April 17, 2024

‘Student-Citizen

of the Year’

Awards Event is Tomorrow

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Old Castro Valley Library, one of three local sites recently recognized with landmark status.

Local Sites Recognized With Landmark Status

Two important probate rights that all seniors should be aware of Page 10

INDEX

Calendar ................ 4

Classified Ads ........ 8

Crosswords ............. 9

Homes ..................... 6

Obituaries ............. 11

Opinions ............... 11

Our Town ................. 3

Seniors ................. 10

Sports .................. 12

Weather ................ 2

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Three sites in Castro Valley and one in San Lorenzo will now be recognized with historical and landmark status following a unanimous decision by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors at its April 11 meeting.

The old Castro Valley Library, Whitecotton Cottage, and the San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery were given landmark status. The Lake Chabot Nike Missile

Base (Site SF-31C) atop Fairmont Ridge was named a historical district as part of the informal ordinance. Alameda County owns each of the properties. None are actively being used and all have suffered from years of neglect.

The designation allows the county to preserve these sites and prevent them from being privately developed. However, the budget to restore these sites has not yet been determined.

see SITES on page 11

‘Spring for Education’ Fundraiser

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

After two years of focusing on student health and wellness, the Castro Valley Education Foundation (CVEF) is now setting its sights on raising funds to improve arts programs across all Castro Valley schools.

The Foundation is holding its annual “Spring for Education” next Friday, April 26, starting at 6 p.m., at the Adobe Art Center. Tickets for the dinner are $65 apiece and are tax-deductible, along with donations for the silent and live auctions.

Auction items include performing arts tickets to venues like the San Francisco Symphony, locally performed Broadway shows, and Castro Valley Center for the Arts. Local sporting event tickets, paraphernalia, vacations, getaways, and school-sponsored art-themed baskets are available.

New this year are auctioned works by local artists, student art from across the Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), and AP Art Students.

Returning this year will be “Dollars for Desserts,” a bidding game that brought in $500 for a single cake last year.

“Do you know how many paint brushes you can buy with $500?” laughs

see SPRING on page 2

CV Sports Foundation to Honor Local Legends

By

Hickey

If you don’t already have tickets for Sunday’s Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, you’re out of luck. The event is a complete sellout. Two teams and 14 individuals will be honored at the seventh biennial Hall of Fame

banquet at Redwood Canyon Golf Course. The first Hall of Fame class was inducted in 2010.

The Castro Valley Sports Foundation, the non-profit group that operates the Hall of Fame, decided to honor two teams for the first time this year. In the past, only individuals with a sports connection were inducted. The initial

teams are the 1958 Castro Valley High boys’ wrestling team, which captured the local high school’s first North Coast Section championship, and CVHS’s 1994 NCS champion girls’ volleyball team.

The 14 individuals in this year’s class include two baseball pitchers, a baseball coach, two soccer stars, a track champion, a volleyball standout, a

wrestler, a basketball coach, a thoroughbred horse trainer, a sports television commentator, two legendary equipment managers and a world-record holding pizza tosser.

Pitchers Alex Williams and A.J. Vanegas both had stellar careers at Redwood Christian High and Stanford. Williams is still pitching in the Miami Marlins’ organization. Will

Tavis, a standout baseball and basketball player at CVHS, became a successful baseball coach at Chabot College.

After brilliant careers on the soccer field at Castro Valley, Ali Sill and Jen LaPonte continued to excel in college and, in LaPonte’s case, in the professional National Women’s Soccer League. Kennedy Jones see FAME on back page

Castro Valley Weather April 17 - April 21, 2024

mycvforum.com/donate

Spring: Focus on Local Arts Programs

continued from front page Sara Mascio, CVEF vice president and scholarship chairman. “I’m also excited about the art presentations from the high school AP Arts Class, which will show attendees their work, and the professional session, which will allow them to sell their works.”

Mascio noted that the Spring for Education fundraiser complements existing arts programs.

“For example, these families with the Castro Valley Music Parents Society do a fabulous job at those schools, but there are different elements that we can add to all schools,” Mascio said. “The CVEF also sponsors an annual innovation grant in the fall, which is about $5,000 to $10,000 that we grant to teachers, school district staff, and/or parents who have an idea to implement in the schools.”

Jennifer Jervis, a former Castro Valley High School arts teacher and the new Arts Programs resource across the CVUSD, is partnering with CVEF on the event.

“CVUSD is excited about

their academic achievement, attendance records, and college readiness and have a long-term impact on economics.

According to the California Arts Council, ten percent of California’s jobs are in the creative industries, accounting for 7.8 percent of California’s gross domestic product (GDP). California’s creative industries employ 1.4 million workers who earn $99.3 billion in annual income.

the opportunities that Prop 28 [2022 voter-approved arts funding for K-12 Grades] creates for our students. We expanded our visual and performing arts (VAPA) offerings in all of our elementary schools already this year. We are looking forward to additional VAPA class options at our middle and high schools next year with the support of events like CVEF’s Spring for Education,” said Jervis.

Statistics show arts programs for children improve

Over the past two years, CVEF raised $45,000 ($20,000 in 2022 and $25,000 in 2023) for Mental Health and Wellness programs across the school district, bringing more resources to all Castro Valley Schools.

In addition to arts programs for Castro Valley students, the Education Foundation fundraisers support the high school’s Senior Awards Night, where students receive around 65 scholarships and academic awards. The Awards Night is scheduled for May 23.

Visit the CVEF website to order Spring for Education tickets and more info about the foundation: www.cvef.org/ events-2/spring-for-education/)

HIKE HOPE for Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore

Saturday, May 4

Welcome back to our returning hikers, and hello to first-timers!

The Hike for Hope is an annual memorial event and fundraiser for HopeHospice. This important day raises support for patient care and community programs. Register today and join us for a fun morning in the beautiful outdoors. A free barbecue lunch is provided.

Sara Mascio, CVEF Vice-President and Scholarship Chairman

Regional Champions Eclipsed In State Science Tournament

While most Castro Valley students were relaxing during spring break, 45 students from Canyon, Creekside, and CVHS spent the week studying hard in preparation for the NorCal State Science Olympiad tournament last Saturday, April 6, at CSUEB. They pitted their knowledge and lab skills in various STEM subjects ranging from Anatomy to Geologic Mapping to Robot Tour against the best schools in Northern California.

Defending State champion CVHS beat rival Mountain View by one point to take home the 2nd place trophy. They earned medals in 20 out of 24 events, including gold medals in Air Trajectory, Codebusters, Fossils, and Agricultural Science. However,

it was not enough to defeat the new state champions from Monta Vista High School (Cupertino), who will represent our state at Nationals. These three schools have been battling it out all season long at various invitationals and overall scores were neck-and-neck during the awards ceremony. “With three teams in NorCal capable of being top ten nationally, we probably have the toughest competition in the country,” said junior Sean Chen.

The cohort of seniors on the team was special; as 7th graders in 2019, they fueled the Creekside team to the State competition and the CVHS team to Nationals for the first time ever. Fortunately, they inspired a “younger generation” that will backfill with strength

Castro Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) is seeking and planning to interview candidates interested in running for the Castro Valley Unified School District Board of Education. Three of the boar’s five seats are up for election in 2024, and Castro Valley teachers intend to endorse and support well-qualified candidates.

“We hope to interview and support the best possible candidates in the community to serve our students,” said

for years to come.

That new generation is currently in the middle school division. To their credit, Creekside finished in 6th place overall, with 20 top-10 finishes and medals in Air Trajectory, Crime Busters, Fossils, Microbe Mission, Optics, Tower, Engineering CAD, Flight, Codebusters, Ecology, and Agricultural Science. Canyon took 9th place overall, with 13 top-10 finishes and medals in Tower, Air Trajectory, Disease Detectives, Fossils, Wheeled Vehicle, and Reach for the Stars.

Castro Valley Science celebrates its 11th year of fostering STEM activities in Castro Valley. For more information or to provide support, please go to: CVscience.us.

Sheriff’s Reports

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SINGER • CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Warrant Served at Eden

Monday, April 15: At 4:50 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 53-year-old woman from Castro Valley as part of a warrant issued for her capture. The woman was previously convicted of making death threats. Deputies handcuffed the woman without incident and took her to Santa Rita Jail.

Spousal Assault

Sunday, April 14: at 9:00 p.m., A 911 call about a loud and aggressive-sounding argument sent deputies to an apartment on Cortez Court near Wisteria Street. There, they arrested a 53-year-old CV man on suspicion of spousal assault, violating the terms of a restraining order, and more than $400 in property damage. The man was taken into custody.

False Imprisonment

Sunday, April 14: at 12:24 a.m., Deputies arrested a 32-year-old man from Castro Valley on suspicion of assault and battery, violating the terms of his parole, false imprisonment, and destroying a cell phone used to call for help. When deputies arrived, the man was at a home on Baywood Avenue near Lake Chabot Road. The man was taken into custody. The victim was treated at the scene.

Scammer at Local Bar

Saturday, April 13: at 2:34 a.m., A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of trying

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

CVTA President Mark Mladinich.

CVTA invites potential candidates to schedule an interview by contacting Matt Johanson, chairman of the teachers’ political action committee, at matt.johanson@sbcglobal.net.

to leave a local bar without paying his tab and failing to pay with a phony identification and credit card. Deputies were dispatched to the Valley Inn on Castro Valley Boulevard after the manager caught the man in a fraud scam. The man was taken into custody.

Assault with Deadly Weapon

Friday, April 12: at 3:46 p.m., Deputies arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of assault on another person, assault with a deadly weapon, and making death threats. An anonymous call about an altercation sent deputies to an apartment on Lake Chabot Road near Somerset Avenue. The man was taken into custody. The victim was treated at the scene.

Wanted for Grand Theft

Thursday, April 11: at 2:30 p.m., A 45-year-old man from Castro Valley was arrested as part of a warrant out for his arrest. Deputies served the warrant outside a business in the Castro Village Shopping Center. The man had been previously convicted of shoplifting and grand theft. Deputies took the man to Santa Rita Jail.

