OCR Text |
Show VIEWPOINTS A-19 SAT/3UN/M0N/TUES, JUNE 14-17, 2008 THE PARK RECORD www.parkrecord.com :-: EDITORIAL y A chance to celebrate those ^ working to save historic structures his Saturday, residents and visitors will have a chance to honor some of the city's unsung heroes - the property owners, architects and contractors who specialize in restoration of historic structures. Today is the annual Park City Historic Home Tour. Let's face it, building a spanking new house complete with cable TV outlets and walk-in closets is a lot easier than restoring a century-old foundationless house with one wall plug and one ceramic lightbulb outlet per room. And don't even think about closets. Miraculously, though, Park City has been blessed with a handful of history buffs with the patience and passion to restore some of the original turn-of-thecentury structures that give Old Town its unique charm. Don't ask us why they do it. In addition to basic structural and building code challenges, anyone who wants to earn official Historic Register status faces strict limitations when trying to adapt an old miner's shack to a modern lifestyle. Then there are the vagaries of the city's complex (some would say *draconian') Historic District Guidelines. It is, therefore, remarkable that one can still walk up streets in Old Town and find homes and commer- T cial buildings dating from the early 1900s. The building owners, of course, deserve most of the credit. But over the years City Hall has offered incentives in the form of a grant program designed to match the owners' investments in exterior restorations of their historic buildings. Unfortunately, the city's commitment to historic preservation has shown signs of slipping. A few years ago, the Historic District Commission, which reviewed demolitions, remodels and new construction in Old Town, was disbanded and replaced by the Historic Preservation Board, a group with limited authority over Old Town projects. Demolitions have become more frequent. Old Town residents recently voiced angry protests over what they saw as the callous destruction of century-old buildings on Hillside Avenue. Saving historic buildings is more than just a sentimental gesture. In an area that relies heavily on tourism, the town's mining history is a major draw. Visitors still ask about the Silver Mine Adventure nine years after it closed. Today's historic home tour is a chance to celebrate some glorious survivors of that mining area. We hope we're still celebrating 20 or 30 years from now. W> 10 DESTROY THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO SAME... ME!" LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Get your heads out of your rockets, Congress Editor: "LET THEM EAT CAKE," MarieAntoinette (1755-93), the Queen consort of Louis XVI, is supposed to have said when she was told that the French populace had no bread to eat. Well, wake up Congress, we have no reasonable ability to get from one place to another. We do not have adequate mass transit, fossil fuel, wind power, nuclear power, bio fuels, pedal power, or the desire to use shoe leather. What we do have is a bunch of partisan narrowminded self-centered politicians spending our money acting like school kids on the playground trying to blame each other for a recent cooties outbreak. While the American public suffers, you are so arrogant that you continue to fund a bunch of little boys with pointed hats, big glasses, and pocket protectors who send toys into space so they can jump up and down throwing confetti in Jthe air every time the pretty rocket goes up in the sky. NASA is irrelevant given today's economic conditions. Think about it. They specialize in fuel technologies, and propulsion systems. They already have a huge infrastructure and all of the players in place to make not the next moon shot but the next energy shot. What would make NASA relevant again is to divert their attention toward fuel and propulsion systems that get us where we here on earth want to go. Turn those fuel-systems scientists to the search for a sustainable fuel that is environmentally sensitive and economical. Direct the rocket scientist to build an engine and associated systems that safely enable our citizens to move about this country. Congress, get your heads out of your rockets and help the American people. Address the issue and stop pushing your petty little self-serving agendas. On the other hand, what do I know? I am just a redneck living in a small country town in Utah. Robert Sasser Peoa Coaching educators get a warm welcome Editor: I wanted to thank all those who helped make the 8th Annual National Coaching Educators Conference an LETTERS POLICY unqualified success last week. The USSA and USOC hosted the event up at the Grand Summit Resort, and over 90 college professors, youth sport and high school adminstrators, and national governing body staff attended the conference. Despite the cool temperatures they received a very warm welcome and had a really great experience here in Park City. Special thanks to Kasey Stanislaw at the Grand Summit, Dr. Eric Heiden, the crew at the UOP, and all the establishments at Redstone, and Main Street (especially the No-Name.) I've heard lots of folks are planning to return to vacation here, so good job Park City! David McCann Park City Outlet coupon books support local schools Editor: The Parley's Park Elementary PTA would like to give a big thanks to Nancy Gray and the Tanger Outlet Center. Through their wonderful TangerBucks coupon book program, over $1,200 was donated to our PTA for the 2007-08 school year! The entire community can easily take part in this program. For every coupon book sold, $1 gets donated to schools like Parley's. The coupon books are full of savings at most of the Tanger Outlet stores, and are available at the mall office. Thank you, Tanger, for supporting our local schools and letting us participate in this terrific program! Laura Falter TangerBucks chair and Parley's Park PTA We need an educator on the board Editor: On June 24th, those of us in the Park Meadows South, Park West, Quarry Mountain, Ranch Road South and Silver Springs precincts have the opportunity to vote in a primary for the Park City Board of Education Precinct 3 (Vern Christensen's seat). The top two candidates, of the three running, will continue on to the general election in November. If you are unable to get to your polling location that day, please consider voting by absentee ballot (http://www.summitcounty.org/clerk/election). Absentee ballot applications should be received by the County Clerk by June 18th so they For the record have time to verify you on the voter roles and send you a ballot " all ballots must be postmarked by June 23rd. When you vote, please consider voting for Gerd Holmsen Aguilar. Gerd is the only educator on the ballot - her 40 years in public education and 25 years of involvement in education at the legislative level make her the candidate we need on our school board in the coming years. Many of the issues facing PCSD have to do with curriculum, teachers and state-level politics. Whether it's reviewing our math curriculum, ELL program, PATHs program, participation grading policy, understanding contract negotiation, retaining teachers or fending off the state politicians as they review taking more of our education tax dollars we need someone who understands the education side of education representing our district. A school board needs to be balanced to include parents, the business community and educators. Please make sure we keep an educator on the school board by voting for Gerd Holmsen Aguilar on June 24th. Thank you, Championship Committee, she was in charge of all gate security and ticket sales for the event. Recently, Anne acted on one of her favorite expressions: "I like to get my hands dirty!" as she and Glen Shurtleff chipped away four feet of snow and ice from the field and the bleachers in order to host the event. Anne has had numerous direct dealings with teachers and administrators and four out of eight schools in the district. She has served on hiring committees for replacement teachers in the district, served on numerous boards, chaired, or was involved in, several school fund-raisers or social events, and has been in as many as five carpools at one time! As a native Utahn and graduate of PCHS's #1 rival, Judge Memorial, who later earned a degree in economics from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, Anne often jokes with her children: Once a Judge Bulldog, always a Park City Miner. Please vote for Anne Bransford for the Third District school board position on June 24. Anne CAN do the job and will serve us well. Tania Knauer ParkCity McPolin -and TMMS parent Carolyn MacDonald Park City Anne Bransford likes to get her hands dirty Editor: Very few people have the distinction of claiming he or she is a fifth-generation property owner in Park City. Very few parents, for that matter, have the courage and the patience to raise three young children alone for the last nine years. This lady is the epitome of a multitasker as a perpetual volunteer, businesswoman and single mother of three. Anne Bransford is enormously proud of her three accomplished children: the eldest is in the eleventh grade at Park City High School, the second is a tenthgrader at PCHS and her youngest is finishing the seventh grade at Ecker Hill. All three children graduated from Parley's Park Elementary School where Anne is still remembered by students as Miss Anne, the mom who chaired Field Day for five years running and was nominated twice for Volunteer of the Year. Anne can usually be spotted at girls' volleyball games, band/jazz band concerts, Ecker Hill drama productions. Park City Miners' football games either running the concessions of in the bleachers cheering with fellow supporters. As a member of the State Lacrosse The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelines:They must include the address and telephone number of the author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. Letters must not contain libelous material. Letters should be no longer than 300 words {550 words for guest editorials) and should, if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if diey are too long of ff they contain statements that are unnecessarily offensive or obscene.Writers are limited to one letter ev«ry 28 days. Letters thanking event sponsors can list no more than six individuals and/or businesses. Send ur letter to: edltorf [parkrecord.com The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat-Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Contributing writers Editor's assistant Copy editor Special sections editor Pat Parkinson Joe Lair Adia Waldburger Greg Marshall Jason Strykowski Tom Clyde Teri Orr Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Larry Warren Steve Phillips Kristina Eastham David Hampshire Amanda Stofko ADVERTISING Classified advertising Bridget Morgan The Park Record Online Poll Cast your vote at www.parkrecord.com Liquor-law rebellion Is it time for Utah to let people belly up to the bar without having to buy a private-club membership? Total votes = 133 • Yes, the private-club rule should have died with the dinosaurs. Utah's draconian liquor laws drive away tourists and make the state look looney. 130 votes, or 97.75% • No, Utah's liquor laws help to prevent underage drinking and force servers to be more responsible. 1 vote, or 0.75% • Maybe they could loosen up a bit but the rules are part of Utah's quirky charm. 2 votes, or 1.5% Cristin Hicks Kandilee Snyder Lacy Brundy Kristi Ruppert Valerie Deming Wendy Halliday KimberlyGallagher Lori Gull Steve Aldous Jennifer Musial Arwa Jundi Erin Donnelly Advertising Assistant Nikki Norton Office manager Circulation manager Accounting manager Advertising director Advertising sales Editorial production Photographers Scott Sine Production director Matt Gordon Production Scott Schlenker Ann Marie Kloogh Tawnya Cazier Sara Ely Pat Hamaker Amy Barrus PRESS ROOM General Manager Head Pressman Pressman Pre-press Controller Bill Olsen Don Ferney Jimmy Elkins Mike Hall Valerie Waite Sandy Trost Office Staff Ethel Bradford Marilyn Case Mail Room Ray Scoggins Matt Conrad Distribution PHOTOS BY SCOTT SINE Asked on Park City's Historic Main Street How important is preserving Park City's historic character? David Wintzer, Park City Pm kind of biased because of my parents being here. But yes, Park City is becoming too commercial and (has) too many new homes. Victoria Stevens, Colorado There is only one Park City and it is dwindling: all these new homes that people live in only a few months out of the year. It seems the history is being lost in this town. Alex Stein, Park City Yes, it's important. Here in America we love to knock down old buildings. But in Europe they keep their history by preserving it. Maybe we should learn something from them. Luke Slocum, Park City It's very important. If you don't know your history, you don't know the future. Park City is keeping its history in a niche sense but not in a community sense. Lucia Bisbee, Park City .' Keeping the character and history of the town is important. > It requires the people to . identify with their roots and; where a town started and \ why it started. |