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Show !Bimifineifiis Free Press - Wednesday, November 8, Page 2 It's time to bring back the Scotch Tape Store rat Editorial Nov. 11, once known as Armistice Day and now celebrated as Veteran's Day, marks the anniversary of the end of World ; the "War to End all Wars." Set on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the day has been set aside to honor all those who have worn the various military uniforms of the United States and who have risked their lives in the service of our country and the defense of our freedom. Of course, World War I didn't end all wars but instead laid the foundation for the even greater conflict that followed. And as we have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II throughout this year, our thoughts naturally turn to the service rendered by our veterans who fought in that war. It is appropriate as we contemplate Veteran's Day this Saturday to read the words of Admiral J.M. Naval of Chief Boorda, women and years of demanding struggle to finally end the most destructive period in human history. The veterans of this war made it their duty to put everything they had into our efforts to end the tyranny. Many of them purchased our victory with their very lives. Your sacrifices laid the foundation for the fifty years of prosperity that we have enjoyed. Although our world continues to have many troubled areas, we have successfully avoided the type of total war you fought. The men and women serving today carry on the tradition of courage and dedication that you instilled in every American, with the hope that peace and prosperity will continue to reign. The veterans of every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War up to the latest activities in have consistently demonstrated a willingness to risk life and limb to preserve our society and protect our freedom. To to each we owe a tremendous debt of veterans of the Operations, World War II. Addressing the vetgratitude. This Veteran's Day we echo the erans, Boorda said: You deserve our highest praise words of Admiral Boorda to all of and respect for all that you sacri- our U.S. veterans: 7 congratulate ficed and endured to bring about each of you on your valiant accomvictory and peace. plishments, and thank you for all . . . It took brave men and that you gave us. Serbo-Croat- ia It's a good thing we have something to smile about once in a while. 1 For example, in the newspaper the other evening, it snowed a picture of the cow chip chucking champion of California. He chucked a piece of dried cow manure 124 feet, 10 inches. It didn't say whether or not he wore gloves. This is a slight variation of throwing the bull. A thing like this makes you wonder what ; has become of the games. When did you last see a boy with patches on the knees of his pants from playing marbles? How times change. When I was a boy ievery lad had his favorite taw. To possess a steelie was almost divine. However, if you had a steelie it was hard to find someone to play against. Word soon got around that so and so had a steelie and he was avoided. Gone are the spittoons and the spitting jcontests. It was unsanitary to say the least, Unit it did help to while away some lonely ;3iours. To most boys today, one old cat means just 1 that. One old cat. - ". it meant lots of fun But to the 'and laughter. I am sure that some of the things we did ;!as boys would be frowned upon today. For instance, when a new boy came to our street to live, he was invited to a treasure hunt. To I 'prepare for the big event we would dig a hole ;in the ground and bury the treasure. The treasure usually consisted of a broken " down pocket knife, a worn out top, or something that was not worth very much. But you haven't heard the most exciting part. We would take a bucket up to Dai Reece's pasture where he grazed his cows and fill it with good, fresh manure. With boyhood dignity this was placed in the hole over the treasure and a thin layer of soil was spread over the top so everything looked normal. The new boy was then instructed to dig for the treasure with his hands. I am going to spare you the lurid details, but perhaps your imaginations can finish the exciting incident. We did have one unfortunate incident in our neighborhood initiation. A new minister came to the Welsh Church in the village and sure enough he had a son our age. I must admit he was different from the rest of us kids. For one thing, he wore underwear and that alone made him different from the rest of us. He was quite reserved and a bit standoffish, but he was a boy and must be made welcome to the street. old-time- -- Several years ago, while living in Maryland, we were out with another couple when we first heard about the concept of the Scotch Tape Store. Apparently Saturday Night Live had done a parody on a commercial venture that specialized so much that all they sold was Scotch tape. And a couple of the little booths in the trendy bayside mall we were frequenting that night were very specialized. We joked about Scotch Tape Stores for a few years after that, but only this week did I realize that the joking has stopped, and now I know why. Last Saturday marked the grand opening of Incredible Universe in Sandy. I haven't been there myself, but from what I've heard, it really is incredible. With all the fun things there are to see and to be tempted to buy, I'd probably better not go within a mile of the place. Far from being a Scotch Tape Store, though, these people carry everything. Maybe too many things to even be able to make a decision. What really amazes me, though, is how they are going to fare in business, and as a more interesting point, what their competition will face. Looking back a few years ago, Silo entered the Utah market with stores that featured the latest electronic gadgets. We shopped there and were pleased that their nationwide buying power could provide us with competitive prices. Along came Ultimate Electronics with all of their hype, and so we were able to compare prices with Silo, and we found some good deals there, too. In our travels to Las Vegas to visit family, we observed a company in that market called Circuit City, and we wondered if The Daly Planet ByRUSSDALY they would eventually move into Utah. Lo and behold, they did, and now potential electronic products customers had three places from which to choose. Well, only for a while, because not long after Circuit City's entry into the race to obtain the ever popular "discretionary dollar," Silo suddenly went out of business. But wait, there's more. For not only do we have this Incredible Universe, but we also have another new store that also had an advertisement in one of the Salt Lake papers. The ad was nowhere as extensive as the ad for I.U., but nevertheless, FutuVe Shop looks like it really wants your money, too. Which of the stores will be the next to cave in, and what is the future for the little computer dealer in the mall, who may not have the retail margin available to them that the giants enjoy? In that same newspaper, a reader had written a letter to the editor noting the same inequity in the book industry; he pointed out that Barnes and Noble's latest market expansion could spell ruin for the independent bookseller. The book market is in roughly the same situation as the electronics market, with its industry megastores such as Media Play, who is matching its services against those of Barnes and Noble, who in turn, has added cozy little coffee shops to some of Browsing Hi Anyway, we prepared the treasure hole and invited him to participate. Everything went well until his hands encountered the fresh cow manure. He withdrew his hands, from the hole and then vomited. The good minister notified our parents of our misconduct and I was called to face my father. In answer to his question, "What is this all about?" I explained the procedure of initiation. He turned his back to me and I knew he was laughing. When he turned around he tried to be sober but there was moisture in his eyes from the suppressed laughter. I expected a good scolding, but instead he said, "Is it quite necessary to have the manure so fresh?"Then we both laughed. d That monster, the television set, has robbed most of our youth of the romance and adventure of boyhood days. I am glad there was no television in my young days. The advertisements alone are enough to drive anyone up a wall. Instead of going down on his knees to shoot some marbles, he goes to the grocery store to squeeze the Charmin. I am grateful for the scouting program that gives a boy an opportunity to learn something of nature and her ways. In my flock of grandsons I have five Eagle Scouts and it is a pleasure to be in their company. I have sat by their side while out fishing and shared their excitement and boyish charms. Boyhood only comes once. It is a time of living and laughing. one-eye- For the two years I was editor of the Emery County Progress, located in remote Castle Dale, the Bookmobile was an important part of my life. The county maintained a small library mill levy. system, funded by a county-wid- e There were branches in each small town, with a central library in Castle Dale, but the selection was limited and the shelves were often pretty bare. Those small town libraries served a very important purpose, but I really looked forward to the weekly visit of the because it brought fresh Bookmobile reading material, new books and the moving shelves always brought something new, as the books in the Bookmobile were shifted around before every visit. Since moving from Emery County, I haven't used the Bookmobile! Salt Lake County has a marvelous county-wid- e library system that suited my needs when I lived there. As a resident of Spanish Fork, I had access to that community's fine library and, as an employee of BYU, I had access to the university's library as well. And in American Fork, I have been an active patron of the city library since I moved to town. But many communities in Utah County have not had the advantages of a hometown library, and for years Bookmobile service, provided by the county, has been the main access for adults, and especially for children, to books that will expand their horizons and exercise their minds. Pleasant Grove, Lindon, Highland, Alpine, Lehi, Fairfield and Cedar Fort all benefit from Bookmobile service. South Utah County communities like Mapleton, weaned. Most Democrats call it cruel. President Bill Clinton threatens to veto. Yet, Congress has kept its promise and that is a historic first! But are there not compromises in the new budget? Certainly. There are only 233 Republicans in the House half of Congress, and a dozen of those sometimes more will demand "compromises" relating to their constituencies before they will vote for any- - r.i a result? But the hardest question for me will most likely be: which one of the stores should I go to, and how will I decide what v to buy once I get there? Maybe we should have a Scotch Tape Store after all. It might just be the idea whose time has come. cities. But I wish the county would carefully consider the matter before scrapping the Bookmobile. This service reaches people who might otherwise never get their hands on a new book especially kids in the outlying areas who don't have access to a public library. Reading, literacy and literature are some of our best weapons to fight the igno- By MARC HADDOCK Salem, Elk Ridge, Lake Shore, Benjamin and West Mountain also participate. Obviously, it is the rural areas of the county that benefit most from Bookmobile service. And it is a county service, funded by the Utah County Commission from' county property tax dollars and operated out of a warehouse in Spanish Fork. But now that service is in danger. According to Teresa Griffin, who works with Lindon's Character Connection, the County Commission is considering eliminating Bookmobile service. There are many reasons. State and federal funds that have helped keep the service alive are drying up, putting an monetary burden on the county to finance the Bookmobile service alone. Many of the smaller communities are starting their own libraries. Highland and Alpine, for example, used some creative thinking and cooperation with the Alpine School District to combine the functions of the Mountain Ridge Jr. High media center and a community library. It is working well. And Lindon is building its own ever-increasi- County Bookmobile service Editor: Utah County Bookmobile, a FREE library service to all Utah County residents, is in very real danger of not being funded for the 1996 year. Utah County Commissioners are in the process of deciding the fate of the bookmobile. State and get is hot the best it could be: It is the best that can be for now. It has not yet Congress, and already, it includes concessions relating to milk producers, pork for New Mexico and New Jersey, the repeal, lawyer subsidies, student-loasubsidies and a dozen states that are demanding more Medicare money. A majority and a "workable majority" are two different things. Gingrich, as distressed as you are by the compromises, was heard to say, "I'm sick and tired of people trying to leverage this up to the last minute." And half-passe- Harvey ftsrf News Sjjjp 1995 will receive more personalized service as Paul Harvey Products Inc. d Davis-Baco- n n there will be further "mollifications" thing. Similarly, in the Senate, nothing significant can pass under normal rules and procedures without 60 affirmative votes. There are only 53 Republicans in and six to 10 of those have the Senate to be "bribed" with liberal legislative compromises. Again, Americans hate numbers! But Sen. Bob Dole and Speaker Newt Gingrich have to play the numbers game. d You saw what happened to the political promise of "term limits." The conservative Congress you thought you had elected is liberally sprinkled with hybrids. So, the new bud much-vaunte- rance and apathy that lead our children into destructive lifestyles. The Bookmobile carries 'hope and understanding and enlightenment into our county's most rural regions. Why would we want to turn out that light? Public library service is one of the very best uses of public funds and there is ho library service in Utah County more public than the Bookmobile. The only requirement to use the Bookmobile. is county residency anywhere in the county. That's a refreshing concept in a county where "city limits often draw battle lines regarding the use of library resources. Throughout the years, Utah County government has demonstrated strong feelings of antipathy towards a county library system, even as several libraries are working to forge bonds that will cross the boundaries and open up library service to more people. The proposal to shelve Bookmobile serand downright frightvice is short-sighte- d ening. Utah County should keep the Bookmobile rolling for the sake of many county residents who otherwise will have no access to a public library. Letters to the editor Americans hate all those numbers Paul- t, library as well. The Bookmobile might be