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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene May 2005 - 05.01.2005 THE SCENE Cycling through Cupertino May 2005, vol. xxviii no. 8 A publication of the city of Cupertino On Bike-to-Work Day, Thursday, May 19, more than 500 bicyclists will ride through or from Cupertino in route to work or school. Throughout the entire Bay Area, tens of thousands of residents will be out on their bicycles. All nine Bay Area counties – including Santa Clara – are partnering with the Metropoli- tan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Bicycle Coali- tion to encourage people to participate in this day of healthy commuting. In Cupertino, several Bike-to- Work Day Energizer Stations will serve refreshments from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. Stations will be located at Quinlan Commu- nity Center on Stelling Road, Apple Computer on De Anza Boulevard, and Hewlett- Packard at the corner of Pruneridge and Tantau avenues. May 19 will be just another day of cycling to work for Cupertino City Manager Dave Knapp, shown above. Weather permitting, he pedals six miles to and from work once or twice a week. Cyclists can pause for refreshments at Energizer Stations at Quinlan Commu- nity Center, Apple Computer, and HP. M A Y 1 9 The average Silicon Valley bicycle com- muter rides a round-trip distance of 10 to 14 miles and often adds a few additional miles to take advantage of less busy streets and pathways. Some cyclists use their com- mute as an exercise opportunity and some as a healthy break from their hectic day. For more information: go to http:// bayareabikes.org/btwd, or call Bay Area Bi- cycle Coalition, 415.246.8078. Important Library Election News – See Page 3 CALIFORNIA USA -Golden Jubilee 1955 2005 -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 pio@cupertino.org. Questions may be directed to the Public Information Office at City Hall, 408.777.3200. Deadline is the first Wednesday of the month for the next month’s issue. In This Issue Bike-to-Work Day .....................1 Cupertino Library ...................2 Environmental News ..............4 Creek Cleanup ........................4 Compost Classes ...................4 Wildlife Services .....................5 Senior Center News ...............5 Senior Center Cruises............5 De Anza Student Awards .......6 Peninsula Symphony ............6 Roots ........................................7 In Celebration of Cupertino Community Calendar .............8 Simply Safe........................... 10 Pedestrian Safety ................ 10 Car Seat Safety .....................11 VoIP Service Costs .............. 12 CREST Awards ..................... 13 City Job Openings .............. 13 Council Actions ................... 14 Monthly City Meetings ........ 16 Cupertino Library News Friends of the Library Host Spring Used Book Sale May 21 and 22 The annual Spring Cupertino Used Book Sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22. Hosted by the Friends of the Cupertino Public Library, the sale will take place in Cupertino’s new Community Hall at 10350 Torre Ave., between the Library and City Hall at Torre and Rodrigues avenues. A variety of books, CDs and videos will be offered including: fiction, non-fiction, travel, health, home and garden, romance, cookbooks, children’s and young adult’s, reference, science, engineering, foreign languages and many other topics. There also will be a separate “select” area for special interest books on popular sub- jects at slightly higher prices. Sale hours will be 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sat- urday and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The children’s book area will be open only to chil- dren from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The popular “Bag Day” will be on Sunday when most books will be offered for $3 per bag. Call Gladys Maiden, 408.253.4591, to vol- unteer to work at the sale. Drop Off Your Used Cell Phone The Friends of the Cupertino Library have a box in the lobby of the library for used cell phones. They also welcome everyone to their ongoing Lobby Book Sales. 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 find a bestseller on the library shelf when you visit the library. The books are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no reserves). All titles check out for one week. The collection is located in the New Book- New Magazines-Media area right off the lobby in the new library. -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 data- bases are available even when the library is closed at www.santaclaracountylib.org. Click on databases, and enter your library card and PIN to access a database. For example, you can re- search a company using Stan- dard and Poor’s Net Advan- tage, prepare for an academic or professional exam with Learning Express, or find in- formation for a state report in America the Beautiful. Call the Reference desk, 446.1677, with questions. Post-April 15 Tax Help Available A self-help tax form area in the first floor copier room offers giveaway tax forms and reproducible forms. Internet Classes Teens, 13 to 19, may schedule an appoint- ment to learn about the library’s subscription databases. Call the Reference Desk, 446.1677. Basic Internet classes for adults are held the second Saturday of every month, 2 to 2:30 p.m. These drop-in classes are limited to five participants. Participants must be