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Show Viewpoints The A-9 Park Record. Wed/Thurs/Fri, December 18-20, 2019 editorial Woodward opening is joyous for our community and our athletes W letters to the editor A bright idea There is a community program underway that is helping more Summit and Wasatch county residents go solar, SCPW Solar. With help from this program, solar panels will be going up on our home this month. SCPW Solar provided us with a pre-selected solar installer, Creative Energies, and a community-wide, bulk-purchase discount. Most importantly, SCPW Solar made it easy for us to navigate the solar installation process, taking out much of the guesswork that prevents a lot of us from going solar. There is no better time to go solar than now. First, consider the changing compensation for rooftop solar. All of us Rocky Mountain Power customers spend an average of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for our energy. If you have solar and send extra power to the electricity grid, you get a credit of about 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. This energy bill off-set is crucial in keeping energy bills low, but the credit could change in the coming year. Rocky Mountain Power is exploring new rates for solar customers, but anyone installing solar now before a new rate is set will be grandfathered into the current solar reimbursement rate until 2032. Couple this with the tax credits currently available for rooftop solar, and there was no question in our minds that it was time to take the leap and install solar at our home. We all have a role to play in turning the tide on climate change, and rooftop solar is a spectacular way to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’ve been interested in going solar but haven’t yet made the leap, we encourage you to look into SCPW Solar at scpwsolar.org. Bryn Carey and Jackie Carey Park City Outpouring of love My family and I would like to thank the Park City community for its outpouring of love, friendship and support upon the passing of my husband, Steve Hamilton. We have enjoyed hearing your stories of the love and respect you had for him, and how much you enjoyed interacting with him, primarily at The Market pharmacy. He will be greatly missed. Jane Hamilton Park City Expand S.R. 248 Once again we saw the need to widen S.R. 248. There are only two ways into and out of town. Last week, there was a gas leak near the white barn so S.R. 224 was closed in both directions and all traffic had to be rerouted to S.R. 248. Last summer a gas leak shut down S.R. 248 and all traffic had to be diverted to S.R. 224. What if this were to happen Christmas The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Ryan Kostecka Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Sharon Bush Emma Fedorowich Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn week or during Sundance or any of the other many busy times in Park City? What if there was a natural emergency such as a wildfire or earthquake and people needed to evacuate Park City immediately? Public transportation is not the answer in an emergency — people will be in their cars to leave town. S.R. 248 must be two lanes in both directions! Not to handle future traffic but for safety reasons and to survive the current needs of the community. Patricia Pond Pinebrook Rethink opposition The widespread traffic congestion caused by the temporary closing of S.R. 224 on Thursday illustrated the vulnerability of the Park City community to unexpected problems that can have an impact on our transportation system. Because there are only two main routes in and out of Park City, the closing of either one can cause extraordinary transportation delays. I encountered a very long delay as I was driving to an appointment at the Park City Hospital at about 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Traffic was backed up on U.S. 40 from Kearns Boulevard (S.R. 248) almost to Silver Summit Parkway. Fortunately, I didn’t need emergency care, but that kind of delay could have been a serious matter for someone needing urgent medical assistance. This incident can be seen as a warning to the community and its leaders of the potential danger that could arise from an interruption of our transportation system. This might be caused by a fire, gas main leak or a jack-knifed truck and could lead to a loss of life if Park City residents are not able to efficiently leave the city or get to the hospital quickly. Kearns Boulevard needs to be rebuilt in accordance with the Utah Department of Transportation’s recommendation. The temporary fix that is being discussed to convert the lanes so that there are two lanes incoming and one lane outgoing from the city won’t help Park City residents who need to quickly escape from the city or to get to the hospital in an emergency. If you live in the city and have a heart attack or are in labor and are about to give birth, you will need to get to the hospital quickly and a long delay is not acceptable. It is time to rethink the opposition to the UDOT plan. There really aren’t any good alternatives to it. oodward Park City knows how to make an entrance. On Saturday, the action-sports resort opened at last, showing off an intriguing final product that