Cottonwood Heights Journal | January 2023

THE MAKINGS OF THE 1982 BRIGHTON FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

By Jerry Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

Forty years ago, Brighton High School athletics accomplished a feat that the school hasn’t been able to quite repeat. It won its first, and only, football state championship. It’s a strange thing, seeing that the football trophy is surrounded by a record 120 other state championship trophies that the school has garnered in other sports. That 40-yearold trophy represents a moment, a history, an era.

Speaking of stranger things, think back on the early ’80s—MTV, Ronald Reagan, “Poltergeist,” and the newly released anthem “Eye of the Tiger” from the new movie “Rocky III.” This song, which the team adopted, continues to be the go-to music for all Brighton teams and the Brighton home venues are known as “the Jungle.” This was the era of a core group of Brighton football players who had been playing and winning together since they were 8 years old.

The team was guided by an exceptional coach, Steven Dangerfield. Coach Dangerfield is a Green Beret Vietnam veteran who brought unity, grit and resolve to Brighton’s gridiron. He brought two of his star players to his coaching from a championship he coached at Viewmont High in the early ’70s—Larry Wall and Lynn Freestone. Wall went on to coach at Bountiful High for 30 years but he recalls the Brighton championship as “an unmatched collection of players with heart like I have never experienced.”

Doug Lee, who joined the cadre in his senior year as a new move in from Texas, remembers being underwhelmed by the contrast between his Texas football and the Brighton stadium that “had no Astroturf nor even stadium lights.” However, his opinion of Brighton football changed when the calm and cool Dangerfield would methodically break down opponents and plays instead of drift into tirades as

Forty years later at Freestone Field at halftime in October 2022 the 1982 championship team is honored. From L to R: Darrin West, Doug Lee, Troy Campbell, Bart Packer, Jeff Housley, Dave Blonquist, Ty McRae (standing in for his deceased father, Kip McRae), Chris Stackhouse, Ryan Schmidt, Lance Thaxton and Steve Sutton. The team will be gathered again at Homecoming 2023 to be feted by the annual gathering of the BHS alumni. (Photo by Christine Yee)

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.” —Steve

Former White House photographer chronicles, shares inside the presidency

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

When former White House photographer Pete Souza was in fourth grade, he taped a photo from the New Bedford Standard Times on his closet door.

It was soon after the assassination of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy in November 1963 with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn into the presidency with Jacqueline Kennedy by his side aboard a plane that would fly to Washington, D.C.

“For whatever reason, I was transfixed by the images that came out,” Souza recently told a standing-room only auditorium at Salt Lake Community College’s Grand Theatre. “There was something about the still image that even as an 8 year old, I was struck by enough so that I taped these pictures to my closet door. I know that the photograph taken by Army Capt. Cecil Stoughton, one of the two military photographers assigned to the Kennedy White House, became probably the most famous official White House photograph ever.”

Little did he know then that he found his future career. It took Souza enrolling in a photography class during his junior year at Boston University to realize “it’s what I wanted to do. It was magic to me.”

Souza, who photographed Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama during their presidencies, began his career shooting for the Hutchinson, Kansas newspaper. He moved on to the Chicago Sun Times, where amongst his assignments, he was to photograph the campaign of Harold Washington, who in 1983, became the first Black mayor of Chicago.

That same year, Souza received a call from a former photo director at the Kansas City Star, where he was turned down for a job. She invited him to join the White House photography staff during the Reagan era.

“One of the things I used to tell my

(Ohio University) students was, ‘don’t ever piss anybody off professionally because you never know how they’re going to help you some day,’” he said. “Being an official White House photographer was an amazing experience. Documenting the presidency for history, in a lot of situations, I was the only photographer in the room.”

He recalled covering Reagan when he greeted wounded Marines in 1983 after a terrorist attack in Beirut; watching the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986, all four summits with Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev; the Iran-Contra scandal; at the hospital following his wife Nancy’s breast cancer surgery; and even, joining him on vacation.

“He and Nancy would go to Camp David every weekend and ride horses and here he is helping her from a horse,” Souza said as an image projected on a screen behind him. “The idea is that you’re making photographs, not for the next day’s newspaper, but for the National Archives. Every single picture that I made during both during the Reagan administration and the Obama administration are now at the National Archives.”

Souza not only took the photos of the serious moments of the commander in chief, but also, the lighter ones.

“I’m trying to humanize them as much as possible. This is Reagan at a hotel in Los Angeles,” he said referring to another image. “I walked into the hotel room where he was staying, and he was folding a piece of White House stationery into the shape of paper airplane. He looked up at me and he’s, like, ‘I’ll be right with you.’”

Then, Reagan flew his official White House stationery paper airplane off the hotel deck.

After Reagan left the White House,

Souza freelanced for several publications, including National Geographic. Then, as a national photographer for the Chicago Tribune, Souza was among the first photojournalists to cover the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks; he did so by joining the local Northern Alliance soldiers and crossed the Hindu Kush mountains by horseback in 3 feet of snow. Also, while at the Tribune, Souza was part of the team who were awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for explanatory reporting on the troubled air traffic system.

In 2004, Souza served as the official photographer at Reagan’s funeral. It was

during the flight from Washington, D.C. to Reagan’s final resting place in Simi Valley, California that he realized then he had never seen any pictures of JFK’s casket being flown from Dallas to Washington, D.C.

“Cecil made the decision not to be on the plane with JFK, but to take this film to a lab there in Dallas, get it processed, and get that picture sent out to the world. I can’t imagine trying to make that decision because my instinct would have been you got to be with the President on that plane. Cecil probably chose the right thing to do, but I don’t know that I would have been able to make that decision,” Souza said.

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The photograph of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn into the presidency intrigued former White House photographer Pete Souza as a boy. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

That same year, while working for the Chicago Tribune, Souza was documenting newly elected U.S. Sen. Obama. He recalled Obama’s first D.C. office in the basement of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, with no windows or anything on the walls.

“People already were talking about that someday he might be a national candidate and I was like, ‘Man, this is going to be a great contrast photo if he ever makes it.’ The thing that struck me so much about that first day was that I’ve just met the guy, and I’m in his personal space, photographing as he’s having lunch,” he said, pointing out in his photograph that Obama’s young daughter Sasha was eyeing part of the uneaten sandwich. “It’s as if I’m not even there. He’s just more about his businesses. I’m about my business. For a photojournalist, that’s the kind of stuff that you want, right? Somebody who’s just going to do their thing while you’re doing it.”

Souza went on to become the chief official White House photographer.

“I was able to say to him, ‘Look to do this job the right way, I need unfettered access’ and he agreed. My goal was to create the best photographic archive of a president that had ever been done,” he said.

Souza captured moments, which now the world can see on his Instagram posts.

He has moments that highlight the passing of the Affordable Care Act to samesex marriage, from the president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama singing “Amazing Grace” as an eulogy for Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in 2015 in a Charleston church shooting. He also shared photographs of Obama touring the 9/11 Memorial Museum while under construction and visiting the firehouse where 18 firefighters died during the twin towers’ collapse.

Souza snapped historic moments. He photographed Obama visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa; reflecting at Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial as the first Black president; sitting on the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white man; and joining in the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.

Souza’s lens not only saw the occasions that marked Obama’s presidency, but also personal times, when Obama and his wife have a quiet moment in a freight elevator or intertwining their hands on a boat rail in the Gulf Coast. His photographs show the president playing in the snow with his daughters, intensely coaching daughter Sasha’s basketball team or getting zapped by a 3-year-old boy dressed for Halloween as Spider-Man—all which audience members chuckled at as stories were shared.

“I would use quiet cameras, usually one with a wide-angle lens and another one with a short telephoto lens. I had a knack for being unobtrusive. President Obama, in his memoir, says I had an ability to remain invisible. I don’t think I was invisible, but I

think I was able to blend in so much so that I became part of the presidency. I could go right behind him and show things from his perspective and do it in a way not to disturb anybody,” he said.

Perhaps the first of two of the most emotional photos, Souza said, is when Obama and all the national security team were gathered inside a small room within the Situation Room complex in May 2011. Souza took a spot opposite of the officials who were watching a screen that showed Special Forces on the ground raiding the Pakistan compound of Osama Bin Laden, who claimed responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“You’ve essentially got all the most important people in the executive branch of our government all jammed into this room and there’s nothing they can do. They are powerless in this moment because it’s totally up to those Special Forces guys on the ground. You can imagine the tension and anxiety,” he said, recalling that Obama quietly took a place in the corner. “As soon as they had Bin Laden, and the helicopters lifted off from the compound in Pakistan, everybody started filtering through. The reaction was very subtle. There was no high fives, no cheering.”

