🌱 Patch AM: Can Castro Valley capitalize on Bishop O’Dowd’s recent skid?

What's up Castro Valley! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Can Castro Valley capitalize on Bishop O’Dowd’s recent skid?
• Castro Valley native recalls celebrating faith while serving off Vietnam

Also on today's calendar: 🥂 The East Bay’s Ultimate NYE Gala: Welcome 2026! Glamour • Global Beats • Countdown Magic and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Breezy with periods of rain, with a high of 61 and low of 55 degrees.
• Monday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 61, low: 54.
• Tuesday: A couple of showers, with a high of 63 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Basketball Recap: Bishop O'Dowd Takes a Loss (maxpreps.com) — Castro Valley’s boys basketball team is set to host Bishop O’Dowd at 5 p.m. on January 7, 2026, following O’Dowd’s recent 68-59 loss to Arizona’s Basha. The recap notes O’Dowd’s recent struggles and rankings, setting up a competitive nonleague matchup that local fans may want to circle on their calendars.
   

• Away from home at the holidays (aerotechnews.com) — A Navy veteran who grew up in Castro Valley shares how his Jewish upbringing and later-life return to religious practice shaped holidays spent while serving aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam era. His story appears alongside other veterans’ memories of celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan while deployed far from home, highlighting how military camaraderie and faith traditions helped ease holiday loneliness.
   

📸 Around Castro Valley

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Castro Valley

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 31

• 🥂 The East Bay’s Ultimate NYE Gala: Welcome 2026! Glamour • Global Beats • Countdown Magic
  Pearl Bay Manor, 4940 Dublin Blvd, Dublin
  9:30 pm

Friday January 9

• Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Francisco, CA!
  The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Hwy, Millbrae
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 21

• Blue Christmas Service
  19806 Wisteria St , Castro Valley
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Cranes and other Charismatic Critters: Cosumnes River Preserve, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve and more…
  Woodbridge Ecological Reserve e,
  5:30 am

Saturday January 17

• Canyon Middle School & PlayCV Productions presents Something Rotten JR.
  Center for the Arts , 19501 Redwood Rd , Castro Valley
  6:30 pm

📣 Castro Valley Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 21

• Artistry X World
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  1:00 pm

Monday December 22

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Dungeons & DragonsÂŽ
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  4:00 pm
• Family Storytime
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  6:30 pm
• The Sound of Music presented by Symphonics
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  6:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Healthy Tuesdays at the Library - Tai Chi
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  12:15 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Little Listeners Storytime
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  11:00 am

Saturday December 27

• Drop-in 3D Printing Information Booth
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  3:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Castro Valley PatchAM possible:

• Coastline Christian Schools — (510) 522-0200
  Contact us for a private tour!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• ⚠️ Magnitude 3.82 earthquake reported
  Dec 20 - 6:53 PM PST: 2.98 magnitude aftershock occurred near San Ramon, CA. - 6:36 PM PST: 2.82 magnitude aftershock occurred near San Ramon, CA. -… (Nextdoor )
• ⚠️ Magnitude 4.03 earthquake reported
  Dec 19 at 7:49 PM PST: 2.29 magnitude earthquake occurred near San Ramon, CA. 2505 neighbors felt it. (Nextdoor )

• Tyson Foods, Inc. posted a job opening for Plant Manager I in San Lorenzo. Apply here.
• Hayward Unified School District posted a job opening for High School Accounting Technician - 20 hours per week (REPOST) in Hayward. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Castro Valley here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Leandro

• 100 Years Strong: Torani's Commitment to Creating Opportunities Fuels Record Double-Digit Growth (foodindustryexecutive.com)
• Soccer Recap: San Leandro Wins Going Away Against Vanden (maxpreps.com)
• Several claims advance toward trial in Bay Area Taser case that left man in coma (courthousenews.com)

Hayward

• Soccer Game Preview: Leadership vs. Hayward (maxpreps.com)
• Bay Area Businessmen Charged with Scheme To Evade Millions in Customs Fees on Chinese Goods (sanjoseinside.com)

San Ramon

Ok Castro Valley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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