino.org. Questions may be di-
rected to the Public Information Office at city
hall, 777.3262. Deadline is the first Wednesday
of the month for the next month’s issue.
In This Issue
New Recycling Cans..............1
Rebates for Wood To Gas ....1
CREST Forms Available.........1
KMVT ........................................1
Rotary Crab Feed ...................4
Unity Parade Update..............4
Square Dancing Classes .......4
Cupertino Cuisine: Tumeric..5
Low-Cost Housing Repair.....6
Volunteer Opportunities ........6
Big Bunny Fun Run ...............6
City Maps Online ....................7
VoIP in Cupertino....................8
Senior Commission ...............8
Simply Safe..............................9
Adult Literacy Tutoring ..........9
Roots: Childhood
Poems and Verses .. 10
Mid-lifer Classes ...................11
Community Calendar .......... 12
Council Actions ................... 14
Planning Agenda ................. 14
Access Cupertino ................ 15
City Meetings ....................... 16
Library Hours
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 12 to 9
Wednesday 10 to 9
Thursday 10 to 9
Friday 10 to 6
Saturday 10 to 6
Library Phone Numbers:
General Number ........408.446.1677
Accounts, Billing .........800.286.1991
TeleCirc .......................800.471.0991
Library Web Addresses:
The library has a Web Catalog at
www.santaclaracountylib.org.
Santa Clara County Library Web Site:
www.santaclaracountylib.org
Teen Page Web Site:
www.santaclaracountylib.org/teen
Kids Page Web Site:
www.santaclaracountylib.org/kids
Celebrate Chinese New Year
February 3, 10, 17, 24
Families are invited to join Librarian Lannie
Kuo Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. during the
month of February for a series of special
storytime programs in Mandarin Chinese.
Storytimes
Bedtime Stories (ages 3 and up)
Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
Toddler Stories (ages 1-1/2 to 3)
Thursdays, 10:15 a.m.
Valentine Crafts
Children ages 5 and up are invited to come
to the library on Wednesday, February 9 any-
time between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to make
Valentines.
-3-
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 avail-
able even when the library is closed. If you’re
not at the library, just go to the library’s
webpage at www.santaclar acountylib.or g,
click on databases, and enter your library card
and PIN number to access a database.
You may choose from any of the available
databases. For example, you can research a
company using Standard and Poor’s Net Ad-
vantage, prepare for an academic or profes-
sional exam with Learning Express or find in-
formation for a state report in America the
Beautiful. If you have any questions about the
databases, please call the Reference desk, at
446.1677, during the library’s open hours.
Feng Shui for
the Year of the Rooster
Feng Shui master, Y.C. Sun will use a com-
bination of Feng Shui and I-Ching, the 2000
year-old Chinese law of the universe, to make
predictions on global events for 2005, the
year of the rooster. This popular program
will be held in the new Cupertino Commu-
nity Hall, located next to the Cupertino Li-
brary on Wednesday, February 9, at 7 p.m.
Friends of the Library Bestseller
Collection
Funded by the Friends of the Cupertino Li-
brary, the Bestseller Collection is a special col-
lection designed to make it easier than ever
to find a bestseller on the library shelf when
you visit the library. The books are available
on a fist-come, first-served basis (no reserves).
All titles check out for one week.
Self-Help Tax Forms
A self-help tax form area in the copier
room, located off the new materials area, on
the first floor,
offers giveaway tax forms and reproduc-
ible forms.
Vita Tax Volunteers
Vita tax volunteers will be available to help
with tax forms from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the
Children’s Story Room, on Saturdays through
April 9.
Internet
Classes in Mandarin
Beginning classes on how to use the
Internet are available in Mandarin, by ap-
pointment. If you would like to schedule an
appointment, please call the library’s Refer-
ence Desk at 408.446.1677.
Teen Database Classes
Database instruction for teens, thirteen to
nineteen, is available at the library, by appoint-
ment. If you would like to schedule an ap-
pointment to learn about the library’s sub-
scription databases, please call the reference
desk at 408.446.1677.
Internet Basics for Adults
Basic Internet classes for adults are held at
the library on the second Saturday of every
month, 2 to 2:30p.m. These drop-in classes
are limited to five participants and are filled
on a first-come, first-served basis. Partici-
pants must be able to use a computer key-
board and mouse. If interested, please come
to the Adult Reference Desk at 2 p.m on the
second Saturday of the month.
Library Tours
Library tours are conducted the third
Wednesday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m.
and the fourth Saturday of the month from
2 to 3 p.m. Tours include an explanation and
demonstration of the library’s online catalog
and subscription databases, and library col-
lections and services. For more informa tion
about library tours, call 408.446.1677.
The library is located at 10800 Torre Av-
enue, next t to city hall.
-4-
CRAB FEED FEBRUARY 18
On Friday, February 18, 2005, 5:30 to 8
p.m., the Rotary Club of Cupertino will be
holding its annual crab feed at St. Joseph’s of
Cupertino Catholic
Church Parish
Hall. St.
Joseph’s of
Cupertino is
located at
10110 N. De Anza Blvd. at Stevens Creek.
This All-You-Can-Eat Fresh Cold
Crab Feed includes French
bread, green salad, pasta,
coffee and ice cream. Pro-
ceeds benefit Cupertino
youth including: Rotary
Kid’s Fishing Day; high
school Interact programs at Cupertino,
Lynbrook and Monta Vista; ·and the Rotary
Club of Cupertino Youth Service Programs.
