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Show Volume XXX Issue IX The Ogden Valley News Page 13 December 15, 2023 ------- TWENTY YEARS AGO ------Valley Elementary Joins WeatherNet On November 21, 2003, Valley Elementary announced it had joined the 2News (KUTV) WeatherNet Program. The school will install a new weather monitoring station that will provide real-time weather conditions to Channel Two meteorologists and the local community. The school will also use the weather station to enhance curriculum under an innovative program called WeatherNet Classroom, which was co-developed by 2NEWS and AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. “This new program will turn our students into budding meteorologists,” said Mr. Tommy Lee, principal of Valley Elementary. “It will strengthen their learning experience across several different subject areas, and give them a great sense of pride in their school because we are providing a key service to the community. We are proud to be a part of this innovative program.” Valley’s WeatherNet program was made possible through an exclusive partnership with 2NEWS, which is committed to providing an engaging teaching tool for schools, while giving local residents the best real-time weather information available. Brad and Cathie Layton of Huntsville proposed the idea of a local station and will complete the required work for installation. As Mrs. Layton sought funds through the PTA, word spread about this exciting opportunity. LETTERS cont. from page 12 In response, Dr. Steve Porter and his wife Linda generously funded the purchase of the station. WeatherNet Classroom is an award-winning, interactive learning program that seamlessly integrates real-time local and national weather data and camera images into a range of science, math, technology, and geography lessons for elementary, middle, and high school students. Using WeatherNet Classroom, teachers from Valley will be able to create customized learning activities based on current and historical weather conditions from school’s new weather station. Students will be able to monitor such things as wind speed and humidity. In addition, students can compare local weather conditions from more than 6,000 other schools nationwide that participate in the WeatherNet program. More than 100 local television stations nationwide participate in the program. We asked a few Valley students to share what they thought about the new weather station. Following are some of their responses: “I think it will be a good thing for us to learn more about our surroundings and the weather that we have.” “I think it’s great that our area will be on the news. We will learn a lot of science and math because of it.” “This will be really exciting!” Why Aren’t Our Elected O昀케cials Ful昀椀lling Their Fiduciary Responsibilities? My name is Paula Heward Willden. I was born and raised in Ogden Valley and have seen most of the development happening around the valley. I am not against development; however, I do support legal and smart growth. Why did the county commissioners rush to approve a rezone that will allow for the proposed Eden Crossing development, when it goes against our general plan. The commissioners had an opportunity to keep this valley special, to offer the world our Garden of Eden. And what about my property rights? In February of 2023, I received a call from my mother, Barbara Heward, who, while I was out of town, was staying with my grandmother who lives in Eden. She called me asking if I was aware of anything happening out in our field? My response was, “It’s February of the worst winter we’ve had in 20 years. I would know…. No, there shouldn’t be anything happening in the field.” Little did I know that our fence was being ripped out “by accident.” A fence that my family has owned since 1947. Quite the 642.08-foot long, fence-ripping-out accident! My mom went out to the workers and told them to stop, but they wouldn’t. We received farm equipment damage, loss of fencing, cistern damage, my dog run was completely destroyed, and dozens of our trees were ripped out, so I retained legal counsel. I didn’t announce or share my family’s farm situation for seven months until I started reading posts online promoting the development and how these projects were being handled seemingly flawlessly. Huntsville Artist Helping with Holiday Windows at the Grand America Hotel By Kera Erickson The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City is having a holiday window stroll that takes place from November 1 through New Year’s Day. This year’s theme is Let it Snow. All the windows highlight different winter activities you can enjoy here in Utah. Participants who can find Snowball the kitty in each of the windows can enter a drawing for a one-night stay at the Grand America Hotel. Each window display is homemade with creativity and love from a team of local artist and craftsman. Jonnie Hartman, artist and past alumni of Weber High School, is commissioned by the Grand for the project each year. Hartman comes up with a vison and then she invites talented local artists to be part of the team. This is the 9th or 10th season of window displays. It started out with a handful of people, and now has grown to quite a large team. Because of my speaking out, I was paid a very aggressive visit to my home on Sept. 25, 2023, where I was berated on my own front porch, the day after the original article about our farm fence was published in this newspaper. I was home alone, as my husband, a firefighter, was out fighting wildfires in Texas. But he watched the conversation unfold from our porch cameras. I was threatened with a lawsuit, even though the perpetrator was denying any involvement. A police report (Case File #: 23WC34728) was filed as I should not fear for myself or my children at my own home. But I do. Then, on October 28, I received a call from my wonderful neighbor asking me if I was missing some signs that were posted on my fence. A man was caught red-handed stealing people’s signs right off their property—signs that were protesting Eden Crossing. Twelve counts of theft and twelve counts of trespass were filed (Case File #: 23WC39181). I spoke at the December 5 public hearing on Eden Crossing zoning change for all of those who have been silenced. The people whose An example of one of the Utah winter activity careers would be affected, the farmers who are window displays designed by Star Primm of unable to attend, the people my own age who are Huntsville. at work or raising families and couldn’t be there. Why should “I” or “We” need legal representa- LETTERS-MORE PARK cont. from page 2 tion to demonstrate was is happening that is not right? As elected officials, our county commis- street, off the busy highway, for all to enjoy. sioners have a fiduciary to watch over the people We envision a large park and plaza area with a they represent—not just a single developer. gathering space which will be ringed with little shops, restaurants, and a few 1 and 2 story office Paula Willden, and retail spaces. Perhaps it could include a Eden Wellness Center with possible Urgent Care. Set well off the highway, there could be mixed-use buildings and a nicer 2 to 3 story boutique hotel. Our vision for Eden’s main street would include a green space lineal park with a bike trail connecting communities to the north; two & three story multi-family buildings and some townhomes that will be the most attainable homes in the Valley; homes our children could live in. We can create a vibrant, sustainable village with connections not just to transportation up to the ski resorts, but down the canyon to Ogden as well. Working with Parks & Rec., we can envision a large recreation center located at the north end of Eden Crossing, open to the public and for the public. We’re hoping to incorporate in the recreation center’s design an indoor pool, playgrounds, gym, ball fields, and more. So, where do we go from here? As I have Fog in Ogden Valley. Photo courtesy of Jaden Wakefield. Star Primm of Huntsville with some of her 3D creations for the Grand America Hotel’s annual holiday window stroll now underway in Salt Lake City. One such artist is Star Primm of Huntsville. Primm has been on the team and worked on the window displays since the very first exhibit. Her specialty is three-dimensional character design. All the three-dimensional characters and animals in the displays are handmade by Star. She takes illustrations from the lead illustrator and brings them to life in threedimensional form. This year’s creations include ice skaters and all the animals in the windows, such as owls, mountain goats, and little critters hibernating in their cozy dens. Primm creates all her own pattern designs for her sewing creations. In addition, she also designs her own fabric. Some of her creations are small, but at times her creations have been large such as a six-foot yeti she once created. Primm states that she loves to do all art. “I love to paint, to draw, to illustrate, but my specialties include fabric design, sculpting, and 3D design. Being part of the window stroll at the Grand has helped me to refine and develop my skills in a way that I could not have done any other way. To put the event into perspective, last year approximately 55,000 guests clicked on the QR code as they visited and enjoyed the window displays. To check out the window displays, visit Grand America Hotel at 555 South Main Street in Salt Lake City. For more information about hours, parking, and contributing artists, visit grandamerica. com/holiday-window-stroll. always done, we start by creating the general layout based on what the ordinances allow and what is feasible using professional land planners. Then, we bring the plan to the neighbors and public to get their input and ideas. We will engage architects who have planned and created successful and attractive villages. Our goal is to create a win-win. In past developments in the valley, we worked with the Eagle Ridge HOA when designing Eagle Crest, and Trappers Ridge HOA when creating Cobabe Ranch to come to common ground solutions to alleviate conflicts that affected the close neighbors to the project. We are confident there is a version of Eden Crossing that may not be perfect for our adjacent neighbors, nor perfect for us, but one we can look at with satisfaction, and in time, with pride. If you would be interested in sitting on a community advisory board for the Eden Crossing project, please contact our office at contact@edencrossing.info. Thank you again for your support, and in other cases, your constructive criticism; both were equally helpful. Sincerely, John Lewis & The Eden Crossing Team |