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Home My WebLink AboutScene December 2003 - 12.01.2003December 2003 vol. xxvii no. 4 A monthly publication of the city of Cupertino CUPERTINO SCENE -2- The Cupertino Scene is published monthly, except in August, and distributed to all resi- dents and businesses in the city. Information 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 Wednes- day of the month for the next month’s issue. In This Issue Cupertino Library ...................2 ECO News ................................3 Holiday Recycling ..................3 Job Opportunities ..................4 Teen Center Needs .................4 Sports Center Opening ..........4 Commissioners Needed ........5 Breakfast with Santa..............5 Symphonic Band ....................5 Marching Together .................5 Producing Less Waste ..........6 Holiday Garbage Dates ..........6 Keep Your Car Running .........6 Winter Safety Tips ..................7 Christmas Tree Safety............7 Wireless Connectivity ............8 Professional Training ............9 R1 Ordinance Review ............9 Roots: Unexpected Gifts .... 10 Sweet Potato .........................11 Community Calendar .......... 12 Council Actions ................... 14 Agenda ................................. 14 Previews ............................... 14 AccessCupertino ................ 15 CupertinoCupertinoCupertinoCupertinoCupertino TTTTTemporaremporaremporaremporaremporaryyyyy LibraryLibraryLibraryLibraryLibrary is Openis Openis Openis Openis Open New Library Hours Monday 12 to 9 Tuesday 12 to 9 Wednesday 10 to 9 Thursday 10 to 9 Friday 10 to 6 Saturday 10 to 6 Sunday 1 to 5 The Cuper tino Temporary Library is located at 10441 Bandley Drive, one block west of De Anza Boulevard be- tween Lazaneo and Mariani. Parking / Entrance at the back of the building. Library telephone numbers are: General Library Number 408-446-1677 Accounts, Billing 800-286-1991 Dial-in Catalog 877-471-3349 TeleCirc 800-471-0991 The library has a Web Catalog at http:// webpac .santaclaracountylib.org/, as well as a Telnet Catalog at telnet://library. santaclaracountylib.org, and a Dial-in Cata- log. Bookmark these library web addresses: Santa Clara County Library Web Site: http://www.santaclaracountylib.org: Teen Page Web Site:http://www.santaclara countylib.or g/teen: Kids Page Web Site: http://www. santaclaracountylib. or g/kids. -3- Enjoy holiday stories at our regular storytimes, December 8 through December19. There will be no storytimes De- cember 22 to January 2, 2004. Children’s Storytimes Bedtime Storytime (age 3 years and up) Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Toddler Storytime (ages 2-1/2 to 3-1/2) Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m. Twos Storytime (ages 1-1/2 to 2-1/2) Thursdays, 10:15 a.m. Parent-Child Ca talog/Internet Classes Parents of schoolchildren may schedule appointments with a children’s librarian for either introductory Internet (exploring web sites for children) or library catalog instruc- tion. The classes are open to parents alone or with their children. To schedule an ap- pointment, call 408-446-1677, ext. 3310. 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 every Saturday, 10 to 10:30 a.m. These drop-in classes are limited to five par- ticipants and are filled on a first-come, first- served basis. Participants must be able to use a computer keyboard and mouse. If inter- ested, come to the Adult Reference desk at 10 a.m. on Saturday mor nings. Internet Classes in Mandarin Beginning classes on how to use the Inter- net are available in Mandarin, by appoint- ment. If you would like to schedule an ap- pointment, please call the library’s Reference Desk at 408-446-1677. 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. ECO NewsECO NewsECO NewsECO NewsECO News By Pamela Ledesma CorrectionCorrectionCorrectionCorrectionCorrection The Water District’s low-flow toilet pro- gram, that was discussed in the November Scene, has been discontinued. RecyclingRecyclingRecyclingRecyclingRecycling During the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the Holidays A lot of trash is produced during the holi- day season. Here, are some recy- cling and garbage reminders: C h r i s t m a s Trees: Christmas trees can be pro- cessed into com- post. They will be collected at homes in Cupertino on regular recycling days from Jan. 2 through Jan.16. Trees will be picked up at apartment and condominium complexes during the same period. Manag- ers should call when the complex is ready for tree pick-up: 725-4020. All complexes will be visited by Jan. 16. Trees should be put out by 6 a.m., cut into 4-foot lengths, with all decorations and stands removed. Flocked trees will be accepted for composting. Corrugated Cardboard: Corrugated card- board can be recycled at the curb on regular recycling days. Residents living in apartments or condominiums should ask managers where cardboard is collected on-site. Boxes must be flattened and cut into 3-foot by 3- foot pieces. While it is not necessary to tie pieces with string, bundling makes handling easier for recycling truck drivers. If desired, large quantities can be taken to the Sunnyvale Recycling Center at the north end of Borregas Ave. Styrofoam: Remember that we can now accept blocks of styrofoam, placed in clear plastic bags in your can and bottle bin, or next to it.. While we are not accepting styrofoam “peanuts” for recycling, they are accepted at Postal Annex in the Oaks Shop- ping Center (Stevens Creek @ Mary Ave.) Continued on page 6 -4- Sports CenterSports CenterSports CenterSports CenterSports Center Job OpportunitiesJob OpportunitiesJob OpportunitiesJob OpportunitiesJob Opportunities The city of Cupertino Sports Center is now accepting resumes for certified fitness in- structors and personal trainers. The Sports Center is cur- rently closed for renova- tions and is expected to reopen early Win- ter 2004. Resumes for contractors will be accepted until December 12, 2003. Please send resumes to: Cuper- tino Sports Center, Colleen Manning, 21111 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino CA 95014. Fax # 408-777-3164. For more information please call 408-777-3160. TTTTTeen Centereen Centereen Centereen Centereen Center EmploymentEmploymentEmploymentEmploymentEmployment Are you interested in working with teens? The city of Cupertino is opening a teen cen- ter and needs fun, creative staff who are in- terested in working evenings and weekends. If you are interested, please call Kim Frey at 408-777-3120 for more information. TTTTTeen Center Needseen Center Needseen Center Needseen Center Needseen Center Needs The city of Cupertino is pleased to an- nounce that the new Teen Center will open in early January. The city is looking for dona- tions, such as a working “XBox” and games, and/or “Playstation 2” games with a Teen Rating or below, music CD’s or DVD’s. If you have any of these items or other items that would be beneficial to the new teen cen- ter, then please contact Kim Frey at 777-3120. Sports CenterSports CenterSports CenterSports CenterSports Center Grand OpeningGrand OpeningGrand OpeningGrand OpeningGrand Opening January 10, 2004, 10 a.m. 21111 Stevens Creek Boulevard Cupertino CA 95014 The Cupertino Sports Center is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the remod- eled fitness center on January 10, 2004.The new facility will offer a brand new child watch program, personal training for individuals and groups, racquetball, improved locker room f acilities, and a teen center. The fitness center will include Cybex weight stations, free weights and an assortment of Life Fitness equipment including bikes, tread- mills, stair climbers and elliptical trainers. The facility will have a brand new multi purpose room, which will be available for basketball, badmin- ton, table tennis and a variety of fitness classes for all levels. The Cupertino Sports Cen- ter Grand Opening will be on Saturday January 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. The day will be filled with fun and interactive fitness activi- ties for all. Throughout the day we will of- fer free fitness classes, drop in basketball, badmin- ton, table tennis, child watch tours and tennis tournaments. Personal trainers will be avail- able to answer questions and set up consul- tations. Everyone who attends will be eli- gible to enter our lottery to win Cupertino Sports Center passes. Please join us for the Grand Opening on Saturday January 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. For further infor mation, please call the Cuper- tino Sports Center at 408- 777-3160. -5- Commissioners NeededCommissioners NeededCommissioners NeededCommissioners NeededCommissioners Needed The city of Cupertino is looking for resi- dents to advise the City Council as commis- sioners. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2003. Council will conduct interviews beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, January 12 and 13. Commissioners are interviewed and ap- pointed by the City Council, and may serve a total of two consecutive 4-year terms. Upcoming commission vacancies include: Community Development Block Grant Steering Committee – 4 vacancies Audit Committee – 2 vacancies Housing – 2 vacancies (one Business Representative) Fine Arts – 1 vacancy Parks and Recreation – 2 vacancies Planning – 1 vacancy Public Safety – 3 vacancies Senior – 5 vacancies Telecommunications – 2 vacancies All meetings are open to the public. For more information or to apply for a com- mission, contact the Cupertino City Clerk’s Office at 408-777-3223, or visit the city web- site at www.cupertino.org. Breakfast with SantaBreakfast with SantaBreakfast with SantaBreakfast with SantaBreakfast with Santa Come join Mrs. Claus for her delicious North Pole pancakes that she serves to Santa and his little helpers as they prepare for the holiday season. Visit with Santa Claus, sing some holiday songs and make some holiday crafts during your special holiday morning. Breakfast will be served on Saturday, De- cember 6, 2003, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Quinlan Community Center. Cost is $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents. Register soon, space is limited. For additional infor- mation on this popular family event, please contact the Parks and Recreation Depart- ment at 408-777-3120. CupertinoCupertinoCupertinoCupertinoCupertino Symphonic BandSymphonic BandSymphonic BandSymphonic BandSymphonic Band The Cupertino Symphonic Band, your own community’s music group, will present its annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., at Quinlan Community Center, 10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino. The program will feature a chorus singing the First Noel and Handel’s Halleluiah Chorus plus all the traditional and beloved holiday songs for children and adults. Our talented musicians will be lead by con- ductors Bob Gomez and Tom Narcisso. The concert is free. Donations of canned food for Cupertino Community Services will be very welcome, especially during the holi- days. Contact the band at 408-725-1757 or visit their website www.netview.com/csb. MarMarMarMarMarching Tching Tching Tching Tching Togetherogetherogetherogetherogether There’s something big happening within our community. We are celebrating our unity with the second annual Cupertino Lunar New Year Unity Parade. A diverse group in Cu- pertino has joined to- gether to present a spe- cial event. The second annual Lunar New Year Unity Parade will once again bring our community’s broad spectrum of cultures to- gether. A parade with marching bands, lion dancers, ethnic perfor mances from around the world, and colorful decorations will greet you along Stelling Road from Jollyman Park to Memorial Park on Saturday, February 28, 2004. At Memorial Park there will be an International Fair featuring spectacular stage perfor mances, ethnic food booths and ac- tivities for participants of all ages. More than 10,000 spectators are expected to attend this wonderful event, including people of all eth- nicities, ages and backgrounds. To find out more about ways for you to participate in this wonderful event contact the committee co-chair: Michelle Hu at 996- 1267 or m_hu_2000@yahoo.com. Deadlines are approaching soon: Monday, December 15 is the application deadline for Cultural Booths in the International Fair - contact: Uma Krishnan at 257-8972 or ukris03@yahoo.com; for Food Booth Ven- dors - contact: Naegwen Li at 253-3606, or naegwenl@yahoo.com; and for Perfor mance Groups - contact: Ann Woo at 202-3520, or annwoo@comcast.net. Tuesday, December 30 is the application deadline for the Parade Teams - contact: Lisa Fischer-Colbrie at 252- 7955, or lkfc1@aol.com. -6- and other mailing services stores. Call first. Residents who have the new type of “pea- nuts” made of cornstarch, may stir them into a compost pile or a dirt area and dissolve them in water. Wrapping paper: Gift wrapping paper can be included with other mixed paper for re- cycling at curbside. Place overflow recyclable paper into a box, and place it next to your recycling bins. (Most apartment and condo- minium complexes now have mixed paper recycling toters.) Foil and plastic wrapping paper and ribbons and bows cannot be re- cycled. Cans and bottles: Place a well-labeled recycling bin next to trash containers at parties to make it easy for guests to re- cycle. (Find a color- ful label at the Quin- lan Center or down- load one at www.cupertino.org/environmen- tal (click on “Recycle”). No limit: Remember that there is no limit to the amount of recyclables that can be set out on recycling day. (Although, yardwaste should only be set out in your yardwaste toter.) Extra recyclables can be placed in boxes and set next to the full bins. PrPrPrPrProducing Less Woducing Less Woducing Less Woducing Less Woducing Less Wasteasteasteasteaste During the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the HolidaysDuring the Holidays Avoid producing unnecessary waste that needs to be recycled or disposed of this holiday season. Make these practices part of your holiday routine: · package gifts in reusable gift bags · bring your own bags to the store · refuse a bag if you’re only buying one or two items Holiday Garbage DatesHoliday Garbage DatesHoliday Garbage DatesHoliday Garbage DatesHoliday Garbage Dates There will be no trash and recycling ser- vice on Christmas and New Years Day. Customers that would normally be served on Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1 and 2, will have service one day later than normal. Keep YKeep YKeep YKeep YKeep Your Car Runningour Car Runningour Car Runningour Car Runningour Car Running and Yand Yand Yand Yand Your Family Safeour Family Safeour Family Safeour Family Safeour Family Safe Whether it’s a weekend ski trip, a family get-together or last-minute shopping, mil- lions of Californians will hit the road this winter. So, it’s important for consumers to winterize their vehicles ahead of time to keep their cars running and their families safe.- ”Winter driving can be hard on cars and a challenge for drive rs,” said Kathleen Hamilton, Director of the California Depart- ment of Consumer Affairs. “So, drive smart by following a few simple precautions. With some easy steps, Californians can better pro- tect themselves, their passengers and their vehicles.” Winter Safety Kit – Whether you’re heading for the mountains or plan- ning a long road trip, it’s a good idea to store a few items in an old duffel bag or back- pack in the trunk of your car in case of emergency: o Battery jumper cables o Large flashlight and extra batteries oFirst aid supplies oExtra blanket and some warm clothing o Battery-powered radio with spare batteries o Basic tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, adjustable wrench) o Bottled water and non- perishable food o Highway safety flares in good condition o Windshield ice scraper o Replacement electrical fuses (check owner’s manual for specifics) · Wiper Blades – Replace dry and cracked wiper blades and top off the wiper fluid. (Do not use water!) · Brake Pads and Linings – Have your brakes checked by a licensed adjuster. Visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair Web site at www.autore pair.ca.gov to find a licensed brake station in your area. · Tires – Regu- larly check the air pressure in your tires (in- cluding the spare) and inspect them for signs of excessive wear. Uneven or excessive tread wear is an indication that it may be time for rotation or replacement.