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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Sunnyvale State of the City
Barbecue and Family Fun Festival
Saturday, May 12
Sunnyvale, CA – The City of Sunnyvale will hold the 2001 State of the City celebration along with a barbecue and family fun festival on Saturday, May 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will be held in conjunction with the dedication of the new Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit site, an open-barn exhibit of Sunnyvale’s orchard heritage, at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 East Remington Avenue. The entire community is encouraged to attend this free event (barbecue items will be sold at cost).
The official program, which begins at 1:00 p.m., will feature the Mayor’s State of the City address, presentation of community awards, and recognition of "Sunnyvale’s 2000 Nominees" – individuals who have contributed significantly over the years to Sunnyvale’s community and quality of life. "For nearly two decades, we have used the State of the City to recognize and commend the outstanding people and organizations that represent the best of our community," said Mayor Jack Walker.
"This year, our theme ‘Building Community: Past, Present, and Future’ reflects upon the rich history of Sunnyvale and the traditions, roots, and heritage upon which our community was built," said Mayor Walker. Horse-drawn hay wagon rides, old-fashioned ice-cream making, and orchard tours are just some of the historical activities kids and families can enjoy throughout the day, along with futuristic activities like electric vehicle rides and solar panel displays.
The Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit (OHPIE) is an orchard museum located next to Orchard Park, a 10 acre working apricot orchard located at the Sunnyvale Community Center. The exhibit is the culmination of more than 10 years of vision and planning by a dedicated group of area residents. "With the rapid transformation of this region from farming to high technology, many of us began to wonder how we could preserve the disappearing orchards that have been such an important part of our culture," said Joe Gutierrez, OHPIE Chair and Co-founder. "The exhibit provides a legacy of our orchard industry and the families who helped build our valley through orchard farming."
The exhibit is a regional "living history" museum that tells the story of this area when it was the "Valley of Heart's Delight" with an economy driven by agriculture. A permanent open-air pavilion reminiscent of a barn, the framework includes a series of panels that describe farm life of a bygone era. With seating for more than 100 people, the adjacent open outdoor amphitheater is ideal for use by schoolchildren and community groups for talks and demonstrations as well as a docent program that will begin in the fall.
For more information about the State of the City event, call (408) 730-7535.
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