Holladay Journal | December 2023 by The City Journals

Dec. 2023| Vol. 20 Iss. 12

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JOURDON WINS 5A STATE TITLE

FAVERO, OLYMPUS RUNNERS HAVE SOLID SHOWINGS AT CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

he cast of runners at the 5A state cross country meet was strong, and two of the best performances came from Olympus runners. JoJo Jourdon was first among all runners on the boys’ side, while Adria Favero posted the second-best girls’ time. Jourdon, a senior, ran the race in an impressive time of 14:58.3. His sub-15-minute time was the second best among all runners in the state, just behind Class 6A’s Daniel Simmons of American Fork, who beat Jourdon’s time by 14 seconds. Meanwhile, Favero, just a freshman, ran her race in 17:29.8, 15 seconds behind the winner. The Titans came in fifth on the boys’ side, while the Lady Titans were 11th in 5A. The boys team’s top four runners are all seniors, with Kyle Berkson placing second on the team and 14th at the 5A championships with a race time of 16:00.9. Dillon Elliot was 44th with aa time of 16:32.7. For the girls, junior Sophia Jourdon finished in 18th place overall with a time of 19:16.2.

As for JoJo Jourdon, he’s just getting started doing huge things on the cross country course. Next year, he’ll be running in North Carolina at Wake Forest University, where he’ll also run track. He’ll be part of a program that is improving and has been nationally ranked. “I'm excited to watch his progress as he competes against the best runners in the country week in and week out,” Olympus head coach Christophe Humbert said. “JoJo will be studying engineering there, which I'm happy about, as I've been lucky enough to have JoJo in my computer science, engineering and architecture classes at Olympus High School.” Continued page 9 JoJo Jourdon, Olympus (green jersey, 864) leads the pack of 5A runners in the State UHSAA 5A Cross Country Championships at The Regional Athletic Complex in Rose Park, Utah, Oct 24th. Jordan took first place in 14:58.3 with his team taking fifth overall. (Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

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How to enjoy Christmas movies at home this holiday season By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

here is something magical about Christmas movies, but you may be surprised to hear there are different ways to watch movies, important factors in setting the right ambience, and even benefits to your health as result. Whether gathering with friends, family, or coworkers to catch a flick, or simply getting a little you time, the following are some twists on movie watching this holiday season: 1. Host a watch party. Create themed snacks and drinks. If including kids, and depending on their ages, you could include a fun craft, print off coloring sheets, or even build gingerbread houses before or during the movie. You could even start the evening with a game of bingo or Pictionary with answers all theme related to the movie. 2. Organize a giving back night. Fundraise for a cause you are passionate about by charging admission. This could be monetary or donated items such as socks, coats or blankets to the local homeless shelter. If your group has a special talent or skill you could get together and work on a project for a nonprofit while watching the movie together. My mom used to gather with her friends to sew robes and hats for breast cancer patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute. You’ll be able to enjoy the movie and time together all while giving to a good cause. 3. Make it a get it done night. Plan your menu for the next week or two, address your Christmas cards and get them sent out, or maybe even just wrap Christmas presents while you watch a movie as a family. 4. Have a game night. Do you have those movies that your kids love to watch but you can’t bear to sit through one more time? Invite another family over and while the kids are watching the movie, the adults can play board games. Perhaps even start with dinner so that you have an all-group activity before dividing into movie and games. No matter how you approach your movie watching night be sure to set the scene: • Have plenty of warm blankets and pillows accessible. • Encourage those watching with you to come in their jammies or wear their favorite sweater. You could even have a favorite Christmas jammies or sweater prize. Perhaps even give a little swag to each guest of comfy socks to wear during the movie.

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• Turn the lights down low, have mood lighting of hanging twinkling lights, allow the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and decor to be on, put night lights in the outlets, a couple of well-placed lamps throughout the room, candles lit and safely placed about, or use diffusers with certain scents to help set the scene/feel of the movie. • Plug in that space heater or build/turn on the fireplace. Your goal should be that of a comfy cozy ambience. Now for those who struggle with taking time to sit and watch a movie, news outlet, Mirror, reveals three benefits to your health and relationships of watching Christmas movies: 1. They can bring us some much-needed festive cheer 2. They help reduce levels of stress and anxiety 3. When watched with someone else, movies can strengthen your relationship, from a love interest to a family member. As to what movie to watch as you sit back and kick up your feet, here are some of our family’s favorites based on what mood we are in: • . Our all-time favorites are “Christmas with the Kranks” and “Elf.” These are both hilarious films that get you laughing and are great for the family viewing enjoyment. • Looking for the movie with the Best Quotes? “Lampoons Christmas Vacation” will leave you reciting the script for years to come. Caution, there are a couple of “adult” scenes you may want to skip, should little ears be in the room. After watching this movie you might realize your relatives aren’t so bad after all. • For those marathon nights the “Home Alone” trilogy as well as “Santa Claus” trilogy are all festive, and full of family fun. • Want the warm and fuzzy feels? “Miracle on 34th Street” (the Disney 1994 version, not the older one). From the peaceful music, the adorable little girl, and the sweet story line, this movie leaves you cheering on and “believing” in the end. It’s also sprinkled with a little romance in there too. • Because it IS a Christmas movie: “Die Hard 2.” Enough said—although probably not one to watch with children. • Want some oldies but goodies? Try “Holiday Inn”

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Setting the perfect ambience for watching your Christmas movies. (Holly Curby)

and “White Christmas.” Such sweet and innocent times. Heads up, Holiday Inn is a black and white film, but the dancing in both are quite spectacular and of course both may leave you feeling a little more patriotic too. • For something that takes me back to my childhood I watch “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” This is a short movie (under an hour) and is one that anyone who has ever had their child in a play or ever directed a children’s program is sure to relate. • Last, but not least, for those times when you are multitasking and simply want something on to distract the kiddos: “Jingle All The Way,” “Deck the Halls” (2006 with Danny Devito), and “The Grinch” are good ones. I’m sure parents can relate with the task of finding that musthave present as in “Jingle All The Way,” been witness to some “Deck the Halls” Christmas light battles, and "The Grinch”—well, it’s just a classic. Do you have a favorite Christmas movie missing from the list above? I’d welcome you to share with me your favorite Christmas movies on Facebook @hollyshighlights or on Instagram @hollycurby. Whatever you decide to watch this time of year, and however you decide to watch it—may you and yours have a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a wonderful movie watching night. l

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24th annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service brings community together in the spirit of unity, gratitude and hope

he ethereal sound of the adhan, an Islamic call to prayer, recited by youth speaker, Aadam Abdullah Shakir, filled the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints informing an interdenominational congregation it was time to stand together in prayer. The deep reverence of the adhan set the tone for the 24th annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service held on Nov. 12. Interfaith Council Chair, Rev. Brigette Weier, pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and organizer for Voices for Utah Children, provided the opening service remarks. Rev. Weier began by thanking the 21 members of the Interfaith Council, the contributors and participants of the evening events for coming together to serve humanity in the spirit of unity, gratitude and hope. “Each year, we gather in November as a community of diverse faiths in the spirit of gratitude and hope,” Weier said. “We know that gratitude matters in our lives. For me, it is this evening which optimizes the heart of gratitude which is community—a community of diversity and complexity. Gratitude springs out in the recognition of our interconnectedness, our relationships and our hope. Hope for a future of wholeness, of healing and the flourishing of hope in our world. Welcome to community. Welcome to hope. Welcome to an evening of gratitude.” Mayor Rob Dahle offered his appreciation to Rev. Weier and the Interfaith Council for organizing the service. In his remarks, he shared a proclamation prepared by the Holladay City Council recognizing Thanksgiving as a unifying holiday for people of all faiths and a time to come together to celebrate the common values and virtues inherent in various faith traditions. “Over the years I’ve always loved this evening service because it’s the time we shepherd in the holiday season. Due to the events going on around the world, I think we all can acknowledge that it’s been a rough couple of years. We always have seasons for gratitude. We need to be reminded of that sometimes, and that is why we gather here tonight to think about all the things we have to be grateful for and to hear some words of inspiration as we enter into the Holiday Season. “Our forefathers migrated to this country to escape religious persecution and to become champions of religious freedom and individual liberty. Whereas, giving thanks in the midst of unique challenges we have experienced as a nation the past few years provides us with a model of empathy and understanding towards all.” Keynote speaker, Dr. Sidni Shorter, moved to Utah in April of 2022 to assume the role of CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce. She is the CEO of Execute Now! an outsourced finance and accounting firm dedicated to helping organizations build a solid financial foundation, and she is recipient of the 2023 CEO of the year award. According to Dahle, Shorter began her entrepreneurial journey at the early age of seven and entered college at age 15. She has written, produced and directed three community productions in the Washington, D.C. area and is a four-time cancer survivor.. Shorter delivered her remarks on gratitude, grace, peace and love to a captivated audience. “We are all a masterpiece in the making,” Shorter said. “I want to share with you some things that have been placed on my heart. One thing that I firmly believe is that we enter the world with the components, the attributes and the ingredients, to become a masterpiece. We are the canvas of humanity to both experience and to grace, gratitude, peace and love. That’s what makes us unique as human beings. We all have it. We can all give it, and we can all create it. It all comes from inside. It’s what I call paint by numbers. The number of seconds, minutes,

HolladayJournal .com

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Dr. Sidni Shorter moved to Utah in April of 2022 to assume the role of CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce. She is the CEO of Execute Now! an outsourced finance and accounting firm dedicated to helping organizations build a solid financial foundation and the recipient of the 2023 CEO of the year award. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

hours, days as we live out our lives through encounters, education experiences, explorations, evaluating choices, and making decisions, we will fill our canvas over time. Grace and peace are in our hands.” According to Shorter the ability and capacity to love is the DNA of our humanity. The base color for each number in an individual’s paint by number masterpiece canvas must contain love. “I implore each of us to lead with love,” Shorter said. “And ensure that humanity is a reality for everyone. Beautiful, flaws and all, imperfections with each unique purpose and created to bring its beauty into this world to make it a better place. During this season, I encourage you and implore that you cultivate and share your gifts of gratitude, grace, peace and love, and remember that you each are a masterpiece in the making.” Under the direction of Cecil Sullivan, the Cottonwood High School Madrigals provided two musical selections setting a tone of peace and grace during the evening service. Madrigals is a highly-selective, mixed choir of young men and women grades 11-12. Each year, the Interfaith Council highlights a service organization that seeks the good of those in the community. In her remarks Diane Mackin, president of the nonprofit organization, Assistance League of SLC, highlighted the nine programs offered by the nonprofit whose goal is to improve the lives of thousands of local residents. The organization served over 160 children in need of emergency dental assistance, provided 533 assault survivor kits for women who were victims of assault and rape and 5,000 bags of clothing for elementary-age children. “This year we were able to give five student scholarships to the University of Utah and seven scholarships to Salt Lake Community College for full tuition and fees,” Mackin said. “Seventy percent of our money comes through our Thrift Store located at 2090 East 3300 South. Eighty-five cents of every dol-

The 24th annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service was held Sunday, Nov.12, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Holladay South Stake. The service was organized and hosted by the City of Holladay Interfaith Council. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

V. Rev. George Nikas, Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, and Mayor Rob Dahle welcome Utah House of Representative Carol Spackman Moss to the Thanksgiving Interfaith Service. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

lar earned will go back to the community. I’m really proud of our volunteers and how hard they work.” If you would like further information about the Assistance League of SLC, or would like to make a donation to the organization, visit their website at: www.alslc.org. l

Dec. 2023 | Page 5

What makes a great Girl Scout leader? One leader sets example for others to follow By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

ifty-seven-year-old Shari Solomon-Klebba was harnessed, dangling about 100 feet from a tree. She was with her Girl Scout troop on an approved climb to scale giant, old-growth pines to see the views of the Olympic Peninsula from Washington’s San Juan Islands. Solomon-Klebba wasn’t scared or mad. Instead, she was joking as a guide was helping her accomplish her goal. It was her first time trying tree canopy climbing — and it wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go as planned for the co-leader of a high school-aged troop of girls. After trying 20 minutes to learn how to climb the tree ropes, Solomon-Klebba didn’t master it. Instead of giving up or becoming frustrated, she graciously accepted an ascending device to help her summit the 250 feet so she wouldn’t deprive the girls of the unique experience. Through this experience, the Taylorsville role model exemplified the mission of Girl Scouting: courage — being willing to take on challenges and showing resilience from setbacks; confidence — accomplishing what she set out to do; and character — showing positive values in a challenging time. In Utah, there are thousands of Girl Scouts. They’re learning first aid, scaling new heights and advocating to better the community — in addition to performing service projects and selling Girl Scout cookies to earn money to go to camp. Supporting them are countless volunteers. While volunteers serve many roles, they are the backbone support to a troop of girls age 5 through 18 running program-based meetings to provide Girl Scout experiences. These troops may be a group of neighborhood girls, those in community and refugee centers, or in homeless and domestic shelters. Many of these volunteers were Girl Scouts themselves. According to Girl Scouts of the USA’s 2021 alumni facts, more than one in three women in the United States were Girl Scouts at some point in their lives, resulting in more than 50 million Girl Scout alumnae. More than 80% hold positions of leadership — 71% of the women in U.S. senate are Girl Scout alums and every female U.S. secretary of state has been a Girl Scout or Girl Guide (as they are commonly called in other countries). Girl Scouts volunteer alumni earned higher levels of education (78%), more satisfied in their careers (68%) and are more likely to be involved civically (86%). If they earned the Gold Award, the alums are more likely to become more committed and volunteer. The majority, like Solomon-Klebba, assert Girl Scouts has a positive impact on their lives. Growing up, Solomon-Klebba was a member in several troops, including being part of what is now-known as Girl Scouts Overseas and a Mariner specialty troop. She found a place of belonging where others not just accepted her, but welcomed her. She thrived in this niche, earning her Girl Scout’s highest awards, First Class and Gold Award, and now, pays it back, volunteering to regularly mentor high school age girls who are earning their Gold Awards. As a teacher for the deaf, Solomon-Klebba not only champions for those kids, but also for Girl Scouts. Just days after returning from her troop trip from the San Juan Islands, she dedicated several days to teaching new skills to Girl Scouts who came to statewide camporee. She also helped with the triennial 53rd Girl Scout Convention held in Salt Lake City in 2014. Solomon-Klebba joined Girl Scouting as a 7-year-old Brownie in a multi-level troop in Norway. Her sister, Peg,

