What began as an immigrant mother’s effort to give back to her homeland has become a source of stability and hope for hundreds of children fighting poverty in the Philippines. 

Dr. Amelia S. Hernandez emigrated from the Philippines with her husband and seven children in 1971, eventually settling in Utah. She started Philippines Humanitarian because she never forgot where she came from, he daughter said.

“My mom was always wanting to give back,” said Erni Hernandez Armstrong, who lives in Park City and is the chair of the non-profit’s board. “And so this was a way that she found to give back. She rallied all of her friends, her church friends in the Catholic Church, and asked them if they would be interested in helping these students.”

The family focused on Payatas, one of the largest and poorest communities in the Philippines, located in Quezon City, just outside metropolitan Manila. 

Part of that community, an area built alongside a former dumpsite, once drew in families who relied on scavenging recyclables. In July 2000, after days of heavy rain, a towering heap of garbage collapsed, burying dozens of homes and killing hundreds of people. Many of the victims were women and children living in makeshift housing at the foot of the landfill.

Hernandez and her husband began collecting donations and shipping boxes of supplies, school materials, clothing and essentials to the children in the area. Then, what began as support for 12 children grew steadily, and eventually, Hernandez Armstrong took over her mother’s work.

“When her health started to fail, she asked me to take over,” Hernandez Armstrong said. “I wanted to see if there was a way to expand beyond the 12 kids that we were helping.”

In 2012, the family formalized the work by founding Philippines Humanitarian as a nonprofit. By then, the program had already been operating informally for more than a decade, serving the communities of Payatas and Macabud.

“If you want to look at it that way, we’ve been doing what we’re doing for those children in those impoverished communities for over 20 years now,” she said.

Today, the nonprofit based in Salt Lake City sponsors 279 students, supporting them from elementary school through college. Most are matched with individual donors who contribute monthly.

Hernandez Armstrong, who has lived in Park City since 1986, said she was once the only Filipino person in town. That’s changed over the years, and she’s proud to see the community grow and contribute to the area. 

“Many of our students are sponsored by fellow Filipinos in the U.S. In fact, one of our most dedicated long-time sponsors are Scott and Anita Parsons (a Filipino native),” she said. “They have been major sponsors of our annual fundraising event, Project Hope, for many years.”

Monthly sponsorships range from $20 for younger students to $40 for those in college. The funds cover school supplies, uniforms, transportation and, depending on the school, tuition or lab fees. In the Philippines, even public school students are required to wear uniforms, and many children face long commutes to attend class.

“We have 153 sponsors, Some of them sponsor more than one child” Hernandez Armstrong said. “Most of our sponsors are from the U.S., but we have sponsors from China, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines.”

“Some of our college students have to take two Jeepneys just to go to school,” she said. “Some of them have to travel four hours a day just to go to class.”

Hernandez Armstrong said one of the most important expectations is that the students’ families remain committed to their education. In communities where many families live day to day, that’s not always an easy ask.

To date, 96 students have graduated from college through the program, a number the organization expects to double in the next couple of years. Hernandez Armstrong also noted that 67% of the program’s graduates are women.

The organization’s scholarship fund supports college-level applicants each year through a competitive process. About two-thirds of applicants are awarded support, Hernandez Armstrong said.

More recently, the nonprofit launched a mentorship program to help graduates transition into the workforce. Alumni return to lead resume building workshops, mock interviews and peer support sessions for current students preparing to graduate.

“It gives them a leg up so they have a better chance of getting the jobs they’re applying for,” Hernandez Armstrong said.

Despite its long reach, Philippines Humanitarian still operates on a modest scale. The nonprofit has had limited success securing institutional grants, largely because many funding sources require money to stay within the U.S., said Armstrong.

Instead, the organization relies heavily on individual donations, many of them from Utah. Armstrong said community members and service clubs in Park City, like the Sunrise Rotary Club, have been consistent supporters.

“Many of our sponsors are actually from that club,” she said. “Many of the donors and sponsors are actually here in this community.”

Donations also go toward supporting another Philippines humanitarian program, Amelia’s Pantry, that provides meals and groceries to impoverished students and their families.

“Named after our founder, Amelia’s Pantry acknowledges just how difficult it is to learn on an empty stomach. Three days a week (over 10,000 meals in one year), we provide these meals to the children in Payatas, and every month, we distribute grocery rations to over 100 children and their families in the remote village of Macabud,” said Hernandez Armstrong. “Amelia’s pantry is implemented by our invaluable NGO partner in the Philippines, the Kapatidkita Mahalkita foundation.”

Each year, the organization hosts a fundraiser called Project Hope, their only such event of the year.

The next one is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 5:30-8 p.m., at the Founders Room of the Zion Bank Building in downtown Salt Lake City.

Hernandez Armstrong recalled how many students in the program have written to say they never imagined life outside their communities. Through education, they begin to meet others with shared ambitions and start seeing themselves in new places.

“It expands their horizon so that they’re meeting other people at school who have similar goals,” she said. “Instead of having to stay in that impoverished community, they realize a different life is possible.”

For Hernandez Armstrong, the work is about more than school. It’s about expanding what children believe is possible.

“Instead of getting that expensive cup of coffee, maybe put that toward helping somebody,” she said. “It changes their entire future, not just their future, but the future of all the lives that they touch, including their families.”

For more information about Philippines Humanitarian see philippineshumanitarian.org.

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With the peak of summer ahead, state water officials are planning for hot, dry weather driving up demand.

They said that with drought conditions persisting across the state, using water wisely is more important than ever. Storms in the southern part of the state have improved the situation, while drought conditions have worsened in the northern part of the state. Overall, 91% of the state remains in moderate to severe drought.

“Temperatures have soared, and with that comes a natural increase in outdoor watering,” said Candice Hasenyager, director at the Utah Division of Water Resources. “We want our lawns and gardens to look nice, and there are ways to do this through smart planning and new technologies that save water.”

High spring temperatures and a normal to below-normal snowpack in many areas this past winter resulted in a quick runoff season. Meteorological spring is defined as March, April and May. During that period, temperatures were 2.36°F above normal (normal is the average of the 1991-2020 time period). 

Great Salt Lake has seen a modest increase of about 1.5 feet since its seasonal low in November. According to the U.S. Geological Service, Great Salt Lake peaked in mid-April at an elevation of 4193.6.  

Reservoir levels are starting to decline, but remain 8% higher than normal thanks to strong water supply from previous years, state officials said. 

“Right now, we’re generally seeing outflows from reservoirs begin to exceed inflows,” Hasenyager said. “That pattern typically sets in later in the summer, but this year’s heat is accelerating things. Across all sectors, we need to look for ways to be efficient with our finite water supply.”

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is offering low-interest emergency disaster relief loans to agricultural producers in 17 counties affected by the ongoing drought.

Gov. Spencer J. Cox declared a state of emergency on April 24, highlighting the drought’s impact on the state’s agricultural economy. 

Farmers in the designated counties —Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington and Wayne — can apply for loans of up to $100,000 per entity. A total of $2 million is available through the loan program. These seven-year loans offer no interest for the first two years, followed by a 2.75% interest rate for the remaining five years. Applications for these relief loans will be accepted until Oct. 23. 

In Utah, about 95% of our water supply comes from snowpack. Reservoir storage helps preserve that water for use in dry summer months and drought years. To encourage water conservation among Utahns, the Department of Natural Resources promotes initiatives such as the Agricultural Water Optimization Program for farmers and SlowtheFlow.org for residents.

These programs aim to educate and incentivize water-saving practices so that Utahns become more drought-resilient and prepare for future conditions. Many indoor water-saving tips are available on the Slow the Flow website.  

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Park City’s Fourth of July, the big celebration with a small-town feel, is Chris Phinney’s favorite day.

“It’s one of those days where you will run into friends you haven’t seen for a little bit,” said Phinney, Park City Municipal Corporation special events manager. “Everyone comes in for the parade and all the activities at City Park, and it’s a full day of fun.”
The public events kick off at 8 a.m. with the annual 5K fun run, hosted by Park City Ski and Snowboard at Cole Sport, and continues with the Rodney Schreurs Fallen Officer Memorial and Fourth of July Main Street Parade.

“We’ve got close to 70 entries in the parade,” Phinney said. “We keep the parade entries to those who are local in the Wasatch back.”

Main Street begins closing at 6 a.m. to give organizers time to prepare for the parade. All cars need to be off of Main Street, Park Avenue — from 9th Street to 15th Street — Heber Avenue, Swede Alley and all Swede Alley surface parking, and by 8 a.m., the roads are expected to close to all vehicles.

Any vehicles parked in these areas during the times indicated above will be towed at the owner’s expenses, Phinney said.

“We start letting all the floats line up on Swede Alley around 8:30 a.m. so they can get situated and in their spots when the parade starts,” he said. “We have contracted Kate McChesney and Michelle McDonald of the Park Silly Sunday Market to come in and help organize and run the parade.”

The parade will end near City Park, where the festivities continue with a volleyball tournament, rugby games and other family-friendly activities, Phinney said.

“We work with the rugby team and they help coordinate the food trucks and beer garden,” he said. “There will be a lot of activities for all ages and families and individuals, including live music through Mountain Town Music.”

Mountain Town Music is a local nonprofit that helps book artists and run sound.

Phinney said there will be no parking at City Park from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. because it will be a hub of activities.

“We suggest people give themselves enough time to get to Main Street or City Park because there will be a lot of traffic,” he said. “So, we want to encourage carpooling, walking, riding the free public transit or biking. We will have a bike valet on 9th Street.” 

Free parking with free transit to Main Street is also available at Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort, Richardson Flat and the Park City School District on Kearns Boulevard, Phinney said.

Paid parking will be available at China Bridge Parking Structure on Swede Alley and other private lots located around town.

Parking fees vary around town. China Bridge costs $30 until 1 p.m., and then it’s free afterward.

The Flagpole Lot will not be available until after the parade at 1 p.m., so Main Street business owners and employees with permits are encouraged to park in the North Marsac lot, via Marsac Avenue, and the Gateway Center upper lot via Heber Avenue.

Carpool-permit holders should park in Sandridge Lots, and if those lots are full, carpool-permit holders may park in North Marsac or China Bridge as space allows, according to a Park City Municipal press release. 

Although Park City’s Fourth of July tradition used to include fireworks, that changed to a drone show a few years ago due to wildfire danger. Skyworx Drone Shows will present the show, according to Phinney.

“The show takes off from the base of Park City Mountain Resort,” he said. “So if you’re anywhere in the City Park area or by the base of the mountain, you will see the show. And we hope everyone will come out and have a good time.”

For information about Park City’s 2025 Fourth of July celebration, visit tinyurl.com/y6ccmbbm.

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Park City READS presented its 2025 Elevating Literacy Award to Debra Guthery, who has positively affected countless childrens’ lives through both her work in the local school system and as a private reading tutor.

The award was presented during their spring fundraiser, Gin & Phonics, which was held at Woodward Park City.

This award honors an individual who has made a significant contribution towards improving the lives of students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia.

Since 2006, Guthery has been an educator at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School—teaching first grade for 11 years, and serving as a Reading Interventionist for the past 8 years.

She is a credentialed Wilson Dyslexia Therapist, a distinction that reflects her commitment to reaching students with the most significant reading challenges.

Always eager to learn, her knowledge base also includes IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham course, LETRS training in the Science of Reading and 95 Percent Group’s RAP Tier 3 Intervention.

Last spring, Guthery attended Wilson’s Certified Teacher Conference in Boston with support from a PC READS’ Grant.

The award was presented to Guthery by Carly Driscoll, who shared how influential she has been to their daughter.

“Ms. Guthery is my daughter Layla’s 2nd grade interventionist, and I can genuinely say she’s changed Layla’s whole world,” Driscoll said. “Reading used to be frustrating and scary for Layla, she started to see that she was behind her friends. But thanks to Ms. Guthery, reading is fun, exciting, and something she actually looks forward to. That transformation is not just about books—it’s about confidence, joy and feeling capable.”

“It was wonderful to honor Debra with this award,” said PC READS Executive Director Elissa Aten. “Debra’s passion to empower students to become skilled readers is impressive, as she has dedicated years of her life to the literacy field. She seeks out professional development opportunities, including attending the 2024 Wilson Certified Teacher Conference. She is an asset to students in the school setting, as well as a resource as a private tutor. Her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of students through improved reading skills makes her a very deserving recipient of our 2025 Elevating Literacy Award.”

Each year, the award recognizes an individual’s service to students, families and/or the greater Park City community.

Nominees demonstrate exemplary efforts supporting the mission of PC READS, a local nonprofit which advocates for recognition and education of dyslexic students.

Layla Driscoll shared, “Ms. Guthery is so fun and I love getting to see her each day during my reading time. She makes reading fun.”

PC READS is a local nonprofit 501(c)3 advocating for recognition and education of dyslexic students.

The organization promotes elevating literacy through early identification of neurodiverse students for whom reading is challenging and by advocating for effective reading interventions andappropriate classroom accommodations.

It also provides resources and support to students, families and educators.

For information, visit parkcityreads.org.

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Park City Mountain opened for bike access last weekend, ushering in another season of thrilling descents and growing community on the mountain. 

For Emily Parkins, mountain biking is more than a workout or a way to get outside. It’s a way for connecting with friends and family, being challenged and inspiring others to do hard things. Though only entering her second season of dedicated bike riding, Parkins has built a community of riders to support and push her. 

“I’m really excited for this season. I love it so, so much,” said Parkins. “I convinced one of my best friends to try it out this year and watching her experience it for the first time is pretty unbelievable.” 

Despite a rocky foray into the sport a few years ago, Parkins was pushed to get back on the bike and keep trying. This season, Parkins is working on jumping and just becoming more comfortable. She doesn’t count her days like many others, but she said she loves the time she spends outside. 

“My favorite part about the bike haul is that there is so much climbing access. Even after a work day, you just come out, take the lift up, and can ride for a long time afterward,” she said. 

After their first day on the trails, Parkins and her first-time-rider companion marveled at the sport and the unique mountain access. 

“My friend said it is just everything that she loves, but it’s better. It’s the mountains and it’s biking and together, it’s just so cool,” said Parkins. 

Park City Mountain’s Crescent lift and Red Pine Gondola offer bike access all summer, with lift hours running daily through September from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the gondola and extended to 7 p.m. on Crescent.

Park City is home to miles of multi-use terrain that keeps people outside all summer, but the lifts make high-alpine terrain accessible to riders who might otherwise avoid the long grind to the top. Sandrine Barriere is visiting the area from Montreal in Quebec, Canada, for two weeks and has never experienced the world of lift-access riding before. 

“I’m very excited for the lift. I don’t have the courage to go up and down. Usually, I like to ride cross-country and don’t do much climbing. I’m so excited to do it this way and make it a bit easier,” said Barriere. 

Barriere got into the sport two years ago through the gentle encouragement of her dad’s boyfriend, a passionate mountain biker.

“I don’t know much about the sport yet, so I’m just happy to be here and get outside with my family. It seems like a paradise for biking here, so we said we’d try it,” she said.

Greg Foster and Greg Craner came out Saturday to spend the day outside together. Craner has been riding for more than 35 years. Foster joked he had some work to do to keep up with his friend. 

“I’d say I’m better than the average 40-year-old dad, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear,” Foster said, laughing. “My goals for the season are to try not to get hurt and keep up with this guy.” 

The pair tries to get out on the mountain at least once a week. For Foster, biking offers a completely different rhythm than the winter season, one where he can sneak in a few laps after work and enjoy time outside without committing an entire day to it.

For Michael Lever, the bike season holds its own place in his heart. And it certainly helps that it keeps his legs in shape for snowboarding, he said.

“I just like being outdoors and getting up on the mountain. The bike haul is a great thing. I’m getting a little too old to ride up Armstrong every day. I can really cover a lot more terrain that way,” said Lever. 

Lever typically gets out on the trails with his wife, an avid trail runner. He joked that oftentimes, she can beat him on the uphill while he rides his bike beside her. 

“I’ll ride, she’ll run, and we get to be together,” said Lever. 

Friends Allison Herr, Katie Ullrich and Chris Bierman came up to Park City to escape the Salt Lake heat, they said. With three to four years of riding under his belt, Bierman hit the trails alongside Ullrich and Herr as they geared up for their second season on two wheels.

“I’m really looking forward to taking the lifts up instead of pedaling,” said Bierman. “I’m excited to just get out and have a good time with my friends all summer.” 

For Ullrich, the lift access helps her get in extra laps and spend more time practicing technique on downhill terrain to get better. 

“I like it a lot, it is really fun, though I’m a bit newer to the sport,” said Ullrich. “I’m just trying to get faster this season. I’d like to get quicker and more comfortable.” 

The bike access lifts are joined by Town Lift and Payday Express for hiking and scenic rides, as well as the adventure park, open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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While nary a MAGA could be found on the pedestrian bridge over 1-80 at Kimball Junction on Saturday morning, a couple of counter-protesters showed up in downtown Heber City to let a couple of hundred No Kings ralliers know there is another point of view on how President Trump and the Republicans are doing in Washington, D.C.

Law enforcement was present and there were no reports of incidents requiring intervention at any of the Wasatch Back events in Park City, Kamas or Heber City. Other perhaps some barb in the banter between people with different views, the demonstrations were friendly gatherings of (mostly) like-minded people.

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Roger Stephens sent in images from the Kamas version of No Kings, the nationwide series of protests of Trump administration actions that have gathered millions in large cities and rural towns like Kamas.

Kimball Junction and Heber City had similar rallies on Saturday morning. In Kamas, Stephens said they were extending their event beyond noon to 2 p.m. 

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Nestled right in Midway is the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. 

While Soldier Hollow is, of course, best known for its winter activities, like Nordic skiing, biathlon and winter tubing, it also is an activities hub in the summer. 

Soldier Hollow has ample hiking and biking trails, space for rollerskiing and biathlon and, next door and unaffiliated, a 36-hole golf course.

Soldier Hollow puts on several recreational and competitive summer camps for those interested in biking, rollerskiing and more. Events on their horizon are the Soldier Hollow Bike Fest, Intermountain Cup and Muddy Dash. 

“Some of our favorite summer activities at Soldier Hollow include mountain biking, with e-bike rentals available for those looking to explore farther with a little extra boost, and our Discover Biathlon Experience, where guests can learn the basics of the unique Olympic sport.”

Soldier Hollow touts biathlon as “the most popular winter sport in Europe.” The experience costs $125 a person for two to 10 people for an hour and 15 minutes, and $195 a person for one to 10 people for two hours. 

Bike and e-bike rentals from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. cost $75, and those from 8:30 a.m. one day to 12:30 p.m. the next are $110. Normann said one of his favorite trails is the one that leads toward the Deer Creek Reservoir. 

Soldier Hollow also hosts summer camps for kids ages 6 to 11, where they work on their biking and hiking. The summer camps are packaged weekly and run from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. 

“As for new things, we’re excited to announce the recent opening of the Basecamp Café inside our new Sport Discovery Center, offering a welcoming spot for guests to relax and refuel,” added Normann. “We’re also introducing outdoor yoga classes — these sessions are designed to complement sport performance, with a focus on warm-up and cool-down movements. Each class lasts between 30 to 45 minutes, and guests are welcome to practice in scenic spots throughout the venue, including the patio, roof deck or open grounds.”

The yoga classes will be held on mostly July, Thursday mornings and Friday nights, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. They cost $8, the same as the adult trail passes. 

Normann would recommend hopping out on the trails this summer to everyone. For Parkite families, he thinks the summer camps, biathlon experience and trails will can all be fun options for kids. 

As far as the events go, the Bike Fest, June 27, and Intermountain Cup series both provide racing opportunities for all ages and abilities. The Muddy Dash, Aug. 9, sees runners navigate muddy conditions and various obstacles — don’t worry, there are foam cannons at the end to clean you off. 

“We’re always working to enhance the experience on our trails, and this summer is no exception,” Normann said. “Visitors will find well-maintained routes for both hiking and mountain biking, with options for all ability levels. Whether you’re here for a casual walk or a challenging ride, the trails offer stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere.”

For further information on Soldier Hollow and its programming, see their website.

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A moose died after a collision with a vehicle along the Park City entryway in early June, an advocacy group said.

Save People Save Wildlife said the accident occurred on Thursday, Friday or Saturday on the outbound side of S.R. 224 close to Temple Har Shalom. Car parts were found in the vicinity of the carcass, the group said.

S.R. 224 is under the jurisdiction of the Utah Department of Transportation and is the primary entryway to Park City for drivers from the Snyderville Basin and the Wasatch Front. There is significant open space that provides wildlife habitat as the road approaches the Park City limits.

There are regular accidents between drivers and animals on S.R. 224, particularly deer, but a collision involving a moose is uncommon. Details from the Utah Highway Patrol were not immediately available.

There are continuing talks about safety measures for S.R. 224 that would be designed to reduce driver-wildlife collisions, but a decision has not been finalized. A possibility includes a wildlife crossing — either a bridge or an underpass — somewhere between approximately the intersections with Old Ranch Road in the Snyderville Basin and Payday Drive in Park City. Another possibility involves a motion-detection system.

“I understand accidents happen. That being said, there’s something we can do to prevent this,” Save People Save Wildlife President Erin Ferguson said.

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Sustainability means different things to different people. A CEO or entrepreneur might think of an enterprise that can financially sustain itself while serving the needs of its customers and bringing value to its shareholders. A nonprofit leader will probably think of how they can sustain their organization’s mission into the future.

Those of us raised during the Green Awakening initiated by Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” think of sustainability as protecting and preserving our environment.

Several catchphrases emerged from this period: “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” — Smokey Bear, 1947; “Give a hoot, don’t pollute” — from Woodsy Owl, 1971; but the most enduring is undeniably “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

Several organizations in our community advocate for sustainable tourism, none more prominent than our Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. The idea that an organization tasked with promoting the Park City area as a tourist destination is also tasked with sustainability may strike some as contradictory.

After all, the sustainability catchphrase, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” begins with Reduce — as in reducing the number of tourists to help achieve sustainability.

With an annual budget of $13.6 million derived mostly from the transient room tax, as reported in their IRS Form 990, and another $4.37 million to the county uses to promote tourism, a substantial amount of effort and funding goes into doing anything but reducing tourists.

If we are going to sustain our infrastructure, our way of life, our community character, and most importantly our environment, isn’t it time we consider ways to reduce the impact of tourism on our community? Many tourist destinations are doing just that.

According to a recent article in The Independent, iconic destinations around the world are no longer simply welcoming tourists — they’re setting limits. Venice now charges day-trippers up to €10 to manage daily influxes; Japan is capping visitors to Mount Fuji and fining those who photograph geisha in Kyoto without consent.

In my ancestral home of Greece, island cruise magnets like Santorini and Mykonos are introducing passenger caps and fees for each visitor to relieve pressure on fragile infrastructure.

These moves aren’t driven by anti-tourist sentiment — they’re a response to community backlash, degraded environments, and overwhelmed systems.

Whether it’s the Philippines closing Boracay for ecological recovery or Hallstatt, Austria, installing barriers to slow selfie traffic, the message is clear: The unchecked volume of visitors has consequences, and many places are choosing to prioritize livability and preservation over promotion.

Kenya has emerged as a global leader in sustainable tourism by embracing community-based conservation models that align tourism with ecological preservation. As early as the 1970s, in regions like the Maasai Mara, local communities leased land to conservancies such as Olare Motorogi, where eco-friendly safari operators manage the tourism that provides income and incentives for habitat protection.

This approach not only preserves critical wildlife corridors but also fosters a sense of ownership and stewardship among the people who live there.

When was the last time you saw an ad asking you to visit Venice, Santorini, Mykonos, Mount Fuji, or Kenya? You can’t remember, can you? Could it be that these locations’ sustainability starts with Reduce? 

Our community leaders and elected officials should start thinking of ways to preserve our community by planning for limits on the number of visitors and how to better manage the ones who do come here.

One solution could be to limit traffic on our two major entry corridors through the issuance of permits. It is not simply enough to provide free transit — we should limit single-use vehicles.

Locals could receive special permits that provide access to our local roads, while we cap the number of single-use vehicles to a prescribed limit. Resorts would be required to operate shuttles to the hotels and ski destinations that augment and interface with our free public transit system.

If sustainability is about longevity — whether for a business, a nonprofit, or a fragile alpine town — then it begins with an honest reckoning of limits. And using our fees and tax revenues to support our infrastructure, our way of life, our community character, and most importantly our environment.

Just as those before us learned to reduce, reuse, and recycle to preserve the environment, we too must learn to reduce, rethink and recalibrate how we welcome the world to our doorstep.

Ari Ioannides, chair of the Summit County Republicans, is a recovering tech entrepreneur, founder of BootUP PD, and serves on local government and nonprofit boards. He offers a conservative perspective on local politics. He can be reached at aristides.ioannides@gmail.com

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