SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
VETERANS DAY
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023
YEAR 35
NO. 45
INSIDE YOUR
SPECIFIC PLAN
REDWOOD ROAD
FORUM
Planning Future Of CV
Permits Delaying Repairs
Comedy Den Disabled comedy troupe hits Castro Valley next Saturday
Page 4
Hope 100 Recap 9th Annual Hope 100 Golf Marathon has a record-breaking year
Page 5
Veterans Art Celebrate veterans art now on display at Hayward Library
Page 10
INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ......... 8 Crosswords ............. 9 Homes ..................... 6 Merchants ............ 10 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............... 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather .................. 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
By Mike McGuire
By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Alameda County’s Specific Plan for Castro Valley needs much more public participation, and the process should allow it, longtime resident Peter Rosen told about 50 people at a public meeting on that plan at the Castro Valley Library on Sunday, November 5. Only one public meeting has been held by the county to discuss the plan, Rosen said, and they are not planning more. For the Eden area, the county held multiple public meetings, and a year and a half was spent discussing the plan, he said Rosen and other people active in Castro Valley cityhood efforts called Sunday’s meeting. However, cityhood was not the focus of the meeting, which see PLAN on page 10
Redwood Road will not reopen before winter rains set in, Alameda County Public Works Director Daniel Woldesenbet told a luncheon meeting of the Castro Valley Rotary on Tuesday, October 31. Construction is ready to go but requires permits from multiple agencies that need to be included, he said. “People think the construction is what causes delays (in fixing roads), but it can be quite quick,” he said. “Waiting for permits from regulatory agencies can take a lot longer.” Woldesenbet said getting a single permit can take two to four years, which startled some in the audience. He quickly added that he hoped permits see DELAY on page 3
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL KUSIAK
CELEBRATING SENIOR NIGHT WITH BIG WIN On Friday, November 3, 2023, the Castro Valley Varsity Boys Football team won against Tennyson High School by scoring 34-24. This was the last game of the season for the Trojans, who honored their graduating Senior Boys Varsity team and the Spirit Squad. Photographed above: Running back Nathan Joseph hugs Assistant Coach Lee West during the Senior Night celebration during the CVHS Varsity Football game.
CV’s Dan Willits Balances Business and Volunteering participants are coming up. I’ll also make sure that there is the appropriate amount of space By day, Dan Willits runs between each entry,” Willits his family-owned flooring and says. carpet business in Castro ValHelping out at the Light ley. But this weekend, he’ll be Parade is just one of many the one with the clipboard and volunteering opportunities walkie-talkie helping check Willits is involved in. He’s people in and making sure the also a member of the Castro Light Parade on Castro Valley Valley Rotary (of which he’ll Boulevard runs smoothly from be serving as its president next the beginning. year), he pitches in for multiple “I’ll be the guy calling Chamber of Commerce events, the grandstand to let them he helps with the Castro Valley know which floats and parade High School Water Polo teams, By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
and he and his wife spend their Sundays at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward on Grove Way helping feed the unhoused. “A lot of the people that are there are from the community—within a two or three-mile radius of Castro Valley and so it’s about helping the people that can’t help themselves in many cases. It brings me joy PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER to help. I really enjoy it. I enjoy interacting with people. You Dan Willits is a 2nd generation family owner and know they have good days and president of Direct Sales Floors Carpet One and a see WILLITS on page 4 Castro Valley native.