by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Nisei Ski Club Potluck!

Save the Date!

Invite your Friends!

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Starts at 12 Noon

Ends when the Fun Ends!

Miraido Village in 550 N 6th Street,

San Jose, Japantown

Bring a Main Dish or Appetizer

We will take care of the salads, desserts & drinks

Let’s Play Mahjong, Card, Games and Let’s Talk Story!

IMPORTANT!

To let us know that you are coming! ~ Jeanne Katsuro

Please let me know what type of Main Dish or Appetizer you are Bringing!

Email: Subject Line “Potluck”

ClassicRock570@aol.com

by Tina Woo, , Board Member

BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks,

I don’t care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for GIANTS (OR DODGERS),

If they don’t win, it’s a shame.

For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,  at the old ball game.

Come see the 2024 World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the San Francisco Giants. See the players: DH Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, to name a few, including Most Valuable Series player, Freddie Freeman. They beat the New Work Yankees 4 to 1 in an exciting final win!!

Would you be interested in joining fellow Nisei Ski Club members in the classic battle between the SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers.  If so, please complete this survey.  How many tickets can we order for you:  Sunday, July 13, 2025  at SF Oracle Park.  Game time:  12:45 pm.

Name & Contact Info_________________________________

____ # of tickets you need? 

Please email Tina Woo for if you are interested at baseball@niseiskiclub.org

She would like to start the process of ordering tickets for the game.  View Reserved Section 313 beginning with Row 12.  Go Giants!  Go Dodgers! 

2024 FWSA African Adventure Tanzania and Zanzibar

Sandy did not run into Mufasa but she did have an encounter with the wild beasts of Tanzania and Zanzibar. Check it out….

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

In Japan, it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki.  While eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year, and is commonly sold and eaten during that time.

Here is a microwave mochi that was taken from the Nisei Ski Club Recipe Book.

Enjoy!

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups mochiko
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• katakuriko (potato starch)
• Pam spray

Directions

Mix mochiko, sugar, and water together in a bowl. The  mixture will be thin. Pour the mixture into a microwave-proof container that has been sprayed inside with Pam.

Microwave at low power for 3 minutes, then microwave at medium power for 3 minutes, and finally microwaved at high power for 3 minutes.

Allow to cool for a few minutes (but don’t let it get cold or it will be hard to work with).

Spread some katakuriko on a cutting board and place the (still warm) “mochi blob” [my son’s term] on the board.

Shape the “blob” into a long sausage shape and cut pieces off. Roll the pieces in a little mochiko or katakuriko so they won’t stick to each other. Cool and eat.

*Also good rolled in kinako (soy bean powder). If you  do this, allow the mochi pieces to cool before rolling in the kinako (or kinako may absorb moisture and get gummy).

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Happy New Year to you and your family in 2025.

I caught this episode on CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Paulie on 12/29. Do you recognize the interior?

https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/gIZ8ed0UnknCmp_ngIih3TTpHlvoD_jI

I hate to be they guy on the right.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

The 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year animal is the Snake. Discover the meaning behind the Year of the Snake below.

As 2024 comes to an end, it is time for new goals, resolutions, and aspirations. New Year’s is a holiday many enjoy celebrating with loved ones, often performing superstitions to set a positive tone for the year ahead. However, the deeper, meaningful side of welcoming a new year—like 2025—is sometimes overlooked.

While most of the world celebrates the new year on January 1, others mark the occasion later. For instance, the Chinese New Year won’t take place until January 29, 2025. The event is actually a 15-day festival during which participants engage in various cultural traditions to celebrate the start of a brand-new year. A unique aspect of the Chinese New Year is that each year is represented by a zodiac animal, which can offer insight into what the year might bring.

What Is the Animal for the 2025 Chinese New Year?

In 2025, the Chinese New Year zodiac animal will be the Snake.

What Is the Meaning Behind the Snake?

The Snake represents those born in the years 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, and 2037. According to the Chinese New Year website, people born under the Snake zodiac are described as “cautious, introverted observers, cool and mysterious in behavior due to their suspicious and insecure nature. However, their armor conceals abundant sensitivity, wisdom, and passion that will surely surprise their few confidants.”

What Does the Chinese New Year Animal Represent for 2025?

According to the Chinese New Year website, While 2025 is a challenging year for Snakes due to their Ben Ming Nian, lucky stars offer strong opportunities for career and financial growth. Stay focused, take necessary precautions, and balance challenges with joyful events to make the most of the year.”

