Events

Partnership with Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. on November 22, December 10 & December 17.

Rotary Club of Castro Valley Holiday Party

Get ready for an evening of merriment, music, and magic as we celebrate the season Rotary-style — with friends, family, laughter, and plenty of holiday cheer!

Hosted by:  Our Jolly President Elect - Craig Semmelmeyer & President, Misti Short

Date & Time:  December 6, 2025 @ 5:00

Location:  Misti & Brian’s Ranch 24977 Palomares Road, Castro Valley

Phone:  510-376-9335

Cost:  $40 per person | Children are FREE!

Read the email invitation for details regarding the OPTIONAL

Gift Exchange & Ugly Sweater Contest

Bring a Friend

The Madrigals

The Castro Valley High School Madrigals are the premier vocal ensemble of CVHS, known for their exceptional musicianship and vibrant stage presence. Serving as the school’s “Musical Ambassadors,” they represent the choral program at community events, festivals, and state-level conferences. Their repertoire spans classical, jazz, and contemporary a cappella, showcasing both technical precision and expressive artistry. Beyond performance, the Madrigals foster a strong sense of camaraderie and leadership, inspiring younger singers and enriching the cultural life of the school and community.

Every holiday season, the Castro Valley High School Madrigals carry on a cherished tradition of bringing festive cheer to the Rotary Club of Castro Valley. Dressed in their signature formal attire, the talented vocalists fill the room with rich harmonies and joyful energy, performing a selection of classic Christmas carols and seasonal favorites. For the Rotary members, it’s more than just music—it’s a moment of community connection, warmth, and celebration that marks the start of the holiday season, year after year.

Herb Ritter will serve as Rotary District 5170 Governor for the 2025–2026 term, bringing decades of leadership and community service to the role.

Herb Ritter, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Pleasanton North, has been deeply involved in Rotary for more than 30 years. He has held numerous leadership positions, including Club President, District Membership Chair, Conference Co-Chair, and Assistant Governor, before being selected as District Governor. Professionally, Herb enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career in corporate sales and marketing leadership at Schneider Electric, while also launching his own ventures—One Commercial Properties and Ritter Vacation Properties. Herb’s vision for his term emphasizes building bridges, growing together, and uniting for good, reflecting Rotary’s mission to create lasting change locally and globally.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Nimone Li‑Hardisty is the visionary founder and Chief Executive Officer of Forestr.org, a Castro Valley–based nonprofit dedicated to urban greening, food justice, and community resilience. With nearly three decades of experience in architecture, general contracting, and LEED-certified construction projects—including major developments like the Asian Art Museum and Oceanwide Center in San Francisco—she brings a unique intersection of technical expertise and environmental passion to her leadership role.

Since launching Forestr.org in 2019, Nimone has spearheaded initiatives that blend pragmatic construction know-how with ecological innovation. Her initiatives focus on expanding urban pocket parks, gleaning backyard fruit for local food banks, creating mini-parks, and launching permaculture education programs under ForestrU.

Forestr.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Castro Valley, California, dedicated to empowering local communities to clean, green, and glean their surroundings.

• Mission: Build hyper-local programs for cleaning public spaces, cultivating green spaces, and harvesting surplus food to bolster food justice.
• Core Programs: Litter Cleanup & Restoration: Teams conduct Adopt‑a‑Highway-style cleanups, fire abatement, and ecological restoration—mulching, inoculating soil, and training youth in green jobs. Forests of the Future: Plant sustainable food forests and manage seedlings, pocket parks, and soil regeneration efforts. Community Gleaning & Food Redistribution: Rescue surplus fruit and produce from backyards and farms, with the Castro Valley Gleans program delivering to local food banks and shelters; in 2025, they gleaned nearly 20,000 pounds in Castro Valley alone.
• Impact: Since 2018, Forestr has recovered approximately 78,000 pounds of produce, prevented millions of gallons of water waste, offset over 9 tons of CO₂ equivalents, and collected thousands of bags of litter.

In essence, Forestr.org cultivates community resilience and environmental stewardship by transforming neighborhoods into cleaner, greener, and more food-secure spaces.

Ken Carbone was born and raised in Castro Valley and has dedicated more than 25 years to serving his community. He is the principal of Dolphin Graphics, a marketing and branding agency. Ken has played a pivotal role in local redevelopment efforts—contributing to the redesign of Castro Valley Boulevard and helping secure Trader Joe’s for the community. He has served as Chair of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council, guiding the area through important civic initiatives. He is perhaps best known as the longtime organizer of the popular Castro Valley Rotary Car Show, which he has managed for almost two decades.

Ken Carbone will deliver an inspiring talk about the restoration of Castro Valley’s historic Flying A Service Station, a landmark that once symbolized the golden age of roadside Americana. Ken will share the vision behind transforming this vintage gas station into a vibrant community hub that has become the home to Canyons Barbecue, Philz Coffee, and Beyond the Leaf. The talk will discuss the importance of preserving local history while adapting spaces for modern use, emphasizing how this project blends nostalgia with innovation. Ken will share the collaborative effort required to bring the station back to life, turning it into a destination where neighbors can gather, dine, and celebrate Castro Valley’s unique character.

