Tag Archives: Cupertino

Field of Dreams For Young Cricketers

Cricket is a sport that hundreds and millions of people around the world play every single day. Several individuals and organizations have shaped cricket to bring it to where it is today. These organizations not only improve the cricketing conditions for current players, but they also play a paramount role in inspiring the youth.

The California Cricket Academy (CCA) has emerged as a unique organization in the Bay Area that promotes the dreams of young cricketers. CCA is also the first cricket academy and youth league for children from 6 to 17 years in the United States.

Recently the California Cricket Academy developed the first turf cricket field in the Bay Area. This is a huge milestone not only for CCA but also for cricket in America. The cricketing youth in America will now have a world-class facility to play the sport they love. 

As Leslie Mains of the Cupertino School District put it, “This is a sport that is loved by many members of our community and such facilities allow youth (and others) an opportunity to learn about the game, receive coaching on fields designated for this purpose, and provide resources to the growing number of players in our community.” 

Every CCA player is over the moon and really optimistic to play on this newly developed cricket pitch. A right-handed fast bowler and right-handed batsman named Aarav Bhat said, “This new field is the road to accomplish my dreams.” 

New cricket field in Cupertino.

The new facility also delighted the coaches, who put all their time into helping youth improve their skills and teaching them the fundamentals behind the sport. Coach Tushar Arothe of CCA proclaimed, “Our turf pitch has come up very good, never expected this sort of bounce on the pitch. If you ask me from a cricketer point of view – it’s true pitch, which means it’s good for batting and bowling.”

Additionally, a parent, Nosheen Taskeen had to say, “This pitch will carve the way for first-class cricketers in the future.” 

One specific person has worked extremely hard for the production of the new cricket field and that person is the President of CCA, Kinjal Buch. She said, “We are extremely excited as we now have a proper cricket facility to host international youth teams from all over the world. We always had world-class coaches and now this facility fills the quality infrastructure gap.”

The Luther cricket field will remain a sign of strength for cricket in the United States and will motivate other cities to spread the positivity that is present in this beautiful game.

To contact CCA, email them at calcricket_academy@yahoo.com and visit facebook.com/calcricket for watching more action videos on the new field.

Waleed Siddiqui is a CCA Player and Lynbrook High Student.

Fierce Helpers

Fierce Helpers, started by two Bay Area teens, is a Cupertino-based organization aiming to help vulnerable populations get through the COVID-19 pandemic.  A key struggle, for those susceptible to the virus, was obtaining groceries and supplies. People who are at-risk, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, are especially vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 and thus, risk their lives whenever they enter public spaces. In places like grocery stores, it is difficult to maintain social distancing due to the confined space. 

Ramana Kolady dropping off groceries for an elder.

Alex and Ramana started the organization to help alleviate the stress placed on those in at-risk groups by offering free and safe delivery of groceries and supplies. Ramana had prior experience working with seniors through his nonprofit organization, Students and Seniors United, and understood many of the seniors’ concerns. After observing threats to high-risk groups, Alex and Ramana could not simply sit back and watch.

The delivery of groceries drastically cuts down on the risk of exposure to the virus; instead of being exposed to potentially hundreds of people, the customer is only exposed to one person – the deliverer. Furthermore, the deliverer is checked to be in the low-risk bracket of contracting COVID19 and deliverer takes precautionary measures when shopping and delivering supplies.

Alex and Ramana have both observed the issues people in high-risk groups may face and wish to help keep the community close together by making everyone feel safe and secure during this unprecedented time.

Volunteers are in the low-risk category which includes those who are young, without respiratory conditions. Many of the current volunteers are college or high school students who are looking to fill up their free time by helping their community.

Do you know anyone who would like to help out or anyone in need of some help? Volunteers can easily register at Fierce Helpers and begin helping their community immediately. Requesting a delivery is just as easy; all you have to do is visit the website and fill out a simple form. Customer orders are usually fulfilled within 3 days.

Ramana Kolady is currently a Junior at Cupertino High School and is the founder of Students and Seniors United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the elderly and learning more from them, through research and community service. Ramana aspires to become a geriatric physician in the future and is extremely interested in the geriatrics field.

