UP FRONT
"A New Century and a New Chapter"
A new century and a new chapter. Can you feel it in the air? Raise a finger and you can, like the cool wind breezing down the Ogden Canyon. It is not easily seen but definitely felt. It could simply be the times we live in now with the excitement of the Winter Olympics upon us and all the growth around us. It is the entering of a new era in history not only on the planet earth but right here in our own little valley. And how lucky we are to look up everyday and see Ben Lomond Peak and Mount Ogden looking down on us as if a protective fortress from the entire world. Like two gentle soldiers guarding, guiding and protecting their inhabitants. When one locks into this strength not much else seems to matter only the sheer beauty that they reflect. I often reflect on what perhaps Miles Goodyear, our original settler who built Fort Buenaventura felt or thought as he looked out over this valley when he was the only man for many miles around. He had to have praised the beauty and stillness every minute even with his toil for survival. It would have not been an easy survival then. To forage and hunt food daily and wood for warmth. Traveling was not so easy either when horses were your main ride. You had to hitch a wagon to a horse to get to town to get stocked up on weekly provisions. These things we take for granted. Our valley is a unique valley. Much different then her sister valleys north and south. The story of how it all even happened is one of a kind. There is no other history like it anywhere. And the history is what brought us here. The present will be what takes us further. And to embrace the past to the present and guide the future so our children who will soon inherit this valley can enjoy and carve the next phase for their children throughout this next century and beyond. And all our marks will remain as part of her history. And that is exactly what we are doing, making history. Day by day. And we here at STREET magazine want to record it. We want to embrace our present as it is right now and forge with the community through Ogden's continuing story. Is this something we can carve or do we just record? I believe both. And I think it is everyone's responsibility to give to the whole. We are all bricks in the wall of this city and our caring for it and eachother is the mortar. The structure must stand united no matter what our beliefs, nationalities, economic status, lifestyles and age. And as in any city the heart of it is the downtown area, where everyone comes together. The main watering hole so to speak. If we all unite and bring our downtown and historic districts to full life again it will ripple out as a pebble in a pond. That is our goal and purpose here at STREET magazine. To offer up the information for you to embrace and to bring awareness to all the wonderful amenities we have to share and partake here in happy valley and particularly to the downtown area and Historic 25th Street. But it takes everyone. I urge you to think about what it is you can do to make the whole better. To support the arts and music, or plant trees and flowers. Or give extra hugs to your children and elderly. Whatever. Its all here and its all for you. Let the imagination flow with us and lets make history even more exciting in this next century for the many that will follow. Thanks for picking up our first issue of the "Historic Twenty-Fifth Gazette-The Two Five Drive Jive", or as we call it here in our office, "STREET Magazine". It is your magazine to enjoy and to mold. It belongs to you and the community. Participate in the pages in whatever way you feel. We invite you. It is for you.
Enjoy and Celebrate. RJA.
February 2002