· In addition to reg- istering and regulating California automotive repair facilities, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) assists consumers with all as- pects of automotive repair. For more infor- mation on other services, visit BAR’s Web site at www.autore pair.ca.gov or call the toll- free number at 1-800-952-5210. ECO News Continued from page 3 -7- Office ofOffice ofOffice ofOffice ofOffice of Emergency ServicesEmergency ServicesEmergency ServicesEmergency ServicesEmergency Services WWWWWinter Safety Tinter Safety Tinter Safety Tinter Safety Tinter Safety Tipsipsipsipsips By Leslie Martin Winter’s here. Time for sparkling decora- tions, a crackling fire, the aroma of hot chocolate on the stove, and gingerbread cookies in the oven. Here are some com- mon-sense reminders to help insure your family enjoys the best of the season in safety. Fireplace: Have your chimney profession- ally cleaned. Creosote is a flammable wood tar that builds up on the inner walls of your chimney and can ignite. Install a spark-ar- rester screen on the chimney top to avoid roof fires. Open the damper before lighting the fire. Never overload the fireplace. Use a fireplace screen or glass door to contain sparks. Dis- card embers only when they are cold. Portable Heaters: Buy heaters with au- tomatic shut-off features. Keep heaters a minimum of 3 feet from furniture, drapes, other combustibles, and people. Turn off before going to sleep. Unplug when not in use. Wiring: Replace or repair damaged cords immediately. Ensure all cords and appliances are Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) ap- proved. Do not overload electrical outlets, or use extension cords in place of perma- nent wiring. Use only extension cords that have metal casing with a built-in circuit breaker. Never r un extension cords beneath rugs or mattresses. Christmas TChristmas TChristmas TChristmas TChristmas Trrrrree Safetyee Safetyee Safetyee Safetyee Safety · Artificial trees are safer and cleaner. · When buying the real thing, test a cut tree by tapping it against the ground. A freshly cut tree should not lose green needles. Cut 1 inch off the trunk to help absorb water. Leave trees outside until ready to decorate. · A tree stand should hold at least 1 gal- lon of water. Mix a commercial preserva- tive with the water. A 6-foot tree will drink one gallon of water every two days, so check water level daily. · To keep trees from tipping, secure with wire. · Keep trees away from any heat sources, such as candles, floor heaters, and fireplaces. · Use only UL-approved lights, and link no more than 3 strands together. Miniature lights have cool-burning bulbs. Turn off Christmas lights before you sleep, and when you leave home. · NEVER BURN A REAL TREE IN THE FIREPLACE. Marsha and Al at the Office of Emergency Services wish you a healthy, happy, and safe holiday season. Special Notes: If you or anyone in your neighborhood would like to become a walk- ing billboard, we now have official Com- munity Emergency Response Training (CERT) tee shirts! $10 per shirt. Sizes: Small through XX. Order by phone: (408) 777- 3335 or email: oes@cupertino.org. We’ll let you know when your orders can be picked up. Registra tion for CERT, CPR and First Aid Registration for all classes will now be handled by Parks and Recreation at (408) 777-3110 or parks@cupertino.org. CERT classes are still free. CPR costs $15 and First Aid is $25 — unless you’re a CERT gradu- ate (for graduates, call the Office of Emer- gency Services to register for free classes at (408) 777-3335). Registration forms are also available at the Library, Quinlan Center, and City Hall. FREE 2004 Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Session #1 (Three Friday Nights, Three Saturday Mornings) January 16, 23, 30 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 17, 24, 31, 9 a.m. to Noon. CPR February 13, 6:30 to 10 p.m. FREE CERT Session #2 March 23, 30, April 6, 20, 27, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Gradua- tion May 1, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you do only one thing to prepare this month: Donate food to Cupertino Community Services and buy some to re- stock your earthquake supplies. LMartin@aol.com is a Cupertino writer and CERT graduate. -8- ImproveImproveImproveImproveImprove WWWWWiririririreless Connectivityeless Connectivityeless Connectivityeless Connectivityeless Connectivity By Ernest Tsui, Telecommunications Commission Chair How many times have you gotten a ring on your cell phone and answered it and then moved a few inches/feet and gotten discon- nected? Tried again a few times and then decided to just use a “land line?” The reason you get con- nected better in certain lo- cations in the room is that cellular signals reflect