EYE IN THE SKY

Sheriff’s Office Shows Off Its Drones

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  04-18-18

  In the past year, drones have helped put out fires, found drowning victims, and even tested for poisonous gases, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

  Sheriff Greg Ahern and a couple of his officers stopped by the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association meeting last week to talk about their fleet of “unmanned aerial vehicles” or drones.

  The sheriff’s office has a dozen drones, which they use locally but also lend out to surrounding agencies during emergencies.

  The crowd in San Lorenzo was gung-ho about the drones, thanking Ahern for his department’s hard work.

  But when the county first announced plans to use them five years ago, there were protests.

  Dozens of people spoke out against the plan to buy just two of the flying cameras at a special meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in 2013.

  Sheriff’s Commander Tom Madigan said there were lots of misconceptions back then.

  “People thought we were using Predator drones, the large military drones that fire mis-

see EYE on back page

siles,” he said. “Instead, we are using these things from Best Buy. I bet someone in your family has something like it. We aren’t using any kind of technology that a member of the public couldn’t purchase.”

  Madigan said that during a fire at Alco Metals in San Leandro last summer they were able to help firefighters by attaching a gas sensor to a drone and flying it through the noxious smoke to determine what kind of gases were being released.

  Madigan showed a video of a drone being used during the serving of a high-risk search warrant in Oakland, where the drone operator was able to tell deputies on the ground that suspects were running out behind the house and down the street. You could see one suspect toss away a gun and a bag of what Ahern said were drugs.

  Sheriff’s Office drones have been used to help find the car of a woman who drwned in Niles Canyon last winter, a teenage kayaker who died in the Bay, and in the Santa Rosa firestorm to assess damage.

 

HARD to Upgrade, Expand Local Parks, Create ‘Master Plan’

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  04-18-18

  New play structures, remodeled bathrooms, more parking – the Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) will be making a variety of upgrades to their 95 parks over the next few years.

  In 2016, voters approved a $250-million bond for HARD to upgrade and expand parks in Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, and Cherryland and the district is now developing a “master plan” for the next decade about how they will spend that money.

  On Monday night, Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) members heard about the master plan and some upcoming park upgrades.

  A recent survey of the parks showed just 28 percent to be in “good” condition and the rest fair to poor. The bond money will be used to make repairs at the poorest parks, according to HARD.

  In addition to improvement and repairs to the parks, the bond will fund several larger capital improvement projects over the next several years, including:

  • $94,000 to renovate the Kenneth Aitken Senior Center in CV

  • $90,000 to upgrade Rowell Ranch

  • $31 million to renovate Kennedy Park

  • $4 million for the Fairmont Terrance Park expansion 

  • $2 million for a new 2-acre park at 18470 Via Toledo in San Lorenzo 

  • $1.3 million to renovate the Hayward Plunge 

  • $1 million to expand the parking lot of the Meek Estate

  • $222,000 for upgrades to the Sulphur Creek Nature Center, 

  HARD has a basic goal of having a park or playground within walking distance of every resident. So they prioritize their “areas of need” where the population is more dense and parks are farther away.

  HARD has identified most of Ashland, parts of Cherryland, western Castro Valley, and the area around Grove Way as needing more park access.

  The MAC also heard preliminary plans for a major undertaking that HARD would be part of – a trail to run along the San Lorenzo Creek.

  The Friends of the San Lorenzo Creek – a non-profit founded in 2002 and dedicated to preserving and supporting the creek and surrounding nature – want to construct a bicycle and pedestrian trail from the Don Castro Reservoir in Castro Valley all the way to the Bay. It would run by several parks along the way.

  “Imagine being able to bike from Cull Canyon to the Japanese Gardens,” said Rick Hatcher who belongs to the Friends of the San Lorenzo Creek and is also vice president of the HARD board of directors.

  But there is no funding in place for the project and it would also involve getting dozens of property owners along the creek to agree to construction, which could be hard. 

  “I think it’s a great idea but getting all those property owners could be difficult,’ said MAC member Chuck Moore. “There sure are some challenges ahead of you.”

  Matt Tuner, Supervisor Nate Miley’s constituent liaison said that the next step will be applying for grants this spring in order to try to get the project off the ground.

 

                                                                                               

Masonic Lodge to Honor Two CV Teachers

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  04-18-18

  Two Castro Valley teachers will be honored by the Crow Canyon Masonic Lodge tomorrow evening, April 19.

  Krista Samboy of Chabot Elementary School and Kelly Abbott of Redwood High School were selected by the school district for having taken extra effort with their students in their classrooms.

  They will  be recognized for their contributions at an awards dinner at the CV Masonic Center, 4521 Crow Canyon Road. A musical performance by Castro Valley High School Madrigals, under the direction of Laryssa Sadoway will start the award ceremony. Social begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:15. For dinner reservations call 510-258-0654.

  The California Masonic Foundation supports public education in three critical areas – elementary-age literacy, advancing instruction in middle school algebra; and expanding the Foundation scholarship program to include students for whom a college education has not been a choice.

  Each year since 1985 the Crow Canyon Masonic Lodge has honored outstanding local teachers to mark Public Schools Week.

CAPTION: Teacher Kelly Abbott of RHS with therapy dog “Kilda”  /   Teacher Krista Samboy of  Chabot Elementary School

 

Hundreds of Loyal Readers Respond with Subscriptions

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  04-11-18

   To date, more than 1,400 readers of the Castro Valley Forum and the San Leandro Times have purchased Loyal Reader Subscriptions which will enable the two community newspapers to publish advertising not available in the past.

  The Forum and Times depend entirely on ads to stay in business, so the additional revenue will be important as this industry struggles with increasing costs and against the shift in advertising from print to the internet.

   On pages 6 and 7 of this week’s Forum, you will find the names of subscribers of both newspapers that were received as of Monday.

  Those received after Monday will be printed in next week’s edition.

  If you subscribed but your name doesn’t appear in the list, or if your name was misspelled, please contact the publisher, Fred Zehnder, at fredz@ebpublishing.com

 

Church Proposes Tiny Homes for CV’s Homeless

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  04-11-18

 The church has received $200,000 from Alameda County to build the infrastructure of the project – the six small structures,  fencing, and security cameras.
   The East Bay Municipal Utility District has said they will wave water connection fees and the Castro Valley Sanitary District is offering a steep discount for its services.
   Last year, the county estimated that there are about 50 homeless people currently living in Castro Valley, with many in encamp-ments by the creek, but there are no exact figures on the homeless population.
   The plan at the First Presby-terian tiny home community would be to allow people to stay in the homes for no more than 18 months, with rent increasing the longer they stay.
   They’d start out paying $200 per month which just covers the upkeep of the home. By the end of the 18-month period, they’d be paying $800 per month and the church would take $200 for ex-penses and keep the rest in a sav-ings account.
   A tenant who stays the whole 18 months would leave with $6,000 from that saving account to put a deposit on a place of their own.
   All tenants would have to under-go a background check and would have to have a job or other source  of income in order to live there.
   Supervisor Nate Miley was at the meeting to lend his support to the idea, which he said could be used all over the county.
 “If this works, we want to take this model and use it at other churches throughout the unincor-porated areas and the county. We want this to be a model.” But not everyone is thrilled with the idea. A couple of neigh-bors who live in the area spoke up, saying they were worried the houses would take up already limited parking at the church and lead people to park on the streets and that there would be a lot more traffic in the area. One woman said she felt it was “shady” that the county would give money to a religious institu-tion in any context. MAC Chair Marc Crawford said the idea was good but he had concerns about how the infrastruc-ture would function. “This is a land-use decision for us, this isn’t about ‘is it worthy?’” said Crawford. “I’m not trying to put a a bunch of obstacles in front of it, but I’m not trying to approve it just because it’s a good cause.” The tiny home issue was a discussion item only at Monday night’s meeting and the MAC made no determination to approve of disapprove the homes. The First Presbyterian Church will be holding a town hall meet-ing on their tiny home idea on Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at their church at 2490 Grove Way.

 

'April Showers’

  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 04-11-18

A subtropical “atmospheric river” of moisture streaming from Hawaii drenched the East Bay with record rainfall from Thursday night through Saturday morning.

  Castro Valley recorded more than 3 inches of rain during the storm, bringing the season total to 16.77 inches. Some spots in Northern California received over 6 inches of rain.

  “This is a very unusual event in the sense that the rainfall amounts would be more representative of winter and not April,” Meteorologist Mike Pechner told the Forum. He said the pounding storm, dubbed the “Pineapple Express,” was the result of tropical remnants of a Pacific typhoon.

  The steady downpour caused minor flooding and scattered traffic accidents in the East Bay as well as flight delays and three cancellations at Oakland International Airport.

  The storm recharged East Bay Municipal Utility District reservoirs around the Bay and eased drought concerns a bit for next year.

  There was not much change in the Sierra snowpack. Rain occurred at higher elevations, but did not melt much of the snow.

  Drizzle and showers remain in forecast for Castro Valley today and at times during the next week.

CAPTION: The steady downpour on Friday drenched shoppers and pedestrians around Castro Valley. The powerful storm, which began Thursday night and continued through Saturday morning, boosted local rainfall totals by more than 3 inches.

PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK

 

The Forum’s

Loyal Reader Campaign

The Forum’s campaign for Loyal Reader subscriptions through the month of March was successful beyond our imagination.

We were overwhelmed by the number of responses and touched by a number of supportive notes that were included with the subscriptions.

Next week we will publish the names of all the subscribers, but we wanted to say this early “thank you” to all of you who participated.

—Fred Zehnder

Publisher, The Forum

 

New Steel Reservoir

Being Built

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 04-04-18

 April 18 marks the 112th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake. So yesterday, Bay Area water agencies held a tour of various sites around the East Bay to demonstrate just how they are preparing in the inevitable event of another massive quake.

 One stop was on the Castro Valley/ Hayward border where the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is building a new $15-million steel tank reservoir.

 The 9-million-gallon tank will replace a 50-million-gallon reservoir which was originally made of cement poured over earth. While the new tank will hold far less water, it is also not as vulnerable to being destroyed in a quake.

 In Hayward, EBMUD showed off one of their “interties,” which connect the pipes of different water districts. The four districts that are interconnected in the Bay Area are EBMUD, the Contra Costa Water District, the Santa Carla Water District, and the San Francisco Water Power Sewer.

 It’s that type of regional cooperation that’s going to be key in the event of an earthquake or even just a drought, according to Alison Katsama, EBMUD’s manager of public affairs.

 To have the ability to connect one regional water system to another will allow a more vulnerable water district to get help from one that hasn’t suffered as much damage.

 “If something major were to happen to our major lines, we’d have that back up,” said Katsama.

–Amy Sylvestri

CAPTION: MASSIVE UPGRADE: A new 9 million gallon tank is replacing a reservoir in the Castro Valley/ Hayward hills as part of a seismic upgrade being done by EBMUD.

 

World-class Climber Brings Mountain Adventures to CV Library on Tuesday

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 04-04-18

Tales of Mount Everest, the world’s highest summit, and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, are coming to Castro Valley Library on April 10 at 6:30 p.m.

World-class climber and guide Wilfred Moshi will share his experiences, insights and pictures from both adventures.

Moshi became the first Tanzanian and the third African to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2012. He’s also the founder, owner and chief guide of Kili Treks Tanzania, which leads multiple groups to the 19,341-foot top of Africa each year.

Wilfred will discuss the beautiful sights of the region as well as efforts to conserve it for future generations.  

The event is free, and those who want to learn more about the mountains and maybe even climb them are invited to attend this rare opportunity. For more information, visit www.kilitrekstanzania.com.

 

Sixty Years of ‘Good Times’ For CV Club

By Michael Singer

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 04-04-18

 What do you get when you mix food, family, and fundraising? Just ask the members of the Buon Tempo Club, an Italian-American organization celebrating its Diamond Anniversary this Saturday.

 The anniversary dinner is expected to include a five-course meal prepared by chef Joseph Sotello and a desert crafted by chef Jessica Pacheco. An 18-piece band is expected to perform courtesy of the Castro Valley Adult Orchestra, including Village Barber shop stylist, Al Proietti.

 Jim Murphy, who serves on the Buon Tempo Board of Directors, says the dinner dance is an opportunity to celebrate the heritage of the club but to also attract new members to its current roster of 250.

 “People find a group because they like the membership, they like the food, or they like the amenities,” Murphy says. “It just so happens that I like all three at Buon Tempo.”

 The food is a big draw and Buon Tempo does not disappoint. Cooking is shared among members who want to prepare classic and contemporary Italian fare.

 Recent meals included Italian Roast Beef, Cannelloni, and Fettucine.

 Murphy notes that chefs typically start out during the members-only “Boy’s Night Out” meals before sharing with the broader Family nights. Chefs also come from various other restaurants.

 “We always have member chefs,” Murphy says. “If someone said they were willing to cook for 200 people, we would give them a shot. But we do have our favorites.

 We have one chef that cooks at the Colombo Club in Oakland and one other restaurant and he’s in his 80s. When people hear he’s cooking, the members get excited and more people come out for those meals.”

 The club has a long history of philanthropy including an annual open bocce tournament and a sep-

arate dinner fundraiser to support the George Mark House, a children’s hospice in San Leandro.  

 The club also sponsors several different athletic, academic, and vocational scholarships for high school seniors. To date, the Club has awarded more than $170,000 in scholarships.

 Other fundraisers supported remodeling the San Leandro Main Branch Library and a donation of $3,000 presented to the mayor of the hard-hit Italian city of L’Aquila, which suffered a massive earthquake in 2009.

 Buon Tempo is also a major sponsor of the “Relay for Life” cancer walk and car show as well as a float in the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade.

 Founded by a handful of guys from San Leandro in 1958, the premise was simple: gather together men from the community; cook traditional meals along with great conversation; and support local charitable organizations.

 The group initially bounced around various members’ homes until a long-term property near San Leandro Boulevard was purchased in the late 1960s. The groundbreaking was put on indefinite hold, however, after the city declared eminent domain on the majority of the land for construction of part of the San Leandro BART station.

 After a few temporary relocations, the Club has been working out of Transfiguration Church in east Castro Valley.

 This Saturday’s dinner will include a souvenir wine glass, commemorating the evening. The doors open at 5 p.m. for happy hour with dinner starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for members and family, and $30 for guests.

 

Swallwell to Face Two Challengers

  Rudy L. Peters, a Republican who lives in Livermore, announced his candidacy for Congressional District 15 last week.

  The district includes Castro Valley, Dublin, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, Union City, and parts of Contra Costa County, including San Ramon.

  It is currently represented by Democrat Eric Swalwell who has become nationally prominent because of his frequent guest appearances on TV network and cable news broadcasts.

  The 55-year-old Peters is co-owner and CEO of AARD Solutions, a disabled veteran-owned small business that provides professional engineering services primarily to U.S. Government agencies.

  In a press statement, Peters said his goal is to bring his depth of experience to the public sector to promote individual freedom and enable economic success for all California citizens.

  “I’m interested in leadership that’s more concerned

with doing the right thing—for our district, for our state, for our nation than in continuing the current standard in Washington, doing absolutely nothing except engaging in polarizing partisan politics,” Peters stated.

  He and his wife Cindy have three children. They have resided in Livermore since 1991.

  Swalwell, who will be running for his fourth straight term, is also facing a challenge from Brendan St. John, a 20-year Pleasanton resident who does not state a party preference.

  St. John, 49, is a medical marketing executive and a married father of three teenagers who has had no political or government experience.

  When he announced last fall, St. John said he was “fed up with the divisive rhetoric from both major political parties, and the ineffectiveness of our government.”

  The top two finishers in the June Primary will face each other in a runoff election in November.

 

 

A March for Change

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-28-18

Hundreds of Castro Valley activists including students, parents and teachers joined a massive rally against gun-violence at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco (above) and at more than a dozen other spots around the Bay Area on Saturday afternoon.

