An eclipse, like the one about to cast its shadow over Park City on Monday, has the power to elicit both wonder and humility. One person who is more than qualified to attest to that fact is Seth Jarvis, director of Clark Planetarium and a passionate astronomer.

Jarvis has been chasing total eclipses since the 1970s and admits that, each time, his efforts have been thwarted. In 1979, just four months after landing a dream job at Salt Lake City’s planetarium, Jarvis and an eager band of coworkers jumped in his VW bug and headed for the path of totality in northern Montana.

“I got it in my head that we could hit the road at 2 a.m. and we would arrive in Montana in time to witness totality. But my car broke down in Davis County, so I had a carload of very disgruntled coworkers,” he recalled with a laugh.

This time, the man who has spent the last 30 years sharing his love of the solar system with thousands of planetarium visitors is not taking any chances of getting stuck on the side of the road. He made hotel reservations in Casper, Wyoming, three years in advance and began the journey on Thursday.

“This is my third attempt at a total solar eclipse and I think I have a high probability of getting this one. But if I should lose out, there is another chance in 2024 and then, if I can stay alive until I turn 90, there is one that goes right through Utah in 2045.”

For those hoping to land a spot on the path of totality for this eclipse, which runs tantalizingly close to the Wasatch Front, Jarvis had some stern advice.

“My advice to people is, if at all possible, to go to bed Saturday night where you plan to wake up and spend the morning on the 21st,” he said.

Jarvis, along with the Utah Department of Transportation and many other service providers, is warning travelers to expect lots of eclipse-related traffic congestion, especially along Interstate 15.

“Don’t think you are going to get a lot of traveling done Sunday or Monday,” he warned. “Keep your gas tank full. Plan to live out of your car. Pretend you are going on an expedition across the Sahara Desert. Carry all of your own food, all of your own water, all of your own medical and sanitary needs. Literally, anticipate living out of your car.”

According to Jarvis, the mass of people expected to head northward to camp out along the path of totality is expected to overwhelm gas stations and restaurants.

For instance, Salt Lakers aiming for the closest spot where the moon will completely cover the sun, Rexburg, Idaho, may find that a trip that typically takes three hours will take much longer.

“We have people who calculate what is known as a driveshed, Jarvis said. Like a watershed that maps the flow of water from little streams to bigger streams, then from little rivers to bigger rivers that eventually end up with basically two rivers in the whole U.S., drivesheds do the same thing.”

That means, everyone headed to see the total eclipse on Monday will be funneled onto two major roadways: I-95 in the East and I-15 in the West.

“The number one driveshed, the real nightmare, is going to be I-95 from Florida to Maine. They are all going to be trying to get into North Carolina on I-95. The second biggest driveshed in America is going to be I-15. That is going to be collecting eclipse-watchers from Southern California, to Phoenix to Las Vegas — to say nothing of people from the Wasatch Front,” said Jarvis.

But Parkites who don’t tend to plan three years ahead are not completely out of luck. There will be an impressive light show right here in Summit County, where the moon will cover 91 percent of the sun.

According to statistics from NASA, along the Wasatch Front the eclipse will begin at about 10:14 a.m. and will reach maximum coverage at 11:34 a.m. The show will be over, for another decade or so, at 12:58 p.m.

While not as dramatic as a total eclipse, Jarvis said Utah’s deep partial eclipse will be noticeable. The light will grow dim and shadows will become more defined.

That is when, Jarvis hopes, the wonder will set in.

“That is when you realize that the universe is a grand, amazing place and you are part of it, and sometimes it does something extraordinary and allows you to witness it,” he said.

Jarvis hopes that feeling of excitement will linger beyond Monday’s eclipse and will inspire families to explore more science-related activities, like visiting the planetarium or the Museum of Natural History or just going on a nature walk.

“Clearly, what we desperately need, like no other time in human history is a scientifically literate public. So, if an eclipse is an opportunity to get people to say, ‘I like learning about science’ or gets them enthused about science in our everyday lives, we are all in favor of that,” he said.

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Registered voters should be on the lookout for their ballots late this week or early next week. According to Summit County Chief Deputy Clerk Kellie Robinson, anyone who does not receive a ballot should call the office, (435)336-3204 to check on its status including whether the clerk’s office has the right address.

Residents who have not yet registered to vote can still participate in the primary by registering in person at the clerk’s office or online before July 31.

As of Tuesday, the clerk was planning to send out 4,917 ballots to voters in Park City, 797 to voters in Oakley, 799 to voters in Kamas and 655 to voters in Coalville.

The following candidates are on the primary ballots:

For Park City Mayor:

(Vote for 1)

• • Roger Armstrong
  • Andy Beerman
  • Dana Williams

For Coalville Mayor:
(Vote for 1)

• • Tyler Rowser
  • Trever Johnson
  • Merlyn Johnson

For Kamas City Council:
(Vote for 2)

• • Kaycee Simpson
  • Kim Steed
  • Matthew Atkinson
  • Amy Yost
  • Allen McNeil
  • Garry Walker

For Oakley City Council:
(Vote for 2)

• Christopher Hanson
• David Edmunds
• Steve Butler
• Richard Bliss, Jr.
• Steve Wilmoth
• Eric Kendall Woolstenhulme
• Stephanie Woolstenhulme

The post Three East Side towns have primaries appeared first on Park Record.

According to Summit County Fire Warden Bryce Boyer, the fires were reported Sunday morning at about 2:30 a.m. He said it took about four hours to knock down the blazes.

Firefighters returned after daylight to ensure there were no hotspots. The fire’s status was officially deemed over on Tuesday, after Monday night’s rainfall.

Boyer cautioned, however, the county’s respite from fire danger is temporary.

“We did get some moisture but it is supposed to warm up by the weekend and the minute it does the cheat grasses will dry out and will be susceptible to burning again,” he said.

The post Firefighters quell brush fires in North Summit appeared first on Park Record.

Two years ago, Paige Rock’s parents made a generous offer, but it just didn’t feel right to the 12-year-old Ecker Hill Middle Schooler. After attending the Park City Community Foundation’s inaugural Women’s Giving Fund grant celebration, Jennifer and Bill Rock offered to donate $1,000 in Paige’s name so that she, too, could be a member of the group.

Paige respectfully turned them down. Instead, she began to cook up a plan to start a Girls Giving Fund. Now, two years later, it is officially up and running.

“She would not let this idea fade away. She was persistent,” said her mom.

According to Paige, she was surprised that more girls weren’t involved in the Women’s Giving Fund but with an initial membership fee of $1,000, she could understand.

By contrast, membership in the Girls Giving Fund costs $100. The goal, says Paige, is to amass enough members to create a $10,000 fund that will be used to award grants to local nonprofits. There are 10 founding members already who are each recruiting 10 more.

Paige said she is hoping those new members are not intending to tap their parents for the cash. She wants them to earn the money themselves.

“They don’t have to get $100 off the bat. I’ve earned mine with babysitting. It is more special if they get it on their own. Then it’s their own money, not just their parents’ because that would be too easy,” she explained.

Paige credits the Park City Community Foundation for nurturing her idea. She approached them a few months ago with a detailed PowerPoint presentation and received an enthusiastic response. They have since offered mentoring and bookkeeping services to the young organization.

Lauren Vitulli, who leads the Women’s Giving Fund’s mentoring program, attended Paige’s initial presentation and recognized her commitment right from the start.

“This is truly her idea and she has been instrumental in creating the process and making the decisions. Her concept fit perfectly into what we are doing and what I personally love to do. The Community Foundation is thrilled to support her vision,” said Vitulli.

But Paige says her parents, Jennifer and Bill, are the ones who really inspire her to want to give back to the community. “I have watched them give back,” she said.

Paige said she isn’t shy about seeking out new members. She has a polished pitch that she says comes easily, “because it helps the community.”

The girls got a taste of the joy of giving earlier this month when they were invited to announce the name of this year’s Women’s Giving Fund high impact grant, a $30,000 check that went to Park City’s domestic violence prevention agency, Peace House.

“It felt great,” she said.

The Girls Giving Fund is hoping to cut a check of its own on Nov. 10 when Park City holds its annual Live PC Give PC day of giving. If all goes according to plan, the Girls Giving Fund founding members hope to award $5,000 to a deserving nonprofit of their choosing. And, Paige says the group’s involvement with the recipient will continue beyond the donation. The girls will volunteer for the organization throughout the year.

In the meantime, Paige and her cohorts are knocking on doors looking for new members. As their ranks grow, Parkites can also expect to see them, in their signature pink trucker hats, hosting bake sales and lemonade stands as they fatten up the Girls Giving Fund’s piggy bank.

For more information go to: parkcitycf.org/girlsgivingfund

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Monday, amid big smiles, warm hugs and a few tears, representatives from Park City’s domestic violence shelter, Peace House, accepted a $30,000 high-impact grant from the Women’s Giving Fund.

According to former Peace House Executive Director Jane Patten, the money will help the nonprofit build its first transitional housing unit at its new campus in Round Valley. Patten recently stepped down from her position in order to focus on developing the project which will include eight emergency shelter units, 12 transitional units and related support space.

