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Show IMI 2 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, June 1M J II 'I' ill HI 23, 1988 I IVikmrrtg Not For Volunteer Efforts Summer Would Be Rather Boring If OUR READERS WRITE youre enjoying the parade, fun in the park or whatever aspect that appeals EDITORIA1 W tlfl While most to you in your hometown celebration, take a moment to reflect on the countless hours that have been spent by dedicated volunteers. Were it not for their efforts, you might be sitting home with the latest tired television reruns. Virtually every community in the Green Sheet area has a summer celebration. Last week South Jordan kicked off the summer fun with Town Days. This weekend West Valley offers its WestFest. The July 4th holiday will feature the West Jordan Stampede, Murray's Fun Day, Riverton Town Days, Magna's Gala 4th, Sandys 4th of July Celebration and many others. Later in the summer Kearns will offer Home Town Days, Midvale will bring us Harvest Days. Sandy has already held its annual Pride Day. None of these events could be carried off without the dedicated, often frustrating efforts, of hundreds of volunteers. People who give of their time and often their money so these events can be enjoyed by the masses. The parades, always enjoyed by so many, But most of all, Grenelda understand the mentality of the sports fan. She happened in while I was wildly cheering for Detroit to dethrone Los Angeles in the NBA Dear Editor: Maria VanDerHeyden Murray City Chinese Impressions Murray City Corporation 5025 South State Street Murray, UT 84107 Dear Mr. Mayor: Thank you very much for your letter of June 13, 1988. It was my great honor and pleasure to serve as liaison for the sister city relationship between Murray City and Chia Yi City. The reception that you and the Murray City Council provided for the Chia Yi Delegation was extremely gracious and thoughtful. Your generous hospitality impressed them so very much that they said it was an unforgettable experience. After touring various key points of interest throughout Murray City, they came away with a better understanding of what a sister city relationship with Murray would entail. The Chia Yi delegates really enjoyed their exposure to the 'culture of the Great American West.' They loved everything from the gift exchanges to the main social events, repeatedly asking me to convey their heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm and welcome and great friendship. Furthermore, Mr. Shieh, the Special Assistant of Coordination Council for North American Affairs Office in San Francisco, mentioned that Murray City could be an exemplary model for future sister cities. They are eagerly looking forward to a visit from you and the Murray Delegation. down-to-eart- h Min-Chie- h Finals. "How can you be watching baseball the after game basketball in June?" was her first basketball game. "Now what are question. you watching?" she asked with a Then she took a close look at the hint of disgust. "Its the Dodgers," Pistons. "Isnt that the same team I said defensively. "You know I Respectfully yours, Vicki Hoe Lin Tsai you were cursing when Boston love the Dodgers." was playing last month?" she demanded. "Arent the Dodgers from Los I admitted it was. But I like the Angeles?" she queried. "Yes." Pistons better than the Lakers,. . f.'lWj J ' 'How' can you hate the Lakers "Well I dont like the LakeVs," Editor: she admitted. Her reason was and love the Dodgers?" "I just do. Ive always loved the that they had knocked the Jazz As President of a Murray elementary school PTA, out and she thought they were a Dodgers." I recently attended a meeting at which our district bit cocky about it. I was not going to explain to School Superintendent Ron Stephens spoke. He I explained to her that some her that I had liked the informed the group that the districts budget could Dodgers fans cheered for the team that back in the days when they were be cut by $2.6 million ( a 17 percent reduction in the beat "theirs," while others hated still in Brooklyn. I didnt want districts operating budget) if the proposed tax one of those stupid announcers to limitation proposals be come law. This could result it. I was going to psychoanalyze the differing attitudes, but I say something about how the in tremendous administrative and program cuts in didnt think she really wanted to team moved out there in the our schools.s Our schools are in desperate need of additional hear that. I was right. She flatly Fifties. Because then Grenelda stated that sports fans havent a would start counting on her funds, not budget cuts! But alas, finally, our "air head" governor is thinking right. Return the $100 lick of common sense anyway. fingers and make some innocuous comment about not realizing I million in surplus revenues to us, the taxpayers. She said I proved it to her was old enough to have liked the Great! The Legislature suggests it be "tucked away not an hour later. Dodgers when they were in New in a "rainy day" fund. It is a rain York. day. If I get a check I intend to sign it over to Well I am. So there. All I did was turn over to a Murray School District. What will you do? . . Opposes Budget Cuts I State-Treasur- Short-Change- d After attending a meeting of the Murray City Board of Adjustment, I would like to encourage all to big buisiness or big money investors to come Murray. To buy or invest in our city gives you free reign to do as you please and have the wholehearted approval of the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. The citizens of Murray may protest and appeal, but dont let that bother you. The Board wont listen to the citizens anyway and will shove your plans down their throats. Over all our protests to the Planning Commission and the Board, the citizens of Belview Ave. had this done to them last night. Over the last several years, and with many protest from the homeowners in this area, the Planning Commission in its infinite wisdom, has pushed for the building of many commerical buildings. I feel, and I know a lot of my neighbors agree with me, that although the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment members get no compensation for their work, the citizens of Murray are still getting Since they voted to deny my request for a change in the parking area of the proposed structure directly across from our home, we are going to have to look over there for the rest of our lives at a "barn with a bunch of stalls with cars tied up in them." I do believe that if any of the members of these two boards had to live across from this situation they wouldnt want it either. I would like to trade homes with any one of them for awhile and let their wives clean up the dust and paper and things that come off the construction and end up on our property and in our house. It wouldnt have been bad if they had moved the parking lot off of the north end of the building, moved the building to the north 20 feet and landscaped the north end of the lot. Then we wouldnt have to look at parked cars, carports and asphalt. We are slowly being taken over by the Where we used to have gardens, asphalt-jungltrees and grass we now have asphalt and concrete. J.B. Smith Murray short-change- His Excellency Mayor Lavar C. McMillan friend Grenelda P. My Pickenheimer is not a sports fan. doesnt Dear Editor, Adm. Asst, to the Mayor II Grenelda Says TV Sports Addle The Brain Grenelda doesnt exactly hate She doesnt think sports. athletes should professional outeam the President. In fact, they shouldnt outearn her, she says. She does think there are far too many televised sporting events. And she does hate sports announcers. She says she might settle down and watch a Super Bowl or NCAA title game if there were no commentators. Grenelda thinks they talk way too much and that they dont have anything to say that she wants to hear. In fact, it drives her absolutely insane when they start telling us what the players are saying to themselves. She knows they cant hear anything with all the crowd noise and figures they are making it all up. Grenelda also thinks my brain has become addled because I watch too much sports on TV. I think she wants me to take up needlepoint or something. Of Grenelda has course, absolutely no appreciation for the drama of sports competition. "Grown men should not be paid to play games. Nor should they be permitted to shove one another around on a basketball court, throw baseballs at each others heads or take off their gloves and fight in a hockey rink, she says. City I would like to express my appreciation to the Murray Eagle and its staff for the fine coverage given to the visit of Mayor PoYa Chang and her delegation from Chia-Y- i City, R.O.C. The pictures spoke for themselves. These people were having a great time discovering Murray City. One of the secrets why the visit went so well is that Mayor Chang is not only a very gracious woman, she is also down to earth. That made her very compatible with the people in this community. We have just received a letter from Vicki Hoe Lin Tsai, who has served as a liaison for our sister cities relationship from the very beginning. I think her letter sums it up very well. If there is room in the Letter To The Editor column; perhaps her message deserves to be printed. I would appreciate it. do not magically appear on the street corner. Those in charge must literally beg for entries. Those who participate put in considerable time in preparing floats, learning routines or music and in simply getting there. Marching in a parade is no picnic. Its usually hot and there's always something many of them might rather be doing. Theres usually nothing in it for those who work so hard to make these events happen. They do it out of a sense of loyalty and pride. Their only reward is your presence. The Green Sheet takes its hat off to all of those whose efforts make your summer more fun. You can count on us to keep you informed about these events. Its our those volunteers need to do is let us krQv in time and we will in turn let you know. So give up an inning or two of baseball and forget about those reruns. There's something exciting going on in your home town this summer. Dont miss it. plea-sure.jA- Appreciation Expressed ,1I . v y e. PTSA Says Thanks Dear Green Sheet Staff The PTSA of Cottonwood high school appreciates the many pictures and stories you have published concerning our school events and students. One of was a to build our main goals for a 1987-8in our student body. Your newspaper has been most cooperative in helping us achieve success in this area. Everyone likes to see his name in print. We appreciate Connie Sample of your staff, who has written our articles. Elaine N. Child PTSA President 8 self-estee- i Enjoyed Program Dear Editor: What a unique and great community Murray is to have such unity among its citizens. Ive seen that demonstrated several times, but never so strongly as in Symphony Hall on June 4th at the "Tribute to Leland Flinders Concert." One could feel the pride and love in the air. Mr. Flinders was a special teacher, but Murray citizens must be complimented also on being so appreciative and loving. May I thank, especially, Dan Fumer and all those who helped bring about the exciting evening. We saw friends who we hadnt seen in years, and that added to the enchantment of the occasion. All the work necessary for the concert was well worth the effort. Thanks again, Murray. Little did I realize what a great heritage Murray had when I married into the Pitt Family. Keep the legacy of unity alive for our children to enjoy, too. Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down THUMBS UP: To the valleys mayors and the County Commission behind the sterling efforts of Sandy Mayor Steve Newton and the cooperation of Murray City officials in replacing the old E911 system with a more efficient one. By working together theyve come up with a plan we can all benefit from. Pet Howarth Murray Doug Myler Roy Politicians Blamed For Voter Apathy cost-effecti- THUMBS UP: To South Jordans Denise Parker for giving us one hometown hero to cheer in the Olympics. This plucky cooly met the challenge of being the best in her nation ana perhaps in the world at archery. Could Missy Marlowe also be headed for Seoul as well? We hope so. at least ld In any event, it was revoted and passed by a 2 vote, this time pleasing whatever shadowy persons lurking in the background behind Councilman Jones reconsideration of the matter. It will appear as a $4 monthly charge on our electric bill. I learned from this that government operates much differently from the rules and regulations we are to follow. Local government can be exempt from fairness and honesty. It was hopeless and depressing feeling. However, after reflecting on this experience, I was struck with the remembrance of the phrase that our nation is "of the people, by the people, and for the people." If government has forgotten this, we must not! We must get involved and not give up or become apathetic. We must try to observe and learn all we can about who is running for public office and vote! Our voices should be heard and not trampled underfoot by ourselves. Individuals do count. If we give up, well lose everything. 5-- AS I SEE IT We have been hearing a lot about voter apathy. Im beginning to wonder if part of the reason could be that government has become so enormous and powerful that many people are feeling helpless and that they no longer count as an individual. We all have heard horror stories of how the IRS destroy peoples lives over mistaken facts or trivial concerns. We tremble at the thought of the power they have. We have heard how Congress passes laws and regulations for others to follow and yet exempt themselves from those very laws and live like royalty. In spite of all this, I was naive enough to believe that at least on the local level of government we might expect some sort of fairness and honesty. I have recently become disillusioned over this process of thought, however. I am referring to what happened in West Valley City and the garbage fee. A public hearing was held on which I attended. Many of the protesters against the fee stated that they knew that no matter what they said or did, the fee would be imposed anyway. A couple of weeks after 1 was the hearing, (May 5) the fee was defeated elated to think that what people said had made a difference even though a property tax increase would probably be needed and a public hearing on that issue would take place at a later date. Two weeks later, I opened our local newspaper and read with total disbelief that Councilman Claude Jones had had a change of heart. He now favored the fee because he and been approached by some people who were unhappy with his earlier vote and felt the issue should be revoted, I though this must surely be some kind of joke since the issue had already been properly voted on. I knew that we, as a people, cannot decide a couple of weeks after we vote that we have changed our minds and ask the vote to be taken again, so how could our local government possibly do such a thing; and where had those influential people who approached Councilman Jones been during the public hearing? It seemed incredulous that a revote would be taken without any possibility of further input by the people who opposed it. It also seemed wrong that they were had just be informed doing it on the very night-- we by the local newspaper of it just that morning. Where was our democracy!? Kathy Barker West Valley City 4-- The Green Sheet Is In Need Of An Experienced Goss Community Web Pressman Also Joggers, and Roll Tenders Full Time Employment PIiDoime Dir. Mraee J I The Green Sheet welcomes contributionsL from readers for either Letters to the Editor or As See It. Letters should be confined to a length of about 250 words and not contain libelous comments. They must be signed and must be received in our office no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday for publication that week. Longer correspondence may be used as As See It commentaries on a space available basis. Primary consideration will be given to those submitted by people with expertise in the topic about which they write. A brief description of that expertise acI I may company the submission. All submissions are subject to editing for space and clarity. They may be addressed to: The Green Sheet, P.O. Box 7187, Murray, Ut. 84107. J |