 

The March For Our Lives was centered in Washington, D.C., but similar demonstrations were held in cities across the U.S. and around the world in the wake of last month’s shooting at a Florida high school in which 17 people died. At right, Castro Valley teen Isabella Ruiz, a member of the Women’s March Huddle, holds a poster at the San Francisco rally. Huddle lead person Erin Cambra said she was inspired by the large number of youth at the march.

 “It gives me hope that young people are getting active and staying engaged – and they will vote!”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROBONOPHOTO

 

New Art Project Coming

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  03-28-18

 The art installation planned for underneath the I-580 overpass over Redwood Road will be extended, as similar designs will be used to decorate 10 utility boxes on Redwood Road and Castro Valley Boulevard.

 The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard from the Alameda County Arts Commission Director Rachel Osajima about the project. The designs will be based on the “Castro Valley” identifier mural which will be painted on the overpass later this year, with a depiction of rolling hills and a blue sky.

 As with the overpass project, MAC member Chuck Moore once again expressed his concern about the project, saying that the county’s money could be better spent on sidewalks or roads. Osajima again replied that the money was earmarked specifically for art.

 Other MAC members were more enthusiastic.

 “ I think it’s an enhancement in our community,” said Linda Tangren. “It leads to getting a better perspective on who we are.”

 The designs will be vinyl wraps and will be completed before the mural itself. There are plans for having up to 30 utility boxes decorated in the future.

 Also at Monday night’s MAC meeting, the council approved a variety of projects.

see MAC on page 15

 They gave the go-ahead to some preliminary deigns at the Castro Valley Marketplace at the old Daughtrey’s property.

 MAC Chair Marc Crawford said the Marketplace project has the potential to be one of the most exciting in Castro Valley and that he trusted developer Craig Semmelmeyer to guide its future.

 “There is a quality above what we’ve experienced in this,” said Crawford. “ I want to give them as much leeway as possible.”

 The MAC also unanimously approved a new spa in town called “The Floatery” at 2678 Castro Valley Boulevard. Patrons will float in salt water tubs which, the owners say, have therapeutic properties.

 Tangren asked if the business would be subject to similar regulations as massage parlors, some of which have come under fire in Alameda County for illegal practices. She was told that no employees have any physical contact with patrons at The Floatery, so the circumstances are different.

 “We haven’t run into any floating prostitutes yet, so it’s not an issue,” said Crawford.

 The MAC also unanimously gave the go-ahead to a retailer selling alcohol at 22058 Center Street and an application to continue running a preschool at 20121 Santa Maria Avenue.

 

Becca Savery Crowned Rowell Ranch Rodeo Queen

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-28-18

  Becca Savery of Hayward was crowned Miss Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo Queen on March 17 at the annual rodeo kick-off dinner and queen coronation.

  It was a full day of competition for Savery, beginning with horsemanship that morning followed by interviews, impromptu questions and speeches during the evening program.

  Savery is a 24-years-old graduate of Hayward High School and Chabot College who currently works in retail management.

  She fuels her love for horses and all things western by participating in a number of horse events including gymkhana, barrel racing, team penning and roping.

  You’ll often see her running sponsor flags at local rodeos as well, on one of her three horses Bella, Big Chief and Blue. In her spare time she enjoys hunting, training her dog Cali and leather tooling.

  Each year, the Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo Queen Contest is held to select a young woman with the enthusiasm to serve as an ambassador for the Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo, the sport of professional rodeo and the Castro Valley-Hayward community.

  The competition is based on poise, personality, interview skills and horsemanship. Savery will receive more than $1,000 in scholarships and prizes and will represent the Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo and the community for the coming year at events and rodeos throughout the West.

  The 98th Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo will take place May 18-20 at Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park in Castro Valley. Tickets range in price from $17 to $30. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the day of the performance. To purchase tickets or for details about how you can take part in the full cowboy experience and a complete calendar of rodeo activities, visit: rowellranchrodeo.com

CAPTION: Becca Savery of Hayward, newly-crowned Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo Queen.

 

Women’s Huddle Joins Gun Protest

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-21-18

Last Wednesday, members of the Castro Valley Women’s March Huddle gathered at Castro Valley Blvd. and Redwood Road to support students’ positions on gun control. Members included active and retired teachers, healthcare workers, mothers and grandmothers. The participants work together to promote equality, women’s rights, voter participation, and environmental protections through political activism and community service. The group will be participating in the big March for Our Lives rally on Saturday at 1 p.m. in San Francisco’s Civic Center. For information on joining Huddle members for the rally, email: cvwomensmarchhuddle@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY PADRO

 

Residents Express Fears of Wildfires At MAC Meeting

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  03-21-18

   In the aftermath of the deadly fires in Sonoma County last October, some Castro Valley residents are worried that it could happen to them. At Monday night’s Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, they asked what is being done to prevent it.

   “Each dry season, my neighbors and I are really concerned about the possibility of fire,” said John Sullivan, who lives near the Proctor Ridge. “That’s frightening. Could this happen in Castro Valley? Of course it could. All of Castro Valley is vulnerable.”

   The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) says that the most vulnerable portions of town are along the northern border which is a “fire severity” zone, particularly areas adjacent to Lake Chabot and Anthony Chabot Park. But all of Castro Valley is considered to be in at least “moderate” fire danger during the dry season.

   To keep the area as safe as possible, the fire department works in conjunction with the East Bay Regional Parks Fire Department, and the East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) which owns much of the parkland.

   Sullivan suggested to the MAC and the fire officials in attendance that a fire break along the Ten Hills Trail be widened to create a buffer zone between the residential area and the parks. He added that trees and undergrowth have grown exponentially since he moved into his home 30 years ago and they should be cut back.

   “Let’s put everything on the table and together let’s look for a solution,” said Sullivan.

   Some measures for preventing fires are enforcing smoking bans in parks, having strict campfire rules, and working with utility companies to make sure equipment is safe. PG&E power lines are thought to have sparked the Santa Rosa fire.

   Fire Chief David Rocha said that “fuel management is key” in preventing wildfires — in other words, getting vegetation under control so there is less to burn.

   To that end, the parks employ grazing goats to trim grasslands and this week they are bidding out a contract to remove eucalyptus trees from the ridgeline.

   EBMUD board member Frank Mellon says that a frustrating thing sometimes occurs when people hear they are chopping trees; the same neighbors who want their homes protected from fire are critical of removing the highly-flammable eucalyptus trees.

   “You wouldn’t believe the heat we catch from people about cutting the trees,” said Mellon.

   MAC Chair Marc Crawford said the MAC may consider forming a subcommittee on fire safety in the future, but for now EBMUD and the fire department are working on “multi–faceted” plans to protect Castro Valley.

   Other Business

   Also at Monday night meeting, the MAC heard an update from the Alameda County Public Works Department on various projects they’ve been working on around town.

   The department is still recovering from the 2017 storm season, according to public works director Daniel Woldesenbet.

   During the rainy season, they received 380 calls for service and 28 roads were closed.

   In Castro Valley, parts of the northern section of Redwood Road remain closed as the road as crumbled down the hillside. Woldesenbet said they hope to have the road open by mid-April but that can’t be guaranteed.

   “Every time we try to fix it, it keeps sliding,” said Woldesenbet. “These latest rain events haven’t helped.”

   Another big public works project in Castro Valley is the restoration of Cull Creek. The Public Works department is in the process of converting overgrown wetlands into a creek with grasslands surrounding it.

   Woldensenbet said people have rightfully said it doesn’t look great in it’s current state, but they still have to go through several rounds of seeding and growth and it will be competed in the summer of 2019.

 

CVSan Proposes Sewer Pipe Check At the Time Older Homes are Sold

By Ronald P. Williams, Jr.

SPECIAL TO THE FORUM 03-21-18

    Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) is seeking public input into a proposed Private Sewer Lateral (PSL) Program designed to reduce the inflow and infiltration (I&I) of rainwater and groundwater into the public sewer system through PSLs serving single-family homes.

    A PSL is a pipe that connects a building’s plumbing system to the public sewer main, which is typically located in the middle of a street.

    The proposed program would require homeowners to have an inspection of their PSL performed at the time of sale. Once inspected, CVSan would issue a “pass” certificate to homeowners whose PSL doesn’t need to be repaired.

    The “pass” certificates would be valid for 10 years. If the PSL is faulty, repair would be required. Homes that are 20 years old or newer or have had a recent lateral replacement would be exempted from the inspection requirement.

    The most environmentally responsible and safest sewer infrastructure is a “closed” system, or one which prevents outside water sources from entering the system and wastewater from leaving the system.

    Rainwater and groundwater can enter sewer pipes through cracks and/or broken joints, which are primarily caused by root intrusion and deterioration of the pipes due to aging.

    This is called inflow and infiltration, or I&I. As is the case in most jurisdictions in California, homeowners within CVSan boundaries own and are responsible for maintenance and repair of the PSL that transports wastewater from their home to the public sewer system, for which CVSan is responsible (Castro Valley Sanitary District Code § 4.110).

    During rainy conditions, CVSan experiences a greater than 10-fold increase in sewer flows that end up at the Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.

    As a result, CVSan is unnecessarily chemically treating infiltrated water. More importantly, this added burden on CVSan’s sewer system creates the potential for sanitary sewer overflows. A sanitary sewer overflow is when untreated sewage flows out of a sewer system before it reaches the treatment plant, creating obvious health and environmental hazards.

    Overflows may also result in significant fines levied against CVSan by regulatory authorities.

    CVSan works aggressively to maintain its sewer system through regular inspection of its 160 miles of pipelines to identify and repair problems according to the Sanitary Sewer Management Plan which

is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

    As part of CVSan’s long-term plan, the sewer system is fully inspected and maintained in a repeating seven-year cycle.

    There is no current inspection program in place for PSLs. While an inspection can be done at any time, homeowners usually learn of problems with their PSL when they experience a backup or failure, which means that infiltration has been seeping into that PSL for some time.

    In the U.S., EPA’s State of Technology for Rehabilitation Wastewater Collection Systems (July 2010) EPA/600/R-10/078, PSLs are estimated to contribute about 40 percent of a system’s I&I.

    Unfortunately, voluntary compliance with maintenance obligations has been insufficient to maintain CVSan’s closed system. CVSan’s Lateral Replacement Grant Program (LRGP) was implemented in 1998 to encourage inspection and repair of PSLs.

    While successful, the LRGP only assists in repairing about 25 PSLs each year.

    CVSan has been discussing the I&I problem and possible solutions for many years. Since 2014, CVSan has hosted 15 publicly-noticed meetings that included items related to the I&I problem or the proposed PSL program, including 11 meetings in the past year.

    Additionally, CVSan has received input on the program from CVSan’s Community Advisory Committee and local real estate agents. The draft ordinance is now at a stage for public comment.

    CVSan will hold a town hall meeting for the community within the next 60 days; the schedule will be posted and published in the Forum.     

    To learn more about this program, visit www.cvsan.org/PSL.

    Public comments can be submitted to Public Outreach Specialist Natalie Croak through email at natalie@cvsan.org or mailed to ATTN: Natalie Croak, 21040 Marshall Street, Castro Valley, CA 94546.

    CVSan remains committed to long-term planning to maintain and continuously improve its sewer system to reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows, while keeping rates affordable.

    CVSan’s current sewer service charges are 20% lower than the average in Alameda County.

    Roland P. Williams, Jr. is General Manager of the Castro Valley Sanitary District.

 

CV Hummingbird Raises 2 Healthy Babies

By Patrick Vadnais

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-14-18

Betty Johns, a resident of Baywood Court Retirement Community in Castro Valley, has a nice view of a hummingbird and her two babies nesting in a downstairs neighbor’s tree.

 Her neighbor, Ann, first noticed the nest on Feb. 7 on a branch of a Japanese Maple tree. Another neighbor, Kathleen, also enjoys watching the excitement and is helping by keeping a watchful eye on the nest. The mom had been sitting on the eggs for a couple of weeks, keeping them warm. They hatched around Feb. 24.

 The mom occasionally flies off to gather food. She has been very protective, flying back and forth when people come to close.

 The babies will eventually test out their wings in preparation for flight (at around three week old). They will then leave the nest.

 Mom will continue to feed them for two or three days, while showing them good places to catch bugs and get nectar. She will then chase them off to be on their own and they will never to return to the nest.

 Betty enjoys having company stopping by to see the hummingbirds. Her friend Cheryl Lekas took the pictures.

 After mating, the female will find a suitable tree branch and construct a nest the size of a golf ball using moss, spider silk, bark, leaves, feathers and other available materials.

 Hummingbirds usually lay two eggs – about the size of jellybeans – on two different days. When the eggs hatch, the babies are approximately an inch long long and weigh about a third the weight of a dime. The mother will immediately start searching for food.

 Although the adult hummingbirds can live exclusively on nectar, the mom will look for worms, insects, nectar, bugs, and the like for the protein the babies need to grow and develop. The babies must eat often and will die within 4 hours without a food source.

 The female hummingbird is the only one that will care for her babies. The male does not assist with any of the child care.  

 Full grown hummingbirds are approximately 3 to 4 inches in length and weigh 4 to 5 grams. The average life span of a hummingbird is 5 years, but they have been known to live for more than 10 years.more than 10 years.

PHOTO BY CHERYL LEKAS

 

Sewer Pipe Plan Roils  MAC Board

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-14-18

 The Castro Valley Sanitary District is proposing a new lateral pipeline project that could cost Castro Valley homeowners up to $20,000 – an idea that was soundly criticized by the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) at their Monday night meeting.

 CVSan has been considering the program for over a decade, according to Roland Williams, the district’s general manager. MAC member Dave Sadoff  is on the CVSan board and recused himself from the discussion.

 Williams said that the sewer system is overwhelmed in parts of Castro Valley when there is a lot of rain. The issue isn’t sewer water getting out, but rather rain water getting in.

 So CVSan is proposing that homeowners pay for repairs to the lateral lines which extend from their homes to the larger municipal pipes.

 “We are at the very beginning of the outreach portion (of the possible project),” said Williams. “There haven’t been any decisions about when or if this program will go into effect. These issues will need to be addressed one way or another.”

 Williams said the cost of such repairs is around $5,000 for 50 feet of lateral pipe replacement but could range up to as much as $20,000.

 The idea proved unpopular with the MAC, as well as some real estate professionals in the audience – one possible part of the proposal was that the lateral repairs be required when homes change ownership.

 “When you do a termite inspection, you don’t need a governmental agency getting involved in that,” said MAC Chair Crawford.

 Crawford asked if the repairs were being mandated by another agency or authority and Williams said they are not. Crawford was also skeptical of CVSan asking residents to pay for the lateral project when sewer rates in Castro Valley area already higher than other local sanitary districts.

 “We pay some of the highest sewer rates around,” said Crawford. “We are already getting hosed. You want to insert your-

see MAC on page 7

selves into the home-selling process and that seems like a gross overreach of government.”

 Crawford also said that he did not like the fact that CVSan has already drafted a version of the ordinance before doing public outreach.

 David Stark of the Bay East Association of Realtors asked if the lateral repairs were even really necessary or just something CVSan would like done.

 “What is the exact problem they are trying to solve?” asked Stark. “Specifically, where are these leaky pipes and how quickly do they need to be repaired.

 Bill Mulgrew of the Rental Housing Association of Alameda County said that hitting a homebuyer or seller with an extra bill for thousands of dollars would make Castro Valley less appealing in the real estate market and also felt the lateral repairs may not be necessary.

 “It feels like something is sneaking by,” said Mulgrew of the plan.

 CVSan has promised to schedule a town hall meeting in April or May to get more input from Castro Valley residents. The date, time, and location are to be determined.

 

Seniors Send Support to Parkland, Florida Students

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 03-14-18

A group of senior citizens at Castro Valley’s Baywood Court Retirement Community will be sending a message of support to the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where a former student gunned down 17 of their classmates on Feb. 14.

 “The kids from the high school are so incredibly articulate, we just want to support them,” says Baywood resident Marianna Neil.

 The statement, signed by members of the Baywood community, does not take a political stance. Instead, it focuses on a bond the senior citizens want to build with the younger generation. In part, it reads:

 “We are elders of this generation. Most of us in our 80’s and 90’s and yes, even in our 100’s. Sometimes we are referred to as the silent generation. But we still have our voices and hearts that hurt when we hear of killings on our soil and within our schools. Some of us have fought in wars along with comrades and friends who did not survive in order to protect our country from senseless killing. You are our youth — our great and great-great grandchildren, our grand nieces and nephews. We feel your loss as our own.”

 Students from around the country are participating in numerous walkouts.Watching similar violent scenarios play out over and over has frightened and saddened not only the young, but older generations as well.

 “I’m just so afraid every day that when I read the news there will be another one,” says Ruth Haber, President of the Residents’ Association. “We saw the kids with their hands up, signaling to the police they were all right.  

 “We want to let them know we are far away from them, but we still support them and their “Never Again” movement. They’ve already had some results and we support them in what they have to say.”

 The Baywood Court seniors will be sending their statements of support to the students in Parkland, including posters created by residents.  They hope to inspire more people to become involved in this important discussion.

CAPTION: A SHOW OF SUPPORT: Members of Baywood Court Retirement Community sign messages of support for the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. A former pupil massacred 17 of their classmates with an assault weapon on Valentine’s Day.

PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK

 

Three Local Girls Officially Join CV Boy Scout Pack 72

SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  03-07-18

A Castro Valley Boy Scout dinner became part of Scouting  history last month when three girls officially accepted their initiation Bobcat badges.

  Castro Valley Boy Scout Pack 722 initiated the three female scouts into their Tiger/Webelos 1 Den 9 at the annual Blue and Gold Banquet held on the last Saturday night in February.

  Hosted at United Methodist Church this year, the dinner was a birthday party, honoring Scouting and celebrates the founding of Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and Cub Scouts of America in 1930.

  Ziva Gorski, a 6-year-old first-grader at Golden Oak Montessori Charter School, as well as two fourth-grade twins, Faith and Hope Hudson, were welcomed into the nearly 90-year-old organization.

  The unanimous decision was made last fall to allow girls into the club at the start of the new year.

  The Blue and Gold dinner was the first time the girls were officially recognized as members, receiving their badges at the award ceremony along with their fellow male scouts.

  Ziva, a Castro Valley resident, is the youngest of 3 children. Her two older brothers are currently members of the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and their father, Mike Gorski, is a former Boy Scout and a Co/Den leader.

  Faith and Hope Hudson are also Castro Valley residents. Their older brother just received his Arrow of Light and is now a Boy Scout. Their father, Derek is a Co/Den leader as well.

  Two members of the San Francisco Bay Area Council were also in attendance that night.

  “We believe We strive to bring what our organization does best – developing character and leadership for young people – to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders,” stated, the

Boy Scouts of America’s Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh has said the Boy Scouts believe “it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children.”

  For more information, please contact Kim or Mike Gorski @ 510-828-1352 or 925.998.4387

CAPTION:  MAKING LOCAL HISTORY: From left, Ziva Gorski and twins Faith and Hope Hudson, all from Castro Valley, were officially recognized as member of Boy Scout Pack 722 at the annual Blue and Gold dinner February 24 in Castro Valley. 

 

Remembering Internment of Local Japanese Americans

SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  03-07-18

Relocation. Evacuation. Internment. Imprisonment. Incarceration.

   These are all words used to describe the Japanese and Japanese American experience of World War II.

   The stories of those that lived through this period, as well as their descendants, are more relevant today than ever, while we as a society still grapple with issues of immigration, race, and discrimination.

   “Loyal Americans: Japanese American Imprisonment During World War II” is an exhibition of artifacts and stories of people whose civil rights were violated. Conversely, they also show the courage and bravery of ordinary Americans in extraordinary circumstances.

   “Working with the Eden Township Japanese American Citizens League, community members, and speaking directly with the families who were affected by the incarceration has been an amazing experience while heart wrenching at the same time,” says Curator Diane Curry of the Hayward Area Historical Society.

   “Their stories are touching, enlightening, and horrible. The atrocious violation of their civil rights is a lesson we can never forget.”

   Complementing the exhibition are three programs. The first, on April 14, is a family friendly program celebrating traditional Japanese culture. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can participate in making a thousand paper cranes.

   The cranes will be displayed in the museum lobby for the duration of the exhibition, and then sent to the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan to honor those who lost their lives during the atomic bombing in 1945.

   The Eden Aoba Taiko group will also be present during the program to demonstrate taiko drumming beginning at 11 a.m.

   Then on May 12 at 2 p.m., internees who experienced the prison camps first-hand will share their stories and experiences. A third program focusing on civil liberties is scheduled for Aug. 11.

   “Loyal Americans: Japanese American Imprisonment During World War II,” supported by the Eden Township Japanese American Citizens League, will be on display from March 10 through Oct. 28 at the Historical Society’s Museum of History and Culture, 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.   

   A member’s reception, free to the public, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this Friday, March 9, thanks to a generous grant from the Edward E. and Donna L. Martins Foundation.

   For more, call 510-581-0223 or visit: HaywardAreaHistory.org.

CAPTION : This farm family awaits evacuation bus at Hayward Plaza. Father and mother immigrated from Japan, and their eleven children were born in the United States. The father operated a small farm, growing tomatoes and berries.

 

Oakland Ballet’s Spectacle ‘Jangala’ At Center

for the Arts on March 13

By Terry Liebowitz

SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  02-28-18

   Dancing wolves, a hungry tiger, a bear, a panther, a hoard of monkeys, a herd of buffalo and a couple of elephants and peacocks are coming to the Castro Valley Center for the Arts on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. to star in the Oakland Ballet’s “Jangala.”   

   All ages will love this ballet based on Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.  

   Because of the Disney film, Jungle Book, most children already know about Mowgli, the lost boy who is adopted by a pack of wolves and must use his wits to survive in the jungle.  

   The familiar story and the 90 minute length make this a perfect introduction to ballet for families. This is a perfect opportunity for parents and grandparents to introduce their children and grandchildren to classical dance with a twist!

   Artistic Director Graham Lustig’s new version of Jungle Book takes place in an urban city and features an all Indian score with classical ragas (improvisational melodies), bhangra (a genre of Punjabi music), and folkloric music from across India.  

   The combination of classical Indian dance and contemporary ballet is a thrilling spectacle of colors and motion. “Jangala” is the Sanskrit word for jungle.

   In addition to “Jangala,” the Oakland Ballet invited Nadhi Thekkek and the Nava Dance Theater to present “The Little Elephant in the Room.” Again, dancing peacocks, flowering foliage and a life-giving river try to convince just one human that the elephant’s home is worth saving.

   “I am thankful that the Castro Valley Arts Foundation has chosen to sponsor this wonderful opportunity for families,” said Castro Valley  Superintendent of Schools Parvin Ahmadi. “The last two years the Oakland Ballet has held performances during the school day for our students. This is the first time there will be an evening performance so families can attend and enjoy a wonderful ballet.”

   Tickets ($20 for all seats) are available at www.cvartsfoundation.org

CAPTION: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: Oakland Ballet’s “Jangala,” based on Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, will be performed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

 

Superintendent’s Statement on Castro Valley School Safety

By Parvin Ahmadi  CVUSD SUPERINTENDENT 02-28-18 

   Our thoughts and prayers are with victims and families devastated by the tragedy in Florida.  

  In light of tragic events involving intruders on school campuses, I want to assure you that student safety is our highest priority. As required by law, our district and school safety plans are comprehensive and include all aspects of school safety.

  As a part of our continued efforts to improve safety protocols, last summer all administrators and our law enforcement partners participated in training on new emergency procedures called ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate).

  During the next few months, administrators will be training all staff and providing age-appropriate information to students.

  In order to improve safety, this past summer we also replaced all portable communication devices and continue to have monthly district-wide radio checks and practices. In addition, as a part of Measure G, all school security cameras are being replaced with new high-resolution cameras.

  Social and emotional safety of our students are top priorities for us. In line with the District’s core value of ensuring that every student feels safe and supported in school, we have focused our efforts in promoting empathy, compassion and responsibility through Positive Behavior Intervention System and restorative practices.

  Our commitment to students’ social-emotional health is also evident in the Governing Board’s decision not to eliminate elementary school counselors when the federal grant that funded the program was about to sunset. Instead, we worked to re-prioritize expenditures to ensure we continue to have counselors in elementary schools.

  Our new Wellness Center (housed in temporary buildings at Castro Valley High School) is another example of the Castro Valley Unified School District’s commitment to the health and safety of students and staff.

  We are grateful to voters in Castro Valley for approving Measure G, which includes funding for modernization and construction of new facilities such as the Wellness Center. With support from organizations such as Eden Counseling Services, Axis Community Health, Project Eden, and Alameda County Behavioral Health, we are able to increase counseling services at the Wellness Center.

  Parvin Ahmadi is Superintendent of the Castro Valley Unified School District.

 

Old Library Site's Future in Limbo

By Amy Sylvestri  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

  It seemed like a done deal that the old Castro Valley Library site on Redwood Road would be turned into a veterans’ community center, but the county stepped in with an idea to use federal and state money to turn it into veterans’ housing, so now the future of Castro Valley’s second most famous empty building is still up in the air.

  At Monday night’s meeting of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), the county’s General Services Agency said there was a lot of liability connected to the building, which has been disused for nearly a decade.

  They said federal and state funding was available for veterans’ housing and that perhaps the building should be razed and new apartments constructed with a veterans’ community center on the bottom floor.

  The idea wasn’t popular with the MAC, nor the veterans in attendance.

  “I’m flabbergasted that a project that everyone was on board with had the rug pulled out on it,” said MAC member Dave Sadoff.

  Veteran Mike Martin said that both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion would be willing to raise funds on their own to get rid of any asbestos, water damage, and other issues necessary to make the building habitable.

  “Why can’t we fund it ourselves?” asked Martin.

  Ethel Gilmore, who works to find housing for homeless vets and to get them access to care and support, said the library site isn’t the right place for housing, as it’s too small

see MAC on back page

 — less than an acre — and too far away from Fremont and Livermore where veterans’ services are located.

  “I can’t believe we are going to cram then in,” said Gilmore. “Let’s be fair with them and let’s be fair with the property.”

  Neighbor Steve Turner said he would be fine with the veterans’ community center, but there isn’t space there for a multi-story apartment complex and parking garage.

  “Yes, there are appropriate times to say ‘not in my backyard,’” said Turner.

  MAC Chair Marc Crawford said the MAC doesn’t want to see the old library building torn down.

  “I’m not willing to give up on the building and I don’t thing this community is either,” said Crawford.

  Crawford said he wants the veterans, the MAC, and the community to talk, and for the matter to come back before the MAC in another month or two.

  Discussion of a new use for the old Castro Valley Library is on the agenda of the County Unincorporated Services meeting, tonight (Feb. 28) at 6:30 p.m. at the San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande.

  Other Business

  At Monday’s MAC meeting, the council also approved the subdivision of a property at 19241 Carlton Ave. into three parcels. The MAC also continued discussion of a number of items including signage at 2806 Castro Valley Blvd, a spa at 2678 Castro Valley Blvd., and the division of a church property at 4779 Heyer Ave. to be discussed at future meetings.

 

 

Local ‘Traders Sporting Goods’ to Close Next Month

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 02-21-18

   Traders Sporting Goods, a longtime, family-owned sporting goods store, is shutting its doors for good after 60 years in the community.

   Owner, Mark Cucchiara made the announcement last week in an advertisement that the company will sell off its inventory at its location on Castro Valley Boulevard near Chester Street.

   The store specializes in gun safes, ammunition, and supplies for hunting and fishing. Traders has not sold firearms since 2006 and never at its Castro Valley address.

   Cucchiara says there were a lot of factors leading him to his decision to shut down. Interacting with his regular customers is one thing 57-year-old Mark says he will miss the most.

   “Throughout the years, and all of the customers I’ve dealt with, it’s been a pleasure to help them buy their hunting and camping gear. Because you go back a long ways of time with them and I will miss that,” Cucchiara told the Castro Valley Forum.

   A series of obstacles motivated Cucchiara’s decision. Rent has increased substantially on his 1,300-square foot store. Sales are drastically down. Parking in the area is limited to a few spaces on the street, and worst of all, customers often use Traders as a place to try before they buy the same products online, such as on Amazon.com.

   “Eight out of 10 of my customers come in and take a look around and then end up buying on Amazon,” Cucchiara says. “I had a player from the Oakland Raiders come in one time and look at a hand-held taser before he took out his phone and purchased it without shipping charges.”

   The original Traders Sporting Goods opened in 1958 in San Leandro on East 14th Street near Dutton Avenue. Cucchiara’s father, Tony, faithfully ran the business with his son joining him in 1975.

   The store was a central location for hunters and gun enthusiasts. A clerical error in 2006 and new gun restrictions forced the company to eliminate its firearms sales. The store reopened in 2010 after a Castro Valley location was secured.

   Ammunition and other items are not as easy to purchase online. New laws take effect in 2019 requiring a background check on purchases of ammo, so Cucchiara is hoping to sell his stock quickly.

   Reminiscing about his business in Castro Valley, Cucchiara says he was not as negatively influenced by the street improvement projects on the Boulevard. However, closure of the Castro Valley Gun Club and shifting attitudes of younger people towards camping have hurt his bottom line.

   “Younger customers are interested in fishing and hunting, but mostly because they are accompanying a parent or grandparent,” Cucchiara says.

   Cucchiara says it will be nice to have his weekends back again after the store closes. He adds that he might even take his own fishing trip. Traders is expected to hold its final sales the week of March 5.

CAPTION:Purchasing equipment online and shifting attitudes about outdoor sports among younger people have resulted in the closure of Traders after a 60-year history in sporting goods.

PHOTO BY FRED ZEHNDER

 

 

Shared Parking Lot Grand Opening

After months of construction, Castro Valley celebrated the Grand Opening of the Shared Parking and Paseos project at 3295 Castro Valley Boulevard yesterday afternoon. Despite the wintry cold, more than a hundred people turned out for the brief ceremonies and ribbon-cutting, which featured Community Development Agency Director Chris Bazar, County Supervisor Nate Miley and Kathy Knudsen. The $4.8-million retain revitalization projects creates a parking lot from the western entrance of the Daughtrey’s building to Wilbeam Avenue, with parking, lighting and landscaping extending behind the Ice Creamery building and other stores.

 

Shimizu Named To Hall of Fame

By Amy Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 02-14-18

Winda Shimizu of Castro Valley has been named one of 13 leaders to be inducted into the 2018 Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame. This year marks the 25th anni-versary of the creation of the Hall of Fame, which recognizes the con-tributions that women make in the community. Inductees are selected in a vari-ety of areas, including education, law and justice, philanthropy, ath- Winda Shimizu letics, and technology. Shimizu will be inducted for her contributions to culture and art. In addition to creating her own photographic art, Shimizu has expanded arts programming in Castro Valley schools and created scholarship programs to promote local artists. Shimizu is the executive director of the Hayward Arts Council and is also on the Board of Directors of the Castro Valley Education Foundation. She is the chair of a creative writing workshop for middle and high school students at the Castro Valley Library and she has promoted poetry shows for students in the Castro Valley School District. Shimizu’s photography has been exhibited at the Adobe Art Gallery, the Foothill Gallery, and Hayward City Hall. Shimizu and her fellow honorees will be inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame at a luncheon and awards ceremony on March 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland. Tick-ets to the event are available at www.acgov.org/whof/.

