| OCR Text |
Show American Fork Citizen Nc Utah - Thursi; . A?rJ 2X4 - Page 2 Opinion E The right to speak is sacred Newspapers have long been considered the watchdogs of their communities. In this role they learn information and disseminate it to the public. They stand in for the residents resi-dents who are affected by certain cer-tain questions under consideration consider-ation by their cities, but may not ! able to attend all the meetings involved. The newspaper's voice must lie one of reason and must reflect the truth. Last week there was a victory vic-tory fr tnat voice. The former publisher of the American Fork Citizen was absolved of blame for actions he took to preserve that forum of truth. The case began during the 199 American Fork municipal munici-pal election. A resident of the community prepared an anonymous insert from a source calling itself a Nonpartisan Nonpar-tisan Citizens Group. The flyer wan included in the newspaper immediately prior to the election. Kill Jacob, the group's sole known member, had the insert preprinted and paid for its distribution. The group 'or Jacob; claimed two of the candidates, Tom Hunter and Kicky Storrs, were ineligible ineligi-ble to run for City Council unless they gave up what he considered part-time employment employ-ment with the city. Hunter's insurance firm provided health insurance coverage for employees and Storrs was a part-time ambulance employee. employ-ee. Jacob's group had every right to express its opinion Especially at Easter There isn't an cany way to say this, ho I'll just say it: Dad is dying. Of course, thih isn't a great sur-priHe. sur-priHe. He's 9.' years old and has Alzheimer's 'or is it dementia? I'm still a little uncertain). I've writ-Ven writ-Ven his obituary three times during dur-ing the past three yeans. Each time we think something iss going to take him from us - pneumonia, diabetes or a fellow care center resident with a surprisingly effective effec-tive right hook - he rallies If Dad were the Titanic he would have taken on water after he hit that iceberg, but somehow he Btill would have rnanuged to limp into port. Smiling sweetly, knot by waterlogged water-logged knot. TIuh time, however, the iceberg is going to win. Experts at the care center report that they've Keen this scenario before, and the outcome is always the same. They give him a week or ho, which should give me juHt enough time to make the 700-mile trip to Bee him and say , . . What? What do you Bay at such a time? "I love you, Dad." Well, of course. That's a given. "You've made a profound difference in my life." Certainly. "We're ull going to miss you." Absolutely. "Thank you." Yes - for a thouKund different things. Even though I don't know how much he'll heur or understand, I plan to tell him all those things and more. But there h one thing I won't Bay to him when I Bee him this Easter weekend. ESPECIALLY on Easter weekend. week-end. 1 won't tell him "good-bye." Sure, I understand that I won't see him again ufter this visit. And I'm awure of what a wonderful opportunity thiB is, relatively Hpeuking. So often death comes suddenly, without any warning or time to prepare. How many people would give anything for the chance to Bay a final "good-bye" to a loved one? regarding how certain city ordinances should be interpreted. inter-preted. That is their constitutional constitu-tional right. However, publisher Brett Bezzant disagreed with their basic premise, as did Storrs and Hunter. Since there were no more publications prior to the election, Bezzant delivered a flyer to American Fork residences resi-dences correcting what he believed to be false and misleading mis-leading information and apologizing apol-ogizing to Storrs and Hunter for distributing information that brought their candidacies into question. He, too, was entitled to his opinion. Jacob, however, objected to being identified as the representative representa-tive of the nonpartisan group and also filed a lawsuit claiming claim-ing Bezzant's publication defamed his reputation. In response to Jacob's lawsuit, law-suit, Bezzant filed an anti-SLAPP anti-SLAPP counterclaim. His contention con-tention was that Jacob's suit was punishing his expression of political speech and his legitimate participation in the political process. SLAPP stands for "Strategic lawsuits against public participation." partic-ipation." The public has the right to participate in its government gov-ernment and to express views without fear of retaliatory lawsuits. The judge who found in Bezzant's favor on every point stood behind a local community communi-ty newspaper, and in the broader sense, for the ability of the citizenry to stand up and be heard. Believe me, this is not something some-thing I'm considering lightly. It's literally a matter of life and death - I know that. But if there's anything any-thing that being raised, loved, nurtured and instructed by this good man has taught me, its thiB: life goes on. And not juBt in the Lennon-McCartney Lennon-McCartney "oblahdee-oblahdah" sense, although Dad was a big believer in the Doctrine of Moving On. It's what saw him through a promising athletic career that was thwarted by the Great Depression, Depres-sion, and through two years of separation from his wife and five children during World War II, and through decadeB of business disappointments, dis-appointments, financial struggles and family frustrations. His positive, posi-tive, forward-looking nature wouldn't