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This past June, Girl Scout leader Shari Solomon-Klebba joined her troop tree canopy climbing in Washington’s San Juan Islands. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

was three years older and had already been a Scout when the family lived in Alaska. Finding no existing troop at the American school overseas, her mother started one for girls of all ages. When the family moved to multiple Midwest states for her dad’s civil engineering job, her mother continued to be the troop leader. Camping was a big part of her life growing up, both with Scouts and her family. Her father liked to tinker and make things work, much like she does as she and her family recently converted a van and a school bus into campers. “I’ve always had strong science interests. Nature, plants and flowers, animals — it was a big part of my life,” she said. “I thought I’d be a vet.” Her family moved again, to Salt Lake City, where she joined another Girl Scout troop, and attended Churchill Junior High and Skyline High. Solomon-Klebba bonded with the girls in that troop. They worked on badges and performed service projects. Five of them joined her in the summers to be counselors at Cloud Rim residential camp, something she did every summer for seven years. She also served as a girl representative on the council’s board of directors and a co-leader for an elementary-age troop at the YWCA. Several of her troop members were part of a specialty Mariner troop. “We did everything boat and water related. We sailed, canoed, kayaked, wind sailed, rowed boats. We’d go to (Newport) California and compete at the Girl Scout gathering with other Mariners and be tested on parts of a ship, semaphore, Morse code, and knots, and we had boating and

Girl Scout co-leader Shari Solomon-Klebba is surprised when her Girl Scout troop made her a s’more for her birthday while on a 2019 camping trip at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Holladay City Journal

swimming races. We’d draw the shape of a ship around our campsite, so we had to keep everything shipshape,” she said. Solomon-Klebba was one of eight girls across the U.S. selected to go to Venezuela to celebrate the country’s 25th anniversary of Girl Guiding shortly after the U.S. celebrated 70 years of Girl Scouting. “We slept in army tents at a primitive camp in the back of a jungle. The camp was militaristic. We’d line up for uniform inspections and have calisthenics. We learned that girls in Venezuela were selected, so it was distinguished to be part of their eight-member patrol,” she said, adding that girls from Trinidad and Tobago participated in the gathering, too. Solomon-Klebba also found a direction for her life. In her troop, she learned some sign language to accompany Girl Scout songs. As a counselor, she used that skill to After helping her Girl Scouts successfully sell hundreds of boxes of cookies to fund their troop activities, Girl Scout co-leader Shari Solomon-Klebba takes a break and smiles. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

communicate with girls who were deaf and attended camp sessions and with a deaf staff member at camp. But at Utah State University, she was studying science. “Even though I love science, I wasn't enjoying it. I liked my sign language class, and I was told I should be a teacher. I remembered as a kid, I always played school and I loved teaching at Girl Scout camp, so I sat down with my professor and asked how I should pursue it,” she said. Solomon-Klebba earned her bachelor's in elementary education with a minor in communicative disorders and has her master’s in deaf education. She also has a science endorsement. “I’m a teacher for the deaf who teaches science. I love science and like that I can make learning accessible for deaf students,” she said. She has taught 30 years in deaf education. She has worked at Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, as well as in Wyoming, Colorado and Maine. In 2019, she was nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year award. “Many of the things I learned in Girl Scouts, I incorporate in my teaching, both in science and leadership such as taking care of environment and making sure everyone knows what’s going on and is included. I teach them to think outside the box, how to work as a team and how to problem solve, skills I learn and teach in Girl Scouts,” she said. She is an advocate for her students. She leads after-school activities such as FIRST LEGO League, Battle of the Books and Academic Bowl. “I’m giving my deaf students opportunities the same opportunities as everyone else,” she said. “When I was in Colorado, our students competed against traditional schools in an academic speed event called Match Witz. We lobbied to have questions given ahead of time to our interpreters so our deaf students would be on equal playing ground as others because when you're interpreting, there's always a delay. It’s important that we give everybody equal footing.” She can make connections between her profession and her personal life. “I'm a member of the LGBTQ community, and I see lots of similarities with the deaf community. The oppression they've encountered and are still battling, such as accessibility. The incident with Match Witz happened a while ago in a different state, but that kind of thing continues to happen. Similarly, there’s lots of oppression in the LGBTQ community. We've had to go through same sex marriage, and it's still something we’re having to fight for constantly,” she said. Solomon-Klebba said it’s through Girl Scouting that she found a place to connect.

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At the 2018 Girl Scouts of Utah Camporee, Shari Solomon-Klebba directs Girl Scouts to their next activity. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

I want girls to know that they have a place where they have agency, know who they are and what they want and have that faith in their ability. Shari Solomon-Klebba “I was shy as a teen, probably because I didn't have interest in the normal stuff teenagers typically do. I didn't go to dances; I didn’t go to prom. I didn't enjoy high school at all,” she remembered. “As soon as my schoolwork was done, I got to do Girl Scout stuff. Girl Scouts was my connection. Girl Scouts kept me alive. I think if I hadn't had it….I connected with people and made lifelong friendships. It wasn’t all talk about who you're dating. Girl Scouts gave me a place where I could succeed and become who I am today.” Solomon-Klebba didn’t come out until college. “I was raised in the Catholic Church, so I thought my only choice was to become a nun. When I told my parents, I was expecting that my mom would be OK with it and my dad would be the one that struggles. Dad was sitting across the table and Mom was sitting right next to me. Dad got up and came around the table and gave me a hug. Mom couldn't

even look at me. It was the weirdest thing because it was totally not what I expected,” she said, adding that it was the initial shock that surprised her mother. “Now, I talk openly and freely about my wife; I'm not afraid of people’s views.” She also had to face not being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Being in Utah and not part of the dominant religion was a learning curve for me,” she remembered. “Within the first three minutes of any conversation, they want to know what ward you’re in. It was an assumption that everybody in Utah is LDS. I felt excluded. I knew I was Catholic, but I didn’t know what that meant as my family didn’t talk about it much. I had to find who I was, what worked for me.” Now, she’s married to her spouse, Cindy, who not only is a college history professor, but also a minister. She, too, is a Girl Scout, as is their college-age daughter, who was a member of both a traditional troop and as a specialty outdoors troop. “I know how important Girl Scouts can be to someone. I want to make sure girls have a connection because I know how that feels,” Solomon-Klebba said. “Girl Scouting is part of who I am. When I make a decision, it’s based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law. My actions and my words show I’m a person of character and I have confidence and am courageous. Like with tree climbing, it didn’t go as planned, but I was able to see everything, feel the movement of the tree and made sure the girls had that same opportunity. Girl Scouts made me feel comfortable in that situation. I want girls to know that they have a place where they have agency. I want them to know who they are, what they want and have that faith in their abilities. It’s important we empower girls and young women.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

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Holladay City Journal

Continued from front page During his career at Olympus, Jourdon has excelled—not just because of his abilities and talent but because of his dedication. Humbert said he has done everything a successful cross country athlete should do, from the little things on up. “JoJo has a natural talent, which he discovered before he started running with Olympus High School,” Humbert said. “But what truly makes him exceptional is his work ethic and his focus. JoJo is willing to work very hard and push himself very hard, then rest and recover so his body can rebuild and get stronger. He has a very good attention to detail, is very coachable and tries to do everything right: training, diet, sleep, rest.” Humbert believes Jourdon will transition well to the collegiate level because he has already gone through college-level training programs and workouts. Humbert said Jourdon should only continue to get better and faster. He’s a runner who has worked as hard or harder than anyone on the high school level. Obviously, the Olympus team has benefit from Jourdon’s running prowess. He has also been a leader and set the pace— literally and figuratively—for others on the team. “JoJo is one of our team captains, and more than anything, leads by example,”

Humbert said. “He is a very strong student as well as a great athlete. As both his teacher and one of his coaches, I love this, as his leadership among his team is noticeable both at practice and in the classroom. JoJo is showing his younger teammates that one can be a successful, driven athlete while also prioritizing academics.” Jourdon will graduate and leave a big hole on the cross country team at Olympus. Five other boys who ran at state for the Titans are seniors. However, the girls team has multiple state qualifiers coming back. Five of the seven Lady Titans who ran at state will be coming back in 2024. l

Adria Favero, Olympus (871) finished second in the State UHSAA 5A Cross Country Championships at The Regional Athletic Complex in Rose Park, Utah, Oct 24th. Her time was 17:29.8.. (Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

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Dec. 2023 | Page 9

Olympus football falls just short of playing for state title

he Olympus football team went toe to toe with Class 5A’s top squad, falling just short of reaching the state championship game. Seeded fifth in the tournament, Olympus advanced to the state semifinals on Nov. 9 where it met No. 1 seed Timpview. The Thunderbirds, champions of Region 7, came into the contest with just two losses—one to 6A tournament finalist Skyridge and the other to a strong team from Los Alamitos, California. But the Titans gave Timpview everything it could handle and more. Timpview prevailed 22-20, but it took a field goal on the final play of the game for the Thunderbirds to knock off the Titans. Olympus was trailing 19-7 after three quarters but made a late rally to go up 20-19 with 2 ½ minutes left in the game. First, Chase Moseley connected on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ty Seagle with 5:27 remaining on the clock. Then, after stopping Timpview, Olympus scored again. This time, wide receiver Luke Bryant threw a 49yard touchdown pass to Caden Lloyd on a trick play. The Titans went for two but couldn’t convert. The missed try turned out to be critical. Timpview drove down the field and made the game-winning field as time expired. With the loss, Olympus bowed out of the playoffs, missing out on the chance to play for the school’s first state title since 1998.

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com Moseley was 25 of 36 passing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Lloyd grabbed six of those passes for 104 yards, while Seagle had eight grabs for 61 yards. In addition to his touchdown pass, Bryant had three catches for 52 yards. Nate Sheets was all over the field defensively, collecting 18 tackles. Thomas Mauga had a pair of sacks. The loss ended Olympus’ season with an 8-4 mark. To get to the semifinals, Olympus had to first get by fourth-seeded Box Elder on Nov. 3. The Titans used a huge 28-point second quarter to roll to a 31-0 halftime advantage over the home team. By the end of the third quarter, the Titans had built an impressive 41-0 advantage. Moseley filled the stat sheet in the victory, as the senior signal caller threw five touchdown passes. Two of his touchdowns went to Lloyd—both in the second quarter—of 44 and 46 yards. He also threw a pair of touchdown passes to Seagle—one late in the second quarter for 10 yards, and one late in the third quarter for 7 yards for Olympus’ final touchdown. Moseley finished with 380 yards through the air. On the receiving end, Seagle had eight catches for 113 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Bryant had a game-high nine catches that went for 93 yards. Lloyd’s three catches accounted for a game-best 127 yards. On defense, Sheets tallied 13 tackles, while

The Olympus football team fell just short in the 5A semifinals to finish the season 8-4. (File photo City Journals)

Morgan Boyce had 11. Olympus had a bye in the first round before blowing away West Jordan 35-6 at home in the second round on Oct. 27. Like it would do a week later in the quarterfinals, Olympus

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scored all of its points in the second-round matchup in the first three quarters, bolting to a 35-0 lead. Moseley had four touchdown passes in this game, beginning with a 7-yarder to Nash Taylor in the first quarter. He then tossed a 25-yard TD to Seagle and a 14-yarder to Nic Brown in the second quarter to put his team up 21-0. In the third quarter, Moseley and Taylor hooked up again, this time on a 4-yard connection. With 47 seconds left in the third, Bryant intercepted a West Jordan pass and ran it back 70 yards for a touchdown. Brown had 124 yards rushing on 25 carries to lead Olympus. Moseley was 15 of 24 for 171 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Bryant had four catches for 64 yards to go along with his defensive touchdown. Seagle and Taylor had five and four catches, respectively. Sheets had a dozen tackles and a sack in the win. Hugh Matsumori and James Schlendorft also had interceptions. Plenty of players contributed to Olympus’ success this season. Moseley was one of the most productive quarterbacks in 5A this season. He completed nearly 68% of his passes and totaled 3,133 yards and 32 touchdowns against only eight interceptions. Brown led the team in rushing with 748 yards. Five players had at least 30 catches this season, with Seagle pacing the Titans with 72 grabs as well as 833 yards and. Seven scores. Bryant had 52 catches for 605 yards and nine touchdowns. Lloyd had 41 catches for 805 yards—nearly 20 yards a catch—and a team-high 10 touchdowns. Sheets had an eye-popping 151 tackles, while West Olsen added 101. Mauga had 68 tackles and led the squad with eight sacks. Schlendorft was the leader in interceptions with six. l

Holladay City Journal

DECEMBER 2023

COUNCIL CORNER Protecting our Evergreens The Holladay Tree Committee recently met to clean up and improve the Olympus Pines Park on Holladay Boulevard and 4500 South. The project was prompted by concern about the majestic pine trees in the park. We cut back sod and mulched new tree rings to help the iconic trees get more water and nutrients. This project was a good reminder about protecting evergreens during the fall and winter months. Do you tend to ﬁnd dead, reddish-brown foliage on your evergreen tree plants in the spring? This phenomenon, known as winter desiccation or winter burn, can range from brown needle tips to extensive damage on entire trees. The damage typically occurs on the outer portions of branches, and tends to be more severe on the side exposed to strong winds or radiated heat sources like south- or west-facing walls. Other factors make evergreens especially susceptible to winter desiccation, including root damage, soil compaction, stress from insects or diseases, and tree genetics. Winter desiccation can result from a lack of moisture during fall and winter. All trees lose water during

their metabolic processes, even in winter. Evergreens, however, continue to lose water at a higher rate than deciduous trees, mainly through their needles and, to a lesser extent, exposed bark, twigs, and buds. Dry, sunny, and windy conditions exacerbate water loss, while frozen or dry soil prevents roots from taking up enough water. In years with little snow cover and low soil moisture, evergreen trees and shrubs are especially vulnerable. Snow cover insulates roots and provides much-needed moisture when it melts on warm winter days. However, when there’s little snow, frozen soil prevents roots from accessing moisture. To prevent winter desiccation, provide supplemental watering year-round if conditions are dry. Regular