According to the website, here are some lucky tips for Snakes in 2025 to help avoid any unlucky moments:

• Lucky numbers: 1 and 8
• Lucky colors: Red and Black
• Lucky flowers: Camellia and Orchid
• Lucky directions: West and South

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

The recent rainstorms came just in time to provide enough snowfall to enable most of the resorts in Tahoe to open before Thanksgiving! Of course not all lifts or runs or open, but there still is skiing to be done. It’s been a number of years since I’ve skied in December, but I’m planning on it this time around.

Membership Report

Let’s welcome back returning member Angela Ren for the month of November and our total is now 82 members. Angela is a former member as Membership Chairman 2002-2003.

2024-2025 Far West Skier’s Guide

The annual Far West Skier’s Guide is now available for your viewing pleasure on the website at https://www.niseiskiclub.org/events/. This is their 37^th Annual Edition and the largest at 116 pages. It is jam-packed with information about Far West Ski Association programs, snow sports industry news, and feature articles from award-winning authors.  Also included is the Councils and Clubs section, a great reference for readers looking for a club to join. (NSC is mentioned on several pages, can you find them?).

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is full with 22 people, and two FWSA friends that made their own arrangements and will be joining us on the slopes. Final arrangements are being coordinated with Sports America and now is the time for everyone to get a few days in at Tahoe before we leave for Sun Peaks. The photo was taken on 6 November and is the new West Bowl Express chair.

Christmas Greetings

This has been another good year for NSC with the many events during the year- a first-ever non-ski event to Eastern Canada, the annual Luau/Membership Meeting picnic, and Mahjong and Pickleball events. On behalf of the NSC Board I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: Truth does not mind questions, a Lie does not like being challenged.

by Tina Woo, NSC Member

Pickleball appears to be a very popular event for Nisei Ski Club. 

We had 18 sign-ups for the event but 2 dropped out due to illness and injury.  Nonetheless, 16 individuals signed up for the beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate/advanced group lessons with pickleball pros Danny Fong and Cindy Leonard.  Both coaches provided one-hour lessons and tips for the groups, followed by social play.  Instruction included pickleball basics, dinking, serving, game scoring, punching and strategy.  

We had 4 novice players including Sandy Jones, Angie Ren, Denise Shoda, and Brad Lum.  Advanced Beginners included Judy Hom, Helen Lok Lee, Lydia Santo and Lynda Won. Intermediate players included Emiko Cheek, Norman Chin, Winston Fong, Jeanne Katsuro, Sally Shimada-Lee, Tom Shoda, Mark Tsukuda, and Wendy Low Yee. Everyone seemed excited to play and look forward to informal get-togethers and a future Club event.  Some players proceeded to nearby Falafel Stop for lunch and lively discussions about the club and ideas for future social events.

Here’s an email from Sally Shimada-Lee

“Hi Tina, 

Thanks for organizing and inviting us to this annual fun event.  The facility, coaches, time of year were great. As you know, I think Cindy Lenard is a wonderful instructor and motivator. Lunch after was fun too getting to know more about the NSC and it’s direction. “

Smiles, 

Sally

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

The Far West Ski Foundation is conducting its Annual Winter See’s Yum-Raising to benefit its missions, with programs that include: U.S. Ski Team Junior Racing Scholarships; adaptive & rehabilitative snowsports programs; sustaining snowsports through supporting industry initiatives in climate control, youth/family development and diversity, plus support of underdeveloped athletic programs; and preserving its legacy through snowsports research projects, museums & libraries.

What could be sweeter than chocolate for a good cause?  Buy delicious See’s Candies to show your support for the Far West Ski Foundation.  The deadline to make a purchase is: December 6, 2024.

The overarching objective of the Far West Ski Foundation is to sustain snowsports to ensure that the inspirational experiences of snowsports will remain for future generations.  FWSF missions are:

The overarching objective of the Far West Ski Foundation is to sustain snowsports to ensure that the inspirational experiences of snowsports will remain for future generations.  FWSF missions are:

• Building for the Future – with its Athletic Scholarship Program for junior racers.
• Rehabilitation and Renewal – with its support of adaptive and rehabilitative snowsports programs.
• Sustaining Snowsports – supporting snowsports industry initiatives, such as, climate control, youth and family development, and diversity.
• Preserving the Legacy – with research, preservation, education and publication of snowsports history.

