September 28, 2022

Being Present

Check Out What’s New At Castro Valley Library

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Get ready to turn more than pages at the Castro Valley Library this Fall. Some of the more popular programs are returning follow ing a pandemic-infuenced two-year hiatus. And some new ones are on the horizon.

In a series of announcements this month, the library staff has laid out its special events and programs for readers and knowledge seekers of all ages, says Chris Selig, the Adult Services Librarian at the Castro Valley Library.

“A library will always be a center of litersee LIBRARY on page 10

DA Candidates Appeal to Voter’s Sense of Justice

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Alameda County District Attorney candidates Pamela Price and Terry Wiley squared off in a September 19 debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Voters are facing the frst open election, without an incumbent, for the frst time in decades, after Nancy O’Malley decided not to seek re-election. In fact, according to candidate Price, since 1939 district attor neys in Alameda County have all attained the offce by initial ly being appointed following a resignation, and then got to run for re-election as an incumbent.

The election is also notable in that the two candidates are both African American, running to head an offce that has sometimes been criticized by civil rights and community groups seeking a more fair criminal justice system.

Wiley, in his opening state ment, stressed his experience within the District Attorney’s Offce, where he is now Chief Deputy District Attorney.

Price stressed her work as a civil rights and women’s rights attorney, including victories in several landmark cases. see DA on back page

Keeping Up with County Code Enforcement

By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Recent letters to the Forum asking neighbors to maintain their own properties prompt ed questions about which county department might be responsible for enforcing those laws.

Some Castro Valley resi dents recently found out that is the job of Alameda County’s

Code Enforcement offce, part of the Community Develop ment Agency and Planning Department.

Code Enforcement offcials were educating the public as part of the Planning Depart ment’s booth at this month’s Fall Festival. Residents found out what that offce can and can’t do. They also got a sense of what homeowners can and can’t do.

For example, your neigh bor really can’t store junked vehicles on his or her lawn. Nor can they repair cars in their driveway if this takes more than a short time, and it must be their own vehi cle. More extensive vehicle repairs should be done out of sight.

Other rules include home owners should not let weeds grow taller than 6 feet high,

as that might be a fre haz ard. Code Enforcement rules stipulate that every home, occupied or not, needs to be kept in reasonably good repair. Graffti, if it appears, must be removed. Trash cans need to be out of sight by the day after pickup.

If the violation is on private property, Code Enforcement can be asked to visit the site to verify, and the homeowner

gets a specifed time to correct it. If it’s still there afterward, a formal hearing can follow, and possibly penalties charged, so solving the problem isn’t always quick.

“Our goal is to work with the homeowners as much as possible. We want them to be part of the solution,” county Code Enforcement manager Ed Labayog told the Forum. see CODE on page 11

Library page Clay Malzkuhn returns books to the shelves in the Children’s section of the Castro Valley Library. The library has returned to hosting more in-person events following a pandemic-infuenced two-year hiatus.

Terry Wiley

Pamela Price

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SINGER

Almanac Moon Phases

Become an EKG Technician

By Linette Escobar SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Does the idea of working in the medical field appeal to you but you aren’t sure if you want to commit to a long program In addition to its well-respect ed Medical Academy program Castro Valley Adult Career Education CVACE is offer ing a new 6 -hour hands-on Electrocardiograph echnician E G ECG training program. his course will cover an overview of the cardiovascular system, taking vital signs, per forming E G tests, assessing

heart rhythm and rate, prepar ing diagnostic reports, learning about olter monitors and stress tests as well as maintain ing e uipment and keeping it in compliance. It would be a great course for someone seeking an entry level position as an E G ECG echnician or someone in the medical field seeking another certification to make them more marketable. his course prepares you for the National Certified E G echnician CE examina tion.

According to erry Principato, Career echnical

Education Coordinator at CVACE, an entry level wage for an E G technician is between 6- 9 hr. he cost of the course is 99. It starts Oct. and runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 9- 3 pm.

When choosing a vocational training program, going to a public school offers value and the security of being part of an accredited school district. his program is taught by Elisa asalla, also known as Miz , the 1 Castro Valley nified School istrict eacher of the ear. Students give her rave reviews for her compassion and dedication to teaching.

CVACE also offers Clinical Medical Assisting with new classes starting every 1 weeks. egistration for the mandatory orientation is now open. he next class starts on Nov. 1.

We’re at a time in history when the world needs caring people in health care. If this sounds like a good fit, sign up today at www.cvadult.org or call 1 6-1 . If costs are a barrier, call to discuss referrals to programs that offer funds for ob training.

WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD: Elisa Dasalla will be teaching a new EKG/ECG certificate course at Castro alley Adult Career ducation this October.

CVHS Coach Brosnan Field Dedication Options Weighed

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Deciding where to place signs and a dedication plaque to honor the late Coach John Brosnan at Trojan Field is now in the hands of Castro Valley igh School officials, following a unanimous decision by the Board of Trustees.

The Board was presented with four different ways to identify the football field with his name at the September 14 meeting. The designs include a satin bronze plaque with Brosnan’s portrait, metal signage added to the entrance arch, an addition to the mural near the snack bar, and a sign added to the scoreboard.

Brosnan—or “Coach” as he was known—was a beloved Castro Valley high school coach and teacher who passed in September 2020 at the age of 85. At its January 12, 2022, meeting, the Castro Valley Board of Education approved naming the stadium field at the Castro Valley High School to honor him.

Meditation Workshop At Library

Join us to learn the origins of mindfulness practices in the West and learn the basics of a variety of meditation practices, including silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, and meditative movement.

This workshop will take place in person at the Castro Valley Library on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 pm.

Designed for all bodies, the practices may be done sitting, standing or lying down. Beginners and experienced practitioners are equally welcome.

Our instructor, Arisika Razak, is Professor Emerita and the former Chair of the Women’s Spirituality Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Formerly a nurse-midwife, her teachings incorporate diverse spiritual traditions, multiculturalism, queer theory and feminism. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Dedicated Practitioner Program and a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center.

Registration is required. Choose “Events” on our web site at www.aclibrary.org.

Gate Entrance Name Metal Signage • Cost: $5,000

The Brosnan Family has agreed to pay all costs associated with the stadium field dedication displays.

“The family was very pleased with all four of the options. We’re looking forward see FIELD on back page

Sheriff’s Reports

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Assault with Deadly Weapon Monday, September 26: at 2:37 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 34-year-old woman from Castro Valley as part of a warrant issued for her arrest. The woman was previously charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies served the warrant in the parking lot of the 580 Market Place shopping area on East Castro Valley Boulevard. The woman was taken to Santa Rita Jail.

Methamphetamine Drugs Sunday, September 25: at 9:15 p.m., a 52-year-old man with no permanent residence was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine drugs. Deputies stopped the man for questioning outside a business in the Castro Village

Shopping center on Rustic Drive. The same man was arrested for the same charges on Monday, September 19 at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Wisteria Street. Both times, deputies took the man into custody.

Trespasser Violated His Probation Saturday, September 24: at 2:40 p.m., deputies arrested a 29-year-old man from Castro Valley as part of a warrant issued for his capture. The man was previously charged with trespassing and violating the terms of his probation. Deputies found the man outside a convenience store on Redwood Road near Grove Way where they verified the warrant and took the man into custody.

Driving Drugged with A Concealed Weapon

Saturday, September 24: at 10:54 p.m., a 57-year-old man from Castro Valley was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs and illegally carrying a concealed knife. Deputies stopped the vehicle in front of a business on Grove Way near Center Street. The man was also in violation of his probation and was taken to Santa Rita Jail.

Joy Ride Ends in Arrest Friday, September 23: at 3:40 p.m., deputies pulled over and arrested a 19-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and receiving stolen propersee REPORTS on page 10

DON’T FLUSH THESE DOWN THE DRAIN!

Flushing things other then pee, poop, and toilet paper down the toilet can cause problems in your home’s private sewer lateral and the public sewer main.

All WipesBaby, Sanitary, & Antiseptic

Cotton Balls, Swabs, & Makeup Pads

Towels, Wash Cloths, Rags, & Underwear

Bandages Sanitary Napkins, Tampons, & Applicators

SANITARY

CVSan Office: (510) 537-0757

Sewer Emergencies: (510) 506-5821

Kitty Litter

Tissues,

Sponges Medications Diapers

Blanket and Coat Drive October 9

Xclusive Speed Sports Performance Training, which trains youth, college, profes sional athletes, and celebrities from across the country, is hosting its first-annual coat & blanket drive on Sunday, October 9, from 12 noon to 3 pm at Pilgrim Christian Church (20613 Stanton Ave, Castro Valley, CA). The coat & blanket drive benefits children in the community—from new borns to 18 years old.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Today, Wednesday, Sept. 28

College: Getting from There to Here

Whether your children or grandchildren are learning to crawl or Learning to drive, you can help make a college education a reality. Join us today 11 am to 12 noon at 20980 Redwood Rd Suite 120 in Castro Valley for our college savings presentation as we discuss the following: Questions to consider as you establish a college savings goal; Strategies to help you reach your goal; Features and benefits of 9 college savings plans. call today to reserve space for yourself and a guest at this event.

Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 1 & 2

Comedian Jay Rich

Plethos’ Joketoberfest Returns This Saturday

Plethos Productions presents their 5th annual Joketo berfest stand-up comedy show this Saturday, Oct. 1st at 8:30 pm, at The Chabot Theater in Castro Valley. Host Priya Guyadeen will be kicking off the night and presenting comics seen on stages all over the Bay Area (and beyond!). Featured comics are Terry Dorsey, Molly Magee, Rachel Pinson and Patrick McDermott. The night will be headlined by Tommy T’s Comedy Competition winner Jay Rich. Guests can enjoy a selection of craft beer on tap as well as signature movie theater snacks to ring in October. Tickets are available at plethos.org.

In November, Plethos Productions will be hosting the “Show Me The Funny: Stand Up Comedy Competition.”

Round 1 will take place Thursday, Nov. 3 at 8 pm at the Castro Valley Marketplace.

Round two will be on Thursday, Dec. 1. Early bird tickets are $5 off until October 27 at plethos.org

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

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You might not like the sudden setback in your plans. But keep that headstrong Arian temperament in check and wait for explanations. Things will begin to clear up by week’s end.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Enjoy the respite from your recent hectic schedule, but be ready to plunge into a new round of social activities. A new contact holds much potential for the future.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A trusted colleague has news that could change your perception of a current workplace situation. What had seemed unfair might prove to be highly favorable after all.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You still need to watch what you say and how you say it. What you assert as honesty, others might perceive as Crabbiness. Be patient. This diffcult period clears up by the weekend.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your Royalness needs some time away from the limelight to catch up on things, whether it’s tidying up your desk or making those calls you’ve put off. You’re back in the center of things by the weekend.

VIRGO (August 23 - Sept. 22): Honesty is the best policy, of course. But, you’ll do better at achieving your goals if you can be less aggressive and more circumspect in how you phrase your comments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - October 22): Your ability to maintain your balance in confusing situations continues to work for you. Stay on the steady course, one step at a time. The weekend shows improvement.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your indecisiveness could simply be your keen Scorpian sense warning you to be wary of making a commitment. Take this time to do a more thorough investigation.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Good news: New information comes your way to help you make a more informed decision on how to deal with the opportunity that has opened up for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): This is a good time to reinforce your selfconfdence by acknowledging your own good qualities. A lull in your social life ends by the weekend. Have fun.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): It’s a good time to let those recently pent-up emotions fow more freely. Why not start by letting the people you care for know how you really feel about them?

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Resist offers, no matter how wellintentioned, to help with a personal decision. Only you know what must be done, and you have the emotional strength to follow through.

“As a Bay Area native, I am excited to host Xclusive Speed Sports Performance Training’s first-ever coat blanket drive, targeting underprivileged youth in the Bay Area com munity,” said Xclusive Speed Founder & CEO Giles Chap man. “Xclusive Speed looks forward to blessing children in the Bay Area through our coat & blanket drive, helping keep them warm throughout the fall and winter months.”

Xclusive Speed empowers people of all backgrounds in the Bay Area. In 2017, Xclusive Speed Founder and CEO Giles Chapman created the Xclusive Speed National 7v7 Team. The 7v7 team competed on a national stage, enabling several Bay Area youth athletes to secure D1-D3 scholarships. In 2019, Giles founded the Women’s Fitness Showcase, helping women of all backgrounds gain confi dence in their body image. The showcases have expanded to Los Angeles and Seattle, Washington.

In 2020, COVID-19 swept California’s communities, shutting down athletic events indefinitely, which made it hard for youth athletes to get recruited by colleges. Giles formed a full-contact high school football travel with Bay Area youth athletes to help them gain exposure. The team played in tournaments in Los Angeles.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Fall Book Sale in San Leandro

The Friends of San Leandro Library’s two-day Fall Book Sale will be held Sat urday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, at the Main Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro. In addition to its normal array of outstanding fiction, history, science, books for children, DVDs and CDs – all available at rock-bottom prices. Saturday sale hours, from 9-11 a.m., are held for members of the Friends of the Library, and then open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday it’s the All-Day $3-a-Bag Sale open to everyone from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Come early for best selection. All proceeds benefit the San ean dro Library’s programs and services.

Sunday, Oct. 2

Wine & Liberty Celebration

The Libertarian Party of Alameda Coun ty’s 16th Annual Wine & Liberty Celebra tion will be held Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 to 4 pm at Westover Winery, 34329 Palomares Rd., Castro Valley. Come enjoy lunch and sample wines under shady oaks. Well behaved dogs welcomed. here will be a raffle and an auction. Hayward City Council candidate, Michael Lema, will be there to meet with voters. To Purchase tickets, visit: lpac.us

October 1, 3, 5 & 6

LWV Sponsors Candidate Forums

The League of Women Voters will be conducting free virtual candidate forums featuring local and State candidates. The meetings will be held virtually over Zoom. Audience members are invited to register at: https://bit.ly/2022_LWV_Candidate_Fo rums. . Registered participants can submit questions for the candidates after registra tion. No questions from the public will be allowed during the forums.

On Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 am there will be a forum for candidate for the AC Transit At-Large seat. The candidates for the Ward 3 seat will begin at 10:45 am.

On Monday, Oct. 3 at 6 pm, there will be a forum for those running for the 10th State Senate District, featuring candidates Lily Mei and Aisha Wahab.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 pm there will be a forum for candidates running for Hay ward School Board.

On Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 pm there will be a forum for candidates running for San Leandro Mayor and San Leandro School Board.

Tuesday, Oct. 4

CV Rotary on CV Improvements

Jaimie Orfanos and Kristin Perrault, Alameda County Economic Development Department, will describe improvements planned for Castro Valley. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) at 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. The cost of lunch is $20. RSVP by 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, by contacting Rotary at cvrotary@ iCloud.com or 510-402-5123. More infor mation is available at: castrovalleyrotary.org.

Thursday, Oct. 6

Annual Teacher of the Year Awards

You are invited to attend the 33rd Annual Alameda County Teacher of the Year Awards on Thursday, October 6, from 7 to 9 pm at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts. Bring your colleagues, friends and family to acknowledge 18 inspiring educators at this 33rd annual event honoring teachers throughout Alameda County. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for students. For more information and a link to purchase tickets, please visit: mycvforum.com/events

Sunday, Oct. 9

Intro to Mindfulness Meditation

Join us to learn the origins of mindfulness practices in the West and learn the basics of a variety of meditation practices, including silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, and meditative movement. This workshop will take place in person at the Castro Valley Library on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 pm. Designed for all bodies, the practices may be done sitting, standing or lying down. Beginners and experienced practitioners welcome. Reg istration is required: www.aclibrary.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 12

Sons in Retirement Meeting

Sons in Retirement (SIR) Branch 26, an organization of retired men, will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 12, for a social hour at 11 a.m. and for lunch at noon in the Fairview Event Center next to the Club House at Met ropolitan Golf Course, 10051 Doolittle Drive in Oakland. The cost is $26 per person. Reservations are required, call 510-581-9098 before Oct. 9. The guest speaker will be Bill Green, a Vietnam Veteran and a member of the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley organization.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Local Author in Hayward

Join us for a live reading and discussion of The Man Who Could Move Clouds, a new memoir by Bay Area author Ingrid Rojas Contreras. The reading will take place Satur day, Oct. 22 at 3 pm at the Hayward Public Library. Ms. Contreras is the author of Fruit of the Drunken Tree, a Silver Medal winner in First Fiction from the California Book Awards as well as a New York Times Ed itor’s Choice, an Indie Next Pick, and a Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection. A book sale and signing follows the event. Free and open to all. For more information please call 510-583-2113.

Memories: Your Path Ahead May Be In Your Past

By Kevin Koo SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Welcome to the next installment of my series on vision. Last time I landed on having an abundance mindset as a way to see better and see more. Today, we’re going to go over what sits at the core of an abundant mindset: positivity.

What is positivity? For our purposes, can we agree thatpositivity is looking to move in a more positive direction What I mean is if you’re in a good place, positive means you become even better. If you’re in a bad place, positive is getting less bad before you get to good.

I also want to note that positivity does not mean you are pretending to be good all the time and that you don’t have any problems. hat becomes toxic positivity, and it is not good for your mental health.

So, positivity is moving in a positive direction. When you’re struggling and suffering, it can be really difficult to stay positive. o you want to know a uick hack to get there? You sure?

Ok, so to shift into a positive mindset, all you need to do is FEE grateful. Notice that I said feel grateful and not think about something you are grateful for. The problem with thinking is you’re still stuck in your head and your head is what got you suffering in the first place. If you feel grateful, it becomes emotional, which can bypass the brain. Also, not sure if you knew this, but it’s impossible to feel upset and happy/grateful at the same time.

see KOO on page 11

Healthy Living Festival For Seniors Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 29, the United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USOAC) will host the 19th Annual Healthy Living Festival from 9 am to 2 pm at the Oakland Zoo (9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland).

Sponsored by the office of Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, the Healthy Living Festival is a free event for older adults living in Alameda County to promote health and wellness. In its 19th year, this annual event draws an average of more than , partici-

pants. It is the only dedicated, free festival for seniors in the Bay Area, and the largest in the U.S.

This year’s Healthy Living Festival will be held in person at the Oakland Zoo after two years of being hosted virtually during the pandemic. All seniors, their providers, family, and/or friends who have registered for the event will receive a free meal and entrance to the oo. COVI -19 and flu vaccinations will also be available at the event.

see HEALTHY on back page

Health & Wellness

Being Present With What Is: It Takes Lots of Practice but Payoff is Immense

By Dana Leipold SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

hen I’m teaching yoga, I invite students to try and be present with what is. That means however their bodies feel or whatever their minds are doing, to just allow that to be present without getting entangled in it. It’s definitely easier said than done. So, how can some people not get all riled up by things and other people lose it at the slightest inconvenience Well, it takes a lot of practice.

Start Small

ou can try this when you first wake up in the morning before you get out of bed, check in with your body, mind, and emotions. What’s going on? Did you not sleep well? Did you have a weird dream? Does your body feel stiff? Are you still mulling over something that happened a few days ago Simply notice. ry to observe whatever is present in your physical being and your mental state. Then, don’t get involved.

What?

hat’s right. See if you can ust be” with your achy body, uncomfortable emotions, or whatever is going on. Try not to attach any udgements, labels, or perceptions about it. Just allow it to be there. If you find that you get distracted and you probably will , focus on your breath. Tap into where you feel the breath the most in your body and do your best to stay with the present moment.

Being present means however your body feels or whatever your mind is doing, just allow that to be present without getting entangled in it.

Starting small like this can help you build up to bigger things.

Notice Your Response

If you can’t ust be” with your painful body or an emotion, like it’s ust too much to even detach yourself from it, see if you can notice how you respond to it. If you hurt your lower back and you’re udging yourself for being stupid to lift that heavy thing when you think you shouldn’t have done

it, notice that. Why are you calling yourself stupid? Maybe you thought you could do it in the moment, or maybe it was because you were helping someone. You don’t have to be so critical of yourself.

ou can do this throughout your day. If someone cuts you off on your commute home

and you get furious, ask yourself why. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of your life that someone cut you off Maybe that person didn’t even realize they did it, and maybe you’ve done it to someone else without realizing it too.

Be Patient with Yourself

We’re often so hard on ourselves and that sometimes gets pro ected out into the world because we don’t want to admit that we’re less than perfect. I know whenever I feel impatient with myself I’m more likely to lash out at someone else who reflects whatever I’m impatient about back to me.

Being present with whatever is going on inside of you— without reacting, udging, labeling, or criticizing is really a lifelong practice. You’re never done with it. You just get better at not allowing things to upset you. And since we live in a world that can be challenging at times, it’s a skill that can make navigating those challenges much easier.

Castro Valley resident Dana Leipold is a yoga teacher, wellness coach, holistic nutritionist, wife, and mother. Since 2020, she has taught women over 45 how to reduce their stress, calm their minds, and take care of their bodies. She helps her clients to care for and come back to themselves with simple holistic wellness and nutrition practices so they feel centered, rejuvenated, and strong—able to make the most of their third act in life. Visit: www.thirdactwellness.co

AllOne Sacred Services In partnership with HOLISTIC FUSION Hayward-Castro Valley Moose Lodge presents:

AllOne Sacred Services In partnership with HOLISTIC FUSION Hayward-Castro Valley Moose Lodge presents:

Castro Valley Moose Lodge, 20835 Rutledge Road

Castro Valley Moose Lodge, 20835 Rutledge Road

Why Fall is a Critical Season for Your Backyard

NAPSI ackyarding, the trend to move many indoor activities outdoors, is now a permanent way of life. During the pandemic, learning to work, entertain, vacation, work out and more right in one’s own backyard, became a necessity—and people are learning it’s often a better way to live.

According to the urfMutt Foundation, identifying your backyarding personality type is an important first step in creating a backyard that sup ports your family’s needs and desires.

“Fall, in particular, is a criti cal season for your backyard,” says ris iser, President of the urfMutt Foundation. he work you put into your yard now will reap benefits all year long. Remember: Work your landscape and your landscape will work for you.”

Two backyarding personali ty types in particular—the Expert Landscaper and the Work from ome Pro can really shine this fall. Here’s why: Expert Landscaper

This personality type knows that yard work done in the fall provides a double benefit be cause what you do in autumn

The work you put into your yard during fall will reap benefits all year long.

to maintain your yard sets the stage for its health and vi brancy come spring. Fall yard chores—removing leaves, pruning trees and cleaning out flower beds and garden plots—are a usual activity for you.

Work From Home Pro As a work from home pro

fessional, you have been living for fall when the temperatures are perfect for taking your office outside. All you need is a strong Wi-Fi connection, your nicest leisure wear and a jacket for chilly morning meetings and you’re ready for work in your backyard. Nature is your video call backdrop and you have set up your outdoor office for success by using shrubs and patio planters to distinguish your outdoor office space from other backyard activity zones.

What do these personality

types know to do this fall? No matter your backyarding personality type, you can have a fabulous family yard this fall and beyond with these simple steps:

emove leaves. Mulching leaves rather than raking and bagging them is good for your lawn and the environment. As shredded leaves decompose they feed your lawn, naturally.

Mow at the right height. Cut grass until the first hard frost. Find the just-right length for your lawn’s species typically between 2-3 inches) to keep

your grass healthy when it turns cold. Overseed grass and don’t forget to aerate the lawn in fall to prevent soil from becoming compacted and covered with thatch—a thick layer of roots, stems and debris that blocks water, oxygen and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Water wisely. If you’re not getting at least an inch of water each week, keep watering throughout the fall. Install watering solutions, such as smart controllers on irrigation systems, to conserve water.

Plant bulbs and flowering shrubs that will give blooms in spring and summer to feed pol linators, such as birds, bees and butterflies, as well as provide beauty for those natural, video conference backdrops.

Plant a tree for shade or cover. It may take a few years to grow to shade-producing height, but it’s an investment in your outdoor space.

Identify the ideal time to prune specific tree and shrub species and do so accordingly. Depending on what is in your yard, fall may be the perfect time. Consider putting in deck ing or a hardscape to create an area to set up a desk or table. Make sure ade uate electricity is available to power those laptops and other devices.

Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foun dation, at TurfMutt.com.

Tips For the Fall

NAPSI In addition to clearing clogged gutters, clos ing storm windows and prep ping the weather stripping on your windows and doors, it’s important to get the furnace, filter and air ducts checked and cleaned if necessary.

A complete home winteriz ing should include replacing the filter on your furnace and cleaning the ductwork to remove built-up dirt, dust and debris. That will improve indoor air quality and keep your heating and ventilation VAC system running smoothly.

There are two main reasons cleaning your VAC is a good idea:

1. Save energy According to the United States Depart ment of Energy, 56 percent of the energy used to power your home goes to VAC systems. When they begin to wear, they run less efficiently.

. Improve air uality A properly functioning VAC system takes air in and breathes air out through the ducts. Dirt and dust are recir culated throughout your home several times a day.

The dirt may contribute to health issues, especially in kids, older people and those with respiratory conditions, au toimmune disorders or certain allergies.

For further facts and tips, ask the Breathing Clean ex perts at: BreathingClean.com.

Three Questions to Ask When Hiring a Contractor

With record-high real estate prices, a growing number of homeowners are remodeling or renovating their existing homes rather than buying new. Increased demand and continued supply chain issues, however, have led to delays in getting quotes, uncertainties in the availability of materials, rising costs and an increase in homeowner frustration.

Whether you’re looking at a new roof or siding, adding a deck, upgrading windows or insulation, you want to find a contractor who gets it right on the first try and can meet today’s fast-turn demand).

What To Ask

To help, here are three im portant questions to ask:

1.“Do I need to meet with you in person to get a quote?”

Contractors have followed the same manual transaction processes for decades. But home visits with pad-andpaper estimating is outdated, especially with digital-savvy homeowners.

oday, roofing, fencing and even siding companies can provide a preliminary quote without sending representa tives to your house. Satellite measurements and a quick phone call are all you need to understand basic pricing and inventory availability for shingles, siding or lumber. Digital sales platforms help homeowners quickly compare contractors and reduce the time to get multiple estimates.

2.“How soon can you start?”

How quickly a contractor can begin depends on pricing and availability of labor and materials. Be wary of con tractors who offer services for unbelievably low prices—it’s

safer to pay more for a premi um, professional job than take a gamble on a risky contractor.

Using dynamic tools, your contractor should be able to make real-time changes to es timates and contracts to show how the materials selected will influence the schedule and cost.

3.“How do you handle changes?”

This is another area where a contractor using a digital sales platform can add value. By plugging in different options, your contractor should be able to tell you exactly how changes will affect cost and timing. No need to wait days for a return phone call—using digital documents means a revised quote and contract can be sent quickly, helping to keep projects moving.

For further facts about digital tools to look for in a contractor, please visit: www. leaptodigital.com.

The Housing Market Winds Are Changing

We have been in a seller’s market so long it has almost become part of our legacy. Unfortunately, like bananas, all things in life come with an expiry date and for many homebuyer wannabes, the current housing market, with its unprecedented run for sellers, has turned decidedly stale.

Like the scene from Mary Poppins where the wind changes direction to set the stage for Mary’s entry, we are seeing a change in the weather forecast for the housing market. Whereas the movie’s winds turned out

to be unkind to the large group of prospective nannies standing at the front door of the Brown residence, this newly emerging wind is bad news for sellers as it seems to be blowing buyers away.

What has happened? In a nutshell, we have seen a perfect storm of covid-related government incentives that lit the fires of inflation, massive supply chain issues that have pushed commodity prices upward, a war in Ukraine, skyrocketing fuel prices, unprecedentedly high housing costs, stock market de-

Is Basement Moisture a Leak, or Humidity?

By Samantha Mazzotta Special to the Forum

There’s an easy way to test whether the moisture on basement walls is seepage (water leaking inside) or condensation.

Get a few large squares of aluminum foil and tape them to random spots on the basement walls and floor. se water-resistant tape and completely cover all four edges of the foil so that no air can get underneath it.

Leave them there for a couple of days, and then carefully peel away the tape and check both sides of the foil. If the side facing the wall (the inner side) is wet, then seepage is your issue. If the outer side is wet, condensation is the problem.

If both sides are wet, seepage is the most likely issue, with condensation possibly a result of the seepage.

To reduce seepage, check all of your gutters and downspouts to make sure they aren’t damaged and that rainwater is being directed well away from the foundation. The drain trough under the downspout also should be checked; make sure water isn’t pooling there.

Next, check the foundation and basement walls for small cracks, holes or gaps. Repair these with

the appropriate type of cement.

Finally, paint the interior basement walls with a waterproofing paint specifically formulated for this task, which adheres well to concrete or masonry.

To reduce condensation issues, install a dehumidifier in the basement, or install a fan that will pull air outside and help the basement air circulate. Wrap insulation around cold-water pipes so condensation is less likely to occur in the basement space. Outside, try and increase the amount of air and sunlight that reach the basement by trimming back plants and hedges, especially around basement windows.

Home Tip: Debris and leaf dams in your gutters can damage them and lead to other problems around your home’s exterior. Clean your roof gutters twice a year.

valuations and finally, the wave that threatens to sink the ship, spiraling interest rates.

Make no mistake: this is not a short-term change in the weather that will blow over in a few days. Rather, it appears to be a long-term proposition as the market fundamentals are being realigned to a new reality. Heading into the fall months there is a direct parallel between the cooling temperatures outside and an emerging chill in the housing market.

While bad news for sellers, there is an emerging opportunity for buyers who had previously given up hope due to soaring prices and multiple offers. While many have backed out of the market hoping the interest rates will come back down, those who understand that rates will most likely go even higher still are out buying now before rates are hiked even more.

It is a catch-22 scenario for buyers: wait for prices to go lower or buy now before interest rates go higher? It comes down to the monthly payment. If a property is available now that checks all the boxes and the plan is to live in the home a long time, any short-term decline in prices will be rectified by longterm gains. Additionally, rates may ease down the road a bit. In other words, if you find a home you love, ‘marry’ the house and ‘date’ the interest rate until a better one comes along.

Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association.

Coming Soon!

Welcome to this newly updated throughout 1,202 sq ft, 3 bedroom. 2 bath home with a 2 car garage situated on a 5,170 sq ft lot! Updates include all new interior and exterior paint, re nished hardwood ooring, kitchen with painted cabinets, all new appliances, quartz counters, recessed lighting, new ooring and opens to a dining/bonus area with a slider to backyard. Both bathrooms have been updated with new vanities, toilets, ooring, mirrors and lighting. 3 bedrooms all with re nished hardwood oors and new closet doors. Relax, garden or play in the side and backyard, ready for your gardening touches. Close to all amenities including Stanton School, Eden Hospital, Bart and easy freeway access. All this and so much more! Call Cathy or Linda for more information or for a private showing.

19784 Carnation Lane, Castro Valley •

Cathy Brent Team 510-381-1065 Cathy@CathyBrent.com DRE #01088138 www.cathybrent.com

Kathi Townsend: 510-333-9404 / kathi.townsend@BHHSDrysdale.com / DRE #01409032

Wayne Licsak: 510-303-7765 / wayne.licsak@BHHSDrysdale.com / DRE #01850870

Linda Neff: 510-557-9185 / linda@lindaneff.com / DRE #01495978

Kelly McCoy: 925-786-2681 / DRE #02095209

RECENT HOME SALES

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

CASTRO VALLEY

Total: 19 – Average Price: $1,019,421

High: $1,600,000 – Low: $520,000

2503 Miramar Avenue #221 94546:

$520,000 [2 BD - 891 SF - 1988

20115 Redwood Road #4 94546:

$580,000 [2 BD - 866 SF - 1988

22179 Dolores Street 94546:

$790,000 [2 BD - 1,018 SF - 1948

23078 Canyon Terrace Drive #U3 94552: $796,000 [2 BD - 1,258 SF - 1996

17996 Almond Road 94546:

$800,000 [3 BD - 2,446 SF - 1952

21096 Nunes Avenue 94546:

$810,000 [3 BD - 1,260 SF - 1948

22096 Queen Street 94546:

$850,000 [2 BD - 1,100 SF - 1947

19524 Redwood GLane 94546:

$880,000 [2 BD - 1,777 SF - 1977

4337 Circle Avenue 94546: $905,000

[3 BD - 1,095 SF - 1953

3190 Terry Court 94546: $965,000

[3 BD - 1,108 SF - 1961

19338 Center Street 94546:

$975,000 [3 BD - 1,236 SF - 1959

18364 Lake Chabot Road 94546:

$995,000 [3 BD - 1,314 SF - 1952

19561 Alana Road 94546:

$1,100,000 [2 BD - 1,498 SF - 1947

21635 Gail Drive 94546: $1,125,000

[3 BD - 1,980 SF - 1960

4238 Nando Court 94546:

$1,308,000 [3 BD - 1,545 SF - 1957 19220 Lemas Place 94546:

$1,360,000 [4 BD - 2,909 SF - 1985 3653 Arcadian Drive 94546: $1,410,000 [3 BD - 2,216 SF - 1958

5721 Thousand Oaks Drive 94552: $1,600,000 [4 BD - 2,216 SF - 1982 5900 Charter Oaks Drive 94552: $1,600,000 [4 BD - 2,244 SF - 1985

HAYWARD

Total: 24 – Average Price: $864,416

High: $1,885,000 – Low: $435,000

29588 Vanderbilt Street #114 94544:

$435,000 [1 BD - 643 SF - 1988

19654 Western Boulevard 94541: $588,000 [2 BD - 672 SF - 1942

21062 Gary Drive #113 94546:

$590,000 [2 BD - 1,050 SF - 1980

23510 Wright Drive 94541: $615,000 [3 BD - 971 SF - 1951

28465 Pacific Street 94544: $635,000 [3 BD - 1,050 SF - 1952

22546 South Garden Avenue 94541: $660,000 [3 BD - 1,120 SF - 1951 21103 Gary Drive #315a 94546: $700,000 [2 BD - 1,393 SF - 1993 635 Artistic Place 94541: $720,000 [3 BD - 1,700 SF - 2004 378 Cooper Avenue 94544: $805,000 [3 BD - 1,160 SF - 1961 2712 Cryer Street 94545: $815,000 [3 BD - 1,157 SF - 1958 32447 Mohican Street 94544: $820,000 [3 BD - 1,372 SF - 1951 30575 Midlothian Way 94544: $825,000 [3 BD - 1,134 SF - 1955 31088 Chicoine Avenue 94544: $860,000 [3 BD - 1,078 SF - 1955 31320 Birkdale Way 94544: $908,000 [3 BD - 1,161 SF - 1955 2364 Mariposa Street 94545: $920,000 [3 BD - 1,128 SF - 1957 26151 Parkside Drive 94542: $935,000 [3 BD - 1,111 SF - 1918 28606 Harvey Avenue 94544: $940,000 [3 BD - 1,709 SF - 1991 2947 Blanding Court 94541: $950,000 [3 BD - 1,092 SF - 1954 25050 Oneil Avenue 94544: $950,000 [4 BD - 1,648 SF - 1956 23333 Stonewall Avenue 94541: $955,000 [3 BD - 1,359 SF - 1956 24889 Kay Avenue 94545: $990,000 [3 BD - 1,542 SF - 1959

25389 Parklane Drive 94544: $1,045,000 [4 BD - 2,119 SF - 2020

25753 Seaver Street 94545: $1,200,000 [4 BD - 1,280 SF - 1959

28100 Fox Hollow Drive 94542: $1,885,000 [5 BD - 3,152 SF - 1997

SAN LEANDRO

Total: 16 – Average Price: $826,437

High: $1,230,000 – Low: $525,000

15956 East 14th Street #104 94578: $525,000 [2 BD - 918 SF - 2008

284 Caliente Drive 94578: $550,000 [2 BD - 1,060 SF - 1980

1744 Hays Street 94577: $610,000 [2 BD - 810 SF - 1912

308 West Joaquin Avenue 94577: $650,000 [2 BD - 1,754 SF - 1896

16547 Russell Court 94578: $740,000

[3 BD - 1,644 SF - 1949

3442 Monterey Boulevard 94578: $750,000 [3 BD - 1,405 SF - 1955 14945 Donna Street 94578: $760,000

[3 BD - 1,340 SF - 1948 12994 Aurora Drive 94577: $805,000

[3 BD - 1,330 SF - 1950

1353 Leonard Drive 94577: $820,000

[3 BD - 1,462 SF - 1953

1515 139th Avenue 94578: $825,000

[2 BD - 1,316 SF - 1946

15072 Swenson Street 94579: $840,000 [3 BD - 1,554 SF - 1948

157 Begier Avenue 94577: $910,000

[4 BD - 1,756 SF - 1951 2456 Driftwood Way 94577: $988,000 [5 BD - 1,584 SF - 1963

