Midvale City Journal DEC 2019

December 2019 | Vol. 19 Iss. 12

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BRAND-NEWCOATS TO CHILDREN IN NEED

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

T

he Ruth Vine Tyler Library in Midvale is a place where children and families can access many resources, including free computer and internet access, after-school snacks and educational programs. On Oct. 25 it was also a place to get a brand-new winter coat.

Free coats were given out to 700 children who attend Midvale Elementary. The event was made possible by Operation Warm, a nonprofit organization that recently opened a regional office in Utah.

“I love how Operation Warm provides a way to help families get connected with the library,” said Matt McLain, associate director of community engagement for the Salt Lake County Library. “It is wonderful to be able to offer a soft, warm coat in addition to our services and resources. In this way, the library can help address physical, emotional, and educational well-being.”

“The gift of a brand-new coat means a lot,” said Grace Sica, vice president of corporate partnerships for Operation Warm. “Kids can pick out the color and size that they want.

More than a coat, it’s the gift of warmth, confidence and hope.”

Each child also received a free book and a snack thanks to partnerships with the Salt Lake County Library and the Utah Food Bank.

Parents and their children began lining up well before the start time. Promptly at 3 p.m. they were ushered one by one into the meeting room piled high with coats. Families continued to arrive in a steady stream for the next several hours.

Community volunteers and McLain helped each child find the perfect coat. McLain easily found a bright pink coat

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Matt McLain (left) unwraps a new coat for Carlos Morales as his sister, Mia Morales, looks on. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Midvale Mayor Robert Hale (right) helps Indigo Hinton-Ward try on a new coat at the Tyler Library on Oct. 25. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

for Mia Morales. Her brother, Carlos, wanted a blue one at first but then saw an orange one that he ended up taking home.

Carlos tried it on and McLain had him reach up high and wrap his hands behind his back to see if the sleeves were long enough.

“I’d say I helped about 75 kids find coats,” McLain said.

“Most found their coats quickly, and I think every child left

smiling.”

McLain is hoping this will be the first of many Operation Warm events with the county libraries.

“Today’s event is a unique partnership that allows us to be right in the community where the need is,” Sica said.

“We’ve shipped coats (to Utah) before, but now we have a staff person here. He’s really Continued page 8

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Colds may be a thing of the past

By Priscilla Schnarr

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More and more people are saying they just don’t get colds anymore.

They are using a new device made of pure copper, which scientists say kills cold and flu viruses.

Doug Cornell invented the device in 2012. “I haven’t had a single cold since then,” he says.

People were skeptical but New research: Copper stops colds if used early.

EPA and university studies Businesswoman Rosaleen says when demonstrate repeatedly that viruses and bacteria die almost instantly when people are sick around her she uses CopperZap morning and night. “It saved me touched by copper.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- last holidays,” she said. “The kids had tians used copper to purify water and colds going around, but not me.”

Some users say it also helps with heal wounds. They didn’t know about sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

Scientists say the high conductance 2-day sinus headache. When her Copperof copper disrupts the electrical balance Zap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” seconds.

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Colds start after cold viruses get in ly and for several days. Lab technicians your nose, so the vast body of research placed 25 million live flu viruses on a gave Cornell an idea. When he next CopperZap. No viruses were found alive felt a cold about to start, he fashioned a soon after.

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December 2019 | Page 3

Utahns of all cultures get in on the Day of the Dead spirit

By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com

A literary-themed ofrenda (offerings) welcomed guests to Tyler Library’s Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1. (Alison Brimley/City Journals)

Y

ears ago, someone wanting to attend a Dia de los Muertos celebration in Salt Lake might have had a hard time finding a

Journals

place to party. In 2019, this is no longer the case. Celebrations of the Latin American holiday took place at Abravanel Hall, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Discovery Gateway and many more locations.

The county library system got in on the celebration as well, hosting events at Tyler Library on Nov. 1 and Hunter Library on Nov. 2. The libraries put a literary spin on the holiday. Where people usually create ofrendas (offerings) to remember deceased family members, the library’s ofrenda honored gone-but-not-forgotten writers such as Dr. Seuss and the Brontë sisters.

But the spirit of this event is not one of sadness or loss. It’s certainly not one of spookiness, like Halloween, even though the skeleton imagery associated with both holidays might confuse people.

Instead, the vibe is one of celebration.

The library’s events included mariachi music and dancing, as well as face-painting and baked goods. Assistant Librarian Maria Sommer, who oversaw the decor and planned other aspects of the event, said the holiday “is more based in reality than in fantasy, like Halloween is.”

But because it comes on the heels of Halloween, some may confuse the two holidays as different versions of the same thing.

Last year, Sommer said, some attendees at the library’s Dia de los Muertos celebration made comments along these lines.

“Once you give them the right information, they go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that.’ They say, ‘This makes more sense than Halloween,’” she continued with a laugh. “I like it more than Halloween myself.”

Sommer is from Bolivia and grew up celebrating Dia de los Muertos. She noted that while all Latin American countries celebrate Dia de los Muertos in different ways, the party she organized at the library aimed

for a Mexican style, because it’s more representative of the Latin population in Utah.

“In Bolivia, we don’t do it as colorful,” Sommer said. “We do have the ofrenda, where we put [deceased loved ones’] images, flowers and things they loved so much.”

Melissa Robison, who teaches various classes for the library system (including a zombie makeup class), was approached a few years ago and asked if she had ever done “Catrina makeup.” Robison enthusiastically said yes. This iconic makeup style (also called “calavera” makeup, after the Spanish word for “skull”) is what many people identify with Day of the Dead.

This year, she taught this makeup style to children attending the library’s festivities.

“I like that the library lets me teach kids how to do it themselves instead of just [having me paint] 100 kids,” Robison said. “I love that they can walk away being proud they learned something new.”

And though this isn’t the first year the library has put on a party for the Day of the Dead, the celebrations have grown over the years. Tyler Library Manager Davie Bird said though Tyler has put on smaller-scale Dia de los Muertos programs before, this is just the second year they’ve held countywide celebrations.

“With the backing of the county, we have a lot more funds,” Bird said. “We can hire presenters and have a lot more cool things. It has definitely evolved to something grander.”

What’s behind the boom of Dia de los Muertos parties? There are many possibilities.

“Twenty years ago, the Latino culture was not as big as it is now in Utah,” Sommer said. “When I came [to the United States], back then I didn’t see programs like this. Or if they did celebrate it, they did it in their own communities. It is not as spread out as it is

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now.”

Bird agrees that there have always been celebrations for the holiday, but “there is more attempt lately to reach out and recognize our demographic. Lately in Utah, specifically Salt Lake County, people are recognizing we are not just one culture here.”

Statistics show this is more than just a hunch. The 2018 census showed that Utah’s Hispanic population has grown by nearly 26% since 2010. And while this rate doesn’t make for the fastest-growing minority group in the state, it’s more than twice the increase in the non-Hispanic white population (just under 11%).

