Draper Journal | February 2023

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH DRAPER DAYS? WHO’S IN CHARGE AND HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT?

By Mimi Darley Dutton |

is in the air for Draper’s biggest community celebration. The city is taking over the funding, organization and implementation of Draper Days beginning immediately. With just six months to go until Draper’s biggest event, Mayor Troy Walker addressed the questions swirling around the community about the big change.

Change

“In essence, the city was paying to put Draper Days on and we didn’t have a way to control our costs. Now we have the complete purse in our hand and we know and can control what we want to spend,” Walker said.

According to the mayor, it’s a matter of transparency with taxpayer funds. Traditionally, the city has donated money to the Draper Community Foundation, letting that 501(c)(3) organization plan and implement all aspects of Draper Days. But that changes now. “All the contracts and all the money will go through the city. The contracts will be with the city and we’re going to take the revenue, too. In the past, we would donate the money, they would sell the tickets and keep the revenue. If we’re going to raise money, we ought to get it back in the coffers,” he said.

Walker insists that the Foundation (a private entity that raises funds and supports the Draper Arts Council, the Draper Historical Society and the Miss Draper Scholarship Program) has done nothing wrong. Walker and his wife have volunteered with the Foundation to help with Draper Days in the past. “The Foundation is fantastic. It’s just that we’ve got to change the way we’re doing things because of the scrutiny that governments are under and being mindful of the taxpayer’s investment. For a long time, it made sense. The city was small and the volunteers were great. But last year we had some volunteers who bowed out at the last minute because they had conflicts come

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Draper Nights concert 2021. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

“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 M., Army Special Forces

Smith D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician

Back in the day: Summit students explore colony life

Summit Academy’s Shelby Reardon had seen the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives, but in her fifth-grade class, she learned more about it.

Leading up to the school’s Colonial Days, students were assigned to learn and share about the original colonies.

Shelby learned about the Pennsylvania Colony and shared about the well-known statesman, publisher, inventor, postmaster general and diplomat Benjamin Franklin. She learned he published the Pennsylvania Gazette, discovered electricity and invented bifocal glasses, negotiated and wrote the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War and was part of the five-member committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Students also wrote a two-page report about the colony that included when it was founded and by whom, why it was founded, and its form of government. They included the values and traditions of the colony. Students then created trifolds that included items from their report and other facts they found interesting, said fifth-grade teacher Victoria Scott.

“It all was done simultaneously so as we were learning about it, they were also researching. We gave them some research questions to help them guide their research. For example, what was the colonists’ relationship with the indigenous tribes? And then, they needed to write about their job, how did it impact their colony and if that job was still relevant today and how so? Students also had to decide if modern technology might have helped their occupation and if so, how? Some kids who were farmers mentioned having computerized equipment and tractors and others who were merchants included having the internet to sell their items.”

Studying the nation’s early times helped Shelby and her 94 fifth-grade classmates prepare for their Colonial Day Fair, where they shared trifolds they created with schoolmates and parents. Each student was given an occupation to learn about and dress in period clothing. As an innkeeper, Shelby wore an orange dress with green highlights that had a built-in

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

corset that her aunt sewed.

“I’m really little so it fit me,” she said without the laces having to be pulled too tight. “She built in a bunch of layers and underskirt and everything. The Colonial Days project was so much fun. Most everyone dressed up as we were all invested, and we were able to show how our colonies changed history.”

Throughout the day, students dressed as carpenters, tanners, blacksmiths, farmers, goldsmiths, apothecaries, doctors and other occupations. After the Colonial Day fair, students participated in “A Day in the Life of a Colonist,” where they rotated through classrooms to learn activities of yesteryear. They made their own bread and butter, they played colonial games and even created silhouette portraits.

This was the inaugural year of Colony Days. In the past, Summit Academy has held state fairs, but Scott said they decided “to change it up” and also this way, they could include colonist professions.

“We have a teacher (Alessia Johnson) who’s dad taught fifth grade and he did it, so we were able to ask advice from him. The kids seemed to really take to it, and they really liked dressing up in their occupations. They had a lot of fun with that. They also brought in some really cool artifacts that represented either something from their colony or their occupation and found it interesting to make those connections with our modern world,” Scott said.

She also said it was a good opportunity for students to learn more about the origins of those East Coast states as many of them have not traveled to them.

“A few of them may have been to New York, Massachusetts or even Virginia if they traveled to (Washington) D.C., but now, when they hopefully go to these states, they’ll be able to see some of the colonial influences on those places today and how this led to self-government in the United States and the idea of self-rule that’s one of our standards. A lot of the colonies were founded based on religious freedom, so they’ve learned the impact that had on the Constitution and the importance of religious freedom today.”

Scott said fifth-grade students study America from native tribes through modern times.

“We start with tribes like the Iroquois League and their form of government and some of the influences that the Native Americans had on the colonies. We include their relationships and that impact that colonialism had. We touch on when people came from Asia across the land bridge and then study when the Europeans first arrived to our country. A big chunk of our focus is from the colonies through the late 1800s,” she said. “The students have really enjoyed being immersed in learning about the colonies. By putting themselves in the shoes of the colonists, it’s the most effective way to learn and they will remember what these people did, how they may have felt, and even how it impacts us today.” l

up and we had to step in and do it anyway. If we’re going to have to ultimately run it, we may as well plan and be in charge of it,” Walker said.

In addition to the city writing a sizeable check to the Foundation, the city was providing public safety and clean up, Walker said.

City Manager David Dobbins met with the Foundation last fall to communicate the city’s intent to take over Draper Days. “It’s probably past time to have done it,” Dobbins told the city council at a November meeting.

According to Dobbins, the city has provided $150,000 annually to the Foundation the last several years, and the Foundation

had requested $200,000 in funding for this year before the city decided to take over Draper Days. “Our expectation is to keep the budget roughly the same,” Dobbins said.

The mayor assures residents that planning is well underway with Community Events Manager David Wilks working on Draper Days, aided by a recently hired part-time city employee. Walker is forming a working committee with three city staff members, some of what he called “key volunteers” from the community, and councilmembers Marsha Vawdrey and Tasha Lowery.

Wilks told the city council at the Jan. 17 meeting that he has new ideas including va-

let parking for bikes to encourage residents to bike to Draper Days if they can, an artisan market featuring as many local vendors as possible, a children’s stage for performing acts like puppeteers and jugglers, line-dancing instruction one night, a bingo night, and a teen area.

According to Walker, the city council wants to see the event be a bit smaller and more of what he termed “Draper-centric” including using local bands this year. “We’re probably going to scale it back a little and make it have more of a hometown feel,” Walker said. “A lot of people will say it’s gotten a little too big.” l

Summit Academy fifth-grader Lumen Sackett portrays Betsy Ross at the school’s first Colonial Days fair. (Photo courtesy of Summit Academy)

All Hail the (retiring police) Chief!

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

He’sbeen one of the “Boys in Blue” for 31 years, the last nine in Draper, but Chief John Eining is hanging up his uniform and retiring from being the head of the city’s police department.

Eining entered policing at age 28. “It’s the only thing I remember as a kid that I wanted to do, so I made my way to the profession and never looked back.” He started his law enforcement career in South Jordan in 1991. He was hired by Sandy in 1992 and stayed there 22 years, eventually becoming a Captain.

He was hired as Draper’s deputy chief in 2014 and chosen to be chief in 2017, a job he didn’t necessarily aspire to. “I had a goal to move up the ranks, but (chief) wasn’t a goal when I started. It just evolved and it ended up that way.” Being chief required him to be more politically minded. “You have to understand your role in city government. Working with the mayor and the city council was something I hadn’t had experience with before. Of course, you have to be responsive to the community. That was not a surprise, but I did more of it.”

He’s complimentary of the city’s leadership and the community. “I think the community is unique in a good way with good leadership, a good city manager, and a strong community. I’m a fan of mayor Walker. The stability of that kind of leadership made my job easier. I enjoyed being out and being part of the community with things like Coffee with a Cop and Draper Days. Any time I could get out and speak with people in the community, that’s what I enjoyed the most.”

He's most proud of having “treated people the right way” and programs he started or sustained. “The proudest thing was I did things right, I treated people with respect, I didn’t cut corners. I was able to work in and start good programs like Citizens Academy, Coffee with a Cop, VIPS (Volunteers in Policing), and the Mobile Command Center.”

His biggest challenge as Draper’s chief was personnel-related. “Retention issues is one of the first things…I had to monitor the pay compared to what other officers were being paid in the valley, and help the city understand

we need more officers to do more and to be of service to the citizens.” Without competitive pay, the department was at risk for losing officers they’d invested time and money training, something that’s expensive and frustrating to begin all over again.

Regarding the scrutiny faced by police in recent years, Eining said it has hurt his profession trying to get new people to join police departments across the nation, including in Utah. “There are far more openings than there are qualified applicants. We were in a supportive community so we didn’t deal with conflicts like other agencies, but it hurt us as far as the respect level we see on the streets and getting people that want to be in this profession.”

What would Draper residents be surprised to learn about crime in their city? “That it exists. We have a safe city, but we have an element and most of it is drug related, so we do have those issues in our city.”

He’s grateful for tragedy averted during his tenure. “I did not have to go through a line of duty death. Derek (Johnson) happened just before I arrived.”

His replacement, former Provo police chief Richard Ferguson, was approved as Draper’s new chief at the Jan. 10 city council meeting. Eining’s advice to the people in Draper’s police department is this, “Change is always hard, but they’re going to be in good hands. I’m confident in the person that’s coming in to take my place. Keep doing what you’ve been doing.” He praised the people in his police department. “They do a difficult job on a daily basis and they do it well.”

Eining won’t be fully retired yet. Instead, he’ll work in security consulting for Major League Soccer, something he began doing on a part-time basis with Real Salt Lake in 2008. That advice about change is something Eining will try to heed himself as he heads in a new direction. “I think there’s a certain level of anxiety because it’s change and I’m not really comfortable with change, but sometimes you have to dive into the deep end, go for it and see what happens.” l

Draper Mayor Troy Walker and retiring police chief John Eining. The city celebrated Eining’s retirement with a party in January. (Courtesy Draper City)

Albion

When the writer, who now has written 50 novels, posted on Instagram that he would travel the country to talk to students and sign his newest book, “Gleanings,” Rees jumped through hoops to bring him to the Sandy school. She also shared the information with other area librarians so he also spoke at nearby Alta High, Midvale’s Hillcrest High, Draper’s Corner Canyon High, and at South Jordan Middle School.

While many Albion seventh- and eighth-graders were familiar with Shusterman’s writing, some Albion faculty and staff weren’t, including Assistant Principal Justin Matagi, who listened to one of his books on a family trip during fall break.

“This is a good opportunity for students to get a glimpse and learn what it takes to be the best of the craft,” he said. “I’ve had 50 students come up to me who are excited to read what he has written and were looking forward to his visit, so it’s hard not to fall in love with that enthusiasm.”

Instead of lecturing students, Shusterman engaged them to ask questions. He talked about the writing process to collaborating with other authors on “Gleanings” (which he said he may write a prequel to) to writing for film as his 2017 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, “Scythe,” which he said was in development as a feature film with Universal Studios.

Shusterman also has written for TV, including the Original Disney Channel movie, “Pixel Perfect,” which was filmed in the Salt Lake City area.

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Writing isn’t easy, author tells students

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Middle teacher librarian and media specialist Bridget Rees may be one of young adult fiction author Neal Shusterman’s biggest fans. She began reading his work in 2007, two years after the writer won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.The Brooklyn, New York-born author, who once lived in Florida and answered that he does not have a pet alligator, now lives in Southern California. He said the inspiration for his books comes from various places, including basing his book, “Dry,” in the neighborhood where his kids grew up.

“It was fun writing a story in a familiar place. My kids grew up in this gated community, Dove Canyon, and it required less research because we knew the meaning of the streets and we knew the schools; it was really interesting writing a story that took place in the high school where my kids went to,” he said. “I’ve always tried to include places that I’ve been or places that I’ve lived in the stories that I write because I think writing from experience sometimes means writing about places that you’ve been.”

Shusterman said the inspiration for “Unwind” came from three different places.

“Sometimes an idea is a common one or several different things you sort of build together. First, there was a headline of an article that caught my attention. ‘Why is England afraid of their teenagers?’”