Robbery at BART

Thursday, April 11: at 11:45 a.m., Deputies arrested a 36-year-old woman without a permanent residence on suspicion of theft. The woman was seen trying to steal from another person outside the

Castro Valley BART Station on Norbridge Avenue. Deputies handcuffed the woman and took her into custody.

Drove Under the Influence

Tuesday, April 9: at 4:42 a.m., A 37-year-old man from Castro Valley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Deputies stopped the man on Carmel Avenue near Brookdale Boulevard after they saw the man driving erratically in the neighborhood. The man failed his field sobriety test and was taken into custody.

Breaking and Entering

Tuesday, April 9: at 2:10 a.m., Deputies arrested a 19-year-old man without a permanent residence on suspicion of breaking and entering a property and possessing stolen property. The man was seen trying to get into a building on Redwood Road near Seaview Avenue. Deputies handcuffed the man and took him into custody.

Attempted Bank Fraud

Monday, April 8: at 11:53 a.m., A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of using a false identification to commit bank fraud, forgery, and possessing a false ID. Deputies were dispatched to a bank on Castro Valley Boulevard near Redwood Road after the bank manager called about a fraud in progress. The man was taken into custody.

From CV to the Big Apple

By Terry Liebowitz SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

Tori Speed (23) and Tommy Lassiter (24) have a dream to perform on Broadway! Their bags aren’t quite packed yet, but they’ve got their June plane tickets and keys to an apartment sublet. “We are ready to make it happen,” says Tommy. “There is nothing else we would rather do than perform in musicals in the Big Apple.” The couple met two years ago on stage (where else?), when they were both cast in Newsies at Tri-Valley Rep Theater and they’ve been playing together ever since: Something Rotten! (TVRT), Bright Star (TMC Arts and CVAF), and Legally Blonde (TVTC). Their last show before becoming New Yorkers is Anastasia at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre in Hayward, April 19-28.

Tori has lived in Castro Valley her whole life. She graduated from Marshall Elementary, Creekside Middle School and CVHS. She at-

tended CSU East Bay and CSU Long Beach. Tommy grew up in Pleasant Hill and was a theater major at Diablo Valley College. When not performing, Tori teaches dancing at the Performing Academy in Moraga and hostesses at the First Street Ale House in Livermore. Tommy is an automotive photographer. Both Tori and Tommy are excited to be “on their own,”

but admittedly “a little scared.” They recognize there are a lot of unknowns: managing finances, finding “a day job,” making new friends, learning the subways. Tori can’t wait to sign up for classes taught by New York professionals. Tommy already has a New York agent and manager and an invitation to perform at 54 Below, a popular cabaret/restaurant in August. We wish them well!

OPENING THIS FRIDAY: TMC Arts’ Musical Production of Anastasia at DMT runs: April 19, 20, 25, 26, & 27 at 8pm and April 21 & 28 at 2pm. For tickets, visit: douglasmorrissontheatre.thundertix.com/events/220613

Register for Free Music Program

At its 30th anniversary, Jenny Lin Foundation continues to offer a summer program free of charge to young musicians in the Bay Area. Instrumental musicians currently in 8th grade or higher are welcomed to join the String Orchestra or Band; students currently in 7th grade and up may register for the Choir.

Participants meet Mondays, Wednesdays and some Thursdays (6:45 to 9pm) for five weeks starting June 10. Rehearsals take place at Creekside Middle School, Castro Valley, and culminate with a large-scale community concert (co-sponsored by Chabot College) on Saturday, July 13, at Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward.

Based in Castro Valley, the Jenny Lin Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1994 after the brutal murder of 14-year-old Jenny Lin. It operates through volunteers and donations with a mission to promote child safety and youth music education.

Through the annual Summer Music Program, Jenny Lin Foundation hopes to carry on Jenny’s passion—music and friendship—and extend her life in a unique fashion. Student-musicians are encouraged to take advantage of this exceptional program to help maintain their skills and to continue performing in a group during the summer. This is also an opportunity for students to meet and interact with peers from throughout the Bay Area, and cultivate and hone their leadership skills.

Registration for 2024 is now open at jennylinfoundation. org. Please help spread the word as we look forward to welcoming many more of you this summer.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TODAY • Wednesday, April 17

Jeff Moore at CV Women’s Club Meeting

Jeff Moore, AC Planning Commissioner and AC Planning staff are speaking at the Castro Valley Women’s Club meeting at 1pm today, Wednesday, April 17, at the Clubhouse located at 18330 Redwood Rd. Come hear what they are planning for Castro Valley and how to get involved.

Friday, April 19

Dessert Auction Worship Night (DAWN)

3Crosses Middle School and High School groups are hosting their annual Dessert Auction Worship Night. Come to this free event for student-led worship music, family fun, and an opportunity to bid on delicious, homemade desserts. Event takes place from 7 to 9pm at 3Crosses Church (20600 John Drive, Castro Valley) 100% of the proceeds go to student scholarships. Visit: 3crosses.church/dawn

Saturday, April 20

Book Launch of America’s Presidents

Gerald Henig, professor emeritus of history, will deliver a talk about his recently published book, America’s Presidents: What Your History Teacher Never Told You. He offers little-known and compelling views about those who occupied the White House. His fully documented stories are funny, tragic, and, in some cases, startling. Event takes place this Saturday at 1pm at Cal State East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CORE University Library. Free admission and parking (in Lot B off West Loop Rd).

