February 22, 2023

HOLY DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING AND THE FIRST DAY OF LENT

Ash

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

CV MARKETPLACE

MAC MEETING

INSIDE YOUR

INSIDE YOUR FORUM

Weed Woes?

Experts extol safe weed management without dangerous chemicals

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Sounds Like Fun

Ken Bergmann brings his family show to CV Arts Center this Sunday

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Do You Oppose?

Opposing muscle groups help our body maintain its posture

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‘Pizza

The Bay’ Opens On Friday

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Two friends are offcially launching the opening of their artisanal restaurant, “Pizza The Bay,” this Friday at the Marketplace to “give people a different type of pizza experience in Castro Valley.”

“All of this is just the beginning for us,” said co-founder and head chef Amrafel Thomas. “We started this journey about two years ago. It’s been a lot of work to get here, but we’re grateful for what we started and we are pushing toward taking things a step above.”

The restaurant is tucked away on the second foor of the Castro Valley Marketplace building right next door to Oculto. Pizza The Bay serves 12-inch sourdough pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, chicken wings, and salads. While the restaurant has been taking in customers for the last two weeks, it offcially opens this Friday, February 24.

Thomas and his friend and co-founder, Shimei Burgueno, said they had considered opening their pizzeria in a different see PIZZA on page 5

‘Objective Standards’ Reviewed

By Amy

Housing continues to be one of the most pressing issues in Castro Valley and California at large. Like every county in the state, Alameda County is developing a series of ordinances and regulations related to residential development.

At a special meeting on Wednesday, February 15, the MAC heard background on a “Draft of Objective Standards” for long-term future residential and mixeduse development in Castro Valley and other local unincorporated areas.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SINGER

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PIES: Pizza The Bay co-founder and Head Chef, Amrafel Thomas, cuts into one of his hundreds of sourdough pizza creations. The restaurant will have its offcial opening this Friday, February 24.

Reunion: Party of Two

By Jim Knowles CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

A couple of San Leandro High grads recently got together for their class reunion – though it wasn’t a very big party, just the two of them.

When you get to the 75th reunion there aren’t too many classmates still around.

Dale Berven and Jean (Warren) Cooper graduated on Jan. 28, 1948, back when San Leandro High was a 2-story brick building at the site of the current Bancroft Middle School.

“Back in the ’40s, SLHS housed six grades, from the 7th to the 12th,” said Berven. “Since the building wasn’t very large we had many portables, and each wooden portable was heated by a pot-bellied stove.”

As Berven recalls, a student from each classroom was assigned to go out to the coal shed, shovel coal, and bring some back for the stove. Also, the gym wasn’t big enough for regulation games, so the SLHS basketball team would have to travel to Castlemont to use their gym.

Jean remembers girls only wore dresses and skirts to school, no pants in those days. The school auditorium hosted the “Shuffe Inn” on Friday nights, hosted by the city’s recreation department, where you could relax, dance and play table tennis.

“A juke box was available and we always had the latest hit records,” Jean said. “Vocals you could hear and understand, very dreamy!”

Berven later went to San Francisco State where he graduated after taking a break see REUNION on back page

The county is working with consultants to develop a regional-specifc plan that would act as a sort of framework for future developments, which would simplify the process for developers and county staff. This would also minimize constraints and keep the process in compliance with state legislation (primarily, the California Housing Accountability Act) which enacts rules so appropriate projects can’t be hindered or delayed unnecessarily.

see MAC on back page

Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

SLHS grad and longtime Castro Valley High teacher Dale Berven joins classmate for 75th reunion.

PHOTO JIM KNOWLES

Weed Management Without Use of Dangerous Chemicals B

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

eautiful gardens and lawns are possible without putting hazardous chemicals into our streams and bodies of water, say local experts in integrated pest management.

The Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program paired with the Our Water Our World nonproft in a February 16 online webinar on controlling weeds in environmentally friendly ways. Some of these involve no chemicals, said cohosts Suzanne Bontempo and Charlotte Canner.

Anything applied to lawns that are not absorbed eventually fows into storm sewers, which then deliver their contents unfltered into streams and creeks, which fow into bodies of water such as the San Francisco Bay, said Bontempo.

Children and pets are better off not ingesting chemical lawn-care products by walking or playing on the lawn, either, she added. Information on alternatives is online at https:// ourwaterourworld.org/. Bontempo is a certifed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advocate who works with the group and others.

Meanwhile, there are ways to prevent those weeds in the frst place, rather than using chemicals to get them out once they’ve established themselves, said Canner, a certifed Gardening & Composting Educator who works with Earth Ally and Our Water Our World.

You probably want to start by fnding out what kind of weed you’re fghting, as weeds vary in what makes them fourish — or wither, Canner said. That’s most easily done by looking it up on the University of California’s Weed Photo Gallery at ipm. ucanr.edu/PMG/weeds, she said.

Then consider various barriers to keep the weeks out in the frst place. Canner suggests using layers of cardboard with mulch to kill off weed roots before planting or replanting what you want to grow.

Some weeds like acidic soil,

while others thrive in alkaline soil, so changing your garden’s pH might prevent some weeds from ever visiting, she said. That’s assuming the new pH is OK with the plants you’re trying to grow, however. The same goes for dry soil versus wet, although few plants other than weeds like wet, slow-draining soil.

On lawns, many people water shallowly rather than deeply, which helps weeds with their typically shallow roots more than grass. The advantage nature gives grass over most weeds is potentially see WEEDS on page 4

Dandelions: Enemy to most, but friend to a few.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUZANNE BONTEMPO

Percussion Discussion: Sounds Like Fun for the Entire Family

By Terry Liebowitz

“Hang on to your hat. You’re in for a wild ride.” Ken Bergmann brings his family show, Percussion Discussion, to the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, Sunday, February 26 at 3 p.m. Percussionist Bergmann presents a smashing spectacle of drums, cowbells chairs, and more in his one-man show. This fun, interactive, fast-paced 60 minute show will delight the whole family. Instruments from around the globe create everything from a computerized rock concert to an aerial dogfght between Snoopy and the Red Baron.

After the show, there will be special activities for the younger members of the audience in the Exhibition Room.

Bergmann is an accomplished educator and musician. He has performed the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar and the lead in Music Man, music directed such blockbusters as The Sound of Music and West Side Story, and percussed in over 60 musical productions.

Bergmann has been featured in 20/20, Evening Magazine, and 60 Minutes. Percussion Discussion is sponsored by Castro Valley Arts Foundation and Rotary Club of Castro Valley.

Tickets available now at: www.cvartsfoundation.org or 510-889-8961. For a limited time only, 1 children’s ticket is free with 1 adult purchase–1 offer per family.

New Chamber Team Ready for Work

By Gary Howard SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

The Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce is now fully staffed and ready to go to work for the entire unincorporated Alameda County area. The Chamber provides training and advice to new businesses, helps businesses navigate the regulatory processes with the County, and sponsors community-building events, such as the Fall Festival and Light Parade in Castro Valley as well as the Spring Family Fest coming up in May and “Showtime San Lorenzo”

later this year.

“I am happy to report that we are ready to go,” said Executive Director Gary Slate. “Our new offce and incubator space is at 15970 East 14th Street in Ashland, and I hope people will stop to learn how we can help them.”

In addition to Slate, the new team includes Dayna Speed (event coordinator), Deborah Finestone (social media coordinator), Josephine Taylor (newsletter editor), Olivia Hernandez Panameno (offce administrator), Alyssa Kiefer (bookkeeper), and Eva Alburo (intern).

“This is an outstanding team,” said Chamber President Todd Anglin. “With their help and that of a great board of directors and generous grants from the county, we are going to have a great year helping our business communities thrive. We are thrilled to support you, and please connect us with other businesses that would like to grow more too.”

The Chamber covers businesses in Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland and San Lorenzo. For more information, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.edenareachamber.com.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Traffc Stop Ends in Arrest

Friday, February 17: at 12:05 a.m., a 32-year-old man from Oakland was arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. Deputies stopped his vehicle in the parking lot on Redwood Road near the Boulevard following a moving violation. The man was found to have a pipe used for smoking drugs in his pocket and initially refused to cooperate with deputies trying to put him in the squad car.

Throwing Rocks at Cars

Thursday, February 16: at 2:50 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 36-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia. The man was throwing rocks at passing cars near the intersection of Five Canyons Parkway and the Boulevard. Deputies questioned the man and discovered a pipe for smoking methamphetamines. He was taken into custody.

Attempted Bike Theft

Thursday, February 16: at 12:30 p.m., a 42-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft of a bicycle at a home on Grove Way near Center Street. The man was seen trying to remove a bicycle from the garage and then running away. Deputies report the man claimed he was suicidal and was taken to a mental health care facility for observation.

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Financial Planning For Your Lifestyle in Retirement Since 1986

Wanted in Lake County

Thursday, February 16: at 1:40 p.m., deputies arrested a 24-year-old woman from Hayward as part of several outstanding warrants from Lake County. The woman was in a grocery store parking lot on Redwood Road near Castro Valley Boulevard when deputies stopped her for questioning and made a positive ID on the warrants. The woman had previously been charged with driving a vehicle reported stolen, possessing stolen property, and trying to evade arrest. Deputies took the woman to Santa Rita Jail pending $35,000 in bail.

Grand Theft

Tuesday, February 14: at 3:11 p.m., a 32-year-old man from Los Angeles was arrested as part of a court-issued warrant for his capture. Deputies caught up with the man while traveling on Castro Valley Boulevard and Grove Way. Deputies report that the man had previously been charged

with grand theft. The man was taken to Santa Rita Jail pending $10,000 in bail.

Citizen Arrests Trespasser

Monday, February 13: at 10:21 p.m., deputies arrested a 54-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of trespassing on private property and refusing to leave the grounds. The man was spotted in a restricted part of a church parking lot on Grove Way near Redwood Road. A church member enacted a citizen’s arrest. Deputies took the man into custody after they arrived.

Suspected of Mail Theft

Monday, February 13: at 2:35 p.m., a 57-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested for attempted mail theft outside a business on the Boulevard near Redwood Road. Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious person trying to retrieve mail from the store’s mail slot. The man was taken into custody.

This issue of the Castro Valley Forum contains the East Bay Regional Park District March - April 2023 Activity Guide.

flesforforum@gmail.com Claudette E. Morrison, Business Mgr. cm@ebpublishing.com

Mary Florence, Advertising Sales 861-3270 maryforence798@gmail.com

Linda Nakhai, Advertising Sales 915-1513 lnakhai@comcast.net

Contributors:

Linda Sandsmark

Mike McGuire

Amy Sylvestri

Jim Knowles

Gene Osofsky

Carl Medford

Terry Liebowitz

Debbie Tee

Linette Escobar

Thomas Lorentzen

Buzz Bertolero

Bruce Roberts

Ken Bergmann

COMING

EB Parks Receive Wildfre Funding

By Ned MacKay SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Key funding for two East Bay Regional Park District programs is included in a bill signed recently by President Joe Biden: wildfre protection in the East Bay hills and the visitor center at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park –Home of the Port Chicago 50.

The federal Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provides $1.5 million for wildfre protection and $3 million for the visitor center.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

stories of the Chupcan people. The area including Thurgood Marshall Regional Park is the ancestral homeland of the Chupcans.

Sunday, Feb. 26

Artists Meet and Greet at Center for the Arts

How does he do it? Come see David Gerard, magician and mind reader, Saturday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts (19501 Redwood Road) to see if you can fgure it out! David delivers magic and mind reading with charm, comedy, and sharp repartee. His baffing illusions and interactive style dazzle the most discerning audiences. David has been performing magic since he was six years old. Today, David performs for Fortune 500 companies, private parties for Silicon Valley’s elite, and international events in Qatar and beyond. He has been featured forty times at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood. He moved to California in 2010 to work in marketing for Google. His polish, poise and lightning-fast improv are defnitely his calling card. Free Parking. For tickets, please visit: www.cvartsfoundation.org or call: 510-889-8961.

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

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Sometimes a setback gives you a chance to get a sharper perspective on the situation at hand. Your cheerful nature will help you override this temporary disappointment. What you learn from this pays off soon.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Be careful not to charge into something you don’t fully understand. Being asked to act on trust might be al right, as long as you can trust the one who asks.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A chance for romance beckons from someone you thought was far out of reach. But Cupid can always come up with a shortcut. How you respond to the situation determines how the relationship develops.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): A career move seems more likely now than when you frst considered it. Some of your plans will need readjusting as new facts emerge. Be careful that you don’t allow jealousy to create an unnecessary obstacle.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your love for beautiful things is part of what makes you the fne feline you are. But a little caution is advisable for a while. Resist the urge to splurge until your money signs look a little better.

VIRGO (August 23 - Sept. 22): A co-worker could be trying to undermine you. Resist the temptation to retaliate. Instead, keep careful records of what you do so that you’ll be ready to present a strong position when the time comes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - October 22): Family problems have been simmering for a while and could soon boil over. Avoid taking sides. There are many facts you don’t know yet. Meanwhile, a business decision proves to be more complicated than you expected.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Cupid’s arrow can pierce hearts, but it can’t open tight lips. Only you can do that. That special someone you’ve been silently pining for all this time would love to hear you express those feelings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Well-meaning friends might try to persuade you to give up on that project that seems to have hit a dead end. Someone will take notice, and your persistence will pay off.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): It’s one thing to make a diffcult decision, but you also have to stick with it, despite any pressures to get you to change your mind. You need to reassure someone you care for that you can keep your commitments.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): This is a good time for you to remember to be good to yourself. A trip to a place that was once very special in your life reawakens many precious memories, and soon leads to making new ones.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): An old health problem fares up and needs attention. Also, a chilly reaction from a once-warm friend needs to be confronted. Set the record straight before it’s too late to save the friendship.

Wildfre safety is one of the Park District’s top priorities. Year-round efforts include monitoring fre dangers and weather, staffng professionally trained full-time and on-call frefghters, maintaining specialized wildland frefghting equipment, and removing fammable vegetation to reduce wildfre risks.

The funds secured for Thurgood Marshall Regional Park will be used to design a visitor center there offering programs and displays about the park’s natural and cultural history.

The future visitor center, planned with the National Park Service, will highlight the history of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and the Diablo Valley, displaying the area’s agricultural history, natural history, and

“The Park District Board and staff are grateful to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier for their support. The funds they secured are extremely important for the District’s ongoing efforts to reduce wildfre risks caused by climate change and years of severe drought, and to open up public access to our newest Regional Park,” said Park District Board President Dennis Waespi.

Volcanoes, Labyrinths, Quarries and Newts

“Volcanoes, Labyrinths, Quarries and Newts” is the theme of a walk from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland hills, led by naturalist Michael Charnofsky. This is a 2.5-mile moderate hike through the park to explore its ancient geology, historic quarries, present-day labyrinths and wildlife.

It’s free and registration is not necessary. Meet Michael at the park’s staging area on Skyline Boulevard, about a quarter-mile south of the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Oakland. For information, call 510-544-3187. see PARKS on back page

Weeds: DIY Remedies

continued from page 2 deep roots, so encourage your lawn to send its roots deeper, Bontempo said.

One way to do this is to water less frequently but for longer. Lawns should be aerated once or twice a year also, she said. Overseed with grass relative to what you might think is needed, and then mulch to keep weeds down.

Unfortunately, if they do pop up, the best way to remove them is by pulling them out. But there are specialized tools to remove almost any specifc weed, including dandelions, Canner said. You can get them in better hardware stores, garden shops, and farm supply stores that still dot the Bay Area.

Do take heart if you try but fail to get the whole weed out, she said. Every part you remove weakens the weed; repeating this will eventually kill the plant.

Vinegar will also kill weeds, she said, but you need to use horticultural vinegar, which is much stronger than the household variety. It can burn you badly if you spill it on yourself.

There are do-it-yourself remedies that can kill weeds but do your homework frst. Salt indeed kills weeds, but also most other plants. Dishwashing “soap” is a detergent, Bontempo cautioned, and not good for the environment.

Information on natural products is available from the Organic Materials Review Institute at www.omri.org and the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program: https:// cleanwaterprogram.org/yardsand-gardens/

The February 16 seminar, for those who missed it, is available on the Clean Water program YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ cleanwaterprogramalamedaco3232/videos

Castro Valley’s newest art gallery, at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts (19501 Redwood Road), invites everyone for a Meet and Greet, Sunday, February 26, 12 noon to 2 pm featuring the works of Denise Oyama Miller and Lynne Shephard. Normally, access is limited to events within the Center for the Arts or by appointment. (510-8898961) This is a special time, open to the public at large.

Sunday, Feb. 26

All Rise for Judge LaDoris Hazard Cordell

Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear from retired judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the frst Black woman judge in Northern California, on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 pm. She’ll discuss her new book, Her Honor, and her legal career spanning fve decades. Her insights forged as a lawyer, law professor, Santa Clara County Superior Court judge, and police auditor, can help make the justice system work better for us all. Signed books will be available for sale from Books on B, and we’ll give away two in a special drawing. Register at aclibrary.org or call 510-667-7900.

Sunday, Feb. 26

‘Percussion Discussion’ at Center for the Arts

“Hang on to your hat. You’re in for a wild ride.” Ken Bergmann brings his family show, Percussion Discussion, to the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. Percussionist Bergmann presents a smashing spectacle of drums, cowbells chairs, and more in his one-man show. This fun, interactive, fast-paced 60 minute show will delight the whole family. Tickets at: cvartsfoundation.org or 510-889-8961. For a limited time only, 1 children’s ticket is free with 1 adult purchase (1 offer per family).

Tuesday, Feb. 28

CV Rotary Hosts Principal Kenny Kahn

Principal Kenny Kahn will present about Redwood Continuation School, the Castro Valley Virtual Academy, and the various programs at Redwood. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) at 12 noon to 1:30 pm. The cost of lunch is $20, and reservations must be made by 9 pm on Sunday, February 26, by contacting Rotary at cvrotary@iCloud.com or 510-402-5123. More information is available at castrovalleyrotary.org.

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Creekside Middle School Fundraiser

Please support Creekside Middle School’s Fundraiser, to be held on Tuesday, February 28 from 9 am to 7 pm at The Cannery Kitchen & Tap, 3295 Castro Valley Blvd. Mention “Creekside” when ordering. Proceeds will go towards repair of their marquee.

Saturday, March 4

ACSO Health and Wellness Fair

Please join the Alameda County Sheriff’s Offce on Saturday March 4, 2023, at the Hayward Adult School located at 22100 Princeton St, Hayward for their Health & Wellness Fair. Information will be provided by medical, dental, and mental health professionals to kick off a healthy 2023. Exercise demonstrations and upcoming ftness classes will be provided by the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU), our Deputy Sheriffs Activity League (DSAL) and the Hayward Area Recreation Department (HARD). Representatives from Dig Deep Food Hub will round out the event by providing info on healthy meal preparation along with a live cooking demonstration and information on urban farming.

Pizza: Grand Opening is This Friday

continued from front page location in Lafayette but were persuaded by Marketplace management that Castro Valley was hungry for artisanal pizza.

“The response has been very positive. People appreciate and are excited to try our way of doing pizza and tell their friends,” Burgueno said.

Both men are from the San Francisco Peninsula, and their families have been friends for more than 20 years. With the help of small business loans, personal savings, and support from family, friends, and 12 employees, they are now building on their dream.

Burgueno had an early career as a model for an agency in San Francisco and says he learned business management from his dad, who runs his own painting company.

“Seeing the increase in prioritizing cleanliness during the pandemic, I started my own maintenance company in late 2020, where I would be doing jobs like pressure washing, window cleaning, and janitorial services,” Burgueno said.

Thomas came to the Bay Area nine years ago from Guatemala, where he worked as a real estate agent but had a passion for baking and opened a few bakeries in his home country. When he got to California, he put that passion for baking to work.

“I worked my way up from dishwasher to a top chef at Pizza Hacker in San Francisco and Marin County,” Thomas said. “ My mentor was the pizza hacker himself, Jeff Krupman. This is where I learned how to make and put my own spin on the famous sourdough crust that Pizza Hacker is known for.”

The co-founders said that the idea for a sit-down pizzeria germinated about two years

Health & Fitness: How Our Bodies Maintain its Posture

By Mitch Rothbardt SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Let’s talk about opposites. I don’t mean hot or cold, black or white, yummy food compared to olives, kind of opposites. I mean how things affect other things in unexpected ways.

We were talking in the gym this morning, and Sally asked how the range of motion (ROM), or lack of it, can affect knee pain. She hadn’t thought about my answer, so she suggested I write about it.

What do I mean by opposites?

Our body maintains its posture through what are called opposing muscle groups. That sounds complicated, but all it means is that muscles counteract muscles on one side of the body on the other side. Think chest and back.

In a perfect world, each muscle is about as strong as the opposing muscle, which allows our body to stay balanced and in good posture. When there’s a large disparity, it means that one muscle must bear more of the responsibility of keeping us upright and moving. That can lead to poor posture and/or movement, leading to pain.

What does this mean in the real world?

Injuries and pain tend to happen at extreme ROM. An extreme ROM is defned as one that extends outside normal positions. (That’s different for everyone due to differences in fexibility, mobility, strength, and other factors. For example, an extreme shoulder ROM may be an overhead reach for one person while someone else’s may be raising their arm only shoulder high.)

ago. After working on recipes and business strategies for the last eight months, they started making pizzas out of a rented kitchen (also called a ghost kitchen) in San Mateo. They sold pizza for online delivery services and catering gigs.

“We got a lot of great responses to our pizzas, but they are best when they’re fresh, so having a sit-down restaurant was the direction we wanted to go,” Burgueno said.

The Pizza The Bay menu offers about 14 pizza topping styles, such as the classic pepperoni, Margherita-style,

and BBQ chicken pizzas. But Thomas has a book of about 100 different types of pizzas, including a “Washington Square” style topped with prosciutto, egg, parsley, oregano, and Italian Grana Padano cheese; and a “Cinque Terre” style with roasted zucchini, basil, sweet onion, garlic, and Fresno chilis.

The restaurant opens at 12 noon each day, closes at 9 p.m. during the week and at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Takeout orders can be made at the Pizza The Bay website (https:// www.pizzathebay.com/)

When we’re in those positions, the strength in surrounding muscles holds everything together and keeps the joints and muscles in good working order.

I know it’s a complex concept, so here’s an example. A common cause of knee pain is when the muscles on the back of our legs (hamstrings) are weaker than the ones on the front (quadriceps). In this case, the stronger quadriceps overpower the weaker hamstrings and pull our knee too far forward. OUCH.

This also means that:

1. Our joints frequently aren’t the cause of joint pain. Yes, your knees may not be the actual problem.

When there’s a large disparity of opposing muscle, one muscle must bear more of the responsibility of keeping us upright and moving. That can lead to poor posture and/or movement, leading to pain.

2. Proper strength training is really darn important.

Other common

problem areas are shoulders (chest vs. upper back) and low back (hip fexors vs. glutes.)

So now that you’re an expert on this subject, what to do? In my opinion, the most important thing is to change your mindset around chronic

pain. It’s crucial to understand that shoulder, knee, and low back pain often has little to do with your shoulders, knees, and lower back. Once you understand that, you can more easily see answers that lie more in your locus of control as opposed to a surgeon’s. Isn’t that an incredibly empowering notion?

Mitch Rothbardt is the owner and head trainer at Castro Valley Fitness. Email him at: Mitch@castrovalleyftness.com

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REAL ESTATE GALLERY REAL ESTATE GALLERY

REAL ESTATE REALITY GUEST

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Times

COMMENTARY

Spring Market Erupts Early

In a traditional real estate market (not that we’ve seen one for a long time), Superbowl Sunday marks the kickoff to the spring selling season.

The logic is simple: men, captivated by the climax of the football season, are not willing to give up their sofas in lieu of tramping through open houses.

Once the big game is over, however, all that changes as a seat in front of the TV is exchanged for a seat behind the wheel. This year, however, it seems the Superbowl has had little or no effect: the market had already launched prior to the kickoff.

In what has been a shocking turn of events, the spring real estate market seems to have arrived well ahead of the crocuses as buyers are out in full force, open houses are again crowded and multiple offers are back.

The only thing that’s missing? Listings.

In fact, an already low market inventory is getting even lower as buyers are starting to snap up available homes and sellers are not hitting the market at the same pace.

This seems to line up with prognosticators who suggested that once buyers came to terms with the fact that interest rates were not going back down any time soon, they would get back into the market. Sellers, on the other hand, are taking a lot longer to deal with the fact that if they refnanced at the incredibly low rates over a year ago, when they sell their home and buy a replacement, they are going to have to say goodbye to historically low rates they will probably never again see in their lifetime.

For some, that is a tough pill to swallow.

Now is an Excellent Time To Prune Your Grape Vine

On the fip side is that fact that every spring inventory does increase, as sellers realize it is the best time of the year to sell. The difference this year is that we may not see as much of an increase as we have seen in previous years, which, in and of itself, should provide the market with some additional impetus. Years ago, when answering machines were a thing, my Canadian neighbor put a cute message on his machine in time for the spring thaw. “Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder who a-calling me is?” If I was to rewrite that today, it would be, “Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the inventory is?”

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.

QWhoever lived in our house before planted a grape arbor with edible grapes on one side and wine grapes on the other. The vines appear very old, perhaps never pruned at all. The arbor recently fell down. So, now I have no idea when or how to prune it. What should I be doing?

By Buzz Bertolero THE DIRT GARDENER

AGrapes are pruned when they are dormant, so now is an excellent time to do so. They are either ‘spur’ or ‘cane’ pruned depending on the fruiting habits of the variety. Typically, wine grapes are cane pruned, while table or eating grapes prefer spur pruning. Cane pruning is used on those varieties growing on arbors.

The fruiting wood is developed away from the trunk. We leave long canes to train on wires, trellis, or arbors. Grape varieties that are Spur Pruned develop fruiting wood close to the base. They are pruned back to within several buds to leave small spurs for development.

To get a better idea of this, I’d google ‘pruning grape videos’. You should fnd many videos on You Tube, to help clarify things. It will also give you a sense of what to do next.

Whatever you decide, I’d forgo a crop of grapes next year to get the vines under control. They can’t stay on the ground, so you must decide what to do about the arbor. If you don’t rebuild, you’ll need a trellis structure, not a fence.

There are several ways you can attack the mass of twisted canes. The frst is to cut off everything and start from scratch with the new shoots that develop this spring. Or, you could

select the most vigorous or longest canes to serve as your foundation. They would be attached to the new arbor or trellis. All the rest of the canes not used would be cut off at the ground. Next winter is when I would prune for a grape harvest. Either option is doable. You’ll just have to select the option that’s best for you.

QDoes the passion fruit I see in the supermarket grow on the passion vine? I’ve never seen any fruit on the one that covers my fence.

APassion fruit is a member of a larger family of vining plants that are grown for their fowers. Some varieties require pollination, while others are self-fertile. The most popular ornamental/fruiting variety is Passifora Edulis. It has

large white and purple fowers, and the fruit is oval in shape purple in color, and the pulp is yellow with black seeds. The fruit is highly aromatic. The best production comes when the winters are mild, and frost-free and the area has cool summers. The key to pollination is humid conditions, where we have problems.

Typically it’s too dry for pollination to occur but that is not to say that mother nature might cooperate one of these days. In the meantime, you should enjoy the fowers and foliage.

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

Homes

Mortgage Rates Increase for Second Consecutive Week

Mortgage rates moved up for the second consecutive week. The economy is showing signs of resilience, mainly due to consumer spending, and rates are increasing. Overall housing costs are also increasing and therefore impacting infation, which continues to persist.

WEEKEND GARDENER

March Jobs

Take time to get caught up on the chores you skipped during the rainy days. Yellow oxalis plants are blooming all over the East Bay. Pull them while the soil is still very moist, being careful to remove the root. Oxalis often break off at the soil line and will be up again before you know it. And don’t forget those snails and slugs. The recent rains brought them out in force. Hand pick them in the evening, or use copper barriers or crushed eggshells around newly transplanted fowers and vegetables.

Strawberries

Remove strawberry blooms through May to concentrate the plant’s energy into big, sweet berries.

Roses

Check roses and trees for suckers, those little shoots that grow from the rootstock. Cut them off with shears or a spade, since they sap the plant’s energy.

Markets

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Design - Construction - Maintenance. Cleanups, New Lawn, Artificial Grass, Irrigation, Patios, Pathways, Brick, Stone, Concrete Fence/ Decks. Free Estimates! Lic.#925130. 510-691-8852. www.beautygardenlandscaping.com

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

RENTALS/ROOMS

Remodeled room at 20390 Concord Avenue in Hayward. $1000/ month, utilities included. No pets. Call Martha 510-418-0876.

SERVICES

HANDYMAN & CONTRACTORS

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TREE

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YOUR INFO

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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CastroValleyForum.com

Appearing March 15 (CVF) and 16 (SLT)

SanLeandroTimes.com

Here is your chance to tell your career success in picture and story in the San Leandro Times. These special pages pay tribute to the women movers and shakers in our community.This section salutes top women employees and entrepreneurs through photo profiles.

CastroValleyForum.com

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Attention Classified & Home Services Directory Advertisers

Classified & Home Service ads run in both the Castro Valley Forum and San Leandro Times.

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Countywide Mental Health Commission

On January 11, Dilma Franks-Spruill was stabbed to death on Eighth Street in Oakland while she was walking home from work. Wilbert Winchester, the man charged with the crime, had been diagnosed with bipolarity and schizophrenia when he was 17.

The case is one of the hundreds being addressed by a newly created 26-member commission this month forged by Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price to “fnd new pathways to support families and our community dealing with loved ones who suffer from serious mental illnesses and are court involved.”

Alameda County’s current 2022-23 budget includes $620.5 million for Behavioral Health Care, which includes programs such as those addressing psychiatric issues, substance abuse, and support and advocacy for families. The District Attorney said she acknowledged the lack of resources to address the needs of residents with mental health issues caught up in the court system. Already her offce has created several collaborative courts and initiatives as alternatives to incarceration, focusing on rehabilitation, education, and intervention for individuals caught up in the criminal justice system.

“We want to treat people suffering from mental health issues with the care and responsible justice they deserve,” DA Price said in a statement. “The creation of this commission is just the beginning in effecting change. It won’t happen overnight, but rest assured, this is a step in the right direction in providing alternatives to mass incarceration.”

The ideas and input from the commission are expected to educate and inspire the DA’s Offce to improve how the system currently operates, how to expand the services, and how to address behavioral health courts. DA Price says she is committed to increasing the capacity and support available to all county residents through programs like the CARES Navigation Center in Oakland.

For a personal perspective, DA Price met with the families of Franks-Spruill and Winchester, along with Oakland Mayor, City Councilmembers, and mental health professionals.

“We need to fnd a way to get our loved one’s care –not cages,” said Kimberly Graves, a member of Alameda County’s Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill (FASMI). “Far too often, the only time our family members get treatment is with a criminal sentence, and all the additional baggage that comes with it doesn’t help their recovery. There must be a better path to recovery and care in our county.”

The commission met for the frst time on February 9. Additional meetings are planned throughout the year.

Letters Editor TO THE

Response to Ms. Shieman

Ms. Shieman likes to make guesses. Angie Shipp can make some too. I would guess Monica Shieman is not even her name because people who write the stuff she writes probably would be scared to use their own name. Just a guess. I would guess Monica Shieman is a miserable invididual who has nothing better to do than spread venom about a margainilised group. I would furthermore guess that Ms. Shieman not only despises trans folks and LGBTQ+ folks but also dislikes/hates other groups of people who do not refect her colour/ethnicity/religion, etc. Because most folks who speak hatred of one group of people are equal opportunity haters. I would venture to guess she might be a closeted LGBTQ+/trans person frustrated that she can not come out or will not come out due to whatever reason. So she takes out her frustrations on the very own group she would like to be a part of. Just a guess. Now for some facts. I am Mom to 4 children, 3 of whom were raped by a sexual predator in a church bathroom at age 5, 6, 7, in 1997. It took years to bring the creep to justice and then years to try and convict him. Then he got a lousy 7 years and served only 5 of those. I hate rapists and sexual predators. I seldom use the word hate. I believe they deserve the death penalty or life in prison at hard labour with no possibility of parole. I would like to see Ms. Shieman’s facts and statistics on exactly how many people have been charged/convicted of rape/molestation in a women’s facility who are transgender or who otherwise entered the facility through a means of identifying as a female. Numbers please? Yes, my kids were raped in a bathroom by a male who identifed as heterosexual and cisgender and who was not part of the LGBTQ+ community, who was engaged to be married and who had already fathered one child. Let’s punish these real criminals and not give them a slap on the wrist and let them go so they can do it again, whether they are trans or cis, gay or straight, male or female identifying, whatever. Punish the criminals and leave innocent trans people alone and let them empty their bladder when it is full. Every restroom I have used in 9 different states has always had doors that lock securely and are very private and have good solid partition/walls which do not allow anyone to see anything. What do you think Ms Shieman, do trans people go in a restroom, pull down their pants and pee in front of people?? I can only guess. Because you can only guess too. Thank you.

–Angela Shipp, Castro Valley

Urge Supervior Miley, Tam To Pass Rental Ordinance

Dear Editor,

I write to urge Supervisors Miley and Tam to consider the needs of unincorporated Eden Area residents, by passing the ordinance establishing Just Cause, Fair Chance, and a rental registry at their meeting on Feb. 28.

The recent press statement from Miley’s offce says compromise is needed – What does compromise even mean when renters facing the threat of eviction are still unable to get a meeting with Supervisor Tam, and when renters have already met with Miley repeatedly and shown up at countless meetings to share their testimonies? Miley’s position has certainly not changed. I read in last week’s article that Supervisor Tam has paid attention to “hundreds” of letters from landlords but can’t take the time to hear directly from my neighbors who have requested to meet with her.

As someone who faced a sudden eviction notice in 2021, I feel for my neighbors. I scrambled to fnd a new place with little notice, even as someone with a white-collar job, no kids, and no record. Meanwhile, my neighbors talk about choosing between feeding their families and making the rent. 60% of residents in the Eden Area are renters and our area is 80% single-family housing. Exempting smaller units makes no sense.

Despite Tam’s insistence that existing state law is suffcient, my neighbors report otherwise, noting the challenges of fear of retaliation if they report maintenance issues, the threat that a landlord will only fx their apartment with the intent of booting them out for a higher-paying tenant, and sudden rent increases. As someone whose relatives grew in an unpermitted garage unit in a tenuous economic situation, I saw the mental health stressors that places on families, especially younger generations.

I’m calling on our County Supervisors to put the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors frst.

–Eva Poon, San Lorenzo

The Eviction Tsunami for Tenants is Coming Soon

Dear Editor,

I did not see any responses to my last letter “Is This Fair To Women?”. If Selina Soule is indeed wrong in her thinking, we need to know why and how to proceed. Imagine you are writing to her and address her concerns. Anyone?

No one addressed Mr. Bradford’s letter (“Businesses Should Serve All of the Public”). Let’s try.

He seems concerned about local forist and bakers refusing him (or others) service. I am 100% sure if he walked into any local establishment and asked any vendor to sell any merchandise on the shelf to him, or deliver it to any venue, they certainly would. The issue before the court is NOT refusal of service. It’s about forcing an artist (Lorie Smith) to CREATE a message that goes against her beliefs.

During the recent storms last month, an Ashland resident called members of Eden Renters United that her entire apartment was fooded with sewage water, destroying her entire home.

Her landlord had refused to fx their plumbing and now her entire family had to be relocated with no assurance they will have a home to return to. Under current state law, a landlord does not have an obligation to keep a tenancy if major repairs are needed. Unincorporated residents need a local just cause law so they have a right to return under no fault of theirs, our families need assurance they will be housed.

Letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number, and must be under 300 words. Letters can be edited for clarity or length. Letters are the views of the author and not necessarily those of the newspaper or its advertisers. E-mail letters to: flesforforum.com or online at: mycvforum.com/letters-to-the-editor

Mr. Bradford has run an amazing ministry for years - restoring and donating bicycles to underprivileged kids. He has helped hundreds, maybe thousands, who knows? Many are better off because of his dedication to this cause. He (no doubt) scavenges parts from non-functional machines and assembles them to produce a unique combination of parts that work. He is not only a skilled mechanic, but a true artist.

Now suppose some law required him to accommodate a recipient’s request to inscribe a bible verse opposing homosexuality on the top tube of the bicycle. He would be faced with (a) discontinuing his work, serving no one or (b) being forced to convey a message that goes against every belief he holds and fghts for, indeed against the very nature of his being. That is no choice at all! Why would we do such a terrible thing to him - or Lorie Smith? I am hoping we will not.

– Stacy Spink, Castro Valley

Note, the current state law leaves out renters who rent from a private single family home, this makes 6,000 local rental homes and 10,000 people vulnerable to being kicked out without a reason in the unincorporated area. Poverty for Black and Asian American communities in areas like Castro Valley have dramatically increased since 2010 and face housing instability.

For over three years, we have been asking the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to adopt a local Just Cause law for residents of the unincorporated area. A surge of evictions or a tsunami has been documented to happen locally and nationally after moratorium lifts.

When neighboring Bay Area counties lifted their moratorium, eviction rates were on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels. There is an impending disaster upon Eden area residents who have the least protections in Alameda County and the Supervisors can take action now to prevent further harm. Without a local Just Cause ordinance and enforcement of it, many residents in the unincorporated area will be vulnerable to being homeless and we will all suffer as we lose more working families in the Eden area.

– Leo Esclamado, Ashland

An Appreciation For All Valleys

By Thomas Lorentzen SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Playing with thoughts and ideas is a good exercise for one’s mind. And, as health experts know, exercise is good for one’s health. With that said, an idea emerged within me during a recent trip. It was to a favored place for me to visit for 45 years. It, like Castro Valley, is a valley. It is a very large and rugged one. It is also a national park and considered to be the largest of our jewels within our National Park system. It is a place called Death Valley. Despite its foreboding name, it has been a place for me to go to obtain a peaceful perspective toward time and life. The same in the adjacent Armagosa Valley, which is largely based in Nevada. Like Death Valley, it also is a large and desolate place.

While there I wondered why I have found Death Valley and its neighboring area to be a place of not only peace, but beauty. It did not come easy, for it took time to develop an appreciation for the desert. The same with classical music, poetry, and other aspects of life. With that, I refected upon the role of place, which plays an important role in defning who we are, what we do, and what we believe. Scholars who have studied John Steinbeck have always emphasized the critical role that place played in Steinbeck’s life and writings. His classic book, East of Eden, is centered in his hometown area – the Salinas Valley. It was also the title he originally planned to use for his novel – “The Salinas Valley.” He felt that if he could capture the essence of the forces and faces that transpired there, it could apply to many other places and performances around the world.

As I explored these thoughts I wondered if there was something unique about valleys in terms of impacting human thought and behavior. In so doing, my research revealed that this subject has been explored by many before me. As it turns out, valleys may be incubators of thoughts and awareness, as well as for enlarging perspectives and perhaps even fostering a philosophy of its own. Among thoughts discovered are one from John Wooden - the famed basketball coach. It is that “All life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.” Billy Graham provided another by saying that “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys” Gilbert Chesterton added that “One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.” Given these thoughts, you see the drift of this article. Living here in Castro Valley may have more value than commonly perceived. Being at the foor of both Death Valley and the Armagosa Valley made me wonder if valleys enlarge one’s awareness of things as well as perspective on both nature and life. I don’t know, yet I played with this possibility. While attending an event at the Armagosa Opera House at Death Valley Junction an added awareness emerged. A team of young dancers from a nearby town performed vignettes from past performances by the late ballet dancer, Marta Becket. They emulated the type of dancing that Becket had done for decades. They did it with creativity and artistry. It struck me that although it is wonderful to attend the ballet in San Francisco, the ballet I watched at Death Valley Junction had a unique spirituality to it. I wouldn’t trade it for a performance anywhere else.

In returning home to Castro Valley, these thoughts are put to paper as a playful perspective on the impact that the hills and valley where we live may have upon our own lives. Maybe they enrich us more than we realize. We may just have to pause and look around. If inspiration is needed, Death Valley may be able to provide it. Although it may be the hottest place on earth, it may also be one of the most unique from which to think and write.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Concerned About EBMUD’s Plan to Use Old Quarry Site

I’m concerned about EBMUD’s plans to use the old quarry site (13575 Lake Chabot Road) as a dumping ground for trench soils for the next 40-80 years, specifcally the increased traffc on an already unstable Lake Chabot Road, increase in noise, pollution and dust from trucks, and especially the length of the project (40-80 years, which is EBMUD’s estimate).

EBMUD has described this as a restoration project but that’s a misleading description and not an accurate representation of its primary purpose, which will be more like an ongoing construction site. When my husband and I moved here 2 years ago, we didn’t even realize there was an old quarry there because the hillside has been reclaimed by nature already. It’s covered in natural grasses, shrubs, trees, and wildlife. It blends in with the surrounding area. It doesn’t need restoration.

Also, if this project is approved, are we giving carte blanche to EBMUD to do what they want for as long as they want in that area? Because who will remember the original promise of restoration in 40 to 80 years when current employees and residents have passed away or moved on? I want to live here long term but if this project is approved, then I have serious doubts about living next to an ongoing construction site for the rest of my life.

Several neighbors and I have formed a coalition to stop this project from moving forward as it is currently planned. If you’d like to learn more or sign the petition, go to savelakechabotroad. com. Together, we can make a difference and ensure a lovely environment for our children and grandchildren.

– Linda Watkins, San Leandro

Concerned, Saddened by Current Homeless Issue

As a born and raised Castro Vallien, I’m concerned and saddened that my community will lose value and safety with our current homeless issue. I recently bought a home near Trader Joes off redwood road. Two homeless men approached me on the same night while attempting to enter the store. One man ran after my vehicle, and the other bowed to me. When I did not respond to him bowing at me, he began to swear at me and run around the parking lot. The Presbyterian Church had a great idea to assist the unhoused but unfortunately, it has caused problems for the other community members. I worked extremely hard to buy a house in my hometown. I shouldn’t feel unsafe doing basic grocery shopping. The church should be accountable for who they’re inviting into our community. People need assistance, and as a nurse, I’m empathetic in helping people. But enabling bad behavior does not improve the lives of individuals, it only tarnishes the community we live in.

– Jennifer Reis, Castro Valley

Castro Valley High School, We Have a Major Problem

My mother lives in Castro Valley. I go help her often because of a visual impairment. She lives by Castro Valley High School where many students are smoking weed, drink vodka (I pick up their bottles in case some parent wants to do a DNA test) during breaks. They get the munchies and order food on their apps from nearby joints (not a pun) and get in their cars and drive. After that, they leave a littered mess on the streets and go back to class all potted up! Of course neighbors - with the exclusion of parents of students it appears - are sick, tired, frustrated and angry about this and have contacted the principal, the school district and the sheriff who probably have bigger fsh to fry than preventing a car crash. Maybe this letter will be a wake up call to parents.

–Ines Simone, San Leandro

FILED JAN 27, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 595092

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

First Baptist Preschool A Kids Kingdom; A Kid’s Kingdom Preschool; AKK, located at 18550 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): First Baptist Church of Castro Valley, 18550 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by a Corporation

This business commenced 10/22/1990 /s/ Lisa Miller

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

Expires JAN 26, 2028

FEB 08, 15, 22, MAR 01, 2023 0534-CVF

FILED JAN 27, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 595079

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Quantum Graphic Studios, located at 4865 Mancini Dr., Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): William Pelkey, 4865 Mancini Dr., Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by an Individual.

This business commenced 1993

/s/ William Pelkey

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

Expires JAN 26, 2028

FEB 08, 15, 22, MAR 01, 2023 0534-CVF

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NUMBER 556359

The following person has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name:

Liberty Theatrical Decor, at 22313 Meekland Ave., Hayward CA 94541, in Alameda County. Full name of registrant is: Donald Nethercottl, at 18850 Lenross Ct., Castro Valley, CA 94546.

The Fictitious Business Name Statement

Liberty Theatrical Decor, was filed on 03/12/2019 in the county of Alameda.

Original File Number 556359. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

(A registrant who declares as true information, which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime). This statement was filed with the County clerk of Alameda County on: top right stamp date. NOTICE - This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed on, in the office of the County Clerk.

A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (see Section 14400, et seq., B&P Code.) This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of Alameda County on 02/03/2023.

FEB 08, 15, 22, MAR 01, 2023 0565-CVF

THANK

FILED FEB 01, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 595241

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Beard Papa’s Castro Valley, located at 3295 Castro Valley Blvd., Suite 102 Castro Valley, CA 94546. PO Box 20252 Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): JYTF LLC, 1401 21st ST, Suite R, Sacramento, CA 95811. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. This business commenced N/A /s/ Ye Ye

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

Expires JAN 31, 2028

FEB 08, 15, 22, MAR 01, 2023 0534-CVF

FILED JAN 27, 2023

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 595093

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Pacific Transactions, located at 18459 Reamer Road Castro Valley, CA 94546. P.O. Box #20261 Castro Valley CA 94546. In Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Gabriella Stefanic, 18459 Reamer Road Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by an Individual. This business commenced N/A

/s/ Gabriella Stefanic

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

Expires JAN 22, 2028

FEB 01, 08, 15, 22, 2023 0556-CVF

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Gabriel Boutet

Gabriel Boutet is our Athlete of the Week. Gabriel, a proud Condor at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley, has played ice hockey since he was 5 with the Tri-Valley Blue Devils. This year, He was selected for the club’s Tier 1 team, the Tri-Valley Bulls 12U AAA. During its frst season, the team made it to the State Championship Tournament. During their semi-fnal game, Gabriel got the assist on the game-winning goal against the Jr Ducks. With this victory, the team played in the State Championship Game. In its frst year, the team fnished this season 5th in the Pacifc Division.

MAC: Objective Standards Review

continued from front page

The “objective standards” are designed to ensure that the appearance of new development is compatible with the community’s vision by providing a checklist of necessities and design guidelines. Objective standards include specifed approved lot sizes, heights, distances, setbacks, roof pitches, landscaping, required architectural features, open space standards, and more.

If a project complies with this checklist, it would be approved in a more streamlined process, allowing easier development and more housing in the community. A copy of the Draft Standards is available at https://bit.ly/3k20sAP.

Next, the Draft Objective

Reunion: Only Two in Attendance

continued from front page from school for a stint in the U.S. Navy fying jets off the USS Philippine Sea and the USS Hornet. In 1956, Berven became one of the original teachers at Castro Valley High, the year the school opened.

During his 33 years at CVHS, Berven was a teacher, coach, department head, athletic director and administrator. He was the last of the original teachers to leave when he departed 1989. He was inducted into the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and he’s still a volunteer docent aboard the USS Hornet in Alameda.

At the end of January, Berven and his wife Joanne drove up to Grass Valley where Jean Cooper lives and had lunch with Cooper and her youngest daughter Terri Myers.

“Jean and I were able to reminisce about the old San Leandro High School,” said Berven who now lives in Livermore.

Standards will be presented to the MACs of the other unincorporated areas through March before ultimately going to the Alameda County Planning Department for approval.

Any project requiring a discretional review (meaning not in objective compliance with these standards) would go back before the MAC for variance approval on a case-by-case basis. Still, those meeting basic guidelines would pass through the process in a more simplifed manner.

“This is a tremendously important project,” said MAC Chair Bill Mulgrew.

Mulgrew went on to say that he does wish that more developers participated in the development of the plan (they were invited, but few chose to

HOME GAMES THIS WEEK

participate). He said he was concerned that developers might balk at the plan at a later date when it comes to actually building housing.

“I would sleep better if I knew there was some level of acceptance in the developer community before this is written in stone,” said Mulgrew.

The Castro Valley MAC was the frst to hear this informational item. MAC member Shannon Killebrew said she wants to absorb feedback from the other three unincorporated area MACs (Fairview, Eden Area, and Sunol) before signing off on the plan.

Planners said that feedback from all the MACs and supplemental comments would all be considered as they work to build a cohesive document.

After high school, Jean married Bob Cooper whose family owned Homekraft Bakery in San Leandro. She worked as a secretary while Bob fnished college at San Jose State.

The couple raised three children and later sold the bakery, moved to Antioch and built a marina, The Driftwood Marina, where she and Bob did a variety of jobs. Eventually, they had enough of the work and moved up north. Bob passed away in 2002 and Jean now resides in Grass Valley.

Berven said he and Jean both felt lucky to grow up when they did.

“World War II was going on but the country was unifed and things turned out well for most of us,” he said.

Other classmates that he’s aware of went on to careers as executives, some went into education, and one became a county superintendent of schools, among other occupations.

At the 1948 class 50th reunion, Berven said that out of the original class of 78 students, 26 were in attendance and a dozen others sent word that they could not attend.

Leaving the restaurant, the two 1948 graduates wondered about their classmates.

“Jean and I wondered, are we the last two standing?” Berven said. “Maybe readers will be able to clue us in on the status of any January 1948 San Leandro High graduates.”

Ruben is a male cat in Hayward Animal Shelter’s Working Cat program. He and his comrades, Pancake and Toast, are available as garden or working cats. Learn more and adopt a working cat: www.haywardanimals.org/working-cats or call (510) 293-7200 to learn more.

Ivy is a 1 year old female German Shepherd mix who recently gave birth to 4 puppies. Hayward Animal Shelter is seeking a foster for her and the pups. The Shelter will provide supplies, foster will provide a loving environment for the pups to be raised in until they are old enough to adopt. Please email: animal.services@ hayward-ca.gov or call (510) 293-7200 to foster.

Parks: Wednesday Walk

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Vanished Mining Towns

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch was once the location of Contra Cost County’s most populous communities. You can learn more about the now-vanished mining towns during a hike from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 with naturalist Katie Garchar. A mine tour is not included.

The hike is free and registration is not necessary. Minimum age is seven and parent participation is required. Wear sturdy shoes; bring water and a snack.

Meet Katie in the parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, about 3.5 miles south of Highway 4 and a mile past the park’s entrance kiosk. For information, call 510-544-2750.

Track Trek

Even if you don’t see wildlife during a visit to a regional park, you can often see tracks the animals left behind.

Learn more during a “Track Trek” from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton with naturalist Gisselle Hernandez.

The program is for ages fve and older. It’s free and registration is not required. Meet Gisselle at the Lakeside picnic area. Bring shoes that can get muddy. Shadow Cliffs is at 2500 Stanley Boulevard east of downtown Pleasanton. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call 510-544-3249.

Wednesday Walks

“Wednesday Walks” is a series of naturalist-led explorations of various regional parks and trails. The Wednesday Walkers will hike north on the Bay Trail from Hayward Regional Shoreline to the San Leandro Marina on a fat fve-to six-mile round-trip from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 1, with the guidance of naturalist Susan Ramos.

The program is for ages eight and older; registration is not necessary. Wear sturdy shoes; bring water and a snack.

Meet Susan at the park entrance at the bay end of Grant Avenue in Hayward. For information, call 510-544-3182. There are many other programs and activities available in the East Bay Regional Parks. visit www.ebparks.org.

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athlete of the Week Gabriel Boutet