SEE YOU IN 2024!
HAVE A HAPPY
NEW YEAR
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023
YEAR 35
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
That’s Sweet
Jenn’s Cupcakes marks $30,000 donation milestone
Page 2
Be a Volunteer
Why not make a resolution to give back to the community?
Page 3
Five Principals
The five principals for every workout... yes, EVERY workout
Page 10
INDEX Calendar ................ 11 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............. 9 East Bay Living ....... 4 Health & Fitness ... 10 Homes ..................... 6 Obituaries ............. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather .................. 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
NO. 52
CANYON MIDDLE SCHOOL
2023
Year in Review BY MICHAEL SINGER More new businesses and community engagement opportunities opened in Castro Valley in 2023 than in years past. We gathered as a community to celebrate the Rowell Ranch Rodeo, the Fall Festival, the Light Parade, and the 70th anniversary of the Christmas tree lighting in the Village. This year was also a time of great individual contributions and achievements. Musicians, actors, dancers, filmmakers, and artists of all disciplines inspired us to dream big and get loud! As a community, Castro Valley was not shy about voicing its opinion. We openly discussed the possibility of Castro Valley becoming an official city, the Central Business District Specific Plan, and how to fix the roads that washed out in the storms. Here’s a monthly breakdown of the major stories that the Castro Valley Forum brought to you:
see 2023 on page 5
Sports Field Project to be Reviewed By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
The $14 million upgrade to the sports fields at Canyon Middle School has a few environmental issues to monitor as construction is scheduled to begin in February 2024, according to a report issued this month. At its December 14 meeting, the Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board of Trustees heard a presentation that identified six potential items to keep an eye on while the field north of the campus is renovated. Under state law, public agencies must analyze and disclose the environmental impacts of projects that physically affect the environment. Greg Goodfellow with Placeworks, who was hired to manage this project and the sports field project at Creekside Middle School, said the mitigation study of the project presented must be certified by CVUSD before project approval. “Given the size of this project, we’re going to have to assume that some of these impacts will be unavoidable,” Goodfellow said. “And that takes it one step further, whereas an environmental impact report would simply require alternatives to the project.” The six items include the potential dust created during construction, a survey of birds nesting in nearby trees, and the construction of buffers near active nests. If any were found, see FIELD on back page
Vucinich: 19 Skippers During 54-Year A’s Career batboy, ballboy, clubhouse attendant, visitors’ clubhouse CASTRO VALLEY FORUM manager, home clubhouse From Bob Kennedy to Mark manager and equipment Kotsay, the Oakland Athletics manager for a total of 54 years have gone through 19 manag- before retiring after spring ers since moving from Kansas training in 2022. He surpassed the legendary Connie Mack, City in 1968. Only one man first owner and manager of the has been there for them all: team from 1901-1950 when it Castro Valley resident Steve was based in Philadelphia, as Vucinich. Vuc (pronounced Voose), as the man with the longest tenure he is known to friends, worked in A’s history. for the A’s as peanut vendor, Vucinich was inducted into By Lowell Hickey
While he was talking with the A’s Hall of Fame in 2022 and soon will be inducted into Zych, A’s coach and Vice Presthe Castro Valley Sports Hall ident Joe DiMaggio walked by. of Fame. “What high school do you Born and raised in Alameda, go to, kid?” the great DiMagVucinich was just 15 when he gio asked. began as a peanut vendor for “St. Joe’s,” Steve replied. Oakland’s new baseball fran“He’s Catholic, Al. Hire chise in 1968. That job lasted him,” instructed Joltin’ Joe. just days because he learned “I would have got hired that a clubhouse attendant anyway, but that makes a good had unexpectedly quit, so he story,” Vucinich chuckled. approached clubhouse manager As one could imagine, Vuc Al Zych to lobby for the job. is full of good stories. Many
of them have to do with team travel. Like the flight from Baltimore to Chicago in June 2011. Bob Geren had just been fired as manager but only Geren, Vucinich, and traveling secretary Mickey Morabito were aware of that. A storm prevented the plane from landing at either Midway or O’Hare and after much circling the plane had to detour to Lincoln, Ill., to refuel. see VUCINICH on back page