OCR Text |
Show ah. Thursday, March 27,2003 -Page 2 ReviewLindon Edition New Ut, New Utah Pleasant Grove Opinion -. ? Scouting for is a winning Utah County's Scouting for Food Drive is set for this Saturday Satur-day throughout the area, and the service rendered through this annual event is more critical criti-cal than ever, according to Will Johnson, director of the Tim-panogos Tim-panogos Regional Food Bank. With the national economic downturn and the idling of Geneva Steel among the more significant reasons, unemployment unemploy-ment has risen sharply here over the past two years, leaving many in need who previously provided for themselves. Also, many who are working at the lower end of pay scales simply don't make enough to cover basic needs, let alone unexpected or uncontrollable expenses such as medical bills or rent increases. In addition, the deployment of the military members of many local families has in some cases greatly reduced customary incomes, which may force some uncomfortable choices in the weeks and months ahead for those left behind. Utah food banks historically get a big influx of donations around the holidays, but by now, those stores are depleted. This drive has been timed to replenish replen-ish supplies when not much is coming in from other sources. Only nonperishable items in Food Drive deal for all unoDened, commercially-pro duced cans, packages and boxes are acceptable for the drive. Personal Per-sonal care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, sanitary supplies, sup-plies, etc.) are also always welcome. wel-come. Those who wish to inquire about other kinds of donations should call 377-0066 or 373-8200. 373-8200. In the past, the Utah National Nation-al Guard has provided the means of transportation for collected col-lected goods to get to the food banks, but the present military situation makes that impossible this year. However, local trucking truck-ing companies have stepped forward for-ward to take over this aspect of the drive. Every household in our area should have received a bag last Saturday in which to place donations, but if you didn't get one (or want to use more than one), any bag will do. It's best to mark it clearly so that the Scouts will know it's intended for them to pick up. Residents are asked to have their donations out in front of their homes by 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Satur-day. We urge everyone to be as generous as their circumstances will allow, especially since every item we donate will aid our own neighbors in need. Take steps to avoid identity fraud With headlines in Utah and across the nation chronicling the increasing incidences of identity theft, it's a good idea for everyone to take some common-sense precautions. pre-cautions. The following suggestions were made by a corporate attorney in a large company who recently suffered suf-fered such a crime personally when his wallet was stolen. Within a week, the thieves in this instance had ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles to change his driving driv-ing record online, and more. He said most people know about calling immediately to cancel can-cel their credit cards, but the trick is having the card numbers and toll-free reporting numbers handy when you need them. He suggested photocopying both sides of each license, credit card and other information you carry in your wallet or purse, and keeping it in a safe but easily-accessible easily-accessible place. That way you will not only know what was actually stolen, but you'll immediately have the information needed to make those calls. He also recommended carrying a photocopy of the identification pages of your passport separately when you travel abroad. The U.S. Government also recommends keeping a copy at home with someone who knows your travel plans. It's also important to file a police report right away in the jurisdiction where the theft took place. This proves to credit providers that you're diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation investiga-tion (if there ever is one). However, the most important step is one that the lawyer admit ted he'd never thought of, and I think most people have never even heard of: calling the three national credit-reporting organizations organi-zations and the Social Security Administration immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. The lawyer said his bank advised him to do this about two weeks after the theft; the agencies had records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves, and after the alert, no further damage was done. Here are the numbers: Equifax 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW) 1-888-397-3742 Trans Union 1-800-680-7289 Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800-269-0271 Some additional suggestions: The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, check-book, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks. Also, put your work or cell phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a post office box, use that instead of a home address, or a work address if you can. Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks; you can add it if it's necessary, but if it's printed, anyone can get it. Forced piano practicing was wor( SotimeU wonder why we put I Tr I ourselves and our children through it - the ordeals of music lessons and practicing an instrument. "Practice," the parent insists. "Later," evades the child. And finally, after haranguing, haggling, and whining, the child sits down at the piano or pulls out the violin and gives a quick 10-minute run through of that week's music assignment. It's no wonder that the child's progress is often slow or erratic. So why do we do it? This enforced practicing, the "torture" "tor-ture" of making a child play an instrument. I remember, and not especially fondly, my own early morning sessions at the piano, the terror of performing at a recital. So why have I chosen to "inflict" this upon my children? Because there is something unique, wondrous, and beautiful about music. I'm glad, now, for my minimal involvement with the piano so many years ago. The German writer, Berthold Auerbach, wrote, "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Music carries me from the drudgery drudg-ery of my day to a higher, more noble realm. Music speaks to us in a way that words cannot. Music can lift us into great heights; music can make us laugh and dance and it can cry our blues away. Music can bring back powerful power-ful memories. Who doesn't have one or two memories of what we were doing the first time we heard a particular song? Last week I had the privilege of listening to my oldest daughter perform, per-form, along with other college students, stu-dents, in a viola master class. As I listened to her play a seemingly simple yet complex unaccompanied Bach piece, I was amazed at the beautiful sound she drew from her viola. I thought back to some of those early practice sessions, when she'd lie on the floor and refuse to pick up her instrument. anrj ti "'member 5 hose ton,, O beautiful. ' Irecaii.j . schrxj da' practice trees. Killing n Played benfca.'