It seems likely that Disney’s 2017 film “Coco,” an Academy Award winner and a box-office hit, may also have bolstered awareness of the holiday in the United States.

The film follows a young Mexican boy as he journeys to meet his ancestors in the realm of the dead.

“It made [Dia de los Muertos] mainstream and something anyone could celebrate,” Robison said.

Whatever the reason—and whatever your cultural background—it seems Salt Lake County is ready to make Dia de los Muertos a bigger part of their holiday celebrations.

“Our goal here is to represent that there are other holidays,” Bird said of the library’s events. “There are other cultures. We want populations that we serve here to recognize that the library is here for them.”

“Although I am not Latino, this holiday has always been special to me because of what it celebrates and honors: family,” Robison said. “I love that it encourages you to talk about those that came before and never forget them.” l

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December 2019 | Page 5

New, simplified Midvale recycling guidelines aim to lessen contamination

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

Newspapers and paper are no longer accepted in curbside recycling bins, but several drop-off locations can be found in Midvale, including this one near Midvalley Elementary. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Y

ou carefully empty, rinse and collect every bottle, can and box that you use.

You place them in a blue bin that you move to the curb every other week. But if you live in Midvale, odds are that the contents of your bin are going straight to the landfill. More than 55% of the collected recyclable materials are contaminated and will not be accepted by recycling facilities.

In an effort to reduce contaminated loads, Midvale has simplified the guidelines for what can be recycled. “Well-intentioned people are still contaminating,” said Laura Magness, communications director for Midvale City. “So if we bring it to three items, it’s easier for residents to remember what goes in the bin.”

Residents are being asked to put only the following items in their curbside bin: corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with necks, and metal and aluminum cans.

All cardboard boxes should be flattened with any plastic or bubble wrap removed. Plastic water bottles and milk jugs should be rinsed and the caps replaced. Most plastic — even items with the recycle symbol — should not be placed in the blue bins.

The contents of curbside bins are transported to a local materials recovery facility to be sorted. The most common contaminants are food, liquids and plastic bags. If just one blue bin from your neighborhood is contaminated, that entire truck load could be sent straight to the Trans-Jordan Landfill. That means a load of materials that won’t be recy-

Page 6 | December 2019

cled. It also means more miles driven by the waste disposal truck, which adds to air pollution in the valley.

The new policy will hopefully result in better recycling rates and save money as well. “(The board) put it out to us how many trucks for recycling are returning to the landfill. That is creating more truck trips and is more expensive for cities,” Magness said. It currently costs Midvale $50 per ton to recycle when it should cost $16 per ton.

The landfill is overseen by a board that includes representatives from West Jordan, Draper, Murray City, Riverton City, South Jordan and Sandy. Kane Loader, city manager of Midvale, is chairman of the board. West Jordan, Riverton and Sandy have not adopted new guidelines. Murray officials said it will continue to accept junk mail, newspapers, office paper, wrapping paper, softcover books, magazines, shoe boxes food boxes and more in its recycling. They added the Trans-Jordan Landfill distributed its flyer without Murray’s approval.

Flyers describing the big three categories of items to be recycled were first distributed around the end of October. “We don’t expect people to pull things out of their bins, but (follow the guidelines) moving forward,” Magness said. “If we only recycle these items, they’re more likely to be recycled. If we work together we can make a positive impact.”

The change in what can be recycled has become a lively topic of discussion in the

New guidelines allow for three categories of items to be placed in curbside bins: plastic bottles with necks, metal/aluminum cans and corrugated cardboard. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Midvale residents’ Facebook group. One resident declared that she will no longer bother to recycle. Another is disappointed that it will take her household a month to fill one bin with the acceptable items.

Others welcome the new guidelines.

“I find this makes recycling easier,” Susan Holbrook Chadwick said. “The Midvale Journal has an ad that you can cut out and put it by your inside garbage cans to remind you of the change. This is a change in recycling everywhere, not just here.”

Paper can still be recycled, but is problematic when all recyclables are collected in a single load. Newspaper can get wet when mixed with bottles and cans, and wet paper is not accepted by recycling facilities.

“I just feel terribly guilty putting any paper in the garbage,” Candice Erickson said.

“I think paper, like newspaper, was the first thing I ever recycled, so there’s nostalgia.

Now it’s another trip to do the right thing.”

There are three separate paper recycling drop-off locations in Midvale: Copperview Elementary (8449 S. Monroe St.), Midvalley Elementary (217 E. 7800 South) and Saint James Church (7486 Union Park Ave.).

Items that can be placed in these bins include newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, office paper, cardboard and brown paper bags.

There are plans to add an additional paper recycling bin at Midvale City Hall.

Glass had not been accepted in the blue bins, even before the new rules. There is a

drop-off bin for glass in the parking lot south of the Boys & Girls Club in Midvale City Park. More information about where different materials can be dropped off for recycling can be found on the Trans-Jordan website: transjordan.org/recycle/recycling-faq/ “I’ve been impressed with how informed and educated Midvale residents are about changes in China and the recycling industry,” Magness said. “I’m happy that people understand the total ramifications and the positive impact we’re making. We knew it would be challenging to get the word out, but it’s the right thing to do to be good stewards for the environment.” l

Midvale has restricted the types of items allowed in recycling bins so that fewer contaminated loads will be sent to the landfill. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Midvale City Journal

Moms embrace Copperview Elementary parenting program

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

C

arlie Foley arranged to go into work late so she could join her kindergartner, Olivia, for breakfast one October morning.

After Olivia went to class, she stayed for the first Moms Matter meeting of the school year.

“I saw the flier and wanted to come and see what is going on in the school,” she said.

Similarly, Maricela Zarate stayed after her two children went to their classrooms at Copperview Elementary.

“It’s my first time here,” she said. “I came to help my kids.”

That is the program’s intent, said Copperview Community School Facilitator Jenna Landward, who helped develop the program, Moms Matter, after receiving feedback from the school’s community council saying they wanted a program designed to support mothers and help them find success with their children. The program is similar to the school’s All Pro Dads.

“We came up with our program to build community, to allow moms and kids to eat breakfast and to help moms learn how they can help with their children and have a link to learning,” Landward said about the program that began last spring. “It’s a wonderful program that complements our Family Learning Center and builds a bridge between home and school. We’re finding it is encouraging more

Copperview Elementary administration listened to its school community council and continued offering the fairly new Moms Matter program, designed to support mothers find success with their children, a complementary program to All Pro Dads.

Prime Rib

Community educator Maria Alvarez spoke at the first Copperview Elementary Moms Matter program of the school year, using an orange to demonstrate how mothers protect and guide their students to success. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

parent engagement.”

While Landward said the program last spring covered topics from digital citizenship to DYAD reading, it helped mothers connect with the school and with people in the school.

“We’re seeing more parents and families supporting students with homework and reading at home and resulting in greater academic growth,” she said.

Principal Jeri Rigby said that the program welcomes all mothers.

“One beautiful thing about this is mothers come to have a simple breakfast with their kids and learn skills that will hopefully make them even better mothers,” she said. “Our attendance is a good representation of our community; we’re united in our single focus and goal of helping our children succeed.”

To kick off the program this fall, community educator Maria Alvarez spoke in Spanish, and with a translator for English speakers, addressed protecting their children and com-

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pared it to an orange.

“The peel is you; you are protecting your kids or the inside of the orange,” she said.

Then she asked the mothers how they protect their children. She received responses of guiding, feeding and nurturing children.

“The base of everything you do it love.

Everything we do for them is out of our love.

We guide them to grow in the right way and want to help them,” she said.

When asked how the mothers help their kids, she received nearly a response from every one of the 40 mothers in attendance. Time, attention, listening, setting rules and being firm, giving positive reinforcement, role models, teaching responsibility, reading together, and teaching respect were amongst ways Copperview mothers shared how they hoped to provide their children a positive upbringing.

Then Alvarez put the orange in a bowl of water, showing how it floats or “rises to the top.”

“These are your kids, with your guidance and protection and emphasis on education, spiritual and ethical morals, and all good things. They are shaping into humans who will contribute to our country,” she said.

Alvarez then peeled the orange and showed how without their mothers’ guidance, children may not rise to the top, but rather sink, like the orange did in the water.

“When we don’t protect our children, their future is down. Many of the parents at Copperview are wonderful and make sure their children are fed, read and get to sleep early. When we do things for our children, it shows we care. We care about their education, their intellectual, their social and their physical growth. We need to be aware of what is going on in our children’s lives. Our children need parents 100% of the time,” she said.

Landward said that Moms Matter will be offered three more times this school year to the Copperview Elementary community; in 2020, they will hold the program on Jan. 31, March 13 and May 1 in the school cafeteria.

There also will be three more All Pro Dad programs this school year on Nov. 22 as well as Feb. 21 and May 1, 2020. l

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Families wait for their chance to pick out new winter coats at the Tyler Library on Oct. 25. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

been able to build momentum.”

Mike Andrews has been Operation Warm’s manager for corporate partnerships in the Intermountain West for five months.

When asked if he had a favorite moment from the afternoon, Andrews replied, “No matter where you go, there’s a story. There was a mother and grandmother who brought five kids. They were so thankful, so happy.

They were just amazed that we were doing this.”

According to Andrews, many of the families that Operation Warm serves sometimes have to decide between buying food for the month or buying a coat for their child. New

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coats for children generally cost between $30 and $200. “Most of these kids have only seen hand-me-downs,” Andrews said. “We give them the power to choose their own coat and know that people in the community care.”

Operation Warm was established in 1998 and works with community partners to identify families with the most need. They often reach children who attend a Title 1 school like Midvale Elementary. A school qualifies for Title 1 status if 40% or more of the students’ families are at or below 150% of the federally-prescribed poverty level.

Rather than taking donated coats, Operation Warm partners with manufacturers to create their own. Each year the design is adjusted to keep up with trends. The coats are machine washable with detachable hoods and deep pockets.

Megan Hinton-Godfrey watched as Midvale Mayor Robert Hale helped her daughter, Indigo, select a coat. “This is her first brand-new coat,” said Hinton-Godfrey.

“We usually get them from Savers. I have joint custody of Indigo, and things get lost.

It’s good to have an extra.”

The mother and daughter had been hanging out at the library that day and wandered over to see why a crowd had gathered.

“We’ve lived here for a year and a half, and I’ve been in awe of how much Midvale offers in terms of resources,” Hinton-Godfrey said. “I grew up in California where they didn’t have the kinds of resources they have here. It really warms my heart.” l

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Quick Wits stages four improvised musicals to raise money for local arts

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

Quick Wits actors pose after performing “Shopping Mall, The Musical” on Oct. 25 at the Midvale Performing Arts Center. (Photo courtesy Midvale Arts Council)

“

Tell your friends you were among the seven people to see this show,” Bob Bedore told a small but enthusiastic audience. “This was the first and only time you’ll ever see this musical.”

Five actors and a pianist had just performed a 40-minute musical made up completely on the spot. It was the fourth such performance that took place at the Midvale Performing Arts Center between Oct. 24 and 28. The weekend of fun raised nearly $1,000 for the Midvale Arts Council.

“Nothing was scheduled at the theatre for this weekend, so I offered to do a quick fundraiser,” Bedore said. “I was able to get some actors together and they met the night

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before the first performance to go over structure.”

According to Bedore, most musicals follow a general format: an opening scene that sets the tone, songs to introduce the protagonist and villain, and then they collide. During that Monday performance, the hero was a simple snow shoveler whose livelihood was threatened by a snowblower tycoon named Smogsworth.

“I really enjoyed when Michael (Haycock) made Smogsworth’s snow machine attack Bob, leaving him as a singing arm and head for the remainder of the musical,” said Jason Wild, one of the performers. “Things like that happened throughout the run that we all had fun with.”

The musical’s name, “Adventures in Shoveling Snow” and title of its hit song, “Don’t Amputate My Leg” were taken directly from the audience. Other details included in the musical were inspired by a conversation that Bedore had with the audience after the actors played some improv games to warm up. One woman mentioned a recent harrowing trip to the dentist. A man admitted to getting a traffic ticket for failure to yield.

Both of those details were cleverly folded into various songs.

“I love that they incorporated the audience’s suggestions during the musical and

even looked at the audience members,” said Veronica Eulenberg, a member of the audience.

All performers had prior experience in musical theatre or improv, but never both at the same time. “Quick Wits does a musical every once in a while, but it’s the last real scary improv thing,” said Bedore. “With improv it’s hard enough to keep the story going. Then you’re adding rhymes and working with the framework set by the pianist.”

Caleb Wall played piano accompaniment for all four nights. He inspired the actors by playing introductions in a variety of musical styles. “This one and Friday were really great,” Wall said. “Even in moments where you fail it’s a lot of fun.”

Wild agreed. “Throughout the musical fundraiser, my favorite moments have come at times where someone just takes an odd route, and we all just trust one another and follow where it leads.”

“This was my first time improvising a musical in front of an audience,” said Sydney Growe, a former Midvale resident. “We’ve all done stage productions before, so we’re familiar with the structure and tropes.”

For Jackson Holladay, this was his first time doing any kind of improv in front of an audience, and his manic energy was infectious.

The other “instant musicals” were titled “Drivers Education — The Musical,” “Shopping Mall, The Musical” and “Jebediah Exits Willingly.” Bedore estimated that Saturday’s performance had the largest audience, but they didn’t get as large of crowds as they would have liked. The last-minute timing made the event challenging to promote.

“Our audiences were small, but our patrons were generous,” said Wild. “I truly wish more folks from the community had taken the opportunity to come enjoy the performances with us. Financial contributions are important and always appreciated, but personally I feel like the arts have to be at the heart of a thriving community. I speak only for myself, but I would rather have seen a few hundred folks over a few hundred dollars.”

Quick Wits performs Saturday nights at the Midvale Performing Arts Center with show times at 10 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students, seniors and military. Bedore and Wild are both performers with Quick Wits as well as members of the Midvale Arts Council Board of Directors.

“Things like getting together in community groups and laughing brings us together, which is what we need more of in our world right now,” Wild said. “I love the Arts Council for its efforts to provide opportunities to all of Midvale to do just that.” l

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY:

Siegfried & Jensen SNOW FALLS AND YOU SLOW DOWN

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ACCIDENT? CALL US...

he long line at the local auto body shop isn’t The Utah Department of Public Safety sugjust for oil changes, it’s for winter tires too. gests on its website to have jumper cables, a With temperatures (and leaves) dropping, it’s tow rope and small shovel in case the car gets time for a refresher course on safe winter driving. stuck, reflectors or flares to make sure your car is visible to others driving, flashlight and bat1-Know the conditions Technology affords us the privilege of teries, extra winter clothes, first-aid kit, battery knowing road conditions before ever leaving or solar powered radio, sleeping bag, fresh water and non-perishable food, paper towels and the house.

Utah Department of Transportation has hand warmers.

more than 2,200 traffic cameras or sensors which gives visuals and data on all major UDOT roads. Drivers can then adjust their routes or schedules according to the heaviness of traffic making for less congestion and less risk for accidents.

The UDOT app means you can see all those cameras from your phone.

2-Prepare the car Make sure the car is prepared for the road conditions, first with good tires. Snow tires give greater tread for better traction.

Snow and ice should be completely removed from the windows, headlights and taillights prior to driving to ensure visibility.

If your car is parked outside overnight, place towels over the windows. This keeps the windows from icing over.

MidvaleJournal.com

3-Control the vehicle Keeping the car under control requires some safe driving tips. The most obvious: drive slow.

Despite our impatience or urgency to get to the desired location, slow driving is the safest driving. Staying under the speed limit, which is meant for ideal conditions, becomes even more important when traveling over snow, ice, standing water or slush.

In drivers education courses, prospective drivers learn about the rule for distance between your car and the one in front of you.

Driving 60 mph? Stay six car lengths back. 70 mph? Seven car lengths back. This distance should be increased even more during wet conditions to allow the car time and space to stop without rear ending the vehicle in front.

WE CAN HELP. AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

INJURY & DEATH CASES

FREE CASE REVIEW 801-214-1457 Se Habla Español!

Learn more at - www.siegfriedandjensen.com December 2019 | Page 9

Hillcrest High students to partner with 5 for the Fight cancer research campaign

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

H

Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S

We hope the 5K will be a fun event, one where participants will leave with a positive feeling about it and about helping others.”

Connecting communities along the wasatch front

801.965.3608

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walkers to participate as we can. We’d like drinks and food available, with some contrito raise $25,000 to support cancer research,” butions from local businesses.

Hurst said.

5 for the Fight began in February 2016 and the following year, the Utah Jazz became its partner, which has become a catalyst to encourage others to donate. Thus far, more than $24 million has been raised from the 5 for the Fight campaign, supporting cancer research around the world, including at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.

Hurst said that annually the high school students select an organization to support during their December fundraising campaign. This year, student leaders are encouraging all students, clubs, teams and groups to take an active part raising funds and will hold an official school-wide kick-off assembly on Dec. 2.

Businesses also are welcome to donate to Hillcrest’s fundraising drive. In return, students promise “a shout out” in appreciation at their sporting events and on social media.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 20.

“We hope the 5K will be a fun event, one where participants will leave with a positive feeling about it and about helping others,” The top three male and female racers Hurst said. “We’re hoping to make it an anwill receive medals donated by The Trophy nual event.” l Case in Midvale. After the race, there will be

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5 for the Fight T-shirts, especially designed for the event by Hillcrest senior Tianna Corpuz, will be sold at the Dec. 14 5K and 1-mile walk to help Hillcrest High students raise $25,000 toward the cancer research organization. (Designed by Tianna Corpuz)

illcrest High School students will hold a 5K benefit run to help fight cancer this December.

At 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, community members, families and students alike can lace up their running shoes to race a 5K or walk 1 mile to benefit 5 for the Fight, which invites everyone to give $5 for the fight against cancer. The course will be held in the Hillcrest High area, coordinated by the school’s cross country team and studentbody officers, said Shannon Hurst, assistant cross country coach and studentbody officer adviser.

“We want this to be a community effort,” she said. “Everyone knows someone going through or has gone through cancer. It effects everyone and this is a way for every person to contribute to saving lives.”

Registration and race information can be found by following a link on Hillcrest High School’s website, hhs.canyonsdistrict. org. Hurst said they are asking runners and walkers for a minimum donation of $5 each to participate. Same day registrations are being accepted.

5 for the Fight T-shirts, especially designed for the event by Hillcrest senior Tianna Corpuz, will be sold for $10 each, with proceeds earmarked for the campaign.

“Our goal is to get as many runners and

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services for the Holladay and Millcreek areas. Located inside St. Mark’s Hospital, we accept most insurances and you can be seen on a walk-in basis. Our friendly team cares about your health and wellbeing, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality care. You and your family will be in great hands. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you!

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Dr. Liu is a kind, compassionate, and skillful clinician with high ethical standards as reflected in the top Press Ganey scores he received. With Dr. Liu, you’ll be in trusted hands and he is ready to partner with you to help you achieve optimal health!

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Midvale City Journal

In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

The Heart of the Matter

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling City Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Midvale Precinct UPD Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications

801-567-7200 801-567-7200 801-255-4234 801-567-7250 801-567-7228 801-567-7211 801-567-7235 801-363-9995 801-569-8040 385-468-3350 385-468-7387 385-468-9350 801-743-7000 801-743-7200 801-840-4000 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Robert Hale Email: Rhale@midvale.com

801-567-7204

CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Paul Hunt Email: phunt@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti

801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7202 801-567-7212 801-567-7207 801-255-4234 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7246 801-567-7235 801-256-2575 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7228 385-468-9769

EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT Public Works Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority Midvale Police Precinct or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department EMERGENCY

801-567-7235 801-840-4000 801-468-9350 801-743-7000

911

With just days left in 2019, melancholy pondering has a tendency to set in. Looking back over the year and realizing how much good has happened, brings a smile to our faces. Peering “through a glass darkly” into the new year, we can have that uncertain feeling of anxiety about what we can or should be doing in the decennial year of 2020.

“Twenty-twenty” has always had a particularly delightful definition which we hope to hear when we are seated in the optometrist chair. It means that our ocular vision has the ability to be perfectly focused, to be able to see clearly no matter the distance, whether close up or far away. (Glasses, “cheaters”, contact lenses and seeing-eye dogs are allowed and expected to help, too!)