allow him to dwell on past painB and failures. He waB all about the next opportunity, the next big challenge, the next great adventure. But more than just moving on with mortality, Dad believed that because of great and wondrous events that occurred on the first Easter some 2,000 years ago, fife truly does go on, that death is not an end, and that families are forever. for-ever. These beliefs - deeply held and intimately cherished -brought meaning and purpose to his life, juBt as they bring faith, hope, confidence and security to his death. And that's why I won't say a final "good-bye" to Dad when I leave him this weekend. It would be inappropriate because neither he nor I believes that it IS a final "good-bye." Instead, IU probably just say the same thing I always suy when I leave him: "IU see you later, Dud." Because I will. I know I will. Especially at Easter. Be sure to check out 'Check In this week's edition of the American Fork Citizen, we have included a new feature. "Check it Out" will showcase the American Fork Public Library, its books and materials, its programs pro-grams and activities. Librarian Sheena Parker came up with the title. It's a fun play on words. Make sure you check out the information, then head to the library and check out the books. There are many activities happening hap-pening at the library every day and every week. The staff members mem-bers are creative and make it an enjoyable, stimulating place to be. "Check it Out" will highlight different facets of the library each week. When new books arrive, a staff member will tell about them, perhaps per-haps reviewing Borne of the major additions, both fiction and non-fiction. Volunteer to help with parks Editor. It's time for our parks! Neighbors of Beehive Park on 700 North have already seen some action: contractors are laying sprinklers in the first of 27 American Fork parks to benefit from the parks bond. By the end of April, in time for the season, irrigation will be complete at all of American Ameri-can Fork's baseball diamonds dia-monds and at the Developmental Devel-opmental Center Property Proper-ty - good news for the Spring's beautiful brides. On May 8, the community is invited to Robinson Park to be part of the ribbon cutting on the first playground to be installed in American Fork in more than 20 years - but only the first of 23 playgrounds to be installed in our community commu-nity this summer. American Fork is making history. It is virtually vir-tually unknown for a community to improve 27 parks all at once, certainly cer-tainly not without raising rais-ing taxes to do so. In years to come, other Utah cities will Btudy our model and ask, "How did you do it?" How do we complete 27 parks in one summer, and how do we improve 27 parks on only $3.2 million? There is a simple answer: Volunteerism. Volunteers have been intimately involved in every phase of this parks upgrade, starting in the very earliest planning stages. Volunteers were involved in the design process and as watchdogs watch-dogs on the parks steering steer-ing committee. Now that CEDAR HILLS Any new or future students of Cedar Ridge Elementary for the 2004-2005 school year can register regis-ter in the main office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EAGLE MTN. The Eagle Mountain City Fire Fighters Auxiliary will be providing an Easter Egg Hunt for Eagle Mtn. residents at Nolan Park (formerly Redhawk Ranch Park), located at approximately Peregrine and Sparrowhawk roads in The Ranches, Ranch-es, on Saturday, April 10, at 9 a.m. HIGHLAND The annual Highland Arbor Day tree sale will be held in front of the Highland City Cemetery on 6250 W. 11000 North on Friday and Saturday, Sat-urday, April 23 and 24. On Friday the sale will be from noon to 7 p.m. On Saturday the hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The trees are in 15- When events are taking place, there will be information on how to participate. Libraries often offer activities and learning programs for children, and the American Fork library is one of the best. "Check it Out" will teD about what is happening for children of all ages and give opportunities oppor-tunities for them to join in. In addition to children's programs, pro-grams, the library offers learning for adults. For example, this is National Poetry Month, and the library is having two events highlighting high-lighting poetry and poets. Local writers have the chance to have Reader's Forum construction has begun, volunteers are needed once more. At this time, volunteers volun-teers are sought to plant trees in the parks, and also to water the newly-planted newly-planted trees. Volunteers are also needed to restore the trenches where sod has been dug up for irrigation, and, with appropriate supervision, super-vision, to help lay the ADA walkways. TheBe are meaningful jobs. They make a difference to our community, and they relieve the considerable consid-erable burden the public has placed on our expert but limited parks maintenance main-tenance staff in asking it to cope with 27 upgrades all at once. Residents often ask, "If we have bond money to spend, then why should we volunteer?" There are two answers to this question. The first answer goes back to the value stated in the original origi-nal bond proposal: "No more bond money should be sought than can be repaid with existing tax revenues." The parks task force had a liBt of $4.6 million in basic parks needs at that time, but, true to its value, kept the bond at $3.2 million. It was known from the beginning begin-ning that outside fund raising and volunteerism volun-teerism would be key to thiB history-making parks upgrade. Why volunteer? The second answer is all about community. As a wise British statesman observed, "It's about being practical. Take 10 coins, stack them on top of each other, you still have 10 coins. Bring 10 volunteers together for an hour and you have a lot more than 10 hours work. You begin to create an active community." We're seeing something some-thing a lot more exciting than parks in American Fork this summer. We're seeing residents come together in neighborhoods, neighbor-hoods, and neighborhoods neighbor-hoods come together as a community. We're making mak-ing American Fork, a city with history, into a home with a future. We're making it our home. Businesses, congregations, congrega-tions, Scout troops, or other interested groups are all encouraged to call me, Heidi Rodeback, at 492-9183, to set something up. Or send an e-mail to HRode-backatt.net. HRode-backatt.net. I am myself a volunteer - a volunteer with three children who are going to be playing, and working, work-ing, hard in American Fork parks this summer. We hope many more families will join us! Heidi Rodeback It's time to fight back Editor: In the name of "separation "sepa-ration of Church and State" we've had the Ten Commandments monument monu-ment removed from the State Judicial Building in Alabama and Judge Roy Moore suspended because of his objection to the removal. We've had the Ten Commandments removed from public property in about eight Utah cities. Presently the ACLU is trying to do the same thing in PleaBant Grove and Duchesne. Actually it is not real gallon containers and average one-inch caliper. In past years the assortment has ranged from pines and spruce to honey locust and maple. The cost will be between $50 and $100 each. The tree sale is sponsored by the Highland Tree Commission and has sold out rapidly rap-idly in previous years. A master gardener will be on hand to help people choose the right tree for their yards. For more information contact Trixie Walker at 756-0123. LEHI The Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce, Lehi City and other participating businesses are hosting host-ing an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, Satur-day, April 10, at 9 a.m. sharp at Wines Park, 500 N. Center Street, Lehi. The hunt is for kids ages one to 10 with a special area for the handicapped. There will be six grand prizes of bikes plus many other prizes. There will also be it Out' their works judged and read with a poetry contest. "Check it Out" tellB how to enter and when to attend to hear the prize-winning poems. Some of the residents of the community may have the impression impres-sion the library has only books. Staff members will occasionally tell about other offerings and let the community residents become more aware of the many resources available for them and their families. fami-lies. For centuries libraries have been repositories of knowledge and information. Today that has grown in many different directions direc-tions to be of service to the entire community. We are pleased to be able to bring a portion of that information informa-tion to the attention of those who will use it. See you there. ly a question of freedom of religion or separation of church and state because: No one needs to nor is required to believe them. No one has to obey them nor pay homage to them. No one is required to financially support them. The real problem is freedom of speech. Because some people dont want to see or hear them, therefore the rest of us are not permitted to display them. The fact is if people want to speak and write filth, the courts have upheld the right to do it even to the extent of forcing New York to spend public money to display the elephant ele-phant dung on Mary's face. But if we want to say or display something uplifting or spiritual, we are not permitted to express it. Our right of freedom of speech is being systematically systemat-ically destroyed and we need to fight back. The right of freedom of speech needs to be included in this battle over the ten commandments. Robert Anderson's effort out of St. George to spread the display of the ten commandments is a great way for us individually individ-ually to carry this fight. I agree with him, "if it's not me, then who? If now, then when?" Anyone desiring to join us and display a sign may contact Robert Anderson by phone at 435-656-2458, e-mail dixierepublicanyahoo.c om or Howard Johnson by phone at 768-4447. - Howard H. Johnson Lehi many candy-filled and prize eggs, over 9,000 total. Special guest, the Easter Bunny, will be present to visit with the children too. PLEASANT GROVE The Brunson Brothers and Jamie Glaser are performing on Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at the Pleasant Grove Rodeo Grounds on behalf of the struggling Grove Theatre. Advance tickets are available avail-able at these downtown merchants: mer-chants: The Grove Theatre, McKellar & Co., Smith Drug, Melanie's International Gourmet and Gourmet Gardens, and Allred's. Advance tickets are $18 for a family of three or more, $8 for adults, and $5 for children over 5. Children under 5 are free. Tickets will be available at the door for $20 per family and $10 per adult. For more information, contact Barbara Wells at 796-3591 or ccbwellsyahoo.com. -V-i |