Visit our shop to pick and choose your favorites and buy and ship your candy online.  It’s that easy!  Ship to your family and friends!  Our storefront is located at the following link:

https://www.yumraising.com/secure/farwsf_far_west_ski_foundation51/JanWyc5944

The Nuts and Chews See’s packaged box is one of my favorites. If you feel like sending me box, I would not turn it away. Karen

Happy shopping and thank you for your support!

FWSF is an autonomous public benefit corporation, in compliance with law and regulations Under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code (https://farwestskifoundation.org).  For additional information please contact Jane Wyckoff, FWSF Vice President, 949-933-9607, fwsajane@gmail.com

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Nisei Ski Club Potluck

Save the Date!

Invite your Friends!

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Starts at 12 Noon

Ends when the Fun Ends!

Miraido Village in San Jose Japantown 550 N 6th Street

Bring a Main Dish or Appetizer

We will take care of the salads, desserts & drinks

Let’s Play Mahjong, Card, Games and Let’s Talk Story!

Email: Subject Line “Potluck” ClassicRock570@aol.com

To let us know that you are coming! ~ Jeanne Katsuro

by Tina Woo, , Board Member

BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks,

I don’t care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for GIANTS (OR DODGERS),

If they don’t win, it’s a shame.

For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,  at the old ball game.

Come see the 2024 World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the San Francisco Giants. See the players: DH Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, to name a few, including Most Valuable Series player, Freddie Freeman. They beat the New Work Yankees 4 to 1 in an exciting final win!!

Would you be interested in joining fellow Nisei Ski Club members in the classic battle between the SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers.  If so, please complete this survey.  How many tickets can we order for you:  Sunday, July 13, 2025  at SF Oracle Park.  Game time:  12:45 pm.

Name & Contact Info_________________________________

____ # of tickets you need? 

Please email Tina Woo for if you are interested at baseball@niseiskiclub.org

She would like to start the process of ordering tickets for the game.  View Reserved Section 313 beginning with Row 12.  Go Giants!  Go Dodgers! 

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

These are one of my favorite cookies to make. The cookie is believed to have been created by Glaser’s Bake Shop, which was opened in 1902 by Bavarian immigrants in Manhattan. Many others believe the cookie began as “half-moon” cookies that were served at Hemstrought’s Bakery in Utica, New York. While it’s hard to tell where these cookies’ roots lie, each story shares one common element: they come from German food traditions.

Jerry Seinfeld made the Black and White cookie famous in one of his episodes.”Look to the cookie, Elaine. Look to the cookie”

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Ingredients

Yield 12 to 14 Cookies

For the Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup sour cream or whole-milk yogurt
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
• 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature

For the Glaze

• 2 1/2 cups confectioner sugar
• Boiling water, as needed
• 11/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of fine sea salt
• 2 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange racks in top and bottom thirds, and line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sea salt and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream, milk, vanilla, lemon zest and almond extract.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.

4. Reduce speed to low and beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/3 of the sour cream mixture. Repeat until both mixtures are incorporated, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. (Mixture will be the consistency of thick poundcake batter.

5. Dollop heaping 1/4-cup scoops Of batter onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. (You should have 12 to 14 cookies.) Bake for 6 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets. Continue to bake until the cookies have firmed up and spring back when lightly pressed in the center, 6 to 9 minutes. (They’ll brown only on the bottoms.) Take care not to overbake, or they will dry out.

6. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks and let cool for 15 minutes, then transfer cookies directly to racks to cool completely.

7. While the cookies cool, make the glaze: Place the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl and whisk in 3 tablespoons boiling water, the corn syrup, vanilla and salt. Continue to whisk, adding more boiling water as needed, until you have a thick yet spreadable frosting that is the texture of hot fudge sauce. (Too thick is preferable to too thin.) Flip each cookie over and spoon glaze over half of its flat side, spreading to edges with the back of the spoon. Place on wire rack to set. You will have vanilla frosting left over.

8. Whisk melted chocolate into vanilla frosting, then whisk in cocoa and enough room temperature water to make a thick yet spreadable glaze. Glaze the bare half of each cookie. Let glaze set for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Wishing you health, peace and happiness to you and your family.,, And the rest of the World.

See you in 2025 , Nisei Ski Club Officers and Board Members.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Someone is hogging up too much space on the subways….

Where is Harley Quinn when you need her?

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

It’s November and let the rain begin! There are a number of resorts planning on opening for some Thanksgiving skiing, but right now it’s going to be a wait-and-see what Mother Nature decides. Before the ski season starts there are still a number of non-ski events coming up:

• 9 November, Saturday – Pickle ball Event with Tina Woo/Jeanne Katsuro
• All of November – Sports Basement SnowFest

Membership Report

There were no new/returning members for the month of October and our total remains at 81 members.

Sports Basement SnowFest

The annual Sports Basement SnowFest, presented by Palisades Tahoe, will be offering a variety of discounts, awesome giveaways, and more at all of their stores. The SnowFest starts 2 November and goes through 24 November. Go here, https://shop.sportsbasement.com/pages/snowfest, to sign up for tickets at a store near you. I’m also working on getting a club discount so stay tuned.

Where To Ski Over Thanksgiving

The big event in November is Thanksgiving and that brings up plans for heading to the slopes for some Thanksgiving weekend skiing. But, the big question is – will there be enough snow?  OK, he’s not exactly a turkey, but a skiing ostrich is awesome!

• November 8 – Mt. Rose
• November 15 – Mammoth
• November 15 – Boreal
• November 16 – Sun Peaks, BC
• November 22 – Heavenly Valley (California side)
• November 22 – Northstar
• November 22 – Sugarbowl
• November 27 – Palisades/Alpine
• November 29 – Big Bear
• November 29 – Sierra-at-Tahoe
• December 6 – Kirkwood
• December 7 – Bear Valley
• December 12 – Diamond Peak

Ski Pros Avalanche Sale

The San Francisco and San Jose Avalanche sales have come and gone, but the remaining sale in Sacramento is coming up.

Sacramento — Nov 22-24 — https://theavalanchesale.com/event/sacramento/

Uncrowded Ski Resorts

Thanks to eagle eye Dan Lew for identifying the location for this lift at Vail, and it was right after the Covid Pandemic ended and ski resorts started opening up again.

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is full with 22 people occupying six condos. There are two condos still available, but it will require a group of four for each condo. If you’re interested then you need to contact me at your earliest convenience. The photo was taken on Sunday, November 3rd and Sun Peaks is scheduled to open on 16 November. Sports America has posted the Epic/Ikon links for the 2024-2025 season and is offering a 6.5% trip rebate (based on pass price) if you purchase the passes from Sports America and go on the Sun Peaks trip:

Use this for Epic passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei

Use this for Ikon passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei

Password: snow

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: When anger rises, think of the consequences. – Confucius

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

The Eastern Canada Trip, also called “The Potato Chip Trip” was Nisei Ski Club’s first annual vacation that didn’t involve skiing. The trip was fabulous!

Here are some of the highlights!

Toronto – The Spectacular Magestic Niagara Falls

We could feel power of the falls as our boat traveled right next to it. We experienced the wind and the water spraying against our faces. It was one of the most tremendous feelings that we have ever experienced.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming town filled with Canadian retail stores. We found the Budapest Bakeshop that made their own Chimney cakes, known as Kürtőskalács in Hungarian.  pIX. Sandwiches were made out of the Chimney cakes filled with incredibly fresh meats, cheeses and lettuce. Truly, it was one of the best sandwiches we ever had. We also found a shop that specialized in many types of maple syrups. Colors of maple syrups ranges from yellow, yellowish orange to a caramel brown to a deep rich brown maple syrup.

Ottawa – Thousand Islands National Park

We traveled up the St Lawrence River and saw many tiny islands after tiny Islands. Each island has a single tiny house to large castle like resorts. The Thousand Islands National Park has over 1800 islands.  As we sailed pass island after island, some islands were located on the Canadian side and some were located in the  United States side.

Ottawa – Thousand Islands National Park

We traveled up the St Lawrence River and saw many tiny islands after tiny Islands. Each island has a single tiny house to large castle like resorts. The Thousand Islands National Park has over 1800 islands.  As we sailed pass island after island, some islands were located on the Canadian side and some were located in the  United States side.

City of Ottawa – We experienced a blend of Canadian and French culture, Parliament Buildings and the Rideau Canal and the City National Art Gallery – Gothic Quebec – Heart of Canada’s French Heritage – Many people spoke French and English and some people only speak French. They had French TV programs in the hotel.  We took a coach tour of the Old Town and saw picturesque 17th century building, the famous Chateau Frontenac.

