Castro Valley News - Year 1, Number 1

CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 1, NUMBER 1

WWW.CASTROVALLEYTV.COM

NOVEMBER 2013

counter, full deli and eventually incorporate produce and baked goods vendors.

Work yet to be done includes a parking lot repave, repainting, demolition of the former Carl’s Drug Store next door and landscaping improvements. The building, located at 18911 Lake Chabot Road has been a target for graffiti, trespassers and litter for years.

Businessman Bringing Lake Chabot Market Back to Life Construction crews will soon be busy with a revitalization project at the vacant grocery store on Lake Chabot Road across from the Community Center Park.

“The past two years working on this has included a lot of learning. It’s great to see it is really happening,” explained new owner Hans Cho, who expects the market to open by the Summer of 2014.

Cho, a San Leandro businessman and Castro Valley native received unanimous approval from the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council in March of last year to open the “Lake Chabot Marketplace” that will feature a meat

Cho says he is constantly looking for additional merchandise components as the project goes along and appreciates support and help his hometown has given him. “It’s really exciting and satisfying for this to happen because I grew up here,” he added.

-Story by Robert Souza Above: The ramshackle state the market on Lake Chabot Road has been in for years. Left: New owner Hans Cho hopes to open his new market by Summer of 2014. Below: The popular Lil’ Grocer market closed for good years ago.

Valley Rides : Doug Nakaya’s Original ‘59 Cadillac Biarritz

O

nce upon a time American automobile companies manufactured lavish and bold cars built to stand the test of time. One of those cars is the stunning 1959 Cadillac Biarritz owned by Castro Valley resident Doug Nakaya.

1959 Cadillacs are known for their exaggerated sharp tail fins, dual bullet tail lights, two different and distinctive rooflines, jewel-like grille patterns and matching deck lid beauty panels. They were designed for durability, speed and to look classier than anything else on the road.

“Driving this car gets a lot of attention,” explained Nakaya, who did a year-long, ground up restoration on the Cadillac about 20 years ago.

Since locating parts back then was not an internet mouse-click away, Nakaya had to make countless phone calls and do a lot of legwork tracking parts to complete the 100% original restoration.

This Biarritz is one of about 1,300 of the model Cadillac rolled off their assembly line for 1959. It has a 345 horsepower, 4-speed automatic engine with airbag suspension (no springs), cruise control, power locks and all leather interior.

Nakaya has repaired and restored cars for decades and tells CVN he appreciates the timeworn tradition of “wrenching” cars. “Working on cars is pretty honest work. If you make a mistake, you

know it. If you fix it... you know it,” he added.

-Story and stills by Robert Souza

View story video here:

C.V. Outreach Continues Tradition of Holiday Help

Castro Valley resident Ray Harris started

View a Full Story Video by Scanning this QR Code with your Smart Phone:

his charity program twenty-two years ago to bring holiday cheer to less fortunate families in town.

“One of the things I am most proud of is how the kids get involved,” said Harris whose Castro Valley Outreach program is boosted by food collection drives at Castro Valley schools. The all volunteer organization has a Thanksgiving food basket program and an “Adopt-A-Family” program for Christmas.

Harris started Castro Valley Outreach in 1992 helping about 40 families and expects to brighten the holidays for nearly 180 families this year. Each year, families get about $200 in food for Thanksgiving, while the Christmas “Adopt-A-Family” delivers gifts and household items.

“What about people in Castro Valley?,” Har-

Above: Ray Harris loads gifts for families in need during the 2008 Christmas season. Below: Volunteers pack boxes during the 2012 Thanksgiving drive.

ris asked decades ago when his sons—then Proctor Elementary students—organized a food drive for San Leandro and Hayward families. What followed was a collaborative effort with school district officials to get more people involved to help others during the holiday season.

“There are needy in Castro Valley and filling that need is something we are all very proud of,” said Harris who suggests anyone interested in donating or volunteering should call him at 510-8897743.

-Story and stills by Robert Souza

CV News Restaurant Review with Ashley - Val’s Burgers

T

hough technically one street outside the boundary of Castro Valley, Val’s Burgers continues to be one of our towns most popular gastronomic destinations.

Owned and operated by George Nicolopoulos and family, Val’s is a throwback to a time when entree portions were generous and the service treats you like part of the family.

“Val’s is the best Castro Valley restaurant that’s not in Castro Valley...but pretty much is,” said Castro Valley News restaurant reviewer Ashley, who recapped a recent visit.

Ashley told CV News the rare New York steak sandwich she ordered was “perfect”, her basket of onion rings was the “best on the

planet” and the grilled mushroom side dish really impressed her.