able to use a computer keyboard and mouse. Come to the Adult Reference Desk. Beginning classes on using the Internet are available in Mandarin, by appointment. Call the Reference Desk, 446.1677. Library Tours Library tours are conducted the third Wednesday of every month from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and the fourth Saturday of the month from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tours include an explanation and demonstration of the library’s online catalog and subscription da- tabases, and library collections and services. For more information, call 446.1677. Cupertino Library Info 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 Phone Numbers General Number 408.446.1677 Accounts, Billing 800.286.1991 TeleCirc 800.471.0991 Web Addresses Santa Clara County Library: www.santaclaracountylib.org Teen Page: www.santaclaracountylib.org/teen Kids Page: www.santaclaracountylib.org/kids Storytimes Bedtime Stories (ages 3 and up): Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Toddler Stories (ages 1-1/2 to 3) – Please choose one of the following: Thursdays, 10:15 a.m. Thursdays, 11:15 a.m. The annual library assessment of $33.66 per property owner that the Cupertino Li- brary has received for the last 10 years is set to expire in June. If the assessment is not renewed, our library will lose 20% of its funding and could face additional clo- sures and service reductions. A special mail-in ballot was sent to regis- tered voters in April. This ballot must be received no later than May 3. Library Funding Ballots Due May 3 IMPORTANT REMINDER Two measures are on the ballot: ••••• Measure A will continue the current $33.66 yearly assessment to maintain cur- rent library services. ••••• Measure B will increase the library as- sessment by $1 per month to restore li- brary hours and services that were cut. All Measures A and B funds generated in Cupertino stay local to benefit the Cupertino library. -4- Batteries Now Collected at Curbside. Household batteries are now acceptable for recycling at curbside. Put batteries in a clear, sealed bag, such as a Zip-lock® bag. Place the closed bag on top of the blue recycling cart on your regular collection day. Cell phone batteries are not accepted in the curbside program; contact your cell phone dealer for recycling options. Household Hazardous Waste Dis- posal. During spring cleaning, it is easy and free to properly dispose of hazardous clean- ing, hobby, and gardening products. Ex- amples are: old paint, pool chemicals, used motor oil and antifreeze, batteries, solvents, fluorescent tubes or bulbs, mercury ther- mometers, and fertilizers and pesticides. Resi- dents may call 299.7300 to make a disposal appointment. Small businesses also may be eligible to participate for a nominal fee. Compost Available. Get a good start on your garden with some free compost. The city’s compost site is open in time for spring planting. The Stevens Creek Quarry site on Stevens Canyon Road across from the dam is open for bulk compost pickup on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., at no charge. No appointments are necessary. The site is closed during rainy weather and on holiday weekends. Please abide by the following rules. ••••• Only city residents can use this program. Bring proof of residency. ••••• Bring adequate shovels and people to help shovel the compost. ••••• Bring containers – old trash can, tarp, or bags – to hold your compost. ••••• Bring a tarp and rope to cover compost in your truck. State law requires loose mate- rial to be covered while in transit. Call 777.3269, 6:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., or visit www.cupertino.org for information. Washing Cars? Watch Your Soap. All types of soap and detergent (including “bio- degradable” soaps) are toxic to fish and other aquatic creatures. When you wash your car, don’t pour the leftover soapy water into the street or down a storm drain, which con- nects to the nearest creek. Instead, pour soapy water down a sink or toilet, or on landscap- ing where it won’t run onto a sidewalk. Consider whether you need to use soap on your car. Much of the dirt can be hosed off with water or wiped off with a sponge. If your children are involved with a fund- raising car wash, ask the organizers to con- tact Public Works, 777.3354, for guidelines on keeping soap out of our creeks. Pest Control Info Available. Pest con- trol fact sheets with information on less- toxic products and techniques are avail- able at two local nurseries: Yamagami’s and Summerwinds, both on South DeAnza Boulevard. Nursery staff mem- bers are trained in pest control and can advise you on an Integrated Pest Man- agement approach. Fact sheets also are available at Quinlan Community Cen- ter and the Cupertino Library. Environmental News Compost Classe s While weeding the ga r d e n this spring, rememb e r t h a t weeds are source of n i t r o g e n for a backyard comp o s t p i l e . To learn about backya r d c o m p o s t i n g , a t t e n d a free workshop at McC l e l l a n R a n c h P a r k o n S a t - urday May 7, from 10 a . m . t o n o o n . F r e e b a c k - yard compost books w i l l b e d i s t r i b u t e d . R e g i s - ter at www.reducewast e . o r g ( u s e t h e s e a r c h f u n c - tion to find “home c o m p o s t i n g ” ) , o r c a l l 918.4640. Creek Cleanup o n May 21 You can vol u n t e e r t o clean u p c r e e k s throughou t t h e c o u n t y o n S a t u r d a y M a y 21, Nation a l R i v e r C l e a n u p D a y , f r o m 9 a.m. to n o o n . F o r a l i s t a n d m a p o f creek c l e a n u p s i t e s v i s i t www.cleana c r e e k . o r g o r c a l l t h e S a n t a Clara Valley W a t e r D i s t r i c t , 2 6 5 . 