Millcreek Journal | December 2022

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Additionally, I have worked on significant law enforce ment policy, including legislation I recently passed, which created minimum standards for police misconduct and report ing. I recently received the Executive Award of Merit from Utah’s Department of Public Safety for my work on multiple pieces of legislation on police

Continued page 9

Sen. Jani Iwamoto stands next to Vice President Kamala Harris for Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month at The White House. Photo courtesy of Jani Iwamoto)

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

The New York Times bestselling author has called Utah home for the last several years. He attended Cottonwood High School and is raising his family in the Holladay area. While living here, Evans has kept a watchful eye over the abused, abandoned and neglected children of Utah by pro viding funds to build a safe haven for those children in need of love, protection and shelter. The Christmas Box House, named after Evans first book, “The Christmas Box,” has pro vided shelter for over 136,000 children in need during the last two decades. In its infancy the Christmas Box House struggled to find community support and secure funding. Af ter the sale of “The Christmas Box,” Evans came forward with personal funding to take on the responsibility of trying to provide a safe place for those children in need.

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

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

“The first of December of last year, I came down with pneumonia. I have never been that sick in my life,” he said. “I stopped eating, and then I caught Covid on top of all of that. At the same time my friend had what I had and died. He was the same age as I was. I started thinking, I might not

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

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

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

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

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

I have a Michael Vey fan club in Iran, and I have Skyped with students in Saudi Arabia where it was the most popular book in the school. Michael Vey books are also in Russia and South Korea. It’s amazing how books have the power to unite people.”

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

MILLCREEK CITY TEAM

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

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

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

There are three categories of working dogs. Service dogs receive extensive train ing to assist one person. Emotional support animals require no training and help people dealing with issues like anxiety or depres sion. Therapy animals, like the ones at ITA, participate in a wide range of situations and

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

must be screened and trained before going to any facility.

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the University of Utah, therapy ani mals are invited to campus during stressful times like midterms or finals. Businesses bring in therapy animals if there’s been a busy season or tough circumstances. Parents with children going through treatment at Pri

mary’s invite therapy dogs into their child’s room, especially if there’s a pet at home the child is missing.

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

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

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

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

Breaking the cycle of poverty through allyship

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Although Utah’s poverty rate is one of the lowest in the nation, thousands of chil dren in the state grow up in intergenerational poverty. More than 70% of children growing up in IGP are under 10 years old, and wom en have much higher odds of struggling with poverty than men.

The cycle of IGP begins when a child is born in poverty. This has shown to create disadvantages at school and difficulty devel oping social skills. As the child grow into a teen and young adult, they struggle to find work and end up raising their own family in poverty. And the cycle continues.

But Circles Salt Lake (2530 S. 500 East) is a community for those in poverty to help break the cycle and give them tools to suc ceed by creating allyships that support indi viduals and families as they learn to lift them selves to a new life.

“People living in poverty don’t know the value of social capital,” said Michelle Craw ford, Circles Salt Lake executive director. “When someone’s in generational poverty, they were born into poverty, most likely ev eryone in their circle of influence is also in poverty, they don’t have the lens to get out of it.”

The Salt Lake chapter of the national program started in 2017 with two goals: help families break the chain of poverty and ad dress barriers that keep people stuck. People

who come to the program are called circle leaders because they are leading their fami lies in a better direction. Each circle leader is matched with an ally, a bridge between eco nomic classes.

Participants go through an initial 12week training and are asked to commit to a minimum of 18 months. Once a circle leader has increased their household income to at least 200% of the federal poverty level, Cir cles holds a big celebration.

“Our focus is to get them completely independent of government services,” Craw ford said. “We love Medicaid and Medicare and all they do to help our participants man age their situational poverty, but we don’t want them to stay there. We want them to be come independent of those services.”

Circle leaders are asked to attend weekly meetings, make progress toward an econom ic stability plan and become a leader in their community. Many circle leaders who com plete the program come back to be allies to new participants in the program.

