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Vol. 15, No. 3
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Experts say NorCal drought over
Rallying For Coach Gooch
Standing tall
Supporters protest the firing of Liberty volleyball coach Linda Ghilarducci. Page 5
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
As East County residents were dodging the rain last week, the deluge was sweeping the drought right out of Northern California. The U.S. Drought Monitor – a weekly map of drought conditions produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center – says that 40 percent of California is no longer experiencing drought, including all of Northern California. “The north is drought free and dry free so far this year,” said meteorologist David Miskus, a U.S. Drought Monitor author and member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. see Drought page 26
The Perfect Prom Dress
Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
his flooded orchard off Byron Highway in Byron withstood the recent deluge of storms throughout East County, fairing better than other farmlands and low spots in the area.
New leadership for the CSD Board by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
Robert Leete is ready to get to work. As a relatively new face in town, Leete was elected to the Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) Board in 2014, and beginning this month, will serve as president of the board for 2017. Staring down the barrel of some large projects on the town’s agenda, Leete feels confident that he, the board and town staff can guide Discovery Bay in the right direction. “I think we have a couple of big challenges here in the upcoming year,” Leete said. “We have about $10 million in statemandated improvements we are
LEETE making, as well as wastewater improvements and the watermeter-installation project. We need to get those on time and on budget this year. The town also has a new general manager, so the board will have to work with
him, bring him up to speed and continue on with the good work of Discovery Bay.” Fellow board member and former board president Bill Pease feels Leete will get the job done. “I think (Leete) is very capable and extremely knowledgeable, based on his background of working on other water and wastewater facilities,” Pease said. “I think he’ll do a great job, and I think it’s actually extra helpful, with his background experience, to be able to help Mike Davies along a little bit. I look forward to working with him. I think it’s going to be a great year, and there won’t be any major issues.” Leete’s experience includes a range of topics that will come
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into play during his year as president. He has spent time working in finance, human resources and water and wastewater utilities. A Bay Area resident his whole life, Leete grew up in San Carlos and then began drifting eastward. He settled in Pleasanton with his wife, Jane, where they raised two children. In 2009, the couple moved to Discovery Bay, finding the perfect outlet for their boating and golf activities. Leete has found plenty to keep him busy in his retirement. He and Jane are both active members in their local community and members of the Discovery Bay Yacht Club and Discovsee Leadership page 26
East Bay Dress Day provides new or gently used prom dresses to teen girls. Page 4
Lions Lap Up Another Win
The Lions (13-3) bounce Pittsburgh 59-34 for their ninth straight win. Page 17 Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................22 Cop Logs................................25 Entertainment.......................9 Food..........................................8 Health & Beauty..................12 Milestones............................10 Opinion..................................16 Pets.........................................11 Sports.....................................17
John Muir Health
Hospice East Bay
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John Muir Health Foundation Gala raises $1.8 Million to support cardiovascular services.
Hospice East Bay receives $950,000 grant from Thomas J. Long Foundation.