DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS: TURN CLOCKS BACK AND GAIN AN HOUR THIS SUNDAY AT 2 A.M.
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
YEAR 33
Opposition to Proposed School Closure Grows
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
NEWS
‘Chinglish’
By Mike McGuire
Red carpet premiere this Saturday of Plethos Productions’ ‘Chinglish’
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Page 2 LIVING
A Pinch of Flavor
Treat yourself to a plate of delectable flavors with these crab recipes
Page 4
SENIORS
Senior Q&A
Any solutions to preserve public benefits for an adult child in divorce?
Page 7
INDEX Agents in Action ....... 10 Calendar .................. 14 Classified Ads .......... 12 Crosswords ............. 13 Homes ....................... 8 Horoscope ................. 6 Legal Notices ........... 14 Obituaries ................ 15 Opinions .................. 15 Weather ....................... 2 PHONE: (510) 614-1560
NO. 44
PHOTO SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
REPRESENTING IN WORLD SERIES
CV’s Own Jason Castro By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
You might have recognized a face at this year’s World Series. Castro Valley’s own Jason Castro played for the Houston Astros as they battled against the Atlanta Braves.
Jason, 34, had been on the roster until last Saturday when the team announced they placed Castro on the COVID-19 related injured list. During the World Series against the Braves, Jason played in two games where he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. To see CASTRO on page 6
Lots of Laughs coming Bay Area comics who will be bringing the laughs, experimenting with new material, and getting weird.” The events Are you in need of a good will be held upstairs in Lab laugh? A new comedy show200 with food and beverages case is coming to the Castro provided by the Night Owl Valley Marketplace on the first Thursday of every month, restaurant across the way. starting tomorrow. “We are all about giving Plethos Productions founder opportunities for actors and Karin Richey promises an “ev- opportunities for people to see see LAUGHS on page 5 er-changing lineup of up-andBy Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Comedy showcase debuts tomorrow at the CV Marketplace
A proposal to close Strobridge Elementary School was opposed by parents, staff, teachers, neighbors, and even the Hayward Unified School District’s superintendent during a packed online meeting last Thursday. No one speaking at the meeting thought the closure was a good idea. District officials led by Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne said the meeting was one of several scheduled to gather views around the district about changes including some potential closures. The district held similar public meetings about the fate of Strobridge last month. A revised proposal is expected to be issued on November 9 and available on the district website on November 12. The Hayward Unified School Board of Education is expected to hold its final vote on the matter on November 17. Strobridge School, located at 21400 Bedford Drive, is just over the Hayward city line and serves many students who live in Castro Valley. It is the northernmost school in the Hayward Unified School District. The draft proposal by the district would close Strobridge after this school year and send its students either to Cherryland School or to Fairview School, both some distance away. The district has said it is dealing with a long-standing city-wide drop in enrollment, leading to state funding cuts. The district is also assessing upcoming needs for expensive repairs at some older schools. A number of parents said they and their children loved Strobridge School and its
learning community, while they and others complained about the long-distance children would have to walk to their proposed new school. Two Strobridge teachers said that after a long slog through distance learning, they had rejoiced to be reunited with the students at the school—only to be told it would soon close. Participants during the online meeting also brought up their concerns about possible dangers students could face walking to, and around, their new school. Several parents during the meeting claimed Cherryland School is located in a high-crime area that would endanger children. There were no similar fears voiced about Fairview School. District officials have said repeatedly that Cherryland School itself is safe, new, and underused, and Dr. Wayne said that again Thursday. He said the district needs to “rightsize” the number of schools it operates. Local resident Sandra Macias said, “A new building doesn’t make you safe. It doesn’t protect you from bullets.” Macias said the area around Cherryland School is dangerous, with three murders reported on one block in a 12-month period and ongoing gang activity. Getting there is a long walk, without sidewalks, and large potholes that cars swerve to avoid, endangering young pedestrians. There is Kelly Hill for children to climb, as well as their having to cross several major streets, she added. Dr. Wayne said he knew there were issues in the neighborhood around the school, and see CLOSURE on page 2