Millcreek Journal | July 2023

Oneof Millcreek’s signature June festival series, Venture Out! Friday Festivals, added a new activity to its June Friday Festival series—Twilight Markets.

The festivals take place every Friday night in June at a different park or school in Millcreek and entails an array of activities centered on a specific theme for the night. Children and adults enjoy free entry to evenings of live music performances from local bands, children’s activities like jumping castles, arts and crafts stations, a movie outside under the stars, a variety of food trucks and concessions, plus the newly-added Twilight Market, hosted by Went to Market and VO!.

The market includes 24 vendors that sell goods ranging from DIY watercolor paint kits, to jewelry, to baked goods to handmade artwork. Though most of the Friday Night Festivals’ programming appeals to children, the Twilight Market serves as an activity for adults to enjoy.

“The goal is to have something for everybody,” said Aimee McConkie, who serves as the director of community life for the city of Millcreek. “The Twilight Market is definitely an enhancement.”

Venture Out! festivals have entertained hundreds of residents every Friday night during the past month as a way to get community members outside and share experiences together, according to McConkie.

“I’ve always had a passion for bringing community together,” McConkie said. “I wanted to do something different,

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so we focused on this idea of outdoor recreation.”

McConkie founded Venture Out! 18 years ago, before Millcreek officially incorporated as a city. When she started working for the newly-established city three years ago, she brought VO! with her as an initiative that offers free community events in Millcreek all year around, predominantly during the summer months.

“I’m trying to build those ‘sticky memories’ as I call them—when you bring unique things together and people have these moments, I believe that connects people,” McConkie said.

According to McConkie, there are no official employees of Venture Out!. Every role is either outsourced by a contractor and dozens of volunteers help out with the operations of every event, from running the concessions stand or monitoring the children’s arts and craft station.

“I do believe that if a community gathers together, they feel connected and they feel like they live in a good area,” McConkie said.

Check out the other Venture Out! events this summer and into the fall, continuing with Millcreek Movie Nights on Fridays beginning around 6 p.m. and ending at twilight starting June 30. Learn more on the Venture Out! website www.ventureout.org. l

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Left: A Twilight Market vendor sells homemade Peruvian soap during the June 9 Venture Out! Friday Festival at Millcreek Elementary. (Photo courtesy of Venture Out!)

Above: Children dance onstage during a live band performance by The Malibu Revue at the Friday Festival at Millcreek Elementary on June 9. (Photo courtesy of Venture Out!)

Millcreek house transformed as part of Zions Bank’s Paint-a-Thon

Thirty-six homes got a fresh makeover in June as part of the Zions Bank annual Paint-a-Thon.

One of those homes was in Millcreek for Liliana Merino, who has lived in her home for more than 20 years. More than 100 volunteers— including local bank employees and their family members—transformed the home with new paint and yard touch ups. The home was referred to Zions Bank by Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services.

“Paint-a-Thon has become a cherished annual tradition as we help our neighbors spruce up their homes and yards,” said Zions employee and Paint-a-Thon team captain Desiree Pingree. “As Zions Bank marks its 150th anniversary this year, serving our communities remains central to who we are as a bank.”

Along with beautifying neighborhoods, the Painta-Thon project aims to help older adults, people with disabilities and veteran homeowners take pride in their homes and maintain their independence. Throughout the week, more than 2,200 volunteers are volunteering to clean, scrape and paint homes in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

In addition to painting, Zions employees provide yard cleanup, pruning, mowing, planting and minor repairs as needed by homeowners. The cost for paint and supplies is contributed by Zions Bank. Dinner for West Valley City volunteers was donated by Chick-fil-A.

The average age of this year’s homeowner is 76, with an average yearly income of $31,600. Projects completed during the annual week-long event were selected with the assistance of nominations from the public, state housing agencies, community organizations and local churches. l

Zions Bank employees paint a Millcreek home during Zions Bank’s annual Paint-a-Thon. (Photo courtesy Zions Bank)

Granite School Board approves $4-an-hour increase for Educational Support Professionals

An unprecedented settlement agreement between the Granite Education Association and the Granite Education Support Professional Association will increase compensation for contract and hourly Educational Support Professionals in the district.

Bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, nutrition services workers, and more will receive a $4-an-hour wage increase for the upcoming school year.

“We fully recognize that this employee group is critical in our ability to provide quality educational services for students and providing support to our licensed and administrative colleagues,” said Granite School District Chief of Staff Benjamin Horsley, in a media release.

With the onset of the pandemic, many ESP and hourly positions have been difficult to fill given competing compensations from the private sector and labor shortages in the local economy. District officials hope the increase will help retain and attract quality employees to Granite schools. Food services staffing had dozens of openings throughout the year and more than 30 custodial and maintenance positions, and more than 50

aide positions, remain unfilled.

The settlement also includes no increases in health plan premium costs for benefited employees, to help keep more money in employees’ pockets.

The budget for the upcoming school year was adopted at this meeting and includes a proposal for a small tax increase to help pay for these increases. This will require the board to go through the process of truth in taxation with an additional public hearing in August. The proposed increase is anticipated to be $73 a year on an average home within the district.

“The board and administration take their fiscal responsibility very seriously with the full understanding of the potential impact on our taxpayers,” Horsley said. “The district is committed to providing the highest quality of educational opportunities and with over 90% of our operations budget going toward personnel, providing competitive compensation in these hard to fill positions will help us achieve better quality educational outcomes for our students and families.” l

The next chapter continues for Skyline athletes

The elite athletics department at Skyline High School is preparing athletes for the next level in college. Across all sports, recruiting commitments have been made. It’s time to find out which schools have come calling.

On the girls side, two softball players will continue to play after graduation. Chesnee Isom has committed to play for Lake Region State College in North Dakota. Her teammate, Hailey Louder, will compete for Southern Idaho.

On the baseball team, one players will continue their career after high school. Greyson Debo has committed to play for Lane Community College in Oregon.

Peter Kim will golf just down the road at Brigham Young University. He has been a part of individual and team state championships and will join the Cougars as they look forward to the Big 12 era.

“This conference consists of schools such as Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor,” Kim said. “I think that I will be useful in competing in championships for BYU because of my experience in high level

By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

golf tournaments. I know that I can compete at a high level and love competing with great players. I’ll be playing alongside some friends that I have known for a long time and that should make it even more fun.”

Tina Njike, a basketball player for the Lady Eagles, will continue her career for Penn Quakers. She played center for Skyline last year and will look to help her team compete in the Ivy League.

The prestigious Skyline swimming team will continue to see success from their swimmers after high school. Colleen MacWilliams has committed to swim at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Miles Hall, the star wide receiver for the Skyline football team, has decided to stay close to home and will play football at Brigham Young University this fall.

Marli Clausi and Eve Wilson have committed to play volleyball for Colorado Mesa and High Point University in North Carolina respectively. l

Left: Hailey Louder will continue her softball career at Southern Idaho next year. (File photo City Journals)

Above: Tina Njike will take her basketball talents to play for the Penn Quakers this fall. (Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

Eagles return to semis for third straight year

Photos by City Journals

Left: Brennan Lamont gets on the end of a cross with a header at goal. Skyline finished the year 12-7 and 6-6 in region. A unique season featuring so much snow in March and part of April that the team couldn’t’ practice outside for over half its season.

