Millcreek Journal | March 2024

WASATCH JR. HIGH STUDENTS REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN FUNDRAISING FOR SOUPER BOWL

OF CARING

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

Principal Mary Basso of Wasatch Jr. High, along with the Assistant Principal Renee Dehaan, pledged to sleep on the roof of the school if the student body raised $18,000 during the Granite Education Foundation’s Souper Bowl of Caring fundraiser.

Last year, the school only raised $1,900. This year, Wasatch decided to go the extra mile and pull out all the stops with lots of unusual incentives like head shaving, pie throwing, face painting, and buckets of water dumped on students’ heads and, of course, the administrators sleeping on top of the roof.

The school reached that goal in no time, and Basso and Dehaan camped out on the roof on Feb. 6.

“It was a cold, wet and windy night but it was great. We had umbrellas, we took our tents and we took our Uno cards and we did not get too much sleep,” Basso said.

“We told the kids we would be on the roof and they could drive by and honk and we would wave. We threw some glow sticks down to these kids that came by and chatted with us. It was really fun,” Basso said.

“This was the administration’s idea to sleep on the roof of the school,” Basso said. “No one thought that the students would raise this much money.”

“Several kids even asked us, ‘Did you guys really sleep there all night because several of us think you went back inside and slept in your offices.’ Nope, your word has to mean

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Students and administrators of Wasatch Jr. High that were willing to have water dumped on their heads for a good cause in February to raise money for the Granite Education Foundation’s Souper Bowl of Caring. (Mary Basso/Wasatch Jr. High)

Lion’s Club anniversary page 6

High-quality, innovative health care with a heavy dose of compassion

With a focus on health care excellence, community service and faith – the doctors, nurses and care teams at Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake are committed to compassionate and highquality care for their neighbors.

It has been nearly a year since CommonSpirit Health took over five Wasatch Front hospitals that now bear the name Holy Cross, a reference to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who brought Catholic, faith-based health care to the people of Utah nearly 150 years ago.

Today, the hospitals are reinvigorating the Sisters’ vision while caring for all with open arms, including at the original hospital they opened in 1875 that cares for patients 24/7 on S. Temple Street.

“We have returned to our roots in the way we care for the people of the Salt Lake Valley, and we are so excited to re-emphasize community-focused, faithbased health care for the people of Utah,” said Kevin Jenkins, Market CEO for the Holy Cross hospitals. “Our care is truly focused on neighbors helping neighbors.”

Besides innovative health care in services that include orthopedics, bariatrics, neurosurgery, heart care, and robotic-assisted technology, the hospital’s teams are actively involved in helping to make their communities better outside the walls of the hospital. These efforts range from food pantry donations and first aid sponsorships with local arts festivals to partnering with the American Heart Association to educate our communities about heart health.

Through its Hello Humankindness program, CommonSpirit is actively promoting the health benefits

of kindness and recognizing employees who go above and beyond the call of their jobs to help those in need.

“We believe that simple acts of kindness have a profound impact on the lives of our patients and communities, in addition to the medical expertise that our doctors and nurses provide,” Jenkins said.

The Holy Cross hospitals have also re-started volunteer and chaplaincy programs, which had not been a priority for the previous owner.

“We have a Director of Mission and Ministry who leads our chaplaincy program to provide prayer and other support for our patients – regardless of who they are or faith tradition - and is making sure our healing mission is carried out in our hospitals,” Jenkins added.

CommonSpirit’s mission includes advancing social justice for all, and last fall, it bestowed eight grants from its Health Equity & Advancement Fund to local nonprofits that are working every day to improve lives in ways that include health screenings for Spanishspeaking neighbors and mental health treatment for children and families.

With a long legacy of service and healing, CommonSpirit is just getting started in extending health care excellence for all Utahns at the Holy Cross hospitals.

“Our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity,” Jenkins said.

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

When things go wrong, we provide the right care.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Kevin Jenkins, Market CEO

City council joins calls for Natalie Cline’s resignation after ‘cruel’ social media post endangers high school student

By Sara Milano | s.milano@mycityjournals.com

Millcreek City Councilmembers have joined others in the call for Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline to resign after her social media post targeted a local high school student.

Cline was criticized for a Facebook post published Feb. 6 in which she falsely implied a high school athlete was transgender. The post featured photos of a Cottonwood High School student-athlete with the caption “Girls’ basketball…” Many understood Cline’s comment to imply that the student was not a biological female and should not be allowed to participate on the girls’ basketball team at her school.

The student, who was not named in the post, has since been overwhelmed with hateful comments by social media users who saw Cline’s post. Al and Rachel van der Beek, the parents of the student-athlete, explained in an interview with Fox 13 News that their daughter is simply “a tomboy” who “cuts her hair…works out a lot, hits the gym.” They explained that while she has endured hurtful comments about her appearance from students before, they never expected an adult to use a picture of their daughter to promote a political agenda and provoke hate, Al van der Beek explained.

Cline has since deleted the post and issued her “deepest apologies” for the “negative attention” her post brought to the student and her family. She went on to say that “it is normal to pause and wonder if people are what they say they are because of the push to normalize transgenderism in our society,” and that she “wants all girls to feel welcome in school sports.”

The Millcreek City Council joined the Granite School Board, Gov. Spencer Cox and others in a Feb. 12 resolution denounc-

ing Cline for her actions as well as calling on her to resign her post. The council’s resolution described Cline’s actions as “bullying” and explained that her “reckless and cruel post encouraged online vitriol and threats” which endangered the student, her team and her community.

While one public comment submitted online suggested that the council’s resolution was “a political hit job on Natalie Cline,” another Millcreek resident who identified herself as Anne expressed appreciation for the resolution, sharing that she has “dealt with bullying on multiple levels with [her] own

kids,” and that the last thing she wants to see is “an adult, especially an elected official, be a part of that.”

Councilmember Thom DeSirant expressed concern that Cline’s comments, while directed toward a student who was not transgender, originate from prejudiced attitudes toward transgender individuals, which have been echoed in legislation like Utah’s transgender bathroom ban, passed earlier this year in January. He warned of a future “deluge” of these kinds of comments and expressed support for the transgender community in Utah. Councilmember Bev Uipi expressed

sympathy for the student, saying “it’s challenging enough to be a teenager these days,” and Councilmember Cheri Jackson rebuked Cline, saying that “for any adult to target a child on social media is…reprehensible.”

At press time, Cline announced she would not be resigning her post, despite calls for her to step down and a formal censure by the Utah State Legislature. She announced on Feb. 19 that she will be seeking reelection for her District 9 seat on the Utah State Board of Education. Republican Amanda Bollinger and Democrat Will Shiflett have announced their candidacies for the seat as well. l

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The Millcreek Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Millcreek. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

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Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

Natalie Cline’s seat at the Utah State Board of Education remained empty during the Board’s Feb. 14 meeting, in which they censured Cline and called for her resignation. (Utah News Dispatch)

Community celebrates East Mill Creek Lions Club’s 80th anniversary

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

The East Mill Creek Lions club celebrated an 80th anniversary of their charter at the Millcreek City Hall last month.

“The EMC Lions Club was created out of the group called the East Mill Creek Betterment Society that was formed around 1936. Then in 1943 they chose to affiliate with Lions International,” member Bill Morey said.

“The East Mill Creek Betterment Society was already working on sidewalks and traffic signals and these projects became Lions Club work in the community,” Morey added.

Morey was a past president of the EMC Lions Club. “I am currently the longest tenured EMC Lions Club member. I have been a member for 34 years.”

“The Lions Club is all over the world in 200 countries and women were admitted in 1988 and we had a woman join that year,” Morey said.

Rose Studstrup was the only female president of the EMC Lions Club and served from 2011-14.

Lions International Foundation was created to support the efforts of Lions clubs and partners in serving communities locally and globally and their motto is “We Serve.”

“If we were to go to any club in the world, they would accept us,” said Lions member Spencer Harden.

Lions Club members all identify as members by wearing a yellow vest and they wear it with pride. The vest is an international symbol of community service.

The EMC Lions Club is known for the Fourth of July festivities in Millcreek each year which includes a breakfast, parade and a carnival.

“We get military flyovers every year during our Fourth of July celebration. It's really epic and it happens at Evergreen Park,” member Lisa Schmidt said. Schmidt is currently serving as the vice president of the EMC Lions Club.

The Fourth of July parade has been a popular activity in the Millcreek area and has been going on since before the EMC Lions Club existed. East Millcreek Community Council chair and EMC Lions Club treasurer and secretary Nancy Carlson-Gotts added, “The day before the parade, there are chairs already lined up on Evergreen Avenue.”

“We have all different groups in the parade,” said current EMC Lions Club president Dave Kirby. “Last year, we included the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.”

Every November, the EMC Lions Club works on the “Share the Harvest” service project. “We along with the police department and the city find out which families need help and we provide a turkey,” Carlson-Gotts said.

Carlson-Gotts spoke about the additional projects that the Lions Club works on. ”We have an Easter egg hunt during the spring and the eyeglass project” which raises money to pay for eye exams and glasses for people in

need in the community.

The EMC Lions Club is a chartered organization for Scouts BSA Troop 5. “The Lions Club supports our troop and makes it possible for us to exist,” said Scoutmaster Rich Lavine. They work together on such events as the Fourth of July and Easter festivities.

Scouts BSA is the new name for the Boys Scouts of America which was changed to allow girls into the program.

Hillary Torres is the girls’ scoutmaster.

“We follow the same progression and are working toward the Eagle Scout award,” Torres said. “People see girls in these uniforms and they think they are Girl Scouts but we are not. Scouts BSA is becoming more popular for girls and we have 11 registered girls in our troop.”

“We have a wonderful organization. The Lions Club is very accepting of anyone. We love anyone who wants to join and serve. It really comes down to an open heart and an open

community. It is the joining of people,” said VP Schmidt.

