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Show H?rrVi 84i F tJT..onr,RQPHlCS WESTERN miu T :555 COMMEv 3 00 8Al(a7-43- B MT v VA Jv2 ft I Vol. 20, No. 50 n fi-- M I I 1 F I I I I ( Wednesday, December 16, 1998 i "fTT educator honored km if with numerous national and state conference presentations and has served as a consultant with Disney educational products. "In my 15 years in public education, I have never met an educator who is as intelligent, - knowledgeable, capable, organized, or as committed as Annette Verhaal," concluded Meadow principal Karen Dunn. "She arrives at school before 5:30 a.m. and usually doesn't leave until long after the school day ends. She is truly an educator who has been a hero for the children who currently attend our school. On a grander scale, she has influenced countless teachers throughout the state to become better educators." More LOCAL news than any other source! For home delivery call 756-766- 9 or see our web site at www.newutah.com Lehi to host potluck New Year's Eve party All grown up and no place to go on New Year's Eve? Lehi City officials are putting Annette Verhaal, a teacher at-ris- a single copy 50 cents Meadow on special assignment at Meadow Elementary School in Lehi, has been named as Educator of the Year by the Utah Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Verhaal accepted the award during the association's annual convention held in Park City. The award recognizes outstanding dedication and professionalism to the teaching profession. As part of her contribution to the students at Meadow Elementary, Verhaal has been involved in teacher a well as programs to increase the reading and writing skills of pupils. In addition, she has organized a school-wid-e discipline plan that recognizes good behavior but also gives students the opportunity to take a brief time-ou- t to consider more positive choices. Her other innovations include a mentor program for k students, and a "dads and doughnuts" activity which encourages fathers to read with their students on a regular basis in the home. This is Verhaal's second year at Meadow. Before this, she was an early childhood literacy specialist with the Granite School District. She has been involved 3 .1 n u q together t t H er the new year. Admission will be just one dish. Adult citizens throughout Lehi are invited to attend the New Yeaer's Eve party on Thurs Lf If an to help citizens ring in ' . I- - Lehi Community Band. skateboard park area ' Photo by Kent Davis Even the moon seems to be part of the many dazzling light displays at Thanksgiving Point for Christmas. The attraction will feature several special performances and activities throughout the month, In addition to the lighting spectacular. Thanksgiving Point decks halls mances, one at 7 and the other at 8 p.m. All other evenings, entertainers will sports a wide variety of perform at 6 and 8 p.m. Christmas activities and disTonight, Dec. 16, and Friplays. day, the Quinessentials, a e The lights can't be missed string ensemble will as citizens travel the freeseasonal perform way, but a short jaunt off the favorites in the foyer. fast lane brings patrons to Monday's entertainment the quiet beauty among the will be provided by the hundreds of trees decked Salzburg Folk Trio who spewith thousands of lights. cialize in Old World folk "" ' Extended hours allow vis- music. itors to enjoy the displays wagon until 11:00 p.m. every night rides at $2person are available beginning at 5:30 p.m. except Sunday. Included with this year's until the lights are turned off at 11 p.m. Groups of 30 display is nightly entertainment in the foyer of the or more are encouraged to restaurant (south building). make in reservations There is no charge to come in advance. out of the cold and sit down Carriage rides, holding up to enjoy the shows put on by to six passengers, are availUtah artists. able for $20 a ride (regardGuest artists scheduled less of number), from during the coming week p.m. each evening. before Both carriage and wagon will Christmas include the ever popular rides follow a route around Handbell Ringers Saturday, the main area of the garden Dec. 19, with two perfor shops and animal park. The Point Participants are asked to bring a potluck salad or dessert to share; Lehi City will provide the entree. Music will be provided by the City council approves . Thanksgiving day, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. in the new Lehi City power building on Glen Carter Blvd. (approximately 350 N. 600 West). is once again playing holiday host to much of Utah as it five-piec- ; r" v' rides last minutes and patrons are reminded to dress warm, even bringing along a blanket or two if 20-2- 5 they'd like. There is a large nativity comprised of porcelain figurines in the animal park area. Another nativity in the rose garden is made entirely of lights. Other light displays throughout the garden areas will delight young and old alike. A tented concession stand by the emporium has hot chocolate, warm chestnuts, donuts and pastries available for purchase. Gift certificates are available for purchase which can be used anywhere on the premises, including the golf and course, restaurant, emporium. Thanksgiving Point's Paul Eddington said they anticipate about 150,000 visitors to their light display this 0 year. By Kent Davis The wheels are in motion for a skateboard park in Lehi, at least on a trial basis. The Lehi City Council approved a request to create the temporary park north of the Memorial Building, where the former Lehi Junior High School tennis courts were located, approximately 155 N. Center. Approval was granted with the provision that the park would be closed during school hours and after dark. Skate boarders' Alan Allred and Blake Johnson of Lehi, with the sponsorship of Councilman Johnny Barnes, presented to the council a plan to provide a place where skate boarders could go, rather than the local businesses, schools and churches. Councilman Barnes pointed out that the city could not, "just kick them off of everything," but should try to provide skate board facilities, like they provide facilities for other sporting events in the community, such as soccer and baseball. In other city business, the Council approved an amendment to the City Development Code, eliminating public hearings as a requirement in the review process for standard