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 Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Pack your bags and passport, Nisei Ski Club is heading to FRANCE in 2025!

Here is the itinerary for Nisei Ski Club – Vacation (No Skiing) to FRANCE

Sign up Here!

https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1286433

Call or Text – 408 569-1415 Jeanne Katsuro

If you need a roommate, I will try my best to find you one.   

New Dates – October 23 – November 3, 2025

It is a great group price $5999 for a Double

12 Days

16 Meals (10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch 5 Dinners)

Last Dinner is on the Eiffel Tower Over Looking Paris!

Includes the prices of all the excursions everyday

Transportation to and from each of the excursions

Transportation to and from each city.

Elite Flights to France

Package includes One Group Pick up from San Jose Area to SF Airport and Back
(North Bay and East Bay Participants will need to find their own ride to SFO)

Cities, Communes and Regions visiting

• Versailles
• Giverny
• Caen
• Saint Malo
• Loire Valley
• Chenonceau
• Amboise
• Paris

Highlights Includes:

• Versailles Royal Palace and Gardens
• Giverny
• Normandy
• D-Day Landing Sites
• Omaha Beach
• American Cemetery
• Le Mont St. Michel
• Loire Valley
• Winery Tour
• 2-Night Chateau Stay
• Chenonceau Castle
• Amboise 
• Paris

Choice on Tour: Paris City Tour by Bus or Montmarte by Metro Walking Tour

• Seine River Cruise
• Eiffel Tower Dinner

I hope you can make it. It will be exciting.     

Please read the descriptions of the excursions and meals in the attached flyer

Merci. Jeanne

by Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

On August 24, Nisei held a fun dance party at my house on Cheshire Court in Alameda. We had a good turnout of 16 people and fortunately, my backyard and house accommodated everyone nicely.  We had perfect weather, lots of amazing food and best of all, good people. Before dancing, we introduced ourselves since some guests were not NSC members (my dance buddies) and people were naturally curious about each other.  It was fascinating to hear the many ways people came to the Bay Area, their interests, their jobs, how they got involved with Nisei or with dancing and what the retirees are doing.  What a variety of careers we’ve had: teachers, bankers, BART policemen, BART administration, dentists, lawyers, jewelers, and nurses. Everyone enjoyed being active, whether it’s dancing, running, pickle ball, swimming, walking, golf, skiing or traveling.  Sam Wong got emotional talking about his daughter’s wedding a few weeks ago and I had to shorten his speech. (ha ha)

The potluck food was great and everyone enjoyed the lunch. As they were eying the desserts, I said “we will have desserts after dancing”. I was going to teach cha cha and swing, but everyone cha cha’d so hard, I gave in and said “okay, it’s time for dessert”.  Look for videos on the web site. Judging by the laughter, I know that everyone had fun. And their dancing was impressive! (There were some ringers in the group).

And about the desserts: you missed it if you weren’t there. Jim brought cheese puffs from Fat Apple’s (2 dozen!) Haruko made yummy blueberry bars, Anna made decadent chocolate/coffee cookies, and Ida brought a special banana bread that was to die for. Janet and Mark’s fruit salad was very refreshing and last but not least, Ida made shaved ice cups with red beans and vanilla ice cream.

If you weren’t here, sorry you missed it. Stay tuned…there may be another dance party.

Thanks to Ida and Jeanne for helping clean up and everyone for making this such a fun event.

Afterward the dance gathering, several of us wanted to golf. David Shultz, Sam, Harris and I went to the Corica Par 3 course down the street. Since Sam is a member, we were able to play for free. Thank you, Sam! As the holes went by, Sam noted that “you gotta keep up with this game to do well”. I think, “just have fun”!

See you on the slopes soon!  (I am ready with 2 new knees and 2 new hips).

Note from Newsletter editor – Sandy is the ultimate bionic woman

DANCERS SHOWING OFF THEIR SMOOTH MOVES…

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

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

July is over, and so is the hot weather towards the end of the month and we all survived 90+ temps. We may complain about the heat, but then it didn’t last that long and it was much hotter for longer in Arizona and New Mexico. I have no predictions for August. But keep in mind; there is talk about another La Niña year.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic were held on Sunday, July 21st, and the weather was great, a great crowd of 50+ people, and a number of new faces. Everyone dined on a variety of cuisine, and the board was introduced. If you missed this event now you will have to wait until next year.

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is going to change to a small “group” trip due to the lack of signups. In order for this trip to not be cancelled there needs to be at least 6-8 more signups so we can meet the minimum of 10 for air. So, if you’re sitting on the fence about going, then now is the time to submit your application. Can you be the person that will keep this trip alive? Sun Peaks has a lot to offer and there are plenty of lodging spaces available. For those of you that have made a deposit then August 15^th is 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). That’s the group shot after the Farewell Dinner at Sun Peaks in 2014.

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: No one ever says, “It’s only a game” when their team is winning.

by Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

As part of the “end of summer” celebration gathering, Sandy Kiyomura will give lessons on Cha-Cha and the Swing. Sandy has been an instructor at the Mastick Senior Center in Alameda for several years. Bring your dancing shoes and a potluck for everyone to enjoy.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn about Nisei Ski Club, meet club members, find out about future events as well as next year’s planned week-long Sun Peaks ski trip and a Japan Fall Trip! 

Date – Saturday, August 24th

Time – 12 pm – 3 pm

Where – Sandy’s Outdoor Dance Studio in Harbor Bay, Alameda.

Cost: $5 for members and non-members. Bring a potluck dish to serve 6-8, beverages will be provided.

Space is limited to 25 sign-ups. Please RSVP by Monday, August 19

Sandy will provide the address upon receiving your RSVP.

RSVP to Sandy Kiyomura at dance2@niseiskiclub.org

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?

Send in your deposit to hold you space.