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Show i -N. E W S- Spanish Fork A6 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007 Halloween Downtown Letter to the Editor HALLOWEEN FUN: The Spanish Fork/Salem Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Downtown Halloween Street Festival on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 1-3 p.m. This will be on Main Street in Spanish Fork, and will go from Center Street to 400 North Main Street. There will be trick-or-treating and games available at the local businesses. This is open to all children in the Spanish Fork area age 12 and under. Please wear costumes and come and join the fun! Candidate's rebuttal Trieste Bills / Spanish Fork News Woodland Hills candidates: From CANDIDATES • A l Covering what matters most Bennett said that she has good communication skills that will enable her to be both effective and efficient as a member of the city council. Because of her history background, she has a good understanding of cause and effect, and she feels she understands different perspectives and values inclusion. "I believe in the importance of sharing information, of seeking viable alternative solutions to problems, of working towards consensus among stakeholders, and of energizing people," she said. Professor. Her teaching and research interests lie in the American West, where various groups continue to contest the ownership and use of natural resources. Bennett met her partner, Scott, in Utah shortly after she came here. They moved, with their Labrador retriever, Once in a Blue Moon, to Woodland Hills about three years ago. They chose to live in this community because of its natural environment, open spaces and welcoming neighbors. Steve Carter Bennett serves on the Steve Carter and his wife Woodland Hill's Parks, "Patti" , (Patricia) of nearly Trails, and Recreation Com- 50 years, are originally from mittee, and has participated Texas and had spent the last in various city-wide vol- 35 years living in Washunteer projects, such as the ington before they came to Woodland Hill's Drive/City Woodland Hills. Carter says Spring Clean-up Project and he and his wife came to visit Woodland Hills Day. their daughter in Provo and, Bennett said that the city "found something in Woodneeds to learn how to make land Hills, that they hadn't short and long-term plans, to been able to find in Washingprioritize, to budget, and to ton." act upon the city's growing Carter said they decided needs. She said that equal- to move to the area and, "get ly pressing is the need for out of the rat races, and away "smart" development, while from traffic, and high propmaintaining the integrity and erty taxes. We smile every quality of the community. time we drive through Span"By smart development, I ish Fork," he said. mean planned development Carter, has a bachelor's that enhances the quality degree from the University of life in the city," she said. of Texas and is a Math major "Woodland Hills is growing, with minor in English. His along with the rest of South graduate studies were in Math County. As a result, the city's and Business Management. infrastructure needs to change Carter also did a Military and adapt. Bennett said that it Commission in the Marine is very important to focus on Corps. Carter is now retired, those things that will main- but spent 40 years working in tain the safety and quality of the data processing industry. life for the citizens. He and Patti have seven chil"A city and its council dren, 17 grandchildren, and needs to be able to simulta- one great-grandson. neously assess all its infraCarter says that in his view, structure needs, to plan and one of the main issues facing budget for these needs, to act Woodland Hills would be to upon these needs, and to fol- improve the communication low through with carefully between elected officials and planned maintenance," Ben- residents. nett said. "We haven't done "We need town hall meetthis as professionally as we ings and work sessions where might. In other words, rather residents can be kept up to than address any single issue after it becomes pressing, date on what the council is like the city's well, or fire planning and proposing/'said safety, we need to look ahead Carter. He said, like in other citsystematically and thoughties, he would like to see the fully." city of Woodland Hills "be PORTER'S professionally managed with a city manager, and a public works director, and additional employees to take care of the roads and water systems." According to Carter, Woodland Hills is in an awkward stage. "We have reached the point where the population size has gotten ahead of the city infrastructure," he said. When it comes to that infrastructure, Carter said the most important issue the city is facing right now has to do with fire protection. "Up here, I think everyone would agree," Carter said, "that the most important item is fire protection." Carter said that in a city with lots of vegetation and many oak trees around, "they are like torches waiting to be lit." He believes that safety should always be a primary concern. Carter also has concerns with avalanches, flooding and problems with debris in conjunction with safety issues, but said that storm drainage and water system issues are next in line when it comes to infrastructure problems that need to be addressed. Carter said as far as qualifications go, he feels his experience as a former city councilman in a much larger city have given him some good background experience. Carter also says that during his time in the data processing industry he was constantly "taking real world situations and implementing new skills all directly applicable to assessing needs and providing customer support." Carter feels that these are skills that will help him to improve the functioning of city government. "I'm also retired, "Carter said, "and unlike some that have full time jobs