A second poignant photo Souza shared was when Obama gave a hug to the Wheeler family who just lost their 6-year-old son Ben during the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

“The worst day (of Obama’s presidency) happened five weeks after he was reelected. That morning, John Brennan, his homeland security adviser, came upstairs saying there were reports of a shooting at a school in Connecticut,” Souza said, looking at a photo he snapped at the time of the president “reacting as a parent.”

Before Obama spoke to the nation in the press briefing room, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. It was the first time Souza had ever seen him do that.

“I think he was worried he was going to lose his composure. Later that afternoon when he went up to residence, Malia had just come home from school. He latched on to her and wouldn’t let her go,” he said to a noticeable collective sob in the audience.

As Souza looks back, and shares his firsthand account through books he published, talking and having his photographs

been displayed globally, and being featured in the 2020 documentary, “The Way I See It,” he knows his experiences are making an impact on others as it did himself.

“I realize how lucky I’ve been when I look back and see how much I’ve been able to witness, especially considering I did get a D in U.S. history,” Souza said, adding that history lessons when he was in school lacked stories and pictures. “There were some days where photographing at the White House was like watching paint dry. But when things were happening, there’s no other place I’d rather be than documenting things as history is unfolding. That was a great honor and privilege to be there.”

During his visit, he also met with SLCC students where he gave the advice to “go out and make pictures every day because that’s how you’re going to get better.” Souza said that because he had been a photojournalist prior to the White House, he was able to “anticipate and recognize moments—and that’s experience more than anything.”

SLCC Humanities Associate Professor Claire Adams said students came to know Souza as a storyteller as well as a photographer.

“His conversation was really informal and came from the storytelling angle as well as the more technical questions from our photography students,” she said, adding that each student received an autographed copy of either his No. 1 New York Times bestseller “Obama: An Intimate Portrait” or his recently released book, “The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency.” “It’s apparent that it’s the dignity of the office that he cares about, not politics. He highlights it through his eyes and through his literal lens.”

Adams said that her Honors 2100 Intellectual Traditions class had watched portions of the documentary preceding his visit and was reviewing his presentation.

“The theme of that class is storytelling specifically. Pete Souza is a really good resource to use in terms of artifacts that we look at in the humanities, such as literature, photographs, art, music. His photographs are definitely something I’ll continue to use in classes,” she said, adding that students and the community took advantage of seeing his “Obama: Intimate Portraits” display at SLCC’s George S. & Dolores Doré Eccles Art Gallery.

SLCC Provost for Academic Affairs Clifton Sanders also was drawn into Souza’s photography and storytelling.

“He was captivating,” Sanders said. “The way that he was able to chronicle history through the photographs and give a little bit of information that no one would know other than him being there in those moments. The pictures are very compelling, but the stories really give depth to the pictures. I just got a sense that he was the person for that time in history. He’s really down to earth. There are no airs about him. What you see is really what he’s like. I can really appreciate that the way he documented and is sharing the history for us all to gain insight and witness it through him.”

The annual Tanner Forum on Social Ethics, funded in part by the O.C. Tanner Co., has hosted about 20 speakers from journalists to scientists “to encourage the community to learn more about the world and encourage us to think more critically about issues,” Sanders said. l

Pete Souza, former White House chief photographer, shared the story behind the photo of President Barack Obama and his family joining Sen. John Lewis and others at the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

I realize how lucky I’ve been when I look back and see how much I’ve been able to witness, especially considering I did get a D in U.S. history.

Pete Souza

Inclusivity increasing as more area high schools support unified sports and activities

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Hillcrest High School junior Kori

Carmona Lopez wants to win, the same as any high school student-athlete.

“It’s my favorite part, of course,” she said.

Carmona Lopez, who plays unified soccer and basketball, bonds with her teammates.

“The best part of being a unified player is having helpers and making and being friends with them. I just love it,” she said. “We hang out, walk the mall, watch movies, do anything. They asked me to join LIA (Latinos-in-Action) so I’m doing more at school now. I just went to the Salsa-Salsa party; it was fun.”

That is a welcomed outcome, said Courtnie Worthen, manager of Special Olympics Utah’s Unified Champion Schools, that promotes a three-tier approach through unified sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement.

“The best things are the inclusion, the friendships they create, how the athletes are celebrated and are included in school activities,” she said.

Inclusion is increasing in area schools. When Worthen joined the Special Olympics staff four years ago, there were about 15 schools. Now, it’s “pushing 100.”

While Special Olympics encourages inclusion in all schools, a noticeable difference is seen in high schools. Brighton High Principal Tom Sherwood said it’s important.

“Everybody benefits,” he said. “We want our school to be a microcosm of our communities. Our special needs students don’t just make up 10 to 15% of schools; they make up 10 to 15% of our population. Inclusion needs to start in schools. The more we can learn to understand each other, the more it expands our humanity.”

Unified sports are a catalyst, Worthen said.

“Training and playing together often leads to friendship and more understanding,” she said.

Unified sports empower individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to play together, promoting inclusion through training and competition. Whether it’s sharing the ball in soccer and basketball or passing the baton in a track relay, students are participating in unified sports from elementary school to the professional level with Real Salt Lake’s unified team.

While the Utah High School Activities Association partnered to bring unified sports into high schools in 2012, a big push came two years ago when Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox cheered on the high school unified soccer teams in the state championship games at Real Salt Lake’s stadium. Previously, state was

played on a high school field.

“The First Lady, as part of her initiative ‘Show Up,’ came on board and gave us a bigger microphone to share our mission. People started to notice and see what unified sports is and can be and they want to be a part of it,” Worthen said.

At this fall’s unified state soccer championships, Miss America Emma Broyles sang the national anthem, and Miss Utah Lindsey Larsen and RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath joined her to award medals.

Last year, the unified state basketball tournament was held at Weber State University, which attracted college and semi-professional mascots and cheer squads to join high school cheerleaders in supporting the athletes. Unified track this year will be included in the state track and field meet at Brigham Young University.

Unified Champion School’s College-growth Coordinator Boston Iacobazzi said 37 high school unified soccer teams competed this fall and estimates 56 teams will play basketball in March.

“We’re looking at having three unified team sports and three unified individual or pair sports per year,” he said. “We have soccer, basketball, swimming and track and field right now; we’re deciding which sports to possibly add.”

Brighton, which won a state unified basketball title last year, also has students compete in unified soccer and has individuals on the swim team.

“If we truly believe high school sports add value to students’ educational experience, why wouldn’t you want as many students who are able to participate? It’s a very authentic experience and opportunity for everybody to benefit,” Sherwood said. “It’s a win-win.”

Jordan teammates sophomore Xavier Steggell and junior Cael Sieverts played together this past soccer season.

“It’s great to get to do sports and support each other,” Sieverts said. “We spend time practicing and hanging out together.”

Steggell added that it’s competitive, yet fun.

“We’re getting to enjoy the sport for the pure fun of it,” he said.

That’s what six-year Hillcrest High unified coach Shannon Hurst appreciates.

“I like the joy little things bring to the athletes, like kicking the ball or dribbling it down the field or court,” she said. “It offers perspective. Those little things bring so much happiness. The more buy-in and getting involved as faculty, with support from admin(istration) and our community, the bigger it has grown and been accepted. That’s important. They deserve the same kind of recognition, the same programming and the same support.”

Iacobazzi, who completed his student

teaching for his college degree at Alta High, reignited unified sports at the school.

“Being a coach gave me a different experience than being a partner,” he said. “As a unified partner, I was there to have fun playing alongside the athletes. As a coach, I’m teaching them how to be inclusive, playing together. What helped was the partners. A lot of them were peer tutors in the classroom. Alta’s girls’ soccer team taught a bunch of drills, and some of those girls just kept playing with the team.”

Iacobazzi didn’t grow up playing soccer. He first was a peer tutor, then his first soccer experience was playing for his high school unified team, under Hurst, when Hillcrest represented the nation at the 2018 Special Olympics USA games. Iacobazzi helped gain momentum with forming Real Salt Lake’s unified team.

In a state qualifying matchup, Alta played against Murray High, who eventually became state champions. Murray brothers Braedon and Turbo Domiguez played in the championships and their parents, Kim and Dean, witnessed their gold medal win.

“This program gives our kids a chance to get out and participate,” Kim Domiguez said. “As special needs’ parents, we spend all our time when they’re little trying to teach them the basics—how to eat, how to talk to somebody, how to interact. We’ve

missed out on our kids growing up playing soccer and basketball, so this has been really nice to feel like a soccer mom. We brought our cooler full of Gatorade, our canopy and chairs. This is our time to cheer for our kids.”

That feeling of “belonging” stretches to the athletes on the field.

“These kids are there for each other. They cheer for everyone. It doesn’t matter which side you are on. They’re excited for everyone to score and have that success. They still want to win, but they want everyone to have fun,” Domiguez said, adding that high school cheerleaders also cheer for every player at all schools.

Her husband said learning skills and translating those in a game has given his sons confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

“On the field, they learn key concepts of the game that you practiced with them, so when they get the goal or they get the stop as a goalkeeper, you can see that moment of joy when they see they ‘got it,’” he said.

Domiguez agrees: “It’s that love of sport and team in their eyes. It’s the same for all athletes. They will raise their arms, jump up and down, dance. They just light up.”

Parent Misti Smith watched her son Ashton play on Hunter High’s unified team.

In May 2022, Jordan High unified track teammates pass the baton during the 4x100 relay at the state meet. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“Our children would not get these opportunities if it wasn’t brought into the schools,” she said. “I would never have known that Ashton even liked soccer or basketball, but these opportunities came, and I’ve watched his competence and confidence grow. He feels like a rock star when he comes to these games.”

Hunter parent Christie Rasmussen was cheering on her daughter Whitney, who made the first goal of the state semifinals.

“My daughter is making friends that she necessarily probably wouldn’t ever had if it had not been for this program,” Rasmussen said, adding that now Whitney is a cheerleader for the Wolverines. “Because of this, our gen(eral) ed(ucation) kids come and cheer.”

That happened at the recent regional soccer tournament Hunter hosted when students came with their classes.

“When they cheered, these kids saw their faces there for them. It’s building the camaraderie between the students and making our athletes feel like they’re actual Hunter Wolverines and that they have a place here,” Rasmussen said. “It’s (partner student-athletes) who we parents thank God for because they’re angels on earth and make our kids feel like somebody.”

She credits unified sports as the spark that is extending more opportunities to special education students.

“Because of this team, it has pushed our faculty to realize our kids have these abilities that can be extended. Our theater teacher got approval for them to perform an adaptive musical,” Rasmussen said, adding that Whitney was cast as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” which was performed in early December.

Last spring, Hunter students pledged

to be inclusive by signing a poster that hung in the school and many students participate in the unified class taught by PE teacher and unified coach, Ashley Ellis.

Ellis said after-school practices aren’t feasible for everyone, so she created a unified class following the lifetime activities curriculum.

“I wanted our students to participate in unified sports, and thought, that’s a way to get more kids involved,” she said, starting with sharing with the partner students the history of Special Olympics and the goal of inclusion.

Together, they introduce different sports’ skills.

“As a PE teacher, I saw those kids come into our regular PE classes, and they were not as successful as they could have been. To flip the script and make the class for them and with our regular ed students helping them, it’s changed the playbook so they can be successful,” she said, adding often those partner students join the school’s three unified sports teams. “It’s been the greatest thing. Other schools may think this class is a big daunting task, but the benefit far outweighs any work. Through unified sports, they enjoy sport at its purest form. Unified takes everything that is good about sports and celebrates it.”

Hunter’s unified class is held before lunch.

“Everybody goes into the lunchroom together; they eat together and they’re all laughing. Before, many of them didn’t, they weren’t sure where they fit. Now, that inclusivity flows into other areas of our school,” she said.

Many schools have peer tutors who help students with disabilities be successful.

“They are their buddies who escort them to places, provide support and help them integrate with the rest of the kids,” Sherwood said, adding last spring, Brighton’s peer tutors organized a prom designed for about 50 students with severe cognitive or physical disabilities.

At Murray High, peer tutor Farrah Baldwin said she’s “there to help and answer questions, but not to do it for them.”

Her classmate Kendall Bridgewater is a peer tutor in a foods class.

“When these kids with disabilities go into gen ed classes, others get to understand the things that are easier and harder for them to do and that helps everyone be less judgmental and more just willing to get to know them,” she said. “Plus, with cooking, they’re learning a life skill and I’m getting to learn it too. The other day I learned there are five different ways to cook an egg.”

Both seniors are part of Murray High’s Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that supports inclusion through friendship and leadership. Murray’s club activities stretch from making slime to pumpkin bowling to hosting a Friendsgiving. Plans are underway for a friendship walk in April.

“Everyone in the club knows they have a buddy and can hang out together,” Baldwin said.

Bridgewater is on board: “I want to be a person they can come to in the hallways or see outside of school and know they have a friend.”

Club adviser and unified coach Jessie Agiriga said they’re building an inclusive school environment.

“We want our community to realize everyone has a place where they belong, they are heard, and they are seen,” she said. “Our club officers, who are both special education students and their peers, plan and

organize activities for the school. As a result, our students naturally pair up to form friendships.”

Throughout the state, special education and general education students have paired up to serve on Special Olympics’ Youth Activation Commission where, as school leaders, they learn how to spread inclusion in their school, said Iacobazzi, adding at February’s youth summit, students will discuss the unified generation and how to empower peer leaders.

Special Olympics Utah CEO Scott Weaver explained that each step builds.

“We’re hoping they feel valued as an athlete and they’re seen as part of their school’s athletic program; they’re getting the attention at a pep rally and having fans in the stadium waving the flags and banners for them,” he said. “By having the opportunity to belong to a club, they’re impacting the school as leaders. The third part is whole school inclusion.”

Schoolwide activities have ranged from inclusive assemblies and themed spirit days to Disney Days and fitness challenges.

In addition to Unified Champion Schools, Worthen said two high schools recently were added to make four Utah schools who have met and are sustaining 10 requirements to qualify as national banner schools. Hillcrest, which earned the recognition in 2019, is the only one in the area.

Sherwood said inclusivity benefits both the school and the community.

“As schools start down the road of being as inclusive as they can and provide opportunities for all students, people are going to see the value,” he said. “Once you see it, then you’ll never turn back.” l

In May 2022, Brighton High held its first inclusive prom with peer tutors dancing along with special needs students in the school’s commons. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

At Hillcrest High, freshman Isabelle Wood pied math teacher Matt Synder during a schoolwide assembly in November 2022. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Opportunities abound for community participation this year

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

Calling all residents! The city of Cottonwood Heights, along with their various resident-led councils and committees, have more opportunities for resident involvement than ever before. Many have excitedly announced their plans and events for 2023.

Arts Council

The Cottonwood Heights Arts Council is dedicated to all arts within the city. Members of the Arts Council—Laura Garcia, Elise Hogan, Katy Mitarai, Carol Whittaker, Penny Broussard and Camilla Fowler— believe the arts are vital to maintaining a healthy and happy community. Their mission is to enrich the lives of residents by providing engaging cultural events and educational opportunities that foster creativity and passion for the arts within the community.

After a long-awaited return (ever since cancellation in 2020), the Cottonwood Heights Film Festival will take place on Jan. 21 at Butler Middle School (7530 S. 2700 East). The preshow will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a live birds of prey presentation from HawkWatch International. At 5 p.m., the showing of “The Eagle Huntress” will begin. After which, the showing of “Waste Land” will begin at 7 p.m. Entry to the festival is free.

“While these events happen year round, the biggest opportunity for involvement comes in the months prior to the city’s annual summer musical, presented in July,” said Garcia.

Every summer, the Arts Council works to put on a musical performance. Members are thrilled to announce that the 2023 production will be “Guys and Dolls.” Auditions will be held in March with productions currently scheduled for the beginning of July.

The Arts Council is currently seeking members and volunteers. To apply, fill-out the application form found on the Arts Council page of the city’s website (www.ch.utah. gov/board-application), or email ArtsCouncil@ch.utah.gov for more information.

If volunteering doesn’t suit your style, residents can be involved with the Arts Council through sponsorships. Friend sponsors begin at $25 with corporate season sponsors ranging all the way up through $2,000 or more. To become an Arts Council pARTner, email ArtsCouncil@ch.utah.gov.

Learn more about the Arts Council by subscribing to their emails, or by visiting their social media pages on Facebook at CHArtsCouncil or Instagram at chcityarts.

Historic Committee

The Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee identifies, preserves and enhances the buildings, artifacts, documents and stories that inform the community’s collective history. Current members of the Historic Committee are Jim Kichas, Carol Woodside, Beverly Beckstead, Gayle Conger, Ken Ver-

doia, Jerry Christensen, Jessica Despain, Bruce Lubeck and Don Cannon. During the Dec. 6 city council meeting, Jim Kichas, Jessica Despain and Jerry Christensen were re-appointed to the Historic Committee for three-year terms.

“It’s an incredible attribute to our city to have these three people on the Historic Committee,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell.

During 2023, the Historic Committee plans to stay busy and engaged with their ongoing projects. These include applying for a grant that will allow them to continue documenting historic homes and areas in the city and conducting oral history interviews with several longtime community members to add to their Digital Archive.

“Our online Digital Archive allows residents to engage with the history of our city 24/7 from the convenience of their computer, smart phone, or tablet,” said Chair Jim Kichas.

The current collections within the Digital Archives include historic maps, historical photographs, oral histories, school history, historic preservation projects, community reminisces, and places within Cottonwood Heights. To view these collections, visit the Archive Information page on the city’s website. Residents are encouraged to help the Historic Committee identify further photos and records for the Digital Archive by emailing history@ch.utah.gov.

“The Historic Committee has an active presence during the annual Butlerville Days celebration in July, so keep an eye out for this historic walks and exhibits we will make available as part of the festivities!” Kichas said.

In 2023, the Historic Committee plans to add to their digital archives. The current collections within their digital archives include historic maps, historical photographs, oral histories, school history, historic preservation projects, community reminisces, and places within Cottonwood Heights. To view these collections, visit the Archive Information page on the city’s website.

In addition, they hope to continue selling the book they helped to curate two years prior: “City Between the Canyons: A History of Cottonwood Heights, 1849-1953” by Allen D. Roberts. Residents can buy this historic book online or in person at Cottonwood Heights City Hall (2277 E. Bengal Blvd.).

The Historic Committee is seeking members and volunteers. Members typically serve three-year terms. To be a part of this committee, visit their page on the Cottonwood Heights City website (www.ch.utah. gov) to fill out the application.

Parks, Trails, and Open Space Committee

The Cottonwood Heights Parks, Trails and Open Space (PTOS) Committee is devoted to finding new ways to maintain and enhance parks and open spaces throughout

the city. Their vision is to promote the creation and maintenance of safe, sustainable and interconnected outdoor spaces for future generations.

Current PTOS Committee members are Greg Hilbig, Michael Menssen, Erin Davis, Sarah Ricketts, Matthew Dominesey, Chris Owens, Greg Reid, Aline Longstaff, Paula McFarland, Ronna Cohen, Larry Alserda, Jennifer Shah, Bruce Jorgenson and Melissa Fields.

During 2023, the PTOS Committee plans to initiate their Volunteer in the Parks program.

“We are hoping to have a captain and crew at each park to help monitor any maintenance needs, check for graffiti, and pick up trash, if needed. The idea is to have volunteers walk through their assigned park on a regular basis and report back to their captain,” Cohen said.

The PTOS Committee is seeking residents willing to serve as captains in the Volunteer in the Parks program. In addition, they are welcoming new volunteers to help serve on both the program and committee. To apply, visit www.ch.utah.gov/board-application.

Emergency Preparedness

Headed by Cottonwood Heights Police Department Assistant Chief Paul Brennaman, the Emergency Preparedness division works with volunteers to prevent, prepare, educate, respond and recover from hazards.

During 2023, The Emergency Preparedness team will continue to help local businesses create disaster plans by assessing and managing risk. If interested, local businesses can email EM@ch.utah.gov.

In addition, Brennaman and his team are looking forward to a handful of events

in spring 2023. The annual ShakeOut event will be held April 22 from 9 a.m. until noon.

Residents may sign up to attend a CERT Basic Training Course beginning Jan. 26 and running until March 16. This course will require attending eight evening classes and one Saturday activity (specific dates yet to be determined). If you would like to register for the course, contact your local EM District or email Brennaman directly at pbrennaman@ch.utah.gov.

CHPD’s Citizens Academy will begin Feb. 22 and run through May 3. Attendees will attend 11 evening courses covering a variety of topics such as use of force, emergency communications, SWAT and arresting procedures. To secure your spot, sign up through the city’s website (www.ch.utah. gov/your-government-police).

The Emergency Preparedness team encourages residents to opt in to receiving alerts from 911. Residents can register their mobile devices to receive real-time notifications during a disaster, health crisis or public safety event from the Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC). To register, visit VECC’s website at www.vecc9-1-1. com/voip-registration.

Youth City Council

The Cottonwood Heights Youth City Council is comprised of middle school and high school age members who live within the boundaries of Cottonwood Heights. Members of the council participate in social events, receive education on local government, provide service for various city plans, and volunteer during city events.

Besides their two regularly scheduled Education and Service meetings in January, the Youth City Council will spend Jan. 18 at the Utah State Capitol for their annual Day with the Legislature. Youth members will

Started in 2019, the Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee is the youngest Cottonwood Heights’ committee. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

attend various legislative meetings, visit the legislative chambers and meet local legislators.

The council will be accepting applications for their 2023 council in late February. To learn more about the Youth City Council, visit their page on the city’s website (www. ch.utah.gov/community/youth-council).

City Events

Cottonwood Heights invites residents to volunteer during city events. To connect with the community, gain work experience, learn new skills or to even make a new friend, sign up to volunteer during city events by emailing events@ch.utah.gov.

Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling

The Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District (WFWRD) plans to roll out some new programs during 2023. One of the first programs residents can anticipate will be their Christmas Tree Recycling program. From Jan. 1-31, WFWRD will pick up Christmas trees curbside after resident’s regularly scheduled collection day. Those trees will be recycled into compost.

In order for residents to take advantage of this program, a request form must be submitted through the WFWRD website on the day of desired pickup. The tree must be physically on the curbside. In addition, WFWRD asks trees to be free of all decorations including tinsel, flocking and stands. If possible, large trees are requested to be cut in half.

Utah League of Cities and Towns

As the legislative season is upon us, many residents and local officials are thinking about Utah laws and policies. The Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) encourages residents to stay informed and involved with the legislative process. Residents can contact their local legislators on specific issues and utilize the resources provided on the ULCT website (www.ulct.org/advocacy).

Residents may also bump into Mayor Mike Weichers, Councilmember Shawn Newell and City Manager Tim Tingey while volunteering and/or engaging with ULCT, as these members of the Cottonwood Heights leadership serve on the Legislative Policy Committee by providing input on current Utah legislative priorities.

Town Halls

On occasion, various city councilmembers and city departments will host either open-ended or project-specific town halls. These town halls are designed to gather resident feedback and opinions on various topics and developments throughout the city. The town halls currently planned but awaiting specific dates will likely be held in January (as of publication date to gather resident feedback on the Cottonwood Heights General Plan.

“It is essential that we have input from residents and property owners,” Tingey said.

To learn more about the General Plan, under the Cottonwood Heights Tomor-

row project, visit the city’s website (www. ch.utah.gov) and search for “general plan update.”

To stay up to date with information regarding town halls, sign up for email updates through the city’s website or follow the city’s social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram by following “cottonwoodheights.”

Public Comment

Residents can submit comments concerning anything related to city business to the Planning Commission or City Council during their biweekly meetings. Residents may choose to either voice their comments in person or submit comments virtually through email. Virtual public comments must be submitted to Records and Culture Director Paula Melgar before 4 p.m. the day of the meeting or submitted through the “Public Comment” form found on the city’s website. In-person public comment sessions are held during biweekly meetings at 6 p.m. for the Planning Commission and 7 p.m. for the City Council.

“Residents can sign up for city meeting notifications (at www.ch.utah.gov/emails) and attend the meeting to provide feedback,” said Communications Manager Lindsay Wilcox.

The Cottonwood Heights Planning Commission deliberates on land use issues including property rezones and ordinance changes. The Planning Commission can ei-

ther make final recommendations to the City Council or grant conditional use permits or site plan approvals, depending on the discussion item. Current members of the Planning Commission are Jesse Allen, Mike Shelton, Jessica Chappell, Jonathan Ebbeler, Dan Mills, Lucy Anderson and Sean Steinman.

The commission meets every first and third Wednesday of the month at Cottonwood Heights City Hall (2277 E. Bengal Blvd.). Residents can attend these meetings in person or over Zoom by registering through the city’s website.

The Planning Commission is accepting applications for their District 1 At-Large Commissioner seat (as of publication). To apply, visit the Boards and Commissions page on the city’s website (www.ch.utah. gov/your-government/boards-and-commissions).

The Cottonwood Heights City Council is the main elected legislative body for the city. Current members of the city council are Mayor Weichers, Councilmember Doug Peterson, Councilmember Scott Bracken, Councilmember Newell, and Councilmember Ellen Birrell.

The council meets every first and third Tuesday of the month. Residents can attend city council meetings either in person at Cottonwood Heights City Hall or over Zoom by registering through the city’s website. l

Festival lit the way to the holiday season

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

Cottonwood Heights marked the beginning of the holiday season with the Light the Heights celebration. Nature created a winter wonderland for this annual holiday event with falling snow.

This year's Light the Heights was held on the last Monday of November. Despite the cold, many families with little ones showed up to visit with Santa and have some holiday fun.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were both in attendance and children were able to write letters to Santa.

While the event got started many could shop for holiday gifts at the vendor booths.

Hungry visitors could find a quick snack or dinner at the food vendors which were moved inside due to inclement weather. Free hot chocolate and chili were also provided for guests.

Light the Heights was hosted by Emilie de Azevedo Brown and her husband, keyboardist Derek Brown. Azevedo Brown is an actress and producer known for her work with children's video productions like “Singing Time” and “Cowboy Bebop.”

Musical guests included the Cottonwood Heights Children’s Choir, Jake Despain and Family, Lindsay Wilcox and Jin-Xiang Yu and Penny Hodson.

Once the indoor performances were fin-

ished it was time to light the tree.

All guests willing to face the elements headed outdoors for the tree lighting ceremony.

Mayor Mike Weichers spoke and thanked everyone for coming out. Weichers also thanked Cottonwood Heights Culture Manager Ann Eatchel and the Arts Council for a job well done on this event.

Cottonwood Heights Councilmembers Scott Bracken, Doug Petersen and Shawn Newell along with City Manager Tim Tingey came out to enjoy the festivities.

The crowd counted down and then, the tree was lit.

Emilie de Azevedo Brown and Santa led the kids in a holiday sing-along.

Children were all provided with bells to shake during the singing of the first song, “Jingle Bells.” They next sang “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and several other holiday classics.

The Cottonwood Heights Arts Council puts this event together every year for the community.l

ournal

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the 2022 Light the Heights in Cottonwood Heights. (Anna Kelsch/ Cottonwood Heights)

The Jake Despain and Family singing group perform at Light the Heights. From oldest to youngest men: Jake, Jacob and Patrick Despain, and oldest to youngest women: Janie Mathis, Libby and Clara Despain. (Anna Kelsch/Cottonwood Heights)

The lighting of the tree at Cottonwood Heights City Hall during the Light the Heights event. (Anna Kelsch/Cottonwood Heights)

Thanksgiving Day race has 2,000 runners trying to beat the mayor’s time

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

Thanksgiving Day was sunny and cold but over 2,000 runners came out to beat the mayor in the annual Run First, Gobble Later 5k race held in Cottonwood Heights.

As an added bonus, Cottonwood Heights’ current mayor, Mike Weichers and former mayor, Mike Peterson ran the race. This was the 38th annual 5k race on Thanksgiving Day and the 15th race to beat the mayor.

Kristen Jensen, who works at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, said 2,000 racers signed up for the event and it sold out.

“To keep track and record the time, the runners have a chip on their bibs and when they cross over the finish line, their time is recorded,” Jensen said. “We have five boxes of medals to give out and the medals say, ‘I’m Faster Than The Mayor!’ Anyone that beats Mayor Weichers gets a medal.”

Cottonwood Heights Councilmember Scott Bracken said, “The most asked question about the race is, ‘How fast is the mayor?’ and when the mayor was Mike Peterson, I could tell you.” Bracken did not know how fast the current mayor could run. This question about the mayor’s running speed had become a popular topic of conversation at the rec center.

Bracken was working with the youth council to run this race. Bracken laughed loudly when he was asked if he had run the race before. “My wife has, I am here helping with the youth council,” he said.

Youth councilmembers, Alec, Quincy, Jackie and Saerichai handed out the medals once the runners crossed the finish line. Runners were eligible for a medal if they beat just the current mayor.

Coming in first place was Shiva Rajbhandari, from Boise, Idaho. He ran the 5k in 16.55 minutes. “I have run this race three times. I am from Boise, Idaho. My family is here in Cottonwood Heights,” Rajbhandari said.

Second and third place went to Samuel Bennett and Ammon Atamanczyk respectively.

Mayor Weichers finished 937th in the race so there were 936 runners eligible to take home a medal.

“I have run this race three or four times before. I am planning on eating lots of turkey now that the race is over,” the mayor said.

This was the 38th year to run this race for Cottonwood Heights' former mayor Peterson. Once across the finish line Peterson said, “I ran the whole way! Later I will have ice, a little turkey, rest with the family and banana cream pie.”

Councilmember Doug Petersen was also assisting with the race. Petersen stated that, “Mayor Mike Peterson started this race years ago and was doing really well and is still running.”

To put participants in the festive mood, volunteer Grace Benham stood on the street dressed as a turkey and helped direct people. This was Benham’s first time working the race. Asked if it was her idea to dress as a turkey, Benham smiled and said, “No, but I volunteered.”

Participants running with strollers and dogs were part of the race but they were at the end of the crowd. Anyone wanting to walk in the race had a designated start area after the runners.

Once the racers crossed the finish line, the question of what was on the menu was asked and some participants responded with “A good old-fashioned meal.”

One finishing runner quipped, “Creating the Thanksgiving meal is more of a marathon than the 5k!” l

Medals that read, “I’m Faster Than The Mayor!” were given out to 936 runners that beat the mayor of Cottonwood Heights during the 5k race on Thanksgiving Day. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Former Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Peterson finishes the Run Now, Gobble Later 5k race. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Many came out to beat the mayor at the annual Run Now, Gobble Later Thanksgiving Day 5k race in Cottonwood Heights. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

was his experience with coaches in Texas. Coach Freestone took over head coach for Brighton Football until an accident took his life in 1999. The Brighton stadium has since then been known as Freestone Field in his honor.

The 1982 football season kicked off with a jarring tragedy. Teammate Troy Caldwell, the newly elected senior class president, and his girlfriend Tami Hill were hit by a drunk driver at 700 East and 3900 South and killed. The team dedicated the season to Caldwell and wore his number 83. Down by three points in a game against rival Hillcrest, Dave Blonquist, a team captain, remembers, “I told the team in the huddle that we needed to get the ball back and win the game for Troy.” They team responded, won the game and continued to win every other game that season including a 41-0 blowout win against a highly ranked Bonneville Lakers team in the state championship final. Stranger things.

Oddly, Brighton High School sits atop a sandbar created by ancient Lake Bonneville. In 1982, the east-west facing football field ended 50 yards from the sand pits that precipitously dropped into Willow Creek valley. “The Pit,” as it became known, was a ritual, end-of-practice drill that had the team plunge down the steep sand and then sprint back to the top—sometimes multiple times. It was enjoyed by none but revered by many. John Cougar Mellencamp’s 1982 hit single “Hurts So Good” likely was side A on many a Sony Walkman. The Pit became a source of endurance and symbol of team pride. As the team began to tick off the undefeated season against higher ranked opponents, the players pointed to the Pit as a difference maker. Lance Thaxton recalls, “We brought a jar of the Bonneville sand to Rice-Eccles Stadium as a reminder of all our hard work during the season.”

What was it that caused this cohort to pull together and make such an historic feat for Brighton? The history of Brighton football is highlighted with standout players who knocked out post high school honors and proper NFL careers. Brighton has had undefeated regular seasons as late at 2021. The program has had outstanding seasons with teams headlined by Reno Mahe, Bryan Kehl, Mike Hague, Sean Hagen, Simi Fehoko, Jackson Barton, Cody Barton and Lander Barton. But 1982 stands alone as the one season when Brighton Football stood supreme. Dave Blonquist, a team captain that year and designated “team historian” claims, “It was a team of destiny after the tragedy with Troy Caldwell.”

Dick Ball, longtime Brighton athletic director, suggests, “The Brighton student body is unique in its quest for excellence— academic, artistic or athletic. Individuals find fertile ground in the Brighton environment to grow and blossom. We won our fair share of team sport championships, but

we dominated in ‘Olympic’ sports where individuals showcased their skills—tennis, wrestling, gymnastics.”

Robert Sproul, former BHS principal and ardent BHS sports enthusiast, adds, “The Brighton students are high achievers who can do anything they put their minds to. Brighton Football has been in the finals multiple times and, but for key injuries, would have multiple state titles.” In addition to Brighton’s 120 state titles there are 70 second-place trophies which also adorn the Hall of Champions at the new Brighton—five of those are for football finalists.

Steve Sutton modestly suggests that “the team of 1982 had no super stars—no 1,000-yard rushers, no 3,000-yard passers. What we had was each other. We were a team built on great coaching and hard work.”

Truth be told, the 1982 team was packed with defensive talent. While the offense averaged only 22 points a game, the stout defense had many shutouts and many fourth down stands at the goal line. They held opponents to an astoundingly five point per game average.

“There were games where the defense outscored the offense,” recalls defenseman Dave Petersen. In fact, Petersen in his own right might be known as a Brighton unicorn having earned seven state championships as a Bengal athlete (one in football, two as a rare two-time state wrestling champion and four with the Brighton wrestling team. He wrestled varsity at 119 pounds as a freshman). This team of “no super star” knocked out seven all-state honors including 4A MVP (Chris Moore), Class 4A First Team (Steve Sutton, Dave Petersen, Dave Blonquist) and Class 4A Second Team (Darren Fortie, Lance Thaxton, Mike Dobecki). Seven of the team went on to play college football (Chris Moore at the University of Utah and Iowa State, Steve

The championship team from 1982 - Brighton’s only state football championship (Brighton 1983 yearbook)

Sutton at the University of Utah and Ole Miss, Mike Dobecki at Dixie State, Troy Campbell at Dixie State, Lance Thaxton at Dixie State, Darren Fortie at BYU and Dave Blonquist at Dixie State).

Chris Stackhouse remembers the team as “all about the relationships. To this day, 40 years later, it is about the guys, the connection we still have. These guys are some of the best people I know.” l

Team captain Dave Blonquist (Courtesy Dave Blonquist)

The defensive prowess of Dave Petersen and Chris Moore (Courtesy Dave Petersen)

Cottonwood Heights 2022

Nash Matheson was Brighton’s leading scorer last season, averaging 24 points a game. (Photo by Elie Rehmer/801Visual)

Ridgecrest first-grade students take part in the world record attempt for the most people sport stacking at multiple locations. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

The electric bus was able to make it to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon without a hitch, and even recharged most of its depleted battery on the way down as part of a test run. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

Daniel Detjen won state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Detjen’s accomplishments put him in the upper echelon of Brighton’s storied swim program. (Roger Tuttle/City Journals)

Not sure if we’re frightened or excited by the big bunny? (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

Brighton’s unified soccer team took on Murray in the state playoffs. (Julie Slama/City Journals) After devouring the treats within their Easter eggs, these two couldn’t be stopped. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

After learning UDOT’s preferred plan would be to develop a gondola within Little Cottonwood Canyon, many residents voiced their opposition to the Cottonwood Heights City Council. Their hope was that the city would have a louder voice than individual residents. (Cassie

A Brighton High player gets a fist bump from Leo, RSL’s mascot, and one of about a half dozen who came to cheer on the unified basketball players at the first state high school unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Mana Nonu guides a scrum as Brighton won a rugby state championship. (Photo by Christine Yee)

Brighton High’s Gabe Salinas cheers after learning he’s the school’s first inclusive prom king. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

First-grader Madelyn Haynes gives Ridgecrest Elementary’s mascot, Reggie, a hug during the school’s Year of the Tiger celebration. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Hardy Owen travels the United States as one its highest ranked tennis players. (Photos courtesy Natalie Meyer)

Brighton’s Avery Olsen, Region 6 tennis champion, serves. (Kristy Avery)

The police K9 agility training course was available for all dogs at the Bark in the Park event at Mountview Park. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Goff/City Journals)

Kindergartner Alex Kobold was mesmerized while dissecting a squid at Canyon View’s art and science showcase. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

At Holladay Hills, a lot of big, new things are in the works, but some things will remain the same—sort of.

The Holladay Planning Commission in December voted to approve the preliminary site plan for the “adaptive reuse” of the Macy’s building, the primary structure for Block B of the Holladay Hills development and sole remaining landmark of the former Cottonwood Mall site.

Rather than demolish the building, developers will repurpose the three-story structure for mixed-uses, with ground-level retail and upper-level office space.

The approval also moves the project closer to a long-awaited mile marker: with the completion of Block B, Holladay Hills will meet the minimum requirements to trigger its Tax Increment Financing (TIF), which effectively relieves tax pressure on developers.

TIF agreements are a common municipal tool used to incentivize private development.

Once the TIF threshold is triggered, it will enable the developers to build parking decks and additional infrastructure to support concurrent uses and help speed the completion of the remaining project blocks, according to Chris Lawson, who represented the developer during a December planning commission meeting.

Holladay Hills to ‘reuse’ Macy’s building

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

“It’s a pretty exciting milestone,” Lawson said.

Lawson said lease agreements for the office space are in the works and the space of now is reserved for two separate tenants. However, the architecture allows for anticipated reconfigurations to accommodate multiple renters on each level.

The plan alters an earlier vision of the broader development by shifting the primary plaza to now be between Block B and Block C, meant improve pedestrian experience and produce flow between the two blocks.

The adaptive reuse lends a sense of history to the development and immortalizes a structure community members associate with an era—even if some of its memories are sour, namely a community feud over the 2018 “Holladay Quarter.”

With the closure the Cottonwood Mall, the Holladay City Council undertook a sweeping rezone of the site in connection with developers for the Holladay Quarter, including Ivory Homes.

Residents decried the ensuing development proposal, however, and organized a referendum to overturn it. After residents won the referendum, the council appealed to the courts, where the issued was eventually decided by the Utah Supreme Court in a rul-

ing that sided with residents, stating that the breadth of the rezone constituted a legislative decision, as opposed to an administrative decision, and was therefore subject to the referendum outcome.

Thereafter, the area reverted to a 2007 Site Development Master Plan (SDMP), under which Holladay Hills was permitted in 2019. l

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The Holladay Planning Commission in December voted to approve the preliminary site plan for the “adaptive reuse” of the Macy’s building, the primary structure for Block B of the Holladay Hills development and sole remaining landmark of the former Cottonwood Mall site. (File photo City Journals)

Historic committee works passionately to preserve the city’s past

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

The Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee met in October to discuss a photo exhibit, a commemorative plaque, a veterans’ memorial monument and other ways to preserve the history of this unique area.

The committee recently put together an exhibit of old Butler School photographs that were on display at Cottonwood Heights City Hall. Community members were able to view them until mid-November.

Jim Kichas is the chair of the Historic Committee and has been a member since 2017. He has lived in Cottonwood Heights for 35 years. Kichas spoke about the exhibit and he would like to pull up the digital archives to identify the individuals in the photos. “We could do a theme with school photos for the Butlerville Days next year,” Kichas said.

A recent commemorative plaque was created by the committee and installed at the roundabout on East Bengal Boulevard across from city hall. This was to recognize the historic importance of the Mori and Tashiro homes that were removed to create the roundabout.

Historic Committee member Jessica Despain said, “We already did the survey of when the homes were built, who lived there and we made a nice plaque for the history of the homes.” The homes were not in the original condition before they were taken down. Despain added, “Sad to lose them but there was not much push back to remove the homes for the roundabout.”

The committee had been looking into a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument for city hall to honor veterans.

Cottonwood Heights Culture Manager Ann Eatchel commented about the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. “There are lots of restrictions and we have to follow exactly what they want and how they want it.” Eatchel mentioned that Sandy City Hall has one of these monuments. “This type of monument is for the families who lost a person in the community and we want to consider a monument that would honor all the veterans lost from our community.”

Despain brought up the question about historic subdivisions. “We have a lot of subdivisions. Some towns only have one subdivision and Cottonwood Heights has a lot of historic subdivisions that are the appropriate age range to be part of the historic district.”

