The iconic green banner heralds the arrival of the Castro Valley High School Marching Band.

By Robert Souza

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Castro Valley’s new Streetscape Boulevard provided a lavish pathway for this year’s 32nd Annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade on Saturday.

A large crowd of spectators arrived early in the morning to stake claim on prime vantage points to enjoy the town’s traditional old-fashioned western parade.

“I’ve lived here for 40 years and have only missed the parade one year,” declared John Hales who arrived at 9 a.m. for his spot in front of the Chabot Cinema.

More than 70 units, including bands, floats from politicians, local schools, dance clubs and sports teams were lead by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse for the seven-block turnaround route between Lake Chabot and Redwood Road.

“Everything went  well. We had a nice crowd and the entries were fantastic,” said Rotary organizer Bill Nott.

A “new” boulevard to welcome the 32nd Annual Rowell Ranch  Parade: This spectacular view of Castro Valley Boulevard was captured just after a November rainstorm last year by professional photographer Terry VanderHeiden, who used a specialized high-reach system to get the camera up to this angle.

By Robert Souza

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Castro Valley’s spiffy new downtown will get a special inauguration Saturday morning when the town turns out to watch the 32nd Annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade.

“We are pleased and excited to have Castro Valley Boulevard completed to celebrate our parade,” explained Bill Nott of the Rotary club who told the Forum the parade will feature 70 participants this year. “The parade is one of the biggest community events. Everyone loves it and lines up the boulevard for it year after year.”

Last year’s parade route was abbreviated by “Streetscape,” but with bulldozers and pylons long gone, the 2013 parade route will start on Nunes Ave., proceeds up the Boulevard to Lake Chabot, where it turns around and continues back up the boulevard to Redwood Road,  turning back towards Wilbeam Avenue to the BART parking lot.

Entrants this year include Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Redwood Christian Schools, CV Pride, the Castro Valley Classic Car Show and a number of Rodeo and equestrian groups. A cavalcade of local dance, sports and school groups will also appear.

From 9 to 10 a.m. the Castro Valley Community Band will perform near the Daughtrey building the site of this year’s official reviewing stand.

See pages 10 and 11 in this week’s Forum for a full schedule and more information on Saturday’s parade.

Emilie Montoya, 19, of Pacifica, is Rowell Ranch Rodeo Queen for 2013.

By Robert Souza

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Emilie Montoya of Pacifica will preside as Queen of this year’s 93rd Rowell Ranch Rodeo events which will be getting underway in just a few days.

The 19-year-old Montoya, currently a student at College of San Mateo, has been working with horses and livestock since she was five, and began showing horses at age 13.

Since then she has progressed into showing steers and pigs with the help of Future Farmers of America members in Half Moon Bay.

Montoya will travel across California to a number of Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association activities and competitions to invite both contestants and spectators to the Rowell Ranch Rodeo on May 17-19 at the rodeo grounds in Castro Valley.

“One of the favorite rodeo traditions is the rodeo queen who is not only representing herself, but our committee that keeps the great sport of rodeo alive,” said Rowell spokesperson Ashley Strasburg.

The queen will also appear at local community events including a fundraiser this Friday for the Special Olympics, joining Alameda County firefighters collecting donations in boots along Castro Valley Boulevard.

Montoya plans to transfer to either Cal Poly or U.C. Davis in pursuit of an animal science degree.

COMING UP:

Friday, May 10: Chili Cook-Off

Saturday, May 11: Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade

Wednesday, May 15: Celebrity Team Penning & BBQ

Thursday, May 16: Local Team Roping

Friday, May 17: Rock’ Bull Bash

Saturday & Sunday, May 18-19: Rowell Ranch Rodeo

Visit www.rowellranchrodeo.com for a full schedule of events. Tickets can be purchased at Rowell’s Saddlery, 3473 Castro Valley Blvd., phone 510-581-2577.

Lake Chabot Riders at their recent fund-raising ride to support Jerry Javier who was seriously injured in a riding accident.

More then 100 mountain bikers came together at Anthony Chabot Regional Park on April 13 in support of a fellow biker, Jerry Javier and his family.

Javier was training for the Sea Otter Classic mountain bike race in Monterey when he suffered a severe head injury after taking a hard fall. He remains hospitalized in a coma.

While the course Javier was riding was challenging and rough, it was nothing he hadn’t ridden before. Although he was wearing a helmet, it wasn’t enough to protect him.

Doctors tell Javier’s friends they “are hopeful” that he will wake up, but only time will tell.

So the Lake Chabot Riders mountain bike club organized a “vibe ride” and fundraiser/auction to help support Javier’s mounting hospital bills and his family’s needs. Bikers from around the area came together for a 20-mile ride to “send” their strength and positive vibes to Jerry while he is in the hospital.

After the ride, an auction took place which consisted of donations given from various bike shops including Endless Cycles in Castro Valley.  The Lake Chabot Riders is also selling a “Get Well Jerry” bracelet for $5 which are available for purchase.

The total amount of donations received at the event was around $2,500 which will help out, but there is so much more money needed.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check or money order to: 15401 Hesperian blvd. Suite F, San Leandro, CA 94578. Check payable to: Fe Javier. To purchase a bracelet, contact Jorn Olimpiada (LCR president) at 510-317-9439. More pictures of the ride and LCR members are available on Facebook.

—Jody Pearsall

Some 800 volunteers from local schools and Castro Valley Rotary came to Lake Chabot Wednesday to help disabled kids enjoy a day of fishing and fun.

By Robert Souza

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Volunteers from local schools and the Castro Valley Rotary Club reeled in a morning of fun for 300 disabled youngsters from around the Bay last Wednesday at Lake Chabot.

A section of the lake was netted off and filled with fish that were caught by the dozens by special needs students who cast their lines into the water for the 30th annual “Lets Go Fishing” day.

“This is our biggest event ever and it’s really a blessing to see it all come together,” said the event’s founder, Jim Grassi, who was instrumental in the original opening of Lake Chabot in 1965. He credited volunteers from Redwood Christian Church and Castro Valley Rotary for helping make the event a success.

On hand were vehicles and officials from the California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County’s sheriff’s and fire departments to engage the students.

Similar events were held at other East Bay Regional Park locations including Contra Loma, Quarry Lakes, Lake Temescal and Shadow Cliffs.

Artist sketch of the 25,000-square-foot TJ Maxx discount clothing store proposed for Castro Village along Jamison Avenue at the rear of the galleria

By Robert Souza

CASTRO VALLEY FORUM

Amanda Vitello, who lives on Jamison Way in Castro Valley, is on a crusade to make sure opposing voices are heard over current plans to build a TJ Maxx store in Castro Village.

Vitello has gathered 94 signatures against the project, which has been approved by both the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council and Alameda County Planning Commissioner Albert Lopez.

“Every person I spoke to that lives on Jamison and Woodbine are very concerned about the traffic and parking impact TJ Maxx will have on the community,” Vitello told The Forum.

Vitello said she received notification of Lopez’s final approval that contained details on the plan and was disappointed she saw no mention of the intersection of Redwood Road and Jamison Way.

“I am incredibly frustrated at the outcome. I feel as though the community concern was completely ignored,” she said.

Randy Nahas, whose family has owned the Village since it was built in 1947, said the concept behind bringing TJ Maxx to the Village is to attract more shoppers to Castro Valley instead of having them going to malls in Pleasanton or Dublin.

The proposal goes before the Alameda County Planning Commission on May 6, then to the Board of Supervisors.