YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 20, No. 10
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Gursky named Woman of the Year by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Lynn Gursky had just come in from the garden when she got the call from Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s office, leaving the outgoing Brentwood businesswoman uncharacteristically dumbstruck. “I said to Jim, ‘You know me, and I have to say I am actually speechless,’” she said, laughing. The phone call was to inform Gursky that she had been named Woman of the Year for Frazier’s 11th Assembly District. “I am honored to name Lynn Gursky as the Woman of the Year,” said Frazier. “And as all who know her will tell you, Lynn is a special individual: determined, elegant, graceful and kind, with a huge heart and great sense of humor.” She will be feted in two ceremonies – one at the state capitol
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Lynn Gursky has been chosen Woman of the Year, by District 11 Assemblyman Jim Frazier. in Sacramento on March 12 and again in a more intimate gathering at the Knightsen Elementary
School library on March 16. For the longtime resident, community activist, educator and
supporter of agribusiness, the recognition is a humbling one. “It’s such an honor, but it is also for all of those who are active in the community and believe in giving back,” said Gursky. “I feel I am representative of many, many people here.” Gursky is the owner of Gursky Ranch Country Store, a business she and her late husband Roy started in 1980. Gursky taught at Knightsen Elementary School for 32 years, eventually becoming a mentor teacher and later the director of curriculum and coordinator of the Beginning Teacher Program. Now retired from the classroom, she still works as a part-time education consultant. “Lynn has served nearly four decades as a member of the Brentwood Chamber of Com
Staff Writer
As the clock winds down on Gov. Jerry Brown’s time in office, pressure appears to be mounting on state agencies to move the California WaterFix project forward. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) surprised many during a Bay-Delta Special Committee meeting on Feb. 27 when it was disclosed that the agency was examining the opportunity to finance the $11 billion cost of building the first of two tunnels in accordance with the Department of Water Resource’s (DWR) revised construction plan. The plan would require increased financial commitment from the agency but would also cede greater control of water resources to the agency. That has critics concerned. “There is so much to unpack for the public from what was re-
“ The state is abdicating its responsibility to
manage water for all people in California as a public trust resource.
”
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta executive director vealed today at MWD’s Bay-Delta Committee meeting,” Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, wrote in a press release. “On the surface, it is clear that the California Department of Water Resources is moving forward with a two-tunnels application for the change in the point of diversion to secure a State Water Project right for MWD, who will become the financier and operator of the project. California’s water management is being gamed to give the majority of power over watershed management throughout the state to Metropolitan Wawww.thepress.net/ marketplace BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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ter District. The state is abdicating its responsibility to manage water for all people in California as a public trust resource.” WaterFix has bogged down in recent months, as the reality of the project’s nearly $17 billion price tag rattled the agencies expected to bear the burden of that cost. The financial commitments necessary for the project to advance failed to materialize, and DWR revised WaterFix in early February by adopting a staged approach to the tunnel construction. Within days of that announcement, MWD, believing the twin-
March 11th
Set your clocks ahead.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS! March 9, 2018
Getting An Inside Look
Oakley Superintendent Greg Hetrick shares his story in a Press interview. Page 9
Last Chance For “Grease”
see Gursky page 30
Pressure mounts on WaterFix agencies by Tony Kukulich
SUNDAY
tunnel approach provided greater benefits, announced it was looking at the feasibility of increasing its financial commitment to the project to ensure that both tunnels were built simultaneously. MWD’s analysis was expected to take four to six weeks to complete. MWD has undertaken the analysis of two approaches to WaterFix involving a potential commitment of billions of dollars and given itself only a matter of weeks to complete both initiatives. Comments made by Jeffrey Kightlinger, MWD general manager, during the Feb. 27 committee meeting provide some insight into the reason for urgency. “The governor came and joined this meeting with the (water) contractors, briefly,” said Kightlinger. “The chairman was there. The governor did say we need to get moving, whether it’s
Tickets still available for the encore performances of “Grease” by the LHS Playmakers. Page 11
Grabbing NCS Title Win
Heritage boys net win over Clayton Valley in school’s first NCS basketball title. Page 21
see WaterFix page 30
Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................25 Cop Logs................................29 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Health & Beauty..................13 Milestones............................15 Opinion..................................20 Pets.........................................18 Sports.....................................21
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