The EMC Lions Club is currently accepting and welcoming new members. As a Lion, you will have the opportunity to help others, meet new people and use your talents to make an impact in the community. For more information visit EMClions.org. l

The East Mill Creek Lions Club members posed for a group photo at their 80th anniversary along with the Scouts BSA Troop 5 and Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini. (Jolene Croasum/City Journals)

Scoutmaster Rich and Gavin Lavine of Troop 5 at the EMC Lions Club anniversary celebration. (Jolene Croasum/City Journals)

Previous president of the EMC Lions club Bill Morey and the only female past president Rose Studstrup and current East Mill Creek Lions Club president Dave Kirby during the 80th anniversary of the charter. (Jolene Croasum/City Journals)

The Lions Club vest that was on display at the 80th anniversary celebration of their charter. (Jolene Croasum/City Journals)

SHS students make the finals in the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Skyline High business students understood the assignment. When the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute announced the top 20 finalists in the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, SHS teams held four of those spots, plus another student worked with Granite Technical Institute, which was also named in the top 20.

For the competition, each team had to identify a problem and propose a solution. The teams now advance to the final stage of the business-idea competition, which was open to high school students across the state.

More than 150 teams submitted applications for the competition which includes $30,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. It’s held by LEI, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and sponsored by Zions Bank.

“All the students competing in the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge are taking steps to turn their great ideas into a business,” said Anne Bastien, program director at LEI.

“We look forward to cheering on the top teams at the final event.”

Skyline instructors Sydney Lott, John Johnson and Gray Garrett run the school’s business club which already has a Lassonde challenge success story. Two years ago, SHS had the overall winner for the event, receiving $10,000. The giant check is hung on the club’s wall to inspire future students.

The SHS business club has 100 students involved in the program with the majority also involved in DECA and FBLA events.

“The kids have gotten really excited about business and having success, so I tell them about every opportunity there is out there,” Lott said. “They just want to be a part of everything and do everything…When this competition came up they said, this is what we want to do with our lives. We want to be entrepreneurs, we want to start businesses, we want to create products. Here’s another excuse for us to do so.”

SHS teams moving into the finals were GuardianBuddy, Handi, GreenDream, Non-Re-

sidual Infusion Bag and WhimsiSculpt.

Grace Min and Karina Sucahyo, who created GuardianBuddy, aimed to reduce the number of children and pets who die in overheated cars. Their product has multiple sensors paired with an app to alert guardians of dangerous conditions in the vehicle.

The Handi team created a platform that connects skilled workers with clients to solve home repair problems. Handi also has a global outreach where users can share tips and tricks. Anhkhoa Le, Micah Tien, Jeffery Zou, Arivan Verma and Alexander Pham came up with the concept.

Those same students created the GreenDream team smart irrigation system that focuses on sustainability and accessibility. It would allow consumers to water their plants by detecting soil moisture levels and irrigating appropriately.

Students who designed the Non-Residual Infusion Bag were inspired when they noticed a brown residue in their grandma’s anemia iron

solution bag. Wasted medication and dosing inaccuracies prompted Victor and Forest Young to explore solutions for optimizing medication use.

Skyline student Heather Chen, with the Granite Technical Institute, helped create WhimsiSculpt, a fairy garden kit for kids that includes a clear acrylic hanging globe, fake moss, a mini house or bridge, animal charms and miniature colorful foliage.

The top 20 teams advanced to the final round of judging on Saturday, March 2, where they presented their ideas to a panel of experts. Winners had not been announced at the time of publication.

“They’re just awesome,” Lott said. “I’m really lucky. I say every day to my business colleagues that we’re just the luckiest people in the world because most people have to work really hard to make this stuff happen. And you just take these kids, who are raring to go, and point them in the right direction, and they just go.” l

Former Skyline player Mariyah Saldana to compete in Deaf World Championship Games

By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

Mariyah

Saldana is just a regular college student when she is not excelling on the basketball court.

“I like playing video games on my Xbox, watching scary movies, and playing any sports for fun with my friends,” Saldana said.

The former Skyline player is currently playing college basketball at Gallaudet University and is preparing to represent the U.S. in the Deaf World Championship Games from high school. She has many fond memories from high school and is making new ones now.

“My favorite memory was playing against my friends from different high schools in basketball games,” Saldana said. “Currently, my favorite memory is hanging out with my teammates this season. I am excited to be playing on the Olympic team this summer with 16 teams from other countries.”

From a young age, Saldana learned to enjoy the sport of basketball.

“My parents taught me when I was 5 or 6 years old,” Saldana said. “I fell in love with basketball when I was watching a Chicago Bulls game on the TV with my mom’s family.”

Saldana realized that not only could she play basketball but she could do it at a high level.

“Realizing the potential to play basketball beyond high school often stems from skill development, recognition and personal ambition,” Saldana said.

Basketball has brought joy to Saldana in many different ways.

“I love playing basketball because of the

joy that I feel for every basket, assist, rebound, steal and block that I make,” Saldana said. “Even just sprinting up and down the court, hustling for the loose ball, and doing all the dirty work give me extreme satisfaction. The main benefit that I get from it is exercise.”

With skill, communication and practice, Saldana has been able to work with her hearing limitations to become a great basketball player.

“Overcoming the hearing aspect in basketball typically involves developing heightened visual awareness, relying on peripheral vision to anticipate movements, and communicating effectively with teammates through gestures and signals,” Saldana said. “Additionally, honing other skills like spatial awareness and timing can compensate for any limitations in hearing cues during gameplay. Some players also use technology, such as hearing aids or visual aids, to enhance their experience on the court.”

Fans can support the GoFundMe to help Saldana cover her expenses for the championship trip to Argentina this summer:

www.gofundme.com/f/u21-usa-deaf-basketball-2024

“My goal is to reach $3,000 for the uniform, flight ticket, lodging, food and training camp,” Saldana said. “This summer, we are going to Argentina for the USA U21 Basketball Championship.” l

Mariyah Saldana plays college basketball at Galludet University and is preparing to play in the Deaf World Championship Games this summer. (Photo courtesy Mariyah Saldana)

Eagle soccer takes the field March 8

Defending state champs Skyline golf returns to reclaim crown

Dante Stock was a junior on last year’s squad that reached the semifinals after beating Hillcrest 3-1 (seen here). Skyline went 12-7 a year ago during the weather-affected spring.

Photo by Keri Kraatz

A year ago, the Skyline girls golf team made history claiming its first ever state championship with Ashley Lam taking first overall individually as a junior. Tegan Halloran and Avery Kraatz also finished in the top 20. The entire team returns this year to chase another crown.

Nico Golesis was a sophomore on last year’s team that fell to eventual state champions Wasatch in the semifinals 1-0. The Eagles open this campaign on March 8 at Murray and embark on a slightly altered region with Alta and West joining while Park City and Murray leave. (Photo courtesy Justin Adams)

Continued from front page

something. We spent the entire night on the roof,” Basso said.

The kids came to school the next morning and were greeted by the principal and assistant principal still on the roof.

When asked about the condition of the school’s roof Basso said, “The top of the roof was really clean and we found soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs and even a pair of shoes.”

Several teachers offered to have their heads shaved if the students raised a specific amount of money. The teachers did not think they had any real worries about losing their hair.

It was $7,500 for Ms. Gleason, $12,500 for Mr. Yund, $15,000 for Mr. McGowan and $20,000 for Mr. Allen.

“At the beginning of the fundraiser, the teachers were taunting the students saying, ‘We are going to have our hair for the rest of the year!’ Then boom, the students raised $35,000,” Basso said.

Teachers and staff got in on the fun by being placed in holding cells until a set amount of money was raised to free them.

There was a friendly competition between Wasatch Jr. High School and Churchill Jr. High to see which school could raise the most money for the fundraiser.

It was a tight race but Wasatch Jr. High pulled out a win. Charity Flanagan, the school’s bookkeeper confirmed the totals. “Wasatch raised a total of $47,053.38 and Churchill came in at $45,007.67.” Altogether the two schools raised over $90,000.

It was a win for everyone with this friendly competition since all of the money raised was helping stomp out hunger in the Granite School District.

Flanagan added, “It was really awesome to see the kids connect with our community and raise money in this way to help other kids with food insecurity.”

“There was a break-in at Granite Education Foundation over this past Christmas break and they lost like $50,000 so it was really awesome to see the kids come together and make up for that loss plus some,” Flanagan said.

“We did a closing assembly at the end of the week and we showed the students just how much they had brought in and congratulated them. Then we had a lineup of teachers

who got their heads shaved,” Flanagan said.

“There were different activities where kids could pay to dump water on teachers, admins and even throw a pie in the face. Just fun ways to get the kids and teachers involved to raise money for a good cause,” Flanagan said.

The goal was set to raise $20,024 which is about $25 per student plus $24 for the year. The fundraising began on Jan. 29 and ended on Feb. 9.

“I am so proud and so humbled to be in a community that cares so much about kids that are tackling hunger and never would have imagined that the community would raise this much money,” Basso said. “I don’t know how we are going to top it next year.” l

The shaving of the head of social studies teacher Benjamin McGowan after the student body raised $15,000 for the Granite Education Foundation’s Souper Bowl of Caring. (Mary Basso/Wasatch Jr. High)

Tents set up on the roof of Wasatch Jr. High for Principal Mary Basso and Assistant Principal Renee Dehaan on a wet February night during the Granite Education Foundation’s Souper Bowl of Caring fundraiser. (Mary Basso/Wasatch Jr. High)

The pie in the face was a way for students at Wasatch Jr. High to raise money for Granite Education Foundation’s Souper Bowl of Caring. (Mary Basso/Wasatch Jr. High)

High student taking ice cold bucket of water over the head to raise money for food insecurity in the Granite School District. (Mary Basso/Wasatch Jr. High)

On March 17, many people look for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and wear green to avoid being pinched. But did you know there are lessons we can learn from the day’s honoree—St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was born into a very wealthy family. However, his luck took a turn when he was kidnapped by Irish raiders. Despite his circumstances, he found the courage to escape and traveled over 200 miles across the rugged Irish terrain where he came across a shipping vessel that happened to be bound for his homeland.

This is where we find four golden nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from St. Patty:

1. Take action. Note that St. Patrick didn’t wait to be rescued from his circumstances. He took action himself. What action do we need to take? Where might we need to step out of our comfort zone? We won’t ever reach those waters heading to where we want to be until we take that first step.

2. Forgive. One of the most surprising aspects of St. Patrick’s life was his decision to return to Ireland as a missionary 15 years after he had escaped. Despite his being held captive there, he was able to muster up the strength to forgive his captors to the point where he willingly returned. Who might we need to forgive in our life? Remember, holding onto resentment only creates bitterness and burden within us.

3. Take the higher road. Not only did St. Patrick return to his captors to share with them as a missionary, but he also went above and beyond in paying them a full ransom price of a slave as compensation for his escape. Although

Four lessons from St. Patrick

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

the eye for an eye revenge approach might be the first thought when a wrong has been done to us, might we try the “killing them with kindness” concept by simply taking the higher road? Yes, often easier said than done.

4. Understand those around us. While in captivity, St. Patrick learned how to speak the Celtic language of his captives. This proved especially beneficial years later when returning as a missionary since he was able to speak the native tongue to the people he was trying to reach. Such a powerful reminder for us to invest in our listening, understanding and communicating skills. Whether it be through resources such as personality tests or the five love languages, meeting those around us where they are fosters healthier, more impacting relationships.

Through these four nuggets of wisdom, St. Patrick not only reached his very enemy who had taken him captive, but he ended up reaching the entire nation of Ireland with his faith. As a leader at work, in the community, in our church or even in our own home, how might the tale of St. Patrick teach us to transform our circumstances into opportunities for growth and impact?

This St. Patrick’s Day, might we remember that it is more than just a tale and opportunity to dress from head to toe in green. May we be encouraged and inspired to intentionally live our lives full of purpose, no matter our circumstances, as we make it a great day for a great day.

Want to learn more about personality tests or using the five love languages? Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 2 Episode 4 and Season 3 Episode 3. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available on www.hollycurby.com and

wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast.” l

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

Top spellers to compete at the Greater Northern Utah Spelling Bee

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

More than 100 schools will be represented at the Greater Northern Utah Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 23 at 9 a.m. at Wasatch Jr. High in Millcreek (3750 S. 3100 East). Sponsored by the City Journals community newspapers, the winner of the event will travel to Washington, D.C. to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Each school can send up to two spelling representatives to compete at the Utah bee. Students will complete a written test before the competition and everyone will have the chance to spell one word on the stage. After the first round, the top spellers will be announced and they will compete for the state championship.

“The spelling bee is a foundation of the building blocks of education,” said Elizabeth Sweat, people leader at the City Journals. “It teaches children the importance of hard work, language skills and aiming for the best. It helps them become strong thinkers, ready to create a better tomorrow.”

The City Journals has hosted the regional spelling bee since 2014 and pays for the trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and one parent. This year, Planet Tooth Pedi-

atric Dentistry in West Valley will provide funds to ensure a second speller can also attend the national bee.

Last year’s winner, Surya Kapu, competed at the national event, finishing tied for third place. It was the third time the South Jordan resident had competed at that level. Surya won the regional bee four times but didn’t attend the Scripps event one year because of COVID. This year, he is too old to compete, so there will be a new champion crowned.

City Journals publisher Bryan Scott is adamant about hosting the event each year and giving students the opportunity to shine.

“To me, children are synonymous with our future and our community,” Scott said. “Any time we get to celebrate a child is awesome. For some of these spellers, this may be the only time in their life where they are on a stage. Those few moments make all the difference.”

To support the regional spelling bee and competitors, donate with the QR code. Help send the champion to Washington, D.C. to complete at the national level. l

The City Journals sent South Jordan resident Surya Kapu to Washington, D.C. last year to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year’s regional bee will be held on Saturday, March 23.

(Photo courtesy of Udaya Kapu)

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.” l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

Why A Locally Owned, Family Operated Mortuary Really Matters

Larkin Mortuary is the most respected funeral home in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885 and today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a quali ed and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside in uences. Larkin can meet any need by providing all varieties of funeral and graveside services, cremation facilities, cemeteries, indoor and outdoor mausoleums, cremation niche and scattering gardens, personalized life memorials and legacy keepsakes.

One of the most important aspects of being locally owned and operated is our rsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 139 years of excellence and innovation in providing quality memorial products and compassionate service, Larkin Mortuary provides a full spectrum of end of life services.

Being a quali ed resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier oral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. This full range of services o ers individuals and families the exibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual sta honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and e cient transfers to other countries.

We are community minded and donate either monetarily or with our time to many worthwhile causes in the local area. Being community-minded is who we are. It de nes our character and provides a solid foundation with the people we serve.

Memorial preplanning services are o ered by quali ed and compassionate Larkin counselors who will help determine nal wishes. Advanced funeral arrangements can provide peace of mind knowing that end of life plans are complete and will be carried out exactly as speci ed. Preplanning reduces the details and decisions loved ones must confront during a time of grief.