Sugar Shack was located in the Quebec Country Side – This is my favorite part of the trip.  They demonstrated Maple Syrup Making. We had the traditional Maple Syrup Breakfast Crepe, Eggs and Sausage. We also tried Maple Syrup Ice – Delicious. We purchased many traditional Canadian delicacies, such as Ice Wine, Ice Wine Tea, Maple Green Tea, Maple Hard Candies, Maple Sugar, Maple Butter, etc It was Maple Heaven.

Montmorency Falls is a 272-foot wonder. This fall is actually taller than Niagara Falls.  It was magnificent will all the fall colors reflecting on the water.

Montreal is filled with cathedrals, rushing waterways and lush gardens. We did the city tour of Jacques Cartier Square, Mount Royal and Notre Dame Basilica.

Collette, our travel group arranged 12 meals for the week. Nisei Ski Club Distributed Pineapple Cha Shu Bao and snacks for breakfast at the San Francisco Airport. The Pineapple Cha Shu Bao was hit with our members. Everyone talked about how good it was and asked where it was purchased.  It was purchased at Tai Pan 477 Saratoga Ave in Lion’s Plaza.

We had 3 dinner banquets during the week. In Montreal, during Canada’s Thanksgiving, we went to Occo Kitchen and Universal De’jeuners,

In Quebec, we went to Cabu. The kitchen was run by Canada’s first award winning female Chef Marie-Chantal Lepage.

Janet Gee celebrated her birthday there with a fabulous “Blue Chocolate Flower Cake”.  When milk chocolate was poured over the flower, it opened to reveal another beautiful red flower made of white mousse with red raspberry sprinkles.

Everyone loves a Goodie Bag.  A goodie bag distributed to all the members from the Maple Sugar Shack. It was filled with a Sugar Shack gift bag, Maple Syrup in a Maple leaf bottle, Maple Butter, Maple Sugar, Maple hard candy, Ice Wine Tea and Maple Green Tea and a Canadian Magnet.

How did our trip become the Potato Chip Trip?

Sarah Lowe found this unusual bag of chips from the Dollar Store called the “All-Dressed Potato Chip”. The other people in our group started to buy them too. In addition to the, All Dressed Potato Chip, we found other flavors from different cities:  Ketchup Potato Chips, Dill Pickle Potato Chips, Curry Potato Chips and Beef Potato Chips. Everything was hand carried back in their Maple Sugar Shack Gift Bag!

The trip was fun and exciting. Everyone had a great time. We spent a week together and created fun memories, new friendships and rekindled old ones.

We hope you can come to Nisei Ski Club’s trip to FRANCE! (A Vacation, non-skiing trip) October 23 – November 3, 2025.

Email me if you are interested.  Jeanne classicrock570@aol.com

by Tina Woo, NSC Member

What and Why Pickleball?

Over the last few years, pickleball has been rising in popularity.  Pickleball is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.  But, what is pickleball exactly and why is it so popular?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines tennis, badminton and ping-pong using a paddle and a plastic ball with holes (called a wiffle ball).  It’s a game for players of all ages and skill levels.  It’s a great introductory sport.  It can also be challenging, fast-paced and competitive.

Why is Pickleball so popular? 

•  It’s ideal for all skill levels
• Pickleball is a social activity
• Pickleball is healthy
• Short learning curve, appeal to all ages and fitness levels, low costs

Want to learn more about pickleball?  Come and join us for a Nisei Ski Club pickleball event on Saturday, November  9 from 9-11 am at the Sunnyvale Tennis Center. For those who can’t make it, please plan to join us for lunch.

by Tina Woo, , Board Member

BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks,

I don’t care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for GIANTS (OR DODGERS),

If they don’t win, it’s a shame.

For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,  at the old ball game.

Come see the 2024 World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the San Francisco Giants. See the players: DH Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, to name a few, including Most Valuable Series player, Freddie Freeman. They beat the New Work Yankees 4 to 1 in an exciting final win!!

Would you be interested in joining fellow Nisei Ski Club members in the classic battle between the SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers.  If so, please complete this survey.  How many tickets can we order for you:  Sunday, July 13, 2025  at SF Oracle Park.  Game time:  12:45 pm.

Name & Contact Info_________________________________

____ # of tickets you need? 

Please email Tina Woo for if you are interested at baseball@niseiskiclub.org

She would like to start the process of ordering tickets for the game.  View Reserved Section 313 beginning with Row 12.  Go Giants!  Go Dodgers! 

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Nisei Ski Club Potluck

Save the Date!

Invite your Friends!

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Starts at 12 Noon

Ends when the Fun Ends!

Miraido Village in San Jose Japantown 550 N 6th Street

Bring a Main Dish or Appetizer

We will take care of the salads, desserts & drinks

Let’s Play Mahjong, Card, Games and Let’s Talk Story!

Email: Subject Line “Potluck” ClassicRock570@aol.com

To let us know that you are coming! ~ Jeanne Katsuro

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Hey Fellow Chefs,

Wow, this year just flew by so quick. We just gave out candy on Halloween, we turn our clocks back for daylight saving time and Thanksgiving and Christmas is just around the corner.

I like to take the easy route in celebrating on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving here is pretty quiet for me. I love turkey and this is an easy recipe to follow. Roasting a spatchcock turkey reduces the cooking time by 75% and its easier for me to take it out of the oven. My biggest fear when roasting an entire whole turkey is that it decides to roll off the pan and exposed on to the floor. Yikes that would create messy disaster.

Simply cut out the back bone and spread the bird out flat before roasting. This technique is called spatchcocking that is commonly used with chickens.

Roast at 450 degrees for a 10-pound bird will be done in 45 minutes. The skin will be evenly brown because all the skin is exposed to the heat and will be cooked more evenly.

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Ingredients

Yield: 10 servings

• One 8- to 12-pound turkey
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed, more to taste
• 1 branch fresh tarragon or thyme separated into sprigs,
• Or ½ teaspoon dried thyme or tarragon
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or butter.
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put turkey on a stable cutting board breast side down and cut out backbone. Turn turkey over, and press on it to flatten. Put  it  breast side up, in a roasting pan. Wings should partly cover breasts, and legs should protrude a bit.

2. Tuck garlic and tarragon under the bird and in the nooks of the wings and legs. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

3. Roast for 20 minutes, undisturbed. Turkey should be browning. Remove from oven, baste with pan juices, and return to oven. Reduce heat to 400 degrees (if turkey browns too quickly, reduce temperature to 350 degrees).

4. Begin to check turkey’s temperature about 15 minutes later (10 minutes if bird is on the small side). It is done when thigh meat registers 165 degrees on an instant-read meat thermometer. Check it in a couple of places.

5. Let turkey rest for a few minutes before carving, then serve with garlic cloves and pan juices.

by Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

On September 26, I began my trip to Africa along with NSC members Carol Henry, Roland Lee, and Rosa Luy. Our first flight was to Doha, 15 hours away. Doha is like a “designer’s paradise”. It’s not just the stores, but even the airport was like a Neiman Marcus with its own hotel. We then flew to Kilimanjaro (another 5 hours). By September 28, we arrived in Arusha and met our drivers for the week. Our drivers and their trusty Toyota Land Cruisers provided us with hours of animal sightings. I felt like I was on the “Indiana Jones” ride at Disneyland. Our room was a “hut”, but a 5-star hut. Debbie Stewart, the tour leader organized a wonderful dinner for us, along with a band and singer. Some of us even danced a bit.

The next day was our first Safari to Lake Manyara. We saw mostly monkeys and elephants. But the best was yet to come as we drove toward the Ngorongoro Crater. This is an extinct volcano with one of the world’s largest densities of wildlife. It’s a Unesco World Heritage site. Over the course of two days, we saw wildebeests, zebras, buffalos, lions, elephants, gazelles, flamingos and hippos. Our “5-star” lodging at the crater provided every room with a view of the crater since it was built along a hillside.

We drove towards Serengeti National Park for our next stop. The lodges we stayed at were again “5-star” huts. Since we were inside Serengeti National Park, there were no fences (the animals can roam freely). So at night, one had to call for an escort to the restaurant since animals could be around.

We spent another two days on Safari while in the park.  Some of us also took a hot air balloon ride.  We didn’t see as many animals from the air as from the road, but the scenery was still breathtaking. We even had an “English breakfast” afterwards. The balloon ride and breakfast was $700 and not included in the trip ($8,000 for land, food and air). 

After our days of safaris, we flew to the island of Zanzibar in a 13-passenger plane. Roland Lee offered to “co pilot” and helped us to arrive safely. Our first stop was Stone Town, another Unesco Heritage site. It was a trading post for spices, silk and the slave trade. It is a mixture of African, Indian, Arab and European cultures. We visited a spice farm on the way to our final destination: the Neptune Pwani Beach resort. This was a 5-star all inclusive resort, so food and beverages were included. Carol and I took some Yoga classes at their Yoga center. The beach and pools were beautiful and a nice way to end our trip.

I’ve taken several Far West trips and have found that the non-ski trips are definitely as enjoyable and worthwhile as the ski trips.  I think our 8 day Safari was very reasonable in cost, especially since it provided luxury accommodations, food, and transportation.  Everything was first class.

New York City Halloween Parade 2024 – Seems like Michael Jackson is still popular on Halloween…

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

Last month the Tahoe region experienced its first dusting of snow (all melted by now) and now we are all waiting for the rainy season to begin. Long-range forecast is for La Niña to provide a normal snowfall this season in the Tahoe region, and above normal snowfall in the northwest and Canada. And, of course, it’s also time for the witches, ghosts, goblins, and creatures of the night to come out to celebrate Halloween. Before the ski season starts there are still a number of non-ski events coming up:

• 11-19 October, Eastern Canada Trip with Jeanne Katsuro at the helm
• 9 November, Saturday – Pickle ball Event with Tina Woo/Jeanne Katsuro

Membership Report

There were four returning and one new member for the month of September and that brings us to a total of 81 members.  Membership signups usually increase from signups for the ski week, but it’s not expected to get any more ski trips signups at this late date. However, there may be more new signups in the coming months for the 2025 France trip.

Ski Pros Avalanche Sale

Remember the Snow Bomb shows that offered sales on ski gear, clothing, and accessories? Well, Snow Bomb gradually went away, but now there is Ski Pros. Ski Pros offers a variety of products similar to the Snow Bomb shows. So, if you’re interested getting new gear this year then think about attending the Ski Pros Avalanche Sale going on in October and November. Here are links to the various shows:

San Francisco — Oct 5-6 — https://theavalanchesale.com/event/san-francisco/?_kx=X8jM4lfhGbvrtbKBIeElNJfUwciS6owFtd49zr9Qc74.Xnteyk

San Jose — Oct 18-20 — https://theavalanchesale.com/event/san-jose/

Sacramento — Nov 22-24 — https://theavalanchesale.com/event/sacramento/

Uncrowded Ski Resorts

 I don’t know where this is but I sure would not want to be in that line. So, if you want to ski with space to breathe, carve your own path, and short lift lines then here are the top nine resorts to visit:

1. Beaver Creek, CO
2. Telluride, CO
3. Lake Louise, AB
4. Arapahoe Basin, CO
5. Big White, CO
6. Grand Targhee, WY
7. Whitefish, MT
8. Sun Peaks, BC
9. Kirkwood, CA

IKON/EPIC Pass Update

Here is some information regarding the Ikon/Epic passes for this season:

• October 9, Epic Passes increase in price.
• October 10, Ikon Passes increase in price.

Not sure about which pass to get? OnTheSnow (an online magazine) provides a section on ski pass comparisons to help you decide which pass to get if you haven’t done so yet. Click here https://www.onthesnow.com/news/ski-pass-comparison-ikon-pass-vs-epic-pass/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09_26_24 to review the Ikon Pass vs. Epic Pass comparisons.

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is full with 22 people occupying six condos. Final payments are due October 15^th, so get your checks out. Sports America has posted the Epic/Ikon links for the 2024-2025 season and is offering a 6.5% trip rebate (based on pass price) if you purchase the passes from Sports America and go on the Sun Peaks trip:

Use this for Epic passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei

Use this for Ikon passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei

Password: snow

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

by Tina Woo, NSC Member

What and Why Pickleball?

Over the last few years, pickleball has been rising in popularity.  Pickleball is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.  But, what is pickleball exactly and why is it so popular?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines tennis, badminton and ping-pong using a paddle and a plastic ball with holes (called a wiffle ball).  It’s a game for players of all ages and skill levels.  It’s a great introductory sport.  It can also be challenging, fast-paced and competitive.

Why is Pickleball so popular? 

•  It’s ideal for all skill levels
• Pickleball is a social activity
• Pickleball is healthy
• Short learning curve, appeal to all ages and fitness levels, low costs

Want to learn more about pickleball?  Come and join us for a Nisei Ski Club pickleball event on Saturday, November  9 from 9-11 am at the Sunnyvale Tennis Center. For those who can’t make it, please plan to join us for lunch.