| OCR Text |
Show T r r r" the Park Record Section A Thursday, December 15, 1994 D Page A1 7 News from the West and the rest Hi SMnmimiinit tkp Sqimmuiim5tL mnm JXSSm 111 ill S f 1 'r r r rrrr r r r rp-y wv r rri ry J: Snowpack is already above normal .-EMy season snowstorms around Jackson Hole apparentiy have held a high water content and as a result area-wide area-wide water levels are already above normal. U.S. Soil Conservation measuring stations reported that the water equivalent readings for the upper Snake River Basin are 138 percent of normal. Last year at this time the water level measured only 67 percent of normal. ' North of Jackson the water content is even greater with a 184 percent reading at Coulter Creek on the southern border of Yellowstone National Park. , Jackson Hole News mm Sun Valley still looking for a new mayor Ever since election day, when residents of Sun Valley voted to recall JoAnn Levy, the city has been operating without a mayor. But, this month the City Council is expected to nominate candidates and make a selection. However, that process has come under fire. Originally the Council members had planned to make their choice in a closed session. Residents, though, have complained that Council members have been meeting in secret to choose a new mayor. Levy was ousted after a bitter controversy over control of the local hospital. According to an editorial in the Express , closing the meeting would violate Idaho's open meeting law. According to state statute, the paper states, a city council may go into executive session to hire some types of employees but may not do so to fill a vacancy in a public office. THE &L TRAIL Golden Bear is subject of trademark battle The stylized golden bear, which has been a Vail trademark since the 1970's, is once again the focus of a legal battle. The bear's original designer, Lee Hollis, has charged a competitor, Gold of Vail, with trademark infringement. Hollis' is suing for lost profits and the cost of the legal action and is asking for a court injunction to stop the sale of the facsimile bear jewelry. This is the second time Hollis has filed a lawsuit to protect the registered trademark design. The previous action was settled out of court Telluride rimes-Journal Rico residents resist area extension of heliskiing Rico residents are mobilizing to block a Telluride helicopter skiing company from extending its permit area to their backyards. The Rico Town Board has officially voiced its opposition to any extension of the current area of operation and several local residents are organizing a petition drive to let the Forest Service, which would issue the permit, know how they feel. Primarily, Rico residents object to the noise helicopters would create. One resident pointed out that while many backcountry skier could be in the area without disturbing each other, everyone would be impacted by a helicopter. Another concern, they pointed out, is who would pay for any rescue Mm teg Early indicators suggest slow season for Aspen operations that may be necessary. Reports from a variety of Aspen merchants following Thanksgiving weekend showed that business was down from last year and some are worried that may not bode well for thq rest of the season. The culprit, some suspect, may be the recent reduction in flights to and from Aspen since the pullout of Continental Airlines. As a result, some businessmen say they are preparing for dramatic decreases in visitors. , According to the Times, fewer flights into town this ski season mean 76,000 fewer seats will be available over the course of the ski season. United Express is expected to bring 120,000 tourists this season, whereas United and Continental combined last year brought in 151,000. According to the Times, there are still rooms available during several busy weekends but the flights are already sold out. Christmas traditions and folklore Historically, the Christmas tree may be fairly young, but palm and evergreen branches have been used is symbols of life since before the dawn of Christianity. Long before there was a Christmas, Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes on the shortest day of the year in December as a symbol of life's 'triumph over death. Romans adorned their homes with evergreens during Saturn-alia, a winter festival in honor of Saturnus, their god of agriculture. t Druid priests decorated oak trees with golden apples for their winter solstice festivities. In the middle ages, the Paradise tree, an evergreen hung with red apples, was the symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held December 24. It wasn't until the 16th century that the Christmas tree as we know it was introduced. The first recorded reference to the tree was made in the 1500's in Strasbourg, Germany. There, families both rich and poor decorated fir trees with colored paper, fruits and sweets. The retail Christmas tree lot also dates back that far. In those times, older women would harvest trees from nearby forests and sell them in the market-place. The tradition spread through Europe and was brought to the United States by German settlers and Hessian mercenaries paid to fight in the Revolutionary War. In 1804, U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) hauled trees form surrounding woods to their barracks at Christmas. The popularity of the Christmas tree then proliferated. Charles Minnegrode introduced the custom of decorating trees in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1842. In 1831, mark Carr hauled two ox sleds loaded with trees from the Catskills to the streets of New York and opened the first retail lot in the United States. Plan your weekend by reading the Arts & Leisure section each week in The Fork Record. 100 home equity loans approved in 30 minutes over the phone and accessed through your Visa. Who says you can't have it all? Getting a home equity loan has never been easier. Justpick up your pnnitv in vour home, instead of 30-minute f! j-800- .1 finq unnlre will lend VOU. LoanByPhon' 1 352-LEND ,r: ' :al DCSl Ul Oil, WC U Ku. juuu ThenwellciveyouananswerinaDouianaunour. yuw cuiiim-- OrS!Mdyaucanborrowuptol00ofthe I no other bank in Utah gives you all this, BANK E ONE Whatever it takes. Bank One, Utah, NA Member FDIC EQUAL HOUSING "SSffl" 1994 BANC ONE CORPORATION Some conditions and restrictions apply. Where the discriminating shopper discovers the unique 10 THREE KINGS $240,000 -y - , ; -. . pf. - ,;.f'..r. . .y.i. . . , I j li i great ski run views on the 7th green just steps from skiing true 2 bedroom BEST UNIT LOCATION Rick Hovey 2.5 bathrooms gas converted newer appliancescarpet expanded living area GRAND RE OPENING DECEMBER 19TH 436 Main Street Park City 649-6577 Bring in this ad for a 10 discount on any one item Valid through 12-24-94 649-4400 649-9526 5: VTfcTJV" HICK HOVEY COLD WELL BANKER PREMIER |
