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PARENTS ARE THE KEY TO A CHILD’S FUTURE SUCCESS
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024
YEAR 36
MAC MEETING
INSIDE YOUR
Eclipsed by Technical Difficulties
FORUM
‘The Apology’
By Amy Sylvestri
Chabot Theater holds screening for film to remember Russell City
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
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PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER
‘Anastasia’
TMC Arts announces the opening of their newest play April 19
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NO LOAFING AROUND, THE MIXERS ARE COMING: The Marketplace Monthly Mixer (MMM) is a recurring event celebrating the Castro Valley community and offers a rotating blend of samples, specials, music, art, and activities for all ages.
CV Marketplace Monthly Mixers Debut Tomorrow By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Speech Contest
RCHS’s Emilee Doehne named semi-finalist by Rotary International
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INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............. 9 Homes ..................... 6 Merchants ............ 10 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............... 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
NO. 15
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 11, marks the first in a series of monthly events at the Castro Valley Marketplace, where merchants will showcase their collaborative talents in food, music, art, and family-friendly activities.
Billed as the Marketplace Monthly Mixer (MMM for short) and open to the public, the event is scheduled for every second Thursday of the month between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Merchants on the first floor will offer special items such as Seven Hills Baking Company’s Raspberry Chocolate Blackout Cakes and pizza samples see MIXERS on page 11
This week’s meeting of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) was cancelled minutes before reviewing two land use items on Monday night, because the sound via Zoom kept cutting in and out. Legally, the meeting had to be canceled as the audio would not be available to anyone following the meeting on phone or online, according to Rodrigo Orduna, the Deputy Planning Director for the Alameda County Planning Department. MAC meetings are published as available to the public in-person at the Castro Valley library, via phone dial-in audio only, or with audio and video online via Zoom. The MAC was scheduled to discuss a possible amendment to the General Plan to tweak the zoning map to correct a land use designation for two abutting properties from Public Facility to RuralResidential. The sites in question are located at 4820 and 4848 Crow Canyon Road, south of Parkview Road. The other item on the agenda was an application for improvements to the facade of the Wendy’s at 2475 Castro Valley Boulevard. A fast-food staple on the Boulevard since 1977, the owner wants to spruce the place up with a more modern “asymmetrical” appearance. There are also plans to re-stripe the parking lot, replace old signage, and make small interior and landscaping improvements. Both items will go before the MAC at an upcoming land use meeting, likely on Monday, April 22.
Sidewalks Coming to Somerset This Fall By Michael Singer
bicycles will continue to share project design is 95 percent throughout the day. Much of complete following a yearlong the road has asphalt curbs and the roads with the approximately 10,000 cars, buses, and process of public input. Public gutters, with varying gravel, Works is waiting on access dirt, or blacktops as sidewalks. Starting this fall, Alameda trucks that use the east-west permits and feedback on the Parked cars often encroach on County Public Works Agency thoroughfare. A similar con(PWA) will install 5-foot side- figuration can be found along design from PG&E before relo- the walkways to avoid getting walks up and down a one-mile Stanton Avenue behind Eden cating telephone poles and East sideswiped. Bay Municipal Utility District Hospital. stretch of Somerset Avenue, The project is moving forofficials said last month. ward after a year of discussing At the March 28 Unincorpo- (EBMUD) pipes before redesigns with the community, rated Area Bicycle Pedestrian working storm drains. Parking will still be available on both sides of the street Advisory Committee (BPAC) Somerset Avenue is among Castro Valley Municipal between Stanton Avenue and meeting, PWA project manager the busiest in town, with bikes Advisory Council (MAC), the Alameda County Board Bond Ng said the Somerset Redwood Road. However, and pedestrians traveling CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
of Supervisors Transportation and Planning Committee, and BPAC. Of the residents polled, 48 percent said they were unwilling to lose their on-street parking, leading to the current design of a 5-foot-wide sidewalk, bulb-outs at intersections, a Class III bike lane, and parking on both sides. “Typically, sidewalk projects see SOMERSET on back page