CELEBRATING WOMENʼS MONTH WITH PROFILES OF LOCAL PROFESSIONALS
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022
YEAR 34
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
NEWS
NO. 11
Local Ukrainian Artist Holds Open Large Studio to Raise Funds for Refugees Parcel MAC MEETING
By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Register Now
Jenny Lin Foundation’s free summer music program returns
Page 3 LIVING
You’re in Luck
Celebrate St. Patty’s Day tomorrow with corned beef and cabbage
Page 4 SENIORS
A Will to Trust
Understanding what a ‘Living Trust’ is and how it is different from a will
Page 9
INDEX Classified Ads .......... 12 Crosswords .............. 13 Homes ....................... 10 Horoscope ................. 4 Legal Notices ........... 14 Obituaries ................ 14 Opinions .................. 14 Our Town .................... 3 Seniors ....................... 8 Weather ....................... 2 PHONE: (510) 614-1560
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Castro Valley residents Julia Kosivchuk and her husband Ross are from the same town in Ukraine. And while their relatives back home were forced to flee the horrors of the Russian invasion, Julia says her heart is open to the entire country of 47 million people whose lives were changed in an instant. “One day you are having a cup of coffee in a market square with blue skies above. The next day, you are a refugee with everything you own in one backpack,” Julia told the Forum. Kosivchuk is an accomplished artist, journalist, and martial arts teacher who has been in Castro Valley since October 2020. The family moved from Berkeley where PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER they had been living since Ross landed a programming job 16 COLORING THE WORLD HAPPY: Julia Kosivchuk, who lives in Castro Valley years ago. but is from a town in Ukraine, says she creates art with bright bold colors to see ARTIST on page 6 help people feel happy in these sad times.
Issues By Amy Sylvestri
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Agricultural landowners may soon be able to build larger structures on their land if an amendment to a current ordinance is passed by public vote this fall. On Monday, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) took an initial step in getting the matter on the upcoming ballot by approving the language of the proposed ballot measure which would modify the amount of development allowed on certain agricultural parcels. Properties that are designated “Large Parcel Agriculture” (LPA) currently allow a maximum building intensity of .01 Floor Area Ratio (FAR). For example, a 100-acre (4,356,00-square-feet) parcel see MAC on page 14
Area Hospitals Mark Two Years of COVID-19 By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
COVID-19 may be entering a new phase, but it’s not gone yet and people need to remain careful even as restrictions are relaxed, said Dr. Stephen Parodi of Kaiser Permanente. Parodi is an infectious disease specialist who heads Kaiser’s COVID-19 response. He spoke with the media on March 9 to mark the second anniversary of the first COVID lockdown on March 19, 2020. In particular, people are reminded to get vaccinated and boosted, he said, even if there has been a decline in cases from a high peak.
Similar advice came from Dr. Jeffrey Silvers, Sutter Health’s medical director of pharmacy and infection control. He is based at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, which is part of the Sutter Health care network. There is still more COVID in circulation than there was a year ago, Silvers said, adding that a recent drop in cases does not put us anywhere near defeating the virus Dr. Stephen Parodi “We may get rid of Omiwho heads Kaiser Permanente’s efforts cron, but some other variant against Covid -19. will replace it,” he said. He said hopefully it’s getting But while we may eventually near endemic status, which means that case levels are sta- get rid of the omicron variant, ble and somewhat predictable. others will likely follow.
prevent any infection at all, given that there are fewer infected people to catch it from, and almost always prevent severe infections resulting in hospitalization or even death. Parodi added that vaccinations also protect against developing long COVID, a lingering, sometimes severe infection that can affect several parts of the body. Silvers said that long COVID mostly is seen in people Dr. Jeffrey Silvers, Sutter Health’s medical following mild or asymptomatdirector of Pharmacy and ic initial cases of COVID, not Infection Control. in people who just got over a severe case. “People coming out of the Both doctors said vaccinahospital may take a while to tions still mattered. Vaccinasee HOSPITALS on page 5 tions are increasingly able to
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