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Corner Canyon High’s Harrison Reading won the boys varsity race at the Utah High School Mountain Biking State Championships Oct. 24, marking the first individual varsity title in school history. (Photos courtesy Colton Reading)

he first mountain biking race of Corner Canyon High’s Harrison Reading’s senior season didn’t exactly go as planned. On Aug. 19 at Powder Mountain, the two-time region champion had a significant lead that was literally blown due to a flat tire and, after limping back for support and then charging into the fifth position, he suffered another flat and finished in 16th place – by far his worst showing in a high school event. Battling back from that setback, Reading culminated his high school career with a win in the boys varsity division at the Utah High School Mountain Biking State Championships Oct. 24. It was a sprint to the finish for Reading on his white bike, wearing a white helmet and pink socks, in beating out Ogden’s Jordan Forsgren by 10 seconds while also ahead of 222 other riders. The victory was historic for the CCHS program as it marks the first individual varsity mountain biking title in school his-

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“It feels great to have won,” Reading, the son of Colton and Amy Reading of Draper, said. “It took a long time and a lot of work. I’m just super happy. My dad has put in hours and hours of work to help me. I was doing the pedaling, but it was definitely a team effort.” “I thought it would feel so good if Harrison could win state, but it was so much better than I ever had imagined,” said dad Colton Reading. “To see him come across the finish line, knowing how hard he worked and knowing the price he’s paid, I was almost without words. It was just the most pure joy to experience. I have so much respect for Harrison for how he fought.” Harrison’s year could easily have gone so much differently, but instead, he bounced back from those mechanical issues in his first race of his last high school season to take second at Snow Basin Sept. 2, first at Richfield Sept. 16 and second in Continued page 8

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Canyons District students of Shakespeare find sweet success By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

n “Julius Caesar,” William Shakespeare penned, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” He suggests that people’s future is not determine by fate or destiny, but rather by their own actions. The actions and hard work of many student-thespians became apparent during the 47th annual Shakespeare Competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University, as many students received awards and scholarships. A first was three Canyons School District high schools sweeping the Oxford division in four of the five categories, including sweepstakes with Hillcrest taking first; Brighton, second; and Corner Canyon, third. “This is the first major success in over a decade for Brighton at this competition,” Brighton High theatre director Makayla Conner said. “The team was dedicated and hardworking; every rehearsal was productive. It allowed for them to grow the scenes to the point where they needed for the competition.” She said that now post-pandemic, several team members had been to the competition for the past several years, so they understood the dedication and hard work that was needed. “They understand what the competition is like, and they were able to help the other teammates understand what they needed to do,” she said. The sweep was especially sweet for Conner as she was a student of Hillcrest High’s director, Josh Long, then she student taught under Corner Canyon’s theatre director, Phaidra Atkinson. “It was very exciting; everyone was rooting for each other,” she said. “There were about 15 schools in our division so

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that’s a pretty good showing for Canyons.” One thing Canyons schools did was try to support each other during the competition. “It was really cool; it was a camaraderie feeling which usually at competitions, you don’t get, but for this one, everyone was very united all weekend,” Conner said. “Alta High kids wrote notes for the performers. After watching each performance, they would give them these little notes saying, ‘you did really well.’ Hillcrest kids made videos of funny skits about the plays and put them on their Instagram page and tagged all the schools. Brighton kids made good luck posters for each of the Canyons schools and put some fun puns in those to wish them good luck. Some of them were so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing.” Other placements include in ensemble, Corner Canyon took first; Hillcrest, second; and Brighton, third. In duo/trio scenes, first place went to Hillcrest’s Nayantara Nair, Ellie Spilker and Riley Thompson while Alta’s Jaycey Bennion and Addi Scarborough took second. Hillcrest’s Auston Beals, Lucas Fife and Gideon Kirby, took fourth. In monologue, Hillcrest’s Gabe Williams, Anna Fetzer and Munshe Tanjani took first, second and fifth, respectively, and Brighton’s Grace Brown took third. Williams and Nair both received the Ray Jones $1,000 Scholarship award; Spilker and Thompson, won the Barbara Barrett $500 award and Brighton’s Jaxton Brenner was awarded the $1,000 Larry Lott Acting Award. Hillcrest also had winners in the tech Olympics competition, including first place overall. Individual winners include Fischer Coleman, lighting; Elsie Slabbert,

Brighton High’s Shakespeare team took second place overall in Cedar City at the 47th annual Utah Shakespeare Festival. (Bella Koza/Brighton High)

make-up; Cameron Sorenson, rigging; Tyler Strong, stage management. Harrison Treat earned second place in set construction and Coleman and Wesley Arbon were tech portfolio runners-up. In dance and choreography, Brighton’s Alisa Allen, Zoe Milner and Isabelle Foote won third place in duo/trio scenes. Allen choreographed the piece inspired by “King Lear.” All 5 seniors — Allen, Milner, Alaina Burr, Sammie Falcon and Brooke Larson — who elected to participate in a dance scholarship audition received more than $40,000 combined from

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numerous colleges. In dance and choreography, Corner Canyon took second place in ensemble; and in music, second place in troubadour and third place in minstrel. In the Cambridge division, Jordan High’s Parker Bettinson took second place in the monologue while in the music competition, Jordan High won first in minstrel, third in madrigals and overall, second in sweepstakes Nearby Juan Diego Catholic High, in Draper, took third place in the Westminster division ensemble. l

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Alta High’s improv students will be among those performing in the school’s murder-mystery show and fundraiser in December. (Photo courtesy of Kassie Holt/Alta High)

Alta’s murder-mystery fundraiser show steps back in time By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“W

hen the Clock Strikes Back” will take audiences back in time while never leaving their seat. Alta High’s traditional murder-mystery show, which features appetizers and dessert, will be held at 5 p.m., and again at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 8 at the school, 11055 South 1100 East. Tickets to the show, which serves as the theater department’s fundraiser, are available online following the Alta athletics’ link on the school’s webpage, ahs.canyonsdistrict.org, or in-person at the school’s main office. The show was written by senior Kassie Holt, who spent about three hours per week for three months creating the script. “I was announced as improv captain last April and so that comes with the responsibility to write and direct the show,” she said. “So, I wrote over it over the summer when I knew I’d have time.” The show’s storyline is set in the 1990s and focuses on two college students who accidentally discovered time travel while doing research on one of their fathers who the student never knew. By listening to music, they’re transported to the 1970s, then to the 1950s and to the Roaring 20s. “Along the way, people go missing and murdered and have to figure out who did it and why,” Holt said. The show features songs by

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Fleetwood Mac, Doris Day and Ruth Etting. “The songs were from those specific eras. I love Fleetwood Mac, so I wanted music from that time period. I get to do costume design, which I love; I thought doing costumes, and hair and makeup for the different eras would be really fun,” Holt said. At first, she thought writing the show seemed both overwhelming and exciting. “I talked it over with my friend, Alex Liljenquist, who was the director last year, and asked her how she came up with her idea,” Holt said. “I went through different ideas, but I really liked the idea of a throwback murder mystery to the murder mystery decades that I saw and was in as an actor, to bring it full circle. I tweaked the years a little, but it’s still fun.” She wrote the show, starting with a list of bullet points. “I put down all of my ideas to include, then I took a couple of days and pieced it together until I had a basic storyline. I wrote my script from there,” Holt said. “Basically, I outlined the basic plot points in the scenes, but it’s up to the actors to decide their lines and how they interact with each other. Since it’s a murder mystery dinner, the audience is involved, so the actors need to be able

to bounce off whatever the audience says and interact with each other. Normally, improv scenes are four minutes max and this show is an hour and a half long, so my script gives the actors a backbone to work off of and make it their own.” In the show, there are 24 different characters — 11 main cast members, nine ensemble actors who also are the meal servers and four singers. “During the scene breaks, the servers will be talking with the audience, so that will be fun and engaging for everyone,” she said. Auditions were set for Nov. 21, with rehearsals slated to begin Nov. 27, after Alta High closes their production of “Mean Girls.” Holt is a part of that show as well. Junior Ethan Reagan is the murder-mystery show’s assistant director. Holt is eager for to see the show herself. “I’m just super excited to see the cast in this show I created and how they perform it. It’s been an experience that I’ve never done before by having something that I created, cast and directed,” she said. “I don’t think it’ll be quite what I’m expecting; I think it will be better and I’m really excited about it.” l

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Celebrating freedom, honor at Draper Veterans Day By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

t 11 o’clock on 11/11 (November 11) Draper City held its annual Veterans Day celebration at Draper Park. A joint Color Guard made up of members of the city’s Police and Fire departments started the reverent ceremony. “We’re here to celebrate the most important folks in our country,” said Mayor Troy Walker, whose two sons currently serve in the military. November 11 is known as Armistice Day in other countries, commemorating the end of World War I in 1918. (Armistice means “to stand still” in Latin). Because of wars that followed and a desire to recognize the military service of Americans in times of war and peace, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Veterans Day in 1954. Draper resident and Vietnam veteran Robert Longacre explained why he felt it was important to be at the ceremony. “I love this country. We’re patriots, those of us gathered here. It’s nice to be around other service people, people who’ve moderately sacrificed. The people who sacrificed aren’t here, but they’re in our hearts.” Walker introduced keynote speaker Chief Warrant Officer Shane Schmutz of the Utah National Guard. Schmutz’s two brothers are also in the military and their father is a Vietnam veteran. Schmutz grew up in West Jordan and was nominated to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) upon high school graduation. He graduated from West Point as a Second Lieutenant and went on to the Army’s flight school, graduating in 2002. In early 2003, he flew during America’s invasion of Iraq. He served two tours in Iraq and a third tour in Kuwait. Schmutz was awarded the Bronze Star. After seven years in the military, Schmutz left to work in the private sector for 14 years. During that time, he founded a nonprofit called Veterans Passport to Hope, raising approximately $1.3 million to help veterans of the various branches of service. He returned to service with the Utah National Guard one year ago and is once again a Black Hawk pilot. Schmutz spoke about his time spent working in both the military and corporate America. “Being able to put this uniform on again…it’s not about raising the stock price (of a company), but doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. There’s nothing I’m more proud of than my service to my country,” he said. According to Schmutz, only one percent of the United States population has served in the military, and less than 10% of that one percent have actually seen combat. “It’s a huge deal to join the military. Every single veteran signed a check that was written up to and including their life. When you join, you never know…”. He said he’s willing to go to war again though he hopes he doesn’t

Page 6 Dec. 2023

Chief Warrant Officer Shane Schmutz of the Utah National Guard was keynote speaker for Draper’s Veterans Day ceremony. A Black Hawk pilot, Schmutz served three tours of duty, was awarded the Bronze Star, and founded the nonprofit Veterans Passport to Hope. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

have to. He mentioned difficult statistics about military life, including an average of 22 veteran suicides each day in America along with high divorce rates and PTSD, but he primarily spoke of the honor it is to serve and he thanked the families of service members as well. “The families serve just as much as the veterans do,” he said. Schmutz specifically addressed young people. “Our country needs great people to keep up the freedom we’re afforded. It’s an honorable way to spend your life.” The ceremony included uplifting music from the One Voice Children’s Choir directed by Masa Fukuda, the Star Spangled Banner sung by Miss Draper Attendant Belynn Borg, and Taps played by Les Langford of the Timpanogos Honor Guard. The city’s Field of Flags served as a backdrop for the ceremony. “America is peaceful. All the freedoms we enjoy…they are because we have a strong and dedicated force. Hug a Veteran,” Walker said. l

Les Langford played Taps to conclude Draper’s Veterans Day ceremony with the city’s Field of Flags in the background. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

Friends and fellow veterans Robert Longacre (L) and Brent Miller sat together for Draper’s Veterans Day ceremony. Longacre served in the Army beginning in 1969, including in Vietnam, and Miller spent 30 years in the Utah National Guard. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

Draper City Journal

Mixed recycling pilot program proved successful in Canyons School District schools By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

ast year, then Hillcrest High School senior Sofia Moeinvaziri picked up the school’s paper recycling to place it in a recycling dumpster in the school’s parking lot. “I’d take a cardboard box and then sort out the cans and any plastic because it wasn’t part of paper recycling,” Moeinvaziri said. “I knew there had to be a way to recycle that material at school.” Unknowingly, her classmate, Abigail Slama-Catron, separately had signatures of students, faculty and staff and parents who have children at a Canyons School District school who wanted to introduce more recycling options. She was advocating that cause with District officials. The two now graduates both belonged to Hillcrest High’s Earth Club. Moeinvaziri and others led the efforts in school composting. Slama-Catron had led the club to pledge to improve the environment through the Adopt-a-Highway program. Both were championing for mixed recycling for the 34,000 students and 2,000 employees in the District. “It’s a need in any community and especially people in my age group are wanting to recycle and help improve our environment, but some people don’t know how or there’s not an avenue to do so,” Slama-Catron said. “I wanted to make that happen.” Once the friends learned they both were working for the same goal, they united. The result was a successful pilot program at three Canyons School District schools — Hillcrest High, Midvale Middle and Midvalley Elementary — which now opens the doors for the district to introduce mixed recycling in all of its buildings. But it was an effort that stretched their entire senior year. With advice from Chris Eppler, who then was the school district’s energy engineer, Slama-Catron reached out to see the interest of school principals. She also met with Canyons School District Business Administrator and CFO Leon Wilcox and then Canyons Board of Education member Steve Wrigley, who supported the effort. “Abigail came to me after talking to Chris and she had quite a few schools that were interested, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to be more work for our custodial staff to be out there sorting garbage and recycling,” Wilcox said. “I wanted to be green and efficient, but I didn’t know if it would be a savings for our district and wanted to learn that.” After getting commitments from the three schools to introduce mixed recycling and finding student leaders or clubs to take responsibility for emptying the bins around the school, the district placed mixed recycling dumpsters in those school parking lots. The impact was almost immediate, the

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Former Hillcrest High School student Abigail Slama-Catron advocated for mixed recycling in Canyons School District schools. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Abigail Slama-Catron and Sofia Moeinvaziri, seen here at Hillcrest High, implemented a pilot program of mixed recycling in three Canyons School District schools last year. (Lyndee McKay/Hillcrest High School)

girls said. Moeinvaziri and Slama-Catron monitored the usage of recycling in the dumpsters, documenting its usage with photos. “At Hillcrest, it was placed outside of the wood and robotics shops, so they used it quite a bit. It works well, especially in high schools because we have vending machines, and a lot of students would put their plastic and energy drink cans in there,” said Moenvaziri, who started looking into a contract with the mixed recycling company. Slama-Catron said the pilot program got a slow start at Midvale Middle because the mixed recycling dumpster was misplaced, but at Midvalley it was an instant success. “Midvalley had to change their bin to be picked up once a week instead of every other week because of how much it was being filled. It was surprising; I knew that there was a need, but I didn’t realize how fast that would be shown to me,” she said, adding that Hillcrest’s dumpster was “full every single time I looked. It was great to see that people cared and wanted to recycle.” During the school year, Eppler retired, but the girls continued their effort. “People were willing to even meet with us, and we were really pushing it forward. They liked our initiative and were willing to listen to us,” Moeinvaziri said. “I learned a lot about convincing people to listen to your cause. I learned

promoting environmental sustainability isn’t enough to convince someone to support your program. You have to know the financial aspect of it because at the end of the day, for a lot of school districts, it does come down to money, and they are monitoring that budget closely. If it’s cheaper for them to just have paper recycling, then they’re just going to go that route. There was one school district that stopped recycling completely because of the financial cost that comes with it.” She said the district covered the funds for the pilot program. “We calculated exactly how much it would cost and we found that there would be fewer trips to the landfill because students would put their plastic and aluminum in the mixed recycling rather than the trash. Plus, the landfill is farther away than where the mixed recycling was being dumped. We pointed out that it’s not only great for the environment, but it would be a financial saving to the district because less plastic and metal were being put in the trash. We convinced them and they said that they’ll move forward with it,” said Moenvaziri, who is studying engineering and hopes to continue to compete in public policy debate about environmental sustainability in college. Canyons Director of Facility Services Matt Wolford said the girls answered their questions of finding the balance between fiscal responsibility and being environmentally sustainable. “Some of our schools were already recycling paper and that cost actually came out of our custodial budget, and these ladies found a point of contact at each school to oversee the recycling in the schools to get emptied into the recycling bin outside the school,” he said. “We

have recycling pickup once a week at 43 CSD (Canyons School District) locations for the ‘23’24 school year.” Slama-Catron, who now is studying environmental policy and working at her college’s sustainability center, created a video and posted it on Instagram to help educate students about the recycling program. “The video was entertaining while also being educational about mixed recycling in any of the schools. It has Hillcrest’s student body president in it, so students knew who she was as a person of authority as well as just having a more high school approach to recycling. It was designed to be fun, but the purpose was for them to gain knowledge about the recycling program and what could go in those bins,” she said. Slama-Catron used the project toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, which she received in November. “I have the passion for this project, because it’s something I care about. If I can be a force for change to positively affect the earth, then I’m willing to do that. I wanted to see mixed recycling happen and I knew I could do that,” she said. Information about the project, she calls, “Recycle remix” can be found recycleremix. weebly.com, which serves as a model for other schools and districts to follow. “Mixed recycling is a positive step to improving our environment and people are willing to if they’re given the opportunity,” Slama-Catron said. “Now, there is a drastic decrease of stuff on the ground at schools as people put their plastic water bottles and aluminum cans into the recycling bin. It’s making our world healthier.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

‘Ran our best when it counted’ By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Juan Diego volleyball wins region title By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com The Juan Diego Catholic High School girls volleyball team won the Region 14 title this season behind senior Avery Closser, who led the team with 135 kills and 34 aces on the year and senior setter Joleen Jaeger ran the offense, recording 328 assists. Senior Emma Pasternak’s 201 digs was tops defensively while sophomore Ila Jacobs and senior Tupou Vea combined for 82 blocks at the net. Also on the JDCHS squad – who went 0-2 at the 3A state tournament to end the season – were Lucero Asthuaman, Melanie Barker, Elizabeth Chesley, Amelia Chiazzese, Jaanya Chowdhary, Mckayla Davies, Sophie Flynn, Olivia Fry, Olivia Harris, Ayen Kuath, Agustina Kuhrke Limia, Ammie Matos Lopez, Alexandra Marquardt, Maile Mataele, Marlee McKillip, Emma Mitchell, Alexa Montoya, Olivia Newton, Kylah O’Reilly, Zoe Perez-Ventura, Maya Reid, Kennadie Rushton, Emely Sanchez, Mia Sewell, Nia Silvestro, Lulabelle Smith, Samantha Tenzer, Ava Tita, Sarah Tosolini, Arianna Vazquez, Arianna Wheatley and Riley Whittaker. (Photo courtesy JD Media Club)

Continued from front page Price Sept. 30. Those placements secured his third individual region championship heading into the state race. “We knew we had to do things differently after his first race, but Harrison never lost faith in his original goal,” Colton Reading said. “It was a path different than he initially envisioned, but he just used every race to get smarter and to learn about how to race faster.” What began as following older siblings – Katie and Cannon – into mountain biking as a seventh grader gradually grew into something more when Harrison had a good race a year later. “Winning always helps to keep you going,” he said. Although he has also enjoyed playing soccer and basketball over the years, he quickly saw this sport as “a way to compete at a high level and be good at it.” As a freshman on the Corner Canyon team, he finished in 11th place, out of 57 riders, in his first race after having started the event in last place. He moved into the top five over the next few races and finished second at state in the freshman A boys category. During his sophomore year, he took first in the four Utah HS MTB league events in the JV A division before coming in second at state and then venturing into regional and national competitions. At the iCup Three Peaks Classic in May 2022, he got a flat tire and wasn’t able to finish, and then two months later – at the USA Cycling Mountain Biking National Championships – he suffered a double flat and ended up walking several miles in order to cross the finish line. Four second place finishes in the varsity lineup during his junior season set Harrison up for a sixth-place finish, out of 173 riders, at state last fall – becoming the highest placing junior in the race. This past summer, he was 32nd among 119 participants at nationals in the 17-18 year old age division.

