By Kimberly Eng Lee, CHCP President

CHCP Advisory Board Member Gloria Hom shared this mosaic, a meaningful tribute to the legacy of her grandfather, Thomas Foon Chew, founder of Bay Side Cannery. The mosaic is located at 340 Portage Avenue in Palo Alto. Thomas Foon Chew purchased 4 acres to expand from Alviso to Mayfield (now Palo Alto) in 1918. The business grew to become one of the largest vegetable and fruit canneries in the nation. Over 100 years later, the building has been repurposed for commercial and public use, and was renovated so the community can view the former cannery building’s historic elements, such as its soaring monitor roofs.

On the outside, a glass mosaic mural depicts images of apricot blossoms, fruit, and packing and canning facilities showing the innovations that Bay Side was known for, like the patent drawing for an asparagus sorter. A stacked “totem” of cans shares details about Thomas Foon Chew, while interior elements will tell of the larger agricultural story of the Valley.

Click on a photo to enlarge.

By Kimberly Eng Lee, CHCP President

CHCP is a proud member of the Chinese American Heritage Network (CAHN), which promotes public interest in Chinese and Chinese American culture and history by building mutual support and collaboration among like-organizations in Northern CA.

CHCP hosted the 2026 Conference on April 11 at History Park in San Jose, welcoming representatives from:

• Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF), Tiburon
• Auburn Joss House, Auburn
• China Camp, San Rafael
• Chinese American Museum of Northern CA, Marysville
  
• Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA), San Francisco
• Eureka Chinatown Project, Eureka
• Flex Kids Culture, Santa Cruz
  
• Friends of Chinatown, Sacramento
  
• Helen and Joe Chew Foundation, Red Bluff
  
• Kwan Tai Temple, Mendocino
  
• Locke Foundation, Locke
• Oroville Chinese Temple, Oroville
• Stockton Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA), Stockton
• Walk of Remembrance by Quock Mui Foundation, Pacific Grove

Conference Workshops:

• Dr. Barbara Voss of the Archaeology Dept. at Stanford University, spoke about Chinese Diaspora Archaeology.
• Sam Dunham discussed the vision for CAHN.
• Dr. Anna Eng of the Dept. of Women and Gender Studies, San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley, spoke about recognizing America's 250th Anniversary.

Later that evening, a fellowship dinner was held at the China Stix Restaurant in Santa Clara.

By Kimberly Eng Lee, CHCP President

Over 800 visitors came to enjoy the festivities at our Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse Festival! A heartfelt shout-out to all the volunteers and performers. Highlights included the energetic Lion Dances by SJSU and THD Lion Dance Teams, the magnificent Yung Yee Tong Blue Dragon and Hoong the Dragon, K-Pop dancers Dalbit & KDCosmix, the beautiful voices of Crystal Children’s Choir, the graceful movements of Taijiquan Martial Arts, the marvelous Moon Light dancers, the wonderful sounds of the traditional Chinese instruments, the expert Chinese Yo-Yo performers from Fremont Chinese School, and the delightful appearance of Choi Sun and Fire Horse. Kudos to Master Calligrapher Robin Wang and the Chinese Brush Painting team of Vicki and Melvin. It was a colorful and festive occasion for all!

Attendees gathered at Alviso Venue

The following is an excerpt from 02/16/26 CPM News:

Against the historic backdrop of Alviso, Compass Point Mentorship (CPM) hosted over 60 community members today for a vibrant celebration honoring the enduring legacy of Thomas Foon Chew. The event recognized Chew’s transformative impact on California’s agricultural industry and his deep roots within the Chinese American community.

The celebration serves as a precursor to the official city holiday on February 24, a date formally proclaimed by the City of San Jose as Thomas Foon Chew Day.

A Living Legacy: Personal Reflections

The afternoon was anchored by a keynote address from Gloria Hom, granddaughter of Thomas Foon Chew. Hom shared stories of her grandfather’s resilience and entrepreneurial genius—he was once the wealthiest Chinese American in the country—offering a rare, intergenerational look at the man behind the "Bayside Cannery" empire.

The event drew significant support from regional leaders, including Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee and Valley Water Director Richard Santos. Both representatives spoke with attendees about the importance of honoring Alviso’s cultural landmarks and the pioneers who built the region’s foundations.

Joining them was community advocate Grant Han, a driving force behind the city’s official proclamation. Han spoke to the necessity of civic recognition, noting that preserving the stories of leaders like Chew is essential to understanding the full tapestry of San Jose’s history.

Read the full CPM news article: Community Honors the "Asparagus King"