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Wednesday, October 1, 2025 |
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Hello Neighbors,
October is a special month in Cupertino as we approach our City’s 70th anniversary of incorporation, with events continuing throughout the fall. I hope you’ll join us at highlights such as Cupertino Restaurant Week, the “My Cupertino” Art Showcase, and the Community Service Awards, where we will recognize Commissioners and this year’s CREST Award honorees.
In this issue, you’ll find updates on community programs, safety reminders, and ways to get involved, along with upcoming events like Diwali, Cybersecurity Awareness, and Active Transportation Workshop. Find recaps of recent activities, from Bike Fest to Coastal Cleanup Day, and see what’s been happening in the community!
Thank you for staying connected and engaged.
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Warm Regards,
 Tina Kapoor
Interim City Manager
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Restaurant Week
In celebration of Cupertino’s 70th anniversary, the City is proud to announce its first-ever Restaurant Week, happening October 6–12. This exciting new campaign will invite the community to support local dining spots while enjoying exclusive promotions and specials from participating restaurants. Let’s eat local, celebrate local, and enjoy everything our community has to offer. For more details and a full list of participating restaurants, visit: www.cupertino.gov/taste70.
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Whole Foods Market Reopens
Whole Foods Market reopened on Monday, September 29, following inspections from Santa Clara County Health, Santa Clara County Fire, and the City of Cupertino. As part of the reopening, City Council was invited to tour the store, which holds the distinction of being the largest Whole Foods Market in California.
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CREST Awards Winners
The City is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 CREST Awards. Each year, the City of Cupertino presents its CREST Awards, “Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken,” to honor the outstanding contributions of Cupertino community members. The 2025 CREST Awards winners are as follows:
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Lifetime Achievement: Dennis Whittaker
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Volunteer of the Year: Raymond Lancon
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Organization of the Year: Cupertino Little League
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Rising Star of the Year: Sarah Shelke
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Rising Star of the Year: Rayna Shah
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Hometown Hero: Aalok Patel
Congratulations to this year’s winners! We are proud to celebrate their dedication and positive impact on our community. The winners will be recognized at the Cupertino Community Service Awards on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. A limited number of seats will be available to the public, look for more information to come in the next week.
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Your Art. Your Cupertino.
Cupertino is turning 70! To mark the occasion, community members of all ages are invited to showcase their creativity in the “My Cupertino” Art Wall, which will be displayed at the second annual Cupertino Community Service Awards on Wednesday, October 29, at the Quinlan Community Center.
Artists are encouraged to share what Cupertino means to them whether it’s a favorite place, community tradition, local nature, or the City’s spirit of innovation and diversity.
Apply online at cupertino.gov/crest and drop off your artwork at Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014. The deadline to submit is Friday, October 3.
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Parking of Oversized Vehicles in Cupertino
The City Council approved amendments to Cupertino’s municipal code on September 16, 2025, to address issues related to oversized vehicle parking, including safety, congestion, and limited street parking.
The new rules take effect on October 17, 2025. Ahead of this date, the City will inform residents and vehicle owners about the changes, install signs, and provide parking permits for Cupertino residents who own RVs. Permits will be available soon through the City’s website.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as these changes are implemented.
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Budget Format Survey
We value your feedback! The City is exploring a transition from presenting the annual budget in a static PDF format to a more interactive and accessible format using OpenGov Stories. This platform allows residents to explore the budget through dynamic visuals, narrative explanations, and user-friendly navigation. The City would like the community’s feedback to help guide this change. Participants can enter a raffle to win a collectible Cupertino Challenge Coin!
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Business License Transition to HdL
The City of Cupertino has launched a new business license portal with HdL Companies (Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates), making it easier for local businesses to renew licenses online. The new system is designed to improve customer service, simplify renewals, and support better compliance and reporting. Partnering with HdL, an experienced provider for many California cities, also helps free up City staff to focus on other vital projects. The City will closely monitor the rollout and share updates as businesses begin using the new platform.
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Community Reminder: Coyote Sightings
Parks and Recreation recently received questions about coyote sightings in Cupertino neighborhoods. Coyotes are common not only in Cupertino but in many nearby cities as well. While they generally avoid humans, residents are reminded to practice simple safety measures, such as making eye contact, waving arms, or speaking firmly if one approaches. Avoid leaving out pet food, bird seed, or fallen fruit, and keep pets indoors or supervised.
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CERT Academy
The time is now! Sign up for Santa Clara County Fire Department’s CERT Academy this October in Cupertino to get trained in disaster preparedness skills, including basic medical operations, fire suppression, search and rescue, and more.
Classes run on Tuesdays in-person and Thursdays online October 7 to 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. with graduation on Saturday, October 25 at the Monta Vista Recreation Center.
The course fee is $35, which covers personal protective equipment. Participants must attend all sessions to earn a certificate. Learn more and register at Eventbrite.
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October Student Delegations
This October, the City will welcome student delegations from three of its Sister Cities:
- Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Toyokawa, Japan
- Bhubaneswar, India
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Women’s Health Summit 2025
Join Latinas Contra Cancer and Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga for the Women’s Health Summit 2025 on Tuesday, October 28, from 8:30 a.m. to1:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto.
This free event, held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will feature talks on women’s wellness, mental health, chronic disease prevention, and breast cancer early detection. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Register for free at bit.ly/LCCsummit25
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Wafu School of Ikebana 2025 Flower Show
Celebrate the beauty of Japanese floral art at the Wafu Ikebana 55th Anniversary Flower Show, which will be held at the Quinlan Community Center from October 18 to 19, 2025. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days.
Visitors will enjoy over 100 stunning ikebana arrangements created by Wafu School of Ikebana members. Accomplished artists will showcase different styles and floral techniques during demonstrations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. daily.
This special event is free and open to the public (a $5 donation is appreciated). It is co-sponsored by the City of Cupertino, the Fremont Union High School District, and the Wafu Ikebana Society.
Learn more at wafu-ikebana.org.
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Monthly Chat with Mayor
Join Mayor Liang Chao for the next Monthly Chat on Monday, October 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. at JP Taiwan Bistro, 10271 Torre Avenue, Cupertino. Monthly Chats are held on the second Monday of each month and provide an open, informal setting where community members can share ideas, ask questions, and connect directly with the Mayor. For more details and upcoming locations, please visit cupertino.gov/mayorchat.
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Diwali Festival
The 22nd Annual Bay Area Diwali Festival of Lights is a free public event that attracts over 13,000 people to Cupertino Memorial Park. This event showcases multicultural music, dance, a fun kids' zone, workshops, arts and crafts, and delicious food. The festival aims to bring the community together and celebrate multicultural understanding that promotes economic prosperity.
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Cupertino Cybersecurity Public Awareness Event
The City will host a cybersecurity panel on Thursday, October 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., where experts will share information and strategies to help community members stay safe online. The event features an Q&A session, and due to the importance of this topic, the presentation will be recorded and posted on the City’s website. Learn more and register at cupertino.gov/cybersecurityevent.
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Active Transportation Plan Workshop
Join the City for the Active Transportation Plan Phase 2 Virtual Community Workshop on Monday, October 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom.
During this workshop, the project team will share draft project recommendations based on Phase 1 community input and data analysis. Your feedback will help shape the prioritization of projects that improve walking, biking, and rolling throughout Cupertino.
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Na Leo Mokupuni
On Saturday, October 4, experience the rhythms, songs, and dances of the islands! Na Leo Mokupuni brings together performers to celebrate the vibrant traditions of island music and dance right here in Cupertino.
Pre-registration is recommended. Limited tickets available at the door, while supplies last.
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Cupertino Fall Bike Fest
Cupertino kicked off fall with Bike Fest on Saturday, September 27, at Civic Center Plaza. Families and cyclists of all ages enjoyed bike games, story time at the library, group rides, arts and crafts, and more. The event wrapped up with a special address from the Mayor and a raffle for scavenger hunt participants. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating biking, safety, and community fun.
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Coastal Cleanup Day at Regnart Creek
On Saturday, September 20, the Environmental Programs and Sustainability Division hosted Coastal Cleanup Day at Wilson Park. Thirty-two volunteers, including Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, helped remove 80 pounds of trash and debris from Regnart and Calabazas creeks. This annual event, sponsored by Valley Water, is part of a regional effort to keep waterways clean and healthy. The next cleanup will be National River Cleanup Day in May 2026. Details will be announced in the spring. Thank you to all who participated and made a difference!
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Royal Durga Pujo and Navratri Celebration
Cupertino welcomed its first-ever Royal Durga Pujo this past weekend at Monta Vista High School, hosted by WomenNow.tv and Empower Uplift Inc. Mayor Chao and Interim City Manager Kapoor joined community members in celebrating the vibrant traditions of Bengal, highlighting Cupertino’s commitment to inclusive and diverse cultural events.
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Congressman Ro Khanna Education Town Hall
On Sunday, September 28, Congressman Ro Khanna hosted an Education Town Hall at Cupertino High School. Community members heard updates on his work in Congress and had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion on education policy and other key issues. Thank you to everyone who joined this important conversation.
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Teen Commission Swearing-In
On Wednesday, September 10, the City proudly swore in our new Teen Commissioners and welcomed back returning members. The ceremony was officiated by Deputy City Clerk Lauren Sapudar. Congratulations to Chair Anushree Misra, Vice Chair Harly Liu, Chelsea Lau, and Brianna Su, as they returned to the Commission, alongside our newest Commissioners Jonathan Gao, Vinay Prakash, Rusheel Deshmukh, Saanvi Halambi, and Sumedha Kumar. These dedicated teens are ready to represent Cupertino youth and make a positive impact in our community. Together, they’ll work to ensure teen voices are heard and help shape a bright future for Cupertino.
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City Manager Reports Posted Online
All City Manager Reports are posted with the Council agenda and can be found online at cupertino.gov/citycouncil.
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