HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
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SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
KIDS POP-UP PARK AT LIBRARY
CHAMBER MIXER
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023
YEAR 35
CVUSD Shows ‘By-Trustee Area’ Election Maps
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
Avenue Q
SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
Page 2
RCHS Graduates Redwood Christian High School’s class of 2023 graduates
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PHOTO CREDIT: CATHY BRESLOW/ BRESLOWIMAGING.COM
Castro Valley resident Kaleb Condez created an anti-AAPI violence website for a seventh-grade project at St. Philip Neri School in Alameda.
Senior Q&A What can I do with a problem trust after death of a spouse?
Page 10
INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ....... 8 Homes...................... 6 Legal Notices .......... 9 Opinions ................ 11 Our Town ................. 3 Seniors .................. 10 Sheriff’s Report ....... 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
Castro Valley’s largest ethnic group is White (36.7%), followed by Asian (31.2%) and In an effort to comply with Hispanic (16.9%), accordthe California Voting Rights ing to the 2020 US Census. Act and increase voting oppor- CVUSD’s student body of tunity amongst diverse popula- 9,200 is made up of 24.3% tions, the Castro Valley Unified White, 4.9% Black, 34.1% School District (CVUSD) will Asian or Asian/Pacific Islandmove towards a “By-Trustee” er, 23.3% Hispanic/Latino, and area election system in 2024. 12.9% of students are two or This new election system more races. involves splitting the school However, this population didistrict into five separate versity has not been accurately trustee areas, with a governrepresented amongst the Board ing board member elected of Trustees, which has been from each trustee area. Board predominantly White. members are elected only by Board Members have the registered voters in the teamed up with consulting firm particular trustee area where Cooperative Strategies to come the governing board member up with multiple map options resides. see CVUSD on back page By Alyssa Phillips
Adult puppet show comes to Twining Vines Winery next month
Page 5
NO. 25
By Linda Sandsmark CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
A young Castro Valley student has created a website to raise awareness about violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Kaleb Condez, who just completed seventh grade at St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Alameda, made the website for a middle school elective called Genius Hour. In the class, students are required to research a topic of interest to them and share their findings through a presentation to the class. “My website was completely designed by myself, and I had no previous experience with web design or programming,” Kaleb told the Forum. “It took me about three or four months to research the topic and design the website. Following the website launch, over 900 views were generated across 12 states.”
The presentation was titled “Stop AAPI Hate — Justice For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.” The website is https:// lebcondez.wixsite.com/my-site. Featured on it are reports of AAPI hate crimes, ways to get involved, and organizations to donate to. Several stories of violence against Asians, sometimes fatal, are included. “My goal for this project was to raise awareness in my class, but after sharing it on social media and my school newsletter, I realized it could create a huge impact on our local community and beyond,” he says. Kaleb and his family have lived in Castro Valley for 12 years. He’s been involved in many activities here, including basketball, swimming, and piano lessons. He says that though he doesn’t have any concrete plans for a future occupation yet, he strives “to make a difference in the betterment of our community.”
The Power of 8: A New Book by Local Authors By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Holding on to friendships for decades can be a challenge, but it gets even more challenging when you’re trying to run a business at the same time, never mind a series of businesses. The story of how William and Robin Randolph of Castro Valley, along with six of their friends, did that through Oakland-based Unique Enterprises is told in a new book, “The Power of 8: Our Unique Journey.”
Like a number of other things in their lives, the eight friends wrote the book together. “We made some money, we lost some money, and we’re still here,” William Randolph said. He’s an ordained minister who has preached at Oakland’s Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and elsewhere, and was quick to call the investment group’s original founding “a leap of faith.” The friends had met at see BOOK on page 3
2 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Castro Valley Weather June 21 - June 25, 2023
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Partly Cloudy High 69° Low 54°
AM Cloud/PM Sun High 63° Low 56°
Partly Cloudy High 67° Low 54°
AM Cloud/PM Sun High 67° Low 54°
Partly Cloudy High 68° Low 55°
Almanac
Moon Phases Jun 25
Past Week’s Rain: 00.00 Season To Date: 41.34 Normal To Date: 00.00 Season Average: 16.00
Jul 2
Jul 9
Jul 16
Sun sets at 8:33 p.m. today, rises at 5:47 a.m. Thursday.
PHOTO CREDIT: CATHY BRESLOW/ BRESLOWIMAGING.COM
Plethos to Present Avenue Q COMMIT YOUR FAMILY TO BE FIT! Swim Lessons Members Only
Adulting is Hard. Puppets Can Help. Plethos Productions Presents Avenue Q. Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is truly a marvel of the stage. This laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of recent college grad Princeton
who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers this is no ordinary neighborhood. Together he and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and answer the ever-elusive question: what is my purpose in life? venue is part flesh, part
felt and packed with heart. Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, see it live at TwiningVine Winery July 7-16, tickets on sale now at plethos.org. Note: This show contains full puppet nudity, adult language and content, and is recommended for ages 18+
Get Rich: Lessons from Netflix Show realize we all have different and unique wants in life. ow many of you However, the watch etflix ave marketplace any of you seen the doesn’t help show How to Get Rich? It’s a fascinating show because it you discern for yourself. The looks at individuals and coumarketplace teaches us all ples looking to improve their the things we should have. financial situation. This show, We should have a fancy car. and finances in general, is the We should have the newest inspiration for this next series phone. We should take lavish Just to be clear, I will NOT be vacations. However, the host’s providing financial advice. I ll belief is that you should spend be speaking on how certain fi- lavishly on the things you nancial concepts can be applied love, then cut relentlessly on to other aspects of life. everything else. It’s a really The question the host asks interesting perspective and all of his clients is this: What worth thinking through. is your rich life? It’s such a Can I be honest? I don’t simple, yet powerful question. really care about cars. I just If you were to sit down with know I want one that can get your friends and ask this ques- me places. This past weekend tion, If you spend even just was the Car Show put on by minutes thinking about it, you the Rotary. It was an amazBy Kevin Koo
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ing event. Even as someone who doesn’t care for cars, I developed an appreciation for why people love cars. Now, would it make sense for me to drop a lot of money for a classic car bsolutely not I would not get nearly enough joy out of owning that car, and I wouldn’t take care of it as I should, which would ruin the car. I’m pretty content with my Honda Fit. What is worth my time (read as: part of my rich life)? Getting nice kitchen equipment so I can make yummy meals for my family. I’ve been learning about cooking with cast iron. I’m nowhere near understanding it all the way, but because I enjoy it so much, not only do I use the pans often, I don’t feel guilty about making the purchase. Now, it’s worth saying see KOO on page 10
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
15TH ANNUAL CV CAR SHOW
3
Sheriff’s Reports COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Public Intoxication Monday, June 19: at 4:40 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 62-year-old woman from Castro Valley on suspicion of public intoxication. The woman was hanging outside a mobile home park on Castro Valley Boulevard near Forrest Avenue when deputies responded to a public nuisance call. Deputies report that during questioning, the woman smelled of alcohol and failed her field sobriety test. She was taken to a sobering center.
PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK
astro alley’s th nnual ar how was held on aturday une on the oule ard which was closed to traffic for much of the day. undreds of car enthusiasts came to see do ens of classic ehicles on display. he e ent was presented by the otary lub of astro alley. ore at myc forum.com
Trespassing and Contempt of Court Sunday, June 18: at 9:03 a.m., deputies arrested a 53-yearold man with no permanent residence on suspicion of trespassing and violating a court-issued restraining order. The man was spotted within 100 yards of a vacant lot on A Street near Ruby Street that he had been ordered to stay away from. Deputies took the man into custody.
Refused to Leave Church Tuesday, June 13: at 2:00 p.m., deputies arrested a 54-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of refusing to leave a church property despite being asked to by staff. Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the church’s parking lot on Grove Way near Redwood Road after the man seeking services had become confrontational. The man was taken into custody.
Methamphetamine Drugs Shoplifter Caught Monday, June 12: at 9:20 a.m., With Illegal Narcotics a 23-year-old man with no perThursday, June 15: at 12:43 Spousal Assault manent residence was arrested Sunday, June 18: at 11:57 a.m., p.m., a 26-year-old woman from Castro Valley was arrest- on possession of methampheta 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argument ed on suspicion of shoplifting amine drugs and refusing to sent deputies to an apartment and possessing illegal narcotics leave a business on the Bouleand related drug paraphernalia. vard near Redwood Road even on Center Street near Grove after the manager asked him Deputies responded to a call Way. There, they arrested a to. Deputies responding to a 33-year-old Castro Valley man from a nearby drug store on on suspicion of spousal assault. Castro Valley Boulevard near complaint by a business owner found the suspect in the parkThe man was handcuffed and Yeandle Avenue and located ing lot. During questioning, taken into custody. The victim the woman outside a nearby fast-food restaurant. The wom- they discovered his stash. The was treated at the scene. man was taken into custody. an was taken into custody.
Book: Advice on How to Follow in Their Footsteps in the community, they soon continued from front page Antioch Baptist, starting when discovered everything they did William’s mother was asked to not collectively know about babysit Mary Tuft’s then-eight- building housing. month-old daughter Lynée so Of the entire group, only Mary could go to a concert. William Randolph had any Mary was active with the experience in building housing, church and owned a hat store through his work with an in North Oakland on Telegraph Oakland nonprofit. esides Avenue. the costs of their own housing and raising their families, She was also interested in each family had to pay $580 generating wealth to ecoa month for the unbuilt house, nomically develop Black communities in Oakland and which took four years to nearby. She had worked in the complete. insurance industry and had But, Randolph said, “Noseen how some Asian immibody went hungry, nobody lost grant families were able to their house, and one family pool resources to get a business bought their own first house in started for first one member, the meantime.” then another. They do credit divine intervention, on top of their hard Mary called a meeting for work, for making the project friends from the church and told everybody to bring $1,000 a success. If anyone wants to follow their lead, Randolph to get started. said, the actual plans are in the “Turnout was excellent, book. but nobody actually brought $1,000,” William Randolph Unique Enterprises went on remembered with a laugh. to invest in stocks, stock opMary and the others started tions, gold and other precious metals. They even bought and an investment club, initially with $35 a month dues, which sold Iraqi dinars when Saddam was initially put in a stock then Hussein was still in power, but unsteadily. selling for $6 a share. When it rose to $90, they sold it and Years later, the friendships had the seed money for their have deepened, Mary renext project. tired but remains the group’s “Founder and Visionary,” her That turned out to be daughter Lynée grew up and building a duplex from bare soil on 55th Street in Oakland. joined the partnership, and the Buoyed by their faith that God children those families raised are beginning their adult lives would provide, and set on on a solid footing. keeping money from wages
tired hotel executive assistant; Mary Tuft; her daughter Lynée ullard, a financial recovery specialist with Alameda County; Keith Bullard, an I.T. professional currently working in housing; Madeline McClinton, a social services professional; Jamal McClinton, who works in logistics and transportation; and book project coordinator Meredith Evans Moore, now retired after a career with the Oakland schools and the city’s parks and recreation department. One can buy “The Power of The Power of 8 tells all 8” through Amazon (it shows those stories, along with advice the author as Unique Enterprises, Mary Tuft, et al.), or ask for on what to do and what not to do if you’d like to follow in it at your local bookstore. You their footsteps. Co-authors be- can get more information about sides William Randolph, who Unique Enterprises at their now runs a small engineering website, https://uniqueofoakland.com/ or by emailing them and surveying company, are his wife Robin Randolph, a re- at unique.oakland@gmail.com.
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4 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
CV Rotary Welcomes Members
Concert for Jenny Lin This Sunday
On May 30, the Rotary Club of Castro Valley welcomed two new members to its local community committed to ‘Service Above Self.” Ye Ye is a Castro Valley resident who loves cooking, baking, and gardening. She owns Beard Papa’s, famed for its world-class cream puffs, coming to the Castro Valley Marketplace in July. Barbara Cogar is an Oakland resident, a retired mother of two sons, and a happy grandmother of three granddaughters. The Rotary Club of Castro Valley has hybrid meetings. The Club meets on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon at The Meadows Restaurant at Redwood Canyon Golf Course and also online. The Club is always searching for individuals who want to make a positive impact locally, nationally and internationally. For more information, please visit the Rotary website at: CastroValleyRotary.org.
Castro Valley-based Jenny Lin Foundation is honored to be the selected beneficiary of the th Violin enefit Concert presented by Ker Qi Violin Studio (Fremont). The performance is scheduled for this Sunday, June 25 at 2 pm, at the Tateuchi Hall, Community School of Music & Arts at Finn Center, located at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View. This benefit concert is to support the Foundation’s decades of services in promoting child safety and youth music education in the Bay Area. The fundraiser features violinists—Kelvin Jou, Steven Li, Michael Liu, Andrew Luo, Chantale Tso, Claire Yang, and Dixon Yang—who attend schools within the Fremont nified School istrict. They are all students of Mr. Ker Qi, a renowned violin teacher in Fremont. Mr. Qi graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and obtained two Master’s Degrees in Music in the United States. Mr. Qi also imparts to his students the spirit of giving back to the community and of helping make the world a better place. Through benefit concerts over the years, Mr. Qi’s students have raised over $20,000 for various organizations. This summer our young soloists will once again be accompanied by pianist Dr. Anny Cheng. Dr. Cheng holds a Doctoral Degree in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University. While admission is free, voluntary donations by cash or check are accepted at the concert. To support young musicians pursuing a worthy cause, you may also mail checks to: P.O. Box 21150, Castro Valley, CA 94546, or contribute online (https://jennylinfoundation.org/donate/). ll proceeds benefit enny in Foundation.
SATURDAY JULY 8
Free Artist Demo At Abobe Gallery A.R.T., Inc. invites you to a demo by Castro Valley artist Peggy Maurer on Saturday, July 8, from 2 to 4pm in the Redwood Studio at Adobe Art Gallery & Center, 20395 San Miguel Avenue. It is Free and the Public is Invited. She will help you to create your own unique and charming craft project from plant material you find! Please bring your own tweezers, small scissors, and garden plant material that you’d like to use. Peggy will also bring plant material to share with attendees.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Today Wednesday, June 21 Summer Solstice Celebration A gathering of people is expected to celebrate the longest day of the year by showing their support for the unhoused during the 3rd annual “Summer Solstice Celebration of the Strength and Resilience of People Experiencing Homelessness.” The event, from 12 noon to 1 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward in Castro Valley on Grove Way, will include music, a raffle, lunch, and the presentation of this year’s Resilience and Determination (RAD) Heroes Award, which is a community-nominated honor given to people with experience of homelessness who inspire, challenge, lead, and move those around them. Thursday, June 22 Kids Pop-Up Park Join us for a Kids Pop-Up Park tomorrow, Thursday, June 22, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Castro Valley Library! The lameda County Sheriff s Office CSO will bring their rock-wall and ACSO patrol cars will be displayed. There will be carnival games, prizes and the Hayward Animal Shelter will have an adoption event. No registration is required. Because this is an outdoor event, automobile parking will be limited at the library. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Alameda County Library property. The library is unable to provide chairs for this event. Visit their website for more information: https://aclibrary.org/ Thursday, June 22 Chamber of Commerce June Mixer The Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce will be holding their June Mixer tomorrow, Thursday, June 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Neveria Colima Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt, located at 15568 Hesperian Blvd in San Lorenzo. ring a raffle pri e to promote your business e hope to see you there! Sunday, June 25 Jenny Lin Foundation Benefit Concert Castro Valley-based Jenny Lin Foundation is honored to be selected beneficiary of the th Violin enefit Concert presented by Ker Qi Violin Studio (Fremont). The performance is scheduled for Sunday, June 25 at 2 pm at the Tateuchi Hall, Community School of Music & Arts at Finn Center (230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View) to support the Foundation’s decades of services in promoting child safety and youth music education in the Bay Area. Sunday, June 25 Wiley McFarland Duo at Castro Valley Marketplace This Sunday, June 25th from 4 to 6 pm, the Wiley McFarland Duo will perform at the Castro Valley Marketplace. aura iley lives and teaches flute in Castro Valley. She plays flute and sings around the ay rea with guitarist David McFarland. They do a combination of classic songs from the 1970s by the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and other great songwriters, as well as some jazz gems and original songs. Thursday, June 29 Howell Devine: Summer Concert at CV Library oin us for the final summer concert featuring owell Devine at the Castro Valley Library on Thursday, June 29 at 6:30 pm. Triple threat talent, Joshua Howell (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and percussion savant, Pete Devine (drums, washboard), plus veteran upright bassist, Joe Kyle Jr. deftly mix Delta/Country Blues with wildly syncopated rhythms to create a rollicking present-day sound rooted in early blues. No Registration Required. Bring your lawn chairs…bring the family…bring a picnic! Because this is an outdoor event, automobile parking will be limited at the library. For more information, visit: aclibrary.org/
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
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Summer Solstice Event in Support Of the Unhoused homelessness,” Modersbach said. “People without homes face many systemic barriers, from the high cost of housing t lunchtime today, a gathering of people is to low wages and inadequate expected to celebrate public assistance programs, all complicated by poor health, the longest day of the year high risks, and poverty. Yet by showing their support for people surmount these incredithe unhoused during the 3rd ble hurdles and reclaim stable, annual “Summer Solstice Celebration of the Strength and healthy, and productive lives.” Resilience of People ExperiOne of those success stories encing Homelessness.” is Melissa Moore, who was homeless herself and became The event, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian a longtime homeless advoChurch of Hayward in Castro cate. She’s now founding a non-profit called RIS , or RisValley on Grove Way, will graduated fifty eight seniors at edwood hapel ommunity hurch on hursday ay . include music, a raffle, lunch, ing Into Self-Empowerment, for the unhoused. and the presentation of this year’s Resilience and DetermiShe says that during the nation (RAD) Heroes Award, summer months, with temperawhich is a community-nomtures reaching triple digits, inated honor given to people many unhoused suffer heat-rewith experience of homeless- lated medical emergencies, a Band in “Pomp and Circumsituation that is complicated n May 25, 2023, dictorians: Nathanael Butler, from their parents and family ness who inspire, challenge, stance” and the Recessional, since there are no daytime Redwood Christian Abigail Hague and Nolan combined with their individual lead, and move those around cooling shelters in Castro ValHigh School graduated Quiroz sharing the message of in addition to the Concert gifts and talents plus their “no them. ley, Cherryland, or Ashland. fifty-eight seniors at Redwood their Class Verse I Peter 5:5-7. Choir in “In My Life,” and II quit” attitudes will serve them “The Summer Solstice, Chapel Community Church. “Yes, these individuals are The Star-Spangled Banner was Corinthians 13:11 was read by well in the future. They have a day filled with light, is a Dr. Al Hearne II, Superinfitting time to honor their strong and resilient, but quite performed by All-State Honor Victoria Hopken, Senior Class met every challenge with the tendent, and Principal Justin Jazz Band First Trumpet Jacob Vice President. commitment necessary and are accomplishments and to draw a few are disabled, elderly, or Redemer read the individual inspiration from them as we veterans who protected our Cook. Senior Class President now ready academically and Superintendent Hearne accomplishments of each rights to freedom, yet we so Julia Bilbao greeted everyspiritually for their next chal- continue in the struggle for stated: “I am excited for the graduate as well as their hopes one with the Invocation and justice,” said David Modeasily try to take away this lenge. The entire Redwood impact these graduates will and dreams while Board Chair Welcome, and Student Council have on the world as they em- Christian Schools community ersbach, the National Health vulnerable group’s rights by Harry Bruno and Members Care for the Homeless Council turning a blind eye. So, I ask President Hannah John, who bark on the next stage of their is very proud of each one of Brian Beck and Phil Carlton every community member to will be attending the Air Force lives. This class is made up of them for whom they are now, coordinator. presented the diplomas. Academy in the fall, closed the graduates who have personal and excited for their future According to the 2022 Point stand in solidarity and unite to bring hope to our unhoused. evening in prayer. Mrs. Rachel goals that will stretch them. I wherever their Lord and Savior in Time Count, more than The Commencement 7,000 people are experiencing Come to the event to get to am confident that the support Jesus Christ leads them.” Speakers were the three Vale- Chow directed the RCHS know us—your unhoused unsheltered homelessness