Let’s Do the Happy Dance..

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Did you ever hear a familiar tune on the radio or TV and you start singing along or start tapping your feet?

As we are all getting older in the coming years. We need to start moving. Walking, Zumba, Skiing Anything to get the heartbeat going.

This is from 1969. How many TV shows looks familiar to you?

Check this out.

Lets Dance Now.

Links for Hoyt Nelson’s Google Drive

by Hoyt Nelson, Board Member

Welcome to Hoyt Nelson’s Google Drive:

Here a few links for you to access my up-to-date information on various topics like new restaurants I’ve eaten at, interesting hikes or trips I have been on, some of my favorite recipes and a few puzzles I find interesting.   You got these links because I thought you might be interested in one or more of my categories.  You should be able to download anything, but you won’t be able to edit anything.  I encourage you to leave comments however, especially about your restaurant finds.  I limited my travel notes to the more recent trips that are better documented and I left out info about lots of shorter trips.  If you want info on the rest of the 50+ countries we have visited a while back, I will be happy to send info on them.   For the most part, I concentrate info to outside the USA.  If you are interested in the USA, I can provide you with more information on most states.  Keep these links for future use.  You will get the latest versions whenever you access them.  You don’t have to have Google Drive on your machine (although you do need to have a Google account to create a free Google Drive account for yourself).  

Link for my puzzleshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jVQbVCFyZqw2-YL9r7R74CErwuiYQJK1

Link for my SF Bay area restaurant listhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QHKrCBvjzMxdo7DcAoEPAr_lo1bXw1gD

Link for my travelhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JapkS4zzfzr7qAfeHSU1ryQhgNSrJGju

Link for my CA hikeshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ShYZRGXm24zcfFBFNFxyzKgu-88V2wcK

Link for recipes I’ve developed or modified over the years:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/122YDkHJTNB31sAMZB0utsqFVLM55qJj-

Link to amazing stairs around the world:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hsGIkHGRLz_z4SZ4kZOFPuE9TolwIK3T

When you get there, you can see my doc about the 3 tiled stairs in San Francisco, but when you click the big blue W for other doc about stairs around the world. Google will “gag”.  When Google stops complaining, just click the blue “Download” when and then click “Open” at the bottom of the screen to read the doc.

NSC President’s Message, October, 2022

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Sometime during a moonless night and in the wee hours of the morning when all was calm and quiet our neighborhood was the scene of new, albeit strange, neighbors that moved in and established their paradoxical presence. My initial thoughts were that they looked friendly and not much different from the rest of us on the block. Well, maybe there were a few differences, but certainly not enough to be overly concerned. I know people are leaving California for greener pastures, less taxes, and affordable homes. But these folks must have decided that this is where they want to make a home. Let me know if you see any strangers in your neighborhood.

La Niña – Friend or Foe?

I’ve been asked by my non-skiing buddies whether there will be snow this year, and my reply is: “Yes, there will be snow, but maybe not as much as I’d like.”  The fact is there will always be snow in the Tahoe region, but let’s face it – some years are better than others. This winter we’re getting La Niña for the third season in a row, not quite a rarity but it does happen. La Nina is not our friend. It will force the jet stream a little farther north of us and inundate Canada, Washington and then drop down over Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. The Tahoe region will get snow, but perhaps not as much as we’d like. Heck, it has to snow because my Epic Pass arrived in the mail this week.

NSC Pickleball Event – Saturday, 29 October

Jeanne Katsuro is hosting the Pickleball event and is encouraging all beginner and intermediate players to take part in a one-hour instruction period, followed by one-hour of free playtime. Jeanne has secured four private courts at the Saratoga County Club just for NSC members and friends. Following the Pickleball event everyone is invited to the Golden Dragon restaurant for dinner.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge

The Breckenridge trip is full. Well, not exactly. There are airline seats and condos available; however, I’m going to hold off on accepting additional people unless a condo unit can be filled with four people. So, if you haven’t signed up for this trip then now is the time to fill out the application and get your checkbook out as well. Also, the final payment is due 10 October.

