CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 1, NUMBER 7
Park officials are mulling the future of
what may be the last huge parcel of land intended to be a park in Castro Valley. Now is the time to get involved in this process. The 24-acre parcel bordered by Sydney Way and Stanton Avenue was recently purchased for $5.6 million by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) for a park or open space. “I am going to work hard to see fruition to this and to determine what the community wants,” said Castro Valley resident Dennis Waespi, who is also a HARD director. “I think this will be a tremendous park.” The parcel was pur-
WWW.CASTROVALLEYTV.COM
Planning for the Last Big Park Area in Castro Valley
MAY 2014
chased by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) through eminent domain in the 1950’s for a filtration plant that was never built. By 2006, HARD put parcel tax, “Measure Q” on the ballot to purchase the land for $15.5 million. When it went to the polls, voters shot “Q” down 63% against and 37% in favor of the measure. Over the past eight years officials with EBMUD have negotiated and promoted a number of failed attempts to sell the property to land developers. Waespi says there will be a number of public meetings on what may happen to the parcel. He is adamant it should be a park and strongly urges CV get involved in the planning process. Story Continues on the Next Page of this Magazine.
CV’s “Last Big Park” Story Continued From Page One:
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aespi told CVN, “I can imagine there will be a lot of meetings to get input and develop a master plan.” Waespi knows the area since his Castro Valley family room overlooks a vast swath of open area in town including a fantastic view of the “Measure Q” parcel. “Everyone is going to have an idea on what they want for a park, and we want involvement from the community, ” Waespi added. Historian Lucille Lorge recalls the parcel as home
for Sydney School back in the “old town” days of our town. Lorge remembers Sydney school being about the same size of Stanton School. Items yet to be decided upon by HARD for the parcel—a park master plan, developing a funding mechanism that could include a district-wide parcel tax and naming the park. Visit www.haywardrec.org for information on HARD and updates on upcoming meetings on the “Measure Q” parcel. -Story and Stills by Robert Souza
One of the impressive views from the 24-acre parcel of land bordered by Sydney Way and Stanton Avenue. The parcel was recently purchased by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District for $5.6 million that will likely be used for a park.
CV News Restaurant Review with Ashley - Limeleaf Thai
Castro Valley News restaurant review-
er Ashley recently marked another gastronomic first by trying a dinner of Thai food at Limeleaf Thai in the Castro Village Shopping Center. “This is a new experience having Thai. It really was a nice change to get our of my normal burger, steak and potato dinner habit,” said Ashley, who ordered the Crying Tiger Salad and Tom Kah soup. The Crying Tiger salad is a spicy affair you can order with beef or tofu. It has spicy lime dressing, lemonrass, green onions over lettuce and is probably one of Limeleaf’s most popular dishes. Tom Kah soup is a sweet coconut soup served with beef or tofu. Chef Monaput “Noon” Miner attended a rigorous culinary school in her native country that allowed her to bring that flavor to the cooking that comes from Lime Leaf’s kitchen. “I was worried I would not find anything I would like but it was all very good,” added Ashley who said she was glad to try something new and would definitely return to Lime Leaf in the future. -Story /stills by Robert Souza
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Library “Food 4 Fines” Program Nets a Bounty of Food Donations
had at the library,” explained Library Manager Carolyn Moskovitz who told CVN nearly two thousand donations expunged $1,900 in overdue charges on library accounts. Response to the one week program that ran April 13 to April 20 required a third donation barrel and saw the overall donation stack of boxes and packages grow to about five feet tall. It was the second time the Castro Valley branch sponsored such a “Food 4 Fines” program.