Our City of Midvale has a rare occasion this next year of 2020 to measure itself by counting our total number of inhabitants, no matter their language, skills, nation of birth, status of citizenship, age, physical abilities or mental acuity. Every person who is among us is to be counted. It is kind of like the census in ancient Rome that called all people to report to their homeland for a census. Though we don’t return to our ancestral homeland in order to be counted, it is nonetheless just as important for us to participate in the Decennial Census of 2020. To be counted is to be alive! To be counted is to be accountable! To be counted is to express forcefully, “I am alive! I am here—now!”

Data about individuals are conserved, kept secret for 72 years. But beginning in 2021, as Congress begins to use the numbers collected in the 2020 Census, there will be population-created changes in:

DECEMBER 2019 CITY NEWSLETTER

By Mayor Robert Hale

• Representation in the United States House of Representatives, • As many as 132 government appropriations to fund schools, social programs, hospitals, roads, police and fire • Voting districts will be adjusted to equalize the power of each vote • State and local legislative districts and school boards will be adjusted to equalize the population in each district • Business decisions of whether to contract/expand business plans; hire/fire employees; invest/divest in products, supply lines, buildings and infrastructure • Scientific calculations of health, disease, cancer, obesity and other demographic-driven assessments Let’s unite and help every person in our city get counted during 2020! Thanks for your help with this.

Now, a word about Christmas and the holiday season that is upon us: The giving of presents is an age-old tradition observed by every culture on every continent. It is an opportunity to share our abundance, whether great or small, with others who are significant in our lives. Gifts are a token of our appreciation and recognition.

My hope is that we take the time to look around ourselves and count the many who create and maintain the blessings that are part of our lives. Let’s not take any, even one, for granted. Mortal life is so short. There is so much happiness we can bring into the lives of others with the smallest amount of giving. Our hearts grow, and so do the hearts of the recipients, every time we give our gifts.

To all: “Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Ridvan, Happy Eid, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weinachten, Buon Natale, e Feliz Natal!”

COMING SOON! Midvale Connect–Citizen Engagement Platform Keep an eye out for Midvale City’s new “Midvale Connect” citizen engagement platform that will be launched later this month. Midvale Connect will help the city hear from residents more frequently about an array of topics.

The new Midvale Connect platform connects the City’s existing methods of gathering feedback and allows for expanding these capabilities. Examples of engagement activities Midvale Connect supports include (but are not limited to): in-person interactions at public meetings or community events, online surveys/ discussion forums, social media outreach, text messaging and email communication, geo-targeting, language translation, and long-term Citizen Relationship Management (CRM).

At Midvale City, we understand that public engagement is not a transactional process with a defined beginning and end-date. Engaging the public involves thoughtful outreach and a recognition of the time and energy offered by residents through responsiveness

and re-engagement. This recognition builds the trust that is critical to our democracy. The Midvale Connect platform is designed to facilitate engagement and support the process of building trust through this holistic approach.

Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/MidvaleConnect to learn more.

In The Middle of Everything Recycling Changes – The Big 3 There has been a change in recycling globally. China, the world’s largest buyer of recycling materials, has recently changed its policy to only accept non-contaminated materials. This has forced businesses in the recycling industry to be more strict about what they will accept.

Recycling contamination occurs when well-intentioned people mix non-recyclables in their bins, which can ultimately contaminate an entire batch of would-be recyclables. Contamination’s include food waste and liquids and non-recyclable plastic, like grocery bags and zip-top bags.

Residents’ recycling bins are transported to the local MRF (materials recovery facility) to be sorted. Unfortunately, due to contamination, more than 52% of these materials are then sent to the landfill instead of being recycled. Not only is this not good for the environment, it increases costs. Instead of paying $16 per ton, the City pays $50 per ton.

In order to ensure that the materials in your recycling bin are actually getting recycled, rather than ending up in the landfill, the items that you used to be able to recycle in your recycle bins are no longer accepted.

The only items that you can now place in a Midvale City recycle bin are “the Big 3”.

“THE BIG 3” 1. Corrugated Cardboard – This includes any size material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet, like shipping boxes and packing boxes. Flatten all boxes and remove packaging items such as Styrofoam, peanuts, bubble wrap, and plastic liners. Do not put paperboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes), newsprint or junk mail into the bin.

2. Plastic bottles and jugs with a neck– This includes water bottles and milk gallon containers. Rinse out any residue and put the cap back on. All other plastic material is considered trash. Ignore the numbers as they don’t indicate if something is recyclable. Do not put any other plastic items in the bin.

3. Metal food and beverage cans - This includes all food and beverage cans made from aluminum or steel.

Rinse out any residue. Do not put any other type of metal in the bin.

WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG Midvale Community Council

What items are no longer accepted in your recycle bin?

Plastic or paper bags, paper, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, wax paper, clear or Styrofoam boxes, or electronics.

Where to take items that you can’t place in your recycle bin To better serve the residents of Midvale City, there are local recycle drop off locations for glass and paper ONLY (see below). Visit Salt Lake County’s website slco.org/recycle/hard-to-recycle-items/ to find out where to take additional items that can’t be recycled in your curbside bin.

Glass drop off recycling bin Midvale City Park – 7720 S. Chapel St. (325 West) In the SE corner of the parking lot.

Paper drop off recycling bin Green Fiber offers paper recycling bins that are located at the following locations in Midvale: Copperview Elementary

8449 S Monroe Street

Midvalley Elementary

217 E 7800 S

St. James Church

7486 Union Park Aven

By Steve Hirchak, Chair On Wednesday, November 6, the Community Council had a Code Enforcement discussion presented by Detective Gerry Wayne. We learned about what is being done in Midvale to make our city more beautiful and welcoming.

On December 4 at 7pm, the Community Council and the public will have the opportunity to hear from Mayor Hale and other city officials regarding current events in Midvale. All are welcome to attend.

The Community Council is focused on community engagement and dialogue, and we are always looking for new members. Please like our page at www.facebook.com/midvaleCommunityCouncil so you can stay up to date on our activities.

Census 2020 – Midvale City Complete Count Committee

Accepted items include: • cereal boxes

• junk mail

• magazines

• brown paper bags

• office paper

• construction paper

• newspaper

• cardboard

Please help us keep the area clean.

Do not place items outside of paper bin.

REMINDERS Don’t bag your recycling items in a plastic bag. A plastic bag of any kind can ruin equipment at the recycling plant. Please keep all plastic bags out of the bin!

Don’t overfill your recycle bin. If your bin is overfilled and the lid is open, your items may become wet from snow or rain. The load may be considered contaminated, so please ensure that your lid is securely closed.

Census 2020 is just around the corner. An accurate count of our community helps inform how hundreds of billions of dollars might get used each year for public services like clinics, schools, public transit, and programs. That’s why Midvale City established a Census 2020 Complete Count Committee made up of trusted organizations within our community (churches, senior center, Library, School District, UPD, health clinics, service organizations, etc.)

Our first meeting was held on November 14 and it was clear that have an incredible group of compassionate, engaged and committed individuals representing a variety of audiences in our community. We are committed to work together to ensure a full, fair and accurate count of the Midvale community.

Season of Giving: Help YOUR Pets in YOUR Community You never know when your pet may end up at your municipal shelter. While they wait at Salt Lake County Animal Services, we like to give them treats, toys and enrichments to make their stay less stressful. Annually, we care for about 10,000 lost and stray pets every year.

Our enrichment program is funded entirely by donations. The dogs enjoy yummy canned food, soft treats, canned pumpkin, applesauce, and of course durable squeaky toys! The cats love canned cat pate, soft treats, scratching posts and toys.

Since we began our FREE microchipping program at Salt Lake County Animal Services, approximately 40% of the pets make it home to their families. The rest are adopted out or are sent to rescues.

You also have a variety of volunteer and foster opportunities at Salt Lake County Animal Services.

If you’re interested in more information email animal@slco.org.

If you would like more ideas please visit our website, AdoptUtahPets.org or visit us at 511 W 3900 S, Salt Lake City. You can drop off donations Monday – Saturday between 10 AM – 6 PM in the lobby.

DECEMBER 2019 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

Midvale City Reminds Business Owners to Renew Their Business Licenses Midvale City reminds business owners to renew their Business Licenses no later than January 15, 2020 to avoid late fees. If there are any changes to the business, such as owner information or the business has relocated or closed, please contact the Business Development Coordinator at 801-5677213 so we can update our records.

RENEW ONLINE All Business Licenses can be renewed online through Xpress Bill Pay, the premier provider for online renewal payment systems. This service is available 24/7 with no additional fees. To renew online complete the following steps: 1. Click on “Create a free account.” (If you’ve already signed up with Xpress Bill Pay and have an account, you can log in with your email address and password rather than creating another account.)

2. Follow the instructions on the screen: Enter your email address and a password of your choice. Then enter your contact information and business name to register your account.

3. Once you’ve registered your account, Xpress Bill Pay will send an email to your email address to verify your email account. Open the email and follow the directions to verify your email address and enable your account.

4. You will be redirected to the Xpress Bill Pay website to the “Add New Account” page. Type “Midvale City” in the “Find your billing organization” box then hit enter. Click on the Midvale City box that appears.

5. Select the “Bill Type” as “Business License Renewal”. Enter your business account number (located on your current Business License) and last name as it appears on your Midvale City bill. Select “Locate Account”.

6. When the information concerning the E-bill account is located, it will then display with the option to “Add Account”.

7. Once you have verified that the information looks correct, select the “Add Account” button to finish linking your Business License Renewal account to your Xpress Bill Pay online account. You will then be able to view and manage your renewal account.

8. To pay your renewal, select the green “Pay Now” button and follow the prompts to finish your transaction.

RENEW IN PERSON To renew in person, please visit the Community Development Department, located at Midvale City Hall, 7505 S Holden Street on the second floor.

Please bring the “Application to Renew Business License” that was mailed to you. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

RENEW BY MAIL To renew by mail, send a check or money order, payable to “Midvale City” with your “Application to Renew Business License” form that was mailed to you. The address to send your renewal is: Midvale City Business Development Coordinator 7505 S Holden Street Midvale, UT 84047 For more information, please contact the Business Development Coordinator at 801-567-7213 or acullimore@midvale.com

R&R BBQ opens in Midvale!

Midvale City Mayor Robert Hale, Council Members Paul Hunt and Quinn Sperry, and UPD Police Chief Randy Thomas welcomed R&R BBQ to Midvale at a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 21. officially opened on Friday, November 22. Located at 7171 South Bingham Junction Blvd., R&R BBQ is an easy stop right off the freeway, for lunch or dinner.

Winter Parking Midvale City would like to remind residents about parking regulations to ensure plowing operations run smoothly and efficiently throughout the community. Residents are encouraged to avoid parking on the street during winter months so that snow plow crews can safely clear the streets during storms.

Midvale Municipal Code makes it unlawful to park a motor vehicle on any City street longer than three minutes when loading or unloading passengers and 30 minutes when loading, unloading or delivering property from November 1 through March 1 between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please help us out by not parking on the streets as it will allow unobstructed access for our snow plow drivers.

The City Council is currently reviewing options to update the code to address residents’ concerns about parking on the street when there isn’t snow on the ground. Stay tuned!

Meet Otto, the UPD Midvale Precinct’s newest K9 Officer!

Otto and his handler, Officer Matthew Harper, are currently in training to become the precincts newest crime fighters. Otto is a one and half year old Jagdterrier that came to us from Slovakia. Otto is very friendly and energetic and loves people. His purchase was generously donated to the department by the Friends for Unified Police K9 501c3 at no tax payer expense.

Since coming to UPD in September, Otto and his handler have been in training with their certification trials pending in the next few weeks. Otto’s primary mission will be the safety and security of those living in the Midvale Road Home Family Shelter, but he will also be assisting patrol and detectives in all manner of drug related cases where he can assist in the detection of illicit drugs. We look forward to Officer Harper and K9 Otto being a great asset to our community.

In The Middle of Everything

WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

2019 General Election Canvass Statistics: Midvale City Council Districts 1, 2 & 3

Congratulations to Midvale City’s Newly Elected Officials

Eligible Registered Voters

8,315

Ballots Counted

2,323

27.94%

2,279

27.41%

By Mail Ballots Counted

By Mail Ballots Not Accepted (not counted)

36 5 8

* Returned Unsigned * Signatures Did Not Match the Voter Record

On November 5, 2019, Midvale City held an election for City Council Members in District No. 1, District No. 2, and District No. 3. The following candidates were successful:

Council District No. 3 (4 Year Term) Heidi Robinson

I, Rori L. Andreason, the duly chosen, qualified and acting City Recorder for Midvale City, Salt Lake County, State of Utah, certify the following is a true, correct summary of the Canvass Report for the November 5, 2019 Municipal General Election as approved by the Board of Canvassers for Midvale City, Utah, on November 19, 2019:

Votes Received 519 382

Council District No. 3 Heidi Robinson Bart Benson

Votes Received 400 382

Dated this 20th day of November 2019.

