Brentwood Press 03.29.19

Page 1

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 21, No. 13

READ MOBILE-FRIENDLY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET

Bonavito pleads no contest on felony charge by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer

Christina Bonavito pleaded no contest to a felony charge of grand theft by embezzlement after she was accused of stealing more than $27,000 from the Pioneer Elementary Parents’ Club last year. Bonavito, a 50-year-old Brentwood resident, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of formal felony probation. Under the terms of her sentence, she cannot serve in a fiduciary role for any school club and she must repay the amount stolen. According to Scott Alonso, public information officer for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Bonavito

has already repaid $15,000 and is obligated to pay back the remaining balance by the end of her probation term. “Our number one priority from the beginning has been to make sure the money raised for Pioneer students is returned to Pioneer students,” said Brentwood Union School District Superintendent Dr. Dana Eaton. “We continue to hold this expectation.” The criminal complaint filed by the District Attorney last October stated the theft occurred between April 1, 2018 and Aug. 31, 2018. The Brentwood Police Department (BPD) said in a press see Bonavito page 18A

Artistic perspective

Staff Writer

Last week, as snowpack in the Sierra Nevada measured more than 150 percent of its average, California was declared free of drought for the first time in more than seven years. As reported by United States Drought Monitor on March 19, “California emerged from drought conditions for the first week since Dec. 11, 2011, breaking its 376week streak.” But California weather is nothing if not fickle, and boom-or-bust weather cycles appear to be the new norm for the state. During a speech at the American Water Works Association conference in Sacramento on Tuesday, March 26, California Secretary for Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, said that he ex-

Unifying The Community Photo by Tony Kukulich

M

iranda Alexander’s work in ceramic was included in a show that featured art from Los Medanos College students. The show was held at the Delta Gallery in Brentwood, Friday, March 22. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia/slideshows

“ Just because we’ve had a few wet winters doesn’t mean we abandon our water conservation efforts.

Miki Tsubota, director of public works/city engineer for the City of Brentwood pects wet winters will be wetter, and dry winters will be drier. Water managers across East County echoed that sentiment and stressed the importance of continued conservation. “Just because we’ve had a few wet winters doesn’t mean we abandon our water conservation efforts,” said Miki Tsubota, director of public works/city engineer for the City of Brentwood. “Likewise, a wet winter doesn’t mean our residents will see any drastic changes to our

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water quality or supply. We know that drought conditions can arrive just as fast as they diminish. We have always, and will continue to encourage our residents to conserve water.” Dan Muelrath, general manager for Diablo Water District, which serves Oakley and portions of Bethel Island and Knightsen, said that as drought conditions ease, talk of conservation transitions to efficiency. He noted that water use per hookup in his district has

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dropped by more than 20 percent over the last 10 years — falling from 480 to 380 gallons per day, today. During the peak of the drought, usage was closer to 320 gallons per day. “Conservation happens during a drought,” Muelrath stated. “Now it’s about efficiency. There are all these different ways to have the same enjoyment of water, but we’re more efficient.” Reporting from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) shows water storage in nine of the state’s 12 major reservoirs is above 100 percent of historical average. The three remaining reservoirs are nearly at their historical averages. Reservoir utilization is one factor that is used to determine the degree to which drought conditions exist in see Drought page 18A

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Drought over, conservation continues by Tony Kukulich

March 29, 2019

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Unified Prom gearing up for a parade, dancing, music and fun. Page 6A

Spiking Their Way To History

Heritage boys’ volleyball off to 16-1 start as they look toward second league title. Page 11A Auto Guide. .........................1B Calendar.............................17A Classifieds..........................13A Entertainment..................10A Health & Beauty...............19A Opinion................................. 9A Pets........................................ 8A Sports..................................11A

Open Mic Night

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Celebrate the written word at Brentwood’s Open Mic night.


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