November 23, 2022

TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING

Aisha Wahab Leads State Senate District 10 Results

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

While mail-in ballots con tinue to be counted, California State Senate District 10 candi date Aisha Wahab says she’s confdent in the outcome.

As of Monday, at 12 p.m., Wahab generated 113,208 votes. Her opponent, Lily Mei had 48,892 votes with a spread of 7.4%.

“While it is the Registrar of Voters and the Secretary of State’s responsibility to call the race, I’ve been contacted by California State Senate Leader ship to schedule my orientation and prepare me for transition as our lead has grown each night since Election Day,” Wahab told the Forum.

The candidates are vying to replace State Senator Bob Wieckowski, who is terming out at the end of this year.

Following the redistricting agreements in December 2021, representation for State Senate 10 has removed Castro Valley see WAHAB on page 10

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

There are times when dwell ing on the past can be a good thing, and one of those times is when an older person with memory loss joins loved ones at a holiday gathering. That’s according to Dr. Jim Mittel berger, medical director at the Center for Elders Independ ence (CEI), where many sen iors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are among the clients.

CEI provides daytime services and transportation to older people in several East

Bay

MAC Meeting: COVID Update, Watershed Maps

By Amy Sylvestri CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

COVID concerns may seem like a thing of the past these days, but around 11 people per 100,000 residents in Alameda County are still testing positive daily, the Castro Valley Munic ipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard during an update at their meeting Monday night.

That puts the county in what the Centers for Disease Control consider a “low” community level positivity rate, but that number is likely to increase as we get into winter months, ac cording to Kimi Watkins-Tartt, Alameda County Public Health Department Director.

Watkins-Tartt updated the MAC on current COVID-19 and other respiratory infec tions. Currently, 86 people are hospitalized for COVID, with eight people in the ICU. There have been 495 COVID deaths in 2022 to date.

Watkins-Tartt said she understood that the public may be fatigued with virus news and that many people have effectively turned a corner in the pandemic, but still advised vigilance going into the holi

“We have been using wastewater surveillance more and more,” said Watkins-Tartt.

“Our wastewater data shows COVID increasing more and more. It remains to be seen if it’s a blip or a winter wave.”

She added that County health offcials still rec ommend that everyone be vaccinated and boosted. Nearly a million Alameda County residents (69.7 percent) have re ceived the frst vaccines and a second booster but just 265,992 Alameda County residents (19 percent) have been fully boost ed with the Bivalent shot.

“We really would like to see everyone vaccinated and boosted,” said Watkins-Tartt. see MAC on page 10

Alzheimer’s at Holiday Gatherings

It’s things that happened relatively recently that a person with early Alzheimer’s may forget, he said. Older memories are often quite intact.

“I really like to look at what people can do, not what they can’t do,” Mittelberger said.

With Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, the loved one’s personality remains intact in the early stages of the disease. So does their thinking ability, he said.

“They’re still there,” the doctor said, “but they forget things.” Their ability to plan effectively can also be affected, he added.

“So, talk about old times, which they’re likely to remem ber clearly, particularly when they had shared those with others present,” Mittelberger said.

Conficts over recent or current events are best avoided, he added.

“Holidays are a great time to bring out old pictures and things from the past,” Mittel berger said.

You can also bring out

possessions they’ll remember, along with playing or singing music. Music can bring great joy to a person with memory loss, especially if they remem

ber enjoying it with some of the people present.

One can also talk about food, at Thanksgiving, in particular, he said. The older person may greatly enjoy help ing prepare it, especially if they did so previously with family members or friends who are there.

Another Thanksgiving tradition, everybody watching a football game, may present a bit of a problem. Music is much easier on the nerves of a person with Alzheimer’s, he said.

For the same reason—too much going on at once—it’s see

State Senate District 10 candidate Aisha Wahab

communities including San Leandro, with the aim of keeping them in their own homes while getting their needs met.

Dr. Jim Mittelberger

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE

YOUR RATES AT WORK

Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) knows that investment in infrastructure is key to maintaining a highquality wastewater system.

CVSan’s current Gravity Sewer Repair and Rehabilitation Project is underway!

The contractor for the Project, APB General Engineering, has completed a majority of the Project’s full sewer main replacements using the pipe bursting method of repair. Pipe bursting is a trenchless pipe replacement method that inserts a new pipe into an existing pipe using a hydraulic or pneumatic “bursting head” pulled by a winch and cable. This method helps prevent the need to dig up the entire street to make the necessary repairs.

For more information on past, current, and future CVSan construction projects, please visit cvsan.org/Projects

CASTRO VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT

CVSan Office: (510) 537-0757

Sewer Emergencies: (510) 506-5821

Effective Environmental Services since 1939 | cvsan.org

Thanksgiving: Your Gratitude

By Kevin Koo SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Thanksgiving is this week. And as the name implies, it is a time to give thanks. In other words, a time of gratitude. I’ve mentioned gratitude in the past, but today, I want to focus only on gratitude. More specifically, I want to help you develop a gratitude practice and share some thoughts on what I think should be included in an effective, and potentially life-changing, gratitude practice.

First, I think we should start with why gratitude matters. For me, the first and most obvious reason is that gratitude feels awesome. Who doesn’t like feeling grateful? Feeling proud and successful is great, but those can be accomplished by yourself. Gratitude is a sense that you’re not alone. With recent events, it can be very easy to feel alone, but when I’m grateful, I’m flooded

with emotions that remind me of all the people, places, and things in my life. There are also more

scientific reasons that I won’t get to here, mostly because I’m sure I’ll misspell it or explain it wrong, but there are lots of benefits to it. They all fall under the idea that when you’re grateful, you’re able to think more creatively or outside of the box and you’re also able to do things that you might not do when you’re stressed and worried about something. A third reason is that you can’t feel any negative emotions or feelings when you’re in a state of gratitude.

When I broke down my own gratitude practice, I found four general categories of things I was grateful for: good things in your life, things you take for granted, unknown things, and yourself.

Practice

The first category is somewhat obvious. When you have a beautiful home, a loving family, and plenty of food those are good things in your life. What are all the good things going on in your life? The second category is when we take things for granted. When was the last time you thanked your heart for beating? How about your lungs for helping you breathe? You know that if they stopped working, you would too… so don’t you think some thanks would be appreciated? I say that tongue in cheek, but do you see how easy it is to take something so important for granted?

It could be the breeze during a heatwave, or the sunshine on a cold morning. You know one thing I’m guilty of? Taking my parents and in-laws for granted. They provide so much support to my family, especially with taking care of our son, I know I don’t thank them enough.

The third category is the unknown. I have a story to share with this, but I’ll save that for another time. The idea behind it though is that we don’t know when we’ve somehow been helped out somehow. When things magically work out or if you see that you’ve somehow been blessed, this is an example of the unknown.

Finally, the fourth category is yourself. This may sound a little egotistical, but I do find it to be important. I’ve met a lot of people, myself included, who regularly put themselves down. If you’ve ever struggled with self-confidence or looked for approval from others, I believe that this specific form of gratitude is needed.

