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Show Volume XXVII Issue II The Ogden Valley news Page 3 June 1, 2020 Guest Commentary Letters to the Editor To the Graduating Class of 2020: Congratulations! Thank You Ogden Valley! Congratulations to each member of the exceptional graduating Class of 2020! You have achieved a landmark goal that you’ve pursued for the past thirteen years. While graduation is one of life’s great forwardlooking ceremonies, it is also a time to momentarily pause on the summit of your high school experience. Legendary Coach John Wooden’s favorite book is The Robe by Lloyd Douglas. There’s a great quote in that book, “Life is like a journey, often too even and easy and dull over long distances along the plains, too hard and painful up the steep grades; but, on the summits of the mountain, you have a magnificent view—and feel exalted—and your eyes are full of happy tears—and you want to sing—and you wish you had wings! And then—you can’t stay there, but must continue your journey—you begin climbing down the other side, so busy with your footholds that your summit experience is forgotten.” This is definitely a summit experience! During your high school years, you have made friends of a lifetime who have not only helped you along your way but contributed to the person you have become. Try to stay close to them. Each of you has been influenced by teachers who have had tremendous impact for good on your lives. Reflect often on the lessons they taught you. Parents and family members have supported you through every challenge you’ve encountered. Always love them and never be shy to express that love. Whenever I hear the term “TwentyTwenty” I think first about clear vision. For you, the Class of 2020, I hope for that kind of keen vision as you look to your future. I want each of you to clearly see what one author described as “your element,” or that place where the things you love to do and the things that you’re good at intersect as your career. That’s no easy thing! I want you to be able to bring into focus what your place in the world will be. I can tell you this—the world needs you! Each of you has much to contribute to our world and we need you. And, while I want each of you to find your career—your personal element—and be extraordinarily successful, I hope you never confuse your life and your work. Your work is what you do. Your life is who you are. Too many get well down their life’s journey only to realize that they confused the two. I also want you to envision how you can help make our world a better place. I know you can clearly see that we don’t have to be so divided. There’s so much more that unites, rather than divides us. I hope you envision a world where we not only tolerate one another’s differences, but truly embrace and celebrate that diversity. I can’t imagine a more boring place to live than one where everyone was just like me! I hope you see early on that real happiness comes from helping others. In fact, I have found that one of life’s greatest paradoxes is that selflessness is really the best thing you can do for yourself. It really is one of the unique and curious truths of our human experience! Living a selfless life may just serve as a reminder that none of us is really all that special—because EVERYONE is! One final thing—each of us is heartbroken that we can’t celebrate your accomplishments by shaking your hand, looking you in the eye, and telling you how proud we are of you. Because your graduation took place during a global pandemic, you don’t get to enjoy some of the traditional rites of passage that typically go along with this milestone achievement. We are all truly sorry about this. But, perhaps experiencing this kind of disappointment rather early in life will give you some insight into how to face adversity with courage and optimism. I really believe that the insight you’ve gained by facing disappointment without becoming bitter or losing hope will one day be a tremendous advantage for you. Perhaps, you’ll face some deep disappointment later in life that will require you to draw on the strength of character this current disappointment helped you develop. This strength of character will help you be stronger in overcoming some future setback. Or, maybe someone that you love dearly will experience disappointment in their life. Because of things that you’ve learned as part of the graduating Class of 2020, you will have developed “20 20” vision that will allow you to better understand what they’re going through and be able to help them face up to adversity and inspire them to do so. Congratulations! Best of luck to each of you. And, on behalf of all who care about and believe in you, we hope you make for yourselves extraordinary lives—for your sake and for ours. I admire each of you! With Highest Respect, Dr. Jeff M. Stephens, Superintendent, Weber School District Let me take a moment to thank our amazing community. There’s a Swedish proverb a friend sent to me recently that says, “Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.” It got me thinking about the challenges we’ve faced this year. It also made me realize how lucky we’ve been to be connected to a community where word of mouth and a network of friends (and family) matter more than almost anywhere else. As a board member of CFOV (Community Foundation of Ogden Valley), I wanted to let everyone know that there isn’t a better time to give to our local nonprofits than now. The new normal has changed donation drives, fundraisers, etc.; thus, CFOV has had to place the annual Golf Scramble on hold in hopes of hav- ing it this fall, along with our annual Helicopter Drop. We are working on social distancing fundraisers and look forward to rolling them out to the community soon. Take a moment out of your day and review the list of 17 nonprofits that our incredible Valley has. The nonprofits can be found at <www.cfovoverdrive.org> Then, choose the nonprofit of your choice and your donation will be matched by CFOV in November. CFOV’s mission is to improve the lives of Ogden Valley residents and its visitors through philanthropic leadership and community service. Nanci Lifer, CFOV Board – Marketing Committee Member Please Voice Your Concerns Regarding Rocky Mtn. Power’s Efforts to Cut Back Solar Credit Rate HEAL UTAH is doing a very good job posting clear information on a Net Metering Rate Case for rooftop solar systems that Rocky Mountain Power is trying to limit the benefits of for Utah solar users (see https://www.healutah.org/solar/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId =6d9ece93-fb9d-418e-9db7-9b4d1c120a90 ). They write: “Utah’s biggest electricity utility, Rocky Mountain Power, is proposing to drastically decrease the export credit rate, by 84%, for the energy that customers push back onto the grid. This would greatly extend the payback period for a rooftop solar system, destroying the investment for Utah families and devastating the solar energy industry in Utah. “The public comment period for this rate case is open from now until October, when the Public Service Commission (the three-person body that makes the final decision on this topic) will hold public meetings before finalizing any changes in December 2020.” If this is concerning to you, please contact the Utah PSC regarding your views. From the above link, you can get the Docket Number, 17-035-61. Please be sure to place this Docket # in every/any email you send into the UT PSC regarding your concern on this issue. UT PSC contact: HEBER M WELLS BLDG 160 E 300 S SLC UT 84111 Phone: 801-530-6716 | Fax: 801-530-6796 | LETTERS TO EDITOR cont. on page 7 Memorial Day Cemetery Schedule May 25, 2020 Each year on Memorial Day, the American Legion Ogden Valley Post 129 holds Military Honors Memorial services at four Ogden Valley cemeteries. The schedule is as follows: Liberty Cemetery 3900 N. 3500 E. Liberty 9:00 a.m. Lower Eden Cemetery (Meadow View) 5100 E. 2200 N., Eden 10:00 a.m. Upper Eden Cemetery (Mt. View) 5500 E. 2770 N., Eden 11:00 a.m. Huntsville 12:00 p.m. 5500 E. 100 S. Huntsville After the ceremonies, a potluck lunch will be held at the American Legion Post 129 at 1:00 p.m. in Huntsville located at 604 S. 7800 E. Please bring your favorite dish! For more information, call Clay Poulter at 801-391-0919 or 801-745-3802. |
