The Castro Valley Forum

Alameda County Sheriff’s investigators have released descriptions of two wanted suspects in connection with the brazen midday slaying of a business owner on Redwood Road two weeks ago.

Around 2:45 p.m. on June 26, Christopher Bolton, 31, was fatally shot in the head at the store he had operated for the past five years— Alameda County Hydroponics. more

As crews worked nearby, demolishing an old apartment building to clear the land for the new construction, hundreds of Eden Medical Center employees and administrators joined with public officials last Wednesday in ceremonies to break ground for the new $320 million Eden Hospital on Lake Chabot Road.

“This all has been more than 10 years in the making to get to this point,” said Cassandra (Phelps) Clark, Sutter Project Communications Director. “It’s really a joy to be here to celebrate this day, it really feels like a family celebration.” more

During the past 70 years that they have lived in their quiet Castro Valley home on Anita Avenue, Bill and Vina Jaap have watched not only their little town grow, but also their amazing family of foster children. more

A wave of violent crimes hit Castro Valley last week, including a shooting took the life of a local business owner.

Just before 3 p.m. Friday, sheriff’s deputies were summoned to Alameda County Hydroponics, at 20910 Redwood Road, Suite C, where they found business owner Christopher Bolton, 31, suffering from gunshot wounds to his head. He was rushed to Eden Medical Center where he died that evening.

“Witnesses reported seeing two male suspects, one was armed with a gun,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Dixon. “So far, we believe this crime occurred in conjunction with a robbery.” Investigators believe the two suspects fled the scene on foot. more

Beginning next week, the big Safeway supermarket at Redwood Road and Castro Valley Blvd. will “go dry” for 45 days for selling alcohol to underage consumers during a series of decoy operations.

From July 9 through Aug. 23, all alcohol beverages including beer, wine and hard liquor will be off limits to Safeway shoppers. Store officials may either remove the products from their shelves or post signage announcing the suspension. more

Some Castro Valley traffic patterns will change next week as a part of the I-580-Castro Valley Interchange Improvement Project goes into effect.

On Tuesday, July 7, the offramp to Center Street from eastbound I-580 will be closed permanently. more

Making good on their promise, officials of the Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) are projecting Castro Valley’s Water Park will reopen in early July.

The popular water-and-sand play area in Castro Valley Community Park at 18988 Lake Chabot Road was closed a year ago by the district in an effort to reduce water use in the face of the continuing Northern California drought. more

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board (also known as a href=”http://www.StopWaste.Org” target=”newNews”>www.StopWaste.Org) yesterday announced that residents and businesses can no longer send plant debris to landfills under a new law.

ffected materials include grass, leaves, shrubbery, vines, tree branches and plant trimmings which, if contaminated with even small amounts of garbage, would render them useless for the production of compost. more

A number of local kids and their dads spent Father’s Day morning camped out in the picturesque bluff area of Lake Chabot as part of the “Grateful Dads” monthly excursion where dads get some face time with each other.

“When I moved to Castro Valley I wanted to find a dads’ group,” explained Allen Mueller who founded the group eight years ago. “It all started in Marin and this chapter has really grown.” more