Alexander Wang is currently a Junior at Cupertino High School and started Fierce Helpers to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic after he noticed the struggle that those in at-risk groups faced when trying to carry out everyday tasks. 

This piece was edited by Assistant Editor, Srishti Prabha.

 

What Are Bay Area Residents Doing Behind Closed Doors?

“Toilet Paper Na Milega Dobara,” writes Sheetal Gokhale as a rehashed title to a Bollywood film. Then quickly types “Doh Toilet Paper Bahrah Hanth”. On a Saturday morning the Saratoga dentist is playing a game of adding toilet paper to names of Bollywood films. Her WhatsApp group is in giggles. Nina Daruwalla, the realtor who has been collecting shoe covers to donate to Santa Clara nurses and staff, joins in, “Gumnam Toilet Paper”.

The entries come in fast and furious: Mein Toilet Paper Tere Angan Ke; Dilwale Toilet Paper Le Jayenge; Kagaz Ke Toilet Paper; Maine Toilet Paper Se Pyaar Kiya; Hum Toilet Paper De Chuke Sanam; Jis Desh Main Toilet Paper Bhathi Hai; Pati Patni Aur Toilet Paper.

Toilet Paper Hunting, Toilet Paper Wars, the gaffes continue. It is like a valve has been released and the overstressed brain has come up for air.

Masks made by Bay Area women. Image courtesy Hema Raja.

The nurses of Santa Clara have requested for some supplies. The ladies used to receiving wishlists from teachers at the start of every school year are now pooling resources to meet this request. Tailoring of masks is starting in earnest. Patterns and sewing instructions are exchanged, sewing machines borrowed and the ladies are off to a running start. All hands on deck. It is when stress creates a yoyo of emotions and whatsapp messages roller coaster through the phones that equanimity is most desired.

Salil Jain, a Cupertino resident unrolls his mat. He has been doing yoga at home with his own private yoga teacher out of India. myYogaTeacher, a Silicon Valley based fitness startup, offers its customers private 1-on-1 yoga sessions online. “For a fixed sum I can do unlimited hours. I plan to do two hour sessions three times a week,” says Salil as he shutters himself in his office. He is signing up for a session by selecting a teacher from their profile and their introduction videos.

Rajiv brews his fourth cup of tea for the day and clicks on the website. In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, myYogaTeacher has launched live online group classes to help those practicing social distancing. To support our communities and our health these classes are completely free says the CEO Jitendra Gupta.

“For others not so motivated myYogaTeacher not only guides but more importantly will make sure that you are showing up and practicing,” says Rajiv to his wife Ritu. He decides to sign her up. She purrs and pours herself a gin and tonic and heads to the study to join a zoom book club meeting. Reading soothes her nerves.

In homes across the Bay, members of her book club are downloading zoom for the first time. They struggle with getting their audio and videos working and soon their first zoom book club meeting is off to a good start albeit minus two members who couldn’t join in despite their best efforts. As they munch on ideas and thoughts the ladies who usually lunch together discuss Amitav Ghosh’s latest book The Gun Island while sipping their gin and tonics. After all Chloroquine the malaria drug of the colonists is being bandied about as the new cure for Corona.

A Bay Area group comprising of 6 couples has decided to have dinner together via a Facebook meeting on Saturday at 7pm. Everyone will join in virtually for Gupshup and Quaratini or now Chat and Gin-chloroquine.

The Krishna Balram temple has set up a 10 minute chanting call for 6pm ending to end the day on a calm note.

Long walks are becoming part of the new routine. Like students on a silence meditation course the walkers avert their eyes as they pass each other in the park.

Brown yanks at his leash. His routine has not been disrupted by Corona. After finishing his breakfast of poached eggs and dog food he is ready for his walk. With a jaunty step he heads out of the closed door out towards McClellan Park where other dogs are walking their owners. It is business as usual for him. He passes the CEO of myYogaTeacher, a bay area resident and gives him a wag of his tail. No sniffing of the butts in the days of social distancing thinks Brown as he dutifully averts his eyes from his buddy Froddo.

Building mental immunity is as important as building immunity of the body to deal with stress.

Ritu Marwah is washing her hands hourly. She agrees with “Better Saaf than Sorry”. Her husband and dog feel she could do better on the walking and yoga fronts.

