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Show BUILDING COMMUNITY IN OREM AND VINEYARD ASSOCIATION 1 s sir 100 f Y r UT 04124-1550 EDITION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2007 T mm ureml Dmto$HcroUi 50CENTSj BUSIfJESS: Davy Jones' locker has choppers TOWH HALL: Orem sets standard (or youth homes SPORTS: New soccer team provides opportunity Schools . PLAN SUMMER OUTINGS AT LOCAL MUSEUMS Vineyard mulls membership in UTOPIA Jackie Springgay NORTH COUNTY STAFF The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency wants Vineyard to join its fiber optic network and the town is thinking about it. A consortium of Utah cities connected by a fiber optic network at businesses and homes, the Utah Telecommunication Tele-communication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) (UTO-PIA) provides member communities with the infrastructure infra-structure for digital TV, Internet and phone hookups. UTOPIA representatives John Park and Roger Black presented a draft agreement at Vineyard's June 27 meeting and discussed the possibility of town joining join-ing its network. "This is an unusual system," Park said. "We build a fiber optic system, and competitors can write over it, enhancing competition. It is the fastest, most robust forward thinking (system) built in the United States." There are two ways for the city to use UTOPIA. Vineyard can either become a member, meaning it will choose to pledge to UTOPIA, and have someone as a member of the board of directors of UTOPIA, or it can become a member and not pledge, meaning UTOPIA is not guaranteed to get fiber optic in the city. "We are required to put in the (fiber optic services) if you pledge. If you don't pledge we use our best See UTOPIA, Page 2 Orem teen makes a difference in education Reva Bowen NORTH COUNTY STAFF Jennifer Rivera and her mother, Maria, came from Honduras to visit friends in Orem, and, in Jennifer's words, "We fell in love with the place." At their friends' encouragement, encourage-ment, the mother and daughter decided to immigrate to the United States and settled in Orem two years ago. Jennifer is an only child, and her late father passed away before the move. "It's definitely a change from livine in Honduras." Jennifer said of her new life. "It's peaceful here. Jennier Rivera We don't live with a constant fear of being hurt. The people are See EDUCATION, Page 2 REMEMBERING VETERANS -J y ?) . I I" i 1 : a Photo courtesy Jenni and Keith Greer The Greer family of Orem is celebrating the Fourth of July with a special flag tribute to family members and others who have served in the military. Orem family fetes 4th with flag tribute Michael Rigert NORTH COUNTY STAFF mong familiar Fourth of July celeDrat'on cons including hot dogs, watermelon and fireworks, (J one Orem family added one not-I not-I i y so-ubiquitous item to its holiday U Ulist: a new full-size flag pole. Keith and Jenni Greer erected the metal standard in the front yard of their west Orem home this week to dedicate the pole's first flag raising Wednesday to America's military veterans. The parents of five children (two of whom have served in the Army like Keith Greer), the Greers have invited family, friends and neighbors to a special tribute to the troops Wednesday afternoon on their front lawn with photos and storjes. A local Boy Scout unit will raise Old Gory and their daughter Ashley will sing the national anthem. Jenni Greer said she came upon the idea one day when thinking about her family's service ser-vice to their country and how the they could best observe the nation's birthday this year. When the couple was first married, Keith Greer served several years in the Army and Utah Army National Guard. Oldest son Seth followed in his father's footsteps and is currently cur-rently serving in the Army Reserve, including includ-ing a stint in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Qa-tar. Second oldest son Josiah signed up with the Army as a member of the storied 3rd Cavalry Division and is currently a Humvee chauffeur in Baghdad with his unit. "I was very proud that they would sacrifice sac-rifice their time to (serve in uniform)," she said. "This was kind of going to be a tradi-' tion in our family, something special they could remember." The Greers say their small Fourth of July tribute isn't just to recognize members of their family who have served in the military, mili-tary, but to honor all those who have sacrificed sacri-ficed to protect Americans' freedoms. Keith Greer has fond memories of his Army days and believes anyone who serves in uniform gets a unique perspective on what it means to be an American. "It's kind of like Scouting in a way. You learn about the flag ... with a rifle on your shoulder, so to speak, and you keep it with you," he said. "Every time they raise the flag, you realize that a lot of people have fallen for every time that flag is raised." Seth Greer said his time with the Army Reserve 395th Finance Battalion has been "a life-altering experience." "It made me a much more mature person," per-son," he said. "1 gained discipline ... and a lot of life-long friends." Part of what prompted Jenni Greer to plan Wednesday's tribute was that she felt the nature of people's Fourth of July activities ac-tivities and expressions of patriotism have drifted from gratitude and reflection to See FLAG, Page 2 ommun ityBriefing OREM WOMAN CELEBRATES 106TH BIRTHDAY - Lila Barrus, a resident of the Orem Beehive House senior living center celebrated her 106th birthday Tuesday. The second of 12 children, Barrus was born in 1901, and is the second of 12 children. She was a school teacher and lived for some time in the Star Valley area of Wyoming. Cathy Fuller, a certified nursing assistant as-sistant who has cared for Barrus for the past seven years, calls her "a sweet, compassionate lady" who is always concerned about others and still enjoys playing the piano. Her daughter Nola Aydelotte also lives in Orem. 1-18 PAVEMENT OPERATIONS IMPACTING IM-PACTING OREM - The Utah Department Depart-ment of Transportation advises motorists motor-ists of several lane restrictions on Interstate Inter-state 15 due to highway construction. On July 5-7, 1-15 will be restricted to one lane in alternating directions, northbound north-bound and southbound, from 200 South in Oram to Provo Center Street between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.. for paving operations. Motorists should anticipate moderate travel delays. On July 8-31, 1-15 will be restricted to one lane in alternating directions northbound and southbound from the freeway interchange at 800 North in Orem to approximately 2000 South in Orem for paving operations. Construction Construc-tion crews will be working between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday. Motorists should expect moderate travel delays. OREM 800 NORTH ROAD CON- ' STRUCTION UPDATE - The 800 North Reconstruction project team continues to appreciate the public's patience pa-tience as work moves forward in several areas along the route. On 400 West to 400 East, Utah Department De-partment of Transportation crews are continuing excavation, trenching and storm drain operations in this area, north of 800 North. One Hundred West remains closed in this area for excavation excava-tion and utility work. Please watch for flaggert and workers in the area, and expect some minor and temporary access ac-cess and side street impacts. Alternate accesses will be provided. Gas line installation is complete from 600 East to 800 East. Sound wall installation along the northern right-of-way line between the future widened roadway and residential areas is underway. Crews have begun setting posts, working from east to west. Sound wall work is expected to last through early August. MISS OREM 2006 AMONG TOP FINAUSTS AT 2007 MISS UTAH SCHOLARSHIP - Ashley Boulter, Miss Orem 2006, recently placed third among finalists at the Miss Utah Scholarship, Schol-arship, Pageant. An accomplished musician, musi-cian, Boulter won the talent portion of the competition during the June 26-27 scholarship pageant. OREM MOTHER STARTS SIGN BABIES PROGRAM - Since her 12-month-old daughter was an infant, Orem resident Nancy Cadjan has been working with her baby on simple American Ameri-can Sign Language words to ease communication. com-munication. In 2004, she started a company called Sign Babies' to aid parents in teaching (i1) Photo courtesy Mis Utah Pageant Committee Ashley Boulter their children ASL. Since that time, she's sold more than 50,000 sets of her baby ASL flash-cards. There's more than just an ASL dictionary dic-tionary out there to help parents learn a sign or two to teach their children. Web sites like www.signingtime. com and www.signbabies.com -- both Utah-based - offer their own ASL aides including coloring books, videos, books, and flash-cards. Stores like Babies 'R' Us in Orem also offer books like "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baby Sign Language" and free introductory classes class-es for parents into ASL for babies. For more information, contact Nancy Cadjan at 235-9245. A list of classes in Utah is available at www.sign2me. com. MILITARY PERSONNEL TO BE HONORED HON-ORED Scatterin' Sunshine Inc., a scrapbook store at 52 E. Main, American Fork, is seeking pictures and information informa-tion about individuals who are serving in the military. Family members are invited in-vited to bring a photo and information, on a scrapbook page if they wish, to the store. Once a month they will have a "military mom" come and share her knowledge and experiences with patrons pa-trons and community members. 6 Ml,61055 00050' 'Mid J vhit V ,1 LET YOUR CHILD'S ADVENTURE BEGIN TODAY WITH OUR NEWEST SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR YOUTH. There's no "LION the benefits are great! Become a Safari Saver beginning June 18th F""r" TiSmrniTiwi OOR Copy |