CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 3 #2
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he seat for District 4 Supervisor goes on the ballot in July with challengers Ronald Pereira and Bryan Parker looking to unseat incumbent Nate Miley. District 4 is made up of many diverse communities and cities including East Oakland, Montclair, Pleasanton, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, El Portal Ridge and Castro Valley. Miley has been District 4 supervisor for the past 16 years. In anticipation of the June 2016 election, Castro Valley News organized a debate between Miley and Parker at 6:30 PM on April 13 at the CV Library and is profiling the candidates here. *Note: Mr. Pereira declined to contribute any info to CVN for this story. Challenger Bryan Parker is currently an appointed Port of Oakland Commissioner who says his experience as a businessman prepared him to oversee the County’s $2.7 billion budget. He has turned a struggling company into a $100 million dollar enterprise and headed up Fortune 500 companies. Parker earned scholarships to and graduated from UC Berkeley and NYU School of Law, where he was elected president of his class.
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Which Candidate Will Represent CV?
MARCH / APRIL 2016
16 years. His career dates back 25 years when he started as an Oakland City Council member. As a Jesuit Volunteer, Miley came to Oakland in 1977 to work in challenging neighborhoods of East Oakland to collaboratively tackle issues as truancy, vacant & blighted housing, sexual exploitation among many other entrenched problems.
“A continuing challenge in Castro Valley is the desire for more local control combined with a reluctance to incorporate. We have created many strategies, such as the Eden Area Livability Initiative to hear more directly from local interests; we have created new policies related to County appointed boards to increase local voice and influence. I plan to address the deIncumbent Nate Miley (left) faces challenger Bryan Parker (right) sire for an elected MAC by bringing it to and Ronald Pereia for District 4 Supervisor in the July 2016 election. the voters for consideration,” Miley said. “We need to do better planning a forceful advocate on the Board in Castro Valley. That starts with for funding for the unincorporat- The CVN debate between Nate Miley transitioning to an elected Munic- ed areas and I’ll partner with state and Bryan Parker will be at 6:30 PM at ipal Advisory Committee (MAC) and federal legislators for infra- the CV Library (3600 Norbridge Aveso that residents have a voice in structure projects,” Parker said. nue) on April 13. We will also stream the debate live online. Please visit Castro planning decisions. I pledge not to appoint donors to my cam- Incumbent Nate Miley has been Valley News on Facebook for more inforpaign to the MAC. I will also be District 4 Supervisor for the past mation on the event and more local news.
Blighted Boulevard Building UpBADGE For Sale CV NEWS COPS : BEHIND THE Details and pictures from a ride along with ACSO Deputy M. Campi in and around Castro Valley on January 29
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8:41 PM: Respont to report of a promiscuous gun shot fired in Fairview. Area searched, no evidence found of shots fired.
9:52 PM: Check for person with an outstanding $25,000 warrant for DUI. Contact with family at the residence.
10:15 PM: Security alarm check at a Vet clinic on Redwood. Rear door was left open / building searched.
10:30 PM: Traffic stop on E. CVB for a speeder with no licnse. Driver is cited for both misdemeanor violations.
1:45 AM: Individual saying he will “go on a rampage� is taken for psych eval. Incident happened on Grove Way.
CVN Restaurant Review with Courtney - Denica’s
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he March / April installment of the Restaurant Review features a visit to one of the newest restaurants in town : Denica’s. For months, folks in Castro Valley awaited with baited breath for Denica’s to open at the former Bob’s Big Boy / Carrow’s location at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Lake Chabot Road. In early December, our Food Editor Courtney visited the restaurant for lunch. What did Courtney order from the menu? A chicken burrito. What was it like? “It was wonderful. I was not disappointed,” said Courtney, who told CVN she would definitely return to try something from the breakfast menu in the near future. During her visit, Denica’s was packed with customers and the staff were friendly. Denica’s has it’s origins in Castro Valley. Years ago Denica’s husband James had a bake shop on Redwood Road called “Cookie Express” near Baskin Robbins. the family also had a cake shop on Center Street across from the hardware store. “Everyone in Castro Valley should give them a try,” added Courtney, who is extra excited since Denica’s is with-
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Petition to Change CV School Boundary Progresses
Volunteer petitioners have been continu-
sously collecting signatures to have the area of Upper Grove included in the Castro Valley Unified School District boundary area. “Jurisdictional boundaries in Unincorporated Alameda County can be very confusing and the goal is to unify us in some way,” said area resident Matt Turner, who has been spending his Sunday mornings “knocking and talking” gathering signatures to have the area of Grove Way between Redwood and Center Street included in CVUSD’s area of influence. At least 350 signatures of approval are needed, but Turner is aiming for 500 in an area of about 566 homes. He hopes to submit all documents to the Alameda County Board of Education by the end of February.
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Turner says so far the response from residents he has contacted has been overwhemingly enthusiastic. Since it is in the Hayward school district, residents in the area of Upper Grove must send children to Strobridge Elementary, on the other end of Grove Way. “It would be more convenient and safer for kids to go to Marshall,” Turner said. Once submitted to the ALCO Board of Education, 60 days is given to certify signatures. Both school districts then have 90 days to determine what actions they may take. Anyone interested in more information on the petition can contact Turner at matt.turner@acgov.org or 510-670-5718.
CASTRO VALLEY THROUGH THE PHOTO LENS
Cvn’er
Randy Smith takes great pictures of our town. The photo at right was taken 9/11/15 at CVHS during the varsity football game against Kennedy-Fremont. The photo below was taken during a downtown food truck event in September. Visit https://www. facebook.com/rcsimages?fref=ts to view more of Randy’s pictures.