Shusterman said that it was during an economic downturn in the United Kingdom so when students graduated from school, there wasn’t work for them and they hung around, and many got in trouble. Eventually, the government passed a law which told them, “It’s OK to get rid of your unwanted teenage people,” he said.

The second part the inspiration for “Unwind” was from a team of researchers studying the psychology of the American voting system.

“Why is it that we choose our candidates? What is the core of each of our decisions? They interviewed hundreds of people, and they asked them why they chose their candidates,” he said and learned more

Instead of lecturing students, Neal Shusterman engaged Albion Middle School students to ask questions, which ranged from writing and editing to specific details in his best-selling young adult books. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

about their responses.

The third part of the book’s inspiration came from an article on transplants and interviewed a woman in France who had “a terrible thing happened to her face when she was mauled by a dog, and they couldn’t repair it.” She would go through life with a scar, or they could do “radical surgery for the world’s first face transplant from a target donor face,” Shusterman said, and read about the controversy about using another human being’s face.

“I started thinking about all of the medical issues, these issues of ethics, and how

do we decide what to make that decision?” he said. “Suddenly, I connected with these other stories, and rather than looking at this side versus this side, I’m tried to point out that when we try to look at it from a new perspective, that doesn’t divide us, it’s the only way we’re ever going to resolve these issues. My story is an anti-political spin, trying to break that deadlock that we have not just one issue, but on all the issues, and points out that when we find ways of looking at it from new points of view, we have hopes of solving these very complicated issues, instead of looking at them simplistically.”

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Although Shusterman outlined “Unwind,” “the plot always changes as I’m working on in terms of true events. I do a lot of research even when I’m writing something that is science fiction and fantastical subjects,” he said, adding that he goes through six drafts of his books before he submits it to his editor, starting with writing the first one by hand.

“When I write it into a notebook, it forces me to do a rewrite as I’m typing into the computer,” he said, adding that he still has those first drafts stored in his garage, but is considering giving them to the Ted Hipple Collection of Young Adult Literature at University of Southern Florida’s Tampa campus.

Shusterman will read his third draft out loud.

“I read it out loud to myself because the experience of hearing your words is different enough from the experience of reading silently on the page, that you get a whole new perspective altogether different based on how it sounds,” he said.

One of the last preliminary drafts is to share it with friends, teachers and students who act as a focus group and uses those comments to help him finalize it before submitting it with his editor, who often finds more for him to revise.

When asked about writer’s block, Shusterman simply answered, “I don’t believe in writer’s block.”

Then he explained, “The real part of writing is the hard part, those days where you can’t figure out what you’re doing, what’s not working, where you just feel like you have to bang your head against the wall to get ideas out. If you call that writer’s block, that’s an excuse for not working through the hard part of writing. If you just understand that that difficult part is just an ordinary expected part of the writing process, you’ll be able to take a breath and work your way through. It might take time. You might be stuck on the same chapter for a week, for a month. That’s expected. That’s normal. It’s not a block. It’s just a normal part of the process.”

Shusterman said that he hopes students learn “nothing is done the first time you write it and how important rewriting is; and how important reading is in general as it gives you perspective on the world.”

He also shared with students that he’s had fun naming his characters, which often come from his readers and fans who follow him on social media.

“I post a character and then I go away for about an hour. When I come back I have 1,000 different responses. I’ll go through every single name and I’ll choose a number of them. I may use somebody’s first name and somebody else’s last. What’s really fun is when I am at a book signing and someone comes up to me and says, you named that character after me. It’s nice to be able to sort of give that back,” Shusterman said.

While he likes introducing characters,

Shusterman said it was hard to eliminate some of those he has developed when it is necessary.

“There was a character in ‘Unwind’ that I was going to kill off and I didn’t have the heart to,” he added.

While Shusterman somewhat dodged the answer about having a favorite book, he said that “Challenger Deep,” which won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, is a deep story about mental illness.

“It was inspired by my son’s experiences with mental illness, so it’s very close to my heart,” he said.

Shusterman grew up reading Roald Dahl books and the Lord of the Rings series, but said when he first read “The Shining” by Stephen King, “it scared the heck out of me. I remember sleeping with the lights on for weeks.”

However, between being excited about stories and characters Roald Dahl came up with to learning how King’s book kept him turning pages, Shusterman knew writing was what he wanted to do.

His first story in ninth grade was inspired by Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster, “Jaws,” that had recently opened.

“I went to see the movie on opening day, and I remember saying to myself I want to be Steven Spielberg. I want to be able to come up with stories that can capture people’s imaginations and keep them on the edges of their seats. I wrote my first story and I remember thinking writing was fun. The story was like ‘Jaws’ where you’re swimming in the ocean and this giant jellyfish would attack you and paralyze you and drag it down to the bottom,” he said.

Shusterman shared it with his first-year teacher; she told him, “I love the story that you wrote. I’m going to send it to the principal.’ Then, I got a yellow slip from the principal’s office to see him immediately. Now, the yellow slips were the bad ones. So, I think ‘great, it’s only my first week of school and I’m going to get myself suspended because the principal wants to make an example out of me because it’s inappropriate to write this kind of gross, gory story in school.”

Instead of being reprimanded, the principal told him, his story will represent the school in a district story contest.

A few months later, when his English teacher announced the winners, he said, “I didn’t get first place; I didn’t get second place or third place. I didn’t get any one of the 30 honorable mentions. I got nothing and I was crushed. I felt humiliated. I said, ‘I am never going to do this again.’ Then, she came up to me and said, ‘Do you want to be a writer? Great. This is your first lesson as a writer; it’s called rejection. Deal with it.’”

Shusterman then took up the challenge she presented him to write one story per month for the rest of the school year.

“By the end of ninth grade, I felt like a writer, and I haven’t stopped writing ever

since,” he said, adding that he dedicated a novel to her and presented her a collection of his autographed books.

“As we go through school, you’re all going to find that you have teachers that have a powerful influence over your lives.

For me, my ninth-grade English teacher was one of those teachers. She challenged me to

believe in myself. And from that moment on, I just kept on writing and getting rejected, and writing and getting rejected, and writing and getting rejected,” he said. “It takes determination to succeed, and it helps when you have someone who believes in you like my English teacher believed in me.”

Before leaving Albion Middle, winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Neal Shusterman answered a few questions and signed books for students in the school library. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Best-selling young adult author Neal Shusterman answered questions about his novels at Hillcrest High School. (Photo courtesy of Abigail Slama-Catron)

Utah PTA sponsored statewide film contest promotes digital wellness with healthy use of technology

Last year, an Eastmont Middle School sixth-grader claimed the top prize in the first Utah PTA digital wellness film contest, which was held only in the Canyons School District.

This year, the film contest is extended statewide to sixth- through 12th-grade students with the submission deadline March 15.

“The purpose of the video contest is to promote digital wellness and awareness and to promote healthy use of devices with students,” said Melinda Rosevear, Utah PTA Digital Wellness Committee member who is directing the video contest. “Our theme is ‘being safe, kind and responsible online.’ We wanted to make it broad so students can take any of those aspects they want to focus.”

Currently, information is being shared with career and technology education teachers in schools throughout the state.

“Every student in Utah is required to take the digital literacy class in eighth grade, unless parents choose to opt their student out, so that seems like a good place to get the word out to students,” she said. “I would love for the teachers who are already doing things in their eighthgrade digital literacy classes to participate in this.”

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Last year, in its pilot year in Canyons School District, many Albion Middle students in classes taught by CTE teacher Bethany Hanson participated.

“I’d say about 60% of our entries were from Albion Middle School because the digital literacy teacher there jumped on it and it caught the kids’ interest,” she said.

Rosevear said that Eastmont winner, Jake Despain, “really knows his technology. He had all these cool special effects, he was very concise and very creative in his message.”

The contest allows students to have an engaging way to teach and to learn.

“It’s more impactful when kids are teaching kids and when they’re using their creativity to convey a message about digital safety and awareness. It’s such a powerful tool when they use their own videos to help teach concepts and while they’re making the videos that helps them think about these issues that help them process what is appropriate, say what’s responsible and express that in a way that’s creative and uses technology for good,” she said.

The film, which has a maximum time length of 90 seconds, can be worked on as a group, but only one student will be allowed to enter it. If that student wins local or state prizes,

which may be up to $500, it can be shared with other participants, she said, adding she appreciated the support of generous donors.

Rosevear said the idea emerged from when she held White Ribbon Week film contests as a PTA leader at Quail Hollow Elementary and Albion Middle School.

“I thought it would be fun to do a video contest because I think kids love to make movies and they love to use technology to express their ideas and their creativity. So, I thought how cool it would be for the kids to create videos and then to show those videos in the school,” she said.

Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out as she planned.

“We had that video contest, and it was literally the week before COVID closed the schools. We still had winners, but we didn’t get to share the films in person. We may have put

the videos on Canvas or something for other students to see,” she recalled.

When Rosevear proposed a film contest to the Utah PTA committee, “they loved the idea” so it was tested last year in Canyons District.

“Now we’re ready to roll it out to the whole state,” she said.

The Utah PTA Digital Wellness Committee, coordinated by Utah PTA Digital Wellness Specialist Linda Zenger, has about 15 digital citizenship and industry experts who will judge the entries. By the end of April, the committee will send certificates and winning prizes to students’ schools so they can be recognized at the school in front of their peers.

Students wishing to learn more about the video link may get additional information on the website, www.utahpta.org/video-contest.l

Eastmont Middle School Principal Stacy Kurtzhals (left) congratulated then sixth-grader Jake Despain on his win in the Utah PTA video contest along with Utah PTA Digital Wellness Specialist Linda Zenger and Utah PTA Digital Wellness Video Contest Director Melinda Rosevear. (Photo courtesy of Ann Despain)

February events offer different ways to experience Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

During February, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is offering special events which promise an escape from the chilly weather and gray skies outside. The aquarium will host its monthly Yoga With the Sharks class and the Kisses and Fishes Valentine’s Day celebration. Both of these events allow visitors to experience another side of the aquarium and see it in a different light.

The monthly Yoga With the Sharks class will be held on Feb. 6. "This is probably one of our most popular events," said Zoe Little, events manager. “It’s a very unique opportunity.”

The yoga classes are held in the Oceans Ballroom where one wall provides a view into the 300,000 gallon shark habitat. Led by an instructor, participants engage in meditation and yoga exercises as several different species of sharks along with sea turtles and stingrays glide by. The experience is one of peace and serenity. “A lot of people can connect with water in that space,” Little said.

The Yoga With the Sharks program began in 2017. Yoga teacher Amanda Jones initiated the class after visiting the aquarium and discovering that watching the sea creatures with her young son gave her feelings of peace and calm.

Karmel Harper, associate director of marketing and public relations, noted that many people find “a little moment of peace” in watching animals in their aquatic habitats. “It’s such a beautiful space. It reminds us of our connection to the environment and animals,” she said. Spending a whole hour watching the sharks, stingrays and sea turtles while engaging in yoga movements encourages mindfulness as well.

The yoga classes are geared to all skill levels and are suitable for beginners. The

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

hour-long sessions begin at 6:30 p.m., but participants may arrive as early as 4 p.m. to experience all that the aquarium has to offer. The ticket price, which is $20 for aquarium members and $25 for nonmembers, includes aquarium admission. Participants must bring their own yoga mats.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, the aquarium will once again host the Kisses & Fishes Valentine’s Day event from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. “This is one of our only public events that is for guests aged 21 and over,” Little said. “Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy the aquarium without kids.”

The Kisses & Fishes event also allows guests to see a different side of the aquarium.

“The nocturnal animals will be awake,” Harper said. Many of the animals in the Journey to South America wing will be stirring about such as the sloths and porcupines.

All kinds of activities appealing to a wide variety of interests are planned for the evening. There will be a plant walk where guests can learn about the aquarium’s collection of flora. Guests can play trivia games and win prizes. Tables will be set up where guests can learn fascinating facts about plants and animals such as “toxic traits.”

There will also be activities that tie in with Valentine’s Day themes of romance. Guests may gain insight into their relationships with tarot card readings or have a poem composed for them on the spot. Live music will fill the halls and there will be plenty of food and drink.

Harper noted that the event is “open dress.” “People wear everything from jeans to ballgowns,” she said.

Guests will be required to show ID at the door and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets

for the Kisses & Fishes Valentine’s Day event will be $55.95 for aquarium members and $59.95 for nonmembers.

