Opinion - pdf.southplattesentinel.compdf.southplattesentinel.com/issue/2014-04-23/6.pdf ·...
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South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Page 6 The South Platte Sentinel is published weekly by the South Platte Sentinel Publishing Company Inc., is distributed freely throughout Logan County every Wednesday. PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Delinda M. Korrey PHOTOGRAPHER/ SPORTS EDITOR: Ken McDowell NEWS EDITOR: Forrest Hershberger ADVERTISING MANAGER: Sarah Matthews PRODUCTION ASST.: Callie Marin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Glenda Amen, Pam Bacon, Bill Benson, Bud Christian, Linda Coberly, Pastor Sean Cole, Kenneth Frantz, Jennifer Goble, PhD, Beth Hackbath, Deanna Herbert, Dr. William Fredregill, Quentin Jones, Erin LeBlanc, Kerri Long, Dr. Mark McDonald, Dr. Philip Pollock, Kathy Reinhardt, Patricia Roberts, Pam Werner, and the Rev. Michelle Witherspoon ©2014 South Platte Sentinel Publishing Comp. 111 N. 2nd St., Sterling, CO 80751 Phone: (970) 522-8148 FAX: (970) 522-8350 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.southplattesentinel.com Opinion A reminder of traditions and the changing of life Editorial By Forrest Hershberger Admirable goal is worth taking a risk on Saturday I had lunch with a friend when I was asked about family Easter traditions. We had a common thread. We both understand working past the loss of a child. We also understand that you can’t let the grief keep you down. The question got me thinking though. I thought back partly because this Easter is more unique than most. The family that can usually take over a good section of a park or a specific family member’s home spread to the four winds this year: Nieces and nephews went to their in-laws, some nieces were working, and the list goes on until the crowd thinned to about seven of us, and a day at a buffet instead of heating up the grill. It was a good time, just different. Our traditions with Jill were generally pretty simple. We died Easter eggs the day before, a tradition that as time went on became a benefit for her younger cousins. Dress a little better than normal for the church service; sometimes I would make it to the sunrise service. It is good to be reminded of the crucifixion and resurrection. Too often we get so busy we overlook even the important things in life. Usually we were within reach of family. Most of our years involved three dinners - the in-laws, our house and the other family. We have had our traditional foods like anyone else, but with a large family it frequently became a potluck and take a chance that what you want to cook is what others want to eat. Just before the calorie coma kicked in, adults hide eggs for the young children to find. When the number of children outpaced the size of the yard or defined area of the park, eggs were collected, the children went off somewhere and the eggs were hid a second time. It became a contest pitting cousin against cousin more than children against the proverbial egg stealing rabbit. The rest of the day included card games around the kitchen table, or crocket at the park. They are good times, times to build memories. Yet another friend asked friends to share their experiences of loss. She had to let go of her dad a few months ago. The road she is on, and others like her, are not easy. There is nothing easy about having to accept that someone you have a close relationship with is no longer with you physically. It is a realization that the human body cannot last forever. There comes a time when something has compromised it, or it has simply worn out. The simplest of words can be both salve for the soul and empty cliches. No matter how many times a person goes through loss, there is that moment when talking to someone else there is the gut- check: how do I share my support, sorrow with a survivor without sounding insensitive. The value of the words will depend on the relationship. The words of a casual friend or someone who only knew of you and the departed is valued differently than a friend who had a close relationship with your dad, brother, child, or whomever the victim of death is. They are both accepted, but one is weighted more than the other. It is, again, about relationship. It is about who the grieving can be comfortable with because of shared experiences. On a weekend like Easter, loss also reminds us to look to the hope of resurrection. Without resurrection, death is the end. If death is the end, how do you recover from loss? (Forrest Hershberger is the news editor of the South Platte Sentinel.) To truly experience the arts is a gift. It may not be a gift that everyone appreciates, understands or embraces. But because the Re-1 Valley School Board is willing to take a risk – is willing to be progressive and think out of the box – northeastern Colorado may truly have a gift that keeps on giving academically, culturally and economically. At a meeting earlier this month, the school board heard from Logan County native and developer Bernice Artzer-Mills who presented a unique vision for the now vacant Stevens School, which was closed when the elementary grades were restructured. Since then, the former grade school has sat vacant, enclosed by a high fence with playground equipment still in tact. Artzer-Mills said would like to see the Stevens property become a center for arts. It could be a facility for people to study any art discipline from oil painting to music and drama. The term “the arts” is a broad concept that includes all forms of literature from poetry to epics, the performing arts, vocal and instrumental music, dance, theatre, drawing, painting, sculpturing, fabric, fiber, wood and so much more. Long term plans for the art center includes everything from short mini courses or camps featuring well-known artists as educators that bring students of all ages to our community along with a permanent established program or school. Actually, the concept for a center for the arts is only limited by the imagination and the feasibility of turning the project into a reality. If successful, the art center would turn a vacant building into a prosperous addition to our community and a drawing card for cultural activities and economic growth and even as important, an addition that is missing from our lifestyle. Nothing is definite but the school board agreed to continue working with Artzer-Mills while she pursues necessary funding for an art center and tries to establish a non-profit group within 30 days to receive title of the property. Transfer of the Stevens property title will be on the May 8 board agenda. Best of all, this is a win-win situation for the school district, which doesn’t need ownership or maintenance of a school it can’t use and a chance for the community to see potential growth without reaching into our pockets. If the project falls through, it won’t be the first time we’ve all laid our hopes on blue sky, but this time the only thing being risked is Bernice’s reputation. And she isn’t worried about that. Darrell Smith “No because raising the mini- mum wage will increase infla- tion.” Josh Linhardt “Yes, because it’s hard to live off minimum wage now. I think it will help the economy be- cause it will put more money in people’s pockets so they can spend more.” Leah DeFord “I do not because that would kill more businesses and eliminate more jobs.” Joel Nelson “No, because it will cost jobs at that rate, and those costs will be passed on to the con- sumers and it will further hurt the economy. I don’t think the government can dictate what something is worth.” Do you think the national mimimum wage should be raised to $10.10 per-hour?
Transcript of Opinion - pdf.southplattesentinel.compdf.southplattesentinel.com/issue/2014-04-23/6.pdf ·...
South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Page 6
The South Platte Sentinel is published weekly by the South Platte Sentinel Publishing Company Inc., is distributed freely throughout Logan County every Wednesday.PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Delinda M. KorreyPHOTOGRAPHER/ SPORTS EDITOR: Ken McDowellNEWS EDITOR: Forrest HershbergerADVERTISING MANAGER: Sarah MatthewsPRODUCTION ASST.: Callie MarinCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Glenda Amen, Pam Bacon, Bill Benson, Bud Christian, Linda Coberly, Pastor Sean Cole, Kenneth Frantz, Jennifer Goble, PhD, Beth Hackbath, Deanna Herbert, Dr. William Fredregill, Quentin Jones, Erin LeBlanc, Kerri Long, Dr. Mark McDonald, Dr. Philip Pollock, Kathy Reinhardt, Patricia Roberts, Pam Werner, and the Rev. Michelle Witherspoon©2014 South Platte Sentinel Publishing Comp.111 N. 2nd St., Sterling, CO 80751Phone: (970) 522-8148 FAX: (970) 522-8350E-Mail: [email protected]: www.southplattesentinel.com
Opinion
A reminder of traditions and the changing of life
Editorial
By Forrest Hershberger
Admirable goal is worth taking a risk on
Saturday I had lunch with a friend when I was asked about family Easter traditions. We had a common thread. We both understand working past the loss of a child. We also understand that you can’t let the grief keep you down. The question got me thinking though. I thought back partly because this Easter is more unique than most. The family that can usually take over a good section of a park or a specific family member’s home spread to the four winds this year: Nieces and nephews went to their in-laws, some nieces were working, and the list goes on until the crowd thinned to about seven of us, and a day at a buffet instead of heating up the grill. It was a good time, just different. Our traditions with Jill were generally pretty simple. We died Easter eggs the day before, a tradition that as time went on became a benefit for her younger cousins. Dress a little better than normal for the church service; sometimes I would make it to
the sunrise service. It is good to be reminded of the crucifixion and resurrection. Too often we get so busy we overlook even the important things in life. Usually we were within reach of family. Most of our years involved three dinners - the in-laws, our house and the other family. We have had our traditional foods like anyone else, but with a large family it frequently became a potluck and take a chance that what you want to cook is what others want to eat. Just before the calorie coma kicked in, adults hide eggs for the young children to find.
When the number of children outpaced the size of the yard or defined area of the park, eggs were collected, the children went off somewhere and the eggs were hid a second time. It became a contest pitting cousin against cousin more than children against the proverbial egg stealing rabbit. The rest of the day included card games around the kitchen table, or crocket at the park. They are good times, times to build memories. Yet another friend asked friends to share their experiences of loss. She had to let go of her dad a few months ago. The road she is on, and others like her, are not easy. There is nothing easy about having to accept that someone you have a close relationship with is no longer with you physically. It is a realization that the human body cannot last forever. There comes a time when something has compromised it, or it has simply worn out. The simplest of words can be both salve for the soul and empty cliches.
No matter how many times a person goes through loss, there is that moment when talking to someone else there is the gut-check: how do I share my support, sorrow with a survivor without sounding insensitive. The value of the words will depend on the relationship. The words of a casual friend or someone who only knew of you and the departed is valued differently than a friend who had a close relationship with your dad, brother, child, or whomever the victim of death is. They are both accepted, but one is weighted more than the other. It is, again, about relationship. It is about who the grieving can be comfortable with because of shared experiences. On a weekend like Easter, loss also reminds us to look to the hope of resurrection. Without resurrection, death is the end. If death is the end, how do you recover from loss? (Forrest Hershberger is the news editor of the South Platte Sentinel.)
To truly experience the arts is a gift.It may not be a gift that everyone
appreciates, understands or embraces. But because the Re-1 Valley School
Board is willing to take a risk – is willing to be progressive and think out of the box – northeastern Colorado may truly have a gift that keeps on giving academically, culturally and economically.
At a meeting earlier this month, the school board heard from Logan County native and developer Bernice Artzer-Mills who presented a unique vision for the now vacant Stevens School, which was closed when the elementary grades were restructured.
Since then, the former grade school has sat vacant, enclosed by a high fence with playground equipment still in tact.
Artzer-Mills said would like to see the Stevens property become a center for arts. It could be a facility for people to study any art discipline from oil painting to music and drama.
The term “the arts” is a broad concept that includes all forms of literature from poetry to epics, the performing arts, vocal and instrumental music, dance, theatre, drawing, painting, sculpturing, fabric, fiber, wood and so much more.
Long term plans for the art center includes everything from short mini courses
or camps featuring well-known artists as educators that bring students of all ages to our community along with a permanent established program or school.
Actually, the concept for a center for the arts is only limited by the imagination and the feasibility of turning the project into a reality.
If successful, the art center would turn a vacant building into a prosperous addition to our community and a drawing card for cultural activities and economic growth and even as important, an addition that is missing from our lifestyle.
Nothing is definite but the school board agreed to continue working with Artzer-Mills
while she pursues necessary funding for an art center and tries to establish a non-profit group within 30 days to receive title of the property. Transfer of the Stevens property title will be on the May 8 board agenda.
Best of all, this is a win-win situation for the school district, which doesn’t need ownership or maintenance of a school it can’t use and a chance for the community to see potential growth without reaching into our pockets.
If the project falls through, it won’t be the first time we’ve all laid our hopes on blue sky, but this time the only thing being risked is Bernice’s reputation.
And she isn’t worried about that.
Darrell Smith“No because raising the mini-mum wage will increase infla-tion.”
Josh Linhardt“Yes, because it’s hard to live off minimum wage now. I think it will help the economy be-cause it will put more money in people’s pockets so they can spend more.”
Leah DeFord“I do not because that would kill more businesses and eliminate more jobs.”
Joel Nelson“No, because it will cost jobs at that rate, and those costs will be passed on to the con-sumers and it will further hurt the economy. I don’t think the government can dictate what something is worth.”
Do you think the national mimimum wage should be raised to $10.10 per-hour?
