How FirstPres Church has helped neighbors in need of food and shelter
In December 2016, someone come by the FirstPres office on a rainy afternoon asking if we could help them. With thankfulness, this “Neighbor in Need” received a blanket that we had and went on their way. But we could not shake the feeling that we had to do better. There were …
As number of families lacking permanent housing increases, Castro Valley Unified builds out a support network
It takes a village to support students and families. In line with our goal of meeting the academic and social emotional needs of all our students, Castro Valley Unified School District’s (CVUSD) effort to serve all students and families was expanded last year to better serve the growing number of …
CV The Sweet Live: Music heals, brings communities together
CV The Sweet Live’s mission is simple: to provide ongoing opportunities for CV residents to experience live music. Whether as part of an audience in the community, as a participant in a drum or singing circle, as a soloist or a player/singer in a duet/trio/quartet or band or as one of the hosts in a CV House Concert network, opportunities for engagement are varied and many.
The Many Loves of Donald “Dobie” Gelles
Love him or leave him, Dobie made his mark in Castro Valley through his love of education and our community.
MAC to elect new chair, consider amendments to General Plan Zoning
Castro Valley’s Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) is scheduled to elect a new MAC Chair at its Monday night meeting at 6:00 at the Castro Valley Library. Under new Rules and Procedures adopted for the MAC last October, a Chair and Vice Chair cannot serve more than two consecutive years in …
A freeway would run through it: Reflecting on the history of the 238 parcels and who decides their future
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 …
“We fight darkness with light”
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 …
After Tiny Homes: Where do people go after?
As people were asking us hard questions about the Tiny Home Project, one kept recurring: “Where do people go after?” The approved Tiny Home Project for the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (FPCH) campus is broken up into two 18-month cohorts – after that time period, the residents are required …
How about a new CV bench in an accessible CV BART?
Maybe we should consider a GoFundMe to design, secure a truly accessible Paratransit blue curb pick up/ drop off area at Castro Valley BART?
Racism and hate close to home during World War II
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 …