Above: Sophomore Nico Golesis looks to round his defender during Skyline’s 1-0 loss to Wasatch in the semifinals at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. The dangerous attacker should be back next year for the Eagles.

Below: Dante Stock breaks loose for a chance on goal during the Skyline Eagles’ quarterfinal win over Hillcrest. The Eagles would come back in the second half for a 3-1 victory.

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Dr. Emily Warren is a physical therapist with 11 years of experience. In order to provide the high level of care she wanted for her clients, she decided to open her own business 18 months ago. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Oklahoma, she’s a professional yoga therapist and she’s nishing her credentialing in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, aka the McKenzie Method. Her o ce is in a little studio on her property in Sugarhouse, so a bonus with booking with Emily would be free, fresh tomatoes in the summer.

What sets your company apart from your competitors?

In my practice, I treat the whole person. When it comes to pain, and especially back pain, we can’t only look at the muscle or joint problem. Many times, people aren’t getting better because they don’t understand what’s going on with their body and pain, and we aren’t looking at the full picture. All tissues in the body are set to heal within three months, so there is de nitely hope that you can get better.

How do you help your clients?

I help people resolve back pain naturally; people who want to avoid surgery or other costly procedures and have goals to stay active for the long haul. This includes the whole spine: neck, back, and hip pain. I can treat other

joints but I have focused on spinal health. I o er one-onone in person and virtual physical therapy and coaching for people with back pain.

Who is your ideal client?

A person with back or spine pain who wants to get better! The most important factor is they believe they can get better and are willing to put in some work.

What is your favorite service?

By far, my Back To Freedom program! This program is not for everyone and is application-based only. I coach you one-on-one through my PT program to get you out of pain and to meet your goal. I guarantee you will hit your goal within 90 days and, if not, I will coach you until you do! I think one of the problems with people not getting better is they jump ship too quickly. Why would you jump ship if you knew you are going to get where you want to be?

What is your best advice for someone who is considering doing business with you?

Just book a free call! I am happy to answer questions and see if you’d be a right t in my practice. We talk on the phone so I can hear their story and answer their questions. Once they hear that I am a real person who really wants to help them, and not just take their money, they are all in.

What factors should potential clients consider before hiring you?

If you are ne managing your back pain with temporary pain relief strategies, then keep doing what you’re doing. I take what I do seriously. I want to help you get out of pain so you can do what you love. I treat both acute and chronic pain, so whether you woke up in sudden pain or have had it for a while, I love helping with both. I just nished hosting a QiGong for pain relief series. People can sign up for my newsletter to stay in touch and learn about new events coming up.

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O2 Utah promotes cleaner air through elections and policy

House Bill 220, constructed and proposed by environmental nonprofit O2 Utah, passed unanimously in both chambers and was signed into law on March 14 with sponsorship from Sen. Kirk Cullimore and Rep. Andrew Stoddard, developing legislation to begin reducing the unfettered dumping of toxic halogens into our airshed.

O2 Utah’s mission is to “clean our state’s air and eliminate our contributions to climate change through elections and policy,” according to their website.

“I thought we needed an organization that followed a three-step plan,” said David Garbett, the director and founder of O2 Utah. “Step one, getting involved in elections; two, building relationships with policymakers; and three, giving them policy.”

Once an attorney with public lands groups, Garbett’s legal focus centered on air quality. “I didn’t see anybody putting forward a plan that said follow these steps if we want to get clean air,” Garbett said. “Before was a lot of telling legislators to do better, but not telling them how to do better.” Thus, the genesis of O2 Utah.

“I think that campaigns are really where policy starts, it’s the best opportunity for us to start influencing decision makers and helping build relationships,” Garbett said.

Although a nonprofit, O2 Utah is also a 501(c)(4), an organization that can endorse candidates, campaign and make donations. The organization campaigned to support Cullimore and Stoddard during their reelection in 2022, communicating with voters that these two candidates were going to work toward solving air quality issues in Utah. A messaging experiment they ran during that time found that swing voters are 16% more likely to support a pro-air quality candidate.

With legal backgrounds, Garbett and his team of five others have the capacity to write legal proposals that actually have weight, translating science concepts into legislative language and programs. “It’s one thing to have science on paper, but that is not going to get policy itself.”

“It’s a part of our theory that we need to give legislators a roadmap to get clean air, and we call that road map Prosperity 2030,” Garbett said. This “northstar” of theirs aims to cut emissions by 50% along the Wasatch Front by 2030. Those emissions reduced from the three main local polluters they’ve identified: transportation, homes and buildings and industrial sources.

HB 220 is one section working toward Prosperity 2030, focusing solely on industrial sources like halogens released as byproducts, like bromine. The bill conclusively requires the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) to make a recommendation to the legislature on a state halogen emissions limit by the end of 2024. In the meantime, DAQ must set a tech-based standard for bromine and other halogen emissions, requiring companies to use certain tools to limit

By Genevieve Vahl | g.vahl@mycityjournals.com

emissions. DAQ must identify and quantify all industrial sources of halogens. And, halogen emissions must be controlled no later than 2026. This compromised bill quickly passed through the House and Senate floors before Gov. Spencer Cox signed it into law on March 14.

Bromine can be found on the periodic table in the only element group that can exist as solid, liquid and gas. “The main polluter here are particles, sometimes called soot particles, that are typically measured as PM2.5, particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller,” Garbett said. “These are really, really tiny particles that are damaging because if you breathe them in, they cause all kinds of problems.”

These particles come out of tailpipes, smokestacks, vents in homes and buildings. Anytime there is combustion. But that only accounts for 25 to 30% of the particles in the air during bad inversions. The majority of the particles come from chemical reactions that change gasses into these tiny particles. “Because we have that condition where the air is really still and there is sunlight at the top of that inversion, it causes chemical reactions that change gasses into tiny particles. That’s where bromine comes in,” Garbett said.

Combustion adds particulate matter, tiny soot particles, to the air. Combustion also produces gasses, which react in chemical reactions that change those gasses into more particulate matter in the air—a secondary formation. Creating a vicious cycle of reacting in those two ways, where bromine is a hypercharged producer of particulate matter.

“It’s a super reactant that when combining bromine during inversion with gasses that are already in the air, it makes a lot more particles form than you’d have otherwise.” But it’s not something the state nor the EPA have previously regulated.

US Magnesium is the main producer of magnesium in the country, located here because magnesium is extracted from salt deposits, also the only place bromine is found naturally. “It’s either the ocean or the Great Salt Lake,” Garbett said. So when processing these salts to extract magnesium, bromine is a byproduct. “Which they basically have been dumping into the airshed. Finding that it’s making our inversions anywhere from 10 to 25% worse,” Garbett said.

HB 220 evolved as it moved through the House and the Senate, with heavy opposition from industry. They got as far as amending the legislation to a “toothless study bill,” claiming they wanted more information before being sanctioned with limits and restrictions, taking a page from the “big tobacco playbook.” But thanks to the sponsors Cullimore and Stoddard, they amended the bill back to having teeth, successfully passing through the Senate. “Most of the coverage didn’t understand or appreciate that it went from a study to real action demanding bill because of the Senate,” Garbett said. Eventually garnering enough support, the bill passed unanimously in both chambers.