. t senfd earl,' -would . In addition.; her to take r," would have Now she's os : University Performance .. every mir, K Her stufe Pex, multi-ia Some of the? I reading thefr Jessica W;tlL her music fy. hood piano Her wori my ears, "ft. metakepii -arlii Creating memories through boo!C I've been feeling a little down lately, and realized I'm probably suffering from the effects of too much bad news. With constant talk of war and rising gas prices, as well as a sluggish economy, it's amazing we are able to get out of bed in the morning. After going through the motions one particular day, I ended up at the library for a child's science project. As soon as I walked through the door, I saw a display of recommended children's chil-dren's picture books, including some with which I had become familiar at a young age. There was Harold with his purple pur-ple crayon, beckoning me toward him, daring me not to remember the day I was able to sign my name and get my first library card so I could finally check out books of my very own. I picked up the book and could immediately visualize the old bedspread on my mom's bed, where I first turned the pages of "Harold and the Purple Crayon." I think I even smclled cookies baking, bak-ing, but that may have been con- jured up out of some kind of cliche in the back of my mind. I wandered the rows of picture books, even though I was there on a completely nonfiction assignment, assign-ment, perusing covers old and new, pleased with the increased quality and quantity of children's books being published in recent years. I saw books I had read for the first time with each of my children. chil-dren. I chuckled to myself after seeing some that made me laugh hysterically for their cleverness. I saw the books that were thought-provoking, thought-provoking, the ones that were maybe a tad overly sentimental, but sweet nonetheless, and the ones that I admired solely for their beauty. For a good 30 minutes, I literally literal-ly lost myself in reminiscing about various children's books. Vivid images literally flashed before mv eves as I recalled scenes in r these boob r suddenly rei)C ing because i were good. The feelirs -been feeliizv JU the co:.-, brought bv -h. ' I gathers3 checked tb: te resolve to cir10 with my tbir- s has becon: :;ria time a mudr:)rn: Gas pncr--,scl rise, adrr-.d, abound, a: snni but they aVrn. j Remembe: : E the 70s? Ik $2 However. ! more, and ib:n more invito e take any lecii. administrate:; share a gxoi a child toni'j the news. , sh I prom:." . . ;--3ai create gouC--- And don;::' You might be a baseball fan if: In honor of the beginning of the regular season (opening day U'ing a sacred time of year for baseball fans) which begins this weekend, here is a list of qualifications to be a true baseball fan. If you have even some of these qualities, you might lc a baseball fan. You can quote verbatim "The Sandlot," "Field of Dreams," "The Natural" or "Bull Durham." You've ever held a glove to your nose just to smell the leather. You've ever slept with a glove under your mattress. You know how to hold the ball for a change-up, curve and slider. You know where the lxx of curve balls is and where to find the key for the batter's box. You know what n fungo is. You l(xk forward to the Super Bowl because you know it means spring training is almost here. You've gone to Arizona or Florida just for spring training. You think it's perfectly all right to steal or to hit and run. You might l)e a baseball fan if ERA has nothing to do with Equal Rights. You spend more time at work managing your fantasy baseball team than you do actually working. You know what happened in the 1919 World Series. You can list five nicknames for George Ruth. You know the difference Ix'twoen spikes and cleats. You plan major league ball games into your itinerary when you travel for business. You plan to sjvnd your vacation at a major league ball park or two or three. You take opening day olT to attend or to watch the games. You know where the Dodgers and Giants used to play. You know who Satchel Paige was. You own the entire Ken Burns video or DVD set called "Baseball." If no one can reach you on your pager because you've got it set for up to the minute scores fi-om around the leagues, you might lv a baseball fan. i YouraE"' Out to the c Youfotc&'or tobeabletocoi You phyffZs t in January jtf'n I hands. n You know-' aj hat from e. s' Your ckl-";: steps betvee:-'Gi Younv.agj nianent ar, the infield i pants, socks i"- You don't S vour nou balls, plort; v.ni have3'1 1 vour lxch-d You've1 ball tosf! You km-' seeds and P; losing thef' v.i think iv.n --- . . inning stn And finally of pine tar. 0 fan. New Utah American Fork Citizen, Pleasant Grove Review, Lchi Free Press, Lindon New Utah, Lone Peak New Utah 59 W. Main American Fork, UT 84003 An edition of The Daily Herald, a Pulitzer, Inc. newspaper USPS 018-580 (ISSN: 1521-6845) NEWSSTAND PRICE: 50 cents SUBSCRIPTION RATE: 1 year - $26 (in county) $35 (out of county) (Thursday and Sunday plus Holiday deliveries) "Holiday deliveries include delivery die week of'Kasler, Memorial, Independence, I'ioneer, I.alior, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years. NEWS: Wc welcome news tips. Call 756-7669 to report a news tip or if you have a comment or a question. We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must include the author's name (printed AND signed) and a telephone number. Wc reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, tasle and length. Letters arc welcome on any topic. HEADLINES Classified Advertising Tuesday, noon Display Advertising M()Iul s K 1 ' News Missionaries, Weddings .Monday, 2 p.m. .Monday, 2 p.m. Sports, Kellers t i, r, ,. , . .. " iwoiuiav. Hi a.m. Communi.y Calendar Monday, U) a.m. Obituaries n . . Iiiesdav, 1 1 a.m. ihm;.i.,.,i ti i i .. . ' imnsuays ny I'Ulltzer N.-wsivm,..-.. I.... c .... S03.IVri,lickps,aecpai(llAll. ic,r; ' " A,,,i,a llllk. lal, Subscriptions & Deli j News & Advertising Fax L-L E-mail . . . .nueditt PG City Editor., 'p' Lehi City Editor. AF City Editor . -Bi Lone Peak Editor.. Sports Editor ..- |