CELEBRATE ON MONDAY, MARCH 17
St. Patrick’s Day
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025
YEAR 37
MAC MEETING
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
Future Remains In Question for Splash Brothers
Give Car(e)
Castro Valley Rotary seeks car donation for needy families
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Castro Valley native assigned to U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron
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“ZONE ZERO”: The Castro Valley area is no stranger to wildfires such as this vegetation fire near the 17000 of Lake Chabot Road in unincorporated Alameda County which spread to approximately six acres in July of 2023.
In the Line of Fire: Fire Hazard Maps By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Weight Loss Tips
The ‘best’ way to lose weight is the way that’s healthy, sustainable
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INDEX Classified Ads ........ 8 Events .................. 4 Food & Dining .......... 5 Health & Fitness ... 12 Homes .................... 6 Obituaries ............ 11 Opinions ............... 10 Our Town ................ 3 Sports ................... 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
But at Monday night’s meeting, the MAC said that they didn’t feel that the buildings are historically important and The future of the Splash that, though they also don’t Brothers car wash on Castro feel that the car wash is an Valley Boulevard at the old ideal use for the 1.35-acre site lumberyard site remains in at 2495 Castro Valley Boulequestion despite previous approval by the Castro Valley vard, no other businesses have expressed interest. Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). “These issues have already The matter came before been thoroughly vetted and discussed,” said MAC member the make once more despite Dan Davini. “Someone didn’t their tepid endorsement of like our decision.” the project in January, after the County Parks, Recreation, A separate architectural and Historical Commission historian also noted that the (PRHC) recommended that property “does not contain the existing lumberyard not be significant or preservable removed. see MAC on page 11 By Amy Sylvestri
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
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In Uniform
NO. 11
California updated its fire-risk maps for the Bay Area last month, and some Castro Valley homeowners will need to take additional precautions against wildfires. The state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) released the revised maps on February 25. While years in preparation, they came soon after a February 6 executive order by Governor Newsom to reduce wildfire risks in the most vulnerable areas. The map’s boundaries are jagged, though, rather than closely following street layouts. The effects on homeowners’ insurance availability and costs depend on how insurance companies react to the new risk assessments. Homeowners, mostly in other parts of the state, have seen premiums increase or renewals refused as wildfire risk has grown in recent years. CalFire says homeowners in the veryhigh-risk areas are now considered to be in a “zone zero” where precautions must be taken from flames and embers thrown off by fires burning some distance away. Experience from recent wildfires around
the state has shown that embers, not flames, cause most structure loss in wildfires, fire officials said in a statement. Wildfires once underway can spread to areas initially at lower risk, as they did in Los Angeles. The Alameda County Fire Department did not immediately provide details on where risks have changed from previous maps in unincorporated areas like Castro Valley. However, the recent map shows that homes in wooded areas descending from nearby Lake Chabot, Cull Canyon, Crow Canyon, and Five Canyons Park areas are in the CalFire’s “zone zero” (very-high-risk) or high-risk categories. Some of Castro Valley’s most northerly or easterly homes, usually on hills, fall into the very high-risk category, and as one moves downhill the designation changes first to high-risk and then to moderate-risk and eventually no unusual risk. The parkland south of Fairmont Drive is also at very high risk, and homes nearby, as one descends southbound down Lake Chabot Road, start out at very high risk, drop to high risk and then moderate risk. By the time one reaches Sydney Way, homes are at no increased fire risk. see FIRE on page 11
Local Filmmaker Bringing Killer ‘Bears’ to Town “I want the audience just to laugh and enjoy themselves, CASTRO VALLEY FORUM and leave the rest of the world Forget “Snakes on a Plane. outside,” Castrillo told the Forum. “I want them to enjoy the The real thriller coming to theaters is “Bears on a Ship,” characters and the visuals and have a really fun time. I also which will premiere at The think it’s important for people Chabot Theater next month. to see the movie in theaters Director Eduardo Casbecause I want the audience trillo was born in Hayward to experience the movie at the and graduated from the San same time. This is why the live Francisco Art Institute. This experience in a movie house is is his tenth feature film. He’s so important.” been making award-winning films in the Bay Area for over The premise for “Bears on a a decade and says he’s really Ship” is pretty straightforward. excited for audiences to see his During an airline strike in latest creation. see BEARS on page 10 By Michael Singer