If you’re having a hard day and you made it to the end of the night without breaking down, that deserves a moment of gratitude. Maybe your health hasn’t been great and you stuck with your diet or did your workout. It may not have been pretty or didn’t feel great, but you did it, good job!

see

KOO on page 5

his mother wears a military flight suit and why she serves. It was inspired by a conversation with the author’s son Kiyoshi when he was a student at Castro Valley Parent Nursery School and first saw her in her flight suit. The author said she was also inspired to write the bilingual book to remind Americans that women, mothers, and Latinas are veterans too.

Nominate a Community Volunteer

The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) is pleased to announce the acceptance of nominations for the Annual Board of Directors’ Award for Distinguished Community Service during 2022.

The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District appreciates all of the individuals and organizations who provide important volunteer service to the District and the community and have honored these individuals and organizations with

an award program since 1962. The Awards are an opportunity for the Board to appreciate and formally recognize individuals and organizations whose efforts exhibit the District’s mission of providing high quality leisure facilities and/or programs to its residents on a voluntary basis. All members of the community are encouraged to nominate those for consideration who exemplify important volunteer service. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, De-

cember 9, 2022. Winners will be announced at the Board of Directors’ meeting on January 3, 2023 and recognized at the Annual Board of Directors’ Awards Luncheon on Friday, January 27, 2023.

The downloadable nomination form is available online at www.HaywardRec.org/ awards. You can also stop by the District Office (1099 E Street, Hayward) to pick up a copy or by contacting Adriane Lee Bird at (510) 881-6704 or email BirA@HaywardRec.org

Sheriff’s Reports

Wanted Car Thief Caught Monday, November 21: at 12:47 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies pulled over and arrested a 33-year-old man from Castro Valley as part of a warrant issued for his capture. The man was traveling on Center Street near Fernwood Court when deputies made a positive identification. The man had previously been convicted of auto theft. Deputies took the man to Santa Rita Jail pending bail.

Aggressive Argument Leads to Spousal Assault

Thursday, November 17: at 4:51 a.m., a 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argument sent deputies to an apartment on Lake Chabot Road near Somerset Avenue. There, they arrested a 26-yearold woman on suspicion of spousal assault. The woman was handcuffed and taken into custody. The victim was treated at the scene.

Driving Under Influence

Tuesday, November 15: at 11:55 p.m., a 42-year-old CV man was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, possession of methamphetamine drugs, and illegal drug paraphernalia. Deputies stopped the man on Proctor Road near Redwood Road after they observed him driving erratically in the neighborhood. The man was taken into custody.

Contempt

of Court

Order Friday, November 18: at 11:05 p.m., a 51-year-old CV woman was arrested as part of a warrant issued for her capture. Deputies report the woman had been convicted of identity theft and was in violation of a court order to appear before a judge. The woman was at an apartment on Santa Maria Ave. near the Boulevard when deputies served the warrant. The woman was taken to Santa Rita Jail.

Arrested Twice in a Week Friday, November 18: at 6:56 p.m., deputies arrested a 68-year-old man with no permanent residence on suspicion of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and failing to register as a transient following a previous release from jail. The man was hanging outside a grocery store on Redwood Road near the Boulevard when deputies found his stash. The same man had been arrested three days earlier on suspicion of public intoxication near the intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way. Deputies took the man into custody.

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM MYCVFORUM.COM

Assault and Battery on Family Member

Wednesday, November 16: at 4:45 p.m., deputies arrested a 67-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault and battery on a family member. The man was at a home on Jennifer Drive near Chloe Court when deputies responded to a call about an argument at the home. The man was taken into custody after deputies confirmed the vitims injuries. The victim was treated at the scene.

Breaking and Entering Tuesday, November 15: at 12:36 a.m., deputies arrested a 43-year-old CV man as part of a warrant issued for his capture. The man was hanging outside a drug store on the Boulevard near Yeandle Avenue when deputies approached him and made a positive ID on his warrant. The man had been previously charged with breaking and entering a building and identity theft. Deputies took the man to Santa Rita Jail.

DRE #00689931, #01912817, #02187163)

Contributors:

Linda Sandsmark

Mike McGuire

Amy Sylvestri

Jim Knowles

Gene Osofsky

Carl Medford

Terry Liebowitz

Debbie Tee

Linette Escobar

Thomas Lorentzen

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALOMARES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

“CAPTAIN MAMA” AUTHOR LANDS AT PALOMARES: To celebrate Veterans Day, Castro Valley Air Force aviator veteran turned aviation children’s book author Graciela Tiscareño-Sato (aka Captain Mama) visited Palomares Elementary School for a Veterans Day assembly. The author is pictured (at left) with Ms. Pyle’s Second Grade class holding their copies of the book. All students were given a copy of the first book in her series, “Good Night, Captain Mama / Buenas Noches, Capitán Mamá.” In the book, a young boy named Marco learns why

Dev Mahadevan (from left),

Illingworth of the Morrisson Theater Chorus prepare for the Holiday concert returning Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 pm and Sunday Dec. 11 at 2 pm at the Douglas Morrisson Theater (22311 Third Street, Hayward). This unforgettable concert is sure to raise spirits and spark the holiday mood. Cesar Cancino will again direct and entertain with his informative and witty comments about the music and performers. Get your holiday on and get out your warm and fuzzy (or ugly) holiday sweaters and attend this fun evening! Tickets can be purchased at the HARD office (1099 E. St. Hayward) or online at haywardrec.org or call 510-881-6700. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Celebrate ‘Green Friday’ at EB Parks

By Ned MacKay SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

East Bay Regional Park District has declared Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, to be “Green Friday,” during which park entrance and activity fees are waived at all Regional Parks.

This includes fees for parking, dogs, horses, boat launching, fishing, and entrance to Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. It doesn’t include state fees for fishing licenses, watercraft inspections or

concessions such as the Tilden Park steam train and merry-goround.

The idea is to encourage enjoyment of nature in its autumnal beauty with family and friends. Green Friday is part of the #OptOutside movement, started in 2015 by REI to promote healthy alternatives to post-Thanksgiving shopping.

Activities with a Green Friday theme are planned that day at several Regional Parks. All are free. One requires advance registration.

There’s a “Green Friday

Frolic” from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley with naturalist Miriam Klingler. It’s a walk through the park in search of signs left by nocturnal wildlife. Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road in Oakley. For information, call 510-544-3050.

Or you can join naturalist Katie Garchar on a Green Friday hike from 10 to 11:05 a.m. at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch. Enjoy the fall colors and look for birds around the reservoir. Minimum age is six years and parents must participate. Meet at the end of Frederickson Lane. For info, call 510-544-2751.

A “Hike It Off” trek is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Green Friday at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland.

see PARKS on page 5

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Monday, Nov. 28

Eden Garden Club Meeting

Eden Garden Club meets on Monday Nov. 28, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the Castro Valley United Methodist Church located at 19806 Wisteria Street. Speaker will be Lary Huls, a Certified Aesthetic Pruner, Landscaper, and designer/builder of an all native Butterfly Garden in San Leandro. Lary will be sharing pruning tips of when where and how. Guests are always welcome to join us. Eden Garden Club’s members share plant exchange, pick a prize and gifts for silent auction. Donations are gratefully accepted for Penny Pines to plant pine trees in the National Forests. Masks are encouraged. Please call 510-397-1268 for more information.

Friday - Sunday, Dec. 2 - 4

Friends of CV Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Castro Valley Library will hold an indoor book sale Friday through Sunday, Dec. 2 - 4. This sale will feature fiction and mystery books, all categories of nonfiction books, children’s books, DVDs and music CD’s. Most books are $1 or less; children’s books are 25¢. We will have a nice selection of gift quality, antiquarian, and special books at slightly higher (but still bargain) prices. Member Preview is Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. Memberships may be purchased or renewed at the door. Saturday hours are 10 am to 3 pm Sunday ($5 bag day) hours are 1 pm to 4 pm. The Castro Valley Library is located at 3600 Norbridge Ave. Proceeds pay for library programs and amenities that would not otherwise be available. This is our first 3-day sale since before the pandemic! Please call 510-733-3285 or visit our website for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Holiday Tea and Christmas Boutique

Castro Valley United Methodist Church, 19806 Wisteria St. Castro Valley, will be hosting a Holiday High Tea and Christmas Boutique on Saturday, Dec. 3. Reservations can be made for 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm by contacting Donna Driver by email at: ddriverdriver@yahoo.com. When requesting your reservation please provide you name, email, phone number, number of people in your party and the time you would like to reserve. The tea will consist of a variety of teas, savory, sandwiches, and deserts by Baptista Baking Company. Vendors at the boutique will have a variety of items for sale such as handmade items, jewelry, pottery, scarfs, honey and products made from honey, etc. Seating is limited so it is recommended that you make your reservations early.

Saturday, Dec. 3

FirstPres Hayward Holiday Market

Get a head start on your holiday shopping by coming to our Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 12 pm to 5pm at FirstPres Hayward, located at 2490 Grove Way in Castro Valley. Everyone Deserves has partnered with Smalltown Society to provide live music and J-Boss Bakery to sell

delicious desserts! FirstPres Kids will have an activity for kids and Santa will be stopping by! We will also be spotlighting local makers, crafters, artists, small businesses and brands. Join us! For more information visit: www.firstpreshayward.com/everyone-deserves.

Thursday, Dec. 8

CVEA Chamber Monthly Mixer

Join the Castro Valley / Eden Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Mixer on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Castro Valley Moose Lodge, located at 20835 Rutledge Rd, Castro Valley. There will be hors d’oeuvres and a no host bar. Event is free for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Chamber members are always welcome to promote their business by bringing a raffle prize. You will have opportunity to announce your business and how we can support your business. If you can, The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Holiday Toy Drive is asking for donations to benefit our local community in the unincorporated Alameda County. Bring a new unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation and receive a raffle ticket for the drawing that evening.

Saturday Dec. 10

Free Concert: Saxophone Quartet

Fun’SQ will be jazzing up the holidays at the Castro Valley Library on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2 to 3:30 pm. Join us and enjoy saxophone tunes that will have the whole family engaged! They’ll perform from a wide range of music genres including holiday tunes, video games, jazz, classical, pop/ rock, movies, anime and more. Reservations are required for this free event. Register at aclibrary.org. We will be maintaining social distancing practices and following all local health precautions and guidelines. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Alameda County Library property. For more information, call the library at 510-667-7900, or see Events at: https://aclibrary.org/location/ castro-valley-events

Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 10 & 11

Aran’s Holiday Gift Boutique

Aran’s Art Studio will host a holiday gift boutique on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 5 pm to 9 pm and on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 10 am to 4 pm. All vendors will be local artists. There will be live music and light refreshments.

Aran’s Art Studio is located at 3313 Village Dr., Castro Valley (in Castro Village on the corner of Santa Maria and Village Drive).

Sunday, Dec. 11

Free Concert: Castro Valley Orchestra

Castro Valley Orchestra will present a free concert on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 pm at Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501

Redwood Road, Castro Valley. Works by Berlioz, Schubert, and Saint-Saens will be presented. Flautist Beverly Johnson and clarinetist Michael Wilson will be featured. A reception will follow the concert. Masking and distance protocols will be observed.

Joey Berube, Pamela Chan, Natasha Hall-Sevilla and Paulo

PHOTO CREDIT: BERENICE SULLIVAN

Holiday: Gatherings for Those With Alzheimer’s Parks: ‘Burn the Turkey Hike’ After Thanksgiving

continued from front page best to have one person at a time talk to your guest and to have people arrive one after another rather than in groups all at once. For that matter, big parties are not the best idea for someone with Alzheimer’s, Dr. Mittelberger said.

People with Alzheimer’s can get weary at a gathering and providing a quiet place for them to rest or nap is a good idea, he added.

Many forget that any older person might suffer from hearing loss and fading eyesight, he said. So, it’s best to look at the person and speak to them more clearly, a bit more slowly, and a little louder than you might with someone younger.

It’s best to divert the conversation and not contradict a per-

son with memory loss who gets some facts wrong. They may get wrong which city they’re in or that a loved one has passed away. Be gentle with the latter, Dr. Mittelberger suggests.

A person with memory loss can’t just “try harder” to successfully remember things, the doctor cautioned. The memories are no longer physically there or never got made. If you correct a person with Alzheimer’s on some fact, they might not remember and ask again in a few minutes.

People with memory loss can suffer stress from changes in the environment, so consider holding the gathering at their home in the first place rather than having them travel to yours, Dr. Mittelberger suggests.

Koo: Gratitude Practice

continued from page 2

I want to emphasize that there is no right or wrong way to practice gratitude, as long as you do it. I’ve been most successful catching it in the moment. I’ll stop whatever I’m doing, put my hands over my heart, and just feel gratitude for a few seconds. Some people incorporate it into a morning meditation or something like that. That’s also great. Mess around with it and see what works best for you.

So what are you grateful for? Do you have things to fit into each of the four categories? What does your gratitude

practice look like? Or maybe how will you build your gratitude practice? Let me know your answers or if you want some support.

I’m grateful to all of you who have been reading my articles all year. It’s been an honor writing for you all this past year and I look forward to walking through more life together. THANK YOU!

Kevin helps people gain clarity on what they want in life, craft a plan, and support in the execution of the plan while counting his blessings. Contact him at kevinkoocoaching@gmail.com

continued from previous page

It’s a 5.25-mile hilly excursion led by naturalist Michael Charnofsky, with creeks, redwoods, prairies and oak woodlands along the way. Meet at the Trudeau Center at 11500 Skyline Boulevard in Oakland. Heavy rain cancels the hike. For information, call 510-544-3187.

Another chance for exercise is a “Burn the Turkey Hike” for ages six and up, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sunol Regional Wilderness near Sunol,

with naturalist Erica Stephens. Registration is required for this hike, and it may fill quickly.

The route is a three-mile round trip along Camp Ohlone Road to the Alameda Creek Overlook. The guided portion of the hike ends there; hikers are welcome to bring snacks, lunch and stay longer on their own. Children must be accompanied by adults.

To register and obtain more information, visit www.ebparks.org or call 888-327-2757 and select option 2.

Sunol naturalists also plan an easy, one-mile walk from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov.

26. Stroll through the winter wilderness and see how the park transforms during cooler months. Bring drinking water, and wear weather-appropriate clothing.

And there’s more: Erica will host an astronomy session with the TriValley Stargazers from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Sunol Visitor Center. This is also a drop-in program with no registration needed.

