Holladay Journal | December 2022

Wasatch

Front Waste and Recycling District is slated to increase its fee rates on service members, in cluding most households in Holladay, by an additional $2.50 per home per month, bringing the annual fee from $204 to $234.

The additional revenue is meant to cover increased costs of maintenance, fuel and disposal fees, with a big chunk to be used to boost wages to be market competitive.

The district hopes that by lifting salaries it can attract new drivers specifically, which has proven difficult in the last half decade with a tightening labor market that led to a nationwide driver shortage beginning in 2019.

“This isn’t just us. Salt Lake City struggles to get their drivers for garbage and recycling collection, and Draper, and the private haulers (like) Ace and Republic. We’re all strug gling and competing with construction markets, long haul drivers. You name it,” said Pam Roberts, general manager of Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District, who explained that CDL drivers are especially hard to come by.

“We’re all competing with one another to try to keep up and offer a good salary and benefit package that we can attract and retain them,” Roberts said.

The district is currently six drivers short of its 62 driver allocation, which puts extra stress on its CDL drivers to meet client needs through overtime work.

In an attempt to attract and retain drivers, the district hired compensation consultants to conduct salary market anal ysis in 2019 and again in 2022. Roberts says the fee increase will help the district offer more market competitive salaries and rebuild its team.

The first Asian-American woman elected to the Utah State Legislature, Sen. Jani Iwamoto, has decided to retire. Iwamoto, rep resenting the Salt Lake Valley eastside suburbs of Murray, Holladay, Millcreek, and Salt Lake City’s Sugar House borough, has served in the Utah Senate since 2015.

“I’ve been in public office for 12 years and have always considered it a full-time job. However, although bittersweet, I felt that now it was best to focus on my family—and specif ically my elderly mother,” Iwamoto said.

During her term, she was elected Assistant Minority Whip by the Democrats in the Utah Senate. Before her election to the legislature, she served on the Salt Lake County Council.

“When my public service began with my election to the Salt Lake County Council in 2008, then-County Councilmember Randy Horiuchi asked, ‘Don’t you just love it?’ I re member saying that filling the post was a huge responsibility, and that I was, quite frankly, ter rified,” Iwamoto said.

Iwamoto passed over 26 bills, including funding the Pediatric Trauma Network and creating the American Indian-Alaska Native Health Office.

“I have been privileged to work with many great stakeholders in this important realm on improving Utah’s water conservation and resiliency. A major policy that I sponsored was water banking.

“Additionally, I have worked on signifi cant law enforcement policy, including legisla tion I recently passed, which created minimum standards for police misconduct and report ing. I recently received the Executive Award of Merit from Utah’s Department of Public Safety for my work on multiple pieces of leg islation on police reform and issues of public safety,” Iwamoto said.

Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., appointed her to serve on the Central Utah Water Conservancy

Sen. Jani Iwamoto retires from Senate

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

District Board of Trustees and the Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Committee. In addition, she presently serves on the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee.

“I have been fortunate to be successful in passing most of my legislation during general sessions. Outside of sessions, I work hard to engage with stakeholders pertinent to the legis lation I am working on. During the last general session, I was fortunate that all 12 of my bills passed, along with the appropriations I spon sored. I also was the floor sponsor on many bills as well. However, there are some policies, such as the Pediatric Trauma Network, that will need further funding. In that regard, I will continue advocating,” Iwamoto said.

Iwamoto says she will miss working with fellow legislators from both parties and those who worked behind the scenes.

“There are so many great memories from serving in the legislature. I enjoyed the chance to work alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and working to come together on

important issues. It also was great to work with our often-unrecognized Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, who have so many incredible professionals that help us form policy.

“Most importantly, I will remember en gaging with the many constituents I have had the pleasure to meet during my time in the leg islature and on the county council,” Iwamoto said.

As her term expires in January, Iwamo to does have concerns for not just the state of Utah but the nation.

“A vast majority of the legislation we pass is supported by all sides and is relatively non-controversial. However, I do have con cerns with increased divisions across our state and country, which can make it difficult to come together and find solutions. Civility and

humanity are so important, especially when we don’t agree,” Iwamoto said.

Although she is retiring from the state leg islature, she will continue to work on causes most dear to her.

“After my term is finished, I plan to con tinue staying engaged in many important is sues close to my heart. One is campus safety, as I have sponsored multiple related bills on this issue. Recently, I became a member of the Board of Directors of the Lauren McCluskey Foundation. I also will continue my involve ment in the new vision for a revitalized Japan town in Salt Lake, and other issues related to our communities of color. Locally, I am also continuing being on the Board of Trustees for Primary Children’s Hospital,” Iwamoto said. l

HOLLADAY TEAM

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Sen. Jani Iwamoto (center right) and other legislators speak to second-graders. (Photo courtesy of Jani Iwamoto)

Sen. Jani Iwamoto. (Photo courtesy Utah State Legislature)

Artist of the Month Jim McGee challenges his students to find inspiration through observation

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Artist of the Month Jim McGee encour ages the students he teaches to believe in themselves and to use art as a vehicle for self-expression. As an instructor at Workshop SLC to teaching students at Juan Diego Catholic High School and the Reid School, McGee challenges his students to find inspiration through quiet observation and an inquisitive mind.

McGee realized he wanted to excel as an artist from the moment he received his undergraduate degree at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He continual ly pushed himself to do freelance illustra tions. At the age of 23 McGee won repre sentation as an accomplished artist by an art gallery in Philadelphia.

“When I paint, I’m searching for form created by light and shadow,” McGee said. “I’m most interested in the process of painting and experiencing the interac tive process versus just making a record of something. When I approach the canvas, I like to have one foot in the abstract world but also one foot in the representational world. I feel if I’m being too literal with the visual facts, the painting loses its ener gy and life.”

Inspired by the urban scenes of artist Edward Hopper, McGee spent many hours sketching and painting in Philadelphia.

“I was inspired by the urban scenes of Hopper,” McGee said. “I would go to the Italian market frequently and take out my sketch book and begin to sketch. The whole environment was full of energy and life.”

Having achieved success as a gallery artist, McGee applied and was accepted into the MFA program at the University of Utah and relocated to Utah to complete his graduate degree. As a teaching assistant in the Department of Art at the University of Utah, McGee discovered his passion for teaching.

“Teaching art is a large part of my identity,” McGee said. “My students in spire me every day to create. They motivate me to keep my own artistic skills sharp. If a person is able to step up to the easel every day and create, that’s artistic success.”

After completing his graduate degree, McGee began teaching at Juan Diego Cath olic High School where he taught ceramics and served as the Art Department Chair man and Director of Fine Arts. He then accepted a position as a painting instructor at Workshop SLC, an art studio in the Salt Lake Valley which hosts influential artists.

“At first teaching painting to adults and being around visiting artists from all over the world was somewhat daunting, but it has turned out to be an incredible expe rience. I have had the opportunity to teach adults to paint but also to take workshops

from many of the incredible artists that I admire,” McGee said.

McGee also teaches art part-time at the Reid School, a local private school in Salt Lake.

“Right now, at the Reid School I’m teaching my second-graders observational drawings,” McGee said. “They are learning to observe and what it means to look close ly at something. Observation is a great life skill that I think is way undervalued.”

Recently, McGee participated in the Plein Air Holladay art competition and received the People’s Choice award. He placed third in the Professional Artist cat egory.

“For the past couple of years, I’ve been busy with private and public art com missions which have included landscape and portraits,” McGee said. “I feel like I’m getting dialed into my painting again and reenergized. I want to exhibit more and show my work more on the gallery scene. In January, I’m looking toward opening my own art school studio for adults and chil dren. As Picasso has said, ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain one once we’ve grown old.’ My vision is to provide an art school that will meet stu dents where they’re at.”

McGee’s artwork will be on display through the months of December and Janu ary at Holladay City Hall.

If you would like to nominate a Hol laday resident for Artist of the Month visit www.holladayarts.org/suggest-an-artist. l

When painting, Jim McGee searches for form created by light and shadow. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

In the Plein Air Holladay professional artist competition category, Jim McGee received third place for his painting of “The Fox Shop.” (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

A night of tricks and treats and community at Holladay’s Spook Lot

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Spooky goblins, spine-chilling skeletons and beau tiful princesses held out bags and plastic pumpkins to receive prepackaged treats as they visited festive booths at Holladay City Hall Oct. 27 for Spook Lot, an annual spooktacular community event filled with games, face painting, tricks and treats and more.

Holladay Spook Lot is an annual Halloween event sponsored by Holladay City, Holladay Youth Council, and the Unified Police Department Holladay Precinct. Stephanie Carlson, Holladay City recorder and Drew Quinn, Holladay City councilmember, serve as advi sors to the Youth Council to plan and organize council events during the year.

According to Carlson, Holladay Spook Lot was originally created by the Holladay Youth Council and is the largest event they sponsor all year and is a way to gather the community together for a fun and safe Hal loween event. The youth council starts organizing the event in September and are responsible for setting up as well as running the booths.

“Together as a committee we organize the event, select a date and the games to be included at Spook Lot, and then the youth take responsibility for running most of the event,” Carlson said. “This year, the youth coun cil organized a raffle for the event and visited business es to collect donations. Face painting is something new the council girls organized this year, and it has really been a huge hit.”

A playlist of Halloween music filled the atmo sphere as youth council members welcomed hundreds of children to their booths, which included pumpkin bowling, a straw maze and a fishing pole and spider web game. Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle, dressed as Dr. Seuss, once again this year ran a booth and served up a helping of fake “kitty litter” to those brave enough to

(Right) Holladay Youth Council member Claire Chandler applies finishing kitty face brush strokes to spider bride, Destiny Williams. (Col lette Hayes/City Journals)

Unified Police Department’s Deputy Dog greets Spook Lot partici pants with a dance and a high-five. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Winnie the Pooh, Annika, enjoys dressing up in costume and has her honey bucket ready to receive treats. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle, dressed as Dr. Seuss, once again this year served up a helping of fake “kitty litter” to those brave enough to try the treat. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

(Above) Fishing pond participants hooked prizes and treats with each cast of their fishing poles. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

try the treat.

“We’ve had a wonderful turn out this year, and I’m really happy with the Hol laday Youth Council and all of their hard work,” Carlson said. “Each year we usual ly have between 300 to 500 people attend. It’s community building to see the youth of Holladay so involved with the children at Spook Lot. We’re always concerned about the weather, but this year it has been pret ty warm and nice. Also, it’s great to have the Unified Police Department Holladay Precinct and Unified Fire Authority Station 104 show their support and come out to the event and participate with us.”

According to Quinn, Holladay Youth Council members learn to serve and sup port their community, experience firsthand how local government works and develop leadership skill in organizing and leading community events. The council is open to all Holladay youth grades nine through 12. Each year, 20 to 25 applicants are accepted to serve.

“Holladay Youth Council members learn about local city government,” Quinn said. “Last year, Judge Chin from the Hol laday Justice Court came in to speak to the council. Also, the council participates in a service project in December as well as oth er service projects throughout the year. We encourage the youth of Holladay to fill out an application and serve on the council. In the spring, applications will be available online and at the Holladay City reception desk.”

For more information about applying for and participating on the Holladay Youth Council call or email Stephanie Carlson at 801-527-2454 or email scarlson@cityof holladay.com. l

Richard Paul Evans’ latest novel reflects the true meaning of the holiday season

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

By the time Richard Paul Evans was 21, he had lived in over 12 places. Leaving California to move to his grandmother’s abandoned home when he was 9 years old was a traumatic event in Evans’ life. In his book, “A Christmas Memory,” Evans takes a step back in time and reflects on the challenges of beginning life in Utah. When things seem to be at their worst, being bul lied at his new school and the unraveling of his home life and family relationships, Evans meets an elderly neighbor and his dog Gollum who quickly become a beacon of light and hope in a world where Evans feels he has nothing left to lose.

The New York Times bestselling au thor has called Utah home for the last sev eral years. He attended Cottonwood High School and is raising his family in the Hol laday area. While living here, Evans has kept a watchful eye over the abused, aban doned and neglected children of Utah by providing funds to build a safe haven for those children in need of love, protection and shelter. The Christmas Box House, named after Evans first book, “The Christ mas Box,” has provided shelter for over 136,000 children in need during the last two decades. In its infancy the Christmas Box House struggled to find community support and secure funding. After the sale of “The Christmas Box,” Evans came for ward with personal funding to take on the responsibility of trying to provide a safe place for those children in need.

“I used most of the money I received from the sale of my first book, ‘The Christ mas Box’ to fund building the Christmas Box House,” Evans said. “After the book funds were gone, I began taking out per sonal loans to cover the cost which about bankrupted us, and there was no guarantee there would be another bestselling book. I was continually being advised to shut the project down. During this time, I had two really cool experiences and because of these experiences, I decided, if the ship is going down, I’m going with it.”

Evans has more than 35 million copies of his books in print worldwide translated into more than 24 languages. His most re cent Christmas novel, “A Christmas Mem ory” is a heartfelt story about forgiveness, the power of hope and the true meaning of the holiday season.

“The first of December of last year, I came down with pneumonia. I have nev er been that sick in my life,” he said. “I stopped eating, and then I caught Covid on top of all of that. At the same time my friend had what I had and died. He was the same age as I was. I started think ing, I might not make it through this. My wife Keri was terrified. During all of this,

a book idea started coming to me. I was literally on my stomach starting to scrawl this book down on paper. I was so foggy headed at the time; I thought it probably was all pretty awful. Then in January, I fi nally began to get better, and I went back and read it and realized this was the most beautiful thing I had ever written. When I wrote the book, I couldn’t get through it without crying, because I deeply feel for the little boy and everything he had been through. The book is similar to a memoir. Most of it is based on my life. It is my absolute favorite book I’ve written since ‘The Christmas Box.’ It’s definitely a spe cial book.”

Evans first feature film based on his book “The Noel Diary” will be released in November. Netflix gave “The Noel Diary” their prime opening on Thanksgiving Day. The film is directed by Academy Award nominee writer and director Charles Shyer and stars Justin Harley in the lead role as Jake Turner.

“My first feature film based on my book ‘The Noel Diary’ is coming up this year,” Evans said. “I’ve had seven televi sion movies produced based on my books, but this is my first feature film. My book ‘The Christmas Memory’ comes out on Nov. 22 and two days later on Thanksgiv ing Day, ‘The Noel Diary’ will be released on Netflix. I’m very excited.”

According to Evans, he writes when he is in the mood and has an approaching deadline. At times he will go to a hotel where there are no distractions and will write for 18 hours a day. He usually has food brought in and doesn’t go anywhere or see anyone due to the fact when creat ing a fictional universe, it is difficult when writing to leave the universe and then re turn. When writing one of his Michael Vey novels, he was struggling with an Amazon jungle scene. From the hotel where he was staying, Evans called and booked a flight to the Amazon and went to the jungle. He got what he needed, and it changed the book.

“I started writing young adult science fiction just for fun,” Evans said. “People who knew me thought it was strange that I was writing sentimental things because they see me as more of a science fiction writer. Actually, both are part of my per sonality. I wanted to write a story about a boy who had Tourette syndrome. Both my son Michael and I have Tourettes, and I wrote it for him. I originally set Michael Vey in Holladay around Walker Lane but then decided to move the setting to Ida ho. There are still parts of Holladay in the book. I have a Michael Vey fan club in Iran, and I have Skyped with students

in Saudi Arabia where it was the most popular book in the school. Michael Vey books are also in Russia and South Korea. It’s amazing how books have the power to unite people.”

Here in Utah, Evans helps bring peo ple together with the annual Christmas Box Angel candlelight service to remem ber lost children. The event is held at the Salt Lake Cemetery on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Evans commissioned the angel monument in response to grieving parents who were looking for a place to grieve and heal. The service is open to the general public. l

Spook Lot sponsored by the city of Holladay and the Holladay Youth Council is an annual spooktacular community event filled with games, face painting, tricks and treats and more. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

A Michael Vey book cover. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

“A Christmas Memory Book” cover. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Another big tranche of the new revenue will be used to ensure a robust truck fleet. Cur rently, the district has 56 sideload trucks—the familiar trash collectors seen each week on neighborhood streets hook-shooting recycla bles into its trailer—whose cost has jumped by 30% in the last year, bringing the total for a new sideloader to $425,000.

