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Two Weeks til Christmas
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
YEAR 36 INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
TIME TO RETIRE
NO. 47 MAC MEETING
LET IT GLOW
Rudy’s Donuts Closing
Permit, Approval And Site
Creek Return Ceremony marks return of creek to indigenous Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
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It’s a Wrap! RCHS wraps gifts for Rotary’s Children’s Christmas Party
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Wildcats Win Creekside defeats Canyon in Battle of the Valley flag football
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INDEX Classified Ads ........ 8 Events .................... 4 Homes ..................... 6 Merchants ............. 10 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sheriff’s Report ..... 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
By Michael Singer
By Amy Sylvestri
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
After 60 years of serving donuts, coffee, and memories to Castro Valley, the family behind Rudy’s Donuts says it is time to retire. Last week, sisters Gina Gatto Alfaro and Angela Gatto Ducato posted a notice on the doors announcing the news. The shop will be open until Sunday, December 22. “Thank you for letting us be a part of your family,” Gina, Angela, and Staff said in the notice. As a business, Rudy’s was able to weather several financial obstacles including the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the retirement news was a shock to some customers. “Friday was Donut Day when I dropped the boys at school,” resident Geno Zertuche says. “It was the only time they would be in the car before me. I am truly going to miss these nice ladies...and the chocolate chip donuts!” Fans of Rudy’s started lining up right after the news and all this week to make sure they could get their favorite sweet treats. see RUDY’S on back page
The popular Castro Valley Marketplace received an extension on its current permit, the bowling alley got approval for an extensive renovation, and the future of the Rudy’s Donuts site was discussed at this week’s meeting of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). The MAC unanimously approved a revised conditional use permit for the continued operation of the Castro Valley Marketplace at 3295 Castro Valley Boulevard, including sales of alcoholic beverages. The MAC heard the matter as a routine five-year update on the original permit, but the current controversy about the paseo and outdoor dining at the site was not discussed. County staff said the ongoing ligation about the paseo and shared parking were not part of the permit review and that an update on that lawsuit would happen in the future. The current review was regarding maintenance of the building and how their liquor license has been going and the MAC gave the owners the see MAC on page 10
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER
More than 300 people showed up to Castro Village Shopping Center last Friday, December 6, to see the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The event has been a tradition in the center of town since the 1950s, and it has been a perennial favorite for families ever since. The event featured performances from the Castro Valley School of Music, the Castro Valley Performing Arts Center Dancers, the Castro Valley High School Madrigals Choir, and the CVHS Alumni Choir. The ceremony also included the infamous Grinch trying to steal Christmas away only to be stopped by Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Santa himself. The evening was also a chance for families to take photos with Santa, his elves, and even the Grinch, who changed his ways and welcomed the holiday spirit into town.
CVUSD Test Scores Slipped a Bit This Year By Mike McGuire
ever, above state averages in most areas. In several categories, CVUSD exceeded state Castro Valley Unified standards where many districts School District (CVUSD) had trouble meeting them, student test scores slipped a bit particularly in the wake of the this year, according to the latest pandemic. results from the state DepartThere was a drop of 4.9 ment of Education California points in English Language School Dashboard, designed Arts, but this was still 31.5 to let parents compare school points above the state’s district outcomes subject-area standards. The avThe scores remained, how- erage district statewide scored CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
13.2 points below the standard. There was a small drop of 0.9 points in Mathematics, but this remained 12.3 points above state standards. This score put them well ahead of most other districts, who averaged 47.6 points below the state standard. The graduation rate, already in the state’s highest group of districts, rose a further 0.9 percent to 96 percent. This
compares with a statewide rate of 86.7 percent. There were also small gains in science, by 0.2 percent and in reducing suspensions, by 0.4 percent. Chronic absenteeism fell by 5.2 percent. This dropped it to 11 percent of students missing 10 percent or more of instructional days. It compares to an 18.6 percent statewide rate. There was a drop of 9.2 percent in English language
learners making progress toward proficiency, with 46.4 percent making progress. This is just above the statewide average of 45.7 percent. Seniors who met state standards for college or work preparedness dropped by 13.1 percent, to a 47.3 preparation rate. This is also just above the statewide average, which is 45.3 percent. see CVUSD on page 3