Community Corner

Week in Review: Lifelong Resident Laments Downtown's Decline; Food Pantry Seeks Donations After Burglary

The top stories in the Castro Valley this past week.

Here’s a brief look at some of the top stories on Castro Valley Patch this week:

15-Year-Old Hospitalized After Being Struck By Car

A 15-year-old boy riding a scooter was hospitalized after being hit by a car near Redwood and Seven Hills roads Wednesday morning. A 17-year-old, also on the way to school, didn’t see the boy in the crosswalk while making a left turn and struck him. The boy sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. The boy’s mother left a comment on the article a couple days later, thanking those who stopped to help and reporting that the boy is home and recovering from his injuries.

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Food Pantry Shaken By Overnight Burglary

The San Lorenzo Family Help Center, which operates a local food pantry, was burglarized between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The take: the nonprofit’s sole computer and printer. While a couple stolen electronics may not be a huge loss to larger establishments, for the already cash-strapped nonprofit, the theft is crippling. “This is devastating to the pantry,” Smith told Patch. “The computer is such an important tool for us. We have no insurance and the cost of repairing doors, locks, replacing computer and printer are a hardship at this time.”

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Smith is asking for the community’s support in helping the center raise funds for a new computer. Those who would like to contribute can contact the San Lorenzo Family Help Center at 510-278-2085.

Video: Lifelong Resident Laments Downtown's Decline

It was nearly 80 years ago when San Lorenzo Village became one of the nation's first planned communities, built to provide affordable homes to East Bay factory families during World War II. Part of the Village plan was the creation of shopping centers on Hesperian Boulevard between Paseo Grande and the San Lorenzo Theater. For 62-year-old Gordon Nickle, a lifelong San Lorenzo residents, this central shopping district was his stomping grounds from his childhood to adulthood. But over the past 20 years he's seen this once vibrant area decline, as he tells Patch in a video clip taken in front of the now-defunct San Lorenzo Theater.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here