in Alameda County. The Castro community members,” Moore Valley event is one of the thou- told the Forum. sands held in solidarity with The Summer Solstice Homeless Solstice Celebramaps, many of which have not way for modern suburban Celebration is co-sponsored by Local researcher Rick Kelly channel (@HaywardAreations happening nationwide. housing tracts. been previously published. Alameda County Health Care has been hard at work explor- History) following the live for the omeless, Office of “Homelessness is not ing Castro Valley’s history, and presentation. Kelly painstakingly colThe self-published account Homeless Care and Coordinawill speak to his process and Over four years in the mak- lected information from aerial of Castro Valley’s development permanent. It is not a condition, Alameda Health System tion that defines the rest of the extensive research behind ing, Rick Kelly’s new book photography, archival collec- is available online on AmaFoundation, Tiburcio Vasquez, a person’s life. It is easy to his new book this Saturday, details the evolution of Castro tions, and online databases to zon. Some local merchants Lifelong, Abode and Bay Area become homeless, but it is June 24 at 1 pm. Valley from a Native American synthesize a thorough history may have copies available Community Services (BACS). no easy task to break out of Registration for this online territory to a modern commut- of Castro Valley. He explores for purchase as well. For the how Guillermo Castro came most current information about program is available at www. er suburb. Entitled Rancho to own the land and how it to Ranch Homes: Mapping the Hayward Area Historical haywardareahistory.org and was subdivided over and over Society’s upcoming programs, the Evolution of Castro a recording will be available Valley, Kelly’s book includes again as agricultural practiced visit www.haywardareahistory. online at the Hayward Area Historical Society’s YouTube hundreds of photographs and changed and eventually made org or call (510) 581-0223. By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
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RCHS Graduating Class of 2023
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6 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
REAL ESTATE GALLERY REAL ESTATE REALITY
By Carl Medford, CRS
GUEST COMMENTARY
Special to the Forum
Who Controls the Real Estate Market? group to set commissions. Commissions have always been negotiable. local Realtor received Second, let’s look at the an email the other accusation that Realtors day stating, “You are make ridiculously high a greedy broker. You have salaries. The National Assomessed up the market by ciation of Realtors clarifies, taking high priced offers over “The average Real Estate asking price. Let the market Sales Agent salary in the cool down, do not be selfish. United States is $44,813 as The Realtor was obvious- of January 26, 2023, but the ly perturbed. The irony is range typically falls between that many of us get similar $43,778 and $57,001.” In emails. Not only are they fact, since the current level inaccurate, they demonstrate of sales is down dramatically that the author(s) have a from previous years, many fundamental misunderstand- real estate agents are getting ing of the way the real estate out of the business since they market works. are not making enough to et s first address the survive. elephant in the room: comNext is the idea Realtors missions. In reality, agents are controlling the market. do not set commissions. Nothing could be further Sellers do. It is against the from the truth. The real law (enforced by the Federal estate market in the United Trade Commission) for real States is based upon many estate brokerages to act as a conditions, including supply By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum
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and demand and current economic conditions in a region. When a home goes on the market, the seller lists at a price they would like to get predicated on what similar homes have been selling for in the past few months. Realtors provide current market data and pricing recommendations: sellers are the ones who set the actual listing price, not the Realtors. When it comes to offers on any given property, again, the real estate agent provides the data a buyer needs to set the price and underscores prevailing market practices to coach the buyer in writing an effective offer. However, once the agent has provided the information, the buyer is the one who dictates the price and terms. Those who believe that Realtors are setting the prices are, simply put, wrong. Unfortunately, when buyers or sellers do not get the results they want, they look to pin the blame on someone. Since Realtors are the closest parties at hand, it is no surprise they often get blamed for market woes. Carl Medford is alicensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association.
Overwatering Can Cause Plant Rot culation throughout BUZZ BERTOLERO the plant, keeping By Buzz Bertolero the inside foliage The Dirt Gardener from turning brown. THE Also, the dense DIRT I have two tomato foliage is a perfect plants growing in large hiding plant for the Tomato Hornpots. They’re doing really worm. Hornworms on tomatoes well. In fact, you can almost watch are a problem from June through them grow. But I’m a bit con- September. The Hornworm is the cerned because they are so very larva stage of a moth. The adult busy. Should I strip some of the moth lays its eggs near the center growth off or let them continue? of the plant. Its only purpose is to eat, which is does twenty/four sevIt is important for tomatoes en until it gets very large and drops to be bushy with lots of to the soil, which goes through leaves. The foliage pro- another stage of metamorphosis tects the ripening toma- and emerges as an adult moth. toes from sunburn, so the Signs of the Hornworms are holes leaves act as a type of sunblock. in the leaves and black droppings Sunburn is a tan/beige spot on the on the ground. You control them fruits’ south and southwest side. with BT or Captain Jack Dead But you can have too much of a Bug Brew. Both of these insecgood thing, so I’d thin the growth ticides are safe to use on edibles. throughout the season. They’ll beI have a Van cherry come crowded and dense as the tree loaded with black plant(s) mature, especially when Aphids. I’m ready to using a tomato cage. Thinning lets in more light and increases air cir- cut the thing down because it
Q
A
Q
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Now is a wonderful time to sell. With lack of inventory and many buyers still anxious to buy, now is a good time to put your home on the market. Call me for a free and confidential interview. Over 45 years of Real Estate experience, Senior Residential Specialist.
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21060 Redwood Rd. Ste. 100 • Castro Valley
just worsens yearly. What can I do to get rid of these things?
A
It’s very predictable that Aphids will attack cherry trees and many other plants each spring. Aphids come in many different colors and reproduce without mating. The chemical in the new growth stimulates the rapid increase in the population. Hence they go from a few to lots in just a few days. The only true way to rid yourself of Aphids is not to have any of the host plants growing in your yard; however, this is not very practical. Aphids are very easy to control with a bit of due diligence. It’s too late now to do much this year. Next March, as the new leaves are emerging, is the time to be on the lookout for Aphids. You need to check for the leaf curl every five to seven days. Once you see the first curly leaves, you spray the tree with Insecticidal Soap, pick off the curly and make a follow-up application a week later. You should be very successful in solving this problem. This will prevent the tree from looking as bad as it does now. It’s a simple solution so I wouldn’t be inclined to cut the tree down. Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional. The Dirt Gardener’s website is www.dirtgardener. com and questions can be sent by email to buzz@dirtgardener.com.
Thinking of Buying or Selling a Home? Put 35+ Years of Experience to work for you! Call Today for your No - cost Consultation
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Homes Recovering a Vinyl Floor
deemed healthy, place the new vinyl flooring. Make the job easier by creating a cutting template – laying sheets of paper along the edges of the walls and marking areas that need special cuts, such as around pipes. Tape the papers together to create a full-size outline of the room. Roll the vinyl out in an open area. Position the paper template
By Samantha Mazzotta Special to the Forum
Vinyl flooring can be the most economical material you put into your home. It’s durable, resilient and relatively easy for new do-it-yourselfers to install. If you’re tired of vinyl, layment – a sheet of plywood other flooring materials are or cement board laid over the perfectly fine. Ceramic tile, subfloor. This is the most imsynthetic laminate (made to portant factor in a good-looklook like hardwood) and nat- ing, durable vinyl floor. It ural stone are popular choices provides a smooth surface for for the kitchen. However, they resilient flooring to adhere to. typically cost more than vinyl However, it can be damaged sheets or tiles. by water leaks and day-to-day To replace your old floor, cut use. long strips into the vinyl and Replace damaged underlaythen pull the strips up. Use a ment, and fill small holes and wallboard knife and a solution seams with latex patching comof water and liquid dish de- pound. Check for squeaks or sags, tergent to loosen the backing. and inspect the subfloor, joists Scrape remaining flooring up and foundation to make sure they using a floor scraper and the aren’t deteriorating. If you see detergent solution, clear away damage of any kind, consult a conall the debris, and vacuum with tractor. Repairs to the subfloor and a wet-dry shop vacuum (put a supports may cost more than you bit of water in the vacuum to had budgeted, but the long-term keep the dust down). benefits are more than worth it. Inspect the exposed underOnce the underlayment is
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
over the vinyl, and trace the template perimeter (and markings) using a water-soluble pen. Make the necessary preliminary cuts. Once this prep is finished, roll up the vinyl sheet, carry it into the kitchen, and install according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’ll be much easier than you think! Home Tip: Vinyl flooring made before 1986 may contain asbes-
WEEKEND GARDENER Mulch Keep adding to mulches throughout the summer to keep roots cool, foil weeds and help to cqonserve water. Always water well before adding the mulch or you will insulate dry soil rather than moist. Pile mulch two to six inches deep under shrubs, trees, vines, flower and vegetable beds. Let grass clippings dry out a bit before piling them up or they will clump into a mat that is impervious to water. Veggie Feeding Time Summer is the biggest growing season for houseplants. Feed them on a monthly basis. Some plants can come outdoors for a breather if they’re protected from direct sun and wind.
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tos, which can cause severe health problems if inhaled. If your vinyl floor could be 30 years old or more, play it safe by contacting an asbestos abatement contractor.
Since 1965
Jess C. Spencer Mortuary & Crematory
21228 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
581-9133
Offering Personalized Memorial and Cremation Services.
Chrysanthemums For greater yields in the vegetable garden, feed eggplant, peppers, squashes and tomatoes when they bloom. You can hand-pollinate tomatoes by flicking blooms during the driest part of the day. Big plants can be taken care of with one or two shakes while holding onto their cages. The pollen is naturally sticky and this helps to spread it. FD 1168 CR49
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VALLEY FORUM 8 CASTRO Wednesday, June 21, 2023
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CLASSIFIED ADS ADS RUN RUN EVERY EVERY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY IN IN THE THE CASTRO CASTRO VALLEY VALLEY FORUM FORUM AND AND EVERY EVERY THURSDAY THURSDAY IN IN THE THE SAN SAN LEANDRO LEANDRO TIMES TIMES CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS You can run a classified ad for a little as $30 a week. Your ad runs in both of our newspapers, the Castro Valley Forum on Wednesday and the San Leandro Times on Thursday. You can also save $5 by placing your ad on our website at castrovalleyforum.com or sanleandrotimes.com. We’ll call you for your credit or debit card info for payment. To place an ad by phone call Patrick Vadnais at 510-614-1560, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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AUTOMOBILES/TRUCKS CYCLES/TRAVEL TRAILERS
1995 Lincoln Mark VIII, 86K miles, leather, sunroof, new suspension. Excellent condition! $9,975 o.b.o. Call 510-213-1699.
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*MP CONCRETE. Driveways, Patio, NOTICE TO READERS Retaining Walls, Stamped Concrete, Asphalt, Hauling. Lic.#1054154. Milo California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500 or 510-502-9336. more (labor or materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License S.L. CONCRETE SERVICE Board. State Law also requires that Driveways, Sidewalks, Stamped contractors include their license Concrete, Retaining Walls, Asphalt, number on all advertising. AdvertisPaving Stones. Lic.#982202. 510ers appearing on this page without 856-8937. a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed. You can check the status of your licensed Help for the homeowner contractor at www.cslb.ca.gov or means business for you! (800) 321-2752. Unlicensed contractors taking jobs that total less than $500 must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Advertise your Home for rent in the
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*SPECIALIZING IN WOOD FEN- *ANY YARD WORK. Cleanups CAREGIVER - PART TIME RN, CES, DECKS & RETAINING and Maintenance. Free Estimates. LVN, CNA, HHA -State license WALLS. Replace or repair, paved Call 510-798-1833. CERTIFICATE Disable male, walkways, yard cleaning, tree trimMon.-Fri., 8am-10am, (2-hr/day). ming, topping or removal, garage *BEAUTY GARDEN LANDSCAPING Assist with personal care, dresscleaning & debris removal. Insured & Design - Construction - Mainte- ing, cooking, Light house keeping. Bonded #8189. Jerry 510-410-2427. nance. Cleanups, New Lawn, Artifi- Near Oakland Zoo. Must like dog cial Grass, Irrigation, Patios, Path- $30/hour. 510.636.1582 ways, Brick, Stone, Concrete Fence/ Fence wobbly? Call Randy's Fence Decks. Free Estimates! Lic.#925130. Reinforcement and save thousands! Advertise your Home for rent in the 510-691-8852. 510-706-6189. www.beautygardenlandscaping.com San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum
GARAGE SALES Yard Sale Saturday 6/24/23 from 102 pm at 1267 Sherry Court San Leandro.
San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum
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GARDENING
Fashion purses, accessories & gifts 2654 Miramar Ave, Castro Valley June 24 9:00-3:00.
JAIME’S GARDENING Maintenance, Trimming, Cleanups, Hauling, Sprinkler Repair/ Timers. FREE Estimates. Insured. 510-299-9583
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GARDENING/TREE SERVICE NAVA'S COMPLETE LANDSCAPING: Mowing, trees, cleanup, hauling, FREE estimates. 510 512-5857.
Monday 5:00 p.m. LANDLORDS - Advertise your units! – A vacancy day is money lost forever – R. Bowman
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The City of San Leandro is now accepting online applications for: Information Technology Technician (payroll title: Information Systems Support Technician) $6,176.00 - $7,508.00/month Park Maintenance Worker II $5,742.00 - $6,980.00 Monthly For more detailed information, please visit www.sanleandro.org. EOE
MISC. FOR SALE Black leather recliner couch $300, like new black couch $375. 510-5381309. Wire dog cage 48”Lx31”W in good condition. $30. Call 510-278-9719.
MISC. WANTED WANTED - Reel to reel music tapes, Call Patrick 510-517-3351.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS *SCOTT HARRISON - Realtor Coldwell Banker 510-388-4536 Advertise your Home for rent in the San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum DON’T LET ANOTHER WEEK SLIP BY!
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RENTALS San Leandro 62+ community (NO ONE UNDER 62), Floresta Gardens area, $2,075; duplex, quiet, private court, 2-Bdrm, single-story, walk-in shower, central heat, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer in unit, patio, carport. NO pets/smoking. 510-352-7023 for requirements. CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE: Monday 5:00 p.m. You can place a FREE “MISC. FOR SALE” ad for items $50 or less at: sanleandrotimes.com or at: castrovalleyforum.com or more info call Patrick Mon-Fri. 9am-1pm at 510-614-1560 (some restrictions may apply)
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LANDLORDS – Advertise your units! A vacancy day is money lost forever ... R. Bowman
– A vacancy day is money lost forever –
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RENTALS/RV SPACES RV/ Trailer space in San Leandro and Oakland& Hayward. $925/ month. Call 510-481-9901.
TREE SERVICE *A CAREFUL TREE SERVICE. Certified. Arborist. Lic.#694067. Trimming, Removals. FREE Estimates. Bonded. Call 510-581-7377.
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
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10 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Senior Q&A: Fixing Problem Trust After Death of a Spouse
Koo: What Do You Find Important? continued from page 2 that my cast iron pans aren’t that expensive, maybe $40 dollars or less, but I get more joy out of those pans than if I had an expensive car. So what is part of your rich life? What is really important to you? How much money do you get to spend on those things? Now, what are things you really don’t care about? How much money are you spending on those things? Obviously you pay for the things you have to, such as bills and taxes… but what about the other things? I have a friend who I thought was really weird and interesting, up until I really understood his perspective on life. Whenever we used to hang out, we ended up at fast food restaurants, or places I would consider mediocre food. On top of that, he brought coupons to help save money. see KOO on back page
WINKLER LAW Living Trusts & Trust Administration Probate • Wills Real Estate • Litigation — Give Us a Call — Most Initial Consultations Are Free
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Back L-R: Baywood Court Board Member Dev Mahadevan, CEO Matt Neal and Director of Operations Nathaniel P. Runas Front L-R: Residents Richard Cassius, Virginia Allerton, and Pat Maus enjoy aywood’s rd nni ersary elebration.
Baywood Court’s 33rd Anniversary
B
aywood Court, the nonprofit senior community in Castro Valley, celebrated its 33rd Anniversary on Thursday, June 15. The vibrant senior community has become integral to the East Bay by providing residents with friendship and security for more than three decades to its residents. For this year’s anniversary, Baywood Court hosted a celebratory barbeque in their newly remodeled gazebo courtyard with a lively , a raffle, and an array of delectable cuisine. Baywood Court invited local business partners to express their thanks for their endless support and encouragement throughout the years. For residents, Baywood planned an all-day celebration with activities throughout the community. From carnival-themed games to an ice cream and popcorn social, the residents came together and celebrated this milestone while creating new memories. aywood Court s sociable, non-profit community features independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing options – all in one beautiful place. For more information, please visit www.baywoodcourt.org
reforming the trust to eliminate However, this restrictive trust split rethese trust quirement. Your court petition “split” arrangewould be based upon “changed ments came at circumstances” that were not a price: The known or anticipated at the survivor no time the original trust was longer had unrestricted use of the decedent’s created. Since most of these trusts were created years ago share of marital assets, was for tax savings purposes, the required to keep separate accounts and was obliged to file change in tax law dramatically increasing the exemption usufiduciary income tax returns each year for the ByPass Trust. ally qualifies as the requisite Further, the assets placed into “changed circumstances”. In our experience, judges the Bypass portion usually did have been receptive to this not get a second “step up” in analysis and have issued orders tax basis upon the survivor’s death, and the trust split inter- reforming these older trusts to By Gene L. Osofsky, Esq. fered with Medi-Cal planning eliminate the sub-trust requireSPECIAL TO THE FORUM ment, so as to permit all assets if nursing care was needed. A. There is something you Most surviving spouses found to go to the survivor. The key is to petition the court for relief can do, but it s helpful to first these restrictions onerous. soon and before you take steps understand the background: However, the estate tax to split assets and or file tax At the time that you and your exemption has increased returns. wife created your trust the tax many times since then, and laws were quite different than the current exemption amount Further, in some cases, it they are today. Back then, the for persons dying in the year may be possible to reform estate tax exemption was only 2023 is $12.92 Million per your older trust without court $675,000 per person, and the involvement pursuant to the person, and married couples first spouse s exemption died recently adopted California may double that exemption with her unless the couple had by filing a timely election Decanting Act. signed a trust directing the de- after the first death. iven the We suggest reviewing these ceased spouse’s share of assets current exemption, a ByPass matters with your attorney to into a ByPass sub-trust. (The see if your trust might qualify Trust is no longer needed for ByPass was sometimes called a most couples. The problem is for reformation, either by “B Trust”, Credit Shelter Trust, that many couples still have court order or by out-of-court Family Trust, or Exemption Decanting, and thereby accomthese outdated trusts in place Trust). This Bypass sub-trust and, like you, only learn of the plish the result that you and was designed to preserve the trust split requirement upon the your wife originally intended. first spouse s exemption so that death of their spouse, when the Gene L. Osofsky is an elder – at the survivor’s later death terms of the trust can no longer law and estate planning attor– their two exemptions could be changed by an amendment. ney who has been helping East be combined, thereby doubling ood news hile the terms Bay seniors and their families assets that the couple could with legal matters for over 30 of your trust cannot now be pass estate tax free to children changed by you, alone, there is years. Visit his website at www. or other beneficiaries. That still a remedy: you can petition LawyerForSeniors.com, or appears to be your situation. the superior court for an order call 510-247-2555 Q: My wife and I created a Living Trust back in the year 2001. We never thought to have it reviewed or updated. She recently died and I just reread our trust. To my surprise, it requires that her half of our assets go something called a Bypass Trust and greatly limits my access to that portion. This comes as a surprise, as we always intended everything to go to the survivor without restrictions. Am I now stuck with this arrangement or is there anything I can do?
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
LETTERS
Exactly as Expected!
Can the Powers-That-Be Reopen the Chabot Trail?
