🌱 Patch AM: Is This Your Flightless Bird? Police Rescue Emu In East Bay Park

Good morning Castro Valley! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Castro Valley PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

• Coastline Christian Schools — (510) 522-0200
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In today's newsletter:

• Mystery emu sparks unusual police pursuit in East Bay park
• Can Castro Valley cool off Bishop O’Dowd’s momentum on January 7?

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: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: A couple of showers, with a high of 61 and low of 52 degrees.
• Wednesday: A morning shower, then rain, temps: high: 60, low: 50.
• Thursday: Windy with occasional rain, with a high of 57 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Is This Your Flightless Bird? Police Rescue Emu In East Bay Park (patch.com) — Castro Valley readers are buzzing about an unusual visitor to the East Bay Regional Park District, where officers recently corralled a loose emu at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and turned it over to animal control. The bird’s origins remain a mystery, but officials say both the emu and officers came through the high-speed chase unscathed, while locals get a lighthearted reminder of the region’s unexpected wildlife encounters.
   

• Basketball Recap: Bishop O'Dowd Victorious (maxpreps.com) — Castro Valley hoops fans can circle January 7, 2026, when Bishop O’Dowd visits for a 5 p.m. matchup following the Dragons’ 56-48 win over Oakland Tech. The recap highlights O’Dowd’s recent record and notes Oakland Tech’s upcoming game against Central East.
   

📸 Around Castro Valley

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🗓 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

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

Tuesday December 23

• Healthy Tuesdays at the Library - Tai Chi
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  12:15 pm
• Read to a Dog!
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  4:00 pm
• Cocoa & Kindness (Rocks)
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Little Listeners Storytime
  395 Paseo Grande , San Lorenzo
  11:00 am

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

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• My husband and I have purchased some clothing for both girls and boys for families in need.
  Any recommendation for dropping them off? Only for kids in need. Not to resale. (Nextdoor Parsons Estates)

• Starbucks posted a job opening for shift supervisor - Store# 06855, CASTRO VALLEY & LAKE CHABOT in Castro Valley. Apply here.
• The Retail Outsource Group posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in San Leandro. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Castro Valley here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Leandro

• 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)
• Taqueria Los Perrones: Bringing Authentic Mexican Street Food to Hayward (thepioneeronline.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 find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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