QotM:  To grow a beautiful rose you must shovel a lot of manure – Max Klinger

Nisei Ski Club Rides the Mountain View/ Palo Alto San Francisco Bay Trail

by Curtis Otaguro, Rick Dumlao, Board Members

Last Saturday on September 24th, eight NSCers and friends (Rick, Merton, Frank, Greg, Gary, Jim, Jeff, and myself) enjoyed a beautiful day, riding the Peninsula section of the San Francisco Bay Trail starting from Shoreline Park in Mountain View.  A mainstay of NSC summer events, the annual bike ride not only keeps us in shape during the off season, but also gives us the opportunity to stay connected with our members. 

I led the group with Rick as sweeper to make sure we didn’t lose anyone.  We began at a leisurely pace from Shoreline Park under clear skies heading north towards the Palo Alto Bayland Nature Preserve.  We admired the panoramic views of the Bay as we rode along the shore on a wide packed gravel trail.  As the trail turned inland, we passed a pole field (designed to be reminiscent of pier pilings) on our left at Byxbee Park.  Then we passed the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center along the way to the Palo Alto Airport.  As we rode past the runway, we saw some clearly dubious landings (2-point!).  We rode on through East Palo Alto, along a paved bike trail until we reached a short, narrow gravel section.  This led to the entrance road to Cooling Landing Park, our first rest stop.

Cooley Landing Park, named after Lester Cooley, who purchased the land in 1868, is the site of the original Town of Ravenswood, which back in the 1800’s was a bustling port shipping bricks to build homes everywhere in the Bay Area.  For a time, it was the only port between San Jose and San Francisco.  In later years, it was a county dump with the landfill creating the peninsula which forms the landing.   From this viewpoint, there were excellent views of the Dumbarton Bridge and the old Dumbarton Rail Bridge.  Did you know that the Dumbarton Rail Bridge built in 1910 was the first bridge crossing in the Bay Area?

After taking advantage of the scenic setting for a photo op, we headed back south on an alternate inland route which was much appreciated by the road bikers as this was all paved trail.  One of the highlights was a photo op at “Bliss in the Moment”, a stainless-steel cycling sculpture dedicated to former Bay Trail Board member and bicycle activist, Bill Bliss near the Palo Alto Baylands.  He advocated for the scenic, 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail that is planned to encircle the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. So far, 310 miles of the route have been completed.

The return route was more expeditious, but not as scenic as we rode alongside the Bayshore Freeway.  We continued, making a left on the Adobe Creek Loop Trail towards the Bay, and returned to Shoreline Park, completing the first 13 miles of the ride.  It was getting close to lunch time, but 7 of us opted to continue south to the Stevens Creek Trail for a longer ride.  Many agreed that if we had taken a lunch break then, we would have been done riding as it would have been too difficult to get started again.

After riding a little over a mile south, we turned right onto the Stevens Creek Trail.  The Stevens Creek Trail is a short 4.8-mile feeder trail that begins near the Mountain View – Sunnyvale border at the intersection of Dale Avenue and Heatherstone Way.  This trail runs parallel to Highway 85, including an 1100-foot pedestrian bridge crossing over Evelyn Ave, Central Expressway, Caltrain and VTA tracks.  As hunger and fatigue slowly started to creep in, we decided to turn around at the pedestrian bridge and head back.

On the way, we discovered the reason for the constant buzzing of helicopters flying near the Google campus at the NASA Ames Research Center (we observed this throughout our ride).  A pair of helicopters were flying back and forth, bringing supplies and equipment to the high voltage transmission towers crossing the bay.  We spotted crews perched high up on 2 towers working with them.

After we rolled into Shoreline Park, our final distance totaled ~19 miles.  We then had a well-deserved relaxing time in the shade relishing our lunch and beverages.    While we were reveling in the day’s ride, we already started kicking around ideas for the next bike trip.  Angel Island? Golden Gate Bridge? East Bay? South Bay?  Your suggestions are welcome!  Happy riding!

Updated time.. Pickleball Anyone? We Mean Anyone..

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

1st Time Beginner

Bring all your friends

Two Hours of Instruction and Fun!

For $25.00 You will receive instruction as a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Player.

1st hour will be exclusive instruction for 4 people per court.

You will be divided into your playing ability.

2nd hour will be the Pickleball Mixer , playing each other with the instructors on the sidelines giving you pointers as you play.

$25.00 is a great price for Pickleball lessons for the hour.

Sign up form. Pickleball Sign Up Form

Bonus! The additional hour of on play with instruction is a gift from the Saratoga Country Club!

Saturday, October 29, 2022 3:00pm to 5:00pm ( updated time)

Come at 2:30pm, find the court and be ready to play at 3:00pm

Where: Saratoga Country Club https://saratogacc.com/Home

       21990 Prospect Road

        Saratoga, CA 95070

Water will be provided by the Country Club. Bring your own towels, electrolytes and protein bars.

Dinner after Pickleball around 6:00 pm

Everyone is invited! Including People who did not play!

DINNER at Golden Palace http://www.goldenpalacesanjose.com

             1146 S De Anza Blvd

              San Jose, CA 95129

              408 257-8877                                         

For More information, please email Jeanne at vp@niseiskiclub.org

Dinner After Pickleball Event.

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Meet up for lunch after Nisei Ski Club Pickleball Event.

Invite all your friends!

Let’s meet new people and make new friends!

Meet at Golden Palace at 6:00pm http://goldenpalacesanjose.com/

                              1146 S De Anza Blvd

                              San Jose, CA 95129

                               408 257-8877

The prices are surprisingly good for the quantity and quality of the food.

Dress Casual!  We just came from the Pickleball courts!

Please email Jeanne if you like to join us for lunch.

Let’s have fun everybody!

For More information, please email Jeanne at vp@niseiskiclub.org

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Filmfest – Volunteer Opportunities

by Tina Woo, Membership

October 28 – October 29

Sunnyvale 12 Dine-In AMC Theatres

Films are being finalized and selected for the inclusion in this year’s Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival. Nisei Ski Club has been a proud sponsor of this event since 2019, with the film screening of “Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066.”

This year’s event is taking place Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 at the AMC Sunnyvale 12 Dine-In theaters. Online viewing is also available October 28 through November 6.

The Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest is a celebration of the multi-ethnic community and rich history of Silicon Valley.  Run by a diverse team of community members, the festival showcases independent films primarily by Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) filmmakers. 

The organization is seeking volunteers for the “day of” film screenings on October 28 and 29.  These duties might include:

  • Greeters
  • Check in people
  • Reception desk
  • Theatre helpers to set up
  • Setup helpers
  • Video/Photo
  • Hand out badges and lanyards?

If you are interested and available to volunteer, please check this following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnfEKopn_ou3F8w0pMnLo_6aLKb2sOPqZTMHdWCtZwxK1jxA/viewform

Here are the movies that will be playing at the AMC Dine-In Sunnyvale 12

https://svapfilmfest.org/live-in-person-schedule-and-tickets/

Get you tickets here https://svapfilmfest2022.eventive.org/passes/buy

October 28, 2022

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm  Dealing with Dad

October 29, 2022

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Japanese Internment Short Stories

12:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Blurring the Color Line

2:45 pm – 4:45 pm – Free Chol Soo Lee

5:15 pm – 7:15 pm – Bay Area Filmmaker Shorts

7:45 pm – 10:00 pm – The Six

Nisei Ski Club Recipe Corner – Baked Katsudon (Japanese Crispy Baked Cutlet Rice Bowl) Credits – Just One Cookbook

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

If you ever gone on a Nisei Ski Club weekend / weeklong ski trip, I’m always thinking what to make for breakfast and dinner. What are we going to eat is always the topic of conversation. A lot of thought goes into the planning. The recipes has to be easy so it does not take up my time in the kitchen.  I have to give thanks to my condo roommates who ultimately becomes my Sous Chefs and dishwashers. An extra thank you to Amy Tsuhako who has been my collaborator, co tour leader and past condo mate.  

Remember, I’m on vacation too and I don’t want to spend the entire hours cooking in the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get creative and cook, something that is easy and delicious and does not take too much time. Starting this month, I’m going to start sharing some my favorite recipes that I had used during the pandemic.

When I go to a Japanese restaurant, one of my favorite dishes to order is the Hamachi Kama, Beef Sukiyaki, Bento boxes and the Pork Donburi. The pork is crispy, a combination of onions and eggs over rice. It’s so filling and delicious. It’s the best comfort food

The good thing about this recipe is that there is no frying. I DO NOT deep fry in my house. Cleaning the oil spattering all over the place and stinking up my place is a sore subject. I just don’t go there.


This month, we’re going to make Bake Katsudon. This dish is simple and so good.

Crispy pork cutlet without deep frying and simmered in runny egg with a dashi broth, and served over hot steamed rice. Then you use one skillet to make the rest of the sauce which consist of the onions and eggs.

It’s going to be your new favorite weeknight meal.

Servings – 2

Preparation for the Bake Pork Katsu

1 cup Panko (Japanese Breadcrumbs)

1 Tbsp Vegetable oil

2 pieces boneless pork loin chops – 1/2” thick

1 tsp kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1-2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour)

1 large egg

For the Katsudon

½ Onion

2 large eggs

2 Serving cooked Japanese short grain rice

2 Tbsp chopped green onions

For the Sauce

2 cup Dashi – Japanese soup stock

2 Tbsp sake

2 Tbsp mirin

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp sugar

1-Gather all the ingredients. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). For a convection oven, reduce the cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC). Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with an oven-safe wire rack or line it with parchment paper. I prefer to use a wire rack as it allows hot air to circulate around the cutlets and prevents the panko underneath from getting crushed.

To Toast the Panko

1 – Combine the panko and oil in a frying pan. Toast the panko over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Transfer the toasted panko into a shallow dish and allow to cool.

To Prepare the Pork

1-Cut off the extra fat from the pork. Make several slits on the connective tissue between the meat and remaining fat. Tip: Red meat and fat have different elasticities, and they will shrink and expand at different rates when they are cooked. Making a few slits will allow the tonkatsu to stay nice and flat and prevent the cutlets from curling up.

2-To tenderize the meat, pound both sides of the cutlets with a meat pounder; if you don’t have one, then use the back of the knife. Mold the flattened meat back into the original shape with your hands.

3-Sprinkle the cutlets with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

4-Dredge each pork piece in the flour to coat completely. Pat off the excess flour.

5-Next, beat one egg in a bowl. Then, dip the pork into the beaten egg and coat with the toasted panko. Press on the panko flakes to make sure they adhere to the pork.

To Bake

1-Cut off the extra fat from the pork. Make several slits on the connective tissue between the meat and remaining fat. Tip: Red meat and fat have different elasticities, and they will shrink and expand at different rates when they are cooked. Making a few slits will allow the tonkatsu to stay nice and flat and prevent the cutlets from curling up.

2-Remove the tonkatsu from the oven and cut into 1-inch pieces (so you can eat them with chopsticks). Press the knife directly down into the cutlets, instead of sawing back and forth. This way, the panko crust will stay on the meat. Set aside for now.

To Prepare the Katsudon Ingredients

1-Cut the onions into thin slices.

2-Combine the sauce ingredients in a liquid measuring cup or bowl. This amount could be more than you need, depending on the frying pan size you use. You can store the extra in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. In a separate small bowl, beat one egg.

To make the Katsudon usuing a Oyaakodon Pan or 8” Skillet

1-For each serving, put half of the onion slices into the pan and pour ½-¾ cup of the sauce on top to cover them. Adjust the amount of sauce based on your frying pan size. Bring the sauce and onions to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook the onion slices until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.

