Did you graduate from Castro Valley High School in 1963? If so, your fellow alumni would like to hear from you. The grads are planning a 50th reunion for Sept. 21, with some socializing Sept. 20. The tentative schedule includes a get-together Friday evening, Saturday barbecue and picnic, and Saturday evening main event.

Those interested are asked to contact Tara O’Leary at olearytara@mac.com.

Update: The development was approved by the council last week. No public comments. bit.ly/S0Qhru
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The Hayward City Council will hear a request tonight to extend the Stonebrae development agreement another five years.

Stonebrae sits above Cal State East Bay in the Hayward hills. As part of the project, it built an elementary school and added a golf course.

The council approved a 10-year agreement with what was then Hayward 1900 for the project in 1999, and the first subdivision map was approved in 2005. The project stalled because of the recession, and the developer was given a five-year extension in 2008. That extension expires in February.

So far, there are 250 occupied houses in the development. According to a staff report, developers are planning about 180 more, which would be built over the next five years. Developers also want to construct a permanent clubhouse at the golf course.

When the project was proposed, it was fought by environmentalists and others concerned about the additional traffic on Fairview Avenue, Hayward Boulevard and Oakes Drive. And now it would add more traffic onto Five Canyons Parkway into Castro Valley.

No one spoke against the project when it went before the Planning Commission in December.

The meeting starts at 7:30 in Council Chambers, Hayward City Hall, 777 B St.

Workers tearing out old sidewalks along Mission Boulevard in Hayward accidentally cut the gas line to Sue’s Cuts & Perms on Saturday morning.

That meant no hot water, and thus no shampoos or perms Saturday or Sunday. a serious hit for the shop. A electric heater was brought in so the haircuts could continue. Sue’s is at 24277 Mission, across the street from Memorial Park.

The sidewalks are being replaced along Mission in the stretch south of the Jackson-Foothill intersection as part of the Route 238 Improvement Corridor Project.

Drivers can expect slow traffic through the area the next few days as work continues.

Rumors that trees would not be planted along Foothill Boulevard are false.

The rumors apparently started when work crews filled up the tree wells with asphalt. Not to worry – the asphalt will be dug out and trees will go in later. The trees are part of the landscaping along Foothill, which also has new sidewalks and streetlights as part of the Route 238 Corridor Improvement Project.

The asphalt is temporary, says Kevin Briggs, Hayward’s project manager for the road construction. “We put the asphalt in for the holiday season to clean things up and make the area more pedestrian friendly,” he says.

And some of the irrigation system still needs to be installed before the trees are planted, Briggs says.

Hayward police are beefing up their presence in a 15-block area in downtown Hayward through January. Part of that includes traffic enforcement (aka tickets), with zero tolerance (you can’t talk your way out of one). Don’t say you weren’t warned.

www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_22337437/hayward-beefs-up-police-presen

It’s been too long, but The HayWord is back. This is not just our site to post updates and capture the community as we find it; it’s also your site. We hope you’ll visit us and share links, comments and perspectives. Stop on by; we’ll be here.

The Selmeczki family outside their newly opened hardware store on Castro Valley Boulevard in 1926. From left, dad Pete, son Ernie, mom Mary and son Frank.

The Hayward Area Historical Society will hold its 13th annual history awards ceremony on Friday, and tickets are still available. We had a story on Pete’s Hardware in Castro Valley, which is being honored as a historic business.

This year’s other winners are Randy Wittorp for his work to restore his Tudor home on Prospect Hill in Hayward, the Hayward Municipal Band for years of summer concerts and other events, Hayward High teacher Peggy Hearne for her history-rich curriculum, Robert and Erica Campisi for their work to improve Cherryland and Meek Park, and Supervisor Nate Miley for his leadership in preservation efforts at the San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery.

Find more information on all the winners in the HAHS press release after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Correction: Oops, the link below isn’t to the final story after all, but this one is.

 Here is the final story on the board’s approval of the parcel tax measure. I had a voice mail from Trustee Luis Reynoso this morning, he wanted people to know that he tried to get a low-income exemption added to the measure but the addendum was not accepted by Trustee Maribel Heredia, who made the motion on the item.

He said at the meeting that when he was a teacher he stockpiled granola bars and snacks because a lot of kids were coming to school unfed because they lived in poverty. He added that includes homeowners, and said to look at the number of foreclosures as evidence.

“So when you tell me it’s only $58, go tell people who lost their homes that it’s only $58,” he said. “Tell them when they can’t feed their kid when they send them to school.”

Also of note: Trustee William McGee said he’s wary of the tax because of the “way the school board conducts business.” He expressed disappointment earlier in the meeting because he has requested a demographics study be taken up by the board, and it has yet to happen. Also said they have yet to address the matter of new schools opening, some of which will be underenrolled.

“I hear the community wanting us to support this, but I’m not hearing the board talking about agenda construction, and the schools opening up,” he said. “I’m not sure staff has direction.”

He wanted to discuss the matter, but Board President Jesus Armas said the matter at hand is the resolution concerning the parcel tax.

“Wow,” McGee said. “This is an issue. I’m asking when are we going to start talking, as a school board, about how to maximize dollars if this gets passed. … I’m looking for an answer and not getting it.”

For the sake of school district comparison, here are stories on what’s going on in Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, San Leandro and New Haven.

Last weekend saw the groundbreaking of a the Castro Valley Veterans Memorial at Castro Valley Community Park. That’s the one on Lake Chabot Road near Seven Hills. Here’s the press release:

Castro Valley, CA – It was history in the making Saturday, March 3, 2012 as a dedicated band of volunteers and local dignitaries joined more than 200 members of the public to break ground on a permanent tribute to the sacrifices of military men and women: the Castro Valley Veterans Memorial. The Memorial, now fully permitted, is closer than ever to completion.

The Memorial will one day soon occupy a prominent corner of Castro Valley Community Park at Lake Chabot Road and Quail Avenue.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #9601 has been the driving force to bring the vision to reality, all in the name of commemorating those who have honorably served our nation and defended and continue to defend our freedom and way of life.

“I see this memorial as a salute to the military veterans of Castro Valley and Alameda County who have given so much to defend and protect this great nation, the United States of America,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley.

Supervisor Miley donated funds for part of the memorial that will signify the contribution of women, a “Rosie the Riveter” bench. His is one of the many generous contributions, including a $50,000 donation from the family of U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Travis M. Amsbaugh. Sgt. Amsbaugh was a Castro Valley native who passed away on September 1, 2011.

Joining Supervisor Miley at the groundbreaking were State Senator Ellen M. Corbett, State Assemblyman Bob Weickowski,  Hayward City Council Member Bill Quirk, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Director Dennis Waespi and East Bay Municipal Utility District Director Frank Mellon.

The  Castro Valley Veterans Memorial Committee acknowledges all of the major donors on its website at www.cvvm.info/sponsors. Committee members are: Michael L. Emerson, Patrick Flanagan, BART Board President John McPartland, Bob Pirone, Jim Uhlik, Art Benin and Mary Greenlee.

Although the committee has been successful in raising almost all of the required money,  more donations are still needed. Go to: www.cvvm.info for more information and to make a tax deductible donation.

Volunteer Joel Ellioff and HARD trustee Louis Andrade at the honarary brunch on Jan. 28.

Joel Ellioff was honored with Hayward Area Recreation and Park District’s volunteer of the year award. He works at the senior centers, and is a volunteer driver for day trips, bringing seniors co museums and other cultural attractions. He also volunteers in the woodshop program and spends his lunch  break in the kitchen, serving up hot meals.

HARD has a honors a volunteer each month and then picks one from the 12 for this honor. Find a list of all volunteers of the month and more on Joel in the press release after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »