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Show The Park Record B-8 A bite against hunger Briefs Brian Prusse, executive chef at Zoom, takes time out of the restaurant's busy summer schedule to dish out food at the Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation event at Solitude Mountain Resort on Sunday. Accompanied by volunteer Ray Madsen, the Park City restaurant was one of more than 45 restaurants that banded together to aid in the fight against hunger. Proceeds from the days event benefited the Utah Food Bank, Utahns Against Hunger, national and international organizations. MONIKA GUENDNER/R4WCRECORD Race to make tracks in Park City Thousands of cyclists and their families expected to boost summer numbers By MONIKA GUENDNER Of the Record staff 'Hie sports utility vehicle may lose its spot as Summit County's most popular mode of transportation in the upcoming weeks as 2.000 cyclists come lo Park City lo compete in the first Park City Cycling Festival. The new road hike race series will be the first lime the junior (IS years old and under) cspoir (19 lo 23 years old) and master (23 and older) categories will race in the same location for a national championship. The Park City Chamber/Bureau, title sponsor of lhe event, worked with event managers Jeff Frost of Blue Wolf Events and Tom Spiegel of Team Big Bear for about a year to plan the event. 'Hie cycling series is a part of the Chamber/Bureau's effort to increase summer business through organized events. such as the Triple Crown Girls Fast Pi tch World Series hist month and the National Sevens Rugby Championship this month. The reputation of Park City has overshadowed many racers' concerns about competing al a high altitude, said Frost. "Folks that live at sea level, which is most folks, have a real apprehension about racing their bikes at altitude, but, having said thai, we're at about 2.000 registered athletes for the two weeks," said Frost. Thai is more than the organizers have seen at national championships in other parts of the country, he added. Frost sees the area's reputation as a strong factor in bringing racers to the higher-altitude course. "I think people see it as a destination; the whole post-Olympic period has really helped us." said Frost. The Chamber/Bureau and event organizers have signed a three-year contract with USA Cycling. Ihe sport's sanctioning body. The race course could be modified over the next two years, however, depending on feedback from cyclists and the community, said Frosl. "Our relationship with the community is important," said Frost, who is a resident of Park City. "It's not a Deer Valley event; it's a Park Cily event." Feedback will also determine if the national championship remains in Summit County after the contract is up, said Frost. In addition to the expected 2.000 bike racers, race organizers and the Chamber/Bureau expect to host several thousand more family members during the 11day series. Frost has already seen some racers arrive early just lo enjoy the venue. "The best way lo compare this is to look al the Masters National or NASTAR National on the ski side. It's the same demographic," said Frost. Because the cycling series is Wed/Thurs/Fri, August 11-13, 2004 new, the Chamber/Bureau has not predicted its financial impact, although they are not expecting as large a spike as with the girls' Softball tournament. In previous years, lodging numbers have lingered between 8.000 and 9.000 visitors per night for this week. Beginning today, however, numbers are creeping back up. with a Friday night peak expected lo reach 11,262 visitors in Park Cily lodging facilities. Next week's numbers were not available at press time. In addition to the spending Ihiit will be done by the participants, the race organizers have also spent money to hold the race - around $250,000 will be invested in law enforcement, medical and other services necessary, said Frost. The Park Cily Cycling Festival may be the first of a boom of summer cycling events for the area. Frosl. who has recently inherited the management of the NORBA race series, says he is working lo bring back thai race as early as next summer. Thje Art of Wirie opens The Art of Wine, specializing in distinctive accessories for wine, spirits and cigars, weekly wine tasting classes and fine cigars, recently opened in the Dans Food shopping center, located at 1400 Snow Creek Drive. The specialty shop is open Monday through Saturdayfrom 10 a.m.-6p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-2-p.m. For more information, call 655-WINE (9463). Railroads to open to dogs . Beginning Saturday, Aug. 14 the Heber Valley Historic Railroad will hold The Dog Days of Summer, where dogs can join their owners in riding the train. People and their pets will be able to ride a number of open-air cars on the Soldier Hollow/Deer Creek route. For the next four weeks, people and their pets can ride the trains; there will be a nominal fee for each dog, with proceeds going to the Summit County Friends of Animal adoption .center. For more information, call the railroad at (435) 654-5601. . Visitor information centers need brochures . As a member benefit, all lodging properties, restaurants and other area activity venues and attractions are invited to provide the Park City Chamber/Bureau's visitor information centers with brochures and flyers. With close to 60,000 visitors coming to the centers during the summer months, the centers dispense a great deal of visitor information to Park City guests. Lodging properties may bring flyers promoting current rates and package offerings. Restaurants are invited to bring copies of current menus to the visitor information centers, and area attractions can promote seasonal activities through our centers. The main center at 750 Kearns Boulevard, in the Jess Reid Building, is the key distribution place. The Main Street Museum at 528 Main Street is a secondary site for the distribution of visitor information. USC Alumni Group seeks deals The USC Alumni Group is seeking restaurants or businesses that are willing to offer discounts to USC fans when they come to Park City (the weekender headquarters) for the USC vs. BYU football game on Sept. 18. Approximately 1,500 tickets have been sold to USC fans and they will begin arriving in Park City on Sept. 16. The pep rally is in City Park on Sept. 17. Any participants willing to offer discounts would be advertised on the web site www.utahtrojsins.org and in other literature. The head-quarters hotels are the Yarrow Resort Hotel and Conference, Center and the Park City Marriott. Businesses can contact Tom Bakaly at Bakaly@sisna.com if they are interested. NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE With Marsac Avenue under construction, the fastest way up to Silver Lake is on the Silver Lake Express chairlift. Any Wednesday through Friday, between August 1 I x and September 3 , purchase a ride up Silver Lake Express at the Snow Park Ticket Office, cat lunch at Royal Street Cafe and we'll throw in a voucher good for your next lift ride on us (must be used on or before September 19 , 2004). For more information, please call (435) 649-IOOO. Of/tn Wtdntttlay - Sunday and holidays, June l$* through /.atwr Day, ihtn biking weekend* only through September tg*. conditions permitting. DEER VALLEY* WWW.DEERVALLEY.COM The Park City Fire Service District is proposing to increase its property tax revenue. As a result of the proposed increase, the tax on a $382.000.00 residence will be $247.92. and the tax on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity will be $450.76. Without the proposed increase the tax on a $382.000.00 residence would be $191.61. and the tax on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity would be $348.38. The 2004 proposed tax rate is .00118. Without the proposed increase the rate would be .000912. This would be an increase or 29.39%. which is $56.31 per year ($4.69 per month) on a $382.000.00 residence of $102.38 per year on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity. With new growth, this property tax increase, and other factors, Park City Fire Service District will increase its property tax revenue from $4.932.000.00 collected last year to $6.371.000.00 collected this year which is a revenue increase of 29.18%. All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase to be held 6:30 p.m.. August 18. 2004. at Pinebrook Fire Station. 2575 West Kilby Road. Park City. Utah 84098 |