off structures and cause interfer- ence patterns that result in significantly varying power levels. This is exactly analo- gous to filling up your bathroom sink with water and gently touching the middle of the pool of water and watching as the circular wave emanates from where you touched the water. The wave bounces off the sides of the sink and starts interfering with the other portions of the wave reflecting from other parts of the sink, in a matter of seconds, you have an “interference pattern” that re- sembles what happens when radio waves bounce off objects and walls in your room. The crests and the troughs either, 1) reinforce each other (resulting in a higher crest – or more signal “power” or a lower trough), or 2) they cancel with each other resulting in no trough or crest (or no signal). The regions where 2) occurs tend to cause disconnects when you are in them and the regions of 1) tend to allow connections due to the in- creased signal power. Interfering signals from a wireless basestation that you are not using will also form an interference pattern and thus the ratio of signal to interference can vary widely with location in the room. The degree of sensitivity depends primarily on the wave- length (inverse of the carrier frequency) of the signal being transmitted. The wavelengths of cellular signals tend to be on the order of 6 inches to a foot so that movements so that interference patterns can vary as close as these lengths and more depending on the reflec- tion geometries. To improve your reception under these circumstances it’s oftentimes better to get nearer to a window or go upstairs since the signal levels generally will have less problems going thru a window (less attenuation) then a wall and if you go upstairs, the signal will generally have to traverse less blockage (trees, houses, etc.) before it hits your antenna. Gen- erally speaking the higher you are the better, up to a point where you start to see many basestations all at once and start getting in- terfered by them. Finally, you should call your service pro- vider and report any problems with your cel- lular connection if you get frequent signal outages in your house that you cannot get any coverage no matter where you move. These calls to provide feedback to your pro- vider are also important to them so that they can be used to improve their service to your neighborhood and to plan the locations of future basestations which can provide better signal levels to your home and neighborhood. We have provided a list of service provider hotlines for the cellular service basesta tions that are located within Cuper- tino. A T & T Wireless: (800) 462-4463, http:// www.attwireless.com/ Verizon Wireless: (800) 922-0204, *611 from your mobile phone, http:// www.verizonwireless.com Sprint PCS: 888-211-4727, *2 TALK from your PCS Phone, http://www.sprint.com/ Nextel: 800-639-6111, http:// www.nextel.com Cingular Wireless: 866-CINGULAR, http://www.cingular.com/ T-Mobile: 800-937-8997,fr om your T- Mobile phone dial 611, http://www.t- mobile.com/ MetroPCS: 888.8 metro 8, dial *611 from your Metro phone, http:// www.metropcs.com/ -9- R1 Ordinance ReviewR1 Ordinance ReviewR1 Ordinance ReviewR1 Ordinance ReviewR1 Ordinance Review The Planning Commission will hold a pub- lic hearing on January 26, 2004, to consider modifications to the R1 zoning ordinance that affect roughly 10,000 single-family homes in Cupertino. The City’s R1 regulations attempt to al- low property owners opportunities to de- velop their land while protecting neighbors from some of the negative impacts related to new development. To ensure the regula- tions are equitable, the City would appreci- ate input from homebuilders and residents. Please check the City’s website in early December of 2003 for more information about this issue. If you have any questions, please contact Peter Gilli, Senior Planner at 408-777-3313 or at peterg@cupertino.org. QuickQuickQuickQuickQuick PrPrPrPrProfessional Tofessional Tofessional Tofessional Tofessional Trainingrainingrainingrainingraining Beginning this fall, De Anza College’s Dis- tance Learning Center is providing the com- munity with a n o t h e r choice: fee- based, not- f o r - c r e d i t online pro- grams that provide the necessary skills for obtaining professional caliber positions in a short time. The We b-based training is now available in such fields as health care, graphic and Web design, business, travel, network security and Micr osoft certificate programs. “The self-paced, fee-based training has sev- eral advantages for students who want spe- cific workforce training and do not need to earn college credit for these classes,” accord- ing to Jaci Ward, dean of Distance and Ex- tended Learning. The following are some of the advantages: • Students are not tied to an academic quar- ter because they can begin and complete the online training at any time and finish as rapidly as they wish. • Students can work from home, work or any preferred location. Furthermore, there are no require- ments to visit the campus for orientations or to take tests. • The average time for course completion is from 12 to 500 hours depending on the depth and breath of the training. Most of the online programs or series of courses take three months to complete, although some can take as long as a year. To offer the