This above image shows the last total solar eclipse, March 29, 2006. On July 22 2009 you can see the total eclipse in south asia include of India, China and Japan. This web site http://www.shadowandsubstance.com/ explains the location and how it will happen that it very informative. I will definitely watch them on TV and web also. This one is the longest one also.

City of Cupertino’s Cinema of the Sundown series begins July 16 with a showing of Kung Fu Panda. The animated film will be shown outside on big screen at the memorial park amphitheater.

The series will continue with showing of Back to the future on July 23 and Hairspray on July 30. All films Begin at 8:30 PM and admission is free.

Memorial Park is located at the intersection of Stevens Creek Boul. and Mary Av. You may access to the park is also available from 10185 N. Stelling Rd Cupertino..

 SDA Music Summer Series -Celebrating 10 Years

July 08 - The Vintage Band (r&b, funk, pop & jazz)
July 15 - Silicon Valley House Rockers (rhythm & blues)
July 22 - Sage (70’s old school) presented by Sunnyvale
Chamber of Commerce
July 29 - Too Smooth (pop, dance, soul)
Aug. 05- MamaLuke! (classic rock)
Aug. 12- T.Y.T (rhythm & blues/funk/latin)
Aug. 19- Pacific Standard Time (70’s funk/r&b)
Aug. 26- Flashback (classic rock, surf)

I’ve gone the Wednesday Sunnyvale Summer Music Series in the past. It’s pretty fun. Small - just the one strip of Murphy Ave. in Downtown Sunnyvale. Music is cool…cover bands hitman. It all starts at 5:30 pm and the music starts @ 6 PM to 8 PM on every Wednesday evenings. A couple of food booths and a lot of the restaurants have outdoor seating. I seated at Firehouse outdoor seating before. You have pretty good view of everything. The beer average is about $4 a cup or you can bring your own chairs and eat outdoors. I usually go to a couple of them each year. See you all tonight there!

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) serves the San Francisco and South Bay area helps the users to manage energy costs when there is an unexpected change in user’s financial situation.1). California Alternate Rates for energy (CARE) program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for income qualified households. CARE phone contact: 1866-PGE-CARE or http://www.pge.com/care

2). Family Electric Rate Assitance (FERA) Program provides a monthly discount on electric bills for income qualified households of three or more persons. FERA contact 1800-PGE-5000 or http:www.pge.com/fera

or our contact to CAREandFERA@pge.com

The program guidelines:

• The PG&E must be in your name
• You must live at the address which you apply the discount
• You may not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s income tax return other than the spouse.
• You may not share an energy meter(s) with another home.
• Your household must meet the income qualification
• You must notify PG&E if you no longer qualify the discount.
• PG&E will notify you when it is time to reapply.

Drought in Santa Clara County

Nowadays I’m being more mindful of the water I use in my home, because I recently learned that we are in a drought. I no longer let the water run when brushing my teeth, and fill my vases and cups a little less these days. The Board of Santa Clara Valley Water District voted unanimously to implement a mandatory 15% in water use for its customers as the state enters spring in the midst of a drought. California is facing water shortage due to 2 successive dry years. The city of Sunnyvale has asked its residents to reduce their intake by 10% and have discussed ways to make sure that residents stay with this required rationing. There could be letters of warning sent to people who water their lawns and gardens between 8am and 5pm during the daylight savings time. Also people could get tickets for washing their cars without a shut off nozzle on the hose, and people who hose down their sidewalks instead of sweeping. This is the time where using extra water and being wasteful will not pay!

To help residents learn how to conserve water in the home, yard and inspect their homes for leaks and potential leaks, they can get a surveyor to come into their home and perform a free audit by contacting San Jose Water Co. 408-279-7900. They also will teach residents how to be more efficient with watering their gardens and yards like switching to a more efficient irrigation system and using a special hose attachment. You don’t have to be a homeowner to learn about all these water saving methods. You may learn more tips from the following link http://www.valleywater.org/Water/Water_conservation/Water_conservation_tips.shtm

Bowling is a sport everyone can enjoy! I recently went to bowl at Homestead Lanes and had a lot of fun, and actually managed to make a couple of strikes. I learned that this is just a matter of picking the right size ball, and aiming right down the middle to hit more pins.  This sport is not only for the young ones. It doesn’t matter that you are young or old, experienced or novice.            Homestead Lanes features 32 new DBA IQ lanes and this one is the only center in the silicon valley to offer Cosmic Bowling, the ultimate bowling experience! The lanes come to life when illuminated by black lights while a laser light show flashes and pulses to the beat of your favorite music videos makes it easy for everyone to have a great time.

Protecting Cupertino Union Schools

This morning Phil Quon, Superintendent  of  Cupertino Union School District, spoke at the SILVAR meeting this morning regard of the Parcel Tax Proposal .

He talked about the what is the measure B will do to the Cupertino Union School District?

The Cupertino union school district gets the lowest funding for all the school districts in Northern California. Durining the on going state budget cuts to education are theartening the local schools. The school district cannot rely on the state government alone to provide the high-quality education that we expect in our school.

Measure B is on a mail in only election ballot that will be mailed to the voters in early April. This $125 annual education parcel tax would provide stable revenue to support teachers and educational programs to continue high student achievement. Measure B will raise approximately $4 Millions a year in revenue for Cupertino Union School District. All funds would stay in the Cupertino Union School District and could not be taken away.

The Measure B will: retain qualified and experienced teachers ensure new teachers are adequately trained and supported. Keep schools safe and clean. Maintain smaller class sizes. Protect high-quality educational programs including science, math, art and music.

You may find more information from the www.greatschoolsyesonB.org

 Neal Wooley, Teacher and President of the Cupertino Education Assocation, said : Classroom teachers proudly support Measure B because it will help maintain small class sizes in our elementary and middle schools. this will allow teachers to provide the one-onone instruction that students need to succeed. Please vote YES on Measure B.”

Yesterday I attended the mixer from City of

We went to the bulk department. We tried the fresh peanut butter. It is just delicious! I don’t know that we can ask the the sales to try the foods before we buy it. There are so many free classes in the center. March 7 will has Wine tasting from 1 -4 PM. I found out if you like to learn something, everyday there is either a event or class in the Whole Foods Market. I like the Whole Foods Market!

Free Trees for Your

Are you Interested in lowering your PG&E bills? 

You may receive a FREE shade tree from the Our City Forest! 

In partnership with PG&E, the pilot program Shade and Save offers free 5-gallon trees to San Jose residents who are PG&E customers and have central or window air-conditioning  from now until April 2009. The trees need to be planted strategically placed to shade the building and reduce energy use.  A well-placed shade tree can reduce power costs up to 30%, raise property values by 10%, and even soften irritating city noise.

A limited supply of trees remain, so apply today by calling 408 99-TREES x121 or download an application at www.ourcityforest.org/pge

The above photo is one of free trees: blue oaks and the photo is credited to Blue oaks. Photo by J.E. and Bonnie McClellan, California Academy of Science.

A family is looking for the Lynbrook school area home, I found this home on our local reil.com. It is a 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on Johnson Ave small 1100 sf (approx) with 6327 sf.(approx).The asking price is $800K. It is on the market also for a while. Th Johnson Ave is a bit busier but the owner’s kids can go to the excellent Fremont Unified School District such as Dilworth Elementary, Miller Middle and Lynbrook High. In year 2005 I helped my buyer to put an offer at Johnson Ave for $825K then it sold for $830K in 2005. One year early 2004 the same kind of the small Johnson home asked for $649K then sold for $743K.

You may wonder:”Why buyers pay more than asking price?” because the family kids can go to the famous Lynbrook High School. Let us find out why Lynbrook High School area is so attractive to buyers? The Lynbrook High school has built the great reputation by different measurement:

1).The Lynbrook High school is one of the National Blue Ribbon School 2008

2). The Lynbrook High School was listed as one of 7 best public high school in South bay (Silicon Valley) to be 100 top high schools in USA by U.S. News & World Report 2007. Those are based on the percentage of students taking advanced-placement or international baccalaureate exams. The U.S. News seeks a way to measure how well those high schools educate their students. The rest bay area high schools made in the list of 100 were Mission San Jose in Fremont, Monta Vista in Cupertino, Gunn and Palo Alto High in Palo Alto, Saratoga in Saratoga and Lynbrook in San Jose.

3). Another way that family search good school us the API score. What is exactly the API scores are? According to the California Department of Education web page that the API score is Academic Performance Index (API) which measures the academic performance and growth of schools on a variety of academic measures. The Lynbrook High School’s API score is amazingly high as 920. The API system is designed to provide a view of test scores through a two-year, before and after cycle. The Base score is for the first year (before) and the Growth score is for the second year (after). The Growth score indicates whether the school improved or met its target. The results below show how much this school’s API grew between 2007 and 2008 (as reported in October 2008). Higher API numbers mean higher test scores. The goal for all schools is 800. The Lynbrook High’s API score is 920 (2008 Growth) 911 (2007 Base)

The buyers like to buy the homes with excellent schools so their children will receive the best education. On the other hands some buyers want them for the home appreciation.
Grace Keng, CRS, RE/MAX RES Silicon Valley, Northern California Real Estate Residential Specialist 408 733-8887

Rated number #2 featured Cupertino Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. California relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Grace Keng Silicon Valley homes