Tickets are available through Alotta’s Deli/
Café, Northwest YMCA, Cupertino National
Bank, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce,
and Cupertino Rotary Members. Cost is $30
per person. For more information call
408.252.5780.
UNITY PARADE U PDATE
Cupertino’s Third Annual Lunar New Year
Unity Parade kicks off a day-long multi-cul-
tural celebration Saturday, March 12, honor-
ing the area’s broad spectrum of cultures.
Starting at 10:30 a.m., the parade route will
follow Stelling Road in Cupertino from
Jollyman Park to Memorial Park, where an
International Fair will continue through 4 p.m.
The free events, open to the public, will fea-
ture local area marching bands, ethnic danc-
ers, martial arts demonstrations, vintage cars,
community service organization parade
teams and traditional Chinese Lion Dancers
that celebrate g ood luck in the New Year.
“Our Lunar New Year Unity Parade and
the International Fair offers a wonderful op-
portunity for a family-friendly celebration of
our multi-cultural diversity,” said Kris Wang.
Parade committee Co-chair. “We invite ev-
eryone to join in this fun day of festivities
and learning.”
While the parade launches the day’s events
with music and participation from a wide
variety of community groups, the Interna-
tional Fair further emphasizes cultural diver-
sity with stage performances, ethnic cuisine
and informational exhibits from several coun-
tries around the world.
“Our Lunar New Year Unity Celebration
seeks to further a better understanding of
the rich diversity that Cupertino is fortunate
to enjoy,” said Steve Andrews, Par ade Com-
mittee Co-chair. “With the parade and inter-
national festival, we’re happy to bring together
our comm unity’s broad spectrum of cultures
while celebrating the Lunar New Year.”
Those interested in additional information
about the events can contact Parade Com-
mittee Co-chairs Kris Wang at 408.257.7516
or kris@kriswang.com and Steve Andrews
at 408.973.1348 or firstwater@comcast.net.
Please go to www.unityparade.org for com-
plete details.
SQUARE DANCING CLASSES
Both young and old find that square danc-
ing is great exersize and even better fun. For
the younger set, there are two youth groups
that dance in the Cupertino area. Cloverleaf
Critters caters to the 5 to 8 year-olds and
Yellow Rock and Rollers welcomes youth
over 8.
There are also two adult square dance clubs
co-sponsored by the Cupertino Parks and
Recreation Department. The Krazy Dazys
meet on Wednesday evenings at Hyde
Middle School while the Katydids meet on
Friday evenings. Both clubs have exceptional
callers and are offering classes to teach inter-
ested people how to square dance.
The Krazy Dazys are offering an “Intro
to Square Dancing’, consisting of three free
Wednesday evening classes from 7 to 8:30
pm at Hyde Middle School, 19325 Bollinger
Road.
For more information call Rosanne
Hofland at 408.253.8004 or visit our website
at www.krazydazys.org.
-5-
CUPERTINO
CUISINE: TUMERIC
By Hema Kundargi
The essence of good Indian
cooking revolves around the
appropriate use of mixed aro-
matic Spices. Base ingredients of such mixed
spices are elements such as coriander, cumin,
turmeric, red pepper, nutmeg, mustard, saf-
fron, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger powder,
paprika, mace, cardamom, cloves, and black
pepper. The ar tistry lies in the subtle blending
of these spices to enhance rather than over-
whelm the basic flavor of a particular dish.
Each spice has a function. Some spices ten-
derize, others add heat, some color, others
cool, some thicken, and others bring a neces-
sary tartness, while others curb flatulence. In-
dian cuisine is as diverse as its culture, its ra-
cial structure, its geography and its climate.
One spice, which is used daily and prolifi-
cally in appetizers, lentils, beans meat, veg-
etables, in every region of India, is turmeric.
Turmeric, with its brilliant
yellow color, has been
used as a dye, medicine,
and flavoring since 600
B.C.
Turmeric is a member
of the Ginger family. Tur-
meric is the underground
root or rhizome of the plant. This rhizome
is boiled in water for 45 minutes, drained
and dried in the sun for 10 to15 days until
they become hard and dry.
Then they are cleaned, polished and ground
into powder. India is the world’s largest pro-
ducer and exporter of turmeric.
Turmeric has held a place of honor in
India’s traditional Ayurvedic medicine for
thousands of years. It is used as a digestive
aid and treatment for fever, wounds, infec-
tions, dysentery, arthritis, jaundice and other
liver problems.
My grandmother, who was doctor, always
gave us turmeric milk when we complained
of sore throat and cough. She stirred a tea-
spoon of turmeric and honey in a glass of
hot milk and made us drink this concoction
before going to bed. As a child I hated drink-
ing this concoction from the kitchen, I would
rather take the orange or cherry
flavored cough syrup. Turmeric
is mildly aromatic and has scents
of orange or ginger with a pun-
gent, bitter flavor.
Here is an easy recipe, my
friend, Rekha Marathe, makes
that is livened up with dash of magic yellow
powder
Flamboyant Cabbage Rice
1-cup basmati rice
1-teaspoon oil
½-teaspoon garlic paste
5 to 6 cloves
½-teaspoon turmeric powder
1-tablespoon limejuice
1-teaspoon sugar
3-cups finely shredded cabbage
½-cup finely shredded carrots
3-cups boiling water
Salt to taste
Wash rice in water, drain and keep aside.
Heat oil in a big pan. Add garlic paste and
cloves. Wait until it sizzles and releases aroma.
Add turmeric powder,
cabbage, carrots and rice.
Stir well. Add water,
limejuice, salt and sugar.
Cook on high heat for
five minutes.
