Cupertino, CA

Cupertino Voters Extend Support for FUHSD Cupertino Schools But Not Enough for Measure G to Pass

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

Whether you live in Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Yet when the home phone rang at 7:00 pm tonight we were surprised, as most people call us on our cell phones. A Fremont Union High School District student called to remind my husband to vote on Measure G tonight. Our daughter who attends high school in the district had also made calls like this, so we were familiar with the campaign. We'd talked to another volunteer this past weekend in fact. They weren't taking any chances, even with just an hour to go, volunteers were putting full effort forth.

Their persistence paid off. With 59 percent voting yes, Measure G cleared majority approval; however it needed 2/3 approval to pass.

Measure G was basically an extension of the existing parcel tax at the same amount of $98, which is set to expire, as well as an annual adjustment for inflation. It exempted homeowners who are seniors and/or disabled. (Full description below).

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to the voters for making their voices heard.

Cupertino Residents with Cupertino or Monta Vista Schools-Vote Today on Measure G!

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

Exercise your right to vote today! In the Fremont High School District, Measure G is on the ballot. Below is a synopsis of the proposal. Basically, it is an extension of the existing parcel tax at the same amount of $98, which is set to expire, as well as an annual adjustment for inflation. The measure exempts homeowners who are seniors and/or disabled.

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and MontaVista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Be an informed voter and make your voice heard! Polls close tonight at 8:00 pm.

Open Homes in San Jose, Cupertino & Saratoga with Lynbrook High or Monta Vista High this Weekend

Open Homes in San Jose, Cupertino & Saratoga with Lynbrook High or Monta Vista High this Weekend

Buyers, to make your search easier this weekend, here is a list of all open homes scheduled in San Jose, Cupertino and Saratoga with either Lynbrook High or Monta Vista High School. Please let me know if you want a private showing - Just Call 408.252.8900.

The Best $2 Show I've Ever Seen-Cupertino's Debut Choir Concert

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

When I was younger and low on cash and seeking inexpensive entertainment, I remember people suggested seeing high school games, musicals or performances as a reasonable option to higher-priced professional events. Current economic times are causing me and others to get back to basics and re-visit this money-saving habit. So when my daughter invited me to see Cupertino High School's Debut Choir Concert tonight, I said yes. I was even more thrilled once I heard the price!

Tonight I enjoyed a fabulous show featuring talent, poise and professionalism produced by the students at Cupertino High School-and it only cost $2! I have to compliment the students' director Andrew Aron for his good-natured but firm and no-nonsense direction-to the audience to actually shut OFF their cell phones, behave appropriately (no "shout-outs") and remove loud talkers from the auditorium.

Each of the four groups (Cantabile, Chorale, Cantos and Capella) performed a selection of classical, touching and at least one crowd-pleasing number. Cupertino High also boasts the only male choir in all of the Fremont High School District. Especially notable were Justin Li's cello and guitar features and Cody Scott's solo.

Starting in Latin ("Music Spread Thy Voice Around" by Handel), bouncing through "Lydia, The Tattoed Lady," hypnotizing with "The Seal Lullaby" and culminating with the Grand Chorus' uplifting rendition of Moses Hogan's, "I'll Make a Difference," the students demonstrated skill in technique, affection for their director and "the world's greatest accompanist" Dr. Valerie Stark, and love of music. It was a celebration of joy in music.

Next time you're looking for reasonably-priced yet real entertainment, I recommend you look at your local middle and high school sports, band and music programs. You may be pleasantly surprised. As advertised, "see your students and friends in a new light."

I am still waiting for my Google Wave invitation. I applied to Google. I waited. I sent a few nice email requests to different departments at Google. All came back "failed".

Living in Silicon Valley, whether San Jose, Saratoga, Cupertino or Palo Alto, there is a huge pressure to be on top of technology. I invest a lot of time learning new tools and technology. How can I learn it if I can't even get it? As I began feeling anxious while waiting, I blogged about my desire to obtain a Google Wave invitation on ActiveRain. While I received some messages of support, no invitations came through. Darn.

So I figured I'd at least tell anyone else interested in obtaining a Google Wave invitaion the steps.

For anyone else seeking an invitation to Google Wave, here is the link to the main request page

http://wave.google.com/help/wave/closed.html.

At the bottom of the page, you must click the link at the line below

Google Wave is currently in a limited preview. Request an invitation.

This leads you to a page where you can apply, telling them whether you'll give feedback and who you plan to communicate with as far as groups (family, classmates, co-workers, etc.)

Once complete, you can entertain yourself by watching the looong video.

Then I realized what I really wanted was to get Google Voice. Here is that link:

http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?answer=142423. Here is the link to request the service:

https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

So I'm back to waiting. In the meantime, I hope this helps someone else. Once they finally invite me, I'll update you on my learning progress. In the meantime, feel free to pass on any tips and advice.