CAPTION: Winda Shimizu

 

Eden Award 2018 Honorees

Some 180 guests were on hand Saturday evening for the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce gala Eden Awards for 2018 held at Redwood Canyon Golf Course. From left, Ala-meda County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Swalwell who received the “First Responder of the Year” award; Dr. Heidi Hausauer, who was named “Volunteer of the Year”; Maria Leyson who received the Castro Valley School District’s “Teacher of the Year” honors; and, representing the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Board President Carol Pereira and General Manager Paul McCreary accepted the “Business Organization of the Year” award. Not pictured was Dawn Wilson, the San Lorenzo School District “Teacher of the Year,” who was unable to attend. One of the evening’s highlights was Congressman Eric Swalwell who flew in for the event to pay tribute to younger brother Jacob and all first responders who put their lives on the line every day. Castro Valley Rotary President Jim Negri was master of ceremonies for the evening.

PHOTO BY CATHY BRESLOW OF BRESLOW IMAGING

 

CVSan’s First Fruit Gleaning Harvests 823 Pounds of Citrus

  Last Tuesday, as a part of Zero Waste Week 2018, CVSan organized a community tree fruit gleaning and harvesting of local citrus trees bursting with extra fruit.  

Thirteen volunteers of all ages worked hard last Tuesday afternoon to save fruit that would otherwise have become waste.

Thanks to nine Castro Valley homeowners who opened their yards to the volunteers, a total of 823 pounds of juicy and sweet oranges, grapefruits, and lemons were saved during the two-hour harvest and delivered to the Castro Valley Food Pantry at Faith Lutheran Church.

There is more citrus still out there for saving and donating. If other members of the community would like to organize their own fruit gleaning, they should contact CVSan at contact@cvsan.org for information.

For more information on CVSan’s Zero Waste Week or Green Hearts Volunteer Program, visit www.cvsan.org/ZeroWaste or www.cvsan.org/GreenHearts.

CAPTION:  The volunteer crew of tree fruit gleaners for Zero Waste Week picked lower fruit by hand while others used CVSan’s telescoping fruit pickers during last week’s harvest. More than 800 pounds of fresh citrus fruits were picked by volunteers from the yards of nin Castro Valley homeowners. 

CVSAN PHOTOS   

 

Wake the Dead – A Scotch/Irish Twist to Music of Grateful Dead

By Terry Liebowitz

SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  02-14-18

Next up in the Castro Valley Arts Foundation 2017-18 Series is Wake the Dead, Saturday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

Explaining the curious title, their tagline is: “A Celtic Celebration of the Grateful Dead.”  

Rock grooves, fiery reels, achingly beautiful melodies, they put an Irish/Scottish twist to the music of The Grateful Dead!

Wake the Dead was born in 2000 when Cindy Browne (double bass), Danny Caranahan (vocals, octave mandolin, guitar fiddle), Kevin Carr (fiddle, uilleann pipes, penny whistle), Sylvia Herold (vocals, guitar), Paul Kotapish (vocals, mandolin) and Brian Rice (hand percussion) got together to create a brand-new sound.

When Wake the Dead released their first album, Grateful Dead Records took one listen and immediately signed the band, selling 25,000 copies of the CD and booked Wake the Dead at the Fillmore.  

Since then they regularly play at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley.

Whether you are new to the Grateful Dead’s songs “Sugar Tree,” “Bertha,” “China Cat,” “Bird Song,” or you remember them with nostalgia, this will be a special evening.  

Arts Foundation President Mary Ann De Grazia says, “Think Irish wake—a rollicking good time!” Go to www.cvartsfoundation.org for tickets.

Terry Liebowitz is a founding member of the Castro Valley Arts Foundation.

CAPTION:  Wake the Dead will perform at the CV Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24.

 

Info Night Tomorrow
For TK, Kindergarten

The Castro Valley School District will hold a parent information night from 6 to 7 p.m. tomorrow in the District Board Room, 4400 Alma Ave., for children entering Transitional Kindergarten.

Transitional Kindergarten, commonly referred to as TK, is a publicly funded program for 4-year-olds who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2, and is designed to be a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.

To allow younger siblings of current students to enroll in the same school, the district has arranged a priority sibling enrollment period for the upcoming year that will run from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28 for district residents.

Enrollment for new TK and Kindergarten students begins on Thursday, March 1.

To enroll a student for Kindergarten or TK for the 2018-19 school year, follow the instructions found on the Enrollment tab at www.cv.k12.ca.us.

 

Mission to  Mars

‘Landing’ in Castro Valley in 2 weeks

BY TUCKER HIATT

  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  2-07-18

Pascal Lee is almost a Martian. He likely knows the Red Planet as well as any Earth-bound human.

Dr. Lee is a planetary scientist who is internationally recognized for his study of Martian water, of Mars’ moons, and of future human voyages to Mars.

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, two weeks from today – Dr. Lee will present “Mission: Mars—Toward the First Human Journey to the Red Planet” at Castro Valley’s Center for the Arts.

This free lecture/adventure is sponsored by three community organizations: Castro Valley Education Foundation (cvef.org), Castro Valley Science (cvscience.us), and Wonderfest (wonderfest.org). To learn more and to register, visit: bit.ly/go-mars.

Dr. Lee, is also Chairman of the Mars Institute, Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute, and Director of NASA’s Haughton-Mars Project.

To fully secure that “almost Martian” title, Dr. Lee has led over 30 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica to study the Red Planet by comparison with Earth.

Dr. Lee’s personal history is almost as interesting as his explorations. Born in Hong Kong, he lived in France as a child. As a teenager, Lee already had his eyes on the stars.

He pursued amateur astronomy and read every book he could on space travel as he earned his bachelor’s in physics and masters in geology from the University of Paris.

Lee earned an astronomy PhD from Cornell, working with Prof. Joseph Veverka, a pioneer in robotic exploration of the solar system.

During that time, Cornell was also home to world-renowned astronomer Carl Sagan. Lee became the legendary science popularizer’s very last teaching assistant.

Lee’s work at NASA’s Ames Research Center and SETI takes him to the Arctic every summer to Devon Island, one of the most Mars-like places on Earth.

Recently, Dr. Lee led the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition along the fabled Arctic Northwest Passage. This daring adventure, a glimpse into what a future Martian road trip might be like, is the subject of the award-winning documentary film Passage To Mars, released to much acclaim in 2016.

As great explorers go, they often have a trusty companion.  Lewis had Clark, Armstrong had Aldrin, and Kirk had Spock. Lee is no exception, for his sidekick is his trusted dog, King Kong, who bravely accompanies him to every hostile and desolate place, from pole to pole… and, at talks.

In his scarce free time, Dr. Lee likes to be walked by his dog, to paint, and fly helicopters. He is an FAA certified flight instructor on rotorcraft, which he views as analogous to future Mars exploration craft.

At the upcoming community presentation of “Mission: Mars,” Dr. Lee will discuss progress made around the world — from the Arctic to Antarctica, from basement labs to the International Space Station — in preparing for humanity’s first voyage to Mars.

Dr. Lee will also sign copies of his first book, “Mission: Mars,” winner of the 2015 Prize for Excellence in children’s science books from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Tucker Hiatt, a former high school physics teacher, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Wonderfest – Bay Area Beacon of Science. For more information and photos of Mars, visit mars.nasa.gov

 

‘ Trails Challenge’  Marks 25th Year

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  02-07-18

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the East Bay Regional Park District’s signature outdoor activity program, Trails Challenge.

aunched in 1993 to get East Bay residents moving outdoors and exploring their trails, the program makes it easy for hikers of all abilities to get to know and love their Regional Parks.

“The 2017 Trails Challenge was great,” said 2017 participant Diane Petersen. “I’ve been hiking at the same park (Mission Peak) forever and Trails Challenge got me out to other amazing parks in the region.”

“My pups especially liked the Trails Challenge because they got to go to new parks with new sniffs!” added Petersen.

To complete the 2018 Trails Challenge, participants need to hike a marathon’s length of trails (26.2 miles) or at least five of the 20 designated hikes in the Trails Challenge guidebook.

“Trails Challenge is about people connecting with nature,” said David Zuckermann, the district’s recreation services manager. “Hiking is one of the best ways people can enjoy our Regional Parks.”

Each year, a new Trails Challenge guidebook highlights 20 different trails throughout the parks. From shorelines to ridgetops, there is something for everyone.

handy matrix helps readers choose from easy, medium or challenging hikes, and to identify trails accessible to wheelchair users, and those that allow dogs, bikes or horses.

articipation in Trails Challenge is easy – simply visit www.ebparks.org/TrailsChallenge to download the guidebook and get started. No online registration is required. Free printed guidebooks and T-shirts are also available at participating Visitor Centers while supplies last.

see TRAILS on page 15

Participants who complete the challenge and turn in their log by December 1 will receive a commemorative Trails Challenge pin.

This year, all 20 featured trails are featured on the free mobile app AllTrails. Download the app, sign-up and log in, then go to: alltrails.com/lists/trails-challenge-2018 and click on “Copy to my lists.” Then click “Continue in App.” The featured trails will show under ‘Lists’ in ‘Plan.’

The 2018 featured hikes include these nearby parks: Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area and the Lake Chabot Regional Park, both in Castro Valley, Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda, Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks in Hayward, Dublin Hills Regional Park in Dublin, Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley/Orinda Hills, and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland.

CAPTION: Diane Petersen of Hayward, a participant in the 2017 Trails Challenge, at Garin Regional Park.

EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT PHOTO

 

CV Volunteers and Chamber Honored

The Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) has recognized two Castro Valley men – Veterinarian Rene Gandolfi and activist Billy Bradford – for their volunteer contributions to the community during the past year.

Dr. Gandolfi, a volunteer for HARD since 1987, has logged over 3,100 hours in helping with the care of the more than 100 resident animals at Sulphur Creek as well as the 700 injured, sick, and orphaned native wildlife that are brought in for rehabilitation each year.

He has shared his veterinary skills free of charge and is always on call for a variety of services including surgeries, X-rays, pathology tests, and general exams.

Billy Bradford has volunteered for HARD’s Senior Adult Programs for the past three years. He is founder of “Castro Valley Pride,” a community event to raise awareness and promote equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender people.

see HARD on back page

Bradford also operates “Bad Business Model Bikes” out of his Castro Valley garage where he acquires used bikes, refurbishes them, and then gives them to those in need. He has not tracked how many bikes he has given away or how much money he has spent, but he says he loves what he does.

The district also paid special recognition to the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce and to CAHR, a nonprofit organization founded 45 years ago to enrich the lives of those with intellectual disabilities which was forced to dissolve in 2015 for financial reasons.

The Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber, which serves Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo besides Castro Valley, was honored for its sponsoring of a variety of positive programs to area residents and partnering with HARD on many others.

In addition, HARD recognized the Hayward Junior Giants Program, and named Christina Sonas as Volunteer of the Year.

CAPTION: Dr. Gandolfi - Billy Bradford

 

Chamber Installs Leaders for 2018

 A large crowd was on hand last Thursday evening at the Moose Lodge for the installation of the Castro Valley/Eden Area Board of Directors for 2018. The new officers were sworn in by Assemblymember Bill Quirk. Shown from left, Hans Cho, Bryan Daylor (Treasurer), Kathy Anderson, Sandra Macias, Bill Mulgrew, Julie Sumiki, Captain Marty Neideffer, Zelma Byrd, David Gehrke (Vice President), Assemblymember Quirk, Peter Rosen (Vice President), Tim Castle (Board President), Cindy Torres (Vice President) and Brian Morrison (Vice President).

PHOTO BY FRED ZEHNDER

 

County ‘In Good Health Financially’

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  1-31-18

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley discussed a range of local issues — everything from homelessness to mattresses being dumped on the side of the road — during a live-streamed “State of the District” speech online last week.

On the county’s $3.1 billion budget, which had a $108 million deficit this fiscal year, Miley lamented that for every dollar of property tax, the county only gets 15 cents, so the county depends on state and federal money for most of its funding.

That federal funding could be jeopardized, he said, if the county doesn’t cooperate with the Trump administration on issues like immigration enforcement. But Miley said that he was committed to continuing to provide services for the county’s immigrant population.

“We’re doing that irrespective of what’s happening on the federal level,” he told viewers.

Despite the large budget gap, Miley said the county is in “good health financially” and unemployment remains low.

He criticized Trump’s tax plan, but said it remains to be seen how much it will affect his constituents.

“I’m hoping that this doesn’t have a significant impact on the county, but we’ll see how it plays out,” said Miley.

He promoted a proposed $140 million county sales tax on the June ballot which would fund early childhood education programs.

witching gears, Miley said that Alameda County is in “the sports biz” despite the ongoing issue of a new stadium for the A’s and the impending departure of the Warriors and Raiders. He wants to keep the A’s at the Coliseum and he’d like to see an expansion football team return to Oakland.

Miley said affordable housing needs to be a priority in his district and discussed the feasibility of 200-square-foot tiny homes as one solution.

“I’d live in a tiny home, it’s like living in a dormitory” said Miley, who went on to call the lack of affordable housing and increasing homelessness a “crisis that needs immediate attention.”

Miley named helping seniors, violence prevention, and making sure the unincorporated areas are fairly represented in county governance as areas he’ll focus on in 2018.

Finally, Miley talked about recreational marijuana, saying the county will have to develop regulations concerning delivery, cultivation, and other factors, now that recreational use has become legal.

“We aren’t naive enough to think that there won’t be issues associated with cannabis,” said Miley, but he said it should be regulated like alcohol and cigarettes.

The Board of Supervisors is creating a public awareness campaign called “weed can wait” to discourage young people from using pot before they are 21.

Miley said the main take away from his talk is that the people of District 4 – which includes Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland and parts of Oakland – should get involved in local government and shouldn’t hesitate to call his office at 272-6694 with any issue.

“Get involved and get engaged,” said Miley. “We can’t do this on our own.”

The entire speech can be seen at facebook.com/pg/SupervisorMiley

 

 MAC MEETING

Neighbors Want to Keep l-Way Barrier On Gary Drive

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  1-31-18

A standing-room-only crowd at the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting Monday night heard an update from the county on the one-way closure of Gary Drive, and changes coming to some Caltrans-owned parcels.

At the intersection of Strobridge Drive and Gary Avenue, there is a concrete island and two “Do Not Enter” signs that prevent people from turning left from the I-580 exit and into a residential area. It blocks only one lane and traffic can flow in the opposite direction, allowing people to leave the area.

The barrier was erected in 2005 and was originally going to be temporary. The county’s Public Works Agency told the audience that opening up the other lanes would help with traffic circulation and the county does not typically put restrictions on a public street.

But most of the residents who addressed the MAC want the barrier to remain. It might add several minutes to their commute time by forcing them to use a longer route around the barrier, but it also prevents thousands of drivers from using their neighborhood as a short cut.

When the barrier was put up, a traffic study estimated that 4,000 cars per day were using the route. Now, with

see MAC on page 7

 web apps like Waze, drivers know about shortcuts and residents said they fear there would be even more traffic.

“This road is not built for that kind of capacity,” said Hobert Street resident Derek Hudson. “It’s inconvenient for all of us that live there but we’re the ones that have to live there and we prefer it (the barrier). I’d rather take three or four extra minutes driving and have our neighborhood.”

The MAC directed the Public Works Department to look at some alternative solutions, perhaps moving the barrier to past Strobridge Elementary School so residents would have a bit more freedom of movement, but people still couldn’t use it as a thoroughfare.

“I see no reason at all to remove a bypass before we find a solution for the neighborhood,” said MAC member Chuck Moore. “The convenience of commuters shouldn’t outweigh the homeowners.”

The MAC also heard about the future of several parcels of land owned by Caltrans located near I-238.

In the 1970s, Caltrans planned a I-238 bypass expansion and purchased 400 parcels in the vicinity of Castro Valley and Hayward. The project was eventually abandoned and the properties have been sold off. Just 10 remain, including two that encompass parts of Castro Valley.

Hayward City Manager Kelly McAdoo said that by 2022, Hayward will create a master plan to determine desirable uses for the property from input they are currently getting from residents. McAdoo said that additional housing has been one idea.

Speakers said they were concerned about new construction affecting their views, disturbing wildlife, and bringing more crowding and traffic to the area.

MAC Chair Marc Crawford was also critical, saying the sale of the property would be a “sweetheart deal” for the city of Hayward, as they are the property owners and would be in the position of approving developers and profiting from the developments.

Crawford said that, going forward, he’d like to have a discussion about whether some profits from the sale of the property could be earmarked for Castro Valley.

“There should be some sort of benefit for Castro Valley,” said Crawford.

 

White Stripes to Be Painted on Stanton Avenue

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-31-18

The Alameda County Public Works Agency has been actively seeking innovative solutions to the long-standing issue of vehicles parked on dirt pathways or unimproved sidewalks.

These blocked pathways force pedestrians to walk into streets to maneuver around the obstacles.

As part of a new pilot program, the Public Works Agency will be installing white line striping in gutter areas to better define the area intended for use by pedestrians.  

This first installment of white edge-line striping will appear along Stanton Avenue, between Castro Valley Boulevard and Somerset Avenue.  Other locations in Castro Valley are also being evaluated for consideration.

A longer-term solution for Stanton Avenue is also in the works. After securing grant funding for sidewalk installation, the Public Works Agency has started preliminary design activities for sidewalks along Stanton Ave. between Castro Valley Blvd. and Miramar Avenue.

More information on the conceptual design will be available this spring.

For more on the edge line striping, contact the Maintenance and Operations Department at 510-670-5500.

 

Women’s March 2018

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-24-18

Hundreds of women and men from Castro Valley joined a rally of an estimated 50,000 people at the Alameda County Court House Saturday morning for a march through Oakland in support of women’s rights and against the Trump administration. The energetic audience heard women speakers and joined in song with the Oakland folk group Emma’s Revolution. This was just one of scores of rallies and marches in towns and cities across the United States marking the anniversary of the nationwide Women’s March in DC against the incoming president last year. The Oakland march ended at Frank Ogawa Plaza with a “Call to Action” by a number of women’s advocacy groups.                                                                    PHOTOS BY DAWN MARTIN

 

Chamber Announces 2018 Eden Awards

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-24-18

The Castro Valley/ Eden Area Chamber of Commerce has announced this year’s selections for the 2018 Eden Area Awards.

Alameda County Deputy Sheriff Jacob Swalwell was named “First Responder of the Year,” Dr. Heidi Hausauer will receive the “Volunteer of the Year” award, Maria Leyson was named Castro Valley School District “Teacher of the Year,” Dawn Wilson will receive the San Lorenzo School District’s “Teacher of the Year” award, and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District will be awarded the “Business Organization of the Year.”

A celebration of the honorees will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, at Redwood Canyon Golf Course, 17007 Redwood Road, in Castro Valley.

The gala evening will include dinner, desserts and silent auction.

For tickets ($75), please visit: edenareachamber.com.

 

First of BART’s New
Railcars Make Debut

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-24-18

Ten new BART train cars made their debut Friday morning with first customers boarding at MacArthur Station for the inaugural passenger run.

The first riders seemed most impressed by how clean the new cars were. But they also liked a whole list of other improvements including quieter rides because of new, tapered wheels, better air conditioning, and more comfortable padded seats.

The most notable difference is that the new cars have three doors on each side instead of two which will allow for quicker on-and-off boarding.

That’s important because BART is working towards carrying more passengers in the future. Since 2012, when 775 new rail cars were ordered, ridership has grown 14 percent. Train routes are color-coded to match the BART system map, and next-stop     

information is readily available on digital screens and easier-to-understand recorded announcements.

Another 10 new cars are awaiting final testing on the system before being put into service.

CAPTION: BART’s new cars made their first passenger run Friday. 

SHOTS SCREEN SHOTS FROM BART VIDEO

 

CV Rock Legend to Have Day in Honor

Cliff Burton, the Castro Valley native who went on to become a bassist for the heavy metal band Metallica before dying in an accident at the age of 24, will have a day named in his honor.

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) voted unanimously at their Monday night meeting to make Feb. 10 (Burton’s birthday) “Cliff Burton Day.”

The proclamation will now go to the Alameda County Board of Supervisor for approval.

Burton was 20 years old when he joined Metallica and played with them until his death in September of 1986. He was killed when the band’s tour bus crashed in Sweden.

Burton was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and has been named one of the top ten greatest bassists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Currently, a small plaque commemorates Burton at Marshall Elementary School, where he attended before graduating from Castro Valley High, but the MAC felt Burton deserves further recognition

“I think (the proclamation) is a great idea,” said MAC member Linda Tangren. “If I didn’t say it was a great idea, my older daughter would come after me.”

AC Chair Marc Crawford said he couldn’t recall the MAC making any other proclamations naming days after notable Castro Valley figures and said they were “breaking new ground” in honoring Burton.

n-Law Units

Also at Monday night’s MAC meeting, the council heard from the county’s Community Development Agency about the state’s new regulations for “accessory dwelling units.”

Sometimes called in-law units, these structures are add-ons to existing homes. They are becoming more popular as soaring real estate costs are forcing people to consider alternative housing solutions in the Bay Area.

The state of California is making a push to make it easier for people to build accessory dwelling units by cutting through some red tape and streamlining the application process, explained Christina Horrisberger, a senior planner with the county.

“The state wants more leniency rather than more restrictions,” said Horrisberger.

The MAC expressed concerns about parking as well as the visual impact of more structures on smaller pieces of land.

“It leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” said Tangren. “It’s not that I don’t understand the need for more housing, but it’s our local communities that are going to be affected.”

Crawford said that “not in my backyard” views are when the state stepped in to change the process in the first place.

“Overly restrictive attitudes are why the state is taking action,” said Crawford.

Changes to the current policies governing the specifications of creating accessory dwelling units will now go to the Board of Supervisors for approval in the next few months.

Other Business

The MAC also unanimously approved two land uses – the construction of a 2,950-square-foot single family home at 5922 Jensen Road, and an application to allow up to 51 children at a child care facility at 20166 Wisteria Street.

CAPTION: Castro Valley native Cliff Burton will have a day named in his honor

 

Martin Luther King Day 2018

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-17-18

 

 

Smalltown Society: Popular Hang-Out for  Artists, Musicians, Community Advocates

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-17-18

   If you’ve wondered what’s in the little storefront to the left of Trader Joe’s grocery, the Smalltown Society invites you to drop by and take a look.

   The space welcomes anyone in the community who wants to make our area a better place — especially artists, musicians, and advocacy groups.

   “It started with my band called Smalltown Society, where we were writing songs about the various social issues we saw in the community,” says lead curator Paul Keim. “After the band recorded an album, I turned to my wife and said, ‘I don’t think we’re done here.’ ”  

   First Presbyterian Church provided the space next to Trader Joe’s for this new type of community outreach, which now includes daytime and evening activities.

   Smalltown Society hosts a variety of events, including speakers, films, forums, rehearsal and performance space, and artists’ workspace.

   “We want to foster and highlight more beauty and justice in the community. Volunteers are keeping the doors open every Wednesday through Friday.

   Every Thursday night we have an open door session, which is like a community living room. We hope more people will come. And they can get snacks and drinks next door at Trader Joe’s,” says Keim with a smile.

   When he first took on the role of lead curator/community organizer, Keim thought it best just to listen to the hopes and issues brought up by people in the community.

   He discovered an impressive and diverse array of talented and knowledgeable locals, including a variety of artists and people doing advocacy work.  

   The space’s calendar is now full of events, and may be viewed online at www.smalltownsociety.com. Of special interest may be “The Lab” (musician/poet workshop) next Tuesday, Jan. 23, and a writers’ workshop with local author Mark Vaz on Feb. 9.

   Hours for the Smalltown Society space are 9 to 5, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Additional events are also held outside those days.

   Questions about the gathering space may be directed to info@smalltownsociety.com.

CAPTION: This space next to Trader Joe’s in Castro Valley houses the Smalltown Society Space, a popular spot for local artists and advocates to hold their meet-ups.

PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK

 

Miley to Deliver Virtual ‘State of  District’ Speech

 

 Yet Another Hazard for Pedestrians

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-17-18

 

    You’re about to step off the sidewalk and cross the street.

   You remember the old adage: make eye contact with the driver, so you know that they see you before you step in front of a car.

   But how do you do that when so many cars have tinted windows?

   A lot of cars these days have their driver’s side windows darkened. All you see is a blackened window. Do you step in front of a 4,000-pound motor vehicle when the driver could be looking the other way, or at their phone?

   To not be able to see the driver puts a person walking in jeopardy, and that’s why there is a law against tinting the front windows (the driver’s side and passenger’s side windows).

   It’s okay to darken the backseat windows, but not the front ones.

   But it turns out that law doesn’t do much because more and more cars have tinted windows that hide the driver. Safety organizations and law enforcement don’t exactly have window tinting as a top priority.

   It is against the vehicle code to have the front driver side or passenger side windows tinted, said Chris Cochran, spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety.

   “I agree it would be hard to catch the eye of someone behind a front driver side tinted window,” Cochran said.

   Cochran said that’s about as far as his knowledge on the subject goes. He added that enforcement is up to each law enforcement agency.

 The National Safety Council said they aren’t familiar with any studies on window

 tinting and pedestrian safety, and that accident reports don’t track window tinting.

   After asking their road safety experts, the consensus was that window tinting was not an issue that the National Safety Council has been involved with, said the NSC’s spokesperson Tatyana Warrick.

   Law enforcement uses their own discretion when enforcing the laws, Warrick said. With pedestrian fatalities, the NSC looks at speed, distraction and impairment, which are also the primary causes of motor vehicle fatalities, she said.

   The National Safety Council has seen an influx of pedestrian and other “vulnerable road user” fatalities over the past two years, Warrick added. But it’s not know if the increase is caused by tinted windows.

   Police issue tickets for illegally tinted car windows, though it’s difficult to determine just how often.

   It would be hard to get the number of tickets written for tinted windows, said San Leandro police spokesman Isaac Benabou.

But it is a citable offense, he added.

   “It’s a violation of the vehicle code,” Benabou said. “It’s a citable offense. We do enforce it, but it would be up to the officer’s discretion whether or not to issue a ticket.”

 

Castro Valley Sisters Achieve The Status of  ‘All American’

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-10-18

 

   Anna and Maya Dughi of Castro Valley recently competed in the USA Track & Field Cross-Country Nationals in Tallahassee, Florida. Anna, at left in both pictures, placed 8th out of 302 of the fastest 9-10 year-old girls in the nation with her sister Maya placing 14th. 

   Ten-year-old sisters Anna and Maya Dughi of Castro Valley traveled to Florida last month to compete in the USA Track & Field Cross-Country Nationals in Tallahassee.

  Anna placed 8th out of 302 of the fastest 9-10 year-old girls in the nation.

To get a feel for the pace, the winner averaged 5:47 minutes per mile for the 1.86 mile (3 km) course – a track star at most high schools. Anna averaged 6:01 minutes per mile for a total time of 11:14 min.

   This is Anna’s 3rd “All American” title (top 25) for cross-country. She also received a special award for 3 undefeated regular seasons.

   However, this was really Maya Dughi’s race, easily achieving the goal of her first “All American” title by placing 14th.

   She exceeded her own expectations, averaging 6:09 minutes per mile for a final time of 11:28, not far behind Anna.

   Even more impressive, she passed three girls in the final 30 meters by maintaining focus and determination to the end!

   The girls, who attend Independent Elementary School, are the daughters of Garland and Bruce Dughi of Castro Valley.

 

New Library Program Will Celebrate Reading and
Community Discussion

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-10-18

 

   The Castro Valley Library will kick off its first annual Castro Valley Reads on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 2  to 3:00 p.m.

   Following the lead of successful city-wide “read” programs from across the country, the library is seeking to get as many people as possible to read and discuss the same book.

   The idea is to celebrate reading, great literature, and to build community through a thoughtful exchange of ideas.

   “A library is at its best when it is promoting community engagement through excellent programming,” said Dawn Balestreri, branch manager.

   “With Castro Valley Reads we want to answer the questions: What would happen if everyone in Castro Valley read the same book? What could we learn from each other? What could we learn together? We hope you’ll join us and find out!”

   The 2018 book selection is the best-selling memoir, Lab Girl, a book about science and the environment by acclaimed scientist Hope Jahren.

   Lab Girl is the witty and moving coming-of-age story of an American geo-biologist. Jahren has spent her life studying plants, seeds and soil to learn about our environment both past and present. A fierce advocate for funding scientific research, she wants all of us to be good stewards of the green things on this earth.

   This book is also about her life, the ups and downs she’s experienced on her journey to becoming an award-winning scientist, and her quirky friendship with her lab partner Bill.

   Jahren is the winner of many prestigious awards, including three Fulbright Awards, and is the only woman to have won both Young Investigator Medals given within the earth sciences.

   After she finished graduate school at UC Berkeley, she built four labs from scratch including the one she now leads in Norway.

   Her book was called one of the best books of 2016 by The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, Slate, Time, and Entertainment Weekly. She is a great writer who is serious about her work, open about her life, all while employing a wicked sense of humor.

   The Kick Off on Jan. 21 you’ll hear dramatic readings from Castro Valley High School students, sign up for a book discussion, get a free copy of the book, and learn how you can get a special invitation to meet Hope Jahren.

   The celebration continues throughout February and March with many special Castro Valley Reads programs.

   If you can’t make the Kick Off, come to the Library after Jan. 21 to sign up for a discussion. Free copies of Lab Girl are available while supplies last.

   Castro Valley Reads is generously funded by the Friends of the Castro Valley Library.

CAPTION: Acclaimed scientist and author Hope Jahren, above, with her lab partner Bill. Jahren’s best-selling memoir “Lab Girl” has been selected by the CV Library to kick off a new program called “Castro Valley Reads” on Sunday, Jan. 21. Those who sign up will get a free copy of the book to read and share its ideas with others in the community.

 

Update on ‘Castro Valley Marketplace’

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  1-10-18

 

   The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) got an update Monday night on the much-anticipated “Castro Valley Marketplace” project at the old Daughtrey’s site.

Developer Craig Semmelmeyer presented some drawings of the exterior and also told the MAC that he has successfully leased out over half of the space.

   Semmelmeyer first proposed the grocery store concept to the MAC back in February of 2017 and he was selected as a the developer in June.

    “It’s been almost a year since I first came to the MAC and we’ve accomplished so much,” said Semmelmeyer. “It’s really been an amazing year.”

   MAC member Dave Sadoff commended Semmelmeyer for getting so much of the property leased so early. Tenants will include the

grocery store, a restaurant, and a yoga studio.

   “It’s got success written all over it,” said Sadoff.

   Semmelmeyer showed plans for a terracotta-colored building with yellow stripes at the corners, which the MAC said was a bit bold. But council members also said they weren’t interested in holding up the project’s progress over cosmetic issues.

   “The last thing we want to do is stall this project over a paint color,” said MAC member Ken Carbone.

   Semmelmeyer said that the store front designs will come back before the MAC for approval in the near future.

   MAC chair Marc Crawford said that a tremendous amount of time and effort has gone into ensuring the marketplace project will be a success.

   “I can’t think of another building (in Castro Valley) that has had this level of thought put into it,” said Crawford.

   The MAC also got an update on the shared parking project and “paseo” alongside of the marketplace – a project that is running months behind schedule.

   The $4.8 million parking project creates a lot from the western entrance of the Daughtery’s building to Wilbeam Avenue, consisting of parking spots, lighting, and landscaping behind what will become the new grocery shop and extending behind the Ice Creamery building and other stores.

   The parking lot is now open, but the paseo remains unfinished. It was originally planned to be completed in September, then postponed to late November. One aspect of the paseo – a thick wooden trellis – has been scrapped.

   Eileen Dalton, the county’s community development director, said the project was further delayed when some poles were installed in the wrong place, but the problem has been corrected. Rain has also delayed the pouring of some cement, but Dalton said it’ll be completed by the end of the month.

