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 CUPERTINO, CA—Saturday, September 11th, 10am-noon the community is invited to celebrate the recently completed renovation of the Teen Room at the Cupertino Library. Opening remarks and refreshments will be served in Cupertino Community Hall, 10800 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, followed at 11am by a ribbon cutting and further celebration activities in the Teen Room, 2nd floor of the Library, next door.
Congratulatory remarks will be made by: Kris Wang, mayor of Cupertino; Orrin Mahoney, Cupertino councilman and Joint Powers Authority representative; Melinda Cervantes, Santa Clara County Library librarian; Mark Fink, new Cupertino Community librarian; Eno Schmidt, president of the Cupertino Library Foundation board; Kathy Stakey, Friends of the Cupertino Library; and Liz Gallegos and Bev Lenihan, past and present president of the Rotary Club of Cupertino respectively.
Renovation highlights include increasing the seating by 87%, making it more flexible and colorful; increasing the shelving by 21%; and adding more electrical outlets for computers. The carpeting, shelving and furniture are all new, giving an updated look and feel that teens themselves had a hand in selecting. The teen collection is enhanced as well.
“Because of the new design and furniture, the word spread and we have more teens – and new faces – than ever before, said Dolly Goyal, teen librarian. “The renovated space is a welcoming place for teens and their friends to read, relax and work on projects. I am also excited about the new teen-specific resources featured in the room, which include craft and cook books, comic books, video games, audio books and science fiction.”
 Funding for this $180,000-plus project was primarily a community based effort. Cupertino Rotary pledged a lead gift of $25,000, naming the Teen Room project as their primary beneficiary of their 2009 Golf Tournament fundraiser. Friends of the Cupertino Library were most generous with an $80,000 donation, and the Cupertino Library Foundation contributed at a level of $62,182. Other donors of note are the City of Cupertino, the Santa Clara County Library and HSBC Bank.
“The renovated Teen Room is truly a testimony to the result that can happen with community collaboration,” said Eno Schmidt, president of the Cupertino Library Foundation. 
A sampling of on-going teen programs at the Cupertino Library are free comic book day; cooking/food programs; crafts; Wii games; study nights; SAT/ACT test prep; contests; database class; and the volunteer program.
About the Cupertino Library
Last year, the Cupertino Library welcomed 950,000 visitors who borrowed almost 3.3 million items. The Santa Clara County Library System, of which Cupertino Library is a recognized leader, has been ranked #1 or #2 nationally over the last decade by Hennen’s Public Library Ratings (“HAPLR).
About the Cupertino Library Foundation
The Foundation’s Vision for the Cupertino Library is to encourage life-long learning and self-improvement, so that library users of all ages may become more knowledgeable and better informed, more enlightened and more proactive members of the community. The Foundation envisions the Cupertino Library as a World-class Public Library Facility for:
¨ Self-Education
¨ Children’s Services
¨ Information Access
¨ Research
¨ Recreational Reading
¨ Technology
¨ Business Resources
¨ Diversity in Collections, Services and Programs
On-going initiatives for the Foundation include the Display Wall-art on display; early-California history collection; and Technology in the Library through eReaders and an emerging science project. For more information or to make a donation, please see the Library Foundation’s website http://cupertinolibrary.org/foundation.
By Ruby Elbogen
In Cupertino, every generation has been through the same woes when it comes to education. It became more intense recently, because parents want to keep the present 20-1 ratio, a rather new equation for our schools- from yet another unfunded mandate that came from on high.
Parents whose kids were of school age a while ago were also active, and many were extremely involved. The stellar reputation of Cupertino’s Schools began many years ago; it takes at least a decade to grow a great reputation, and luckily, the same mindset still exists with today’s parents.
Class size here used to be around 30, but teachers had aides. However, when music and art disappeared, parents—and most had jobs outside the home, stepped into classrooms to volunteer with Music For Minors, art and other volunteer-led programs.
The larger classes produced many students who went through colleges and universities with honors, and brought forth the only student in Cupertino who was accepted to Oxford as a freshman
Today’s parents recently completed a phenomenal and astounding feat by raising two million dollars in short order to keep teachers on the job; and are teaching others how to do it. However, now that they’ve proven they can do it, they will most likely be expected to keep up the effort every year.
Our education funding (and the Library’s) is separate from the cities, but some projects were still supplemented by our city budget anyway. In these tough times, it’s not guaranteed and shouldn’t be expected. People at various stages of their lives, from infants to seniors have needs that must also be met with the city’s tax dollars we all pay. Since kids from outside Cupertino also attend the schools, the city’s they come from should be made to pay their fair share as well.
 By Ruby Elbogen
It seems that almost everyone in Cupertino was out dining, purchasing and supporting CEEF’s effort to support our schools and teachers on May 5th.
Some people went out for breakfast, lunch and dinner—and made purchases for now and later to help Cupertino’s kids.
Congratulations to the Parents with a Capital “P” who made it happen. They took their children’s education opportunities into their own hands and were a huge success.
Spreading the word, having organizations spread the word and having the kids spread the word. Their effort—whether it hits the exact mark or not—was a model for others in how to make lemonade out of lemons. Great job. Congratulations. And some day your kids will realize what you did for them. This will be a Cinco d’ Mayo to remember.
 You are invited to the Student Activists Art Show: the Student Movement Exhibit. We as D.A.R.E., De Anza Restoring Education, are hosting this show Thursday June 10, 2010 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. It will be located at Euphrat Museum with in the Visual Performing Arts Center on the De Anza Campus in Cupertino.
Catalyzed by the budget cuts to our education, we organize and mobilize students, faculty, administration and the community in and around De Anza College for our most common interests. We will be Showcasing all the recent activism and student organizing on campus with Protest Art. Highlighting the Walk-in (walking out to a teach-in) January 20th of this year and the subsequent Tent City constructed on our campus for awareness and the March protests in San Francisco and Sacramento. This is a living movement on our campus and nation wide. Building action networks among the thousands of students, organizers, unions and community leaders had been our greatest accomplishment and we wish to nourish these most valued relationships in an artistic celebration at the Euphrat Museum and Visual Performing Arts Center.
This artistic endeavor will with the use of paint, poetry, illustration, writing, and photography to include, inform and encourage all to continue the movement with student activists and organizers. This celebration marks the beginning for next school year 2010-2011. Please bring your friends, colleagues, teachers, and families to the Student Activist Art Show: the Student Movement Exhibit on June 10, 2010
(Parking is two dollars. We are asking for a suggested donation of five dollars or more to help us move forward with the Student Movement.)
 By Ruby Elbogen
It’s ironic to me that our county officials are focusing their efforts to reduce childhood obesity on fast food toys, instead of providing more opportunities for kids to exercise.
Instead of looking for an easy target—they should take a good look at our schools and the cuts to education that reduce physical activity. To cut obesity in our schools, slice the pork at the county level to bring greater physical programs to classrooms and after school programs.
Portable classrooms blossom like spring Poppies where outdoor games should be taking root. Cutting programs that encourage movement and music took its toll, you are reaping what you sowed. Instead of blaming themselves for over development of homes that overcrowd schools, they blame fast food purveyors for toys in fatty meals. Really?
County officials: Take a look in the mirror to place the blame for your lack of interest when it would actually have mattered. Use innovation to bring physical movement to schools—fund yoga, aerobics and ballroom dance classes in our schools, and watch the pounds drop. Be creative, not punative. It works.
 By Ruby Elbogen
While Cupertino is a fairly affluent city, in comparison to many, there are people here who are hungry and need help.
Right here, in our city—seemingly hidden from view folks are going without basic essentials–children who need shoes and lunch, whose parents are barely making ends meet.
Many of us have been in that situation at one time or another—but now, with so many out of work, it’s time to dig deeper to help those who don’t speak about what they are going through.
Much to their great credit, there is a movement underway collecting funds to support education cuts. It’s a stellar idea we applaud. We’d like to ask those same people who are collecting funds—to perhaps also ask for a couple of cans of food along with the cash, and donate them to WVCS.
If someone is willing to hand over considerable money for education, grabbing 2 cans of food to throw in a bag is frosting on the cake. Please donate food as well.
Please bring canned food donations to WVCS at
10300 Torre Ave., Cupertino. A little cash for the mind, and a few cans of food for the stomach are good for the soul and the heart. THANK YOU.
 By Ruby Elbogen
Thanks to Cupertino’s Environmental “Green” Manager, Erin Cooke—The Earth Day Celebration and Short Film Festival at Civic Center was a great success.
Many “green” vendors and educational displays were at booths. Bountiful Gardens dispensed a variety of tomato plants and advice on how to grow them in pots as well as in the garden. Whole Foods, whose event is next April 24th at 11:00 a.m.—had many tips about food, products and cooking.
The Recology Booth was resplendent with the
ever-popular trash can shaped desk pen holders—as well as other environmentally friendly items were given out along with composting techniques.
There were talks and displays about solar roof panels; Lawson Middle School students were there, showing how their effort pays off. My fave were battery powered bicycles from Current Moves, that allow for pedal power—with an easy switch to
electric, with a twist of the ring on the handlebar.
Test drives by Councilman Mark Santoro and City Manager, Dave Knapp were impressive. Knapp, who rides a bike to work almost every day could get a boost from the power pack. Don’t be surprised to see The C Magazine being delivered in the red three-wheeler version, with the basket in the back. Standing “O” to Erin Cooke for bringing Cupertino a fantastic event.
 By Ruby Elbogen
There was a time when parents who did not help out at their children’s schools-in one way or another-were shunned. And, while it’s not a good thing for their children, it’s an appropriate response.
While I often hear the excuse of “times were easier in those days,” NO, THEY WERE NOT EASIER. IT NEVER WAS, AND NEVER IS–EASIER. Your parents just made it look easier by not complaining. Mom’s always worked, especially during the Dot-Com Bust. There was always a compelling reason not to help, but most of us helped anyway. We had younger kids, we had husbands who worked nights, whatever the reason, there is and was nothing new under the sun. We made the time to help. We took responsibility. We did our share.
However, it takes fortitude and dedication to a cause, in this case the education of our youth, and from what I see—parents in the past considered this effort part of the lifestyle. That seemingly is no longer the case for many.
For Cupertino, the mix of cultures could be a solvable problem with the education of parents by other parents whose kids are at your school. Even if it takes knocking on their doors instead of texting. Let them know what is expected of them in-this- their new culture, here in Cupertino. What “was” is in their past. Our question to parents then, was not “will you help” it was “how are you helping, and sign this list.”
Other towns and cities have done what a brave and dedicated group of Cupertino parents are now doing – asking for cash donations from residents who can afford to chip in for the education of children. Whether or not your own children are presently in school, or graduated many years ago-if you can afford to help, the education of children IS everyone’s obligation. Property values have no place in this argument. They will always be high. The obligation to children is the focus, just as others felt obligated to help our children.
There are some programs that should require extra fees from those who can afford to pay—and an individual extra donation of time from those who do not. Time and money is what is needed. Just a few hours a year can make a huge difference. Most parents both work just spare a few hours to help out. Don’t leave it for some other kid’s parents. It matters.
At the primary level, the PTA or school principal can tell you how you can help. After a while this becomes a social obligation that no one wants to be left out of.
When Greater Carmel voters did not pass a parcel tax several years ago, a group of parents started a drive to collect ninety-eight or so, dollars from everyone who could pay. The idea was stellar.
