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Show American Fork Citizen New Utah - Thursday, March 11, 2004 - Page 2 Opinion Take steps to It has often been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey to good health and greater enjoyment of life can begin with that same step. I'tahns are being urged to take some of those steps right now and there are those in north Utah County on hand to help. With the lofty goal of walking to Mars, or the equivalent of .14 million miles, Utahns have begun the journey. A recent posting on the utahwalks.org Web site shows that the state's residents have passed 2(10.000 miles of that journey so far this year. That may not seem like much when compared with the total distance, but the program of tracking mileage is expected to rise exponentially expo-nentially during the year. Walking is considered to have many benefits, both physical and mental Those who do the exercise exer-cise have 20 percent less breast cancer. f0 percent less diabetes and premature death, a .'50 to 40 percent reduction of heart disease, dis-ease, reduced risk of stroke and improvement in symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. That's a pretty big benefit bene-fit from something we learned to Getting the recipe right 1 used to work at a steel mill. Yeah, I know - it's hard to imagine this wimpy, weak-armed stiff hefting heft-ing 50-ton steel coils. Which is why never lifted anything heavier than a press release. But it was an interesting inter-esting place to work, and 1 learned . . . well, you know . . . tons. One of the things I learned is that steel is made from three basic elements: iron ore, coal and limestone. lime-stone. There's a lot of other stuff that goes into the steel-making process, but basically it comes down to those three elements. If you tamper with one of the elements or eliminate it entirely, you don't have steel. You may have some very fine pig iron, which can he used in a lot of important ways. But it isn't steel, no mutter how much you may want it to lie. And sometimes, I will udmit, we wanted it to 1kj steel when it wasn't. Sometimes we didn't get the recipe right, and no uniount of wishing wish-ing or wailing could turn the product prod-uct into steel. I'm not. exactly sure what the precise metallurgical term is for steed that doesn't have the right stuff in it - hut it isn't steel. It's something else completely different. dif-ferent. But when the recipe is right and the process is completed properly, prop-erly, there's not a letter huilding material in the world. It is literally the physical foundation upon which much of contemporary civilization is built. I've been thinking about this lately with ull of the discussion that's been going on in our country ulmut marriage A relatively small group of people is trying to redefine murriage - what i1 is, and who it involves - us if 0,000 yeurs of human history suddenly isn't enough of a definition. They're mixing mix-ing different elements together und claiming that it is the same institution institu-tion thut hus been the glue holding society together for millennia. That upproach doesn't work in steel muking, und it doesn't work with niurriuge. Part of whut mukes niurriuge unique und significant is the way it brings together two very different things - a man and a woman - and makes from those two different things one thing: a family. Each entity brings something imique to the partnership, and each is needed to muke it work. It is like mixing iron ore, coul und limestone to muke steel. Bring these elements together und you create something new. Something strong. Something upon which vou cun build. This union is the heart and soul of the fumily, which is the bedrock upon which humanity is structured. For thousands of yeurs, "murriage" has lieen recognized as a union between a mun and a woman - not just between two loving people, but I better health do as babies. No special equipment other than a pair of good shoes is required. There is no membership necessary. The spring season brings many opportunities to walk and enjoy nature and our communities. Those who want to do exercise other than walking may log the equivalent number of miles according to the form they Belect. Of course, the benefits of exercise exer-cise come to the person whether or not the miles are tallied. But the mere process of keeping track seems to spur people on to extend themselves and complete more exercise than they otherwise would. Anyone who would like to begin the program is invited to form a group of friends, family, co-workers or other associates and start. Individuals are also welcome. Information is available from the Web site listed above or from Ashley Williams of Intermoun-tain Intermoun-tain Health Care. She is willing to set up a time to meet with your group, and may be reached at 374-1524. Take the first step. Mars has never been closer. specifically between a man and a woman. No one has questioned it. It has been irrefutable. Change it, and you change society. In what ways? To tell the truth, I don't know. Nobody does. That's the problem. There's no precedent for this. We have no idea what this basic, fundamental change to our most basic, fundamental institution will mean to society five or 10 generations gen-erations from now. But we do know that history has proven that marriage between a man and a woman works - not every time, but often enough that it has endured through the centuries as the centerpiece of human experience. experi-ence. And we know that this unique relationship provides the best opportunity to launch children toward happy, healthy, secure, productive pro-ductive lives. Still, there are those who would ignore centuries of Me-affirming experience in favor of an experi-ment experi-ment in social engineering, gambling gam-bling that its long-term impact won't lie destructive to marriage and the fumily. In the name of political polit-ical correctness, they wish to pillage a time-honored institution by turning turn-ing it into something it isn't. And they ure trying to make those of us who honor und respect the institution institu-tion of murriage as it is feel guilty ubout our opinion, suggesting from their bully media pulpit that being opposed to homosexual marriage on moral grounds somehow makeB us homophobic, and that we have no right to an opinion that is not based on their standard of moral relativism rela-tivism and contrived egalitarian-ism. egalitarian-ism. All of which is, of course, extremist extrem-ist baloney. If one can be opposed to the policies of the President of the United StateB and Btill love America, Ameri-ca, then one can be opposed to homosexual marriage and still love homosexual friends and family members. The fact iB, marriage is not a political tool to be invoked as a means of validating a lifestyle or obtaining legal benefits and rights. It was not created by legislation or litigation. It waB created by God and has endured through the ages because it works. The fact that marriage mar-riage requires a man and a woman isn't a political statement - it is a fact of life. Expanding the definition of marriage to include other kinds of relationships is an exercise in futility. No matter how loving and committed these relationships might be, they cant be a marriage. The recipe is wrong. Some things are better My friends - the few I have left - are beginning to avoid me. For the past seven years I have been in various phases of a walking walk-ing program. I have trained for and completed a marathon, but some weeks it is much easier to stay in hed and walk only short distance- Friend:- and family joined with me in the g iod times and encouraged encour-aged me during the bad times. They knew how much better I felt when I was able to be active. I'm sure when Mom feels better, the family is happier, too. It seems like we have gone in cycles. Our enthusiasm is high for a while and we actually make progress toward becoming physically physi-cally fit. Then the stress level is heightened, height-ened, our work schedules change, or other demands make it very hard to fit in that extra time to exercise. Sometimes we slip back gradually, gradu-ally, while other times the change is sudden. The point iB, however, we have been able to keep on trying to get a new routine established. Go to your caucus Editor: The Utah County League of Women voters reminds all our citizens that democracy begins with you. Without your participation you have no say in government and its decisions and consequently conse-quently might as well live in another country without our form of government. gov-ernment. Without full participation by citizens, government becomes by and for the few with the loudest voices and the most economic and political polit-ical power. In Utah, the party ALPINE Concept approval has been granted to the Moon subdivision at the end of Alpine Drive. The development devel-opment will consist of two lots on one acre. The development will connect Alpine Drive to 450 South and will provide another access to the area and increase traffic circulation. circu-lation. The proposed subdivision will next seek preliminary approval from the planning commission. ALPINE The Alpine Planning Commission Commis-sion is studying the city ordinance relating to fences on comer lots. It is the goal of the commission to help maintain Alpine City's open feeling by limiting the height and type of fences allowed on corner lots. It is also reviewing the distances dis-tances from the property lines that fences can be built. It is hoped that a uniform code will provide consistency consis-tency throughout the city. CEDAR FORT The Cedar Fort Town Council will conduct Town Council meeting on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Fori Fire Station, 155 N. Church Street. This is the first month on the new meeting schedule sched-ule adopted in February. Town leaders will consider the possible merging of the fire department and emergency medical services tearm, as well as review water shut-off policies and procedures. CEDAR HILLS Timberline Middle School will hold its grand concert on March 11 , 12, and 13 at the school. Tickets are on sale at the front office and are $5 per person, and include a preview of the gallery of fine art and light buffet at 6 p.m. with the concert con-cert at 7 p.m. Children 8 years and older are welcome to attend. EAGLE KTTN. Eagle Mountain resident Kendle Salisbury was appointed Friends certainly help with that. Having someone picking you up in 15 minutes for a trip to the fitness center is good motivation to get out of bed. One of the latest motivations I have used is to join the Utah "Walks program. To help me accurately accu-rately log miles I now use a pedometer. It clips onto my waistband waist-band and counts the number of steps I take during a day. I have read magazine articles about using a pedometer and gradually increasing the number of steps, using whatever method works for you. It makes sense. The best way to make progress is to see that a change is actually happening. hap-pening. My husband received a pedometer for Christmas and I was so jealous I went out and got one for myself. Mine has even Reader's Forum caucus is your first direct opportunity to influence the governance of your state. The caucus is where delegates are elected who will then go on to county conventions to nominate local legislative legisla-tive representatives and to the state conventions to nominate governor, U.S. senate and congressional congres-sional candidates and other state-wide officers. Both Democratic and Republican party caucuses cau-cuses will be meeting in your neighborhoods. Announcements for the March 23 meeting sites will be made by the parties par-ties and appear in local papers. It is important that you attend and - if you wish to be a delegate and help make decisions regarding the direction your party takes - that you bring your neighbors with you who will vote for you. Bring your friends that feel the way you do about issues such as funding public education, educa-tion, protecting children and their interests, and what legislative priorities priori-ties should be. Attend and speak up about your concerns and question candidates about their positions on issues important to our state. Crucial decisions are made before you get to a general election. Then congratulate to the city's Economic Development Develop-ment Board at the March 2 council coun-cil meeting. The Economic Development Devel-opment Board serves as an advisory advi-sory board to the city council and is comprised of five members. Board members are appointed for three-year terms. HIGHLAND Etched stone signs bearing the Highland City logo will be placed at the entrance of the new Mitchell Hollow Park by the Highland Youth Council. Chelsea Olsen, youth council representative, presented the plan to the City Council on March 2. "We can either place it on concrete columns covered with stucco for the amount we have budgeted of $1,500 or on stone columns for $2,250," she said. "We would ask the council to pay the difference if they decide on the stone." After some discussion the council voted to authorize the expenditure of the additional $750. The stone would be less susceptible suscepti-ble to graffiti," council member Brain Brunson said. The sign will measure three by four feet with the name of the park on It. A small plaque recognizing the youth council legacy project 2004 may be placed on the side. HIGHLAND According to a legal opinion the Highland City Council cannot impose Sunday closing on the Kountry Komers Chevron gas station sta-tion and mini mart as part of the subdivision process. "You cannot modify a conditional use on a subdivision sub-division plat," city administrator Barry Edwards told the council on March 3 reporting the opinion of city attorney Dave Church. However, Howev-er, the business will be held to the original hours of operation including includ-ing turning off the gas pumps from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The council granted grant-ed final approval to the two-lot Kountry Korners subdivision with the provision there will be a perpet left unsaid more gizmos than his does (eat your heart out, Steve). It playB music while I am walking, walk-ing, although I have never used that function. I'm sure it would drive me crazy, to say nothing of those around me. It has an alarm clock included. It can play several different sounds, from a rooster crowing to classical music. I have never used that one, either. The function I have used the most is the talking feature. All you have to do is press a little button but-ton and your pedometer tells you, "You have walked 6,000 steps. The distance is 2.27 miles." Last week I was sitting in a Planning Commission meeting. I wont say that it was boring at that point, but my mind had drifted drift-ed to my pedometer and I wondered won-dered how many miles I had walked that day. I tried to lift it from my waistband waist-band so I could see my mileage. Instead I bumped the "talk" button but-ton and it told the whole room that I had gone 5.75 miles. There are now a few more friends who think I'm crazy. yourself on attending but don't stop there. Maybe your delegate candidate didn't win. Then it is time to build a base of support. Be sure and get out for the primaries pri-maries and general elections. elec-tions. Follow what happens hap-pens down the line in the legislature and let your legislators know how you feel about issues. Being a citizen of our great nation and beautiful beauti-ful state has its duties and the most important is exercising your hard won right to vote. Utah County League of Women Voters Mary Lou Huffmon, President received via e-mail ual cross easement between the service station and the Jiffy Lube slated for construction on the southeast corner. A car wash will be built behind the Jiffy Lube. The vote to approve was unanimous. LINDON Two residents of the 300 West block of Lindon's 600 North, Susan Hunsaker and Jill Mendevil, asked about a recent traffic study in their block at the Feb. 17 Council meeting. meet-ing. Both are concerned about the traffic Wal-Mart will bring to their street, which runs into State Street where Wal-Mart will put in a traffic signal. Mayor Larry Ellertson said there will be another study after Wal-Mart opens, to see if volume and speeds increase. The mayor said the city wants 1o wait .before Wal-Mart goes in before putting in speed bumps so it can get an adequate ade-quate measure of traffic patterns before acting. LEHI A rich, finely crafted table built with native Utah silver, onyx, mahogany and cedar will be one of the many priceless Items on exhibit exhib-it at the John Hutchings Museum, 55 N. Center St., for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers open house March 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. The DUP exhibit can be found west of the Veterans Memorial Exhibit in the great hall just east of the art exhibit. exhib-it. SARATOGA SPRINGS Six Utah County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Seven Utah Highway Patrol Troopers conducted a "truck blitz along State Road 73 in Saratoga Springs on March 2. The officers stopped and inspected 22 trucks for safety violations. They found 106 violations, issued 23 warnings, wrote B citations, made 6 arrests and impounded one vehicle. vehi-cle. Only three of the trucks inspected were free from violations. 4 - |