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Show Viewpoints The A-19 Park Record. Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, June 9-12, 2018 editorial Parkites roll with changes amid ski industry’s transformation T letters to the editor Mental Health Month sparked conversations Editor: CONNECT Summit County has concluded its third annual May Mental Health Awareness Month. Total attendance for our more than 20 free community education events reached 2400. Events were held in the schools and throughout Park City, Kamas and Coalville, making this a true county-wide effort. Excellent media coverage brought the information about the many aspects of mental health and mental illness to an even broader audience. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Month this year — “Stigma-free, how it should be,” — is an idea and phrase developed by Park City High School students. The open, frank and fact-based discussions, many of them led by young people, support CONNECT’s belief in the importance of an open dialogue as the best way to normalize the conversation around mental health. The goal of May Mental Health Awareness Month is to engage the entire community in the discussion about mental wellness, and in this way it has been a GREAT success! It could not have happened without our volunteers who served as moderators, panelists and organizers of our programs. The knowledge and The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Angelique McNaughton Ben Ramsey Carolyn Webber Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor.........Kira Hoffelmeyer Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Office Manager ..................... Tiffany Piper Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Classifieds/Legals ............. Jennifer Lynch Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Olivia Bergmann Chris Roberts Sharon Bush Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production .......................... Patrick Schulz expertise, and enthusiasm and energy they provided made possible the impressive quality of the programming. Participation by so many local organizations, including the Summit County Mental Wellness Alliance and funding from many generous private and public sources demonstrates the breadth of community commitment to addressing the challenges of mental illness and substance abuse. These challenges have been the focus of Mental Health Awareness Month, but they are ever-present issues that require year-round attention. Thanks to the outpouring of support from the residents of Summit County during May, and every month, CONNECT will continue its mission to build a stigma-free community with access to mental health services for all. Mary Closser, Natalie Herron, Cindy Levine, Chelsea Robinson, Ed Rutan, Lynne Rutan, Marie Thrasher, Jim Whitney, Paul Yestrumskas and Shauna Wiest CONNECT Summit County Employee’s extra effort appreciated Editor: I don’t know if Park City Orange Theory will be voted as the “best gym” in Park City, but Tyra at the studio has my vote. When I had some difficulty with pricing for a promotion that they were having Tyra went the extra mile to help me out. She could have followed the “corporate line” that another staff member was taking. Instead she went back to her supervisor to see if they could make an exception to work with a loyal customer. She didn’t have to take that extra step to help me out — but she did. It is nice to know that in a small town where there are plenty of other physical fitness opportunities that Tyra recognized that working with people in the long run benefits both the organization and the customer. Thanks again Tyra. Barbara Holmen Park City Selection of Treasure panel was appropriate Editor: I was one in a fairly small audience at Tuesday’s panel discussion of the proposed acquisition of the Treasure property above Old Town. I went to the meeting expecting to get information about the project — its history, its scope, its cost, its For the record he reshaping of the ski industry continues. On Monday, Vail Resorts announced deals to acquire four more resorts, including Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, expanding the company’s portfolio to a whopping 18 ski areas. A day later, Alterra Mountain Company dropped important news of its own, informing skiers that they’ll receive a complimentary Ikon Base Pass if they buy a season pass to Deer Valley Resort by Dec. 15, giving them access to more than two dozen other resorts. Both announcements were just the latest in a string of shakeups that have dramatically changed the skiing landscape, here and throughout North America. The rapid evolution has, by and large, been met with broad apprehension in Park City, a reaction that’s warranted based on how dramatically the change has reshaped the town itself. After all, just five years ago, Park City boasted three separate ski areas, and its two flagship resorts were under the care of longtime family ownership. Though Vail Resorts has proven to be a solid community partner, aside from a few notable missteps, since buying Park City Mountain Resort in 2014, and Alterra has done little to diminish Deer Valley’s standing in town, that anxiety is unlikely to dissipate. Undoubtedly, more upheaval in the ski industry is on the way. And since Park City is the only town that’s home to both of the behemoths that have emerged from the industry’s transformation, Parkites will have a front-row seat to watch a remarkable transition continue to unfold. And while the uneasiness about the reshuffling is understandable, the opportunity it presents for Park City’s skiers and snowboarders should also be noted. Next ski season, they’ll have at least limited access to more than 20 resorts if they buy an Epic Pass, while folks who nab Alterra’s Ikon Pass with their Deer Valley season pass will gain entry to 26 ski areas. That kind of access to resorts all over the continent — for a pretty reasonable price, to boot — would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Given the amount of disruption in recent years, it’s difficult to predict what is on the horizon, or how it will play out in Park City. But after another week with major news that shook up the ski industry, it’s clear Parkites will have to continue rolling with the changes. guest editorial Perks of plant-based diet win over mayor ANDY BEERMAN Park City mayor How do you tell if someone is vegan? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you. It’s easy to poke fun at a vegan’s zeal for their dietary choices; it’s not so easy to criticize their logic. They are a passionate group for good reason: there are many health, planetary, and moral reasons for a plant-based diet. Recently my wife (Thea) and I participated in a two-week vegan challenge to learn about the impact of our food choices. Our conclusions were clear: 1) it’s good for our bodies, 2) it’s less impact on the planet, and 3) not eating animal products better aligns with our values. Yes, it took more time to plan, shop and prepare meals; it was tricky to eat at restaurants (although PC has some with great vegan options); and we missed a few of our favorite foods. But the best path is rarely the one of least resistance, and we concluded there are many reasons to support a mostly or totally plant-based diet. We’d like to invite all of you to consider a few small changes that will dramatically reduce your impact upon the planet and improve your health. 1) Eat less meat and animal products: it takes 2,500 gallons to make just one pound of meat, but just 25 gallons of water to grow one pound of wheat. Put another way — to all you fast showering water misers — the water required for 1 lb. of beef is equal to a 370 min shower! Worried about our snow? Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 18% of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and U.S. livestock impact on Old Town, and its impact on greater Park City. In his opening statement, the moderator clearly stated the goal of the panel discussion was to provide such information and to respond to questions from the audience. What followed was a series of presentations by individuals who were knowledgeable about the Treasure project and the city’s proposal to purchase the land as open space. The questions from the audience were, for the most part, seeking information. Given what I perceived to be the goals of the panel discussion, I was surprised by the tone of the City Beat article in Wednesday’s Park Record, which suggested that the meeting was “tilted” in favor of the deal. To me the selection of panel members, who were able to address historical, financial, legal, and development issues, was appropriate. I found the discussion to be open and helpful for developing an informed opinion on the proposal. produces 250,000 pounds of excrement per second. And we think we have a dog-poop problem in Round Valley?! 2) Reduce your food waste. 40% of food in America is wasted, making it the #1 deposit in our landfills. 6.7% of GHGs are attributed to global food waste. If Food Waste were a country, it would be behind only China and US as the largest greenhouse gas emitters. This one is easy: 1) buy less (resist that “cheap” mega-pack); 2) eat your leftovers (mom was right); 3) compost. 3) Buy local. We’re big supporters of organics, but is it really better to buy an organic avocado from Chile? Be mindful of where your food comes from, and how it’s produced. Support small and local farms. Shopping at the local farmers market complements the check you write for open space. Each local farm that fails is one more subdivision contributing to urban sprawl. When addressing complex problems, I like to say: “How do you eat an elephant,” but that seems inappropriate in this context. I’m not sure what to do about my carnivorous metaphors, but this challenge has reinforced my belief that you can never be too mindful. The food choices we make, have a profound impact on the planet and our bodies. If we each make some small changes to how we eat, it would have a huge impact. Let’s work together toward a healthier, happier lifestyle ... one bite at a time. Special thanks to Kent Maurer (www.onesingleact.org), Lauren Lockey & David Swartz (www.sagemtn.org), Alisha Niswander for organizing this challenge and their efforts to a promote plant-based diet. I was, however, disappointed by the small turnout given the importance of the Treasure issue, especially as it is now coming to a head. Dale Poulter Park City Latino graduates earned celebration Editor: On Wednesday, May 30, fifteen Emergent Bilinguals from Park City High School celebrated together, as a huge milestone was reached: most of our students were the first in their families to earn a high school diploma. Most will be the first in their families to attend college! Melanie Moffat and I would like to thank Allison Diamond and her staff at the Utah Olympic Park for hosting the event. The venue at the UOP was spectacular, with incredible views of the ski jump. For many of our Latino families, this event is the most important of year. We celebrate the students’ accomplishments; we honor the students’ parents and families by acknowledging the hard work and sacrifices they’ve made in order to provide each graduate with the dream of attending college or trade school. Thank you, Park City Education Foundation for covering the cost of our dinner. What a treat! Without the generosity and support of our amazing community partners, the evening would not have been possible. Thank you, PCHS staff, counselors and administrators for your support and commitment. It takes a village! Anna Martinez Williams Park City High School teacher, Latinos in Action Photos by Kira Hoffelmeyer Asked at Whole Foods What’s your favorite summer concert venue? Brad McCutcheon Park City “My favorite venue is Deer Valley. I like being able to be on the grass and hillside.” Bryon Wilson Park City “I really like Deer Valley.” Mikaela Matthews Park City “I like Deer Valley because it’s fun to bring a picnic and sit out on the lawn.” Mike Cheney Park City “We’ve only gone to concerts at Deer Valley and the Egyptian and we really like them both.” See these photos and more by following The Park Record on Facebook.com/parkrecord and Instagram.com/parkrecord |