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Show 1521 E 3900 SSte 100 Salt Lake City UT 84124-1550 Sports: Basketball nailbiters, A9, A l l , A12 | Schools: Sterling u.-i--i»i---n..i-i-i--i—".I-I--I-I-I« i-'^1-"-1 Che SERVING SPANISH FORK Guardian of Your Community News enttnel SALEM • MAPLETON • WOODLAND HILLS • ELK RIDGE VOL. 5 / NO. 2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010 50^ SFcity council Jen Allen STAFF WRITER Spanish Fork's first city council meeting of 2010 was kicked off by former Mayor Joe Thomas, who was presented with a statue commemorating his term as the mayor. The statue, which is a miniature windmill, symbolized all the work Thomas put into the wind farm here during his term. Not long after that, Kimberly Rob. inson, the city recorder, administered the oath of office to Mayor Wayne Andersen and Councilmen Steve Leifson and Keir Scoubes. The three men then each took time to address those who were in attendance. Bjom Pendelton, with the Arts Council, and Miss Spanish Fork, Ginger Christopher, addressed the council. Both wanted to let the council and community members know about upcoming arts events. Pendelton encouraged citizens to take part in the adult community classes that are being offered Jan. 23-Feb. 27, 2010. Christopher likewise invited both council members and citizens to attend her Royal Fine Arts Ball which will be held at the Chillon Reception Center on Jan. 21, 2010. Admission to the ball is free, but they will be taking donations to go to local arts programs. Each of the council members expressed their thanks to Mayor Thomas during his time in office and were excited to work with new council. Councilman Scoubes wanted to thank the citizens of Spanish Fork for their kindness as he witnessed several citizens helping out others while snow was abundant. Scott Issacson approached the council regarding a zoning change request. Issacson wanted the change so that his wife could continue to run a business out of their home and be able to put a sign out in their yard instead of hanging it off of their porch. City Planner Dave Andersen introduced the item and noted that changes to the city's general plan are in the works for Issacson's particular neighborhood, which made most of the council want to wait on acting. After it was determined that Issacson needed to do some additional work on codes that would effect his wife's business and City Attorney Junior Baker made mention that work on the general plan would take longer than six months, the council agreed to continue the item at the next council meeting. Kimberly Robinson was appointed to be the city recorder while Claire White was appointed to be city treasurer. Steve Leifson was then elected and appointed to be Mayor Pro Tern. Steve Hardman / The Sentinel POETRY ROUNDUP: Pictured, left to right, are Paul Kern with poets Lisa Stubblefield and Ken Steven. Kern did the CD recording for the poets. • m Christy Hardman STAFF WRITER around for about 10 years, and has grown in membership in what Bliss ^ described as a "snowball starting to The Cowboy Poets of Utah roll." (CPU) met for their first official At their inception 10 years ago, annual gathering on Saturday, Jan. Bliss said they had enough mem9 at Salem Hills High School for bers to fill the positions of presirecording sessions, photography dent, vice president, treasurer and sessions and opportunities to recite secretary. Now they have over 150 and be entertained by others. members from almost all the westPaul Bliss, cowboy poet of Sa- ern states, and are still growing. lem, is the chair of the CPU board of The next step was creating an opdirectors and organized the event. portunity for them to come together "The cowboy poetry is an oral and learn from each other. tradition that some say dates back "We needed a venue," he said. to the Civil War era," Bliss said, "We've never had a sanctioned "But really it goes back farther than event just for our members." that." Bliss said that this event is a He said cowboy poetry carries unique opportunity, "not something on the tradition of passing on heri- that's done every day." tage from one generation to the next There are few opportunities to through the telling of poems set to hear cowboy poets, and according music. He said it's not unlike how to Bliss, the only way to hear their the Native American's passed their work is to go to an organization like history one from father to son. this. "Even rap music, which also "There are so many poets who tells a story, is an off-shoot of cow- have CDs," he said, "but you can't boy poetry," Bliss said. get them in a music store." Bliss said the CPU has been He said they invited the high school English departments to attend the event, and even those who aren't interested in cowboy poetry can appreciate the creative folk art and original presentation of the participants. To qualify as cowboy poetry, Bliss said the poem has to tell a story, and is usually told with a stringed instrument, a guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin or upright bass. The event was open to the public, and he said aside from the professional poets, the audience included whole families, "closet poets," even youth who are just starting to explore the art. The day started at 9 a.m. with recording sessions for poets who signed up to be on the 12-track CD. There was also a professional photographer there to help build the members' portfolios. Rod Miller taught on writing poetry, and Brian Arnold gave a lecture on stage etiquette, helping them know how to stand, how and where to hold the microphone and many other details to add to their performance. DTTD —y*—\s—>. Bliss said being a true cowboy poet means making a good presentation. "It's not just about having a good poem, but about telling it right," Bliss said. In the evening there were 21 performers, all of whom signed up to be on the program. The goal of the day, according to Bliss, was to "perpetuate and showcase other poets in our organization." Bliss said the members are a close-knit group who work together to promote and help the others progress. "We're almost like a little family," Bliss said. The CPU has wanted to have an event like this for years, but Bliss said no one was willing to take it on and organize it. "I told them I'd do, but I'll do it in Salem," Bliss said. "Salem Hills has a brand new facility as well as a great heritage. Some of the members want it to go to Ogden where there's a bigger population, but I'm going to fight to keep it here." Amenities coming to SF's new North Park Jen Allen STAFF WRITER The subject of North Park is one that is notorious in Spanish Fork. While many rumors are still circling about what exactly is planned for its future, a few things are crystal clear. There has been significant construction going on within the park over the past few months resulting in several structures. The main, and largest structure sits on the east side of the park. Modeled after the pavilions at Mount Timpanogos Park at the mouth of Provo Canyon, the pavilion here in town will be able to hold approximately 320 guests. With a food preparation area, a permanent serving island complete with several electrical outlets, rolling doors on three sides and beautiful architecture, the pavilion will be an excellent venue to hold all kinds of events. According to the city, "Spanish Fork City's North Park will offer nearly 10 acres of some of the city's finest multi-use facilities. There is something for everyone! Children and families will enjoy a new assortment of playground equipment. Cool off from the summer's heat in the splash pad's dancing water. Play at the sand volleyball court or take a stroll across the great lawn. North Park will have 4.7 acres of open grass area." While the lawn won't be in for quite a while yet, the splash pad already has been poured and has also been wired so that the lights will work along with the water. The park has two separate holding tanks for the water and four different filters to ensure the water is at the highest standard of cleanliness, including being filtered for dangerous diseases like Cryptosporidium. City staffers and officials Jen Allen / The Sentinel SPLASH PAD: Crews are currently installing a water feature at North Park similar to the one at the Gateway in Salt Lake. are hoping for a cooperative spring so that the park can be ready and dedicated on July 24, 2010. Furthermore they want people to "come and relax in the shade of one of North Park's 279 trees" or "meander (their) way through a decorative grass landscape along colored concrete and crushed stone walkways to the gar- den gazebo." The park will also have benches, picnic tables, grills and a half mile of walking trails, in addition to the pavilion and splash pad. % |