The trucks have a five-year life expec tancy, and the district budgets for a replace ment schedule to acquire eight new trucks a year. Although Roberts says that new trucks are not always available, and that’s com pelled the district to push the life expectancy of some of its sideloaders beyond the fiveyear standard.

The fleet is comprised of trucks that run on Compressed Natural Gas technology (CNG). And despite the high price tag, Roberts says the trucks are worth the expense because CNG fuel is half the cost of standard diesel.

“A CNG truck is $100 a day for just the fueling, and a diesel truck is more like $200 a day. So you can see there’s some savings there,” Roberts said, explaining that while diesel trucks are cheaper to buy, nonetheless “we recoup that extra cost within the first three years by the gas savings.”

The district burns a minimum of 500,000 gallons of fuel per year. With the cost of die sel fuel projected to average $4 a gallon over 2023, and CNG at $2 a gallon, the district is able to save one million in fuel costs.

Contamination rate

In addition to a tight labor market, poor recycling habits may impact expenses as well by slowing down recycling production and increasing the cost of processing. For instance, patrons commonly put plastic gro cery bags and thin plastic into the recycling bin. However, the material is not recyclable

and often inhibits the machine processing of other materials.

“That type of plastic binds up in the machinery and it’s a nightmare for them and stops the whole process,” said Paul Korth, CFO of Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District, during a November presentation to the Holladay City Council.

Holladay Councilmember Dan Gib bons, who represents the city on the district’s board, expressed frustration with the level of public awareness about recycling standards.

“The value of the recyclables vary de pending on the contamination rate in the recy cling bin. And in the district we have a pretty shockingly high contamination rate with peo ple putting pizza boxes and stuff that’s been fouled by food in the recycling bin, or plastic bags, and that makes it worthless on the com modities market,” Gibbons said.

Other cost increases

In addition to the fee increase for basic services, the district is also increasing sur charges for trailer rentals, can replacement and new user start-up cost.

Start-up subscriptions are going up by $10 from $60 to $70 in order to cover the full cost of new bins. And the district’s popular bulk waste trailer service is increasing from $175 to $190 for a standard four-day rental. Similar green waste trailer rentals will in crease from $45 to $55.

One of the anticipated expenses are new sideload trucks, which have been challeng ing to acquire and seen a jump in cost by 30% in the last year to $425,000 per truck, according to Korth.

The increase is set to begin Jan. 1, 2023, and property owners can expect to see the change in the first quarter bill is sued in April. l

A sideloader truck hook-shots a can of recyclables. (Zak Sonntag/City Journals)

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By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Historically, religions can be a source of division in the world, but they also are perfectly positioned to be a source of unity and connection in the world as well. In a service of gratitude and thanksgiving, The Holladay Interfaith Council held its annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Nov. 19, bringing together a large interdenomination al congregation to pray, to worship and as a united faith community to provide service for those in need.

Many years ago, pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe gathered in a threeday festival celebrating the autumnal harvest. The festivities centered around gratitude for the bountiful harvest and thankfulness to the Wampanoag for their guidance and tools in teaching the pilgrims basic survival skills such as how to fish, how to hunt and how to plant crops that would thrive in the Mas sachusetts soil. Similar to the Wampanoag tribe reaching out to the pilgrims in support, The Holladay Interfaith Council’s vision and purpose is to reach out and unite various faiths in the common goals of fostering un derstanding, support and cooperation within the various faiths creating an international community that stands together in celebrat ing the harvest of unity, friendship and the success of the community.

According to Christine Sharer, chair of The Holladay Interfaith Service Council, eight different faith communities current ly participate in the organization: Holladay United Church of Christ, Congregation Kol Ami, The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat ter-day Saints, Islamic Community, Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, St. Vincent

de Paul Catholic Church, Our Savior’s Lu theran Church and the Baha’i Faith. All of the faith communities during the service had a role to play in speaking to the theme of gratitude.

“We believe that we have more in com mon than what separates us as churches,” Sharer said. “There isn’t a faith anywhere

that I know of that doesn’t have something similar to the Golden Rule at the heart of it. Love is at the center of all of our faiths. It asks for unity and it asks for peace. Another thing we have in common is a heavy sense of gratitude and a response to the world with gratitude rather than a response of anger.”

Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle offered his gratitude and appreciation to The Holladay Interfaith Council and to Sharer for orga nizing the interfaith service. He presented a proclamation prepared by the Holladay City Council which placed emphasis on Thanks giving being a unifying holiday.

“This service has always been about gratitude,” Dahle said. “I’m so thankful for our Interfaith Council. In these troubled times they remind us that we have more in common than we have differences. We rec ognize that our forefathers immigrated to this land to escape religious persecution and became champions of religious freedom and individual liberty. We come together to cel ebrate the common values and virtues inher ent in various faiths and traditions.”

Each year, The Interfaith Service has a focus to benefit a nonprofit organization. In her remarks Amy Dott Harmer, the exec utive director of Utah Refugee Connection, encouraged members of the congregation

The Holladay Interfaith Council held its annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Nov. 19 bringing together a large interdenominational congregation to pray, to worship and as a united faith community to provide service for those in need. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

the 65,000 refugees that now call Utah their home. She closed her remarks with a quote by Michael Lewis

responsibility to the un

“My hope is that we will take the collec tive amazement that we have felt here tonight and do something with that energy,” Harmer said. “You may be inspired to help a refugee, the homeless, a neighbor or someone in need of care and comfort. ‘Above all, recognize that if you have had success, you have also had luck and with luck comes obligation. You owe a debt, and not just to your gods. You owe a debt to the unlucky.’ Refugees are some of the most unlucky people I know sim ply because of where they were born.”

If you belong to a faith community and have an interest in joining The Holladay In terfaith Council, contact Sharer at christine sharer@me.com. l

ITA brings hope and healing through its therapy dogs

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Kathy Klotz believes Intermountain Therapy Animals (4050 S. 2700 East) is the best kept secret in Holladay. As the executive director, Klotz has been involved with ITA since its inception in 1993 when it be gan providing animal-assisted experiences to communities in Utah.

ITA has grown to 300 volunteer teams, visiting more than 100 healthcare and educa tional facilities, who spend time with individu als going through difficult circumstances.

“The research is just overwhelming about how healthy animals are for people,” Klotz said. “Every place there’s therapy going on, the results happen faster (with therapy animals). People are more engaged and have more fun while they’re trying to do what they need to do. Dogs just enhance the situation.”

There are three categories of working dogs. Service dogs receive extensive training

to assist one person. Emotional support animals require no training and help people dealing with issues like anxiety or depression. Therapy animals, like the ones at ITA, participate in a wide range of situations and must be screened and trained before going to any facility.

Holladay resident Maureen Feighan and her dog Quincy have worked as a team with ITA for three years. Quincy is a 5-year-old Wheaten terrier/poodle who was nicknamed Mr. Chill even as a puppy. His temperament made him a perfect candidate for a therapy dog.

“He’s one of those dogs that goes to people rather than dogs. At a dog park, he’ll stand with the owners just watching the dogs,” Feighan said. “He’ll go stand next to someone I don’t know. The person will say I just put my dog down a few weeks ago or I have anxiety depression disorder and I’m having a really bad day. Somehow Quincy just knows.”

As an animal therapy team with Intermountain Therapy Animals, Maureen Feighan and her dog Quincy travel the valley to bring comfort to children, older adults, patients and students. (Photo courtesy of ITA)

It’s that innate knowing that therapy dogs bring to hospitals, schools, rehab facilities and nursing homes. ITA dogs work at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Primary Children’s Hospital, the University of Utah and dozens of other places in Utah, Idaho and Montana.

Klotz believes dogs are an incredible cat alyst for healing. She said stroke victims, who might be afraid to get up and walk around, are more confident with a therapy dog by their side. People with a new prosthetic seem to walk farther and feel more hopeful when working with a dog. Most of all, therapy dogs generate hope.