15605 Baypoint Avenue 94579: $1,100,000 [4 BD - 2,564 SF - 1999

655 Elsie Avenue 94577: $1,120,000

[3 BD - 1,555 SF - 1947

989 Collier Drive 94577: $1,230,000 [3 BD - 2,231 SF - 1937

SAN LORENZO

Total: 4 – Average Price: $888,000 High: $1,000,000 – Low: $810,000

2147 Via Murietta 94580: $810,000 [3 BD - 1,352 SF - 1957

15979 Via Marlin 94580: $832,000 [3 BD - 1,514 SF - 1951

16035 Via Toledo 94580: $910,000 [3 BD - 1,181 SF - 1951

1150 Elgin Street 94580: $1,000,000 [2,510 SF - 1951

Homes

Redwood Needles and Debris on the Ground Help Retain Moisture

BUZZ BERTOLERO

THE DIRT GARDENER

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

The needles on my Redwood trees are turning brown. It started with the last heat spell. I have a drip tape around them with half a gallon per hour every twelve inches for one hour. It is at the drip line.

Also, I added a sprinkler that I rotate around the canopy weekly. My gardener insists on blowing away fallen debris from under the redwoods. I keep telling him, no, but it is a losing battle. Should I be watering more?

ARedwoods require more water than the typical conifer, especially when the afternoon sun beating on the soil. They’re shallow rooted with many roots near the soil surface. A half a gallon of water per hour is not very much for a mature

redwood. So, I would definitely increase the water, and it’s not too late to start. We have one or two heat spells left before things cool down and the rainy season begins. It would be best if you increased the volume of water by increasing the time to three to four hours per application. You might also install soaker hoses inside the drip line or continue with the sprinkler twice a week and more often when it’s hot. You’re looking to prevent any more damage. Unfortunately, the brown leaves on the tree will not turn green. One of the primary benefits of mulching is moisture retention. A three-inch layer of bark or leaf debris is ideal. Mulch is expensive ( see the table below for coverage), so the redwood’s natural debris will save you money. Redwoods produce a lot of debris which is very desirable. So, your Gardner is not doing you any favors by blowing it away, so fire him.

Note:

1. Here are the videos from

a previous column on how to water mature and young trees. https://youtu.be/lrirPBMTYi0 and https://youtu.be/P_kQZriJ38U. https://youtu.be/P_kQZriJ38U

2. A 2cu ft bag of bark will cover how many square feet?

My potted plant’s soil becomes hydrophobic quickly, so it never gets very wet. As a result, my plants do poorly as the water runs out of the container’s bottom quickly. I’ve tried adding peat moss to increase the water retention, but it has helped. So what can I do to prevent this from happening?

You don’t hear about a ‘Hydrophobic Soil’ very often. A ‘Hydrophobic Soil’ refers to any substance or surface that resists water. They act the same way as similar magnet poles by repelling each other. The word hydrophilic is also Greek, meaning water-loving. In other words, your Soil is repel-

ling water and not absorbing, so your plants suffer. I’d first thing I would try is a wetting agent. EZ Wet from Gro More reduces the surface tension around the soil particles, so water is absorbed.

Next, I would add Soil Moist crystals to your potting Soil. The crystals expand and hold water for plants to use. They are both available at your favorite garden center or online at Amazon.

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.

Local Dog Grooming Salon Brings Awards Back to CV

A Cut Above Grooming Salon in Castro Valley recently traveled to two grooming expos. he first one was August - 6th called Superzoo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Shop owner Nathan Austin, who now competes along side some of the counties top groomers in the open class, brought home a third place in a huge poodle class of 22 dogs. His wife and fellow shop owner Kathlena Austin who competes in the intermediate class came home with a first place victory with English Cocker Spaniel, Swayze.

Groomer Kat Greaney came home with a first place win in a large entry all other purebred class with her Bichon Frise’, Lumiere.

Groomer Lindsey Pinson stepped into the ring for a challenging class in the model dog, where competitors of all levels groom a fake dog. She came home with a first prize Next, the groomers traveled all the way to Hershey, Pennsylvania where they attended one of the counties largest and oldest groom-

ing competitions, where the biggest and best groomers compete.

Shop Owner Nathan was also honored to be nominated for best up and coming groomer of the year, only 5 groomers a year are even nominated for this prestigious award. While they were in Hershey they also competed. Nathan came home with a second place and a group second in the Wire Coat class with Scottish Terrier, Red. He also received an honorable mention with Kerry Blue Terrier, Hercules in a tough open level all other purebred class.

Along side Nathan, Kathlena competed in the intermediate division of Wire class taking home a first place with Scottish errier, osie.

Groomer Kat Greaney got an entry second place in the all other purebred class with Bichon Frise’, Cricket. Then stepped into the entry sporting ring for the first time with English Cocker Spaniel, Enzo, receiving a third place victory.

Library: New Programs on Horizon

continued from front page acy along with the schools and the community,” Selig told the Forum. “We’re always about providing people with reading materials. But I think the way that libraries have stayed relevant all these years is by evolving with lots of different programs.”

For starters, the library will again be hosting its Homework Help Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. for students ranging in grades 5 through 12. There is also an Advanced Math and Science Tutoring session on Mondays between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. Both are free and in-person sessions hosted by the library’s Homework Center staff and volunteers.

For the little ones, Pajama Storytime has returned on Monday nights starting at 7:00 p.m., which is perfect for the 3 to 5-year-old set. The weekly events are a great time to hear awesome stories. Slippers and stuffed animals are highly recommended.

In October, the library will be hosting an Introduction to Mindfulness Mediation with a teacher from the East Bay Meditation Center.

Two other new programs starting in October include The Page Turners and Young At Heart, Selig said.

“The Page Turners is a new book club that we’ve put together where we will have discussions about well-reviewed fiction and non-fiction books,” Selig said. “Because it’s October, we’re going to start with a thriller of sorts. We’re starting with ‘The Plot’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz, which is centered on an author who stole his plot from a student.”

Young At Heart is an evening book discussion for adults that meets at the Castro Valley ibrary on the first uesday of

the month at 7 pm. The group is for adults who want to read and discuss young adult books. In October, the group will discuss “The Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo, which is a National Book Award Winner.

“After the success of the Harry Potter series, we found more adults beginning to read young adult literature than ever,” Selig said. “Some adults are also reading these books along with their kids. Others are interested in the stories and themes. So, we wanted a place for those readers to be able to discuss these types of books.”

In addition to these reading and discussion programs, Selig adds that the library has launched a Seed Sharing Library. These are locally harvested heirloom seeds available to gardeners, community volunteers, children, and library patrons. The library has volunteers who can teach residents how to save seeds to donate back to the Sharing Library, Selig said.

And this October marks the return of Halloween Trick or Treating activities including bag decoration and a do-ityourself photo booth. This is capped off with costumed librarians handing out non-sugary treats for visitors.

“When mobile technology took off and anyone could get anything on their phone, there were people saying that libraries couldn’t survive,” Selig said. “But the fact of the matter is that we just keep evolving. If all you want is to read eBooks, we’ve got that, and you don’t have to step into the building, but you are getting those eBooks through your library.”

Finally, ramping up to the November 8 midterm elections, the library will be open as a voter resource site. Representatives from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters will be on hand between November 5-8 (Election Day) to help register voters and provide educational materials.

The Castro Valley Library is open every day except Fridays.

Reports: Wanted for Death Threats

continued from page 3 ty. The man was traveling on Redwood Road near Norbridge Avenue when deputies stopped him after running the license plate. The man was taken into custody.

had been previously charged with assault and battery, carrying a concealed knife, and making death threats. Deputies verified her identity with the warrant and took her to Santa Rita Jail.

report the pair failed their field sobriety tests and were taken to a sobering center.

Camila is a super friendly and outgoing 6 month old female kitten who loves playing as much as she loves cuddling. Her best buddy is her sister, Jade, who she gets along with splendidly. To adopt call Hayward Animal Shelter (510) 293-7200.

ade is a 6 month old female kitten who is friendly and playful. She loves string toys and palling around with her sister, Camila. She enjoys getting pets and attention, especially cheek and ear rubs. To adopt call Hayward Animal Shelter (510) 293-7200.

Wanted Woman at Eden Thursday, September 22: at 9:29 a.m., a 39-year-old woman from Castro Valley was arrested as part of a warrant issued for her capture. Deputies responded to a call from hospital security at Eden Medical Center on Lake Chabot Road about the woman. The woman

Two Underage Drinkers Wednesday, September 21: at 11:54 p.m., deputies arrested two people from Castro Valley on suspicion of public intoxication. An 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were found in a parking lot on San Miguel near Adobe Park with open containers nearby. Deputies

Made Death Threats Monday, September 19: at 9:47 p.m., deputies arrested a 48-year-old CV man as part of a warrant issued for his capture. The man was hanging outside a drug store on Castro Valley Boulevard near Marshall Street when deputies stopped him for questioning. Deputies verified the warrant for a previous charge of making death threats with a deadly weapon and took the man to Santa Rita Jail.

top by the Castro alley Library to see what’s new ome of the more popular programs are returning following a pandemic-influenced two-year hiatus.

Wild Cow Milking May Be Banned at County Rodeos

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

A decision by the Alameda County Supervisors last week is likely to prohibit the prac tice of milking cows at any rodeo-style event in the area including the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Castro Valley.

Wild cow milking is a rodeo event that involves separating a lactating mother from her calf in the arena. A team of contes tants, with one on horseback, lasso the cow and wrestle her to the ground so one of the contestants can milk her. The event has been typically part of

a Cowboy Challenge series of events a day or two before the main Rowell Rodeo weekend every May.

The issue was brought to the Supervisors for a vote in early August and included verbiage that would have also restricted the use of spurs, flank straps, and tie-down calf roping. The item was trying to change ordinance 5.08 to ban activities and tools safely used in ranching, equestrian, horse racing, local parades, county fair, and rodeos.

After deliberation by the Board, Supervisor Richard Valle introduced a motion that

removed all provisions from the originally proposed amend ment except for the prohibition of wild cow milking. That amended motion passed unani mously. The ordinance requires a second reading and board approval in the next 30 days for the ban to be permanent.

The change in the ordinance was promoted by animal rights groups like Action for Animals and In Defense of Animals. The later group said it helped change the rules in Alameda County in 2019 with the banning of “mutton busting” at rodeo events.

see MILKING on page 14

Koo: How Do You Feel Grateful?

continued from page 5

How do you feel grateful? Think about something that makes you happy or brings you peace. I feel fortunate be cause all I need to do is think about my son: his smile and laughter, his playfulness, his growing and changing person ality and sense of humor. I try to feel it with as many of my five senses as I can. I hear his voice, smell the experience (parents, you know what I’m talking about), feel what it’s like playing with him, see the smile on his face, and some times taste the food or drink of the memory. This brings it alive and immediately moves me into a state of gratitude.

I’ll admit I’m not perfect at implementing what I just described. There are days where I’m tired or focused on work, and I find myself getting annoyed with life in general. What I have found though is that by practicing gratitude, I

get out of being annoyed faster than I did before. As a result, I’m much less likely to say or do something I will regret.

After you have at least one moment to put you in a grate ful state, you’ll want to start building that memory base and find more memories like that… or start creating them. The more memories you have, your gratitude becomes like a muscle you train, and it be comes easier to flex. It starts to get really fun when you realize the moment you’re living in is a moment of gratitude and you get to live in gratitude.

Why does this help with vision? Simply put, isn’t life easier to handle when you’re feeling good about things? You’re more positive about things working out or you feel more flexible with changes and setbacks. That’s why this simple practice is so powerful. Nothing in the outside world needs to change for you to

feel better about life. It doesn’t change the outside situation, but you become better at mak ing the shifts you need to make to actually change the outside situation.

So what memory are you grateful for? If life has been tough, those moments are probably few and far be tween, but I bet there’s at least one good moment that you can hold on to in the tough moments. Find it and spend as much time as you can with that memory and really feel all five senses in that memory.

I’d love to hear what your memories are. Please reach out and let me know at kevinkoo coaching@gmail.com.

Kevin Koo coaches people in personal, business, and leadership development while counting his blessings. To experience what he can do for you, check out https:// www.kevinkoocoach.com/ show-for-yourself1

Code: Common Complaints Include Overgrown Yards, Trash and Debris

continued from front page Labayog said some com mon complaints included overgrown yard areas, accu mulations of trash and debris, storing large indoor items out in the open, parking of inop erable or commercial vehicles and parking on lawns.

Alameda County Code Enforcement covers unincor porated areas such as Castro Valley and San Lorenzo, while cities enforce their own rules, which may differ. Residents should also be aware of any homeowner association (HOA)

or covenants conditions and restrictions (CCR), which are typically found in a homeown er’s mortgage paperwork or in a rental agreement.

It’s also important to under stand the differences between what is public and what is pri vate before contacting County Code Enforcement, Labayog noted.

If something’s blocking a sidewalk or in the street, Public Works or the Sheriff’s Office is in charge, depending on the violation.

“That would make it public

property. We’re the private property police,” quipped Labayog, Nuisance noise complaints, though, go to the Sheriff’s office, he said.

Visit Code Enforcement’s website at www.acgov.orgjcda/ planningjcodeenforcement, call them at (510) 670-5460, or email them at PlanningCode. Enforcement@acgov.org.

One can also use the Mobile Citizen phone app to register a complaint with Public Works, which will then route it to whichever agency handles it.

Coastal Cleanup Day 2022

The Unincorporated Area Clean Water Program had a great Coastal Cleanup Day event along the Castro Valley Creek Trail by the library. The event was held Saturday, Sept. 17. 90 local volunteers came out to clean up litter.

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.

ASAP VENDING

Soroptomist East Bay is seeking craft vendors

Nov. 19 Holiday Boutique, Hill and Valley Club. Tables $70 include 6ft table 2 chairs. Contact Donna at rambosmom@comcast.net or 510 510 999 2911 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.

GARAGE SALES

802 Cary Dr, 834 Cary Dr and neighborhood garage sale. Saturday 10-122.830am - 3pm, Vintage, collectibles.

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

GIVEAWAYS

FREE - Large double door stanless steel Samsung refrigerator. U-Haul. 510-384-1421.

HANDYMAN SERVICE

Do you need a HANDYMAN? We do almost everything. FREE Estimales. Call 510-828-4241 Garden service maintenance and cleanup and other services handyman call Jose Cruz 510-798-0682.

In Service

Daniel G. Cervantez is a native of Castro Valley. While in Canyon Middle School, 8th grade, he joined the Sea Cadets with the Hancock Squadron in Hayward. In 2014 he was awarded Sea Ca det of the Year. Danny aged out of the Sea Cadets with the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. aniel attended Castro Valley High School and graduat ed in 2015. He attended CSU Maritime Academy and graduated in 2019 with a BA in Global Stud ies and Maritime Affairs. In May 2021 he enlisted in the US Navy. He attended Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois and graduated in July 2021. He graduated Boot Camp as a Seaman E-3. He then left for C School to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from C School as a Master of Arms in December 2021. Daniel immediately reported to his first duty station in Norfolk, Virginia. He is on the fast track and promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class - in March 2022. We congratulate Daniel in his commitment, dedication, and accomplishments. There is no greater honor than to serve your country.

LEGAL NOTICES

FILED AUG 31,

MELISSA

Pursuant to Business

Sections 17900-17930

The name of the business(es): Tipsy Chicks, located at 3443 Middleton Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. in Alameda County, is hereby registered by the following

owner(s): Denise A. Haven, 3443 Middleton Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. This business is conducted by an Individual. This business commenced N/A /s/ Denise A. Haven

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

Expires AUG 30, 2027

SEP

Personal Account Trader oe’s Crash Shows Caring Spirit of the Community Milking: Ordinance Discussed

continued from page 11

“Thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters want all rodeo cruelty ended in Alameda County, but we still strongly support a ban on wild cow milking. We continue to urge the Board of Supervisors to approve this important ordi nance amendment for a second time,” Erin Dobrzyn, Farmed Animals Campaigner with the non-profit group In efense of Animals, said in a statement.

Russ Fields, President of the Rowell Ranch Pro Rodeo Committee said he does not agree with the outcome of the Supervisor’s motion but says he is relieved to know that ranching, rodeo, and commu nity events will continue.

“I am disappointed that we lost another local event,” Fields told the Forum. “Special interests continue to work to discriminate against agricul ture, ranching, and rodeo. I continue to invite local elected leaders, and anyone who is interested, to visit the rodeo and our Cowboy Experience, which brings everyone down into the arena, so they can learn the facts firsthand about Rowell Ranch Rodeo.”

Fields also added that the care and handling of the livestock always come first,” and that the rodeo events are governed by more than 70 animal welfare rules.

“All local rodeo events and local rodeo participants must abide by the same animal wel fare rules that our profession ally sanctioned Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo operates under. We also follow the strict rules of the State Penal Code and local animal welfare laws,” Fields said.

He added that Rowell has reviewed its annual statistics since 2006 for the local wild cow milking event specifical ly with only one cow fatally injured in 2014.

“We have had in total approximately 700 cows and horses involved in the event. Our injury record is less than one percent; having lost one cow in 2014,” Fields said. “We learned from that situation in 2014 and made appropriate changes to the event. We have had no other animal injuries in this event.”

The second reading of the ordinance is expected to go before the Supervisors in late October.

Dear Editor,

It has been noted that during a crisis, people come together to help each other out, no uestions asked, no internal filter deciding what tribe they may belong to; they need help and we as a people step up.