The family and sta at Larkin Mortuary understand that arranging a funeral or memorial service is a deeply personal experience. Realizing the sacred nature of the profession, Larkin is honored to serve the community by providing genuine care at this sensitive time of life.

Our memorial services are available in any of our beautiful buildings amongst our four locations along the Wasatch Front or in a building of your choice.

For more information, please visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

Olympus volleyball starts first sanctioned season as defending champ

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Larkin

one of the most respected funeral homes in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885. Today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, four mortuaries, cremation facilities and two cemeteries, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Larkin’s vertically integrated services also provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, along with beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures.

A year ago when boys volleyball still operated as a club sport, the Olympus Titans went 32-1 enroute to winning the state tournament and a No. 25 national ranking. Led by head coach Brett Peterson, who was also significant in getting boys volleyball sanctioned as a high school sport, the Titans entered the state tournament as the No. 1 seed and lived up to it winning the championship game against Provo/Timpview 25-1, 25-17 for the title. Olympus

photo courtesy Brett

Trails, parks expansions highlighted in County Mayor Wilson's address

"It feels so good," Salt Lake County Mayor

Jenny Wilson said, kicking off her 2024 State of the County address on Jan 23. Speaking to county officials, mayors and city council members at the South Jordan Recreation Center, Wilson touted the county's resilient economic rebound from COVID-19 and its benchmark-setting quality of life investments.

Recalling the Height of the Pandemic

Wilson recounted the uncertainty she felt both "personally and as your county mayor" during the height of the pandemic in 2020. "I knew our county had a future," Wilson said, "but at our lowest moments that future seemed very uncertain." The mayor said the anxiety was fueled by isolation and conspicuously empty offices and streets.

"Thankfully, largely due to the resolve of this community, Salt Lake County has bounced back," Wilson continued. She spotlighted its position as home to "one of the most robust economies in the country." Further, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 2.6%, the mayor enthused that "our future is bright."

Bond Rating Signals Fiscal Discipline

In addition to the job market, Wilson pointed to Salt Lake County's AAA bond rating as evidence of sound fiscal health and discipline. She explained the significance: "It actually allows us to keep taxes down while delivering service to our residents and that is so important." With fewer than 50 counties across the over 3,000 nationwide able to claim AAA grades from all major ratings agencies, she argued the rating signals the quality and reliability of Salt Lake County's long-term finances.

Recreational Access: From Courts to Trails

A central point in Wilson's address was the county's focus on quality of life investments beyond economic factors. She positively highlighted Salt Lake County recreational amenities, programming and partnerships. Specifically, the mayor drew attention to existing and expanding county trails, parks, and recreation centers that have developed under her administration.

As one major milestone, the mayor highlighted that this summer kids ages 5 to 18 will gain free access to all county recreation centers. Wilson shared that when she had proposed the idea, approval first had to come from the Salt Lake County Council who control the county's purse strings.

One major highlight Wilson said is the upcoming $9 million expansion of the South Jordan Recreation Center. She shared that construction will begin mid-year on additions including seven new lap lanes for the pool, spectator bleachers and a timing system. Wilson projects finishing construction within about one year. She argued that by alleviating congestion, the upgrades will better accommodate community swim clubs, teams and seniors looking to exercise through swimming laps. The mayor praised the expansion as an evolu-

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

tion that will cement the South Jordan facility's status as a go-to aquatic and recreational hub for Salt Lake County's south side.

Bingham Creek Regional Park Leads Expansions

In addition to programming, Wilson touted park infrastructure expansions during her tenure. She said Salt Lake County had just opened the initial phase of Bingham Creek Regional Park. According to Wilson, it is now the county's largest park spanning 45 acres. Although once home to a gravel pit, the first section already includes playing fields, playgrounds, biking trails, a pavilion and more. She also teased that "several additional exciting projects" are coming, cementing Bingham Creek's status as the county's premier destination park.

Trail Networks Expand Access

Wilson also trumpeted the county's efforts on trails, celebrating the August opening of the "game changing" Butterfield Canyon trail system. Made possible by key partnerships with Rio Tinto and the Bureau of Land Management, she said the first phase introduced 15 miles of trails in previously hard-to-reach southwest Salt Lake County.

Beyond Butterfield Canyon, the mayor said her administration remains "dedicated to enhancing accessible, equitable, sustainable and high-quality trails and open space for all our county residents." She boasted that the county continues to link cities through an urban trail network that community members love to walk, bike and run.

Homelessness and Housing Affordability Pose Challenges

Shifting focus to issues facing Salt Lake County, Wilson acknowledged "real challenges" like inflation, college affordability and the public safety impact of police department restructuring. However, she spent the most time discussing two intractable problems: homelessness and housing affordability.

Salt Lake County has partnered with Sandy City to open a new supportive housing fa-

cility for 165 formerly homeless people with medical vulnerabilities. Wilson stated this facility moves residents from homeless resource centers into supportive housing with health-related services. The mayor highlighted this project as an example of the county joining forces with cities to expand capacity for housing insecure populations.

Besides shelter space, Wilson called for addressing root causes like housing supply. To that end, she said the county has expanded its Housing Trust Fund by $25 million. According to Wilson, that infusion has facilitated over 1,500 units across 17 affordable housing projects approved in under a year.

Confidence in Overcoming Challenges

While acknowledging various challenges facing the county, Wilson conveyed confidence in Salt Lake County's capability to adapt and overcome crises based on its track record. She cited the county's ability to pivot and respond during recent years of difficulties like extreme weather events and budget constraints.

To illustrate the county's aspirations, Wilson shared the inspirational story of a local high school basketball player named Jada who persevered through financial limitations to make her school's team. According to the mayor, Jada's determined pursuit of her goals symbolizes what the administration hopes to facilitate for youth through county programs and resources. l

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson gives her State of the County address. (Shaun Delliskave/ City Journals)

Salt Lake County had just opened the initial phase of Bingham Creek Regional Park. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation)

This is the first in a series of articles where I will answer specific constituent questions about the issues facing Salt Lake County. A few weeks ago, I invited followers on social media to submit questions, and multiple people asked about homelessness and what the county is doing to address it.

Homelessness is an extremely complex issue without a one-size-fits-all solution. Given that its cause stems from an array of contributing factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, job loss, lack of affordable housing, disabilities, and many more, identifying solutions to meet the needs of Utahns experiencing homelessness is a monumental task.

According to the State’s Annual Report on Homelessness, Utah’s 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) metric for counting homelessness saw an increase in the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. In 2022, of the 7,619 people who enrolled in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or a permanent housing project, 53% of them were experiencing homelessness for the very first time in their lives.

Salt Lake County is part of a growing coalition of elected officials, city and state government agencies, business owners, and community organizations working to find lasting solutions and implement the best practices to end homelessness. The result is a robust homeless service system that unites communities

Homelessness

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt

District 3

and service providers in profoundly new ways. Our shared vision is “to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring so that all people experiencing homelessness can thrive to their fullest potential and that our communities are stable and safe for everyone.”

As a collective effort, Salt Lake County helped establish the plan to provide overflow shelter and resources this winter to add 695 beds for Utahns experiencing homelessness.

Under a 2023 state law, Salt Lake County implemented Code Blue Alerts. The alerts are issued when temperatures are expected to drop to dangerous levels of 15 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill for 2 hours or more during a 24-hour period.

Once an alert is issued, designated shelters across the county expand their services, increase capacity, and expedite intake processes. Additionally, outreach teams increase efforts to transport individuals to resource facilities. This valuable program provides 235 beds in Salt

Lake County.

While the government is responding to the homeless situation by enforcing “no camping” ordinances, there are other things needed upstream to prevent homelessness. Affordable housing is key. The county contributed Federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) dollars to approve over 200 affordable units over the last two years. There are also needed resources for those with mental health and substance abuse

issues. The county is working closely with the state on a new model to improve our homelessness situation.

Though the homelessness situation is incredibly complicated, we are working hard to find solutions – both in preventing homelessness and helping those struggling to find a path to self-sufficiency.

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Whenhigh school students and faculty at American Heritage School went back to class last September, they were given a personal MacBook Air to use throughout their high school experience. With more people logging onto the internet, the need for connectivity soared. The school looked for a solution that would increase bandwidth.

Levi Crockett, the school’s education technology director, reached out to Comcast for solutions. Daniel Jasinski was the Comcast sales associate who helped work on the two main problems facing the school: the ability to manage their network and the need for visibility of the network.

“We brought in some specialty teams within Comcast business for a managed WiFi solution, like the ability to have visibility and setting up managed firewalls,” Jasinski said. “They definitely valued the kind of innovative approach that Comcast business had. We’re honored to provide the necessary communication equipment and services that will fuel their school’s growth and educational initiatives.”

Internet safety was a big concern for American Heritage. Along with protection against cyberattacks, ensuring students were

safe online was imperative. With Comcast’s help, the school’s IT team will be able to set protocols in place to monitor websites students visit and to create safeguards and firewalls to increase online safety.

“That’s something that’s top of mind for them. As a private school in American Fork, they have some pretty significant concerns,” Jasinski said. “We’re actually taking that off their plate so they can focus on the important things, such as educating the kids. Let Comcast business be the security experts when it comes to your Wi-Fi.”

Not only will Comcast provide all the hardware and access points necessary to increase internet speed for the school, but it will help build a sustainable network to take the school into the future. It took several months to resolve the issue at American Heritage School, but moving forward, the school is in better shape for technology and growth.

Jasinski said many organizations and businesses should take a look at their current internet system to see if it has the appropriate bandwidth and be willing to upgrade to avoid a potential crash. If the internet seems slow or if there’s an expansion into cloud computing, talking with Comcast could be the fastest way

to increase speed and capability while keeping the network operational.

“There’s a general trend among businesses in Utah that are striving for business growth and initiatives and they need the technology to support those initiatives that will expand their network and their operational execution.”