An ally’s role is part mentor, cheerlead er, friend and bridge builder. Each ally is in vited to attend meetings on the first and third Thursday of each month and is asked to be a consistent support for those trying to break the cycle of IGP.

“What I’ve learned is that, sadly, many people in poverty are conditioned to think

that’s all they’re worth. They grow up being told not to expect a better life,” Crawford said. “An ally can connect their circle leader with people in the community that can help them work toward their dream.”

Living in poverty usually comes with layers of trauma including abuse, domestic violence and mental and emotional damage. So there’s more to breaking the cycle of IGP than an increase in salary. Circle leaders un dertake a massive mindset change that allows them to dream big and work toward a better future.

If a circle leader doesn’t graduate in 18 months, they can keep attending, as long as they’re participating. Nationally, the average for graduating from the Circles program is three years.

Not only do circle leaders come back to be allies, recently one was appointed to the Circles Salt Lake board of directors.

“It was important to us that we weren’t just talking about poverty, that we had some one who could contribute to that conversa tion,” Crawford said. “Having somebody who’d recently experienced poverty to be able to give us input on the decisions we make was critical.”

For more information about becoming a circle leader or ally, visit CirclesSaltLake. org.

Crawford has big goals for the upcom

While their parents are learning how to break the cycle of poverty, children learn social skills, create art projects and make friends in the community. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Crawford)

ing year, hoping to get 25-30 circle leaders enrolled in the program. Because each circle leader has two allies, Crawford is looking for 60 people in the community to become allies.

“I would love Utah to set the example of how a program gets participants independent of government services and breaking that cy cle of poverty,” Crawford said. l

Ugandan refugee shares her story to help others

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

If someone had told 10-year-old Desange Kuenihira that she’d be living in America, graduating from college and starting a non profit to help people in Uganda, she would never have believed it. But now at 21, Kuenihira has accomplished all of that and is taking the next steps on her journey.

As a child, she fled her home while the civil war raged in the Congo. With her sib lings and her aunt, Kuenihira survived depri vation and abuse at a refugee camp in Ugan da before making her way to a foster home in the United States.

The Salt Lake County resident recently graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in health, society and policy, and a minor in business, and she just released her memoir “unDEfeated Woman.” Her nonprofit, unDEfeated, supports women and youth in Uganda.

“The first 10 years of my life really pre pared me to live the life I’m living right now. I cry when I think about it,” Kuenihira said. “I’m on a different journey. I’m more grate ful for this life and all the opportunities that have come my way. The first 10 years of my life really made me value the life I’m living today.”

Her story of resilience and courage re flects the hardships faced by women in Ugan

da who often experience sexual abuse, pov erty and child marriage. Kuenihira hopes to break the cycle of poverty by creating oppor tunities for women to start and operate their own businesses.

unDEfeated provides education for un derprivileged youth and women. Donations to the organization can send a person to high school or college. Over the summer, Kueni hira went to Uganda to meet with women in

the community to create the most effective way to provide education, financial support and confidence.

“I was able to sit down with these wom en and some of them have lost hope. I want to give them their voice and help them find who they are,” she said. “Someone gave me a chance. I imagine, if I was still home, I would have been married and I’d probably have kids and that cycle would continue. I want

Millcreek

The city of Millcreek has quadrupled the number of parks in its jurisdiction over night– but not by building or landscaping. At their Nov. 14 meeting, the City Council approved a resolution to acquire three parks originally belonging to Salt Lake County.

“This resolution approves an interlocal cooperative agreement with Salt Lake Coun ty to transfer three of the four parks that we own in Millcreek to the city,” said Mayor Jeff Silvestrini. He explained further that “this is really just an oversight, apparently the coun ty never actually formally adopted an agree ment to transfer these parks even though they’ve been a part of our city fabric since we incorporated.”

The three parks in question are Fortuna Park, near the Olympus Hills neighborhood, Sunnyvale Park off of 700 West, and Canyon Rim Park located near the entrance to Par ley’s Canyon.

These parks had essentially fallen under the control of Millcreek when they incorpo rated in 2016, “we’ve been paying for them, to maintain and improve them. We’ve actual ly put in a ton of money to Sunnyvale Park.”

According to the city newsletter, when Millcreek became its own city “it became immediately apparent that Sunnyvale Park, located at 4013 S. 700 West, was in dire need

to give them opportunities and fight for these girls and give them the love I never truly had for myself.”

Kuenihira plans to continue her edu cation and will go back to school in the fu ture, but right now she is spreading aware ness through public speaking, her nonprofit platform and her memoir. She would like to collaborate with businesses that are invested in helping women gain a foothold in the cor porate world.

She said if she can help women raise themselves to a higher standard of living, the next generation of daughters won’t have to endure what she went through. She wants to help them shift from trauma into successful and happy lives. For more information, visit Speakundefeated.org.

“People can empathize with me and peo ple can relate to me and people can try to put themselves in my shoes, but it’s not the same thing,” she said. “I talk about finding myself and knowing who I am, not letting the world define me anymore. I’m taking that part of my journey to teens who are struggling to find their path. I teach them, how do you overcome something and still live your life and still see the beauty of the world and still accept yourself?”l

formally acquires three parks from Salt Lake County

By Sara Milano | s.milano@mycityjournals.com

of improvements. This park serves a large immigrant and refugee community.”

Since applying for and winning two grants for improvements at Sunnyvale Park, Millcreek has installed a community garden, futsal courts, lighting, playground equip ment, and a refurbished pavilion.

This interlocal agreement does not in clude Scott Avenue Park, which continues to be operated by Salt Lake County. Coun cil members remain in talks with the coun ty about gaining management of the park, which is designated as a flood control area.

The one stipulation “the county has re quested is… that these parks will remain public parks in perpetuity, and we promise we’re not going to ever sell them off or sub divide them for development,” Silvestrini as sured residents. l

A recent graduate from the University of Utah, Desange Kuenihira has written a memoir about her life as a Ugandan refugee and started the nonprofit organization unDEfeated to help youth and women in Uganda. (Photos courtesy of Marty Nicole)

Lush trees and a colorful playground at Canyon Rim Park (Source: Salt Lake County)

Recently installed community garden boxes at Sunnyvale Park (Source: Millcreek Newsletter)

Comcast celebrates the launch of SheMoney’s Spend program

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When ComcastRISE was launched to support women-owned small busi nesses, Comcast committed $1 billion to programs that would affect 50 million people. ComcastRISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment, helps business owners get ac cess to tools and funding they need to thrive.

In early November, Comcast sponsored the opening of SheMoney’s Spend program, inviting conscious consumerism to support women+ business owners in their wealth cre ation journey.

SheMoney, a content platform dedicated to financial equity, is a sister brand to She Place, a network designed to help members build social capital through resource sharing and opportunities for worldwide collabora tion.

Madison Limansky, COO of ShePlace, worked in the fashion industry and produc tion for 17 years. After receiving a degree in gender studies from the University of Utah, it changed her perception of the fashion world and she revolutionized the way companies approach representation through media cam paigns.

Limansky joined forces with ShePlace founder Jacki Zehner to build a program that takes networking to a new level, with a focus on collaborative success.

“We believe that social capital is a cru cial ingredient to financial success. What we want to do at ShePlace is provide digital and in-person space where people can connect in a way that goes beyond industry and socio economic status,” Limansky said. “Research shows when looking at what makes a com munity vibrant for upward mobility, what’s most important is friendships that connects people across a socioeconomic spectrum.”

ShePlace is a network where individu als and groups can share opportunities and challenges and have the opportunity to coor

dinate efforts. Approximately 70% of SheP lace members are based in Utah, but the plat form includes women+ from 28 states and 13 countries. It encompasses nonbinary or gender fluid individuals and is intentionally inclusive of people that don’t identify on the binary spectrum.

The SheMoney brand gives women the ability to learn about and control financial re sources. While money can’t buy happiness, it can help provide resources like access to counseling services, fitness classes, network ing opportunities and more.

Through its custom framework called the 7 Money Moves, SheMoney delves into the actions a person can take with money. Whether it’s spending, saving, investing, pro tecting, giving, borrowing or earning, SheM oney offers women a chance to understand and control their financial security.

“If we can make a difference in a per son’s financial wellness, that has the potential to impact every area of their well-being,” Li mansky said. “If you can’t afford a therapist or live in a home with access to clean water or take time for a spiritual practice, money has the ability to impact all areas of your life.”

Spend is the first targeted focus of the SheMoney platform and brings together 70 small business owners across 10 categories, including business services, art, food, beauty and health. SheMoney hopes to inspire con scious spending and intentional support for women+ owned businesses and create social change.

“We started with Spend because it’s something everyone can participate in imme diately,” she said. “If we spent every dollar in a more intentional way to support women and people of color, that could make a huge impact in the financial landscape of Utah.”

Historically, Utah has been a difficult place for women economically but the Spend experiment could be the first step toward ad dressing change in a healthy, long-term way.

“We hope to be an aggregator of the resources readily available to business own ers,” Limansky said. “It’s about economic connectedness among the business owners and accessing resources like knowing which type of capital is most effective for your business, or understanding when is it time to grow and scale your business.

“Comcast not only provided a cash sponsorship for the launch event, they also provided a lot of photo and video coverage for this event. That was such an extraordinary gift and an asset to us as a small company just getting started.”

Visit sheplace.com and comcastrise.com for more information.l

At a launch party in November sponsored by Comcast, SheMoney launched its Spend program to support women+ business owners. (Photo courtesy of The Ahfuas)

reform and issues of public safety,” Iwamo to said.

Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., appointed her to serve on the Central Utah Water Conser vancy District Board of Trustees and the Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Com mittee. In addition, she presently serves on the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee.

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

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

“There are so many great memories from serving in the legislature. I enjoyed the chance to work alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and working to come together on important issues. It also was great to work with our often-unrecognized Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, who have so many incredible pro

fessionals that help us form policy.

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

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

“A vast majority of the legislation we pass is supported by all sides and is relative ly non-controversial. However, I do have concerns with increased divisions across our state and country, which can make it diffi cult to come together and find solutions. Ci vility and humanity are so important, espe cially when we don’t agree,” Iwamoto said.

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

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

Millcreek City Council honors local shops on Small Business Saturday

By Sara Milano | s.milano@mycityjournals.com

The Millcreek City Council introduced a proclamation at their Nov. 14 meeting des ignating the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. The proclamation is to celebrate “our local small businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy and community.”

The proclamation states that small busi nesses “are responsible for 62% of net new jobs created since 1995 and they employ 46.8% of employees in the private sector.”

The idea of Small Business Saturday was conceived of in 2010 by American Express as “a day dedicated to supporting the diverse range of local businesses that help create jobs, boost the economy, and keep communities thriving across the country,” according to their Shop Small campaign.

The day falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and was introduced during the height of the recession to support struggling small businesses. As Americans in 2022 head into the holiday shopping season, they are once again feeling the strain of inflated prices and economic uncertainty.

Self-employed workers and small business owners in particular are feeling this pressure.

pendent Businesses, thirty-one percent of small business owners are still experiencing supply chain disruptions in the wake of COVID-19 and 33% of owners report inflation as their big gest problem in running their business.

Earlier this year, Verizon rated Millcreek as the fourth best small city in the United States to start a small business, describing it as great for people who “don’t care for big city living but still want to be close to all the action.”

Millcreek residents who want to support their local businesses and economy with their holiday shopping this year have plenty of op tions. The Other Side is a nonprofit foundation that “addresses the problems of homelessness, criminal behavior and long-term addiction” by offering a long-term residential life skills pro gram for local residents. They secure funding by operating a thrift boutique by the same name that offers gently used furniture, clothes, house wares and more.

