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Show Viewpoints The A-11 Park Record. Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 29-31, 2020 editorial Search and Rescue volunteers deserve community’s gratitude T letters to the editor A boneheaded bonfire Sundance has decided to have a bonfire during this year’s festival as a way to make the Park City community feel as though they are actually part of the festival. Because the amount of traffic and idling cars isn’t causing enough pollution in our town? In 2015, Summit County Council banned wood-burning appliances from any new construction or remodeling because of the pollution that burning wood creates. The Park Record, at that time, reported that the air quality in the Snyderville Basin was “deteriorating not to alarming levels but bad enough to worry health officials,” and that in the Basin, “burning wood causes more pollution than cars and trucks.” Phil Bondurant, the county’s environmental health director until 2019, stated the “chief culprit” that causes so much pollution “is particulate pollution produced by burning wood,” and that, “It’s the smallest pollutant and causes the most severe health and environmental threats.” In 2018, Jonny Vasic, executive director for Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, stated, “Wood smoke is one of the most toxic types of pollution the average person ever inhales, and a major source of overall pollution in Utah.” At one time, Robert Redford was an environmental activist, and now the institution that he created is planning events that purposefully increase the amount of pollution in our beautiful town. And Park City Council apparently supports this. In a time where climate change is on the forefront and preserving air quality is more important than ever, why is an event such as this even being considered? This is what Sundance came up with to “give back” to the community? Instead of planning an event that causes more pollution, why doesn’t Sundance create an event that decreases pollution and/or brings awareness to climate change? Beth Massacani Snyderville Basin Continue to speak up Congratulations fellow Summit County residents. We did it! Across this county and across this state, people from all political views; urban, suburban and rural; old and young; rich, poor and everywhere in between united to send a message about tax reform to our state Legislature and governor. You were heard! Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to speak up and sign the petition. Thank you to all of the volunteers who spent so much time and energy to make the petitions available for signing. Thank you to The Market at Park City, Fresh Market, Harmons and Associated Foods stores for generously opening your doors to volunteers so that people looking to sign could find a witness. It was amazing to be part of such a united, positive effort, to meet so many of you and hear your stories. The governor, House speaker, and Senate president announced that they will repeal the tax reform bill in this first week of the legislative session. They have heard that we didn’t like it, yet they still don’t understand why. I have heard many reasons as I spoke to hundreds of you in the past few weeks. It’s time now for them to hear all of your reasons. Please contact your representative and senator to explain why you signed for the referendum. Was it because of the increase in the food tax? The cuts to the education budget? The taxes on certain services? The increase in fuel tax? The process of calling a special session in the holiday season when no one was watching? Some combination of the above or something else? Tell them you live in their district — they prioritize messages from their constituents. To find your legislators’ contact information, go to le.utah.gov, click on My Legislators and enter your address. Also, keep watching the upcoming session. There are rumors swirling about how some of these taxes may be reintroduced after the repeal. Get ahead of that by contacting your legislators now to tell them what you’d like to see them do and why. Stay focused on positive change, thank them for what they are doing well, and let them know you are watching for a demonstration that they have truly heard, understood and will respect the will and voice of the people. Continue to speak up, you will continue to be heard! Kris Campbell Silver Creek The Park Record Staff White’s lights are a delight PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Ryan Kostecka Can you see Bill White’s lights from space? If not, I hope he adds more. I enjoy seeing them. And if you want to see more, drive up Meadows Drive to the corner of Mountain Top. Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Distribution........................... Henry Knight Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Sharon Bush Emma Fedorowich Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn Beano Solomon Park City Letters Policy The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelines. They must include the home (street) address and telephone number of the author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. Letters must not contain libelous material. Letters should be no longer than about 300 words (about 600 words for guest editorials) and should, if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements that are unnecessarily offensive or obscene. Writers are limited to one letter every seven days. Letters thanking event sponsors can list no more than 6 individuals and/or businesses. Send your letter to: editor@parkrecord.com hey’re the people you hope to never need. But they’ll be there if you ever do. That’s a truth more people are learning firsthand as the Summit County Search and Rescue team responds to a growing number of incidents. Last year, for instance, the team fielded 75 calls, up from 39 in 2015. But while the volunteers who make up the Search and Rescue squad have never been busier, their contributions go unnoticed much of the time. It’s often not until a major search is underway that their work garners headlines, and even then, the focus is on the people who have gone missing rather than the ones sacrificing their time, effort and safety to find them. It’s important to acknowledge the heroic work the volunteers perform. It’s not for the faint of heart. They respond at all hours to situations ranging from conducting exhausting searches spanning days or weeks to