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Show J I M E c.l :l r ... Ti-T ouum.i u ouesr tditorial ed at 538 South Sta Orem. Deadlines Monday 1 0:00 a.m. 0 All submissions are subject to editing i and The Orem-Geneva Times reserves thp' publish or not to publish a submission ! Dinion A2 Thursday, March 13, 2003 COMMENTARY Si Q c Editorial 3 SCERA needs community support SCARLETT M. BARGER Times Staff An organization that has played a key role in Orem since the Great Depression may be on its way out if it does not get the funding it needs. SCERA, or Sharon's Cultural Educational Recreational Association, was once the only organization in Orem to provide arts and recreational programs for residents. Today it continues con-tinues to provide cultural arts through an agreement with Orem City. ; But as several other entertainment-related entertainment-related businesses and organizations have emerged over the years, SCERA officials have realized that its role in Orem is changing. SCERA continues to lose money, mainly through the film industry, as newer movie theaters have taken away business. The amount of funding SCERA receives within -the next few years could make or break the organization. SCERA officials would like to continue organizing quality programs for resi dents, but without financial support, they can only do so much. SCERA officials know their facilities facili-ties need upkeep, and they are trying to get the job done. They are working with a business management group from Brigham Young University on a plan to keep SCERA in the positive without digging into savings. The purpose pur-pose is to do everything they can to make up shortfalls without making prices unreasonable, said SCERA President Norm Nielsen. Funding is a cycle. Residents who enjoy SCERA's productions are more likely to donate money. But, at the same time, SCERA cannot reach its best efforts without funding. It seems obvious that Orem residents, resi-dents, especially those with children, would want to support SCERA. Its wholesome, family-friendly productions produc-tions are certainly compatible with "Family City USA" Because it is a nonprofit, charitable institution, officials are more likely to stick to guiding principles than to change standards to increase profit. According to Nielsen, residents can support SCERA in a multitude of ways. For one thing, they can make donations and receive the same tax benefits that they would by donating to other charitable institutions. Individuals and small businesses can sponsor events. Residents can also buy season tickets for the SCERA Shell, buy movie tickets or volunteer at the organization. Another opportunity is also approaching, for those who love a good Italian dish. The Old Spaghetti Factory, at University Mall, will host a benefit night before its grand opening next month. The proceeds will go toward SCERA. But besides donating money or time, it is important for residents to give feedback on what they have or haven't liked about SCERA in the past. SCERA officials want to present shows they will enjoy, and the institution institu-tion cannot succeed without the community's com-munity's support. Column Jl Century of Posta Jleroes in Orem Oivt Eld&t duedt Memwie ewaiitity wui in the South The Utah Valley Elder Quest of the Center for Lifelong Learning at Utah Valley State College is composed of some 200 local senior citizens, many of whom recall and write down their memories and life experiences, experi-ences, such as the one presented here. BARBARA RASMUSSEN During World War II, I made an unforgettable trip to Memphis, Term, in 1943 to join my husband. I want to tell of my introduction to living in the South. My husband, hus-band, Dick, had answered an ad and had rented a sleeping room with kitchen privileges, when I arrived with baby Judy, 18 months old. The house was owned by Eleanor, a young mother, very amicable, in her middle 20s and very Southern. We seemed to like each other immediately. Her husband The Orem-Geneva Times 538 South State Street Orem, UT 84058 published by The Daily Herald, A Pulitzer Newspaper Subscriptions & Delivery Service 375-5103 News & Advertising 225-1340 Fax 225-1341 Email oremtimesnetworld.com USPS 411-700. Published Thursdays by Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc., 538 South State Street, Orem, Utah 84058. Periodicals postage paid at Orem, Utah 84059. Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 65, Orem, UT 84059. Member:. Audit Bureau of Circulations NEWSSTAND PRICE $0.50 SUBSCRIPTION RATE 1 year - $26 (in county) (Sunday & Thursday plus Holiday deliveries) Holiday deliveries include delivery the week of Easter, Memorial, Independence, Pioneer, Labor, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's. 1 year - $35 (out of county) NEWS We welcome news tips. Call 225-1340 to report a news tip or if you have a comment or a question. We welcome letters to the editor. edi-tor. All letters must include the author's name (printed AND signed) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters let-ters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome wel-come on any topic. Publisher Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Contributing Writers Pagination & Craphics Office Manager Office Printing Relations Advertising Sales Production & Press Times Publishing Staff Brent Sumner bsumnerheraldextra.com Reva Bowen Scarlett Barger Martin Harris Clyde E. Weeks Jr. Robert King Sydney Sumner Scott Sumner Sydney Sumner Sydney Sumner Brent Sumner Phil Patten Brent Sumner Steve Goodwin Josh Romero Robert Kint was a tank commander in Italy and was in the intense fighting, as the American forces fought their way up through the Italian Peninsula. Eleanor had a baby boy who was just walking walk-ing around. Living with Eleanor was an old black woman named Ida, who had been a nursemaid nurse-maid to Eleanor since she was very young. She was part of the family. She was delightful, and we became fond of her. She took a liking to Judy. But she was very quiet and only spoke when spoken to. She was so gentle and so careful to say the right thing. We were soon aware of the inconsistencies of the racial structure in those days in the South. A couple of instances stand out. One day, I was feeding Judy her lunch in her high-chair high-chair next to the kitchen table. Ida was standing nearby, and I said, "Ida, sit down and have a cup of tea." She looked at me blankly, excused herself and left the room. Eleanor had overheard over-heard me, and she came in to inform me that blacks did not sit down at a table with whites, regardless of the relationship. It bothered me. Ida had been in that house and with that family for at least 25 years. I had little to do and was rather lonesome, so I decided decid-ed to apply for a job as a clerk in the large Gerbers Department Store. Dick was a Navy ensign, and we had little money. We didn't have a car. Dick took a bus out to the Naval Air Station, and I soon caught on to the bus system downtown. I got the job at some paltry wage and went to work. I arranged for Ida to care for Judy. It didn't take long to learn, once more, about the racial discrimination in the South. On a busy day when I was waiting on a customer, I noticed a black woman, waiting to be waited on. I said to a clerk near me, "Would you please wait on that lady?" She replied in a rather loud voice, "No, I will not, and she is no lady." Then she turned me around. "Do you know what you said? We don't speak of blacks as ladies. She is a woman. You have a lot to learn." I was upset and wondered won-dered what to do. I continued contin-ued to work and was careful to learn to keep the rules and decided this was a real learning period for me. I was in a different world. It came time for Eleanor's little boy to be christened and baptized. This was to be done in the home. Eleanor was very Catholic, and we were anxious anx-ious to watch the proceeding. proceed-ing. Of course, Ida would be part of the family. The day was set. Food was prepared and plans were made, but Ida was sick that day, so the baptism was postponed for another day. Eleanor said that Ida must be there for the baptism and christening. christen-ing. We were well aware that there was a strong bond between Eleanor and Ida. And we were impressed with this show of affection the family felt for Ida, who had been Eleanor's nursemaid nurse-maid since she was a baby. We continued to live by the rules of the South, but what with the incident at the department store, the one at the kitchen table and the one at the christening, we found the rules hard to understand. mxm lid 1 O I lxVJtt IKLHVJS UHtKt The heroic Mailster delive CLYDE E. WEEKS, JR. Times Correspondent Part 10 On March 21, 1955, representatives rep-resentatives of the Orem Chamber of Commerce met with the Orem City Council in the Orem City Hall to seek, approval for re-zoning an area, adjacent to Center Street and State Street, for a shopping development. The matter was complicated by the fact that, at that time, Center Street had not yet been opened west of State Street, and the new development would be facing fac-ing the as-yet-unopened Center Street. When he took office as mayor of Orem in 1958, one of Luzell Robbins' most difficult dif-ficult tasks was the condemnation condem-nation proceedings, which took place against the few property owners who refused to sell to Orem City their ground, which was needed for the opening of Center Street west of State Street. That street opening cleared the way for the development of one of Orem's first shopping centers, cen-ters, which included a large Albertson's store, a Woolworth store, a Red Wing Shoe Store and a Toyota automobile dealership. dealer-ship. The Center Street opening open-ing also provided a prime location for a new post office building to replace the crowded building on State Street, whose 10-year lease had expired. Late in 1960, the Orem Post Office moved to a new, modern 6,500-square-foot facility, located at 96 West Center Street. The office featured ample parking for both customers and employees. The Toyota dealership was located on the west side of the post office, and Woolworth's was located on the east. On April 29, 1961, a dedication ded-ication program was held for the new Orem Post Office, just in front of the building. Orem dignitaries, as well as regional postal officials participated in the rs program, as well as patrons and all of the 0 postal employees. In this new building .. vate omce, as well as a? and concrete vault, i provided top security" currency and Dost stamps. The new post also contained more twice as many post o Doxes ior rental as the building. Until that time delivery in Orem had U; camea out Dy rural it ers, who drove their -; cars, and city carriers 4 rode bicycles or vl. With more than 17 $ri miles to cover in Orem, J delivery on bicycles prT to be less than cost-ei tive. A second deliver; parcels in a delivery tr also had to cover the at; territory. In 19bl, a new type mail delivery vehicle -three-wheeled Mailste: was inaugurated in ftJ Built on the frame three-wheeled motorr: the unit featured enclosed cab in the tf and a large storage : partment at the rear. The Mailsters ena: the city carriers to a their parcels, as we their letter mail with 4 and deliver it .to the 45! 475 boxes on their roi six days a week. Pail blue and white, Mailsters rarely reaJ more than 25 miles hour and constituted a challenge for letter carri delivering the mail on i main streets and in sufcl sions. Because of the burg ing growth of Orem l carriers frequently use their ingenuity in b in? deliveries of mail toi idents of new homes, t streets were not improved, and did not c ify for mail delivery. I were seen as real her many new residents, sometimes received l mail in out-of-bounds i boxes. Next Week: Moving Christa4 mails Letter to the Editoi Selt belt use saves lives, mone; Dear Editor, With most states facing drastic budget deficits, governments gov-ernments are examining expenditures and looking for efficient ways to save money within the state. One of the greatest cost savings to the state is getting people to buckle their safety belts on each and every ride. According to "The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000," the cost of motor vehicle crashes crash-es that occurred in 2000 totaled $230.6 billion. This is equal to approximately $820 for each person living in the United States and translates to increased taxes, health care and insurance costs born by society rather than by crash victims. On average, inpatient hospital care costs for unbuckled crash victims are 50 percent higher than for those who are belted - and society bears 85 percent of those costs, not the individuals individ-uals involved. Overall, those not directly involve pt-qcVias nav for Bt three-fourths of all cttj primarily through v ance premiums, tax j. i j-1 , . , -i i or vA Uver the last. j safety belts have pi; 135,000 fatalities r: ;n;,vrv i" ri rips. This society $585 million icai care, io&u f1 , and other injury" ' pmnnmic costs. . Buckling up is J most effective and -ate way to save lives, ; , injuries and reduce e-, ic costs from crasjj. America's r f ' Because we are all P . ally and financially, when even one perS . not buckle up, be a part of the solu", ( simple: Make so passenger is bucw every ride. Sincerely, Lou R. DeCarola , U.S. Depart Transportation , |