Castro Valley News - Year 5, Number 1 (v.36)

CASTRO VALLEY NEWS Community news For February 2020

www.castrovalley.news

You have probably seen our friend Randy Jorstad playing his guitar on San Carlos Avenue at least once. To let you know the man behind the music, we interviewed “the guitar man” of Castro Valley.

“I’ve been coming down here to San Carlos Avenue for about eighteen years,” Jorstad told CVN during a recent interview. Jorstad brings out either his acoustic or electric guitar to pluck and strum songs on the street or at the donut shop across from Pete’s Hardware.

CV’s GUITAR MAN

For Randy, its all about sharing with others his love for music and guitars. Especially guitarists like Wes Montgomery, Steve Vai and Dave Meniketti. When our video interview with Randy went on social media, a multitude of compliments were posted.

“I really dig talking guitars and music with this cat when I get my tea in the morning before work,” said Castro Valley resident Jack McNellis.

Jorstad says he loves Castro Valley because of the people here. He was worried folks in town would think he was odd because of his passion to strum and perform out on the street, but Castro Valley has really embraced him. Prime example “Thank you for sharing this story! I have seen him every week for the past 18 years.

I am happy to finally know his name. We always smile and wave to each other. Keep playing and smiling, Randy!” said Debbie Mata.

CV NEWS COPS : BEHIND THE BADGE Details and pictures from a walk through of a homeless encampment at Crow Creek near Grove Way on November 15

The five acre encampment had been populated by about 40 people for about the past 20 years. The cleanup required involvment from muntiple agencies as it is bordered by Alameda County, East Bay Regional Parks, EBMUD and State property.

Cleanup required 400 hours of CHP hours and 700 hours from Caltrans workers to remove 55 tons of debris.

During our walk through, Officer Walters told CVN the entire area was littered with used hypodermic needles.

Another encampment across the creek was discovered. It too was littered with evidence of illegal drug use. Where did the residents of the encampment go? Fortunately, First Presbyterian Church on Grove Way set up an emergency shelter for many displaced by the abatement.

Take The Time to Look You Might Find a Book !

C astro

Valley Girl Scouts Isra S. and Alisan H. have their schedules “booked” working on their Bronze Award project.

To engage fellow school age kids in the community and discourage them from dedicating hours on end using cellphones and other digital devices, they have been bagging books and hiding them across Castro Valley.

So far, the two have hidden over 100 bags in conspicuous spots across town in the past few weeks. Each bag contains a few books that were donated to the girls, along with a note explaining how their program works.

“We’re encouraging people to read the books and either hide them again with books or some kind of art for others to enjoy,” Isra told CVN during a recent interview.

If you find one of the girl scout book bags, feel free to post a picture on their facebook page. You can find it at www.facebook.com/GSTroop33727AbandonedBooks. They would love to see your pictures.

View a full video interview by Scanning this QR Code with your Smart Phone:

Delivering Food and Friendship

Castro

Valley resident Michael Lee is wheelchair bound and cannot drive, making the otherwise simple task of grocery shopping for food and meals extremely difficult.

Meals on Wheels volunteer driver Carlos Garcia (at right) delivers two meals to Castro Valley resident Michael Lee. volunteers to home bound seniors in Oakland, Castro Valley, San Leandro and San Lorenzo.

Thanks to San Leandro based nonprofit Meals on Wheels, Lee and hundreds of other home bound senior citizens can get hearty and inexpensive meals delivered.

Program Director Charlie Deterline told CVN the best part of what the organization does is to foster impotant interaction and friendship to seniors who may not be able to get out of their homes often.

Every week, Meals on Wheels serves hot and nutritious meals to 1,200 to 1,300 people for a nominal fee. The meals are delivered by

If you are interested in volunteering, donating or utilizing the Meals on Wheels delivery service, visit www.sosmow.org or call 510-582-1263.

How Sweet it is - Teens organize Homeless fundraiser

We are always hon-

ored to help volunteers trying to enrich the community and improve life across Castro Valley.

Like the message we received from Meghan McQuown Brewer on December 20. Meghan’s message was about a bake sale organized by a Above : The girls of “C.A.N.N” - Claire, Alyssa, Natalia and Nora, during a plangroup of 5th grade girls ning session at Lake Chabot Public Market. Below : Their bake sale in front of Diwho have been friends rect Sales Floors raised $1,400 for the homeles shelter at First Presbyterian Church. at Chabot Elementary since kindergarten.

The winter bake sale at the beginning of January by “Girls C.A.N.N” coined by the first letters of the girls names - Claire, Alyssa, Natalia and Nora, raised money for homeless services at First Presbyterian Church on Grove Way. In just a few hours they netted $1,400 for the church’s winter shelter.

The effort of these girls is another example of how generous and caring folks of all ages in Castro Valley are.

RICKEY CHANG’S TRAVEL ADVENTURES We took a cruise along the

highways and by-ways of the Southwest on Route 66. There is a lot of preserved history along this popular route. From an old Studebaker parked on a stretch of old Route 66 to burros that still roam freely in the streets of Oatman, Arizona. This is Main Street U.S.A.! -Rickey Chang

www. rickeyandniastraveladventures.com

CVN Restaurant Review with Cedric - Los Molcajetes

F

or his second restaurant review show, Cedric paid a visit to a longtime Redwood Road establishment...

Los Molcajetes Mexican Restaurant.

Kicking off the meal on the right foot, Ced ordered an impressive and massve “top shelf cadillac” margarita.

For those who don’t know, the drink gets its name from the additional splash of Gran Marnier on top and is typically reserved for margaritas that are made with higher quality “top shelf” liquor. Gran Marnier is another type of orange liquor, but unlike Cointreau, it is brandy based.

For his entree, Cedric ordered the combo “Molcajete” from the menu. When it ar- View a Full Length Video Review by rived fiery hot and bubbling, it amazed both of us!

“I didn’t expect a cauldron of steaming protein and vegetables,” he said as he tucked into the spicy steak, shrimp chicken and veggie packed bowl of goodness.

How was Los Molcajetes? According to Ced, they beat out local spots La Piñata #1 and #2 in addition to Don Jose’s. Scan the QR code at above right to view the full video review.

Scanning this QR Code with your Smart Phone: