August 30, 2023

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MAC on Housing, LAFCO Report

By Amy Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Higher-density housing and the possibility of incorporation and cityhood were on the agenda at Monday night’s lengthy Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting. (MAC).

In land use business, the MAC approved an application to allow an 11-unit townhome development at 20036 Anita Avenue. The project site is approximately a half-acre in the area and zoned for up to 29 units per acre. One of the 11 units will be earmarked for affordable housing.

The Castro Valley High School Varsity Boys team won their home opener 26-23 over Carlmont High School on a Hail Mary pass in the 4th Quarter this past Friday. Earlier in the evening, the field was officially renamed for former “Coach” John Brosnan.

INDEX

Calendar ................ 6

Classified Ads ....... 12

Crosswords .......... 13

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

Horoscope ............... 6

Opinions ................ 14

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

Sheriff’s Report ...... 3

Sports .................. 16 Weather .................. 2

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Next month’s Fall Festival will again showcase two days of local artists ready to make a lot of beautiful music and get audiences clapping and on their feet.

This year’s Fall Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, on Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and

Santa Maria 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.

Bordering the festival at both ends of the event will be two stages. The Redwood Stage (closest to Redwood Road) and the Bedford Stage (closest to Santa Maria Avenue), which is named after

Castro Valley native Jim “Bedford” of Bedford Studios.

The smaller community stage will host dance performers and local groups, including brass or jazz bands, acapella bands, and even Japanese Taiko drummers.

“Jim has been doing bookings on that stage for as long as anyone can remember,” Chamber Executive Director Gary Slate told the Forum. see FESTIVAL on back page

“I realize this is an infill project, but we are squeezing a lot into a small area,” said MAC member Al Pardo.

The MAC said they understood the concern but that, ultimately, high-density projects will be a fact of life around town.

The developer is invoking the California Density Bonus Law, which provides incentives for affordable housing development. The density bonus is a state mandate, and the MAC can’t amend the approval to exclude the bonus. Without the density bonus, only eight units see MAC on page 5

CV Artist Wins Big at State Fair

By Linda Sandsmark CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Castro Valley artist Stephen Bourque received an Award of Excellence at the California State Fair last month for his collage “PRISMATICA”, one of only 15 such awards presented at the Fair this year. The striking collage was created using thousands of tiny pieces cut from California Lottery Scratcher tickets.

Bourque says his main intention for creating lottery ticket art was to take something that most would consider garbage, losing lottery tickets, and turn them into something that is unexpectedly more unique and beautiful than the original tickets themselves— and possibly even more special than a winning ticket.

“I also strive to create in ways that have not been done before. To my knowledge, I am the first and only to create the

Stephen Bourque

specific type of collage art I have created,” he says.

“I meticulously and craftfully cut very precise, small pieces from the tickets to get the desired color and piece needed,” adds Bourque. “The result is considered a mixed media collage that contains an estimated 100,000-plus individual pieces carefully attached together. As a fun fact, I estimate that each piece contains between $10,000 see ARTIST on page 7

TOMORROW

Castro Valley Weather August 30 - September 3, 2023

Rowell Ranch Jr. Rodeo

On August 4, the Rowell Ranch Jr. Rodeo held its 65th Annual rodeo. More than 200 contestants from ages 1-19 years old competed from all over Northern California. Rodeo events kicked off with the rough stock event followed by the 10th Annual Aaron Jennings Memorial Chute Dogging and Carpet Race. The event honors the fun-loving spirit of Jennings as a local rodeo contestant and Future Farmers of America member who passed away in 2013. “Thank you to all of our sponsors who made the Junior Rodeo possible, our rodeo photographer Darrell Lavin and especially to the volunteers for giving their time all weekend. We are already planning for the 2024 rodeo and are committed to continuing rodeo in the Bay Area. As the famous Harry Rowell said, ‘Here’s a Go!’” said Rowell Ranch Jr. Rodeo president Joey Welliver.

Sheriff’s Reports

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Wanted for Hit and Run, Drove Under the Influence

Monday, August 28: at 2:50 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 56-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The man also had a felony warrant issued for a previous hit-and-run charge. Deputies pulled the man over on Norbridge Avenue near Redwood Road for a traffic violation. The man was taken to Santa Rita Jail pending bail.

Trespasser Spit on Deputies

Rep. Eric Swalwell Hosts Townhall at Lake Chabot

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

A group of about 100 people from Castro Valley and surrounding cities walked along Lake Chabot this past Saturday to hear from their congressman—U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell—and how he is working on their issues and concerns back in Washington DC.

It was the seventh time Swalwell (Calif. District 14—Hayward, Pleasanton, Livermore, Union City, Castro Valley, and parts of Dublin and Fremont) invited the community to his “Hike with Your Rep.” event.

After a 30-minute trek, the crowd settled in for a discussion near Coots Landing where the park district stocks the lake with trout and catfish.

Among his recent congressional actions, Swalwell touted his bipartisan achievements with Puerto Rican Republican Jenniffer González-Colón on the “Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act” to help communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. He said he was committed to preventing a government shutdown before congress fails to come to an agreement by the end of its fiscal year on September 30.

“When we get back to Washington next month, we have to make sure we commit to keeping the government open, pay our troops, keep communities safe, and helping address natural disaster relief, which Republicans are threatening to cut off if the government shuts down,” Swalwell said.

In a round-robin session of questions from the crowd, Swalwell said he continues to support women’s reproductive rights, enforcing campaign finance reform, extending support for Ukraine, and protections for LGBTQ communities.

see LAKE on page 5

Sunday, August 27: at 3:29 p.m., a 40-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested as part of a warrant issued for a previous trespassing conviction. Deputies served the warrant at a mobile home park on the Boulevard near Marshall Street. The man was additionally charged with spitting on deputies as they put him into the patrol car. Deputies took the man to Santa Rita Jail pending $2,500 in bail.

Shoplifter with Knives

Saturday, August 26: at 7:59 a.m., deputies arrested a 50-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of shoplifting and threatening people with a deadly weapon and possession of methamphetamine drugs. The man was spotted walking around a grocery store on the Boulevard waving around knives in both hands. Deputies detained the man and found the drugs in his pocket. The man was taken into custody.

Under the Influence

Thursday, August 24: at 9:20 a.m., two men with no permanent residence were arrested following a traffic stop on Somerset Avenue near Lake Chabot Road. The driver, a 30-year-old man was found driving under the influence of drugs, possessing illegal weapons, and violating a restraining order. The passenger was found with illegal narcotics in his possession. Both men were taken to Santa Rita Jail and held for bail hearings.

Drunken Fight

Wednesday, August 23: at 8:45 p.m., a 911 call about a loud and aggressive argument sent deputies to an apartment on Center Street near Grove Way. There, they arrested a 57-yearold man and a 33-year-old woman for public intoxication, assault on an elderly person, and assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies reported the couple was found drunk and throwing rocks, ashtrays, and glass bottles at each other. Deputies handcuffed and took them to Santa Rita Jail.

Dragged Girlfriend by Hair

Wednesday, August 23: at 3:07 a.m., deputies arrested a 21-year-old CV man on suspicion of assault on his girlfriend, making death threats, and breaking her cell phone while she called for help. The man was outside an apartment on Wilbeam Avenue near Norbridge Avenue. Deputies reported the man had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend and dragged her by her hair at one point. The man was taken into custody.