For those who enjoy a cup of coffee and warm breakfast during the colder seasons, Greenhouse Effect describes itself as a “funky, laid-back coffee shop offering sweet and savory crepes, plus outdoor seating.” For those seeking comfort food, Charlotte Rose’s Carolina BBQ offers delicious southern food that “no dieti cian, nutritionist, or novice health aficionado” would recommend, according to their website.

Millcreek has scores of other options for those looking to spend at small businesses, with upwards of 92% of all businesses in Salt Lake City classified as “small,” according to ABC4. “Our Millcreek city government celebrates lo cal businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy,” said Mayor Jeff Silves trini in his proclamation. l

A truck waits to be loaded outside The Other Side Thrift Boutique, a nonprofit thrift store with loca tions in Millcreek and Murray. (Photo courtesy The Other Side Academy website)

Nature’s Virus Killer

Copper can stop a virus before it starts

By Priscilla Schnarr www.copperzap.com

Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast.

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

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

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

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

“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.” National Institutes of Health.

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

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

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Navigating Grief and the Holidays

By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is

801-585-9522 healthcare.utah.edu/caring-connections

an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program. Caring Connections is a not-for-profit program that offers clinician-facili tated grief support groups in Utah.

Salt Lake County Library Services to increase tax rate

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

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

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

Library officials say the increase is needed to offset inflationary pressure; the li brary services has seen a compounded 30% increase in expenses since its last tax adjust ment in 2012.

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

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

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

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

ipates a brand-new West Valley facility is on the way with the help of new tax dollars.

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

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

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

In this way Salt Lake County has be come home to one of the most popular library systems in the nation, with over two-thirds of the 837,000 people in its service area desig nated as “active library card users,” defined as a patron who utilizes a library service during a three-year period.

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

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

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

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

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It was another year of success for the Skyline High School boys golf team as they once again won the state championship at Oquirrh Hills Golf Course. However, this one was dif ferent in a special way. This team wasn’t fa vored to win despite their past success.

“We thought we’d be competitive at state,” Skyline coach Kenneth James said. “We weren’t the favorite. Jackson Shelley stole the show for two days. He was our lone medalist and got hot. As a sophomore that’s pretty neat. He’s always been good for us. He was first team all-state last year.”

In addition to Shelley, the rest of the team also contributed to the win in their own ways. In high school, golf is scored across the team so the best collection of golfers comes out on top.

“We had two really great days,” James said. “We led by several strokes after the first day, but were only leading by one stroke going into the back nine. We then played terrific. Pe ter Kim had a good back nine. Landon had a rough start and played so consistently. It was a team effort that took all scorers to win. The course was really hard on the second day. The long holes and pin placements made it tough.”

The weather conditions seemed ideal for an autumn day of golf.

“The weather was nice,” James said. “It

By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

was a little bit cool in the morning. They can have a lot of say on the scores by where they put the pins. They moved the tee boxes back to make the holes harder. We didn’t make mis takes and that helped us.”

While the whole course was challeng ing, one particular stuck out as the most chal lenging that proved to be the difference in the match.

“There is a par 3 which I want to say was hole 13,” James said. “There were two slopes which led to the hole way in the back. It was a four or five putt landing spot. The wind was blowing behind the golfers so it was really easy for them to go over-shoot it. We were one over as a team on that hole which is really good. Peter had the only birdie of the day on that hole which was on the second day. A lot of the teams didn’t shoot well on that hole. Some were even eight over on that hole. Hole 14 was tough too. They lengthened it out and it was a par 5. A lot of guys hit it in the cow pasture and even more out of bounds. That’s where we got the lead.”

Since the Eagles were underdogs, they didn’t realize until later on that they were go ing to win the team tournament. This wasn’t familiar territory for a team with so much statewide success in golf.

“We were up a few strokes after day one,”

James said. “Then, we were only up a stroke on the back nine then really settled in and played well. Daniel Chandler played the best golf of his career on the back nine on the sec ond day. It was awesome. Olympus is a really good and deep team. Fortunately for us, the state championship is just six on six.”

While talent won state titles in the past, consistency has been a calling card that has especially helped this team. It’s easy to have a couple good players, but getting the team to perform year in and year out is more of a challenge.

