PAGES 6 & 7
PARENTS GUIDE
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
YEAR 35
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2023
NO. 31
300 Turn Out for Castro Valley Bright Cityhood Discussion at Library Future Ahead
CV MARKETPLACE
By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Sounds of Soul Cornell C.C. Carter kicks off summer concert series in CV
Page 2
The Wolves
Chanticleers’ third show of the season opens this Friday
Page 4
Senior Q&A
Tax problems selling a home in joint tenancy after death of spouse
Page 14
INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ....... 12 Homes...................... 8 Horoscope ............. 15 Opinions ................. 15 Our Town ................. 3 Sheriff’s Report ....... 3 Seniors ................... 14 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
Some 300 people packed the Castro Valley Library’s largest meeting room on Sunday, July By Michael Singer 23 to hear about an apparent CASTRO VALLEY FORUM new push for cityhood, some 20 years after residents voted The Castro Valley Mardown the idea. ketplace is undergoing some Those attending the standinternal and external changes ing-room-only meeting came this month, which the manto discuss the release of a draft agement team promises will Initial Feasibility Analysis of delight customers and build on incorporation from the counthe community’s identity. ty’s Local Agency Formation Donna Layburn, who runs Commission (LAFCO), which the Natural Grocery in Castro would have to approve any Valley and in Alameda, and such move prior to it becoming who is on the five-person Mara ballot initiative. ketplace Board of Directors, LAFCO consultants Berksays some vendors have left son Associates concluded that while others are coming in, Castro Valley would indeed but that customers can always PHOTOS BY MIKE MCGUIRE count on an original shopping get somewhat more control A breakout discussion group at the July 23 meeting on possible cityhood. over its destiny than it has at experience. present, but that it would come “We’re here for the commuThat amount just happens to but which the legislature has at a substantial financial cost. revenues annually, but have to nity and to provide them with be very close to the revenues banned new cities from receiv- the value that they need,” LaySpecifically, a new City of pay out $43 million in costs, from a tax that most California ing. No new cities have been burn told the Forum. “We’re Castro Valley could expect to for a shortfall of $7 million annually, the report said. cities are allowed to collect, see CITY on page 14 receive about $36 million in see FUTURE on page 15
Construction Removes Trees, Disrupts Park and commercial multi-building developer is expected to mark development. the property line this week. But early last week, crews But to do so will likely cut Construction of multi-unit were seen cutting down about a into Sage Park. The small plot apartments at the intersection dozen trees that lined Norextends along the east side of of Castro Valley Boulevard bridge Avenue. A volunteer the driveway entrance into the and Norbridge Avenue has watering a nearby Sage Park, Library on Norbridge Avenue. disrupted the local landscaping an environmentally friendly The Park includes drought-renear the Castro Valley Library, landscaped site, recorded sistant plants such as sages, prompting concerns by resiheavy equipment tearing down large decorative logs for local dents and ecologists. a wall that bordered the conwildlife, and a fig tree. Developer City Ventures struction site and the plants. “We wish we would have plans to build 47 townhomes Yon Hardisty with Forestr. been told about this sooner by and 4,890 square feet of retail org, a nonprofit that manages the county or the developer,” space on the former site of a the small site, says work crews Forest.org co-founder Yon mobile home park and within were kind enough to stop and Hardisty told the Forum. walking distance of the Castro answer questions and work In the meantime, the library Construction crews removed 13 trees and a retainValley Library. Demolition around the plants. Crews then is working with Forestr.org ing wall to make way for new housing and parking of the existing lot began last installed a chain link fence to allow some extra space to along Norbridge Avenue near the library. The developer is expected to replace the trees. Some of the month to make way for the to keep the construction site move some 20 bushes. The large mixed-use residential separate from the street. The see TREES on page 15 plants at this pocket park will be relocated. By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM