Elizabeth Laden's Mountain Views

Dick Marler's Marler's Musings

From Lynn's Desk

Fred Pfeiffer's Pfeiffer's Pfacts

Guest Commentary

Guest opinion

Letters to the Editor

Letters Policy: Keep it to 250 words. We edit for length, grammar, spelling, and mean-spiritedness

Mountain Views

On fire with community spirit

Community spirit is on fire in the caldera, as bright as the medley of perfect autumn weather we have had lately.

Many Island Park folks helped with the fish salvage operation covered in this week's paper and reported by other media in the state. John and I took more than 60 photos of the event, all the time thinking how much we love our jobs.

Photos and words cannot describe the beautiful ornaments many folks made this month for the National Christmas Tree, which comes from Idaho this year. Island Park Historical Society President Nancy Stratford and Island Park Library Friends Board member Terre Short did a great job designing some of the ornaments and involving many people in the work of creating them. Each is a perfect souvenir of Island Park. Some of my favorites are tiny books filled with Island Park historical photos and snowflakes framing Betty Nelson's original paintings. It was a pleasure to see young children and older people working together on these gifts from our state.

Another positive community venture is the fund the Island Park Sportsmen's Association has set up to help children over the holidays. It's all about love and caring, and we have heard many people express delight that the IPSA has been revitalized under the leadership of Dennis Kennedy and the other new officers and board members.

In its second year, the Island Park Area Chamber of Commerce's Celebration of Lights is going to involve more families and businesses than last year because the publicity is out early. Some people we have talked to be doing some serious planning for decorating their buildings and homes for the holidays. It's going to be great fun driving around the caldera and enjoying all the displays.

Now all we need is snow— tons and tons of it. Perhaps we should keep the community spirit alive by getting together for a snow dance!

Elizabeth Laden
[email protected]

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Marler's Musings by Dick Marler

A day of honor and remembering

Veterans Day, a few weeks away, is one day each year that some of us pause to honor the men and women who made sacrifices for freedom. It is a freedom many expect is a divine right, or arrogantly accept with a ho-hum attitude—another holiday's excuse to fish or hunt.

The home I grew up in promoted belief in this great country, in God, and in family values. I often, with tongue in cheek and mischief in my chosen words, make fun of the bizarre uniqueness of some who seek political offices, of seemingly absurd legislation, and of committees who spend hours reviewing the issue of whether or not we have too many committees. I do now, always have, and always will, hold the highest esteem for the many who have served their country with honor and pride so I can enjoy the liberty of speaking out in seriousness or in jest.

As a young kid, I stood in the cold while Grandpa raised the flag next to his trailer and as Pa hung another flag on the front porch of the house. Then we would go out to the local cemetery where the young men who had just returned from Europe and the Pacific joined with the not so young who had served during World War I. They stood side with my Grandpa and his friends who had gone to the Philippines and Cuba during the war with Spain. After a few prayers and speeches, an honor guard would fire a rifle salute in recognition of their fallen comrades. Then, we would all go home. I was probably too young to understand who these men were, where they had been, or what they had done, but I listened to their stories and knew it was important.

I challenge those who have access to a computer to log onto the Internet and find out the history of this one day of the year set aside to honor our military. For the rest, I'll give you a short course. On November 11, 1918, World War I ended. In the hope of a lasting peace, that day came to be known as Armistice Day, and in 1929 was officially recognized by a congressional resolution. Twelve years later, Armistice Day became an official national holiday. After the end of World War II and the death of 460,000 American service men and women, the name was changed to Veterans Day.

When he signed the bill establishing Veterans Day as the official name of this holiday, President Eisenhower asked Americans everywhere to dedicate themselves to the cause of peace— an honorable but elusive goal. Since that time, tens of thousands of our service men and women have given their lives in defense of liberty and the search for peace.

The young men and women we honor on Veterans Day have made a commitment to me that creates a debt I can never repay. The best I can do is listen to their stories, attend their parades, bow my head, and with hand on heart say thank you for preserving my freedom.”

Dick Marler
[email protected]

Guest Commentary

Shaping Island Park's future

By Scott Christensen

Island Park has a dynamic and diverse population, from weekend visitors to full-time residents, who all cherish the area. The numbers grow larger every year as more and more people are drawn to the high quality of living and the many recreational opportunities found here.

Growth is anticipated and, in most cases, inevitable. Almost never anticipated are the impacts that follow growth and development. These impacts are often hard to foresee as they occur gradually. The cumulative effects of growth, however, can suddenly add up to change on the landscape and in the community.

How do we protect the values and resources that brought us to Island Park? How do we make sure that we're not discouraging growth while at the same time limiting the impacts on the environment and the character of our community? This can be accomplished through sound planning. The decisions regarding planning in the Island Park area are made by two entities—the city and the county. Elected officials who operate on the planning and zoning commission/board are mapping out the future of our community. The issues these local officials deal with are often complex and controversial, which makes it so important that they receive help and input from concerned citizens.

I encourage every member of this dedicated Island Park community—part-timers and full-timers alike—to get involved with local planning decisions. By receiving input from the public, our elected officials are able to make better, more informed decisions. What greater gifts can we pass on to our children and grandchildren than a healthy, beautiful environment, as well as a planned, livable community?

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Pfeiffer’s Pfacts by Fred PfeifferBeauty traveled the world

Guards enjoy high elevation winter fun

In November 1958, New Yorkers had their umbrellas out because it was raining. However, on the roof of the Empire State Building, security guards were enjoying a snowball fight.

A bird requires more food in proportion to its size than a baby or a cat.

When Odysseus arrived home after an absence of about 20 years, disguised as a beggar, the only one to recognize him was his aged dog. The pet named Argos, wagged his tail at his master and then died.

Strathspeys and reels are both Scottish dances. They are similar, but the strathspey is a wee bit slower than the reel.

George Harrison was the first Beatle to have a #1 hit single following the musical group's breakup. “My Sweet Lord” was released in 1970.

In 1938, schoolmates Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel sold all rights to the comic-strip character Superman to their publishers. Disgusted by years of rejection, they sold the first 13 pages of Superman, and signed a customary release form relinquishing all rights to the character, for $130, which they split between them.

Mickey Mouse is known as “Topolino” in Italy.

“Ahoy” was the greeting people used when the telephone was first introduced. Thomas Edison suggested a kinder sounding “hello.”

Rock English is spoken on the Rock of Gibraltar. A mix of English and Spanish, the language is common to natives of “the Rock.”

China uses about 200 family names.

King Louis the XIV had 14 personal wigmakers and at least 1,000 wigs.

Check Out Fred's Web Site - click here

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Letters

Thoughts on the role of newspapers

Congratulations to Elizabeth Laden and Dick Marler for consistently writing about the importance of being informed about how government operates and the importance of honoring people who put their lives on the line for us.

It takes courage to buck the system and to ask elected officials to do their jobs. It takes hard work and dedication to arrange for the veterans' display that Marler has worked on at Jill's. Both of you— and so many others involved in the Island Park news— are an essential component of what makes Island Park and Fremont County enviable to people like me, stuck until retirement in a large metropolitan area.

Accountability is key. If citizens do not make elected officials accountable, and if citizens do not understand why their government must go to war to make itself accountable, else terrorism will win out, than our world would be a sorry place. Whether a small town paper or a large one serving many states, newspaper editors and writers have a huge responsibility, Thanks for taking your jobs seriously— tongue in cheek at times— but always with care and concern for America and your community.

Frank Clinton

Miami, Fla.

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