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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Our Athlete of the week is Taylor Hodges. This Castro Valley High School Senior plays forward on the Girls Soccer team and has been on the Varsity squad all four years. This is Taylor’s third year of being selected as team captain for the Lady Trojans.

“The season is very promising for Senior Taylor Hodges, and I am excited to see her thrive,” Coach Vanessa Amaral told the Forum. “Being a captain since her Sophomore year, Taylor brings a lot of leadership and positive vibes on/off the feld to the Varsity team this upcoming season. She always works so hard and is so humble. I know she’s going to give everything she’s got to this team and work to push the team to make an NCS playoff run and inspire the younger classes.”

In the team’s season debut against American High School, Taylor scored the frst goal at 26 minutes in and also assisted in another goal in the 37th minute.

Taylor has offcially committed to play soccer next season at Sonoma State as a part of the women’s soccer team.

The Matt Wilhite Team The Matt Wilhite Team Is proud to sponsor is proud to sponsor Athlete of the Week Athlete of the Week Taylor Hodges

Cook Selected to NorCal Honor Band

At the Schools’ Christmas Chapel on December 16, Redwood Christian Schools Music Director Rachel Chow announced that Sophomore Jacob Cook was selected as one of ffteen high school musicians throughout Northern California to the 2023 High School Jazz Ensemble. Jacob has been playing the trumpet since he was six.

“When Jacob was two years old he was listening to Disney’s Jungle Book song ‘Bare Necessities,’ said his mother, Kathryn Cook. “He heard a trumpet solo in the song and told his mother ‘I’m gonna play that.’ When asked what he wanted for his 6th birthday he replied ‘a trumpet’ but clarifed that he wanted ‘a real one’” And as Dr. Al Hearne, Superintendent of Redwood Christian Schools said “the rest is history.”

His frst love is the trumpet and the cornet, but he dabbles in all brass instruments: trombone, baritone, French Horn, Flugelhorn, to name a few. His room looks more like a high school band room than a bedroom. His favorite piece is whatever he’s working on. It’s always changing. He is now writing his own work, and his favorite piece that he just composed is called “Jazz Heist.”

Jacob uses his musical gift playing in his church band, Pilgrim Temple Church in Hayward.

Jacob lives in Castro Valley with his parents Dustin and Kathy Cook, and his sister Julia, an eighth grader at Redwood Christian Middle School.

Mrs. Chow stated “Our entire school is so proud of Jacob. His hard work and dedication to use the talent entrusted to him by God has enabled him to attain the skills to be selected over hundreds of trumpet players throughout Northern California, all while remaining an anchor to our high school band program and an excellent example for the students with whom he plays as well as younger musicians. And his humility is an added blessing!”

The All Northern Honor Band Weekend is January 19-22, 2023 at the University of the Pacifc in Stockton. The High School Jazz Band Conductor is Aaron Lington, Grammy Award-winning baritone saxophonist and composer, he is a professor at San José State University where he serves as Coordinator of Jazz Studies.

PHOTO BY JULIE CASTANEDA

CROSSOVER Basketball Wrap-Up

CROSSOVER Basketball recently completed its 34th season, serving our local community with recreational-level competition while teaching Biblical character including good sportsmanship. The season concluded on Saturday, Dec. 17 with a season-end celebration with a free pizza dinner for the crowd of over 400 people; players, families and friends at Redwood Christian School’s gymnasium in San Lorenzo. About 250 players (coed grades 2-12) and about 50 volunteer coaches/support team members dedicated their time and effort in this twomonth season (abbreviated from the usual four-months) due to practice/game facility limitations.

Weekly practices included not only basketball drills but also a challenge to memorize Bible verses. 20 players successfully memorized all their verses and were awarded prizes. James Tucker, Director of CROSSOVER Basketball, summarized the Bible devotions and encouraged the audience to apply them in their everyday lives. He was followed by free throw competitions and the annual Coaches vs. Seniors game.

CROSSOVER Basketball is a sports program of Redwood Christian Schools in partnership with Castro Valley First Baptist Church, 3Crosses Church, Redwood Chapel Community Church and First Presbyterian Church of Hayward. CROSSOVER Basketball is an offcial affliate of the Golden State Junior Warriors Program. For more info on how to participate next season, e-mail: crossover@rcs.edu or call Mr. Patrick Lee at 510889-7526 ext. 412.

Parks: Beach Cleanup Next Week

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Crafts inspired by nature are also on the agenda from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.

Minimum age is two, and parents must accompany their children. Meet the naturalist in the uppermost parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, 3.5 miles south of Highway 4.

Black Diamond Mines has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. For info, call 510-544-2750.

Birds of Prey in East

Contra Costa County

Later on the calendar, there’s a birding program from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29 to document the variety and number of birds of prey in East Contra Costa County.

This is a community science research project. No experience is necessary; naturalist Misti Marsh will teach participants how to identify the birds. Parent participation is required.

Meet Misti at the Marsh Creek Regional Trail’s Cypress Boulevard Staging Area in Oakley. For information and directions, call 510-544-3050.

Bayside Beach Cleanup at Encinal Beach in Alameda

Also on Thursday, Dec. 29 there’s a bayside beach cleanup from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Encinal Beach in Alameda.

You can volunteer to clean up the beach while catching a glimpse of bay wildlife. Bring your own gloves and bucket or borrow from the Park District. Students can earn community service hours.

Participants should wear sturdy shoes and long sleeves. If you are age 13 through 17 and coming by yourself, you must bring a liability form signed by a parent or guardian. Email Susan Ramos at sramos@ebparks.org for the form.

For information and directions, call 510-544-3187.

All Park District visitor centers will be closed on Dec. 25, but the parks will be open as usual. For the full list of activities, visit www.ebparks. org/things-to-do.