August 16, 2023

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

INSIDE YOUR FORUM INSIDE YOUR

Housing Element Upsets

Opa!

CV Greek Festival returns for its 51st year this weekend

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Retiring Single?

The challenges that many single women face in retirement

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Over 35,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Fall Festival Sept. 9 and 10. Presented by the Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, this year will again provide arts, crafts, food, and fun for all.

Fall Festival Returns Next Month

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Field Dedication

John C. Brosnan

Field dedication at CVHS next Friday

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Autumn is just around the corner, and the community is again gathering this September to celebrate good food, artwork, music, and fun for all ages.

This year’s Fall Festival will occur on Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, on Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and San Miguel Avenue. Presented by the Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, more than 125 vendors and

attractions will again line the streets and the center of the downtown district.

First held in the Castro Village Shopping Center, the Chamber voted to provide a showcase for Castro Valley businesses and artisans while showing off Castro Valley as

CV Roofng Company Gets National Spotlight

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Wonderlin Roofng Systems, a Castro Valley company open since 1992, will be featured in an upcoming episode of the mini-documentary TV series “Viewpoint With Dennis Quaid.” That’s according to Larae Wonderlin, who coowns the company, and her husband Grover Wonderlin.

They’ll be flming in October and airing in the months after that. The show looked at a number of roofng companies across the country before settling on theirs to highlight.

“Viewpoint With Dennis Quaid” presents some of those short programs viewers on public television often see just after movies and other shows that don’t end neatly on the hour or half-hour.

The company focuses on issues that confront and sometimes bedevil ordinary consumers, and this segment is on “Choosing A Roofng Contractor.”

The episode will be introduced with a description of the company by Dennis Quaid, famous for a number of flm roles, including “Frequency” and as Jerry Lee Lewis in see SPOTLIGHT on page 10

the “Heart of Good Living.”

The event offered attendees a wine-tasting, fashion show, and art exhibit. The success of that frst year prompted a second event in 1973, which the Chamber offcially named the Fall Festival.

see FALL on page 10

By Amy Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

A frustrated Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) and several public speakers discussed plans to expand housing in the unincorporated area for nearly three hours at Monday night’s MAC meeting.

State law requires each jurisdiction to revise its housing element every eight years. Alameda County is currently towards the end of another cycle and is currently detailing a draft of the housing element to the various MACs.

Due to state Senate Bill SB35, counties and cities throughout California have had housing quotas handed down to them- a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).

The RHNA is based on estimates from the state about the amount of residential construction that will be needed to see MAC on back page

Larae (at left) and Grover Wonderlin in front of a Wonderlin Roofng Systems truck.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW/ BRESLOW IMAGING

MAC BOARD

Castro Valley Weather August 16 - August 20, 2023

Emergency Funds = Calm?

By Kevin Koo SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Today, we wrap up the series that was inspired by a Netfix show called “How to Get Rich.” The concept today is emergency funds. It sounds alarming, but it’s quite a calming force when you have it. Let’s jump into it.

So, the idea of having an emergency fund is, if there’s an emergency, you already have money set aside to pay for it. You intentionally set aside the money and keep it in an account where you can access that money easily.

In a 2023 Bankrate survey, only 43 percent of Americans could cover a $1,000 emergency. It’s shocking and saddening to hear because $1,000 really doesn’t cover much in terms of emergencies. Your car breaks down, or you need to go to the

hospital could easily run you that amount.

Heck, let’s say you spill water on your laptop, a new one will

run you at least a few hundred bucks.

Ideally, you have a number of months, let’s say, 3-6 months of your living expenses saved. Let’s say you get laid off from your job; you’ll be ok for the next few months while fnding your next job. Phew.

So, as I do, I started asking myself, I wonder if people are like this in other aspects of their lives. For example, are people short on time? Do they rush from thing to thing? Do they budget extra time to account for unforeseen circumstances (read as: daily Bay Area traffc)?

I used to have a lot of stress

around getting things completed. By nature, I’m a great starter but not a great fnisher. I was also a bit of a procrastinator. I used to think that stress was my answer to getting things done. In a sense, it still is because when I’m under stress, I have to perform.

However, that continued stress wears down the body, mind, and soul. As I’ve tinkered with different ways of doing things, I realized that if I give myself a little more time to do things, I can get it done without as much stress. I also realized that was true with spending time with people. If I mentally told myself that I would commit and be present with the person in front of me and not think or worry about other things, that thought would give me enough buffer to truly enjoy the person in see KOO on page 11

WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM

Gift Giving is Made Easy at Urban Indigo Castro Valley

By Terry Liebowitz

“Urban Indigo’s in Castro Valley?” I’ve heard that more than once when I mentioned this beautiful new gift store in Castro Valley.

Owner Cynthia Bragdon has been in business years, frst in San Leandro at MacArthur and Estudillo and later in Oakland on Lakeshore Avenue.

In 2022, she decided that Castro Valley was ready for her specialized boutique and set out to fnd a new location.

Having lived in Castro Valley for the last 30 years, she knew it well and chose a store front down the street from the astro alley Post ffce at 20405 Santa Maria Avenue adjacent to the Village.

Open since February, Urban Indigo promises “gift giving made easy,” with gifts for all ages and needs. There is an extensive selection of hand-made jewelry, home accessories, and gift cards and has already garnered the 2023 Neighborhood FAVES nextdoor award!

Cynthia received her BFA from the California Academy of Arts, studying to be a graphic designer. Early on she was also a ceramicist, but it is retail that Cynthia loves. “This is the best job because I am always learning and meeting interesting people.” Talking to her about her store is like taking a marketing class.

She explains that she buys for boomers AND millennials who have different tastes. Her customers ask for locally made and sustainable items and are cost conscious, always buying with care. Customers enjoy the Insider Loyalty Card that earns them $10 off purchases and the complimentary gift wrap. Each jewelry purchase comes with

Sheriff’s Reports

Family Assault

Sunday, August 13: at 11:29 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 33-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault on a family member. The man was at a home on Forest Avenue near Berdina Road when deputies responded to a domestic dispute. Deputies took the man into custody.

Disrupted Businesses

Sunday, August 13: at 3:56 p.m., a 64-year-old man from Castro Valley was arrested as part of a warrant issued for his capture. Deputies report that the man had previously been convicted of violating a restraining order and disrupting a business. The man was at a gas station on Redwood Road and the Boulevard when deputies served the warrant and took him to Santa Rita Jail.

Grand Theft

ment sent deputies to a church on Grove Way near Redwood Road. There, they arrested a 33-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of public intoxication and spousal assault. Deputies report the man failed his feld sobriety test and was taken into custody.

Methamphetamines

Thursday, August 10: at 8:34 a.m., a 50-year-old woman from Castro Valley was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine drugs and related drug paraphernalia. Deputies responded to a suspicious person report at the intersection of Christensen Lane and Simsbury Road and found the woman hanging out. The woman revealed that she had drugs in her possession and was taken into custody.

Public Intoxication

the woman outside a convenience store on Redwood Road near Grove Way. The woman failed her feld sobriety test and was taken into custody.

Shoplifting and Drug Pipes

Thursday, August 10: at 12:12 p.m., a 34-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia. Deputies were called to a grocery store on Redwood Road near the Boulevard after the store manager reported the man left with unpaid merchandise. During questioning, the man revealed several pipes for smoking drugs in his possession.

Vandalism and Threats

its own box. This summer, popular items are shower steamers, cake sparklers, Tiny heart candles, Jellycats, and the Buddha Board. Jewely is the number one seller!

One of the things that sets Urban Indigo apart is its gorgeous Display Window. The seasonal windows are the see GIFT on page 10

Saturday, August 12: at 1:00 p.m., deputies arrested a 51-year-old CV man as part of a warrant for his capture. The man had previously been convicted of grand theft in excess of $950 dollars. Deputies served the warrant outside a business in the Castro Village Shopping Center before taking him to Santa Rita Jail.

Spousal Assault

Friday, August 11: at 9:25 p.m., a 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argu-

Thursday, August 10: at 8:34 a.m., deputies arrested a 46-yearold woman with no permanent residence on suspicion of public intoxication and possessing drug paraphernalia. Deputies stopped

Tuesday, August 8: at 3:45 p.m., deputies arrested a 34-year-old CV man on suspicion of vandalism of private property and threatening bodily harm at Eden Medical Center. The man was in the emergency area when he became confrontational with hospital staff. Deputies took the man into custody.

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Urban Indigo owner Cynthia Bragdon proudly stands infront of her new gift store down the street from the Castro Valley Post Offce at 20405 Santa Maria Avenue adjacent to the Village.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENT RICHARDSON

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Can We Get an Opa? Greek Festival Returns this Weekend

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

The Castro Valley Greek  Festival returns for its  51st year this weekend,  Friday, August 1 , starting at  5 00 p.m.

This popular annual cultural  celebration includes authentic avorful food, great music, and  dancing on the grounds of the  Resurrection Greek Orthodox  Church on 2010  Center Street. The Greek DJ returns this  year on Friday evening with a  live band on Saturday and Sunday. Greek group dancing and  dance lessons are a must, and  everyone is welcome to take  an informal church tour, meet  the clergy and parish members,

Creekside Athletic Booster

The Athletic Booster Club  for Creekside Middle School  holding its third annual Golf  Tournament fundraiser this   Sunday, August 20, (Shotgun  Start at    am) at Redwood  Canyon Golf Course in Castro  Valley. This event will be  open to the entire community.  Register here  https tinyurl. com 2pewf9fn

Previous year’s tournaments  were a huge success and the Boosters hope this event  continues to be one the entire community looks forward to  participating in.  our participation is needed and very much  appreciated.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Saturday, August 19

BikeMobile Free Bike Repair

Is your bike making mystery sounds? Is it in your garage collecting dust because it has a  at tire    f so, come  down to the Castro Valley Library, this Saturday from 11  am to 2 pm, for this FREE bicycle repair clinic, hosted by  BikeMobile of Alameda County.  The BikeMobile can fx  at tires, adjust brakes and gears, and even replace worn  out parts. While the mechanics work on your bike they’ll  explain how your bike works and how to keep it running  smooth. Repairs will be on a frst come, frst serve basis.

Saturday, August 19

CVHS Class of 2013 Reunion

says Resurrection spokesperson Ren e Taylor.

“Dance to our lively bououki music, taste our delicious  cuisine, drink our wine, tour  our ekkl s a (church), and shop  our agor  (marketplace). Experience a weekend flled with  lots of kef (joy),” says Taylor.

Greek-style street food  includes Souvlaki, Lamb  Sandwiches, Greek Fries,  Greek Sausage, Tiropita and  Spanakopita, and of course,  gyros. Traditional deserts like  baklava, karidopita, koulourakia, and kourambiedes will be  served, as well as loukoumades, bite-si e honey donuts,  which Taylor says are the  favorite food of Greek Gods  and Goddesses.

Greek wines, beer, Metaxa,  and Ou o will be served for  those of legal drinking age.

Church parking is limited to those with disabled placards on a frst come, frst served basis.  All other parking is available  on the streets surrounding the church.

Admission for those 12  years and older is  1 or free  with a canned food donation to  the Resurrection Church Food  Pantry, which is part of the  “Feeding the 5,000 Project” in  partnership with the Alameda  County Community Food  Bank.

Check out the Resurrection  website for more information  (resurrectiongoc.com greekfestival).

The mission of the  Creekside Athletic Boosters is  to support the advancement of  athletic education at Creekside Middle School. The Boosters  provide fnancial support for  offciating and referees, tournament entrance fees, feld    gym maintenance, equipment,  uniforms, frst aid kits, and  more. The Boosters not only  host this event, but also the  annual  ag football Battle of  the Valley, Wrestling Tournament, and athletics banquet to  celebrate our amazing student athletes.

The Booster Club is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organi ation,  E N 3 - 712 9 . We have  many different sponsorship  levels available and hope you  will participate in what is expected to be a wonderful event.  Last year these sponsorship opportunities flled up quickly  so please check for availability.

Attention Castro Valley High School class of 2013  Alumni  Our 10-year reunion is taking place this Saturday,  August 19 from 12 to 5pm. Event location will be in Castro  Valley, email your full name to classof2013cvhs gmail. com to receive further information on how to RSVP buy  tickets for the event. Space is limited.

