For the last few years, I have been a committed pedestrian, taking time to walk, exercise my husky Juneau and avoiding driving for nearby errands.

Love him or leave him, Dobie made his mark in Castro Valley through his love of education and our community.

Over 50 years ago, the State of California “purchased more than 400 parcels of property for construction of a 14-mile 238 Corridor Bypass Freeway to run through the City of Hayward and parts of unincorporated Alameda County.” Many people fought the project since its inception in 1961. Sustained activism and …

Last Saturday morning my colleague in Poway had a day that began similarly to that of many Rabbis. He welcomed a larger than normal crowd into his Synagogue. It was Shabbat, Passover and a day on which Jews recite the Yizkor (memorial) prayer. He led the services and directed the …

I took my one-year-old son with me recently to the Hayward Area Historical Society’s Museum of History and Culture, where they are showcasing the local Japanese American WWII experience. The exhibit, called Loyal Americans: Japanese American Imprisonment During World War II, was to end in October but is extended until …

I moved with my family to Castro Valley in 2000. Impressed by the excellent public schools, nature trails, and BART access, I was willing to overlook the fact that our unincorporated town seemed to drift a bit when it came to having a distinct identity. The plethora of fast food …

“Why Public Art Matters” [Towns] gain value through public art – cultural, social, and economic value. Public art is a distinguishing part of our public history and our evolving culture. It reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our [towns] and uniqueness to our communities. Public art humanizes the built …

Paul Keener, a Senior Transportation Planner at the Alameda County Public Works Agency, passed away this past Saturday. He will be remembered for his role in working with many community activists in Castro Valley and the unincorporated areas of Alameda County to create a more walkable and bikeable community. “Paul Keener …

First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (First Pres) wants to build and install six mobile housing units, or “tiny homes,” in its parking lot to help homeless individuals transition from homeless to housed. At last week’s Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, Lead Pastor Jake Medcalf and Community Development Director Chizu Buckalew told …

Time has always been a good way of measuring things, but those measurements can sometimes seem distorted. For example, it feels like it was a few months ago that we moved to Castro Valley so that our toddler son would eventually have a good public school system to be a …