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Juan Diego Catholic High School senior Isabella Pickers placed 16th at the 3A state championships at the Regional Athletic Complex Oct. 24. Her finish helped the Soaring Eagle girls squad take ninth as a team. The boys, led by senior Connor Orges who took 43rd (pictured), were 12th as a group. Other placements on the girls side were senior Olivia Young (42nd), senior Maude Poirier (46th), junior Abby Quigley (48th) and junior Domiona Marine (90th). For the boys, junior Mango Madden was 68th, senior Hobie Holdmair (79th), junior Owen Kotter (83rd), junior Sebastian Galindo-Ramirez (88th), freshman Colin Farr (90th) and senior Tanner Nicholson (95th). “State went fantastically,” said JDCHS head coach Joe Elliott. “So many special runners ended their seasons, and in some cases careers, with incredibly gutsy and memorable performances. We wanted to make sure we saved our absolute best races for state this season, and I’m really proud of how we ran down the stretch and at the end, we ran our best when it counted.” (Photos courtesy Joe Elliott)

“It’s really cool to compete in a different setting against the best in the country,” Harrison said. “Everyone has good technique and there is a higher focus and level in those races.” The hundreds of hours of riding – covering over 345,000 feet of elevation and 3,400 miles – that Harrison has logged this year brought him to the state site in Cedar City where he maneuvered the 22-mile four-lap course ahead of the field to finish his high school career. “It’s been so impressive to me to see how Harrison has been willing to sacrifice other things to accomplish this goal,” Colton Reading said. “He needed to be very efficient with his time, both in training and recovery, and he needed to be precise in his training and taking advantage of every minute he could. He was willing to understand that the little details matter and put in the hard work, trusting the process.” The 4.0 student said mountain biking has taught him life lessons in the form of the importance of practice and preparation, training and consistency and how to stay the course and handle adversity. “I have noticed that the elite riders don’t take that much time off and that determination to ride even when it’s windy, cold or stormy really separates you from the group,” he said. “I’ve learned to just keep pedaling even if the training ride is brutal or if things aren’t going like I was hoping.” Harrison said he is grateful for so many people who have been instrumental the past six years for his mountain biking journey, specifically mentioning CCHS coaches Paul and Jenny Anderson, former Chargers coach Whitney Pogue, ride leaders, teammates, his family and others who helped to train him along the way. For now, the 18 year old plans to keep competing in the pro/elite divisions in the mountain biking world and just simply continuing the ride. l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 9

CCHS volleyball third at state By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

he Corner Canyon High volleyball team were the fifthranked team heading into the 6A state tournament this season and came out even better. After a tight four-set semifinal loss against Skyridge, the Chargers outlasted Bingham in five sets 25-17, 23-25, 27-25, 19-25, 15-4 Nov. 4 at Utah Valley University to place third. “The semifinal match was a close match and came down to executing at key moments,” said head coach Mindy Ricks. “It was a tough loss, but then the girls came back to play immediately for third place and showed true grit and determination. Playing back to back matches at the end of a tournament is tough.” “It was a fun achievement for us to place in the top three against other really strong programs,” said first team all-region outside hitter/libero Brielle Bodily. “We all became a family and learned that we can do hard things. We really came together and I believe that showed in how we played in the state tournament,” said senior captain Mia Palmer, who earned second team all-region honors. After a first-round bye at state, Corner Canyon swept Westlake in three sets before a 25-22, 29-27, 26-24 win over Pleasant Grove in the quarterfinal round to reach the semis. “We made a great run at the state tournament and had a great season,” Ricks said. “The girls worked hard every single practice and were dedicated to our team goals.” Corner Canyon was led this season by first team all-state outside hitter – and BYU signee – Elina Mortensen who put away 525 kills on the year. The senior captain also recorded 241 digs, second on the team. Bodily led the team on the defensive line with 328 digs while senior captain Palmer had 71 aces to lead the Chargers in serving. “They became the true leaders on

The Corner Canyon High volleyball team finished third at the 6A state tournament this season. (Photo courtesy Taylor Sampson, tsmapsmedia)

the court,” Ricks said, also crediting her seniors for their contributions the past four years. “The seniors we have had in our program are absolutely amazing,” she said. “They have been our leaders on the court and will leave some big shoes to fill. Each senior played a crucial role for our team and we will miss them.” Other CCHS players recognized on the all-region team this season were junior Brooke Stauffer and sophomore Halle Bills on the first team; senior Kyra Curtis on the second team; and senior Bella Morgan, juniors Julies Barber and Madi Newbold and freshman Berkleigh Minnick as honorable mention. “With a strong group of seniors and amazing younger girls who really stepped up and contributed, we created a desire to play for each other,” Bodily said.

“Every single player was key for us to perform at our highest level. We had multiple younger athletes that also played a huge role with our success,” Ricks said. “We had a lot of depth this year and that allowed us to use different lineups for what we needed. Every single athlete on our JV/Varsity roster was critical.” Also playing for the CCHS program this year were seniors Kyra Curtis and Ember Hunt, along with Maicyn Allan, Kathryn Armendariz, Sadie Brown, Kinsey Byrge, Emmie Constantine, Avery Finley, Bella Good, Paige Goodbar, Meliana Haungatau, Sophia Jeffs, Saryn Kirkham, Shayla Kirkham, Faith Kittel, Kallee Klingler, Lyla Lewis, Tori Miller, Ava Morgan, Victoria Page, Reagan Parkin, Bently Paynter, Emerson Purser, Shaylee Quintana, Libby Taylor, Adri Tebbs, Elle Tolley, Mille Van Horn, Elyse Wakumoto, Paige Wakumoto, Tess Walker and Reagan Williams. “This season was so special because every single coach and player gave everything they had every single day,” Palmer said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important every athlete is to our team,” Ricks said. “They push each other and hold each other accountable to do their very best in every single practice. That growth mindset and attitude are what impress me the most with these athletes.” Ricks was assisted on the coaching staff this season by Kazna Tanuvasa, Nina Mortensen, Michael Burke, Nigel Wood, Ana Perkins and Lindsey Crook. “We had amazing coaches that believed in us and gave us the tools to be optimistic and driven,” Bodily said. “This year was definitely a special year for Corner Canyon!” l

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Charger mountain biking team places fourth, remains largest program in country By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com The Corner Canyon High School mountain biking team – which remains the largest biking program in the country – placed fourth in Division I at the Utah High School Mountain Biking State Championships Oct. 24. Senior Harrison Reading’s individual state title in the boys varsity race led the Chargers showing, which also included top 25 finishes from Alta Brower (second, JV B girls), Erin Rosemary Akins (fourth, senior open girls), Emma Daly (seventh, freshman girls), Lilly Watts (eighth, senior open girls), Sydney Tomko (ninth, senior open girls), Reese Tillman (15th, JV A boys), Marissa Parker (16th, senior open girls) Eva Pratt (16th, JV B girls), Ella Balls (17th, JV A girls), Mia Shields (17th, JV B girls), Katelyn Moffat (18th, JV B girls), Ethan Shirey (18th, varsity boys), Tanner Hobson (19th, freshman B boys), Lauren Montague (19th, JV A girls), Eli Burr (25th, JV C boys), Brooklyn Shallenberger (25th, varsity girls) and Lydia Shern (25th, senior open girls).

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Former NBA coach hosting local basketball camp By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

tah native Barry Hecker, who coached in the NBA for more than two decades, continues to teach the game of basketball to young players. During the winter break, he will host a camp for boys and girls in third through ninth grades on Dec. 27-29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Sandy Recreation Center, located at 440 E. 8680 South. “These camps are all about the basic fundamentals of basketball,” Hecker said. “We focus on quality fundamental instruction, we work hard with a lot of discipline and structure and we have a lot of fun. When these kids walk out of there, they know they’ve been taught and improved.” The cost of the camp is $65. Registrations are open online by visiting www. sandy.utah.gov/registration and clicking on “Basketball Camp – Barry Hecker” under Quick Links. The veteran coach, who lives in Murray, said the values he has learned from his basketball coaching journey—beginning at Maryland’s Oxon Hill High School and spanning through Salt Lake Community College and stints with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies—are invaluable. He loves nothing more than being able to

share those principles of hard work, teamwork, unselfishness and persistence, along with the physical skills of the game itself, with others. “I don’t care who I coach or when I coach,” Hecker said, who has worked with current Jazz players Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, said. “I simply enjoy teaching the game. It’s great to see a smile on someone’s face as they experience success. If you help somebody, you’ll be somebody.” Hecker has conducted clinics all over the world for more than 40 years, including many since his retirement from coaching in the NBA. He said he particularly enjoys working with the youth. “If you teach skills, that leads to confidence and that confidence can allow anyone to do anything they want,” he said. “I have more fun with young kids than with the pros. In the NBA, you have guys who are making millions and they don’t listen. These kids are making nothing and they’ll listen to you.”l

Former NBA coach Barry Hecker, who has been teaching the game of basketball for more than 40 years, will host a winter camp for young players. (Photo courtesy Barry Hecker)

Pirate O’s is the Place to Find Original Food Gifts for the Holidays

f your goal is to find unique, delicious and distinctive gifts for the holiday season, Pirate O’s Gourmet Market in Draper (11901 S. 700 East) should be your first stop. The market is celebrating its 26th anniversary and this holiday’s inventory of items is bigger than it’s ever been. Whether your taste runs sweet, salty, spicy or savory, finding the perfect treat is easy and affordable. “It’s the biggest selection I’ve ever seen,” said Pirate O’s owner Orian Collinsworth. “There’s no doubt that we have an insane amount of product waiting for our customers. There is no place they’ll be able to go in the United States, maybe the world, where they can get the variety of European Christmas items we have. After 26 years of doing this, this is not only the pinnacle of this year, but of 26 years of practice.” For your sweet tooth, Pirate O’s has a wide selection of holiday treats, including Cadbury advent calendars, genuine German Haribo gummies, pandoros and panettones (Italian holiday cakes) and torrone, a classic Italian nougat. It also has chocolate letters for those celebrating St. Nicholas Day in early December. “We have all the Dutch chocolate letters that people buy and they put that chocolate letter in their shoes,” Orian said. “People will be buying all of that along with Dutch licorice, and stroopwafels and Dutch hagelslag, which are chocolate sprinkles.” You can find your favorite chocolate brands from all over the world, including

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Milka, Maribou, Kinder, Lindt, Scharfenberger, Bissinger, and Ghirardelli. Creating a delicious charcuterie board is a breeze with Pirate O’s selection of meats, cheeses and dips. The market boasts more than 100 different types of cheeses and a resident cheese expert can help you find the best product for your event. Adding authentic German salami, spicy pickles and an assortment of unique crackers will make your charcuterie board a one-of-a-kind offering.

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If you’re looking for exceptional sauces, oils, balsamic vinegars and hot sauce, you won’t be able to choose just one. Pirate O’s has more than 170 hot sauce products from brands like Iguana, Peppadew and Ring of Fire. The infamous Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce is a customer favorite, and whether you’re looking for bread dipping ingredients or a delicious salad dressing, the options are endless. “We’ve never had so much product for Christmas,” Orian said. “The store is at its pinnacle. We sit back and look at it and go, holy smoke! We get these 30 days of Christmas and it’s magical, in a sense.” A personalized gift basket is perfect for an office party, corporate event or hostess gift. You can create your own, purchase a grab-and-go, or have a Pirate O’s basket artist conjure up the best ingredients for your needs. For more information about Pirate O’s, including store hours, visit Pirate-Os.com, or their Instagram page: @PirateOsGourmet. “It’s a one-of-a-kind, eclectic place,” Orian said. “Shop early for best selection, shop late for best price. But don’t wait because once it’s gone, it’s gone. The store is really fun. There is not a shop like this anywhere in the world. It’s worth a visit.”

Dec. 2023 | Page 13

Police perch in Draper is one of two in the state By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

n an effort to reduce speeding with a goal of preventing crashes and saving lives, Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) is piloting the Perch Patrol Program at two locations in the state. The sites were strategically chosen because they’re known for speeding issues, and one of the perch locations is on the east side of I-15 on Frontage Road in Draper. The second is in West Valley off I-215. “This was a program started in Nevada. They stationed a patrol car in key areas where they’d seen a high number of crashes resulting from speeding. The results were… a significant reduction in speed and a significant reduction in crashes. In Utah, knowing that speed is one of our top contributors to crashes, we wanted to see if we could replicate their success here,” said Sgt. Cameron Roden, Public Information Officer for UHP. Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) piloted the program several years ago, gathering data from six sites over a period of 203 days. The resulting statistics showed an 18% reduction in crashes and a 53% reduction in speeding compared to when no preventive activities were present. Perhaps the most significant statistic out of Nevada was that 91% of speeding drivers reduced their speed to comply with the legal limit when the preventive activities were present.

The NHP also projected the return on investment (ROI) of the project, estimating a $3 million savings in property damage, injuries and fatalities avoided as a result of the reduction of crashes caused by speed. UDOT and UHP worked together on the pilot project. UDOT helped UHP select the sites where they could safely and prominently put a perch for a patrol car. UDOT built the platforms over the summer so UHP could start the pilot in September. The premise of the Perch Pilot Program is simple; drivers will slow down when law enforcement is prominently placed and visible. UHP patrol cars will have their lights on to add to their visibility. “Lights on…is a reminder for drivers to check and adjust their speeds,” Roden said. According to Roden, it’s that self-awareness of speed that is the goal of the program, not issuing speeding tickets. “The desired outcome is not to write more citations, but for people to make adjustments for themselves. We also know there will be times where it will be necessary to couple with enforcement,” he said. Once enough data is gathered from the Utah project, speed and crash data will be cross-analyzed with the perched vehicle times to determine if speeds and crashes

This “perch”, or raised platform, allows Utah Highway Patrol officers to safely park alongside 1-15 in a visible spot to deter speeding, decrease crashes, and ultimately save lives. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

have indeed been reduced. “Our overall objective is to remind drivers to watch their speeds… Reduction of

speeds translates into saving lives,” Roden said. l

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shford Assisted Living & Memory Care opened in Draper in November 2018, providing all levels of care for seniors and offering a full range of services including impeccable housekeeping, fun activities and nutritious meals. Owned by Greg Nield and Robert Aird, Ashford Assisted Living & Memory Care focuses on providing adequate staffing ratios so residents receive the highest levels of care. At Ashford, the community feel is heightened through beautiful outdoor spaces, home-like conveniences and spacious rooms. What sets your company apart from your competitors? We are locally owned and operated, we have higher staffing ratios and we recently added brand new rooms. Overall the quality at Ashford is unmatched. Whether you are looking for independent living options, memory care or assisted living services, the center provides a safe place where your loved ones can receive the care you aren’t able to provide yourself. Does your business solve a problem for your customers? We saw there was a lack of quality memory care facilities being operated by local owners. We decided to jump into the industry and develop the business from the ground up. Our unique, award-winning facilities reflect the dedication we have to our residents and their families.

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How do potential clients normally choose between you or a competitor? We invite anyone to tour the facility and get to know what is the best fit for you. Our popular lunch tours allow visitors to sample the food and you get the opportunity to join us for an activity. We are confident that Ashford can provide the best care and necessary services for your loved ones. What types of services/activities do you offer? Care services include medication management, bathing assistance, dressing and grooming, laundry and escort

assistance. We also have a wide range of activities for residents to choose from. There are exercise classes, shopping trips, musical performances, scenic rides, manicures, movie nights and sports, including bowling, volleyball, golf and more. Tell us about your memory care facilities. If your loved one struggles with dementia or is a wandering risk, our buildings are designed to help them feel safe, while giving you some peace of mind. Memory care ranges from full-time care to assistance for those who are physically independent. We also offer specific memory care activities like puzzles and games, social hours, yoga and cooking classes. What is your best advice for someone who is considering doing business with you? We recommend you start looking for an assisted living facility before there is an immediate need. That will give you time to find the best place for your loved one, without the sense of being rushed into a decision. Once you find a place you love, when the time comes to move your family member, you won’t be overwhelmed and anxious. Anything else you would like our readers to know? We always get complimented on our building and the welcoming, at-home feeling it inspires. It is clean and well-maintained, so you won’t have to worry about your loved ones.

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Dec. 2023 | Page 15

Waterford School’s student string quintet performs in Carnegie Hall after winning international contest By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

n between the November and December holidays and amongst classes and school activities, five Waterford students will spend a weekend in New York City. The quintet recently won first prize in the 2023 Golden Classical Music Awards international competition. They will be performing at the awards ceremony Dec. 3 at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, where they also will receive their first place medals. “We were thrilled; the kids are just ecstatic,” said Kathy Morris, Waterford School’s director and music chair. “It’s an absolutely beautiful recital hall and that part of Carnegie Hall is super famous, not everybody gets to play there.” The string quintet — Adrian Walker, first violin; Grant Brady, second violin; Nathan Kwon, viola; Dalloway Smith, cello; and Connor Greally, bass — submitted a video recording with their application in June to the international contest this past summer. “There were applications and videos from all over the world,” she said. “We received an email a month later saying, ‘We are delighted to announce that you have been chosen as a first prize winner.’” The group is taking full advantage of

being in the Big Apple. They plan to give a recital for friends and family and Waterford alumni in the city at “a very cool venue in 1 Hotel Central Park that overlooks Central Park,” Morris said. They also were arranging to play holiday music in the hotel lobby or at another location. “We want them to do community service events, and this would be fun because it’ll be Christmas time in New York. I think the guests will love the holiday music,” Morris said. The group also plans to visit the Highline and Times Square in addition to taking in the holiday decorations at the Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue. “We may take in St. Patrick’s Church as its always beautiful. We want to see those iconic New York sites, which are beautiful especially at Christmastime,” she said. Bookending their musical performances will be a tour of Columbia University for some students who are arriving early and then, they also will go to Julliard, Morris’ alma mater, before they leave. “Columbia and Juilliard have a music performance degree program where you study as an undergraduate at Columbia

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Waterford’s string quintet won and international competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. (Truman Christensen/Waterford School)

and then, earn a master’s at Julliard; it’s an amazing program. I know at least one of my students said it would be his dream to be accepted,” Morris said. The student-musicians already have had “some amazing opportunities,” Morris said. Last spring, the quintet won the chamber music portion of the Virtuoso International Music Competitions both in Brussels and in London. They attended the London ceremony, performing in the Royal Albert Hall recital hall and received their first-place medals. They also performed a 30-minute recital at the Milner Hall at Rhodes House at the University of Oxford, where they received “a very warm welcome.” The group now is preparing for the Fischoff National Chamber Competition. They’ll submit their video entry in February. “Fischoff is an amazing competition, but if they make the finals, they’ll have to fly and go to South Bend, Indiana to compete there in-person, so it’s different than know-

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ing beforehand if they’ve won,” Morris said. “They’re excited for these competitions, but they’re challenging, and these kids want that challenge.” Morris said that unlike orchestral music, chamber pieces are performed without a conductor. “These kids are like a well-oiled machine. They talk to each other, they’re savvy, smart, and really in tune with each other musically. Chamber music is a musical conversation where you have beautiful melodies and harmonies, and you pass that musical along. Each musician listens to each other and responds so it’s personal and emotional. They’re intimate with each other in terms of their musical phrasing, handing off their phrases to each other. It’s quite remarkable. In 30 years of teaching, I’ve haven’t had an ensemble that just clicked,” she said. “On top of that, these kids are amazing people and are accomplishing so much. They’re really special.” l

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Draper Historic Theatre triple-dog-dares audiences not to enjoy ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

raper Historic Theatre is breaking with tradition this season and will present a new stage musical version of the classic 1983 film, "A Christmas Story." The nostalgic 1940s-set comedy about a young boy named Ralphie who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas will run Dec. 7 through 23. Co-director Laura Lewis explained that while the theater's annual production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is well-loved, many in the community felt it was time to change things up. "There are a lot of really fun Christmas shows that don't get done because of 'Christmas Carol,'" she said. "A Christmas Story: The Musical," ran on Broadway during the 2013 holiday season. The songwriting duo Pasek and Paul, who are best known for the musical "Dear Evan Hansen" and "The Greatest Showman" film, composed the music and lyrics. The book, which sticks closely to the plot of the movie, was written by Joseph Robinette. Lewis is co-directing the musical with her brother, Todd Taylor. "Most everyone knows the story," he said. "It's a big responsibility to bring it to life and do it justice."