Rori L. Andreason, MMC City Recorder/H.R. Director

Empty Envelopes

-

Ballots Postmark Invalid

1.93%

Cure Letters Returned

31

70.45%

Voted in Person

In Office/Early Voting

44

1.89%

4

0.17%

40

1.72%

Vote Centers on Election Day

Emergency Absentee Ballots counted

-

-

Provisional Ballots Issued

6

0.26%

Provisional Ballots Counted

Same Day Registration (No Prior Registration)

6

100.00%

-

Provisional Ballots Not Accepted

Voted an Absentee Ballot or Early

- -

Not Eligible for Ballot Issued

-

Incomplete Registration

-

No ID Provided

-

No Proof of Residency

-

Vote Centers and Vote Center Workers

Number of Election Day Vote Centers

Number of Early Voting Locations

Number of Vote Center Workers

Number of TSX machines deployed (Absentee, By Mail, Vote Centers and Early Voting)

0.00%

28 8 91 175

Ballots Counted on or Before Election Day

1,659

Valid Ballots Processed and Counted After Election Day

23

44

Midvale City 2019 Municipal General Election Canvass Report

Council District No. 2 Paul Glover Sophia Hawes-Tingey

-

Emergency Ballots

Emergency Absentee Ballots issued

A swearing in ceremony/reception will be held in honor of the newly elected council members on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 7505 South Holden Street. The public is invited to attend.

Votes Received 432 197

Two ballots in one envelope

Council District No. 2 (4 Year Term) Paul Glover

Council District No. 1 Quinn Sperry Alan Anderson

Cure Letters

Cure Letters Sent

Council District No. 1 (4 Year Term) Quinn Sperry

1.58%

71.42%

664

* Voters were notified and provided an opportunity to rectify their ballots.

Thank you for exercising your right to vote and showing your support!

28.58%

Midvale will grow 50% by 2040, city plans to accommodate growth

By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com

The world has gone digital.

The world has gone digital.

Internet service has become essential for success.

That’s why we created Internet Essentials. Internet

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That’s why we created Internet Essentials. Internet and computers foraffordable income-qualified families.training is truly home internet, Essentials and computers for income-qualified families.

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Vehicle emissions are one of the biggest contributors to airborne pollution. (Adobe stock photo)

M

idvale City expects to add 730 residents within its borders each year until 2040, which equates to a 50% increase.

This number was determined by studies done for all cities in the state by The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah.

Patrick O’Brien, redevelopment agency housing manager, reiterated this statistic to the Planning Commission in October and said, “That’s going to put massive pressure on the housing market.”

“By planning for growth,” he continued, “the city can make proactive measures just to ensure that Midvale residents housing needs are met, and also by mitigating the negative impacts that are associated with a shortage of housing.”

There are many possibly damaging impacts, O’Brien warned.

“Some of the negative effects that can be worsened by not having a housing plan include a decline in housing quality, impacts on neighborhood stability and in particular, a shortage of housing in Midvale,” O’Brien said.

A common misconception is that new residents are from out of state, moving here for jobs and lifestyle opportunities. However, much of the growth is internal.

“One of the important things to consider in Midvale’s future growth is that it is not just people from outside of Midvale…but there will be a significant increase in Midvale’s population that will include the children and grandchildren of existing Midvale residents,” O’Brien said.

Midvale City added a housing plan to the General Plan to mitigate the rising costs.

Matt Dahl, assistant city manager and community development director, stated in the updated plan that “members of our community are far too often faced with making difficult decisions…Nobody should have to choose between having enough food...and having a roof over their head at night.”

However, public opinion can challenge the need for change. Midvale officials held several open houses and surveys to gather ideas from the community.

“There is a demand in certain parts

MidvaleJournal.com

of the community and people feel that we should promote single family homes as well but the reality is that we do have a shortage of available land space. That’s why multi-family housing is important,” O’Brien said.

In mid-November, a public hearing was held and the plan was approved, with a small $9.95 /month amendment to parking guidelines.

No contract Resident Barbara Moeller conveyed her No hidden fees support for the plan.

Call 1-855-8-INTERNET “I escaped domestic violence and lived Call 1-855-8-INTERNET InternetEssentials.com or visit in my car with my kids for 18 months. You’re or visit InternetEssentials.com for qualifications and more information. talking about housing tonight. I want you for qualifications and more information. to consider affordable housing in Midvale.

Prices have gone through the roof and other families like mine don’t stand a prayer of a chance.

“We don’t need permanent housing.

Sometimes when you do mixed-use, people get worried. ‘Oh now we have transients.’ I promise every family in every unit loves their children.”

Moeller found a place in a program that helped her and her family find housing, employment and stability. Her children are now in college and Moeller volunteers for several community organizations.

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Midvale City Journal

Community contributes to ease students’ hunger pangs at Midvale Elementary

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

Sunrise Engineering volunteer Rick Campagna shares a bag of food with a Midvale Elementary student. (Heidi Sanger/Midvale Elementary)

W

hile many people appreciate the extra food donations during the holiday season, numerous Midvale Elementary families are grateful to the help they receive in feeding their children every week.

“There’s a variety of organizations that

help our families out with getting the food they need,” Midvale Elementary community school facilitator Heidi Sanger said. “We are just so appreciative that the community comes together to support these kids so they can concentrate on their education instead of worrying where their next meal will come from.”

Each month, the Utah Food Bank delivers 20-pound bags of food to serve 100 families at Midvale Elementary, as they do to the other Canyons School District’s Title I elementary schools — East Midvale, Copperview and Sandy.

Sponsored by the AARP, about 10 AARP volunteers unload the Utah Food Bank truck and deliver one bag per household to Midvale Elementary students who could use the extra food, Sanger said.

“There are canned goods, peanut butter and fresh foods like cheese, hamburger, sausage, sour cream, yogurt, bread, fruit and vegetables,” she said.

This complements Five.12 Foundation, an organization that provides elementary school students with a weekend backpack full of food so they don’t go hungry all weekend. It’s a non-profit foundation which a former Midvale parent connected the school with years ago and who now Sanger volunteers with in Alpine.

“There are volunteers who purchase the food and various groups who volunteer to pack food and assemble bags, which then are donated to school kids,” she said.

Of the nearly 1,400 bags that are delivered, Midvale Elementary receives about 100 of them to distribute to students, Sanger said.

In addition to that food, four volunteers from Sunrise Engineering will bring additional bags of food and deliver them the last day of the school week to students so that between Five.12 Foundation and Sunrise Engineering, about 125 Midvale Elementary students, who have been identified by the school and families, can receive the nutrition they need, she said.

The food provided weekly by Five.12 and Sunrise Engineering is non-perishable.

“They look at the nutrition and determine the number of calories they will need over the weekend as well as include items that are easy for a child to make themselves a meal,” Sanger said, adding that several parents work multiple jobs so preparing meals can be the responsibility of the oldest children, who also may take care of younger siblings.

These weekly supplements may include granola, oatmeal, shelf-stable milk, cereal, soup, canned spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, fruit cup, pudding and fruit juice.

During the holidays, several church and Boy and Girl Scout groups also make donations to the school’s pantry to help make the season brighter, she said.

We are just so appreciative that the community comes together to support these kids so they can concentrate on their education instead of worrying where their next meal will come from.” — Midvale Elementary community school facilitator Heidi Sanger “There’s always organizations that reach out,” she said. “I learned that there’s a lady who puts a jar on their desk at work.

