April 3, 2024

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

New Programs Cooking at Castro Valley High School

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

An expanded Culinary Arts program is cooking at Castro Valley High School.

Flower

At its March 27 meeting, the Board of Trustees was presented with a plan to grow the school’s current Career Technical Education (CTE) Culinary and Hospitality Pathway, a cohort for like-minded students.

The vision involves building a state-of-the-art culinary building in the 400 wing of the high school campus at a cost of $3,506,242. Half that amount is expected to come from state grant funds, and the district’s building funds will cover the remainder.

School officials said they expect to open bidding for the new cooking classroom this summer. Construction is expected to begin in the fall and end sometime in the spring or summer of 2025. Classes are expected to be held in the new building starting in the 20252026 school year. Additional costs for maintenance, see PROGRAMS on page 10

INDEX

Calendar ................. 4

Classified Ads ........ 8

Crosswords ............ 9

Homes .................... 6

Obituaries ........... 11

Opinions .............. 11

Our Town ................ 3

Sheriff’s Report ..... 3

Sports ................. 12

Weather ................ 2

Robin Olivier Has ‘Always Been a Reader’

By Josie de la Torre SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Every Saturday, Robin Olivier volunteers a portion of her time to help run the Friends of the Castro Valley Library, the small bookstore near the Chabot and Canyon Room. Preparing for the book sale happening next month is a lot of preparation.

Olivier

“I’ve always been a reader,” said Olivier. “Reading was something I did from early childhood. I went through phases, liking stories of historical people and different jobs. Later, I escaped work stress by reading mysteries and gothic novels after work.”

Olivier has been a long-time Castro Valley resident. She has been involved with the library since they moved from Redwood Road and helped with the “Great Castro Valley Book Pass.” When the current Castro Valley Library opened to the public on Oct. 31, 2009, nearly 2,000 people participated in this event, creating a human chain to pass books from the old library to the new one.

“We moved a couple of hundred books from the old library to this one, and people were walking on the street. see OLIVIER on page 5

Software Helps Teachers Make the ‘AI’ Grade

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

A former Bay Area teacher has figured out a way to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to do a particularly time-consuming part of a teacher’s job: grading.

Sam Anderson-Moxley used to teach at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland and elsewhere here on the mainland but now teaches 8th-grade science at a public charter school on the Big Island of Hawaii,

along with other subjects as needed.

He has seen class sizes rise in both states, which are also noted for modest teacher salaries and a high cost of living. With more students to teach, more work is required to just grade all their work in a way that gives them proper feedback to learn more effectively, he said.

“The problem is that teachers typically work seven hours more than the average working adult per week, and 25 percent

of their work is uncompensated, plus they don’t qualify for overtime pay,” Anderson-Moxley wrote in an email. “Teacher shortages and high turnover are prevalent across the nation.”

“Teachers and students deserve better,” he added.

He thinks he can help with some of that with his new software product, Roborubrics.

As Anderson-Moxley put it, “It’s made by teachers for teachers. It’s a technology that actually makes teachers’ lives easier.”

It does that by cutting way down on grading time, he said. It’s an add-on to Google Docs, but uses the GPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer) engine from OpenAI.

“My innovation was integrating that with the Google Docs add-on,” Anderson-Moxley said.

Using huge data sets of previously graded student work, Roborubrics uses AI to compare specified grading criteria to each student’s assignment. see AI on page 4

Sam

Robin

PHOTO COURTESY OF CVUSD

Girls Flag Football is coming to Castro Valley High. A pilot program will start in the 2024-2025 school year, with it becoming an official fall sport starting in 2025.

Moon Phases

County Health Officials Say Be Vigilant as Measles Cases Rise

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Although the risk of exposure to measles in the Bay Area is low, health officials recommend residents stay up to date with their vaccinations, especially if traveling internationally in the coming months.

An advisory sent out last Friday by Alameda County Health noted that measles is spreading worldwide, including popular tourist and business destinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 64 measles cases across 17 US metro areas, with more than 90 percent of those cases linked to international travel.

With three major airports, the Bay Area is a hub for international travel, increasing

the potential for exposure to this highly contagious virus. For individuals or families that plan to travel internationally, anyone who is not vaccinated against measles is at increased risk of getting infected, according to Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss.

Case in point, a man returning from an overseas trip unknowingly contracted measles and may have exposed patrons at The Sons of Liberty Alehouse in San Leandro on March 9, Alameda County Health officials said.

“Two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended for full protection,” Dr. Moss said.

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (pink eye),

followed 2-4 days later by a rash. The virus is transmitted by infectious droplets through direct contact or the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Infectious droplets can linger in indoor air for several hours.

About one in five people infected with measles require hospitalization, and nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications, according to the CDC. Measles presents the greatest risk to children under 5 years of age, adults over 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.

