The California Highway Patrol and the Castro Valley Library present Start Smart: Teen Driver Program. CHP officers will discuss traffic collision avoidance techniques, collision causing factors, driver/parent responsibilities, and seatbelt usage. Additionally, testimonies will be provided by officers who have investigated fatal collisions involving teens, and by family members who have lost love ones in traffic collisions. The Start Smart program is a driver safety education class which targets new and future licensed teenage drivers between the age of 15 - 19 and their parents/guardians. A parent/guardian is required to attend the class with their teen. To register, call the Library Information Desk at 510-667-7900 or register online at www.aclibrary.org

Please join Castro Valley Veterans of Foreign War in recognizing our Vietnam War Veterans at Castro Valley Veterans Memorial. March 29 at 10 AM. Featured Speaker will be Sargent Bill Green- Army Veteran with Two Bronze Star and Two Purple Heart.

The next meeting of the Eden Garden Club will be Monday, March 24, 9:30am at Faith Lutheran Church, 20080 Redwood Road in Castro Valley. The speaker,
Lawrence Lee, a former instructor in Landscape Horticulture at Merritt College will begin at 10:00am. He will give a demonstration on the basics of plant propagation, which will include making more plants through seeds, cuttings, dividing and grafting. He will also have some interesting succulents and plants for sale that he sells at the monthly Alameda Antique Faire. Meetings are free for everyone. Visit: https://edengardenclub.com

Join us on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30-8:00 for a family workshop focusing on practical strategies for preventing family conflict. As kids grow up, parents audition for the role of (unpaid) consultant. Building trust when there’s a conflict helps you get the job. This workshop shows you how. Bring kids as young as 10, provided they genuinely want to come. You can tell them this is a chance to find out how they can get more of what they want, more of the time, in a way that works for everybody.

 The Castro Valley Library is a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The library is located at 3600 Norbridge Avenue and is wheelchair accessible. The library will provide an ASL interpreter for any event with at least seven working days’ notice. Please call 510-667-7900 or TTY 888-663-0660 or email castrovalley@aclibrary.org.

You’ve heard of a book club. How about a movie club with the San Francisco Chronicle’s long-time film critic Mick LaSalle! Join us on March 16 at 2:30 pm for a discussion of the film A Most Violent Year.

First, watch the film, A Most Violent Year (2014; Rated R) starring Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain and David Oyelowo. (DVDs are available through the Library’s collection and Link Plus. The film is also available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, if you already happen to subscribe to those services.)

Next, consider questions developed by Mick. Questions will be emailed to registrants.

Then, come hear Mick’s take on the film and discuss it with fellow community members on March 16.

Registration is required. For information about this and other events, visit www.aclibrary.org or call 510/667-7900.

The Castro Valley Library, a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library will provide an ASL interpreter for any event with at least seven working days’ notice. Please call 510-667-7900 or TTY 888-663-0660.

On Tuesday, March 11 the Rotary Club of Castro Valley hosts the Richard King Speech Contest where students from the Castro Valley High School and Redwood Christian School speak on the Four-Way Test. Winners are awarded a cash prize and advance to District-level competitions. A buffet lunch and the speech competition will take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. The buffet lunch is $20, and reservations must be made by 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9 at castrovalleyrotary.org.

The Library welcomes Dr. Pablo Gonzalez from the Department of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley who will help us understand the lived experiences of Mexican and Mexican-American families in California. This special presentation takes place on Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm. Dr. Gonzalez’s lecture will also help us understand the history of some topics in the featured book for Castro Valley Reads 2025 The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. Registration is required. For information about this and other events, visit www.aclibrary.org or call 510-667-7900.

Castro Valley Adult & Career Education offers a Paid Internship Program for adults with disabilities.  Interns will gain paid work experience at local businesses and organizations matched to their interests and skills.  To register and to learn more about it, visit http://cvace.linl./pipnight or contact a Transition Specialist at stridespip@cv.k12.ca.us. The event will be held from 6:00- 7:00 pm at 4430 Alma Avenue, room 12/13 on the upper campus,. Call the school at (510)886-1000, ext. 2221 for additional information.

Numerous programs may help reduce your health care and prescription drug costs if you meet the eligibility requirements.

At this FREE presentation, we will learn about:

• The Medicare program and its costs
• Medi-Cal and the Medicare Savings Programs
• The Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) for prescription drugs
• Eligibility requirements, the application processes, and the benefits

The program is FREE and no reservations are required. The Castro Valley Library is a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library is located at 3600 Norbridge Avenue and is wheel chair accessible. For more information, call the Library at 510-667-7900.

Faith Lutheran Church, Castro Valley is converting a portion of their lawn into a pollinator garden highway! Round two takes place on February 23, 11am (immediately following our Sunday service). We are hoping for your help in spreading mulch, planting pollinating plants and beautifying our property at 20080 Redwood Road. Wear your grubby pants, bring a pair of gloves (and maybe a trowel or shovel), and let's invite more pollinators into our community!

Join us for a fun-filled family movie night featuring the animated hit Sing! at Castro Valley School of Music on Friday, February 21 from 6 to 8pm (21060 Redwood Rd. Suite 100, Castro Valley). Get ready to cheer for your favorite characters as they chase their dreams in an epic singing competition full of heart and humor. But that’s not all—we’ll have exciting games before the movie! Bring your family, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a night of music, laughter, and community.

Step into the spotlight at Castro Valley School of Music’s Open Mic Night Thursday, February 20, 6pm - 8pm at Castro Valley School of Music (21060 Redwood Rd. Suite 100, Castro Valley). Whether you're a seasoned performer or taking the stage for the first time, this is your chance to showcase your talent in a fun and supportive environment. Sing a song, play an instrument, or even perform a duet—it's all about celebrating music and creativity! Bring your friends, family, and enthusiasm—let’s make it a night to remember!

Join the Rotary Club of Castro Valley for an evening of networking and camaraderie! Meet our Rotarians, learn about our mission, and connect with like-minded community members.

Location: JP's Family Restaurant & Sports Lounge, 3600 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar as you mingle and build meaningful connections.

Castro Valley Reads is an annual literary event that asks our residents to read and discuss the same book. It builds community by encouraging a thoughtful exchange of ideas and celebrates the joy of reading together. Castro Valley Reads is facilitated by the Castro Valley Library and generously funded by the Friends of the Castro Valley Library. 

Registration for the 8th annual Castro Valley Reads begins today, and our special kick-off event takes place on Sunday, February 2 at 2 pm.

For 2025 we will be celebrating Mexican-American history and culture with a work of contemporary fiction called The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea.

The plot is simple enough. In his final days, beloved and ailing patriarch Miguel Angel de La Cruz, affectionately called Big Angel, has summoned his entire clan for one last legendary birthday party. But as the party approaches, his mother, nearly one hundred, dies, transforming the weekend into a farewell doubleheader. 

The magic of this book comes in the telling. Imagine a tornado picking up speed as it whirls through and around each character dislodging and blending their memories, foibles, regrets, desires, and grief through rapid fire dialogues and interior monologues. As we learn tales that have passed into family lore, we are treated to a depiction of the de La Cruz family that is at turns tragic, bawdy, funny, joyful, and, ultimately, about love and grace. 

“We need stories to understand ourselves, and we especially need to read stories about people who are different from ourselves. We need to open ourselves up to those stories and find ways of thinking of ‘others’ as having commonalities with ‘us,’” said Dawn Balestreri, Manager of the Castro Valley Library. “That’s the opportunity we’ve tried to provide with Castro Valley Reads for the past 8 years.”

Our Kick-Off Event is Sunday, February 2 from 2 pm to 3 pm (no registration required). You’ll learn more about the book and be able to pick up a free copy, while supplies last. You’ll also hear the beautiful music of Cascada de Flores. Please register for a discussion group online before you arrive.

Discussion group registration begins today. You can register for a Library-facilitated group or you can form your own group with three or more people. To learn more about discussion groups and to register, visit aclibrary.org/castro-valley-reads.

Through the beginning of April, in addition to discussion groups, we have a great line up of programs related to the themes of the book. And on Friday, April 11, featured author Luis Alberto Urrea will be joining us in person at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre for the Finale event.

The Castro Valley Library, a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library will provide an ASL interpreter for any event with at least seven working days’ notice. Please call 510-667-7900 or TTY 888-663-0660.

Alan Chamaro, Executive Vice President of Lowe’s Enterprises, will speak on “Attracting the Right Developers.” A native of Castro Valley, Mr. Chamaro will explain why developments happen in some communities and not others, and how a community can build a market.