11
Dear Editor, Exactly as expected! Someone wrote to condemn my letter about celebrating Memorial Day not for its content, but because We in Castro Valley are blessed with the existence of Lake FILESFORFORUM@GMAIL.COM it referenced a source that trends conservative. Is there any merit Chabot. It is a wonderful site for picnic, ing, fishing, to this? Truth is not hate speech. A difference of opinion does hiking, group gathering, walking or just relaxing in the sunshine. not constitute hostility. Describing an opposing viewpoint as Unfortunately, the severe winter storms we endured last winter “right (or left) wing”, “propaganda”, “extremism”, and “hate caused the park to close entirely for a while. However, thanks to speech” just exacerbates the polarization that is consuming our the diligent work of EBRPD rangers and maintenance staff, the society and inhibits productive discussion. PragerU videos “at- picnic areas and the Eastside trail were soon reopened. Unfortutack people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community”? nately, the Westside or shady side of the lake remains closed. I attended the Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) Special Far from it. They are WRITTEN and NARRATED by people Until now, the Eastside has been adequate to accommodate Board Meeting on June 19 via Zoom. The Board of Directors of color (“Where are you, MLK?”), Immigrants (“Immigrants! the many walkers who rely on our trails for their exercise and approved, on a 4-0 vote, to sell $14 Million in Revenue Bonds Don’t Support What You Fled”), and the LGBTQ community wellbeing, but as the weather warms up, The Eastside trail will over 30 years to finance the Operations and ngineering O (“I’m Gay...Conservative...So What?”). Many are professors become unbearably hot, especially for the many elderly who uilding at Center Street. s stated at the Meeting, the O or department chairs at universities. Certified academic profes- rely on our park for their wellbeing. Can you please request the Building is NOW costing $25.5 Million, $13 Million is coming sionals, people we can learn from. Viewpoint discrimination is powers-that-be to spend the time, effort and funds needed to from the bond sale and $12.5 Million is coming from cash NOT encouraged. That leads to something called indoctrination reopen the West side trail at our treasured resource so that it can reserves. Board Member McGowan, who approved the Bond - the polar opposite of education. I expect her to (1) get as much be fully enjoyed by all? sale at the Finance Committee Meeting, was strangely absent for information as she can from multiple (potentially opposing) –Milton Palmer, Castro Valley the vote. Most disturbing is that recently the Board of Directors sources (2) employ something the education establishment approved raising our Sewer Service Rates 14% over the next seems to abhor, called “critical thinking skills” and (3) as the two years, and stating that the reason for the increase was that Oracle told Neo in the Matrix, “make up your own damn mind”. $22 Million of the new two year budget was needed for the new Or Mr. Kielwasser can tell you what sources are acceptable (or O uilding. Thus, the oard is generating 3 Million to not) and be your censor in chief. 1984, anyone? Letters must include writer’s name, address and phone pay for a . Million O uilding. Something doesn t add Perhaps he should watch the PragerU video “Why I Stopped number, and must be under 300 words. Letters can be up It should be noted that this O uilding started out as a Teaching”. A California public school teacher (a black Jamaican edited for clarity or length. Letters are the views of the Million Corporation Yard. The debt service on this new 30- immigrant) taught ESL for 15 years - until she no longer could. author and not necessarily that of the newspaper or its year bond will be 0,000 per year, in addition to the current Why? The truth is out there... advertisers. E mail letters to: filesforforum mail.com debt service of $700,000 per year. $1.4 Million per year will go –Stacy Spink, Castro Valley to debt service. CVSan used to pride itself in being a PAY AS YOU GO sanitary district. The new motto should be BORROW AS YOU GO. The real losers are the Rate Payers whose sewer service rates increase yearly. I used to think that CVSan Staff and its oard of irectors were fiscally incompetent. I now October 16, 1928 ~ May 11, 2023 believe that they are criminal and should be investigated by the California Public Finance Authority, and/or the California State Lillian Trillo was an activist. She wanted to lift us all up, starting with those most in need. Serving as a public health Treasurer, and/or the California Attorney General. nurse, a community college professor, a nun for a time, a charity founder, she didn’t waste a day of her 94 years. –Ken Owen, Castro Valley
TO THE EDITOR
Disturbed by the CVSan Special Board Meeting
Lillian Trillo: A Life of Activismo
Gun Deaths Not Accidents Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will now charge James Vega with involuntary manslaughter instead of murder in the shooting death of Justin Purvis (DA seeks reduced charges in CV murder). Given the facts of the case she is correct the shooting was not murder. But she is wrong to say the shooting was an accident. When it comes to gun deaths there are no accidents. There is only negligence. The shooting may have been unintentional, but it was not an accident. If we are ever to address the tragedy of gun violence, we need to stop excusing “I didn’t know the gun was loaded” shooting deaths as accidents. –Martin Wilmington, Hayward
Glen Leroy Sears Jr. Glen passed away on April 12, 2023, after a short illness. He was a loving father to his children, Kendra (Michael) son ick, was a special Papaw to Miles and Kade.2 He is also survived by his sister Barbara Carpenter Rod wife ex Shelley Sears. Glen coached CV Little League for many years as well as coaching at CVHS. He was also a member of the Crow Canyon Lodge in CV. His memory will live on through his family and friends, forever in our hearts. A celebration of life will be held at Proctor Elementary School on July 15 @ 11am on the baseball field.
Lil was born and raised in Oakland, California in 1928 to immigrant parents from México. While she and her brother Victor climbed trees, her mother Mary Giner worked in the Del Monte Cannery and her father José Trillo worked at the Southern Pacific Railroad. She attended St. Mary s rammar School and oly ames igh School. ollowing her mother’s dreams, she pursued nursing, graduating from St. Joseph’s College of Nursing in San Francisco and then the niversity of California erkeley with a achelor of Science. She was the first person in her family to go to college, and one of the first Chicanas to graduate from Cal. She worked in many locations as a bilingual public health nurse in the Bay Area, including Alameda County Public Health, San Leandro Schools, Santa Clara County Health Department - Migrant Health, and eventually Oakland Visiting urses as a supervisor. She was especially proud of having the opportunity to work on the frontlines public schools of the polio field trials in the 1950s, and in Gilroy, setting up a health clinic for Chicano farm workers. il was an adventurer. In , she saved up money to travel across urope for months in a V ug with her good friend ill. few years later, she went by herself to Mexico City to take courses at Universidad Autónoma de México to strengthen her Spanish, and to support her work as a nurse in Mexican merica communities and as an educator at Chabot College. Then in 0, she decided to move to Michigan to become a nun, joining the famed, feminist “Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” community in Monroe, Michigan. While exploring her faith at the convent over the next two decades, she continued her work as an outreach nurse in some of the poorest communities of Detroit during the day, while teaching her fellow sisters Spanish and personal care in the evenings. Meanwhile, she was encouraged by the leaders of The Immaculate Heart of Mary (several of whom held PhDs) to pursue graduate studies, obtaining her Master of Science at the University of Michigan. During her graduate studies she wrote papers on such topics as, “Sex Education: A Slippery Ball,” surveys of health curricula in schools, and “Cross-Cultural Patterns of Health Practices Among Americans and Mexican Americans in the West.” In the 1980s she decided to leave The Immaculate Heart of Mary, returning to the East Bay, where she took up roles as a public health nurse and educator once more. During this time, she was diagnosed with, and successfully survived, two bouts of lymphoma. ver restless and looking to make a significant difference in people s lives, in she founded C The atin merican Community ssistance oundation , a non-profit charity dedicated to improving the lives of the rural poor in atin merica. This organi ation is dedicated to meeting the urgent healthcare needs of the poorest communities, as well as long-term investments in education in 7 Latin American countries. When asked about the source of her inspiration, Lil explained, “The Lord gave me a match and told me to light the fuse. Then LACA took off like a rocket!” She was the recipient of many honors and awards, including: the Kappa Phi Kappa Honor Society at the University of Michigan, the Outstanding Employee Award by Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, the Wow (Wonderful Older Woman Award) by the Older Women’s League, the Paul Harris Fellow granted by the Rotary Foundation, and the Holy Names High School Alumnae Association Distinguished Achievement Award. If she thought someone needed help, she would help them. If she thought someone was being hurtful, she would tell them. If she thought a rule was unjust, she organized and got it changed. Lil was courageous. She was also a joker, storyteller, and talker. Lil could talk anyone into becoming an activist. She leaves behind her niece Linda (Warren) Ware, great nieces Amy Ware and Laura Ware, great grandniece Sophia Ware, Cousin Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, close friends Rosalinda Tovar, Rita Vicencio, Esther Martinez, Sheila Mcalinden, Joan Lewis, Dolores Downing, Dotty Gonsalves, Kathy and Kevin Sheil, Jesse Canchola, and the entire team at the LACA Foundation. She was a loving aunt, cousin, godmother, sister, daughter, a great friend, and madre to us all. Donations can be made to the LACA Foundation https://mylaca.org/donate.htm