Dr. Moss suggests checking your immunization records or see HEALTH on page 10

Honoring Female First Responders

As part of Women’s History Month, Creekside Middle School held their March Grand Prix honoring famous female first responders. Division Chief Heather Marques of the Alameda County Fire Department (above) and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Rios (at right) joined in to participate in Mr. McMurray’s Hot Wheels Racing Club event. Congratulations to the fire department for their win this year! It was a thrilling event connecting the Hot Wheels theme with racing police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks.

Sheriff’s Reports

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Assault and Battery

Sunday, March 31: At 2:20 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 45-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault and battery with serious bodily injury. The man was at a home on Lorena Avenue near Lorena Place when deputies responded to a report of an altercation at the scene. Deputies took the man into custody. The victim was treated at the site.

Resisted Arrest

Saturday, March 30: at 9:59 p.m., A 35-year-old man from Castro Valley was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest. Deputies stopped the man for questioning outside a business on Castro Valley Boulevard near Anita Avenue. The man became confrontational with the deputies and tried to get away, but he was put in handcuffs and taken into custody.

Street Fight

Thursday, March 28: at 6:56 p.m., A 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argument sent deputies to a business on San Carlos Avenue near Park Way. There, they arrested a 30-year-old woman from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault on another person. Deputies took the woman into custody.

Shoplifter Had Drugs

Wednesday, March 27: at 1:35 p.m., Deputies arrested a 33-year-old man with no per-

manent residence on suspicion of shoplifting and possessing illegal narcotics and related drug paraphernalia. The man was spotted leaving a grocery store on Redwood Road near Castro Valley Boulevard with unpaid merchandise. Deputies took the man into custody.

Stolen Vehicle and Property

Wednesday, March 27: at 9:24 p.m., A 37-year-old CV man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, a lock-pick, methamphetamine drugs, and stolen property. Deputies stopped the man outside a home on James Avenue near Helton Street and identified the car as stolen. The man was taken into custody.

Family Fight

Wednesday, March 27: at 12:41 p.m., Deputies arrested a 46-year-old woman from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault on a family member. The woman was at an apartment on Center Street near Grove Way when deputies responded to a call about a domestic disturbance. The woman was taken into custody. The victim was treated at the scene.

Three Arrested for Coordinated Shoplifting

Tuesday, March 26: at 10:45 a.m., Three men were arrested for shoplifting and conspiracy to commit a crime from a drug store on the Boulevard near Yeandle Avenue. Deputies

responded to a call from the store manager about the trio starting to stash multiple items into bags. The 44-year-old of the bunch was additionally charged with possessing methamphetamine drugs and related paraphernalia. He and a 50-year-old and 35-year-old were taken to Santa Rita Jail.

Drunk and Disorderly

Monday, March 25: at 12:45 p.m., Deputies arrested a 42-year-old CV man on suspicion of public intoxication and battery against a peace officer. The man was found outside a meeting hall on Rutledge Road near the Boulevard with alcohol on his breath. During the sobriety test, the man became confrontational and took a swing at deputies. The man was taken into custody.

3321 Castro Valley Blvd

SUPPORTING THE ARTS: Members of A.R.T, Inc. and local art enthusiasts proudly display their pieces they made at this past Saturday’s art demo at the Adobe Art Gallery and Center in Castro Valley. Attendees were instructed by award-winning mixed media artist Tejal Shah who is known for incorporating diverse mediums and a vibrant color palette to create her artwork which seamlessly integrates elements of realism, impressionism, and abstract art. For upcoming events or more information, visit: www.artinc.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• April 4th - Communications Committee Meeting.

• April 6th - CVSan Strategic Plan Community Meeting; RSVP at cvsan.org/SP

• April 10th - Finance Committee Meeting.

• April 23rd - Business Services Committee Meeting.

• April 27th - CVSan Earth Day Clean-Up Events; visit cvsan.org/ED.

• April 27th - CVSan Recycles Day Event; visit cvsan.org/RecyclesDay

• April 30th - Wastewater Committee Meeting.

• May 7th - Regular Board Meeting.

• May 9th - Community Advisory Committee Meeting. Please note the above event schedule is subject to change. All CVSan Board and Committee meetings are open to the public. For complete meeting details and information about CVSan’s services, programs, and events, please visit cvsan.org.

AI: Rubric Automated Application

continued from front page

It automates the application of a rubric, which in education is a grading plan that tries to assign similar evaluations to work of similar quality done by different students working under different teachers. Several rubrics might apply to different aspects of the same student assignment.

“I told my students at the start of this school year that I had a teaching assistant, and it was a robot,” Anderson-Moxley said. “I was surprised how readily they took to this. I think they’re somewhat familiar with AI already.”

The students made it clear, though, that they wanted continued close contact with a human teacher they knew personally, he said. Still, they appreciated the quick and detailed feedback they got from the AI.

Anderson-Moxley’s school, the West Hawaii Explorations Academy, has adopted the system, and he said most of his teaching colleagues there found it a big help. Several offered testimonials for it on the Roborubrics website.

“We’ve found it works very well for classes like English and history that have a lot of written assignments, and it also works well in science. It’s still being improved to be better for math,” he said.

Anderson-Moxley is spreading the word of Roborubrics by word of mouth, which can be a little easier in Hawaii than most states because it’s made up of islands. He also plans to discuss it at teachers’ conferences and conventions, such as the Teaching for the Future conference held annually in Honolulu. He welcomes interest from the mainland.

Teachers or schools interested in Roborubrics can visit: www.roborubrics.com, where they can view a demonstration of how it works or email the company at support@roborubrics.com. Demonstrations are also available on YouTube.

Friday, April 5

Family Movie Night at the DMT

The Hayward Area Recreation & Park District invites you to join their Family Movie Night this Friday, April 5, from 5 to 8pm at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre. Gather your loved ones for an evening of cinematic delight in the cozy confines of the DMT for a family-friendly screening of The Little Mermaid (2023). Before the movie, we’ll have a few activities for you to enjoy, including a photobooth with Ariel, underwater-themed crafts, and seathemed snacks — this is an event you won’t want to miss! Visit www.bit.ly/HARDMovieTLM to register.

Tuesday, April 9

CV Rotary Hosts ACFD Chief Willie McDonald

Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) Chief, Willie McDonald, will provide an update to the CV Rotary on ACFD operations and services. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, CV) at 12 noon to 1:30pm. The cost of lunch is $20 and reservations must be made by 9 pm on Sunday, April 7, by emailing: cvrotary@iCloud.com or call 510-402-5123. More info at: castrovalleyrotary.org.

Friday & Sunday, April 12 & 14

Douglas Morrisson Theatre Chorus’ ‘Stage and Screen’

The Morrisson Theatre Chorus will be presenting “Stage and Screen” showcasing music from movies, Broadway and opera. Showtimes are Friday, April 12, at 8pm and Sunday, April 14, at 2pm at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre in Hayward. For tickets go to: douglasmorrissontheatre. thundertix.com or call 510-881-6700.

Saturday, April 13

Hayward Library’s Annual Afternoon of Poetry & Jazz

Don’t miss the Hayward Public Library’s 2nd Annual Afternoon of Poetry & Jazz this Saturday, April 13 at 2pm in Celebration of National Poetry Month featuring California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. The program also will feature current California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Hayward Poet Laureate Bruce Roberts, local poets Pat Doyne and Anthony Pino plus music by local saxophone virtuoso Gavin Halloran. A poetry book sale and signing hosted by Books on B bookstore follows the event. For more information please call (510) 510-293-7173.

Sunday, April 14

Practice Your English at CV Library

Are you an Adult English language learner who would like to build your English conversation skills? The Castro Valley Library is offering a new conversation club each month from 2 to 3pm on Sundays April 14 and May 12. Your can improve your conversation skills by chatting with other people about everyday topics in a friendly, welcoming group. Each month’s session will feature new topics and vocabulary to practice. This program is for adults who are advanced beginner and intermediate English speakers. Registration is required. For information about this and other events, visit www.aclibrary.org or call 510-667-7900.

Eleven drawings from Castro Valley artist Ellen Hamilton O’Donnell’s “Flower Fiction” series are currently on display at the Castro Valley Library until July 1.

FLOWER FICTION

Don’t Miss CV Artist’s Exhibit Now on Display at the Library

Eleven drawings from Castro Valley artist Ellen Hamilton O’Donnell’s “Flower Fiction” series are currently on display at the Castro Valley Library gallery until July 1st.

“This series of colored pencil drawings celebrates the intimate, quiet joy of looking and reclaims room for that in my life,” says O’Donnell. “I begin by placing a selection of flowers in vases on a table. I look for a long time, gradually and spontaneously making choices of which flowers, stems, and leaves I want to draw as they emerge from the mass of blooms.”

Her process to creating the artwork is organic as she states “I do not pre-design, plan, or sketch, but let the work evolve

Ellen Hamilton

naturally and freely as I see more clearly which shapes and colors resonate with my mind’s eye. The flowers draw me in and give me a way to tap into

current and stored emotions along with visual memories and influences. With time, the work takes on a life of its own; demanding that I add another blossom or two, draw leaves where there are none, or simply let the work be.”

O’Donnell holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and a BA in Humanities from St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD. In 2023, her work was exhibited at the 40th Anniversary Hayward Arts Council (HAC) show at the John O’Lague Gallery juried by Rachel Osajima and Amy Diaz-Infante Siqueiros. O’Donnell is a member of Art Inc., Castro Valley, and HAC.

Hometown Gal Returns to CV To Debut Her Film Tonight

Lorraine Chittock spent her childhood bicycling all over Castro Valley’s hills, horse tracks and canyons and reading voraciously. She’s lived in Egypt, Kenya, Costa Rica and Chile as an author/photographer and now lives in Tanzania where she produced, directed and edited her first film, Boda Babes Ride! which she will premier tonight, Wednesday, April 3 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the The Chabot Theater.

BODA BABES RIDE! is the unique story of three women who buy a used motorcycle in Africa to deliver the bike to an award winning wildlife ranger. Its a comedy/ drama/road movie starring trio Tiffany Coates—who’s ridden more miles on a motorcycle than any woman ever, Nicole Espinosa—motorcycle part designer, and Castro Valley’s very own adventurer/producer/ editor Lorraine Chittock.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with fellow animal, motorcycle and travel lovers to enjoy a night of fun. Lorraine will be dressing up Oscar style and would love to meet you during a 30 minute Q&A after the 1 hour 22 minute film.

Tickets can be purchased on https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ boda-babes-ride-3-bloodybrave-broads-with-more-faiththan-fear-tickets-862795182617

Olivier: A Dedicated Volunteer

continued from front page

We literally passed them,” she said. It was so much fun.”

Being a dedicated volunteer since 2011, Olivier became the President of the Friends of the Castro Valley Library, overseeing the board meetings, planning book sales, helping draft newsletters, and getting people to donate to the bookstore. She is in the first year of her two-year term.

The Friends of the Castro Valley Library is a volunteer-run and non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that supports the Castro Valley Library by helping provide funds for library services such as the Castro Valley Reads and children’s programs. As well as advocating for local and national public support for libraries and helping increase literacy. Book donations help the bookstore support the library by selling almost new or used books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs.

“That’s, of course, our mission. Most of the children’s activities that happen here at the library we have paid for. We paid for the books for the Castro Valley Reads so that all the 300 books that we’ve given out, we bought those and then sponsored the activities that go along with them,” said Oliver.

Donating items such as paperback and hardback books, audiovisual materials, and magazines that are in good condition is accepted at the Friends of the Library when they are open. Donations will not be accepted in the last 30 minutes before the bookstore closes.

Prior to volunteering at the Castro Valley Library, Olivier had been a long-time educator in Castro Valley. Raised in Merced and graduating from UC Berkeley, she was hired as a student teacher at the former Parsons Elementary School in 1966. Working there for 13 years, she would eventually become principal at Stanton, Castro Valley, Palomares, and Independent Elementary Schools. Retiring in 1999, Olivier still wanted to be involved with education. Before the pandemic, Olivier dedicated part of her time to tutoring first-graders at Proctor Elementary, learning to read.

The Friends of the Castro Valley Library will hold their Spring Book Sale on April 26 to 28. For more information, please visit their website: www.friendsofcvlibrary.org/ or call (510) 733-3285.

AXE THROWING TOURNAMENT

CANYON’S BBQ.

BERNIE KEMPEN, “IT’S OVER”

WIGGLE RUMPS RETAIL

SUTTER HOSPITAL

PETES “ACE” HARDWARE

DIRECT SALES FLOORS

CAROL BIGELOW

MATT WILHITE, INTERO REAL ESTATE

KEVIN L. HINKLEY, AUTO TECH

CVSAN

GREENWOOD AND MOORE

RON KVIKSTAD

BSR REALTY

CASTRO VALLEY STORAGE

AL PROIETTI, BARBER

MARK PONIATOWSKI, ATTORNEY

ADAM, ADAMS AND MORRIS INC.

DOLPHIN GRAPHICS

DARRELL LAVIN PHOTOGRAPHY

REDWOOD CANYON GOLF COURSE BY

O’Donnell

[3 BD1,014 SF - 1951

21347 Meekland Avenue

94541: $700,000 [2 BD1,350 SF - 1936

1289

29212

371

94542: $750,000 [1 BD674 SF - 1938 430 Larchmont Street 94544: $820,000 [3 BD1,176 SF - 1957 27826

Dinh

Masoud

Lisa

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IF YOUR GARAGE SALE IS RAINED OUT, WE'LL RUN YOUR AD AGAIN FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE. SLTimes

FENCES/DECKS

Board.

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GARDENING

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Design - Construction - Maintenance. Cleanups, New Lawn, Artificial Grass, Irrigation, Patios, Pathways, Brick, Stone, Concrete Fence/ Decks. Free Estimates! Lic.#925130. 510-691-8852. www.beautygardenlandscaping.com

Dormant Pruning Professional hand pruning and cleanup. Landscape design/install. Katsura Landscaping CL#.858145 Call Mike 510-828-4854.

GARDENING

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Maintenance, Trimming, Cleanups, Hauling, Sprinkler Repair/ Timers. FREE Estimates. Insured. 510-299-9583

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NAVA'SCOMPLETE LANDSCAPING: Mowing, trees, cleanup, hauling, FREE estimates. 510 512-5857. GIVEAWAYS

FREE - Bedside toilet in good condition. 510-504-7016.

FREE - Black futon. Please call 510575-4620.

LANDLORDS - Advertise your units!

– Avacancy day is money lost forever –

R. Bowman

HELP WANTED

The City of San Leandro is now accepting online applications for:

Recreation Leader$16.31 - $19.83 hourly

For more detailed information, please visit www.sanleandro.org. EOE

HOME SERVICES GUIDE

Help for the homeowner means business for you!

Hayward Area

Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.)

Now hiring! Apply Online: haywardrec.org/employment

LOST & FOUND

On 12/20/2023, a citizen dropped off found currency to the San Leandro Police Department. The citizen stated the currency was found on E. 14th Street between Maud and Elsie. The owner must give a description of the currency, the amount and exact denominations. If you are the owner, please call 510-577-3224.

To Place an Ad ... Call 614-1558 To Place an Ad call 614-1558

MISC. FOR SALE

RCA portable radio (from the 50’s) in good condition. $45. 510-2789719.

You can place a FREE “MISC. FOR SALE” ad for items $50 or less at: sanleandrotimes.com or at: castrovalleyforum.com or more info call Patrick Mon-Fri.

9am-1pm at 510-614-1560 (some restrictions may apply)

MISC. WANTED

Follow Up Prison Ministries, Int’l. is in desperate need of a car for traveling to and from the California State Prisons.Currently, our President is using his own car and is in need of relief.

If you have a second car that you are not using, please consider donating it to FUMI.Hopefully, a car that gets great freeway mileage and is in good running order will meet our current needs.

Your

Please contact Paul Weber, FUMI Office Manager, at 510-881-1178 for

WANTED

Are you interested in buying or selling a home or property?

Would you like the help of a Professional Agent? For assistance call ...

Senior Q&A: Can Beneficiaries Be Changed After Death?

My mother just died, and her will leaves her estate equally to us three children. I am fairly well-off, but my two brothers are not quite as fortunate. Is there a way that I can redirect some or all of my share to them in a tax efficient way?

By Gene L. Osofsky, Esq. SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

A:The answer may very well be “yes.” One way to accomplish this is by the use of a disclaimer. A disclaimer is a renunciation of one’s right to receive a gift or bequest, whether the gift is left in a will, trust, or by beneficiary designation.

However, whether it will accomplish your purpose in routing your share to your siblings depends upon how your mother structured her will. Here is why: in order for a disclaimer to be effective, it must pass to the next person in line without

any direction on your part. In other words, it must pass to the successors whom your mother, herself, has chosen to take in the event you predeceased her. A couple of examples will help illustrate the matter:

sideways to your siblings, while in example #2, she provides that it would go downward to your own children. In example #1, a disclaimer by you would accomplish your purpose, but a disclaimer by you in example # 2 would not.

Example #1: let us suppose your mother’s will recites as follows:

“ I leave everything to my three children, equally, but if any of my children predecease me, then I leave that deceased child’s share to my other surviving children, equally.”

Example #2: now, let us suppose your mother’s will, instead, recites as follows:

“ I leave everything to my three children, equally, but if any of my children predecease me, then I leave that deceased child’s share to his own surviving children”.

In example #1, your mother provides that the share of any predeceased child would go

A disclaimer is treated as if the target beneficiary had predeceased the decedent. So, before exercising a disclaimer, it is very important to first determine whom the decedent, herself, has selected as the successors. If the decedent died without a will, then the successors would be determined by state law.

The nice thing about a disclaimer is that it is treated for tax purposes as if you never owned the asset; it passes to the successors without any adverse tax implications to you. As a result, a disclaimer can be a very tax efficient way of postmortem planning. By contrast, if you first accept your share and then re-gift it to your siblings, the gift tax scheme would be implicated:

you would need to file a Gift Tax Return for amounts over $18,000 per recipient (in year 2024), and the gifts to your siblings would reduce your own lifetime exemption from gift and estate tax (currently $13.61 Million per person through the end of year 2024. Thus, accepting and then re-gifting the assets to your siblings would use up some of your own lifetime tax exemption, making less available for you later on to shield bequests to your own beneficiaries. Note, however, that the current very generous lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion is set to expire at the end of 2024. Thereafter, unless a new law

is enacted, it is expected to reduce to approximately $7 million per person (or, $14 million for married couples). So, if it would accomplish your purposes, using a Disclaimer is a better way to go.

of assets and could jeopardize continued eligibility for those public benefits.

