🌱 Patch AM: Could your neighbor’s tree leave you with a $50,000 bill?

Hey hey Castro Valley! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could your neighbor’s tree leave you with a $50,000 bill?
• Why did police raid a Castro Valley home over storage thefts?
• How did officers wrangle a runaway emu near Castro Valley?

Also on today's calendar: 🥂 The East Bay’s Ultimate NYE Gala: Welcome 2026! Glamour • Global Beats • Countdown Magic and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Clouds and sun, a few showers, with a high of 61 and low of 53 degrees.
• Thursday: Windy with occasional rain, temps: high: 60, low: 50.
• Friday: Rain; breezy in the morning, with a high of 58 and low of 43 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• CA homeowner stuck with $50K bill after neighbor's tree crashes into her house. Insurer denies claim, argues it was ‘unforeseeable.' Is that legit? (moneywise.com) — A Castro Valley homeowner was left with more than $51,000 in repair costs after a 100-year-old oak tree from Hayward Unified School District property crashed onto her roof, and her insurer initially covered only part of the damage. After media involvement, she received a supplemental payment, and the story is used to outline practical steps local homeowners can take to avoid or fight denied insurance claims after storm damage.
   

• Pleasanton Storage Unit Burglar Suspect Arrested (patch.com) — Castro Valley residents should know that Pleasanton police served a search warrant at a local home, where they say they found numerous suspected stolen items tied to recent storage unit break-ins. A 44-year-old Castro Valley man was arrested on burglary charges, and investigators urge anyone using storage units to upgrade locks, hide valuables, and quickly report suspicious activity.
   

• Is This Your Flightless Bird? Police Rescue Emu In East Bay Park (patch.com) — Castro Valley readers might smile to hear that East Bay Regional Park police safely corralled a loose emu after a lighthearted “high-stride” pursuit at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. The bird was turned over to Contra Costa County Animal Control, and officials say no people or animals were hurt as they work to figure out where the emu came from.
   

📸 Around Castro Valley

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Castro Valley

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★ 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

Tuesday January 20

• Pretzel Making Class Drake's Brewing Co.
  Drake's Brewing Company, 1933 Davis St, San Leandro
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

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 3

• Arrowhead and New Marsh - Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline
  Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline Arrowhead and New Marsh -
  1:00 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

Wednesday December 24

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

Friday December 26

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon

Saturday December 27

• Winter Hair Accessories Event
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  2:00 pm
• Drop-in 3D Printing Information Booth
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  3:00 pm
• BrainSprout
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  3:30 pm
• Pens & Key: a writing club
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  9:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• English Language Learners Group
  REACH Ashland Youth Center , 16335 E 14th St , San Leandro
  9:30 am
• A Kwanzaa Celebration
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  12:00 pm
• Let's Get Quizzical!
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  6:00 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.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• Health Professional Office Sublet Available
  FRESH HEALTH SUITES, NOW LEASING!... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Do not buy gift cards from Target - Hayward
  I bought 4 $50 Visa gift cards from Target in Hayward and I even asked the cashier if there’s any way they were compromised . She confirmed that ,… (Nextdoor Rolando)
• PSA from the the "don"of the fluffy tailed mafia- for my neighbors on Walnut Rd-
  If you have a cute black kitty with a red collar he/she used up a life tonight. Folks go up and down this street at 40-60 mph. Your cat missed a… (Nextdoor Seven Hills Rd)

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Castro Valley. Apply here.
• Nothing Bundt Cakes posted a job opening for Shift Leader in San Leandro. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Castro Valley here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Leandro

• San Leandro is closer to establishing rent control (tricityvoice.com)
• Christmas Day Brunch at Meritage Resort and Spa (funcheap.com)
• Girls Basketball Pulls Away Late to Defeat Sacred Heart (machronicle.com)

Hayward

• Expert Says Residents Should Have Been Evacuated After Gas Line Hit near Hayward, CA, (firehouse.com)
• Bay Area Jews ‘grateful' for Chanukah celebration with San Jose Sharks (clevelandjewishnews.com)
• Lawsuit alleges paramedic sedation failures in Calif. in-custody death (ems1.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 got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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