summer and winter watering is crucial to maintaining soil moisture and preventing further injury. Prune dead branches after new growth has emerged. Mulching and relocating susceptible plants can also offer protection from harsh winter conditions. Also, be sure your evergreens (and other plants) get adequate water in the fall until the soil freezes. Best practice is to ensure the soil is slightly moist down to a depth of 18 inches for shrubs and 18 to 24 inches for trees. Water when the air temperature is above freezing and the soil is not frozen. Soaker hoses are effective for slow, targeted watering. Holladay’s impressive urban forest contributes to beauty, health and livability of our community. Protecting our evergreen trees and shrubs from winter desiccation is possible with proper attention and care. Watering, pruning, and providing adequate moisture throughout the year are key to ensuring the health and longevity of your evergreen landscape. By taking these steps, you can enjoy the beauty and beneﬁts of your evergreens year-round. —Matt Durham, District 2

Winter Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready for the Chill? Winter in Holladay means snow, ice, and cold temperatures. Being prepared for the season is crucial for safety and wellbeing. Here are some tips and resources for winter emergency preparedness. STAY INFORMED: Stay informed about weather forecasts and storm warnings before winter arrives. Sign up for local alerts and follow official sources of weather updates. This can help you plan and make informed decisions during winter weather events. WINTERIZE YOUR HOME by insulating windows and doors, sealing gaps, and ensuring that your heating system is in good condition. Consider servicing your furnace beforehand to reduce the risk of cold-weather-related issues like frozen pipes. EMERGENCY SUPPLIES: Prepare an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, warm clothes, a portable phone charger, and a battery-operated weather radio. Keep it handy and easily accessible for any unexpected situations.

VEHICLE PREPAREDNESS: Winterize your car by checking tires, brakes, and heating. Keep a snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, and warm clothes in an emergency kit. Always have at least half a tank of gas to avoid fuel line freezing. Have snow chains if needed. SAFE DRIVING: Drive cautiously in winter. Slow down, keep your distance, and limit travel during storms. Check road conditions on Waze, news, etc. Use snow-rated tires for better traction. COMMUNICATION PLAN: Create a communication plan with loved ones. Make sure everyone knows how to contact each other during an emergency and where to meet if separated. Share plans with neighbors for community support. STAYING WARM DURING AN OUTAGE: Winter storms often cause power outages. To stay warm and safe, make sure you have blankets and layers of clothing on hand. If you have a generator, use it cautiously and follow all safety instructions. CHECK ON VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS: Check on vulnerable neighbors during winter storms to ensure their safety and well-being. Practice Safe Snow Removal: Take breaks, dress warmly, and avoid overexertion while shoveling snow. Use proper techniques to prevent injuries or consider hiring a professional service if needed.

DECEMBER 2023

CITY INFORMATION

Holladay Completes Step #4 in Renewable Energy Program Utah Renewable Communities (URC) is a coalition of Utah cities, towns, and counties in Utah that are working to launch a default net-100% renewable electricity option for Rocky Mountain Power customers within our communities. The City of Holladay is one of the 18 participating communities. The renewable energy program is being designed by the URC in partnership with Rocky Mountain Power and will be subject to approval by the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC).

The 7-step process for designing and launching the program is shown in the image below. The remaining steps include: • Step #4 Utility Agreement: Communities sign an agreement with Rocky Mountain Power. • Step #5 Program Application: Rocky Mountain Power submits a program application to the Utah PSC, including projected program rates and proposed termination fees. • Step #6 Program Approval by the Utah PSC: The Utah PSC issues an order to approve, change, or deny the program application and finalizes initial program rates and termination fees. • Step #7 Participation Ordinance: Within 90 days of program approval by the Utah PSC, communities review the approved program and initial program rates and decide whether to finalize participation in the program by adopting an ordinance. The Holladay City Council approved the Utility Agreement on November 2, 2023, completing step #4. The Utility Agreement is a key procedural step for communities to remain eligible for the URC program and addresses elements required by Utah law. It’s important to note that the Utility Agreement does not include projected program rates or termination fees—those will be determined by the PSC in step #6. The agreement also does not finalize a community’s participation in the program—this happens when the community adopts the Participation Ordinance in Step #7. As the program development process moves forward, the Holladay City Council will continue to carefully weigh decisions at each step. Get the latest URC news at utahrenewablecommunities.org and clicking “SUBSCRIBE” to sign-up for the agency’s e-newsletter. You can also follow the URC’s social media accounts – look for links to their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube on the website.

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 – first and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Planning Commission – first 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 Finance Justice Court Code Enforcement

801-527-3890 801-527-2455 801-273-9731 801-527-3890

NUMBERS TO KNOW: Emergency UPD Dispatch (Police) UFA Dispatch (Fire) Animal Control Garbage/Sanitation Holladay Library Holladay Lions Club Mt. Olympus Sr. Center Holladay Post Office Cottonwood Post Office Holliday Water

911 801-840-4000 801-840-4000 385-468-7387 385-468-6325 801-944-7627 385-468-1700 385-468-3130 801-278-9942 801-453-1991 801-277-2893

Curbside Christmas Tree Collection We will be collecting Christmas trees during the month of January. For collection, fill out a Curbside Tree Pick Up Request Form on our website (www.wasatchfrontwaste.org), or call the WFWRD office at (385) 468-6325. Place your undecorated trees on your curb and they will be collected the day after your regular collection day during the month of January. If we don’t get your tree that week, we will be back the following week. Please call our office, or chat with us on our website for additional information. • Please remove all snow off the tree. • We cannot accept trees with decorations, lights, tree stands or flocking. • Do not place the tree in your garbage, recycling, or green waste can. • If the tree is over eight feet tall, please cut it into smaller sections. • We cannot accept artificial trees.

Holiday Fire Safety Tips Here we are!! The holidays have arrived! Like many, it’s one of my favorite times of the year. I work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which my wife has yet to accept haha! But, it’s part of the job that I love. Let’s celebrate while providing for safety first. U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of 4 civilian fire deaths, 33 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in direct property damage. Below are some very sound Tips from the American Red Cross to lessen the impact of accidental fires.

COOKING AND BAKING

No holiday celebration would be complete without a feast but be sure to take precautions against kitchen fires when you’re cooking and baking. That includes keeping children and flammable items such as grocery bags and kitchen towels away from the stove and oven. Clean up greasy spills as you go to remove another fire hazard. I recently responded on a fire which was caused by an accumulation of grease at the bottom of an oven. Luckily, ovens are designed to contain high amounts of heat, so extensive damage was avoided.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Old fashioned Christmas celebrations featured wax candles on live tree branches – inside homes! Today we know better, but risks remain. If your family prefers real trees, be sure to water yours every day because dry needles and wood catch ﬁre more easily. Go ahead and use many strings of light, but don’t plug more than 3 strings into each other (opt for a power strip instead). Discard light strings that are worn or broken. And be sure to always unplug

the lights before leaving the house or going to sleep. If you are tech savvy, you can use a smart plug. I have all my lights on timers and I can also turn them off remotely from my phone.

FIREPLACES

Nothing takes the chill off winter holidays like the light and heat of a fire on your hearth. Just be sure to keep “fuel” – from wrapping paper to rugs to clothing – at least three feet away from the flames. Use a fire screen to keep embers and logs from escaping. Lastly, make sure all embers are fully extinguished before you turn in for the night.

EXHAUST VENTS

Keep water heater and furnace exhaust and intake vents clear of snow. Last year with our record snowfall, I saw more of this than ever before. Know where they are in your home, and clear them if covered by large amounts of snowfall.

CALLING 911

If you or the community needs the assistance of emergency responders. When you call 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker’s questions, which may include: • The location of the emergency, including the street address • The phone number you are calling from • The nature of the emergency • Details about the emergency Remember, the call-taker’s questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Thanks for reading and Stay Safe, Holladay! As always, feel free to contact me with any questions. —Capt. Dan Brown, Unified Fire Authority dbrown@unifiedfire.org

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Holladay City Journal

Former NBA coach hosting local basketball camp

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

HolladayJournal .com

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

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

Dec. 2023 | Page 15

Mountain States Eye Center 1485 E. 3900 South, Ste 103 801-277-1087 www.slceyes.com

r. Corey A. Miller started Mountain States Eye Center in 1984 as a comprehensive ophthalmology practice using state–of-the-art equipment and techniques. Up until he retired in 2022, Dr. Miller offered top-notch care and treatment to all his patients. His son, Dr. Corey J. Miller, joined him in his practice a few months and took over once his father retired. Corey J. Miller, M.D. graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah and was awarded the Eli G. Alcorn and John B. Alcorn Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Ophthalmology for his research and dedication to ophthalmology while he attended The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Following his residency at the University of Minnesota, he completed a prestigious fellowship at Minnesota Eye Consultants, receiving training in cornea, cataract, refractive and external disease.

from routine exams, diabetic exams, glasses and contact lenses, to more advanced procedures like LASIK, PRK, cataract surgery, corneal transplants and glaucoma surgery.

How long have you been with Mountain States Eye Center? I had the honor and privilege of joining my father, Dr. Corey A. Miller, in his practice where we worked together for five months prior to his well-deserved retirement. I’m excited to be back where I grew up to serve the community. I’m committed to providing excellent eye care and treat everyone like family. I’m also board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. I am committed to teaching, research and helping underserved populations. I’m fluent in Portuguese and love to spend time with my wife and four children. We enjoy skiing, hiking, fishing and biking together.

Who is your ideal patient? We see people from all demographics and walks of life. We value a broad and diverse patient population. We love seeing both new and existing patients.

What services do you offer? As a comprehensive ophthalmology practice, we do everything

What sets you apart from your competitors? I see each patient myself whereas ,at bigger places, you’re often seeing any provider that is available, which could be a different person each visit. We value continuity and provide a high standard of care for our patients. We have strong ties to the community and work to create a family-like environment. Does your business solve a problem for patients? Our goal is to improve vision and promote good ocular health. We know how critical vision is in life. We screen for, diagnose, treat and/or correct any ocular conditions that could impact the vision of our patients. We’re not satisfied until you are satisfied.

What’s your advice for someone considering doing business with you? We want each person to feel like family when they come to see us. We strive to be honest in all that we do. We don’t outsource your care or cut corners for the sake of profit. What’s your favorite service? Good quality eye care. Are you running any specials? We periodically have specials on laser vision correction such as LASIK or PRK. We provide free screenings for anyone that’s interested in laser vision correction to determine if they’re a good candidate. More information can be found at www.slceyes.com. What is your service area? We have patients from all over Utah as well as Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and Nevada.

How do people choose between you or a competitor? Mostly word of mouth. We hope patients have a great experience and feel comfortable recommending us to family, friends and colleagues. We value the trust people place in us to provide excellent care. We are known for quality care and experience. We provide the highest level of care so patients feel heard, understood and treated with respect. We want each visit to be a positive experience, something that adds value to your life.

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COREY J. MILLER, MD For Dr. Miller, joining Mountain States Eye Center is highly personal. Serving the patients that his father, Dr. Corey A. Miller has cared for and and treated is as an honor and privilege. Dr. Corey J. Miller brings his own set of exceptional skills, experience, and dedication to continuing the legacy of outstanding medical care. Dr. Miller specializes in cornea, cataract, refractive, and external disease. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

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Holladay City Journal

Olympus girls basketball back on the court, looking for another region title

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

fter two straight seasons of sharing the region title with Highland, the Olympus girls basketball team is ready to claim the championship alone once again. The Titans and Rams were co-champions of Region 6 in 2021–22 and 2022–23, both sporting 10-2 records in each season. While a nice accomplishment, the team is eager to return to its 2020–21 form when it won the region outright by going 13-1, beating out Highland by one game. “Looking forward to another year,” head coach Whitney Hunsaker said. “Nine years at Olympus has been incredible for me. We have seen a lot of success lately, and I definitely want to continue that culture of success and having fun together. I love all the girls who have come through the program and have paved the way to make it a great program to be a part of for current players.” It has been quite a turnaround for the program, as Hunsaker and her players have made incredible progress the past several years. The Titans were just 1-20 in 2017–18 and are now one of the top teams in Class 5A. Still, Hunsaker is humble and keeps her team’s goals simple. Her formula for success lies in game-to-game preparation and hard work. “Overall, our goal is to compete,” she said. “Obviously, we want to win as many games as we can, but if we are in every game and giving our best, that is what we want most. We aren't a super tall team, but we don't want to use our ‘weaknesses’ as excuses, so we plan to just go out there and find ways to win and compete with what we have. We have a group of kids who work hard and are committed to our program, so I just expect us to be in the dog fight every game and remind teams who we are and what we are about.” Three returning starters are back to lead the team this year. Junior Joss Baker, a combo forward/guard, along with senior guard Keily Trabanino and senior point

guard Adee Shimoda, bring experience and talent to the Titans. In addition, seniors Lily Smith, Tatum Harrison and Chloe Bontempo make it five seniors who have four years of experience and leadership in the program. “[Baker] is strong and a competitor,” Hunsaker said. “She is great around the rim, a great outside shooter and a versatile player that we can use anywhere. [Trabanino] is a crafty, crafty guard. She is deceiving and has great ball handles and a great ability to get to the rim. [Shimoda] is a composed point guard who has matured into this role and does a great job of getting our team on the same page. She has also improved her outside shot to be a consistent threat outside.” Though the team doesn’t have a lot of height, it’s quick and feisty and plays excellent defense. Hunsaker said the team is also good in transition offense, which will be a real strength this season. Because of its lack of tall players, Olympus will face some challenges when it comes to interior defense and rebounding. “Height is something we lack for the first time in a few years,” she said. “We need to learn how to really box out and not rely on hops to get rebounds. A team effort that everyone commits to boxing out their girl.” Hunsaker has high expectations this season and is pleased with the talent and experience at her disposal. She also enjoys that the players get along with one another and have fun away from the gym. “They are just a fun group of kids,” she said. “We have a great time together, and it isn't necessarily all about basketball either. They care about each other off the court and really emphasize the importance of doing things together outside of basketball.” The Titans hosted Payson on Nov. 17 to open the season. The first Region 6 game will be Jan. 3 against rival Highland at home. l

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Olympus’ Adee Shimoda (No. 0 in white) will be a big part of the Titans’ team this season. Olympus is the defending co-Region 6 champions. (Photo by Caleb Brown.)

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Navigating Grief and the Holidays

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

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-facilitated grief support groups in Utah.

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he number of children living in poverty in the U.S. has more than doubled in the past year and a half, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It issued a release in September saying 12.4% of youth under 18 are living below the poverty line. That’s up from 5.2% in 2021 and totals over 9 million children. Inflation overall, added to the expiration of the Child Tax Credit program that Congress instituted during the pandemic, has added to the economic challenges families are facing, including here along the Wasatch Front. It’s estimated that in Utah, one of every 11 residents will go to bed hungry tonight. So many are turning to local food pantries for help—and that’s a problem. Food pantries are seeing lower inventories and fewer donations. With the holidays approaching, pantry leaders are alarmed. “Our needs are extreme,” said Rebekah Anderson, executive director of the Bountiful Community Food Pantry. “Every single day, we have at least one new family come in who we haven’t served before. Two weeks ago, we served over 100 families in one day—the most in a single day since I’ve been here.” She said most of the pantry’s clients are not destitute—many come from families where both parents are employed or have second jobs. “Every day Davis County residents are finding their paychecks aren’t going as far as in the past,” she said. “They still need help to feed their families.” At the Open Doors pantry in Layton, executive director Jason Wilde tells a similar story. “For the first nine months of this year, we’ve seen a 40% increase in the numbers of families we’ve served,” he said. “At least half of those are families that have never come into the pantry before. At the same time, our donations have dropped by about 10%. So there’s a great inequity between needs and our ability to meet them.” The Murray Children’s Pantry serves clients from throughout Salt Lake County. Jim Brass, president of the pantry board, says donations have dwindled throughout the summer, as they traditionally do, and he’s hopeful the upcoming holidays will put “people in a more giving mood.” As with Bountiful and Layton, clients have increased in numbers the past few months. “We’re hearing the biggest challenge is rent—the costs of housing,” he said. “We’ve seen our client base grow by 30% to 40% some weeks. We have put together what we call family boxes—enough to

feed a family of four for a week—and demand for those has steadily grown. There are new families coming in for the first time every week.” Anderson said the Bountiful Pantry is blessed to have over 200 volunteers who help with food organization and distribution. She said one of those volunteers came back into work after being off for about a week and said “she couldn’t believe how empty our warehouse looked… in just a few days.” And she’s concerned that with November and December holidays just around the corner, when the demand usually doubles or triples, her inventory continues to drop. In Bountiful, Anderson’s crew is being extra careful with distribution. “We’re not rationing food, but we are taking steps to make sure we reduce waste,” she said. “We can extend the shelf life of canned vegetables, for example. The USDA provides a shelf life guide because many products are still good past their published expiration dates. That said, we still offer clients many healthy, fresh perishable food items as well. Our number one focus is always on our clients.” So how can the public help out pantries? One way is through food drives at schools or through churches or community groups. The Farmington High National Honors Society is planning a food drive from Nov. 6-10 for the Bountiful Pantry. Anderson said she’ll provide either barrels or large wire containers to gather food. Bountiful also received a $5,000 donation from the Bridge Community Church in Centerville, which held a golf tournament as a fundraiser for the pantry. “We’re so grateful to both Farmington High and the Bridge Community Church for doing these,” Anderson said. “It helps take stress off of the pantry.” Bountiful Pantry’s annual Sub for Santa program—which can assign clients to be Santas for families in need of help— is taking registrations through Nov. 18. Low-income families are vetted, and last year more than 4,000 children received gifts. Brass said the Murray pantry is working for the third year with the Frank Cordova Foundation to provide Thanksgiving dinners for families. The foundation provides turkeys, and the pantry provides the rest of the fixings. Those wishing to make donations and help out should reach out to the pantries on their websites. Each director says the needs are continuing to grow every day. l

Holladay City Journal

A Labor of Love in Salt Lake County By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

t’s been 50 years since a group of parents got together to create a program where adults with disabilities could live in a traditional setting and experience being part of a community. Project TURN is now TURN Community Services and its mission is to turn dreams into reality. Two-time Best of State winner, TURN offers day programs, residential living, summer camps, supported employment and art programs to participants from 11 to 80 years old. It also provides Christmas gifts to 200 people with disabilities through its Labor of Love project. “We provide Christmas for people with disabilities and we open that up to the community,” said Alyssa DeHart, TURN director of development and communication. “People are able to submit names and profiles of people who would like help…It’s entirely funded by donations and volunteers who shop, wrap and then deliver the presents as well.” The Labor of Love project has been going on for at least 30 years, helping hundreds of people with disabilities enjoy a fun holiday. Volunteers in the community deliver gifts to each one of the TURN offices in the state, from Ogden to St. George. The gifts are then distributed to some of Utah’s most vulnerable residents. “We have volunteers that come year after year, some have participated for more than 20 years, and they bring more friends and extended family members each year because they find it so rewarding to help these people who often have no family members left to help with their basic needs and holiday celebrations,” said Cynthia Proctor, Labor of Love director. “They know they are extending critical help to this overlooked and underserved part of the community whose

needs are very real, extensive, and still often invisible.” For information about volunteering with the Labor of Love project, contact DeHart at alyssadehart@turncommunityservices.org. The drop-off location in Salt Lake County is at 423 W. 800 South. Along with the Labor of Love project, TURN provides support for individuals with disabilities by providing individualized care in a residential setting. Support includes health care, socialization, financial management, transportation, leisure activities and community events. TURN’s art centers help people express themselves through the power of creativity with art classes, dance lessons and music education. The classes offer a chance for participants to build skills, explore the world, enhance self-expression and tap into their own artistic talents. Several artists in the program have submitted art for various fairs and contests. A popular program at the nonprofit is employment services which helps individuals with disabilities, ages 14 and up, to find work in their community. Counselors take time to meet with each person to determine their skills, interests and abilities and then help them find a job that matches their preferences, allowing them to develop independence. “Our mission statement is turning dreams into reality and that helps us focus and maintain our ideals of serving people,” DeHart said. “Sometimes we focus on sustaining life but enhancing life is really what we want to do. We want each individual to be able to have dignity and hopes and dreams and discover new abilities.” l

TURN Community Services volunteers shop, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to more than 200 people with disabilities throughout the state. (Photo courtesy of TURN)

