4-PAGE PULL & GO GUIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF ISSUE
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
YEAR 34
Rising COVID Levels Concern Health Officials
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM OUR TOWN
By Michael Singer
Congratulations
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Castro Valley realtor receives Community Citizenship Award
Page 3 SENIORS
Medi-Cal Alert Find out the dramatic changes coming to the Medicaid program
Page 4 NEWS
Got Pain? Help alleviate back, knee, and hip pain with one simple exercise
Page 12
INDEX Classified Ads ............ 8 Crosswords ............... 9 Homes ........................ 6 Horoscope ............... 12 Legal Notices ........... 10 Obituaries ................ 11 Opinions .................. 11 Our Town .................... 3 Seniors ....................... 4 Weather ....................... 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROWELL RANCH RODEO
More than 150 bulls and horses will be shipped in from the Flying-U Ranch for this weekend’s rodeo events.
Taking Stock of 2022 Rowell Ranch Rodeo By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
In addition to the dozens of contestants at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo this weekend, there will be more than 150 bulls and horses brought in to challenge the riders’ talents and skills. But it takes a small team of experts, a lot of preparation, and a lifetime of care for the animals that will make those 8 seconds so exciting. It’s about a two-hour drive from Castro Valley to the Flying-U Ranch in Marysville, California. That’s where the bulls, horses, and other stock animals are raised and bred for the Rowell Ranch Rodeo and other local rodeos in California and Nevada. The ranch hands driving four to five truckloads from the Flying-U will deliver the stock to Castro Valley. Each animal has a pre-assigned number for quick identification, but each
also has a personal reputation with names like Flood Tide, Billy the Kid, Holy Hoppin’ Hell, Lucky Charm, Bit-a-Bad News, and Boss Man. When they arrive, the numbered herd will be separated into smaller groups. Three to five wranglers collect the herd then identify the animals by a number and then crossmatch that animal with a specific contestant during a specific event such as bull riding, bronco roping, or the Cowboy Experience. “Prior to all rodeos, cowboys submit their entry form online which is processed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PCRA) in Colorado Springs,” says Joe Paulo, Rowell Ranch Rodeo board director and “chute boss.” “From their spreadsheet, we will know which animals to separate for that day and bring them into the competition area prior to their events.” see STOCK on page 5
A recent surge in COVID infection rates and hospitalizations are giving health officials cause for concern. While not the massive spike in cases seen back in January, the current 6.6 rolling seven-day percentage of positive tests is significantly higher than the 1.0 average measured at this time last year. Health officers from the 12 Bay Area counties issued a statement this week pointing the finger at a combination of the highly contagious Omicron subvariants and lax masking practices. “Daily reported cases in Alameda County have reached levels seen during the Delta
wave. If you’ve chosen not to wear a mask indoors recently, now is a good time to start masking again,” said Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss. Actual case rates are likely higher than those reported because of the widespread use of home tests, Dr. Moss added. The data collected from local wastewater processing plants have shown increased levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This means data from wastewater analysis can be used as an indicator of the level of transmission of COVID-19 in the community. The news comes as the US recently hit the grim milestone of 1 million deaths from see COVID on page 2
POINT IN TIME COUNT
Alameda County: 22 Percent Jump In Homelessness By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Approximately 9,747 people in Alameda County were identified as homeless earlier this year, according to data released this past Monday. The findings are part of a federal-mandated biennial count of the unhoused. While the number shows a 22 percent jump in homelessness since 2019, county health officials and homeless advocacy groups say the numbers could have been much worse. On February 22, 2022,
a coalition of Alameda County agencies and jurisdictions along with staff from the county, various cities, and members of the community conducted its PIT (Point in Time) Count. Small teams canvased neighborhoods, business zones, and known homeless camps to get the data. “This count reflects the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was delayed a year and a lot of measures and onetime funding came in from the Federal and State governments that focused on keeping people see HOMELESS on page 2
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