CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021
YEAR 33
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
NEWS
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Post-Thanksgiving activities through East Bay Regional Parks
Page 2 NEWS
PHOTO BY MIKE MCGUIRE
Local groups join forces to provide Thanksgiving lunches for seniors
Page 3 HOLIDAYS
‘Tis the Season
The CV Adult School Orchestra announces its free Winter Concert
Page 4
INDEX Calendar .................. 10 Classified Ads ............ 8 Crosswords ............... 9 Holidays ..................... 4 Homes ....................... 6 Horoscope ................. 2 Legal Notices ........... 10 Obituaries ................ 11 Opinions .................. 11 Weather ....................... 2 PHONE: (510) 614-1560
(REVISED) P01 FRONT 11-24.indd 1
Boosters Open to All Adults By Michael Singer
Park It
Give Thanks
NO. 47
Strobridge to Close in 2022 By Mike McGuire
“The obvious takeaway tonight, and all the other nights, is to put a CASTRO VALLEY FORUM pause on this. All kinds of things are in question,” said teachers union Hayward’s school board voted president Madia Faraj. unanimously at a November 17 special meeting to close Strobridge She suggested using one-time School following this school year. COVID-19 relief money to buy time They did so as a number of parents to think through any cuts more fully. and teachers at the meeting called on Strobridge School, just over the them to “press pause” on proposed Hayward city line on Bedford Drive school closings across the district. has been serving Castro Valley children since 1955. District officials said that they face a $14 million budget deficit for The board also voted to close next school year amidst enrollment Bowman School, located in southern drops, and face mounting facilities Hayward on Jefferson Street, but repair costs, especially at older gave a reprieve to two other schools schools. set to close after this year.
Glassbrook Elementary and Ochoa Middle School will not be closing in the fall, but they won’t be accepting new students, the board decided. Two preschool programs now at central sites will be dispersed among all the remaining elementary schools. However, the Board voted to put proposed cuts for the following two school years, 2023-24 and 2024-25, on hold pending a further look at alternatives. Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne and other district officials said bigger state budget cuts are coming. Maksee STROBRIDGE on page 10
If you were waiting to get your COVID-19 booster shot, the time is now, according to county health officials. Supplemental doses of the vaccine made by the three US manufacturers are fully approved for adults 18 and older following final CDC and FDA approval last Friday. While the booster is available for adults, it is suggested only if you were fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least 6 months ago. The CDC previously recommended a booster for all adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson booster doses are the same dosage as the original vaccine received in the series, while the Moderna booster dose is half the dosage of the original vaccine series. “We expect a rise in COVID-19 cases as people gather with friends and family indoors and travel for the holidays,” said Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda County Health Officer. “If you are a fully vaccinated adult and enough time has passed since your vaccination, get your booster as soon as you can.” More than 1.2 million Alameda County residents have been fully see COVID on page 7
Sharing ‘Blankets of Love’ By Michael Singer
in Berkeley. Each month, the shelter helps an average of 150 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM homeless women and their children with a safe space, warm The spirit of the holidays meals, counseling, and support. came early to a women’s shelter this past Friday, thanks The staff and the 25 students to a group of kind and giving at Roy Johnson made the students from the Roy Johnson blankets from kits donated by Transition Program in Castro Joann Fabrics in San Leandro. Valley. The assembled blankets each The class made 15 blankets included a personalized card and donated them to the Wom- from the student with words of encouragement such as, “We en’s Daytime Drop-In Center
hope that this blanket is like a warm hug from us.” “We call these blankets of love!” teacher Ginger Brown told the Forum. “The class worked on these blankets all month. It connects them to the community, especially for people who are struggling right PHOTOS BY GINGER BROWN now.” As part of the Blankets of These “Blankets of Love” included personalized Love project, the students were messages from students for people who are strugsee BLANKETS on page 2 gling and want to help homeless families and kids.
11/23/21 4:09 PM