For a full program list of East Bay Park events, please visit: ebparks.org/calendar

ANNUAL WAREHOUSE SALE

December 9TH - 11TH 9am - 5pm

139th Ave San Leandro

Burn the Turkey Hike

REAL ESTATE GALLERY REAL ESTATE GALLERY

REAL ESTATE REALITY GUEST

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to

COMMENTARY

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we officially kick off the Holiday Season. Many local residents love this time of year: Bay Area trees drop their remaining leaves, temperatures begin to slide, frost lingers on car windows and Holiday decorations and Salvation Army bell ringers appear as if by magic. Activities move indoors, furnaces begin to light and, as holiday catalogues descend on your mailbox like a swarm of locusts, turkeys migrate from freezers to ovens and eggnog faithful check dairy cases in anticipation.

Having grown up in Canada just south of the frozen tundra, I am delighted by the Central County weather this time of year. The mere thought of shoveling snow produces hives and the trials associated with scraping ice from my car and trying to start it in sub-zero temperatures are a distant memory of winters past. While it may get chilly outside, Bay Area residents enjoy temperate conditions

while most the country is immersed in freezing temperatures, snow and ice. We have much for which to be thankful!

The Realtors of the Central County want to extend to you the warmest of wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. As we distance ourselves from the pandemic and watch the Fed attempt to get the economy under control, we must admit that things are still better here than in many other places in the world. As an example, due to the current conflict, sections of Ukraine are without utilities heading into winter. While there is conflict and catastrophe in numerous places across the globe, even with our current economic woes, housing crisis, affordability gap and more, we have peace. We also want to remind you that, although we don’t face the rigors of severe winters, there is still a need to prepare for the cooler days ahead. It is time to change your furnace filters. Make sure you have a CO detector outside the bedrooms on every level and fresh batteries

in all your smoke detectors. Clean out your gutters to ensure winter rains can easily flow and make sure you have extensions to divert downspout water away from the foundation. Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed to eliminate drafts. It’s also a good idea to have older roofs checked to ensure they will remain watertight through the impending rains.

From all of us to all of you –have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed Holiday season!

Use a Box to Ripen Green Tomatoes

BUZZ BERTOLERO THE DIRT GARDENER

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QI harvest some of my green tomatoes yearly before the frost, hoping they’ll ripen indoors, but they never do. I usually place them in the sun on the window sill but eventually throw them out. How can I successfully ripen them this year?

Leaving tomatoes out to ripen in the open air doesn’t work, as you’ve found out. You ripen tomatoes off the vine in a shallow plastic or cardboard box with a lid to create a simple ripening chamber. The bottom of the box is lined with a one-inch layer of newspaper, and you place the green tomatoes next to one another, but don’t let them touch each other. A second layer can be added, separated with another layer of newspaper, but no more. The box

is then placed in a cool, out of the wary the way location like the garage. Every five to seven days, you open the lid a remove those that have turned red. The chamber traps the ethylene gas naturally given off by the tomatoes. You can hasten the ripening by adding an apple or other fruit that releases ethylene. I know an oldschool method would have you wrap each tomato separately in newspaper or other material and store them in a box. I think it’s tedious, and the lid makes that unnecessary. You should select tomatoes that haven’t been damaged by the cold. So,

it may be too late for this year, but I’d still try a few anyway to get a feel for the technique.

crown rot, water mold fungus,

other diseases when

QShould we clean up the fallen leaves to avoid hiding places for pests? Also, can use these leaves make compost?

crown is covered for an extended time. From personal experience, it’s easier to stay on top of the leaf drop as it’s occurring than to wait to do it all at the end. Dry leaves are easier to remove than those that are wet and matted. It’s one of the few times a leaf blower has become very handy. This material can be raked up, stored in plastic bags, or added directly to a compost pile. The compost can be used as mulch or worked into the soil as a soil conditioner. It doesn’t matter the size of your backyard; composting can be done without creating a nuisance to the eyes ornose.

ACleaning up the fallen debris from turf and ground cover areas and around the base or under the canopy of trees and shrubs is recommended. With turf and herbaceous ground covers, it’s a critical issue. The debris will mats down with each rainy period. This layer prevents the sunlight from reaching the plants. These areas then turn yellow and eventually die as the plants cannot manufacture food in their leaves, known as Photosynthesis. Although the top layer appears dry, it is still wet and dark underneath.

Woody ornamental trees and shrubs can develop stem and

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.

Mortgage Rates Tumble

Mortgage rates tumbled this week due to incoming data that suggests inflation may have peaked. While the decline in mortgage rates is welcome news, there is still a long road ahead for the housing market. Inflation remains elevated, the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates high and consumers will continue to feel the impact.

Over the last fifty years, Freddie Mac has closely monitored the trajectory of mortgage rates. This week we are launching enhancements to our Primary Mortgage Market Survey® methodology that will increase its accuracy and reliability. This new approach will incorporate more detailed data and monitor real-time mortgage rates more closely.

and

the

RECENT HOME SALES

CASTRO VALLEY

Total:

High: $1,610,000 – Low: $610,000

20618 Stanton Avenue 94546:

$610,000 [2 BD - 788 SF - 1940

3235 Sydney Way 94546: $810,000 [2 BD - 804 SF - 1950

19283 Parsons Avenue 94546:

$840,000 [3 BD - 1,080 SF - 1952 3977 Somerset Avenue 94546:

$849,000 [2 BD - 1,297 SF - 1942 4101 Nichandros Street 94546: $965,000 [3 BD - 1,300 SF - 1956

4474 Heyer Avenue 94546: $1,480,000 [4 BD - 2,906 SF - 2009 3580 Christensen Lane 94546: $1,610,000 [3 BD - 3,153 SF - 1991

HAYWARD

Total: 32 – Average Price: $992,156

High: $1,950,500 – Low: $465,000

21117 Gary Drive #207 94546:

$465,000 [2 BD - 1,070 SF - 1981 27587 Del Norte Court 94545:

$565,000 [2 BD - 988 SF - 1970 21564 Meekland Avenue #4 94541:

$575,000 [2 BD - 952 SF - 1989

25912 Hayward Boulevard #314 94542: $595,000 [2 BD - 1,203 SF - 1983

1678 East Avenue 94541: $625,000

[2 BD - 837 SF - 1956 688 Shepherd Avenue 94544:

$627,500 [2 BD - 1,218 SF - 1920 2072 Everglade Street 94545: $715,000 [3 BD - 1,125 SF - 1955 27963 Ormond Avenue 94544: $727,000 [3 BD - 1,000 SF - 1954 27827 Pompano Avenue 94544: $750,000 [4 BD - 1,264 SF - 1954 697 Chase Avenue 94541: $750,000 [3 BD - 1,333 SF - 2004 24985 Calaroga Avenue 94545: $759,000 [3 BD - 1,431 SF - 1959 2619 D Street 94541: $775,000 [3 BD - 1,654 SF - 1982 24449 2nd Street 94541: $775,000 [4 BD - 2,659 SF - 1977 18657 Bengal Avenue 94541: $835,000 [3 BD - 1,549 SF - 1951 2330 Hansen Road 94541: $850,000 [3 BD - 1,228 SF - 1955 25408 Calaroga Avenue 94545: $895,000 [3 BD - 1,359 SF - 1959 2301 Gibbons Street #200 94541: $895,000 [4 BD - 1,982 SF - 2014 1061 Currant Way 94545: $925,000 [3 BD - 1,164 SF - 1959 22631 Myrtle Circle 94541: $955,000 [4 BD - 1,607 SF - 2016

2714 Gamble Court 94542:

$1,000,000 [3 BD - 1,920 SF - 1980 24746 Willimet Way 94544: $1,000,000 [4 BD - 2,282 SF - 1956 25973 Tarragon Street 94544: $1,100,000 [4 BD - 1,831 SF - 1991 1729 Osage Court 94545:

$1,130,000 [3 BD - 1,224 SF - 1965 4026 Freestone Place 94541: $1,150,000 [3 BD - 1,922 SF - 2016 2665 Warwick Place 94542:

$1,275,000 [4 BD - 1,921 SF - 1957 29391 Lassen Street 94544: $1,300,000 [4 BD - 2,048 SF - 1949 3417 La Mesa Drive 94542: $1,350,000 [4 BD - 2,294 SF - 1968 327 Brookview Way 94544: $1,500,000 [4 BD - 2,245 SF - 1999 3579 Oakes Drive 94542: $1,500,000 [4 BD - 2,830 SF - 1968 2767 Tribune Avenue 94542:

$1,585,000 [4 BD - 2,450 SF - 1999 175 Roslea Road 94542: $1,850,000 [3,960 SF - 2010 28739 Vista Grande Drive 94544: $1,950,500 [4 BD - 3,150 SF - 2019

SAN LEANDRO

Total: 16– Average Price: $878,156 High: $4,000,000 – Low: $270,000

31423 Castro Street 94577: $270,000 [4 BD - 1,188 SF - 1953 1132 Carpentier Street #402 94577: $440,000 [2 BD - 1,180 SF - 1983 520 Joaquin Avenue 94577:

$500,000 [2 BD - 1,482 SF - 1980 14473 Doolittle Drive 94577:

$526,000 [2 BD - 865 SF - 1979 400 Davis Street #111 94577:

$590,000 [2 BD - 1,326 SF - 1982 1378 Mersey Avenue 94579:

$600,000 [3 BD - 1,306 SF - 1953

608 Tiffany Road 94577: $672,000 [2 BD - 1,115 SF - 1948

2150 Strang Avenue 94578: $680,000 [3 BD - 1,170 SF - 1951

13921 Tortuga Road 94577: $735,000 [3 BD - 1,128 SF - 1961

Spray

2378 Cheshire Place 94577:

$762,500 [3 BD - 1,723 SF - 1977

15953 Cambrian Drive 94578:

$765,000 [3 BD - 1,475 SF - 1960

1581 Gardner Boulevard 94577:

$775,000 [3 BD - 1,078 SF - 1942

1229 144th Avenue 94578:

$820,000 [3 BD - 1,838 SF - 1948

15113 Thoits Street 94579:

$905,000 [3 BD - 1,426 SF - 1951

2248 Pipit Court 94579: $1,010,000 [4 BD - 1,651 SF - 1999

299 Castro Street 94577:

$4,000,000 [4 BD - 2,155 SF - 1926

SAN LORENZO

Total: 4 – Average Price: $802,000

High: $960,000 – Low: $640,000

17105 Via Alamitos 94580:

$640,000 [4 BD - 1,601 SF - 1947

537 Rutgers Street 94580: $800,000 [3 BD - 1,014 SF - 1950

15777 Via Sonata 94580: $808,000 [3 BD - 1,162 SF - 1956

1654 Via Amigos 94580: $960,000 [3 BD - 1,496 SF - 1955

WEEKEND GARDENER

For a bumper harvest of broccoli, pinch out the main shoot a month after planting. This will result in fewer—but larger—side shoots and the biggest overall yield. Cutting the main shoot after the head has already formed will result in more side shoots, but they will be smaller in size.

Set out garlic, onions and shallots from sets, planting them where they can dry out for the month before harvest next June or July.

Mulch

Stop watering and feeding roses. Prune lightly to remove long, bloomed-out canes, but hold off hard pruning until January when the bushes are fully dormant.

Wild owers

Now that shade and ornamental trees have shed their leaves, their need for pruning to correct any problems is readily apparent by their fully exposed branches. Though pruning can be done any time in fall and winter, there are good reasons for doing it now to eliminate potential hazards of weak, broken or diseased limbs crashing down in the storms that will be coming in the next few weeks. Major problems with trees should be left to professional arborists.

Vegetables

Cool-season perennial vegetables may be planted now — artichokes, asparagus and rhubarb.

e ' r e s o t h a n k f u l t o b e a p a r t o f t h e C a s t r o V a l l e y c o m m u n i t y

Home sales information is compiled and provided by CalREsource and includes Bedrooms, Square Feet and Year Built when available

the Castro Valley Forum on Wednesday

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.

CHILD CARE LICENSED

Climb to the Top Childcare in Castro Valley has openings for children 6 months to 4 years old. Montessori certified teacher provides stimulating and effective learning environment. Call Aydee at 510-298-8588 for more info.

CONCRETE SERVICE

*MPCONCRETE. Driveways, Patio, Retaining Walls, Stamped Concrete, Asphalt, Hauling. Lic.#1054154. Milo 510-502-9336.

S.L.CONCRETE SERVICE Driveways, Sidewalks, Stamped Concrete, Retaining Walls, Asphalt, Paving Stones. Lic.#982202. 510856-8937.

CONTRACTOR SERVICE

NOTICETO READERS

California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500 or more (labor or materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. State Law also requires that contractors include their license number on all advertising. Advertisers appearing on this page without a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed. You can check the status of your licensed contractor at www.cslb.ca.gov or (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.

EMPLOYMENT WANTED

22 year old with EMT, CPR & Security Guard Card certifications seeks full time employment. I have excellent references. Please email me at: rogerdouglasvadnais@gmail.com

FENCES/DECKS

FENCE LEANING? Don’t replace... repair and save! Call Randy 510706-6189.

SPECIALIZING IN WOOD FENCES, DECKS & RETAINING WALLS. Replace or repair, paved walkways, yard cleaning, tree trimming, topping or removal, garage cleaning & debris removal. Insured & Bonded #8189. Jerry 510-410-2427.

GARDENING

*ANYYARD WORK. Cleanups and Maintenance. Free Estimates. Call 510-798-1833.

*BEAUTYGARDEN LANDSCAPING Design - Construction - Maintenance. Cleanups, New Lawn, Artificial Grass, Irrigation, Patios, Pathways, Brick, Stone, Concrete Fence/ Decks. Free Estimates! Lic.#925130. 510-691-8852. www.beautygardenlandscaping.com

*NAVA'SCOMPLETE GARDENING: Mowing, trees, cleanup/ hauling. FREE estimates. 510-512-5857

JAIME’S GARDENING Maintenance, Trimming, Cleanups, Hauling, Sprinkler Repair/ Timers. FREE Estimates. Insured. 510-299-9583

HANDYMAN SERVICE

Garden service maintenance and cleanup and other services handyman call Jose Cruz 510-798-0682.

Professional Plumbing & Custom Remodeling. Licensed/ Bonded. George 510-882-5169, 510-483-7126

TORRES, APERFECT HANDYMAN

•Honest •Dependable •Responsible Painting, Plumbing, Retaining Walls, Fences, Tiles, etc. FREE Estimates. 510-305-3205

HAULING SERVICE

HAULING: Small and Big Jobs. Furniture, Concrete, Wood, Trash, Metal, Demolition. Also house inside/ outside cleanups. 510-715-1578.

MISC. FOR SALE

RENTALS

in San Leandro 720 sq.ft. first floor (4 plex) hardwood floors. $1800./mo,. $2000. security deposit,.good

pays water & garbage. Call Ron (510) 325-6055] 2 bed, 2 bath 2 parking spaces, washer & dryer. Condo first floor (4 plex) in San Leandro. $2750./mo. 2500.security deposit. good credit..Landlord pays water. call Ron (510) 325-6055.

RENTALS/RV SPACES

SERVICES

HANDYMAN & CONTRACTORS

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.

TREE SERVICE

*ACAREFULTREE SERVICE.

Certified. Arborist. Lic.#694067. Trimming, Removals. FREE Estimates Bonded. Call 510-581-7377.

YOUR INFO

Advertise your Home for rent in the San Leandro Times & Castro Valley Forum

DON’T LET ANOTHER WEEK SLIPBY!

– Avacancy day is money lost forever –To place an ad call 510-614-1558

MISC. WANTED

LEGAL NOTICES

FILED OCT 20, 2022

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 592845

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Holistic Wellness with Janie located at 17531 Dorson Ln., Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Ala meda County, is hereby registered by the fol lowing owner(s): M Jane Greathouse West, located at 17531 Dorson Ln., Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by an Individual. This business commenced N/A /s/ M Jane Greathouse West

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by file stamp above.

Expires OCT 19, 2027

NOV 2, 9, 16, 23, 2022

0539-CVF

FILED OCT 14, 2022

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 592729

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Kumon Castro Valley East, located at 3959 East Casro Valley Blvd Castro Valley, CA 94552. 17777 Camelot Ln, Castro Valley CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Amar jyoti Koul, 17777 Camelot Ln, Castro Valley CA 94546. This business is conducted by a limited Liability Companyl. This business commenced N/A /s/ Amarjyoti Koul This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by file stamp above.

Expires OCT 13, 2027

NOV 16, SEP 24, DEC 1, 8, 2022 0534-CVF

FILED NOV 09, 2022

MELISSA WILK County Clerk ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 593331

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): A & B Gill Trucking, located at 20246 Stanton Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Kamal S. Gill 20246 Stanton Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by an Individual. This business commenced N/A /s/ Kamal Singh Gill

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by file stamp above.

Expires NOV 08, 2027 NOV 23, 30, DEC 07,14, 2022 0546-CVF

FILED OCT 19, 2022

MELISSA WILK County Clerk

ALAMEDA COUNTY

By----------, Deputy FILE NO. 592830

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es):

Rancho San Lorenzo Publishers, located at 18736 Brickell Way, Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby reg istered by the following owner(s): Rancho San Lorenzo Publishers, LLC, 18736 Brickell Way, Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. This business commenced 6/22/22 /s/ Richard Kelly This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda County on date indicated by file stamp above. Expires OCT 18, 2027 NOV 09, 16, 23, 30, 2022 0538-CVF

Wahab: State District 10

continued from front page and the unincorporated towns of San Lorenzo, Ashland, and Cherryland. It does, however, continue to cover the Fair view District. State Senate 10 District includes over 1 million residents and stretches across both northern Santa Clara and southern Alameda counties.

Wahab, who was backed by labor unions and endorsed by Wieckowski, ran on a platform of protecting reproductive healthcare, housing for mid dle-income families and the unhoused, supporting small businesses, environmental sus tainability, and public safety.

Wahab made national headlines as the frst Af ghan-American woman elected

to public offce in the United States when she was elected to Hayward City Council in 2018. She previously served as the Chair of the Alameda County Human Relations Commission and a Board Member for the nonprofts Afghan Coalition, Abode Services, and Tri-City Volunteers.

“I’m proud of my team for prioritizing the issues we all care about and running a strong community-based cam paign and grateful to the voters for their support and belief in an inclusive and positive fu ture,” Wahab said. “I’m proud to represent the district I was raised in and will work with everyone to develop the best policies for our residents.”

MAC: Watercourse Map, Protection Ordinance

continued from front page In Castro Valley, the vaccina tion and boost rate is slightly below the county average with 88 percent initially vaccinated and boosted and 18.8 percent having received the second booster.

Watkins-Tartt said that the same advice we’ve been hear ing over the past two-plus years still stands as we gather with our families during the holiday season: if possible, keep gath erings small and well-ventilat ed (perhaps even outside), wear masks judiciously, stay home if you are feeling sick, and test.

MAC Chair Bill Mulgrew wished county health offcials luck and hoped that COVID cases continue to dwindle as a sense of normalcy returns. Currently, the plan is for the COVID- 19 State of Emergen cy put in place by Governor Gavin Newsom to offcially end on February 28.

“Godspeed,” said Mulgrew. “I hope the next time we see you, it won’t be under a state of emergency.”

The MAC also heard an

update from the county Public Works Agency (PWA) Monday on a proposed watercourse protection ordinance update.

The key element of the update will be creating a new stream map. Previous maps had been in place for years, howev er, in 2021 the U.S. Geological Survey eliminated many previ ously designated streams.

As the ordinance develops, the key is fnding a bal ancing act between human development and the natural ecosystem, according to PWA Director Daniel Woldsenbet.

Issues such as water levels, the rights and setbacks of prop erty owners along the creeks, homeless encampments in the creek beds, and erosion must all be considered.

Several public speakers during the meeting stressed the importance of protecting the creeks and wildlife.

To see a copy of the Alam eda County Stream Map, visit acfoodcontrol.com or to obtain a hard copy, visit the County Permit center at 399 Elmhurst Street, Room 141, Hayward.

Meet CV Native, Author Alec Nevala-Lee Friday

Meet Castro Valley native and author Alec Nevala-Lee this Friday, November 25 from 11am to noon at Books on B, 1014 B Street, Hayward.

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NUMBER 567587

The following person has aban doned the use of the fctitious business name: anaisabel interpreting, at 4848 Sev en Hills Road Road, Castro Valley CA 94549, in Alameda County. Full name of registrant is: Ana Isabel Bel tran-Wells, at 4848 Seven Hills Road Castro Valley, CA 94549.

The Fictitious Business Name Statement anaisabel interpreting, was fled on 01/15/2020 in the county of Ala meda. Original File Number 567587. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information, which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime). This statement was fled with the County clerk of Alameda County on: top right stamp date. NOTICE - This fc titious name statement expires fve years from the date it was fled on, in the offce of the County Clerk. A new Fictitious Business Name State ment must be fled prior to that date. The fling of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fctitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (see Section 14400, et seq., B&P Code.) This statement was fled with the County Clerk-Recorder of Alameda County on 10/24/2022. NOV 09, 16, 23, 30, 2022 0543-CVF

HOROSCOPE by Salomé © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your honesty continues to impress everyone who needs reassurance about a project. But be careful you don’t lose patience with those who are still not ready to act.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Pushing others too hard to do things your way could cause resentment and raise more doubts. Instead, take more time to explain why your methods will work.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Be more considerate of those close to you before making a decision that could have a serious effect on their lives. Explain your intentions and ask for their advice.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You might have to defend a workplace decision you plan to make. Colleagues might back you up on this, but it’s the facts that will ultimately win the day for you. Good luck!

LEO (July 23 - August 22): The Big Cat’s co-workers might not be doing enough to help get that project fnished. Your roars might stir things up, but gentle purrr-suasion will prove to be more effective.

VIRGO (August 23 - Sept. 22): Someone you care for needs help with a problem. Give it lovingly and without judging the situation. Whatever you feel you should know will be revealed later.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - October 22): While you’re to be admired for how you handled recent workplace problems, be careful not to react the same way to a new situation until all the facts are in.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Rely on your keen instincts, as well as the facts at hand, when dealing with a troubling situation. Be patient. Take things one step at a time as you work through it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Your curiosity leads you to ask questions. However, the answers might not be what you hoped to hear. Don’t reject them without checking them out.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Be careful not to tackle a problem without suffcient facts. Even sure-footed Goats need to know where they’ll land before leaping off a mountain path.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Appearances can be deceiving. You need to do more investigating before investing your time, let alone your money, in something that might have some hidden faws.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Your recent stand on an issue could make you the focus of more attention than you would like. But you’ll regain your privacy, as well as more time with loved ones, by week’s end.

Alec Nevala-Lee attended Chabot Elementary, Canyon Middle, and Castro Valley High Schools. He graduated in 1998 and went straight to Harvard, the only person from his class to do so. He also was a member of the undergrad literary magazine at Harvard,

where he published his frst stories.

“Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller” which launched on Aug. 2, uncovers new infor mation about the six-decade career of the famous futurist. Stop by to meet him or reserve your copy by emailing: haywardbooksonb@gmail. com. He can personalize your copy and you can have it giftwrapped.

Rotary Hosts Jason Gore

Jason Gore, Senior Vice President of the PGA, will describe his work with that organization. His presentation will be by Zoom. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road,

Castro Valley) at 12 noon to 1:30 pm The cost of lunch is $20, and reservations must be made by 9 pm on Sunday, Nov. 27, by contacting Rotary at cvrotary@iCloud.com or 510402-5123. More info available at: castrovalleyrotary.org.

Handling Holiday Grief

For people who have experi enced the death of a loved one, the winter holiday season can be painful. Grief at this time may intensify feelings of loneliness from isolation, or anxiety about being asked about the loss of a loved one.

Hope Hospice will offer a free workshop via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 11- 12:30 to discuss healthy coping strategies. Please call (925) 829-8770 to reserve your spot and obtain event logon information.

LETTERS

Let’s Try ONE Last Time...

My reply to my latest accuser - then I am done. I feel like a broken record here. Let’s try ONE last time...

“Phobic” is a Greek suffix implying irrational fear. My views are based on facts only and not on fear. ZERO. Pride cannot accept this simple truth.

FROM THE BOULEVARD

“Hateful” is deliberately misappropriated in the same fashion. I will never hate anyone simply because we disagree, no matter how dear the topic.

“Violent” - now that’s desperate. I take great care every day to harm no one. Stating facts and holding valid opinions based on those facts is NOT violent behavior. “Pride” can’t seem to justify itself and finds it easier to conduct baseless ad hominem attacks maligning those who disagree. “Pride” should run for office!

My politics trend Libertarian, so I am happy to let you live your life however you see fit - why not? Go for it! Pretend you’re...whatever makes you happy. It won’t bother me... until you want me to validate your fallacy, renounce my logical viewpoints under threat of persecution, or send my 14yo daughter into a locker room so your biologically male offspring can watch her undress. Then I strongly protest. Be you - but allow others the same privilege.

Instead of merely insulting others, why don’t you explain how the mechanism of belief alters biology in humans? There are fish, insects and reptiles that change sex (not by declaration, but epigenetically) and usually under high levels of environmental stress (not a good thing!). I took college anthropology, biology and chemistry, but somehow missed that topic. Please share! Most of all - “Pride”, PLEASE stop persecuting and falsely accusing others of purely imagined motivations simply because they do not see things your way.

–Stacy Spink, Castro Valley

“All art is concerned with coming into being.”

(Aristotle)

regular activities and events at the Castro Valley Library and the Castro Valley Marketplace. When linked together – Castro Valley has become a “happening place.”

Police unions will object. But to those unions – do you not believe in accountability and ‘honor’ for the badge? Who is better to ‘police’ your culture? With accountability comes deserved respect and higher compensation.

To the far left and right –this is a practical answer without political ‘profitability’.

–Reginald Conley, Castro Valley

Let’s Raise Compensation for Those Who Serve, Protect It is About Gender...

I find it odd that so many people in the anti-LGBTQ audience suddenly like to evoke modern science when it comes to biology. All of a sudden, science is real to these folks and one has to adhere by what was biologically assigned to you at birth and so on and so forth. But many of these same people are the ones who decry Charles Darwin and Darwinism, the ones who deny climate change is real, the ones who believe that global warming does not exist. Funny, that only one portion of science (biology) is correct. The rest of modern science throw out the window! These same folks seem to be preoccupied with ‘’sex’’ and ‘’body parts’’ and the like. Guess that’s part of their devotion to true and correct biology, which of course is their favourite subject in the world when applied to LGBTQ people. Fact of the matter is, transgender is not about biology or body parts. It is about GENDER and for which gender one identifies and feels comfortable presenting as. Most transgender people never even undergo sexual reassignment surgery. Many do not take hormones. So you need to know what you are talking about before you criticise someone.

–Angela Shipp, Castro Valley

I Stand With Mosaic Project

With respect to the MAC Meeting/The Mosaic Project article on November 16th, I’d like to express my unwavering support for what I think will be an amazing gift to Castro Valley and the Bay Area at large.

I’ve been with Mosaic for 20 years. I started as a camp counselor in the very first pilot session of Mosaic in 2001 and now serve on its board of directors.

In these trying times, with a 2-year pandemic and a war in Ukraine, I’ve become more and more convinced that human connection and empathy is in far too short supply and results in too high of a cost for us and for society. It is precisely that ability of Mosaic - to have us connect with each other - that makes it one of the most important things that we can support.

I understand that continued dialogue is necessary around the EIR, but I hope that all parties can come with an open heart to work together in earnest for the good of our community.

–Albert Chan, Castro Valley

I Support Mosaic Project

It used to be that Castro Valley was a bedroom community that serviced the larger cities of the Bay Area – such as San Francisco and Oakland. With the passage of years, however, that dynamic has been modified. Of particular importance has been the dramatic change that technology has brought to the world we live and work in. For many decades, work was dependent upon commuting to and from locations where things and services were produced. That is no longer the case. Commuting is still a significant force of course, but it is less now than in the past. With that, new forms of behavior have emerged regarding where and how we work and live. Castro Valley provides an interesting example. It is a place that the likes of Aristotle and Plato would have an interest in. Both of them were primary godfathers of the awareness of the importance of pursuing a good life through virtue, which involves things like work and community.

As I pursue this thought, I prepare for an overnight stay in San Francisco. I go there on a fairly regular basis to participate in a fraternal organization where I am a member. As I walk the streets of San Francisco, I also talk with people in their neighborhoods. They often express concerns about declining conditions of life. It appears that what is happening in San Francisco may not be as positive as they are here in Castro Valley. We may not have an opera or a ballet, yet we dance and sing pretty well on our own without them.

Why No Free Air For Car Tires At Business Costco?

My name is Brooke Kasl-Godley and I’m writing to you today to express my support for The Mosaic Project. I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Mosaic Project’s Youth Leadership Project during my junior and senior years at Castro Vally High School (I’m a graduate of the class of 2022) and read your recent article mentioning them. I can confidently assure Castro Valley residents that the Mosaic Project will bring nothing but good to our community. Being involved in the Youth Leadership Project was one of the most impactful experiences I had in high school: I gained conflict management skills, a new perspective on the value of diversity, and friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life. The Mosaic Project doesn’t just give kids an awesome outdoor education: it also brings them lessons in active communication, acceptance, and open perspectives that will aid them in our ever-changing world. In Castro Valley, we often pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, and supportive town: let’s act on those values we hold dear and welcome the Mosaic Project into our community. Peacing it together, –Brooke Kasl-Godley, Castro Valley \

While shopping at the Business Costco on A Street, I asked the store manager why there is no facility to check the air in my car tires. His reply was “we don’t sell tires here”. Well, there’s a law passed in 1999 that made it a requirement for service stations in California to provide free water, compressed air and an air pressure gauge to customers who purchase fuel.

Specifically, Section 13651 of the California Business and Professions Code further indicates “Every service station in this state shall display, at a conspicuous place on, at, or near the dispensing apparatus, at least one clearly visible sign which shall read as follows: CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THIS STATION TO PROVIDE FREE AIR AND WATER FOR AUTOMOTIVE PURPOSES TO ITS CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT NOTIFY THE STATION ATTENDANT AND/ OR CALL THIS TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1 (800) ___ ____. “

So, is any Costco selling fuel acting as a service station? If so, are they in violation of Section 13651?

–Conrad Wilgus, Castro Valley

My daily walks along Castro Valley Boulevard provide valued exercise. They also provide opportunities for self-education - to observe and think. My eyes look for things that are new or have changed. When something is spotted, I wonder what is motivating the newness or the alteration. It is part of the mystery of history, which is not restricted to the past, for it is also happening at this moment in time. I wonder what is current based upon the currents of change.

What recently struck me was something that is obvious. It was not something I had previously seen with clarity. It occurred as I watched the recent Castro Valley Light Parade. It was quite a happening. It was not the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Yet, it was substantial and significant in terms of our community. As I made note of the evening, I realized that Castro Valley has become a happening place. In addition to the Light Parade - other events occur annually of community significance. Among them are the Rowell Ranch Rodeo and Parade; the Fall Festival; the Castro Valley Car Show; the Halloween and Christmas celebrations in the Castro Village; theatrical performances at the Castro Valley Performing Arts Center and Chanticleers Playhouse; and

With that said, I look at Castro Valley with added pride. Our civic leaders have created and conduct good public events for good public experiences, such as the Light Parade. The daily doings of our local schools continue to build a good foundation for the future of our young people. It is an ongoing challenge to add value to our lives here in Castro Valley. Yet, I have confidence that the current happenings in our town have set in motion the likelihood of more good ones in the future. Based upon what I learn in my walks and talks in San Francisco, I am glad that my heart was left here in Castro Valley, and that I returned here to live here again twenty years ago. It’s a place where things are happening.

Mortuary & Crematory

Offering

Personalized Memorial and Cremation Services.

Bryan Cadinha of Castro Valley born August 27, 1947 passed away October 30, 2022. A private service was held on Tuesday, November 22nd at Redwood Canyon, 17007 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley by his loving wife Helen Cadinha.

Bryan Cadinha

August 27, 1947 ~ October 30, 2022

With the use of cell phones, it is clear that bad and unequal policing exists in our society. Within our two-party system, pundits on the far right and far left have magnified the phrase ‘defund the police’ to their own end – yet no sensible solutions have been put forth. Certainly no solution that prioritizes the security of our communities, yet not over tax, nor add to bureaucracy. Why is this? Could it be that ‘defund the police’ is a dog whistle to profit from? A message the far right and the far-left use to advance their own name, brand and political fundraising? Meanwhile, we in the middle remain the suffering majority. Here I propose a simple, practical solution that addresses the safety of all our citizens and yet is seldom spoken aloud. The solution is practical, simple, sensible and non-bureaucratic. To be clear, the solution is not my own. I only know it has gained no traction within our two-party political arena…. Let’s not ‘defund the police’. Let’s raise compensation for those who really serve and protect! Let’s invest to attract better talent. And in return – let’s ‘defund the police pension funds’ when our officers cannot ‘Police’ themselves. What is meant by that? When officers are guilty of civil wrong doing, cities and municipalities – you and I - pay for their wrong doings. Debiting pensions will drive out bad actors. What is ‘right’ and what is ‘rewarded’ comes into alignment. Unacceptable behavior is driven out.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Art as Doorway for Climate Activism

By Winda I. Shimizu SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Hayward Arts Council and Hayward Public Library are inviting you to a free public artist talk with Jennifer Koney titled “Art as a Doorway for Climate Activism” on Saturday, December 3 at 1pm at the Hayward Public Library. Koney’s talk is in conjunction with her exhibition “55” - Im ages of Sea Level Rise on the Hayward Shoreline.”

Our Athlete of the Week is Baylun Per kins, a 13-year-old from Castro Valley who attends Twin Oaks Montessori School. He’s been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Darcio Lira for 5 years. Baylun trains six days a week, 2 to 6 hours a day.

His dedication and hard work have earned him the season championship for the Jiu-Jitsu World League for 2021. Baylun also competed in his frst pro-fght Fight 2 Win 204, where he secured a submission victory.

The

Inspired by sea level rise research in which she partici pated, Jennifer created a series of seven door-sized paintings of glaciers and icebergs depict ing the possible impacts of sea level rise locally. Using a resist and pour painting process that she developed, each painting has a 55” horizon line that marks and makes physical the anticipated levels of sea level rise for the San Francisco Bay Area.

On January 14 at the Hay ward Public Library, Koney will conduct a free “Hayward Climate Action: A Discussion” with speakers Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Man ager, Public Works & Utilities Department, City of Hayward and Amos White, Founder and Chief Planting Offcer, 100K Trees for Humanity.

Jennifer continues to use her art as a tool for increasing environmental awareness and is a climate activist with 350

Join a free public artist talk with Jennifer Koney titled “Art as a Doorway for Climate Activism” on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 pm at the Hayward Public Library. Koney’s talk is in conjunction with her exhibition “55” - Images of Sea Level Rise on the Hayward Shoreline.”

Bay Area Action advocating for strong climate action legislation in California and working with community members to plant more trees in Hayward as a direct climate action. Currently she teaches “Hike, Sketch and Watercolor” workshops for Hayward Area Recreation and Park District using sketching as a tool to deepen both the memory and a sense of place.

You’re welcome to join both important presentations and visit Koney’s exhibition “55” - Images of Sea Level Rise on the Hayward Shoreline” on view until January 26.

To learn more about Koney’s climate activism and the events coming up, visit www.haward artscouncil.org.

Winda I. Shimizu is Hay ward Arts Council Executive Director.

Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athlete of the Week Baylun Perkins

Left to Right: Oscar (10), Dylan (12), and Stephen (8) caught these Rainbow, Lake, and Brook Trout in Bur ney, CA. Congratulations on these ‘Great Catches.’ A memorable trip for everyone! Have a “Great Catch” that you’d like to share with the community? Please email photo and information to: flesforforum@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL HEARNE