Since some families had been on their land for generations, and for many, their homes were on several lots or parcels long before the area became gentrified. The per each, rather than per parcel was affordable. I applaud the practical solution Cupertino parents came up with, and hope they collect a huge amount of money from those who chip in.
It would also be wonderful if more parents volunteered at the High School level, as Band Parents, Sports Boosters and the many other places where they are needed. Your own kids will benefit from your participation. No kid likes to be one of the few whose parents do not help out. Not speaking English well is no excuse for not helping. There are many other parents who can help with translation. Everyone can take tickets or sell baked potatoes. No talking required.
Grandparents, aunts and uncles can help out as well. If mom or dad can’t make it, replace yourself with another member of the family or a baby sitter. Get out there and help your schools. We did it, now it’s your turn. Standing “O” for all
 Winners of the Cupertino essay contest totaling $1,600 in prizes will be announced and presented with their winnings at the March 20th celebration of 2010 Silicon Valley Reads to be held this Saturday from 1:30-3:30PM at Cupertino Community Hall. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this no-cost event.
Cupertino adults and high school students were asked to write about the ‘real food’ themes of the Silicon Valley Reads 2010 book selection, In Defense of Food, by nationally known author, Michael Pollan. He was also a contributor to the book and film, Food Inc., which has gained national acclaim as well.
Saturday’s program will be led off with a presentation by David Mas Masumoto, local organic peach and grape farmer and noted author of five books, including: Heirlooms, Letters to the Valley; Four Seasons in Five Senses; Harvest Son; Epitaph for a Peach; and his most recent book, Wisdom of the Last Farmer. Mas commented, “Our local communities can influence a healthy society. By encouraging community and family gardens, and preparing what nature provides, we can make a difference for young and old alike.”
Masumoto will also lead a panel discussion based on Pollan’s book. The panelists include Hema Alur-Kundargi, a native of Pune, India and cooking-enthusiast who has written for local and national media, and had her own local TV cooking show; and Dorothy Terrill, registered dietitian with an MS in Nutrition from UC Berkeley. Dorothy has also taught, and written for the local and national media, in addition to her private consultation business.
Sponsored by the Cupertino Library Foundation, cash awards for the essay contest will be given: $500 to the top entry for each adult and teen, and $300 each to second place adult and teen winner. The contest was open to adults who live or work in Cupertino and teens under 18 who attend grades 9-12 at Cupertino area high schools.
 Representatives from Dell came to Cupertino High on Monday to announce that their video entry got more online votes than any other competing high school in the nation. The grand prize of ($100,000) goes to a school in Kenya.
Watch the winning video here:
“http://delllounge. com/superprom/ justinjieli/ default.aspx”
Cupertino High School has been going between 1st and 2nd place all week and beat out the competition across the country. Students were thrilled to know they helped a school half way around the world. The class of 2010 adopted the school in Meru, Kenya 4 years ago. They have been doing fundraisers through the 4 years of high school, working with rotary, selling T shirts and finally entering the Dell Video contest to help rebuild the Nthimbiri Secondary School. We are so proud of these wonderful students who reached out to help people in need! Social networking in Silicon Valley worked for Cupertino High Seniors!
Vote Early and Vote Often
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CUPERTINO, CA—Saturday, September 11th, 10am-noon the community is invited to celebrate the recently completed renovation of the Teen Room at the Cupertino Library. Opening remarks and refreshments will be served in Cupertino Community Hall, 10800 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, followed at 11am by a ribbon cutting and further celebration activities in the Teen Room, 2nd floor of the Library, next door.
Funding for this $180,000-plus project was primarily a community based effort. Cupertino Rotary pledged a lead gift of $25,000, naming the Teen Room project as their primary beneficiary of their 2009 Golf Tournament fundraiser. Friends of the Cupertino Library were most generous with an $80,000 donation, and the Cupertino Library Foundation contributed at a level of $62,182. Other donors of note are the City of Cupertino, the Santa Clara County Library and HSBC Bank. 