fee-based courses, De Anza has partnered with Gatlin Education Services, a large and successful provider of online ca- reer training programs. The college also plans to affiliate with other education services to expand this program. “We’re interested in working with Gatlin because it is well established with a proven track record,” said Ward. “Gatlin offers one particularly wonderful feature: Students are assigned subject matter experts who work closely with them throughout the course. They conveniently communicate via e-mail.” Like De Anza’s traditional distance learn- ing offerings, these fee-based courses are at- tractive for busy adults who want a flexible schedule because they juggle family, employ- ment and/or educational responsibilities. Because no state revenue is involved, the fee- based classes start at about $600 per course. The college’s Distance Learning Center was established more than a quarter of a century ago. In the last academic year, the center served more than 13,000 enrollments through a variety of live televised courses, pre-pro- duced courses broadcast on local cable tele- vision, and numer ous online courses. For details about the fee-based, not-for-credit online programs, visit the web site at http:// distance.deanza.fhda.edu/nfc. -10- RootsRootsRootsRootsRoots By Gail Fretwell Hugger Unexpected GiftsUnexpected GiftsUnexpected GiftsUnexpected GiftsUnexpected Gifts Every land and culture celebrates holidays and at those times gifts are usually given. I started thinking about gifts a little earlier this year because someone unwittingly gave one that made me smile. It wasn’t a gift just for me - it was a sort of present to the neighborhood, though my neigh- bor, the lady who made it, may not have been thinking of it that way. It started in Octo- ber with some bales of hay and pump- kins and dried grasses and a scare- crow figure in front of the house. Nothing scary, just symbols of fall. I liked that. The hay reminded me of all the sweet smelling bales stacked many feet high at Cali’s Feed and Grain (where the new Verona Apartments are at the crossroads now). The pumpkins brought to mind all the family farms and gardens that used to produce so bountifully in our beautiful valley. And the scarecrow was a reminder of how hard it was to keep those pesky critters out of the fruits of one’s la bor and how hard farmers work to feed their families and the rest of us. Around the beginning of November, the hay bales began to sprout red poinsettias and greenery. The appearance of Christmas sym- bols before Thanksgiving seemed incongru- ous at first but in passing it every day, the colorful display was a cheery reminder of both coming holidays. It seemed quite cre- ative. The evergreens symbolize life. In an- cient times, winter was a cold and frighten- ing time, with little food. Game animals were harder to find and trees were bare of leaves or fruit and the sun gave little war mth. Ev- ergreens were promise of life even when the snow was deep. The custom of dis- playing evergreens and Christmas trees came to America via European immigrants. Mexico gave us the custom of the beautiful poinsettias and a story to go with them. Sometimes called the “flower of the Holy Night,” it represents the Star of Bethlehem. Mexi- can legend has the poinsettia originate in a miracle. A poor boy, with nothing to offer to Christ at his church, fell on his knees, tell- ing God how much he wanted to give Christ a gift that he has no money to buy. As the boy rises, the first “flower of the Holy Night” ap- pears at his feet. He picks the flaming blooms and lays them as his gift on the altar. In 1829, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, brought the flowering plant back home to South Carolina and the lovely flow- ers have been part of the symbolism of Christmas every since. Sometime in December, hopefully, the Cypress Hotel will again put a lighted Christ- mas tree and star on its roof, continuing a tradition begun many years ago by Rosario Cali on top of the grain tower; a gift for our community. In passing my neighbor one day, I told her that I liked her display. She was thinking about adding some more things. “What do you think?” she said, “maybe a nativity scene?” Merry Christmas everyone and a wonder- ful New Year to all. -11- Cupertino Cuisine-Cupertino Cuisine-Cupertino Cuisine-Cupertino Cuisine-Cupertino Cuisine- Sweet PotatoSweet PotatoSweet PotatoSweet PotatoSweet Potato By Hema Kundargi Like so many of the foods associated with Thanksgiving, from cranberries and chestnuts to the turkey itself, sweet potatoes are packed away, until the next Thanksgiving comes along. Many people eat sweet potatoes only on Thanksgiving, and that’s a shame, since these tuberous roots are among the most nutritious foods in the vegetable kingdom. They are loaded with calcium, potassium and vitamins A, and C. Sweet potatoes are often confused with yams, but yams are large, starchy roots grown in Africa and Asia. Yams can grow up to 100 pounds and are rarely available in American super markets. Nutri- tionally, sweet potatoes greatly outweigh yams. Because of the common use of the term “yam,” it is acceptable to use this term when referring to sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes contain an enzyme that converts most of its starches into sugars as the potato matures. This sweetness continues to increase during storage and when they are cooked. My mother would often make sweet potato pudding as an after school snack. She would bake the sweet potato until soft, and peel off the skin. She would then mash it with little brown sugar and add a dash of carda- mom powder. Sweet potatoes are sold throughout the year, but are most abundant in the fall and early winter. Many stores feature sweet po- tatoes around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Select sweet potatoes that are heavy for their size, and buy similar-sized potatoes if you plan to cook them whole, so that the cook- ing time will be uniform. Choose potatoes that are smooth, hard and free of bruises or decay, which may appear as shriveled or sunken areas or black spots. Even if cut away, a decayed spot may have already im- parted an unpleasant flavor to the entire po- tato. Sweet potatoes will keep for a month or longer if stored at 55°F; if kept at nor- mal room temperature, they should be used within a week of purchase. Sweet potatoes may be somewhat dirty, especially if bought at a farm stand or a farm- ers’ market. You should brush off any ex- cess dirt before storing, but don’t wash the potatoes until you are ready to cook them, as the mois- ture will has- ten spoilage. . If you’re fa- miliar with them only as a fat-loaded, overly sweet Thanksgiving side dish, you’ll be amazed at how much more Sweet Potatoes can be. A great staple to keep on hand in the kitchen, they can be baked, microwaved, steamed, boiled, sautéed or grilled. Enjoy them on their own or in everything from entrees, sal- ads and side dishes to muffins, breads and desserts. Instead of a plain potato, bake or microwave Sweet Potatoes to accompany any type of meat, poultry or fish. Add chunks of Sweet Potatoes to soups, stews and even Chili. Raw Sweet Potatoes can be peeled and grated to add to salads or thinly sliced to star on a vegetable and dip platter. How- ever, you enjoy them, your taste buds and your body will thank you. My favorite recipe with sweet potato is warm salad, which can be enjoyed by itself. Ratalyache Khees (Sweet potato salad) 2 medium size sweet potato 2 teaspoons oil 1-teaspoon cumin seeds 3-4 green chilies, minced (or as per taste) 1/4-cup peanuts (roasted and unsalted) 1 tablespoon limejuice 3/4 teaspoon salt (or as per taste) 1/4 cup cilantro (chopped) Peel and grate the sweet potato and keep it in water, to prevent it from discoloring. Coarsely crush peanuts with a rolling pin. Mince green chilies. Keep aside. Heat non- stick pan and heat oil. Add cumin seeds and wait until it sizzles. Add green chilies and stir for 20-30 seconds Add grated sweet potato, crushed peanuts, and salt. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes on medium flame. Finally, add limejuice, cilantro and mix well. Serve pip- ing hot as a snack or wrap it in a tortilla for light lunch. 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. Clubs with asterisks meet more than once monthly. Call the contact number for details. DEC. Club/Organization Time Location Phone 1 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 2 Tues Alcoholics Anonymous* Women’s Group Al-ANON Family Group* ToughLove* Cupertino Kiwanis* Knights of Columbus 4981* Cupertino Men’s Service* 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Noon 8 p.m. Noon 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 650-903- 0321 379-1051 946-7970 252-3830 243-8462 3 Wed Al-ANON Family Group* Al-ATEEN* Narcotics Anonymous Cupertino Sanitary Dist* De Anza Optimist Club* Cupertino Optimist Club* Tandem Toastmasters* Cupertino Rotary Club* Philotesian Rebekah #145 Cup. Symphonic Band* Cross-Cultural Consortium (5Cs) Overeaters Anonymous* 7:00 p.m. 8:15 p.m. Noon 8 p.m. 7:15 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Noon Noon 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6 p.m. 940 S. Stelling Road Redeemer Lutheran Church, 940 S. Stelling St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, 20920 McClellan 20065 Stevens Creek #C Holder’s Restaurant Blue Pheasant HP, 19333 Vallco Parkway Community Center Cupertino Odd Fellows Cupertino High School City Hall Union Church 650-734- 5869 650-292- 8897 998-4200 253-7071 253-4424 255-3212 285-4977 920-2224 252-3954 262-0471 777-3331 247-8488 4 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* Connect Club III* 6:45 a.m. 7:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. Noon 8 a.m. Noon Holders Country Inn Mariani’s Restaurant Northwest YMCA 20803 Alves Drive City Hall West Valley Pres. Church 6191 Bollinger Rd. International House of Pancakes / St. Crk. Blvd. Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce 253-3219 252-2633 725-8195 345-8372 253-2984 252-0932 252-7054 252-7054 252-7054 4 Thurs Overeaters Anonymous* HP Communicators Toastmasters #4606* 7 p.m. 7:00 a.m. Union Church HP Cupt. site, Bldg. 46T 19055 Pruneridge Ave. 253-8394 650-691- 8724 5 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 6 Sat De Anza Flea Market Organization of Special Needs Families* Overeaters Anonymous* 8 to 4 2 to 4 p.m. 9 a.m. De Anza College 20920 McClellan Rd. Union Church 864-8946 996-0858 842-0688 8 Mon Cupertino Odd Fellows* Fine Arts League 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 20589 Homestead Rd. Creekside Park 252-3954 253-2230 9 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 10 Wed Krazy Dazys Square Dance Club* The Powerful Pens 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Collins School 21269 Stevens Creek, Suite 610 245-9156 777-3820 11 Thurs Quota Service Club* (Aids hearing & speech impaired) Cupertino-West Valley Welcome Club Viewfinders Camcorder Club Noon 11:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. Blue Pheasant Community Center Cupertino Room 252-8568 257-6136 252-1529 253-9136 12 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 13 Sat Daughters of Norway 9:30 a.m. Sunnyview Retirement Community 255-9828 16 Tues African Violet Society 12:30 p.m. Sunnyview Lutheran Home 736-9262 18 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 23 Tues Historical Society 6:30 p.m. Community Center 973-1495 Deadline for submitting January calendar information is Dec. 3. -14- CouncilCouncilCouncilCouncilCouncil ActionsActionsActionsActionsActions AgendaAgendaAgendaAgendaAgenda PreviewsPreviewsPreviewsPreviewsPreviews 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. City Council Meeting Special Meeting Monday, December 1, 5:30 p.m. Farewell to departing Mayor Michael Chang Swearing in of councilmembers Richard Lowenthal and Kris Wang. Monday, December 1, 6:45 p.m. Selection of mayor Monday, December 15, 6:45 p.m. Approve the minutes from the December 1 City Council meeting. Declare weeds on certain properties a nuisance, setting hearing for Jan 20. Approve a Use Permit to construct a 107-unit condominium project and 6,450 square feet of new retail space; Approve an exception to the Heart of the City Plan to exceed heights above 36 feet. Approve a Use Permit to demolish 17,800 square feet of the Oaks Shopping Center and construct 49 townhomes, 2 duet units and to make signage, landscaping and parking improvements to the Oaks Shopping Center. Approve a contract with the City of San Jose for Animal Services. Donor tiles policy. Approve combining the Public Safety and Bi- cycle and Pedestrian Commissions, and reduce the Fine Arts Commission to 5 members. Planning Commission Monday, December 8, 6:45 p.m. Applicant: Grace Ho/ Cupertino Community Housing for the Disabled. Location: 10092 Bianchi Way. Modification of a use permit (11-U-82) to construct a detached 625 square foot building and ramp at an existing housing development. Applicant: Chii-Ching Shue (Wong Trust) Lo- cation: 10050-10056 Imperial Avenue. Use per- mit modification (19-U-96) to allow medical use and increase the retail square footage, and to allow shared parking and a parking exception. Applicant: Leah Hernikl/ Cingular Wireless. Location: 10881 S. Blaney Ave. (Tin Tin Market). Use permit to erect a 50-foot artificial tree and an equipment shelter for wireless phone antennas. One-year review of modification of a use per- mit (M-2002-06) to locate a children’s playground at the front of the property and extend the hours of operation at 20803 Alves Drive (YMCA). City Council Monday, November 3, 2003 Regular meeting of the Cupertino City Council Monday, November 3, 2003 Council Members Present: Chang, James, Sandoval, Kwok, Lowenthal. Council Members Absent: None Acknowledge a fee waiver expenditure of $9,631.16 for the Cupertino Rotary Club’s Okto- berfest that was held on October 11 and 12. First reading of an Ordinance of the City Coun- cil of the City of Cupertino Rezoning Sixty-Eight Parcels to the R1-A Single Family Residential Dis- trict and Amending Chapter 19.28 of the Munici- pal Code. Awarded contract for the Civic Center Audio Visual Equipment and Installation contract to Ceitronics, for a total contract amount of $810,745. Accepted $75,000 from the Cupertino Library Foundation as donated by the Friends of the Cu- pertino Library. Adopted a policy embracing demographic di- versity. Authorized the City Manager to execute a $29,000 contract with Public Resources Management Group (PRM), to conduct a Development Fee Study. Monday, November 17, 2003 Council Members Present: Chang, James, Kwok, Lowenthal. Council Members Absent: Sandoval The meeting opened with a moment of silence in memory of Cupertino employee Frank Moyano. Approved the use permit and conditions as amended to locate a church in an existing, 37,120 square foot office building. Conducted the first reading of the ordinance regarding Temporar y Signs as amended and di- rected staff to review the ordinance a year after the effective date. The ordinance was amended as fol- lows: Number 8 under letter C was added to sec- tion 17.32.010 to read: “The temporary signs in the public right-of-way other than political signs shall be removed by sunset.” All open house signs shall be removed by sunset. Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) presentation regarding attendance boundaries and projected number of students from new develop- ments. Approved the allocation of $25,000.00 from the Civic Center and Library End-of-Project Contin- gency to Prepare Bids for the Library Shelving and set a study session for January 20 at 5 p.m. to dis- cuss the options for the purchase of the FF&E for the new library as well as funding for the purchase and installation of shelving. -15- 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 Healthy and happy holiday wishes from everyone at the city of Cupertino.