CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022
YEAR 34 INSIDE YOUR
FORUM NEWS
CVHS Graduation By Michael Singer
NO. 22
Esteen Aims to Heal Assembly District 20
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Parks’ Warning Keep rattlesnake safety in mind when visiting Regional parks
Page 2 NEWS
FESCO Shuffle Walkathon fundraiser supports homeless families with children
Page 5 SENIORS
With their family and friends cheering them on, more than 600 Castro Valley High School Seniors walked into Trojan Stadium to receive their diplomas as part of the 2022 Commencement ceremony this past Saturday. It was the first fully attended graduation at the school in two years due to the COVID pandemic. The event was livestreamed over the internet and included camera angles from a drone flying overhead. The school’s traditional international welcome included Seniors addressing the crowd in their native languages including Arabic, Cantonese, French, German, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Ukrainian, which got very large applause from the crowd. Student speeches included PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SINGER words of wisdom by ASB Graduating Seniors show the audience their sign President and Girls Varsity see GRADUATES on page 6 language skills during the National Anthem
MEMORIAL DAY 2022: REMEMBERING THE FALLEN Senior Q&A A large gift or bequest to a caregiver requires an attorney’s blessing
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There are no nurses currently serving in the California state legislature, and Jennifer Esteen, running for the State Assembly in District 20, would like to change that. She’s a psychiatric registered nurse who lives in unincorporated Ashland and who serves on the board of the Alameda Health System. She is also a member of the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), as well as being vice president for organizing for Service Employees Local 1021, which represents many health care workers. If elected, she’d be the legislature’s first-ever Black, lesbian, and Jewish member. She said her program goes far beyond her personal identity. The open seat in Assembly District 20 came up when longtime incumbent Bill Quirk decided not to run for re-election. The district includes Castro Valley, San Leandro, Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Fairview, Hayward, Sunol, and Union City. District lines were recently redrawn, and parts
Jennifer Esteen
were shifted away from District 18, represented by Mia Bonta. Esteen says she probably has a better perspective than most on how to bring about affordable health care for all Californians, starting with a statewide single-payer health plan. While often thought of as a new idea, California’s legislature passed a single-payer plan twice—once in 2006 and then in 2008. Both times, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bills. Esteen says she sees mental health care as a very necessary part of health care. Her entry into politics came through her work as a transitions director for recovering mental health see ESTEEN on page 4
CV Car Show Roars Back to Town June 18
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Calendar .................... 4 Classified Ads .......... 12 Crosswords ............. 13 Homes ........................ 8 Horoscope ................. 8 Legal Notices ............. 4 Obituaries ................ 15 Opinions .................. 15 Our Town .................... 3 Weather ....................... 2
By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
and beverages including beer trucks will all open at 12 noon and close at 5 p.m. Cars, Castro Valley’s 14th annual however, will begin arriving in car show is expected to come the exhibition area, in groups, roaring back on June 18 after starting a bit after 9:30 a.m. a two-year break for the panThe event is newly spondemic. sored by the Castro Valley RoAround 400 fancy cars tary, after being run for years are expected for the event, by members of the Hayward which will take over Castro Castro Valley Moose Lodge. Valley Boulevard between San “There will be every kind Miguel Avenue and Redwood of car you can possibly want,” Road. Vendor and community said local car enthusiast and booths, live music, snacks, see CAR on page 10 By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER
Vincent and Irma Ruiz read off the names of the fallen Castro Valley service members during the Memorial Day service at the Castro Valley Community Center. Vincent, a veteran of the Vietnam War is also a member of VFW Post 9601, which sponsors the Veterans Memorial site.