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Show Volume II , Issue VI Page 15 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS March 2000 Reflections Contest Winners from Valley Elementary Submitted by Julie Brandt Valley Elementary students, grades K-5, submitted 111 entries in the 1999-2000 Reflections contest this year. Five pieces from each category were chosen by local judges to go on to the “Council” level of competition. The finalists from Valley Elementary are listed below. Of these finalists, two have been selected to compete at the “Regional” level. Congratulations to Sierra Froerer and Carly Hirst, both of the fourth grade, for winning in the literature and theater categories. Hayden Hoxer, kindergarten, received an award of merit for his visual arts piece. Visual Arts: Hayden Hoxer (K)* Abbie Rasmussen (1st) Caroline Kwak (2nd) Michelle Erickson (3rd) Jenna Black (3rd) Literature: China Veil Barnes (4th) Michael Birkbeck (4th) Lacey Christensen (4th) Sierra Froerer (4th)* Lynnsey McGonegal (5th) Choreography: Rose Storey (1st) Photography: Jaden Rhodes (K) Elli Pilkington (1st) Megan Brandt (3rd) Grady Pilkington (5th) Ariana Hedges (5th) Musical Composition: Tessa Senger (2nd) Sophia Hurst (3rd) Tyler Roskelly (3rd) Ariana Hedges (5th) Hank Storey (5th) Theater: Carly Hirst (4th)* Local Residents Read Books. Why so? Well, because these folks agree with essayist Mark Kingwell that “the ability to process millions of bits of information has nothing to do with thinking.” (“Fast Forward;” Harper’s, 5/98). Readers understand that continuing education is a life-long process and they want to absorb all of the ideas that can be squeezed into a very short lifetime. These readers use their precious time carefully, wisely. Daniel Boorstein’s observation is memorized in their minds and carried in their hearts: “To affirm the book is to affirm the endurance of civilization against the rush of immediacy.” They know that it takes time to consider the big questions we all ask ourselves. A rush for data does not satisfy. Make sense? Who are these folks? A group of 12-to-20 patrons of the Weber County Library have been meeting together at the Ogden Valley Branch for the past four years. You know them. Huntsville teacher Ann Whitehead, busy moms Jill Gygi, Christine Mau and Michelle Roskelly, old-timers Bonnie and Leon Sorenson come together with several Ogden readers – Karma Smith, Gay and Everett Doman, (Valley Wangsgard emigrants), Linda Pfaff and her mother, Dorothy Kingsford, Grace Gabrielsen – all of whom drive up the canyon to join the idea investigation. They have read over thirty-three books supplied by Utah Humanities Council and Human Pursuits. They come together to discuss the ideas and issues raised in their reading. They listen and learn not only to the visiting scholar, but to each other. They have discovered that a book will bring them together with people whom they have never known or understood. (“Books are humanity in print.” Barbara Tuchman) They come to realize that consciousness is everything. Thinking people always find time to continue to explore their world. They are hooked on awareness. Several readers will continue to read and discuss “The Great Books,” beginning in March. One Voice On the Family By Jane Hoffmann A friend and I were eating lunch at the Eden General Store (by the way the garlic potato soup is excellent). My friend, who recently lost her husband to cancer said, “It was the simple things that meant so much to me. We spent very little money yet we always had a good time. We just enjoyed being together.” She told me how her husband Gayle would see a bottle cap lying on the ground and he would kick it over to her and the game would begin. It was those playful spontaneous times that she loved and she still holds those wonderful memories. I thought about things in my own family that we remember. I always wanted my family to have good memories but I never knew what things would have meaning to them. Sometimes I would have elaborate ideas and I would play them out. Some of the parties I had for my children were way over done. Do they remember them? No. Do they remember the party that my six-yearold planned on her own one year? Yes. I was a single mom attending school and working. My daughter asked if she could have a birthday party. I told her that I was too tired to plan a party, but if she and her older sisters planned the party we could have one. She never mentioned it again to me. I never thought another thing about it until her birthday when children started arriving at our house. I asked her what was going on and she reminded me of what I had said. However, she had decided to do it on her own rather than bother her older sisters so we were all surprised. She had made her own invitations and handed them out to her friends at school. The first mom that dropped her child off noticed my shock and when I told her what had happened she almost took her child back home but I convinced her that my daughter was very resourceful and that we would make the best of the situation. After all, it was my own fault. And I have to say she was a good hostess. She had games planned and they all had a good time. I love spontaneity. I love the times my brother drops by with cool experiments to share with us, or when my husband decides it’s marathon movie night. The kids each invite a friend. We pop popcorn, buy snacks and drinks and watch movies until we crash. The laughing and playing is what I remember. Playing army when my children were tired of walking but we had further to go. I would have them march down the road to my command. They loved it. The time my children and I decided to go on a five-mile walk and ended up on the steps at Maverik because we were so tired. Someone leaned on the door and the alarm went off. All eight of us took off running down the road laughing all the way home. I felt like maybe I should have handled the situation better but it did serve as a good memory (I apologize if someone had to respond to the alarm). Sometimes we buy into the fact that we need elaborate things to build memories but the only thing we really need is time. Take some time and spend it with those whom you love. Wonderful memories will come and they will last forever. I have decided simplicity is the key. Thanks Anne for the reminder. Note: If you have any fun simple ideas that have had a lasting memory for your family- send them to Janet Hoffmann, P.O. Box 161, Eden, UT 84310 or E-mail them to: JanetHoffmann@cs.com . For more information, call Marge Hilton at 745-6684. Gift Baskets Available Specialty Breads & Sandwiches Buy 3 Bagels Get 3 FREE Expires 4/13/00 392-8801 Phone Orders Welcome Five Points Family Center (Next to Key Bank and Harmons) |