The Peace House grant application was one of three finalists for the Women’s Giving Fund’s annual grant. The money comes from an ambitious drive, initiated by the Park City Community Foundation, calling on 1,000 women to donate $1,000 each to establish a $1 million endowment to support organizations in Summit County that provide services for women and children. Interest from the fund, which now has more than 1,300 supporting members, is awarded to one group each year.

A committee reviews and winnows the field of applicants, and donors make the final selection by voting online. Previous high impact grants have been awarded to PC Tots, an affordable day care center, and the Children’s Justice Center, which provides medical and legal services for children who have been abused.

The other two finalists for this year’s grant were Holy Cross Ministries and the Youth Sports Alliance.

Patten was overcome by emotion when the announcement was made in front of a large crowd at Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Lodge. She thanked the community for supporting the shelter’s work, saying the new housing will ensure that victims of domestic violence will have a safe place where they are protected. “As long as they need our help we will be there for them,” she said. “This is an amazing seal of approval for the work we do.”

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The mayor’s post and two council seats are up for election in each town. The filing window to be included on the official ballots closed Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The following citizens have filed:

Coalville:
For mayor: Trever Johnson, Tyler Rowser, Merlyn Johnson
For council: Rodney Robbins, Cody Blonquist, Suzanne Boyer, Timothy Bristow

Kamas
For mayor: Kevan Todd, Matt McCormick
For council: Kim Steed, Amy Yost, Garry Walker Kaycee Simpson, Matthew Atkinson, Allen McNeil

Henefer
For mayor: Kay Richins
For council: Detton Fawcett, Richard Butler, Matt Shill

Oakley
For mayor: Wade Woolstenhulme, Ron Bowen
For council: Dave Edmunds, Steve Wilmoth, Steve Butler, Chris Hanson, Richard Bliss, Kendall “Tiny” Woolstenhulme, Stephanie Woolstenhulme

Francis
For mayor: Lee Snelgrove, Byron Ames
For council: Trilby Cox, Shana Fryer, Casey Vorwaller, Scott Ian Buchanan. (An earlier candidate, Shauna Bushman, withdrew her application.)

Due to the number of candidates who filed, there will be a mayoral primary in Coalville to reduce the field to two. There will also be a runoff in the Oakley Town Council race to reduce the number of candidates from seven to four, and in the Kamas Council race to reduce the field from six to four.

Ballots for the primary races will be mailed July 25 and will be tallied on Aug. 15.

The post East Side candidates trickle in on last day of filing appeared first on Park Record.

The mayor’s post and two council seats are up for election in each town. The filing window to be included on the official ballots closed Wednesday at 5 p.m.

As of late Wednesday afternoon the following citizens had filed:

Coalville:
For mayor: Trever Johnson, Tyler Rowser, Merlyn Johnson
For council: Rodney Robbins, Cody Blonquist, Suzanne Boyer

Kamas
For mayor: Kevan Todd, Matt McCormick
For council: Kim Steed, Amy Yost, Garry Walker

Henefer
For mayor: Kay Richins
For council: Detton Fawcett, Richard Butler, Matt Shill

Oakley
For mayor: Wade Woolstenhulme, Ron Bowen
For council: Dave Edmunds, Steve Wilmoth, Steve Butler, Chris Hanson, Richard Bliss, Kendall “Tiny” Woolstenhulme, Stephanie Woolsenhulme

Francis
For mayor: Lee Snelgrove, Byron Ames
For council: Trilby Cox, Shana Fryer, Casey Vorwaller, Scott Ian Buchanan. (An earlier candidate, Shauna Bushman, withdrew her application.)

Due to the number of candidates who filed, there will be a mayoral primary in Coalville to reduce the field to two. There will also be a runoff in the Oakley Town Council race to reduce the number of candidates from seven to four.

The post East Side candidates trickle in on last day of filing appeared first on Park Record.

As of Tuesday morning the following citizens had filed:

Coalville:
Mayor: Trever Johnson
Council: Rodney Robbins

Kamas
Mayor: Kevan Todd
Council: Kim Steed

Henefer
Mayor: None
Council: Detton Fawcett

Oakley
Mayor: Wade Woolstenhulme
Council: Dave Edmunds, Steve Wilmoth, Steve Butler, Chris Hanson

Francis

Mayor:

R. Lee Snelgrove, Byron Ames

Council:

Trilby Cox, Shana Fryer, Shauna Bushman, Casey Vorwaller

The town clerks’ offices will be open Wednesday until 5 p.m. to allow candidates to fill out official declarations of candidacy. In Henefer, potential candidates are asked to call Earlee Paskett to arrange a time to file: (435)336-2044

The post East Side municipal races still lack candidates for key roles appeared first on Park Record.