subdivisions. This amendment was made to speed up the process for developments meeting the standard subdivision requirements. The State does not require such hearings and if the builder meets the standards of the building codes the council has little or no input to theses approvals. Members of the community living within 300 feet of the subdivision area will still be informed of these developments and the plans will still be discussed as a regular agenda item in the planning commission and city council. Subdivisions and Planned Residential Communities (PRC) requiring annexation or zones changes would still require public hearings. To these subdivisions the council could and has attached design guidelines that will hopefully enhance their layout and appearance. Mel Frandsen's request for final subdivision approval, which is located at about 1700 West and Main Street, was given provided that the developer meets the design guidelines set by the city. Those design requirements were for more fencing and trees about the perimeter of the development and for front yard sod and sprinkler systems, for each new home, to be installed by the builder before the house is occupied. It was also noted in the approval process that the See PARK on page 12 Christmas Traditions Tabernacle Choir member has long tradition of trolling Yuletide carols Editor's Note: This is the second series about in o three-par- t favorite Yule traditions. By Julie Loveridge There is one Christmas tradition so important to the holidays most people hardly think of it as such. Everywhere seasonal music permeates the air. From the canned music constantly in the background of department stores, to the school choirs belting out "Rudolph the n Reindeer" (in several the center of the mall, to orchestra and string quartet Christmas concerts and "Messiah" sing-inthe music of the holidays is all around us. One Utah source, more than any other, has become renown world-wid- e for its Christmas music. With more than just a handful of Christmas albums to its credit, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has helped share the spirit of the season from one generation to the next, not only throughout Utah but throughout the world. Northern Utah County has several local members of the choir. Each has a unique story to tell of his or her particular involvement with the group. Combined, they bring hard work and a passion for singing co the famed choir. Red-Nose- d varia-tions)i- s, Lehi's Rita Felt is one of the two would analyze the them. Twice weekly and each music, breaking down which Sunday, she boards the Church section was singing which part. van and joins 14 others making She says she never remembers the trek to the Tabernacle on a time when she didn't love to Temple Square to practice and hear the choir sing. But she says she never perform the music which has made the choir so famous. dreamed she'd ever be a part of When asked if she ever grows that great choir. Even after she tired of the weekly trips into joined the Church of Jesus downtown Salt Lake City, she Christ of Latter-daSaints emphatically says "No. It's such which sponsors the choir, and even after she moved to Utah a privilege for me to be there!" Felt is a and married a man who would Christmas music nut. She says become a stake president, even she rushes the season each year after being involved in county-wid- e choral groups and investby playing the music as early as September. ing a life time of devotion to her The first part of November hobby of singing, Felt still never finds choir members rehearsing dreamed of being part of "The Christmas carols in preparation Choir." not only for its weekly Sunday .Rita confesses it was only broadcast, but for the First after being encouraged strongly Presidency Christmas Devo- by her husband's aunt, Noreen tional and two Christmas conFox, that she seriously considcerts as well. ered the thought of at least tryIt becomes a very hectic time, ing out for the choir. At Noreen's especially for those choir membirthday, she told Felt she e bers who work as well. wanted to see Rita singing with But Felt says she loves every the choir before another two minute of it. birthdays passed. Rita remembers as a child Felt says she talked herself growing up in a very Catholic out of applying, and back into it home in New York, trying to again. She says she was even nervous typing the application. sing along with the Tabernacle Choir during the rare glimpses She was asked to submit a tape of choir music she would hear demonstrating her ability to on either the radio or television. sing, which Felt says she preConspiring with her sister, pared but talked herself out of mr 7 SAM; y self-profess- full-tim- " - - .a.-.- Photo by Julie Loveridge ' Rita Felt hangs a special Tabernacle Choir ornament on her Christmas tree. The ornament was a gift from the annual Choir Christmas party earlier this month. Felt has been making music with the Choir since 1993, and enjoys being part of the Utah tradition the Choir has become. submitting more than once. Finally, during an educator's conference in Logan, she was privileged to hear Peter Vidmar speak. In his talk he said that everything we do or that happens to us in life is preparatory for something else. Felt thought about that a lot. Realizing she was as prepared as she could possibly be, she finally submitted the tape on her way home from the conference. That was in July 1993. In September 1993 Felt found herself taking part in pled her performance number arrived in town earlier in the back together in the wrong day from a vacation with her order. Fortunately she had the family back east, came home song memorized and was able from the airport, washed up to continue without break until and returned to Salt Lake City she found the correct page. to perform for choir director Afterwards, Brother Ottley Jerold Ottley. told her he wished she could At the audition, Felt says have seen her eyes when she everything went wrong. She realized she was on the wrong accidently knocked down a page! stack of plastic drinking cups, Felt says she had tried to outscattering them across the table guess what was expected from and onto the floor. her and what the Choir leaders Then, as she was performing wanted from her. It had caused she realized that she had sta See FELT on page 11 auditions for the choir. She had |