2 6 0 7 ext. 2255. T h e n e a r e s t c l e a n u p s i t e i s Stevens Cre e k R e s e r v o i r D a m . -5- Wildlife Services Serving the entire Santa Clara Valley, the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley provides two main services for the city of Cupertino; wildlife rehabilitation and education. Since 1992, the center has cared for more than 50,000 animals, with more than 2,500 from Cupertino. The center provides high-quality care and rehabilitation of injured, sick, and orphaned birds and mammals within Silicon Valley. Education programs foster a positive co- existence between the general public and wildlife. Through all activities, the center en- courages an interest in and concern for wild- life conservation issues. Through the dedication of approximately 150 volunteers, the center cares for 5,500 birds and mammals from more than 100 species each year. Supported by public donations and ser- vice contracts, the center offers opportuni- ties for residents to get involved and learn about local wildlife through volunteer, membership, education, and donor programs. Contact the center, 929.WILD (9453) or www.wcsv.org, if you have a concern, or question about wildlife, or if your school or community group would like an educational presentation. The center is open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. For after hours wildlife concerns, call San Jose Animal Services, 578.7297. The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley provides two main ser- vices for Cupertino: wildlife rehabilitation and education. Enhance Your Life For meeting people and enriching your life, you won’t find a better place than the Cupertino Senior Center. The center is Cupertino’s hub for activities, information, and services geared to adults aged 50 plus. Members can participate in activities, trips, classes and services. To become a mem- ber, complete an application form and pay a membership fee of $22 if you are a Cupertino resident – $27 if you are a non- resident. Members receive a parking per- mit and the newsletter, Active Senior News. In conjunction with De Anza College, and Fremont Adult Education, many classes in fitness, dance and music, arts and crafts, language, education, and computers are held. The center’s Travel and Tour program includes local day trips and worldwide ex- cursions. Join us, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd. For more information: call 777.3150 The Cupertino Senior Center Travel Pro- gram heads out to sea with two cruises this year. The WORLD’S BEST ALASKA CRUISE, September 3 – 15, will depart from San Francisco. The destination will be Victoria B.C., beautiful Inside Passage, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Sitka, and Ketchikan. This cruise on the Crystal Harmony is also a Wine and Food Fes- tival featuring a celebrity chef and sommelier. State- rooms are from $2595 per person double. For CRUISING INTO THE HOLIDAYS, November 30 – De- cember 10, the Dawn Princess will sail round trip from San Francisco with visits to Catalina Island, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and San Di- ego. Prices start at $899 per person double. For more information: call 777.3150. Heading to Sea SENIOR CENTER NEWS -6- De Anza College Students Win Top Honors in Statewide Media Arts Competition Students in De Anza College’s Creative Arts Division received top prizes in three catego- ries – computer modeling, traditional ani- mation and motion graphics – in the state- wide 2005 Media Arts Award Competition on March 17. Fourteen category winners and merit award recipients from De Anza who live in the South Bay Area, on the Peninsula, and in San Francisco were recognized at a showcase event conducted simultaneously in San Francisco and Pasadena. This year De Anza swept the computer modeling category, and in each instance the instructor was Will Paicius. Albert Robles of San Jose was the category winner, and the merit award recipients were Sonja Caldwell of Campbell, Wei-Liang Chen of Cupertino, Margarete Miyasaki of San Fran- cisco, Silvia Palara of Santa Clara and Ehren Tye of Sunnyvale. De Anza, which was the only college in the state to win in three categories, won more awards than any other school. Since the com- petition began six years ago, De Anza stu- dents have consistently won top honors. Other categories this year were digital imag- ery, computer animation, film/video, audio, graphic design, Web site design, interactive multi- media and high school entry. Nearly 700 entries were received this year. More than 50 faculty and industry professionals screened and judged them. The Multimedia & Entertain- ment Initiative sponsors the annual competi- tion through the California Community Colleges Economic & Workforce Develop- ment Program. For details about the DeAnza Film-Televi- sion Department, contact 864.8519, lishazaki@deanza.edu. For information about the Animation Program, visit http:// www.deanza.edu/animation, or contact 864.5663 or MMcNamara@deanza.edu. The Peninsula Symphony, the San Jose Symphonic Choir, and four superb vocal soloists, team up this month for an all- Beethoven Concert entitled Ode to Joy. The concert will