“This place never disappoints. George and his family are so nice and welcoming,” said Ashley, who is one of many residents of Castro Valley and Hayward who have been dedicated Val’s customers for years.

-Story and stills by Robert Souza View a Full Story Video by Scanning this QR Code with your Smart Phone:

Castro Valley Icons:

LUCILLE LORGE

Castro Valley’s official historian Lucille Lorge

is being honored for enriching the fabric of our community by documenting and sharing our town’s history. Published in 2005, Lucille’s book on Castro Valley continues to be an invaluable resource with information on bygone businesses, landmarks and events that shaped our town.

Lucille was instrumental in organizing the local history section in the new library and raised $21,000 for display cabinets and a flat screen television featuring a continuous reel of historical photos and information on Castro Valley. To this day, Lucille makes time to speak to clubs,

organizations and students about our history.

A photo presentation and lecture Lucille gave at the Castro Valley Library in April 2011 drew hundreds curious to hear more about Castro Valley’s history.

CHP ‘Summer of Safety’ Enforcement Campaign Nets Results

California Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Sherry is

calling the agency’s July to September Summer safety enforcement campaign “a huge success”.

During the campaign, injury accidents were down 57%, property damage collisions decreased 37%, DUI caused collisions dropped down 66% while DUI arrests increased 8%.

“I am very proud of everyone for following the laws and for making this a safe community,” said Sherry, who added the enforcement period

included no fatal accidents.

The Redwood Road Castro Valley CHP office covers the areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo and Castro Valley.

More stats from the campaign: 71 cell phone tickets were issued to drivers talking or texting and a total of 1,105 arrests were made. Visit the Castro Valley CHP on Facebook online at www.facebook.com/CHPCastroValley.

Letters To The Editor Submissions must be no more than 300 words, include writers first and last name, phone number and city of residence.

CVN may edit letters as needed.

Email all submissions to: castrovalleytelevision@gmail.com Editor: Recently something very disturbing happened I wanted to write about. While I was walking my friend out of my business, I happened to glance over toward the post office which I can see from my studio, and I said to my friend “the Obama protesters are out there again!” But wait, not only were they out there, the poster they had, was a picture of Obama made to look like hitler!

Needless to say, this JEW (me) was very offended, heck, forget the Jew part, this woman, me again, was extremely offended as was my BLACK woman friend (and lawyer). Actually we were appalled, and really wanted to do something about it hence this letter to you. I have no problem with ignorant racists protesting Obama, freedom of speech and all, that’s their right, living in our democratic country; aren’t we lucky? But when you compare Obama to hitler (he does not deserve a capital H) you are crossing all lines of freedom. As far as I know Obama has not in the last 5 years or in his life killed anyone whereas hitler MURDERED about 12 MILLION people, 6 million of them were Jews. The rest were all kinds of people, look it up, I did.

This is not the first time I’ve seen them outside of the post office, but this time I was so angry I decided to do something about it. I know that talking to ignorant people that are being told to do this, and

are way too stupid to realize how ridiculous they are, would be a waste because they are probably TOO brainwashed to understand! I mean, REALLY!

~Aran Mimran / Castro Valley Editor: Marriage equality is important because it puts gay couples on equal footing with straight couples, that’s the bottom line.

It is not simply a big step forward for LGBT civil rights, it is just what we DO as Americans. We grow up, move out of our parents’ house, meet someone, fall in love, get married and have kids. It’s the American Dream, but a dream that we are sadly still denied in most states.

Right now if a married gay couple in the Bay Area drives to Lake Tahoe and crosses the state line into Nevada they are immediately no longer legally married. That’s a travesty. That’s what we need to fix. Right now in more than half our states an LGBT person can be fired simply because they are gay. We must pass the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) now, not later.

~Billy Bradford / Castro Valley Editor: I have seen people walking dogs down the aisles of the Castro Valley Farmers Market more than once and do not think it is a good thing.

To me, it seems dirty seeing dogs walk the market.

Almost every week I come to the Castro Valley Farmers Market because it is the best and cleanest one around. I hope the market will enforce the “no dogs at the market” rule they have posted.

~Vickki Stella / San Leandro

“What Castro Valley Issue Is On Your Mind?”

Asked at Pete’s Hardware

“Less fast food in

Castro Valley. There should be healthier choices.”

Danny Solis - Hayward Resident

“People to maintain

their trees. I can’t afford to do it for them!”

Marilyn F. - Castro Valley Resident

“Theft. I am hearing a lot more about it happening in town.”

Nicolle A. - Castro Valley Resident