Councilmember Rishi Kumar's Feb 2015 Newsletter

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WWW.RISHIKUMAR.COM || WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI || [email protected]

Dear friends,

I am delighted to present to you the very first newsletter providing updates from my city council recent activities.

I just finished my first quarter as a Saratoga Councilmember. It has been a lot of work, but at the same time satisfying and fun to fulfill city council duties, meeting with city staff to prepare for meetings, bringing pragmatism and innovation at the council meetings, holding office hours, and actively seeking to address the needs and requests of Saratogans. I am also representing our city on the Santa Clara Water District Commission, Santa Clara County Expressway Plan Advisory, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and the Saratoga Ministerial Association.

I would love to see you join our meetings - always on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, starting at 7pm. To be subscribed to city council agenda notification: Click here http://www.saratoga.ca.us/contact/email_subscriptions.asp. City council agendas are always posted the prior week: Posted here http://www.saratoga.ca.us/council/agendas_minutes/agenda.asp Being on the city council is an opportunity to make a difference - and I very much intend to do so! Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can help, or if you would like to just share/bounce some ideas about Saratoga.

Sincerely, Rishi Kumar [email protected] PHONE 408 805 5993 Office hours: 1st Saturday every month, Bell Tower Bistro (10AM to 11AM) Keep up with the latest, subscribe to Councilmember Rishi Kumar’s newsletter http://groups.google.com/group/GreatSaratoga

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Erik’s deli

Erik's Deli Cafe, the California-based restaurant franchise, opened its 34th restaurant in November with the ribbon cutting ceremony on January 22nd in Saratoga's Quito Village Shopping Center. The café offers fresh sandwiches, Panini sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups made-from-scratch and gluten-free options: a new addition to healthy, quick-service local dining.

The Saratoga City Council held its annual retreat on Jan. 23 at the Saratoga’s Foothill club. During the event, members of the council and city staff discussed goals and priorities for 2015, notably the city's finances and capital improvement projects, among other topics.

C i t y h a p p e n i n g s

Annual city council retreat

New captain in town

Rick Sung, who was assistant division commander, was promoted to the position of division commander of the Sheriff's Office Headquarters Patrol Division, which encompasses areas including the foothills from Milpitas to Morgan Hill.

Hakone foundation master plan

On Feb. 10, citizens joined a community workshop on the drafting of a master plan for Hakone Gardens. The plan will serve as a guide for restoring and enhancing the buildings and structures throughout the Japanese gardens and in the surrounding natural park area of the 18-acre land parcel.

Bike safety workshop

The Certified League of American Cyclists instructors and Saratoga Cares Foundation hosted a Bicycle Safety Workshop for parents and their children to ensure safe bicycling. The topics covered were a bicyclist’s role in traffic, principles of traffic law, and avoiding crashes.

Beth david congregation

Village burger bar

Saratoga's "Village Burger Bar" just opened February 6th in downtown Saratoga - in the old Wildwood Market location. The restaurant offers high quality, fresh burger menus in an elegant, comfortable atmosphere with delicious food, relaxing music, and local sports on TV, all in one place.

The Next 50 Project took place at Congregation Beth David on January 25th. The goal of this enterprise is to plan renewed buildings and add more space to the congregation in order to ensure the growth and development of its mission.


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New Ballet School Saratoga’s wildlife facility

Yoga, meditation, Bollywood classes

Stressed? Tired? Overworked? Saratoga Community Center offers weekly yoga, meditation, and Bollywood fitness: a gateway to spiritual growth while keeping in shape. The classes are scheduled on Sundays between 4 and 7 pm. free to all residents.

Hindu New Year celebration

Saratoga's third annual Hindu New Year event will take place March 7 at the Saratoga Community Center. Organized by the Saratoga Hindu Temple, some of the features of this year's event include a talent competition, booths, prizes, dinner, a DJ and dancing. Tickets are selling at saratogatemple.org.

A n n o u n c e m e n t s

Youth commission opening

Challenge poster contest

Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison has teamed up with animal welfare advocates to create a wildlife refuge, rehabilitation and education center on an abandoned quarry in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ellison’s latest venture, with the Peninsula Humane Society aims to protect some of nature's humbler creatures such as bugs, snakes, and salamanders.

Tutu School of Saratoga is now open! The school offers ballet instruction for children 18 months to 8 years of age with class sizes not exceeding ten children at any one time. The ballet school will be open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m at 14510 Big Basin Way, near Florentine’s restaurant.

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If your kids are interested in serving as intermediaries between Saratoga’s Youth and the City Council, they are encouraged to apply to the Saratoga Youth Council. They will plan, promote and participate in community


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The California Arts Council invites California students to participate in the Conservation Creativity Challenge Poster Contest. Students have the opportunity to come up with unique ways to reduce water use

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and illustrate their best idea with an original poster design while helping to raise awareness of the serious matter of California’s drought. Complete contest details and student forms are available at www.arts.ca.gov/conservation. Entries must be submitted by March 31, 2015.

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Saratoga commission opportunities

S a r a t o g a l u m i n a r i e s

Grace chung

Gurdeep kaur chawla

Axlen lighting

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Saratoga’s Grace Chung, 13, captured the grand prize of the

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Headquartered in Saratoga, Axlen Inc, a developer and manufacturer of industry-leading LED lighting and control solutions, introduced high-power, "Supa-Lumen" versions of its highly successful e-Solis™ edge lit LED panel for high-bay

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On February 18th, Saratoga resident Gurdeep Kaur Chawla received a commendation from the Saratoga City Council. Gurdeep was the

There are many opportunities for Saratoga's citizens to be appointed to Saratoga’s commissions. Here is a link - which will be updated soon with 2015 vacancies. Youth commission application deadline is coming up on May 13, 2015.

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In this role, youth interns from high school, will be volunteering for the city of Saratoga, and working towards the fulfillment of my city council tasks. Please register with Monica LaBossier, our HR Manager, through our city volunteer program. http://www.saratoga.ca.us/cityhall/volunteer.asp Find the volunteer Interest form on this

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service and activities for the City's youth. Applications are available now for 6 vacancies; the paperwork is due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

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page. Print and fill it up with your information, and drop it off at the city office for Ms. LaBossier. In the section WHAT TYPES OF THINGS YOU ARE GOOD AT? Please fill in "Interested in volunteering for Councilmember Rishi Kumar.”


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applications. The panel is a major breakthrough in both contemporary design and energy efficiency.

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interpreter and translator for the January 26, 2015 meeting between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India.

Internship with councilmember Kumar’s office


20 most expensive zip codes

Best schools in California

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The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District (LGSUHSD) was ranked fourth among the best public school districts in California. A high ranking indicates that the district contains great schools with

Saratoga contains the eighth most expensive zip code in Silicon Valley. The city was ranked as having the third most expensive real estate market in the US with an average price of $1,867,980.

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exceptional teachers, sufficient resources, and a diverse set of high-achieving students who rate their experiences very highly.

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2014 International National Geographic photography contest, beating more than 16,000 other entrants from 11

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countries. She has won a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., and a tour of National Geographic headquarters. Her amazing photo of a gecko will be

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published in the May issue of National Geographic Kids magazine.

Government & Nonprofit

Councilmember Rishi Kumar's Feb 2015 Newsletter