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Show THE PARK RECORD SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2002 A-15 oints e Viewp EDITORIAL- Utah Legitoons is now in session Hide your wallet, shield your children's eyes, the 2002 Utah Legislature is now in session. True to form, after promising an uncontrover-sial uncontrover-sial pre-Olympic agenda, local senators and representatives rep-resentatives are slipping a stack of bills onto the table that they hope will go through undetected, and undebated. Suddenly they are introducing measures that would relax gun safety laws and would align the stale with anti-abortion factions. They are tossing transportation and education budgets back and forth and playing the annual now-you-see-it-now-you don't game with a potential second-home tax break. And. there is also a new bill to clarify the state's arcane obscenity laws that is still in the smoke and mirrors mir-rors process. (Suffice it to say that Utah Porn Czar Paula Houston likes it. which should set off warning signals.) Legislators are counting on downtown street closures and the public's general Olympic obsession, obses-sion, to deter critics from making the trip to the state capitol. Since most of the important business busi-ness like deciding which bills make it out of committee and which won't - was already done behind closed committee doors, they aren't expecting many spectators at the "capitol games." That is why they think they can pass bills that will let out-of-state visitors skirt existing concealed con-cealed weapon regulations and others that reduce requirements for gun safety classes. Il is why they think they can hold bills in committee until the day before recess, hoping no one will notice when they are introduced at the last minute in March. Conservative, pro life. National Rifle Association advocates can relax. The legislators are doing just what they would want them to do. But Summit County's disenfranchised moderate or liberal residents' worst fears are being realized. real-ized. Without their constant vigilance, their views will not be considered. Unfortunately, due to last summer's redisricting redis-ricting fiasco (when Summit County's voice was intentionally diluted by the legislature's redis-tricting redis-tricting committee) it is going to be like this for a long, long time. When the legislature is in session, ses-sion, especially if they tell you nothing controversial contro-versial is on the agenda, head for the hill and keep an eye on them. After a brief visit with U.S. President (leorge Bush on Feb. 8. Utah Legislature will take a recess and will reconvene on Feb. 26. For more information and links to your legislators, log on to www.le.state.ut.us -VnJk IKE AND MOR KOTMiERE W-v-s JOHN KILBOURNPARK RECORD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Council critique Editor: I was pleased by the City Council's decision on the Jan. 17 to postpone the upper Park Avenue re-paving project. UPAPA. the Upper Park" Avenue Property Owners Association, was not in support of the project unless the under-grounding under-grounding of their utility lines was included. includ-ed. The Council is wisely looking at a future project that would benefit all of the residents of Old Town. It may be years before that comprehensive program is feasible. Now is the time for the City Council to consider re-allocating that capital improvement money to a project that benefits all of the citizens of Park City: the Racquet Club. The roof of the facility is in need of repair, and the pool is likely to be closed by the health department unless it is replaced. The November bond initiative was to have addressed these problems. It failed due to misstatements on a flyer distributed by one of the owners own-ers of the Silver Mountain Sports Club. In addition, the previous City Council erred in not presenting the voters a cost breakdown break-down of the proposed renovation. 1 The budget review process will begin shortly after the Olympics. The City Council can reallocate the general fund portion ($ 1.02V) million) of the Upper Park Avenue capital improvement project pro-ject to the Racquet Club. Please call your City Council members to voice support for this proposal. Jeff Mann Park City resident Olympic tickets Editor: Having purchased tickets to four Olympic events at a premium price, we decided to go ahead for one final event, the Team KM) Ski Jump in Park City on Feb. 14. After checking the official Web site for tickets, it stated. "Due to transportation trans-portation constraints on 1-80. this event is only available for purchase at Smith's' (in seven counties including Summit.) Since we live in Florida and not arriving in Park City until 12 Feb where we will be staying at a friend's condo in Park City (whose other residence is in Florida). I knew it would be too late to get any tickets. So we were advised to call Smith's Tix. I was told they are only available for purchase in the stores but was then told to call 1-8(X)-TICKETS. That too was a dead end as they would not take any phone orders, and then suggested I should call Smith's Tix. Is this a case of one hand not knowing know-ing what the other is doing? I hope this isn't an indication of your oraanizational skills. Now I ask you, if Utah is "Welcoming the World." I take it. Park City is excluding exclud-ing itself and doesn't want anyone else to experience the Olympics? Whoever came up with this idea is doing a great disservice disser-vice to those of us actually staying in Park City but cannot get out there early enough to buy tickets to the last few available events. Have you rolled up the welcome mat. Park City? I would appreciate a reply with some insight as to this situation, as I really, really real-ly would like to see this event. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Nickl Kaplan bcUiwin97??aol.coni .,, Make the Olympic connection Editor: Last week I heard Governor Leavitt give an inspiring speech to members of the Utah School Boards Association. He spoke of the spirit of the Olympics and how he finally made the connection between the very first Olympiad and the 2002 Winter Games as he witnessed the lighting of the Olympic Torch in Olympia. Greece a few weeks ago. Tonight I made that same connection. For me the connection came at a "Light the Fire Within" celebration put together by the combined efforts of about 600 students, stu-dents, caring teachers, staff and school volunteers from South Summit Elementary School. As the students came marching into the auditorium in a glorious glori-ous Olympic parade, an overwhelming spirit of brotherhood - The Olympic Spirit -- accompanied their every stride. It was truly amazing. As I sat and listened for the better part of an hour to the songs and dialog of the evening. I thought of what a great opportunity oppor-tunity it is to host the Olympics and what an historic occasion our children have to participate and feel the spirit of the Gaines. These are times and feelings never to be forgotten -- once in a lifetime. I thought of the countless hours and immeasurable efforts many have devoted to bring the Olympics to Utah. And I couldn't help but think of the naysayers - - those who. over the course of the past several months, have put the same time and energy into digging up dirt and throwing stones at those whose efforts have brought the Olympics to town. These, and others of their ilk. have fought tooth and nail to keep the Games from coming. They will spend the duration of the celebration protesting this and that - all in an effort to detract from the Olympic Spirit and promote their selfish interests. They will never make he 2002 connection because they refuse to see and feel the spirit of it all. Blinded by some other cause, the Olympics will come and go and they will have missed the boat, never even knowing it has p,;st them by. How sad! I'm glad to have made the connection. If you haven't already. I hope you do. When the Gaines are all over, I'm convinced con-vinced most people will look back and realize this was a good thing. Utah and the world will be better for it all. To those who have worked so hard to bring us the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and whose efforts will make these Games the best ever, I salute you, everyone! Zane Woolstenhulme oakiey- Electronic foul-up SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION 1 Year inside Summit County, $32, outside Summit County, $60 Mastercard Exp. or Visa No. - - - Date: Name Mailing Address Mail to: The Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, Utah 84060 Editor Suddenly last week all the major channels chan-nels on our TV sets went blank. Phone calls to the networks brought no explanation. explana-tion. They hadn't a clue, they said. While at Radio Shack on another matter. mat-ter. I mentioned this problem to the clerk. A gentleman standing nearby overheard me and stated that the major networks had changed their program locations emanating from the Lewis Peak transmitter, transmit-ter, and that every affected TV set would have to be re-programmed. Not being a computer nerd. I asked this fellow. Bob Nohavec. if he knew someone I could call for help. He volunteered himself, him-self, and within 30 minutes he was at my house. He spent most of an hour, re-programming our four TV sets. Of course. I offered to pay him but he declined. What a guy! Once again, thank you. Bob. There aren't many like you around anymore. The question that remains in my mind is. why didn't the transmitter management manage-ment advise the thousands affected that they would be out of service, and what to do about it. Really lousy PR! Bob Anderson Congratulations to Mountain Life Editor: The churches and faith communities of Park City wish to extend their congratulations congratula-tions to Pastor Scott Fine and the members mem-bers of Mountain Life Evangelical Free Church on the successful completion of their new church facility. They will celebrate the first Sunday in their new location tomorrow. Jan. 27. The new location is 7375 N. Silver Creek Road, just north of the I-80U.S. 40 intersection. inter-section. A tour and continental breakfast will be held at 9 a.m.; worship service will follow at 10 a.m. For nine-and-a-half years. Mountain Life Evangelical Free Church has been using the facilities of Garden Christian Academy. Now at the time of their move, we applaud Pastor Fine and his members for their faithfulness in serving God and meeting the needs of men. women and children in Summit County. God bless you in the coming years. Tim Dahlin The Christian Center Alternative energy sources Editor: Can you imagine that in this day and age with what we know about pollution in general and greenhouse gases in particular particu-lar that our United States uses coal to generate electricity. After noticing an article in The Park Record. I took the one-hour drive to the Tooele Courthouse last Thursday evening for a wind-power workshop. It is something I've long been interested in. I found out Utah Power uses coal predominantly. predom-inantly. That it gets its energy from Wyoming. That it is almost ready to build another generator of some sort and for paying a mere $2.95 we can make a difference dif-ference with Utah Power going to wind generation instead of non-renewable and polluting sources. Wind power is cheaper too! Anyone who has been to Wyoming knows it is windy. Please show Utah Power we want renewable, clean electric generation by paying the $2.95 on your next electric bill. Maureen McAllister The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelinesThey must include the address and telephone number of author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. They must not contain libelous material. Writers are limited to one letter every 28 days. Letters must not be longer than 350 words (guest editorials. 550 words) and should if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. 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All rifi.t reserved. So portion may be reproduced in any form without w ritten consent of the managing editor edi-tor or publisher. The I'ark Record (I SI'S mi)) (ISSN 0745-W.') 0745-W.') is published twice weekly by Diversified Suburban Newspapers. lf70 lionana Dr.. Park ( Hy. t'tah. Periodicals Poslaiie paid at Park ( ity I tah. POSTMASTl R:Send address changes to Vie I'ark Record. Iloj .'MX. Park ( ity. I tan K40f. Fntered as second class mailer. May 25. I')77 at the post office in Park "Hy. I lah S4W). under the Act of March .. .W7. Subscription rales are $.J inside Summil County. $60 outside Summit County. I'lah. Subscriptions are translerrable: S5 cancelialion fee. Phone (4.'S) rvtv SHII4 or lax (4.) M4-4V42. Published every Wednesday and Saturday. For the record Asked on Main Street and at Park City High School What is your favorite Olympic event and how much would you pay for a ticket? PHOTOS BY STEPHEN ZUSY V "i C " t . t - b Dan Hall "I wanted to go to the aerials. When the tickets we're $40, 1 didn't want to spend that much, but the Olympics aren't a big deal to me anyway." Valerie Cannon "My favorite is pairs fisure skating. I would pay $200 to $250. Michclc Massoncy "Figure skating men's, women, long program or pairs. I'd pay $50 to $100 a ticket but I'd have to be able to see well, not the nose bleed section." Lynn Sliattuck "Definitely not figure skating. Aerials would be mv favorite. I'd pay $S0 to $100 a ticket. llriltaiiv Woodurd "1 would say hockey. I like the action and I like to see the guys get mad. I would pay $4(10 a ticket." |