YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 7, No. 26
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
CSD postpones meter installation by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Press file photo
The CSD Board has postponed the installation of water meters, like the one above being shown last year by General Manager Virgil Koehne, for at least one year in an effort to save residents money.
The CSD Board voted last week to suspend the town’s water meter installation program for one year, citing the financial burden to ratepayers as an unnecessary expense, given the current economic climate. The board passed the motion 4-1 at the June 17 regular CSD meeting, Director David Piepho casting the dissenting vote, saying that postponing the installation will cost residents more money in the long run. The board will revisit the project in June or July of 2010. Under the provisions of a new statewide water conservation mandate, all residential properties are to be operating with water meters by 2024. In Discovery Bay, 1,600 of the town’s roughly 6,000 homes have operational meters, and another 300 must be on line by 2010 to meet government mandates. The remaining 4,200 homes must be on meters by
2024. General Manager Virgil Koehne, however, said he believed the board’s decision to wait on installing the rest of the new meters – despite the 15-year window – sends the wrong message to the public. “I believe that it (postponing the program) says to the community that we don’t care about water conservation,” said Koehne. “I don’t think we are saying ‘go ahead and run your faucets; we don’t care,’” said Director Shannon MurphyTeixeira. “I think the message is that we are trying to take care of the people who live here.” Lakeshore resident Bob Mankin, whose home is equipped with a new meter, said he, like Pipho, believed the postponement of the remainder of the water meters would end up costing residents money in terms of their water bill. “I’m going to save $150 see Water page 34A
What a weekend, What A Country by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
More than 100 sponsors. Skydivers. Dozens of hot rods and show bikes. Live music, free food and a chance to be part of a Guinness Book world record. It’s so big, it’s more like three events. Which it actually is. It began as a small group’s desire to raise money for local veterans by asking people to pass the hat at parties. They named their effort the What A Country Challenge, and interest grew like wildfire. The effort then joined forces with the annual Discovery Bay Paddle for Fame, scheduled for the same day, June 27 (this Saturday), at the Discovery Bay Marina. That effort, to be documented in a flyover and parachute drop, hopes to maintain
a record for the most humanpowered vessels linked together, a mark Discovery Bay has held for two years. “We actually have a waterfront community in Florida that has challenged us for the title this year, so we’re hoping to beat their record and send them a Discovery Bay T-shirt,” said Amanda Dove, an event sponsor. Boardwalk Bar and Grill, another sponsor, will provide paddleboaters a free lunch. Red Barn Hotrods then jumped on board, putting together a Hot Rod and Motorcycle show that owner Pam Munkelt said could total 100 entrants. The show will be held at the Discovery Bay Marina at the same time as the Paddle for Fame, and all proceeds from the Car and Motorcycle show will go to What A Country.
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June 26, 2009
THIS WEEK
Divine dream, devilish details
Let our Wedding Planner sweat the small stuff so you can relax on your big day.
Page 1B
Rumor has it Talk About Town lets you eavesdrop on our insider’s take on the people who make East County tick.
Page 5A
Courtship successful
An East County entrepreneur turned the dream of hosting a pro event into reality.
Page 21A
INSIDE
Press file photo
Frank Morgan, back row right, and a cadre of friends and volunteers have triggered an outpouring of support-the-troops patriotism that culminates this weekend in conjunction with the annual Discovery Bay Paddle to Fame. There’s a $5,800 red, white and blue hot tub being raffled off for $5 per ticket. Special magnums of wine specially numbered and labeled in honor of Army Spc. Joey Graves, a Discovery Bay resident killed in Iraq in 2006. Countless other
items will be sold either at the Marina or at one of the other, private What A Country parties that have spun off. “When we first started it, I had no idea of (peoples’) see Country page 34A
Business .............................8A Calendar ..........................33A Classifieds ........................25A Cop Logs ..........................15A Entertainment ..................6A Food ................................... 8B Health & Beauty ............... 6B Milestones .......................18A Opinion ...........................14A Sports ...............................21A Talk About Town ..............5A Wedding Planner ............. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A