Join us for an exciting evening of fun and networking at Casino Night, hosted by Castro Valley Rotary! Test your luck at the Roulette Wheel, Blackjack tables, and Texas Hold’em. Guests can purchase chips to play and compete for fantastic prizes throughout the night. Enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with friendly competition, great conversation, and delicious catering provided by Canyons Barbecue.

This event is the perfect blend of entertainment and community spirit—don’t miss your chance to roll the dice and make connections!

Jeff Molby is a dedicated Rotarian from Caro, Michigan, and the driving force behind Chemo Riders, a nationwide initiative that addresses the critical transportation access gap for cancer patients. A long-time volunteer with the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program and among its top supporters since the pandemic, Jeff embarked on a two-year cross-country bicycle tour in fall 2023 to raise awareness and recruit new volunteer drivers.

His mission is personal and powerful: no one should miss a life-saving chemotherapy session due to a lack of transportation. Jeff mobilizes Rotary clubs, community groups, and individuals, urging volunteers to offer rides—operating like an “Uber for chemo appointments”—and to help expand the reach of patient support.

Recognized by the American Cancer Society as its 2024 Patient Support Volunteer of the Year, Jeff continues to pedal forward—literally and figuratively—to ensure cancer patients across America can get to treatment on time.

Jeff Molby’s “Chemo Ride” is a two-year, cross-country cycling journey with a powerful mission: to ensure no cancer patient misses a life-saving treatment because of transportation challenges. As he pedals thousands of miles across the United States, Jeff raises awareness and recruits volunteers for programs like the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery, which provides free rides to chemotherapy appointments. His ride symbolizes hope, resilience, and community action—turning every mile into an opportunity to help patients get the care they need.

BART Board President Melissa Hernandez, BART’s Future

https://www.bart.gov/about/bod/member/district5

A lifelong public servant, Hernandez represents District 5, which encompasses eastern Alameda County communities such as Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore. Her tenure on the BART board began in May 2024 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy, followed by a formal election victory in November 2024. Upon her election as board president in late 2025, she made history as the first Latina to ever lead the agency. 

Before joining BART, Hernandez established herself as a key political figure in the Tri-Valley region, serving as a council member for the City of Dublin for eight years and as its Mayor for four years until mid-2024. Her extensive background in regional transit includes previous roles as chair of the Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) and the Tri-Valley/San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority. 

In 2026, Hernandez is leading BART through a critical period marked by a projected $400 million budget deficit following the exhaustion of emergency pandemic-era funds. Her current priorities focus on securing long-term financial stability for the agency while enhancing system safety, cleanliness, and reliability for riders.

What's Happening in the Local Real Estate Market?

www.yourlenderchris.com

Chris Carr is a California-licensed Mortgage Loan Officer who helps homebuyers and homeowners make confident financing decisions without pressure or jargon. He specializes in purchase loans, refinances, first-time buyers, investment properties, and bridge financing, with a focus on clear strategy, fast communication, and smooth execution from pre-approval to closing. Chris is known for translating market changes into simple, practical guidance so clients and referral partners can move forward with clarity—even in volatile rate environments. He works primarily with clients across the San Francisco Bay Area and is committed to delivering a high-trust experience built on education, transparency, and long-term relationships. When he’s not working with clients, Chris is active in community service through Rotary and local nonprofit fundraising events.

Presentation Overview

Join us for a 2026 real estate market update that breaks down where housing sales and mortgage rates stand now, and what the coming year may bring for buyers, sellers, and homeowners. The market is shifting in real time: mortgage rates are trending with meaningful momentum, but they still experience short-term volatility that can change affordability and buyer behavior quickly. Join us for a talk that connects rate movements to what agents and consumers feel on the ground, showing how even small changes in rates can influence monthly payments, demand, and negotiation dynamics.

Castro Valley Rotary Hosts Fun, Hands-On Mixer at 3Crosses Church

Castro Valley, CA – February 7, 2026 – The Castro Valley Rotary Club invites members and guests to a lively evening mixer on Monday, February 17, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, at Three Crosses Church, 20600 John Dr, Castro Valley.

What’s on the menu?

• Guests will make their own wood-fired pizzas, guided by the culinary team from The Three Crosses.

• A selection of wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available.

• Beard Papa’s Castro Valley (3295 Castro Valley Blvd) will serve a Rotary-exclusive dessert

 Admission:

$20 per person, which covers pizza-making, drinks, and the special dessert.

This mixer is a great opportunity for Rotarians to connect, enjoy hands-on fun, and support local businesses—all in a warm, community-focused setting.

What’s Happening at the Oakland Zoo?

Nik Dehejia is the Chief Executive Officer of the Oakland Zoo, a role he has held since April 2021. A dedicated leader with nearly two decades of experience at the zoo, he previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, where he was instrumental in transformative projects such as the $80 million California Trail expansion. Beyond his leadership at the zoo, Dehejia is an active member of the Rotary Club of Oakland, having joined in March 2021 to support local social services. 

His professional background is rooted in international public policy and corporate responsibility, including tenures at the World Bank and Levi Strauss & Co.. Dehejia’s civic engagement extends to several regional boards, including Visit Oakland, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Parks Foundation. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a BA from Vassar College. A resident of Alameda for nearly 30 years, he remains a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and community equity within the Bay Area. 

For more information and to reserve tasting and dinner ticket, click here.