I saw that in action at Trader Joe’s the other day. I was standing in a checkout line, content with my shopping cart of good food and treats for our weekend. I was working the Wordle puzzle on my phone, waiting for my turn to check out. Then a car exploded through the automatic exit doors, sending glass flying and plowing through the checkout stands, pushing people painfully aside in its wake. The car kept going, tires s uealing as it pushed further into the store.

I thought, “Is it an Attack or Accident??? I got on the phone to 911. No answer on the line.

Someone else is calling. They yell out, “Is anyone trapped under the car?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Someone checks and yells, “No!” The car has stopped, but now the backup lights are on! I move toward the car and the driver to inter vene. Someone yells, “Tell him to turn off the car!” I see someone go to the passenger side and tell the driver, firmly yet gently, urn the car off.”

He does, the danger is over for now.

I look around for anyone that may need help and there, leaning over a checkout stand, a young woman clings on in pain. I ask, “Are you alright?” She says, “No, I’m hurt.” I ask, “How can I help? You want to sit down?” I help her sit down, bracing my leg behind her so she can lean back a bit. I notice she’s barefoot with broken safety glass all around, one sandal lying a few feet away in a scatter of chocolate bars and gift cards. She’s crying, in shock, I ask, “Do you want to lie down? Where are you hurt ” She lies back, then uickly employees bring over flat cardboard to cushion her back against the hard floor. Someone else brings over some of those insulated reusable bags as a pillow and I ask them to get others to cushion under her the back of her knees. I console her, “You’re going to be alright. The ambulance is coming. I’m gently holding her arm, kneeling by her side, asking, “What hurts?” She says, “My knees, my lower back.” An employee, a young man is there now, he asks, “Do you have a phone?” She points and he gets it off the checkout stand she had been clinging to. “Do you want to call somebody?” “My husband.”

She dials him up and the employee tries to tell him what’s happened, but he’s not really mak ing much sense. He hands her the phone and she just cries into it. I take the phone and tell him, “There’s been an accident at Trader Joe’s on Redwood Rd. A car crashed into the store. Your wife’s okay, but hurt, the ambulance is on its way.” He says, “Thanks, I’m on my way, be there in 10 minutes.”

Employees come by pushing a cart filled with frozen bags of corn and peas. We start laying them on her wounded areas, her knees and legs. Sirens now, policemen coming through, assessing who needs help. They ask her, “What’s your name? What’s your phone number?”

I hadn’t even thought to ask. An employee is using a large floor s ueegee to clear away some of the debris around us.

I say to her, “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” I’m holding on her arm, and shoulder with care, now and then, I gently stroke the top of her head, “That’s good, cry, let it go. Your husbands on his way. The ambulance is here.”

Then they were there. The EMT’s stepped in, asking EM uestions, assessing her wounds, calling for a stretcher, cutting off her sweatshirt so they could work freely. I stepped back. I felt so close to her and now there wasn’t anything else I could do to help. It seemed like long ago that I had heard some manager voice call out, asking all customers to kindly leave the store. I didn’t want to leave her alone till her husband got there. But it’s not really my place. They got her now, she’ll be alright. I walked past my shopping cart, still full of good stuff and left the store. I’m not sure anyone even noticed me. Out in the parking lot, people had their phones out taking pictures. I looked back, firetrucks, police cars everywhere, ambulances. I thought to take a picture, but I was still caught up in the vulnerability of it all, shocked at how uickly the daily comfort of standing in line at my favorite store, turned to chaos and people were hurt and an old man sat dumbstruck, in shock, behind the wheel of a car that crashed into people’s lives.

But through it all, people were Good. People didn’t panic or yell. People reached out to help each other in a time of need, with care and concern, both personal and later professional.

We did good people!

Thanks to Trader Joe’s people and thanks to all who helped heal the hurt and chaos, that by accident, brought us together for a moment and revealed the beauty of our community spirit.

–Alexander Palau, Castro Valley

Hope Hospice Founder Passes Away

2022 0530-CVF

Read and comment online at: www.mycvforum.com

With great sadness, Hope Hospice shares the news that Richard “Dick” Martin, one of the organization’s founders has passed away. Dick was instrumental in rallying local support and an all-volun teer workforce when Hope launched in April 1980. He also served as the agency’s first chaplain for many years. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m., at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Pleasanton. In lieu of flowers, the family re uests that donations be made in

Dick’s name to Hope Hospice. Donations can be made online at HopeHospice.com/donate or by calling (925) 829-8770.

Rich Martin, one of Dick’s sons, reflected on his father’s time at Hope: “In the 40-plus years since he founded Hope, he never took credit. He al ways kept the focus and praise on the volunteers and staff who made it successful.”

“Hope Hospice has been a recognized name in the Tri-Valley for over four decades, thanks in large part to this man,” says Jennifer Han

sen, Hope’s current CEO. “We have a strong connection with our community because of the foundation that Mr. Martin laid. He was heavily engaged with his community, which is why so many people stepped up to help him create this organization in a time when many people didn’t know what hospice was. Over time, we’ve had several hundred locals volunteer in various capacities, echoing the compassion and selflessness that Mr. Martin and the rest of the initial team embodied.”

LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR FILESFORFORUM@GMAIL.COM

Weatherize Your Home

Many thanks to Carl Medford for his years of contributions to the Forum. I would like to add a few additional suggestions to his recent article “Many Homes Ill Equipped for Extreme Weather.” During the recent heat wave, the pavers outside my house measured 135 degrees and the sidewalk measured 124 degrees at 2 pm. If walkways can get that hot, it is easy to see stucco siding getting equally as hot. Many of the older stucco houses in our community have walls that can’t be insulated due to line wire stucco. Planting deciduous trees or shrubs to reduce solar exposure would reduce the summer exterior wall temperature and load on the air conditioner.

Insulating the attic without air sealing the attic is like wearing a sweater; it keeps you warm until its windy. The gaps between the sheetrock and framing in the attic create space for air movement between the attic and crawlspace. Sealing those gaps with spray foam will stop interior walls from heating or cooling a house. Some websites state that air sealing is more energy efficient than adding more attic insulation.

Using aluminum foil tape to seal the gaps between the register and floor will stop the cooler air from the crawlspace from entering your house. Sealing those gaps should also improve indoor air uality by preventing any molds, chemicals, fire season smoke, or pests from entering the house. Also, for exterior walls, installing outlet and light switch plate foam gaskets will reduce drafts.

Sealing as many gaps in a house as possible can go a long way towards improving interior comfort and air quality, while reducing some heating and cooling load.

–Keith Tarkington, Castro Valley

All Does Not Mean All

At the birth of our country, “all” meant only straight, binary white males. This was a vast improvement from before then, when “all” meant only those white males born into royalty or nobility. Over our history we slowly made that “all” more and more inclusive until the last several decades when eddies in the stream took us back in many respects. This backwards stream got totally out of hand with Trumpism which gave racists and homophobes license to spew their hate publicly. But “all” is not much more inclusive on the left. There, “all” means people who meticulously dot every “i” and cross every “t” of the extreme left politically correct dictated dogma. If you deviate one iota you are labeled a racist or a transphobe and “cancelled”. One recent example of this here in CV was our Jewish community feeling utterly disrespected and ignored by the CV school board, resulting in Jewish organizations buying a full page ad in this paper to air their outrage. Another example in SF is Asians being excluded from discussions regarding “dummying down” Lowell high school; they then made their presence felt at the ballot box. For “all” to really mean “all”, it needs to include people of all races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities, etc., not just straight white males; “all” needs to also include political opinions from the various shades of right, center, and left; and for those opinions to be listened to, respected, and taken seriouslynot just those from the extreme left, which is what we seem to have in places such as CV and SF at the moment.

–Mark Perkins, Castro Valley

The Media is Biased

It is really unfortunate that the media is biased and chooses to represent one side of another. As the organizer of Bay Area Against Mandates and the CVUSD rally, I can assure you that there were over 15 present. Our rally had a different time than the counter rally but we had a good size number of people show up. With that being said ABCC 7 new chose not to air our guest speak Frank from Gays Against Groomers. Why does the MSM get to decided whose voice gets silenced? When will the parents wake up and realize the indoctrination that is going on in the public school system?

–Jackie Waters, Castro Valley

From the Boulevard: Gorbachev, Cold War and Us

By Thomas E. Lorentzen SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

The famed reform leader of the Soviet Union –Mikel Gorbachev, has passed. It is 18 years after President Ronald Reagan passed. Together, they played pivotal roles in ending the Cold War and preventing a potential third world war. As a guy from Castro Valley, I had opportunities to gain insight as to how this may have happened. They emerged in two private conversations in the late 90’s. One was with Reagan’s closest adviser - National Security Director William P. Clark. The other was with Gorbachev’s main security adviser – Alexander Besmertnykh.

Clark and I met in his office in Paso Robles. We had a trustworthy relationship between us. He asked if I would assist in getting a document

declassified. e said it was the only document that existed that would reveal a confrontation between the U.S. and USSR that occurred in late 1981. It was over the fate of Poland.

Premier Brezhnev was preparing an invasion. Reagan drew a firm, yet non-threatening line. It was behind the scenes. After 13 days (the same as the Cuban Missile Crisis) Brezhnev decided to not invade, given Reagan’s position. Reagan told Clark to not reveal anything publicly. Clark asked why?

Reagan said that “Brezhnev has done the right thing. We need to honor that. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Premier Khrushchev engaged in a large military build-up to regain prestige and reposition himself with strength. Revealing it might embarrass Brezhnev. We do not want to repeat of what happened after the Cuban Missile Crisis.”

A few months later I attend-

Symbolic Murals on Schools

Symbolic murals arouse curiosity and require an explanation. Putting unusual markings on school walls undoubtedly gives an opening for teachers to promote “orientations” which imply behaviors that are sexual in nature and offend a large portion of our community (Christians and Jews).

Our country is founded on moral principles, and public schools should reflect this. he efferson ible” is the standard Bible (minus the resurrection accounts) that Thomas Jefferson used to develop strictures for the Constitution.

The American Bill of Rights holds that rights are “endowed by Our Creator.” In the interest of equality, shouldn’t our school district include symbols representing Judeo-Christian beliefs-such as painting two tablets with The Ten Commandments (at the same size and scale as the G murals

–Anne Van Tatenhove, Castro Valley

ROBERT “BOB’ THOMSEN

1929 ~ 2022

Robert “Bob” Thomsen, former Hall of Fame wrestling coach and longtime teacher at Chabot College, passed away on Sept. 18, 2022. He was 92.

Under Bob’s direction the Chabot wrestling program became a powerhouse in the 1960s, winning four conference championships, five Northern California titles and 28 tournaments under his reign, 1962-1969. His dual meet record was 117-27-4. Many of his wrestlers went on to successful careers at four-year colleges, including two-time Olympian Buck Deadrich. Bob taught in California for 53 years before retiring in 2005. He instituted many creative teaching techniques and had four text books published, along with three other publications dealing with physical education and athletics. His evening aerobics class at Chabot averaged over 200 students.

Born in San Jose, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Rose Pereira. They raised six children together. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and English at Cal Poly in 1952 and a Master’s Degree in Education in 19 3. e was awarded five letters in football and wrestling at Cal Poly.

Bob is survived by three sons -- Michael Thomsen of Oregon, Dennis Thomsen of Castro Valley and Thomas Thomsen of Fremont – and daughter Kathy Grover of Arizona. Sons Steven and Danny Thomsen, and wife Rose Joyce Thomsen, preceded him in death.

ed a retrospective conference on the second summit between Reagan and Gorbachev. Secretary George Shultz came to hear what Besmertnykh had to say. Besmertnykh revealed that Gorbachev and he would not have taken the course they did if they did not trust Reagan.

After the event I talked with Besmertnykh. I asked if he would elaborate. He did.

He explained that no U.S. President had earned the trust of Soviet leaders during the Cold War, except Reagan. He indicated it was because of an experience that a former Soviet leader had with Reagan. With that, the information I had learned from Clark became a probable link to the trust that emerged between the two leaders. It also indicated that there may have been an earlier de facto ending of the Cold War than realized. If the Soviets were not going into Poland, they would not be going anywhere in Eastern Europe. With that, the essentials of the Cold War had changed. The details were later worked out between Reagan and Gorbachev.

An added confirmation of this story occurred over a lunch with the former Deputy Commander of NA O during the same period of time. When

we discussed what happened in late 1981 in Europe, he became inquisitive. He said that I appeared to have knowledge that he did not have.

Afterward, I visited with Judge Clark and asked him about how things were handled regarding this serious, yet unrevealed crisis. With that, he explained that Reagan kept the Pentagon out of it. They were not to know, as it would have changed the equation to a threating one to the Soviets.

eagan wanted to be firm, yet not threatening. Clark later changed his mind about getting the document declassified and revealing the incident. It remains undisclosed.

Now with Gorbachev, Reagan, and Clark deceased, there is one person left that might share this story – Alexander Besmertnykh. That is unlikely to happen, however, given current conditions in Russia under Putin. This story is shared for your awareness about the unexpected ending of the Cold War. Trust was critical with the ending of the Cold War. Without trust, it may never have been retired from the dominant role it played in world affairs.

This article is dedicated to Susan B. Lauffer.

Janet Schumann

Janet Schumann passed away at San Leandro Kaiser Hospital on Sunday, September 4th at the age of 81 after a brief illness. Jan led a full life that began at an early age of growing up in Sussex, England. She lived briefly in the Bishop’s Palace in Chichester with her mother, who was a housekeeper to the bishop. At 18, she moved to London with a job opportunity in the University of London’s printing department. In the year 1963, she met a young man from California on a blind date, and after a year and a half of courtship, and sailing over to America for the first time on the ueen Mary) where Bill and Jan were married in Hayward, California. Bill and Jan have lived in San Leandro for 49 years. Here, they raised two children, Jonathan and Renata. During these child raising years Janet became involved as a volunteer in the public schools. Eventually, she took a job with the Alameda County Juvenile System as a certified teacher’s assistant at Camp Sweeney. After retiring she took up her favorite hobby of gardening full time. Her garden reflects her love and passion for all things flowering. Janet and Bill enjoyed traveling. They have made several trips back to England where they visited friends and Jan’s newly discovered half brother and sister. Jan loved spending hours in her garden and spoiling her doggy. Most cherished in her life was her family, far and near, and her many dear friends. Jan is survived by her husband William of 57 years, her son Jonathon Schumann (Shelley) and her daughter Renata King (Todd) and her grandchildren Jenna, Payton, Skylar and Maxwell, as well as extended family in Oregon and Great ritain. an led a rich and fulfilling life and will be greatly missed. Jan’s family wishes to thank everyone who has reached out to offer their condolences and sympathy. Donations can be made in the memory of Janet Schumann to the East Bay Berkeley Humane Society (berkeleyhumane.org).

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

DA: Top Priorities

continued from front page

Price is familiar with campaigning for the DA position. She unsuccessfully challenged O’Malley for the position four years ago.

Both candidates pledged, if elected, to bring a social justice perspective into the work of the district attorney’s office. hey differed in their emphasis on how punitive to be toward current crimes, while both vowed to fight the social causes of crime in several possible ways.

“I am a drum major for justice,” Price said in her opening statement.

Nathan Arakawa

Our Athlete of the Week is Nathan Arakawa. In its short 6-year history, Castro Valley High’s varsity boy’s water polo team had never beaten Alameda High. That changed on September 13th at Chabot College with a 10 to 7 win over the Hornets. The standout player for the Trojans was Nathan Arakawa. He scored 7 of the team’s goals and was outstanding on defense. Nathan blocked

shots and stole balls throughout the game. In a 15-team tournament earlier this year Nathan was selected by the coaches as one of the Top 7 players. Nathan is a Senior at Castro Valley and is looking forward to playing at the college level next year. He hasn’t decided which college to attend but wherever he goes he will be a good addition to the school’s water polo program.

She added, “For too long prosecutors have forgotten that their mission is to protect public safety by advancing justice. Prosecutors have been at the heart of mass incarceration.”

Wiley opened with, “We have a district attorney’s office that needs new leadership. It has to be leadership that is about safety and justice. My experience as chief Assistant District Attorney has enabled me to personally understand the strengths weaknesses and potential of the office.”

Wiley added that he had the organizational and budget experience to head a nearly $100 million county agency.

Healthy: Senior Festival is Tomorrow

continued from page 5

“I am thrilled to celebrate the return of the Healthy Living Festival in person this year,” said Nate Miley, District 4 Supervisor and President of

United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County.

“We are grateful for the seniors in our community and look forward to a fantastic event with music, food, and

fun. It’s so important that our community comes together to support seniors, their health, and their quality of life. If it’s good for seniors, it is good for us all.”

Price gave her top three priorities if elected as running a transparent office that offers integrity and accountability, help for the mentally ill and addicted, and reducing gun violence partly by interventions with young people.

Wiley’s top three priorities would be fighting a sense of lawlessness” by targeting intervention with the 2,000 individuals he said commit 70 percent of the violent and serious crimes in the county, a big increase in drug and mental health diversions, and addressing the victimization of Asian-Americans.

That targeting involves showing individuals evidence against them and offering them non-crime alternatives if they stop offending, but years in prison if they don’t.

Price called for never charging juveniles as adults, for never seeking the death penalty, and for seeking diversions for non-violent crimes. She urged prosecuting cases fairly and ethically and changing the office’s relations with law enforcement.

Price said of the office, We are not part of law enforcement agencies. We are lawyers, we are bound by the State bar rules and by the codes of ethics. We have a duty to seek justice as independent actors.”

Plaque Option

Field Mural Option • Cost:

Scoreboard Option

Cost:

Field: Coach Brosnan

continued from page 3 to the unveiling celebration to formally honor Coach Brosnan,” CVUSD Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi told the Forum.

The cost estimate includes $3,970 for the dedication plaque, $5,000 for the decorative metal name display, $3,100 for the scoreboard name display, and $600 for the mural addition.

Student Board Member Quentin Hansen made a motion to ask the Castro Valley

High School site committee to decide the location and placement of the dedication. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lavender Lee Whitaker. Brosnan began teaching at CVHS in 1963 and retired in 1994. He coached varsity football, golf, and baseball. He was a longtime Athletic Director at CVHS and was named an NCS Honor Coach in 1989. e was also one of the first inductees into the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame.

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athlete of the Week Nathan Arakawa