OCR Text |
Show MAY 9, 2008 PAGE A5 Summit County News Who are “Mom’s For Clean Air”... KATHY LOFFT Special to the Bee Utah Moms for Clean Air is an advocacy group that supports efforts to improve our regional air quality. The main organization was established just one year ago by a group of women in Salt Lake City, and in that time has been instrumental in: Securing passage of legislation including: • H.B. 106 to provide tax incentives for the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles • H.B. 146 to provide state funds (to be matched by federal money) to retrofit diesel school buses • H.B. 201 to provide tax credits to utility-scale solar projects that are developed and owned by municipalities • Securing approval for $2.21M in funding for the state Division of Air Quality to use for PM2.5 monitoring • Creating the Clean Air Alliance, a consortium of environmental groups including UMCA, UPHE, the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club and many others, to coordinate efforts and activities directed at improving regional air quality (the idea for CAA originated with Utah Moms) • Working with the state government to promote use of highway road signs to broadcast air quality/driving alerts in SLC The Park City chapter of Utah Moms for Clean Air was established in March by Mary Jacquin and Kathy Lofft, two Park City residents. The ten member steering committee of Utah Moms includes attorneys, physicians and at least two PhD’s (one in biology), among others. Members of the organization have appeared and testified before or provided input to the legislature and various legislative committees, administrative agencies and state regulators. UMCA works with and has frequently testified along with members of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE). The UMCA mailing list currently includes over 800 names. Mary Jacquin and Kathy Lofft, two Park City residents, established the Park City chapter of Utah Moms for Clean Air in March of this year. Because many of the decisions and activity that affect our air quality are made at the county/local level, or involve engaging and educating the local populace, they believe strongly that a local chapter is needed to address issues particular to the Wasatch Back and greater Summit County. The Park City Chapter mailing list, created in just the past month, includes nearly 70 names, a clear indication of the importance of these issues to the local community. Membership is not limited to “moms”, and includes men and women, singles and married couples, parents and non-parents, grandparents and teenagers. This local chapter is the second one to be established, after the one established in Sevier County. A number of other local chapters are proposed, including in Cache, Davis and Washington Counties. The main UMCA organization takes a fairly “hands off” approach to its the local chapters. As such, the Park City chapter expects to be able to set its own agenda and manage its own activities, within the limited constraints (e.g., use of the group’s name) that may be established by UMCA. Some of the projects the chapter plans to focus on include achieving more comprehensive air quality monitoring, establishing idle-free campaigns in the local communities, and promoting educational awareness events. The group will work closely with county and local officials, as well as local environmental groups such as Recycle Utah, to achieve these goals. Our inaugural meeting in was held in April, where the founder of the main organization of UMCA, Cherise Udell, and the president of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Brian Moench, both gave powerful presentations. The genesis of Utah Moms for Clean Air was inspired in large part by the UPHE, and Dr. Moench spoke at length about the devastating health effects of air pollution. Changes in air quality have been associated with increased respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function, cardiovascular difficulties and higher hospitalization and mortality rates. This is especially true for babies and small children, whose physiology – including their increased inhalation rates – renders them particularly susceptible to the effects of dirty air. In addition to health issues, there is also the potential for adverse environmental impacts on the recreational activities we all currently enjoy, which could have a devastating effect on our local economy. Tuesday was only our second meeting, and in attendance were representatives from both Summit County and Park City, as well as members of the local media. We had a great turnout, and a thought-provoking discussion about project ideas for the chapter. In addition, Steve Jenkins, director of the county’s Board of Health, presented the Senior Volunteer Drivers Recognized at Dinner at The Spring Chicken Inn The Summit County Commissioners recognized the Senior Volunteer Drivers by hosting a dinner at the Spring Chicken Inn, Wednesday, April 30. The volunteer drivers assist citizens 60 and older in driving to doctor appointments, prescription refills, grocery shopping etc. To learn more about this program, contact Susan Ovard at 336-3025, 615-3025 and 7834351 ext. 3220 Pictured: Back, left to right: Jerry Olaveson, Ben Jones, Susan Mellen, Lois Carlile, Anita Lewis, Roger Crittenden and Ranae Crittenden. Front, left to right: Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme, Commissioner Sally Elliott, Commissioner Bob Richer and Susan Ovard. Drivers Go Classifieds! It Pays! 336-5501 COALVILLE CITY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEMBER VACANCY Request for Letters of Interest to Serve on the Coalville City Board of Adjustment. Coalville City is inviting citizens of the community to submit a letter of