Audience members who are fans of the movie will recognize all the key plot points. The musical includes everything from the Old Man’s leg lamp and Ralphie’s pink bunny pajamas to the Bumpus dogs stealing the turkey and the kid who gets his tongue stuck on a frosty flagpole. At the same time, folks who are not familiar with the story will find plenty to enjoy as well. Ryan Hoskins, who plays Ralphie’s “Old Man,” said, “The music really adds to the story. The big production numbers are so much fun. They involve everybody.” While the movie is narrated by a grownup Ralphie via voiceover, the narrator is onstage in the musical. Paul Shaw, who has taken on the part explained, "My role is more interactive with the audience as well as reactive to what's going on on-stage." Shaw has never seen the movie and enjoys putting a fresh spin on the role. "It's making the story a journey for the audience," he said. Performing the musical has been an enjoyable journey for the cast members as well. All of the lead roles in the production are double-cast. Thirteen-year-old Ethan Marchant is one of the actors who plays Ralphie. “He’s such a fun character to play,”

Marchant said. “He can be rambunctious, but he can also be loving and softhearted and good to his brother.” In preparing for the role, Marchant drew upon his own Christmas memories of wanting something from Santa Claus as badly as Ralphie wants his BB gun. “I wanted to be able to fly when I was six,” he explained. Unfortunately, Santa was unable to deliver that superpower. “My parents gave me a trampoline. I was really frustrated when I got the trampoline!” he said. Ryan Hoskins is having a lot of fun with the Old Man’s dialogue. “What I like most are the made-up swears he comes up with when he cusses out the Bumpus dogs,” he said. “I like the range of the character. Most of the time he’s gruff but then he gets his lamp and becomes a polished song and dance guy.” In the role of Ralphie’s mother, Lisa Shortridge drew upon her life experience for the role. “She’s a devoted wife and mother,” Shortridge explained. “That’s what brings her joy but also a lot of stress. Being a mom

myself there are some things I can relate to. It’s been interesting to explore that.” The cast includes many children in the roles of Ralphie’s friends and classmates. “This is the first show I’ve done with an ensemble of kids,” Shortridge said. “They bring such an energy to the show. They are just very talented.” Todd Taylor spoke of the joy he has found in seeing the story brought to life on stage. “The best part is seeing all the kids coming together and being friends in real life and on stage,” he said. “This cast is incredible.” “I’ve grown a new love for this show by being a part of it,” Laura Lewis said. “This is so fun! I would recommend it to anybody.” Draper Historic Theatre presents “A Christmas Story: The Musical” Dec. 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:00 p.m. with 2:00 matinee performances on Dec. 9, 16 and 23. Draper Historic Theatre is located at 12366 S. 900 East in Draper. For tickets and more information, visit draperhistorictheatre.org. l

Ethan Marchant is one of the actors who plays Ralphie in the Draper Historic Theatre production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” (Photo courtesy of Mindy Eckroth/Draper Historic Theatre)

Page 18 Dec. 2023

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Over 50 years later, a Draper gardener once again helps light up Temple Square By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

raper resident Scott Goold helped to create special Christmas memories for visitors to Temple Square this year. In his position as Head Gardener, Goold is one of the workers who puts up the holiday light display that draws thousands of visitors each Christmas season. As a young boy in the 1960s, Goold helped his grandfather put up the first light displays in Temple Square. "I just find it interesting that the first job I ever had was doing the lights in Temple Square. Now that I'm back at the Church and taking care of the grounds, I've come full circle," he said. T h e first holiday lighting ceremony on Temple Square was held in 1965 when nearly 15,000 people gathered to watch former Church President David O. As head gardener, Draper resident Scott Goold McKay push maintains the grounds at Temple Square and helps the button put up the annual Christmas light display. (Photo to illumi- by Scott Goold) nate 40,000 lights. Even though there is no longer a formal lighting ceremony, the lights have continued on Temple Square each year as a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ. Goold grew up in White City, but spent a good deal of time in Temple Square helping out his grandfather, Joseph Leland Behunin. Behunin was a trained arborist who was given the job of putting lights in the trees at Temple Square by President McKay. “I sat near the old pioneer museum on a wooden bench taking Christmas lights out of their boxes,” Goold explained. “My grandfather showed me how to take the brand new lights out of the box and wrap them around so that he could throw them over the tree branches.” He continued to help his grandfather and later his uncle put up the lights for years. The process of hanging them has changed over time. “When I was younger I would climb up on a ladder and climb the trees,” Goold said. “Now we do it all from man lifts. You’re able to reach anywhere you’d want to be.” Years ago, the gardeners had the creative license to put certain colors of lights on the trees. “Nowadays I believe the Church has a small planning committee,” he said. Goold started his current position last April. Four groups of gardeners maintain different areas of Temple Square. Goold handles the area around the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Relief Society Building, Administration Building and the Church History Library. For much of the year, he divides his time between working at the Church-owned nursery and maintaining the grounds at Temple Square. Setting up the Christmas lights is a project that brings all the workers together. “With the missionary volunteers, there’s probably about 30 of us that work on the lights,” Goold said. “This year we started the process in mid-Sep-

Page 20 Dec. 2023

The lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City have been a holiday destination since 1965. (Photo by David J. Weinstein)

tember.” Approximately 4 million tiny light bulbs twinkle from the trees and other structures on Temple Square. Each year the lights on Temple Square are a little different, perhaps more so in recent years due to the ongoing construction. This year, the Church has added metal snowflake sculptures and artificial trees to the display. Even during the years when Goold was working elsewhere, making an annual trip to see the lights each Christmas has been a family tradition. “We went all the time,” Goold remembered. His wife, Angela Oldroyd has her own special memories of seeing the lights at Temple Square and tossing a coin into the Seagull Fountain. "It was probably the highlight of the season with my family. I remember my dad giving us money. I was always so excited to make a wish, a Christmas wish,” she said. Oldroyd is happy that Goold is enjoying his work. “Scott loves working in Temple Square,” she said. The lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City are put up every year by a crew of “The environment is awesome, the about 30 workers. (Photo by David J. Weinstein) best I’ve ever worked in. You would be surprised at how many people you meet,” it’s going to look and see the branches in front of you. The he said of the tourists who walk through Temple Square ev- idea is to turn how you hope it will look into reality. You ery day. become an artist.”l Putting up the lights is a very special part of his job. “I’ve always been fascinated with the lights. It’s easy for me to get carried away,” Goold said. “You try to imagine how

