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Castlemont High School Alumni Association Hosts 20th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon

The Castlemont High School Alumni Association hosted their 20th Anniversary Luncheon and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, May 18 in the school’s Phil Reeder Performing Arts Center at 8601 MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland.

Published

2 years ago

June 13, 2024

Oakland Post

Honoree Brenda Knight with supporters at the Castlemont High School Alumni Association 20th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon in the Phil Reeder Auditorium. (Left to right) Marie Thomas, Juanita Pree McVey, Dr. Brenda Knight, Terrie Williams, Deborah Washington, Vicky Wimberley, Kathy Neely, Barbara Piggee Dell, Alice Westbrooks.

By Carla Thomas

The Distinguished Knight in Shining Armor Alumni Award was presented to Jerrold Curry, class of 1971, Henry Tingle, ’74; Dr. Sandra Weatherby, ’83; Dr. Brenda (Johnson) Knight, ’70 and Dr. Doris Limbrick, ’71.

Dr. Knight thanked her supporters and spoke of being mindful of what you do in life, because someone is always watching. Knight graduated from Castlemont in 1970. When her three sons were young, playing Babe Ruth Baseball in Oakland, she went on to become the first female president of the organization and changed the entire fabric of the league.

Knight has had two special invitations to the White House: one for sports during her time with Babe Ruth Baseball and one during her time as a Community College Trustee.

In 1996, Brenda Knight founded the Ladies in Red, a women’s empowerment group. At the age of 50, she graduated, with honors, from Laney Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Social Sciences and continued her education at Saint Mary’s College receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Management.

For the past three years, Knight has been the event coordinator for the FREE Juneteenth Celebration for the City of American Canyon and is currently running for city council. Brenda has been married to her husband, Harvey, for 50 years.

Dr. Doris Limbrick, a senior pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church, praised God for the recognition and shared the good news of the gospel. Limbrick spoke of becoming pregnant during high school yet still graduated with her class. Limbrick is the founder of GirlTalk, a women’s empowerment group. With her husband Anthony of 40 plus years, children, and grandchildren in attendance Limbrick said, “I enjoyed my school years, but these days, I’m all about sharing the love of God in Jesus Christ with everyone,” she said.

Limbrick is an active member of the Pastors of Oakland organization and retired from Pacific Bell in 1993, after 21 years of service to work full time in the ministry. In 1999, she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Sacramento School of Theology for being the founder of Acts Christian Academy’s K-8th grade school.

In 2007, she was nominated and selected to attend Oxford University in Oxford, England (Pembrooke College). She is a lifelong member of the Oxford University Roundtable. In 2008, Limbrick organized Bridging the Gap Foundation in the City of Oakland, and was presented with a proclamation from then-Mayor Ron Dellums honoring September 13 as “Unity in the Community Day.”

Dr. Sandra Weather, an internist for Kaiser Permanente said Black doctors in the community inspired her to become a doctor and humbly accepted her award. “I like to help healthy people stay well and when they’re sick, get well.”
The Phil Reeder Performing Arts Alumni Award was presented to Richard “Dimples” Fields, class of 1969 posthumously and Wilton Rabb, ’78; and Paul Wade, ’69.

Rabb, a guitarist who has performed globally with Prince, Graham Central Station and other music legends thanked his family and said, “I plan to continue making great music and bringing good into the world.”

The son of Richard “Dimples” Fields spoke on behalf of his father on stage with family members who flew in for the ceremony.

The Sports Hall of Fame Alumni Award was presented to Jerrold Curry, class of ’72, Charles Mitchell, ’72; Gerald Morgan, ’71; John Roberts, ’71; and Adrian Rodgers, ’71.

Curry and Mitchell reminisced on their record-breaking winning streaks with the OAL Track and Field competitions. “I plan to create a scholarship here to support the next generation of students,” said Curry.

The event also listed multiple scholarships and their recipients.
De’ core’ a Y. Reed, Israel Y. Section Zuno received the CHSAA Scholarship. Jennifer Garcia Ramirez and Guadalupe Flores Serrano received the John Mackey Award. The Class of ’71 Friends Forever Scholarship recipients included Lizbeth Ramirez, De’ core’ a Y. Reed, and Guadalupe Flores Serrano. The Richard Vanucci – Bob Balandra Trade School Scholarship was presented to Edgar Manzo Basurto, Angel Cuellar, and Kevin Yax.

“The achievements of Castlemont High are worthy of recognition,” said CHSAA President with CHSAA Vice President and HoF Chair Dana Malone Hubert.

Alumni and Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton, co-founder of the alumni association shared the group’s history. A tribute to educator Phil Reeder was presented by Larry Batiste, class of ’74 and Claytoven Richardson, ’74.

The school’s courtyard served as the banquet area featuring lunch by Michael Lathan, class of ’79 of Southern Jazz Kitchen and dessert were made by Deloris Whitehead Joseph, ’69 and Angela Banks Copeland, ’80. Music was provided by Jorge Watson, ’75 of Hillside Productions.

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OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.