2-Carefully place one baked and sliced tonkatsu cutlet on top of the onions in the sauce and turn the heat to medium high. Then, slowly drizzle the beaten egg, evenly distributing it over the tonkatsu and broth. Cover the pan with the lid.

3-When the egg is half cooked, about 30 seconds, turn off the heat. The egg will be just set on the bottom and runny on top.picuer

To Serve

1-Prepare one serving of hot steamed rice in a donburi bowl. Slide the cooked tonkatsu and egg mixture, including the sauce, on top. Sprinkle some green onions and continue cooking and plating the second serving.

Check out video

https://www.justonecookbook.com/baked-katsudon/#wprm-recipe-video-container-62004

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

Bay Area Ski Council Updates

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Did you know that Nisei Ski Club is a member of the Bay Area Ski Council?
Here’s a list of the events that you can explore before the ski season.

Ski-Fest:       https://www.sfskifest.com/              

Sacramento – Cal Expo Center – Nov 18-20, 2022

Marin – Marin Civic Center – Dec 24, 2022

Volunteers are needed and welcome.  Maarten will have a group at the Sacramento Show.

FWSA Convention:  June 16-18, 2023, in Boise, Idaho

https://fwsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=623165&module_id=334804

FWSA Convention:  June 6-9, 2024 in Reno, Nevada (BAC) requested dates

Travel:  Gail Burns –

Karen Albright returned from BAC’s Bike n Barge at the end of August.  The trip was a success and everyone is enthusiastic about another trip and also loved the e-bikes.

BAC will go to Sun Peaks Feb 12-17, 2023 with 30 spots.  Lodging will be at the Sun Leaks Lodge, which includes breakfast.  Cost will be about $665 with air by Alaska and ground transportation separately.  Deposits are $200 per person, checks payable to Bay Area Council of Ski Clubs.  Send checks now to BAC, and payment will be available on line through SportsAmerica. https://www.skibac.org/

FWSA will go to Zermatt, Switzerland February 24-March 4, with extension to Spain. https://fwsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=623165&module_id=531031

FWSA’s Taos NM mini-trip is Feb 27-March 2, 2023.  Information is on the website. https://fwsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=623165&module_id=334799

Links for Hoyt Nelson’s Google Drive

by Hoyt Nelson, Board Member

Welcome to Hoyt Nelson’s Google Drive:

Here a few links for you to access my up-to-date information on various topics like new restaurants I’ve eaten at, interesting hikes or trips I have been on, some of my favorite recipes and a few puzzles I find interesting.   You got these links because I thought you might be interested in one or more of my categories.  You should be able to download anything, but you won’t be able to edit anything.  I encourage you to leave comments however, especially about your restaurant finds.  I limited my travel notes to the more recent trips that are better documented and I left out info about lots of shorter trips.  If you want info on the rest of the 50+ countries we have visited a while back, I will be happy to send info on them.   For the most part, I concentrate info to outside the USA.  If you are interested in the USA, I can provide you with more information on most states.  Keep these links for future use.  You will get the latest versions whenever you access them.  You don’t have to have Google Drive on your machine (although you do need to have a Google account to create a free Google Drive account for yourself).  

Link for my puzzleshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jVQbVCFyZqw2-YL9r7R74CErwuiYQJK1

Link for my SF Bay area restaurant listhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QHKrCBvjzMxdo7DcAoEPAr_lo1bXw1gD

Link for my travelhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JapkS4zzfzr7qAfeHSU1ryQhgNSrJGju

Link for my CA hikeshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ShYZRGXm24zcfFBFNFxyzKgu-88V2wcK

Link for recipes I’ve developed or modified over the years:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/122YDkHJTNB31sAMZB0utsqFVLM55qJj-

Link to amazing stairs around the world:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hsGIkHGRLz_z4SZ4kZOFPuE9TolwIK3T

When you get there, you can see my doc about the 3 tiled stairs in San Francisco, but when you click the big blue W for other doc about stairs around the world. Google will “gag”.  When Google stops complaining, just click the blue “Download” when and then click “Open” at the bottom of the screen to read the doc.