rescuing skiers caught in avalanches to transporting injured hikers out of the wilderness. In extreme cases, Search and Rescue proves to be the difference between life and death. The task is demanding, both mentally and physically, and it’s made all the more difficult by what the volunteers give up in their personal lives. For many of them, the time spent responding to incidents is time they’re missing with their families. The emergencies, unfortunately, don’t happen only when it’s convenient for the people responding to them. So why do they do it? As team member Bridgette Blonquist put it, it’s because “I would hope someone would help my kids if it was them.” Those who spend time in Summit County’s expansive wilderness — and who could conceivably call on Search and Rescue one day — are fortunate there are those among us willing to make those sacrifices. While the people they assist and their families are certainly quick to express gratitude, the volunteers likely don’t hear “Thank you” enough from the rest of us. We should, whenever opportunities arise to do so, change that. In a broader sense, residents can also show their gratitude by taking proper precautions and making safe decisions when heading into the wilderness. That will, hopefully, begin to reverse the trend in recent years that has seen Search and Rescue summoned more frequently than ever. Take it from the volunteers themselves: They’re ready and willing to jump into action. But let’s do our best to make sure they don’t have to. guest editorial There is a health care gap in Park City, but dedicated Parkites are working to close it EILEEN GALLAGHER, M.D. Park City Park City, Utah. The name evokes snow, sparkling celebrities, gorgeous athletes, outdoorsy locals, forward thinking arts and government. Yet for those of us providing health care in the community, it is a town with a plain old all-American gap in health care. We have great health care for those with great health insurance and we have neighbors who can’t afford health care at all. Many don’t realize that our generous community invests tremendous energy and time into bridging that gap. Last week at McPolin Elementary we had an event that represented the best of Park City’s forward thinking and how much needs to be done to bridge the gap in American health care. I volunteer at People’s Health Clinic and work with Dalia Gonzalez on clinic programming. Thanks to Principal Bob Edmiston at McPolin and Beth Armstrong at People’s Health, we assembled a team this fall to provide health care clinics on site at the school. First, we made a list of what we thought the families at McPolin needed. Then we surveyed the parents. We wanted to give flu shots and nutrition education; the parents hoped for eye exams and dental care. When we met at McPolin to review the survey, the school staff shocked us. They casually related that dozens of students were falling behind in their reading benchmarks because they can’t see well. Their parents don’t have vision insurance (or often any insurance) and can’t afford an optometry visit and glasses. So we got to work. Dalia called Hope Alliance, the nonprofit that provides access to free vision care here in Utah and in Third World countries. Their new director, Diane Bernhardt, sprang into action and in less than a month arranged a compre- hensive vision clinic at McPolin. Our local optometrist, Dr. Stephanie Castle of Park City Vision Source, already donates her time and expertise at People’s Health but agreed to donate even more time in service of our local youth. Then the word spread. By the time of the actual clinic, Jewish Family Services and the Christian Center of Park City had asked if they could offer access to their counseling services. Big Brothers and Big Sisters offered to teach about their mentoring programs. Summit Pediatrics and People’s Health Clinic set up a table to provide appointments for new patients. And Hope Alliance astounded us all. The Hope Alliance showed up with all their optometry equipment, a dozen volunteers, Dr. Castle, and a plan to see 10 children in three hours. But word had spread in our community about the clinic. With an impressive frenzy of devotion and skill, Dr. Castle and the Hope Alliance provided complete eye exams and prescriptions to 28 (!) local children in one evening. The children will receive their new glasses this week. Park City is an amazing place. It’s easy to love the sparkly and fabulous aspects of living here. But I am most proud of the local folks who care for others, who cheerfully donate their skills and expertise, and who keep our children healthy. Thank you again to the teams at People’s Health, McPolin, CCPC, Jewish Family Services, Big Brothers and Sisters, and especially Dr. Castle and The Hope Alliance for an overwhelmingly busy job but one very well done. If you would like to join the team, just contact Dalia Gonzalez at People’s Health Clinic at dalia@phcpc.org or The Hope Alliance at info@thehopealliance.org. With you, we can bridge the gap in health care, help our neighbors, and make Park City an even better version of itself. 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/. I would be stoked on certain trails permitting e bikes! I think that that certain percentage of this town deserves to be able to still do what they love if they have that disability barrier. As long as people still riding regular mountain bikes can have designated trails too cause it’s frustrating when you have to stop for an e bike, especially on hills.” That’s easy to say but realistically the only way to enjoy Sundance as a Parkite is if you have a lot of freed up money and time. If you don’t have either, it’s just a massive inconvenience.” Tim Makoid, on “Record editorial: Get out of your house, Parkites, and into the Sundance action” Alice Johnson, on “Letters: There’s a place for e-bikes on Park City’s trails” Encourage bus riding. It’s free and convenient. I know it’s busy but it’s part of the fun.” I went heli skiing for the same cost of going out to dinner and having a few drinks each night. And I didn’t have to wait in line for anything or deal with traffic.” Luke McCartney, on “Record editorial: Get out of your house, Parkites, and into the Sundance action” Tina M Morawski Stauber, on “Sundance is showtime for Park City’s traffic-fighting measures” The Park Record attained permission to publish these comments. Some comments may have been lightly edited for clarity. |