HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
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CV LIBRARY HOSTS SUMMER CONCERT
FREE ARTIST DEMO AT ADOBE GALLERY
DOGS AND DEPUTIES
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
YEAR 35 INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
Love for Lucy Local doctors launch moonshot research to save daughter
Page 3
Fur and Fun Afternoon of free fun and fur at ‘Dogs and Deputies’ event
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Don’t Stretch Stretching may hurt you in the long run. Find out how
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INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............ 9 Health & Fitness .... 10 Homes...................... 6 Horoscope ............. 11 Opinions ................. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
MAC MEETING
Fate of The Old Library
NO. 34
RITE AID CLOSING TOMORROW
EBMUD
Director Calls for Clarity
By Amy Sylvestri
By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
The fate of the old library on Redwood Road was once again up for discussion by the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) at their meeting Monday night. Everyone wants the building to be used to help local veteransbut will it be a simple veterans’ resource center or a multi-story veterans’ affordable housing project? Originally built in 1962, the site at 20055 Redwood Road has sat empty for nearly 15 years. The county’s General Services Agency has estimated that renovations to get the site operating would range from $1.5 million to $9 million, depending on the level of improvements. The Board of Supervisors has directed county staff to pursue using the property for veterans’ housing and other services. The prioritization of see MAC on page 5
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has vowed to fix a practice of letting hundreds of millions of dollars be transferred between projects with no notification to nor approval from the elected board of directors. April Chan, Ward 7 Director who represents both Castro Valley and San Leandro, raised the issue at the end of the EBMUD board’s August 8 meeting, when board members can make general comments. Some $279 million was transferred without board knowledge in fiscal year 2023 alone, she said. “That’s a lot of money going project to project, and directors have no idea about it,” Chan said. EBMUD Director of Finance Sophia Skoda said management always knew exactly where the money was see EBMUD on page 2
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER
decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent Tomorrow (August 24) will be the last considerations, local business conditions and day of operation for the Rite Aid on Castro viability, and store performance,” the repreValley Boulevard. A spokesperson for the sentative said in an email. The Castro Valley corporate office told the Forum that prescrip- Rite Aid had seen declining business over tions are being transferred to the Walgreens the years and property managers considered in the Castro Village Shopping Center down subleasing the site for a Sprouts Grocery the street. A store manager said employees store in 2016. Originally built in 1964 as Lee are being offered a chance to transfer to Brothers Value World, the store converted to other sites. The next closest Rite Aid is at a Payless Drug Store in the 1970s. No word 1355 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro. “A yet on any plans for the property. By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Fall Festival Marks Year of Chamber Transformation This year’s Fall Festival will occur on Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, on Castro The Castro Valley Fall Valley Boulevard between Festival is a time for the com- Redwood Road and San Mimunity to gather and explore guel Avenue. our diverse music, food, and Presented by the Chamber art communities, but for the and its event sponsors, more Castro Valley and Eden Area than 125 vendors and attracChamber of Commerce, it also tions will again line the streets marks a year of growth and and the center of the downchange. town district. By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
And while attendance is expected to be more than last year, the Chamber is sponsoring a few incentives for residents and business owners to spread the word about the Fall Festival. For example, last week, people were encouraged PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY BRESLOW/ BRESLOW IMAGING to post a picture of a previous Fall Festival tagged #CVFall- Presented by Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber Fest and indicate if they of Commerce, over 35,000 people are expected to see FESTIVAL on back page attend this year’s Fall Festival September 9 and 10.