As people made donations, she saved it until the grocery store held its case lot sale. Then she pulled out the change and bought cases of food which she brought here to Midvale Elementary, right before we went on break to make sure kids didn’t go hungry. There’s a lot of ways to help and we appreciate everyone who contributes to helping our students.” l

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Hyped over lights

F

by

CASSIE GOFF

or some reason unbeknownst to me, us Utahans get way too hyped over holiday lights. Perhaps, we really like them because of the creative designs. Or maybe it’s because it’s a cheap or completely priceless way to spend a magical night with friends and family. It might even be a way for many of us to fight the seasonal depression that comes along with the winter darkness. Whatever the reason may be, we love some holiday lights.

If you haven’t checked out these locations yet, I recommend them for a usually-completely-free experience (unless you’re buying some hot chocolate).

My favorite light events over the past few years have been the Trees of Life. While originally named the Tree of Light, many residents have nicknamed the trees “Trees of Life,” for various reasons. One of the most stunning trees grows in Draper City Park (1300 E. 12500 South). Every year, over 65,000 lights are carefully strung throughout the tree. When lit (which occurs the first Monday evening after Thanksgiving) all of the branches of the tree are illuminated; making it seem like a tree from a magical world.

Throughout the valley, many more Trees of Life are being decorated. The closest one to me personally resides in a cemetery. That’s where I would check to see if there’s a Tree of Life near you.

Temple Square arguably has the most famous lights within the valley. Located in

downtown Salt Lake City, Temple Square decorates their 10-acre complex with many different colors and styles of lights. This year, the lights will be on from Nov. 29 until Dec. 31. Check them out from 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

The Grand America Hotel in SLC (555 S. Main St.) is a building to sight-see all year round. When it’s lit up with Christmas lights though, it’s hard not to miss.

City Creek (50 S. Main Street in Salt Lake City) will turn on their lights for the season on Nov. 21. Their event titled “Santa’s Magical Arrival” will kick off at 6 p.m., when the Candy Windows at Macy’s on Main Street are revealed. The Westminster College Dance Program will be performing “Eve” and will be followed by a fire fountain show.

Light the Heights in Cottonwood Heights will occur on Dec. 2, beginning at 5 p.m. A holiday market will be open as City Hall, located at 2277 E. Bengal Blvd., turns on their lights for the first time this season.

Other public spaces that are worth walking through to see the lights are This is the Place Heritage Park (2537 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City), Gardner Village (1100 W. 7800 South, West Jordan), and Thanksgiving Points (3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi).

Beginning on Dec. 6, Hogle Zoo (2600 E. Sunnyside Ave.) will host Zoo Lights! intermittently throughout the season until Jan. 5. This event does require an entrance fee of

$9.95. On Sundays through Thursdays, they will be open from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, they will be open until 10 p.m.

One other event with an entrance fee that’s worth mentioning is Christmas in Color in South Jordan, at 1161 S. 2200 West.

You’ll need your car for this one as you drive through lighted tunnels and landscapes for at least 30 minutes. Tickets are $27 per vehicle.

Now back to the free-of-charge neighborhood lights.

In Sugar House, Glen Arbor Drive (also unofficially known as “Christmas Street”) is a popular destination for holiday drivers.

While driving, please be courteous of the street’s residents.

In Taylorsville, (another unofficial) Christmas Street has been causing quite a stir. It’s a festive neighborhood where the residents really take to the holiday. Located around 3310 W. Royal Wood Drive, this street is one to cruise down.

The Lights on Sherwood Drive in Kaysville is also a neighborhood gaining popularity. According to their Facebook page, their Christmas light shows are fully controlled and synchronized to a light show. Shows start at 5:30 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. every day of the week.

If you’re looking for even more places to visit, you might want to check out chistmaslightfinder.com.

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Midvale City Journal

Son of a Nutcracker

I

t’s the time of year people pretend “The Nutcracker” ballet is a fun holiday activity. If you’re one of the lucky few who never sat through this weird production involving multi-headed vermin, living toys and one unsettling old man, here’s a recap.

Picture a festive house in the late 1800s with dozens of dancing guests, skipping children and happy servants, basically it’s the “12 Days of Christmas” come to life. Young Clara and her obnoxious brother, Fritz, are the ballet version of little kids crazy-excited for Christmas. (The ballet version differs from real life because ballet dancers don’t speak, where real children don’t shut up from Thanksgiving to Christmas morning.)

Dr. Drosselmeyer, Clara’s super-creepy godfather, appears at the party dressed like Count Chocula and presents her with a wooden nutcracker. Clara is over-the-top ecstatic, for reasons I’ll never understand. I guess children had a different relationship with nutcrackers in the 19th century.

Clara’s brother is SO jealous of the gift (right??) that he flings the nutcracker across the room, because really, what else can you do with a nutcracker? Clara’s despondent. She wraps his broken wooden body in a sling (like ya do) and falls asleep on the couch, snuggled to her nutcracker.

During the night, the Rat King and his minions sneak into Clara’s home, because why not? She wakes up and freaks out. The

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nutcracker turns into a handsome soldier and wields his sword to defeat the rodent army.

“Nutcracker! You’re my hero!” screams Clara, if people in a ballet could talk.

“That’s Prince Nutcracker to you, peasant,” he sniffs in pantomime, before taking her to the magical Land of the Sweets ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy who has an unclear but definite sexual relationship with Prince Nutcracker.

While in the Land of Sweets, Clara watches dancers from Russia, Spain, China and Arabia (?) as they perform in a culturally stereotypical fashion. Prince Nutcracker sits next to Clara cracking walnuts with his jaw like some football jock.

Mother Ginger shows up in drag with a skirt full of tumbling children, then there’s a flower waltz and dancing pipes and tons more pirouetting before the Sugar Plum Fairy takes the stage to make everyone else look clumsy and insipid. It’s all performed to Tchaikovsky’s musical score that stays in your head through January.

In the end, it turns out it was all a dream, as most stories involving young girls and adventure turn out to be.

I told you that story to tell you this story.

When I was a gangly 11 year old, still full of hope, I auditioned for Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker.” As the audition drew nearer, I practiced every spin and arabesque I’d ever learned. I played the music all day until my

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dad walked into my room, removed the album from the turn table and smashed it into pieces with his bare hands.

I showed up at the audition with my hair pulled into a bun so tight it closed my eyes. An elegant dancer performed several steps that we practiced for a few minutes, then we performed for the judges. It was over so quickly.

As dancers were given roles as soldiers, party goers and mice, I held my breath.

But my number wasn’t called. I was heartbroken.

Maybe decades later I’m insulted that the ballet judges couldn’t see my awkward talent. Or maybe I’ve endured enough versions of this tale to see it’s craziness. And if “The Nutcracker” is your family’s favorite holiday tradition, ignore my opinion. It’s all a dream anyway.

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