This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sometimes, it ain't easy being Greek in Utah.
Father Michael Kouremetis found that out recently at a Holladay City Planning Commission meeting.
Kouremetis is the presiding priest at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church near 5300 South on Highland Drive.
He recently wrote a letter to Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb and other city officials about what he considered discriminatory comments aimed at his parishioners by Holladay residents and some members of the Planning Commission.
The church wants to build a picnic pavilion on church property and went through a Planning Commission public hearing. According to Kouremetis, citizens made disparaging comments about the character of Greek Orthodox parishioners, one Planning Commission member told the priest he should educate his parishioners on how to be more respectful toward people and another commissioner implied the Greeks would drink alcohol at the pavilion if given the chance.
Kouremetis noted the pavilion meets all zoning requirements, as opposed to a pavilion recently built at a nearby LDS Church, which is closer to neighboring residents than the zoning laws allow. He also noted there have been no complaints to the church or the police about the behavior of his parishioners.
One city official said the comments were taken out of context and not intended the way they were taken. He said church and city officials have met since that meeting and he believes the air has been cleared. The church officials were encouraged to talk directly with neighbors who have concerns.
The Planning Commission's decision is still pending.
A scientific breakthrough?
Some residents and workers near the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Building at 350 N. Redwood Road are wondering if the department is experimenting with a new "growing food under pavement" process to counter the trend of shrinking farmland acreage.
They have noticed the sprinklers on the department's grounds watering Redwood Road instead of the grass.
Mike Christensen, who lives in the area, says he has called the department about the road-watering, but it continues. And nothing, yet, has blossomed in the street.
The guessing game: Residents of the Timber Creek Apartments in South Salt Lake received a notice that on "Tuesday, Aug. 24" workers would be power-spraying the building to remove old paint and all windows should be closed to prevent water damage.
They received that notice on Aug. 25.
But because the date had passed without the power spraying, and because Aug. 24 was a Thursday, not a Tuesday, residents surmised that it really meant Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Wrong. They sprayed on Monday, Aug. 28, and some apartments got drenched.