“The legislature took a great step,” Garbett said. “I want to commend them for that, it was a really big deal.”

Garbett and his team at O2 Utah are so adamant about improving the quality of air we breathe because of the capacity at which the poor air impacts our lives so negatively. “The best research says that we’re dying here in Utah two to five years earlier because of our bad air,” Garbett said, “and that has so many different health impacts and is a big drag on our economy.”

From employees calling out sick when the inversion is really bad, asthma flaring up

and needing medical attention, to people dying from heart attacks because the lungs have to work harder that ultimately puts more stress on the heart, the health impacts lead to economic impact, stunting the potential of this place. “Those sorts of impacts add up and it’s estimated to cost our economy, on a conservative estimate, about $2 billion annually.”

“Take US Magnesium for example, one cost of their product should be dealing with the pollution that makes people sick,” Garbett said. “They’re just offloading costs onto the public and that doesn’t get priced into the goods they’re producing.”

Developing science into direct legislative action to begin mitigating these negative impacts on our community in the Salt Lake Valley is exactly O2 Utah’s goals when passing important legislation like HB 220. “We can’t just have unfettered dumping of bromine into the air,” Garbett said.

Now the organization is going to continue following the path of their Prosperity 2030 goal, looking for any and all opportunities to do that.

“To see industry lose on an issue was really exciting. The people won here, clean air won. Thanks to hard work from legislators and sticking with that,” Garbett said. And the work of his small team working to improve the quality of life here in the Salt Lake Valley.

“The most important thing the public does is set priorities. The public doesn’t have to know the science, they don’t have to know the details,” Garbett said. “What they do know is that they hate our dirty air. That’s what should be conveyed to legislators, to help them understand this needs to be a higher priority.” l

Clear blue skies up Little Cottonwood Canyon in the fall. (Genevieve Vahl/City Journals)

A view from the foothills overlooking the valley with a layer of inversion looming over. (Genevieve Vahl/City Journals)

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake offer a haven for youth

Mental health-related emergency room visits increased by 31% for teens during the pandemic, according to the CDC. Reasons for the uptick may include the pressures of social media, pandemic related isolation, financial insecurity and family worries.

But the one thing that helps, regardless of the stressor, is having a place to belong, someplace safe where young people can connect in-person with friends and their community, all while having fun and working to become their best selves.

There are seven Boys & Girls Clubs in Utah providing this safe haven, serving kids in the diverse and growing communities of Glendale, Murray, Midvale, Price, Rose Park, Sugar House and Tooele.

Anyone up to age 18 can participate at the Clubs, but the focus is on serving low to moderate income families, and according to Anne Marie Bitter, director of advancement at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, “Eighty-two percent of the youth come from this population, and roughly half of the participants are Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.”

Summer learning is key

Kids need a safe place to hang out… when school is out. Clubs are open in the afternoons during the school year, but the doors swing wide all day long during the summer, providing parents peace of mind while they go to work.

Amidst summer fun, which includes hiking, horseback riding, biking, rock climbing and visits to museums, the Clubs provide academic support via tutoring, goal-setting and money management, with an umbrella goal of addressing summer learning loss. They also provide food security by serving nutritious meals during the summer.

Funding and volunteers come from the community

Funding for the Boys & Girls Clubs is comprised of a mix of public and private sources, the majority coming from individual donors, local community groups and corporations.

This past May, the annual fundraising gala was held at the downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel. Over 400 people attended, including 70 youth from all seven locations. The event raised over $387,000, which will provide academic support, meal programs, leadership lessons and more throughout the year.

The local clubs employee over 100 staff, including teachers licensed in the state of Utah and on-site licensed therapists. Additionally, over 500 local volunteers aid in the effort, and there are many opportunities to get involved.

Reaching the youth

The impact of the services provided

By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com

to local kids is hard to deny. In 2022, the Utah Boys & Girls locations served nearly 5,600 at-risk youth through a variety of healthy lifestyle programs including academics, nutrition, physical fitness and drug prevention. They also served nearly 250,000 meals, nutritious snacks and take-home food bags.

The clubs are located in corridors of accessibility, meaning where the services are necessary and the location is easy to reach. Additionally, many clubs provide transportation from school. “We try to give any kid who needs it a chance to succeed and a sense of belonging,” Bitter said. “Plus we are so excited for our newest building.”

The Club in Tooele has long been located in a shared space, but recently an old fitness facility has been purchased for sole use by the Boys & Girls Club. “This is a fantastic building for a club, as it has lots of open space plus many individual classrooms.” The location is being remodeled and should be ready just after Labor Day 2023.

They’ve been helping for a long time

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake has been helping Utah youth since 1967, and is affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The national Boys & Girls organization was founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut by four women who believed that the local boys roaming the streets unsupervised should have a positive alternative, somewhere structured enough to encourage them to become productive citizens, but enjoyable enough they’d want to participate.

In 1956, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America received a Congressional Charter, and not long after that, the Clubs of

Greater Salt Lake opened their doors, aiming to be the “village” for Utah youth, providing life-changing experiences and opportunities for those who need it most.

This long history of service allows the Clubs to utilize time-proven, evidence-based accredited curriculum, which

has proved successful in reaching youth over many decades. And they do this all while providing a haven where kids love to go.

To find a club or get involved link to: www.gslclubs.org. l

Playing soccer with friends makes for healthy bodies and lots of fun for participants at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake. (Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls)

Let’s get cooking at the Boys & Girls Clubs. Cooking classes contribute to healthy bodies and healthy habits. (Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls)

Summer snacking at the Boys & Girls Clubs. (Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls)

Primary Children’s Hospital celebrates first-ever two-time living organ donor

Two-year-old Eva has shown her liver transplant scar to many grown-ups, but none were as special as the living donor who made history at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and saved Eva’s life.

Kate is the first person in Utah to become a two-organ living donor. The 37-year-old mother is among the 155 people nationwide who have donated both a kidney and part of their liver to save the lives of others.

After donating a kidney to a woman she met while working in the Washington, D.C., area, Kate then gave part of her liver to Eva, who at the time was a total stranger.

“I’m very happy that I did it,” Kate said after meeting Eva. “She’s super cute and silly, and exactly the way a 2-year-old should be.”

Living-donor liver transplants occur when a portion of a living person’s liver is removed and surgically placed into another person whose liver no longer works properly. After surgery, the donor’s liver regenerates to its regular size within about two months. In the recipient, the transplanted liver grows to fit his or her body and functions as a healthy liver.

“Living-donor liver transplants not only significantly increase the number of available organs for children waiting for a transplant, but they also reduce the waiting time for children who urgently require a liver transplant, saving their lives,” said Cecile Aguayo, pediatric transplant services director at Primary Children’s. “Moreover, the use of living donors also enables

the transplant to be performed before the child’s condition deteriorates, resulting in better outcomes and quality of life post-transplant.”

Primary Children’s has been a national leader in living-donor liver transplants since 1997, when it became the first center in Utah to successfully perform the procedure. At that time, Primary Children’s was among few pediatric hospitals in the country that had saved a child through living-donor liver transplantation.

Since 1997, 42 living-donor liver transplants have taken place at the hospital which also has the largest liver and disease transplantation program in the Intermountain West and serves patients from all over the world. For information on becoming a living organ donor for a child, visit primarychildrens.org.

After donating a kidney in Washington, D.C., Kate moved to Utah where she contacted Primary Children’s and offered to donate part of her liver to help a child in need. Eva was the recipient. She had been treated for biliary atresia since she was two months old.

“It was nine months of waiting [for a matching liver donor],” said Eva’s mom, Alyssa Anderson. “Without intervention, her liver would have failed, and she would have died. Most kids with this disease years ago wouldn’t have even lived to see their first birthday.”

Around the time she turned 1, Eva received part of Kate’s liver. After a year of healing, Eva’s liver transplant team arranged for Eva and her parents to meet Kate at Primary Children’s.

“I was kind of star-struck,” Anderson said of meeting Kate. “I said, ‘You’re a real person, you’re normal, and you’re just like me.’ She’s a mom, just like me.”

“It’s a wonderful experience to help someone, even in general. Like when you open the door for someone, they’re just really happy

about it…and it makes your day to help,” Kate said. “So, imagine the opportunity to donate and save someone’s life.”

Anderson said she hopes to follow Kate’s example someday and pay it forward to another family. “You don’t know how much it means to the people you’re saving.” l

Around the time of her first birthday, Eva received part of Kate’s liver. After a year of healing, Eva’s liver transplant team arranged for Eva and her parents to meet Kate at Primary Children’s Hospital. (Photos courtesy of Intermountain Health)

Specialty basketball camps offered by former NBA coach

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

High school players looking to improve on guard and post play can receive instruction by a Utah native who has taught the game at the highest level. Barry Hecker, who coached in the NBA for more than two decades, will run a camp Aug. 1-4 at Albion Middle School, located at 2755 Newcastle Drive in Sandy, for boys and girls entering ninth through 12th grades.

A guard-specific session will be held during those days from 9 to 11 a.m. with a forward/center session scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m.

“For those who are serious about improving their skills and knowledge of playing the perimeter, we will cover creating shots, penetration skills and shots, creating for others, pick and roll, turnouts and using screens to get shots, entry passes to the post, pushing the ball on rebounds and the proper way to run the fast break while also emphasizing fundamentals of footwork, dribbling, passing and shooting,” said Hecker, who coached guard play during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

“For the forward and center positions in the post and facing the basket, we will teach footwork, fundamentals of getting open in the post areas, creating a target for the passer, locating defense, executing the proper move, the

drop step, jump hook, running hook, jump shot and counters,” he said, bringing his knowledge from his most recent coaching stint at the Memphis Grizzlies where he coached the forwards and centers.

The cost for each session is $160. To register, visit www.sandy.utah.gov/735/Basketball-Youth.

Hecker, who lives in Murray, said the values he has learned from his basketball coaching journey—beginning at Oxon Hill High School in Maryland and spanning through Salt Lake Community College and stints with the Clippers, Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers—are invaluable. Being able to share those principles of hard work, teamwork, unselfishness and persistence, along with the physical skills of the game itself, with others thrills him.

“I don’t care who I coach or when I coach,” Hecker, who has worked with former Jazz players Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, said. “I simply enjoy teaching the game. It’s great to see a smile on someone’s face as they experience success. If you help somebodHecker has conducted clinics all over the world for more than 40 years, including many since his retirement from coaching in the NBA. He said he particularly enjoys working with the youth.

“If you teach skills, that leads to confidence and that confidence can allow anyone to do anything they want,” he said. “I have more fun with young kids than with the pros. In the

NBA, you have guys who are making millions and they don’t listen. These kids are making nothing and they’ll listen to you.” l

involved with a life partner, both cohabitating persons must attend and complete presentation together. Participants must have a photo ID and be legally able to enter into a contract. The following persons are not eligible for this offer: employees of Company or affiliated companies

or entities, their immediate family members, previous participants in a Company in-home consultation within the past 12 months and all current and former Company customers. Gift may not be extended, transferred, or substituted except that Company may substitute a gift of equal or greater value if it deems it necessary. Gift card will be mailed to the participant via first class United States Mail within 10 days of receipt of the promotion form. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotion or discount of any kind. Offer not sponsored and is subject to change without notice prior to reservation. Offer not available in the states of CA, IN, PA and MI. Expires 7/31/23.

* Guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clean your gutters for free.

Former NBA coach Barry Hecker has been coaching basketball at all levels for more than 40 years. Most recently in the NBA, he worked with current Jazz player Rudy Gay in the Memphis Grizzlies organization.

(Photo courtesy Barry Hecker)

(801) 272-8226

3750 Highland Drive

Highlandcoveretirement.com

Facebook: @HighlandCoveRetirement

Highland Cove Retirement in Holladay is a beautiful community located at the site of the old Highland Drive-in movie theater. For 40 years, Highland Cove has provided independent and assisted living for senior citizens who want safety, camaraderie and fun activities. It was recently named by U.S. News and World Report as a Best Assisted and Independent Living Community. Brent Pitts is the Highland Cove sales director and said residents enjoy a high quality of life.

What sets this retirement community apart?

According to Pitts and a recent survey, residents highlighted our beautiful grounds. We have over a mile of walking paths. We have a beautiful, mature park-like setting with rose bushes and different trees.

Plus, all of our units have washers and dryers so you don’t have to go to a community laundromat. But one big thing that differentiates us is our food. Our chefs have been here for over 22 years. They know how to cook and the food is fantastic.

What type of residents live at Highland Cove?

The majority of our residents are independent living with a small percentage of assisted living residents. We also have a lot of veterans here. We love our veterans and we’re proud to support them. We’re very cost efficient. We have options that start as low as $2,480 a month. That includes

food, utilities, transportation, housekeeping once a week and activities.

What types of activities do you offer?

We have a very robust activity schedule that includes book and game clubs, exercise classes, health lectures, entertainment, and outings. They’ll go ride the Heber Creeper or ride the tram up to the top of Snowbird or visit the Bingham mine. One day we drove to Brigham City because one of the residents wanted fried chicken from Maddox. There are concerts and guest lectures, trips to the museum, the theater and the symphony. We also do our Home of the Brave luncheon where we invite local police and fire departments to come have lunch with us. It’s a huge hit.

Why is a retirement community important?

The surgeon general released some data where they explained there’s an epidemic of loneliness. There’s a community here, from our residents to everyone working at Highland Cove. It’s a fun, family environment and the people are having a ball, they’re having so much fun. It’s just a really nice place to be. People who move here often say they should have done it years ago. There’s excitement and anticipation for all the things they get to do, the friends they get to make and the beautiful place they get to live.

What makes Highland Cove so successful?

Gary Webster is an amazing executive director. He used to be a director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute for 20 years. Highland Cove is a place where employees feel appreciated, but at the same time, he holds everyone to a very high standard. He leads in a way that makes you want to do your job with a high level of excellence. I honestly think that’s where Highland Cove shines the most. You can talk about features and benefits, but it’s leadership that really makes the difference.

How can people learn more?

They can visit our website (highlandcoveretirement.com), give us a call or swing by and have lunch with us. It’s very low pressure, there’s a great feeling here and I invite anyone to stop by or give us a call at 801.272.8226.

Utah’s historic snowpack creates a colorful flower display in Canyonlands

Utah’s historic snowpack has gained much recognition for the most snow on record for the state, ever. Ski resorts relished in endless feet of snow that never seemed to stop. As seasons have shifted from winter into spring and now into summer, that snowpack is gushing down canyons, flooding neighborhoods and refilling the desperate Great Salt Lake, at least a little bit. While also bringing a colorful surprise emerging from the ground.

Canyonlands National Park, just south of Moab, is amidst a superbloom bringing color and lush flora to the desolate landscape. “The only year I remember with a comparable wildflower year to this one was 2005,” said Mary Moran, a retired Vegetation and Water Technician who has lived in Moab for the last 35 years.

“Above average rainfall and precipitation,” has brought thousands of native plants out of dormancy, said Neal Dombrowski, a horticulturist and botanist at Red Butte Garden. The high water saturation in the ground has allowed seeds to germinate. “These plants are producing seeds year after year and they don’t get the right conditions to grow,” Dombrowski said. “The seeds are waiting in the soil for that perfect condition, which in this case, is above normal precipitation, and they all germinate at once.”

“Just about every seed I think possible germinated,” said Robb Hannawacker, an interpretive park ranger in Canyonlands National Park.

There were curious patches of dense flower coverage while other areas saw regular desert floor. “Part of why is soil drainage,” Hannawacker said.

“Different wildflowers have different soil preferences; some are very picky; others are not,” Moran said.

The patchiness of the bloom, Moran said, is also based on the plants’ ecological counterparts. “There’s also the factor of pollinators, and whether they are abundant enough and in temporal sync with the flowers of that species.”

Although the water is greatly welcomed in this state of ongoing drought, “drought defines the desert,” Hannawacker said. “If we receive too much moisture, it is likely that nonnative vegetation may have a competitive edge.” Like cheatgrass. The same high water saturation allowing the vast array of native wildflowers to emerge allows cheatgrass to make “a near monoculture,” Hannawacker said. “Cheatgrass and other nonnative annual grasses have short lives starting from seeds in the spring, then growing quickly, outcompeting native wildflowers (spoiling that area’s superbloom).” While also creating greater likelihood of offseason wildfires from their drying and dying coupled with human ignorance. “When burned, cheatgrass is like gunpowder, creating unnaturally early season wildfires that are intense, fast and widespread,” Hannawacker said.

By Genevieve Vahl | g.vahl@mycityjournals.com

“The invasives can crowd out native species, encourage dominance of nonnative generalist pollinators over specialized ones that some natives rely on and carry wildfires in systems not adapted to fire,” Moran said. “I see biodiversity loss on this planet as a threat equal to that of climate change.”

Regulations in and around the park like no legal livestock grazing and strict enforcement of off highway vehicle travel helps keep intact essential ecological players to counter attacks from invasives. “These regulations help to protect our biological soil crust that is a pivotal component of a healthy Colorado Plateau desert,” Hannawacker said. What looks like black, lumpy crust on top of what would be the orange sand of the desert, microbial and cryptogamic organism structures keep the desert winds and rains from washing all the sand away.

“Living soil crusts are found throughout the world. In the desert, these crusts are dominated by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), but also include lichens, mosses, green algae, microfungi and bacteria,” Vegetation Specialist Jane Rodgers wrote for the National Park Service.

Loose soil particles are joined together by the cyanobacteria leaving behind a sticky sheath material when activated by rains, forming intricate webbings of fibers across the desert floor in otherwise highly erosion-prone areas. “Basically, they hold the place in place,” Rodgers said. “These sheaths build up in soil over long periods of time. Not only do they protect the soil from blowing away; they also absorb precious rainfall (reducing flash flood runoff) and provide a huge surface area for nutrients to cling to.”

Crypto and native flowers work synchronously together. The layer keeps the soil and nutrients intact for native plants to thrive while acting like mulch in preventing desert weeds like cheatgrass from taking over.

Although regulations are in place, unfettered, unregulated human activity can be a major risk to this essential desert keeper. Walking off trail, livestock stomping through, motor vehicles going wherever, can ruin these decades-old soils in a matter of seconds. “Under the best circumstances, a thin veneer may return in five to seven years,” Rodgers said. Hannawacker and Rodgers both avidly promote staying on designated trails, walk single file if you find yourself in a crypto field and stay on roads within the parks. “To get that photograph, it’s tempting to walk on decades-old biological soils to get closer, but please do not,” Hannawacker said. “Your footprints invite more footprints, then more footprints and so on.” Those disturbed areas invite invasives right in, outcompeting native wildflowers. “It’s remarkable how well these microbial structures prevent cheatgrass from establishing, where many native species benefit from biological soil crust,” Hannawacker said.

“The desert will thank you for this in years to come, with bountiful wildflower displays in the crusted areas, as well as with land kept in place and a healthy ecosystem,” Rodgers said. Just as populous as the native wildflowers are the fields of thriving crypto, keeping our desert intact.

“Every good flowering year has at least some difference in its mixture of abundant species because every species responds differently to different weather patterns,” Moran said. The superblooming desert globemallow specifically took the reins this year. “This year it’s globemallow heaven,” Hannawacker said.

Also known as the apricot mallow for its namesake’s bright orange color, the bowlshaped flowers could be mistaken for the desert floor until further inspection, where hundreds of the plants clustered in fields sway in the breeze. These are an early colonizing species, ones to first take over disturbed areas after things like wildfires and abandoned mines, serving as a great revegetation plant that suppresses invasive species. They require full sun, providing habitat for pollinators like native bees and butterflies with its rich source of honey and nectar. Also serving as food to the bighorn sheep, livestock and desert tortoise.

The stems were used by the Yavapai people to make trays for drying saguaro fruit or slabs of pounded mescal. The Shoshoni people used the plant to apply to cuts, swellings or rheumatisms, decoctions taken internally for upset stomachs, colds and as treatment for infectious diseases. As seen in Canyonlands, globemallows are found in sandy, rocky or gravelly soil, in sandy washes and rocky hillsides as well as along roadsides.

The Canyonlands visitors center had a plant identifying display of the other native wildflowers in bloom. As a reminder, “within a national park, it is illegal to collect anything, such as wildflowers,” Hannawacker said. “These are the reproductive parts of plants, and the primary resource for thousands of local pollinators.”

“There’s an abundance of flowers and they are blooming for longer because of the available water, especially with our weather forecasts lately with a little bit of rain here and there which has prolonged the blooms,” Dombrowski said.

“I'm excited for the park visitors who may be creating their own extraordinary memories when they visit these natural areas,” Hannawacker said. l

Antelope horns, a native wildflower to the area, in bloom in Canyonlands National Park. (Genevieve Vahl/City Journals)

These periwinkle larkspurs created great contrast sprinkled amongst the orange globemallow fields. (Sierra Gasperoni)

A field of crypto, the black crust that preserves the desert from erosion, well intact. (Genevieve Vahl/ City Journals)

The superblooming native species desert globemallow taking the reins on the desert landscape this year. (Genevieve Vahl/City Journals)

High school outdoors clubs offer students opportunities to recreate

This summer, local trails or courts may be busier with teenagers than in previous years.

Area high school teachers say it’s a lasting positive impact from COVID-19 when participation in outdoor recreation increased.

According to Penn State University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, outdoor recreation increased to nearly half of Americans taking part monthly, including 20% who are new to it.

As many national parks saw a record number of visitors during the pandemic, the outdoor recreation boom has continued as boating, running outdoors, bicycle riding, and walking in nature can be accessible to people of all ages and ability levels, the report said.

That stretches to students who may be adding adventurous experiences—sailing, mountain biking, kayaking and other non-traditional high school sports.

In fact, many area high schools offer clubs focusing on outdoor activities. Even with school dismissed for the summer, some students even plan to continue to meet through the summer on their own. Here’s a look at some outdoor high school clubs in the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley.

Cottonwood High hiking club

Senior Matthew Gordon, along with his hiking buddies from Cottonwood’s hiking club, plans to hit the nearby canyon trails this summer once they’re clear from snow.

“We haven’t gotten in very many hikes; it snowed a week after our first hike last fall and this spring, there’s the whole flooding situation,” he said. “We’ve been to the lower falls in Bell Canyon, and we’ve done some hikes in Millcreek Canyon. This summer, we’re wanting to hit the trails, starting with Donut Falls.”

During school, the club of about 20 students usually met at lunch to discuss hikes— the length, its difficulty, carpooling. They’ve hiked on days when school wasn’t in session.

“We usually stay together and talk music or other things, usually not school. Some club members are my good friends, but I’ve also gotten to meet new people who I’ve become friends with. It’s a lot different than interacting with people at school. I feel it’s a lot more genuine,” he said. “I love getting into nature and getting away from things. It brings you a lot closer to the people you’re around and I love the physical exercise. It’s a lot different than sports or going to the gym because you’re always walking uphill or downhill, getting lots of fresh air. I like that you get a big reward at the end of the hike when you get to see the sights.”

Gordon, who also is in the Madrigals and orchestra at school, has taken on an in-

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

formal club leadership role—from helping plan to often carrying the first aid kit and extra water on hikes.

“I think it fell on a few of us because we were the first people who were meeting and organizing the year. One of my friends does a good job getting the word out and passing out fliers. I have a van that I can drive, so that helps get our group to a trailhead,” he said. “It’s something I’ll miss after this year.”

The club’s adviser, Audryn Damron, said that the students have been proactive.

“They have a chat bringing up, ‘Who wants to hike?’” she said. “They created a Google photo album for the hiking club and put all the pictures in there. Not everyone has hiked before, so I helped them pick a hike. We use the All Trails app that tells them how hard the hike is and how long the hike is and direction to the trailhead.”

Damron, like some of the students, said she really loves to hike, but didn’t have friends who enjoyed it.

“I grew up close to Glacier National Park, so I love getting out in nature; I love the smell of the outdoors, the freshness, the views,” she said. “Creating this opportunity

was perfect. You have a club with a variety of people of different levels and they learn how to plan and how they can do it. It’s just really fun to see the kids take on leadership roles in a club they care about and in a space they love. I also love to share my love of hiking. We live by the mountains, and I would love to have kids be outside engaged with nature. If I can provide some coaching or guiding, I’m all for that.”

In addition to the student hiking club, she started a faculty hiking club during the COVID-19 pandemic and created a Google form of hikes.

“It has been fun because there are several teachers and counselors who share the love of hiking,” she said. “I had just moved here and started teaching at Cottonwood right before COVID hit. It was a way I could make better friends with Cottonwood faculty, do something I enjoyed and go to places where we could avoid the crowds. Now we continue hiking because we love it.”

Corner Canyon High roller-skating club

Corner Canyon High School’s roller-skating club began last fall when a student

came to teacher RJ Green asking him to be the club’s adviser.

“I said, ‘Sure, let’s make that happen,’” he said. “If kids come to me with a fun opportunity to get other people involved and doing fun stuff, and I can facilitate that, I’ll almost always say yes. I thought it’d be fun. When I was in undergrad, I rollerbladed around everywhere for about two years.”

That first year, the club met a couple times to skate in the evenings. They were hoping to get together as spring turns into summer.

“COVID was a catalyst for the group. Last year was the first year that they had a full year not masked. They wanted a stressfree way for the kids to get together and do something fun. They call it the retro experience, just that high school and arcade pizza socializing thing,” he said about the two dozen students who get together to skate.

While some kids own their own, others rent skates or blades.

“We’re hoping to build the culture and add a couple more events because it’s definitely fun and we have people who are quite interested,” he said.

At Cottonwood High, students in the school’s hiking club take to the trails to see the beauty in the area. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood High hiking club)

Green’s experience with rollerblading began as a mode of transportation across his college campus.

“It looked really cool in the ’90s. That’s why I started—and literally everybody else did it. I also love staying in shape. It’s really fun,” he said. “I like that this roller-skating club isn’t a sedentary activity with a phone. These kids are showing up, getting some exercise and socializing outside of the confines of school with friends their age. It isn’t just limited to school time.”

Brighton High rock climbing club

About 10 Brighton students regularly hit the climbing gym during the school year.

“Some of them start off, learn about climbing and hopefully have a positive experience climbing with their friends in the gym,” Brighton High adviser Ben Hall said.

Hall said students pay their own way as there are no fees associated with the club. Everyone is welcome, no experience is needed.

“Some have experience, others are brand new. If you’re brand new, there’s always somebody in the club who will climb or boulder with them to teach them how to climb,” he said. “If any of the kids are interested in becoming better or stronger, I share some training techniques. The best way to train is to climb more, focus on doing hard individual moves when you boulder. You can shift to longer routes on ropes to work on endurance. You’re always climbing and building technique, getting comfortable and learning how it feels to climb.”

Hall, himself, is a climber.

“This is my first year as a teacher, so I was looking to get involved and the previous adviser was ready to pass the baton for me to take over,” he said. “I got into climbing during college in Michigan; I was just looking for something to do and I figured I’d try. Climbing is awesome. It’s a great way to get outside, do something in nature and see a lot of amazing places. It’s adventurous. It’s thought provoking. It takes some strength, but it’s also about how you can move and work through problems. I like being out in a beautiful place and trying something hard. Climbing is ultimately how I ended up here in Salt Lake City. This is a great place to climb and enjoy the outdoors.”

While he has climbed in the Utah desert to nearby canyons, he said that there are some easier crags in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

“In the future it would be good

to start at just doing maybe more of an after-school climb in the spring when there’s a lot of daylight. Go out for a couple hours. Get the climb around here. When we have an experienced group, we could look into organizing a trip over summer break,” he said. “But for now, we’re building up, getting that experience and keeping it to the gym.”

Jordan High pickleball club

Jordan High pickleball club adviser Sandra Brown became a fan of the sport during the pandemic.

“I started playing pickleball with another teacher during COVID because we were losing our minds when we both had to teach online and felt locked up in our houses,” she said. “As we played, we became best friends. I love having another sport that I can play and be outside. I love that pickleball is free. It’s a way that I can get together with some friends or meet new strangers in the park and exercise and just enjoy the sunshine. I love the community aspect of it. I love it when people bring their speaker and listen to good music and just having a good time in the park.”