Lower the heat and
cover the lid for next 5
minutes. Finally, turn off the heat, and let the
steam finish the process of cooking with the
covered lid. Fluff the rice with a fork and
serve piping hot.
Hema’s Hints:
• Turmeric is also known as Indian saf-
fron. Because of its bitter taste, turmeric
should not be used as a flavor substitute for
saffron.
• Turmeric is extremely pungent, and gets
stronger when cooked. A little goes a long
way, so use it sparingly when experimenting.
• Avoid touching your clothing when work-
ing with turmeric. It is a powerful yellow dye.
• The color of turmeric can vary widely
due to different varieties.
• Buy Turmeric in small quantities as it loses
it vibrancy in six months.
-6-
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CCS is a private non-profit, com-
munity-based agency that provides
direct assistance such as, food, cloth-
ing and housing, to low income and
homeless individuals and families in
the West Valley community.
They have the following volunteer posi-
tions available:
• Gleaner & Substitute Gleaners - shifts 1
to 1.5 hours. Open shifts, morning -Tuesday
or Thursday. Pick up bread, pastries and pro-
duce from local grocery stores.
• Food Pantry - shifts 3 hours. Open shifts,
morning- M,Tu,W,Th,F and afternoon -
Tu,W,F. Regular and substitute food pantry
volunteers to distribute food to clients. Sort,
LOW-COST
HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAM
Sponsored by the city of Cupertino, Eco-
nomic and Social Opportunities, Inc. (ESO)
is helping low to moderate income families
in Cupertino identify and improve hazard-
ous conditions in homes and to fix minor
home problems that will prevent more ex-
pensive repairs in the future.
Qualification for prog rams is deter mined
by a combination of household size and an-
nual income. The Home Access program
assists homeowners and renters in building
facilities for the disabled in order to increase
the disabled’s sense of independence and self-
reliance. In the past, this has included the
creation of special steps, wheelchair ramps,
handrails, grab bars, and handheld
showerheads. ESO’s Weatherization Program
allows homeowners and renters to reduce
energy usage and utility costs. ESO achieves
this through testing gas combustion appli-
ances, through repairing doors and windows
that compromise energy efficiency, and
through taking other measures to save en-
ergy. The Handyworker program helps
homeowners fix minor home problems. In
the past this has included the replacement of
broken water heaters and repairs related to
plumbing or carpentry.
For more information on these programs,
contact David Ramirez at 408.668.2529.
shelve, stack and package food for clients.
Next day preparation and clean up
• Front Desk Assistance - shifts 3 hours -
After noon - Th,F. Greet clients and other visi-
tors to CCS. Accept incoming clothing, food
and miscellaneous donations. Answering
phones & clerical duties. Data entry.
• Computer Technology Center - shifts 2-
3 hours. Open shifts, morning - Monday. In-
structor and assistants to lead computer work-
shops-Microsoft Office Suite, Internet, email.
Assists clients during open access time.
• Family Resource Program - 1-10 hours
per week shifts and on call positions. The
Family Resources Program supports fami-
lies who have children prenatal to five. Oc-
casional weekend and non-traditional hours.
Training will be provided. Maintaining &
updating resources. Conducting presentations
to preschools, community groups, parent
groups & neighborhood associations. Partici-
pating in community outreach events, includ-
ing resource table/fairs. Provide administra-
tive support and research.
For more information or to sign up, visit
our website at www.cupertino
communityservices.org, or contact Vicki Yang
at 408.255.8033 x303.
B IG BUNNY FUN RUN IS COMING
5K/3.1 MILE RUN-1.5 Mile Walk
Saturday, March 26 at 9 a.m.
Race begins and ends at city hall.
Run is held rain or shine.
Deadline for early registration is Friday,
March 18, at 5 p.m. Pre-race registration ends
Thursday, March 24 at 10 p.m. Race day
registration begins at 8 a.m. and closes at 8:45
a.m. Entrance fee includes participant T-shirt.
Registration by March 18 to receive your T-
shirt the day of the race. Anyone registering
after March 18 may receive their T-shirt in
the mail, depending upon supply. Prizes will
be awarded to the top three finishers in each
division. Prize drawing following the run. You
must be present to win. Each participant
will also receive a free day pass to the
Cupertino Sports Center when they bring their
Big Bunny Fun Run receipt with them on race
day. Call 408.777.3120 for information.
-7-
Better Part,” an award-winning program that
covers stories of interest to seniors and the
general public. Each show presents informa-
tion, entertainment, and humor.
“On the Move” is an award-winning TV
program that promotes local residents who
are disabled. Each show centers on under-
standing, awareness and self-esteem of the
physically challenged. It also supports and
educates relatives, friends and others who in-
teract with physically challenged people.
On “Indian Vegetarian Gourmet,” na tion-
ally award-winning chef, Hema Kundargi,
takes us into her kitchen to share her creative
authentic home cooking in a way that
demystifies Indian cuisine. The recipes fea-
tured on the show use ingredients available
at local grocery stores, and are adapted for
the fast lifestyles of the Bay Area.
“Steel & Marsilio” chronicles the adven-
tures of two narcissistic bumbling wannabe
celebrities in their pursuit of fame and for-
tune. This sitcom/sketch comedy stars
Garrett Steel and Joey Marsilio as the hapless
anti-heroes in search of a decadent lifestyle
that is further out of reach than they realize.
These four shows air on Comcast cable
channel 15 several times throughout the
month. For a local programming schedule
please visit www.kmvt15.org/
proaramming/cupsched.html. To order
DVD copies of any show, please call Kathy
Phelan at 650.968.1540 or email,
kphelan@kmvt15.org. For more information
about Cupertino community-based shows
please visit www.kmvt15.org.
KMVT Community Television is a non-
profit organization providing local television
programming, multi-media training and pro-
duction services to those who live and work
in the cities of Cupertino, Mountain View
and Los Altos. KMVT Community
Television’s mission is to create a digital mar-
ketplace for the stories that connect the com-
munity. The services of KMVT Community
Television would not be possible without the
generous financial support of our commu-
nities. For more information on how to give,
please contact Jeannie Conner at
650.968.1540.
Continued from page 1CITY M APS O NLINE
The city of Cupertino recently made the
City Map Guide, a dynamic application that
allows users to view basic geographic infor-
mation about Cupertino, such as city bound-
aries and aerial views of the city, available to
the public.
This type of Internet-based mapping al-
lows the user to view dynamic map infor-
mation (objects within the map have ‘intelli-
gence’: by selecting an object, you can retrieve
information) typically through a web
browser. This form of mapping is being used
by many different organizations, for a multi-
tude of purposes. Some key advantages to
this type of technology are:
• Users have dynamic, live access to infor-
mation. As information changes and is up-
dated, users see the results immediately.
• Users can display and view multiple data
sets simultaneously.
• Conducting queries for specialized infor-
mation is much easier. The City of Cupertino
uses Autodesk’s MapGuide product to share
map information to city employees and the
public.
Map Guide allows its users to view basic
information like addresses and street names
through pointing to a particular location on
Map Guide. It allows users to zoom in or
out of the map in order to see a specific
location in relation to the surrounding area
or even to the rest of the city. The ser vice
also allows access to property information
about homes, including acreage, year built,
and total square feet. It also enables users to
view useful information about schools, as it
color-codes schools by type (elementary,
middle, and high schools, as well as colleges)
and shows school offices that are located in
the city. Users can also see zoning, as the
application color-codes areas by commer-
cial or industrial use, offices, parks, residen-
tial areas, and public or private land. Map
Guide even allows users to view earthquake
faults and flood plains in Cupertino.
Users of this service are requred to down-
load the free AutoDesk software. Visit http:/
/www.cuper tino.org/doing_business/gis/
dynamic_maps/index.asp for more infor-
mation.
-8-
The Cupertino Library and Commun
Saturday, Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m
CUPERTINO
SENIOR COMMISSION
By Frank Yap, Senior Commission Chairperson
Do you know that a new commission has
been established to serve the needs of
Cupertino senior citizens? The Cupertino Se-
nior Commission was created by the Cuper-
tino City Council in October 2003, and since
then five commissioners have been appointed
to serve on the commission. They are Estelle
Incotiati, Christine Pierce, Mavis Smith, Linda
Walker, and Frank Yap, who are residents of
Cupertino. The Commission has been granted
a broad mandate, including, advise the City
Council on matters relating to activities that
provide recreational, social, educational,
safety, housing, transportation, and health ser-
vices to senior citizens.
The Commission meets at the Cupertino
Senior Center. The meetings are held during
daylight hours to facilitate ease of parking
and driving for seniors. The schedule of
meetings may be found on the City’s website
www.cupertino.org, and in the Senior Center
newsletter “Active Senior News”. Some of
the issues the Commissioners have consid-
ered at their meetings thus far include the re-
instatement of the Case Manager Program
at the Senior Center, and the resolution of
the membership fees there. The Commission
has drawn up a work plan for 2005 to re-
search and coordinate the resources that may
be available to seniors in Cupertino and the
surrounding areas.
All seniors are welcome to attend the meet-
ings and are encouraged to bring forward
any issues that may be of concern to them.
VO IP IN CUPERTINO:
FISRT IN A SERIES
By Charlon McIntosh,
Telecommunications Commissioner
In an effort to continue its charter to edu-
cate the community on issues related to cur-
rent and new communications technology,
the Telecommunications Commission will be
publishing a 5 part series on Voice Over
Internet Protocol also known as VoIP. This,
the first article in the series, is intended to
provide a general overview of VoIP tech-
nology. The purpose of the article is to an-
swer the questions, “What is voice over
internet protocol and how does it work.”
VoIP technology will allow you to make
telephone calls using a broadband Internet
connection instead of a regular (or analog)
phone line. VoIP allows you to make tele-
phone calls using a data network like the
internet. VoIP converts the voice signal from
your telephone into a digital signal that trav-
els over the internet. If you are using VoIP
technology to place a call to an analog phone,
the digital signal is converted back to an ana-
log signal at the receiving end.
Internet voice calls can be made directly
from your computer, from a special VoIP
telephone, from certain wireless phones via
a Wi-Fi network, or from a traditional phone
with an adaptor. The equipment required to
place VoIP calls will vary based on your cho-
sen service provider. If you make a call us-
ing an analog phone with an adaptor you’ll
be able to dial just as you always have, and
the service provider may also provide a dial
tone. If your provider assigns you an analog
phone number, then anyone can call you from
his or her analog phone without using spe-
cial equipment. Some services using VoIP
may only allow you to call other people us-
ing the same service, still others may allow
you to call anyone who has a telephone num-
ber - including local, long distance, mobile,
and international numbers.
Some VoIP providers offer their service
for free, normally only for calls to other sub-
scribers to the same ser vice. Some VoIP
providers charge for long distance calls to
numbers outside your calling area, similar to
existing, traditional wireline telephone services.
Other VoIP providers permit you to call any-
where at a flat rate for a fixed number of
minutes. You may also be able to use your
VoIP service wherever you travel as long as
you have a broadband internet connection
available. In that case it would work the same
as in your home.
Now that you know more about VoIP,
please look forward to the commission’s fu-
ture articles outlining the advantages and dis-
advantages of VoIP, how to get the ser vice,
and the costs associated with VoIP.
This and additional information is available
at www.fcc.gov.
-9-
y and Community Hall Grand Opening
ct. 30, 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
SIMPLY SAFE
By Marsha Hovey, Emergency Services Coordinator
Medical Reserve Corps needs your help!
Cupertino is developing a disaster medical
response plan for the City. We are register-
ing Doctors, Nurses, Physician’s Assistants,
Dentists, Phar macists, Veterinarians, Ham
Radio Operators, Psychiatrists, Psychologists,
translators and other support personnel who
would be willing to help during a major
emergency – either at their office or at a re-
mote treatment center in the City. Call OES
for more information.
The Cupertino Office of Emergency Ser-
vices wants every community member to be
prepared for sudden emergencies. We’ve
scheduled an entire year’s worth of oppor-
tunities for you to learn more! Here is a par-
tial list of classes. The complete list of dates
is listed in the Emergency Preparedness sec-
tion of the Parks & Recreation course cata-
log or by checking online at
www.cupertino.org/emergency. Registration
forms are also available at city hall.
Preparedness 101. In just three hours, you
can learn how to care for yourself and your
family during emergencies including fires and
earthquakes. Learn when and how to turn
off natural gas, how to use a fire extinguisher,
what to do when telephones and electricity
don’t work, basic first aid and suggested
emergency supplies for earthquakes. Fri, Feb
25, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. & March 16, 9 a.m. to
Noon, or 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This course is
being offered every month until June.
New Online Training. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the
Emergency Management Institute have many
classes available as Independent Study or
online training. Go to www.training.fema.gov
/EMI/IS Click on “Our Courses” which
will show you a long list of classes you can
take including IS317 “Introduction to Com-
munity Emergency Response Teams”.
Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) Twenty-hour course for
community members who want to be part
of the City’s disaster response or want to or-
ganize their neighborhood Jan 14, 15, 21, 22,
28, 29. Three Fridays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
and three Saturdays from 9 a.m. to1 p.m.
(Held again in April and October)
Kaleidoscope Feb 21-25, 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
Emergency preparedness for 6th to12 grades.
Learn CPR, First Aid, earthquake prepared-
ness, fire safety and extinguisher use, tour the
9-1-1 Center and learn about law enforce-
ment. (Held again in April and August).
Neighborhood Preparedness. Train
your neighborhood to be ready for disasters
in just four hours! Call to schedule your ses-
sion.
If you only do one thing this month to
prepare…
Start building an earthquake kit for your
car. In January, find an old backpack or plastic
container that you can keep in the trunk. We’ll
add to the kit next month.
For more information about being pre-
pared, training schedules or volunteer oppor-
tunities, contact the Cupertino Office of
Emergency Services at 408.777.3335 or email
OES@cupertino.org.
ADULT LITERACY TUTORING
“ATLAS” stands for the “Academy for
Teaching Literacy to Adult Students,” a pro-
gram of Sunnyvale-Cupertino Adult Com-
munity Education. Participation in ATLAS
is free to all.
The main goal of ATLAS is to serve adults
whose reading, writing, or math skills are
below those of average high school students.
Some students have had virtually no formal
education others were successful students in
other countries, learned to speak English fairly
well, and currently need to improve their
command of “formal” English.
ATLAS relies upon volunteer tutors to
provide students with individualized instruc-
tion. ATLAS offers free training to our tu-
tors. This training gives a broad overview
of current issues and practical techniques in
the field of adult literacy. Tutors work with
students in one-on-one pairings or in small
groups, while receiving on-going support and
guidance from professional ATLAS site
teachers.
Most tutors work with their students once
a week. For more information, contact
Lareen Jacobs at 408.522.2755, or by email
at lareen_jacobs@fuhsd.org.
-10-
ROOTS
BY GAIL
FRETWELL
HUGGER
CHILDHOOD
POEMS AND VERSES
A favorite childhood book, Through Many
Colored Glasses”, was rediscovered in a box
recently. Readers of a certain age will almost
certainly remember Paul Revere’s Ride, A visit
From St. Nicholas, Little Star, Now I Lay
Me Down to
Sleep, Mary’s
Little Lamb, Ti-
ger, Tiger; and
many others by
C o l e r i d g e ,
Longfellow, Lear,
E m e r s o n
Tennyson and
others. Who can
forget learning
Joyce Kilmer’s,
“Trees”?
Children, no
matter what era,
like words that
rhyme and paint
pictures in their
imaginations. Two of the scari-
est poems in this collection are indelibly
etched in my memory today - “Little Orphant
Annie” by James Whitcomb Riley and ‘The
Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat” by Eu-
gene Field. OK, they were scary back then,
maybe you’d be hard pressed to find a child
who would find them scary now. But the lan-
guage in “Orphant Annie” lent itself to an
earlier time - no TV, radio, video games - just
a story in verse - four stanzas that each ended
in .............. An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at git
you.......Ef you...Don’t.........Watch......Out!”
There were moral lessons to be learned in
the last verse - “You better mind your par-
ents, an’ your teachers fond and dear; An’
churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the
orphan’s tear, An’ he’p the pore an’ needy
ones ‘at cluster all about,
(because if you didn’t....) Repeat the
Gobble-un’s part!
Probably one of the most famous poems
is Lewis Carroll’s, “The Jabberwocky”. We
kids used to go around the house, solemnly
intoning the immortal lines,
“T’was brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.” And so
on -
Too bad this column doesn’t have enough
space for the “Animal’s Fair”, a wonderful
poem that could really increase a child’s vo-
cabulary. The one that always made a won-
derful mind picture and fits the Bay Area -
though he didn’t write for us- is Carl
Sandburg’s little gem, “Fog”
The fog comes on little cat feet
It sits looking over harbor and city
On silent haunches
And then moves on.
So, this Valentine’s Day, read a story or a
poem to your little one(s)and if you are a
child at heart, read one for yourself. Happy
Valentine’s Day, everyone!
-11-
· $300 to replace an existing wood
burning stove or fireplace insert (must be 1990
or older) with a new gas appliance. Your old
woodstove must be scrapped at Pick Your
Part yard in Milpitas.
· $100 to retrofit an existing fireplace
by installing a new gas log set or a new insert.
Residents may purchase their new gas ap-
pliance anywhere.
There is limited funding. First come—first
served. To check availability call (1-800)
HELP-AIR or for more information visit the
Air District’s website at www.sparetheair.org.
Woodburning Tips
The burning of wood in fireplaces and
woodstoves is a major source of air pollu-
tion during the winter months. Those cozy
wood fires in the winter unfortunately con-
tribute up to one-third of the particulate mat-
ter in the air on cold, still winter nights. Par-
ticulate matter is a health concern especially
for children, seniors and persons with respi-
ratory problems.
Here are a few tips on how to reduce the
pollution in your neighborhood:
* Instead of wood, use manufactured
firelogs (they burn 50% cleaner)
* If you burn wood, make sure it’s
dried or “seasoned” for six to 12 months
* Never burn garbage or chemically-
treated wood
* Consider switching to a gas fireplace
(for the ambiance of a wood fire without
the gases and the pollution)
To get an illustrated copy of the California
Air Resources Board’s Woodburning Hand-
book, call our local air district offices at 800-
HELP-AIR, or view on-line at
www.sparetheair.org. You can also find the
free handbook at the Quinlan Community
Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road.
COMPOST WORKSHOPS
The city will be holding free “how-to” back-
yard compost workshops on the first Satur-
days in March, April, and May from 10:00 to
noon at McClellan Ranch. Call 408.918.4640
to register or to get information about com-
post bins that are available, for $40, from the
County Composting Program.
Continued from page 1 MID-LIFER CLASSES
“Mid-lifers” in our community are targeted
by two classes featured in the Winter quarter
for Sunnyvale-Cupertino Adult & Commu-
nity Education (ACE). Baby Boomers who
want to start putting pieces together for their
next steps have raved about the initial class
“Baby Boomers: Your 25 Year Plan.” In this
class, participants explore the question: “What
is appropriate for me in the next third of my
life?”
In addition to this initial of fering, ACE in-
troduces the second class in this series: “Baby
Boomers: Where You Gonna’ Live?” Par-
ticipants in this class look at where they want
to live in their retirement years, learn about
housing options, and explore the costs and
benefits of alternatives.
“My goal is to help people look at how
they want to thrive, and where to start,” says
Christine Kennedy Pierce, who conducts the
Baby Boomer classes. “Baby Boomers are
changing what it means to grow older. Just
as we revolutionized industry and technol-
ogy, so are we revamping the definition of
old age.” Ms. Pierce serves on the city of
Cupertino’s Senior Commission and is co-
founder of Eldering Options, an organiza-
tion dedicated to exploring options for
America’s aging genera tions.
For more information contact Sunnyvale-
Cupertino Adult & Community Education
at 408.522.2700 or http://www.ace.
fuhsd.org. Registration fee is $45. Both
classes will be on Thursday evenings, 7 to 9
p.m. at Fremont High School: “Your 25 Year
Plan” – Feb 2, 9 & 16; “Where You Gonna’
Live” – March 2, 9 & 16.
Community
Calendar
Submit information about clubs and organizations that
meet in Cupertino to Linda Lagergren, City of Cupertino,
10300 Torre Ave., Cupertino, 95014, 777-3202
lindal@cupertino.org
Clubs with asterisks meet more than once monthly.
Call the contact number for details.
FEB. Club/Organization Time Location Phone
1
Tues
Alcoholics Anonymous*
Women’s Group
Al-ANON Family Group*
ToughLove*
Cupertino Kiwanis*
Knights of Columbus
4981*
Cupertino Men’s Service*
Cupertino Sr. TV Prod.*
6:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
Noon
8 p.m.
Noon
9:30 a.m.
Redeemer Luth. Church,
940 S. Stelling Rd.
Bethel Lutheran Church
10131 Finch Avenue
Bethel Lutheran Church
The Blue Pheasant
10201 Imperial Ave., #3
The Blue Pheasant
Senior Center
650-903-
0321
379-1051
946-7970
252-3830
243-8462
252-2667
2
Wed
Al-ANON Family Group*
Al-ATEEN*
Cupertino Sanitary Dist*
De Anza Optimist Club*
Cupertino Optimist Club*
Tandem Toastmasters*
Macintalkers
Toastmasters*
Cupertino Rotary Club*
Philotesian Rebekah #145
Cup. Symphonic Band*
Overeaters Anonymous*
Connect Club III*
7 p.m.
8:15 p.m.
8 p.m.
7:15 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
Noon
5:30 p.m.
Noon
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
8 a.m.
940 S. Stelling Road
Redeemer Lutheran
Church, 940 S. Stelling
20833 Stevens Creek #104
Holder’s Restaurant
Blue Pheasant
HP, 19333 Vallco Parkway
Apple Computer De Anza
3, 10500 N. DeAnza Blvd.
Community Center
Cupertino Odd Fellows
Cupertino High School
Union Church
Chamber of Commerce
650-734-
5869
650-292-
8897
253-7071
253-4424
255-3212
285-4977
www.macint
alkers.com
vppr@macin
talkers.com
920-2224
252-3954
262-0471
247-8488
252-7054
3
Thurs
De Anza Lions Club*
Cup. Host Lions Club*
Northwest Y Service Club*
Cupertino Amateur Radio
Emergency Service
Women’s Quilting Group*
Connect Club I*
Connect Club II*
HP Communicators
Toastmasters #4606*
Overeaters Anonymous*
6:45 a.m.
7:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Noon
8 a.m.
7 a.m.
7 p.m.
Holders Country Inn
Mariani’s Restaurant
Northwest YMCA
20803 Alves Drive
City Hall
West Valley Pres. Church
6191 Bollinger Rd.
Holders Country Inn
Chamber of Commerce
HP Cupt. site, Bldg. 46T
19055 Pruneridge Ave.
Union Church
253-3219
252-6262
725-8195
345-8372
253-2984
252-0932
252-7054
252-7054
650-691-
8724
253-8394
4
Fri
Alcoholics Anonymous*
Fast Start Group
De Anza Kiwanis*
5:00 p.m.
7:15 a.m.
Redeemer Lutheran
Church 940 S. Stelling Rd
Intl. House of Pancakes
374-8511
973-1456
5
Sat
De Anza Flea Market
8 to 4 p.m.
De Anza College
864-8946
5
Sat
Organization of Special
Needs Families*
Overeaters Anonymous*
2 to 4 p.m.
9 a.m.
20920 McClellan Rd.
Union Church
996-0858
842-0688
7
Mon
American Legion Post 642
Al-ANON Steps for Living*
Take off Pounds Sensibly*
TOPS
Overeaters Anonymous*
8 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
10201 Imperial Ave., #3
940 S. Stelling Rd.
First Baptist Church
10505 Miller Ave.
Union Church
374-6392
379-1051
252-2434
650-327-
1649
8
Tues
Southbay Toastmasters*
Sertoma Club*
Poets Society*
6:30 p.m.
7:15 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
Tandem Bldg. 251, 10100
N. Tantau, Rm. 1258
1366 S. Saratoga-
Sunnyvale Rd.
Coffee Society
253-7622
252-2584
255-5293
725-8091
9
Wed
Krazy Dazys Square
Dance Club*
The Powerful Pens
Cross-Cultural Consortium
(5Cs)
7 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
Collins School
Sunnyview Retirement
Community,
22445 Cupertino Rd.
245-9156
626-9784
285-7332
10
Thurs
Quota Service Club*
(Aids hearing & speech impaired)
Cupertino-West Valley
Welcome Club
Viewfinders Camcorder
Video Club
Noon
11:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
Blue Pheasant
Community Center
Cupertino Room
252-8568
257-6136
252-1529
253-1985
11
Fri
Malihini Orchid Society
Cupertino Coin Club
7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
Hewlett-Packard, Oak Rm
West Valley Pres. Church
267-3397
253-1232
12
Sat
Daughters of Norway
9:30 a.m.
Sunnyview Retirement
Community
255-9828
14
Mon
Cupertino Odd Fellows*
Fine Arts League
8 p.m.
7 p.m.
20589 Homestead Rd.
Creekside Park
252-3954
255-6559
15
Tues
African Violet Society
12:30 p.m.
Sunnyview Lutheran
Home
736-9262
17
Thurs
Toyokawa Sister City
West Valley Republican
Women
Rolling Hills 4H Club
Embroiders’ Guild of
America
7:30 p.m.
11:30 a.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
City Hall
Monta Vista Recreation
Center
Sunnyview Lutheran
Home
257-7424
252-6312
257-4745
578-5917
22
Tues
Historical Society
De Anza Youth Soccer
League meeting
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Community Center
Creekside Park
973-1495
www.deanza
youthsoccer.
org
23
Wed
Rancho Neighborhood
Association
The Powerful Pens
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
Rancho Pool & Recreation
Facility
18000 Chelmsford
626-9784
Deadline for submitting March calendar information is Feb. 2.
-14-
COUNCIL
ACTIONS
Please Note: Agenda items are subject to change.
Prior to the meeting, confirm agenda with city clerk,
777-3223. Copies of agendas are available at city
hall on the Thursday preceding council and
planning commission meetings.
Planning Commission
meeting
Tuesday, February 8, 2005, 6:45 p.m.
Applicant: City of Cuper tino, citywide.
General Plan amendment to revise the
General Plan. Subject: Land Use.
Applicant: Dayna Aguirre (Velocitel, Inc.),
21840 McClellan Road. Director’s Minor
Modification with referral to Planning Com-
mission to construct a wireless telecommu-
nications facility at the Monta Vista High
School gymnasium, with six antennas and
equipment cabinets.
Applicant: Simon Lin (Cupertino Estates),
22291 Cupertino Road. Interpretation for the
front of the lot of a single-family residence
to change from Cupertino Road to Hillcrest
Road
Planning Commission meeting
Tuesday, February 22, 2005, 6:45 p.m.
Applicant: City of Cuper tino, citywide
General Plan amendment to revise the
General Plan. Subject: Public Safety
Regular meeting of the
Cupertino City Council
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Council Members Present: Kwok,
Lowenthal, James, Sandoval, and Wang.
Acknowledged receipt of awardfor Ex-
cellence in Financial Reporting .
Approved an application for an Alcoholic
Beverage License for Todai Restaurant .
Waived fees for the AYSO 64 (soccer) VIP
program (special needs youth soccer), esti-
mated at $2,000.
Denied an appeal of the Planning Com-
mission decision to require retention of a
deodar cedar tree at 22291 Cupertino Road.
Considered Application from Pinn Broth-
ers for property at 20128 Stevens Creek Bou-
levard (formerly the Adobe Lounge) and
continued the item for 3 months.
Approved modifications to The Murano
Development (formerly known as Saron
Garden) to widen Poppy Way and add a
parking lane.
Held two closed sessions and appointed a
mediation team for City of Cuper tino v. Ole
Rasmussen, and hired legal counsel Meyers
Nave to represent the City in a portion of
the litigation Ned Britt v. City of Cupertino.
Regular adjourned meeting of the
Cupertino City Council
January 10, 2005
Council Members Present: Kwok,
Lowenthal, James, Sandoval, and Wang.
Made commission appointments. Planning
Commission: Angela Chen, Gilbert Wong,
and Martin Miller. Housing Commission:
Sarah Hathaway-Feit. Fine Arts Commission:
Martha Bills and Nancy Canter. Audit Com-
mittee: Jim Weber. Library Commission:
Janet Riddell, Ronald Miller, and Susanna Tsai.
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission: Joseph
Walton and May Koski.
Regular adjourned meeting of the
Cupertino City Council
January 11, 2005
Council Members Present: Kwok,
Lowenthal, James, Sandoval, and Wang.
Renewed bingo permits for St. Joseph of
Cupertino Church and Cupertino Coordi-
nating Council.
Authorized Toll Brothers to apply for a
General Plan Amendment to allow up to 460
additional residential units on 26 acres located
north of Stevens Creek Boulevard between
Wolfe Road and Tantau Avenue.
Denied appeals of decision to deny two
Massage Permit applications.
Held first r eading of Ordinance No.
1956 repealing Campaign Finance reporting
requirements and reverting to the Fair
Political Practices requirements.
Scheduled meeting to discuss the Stevens
Creek Corridor project with the Parks and
Recreation Commission on March 7, at 7 p.m.
in the Community Hall.
Scheduled Council goal set-
ting session for February 4,
2005 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the
Community Hall.
-15-
Ac
c
e
s
s
C
u
p
e
r
t
i
n
o
Su
b
m
i
t
y
o
u
r
c
o
m
m
e
n
t
s
,
s
u
g
g
e
s
t
i
o
n
s
,
c
o
n
c
e
r
n
s
To
m
a
i
l
,
f
o
l
d
i
n
t
h
i
r
d
s
w
i
t
h
r
e
t
u
rn
a
d
d
r
e
s
s
s
h
o
w
i
n
g
.
T
a
p
e
a
t
t
o
p
.
Or
,
v
i
s
i
t
Ac
c
e
s
s
C
u
p
e
r
t
i
n
o
an
d
s
u
b
m
i
t
y
o
u
r
r
e
q
u
e
s
t
s
o
n
l
i
n
e
a
t
:
ww
w
.
c
u
p
e
r
t
i
n
o
.
o
r
g
Yo
u
r
re
q
u
e
s
t
:
Wh
a
t
i
s
t
h
e
b
e
s
t
w
a
y
t
o
r
e
s
p
o
n
d
t
o
y
o
u
?
Ca
l
l
m
e
a
t
t
h
i
s
n
u
m
b
e
r
:
Se
n
d
m
e
a
n
e
m
a
i
l
a
t
:
Se
n
d
m
e
a
n
a
l
e
t
t
e
r
a
t
:
st
r
e
e
t
:
ci
t
y
:
zi
p
:
I
d
o
n
’
t
n
e
e
d
t
o
b
e
c
o
n
t
a
c
t
e
d
Cupertino Scene PRSRT-STD
Cupertino City Hall U.S. Postage
10300 Torre Avenue PAID
Cupertino, CA 95014 Cupertino, CA
Permit No. 239
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
Monthly City Meetings
February 1 City Council*** 6:45 p.m.
February 2 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm.) 6:00 p.m.
February 2 Teen Commission (Sports Center) 6:00 p.m.
February 2 Telecommunications Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m.
February 3 Parks and Recreation Commission*** 7:00 p.m.
February 8 Planning Commission*** 6:45 p.m.
February 8 Library Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m.
February 9 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm.) 4:30 p.m.
February 10 Housing Commission (Conf. Rm.) 6:30 p.m.
February 10 Public Safety Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m.
February 15 City Council*** 6:45 p.m.
February 16 Economic Development Committee (Conf. Rm.) 8:00 a.m.
February 16 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm.) 6:00 p.m.
February 16 Teen Commission (Sports Center) 6:00 p.m.
February 16 Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m.
February 22 Planning Commission*** 6:45 p.m.
November 23 Fine Arts Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m.
February 23 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm.) 4:30 p.m.
CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 21 FOR
PRESIDENT’S DAY AND FEBRUARY 28 FOR VOLUNTARY UNPAID
FURLOUGH DAY.
Unless otherwise noted, all City Council and commission meetings are held at 10300
Torre Ave. City Hall is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For recorded meeting schedule/information after
hours, call 777-3200.
The City Channel (Comcast Cable Channel 26) offers agenda information,
broadcasts of council/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