Summit County Council member Roger Armstrong announced Thursday that he intends to run for mayor of Park City. Armstrong is the first to publically declare an interest in the city’s top post. Incumbent Mayor Jack Thomas has, so far, declined to say whether he will seek another term.

Armstrong was first elected to the County Council in 2012 and, last November, ran unopposed for a second term. He and his wife Beth, the executive director of the People’s Health Clinic, live in the Aspen Springs neighborhood of Park City.

Armstrong emphasized that he is not running against City Hall saying he believes Thomas’s reticence to declare is based on concerns about who would file to take his place.

“I have the deepest regard for Jack Thomas and think he has been an excellent mayor. I suspect that Mayor Thomas has some life adventures calling to him but is waiting to see who declares their candidacy before making his final decision. I hope that my decision to run offers him some comfort concerning his possible successor and keeping his legacy moving forward,” Armstrong explained in a prepared statement.

He added that his interest in the city position does not mean he is unhappy on the county board.

“I really wrestled with it. I love my colleagues on the county council. I think we have made tremendous strides on issues like affordable housing, transportation and growth. We have been pushing hard and things are finally being implemented. I genuinely love what I do,” he said.

“But,” he added, “I live n Park City and the city really guides what happens in my backyard. I don’t want to see it harmed. I want to protect it.”

Armstrong who has three and a half years remaining on his current county council term said he is attracted to the mayor’s role “because it has more of a leadership aspect.” He said it would also offer the opportunity to “take a more public stance on the issues.”

In a press release announcing his intention to be a candidate, Armstrong reiterated his commitment to the community.

“I live in Park City and this is an important opportunity to serve my community, and I want to offer my services and expertise to help retain the remarkable qualities that attracted us to this amazing place.”

The release also underscores his experience with the council working on regional issues including the Mountain Accord initiative, the Summit County Mental Wellness Alliance and Council of Governments.

Armstrong’s professional background includes 22 years as a lawyer in the motion picture industry. According to the release, he previously on the Motion Picture Advisory Committee for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Utah Advisory Board of the Sundance Institute.

The post Summit County Councilor says he will run for mayor appeared first on Park Record.

A Summit Park family lost their home and almost all their possessions to a fast-moving fire on Friday, but as of Tuesday their biggest concern was for their 8-year-old dog, Roxy. None of the family members were home at the time of the blaze but their two dogs and a cat were inside. One of the dogs and the cat escaped without injury but Roxy, a black-and-white, blue heeler-mix is still missing.

The homeowners, Brett Taylor and Jessica Stabrylla-Taylor, and their two children are asking the community for help finding her.

According to Jessica, Roxy has been sighted since the fire. “So we do know she got out. She came back to the house but there was so much commotion with the fire engines and people, she darted away.”

She added that Roxy has been with the family since she was adopted from an animal rescue organization when she was a puppy.

The fire was reported to the Park City Fire District by a neighbor at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. According to Park City Fire Chief Paul Hewitt, the neighbor saw smoke and flames coming out from under the eaves. By the time fire district personnel arrived 10 minutes later, Hewitt said the structure, a 2,250-square-foot, log home on Summit Park’s Woodland Drive, was fully engulfed in flames.

The District called in 17 personnel to ensure the blaze did not spread to nearby homes. According to Hewitt the snowy conditions both aided and hampered suppression efforts. Due to the deep snow and cold weather they were able to save a nearby detached garage but the snow and ice also added to the firefighters’ challenges.

“There were some slips and falls but no injuries,” he said noting the firefighters had one other important factor working to their advantage — the homeowner had shoveled out the nearby fire hydrant allowing firefighters to access an important water source.

Hewitt said that if the fire happened during the summer, given the wooded terrain, it would have been extremely dangerous. The fire, he said, reached 2,000 degrees and had it spread to treetops, it would have been hard to contain.

As of Monday, the exact cause of the fire had not been determined but Hewitt said state investigators were focusing on the attached garage as the point of origin and the cause as accidental.

Jessica said she and her family were extremely grateful for the community’s support.

“The neighbors have been amazing, they are the only reason our pets are alive. The response has been unbelievable, even from strangers,” she said.

A neighbor who witnessed the fire, Jared Gallardo, said the family is doing well considering how much they lost.

“They are distraught about Roxy more than anything,” he said. Gallardo is helping to coordinate the search and said they would like to hear from people who have seen her or even someone who might be willing to use a drone to get an aerial view.

If anyone has information or can help they are asked to call the Taylor family at 435-647-6109 or 970-708 -9412 or Jared Gallardo at 323-497-2060.

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