The updated infrastructure for American Heritage will be completed in June, in time for the next school year. Crockett said working with Comcast was the best choice they could have made.

“The expertise, professionalism and or-

ganization demonstrated in our interview and onboarding processes has been seamless,” he said. “Comcast has left no stone unturned. The lesson we learned that could benefit other organizations is that you can really tell the quality of an organization by how efficiently and exactly they implement well-thought-out procedures and operations.”

To learn how Comcast Business Solutions can support your business needs, contact Jasinski at daniel_jasinski@comcast.com, 801-946-7415 or business.comcast.com/contact. l

Boy Scouts launch 38th annual statewide Scouting for Food Drive

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

Utah State University Assistant Professor and Food Security Council Leader Palak Gupta reports that one in 10 Utah households experience food insecurity, and more than 102,000 Utah families do not have the resources to buy enough food. To address food insecurity in Utah, Crossroads of the West Council, a local council of the Boy Scouts of America, launched its 38th annual statewide Scouting for Food Drive in February.

A kickoff event was held on Feb. 8 in the Teen Center at Cottonwood High School in Murray. The event sponsors, Bank of Utah, Red Hanger Cleaners, Souper Bowl of Caring, Young Automotive, Arctic Circle, Utah National Guard, and Smith’s Food and Drug joined together in launching the annual event and asked the public to help fill the state pantries with nutritious and nonperishable canned and boxed foods. Each of the sponsors actively supported the event by donating bags to customers, publicizing the food drive and acting as a collection site for donors.

“Today, we will mobilize over 400 Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Venture Crews to provide for 16 community food pantries across the state of Utah,” Crossroads of the West Council board member Ben Taylor said. “We will also ask customers for food donations at 53 Smith’s Food and Drug stores statewide on Feb. 10. We are grateful to the Utah National Guard for playing a valuable role on this day by providing the equipment and the workforce to pick up hundreds of pounds of food and deliver it to the food pantries.”

Boy Scout Jaren Roberts opened the event by reading a declaration by Utah’s Gov. Spencer J. Cox declaring Feb. 10 through March 2, 2024, as Utah’s Scouting for Food Drive to actively address food insecurity in Utah. The drive came at a needed time when food supplies at local food banks were beginning to thin, primarily due to the holiday season.

According to Lorna Koci, Scouting for Food chair member, last year, the drive collected over 100,000 pounds of food for Utahns experiencing food insecurity in 2023. This year, the Boy Scouts throughout Utah hoped to gather even more food in an ongoing effort to fight hunger in Utah.

The teen center at Cottonwood High School is a safe space where students struggling with basic needs can do laundry, shower, study, receive food from the adjacent food pantry, and connect with mental health specialists and housing resources. Assistant Superintendent Leslie Bell provided a glimpse of the district's ongoing need.

“Granite School District is the third largest district in the State of Utah, serving

over 58,000 students,” Bell said. “About 47% of our population, which is about 2,700 students, qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program. Also, we have about 1,600 students who are experiencing some level of homelessness in their communities. The teen center and the student pantry, which exist side by side at Cottonwood High School, are what it takes to support our students in 2024. We are grateful to the Crossroads of the West Council and the Boy Scouts of America and their desire to continue to support our youth and families across the entire state of Utah.”

Brighton High School student and Life Scout Orion Ehrhart, Scout Troop 197, welcomed Smith’s Food and Drug shoppers on Feb. 10 at the store on Bengal Boulevard. As customers entered the store, Ehrhart encouraged them to donate food to the drive and provided information on needed items.

“It’s great being at Smith’s with my friends and helping to provide food for those in need,” Ehrhart said. “Scouting provides a lot of opportunity to grow as a person. My astronomy merit badge so far has been my favorite badge to work on. Personal fitness was the most difficult merit badge for me because I had to provide daily updates tracking my physical fitness progress over three or four months. I think everything I have to accomplish to achieve Eagle rank will definitely help me to achieve my future goals.”

Scouting provides opportunities for youth to build essential life skills, such

as long-term friendships, academic skills, citizenship skills, ethics and leadership skills.

“The Boy Scouts of America is a wonderful program for young men and young women to be involved in from Logan to St. George,” Koci said. “Helping to feed the needy provides character-building opportunities for our young people. There are

openings in all 400 scouting units for those interested in joining a local pack or troop.”

If you are interested in receiving more information about the Scouting for Food Drive or the Crossroads of the West Boy Scout Council, visit utahscouts.org. l

“It’s great being at Smith’s with my friends and helping to provide food for those in need,” Life Scout Orion Ehrhart said. “Scouting provides a lot of opportunity to grow as a person.” (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Leslie Bell: “The teen center and the student pantry, which exist side by side at Cottonwood High School, are what it takes to support our students in 2024,” Assistant Superintendent Leslie Bell said. “We are grateful to the Crossroads of the West Council and the Boy Scouts of America and their desire to continue to support our youth and families across the entire state of Utah.” (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Peri Kinder Life

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

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Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.

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