CLEANING UP CV WITH JEFF STONE
You may not know Jeff Stone, but chanc-
es are you’ve probably seen him on his segway vehicle criss-crossing Castro Valley streets, picking up roadside trash and debris. Here are a couple of interesting “finds” Stone made on Castro Valley streets that he passed on to CVN during a recent interview: The first item was sent over in December. Stone expains, “This is a strange dumping. Picked these up last week (Dec. 2) in the Rite Aid parking lot. Athletic shoes, all shredded. Written all over with a black marker... the famous seven words (expletives) George Carlin said you couldn’t use on Television.” The second item (below photo) was also sent over in late December, “Good old Castro Valley. Mattress dumping at the Rite Aid store,” Stone added.
CV NEWS COPS : BEHIND THE BADGE Details from a ride along with California Highway Patrol Officer D. Jacowitz in and around Castro Valley on December 15
10:10 AM: Assist other officers with a traffic accident on the 580 Freeway near 167th Ave. above Foothill Blvd.
10:22 AM: Driver stopped near Norbridge Avenue for cutting in front of a school bus. Driver was issued a citation.
11:00 AM: Citation issued to driver on James Avenue near Gliddon for failing to stop at the intersection stop sign.
View a Full Story Video by Scanning this QR Code with your Smart Phone: 11:33 PM: Assist other officers on a traffic collision on Hesperian near College in SLZ. Report / info taken.
12:05 PM: Redwood Rd. freeway offramp call from motorist whose car was smoking from the engine compartment.
8:51 AM: Citation for speeding issued to driver on Lake Chabot Road for doing 10 MPH over the posted limit.
WHAT’S NEW ON CASTRO VALLEY BLVD.
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he downtown area of Castro Valley Boulevard is an ever changing, bustling corridor of business and commerce in our town. The following are updates and developments happening regarding vacant buildings and improvement projects on the boulevard. An individual looking to revitalize the former Frank’s Footer building (photo below) has walked away from plans to open a sandwich shop there. In 2012, the building, located at 3210 Castro Valley Boulevard was surrounded by controversy when a businessman attempted to open a hot dog stand without proper permits. A Castro Valley Veterinarian has plans to
move from their current location in Castro Valley to the former JD’s Restaurant at 2837 Castro Valley Boulevard. No timeline have been released yet, but the building will reportedly be improved to accommodate a vet clinic with retail area for pet items. Last year, Starbucks was interested in opening a drive through cafe at the location, but the plan never came to fruition. The Sprouts Market addition at the Rite Aid building was approved by the CVMAC February 8. While there is no timeline set for completion, the inside of the building is being shifted and cleared to make way for the project to kick off.
CASTRO VALLEY/ EDEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS PAGE
RICKEY & NINA’S TRAVEL ADVENTURES
Our “End of Summer”
road trip took us to the most northern highway in Canada. The Dempster Highway is the only highway in Canada that goes through the Arctic Circle! Locals discouraged us from driving this highway as it is a 400 mile stretch of deserted gravel! The Demspter Highway ends in “The Land of the Midnight Sun” in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. You can’t get the Castro Valley News Magazine more off the beaten path in North America than this. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. -Rickey
and Nina Chang www. rickeyandninastraveladventures.com
CV News Flashback: A Look Back at Cull Canyon Dam
During
the month of February 1963, the Beatles recorded ten tracks for their first album at Abbey Road Studios on the 11th, and then top the British charts with “Please, Please Me” on the 16th. SF Giants great Willie Mays signed a record $100,000 per year contract on the 20th. Also that year - The Boeing 727 - a mainstay of commercial air flight and air travel made its first flight. Two pilots and a flight engineer took the plane aloft from the company’s airfield at Renton, Washington. In Castro Valley, the construction of Cull Canyon Dam was finally completed at the foot of Heyer Avenue.
The overall $250,000 project also seismically unstable, the house in included an extension of Hey- the picture is has been gone for er to meet Cull Canyon Road. many years. It was subsequently replaced by Canyon High, which Fifty-three years later, the dam is is now Canyon Middle School.
Legendary Promoter Recalls East Bay Rock Scene
During the early days of Bay Area Rock
and Roll, Bill Quarry attracted an impressive list of big name rock entertainers and performers to San Leandro and Castro Valley. Acting as concert promoter and manager, Quarry brought Van Morrison, Fats Domino, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers and the Byrds to San Leandro’s Rollarena and the Moose Lodge in Castro Valley. “I don’t know how it all happened, but it’s one of those things where everything just came together,” said Quarry from his longtime San Leandro printing business, Minit Printing that is festooned by concert posters and dance ads that add up to a visual history of the East Bay rock concert scene. Quarry recalled a story dating back to 1969, when he was hired to do concessions for the ill-fated Rolling Stones show at the Altamont Speedway. He remembers seeing a “sea of people” and that the single concession stand he arranged was nowhere close to serving the 300,000 concert goers in attendance. Writer Bruce Tahsler interviewed Quarry extensively resulting in 2006’s “Garage Bands From Then and Now” that includes photos and memories from Quarry’s rock past.
“Concerts and dances here were popular and most bands were real happy being in this little town. It’s remarkable it all happened here. It was an amazing time,” added Quarry. Visit www.teensntwenties.com for more information on “Garage Bands From Then and Now” and to see slideshows of concerts Quarry arranged and other historic rock pictures.