Saturday, April 20

Susan Chan Demo for A.R.T., Inc.

Don’t miss Susan Chan: Techniques of Splash Ink this Saturday from 2 to 4pm at the Adobe Art Center (20395 San Miguel Ave.). Chan’s work has graced the halls of the De Young Museum Liaoning Provincial Museum, Liu HaiSu Museum National Chiang Kia-Shek Memorial Hall.

Monday, April 22

Eden Garden Club Meeting

The next meeting of Eden Garden Club will be Monday April 22, at 9:30am at the Castro Valley United Methodist Church 19806 Wisteria Street in Castro Valley. The speaker will be Carol Dixon with a review on Monarch Butterflies and a talk about Yellow Swallow Tails. Carol has an MA in Biological Science from USC Hayward, an instructor of Biology and ecology at Chabot and Ohlone Colleges for 22 years, then 16 years at CVHS. Explore how gardeners can help with the migration and survival of butterflies. Meetings are free and guests are always welcome. Please call 510 397-1268 for further information.

Tuesday, April 23

Castro Valley Rotary Hosts Ken Sommer

Director of Advancement, Ken Sommer, representing the George Mark House, will provide a presentation on life affirming care and comfort for children and their families. A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) at 12 to 1:30 pm. RSVP by 9pm on Sunday, April 21, by contacting the Rotary at: cvrotary@iCloud.com or call: 510-402-5123. More info available at castrovalleyrotary.org.

Tuesday, April 23

FREE Job and Resource Fair

Castro Valley Adult & Career Education is holding a job and resource fair on April 23rd from 6 to 8pm. Come meet employers, get information on community resources and get your blood pressure taken by our Medical Assistant students. In attendance will be Comforcare Home Care, Rubicon Programs, ChildCare Careers, Castro Valley Unified School District, Pacific Homecare Services, Bridges to Jobs, Civicorps and more. The fair will be held in room 10.

3321 Castro Valley Blvd

Tori Speed Tommy Lassiter

‘Student-Citizen of the Year’ Awards Event is Tomorrow

By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

The Castro Valley and Eden Area Chamber of Commerce announced the names of 35 outstanding students who will receive its Student-Citizen of the Year award at an event tomorrow. The annual event recognizes outstanding students’ contributions to their schools and communities.

The awards will be given to 20 Castro Valley Unified School District students and 15 students from the San Lorenzo Unified School District during a luncheon at the Redwood Canyon Golf Course in Castro Valley.

Each award winner demonstrated qualities in two categories: School and Community. Extra-curricular activities such as clubs, athletics, music,

library helpers, and student council are factored into the “School” category. Youth organization participation in groups like Scouts, Campfire, 4-H, softball, Little League, and Boys/Girls Clubs are considered when deciding a student’s “Community” efforts.

All the Castro Valley schools will be represented, including the CV Adult and Career Education and the Roy Johnson Program. Awards will also be given to students at Redwood Christian Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, as well as Our Lady of Grace Elementary School in Castro Valley.

“I love seeing students shine! A huge thanks to the Eden Area Chamber of Commerce and the many

said CVUSD Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi.

Students from San Lorenzo’s two high schools, three middle schools, nine elementary schools, and specialty schools like East Bay Arts High School will also be represented.

“I’m grateful to be involved in a community that acknowledges students for choosing to do what is right. Each school selected its student citizen for who they are and their positive, community-building choices. As a result, we are all living in a better community,” said Redwood Christian School Superintendent Al Hearne. Each student will be presented with a plaque with their name engraved on it that will

AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXPERIENCE: On Monday, April 8, students and staff at Palomares Elementary, viewed the solar eclipse together. Mr. Reynes, retired Science Specialist for CVUSD, taught lessons to the entire school about what a solar eclipse is and reviewed safety procedures. At 11:05 am, students and staff met on the blacktop to enjoy this special event.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA HOGAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Fake News Proliferating After Historic Settlement

By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Forum

WIt is no secret that news organizations sensationalize headlines to increase readership. Such was the case with the recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement in a class action lawsuit. The suit alleged NAR had conspired to keep real estate commissions artificially high. With the announcement of a $418,000 million settlement, NAR has not admitted any wrongdoing, but is settling to end the pro-

liferation of copycat lawsuits springing up as attorneys are smelling blood in the water.

As the settlement was announced, media outlets across the country launched headlines insisting the ‘standard’ 6% real estate commission was history,’ ‘home prices were going to fall’ … and more.

As an example, on 03/16/2024, CNN Business Headlines screamed, “The NAR settlement could slash home prices for many Americans.” The author Elisabeth Buchwald stated, “The entire US housing market is about

to get remodeled, and the end product could come with a big perk: cheaper home prices.” She continued, “That’s due to a $418 million settlement the National Association of Realtors announced Friday with groups of home sellers.” She further declared, “The settlement, which is still subject to a judge’s approval, will eliminate the long-standing standard 6% commission paid by the seller. Those fees, however, are often baked into the listed price of the home. Lower commissions could therefore lower home prices, experts say. And at a time when elevated housing costs are driving inflation across the country, reining in home prices could help bring price increases back to levels Americans experienced before the pandemic.”

This is simply not true and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding by the media of what is actually happening.

In a 03/25/2024 statement by Budge Huskey, President & CEO of Sotheby’s Realty, he addresses the claim that, “The settlement forces real estate brokers to reduce their compensation.” He states this is false, explaining, “The settlement in no way establishes any standard or limitation

buyer demand. With all of the fake news hitting the airwaves, Budge Huskey’s entire response is worth reading. To access the article, go to https:// wrenews.com/budge-huskeyon-the-nar-settlement-dont-believe-everything-you-read/.

article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association.

Homes

Roses are Resilient Plants, so Don’t Worry about Pruning

By Buzz Bertolero The Dirt Gardener

QI didn’t prune my roses well enough during the winter months. So, I’ve got gangly stems that blow around in the wind. Is it safe to drastically prune the roses once the first sets of flowers are spent?

ARoses are very resilient plants. You can drastically cut them back after the first, second, or third blooming cycle. Although most people think of it as a winter activity, roses are pruned year-round. Ideally, the most severe pruning is done during the winter when the plants are dormant. After each blooming cycle, pruning is used to groom the plants by reducing the top growth and

the sides to keep the plants in balance and removing the spent flowers or deadheading. Most of the rose pruning information says to prune to the second set of five leaves, but I suggest you ignore this point. Grandiflora and Hybrid Tea varieties quickly grow five to six feet tall per year. The only way to keep them from overgrowing an area is to prune them back after each flush of flowers. This is also called

shaping the plant. Another common problem with these types of roses is that they’re planted too close to one another. Pruning during the growing season prevents them from merging into one massive plant with several stems. So, I have no problem cutting back the gangly stems as far back as necessary and the rest of the plant. After pruning, you may need to take some special precautions with

any bare or naked canes. The new growth or canes are usually green in color. They are very susceptible to sunburn from the direct sun when the temperatures are over eighty-five degrees. Sunburn causes the canes to turn black, and they may die from it. This is not a problem during the winter months as the days are shorter, the temperatures are cooler, and there is cloud cover with moisture on many days. You

protect the naked canes for two to four weeks by covering or draping shade cloth over the plant(s). Feed the roses with Rose Food to encourage the new growth. The shade cloth is removed once the new growth shades the bare canes. Covering the plants will not be necessary if there is lots of foliage left after pruning.

QI have a white Potato Vine growing on an arbor in a container. Recently, I noticed roots from the vine

that had grown out of the bottom of the container. If I cut these roots, will the vine die?

AI wouldn’t expect your Potato Vine to die from trimming the roots. There is always a possibility, but you can minimize that by pruning the top growth after pruning the roots. There is a direct relationship between the roots under the ground and the foliage it supports. The best time to do this is after the Potato vine has stopped blooming.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rose_fields_Vampula_1.jpg#/media/File:Rose_ fields_Vampula_1.jpg

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GARDENING

GARAGE SALES

4/20

ESTATE SALE: COME ON BUY! Fri/Sat, Apr 19-20, 9a-2p 2959 Massachusetts St., CV Tools, Household, Camping Men's XLclothing. CASH ONLY!

Moving Sale! Sat 4/20 9 am-4 pm, 860 Begier Ave, San Leandro. Furniture, SF Giants collectibles, sound systems, books, clothing, kitchen items & more!

*BEAUTYGARDEN LANDSCAPING Design - Construction - Maintenance. Cleanups, New Lawn, Artificial Grass, Irrigation, Patios, Pathways, Brick, Stone, Concrete Fence/ Decks. Free Estimates! Lic.#925130. 510-691-8852. www.beautygardenlandscaping.com

Dormant Pruning Professional hand pruning and cleanup. Landscape design/install. Katsura Landscaping CL#.858145 Call Mike 510-828-4854.

JAIME’S GARDENING Maintenance, Trimming, Cleanups, Hauling, Sprinkler Repair/ Timers. FREE Estimates. Insured. 510-299-9583

The Benefits of Probate: Are You Aware Of Homestead and Family Allowance?

Q:My husband just passed away. He did not have a Will or Trust, and our home was his separate property from his prior marriage. His son is now anxious to sell the home in order to receive his inheritance share, but that would force me out of the home with nowhere to go. Do I have any rights?

By Gene L. Osofsky, Esq.

A:Yes, you do! There are two important rights of which you should be aware: the Probate Homestead and the Probate Family Allowance. These key provisions of probate are designed to safeguard the interests of surviving family members, and together they play an important role in providing financial protection and stability to them during this time of transition.

Probate Homestead

The probate homestead provides a valuable shield for you and any minor children by allowing you to claim your husband’s home as your “homestead”, with the right to continue to reside in the home. This right is liberally construed and favored by the law. In ruling on the request for a Probate Homestead, the court has discretion to determine the proper conditions and appropriate duration of this homestead. Such conditions can include the assignment of other property owned by your husband to his son or other heirs or devisees, i.e. as a kind of “ trade - off” so, as here, the son might receive other items of value from his father’s estate while you continue to reside in the home. The court will also

set the duration of the Probate Homestead in its order, and this can be as long as your own lifetime if the court determines that your financial and shelter needs so require. However, if you later remarry, it is likely that the homestead would then dissolve.

Probate Family Allowance

Another feature of the probate process is your right to request a probate family allowance, a feature designed to provide immediate financial assistance to you and surviving family members during the administration of your husband’s estates. This provision can ensure that you, as the surviving spouse, will have access to a reasonable allowance from your husband’s estate to support yourself during administration. This allowance can help cover essential expenses such as expenses related to the home, utilities, food, and other

necessities during the probate process.

If your husband’s estate is solvent, the court has wide discretion in determining the duration of a family allowance, but it must terminate no later than the entry of the final order for distribution of his estate, which could very well be a year or more from the beginning of the probate process.

Some local court rules, however, require that it be of limited duration, and require additional petitions in order to extend the duration of this allowance. These are all matters that you should discuss with your attorney.

Spectrum Senior Meals At Aitken Senior Center

Senior meals prepared by Spectrum Community Services are back at Kenneth Aitken Senior & Community Center 17800 Redwood Road. Join us for a tasty, nutritious lunch Monday through Thursday from 12pm to 12:30pm. Lunch is also served daily at the Hayward Area Senior Center, 22325 N. 3rd Street, Monday through Friday, from 12pm to 12:30pm. Anyone who is aged 60 or better is eligible. You must register first and make lunch reservations three days in advance. Spectrum requests a $4 contribution towards each meal or get our valued 10-meal ticket for $35. Option to dine in or take away is available. To make a reservation at Kenneth Aitken Senior & Community Center please call: 510-881-6738 for reservations at the Hayward Area Senior center, please call: 510-881-6766. Visit: SpectrumCS.org for more info. The menu for the upcoming week is:

Monday, April 22:

WINKLER LAW

Living Trusts & Trust Administration

Probate • Wills

Real Estate • Litigation

— Give Us a Call —

Most Initial Consultations Are Free (510) 357-3403

1883 East 14th Street San Leandro

In conclusion, the Probate Homestead and the Probate Family Allowance serve as essential safeguards for surviving spouses and minor children, providing a place for them to continue to live, and for immediate financial assistance in their time of need. These provisions can play an important role in ensuring your own well-being during and even beyond the probate process. Be sure to discuss these matters with your attorney as soon as possible.

Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney who has been helping East Bay families for over 30 years with Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Medi-Cal Planning, and related matters. Visit his website at www. LawyerForSeniors.com or call (510) 247-2555.

Imitation crab & egg salad over romaine w/tomato wedge, minestrone soup, WW bread

Tuesday, April 23:

Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin with carrots and roasted potatoes, cornbread Wenesday, April 24:

Lentil Vegetable Curry w/roasted broccoli, brown rice

Thursday, April 25:

Coconut curry cod, cilantro lime coleslaw, seasoned cauliflower, rice pilaf

Friday, April 26:

Chicken Gumbo w/okra, red beans, brown rice

(All meals served with fruit and milk)

Eden Medical Center Senior Dinners Return

By popular demand, the Senior Dinner is coming back to Eden Medical Center every Thursday from 4 to 5pm (café closes at 7pm). Guests aged 55 years and above welcomed (accompanying guest will also get Senior Dinner Price) Nutritious hot meals are only $6, including an entree, two sides, soup or salad, plus dessert and coffee or tea. Eden Medical Center Café is located on the Lower Level (LL), 20103 Lake Chabot Rd. Castro Valley. Free parking is available in the Eden Medical Center Parking Lot.

Vannoy Elementary Kindergartners

Experience Eclipse in Unusual Way

Geoffrey Luce has taught kindergartners and first graders for twenty-eight years, working to make every special event memorable for his students. He has taught for the last eighteen years at Vannoy Elementary in Castro Valley. He uses his Bachelor’s Degree in Music to teach the kids to love themselves and school through singing and other activities, including Conga Lines!

One of those special events was the recent eclipse. He wanted the kids to experience it in a safe, secure place but be able to wear their special eclipse glasses, too.

Geoffrey Luce

“His Kids” were not able to go outside to see the actual eclipse so Mr. Luce did the next best thing! They wore

their special glasses inside to see it on the WEB! He later informed his students that in order to do it again in real time, they will all have to come back in twenty years!

Creative and fun... two great traits of outstanding teachers like Mr. Geoff Luce!

Geoff and his wife, Catherine, a semi-retired Registered Nurse, live in Castro Valley and have two grown daughters, Anna, applying for a teacher position in the Bay Area, and Claire, an aerospace engineer in Seattle. Both Anna and Claire are graduates of Castro Valley High School. The Luces live in San Leandro.

