August 2, 2023

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

YEAR 35

INSIDE YOUR FORUM INSIDE YOUR

300 Turn Out for Castro Valley Cityhood Discussion at Library

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Sounds of Soul Cornell C.C. Carter kicks off summer concert series in CV

Page 2

Bright Future Ahead

Some 300 people packed the Castro Valley Library’s largest meeting room on Sunday, July 23 to hear about an apparent new push for cityhood, some 20 years after residents voted down the idea.

The Wolves Chanticleers’ third show of the season opens this Friday

Page 4

Senior Q&A Tax problems selling a home in joint tenancy after death of spouse

Page 14

INDEX

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

Classified Ads ....... 12

Homes...................... 8

Horoscope ............. 15

Opinions ................. 15

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

Sheriff’s Report ....... 3

Seniors ................... 14

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

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

Those attending the standing-room-only meeting came to discuss the release of a draft Initial Feasibility Analysis of incorporation from the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which would have to approve any such move prior to it becoming a ballot initiative.

LAFCO consultants Berkson Associates concluded that Castro Valley would indeed get somewhat more control over its destiny than it has at present, but that it would come at a substantial financial cost.

Specifically, a new City of Castro Valley could expect to receive about $36 million in

revenues annually, but have to pay out $43 million in costs, for a shortfall of $7 million annually, the report said.

That amount just happens to be very close to the revenues from a tax that most California cities are allowed to collect,

but which the legislature has banned new cities from receiving. No new cities have been see CITY on page 14

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

The Castro Valley Marketplace is undergoing some internal and external changes this month, which the management team promises will delight customers and build on the community’s identity.

Donna Layburn, who runs the Natural Grocery in Castro Valley and in Alameda, and who is on the five-person Marketplace Board of Directors, says some vendors have left while others are coming in, but that customers can always count on an original shopping experience.

“We’re here for the community and to provide them with the value that they need,” Layburn told the Forum. “We’re see FUTURE on page 15

Construction Removes Trees, Disrupts Park

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Construction of multi-unit apartments at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Norbridge Avenue has disrupted the local landscaping near the Castro Valley Library, prompting concerns by residents and ecologists.

Developer City Ventures plans to build 47 townhomes and 4,890 square feet of retail space on the former site of a mobile home park and within walking distance of the Castro Valley Library. Demolition of the existing lot began last month to make way for the large mixed-use residential

and commercial multi-building development.

But early last week, crews were seen cutting down about a dozen trees that lined Norbridge Avenue. A volunteer watering a nearby Sage Park, an environmentally friendly landscaped site, recorded heavy equipment tearing down a wall that bordered the construction site and the plants.

Yon Hardisty with Forestr. org, a nonprofit that manages the small site, says work crews were kind enough to stop and answer questions and work around the plants. Crews then installed a chain link fence to keep the construction site separate from the street. The

developer is expected to mark the property line this week.

But to do so will likely cut into Sage Park. The small plot extends along the east side of the driveway entrance into the Library on Norbridge Avenue. The Park includes drought-resistant plants such as sages, large decorative logs for local wildlife, and a fig tree.

“We wish we would have been told about this sooner by the county or the developer,” Forest.org co-founder Yon Hardisty told the Forum.

In the meantime, the library is working with Forestr.org to allow some extra space to move some 20 bushes. The see TREES on page 15

Construction crews removed 13 trees and a retaining wall to make way for new housing and parking along Norbridge Avenue near the library. The developer is expected to replace the trees. Some of the plants at this pocket park will be relocated.

PHOTOS BY MIKE MCGUIRE

A breakout discussion group at the July 23 meeting on possible cityhood.

Castro Valley Weather August 2 - August 6, 2023

Cornell C.C. Carter Kicks Off Summer Concert Series in CV

By Terry Liebowitz SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Celebrate summer and the beginning of the Castro Valley Arts Foundation 2023-24 Concert Series as we kickoff the season with Soul singer/ songwriter Cornell C.C. Carter and his seven-piece band.

On Saturday, August 12, at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, come early for dinner (5-7pm) on the theater patio, catered by Sacred Pig Barbeque, 21st Amendment, and Drake’s Brewing Co and a selection of wines. Cornell has opened for the legendary James Brown and Ray Charles and recorded and performed with Carlos Santana. This spring, Cornell’s latest single, “It’s So Nice,” garnered the #1 spot on the UK Soul charts.

BAY-O-VISTA

Cornell C.C. Carter comes to Center for the Arts August 12

Born in Berkeley and raised in San Francisco, Cornell performs extensively in the United Kingdom and Europe. Cornell shares, “Europeans have a real love for Soul music. I found a huge community of musicians and fans for

my music.” The first time he performed in England he was “blown away” by the audience’s reaction to American Soul. “It is every artist’s dream to be so welcomed.”

Cornell divides his time between the European and North American continents, allowing him to perform and visit his four children and grandchildren here in the States. His son, Lytrel, is manager of the Castro Valley branch of Fremont Bank.

Please visit: cvartsfoundation.org/shows/ for show tickets and https://www.cvcfa. com/bbq for dinner tickets.

The Castro Valley Center for the Arts is located at 19501 Redwood Road. It is a mile away from the Castro Valley BART station, and there is free parking at the Center.

Register Now for ‘Day on the Greens’

The Castro Valley Sports Foundation (CVSF) and Rowell Ranch Rodeo will host its 6th Annual “Day on the Greens” Golf Tournament on September 16 at the Redwood Canyon Golf Course. All profits are invested back into the community supporting local and community organizations.

CVSF was founded in 2002 as a non-profit corporation to provide support for youth sports and athletics in Castro Valley. Since its inception,

CVSF has donated more than $300,000 to Castro Valley High School and local youth athletic teams.

Celebrating over 100 years, the Rowell Ranch Rodeo has been active in the community, donating proceeds to support local non-profit and charitable organizations as well as presenting multiple scholarships.

The day begins with a 7 am check-in with 8 am shotgun start with the final event of the day being an awards luncheon

and silent auction. Cost is $150 per person or $550 for a foursome. There is room for the first 144 golfers who register!

Please visit https://www. castrovalleysportsfoundation. org/2023-day-on-the-greens for more information. For sponsorship opportunities, or to donate to our Silent Auction contact: George Pacheco: 510-772-3395, Cal Sakamoto: 510-774-5205 or Brian Morrison: 510-538-9817.

CORRECTION:

Our “MAC Approves Plan for Condos Near Bart” story on July 26 should have indicated that the subdivision would convert the eight existing apartments into eight condominiums with no construction or alteration. The Forum regrets the error.

BRE

Sheriff’s Reports

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Warrant Served

Sunday, July 30: at 6:24 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 36-year-old man from Castro Valley as part of a warrant issued for his capture. The man had been previously convicted of two counts of contempt of court. Deputies stopped the man at the Castro Valley BART station for questioning, made a positive ID on his warrant, and took him to Santa Rita Jail.

Two Busted for Drugs

Chabot Swim Team Takes 2nd

Place in Championships

The Chabot Swim Team had a fantastic showing at the East Bay Swim League Championships on July 21 and 22. Coaches Bill Kriskovich, Tommy Ryken, and Elma Sabanovic led the Marlins to a 2nd place finish, the highest the team has placed since 1998. In addition, Chabot was named Most Improved Team for the second consecutive year.

The Marlins’ depth was apparent in their relay success. Two medals were won by

medley teams: the 8 & under boys (Judah Hemenway, Wesley Fernandez, Conor Fitzgerald, Leo Luccketta) won gold, and the 15-18 boys (Matthew Jewell, Caleb Raumann, Tyler Hummer, and Nathan Arakawa) took home both the silver and a new team record.

