YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 7, No. 50
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
Parade draws Storybook turnout by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Record crowds braved chilly temperatures last weekend to usher in the holidays at the Discovery Bay Parade of Lights. Hosted by the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce and led by Grand Marshall Sheriff Warren Rupf, nearly 7,000 residents and visitors lined the parade route along Discovery Bay Boulevard. The parade culminated at the Discovery Bay shopping center, where the town’s tree lighting ceremony took place. “It was a fantastic event,” said Parade Organizer Amanda Dove. “I think we had the biggest turnout ever. There was lots of enthusiasm and it just really felt like people were into it more than ever.” This year’s Storybook theme drew an assortment of creative participants, from the Boy and Girl Scouts to St. Anne Catholic Church and Timber Point Elementary School. Heritage and Liberty High schools showed off their precision drum lines, and Excelsior Middle School’s marching band delighted the crowd. “There were 36 groups and about 150 vehicles in total,” said Dove. “We had a new route that worked very well this year, and the Sheriff ’s office was fantastic in keeping traffic under control. “This is a nice, free, wholesome family event that everyone can enjoy. We’ll be back even bigger and better next year.” Parade winners included:
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December 11, 2009
THIS WEEK
Guidelines for gifting
Hoping to wrap up your holiday shopping swiftly and smoothly? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide.
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Doggie deliverance Photos by Curtis Evans
Excelsior Middle School students took home the Director’s Choice Award last weekend for their float at the Discovery Bay Parade of Lights. Excelsior’s Marching Band also took home top honors in the Best Music category. Best of Show: All God’s Children School/ Delta Community Presbyterian Church Director’s Choice Award: Excelsior Middle School Best of Theme: Timber Point Elementary Best Lights: Blown Away Ski Team Audience Appreciation Award: Friends of El
Dorado National Forest 4x4s Best of School: Discovery Bay Elementary Best Participation: Heritage High School Drum Line Most Creative: Discovery Bay Lions Club
Three canines and their human family are indebted to neighbors and passersby with a decidedly take-charge attitude.
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Logan D puts lock on Lions
see Parade page 30A
Supes appoint Dawson, Graves directors by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Discovery Bay residents Brian Dawson and Kevin Graves have been appointed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) to fill the town’s two empty CSD board seats. The unanimous appointment was made this week during the BOS’ regular meeting. The CSD appointments cap off months of dissention and speculation among CSD board members – President Ray Tetreault, Vice President Mark Simon and Director David Piepho – and the public over the filling of the two seats left vacant in September by the resignations of Shannon Murphy-Teixeira and Dave Dove. In a special meeting on Sept. 30, Piepho, Simon and Tetreault decided to appoint the new board
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GRAVES
members, rather than hold a special election. A pool of seven applicants stepped forward, but despite a pair of meetings aimed at filling the seats, the board was unable to unanimously agree on whom to appoint. CSD law requires three votes to pass a motion, and because there were only three members left on the typically five-member
board, decisions were required to be unanimous in order to pass. To break the stalemate, the issue was sent to the BOS. Now that the full board is finally in place, Tetreault is hopeful that town governance can return to normal. “I’m glad that this process is over and I hope we can do what we are supposed to do, which is work through the
town’s business,” he said. “I really hope we can do that and move on from here.” Dawson is ready to move forward as a member of a cohesive board. “I’m glad the ordeal is over,” said Dawson of the appointment process. “And I can speak only for myself, but I think as a board we need to think outside of the box on certain things, and I look forward to doing that. I will conduct myself in a professional manner, and I will let bygones be bygones, even with those who have opposed me.” Graves said that while he knows there will be a learning curve for him as a new board member, he looks forward to hitting the ground running: “I am excited about this appointment and I look forward to serving the community. Discovery Bay has see Directors page 30A
Liberty’s hardwood warriors got a tutorial in tenacity as the Colts hung an L on the Lions’ season opener.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................12B Cop Logs ..........................13A Entertainment .................. 8B Food ................................... 9B Health & Beauty .............18A Holiday Gift Guide ........... 1B Milestones .......................10A Opinion ...........................12A Sports ...............................21A
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A