Committee member Gayle Conger said, “Historic districts' requirements need to meet all of the homes in the subdivision. Only about 50% of the people in the subdivision would want to do this.” That would not be enough to qualify the entire subdivision.

The individuals on the committee range from real estate agents to a film documentarian; each member brings their own personal experience and talent to the group. Several

board members live in historic homes and many have lived here for over 30 years. All of them have a passion for the history of this place.

Conger has lived in the same home almost all of her life. Her house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was obtained by her great grandfather in 1872. Conger is considered the walking encyclopedia of Cottonwood Heights history. Conger believes that knowing the history of the area creates a sense of community.

Ken Verdoia is the vice chair of the committee and has had a long career in journalism and television documentaries and wants to produce a professional film about the history of the people from Cottonwood Heights. Verdoia and Kichas would like to interview members of the community on film. Verdoia suggested that to start this project, they would begin interviewing several of the committee members. Questions like, “Where people lived, when they lived there and just the history of Cottonwood Heights,” Verdoia said.

The committee will continue to work on a digital archive and recorded history with individuals who have a long legacy to the community.

Carol Woodside is the secretary and has been a member of the Historic Committee since 2013. Woodside retired from fundraising for Primary Children’s Hospital Foundation. “My family, the Winn family, bought their land from the Hiltons in 1928. I enjoy being on this committee, there are a lot of fun people.”

Committee member Beverly Beckstead has been on the committee for a couple of years. “My family came out here in 1906,”

Beckstead said. Beckstead is an ancestor of the David Allen Hilton family that purchased the land when the area was called Butlerville.

Jerry Christensen is a committee member and has lived in Cottonwood Heights for over 60 years. “I am a chair of Brighton High’s legacy committee and also write for the City Journals,” he said. Christensen brings his experience of research and public relations skills to the historic committee.

The Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee is popular with other local communities. “We all start by sharing and creating a network,” Verdoia said.

The history that happened in Millcreek,

Draper and other local areas also happened in Cottonwood Heights. These small local communities are cities that are divided by artificial boundary lines. “We are held up in high esteem around the city as a group that is doing it right,” Kichas said.

The Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee is looking to add more members. Any resident of Cottonwood Heights who has a love of the local history can apply to be on the committee. If interested visit www. cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/community/ history and fill out an application. l

A historic plaque for the Mori and Tashiro homes that were taken down to build the new roundabout near the high school. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Photo displayed in Cottonwood Heights City Hall of second-grade elementary students from Butler Elementary School in 1948. (Photo courtesy of the Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee)

Butler School eighth-grade graduation from 1919. (Phot courtesy Gayle Conger/Cottonwood Heights)

Comcast deploys new multi-gig internet speeds in Salt Lake City

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Homes and businesses in Salt Lake City were introduced to

Comcast’s new multi-gig internet speed, delivering downloads speeds up to 2 Gbps over existing network connections. On December 13, Comcast announced the launch that will rollout nationwide, reaching more than 56 million households by the end of 2025.

The new offerings will be the largest and fastest-ever multigig network and WiFi deployment in the United States. It will be a seamless transition, connecting millions of users to internet services and will double in capability, speed and reliability every two years.

A launch celebration in Salt Lake City brought together local Utah Comcast network engineers and senior leaders, community partners and Comcast Headquarters Chief Network Officer Elad Nafshi.

“This is the beginning of a transformation, and we’re well on our way,” Nafshi said. “We have architecture that is built for infinite scale. This is architecture that will enable us to offer multigig services across our footprint.”

The average home has 25-30 devices connected to WiFi and internet services. Comcast’s rollout will help keep those phones, computers, appliances and TVs working reliably. Real-time visibility allows Comcast to address issues as they arise, dispatching technicians to the right locations, armed with tools to fix problems across the network.

Built with sustainability in mind, the network complies with regulations for data center sustainability. Over the next seven years, the amount of power needed to provide services will be reduced by 50%.

“Investing in technology and infrastructure ensures Salt Lake City maintains the fastest and most reliable internet service

for our residents,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “In my work as a founding member of the Utah Broadband Coalition, I’ve seen how the benefits of Comcast’s investments extend to businesses, government organizations, students and all Utahns; including seniors, veterans and those in low-income households. We greatly appreciate Comcast’s announcement today because it prepares us for tomorrow’s demands.”

In addition to multi-gigabit download speeds, Comcast introduced faster upload speeds to Xfinity Internet customers in Salt Lake who choose xFi Complete. New speeds will be up to 10 times faster than current levels and deliver the industry’s best combination of speed, coverage, and control, powered by one of the world’s first Wi-Fi 6E Gateways.

“I had the opportunity to launch the previous revolution. In late 2016, we launched the infrastructure we rely on to deliver services today,” Nafshi said. “In 2016, we rolled out the very first modem and 18 months later it was available everywhere. That’s the path we’re on right now. By the end of 2025, this network upgrade will be available to 56 million households. The vast majority of our network will be fully upgraded.”

Faster speeds are just one of the consumer benefits made possible through Comcast’s efforts to evolve its entire network to 10G, a next-generation technology that will stay ahead of customer demand for connectivity. The 10G technology allows enhanced speeds and performance to millions of people using existing connections, without having to dig up yards or streets.

Comcast has nearly 5,000 miles of fiber throughout the state of Utah, serving more than 1 million customers, including 100,000 in Salt Lake. Transitioning to a digital network, powered by a vir-

tualized platform, Comcast engineers can reliably maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade network components almost instantly, with a few keystrokes. This makes the network more energy efficient and is an important element of Comcast’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2035.

“The local teams really empower all this to the community. They are pushing this technology that is so scalable and so seamless to the customers. They make it happen,” Nafshi said. “It’s so much hard work. There’s a tremendous amount of hard work by many women and men across the company, whether it’s corporate or a regional division or locally here in Salt Lake.”

For more information, visit Corporate.Comcast.com. l

At the Comcast headend facility in Salt Lake City on Dec. 13, Elad Nafshi, senior VP at Comcast (right), shows Jared Gerber, senior deputy chief administrative officer of Sandy City (left) and Chris Dunkeson, VP of area offices at Comcast, the new platform for Comcast’s next generation network technology that will deliver services more efficiently.

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31,

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness! Thank You!”

–Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features onetouch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a

backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

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Wasatch Wanderers rescues abandoned exotic pets, ducks and geese

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When people think of animal rescue, they usually think about the thousands of abandoned dogs or cats waiting to be placed in forever homes. But Wasatch Wanderers rescue is a different type of animal.

Although Adison Smith and cofounder Kade Tyler have been rescuing animals for more than 10 years, it wasn’t until last September that they created the nonprofit Wasatch Wanderers to help domestic waterfowl, farm animals and exotic pets.

“I’ve always been very passionate about helping animals because they don’t have a voice for themselves,” Smith said. “We just recognized there was a big need for farm and exotic animal rescue.”

Last fall, Smith was contacted by Weber State University to rescue more than 60 ducks and geese stranded at the school’s campus. Water for the animals was drying up and the waterfowl were being attacked by dogs.

Geese had been at WSU for several years, but as the birds reproduced, and as people dropped off their pet geese and ducks on campus, the number of birds had increased, creating a problem at the school.

“For years, these geese had been seen as the Weber State unintentional mascot. They’d put the geese on shirts and hats and COVID masks,” Smith said. “I organized a rescue team and found home for the geese.”

That’s when she decided to create Wasatch Wanderers, and during the last year, the organization has rescued more than 500 domestic waterfowl.

Smith said people don’t realize pet ducks and geese have been genetically altered with wings too small for their bodies. They get too fat to fly to safety. Because they can’t sustain flight, they don’t migrate and get stuck in ponds when the water freezes.

“They rely on humans to keep them alive. You’ll see a lot of dead waterfowl because they can't leave and they’ve become an easy target for predators,” Smith said. “People just don’t know they can’t fly or forage on their own.”

The goal of Wasatch Wanderers is to remove domestic waterfowls from places that aren’t safe and put them in forever homes. But it’s not just geese and ducks rescued by the group, they also take in pigs, chickens, cows, hamsters, turtles and fish.

Smith is often contacted by shelters across the state who have a rooster, pig or duck that’s going to be euthanized. She takes those animals and gives them to one of the 50 foster homes willing to take in farm animals.

