Castro Valley|News|
Senator Ellen Corbett Honors Castro Valley Artist as 'Artist of the Year'
For the next year, Mark Mertens' pastel painting called "Reflected Clouds" will hang at the state capitol.

I started freelancing for both San Lorenzo and Castro Valley Patch sites when they launched seperately at the end of 2010. I began as a full-time editor for San Lorenzo Patch in August 2011 and shortly began managing Castro Valley Patch soon after. I bounced around to help cover different Patch sites across the Bay Area since then, before settling to my current role.
I earned my bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and American studies from the University of Miami in 2010. While in college, I worked as a field reporter for my campus TV station and created/executive produced a biweekly 30-minute lifestyle show on campus life called "Cane's Eye View." One of my favorite parts about the show was launching and hosting its cooking segment.
I've interned at CBS Evening News in New York, where my work included covering the deaths of Walter Cronkite and Michael Jackson and pitching/co-producing a story that aired detailing the controversy of allowing the elderly to drive.
After graduating, I landed my first job as a production assistant and writer with CBS 5 (KPIX) in San Francisco.
I can't be more thrilled to finally be back home to cover an area I grew up in and grew to love. If you see me around, feel free to say "hello" and share any news tips or story suggestions you may have.
For the next year, Mark Mertens' pastel painting called "Reflected Clouds" will hang at the state capitol.

On the agenda: charter school renewal of KIPP King Collegiate High School, nonpublic School placement of student with exceptional needs and school construction updates.
Speakers Sahar Kordahi, Tzvia Shelef and dialogue facilitator Ruth Hartman discussed the seven steps of acceptance during Saturday's "History Around Town" program organized by the Hayward Area Historical Society.
The school will include food scrap recycling at lunch and organics bins in the restrooms in an effort to reduce waste at the school and local landfills.
Jason Singer looks back at more than a decade spent at San Lorenzo's charter middle school and high school.
Closest to the Vine, which opened at the Wells Fargo shopping center last week, plans to offer locals fresh produce at lower costs than big name grocery stores.
Here you'll find a list of the week's most read articles.
Take a shot and guess one would spot this lit up soccer ball.
Bananas for Bunnies Rabbit Rescue will sponsor and host an adoption event at Castro Valley's Pet Food Express this Sunday.
During the winter it is generally illegal to use fireplaces, wood stoves and any other indoor or outdoor woodburning system when an alert has been issued. Fines are possible.
The 18-year-old pedestrian and Castro Valley resident suffered minor injuries from Wednesday's incident and was taken to Eden Medical Center.
Submit your pics by either uploading them directly to the photo gallery below or e-mailing them to analisa.harangozo@patch.com.
San Lorenzo and Castro Valley school districts are among the 17 different East Bay school foundation representatives that will receive grants.
Local mothers Stacy Blom, Christie Arias, Carina Ibarra and Sara Raymond of Patch's Moms Council weigh in on how their religious views relate to their parenting.
Investigators are working to confirm the victim's identity and cause of death along with the cause of the fire.
Hayashi will host her fifth annual Jingle Tails holiday event and food drive at the Oakland Zoo on Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Voting is open to the public and each vote counts as $1 towards the AIDS Emergency Fund.
The proclamation focuses on Medicare and Medicaid services and recognizes the significance of healthcare jobs.
Completion of the state-of-the-art dance facility is expected by the end of December.