Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
Cover Story
(Photograph by Douglas Rider)
Fremont High School Band Color Guard leads a mini parade on May 25 from Sunnyvale City Hall to Washington Park. The parade kicked off a picnic and music in the park and the State of the City address. Get Together Sunnyvale officials, residents come by the hundreds to enjoy the parade, State of the City address. (By Jana Seshadri) With all the fixings for a patriotic celebration - a parade, pie and red, white and blue balloons - Sunnyvale's State of the City event on May 25 had everything necessary for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. "The state of Sunnyvale is pretty darn good," Mayor Fred Fowler said at the end of his State of the City address to a crowd of more than 500 people at Washington Park. "Our revenues are down a bit, but we're doing OK." Fowler led the audience in singing the national anthem and other patriotic songs. Speaking about both national and local memorials - especially Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Fowler explained the deep impact that words - both those spoken and written in stone - have had on him. "I've been privileged to hear words that have changed my life," Fowler said during his speech. "Ever since I became an elected official, the meaning of memorials has changed for me." Home to people from almost every nation in the world, Sunnyvale is a true microcosm of the country, Fowler said. "This is a day to remember who we are and where we come from," he said. Residents gathered at the park to participate in the day's festivities, which began with a parade that originated at city hall, went down Pastoria Avenue and circled Washington Park. Heading the parade was the color guard and marching band from Fremont Union High School, followed by seven convertible cars with their tops down. Fowler and the remaining six council members rode, one in each car, throughout the length of the parade, waving to and greeting people along the way. Members of Sunnyvale's diverse population were recognized and honored with special community awards during the presentation. A committee of mayor-appointed community members selected the winners in each category, except for the Award of Excellence, which is selected and awarded solely by the mayor. Fowler presented the excellence award to Elena Anderson, a resident of Lakewood Village, who Fowler said has worked unselfishly for years, behind the scenes, at every community event. Councilman John Howe and Public Safety Director Irwin Baker presented the Public Safety Award of Valor to seven-year-old Justin Rajah for calling 911 when his father, Terence, met with an accident on April 4. Jessica Guerrero of Mountain View received the Public Safety Award of Merit for helping an elderly Sunnyvale resident. Councilman Tim Risch presented the Outstanding Business Person of the Year Award to Bruce Paynter of Applied Materials, who has been involved in 145 community events in the last two years. While accepting his award, Paynter paid tribute to all the women in his life who have made an impact on him and women in Sunnyvale public life who are role models for his daughter. Council members Manuel Valerio and Pat Vorreiter presented two teenagers with awards naming them outstanding high school seniors of the year for their leadership, academic achievement and contributions to the community. Besides maintaining a 4.0 GPA, recipient Michael Parenteau of Fremont Union High School has excelled in sports and has been involved in several community service projects, including one that involved building houses in Mexico. Tiffany Tang from Wilcox High School received the award for balancing her school, church and community service projects while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Councilman Jack Walker presented the community volunteer award to the four members of the Sew What Club for their outstanding community service. Vice Mayor Julia Miller presented the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award to Laura Babcock, a Sunnyvale planning commissioner. Miller said that Babcock worked tirelessly on the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit (OHPIE) and the recently approved historical museum. Jack Thatcher and Quin McCort were honored for their work on the Digital ClubHouse Network project, which chronicled the history of U.S. veterans and established it in the Library of Congress to educate and inspire people. Mayor Fowler presented them with a mayoral proclamation. The 58-member choir from Cupertino Middle School, which is located in Sunnyvale, performed before and after the speeches. "We were honored to be there," said Laurel Verissimo, who is in her ninth year of directing the choir. Verissimo said that she chose patriotic selections like "America the Beautiful" and songs from the Civil War series to keep in tune with the theme of the day. The mild, sunny morning had families, equipped with picnic baskets, spread out on blankets on the green or under the shady trees, while children and pets scampered about. Around the park the city had several booths with information on services available for residents. Fowler praised Sunnyvale residents for their efforts to improve the quality of life in the city. "The people of Sunnyvale can do anything that they set their minds to," Fowler said. "It's our job to build the city, keep it safe and give it to our next generation." With all the fixings for a patriotic celebration - a parade, pie, red, white and blue balloons - Sunnyvale's State of the City event on May 25 had everything necessary for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. "The state of Sunnyvale is pretty darn good," Mayor Fred Fowler said at the end of his State of the City address to a crowd of more than 500 people at Washington Park. "Our revenues are down a bit, but we're doing okay." Fowler led the audience in singing the national anthem and other patriotic songs. Speaking about both national and local memorials - especially Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Fowler explained the deep impact that words - both those spoken and written in stone - have had on him. "I've been privileged to hear words that have changed my life," Fowler said during his speech. "Ever since I became an elected official, the meaning of memorials has changed for me." Home to people from almost every nation in the world, Sunnyvale is a true microcosm of the country, Fowler said. "This is a day to remember who we are and where we come from," he said. Residents gathered at the park to participate in the day's festivities, which began with a parade that originated at city hall, went down Pastoria Avenue and circled Washington Park. Heading the parade was the color guard and marching band from Fremont Union High School, followed by seven convertible cars with their tops down. Fowler and the remaining six council members rode, one in each car, throughout the length of the parade, waving to and greeting people along the way. 
Day in the Sun
(Photograph by Douglas Rider) Sunnyvale Mayor Fred Fowler leads the audience in singing 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' to end his State of the City address on May 25 at Washington Park. Before the address, council members presented citizens with awards recognizing their community service. Members of Sunnyvale's diverse population were recognized and honored with special community awards during the presentation. A committee of mayor-appointed community members selected the winners in each category, except for the Award of Excellence, which is selected and awarded solely by the mayor. Fowler presented the excellence award to Elena Anderson, a resident of Lakewood Village, who Fowler said has worked unselfishly for years, behind the scenes, at every community event. Councilman John Howe and Public Safety Director Irwin Baker presented the Public Safety Award of Valor to seven-year-old Justin Rajah for calling 911 when his father, Terence, met with an accident on April 4. Jessica Guerrero of Mountain View received the Public Safety Award of Merit for helping an elderly Sunnyvale resident. Councilman Tim Risch presented the Outstanding Business Person of the Year Award to Bruce Paynter of Applied Materials, who has been involved in 145 community events in the last two years. While accepting his award, Paynter paid tribute to all the women in his life who have made an impact on him and women in Sunnyvale public life who are role models for his daughter. Council members Manuel Valerio and Pat Vorreiter presented two teenagers with awards naming them outstanding high school seniors of the year for their leadership, academic achievement and contributions to the community. Besides maintaining a 4.0 GPA, recipient Michael Parenteau of Fremont Union High School has excelled in sports and has been involved in several community service projects, including one that involved building houses in Mexico. Tiffany Tang from Wilcox High School received the award for balancing her school, church and community service projects while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Councilman Jack Walker presented the community volunteer award to the four members of the Sew What Club for their outstanding community service. Vice Mayor Julia Miller presented the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award to Laura Babcock, a Sunnyvale planning commissioner. Miller said that Babcock worked tirelessly on the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit (OHPIE) and the recently approved historical museum. Jack Thatcher and Quin McCort were honored for their work on the Digital ClubHouse Network project, which chronicled the history of U.S. veterans and established it in the Library of Congress to educate and inspire people. Mayor Fowler presented them with a mayoral proclamation. The 58-member choir from Cupertino Middle School, which is located in Sunnyvale, performed before and after the speeches. "We were honored to be there," said Laurel Verissimo, who is in her ninth year of directing the choir. Verissimo said that she chose patriotic selections like "America the Beautiful" and songs from the Civil War series to keep in tune with the theme of the day. The mild, sunny morning had families, equipped with picnic baskets, spread out on blankets on the green or under the shady trees, while children and pets scampered about. Around the park the city had several booths with information on services available for residents. Fowler praised Sunnyvale residents for their efforts to improve the quality of life in the city. "The people of Sunnyvale can do anything that they set their minds to," Fowler said. "It's our job to build the city, keep it safe and give it to our next generation." |
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