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Show Viewpoints The A-9 Park Record. Wed/Thurs/Fri, October 2-4, 2019 editorial As climate change threat looms, a collective effort is necessary A letters to the editor We need leaders like Nann Editor: Leadership, commitment and energy! Nann Worel exhibited these qualities during her six years on the Park City Planning Commission and the last four years on City Council. Nann is the Council’s liaison to over 14 different organizations ranging from the School Board to the Senior Center to PC Tots. Nann is a listener who seeks practical and achievable solutions to Park City’s varied and complex issues. As a small business owner who lives in the county, I appreciate Nann’s focus on regional collaboration. On a personal note, I met Nann when she was coming to Park City 15 years ago. She immediately sought volunteer opportunities to become involved in this community. In a short time she went from a People’s Health Clinic volunteer to board member to executive director of the clinic. During this period, Nann also graduated from Leadership Park City and served on the Park City Planning Commission. That takes commitment and energy! Park City needs leaders like Nann. Please vote for Nann Worel for the City Council. Eileen Mullane Promontory Vote for Becca Editor: Becca Gerber has been a successful City Councilwoman for the past four years. I would like to see her re-elected and I will be voting for her in November. Becca grew up in Park City. She is working and raising a family in our town. Becca loves where she lives. She’s worked hard for Park City the past four years and will continue to do so. She proudly and competently represents the young folks in our town. We need her voice! Her commitment to setting housing goals and moving us toward providing affordable housing opportunities is important work. She is committed to finding solutions to continue to keep our town vibrant, interesting and a place where locals can thrive. Becca’s a good listener, energetic, and understands Park City from a historical perspective. She knows the challenges for growth and responsible management of our town, Park City. Vote for Becca! Marion Boland Round Valley I support Becca Editor: As a Park City resident and voter, I am casting my vote for Becca Gerber on Nov. 5. As a fellow working parent, I appreciate the hard work and dedication Becca has shown in honoring her commitment to our community and the sound judgment The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ...........................Andy Bernhard Editor ........................................Bubba Brown Staff Writers.......................... Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Ryan Kostecka Contributing .................................Tom Clyde Writers Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor.................................James Hoyt Engagement Editor ................Jeff Dempsey Photographer ............................ Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ................Lacy Brundy Accounting Manager ............Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Advertising Director ...............Valerie Spung Advertising Sales .......................Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Lindsay Lane Sharon Bush Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director..................... Ben Olson she has exercised throughout her first term as a City Council member. I admire her positive can-do attitude and her tireless devotion to her constituents in her role as a public servant. Becca’s perspective as a long-term Park City resident along with her progressive yet realistic ideas make her an ideal candidate in my view. She is a true advocate for all who call this amazing place their home. I stand in support of her and strongly encourage my neighbors to cast their vote for Becca Gerber on Election Day. Erin Anderson Deer Valley We need Ed Editor: Beyond a doubt, Ed Parigian is the most qualified as a “Vocal Local” to run for one of the Park City Council positions in years. As a dedicated Park City local, Ed will bring his passion for our community to the City Council. Ed has proven himself in his dedication to the community through his persistent pursuit to conserve the Library Field as an off-leash dog park. He truly cares about this town and exemplifies honesty, toughness and dedication. Ed will use those qualities to create a better balance between managing our town’s growth and keeping the small town feel. We need Ed. Nancy Lazenby Old Town Grateful for partnerships Editor: Nana B’s Preserve is a 63-acre property owned by Nuzzles & Co. situated in Brown’s Canyon, just outside the small town of Peoa. In 2015, the Summit Land Conservancy placed a permanent conservation easement on the land to protect the view shed, natural open space, and wildlife habitat of the area. From the Preserve, you can see the winding Weber River, the green pastures of Peoa, and the Uinta Mountains towering in the distance. It is home to wildlife such as mule deer, elk, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, foxes, rabbits and the occasional grouchy badger. On Saturday, Sept. 14, 200 Park City Mountain employees and their families joined three local nonprofits (Summit Land Conservancy, Mountain Trails Foundation, and Nuzzles & Co.) at the Nuzzles & Co. Rescue Ranch to embark on a trail restoration project on the Nana B’s Preserve. These dedicated volunteers worked energetically to repair the Nana B’s Mile Loop Trail by removing rocks, raking grass clippings and mulching the walking path and a newly designated parking area for visitors. The bravest folks even tackled a large patch of invasive weeds, thorns and all. Partnerships like this continue to inspire us. We are grateful for Vail EpicPromise’s commitment to make our community a better place. The impact of this year’s EpicPromise Day is no exception — this project clearly showed that we are stronger when we join hands and work together. If you get a chance, we encourage you to visit Nana B’s Preserve and walk the newly restored Nana B’s Mile Loop Trail. It is a place for all creatures to enjoy. Lindsay Hansen, Nuzzles & Co.; Charlie Sturgis, Mountain Trails Foundation; and Cheryl Fox, Summit Land Conservancy Looking ‘cowward’ to next summer Editor: A few years ago the National Geographic did a yearlong series on food (I think). Just go look it up, learn everything there is to know about plant and animal production and then for goodness sake just walk from the barn to the church and back and just plain old enjoy the cows and particularly the calves. I am supremely thankful to whomever watches over me that I didn’t have accident this summer on S.R. 224 as I was always looking cowward. I made up that word. I will be sad when they all go to their winter pastures but will look forward to next summer when they return. I’ll also s City Hall has set ambitious goals to dramatically reduce the community’s carbon footprint, Parkites have watched with pride. In the face of a warming global climate that threatens, among other things, the future of the ski industry our economy is built on, Park City leaders have wisely recognized that inaction is untenable. But they also know that we cannot do it alone. That’s what makes the inaugural Mountain Towns 2030 Net Zero Summit so encouraging. The event, scheduled to begin Wednesday and run through Friday, brings leaders from a number of other mountain communities to Park City to discuss ways they, too, can take aggressive action on climate change. The three-day summit includes a compelling schedule of panels and a diverse set of speakers, ranging from ski industry executives to congressmen to nonprofit directors. Park City is not formally asking other mountain towns to adopt its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, but the conference will lay the foundation for other communities to take steps toward reducing their own carbon footprints. Those who attend should leave energized by the enthusiasm on display during the conference and armed with both the knowledge of how to get the ball rolling in their com- munities and the support of a network of folks who can assist in the efforts. The science surrounding climate change is clear, and mountain communities cannot afford to wait any longer to take meaningful action. While a warming planet will usher in catastrophic consequences like drought and natural disasters in developing countries, the effects in resort towns will also be damaging. For one, scientists warn that the ski industry as we know it may cease to exist in the not-so-distant future as mountain snowfall in the winter turns to rain. That would be crippling in in places where ski resorts power the local economy. Additionally, climate change could make devastating wildfires — the kind that could wipe out dense areas like Summit Park or Old Town — much more common throughout the West. Of course, just as Park City can’t reverse climate change by itself, the united efforts of mountain communities won’t alone save the day. But at a time when standing idle is no longer a viable option, hopefully those attending this week’s summit depart with the understanding that addressing the problem together gives us the best chance to avoid those unwanted fates. For more information about the Mountain Towns 2030 Net Zero Summit, visit mt2030.org. guest editorial We can do better, Park City. Let’s start by treating others with civility and respect. ELIZABETH DOSHER Park City We can do better. I’ll be the first to stand up and admit I’ve got room for improvement, and I’m hoping you’ll consider my challenge to do better too. I’m carrying a lot right now as we all are, and we can do better in being respectful community members. Recently, while waiting for my son at the neighborhood bus stop, I was assaulted. It was raining and I was pulled off to the side of the entrance of my neighborhood where we all wait for our kids. It’s a bit of a rural neighborhood so parents often drive to and from the bus stop. A neighbor found my choice of space to wait for my son inconvenient. In a rage he decided to curse, scream and ultimately strike me in the face while I was seated in my car. Nothing like this has ever happened to me, and I’ll tell you it’s a shock to the system. It’s getting better with time but I still feel off — emotional, scared, seeing it over and over again. Anyway, today I decided to treat myself to a day off in order to enjoy some outside time with a long mountain bike ride to clear my head and just be. So today I had my bliss. I rode up to the crest trail and actually took in the view. After riding down from 9,000-plus feet, I was freezing. I started up my car, cranked the heat and took a quick glance at my phone. It’s then that I noticed an email from the prosecuting attorney handling my assault case. I scanned it quickly when I noticed a man standing behind my car in the rear view mirror. He was holding a pad of paper and pen and was furiously writing something down while squinting at the rear of my vehicle. I rolled down my window and asked if everything was OK or if I could help him with something. This man — middle aged, shirtless, angry — proceeded to lecture me about illegal idling in Park City. I tried to interject that I wasn’t intending to idle but simply attending to an email before driving. He wouldn’t hear it. Couldn’t extend a listening ear, compassion, or understanding. There was no moment of grace or an “I get it. Next time remember to turn off your car.” To the neighbor, is it worth it to strike a mother in the face instead of driving around? To the man in the PCMR parking lot, is your anger bringing awareness or fear? I’m curious about how either of these men contribute positively to our community. I’m a good citizen, parent, and friend. I do a pretty good job at being environmentally responsible and am active in the community. I recycle, I volunteer, I donate to good causes, I hold doors open for people, I smile and say hi to strangers, I turn off lights when I leave a room, I am committed to raising two socially responsible young men, and I serve our community by providing mental health treatment and have for years in various capacities. I also just graduated from the Park City Leadership program. I am dedicated and invested in this town. We can do better. Nobody needs to angrily engage with their fellow community member to set them straight. We can give each other a kind reminder. We can smile at people and believe that most people don’t intend to break the rules or make mistakes. We can do better and I am committed to doing my part. I happen to know a little something about how to create change and join with people versus creating animosity and fear; it’s what I do professionally. I know my faults and try to work toward being a better person. I am open to change and recognition of my own need for growth. I hope you’ll join me in participating in a return to civility. Please take time for self care. This town is getting more crowded, we have more traffic; it just IS, so figure out how to cope and treat others with respect. The Park record Pulse Here’s a sampling of the conversation readers are having on our Facebook page. To visit the page, go to Facebook.com/parkrecord/. Good grief people! Listen to yourselves... ‘Ruining a wealthy town,’ ‘bringing crime and drug dealers…’ ridiculous. Whether or not (and I think not) lifties can afford these houses, nurses, police, fire fighters, school teachers etc. can. The ultimate ‘nimby’ response is to tell people to live somewhere else but commute here to serve me.” Proof that the “climate crisis” is a first world concern! Only bored rich people care about it. And even they don’t care enough to actually change their behavior in any effectual way. If you believe Park City has “the most to lose” then you yourself don’t even believe that climate change is as bad as they predict.” Tory Welch, on “Letters: When it comes to climate, do Parkites have their heads in the sand?” Kay Howell Shean, on “Park City housing projects seen as offering the ‘liftie level’ a chance to own” Getting people to change their habits is a far better way to reduce plastics. Don’t ban things. Government shouldn’t control every little thing we do.” Alicia Barstow Kaney, on “Summit County Council, spurred by middle-schoolers, considers plastic bag ban” look forward to what seems to be an annual debate about the critters. Thanks to The Park Record for publishing all our letters. Beano Solomon Park City Something to consider Editor: When Park City considers awarding the contract to operate cross-country skiing on the Mcpolin Farm this season (Park Record, Sept. 25) I ask they remember how White Pine continued We loved entertaining family, friends & visitors from out of state there. It has been a fantastic place to enjoy the PC Vibe.” Kevin Kehl, on “Jupiter Bowl closes after a decade in Kimball Junction” The Park Record attained permission to publish these comments. Some comments may have been lightly edited for clarity. serving our skiers last spring after the other ski areas in town closed early to widespread disappointment. Mike Cooper Oakley Ed would be an asset Editor: I am writing in support of Ed Parigian the Vocal Local for City Council. I have known Ed for 13 years. I’ve seen him help many people in town over the years. Ed is engaging and looks out for his neighbors. He did an excellent job heading the grassroots effort to save the Library Field. He is an enthusiastic participant at City Council meetings. He also supported the preservation effort for Treasure Hill. I have had the opportunity to discuss the town’s issues with Ed, and found him to be knowledgeable and creative with solutions. Ed has an accounting degree (Magna Cum Laude) and a MBA in entrepreneurial enterprise. I think his specific education and work history will make him be a great asset to the Council. He will work to represent the locals’ interests. I ask your readers to vote for Ed Parigian. Debbie Stafsholt Old Town |