“More than anything, it’s inspiring to see how quickly you can have a positive impact on an individual and a family going through a situation. It’s quite awe-inspiring,” she said. “Dogs create a sense of normalcy and a lot of fun. They’re incredible motivators to get peo ple up and participating in their essential ther apies and they’re great comforters as well.”

In senior facilities, therapy animals help residents feel less isolated. As soon as the dogs cross the threshold, people relax and start smiling and interacting. Klotz said when older adults know the dogs are coming, they’ll get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast and line up in the lobby, waiting with smiles on their faces.

At the University of Utah, therapy an imals are invited to campus during stressful times like midterms or finals. Businesses

bring in therapy animals if there’s been a busy season or tough circumstances. Parents with children going through treatment at Primary’s invite therapy dogs into their child’s room, es pecially if there’s a pet at home the child is missing.

“Quincy will go right up to the bed. He jumps up on the bed and snuggles to the child. They just pet him and laugh,” Feighan said. “I’ve had parents tell me it’s the first time they’ve seen their child smile in days. It’s re ally amazing. It’s been pretty awesome.”

Although many people want to work with their pet as a therapy animal, the selec tion process is quite extensive and only dogs with certain temperaments are accepted into ITA. Klotz invites people to review the vol unteer requirements at TherapyAnimals.org.

ITA also provides Reading Education As sistance Dogs to help a child struggling with literacy. The program started in 1999 and has grown to 7,000 therapy teams in 27 countries. Research shows, as a child reads to a dog, their reading scores improve significantly.

“R.E.A.D. was the first formalized litera cy support program where the handler is trained in the ways to positively support a child who’s struggling,” Klotz said. “A child’s reading lev el shoots up and their confidence increases and they get away from the peer pressure of worry ing that they’re going to make a mistake. They love that the dogs are great listeners.” l

Salt Lake County Library Services to increase tax rate

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

Salt Lake County Library Services is set to bump its tax levy in 2023 in re sponse to inflationary pressure, as well as ad dress delayed maintenance while maintaining and expanding offerings at its 18 branches.

Under the proposal the average Salt Lake County home, valued around $560,000, would see an increase of $30 per year for a total annu al outlay of $149 to support the library services. The hike will be put to a vote on Dec. 6, and if passed will increase the County Library budget by 25%.

Library officials say the increase is needed to offset inflationary pressure; the library ser vices has seen a compounded 30% increase in expenses since its last tax adjustment in 2012.

“Every business has to deal with (infla tion), and they’ll work through it by constantly raising prices. But as a municipality, we don’t have that option. Anytime we want to raise more money, it has to be through the Truth in Taxation process,” said Sara Neal, marketing and communications manager for Salt Lake County Library Services, speaking about the state law that lays out how government bodies can raise taxes.

The library services has absorbed cost increases through new efficiencies like system automation along with staffing changes and deferred maintenance. However, maintenance needs have continued to mount, and leaders say they cannot continue to put repairs off.

High on the priority list is the West Val ley branch, whose derelict boilers have a pen chant to leave patrons and staff in the cold, and whose limited facility space fails to meet the needs of a modern library user.

“Their boilers are 50 years old at this point. There not made any more and we can’t get parts for them. If that system failed and we had to replace it the cost is huge. But would you invest that much money in an old building that doesn’t serve the needs of the community anyway?” said Neal, who anticipates a brandnew West Valley facility is on the way with the

help of new tax dollars.

Neal says the county is also looking to replace or renovate older, smaller libraries in its service area, including the Tyler branch in Midvale, the Whitmore branch in Cottonwood Heights, and the Sandy branch. The renova tions will help modernize the facilities in ways that meet community needs.

Neal points to the success of the Granite Branch, opened in 2022, which stands in high contrast to the libraries of yore.

“At Granite we have creative space for people who want to explore technology tools that they might not have access to otherwise. They have study rooms that are always being used because people need spaces like that. It’s fun to see how a library can really serve the different needs of people in the neighborhood,” Neal said.

In this way Salt Lake County has become home to one of the most popular library sys tems in the nation, with over two-thirds of the 837,000 people in its service area designated as “active library card users,” defined as a patron who utilizes a library service during a threeyear period.

“There are about 9,000 library systems in North America, and we’re usually about num ber 13 or so,” Neal said.

According to Neal, the county system cir culates 12 million items—close to 80% of them physical items like books and audiobooks and the remainder digital items like e-audiobooks.

The service’s popularity is driven in part by the county’s expanding population, which has grown by 13% in the last decade.

Some county residents—including those in Murray and Salt Lake City, who have their own city library systems—are not impacted by the county library tax in order to prevent “dual taxation,” even as reciprocal borrowing agree ments allow residents to hold cards in all three systems simultaneously. l

A patron enters the Whitmore Library. (File photo Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Richard Boyer - Eccles Theater

Richard Boyer -Rapids

Rob Adamson - Winter Bryce

Scott Brough - Bucket

Last night I joined my colleagues on the City Council for a dinner of Chinese takeout before attending our regular City Council meeting. Afterward, I walked through our beautiful, wood-paneled City Hall, decorated for the holidays, past the food drive bins filled to overflowing with donations. Outside, the air was cold, and the lights were all ablaze in the trees lining the sidewalk and in the Village Center. As I drove home, I thought of the lines from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” – “It is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”

We often have a sweet nostalgia for those times in our lives when “Want was keenly felt.” Some of my most memorable holidays were spent in tiny student apartments with my wife and young daughters with very few presents under the tree. I also hold special memories of Holladay’s first holiday in 1999, when, as a newly elected member of the original City Council, I joined Mayor Liane Stillman and the other members of the Council in trying to create a new city government out of, literally, nothing.

In stark contrast to the Abundance that Holladay City now enjoys—with experienced staff, outstanding police and fire, city parks, a City Hall, a working budget and prudent reserves—it was a time when “Want was keenly felt.”

The mayor and five council members were sworn in at the State Capitol on Tuesday, November 30, 1999, in the ornate reception room next to the Governor’s office. We then filed our Articles of Incorporation, and the city was officially formed. Afterward, the six of us drove to the old, abandoned bank building at 4707 South Holladay Blvd., for our first City Council meeting. In contrast to the splendor of the Capitol, our first “home” was a gutted structure, little more than a construction site, with no heat and no furniture. We had brought our own lawn chairs from home to sit in and someone had provided a space heater to take the chill out of the air.

We sat down and faced the daunting task of building a government structure from the ground up. We literally had nothing on that cold night—no money, no ordinances, no employees, and no city hall. The agenda that evening—and on many subsequent evenings in December 1999—was impossibly long. As a notary public, I first swore in our first appointed officials—City Recorder, City Treasurer and City Attorney. We then passed a model city code, a temporary zoning ordinance, approved “bridge” financing with Zion’s Bank to tide us over until the first revenues came in during 2000, and created the structure for a Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment.

After meeting for several hours, we turned off the space heater, locked the door, and walked through the cold air next door to the Chinese restaurant for dinner.

By Council Member Dan Gibbons, District 5

Be Safe This Holiday Season!

By Chief Justin Hoyal, UPD Holladay Precinct

As we approach the holiday season, we have found that there are those who put extra effort into spoiling your holiday season. We want to share a few tips with you to prevent people from taking your packages, breaking into your car, or defrauding you at this time of year.

Many of us have packages delivered to our homes and even more so during the holiday season. Take time to track the packages and get them off your porch as soon as they are delivered. Suspects will spend a lot of time driving neighborhoods looking for unattended packages. If you are not home, talk to your neighbors about picking up the packages for you. You can also have the packages shipped to an alternate address. Lastly, many of the companies have a ship-to-the-store option if you are not going to be home, or are not able to pick up your package for an extended time. Check with your shipping company to see what other options may be available to protect your shipment.

As you are out shopping, keep items and valuables out of plain view in your car. If you have to leave items in your car, make sure that they are out of view. Either lock your items in the trunk or put them somewhere that is not easily seen. Often suspects are looking for something they can grab quickly and be gone before anyone notices them. This also includes ensuring that your car is locked. An unlocked vehicle is the easiest way for someone to get in and out of a car quickly.

Thank You!

It was a Christmas tree miracle this year, all because of the incredible team at Jackson & LeRoy! This year’s beautiful tree was donated by the Jackson & LeRoy company and was craned in by Diamond Tree experts and Larsen Crane. Without the generosity and time, our tree lighting event would not be possible, from all of us at the City of Holladay. THANK YOU!

Lastly, we do not want you to have to worry about being a victim of fraud or a scam. If you get a phone call, voice mail, e-mail or text message that is suspicious, do some research to see if it is real. Do not give out account information, personal information, credit card information or gift card information to those who reach out asking for it. It is most likely a scam. You can always call the police department, financial institution or business to see if they were actually calling you before you give out that information. Also, look up the number yourself for that institution and don’t call the phone number a scammer may give you.

Please watch for suspicious cars in your neighborhood and those that may be following delivery drivers. As you are out shopping, watch for suspicious people that are looking into cars. Lastly, when it comes to scams, ask questions and be very careful when asked for personal information or account information. Remember the phrase, “If you see something, say something.” You can always call our non-emergency number, 801-840-4000 to report suspicious behavior. In an emergency, call 911.

We want to continue to make the City of Holladay a great and safe city to live in, work in and recreate. We appreciate your support and help when you watch out for your neighbors and report suspicious activities. We at the UPD’s Holladay Precinct are wishing you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Holladay Library Happenings

Gift Wrap and Hot Chocolate

Wednesday, Dec 7 & 14 • 6:30-8:30 pm

Drop in from 6:30 - 8:30 PM on two Wednesdays in December (7th and 14th) and make gift bags out of old book pages and wrapping paper with paint and stencils while you have some hot chocolate.

FEATURED TREE OF THE MONTH NORTHERN RED OAK Quercus rubra

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

Thursday, Dec 8 • 7 pm

Bring your family and friends for an evening of excellent family, holiday and winter music. Light refreshments will be served.

As always, for a full list of library events they can go to https://events.slcolibrary.org/events

A fast-growing shade tree, the Northern Red 2016) to be one of the “handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America.” According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, it is considered a

Thriving in full sun, a Northern Red Oak typically grows to 50’-80’ tall with a 50’-75’ spread, and can live up to 400 years. Turning russet-red to bright red in autumn, its deciduous yellowish-green leaves are 4”-8” long and have 7-11 spine-tipped lobes. One of 60 varieties of native U.S. oak trees, it begins producing saucer-like capped acorns around the 25-year mark. Both the Native Americans and wildlife such as blue jays, squirrels, deer, raccoons, and black bear found oak acorns to be an appealing food source.

Sometimes called a Champion Oak, it is a valuable hardwood attracting both lumbermen and landscapers since Colonial times. Its wood has been used to make fence posts, railroad ties, furniture, flooring, cabinets, and paneling. Indispensable is its ability to be a natural pollution-fighter.

My backyard champion is a once homeless, containerized---but “mighty oak,” gifted to me following the Holladay Tree Committee’s 2020 Tree Give-away. Growing 4’ in two years, it heroically reaches up to fill a void left in my heart after a 40’ Spruce unpredictably fell during the historic windstorm of September, 2020. Long live the Northern Red Oak!

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.

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

Watermaster - Big Cottonwood Tanner

Ditch system - Art Quayle 801 867-1247

Winter Music Celebration with Harvest Home

A New Years’ Resolution for Your Pet

As humans, many of us set a resolution for ourselves for the new year. Since our pets can improve our physical and mental health, let’s improve the lives of our cats and dogs this year as well.

1. Update Their Tags & Microchips: If your contact information has changed, get your pet a new tag and update the info that’s attached to their microchip. Also, make sure the info on their tag is still readable, often it rubs off.

2. Bring Out the Brush: Not only does brushing improve their coats, it helps you connect.

3. Declutter! Throw away those dirty, germy, broken toys. Get them something new to play with.

4. Make Time to Play: Whether it’s swimming, hiking, or learning new tricks; your pet needs time to play and bond with you because they love you unconditionally.

5. Measure Their Food: It’s easy to overfeed a pet who acts like there’s never enough food in the bowl. Throw a measuring cup in their food containers and use it every day. Food is often a way we say, “I Love You.” Love your pet with other things like attention, play dates, or more car rides.

6. Take Them to the Vet: Just like humans, pets should see their veterinarian for an annual check-up. They need to have their yearly vaccinations to keep them healthy and happy. Often when pets get sick, there is something going on with them that we can’t see.

Don’t forget to license your pets! For more information visit AdoptUtahPets.org or come by Salt Lake County Animal Services, 511 W 3900 S, in Salt Lake City.

THANK

Top 10 Holiday Safety Tips

1. Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. 2. Do not overload electrical outlets. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are a common cause of holiday fires. Avoid overloading outlets and plug only one high-wattage appliance into each outlet at a time. 3. Never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights. More than three strands may not only blow a fuse, but can also cause a fire. 4. Keep tree fresh by watering daily. Dry trees are a serious fire hazard. 5. Use battery-operated candles. Candles start almost half of home decoration fires (NFPA). + 6. Keep combustibles at least three feet from heat sources. A heat source that was too close to the decoration was a factor in half of home fires that began with decorations. (NFPA). 7. Protect cords from damage. To avoid shock or fire hazards, cords should never be pinched by furniture, forced into small spaces such as doors or windows, placed under rugs, located near heat sources, or attached by nails or staples. 8. Check decorations for certification label. Decorations not bearing a label from an Independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Intertek (ETL) have not been tested for safety and could be hazardous. 9. Stay in the kitchen when something is cooking. Unattended cooking equipment is the leading cause of home cooking fires (NFPA). 10. Turn off, unplug, and extinguish all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the house. Unattended candles are the cause of one in five home candle fires. Half of home fire deaths occur between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (NFPA).

Community packs and ships gift-filled shoeboxes for children around the world

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

As Christmas approaches we often start looking for ways to get involved in giving to others, from angel trees and food drives to secret Santa projects. However, groups across the state of Utah have already gathered during the third week of November to assemble gift-filled shoe boxes for children across the world during the annual drive for Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. According to Samaritan’s Purse, churches around the world partner with OCC to receive shoebox gifts to distribute to kids in their community. Every year Samaritan's Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hy giene items for children in impoverished and remote areas. Gifts are matched to children’s specific gender and ages. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries have received an Operation Christ mas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expres sion of God's love. As result of 5,000 drop-off locations across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, it is expected that over 9.4 million gift-filled shoeboxes will be collected this year.

One of the local host sites, Risen Life Church in Holladay emphasized their shoebox packing night during their annual Harvest Fes

tival in October. Organizer Kristen Veth shared that the entire community was invited to bring their trick-or-treaters out for a fun evening of trunk-or-treating and then take part in the com munity service project inside while also warm ing up with a cup of hot chocolate. “Operation Christmas Child really sets the stage for cele brating Christmas each year—a simple gift that creates an amazing impact,” Veth said. “At this point we’ve collected 413 boxes. It is inspiring to see so many join together to make an impact in the lives of kids they will likely never meet.”

Ilona Penner was a recipient of an Oper ation Christmas Child shoebox when she was a child living in a Ukrainian orphanage. When reflecting on her experience opening her shoe box Penner said, “A yo-yo is what actually captured my attention the most!” Penner said what impacted her most about receiving the gift-filled shoebox was, “Here I was in an or phanage and someone remembered about me and the other children—someone cared. It was exciting! It kind of gave hope that we weren’t forgotten.”

Want to help make a positive impact in the lives of children around the world next year? Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to learn more and find out dates. There you’ll learn tips for packing your own box in a shoe box or shoe box-sized plastic container, locate party pack ing events, find a list of drop off locations near

Building community for displaced women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When Samira Harnish was 10 years old, living in Iraq, she drew a picture of a woman trapped in a spider’s web, calling for help. Even at a young age, Harnish knew the world was a difficult place for women.

Education opportunities weren’t easy for women in Iraq. Harnish’s sister received a scholarship to study in England but communi ty members tried to convince her father to keep her home.

“My dad was strong and said my daughter got this scholarship and I’m going to send her,” Harnish said. “I remember the family didn’t want to be with him anymore. So in that way, society was harsh for the women.”

As a young woman, Harnish came to the United States for an arranged marriage. It was a difficult time and Harnish said she could feel the sticky web keeping her trapped.

“I felt like I couldn’t take it off my shoul ders because I was thinking everyone was go ing to hate me or not want me because I was divorcing my first husband,” she said. “But I was taking care of my life and not wanting to feel miserable.”

In 2009, Harnish gave up her job as a se nior microchip engineer and founded Women of the World, a nonprofit that helps displaced women gain self-reliance by giving them tools to navigate an unfamiliar society.

WoW works with refugees, asylum seek

ers and immigrants, helping them learn En glish, apply for jobs, go to college or even start a business. But the organization fills an even more important role, it helps women find a community.

Harnish understands the loneliness dis placed women experience when first coming to Utah. Assimilating into a community is dif ficult and it is a challenge to find people who will welcome and support them.

“Because of these things I went through, it made me want to become an advocate for them,” she said. “We let women know every thing’s going to be OK. They just need a guide into a new life. They’ve had a lot of hurtful moments: war, oppression, poverty, rape and mutilation.”

Located in South Salt Lake (415 E. 3900 South), WoW is giving a voice to women who have lost jobs, families and homes. By build ing confidence through English skills and mentoring, WoW participants learn how to improve their lives and connect with others. These women often have college degrees and valuable professions, but can’t get hired due to the language barrier.

WoW holds a celebration each December, recognizing women who have reached their goals and becoming independent. The event is supported by local business and government leaders who help the women find jobs in their

you, or even be able to pack a shoebox online. Other ways to help include purchasing items to go into the boxes for groups to assemble, do nate online towards shipping ($10 per box sug gestion), or even serve as one of the 200,000 volunteers involved in collecting, shipping, and distributing shoebox gifts.

For more of Penner’s story check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 1 Episode 6 where Penner shares about her upbringing in Ukraine, her memories of receiving a shoebox while living in the Ukrainian orphanage, and even suggestions on how to pack your own

shoebox for a child in need. Hear of her story of hope, the heart of giving, the gift of time, and how one simple act made her feel like she wasn't alone. Holly’s Highlights podcast is designed to encourage, inspire, and equip you to intentionally live your life full of pur pose. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available at www.hollycurby.com or wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast.”l

communities.

The WoW model offers advocacy for immigration, housing, law issues and health matters. It customizes its programs for each individual, matching her needs with what she needs to succeed. Volunteers are always need ed at WoW to be mentors, drivers, interpreters, workshop teachers, yoga instructors, child caregivers and event facilitators. Monetary do nations are also accepted.

Gift cards are an important donation for the women who can use them to buy things for

themselves or their children. While the women appreciate the used clothes or shoes donated to help them, they like to purchase items that fit their personality and their bodies.

“They have lost everything but their dig nity and pride,” Harnish said. “They had good jobs in their home country and they are looking for jobs in their profession. They bring a great diversity to our state.”

To donate, volunteer or to learn more about WoW, visit womenofworld.org. l

Risen Life volunteers assembled over 400 boxes for children around the world. (Photo courtesy Aaron Jett)

A Women of the World fundraising event celebrates the success of displaced women from across the globe who work hard to reach their goals. (Photo courtesy of Jake Campos)

Governor visits Bonneville Jr. High to discuss students’ mental health and social media use

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

G ov. Spencer Cox was at Bonne ville Jr. High on a teacher work day Oct. 17. The governor delivered a message about mental health that he thought was especially applicable to ju nior high-age students. Teachers, admin istrators, parents and community partners were in the audience.

“We’ve been doing some research on the mental health of our young people. It’s no secret that social media has a dark side and can bring on some challenges,” Cox said.

Cox cited the Mayo Clinic’s findings that social media can negatively affect teens across the nation, specifically “dis tracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spread ing, unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer pressure.”

Cox acknowledged that older gener ations have a tendency to think whatever the new technology is will “ruin our kids.” But he said social media is very different from every other form of media we’ve had in the past because it’s not passive, it’s active.

“Just like we passed seatbelt laws and tobacco regulations to protect minors’ physical health, I’m asking you to join me in supporting common-sense solutions and work together to protect the mental health of our students,” Cox said.

One of Cox’s solutions was to get cellphones out of the classroom. Not just turned off, but physically away from stu dents during class time.

“This isn’t about getting rid of tech nology in classrooms. We have enough laptops and iPads for our students to use during school. If we get that handheld de vice off them, then they’re not reaching for it; they don’t feel like they’re missing out on something,” Cox said.

The governor also pointed out that if students weren’t using phones during class, teachers wouldn’t have to compete with the “instant gratification” of social media during instruction time.

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Principal Jennifer Johnson gives Gov. Spencer Cox a gift basket with Bonneville Jr. High swag during his visit to the school on Oct. 17. (Bonneville Jr. High)

N O R T H A M E R I C A

Cox said social media companies need to be held accountable and need to make it easier for parents to monitor their students and help them make good choices. He said there’s legislation in the works to help with this.

But the governor also called on par ents to do what they could.

“We need to give parents the ability to decide if and when your child is ready for social media,” Cox said.

Cox said parents should make sure cell phone use doesn’t interfere with sleep, meals or homework time. He said keeping cellphones out of kids’ bedrooms is a rule at his house that helps with that.

He also asked parents to monitor their children’s accounts and explain what’s OK to do, say and view online and what isn’t. He said parents should encourage their kids to spend time face to face with peo ple. If their kids’ school has a no cellphone policy, please support it.

Cox also reminded parents that they set the example for social media usage in their homes, and their kids are watching them. If parents are on Facebook ranting and putting down others, kids are picking up on that behavior.

“We have kids growing up in homes where they feel like they have to compete with Instagram and Facebook for their par ents’ attention. As parents we need to be aware of our cell phone usage, especially

in front of our kids. If we put it away, we set good expectations for our young peo ple,” Cox said.

Cox reminded the audience of the Safe UT app and that parents can teach their kids how to use that for their own mental health and the safety of their schools and communities.

Bonneville administration posted about the visit on Instagram.

“What an honor it was to host @ govcox at Bonneville Junior High School today! He gave a press conference about the relationship between social media and mental health and what we can do about it together as parents, educators and a com munity.

“His message is so important and em phasizes a need for more connection,” the post read.

Emma Williams is the governor’s pub lic relations officer. She said Cox worked with Granite School District to find a good place to deliver the message.

“We really wanted the address to be delivered at a junior high school, and Bon neville has a great auditorium. The gover nor’s comments about mental health and screen usage were especially relevant to that age group,” Williams said. “These is sues are hitting our teens hard.” l

Nature’s Virus Killer

Copper can stop a virus before it starts

By Priscilla Schnarr www.copperzap.com

Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast.

Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria that cause illness.

Colds and many other illnesses start when viruses get in your nose and multiply. If you don’t stop them early, they spread and cause misery.

Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.”

National Institutes of Health.

Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.

CopperZap® and put it on the market.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of bad germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.

Users Say:

“It works! I love it!”

“I can’t believe how good my nose feels.”

“Is it supposed to work that fast?”

“One of the best presents ever.”

“Sixteen airline flights, not a sniffle!”

“Cold sores gone!”

“It saved me last holidays. The kids all got sick, but not me.”

The EPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.

“I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

“Best sleep I’ve had in years!”

The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in the bottom of the nostril, where viruses collect.

When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

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American Outlaws chapter hosts World Cup parties

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Utahns have found a soft spot for the most popular game in the entire world. The World Cup begins the week before Thanksgiving and Salt Lake City ranks in the top 10 of soccer fans’ best cities.

“Our chapter of the American Out laws has been around since 2009,” Brigh ton High School graduate and AO chapter president Todd Nate said. “We have around 250 members here and are excited to cheer the US Men’s National Team on.”

The World Cup is the most presti gious soccer tournament in the world. It is held every four years. The tournament is held over a month-long celebration and includes 32 teams. France is the defending champion and Germany won in 2014.

“We did not make it last time (the U.S. team),” Nate said. “I think that makes this year more exciting.”

The AO chapter has scheduled watch parties for fans to enjoy the games. They are planned to be held at Beer Bar in Salt Lake City (161 E. 200 South). The orga nization is more than a set place to watch games. They encourage new friendships and donate time to local soccer leagues.

The chapter helps grow the game in the United States.

In other countries, World Cup games can close down a city.

“We went to watch a Brazilian World Cup game. We got there one hour before the match and the bar was sold out. You could not even get in. The excitement that other nationalities have for their teams is beginning to carry over,” Nate said.

In a study done by wallethub.com based on 52 key matrices, cities were ranked according to their acceptance of the game, Salt Lake is number nine. Some of the soccer excitement is attributed to the growth of the women’s game, but Nate said this year’s tournament will be fun to watch.

“I think this is a smaller market and like the Jazz, we only have a couple of major sports teams. I could not stand soc cer, but as my kids started playing I fell in love with it. I am not sure how to explain how soccer is such a growing sport here in Utah,” Nate said.

The USMNT has a following here, but so do other teams.

“I cheer for the Mexican National team,” West Valley resident Ray Mondrag on said. “My team is in limbo. They are not playing with their best players.”

Mexico left two of its best scorers off the roster because of injuries, Chicarito Hernández and Julián Araujo. They have advanced to the knockout round for sev en straight tournaments, but have failed to win a game to advance to the quarterfinals.

“I don’t expect them to go far, but the entire tournament is full of great matches,” Mondragon said. “I can’t pick Argentina so I will pick Brazil.”

The United States is scheduled to play Wales on Nov. 21 and England Nov. 25. There will be four games broadcast on Thanksgiving Day. The finals will be

played Dec. 18. All games will be played in Qatar. This is the first time the tourna ment has been held in the Middle East and Qatar is the smallest country to be a host.

The average ticket price for the finals is $1,600 a piece and the U.S. purchased the third most tickets to the tournament, behind Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Brazil is

Above: The AO chapter in Salt Lake City was estab lished in 2009. (Photo courtesy of American Outlaws)

Left: The World Cup trophy has been won by only eight countries in its 22 tournament history. (Photo courtesy of stock photos adobe.com)

the only nation to appear in all 22 World Cup tournaments.

“I would pick Brazil, Germany is al ways tough. You could watch for England and I think the U.S. could be a sleeper,” Nate said. “We are a young squad and hope we get out our group.” l

The Salt Lake City chapter of the American Outlaws is full of supporters of the United States Men’s National team, and they will host watch parties of the World Cup at Beer Bar in Salt Lake City. (Photo courtesy of American Outlaws)

Donations sought to brighten Cottonwood High students’ holidays

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

When Black Friday comes around, consider picking up some extra board games, art kits, basketballs, curling irons, socks and stocking stuffers for Cot tonwood High School’s neighborhood day of service.

On Dec. 10 morning, between 9 a.m. and noon, Cottonwood PTA will accept donations for the school’s Christmas Ex travaganza, which provides items for students to give to family members, said Jennifer Young, who is on the Cottonwood PTA planning committee. Donations can be dropped off at Cottonwood High, 5715 S. 1300 East.

“The students just love this,” she said. “They look forward to it. They come and the thing is they get to go shopping. We have all the donations set up, so they pick out things for their family. It’s so neat to see how much they’re excited to be able to give gifts to their families. We open it up to any student and many of them are refu gees and came here with nothing so getting a fuzzy pair of socks or a fleece blanket means the world to them. The students can only go through all the tables once, but last year one boy saw a doll stroller for his sis ter, and he pretty much flew past a few of the tables because he had his eye on that

for her. It’s emotional to watch these kids. This is their only opportunity for many of these kids to do anything for their fami lies.”

After the PTA gathers the donations, they set up tables in the lunchroom with items so students can pick up items at a set time on Dec. 13. Everything is free, but

because of such demand, students may be limited on some items, such as one sports ball, she said.

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Tables full of donated items last year awaited Cottonwood Heights students to select items to give to their families. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Young/ Cottonwood High)

dents usually pick those out for their sib lings. They love picking out board games that the whole family could play together. We usually get a ton of games and they’re just grabbed up. It’s incredible. Blankets are huge. They love giving a new blanket at Christmastime. The students also love choosing socks for member in their fam ily,” she said, adding that hats, mittens, scarves, lotion, nail polish and candles also are popular amongst students. “Ev ery student gets a gift card. We get a lot of Walmart and Target gift cards that are donated, in $20 amounts.”

Monetary contributions also are ac cepted, and with the funds, items are pur chased to fill in the gaps of donations, Young said.

Last year, the Extravaganza benefitted 761 of Cottonwood’s 1,600 students.

“We really want to try and reach out to the whole community for more donations because we have an even greater demand,” she said. “We ask for everything to be new because these are gifts for their fam ilies and everything in their life is always gently used or secondhand. This is the one time of the year they get new items, which is amazing.”

While this is Young’s fourth year helping with the event, she said it has been going longer than that. At that time, the PTA was able to help about 100 students.

Many of the students who pick items

at the Extravaganza also are the ones who regularly use the school’s pantry. Young estimates it serves about 150 students ev ery Monday and Thursday it’s open.

The pantry opened in January 2017 when there was a realization that students were too hungry to focus on their home work during an after-school tutoring pro gram.

“We realized many of these kids were only eating what food they got at the school, so we decided to start the pantry,” she said, adding that more than 50% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. “There’s a definite need. A lot of our students are cooking for younger sib lings because parents are working and ar en’t home, so they come twice a week after school to get anything they want.”

Donations for both the Extravaganza and pantry come from families and neigh bors as well as members of St. Vincent de Paul Parish and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We love that this is a huge commu nity event, people helping other people, giving so these students can have a great Christmas, too,” Young said. “Seeing these kids be so excited, it makes it the ‘funnest’ day of the whole school year. The Christ mas Extravaganza really is just an amazing event to be a part of and to witness.” l

Navigating Grief and the Holidays

By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW

The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness.

As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. Some find meaning in following cherished traditions, and others benefit from avoiding traditions because their associations are now tinged with loss. Some people find great comfort in being with other people, others prefer solitude to camaraderie. For all of us, how we gather is as important as gathering at all.

Plan ahead for the holidays: The first step in planning is to listen to yourself….what will help you most at this time? You may have strong memories and powerful feelings. Accept this as normal, but prepare for it. Anticipate the pleasures and the stresses of events, and select those you want to participate in. If you expect to be lonely, arrange supportive companionship. If you can’t bear the thought of connecting with the entire extended family, let the family know of your needs. Be creative and accept support by using distance technology.

Accommodate your plans to your new limits: Most grieving people have significantly lowered physical stamina and emotional reserve. Perhaps you can’t get every decoration out this year. Accept these limits as temporary, and good enough for this year. Choose to put your energy into the things that matter most to you.

Accept that the holidays will be different this year: The holidays are often filled with unrealistic expectations that may overwhelm you. You may need to revisit your goals and find a balance between continuity and change. Many people find a special comfort in establishing a new holiday tradition that honors the memory of the person who died.

Recognize that other family members or friends may have struggles, too: Look for opportunities to discuss your feelings and wishes with others who may also be grieving for your family member. Try to respect their choices, if they are different from yours. You all may need to make compromises.

If the holidays have always been hard for you: Use this transition in your life to try something completely new…an untraditional-tradition. Perhaps you have never taken the occasion create a new experience on your own. As challenging as loss can be, it can bring momentum to grow and to try something new.

For all of us, whether the holidays are a time of personal significance or not, it can be a season in which we reflect on what we do cherish as we journey through grief.

Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program. Caring Connections is a not-for-profit program that offers clinician-facili tated grief support groups in Utah. 801-585-9522 healthcare.utah.edu/caring-connections www.LarkinCares.com

A loaded Cottonwood Colts boys hoops team is ready to go even further

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

The Cottonwood Colts boys bas ketball team finished fourth in Region 7 play last year with a 7-5 record.

They went 15-9 overall, hosted their first state playoff game in 15 years and lost one of their leading scorers.

According to Cottonwood athletic director Greg Southwick, he was told by Cottonwood head basketball coach Marc Miller that they want more.

“They are looking good; they’ll be one of the top 5A teams,” Southwick said. “I’ll be awfully surprised if they aren’t in the top 10 for most of the year.”