considered a duplication of efforts in these bill gets to the before the Senate-Hous- e White House, where Clinton says he will veto it regardless. So why will a mostly Republican Congress fall short of your hopes for it? Because of "the numbers." Clinton, a highly effective campaigner, will rely on emotionally charged generalities to win your vote: "Republicans are rich people. Republicans don't care about poor people. Republicans punish students and old people in order to give themselves lower taxes." And all the Republicans have with which to refute these cheap-shallegaand you hate tions are numbers ot in Federal funding have significantly decreased and the counties are being asked to pick up the difference. To help preserve this service for all family members please write or call your Utah County Commissioners to let them know your desires. County Commissioners are David J. Gardner Jerry D. Grover and Gary Herbert They can all be reached at Utah County Commission, 100 E. Center Street, Suite 2300, Provo,UT 84606. It would also be helpful to contact your local mayor, city council members, state senators and representatives. The bookmobile is a wonderful service (370-813- ), (370-8135- - Wal-Mar- The Editor's Column (370-8136- The day before Congress voted on the new budget, The New York Times and CBS rushed to judgment with a quickie phone survey obviously intended to shout down the GOP. In one respect, the survey was revealing. It showed that Americans, were opposed to the GOP Medicare plan without knowing what it is! Actually, under the new budget, not Medicare spending is going up down. But Americans hate numbers! The new Congress is trying to do what it was elected to do: rescue our nation from bankruptcy by balancing the budget and eliminating the federal deficit within seven years. For men and nations, it is never easy to economize. Americans, accustomed to living off government, will have to be rt, County shouldn't shelve the Bookmobile Initiation rites test boy's mettle ; race. its stores in hopes of winning the Even the discount chains have felt like they've had to add something to their lines. Granted, the Fred Meyer chain started out as a grocery outlet in the northwest, but some of their Utah stores have introduced a grocery line to what seemed like a successful general purpose store. Now another one of our favorite Las Vegas destinations, the Target chain of discount stores, is coming into the Utah market, but as a Super Target store, which means it will feature groceries as well as the mass market items found in other which has undergone a stores like revamping of its image in recent years, or which has been viewed in some an. as areas overpowering menace to the local merchant. I'm not so concerned about the future of these stores for their benefit per se, but what does all of this race for the market share mean to us as consumers? Will we benefit from lower prices as a result of competition, or will they all be able to inflate their prices since they will dominate the market? And if any or all of them fail, what will happen to our costs then, and how long will their huge buildings sit empty and unused, waiting for vandals to strike? More importantly, how will our local business people cope with this effort? Will they be able to retain customers on the local level in light of possible difference in prices? Will it simply mean that consumers a good Scotch Tape What we need is Store. Honoring our veterans War I 1995 - 3) ). resource for research papers and projects. The bookmobile has access to over 100,000 different books and novels, that may be checked out by visiting the bookmobile. All Utah County residents are invited to participate in this reading opportunity. It makes stops in Highland, Pleasant Grove, North Orem, Lindon, Alpine, Lehi, White Hills, Fairfield, Cedar Fort, Springdale, Vineyard, Salem, Elkridge, Lake Shore, Benjamin, and West Mountain. For specific times and locations, the main headquarplease call ters in Spanish Fork. Teresa Griffin 798-823- Cross country program Editor: parents of two of Lehi's varsity cross country team, we would like to express our deepest appreciation to Coach Bonnie Wadley for all of her undying love, patience and growth to our cross country As teams. Bonnie is truly a great coach! Three danger that provides books for all ages and read ing levels. It is wonderful to use as a will 7, miss Wadley years of winning state proves your dedication and love for running. We appreciate the countless hours teaching and training and running with our runners. Thank you for helping them to grow and develop and reach their potential. Thank you again! You will be missed! Paul and Gaye Cummings Policy on letters to the editor welcome letters to the editor. All letters should be typewritten and double spaced. Letters must also be signed, and must include the writer's name and telephone number. Please send letters to Editor, Newtah News Group, P.O. Box 7, American Fork, Utah, 84003 or through email at Newtahaol.com. We |