Saturday, August 19

E-Bike Safety Workshop

E-bikes can make riding easier and farther for so many cyclists. This class shares introductory knowledge around  e-bike riding safety and getting the most out of your e-bike. During this in person, one hour workshop (1 30 to 2 30  pm) at the Castro Valley Library, a certifed Bike East Bay  nstructor will walk you through e-bike riding in an urban  environment. Register at  www.aclibrary.org

Saturday, August 19

Free Writing, Art Demo by CV Artist Mary Cooper Hayward Arts Council presents a free writing   art  demo by Castro Valley artist Mary Cooper this Saturday,  August 19 at 2 30 pm at the Hayward Public Library Galleries on the second  oor. Art materials will be supplied.  Please visit haywardartscouncil.org for more.

Sunday, August 20

Art in the Park (Livermore) Art in the Park is an annual event featuring artists showing and selling unique artwork, d cor, jewelry, cards, and  gifts. Art in the Park will be held at Carnegie Park 2155  Third Street, Livermore this Sunday August 20 from 10 am  to 3 pm. More information at  livermoreartassociation.org

Sunday, August 20

Digitize and Document Your Family History

Are you overwhelmed with binders and bins full of genealogy notes and family photographs  Visit the Castro  Valley Library to learn how to create an organized digital family history this Sunday, August 20 at 2 pm.  n this  workshop you’ll learn how to create your own digital family history, create an oral history using artifcial intelligence,  scan and restore photos with free or low-cost resources, and  more. This workshop is free and reservations are required.  Reserve your spot at www.aclibrary.org.

Tuesday, August 22

CV Rotary Hosts Supervisor Nate Miley

On September 9th and 10th, over 50,000 people are expected to attend the annual Castro Valley Fall Festival. Are you prepared to take advantage of the increased trafc near your business? The Forum’s Fall Festival Section ofers a great opportunity to promote your business or services.

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley will provide a general update to the Rotary Club on county-related  business.  A buffet lunch and the program take place at  Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road,  Castro Valley) at 12 to 1 30 pm. The cost of lunch is  20  and reservations must be made by 9 pm on Sunday, August  7, by contacting Rotary at cvrotary iCloud.com or 51002-5123. More info is available at castrovalleyrotary.org.

The Castro Valley Greek Festival returns for its 51st year this weekend, Friday, August 18, starting at 5:00 p.m. at the Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church.

Retiring A Single Woman

By Jim Miller SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

It’s an unfortunate reality, but many single women –whether they’re divorced, widowed or never married – face greater fnancial challenges in retirement than men.

The reasons behind this are because women tend to earn less money – about 82 cents for every dollar that men make, on average, and they have shorter working careers than men due to raising children and/or caring for aging parents. And less money earned usually translates into less money saved and a lower ocial ecurity beneft when you retire.

In addition, women live an average of fve years longer than men, which requires their retirement income to stretch farther for living expenses and healthcare costs. Because of these issues, it’s very important that women educate themselves on fnancial matters and learn how to save more effectively. Here are some tips and resources that may help.

Start Saving Aggressively

If your employer offers a retirement plan, you should contribute enough to at least capitalize on a company match, if available. And if you can swing it, contribute even more. In 2023, you can save as much as $22,500 in a 401(k), or $30,000 to those 50 and older, due to the catch-up rule.

Seniors

Senior Q&A: Do You Have Any Advice On When to Update or Revise a Trust?

My wife and I have a Living Trust and related estate planning documents which were prepared some years ago. We were told that we should keep them current. Do you have any advice in terms of when it is time to update or revise them?

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

the need for long-term care, including the need for a Medi-Cal subsidy to help with the cost

• When you feel it is time to delegate decision-making powers to your successor trustee

• hen there is a signifcant change in your assets and net worth

Many single omen hether they re divorced ido ed or never married face much greater fnancial challenges in retirement than men.

If you don’t have a workplace plan, consider opening a Traditional or Roth IRA. Both are powerful tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts that let you contribute up to $6,500 annually, or $7,500 when you’re over 50.

Also, if you have a high-deductible health insurance policy (at least $1,500 for self-only coverage or $3,000 for family), consider opening a health savings account (HSA). This is a triple tax advantage tool that can be used to sock away funds pre-tax, which will lower your taxable income; the money in the account grows tax-free; and if you use the money for eligible medical expenses, the withdrawals are tax-free too.

Pay Off Debts

If you have debt, you need to get it under control. If you need help with this, consider a nonproft credit counseling agency that provides free or low-cost advice and solutions, and can help you set up a debt management plan. To locate a credible agency in your area, use the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website at NF .org ), or the or the Financial ounseling Association of America F AA.org ). Find Help

To help educate yourself on fnancial matters li e retirement planning, saving and investing, health care, and more, see WOMAN on page 11

When your trust was prepared, your attorney probably did his or her best to encourage you to plan for normal contingencies, such as by naming bac up benefciaries and successor trustees in the event your frst choices predeceased you or became unable to serve.

However, none of us can peer into the future and anticipate all events. The real key to keeping your documents current is to coordinate them with any signifcant change in your own personal circumstances, and to keep them compliant with any changes in the law.

While certainly not an exclusive list, here is my short list of times when it may be prudent to at least review your trust and related estate planning documents and, where appropriate, seek the guidance of your attorney:

• When there is a change in family circumstances, such as births, deaths, marriages, divorce

• At the beginning signs of incapacity

• hen there is a signifcant change in the tax law that would affect your planning

• When any of your benefciaries become disabled and apply for public benefts, such as SSI and/or Medi-Cal.

In terms of Advance Healthcare Directives, HIPAA Privacy Authorizations, and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (“POLST”), I would have a different list.

With these health-related documents, it is important to keep them current so that your physicians now they refect your current wishes, especially wishes regarding end-of-life care. With regard to your Health Directive and HIPAA Authorization, I would suggest reaffrming those wishes at least every three years.

You might do so by simply attaching an addendum reaffrming your wishes, dating and signing it and asking two disinterested witnesses to sign. Regarding the POLST, I would suggest doing the same but with a frequency of at least once a year, and perhaps every six months depending upon

If your agents change addresses and telephone numbers, you might notate their new contact information by way of a dated addendum, rather than by interlineating or writing over their addresses in the original documents. Generally speaking, I encourage my clients to look at their trust and related documents annually ~and when any of the above events occur, and to consider a review by their attorney every fve years. Not all reviews will necessitate a change in the plan documents, but the above benchmarks will serve you in good stead should a revision be necessary.

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. For more information, please visit: LawyerForSeniors.com or call: (510) 247-2555.

Californians Favor Reducing Environmental Restrictions to Allow More Housing Starts

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

ICalifornians, in a shift in mindset, have changed their opinions about easing environmental restrictions to build more housing.

A November 2001 survey conducted by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) revealed that 53% of surveyed individuals preferred to maintain the restrictions while only 43% felt they should be eased.

There have been a lot of changes in the Golden State in the past 22 years, including stratospheric surges in housing prices, dramatic increases in the costs of building materials,

labor and permitting fees, signifcant declines in the skilled labor pool, increasing state regulations and taxes, intensifying natural disasters –just to name a few. All of these factors have contributed to a growing housing shortage crisis and a burgeoning homeless population.

This past June, in a PPIC survey of more than 1,000 adults, the numbers had switched. 55% were now in favor of easing the current restrictions while the number of opposed dropped to 44%.

A post by Phil Hall of WRE News dated Aug 8, 2023 clarifes the shifting mindsets in California. He states, “The majority of Californians would

not be upset if the state relaxed its stringent environmental and land use restrictions in order to boost the short supply of available housing.” Hall quotes Dean Bonner, PPIC’s associate survey director and research fellow, who informed, “Opinions on environmental and land use restrictions mirror how Californians feel about reducing state regulations by changing CEQA – the California Environmental Quality Act.” Bonner further explains, “CEQA has guided planning on building projects and land use for over 40 years. About six in ten (59%) Californians favor changing CEQA regulations as a way to make housing more affordable; support for such changes is also widespread at half or more across parties and regions.”

The survey found that, no surprise, results fell along party lines, with Democrats typically wanting to maintain the restrictions by a tight margin (51% to 48%) while Republicans supported easing the restrictions (64% to 35%) with independents favoring easing (60% to 39%). While homeowners were split on the survey, renters overwhelmingly stated their preference to do whatever was necessary to increase housing (62% to 37%). Ironically, the only region in the state that opposed easing restrictions was the Bay Area. With housing shortages weighing in as one of the state’s primary concerns, perhaps it is time to reevaluate the regulations currently hampering the development of critically needed housing units.

Spiders Keep the Other Insects Under Control Q

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QI have three small apple trees. Each year I get very few apples to eat due to bugs infesting or damaging the fruit. I see a lot of spiders in the tree. I think. I’m wondering if there is a way I can control these pests. The trees are now full of apples, and as they ripen, I’d like to protect them from the problems.

ASpiders pose no threat to ripening Apples or any other edible crop. The webbing they constantly spin is a nuisance: however, most garden spiders are benefcial in eeping the insect population under control in gardens. At this time of the year, wormy apples and skin blemishes are the biggest problems. Unfortunately, it may be too late to solve them effectively. Wormy apples are controlled during the blooming period by setting out Coddling Moth Traps and ap-

plying enefcial Nematodes under the tree drip line. While the spring is the primary period, there can be secondary infestations, so you should keep the traps out all season and monitor them weekly. Once you have trapped six or more, spray the tree with Spinosad. Spinosad is a biological product made from a naturally occurring bacterium. It is the primary organic spray for Coddling Moth in Captain Jack Death Bug Brew and Monterey Garden Insect Spray. Sevin or Carbaryl is also used, but I don’t recommend it. he enefcial Nematodes control the over-wintering pupae while the traps monitor the fying adults. in blemishes can develop from pecking bird fruits rubbing together or from sunburn on hot days. Sunburn blemishes occur on those fruit facing the southwest and those not protected by leaves. Fertilizing in spring provides the necessary nutrients to shade the maturing apples. Also, removing the cluster of fruits on the outer branches help this problem. All that being said, the apples with all their faws are still edible. You just cut out damage for homemade apple sauce.

Note: UC Davis IPM website for Coddling Moth has more information. It is found at https://ipm.

I just put in a cement/brick front porch that faces southwest. I want to plant several tall, deciduous trees that cast afternoon shade on the porch and a second-story bedroom window. y frst choice is the Festival Sweet Gum/Liquidambar for its leaf shape and fall color. The Sunset Western Gard2en Guide mentions that the tree puts out surface roots. I plan to dig a hole four to fve feet deep and as wide. Will this alleviate the root problem? It would be an expensive mistake if the roots tore up my porch

AThe Liquidambar roots will likely come to the surface eventually, so I wouldn’t risk planting this tree. Instead, I suggest you consider Crape Myrtle or Flowering Pear. Crape Myrtles are fowering now, while the Pears bloom in February/ March. They both have marvelous fall colors, but they don’t have maple-like leaves. The Crape Myrtles and Flowering Pears are now planted in narrow strips and as street trees. Both trees can be kept under twenty fve feet and are perfect for your situation.

Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certifed Nursery Professional. The Dirt Gardener’s website is www.dirtgardener.com and questions can be sent by email to buzz@dirtgardener.com.

RECENT HOME SALES

WEEKEND GARDENER

Vegetables

Sow seeds for carrots, lettuce and spinach a few seeds at a time every two or three weeks from now through October. This will provide a succession of succulent harvest through the winter. Leafy green plants, such as lettuce and spinach, that are 3 to 4 inches tall before the frst fall frost will be mature enough to provide harvests through early spring.

Berries

Feed and water bramble fruits and strawberries. The sizes of next spring’s berry fruit buds are determined by what you do this month and next. The more fertilizer and irrigation now, the bigger the berries will be next spring. Propagate bramble fruits by bending the cane tips to the soil surface and burying them 1 to 3 inches deep.

Flowers ow or transplant alyssums, fbrous begonias, columbines, calendulas, marguerite and Shasta daisies, gerberas, impatiens, pansies, Oriental and Iceland poppies, primroses, snapdragons, stocks and sweet peas. Seedlings sown now will be ready for transplanting by early October and November. Bait for snails.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

You can run a classified ad for a little as $30 a week. Your ad runs in both of our newspapers, the Castro Valley Forum on Wednesday and the San Leandro Times on Thursday. You can also save $5 by placing your ad on our website at castrovalleyforum.com or sanleandrotimes.com. We’ll call you for your credit or debit card info for payment.

To place an ad by phone call Patrick Vadnais at 510-614-1560, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

CONCRETE SERVICE

S.L.CONCRETE SERVICE

Driveways, Sidewalks, Stamped Concrete, Retaining Walls, Asphalt, Paving Stones. Lic.#982202. 510856-8937.

Advertise your Home for rent in the San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum

DON’T LET ANOTHER WEEK SLIPBY!

– Avacancy day is money lost forever –To place an ad call 510-614-1558

CONTRACTOR SERVICE

NOTICETO READERS California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500 or more (labor or materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. State Law also requires that contractors include their license number on all advertising. Advertisers appearing on this page without a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed. You can check the status of your licensed contractor at www.cslb.ca.gov or (800) 321-2752. Unlicensed contractors taking jobs that total less than $500 must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State License Board.

FENCES/DECKS

*SPECIALIZING IN WOOD FENCES, DECKS & RETAINING WALLS. Replace or repair, paved walkways, yard cleaning, tree trimming, topping or removal, garage cleaning & debris removal. Insured & Bonded #8189. Jerry 510-410-2427.

FENCES/DECKS

Fence wobbly? Call Randy's Fence Reinforcement and save thousands! 510-706-6189.

GARAGE SALES

MULTIFAMILY GARAGE SALE Sat. 8/19, 8:30am-2:00pm. A’s items, golf, misc. fly fishing, DVD’s, LP’s, clothes, catering items, succulents, household, miscellaneous & much more! 551 Glen Drive, San Leandro.

GARDENING

*ANYYARD WORK. Cleanups and Maintenance. Free Estimates. Call 510-798-1833.

*BEAUTYGARDEN LANDSCAPING

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

GARDENING

AL’S Keep It Green But Trim. Yard Maintenance. Since 1995. Great Rates. FREE Estimates. 510927-6663.

JAIME’S GARDENING

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

Landscape/ Pruning Professional hand pruning and garden revitalization. Landscape install. Contr. Lic.#858145, ISACertified Arborist. Katsura Landscaping. Call Mike 510828-4854.

G G ARDENING ARDENING /T /T REE REE S S ERVICE ERVICE

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

NEED - MUSIC LESSONS or PIANO TUNING?

Check

HANDYMAN SERVICE

Handyman no job is too small. Gardening, cleaning, power washing, painting, plumbing, roofing, repairs, gutters, drain cleaning, kitchen and bath drywall, dry rot, stucco, patio, etc. Aaron 510-209-7282.

HAULING SERVICE

HAULING: Small and Big Jobs. Furniture, Concrete, Wood, Trash, Metal, Demolition. Also house inside/ outside cleanups. 510-715-1578.

HELP WANTED

CNA - Current State Certification is REQUIRED I am a quadriplegic male, part-time permanent. Mon.Fri.,8am-10am, (2-hours per day).Assist with personal care, dressing, cooking, Light house keeping.Near Oakland Zoo. Must like dogs$35.00/hour. 1510.636.1582.

CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE: Monday 5:00 p.m.

HELP WANTED

Pac Bay Environmental Services, Inc. (San Leandro, CA) seeks Cost Engineer to prep & coordinate constr estimates incl analyzing specs, sub proposals & takeoffs. Acquire engg plans, specs, soil reports, historical bid files & historical job cost info necessary to perf constr estimates. Analyze constr project info & determine/write RFI. Analyze job site conditions for hazards & create constr bids to allow for implementation to ensure worker safety & compliance. Post bids, schedule & review constr estimates w/ oper team. Devl scope of work to be reviewed w/ subcontractors & attend const project close-out meetings w/ proj manager. Reqs a MS in Construction Mngmnt w/ 1 yr of rel work exper . Mail Resumes to HR, 499 Embarcadero #5, Oakland, CA94606

Help

IT Senior Software Engineer (San Leandro, CA): Design and develop desktop and web applications for terminal operations. Analyze business requirements and existing code supporting the development of product functional specifications working with business analysts and customers. Design components of software systems by writing design specifications, descriptions of interfaces, services, business components, and interaction between the components.

Work with software development; Optical Character Recognition (OCR); video streaming communication protocols, including H.264/265, TCP/IP, Serial, and UDP; Microsoft .NET; Azure DevOps; C# programming language; .NETCore; and, Tensor

Flow AI models. Req. Master's degree + 2 yrs of exp or Bachelor's degree + 5 yrs of exp. Salary

Range: $183,310.00 - $233,000.00 per year.Email resume to anthony.pusillo@portsamerica.co m or mail resume to Anthony Pusillo, Smart-Tecs LLC, 55 N. Arizona Place, Suite 400, Chandler, AZ 85225. Must Ref# D02STL.

MISC. FOR SALE

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)

1992 BMW 525i white station wagon, automatic, 1-Owner, excellent condition. $5,000. Call 510-614-0150.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

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

Would you like the help of a Professional Agent?

For assistance call ...

Aaron pays CASH for Bay Area houses in any condition. No inspections. Call 775-685-3858.

RENTALS

One bedroom, one bathroom with car garage and wash roomavailable on Sept 1st in the hayward area. Close to 880 and 580 freeways and supermarkets 510 276-5363.

San Leandro 62+ community (NO ONE UNDER 62), Floresta Gardens area, $2,075; duplex, quiet, private court,2-Bdrm, single-story, walk-in shower, central heat, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer inunit, patio, carport. NO pets/smoking.510-352-7023 for requirements.

LANDLORDS – Advertise your units! Avacancy day is money lost forever ... R. Bowman

RENTALS/RV SPACES

RV/ Trailer space in San Leandro and Oakland& Hayward. $925/ month. Call 510-481-9901.

SERVICES

HANDYMAN & CONTRACTORS

You can run a classified ad for a little as $35 a week. Your ad runs in both of our newspapers, the Castro Valley Forum on Wednesday and the San Leandro Times on Thursday. You can also save by placing your ad on our website at castrovalleyforum.com or sanleandrotimes.com. We’ll call you for your credit or debit card info for payment.

To place an ad by phone call Patrick Vadnais at 510-614-1560, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.<None>

Coming to Smalltown Society

Friday, August 18, 2023: Kate Lamont @ Pampas Cafe

Come join us for an evening of good food, drinks and music. Smalltown Society and Pampas Cafe continue their “Verse & Vibes series with special guest Kate Lamont. 6 to 8 pm at Pampas Cafe’s new location 22222 Redwood Rd. Castro Valley (adjacent to Trader Joe’s). FREE.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023: The LAB (starts at 7:30 pm)

The Lab is a monthly gathering that allows songwriters and poets to workshop and collaborate on new and existing pieces in front of and among friends. This month’s featured artist is Safyah Hernandez! Invitation by email only: info@smalltownsociety.com for more info and location.

Friday, August 25, 2023: Safyah Hernandez Record Release @ Pampas Cafe Smalltown Society songwriter and BMG recording artist Safyah Herenandez

will be performing hits from her newly released album “Homesick” available now on all streaming platforms. 7 to 9 pm at Pampas Cafe’s (22222 Redwood Rd., CV). FREE.

Fall: Festival Returns Next Month

continued from front page

Now some 51 years later, more than 35,000 people are expected to enjoy the two-day event. Musical performances on the Redwood Stage will include the award-winning Castro Valley High School Madrigals acapella choir and live music from bands like the Take Cover Band. Jim Bedford of Bedford Studios will again book acts for the “Bedford” community stage.

“The Fall Festival brings the community together. It introduces people to our community from outside the area, and it introduces people to our businesses and the downtown district,” Chamber Executive Director Gary Slate told the Forum.

New this year will be booths from non-proft pet rescue

Spotlight: Wonderlin Roofng on TV

continued from front page “Great Balls of Fire.” He is currently appearing in the Max TV series “Full Circle.”

One critic called Quaid “our greatest actor never nominated for an Oscar,” but he has also pursued flm production as well as the Viewpoint Project. The program aims to provide useful consumer information from a business with expertise but isn’t meant to promote the company itself. Show staff then talk to experts in related felds to tap their expertise for viewers. So besides talking about Wonderlin Roofng, they will be talking to former local building inspector (but not former governor) Jerry Brown and with roofng materials supplier Kevin Lewis Roofng.

Nobody’s Perfekt and woman-owned LeveeRoad, which sells handmade jewelry and other products.

“We’re always looking for local craftspeople, artists, and organizations that make us unique to be a part of the Fall Festival,” Slate said. “Handmade crafts are often crowd favorites, and we keep a few extra spots open for them.”

Food and beverages will be in abundance. Vendors for the Fall Festival were picked that offer styles and favors that are not the same as those restaurants on the Boulevard in order to support those businesses. Two interesting additions this year include Castro Valley’s AJ’s Kitchen, which makes pupusas, shrimp tacos, and shrimp Po Boys, and Aki Takoyaki, which specializes in

a ball-shaped Japanese snack flled with octopus.

This year’s national beer sponsor will be Kona Brewing, which produces “Big Wave,” but local beers such as Drakes will also be on tap. Castro Valley winemakers Brad and Svetlana Kitson will be serving up three different wines from their Kitson Wines collection.

As an incentive, Slate said the Chamber is sponsoring a promotion to win a bottle of Kitson Wines varietals starting this week until August 22. Simply post a picture of a previous Fall Festival tagged #CVFallFest and whether you are team “Red Wine” or “White Wine.”

Visit the Chamber website for more details (Edenareachamber.com).

Gift: Urban Indigo of Castro Valley

continued from page 3 creations of Cynthias’s partner, Brent Richardson. Currently the window is adorned with giant sunfowers, butterfies and a feld of wildfowers. When the shop opened there was a

four-foot sailboat hanging in the window. The windows are particularly beautiful lit up at night. Multi-talented, Brent is a jazz musician, and his group often plays outside Urban Indigo on the weekend. Check

out Instagram (@urbanindigo) for their schedule.

Cynthia offers personalized service at Urban Indigo Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 5pm. Online service is available at urbanindigo.com

Larae Wonderlin is a fourth-generation Castro Valleyite who graduated from Castro Valley High School. She married Grover, who grew up in Hayward, and they started Wonderlin Roofng together in 1992.

“My family had construction experience, but a roofng company was new,” she said. Grover had learned roofng, and she added her business training.

“We started the business hunched over a typewriter in our kitchen,” she said. They are now married 37 years, with three children and three grandchildren.

Larae is happy one of their sons now works alongside her and Grover in the business. She isn’t sure just what about their business made them appeal to Dennis Quaid and his team, as the company has no unusual specialties. They have, however, worked on roofs on about every block in Castro Valley, Larae Wonderlin said.

“We like to think we stand out a bit for our basic honesty,” she said. “We have a lot of small customers, not so many big commercial ones, and one can easily pay for roofng work one doesn’t really need.”

“We sometimes pleasantly surprise customers by saying, ‘Why re-roof when you can repair?’”

Wonderlin noted that many

of their calls seem to come from older women, sometimes alone in their house and dreading what needed roofng work might cost. She said people often don’t realize that roof repairs short of total replacement even exist, although her company will certainly replace a whole roof if that’s what is needed.

Their business stayed in Castro Valley as it grew, said Wonderlin, who noted that her parents still live in town, too.

“One thing we like about Castro Valley,” she said, “is that most of our customers aren’t other businesses, but people in houses of their own, with some, but not a lot, of money in the bank, and they’re just trying to happily live their lives.”

RCS’ ‘Back to School Bash’

On Friday, August 11, more than 600 Redwood Christian Schools students and parents celebrated the beginning of the 2023-24 school year renewing friendships, meeting new and returning teachers, having their faces painted, playing in bounce houses and enjoying a rally in the Bruce D. Johnson Gym led by RCS Superintendent Dr. Al Hearne (above addressing crowd). Superintendent Emeritus Bruce D. Johnson was asked by Dr Hearne to launch the school year in prayer. Monday, August 14, was the frst day of school.

Safyah Hernandez

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cityhood Team: ho Are osts

ell, most of the uestion about who is behind astro alley ityhood has been answered with the showing of the eam on the website. hat remains to be answered is who are the osts for ommunity Directed Policy, overnance, ervice, Public or s, and ealth. he ost for nvironment is Forestr.org with its personnel clearly identifed. ut now we now, for the most part, who we will be tal ing to and answering uestions. For the record, it isn t paranoid to as uestions about that which was withheld for so long meaning of the names behind cityhood. t s remar able what uestioning pressure will achieve. , for one, don t want to be pressed someday about why never as ed uestions when things were being ept secret. istory is full of those with excuses from people who didn t as when information was being ept secret. o, ityhood people, fnish the rest of the uestion about who is behind the issue by identifying the on the webpage.

–Frank Mellon, Castro Valley

Dear ditor, ver the past four years, ollywood executives have produced a series of politically correct action flms. Nearly all of them have lost money, because most people do not enjoy them.

ollywood executives have forgotten about human nature. hey have forgotten why most people go to see action movies.

en go to action flms to they can identify with the hero character. hile watching the flm, men fre uently imagine themselves in the role of the male action hero strong, brave, athletic, and resourceful.

ost women also attend action flms so they can fantasi e about the male hero character. f course their fantasy is slightly different.

Pete’s Hardware for President

By Thomas Lorentzen SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

omen imagine themselves being with the hero, having a love relationship.

oth of these natural human fantasies re uire a male hero. ut ollywood insists on pushing female heroes on the public. hese female heroes are strong, brave, athletic, and resourceful. Fran ly, they are all very masculine.

nfortunately, a movie with a female hero offers no fantasy value for men. en in the audience cannot imagine themselves as a female hero. And men will not experience any romantic fantasies about a female hero who is smarter and stronger than they are.

i ewise, female heroes do not offer any fantasy value for women. ost women are heterosexual, and they are not going to fantasi e about having a love affair with he ul . And most women do not fantasi e about being strong, brave, athletic and resourceful. nstead, most women fantasi e about being beautiful, glamorous, desired my men, and envied by other women.

o ollywood will continue to lose money, until they reali e that contradicts basic human nature.

–Peter Hauer, Castro Valley

As we all now, there is a Presidential election next year. e now who the candidates are and what possibilities they bring. According to most public research, the dominant feeling is dismay. ith that there is a desire for newness in terms of character and direction. share those sentiments. As the hori on is searched, we loo for a way to ma e things wor better in terms of outcomes. he passions and partisanship that governs much of what we observe enhances our justifcation for dismay. As we loo for a solution one comes to mind.

help. here are no politics involved and there is no passion involved just a calm and matter

wonder what would happen if we were to contract political jobs with hardware stores?

Dear ditor,

After reading the letter from s. inda angren more than once, could not decide if the letter was written by a totally fnancially na ve person or by someone who has a hidden agenda which will be announced after she is not to be distracted in her uest to gather and understand information. oday, thin the latter. owever, will suggest a solution for her concern that she is paying for services she does not receive. he mentions see ing what we deserve . ell it seems uite simple that s. angren and others) should fnd out what cities offer the services she wants, and just move there. Problem solved do not fx what is not bro en.

–Conrad Wilgus, Castro Valley

Koo: Do You Have the Buffer Room?

continued from page 2 front of me. My son was my frst teacher in this respect. It’s also allowed me to be more present with my clients, friends, and family.

nce tasted that level of freedom, started loo ing at my day and how schedule things. ou see, used to thin having my calendar full of meetings meant that must have been successful. owever, that was the exact recipe for me to start hating life. o now, identify the most important things for the day, ma e sure those things are scheduled, then the rest of the day is

free fowing. here s lots of buffer room in between the important things so that can be good at the important things.

his also means that when get re uests to meet at a certain time, m factoring in whether have enough buffer room to show up for my next thing in my best form.

o where can you use some buffer room? s it literally by having an emergency fund? s it scheduling in an extra minutes in your drive time so you re not so rushed? aybe it s ma ing sure you sleep late a couple of nights a wee . s

it ta ing one less meeting in

efore share, confess that my proposal is not one that can be adopted. et, it is one to thin about. he idea has been residing in my mind for some time. As the problems mount in terms of public policy, the ability of ongress and the Presidency to perform declines. At the same time, the civility of the political process and those involved becomes discouraging at best. As we see a solution, nothing comes forward. ence, a wild and cra y idea. t comes to me during one of my many visits to our local hardware store Pete’s.

hen go there it is because need something for my home or have a problem to fx. As soon as wal in the door there are individuals to help me. hey help me solve my problems. hey are consistent in their practice, as are the outcomes of their advice and

of fact approach to helping someone solve their problems. he contrast between politics in ashington D. . is canyon li e. i e the old Dragnet how on the people who wor at Pete s just as for the facts. ith that, they detect the issue and provide recommendations for how to resolve them. ith rare exception, they are resolved. his approach wor s for our homes and our community. t also wor s for Pete s ardware. After all, they have been in business for close to a century. Although it s not doable,

Pete s provides a good model. As we enter the Presidential season heaven forbid ), the carnival of candidates ma es many of us repeat the refrain from ic agger can t get no satisfaction Ditto for ongress.

ith these thoughts expressed, it might be refreshing to run Pete s ardware tore for President. f hundreds of yard signs were to emerge on our front lawns, it might ma e the local news and perhaps even national news. t could be the start of a national movement. A slogan might be ote for your local hardware store. Not li ely, yet it is interesting to thin about. t might give us some satisfaction.

oman Retiring Single

continued from page 5

a top resource is the omen s nstitute for a ecure etirement at iser omen.org.

And to help you get up to speed on ocial ecurity, visit A.gov people women. his web page provides helpful publications along with lin s to beneft calculators and your personal ocial ecurity account to help you fgure out your future earnings at different retirement ages.

ou should also consider getting a fnancial assessment with a fee only fnancial advisor. osts for these services will vary but this can be very benefcial to help you set up a retirement plan you can follow. ee NAPFA.org or arrettPlanningNetwor .com to locate an advisor in your area. i iller i a contri tor to t e C oda o and a t or of e avv enior oo i it avv enior or

O OSCOP y Salom © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

A S March 2 to A ril This is a good time for the usually outspoken Lamb to be a bit more discreet. You can still get your point across, but do it in a way that is less likely to turn off a potential supporter.

A S A ril 20 May 20 Good news: All that hard work you put in is beginning to pay off. But you need to watch that tendency to insist on doing things your way or no way. Be a bit more fexible

M May 2 to une 20 You might want to delay making a decision on the future of a long-standing relationship until you check out some heretofore hidden details that are just now beginning to emerge.

CA C une 2 uly 22 Your reluctance to compromise on an important issue could backfre without more facts to support your position. Weigh your options carefully before making your next move.

the day so you have an hour to meditate or recharge?

pea ing of meditating, m hosting a time for people to gather and meditate together on uesday mornings at am. onnect with me on nstagram or Faceboo for more details. Anyways, as always, let me now your answers. f you d li e some support, send me an email, and d love to help out. Coac ev el eo le fnd cal clarit and confdence in t eir life ile creatin o e ffer in i life Contact i at evin oocoac in ail co or follo on and oe evin oocoac in

O uly 2 August 22 This is a good time for ambitious Leos or Leonas to shift from planning their next move to actually doing it. Your communication skills can help persuade others to join you.

V O August 2 Se t. 22 Relationships – personal or professional -- present new challenges. Be careful not to let a sudden surge of stubbornness infuence how you choose to deal with them

A Se t. 2 Octo er 22 You might need more facts before you decide on a possible career change. On the other hand, you should have no problem making a decision about an important personal matter.

SCO P O Octo er 2 ovem er 2 You’re respected by most people for your direct, no-nonsense approach to issues. But be careful you don’t replace honest skepticism with stinging sarcasm.

SA A S ov. 22 ec. 2 A newly emerging situation could require a good deal of attention and some diffcult decisionmaking. However, close friends will help you see it through.

CAP CO ec. 22 an. Ignoring changes in a relationship could create problems later on. Get involved now while there’s still time to work things out and reach an understanding.

A A S an. 20 e . Of course you deserve to indulge yourself in something special. But for now, tuck that bit of mad money away. You’ll need it to help with a looming cash crunch.

P SC S e . March 20 March 20) A temporary setback in your fnancial situation is eased by changing some of your plans. You’ll be able to ride it out quite well until the tide turns back in your favor.

olly ood gnores uman ature o ot i hat s ot ro en

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Our Athlete of the Week is Kaleo Malbrough, an incoming 6th grader at Canyon Middle School. He is a passionate athlete and baseball player. This summer, he got to compete with elite teams from all over the world in Cooperstown, New York, in a weeklong tournament. While In NY, he got the great news that he made the NTIS USA 11U team and will travel to Cary, North Carolina, to train and compete at the end of August. His primary position is short stop or as a right-handed pitcher, but he just loves being anywhere on the feld. e is honored to represent his country.

John C. Brosnan Field Naming, Dedication at CVHS August 25

By Michael Singer C TR V RU

Next Friday, August 25, Castro Valley High School will be hosting a naming and dedication of the football feld for oach ohn . rosnan, a beloved Castro Valley high school coach and teacher who shaped the lives of students for 31 years.

This is a posthumous honor that will be given to his daughters Susan, Maureen, and Kathleen. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Trojan’s home game against Carlmont High School.

he astro alley oard of Education voted unanimously, 5-0, in January 2022 to move forward with the naming of ohn . rosnan Field at Trojan Stadium on the Castro Valley High School campus.

MAC Co nty Identifes ite In entory

continued from front page fulfll housing needs based on projected population growth.

The state’s RHNA for unincorporated Alameda County is 4,711 units of housing between 2023 and 2031. Of these, 1,252 are designated for very low-income housing, 721 for low-income housing, 763 for moderate income, and 1,976 for above moderate income.

he county has identifed a “sites inventory” of possible places where housing can be developed or where projects are already planned. These sites include vacant public and privately owned parcels. The government would not develop these projects, but rather individual property owners.

n astro alley specifcally, 1,978 possible units are part of the RHNA, which would account for 42 percent of all the unincorporated units, and of these, about 52 percent would be low or very low-income units.

Key sites that have been identifed include the ay Fair and astro alley A station parking lots, the county radio communication station at Foothill oulevard and th Avenue, the First Presbyterian Grove Way site adjacent to Trader Joe’s, and the San Lorenzo Village area.

did not comply with .

“What if we don’t?” asked Padro. “What if we say as a community, ‘We can’t accomplish this’? What if we simply say that our infrastructure can’t handle this.”

If the county doesn’t submit a housing element to the state, they would receive non-compliance letters from the state, then be referred to the attorney general s offce and potentially ta en to court. ounty offcials say that no other jurisdictions that have attempted to get out of have succeeded. Eventually, the state would come in and take over the county Planning Department.

The MAC was clearly upset at having little control over the matter, though they thanked the county staff for their hard work.

“The lunacy of the state is beyond me,” said MAC member Ken Carbone. “We don’t have the infrastructure for anything like this.”

The MAC also said they wanted to hear from CVSan and the school district if they could sustain many new residents.

efore we build houses, we need to build schools,” said A hair ill ulgrew.

“There are so many questions and issues.”

The housing element was a discussion item at Monday’s meeting, so no vote on the matter was taken. There are still a few opportunities for public comment before the draft reaches the oard of Supervisors for approval (scheduled for September 21).

County staff will present the draft again at the San Lorenzo Library on Monday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m., at the Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 22, and at a Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 5. The public may also leave comments on the county’s website at https://alamedacounty.consider.it/ or via email housinglement@acgov.org

ecause the housing discussion dominated the meeting, the oard voted to hear an update on the Castro Valley entral usiness District pecifc Plan D P) at a future meeting.

In other MAC news, last month, the Alameda County oard of upervisors approved extending the service tenure of A oard members ojo Thomas and Chuck Moore for another four years apiece.

ohn C. rosnan eloved CV S coach and teacher

rosnan, or oach as he was known around Castro alley passed in eptember 2020 at the age of 85.

He led the Trojans to four Hayward Area Athletic League titles and was named a North

Coast Section Honor Coach in 1989.

rosnan was born on December 22, 1934, in Oakland. He attended St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland, where he met his wife, Maureen. Upon graduation, he joined the army and served in South Korea. After the army, he attended San Francisco State University on the ill and played on the 1962 championship baseball team.

He graduated with a master’s degree in physical education, started teaching P.E. at Castro Valley High School in 1963, and then practically lived there. In addition to P.E., Coach served as the Athletic Director. He coached varsity football for his entire teaching career and periodically coached golf and baseball before retiring in 1994.

he A and a furry of public speakers expressed frustration that a large amount of housing is being thrust upon Castro Valley from the state and county level with no infrastructure to support it.

“1,978 homes are a lot of homes,” said MAC member Tojo Thomas. “Property crime is up all over. We want to maintain quality of life. Are we going to have enough law enforcement? Everybody in Castro Valley, including me, wants to keep quality of life the same.”

The county staff said the sheriff s offce will review and comment on the housing element draft before it is fnali ed. Others spoke up with concerns about construction, school capacity, and traffc.

MAC member Al Padro as ed county offcials what would happen if they simply

Our ady of race frst grade student Mason ilhite enjoyed his frst fshing tri in the S ay ith his dad Matt catching t o large hali ut. Congratulations on your reat Catches Matt and Mason ave a reat Catch you d li e to share ith the community Please send a hoto and info y email to flesforforum gmail.com

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athlete of the Week Kaleo Malbrough