Sites: Landmark, Historical Status

continued from front page

Whitecotton is the oldest surviving building on the Fairmont Campus along Foothill Boulevard. It was constructed in 1903 and served as the residence for the facility’s superintendent. The Pioneer Cemetery is located at the corner of Hesperian Boulevard and College Street on land that was once part of the Jose Joaquin Estudillo land grant. It was later owned by John Lewelling and William Meek, whose families are buried in the cemetery.

The Nike Base was built in 1955 but was decommissioned in 1974. The Fairmont site contains five buildings: the Guard Station, the Quarters Building, the Generator Build-

ing, the Corridor Building with attached Radar Storage Shed, and the High Power Acquisition Radar (HIPAR) building.

The old Castro Valley Library, built in 1962, served the community until it moved to its current location on Norbridge Avenue. Many groups have eyed the property for public and private use—none so much as the Veterans Organization of the Castro Valley Area. The veterans have been petitioning the Board of Supervisors to support the decision and recommendation by the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) to let them manage and use the building as a resource to the community.

“Castro Valley vets are an

important part of the community and are continuously available for functions that need color-guard or other patriotic services,” says Castro Valley resident and veteran Frank Mellon told the Forum. “The county could save itself a lot of money by letting the veterans take over the care of the old Library. It’s a win-win that has been proposed since the old Library closed. All that has to be done after declaring the old Library historically significant is to direct staff to work with the vets to take over the care of the building.”

The County Supervisors are expected to finalize these four sites’ historical and landmark status later this summer.

Obituaries

Jay Spencer, DeerCreek2965@gmail.com th

35 Year Celebrating Lives!

Castro Valley Office: (510) 317-7890

www.DeerCreekCremation.com

Since 1965

Jess C. Spencer

Mortuary & Crematory

21228 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley 581-9133

Offering Personalized Memorial and Cremation Services.

FD 1168 CR49

Sheila Jane McAlinden

April 17, 1931 ~ March 16, 2024

Sheila Jane McAlinden was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1931 to James and Catherine McAlinden, both natives of Ireland. She was the second youngest of six children and the only girl! In 1949, after high school, she entered the convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) where she was known as Sister Mary Desmond. While in the convent she was able to get her Bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and later an MA in history from Marquette University. She even worked on a doctorate at the University of Michigan! She was trained as a teacher and taught from grade 6 through college level.

In the late 60’s Sheila’s parents’ health started to decline, and her father died in 1970. As Sheila’s brothers were all busy raising their families, Sheila felt that she needed to be the one to take care of her mother. So, in 1973 she left the convent and went to live with her mother in Detroit. In 1974 Sheila decided to move to California with her mom and her good friend from the convent, Lillian (Lil) Trillo, who had grown up the East Bay.

It was a difficult time for Sheila. When she left the convent, she had only been given $500 and had no savings! After arriving in California, she struggled to make ends meet while working full time and caring for her invalid mother. Her mother died in 1984.

She had various jobs in the East Bay She worked for Blue Cross, Mervyn’s, and Alta Bates/Sutter. She became a patient benefits advisor helping clients get the health care benefits they were entitled to and teaching informational classes. She enjoyed the house she bought in Castro Valley, made new friends, and loved to eat out.

Sheila also loved to travel. She went to various countries in Europe, including her favorite country, Ireland. She also went to China and took several trips to Central America. Besides making a number of visits back to Michigan to see her family, she also went to other states including Alaska and Hawaii.

Sheila was very dedicated to her Catholic faith, attending Mass every week and always reading daily meditations. She gave to numerous charities and even paid for the entire education through college for a youth from Haiti. She was a strong believer in the Church’s social gospel and was involved in many peace and social justice causes throughout her life. At her parish church, Our Lady of Grace in Castro Valley, she was an active member of the Pax Christi Social Justice group. After her friend, Lil, started the LACA Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of the rural poor in Latin America, Sheila became very involved with the group, even serving on the LACA board.

Sheila was fiercely independent and found it very difficult to accept her limitations when her health started to fail. She wanted to stay at home and fortunately was able to remain in her condominium until she died thanks to the wonderful support she received from Caring Angels and from Sutter Hospice and Palliative Care. She passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024.

Sheila’s memorial Mass will be on Wednesday, April 24, at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Church, 3433 Somerset Ave., Castro Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to LACA (Online at https://mylaca.org/donate.htm or by mail to LACA Foundation, PO Box 21000, Castro Valley, CA 94546.) or to St. Vincent de Paul ( Our Lady of Grace St Vincent de Paul Conference, 3433 Somerset Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546.)

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

CVHS Boys Varsity Tennis

Our Athletes of the Week are the Castro Valley High School Boys Varsity Tennis Team. The Trojans had a late start but gave 110% of their effort at every practice and match, according to new coach Ebone Qualls. As of April 11, the team record is 4-4 which is very impressive following their record last year of 2-9. Qualls added that he is very excited for the last two weeks of the

season as the team heads into championships. Members of the CVHS Boys Varsity Tennis Team are (pictured): Daniel Lionel, Arik Hoffman, Seff Buhler, Joshua Kuwana, Alexander Cheng, Alex Chen, Liam Hogan, Maxim Boychuk, John Chen (Zhuoan Chen), Samit Rath, Yuuki Miyazaki, Devin Shay, Aiden Ip, Paul Grazzini, James Stein, Aiden Liu, Elliot Simon (not shown).