interest to serve on the Coalville City Board of Adjustment. Each member of the Board of Adjustment serves a term of five (5) years. The Mayor and City Council appoints the Board of Adjustment members. Members of the Board of Adjustment must reside in or own property within Coalville City. The Board of Adjustment addresses four classifications of cases with the administration of the Coalville City Devleopment Code and other regulatory documents including variance applications, modifications of non-conforming uses, appeals and special exceptions. All letters of interest must be received on or before May 30, 2008 to be considered. Letters may be mailed to P.O. Box 188, Coalville, Utah 84017 or hand delivered to City Hall at 10 North Main Street. For further information, please contact City Clerk Chantel Pace at City Hall or call (435) 336-5981. Posted: May 7, 2008-Coalville City Hall, US Post Office, Summit County Court House Published May 9, 16, 23, 2008 -Summit County News not pictured: Carma Burns, Diane Moore, Becky Sargent, Nelda Staples and Kay Dearden. Rose Wallace received the Volunteer of The Year award for her dependability, implementing new ideas to the program and adding laughter and joy while traveling to appointments. Rose was the first to volunteer as a Senior driver. results of the first air quality tests in Summit County. Consider this: In the most recent State of the Air report released last week by the American Lung Association, three of Utah’s major metropolitan areas are ranked among the top 25 most polluted by short term particle pollution. These included Logan (6th), Salt Lake City (7th) and Provo/Orem (12th). Many of these areas are right at our doorstep. How can we be surrounded by the problem, but believe we are, and will continue to be, unaffected? Greater Summit County shares some of same characteristics of many of these areas – most significantly, a susceptibility to inversions that can trap polluted air. We’ve all seen yellow, pollutioncarrying inversions creeping up Parley’s Canyon from the Salt Lake Valley. More specifically, recent years have brought dull, particulate-ridden inversions to some lower-lying areas of Park City, including the Snyderville Basin. With increased development – and accompanying traffic and traffic-related congestion – in our area, we can no longer remain complacent. Mothers of children, particularly young children, are in a unique moral position to advocate for a clean environment. Utah Moms for Clean Air has already helped achieve some remarkable successes. They have also helped drive changes in the way our regional air quality is monitored and reported. The group is leveraging its authority, to great effect, to help raise and maintain our standard of healthy living and to ensure the sustainability of our resources and economy. Prom Night Advice For Parents and Teens Prom night and graduation night are probably the most anticipated nights of the year for teens and two of the most dreaded by their parents. Although most teens think they know everything about how to stay safe, parents know otherwise. And, according to safety experts, it will take more than just talk to ensure a safe evening for all. “No matter how strong the family relationship, many parents are still unaware of the choices teens face every day,” said Ray Palermo, director of public information for Teachers’ Insurance Plan™. “For parents to successfully reach their kids, they’ll have to approach safety issues in new, often more direct ways.” Teachers’ offered several tips that go beyond “don’t drink and drive.” Parents: • Get involved in planning that special night. • Talk specifically about what they should say or do in certain high-risk situations. • Consider having a mutually agreed on “contract” for the night. Set out rules regarding post-parties or other activities – with whom they will be, where, for how long and what they will be doing. 2- PE AIDE II POSITIONS NORTH SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY NORTH SUMMIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Positions will be 15.00 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Beginning pay will be approximately $10.00 per hour, depending on this year's negotiations. No benefits. Position open until filled. For further information, please contact Ms. O'Connor @ 435-336-2101, or you may contact the district office @ 435-336-5654. Applications are available at North Summit School District office, 65 S. Main Street, Coalville, Utah. You may also visit our website @ www.nsummit.k12.ut.us NORTH SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Posted in the Summit County News May 9 & May 16, 2008. Now Hiring Cooks Servers Bussers Dishwashers Call Alanna at 435.901.0866 • Get the names of others going and phone numbers of their parents. • Set a curfew based on past behavior, but be reasonable. This is a special night. Have your teen call if there is a delay. • Send your teen a text message during that night telling them to have fun, but reminding them not to do anything that could ruin a great time. • Limit the number of passengers in a car. • Be on call for a ride home or other emergency. • Have a “no questions asked” policy on getting home safely. • Join with other parents and rent a limo for them. • Be the chauffeur for the night, but don’t meddle. Rent a vintage car to make it more special. Teens: • Make an agreement with parents to not drink and drive, and not to ride with anyone else who is drinking. • Resist high-risk activities of all types. • To avoid tampering, do not leave your beverage unattended. • Check in with your parents during the night. It will go a long way toward reassuring them about how you are doing. • Always buckle up. • In short, follow your parent’s rules. |