Both the Yoga With the Sharks and the Kisses & Fishes Valentine’s Day events relate back to the aquarium’s central mission to educate and inspire visitors to become better stewards of the planet. At the aquarium, people have the opportunity to interact with

animals from all over the world. “We hope to inspire people to take action to save them,” Harper said.

Tickets to these events and more information about visiting Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is available at www.thelivingplanet.com. It is located at 12033 Lone Peak Pkwy. The phone number is 801-355-3474.

A woman sits in a yoga pose before the shark habitat at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium’s monthly Yoga with the Sharks event. (Photo courtesy of Karmel Harper/Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

The jellyfish habitat serves as a backdrop for these colorful cocktails which are available for purchase at the Kisses & Fishes Valentine’s Day event at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy of Karmel Harper/Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

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Draper runner paces team to top finish at nationals

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Draper’s Cooper Hurl helped his 9-10-year-old team to a fourth-place finish at the USATF Junior Olympics National Championships in College Station, Texas, Dec. 10. He finished the 3,000 meter course in 190th place out of 308 runners which was fifth-best on the Wolfpack Running Club Utah squad. Sydney Glod, of Draper, was part of the 9-10-year-old girls team that came in seventh place, just 20 points behind the top team.

Rae’s Draper Real Estate Update

By Jason Corbridge

Draper resident, Raeanne Stranc, is running a “Marathon” of sorts, which involves door-knocking 10,000 homes in Draper. She will have monthly updates on her progress, Draper real estate news/statistics, and contest information.

Our Salt Lake Board of Realtors just had their annual forecast breakfast where Realtors gather together to hear the economic and real estate outlook. Lawrence Yun, PhD, NAR Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President for Research spoke at this event. He said that Utah, Idaho, Texas, Florida and North Carolina are doing better with housing numbers than other states because our unemployment rate is so low.

Yun said, “Real Estate is one of the best hedges ever against inflation. In addition, in Salt Lake City where you have a faster job growth, more population coming in, and if you are a renter in this economy, ten years from now you will be struggling in the market to buy a home. If you are a property owner, wow, you’ll say, I’m glad I got into Salt Lake City before the other arrivals.” He said it is not unreasonable to say the home prices and population will continue to raise the real estate hedge.

To download a full copy of the Housing Forecast Executive Report, go to www.GotUtahHouses.com. This report was written and present by James Wood, Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. This report was commissioned by the Salt Lake Board of Realtors®

ADVERTORIAL

She finished 74th among 283 runners, good for third out of the seven Wolfpack RC Utah runners. Other Draper participants at nationals for the Wolfpack program were Lucia Martinez (54th, 11-12-year-olds), Gabe Martinez (176th, 8U), Hunter Hurl (195th, 13-14-year-olds), Orissa Lujan (231st, 11-12-year-olds) and Brody Meier (355th, 13-14-year-olds). (Photo courtesy Teren Jameson) l

Door Knocking Update

Knocked: 352 Draper Homes since January 1st (Goal 10,000 Draper homes by December 31, 2023)

Winning Doors Hangers: #6, #90, #122, #237 (Call/text to receive your $25 restaurant gift card.)

Chick-fil-a Gift Cards given out: 8 (Receive a $5 Chick-fil-a gift card for knowing my full name when I come to your door.)

Draper Market Statistics

Sales per month report based on Single Family homes: Month Mdn Sold Mdn $/sqft DOM

Jan 2019 $518,359 $139.96 48

Jan 2020 $587,000 $157.01 63

Jan 2021 $800,00 $181.75 21

Jan 2022 $1,001,081 $243.40 26

Jan 2023 $784,000 $204.22 90

(Information provided from the Wasatch Front Multiple Listing Service; DOM represents Days on Market)

If you would like more statistical information, counsel, or a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis specific to your property, please call or text me at (801) 888-4525. Otherwise, I’ll see you at the door! Also, you can get more real estate information from YouTube on my channel ‘’RaeOnSaltLake.”

They’re personal. They’re fascinating. And they can be breathtaking works of art.

Raeanne Stranc is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty in Draper, a 2021 Top 500 Realtor and a 2022 Distinguished Service Award Winner with the Salt Lake Board of Realtors.

CCHS wrestling working hard on the mat

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Corner Canyon High senior Tyler Vivanco, who was second at the 6A state wrestling championships a year ago after winning the title in 2021 at 113 pounds, has been back leading the Chargers on the mat this season along with four other state placers. Senior Tank Mitchell, who was also a runner-up at state last winter at 215 pounds, as well as fellow top-six state finishers in sophomore Mana Fager, at 175 pounds, senior Quinn Bedell, at 126 pounds, and sophomore Payden Woolsey, at 132 pounds have also been key returners for the CCHS team.

Head coach Jeff Eure also noted sophomore Nai Filivaolelei, who placed eighth at the Greco- Roman All-American tournament in Fargo, North Dakota this summer, two-time state qualifier Collin Webb, Caleb Robinson, Kayden Williams and Hudson York as other key wrestlers that have been contributing heavily for Corner Canyon along with freshmen Liam Eller leading a class of incoming ninth graders that are 17 deep.

So far this season, the junior varsity and varsity squads won the Turkey Brawl at Jordan High School Nov. 22-23 to begin the year.

At the Layton Invite Dec. 2-3, Vivanco won the 120-pound division in leading the varsity team to a fifth-place showing among 34 teams. For the fifth-place girls squad, Kate Donaldson won the 115-pound beginner girls, Catalina Giraldo won the 125-pound beginner girls and Meleana Fager topped the 140-pound girls categories. Junior Kyle Nye, at 157 pounds, won for the 10th-place JV team.

First-place winners at the Corner Canyon Duals Dec. 9-10 were sophomore Bryton Brady (148-162 pound JV), Olivia Byington (129-136 pound girls), Clarion Fager (158-178 pound girls), Meleana Fager (139-148 pound girls), sophomore Dawson Jones (143-151 pound JV), sophomore Deken Knowles (130139 pound JV), Isabella Morgan (149-162 pound girls), freshman Jayden Pearce (187-195 pound JV), freshman Roman Rowell (112-123

pound JV rookie) and Makayla Talauega (135140 pound girls).

The JV team took first and the varsity team took third at the tournament.

At the Viewmont Invitational, the varsity team placed sixth out of 14 teams while the JV squad came in fourth among 13 teams. Varsity winners were Vivanco, Bedell (132 pounds) and Woolsey (150 pounds) while sophomore Brayden Bath (113 pounds), junior Yitzhak Contreras (190 pounds) and Nathan Holladay (215 pounds) won for JV.

At the Richardson Memorial Tournament Jan. 6-7, varsity came in ninth out of 24 teams and JV finished 14th out of 21 teams.

Contreras won the 190-pound division at the Redhawk Rumble Jan. 13-14 in leading the JV squad to a fifth-place finish as a team.

Corner Canyon was also scheduled to face Alta in the Battle of the Shield, Lone Peak, Payson, Westlake, Pleasant Grove and Skyridge along with competing at an Idaho Falls Tournament at the end of January. Divisions will be held Feb. 3-4 with state being held Feb. 13 for JV and Feb. 15-16 for the varsity ranks.

Also on the 2022-23 team are seniors Gustavo Garcia, Thomas Ord, Daniel Su and Kolton Williams; juniors Skylar Bills, Gilbert Curry, Triston Eschweiler, Quinn Hawker, Rodney King, Sitani Mafi, Connor Preece, Rylan Quintana and Mitchell Ward; sophomores Byron Ahlstrom, Bayden Belote, Caleb Berg, Austin Du Priest, Jagger Gamache, Oliver McMillan, Noah Nahoopii, Wilson Numbers and Gabriel Ortiz; freshmen Cole Bonham, Eli Borg, Ace Edmunds, Logan Garner, Tomasi Hasson, Charles Horman, Milo Jonas, Rofym Krytskaliuk, Bridger Matthews, Rudger Nichols, Bentley Smith, Kyle Suchar, Drew Towner and Mason Wood.

“We need to stay focused and work hard to achieve our goals this year,” said Eure. l

The Corner Canyon High wrestling team had several winners and placers at the Viewmont Invitational in December. (Photo courtesy Jeff Eure)

Comfort Cases nonprofit teams up with Draper’s Fresh Wolf company to aid youth in foster care

In partnership with the Draper-based company, Fresh Wolf, the nonprofit organization Comfort Cases reached a new milestone as volunteers packed the 200,000th Comfort Case backpack at an event in Draper last month. Comfort Cases are backpacks filled with new items such as pajamas, socks, toiletries and stuffed animals for children and youth in foster care. The backpacks assembled in Draper were given to Brighter Futures Inc. foster care service in South Salt Lake.

Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer was in foster care as a young teen and struggled with feelings of being unwanted. Transitioning between foster homes, he was a given a trash bag to carry his belongings. “I remember carrying a trash bag and feeling worthless, like nobody cared for me,” Scheer explained on the nonprofit’s web page.

Years later, following a stint in the U.S. Navy and a successful business career, Scheer married and became a foster parent himself. He was crestfallen to see the children walk in carrying their belongings in trash bags and was inspired to address the problem. Scheer and his husband, Reece, founded Comfort Cases in 2013 with the initial goal of replacing trash bags with backpacks in the D.C. foster care system.

Today, Comfort Cases are given out in every state as well as Puerto Rico. The nonprofit,

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

which is 96% run by volunteers, recently expanded their services to the United Kingdom. The backpacks are distributed to foster care agencies and also police and fire departments for children who may be displaced from their homes. “We want every child in the community to understand that we love them,” Scheer said. He travels the country sharing his story and advocating for youth in foster care.

In Draper, Corner Canyon High School student Jack Barlow and his family have also been working to help local youth in foster care. In 2019, Barlow and his younger brother Henry started their own luxury grooming products company, Fresh Wolf, with the help of their parents John and Lisa Barlow. For every unit sold, Fresh Wolf donates a two-in-one body wash and shampoo to a child in foster care. The cause is close to the family’s heart as John was in foster care briefly as an infant.

Scheer, who is based in Maryland, heard about how Fresh Wolf was donating their products and reached out immediately. “It was a light bulb moment,” he said. “I thought, ‘We have to do something together.’” He contacted Lisa who appears on the Bravo network’s “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” She was enthusiastic about the idea. The Barlow family had been supporting the charity personally even before the connection with Fresh Wolf was established.

“I had the pleasure of doing a Zoom call and podcast with Rob,” Jack Barlow explained. “He’s just a really great guy.” The topic of the podcast, “Fostering Change,” was the importance of partnerships and corporate involvement.

Volunteers gathered in a gym at Treehouse Athletic Club in Draper on Jan. 7 to pack 300 Comfort Cases destined for Brighter Futures Inc. With a bit of ceremony to mark the auspicious event, Scheer and the Barlows packed the 200,000th backpack together.

Among the volunteers were some of Jack’s friends from Corner Canyon High School. Seniors Max Summerhays and Joey Ballard were happy to be there. “We’re here to support,” Summerhays said. “It’s a good opportunity.”

Jack recognizes the fact that boys in foster care are sometimes overlooked and don’t have many things to call their own. Giving back makes him feel good. “It feels great,” he said. “I’ve been able to meet some of the kids we’ve brought Fresh Wolf to. It’s been awesome.”

The Barlows and Scheer are keenly aware that much more needs to be done on a societal level to help youth in foster care. Children in foster care are more likely to suffer from PTSD. Only 54% graduate from high school and many will experience homelessness and unemployment as adults.

“What do we do with kids who age out of the system?” Lisa asked rhetorically. She was referring to the 23,000 young people nationwide who are left without permanent connections to a stable family when they

turn 18 and no longer receive state assistance for food and shelter.

Scheer spoke of the importance of preparing youth for aging out and has suggested a potential solution in which states require foster families to put a percentage of the stipend they receive in a savings account for the child. “We can’t wait until a kid turns 17,” he said.

In the meantime, Comfort Cases and Fresh Wolf will continue to do their part to bring a little comfort to vulnerable children and youth in foster care. To learn more and make a donation to the cause, visit comfortcases. org..l

Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer was photographed with Fresh Wolf co-founder and Corner Canyon High School student Jack Barlow at a Draper event in which volunteers packed Comfort Cases for local youth in foster care. (Photo courtesy of Comfort Cases)

Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer hugged Lisa Barlow of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” at a Draper event in which volunteers packed Comfort Cases for local youth in foster care. (Photo courtesy of Comfort Cases)

K. TYSON BAILEY, DO Internal Medicine

Dr. Tyson Bailey joins Granger Medical Clinic Internal Medicine—Sandy/Draper clinic after completing his residency with Abrazo Healthcare in Glendale, Arizona. As a native to Utah, he is excited to be building a lifelong practice caring for patients. Dr. Bailey is an advocate for his patients, having won both “Resident of the Year Award” in 2021 during the height of the COVID pandemic and “Outpatient Medicine Resident of The Year” in 2022.