12 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Our Athletes of the Week are the Canyon Middle School Golf Team. The Condors were undefeated this season. In the championship match, the team won both the overall score as well as placing four golfers individually. Dylan Hidayat- 29 (-1) received 1st place; Evan Figueiredo- 32 (+2) secured 3rd place; Max Meier- 33
(+3) won 4th place; and Dylan Pitcher- 37 (+7) scored 5th place. The team consists of: Gabriel Boutet, Samuel Boutet, Evan Figueiredo, Dylan Pitcher, Dylan Hidayat, Max Meier, Jack Meier, Mihir Nanisetti, Kara Kellenbarger, Kavea Kellenbarger, Avani Jadhav, Mikhaela Macabeo, and Matt Christiansen (Coach)
The The Matt Matt Wilhite Wilhite Team Team is proud to sponsor Is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week Athlete of the Week Canyon Golf Team
CVUSD: Maps to Split Up District continued from front page Many of these citizens were to split up the district. There parents worried about this are currently four potential transition affecting where their maps, and possibly more after child attends school, but Supercitizens expressed concerns intendent Parvin Ahmadi has at the Public Hearing during assured that this new system the June 14 School Board will have no effect on where Meeting. students attend school. These maps were created However, some were more using data from the 2020 U.S. concerned with the prioritiCensus Bureau. zation of equal population One criterion for these maps division of the maps and is that the population must be instead wanted more of a focus divided as equal “as is practica- on communities of interest. ble,” keeping in mind that they A speaker at the Public represent people, not citizens. Hearing, Peter Rosen, said that This adheres to Education “someone who lives in PaloCode section 1002 which states mares should not be voting for that: “trustee areas shall be someone who lives in Chabot. nearly equal in population.” They have completely different The maps must also avoid facilities and different issues.” “bottlenecking” areas. In response to citizens’
concerns, the board said they would try to make two new maps to address these worries in time for the last Public Hearing on June 28. One map will focus on keeping schools from being separated into different districts, and the other will use “strips” of division instead of large chunks. Trustee Gary Howard sympathized with the meeting attendees: “We don’t want to be doing this, but we have to. There is no perfect solution. Trustees are not responsible for only one or two schools. We are trustees for all of them.” Meeting information can be found on the CVUSD website (https://www.cv.k12.ca.us/).
Koo: Build A Rich Life continued from page 10 My friends and I just thought he was cheap. A few years later, we were hanging out and I asked him about it. He said the group of friends we hung out with weren’t people who cared for fancy or nice food, so he didn’t offer it as an option. He’s more than willing to pay for good food, it just has to be really good. He doesn’t understand why people would pay for mediocre food. After that chat, we went to a nice restaurant together and got to experience his perspective. It was a tapas restaurant and paid close to $30 for a mushroom dish. Can I just say, those were probably the best mushrooms I’ve ever had. After that meal, I understood what he meant. He’ll pay as much as needed for amazing food. If it’s not going to be that, he spends as little money as possible. I can’t say I agree with his belief, but I respect the heck out of him because he lives his values. What about you? Are you living out your values? Do you have clarity on what your rich life looks like? What can you do to start living out your rich life? Let me know! If you want some inspiration, check out the show and let me know what you think! Coa e el s eo le find al larity and onfiden e in t eir life ile uildin is ri life Conta t i at e in oo oa in ail o or follo on and ou u e e in oo oa in
On June 9, Josh Winkenbach of Castro Valley caught this three pound bass at South Lake Tahoe Keys while on vacation with his family … and he threw it back! Congratulations on your reat atch ’ osh! a e a reat atch’ you’d like to share with the community? Send a photo and information by email to: filesforforum gmail.com
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Our front page photo in our June 14 edition incorrectly identified this Redwood High School graduate. The photo is of Mia Mariella Ramirez. The Forum regrets the error
n aturday une he astro alley occe roup conducted their annual en artin emorial eorge ark hildren’s ouse occe ournament. en teams competed for top honors. fter nearly eight hours of friendly competition including a forty fi e minute break for a delicious lunch prepared by the ladies of the CV Bocce group, team “The Mamas and The Papas” reigned supreme. Pictured are e in orton aureen ay im iddleton and aren alladao proudly holding their first place trophies. total of was raised. ll proceeds go to the eorge ark hildren’s ouse.
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Wednesday, June 21, 2023
!"#"$%"&' ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You might have to turn your Arian charm up a few degrees if you hope to persuade that persistent pessimist to see the possibilities in your project. Whatever you do, don’t give up. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A “tip” about a co-worker’s “betrayal” might well raise the Bovine’s rage levels. But before charging into a confrontation, let an unbiased colleague do some fact-checking. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Although a relationship still seems to be moving too slowly to suit your expectations, it’s best not to push it. Let it develop at its own pace. You’ll soon get news about a workplace change. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A continually changing personal situation makes you feel as if you’re riding an emotional roller coaster. But hold on tight; stability starts to set in early next week. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Believe it or not, someone might dare to say “No!” to the Regal One’s suggestion. But instead of being miffed, use this rebuff to recheck the proposition and, perhaps, make some changes. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You might find it difficult to make a decision about a family matter. But a delay can only lead to more problems. Seek out trusted counsel and then make that important decision. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Concentrate your focus on what needs to be done and avoid frittering away your energies on less important pursuits. There’ll be time later for fun and games. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Although the conflicts seem to be letting up, you still need to be wary of being drawn into workplace intrigues. Plan a special weekend event for family and/or friends. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your quick wit helps you work through an already difficult situation without creating more problems. Creative aspects begin to dominate by the week’s end. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Be patient. You’ll soon receive news about a project that means a great deal to you. Meanwhile, you might want to reconsider a suggestion that you previously turned down. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) There are still some aspects about a new job offer that you need to resolve. In the meantime, another possibility seems promising. Be sure to check it out as well. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Opening up your emotional floodgates could leave you vulnerable to being hurt later on. Watch what you say in order to avoid having your words come back to haunt you. BORN THIS WEEK: You’re usually the life of the party, which gets you on everyone’s invitation list. You also have a flair for politics. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
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