Hanukkah begins this Friday at sunset, the Winter Solstice is next Friday and Christmas is less than two weeks away. Get in the spirit of these holidays with a concert by the Polynesian Choir at 7 p.m. Friday at the St. George Tabernacle. I saw these guys perform last year at the Temple Lighting and they are wonderful. If you want to get out of town, check out Brenn Hill’s "Christmas in the West" concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Crescent Moon Theater in Kanab. It’s located at 150 S. 100 East and tickets are $10 to $15. You can also head north for the Christmas Cantata in Parowan. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Parowan LDS 3rd and 4th Ward chapel on Main Street.

If you’re getting sick of Christmas music, head over to the Firehouse Grill on Friday night. Local bands My-Low and Incline will take the stage beginning at 9 p.m. and you can see them for a mere $5. The Firehouse is at the Sunset West Bowling Center, 1478 W. Sunset Blvd. in St. George. Also on Friday night, Neverland at 25 E. Telegraph in Washington City will host the bands Mayday!Mayday!, Kennedy, Falter, Ike Sloan & Doon Toby and The Gentlemen. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10.

You can also head for the snow and check out the Winter Solstice bonfire Saturday night at the Brian Head Town Park. It’s tons of fun, just be sure to dress warm.

For more events going on this weekend and beyond, visit cityguide.thespectrum.com and click on the calendar.

Happy Holidays,

Kathryn van Roosendaal

Posted by Kathryn VanRoosendaal at 06:05 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Thank you, Gov. Huntsman.

Your proposed budget, unveiled Tuesday, made me smile.

As the father of a young child, public education is among my greatest concerns. I want my daughter to receive the best possible education from the best possible teachers in the safest possible environment.

That's not entirely possible right now. Unfortunately, for years, Utah has lagged behind much of the nation in per-pupil spending and teacher compensation, two of the most critical areas of public education.

If the Legislature backs Huntsman's budget proposal, which includes $3.4 billion for public education, our children — including my daughter — will face better odds.

As part of his $10.7 billion plan, the governor earmarked $153.7 million — an increase of 7 percent — for per-student spending and a $25 million, one-time bonus for teachers.

Huntsman also allocated $28.7 million to reduce student-to-adult ratios in kindergarten to third-grade classrooms to 20 to 1.

Does Huntsman's budget proposal solve all of Utah's problems? Absolutely not.

But Huntsman's plan is a tremendous step in the right direction, and I urge legislators to work with the governor to continue to support our public education system.

Our young people are our future. I want that future to be a bright one.

Posted by Steve Kiggins at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

After the article came out on Saturday announcing the applicants for the Iron County Commission appointment, I became hopeful, especially upon seeing Ken Esplin’s name on the list.

The Iron County Republican Party will be narrowing the field from 14 candidates to three names on Thursday to be put before the Iron County Commission. The Commission will then vote on who should fill the seat of Commissioner Dennis Stowell, who was recently elected as a Utah State Senator. The Commission should select Esplin.

First, as the representatives from the county’s 32 precincts and 14 county officials meet, I’d like to advocate they seriously consider the long-time resident of Iron County. Esplin is a man of great integrity and experience, serving currently on the Iron County Planning Commission.

He doesn’t have an agenda or own county property that could cause a conflict of interest with decisions in regards to development. His mind is sharp and he can cite any ordinance from memory.

Esplin is also a community activist who has staved off unwanted development of apartments, homeless shelters and other undesirable elements in his neighborhood around the old hospital. He knows how to organize and get goals accomplished.

He is also a loving husband, good father and grandfather and a man true to his word. He drives a school bus for the Iron County School District in his retirement, which leaves him enough time to dedicate full-time hours to the Commission.

The Commission needs the level head of Esplin. He is not rash in his decision making and he really considers people’s best interests. I believe Esplin is a real statesman and steward of the community who puts action behind his words. He not only talks the talk — he walks the walk.

Appoint Ken Esplin to the Iron County Commission. He’s no "good old boy" and will represent the diversity that now is ever-growing and ever-present in Iron County

Posted by Jennifer Weaver at 05:27 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )