by Armand Gutierrez, President  

September is here and the Sierra Nevada foothills already received a dusting of snow. Of course, it won’t last long but let’s hope it’s a sign of the times to come when winter sets in and Mother Nature brings us dumps of snow. Before the ski season starts there are still a number of non-ski events coming up:

• 7 September, Saturday, Mahjong Event at Judy Hom’s House of Tiles
• 11-19 October, Eastern Canada Trip with Jeanne Katsuro at the helm
• 9 November, Saturday – Pickle ball Event with Tina Woo

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is making another change, from a small “group” back to a normal-sized group now that there are 18 signups and room for a few more. There are condos available, but it will be necessary to put new signups on a waitlist until a condo can be filled with four people. So, if you’re sitting on the fence about going, then now is the time to submit your application. For those of you that have made a deposit then August 15^th was the due date for the second payment. Go to the NSC website and download the Sun Peaks Flyer, fill it out, and send it in (don’t forget your check).

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: It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see – Henry David Thoreau

Send in your deposit to hold you space.

by Judy Hom, Janet Gee, NSC Members

If you missed the inaugural NSC Mahjong event in 2023, here’s a repeat event on

Saturday, September 7^th., 2024

Do you want to learn how to play mahjong or get more practice playing? Then, sign up for the NSC Mahjong event and potluck! Judy Hom, Janet Gee, and our coaches can teach you the basics if you don’t know how to play or coach you if you already know to but want more practice. We will focus on the Cantonese style where we play with 13 tiles and flowers. We will also explain how to score: HK and Classical Chinese style scoring. If learning more about mahjong is on your bucket list, then sign-up! When you sign up, you will receive a cheat sheet and a list of mahjong resources. We know that all NSC members like to eat so this is also a potluck event. 

Date:            Saturday, September 7, 2024

Time:           11am – 3:pm

Where:         Judy and Winston’s backyard, 18995 Carlton Avenue, Castro Valley

Cost: $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Bring a potluck dish to feed 4 or more.

Beverages will be provided. 

Space is limited to 16 sign-ups. Pls RSVP by August 31st

Please fill out a form for each person that is attending. For more information, please email Judy at mahjong@niseiskiclub.org.

SIGN UP HERE: MAH JONG

Will we see one of these Mah Jong Tables at Judy’s house?

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 Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Hey Fellow Chefs,

Julia Child and I share the same August birthday. To celebrate, we’re off to celebrate and eating our way through Italy. Yes you heard me right. First stop to Stresa for a destination wedding and then hiking and eating our way to Cinque Terre, Florence, Venice, Burano and Milan. My palette will welcome the local Italian wine, fresh pastas and gelatos.

See you next month with new recipe posting and my adventurous trip abroad. If you have a family recipe that you would like to share with us, send me an email at newsletter@niseiskiclub.org

In the meantime, have a great summer and enjoy this..

My New York BFFs are calling me Karulia. Just like Benifer, Traylor or Swelce. Does Karulia has a nice ring to it?

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

By Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

The Chinese American Museum of Northern California (CAMNC) in Marysville was recently awarded a California Humanities for All Quick Grant for an exhibit entitled The Forgotten Chinatowns of Northern California. The grant is to invite ten Chinatowns to submit photos and text to create a new exhibit at CAMNC that will reflect the history and current condition of their respective Chinatowns. 

Ten different Chinatown communities have signed up for The Forgotten Chinatowns of Northern California exhibit, representing the communities of Auburn, Fiddletown, Folsom, Hanford, Locke, Mendocino, Red Bluff, Sacramento, San Jose, and Stockton. The community of Marysville is also being represented.

The exhibit will be a regular exhibit at CAMNC, and will open on September 7, 2024 at 12 noon.

At the opening, representatives from each community will do a presentation (CHCP Director Mike Mak will represent both the San Jose and Stockton Chinatown communities). Afterwards, CAMNC will sponsor a working dinner at 5:30 pm. Each Chinatown community is entitled to 2 guests at the dinner; additional guests (limited) can attend for $20 each.

CAMNC’s goal is to publicize the history and current efforts in the various Chinatowns in Northern California. This exhibit is also an opportunity for the Chinatowns to network and learn from each other. If there is enough interest, this exhibit can evolve into an annual conference.

For more information: contact CAMNC Director Brian Tom at brianltom@gmail.com

BONUS TOUR – David Lei will give a walking tour of the Marysville Chinese Temple and other nearby Chinese American heritage sites.  Starting at 10am, Sept 7th.  Meeting Place – the Marysville Chinese Temple – 1st St &, D St, Marysville, CA  

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Winter is just 3 1/2 months away. Check out Warren Miller’s 2024 new movie 75.

Find out where it is playing in your neighborhood. https://warrenmiller.com/film-tour