residents have watched take shape on the hillside near Pinebrook over many months and that parent company Powdr has wanted to build for more than half a decade. To celebrate the milestone, Woodward invited world-famous athletes like skateboarder Tony Hawk and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson to take part in the festivities, giving the day more than a little flair. It was certainly an occasion worth the hubbub, marking Woodward as Park City’s newest resort, albeit one providing a much different experience than the two others our community is known for. Rather than thousands of acres of ski terrain, Woodward provides skiing and snowboarding on a much smaller scale, along with something unlike anything else in Utah: a 60,000-square-foot indoor facility packed with amenities for sports like skateboarding, BMX biking and even parkour. Woodward, which will operate year-round, perfectly complements the expansive, world-class downhill skiing at Deer Valley and PCMR and further cements Park City as one of the top destinations for skiers and action-sports enthusiasts in the West. Beyond what it means for Park City’s identity as a resort town, Woodward also brings another important component to the table that should excite Parkites: its focus on developing young athletes. While the resort is open to people of all ages, one of its core missions is to provide an environment for youngsters to hone their skills and, potentially, pursue their sports at a competitive level. To that end, Woodward offers a number of camps, classes and clinics, in addition to simply providing a place for youth to put in the kind of endless practice necessary to develop their talents. Molding athletes, of course, has been a point of pride in Park City since the 2002 Winter Games lit our Olympic spirit, and we all take satisfaction in rooting for homegrown stars like Ted Ligety, Sarah Hendrickson and Joss Christensen. There are several organizations deserving credit for building that culture, from Park City Ski and Snowboard to the Youth Sports Alliance to the ski resorts — the list goes on. Woodward, it seems, is determined to expand on that legacy. Among the thousands of kids who will flock to the resort to spend an afternoon with their friends attempting to catch some air on the ski hill or cruising around the indoor skate park, it seems a good bet that there will be future Olympians or, perhaps, an athlete destined to become their sport’s next superstar. If that vision comes true, we will be able to trace it all back to Saturday, when Park City’s newest resort made a grand entrance into our community. guest editorial Training programs like Welcoming Schools empower educators to protect Utah’s youth RACHEL PITTARD Summit Park To the misfits, others, non-conforming, unpopular, weirdos and outspoken: You have my infinite support and utmost admiration. Know that I walk alongside you. No topic is banned from my dinner table. Insults are a manifestation of someone else’s pain and ignorance. Human behaviors that go unchecked stem from a lack of vocabulary and unwillingness to seek understanding. My name is Rachel Pittard. My pronouns are she, her and hers. I am a Park City resident, an advocate for youth development, a proud gay human, and someone who never fit in at school. Owning and celebrating your individuality is the most powerful advantage you can possess. Your uniqueness is what can fulfill you and lead to happiness. I argue that the “others” are the keepers of solutions to age-old problems. Your authentic perspectives are what will leave this world and your family (given or chosen) in a better place. Dig this: Each of us is a container of energy. Energy 1) can neither be created nor destroyed, and 2) energy does not stop traveling — it is transferred. In fact, it travels infinitely in all directions. Regardless of your container size, shape, color, orientation, birth place, socio economic status, etc., your energy’s footprint is taller than the mountains that surround Park City. Your energy’s reach is in fact more expansive than the universe. The cease-and-desist letter submitted to the Park City School District by Solon Law regarding the Welcoming Schools program sparked a mandatory reflection on why anti-bullying prevention programs are required by Utah state law. Education professionals are the “guardians” of our children between the first and last bell of the day, during after-school activities, and while on the bus. School staff are the first responders to behavior, much like EMTs are to an accident scene. They need equipment to recognize and treat fallout. Left unchecked, emotional injuries do irreparable damage. Each of us has a limited capacity for pain and scars. Those with no support system develop unhealthy ways of self protection. Professional development offered by Welcoming Schools empowers educators to 1) raise their voices on behalf of those who don’t yet have the words, and 2) to send signals to students that school is a safe place for them. Utah’s staggering youth suicide and LGBTQ+ youth homelessness rate is shameful. Many agencies and private donors work to develop mental health safety nets for kids. Promoting self love and celebrating individuality is a no-brainer extension of this net. If every adult supported a small piece of Welcoming Schools at local and state school board meetings, we could demonstrate to our kids that we care about spaces which support rather than harm them. I am reminded of that joyous time on Park City’s Main Street when 2000-plus people gathered for the fourth-annual Shot Ski event. We, the community, simultaneously lifted 2,500 feet of connected skis together — just over 1 ton of material. And together, we took a drink. For a brief moment, we were united in anticipation and celebration. We helped Sunrise Rotary raise $40,000 for its amazing community projects. Needless to say, I support the notion that lifting up children and celebrating what makes them unique is even more satisfying and just as DOABLE as the Shot Ski. The Park record Pulse Here’s a sampling of the conversation readers are having on our Facebook page. To visit the page, go to Facebook.com/parkrecord/. F. Joseph Feely III Park City Still going strong I was thrilled to see the article “Athenaeum Club’s legacy predates suffrage” featured in the Wednesday, Dec. 11, Way We Were section of The Park Record. The club is still going strong today in the Park City community. One can only assume the early club members back in 1897 did not consider the long-reaching effects this club would have on the lives of the Park City community for more than a century to come. More information about the club, their meetings and events can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/parkcityathenaeumclub/, the website gfwcparkcity. weebly.com or email at pcathenaeumclub@gmail.com. What a beautiful letter of support and validation! Never forget that this community is filled with those of us that care about you and support you. You matter!” Angela Hill Larsen, on “Guest editorial: If you’re an LGBTQ student and haven’t been told lately: You matter” After reading the “guest editorial” on Senate Republicans in Saturday’s Park Record, perhaps a new category for reader input is required. My suggestion would be “Venting Venue.” Most guest editorials shed some light on a local topic of interest, such as taxing, schools or area growth. Mr. White’s editorial, however, was a beautifully written rant that collected most all of the allegations, phrases, claims, adjectives and adverbs about the impeachment process that I’ve seen on TV or in print media. He seems to need a safe space or a therapy squirrel to deal with his severe case of TDS. A more descriptive heading James McKenna, on “In split vote, Coalville approves Wohali development amid community outcry” I don’t think this is relevant to Park City. We just had our live PC give PC fundraiser and I don’t see many adults counting down the “days when Santa comes down the chimney”. PC philanthropy doesn’t need to be reminded of this.” Christine Munro, on “Record editorial: Enrich the holidays by performing acts of kindness” Lynette McAferty Park City Athenaeum Club Venue for venting I haven’t been vocal like others. Kind of watching on the sidelines like many. I don’t know how much control everyone has in this. But I do think the community changed the outcome. Again from the sidelines it feels this way. That said, when rockport is 10% full and echo is a puddle ... maybe we can get jordanelle to build a pipeline to us like they did from lake Powell.” on articles such as his would help some of us deplorable people sort out what is worth reading and what is worth tossing directly into the recycle bin. Ken Miller Park City Countervailing public interest For years the Park City senior community has been asking for a facility that would allow them to age gracefully here in their own town, near their friends and family, without the indignity of being shipped off to Salt Lake The Park Record attained permission to publish these comments. Some comments may have been lightly edited for clarity. City to start a new life, at a crucial time when they need some continuity in their existing life. As Dakota Pacific asks for more density in its redevelopment of the former Park City Tech Center, the words “countervailing public interest” keep coming up as a reason to allow that increased density. I can’t think of a better “countervailing public interest” than to incorporate a senior living facility within their plans ... it’s almost a no-brainer. Right next to transit with access to all the necessary shopping and services, close to their friends and family, a senior living facility at that location would be a huge public interest boost for our community. In fact, I struggle to think of a better location for this facility. Details can be worked out regarding the level of services provided, ranging from independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, or continuous care community. It doesn’t have to be all of these, but the location is too perfect to ignore the possibility of some sort of senior living within. I urge the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission to seriously look into this as they go through the process of defining what “countervailing public interest” they will consider to allow the additional density requested. Surely our seniors, who have done so much for our community over many years, deserve to be considered in this process. Ed Parigian Old Town |