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Show A8 WASATCH HISPANIC CONTINUED COUNTY stand the local culture. “I don’t think people here treat you as well because FROM At _they’ve always lived here. People from Park City are from all over, so they siblings. “It’s better here. There were ° don’t care where you are from.” — all kinds of drugs in Mexico.” The three ‘students joke about the language barrier and about sports, but they also joke about the horrendous lines that they endured in Mexican hospitals. They like playing Frisbee and soccer and enjoy Mexican food cooked by their parents. They are diligent, often working past 10 p.m. at local fast food restaurants. Feeling the opportunities are better, Salcido and Ornelas plan to remain in the U.S. Chabira, however, can’t wait to return to Chihuahua. Clad in black Tommy Hilfiger, only Chabira’s grimace prevents him from Wasatch Grows Up According to recently released - Census Bureau data, Wasatch -County’s population has grown by 50 © percent from the 1990s—from 10,089 to about 15,215. It is the fifth-fastest - growing county in Utah. Heber’s proximity to Summit County’s resort job resources and affordable housing has led the local Hispanic population to explode, up 310 percent. This popula- ae _tion numbers 775, or 5.4 percent of Wasatch County’s general population. Statewide, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 138 percent.. Reynaldo Merino, St. Mary’s looking like Benicio del Torro. While — Catholic Church’s Heber parish the others talk of their American expeadministrator and deacon, said many rience, he stares at nothing in silence, Hispanics move to Heber from Park walking out of the room before his picCity. He said the families tend to be ture can be taken. He is sullen, but | doing better economically than their then again, this is high school and : sullen faces are standard. Summit County neighbors and like to Salcido appreciates attending sad schools and learning a prominent lan- © be involved in the community, so their children adjust better. “These are some of the most estab- guage. “My dad has been here almost his ‘whole life and he doesn’t speak English. He never learned,” Salcido _ said. Having lived in Park City prior to moving to Heber, he seems to under- _ lished families, and they don’t tend to move into one particular neighborhood,” said Merino. He said their work has paid off, minimally making in one hour what they would earn in one day in Mexico. APRIL 11, 2001 COURIER Merino, whose own parents never from appointments, understanding spoke English, understands the lan- — where to go for help, and translating guage barrier. He said many first gen‘what agency officials are saying. eration migrants have trouble learning — St. Mary’s Reverend Robert Bussen English, but hopes their children accli-. _ Said many members move to Heber after mate better. _ working for years in Park City, saving “There are certainly a lot of oppor- | money, learning English and becoming tunities missed because of not speakindependent. He said homes are more ing English,” Merino said. “I think they affordable in the quaint community. want to learn, and they find it difficult “You have the cream of the crop inand get by without really having to. Heber. You are getting the fruits of our The majority do not make a real effort. labors over here,” Bussen said. “Most Our outreach is not always utilized. But — of the leadership for the Hispanic _ they are very, very hard workers. The community is in Heber. They are, genmajority cannot make it here on what erally speaking, very good families, they earn, so they get together with hard working, with good jobs, several two or three families. But some are years in Utah and a sense of stability. able to send money back home.” They are moving forward very well He said it is more difficult for the and have the best capacity to integrate. Hispanic population to integrate in The bridge building is there.” Wasatch County than in Summit County. Many members of the local “Tt is rural here. Families have been Hispanic population work at the - here for many years, so it is not as easy _Homestead Resort, in multiple departto acclimate,” Merino said. “I don’t hear ments of any problems with social services or health care. Health services are good in spokeswoman Jennifer Kohler said the resort instills a teamwork atmosphere. Wasatch. The only complaint I get is Instruction language and not understanding.” Two members _ of the Holy Cross_ ministries Hispanic pastoral team, Alma and Aniceto Armendariz, belong to a grass-roots organization that helps social and health agencies in town. The members act as facilitators, aiding non-English speaking residents, primarily Hispanics, in getting to and - Wasatch Dons Its Party Hat and in by management. a- Brigham ~ | Resort Young University Spanish teacher to help English-speaking employees interact _ with their Hispanic colleagues is just one of the positive programs. Kohler said Hispanics or bilingual residents operate a lot of local businesses, which is aiding in the cohe- siveness and understanding. “I don’t think there are too many places where it would be hard because people are trying,” said Kohler. Opening Minds with Open Hearts _ Marie Dalgleish, Rocky Mountain Middle School Spanish teacher, has © taught and lived in many Latino countries and communities. She once hada | N ordic World Cup in January. Heber director, “and when I say parties, I class consisting of 29 nationalities and Midway are also planning nightly mean that literally.” among its 36 children. Her visits to the festivities, although the details have Organizers of the cowboy show at | homes of local Hispanic community yet to be worked