Castro Valley News : Year 1 , Number 9

CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 1, NUMBER 9

WWW.CASTROVALLEYTV.COM

JULY 2014

area. The purpose of the project is to enhance the area and encourage downtown shopping.

“All of these projects will be tremendous for the Castro Valley community,” said Supervisor Nate Miley, who went over the plan with county attorneys and planners that has been in the works for over two years.

Officials anticipate the $860,000 purchase price for the Daughtrey building will eventually return to the county and be used for infrastructure improvements across Castro Valley.

Developer Purchases Boulevard Eyesore A

unanimous approval vote from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to sell the Daughtrey buidling on June 24 puts the long vacant building on the road to revitalization and potentially being occupied by a retail business.

The deal allows Berkeley based developer David Greensfelder to purchase the building for $860,000—which is less than last years appraised value of $900,000—three years ago it was purchased by the ALCO Redevelopment agency for $2.8 million.

Supervisors also okayed an ambitious “shared parking project” that will open the lot behind the Daughtrey building and the Ice Creamery all the way to Wilbeam Avenue.

It will add parking to all shops and bring walkway enhancements called “paseos” to the

This Story Continues on the Last Page of the Magazine

Sutter Health Pays $2.6 Million to Reinforce Eden Hospital Helipad

Less than a year after their new $320 mil-

lion dollar hospital opened in December, Sutter health is cutting another check for $2.6 million to reinforce the slope under the helipad after a land slip.

The situation is not due to a design or contractor’s error, but the result of intense rain storms. “After the heavy rains in past years, a lot of the hillside shifted and a great deal of soil was washed away,” explained Sutter spokeswoman Cindy Dove.

Construciton crews with DPR construction are currently working on the area and improving it by installing a permanent rock wall to

Construction crews install a rock wall to reinforce the helipad at Eden Hospital. Heavy rain washed away a lot of the dirt surrounding the area.

reinforce the entire helipad area. Dove told CVN the helipad has never been unstable or in a condition where it could not be used to its full capacity.

DPR is the company who built the new medical center that replaced the 58-year old Eden Hospital. The original building was unable to meet state seismic regulations and demolished.

“The helipad area has been operational ever since the hospital opened. It’s been re-engineered and having this rock wall will reinforce it,” added Dove, who estimates the project will be completed by April 2015.

-Story and still by Robert Souza

CV News Restaurant Review with Ashley - Don Jose’s

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or years, Don Jose’s has been the “go to” Mexican Restaurant in the Village Center for tasty food and margaraitas. Recently, CVN’s restaurant reviewer Ashley paid the eatery a visit and gave us some feedback.

“My family has been coming here as long as I can remember,” said Ashley, who ordered chicken quesadillas and an overwhelmingly appreciated strawberry margarita.

Ashley says her and her dining company at Don Jose’s will regularly find a spot in the patio, order a few bean dip platters and enjoy watching shoppers going “to and fro” across the shopping center. “This is a great place to invite your family. It’s very warm and welcoming,” added Ashley, as she worked her way through dinner.

The verdict on Don Jose’s? The quesadilla platter was filling and flavorful. The strawberry margarita? “They make the best strawberry margarita. If you don’t try anything else here…get the margarita,” Ashley declared.

Don Jose’s prices won’t deflate your wallet and you get decent sized portions. They also donate to local charities and help with CV fundraisers on a regular basis.

-Story and stills by Robert Souza

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

Arrival of “Sprouts” Could Happen Within a Year

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lans to shift floorspace and add new retail stores at the Rite Aid building at CVB and Marshall Street could be about a year away to becoming reality in Castro Valley.

CVN’s contact with Rite Aid said it all could be completed as soon as April 2015. The plan is to shift Rite Aid to 20,000 square feet at the far right of the building—potentially add a “Sprouts Farmers Market” store in 27,000 square feet at the center—with 14,000 square feet left over at the far left for a third retailer that has yet to be named.

“The issue of whether they (Sprouts) can move there will not be on the table because the zoning already allows that sort of use at that location,” explained Marc Crawford of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (CVMAC).

Crawford explained a Site Development

Review for the project will likely go before the council only to determine what building and parking lot improvements will look like—not to determine whether Sprouts should or should not occupy the building.

Flyers in protest titled, “Castro Valley : Sprouting Like a Weed” were stuffed in mailboxes in the Marshall area recently. CVN contacted the creators of the flyer for their perspective for a story in our June edition, but none of our emails were returned.

Crawford says the CVMAC has received a number of emails in protest against Sprouts opening at the Rite Aid building.

The building at 3848 Castro Valley Boulevard has previously been occupied by Value World and Payless. For years, county officials and members of the CVMAC have targeted it for any kind of revitalization or improvement.

CV News Flashback: “Bandi”the Deer Killed at CV Nike Missile Site

During

the month of August 1957, “American Bandstand,” began airing on network TV, the NY Giants voted 8-1 to move their franchise to SF the following year and in CV, a local deer was brutally murdered...

This 57-year old clipping from a long defunct CV newspaper called “Castro Valley Life” tells a tale of the demise of a beloved deer mascot at CV’s Nike Missile base near Lake Chabot.

Apparently, the “meanest man” in CV “brutally and wantonly” mistook “Bandi” for a human being and murdered the young deer.

Project Nike began in 1944 as an anti-aircraft and missile target defense system. The Castro Valley Nike Missile Silo that was part of that program was deactivated in the early 1970’s and has been empty ever since.

-Story and Stills by Robert Souza

Village Center Flag Drop Box Retires Used Stars & Stripes over the past four months the Flag Drop Box in the Village has collected about 200 torn, tattered, well used American Flags that will be “retired” according to the letter of the law of the United States of America.

“As a Veteran, it makes me feel good that this is doing exactly what it is supposed to do,” said Jim Smith of the American Legion, who worked with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and management of the Village to install the mailbox-like recepticle. It is permanently installed near the clock tower adjacent to Caper’s restaurant in the Village.

Collected once a month, flags from the box have been honorably burned during ceremonies held by local Boy Scout troops.

Lone Tree Cemetery in Fairview is allowing the scouts use of their crematorium to retire the flags by being burned honorably.

Smith proudly told CVN the success of the box shows a genuine need for a recepticle of this type. “Castro Valley knows how to properly care for the American Flag and what it represents to those who have served,” he added with a smile.

-Story & stills by R. Souza

“Wood” You Like to Know About the Somerset Bear? one of Castro Valley’s most noticeable roadside attention getters is the tall wooden bear that stands upright in front of Ken Martin’s Somerset Avenue home.

Eight years ago, the bear “migrated” from a furniture and woodworking business named Artisan Burlwood in Berkeley to Castro Valley. “We had a 50 year old, 65 foot tall Monterey Pine tree die and needed something for our front yard,” explained Martin, who is a member of the CV Buon Tempo Club, an avid bocce ball player and former columnist for the local weekly newspaper.

The towering unnamed bear weighs 400-500 lbs., was carved out of sturdy Redwood stock and stands tall on the remaining stump left

View a full story video by scanning this QR code with your smart phone:

behind by Martin’s beloved Monterey Pine.

The bear defintely gets its share of attention, too.

“A lot of people stop by to look at it. When traffic backs up, people really get a chance to check it out,” added Martin, who told CVN he and his wife never have to give out their address to visiting friends anymore— “We just tell people we live behind the bear,” -Story & stills by Robert Souza quipped Martin.

Service Dog “Randall” Needs Help with Med Bills

vice people who are blind or vision impaired.

Randall was returned to Rae who has assumed responsibility for his health care. But it’s become difficult to subsidize Eastern medical treatments such as herbal treatments and acupuncture that work best for Randall.

Rae has a donation box near her register station at Pete’s Hardware and set up a Facebook page for anyone who would like to donate to Randall’s Medical Fund. Rae guarantees 100% of all donations go to Randall’s medical care.

The silver lining is dog in training #15, “Boomer” has an in-house a playmate and mentor!

Rae tells CVN Randall and the new trainee get along fantastic. -Story / stills by Robert Souza

Readers may remember volunteer service

dog trainer Brenda Rae and “Randall” from a story we ran in the second CVN magazine back in December.

Shortly after the lively black lab completed instruction from Rae and went off to train with “Guide Dogs for the Blind” — it was discovered Randall has severe chronic kidney failure.

“When I found out I was devastated,” explained Rae, who has trained 14 dogs that ser-

CASTRO VALLEY/ EDEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS PAGE New & Improved CVEA Chamber of Commerce Website Goes Live!

The Castro Valley / Eden Area Chamber of Commerce proudly rolled out their new website mid-July. It is chock full of new features, lists and calendars designed to be a “catch all” for community events and happenings. “There are so many fantastic features that will benefit our members and the community,” said Chamber Office Manager, Ashley Strasburg. Chamber members can now upload informational videos, link their listings to social media and promote deals and coupons. The website also features local news, blogs, pictures and details on community events and happenings across Castro Valley. If you find yourself online looking for information on our town and the businesses here, visit www. edenareachamber.com to get a computer screen full of Castro Valley information.