be held at the San Mateo Per- forming Arts Center on Friday, May 20, at 8 p.m., and at the Flint Center in Cupertino on Saturday, May 21, at 8 p.m. Ode to Joy will open with the Overture to Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, followed by a solo perfor- mance of Beethoven’s only violin con- certo, featuring Jung-Min Amy Lee, 2004 Peninsula Symphony presents Ode to Joy An All-Beethoven Concert with the San Jose Symphonic Choir Winner of the Irving M. Klein Interna- tional String Competition. The program will close with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, a pinnacle of the symphonic literature culminating in the majestic fourth move- ment, Ode to Joy. For this performance, the Peninsula Symphony, under the direction of Mitchell Sardou Klein, will be joined by the San Jose Symphonic Choir, Leroy Kromm, Music Director, and four outstanding so- loists, soprano Aimee Puentes, tenor Christopher Corley, mezzo-soprano Wendy Hillhouse, and bass Kirk Eichelberger. Tickets are $27 for adults and $21 for students and seniors. For more information, contact: www.peninsulasymphony.org, 650.941.5291. Jung-Min Amy Lee -7- Roots By Gail Fretwell Hugger to ring the bells, calling the faithful to mass. During his long lifetime, he saw the hunter- gatherer Ohlones become cultivators, and watched as his people faded away. J a m e s B o h o l i , another Ohlone, was called the “last of the Santa Clara Mission Indians.” In the sketch of Boholi shown here (taken from a photo from the Mrs. Fremont Older collec- tion), he is shown clear- ing the path that leads to today’s Prospect Road in the foothills. Boholi worked for the first governor of California, the Hon. Peter Burnett who had a 20-acre orchard where Prospect and Stelling roads are now – the former Painless Parker ranch. The Ohlones, who called themselves the Tares, spoke a different dialect of the Mut- Sun language than the tribe at San Francisco. Boholi said the Lord’s Prayer in the dialect spoken as far south as the Mission San Juan Bautista and as it was spoken at Mission Santa Clara. Historic accounts tell of the clear, sonorous singing voices of these early converts to Christianity and how the Franciscan missionaries used colored notations to mark the music sheets to enable the Native Americans to follow the leader of the mission choir. However one views this part of our early history, we are grateful to have accounts of these historic men. Resources: Drawings and partial excerpts from the sto- ries of A. “Pete” Eming in the Cupertino Courier; “The Five Franciscan Churches of Mission Santa Clara” and “Marcello, Last of the Mission Indians,” by Rev. Arthur D. Spearman and Charles D. South. Juan Bautista De Anza’s expedition in 1775- 76 was remarkable in that none of the over 100 men, women, and children who walked the near-trackless miles from Tubac, Arizona, to the presidio at Monterey in Alta Califor- nia died along the way. In fact, two babies were born and survived – a miracle under the harsh conditions. De Anza forbade his soldiers to mistreat Indians they encountered along the way. But, as his small scouting party wound its way along our creek , the shouting Indians that emerged from the trees could not have known what was in store for their band and thousands of other Native Americans in the valley in the coming years. Disease epidem- ics, military actions, labor under the mission- rancho system, and assimilation into the Span- ish-Mexican culture decimated their number into the mere dozens by the late 1800s. Two historic Native American figures con- tributed to the rich history of Cupertino. The legend of Chief Marcello, Cupertino area’s most famous Ohlone, covers a lifespan of 125 years. One inscrip- tion reads that Marcello was born in 1750 and died in 1875. His ancestors are sup- posed to have been royal Yumans of the Colorado River Valley, and he was hailed as a chief by the Ohlone. Until his death he was a walking encyclope- dia of mission history. According to corroborated stories, he aided Padre Jose Antonio Morguia in building the mis- sion on its second site. Under the direction of Padre Magin Catala, he and his tribesmen planted the four rows of black willows along the road known as the Alameda in San Jose. Marcello stood 6 feet and 2 inches and weighed 250 pounds. According to “Ripley’s Believe It or Not,” Marcello had five wives. His great strength enabled him to place the bells into the high mission towers. He loved In Celebration of Cupertino: Part II -8- 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. MAY Club/Organization Time Location Phone 2 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 3 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 4 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 macintalkers .com vppr@macin talkers.com 920-2224 252-3954 262-0471 247-8488 252-7054 5 Thurs 5 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* Business Networking Intl. 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. 