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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024
YEAR 36 INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
NO. 6
Chanticleers Moves Forward with Dorado Makeover, New Artistic Director Does It Again! By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
New Coach New Castro Valley High School varsity football coach named
Page 2
10 Sweet Years Jenn’s Cupcakes and Parties is celebrating 10-year anniversary
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Tax Help IRS offers free tax preparation software to make tax time easier
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INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............. 9 Homes ..................... 5 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............... 11 Our Town ................. 3 Seniors .................. 10 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
Chanticleers Theatre in Castro Valley Community Park By Josie de la Torre has been dark since December SPECIAL TO THE FORUM but is finishing an exterior makeover in time to reopen on Castro Valley High School March 2, along with its newly alumna Zoe Dorado was named Artistic Director, Chrisannounced to become the 2024 tine Plowright. Youth Poet Laureate of the Western U.S. and a National After the massive storms Youth Poet Laureate finalist on of 2022 knocked down trees January 24. She will represent onto the theatre, the building Alameda County and will had been declared structurattend the National Youth Poet ally safe but damaged. Work Laureate Commencement at crews cleared the wreckage the Kennedy Center on April and installed a new roof last 20. summer. Hayward Area Parks & Recreation District (HARD) “I have mixed feelings decided the timing was right to because, on one hand, I feel upgrade the 92-seat playhouse really proud of myself, and I’m this winter. really grateful because this is PHOTO BY MIKE McGUIRE my third time applying to the After “The Man Who Saved National Youth Poet Laureate Christmas” closed on Decem- CURTAIN CALL: Chanticleers Theatre’s current repairs will be done in time to start its new season on March 2. program,” Dorado told the ber 17, workers installed a Forum. new foundation and a French drain all around the building. Much of the cost is being paid “I can’t say enough good things permanent position, returned Dorado previously served Termite work will be needed, by HARD, which Chanticleers about HARD,” Plowright said. to Chanticleers years after first as the Inaugural Youth Poet perhaps requiring tenting, Laureate of Alameda County rents its building from, using getting involved with them She added, “We think we Plowright said. in 2021. She was awarded the funds from a bond issue that raised enough ourselves to put while she was still in high 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar “We’re getting painted passed several years ago. The in a new floor.” school here. for high school seniors who outside, too,” Plowright told the remainder comes from a series Plowright, who had served She’d gone to see some had demonstrated artistic Forum. “We just don’t know of fundraisers hosted by the for six months as interim artis- Castro Valley High School see DORADO on page 7 what color yet.” nonprofit. tic director before taking the see THEATRE on page 4
CV’s Robert Hess, the Original Horse Whisperer Beginning in the summer of after his graduation from StanHess idolized his father, the late Robert Hess, Sr., who was 1983, when he graduated from ford in 1987 and just $700 cash in his pocket, Hess drove his still training horses at 86 years Moreau High, the younger old when the COVID epidemic Hess took a few of his father’s truck and trailer to Hollywood Growing up, Robert Hess, horses to race at Del Mar, near Park and began training under Jr. had two ambitions: to play spread through Golden Gate his own name. Fields and took his life in 2020. San Diego. His father would baseball as long as he could stay in Northern California to “My first two starters were and then become a racehorse “When other kids were run horses on the summer fair at Hollywood Park on July 4, trainer like his father. going out, I’d go to bed early circuit. 1987,” Hess recalled. “One so I could get up at 4:30 a.m. He played baseball—and “I got to meet people, get my finished last, and the other played it well—until a shoulder and go to the track with my injury cut short his career after dad,” Hess said by phone from feet wet,” Hess said. “[My fa- didn’t finish the race. Not an ther] wouldn’t tell me anything. auspicious beginning.” Santa Anita, where most of one season at Stanford. But If I had a question, I’d call him. However, his fortunes soon his horses reside. “The best he’s still training thoroughOtherwise, he’d leave me alone. changed; by the 1990s, he was part was just being with my breds, and his accomplishwinning leading trainer titles at ments at the track have earned dad, learning from him. Being It was baptism by fire.” with the horses, learning what him election into the Castro Those summers at Del Mar Hollywood and Del Mar, makes them tick.” see HESS on back page Valley Sports Hall of Fame. soon paid dividends. The day By Lowell Hickey
SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
Robert Hess, Jr.