The freestyle relays were the last events and helped propel the Marlins to their second-place finish. The 8 & under boys won gold (Aidan Fitzgerald, Owen McCarthy, Hami Fernandez, Isaac

Harrold), while the 8 & under girls (Eva Williams, Addy Lee, Lucy Crane, and Amelia Kastmiler) took silver.

The 11-12 girls earned bronze (Zoe Hemenway, Anna Junginger, Madeline Zasa, Emily Wong), and the 11-12 boys’ team of James Raumann, Luke Enos, Jake Forsse, and Miles Moler won gold. 13-14 girls Natalia Jamal, Lilah Kinser, Riha Williams, and Caroline Kiely finished with a silver medal, while the 13-14 boys see CHABOT on back page

Sunday, July 30: at 8:31 a.m., two people with no permanent residence were arrested on drug possession charges behind a grocery store on Castro Valley Boulevard near Redwood Road. Deputies were called to the scene after the store manager spotted the pair in the loading area. A 40-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were handcuffed and taken into custody. The man was additionally charged with violating the terms of his parole and providing deputies with a false ID.

Family Fight

Sunday, July 30: at 1:00 a.m., a 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argument sent deputies to a home on Lorena Avenue near Redwood Road. There, deputies arrested a 30-year-old CV man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault on a family member. The man was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest

Saturday, July 29: at 10:55 a.m., deputies pulled over and arrested a 26-year-old CV man on suspicion of driving with an invalid license. The man was traveling on Redwood Road near Grove Way when deputies pulled him over and discovered the man had several warrants pertaining to assault and battery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and false imprisonment. The man was taken to Santa Rita Jail.

Grand Theft Auto

Thursday, July 27: at 3:15 a.m., a 27-year-old man was arrested as part of a warrant issued for his capture. Deputies stopped the man on the Boulevard near Redwood Road. There they discovered the man had been previously convicted on charges of grand theft, driving while intoxicated, and evading arrest. Deputies took the man to Santa Rita Jail.

Assault on a Family Member

Tuesday, July 25: at 10:24 p.m., deputies arrested a 59-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault on a family member. The man was at a home on Highwood Road near Lomond Way. Deputies responded to a call about an altercation at the address. The man was taken into custody. The victim was treated at the scene.

Violated His Probation

Monday, July 24: at 10:01 a.m., a 35-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested on suspicion of violating the terms of his parole, possessing stolen property, and possessing methamphetamine drugs and related drug paraphernalia. Deputies caught up with the man in front of an empty lot on A Street near Ruby Street in Castro Valley. The man was taken into custody.

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

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Contributors:

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Gene Osofsky

Carl Medford

Terry Liebowitz

Linette Escobar

Thomas Lorentzen

Buzz Bertolero

Bruce Roberts

EAST BAY SWIM LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: The two record breaking relay teams and three high point swimmers from the meet held on July 21 and 22.

FESCO Concert in The Park

Supporters of FESCO, the Family Shelter in Hayward, and the public are in for a treat on Sunday, August 13th, when they show up for the Concert in the Park that afternoon.

The Concert, from 1 pm - 5 pm, is at Memorial Park, next to the Hayward Plunge on Mission Blvd. Featured band, the Giant Garage Spiders, has become a favorite of FESCO fans for their wide repertoire from “oldies” to current tunes and their musicianship.

HARD and Hayward Odd Fellows sponsor this free popular Concert Series every summer. Each concert features a different band and food for purchase, with food money and donations going to various Eden area non-profits. Concert-goers bring picnic lunches and lawn chairs and spend the afternoon listening and dancing to music they love.

This concert is an annual fundraiser for FESCO (Family Emergency Shelter Coalition). FESCO is one of the few shelters in that area that takes in families with children including teen-age boys and also single fathers. FESCO’s program provides case management, shelter and numerous resources to assist the families to return to self-sufficiency.

FESCO urges the public to come out for a free afternoon of toe-tapping music, raffle prizes, food and fun. When you do, you will make a difference for homeless families with children in our area.

Chanticleers Presents ‘The Wolves’: Opens This Friday

Chanticleers Theatre is excited to announce the third show in their 2023 season, a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama entitled The Wolves. Penned by American playwright Sarah DeLappe, this thrilling portrait of female adolescence revolves around a team of high school girls as they partake in weekly pregame soccer warmups.

The show opens this Friday, August 4 and runs through Sunday, August 27 with a Special Student Performance on August 28.

Says director Molly Aaronson-Gelb, “Just as Who’s

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday, August 3

How to Age in Place Workshop

There may come a time when you require help to safely remain in your home. Learn how to hire and work with a caregiver at this FREE presentation by Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of Legal Assistance for Seniors. This event will be held tomorrow, Thursday, August 3, from 11 am to noon. No registration is required. The Castro Valley Library is a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library is located at 3600 Norbridge Avenue and is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call the Library at 510-667-7900, or see Events at www.aclibrary.org/branches/csv.

Friday, August 4 - Sunday, August 6

Friends of the CV Library Book Sale

Afraid of Virginia Woolf? shocked its audience so much with its raw portrayal of a married couple and its use of language that it was passed over for the Pulitzer Prize, this play shocks with the real-life experience of being a teenager in today’s world of Instagram, college applications, and intensely competitive sports.”

The Wolves pulls no punches. As part of the hyper-real theatre movement, the dialogue is brutally honest, a refreshing look at how teens talk when no adults are around to judge them. Their conversations take us on a whirlwind tour of the

adolescent mind, covering a wide range of subjects, from bodily functions to genocide to friendships, all while juggling and passing a soccer ball on an indoor soccer field.

Says actor Skyelar Clouse, who plays #00 on the team, “The Wolves was one of the first scripts I read where I actually felt like I wasn’t alone in my experience with athletics, with high school, and with just being a teenage girl. The dialogue is raw, the stories are real, and it shows girls in their most authentic selves as constantly growing and changing individuals.”

Actor Sara Guillen (#7) agrees. “So often teenage girls are an overlooked demographic, but this show shines a light on how complicated and messy and mean and loving and kind and three-dimensional they are.”

The Wolves is a show not to be missed. More than just a powerful portrayal of teenage angst, it is, in the end, a celebration of life, with all of its beautiful chaos.

Tickets ($30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students) can be purchased at chanticleers.org or call 510-SEELIVE (510-733-5483).

Chanticleers Theatre is a nonprofit community theater organization with a rich history dating back to 1948. Known as “Castro Valley’s Little Theatre in the Park”, Chanticleers is located in the Castro Valley Community Park right across from the Veterans Memorial and next to the children’s waterpark and playground.

The Friends of the Castro Valley Library Summer Book Sale will be August 4, 5, and 6. As always, Friday night from 6-8 is for members only. (Memberships will be available that night.) Saturday’s hours are from 10-4 and on Sunday, $5 Bag Day, hours will be from 1-4. We will have our usual selection of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, as well as audio books, CDs and DVDs at bargain prices. Be sure to check out today’s Forum for a $2 off coupon which can be used any day in our book store as well as on Saturday at the Book Sale (see page 2)!

Friday, August 4 & Sunday, August 6

DMT Chorus Summer Concert

The Douglas Morrison Theater Chorus will present their summer concert, Music of the Americas, this Friday, August 4 at 8 pm and Sunday, August 6 at 2 pm at the Douglas Morrison Theater (11311 Third St., Hayward). The songs range from patriotic to romantic, with a splash of Motown and rhythms from Cuba, Jamaica and Brazil. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate great music in our own backyard. Tickets can be purchased at the HARD offices (1099 E St Hayward) or online at www.haywardrec.org.

Tuesday, August 8 CV Rotary Hosts Christian Carr and Misti Short CV Rotary President Christian Carr and Director Misti Short, will provide an update on rotary fund raisers and club business. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (located at 17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) at 12 noon to 1:30 pm. The cost of lunch is $20 and reservations must be made by 9 pm on Sunday, August 6, by contacting the Rotary by email at: cvrotary@iCloud. com or call :510-402-5123. More information is available at: castrovalleyrotary.org.

Wednesday, August 9

Mario Kart tournament at 3Crosses Church

All 6 to 12th graders are invited to a Mario Kart tournament at 3Crosses Church (20600 John Dr, Castro Valley) next Wednesday, August 9 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm! Teams of four will compete in an epic tournament for cash prizes. Snacks will be provided. For more information, please visit: 3crosses.church/mariokart.

Saturday, August 12

Davis Street Health Fair

Davis Street is thrilled to announce its Annual Community Health Fair, Saturday, August 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at 3081 Teagarden Street, San Leandro, CA, and promises to be a day filled with health education, community engagement, and fun activities for all. This highly anticipated health fair is open to the public and completely free of charge.

Chanticleers Theatre is excited to announce the third show in their 2023 season, a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama entitled ‘The Wolves’ opening this Friday, August 4 at 8 pm and runs through Sunday, August 27.

Rotary District Governor Visits CV Club

On July 25, Rotary Club of Castro Valley President Christian Carr welcomed 2023-24 District 5170 Governor Hung Wei at the weekly lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Castro Valley. Governor Hung shared the District’s opportuni-

ties and challenges to serve our communities. Governor Hung Wei oversees the District’s 61 unique community clubs located in Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties that together form one of Rotary’s strongest Districts.

The Rotary Club of Castro Valley has hybrid meetings. The Club is always searching for individuals who want to make a positive impact locally, nationally and internationally. For more info, please visit: CastroValleyRotary.org.

Get Rich: Success Through Paying Off Your Debts in Life

By Kevin Koo SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Welcome back everyone. I’ve been writing a series that was inspired by a Netflix show called How to Get Rich. Today, the inspiration comes from the idea of paying off debts. I’m excited to dive into it with you this week, so let’s get to it! So, paying off debt is not a new or difficult concept to understand. You borrowed money from someone or an institution, and you do your best to pay it back. Common forms of debt include student loans and credit card debt. Depending on the amount of debt you have, it may take you longer to pay it off. A quick search showed that the average credit card debt is $5,733 per person in the US!

Paying off debt, especially when you have a lot of debt, is not a simple task. If you’ve somehow ac-

cumulated a lot of debt, there’s something deeper than just making too many purchases. In the show, you find out that people made purchases as stress relief, or as a form of escape. Then, that was followed by a sense of embarrassment and shame, which kept them from changing their habits, starting a downward spiral process.

So what caused all the debt? Obviously it was making the purchase, but what kept it going was the embarrassment and shame. So logic suggests that resolving those emotions is our get out of jail card, right?

So how do you resolve these emotions? The first thing is simply identifying them. For example, if you’re feeling sad, you actually say, “I feel sad.” If you’re angry, say, “I’m angry. This is actually a feature of the brain.

While you’re feeling the emotion, you’re more reactive, but once you identify the emotion, it takes you out of the emotion and allows you to think abstractly. You can then ask yourself, “why am I sad/angry?” and you’re able to start the problem solving process.

This is oversimplified, but hopefully you get the gist of it.

So how does this relate to life? I actually look at debt from the lens of personal see KOO on back page

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• August 5th - CVSan Comic Book Release Event at Crush Comics. Stop by from noon to 2 p.m. to get a FREE copy of CVSan’s new wastewater comic book "Defenders Of The Bay"!

• August 8th - Operations and Engineering (O&E) Building Project Neighborhood Meeting.

• August 14th - Lateral Replacement Grant Program Begins at 7:30 a.m. Questions? Call (510) 606-1300 or visit cvsan.org/LRGP

CVSAN.ORG/DC

• August 22nd - O&E Building Project Committee Meeting.

• September 4th - Labor Day (CVSan Closed).

• September 5th - Regular Board Meeting.

• Come see CVSan at the 51st Castro Valley Fall Festival September 9th and 10th - Stop by our booth to learn about the services we provide and pick up a FREE CVSan comic book!

Sewer Emergencies: (510) 506-5821

Effective Environmental Services since 1939 | cvsan.org

Left to right: District 5170 Governor Elect Jill Duerig, Rotary Club of Castro Valley President Christian Carr, District 5170 Governor Hung Wei, and District 5170 Area 4A Assistant District Governor Diane Dorn.

PARENTS

Do You Love to Read?

Do you love books? Want to inspire kids to read? If you’re looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity, consider becoming a Booklegger for the Castro Valley Library!

Trained volunteers learn storytelling and booktalking strategies that send students running in to the library for the books they hear about. Bookleggers visit K-5 classrooms across the Castro Valley Unified School District to give presentations on books.

There are two options for the orientation meeting: 1. In-person at the Castro Valley Library: Monday, August 28 from 10:30 am to 11:30am or 2. Virtually via Zoom: Saturday, September 9 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

The orientation will serve as an opportunity to meet current Bookleggers and hear why they love to volunteer, as well as gain information on volunteer and training requirements. After the orientation, there will be 6 trainings which will be held in-person weekly on Mondays from Sept. 11 through Oct. 16 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Castro Valley Library. Register for an orientation meeting at: aclibrary.org or call the library at: (510) 667-7900.

Don’t Let Bullies Stifle School Experience

(NAPSI)—For many students, learning and school excitement can be stifled by caution and worry about bullying—but it can be alleviated.

Children who are bullied or who bully others may have lasting difficulties. Bullies are more likely to drop out of school, engage in criminal behavior and have difficulty keeping steady jobs. Victims of bullying suffer from anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. Bystanders may feel powerless, fearful or guilty.

The U.S. Department of Education defines bullying as unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power.

Direct bullying can include physical assault, damage of property, verbally teasing or making racial or sexual comments and making threatening gestures or messages.

Indirect bullying can include manipulating another to assault someone else, spreading rumors, excluding select individuals from groups or activities and social and cyber harassment.

Diffusing the Bully’s Power Learning to identify untoward behaviors and working to discourage and rectify them can create better outcomes for both bully and targets.

Mahsa Karimi, Manager of Education at Allied Universal, a leading global security and

HELP STOP BULLYING: Going to school doesn’t have to cause anxiety about bullying if parents, teachers, students and others work together to stop it.

facility services company, works extensively with K-12 and higher education clients to help them create safer learning environments.

“Be on the lookout for obvious and subtle signs of distress that contradict what an individual may say—64% of bullying goes unreported,” says Ms. Karimi. “Most importantly, following up when bullying is suspected, and responding quickly and consistently, sends a clear message that bullying is not acceptable.”

Karimi shares the following strategies:

Parents

• Ask your children about their school day and be an active listener.

• Encourage conversation about what’s happening at school, increasing the likelihood your child will come to you if something is wrong.

• Set a good example by not engaging in bully-like behaviors. Avoid cursing at people. Don’t tease or nitpick. Model proper and effective communication in heated discussions.

• Address bully-like behaviors if you see them in your child. Teach respectful

interactions between adults and children.