This is the fifth in a series of presentations sponsored by Castro Valley City, Inc.  The speakers will share their experiences in transforming cities for success in the future. The lecture is free and will be held at 2:00 pm at the Castro Valley School of Music at 20990 Redwood Road (across from BART). More information is available at castrovalleycity.com. 

The Madrigals, the premier acapella chorus from Castro Valley High School, will visit our Club. The Madrigals will perform between 1:00 and 1:15 pm.

A buffet lunch and the program take place at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) at 12:00-1:30 p.m. The buffet lunch is $20, and reservations must be made by 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, at castrovalleyrotary.org (Upcoming Events banner).

Faith Lutheran Church, Castro Valley is converting a portion of its lawn into a pollinator garden highway! We could sure use your help in laying cardboard, spreading mulch and beautifying our property along Redwood Road. Wear your grubby pants, bring a pair of gloves, and let’s invite more pollinators into our community! Event is December 8, 11am, at 20080 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley.

Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony Saturday, December 7 at Castro Valley Veterans Memorial. Ceremony starts at 10am. Navy Veteran will speak about a Forgotten Battleship USS Utah.

Holiday gift wrapping. Join Rotary Club of Castro Valley for a festive holiday lunch with a purpose at Redwood Canyon Golf Course (17007 Redwood Road, Castro Valley) from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. In true Rotary spirit, we’ll wrap gifts to bring cheer to those in need while enjoying good food, great company, and plenty of holiday fun. The buffet lunch is $20, and reservations must be made by 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, at castrovalleyrotary.org (Upcoming Events banner). Bring your wrapping skills—or just a willingness to help—and join the holiday spirit of service and fellowship!

Join us on Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm for a presentation from sleep health professional and RN Robyn Woidtke about the fundamentals of sleep. She’ll discuss:

• Why we sleep and why it is important.

• The consequences of poor sleep and sleep deprivation.

• The major sleep disorders.

• What we need to sleep well.

• And more!

About the presenter: Robyn Woidtke, MSN-Ed, RN, RPSGT, CCSH, FAAST, began working in the emerging field of sleep medicine in 1985. She worked a variety of roles within the sleep clinic, including conducting overnight sleep studies. She also was part of a team that conducted SIDS research at Stanford. Within the medical device industry, she managed clinical research projects and worked with marketing teams to develop educational programs and literature. She has authored numerous publications, book chapters, and research-focused abstracts and lectures on a variety of sleep-related topics.

Registration is required. For information about this and other events, visit www.aclibrary.org or call 510/667-7900.

The next meeting of the Eden Garden Club will be Monday, November 25th at 9:30am at Faith Lutheran Church, 20080 Redwood Road in Castro Valley.
At 10:00 we will begin with Josh Rubietta of Down by the Bay Nursery. Josh will be speaking about native bulbs that will bloom in the Spring.
Sandra Nevala-Lee and Stephanie Brady will also speak on EBMUD rebates and the “BEE Highway.” Meetings are free and guests are always welcome. https://edengardenclub.com

Castro Valley / Eden Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly mixer tomorrow, Thursday Nov. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Don Jose’s located at 3430 Village Dr.

Attracting the Right Developers: Alan Chamaro, Executive Vice President of Lowe’s Enterprises

A native of Castro Valley, Mr. Chamaro will explain why developments happen in some communities and not others, how a community can build a market, and the comps needed for developers to think about Castro Valley. At Lowe’s, he oversees their activities in Northern California and Denver. He is a past member of the Policy Advisory Board for UC Berkeley's Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics and a member of the Urban Land Institute. He holds an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and a BS in civil engineering from UC, Davis. He is a licensed professional engineer.

Eden Garden Club is having a Holiday Bazaar from 9am to 1pm at the Faith Lutheran Church located at 20080 Redwood Road in Castro Valley. The Holiday Bazaar will feature holiday gifts, gift certificates, handicrafts, homemade treats, plants, garden and storage goods, books, children's toys and housewares. All proceeds benefit School Garden Grants awarded to CVUSD and HUSD Schools. Donations are not accepted during the event. For more information, please call Pat Payne a 510-427-5261. 

Please join us for the annual Light Parade. Booths, music, a petting zoo, pony rides, food, and Santa! Come early and enjoy the fun. 3 to 9pm on Castro Valley Blvd between San Miguel and Redwood. Sponsored by the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.edenareachamber.com.