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Show Viewpoints The A-13 Park Record. Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, September 19-22, 2020 editorial Young people driving surge must take pandemic seriously letters to the editor Let’s save lives in September September is Suicide Prevention Month and it’s important that we are there for each other and take steps to prevent suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s theme for the month is to #KeepGoing, by taking simple actions to safeguard our mental health and save lives. From learning the warning signs for suicide and what to do if you are worried someone is struggling, to bringing education programs to your community, we can all learn new ways to help each other save lives. One action I’m taking is to urge my public officials to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health. When someone is in acute crisis, it’s hard for them to think clearly, and even reaching out for help can be a struggle. For this reason, it is vital that Congress pass the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (H.R.4194/S.2661) to make a three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline a reality. This legislation will provide the funding and resources needed by crisis centers across the country that support those struggling with their mental health and thoughts of suicide. I lost my father to suicide when I was 14 years old. He was only 33. Then, I lost my best friend to suicide at age 20, just five short years ago. I was almost lost to suicide (but luckily AFSP and resources were easily available to me). We must make suicide prevention resources more available to save lives. We must make it more accessible to everyone. We must have more awareness out there. We must do more. And you can help! Please, I’m begging you, to take action and help as much as you can! In this time of uncertainty, we all need to find new ways to connect and support each other. Together, we #KeepGoing. Rebecca Palmer Eagle Mountain Support Cooke for school board I am writing in support of Thomas Cooke, a write-in candidate for District 2 for Park City school board. I have known Thomas since 2009; over these many years, Thomas has shared meaningful, compelling ideas, opinions and initiatives on parenting, coaching, education and community development. We have worked together on youth sports teams, the Community Sport Coalition, soccer and ski clubs, and education and marketing strategies. He focuses on the greatest needs of a group rather than the needs of any individual, genuinely seeing the “forest through the trees,” whether in the classroom, on the field, in the bottom line or though civic engagement. Based on his exceptional character, competency, compassion and The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Distribution........................... Henry Knight ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Digital Sales Executive ............... Erik Jones Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn communication, Thomas has earned my highest regard and support for his run for election to the District 2 seat of the Park City school board. Thomas’s priorities and objectives center around the safety and support of the most important stakeholders in our education system — students and teachers. Thomas is a keen and thoughtful listener, respecting, considering and integrating opinions different from and even counter to his own. He would keep this vital dynamic to progress at the heart of his leadership and decision-making, a refreshing change from the current leadership. Thomas’s honest, practical and caring approach is an asset. He has expressed and shown great concern for the teachers, students and families in the school district and across our community, and his willingness to listen to people’s needs and to seek safe, responsible, transparent and proactive solutions in these unprecedented and epochal times of COVID-19 is commendable and noteworthy — and what our learning community desperately needs over these impending years of significant and profound unknowns. I will be writing in Thomas Cooke for the Park City school board! Julie Glusker Snyderville Basin Cooke will build alliances I would like to commend and enthusiastically support Thomas Cooke for choosing to run a write-in campaign for the Park City Board of Education in District 2. Thomas is a well-known entity in our community. He is a longtime Trailside resident, a parent and a concerned, involved citizen. Thomas currently serves on the Planning Commission for the Snyderville Basin. As a community we know he is a thoughtful, respectful, insightful commissioner. He works to build alliances and understand all sides of issues under his consideration. Thomas will employ the attributes he has and has learned with the Planning Commission to bring together all the stakeholders. Thomas will work to find solutions all sides can support. As is often said, these are unprecedented times. As such, we need exceptional leaders. Thomas Cook is the exceptional leader we need in these exceptional times. Thomas will bring an empathetic ear and a flexible approach to the very challenging myriad issues the school district is facing — from our facilities needs to the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic. He understands the need to have understanding and compromise in our processes, while maintaining clear channels. If you live in District 2 — Highland Estates East or West, Park Meadows North, Ranch Place or Snyder’s Mill, write-in Thomas Cooke for the Board of Education in District 