Students

• Act confident and present yourself as unaffected by a bully’s attempts to hurt you.

• Travel in pairs or groups; there truly is strength in numbers.

• If possible, avoid areas where you know a bully hangs out.

• Do not retaliate. Never seek revenge or attempt to get even with a bully.

• Tell a parent, teacher or other trusted adult if you’re bullied or harassed.

Members of the School Community

• Model respectful, responsible and safe behaviors.

• Report dangerous situations or safety concerns immediately.

• Reinforce positive behavior when you encounter it.

• Be a compassionate listener if a student confides in you. Take it seriously and do not pass judgment. Listen and take it seriously.

• If you witness suspected bully behavior, don’t ignore it. Get help from another adult, alert school administrators or authorities as protocol instructs.

• If safe to do so, intervene in a calm and tactful way. Do not exacerbate the situation in any manner.

• Make sure everyone is safe and provide reassurance to those involved and witnesses. Everyone Contact police or call for medical help immediately if you notice:

• A weapon is involved

• Threats of serious physical injury are being made

• Threats of hate-motivated violence

• Sexual abuse

• Illegal acts such as robbery, extortion or use of force. Creating and sustaining inclusive campuses is a vital first step toward ensuring the academic success of each child, giving them the opportunity to learn and achieve.

Financial Literacy For Kids

(NAPSI)—Good news for parents: You can help your kids learn to do well. Studies suggest a clear correlation between early education in money and future financial success.

People who learned about money as children were three times as likely to have a personal annual income of $75K or higher than those who didn’t, according to a survey by Quicken, maker of the best-selling personal finance software in the U.S.

But there’s a problem: Onethird of adults surveyed said no one taught them about money when they were children. Among that group, only 13 percent report a high level of confidence in their finances.

People who learned about money as children were 20 percent more likely to prioritize teaching their own kids about money. Those who said no one taught them about money as a child were twice as likely to delay talking to their own children about money until age 18 or older.

The top tools—allowance, savings accounts, piggy banks—may not have changed much, but the lessons have evolved. Today, parents are teaching their children about charitable giving 60 percent more than their own parents did, using credit cards as teaching tools almost 50 percent more, and teaching their kids about investing 85 percent more than the people who taught them about money.

To help your family discuss finance, try these three ideas:

1. Set an example. If you’re an example of financial responsibility, your kiddos will be more likely to follow.

2. Use tools. The right tools can make a big difference. The survey showed that 62 percent of the people who do not use any personal finance tools also reported a lack of confidence in their current financial situation.

3. Talk early and often. An early start and frequent conversations about money can be key to setting your kids on the path to a healthy financial future.

The Break’s Over: Brush Up on Oral Care

(NAPSI)—Whether your family has been on its A-game when it comes to dental health or you were subject to the summer slide, the start of the school year is a great chance to reset. While your kids get used to the earlier wakeup call, incorporating oral health techniques along the way will help them beyond their first day.

Summer break doesn’t usually include the same strict schedule as the school year and dental health can sometimes fall by the wayside. It’s important to implement positive brushing and flossing habits with your kids as they start the school year off, for happy smiles in those class photos.

Daily reminders of brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing at least once are a great place to start. This

reduces the risk of cavities by removing food and plaque which build up with the increase in summertime snacks and treats. Before you leave the house in the morning and prior to bedtime, a quick “Did you brush yet?” can get the job done.

In addition to verbal reminders, try posting a visual reminder on the bathroom mirror such as a brushing and flossing chart or setting a daily phone alarm. Brushing and flossing charts are available at www.toothfairy.deltadentalwa. com/blog/tooth-fairy-approved-brushing-and-flossingchart.

As well as getting your family to brush and floss consistently, check to make sure they’re doing it thoroughly. Check for food or plaque on your kids’ gum line. They can

be evidence of missing a spot while brushing and flossing and lead to unnecessary dental treatments due to lack of oral hygiene.

Turn To The Tooth Fairy

If your kids need some extra encouragement, the Tooth Fairy is on the case. Parents can request a letter from the Tooth Fairy to motivate kids to be active participants in their dental health. Delta Dental of Washington has also partnered with the Tooth Fairy to offer helpful tips for parents too, including the downloadable “Caring for your Smile” home curriculum, the quarterly Grin & Grow e-newsletter, articles, activity sheets, videos and storybooks.

For information about oral health in general, visit Delta Dental of Washington’s blog at: DeltaDentalWA.com/blog.

While your kids get used to the earlier wakeup call, incorporating oral health techniques along the way will help them beyond their first day.

REAL ESTATE REALITY

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

GUEST COMMENTARY

Converging Trends May Signal Maximum Investor Returns

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

Several trends emerged this past week that signaled it may be time for investors to begin liquidating their rental inventories. Without question, many investors have done well over the past few years, however, as all investors know, there comes a time to liquidate any given investment to either cash out or optimize their investment portfolio.

Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, points out that the last few years have seen significant increases in property values and rental rates. Coupled with low-cost

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financing, properties across the USA have seen, over the past five years, an average 50.8% increase in value and a 24.9% boost in rental rates.

The prognosis for the short term, however, is different as, in many regions across the country, home values are actually decreasing. Growth in the rental market is also slowing and is projected to be impacted even more as a 40year high in the construction of new multi-family properties means that a significant number of units will soon be available.

A final factor, especially for those investors holding property in California, is the escalating assault on landlord’s rights with the ever-in-

Buying

WEEKEND GARDENER

August Chores

August is a time of transition in the garden. You’ll be harvesting many of your summer vegetables—especially zucchini and tomatoes—and getting the soil ready for the fall-winter garden. Chard grows beautifully in late summer and fall. Harvest the outer leaves and leave the crown intact for extended use of fewer plants. Cauliflower and broccoli must be in the ground a good two months before frost, which mean no later than the middle of this month.

Plant beans now through Labor Day. Use a nitrogen-fixing bacteria powder to increase the yield. Plant spinach as early as possible this month. To promote growth, apply a half-pound of composted chicken manure or other high-nitrogen fertilizer into each square foot of garden space.

Feed tasseling corn and other vegetables that are setting fruit

Wildflowers

creasing levels of rent control being sought by California municipalities. It was bad enough that landlord rights were stripped away during the pandemic with the net result that many investors, especially mom and pop owners, saw significant losses. This past week the CA Secretary of State announced that a new measure letting cities limit the extent to which landlords can increase rent will be hitting the ballot box in the November 2024 election.

All of this brings up a significant question; “Why would investors be willing to continue to invest in residential income properties when the state is hellbent on limiting investment potential?” It is no secret investors are selling California properties and relocating their investments out of state to more investor friendly regions.

Lastly, with the current residential housing market being squeezed by an extreme lack of inventory, investors selling now would be able to capitalize on the current home values all the while putting more inventory back into the market to help ease the inventory crisis. If they wait too long, however, others may beat them to the punch resulting in lower returns for those who wait too long.

Bottom line: for those investors seeking to maximize their residential investment’s returns, the time to sell may be now.

Wildflower seeds are easy to scatter in small rock gardens, hillsides and large fields. You can sow wildflower seeds any time, but be sure to water lightly to get them on their way.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey®

U.S. weekly averages as of 07/27/2023

15-Yr FRM

6.11%

Cool May and June Might Have Slowed Tomato Growth

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QMy wife and I planted several tomato plants. This is our first attempt at growing tomatoes. The plants are thriving. They have many flowers, but none seem to be developing any fruit. The blossoms simply pop open, turn brown, and then die. So, what are we doing wrong?

AThe growing season for tomatoes has been atypical this year, as the weather in May and June was below normal. You’re doing nothing wrong. This is a classic example of Mother Nature and our microclimates. For tomatoes to set or form, pollination and fertilization must occur. In many plants, pollination, and fertilization occur simultaneously. This is not the case with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and others; they are two separate events. Pollination is the transfer of yellow pollen from the Anther (male) to the Pistil (female). The wind is the chief means of making this happen. On calm days or if you like to help, gently shaking the plants in the afternoon is beneficial. After pollination, a pollen tube forms to transport the pollen to

another part of the flower, where fertilization occurs. This is when tomatoes start to form. The tomato blossom falls off whether or not fertilization occurs. Fertilization fails to happen when the nighttime temperatures are below 55 degrees. The pollen tube does not develop fast enough before the flower drops.

So production has been effective. The recent July heat spells should have reversed the nighttime trend. Tomatoes should now be forming.

My friend gave me two cherry trees that were suckers about two feet cut from the main tree’s root. I planted them two years ago, and they are now about six feet tall. I got blossoms this year but no fruit. The parent tree produces very well. Will they eventually have fruit? Or should I pull them and replace them with bare root trees from the nursery?

Cherries, Plums, Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, and other fruit trees are not grown on their own root. A particular rootstock is

selected for each variety. Commercially, fruit trees are budded onto a compatible rootstock. With Cherries, Mahaleb is used on standard trees, Mazzard on semi-dwarf, and Colt on dwarf trees. These rootstocks are better suited for our heavy clay soil. They also produce trees that better anchor themselves. This is critical so they don’t blow over during windy periods. These rootstocks are started from seed. The fruit pits/seeds are never used to reproduce named varieties. The seedlings are very unpredictable from these parents. The chance of them producing an edible fruit or one that’s comparable to the parent(s) is very slim. I wouldn’t waste any time cultivating these trees. I’d purchase the desired varieties in the upcoming bare root season. Cherries must be cross-pollinated with another type so you will need two different trees; however, there are self-pollinating varieties. The nursery professional at your favorite garden centers can advise you.

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

Mortgage Rates Inch Up

Mortgage rates inched up slightly after a significant decline last week. Higher interest rates continue to dampen activity in interest rate-sensitive sectors, such as housing. However, overall U.S. consumer confidence is unwavering, surging to a two-year high in the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index for July 2023. Rising consumer confidence often leads to greater spending, which could drive more consumers into the housing market.

Repair or Replace Broken Screen Door?

By Samantha Mazzotta Special to the Forum

On a visit to our friend’s house, my youngest son ran toward the sliding-glass doors leading to the back yard and went right through the screen door. He’s fine, but I want to fix the damage. Can I do so without having to buy a whole new door?

AIf you have a damaged sliding screen door and the door frame is undamaged, you should be able to replace the screen itself without paying too much.

Inspect the door frame for warped or broken rollers. Make sure it’s seated properly in the track and rolls easily back and forth.

If the door sticks when it rolls, check the bottom rollers. (Gently wiggle each side of the door; the side with more resistance may have a roller off the track.) Carefully lift up that side of the door as far as it will go (usually a fraction of an inch). Use a small putty knife to gently push the roller wheel back down into its track, and test.

Now, you can elect either to replace the screen and any damaged components (if the rollers broke or were loosened, for ex-

Once the spline is in place, use a utility knife to trim away the excess screen material.

ample), or to replace the entire door ($50 to upward of $100). Also consider how much time and effort you want to put into the repair versus a replacement. For time’s sake, let’s go with the screen replacement. If replacement parts are available for that specific model, get those; otherwise, a generic replace-

ment kit with nylon screen and spline should work fine. Purchase a spline roller as well. Remove the screen door from its tracks by lifting upward and tugging out. Lay the door flat on a clean surface with the screen side nearest you. Locate the rubber spline around the perimeter of the screen. Using a

flat screwdriver, ease a section of spline out of its track and then pull the entire run out. The broken screen will come out with it.

Next, roll the replacement screen out and pre-measure. Leave at least 1 inch extra around all four sides. Use a utility knife to cut the screen to size. With a helper holding the screen in place, use the spline roller’s convex (ungrooved) end to push the new screen down into its groove on one side of

the door. Follow up by pushing the new spline into place in the groove, pinning the screen in. Use the grooved side of the roller to push the spline in tightly.

Repeat the process on all four sides, working carefully around each corner so that the edges don’t tear the screen. Hold the screen taut as you work.

Once the spline is in place, carefully cut away the extra length at the end and push the nub down into the groove. Use

a utility knife to trim away the excess screen from the outer edge of the spline groove. Put the door back into place, setting it into the top of the frame first and then easing into its bottom track, being careful not to damage the rollers. Screens with one or two minor flaws can be repaired using needle and thread; screens with tears or large holes should be replaced.

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.

HOME SERVICES GUIDE

Help for the homeowner means business for you!

To Place an Ad ... Call 614-1558

Help for the homeowner means business for you! San Leandro Times

HOME SERVICES GUIDE Call 614-1558

Help for the homeowner means business for you! San Leandro Times

HOME SERVICES GUIDE Call 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.

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

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

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

GIVEAWAYS

FREE - HPPrinter. Prints, scans, and makes copies. Prints B/W well but color not perfectly. Near Lake Chabot Park in Castro Valley. Call 510-4150854.

HAULING SERVICE

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

MISC. FOR SALE

50 rock or country CDs in excellent condition $49. Call 510 654-1951.

Ping-Pong Table, nets, paddles, balls. $45.00 510-537-3144.

Fishing pole and reel Good condition $25. Call 510-278-9719

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

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 ...

*SCOTT HARRISON - Realtor Coldwell Banker 510-388-4536

RENTALS

JAIME’S GARDENING

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

DON’T LET ANOTHER WEEK SLIPBY!

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

LOST & FOUND

FOUND - Dog, small short hair chestnut-colored puppy near Juniper & Dayton (Manor area) San Leandro. 510-357-6942.

LANDLORDS - Advertise your units! – Avacancy day is money lost forever –

WANTED - Reel to reel music tapes, Call Patrick 510-517-3351.

One bedroom, One bathroom apartment in Hayward close to many stores nuzzled in a back court setting with attached garage. Close to many stores freeways/Bart. $1550.00 month to month rent w/ Deposit if $ 1551.00. Contact Ydutton2@ gmail.com. Advertise your Home for rent in the San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum

MUSIC SERVICES

PIANO LESSONS Group or Private MTAC. Certificate beginner, advance All Ages Call 510-352-0546.

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

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/ROOMS

One Bedroom Apartment for Rent

Washer/Dryer in Unit No Smoking/No

Pets $1800 per month Call (510) 332-509.

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 $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.

TREE SERVICE

*ACAREFULTREE SERVICE. Certified. Arborist. Lic.#694067. Trimming, Removals. FREE Estimates Bonded. Call 510-581-7377.

LEGAL NOTICES

CASTRO VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the provisions of Division 5, Part 3, Chapter 6, Article 4, Section 5473 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, the Sanitary Board of Castro Valley Sanitary District has by Ordinance elected to collect its charges for sewerage services on the tax roll and has each parcel of real property receiving sanitary sewage service from said District and the amount of the charges for each such parcel.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Sanitary Board of Castro Valley Sanitary District has by Ordinance elected to collect its charges for delinquent charges for solid waste collection, disposal, processing and/or recycling on the tax roll anders within Castro Valley Sanitary District who have incurred delinquent charges for solid waste collection disposal, and/or recycling.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Monday, the 7th day of August 2023, at Street, Castro Valley, in said District, said Board will hear and consider all pro-

By order of the Board of the Castro Valley Sanitary

District.