*This Is A Paid Ad Page For The CVEA Chamber of Commerce*

Fall Festival Returns to Castro Valley Boulevard for 2014’s Biggest Street Party

The party is returning to Castro Valley Boule-

vard! Over 60,000 festival goers are expected to stroll among some 200 booths and vendor tables Saturday and Sunday September 13th and 14th for this years 42nd Annual Fall Festival.

For the past three years, the Festival occupied Norbridge Avenue between Redwood Road and Castro Valley Boulevard alongside Castro Valley’s new library. That location was chosen to accommodate the streetscape construction project on the boulevard.

Since construction is long gone, chamber and county officials decided to return the Festival to

the boulevard. This year’s festival will occupy both sides of Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and Santa Maria Avenue.

FYI: CV Boulevard will be closed to traffic from midnight Friday the 13th until midnight Sunday the 14th for the festival.

A cavalcade of local musicians, dancers and performers will entertain festival goers and a “kids corner” will be on CVB near Santa Maria to keep children happy and occupied. There will also be three to four food trucks and vendors selling beer and wine. Visit www.edenareachamber.com for more information on whats happening at this years Fall Festival.

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: Inquiring minds want to know! Looks like your circulation has expanded to our neighbors in Canada.

You can now pick up a copy of the Castro Valley News Magazine at selected news stands throughout British Columbia...eh!

~ Rickey & Nina Chang / Castro Valley Editor: Daughtrey’s was in business from 1948 until August 28, 1991. It was a very fruitful forty three years. We had the finest group of employees any employer could ask for. We treated employees fair. After employees worked for a given time, they received perks and benefits including paid vacations, health care, profit sharing and discounts on their purchases.

Nothing is forever and things and times change. In the early 1980’s, older folks began to die off and key people retired. The retail industry was rapidly changing and independent retailers were closing their doors frequently. In the late 1980’s we felt the crunch as our bottom line began to diminish. Customer service was always a mainstay at Daughtrey’s and it became difficult to maintain. Quality staff was hard to come by because retail was no longer attracting the younger generation. They were going to the high-tech industry. Then the recession started in the early 90’s.

In 1991, after much soul searching, we sold our company to a retail company with 40 stores. They leased our buildings and operated their business for two years and ended up filing for bankruptcy. At this point we got our buildings back. Unfortunately, we have never been successful in releasing the Castro Valley location. The Auburn location was sold to Gottchalks Department Stores. They operated that location for about 7 years and their chain filed for bankruptcy. The department store site in Willows, California was sold in the year 2000.

The Daughtrey family thanks the Castro Valley Community for the loyal support they showed us over our prosperous forty three years that we experienced.

~Ernie Daughtrey / Castro Valley

“What Castro Valley Issue Is On Your Mind?”

Asked at Pete’s Hardware

“Keeping Cull Canyon

viable as a lake and protecting the natural habitat there.”

Nancy Hertzgog - Castro Valley Resident

“The

Daughtrey building. I’d like to see something sports related like batting cages open there.”

Juan Serna-Spuler - Castro Valley Resident

“The Daughtrey building.

I would love to see a park area there. ” Candi Collier - Castro Valley Resident

Daughtrey Building Purchase Story Continued From Page One:

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eller Daughtrey opened his store on Castro Valley Boulevard in 1948. It was a popular hometown shopping destination for 43 years until Daughtrey sold full interest in 1991. ( Editor’s Note: see the letters to the editor page for more historical info from the Daughtrey family.)

Since Daughtrey’s closed, the 40,000 square foot building has been occupied by a Billiards hall and a seasonal Halloween “Spirit” costume store.

Greensfelder has not revealed what kinds of businesses may occupy the building, but promised a “low end” business is not in his plan. “The community has input (on what will happen) and that is a community I want to be in,” he said.

The purchase puts the kibosh on a plan pitched by a group of residents determined to demo the building and make way for a “town square” project that carried a $3 million dollar pricetag.

“There has been a dispute around this building for years. It’s in the heart of Castro Valley and the consensus is people want retail here,” said Supervisor Miley.

Greensfelder will have to bring any plans before the Castro Valley Municipal Council within 30 days of signing an agreement with a tenant. This was a last minute amendment to the deal that will allow community review of the plan when it goes before the CVMAC.