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BIG VOTE TONIGHT
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
YEAR 33
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
NO. 46
MAC Updated On Infrastructure, Proposed Railway
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM NEWS
By Amy Sylvestri
Fish in Creek
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Salmon have been spotted swimming up San Lorenzo Creek
Page 2 SENIORS
Bump in Benefits Social Security benefits for 2022 expected to increase by 5.9 percent
Page 5 NEWS
PHOTOS BY LINDA SANDSMARK
T S S : eterans posted the ags and provided a ri e salute at astro alley s eterans ay memorial ceremony on ov. 11.
Veterans Honored By Linda Sandsmark CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Girl Scout Gold Kierney Senft earns Old Salt, Helmsman, and Girl Scout Gold Award
Page 12
INDEX Calendar .................. 10 lassified ds ............ Crosswords ............... 9 Homes ....................... 6 Horoscope ............... 12 Legal Notices ........... 10 Obituaries ................ 11 Opinions .................. 11 Seniors ....................... 5 Weather ....................... 2 PHONE: (510) 614-1560
P01 FRONT 11-17.indd 1
A large crowd assembled at Castro Valley’s Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, November 11, to honor those who have served our country. Highly decorated Command Sergeant Major Jerry Silva gave a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather, a Filipino-American soldier who became a Japanese prisoner of war after the attacks of December 7, 1941. Silva’s message was to remember that those in the military give up a lot when they choose to serve — including jobs, time with their families, and their own safety. “They sacrificed certain liberties so others could enjoy those liberties,” said Silva. At the ceremony, each branch of the service was recognized individually. Opening remarks and recognitions were provided by First Sergeant Kathleen Vargas, U.S. Army (Ret). Moose Lodge 1491 Chaplain Bonnie Russell gave an invocation. Other speakers included Commander Stephen West of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9601, Commander Bernard Remoaldo from American Legion Post (AL) 649, and Colonel John McPartland, U.S. Army (Ret.).
Infrastructure is the big buzzword nationally and it’s no different here in Castro Valley, as the Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard an update on various infrastructure projects from the Alameda County Public Works Department at their Monday night meeting. First up was an update on plans for the infamous “Burger Island”- the patch of land on the west end of Castro Valley Boulevard that’s home to McDonald’s and Wendy’s. The county is reconfiguring the island with improvements to the intersection and a new
Last Chance to Help Draw County Lines By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Command Sergeant Major Jerry Silva spo e a out his family s deep connections to the U.S. military.
After McPartland read “The Watch,” veterans provided a rifle salute and the song “Taps.” Bag piper Fred Payne opened the ceremony and closed it with a musical rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Local Scouts and U.S. Naval Sea Cadets were among those who helped set up the event and distribute flags to attendees. The Castro Valley Veterans Memorial is located on Quail Avenue, adjacent to the Castro Valley Community Center and playground.
sidewalk. The median will be reconstructed at Castro Valley Boulevard and Stanton Avenue and a traffic signal with left turn and southbound through movements will be added. A traffic signal will also be added at John Drive for northbound Strobridge Avenue traffic. Construction is expected to begin in September 2022, with additional public meetings to be held before it begins, according to Daniel Woldesenbet, Public Works Director. Woldesenbet also told the MAC about a variety of median repairs the county plans for around town. Damaged concrete is set to be mended at the Crow Canyon Road and see MAC on page 10
The public has only a few more opportunities to add their thoughts to the once-in-a-decade Alameda County redistricting process. Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors heard from individual residents and focused groups called a Community of Interest or COI on plans to redraw the lines where each of the five supervisor districts would represent. Every ten years, electoral districts throughout the US are redrawn to equalize the district populations. This process is called redistricting. It is important that each Supervisor represents about the same number of residents. Based on the 2020 US Census, Alameda County Districts
need to represent an average of 336,000 residents with no district governing more than 352,800 people. At its November 4, Redistricting Public Hearing, the Board of Supervisors reviewed three different possible map options (also called visualizations). A fourth option was developed on the request of one of the Supervisors to divide Oakland into two districts instead of the current three districts. “The process is becoming more real and less abstract,” said Alameda County Director of Community Engagement, Casey Farmer. “One visualization could be adopted, or tweaks can be made. This process has to be done with transparency.” see LINES on page 4
11/16/21 4:33 PM