Dr. Bailey completed medical school at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. While at this faith-based university, he learned how to integrate modern, evidence-based medical practices while focusing on the three tenets of health: mind, body, and soul. Dr. Bailey believes that optimal health comes when all three of these tenets are addressed properly. To address these three tenets fully, Dr. Bailey uses a multidisciplinary approach to ensure every aspect of patients’ well-being is taken care of.

SERVICES OFFERED:

• Medically managing chronic illnesses

• Diabetes

• Heart disease

• Liver disease

• Kidney disease

• Hypertension

• High cholesterol

• Endocrine abnormalities

• Rheumatologic diseases

Dr. Bailey is trained in osteopathic manipulation and offers these services on a case-by-case basis.

801.571.4100

PRACTICING AT 11333 S. 1000 E., STE. 100 SANDY, UT 84094

GRANGERMEDICAL.COM

Brighton Bank is excited to have a new location in Draper Utah. As a community bank, Brighton Bank cares about you and can assist you with all types of loans. You’ll receive personalized service, processing your loans quickly and efficiently by people who know you. As we continue to grow, we look forward to providing top tier services for all your banking needs. Come in and see us today!

What a winter!

It’s been all-hands-on-deck for Draper’s Public Works and Parks departments

What a winter it’s been for the city’s public works, with heavy snow and rain wreaking havoc all over town and making it difficult to keep up on regular services such as garbage collection and maintenance.

“When we have these large, prolonged storms, we’re challenged to keep up on our regular jobs and services,” said Scott Cooley, director of Public Works.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day brought heavy snow that coincided with necessary repair work already being done on the main water line in SunCrest. “It can only be fixed in the winter because we have to shut that water line down. That means the only water that’s available is what’s in the tanks. It just so happened the first shutdown coincided with that massive storm, and we had at least two water line breaks in SunCrest, so we have our guys working around the clock on water line issues and guys working around the clock dealing with the snow. Our guys were spent. We had to call on Parks (Parks & Recreation department) for more help because that was a valley-wide event,” Cooley said. He explained that in SunCrest, it’s not just plowing, but

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

also snow removal. Snow has to be hauled away because there’s just no place to plow the amount that accumulates up there.

Cooley’s Public Works department is in charge of street snow plowing and garbage collection, among other services, but the Parks department also pitches in with employees who have commercial driver’s licenses and can aid in street snow plowing when needed. Those Parks employees normally handle snow plowing and clearing of city-owned properties like City Hall, parking lots for parks, and sidewalks.

“We had a bunch of catastrophes hit all at once, so we were trying to scramble to get anybody in that could plow,” said Parks & Recreation Director Rhett Ogden. He was calling his staff on New Year’s Eve, asking them to drop their plans and come in to help.

The heavy snow meant downed trees and limbs, all over town, on both public and private property. The city set about cleaning up trees and limbs on public spaces and any that interfered with right of way or were hazardous. “We had several hundred trees or limbs come down because of the heaviness of the snow. For a week straight,

we were picking up limbs and hauling the chipper all over town and cleaning up. A lot of my department was doing stuff we don’t normally do like getting limbs out of power lines, whatever we could to keep the city running,” Ogden said. The city provided a place for residents to dispose of limbs and trees.

As if heavy snow and downed trees weren’t enough, the holiday snow storm was followed by rain and warmer temperatures that melted the existing snow and added to the water level. “That was heavy, wet snow. You add the rain, which was substantial, to the snow that was already there…it was like two storms at once,” said Draper Mayor Troy Walker.

That’s when flooding began to happen. The city notified residents that sand bags and sand were available at the Andy Ballard Arena. The Dayland Dog Park, 300 E. 13400 South, flooded and private homes flooded as well.

“The dog park did its job perfectly. Its sole existence was about retaining water, but since it was there, we gave it dual use,” Walker said. According to him, willow trees will stick their roots in cracks in pursuit of any water in drought years, including into drains. “The neighborhood HOAs need to maintain their drain systems. Private drain systems, if not maintained, can’t do their job. There are going to be a lot of new homes that don’t have sump systems that will put one in,” he said. Both Cooley and Walker noted significant flooding of basements has happened once before in Draper, in December 2010 or January 2011, prior to Cooley’s employment with the city.

And winter is not over yet. Cooley’s crews have had the problem of cars parked on streets when it snows, making it impossible for plows to clear the streets. In turn, if a street isn’t plowed, it’s not safe for garbage trucks to collect solid waste. “It’s a

dangerous situation. If we haven’t plowed it yet, we’ve had to skip those roads and keep coming back. We’ve had to go back numerous times, so all of that is taking up our manpower,” he said.

Cooley wants to remind people not to park on the street when it’s snowing. “It makes it very challenging for us to do our jobs with snow plowing and garbage collecting if we can’t plow it. It also makes emergency response difficult,” he said. In other words, it’s all-hands-on-deck, including having residents do their part to keep the city running properly. l

The Dayland Dog Park, designed to serve dual purpose of park and detention basin, closed for two days after it filled with water. City officials said the flooded park did not contribute to the flooding of nearby homes because the private and public drainage systems don’t connect. (Courtesy Draper City)

The city has tried to help residents get to the root of flooding problems that occurred on private property by helping locate privately owned drains that have become clogged with tree roots and other debris. This photo from a private land drain system shows roots pulled out by a contractor hired by an HOA to help clean their drains. (Courtesy Draper City)

Off Broadway Theatre Co. offers a funny take on the tale of ‘Robyn Hood’

Thismonth, Off Broadway Theatre Co. is bringing back a company favorite to the stage of Draper Historic Theatre, “Robyn Hood.” The classic story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Maid Marian and the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham is given a comical twist with song parodies, improvisation, sword-play, dad jokes and a bit of Utah satire thrown in as well. The rollicking production will be presented Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings Feb. 3-25.

“This was one of our very first shows,” said Off Broadway Theatre Co. Artistic and Technical Director Eric Jensen. “It’s one of the funniest ones.” Jensen originally co-wrote the script with local actor and Channel 4 weatherman Bob Bedore in the 1980s for Layton Arts Council. Bedore is one of the actors who will play the Sheriff of Nottingham as the production is double-cast.

Over the years, the company has presented “Robyn Hood” many times, always changing up the script with new improvisations. “We have a script and we try to follow it,” said Alisa Woodbrey, who plays Maid Marian. “But we have some kings of improv here so you never know what’s going to happen. That’s part of the fun.”

With grim headlines in the news, the company decided to bring back “Robyn Hood” this

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

season. “It’s such a break from reality,” Woodbrey said. “Even in rehearsals we spend most of the time laughing. If we’re laughing, the audience is really going to enjoy it!”

Ane Genessy, who has taken on the role of Maid Marian’s friend, Lady Akbar (“It’s a trap!”) said that the script has “taken pieces of movie Robin Hoods like the Kevin Costner version, ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ and Errol Flynn and put it all together.”

Like Flynn’s classic take on Robin Hood, there are sword fights in this production. Chris Kennedy learned sword fighting for the stage by taking up a lightsaber years earlier in the Off Broadway Theatre Co. production, “Star Ward.” Kennedy is in the lead role as Robyn Hood. “There are at least three sword fights,” he said. “We go from a basic sword fight to doing a comedy version. We’ll surprise you with our third one which is a little more extravagant.”

Having been involved in Off Broadway Theatre Co. productions since 2010, Kennedy has performed in “Robyn Hood” three times over the years. “It’s different every time. Come to see the first show and the last and see the changes. It’s a fun show for everyone—it has lots of slapstick that kids will love,” Kennedy said.

As the story of “Robyn Hood” takes

place in Merry Olde England, the actors have assumed British accents. Ed Gilmore, as the Sheriff of Nottingham, comes by his naturally. The actor grew up in England, in the town of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Grimsby is a little less than a two-hour drive from Nottingham. He has also performed in other Off Broadway Theatre Co. productions, most recently as the Mayor in “The Frightmare Before Christmas.”

“The Sheriff and his henchmen want to defeat King Richard and take over England,” he explained. Gilmore is having fun with the role. “This is the first time that I’ve gotten to play the villain,” he said. “It’s a lot different. I’m experimenting with different characterizations. You can ham it up a lot more, especially with the fun group we’ve got here.”

All of the actors spoke of how much they enjoy the camaraderie of the cast. “This cast is awesome,” Ane Genessy said. “It’s been such an honor to be a part of it. They know how to play off of each other.”

Ane’s son, Brady Genessy, is playing Will Scarlet, one of the Merry Men. “It’s so fun— it’s great!” he said. “Being goofy is always fun.”

“If you see the actors having fun, you’ll enjoy yourself too,” Gilmore said.

Woodbrey remarked with a smile, “Is there any better way to spend an evening?”

Off Broadway Theatre Co. will present “Robyn Hood” on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings, Feb. 3-25, on the stage of Draper Historic Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Draper Historic Theatre is located at 12366 S. 900 East. For tickets, visit theobt.org. l

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Chris Kennedy plays Robyn and Alisa Woodbrey is Maid Marian in the Off Broadway Theatre Co. production of “Robyn Hood.” (Photo courtesy of Off Broadway Theatre Co.)

If you’d told me 20 years ago that I’d be a yoga instructor, I’d have laughed hard enough to tear a hamstring because I was very inflexible.

I took my first yoga class as a dare. My tennis instructor laughed at how tight I was and challenged me to try yoga. I hated every minute of that stupid class. I hated the words and I hated the poses and I hated the teacher and I loathed downward facing dog with a fiery passion.

But I realized my tennis instructor was right. My muscles were as tight as two-byfours, but less bendy. So I kept going back to yoga. Hated it every single time.

After about two months of practicing yoga, I noticed, little by little, my flexibility was improving. I could almost touch my toes without the usual amount of grunting and tears. My hips didn’t scream out loud while doing pigeon pose. My shoulders dropped away from my ears, where I’d held them at strict attention for decades. Even my back stopped hurting each time I rolled out of bed.

I grudgingly had to admit yoga wasn’t the hippy-dippy dumpster fire I thought it was. But learning the poses was just the beginning. As I explored yoga’s history, philosophy and favorite recipes, I came to realize yoga was a lifestyle that encouraged, nay demanded, self-love and com-

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

passion.

Yikes. As a lifelong subscriber to self-loathing, I wasn’t sure how to handle that type of ideology. Just like when I started the physical practice, I took lots of tiny, baby steps toward accepting myself as a worthy human.

Fast forward 20 years and not only do I teach yoga but I LOVE yoga with a fiery passion. Yoga has changed me in so many ways. I used to be sarcastic, cynical and snarky but after studying yoga for so many years, I’m a sarcastic, cynical and snarky yoga instructor.

See. People change.

I’m also much less judgmental. I’m not so hard on myself and I give most people the benefit of the doubt. Most people. Maybe someone can propose a bill that would require our legislators to take a yoga class each morning before discussing the divisive and harmful bills proposed

this year. OK, when it comes to our lawmakers, I’m still pretty judgmental.

Being a yoga instructor is super silly. As an instructor, I get to say things in class that don’t make a whole lot of sense, and my students listen to me!

I’ll say, “Breathe in through your collarbones, breathe out through your kneecaps. Inhale to fill up your armpits, exhale to release tension in the ear lobes.”

Or I’ll instruct students to “Melt into the mat, send energy out of your fingertips, ground through your sitz bones, wring out your body and lengthen the crown of your head.” And I’m totally serious. (Laugh emoji)

My yoga practice has evolved from trying to do the most difficult poses and making my students sweat and swear, to focusing on deep stretches and stress-reducing breathing exercises.

It isn’t about who can be the bendy-est or the one who can hold crow pose for five minutes. It’s about appreciating what my body can do today. Not what I think it should do or what I want it to do tomorrow, but what it can accomplish right now.

I appreciate all the yoga teachers who took this rigid block of a body and mind and transformed it into a pliable, warm and accepting human being. My hamstrings thank you. l