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 BJ’s Brewery 253-3219 252-6262 725-8195 345-8372 253-2984 252-0932 252-7054 252-7054 996-9111 BNI.com Community Calendar -8- -9- Thurs HP Communicators Toastmasters #4606* Overeaters Anonymous* 7 a.m. 7 p.m. HP Cupt. site, Bldg. 46T 19055 Pruneridge Ave. Union Church 650-691- 8724 253-8394 6 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 7 Sat De Anza Flea Market Organization of Special Needs Families* Overeaters Anonymous* 8 to 4 p.m. 2 to 4 p.m. 9 a.m. De Anza College 20920 McClellan Rd. Union Church 864-8946 996-0858 842-0688 9 Mon Cupertino Odd Fellows* Fine Arts League 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 20589 Homestead Rd. Creekside Park 252-3954 255-6559 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 Sat Daughters of Norway 9:30 a.m. Sunnyview Retirement Community 255-9828 17 Tues African Violet Society 12:30 p.m. Sunnyview Lutheran Home 736-9262 19 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 24 Tues Historical Society De Anza Youth Soccer League meeting 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Community Center Creekside Park 973-1495 deanzayouth soccer.org 25 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 June calendar information is May 4. -9- -10- Video Information. New preparedness video tapes now are available at the Cupertino Library. “Earthquake Survival Guide” and “PG&E’s Gas and Electric Safety” are an excellent place to start your emergency education. You can also search under “Earthquake” at http://www- lib.co.santa-clara.ca.us/ for other books and information. A special preparedness video for senior citizens, “Make Yourself A Promise” dis- cusses preparedness from a “senior” point of view and is available in nine languages. Congratulations. Our most recent Community Emergency Response Team class graduated April 16. September is your next opportunity to learn how to help your community. The dates are September 6, 8, 13, 15, and 20 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with graduation on September 24. Sign up at www.cupertino.org or call 777.3120. Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshop. You can attend this free work- shop either Friday, May 6, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., or Saturday, June 4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Every member of the community should Simply Safe By Marsha Hovey, Cupertino Office of Emergency Services know what to do when an emergency happens at home. Sign up at www.cupertino.org or call 777.3120. Plan Ahead. The summer session of Kaleidoscope Public Safety Training for ages 11 to 18 will be August 1-5 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Learn CPR and first aid, use a fire extinguisher, build an earthquake kit, and more. Sign up at www.cupertino.org or call 777.3120. Preparing for Emergencies, One Month at a Time … Add a plastic bottle of water (16 oz) and a non-perishable snack to your car emergency kit. Replace the water at least every six months so that you’ll have a fresh supply if water lines are broken during an earthquake. If you drink the water and eat the food in the mean- time, remember to replace them as soon as possible. And, secure the bottled water for safety. (See story on page 11.) For More Information ... about being prepared, training schedules or volunteer opportunities, contact the Cupertino Of- fice of Emergency Services, 777.3335 or OES@cupertino.org. One in six traffic fatalities is a pedestrian. Pedestrian safety at crosswalks is a serious issue. One in six traffic fatalities is a pedes- trian. Crosswalks are everywhere, and people need to be reminded of the rules. According to the DMV, every intersection has a pedestrian crosswalk even if there are no painted lines on the road. Most crosswalks are at intersections, but crosswalks also can be placed in the middle of a block. These usually are marked with wide white or yel- low stripes on the road and accompanied by a pedestrian crossing sign. Crosswalks are safety zones that require respect. Pedestrians always have the right-of- way in a crosswalk and vehicles must yield (Vehicle Code 21950(a)). This means vehicles are required by law to slow down and stop if pedestrians are present. Pedestrians have responsibilities, too. They must obey signs and signals, and practice safe behaviors. Safety: Pedestrians and Crosswalks By David Greenstein, Cupertino Bicycle and Pedestrian Commissioner -11- Car Seats and Safety Belts The safety belt has been the best thing added to cars since the invention of peanut butter. They provide a restraint system to protect the occupants from being thrown around in or out of the car in the event of an ac- cident. This pro- tection is e v e n more im- portant for little children. Because seat belts are designed to fit the average adult, there has to be compensation allowed for passengers of smaller size. If the seat belt does not fit correctly, then the child is not secured safely. Car safety seats and booster seats are designed to help compen- sate for the difference in seat belt design and passenger size. They have saved many children’s lives over the years, including this author’s own daughter. However, just installing the seat and using it is not enough unless it is installed correctly. The DMV publishes a handbook with the rules of the road so both drivers and pedes- trians can learn about good habits. Here are some excerpts. For DRIVERS at Crosswalks: ••••• Always stop for any pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk. Pedestrians have the right-of-way. ••••• Do not pass another car from behind that has stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian you cannot see might be crossing. ••••• Do not stop in a crosswalk. You place pedestrians in danger. ••••• Look both left and right before turning a corner. Most pedestrian collisions happen while turning. For PEDESTRIANS at Crosswalks: ••••• Cross only at intersections or marked crosswalks. If you must cross elsewhere, then yield to vehicles because they have the right-of-way. ••••• Do not leave the curb suddenly into the path of a vehicle. The driver might not have enough time to stop. ••••• Always obey traffic signals at signalized intersections. Pedestrians should look left, right, then left again before crossing. ••••• Joggers must obey all pedestrians rules. Drivers and pedestrians are responsible for safety. We can all stay safe if we use patience, caution, and follow these simple rules. For more information: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/ pubs/hdbk/driver_handbook_toc.htm By Jeff Trybus You should have your children’s car seats inspected, and you should check that your model of seat does not have a safety recall. The suggested life span for these seats is five years from date of manufacture. The plastic is subject to ultraviolet light aging and to stress cracking from use. A seat that has been involved in a collision should be re- placed, as well as the seat belts in the car. Loose objects in your vehicle also are a safety concern for adults and especially chil- dren. They become missiles in an auto acci- dent. For example, in an accident a bottle of water weighing 16 to 20 ounces times a ve- hicle speed of 35 miles per hour will result in a force of 560 to 700 ounces. This is like a swinging baseball bat. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Depart- ment and The Safe Kids Coalition are providing citizens of Cupertino with an op- portunity to have their child safety car seats installed or inspected for correct installation on an ongoing basis. E-mail carseatcheck@cupertino.org or call the sheriff’s West Valley Substation at 1601 S. DeAnza Blvd., for appointments. How Much Does VoIP Cost: VoIP Article #4 By Steve Ting, Telecommunications Commissioner Previous articles in this series explained how Voice over IP (VoIP) allows phone users to make and receive regular telephone calls over the broadband Internet and addressed the advantages and disadvantages. This article fo- cuses on the price of VoIP phones, services, and rate plans for a residen- tial telephone cus- tomer. Since there are numerous VoIP offerings, this article illustrates some general trends so that readers can use them as references. Information related to rate plans and equipment was retrieved from the provider’s Web sites, as of Feb. 27, 2005. The costs of subscribing to a high-speed Internet connection and of purchasing equip- ment, such as routers, gateways, and PCs are not included in this discussion. While there are numerous VoIP-based ser- vice providers emerging every day, this ar- ticle provides a snapshot of rate plans of certain familiar names. It includes: a) incum- bent telecommunications titans such as AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest; b) non-traditional tele- phone service providers such as Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision, EarthLink, and AOL; c) VoIP phone veterans such as Packet8, Dialpad, Nikotel, iConnectHere, and Net2Phone; and d) relative upstarts such as VoicePulse, Lingo, myPhoneCompany, SunRocket, Voiceglo, BroadVoice, Sunrisevoice, 1TouchTone, Vonage, VoiceAmerican, Skype, and MediaRing. Some well recognized names such as SBC and Comcast are also promising VoIP rollouts. For instance, Comcast has said it would launch the service in 20 markets this year, starting with Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Springfield, Mass. — and complete the rollout in 2006 (including in the Bay Area). In terms of the choice of VoIP phones, both hardware- and software-based phones are available. The hardware-based services give users two options: adapters and all-in- one phone units. The price for both options can range from free up to several hundreds dollars. For instance, Vonage offers free adapters such as the Motorola VT1000, Cisco ATA-186, or Linksys RT31P2, while Net2Phone may charge $200 for a Max IP10 net phone. The purely software-based ser- vices, such as Skype and MediaRing, rely on a software program to be downloaded into your PC to handle the VoIP call. Since rate plans can change daily, a few ex- amples are listed below for reference. AT&T CallVantage charges $19.99 monthly for unlimited local calls and 4 cents per minute for long distance calls, or $29.99 monthly for unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and to Canada, and 5 cents per minute to France and 7 cents per minute to Mexico City. Packet8 offers unlimited call- ing in the U.S. and to Canada for $19.95 per month and 5 cents per minute to China. Vonage has a rate plan of $24.99 monthly for all calls anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, and 4 cents per minute to Australia. With Skype, basic service is free for non-commer- cial use — some advanced features will re- quire a paid subscription or prepayment. Unlike the voice services provided by the traditional telephone companies (telcos), many fee-based features (e.g., call waiting, call transfer, three-way calling, speed calling, do not disturb, and voice messaging) are typi- cally included in the VoIP rate plan for free. Several let you check your voicemail online or have messages forwarded to your e-mail as sound files; many have complex call-for- warding schemes. The monthly taxes and surcharges applied on the phone bill are cur- rently lower for VoIP than for the voice ser- vices from the traditional telcos. In conclusion, VoIP providers generally offer telephone service at rates lower than the price from traditional telcos for similar plan coverage. Nevertheless, as tempting as that may be, the complexity of Internet tele- phony in areas such as unpredictable service outages, network configuration hassles, and sometimes less desired call quality makes it a concern for some. Do lots of investigation and shopping around. -12- 2005 CREST Awards: Recognizing Outstanding Contributions Individuals and groups who have made outstanding contribu- tions to the city of Cupertino will be honored Wednesday, May 18, with awards. This year, seven individuals and four groups, listed below, will receive CREST – Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken – awards. The awards ceremony, which will include a video presentation by the city’s Media Department, will be held in the Cupertino Community Hall at 7:00 p.m. Catherine Wong and Alice Jarrett, registered nurses who volunteer at the Cupertino Senior Center, help to ensure that center members get regular blood pressure checks. Catherine and Alice each conduct blood pressure check clinics at the center two to three times a month. A Kaiser advise nurse, Catherine helped the center to establish a health lecture program with the Kaiser Health Education Department. Catherine received her nursing training in Hong Kong and in the U.S., and has been working for Kaiser for the past 15 years. A retired nurse, Alice received her nursing degree from University of California, San Francisco. She served in the Army during World War II and was stationed in England. Alan and Marge Taniguchi have been dedicated volunteers for the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister City Committee since their daughter was a student delegate to Toyokawa seven years ago. Marge has served as the co-chairperson of the Cherry Blossom Festival, taking responsibility for all cultural and entertainment activities. In addition, she is the treasurer of the Sister City committee and has co-chaired the student exchange program. Alan has served as the committee’s graphic artist, contributing many hours of graphic design work, including designing Cherry Blossom Festival signs. As the 2004 chairperson of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce’s Asian American Business Council, Gilbert Wong was instrumental in elevating the stature of the chamber. Gilbert led three major events – Lunar New Year Luncheon, Moon Festival Luncheon and Diwali Festival of Lights celebration. Gilbert’s efforts helped the chamber to increase its number of Asian-owned businesses to 30 percent. Gilbert currently is the chairperson of the Cupertino Planning Commission. Upon her retirement from Bank of America in 2004, Frances Seward approached Cupertino Community Services (CCS) to volunteer her services as a financial counselor to the clients of CCS, where she created the Money Management and Counseling Program. Frances individually advises clients on budgeting, credit issues, and banking needs. This service is provided at no charge to CCS clients, many of whom face financial crisis. Frances also is Ambassador of the Year for the 2005 Cupertino Chamber of Commerce Star Award. Under Diane Benedetti’s leadership as executive producer, Cupertino Senior TV Productions has won 14 awards. This includes a first-place WAVE award for the “55 Alive Update” program. Diane has been an effective advocate with the City of Cupertino in keeping “The Better Part” with public access, and she facilitated the transfer from De Anza College to KMVT in Mountain View. The Cupertino Library could not operate without the continuing work that Cupertino Library Volunteers perform individually and collectively. This has never been more true than in the wake of state reductions in municipal funding. Approximately 40 Adult Community Volunteers help to pre-sort returned library materials. Currently 25 Teen Volunteers help with many library tasks, including assisting in the Children’s Room. And, last year with the opening of the new library building in the civic center complex, volunteers from throughout the community were invaluable in helping to move the library’s collection. The Friends of the Cupertino Library has been there to help for more than 40 years. Members of the group conduct on-going used book sales in the library and book sale events in the Cupertino Community Hall. In 2004, the group gave $55,000 toward furnishing the Story Room in the new library building. Funds raised also have purchased a self-checkout machine, other equipment and furniture. In addition, the group finances the Children’s Summer Reading Club and the Best Seller Collection. During the past two years, the Cupertino Library Foundation raised the funds necessary to furnish and equip the new library building. The foundation’s Library Campaign Committee sought donations from individuals and groups ranging from $5 to $200,000, and has held many fundraising events. The foundation has proven to be an invaluable force in the community for the maintenance and improvement of our community’s busiest public building and service. Five Cupertino volunteers are appointed by the City Council to serve on the Library Commission. The commission has worked hand in hand with the community organizations that support the library to meet the needs of our residents. The commission was instrumental