2. Julia Paas Trailside The arts are vital As we head into the last weekend of the Twilight Drive-in at the Utah Olympic Park, I wanted to take a moment to express my immense gratitude to our partners, sponsors and community members who have made the Twilight Drive-in such a tremendous success. By the time we wrap up on Sunday night, we will have hosted a total of 33 film screenings, 2,300 cars and approximately 7,000 happy film lovers! It has been a great honor and pleasure to work with the incredible teams at Dragonfli Media and Utah Olympic Park — and we owe a huge thanks to series sponsors: Buddy Drops, Switchback Sports, Made in Park City, Bill White Restaurant Group and Julie Hopkins, Keller Williams Real Estate. A huge debt of gratitude is owed as well to our community members, as we would not have been in a position to pull off the Twilight Drive-in without the support Get it together, young people. In recent days, the state has experienced its largest coronavirus surge since July, with an all-time high of 1,117 new cases Friday. What’s behind the spike? According to state health officials, it’s more a matter of who: young people, particularly among the 15- to 24-year-old age group. Before you breathe a sigh of relief because young, healthy people are generally less likely to die or become seriously ill from the virus, understand that it’s not that simple. In addition to the fact that there are plenty of younger Americans among the nearly 200,000 who have lost their lives to COVID-19, health experts are clear that the ripple effects may be disastrous as young infected people spread the disease to others. Said Gov. Gary Herbert on Thursday: “I think this younger population really is acting as kind of the canary in the coal mine.” The trend of young people contracting the virus at a high rate is not isolated to elsewhere in the state. The transmission of COVID-19 in Summit County has stabilized in recent weeks after the fallout from a “superspreader” party in August, but County Health Director Rich Bullough says many of the new cases here lately are in young adults. For those of us doing what’s necessary to slow the coronavirus — and in Summit County, that’s most of us — it’s frustrating to see cases back on the rise in Utah due to the carelessness of people who apparently don’t feel vulnerable to COVID-19. But the age groups driving the surge need to understand something: They’re young but not invincible. Just as important, the people around them aren’t invincible either. It’s time for them to take the pandemic as seriously as everyone else, before their actions put other people’s lives at stake and drag down Utah’s economy, which seems primed to continue its strong recovery as long as the coronavirus is kept in check. That includes social distancing, avoiding large indoor gatherings and wearing masks around others — the steps most of the rest of us have been taking for six months now. If they don’t, the consequences will be severe, even if young people aren’t the ones who ultimately suffer most. As the saying goes, youth is wasted on the young. We now need to make sure the gift of youth doesn’t turn into a curse for everyone else. guest editorial Park City mayor: If Hideout wants to be part of our community, it should act like it ANDY BEERMAN Park City mayor Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. This old adage is perfect for the mess that Hideout has created for all of us who cherish our quality of life along the Wasatch Back. Once a relatively quiet golf hamlet, the Town of Hideout is now courting predatory developers and engaging in backroom deals with the hope of building a sprawling development on Park City’s doorstep. The developers and the Hideout Town Council argue that their desired new town center — 2 miles outside their actual town — will solve our region’s problems by providing more high-priced housing and what they call a “commercial mecca.” They claim it will deliver a treasure trove of new taxes to Hideout, as well as an equestrian center, trails, fast-food court, indoor surfing and abundant open space filled with a wild herd of unicorns. Their justification: Everyone else is creating growth and traffic, so let’s fix it with more growth and more traffic. When you’re in a hole, stop digging! But sadly, it appears that the Hideout Town Council, with the exception of Carol Hazelton, will stop at next to nothing: • Premeditated illusory legislation: Communications depict a concerted effort to slip an amendment past the Utah Legislature to create a special, predatory annexation law. These beyond-the-pale tactics led the Legislature to overwhelmingly repeal the law during their August special session. Sen. Winterton and Rep. Quinn both publicly implored Hideout officials to stand down and honor the legislative repeal — effective Oct. 19. Hideout previously said they “would drop the annexation if the legislation is repealed,” yet they continue to pursue loopholes with the justification that it will only be illegal if they don’t hurry up! • Deceptive public meetings: Hideout actively sought to minimize public participation and input. Meeting agendas are posted just under the 24-hour deadline and include little detail and/or incorrect maps and information. The Town Council even met the Friday night of Labor Day weekend, and again declined to hear public input. The public hasn’t been allowed to speak for most of this process, but the developers and their lawyers freely participate as if they sit on the Hideout Council. • Actively undermining previous development agreement: Twenty years ago, Park City residents spent a decade negotiating the development of Empire Canyon and the Montage in exchange for keeping areas like Richardson Flat low-density, open space and recreational. Now, Hideout is facilitating attempts to void Park City’s agreement. In essence, Wells Fargo and the developers are trying to double dip and use the same entitlements twice. If Hideout truly honors our covenants, this area should be removed permanently from Hideout’s Annexation Policy Plan map. • Regional planning excuses: Hideout claims they’ve been ignored and need to annex for “regional leverage.” Simply untrue, ill-conceived and a weak justification for them to do what they want and ignore the regional impacts. We must demand more from Hideout. It has misled and disrespected the Utah Legislature, undermined Park City’s agreements and suppressed public participation. These actions are reckless and, according to Summit County’s lawsuit that seeks to prevent the annexation, illegal. Hideout Council members have repeatedly said they want to be part of the Park City community. If this is true: Act like it! In Park City, we value public input and quality process; we respect our neighbors; we protect our open space; and we honor our agreements. Hideout — just because you can doesn’t mean you should! guest editorial Better communication is needed from our health officials as coronavirus rages on HANNAH HUNSAKER Jeremy Ranch Cooler nights and changing leaves indicate that ski season is fast approaching. Skiing and tourism are the lifeblood of our community; COVID-19 will make this season vastly different. I was concerned with some events allowed to go forward this summer and voiced my concern in the following email sent Aug. 8 to Chris Crowley, Summit County public health emergency preparedness coordinator: “Hi Mr. Crowley, “My name is Hannah Hunsaker and I was born and raised in Park City. I have been away at school for the past five years, but I was lucky enough to spend my quarantine time back home. I spent four years in Massachusetts for undergraduate education and began my master of public health last fall at the University of Vermont. While this has been an extremely difficult few months for the world, it has reinforced my desire to pursue public health and has provided major learning opportunities. “First of all, I would like to commend the entire Summit County Health Department on all of your work during this pandemic. My family and I have appreciated the extra precautions taken by our county and the data is encouraging. “That being said, I was disappointed to see the number of cars parked at Ecker Hill Middle School today for the Ski Town Shootout lacrosse tournament. I know that the annual soccer and softball tournaments have been cancelled, so I am curious as to why this tournament was allowed to take place. City and county officials have stayed focused on trying to save our ski season, the heart of our town and economy, and this tournament seems contrary to that goal. that we have received over the past 26 years from our members, donors, film underwriters and grantors — the largest of which is the Summit County RAP Tax. RAP Tax grant funds in particular have given us the support we needed to expand our programming and partnerships over time and put us “I love this town and have been impressed with how businesses and individuals have been able to adapt to our new normal. The loss of the ski season would be catastrophic for our community; allowing large gatherings like sporting events seems to make that an even more real possibility. “I felt strongly that I needed to voice my concern. Again, thank you to you and your entire team for all of your efforts.” I received a prompt reply from Mr. Crowley indicating that he forwarded my email to Summit County Health Director Richard Bullough. As of Aug. 21, I had not heard back from Mr. Bullough, so I sent a follow up email: “Mr. Bullough, “I am reaching out to you as a follow up to the note I wrote two weeks ago to Mr. Crowley voicing my concern over the continued county sanction of sports tournaments (see below). I received a prompt response and it was indicated that my note was passed on to you. As I have not received a response from you, I am reaching out again. I know there was another lacrosse tournament last weekend with large crowds, and with school starting, I am even more concerned that this could lead to increased case numbers that will negatively impact my community and family. As I mentioned in my previous email, saving our ski season is of the utmost importance for the economic health of our community and increasing case numbers further jeopardizes the season. “I would again like to thank you and your entire team for all of your work during these unprecedented times.” It is now Sept. 13, and I have heard nothing from the Health Department. I know this has been an extremely busy and stressful few months, but our community deserves answers. If the community wants to save our ski season, there needs to be open communication with the health officials we have trusted to lead the COVID-19 response. in a position to not only withstand our extended closure this spring, but creatively reimagine how we engage our community in the cinematic arts this summer. If you love film and appreciate what the Twilight Drive-in has brought to our community, please vote YES on Proposition 21 in November. The arts are vital to the well-being and success of our arts nonprofits in Summit County and your vote to re-authorize this small tax can make a huge difference over the next 10 years. Katharine Wang Park City Film executive director |