Draper City Journal

Draper-based Big Dill Pickleball Co. receives accolades while helping to popularize the sport By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

his has been an exciting time for the Draper-based Big Dill Pickleball Co. and its founder and CEO, Katy Luxem. In September, it was the only company in Utah to be recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of America's Top 70 Small Businesses. Last month, USA Today put the Big Dill brand pickleball set as the No. 1 holiday gift for families on their annual top 10 gift list. Luxem is especially proud of the fact that the general public voted her product to the top of the USA Today gift list for families. "We went up against some big companies," she said. "This gives us a little boost for the holidays." The fact that Big Dill Pickleball Co. paddles, balls and accessories are so popular is no surprise to Luxem. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. According to CNN, there are over 36.5 million pickleball players in the U.S. and the number is still growing. Luxem feels that this is because the game is both fun and highly accessible. "I realized that pickleball is a unique sport," she explained. "You can get involved in this sport at any level. Everyone is welcome to be a part of it." While growing up in Seattle, Luxem played pickleball all the time. The sport was in fact invented at nearby Bainbridge Island in 1965. After moving to Utah as an adult, she took up pickleball again during the pandemic. When she went to purchase her own gear, however, Luxem was disappointed in the no-frills look and high cost of the paddles then available. In October 2020, she founded Big Dill Pickleball Co. from her home. Big Dill brand rackets, covers and accessories are an eye-catching shade of green and many of them feature a smiling little cartoon pickle. They are quality-tested and constructed to high standards. In addition to quality pickleball gear, Big Dill Pickleball Co. sells clothing and other themed merchandise. The company’s blog offers fun facts about the history of the sport as well as tips for players. “We are clearly geared to beginner and mid-level players,” Luxem explained. “We are the go-to brand for beginning players.” Luxem drew upon her years of experience in branding and e-commerce from working for Amazon. “We have specific, targeted and clear branding and messaging,” she added. She feels that her strong branding strategy made Big Dill Pickleball Co. stand out when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce chose the business to be part of the Top 70 Small Businesses in America out of 15,000 applicants from all 50 states. Businesses were evaluated on their growth, ability to overcome challenges, innovative strategies for success and community engagement. As U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Suzanne P. Clark, noted in a press release, "Small businesses embody the

DraperJournal .com

Katy Luxem, founder and CEO of Big Dill Pickleball Co., poses with two of her paddles. (Photo courtesy of Katy Luxem)

resilience and innovation that define America's free enterprise system.” “I think they were really drawn to a woman-owned business,” Luxem said. She mentioned some of the challenges that she has faced in building Big Dill Pickleball Co. “I was pretty confident about the branding and e-commerce aspects,” she explained. “But I never had experience with outsourcing, ordering products and the logistics of those things. Pickleball kind of exploded in popularity. How do you sustain that?” Following the founding of her business, Luxem completed a Master’s in Business Creation at the University of Utah last May. The program has provided her with the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and people in business. Luxem explained that her family helps out with the business. “I’m the only full-time employee,” she said. Her husband, a marketing director, has contributed his knowledge and her three children pitch in as well. “Sometimes it’s all hands on deck,” Luxem added. “The kids are pretty proud of it. It’s our own company.” As Big Dill Pickleball Co. has grown, it has given back to the community. “We give products to charities and have sponsored tournaments in Provo and Sandy,” she explained. The business also makes donations to schools. “It’s all about getting out there and increasing awareness of the sport,” Luxem said. “We got our neighbors involved as well. Now they have a court in their backyard and the kids are over there playing.” To learn more about Big Dill Pickleball Co. and to purchase their products, visit bigdillpickleballcompany.com l

In this photo, Cassie Brown of Lehi plays pickleball with her Big Dill Pickleball Co. paddle. (Photo courtesy of Katy Luxem)

Savannah and Brox Flake of Lehi are ready to hit the ball. (Photo courtesy of Katy Luxem)

Vincent Brown, Alta Flake and Breezy Flake of Lehi show off their paddles from Big Dill Pickleball Co. (Photo courtesy of Katy Luxem)

Dec. 2023 | Page 21

Navigating Grief and the Holidays By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness. As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. Some find meaning in following cherished traditions, and others benefit from avoiding traditions because their associations are now tinged with loss. Some people find great comfort in being with other people, others prefer solitude to camaraderie. For all of us, how we gather is as important as gathering at all. Plan ahead for the holidays: The first step in planning is to listen to yourself….what will help you most at this time? You may have strong memories and powerful feelings. Accept this as normal, but prepare for it. Anticipate the pleasures and the stresses of events, and select those you want to participate in. If you expect to be lonely, arrange supportive companionship. If you can’t bear the thought of connecting with the entire extended family, let the family know of your needs. Be creative and accept support by using distance technology. Accommodate your plans to your new limits: Most grieving people have significantly lowered physical stamina and emotional reserve. Perhaps you can’t get every decoration out this year. Accept these limits as temporary, and good enough for this year. Choose to put your energy into the things that matter most to you.

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Christmas Unwrapped

t was the Christmas season as I Peri Kinder wandered the aisles at Gibson’s Discount Center with a $5 bill Life and Laughter crumpled in my pocket. It was 1975 and parents didn’t care if their 7-year-old wandered alone through a store. I’d earned money to buy my parents Christmas gifts and I had to find the perfect presents. I imagined mom’s surprise when she unwrapped a brand new purse that wasn’t filled with broken crayons, Cheerios and used tissues. I pictured dad’s excitement as he opened the model airplane he would assemble at the kitchen table. I would be an example of humility as they raved about my thoughtfulness. Dad agreed to drive me to Gibson’s and we climbed into our blue Ford Pinto. Once there, I told him he couldn’t follow me, that I wanted the presents to be a surprise. He hung out at the soda fountain drinking root beer so I could shop with privacy. It didn’t take long to realize my $5 wouldn’t cover the cost of a purse or a model airplane. My heart sank as I walked the aisles. Everything was so expensive. Maybe mom wanted an oven mitt or a wooden spoon. Perhaps dad would like a small bottle of model glue. Then I saw it. A pint-sized, cut-glass pitcher that gleamed under the store’s fluorescent lighting. It looked so elegant. It wasn’t big enough to mix a half-gallon of Kool-Aid but I didn’t think mom would care. She would cherish it for all eternity. And it was only $3.

That left a present for dad. Walking past the drugstore aisle, I saw a mini-size bottle of Brut aftershave for less than $2. Mission accomplished. I wrapped the presents and placed them under the tree, right up front. On Christmas Eve, I had the holiday insomnia where you try to sleep but you hear jingle bells and ho-ho-hos and prancing reindeer on the roof. Finally, it was morning and I dashed down the stairs. I don’t remember what I got for Christmas that year. Probably a Madame Alexander doll, a Nancy Drew book and a journal with a heart-shaped lock. What I do remember is being so excited for my parents to open their presents. Mom unwrapped her gift first. I watched with the giddy excitement of a child who knows she nailed the perfect present. She opened her glass pitcher and held it up for everyone to see. It sparkled in the tree’s lights. Dad was so grateful for his little bottle of Brut that he never used it. The tiny green bottle sat on the bathroom shelf for at least a decade. I asked him once why he didn’t use it. Didn’t he like it? “I love it!” he said. “But if I use it, it will be gone and then I won’t have it anymore.” I get it, dad. I feel the same way about the expensive bottle of tequila in my office. Mom filled the pitcher with her homemade syrup we poured on pancakes, waffles and French toast. She used

it for all my childhood. My grandkids ate pancakes with syrup poured from that pitcher. I think she even took it with her when she moved to North Carolina. It takes so little to make a child feel loved. It’s sometimes hard to use the gifts kids give you for the holidays, but they’re always watching. Wear the macaroni necklace. Use the syrup pitcher. Put on the reindeer earrings. Your child will never forget.l

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