Another approach: if your mother’s bequest were made in a Trust (rather than by will), you might, instead, use a relatively new procedure in California called “Decanting”. For more on this option, check our website for articles on this topic.

To be effective, a disclaimer must meet certain requirements: it must be in writing, it must be made before you accept the gift or any of its benefits, and it must be made not later than nine months after your mother’s death. Caution: a person receiving some public benefits, such as SSI, should never make a Disclaimer without getting professional guidance, as doing so would be treated as a prohibited transfer

Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney who has been helping East Bay families for over 30 years with Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Medi-Cal Planning, and related matters. Visit: LawyerForSeniors.com or call (510) 247-2555.

Programs: Trojans’ Girls Flag Football

continued from front page replacing smaller equipment, and food are projected to be between $40,000 and $50,000. The current project-based curriculum includes two sections on food and nutrition and one on the synergies between hospitality and culinary arts. According to school officials, advanced catering courses could start in the 2026-2027 school year. Students would be eligible for certifications and hear from industry professionals and speakers.

Culinary students could also take advantage of the Eden Area Regional Occupational Program hospitality and workbased learning resources.

Trojans’ Girls Flag Football

Girls Flag Football is coming to Castro Valley High. A pilot program will start in the 2024-2025 school year, with it becoming an official fall sport starting in 2025.

Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Kathleen Stacy provided the board with an overview. Castro Valley will support a varsity and a junior varsity team. Each team will consist of 15-18 players, with 7 playing on the field at a time.

Last year, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) approved flag football as an eligible high school sport. Ten of the West Alameda County

Conference (WACC) schools are expected to support two girls’ flag football teams.

“The other schools are eager to compete with us, and we have already targeted some great rivalry matchups,” Stacy said, adding that a recent student survey found that more than 100 students identifying as female or nonbinary were excited to play.

Health: Rebrand WINKLER

The program expenses include start-up costs of $21,367.86, including $9,604.38 for coaching and staff stipends, $8,239.20 for uniforms, $189.28 for flags, $385.00 for field and game equipment, and $2,950 WACC fees and dues.

see PROGRAMS on page 11

continued from page 2 contacting your provider to see if you are protected.

Last week, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) rebranded itself as Alameda County Health (or AC Health for short). It revised the naming of most of its associated departments. Each department’s services remain unchanged. The Alameda County EMS Agency and HealthPAC will retain their current names.

Behavioral Health Care Services, the Department of Environmental Health, the Public Health, the Department of Homeless Care and Coordination, and the Center for Healthy Schools and Communities will see their names change. The departments and services are listed online at: AlamedaCountyCA.gov

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

More than 125 members of our community gathered on a glorious Easter morning at Deer View Park in the Columbia neighborhood of Castro Valley for the annual Sunrise Service partnered between CV First and Redwood Chapel. Together they sang songs to celebrate the Risen Christ and heard testimonies of their changed lives from Sydney Wun and Adrian Berner. These personal stories were followed by a thoughtful message of hope from Pastor John Wodetzki from CV First. More photos at: www.mycvforum.com

Programs: Ostreicher Appointed

continued from previous page Girls Flag Football is gaining traction nationwide. Last year, approximately 474,000 young women between the ages of 6 and 17 played flag football, a 63 percent increase from the number who played the sport in 2019.

Athletic Director Stacy said the sport aligns with the school district’s desire to provide equitable access to opportunities for our students.

New Special Education Director

In other district-related news, the Board of Trustees selected Yoko Ostreicher as the Assistant Special Education Director and Special Education Local Plan Area Director (SELPA), which promotes educational programs and services for special needs students and training for parents and educators.

Ms. Ostreicher has been with Castro Valley Unified since 2015 as the Preschool and Elementary Special Services Coordinator and Interim Director. She brings 22 years of experience, including 14 years as a special education administrator.

In 2021, she was the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 6 winner for Special Education Administrator of the Year.

Castro Valley Office: (510) 317-7890

Jay

Richard A. Holmes

Michael L. Miraglia In Loving Memory

Michael L. Miraglia passed peacefully on March 13, 2024, with family at his side. Mike was born in Oakland in 1946 to Jim and Marie Miraglia and grew up in Oakland and San Leandro with his brothers Tom and Jim. He attended St. Patrick’s Seminary and Bishop O’Dowd High School and received his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from San Francisco City College. He spent his entire life in the family catering business, Miraglia Catering, based in San Leandro which he took over in 1978 with his wife, Cheryl, who he had married in 1976. Mike truly did believe in serving others, largely due to his Catholic faith and his belief in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He was active in many organizations: Rotary Club of San Leandro where he was a member for 56 years (the perfect club for Mike since the Rotary motto is “Service Above Self” which he exemplified), the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, the Italian Catholic Federation, the Knights of Columbus, the Board of the Five Canyons Owners Association (first homeowner on the Board and served for 28 years), the Board of the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club and was still serving as president of the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club Foundation, the 100 Club, and the Pharaohs Car Club where he was inducted last year into their Hall of Fame. He was also an Honorary Alameda County Deputy Sheriff.

Mike is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cheryl, his daughter Jenna, his granddaughter Olivia , his brothers-and -sisters-in-law and many dearly loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 1:00 pm at Our Lady of Grace Church, 3433 Somerset Avenue, Castro Valley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club Foundation, 250 Juana Ave #201, San Leandro, CA 94577

Mary Paterson-Bright

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mary Paterson-Bright, who died after a four and a half year battle with a rare lung disease, pulmonary hypertension. Mary died peacefully with family and friends by her side.

Mary was born in Pasadena, California. Soon after, her family moved to Piedmont, California, where she lived until she graduated from Piedmont High School in 1973. Mary attended U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History. Mary and her husband met at Mary’s sorority, Alpha Omicon Pi, where husband Josh worked as an assistant cook and server. After graduation, Mary attended the Sotheby’s Works of Arts program in London, England. She loved this opportunity to live in England and be immersed in art.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, Richard A. Holmes, son, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Pasadena, California. Dad’s journey began on December 13, 1933, in Oakland, CA. He grew up in Berkeley, attending St. Joseph’s Elementary and St. Mary’s High School before serving in the Army and moving to Castro Valley in the 1950s. He raised his family in Oakland where he was a parishioner of St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, and a member of Optimist International. Dad was a resident of Oakland for 55 years, before moving to Pasadena last year.

Richard is survived by his wife, Isabel; his three children Christopher (Carolyn), Krista (Mike), and Rachel (Geoff); his six grandchildren, Caitlyn (Justin), Jonah, Celsea, Elizabeth, Nathan, and Ayla; his sister Shirley (Allen), and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by first wife, Elsie Scholz Holmes, his parents, Eino “Al” and Dorothy Holmes, and brother Robert.

Richard’s family is thankful for the wonderful staff at Del Mar Park in Pasadena for the loving care they gave him during his stay.

Please contact Jess C. Spencer Mortuary in Castro Valley for visitation and funeral arrangements.

Dad was a life-long learner with a wicked sense of humor, he enjoyed espresso, pastries, watching PBS, listening to historical biography audio books, and gardening. Please consider donations in Dad’s name to any charity of your choice.

Josh and Mary married in 1984 and in 1989, their son, Cameron was born. After they married, Mary turned her attention to her life-long passion of being an elementary school teacher. After earning her teaching credential at Cal State Hayward, Mary subbed two years in Piedmont, Alameda, and Hayward school districts, finally becoming a full time teacher in Hayward. During her 30-year career, she taught at Burbank, Palma Ceia, and Eden Gardens elementary schools. She taught second and third grades and was the school librarian at Palma Ceia—by far her life’s passion of getting students excited by the world of books.

To both her family and students, Mary was the epitome of love, compassion, and devotion, leaving an indelible mark on the many lives she touched. She loved nothing more than when a former student would recognize her and tell her how much they loved being in her class and what a constructive role she played in their development. She embodied the spirit of generosity and making a positive impact that will live on through all the lives she has touched.

Mary was a devoted wife and mother. After meeting at her sorority, Mary and Josh were together for 48 years. She loved traveling with her family, especially out-of-the-way spots throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. Mary also had a passion for animals. Over the years, she had many cats and dogs, one of which she adopted after falling in love during one of her volunteer shifts at an animal shelter. Milo was an 11-year old deaf, toothless, pug. She also loved spending time with her son, Cameron. Together they loved going to movies, museums, and baseball games—especially the A’s, which she loved since their arrival in Oakland in 1968. In their final trip, Mary and Josh took a cruise to accomplish one of Mary’s bucket list items, to visit Hawaii one last time. Mary and Josh took in traditional Hawaiian music, hula, and Mai Tais under the moonlight at the Halekulani hotel, where she had stayed with her family several times over the years.

Mary is survived by her husband Josh; son Cameron, married to Mara; brothers Thomas, Jr. (Hillary), Scott, & Daniel (Terry); six nieces and nephews; six great nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law, Jeff.

A Celebration of Life will be celebrated on April 28, 2024, at Redwood Canyon Golf Course, 17007 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA at noon. RSVP required by April 15, 2024: mpbcelebrationoflife@gmail.com. Memorial gifts may be made to UC San Francisco (https://giving.ucsf.edu/ honor-memorial); Children’s Fairland (https://fairyland.org/get-involved/support-fairyland/ ); or Oakland Zoo (https://www.oaklandzoo.org/donate-to-oakland-zoo)

PHOTO CREDIT: PASTOR DOUG TEGNER, REDWOOD CHAPEL

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Eden Athletic Club C-Gold

Our Athletes of the Week is the Eden Athletic Club C-Gold Boys Basketball team. This squad of 7th – 9th Graders is made up of students from Castro Valley and the surrounding East Bay Area. They have had a remarkable year, finishing 9-1 for the regular season title and winning the East Bay Youth Athletic League (EBYAL) Championship game on March 3 as the Number 1 seed against Berkeley Ohtani (Number 2 seed). Eden needed overtime to complete the title sweep and is now a repeat champ! Eden tied the game in regulation

on an improbable shot from the corner. The team then hit four free-throw attempts and scored key shots to secure the Championship.

Pictured above are:

Kyle Tanamachi (Coach), Clayton Tang (CVHS), Sam Berger (Alameda), Devin Tanamachi (Alameda), Gibson Anaya (Creekside), Rylen Chu (Canyon), Shota Yanagisawa (CVHS), Ryan Shimomura (Fremont), Kurt Liu (Alameda), Spencer Wong (Creekside), Chase Tham (Canyon) Not in the picture: Nathan Wong (Assistant Coach)

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week Eden Athletic Club

East Bay Publishing Presents

This informative section will feature advertising and editorial on local, publicand private schools, as well as services available for today’s busy parents

An Apple or a Snickers Bar? The Ups, Downs of Macros

By Mitch Rothbardt SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

An apple or a Snickers bar: What has more nutritional value? Are vegetables healthy? Is drinking water a good idea?

If you know the answers to these questions (The apple, yes, and yes, respectively) then you know pretty much all you need to know about nutrition. Really. Nutrition is actually pretty simple but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to trust what we know.

One source of confusion is macronutrients. What are they are? What do they do? Are there bad ones?

Macronutrients, commonly known as protein, fat, and carbohydrates are the components of food.

Let’s quickly break down what each one does.

Protein: Responsible for muscle repair and growth. Good sources include poultry, beef, and dairy.

Fat: Breaks down various vitamins and minerals. Also important for hormone production and joint health and can be used as energy. Healthy sources include avocados, nuts, and certain oils.

Carbohydrates: Your body’s primary source of energy and important for brain function and recovery. Healthy

sources include grains, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables.

All three macronutri-

ents play an important part in your health and in my opinion, any nutrition plan that demonizes and/or eliminates one is problematic.

Without adequate protein your body can’t repair itself.

Without adequate fat your joints can ache, and you won’t be able to absorb crucial vitamins and minerals.

Without carbohydrates you’ll feel lethargic and foggy.

The next question is how much of each you should have each day. Unfortunately, that’s an impossible question to answer here. Everyone’s needs are different. We have different activity levels, body types, likes, dislikes, food intolerances, and more.

These kinds of guidelines can also cause us to rely on numbers more than what’s important, which is how we feel. Ignoring that is a big reason people think they can’t trust what they already know.

I don’t want to leave you completely empty handed, though. Since protein tends to be the simplest as far as guidelines let’s talk about that.

Depending on your activity level, you should be eating between .25 and 1 gram per pound of bodyweight each day. That’s quite a difference I know, and that gives you an example of why trying to put numbers on these things is difficult at best.

To clarify a little more, if you’re sedentary and don’t exercise much, you’ll tend towards the .25 mark. If you exercise 2-3 times per week, you’ll be in the .5-.75 mark. If you exercise intensely 4-5 times per week, you’ll be closer to 1.

I have trouble writing these kinds of articles, because as important as they may be, they can also give the wrong impression. The idea that everyone needs to eat according to some chart isn’t correct. All I want to do is give you some basic information to help clear up a confusing topic.

When all is said and done it’s important to realize that what you eat in one day or at one meal almost never really matters in the long run.

Mitch is the owner and head trainer at Castro Valley Fitness. He loves answering your fitness questions if you see him at the dog park with Penny, Max, and Tex or you can send him an email at: Mitch@ CastroValleyFitness.com.

SACMAL LEAGUE JV CHAMPIONS

Congratulations to Creekside For Their Undefeated Season

Congratulations to Creekside Middle School JV Football Team for going undefeated this season and winning the 2024 SACMAL League JV Championship. The championship game was played at Chabot College on March 7. Creekside beat cross-town rival Canyon Middle School by a score of 22-0. Creekside player Josiah Knight scored three touchdowns. Special shout out to head coach Jessie Washington for bringing home the trophy.

2024