 

  CALIFORNIA OUTBREAK 

’18 Flu Season May Be Worst In a Decade   

   Since California’s flu season began last October, 27 people under the age of 65 have died, about seven times as many during the same period in previous years.

   “This appears to be one of the worst seasons we’ve had in the last 10 years,” state epidemiologist Dr. Gil Chavez told reporters yesterday. “We’re early, and we’re trending up.”

   The death toll is actually much higher because the state’s statistics do not include deaths among those over 65.

   Dr. James Watt, chief of the division of communicable disease control with the California Department of Public Health said that the state’s outbreak might just seem worse because the season is peaking early.

   “Our hope is that because we started early, we’ll end early,” Watt said.

   Both officials urged getting a flu shot for everyone over six months old. While this year’s vaccine is not as effective as in previous years it can still reduce the severity of the disease.

   It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take effect.

 

THE FIRST
              BABY OF
                         THE YEAR

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-03-18

 

   Prince Abraham McElligott was born at 2:11 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Castro Valley’s first baby of 2018. Prince, weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces, was delivered at Eden Medical Center by Dr. Sonia Badheka. Prince’s father, Reuben M. McElligott is not only from Castro Valley, but his family has lived here for generations. Prince’s mother, Edlyn P. Rodriguez, is from San Leandro and still has family in the area. In addition to mom and dad, Prince will be welcomed home by two brothers (Jayden and Reuben III) and three sisters (Anaisha, Lili, and Ruby). The family currently lives in Discovery Bay but hopes to move back to Castro Valley soon.

 PHOTO BY EMMA DUGAS / SUTTER HEALTH 

 

 Longtime School Board Member Kunio Okui Dies

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  01-03-18

 

   Former Castro Valley School Board member Kunio Okui, 72, passed away December 19 at Kaiser San Leandro Hospital.

   A CPA by profession, Okui was known for his integrity on the school board and his watchful eye over district expenditures.

   Former Castro Valley Unified School District superintendent Jim Negri remembers Okui as a friend as well as a colleague.

   “I was saddened to learn of Kunio’s passing. I first met him at a California School  Boards Association  (CSBA) training in the 1990s when I was working for the Pleasanton School District. We remained friends throughout the year,” said Negri.

   “As a board member, Kunio was fully committed to ensuring that every student had access to a quality education and quality teachers. While fiscally conservative, Kunio understood the challenges of balancing the budget during the difficult years, while maintaining quality programs,” Negri continued. “He worked diligently to pass the bonds that upgraded and provided new facilities.”

   Bruce D. Johnson, Superintendent Emeritus of Redwood Christian Schools, said Okui “leaves a marvelous legacy of service and commitment.

   “He was a true Christian gentleman and all who knew him were blessed by his steadfast faith and love for all kids regardless of their age or what school they attended,” said Johnson.

   Okui left the school board in 2012 after 21 years of service, including the position of President. Besides his school board service, he was active in the San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church. He also played bridge and was a devoted Golden State Warriors fan.

   Kunio Okui is survived by his wife Patti, three children, and six grandchildren. His full obituary is on page 14.

 

Legal Pot’s First Day

 

 

The 1950 Castro Valley Fair: ‘Bigger, Better Than Ever’

BY JOHN CHRISTIAN

 

 

New Year,New Laws

 

Bad Start to Christmas Eve

 

County Fast-Tracks Pot Sales

 

Saturday’s Big Traffic Snarl on I-580

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-20-17

 

   This big rig overturned on eastbound I-580 near the Crow Canyon offramp in Castro Valley at around 11 a.m. last Saturday, leading to multiple lane closures and clogging traffic for hours. All lanes were finally reopened around 4 p.m. There were no injuries, according to the Alameda County Fire Department and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

PHOTO BY ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

 Making Spirits Bright

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-20-17

 

  Castro Valley Rotary Club hosted its annual Children’s Christmas Party last week for kids and families who are living in local shelters. 

   Santa and his helper, “Dr. Heidi,” arrived by a hook-and-ladder fire truck – with siren wailing – at the Castro Valley Adult School, where the multipurpose room had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the party by Rotary members.

   More than 60 children and 30 adults attended this year’s event where dinner was prepared by Rotary Club members Cliff Sherwood, Randy Vanderbilt and Dan Willets, and staff members of the Castro Valley Sanitary District.

   Each child received a word of encouragement and a personal gift and from Santa. The presents were provided through the CV California Highway Patrol Office’s Annual Toy Drive, overseen by CHP “Officer Dan” Jacowitz and secured by Rotarian Ceta Dochterman.  

    “Al The Clown” Proietti and “Joyce The Clown” Miyoha entertained the guests while Santa Helper Dr. Heidi Hausauer assisted Santa distributing the gifts with help from  Castro Valley Schools’ Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi and Redwood Christian Schools’ Superintendent Al Hearne.

   Entertainment was provided by members of Redwood Christian’s InterAct Club and Ladies’ Basketball team.

   The party was chaired by Mark Poniatowski with help from other members of Rotary and the community.

   “It is truly exciting and heart-warming when the entire Castro Valley community can come together for an event such as this where the focus is on serving, not self-recognition,” said CV Rotary President Jim Negri. “This is the Rotary belief of ‘Service Above Self’.”

CAPTION: Santa Claus and his helper arrive on a fire truck at Castro Valley Rotary Club’s Annual Christmas Party for kids and families living in local shelters. 

PHOTO BY MIKE KADY

 

   

MAC Meeting All About the Dangers of CV Roadways

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-20-17

 

   The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council’s last meeting of the year was all about hitting the road – pedestrian and bicycle safety, traffic gridlock, speeders, and more.

   First, the council heard from Maurice Kaufman of the county’s public works agency who has been tasked with finding solutions for streets near Stanton Elementary School which don’t have sidewalks.

   Cars park on the shoulders, forcing pedestrians – including many children – to walk out on the street, which can be dangerous. Kaufman said about $4.2 million in county funding from Measure B and gas taxes has been set aside to construct concrete sidewalks on Stanton Ave. from Castro Valley Blvd. to Miramar Avenue.

   The bad news is that the project design phase won’t be completed for at least a year and construction wouldn’t begin until mid-2019. And the county will have to get the permission of about 60 property owners along the route to enter their property to build the sidewalks, although Kaufman said he didn’t anticipate having any problems with the homeowners.

   A temporary solution in the interim 18 months will be the painting of white lines along the shoulder to show drivers that they need to allow space for pedestrians and bicyclists when they park. Kaufman said the painting will commence next month, weather permitting, and that law enforcement will be able to ticket drivers who cross the line.

   Several speakers, including some kids from Stanton, addressed the MAC to urge them to get the project up and running.

   “I walk rain or shine,” said a student named Sam. “Please keep our sidewalks safe.”

   Amy Ramos of the Stanton PTA said “All I want for Christmas is sidewalks.”

   And MAC member Linda Tangren agreed that the project needs to be prioritized, saying that during peak times at the school people double park and make the kids step even farther out into the street.

   “This is a critically unsafe situation for kids,” said Tangren.

   The discussion then switched to traffic on canyon roads – especially Palomares and Crow Canyon. A boom in housing construction in San Ramon and Dublin has turned those roads into major commuter arteries, according to residents. And traffic apps like Waze don’t help because when people see I-580 getting congested, they switch to the side streets.

   Speakers said that there were two problems – people speeding when the roads are clear, and bumper-to-bumper traffic when they are not.

   MAC member Chuck Moore suggested that the areas be rezoned to agricultural districts so speed limits can be changed, saying it takes him twice as long to get out of his Crow Canyon Road driveway than it did a few years ago because he can’t find a gap in the speeding traffic.

   “It’s a heck of a lot different than it was five years ago,” said Moore. “It’s gotten a lot worse.”

   Representatives from the CHP and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office shared some statistics.

   “People are driving way too fast on these roads,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Martinez. “We do enforcement, but we are stretched thin.”

   The CHP reported that there have been four serious accidents on Palomares Road this year during a period when much of the road was closed due to storm repairs.

   And there have been 57 accidents on Crow Canyon Road, including a fatal crash last week. In most cases, these are single vehicle accidents where speed causes the driver to lose control and crash.

   Moore added that when people hit PG&E poles, he and his neighbors are often without power for hours at a time.

   “Where you have 57 accidents on one road, you have a problem,” said Moore.

 

State, County Officials Meet Today to Discuss Legal Pot

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-20-17

 

   The sale and taxation of marijuana for adult use will be legal in California in 12 days and, in preparation, Alameda County is hosting a Winter Cannabis Summit all day today in the County Supervisors’ Chambers in Oakland.  

   Today’s meeting is being billed as a way to bring major interests together to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to pot sales.

   “The cannabis industry is emerging as a major force,” Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, organizer of the Summit, said in a press statement.

   “We have a great opportunity for a new source of untapped tax revenue to strengthen our public infrastructure and to grow jobs.”

   The summit will begin with a morning panel with state licensing officials including the Bureau of Cannabis Control, CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California Department of Public Health.

   County officials say the meeting’s focus will be on regulations concerning manufacturing, retail sales, distributing, laboratory testing and microbusinesses.

   The panel will also discuss a track-and-trace system to record the movement of cannabis through the distribution chain.

   “As we move toward issuing the first start licenses for commercial cannabis activity, the state’s three licensing authorities are grateful for the opportunity to interact with our key local government partners,” Bureau of Cannabis Control Chief Lori Ajax said in a statement.

   “A tremendous amount of work has gone into this process and we wouldn’t be in the position we are today without the feedback received at events like this summit.”

   The afternoon panel session will include Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, prevention specialists, and community partners focused on what legalization brings, and cannabis education for youth. The session will also include information about how schools and community groups can prevent access to cannabis.

   Tickets for the summit, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the supervisors’ chambers at 1221 Oak Street in Oakland, have been sold out, but the morning and afternoon sessions will be live-streamed. For more information, visit alamedacounty. granicus.com/winter cannibas summit

 

Love of Song: Canyon Choral Teacher Raises Student Voices and Self-Esteem

BY MICHAEL SINGER  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-13-17

 

CV Volunteers Refurbish Computers for

Kids in Need

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-13-17

 

Center St. Housing Approved

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-13-17

 

   The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) has approved a controversial housing project which neighbors are opposed to, and also gave the go-ahead to facade improvements to the Village shopping center at their Monday night meeting.

   After directing the developers of the housing project to install a sidewalk, the

MAC unanimously approved construction of seven single-family homes at 19430 Center Street.

   Over a dozen neighbors were in attendance to protest the project, citing such reasons to nix the project as the lack of parking, increased traffic, density, and even water drainage issues.

   But the MAC members, who

winnowed the project down from 12 to seven homes, said the project should go forward.

   The MAC also approved a plan for improvements at the Village, including new facades, landscaping, and some plaza seating areas.

   The council was concerned that the new developments might cut into parking, but were assured by developer Randy Nahas that the same number of spots would be available.

   MAC Chair Marc Crawford pointed out that the Village maintains four parking spaces per 1,000-square-feet of retail space, which is industry standard even though many people often decry the lack of spots in the Village.

   The council also heard from the Castro Valley Sanitary District about plans to open a new corporation yard at 21195 Center Street, a former Caltrans property.

   CVSan purchased the property in 2013 for $1.5 million and estimate that it will take a total $6 million to build the yard with office space, vehicle maintenance areas, showers, and lockers. The current CVSan administration offices on Marshall Street would remain.

he full funding for the project is not yet in place, but CVSan general manager Roland Williams presented the MAC with his pans.

any on the MAC questioned how much rate payers would be on the hook for the construction fees, as funding is still up in the air

“How much will our rates go up to pay for this?” MAC Chair Marc Crawford asked. Williams said that a lot is still unknown because the plans are still preliminary.

   Crawford and other MAC members also criticized the design of the building, which is three stories tall, as rather plain.

“The design is too simple,” said Crawford.

   Others asked for a sound wall between the yard and neighboring houses. The meeting lasted over three hours and other items, including regulations on massage parlors, were continued until the Jan. 22 meeting.

 

Our Wildlife Neighbors

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-6-17

Countdown Kicks Off Christmas Season in CV

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  12-6-17

Castro Village was packed with kids of all ages Friday night, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive and help light a giant Christmas tree.  

Before his entrance in an Alameda County Fire truck, the crowds were treated to music and dancing from Castro Valley School of Music, Castro Valley Performing Arts, Alameda Civic Ballet and Castro Valley High Madrigals.

Shane Sharkey of Castro Valley School of Music provided on-stage introductions for the ceremonies.

“This was a Castro Valley tradition for quite a while, back in the ’50s and ’60s. They took a break for quite a while, and we’re happy to start again last year,” he said.

Once Santa arrived with his elf, he provided the countdown to light a giant Christmas tree in the center of the Village. The crowd cheered as the tree lit up.

“I hope you all have a great, happy holiday,” said Santa.

He departed with his traditional, “Merry Christmas and ho, ho, ho,”  as he headed offstage for photos with children.

CAPTION: Santa Claus waves to the crowd as he steps off an Alameda County fire truck at Castro Village on Friday evening.

PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK  

 

Wild Boars Tearing Up CV Lawns

BY MICHAEL SINGER  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-18-17

 

     Under the mask of darkness, they come — tearing up lawns and destroying property. Sometimes they descend in packs as large as 20 with their children running alongside. 

     It’s enough of a nuisance that homeowners are ready for drastic actions.

     In the Summerglen neighborhood of the Palomares Hills housing development, packs of wild boars are terrorizing homeowners. 

     Located at the top of Villareal Drive, the subdivision is adjacent to heavily-wooded hills and creeks that support wild animal species including deer, raccoon, opossum, and, yes… the wild boar. 

     While boar infestations are not uncommon near open space areas, Summerglen had been relatively quiet until this year.

     “These are vicious wild boars and they are holding us hostage in our homes at night,” says Summerglen Homeowner’s Association vice president, Cheryl Bolling. “I’ve heard they typically come out long after midnight. But the security guards say they are now spotting the boars around 9 p.m. 

     “We have people up here who jog or who walk their dogs at that time. That’s scary. I’m afraid that our residents are no match for these wild boars when some weigh as heavy as 200 pounds.”

     Boars are fond of grubs, worms, and insects that can live underneath lawns. Nearly 90 percent of the grassy areas in Summerglen show damage from wild boar attacks, mostly the corner lots. The neighborhood has even vilified the animals by giving them a name: The Eden Canyon Gang.

     “Even if you don’t see wild pigs, evidence of their presence is obvious,” says California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson, Harry Morse. “It could be as benign as a few pig tracks, or an entire hillside that looks like it’s been worked over with a Rototiller. 

     “Wild pigs use their snouts to root up the ground in search of food, including roots, fungus, and other items,” Morse says.

     While other Palomares neighborhoods have replaced their grassy areas with rock or other types of hardscaping, the Summerglen Homeowner Association is looking to take a stand against these marauding boars.

     “This problem can be solved rapidly with commitment and resources because the pig problem is not just in Palomares Hills. Many of the open spaces outside of our neighborhood belong to Alameda County,” Summerglen Homeowners’ Association president Tracy Davenport told the Castro Valley Forum. “Regulations and state law permit actions to be taken to solve this problem and we plan to do so.”

     In a two-step process, the Summerglen HOA instructed its landscape company to strip off and cover the affected areas of turf. “The rains are right around the corner and the boars will just make it look like we took mortar fire,” Davenport says.

     The Summerglen HOA has also instructed its management and landscape companies to hire a licensed and experienced company to permanently solve the wild boar problem. The solution will likely include physical deterrents to keep the boars away from homes and hunting them down, known as depredation.

     Despite the damage done to private property, landowners are not generally permitted to shoot or kill wild animals unless they are being attacked. Instead, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife issues permits that allow a homeowner or a professional to hunt under certain conditions.

     The depredation permit will allow Summerglen to fight back. CDFW’s Morse said Summerglen’s management group received their permit back in May of 2017, which is good for one year.

     Davenport says he is trying to rally support from the larger Palomares Hills community HOAs as well as Alameda County representatives to help fund the cost of depredation. 

Click to add an engaging title. High quality images go a long way in looking professional online.

 

Smoke Pollution Cancels CVHS Homecoming Parade

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-18-17

Castro Valley High cancelled its 2017 Homecoming Parade on Friday the 13th due to concerns about air quality.

     Principal Blaine Torpey issued the announcement Thursday, citing concerns for student and staff health due to smoke pollution from Napa and Sonoma county fires.

     Both varsity and junior varsity football games scheduled for Friday evening were also cancelled.

     An indoor assembly was held instead of the usual parade and rally. This year’s overall homecoming theme was “Let The Games Begin.” Each class chose a game: Freshman chose “Clue,” sophomores decided on “Dungeons and Dragons, ” juniors went with “Jumanji,” and seniors chose “Candyland.” Class colors were black for frosh, red for sophomores, blue for juniors and pink for seniors.

CAPTION: Castro Valley High School’s annual Homecoming Parade was cancelled on Friday because of unhealthy smoke pollution. Students celebrated with an assembly inside the gym.

 

A Candlelight Vigil Held for Las Vegas Shooting Victims

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-11-17

     A somber gathering of around 200 people assembled at the corner of Castro Valley Boulevard and Redwood Road Sunday evening, holding a candlelight vigil for victims of last weekend’s deadly shooting in Las Vegas.

     The vigil was hosted by Congressman Eric Swalwell and was attended by relatives of victim Denise Cohen, a 1977 graduate of California High in San Ramon.

     “It’s heartening to see so many of you come out to remember the victims of last week’s tragedy,” said Swalwell, adding that a country music concert is the last place one would expect something like this to happen.

     Bay Area TV stations covered the event, which was led as a memorial service by the Rev. Dr. Arlene Nehring of Eden United Church of Christ.  

     In her opening prayer, Nehring expressed hopes for “a better way and a better day for all of us.”

     Swalwell said that though we should honor the traditions of our country, he nonetheless wondered, “why anyone but a warrior should have a weapon of war.” He added that lawmakers should at least have the courage to discuss such issues.

     People at the memorial appeared to come from a wide variety of backgrounds, expressing sadness about the killings and concern for the future — balancing the

 rights of gun owners with the right of citizens to live in peace.

     “I’m just here to stand with the community and support the victims,” said Jerry White of San Leandro. “These things always end with knee-jerk solutions on gun control, but that’s not the only solution. The Second Amendment is not going anywhere.”

     Swalwell said another Cal High graduate, Stacee Etcheber (class of 1985) of Novato, was killed in the Las Vegas attack. Local friends of another victim, Michelle Vo of San Jose, displayed photos of her as well.

     The names of all 58 victims were read aloud, along with descriptions of their lives and the families they left behind. Many people at the gathering left in tears.

     Swalwell said it meant a lot to the victims’ families for so many to attend the candlelight vigil and show their support. He recalled the last time such a vigil was held here in June 2016, following a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Florida.

     “I hope we will not have to gather like this again,” said Swalwell.

CAPTION: Congressman Eric Swalwell addresses a solemn gathering of about 200 people at a candlelight vigil Sunday evening in Castro Valley in emory of the victims of last week’s deadly shooting rampage in Las Vegas.

PHOTO BY LARRY ROSA

 

Castro Valley to Finally Get Its Sign

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-11-17

     Oakland artist Robert Minervini has been selected to create the official Castro Valley sign, the Alameda County Arts Commission announced on Friday.

     Minervini’s design for the Castro Valley mural (called the “Community Identifier”) is a panoramic landscape that features Lake Chabot and the Bay. It will stretch across the I-580 Overpass at Redwood Road.

     Minervini was one of three artists selected for local overpass murals. Nico Berry was chosen for the Ashland-Cherryland sign on the I-238 Highway Overpass at Mission Blvd. and E. 14th Street, and John Wehrle’s won with his design destined for the I-880 Highway Overpass at Hesperian Blvd. in San Lorenzo.

     The artists and their designs were chosen by three separate selection committees made up of local community members.

     But don’t expect to see paint being slathered on those overpasses right away. The designs are headed for several more layers of bureaucracy.

     The recommendation of each selected artist and their proposal design will be presented to community groups this month and then be forwarded to the Arts Commission for review and approval at their meeting on Nov. 8 (at 4 p.m. at 1401 Lakeside Drive, Oakland).

     The artists’ contracts will then be presented to the County Board of Supervisors this winter for approval and finally go before Caltrans for its OK.

     The three artists are expect to begin hand-painting the signs late next Spring.

CAPTION: This design by artist Robert Minervini of Oakland is the Alameda County Arts Commission’s selection for the Community Identifier to go on the Interstate 580 Overpass at Redwood Road in Castro Valley. Work is expected to begin in late spring of 2018.

 

Neighbors Cry Foul to Dump Site

BY MICHAEL SINGER  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-11-17

     Residents living close to Lake Chabot’s southwest border say foul odors coming from the nearby park grounds are affecting their health and their quality of life.

     The culprit seems to be a manhole used to dispose sewage and waste from portable toilets and similar holding containers. The manhole can be found a few yards north of a road used to access East Bay Regional Park’s Public Safety Headquarters and Corporation Yard, which begins at Lake Chabot Road.

     People who live near the intersection of Carmel Drive and Arcadian Drive are currently the most vocal about the smell that has permeated the neighborhood on and off since May.

     “As my husband was leaving for work, he saw an EBRPD truck at the dump site,” said Carmel Drive resident, Theresa Menchini. “He instantly noticed the foul odor from the truck. He got my attention and I went outside and also smelled it and it was very strong. The weather was extremely cool and still. The smell also permeated our home.”  

     The waste is collected from various East Bay Regional Park District properties, carried by tanker trucks, and then discharged into the manhole where it will eventually be processed at a sanitary facility. Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) has had a 45-year contract with EBRPD to manage its sewage and disposal sites.

     Prior to May, EBRPD trucks would discharge the waste further up the hill, closer to Arcadian Drive and Mayflower Drive. The site is no longer usable, according to CVSan because the pipes are too small. The current discharge station began operating in May 2017. The sanitary district sent letters to neighbors in April, with followup letters sent in August, and September alerting them to the project and asking them to continue helping monitor the area for odors.

     “We take odor complaints like this very seriously,” CVSan General Manager Roland Williams told the Castro Valley Forum. “We are now focusing our attention on these complaints and we will have our staff out there while checking the next time that the trucks are discharging to see if we can also detect the odors that people are complaining about.”

     The project has two weeks to go before CVSan reviews its findings including public feedback to East Bay Regional Parks management.

     East Bay Regional Parks spokesman Dave Mason said the District will work with CVSan and the neighbors to come up with a viable solution. He noted that the discharge station is a closed system and is regularly monitored, but EBRPD staff has not detected the apparent odors reported by the neighbors.

     Meanwhile, the neighbors are holding their noses at the situation.

     “We don’t care about the changing the way the dump site is handled, we want it gone,” Menchini says. “It affects our property values. That is right near where people park and where people walk with their pets into the park. There are small children in the neighborhood that are being babysat during the day. If there is any kind leak or airborne bacteria coming out of there, that is an issue.”

     Neither EBRPD nor CVSan could say what an alternative plan would entail if the current discharge site was deemed unfit for use.

 

Bridge Built to New Crow Canyon Development

BY MICHAEL SINGER  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-04-17

     A massive crane lifted 102-foot long, 100,000-pound sections of a pre-fab bridge this past week, marking the beginning of a new single-family home development being built along Crow Creek in Castro Valley.

     The new 21-unit development, called Roberts Ranch, sits at the end of Veronica Ave. just off Center Street.

     The bridge is providing temporary access for the construction of the project, with first homes expected to be available early next year.

     The entrance to Roberts Ranch will be on Crow Canyon Road. The bridge will eventually act as an emergency access point to the subdivision but it will not be available as a commute option or pass-through for residents.

     The developer, Edenbridge Homes in Cupertino says the homes will range in size between 2,527 square feet and 3,066 square feet and have three layout versions with 4- and 5-bedroom options. Each home will still need individual permits from Alameda County.

     The development includes 42 garage spaces and 59 on-street spaces. In addition to building the property, the developer is mandated to protect 188,000 square feet of Crow Creek and surrounding borders to the homes as well as two bioretention areas for protecting local trees and shrubs.

     Initial applications for Roberts Ranch, which began back in 2007, have undergone at least two environmental impact reports. The latest report filed in 2016 found no additional conditions preventing the project from moving forward.

     Marc Crawford, chairman of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council, said Roberts Ranch is scaled back from its original proposal.

     “When we first reviewed the project in 2007, Edenbridge indicated that they wanted to build 27 homes on this 8-acre area,” Crawford told the Castro Valley Forum. “The neighbors were not too happy about more homes being built along Crow Creek, but when we talked to them about it, we explained that it’s now scaled back to 21 homes, so it should not have as much of an impact as it once would have.”  

     The development is only a handful of options for new housing in Castro Valley as most of the open spaces around Castro Valley are protected by East Bay Regional Parks.

     The construction is also novel in that these are single family homes and not townhomes or apartments such as the 27 townhomes being built on Jamison Way.

     Edenbridge has done similar developments in Napa, Mountain View, and Los Altos Hills.

     To see what the new homes in Castro Valley will look like, visit: edenbridgehomes.com/robertsranch.htm

CAPTION: Trucks deliver 100,000-pound sections of bridge to be erected over the creek at Roberts Ranch development.

PHOTO BY HOWARD MORRISON

 

Redwood Canyon Course Gets a New Lease on Life

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-04-17

     Redwood Canyon Golf Course is undergoing a renaissance of sorts, having recently inked a 15-year lease with its interim steward, Touchstone Golf.

     Players on the links are already taking notice.

     “Real work on the irrigation system is now starting — not just installation of repair clamps,” says golfer and longtime Castro Valley resident Bob Maddow. “I think this is an important sign that this wonderful local golf course is finally coming back to what it can be, and I’m more optimistic about it than I have been in years.”

     Touchstone was awarded Redwood Canyon’s management lease last month by the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) after competitive bidding.

     The company has managed Redwood Canyon on an interim basis since December 2014. (The previous operators —Baldock Pacific Properties/Willow Park Public Golf Course Corporation— had a 50-year sublease that expired November 2014.)

     “The untold story is that the East Bay Regional Park District has saved the golf course two times now,” says Touchstone’s President and CEO Steve Harker. “When the previous tenant left, there was talk that it might have to close, but the park district didn’t let that happen. Then this year, when the golf course was closed for 65 days due to flooding, they worked side-by-side with our folks to get it back up and running.”

     Of the course’s 22 bridges, 17 had been damaged or dislodged by extensive rains and water overflow. Drainage systems were clogged, and silt covered parts of the course. All that is beginning to change. In the next six to 12 months most repairs should be done, with improvements ongoing.

     “The park district orchestrated help from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the insurance company. We’re getting what we need with this partnership. Their focus and support have been fantastic,” Harker says.

     Redwood Canyon is a lovely setting with a creek running through it, but its location between the Upper San Leandro Reservoir and Lake Chabot exposes it to water overflow issues.  According to Park District press releases, the 150 acres comprising the golf course facilities and surrounding areas are leased by the East Bay Municipal Utilities District to the Park District, which in turn entered into the management lease with Touchstone.

     Harker says Touchstone is grateful for the support of Jim O’Connor and Mimi Waluch of EBRPD, and trustee Dennis Waespi.

     “We’re still recovering from the flood, but we’re going in the right direction, and our loyal customers in Castro Valley have been very understanding,” adds Harker. He says over the next three to five years extensive upgrades are planned for the irrigation system, buildings, and equipment.  New golf carts are coming in October and renovations are planned for the grill and clubhouse.

     Bob Maddow, who has lived in Castro Valley for 45 years, is pleased with what he sees so far. He and his wife have been golfing for 15 years, and are enthusiastic about the future of the scenic course.

     “It’s not going to be easy, but Redwood Canyon’s General Manager, Jake Stewart, has just the right temperament for the job,” says Maddow.  “He’s the calm in a storm. We’re overjoyed with what we’re seeing there. It’s a quiet, beautiful location when the playing surfaces are in good shape.”

     Touchstone Golf manages 34 golf courses in 10 states.  Nine of these courses are operated in conjunction with government or municipal agencies, including the cities of Oakland and Mountain View, and the Presidio Trust in San Francisco.

     Redwood Canyon Golf Course is located at 17007 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley. Call 537-8001 or visit www.redwoodcanyongolf.com/ for more information.

CAPTION: Ben Morrison of San Francisco tees off at the first hole of Redwood Canyon Golf Course. The course is completely open now and work continues to improve the infrastructure after last winter’s floods.

PHOTO BY LARRY ROSA

 

CV Woman Aiding Puerto Rico Relief Effort

BY JIM KNOWLES •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  10-04-17

     A Castro Valley woman who’s lived in the Caribbean wants to help the small island of Culebra, which is part of Puerto Rico, a United States Territory.

     Kelly Marquez Johnson is of Puerto Rican descent, lived on St. Croix in the 1980s, and she visited Culebra many times. The small island, just off the main island of Puerto Rico, was devastated by both Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

     All the hurricane assistance goes into Puerto Rico, but Johnson is afraid that little Culebra won’t get help until much later if at all. Johnson said she just has to do something to help the little island where people rely on tourism to make a living.

     “I’m Puerto Rican and I’ve been going there for many years,” said Johnson who was born in San Francisco. “They were hit by Irma and they were without power and then they got Maria.”

     She talked to a friend on the island who said people are being told to save rainwater to drink.

     “They’re not getting water,” Johnson said. “They’re saving rainwater because they don’t have any other water. They’re the poorest. They don’t get anything until last.”   

     So she’s trying to raise money for batteries, small flashlights, canned meat and water purification tablets. Johnson plans to collect the goods and get a flight to deliver the items herself as soon as regular air travel resumes to Puerto Rico in October.

     Her friend, Guillen Pena, is a retired park policeman on the island. Today Pena runs a little water taxi and Johnson said she would trust him with anything, so she would let him distribute the items she brings.

The electricity could be out for 4 to 6 months, so the restaurants and hotels will be without power. So the people will suffer without tourism, Johnson said.

     “If everyone reading donated one dollar we could be part of something fantastic,” Johnson said. “We can collectively help. These are American citizens.”

     Johnson is contributing $1,000 and has a goal of $5,000 to help Culebra. She has set up a GoFundMe page for anyone who wants to contribute at www.gofundme.com/culebra-puerto-rico-in-crisis.

     Johnson asked that if anyone would like more information they can call her at 862-6555 or write to Kelly Johnson, 20885 Redwood Road, #272, Castro Valley, CA 94546.

CAPTION: Kelly Marquez Johnson is trying to help the Island of Culebra, part of Puerto Rico.

 

See’s Grand Opening Attracts Huge Crowd of Candy Lovers

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-27-17

     Throngs of happy chocolate lovers crowded Castro Village Friday morning, eager to pick up some free candy, tote bags and special offers at the grand opening of Castro Valley’s new See’s Candies store.

     Judging by the crowds, the new shop will be a popular addition to the Village. A line of several hundred customers stretched down the sidewalk, some maneuvering strollers, walkers, and even crutches.

     The crowd surprised some locals, including Area Cycles owner Kenji Iwahashi.

     “I’ve never seen anything like this before in Castro Valley,” he said. “The line to get inside stretches almost to the Ross store.”

     Many customers got up early to make sure they received goodies at the 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. They needn’t have worried — there was plenty to go around. See’s employees even walked along the waiting line to distribute free lollipops, chocolate samples, and paper hats.

     “I got here at 9 a.m. and was 50th in line. I counted,” said Bobby Dozier of Castro Valley. “I didn’t expect this much of a line, but it moved pretty quickly. Everybody seemed pretty happy to get some chocolate.”

     Eric Martin, See’s Vice President of Human Resources, said the company is pleased with the Castro Valley location.

     “We’re so thrilled and honored to be opening in this community and this location,” said Martin. “We’re excited to bring this iconic brand to this warm and welcoming community.”

     Sees had been considering a Castro Valley location for a while, according to marketing director Jensen DeWees. She points out that the company had temporary stores here in the past, and that residents have been sad when they close.

     “We’re just so excited to be in this neighborhood.  We love it here. It’s the perfect community for us,” DeWees added.

     Members of the Chamber of Commerce said they were impressed with the huge turnout at Friday’s grand opening. And customers exiting the new shop were all smiles, happy to finally have a nearby location to purchase their favorite candy.

     “We’re dedicated See’s customers,” said Castro Valley resident Sandy Fong, who left the store with Halloween candy, boxes of chocolates, and free lollipop samples. “We’re so happy it’s here. Our whole family has been driving to Stoneridge Mall to get See’s candy, and we’re excited that this store is so much closer.”

     See’s Candies is located at 3344 Rustic Dr., Castro Village, near Merle’s Hallmark Shop. Hours are 10 to 7 Monday through Saturday, and 11 to 6 on Sundays.  

     Limited fund-raising may be arranged at the Castro Valley store; expanded fund-raising/group discounts are available through Alissa Yusko (ayusko@sees.com), 510-326-8891.

CAPTION: See’s Candies opened a new store this past Friday in Castro Valley’s Castro Village.

PHOTO BY LARRY ROSA

 

KFC ‘Circus Tent’ Paint Job Vetoed

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-27-17

     The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) sent Kentucky Fried Chicken’s plans for a bold new paint job back to the drawing board on Monday night, saying the circus-tent-like vertical stripes weren’t a good fit.

     KFC wants to perform interior and exterior renovations to their existing store at 3625 Castro Valley Boulevard. An initial plan called for bold stripes around the building in the style of the designs on their buckets of chicken.

     A KFC in Alameda was painted with wide red and white stripes last June and the city council in that city is in the process of getting the company to paint over the stripes after much public outcry.

     The MAC ruled out the stripes completely and also rejected a secondary proposal that would have involved black, grey, and white painting.

     The MAC said the bold black color was too harsh and suggested that artificial stonework might have a more pleasant look around the base of the building.

     MAC Chair Marc Crawford added that the stonework would add a “diversity” of materials to the building instead of just various shades of painted stucco. He told KFC that just because the MAC didn’t like initial ideas, that doesn’t mean they should opt for a completely boring look.

     “We get a lot of complaints about ‘Castro Valley beige,’” said Crawford, referring to the color of many buildings in town.

     Crawford told the officials that other fast food restaurants including Burger King and Jack in the Box had to go before the MAC three or four times before getting approval for their remodels. Burger King apparently originally wanted a black and orange to echo the appearance of a grill, but the MAC thought it looked more like a Halloween store.

     “These ideas that come from corporate aren’t necessarily what we agree with,” said Crawford.

Other Business

     Also at Monday night’s MAC meeting, the council endorsed a proposed county ordinance that would allow microbreweries in the agriculturally zoned areas of Alameda County.

     The ordinance would include microbreweries in areas that previously allowed wineries and olive oil mills.

     The MAC added language that would allow breweries and wineries on the same site and the provision that some cultivation of hops and other crops also be done on the same site as the breweries.

     “It is agricultural land, after all,” said MAC member Chuck Moore.

     The MAC also approved a metal sign for the Redwood Commercial Business Park at 21634 Redwood Road.

 

Ten New Lake Chabot Signs Warn of Deadly Mushrooms

BY MICHAEL SINGER  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-27-17

     After a concerted effort by Castro Valley dog lovers, 10 new signs are on display at Lake Chabot warning about the dangers of poisonous wild mushrooms.

     While most mushrooms have little or no effect if eaten by an animal, about 1 percent contain toxins that cause life-threatening problems in pets.

     Such was the case last year when CV dog owner, Linda Devetter-Dearborn saw her beloved dachshund eat a wild mushroom along the lakeside trails and had to be put down 24 hours later.

     “After 15 months of working with the head of East Bay Regional Park District, new signs that explicitly state the dangers of wild mushrooms to dogs as well as humans, are finally up,” Devetter-Dearborn says.

     The bright yellow sign clearly identifies a picture of three Death Cap mushrooms (scientifically known as the Amanita phalloides) with warnings for dog owners. The 10 permanent signs are displayed at each of the trail heads leading into the park including the main entrance.

     The park did respond last year with temporary signs located at message boards. The permanent signs are meant to continually remind park-goers about the potential danger.

     If a dog eats a wild mushroom, negative responses may include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and seizures. Veterinarians can first treat the animal by giving it something to clear the stomach. Depending on the severity of the poison to the liver, kidneys, or brain, the dog could eventually end up on a respirator hooked up to a machine to push fluids.

     Dog owners should also be aware that mushrooms can pop up overnight after a rain, which may be the case if the East Bay encounters another El Niño winter.

     If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

CAPTION: Ten new signs warning of the dangers of poisonous wild mushrooms have been posted a Lake Chabot.

 

Tiny Homes, Big Plans

BY BRUCE ROBERTS  •  SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  •  09-20-17

     Tom Flemming has a mission in life.  

     Long bothered by the plight of the homeless, he has begun constructing — in his big back yard in Hayward –  tiny but functional houses as a beginning solution to the world’s homeless problem.  

     Noah built an ark; Tom builds tiny houses.  Problem solving requires action, and to Tom Flemming, that means house-building.

     In just 135 square feet, the first of these homes — set on something akin to a boat trailer — includes a fold-out bed, storage cabinets, a clothes closet, a sink and stove, a TV and a heater.  In addition, the first edition also has a working toilet and shower, with insulation in ceiling and walls.  

     Luxury — the small version.   

     As he perfects his art, subsequent editions will have less features,  but be better suited to group gatherings of such homes. The plan could be for a central bathing house, thus no showers needed in each.

The expensive trailer will likely be replaced by skids,  or some adaptation whereby the home could be set directly on the ground. Reduced costs would make such homes more attractive to non-profit organizations and city governments.

     There is much talk today that all people matter, and that is the motivation here. Tom understands that if people are allowed off the street, given a safe place where they can retreat and live, given a sense of community, and that they’re not alone, then their problems can be calmed down, and worked on.  

     His homes even include a 9 foot vaulted ceiling so no one feels claustrophobic.   

     Non-profits such as Abode Services, the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition, and the Hayward DownTown Streets Team,  as well as local city governments, are all interested in helping the homeless.

     Just banning them, or making them move on, says Tom, is not the answer. Thus he proposes the gathering of tiny homes on vacant lots, operated by a city, or a non-profit group, so that homeless people have a chance to be safe, and recover some dignity in their lives.

     Tom Flemming is a public-spirited inspiration. He doesn’t have to build these tiny masterpieces. He does it because of concern for the plight of his fellow man (and woman).

     Noah only accepted passengers on the ark two by two. Thomas wants to change the lives of as many homeless as he can, as soon as he can.

     With public support, it could happen.

CAPTION: Tom Flemming seeks to help solve the homeless problem by building tiny houses.

PHOTO BY BRUCE ROBERTS

 

Firefighters Set Goal of 2-Minute Response Time

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-20-17

     Alameda County Fire Chief Dave Rocha gave the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) an annual update on Monday night on what the fire department has been up to lately, including the number of calls for service and this year’s budget.

     The MAC also heard a bit from the county on an upcoming Eden Area signage project – always a popular topic of conversation in town ever since the “canoe sign” controversy some 20 years ago.

     Rocha told the MAC that the Alameda County Fire Department covers approximately 394,000 residents in a service area of 508 square miles. They have 29 fire stations, including four in Castro Valley.

     In addition to the unincorporated area, the ACFD covers the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Emeryville, Newark, and Union City as well as the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

     “We have to deal with everything from high-rises in Emeryville to grasslands at the Altamont Pass,” said Rocha.

     The department has 442 full-time employees and 100 reserves; at any given time, 105 firefighters are on the clock and ready to respond to a call.

     Rocha said that the department meets national standards for response times, but acknowledged that there is “room for improvement” in their “turnout time” – that means actually getting out the door of the fire station.

     The goal set is 60 seconds which Rocha said was “unrealistic” and he said the average turnout time in Castro Valley is currently 2 minutes, 32 seconds, which he’d like to see reduced to 2 minutes. From the time a call is placed until the first firefighters arrive on the scene, the average response time is 7 minutes and 43 seconds.

     Rocha says that “shot clocks” have been installed at the fire stations as a reminder of how many seconds are ticking away and everyone revives an email detailing their performance times after a call.

     “As we start to hold people accountable, we see the impact,” said Rocha.

     The Alameda County Fire Department received a total of 40,921 calls for aid during the 2016/2017 fiscal year and 15,520 were in the unincorporated areas. Of those, over 11,000 calls were for EMS or medical help, almost 400 were fires, and over 550 were false alarms.

     The fire department’s proposed annual budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year annual budget is nearly $139 million,with most of the revenue (46 percent or $64 million) coming from the individual cites who pay for a contract for fire services. Unincorporated area property tax accounts for 26 percent or $36.2 million.

     Most of the budget is spent on salaries, pensions, healthcare and other benefits – a total of 82.6 percent ($110 million).

Eden Area Signs

     The MAC also heard from Jaimie Orfanos of the Community Development Agency about the Eden Area signage plan.

     The agency wants to make cohesive signs that highlight points of interest, give directions, and create a community identity. The idea would be for the signage in Castro Valley to coordinate with signs in San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview.

     No funding is yet in place for the project, but Orfanos said they are looking for funding and applying for grants.

     Orfanos presented various prototypes for the signs. Castro Valley was represented by an icon of a bird in flight – similar birds are on the makers on Castro Valley Boulevard.

     Well, the MAC wasn’t too fond of the bird logo, with MAC member Ken Carbone saying it looks “like a little mustache” in some of the mocked up drawings.

     Carbone and other MAC members said they’d prefer something symbolizing Lake Chabot or nature to represent Castro Valley.

     Orfanos presented other designs for the unincorporated area that included an art deco look for San Lorenzo that was inspired by the vacant Lorenzo Theatre, the Meek Estate for Cherryland, ash tree leaves for Ashland, and hills for Fairview.

     Since funding is not yet in place, any date for the actual installation of signs is not yet known, but they will be discussed next at the county’s economic development forum on Oct. 11, at the Redevelopment Agency Office, 224 West Winton Avenue, Room No. 160, Hayward.

 

‘Traffic-Calming’ To Cause Delays

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-20-17

     Effective today, you can expect the drive to be much slower along Mission and Foothill boulevards as a result of a “traffic-calming” pilot project by the city of Hayward.

     The three-month trial aims to reduce speeding by shortening traffic-signal cycle lengths and eliminating the ability of drivers to travel through multiple intersections without stopping.

     All intersections in downtown Hayward on Mission and Foothill boulevards – from A Street to Industrial Parkway – are part of the so-called Adaptive Traffic Control System.

     Responding to traffic-safety complaints in downtown Hayward, the shortened green-light cycles will result in longer travel time for drivers, but should make the roadways more conducive to pedestrians, cyclists and public transit, according to officials.

     During the next few weeks, traffic engineers will be fine-tuning the cycles to smooth traffic flow and will gather data to assess whether the changes are achieving the goal of reduced speeding and improved safety.

 

Castro Village: The Heart of The Community for Almost 70 Years

BY JOHN CHRISTIAN  • SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  •  09-20-17

     When most people think of Castro Valley, Castro Village is often the first thing that comes to mind.

     The Village has been the heart of the community for almost seven decades and most can’t remember a time before it. The building of the Castro Village transitioned Castro Valley from its agricultural roots to a modern suburb—literally.

     Local real estate agent Arnold Anderson purchased a tomato field across from his office and made plans for the construction of a shopping center.

     Anderson, along with developer Robert Nahas, started the Castro Village Association, making plans and enticing investors and business owners. The group asked potential investors “Are you aware that Castro Valley is the greatest commercial ‘sleeper’ in Northern California?”

     From the onset, the Castro Village was envisioned as a nearby shopping center that would keep retail dollars in Castro Valley, taking advantage of the growing suburban housing tracks that were beginning to cover what used to be farm land.

     The project officially took off in April of 1950 with a survey of the original 4-1/2 acre property. On August 10 that same year, ground was officially broken on the $600,000 Castro Village.

     Arnold Anderson noted at the ceremony that 10 of the 28 planned stores were leased out before construction even started. A newspaper noted that the “architecture will feature modern California design, tile roofs, incense cedar walls, and landscaped areas.”

     The advertising agency for the new village remarked “as late as two years ago Castro Valley was still very much a country town” and that the new Castro Village “was a part of the transformation to a progressive community”.

     Less than four months later, the Castro Village celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, November 30, 1950. The event featured a variety of celebrations including a square dancing performance by the “Dip and Divers” and “Teen Swingers” dance troupes.

     For children, they brought in the “Children’s Daylight train” which took children around in a circle in what is today the Starbuck’s parking lot area—an estimated 1,200 children road the train on opening weekend.

     Other events included raffle prizes, featuring a 19-inch Packard Bell television set.  

     The large crowds helped the new stores to do a brisk business. Lee Brother’s Grocery store, Loupy’s Bakery, Hamilton Bros. Shoes, Ashby’s Furniture, and Fit-Rite Maternity were just some of the shops who took advantage of opening festivities.

     Ideally located in the heart of town, the Castro Village has been at the center of it all ever since.

     If you are interested in researching local history please visit the Hayward Area Historical Society at 22380 Foothill Boulevard in downtown Hayward. Visit our website haywardareahistory.org or call 510-581-0223 for more information.

     John Christian is Associate Archivist of the Hayward Area Historical Society.

CAPTION: An aerial view of Castro Village (December 1950) shows that the village would not expand into its current size until the 1960s and 1970s.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAYWARD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

Palomares Elementary Opens New Facilities

BY LINDA SANDSMARK  • SPECIAL TO THE FORUM  •  09-20-17

     Palomares Elementary School officially opened its new track, field and outdoor amphitheater on Sept. 8 with a ribbon–cutting ceremony, songs, and treats for all.

     State Senator Bob Wieckowski, Castro Valley School District Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, Asst. Superintendent Dr. Candi Clark and Palomares Parent Club President Lisa May attended the event, along with Palomares students, parents and many other guests. The Priem Family Foundation provided funding for the new facilities.

     “The Palomares community is extremely grateful to the Priem Family Foundation for the amazing additions to our school. Students and families recently enjoyed the field for our Welcome Back Family Picnic, and the amphitheater is being used weekly for our Friday Flag assemblies,” said Dr. Jennifer Tomita, Palomares Elementary principal. “Our students, families and staff will enjoy and utilize the field and amphitheater for years to come.”

     Superintendent Ahmadi agreed, saying the donation “has provided our students, staff and families at Palomares with such great outdoor space for sports and many other activities.”

     Palomares Kindergarteners helped cut the official ribbon, and the student body joined in singing the Palomares School song. Knudsen’s Ice Creamery and Jen’s Cupcakes provided treats for the event.

CAPTION: Palomares Elementary’s Kindergarten class helped cut the ribbon to open the school’s new track, field and amphitheater.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. JENNIFER TOMITA

 

Nobody’s Perfekt: Saving Dogs That Are Running Out of Time

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM  •  09-20-17

     Nobody’s Perfekt Dog Rescue, an adoption center for some of the area’s most needy shelter dogs, recently opened in Bayfair Mall in San Leandro.

     Rick Hollander, director of the non-profit, says that he got the idea for Nobody’s Perfekt after years of rescuing and fostering dogs.

     Hollander and his volunteers work closely with local shelters to bring dogs into foster care who are scheduled to be euthanized because they’ve been up for adoption for too long or perhaps they are older or have a medical issue that makes them difficult to adopt out.

     “These are the dogs who were running out of time,” said Hollander.

     The thing that makes Holl