TUESDAY, MARCH 17 ST. PATRICK’S DAY CASTROCASTROA COMMUNITY VALLEYVALLEY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE FORUMFORUM 1989 YEAR 32 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 NO. 10 EDEN MEDICAL CENTER MAC MEETING INSIDE YOUR FORUM Marketplace OUR TOWN Preparing for Coronavirus By Linda Sandsmark Set to Open CASTRO VALLEY FORUM This cold and flu season the Eden Next Month Medical Center staff is also preparing for COVID-19, known as the Novel By Amy Sylvestri Coronavirus. CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Election Results Preparations include close coordina- See how voters made tion with state and local health depart- If all goes according to plan, the Cas- their voices heard on ments, as well as the Centers for Disease tro Valley Marketplace should be open local ballot measures Control and Prevention (CDC). for business by the end of next month, the As of yesterday, there were 93 con- Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council Page 3 firmed cases of the coronavirus in the (MAC) heard at Monday night’s meeting. Bay Area, 153 cases in California, and 2 MAC member Ken Carbone gave a brief HEALTH confirmed deaths in the state. update on the highly anticipated specialty “As always, the health and safety food market project (the site of the former of our patients, care providers and the Daugherty’s building), saying that he has communities we serve remains our top heard that an invite-only pre-Grand Open- priority,” Dr. William Isenberg, Sutter ing event is scheduled for April 17 and the Health’s chief safety officer, said in a marketplace will be open to the public by statement. the end of the month following several de- “Another important component of lays. our preparedness measures is helping “The actual opening of the marketplace Heart Health ensure the careful and appropriate use is still to be determined and probably clos- Questions to ask to find of personal protective equipment (PPE), er to the end of April,” said Carbone. “It’s out if you are at risk of especially given national concerns about getting closer.” cardiovascular disease PPE shortages. Our facilities are making In other MAC news, the council turned Page 6 N95 masks and other required protective down a proposal to allow a chiropractic equipment available to clinical staff as clinic in the Castro Village Shopping Pla- LIVING appropriate, and will continue to do so. za, saying that there would be too much “We are also communicating with traffic for the parking lot to handle and staff about when and how to use personal that the Village should be kept to retail protective equipment for those patients purposes as much possible for as long as that require that level of protection,” Dr. possible. Isenberg’s statement continued. “Do you think you have capacity for an- Coronavirus alert notices are posted other 100 cars a day?” MAC Chair Marc in several languages at entrances to Eden Crawford asked the applicant. “The tenants Hospital and adjoining Sutter Health that we hear from are complaining about see EDEN on page 8 PHOTO BY LINDA SANDSMARK You’re in Luck see MAC on page 8 Tasting these recipes will make you feel like you’ve found a pot of gold Page 7 Dryer Winter Could Mean Summer Drought, Fires By Michael Singer than 3 inches this year. Compare 2020 water plan until it looks at California Department of For- McLean says. While some are CASTRO VALLEY FORUM that to 2017 when the Bay Area precipitation levels in April. estry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) false alarms, at least 95% of the INDEX recorded 45 inches in two months. “We always ask our customers management is watching precipi- fires Cal Fire responds to are less Despite the sprinkling of rain California’s current index for to use water wisely,” says EB- tation levels and monitoring spe- than 10 acres in size. Classified Ads ............ 12 Castro Valley received last week, precipitation is 49% of the average MUD Senior Public Information cific zones in the state and prepar- PG&E is also sending postcards a drier than expected January and for this time of year and its snow- Representative, Andrea Pook. “If ing in advance. to more than 200,000 customers Community Calendar ... 4 February means we could be brac- pack level is 44% of normal, ac- precipitation levels fall below a “We are using this time to encouraging them to update their Crosswords ............... 13 ing for water and fire alerts this cording to the California Depart- certain threshold, we may ask for make sure our aircraft are main- cell phone number, email address- summer and early fall. ment of Water Resources. voluntary conservation but it’s still tained and ready to go in case es, and other key information so East Bay Living ............ 7 U.S. Drought Monitor data re- “People are wondering are we too early.” we’re needed,” Scott McLean, the company can contact them in Health & Fitness ........... 6 leased last Thursday reveals that ever going to see rain again and I In the meantime, EBMUD is Cal Fire’s deputy chief of com- advance should it become neces- moderate drought conditions are want to point out every winter Cal- asking customers to turn their irri- munications told the Castro Val- sary to temporarily turn off power Homes ........................ 10 now expected in Alameda Coun- ifornia experiences a three to six- gation systems off and check them ley Forum. “In addition to calling for safety this fire season. Horoscope ................... 4 ty. That’s an increased severity week dry spell,” Michelle Mead, for leaks. If plants look dry, the on our 2,000 seasonal firefighters, “We are asking our custom- condition from just a week ago a meteorologist with the National preferred method is to spot water we are able to call for mutual aid ers to be sure we have their latest Obituaries .................. 14 when forecasters reported lighter Weather Service in Sacramento them in the morning or after dusk. from other states and areas to fight contact information so we can do Opinions .................... 14 drought conditions for several cit- said in a statement. Even if March does produce a fires.” our best to reach them in advance ies in the East Bay. East Bay Municipal Utility good amount of rainfall, experts Cal Fire has already responded of a potential Public Safety Pow- Weather ....................... 2 February was such a dry District (EBMUD) reports its res- are already coming to grips that to 467 calls in its jurisdiction this er Shutoff event.” says PG&E’s month—third driest on record— ervoirs are at 77% capacity but the 2020 wildfire season may ar- year compared to 118 responses Chief Customer Officer Laurie PHONE: (510) 614-1560 that Castro Valley received less won’t consider any changes to its rive sooner than expected. during the same period last year, Giammona. CASTRO VALLEY FORUM 2 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 CV SPORTS HALL OF FAME Castro Valley Weather Mar. 11 - 15, 2020 Track Champion Jack Welch Triumphant in Races and Life Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Mostly Cloudy Mostly Sunny Sunny Possible Showers Rainy Fourteenth in a series profiling 3,200 meters while winning two High 68° Low 48° High 70° Low 47° High 66° Low 49° High 55° Low 46° High 53° Low 40° the 16 new members of the Castro league championships apiece Valley Sports Hall of Fame. The in the 800 and 1,600. Redwood induction banquet will take place Christian won three league team Almanac Moon Phases Sunday, April 26, at the Redwood titles in Welch’s four seasons. Canyon Event Center. More info at Welch’s remarkable record was Past Week’s Rain: 00.10 Mar. Mar. Apr. Apr. castrovalleysportsfoundation.org. enough to earn him enshrinement Season To Date: 05.22 16 24 1 7 in the 2020 class of the Castro Normal To Date: 15.90 By Dave Del Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame. But Season Average: 21.22 SPECIAL TO THE FORUM his impact on local track and cross country went well beyond his indi- Sun sets at 7:13 p.m. today, rises at 7:27 a.m. Thursday. ack Welch’s life was like one vidual accomplishments. of his races: short, triumphant Gillette recalled times when and memorable to those who Welch, after he’d completed his Got Your Castro Valley Forum, Jshared his path. race, retraced his steps on the The former Redwood Chris- Jack Welch course to encourage teammates to Got Your Coffee, Life is Good! tian High track and cross country finish strong. That kind of attitude PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY champion died in 2007 at the age the big reason why. obviously caught the eye of more DELIVERED TO OVER 20,000 HOMES - TOTAL CIRCULATION 22,500 of 21 as the result of brain dam- “Same thing in track. We are than his own coach. age suffered in a car accident that a very small school, but we had “After the accident, his mom To advertise call occurred nine days after his high a lot of good athletes. He had a would get him in a wheelchair Mary Florence: 510-861-3270 or Linda Nakhai: 510-915-1513 school graduation in 2004. His dream of winning the track cham- and take him to the cross country 2060 Washington Ave. • San Leandro, California 94577 legacy is still being felt in the Ea- pionship. He had a vision … he meets,” recalled Gillette, noting gles’ athletic program. could see one guy was fast, one that Welch had a younger brother GOT A NEWS TIP? CALL 510-614-1560 “He was just an unusually great guy could jump, and he got them (Andrew) and two younger sisters young man,” recalled Steve Gil- to join the team.