Dated: July 25, 2023

FILED JUNE 18, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 598031

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

Red Door Restoration Inc, located at 4021 Meadowlark CI., Castro Valley CA 94546. Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Red Door Restoration Inc 4021 Meadowlark CI., Castro Valley CA 94546. This business is conducted by a Corporation.

This business commenced 01/10/2018

/s/ Cynthia Safdari

This statement was led with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by le stamp above.

Expires JUNE 17, 2028

JUL 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2023

0790-CVF

FILED MAY 31, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 598310

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

Ashlynn Home Furnishings, located at 2954A Alverado St, San Leandro CA 94546. Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Red Door Restoration Inc 4021 Meadowlark

CI., Castro Valley CA 94577. This business is conducted by a Corporation.

This business commenced N/A

/s/ Wendy Vule

This statement was led with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by le stamp above.

Expires May 30, 2028

JUL 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2023 0791-CVF

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

Deer Creek Funeral Service, located at 20630 Redwood Road Castro Valley CA 94546 Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Jay Spencer 1625 Orchard Ave. This business is conducted by An Individual.

This business commenced 1991 /s/ Jay Spencer

This statement was led with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by le stamp above.

JUL 29, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2023

Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

Lillard’s Properties, located at 509 Clara Street Oakland, CA 94603,/ PO. BOX 43242 Oakland, CA 94624. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Houston Lillard 509 Clara Street Oakland, CA 94603. This business is conducted by An Individual.

This business commenced N/A /s/ Houston Lillard

This statement was led with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by le stamp above. Expires JULY 12, 2028 JUL 20, 27, AUG 03, 10, 2023

ROLAND P. WILLIAMS, JR. General Manager Castro Valley Sanitary District

Seniors: Tax Problems Selling A Home In Joint Tenancy After Death of Spouse

Q:My late husband and I bought our home 45 years ago for $50,000, and we were then advised to take title as Joint Tenants in order to avoid probate. When he died 3 years ago, I was told by a realtor that it was worth about $1.2 Million. I was recently told by our CPA that, if I were to sell it, I would have a steep capital gains tax to pay. Is that so, and is there any way around the tax problem?

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

Yes, your CPA is correct. Basically, capital gain is the difference between your net sales price and your original cost (plus improvements). It is your “profit” from the sale of your home. Assuming no improvements, your capital gain in this situation would be $1,150,000 ($1,200,000 — $50,000), before adjustments. But you are entitled to some adjustments to this total gain:

Date of Death Adjustment: Under current tax law, when an owner dies, his or her share of property gets an adjustment to its date of death value. We often call this a “step up” in cost basis. However, when a couple holds title in Joint Tenancy form, only the deceased spouse’s share gets

the “step up”. Yours does not.

So, in your situation, the adjusted cost basis would be $625,000, calculated as follows: Husband’s ½ share: $600,000

Your own ½ share: $25,000 (1/2 of $50K purchase price)

Adjusted Cost Basis: $625,000

However, if you and your husband held title in Community Property form, then BOTH HALVES would get the “step up” in cost basis, and your adjusted Cost Basis would then be calculated as follows:

Husband’s ½ share: $600,000

Your Own ½ Share: $600,000

Adjusted Cost Basis: $1,200,000

In effect, by holding title in Community Property form you would get a “double step up”, which would wipe out all capital gain up to the date of death of your husband!

$250K Home Use & Ownership Adjustment: In either situation, under the tax code you would also be entitled to claim a $250K capital gain exclusion available to an owner who has lived in the home at

City: Report Discussion

least 2 years before sale. In the Joint Tenancy situation, this would help reduce – but not eliminate –your capital gain. In the Community Property situation, this exclusion might not even be needed, except perhaps to the extent that there were further appreciation between the date of your husband’s death and your actual date of sale.

So, is there any way to convert Joint Tenancy title to Community Property form after the death of your spouse?

Yes, if your purchase was before 1985. Thereafter, the law changed in California to require a writing (called a “transmutation agreement”) in order to re-characterize your Joint Tenancy home to be treated as Community Property.

However, assuming that your purchase was before 1985, and assuming that you and your husband purchased your home with earnings and savings from your marriage and always understood it to be community property, it would actually be community property in character under California law, even if it were not so titled.

In this situation, you might initiate a rather basic court proceeding called a “Spousal Property Petition”, asking a Superior Court judge to issue a Court Order finding that the home is, in fact, Community Property, passing to you without probate. With such an order in hand, you could then claim the “double step up in cost basis” when reporting the gain on the sale of your home, dramatically reducing, or possibly even eliminating, your capital gain and its corresponding tax.

One caveat: While the IRS is not necessarily bound by a state trial court order, I have not known the IRS to routinely dispute this procedure and have used it successfully in the past to eliminate capital gain in similar situations. [For more detail, visit our website and search for this article by its title].

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. Please visit his website at www.LawyerForSeniors.com or you can reach him by phone at: (510) 247-2555.

continued from front page formed in the state since the legislature banned the “in-lieu tax” on motor-vehicle registrations in 2011.

The meeting to discuss the report was called by several Castro Valley residents who contribute to the castrovalleycity.com website. Contributors include Gary Howard, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, Peter Rosen, board member of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), Dennis Waespi, and Roland Williams, general manager of the Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan).

Several have written letters to the editor of the Forum making the case for cityhood, which have in turn drawn letters in opposition.

Howard said of the meeting “It went well. There was a good mix of pros and cons. That’s where we all are right now.”

He also said LAFCO erred in comparing the costs of a new city to “mature cities” like San Leandro and Dublin. A better comparison, he said, would be to newer cities like Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.

City’s costs change over time, Howard said.

There is not as yet any visible organized opposition to cityhood, but skepticism was expressed at the July 23 meeting. One man in the audience who did not identify himself asked, in several different wordings, who was behind the effort and why now.

Meeting moderator Ralph Johnson along with some meeting participants kept replying it was a presentation of the report, not a debate on cityhood itself. But cityhood advocate Howard replied that the last vote was 20 years ago, in 2002, and Castro Valley’s demographics had changed considerably since then, meriting another vote.

Johnson listed a number of hurdles any move toward cityhood would have to leap. There would have to be a formal application to LAFCO, which proponents would then have to pay to conduct a detailed feasibility study.

District 4 county supervisor Nate Miley, who spoke in favor of Castro Valley as a city, noted his office had paid the estimated $100,000 cost of the one 20 years ago.

“I’m not paying for another one,” he said, to some laughter.

Miley kept a low profile during the meeting, beyond saying he would try to get any new city the best deal on tax

revenues possible with the county. He was mobbed by constituents with questions and comments, though, just outside the meeting room during a break.

Only if LAFCO found cityhood feasible could the matter then proceed to a vote. Castro Valley residents voted it down both times it previously made it to the ballot, in 1956 and 2002.

“It’d be at least a two-year process after LAFCO found it feasible if they did,” moderator Johnson told the crowd.

Residents broke into smaller focus groups after a break, to discuss in greater depth the effects of possible cityhood on governance, economic development and business, public safety, the environment, and public works.

A number of concerns came out of those sessions, but the ones that generated the most passion were sidewalks and traffic calming, particularly near schools, according to group leaders.