out. | ‘ ‘the high school hope to have the BarJ members. allow her to empathize with “We're just kind of getting organ- | Wranglers headline the show. Tom their struggle. ized,” said Randy Probst, co-chair of Whitaker, the event’s organizer, says Last month, a Hispanic Gendithet : Heber’s Olympic celebration commit- — the singing western duo has commitrecited poetry to her Spanish students. tee. The committee is scheduled to go ted—at least verbally—to doing the _ She said his emotion touched the chilbefore the Heber City Council on April show. Whitaker also expects rope trick dren, even though they couldn’t 19 to present their ideas. But the city’s _ artist Benny Martinez and his 24-yearunderstand every word, Sparking a festivities will likely carry on the Old old horse, Napoleon to entertain audiconnection. West theme with the Heber Creeper ences. But cowboy poetry is unlikely — “We have some fantastic eeu playing a major role. Organizers say rans to play as much of a role during the families, and a huge variety in this comthere will also be fireworks, jumbo» Olympic celebrations as it did during - munity that run the socioeconomic trons, and plenty of food: and vendor: ~ the World Cup. gamut,” Dalgleish said. “I found from booths on hand. “If we have a lot of people that _ my experiences how greatly the Latino While there will be some partying don’t speak English real well, ’m not > population value. education and how going on every night, the two towns ~ gure they'll stick around for cowboy highly they respect their teachers. I feel have agreed not to compete with one. poetry,” says Whitaker. an enormous need to educate the white another. With the help of the Heber The county’s Olympic coordinator population about the culture of these Valley Chamber of Commerce, officials says he is pleased with the efforts so far. people and help these people become ~ from both towns have agreed that “I like the quality of people that integrated with their new surroundMidway will have the first weekend of these committees have,” says Bob ings. I tremendously admire their comthe Games to put on a major event and Mathis. He added that his: office is mitment to being here. I would value | Heber gets the second. The remaining playing only an “indirect role” in the seeing the parents participate more. ” days will be divided between the two. planning efforts by helping with Dalgleish said the language barrier, SNM LUUUAN IL LI Organizers preparing party fit for locals and visitors TIM WESTBY COURIER STAFF ith Heber Valley’s introduc- W tion to the world stage a lle ae mere 10 - people months away, are working a slew of hard to make | sure the audience gets a good show. The festivities will be for locals first and. foremost, with the Say busiest | Olympics organizers. | venue of But the literally. in their backyard, organizers are also hoping to corral more than a few of the thousands of spectators, athletes and sponsors ~ that will come to Soldier Hollow. To do that, organizers are plan-. ning a Western-style show at Wasatch “We saw a need to bring the par- ‘County High School along the same ties together,” says Robyn lines of the festival held during the the county’s economic resources and recruiting volunteers. — Pearson, development _ Email: tim@wasatchcountycourier.com Olympic Parking Conld Get Expensive SLOC considers encouraging carpooling with parking fees” TIM WESTBY COURIER STAFF | pectators i have to Winter Games to add another expense the to the 2002) may significant cost going to os games: parking. | Last week, SLOC officials said - they were considering charging “substantial” fees to cars carrying fewer than three people to the park-n-ride — lots near Park City, Soldier Hollow and a decision on the matter isn’t likely Snowbasin Ski Area. until September at the earliest. -SLOC isn’t trying to raise money, SLOC is planning on 85 to 100 but instead encourage the use of car- — buses a day making the trip up Parley’s Canyon en route to either pooling and private buses that cost $30. Park City or Soldier Hollow. — a seat for a round trip from Salt Lake City, said Grant Thomas, SLOC’s vice _ Spectators will able to make reservapresident of venues and transportations with as little as 24 hours notice. tion, in a phone interview with the Thomas predicted that most of the 60 | Courier last week. : | to 65 percent of spectators driving to ‘While SLOC has yet to decide at the venues would be Utahns. least publicly if there will even be a Thomas also said that SLOC is fee, the speculation is that it could cost drivers between $30 and $40 to park at the park-and-ride lots if there. aren’t enough people in the car. Thomas said concerned about the amount of traffic that will be coming up from Salt PARKING continued on AiO and the fact that parents often work long hours in neighboring counties, leads to lack of involvement in their children’s education. She began a - Latin telephone tree to keep the com‘munity linked and aware. “Children tend to group together, -that is common in any culture,” she said. “But I learned when you have children of many cultures in a project, -and they are enveloped enough in the _ project, they forget about the lines.” Her advice for community cohesiveness? “One of the things that is interesting in this population is they are from somany different places: El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru. It’s a good mix and they bring with them a wealth + of culture,” said the passionate Spanish teacher. “Look at each individual as an individual. Ethnocentricity is toxic. | When we love and respect them as human beings, then their cultural identity embellishes what we already love.” Email: kirsten@wasatchcountycourier.com © © — |