Christmas is Next Week
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
YOUR
Housing Element Supervisors approve housing plan for unincorporated areas
Page 3
Holiday Cheer
Rotary Club hosts its annual Children’s Christmas Party
Page 4
Senior Q&A
How to keep your trust up to date in light of changing tax law
Page 10
Gloria Blackstone: Building A Community With Beads
By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
According to Gloria Blackstone, owner of Glorious Beads on Castro Valley Boulevard, building a community is a lot like building a jewelry design with beads.
“It’s very social,” Blackstone says. “It’s therapeutic to work with your hands and create something. It’s not too hard. It’s very pretty and doesn’t take too long to make, so you feel really good about what you created, and then you can wear it around.”
Blackstone is celebrating 20 years in business next summer. The store is more than a retail space—it serves as a social hub where customers can relax, create, and bond. Blackstone spoke with the Castro Valley Forum about her path and creating community through colorful, long-term relationships.
“What I enjoy is talking to people,” Blackstone says. “I don’t think there are very many places where people can just go and relax and maybe use their hands at the same time. After 20 years, a lot of my customers have been coming in. I know them. I’ve heard about their children growing up and grandchildren, and it’s just that you get to know these people like your friends, and they come in a lot now, not just to buy something, but just to visit. see BEADS on page 11
Gloria Blackstone, owner of Glorious Beads on Castro Valley Boulevard, is celebrating 20 years in business next summer. The store is more than a retail space—it serves as a social hub where customers can relax, create, and bond.
The Final Meeting Of the Year
By Amy Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
At their fnal meeting of 2024, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard updates from the Chamber of Commerce and the School District. Castro Valley/ Eden Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gary Slate told the MAC that the organization is experiencing positive growth, surpassing their membership numbers from before the pandemic. The Chamber currently has 401 members, up from 220 in January of 2023 and a goal of surpassing 500 members in 2025.
Slate touted events such as the Fall Festival, the summer Fam Festival, and the Light Parade as ways the Chamber reaches out. He said they support local business with promotional events such as ribbon cuttings and online outreach, as well as networking opportunities.
Slate said that operating a small business is never easy and people especially need support in the unincorporated area where things can be confusing.
“The Chamber is even more important in the unincorporated area because you can’t just go to City Hall for everything,” said Slate. “One permit may be in Alameda; you might have to go to Hayward for see MAC on page 3
County Report Uncovers Homeless Trends
By Corinne Davidson SPECIAL
TO THE FORUM
Alameda County saw a three percent decrease in overall homelessness and an 11 percent decrease in the number of unsheltered people since 2022, according to the Alameda Point in Time (PIT) Homeless Count released on Dec. 11.
This is the frst time since 2013 that homelessness in Ala-
meda County has experienced an overall decrease.
According to the PIT, most people experiencing homelessness in the county are original members of the county. When surveyed, 78 percent reported that their previous permanent address was in Alameda County.
The PIT found that 58 percent of the homeless population is in Oakland, while
the city’s general population makes up 25 percent of the county population. The City of Alameda, Hayward, and Livermore saw increases in homelessness, while Fremont, San Leandro, and Unincorporated Areas — Ashland, Castlewood, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, and San Lorenzo saw signifcant decreases.
More unhoused people are
in shelters in 2024 than in 2022. Hayward saw the most signifcant increase in sheltered people, with 105 percent more sheltered this year than in 2022.
Aaron Horner, Community Outreach Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (FirstPres), works with members of the unhoused and low-income communities in the Eden Area.
Horner said that some of the decrease in homelessness that the PIT report found could be attributed to a change in count methodology. Horner said that in past years, people with lived homeless experience were incentivized to help with the count. Those with lived experience understand what it’s like to be unhoused and know the signs of unhoused living. see REPORT on page 7
Promoting Work Independence
By Jagmeet Kaur Sangha SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
t’s undeniable that individuals with disabilities face more signifcant challenges in fnding and retaining employment. These challenges can hinder their success in securing a preferred job, whether physical or mental. Employers may fail to recognize the unique strengths and abilities that these individuals bring to the table.
However, recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor (2023) offers a glimmer of hope. It reveals
that around 9.5 percent of individuals with disabilities are self-employed business owners, a rate signifcantl higher than the 6.1 percent among people without disabilities. This suggests that individu-
als with disabilities are more likely to embrace entrepreneurship, creating their own opportunities rather than relying on traditional employment.
So, when and how should families start exploring entrepreneurship opportunities for their children?
Caroline De Vega, a dedicated mother, actively supports the independence of her daughter Polly and other local youth by providing hands-on see SANGHA on page 11
Castro Valley Weather December 18 - December
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County Supervisors Approve Unincorporated Housing Plan
By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
After two years of discussion in the community and by the Municipal Advisory Committees (MACs), the Alameda o nt oard of er isors passed a resolution last week that hopes to add 4,711 units of housing aimed at various income levels in unincorporated areas o er the ne t se en ears
The resolution, part of the County’s General Plan, covers the Housing Element, a California mandate requiring cities and counties to add housing for the ne t generation of residents based on Census projections. The supervisors approved the plan by a 3-2 vote on Thursda , ecem er 2, d ring its planning meeting. A second review was set for yesterday, ecem er
The state’s deadline for adopting the housing element, which sets forth how the county plans to meet state-mandated housing requirements, was ecem er f that deadline is not met, various repercussions follow, including loss of some state funding and even loss of any local control over what new construction is allowed. Cities have their own general plans and pass their own housing elements. Alameda County was one of the last jurisdictions that had yet to approve its housing plan.
er isors ate ile , whose istrict 4 co ers astro
MAC: Some Speakers Say They’d Like To See Police Returned to Campuses
continued from front page others. We are there to help. The Chamber is also promoting the Best of Castro Valley/ Eden Area and voting is now open to support your favorite local businesses in nearly 100 categories such as Best Pizza, Best Florist, and Best Handyman. Voting is now o en at c ea oter com through January 7, with winners announced January 16.
The MAC thanked the Chamber for their work in supporting Castro Valley businesses in 2024.
“I see the positive change,” said MAC member Tojo Thomas. “I see the way you guys are working hard for our businesses.”
students are above state and county averages in both English and Math standards per California Assessment of t dent erformance and Progress testing he told the A that some highlights in the istrict recentl ha e incl ded a fnancial course requirement for graduating seniors, planned sports feld grades, d al enrollment classes with local colleges, an upcoming culinary academy at the high school, and anish immersion class options.
iff s ffce and st dent safet remains a priority and there are 11 social workers available and wellness centers at all of the secondary schools.
But some on the MAC said they would like to see the offcers formall ret rned to the schools to deter ing, fghts, harassment, and more.
Valley and several other unincor orated areas, and istrict er isor a id a ert voted against the plan. They argued for a further 45 days of study by the area’s MACs and the county’s planning department.
“As long as the state sees that we are working toward an appropriate housing element ... we wouldn’t face litigation,” Miley said.
Other supervisors saw little chance of major changes if the update was considered further. er isors Lena Tam istrict , eith arson istrict , and lisa r ez istrict 2) voted to approve the update.
The 4,711 units the county hopes to add include 1,251 units for very low-income families, 721 for low-income, 763 for moderate income, see HOUSING on page 7
The MAC was a bit less complimentary to the Castro alle nifed chool istrict during their presentation–scolding them for removing olice school reso rce offcers from schools and asking hard questions about what can be done about worrying youth bullying incidents that have taken place on and off campuses. erintendent ar in Ahmadi told the MAC that things are going well generally in the istrict, with the bucking statewide trends of declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism.
Ahmadi said the Castro Valley public schools have a 94 percent attendance rate for the 9,565 students currently enrolled, well above the 70 ercent statewide a erage he reported that Castro Valley
The MAC asked how the wo ld handle an in of st dents if the roposed state-mandated housing increases came to town and Ahmadi said that building new schools is “practically impossible” and a new high school, for e am le, wo ld cost wards of $300 million.
A handful of speakers said that they’d like to see police returned to patrolling campuses The istrict s contract with the Alameda o nt heriff s ffce was ended after more than 25 years in 2020, amid the BLM movement and calls to defund the police generally. Ahmadi said the istrict still reg larl meets with the her-
“It sounds like, on paper at least, a lot of good things are happening,” said MAC member Xochiyolt Martinez. “But I have to speak up for those parents about the bullying. This should not be happening. This is unacceptable. How can children thrive if they are being bullied? Harassed? Traumatized?”
Member Thomas said that his own family has been victimized and MAC Chair Chuck Moore said that having offcers on cam s wo ld ha e a cooling effect much like spotting a cop car out while driving makes speeders slow down.
Moore also told Ahmadi he’d like to see more vocational programs in schools. MAC Vice Chair Bill Mulgrew said he d li e to see the come back before the MAC at least twice a year with more frequent updates.
The Housing Element is a state mandate requiring cities and counties to add housing for the next generation of residents based on Census projections.
CV Rotary Club Hosts Annual Children’s Christmas Party
On December 10, the Castro Valley Rotary Club hosted their annual Children’s Christmas Party for kids and families living in shelters and other housing programs.
CV Rotarian Mark Poniatowski chaired the event (as he has for the last 30+ years!) with help from other members of the Club and the Castro Valley community. The party was held at the Castro Valley Adult School Multipurpose Room that was transformed by members of the CV Rotary Club led by Rotarian Carol Bigelow with center pieces by Shirley Bertinuson.
Guests were greeted by the always friendly Ceta Dochter-
man and Carol Bigelow, both CV Rotarians, along with the excitement of Christmas music and lots of games by Robert Hoffman of Club Anywhere! ore than fft children and ffteen g est ad lts oined more than 25 community members at this year’s event, all working together to make the 2024 Children’s Christmas Party as “kid-friendly” as possible.
“Chef” Randy Vanderbilt along with fellow CV Rotarians Dan Willits and Marco Jaramillo prepared a nutritious and tasty dinner of ham, turkey, mac and cheese, green beans, rolls and butter, fruits salad and pies of all kinds. They were assisted by lead
Lorenzo C. Grayson and his fellow staff members of the Castro Valley Sanitary District.
Santa announced his arrival fre engine sing the ehicle’s loud speaker welcoming the ids with red lights ashing as his sleigh broke down again this year. Each of the children received a gift and encouragement from Santa and his Helper. The gifts were provided by the California Highway Patrol Toy Drive overseen by ffcers ennifer a st and Kylie Musselman, who serves as our local Public nformation ffcer The packages were wrapped by the students at Redwood Christian High School, many of whom
came and served at the party providing entertainment for the children face painting, making balloon animals, and coloring and playing games with the children. Santa’s Helper (Dr. Heidi Hausauer) and Santa’s Elves (Miriam Azarei and Savannah Hendren) ensured Santa stayed focused and effective.
Castro Valley Rotarians involved in Children’s Christmas Party included Carol Bigelow, Ceta Dochterman, Dr. Heidi Hausauer, Marco Jaramillo, Bruce D Johnson, Jeff Moore, Dwight Perry, Mark Poniatowski, Randy Vanderbilt, Dan Willits and Ye Ye. see PARTY on page 11
Merry Christmas to All: Santa and Mrs. Claus greet children at Castro Valley Rotary Club’s annual Children’s Christmas Party for kids and families living in shelters and other housing programs on Dec. 10.
By Carl Medford, CRS
The Grinch That Stole California Homebuyer’s Christmas Wishes
By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Times
It is no secret that California is facing a housing crisis. Not only are there not enough homes to meet demand, even if there were, at the current prices, a signifcant ercentage of buyers cannot afford to purchase one. In a single word, the issue is “affordability.”
Affordability is determined by a number of issues including average home prices, mortgage rates, available inventory, economic conditions, initial investment required (including downpayments, closing costs and homeowner’s insurance) and local competition.
Insta Mortgage states, “The median home price in
California reached $868,150 for September 2024 (data compiled by the California Association of Realtors – CAR.) That’s a 2.9% increase, year to year, from September 2023, when the median home price in the state was $843,340. The housing market saw 253,010 existing home sales, which represents a 5.1% increase year-over-year (YTY) and a 0.9 % increase year-to-date (YTD).”
To afford a median-priced home in California, at the current interest rates, an annual income of approximately $221,200 is required. This means that statewide, only 15-16% of homebuyer wannabes actually qualify. Unfortunately, local prices are even higher, with the median price in Alameda Coun-
ty for single family homes at the end of November, 2024 coming in at $1,276,000.*
To put things in perspective, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) released a report in May, 2024, which stated, “NAHB has updated its housing affordability graph for 2024, and the latest data show that 66.6 million households, 49% out of a total of 134.9 million, are unable to afford a $250,000 home.”
The caveat here is that this is based on average local incomes, which vary widely from area to area across the country. Even so, whereas the percentage of Californians who can afford to buy is as low as 15%, nationally, the average is 49%: meaning the ability to buy a home in many parts of the rest of
the country is dramatically higher.
With this in mind, many Californians are considering a move to cheaper locations, with Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Florida being the leading contenders, followed by New York, Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee and North Carolina. With Bing Crosby crooning over the airwaves, “I’ll be home for Christmas,” for many, that home may be somewhere else in the country in time for 2025’s Holiday Season. With things not likely to change in the short term, the Grinch that is stealing homebuyer dreams in California … is affordability.
*Data from TrendGraphix
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.
Report: Homelessness Continues
to Be an Issue Within Alameda County
continued from front page
“We didn’t have enough volunteers, and we didn’t have enough people with lived experience,” Horner said. “They also wanted us to do more surveys rather than just going and counting. So those surveys, although very important, also caused a slowdown in the count, which can reduce accuracy.”
Black, African, and African American people make up most of the homeless population at 41.3 percent but are only 9.8 percent of the general population. The next most prominent group is white, making up 29.7 percent of the homeless population and 30.2 percent of the general population. Latinx is the next most prominent group at 22.5 percent of the homeless population.
This data shows that 63.8
percent of the homeless population are marginalized people of color.
“A lot of people believe that it (homelessness) somehow has to do with the fault of the individual,” Horner said. “The reason is because of the racial disparities in our systems that marginalized Black and Brown individuals.”
The primary cause of homelessness reported by the PIT is housing loss. Horner further explained that a lack of support perpetuates homelessness — people become homeless when they lose housing because they don’t have family or friends to help them. Seventy-one percent of unhoused single adults are unsheltered, while families and unaccompanied youth stand at 15 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
The lack of community
support also affects homelessness. Horner explained that when the community views homeless people in a negative light, there is less motivation to make change.
According to Alameda County’s 10-Year Housing Plan, the county needs 93,000 new affordable housing units by 2035. New York City has set an example for handling homelessness. New York City’s right-to-shelter ensures that those experiencing homelessness can take refuge through the shelter system.
Even with decreases, homelessness continues to be an issue within Alameda County, but plans are in place, and organizations are established to help put an end to the problem. “No one deserves to be homeless, and it’s nobody’s fault,” Horner said.
Housing: Requirement Up 166 Percent in State
continued from page 3 and 1,976 for above-moderate income.
The state housing requirement is up 166 percent from the 1,769 units required in 2015-2023 when the housing element was updated. The county doesn’t have to build the units; just remove any impediments to developers building that many.
In late November, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) voted 6-0 to wholeheartedly reject the county’s housing element document citing ins ffcient infrastr cture and loopholes for investors and builders.
A copy of the full housing element plan is available at: acgov.org/cda/planning/housing-element/housing-element.
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Please JOSE AVILA be advised and put on notice that a small claims lawsuit in the amount of $3,099.84 for move out charges has been filed on March 1st, 2024 in the county of Alameda against Jose Avila for his contract of renting at the premises of 1570 164th Ave. apartment number 56 by the Plaintiff, San Leandro Shamor LLC, with the defendant being
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Baywood’s Bess Chin Turns 102!
Age is just a number for Baywood Court Retirement Community resident Bess Chin, who is living proof of that. Bess, who has been part of the Baywood family for 18 wonderful years, recently turned 02 but you’d never guess her age by her adventurous spirit. Her daughter, Liana, shared that Bess had recently been having fun learning a new sport hat’s right Bess is trying new things, showing everyone that staying young at heart is the secret to a long and joyful life.
Include Flexibility in Your Trust to Deal With the Ever-Changing Tax Landscape
Q. My husband and I are concerned about how to keep our trust up to date in light of changing tax law and changing family circumstances. What if we are too ill to make changes ourselves when needed. Any thoughts on how we can handle these concerns?
By Gene L. Osofsky, Esq. SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
A. Yes. With the ever-changing tax landscape, and changes over time in family circumstances, keeping your trust up-to-date can be challenging. Here are some techniques to incorporate into your estate plan to help deal with change, even where you are unable to do so yourself:
1) Use a Power Of Attorney: delegate authority to a trusted agent to amend your trust as tax laws and family circumstances warrant. Your agent would typically act only if you were unable to do so yourself. To be valid, this power must be expressly stated in a Durable Power Of Attorney (“DPOA”) and reciprocal provisions must also be in your trust. Unfortunately, this dual requirement is too often overlooked, resulting in an ineffective delegation of authority.
2) Use a Trust Protector: an emerging mechanism involves naming a Trust Protector (“TP”) in your trust in order to update your trust as need requires. The TP would be in-
move future appreciation from one’s taxable estate. Example: assume that a married couple has a combined community property estate valued at just under the current Federal Estate Tax Exemption amount ($13.61 Million/each for persons dying in 2024), but which is likely to revert to a much lower number after year 2025, when the current exemption ‘sunsets’).
would handle normal trust administration. By contrast, the TP would act like a “super trustee”: he or she would have the power to replace the trustee, modify administrative provisions and even change the ultimate disposition of trust assets in order to meet your stated objectives. Unlike the trustee, who would ha e a fd ciar d t to act according to the existing provisions of the trust, the TP could modify or override those provi-
law and your expressed intent. The TP must be someone who is not a enefciar nder o r estate plan, but in whom you have a high degree of trust.
Unlike the agent acting under a DPOA, the TP could even make some changes to your trust after your death if necessary to meet your stated goals, e.g. tax avoidance.
3) Include Disclaimer Provisions: a disclaimer is the right to decline a bequest, so that it goes to the next person in line, typically one’s children. Disclaimers can be very effective in postmortem tax planning, especially as a technique to re-
Upon husband’s death, assume their estate plan directs that all goes to wife as the surviving spouse. If she reasonably anticipates future appreciation, it is likely that--upon her later demise--the value of her estate will then be above the amount that can escape estate tax. If, however, upon her husband’s death she makes a timely disclaimer of a portion of her “inheritance”, so that a portion “skips” her and goes immediately to their children, the appreciation attributable to the disclaimed assets will then be owned by their children and will escape estate tax at the wife’s later death. In larger estates, this technique can potentially save a signifcant amo nt of ta upon the surviving spouse’s later demise. For more modest estates, since the disclaimed assets “skip over” the surviving spouse and pass directly to the children or other designated s ccessor enefciaries, it can save the time and expense of a second trust administration see OSOFSKY on back page
Redwood Chapel’s Community outh Choir rehearsing for their performance.
Redwood Chapel Presents ‘An Unexpected Christmas’
As the holiday season approaches, Redwood Chapel Community Church invites the community to experience the joy and wonder of the season with their heartwarming musical, “An Unexpected Christmas.” This special event will be held this Friday and Saturday, December 20 and 21. What if your holiday plans changed at the last minute? Would you still be able to celebrate with joy? This question serves as the foundation for “An Unexpected Christmas,”
a musical that brings to life the challenges and triumphs of eo le who fnd themsel es navigating unexpected changes during the holidays. Through drama and live music, the production highlights themes of resilience, joy, and faith. The event will showcase the talents of Redwood Chapel’s Community Youth Choir (featuring students from 2nd to 8th grade), the adult choir, and the orchestra. Doors open at 6pm each evening, allowing attendees to enjoy pre-perfor-
mance m sic a te ensem le and handbell choir.
For months, the church’s music and drama teams have been rehearsing diligently to bring this production to life. “This musical is truly a labor of love,” shared the director, Sharon Tourney. “It’s a family-friendly event that’s sure to bring the Christmas spirit to everyone who attends.”
For more information, visit www.RedwoodChapel.org/ Holidays. This is a free event, and no RSVP is required.
Sangha: A Structured Environment
continued from page 2 job training through Polly’s Café, which she runs out of her garage in San Lorenzo. This unique initiative offers valuable work experience while fostering entrepreneurial skills and helping young eo le gain confdence and independence in a real-world setting.
“It was actually Polly who inspired me to start this endeavor,” De Vega said. “Polly has a genetic condition called DiGeorge syndrome, as well as a diagnosis of Autism and a sensory-processing disorder in her early years and a diagnosis of epilepsy in her teen years. She uses a non-verbal form of communication through her AAC device. These circumstances can make it daunting to think about the future, but Polly’s Café is all about meeting individuals where they are.”
De Vega added that Polly can easily navigate the workstation by providing a structured environment. Polly knows what she can and cannot do and how much she
can handle, and she has access to her sensory/self-regulation tools when needed.
More than just the basic skills of taking orders using the AAC device, making simple coffee using the Keurig machine, restocking supplies, and cleaning and organizing workstations, De Vega says Polly can focus on character building. Core values such as patience in learning how to operate a machine, perseerance in fnishing a tas , respect towards peer workers, and prioritizing commitment to work are at the core of this endeavor, hence our tagline: “Serving Ordinary Coffee with an Extraordinary Heart.”
De Vega advises following your child’s lead. She says Polly created the menu using her AAC device, and she picked her logo out of the three samples that De Vega created.
“Her ‘voice’ matters to me, and she defnitel nows that her main purpose is to serve her community,” De Vega says.
Also, De Vega adds that you
Beads Blackstone Builds Community
continued from front page
Blackstone loved beading from a young age and, after learning about a bead store for sale, impulsively decided to buy it despite initial skepticism from her husband.
“I said to my husband. ‘We’re gonna buy a bead store,’” Blackstone said. “And of course, he says, ‘Are you kidding? No, we’re not,’ and I said, ‘Oh yes, we are.’ Now, my husband loves coming down here all the time.”
Since then, she’s spent her time learning and teaching advanced techniques through classes and study and eventually began teaching. Costs typically range from $0.05 to $5 a bead, making beading less expensive than other hobbies, and you can sell your crafts.
However, Blackstone says younger generations are less exposed to jewelry-making with fewer bead shops around. Gloria helps spark interest by showing examples and teaching customers how to create their own pieces.
“You can start out with the pretty beads that are not as expensive and go into more like the art beads if you wanted to,” Blackstone said. “People don’t realize that you can easily make a pair of earrings for $5, or you can go out with a threestrand woven bracelet that’s $40 or $50. We teach people how to make these.”
repairs. Blackstone says she previously collaborated with local schools.
Blackstone says running a small business has been challenging, especially with competition from online retailers like Amazon. COVID-19 also osed diffc lties, t the shop adapted to maintain sales with phone consultations, outdoor pickups, and remote bead selection. Effective promotion and organization are essential to keep the store thriving.
“We build community through word of mouth, and you know it’s a little bit like dating because I feel like all the beaders will come here,” Blackstone told the Forum. “I want to give good customer ser ice and e a le to f lfll everybody’s beading needs. You know how when you really want to do something; you just make it happen? That’s me with beading.”
For more, visit her website: gloriousbeads.biz/ Follow on Instagram: @gloriousbeads3
Party CV Rotary Club
continued from page 4
Children’s Party Chair Mark Poniatowski stated “it’s truly amazing how each year our guests are always so thankful and considerate of those working on the party for them. Although the children attending changes, the joy that attendees bring with them each year continues to infect everyone in attendance.
“Special thanks to Castro alle nifed chool istrict Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi and her staff for hosting this special event every year; to
Redwood Christian Schools
Superintendent Dr. Al Hearne and Director of Transportation/ Career and College Counselor Dale Huemoeller, who drove the bus, transporting many of the guests from the women’s shelter by bus; the students of Redwood Christian High School who wrapped the gifts and then served at the party; the Castro Valley Fire Department; the California Highway Patrol; the Castro Valley Sanitary District; and the many Rotarians that continue to model ‘Service Above Self’.”
cannot do it alone. Bring your closest friends in and collaborate. Work on their strengths and build them up as well.
In the future, De Vega hopes to provide an after-school or adult day program. She and Polly plan to continue their pop-up booths at local community events, partner with a local restaurant to hold Autism Awareness and Acceptance events and host holiday events. Already, the family has featured young bakers like Haley’s Delights and plans to continue including more of Polly’s peers.
“Our dream is big—perhaps a food truck or an actual space for Polly’s Café? Why not?!”
De Vega says.
Jagmeet Kaur Sangha is a board-certifed Behavior Analyst who lives in Castro Valley. Her organization, Behavior Pivot Consulting, partners with organizations to cultivate neuro-inclusive environments that understand brain-based differences and promote mental wellbeing. For more info, visit: www.behaviorpivot.com
The shop provides tools, materials, vintage jewelry, and out-of-print bead magazines, preserving resources for the craft as bead-related publications and stores dwindle. Additionally, Glorious offers small, hands-on classes and
wife, mom, and grandma, passed away at her home in Castro Valley on Dec 12, 2024, after a short bout with pancreatic cancer. She was only 74.
Born DeAnne Joan Gearhart in Hayward on Sept 18, 1950, she graduated from Hayward High, then entered a successful career in medical transcription. She worked at various facilities including Doctors Hospital in San Leandro and Kaiser in Union City, where she retired when com ters too o er the feld Her life changed in 1978 when she met her new neighbor, found they had fun together, and soon became known by her favorite name: Mrs. Dill. They started their family in San Lorenzo, and began a journey which would take them to Switzerland, Oregon, and Massachusetts before ending up back in Castro Valley in 1998. DeAnne dutifully shepherded three lively kids and provided loving homes for them all along the way.
DeAnne was a person who gave love to everyone around her. She loved animals, was never without a pet, and would never let a dog walk by without greeting. She loved working in her rett ower garden he lo ed la ing tennis, and was the only one in her club who used two forehands. She loved cooking, decorating the table, and hosting a wonderful family Thanksgiving every year.
DeAnne is survived by her husband Jim; her children Casey, Tommy, and Maggie; her grandchildren Lilyana and Atticus; her sisters Lorraine and Carolyn; and her little dog Hobie, constant companion for the last seventeen years. In accordance with DeAnne’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. She never wanted to impose on anybody. If you wish to express condolences or share memories, the family welcomes e-mail.
DeAnne Dill
Osofsky: Use Power of Appointment
continued from page 10 upon the surviving spouse’s death. Its use can also accelerate the children’s inheritance.
4) Permit Decanting:
Decanting is a term borrowed from wine vintners, and in the trust world it refers to modifying an e isting tr st to get rid of unwanted provisions (i.e., “sediment”, for vintners), by “pouring” the good provisions into a new trust that is free of the unwanted provisions. n 20 , alifornia ecame one of a growing number of states to adopt the Uniform Trust Decanting Act, which now allows a trustee to make changes to a trust without initiating a judicial proceeding, upon notice to, and usually with the consent of, the trust enefciaries ecanting can be implemented so long as the tr st does not e ressl rohiit this technique. Changes via decanting can even be made, in many cases, after the death
of the original creator(s) of the tr st ere are some e am les of its application: to create a Special Needs Trust to hold the share of a enefciar then on lic enefts to com l with changes in the ta code to address changes in family circumstances, etc. For more, see articles on our website on this topic.
5) Include a Power of Appointment: A Power of Appointment (“POA”) is a power held by a designated individual, usually the surviving spouse in a couple’s joint trust, to take another look at the plan design and modify it as the power holder feels is then appropriate, typically some time after the death of the frst s o se The survivor can then re-arrange the distribution of trust assets, and add or delete enefciaries, as he/she feels circumstances then require. It can be very useful when family circumstances have changed since the
trust was originally created, for e am le deaths, irths, divorces or other changes in relationships (whether they be positive or negative).
6) By Court Order: Lastly, one can petition the court for a modifcation of tr st, ased upon “changed circumstances”. This is a more involved option, but is available when needed.
It has been said that the only certainties in life are death and ta es wo ld add a third change. Make sure that your estate plan includes at least some mechanisms to deal with this “third rail” of estate planning.
Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney who has been helping East Bay families for over 25 years with Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Medi-Cal Planning, and related matters. o contact his offce, email: Gene@LawyerForSeniors.com or call (510) 247-2555.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Castro Valley Girls Wrestling
Our Athletes of the Week are the Girls Wrestling team at Castro Valley High School. The Tro ans won their frst season to rnament the weekend of December 7 and hosted another tournament last night (December 17) at There are 2 girls this season, and Coach Sabrina Ross could not be prouder. These o ng ladies ha e trained e tremel hard to reach this point, and we hope to win the section title this year,” Coach Ross said. CVHS Girls Wrestling fans, friends, family, and boosters agree. Between November and December, the team raised $9,770 to help pay for the tournament entry fees, travel costs, and new equipment. Go Trojans!
The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week CV Girls Wrestling
49th Annual Redwood Christian High School Invitational Basketball Tourney
The 49th Annual Redwood Christian High School Invitational Basketball Tournament was held December 5-7 in the Bruce D. Johnson Gymnasium at their campus in San Lorenzo. Terra Linda of San Rafael won the tournament for the third consecutive year. Host Redwood Christian High School lost to Terra Linda in the semi-championship and defeated Marin Academy of Marin Academy of San afael to fnish in third lace Cornerstone Christian of Antioch fnished in second lace College Prep of Oakland was Consolation Champion and
Berean Christian of Walnut ree fnished si th followed by KIPP King of San Lorenzo in seventh place and Thomas ore of an ose fnishing in eighth place.
Redwood’s David Rogers had a great tournament averaging 30.3 points per game in the three games. His performance ranks him in fourth place in the tournament’s long history. He also had the most points in one game with 33. David was also selected to the All-Tournament Team along with Evan Brewster, Terra Linda; Pele Love, Terra Linda; Benjamin Lukacs, Cornerstone Christian;
Marcus Wagner, Cornerstone Christian; Kainoa Ho, Marin Academy; James Pak, College Prep; Malachi Nunsuch, Berean Christian; Kenny Ruan, KIPP King; and Anthony Selway, Thomas More. Redwood Christian High School’s Director of Athletics Scott Babinet is already focusing on ne t ear s 0th Ann al Redwood Christian High School Invitational Basketball Tournament, which has been held every year since 1975 with the e ce tion of 2020 d e to Covid. The tournament is one of the longest running basketball tournaments in California.
