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Show The OGDEN September 1, 2002 VALLEY NEWS PRSRT STD POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO Your Community Newspaper Parents Are Advised of Changes to Weber High Bus Route Inside This Issue: Bill Barber - Artist and Sculptor Page 3 Share the Harvest Page 5 Parents living in the Eden and Liberty areas of the Valley, who have high school students attending Weber, are being advised that the Weber High school bus will no longer be making a second stop at Snowcrest Junior High at 6:55 a.m., nor will the bus be passing in front of the Hearthside in Eden, as it has done in the past. Students may still catch the bus at Snowcrest at 6:35 a.m., and students in the center of Eden may use the bus stops along the main Highway. For more information on bus scheduling, contact Danny Wright at 745-2029, or the Weber School District Garage at 4767930, extension 5. Are You Ready for Some Football? Page 6 Wolf Creek Resort Boasts a Feminine Touch Page 6 LIVE! Music @ Your Library Page 7 Planning Commission Passes Controversial Zoning Request by Wolf Creek Yummy Brownies, Snakes, Earthquakes and Valley Women Page 8 Calendar of Events Page 9 By Shanna Francis Announcements Pages 10 - 11 Weber Pathways Essays Page 12 Starzz Update Page 13 Investing in Education Page 14 Tips on Finding the Right Child Care Facility Page 15 Back Care - How to avoid chronic low back pain Page 17 Top 15 Conservation Programs at Work Page 18 How to Control Water Damage to Your Home Page 19 Huntsville Abbey of the Holy Trinity Page 20 - 21 Classifieds Pages 22 - 23 Ogden Valley News The Eden Balloon and Arts Fest - another successful year. See page 4. VECC—Looking for Ways to Make a Difference in Our Children’s Education As noted in an earlier edition of the Ogden Valley News, the Valley Elementary Community Council (VECC) has been organized to serve as a sounding board, as a source of ideas, and to mobilize community resources to enhance student achievement at Valley Elementary. Given the tight budget situation facing the State’s public education system, there has never been a better or more important time to seek out the members of the community who could volunteer and make a difference in promoting academic achievement at our local school. Members of the Community council, including Chairperson Sue Johnson, Penny Patterson, Cindy Hillstrom, and Deana Froerer, plus Valley Elementary educators Lynn Graves, Claire Dickson, Candy Facer, and Principal Roger Bailey, will be working to meet both legislative mandates and school specific goals at Valley Elementary. In meeting legislative requirements, VECC will likely have to be expanded to include another teacher and community representative. At our last meeting in June, we discussed issues such as possible materials and approaches for developing a math incentive program to improve student math skills. We also focused on ways to build a broader volunteer base to serve the academic needs of our students. This dis- cussion led to a survey that asked teachers what they would like volunteers to do to help them in their classrooms. Finally, we discussed ways to improve communication with parents and the community in general, including articles in the Ogden Valley News, and possibly creating an internet based information source. In the near term, VECC hopes to secure the specific classroom volunteers requested by the teachers, and to increase information about volunteer opportunities for the community-at-large. Remember, not only parents of students at Valley Elementary can be volunteers—other adults, such as grandparents, retirees, and past patrons of Valley Elementary can help make a difference too. If you have questions or ideas, or would like to volunteer, contact any one of the current members of the Valley Elementary Community Council listed above, or plan to attend our next VECC meeting scheduled for September 5, 2002, at 3:45 p.m. in the Media Center at Valley Elementary. Proposed agenda items for that meeting include ways to stimulate volunteer participation, such as hosting a Grandparent’s Day at school, setting up a childcare system for volunteers, and /or developing volunteer opportunities that could be done at home. On August 20, The Weber County Township Planning Commission heard arguments for a controversial rezone petition by Wolf Creek. The petition is designed to allow for storage sheds and RV parking at the base of the Eden development. Just over an acre, the planning commission recommended approval for rezoning the parcel from an AV-3 (agricultural zone) designation to CVR-1 (commercial). The parcel, is located along the highway below Wolf Creek’s sewer lagoons. Debra Hegg of Eden stated, “The concept of having RV parking is great, but the location is a concern. Wolf Creek has been making improvements to the development’s entry corridor, and now they want to undo their efforts by placing this unsightly eyesore along the highway. It may also invite potential vandalism to the area, and draw more attention to the sewer ponds.” Representing petitioners, Lowell Peterson argued that, although Wolf Creek has additional commercial property already zoned for RV parking, “It would be an abomination” to place RV parking up in these neighborhoods. Commissioners voted 3-1 to recommend to the County Commissioners that the request be approved. Sharon Holmstrom of Eden cast the dissenting vote, stating that approval of the petition would constitute nothing more than spot zoning. Generally, spot zoning is contrary to competent land use regulation, and does not support the community general plan, rather, the private interests of the petitioner. Overlooking the rights of others in similar circumstances, spot zoning usually does not deal equitably with the public interest, and may adversely affect surrounding property values. A hearing and decision on the proposal will be made by Weber County Commissioners at an upcoming Commission meeting. Residents can contact the County offices to voice their support or concern for the request by calling 399-8401. |