LAFCO had looked at possible incorporation by the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, Hayward Acres, and San Lorenzo, as well as several possible combinations of those. Its consultant concluded that Castro Valley had advantages over those other areas due to its strong commercial tax base, and its fiscal case for cityhood is stronger by itself than in combination.

Howard urged residents, whatever their views on cityhood, to send comments to LAFCO by their August 11 deadline. One can send an email by clicking on links from the agency’s webpage (https:// alamedalafco.org/contact-us), phone at (510) 670-6267, or write them at 224 West Winton Avenue, Suite 110, Hayward, CA 94544.

Howard said additional public meetings on the issue are planned, hopefully starting in August or soon thereafter.

Supervisor Nate Miley talks with constituents at July 23 meeting.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Addressing Cityhood Website Questions

Editor:

In the Wed. July 26 edition Letters to the Editor section, Frank Mellon asked several questions about CastroValleyCity.com that can be addressed doing a few internet lookups.

1) CastroValleyCity.com

This domain name is registered to a hidden persons name residing in Tempe AZ: www.whois.com/whois/castrovalleycity.com. The associated contact phone number is (480) 624-2599 and appears to be associated with a Nima Kelly in Scottsdale, AZ.

The website has a blog that appears to be associated with something called LAFCO which seems to be The Alameda Local Agency Formation Commission. This is there contact info: https://alamedalafco.org/contact-us/

Local Agency Formation Commission of Alameda County

224 West Winton Ave., Suite 110, Hayward, CA 94544

(510) 670-6267

Rachel Jones Executive Officer

2) Oddly the group Facebook group has no admin contact and claims to be an Official Government entity (clearly that’s false). Even the group description says it’s “a non-profit organization” so clearly it’s not a governmental agency. https://www.facebook.com/castrovalleycity/about

3) The NextDoor group admin is Yonaton (Yon) Hardisty https://nextdoor.com/g/z2aihx3ww/ https://nextdoor.com/profile/18225600

–Tom Baker, Castro Valley

Let’s Keep an Open Mind and Get Facts

Editor:

Thank you to the folks who provided us with the opportunity to ask questions regarding the potential incorporation of Castro Valley. The purpose of the meeting was very clear to me. It was the opportunity for members of our Community to raise questions that will help us make an informed decision regarding incorporation. It was not intended to be a forum to debate the issue as some in attendance tried.

There were some individuals who have already made up their minds. How can any intelligent human make a decision without knowing the facts? Nobody knows the actual numbers associated with incorporation. It is very judgmental of a few folks out there who are throwing out random costs without any verification to create fear about incorporation. How irresponsible can one be? Also, storming out of a public forum for dramatic effect because you did not approve of the way it was being run is not productive. Did Frank Mellon make his EBMUD decisions without any facts? Did he storm out of Board meetings when he didn’t get his way?

I am not saying whether or not I am supporting the incorporation of Castro Valley. However, I do believe that it is appropriate for us to be requesting information that will lead us to have an intelligent debate on the virtues of incorporation.

Mark Twain once wrote “Get your facts straight first, then you can distort them anyway you want.” Give our community the opportunity to get the facts so that we can make an intelligent decision. Until then, keep an open mind.

–Ray Davis, Castro Valley

Future: Looks Bright for Marketplace

continued from front page trying to always improve the space and we’re committed to what we started out doing two years ago. The future is very positive.

One recent addition is that of Beard Papa, a cream puff bakery that will open its doors this Saturday and will be situated at the Castro Valley Boulevard entrance.

“Ye Ye, who runs Beard Papa is from Castro Valley and while it is a chain store, she’s super excited to open a site in her hometown,” Layburn said.

In addition to the Natural Grocery, other mainstays on the first floor of the Marketplace include Akemi Sushi, Amphora Nueva, Baron’s Meats & Seafood, and Seven Hills Baking Co.

The recent departure of The Cannery Kitchen and Tap restaurant concerned some reg-

ular guests since the salad and sandwich shop had provided a unique dining experience and live music at times. Layburn noted that owner Debbie Pfisterer was sad to leave the Marketplace but business had been difficult to maintain after the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for the future, Layburn noted that Cordial Bottle Shop has become a permanent fixture near Akemi. The space next to Beard Papa can accommodate a small-sized merchant. The basement remains an opportunity for future merchants but can be rented out as a celebration space.

Layburn also promises the return of some seasonal pop-ups downstairs including a harvest-themed kiosk in time for the Fall Festival and several winter holiday-themed booths for anyone looking for original and handcrafted gifts.

FROM THE BOULEVARD

Celebrating Our Rotarians

By Thomas Lorentzen SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

As President of the Hayward Area Historical Society, it is a passion of mine to write and talk about the continuum of history. The future is being born in the present. The present was born in the past. With that, the periods of time stream together in a constant and integrated flow of human activities. It is out of that flow that we discover the characteristics that influence the ways in which we live our lives. This includes the lives that we live here in Castro Valley.

In 1841 the namesake of our town – Don Guillermo Castro received a land grant from Mexico for 28,000 acres. Much of that grant has evolved into what is now our town – Castro Valley. At the time of this land grant a book was published in France. It was written by a French aristocrat by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville. He wrote about his travels in embryonic America of that time. He discovered that America was developing new approaches and characteristics that were disparate from those that were dominant in Europe. We were experimenting with simultaneous pursuits of freedom, justice, and equality. Conflicts existed within this formula, of course, particularly regarding the turpitude of slavery. Eventually, through the brutality of the Civil War, emancipation and manumission would occur. It would be dissolved. With that, the nation would survive. Tocqueville’s

observations would be titled “Democracy in America.”

They remain classical in insight, as well

as contemporary.

In addition to the aforementioned observations, Tocqueville noted that people in America were developing new tools in the building of our nation. Among them were the frequent forming of associations. They were like immaculate conceptions, occurring with volition to deal with the needs of community building and related factors. With time, they were imbedded in the culture and conditions of communities throughout our country. One of the most noteworthy has been one that has not received the recognition that is deserved. It is that of voluntary organizations, such as the Rotary Club. They are ubiquitous in all 50 states. The good they have done in

thousands of communities for millions of people is exceptional in scope. As it is true in these myriads of locations, it is true here in Castro Valley. We are now in the anniversary year for the Castro Valley Rotary Club. It is 70 years old. It has done multifarious good deeds to build our town and make it a good and healthy place to live. The contributions of their members for seven decades have been large. They have been in the giving of both time and money. When there is a community need, they are often first in line to volunteer. They are the type of organizations with the type of people that Tocqueville identified long ago as being critical to character and community building in America. At age 70 – my gratitude is great to all of those who have been members of the Castro Valley Rotary Club and have given so much to make our community the good place it is today. It is a great club with great people.

Trees: Replacements?

continued from front page non-profit is having a plant relocation event this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Hardisty also noted that the loss of trees along Norbridge was quite a surprise.

“Our understanding is that the county will be moving the

sidewalk to make space for a bus stop or on-street parking and upgrades,” he said. “I think they removed the trees as well because the origins did not have active irrigation.

Hardisty noted that Forestr. org took a tree count and will be watching for replacements.

HOROSCOPE by Salomé © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Aspects favor new romances for unpaired Ewes and Rams. Already-paired Arian twosomes experience renewed harmony in their relationships. Money matters also take a bright turn.

Upstairs, restaurants such as Oculto, the Night Owl bar, and Pizza the Bay continue to satisfy foodies and critics. Craig Semmelmeyer is the current lessee and manages those sites along with his Lab 200 business space.

“I am very excited about our success with these merchants, “ Semmelmeyer told the Forum. I see good things continuing to happen with them.”

Two unused spaces include a 700-square-foot kitchen and dining opportunity upstairs to the left of the Night Owl and a 500-square-foot space that has been hiding behind the elevator at the top of the stairs.

As for the outdoor Paseo, Semmelmeyer says he will continue to support popup food vendors and has long-term plans to continue to improve the space for dining and entertaining.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Use that strong Bovine determination to help you keep the faith with your convictions while you move through a period of uncertainty. Things begin to ease by the week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Pay attention to your intuition. It could be alerting you to be more careful about accepting a “statement of fact” simply on trust. Don’t be shy about asking for more proof.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Concern for the well-being of someone in need is admirable, but don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Ask a family member, close friend or colleague to help you.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): It’s OK to focus on the demands of your career, but try to avoid misunderstandings by also reaching out to family and friends. Your sharp intuitive sense kicks in by midweek.

VIRGO (August 23 - Sept. 22): Keep a rein on that green-eyed monster. Jealousy is counterproductive. Instead of resenting a colleague’s good points, concentrate on developing your own abilities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - October 22): Spending time on a creative project during this high-energy week can pay off both in emotional satisfaction and in impressing someone who is glad to see this side of you.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Now is a good time to start planning that trip you’ve put off because of the demands on your time. Be sure to choose a destination that is new and exciting.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): That upbeat mood in the first part of the week makes you eager to take on new ventures. A more serious note sets in later to help you assess an upcoming decision.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): A high energy level gives the Goat the get-upand-go to finish outstanding tasks before deadline, leaving time for well-earned fun and games with friends and family.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Dealing with disappointment is never easy, but the wise Aquarian will use it as a vital lesson and be the better for it. On another note, a close friend has something important to say.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Your best bet is not to get involved in an argument between colleagues until you know more about who started it and why. Even then, appearances could be deceiving. Be alert.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Koo: Sit With Your Emotions

continued from page 5 baggage/trauma. Sometimes there isn’t much baggage, such as a bad break up or bad boss you had once. Sometimes, it’s a lot of baggage. Maybe it’s PTSD or being in a long term toxic relationship, or maybe you were taken advantage of in the past.

The tricky thing is figuring out how quickly you can let that baggage go, or in debt terminology, how quickly it can be paid off. The more you “pay” now, the quicker it gets paid off. In life coaching, I refer to it as healing.

Our Athletes of the Week are the Compete, Grind, Execute (CGE) 10U Baseball team. The Castro Valley team emerged triumphantly in the TPR 11U Stars & Stripes Baseball Tournament Championships at Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvale on July 8-9. Their hard work and exceptional performance led them to claim the championship title against a talented, well-coached Taiwan international team. The team showcased remarkable skill,

teamwork, and determination throughout the tournament, solidifying their status as the team to beat.

Pictured are: Front Row (from left to right): Maddox Rossen, Josh Aleman, Colton Baker, Dylan Murphy, Eli Kim, Brave Lagaret; Back Row (from left to right): Julian Aleman (Coach), Cooper Dimic, Noah Roeber, Lance Peters, Adam Bean, Mikey Gabriel, Chaz Lagaret (Coach).

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week CGE 10U Baseball

Redwood Christian High School Team Earns Award for Academic Excellence

The 2023 Redwood Christian High School Baseball Team not only excelled on the baseball field, advancing to the North Coast Section Division III semifinals this past spring, they also earned the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) Team Academic Excellence Award and earned the highest team GPA in

Division III of the North Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). In the 2022 season, RCHS earned the highest team GPA in Division IV. The RCHS Baseball team, coached by Mark Saake, earned an overall 3.78 GPA out of a possible 4.0, and was one of only twenty-three California high schools listed on the

ABCA website. Team members were seniors Brayden Bibby, Tommy Charlton, Reece Gallarzan, Ethan Neal, Joshua Nixon, Samuel Quiroz, and Craig Yanagihara; juniors Caleb Busch, Carter Eberhard, Ben Nguyen, and Jacob Tang; and sophomores Travis Dong, Gavin Fanucchi, and Tyler Skjong.

The healing process also mimics what I described above, which means we start with identifying the emotions related to your baggage. Depending on your situation, maybe you feel anger towards the situation. Maybe it’s resentment or shame, or sadness. Sit with the emotion long enough to clearly name the emotion. As a quick side note, if the emotion feels too intense, it may be a sign that you would benefit from professional support.

So what’s the emotion about? What’s it really about? What shifts do you need to make to address this emotion?

Now, what does “paying off debt” look like for you? What kind of baggage are you holding on to that needs to be released? What or who has hurt you in the past? Is there an area where you’re not able to move forward and not sure why? There’s some baggage there worth checking out. There is a debt there that still needs to be paid off. Please take some time to do the emotional work described above.

Now that you’ve identified how to pay off your debt, how quickly can you pay it off? What needs to shift or change so that you can pay it off faster? I’ll be honest, this process may require professional services, especially if you have a formal diagnosis of some kind. If you’re having strong reactions to some thoughts, definitely consider professional support. If you’d like someone to be a listening ear, I’m here for you, so please reach out to me.

Coach Kev helps people find calm, clarity, and confidence in their life while paying off debts as fast as possible. Contact him at kevinkoocoaching@gmail.com, or follow on IG and YouTube @kevinkoocoaching

While in Maui on vacation this summer, Cameron Sullivan of Castro Valley caught one of many fish. He proudly displays one of his catches of the day. We think he’s hooked for life. Congratulations on your ‘Great Catch,’ Cameron! Have a ‘Great Catch’ you’d like to share? Send photo and information by email to: filesforforum@gmail.com

Chabot: East Bay Swim League Championships

continued from page 3 (Brock Forsse, Drew Hansen, Brayden Lima, Caleb Junginger) brought home the gold. The 15-18 girls also won gold (Corinne Arakawa, Lily Enos, Allison Mitchell, Ellie Miller) and did it with the second fastest time in team history. The electric 15-18 boys’ race earned Marlins Jeremy Francis, Edvin Sabanovic, Gavin Willits, and Nathan Arakawa a silver medal and another team record.

In individual events, the 6 & under Marlin boys swept the medal stand in the freestyle event. Hami Fernandez won gold, Aidan Fitzgerald silver, and Tyler Anderson bronze. 5-year-old Aidan also won the gold medal in the backstroke, swimming the second fastest time in team history.

The 8 & under division also put forth a dominant effort.

Amelia Kastmiler placed third in the girls’ backstroke. Conor Fitzgerald won gold in backstroke, swimming the second fastest time ever for the Marlins, and silver in both freestyle and butterfly. Judah Hemenway took bronze in the freestyle, and Isaac Harrold

finished second in backstroke and third in butterfly. Abby Lee brought home the gold in freestyle for the 9-10 girls. Miles Moler was impressive in the 11-12 division. He won gold in both the breaststroke and the individual medley and took bronze in the butterfly.

Teammate James Raumann swam right next to Miles in the breaststroke and finished with the bronze as the boys gave each other a big high five.

In the 13-14 age group, Caroline Kiely won silver in butterfly stroke for the girls. Drew Hansen took bronze in freestyle, and Caleb Junginger took bronze in backstroke.

15-18 Corinne Arakawa won the silver medal in both freestyle and butterfly (where she swam the third fastest time in team history), and a gold medal in breaststroke, setting a new team record. For the boys, Jeremy Francis took the bronze medal in freestyle with the third-fastest time in Marlins history. He also earned this honor in backstroke and butterfly. Gavin Willits won bronze in butterfly and is now the second-fastest Marlins flier on record.