The Matt Wilhite Team is proud to sponsor Athletes of the Week Boys Varsity Tennis

Fame: Induction Ceremony Sunday

continued from front page was a state-champion triple jumper, as well as a league champion at Boston College. Kelli Souza led her Bishop O’Dowd High and Santa Clara volleyball teams to numerous titles and led the nation in assists one year.

After beating up on boys, Summer Scott starred for the first Castro Valley High girls’ wrestling team and later in college. The late Jim Lemmon coached the CVHS girls’ basketball team to a decade of success, including a trip to the Northern California finals. As

a thoroughbred trainer, Robert Hess, Jr., has been to the winner’s circle almost 1,500 times and his horses have earned close to $52 million.

Castro Valley High grad Brodie Brazil is the familiar face on Oakland A’s and San Jose Sharks pre- and postgame shows and has won 13 Emmy Awards. The longest tenured employee in A’s history, equipment manager Steve Vucinich is also a member of the A’s Hall of Fame. Warren Davis was a fixture at CVHS football games and practices for 48 years and a friend to

13 Years of Social Media and Its Massive Impact on Fitness

By Mitch Rothbardt SPECIAL TO THE FORUM

I’ve been a personal trainer for over 13 years and in that time social media has had a massive impact on fitness and the world.

I freely admit that without it I wouldn’t be the trainer I am today. I learned a ton following great trainers from all over the world. Things about posture, building strength and mobility, how to coach, anatomy, how muscles and movement patterns affect other muscles and movement patterns, and a lot more. My programming philosophy came from a simple social media post.

The good, old days.

I don’t know when it happened exactly, but at some point, things started to turn. I guess it was inevitable.

There’s an old proverb that says, “Methods are many, but principles are few. Methods always change. Principles never do.” This means that, at its core, the stuff that worked years ago, still does. It also means that when it comes to preying on people’s insecurities and fears, the stuff that worked

years ago, still does.

So, when social media started becoming something

for people to monetize, fitness “influencers” started popping up left and right. People whose concern wasn’t about spreading good information. It was about “likes” and “follows.” They focused on things that would get people’s attention as they scrolled, and “Clickbait” was born.

Of course, other versions of “clickbait” have been around since before the days of salesmen going from town to town selling hair tonic out of the back of horse-drawn carriages. They’d plant people in the crowd and get to work convincing men that with a few applications they could regrow a beautiful head of hair. We know it didn’t work. It was too good to be true. But remember, methods change, and now those same types of people are selling today’s version of hair tonic on social media. Playing on the insecurities and fears of their followers.

Predictable, I suppose.

Luckily, you’re too smart to fall for it. You’re not going to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks and keep it off. There is no “Secret they don’t want you to know.” But you knew that already. And deep down, so did the men who bought that hair tonic. But what if it does work? That thought just nags at you, doesn’t it? It nags at me, too. There are things I want, and boy wouldn’t it be great if I could get them, like now? What if their secret method really does is the thing? What if I miss out on the real good stuff?

But we know that if it sounds too good to be true then… you can fill in the rest. We know that people buy on emotion and then use logic to justify the purchase. That means you—and I hate to admit it—me, too. But now that we’ve admitted it, maybe we can stop falling for it.

Mitch is the owner and head trainer at Castro Valley Fitness. He loves answering your fitness questions if you see him at the dog park with Penny, Max, and Tex or you can send him an email at: Mitch@ CastroValleyFitness.com.

Local Scouts ‘Building a Better World’

hundreds who came through that program. Pizza tosser Tony Gemignani is a multiple world record holder and is in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Dave Del Grande will again serve as Master of Ceremonies when this diverse group of sports personalities is honored Sunday. He has been the emcee for the six previous induction ceremonies as well.

Castro Valley Sports Foundation is an all-volunteer organization that supports youth sports and wellness in the community.

Cub Scout Pack 765 Arrow of Light (AOL) Den of Castro Valley recently completed one of their required adventures called “Building a better world.” Part of that requirement is to identify one energy problem in your community and see what they can do to help rectify it.

The Scouts decided to try to reduce paper waste and cut down on vehicle emissions as they noticed that often people would use multiple paper towels to dry their hands and also would leave their cars running for a long time while waiting in the school parking lots.

In order to be permitted to install signs, they contacted their schools administrators and got approval from the principal and the school district and then either made, printed or purchased signs to install. There are multiple signs that say things ranging from “No-Idle Zone, It all adds up to cleaner air” to “Save paper towels, Save Resources and Save the planet.”

Cub Scout Pack 765 members are: Adam McVay, Alden Pak, Briham Tryeman, Brody Huntington, Caleb Chen, Illyas Radwan, and Nova McVay, and Gabe Calderon.

Most of these Scouts have been together for the last 6 years as part of Cub Scout Pack 765 and will be going on a final backpacking trip and

camping at a coastal camp as a final hurrah prior to advancing to Scouts BSA.

Congratulations Scouts on a job well done and doing such a find job on representing our community.