During
“Library Week” in April, staff at the Castro Valley library collected a profusion of food donations for the Alameda County Food Bank in just seven days time. The added incentive to donate was each nonperishable item contributed erased $1 in overdue fines for patrons. “It’s amazing the amount of items we
“The Castro Valley community has always been generous…and this is amazing,” added Moskovitz who explained she recently heard in the media that donations to the Alameda County Food Bank have declined due to the state drought situation. “Food 4 Fines” was such a success, Moskovitz says the library will definitely do it again soon but does not know exactly when. -Story by R. Souza
Cuban Crisis Prompts Bizarre Suggestion to Change CV’s Name
Fifty-two
years ago, the Beatles auditioned for Decca Records, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game and legend Marilyn Monroe died from an overdose of narcotics. It was also the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis between the Soviet Union and Cuba on one side and the United States on the other. The situation resulted in esentment against Soviet premier Nikita Khruschchev and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Public acrimony inspired a Paso Robles woman named Barbara Lantz to write the CV Chamber of Commerce to suggest Castro Valley change its name in order to disassociate with the name “Castro” in any way. Lantz reckoned Castro Valley was certainly a “lovely town” but suggested a moniker alteration to former Chamber man-
ager Winston King. The November article mentions that chamber officials were “left in a tizzy” after reading it. Castro Valley got its name from enigmatic Spanish Don Guillermo Castro who owned about 28,000 acres of land by 1838 including Hayward, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley as well as Cull, Crow and Palomares canyons. His sprawling area encompassed about 41 square miles. Over the next 26 years, Castro lost much of his holdings and wealth through lost bets and gambling debts. The downward slide culminated in a 1864 sheriffs sale that cost him his prized Adobe Rancho. As history tells, the Cuban Missile Crisis ended in 1962, the Cold War went on for decades and retained its name derived from the oblique Spanish land owner. -Story by Robert Souza
CV Beekeeper is Turning Honey into Money
Casale started beekeeping after learning about how pollination from bees could help her slumping fruit trees that were not producing. With the help from her bees, she now has a lush backyard with kiwi, citrus and lime. Overall she has 75 hives in Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, Lafayette and Sunol. Many are on farms where crops reap the benefit of pollination. Her garage is packed with boxes of jars for honey, bars of soap curing on racks and two large honey spinning machines that extract the sweet amber juice from honeycomb. A variety of products from Casale’s hives can be found at the Castro Valley Farmers Market every Saturday.
While pumping puffs of smoke in a hive to
calm hundreds of buzzing bees, Castro Valley resident Judy Casale explains her beekeeping hobby is more like a full-time job.
Hobby or job...beekeeping is something Casale loves to do. The smoke calms the bees and the bees calm Casale, who says beekeeping gives her a “peaceful zen-like” feeling. After 20 years of learning and hive keeping, Casale now earns a living from her hives, selling honey and products derived from beeswax including lip balm, soap, candles and lotion.
“I have more bees than any normal person should have, but it is something that I really enjoy,” she added. -Story & stills by Robert Souza
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Lake Chabot Market Expected to Open September / October Plans are moving forward to reopen the
long vacant grocery market building on Lake Chabot Road sometime in September or October.
“This is all a learning process with ups and downs, but overall it has been a positive thing,” explained new owner Hans Cho, who has been working on reopening the market that was once a Handy Andy’s, Pascarelli’s and Lil’ Grocer. The market will feature organic produce, a coffee shop, bakery items and a deli in addition to a hot kitchen and meat counter. Cho originally announced in the November 2013 edition of the Castro Valley News Magazine the “Lake Chabot Marketplace” was to open by Summer.
Above: A computer generated image designed to depict what the long vacant Lake exteriror of the Chabot Market will look like. Below: The estimated interior floorspace layout for merchandise in the new market.
Cho is a Castro Valley native whose family operates C&H Meat Company in San Leandro. The family company will supply meat and deli services to the market. The building located at 18911 Lake Chabot Road has been a target for graffiti, squatters and litter for years. Just last month, crews demolished the former Carl’s Drugs building adjacent to the market, which will make way for more parking. Work yet to be done includes a parking lot repave, roof work, installation of fencing and improvements to the appearance of the lot. There will also be plenty of landscaping enhancements. “There is definitely excitement and energy for this project, and I find it very rewarding,” added Cho who is proud to be part of a project like this in the town he grew up in. -Story by Robert Souza
One Day CV History Museum Planned for June 28th
A group of local “history chasers” are
teaming up with official historian Lucille Lorge for an afternoon of Castro Valley history including a memorabilia exhibit on June 28th at the Performing Arts Center. Organized by the CV Arts Foundation, CV Rotary and local businessman Randy Vanderbilt, the free event (donations accepted) will be certain to enlighten and educate folks on Castro Valley’s cultural / business history going back from the 1820’s up to the 1970’s. “I want this to be a promotional thing for Castro Valley to highlight who and what we are,” said Vanderbilt, who organized a similar event at the Castro Valley library last year that was a runaway success. The event starts at noon and will feature
the showing of an amazing 1 hour and 45 minute movie of CV from the ‘50s at 2:30 PM. All day long there will be a “museum” of collections from Lucille Lorge, Facebook personality David Ashton and the extensive collection from the Castro Valley News archives. While entry is free, donations that will be forwarded to the CV Performing Arts Foundation will be accepted. Local historical movers and shakers will also be present to give first hand accounts of the rip roaring days of our town’s yesteryear. Anyone with old CV newspapers, pictures, or vintage business items is encouraged to attend with their materials to be digitally photographed and added to the ongoing collection of Castro Valley. -Story by Robert Souza
CASTRO VALLEY/ EDEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS PAGE Castro Valley / Eden Area Chamber Member of the Month: Al Proietti / Village Barber Shop
“I moved to Castro Valley in 1969 to raise a family and work as a Realtor at the corner of Chester Street and Castro Valley Boulevard. I returned to barbering 14 years ago, excited to find the shop in the Village. It had history from about 1950 when the Nahas Family had a great idea, to give folks a variety of places to shop here. I enjoy the work, the customers and their stories that entertain us at the shop. Through the years, our town has grown, albeit a struggle at times. I believe we are working to improve our entire business climate. I appreciate the energy of our Chamber of Commerce staff and how they’re constantly bringing new ways of helping local business thrive. I am working on publishing a collection of stories from the barbershop. To read a few samples, visit www.villagebarbershop.com and click on ‘A fly on the wall’.”
*This Is A Paid Advertisement Page For The CVEA Chamber of Commerce*
CVEA Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events:
6/1- Volunteer Registration for Urban Shield Begins 6/13-Free Movie Night of Disney’s “Frozen” —6 PM Movie starts at dark @ the Adobe Art Center, 20395 San Miguel Avenue 6/14-Men’s Health Fair (New Event!) at the Castro Valley Community Center Park from 10 AM to 5 PM 6/19-Monthly Chamber Mixer — Hosted by Castro Valley Le Tip and Farmers Insurance @ Intero Real Estate, 3185 CV Boulevard from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. FEEL FREE TO CALL THE CHAMBER AT 510537-5300 FOR MORE INFORMATION
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: This month Castro Valley News travels to Egypt. Not to the pyramids, but off the beaten path, past check points to the Karnak Temple in Luxor. The “Avenue of the Sphinx” is part of the ancient Egyptian history we are studying. This is like an “Indiana Jones” adventure!
~Rickey and Nina Chang / Castro Valley
Your mini-magazine has just the right amount of community news that seems to be missing from Castro Valley. Whenever shopping in town, I make a point to hunt down a copy from a business that may have a few of them left.
~ V.C. Stella / San Leandro Editor: I guess Mary Hayashi thinks the people of the Bay Area have forgotten about the incident where she was caught stealing! Well, I did not! What we do not need is another theif or crook in office! She needts to just go away, no more free rides for anyone. Especially a politician who is a thief!
~Bernice Nickell / Hayward Editor: We have another one for you! Castro Valley News is now in Seoul, South Korea and at the fence line of the DMZ (the press wasn’t allowed inside the DMZ). Maybe CV News can negotiate with North Korea and reunite the people North and South together.
~Rickey and Nina Chang / Castro Valley Editor: Thank you for publishing the interesting story about the “Mystery Car” above Crow Canyon Road. That sure was an enjoyable read! *Editor’s note: This story ran in the Castro Valley News April edition on page 6. It is interesting that someone would push a car down a hill like that, but years ago that is how people got rid of cars. They would dump them in creeks, too!
“What Castro Valley Issue Is On Your Mind?” Asked at Pete’s Hardware
“Crime. Specifically auto theft and murder in town.”
Susan Silva- Castro Valley Resident
“No issues. Castro Valley is
as good as it gets. I’ve lived here 12 years without any issues.” Nancy Orr - Castro Valley Resident
“Not much. It’s pretty safe in CV. However, traffic is becoming a concern here. ” Dave Horvadh - Hayward Resident
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