They recently saved a pig from a shelter near Vernal and rescued an additional

four pigs from California. Wasatch Wanderers paid for a volunteer to transport the pigs to a foster home and got the animals medical care, including one pig that had eight babies after it was rescued.

“We travel basically everywhere in Utah where there’s a need,” she said. “Wasatch Wanderers focuses on abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals. Our goal is to educate the public and get them to treat and see animals differently.”

It can get overwhelming when so many animals need a home. There are currently 85 roosters in the group’s care, more than 150 waterfowl, lots of guinea pigs and hamsters, and they’ve stopped accepting rabbits because they can’t afford the medical care for all the rabbits they receive.

Wasatch Wanderers also rescues abandoned turtles and goldfish. In the last year, the group has saved nearly 70 turtles that have been abandoned in waterways. Smith said people don’t know that goldfish and turtles are an invasive species and damaging to wildlife.

“These are living beings and they have needs and if you can’t meet those, don’t buy them,” Smith said. “Not only is it harmful and cruel to that animal to do that, it’s also illegal. It’s actually a crime in the state of Utah to abandon any domes-

tic animal, even something as small as a goldfish.”

Currently, the organization is 100% foster-based, but Smith and Tyler hope to purchase property to create an animal sanctuary when land becomes more affordable. All the money for medical care, food and transportation comes out-of-pocket or through donations.

To contribute to Wasatch Wanderers, to become a foster or for more informa-

tion, visit WasatchWanderers.org.

“There is a resource available to pet owners who are in over their head. Don’t abandon, reach out to a rescue,” Smith said. “The biggest change we want to make is educating the public and preventing the problem at the source. Prevent those impulsive buys because that’s what so many do when they abandon their animal. Make more responsible decisions. That’s what adults are supposed to do.” l

Kade Tyler and Adison Smith, founders of Wasatch Wanderers, rescue ducks, geese, farm animals and exotic pets throughout the state. (Photos courtesy of Holly Cluff)

With only 3% of eligible Utahns donating blood, the American Red Cross needs more donors

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Across the United States, there’s a need for blood every two seconds. Whether it’s used for traumatic injuries, cancer treatments, illness or surgery, products used from blood donations are lifesaving. But in Utah, only about 3% of the eligible population donates blood on a regular basis.

The American Red Cross in Utah provides blood to more than 50 hospitals in the state, including Primary Children’s Hospital, but since June, blood donations have been down by 20%.

“This summer, we got to the point where doctors had to put off elective surgeries because of a lack of blood,” said Sheri Van Bibber, an ARC district representative director. “We have to donate for each other. We can’t just go buy it.”

When COVID restrictions eased, blood donations increased as people could get a free antibody test with each donation. But now, blood supplies are steadily dropping. Van Bibber said one factor for the drop is that many blood drives that used to be held in businesses haven’t been scheduled because employees are working from home.

Another factor is that high schools and college campuses have been closed for the summer, so donations from the education sector have also gone down, although fall blood drives are ramping up again.

“I think everyone was so tired of lockdown. People really did come out during the pandemic to donate. But now we’re working to maximize resources because our hospital needs didn’t drop.”

Utah is one of only 37 states that allows 16 year olds to donate blood and many teens have become donors. Additionally, some regulations have changed, allowing more people to give blood. For instance, anyone who received a tattoo can donate three months after the procedure, instead of six.

The ARC believes the eligibility to donate blood should not be based upon sexual orientation and is working to achieve this goal, but the ARC’s current guidelines state blood donations from gay men must be deferred for three months from the most recent sexual contact with a man. The ARC recognizes this policy has caused hurt and alienation in the LGBTQ+ community and is having conversations with its partners to get the deferment eliminated.

Another recent change allows people who spent time in England from 1980 to 1997 to donate blood. In the past, the fear of transmitting the human form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, banned all donations. But two months ago, the ban was lifted.

“Even if anybody was over in Europe during the ’80s, they can now donate,” Van

Bibber said.

For the 100,000 Americans diagnosed with sickle cell disease, most of them African American, blood transfusions are a critical treatment. With no cure for sickle cell, blood donations from a close blood match are vital, but donations from this population remain low.

“We need more African Americans to donate because they hold the antibody to help each other,” she said. “That’s a huge piece that we’re working on.”

First-time donors are asked to show ID and then get a mini-physical and discuss their health history. The actual donation procedure only takes 5-10 minutes followed by 15 minutes of rest while enjoying a snack. Donors can give blood every two months.

The ARC app allows donors to see where their blood gets used and shows their blood type. Identifying blood type is usually a $150 test that must be prescribed by your doctor but it’s free for those who donate.

One donation can impact three patients as a pint of blood includes whole blood, plasma and platelets. Platelets are used for people who don’t have enough white cells, which means their blood doesn’t clot. Plasma is used with burn patients.

“We take care of all the needs here in Utah and if there’s an emergency like tornadoes or hurricanes or floods or fire, in those areas, the blood drives get shut down,” she said. “So we pull together extra resources and we send resources to where it’s needed.”

For more information about blood donation or to find a drive near you, visit Redcrossblood.org.

“It’s good for your body to kick out that pint. It gets the old red cells out and gets new red cells replenishing, so it ups your energy level,” Van Bibber said. “We’ll take care of you for a minute while you’re taking care of others.” l

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With blood donations down, the American Red Cross of Utah is hoping to get new donors to give blood. (Adobe stock photo)

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From the people who brought you Syncrete, nepotistic construction contracts and the ThrU Turn fiasco intersection, comes a mind-boggling project guaranteed to be unnecessary and over budget: the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola.

The Utah Department of Transportation isn’t known for its rational, effective projects. It spent years studying the LCC traffic situation before making the wrong decision, but at least they didn’t go with the Little Cottonwood zeppelin.

Color me unimpressed with UDOT. Take 5400 South. Please. I travel this road every day and I know UDOT doesn’t understand east-west travel. Going from my home in Kearns to the I-15 interchange in Murray includes nearly 20 stoplights along that 7-mile stretch and I usually hit every. single. one.

There was a legend that if you drove exactly 42.3 mph, under the light of a full moon, you could travel 5400 South without stopping at one red light. Not true.

I blame my road rage on UDOT.

So, let’s talk about the gondola. With UDOT approving the nearly $600 million project, it must have overwhelming support. Nope. Local mayors, residents, environmental groups, Bigfoot and county leaders don’t want this to happen. A majority of the tens

Kinder Life and Laughter

of thousands of public comments are against the gondola.

Just a hair short of sketchy, Snowbird quietly bought land that could (will) be used for the gondola station at the base of Little Cottonwood. When the time comes, Snowbird will sell or donate (ha-ha) that land to the state.

Hikers, fishermen, sightseers and climbers don’t want the gondola. They don’t want to ride the entire length of the gondola system if their destination isn’t a ski resort. I guess UDOT could add a base-jumping experience if you want to parachute out of the gondola halfway up the canyon. But it will probably have an extra fee.

Measuring 8 miles, it will be the longest gondola system in the world and includes nearly two dozen towers, averaging 185 feet high. That’s about 17 stories. UDOT said the towers will be placed up the canyon by helicopters, like they’ll gently rest on the forest

floor where tree roots will wind around the base to hold them down, becoming part of the natural landscape.

No. Each tower will have a huge concrete base, requiring boulders and trees to be demolished. Not only that, but construction could disrupt animal migration patterns, pollute the watershed and highlight UDOT’s decision-making legacy.

UDOT explored options like rideshare programs, electric buses and road tolls that are less invasive, especially when trying to solve a traffic problem that only happens a few days a year. But those alternatives aren’t expensive and ridiculous, so that was a “no” vote from UDOT.

When you factor inflation, the project’s cost will be about $72 gajillion, paid for with “mystery funding” which we all know usually means “taxpayer dollars” in some fash-

ion. Even if you’ve never skied a day in your life, your tax dollars will probably help pay for a system designed by ski resorts, for ski resorts.

We’ve riddled this country with aging infrastructure. Obsolete railways, cables, steel and wiring lie unused and rusting. When the gondola becomes outdated, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be stuck with the awful towers standing forever in the sacred space of Little Cottonwood.

UDOT’s track record is abysmal. I remember when it spent $700,000 to remove the stupid ThrU Turn on 5400 South. UDOT said the intersection wasn’t a mistake, just unnecessary.

That could be UDOT’s tagline: Building unnecessary mistakes. l

Peri