Olympus boys basketball aiming for another championship run

t a program like the Olympus boys basketball team, expectations are always high. This year is certainly no different. The Titans are coming off a 24-3 season in which they went to the Class 5A state semifinals. Olympus fell to Alta, ending its bid for a state. Olympus won Region 6 with an 11-1 record. It was its eighth region championship in the past 10 years. Head coach Matt Barnes, who enters his 27th year at Olympus after spending two years as an assistant, has amassed an impressive 504-124 record. During his tenure, Olympus has won three state titles: 2016, 2018 and 2022. Coming off a semifinal run, the Titans want another shot at the state crown. “We’re excited to get going,” Barnes said. “We’re motivated and have expectations.” Olympus has 10 seniors on its roster, led by the coach’s son Jordie Barnes as well as Dutch DowDell, who is on pace to break his brother Jeremy’s career three-point record. Last season, Jordie Barnes averaged 12.8 points per game along with 6.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds. DowDell, meanwhile, was one of the top scorers in the state, pouring in 23.7 points per game a year ago. He hit 83 three-pointers and grabbed 5.5 rebounds an outing. Gavin Lowe, just a sophomore, scored 6.8 points a game and dished out 3.1 assists an outing a season ago when he started as a freshman. Barnes said some players who saw limited varsity minutes a year ago will see bigger roles this season. He mentioned Reef Smylie, Will Blanck, Weston Olsen and Eli Mayfield as players he is counting on this season to step up. There are also a handful of players who were on the football team (which reached the

HolladayJournal .com

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Dutch DowDell is on pace to break his brother Jeremy’s career three-point record. (File photo City Journals)

state semifinals) who are now transitioning to the basketball team. “We need to get them into basketball mode,” Barnes said. “It’s going to take some time to adjust.” Olympus is staying in Region 6 this season, though it will have some new opponents. One of these will be Alta, which knocked the Titans out of the playoffs a season ago and eventually won the 5A title. Barnes said his players are itching for the chance to play the Hawks again. “We’re looking forward to playing Alta,” he said. “We get to play them twice. Having them in our region adds some intrigue.” In the past, some coaches would experiment more with

their lineups early in the season before region play started. Region standings would determine playoff seeding, so wins and losses in non-region action didn’t have a direct effect on where teams would be seeded in the state tournament. However, with RPI—not region standings—scores now determining seeding, the approach is a little different. Still, Barnes still emphasizes the importance of taking first in league play. “Every game matters,” Barnes said. “We always try to win region. We play to win every game.” This year’s Olympus team doesn’t have a lot of size, but Barnes believes his players have other skills and attributes to offset height disadvantages. He said his players have good quickness, shoot the ball well and have high basketball IQs. To be successful once again this season, Barnes is looking for his team to control the boards, play hard and keep other teams from getting into their offense. “We’ll need to defend, be scrappy and rebound,” he said. “I’m excited to see what the kids can do.” Olympus starts the season at home against Orem on Nov. 28. After a full slate of December games Olympus tips off Region 6 action Jan. 3 at Highland. The Titans and Alta will meet Jan. 16 at Alta and Feb. 9 at Olympus. The final regular season game is Feb. 16 at Skyline. A special occasion is upcoming for the school and boys basketball team on Nov. 27. To celebrate the school’s 70th year, Barnes is helping to organize and promote a reunion of anyone who has ever played boys basketball at the school. Barnes himself is a former player, and he’s hoping to get as many former players to return to celebrate and reminisce. l

Dec. 2023 | Page 19

Cottonwood High opens new teen center to provide resources to all students

t only took a couple months to turn two classrooms at Cottonwood High School into a teen center complete with a kitchen, study rooms, showers and laundry facilities — and parent volunteer Robyn Ivins couldn’t be more pleased. “We had a vision for what this would look like and Granite School District supported it,” said Ivins, the longtime Cottonwood High pantry volunteer who was involved during every step of the five-month construction project. “We want to meet the physiological needs of our students. If you’re going to educate the whole child, it’s more than just food. When kids didn’t have clean clothes and they didn’t have a way to shower, we knew we needed to help. This organically grew into ‘let’s meet more needs of our kids.’” Cottonwood High’s teen center was slated to open in November once a director was hired. Access to the center is available through the school as well as a separate outside entrance. There is food in the school pantry adjacent to the teen center and counseling services and resources are available. “There’s a ‘chill pass.’ This is a place if they need a break, but it’s not like they can leave class and hang out here to sluff. It’s a place where they can get a snack, do their laundry, have access to administration, mental health help, learn about resources, get whatever they need to be successful in class,” Ivins said. Facilities for students have increased in recent years. Nearby Hillcrest High in Canyons School District added services for students when the school underwent a recent rebuilding. Several high schools in Davis School District have teen centers and recently, Herriman High opened a teen center. Several other schools – elementary through high school – have created wellness rooms for students and faculty.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com School social worker Alisa Webb said there has been a growing need for students in all communities to have access to teen centers in recent years. “Definitely since COVID, we’ve seen a rise in students with needs,” she said. “It’s true especially with housing this past year because that’s when the protections ran out.” According to U.S. News & World Report, Cottonwood High has a minority enrollment greater than 53%. Webb said part of the school’s population counts for refugees and newcomers to the country and more than 40 native languages are spoken. “The beauty of Cottonwood is the diversity,” she said. “It also comes with some challenges. We’re trying to answer some of those with the new teen center. I love that students have access right here to do laundry or take a shower. Over the years we’ve had students who had been staying in their cars or haven’t been able to wash their clothes for a long time. Just to have the resources for them to be successful at the school is amazing.” In addition to shower and laundry facilities, Webb, who provides counseling for students, said 46 students of about 1,500 at Cottonwood have been identified as not having a permanent home. “Those are the ones I know of; there’s probably more than that,” she said. “Initially, they’ve been identified through the McKinney-Vento (Homeless Assistance Act) questionnaire that asks, ‘Are you staying at a house with another person or family due to loss of housing and economic hardship or similar reasons? Are you living in a motel, shelter, temporary housing or living in a car?’ I have all of the above. Then, some pop up through the year either coming in on their own or someone else refers them. We don’t have a place for them to sleep at the school, but I do connect them to resources. Now, our new teen center will help

Cottonwood High volunteer Robyn Ivins advocated for the school’s new teen center which provides students resources for laundry, shower, studying, food and counseling. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

The laundry room, with free detergent, is available to students to wash clothes and they can study in an adjacent room. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Two restrooms with showers are available for student use in the new Cottonwood High teen center. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Page 20 | Dec. 2023

me provide resources to our students as well.” The resources at the teen center are available for anyone, the same as the school pantry, which serves about 150 students per week. Cottonwood High’s pantry opened in January 2017 when there was a realization that students were too hungry to focus on their homework during an after-school tutoring program. Cottonwood has more than 50% of the student body who qualify for free or reduced lunch. “There is no stigma with our pantry,” Ivins said. “Everybody comes. Anybody comes. Whether they just need a pencil or a granola bar or kids who can’t afford to buy things, our pantry is open to all; there’s no qualifier. The teen center is a place for everybody. It’s not a place for a homeless kid. It’s not a place for

a disadvantaged kid. It is a place for anybody who needs something that we offer here to be welcomed.” Ivins said having facilities available to all students helps with their education. “I love the food pantry and this teen center,” she said. “These Cottonwood kids are near and dear to my heart; there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. This is leveling the playing field so every kid can be in school. I want every kid to have what my kids have; I want every kid to have access to physiological and educational needs, emotional support, physical support. We’ve made that happen and it has taken an army of the most incredible people, but we have this magical place. It’s like Disneyland for me.” l

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Christmas Unwrapped

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

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

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

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