Junior Chris Cox returns and, at 10.4 points per game, was the Colts third option last year. Senior Aidan Oliphant (their top rebounder) is back as is three-point spe cialist senior Max Russo; the question will turn to who fills those other two starting spots.

Southwick said he likes senior Kirath Makhar at the point guard spot—and ju nior Jackson Price is going to get some minutes as well.

Others in the Cottonwood backcourt who could play a role and got minutes on last year’s team include junior Ryan Niel son—the kicker on the Colts football team who went viral after his fair catch-free kick at Jordan—and sophomore Mason Tolley.

In the front court, the Colts will have junior Roman Caywood—along with some new kids who the Cottonwood AD said shined at the open tryouts that coach Mill er held in Cottonwood’s main gym Nov. 7-9.

The first game of the season for the Colts will be a nonregion one, on the road, at 5A Mountain View on Nov. 28.

Then the Colts will play their next three preseason games at home against 6A Herriman Nov. 30, 5A Skyline on Dec. 6 and 5A Brighton on Dec. 9.

After that it’s back on the road for more nonregion games at 6A Taylorsville (Dec. 13) and 5A Park City (Dec. 14) be fore the Colts come home to host cross town rival Murray on Dec. 16.

Cottonwood will then take the hol iday break off before returning to action for a four-day holiday tournament at which they’ll play four traditional basket ball powers: 3A Judge Memorial Dec. 27, 6A Kearns Dec. 28, followed by a game against 6A Riverton Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 against 6A Roy.

After that, it’s time for Region 7 ac tion to begin as the Colts will travel to Ce dar Valley on Jan. 4, 2023 and will have their region home opener Jan. 6, 2023 against Stansbury.

It’s a brutal preseason schedule ac cording to the Cottonwood AD, but this team has all the pieces to make a serious run at a region title and at state.

“(Coach Miller said) if the kids will play their roles well and don’t get selfish, and play team basketball he thinks they’ll be a contender, and the expectations are high,” Southwick said.

There will be a full team preview and a recap of the Colts’ November and early December games in next month’s South Salt Lake Journal. l

The Colts student section will be back for the Cottonwood High boys basketball team this year. (City Journals)

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Celebrate this holiday season with festive events in Holladay

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Bundle up this holiday season and visit the city of Holladay for festiv ities sure to warm the heart. Enjoy a visit to the Village Plaza for a day of shopping, sip ping and walking amid the brightly lit shop windows filled with holiday seasonal cheer. Celebrate the season with a visit to City Hall to see the city’s Christmas tree. Attend local winter music concerts to lift the spirit, and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa while craft ing gift wrap at the city’s library.

Seasonal festivities began at Holladay Village Plaza on Nov. 28 during the annual Holladay City Christmas Tree Lighting Cere mony. Caroling, a Santa visit and remarks by Mayor Rob Dahle are all part of the festivi ties to welcome in the season of wintery fun. The Christmas tree will shine at City Hall un til Jan. 2, 2023.

In addition to being a place to hold fes tivities, the Holladay Village Plaza, located at 2300 E. 4640 South, offers some of the finest shops for enjoying a day of shopping and dining.

The Holladay Arts Council is sponsor ing their annual Holiday Concert at Holladay City Hall on Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Sotto Voce Strings will perform traditional holiday music. Sotto Voce Strings consists of about 50 violin students ranging from 8 to 18 years of age. Members of this group have received honorable mention in the Utah Symphony Youth Guild. The violinists won the Ameri can Protégé Competition to perform in Carn egie Hall and have been finalists in the pres tigious Fischoff International Competition. Members of the group have toured Russia, Eastern Europe and Western Europe. In 2023 they will be traveling to Cambodia and Viet nam for a humanitarian expedition.

“The concert is sure to be festive and magical for all those in attendance,” said Sheryl Gillilan, executive director of the Hol laday Arts Council. The concert is free but does require a ticket because seating is lim ited. Tickets are available in person at City Hall reception desk Dec. 12 to 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Holladay Library, 2150 E. Mur ray-Holladay Road, will be sponsoring sev eral events this holiday season. On Dec. 7 and 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the library invites the community to drop in for a cup of hot cocoa and a chance to use imagination and creativity in crafting holiday gift bags out of old book pages and wrapping paper. Paint and stencils will be available to add that perfect touch.

A Winter Music Celebration with Annie and Dan Eastmond of Harvest Home will perform at the library on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. A fun-filled night is planned for the entire fam ily as Dan and Annie weave storytelling into their Celtic and Americana music.

The Holladay Library Book Club is al ways looking for new members. The group meets the first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. Thoughtful reader questions spark inter esting group discussion for a variety of se lected books. December’s book is “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman. The Monthly Family Book Club will be held Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Families participate together in a book chat and engaging activities centered around the book of the month. The book for Decem ber is “The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes. Light refreshments will be included in the activities. Register each month at Holla day Library for participation in the Monthly Family Book Club. l

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The Holladay Arts Council is sponsoring their annual Holiday Concert at City Hall on Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Sotto Voce Strings will be performing traditional holiday music. (Photo credit Sheryl Gillilan, Holladay Arts Council)

ven though 2022 seemed to last as long as a 5-year-old reading “Green Eggs and Ham,” the holidays rushed in like a wicked case of intestinal flu. But high grocery prices? Rising inflation? Those things have never stopped Americans from over-celebrating the holidays.

If you’re finding it hard to capture the spirit of Christmas this year, just remem ber the real meaning of the holidays: get ting presents. All those brightly-wrapped packages will bring you hours of tempo rary joy and fulfillment.

I wonder if we have lost our senses, in a very literal way. Maybe if we come back to our senses for the holidays, we’ll stop eating when we’re not hungry, partying when we’re tired and buying a doghouse full of gifts for the family puppy when we’re already overbudget.

Let’s start with the sights of the sea son, like the piles of enticing Amazon box es shoved into hiding places and spilling out of closets. The twinkling lights of po lice cars at the neighbor’s house. The deadeyed stare of a Target cashier and colored globes hanging on the Christmas tree that drops needles when someone walks by.

How about the sounds of the season, like your favorite holiday tunes played by an accordion, or the infinite Mariah Carey

song remix/mash-ups/covers. You’ll hear “Carol of the Bells” so often it becomes part of that nightmare where you’re run ning to get the last LEGO set but you’re wearing furry slippers and keep tripping over elves. And there’s so much jingling!

What does Christmas feel like? A tod dler’s fingers, sticky from a candy cane, leaving pink fingerprints down the hall. Paper cuts from wrapping gifts. Cold, wet toes as you trudge through snowy parking lots and discover a hole in the sole of your boot. Frozen fingertips, runny noses and being bustled by bustling crowds.

The tastes of Christmas include nasti ness like eggnog and fruitcake, but also the sugary sweetness of gumdrops that suction to your molars and must be surgically re moved. Then there’s scalding hot choco late with toasted marshmallows. (Hint: don’t toast marshmallows in the actual toaster. I know that now.)

December smells like cinnamon, cloves, Seussian roast beast and smoke from your overused credit card. I’ve never smelled roasted chestnuts, but I imagine they have an aroma like a wet dog lying by the fire. Real evergreen trees emit the scent of fresh forests while making it hard to breathe for people with pine allergies.

Obviously, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s going wrong with the holidays, without paying attention to the feeling

behind the scenes. When I sit with that emotion, it’s one of peace, generosity, kindness, forgiveness and love. Things Hallmark Christmas movies are always going on about.

What if Hallmark is right? And I’ve never said that before.

Maybe the miracle of Christmas is noticing the small pleasures like when your friend sends you a funny card or your husband brings you a soft, fluffy blanket as you binge holiday movies. Maybe it’s reading stories to your grandkids or listen ing to grandparents share favorite Christ mas morning memories.

More than the senses, Christmas is about time. A time to pause. A time to be still. A time to remember. A time to breathe. A time to be grateful. A time to be with family. A time to reflect with wonder and awe at the beauty of this world.

Coming back to our senses, in a real way, slows time. It reminds us we’re not alone as we move together through these dark nights with bright stars, just doing the best we can.

Peri Kinder is an award-winning hu mor writer, hosts the Life & Laughter pod cast and was voted Best of State for 2022. She’s also a yoga/meditation instructor and life coach.

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter