With 122 slides and an upbeat tone, James reviewed the city's achievements.

"Three years ago when I was mayor, I promised you an expanded senior center, and now we have a brand new senior center, on budget, on time," James told more than 250 people at the Jan. 28 State of the City address luncheon at Quinlan Community Center.

The senior center is just one of the many projects the city has accomplished.

Spearheaded by Vice Mayor Patrick Kwok, the city has its first-ever senior commission, adding one more citizen advisory group to the council. The remodeled sports center had its grand opening on Jan. 10, with a fitness area three times bigger than before. Teens finally have a place to hang out at the city's first-ever teen center, which nestles in the basement of the sports center.

Cupertino's new $22 million library, the city's biggest public works project, will open in October with a $325,000 marine aquarium inside.

James said that despite the economic downturn and decreasing sales revenues, new businesses are moving into Cupertino.

Since its opening in July 2002, the Cypress Hotel has attracted the upper crust of Cupertino and various celebrities traveling through town. BJ's Restaurant and Brewery, which opened in December 2002, has become one of the most popular restaurants in town. In July 2003, Borland Software moved its headquarters to the Twin Towers Building at the Cupertino City Center. Three businesses—T-Mobile, Starbucks and Panda Express—will move into the old Wherehouse Music building across from De Anza College.

This year of the monkey will be a busy one, too.

Vallco Fashion Park is gaining vitality as new owner Allen Wong is turning the 27-year-old shopping center into a super-regional destination with a movie theater, a huge restaurant and retail businesses.

As these thriving businesses better serve the city's shopping needs, Cupertino is endeavoring to meet the recreational needs of its residents.

The Stevens Creek Corridor project is in the final stages of planning. One major component of the project is a living-history museum that will connect children with the Silicon Valley's orchard past.

James' theme came full circle as she donated a historical Christmas light bulb to the Cupertino Historical Society.

The light bulb was made from a canning jar by Ernie Amaral, who worked as a factory mechanic at the old Cali Brothers Granary. Each year, Amaral attached the light to the top of a live Christmas tree and supervised placement of the tree on the highest point of the Cali Brothers Granary, which was located at De Anza and Stevens Creek boulevards.

To continue the tradition, the Cypress Hotel sets a Christmas tree on the top of the hotel.

"We started with the present and ended up with the past. All of this is part of who we are and what we do," James said. "The beauty of this community is that we tend to do this together and we do it well. We have a lot to celebrate in our city."