as part of a city steering committee in planning and designing the new state-of-the-art 54,000- square-foot library that opened last year. The City of Cupertino currently has job openings for the positions of administrative assistant, building deptartment counter specialist, senior building specialist and municipal planners. For details about these and sum- mer job openings, visit www.cupertino.org/jobs City Job Openings -13- -14- Council Actions 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. Regular Meeting of the Cupertino City Council, Tuesday, April 5: Council Members Present: Kwok, Lowenthal, Sandoval, Wang Conducted closed session regarding pend- ing litigations. Approved the minutes from the March 7 City Council Meeting. Adopted resolutions accepting Accounts Payable for March 11, 18, and 25, and pay- roll for March 11 and 25; and accepted the Treasurer’s Budget Report for February 2005. Adopted a resolution approving the de- struction of records from the City Clerk and Finance departments. Accepted an application for an Alcoholic Beverage License for Boas, 20030 Stevens Creek Blvd. Adopted a resolution approving the Sec- ond Amendment to the Agency Agreement for the Countywide Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Adopted a resolution approving an Im- provement agreement with Lynn Youngs and Mikiko Youngs, husband and wife as com- munity property with right of survivorship, 10965 Miramonte Road. Accepted city projects performed under contract: Civic Center and Library Project- Phase 2, (Swinerton Builders). Adopted a resolution approving the ap- plication for Land and Water Conservation funds for Stevens Creek Corridor Park. Adopted a resolution supporting Con- gress’ continued funding of the Community Development Block Grant Program. Accepted a report regarding expenditure of funds for Golden Jubilee Celebration. Adopted a resolution accepting the 2005- 06 Fee Schedule, with the following changes: (1) The decision about the fee for candidate’s statements will be continued to the May 3 meeting ; and (2) the fee for small traffic calm- ing requests shall be eliminated from the reso- lution. (Kwok voted no). Adopted a resolution regarding the use of third program year (2005-06) Community Development Block Grant Funds and be- gan review of the 2005-06 Annual Action Plan, with the following changes: $20,000 shall be shifted from item J on the chart on page 20-14 of the packet (ESO – Housing and Energy Services Program) to item K (Cleo Avenue Property Purchase). Adopted a resolution supporting SB 680 (Simitian) regarding congestion management and transportation improvements for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Received report on the High School Dis- trict discussion of student generation analy- sis for new development. Reviewed and approved the assignment of the lease for Blue Pheasant Restaurant from Berthe and Ole Peter Rasmussen to Mike Tsacres from Hungry Jack’s Restaurant Corp. Authorized the Director of Public Works to issue a Request For Proposals for real es- tate services for the sale of surplus property of Oak Valley lots A (11), B (2), and C (13). Accepted the 2003-04 Single Audit Report and the 2003-04 Management Letter from City Auditors, Maze and Associates. Received a legal opinion report on mailed ballot elections. Canceled the regular meetings of April 19 and August 2, 2005. Rescheduled the Teen Commission interviews from May 31 to June 6 at 5:00 p.m., and scheduled a budget study session in the council chamber on Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. Received a status report on General Fund Revenue and Expenditures. Reviewed the amended General Plan Public Hearing Schedule (shown below). The Plan- ning Commission has amended its schedule for the General Plan public hearings to allow more time to review the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The following is the revised schedule: April 4 special meeting to hear from major property owners, business owners, and developers on Land Use Element; April 12 Draft Environmental Impact Report; April 26 Preliminary amendments to Task Force Draft; May 10 or May 24 Recommend Ap- proval of the Draft General Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report. -15- -16- 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 May 3 City Council***6:45 p.m. May 4 Teen Commission (Sports Center)6:00 p.m. May 4 Library Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m. May 4 Telecommunications Commission 5:30 p.m. May 5 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm.)6:00 p.m. May 5 Parks and Recreation Commission***7:00 p.m. May 10 Planning Commission***6:45 p.m. May 11 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm.)4:30 p.m. May 12 Housing Commission (Conf. Rm.) 6:30 p.m. May 12 Public Safety Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m. May 17 City Council***6:45 p.m. May 18 Teen Commission (Sports Center)6:00 p.m. May 18 Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m. May 19 Design Review Committee (Conf. Rm.)6:00 p.m. May 24 Planning Commission***6:45 p.m. May 24 Fine Arts Commission (Conf. Rm.) 7:00 p.m. May 25 Environmental Review Committee (Conf. Rm.)4:30 p.m. May 31 City Council Budget Advisory Study Session 4:00 p.m. City offices will be closed for Memorial Day on May 30 Unless otherwise noted, all City Council and commission meetings are held at 10350 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.