When they started playing, the colleague’s son, who now is a junior at Jordan, started playing with them.

“It was so fun that he and I started the club because we fell in love with pickleball and wanted the students at Jordan High to be able to play,” Brown said.

Twenty or more students get together at a nearby park with courts to play weekly, weather permitting.

“Everybody’s welcome to come. If they don’t know how to play, we have extra paddles that students can borrow and other students teach them how to play. That’s the great thing about pickleball, it’s easy to learn,” she said, adding that while the sport has been around since the 1970s, it got a boost during the pandemic. “The kids like that it’s not a sports club where you have to commit. They just show up with a ball and paddle and play with their friends, or with new people.”

Brown is excited about the club.

“It’s a sport for all ages and most abilities, even grandparents can play pickleball with grandkids. The goal of the club is for kids to just make connections so that they can then go play whenever they want. We like the idea to keep it simple,” she said.

“I like that students are falling in love with something athletic so that they get some healthy exercise and are having fun.” l

Four tips to taking picture-perfect photos during those summer months

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

Ah,summer! The season of laughter, outdoor fun, and vacation adventures. And how do many of us capture these special summer time moments— photos. Whether using your digital camera or your cell phone, as the old adage goes, the best camera is the one you have on you. American photographer Aaron Siskin said, “what you have caught on film has captured forever. It remembers the little things long after you have forgotten everything.”

We store these photos on our computers, create scrapbooks, update our photo frames, and even according to Business Insider, we post a staggering 1.8 billion photos to social media every day. 350 million of those photos are on one platform alone, Facebook. That's 4,000 photo uploads per second! The Eiffel Tower is said to be the world's most photographed landmark with New York City as the most photographed city in the world.

So, whether capturing the enjoyment of our children playing in the sprinklers, the gorgeous landscape as we hike those nature trails, or the priceless smiles while on our summer vacation, how can we take the best photos or at least the photos that will be social media worthy? Photographer Caleb Jones, whose photos have been published in Magnolia magazine and who has been hired by brands like Chickfil-A and Atlanta Travel and Tourism, provides some practical tips on how to capture those summer moments to be picture-perfect.

1. Capture candid moments

Instead of staging the “say cheese” photos where everyone looks at the camera, try capturing the candid moments of conversations happening at the family reunion, the smiles on the face of the child swinging on the swing set, or the kids handing out the cups of lemonade from their lemonade stand. A candid photo helps the viewer create a feeling of engagement, almost as if they were present in the moment.

For those who were in the photo, a candid picture reminds them how they felt in the moment.

2. Change the angle of how you are capturing the photo

Instead of having the people in the photo move, you as the photographer move around. Perhaps you hunker down a little bit and shoot from an upward angle to capture the reaction of amazement on the child’s face as they watch the sparkler on the Fourth of July. Or you could stand up taller and get a down shot of the watermelon as everyone reaches in to grab a slice. Simply changing the angle of your photo can enhance the picture and even help in creating more dynamic and dramatic pictures.

3. Utilize your lighting

You might not always have that natural light pouring in, so use your ISO on your phone or digital camera which helps maximize your light even in a dark room. Forty-five minutes before the sun sets (also referred to as the Golden Hour) is often perfect lighting whether it be capturing the beauty of nature, or even avoiding sharp shadows of capturing people.

4. Use editing software

You can purchase professional editing software for your computer, or simply download apps on your phone such as Caleb’s favorite, Lightroom, where you can edit your photos afterward to tailor to your personal preference such as muted tones or saturation. Editing can make the photo come alive where you are able to tell the story you want to tell.

Learn more photography tips with Caleb on Holly’s Highlights podcast, Season 1 Episode 10 available wherever you listen to podcasts such as Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 1 Episode 10.”

Check out Caleb’s photography or connect with him at www.calebjonesphotography.com. l

Capturing candid summertime moments. (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

Comcast provides services for those who serve

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Deneiva Knight was 18 years old and only three days out of high school when she reported for basic training with the U.S. Army. Having enlisted during her junior year, she described herself as “fresh-faced and scrawny” with no concept of the struggles and difficulties she would face through the experience.

As her eight weeks of training commenced, she found herself without support of family and friends, learning to trust her body, mind and spirit. She created a lifelong credo that has carried her throughout her life.

“Whatever you do, do it with heart,” Knight said. “During trying times, I dig in and rely on my heart working alongside my blood, sweat and tears to reach any finish line.”

Knight served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1996-2001. Now the external affairs director for the Comcast Mountain West Region, doing work in media relations, government affairs and community impact, Knight is proud to work for a company that supports the military.

Comcast’s dedication to the military community started with its founder, Ralph Roberts, who served a four-year tour-of-duty with the U.S. Navy. Now, the global telecommunications company creates a supportive workplace environment for military employees and offers experiences and discounts for its military customers.

In a new partnership with the Utah Veteran Business Resource Center, Comcast will support several initiatives at the center, including the Startup Training Resources Inspiring Veteran Entrepreneurship program, a free entrepreneurship training program run through Syracuse University in Buffalo, New York.

Rick Brown, Utah VBRC program director, said the partnership with Comcast will bring attention to the STRIVE program and hopefully increase the number of veteran entrepreneurs who participate.

“It benefits us to get the word out to the veterans that their service pays for our services and that we're here to work with them to help start and build their businesses.”

Comcast will also provide essential technology to support hybrid classrooms from St. George to Logan. Working with the Utah VBRC, Comcast will create innovation hubs in central locations so veterans can meet together and learn about building a business. The partnership will also include the creation of a women-only veterans entrepreneurship STRIVE course.

“That's where Comcast’s support is going to come in,” said Becky Guertler, Utah VBRC program manager. “As support for our programs increases, we can reach more veterans and empower them to build lasting economic futures. With Comcast’s support, the Utah VBRC is better positioned to better serve our veterans

and the minority groups within our veteran community.”

Shawn Kessler is the Comcast Mountain West Region’s technical operations director. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp and was hired by Comcast a few years later. During an 18-month-long deployment, Comcast covered the difference between Kessler’s military and Comcast pay, to ease financial stress.

Kessler said he wouldn’t trade his time in the military for anything outside of his family but wouldn’t want to go through boot camp again.

“The military gave me a sense of belonging and proved to myself that I could take on difficult things,” Kessler said. “Comcast’s support of the military is what made Comcast a career for me. While I was deployed, I made less on active duty than I did as a technician, and for over a year, Comcast paid me the difference. I never imagined that a company would do that.”

Since 2015, Comcast has hired more than 19,400 veterans, National Guard and reserve service members, and military spouses. It has donated more than $197 million to military community organizations and, in 2022, “Military Times” recognized Comcast NBCUniversal as the nation’s No. 1 telecommunications company for veterans.

This year, VETS Indexes recognized Comcast Cable as a 5-Star Employer in the 2023 VETS Indexes Employer Awards. The award is a testament to the company’s strong commitment to hiring, retaining, developing and supporting U.S. military veterans and their families. For more information about how Comcast supports veterans, visit corporate.comcast.com/impact/military.

“I am proud to work for Comcast,” Knight said, “a company that not only honors its veterans and military-serving employees but creates opportunities to support us at every angle through its benefits structure, career pathways and community impact initiatives.” l

TAP INTO A NEW POSSIBILITY for depression

Depression Isolates. NeuroStar® Connects.

• NOT medicine

• NOT shock therapy

• NOT invasive

• IS safe and effective

• IS COVERED by most insurance

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

“I had taken 11 different medications without any relief… NeuroStar treatment has helped me bring my life back with a happiness that I’ve never experienced before” ~TODD

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

” ~DEBBIE

Since 2015, Comcast has hired more than 19,400 veterans, including Deneiva Knight (left), external affairs director for the Comcast Mountain West Region, and Shawn Kessler, Comcast Mountain West Region’s technical operations director. (Photo courtesy of Comcast)

Do You Have a Chronic Wound?

If you have a wound that has been open for more than 4 weeks, then something in your body is not allowing that wound to heal properly. Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that fail to proceed through the normal phases of wound healing in an orderly and timely manner. Often, chronic wounds stall in the inflammatory phase of healing.

How do you heal a wound that will not heal?

Debridement (removal of dead tissue) is the most common treatment for stubborn wounds, and involves the removal of unhealthy tissue within a chronic wound to promote the growth of healthy tissue, reduce complications of infection, and speed up the healing process.

Your care team may also suggest the following treatments:

• Antibiotics

• Skin substitute grafts

• Laser Treatments

• X-rays to assess for bone infection

• Scans to ensure proper blood flow is getting to the wound to promote healing

Visit Innovation Medical Group today to get a wound care specialist to help guide your care plan and to get your life back without a chronic wound present. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 801-758-2091. We are located at 4624 Holladay Blvd on the second floor in Suite 201 right above Olympus Family Medicine. We accept all major insurances and look forward to being able to enhance your quality of life.

The easiest way to restore your home... the best way to restore your life.

“

Robert and Mark were great! We had pipes burst at night and they were right there to help us get the water shut off and to help us get all the water out and dried. They were both professional, communication was great and they were thorough.I would recommend them to anyone! ”

—David C

—Anna D

“ The technician was prompt, worked quickly, and was very professional. They provided outstanding same day service.”

How would you like to have someone help pay your government taxes each year? We actually have people that do… they are called tourists. Because of the $4.62 billion dollars in spending from tourists in Salt Lake County each year, it equates to $1,238 in tax relief for each household within Salt Lake County. (Source: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)

Visitors to our state spend their money here, which benefits local businesses like restaurants, hotels, car rental agencies, and retail establishments. These purchases increase our sales tax revenues which helps us keep property tax low. Did you know visitors account for 33 percent of the overall spend in Salt Lake County? Because the visitor’s stay in Utah is temporary, they don’t require the support of other expensive government programs. We see the benefit from the dollars they spend here, but not the burden to our school system, for instance.

When people hear about tourism in Utah, they assume visitors are here to ski in the winter, or visit the National Parks in the summer. Only about 18 percent of ski visitors to Big Cottonwood Canyon are tourists, and 36 percent in Little Cottonwood Canyon. But Utah is significantly impacted by its visitor economy even beyond those destinations including meetings, conventions, and sports tournaments. Travel and tourism

represent Utah’s eighth largest industry and supports 48,000 jobs. Salt Lake County’s share is about 46 percent of the state’s $10.1 billion total.

Because of the great economic impact of tourism, Salt Lake County is in the tourism business.

We own the Salt Palace Convention Center and the Mountain America Expo Center. These centers can host hundreds of conventions each year. When you consider the economic impact of a single convention, you can understand their importance of attracting big conventions and how that investment benefits us all.

Each convention that is held in Salt Lake County can bring in millions of dollars in economic impact. It is estimated that a small convention attracting 4,000 visitors will generate $7 million dollars in economic revenue through hotel stays, restaurant sales, shopping, and entertainment venues.

Visitors also pay an extra tax that goes into the Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention (TRCC) fund. This fund is used to pay for quality-of-life programs and venues that make Salt Lake County a better place for families to flourish. Some of the recently approved projects from this fund include expanded trail systems, investments in

museums and art centers, and improvements to parks and playgrounds.

Tourism dollars and taxes help pay for everyday services that improve our quality of life, help keep property taxes low, and promote a healthy job market for Salt Lake County. So next time you see a tourist here for a convention or to enjoy the beauty of Utah, give them a friendly smile and thank them for visiting.

AlthoughI don’t like crowds, parades or people, in general, when my husband suggested we attend the Pride Parade last month in Salt Lake, I painted a rainbow on my face, donned my “More Love” shirt and jumped in the car.

After a year of devastating anti-gay and anti-trans legislation across the country, we wanted to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community, even if that meant standing in a crowd of more than 50,000 parade attendees singing at the top of their lungs.

Because how do you fight hate? With a celebration of love.

The theme was “Queer Pride is Unapologetic” and that message rang throughout the parade. When the crowd saw the first rainbow banners a block away, it burst into applause and continued cheering for two hours. I sang out loud to every Lizzo anthem. I chanted until I lost my voice. I clapped until my shoulders hurt. I danced in ways that completely embarrassed my husband. I smiled until my face was sore.

Love was palpable. It brought me to tears more than once as I watched the support, kindness and joy being showered on this parade by thousands of people, of all ages, faiths, races and gender identities.

It was an event of unrestrained joy with enough sequins, bright colors, sky-high wigs, hella high heels and drag queens to

Take pride in love

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

bring a smile to RuPaul’s face. Couples were holding hands, hugging, kissing, smiling, dancing and lifting a big middle finger to oppression and hate.

It was great to see nearly 200 businesses and organizations put on their rainbow best to spread the love. Entries included Delta Airlines, Westminster University, Intermountain Health, the Cougar Pride Center and ABC4 Utah.

The Salt Lake City Public Library had a large group of participants, because librarians are on the front lines, defending free speech every day and fighting book bans with humor and flair.

I’ve never been to a better parade. I’ve never celebrated a better message. With suicide rates rising for LGBTQ+ youth, hate is not acceptable. Intolerance is not acceptable. The only thing that’s acceptable is inclusion, joy, kindness, grace and love.

After the parade, we walked through

the festival, talking with vendors, enjoying live music and eating tasty foods. We learned about drag queen bingo at a local church, chatted with a BYU student who wrote a book about coming out as gay and took pictures for lots of happy couples.

We watched people get tattoos, we bought new T-shirts, we smiled at strangers, we stood in line for lukewarm BBQ. We visited with friends. We saw bravery. We saw community. We saw free mom hugs. We saw compassion. We saw gay Darth Vader. We saw celebration. We saw dogs in tutus. We saw love.

Threats against the LGBTQ+ communi-

ty have quadrupled over the last few years, and organizers spent extra money for heightened security at the parade and festival. State leaders, churches, communities and individuals should be careful about comments, rules and legislation that contribute to these dangers. Be careful who you exclude, it could be someone you love.

For the LGBTQ+ community, continue living unapologetic. The world needs more dancing, more sequins, more hella high heels, more bright colors, more sky-high wigs, more connection, more dogs in tutus, more rainbow T-shirts and more love.