Some Libraries Offer U.S. Passport Services

Just in time for summer vacation planning, the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is adding passport services to the long list of reasons
to visit the library. Starting April 2 at the Milpitas Library and April 3 at the Cupertino Library, new passport acceptance facility offices will be open to the public during specified hours. Pre-book an appointment now at www.sccl.org/passport

“Our libraries provide high value to the community,” stated County Supervisor and library Joint Powers
Authority board member, Joe Simitian. “Bringing passport services to the Cupertino and Milpitas
libraries is just another example of how we are always focused on providing important and relevant
services to our residents.”

The new Passport Acceptance Facilities will assist patrons to obtain first-time passports for adults and
children, renewals for passports issued before the applicant was 16 years of age, renewals for expired
passports issued more than 15 years ago, replacements for lost, stolen, or damaged passports, and
provide passport photo services. An SCCLD library card is not required for the passport services,
although one is recommended to utilize all of the travel-related information available from the library.

“Customer service is a cornerstone of the Library District,” according to County Supervisor and
Chairman of the library Joint Powers Authority Board, Mike Wasserman. “There are few places that
offer a welcoming space, resources for lifelong learning, and extended open hours. Planning your travel
and applying for a passport at the library is a natural fit. I’m very happy to bring this level of customer
service to our residents.”

To book an appointment, go to www.sccl.org/passport and select a time and location. Cupertino’s
service will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-7 pm and Wednesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. Milpitas’s service will be available Mondays and Wednesdays 1-7 pm
and Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Once submitted, passport applications typically take between four to six weeks to be processed, with the
option of paying a $60 expedite fee to cut that time down by two weeks. Passports will be mailed
directly to the applicant by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
SCCLD has many free resources on travel, cultures, international food, and Rosetta Stone to learn
another language. For a sample of SCCLD’s digital and hard copy tour guides:

 

AMC Cupertino Closes Today

AMC Theatres (NYSE:AMC) and Sand Hill Property Company announced that AMC Cupertino Square 16 will close at the end of business on March 22, 2018.

“AMC continues to invest in its theatres and in delivering the best possible movie-going experience to our guests, however, after a thorough evaluation of AMC Cupertino Square 16 and the mall’s status, we determined further investment in this location was not feasible,” said Dan Ellis, Senior Vice President, Domestic Development, AMC. “We reached an agreement with Sand Hill to close this theatre, and we look forward to opening our AMC Sunnyvale Town Center theatre in 2019. In the meantime we invite our guests to join us at AMC Saratoga 14, AMC Eastridge Mall 15, and AMC Mercado 20.”

Sand Hill and AMC have also agreed for AMC to return to Vallco under a new lease with a state-of-the-art theater to anchor Sand Hill’s proposed mixed-use town center project, conditioned upon City approval of a viable redevelopment plan at Vallco by the end of 2018. In October 2017, Sand Hill submitted a letter to the City of Cupertino requesting to restart this approval process for Vallco’s redevelopment.

“We are hopeful that AMC can return to Cupertino with a state-of-the-art theatre and have executed an agreement with Sand Hill to return should plans for a new Vallco be approved this year,” continued Ellis.

“For many years, AMC has been an important part of Cupertino and a very popular community destination. Because of this, our proposals for revitalization of the mall property have always been centered on the retention and modernization of AMC in a way that would make it an even better community asset while allowing their business to remain competitive in a changing marketplace,” said Reed Moulds, Managing Director at Sand Hill Property Company. “Given the continued uncertainty in Cupertino, we understand the business decision they’ve made and recognize Sunnyvale might offer a more stable solution right now. We however worked very hard to negotiate a commitment from AMC to return to Vallco if our planning effort results in the City’s timely approval of a viable project, by year end 2018.”

The AMC movie theater had opened on April 2007 at Cupertino Square with a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Cupertino Mayor Kris Wang.  AMC Cupertino Square 16 will close at the end of business on March 22, 2018 leaving behind disappointed moviegoers. The mall’s remaining tenants — restaurants Benihana and Dynasty, an ice rink, fitness center Bay Club, and Bowlmor, a bowling alley and arcade will be impacted by the reduced footfall.

Ritu Marwah is the Features Editor at India Currents and has written on the history of Vallco mall. Read Hills of Cupertino Are Alive With the Sound of Dissension