The excitement and anticipation among volunteers and staff at Castro Valley’s new library on Norbridge Avenue last Friday could be felt throughout the building as books were still being moved and last-minute touches were being put on lighting systems, windows and furniture.

“The staff and community just love it and the feedback is just awesome. I honestly believe this building will be the center of the Castro Valley community,” said Library Manager Carolyn Moskovitz as she repositioned an oversize book in a collection that now has plenty of space to be displayed. READ MORE

Officers from the California Department of Corrections’ SWAT team, armed in full battle gear and ready for a rigorous and realistic Urban Shield exercise, make their assault on a secluded East Bay Regional Park scrap yard high above Lake Chabot Saturday afternoon. READ MORE

You’d be surprised by the amount of history that lives next door to you in Castro Valley. Consider the story of 83-year old Pauline Vieira and the role she played in the evolution of the Castro Valley library.

In 1957, Vieira was a 25-year old homemaker and mother of three children: Gerilyn, 9, Susan, 6 and David, 3. Numerous times a week, Vieira took her children to the Boothe library, which was located where the Walgreens in Castro Village now stands. READ MORE

The rainy weather earlier in the week was replaced by an abundance of pleasant sunshine Friday afternoon for the hundreds of parents and other spectators who lined Redwood Road for Castro Valley High’s big annual Homecoming Parade.  “I’ve been seeing kids come and go in the parade since the 1960s,” said Emil Kern of Castro Valley, who staked claim to a shady spot on Redwood Road to enjoy the parade from the comfort of a folding chair. “It’s always a terrific time and the campus and school are just fantastic.” READ MORE

After 90 minutes of discussion at Monday night’s meeting, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council approved a fence closure at Pepper Street and Seven Hills Road on a 4-2 vote, with board chair Cheryl Miraglia abstaining.  That vote came just moments after a 4-3 vote opposed a resident’s proposal to close Pepper Street where the narrow and private road intersects with Malabar Avenue. READ MORE

Creating a living will is one of those things most people want and plan to do, but rarely get around to actually doing.

Less than 30 percent of Americans currently have one. But preparing one now, gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life, not to mention it can spare your loved ones some very stressful decisions at an emotional time. READ MORE

The first big storm of the season, with heavy rain and strong, gusty winds, blew into the East Bay Monday night, bringing with it toppled trees, power failures, flooding, mud slides and numerous traffic accidents.

PG&E reported more than 3,000 homes in the East Bay were without power at mid-day Tuesday, with the brunt of the storm still to come. Power had been restored to more than half of the estimated 38,800 homes in the Greater Bay Area that were blacked out Monday night. Read more

If you are indoors—stay inside. Move only a few stdeps to a nearby safe place. Take cover under a heavy piece of furniture and hold on, or stand against an inside wall. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it’s safe to exit. Stay away from windows. If you are on an upper floor, do not take an elevator. If you are in bed, hold on, stay there and protect your head with a pillow.

If you are outdoors – find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines and drop to the ground until the shaking stops. Read more

For over a decade the Chapel of the Valley Mortuary building at the corner of Lake Chabot Road and Congress Way has sat vacant. It conducted its last funeral sometime in 1997.

Twelve years ago, a large corporation purchased Chapel of the Valley and hundreds of other mortuaries statewide, subsequently selling off 350 of them, including the Castro Valley business that had operated since the 1950s. Read more

Editor’s Note: “Once upon a time,”Forum reporter Robert Souza worked for two years at Castro Valley’s old library on Redwood Road. This past week, he took his first tour inside the town’s grand new library on Norbridge Avenue. Here are his insights.

“This is just stunning and remarkable,” said Library Manager Carolyn Moskovitz Thursday afternoon as she led me on an exclusive tour of the new $22.3-million, three-acre library project that is now undergoing its final tweaks just weeks before its grand opening. Read more