Holladay Journal |April 2023

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COTTONWOOD ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BEG TEACHERS FOR MORE READING TIME

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

Elementary is taking student reading to the next level with their schoolwide Battle of the Books program. During the year, students read from a book list of 12-16 books and then are eligible to be on a battle team and earn prizes. Teachers say it’s taken off “like crazy.”

Cottonwood

“Granite District used to participate in the national contest, but not anymore. So I talked to the librarian at Upland Terrace Elementary, and learned how to start an in-school program,” said Cottonwood’s librarian Jill Thain.

Thain worked with teachers Carly Holmes and Jessica Blackham to create a tailor-made battle plan. When students finish a book from the list, they turn in a summary sheet signed by their parents. Incentive prizes are given during weekly library time by PTA volunteers. Classes can also earn a Chick-fil-A party and other prizes.

“One good thing about our version is it involves the lower grades on a junior team, which isn’t part of the national contest. To include them, we divided our school into Battle Readers grades three to five and Junior Readers K to two,” Holmes said.

Holmes teaches fourth grade and is over the Battle Readers group. She made the list of 16 books, which includes a Harry Potter book and “Island of the Blue Dolphins.”

Blackham teaches first grade and is over the Junior Readers. She chose 12 books, including an Elephant and

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Piggie book and one from the Magic Tree House series. Both teachers said the competition element motivates their students to read.

“We hung posters in the hallway with all the class totals on it. My class saw that other classes were reading, too, and knew they had to step up their game. Now, whenever we have free time, they ask me, ‘Can we have reading time?’ It’s the best thing for a teacher to hear,” Holmes said.

To make the program accessible to readers of all levels, audiobooks and reading time with parents “counts.” When students finish a battle book, they get a personalized pin of its cover for their lanyard.

The contest heats up in spring when students are “drafted” to a team. Together, the teams study their summary sheets to prepare for the big battle: a game showlike contest run by Holmes, Blackham, Thain and the PTA.

“We ask them reading comprehension questions and they hit a buzzer to answer. It’s really fun and they love it. The winning classes and teams can earn a Chick-Fil-A party and other prizes. Once we announced that was the prize, the response went crazy,” Holmes said.

Second-grade twin siblings June and Henry Bench are right on the fence between the Junior Readers list and the Battle Readers list, so they decided to read all the books on both lists.

“Our plan was to just do the senior list since they’re both good readers. But they had so much fun they read all the books on both lists. The competition lit a fire under them both to finish them all. It’s incredible to see all the buttons on their lanyards,” said parents Steve and Carly Bench.

Both June and Henry have found new favorite books through the contest.

“The book ‘Amari’ by B.B. Alston is my favorite from the list. It’s about a girl who has illegal powers. She’s a magician and she’s trying to find her brother. My parents thought it was too big because it’s a chapter book, but I’m glad I got an opportunity to read it,” June said.

Henry’s favorite from the list was “The Million Dollar Shot” by Dan Gutman. “It’s about these kids who get to do a free throw for a chance to win a million dollars,” Henry said. “I’m glad that they put it on the list or else I might not have seen it.” l

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Above: When we put up the posters in the hall, the competition really took off,” said first-grade teacher Jessica Blackham. (Heather Lawrence/ City Journals)

Students love getting a pin for their lanyard every time they finish a book,” said librarian Jill Thain. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

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Nearly 70 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Cottonwood Elementary took part in the school’s musical “The Princess and the

They performed

members of

Cottonwood Elementary students sing at Granite School District board meeting

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Students from Cottonwood Elementary, 5205 Holladay Blvd., performed at a Granite School District board meeting in March. Performers did two numbers from the school’s musical “The Princess and the Pea,” “It’s Time for a Wedding” and “Where is My Bride?” This year’s musical included 67 fourthand fifth-grade students.

“Elementary school is such a safe place to try new things and enjoy new experiences,” said Cottonwood Elementary’s musical director Julie Knight. “It amazes me every year to see these children come early for months and work hard to achieve something. The performances are always marked by an unmistakable pride in their own abilities and joy in the experience.”

Knight said being part of a musical production builds connections when everyone is working toward a common goal. The goal is to make all the students feel important, included and part of the team.

“There tends to be a different atmosphere at musical practice than in the classroom or on the playground,” she said. “Everyone is more accepting because we are all doing the same thing. And, at the end of the day, I believe every child should have the chance to stand on stage and be applauded.” l

Above: Cottonwood Elementary’s fourth- and fifth-graders rehearsed for several months to prepare for the school’s musical “The Princess and the Pea.” (Photo courtesy of Granite School District)

Left: Students from Cottonwood Elementary in Holladay performed songs from “The Princess and the Pea” at a Granite School District board meeting in March. (Photo courtesy of Granite School District)

Pea.”

for

the Granite School District board at their meeting. (Photo courtesy of Granite School District)

Skyline-based Rosander triumphs at March’s Battle of the Bands

Rosander, the four-piece band from Skyline High, won first place in the March 3 West Multi Region Battle of the Bands. As winners, they will perform at the Grand Theatre April 29. But they say they’re even happier that they won Fan Favorite.

“In the competition, there are four or five judges and you progress through each round with two songs. They give you a score and feedback on what you did well and what you can improve. That score determines the winner,” said senior Lucas Helm who plays bass in the band.

Fan favorite, however, is judged by the audience. “There’s an online survey and fans vote on whose music they liked the most and who looked like they were having the most fun. To me it’s even better that we won that, because it means the audience really liked the show,” Helm said.

Helm has been playing with his band mates as Rosander for a little over a year, with senior Mason Brindley on guitar, junior Andie Christensen on vocals and junior Max Anderson on drums. Anderson’s mom Amber, a vocal coach, is also their manager.

The event on March 3 was held at Olympus High and sponsored by the PTA. There were 14 entries from nine Utah high schools, a mix of bands and open mic performers: Nameless, Alex Navarro, The Ceramic Bowl Speaks, Stella Rhodes, Grace Waite, Bread Box, Jameson Thackeray, The Waynes, Anna Van Moorlehem, Flying Beagle, Stephen Sroufe, Turpentine and Johhn LeBaron.

“Students performing in Battle of the Bands are winners from their local schools. There are several [other] competitions in the state. The winners will go on to perform on April 29 at the Salt Lake Community College Grand Theatre,” said Matthew Sampson, spokesperson for Granite School District.

This was Rosander’s second year competing. They formed nearly two years ago when Max Anderson and Brindley, who were already friends, started “jamming whenever possible in Max’s basement.”

They shared a common love of grassroots rock and roll. Soon they were joined by Helm on bass, but they needed a solid vocalist. Enter Andie Christensen.

“I saw Andie’s YouTube channel and knew she went to our school. I asked her to join us and my mom worked with her at her vocal studio. Andie’s capable of many genres, and she’s really fun to watch up on stage,” Max Anderson said.

Amber Anderson knew she had good raw material to work with. “I directed her to some soulful vocalists. I knew the voice was there and it had this warmth. But she had to know it was OK to stand out in a crowd and not be afraid of it,” Amber Anderson said.

The three other band members remember the day when they were rehearsing their cover of “Fever Dog,” and they felt like Christensen tapped into what her voice was capable of.

“The first time she opened up the three of

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

us looked at each other with our jaws on the floor. Now she does that to us every week. She’s grown exponentially,” Helm said.

Christensen has a gig every Wednesday at the Citris Grill on Wasatch Boulevard and her band mates can’t say enough good things about her.

“I think she’s the reason we sound the way we do, because she’s what makes us different from any other band. When you think about what makes you stand out, that’s what will dictate your future. And she is what makes us stand out,” Brindley said.

All the band members cite their parents and teachers as big supporters. Learning music from their parents is also partly what inspired their classic rock vibe.

“We’ve learned to love what that genre has to offer. We’ve listened to it for years. It’s important to have diverse music taste—it helps us bring in different demographics of people,” Helm said.

Anderson was influenced by the music his parents listened to. His dad, also a drummer, introduced him to drummers like U2’s Larry Mullen Jr. and Led Zeppelin’s Jon Bonham. Brindley’s influences include Robert

Johnson and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. He also gives credit to and “has a lot of respect for” his Holladay-based guitar teacher, Johnny London.

Rosander hopes the win will give them some local recognition so they can play more live shows this summer. They’d like to pursue music professionally, and Amber Anderson is teaching them about the business side of music so they don’t go into it naively.

“I gave them two rules: first, you still have to get a degree, and second you will learn the music business so you can have fun at it and enjoy the benefits of creative control,” Amber Anderson said. She’s invested in sophisticated recording equipment, and posted videos and tracks on www.rosander.band and YouTube.

At Battle of the Bands they performed one original song, “Passion,” and one cover, “Fever Dog,” which they’ll perform again on April 29. Future shows like the upcoming

Draper Jam will give them more set time and flexibility.

In just over a year they’ve seen a lot of success and call Battle of the Bands a very positive experience.

“My favorite thing has been how everyone at Battle of the Bands is nice to each other and everyone wants you to succeed and do your best. During sound checks everyone’s listening to everyone else, and interested in their talents and song choices,” Helm said.

In addition to hard work and talent, Helm attributes Rosander’s win to the group’s chemistry.

“We hang out every single day, and we’re not really performing for other people, we’re just performing for each other. We do what we love onstage, but it happens in front of people,” Helm said. “We’re legitimate best friends, and that comes across to the audience when we perform.” l

Members of the winning band Rosander are all students at Skyline High. L to R are Lucas Helm, Andie Christensen, Max Anderson and Mason Brindley. (Courtesy Amber Anderson/Rosander)

Clockwise: Ready to rock, Lucas Helm and Mason Brindley of Rosander let their guitars do the talking at Battle of the Bands on March 3. (Courtesy Amber Anderson/Rosander)

The first time we heard what she could really do, all three of our jaws hit the floor,” said Rosander members of their vocalist Andie Christensen. (Courtesy Amber Anderson/Rosander)

Max Anderson of Rosander said he started playing drums at age 2 and learned from his dad. (Courtesy Amber Anderson/Rosander)

Checking in on the mates at the Oakwood Elementary chess club

Whenthe dismissal bell rings on Thursday afternoons, 90 kids at Oakwood Elementary head to the cafeteria. Three things are on their minds: eat their snacks, find their partner for the day and check the “one move to checkmate” challenge board. These kids are here to learn chess.

“The chess club started 27 years ago, and I’ve been running it for seven years. It’s a big success, but it takes volunteers to make it happen,” said Janice Worley.

Worley runs the club along with her daughter Makenna and several adult volunteers, mostly other parents.

“There are so many benefits to playing chess. One is they learn to win and lose graciously. That’s an important part of playing with young kids. Another is learning analytical skills to beat your opponent,” Worley said.

Sisters Anastasia and Katarina, who are in fourth and second grades, come to chess club together. “This is my first year in the club. Sometimes I play with my family at home. When I win, I brag!” Katarina said, laughing.

Anastasia said she is “getting pretty good” at chess. “I like to be black because I feel like it’s easier to win. I can watch what the other person is doing. Now that I know all the names of the pieces, I learn strategies like pawn promotion. When I win I say a little ‘yes!’”

Parent volunteer Adrienne Cornia has a third grader and fifth grader in the chess club. She said her kids are learning not only chess, but to be good winners and losers.

“I like the way Janice promotes good sportsmanship. She has players shake hands before and after their matches. It’s a great program,” Cornia said.

Worley’s approach to meetings is organized. “I get here early with other volunteers and set up 55 vinyl roll-up chess board mats, just like in a professional club. Kids learn correct notation because the sides are labeled with numbers and letters,” Worley said.

Kids spend the first few minutes snacking and socializing, and then many of them try the weekly challenge.

“Every week we put up a ‘one move to checkmate’ challenge. It’s a board on the wall with a mid-game scenario. Kids study it and write down in notation how they would get to checkmate. Two winners are drawn for prizes. They love it,” Worley said.

An instructor goes up to the board and explains the answer, then they break into smaller skill level groups.

“They’ll get a lesson that’s appropriate for their level. Beginners learn piece names and how they move. More advanced kids learn strategy. Then we all come back to the cafeteria to play,” Worley said.

In weekly matches, students are assigned a partner based on a skills algorithm

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

of their previous wins and losses. Worley said assigning different partners each week keeps them focused. They also aren’t assigned the same partner within a three week time span.

At the end of the matches, kids report the outcome to Worley. She spends the next few hours at home updating results. She also shops for the challenge prizes, snacks and raffle prizes.

“I spend a lot of time on it, even though I don’t have kids at the school anymore. My kids benefited from it, so I’m kind of paying it forward. Or backward. But it’s worth it—

at any given time I can walk into that school and I’m instantly surrounded by kids who want to talk to me.”

Teaching kindergartners how to play chess is a study in patience. “Because we have so many kids, it takes volunteers to teach them how to play. Each group has an adult instructor and a ‘quiet keeper.’

“The beginners play against someone who is just as ill-informed as they are. Adults remind them, ‘this is how the rook moves. No, you can’t change direction in the middle of a move,’” Worley said.

There are also special events throughout

the year. In December Worley held a meeting where parents were invited. They had a raffle with prizes and a presentation on why chess is good for kids. Worley also made a slideshow of pictures from their meetings.

In 2023 they’ll have a six-week-long spring tournament within the club, complete with division winners and trophies. They’ll also do a tag team event where it’s two against two, and “simuls” where they have to focus on playing five games at once against instructors.

“The club is so popular that we get a lot of elementary ‘alumni’ who want to come back and still be a part of it. We use them as volunteers who can jump in and help, or participate in the bigger events,” Worley said.

Worley said she hopes the club continues. She’s a big believer in the benefits, including how kids learn to use their brains and practice analytical skills to outsmart their opponent.

The future of the chess club is not only dependent on volunteer help—Worley anticipates some reorganization when students from Spring Lane combine with Oakwood next fall.

“I don’t know how it will work. We might limit the age groups, but still grandfather in the kids who are already in it,” Worley said.

Whatever organizing happens behind the scenes doesn’t matter to kids like first grader Beckham, who joined the club this year. He just knows he likes coming to chess club and he’s having fun.

“At home I play with my dad, stepmom or friends. I like to be white because white gets to go first, and then I can probably win,” Beckham said. “I’m getting really good now.” l

Left and above: The “one move to checkmate” challenge board helps kids learn chess notation and analytical skills. Correct answers can win a prize. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

On Thursdays after school, the Oakwood cafeteria is transformed into a chess club, with matches and lessons based on skill level. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

Olympus swimming continues heavyweight status

The Olympus Titans are to the point where their boys and girls swim teams can be penciled in as the 5A State Champions at the start of every year. 2023 was an exception as the girls and boys teams took second and third respectively.

“I was extremely happy with performances of both teams at the State Championship,” Olympus swimming coach Tom Thorum said. “Both teams exceeded my hopes for the season.”

While the girls team was just short of winning the team title, the Titans still finished well overall with strong individual performances. One swimmer on the girls team in particular stood out in several swimming events.

“For the women, the MVP was team captain Maddy Parker,” Thorum said. “She was named the 5A Women’s Swimmer of the Year. She set Utah All Classification records in the 50 freestyle with a 23.14. She was also the first girl in Utah prep history to go under 50 seconds in the 100 meter freestyle with an All-American time of 49.96. She also had the season top time in the 500 meter freestyle with a 5:03.24. She also had near top times in all eight individual events. She also anchored two first place relays that set school records and just missed the women’s 400 freestyle state relay record by .11. Numerous D1 college programs vigorously recruited Maddy. Maddy will attend Washington State University in the fall on a swimming scholarship. She is among the best female swimmers in Utah High School swimming history.”

The boys team for Olympus had strong individual performances as well from team captain and MVP Ian Conner.

“Ian had top performances in all eight individual events for the season,” Thorum said. “At State, Ian won the 200 freestyle with a season best 1:41.42 and was second in the 100 meter freestyle with a season best 46.56. Ian anchored the 200 freestyle relay and first place in the 400 meter freestyle relay. Most of all, Ian led the men’s team athletically and academically. Ian will swim for Pomona College in Claremont, California in the fall.”

Conner and the team knew going into this season that there would be big shoes to fill from the championship caliber teams before them.

“You could say something about it being a little bit of a struggle making up for all the seniors we lost last year,” Conner said. “Our team was still able to perform and show everyone what we could do.”

Beyond the accolades, several memories will captivate yet another successful season for the Titans. Team culture, above all, is what can make a high school athletics experience great.

“We have developed a special team culture this year,” Thorum said. “This team stands out for its camaraderie and positive approach

By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

to training and competition. This team was really fun to coach.”

While the team has been successful, the coaching staff is anything but complacent in their efforts to continue to improve the program. They are constantly looking to enhance different aspects of their training process.

“Our teams have traditionally been smaller in terms of numbers,” Thorum said. “This year, we added Zofi Niemczak to our coaching staff. She is fantastic. With Zofi’s help, we feel we can better develop our new swimmers and successfully grow the size of our program without sacrificing quality or performance.”

While it is important to rest up for the following year after the state meet, the team is already discussing what went well and how they can prepare to come back stronger the following season. It starts, quick as it may sound, with the culmination of the previous season.

“We start preparation for the next season on the bus ride home from the State Championship,” Thorum said. “We are talking with the swimmers about what worked and what didn’t work. We make changes and we plan fun team building activities. This is a great time for swimmers to join the program to swim next year.”

While coaching requires much time, the motives behind it are what keeps this team running like a well-oiled machine.

“I enjoy coaching for what it teaches me about the human condition,” Thorum said. “For me, it’s truly gratifying to see these young people explore what they’re made of.”

While this season is over, there are still ways for people in the Millcreek area and beyond to support this team as well as the Olympus Aquatics programs that develops these athletes.

“Our practices and meets are always open to spectators,” Thorum said. “Additionally, our meets are often streamed on GOLS.com. This is a live-streaming website that does an awesome job of bringing events to people at home.”

While the athletes and coaches put a great deal of effort into their craft, the administration at Olympus High School has helped foster a winning culture in athletics and academics.

“The Olympus High School swim team owes its consistent success to the excellent administration at Olympus High School,” Thorum said. “Specifically, Principal Jennifer Christiansen and Athletic Director Kael Ashton ensure these student-athletes are on track. Second, Olympus Aquatics is doing an amazing job of developing young swimmers for successful high school and college swimming experiences.” l

Olympus’ Maddy Parker (black cap) is congratulated by Brighton’s Hanna Sasivarevic for her new state swimming record of 49.96 in the 100 yard freestyle. (Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

Olympus’ Ian Conner is congratulated for his team’s second place finish in the 400 yard freestyle relay.

(Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

Titans establish region dominance, fall in semis

Photos by Travis Barton

Olympus High boys basketball bench celebrates a 3-pointer during the playoffs at Weber State. The Titans finished the year 24-3 winning another region championship and earning the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. The talented squad was unable to repeat as state champions, falling to future region foe Alta in the semifinals.

Dutch DowDell finished the season fourth in the state in scoring with 23.7 points per game hitting 83 3-pointers on the year. DowDell will be back for his senior season in November.

Jordan Barnes averaged 8.6 assists per game, third best in the state on the year. The point guard returns for his senior season next year.

Freshman Gavin Lowe helps up his teammate Zakk Albert during the semifinals at Weber State. The tenacious freshman will return a year older to form a formidable trio with DowDell and Barnes.

Olympus student section packs its section at the Dee Events Center, just as it did all season, dwarfing the 6A student crowds that turned up for their semifinals.

City opts to slow play new surveillance technology

Leaders wary of ‘perpetual surveillance’

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

TheHolladay City Council decided to pump the breaks on the implementation of new surveillance technology known as Flock camera systems, the latest trend in law enforcement used to track motor vehicles.

The cameras create detailed “vehicle fingerprints” which can be referenced against a wider surveillance network when searching for “hot listed” cars, according to UPD Precinct Chief Justin Hoyal, who asked the council to consider adopting the new technology in March.

Holladay representatives, however, opted to slow play the decision, following the lead of Councilmember Paul Fotheringham, District 3, who expressed strong reservations and dug in to demand that practical and ethical questions be answered before the body green lights surveillance.

“I have basic concerns about expanding this perpetual surveillance as a policy matter. It may be a great tool for criminal investigation, but it comes at a cost,” Fotheringham said.

Fotheringham’s hesitancy echoes concerns raised by the American Civil Liber-

ties Union (ACLU), who argues that Flock represents a dangerous creep toward the “creation of a centralized mass surveillance system of Orwellian scope,” according to Jay Stanley, who authored 2022 research intensive white paper on the topic.

Because Flock captured information is fed to a centralized databased controlled by the private company, the ACLU argues, the potential for abuse is significant—a possibility that is complicated further by the growing use of Flock systems by private enterprises like homeowner association and other neighborhood groups.

Communities can put “virtual gates” around their neighborhoods, while officers can track cars—and by extension, people— outside their own jurisdictions, which has troubling implications for privacy, according to Jay Stanley.

Councilmember Fotheringham offered hypothetical scenarios to jog the discussion in Holladay.

“Despite the fact that it could be a great crime solving tool, it could also be abused to track stuff like, ‘Where was my girlfriend

The Holladay City Council decided to pump the breaks on the implementation of new surveillance technology known as Flock camera systems, the latest trend in law enforcement used to track motor vehicles. (City Journals)

and was she going someplace I don’t want her to go,’” he said.

“I have confidence that UPD at our precinct would use this tool with discipline, but it’s also the sort of tool that can be abused.”

Holladay residents have tested the waters with public-private surveillance since 2021 with UPD’s inauguration of the “Safe Cam” program, which enabled households and businesses to register private surveillance cameras with a UPD data base and provide footage on a voluntary basis—a program most residents found agreeable.

However, Flock represents a larger— and more centralized—system, which raises concerns for privacy advocates, like Paul Fotheringham, whose public comments in March addressed common themes in technology enhanced enforcement.

“I have concerns about how the decisions will be made about where to place it. For instance, if you put it near the Highland Circle communities because it’s sort of low income and there’s a presumption of likely shenanigans there, we could be criticized for that,” Fotheringham said.

“On the other hand, what if you place them into the Walker Lane district. Does that mean the taxpayers are all paying for this sort of additional security apparatus for the rich community? There’s all kinds of questions that deserve longer discussion.”

Chief Justin Hoyal said he had in mind eight cameras to be implemented at four strategic locations in the city that were not mentioned by name.

In addition to concerns about the centralization and private administration of camera information, there are questions about scale.

Flock’s goal is to expand to “every city in the United States,” according to Flock CEO Garrett Langley.

That worries privacy advocates—like the ACLU, who says “if the company is able to spread as widely and densely as it hopes, law enforcement will gain the ability to know the detailed movements of virtually any vehicle for as far into the past as that data is held. That would create enormous risks of privacy violations and other abuses and would have significant legal implications as well.”

Councilmember Dan Gibbons, a former judge, asked about legal implications that could impact the City of Holladay.

“I wonder if the data is kept and if it’s subject to a GRAMA request? Or could it be subpoenaed in a civil case?” Gibbons said. “I’m not sure where I fall on it, but I think it’s definitely worth looking into” getting Flock cameras.

The company reports that it only keeps data for 30 days, but there are no laws that require them to honor that policy; nor are there regulations on how they may monetize that data for other purposes, according to Jay Stanley of the ACLU.

Hoyal, while not able to answer all of the council’s questions, is a proponent of

the technology and says it makes the work of law enforcement easier, particularly as it applies to stolen vehicles.

“We’ve had several success stories in our precincts. Midvale is recovering occupied stolen cars almost daily,” referring to Holladay’s sister city that’s adopted the technology.

Mayor Robert Dahle said similar questions were asked with the introduction of police officer body cams, and similar to the way that a system of best practices and policy was ironed out for body cams he believes it will be with Flock cameras as well.

“It sounds like we need to be more educated on this and have some of these broader discussions before we commit to actually put them into the city. Not only where they’re going to go, but just debate the other issues,” Dahle said.

Paul Fotheringham, whose impassioned position sets a high standard of rigor for the city’s future discussions, implored the council to keep a big picture in mind.

“Granted, solving stolen car cases is important, but I think we need to consider the larger societal costs…before we rush head long,” Fotheringham said. l

Public Utilities requests resident engagement to help inventory water infrastructure

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) Director Laura Briefer presented an overview of the water supply for the area to the Cottonwood Heights City Council on March 1. She reported on current drought conditions, detailed the water utility infrastructure and drinking water supply, shared new federal regulations, and provided updates on the department’s guiding documents.

Additionally, Briefer asked Cottonwood Heights to spread the word about their calls for resident engagement. SLCDPU is asking residents to be mindful of water conservation, get informed about new regulations regarding lead in water pipes, provide feedback for their management plan updates, and help inventory the water utility infrastructure system.

“Our snowpack and water supply is in very good condition this year,” Briefer said.

Even though the winter season has been positive in terms of contributing to the service area’s water supply, Briefer reminded the council that drought conditions persist. According to the Intermountain West Climate Dashboard in February, 99% of Utah remains in some level of drought. Salt Lake Valley, specifically, remains in severe drought conditions. The Great Salt Lake remains in critical condition as well.

“One year of snowpack is great. But we need average, or above average, snowpack for several years to exit drought sta-

tus,” Briefer said.

SLCDPU has a vast water utility infrastructure from water treatment plants to transition mains and pipelines, with over 90,000 connections. Their service area includes all of Salt Lake City as well as portions of South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, Murray and Midvale.

The drinking water supply for the service area is collected from a few different channels. Fifty percent to 60% is filtered from Parley’s Canyon, City Creek Canyon and the two Cottonwood Canyons (Little and Big), while 30% to 35% of the drinking water supply flows from the Deer Creek Reservoir as part of the Provo River project.

“These canyons are so valued and important for the quality of life for our community. There is a lot of interaction with communities interested in what is happening in the canyons,” Briefer said.

Many additional cities throughout Salt Lake County and Utah County benefit from Deer Creek Reservoir. Briefer described the reservoir as an insurance policy when experiencing year over year droughts as it can store a significant amount of water for long periods of time. The canyon systems, however, are not equipped for storing water (with the exception of the Little Dell and Mountain Dell reservoirs in Parley’s Canyon).

“The combination of readily available

Above: The Big Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant is currently in the process of reconstruction. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

A student-planned budgeting simulation included financial transactions with representatives from Harmons Neighborhood Grocer. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

water sources and stored water puts us in a very nice position,” Briefer said.

Following the crisis in Flint, Michigan (and other drinking water crises concerning lead contamination), the Environmental Protection Agency has made it a priority to update their federal rules related to lead and copper. The SLCDPU has already replaced older parts of the water utility infrastructure system that could have been constructed from lead.

“We are quite sure we don’t have lead in the water mains that run through the city,” Briefer said.

Recent mandates require every single water service line to be inventoried. If there is suspicion any part of a service line could have the potential for lead contaminants, a plan must be developed and put into place to remove and replace those service lines.

“One of the challenges we are having is we have good records of the water lines the city has installed, but not water lines installed by private entities,” Briefer said.

SLCDPU is responsible for water lines connecting from mains to meters, but connections from water meters to developments are the individual property (or home) owners’ responsibility. Currently, 64,000 service lines are unknown. SLCDPU is asking for help from residents to reduce that number.

In addition to helping inventory the water utility infrastructure, residents have been working with SLCDPU to update the Watershed Management Plan through surveys and open houses. Originally drafted in 1989, the Watershed Management Plan identifies pollution risks to drinking water resources and identifies management strategies to reduce those risks.

Vulnerability assessments and resident feedback will be finalized into a report that will be taken to the Salt Lake City Council and the Public Utilities Advisory Committee. (Cottonwood Heights resident Ted Boyer serves on that Advisory Committee.)

“We have a lot of coordination opportunities,” Briefer said.

Residents can expect water quality

reports annually delivered to their mailboxes. SLCDPU monitors water quality for more than 90 contaminants to comprise individual water quality reports.

To learn more about the rebuild of the Big Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant (4101 Big Cottonwood Canyon Road), vis it: KeepItPureBigCottonwood.com.

To learn more about the process to get involved with the Watershed Management Plan update, visit: slc.gov/utilities/water shed/watershedmanagementplan.

To learn more about new regulations surrounding lead in water pipes, visit: slc. gov/utilities/LeadandCopper

To help inventory the water infra structure system, visit SLCDPU’s survey at: slc.gov/utilities/LeadandCopperSurvey

For find the annual Water Quality Consumer Report, visit: slc.gov/utilities/ water-quality

To learn more about conserving water at home, visit: slc.gov/utilities/conservation

MILLCREEK Cindy Sadler

HOLLADAY Emily

Right: Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities Director Laura Briefer is requesting resident participation and feedback in a variety of projects.

(Photo courtesy of Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities)

Pearls With Purpose breaks generational poverty in developing countries

WhenWendy Bird’s husband suggested she make jewelry to sell at farmers markets, she had no idea it would turn into a global foundation that provides training, mentorship and income for hundreds of women.

Back in 2001, Bird was a stay-at-home mom with five children, looking for a project that would help rediscover her identity which had gotten lost in all the laundry and daily chores. Jewelry making seemed the perfect fit. As a certified gemologist, Bird loves pearls for the way they mimic humanity.

“I love that they’re formed because of an irritant within the lining tissue of the oyster,” she said. “The oyster can’t spew it out, it can’t do anything but secrete a soothing nacre. It can only hug the irritant and that transforms it into this lustrous gemstone. To me, that’s a perfect example of what humanity needs.”

The Riverton resident sent out a request looking to import quality pearls for jewelry making and got a response from a woman in the Philippines. The woman said if Bird imported jewelry pieces, instead of loose pearls, she would change lives.

Bird jumped on the idea and created information to make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. She emailed the docs to the Philippines and a group of women began making jewelry. Bird would import it back to the States and sell it, giving the women 64% of the profits.

Pearls With Purpose had begun. The social impact organization provides microenterprise training for women in poverty, or women rescued from sex trafficking or abuse, in the Philippines, Kenya, Peru, Dominican Republic, India and Cambodia.

For four years, everything was done through long-distance correspondence; she had never traveled internationally. But then a representative from another nonprofit invited Bird overseas to meet the women working with her.

“I landed and saw for the first time ever, these humble circumstances that the individuals live in and the struggle it was to get to the internet cafe and the cost associated with being able to print out the documents,” she said. “Everything was 10 times worse than what they’d conveyed because I put this American spin on it.”

The obstacles her jewelry makers faced hadn’t registered, even though she had trained more than 70 women at that point. Invited to stay in the home of one of the women, she was shocked at the level of poverty.

“In my head I thought I’m going to stay in a bedroom with my own toilet. No. They showed me this piece of plywood they put on the dirt floor they’d covered with a sheet that had been shipped over in a shipment that I had sent, and it happened to be one of my kid’s sheets,” Bird said. “There was no electricity. I was told to shower under this tree, and it’s mostly private. I realized these people needed more from me than I had been giving.”

That trip changed her mindset. She applied for 501(c) (3) status and started doing in-person trainings to adapt her program to their needs. She trained women in an abandoned school, she helped women living in the jungle and in villages ruled by a king. She adapted to cultural differences and language barriers and learned each woman dealt with their own difficulties.

In a leper colony in India, Bird trained 183 women on a dirt floor in a community center. As untouchables, the women couldn’t sit on chairs because their low caste status meant they couldn't sit higher than anyone else in the village. After months, Bird got permission for the women to sit on mats.

“We’re dealing with individuals who for their entire life had been told you will never go to school, you will never be

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

counted as human, you will never have a job. You will just sit on the sidelines of life and watch it unfold,” she said. “If you’re a woman and you’ve been told a very specific stigma your entire life and all of a sudden you hear that it could be different from what you’ve always known, wouldn’t you show up?”

An orphanage in Cambodia reached out to Bird, asking her to bring Pearls With Purpose to their location, training teens from 15-17 in jewelry making so they would have a skill when they left the orphanage at age 18. Often, those 18-yearolds turned to sex work or drugs, but with a skill to fall back on, they could create a different life.

“A year after that training, we got the first email that [a young man] was going to a university in Australia and because of this program he has the $5,500 to attend this university,” Bird said. “So all of a sudden you can see that it’s working.”

In the Dominican Republic and Kenya, Bird worked with children rescued from sex trafficking through Operation Underground Railroad. She taught them to polish, design and wire-wrap gemstones to allow them to create an income.

Along with jewelry tools, Pearls With Purpose also purchases sewing machines, computers and other items women can use to better their lives. Bird teaches them to meet with wholesalers and negotiate prices.

Right before COVID hit, Bird met with some women in the Philippines. They were talking with her but she couldn’t remember their names. She asked what training session they’d completed.

“One of them said, ‘You didn’t train me. You trained my mom. Because of you, I went to college. My mom put me in school. She had enough money.’ Another said, ‘Hi, I’m Janet’s daughter and this is my baby and I married a good man because I went to this university because you trained my mom.’

“It was this generational break in poverty,” Bird said. “I

just started bawling. It was so unexpected. You sit there and listen to these younger adults and you know because you landed on that plane in 2005, they were the ones running around barefoot in their little tank tops and shorts…and here they are dressed so properly you don’t even recognize them and they’re saying, you trained my mom and my life is different now.”

Pearls With Purpose endured through COVID on fumes and held a fundraiser in February to rebuild its accounts. The community can help by purchasing jewelry and books at Pearlswithpurpose.org, donating cash or frequent flier miles, and by spreading awareness on Facebook and Instagram.

Bird’s husband, David, is her biggest cheerleader. As travel opens back up in developing countries, he wants her to get back to doing what she does best: teaching women to build self-reliance and self-worth.

“For years, she has given keynote speeches and had the opportunity to sell the jewelry that these women make,” he said. “My wife is amazing and has dedicated her life to helping hundreds of women in several different developing countries.” l

Riverton resident Wendy Bird (left) created the Pearls With Purpose Foundation to provide jewelry-making training for women in developing countries. The women can create an income while building self-reliance. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

Through Pearls With Purpose, women in developing countries gain self-reliance, self-worth and an income that provides opportunities, education and growth. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

of trees. Our lush, mature tree canopy is a defining characteristic of our community and

an asset that city government, leaders and residents actively seek to foster and protect. And these efforts are not just about aesthetics. Trees provide important environmental, health, economic and community benefits to cities like Holladay. This issue of the Holladay Journal devotes a lot of space to trees because they add so much value to our quality of life. Here are just some of the many benefits trees provide our city:

• Environmental Benefits. Trees have a positive impact on the environment and climate change. Trees produce oxygen, absorb pollutants like sulfur dioxide and ozone, and sequester carbon. They mitigate increasing temperatures. They also prevent soil erosion and provide habitat for more diverse urban wildlife.

• Health Benefits. In addition to improving air quality, trees and greenspaces have other beneficial health impacts. Studies show that exposure to trees and natural environments reduce stress and anxiety and improve mental health. In addition, exposure to trees and natural spaces improves immune function. This may be because of phytoncides -- natural compounds produced by trees that have antibacterial and antifungal properties!

• Economic Benefits. Trees have a positive impact on your pocketbook. They increase property values and attract visitors to restaurants and other businesses. Trees provide shade and other temperature moderation, leading to lower energy costs. Trees can also help address storm water costs by absorbing and filtering rainfall, which reduces the risks of floods and the costs of expensive storm water infrastructure.

• Community-building Benefits. Holladay’s parks and green spaces so appealing because of our beautiful trees. Whether its Knudsen Park or City Hall, Holladay’s trees create places to gather, socialize and recreate. They are also a source of community pride and identity, from the history of Holladay Pines Park, to our leafy city logo, to new and exciting artistic and branding opportunities.

Because of their importance to our community, Holladay has found numerous ways to protect and promote our trees. We are fortunate to have an active and engaged Tree Committee made up of committed residents who advise the City Council and staff on tree issues. They also plan great community events, some of which you will read about this month’s Holladay Journal. Among other activities, the Tree Committee has partnered this year with the Holladay Library for a “Tree Talk” series. The Tree Talk on April 8 will discuss Holladay’s Tree Canopy Sustainability Ordinance to protect trees during construction and development of new buildings. Attend to learn more or ask questions of our city staff who are featured speakers! The City Council also recently adopted an ordinance, recommended by the Tree Committee, to provide more shade from trees in parking lots.

By Council Member Matt Durham, District 4

DIGGING DEEP for EARTH DAY and ARBOR DAY

By Wendy Frank. Holladay Tree Committee

As the City of Holladay revels in springtime, an Earth Day Celebration at Howard R. Driggs Elementary on Friday, April 21, at 12:45-1:15 p.m., and an Arbor Day Celebration at Crestview Elementary on Friday, April 28, at 12:45-1:15 p.m., are looming large.

The Holladay Rotary Club, led by Cathy Mullaly, and the City of Holladay Tree Committee are each donating Zelkova and Linden shade trees to both Driggs and Crestview. A TreeUtah representative will deliver a short talk at each celebration.

Crestview‘s PTA President Anderson, and Driggs’s PTA President Gloeckner, are digging deep with their Boards and Faculty to implement robust event agendas. Steadfastly lighting the way are Principal Winn of Crestview and Principal Peters of Driggs.

From tree-focused morning announcements by Safety Patrol students, to expressing what Earth Day means to them through art and written mediums, students at Driggs will have opportunities to appreciate the benefits trees provide to our community, health, and environment. The PTA will display a tree trunk in the library filled with students’ leaf-shaped expressions depicting what they learned about trees. Students will contribute to a mural landscape, and shovel in on April 21st.

During Crestview’s tree-planting celebration, original student poems will be read and tree-naming contest winners announced and awarded prizes. Completing the PTA’s “Celebrate Arbor Day Checklist,” creating a tree mural, engaging in tutorials on poetry-writing, Librarianled book readings, and directed mindfulness sessions will punctuate their month-long tribute---all topped off with cookies for kids.

The Holladay Arts Council and the Holladay Library have invited both schools to display their celebratory artworks at City Hall and the Library throughout May.

Climaxing these tree tributes, the City of Holladay will hold a 420-Tree Giveaway on Saturday, May 6, at 9:00noon just west of City Hall. (See www. holladaychamber.com for details.)

The public is invited to join the Earth Day Celebration at Driggs Elementary, located at 4340 S. 2075 E., and the Arbor Day Celebration at Crestview Elementary, 2100 E. Lincoln Lane. All visitors to the schools are required to check in at the main office prior to joining the event.

Interested in Running for City Council? 2023

Municipal Election

It’s an odd-numbered year which means its once again time for a municipal election cycle! This year there are three Holladay City Council seats up for re-election. Those are:

Council District 2

Council District 4

Council District 5 (each is a four-year term).

DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY SUBMISSION DEADLINE

JUNE 1- 7, 2023 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) 8:00 am – 5:00 p.m. in City Recorder’s Office There is a $35 filing fee.

Candidates must meet the following qualifications:

1. Be a United States citizen;

2. Be a registered voter;

3. Be a resident within the municipality in which the individual seeks to hold elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election.

4. Be a resident of the council district from which the candidate is elected.

Anyone interested in running should get acquainted with the filing deadline and other campaign information found on the city website under Elections. Questions, please contact Stephanie Carlson, City Recorder at 801-527-2454 or by email at scarlson@ cityofholladay.com.

Holladay Library Happenings

Dementia Dialogues®

Wednesday, Apr 5, 12, 19, 26 10:15 am

Education for community members and caregivers. An Overview of Alzheimer’s and related Dementia, Strategies for Effective Communication, Understanding Environment, Promoting Independence, Addressing Challenging Behaviors, and Problem-Solving.

Candy Town

Saturday, Apr 15 10 am

Back by popular demand! Join us for this irresistible, LIVE Candy Town game!

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Rob Dahle, Mayor rdahle@cityofholladay.com

801-580-3056

Ty Brewer, District 1 tbrewer@cityofholladay.com

801-550-8747

Matt Durham, District 2 mdurham@cityofholladay.com

801-999-0781

Paul Fotheringham, District 3 pfotheringham@cityofholladay.com

801-424-3058

Drew Quinn, District 4 dquinn@cityofholladay.com

801-272-6526

Dan Gibbons, District 5 dgibbons@cityofholladay.com

385-215-0622

Gina Chamness, City Manager gchamness@cityofholladay.com

PUBLIC MEETINGS:

City Council – rst and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Planning Commission – rst and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

As always, for a full list of library events please visit our website: events.slcolibrary.org/events

CITY OFFICES: Mon-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • 801-272-9450 4580 South 2300 East • Holladay, UT 84117

Community Development 801-527-3890

Finance 801-527-2455

Justice Court 801-273-9731

Code Enforcement 801-527-3890

NUMBERS TO KNOW: Emergency 911

UPD Dispatch (Police) 801-840-4000

UFA Dispatch (Fire) 801-840-4000

Animal Control 385-468-7387

Garbage/Sanitation 385-468-6325

Holladay Library 801-944-7627

Holladay Lions Club 385-468-1700

Mt. Olympus Sr. Center 385-468-3130

Holladay Post O ce 801-278-9942

Cottonwood Post O ce 801-453-1991

Holliday Water 801-277-2893

Salt Lake City Marathon Saturday, April 22, 2023

The University of Utah Health Salt Lake City Marathon Salt Lake City Marathon is April 22, 2023! It will feature a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, 10K run, 26-mile bike tour, 10K in-line skate, and a 1K kids’ marathon.

The race will come through the City of Holladay starting at 3900 S. and 2300 E. The route will follow 2300 E. southbound to 4600 S. then back northbound on Holladay Blvd to 4500 S. and then west through Highland Drive. At all major intersections there will be an “Intersection Traffic Officer” to facilitate cross-traffic flow whenever there are breaks in runners and safe to do so. The runners should be through Holladay by about 11:30 am.

For a detailed map of the race course, volunteer information and more go to saltlakecitymarathon.com

Salt Lake County Animal Services

In-person Book Buddies is back at Salt Lake County Animal Services. This is a program designed for children under 18 to come read to the cats at Animal Services, where they will get their reading minutes in, and cats will get to socialize! How it works:

1. Come to Salt Lake County Animal Services, 511 W 3900 S, SLC, between 10 AM – 6 PM, Tue-Sat.

2. Children must be accompanied by an adult at ALL times.

3. Bring a book (or 3 to read) Or read one in the cattery “library.”

4. Sign in and sign out on the clipboard in the cattery. This is logged as volunteer time!

The program will help children improve their reading skills AND will help the shelter pets with socialization. Animals find the rhythmic sounds of a voice very soothing. Similar programs at other shelters across the country have seen the benefits the program has to offer.

Questions? Email animalvolunteer@slco.org or visit AdoptUtahPets.org.

Heavy rain may increase flood risk if gutters and inlets are full of snow and debris. If there are leaves or debris covering the catch basin grate, rake them up now. Don’t sweep or blow your leaves into gutters or canals. Also, inspect your home’s rain gutters and downspouts and confirm that they are clear of snow and debris.

Rep. John Curtis, who represents Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, last month visited the City of Holladay, where the thirdterm congressmen took an abbreviated city tour from City Hall, to Knudsen Park, the Holladay Crossroads Zone and Holladay Hills.

The visit was arranged by city leaders as part of an effort to build rapport and court influence in Washington—with the specific hope that Curtis will help the city acquire federal dollars for a planned overhaul of Highland Drive.

The tour began at City Hall, where Curtis and members of his staff met with local officials before setting off through District 1’s Holladay Village Zone and on to the city’s south side for a look at the 6.5-acre Knudsen Park and surrounding developments, a proud example of the municipality’s open space.

The group then drove west to the Holladay Crossroads Zone, where leaders expressed their vision for the multi-modal, mixed-used commercial hub, known as the city’s “gateway.”

Curtis was then brought north to the Holladay Hills development, where leaders discussed the area’s history, future, then posed for photos before heading back to City Hall to conclude the 50 minute tour, a brief but impactful visit, according to city officials.

Rep. John Curtis tours Holladay

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

“I think it’s more important than ever for us to have a close and collegial relationship with [federal representatives]. So that if there’s opportunity for federal funds or to benefit the city, or if there’s an opportunity for us to provide input on important legislation that is taking place at the federal level, this gives us a little bit more of a voice,” said Mayor Robert Dahle.

Curtis, who grew up in the area and attended Skyline High School, is familiar with the Holladay area, and Dahle said the representative was impressed by the state of the city.

“The opportunity to meet face to face and take him around Holladay and give him a little bit of perspective of what’s going on here, and that can only help,” Dahle said.

The specific aim of the visit was to build support for the city’s multi-modal transportation revamp of a 1.4 mile stretch of Highland Drive from Arbor Lane to Van Winkle Expressway.

The project is estimated to cost $3.6 million and would see the installation of a center turning lane along with dedicated bike paths and walking paths, a design that seeks to balance resident preferences identified in the city’s Community Priorities Survey—with emphasis on “active transportation.”

Curtis applauded the city’s long-term approach to the plan and expressed general support for the project without confirming a commitment to endorse it for federal money.

“Rep. Curtis’ comment was that as small government you really should be looking out 15 or 20 years, not what is right right now, but what’s going to be right for the future of your

A Passion to Lift Moms Higher

Robbyn Scribner is a passionate advocate for women’s professional development. Her commitment to empowering women began in 2020 when she co-founded TechMoms to help women raise their game, develop skills, get higher pay and be Mom.

“During my 15-year-long career break, I met many women who found themselves in a panic and had not planned on having a career or hadn’t much work experience,” Robbyn said. “Some found themselves facing a divorce or a partner’s disability, and the financial stability they thought they had was suddenly gone. I wanted to help more women avoid that situation by creating ways for them to support their family.”

Tech-Moms, a non-profit organization that helps women transition into or re-enter a career in tech, empowers moms to create career development opportunities while simultaneously being great mothers and caregivers.

Robbyn's message to students at Tech-Moms is clear: take a chance on yourself. Of the 300+ students who have completed the program, 40% are single moms who are the

primary provider for their family.

“Being a single sole-provider for your kids can be scary,” she said. “When you’re a mom who has been faithfully working to raise your children, suddenly needing to get a job that pays a fair salary is overwhelming, especially if you haven’t developed the skills.”

That’s where Robbyn, Trina Limpert and Mikel Blake combined skills, vision and a firm determination to literally make dreams come true for women who may feel trapped or hopeless.

“I didn't know what else was out there,” said Allison Worthy, a mother of four children and cosmetologist. “I didn't know how I could do something for myself and finally get a job and do something besides being a mom. I had no idea where to turn or what to do.”

Robbyn champions women like Allison to look for new possibilities for themselves and to be successful in both their vital role as mom and caregiver, as well as pursue careers that will support their families financially.

But it doesn’t stop there.

“You have to make company

leaders aware,” Robbyn said. “That’s where we actively encourage employers to invest in diversified women by recognizing the unique set of skills and perspectives women bring to tech roles. When they see that, it’s like magic.”

Thanks to tireless work by Robbyn, Trina and Mikel, organizations such as Comcast have partnered with Tech-Moms, providing cash funding and in-kind support for their technical training program.

“The work Tech-Moms is doing is truly making a difference in the lives of hundreds of families in Utah,” said Deneiva Knight, Ex-

city,” Dahle explained of the congressman’s response. “And that’s what drove our decision making here so he was very supportive of the idea.”

The congressman’s decision of whether or not to recommend the project to the House Appropriations Committee will be revealed in coming weeks.”l

ternal Affairs Director at Comcast. “We wholeheartedly champion that cause.”

Allison and more than 300 Utah women have learned coding, cyber security, and data science from expert tech trainers. What’s more, over 100 companies have jobs for future tech roles, setting the stage for Utah women to make incredible contributions.

“During March’s National Women’s History Month, which honors women who quietly and profoundly influence society, culture, families, and communities, we celebrate Robbyn’s ongoing commit-

ment to help Utah women succeed in tech by increasing access to resources they need for fulfilling careers in this industry,” said Knight.

“More than ever, the opportunities are here in front of us,” said Robbyn. “To every woman, we say, ‘Take a chance on yourself’ because they deserve it, their families deserve it, and companies will benefit greatly.”

#TechMoms #NationalWomensHistoryMonth #RobbynScribner #WomenInTech #EmpoweringWomen #CareerDevelopment #Coding #CyberSecurity #DataScience #UtahWomen #Comcast l

Part of the visit’s aim was to build support of the city’s multi-modal transportation revamp of a 1.4 mile stretch of Highland Drive from Arbor Lane to Van Winkle Expressway. (City Journals)

Choreographer Louisa Killian to be honored at Holladay Reflections in Dance Concert

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Holladay dance artist Louisa Killian’s multifaceted interests and talents as a modern dancer, choreographer, creative writer, professional drummer, dance advocate and educator have merged into a rich synthesis of artistic ability increasing her sphere of admiration to the level of becoming one of the most wellknown and respected dance artists in the area.

Under the directorship of Holladay Arts Councilmember Ginger Gunn, Killian was selected by the arts council as Holladay Dance Artist for 2023 for her outstanding professional work as a choreographer, dancer and dance educator.

Entering college, Killian had three main interests: non-competitive dance, drumming and creative writing. She completed a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University-Idaho and then continued on with her education completing a master’s degree in Modern Dance from the University of Utah where she received the L. Scott Marsh Mentorship Award.

Killian toured the United States twice with Dance Alliance BYU-Idaho Dance Troop. She has also performed with the University of Utah Performing Dance Company, The Dance Collaborative and Aspire Modern Dance Company.

As an adjunct professor at both BYU and Snow College, Killian taught beginning ballet classes, beginning through advanced modern dance technique, and introductory classes in dance composition and choreography. She has taught dance workshops throughout the United States including New York, Texas, Utah, Idaho and the New England area. Currently, she is a faculty member at the Dance Box Studio located in Holladay serving in the role of dance instructor and choreographer.

Killian sees her main goal at the Dance Box Studio as an opportunity to create smart and joyful dancers who can be creative. The focus of her path to reach her goal is to choreograph dances that will build beautiful individuals.

According to Killian every one can learn to dance. Whether a person’s interest in learning to dance is for enjoyment or to aspire to the level of a professional dancer, Killian sees it as a matter of identifying a dance style of interest, willingness to learn, hard work and persistence.

“For those who want to become professional dancers, you need to be gracious and kind to yourself,” Killian said. “As dancers we put a lot of pressure on our minds and our bodies due to the element of being judged. If you reach your dreams and you’re not a healthy person, it’s not going to be worth it. When pursuing your dreams work hard but be kind to yourself. Dancers who succeed keep auditioning, and they never give up. They realize

Dance artist Louisa Killian’s multifaceted interests and talents as a modern dancer, choreographer, creative writer, professional drummer, dance advocate and educator have merged into a rich synthesis of artistic ability increasing her sphere of admiration to the level of becoming one of the most well-known and respected dance artists in the area. (Photo credit Louisa Killian)

rejection is part of the world.”

Five years ago, arts councilmember Gunn presented a vision statement to the Holladay Arts councilmembers detailing the creation of a Holladay Reflections in Dance Concert. The foundation of her idea was to provide a noncompetitive dance concert celebrating the artistic dance community in Holladay. The idea for the dance concert was readily accepted by the council, and it was decided that a local dance artist would be honored the night of the dance performance for outstanding contributions in dance.

“The Reflections in Dance Concert is a wonderful showcase for our community to see the astonishing growth and development of our dancers in the Holladay area,” Gunn said. “Also, it provides an opportunity to recognize a dance professional who has made a significant difference in the lives of dancers. This year, we will be honoring Louisa Killian for her outstanding work in choreography and dance instruction.”

The theme for this year’s dance concert is “Inclusion.” Killian’s students will perform a dance choreographed by Killian interpreting the importance of embracing inclusion and being valued as individuals.

The Holladay Reflections in Dance Concert will be held Monday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in the Olympus Junior High School auditorium, 2217 E. Murray-Holladay Road.

Dance concert participants will include: Olympus Jr. High, Wasatch Jr. High, Bonneville Jr. High, Cottonwood High School, Silhouette Studio, Elite Studio, Utah Dance Center, Artist Endeavors and The Dance Box.

Holladay Reflections in Dance Concert admission is free of charge. l

The Holladay Reflections in Dance Concert will be held Monday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in the Olympus Junior High School auditorium. The theme for this year’s dance concert is “Inclusion.” Louisa Killian’s students will perform a dance choreographed by Killian interpreting the importance of embracing inclusion and being valued as individuals. (Photo credit Louisa Killian)

For: 3D mammograms that detect signs of breast cancer.

By:

experts trained in early detection.

Mammograms are vitally important in detecting breast cancer and saving women’s lives. At Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, we take great pride in offering advanced technologies like 3D mammograms in a comfortable environment run by caring, well-trained specialists. So whether you have a family history of breast cancer or simply want the peace of mind that early detection provides, you can rely on our personalized treatment and expert services, as well as our easy, convenient online booking.

That's mammography care FOR PATIENTS, BY DOCTORS.

Book an appointment at SaltLakeMammo.com or call 801-350-4451

WOMEN'S HEALTH AT SaltLakeMammo.com

Local gardening experts share how to prepare for the gardening season ahead

The warmer, longer days of spring have arrived, and it’s time to take steps to prepare for the gardening season ahead. To help out, local gardening experts in the Millcreek and Holladay areas were asked to share their garden expertise with the City Journals.

LaRene Bautner, owner and operator of Millcreek Garden Center, shares decades of gardening experience on garden preparation and a useful timeline of what to plant and when to plant it. Paul Taylor, owner of Paul’s Professional Sprinklers, provides basic insight on spring home sprinkler system maintenance. Holladay resident Amy Talbot offers 25 years of seed starting growing tips and ideas for successful companion planting and container gardening.

Yard cleanup, organization and planning

Millcreek Gardens, winner of the prestigious Best of State Award 2022, is a full garden service center in the Millcreek area. They offer a collection of tools, indoor and outdoor plants, special selections of vegetable starts, trees, and annuals and perennials. Before planting, Bautner recommends yard planning and organization and then beginning yard cleanup a piece at a time.

Making sure seasonal gardening tools and equipment are in good working condition is one of the first steps to insure a more stress-free and productive working environment this spring. Regular lawn mower and tiller maintenance in addition to sharpening and sanitizing tools will go a long way in improving the health of your grass and garden. In order for the grass and garden beds to breathe, clearing leftover fall debris such as leaves and sticks needs to be done as soon as the ground is fairly dry. Cutting back shrubs, perennials and removing any dead growth should be done before the active growing season begins. Also, soil can be tested in the spring to identify whether plant nutrients are deficient and, if so, what amounts are needed for maximum growth. Utah State University Analytical Laboratories provides testing and analysis services for soil gardening and landscaping.

This is the time of year to make decisions about where to plant the perennials and annuals, ground covers, vegetable starts, shrubs and fruit trees.

“Planning is critical, a person needs to decide how they are going to use different areas in the yard,” Bautner said. “For example, where is the play area going to be. Asking questions like, ‘Is this a good place for a vegetable garden?’ and ‘What do I want to plant in the vegetable garden?’”

Bautner suggests planning around the following planting time line for success and an abundant harvest keeping in mind everything doesn’t have to be planted all at once.

Toward the end of March, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, brussels sprouts, peas and beets can be plant-

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

ed and are known for being able to tolerate a light frost, but it is suggested keeping a cover available for a sudden low dip in temperature. In April, cold weather flowers such as pansies, snap dragons, dusty miller and dianthus can be planted. Usually by around May 8, depending on the last frost, it is safe to plant most vegetables and flowers that have been hardened off and are ready for outdoor planting.

“We know that a beautiful garden will make your life better,” Bautner said. “Our goal at Millcreek Gardens is to be a gardening resource for the community. We know that a beautiful garden enhances life making it better.”

Taylor, owner of Paul’s Professional Sprinklers, has been maintaining and repairing home sprinkler systems for 21 years. In a recent conversation, Taylor shared tips that have worked well for him when starting up a home sprinkler system after being winterized.

“I’ve started up thousands of sprinkler systems over the years and this method has worked well for me,” Taylor said. “The method has been reliable in making sure I haven’t overlooked anything.”

Basic steps in starting up a home sprinkler system after winterizing

Check your backflow valves to make sure they are closed and the backflow handles are opened all of the way. Also, go around to each valve box and close any valves or drain valves that were opened in the fall.

After making sure everything is closed, turn the water on and listen for the meter to stop turning. Walk around the yard to make sure you don’t see any flooding. Go through each station one by one and look at the valves in the box for any leaks. Walk down the path of the heads to make sure there aren’t any broken pipes and that the heads are in good repair and spraying in the right direction. If a valve pipe or head is broken shut the station off immediately and repair it so it doesn’t flood your yard or worse your basement. Set the sprinkler timer.

Seed starting 101, companion planting and container gardening

According to gardening expert Talbot there are many advantages to starting garden seeds indoors including variety of plants available, providing a longer growing season and cost.

“Starting seeds indoors allows you to grow a wider range of plants to suit your taste,” Talbot said. “Also, some plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and flowers require a longer growing season than we have for our growing zone (zone 6). Cost is a factor as well. Seeds are much less expensive than buying young transplants. Start seeds indoors four to eight weeks before the last frost. You can look online by zip code what the average date for the last frost is. Don’t put your plants out if the temperature is going to drop below 50 degrees.”

Companion planting and trap cropping can be effective ways to increase crop production and to deter pests by pulling the pests

away from garden plants, Talbot said. Plants with known positive relationships with each other should be planted close, within a few rows of each other. The scent of herbs such as thyme and lavender will help to repel pests and will attract bees for needed pollination. Nasturtiums are attractive to aphids.

Talbot suggests container gardening for those living in apartments or condominiums.

“Make sure if you’re container gardening the pots you’re using are large enough to prevent the plants from becoming root bound,” Talbot said. “Something that is plastic, terra cotta, has good soil and water drainage should work just fine to grow a number of plants including potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. Wasatch Community Garden’s spring plant sale is May 13 this year. This is a perfect place to find unique and unusual vegetable plant starts whether your container gardening or garden planting.”

There are many seed and gardening resources that can be valuable in preparing for the gardening months ahead:

Wasatch Community Gardens www. wasatchgardens.org/

Millcreek Gardens www.millcreekgardens.com/

Johnny Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com

Paul’s Sprinklers 801-577-9112

Utah State University Gardening Extension www.extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden

Millcreek Gardens, winner of the prestigious Best of State Award 2022, is a full garden service center in the Millcreek area. The garden center offers a collection of tools, indoor and outdoor plants, special selections of vegetable starts, and annuals and perennials. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Gardening expert Amy Talbot shared an informative presentation on Seed Starting 101 at the Holladay County Library March 4. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

SwimKids and Dive Utah offer swim lessons, scuba adventures and mermaid moments

With warmer weather just around the corner, kids water safety classes, scuba diving trips and underwater mermaid moments are a few ways to keep the entire family safe, cool, active and entertained.

Nestled in the heart of Holladay are two businesses offering all this. Formerly the Matterhorn swim and ski school in the 1960s, Dive Utah has been offering scuba diving lessons since they purchased the building at 4679 S. 2225 East in the mid 1980s. SwimKids bought the building in the 1990s. Currently, Dive Utah leases a portion of the building and the indoor swimming pool from SwimKids.

SwimKids provides swim safe lessons to approximately 800 students six days a week at their Holladay location. During the summer swim season, SwimKids will be at the peak of swim lesson capacity with an enrollment of 1,500 kids assigned to 40 swim instructors.

At SwimKids, babies and toddlers quickly learn water survival skills. Parent-tot private lessons begin as early as 3 months of age. The primary focus of the lessons is for kids to become comfortable in the water and to begin muscle memory development so if a child ever experienced a water emergency situation muscle memory would kick in and the child would be able to use breath control and float on their back until they were safe. Keep Them Safe private lessons begin at 2 years of age or older. The lessons provide training on how to scoop and kick to find the swimming pool wall. Another foundational skill taught in this class is to swim, turn, float, breathe and turn again. Group lessons for kids that are already considered swim safe learn to navigate the pool, to engage with friends in the water and learn foundational swimming strokes.

Megan Catmull, the SwimKids general manager at the Holladay location, said a lot of drownings occur within a couple of feet of a swimming pool wall.

“Most drownings happen before the age of 5 or 6 years old. We focus on our Keep Them Safe lessons as early as 2 years old and work to build safe swimming skills,” Catmull said. “We have 2 year olds that can swim, float to breathe, turn, and swim again across the entire pool completely on their own and be safe. No one is ever drown proof, but learning swim safe skills, kids know what to do if they ever fall into the water mostly due to the muscle memory they have developed with the Swim and Float method. If necessary, kids could safely float on their back for at least 60 minutes.”

Many school-age children don’t know how to swim due to the fact lessons are out of their family’s price range. SwimKids offers specialty discount and scholarship swimming programs for those in need.

“SwimKids doesn’t view saving lives as a luxury,” Catmull said. “All kids should be able to be swim safe and participate in private or group lessons. We have developed several

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

options for parents to help with the financial aspect of the lessons. For example, Fast Tract training and Turtle Club lessons provide discounted options. Also, we offer swim lesson scholarships. We look at every case where parents are in financial need and see what we can do to make sure if parents want these lessons their kids have access to them.”

As soon as water safety skills are firmly in place, then it’s time to have fun in the water. Dive Utah, a full-service dive shop, offers scuba diving classes and equipment rentals and sales. Dave Mohowski, Dive Utah owner and Master Dive Instructor, has been offering scuba certification classes for over a decade.

“Dive Utah currently has 15 dive instructors and offers evening and weekend diving classes,” Mohowski said. “We complete over 1,000 scuba diving certifications a year including onsite and at Brigham Young University where we have been an off-campus scuba certification provider for the last 10 years. Entry level classes are available up to instructor level.”

Scuba diving classes begin with two to four sessions at the onsite swimming pool. For most people that is enough to feel comfortable breathing with scuba gear under water and to learn foundational scuba skills. Once comfortable with basic skills the lessons continue at the Homestead crater in Midway. The crater is a geothermal hot spring in a 55-foot limestone dome. Only 45 minutes away, the crater offers 94-degree water temperature for enjoyable swimming and diving. At the crater, additional scuba diving skills are taught to complete the international, lifetime certification.

Dive Utah also offers fun dives, some local weekend excursions and four big warm water trips a year.

“Most clients that come through our door are learning to dive because they are going on a trip or cruise,” Mohowski said. “Eight and 9 year olds can participate in scuba skills and

Above: At SwimKids, babies and toddlers quickly learn water survival skills. Parent-tot private lessons begin as early as 3 months of age. (Photo credit Megan Catmull)

Below: “Mermaid certification is inclusive. Every body type, every ability level and every gender is welcome,” instructor Ani Ferguson said. “If you have any interest in power, freedom and exploring the underwater world in a quiet, beautiful way, this is a must try activity.” (Photo credit Ani Ferguson)

are welcome to try snorkeling in our pool. Kids who are 10 through 14 can certify but have a few limitations as far as depth and diving supervision. Kids can receive a regular open water diving certification at age 15 with a diving maximum depth of 60 feet and the presence of a buddy diver.”

Scuba diving has something for everyone.

“It’s really something the whole family can do,” Mohowski said. “Snorkeling is the gateway drug that leads to scuba. Once kids are comfortable in the water around ages 3 to 5, they can start snorkeling and that’s something the whole family can do together while at a warm water vacation destination. When the kids turn 10, the whole family can scuba certify.”

Dive Master, certified PADI Mermaid Instructor and underwater performer Ani Ferguson offers beginning to advanced mermaid classes as well as mermaid instructor certification at Dive Utah. Beginning at age 6 anyone who can pass the medical questions can begin Discover Mermaid classes and at age 8 kids can receive Basic Mermaid certification. In the full mermaid program, mermaids are trained in free diver techniques. The certification requires a mermaid to rescue a person from a 15-foot depth and tow them to a float or to the side of a pool. Advanced certified mermaids do advance rescue in open water up to a depth of 15 feet.

“Mermaid certification requires endurance, strength and a lot of practice,” Ferguson said. “A mermaid needs to be fast and

efficient to get to a person in need of help. I trained 51 mermaids at all levels of certification last year which included kids and adults. There is a baseline swim skills test that you have to be able to complete to mermaid certify which includes being able to swim the length of the pool down and back and float for two minutes on your back.”

Basic mermaid classes provide instruction on breathing technique management, how to put on and float in mermaid gear, getting in and out of a mermaid tail quickly and safely, and learning to undulate the body in a smooth, streamline dolphin kick.

“Mermaid certification is inclusive. Every body type, every ability level and every gender is welcome,” Ferguson said. “If you have any interest in power, freedom and exploring the underwater world in a quiet, beautiful way, this is a must try activity.

I’ve trained mermaids from age 6 to age 80. We offer specialty celebrations where we provide a basic mermaid class that can be completed in one night. One classroom session and two hours of foundational mermaid training in the pool is all that is required to complete Basic Mermaid certification. ”

For those who would like to learn more about SwimKids, Utah Dive or PADI Mermaids, located at 4679 S. 2225 East in Holladay, contact: SwimKids, 801-691-7946, swimkidsutah.com/locations/holladay/; Dive Utah Holladay, 801-277-3483, www.diveutah. com/; and Ani Ferguson, 385-429-2782, www. aqua-native.com l

Keep Them Safe private lessons at SwimKids begin at 2 years of age or older. The lessons include training on how to swim, turn, float, breathe and turn again. (Photo credit Megan Catmull)

Photos by Travis Barton

Abby Topham concludes career at Olympus having been a three-year starter and consistently one of the team’s leading scorers.

Sophomore Joss Baker was the team’s leading scorer with almost 13 per game.

You may choose a burial plot, urn garden, scattering gardens, columbarium niche, or memory wall at our on-site crematory. Whether your family would like a direct cremation without a ceremony or would like to enlist the help of our funeral planners for a memorial ceremony, we are here to help. Choose traditional funeral services or life celebrations to honor the life of your loved one.

As you plan the end-of-life services, there are dozens of decisions to make during an emotional time. LET OUR TEAM HELP YOU choose urns, vaults, and memorials. We can also help with flower arrangements, catering, and grief resources.

Contemporary Location Available Now in the Heart of Holladay Village!

Contemporary Location Available Now in the Heart of Holladay Village!

Contemporary Location Available Now in the Heart of Holladay Village!

Perfect for Entrepreneurial Ventures: Social Media, Ad and Design Studio Real Estate, Beauty, etc. Quiet Workspace Beautiful Interior, Lots of light (Just South of Harmons)

Perfect for Entrepreneurial Ventures: Social Media, Ad and Design Studio Real Estate, Beauty, etc. Quiet Workspace Beautiful Interior, Lots of light (Just South of Harmons)

Perfect for Entrepreneurial Ventures: Social Media, Ad and Design Studio Real Estate, Beauty, etc. Quiet Workspace Beautiful Interior, Lots of light (Just South of Harmons)

Flexible Agreement

Flexible Agreement

Flexible Agreement

Contact for an appointment 801-918-0334

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Contact for an appointment 801-918-0334

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Contact for an appointment 801-918-0334

“When you’re depressed you’re always fighting to live… to survive the next day. NeuroStar made such a difference… all of a sudden I felt empowered, I felt strong, I felt like I wasn’t a victim anymore.” ~DEBBIE

NeuroStar is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression. With NeuroStar, you can live on your terms.

First, robots came for assembly line workers. Then they came for agricultural and warehouse jobs. Then a cyborg assassin time-traveled from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor. What will artificial intelligence target next?

If you ask our publisher, journalism is on the robotic chopping block. He recently sat down with our editorial team and told us we’d better get our act together or AI will certainly replace us within five years.

It’s the plot of every sci-fi movie. “Let’s merge robotic efficiency and human connection to create a utopian workplace.” But then, the robots download a virus and turn into killing machines. It doesn’t end well for humanity.

But let’s back up a bit. When encyclopedias were created in the 1700s, people were astonished to have so much information at their fingertips. What’s an encyclopedia you ask? Thanks for asking, young whippersnapper.

Encyclopedias are books bound in fake leather that weigh the equivalent of a baby hippo. They were like printed versions of Wikipedia that became outdated as soon as they were purchased. They were used for footstools and sometimes for murder weapons.

Rage Against the Machine

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

came chatbots, or virtual assistants, like Siri, who learned to answer our stupid questions with a bit of sass.

Now, journalists are encouraged to use AI to produce copy. ChatGPT launched in November and millions of people have tried it out, creating everything from poetry to fake news. It’s like a Google search on steroids.

In fact, it’s so good at creating fake news, that the CNET media website published stories for months before the articles were discovered to be riddled with errors, misinformation and plagiarized material. Oops.

Following my publisher’s orders, I typed a few questions into ChatGPT and immediately ran into a virtual brick wall.

“How many people are living on Earth?” I asked. ChatGPT replied 7.9 billion but added its data ended in September 2021. I guess anyone born after that date doesn’t count.

by emotionless robots like Tucker Carlson?

Sometimes, the “journalism” churned out by AI is racist, offensive and inappropriate because, and here’s the issue, humans create code for these bots. Fallible, stupid humans who unintentionally create programming that mimics their own limiting beliefs.

In These Times writer Hamilton Nolan said, “Journalism is the product of a human mind. If something did not come from a human mind, it is not journalism.”

He said journalism requires accountability. The writer should be able to explain the origins and sources of any story. Can AI do that? Will robots request interviews from other robots? When questioned, will AI fall to pieces like HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey after being given contradictory orders: lie to the crew but be completely truthful. Pretty much like anything on Twitter.

They were also used for rampant plagiarism. Teachers often received essays copied straight from Encyclopedia Britannica.

As technology advanced, plagiarism got easier with the ability to copy-andpaste from any website; more efficient and much harder to detect. Then along

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I asked it to tell me a joke. ChatGPT explained it didn’t have a sense of humor or emotions and didn’t understand jokes. So it could be a Utah legislator.

So, will AI adapt to create personality, voice, humor and journalistic ethics or will future generations get used to reading pedantic and pretentious articles written

I’m mixing movie metaphors, but if Sarah Connor’s interactions with the Terminator taught us anything, it’s that we control our own destiny. Can we unite robotic efficiency and humanity? The fate of journalism could hang in the balance.

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