“We have amazing golfers,” James said. “Several guys who have come to our program and are playing in college right now. They set goals for themselves. They are self-motivated. They wanted to win the team title and put it ahead of their individual accolades. Our cul ture is good because they are putting the team first. We can’t worry about what other teams have done in the past. We knew our journey would be different because we would not be the favorite. We were the underdog. Our team put in extra practice rounds. We worked on the short game and putting. Guys organized plans with each other. We did it in a different way than other teams that I’ve seen do it. Nobody is going to remember that we didn’t win the region 10 years from now. We won the state.

They prepared themselves for it.”

This win will prepare the team to go for ward as they hope to continue with their dy nasty. After winning five years in a row, it’s starting to become contagious.

“They are really motivated and like win ning,” James said. “They saw what hard work it took to get there. Hopefully, they will learn that lesson and put that work in throughout the year. They can win if they put in all the extra time and improve. Hopefully, they’ll be good leaders. We had three new guys playing at state this year. For some, it was their turn to be the playmaker. Hopefully, those guys like that and it motivates them.”

This was a year that this team and the coaching staff will never forget.

“I’m so proud of our guys,” James said. “I love the way we came together as a team. They are the ones who put in the extra work. It wasn’t me nagging them. My favorite thing was watching these guys grow up. They stepped up in the big moment. Was fun to see these guys grow up and show their men tal toughness and encourage each other. They will think about this memory for a long time. We overcame all adversity and played well in the big moment. They wanted to do it and they did it.” l

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

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

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AsChristmas approaches we often start looking for ways to get involved in giving to others, from angel trees and food drives to se cret Santa projects. However, groups across the state of Utah have already gathered during the third week of November to assemble gift-filled shoe boxes for children across the world during the annual drive for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. According to Samaritan’s Purse, churches around the world partner with OCC to receive shoebox gifts to distribute to kids in their community. Every year Samaritan's Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hy giene items for children in impoverished and remote areas. Gifts are matched to children’s specific gender and ages. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries have received an Operation Christ mas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expres sion of God's love. As result of 5,000 drop-off locations across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, it is expected that over 9.4 million gift-filled shoeboxes will be collected this year.

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

Ilona Penner was a recipient of an Opera

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

Want to help make a positive impact in the lives of children around the world next year? Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to learn more and find out dates. There you’ll learn tips for packing your own box in a shoe box or shoe box-sized plastic container, locate party pack ing events, find a list of drop off locations near you, or even be able to pack a shoebox online. Other ways to help include purchasing items to go into the boxes for groups to assemble, do nate online towards shipping ($10 per box sug gestion), or even serve as one of the 200,000 volunteers involved in collecting, shipping, and distributing shoebox gifts.

For more of Penner’s story check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 1 Episode 6 where Penner shares about her upbringing in Ukraine, her memories of receiving a shoebox while living in the Ukrainian orphanage, and even suggestions on how to pack your own shoebox for a child in need. Hear of her sto ry of hope, the heart of giving, the gift of time, and how one simple act made her feel like she wasn't alone. Holly’s Highlights podcast is de signed to encourage, inspire, and equip you to intentionally live your life full of purpose. Hol ly’s Highlights podcast is available at www.hol lycurby.com or wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Hol ly’s Highlights podcast.”l

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

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Building community for displaced women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

WoW works with refugees, asylum seek

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

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

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

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

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

communities.

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

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

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

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

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

MI.

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

American Outlaws chapter hosts World Cup parties

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Utahns have found a soft spot for the most popular game in the entire world.

The World Cup begins the week before Thanksgiving and Salt Lake City ranks in the top 10 of soccer fans’ best cities.

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

The World Cup is the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world. It is held ev ery four years. The tournament is held over a month-long celebration and includes 32 teams. France is the defending champion and Germa ny won in 2014.

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

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

The chapter helps grow the game in the United States.

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

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

In a study done by wallethub.com based on 52 key matrices, cities were ranked accord ing to their acceptance of the game, Salt Lake is number nine. Some of the soccer excitement is attributed to the growth of the women’s game,

but Nate said this year’s tournament will be fun to watch.

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

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

“I cheer for the Mexican National team,”

West Valley resident Ray Mondragon said. “My team is in limbo. They are not playing with their best players.”

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

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

The United States is scheduled to play Wales on Nov. 21 and England Nov. 25. There will be four games broadcast on Thanksgiv ing Day. The finals will be played Dec. 18. All games will be played in Qatar. This is the first time the tournament has been held in the Mid dle East and Qatar is the smallest country to be a host.

The average ticket price for the finals is $1,600 a piece and the U.S. purchased the third most tickets to the tournament, behind Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Brazil is the only nation to appear in all 22 World Cup tournaments.

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

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

The Salt Lake area isn’t usually thought of as a top food truck destination, but that might now change thanks to a new state law.

House Bill 146 became effective in May and restricts the ability of a city or county to require a separate business license if the food truck owner already has a valid license in another Utah community. In other words, it requires food truck owners to ob tain a business license from just one city—not every single mu nicipality or county they want to operate in. Communities around the state are gradually amending their codes to be in compliance.

Melissa Anderson from the Community Development De partment presented related code amendments to the Sandy City Council on Oct. 25.

“In lieu of a Sandy City business license, mobile food busi ness owners may submit a business license from another political subdivision in the state,” Anderson said. “The proposed amend ments make it easier to operate a mobile food business in Sandy, consistent with a new state law.”

Among other changes, food truck owners will also not be required to disclose financial information or pay additional fees above the actual cost of processing the neighboring business li cense. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recom mendation, and the amendments were approved at the Sandy City Council meeting Nov. 15.

“The impact will be big,” said Taylor Harris, a founding partner and general manager of The Food Truck League, a net work of gourmet food trucks in Utah. In addition to organizing events, the League works to promote, lobby and advocate for the industry.

Harris has been part of a four-year-long process begun by then-Sen. (now Lieutenant Governor) Deirdre Henderson and the

Libertas Institute to create a “food truck freedom” law to reduce regulations.

“Sen. Henderson brought everyone to the table,” Harris said. “What was happening was every city was doing a policy that made sense in isolation, but the compounding effects—the way we’re organized geographically in Utah—it was just killing trucks and stopping them from being able to run their businesses. So, we came up with a framework, we tried out a couple different things, and that’s evolved over the last several years and we’ve gotten to this place that’s really a happy home where it works for everybody.”

Harris said the original law has been tested and improved to the point where now it has become a model for other states.

A statement on the Libertas Institute’s website says that the new law is fair since other businesses, including catering com panies, are not required to obtain licenses in each city in which they operate.

Though it will take time for every community to amend city codes to reflect the law like Sandy has, Harris believes it has al ready had a big impact in the day-to-day business of food truck owners and operators.

“Most of the cities we work with are working on it,” Harris said. “In practice they’re implementing it and working on for malizing it. I think for cities there’s this balance. They don’t want to lose control over protecting their public, and at the same time, they’re busy. They don’t want duplication any more than we do. They just want to make sure that everything is safe and taken care of, and I think this law addressed that concern.”

The Food Truck League held its first public event in May 2015 and has hosted events throughout the valley ever since, in cluding Food Truck Mondays at Sandy Amphitheater Park, 1245

E. 9400 South.

“We work with Sandy to do their event at the amphitheater,” Harris said. “It has been a great event, but this will make it easier to bring a wider variety of trucks in. Now we can pull from all the best trucks Utah has to offer, instead of just the best trucks registered in Sandy.”

The League counts over 300 distinct food trucks in its net work. Harris recommends visiting the League’s site www.the foodtruckleague.com/food-trucks/trucks/ to find food trucks all year long.

“Anyone that knows restaurants knows that’s a hard busi ness,” Harris said. “They don’t do it for money, they do it for love. So to give them tools to be more successful is really ex citing. And this legislation allows the regulatory environment to help our creators get out there and not get shut down due to sign ing paper work over and over again.” l

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

Utah cities are becoming more food truck-friendly

A new city ordinance will make it easier for more food trucks to par ticipate in events like Food Truck Mondays at Sandy’s Amphitheater Park. (Photo courtesy The Food Truck League)

It’s been the focus of petitions, protests and investigations but the animal exhibit at Lagoon, featured on the Wild Kingdom Train, continues to house dozens of animals in cluding Bengal tigers, bison, African lions and zebras.

Since 1967, Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington has kept the wild animals on display and has received nu merous citations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the animals’ care. Lagoon’s most recent vio lation of the Animal Welfare Act was in 2018 when a young elk crawled into a neighboring pen where it was attacked by a bison. The elk was subsequently euthanized.

Lagoon spokesperson Adam Leishman said the veteri narians and animal caretakers on staff take pride in the work they do. He said many of the animals have indoor closures and heated outdoor spaces to provide comfort during the cold months.

“I can’t stress enough how much care the animals get from the caretakers here, to make sure that they’re safe and healthy,” he said. “They get excellent nutrition and veteri nary-recommended diets. Just because we’re closed in the winter doesn’t mean the care stops. I couldn’t and I wouldn’t say what I’m saying if it wasn’t true.”

Amy Meyer, director of the Utah Animal Rights Coa lition, said the Lagoon animals have been on her radar for many years, with people often contacting her with concerns about the animals’ care.

Meyer doesn’t understand why the park’s owners won’t send animals to sanctuaries and close the display for good because she thinks the zoo has to be Lagoon’s biggest public relations nightmare.

“These majestic animals, especially the big cats, live in small concrete enclosures. These big cats are some of the hardest animals to have in any sort of captivity, let alone

Wild Kingdom Train at Lagoon?

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

something that has nothing that resembles their natural en vironment,” Meyer said. “We’ve actually coordinated with some global partners who are committed to helping us get those animals to accredited sanctuaries. If Lagoon ever says the word, we would get them to beautiful sanctuaries.”

Leishman said the park’s owners have never been con tacted by wild animal sanctuaries and added the longevity of the wild animal park at Lagoon is a testament to the type of care the animals receive.

The big cats at Lagoon came from a variety of places. The Bengal tiger came from a municipal zoo in the Midwest that lost its funding. The mountain lions were being held ille gally in a private home, confiscated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and placed at Lagoon. The African lion was used for a photo op as a cub. As the lion got older, the owners wanted to get rid of it and Lagoon took it in.

Patrick Craig, executive director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, said they would be will ing to take the big cats from Lagoon. Although he hasn’t con tacted the park’s owners directly, the sanctuary has publicly offered to give the cats a home when animal rights groups have tried to persuade Lagoon to discontinue the display.

“This establishment has had their wildlife train going since the 1960s and it has a long-established history of never providing adequate enclosures for the animals. It is the No. 1 complaint we receive on a yearly basis, which is saying a lot, given the number of other terrible exhibits that exist in the United States,” Craig said.

He agrees with Meyer that the cats’ enclosures are too small, without the benefit of a natural environment. Big cats often suffer from arthritis and other conditions affecting paws and joints when they are kept on concrete. Stress and boredom have an impact on the cats’ mental health, along

with being subjected to the train going past their cages sev eral times a day during the summer.

Meyer thinks the time has come to close the exhibit as people’s attitudes toward animals held in captivity has evolved over the years. She believes Lagoon could turn the closing of the wild animal park into a positive story, with a happy ending for all.

“If they finally said, ‘You know what, we’re going to shut this down. We started this zoo before we knew what these animals needed and there are good reputable sanctuar ies we can send them to. We’re going to shut this down and turn it into something people enjoy’ then the UARC would definitely be going to Lagoon to celebrate and finally ride on the roller coasters.”l

While Lagoon’s spokesperson says the big cats in the wild animal display are well cared for, animal rights groups and sanctuaries dis agree and feel now’s the time to close that part of the park’s history. (Photo courtesy of Amy Meyer)

Even though 2022 seemed to last as long

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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