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Letters to the Editor, December 10-13, 2011

'Next Generation' panel opened some eyes

Editor:

KPCW wants to thank the great, caring, involved audience that came in person, listened and took part in our lively forum, "Re-imagining Park City for the Next Generation," at Santy Auditorium Tuesday night. The Forum was also broadcast and streamed online to a wider audience.

Nearly 200 came out on a cold night to hear our keynote speaker, Robert McNulty, followed by remarks from Bill Coleman, who since 1970 has played a central role in the evolution of Park City into a world-class resort. Our panel of young citizens, planners and small-business owners opened some eyes and raised issues we as a community need to deal with as our children grow into adulthood and begin their own families here.

The evening obviously required a lot of work by both KPCW staff and volunteers. I want to especially single out our community-relations director, Beth Fratkin, who produced the event. Roger Crawford, our volunteer audio wizard, pulled off a complicated audio setup with a live broadcast, PA system and eleven live microphones. And our forum’s underwriters, Mark Fischer of The Yard at Bonanza Park, Mary and Charlie Wintzer from the Storage Depot and Iron Horse District, Park City Municipal Corporation and KPCW all contributed monetarily to make the evening a success.

KPCW takes its role as our "Community Voice" seriously and we will continue to be at the forefront of issues concerning our special place in the Wasatch.

Larry Warren

General manager, KPCW

Help Josue Montiel set stage for others

Editor:

The Park Record’s article, "Josue Montiel slides into history," is a feel-good story that took a year and a half in the making. Josue will proudly be participating in the 2012 Inaugural Youth Winter Olympics in Austria, where he will compete in skeleton. Josue is making history not only as a local youth participating in this inaugural event, but by also representing Mexico when he does. He is the first Mexican to ever represent the county of Mexico in the sport.

Josue is a symbol to other culturally disadvantaged youths that dreams and hopes do become a reality when you put hard work and dedication into attaining your goal especially when others believe in you and support your dreams. That is not the reality for all youth in Park City and its environs. As you may recall, my restaurant, Good Karma, was burglarized this last summer by two youths, a 16-year old and, shockingly, a 13-year old. What is more shocking is that the burglary and vandalism happened at 4:00 in the morning. Did these youths’ parents know that they were out at 4:00 a.m. or had any knowledge that they had repeatedly also burglarized the Recycling Center several times in the span of a week? These young delinquents were caught, and rightfully so must pay restitution to all of their victims.

After my initial feelings of anger at having my place of business violated, I became very sad. I was sad that these young juvenile delinquents either had no dreams, goals, aspirations or positive mentorship to make them choose right from wrong. I committed to be the change I want to see for the Hispanic youth of Park City by becoming a founding member of the board of directors for The Mexican Bobsled and Skeleton Foundation. I want to facilitate opportunities for youths like Josue Montiel, who can serve as a positive mentor for other young Hispanics.

Please help the MBSF provide the same opportunity for other youths who can envision a promising future instead of a life of crime that harms everyone in our community. The MBSF is seeking donations to make this into a legacy program for more local, Hispanic youths. Please contact me directly at (435) 313-5232 cell.

Blanca Gohary

Co-owner, Good Karma Restaurant

Hidden Treasure? Reveal 2006 sale price

Editor:

I read with interest that the Sweeney family has a 50% partner in the Treasure property and its development rights. Given the secrecy surrounding appraisals that have been commissioned by both the Sweeneys and the city, it would be of more than passing interest to know what the NYC-based partner paid for their 50% interest in 2006 (at the height of the real estate market). Discount that figure by approximately 30% to account for the real estate collapse and we would have a "mark to market" current value.

This sale price would be less arbitrary than any appraisal. I, for one, would not consider voting to approve a bond issue to finance all or part of Treasure without knowing this figure.

Harry Bolger

Park City

Park City people deserve better

Editor:

Regarding the article "Deputy to Woman: Get Out and Walk," I find this deplorable behavior by a person with the authority to make life-and-death decisions and who carries a weapon. Forget courtesy, kindness, and chivalry. Appropriate judgment should be a priority in every situation, no matter what law has been broken in this case, an expired registration.

Could haves and should haves are not enough of an excuse. Acting professionally, especially when you have the responsibility of our citizens’ wellbeing and their trust, and are in possession of a weapon, is a must 100 percent of the time. Hope you don’t shoot and then ask questions later not even once in a while.

This officer ought to be reprimanded somehow. People of Park City and everywhere deserve better.

Robin Altschuler

Park City

Whatever happened to Park City civility?

Editor:

I’m wondering if this officer happened to be married, and if his wife just happened to be pregnant, if he would make her get out of the car and walk in a snowstorm to work? Did we not just have a public-awareness campaign about civility in Park City this past summer? This is not about the automobile violation. It’s about common sense and decency, and how a situation like this should be handled. As a thirteen-year resident, I’m embarrassed by this behavior. My apologies to this woman; she deserves better.

Tom Bruski

Park City

Clearing hydrants is your responsibility

Editor:

It’s that time of year again, snow season. This means it is your responsibility to clear your fire hydrants. I have completed my Eagle Scout project and I have some interesting facts about snow and fire hydrants to share with you. For example, statistics and firemen say that it takes somewhere between one and two minutes to hook up a fire hose to a hydrant and start pumping water. Sounds like a really fast pace, right?

Now let’s take a look at the time if your fire hydrant is not cleared of snow. It takes about seven to eight minutes to clear out the fire hydrant, hook up the hose, and start pumping water. That takes your chances of your house surviving from 80% down to 20%. For every minute the fire burns the fire will double in size. Having a clear fire hydrant will reduce the amount of damage to one of your largest investments.

I have put in a lot of time into my Eagle Scout project. For a video on clearing fire hydrants please visit my video on YouTube. Here is the URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8CNx7I9rI

Clearing fire hydrants of snow is your responsibility. Not your neighbors; yours. Please just take the time to clear your fire hydrants.

Big thanks to Dave Marsella and the Park City Fire Department for helping me with my project. I would also like to thank all my fellow Scouts from Troop 71 and Troop 72 for helping me out with my Eagle Scout project.

Last winter, Scouts from all around Park City chose one fire hydrant to keep clear for the entire winter. I would send out email blasts reminding Scouts to clear their hydrants, but most Scouts had already taken care of their responsibility.

I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work. The Scouts have helped me out a ton. Without them this project would never have been possible.

Dakota Janes

Boy Scout Troop 71

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