Castro Valley News - Year 1 , Number 3

CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 1, NUMBER 3

WWW.CASTROVALLEYTV.COM

JANUARY 2014

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here is no doubt the $9 million dollar streetscape construction project funded by the Alameda County Redevelopment Agency improved Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and Wisteria Avenue…but what comes next?

“We chose to stay unincorporated so we have to rely on the generosity of the county for future improvements in our community,” said local business owner Ken Carbone, who is also a lifelong Castro Valley Resident.

pending purchase of the county-owned What’s Happening on the New $9 Million Dollar Boulevard aDaughtrey building is on indefinite hold due

to a state level halt on sale of redevelopment properties, while a long list of expensive building upgrades hampers interest in the bank-owned JD’s restaurant.

Longing can be felt on the boulevard past San Miguel Avenue near Jack in the Box where the improvement project area ended. Due to lack of funding, streetscape improvements are not expected to reach that area anytime soon.

Among the “white elephants” on the boulevard are the long vacant Daughtrey building and the former JD’s restaurant.

Both are vintage style buildings from Castro Valley’s yesteryear.

County official Bill Lambert told CVN

Above: New roadways, trees, lamp-posts and seating areas share space with one of our vacant downtown buildings. Right: The bank-owned former JD’s restaurant sits empty waiting for any buyer to revitalize it.

Glancing at the boulevard outside Sal’s Foreign Auto shop that he helps manage, Phil Flieg ponders the boulevard improvements.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we got our value here. We heard about a lot of good ideas that mostly did not come to fruition,” he said.

-Story & stills by Robert Souza

Local Couple Keeps Farming Tradition Alive in Castro Valley

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olks in the valley continue to live off the land a few miles away from the busy bustle of Castro Valley’s downtown area and residential streets.

“You name it…we’ve got it here,” declared Renee Ray, who has operated “Sunnyslope Family Farm” with her husband Darryl for the past three and a half years. The Ray farm has wide patches of earth where fruit and vegetables are grown and is also home to horses, goats and chickens.

Darryl and Renee are both nature lovers who decided to purchase the Sunnyslope property in order to grow their own organic food. Their 75 hens produce about 35 eggs per day that are sold or donated to local folks and charities.

“Urban farming is very popular now and I hope it will be a ‘long time thing’ and not a fad,” said Darryl, who told CVN the farming experience is a constant learning experience for both he and Renee.

The Rae’s Sunnyslope Farm harvests garlic, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, chard, corn and peppers. They also make cheese from goat’s milk, have huge tomato plant patches and aisles of abundant fruit trees.

“We hardly ever go out to eat, because having our

Above: Darryl Ray harvests eggs on the family Sunnyslope Family farm. Below: Renee Ray does a ‘hands on’ check of a compost bin.

View a Full own food tastes so much Story Video by better,” said Renee, who Scanning this QR asserts growing food with Code with your nature on the family farm Smart Phone: and not against it is one of the most important things .

-Story & stills by R. Souza

Parks Department Explains Entry Fees at Lake Chabot

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he average park-goer could look to pay $7 to drive and park themselves and “Rover” for a visit to Lake Chabot Park.

“I think the (Lake Chabot) parking price is completely fair,” said Dana Hopkins, who lives in Castro Valley and walks to the park on a regualr basis. She explains at least twice a week she visits Lake Chabot for a hike or stroll with more than one dog in tow.

East Bay Regional Park District officals set the admission cost at $5 to park a car at Lake Chabot and an additional $2 dog fee in 2005.

36,778 cars and 9,139 dogs visit the park each Hopkins explained to CVN she “finds it offen- year. For 2011 and 2012, the parking fee gensive” to be asked to pay a dog fee when visit- erated $183,890 while the dog fee collected an average of $18,278. ing Lake Chabot.

The parks department estimates an average of The East Bay Regional Parks Department offers membership plans starting at $50 that include free day-use parking and free entry for one dog.

Becky Pheng with the parks department explained fees are based on staff recommendation, comparison to similar facilities and are approved by the park Board of Directors. She claims feedback, including complaints regarding parking and dog fees at Lake Chabot are “infrequent”.

-Story & stills by Robert Souza

CV News Restaurant Review with Ashley - Lucca Deli roll “decorated” by just lettuce and mayonnaise.

While piling Kettle Chips on her sandwich for more crunch, Ashley declared tomatoes, onions and sprouts have no place between the bread and meat. “Vegetables don’t go on a sandwich….you put them on your salad!” she said.

The original Lucca Deli opened in Oakland in 1958 by Leo Giacomini, Harold Ferrari and Vince Cerletti. The Castro Valley location opened a few years later where it has been ever since. In 1990, Syavash Alaee bought the shop and has continued the Lucca legacy since then.

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ucca Deli is a hometown lunchtime destination that has served up sandwiches and Italian meals from the same Castro Valley Boulevard block since the early 1960’s.

Castro Valley News restaurant reviewer Ashley recently paid a visit to the deli to give CVN readers a “bite by bite” account of what the eats are like at Lucca Deli.

“When you think of a Castro Valley sandwich you think of Lucca’s….definitely,” said Ashley, who ordered Turkey on a Dutch Crunch

Most sandwiches on the deli menu are $5.50 except for the prosciutto and tongue which are two dollars more. They offer nice dinner options in their frozen section and also cater events.

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

Castro Valley Vocalists Continue Fighting Cancer With Singing

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group of Castro Valley songbirds are exercising their vocal cords to boost awareness and raise money for the American Cancer Society.

“The best part of what we do is encountering so many people and knowing I am doing something to help,” explained “Silver Lining” vocal group founder, Lisa Silver. Cancer hit home for Silver in 2010, when one of her dear friends was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The group formed to “maximize the positive” and over the three years, they have performed in Castro Valley and across the Bay Area, raising about $45,000 for cancer research.

“All Star Award” Goes to Petes Hardware

Silver’s singers are longtime participants in the Castro Valley fundraiser “Relay 4 Life” and are readying for a “Dessert Cabaret” fundraiser on January 26 at the Imagine Affairs Art Lounge in Oakland. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds benefit Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. Visit main. acsevents.org/goto/TheSilverLining for more information on the upcoming fundraiser.

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ur own Pete’s Hardware won the honor of 2013 “ALL STAR” Hardware Store in the state of California from the Home Channel Network.

Owners Linda and Jeff Roark, with son Jason are busy making sure Pete’s keeps up with the latest trends, wants and needs of Castro Valley.

They have a fiercely loyal customer base that illustrates the value placed on providing knowledgeable and friendly customer service. “We listen to our customers for what we can provide to

help them keep their homes looking nice and well maintained, then we try to squeeze those product request into the store,” said Linda Roark. The family owned business has been in operation in Castro Valley for 88 years.

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: The letter from Anastasia F. in the December 2013 CVN seems to indicate that she needs to wake up, open her eyes and see what is around. Adobe Art Center Park is virtually “downtown” and, contrary to her assertion, has a totally adequate children’s play area. I probably spend at least as much time in that park as anybody (playing bocce) and see children that are obviously under 5 years of age using the play area. If they are not using the apparati, there is a sand box there for them. if that doesn’t work, there is the “big grass area” “where a lot of kids can play at” (sic) and so do frequently.

To say that there is no place to really play after school downtown is ridiculous. Also comparing Adobe Park to Community Center Park is not valid.

Community Center Park is obviously oriented more toward adult activities while Adobe has something for everybody, Anastasia F. notwithstanding.

Actually the “downtown” area is an area for commerce and really doesn’t need a child oriented play area That’s what the parks are for.

~Ken Martin / Castro Valley Editor: Though many people prefer to shop online or at big box corporate retailers, I urge local residents to seriously consider supporting small businesses, particularly those in local communities throughout

the East Bay and Tri Valley.

According to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), “California’s 3.4 million small businesses account for 99% of the state’s employers and employ 52% of the workforce.” Clearly, small businesses—including a significant number of ‘mom and pop’ stores in our local communities—provide much of the economic engine for our state. It is critical that local residents help these small businesses thrive by making a strong effort to support local merchants that will further reinvigorate local economies and create jobs.

This program will help spur the California economy by enabling shoppers to buy local and in-state products. During these times of economic recovery, I know that shoppers are looking for opportunities to buy local goods made by local businesses. Thanks to the passage of SB 12, consumers will be able to buy “Made in California” products and know with certainty that those goods were made within the state or even locally.

I hope you will consider shopping local so that East Bay and Tri-Valley communities and businesses will continue to prosper in the months and years ahead.

~ Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett Editor: I understand Goodwill recently had proposed a second hand store to open on Castro Valley Boulevard that was met by overwhelming thumbs down from the commmunity.

Is it that Castro Valley is “too good” for a second hand store? Many other communities have them and are fine. Thrift Town on East 14th is prime example.

~Vickki Stella / San Leandro

“What Castro Valley Issue Is On Your Mind?”

Asked at Pete’s Hardware

“Less transfers allowing

students from out of Castro Valley into our schools.”

Emilio Forni - Castro Valley Resident

“Better restaurants...

A larger selection of quality places to eat in town.”

Ken Lima - Castro Valley Resident

“Drivers on Castro Valley

Boulevard. Some need to improve their driving skills.”

Bella Gomez - San Leandro Resident