HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023
YEAR 35
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
MAC: Library, Billboards and More By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Closing Shop
After 20 Years in CV, Brother’s Furniture to close next month
Page 3
Get Started
Six easy ways to start an exercise routine that you’ll stick with
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Speech Contest
RCHS seniors take center stage at Rotary Club speech contest
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INDEX Calendar .................. 4 Classified Ads ....... 8 Crosswords ........... 9 Homes ...................... 6 Horoscope ............... 4 Obituaries ............ 11 Opinions .............. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports ................... 12 Weather ................. 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
On Monday, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard progress updates from the county’s Public Works and Economic Development departments that address safety, traffic, and the look and feel of the town. Pedestrian safety around schools has been heightened after a woman and her son got hit by a car on their way to Proctor Elementary on February 6. Rosa Leither, who lives on Proctor Road and witnessed the injury, said it is a daily struggle for many neighborhoods that are frustrated that traffic and on-street parking priorities are coming into conflict with kids and parents on their way to school. “We have been outraged for years, and our cries have been falling on deaf ears. These schools are not safe to walk to or ride to,” Leither told the MAC. She added that construction vehicles and work trucks block walking paths, forcing people to walk in the street. In his sidewalk update to the
NO. 12
EBMUD
Quarry Project Delayed By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Castro Valley and San Leandro residents won’t see many dump trucks headed to the old quarry site on Lake Chabot Road anytime soon, following a March 14 meeting of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) board of directors. EBMUD is abandoning, at least for the near future, its proposal to move and store PHOTO BY MIKE MCGUIRE trench soil there from pipe replacement projects throughThe Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted this month to keep the old Castro Valley Library building intact and renovate it as a service center. out its two-county service area. The agency had promised a MAC, Alameda County Public the Safe Routes to Schools issues in getting the work done new park and hiking trails to Works Agency (PWA) director program and Bicycle Pedestri- faster. He said PWA’s to-do list be built there once the project Daniel Woldesenbet outlined an Master Plan,” Woldesenbet included all the unincorporated is completed, but that complethe progress made near Castro said. “We continuously take areas and that priorities depend tion would take 40 years or more. Valley Schools, including the a look at what we can do to on a project’s alignment with $3 million in sidewalks and Trench soil is removed along change the signs and the lanes, One Bay Area Grant funds, crosswalks currently being with old pipes and not reused. but it is also important to edMeasure BB Sales Tax, and added along Anita Avenue. ucate the students and parents others. Adding sidewalks and EBMUD engineers say fresh “We are working as fast as and help them be aware.” other safety features near Cas- soil is better for the stability we can to add safety measures tro Valley Elementary has the and longevity of the new pipes. Woldesenbet cited cost see QUARRY on page 5 to these neighborhoods under constraints and low staffing see MAC on page 2
Local Baker’s Spin on Portuguese Malasadas tarts, pies, and other original pastries. Her mother is Denica Freitas of Denica’s Real Food Kitchen, where she does her What do you call a misshapen doughnut that is lightly baking and where customers covered with sugar? If you are pick up their online orders. “I’m just trying to make of Portuguese or Hawaiian heritage, you might call them everyone happy by feeding malasadas. And now, one local them with what I like and by what I am inspired by,” Garcia baker is pouring her worldly experience into making these told the Forum. While she is not Portuguese, delicious treats. she has family members who Isabella Garcia is a Castro Valley native and an Our Lady are. The family also spends vacations in Maui, where of Grace and Castro Valley High School graduate. She says family gatherings and feasts with lots of treats like malashe has always had a passion sadas are common. It’s also for baking, including cakes, By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
where Garcia says she learned to apply the Hawaiian spirit and vibe to her life. After high school, Garcia traveled and worked, including a pre-COVID trip to New Zealand with her boyfriend because it was one of the few countries where Americans could get a work visa. “I got a job at the Double Black Café, and it was fun because the entire kitchen and café staff were women,” Garcia said. “New Zealanders are super big on their cafes where Bay House Cakery makes a wide selection of malaeach has specialty dishes. We sada pastries filled with various flavors, including see BAKER on page 5 Lilikoi, Cookies n Cream, Nutella, and Raspberry.