Parked and High On Drugs

Tuesday, August 22: at 1:11 a.m., two people were arrested on Redwood Road near Redwood Court after someone reported two people passed out in a car in the parking lot. Deputies found the driver, a 27-year-old Hayward man, under the influence of heroin. The passenger, a 35-year-old woman with no permanent address under the influence of drugs, putting methamphetamine into a syringe. The couple were taken into custody and the car impounded.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARRELL LAVIN

Picnic Time!

No matter where you spend the last long weekend of summer, one thing is certain: Labor Day is best when celebrated outside!

Whether you’re hauling the family to a favorite picnic spot

or having a cookout in the back yard, all of us have our own idea of what makes a picnic. The food doesn’t have to be perfect, just wholesome and good, and most important — quick and easy to prepare.

So here are our suggestions for a great outdoor meal this weekend that won’t mean long hours in the kitchen the day before.

CLASSIC GRILLED CHEESEBURGERS

Safflower oil, for grill

1-1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (80 percent lean)

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese

4 large hamburger buns

4 teaspoons mayonnaise

1 beefsteak tomato, cut into 4 slices

1/2 onion, cut into 1/4-inch rings

4 lettuce leaves (green-leaf, Boston, romaine, etc.)

Preheat grill to medium-high; brush grates with oil.

Gently form beef into four 1-inch-thick patties, about 4 inches in diameter. Make an indentation in the top of each patty. Generously season both sides with salt and pepper.

Grill burgers 3 minutes. Flip, top with cheese, and grill 4 minutes for medium-rare. Toast buns face-down on grill until just lightly charred, about 30 seconds. Spread them with mayonnaise.

Place burgers in buns with tomato, onion, and lettuce. Yields 4 burgers.

OLD-FASHIONED POTATO SALAD

5 potatoes

3 eggs

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup mayonnaise

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, peel and chop.

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, onion, relish, garlic salt, celery salt, mustard, pepper and mayonnaise. Mix together well and refrigerate until chilled. Serves 8.

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB

Peel husks back, but do not remove. Using your fingers, remove silk from corn and pull husks back

up around corn. In a large pan, cover corn (husks on) with cold water. Soak for at least 1 hour. Drain, shaking corn to remove excess water. Cover corn as much as possible with husks. If necessary, tie the tips of the husks together with wet kitchen string.

Grill corn (with husks) on an uncovered grill directly over medium-hot coals about 25 minutes or until tender, turning several times. Carefully remove the husks and strings.

Meanwhile, melt some margarine or butter with a little lemon juice, and thyme. Brush mixture over the corn before serving.

EASY BAKED BEANS

6 ounces smoked bacon, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

2 onions, peeled, chopped

3 (28-ounce) cans Bostonstyle baked beans

1/2 cup catsup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon dry mustard

Over medium-high heat, stir fry bacon until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes, and transfer to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 1-1/2 tablespoons fat in pan.

Add onions to pan and stir often until they begin to brown and stick to bottom of pan, 7 to 9 minutes. Add beans and their liquid, catsup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and

cooked bacon; mix well. Pour into a shallow 3-quart casserole. Bake, uncovered, in a 350°F oven until beans are bubbling in the center, 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 10 servings.

PICNIC FRIED CHICKEN

1 quart buttermilk

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, divided

2 (2-1/2-pound) fryer chickens, cut into 8 pieces

2 cups all-purpose flour

Salt and freshly ground pepper Olive oil, for frying

Stir together the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a large bowl; add chicken, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 6 hours or up to overnight.

In a large brown paper bag, combine flour with remaining 1 teaspoon cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper; shake to combine. One at a time, place chicken pieces in the bag; shake to coat. Place coated pieces on a clean plate or tray.

In a large skillet, heat 2 inches oil to 350°F. Using tongs, add chicken one piece at a time, being careful to not overcrowd pan. Fry, turning every 3 to 4 minutes, until deep mahogany in color, about 18 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet, and drain on paper towels.

CRUISING THE BOULEVARD: More than 1,000 classic and custom cars, roadsters, and convertibles rolled down the Boulevard last Saturday night as part of the 4th Annual Castro Valley Cruise Night. Castro Valley News helped organize the event which featured custom designs from various car clubs.

MAC: LAFCO Draft Feasibility Report

continued from front page would have been allowable.

“I understand the state has a density bonus, but it’s hard when it is taking away parking,” added MAC member Chuck Moore.

As with many higher-density housing projects around town, neighbors on Anita Avenue expressed concern about parking and crowding.

“The parking issue is a problem,” said neighbor Angel Ortiz. “We’re always playing musical cars, trying to find a spot.”

The Anita Avenue townhomes will be a combination of one- and two-story units with attached garages and three-story townhomes with a ground-level garage and two stories above.

The MAC also unanimously approved a tentative tract map to subdivide a two-acre parcel at 19521 Center Street into four parcels and nine residential lots. The map will now go to the county Planning Commission.

The Center Street project has been in development for years, with approval granted back in 1991 for 12 residential lots, which lapsed. In 2016, a plan for 12 lots was considered but not approved.

Lake: Walk, Talk About Local Issues

continued from page 3

Addressing local issues, Swalwell said he continues to work on building public transit that would extend from Pleasanton to Manteca and working with local leaders like Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas on preventing poverty and improving housing for underprivileged residents.

“We have the 13th wealthiest area in the country, yet we have the 3rd highest cost of rent,” Swalwell said. “We have to do more to bring down the cost of housing.”

One issue that continues to flood the congressman’s mailbox is the number of requests by residents to help their loved ones emigrate or seek refuge in the United States.

The proposal would involve demolishing three existing residential buildings and removing 12 trees.

As with the Anita Avenue project, neighbors on Center Street expressed concerns with parking and traffic. Additionally, there were worries about sewage and water overflowing from the creek.

“This is room for growth, there is room for change, but you’ve got to stop shoving stuff down our throats,” said one speaker who said she was a 60year resident of the street.

The MAC directed county staff to give them specifics about the creek and drainage issues when it goes to the planning department before approving the item for consideration at the county level.

LAFCO Report

Finally, the MAC heard the Alameda Local Agency Commission (LAFCO) report regarding a draft feasibility study about the potential incorporation of Castro Valley and its Eden Area neighbors. Incorporation has long been a topic of conversation in Castro Valley, and the possibility of cityhood was on ballots in 1956 and 2002, only to be shot down by voters.

This time around, LAFCO commissioned a consultant to investigate three hybrid models for incorporation:

1. Castro Valley alone

2. Castro Valley plus Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres, and Fairview

3. Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Fairview, and Hayward Acres as a standalone city.

LAFCO Executive Officer Rachel Jones gave the MAC a brief rundown of the feasibility and fiscal analysis and said a final report from LAFCO will be out this fall.

The MAC seemed skeptical of a large-scale incorporation plan for the Eden Area and said they wished the various MACs in the area had been more involved earlier in the process.

“I’m disappointed in the direction this has gone without our input,” said MAC member Chuck Moore.

MAC member Tojo Thomas was similarly wary.

“Mixing it all together and calling it a city… I don’t know if that’s appropriate,” said Thomas.

Public comment is open until September 11 at alamedalafco.org.

We have the largest Afghanistan population in the country and we’re proud of that and we have to take care of the folks— especially those interpreters who served our country over in Afghanistan—and provide a pathway to citizenship. And we are not meeting that commitment right now.

Later that day, Swalwell met with members of the Afghanistan community in Union City to update them on his progress. The initial 65 cases last year have ballooned into thousands of people who are waiting for

Visas to the United States, Swalwell said.

Among the crowd walking with Swalwell was a Scout Troop from Pleasanton learning firsthand about government.

“My father encouraged me to email the Representative as part of my Merrit badge and to

RCHS Grad Completes

USAF Military Training

Justin Ballou, who graduated from Redwood Christian High School in May, has chosen to invest his immediate future serving our Great Country in the United States Air Force.

After completing Basic Military Training August 17, Justin is training at Shepherd Air Force Base in Texas to be a Fuels Specialist in his Ad-

vanced Military Training and will be responsible for fueling and maintaining the aircraft and vehicle fuels. His goal is to be stationed in Germany or the United Kingdom by the end of the year.

Justin is the son of Robert Ballou of San Lorenzo and Stacey Doering of Colgate, Wisconsin.

ask questions about the federal debt ceiling because that was something my dad and I had been talking about. And I got an email back from Mr. Swalwell about what he was doing about it and how he was helping to resolve the issue. It’s all very interesting,” said Arun Reyes from Troop 948.

A group of about 100 people from Castro Valley and surrounding cities walked along Lake Chabot to hear from Rep. Eric Swalwell this past Saturday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARRELL LAVIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF JARED DARLING/ JAREDDARLINGPHOTO.COM

offers access to nutrition and fitness experts.

Apply Now For Rotary Club Grants

The Rotary Club of Castro Valley is committed to supporting outstanding community programs that align with the goals of Rotary through its Grants Program. Application requirements and procedures are available at www.castrovalleyrotary.org. The Fall Grants Program due date for applications is September 15, 2023. The spring due date for Spring Grants Program is March 15, 2024.

Fun Fall Classes for Adults at CV Adult & Career Education

By Linette Escobar SPECIAL

As kids go back to school, adults can also take some time to grow by taking one of many enriching classes at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education (CVACE). What part of yourself needs nurturing and the community a class offers?

Your creative side: Have you always wanted to take an improv class or learn piano? Check something off your bucket list! CVACE has excellent new teachers for improv, piano and guitar. Are you already a musician? Join

the Orchestra, Swing Band or Community Band and perform with new friends.

Your health: CVACE offers affordable access to nutrition and fitness experts. Nutritionist Susan Blanc is offering a new class, “Beating the Blood Sugar Blues.” Each class will include handouts, food samples and therapeutic herbal teas. Pair it with some great stretching classes. CVACE offers “Pilates, Power and Posture” along with “Chair Yoga,” “Yang/Yin Yoga” and “Nice & Easy Movement.” Pickleball, volleyball and basketball are also filling fast.

HOROSCOPE by Salomé

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A relaxed mood early in the week could give way to high-temperature disputes. The Aries Lamb should resist being pulled into heated quarrels that could really singe your wool.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Satisfy that practical obligation first, then feel free to indulge in your creative endeavors. Also, check for hidden or overlooked areas where repairs might be long overdue.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Home is still the Twins’ major focus this week, but outside matters begin to take on added importance, especially those involving possible career moves. Stay alert for signs of change.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): A travel plan might need to undergo some considerable adjustments because of unexpected changes. Keep an open mind and let the facts guide you on how you want to handle this.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Playing cat and mouse with a matter you’ve been avoiding wastes time, energy and, most importantly, an opportunity. Ask someone with experience to help you get started.

VIRGO (August 23 - Sept. 22): A shift in policy might not please you, but before you put up a “no go” wall of resistance, examine the circumstances. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - October 22): Yesterday’s critiques about your methods might have already evolved into today’s praise for your achievements. Now go on and continue to build on your credibility.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): An temperamental flare-up might occur, as you continue to help get things back to normal. Stay with it. You should soon get some idea of where to take things next.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): A negative reaction to what you believe was a well-deserved request might mean that you need to reconsider your position and make changes accordingly.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): There’s always room for someone new at the Sea Goat’s table. The someone new for this week could bring a message you’ve been waiting a long time to hear.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): A pile-on of personal matters this week might seem too overwhelming to deal with, but handling them on a one-by-one basis could have you out from under it by the weekend.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): March 20) A friend might need your good advice. Be supportive, but unless you can be absolutely sure you have all the facts, also be careful about any suggestions you’re asked to offer.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Tonight: Wednesday, August 30 Homework Center Volunteer Orientation

The Castro Valley Library is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic High School student volunteers, just a few hours a week, for its after-school Homework Assistance Center. Orientation will be held tonight, 4 to 6 pm at the Library. Are you looking for community service hours or need some job experience for your resume? Sign up for hours and help students tackle their homework, gain valuable experience, and have fun. Contact the Castro Valley Library at: 510-667-7900 for more information.

Your brain: Researchers have found that learning another language improves brain function at any age. Plus, it helps you order good food and make friends when you travel. New this year CVACE is offering conversational French along with its Spanish classes.

Your inner pastry chef: CVACE welcomes back the former owner of Swiss Delices, Christine Clement Shurma, who will offer a series of baking classes including “Classic Cake Fillings.”

Your career: In addition to community interest classes, CVACE also offers short-term certificate programs in the medical field and Wastewater Operations, as well as computer skills classes. If you’ve always wanted to earn a high school diploma or GED, study to become a U.S. citizen, or learn English, you can do that, too.

Whatever your interest or motivation, please visit www. cvadult.org or contact Castro Valley Adult & Career Education at (510) 886-1000 to learn more or sign up for classes before they fill.

DAVE’S TAVERN TAXI SERVICE

- Sat 7am - 7pm Off Sunday

Only

TO OAKLAND AIRPORT $30

TO/FROM BART $600 - $12

510-303-3478

Grants range in value up to $1000. In addition to supporting national and international projects, Grants Chair Dan Willits stated “We are thrilled to be able to invest and support some of the many committed organizations that are working to make Castro Valley an even better community.”

Previous recipients are from throughout Castro Valley and represent many interests, including ArtInc (Art Shows); BBMB (Billy’s Bikes); Eden Medical Center (Fall Prevention Program); Alameda County Sheriff (Rhythm Cadets); Castro Valley Sports Foundation (Trail Challenge); Redwood Christian Schools (Water Dispensers); Ruby’s Place (Shelter Food); Spectrum (To-Go Senior Meals); and La Honda Music Camp (Scholarships).

The Rotary Club of Castro Valley meets on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon at The Meadows Restaurant at Redwood Canyon Golf Course at 17007 Redwood Road in Castro Valley and online. President Christian Carr invites those interested to attend an upcoming meeting as “we are always searching for individuals who want to make a positive impact locally, nationally and internationally.” For more information about the grant program, lunch meetings (live and zoom), or the Club, please visit the Rotary website at CastroValleyRotary.org.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Tomorrow: Thursday, August 31

Official Ribbon-Cutting at Beard Papa’s Beard Papas is the new cream puff rage! It’s located at 3295 Castro Valley Blvd inside CV Marketplace. The official ribbon-cutting by the Chamber of Commerce is set for 1 pm tomorrow, Thursday, August 31. Come join us and see what all the fuss is about.

Sunday, September 3

Castro Valley School of Music is Moving Castro Valley School of Music is moving and we are inviting the public to come get a sneak preview of the new location this Sunday, September 3 at 10:30 am. We won’t be open until sometime in October, but you can come and see the work in progress and perhaps get involved. For more information please contact shane@cvsom.com

Tuesday, September 5

Rotary Hosts Deputies Shawn Vasquez & Jordan Sanders Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Community Service and Crime Prevention, Deputy Shawn Vasquez, along with ACSO Deputy Jordan Sanders, will speak to the CV Rotary about community engagement and crime prevention. 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, Sept. 3, by contacting Rotary by email at: cvrotary@iCloud.com or 510-402-5123. More information is available at: castrovalleyrotary.org.

Thursday, September 7

Protecting Your Home Equity

Are you considering a reverse mortgage? Learn the pros and cons and how to protect your home equity when considering PACE Loans and Reverse Mortgages at this FREE presentation by Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of Legal Assistance for Seniors. The event takes place Thursday, September 7, from 11 am to noon. Topics covered include: Common terms related to home ownership, An overview of risks that could jeopardize ownership or equity, Common financial issues related to home ownership and aging, The basic structure of reverse mortgages and other types of equity-based loans, Alternative options. Join us for this FREE informational program. No registration is required.

Saturday, Sept. 9 & Sunday, Sept. 10

Annual Dahlia Show

Excitement runs high as the annual dahlia show, presented by the San Leandro Dahlia Society, is back in San Leandro! The show will be held in the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave, in the Karp Room. It is scheduled for Saturday, September 9, 11 am to 2:30 pm and Sunday, September 10, 9:30 am to 2 pm.The public will be wowed by the various colors, sizes, and shapes of these amazing flowers. It’s free, fun and fabulous!

HAVE

TO THE FORUM

CVACE

Castro Valley Man Sentenced for His Role in COVID Relief Fraud Scheme

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Last week, a Castro Valley man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his part in illegally obtaining as much as $3.5 million in COVID-related unemployment benefits from various states using reloadable debit cards known as “Green Dot Cards.”

Artist: ‘Like Creating Your Own Puzzle’

continued from front page to $20,000 in used Scratcher tickets and takes me roughly one to two months to create from start to finish.”

No, Bourque doesn’t buy all those lottery tickets himself. At least two-thirds of them come from relatives, friends, and kindly store owners who save discarded tickets for him. From those tickets, he has made numerous collages and decided to submit four of them to the State Fair for consideration. All four were chosen for display in Sacramento out of 1,500 statewide submissions. Bourque was presented with a huge ribbon for “PRISMATICA” during a ceremony at the fair,

which closed on July 29. He has already sold one of his collages to an enthusiastic fairgoer.

Bourque got into collage art about 20 years ago when he decided to make a friend’s birthday gift by cutting pieces out of “piles of photographs” he already had. The resulting collage came out so well that he made more, despite having no formal art training. About five years ago, he decided to see what he could design using lottery tickets.

“It’s a challenge, kind of like creating your own puzzle,” he says.

A native of Canada, Bourque was a competitive figure skater in his youth. He’s lived

Film Screening and Talk

Castro Valley Adult and Career Education is organizing a film screening and panel discussion of ‘Intelligent Lives’ on Sunday, September 24, from 2 to 4:15 pm, in partnership with the Castro Valley Community Alliance. The film highlights the lives of three people with intellectual disabilities who challenge misconceptions about what they are capable of achieving. Academy

Award-winning actor and narrator Chris Cooper contextualizes the lives of these central characters through the emotional personal story of his son Jesse. After the film we’ll have a panel discussion with people with intellectual disabilities and advocates within the community. Reserve your seat for the 70-minute film and the panel discussion at https:// cvace.link/intelligentlives

in Castro Valley for 11 years and in San Francisco before moving here. His previous day job was as a small-animal veterinarian and pharmacist, but these days he’s helping his elderly mother, tending to a huge succulent garden, and pursuing art. Bourque says he uses surgical skills and education from his veterinary practice to help him do the precise cutting and handling required for his collages. He has won several awards in the past, including a Silver Award at the 2018 Alameda County Fair for mixed media painting. Bourque is planning a website to showcase his art, but in the meantime, he can be contacted at animal-doctor@ hotmail.com.

Idowu Hashim Shittu, 48, pleaded guilty to the charges on March 1, 2023, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California. On May 18, 2022, Shittu was charged with three felony counts of fraudulent transactions. He is expected to begin his sentence on October 11.

According to his plea agreement, between April and July 2020, Shittu engaged in a scheme to use the Green Dot cards for his personal use. Shittu did not know his victims, nor did he obtain their consent, FBI officials said. The unemployment benefits were distributed as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

The plea agreement describes how Shittu used the Green Dot Cards issued to three different people— all residents of the State of Washington. The first victim is identified only by the initials “S.O.” Shittu admitted that

S.O. never submitted a claim for unemployment benefits and that S.O.’s card was obtained through fraud. Further, Shittu acknowledged that he completed multiple transactions with the card—including one transaction for $950 and two transactions, each for $1,000, at a Walmart store in San Jose. Similarly, Shittu acknowledged using a card issued in the name of a second victim to make multiple cash withdrawals at Walmart stores in Hayward and San Leandro and stores in Castro Valley. Shittu also admitted that in the Spring of 2020, he used the card of a third victim to withdraw cash and to pay for service to his BMW 5-series automobile.

On July 29, 2020, law enforcement officers searched Shittu’s residence and found over $500,000 in cash split between a plastic container in a garage and a backpack under a bathroom sink. Officers also found more than 400 Green Dot Cards issued to other indi-

viduals. The Green Dot Cards were loaded with more than $1.6 million in unemployment benefits from various state agencies.

“Shittu stole benefits intended to assist those who became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agentin-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “This sentencing demonstrates that those who defraud the UI program will be held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit these benefit programs.”

In addition to the prison term, US District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam also ordered Shittu to serve a three-year term of supervised release after being released from prison and pay restitution in the amount of $1,615,614 split among state employment agencies in Illinois, Nevada, New York, and Ohio.

Castro Valley artist Stephen Bourque’s prize-winning collage “PRISMATICA”

REAL ESTATE REALITY

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

GUEST COMMENTARY

New Homes a Great Option

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

With housing inventory at an all-time low, buyers are looking under every proverbial rock to find a home to purchase. There is one source many overlook, however: new homes. The good news is there are new home developments in the Bay Area that currently have homes available for sale.

There are many advantages to buying new homes:

Like buying a new car, no one has lived in the home before you, therefore, there is nothing you need to “undo” to make it yours. It is, in fact, a blank slate waiting for your personal decorating touches. It comes with a “new home smell.” Many love buying new cars because of the factory smell: it is the same with a new

home. There are no lingering aromas from past occupant’s activities, no food smells, animal odors and the like. The homes come with a warranty. In most cases, there is a 1-year “bumper-to-bumper” warranty that covers every aspect of the home. In addition, there is usually a 10-year warranty on all the home’s major systems.

In some cases, there is less competition. Prices are fixed and there are no bidding wars. Many builders offer incentives for using their preferred lender. This could include a credit towards upgrades, closing costs, HOA fees and more.

There are also some drawbacks, however.

Since everything is new, prices are at the top of the market. Exactly like buying a new car, you will pay full market price.

Since it is a new home, it has no drapes, window coverings or extensive landscaping. All these items need to be factored int the cost of ownership. You may need to wait a long time for the home to be built. After the foreclosure crisis (in which builders were stuck with finished homes they could not sell), builders learned to start building homes after they had completed orders. Since we are still facing labor and material shortages, it may take quite a while for the home to be completed and, in many cases, the completion date may get pushed back a few times. Some builders with limited inventory have waiting lists or lotteries to get a home.

If you are out looking for a home, it always pays to look at the new-home developments in your area. Take your Realtor with you – there are definite benefits to having representation.

Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association.

Mortgage Rates Continue to Surge

This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached its highest level since 2001 and indications of ongoing economic strength will likely continue to keep upward pressure on rates in the short-term. As rates remain high and supply of unsold homes woefully low, incoming data shows that existing homes sales continue to fall. However, there are slightly more new homes available, and sales of these new homes continue to rise, helping provide modest relief to the unyielding housing inventory predicament.

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Pruning Roses During Summer Can Lead to Sun Damage

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QMy climbing roses have finished blooming for the year. They are very dense, so can I prune them way back now?

AThis is one of those yes, no, or depends on answers. You’d do your heaviest pruning on all types of roses during winter. They’re also pruned after every flush of flowers to shape the plants and control their size. It’s not unusual for many roses to bloom year-round, although the foliage isn’t pristine. Lady Banksia and Cecil Brunner are the exceptions because their spring bloomers should be sheared back after the blooming period. The spring flowers are not as dramatic when cut back in winter. With older Hybrid Tea varieties such as Peace, Chrysler Imperial, or Queen Elizabeth, you must carefully prune them severely as they bloom on the second-year wood.

If you prune too heavily, you’ll get no flowers next year. If this is a variety introduced this century, then these varieties mostly bloom on both the

new and old wood. So, it doesn’t matter what’s removed or left. The biggest concern with pruning all types of roses way back or severely during the summer months is sunburn. The green, exposed canes will be damaged from the mid to late afternoon sun. These canes turn black on those plants facing south, west, or in southwest direction. These damaged canes typically die. You protect them by leaving a fair amount of leaves. If you live inland where it gets hot, I’d wait till winter to prune while your odds for success are more significant along the coast. Again, this applies to cutting them back severely. You can thin out some of the growth now as long as you aren’t `exposed to many green canes. I could be more specific if the variety were known. If so, I’d consult a nursery professional at your favorite garden center for their opinion. They’re the best resource for what would be best in your area.

QWe have a beautiful Black Mission

Fig started from a root cutting. It gets loaded with figs, but they dry up. My grandson read up

on this and discovered we have a male tree to our dismay. Should we plant a female tree?

APlanting a second tree will not solve this problem. Fig pollination is a bit complicated because it is accomplished in several ways. It is variety-dependent. A gall wasp pollinates Black Mission Figs, and the male and female structures are found in each fruit. But pollination is not your problem because the figs do form. They don’t mature. Instead, I’d look to increase the water. You should have a six-to eight-inch watering basin extending from the trunk to the drip line. Figs are watered twice a month and you should fill the basin up multiple times.

Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional. The Dirt Gardener’s website is www.dirtgardener.com

Covington St., Sheffield Village. Stunning California Cottage in Parklike Setting!

home nestled into the heart of the picturesque Sheffield Village neighborhood. This charming move-in ready house boasts an array of enticing features. Upon entering, the front door unveils exquisite random plank hardwood floors that lead into a spacious living room adorned with a wood-burning fireplace and abundant windows that fill the space with natural light. To the right, a formal dining room beckons with its own large window offering views of the lovely neighborhood. The modernized kitchen comes with ample storage. In the back of the home, you’ll find two generously sized bedrooms with built-in closet storage. The enchanting yard features both a patio and a gardening area adorned with mature trees, including a flowery jacaranda and a delectable orange! This home rests upon an elevated lot, above one of the most scenic streets in the desirable Sheffield Village neighborhood. See for yourself SATURDAY ONLY 9/2 from 2-4PM.

Preserve the Harvest for Winter Meals and Holiday Gifts

By Melinda Myers Special to the Forum

The cucumbers have filled the vegetable drawer, you’ve run out of cabbage recipes and your family is refusing to eat one more BLT. Or maybe you just couldn’t resist that special deal on a bushel of tomatoes, potatoes or apples at the farmer’s market. So what is a gardener or shopper to do with all that produce?

Since properly stored vegetables will hold their flavor and nutritional value longer than those left in a plastic bag or set on the sunny kitchen counter, consider preserving some for the long winter ahead using one of several methods.

Storage orchard racks and slatted crates placed in a cool, dark location have long been used to store squash, onions and potatoes. The stackable nature or drawers provide ample storage space, so fruits and vegetables do not touch. Keeping stored fruit separated prevents rot from spreading from one fruit to the next. Plus, the slatted sides allow airflow to extend storage longevity.

Those in colder climates can store their carrots and parsnips right in the garden. Once the soil gets a bit crunchy, cover them with straw or evergreen boughs for easier digging in winter. Then dig as needed or harvest during the first winter thaw. If this isn’t possible or not your style, try out a root vegetable storage bin. The root crops are layered in sand or sawdust and placed in a cool, dark location. Just remove and use as needed.

Drying is one of the oldest food preservation techniques. Most of us have grabbed a few bundles of herbs to hang and dry. Expand your drying endeavors to include fruits

and vegetables. The goal is to quickly remove moisture without cooking the food. You can make your own dehydrator or purchase one. Research has shown that blanching vegetables and fruit before drying helps destroy harmful bacteria. Blanching involves a steam or boiling water bath followed by a cold water bath. Timing varies with the fruit or vegetable you are preparing.

Another ancient food preservation technique, fermentation, is experiencing a comeback. Cultures around the world have fermented fruits and vegetables for thousands of years. Unique flavors, storage options and health benefits have many gardeners revisiting this tradition. Fermenting cucumbers into pickles, cabbage into sauerkraut, and berries into preserves are just a few

options. The ingredients can be as simple as water, salt, and spices. All you need is a vessel, vegetables and fermenting culture. You can jump-start your efforts with a fermentation crock kit (gardeners.com) which includes the crock, cover and weights to make sure your veggies stay safely submerged in water.

Or quickly lock in the flavor and nutrition of your fruits and vegetables with freezing. You’ll need airtight containers or bags that are durable, don’t leak and won’t become brittle in cold temperatures. Some produce does not freeze well and others may need to be blanched before they are packed in the freezer bag or container. But frozen items can easily be retrieved from the freezer and included in your winter meals.

Canning is a bit more in-

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volved, but can be lots of fun. This process preserves the food and keeps it safe by preventing the growth of undesirable bacteria, yeast and mold. The sealed jars keep the flavor in and bad microorganisms out. So gather your produce, jars, pressure cooker, canner and friends to create tomato sauce, salsa, jams and jellies to enjoy or give as gifts.

Whatever method you choose, do a bit of research before you start. You’ll have greater success and a lot more fun. The National Center for Home Food Preservation website, http://nchfp.uga.edu, provides all the basic information for storage and food preservation.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books. Visit her website at www.melindamyers. com.

Fermentation is an ancient food preservation technique that is making a comeback.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENER’S SUPPLY COMPANY

Make Your Own Boric Acid Ant Bait

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QI’d like to use a Boric Acid bait to control the intermittent ant problem in my kitchen. The directions on the Boric Acid says to broadcast it as is; however, a person I spoke to said to mix it with granulated sugar and then place the mixture in a jar lid on the counter. Which method is the most effective?

AWith the dry conditions, ants are coming indoors much earlier than normal in search of water. Boric Acid is a pretty good answer for controlling ants, although it sounds dangerous.

The EPA considers Boric Acid to have a low toxicity risk for humans and other mammals. It’s not known to cause can-

cer, birth defects or allergies. Boric Acid works

best against the small and usually black or reddish/

black-colored sugar ants. It’s an odorless, white powder that can be combined with mint jelly, honey, peanut butter and corn syrup, along with sugar.

You’ll be looking for a two-percent mixture of Boric Acid to the attractant. Sugar and water is a better attractant than a dry mixture. One cup of sugar and four teaspoons of Boric Acid in three cups of water should give you the necessary two-percent solution.

The mixture is heated to just before the boiling point and then let cooled. Hot water is necessary to make the Boric Acid soluble. The pot is then sanitized in a dishwasher.

For solid food baits, mix one teaspoon of Boric Acid with one cup of the

solid to make a two-percent solution.

There are many types of receptacles available for the ant bait stations. You can use shallow jar lids, a baby food jar with holes punched in the top, bottle caps, two-inch lengths of drinking straws or trays of tin foil.

With the sugar-water solution, you can pour it directly into the lids or trays or over cotton balls that are then placed at the bottom of the bait station. Don’t worry, the ants will find their way into the container.

If you see a line of ants in your kitchen, place the bait directly in the line. And, don’t skimp on the number of bait stations you set out. If you don’t know where they’re coming from, place the bait stations along windowsills or in countertop corners.

The bait is changed every few days. Even though

they have a low toxicity, common sense dictates that you keep them out of the reach of pets and children. Also, clearly label and store any leftover bait in the garage.

And, finally, don’t expect the ants to disappear overnight. Boric Acid is a slow-acting stomach poison, that each ant takes back to the colony and shares with only a few other ants. In a few days, you’ll notice a reduction in the number of ants near the bait, but it could take three to four weeks to completely eradicate the colony causing your problems.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. Send questions by email to dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive, Ste. “D,” Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz-Bertolero.

BUZZ BERTOLERO THE DIRT

After mixing one cup of sugar and four teaspoons of Boric Acid in three cups of water, heat the mixture to just below the boiling point and let it cool.

RECENT HOME SALES

Home sales information is compiled and provided by CalREsource and includes Bedrooms, Square Feet and Year Built when available

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Prepare Your Home and Family for an Earthquake

You can’t predict the future, but you can feel more confident in your ability to face unforeseen emergencies such as Sunday’s 6.1-magnitude earthquake if you prepare your home and family ahead of time.

“In the event of an emergency, a well-thought-out emergency plan can eliminate stress, limit confusion and save a great deal of wasted time,” says Tim MacWelch, author of the book, “Outdoor Life: Prepare for Anything.”

Luckily, there is a lot of overlap in the supplies and preparations you need to make for many disasters. To be better prepared for anything, MacWelch recommends taking the following actions:

• Create up-to-date contact information cards for each family member.

• Develop communication

strategies to keep in touch, even if phones are out-of-service.

• Plan how you will assist or care for family who have mobility or medical issues, communication difficulties or special needs.

• Maintain, inspect and rotate emergency supplies, such as nonperishable food, water, first aid, lighting and communication equipment. Periodically pull out all of your emergency supplies. Take inventory, check expiration dates, use older items and replace them with new supplies. Make sure you end up with more items than you started with.

• Maintain specialized supplies for infants, young children and sick or elderly members of your family.

• Create a plan and keep supplies for the care of pets

• Have the tools and the knowl-

edge to shut off your utilities.

• Develop basic self-sufficiency skills in the event you have to seek shelter in a place without utilities. Create a supply kit that includes drinking water, no-cook foods like protein bars and peanut butter, first-aid supplies, flashlights, digital backups of important documents and cash.

• Create an evacuation plan, in case you have to leave your home.

• Learn basic safety skills, such as first aid, CPR and fire prevention.

• Get the family ready by conducting emergency drills. For example, you can perform a classic fire drill by evacuating your home at an unexpected time. Have everyone low-crawl out of the house and meet at a planned spot outside the home. Round out the exercise with stop, drop and roll each time you have a fire drill.

Lawn Dry Spots

Even the healthiest of lawns get brown spots, where water has trouble penetrating and eventually the grass dies. When some soils begin to dry, they actually start repelling water. No matter what the cause, it is difficult to deeply rewet these dry areas unles you use a wetting agent (all nurseries and garden centers carry these penetrating solutions). Coring and dethatching may also help.

Disposing of Fallen Fruit

Gather fruit from under trees and add them to your compost pile. However, if the fruits are infested with insects or disease, discard them in the garbage. Do not let fruit rot on the ground.

Deep Water Trees

As we head into the really hot part of summer, deep-water large trees and shrubs, even if they are watered by a sprinkler system. Many sprinklers just don’t run long enough to penetrate the soil deeply. Use a soaker hose, deep-root irrigator or a hose turned low and feeding a basin under the dripline of the tree.

Select Plants Carefully

Most nurseries care for their plants meticulously, but in summer a missed watering can stress a plant severely. Check plants carefully when buying. Foliage should look perky and lush without dry, browned edges.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

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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.

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Letters Editor

If You Don’t Like Living in CV, Then Don’t Live Here

RCS’ First Football Team, Cheerleading Squad Take to Field for Inaugural Game

In an unprecedented and momentous occasion for Redwood Christian Schools, history was made on Friday, August 25, as the Junior Varsity football team took to the field for their inaugural tackle football game against the John F. Kennedy High School Titans. This event marked the first time in the school’s 54-year history that a football team had been assembled. Led by head coach Tolopa Faumuina and

supported by assistants Cheyenne Tuufuli, Xavier Vaesau, and Scott Skjong, the RCS Eagles showcased unwavering grit and determination despite a 32-0 defeat.

Coach Tolo, as he’s affectionately known, expressed immense pride in his team’s performance. “I’m incredibly proud of The Eagles’ performance in our inaugural football game. The players gave their all on the field,

demonstrating their dedication and hard work. The final score does not reflect our efforts. This game has shown us where we can improve and grow as a team moving forward.” Amidst the scoreline, there were standout moments that illuminated the team’s potential. Quarterback Cooper Fanucci orchestrated an impressive offensive drive, connecting with Tyrone Snipes for a significant gain and a first down. This drive

showcased their offensive capabilities, even though they were unable to convert it into points. The RCS defense also had its shining moments, with Micah Wilkerson and Elijah Redemer recording a crucial sack. The interior defensive line’s consistent performance throughout the game was commendable and provided a sturdy foundation for the team’s defensive efforts.

see RCS on back page

Enjoy the Flowers on the Side of the Road

By Kevin Koo SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

This week, I thought it would be a good time for a quick check-in. I don’t know what it is, but people are comfortable opening up and sharing their difficulties with me. It’s truly an honor because sometimes they don’t even share it with their own spouses or loved ones. I have a mentor who shared with me a statement, which is the title of this article. She had gone through some truly horrendous things. There was so much shame and humiliation tied to those memories. However, she was able to heal herself enough to realize that what she had gone through gave her the strength to help others. Her mess became her message, and she was able to help others heal. In case you’re going through some stuff, I wanted to offer up a story I heard that I think may help.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered

a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot

arrived only half full.

For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived as a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” The bearer asked, “Why? What are you ashamed of?” The Pot replied, “For these past two years, I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you don’t get full value for your efforts.”

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trial, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again, it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day, while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

As far as I can tell, we’ve all gone through some serious stuff. Some are worse than oth-

ers, but nobody has lived up to this point unscathed. For some of us, they’re age-old wounds. For others, they may still be raw. We try to cover up our wounds in an attempt to seem perfect and fit in with everyone else, not realizing we’re all wounded.

I believe I’ve been gifted with the sight to see what’s good in people. I really am grateful for it because it gives me hope that we can all do and be better. What breaks my heart, though, is when people don’t see the good in themselves. They are the cracked pots of our society. They actually have a lot to give and have been giving, all the while thinking they’ve been a burden.

In case you are feeling like the cracked pot, read the next few words carefully. You are seen. You are loved. You are cherished.

Coach Kev helps people find calm, clarity, and confidence in their life while enjoying the flowers on the side of the road. Contact him at kevinkoocoaching@gmail.com, or follow on IG and YouTube @ kevinkoocoaching

I just can’t understand the logic of some citizens these days, they want changes, do not appreciate what we have, and completely disregard the negative results that changes can bring to our great town.

Why change Castro Valley? A pretty good town where everyone wants to live, close to everything, still affordable and pretty safe. Why build and build when we do not have enough electrical grid and water for us present residents? Why build more retail spaces, when the stores that we now have, struggles to stay in business, because of the greedy landlord’s high rents? Let’s help them bring their prices down and their inventories up, why, drive to Wall Mart or call Amazon, ridiculous, maddening.

Let’s focus on making things better with what we have instead of making a huge catastrophe, by bringing in more housing, more people, more cars, taking away parking and open spaces. How many new schools would we need to build? What about the cost to refurbish the schools that we now have? Let’s take a good look at the problems that cities around us have. Why bring those problems here?

Last but least, a new city, will bring higher taxes, has anyone given it any thoughts how retirees in today’s world will be able to afford to continue to live here? Us retirees unable to afford the new higher property taxes, we will be forced to sell our homes and move away. Where? Out of state!!! Like so many are doing in our surrounding cities or stay and pay high rents to the new city, new out of town greedy properties owners. Let’s wake up and make us residents that love this town, top priority and kick out the out of towners big pockets investors, that couldn’t care less about Castro Valley.

Where are you Mr. Miley and you Mr. Swalwell? We gave you a job, work with us and for us, not the deep pockets investors. Place an article in the Castro Valley Forum front page, show us that you care and give us your positive, just reasons on why Castro Valley is to remain an Unincorporated Town. Conrad Wilgus, I am with you, if someone doesn’t like it here, move out.

–Josie Pastorino, Castro Valley

Let Castro Valley Blossom: I Support Housing Element

I support the state’s effort to force municipalities and counties to allow the construction of dense and low-income housing. Unquestioning deference to local authorities like the MAC is the reason why this state has such a housing affordability crisis.

I suggest we cooperate fully with the state. If we increase the density, and allow more people to live here, it will make Castro Valley a more vibrant, more walkable, more interesting place. There are potential problems to overcome, sure: the school district and sanitary district may need more capacity. These are not excuses.

We should take the state’s mandate for denser and low-income housing as a blessing, an opening to make Castro Valley into the kind of charming, dynamic suburb where you don’t always need a car to get around, where there are things for a teenager like me to do. Let’s replace the parking lots with mixed-income apartments, and watch Castro Valley blossom!

–Allie Mahaffey, Castro Valley MORE LETTERS

FROM THE

BOULEVARD

CVHS Class of 1963: From CV to Mission Impossible

By Thomas Lorentzen SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

In two weeks, the graduating class of Castro Valley High School from 1963 will be holding its 60th reunion.

I was a member of that class. We will gather to reunite and look back upon our lives. We have lost friends from among our ranks. That has educated us about the brevity of life.

This is difficult to understand when you are young. It is for those of us who have experienced the passage of decades and family and friends.

With these thoughts presented, I look back at my own life and wonder about the course it took. My youth was here in Castro Valley. Now, my later years are here as well. I have ended up where I started. In-between, life happened. It is a common feeling for us to share.

As I look back, I recall thinking that I wanted to have an interesting life. Although I did not know what that could be, I nonetheless disembarked. It has not been one of high success or high drama.

In retrospect, however, the road traveled contained interesting experiences with interesting people. The lives of my classmates have been similar. Everyone has a story to tell about what they have experienced. This article

The World Does Not Revolve Around Men

contains one of my own. It is about a man who became a close friend.

My upcoming high school

reunion prompts this story. It is also because of the current “Mission Impossible” movie titled “Dead Reckoning.” It is the seventh in a long-running series, which stars Tom Cruise. It is a good movie with a good actor.

With these factors stated, what is not well-known is that the concept of “Mission Impossible” was based upon a real person. That person was a man who took on assignments for our government in the post-WWII era that were considered to be too difficult and sensitive for them to do.

During WWII he worked for the FBI in the area of intelligence, which included spying and counter-spying. His success caught the attention of the Director of the Office of Strategic Services, which later became the CIA. With the needs of the Cold War upon our nation, the newly created CIA lacked individuals with the high skills required to meet the challenge. With that, they recruited the aforementioned person to take on sensitive and difficult assignments for our government.

His name was Robert A. Maheu. He died in 2008 in Las Vegas. We were close friends

and often worked together on things. At his request, I would be the last person he would talk with the day he died.

The fact that Bob Maheu was an interesting person is obvious. The primary keeper of the secrets of the Kennedy family once said that there was no living American who knew more secrets than Bob Maheu. That was high testimony about the life that Maheu led.

There has been no movie made of his life. There were two movies made with the title of “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” They were based upon fiction. The title, however, would be most appropriate about Maheu. His life was a real one.

One of the aforementioned movies was in 1934 that starred Petter Lorre. The second was in 1956 and starred Jimmy Stewart. They, however, like Tom Cruise, were actors in movies. Maheu acted upon the real stage of international and national intrigue.

As the 60th anniversary of my high school graduation approaches, we will share stories among us about the experiences and people we interacted with during our lives.

All of our stories will be interesting to hear and share with one another. Having a close and valued friend that was the real person that the story of “Mission Impossible” was based upon may be one of them.

Mary Diane Dahms

Mary Diane Dahms, 89, of Castro Valley CA passed away peacefully on August 16, 2023 at St Rose hospital in Hayward CA surrounded by loved ones.

She was born to Leonard & Grace Ewing and raised in Milwaukee, WI. In school, she was a highly regarded actress and excelled in theatre arts.

Following school, she entered the fashion industry and modeled for years. Her passion for theatre and fashion stayed with her the rest of her life, and she organized fashion shows and provided costumes for local theatre.

She married Thomas Gordon Dahms, NFL football player and coach. Together they built a home in Castro Valley, CA in 1967 where she remained until her passing.

She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Leonard & Dennis and her children Timothy, Jefferey & Tom Jr.

She is survived by her brother Tom, daughter Heidi, sons Chris and Mat, and grandchildren Ellie and Jake.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Transfiguration Church in Castro Valley on 9/9/2023 starting at 10 AM In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Peter Hauer’s concerns with the current state of Hollywood are interesting, and they bring up some heavily debatable topics (which I’m ready to debate). His comments bring up the generalized thoughts of viewers everywhere. One is left to wonder, How could one reader know the thoughts of every viewer of films in America? The simple answer is: they don’t.

Hauer provides no evidence that “most women” see action movies to have fantasies about male heroes. Some women go to the theater to IDENTIFY with these characters. The 2022 Sci-fi action film “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” had a female lead, Michelle Yeoh, and took home seven Oscars. The budget was $14.1 million, and revenue was $141.2 million. Quite a success. The fact that the film relies heavily on female characters and identifying with the female experience is considered one of the reasons it has done so well.

Another film that is toppling the box office is Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” “Barbie” offers intelligent criticism, heartwarming scenes, lots of laughs, and a great story. Pretty much everything you want out of a film. The cherry on top is Margot Robbie’s performance as Barbie, where she turns a doll with no personality into a sympathetic and lovable character who the whole audience can root for by the end of the film. “Barbie” has hit the $1.2 billion milestone and still reigns supreme in the theater. It is now the highest-grossing film from a female director. When a little girl sees “Wonder Woman,” she may be inspired by a powerful woman on her screen. Men should remember that the world doesn’t revolve around them. When they see a powerful woman it should be a humble reminder that, no, this isn’t the middle ages. This is 2023. Men don’t rule the world.

–Mason Jordan, A&E Editor of The Olympian

You Certainly Don’t Speak for Me, Mr. Hauer

Dear Editor,

After reading the letter from Peter Hauer (Hollywood ignores human nature) I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. You certainly don’t speak for me, a woman, as to why I watch action films! I watch any film solely for the entertainment value.

I don’t know why you think it must be for lusting after any of the actors! Sure, in action films I think wow, that was thrilling and exciting action, not for the “me Jane, you Tarzan”

Need to Place an Obituary?

that you think is going on! Get a grip, man! Do you even know which door to open when standing in front of restrooms labelled GENDER NEUTRAL. No? Too woke?? “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Hunger Games” (film series), “Aliens,” “Black Panther:Wakanda Forever,” any of the “Terminator” movies, I could go on and on. Nah, probably way too woke for you.

I think I’ll rewatch “Salt” tonight. –Kristin Biechler, Castro Valley

Mary Lou Vincent

May 15, 1933 ~ August 19, 2023

Mary Lou Vincent of Hayward, Ca passed away on August 19, 2023. Born May 15, 1933 in Adams, NE and graduated from Wilber High School in 1951. She married and had one son, Michael Spurek. She moved to California in 1964 and was a legal secretary until her marriage to Jack Vincent in 1977 when she went to work in his San Leandro Travel Agency until his death in 1986. She continued to work part time in several law offices and retired in 1996.

She was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Castro Valley, and was actively involved as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Catechist for Liturgy of the Word, on the RICA team, was a Confirmation teacher, facilitator for monthly baptism classes, a Cursillista, volunteer with Helping Hands and with monthly dinners for senior citizens at Strobridge. She volunteered weekly at East Bay Post Acute as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a graduate of the School for Pastoral MInistry at Holy Names University being certified as a Lay Minister.

In between all that, she belonged to a monthly prayer group and book club. She played bridge twice a month, golfed twice a week and belonged to Castlewood Country Club where she had a hole-in-one in September 1996. She was also an avid Oakland Raiders fan and season ticket holder, having attended 3 of their Super Bowls.

Her survivor includes her son, Michael Spurek, of Castro Valley, Ca. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Vincent, her parents, Rick and Esther Buhr, and her sister, Janice Mundil.

A celebration of her life will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Castro Valley on September 9, 2023 at 11:00am. Internment to be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Festival: Prepare to Be Wowed

continued from front page

“It’s a community event, and as a nonprofit, we can’t spend a lot of money on bands. So, Jim’s role is to get the talent, and they get exposure, a good lineup, and variety.”

On Saturday, the Bedford stage will include Belly Dancing by Pharaohs Dream, acoustic sounds by Eric & Martie, a Zumba class sponsored by Crunch Fitness, and a performance by Danceline Dream.

On Sunday, Troupe Journey will wow audiences with Belly Dancing, followed by the Joan Bascom Singers, demonstrations from members of Pallen Martial Arts, and close out the festival with a performance by Bedazzled Dance Studios.

Our Athletes of the Week are the Extreme Baseball. The team triumphed in the North Coast Section (NCS) “End of Season Finale Tournament,” held on July 29 and 30. The team dominated pool play with a 2-0 record and secured the top-seeded spot in bracket play. Facing tough opponents, including USA Prime and Newark Knights, Extreme showcased exceptional skills and

won the championship game 6-4 with flawless execution and zero errors on the field.

FRONT ROW: Maddox Rossen, Noah

Lema, Josh Aleman, Colin Quintero, Jaxson Powers, Brave Lagaret BACK

ROW: Austin Fraiser, Radley Smith, Jack Meldrum, Adam Bean, Noah Roeber

COACHES: Chaz Lagaret, Matt Roeber, Ryan Powers

RCS: Football Team’s Inaugural Game

continued from page 14

The historic day wasn’t just about football, as it also marked the public debut of the RCS Cheerleading squad, led by coach Emily Driggers. The cheerleaders added an extra layer of enthusiasm to the event, supporting the team and the entire RCS community.

Reflecting on the game, Superintendent Dr. Al Hearne, expressed his pride in the team’s monumental achievement. “I

am incredibly proud of the very first RCS football team. This was their inaugural experience of real contact. They arrived as boys and emerged as men. A standout moment for me was a pass caught by Tyler Skjong behind the line of scrimmage, who despite immediate contact, tenaciously broke through the tackle, gaining an additional 17 yards through the effort. Tyler’s determination symbolized the Eagles’ spirit and resilience on

the field.”

The inaugural game not only marked the beginning of a new chapter for Redwood Christian Schools’ football program but also etched an indelible milestone in the school’s 54-year history. With determination, hard work, and invaluable learning experiences, the RCS Eagles are poised to continue progressing and leaving a lasting impact on the field in the games to come.

The main stage near Redwood Road will spotlight more musical talents, including a kickoff by the Castro Valley High School Madrigals on September 9. Each year, this choral group competes and often wins prestigious state awards.

The students will be followed by Classic Rock and Pop from bands like Legends in Their Own Mind, The Ride, Take Cover, and Phantom Power.

On Saturday, be on the lookout for Jay Rhodes during the Bedford Studios Presents session on the Redwood Stage. Jay’s musical journey started at the young age of five. Last year, he wowed audiences with his blues guitar playing of instrumentals like “Guitar Boogie.” Not only is he a skilled young guitarist, but he’s also stepping into the spotlight as a vocalist for the very first time this year, making this performance extra special and memorable. Guided by his dedication and supported by Jim Bedford along with his family, Jay has embarked on a musical adventure that has led him to this exciting moment. This year, he will be performing “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix along with a blues duo with his bandmate Abel.

On Sunday, the Redwood Stage gets in the mood with the In Swing Jazz Orchestra and Phil Santos Strings. Then the Festival will close out with Rock & Roll from Edify and Damage Control’d Band. Pacifickatz, which plays Classic Rock and Latin music, will close out the festival.

Please visit the Chamber website for more details: www.edenareachamber.com

Longtime residents of Castro Valley, Andrey and his dad Sergey, made some great catches on their first Albacore fishing trip. They were approximately 50 miles offshore from the Half Moon Bay harbor. Congratulations on your ‘Great Catches!’ Have a ‘Great Catch’ you’d like to share? Send a photo and info to: filesforforum@gmail.com

Flavio is a 10 month chihuahua mix puppy. He is looking for a young family that can take their time with socializing him and showing the affection he deserves. He would do best with older kids and do well with another young dog. To adopt, call Hayward Animal shelter: 510-293-7200.

Kari is a 10 month old terrier puppy. She is full of life, love, and positive energy. Kari would do well in a home with older kids and would do well with other dogs. To adopt Kari, please contact Hayward Animal shelter at 510-293-7200.

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week Extreme Baseball