which have Jo be their first priority, I can devote more time to make these changes." Carter said he would like citizens to pay more attention and learn what's going on in the city. "Demand feedback and communication from the people you elect. Demand re- sults," he said. Bob Fisher Robert Fisher grew up in Salt Lake City. Following his graduation from the University of Utah, he and Claudia moved to Boston, where he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, he earned a doctorate in chemical engineering. Over the years, he and his wife have lived in Allentown, Penn., Naperville, 111. and Houston, Texas before before moving to Woodland Hills in 2005. Fisher said he is fortunate to have a wonderful wife and supporter, who he has been married to for 47 years. They have eight children and 17 grandchildren. He is currently serving as the Woodland Hills representative to the South Utah Valley Municipal Water Authority and to the Utah Lake Commission. Fisher said that, like most cities, the principal issue facing Woodland Hills is that there is never enough money. "We need to seek new sources of funding that more fairly charge those that are the beneficiaries of city services," he said. He said that effective use of funds revolve around communication, planning, prioritization and implementation. "The foundation for success is a carefully created and well-executed long term master plan that balances our needs, growth and affordability. And it mustbe a plan that best represents the desires of our citizens and the requirements of our community." Fisher said that as revenues permit, the city needs to migrate to a professional management team. "Given the current work load, I believe we should hire a part time city planner/manager, public works director, engineer, grant writer, and maintenance, inspection and office staff as needed," he said. Fisher feels that at least two of those employees should be trained fire fighters. He said that some of these functions See CANDIDATES • A8 REGIONAL; Y.S.A. ACTIVITY HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING • Sales •Service Last week the citizens of SpanishFork had the opportunity to watch and participate in a debate between the candidates for city council. A question came up concerning the golf course and whether or not ' government should be involved in providing such nonessential services to the community at the expense of local taxpayers or if it should just become privatized. Some of the other candidates suggested that the golf course was just as essential to the welfare of our citizens as the library is, and that it deserved equal funding. I believe the people of Spanish Fork know better, but even so, I would like to provide the following rebuttal: Knowledge is power. Literacy changes lives and even whole societies forever. This is the driving force be- hind organizations such as the Rotary Club who sponsors the building of libraries around the world. This is the driving force behind the handful of multi-million dollar companies that have chosen Utah County as their home because of it's educated work force. Finally, this is the driving force behind the numbers that show golf course patronage well below the number of people who regularly patronize our wonderful little library on Main Street. I have spent my fair share of time with a club in hand (and a ball nowhere in sight) and I acknowledge golf as the fun, albeit frustrating, recreation that it is, but as an elected official, I won't ever forget what Eisenhower said: "A nation that loves its privileges above its principles soon loses both." Rosemary Jarmon Spanish Fork Obituary Clarence Mathew Geslison Clarence Mathew "PerryT Geslison, our beloved husband, father and grandfather passed from his mortal life peacefully at home on Friday, Oct. 19 of agerelated complications. He was born on July 19, 1917 in Spanish Fork. He is the son of Sigmunder and Svensina (Johnson) Geslison, who were born in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. He grew up in Spanish Fork and graduated from Spanish Fork High School. Christensen; his son, He attended Utah State Mark (Jeanette) Geslison; University, and graduated Bonnie (Harvey) Chatwin; from Brigham Young David (Linda) Smith; University in 1939. HeMike Smith; Linda (Ted) then served a mission for Cordova; Danny (Kathy) the Church of Jesus Christ Smith, and numerous of Latter-day Saints in grandchildren and greatBuenos Aires, Argentina grandchildren. for 3 1/2 years. In 1943, he He was preceded in joined the army and served death by his father; mother; until 1946. brothers, Desmond, Gilbert, He married Beth Byron and Arthur; and his Julander, of Sevier, on May sister, Lola. 9, 1962. Together they had Funeral services were two children, Patricia and held Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the Mark. He also helped raise Spanish Fork Stake Center. five stepchildren. Burial was in the Spanish He took great pride Fork City Cemetery. in his work as a painter The family wishes to and was always proud of thank the doctors, nurses his Icelandic heritage. and staff of Mountain Throughout his life, he View Hospital and Alpine proudly maintained his Hospice for their gentle care Spanish language skills of Clarence during his final gained from his mission. weeks. He was a man of great Condolences may be integrity. • sent to the family at: www. He ' is survived by walkerfamilymortuary.com. his wife of 45 years, his We're going to miss you, daughter, Trisha (Marc) Pop! • Installation LARRY D. VEST Associate Broker/BSB/ABR Is this you? • Green Sticker • Financing OAC •Concerned aboutlnterest rates •Concerned about slowing market •Concerned about property values •Concerned about mortgage financing •Concerned about selling your home •Concerned about buying a home IT TAKES 798-1700 COSTUMES OPTIONAL \ ADMISSION WTTH12-G. 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