The Davis Journal | April 19, 2024

Layton Temple a ‘house of hope’ and ‘place of peace’

it will be the 195th operat-

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Winning streak puts Farmington boys soccer atop Region 1 standings

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

LAYTON—It’s been six years since Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the Layton Utah Temple in the October 2018 general conference. A public open house for the completed temple begins on April 19 and runs through June 1 excluding Sundays.

The nearly 94,000 square foot structure is three stories high and sits between the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains and the valley floor at 1400 Oak Hills Drive. It will be dedicated by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Sunday, June 16, 2024.There

are now 350 temples in operation, under construction or renovation, or announced worldwide.

“In the temple, we learn about our divine identity and destiny better than any other place,” said Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier, assistant, Utah Area Presidency at a media conference on Monday. “In the temple, we make promises to our Father in heaven, about how we will act and how we will treat one another. And most importantly, in the temple the things that start in this life can go beyond the grave as husbands and wives, parents and children are united together not only till death do us part, but for time and for all eternity. The temple, as the spires of this temple show, point us to our Heavenly Fa-

ther and to the Savior Jesus Christ and help us remember them and keep them at the center of our lives.”

“This is a joy,” said Amy R. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency. “We raised our family in this community. We played in local parks. When the Layton Temple was announced our second son was on a mission in Denmark. He told us he wasn’t going to get married until it was finished. As soon as it was finished I sent him a message and said ‘it’s finished …’ Now he has to find someone.”

During the early process children in the area were invited to choose a rock pro-

‘From monk to missionary’ Thai restaurant has rich history behind it

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

BOUNTIFUL—There is a new Thai restaurant Makmak on Main Street that officially opened last Saturday but there’s more to it than just good food – the backstory of the family behind it. Osmond Seangsuwan is one of four owners, Tyler Rohwer, Lynzie Johnson and his mother, Nadda, whose recipes are used in the restaurant.

Seangsuwan’s parents were from Thailand and the story of how they came to be in Utah is quite amazing.

“My dad was born in southern Thailand in a rural community,” said Os-

mond. “Growing up my father was a bit of a rebel. He was hanging out with the wrong crowd. On the job he fell from a ladder and almost lost his life. He decided he needed a change.”

In Buddhism becoming a monk blesses your mother in the afterlife, he said. “My father went into the monastery and was a monk for three years. It was life changing but he always felt there was something more. He wondered ‘Why do we do this life? It’s not just about coming back in another form.’”

One day he was out collecting alms in the street and saw two Mormon missionaries doing street tracting, said Os-

Aside from a heartbreaking shootout loss to Layton in the Region 1 opener, the Farmington boys soccer team has been perfect in league play.

Heading into its game at Syracuse on Wednesday (after our press deadline), Farmington was 3-1 in the region standings, tied with Syracuse and Fremont. Overall, the Phoenix are humming along with a stellar 7-1 mark.

Farmington was riding a three-game win streak heading into its game with Syracuse.

Last week, on April 10, Farmington scored three goals in both of its victories, first defeating Fremont at home, 3-2 in an exciting double-overtime clash. Farmington scored a goal in each half of regulation but allowed two second-half goals to Fremont. After neither team scored in the first overtime period, the Phoenix got the clincher in the second session. Toby Grant had two goals for Farmington, while Cole Janke had the other goal.

Two days later, Farmington prevailed at Weber 3-1, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second. Weber’s only goal came in the first half. For the Phoenix, Jack Burrup had a big game, dishing out two assists and scoring a goal. Jake Peterson and Jackson Cheney had the other two goals, while Josh Foster assisted on the third score.

Farmington gets a shot at redemption this Friday when it has a rematch with Layton at home.

Davis

The 3-4 Darts are struggling in region play since winning their opener. Davis has lost three in a row in league play and are now 1-3 in Region 1.

On April 10, Davis and Syracuse played to a scoreless tie after regulation and two overtime periods. In a shootout, the Darts made four kicks, but Syracuse

THE LAYTON UTAH TEMPLE of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When dedicated,

ing temple and the 22nd temple completed in Utah.

MANI SEANGSUWAN as a missionary in Thailand. He was the first monk to convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Courtesy photo

TWO LEFT FEET: Landon Zayas, Bountiful (red trunks) mops the dancefloor along with Viewmont’s Ashton Simkins after a Two-step contest. With a Caution Card flurry at the end, the Redhawks showed their moves with a 2 - 1 win over their Cross-town rivals, the Vikings, April 16 at Home.

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

mond. “They had a sign that said, ‘Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where do we go after this life?’ That’s what he was looking for.”

On his own time at the monastery he decided to do Bible study, Osmond said. “It was clear there was more and he ended up leaving the monastery. He kept meeting people who told him about the Book of Mormon.”

He joined the church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), said Osmond. “He was the first monk to convert.”

“When I joined the church I wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do,” said Osmond’s father Mani. “Changing religions is not easy. In the village they knew nothing of Christ. I thought I’d like to be a missionary too. After one year I became a young missionary in Thailand.”

Mani said when he was almost finished the missionaries brought in a lady to teach her about the gospel. “I went home and she got baptized. Later I came back to date her.”

“My father was going to school at BYU Hawaii,” said Osmond. “He worked to pay for her ticket to come. They wanted to get married in the Hawaiian Temple but at the time it was being renovated so they had to go to the Los Angeles Temple. They were married Oct. 28, 1977. They were the first Thai couple ever to be sealed in the temple.”

After Mani retired, he had a strong feeling he should go back (to Thailand) and serve, Osmond said. “They were the first Thai couple to go serve their people.” Mani and Nadda went on to serve other missions and they’re also part of Makmak.

“From monk to missionary,” said Osmond. “We want to have their presence here (at the restaurant) and hold onto everything they’ve done and con-

tinue on as much as possible.”

Mom has the best recipes, he said. “This is something we’ve always wanted to do.”

Osmond said his mother works at the restaurant and trains all of the chefs. “She makes sure they get it right. She is very strict. She’s working day and night and saying her feet hurt but she says ‘It’s worth it. Trust me.’”

The goal with Makmak is to bring people down to Main Street, said Osmond. “We want people to have fun and eat good Thai food.”

It’s a fast casual setting, he said. “It’s got a good vibe with music and low dim lights. We don’t accept tips. We say, ‘skip the tip, give us a review.’”

Makmak is open Monday – Friday for lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday 4-9 p.m. for dinner, Friday dinner from 4-10 p.m. and all day Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. It’s located at 353 S. Main St., Bountiful.l

WEST BOUNTIFUL CITY

Seasonal Parks Workers Needed

Wide variety of manual labor on city owned properties. Mowing, weed whips, raking leaves, laying sod, cleaning & adding supplies to restrooms, etc. Requires valid driver’s license, able to lift 50lbs, pass drug screening.

Wage $14 to $16 based on experience

Apply to jobs@wbcity.org

Davis County Museums: April Architectural Adventure

April 1-30

Earn a pin for a lanyard and join in the scavenger hunt at:

The Whitaker – Centerville’s

Heritage Museum: 168 N. Main

Farmington Historical Museum: 110 N. Main

Kaysville-Fruit Heights Museum of History: Kaysville Admin. North

Foyer 23 E. Center Street

Heritage Museum of Layton: 403

Wasatch Drive

Syracuse Regional Museum: 1891 W. 1700 South

Davis School District Student Art Exhibition

Art will be displayed through May 4

Bountiful Davis Art Center, 90 N. Main Street

Bountiful Davis Art Center's Statewide Annual Call For Entries

Through Saturday, April 27

Information at bdac.org/state wide-annual-2024

Garden View Pavilion Earth Day Clean-Up

Monday, April 22, 10 a.m. - noon

Near 875 S. 50 West, Kaysville

North Salt Lake Food Trucks Night

Monday, April 22, 5-8 p.m.

Legacy Park, 1140 W. 1100 North

Veterans Park Spring Clean-Up

Monday, April 22, 6-8 p.m.

Families, church groups and the community invited Bring gloves, garden/lawn tools 690 S. 100 East, Bountiful

Boomers & Birding

Wednesday, April 24, 10-11 a.m.

Boomers are invited for a social hour to converse and go birding with peers

Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 S. Waterfowl Way, Farmington

Utah Elder Justice Conference (Virtual)

Prevention Through Connection

Thursday, April 25, 1-5 p.m. Register at UtahElderJustice.org.

Layton Spring Home Show

Friday, April 26, Noon - 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Davis Conference Center, 1651 N. 700 West, Layton

Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair

April 26-27, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Marketplace, classes and after-party Western Sports Park, 151 S. 1100 West, Farmington

Hike: Early Indigenous Pictographs and Medicine Wheels

Free Davis County Museums Event

Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m.

Meet at the Parrish Creek Trailhead, Centerville Bike Rodeo Learn about basic bike care. maintenance and safety Saturday, April 27, 1-3 p.m., FREE Bountiful Library, 725 S. Main Street

Community Choir Concert

“It’s a Grand Time for Singing Broadway Songs” Saturday, April 27, 3 and 6 p.m., FREE Clearfield Community Church, 525 E. 200 South

Send event info to peri.k@davisjournal.com for inclusion in the Davis Journal community calendar.

BLAST FROM THE PAST NEWS BRIEFS

1924 Bonneville Irrigation meeting held last night

A meeting was held in South Bountiful last night which was attended by Messrs. Murdock, president of the Utah Water Storage Commission, Bennion, and Kirkham, who talked principally on the Salt Lake Calley government irrigation project; irrigation in general, and Bonneville.

It is quite probable that arrangements will be made to run the Bonneville pumps again this season.

1934

Jury convicts man of robbing Sunset farmer

Charles Brooks, 21, was found guilty of robbery by a district court jury Tuesday. Sentence will be pronounced by District Judge Eugene D. Pratt at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Brooks was accused, along with Carl Edvaldson, of robbing Pay Sharp, a Sunset farmer, of $7.50 in cash, a purse, and a check for $550 December 27, 1933, in a resort on lower Twenty-fifth Street, Ogden.

1944 South Davis start rag drive – paper wanted

South Davis County’s rag drive is now underway, and residents are requested to search their homes for any kind of rags, which are greatly needed in the war effort, according to Mrs. Lorenzo Richards, salvage chairman for the South Davis Minute Women.

The wastepaper campaign is drawing to a close and D.R. Tolman, principal of Stoker school in Bountiful, reported that students have collected a total of 40 tons since the collection of papers began. Between six and seven tons are now in the school gymnasium awaiting collection on May 4 and 5, when army trucks will call at the school and take it to box cars which are to be in Davis County on those dates for loading.

1954

Associated Service Clubs of Davis make tour of Phillips 66 Refinery

A tour through the Phillips 66 Refinery at Woods Cross by the members of the Associated Service Club of Davis County, Tuesday evening, proved most

educational and entertaining as Ralph Crawley, plant engineer, and Henry Lee, division engineer, at the Woods Cross Refinery, acted as guides and host to the club members. They explained the process in which crude oil from Rangely, Colorado oil field delivered to the Woods Cross Refinery by pipeline is manufactured into gasoline, butane, stove oil and oil, and many other products.

1964

State OKs 58 more lights for Btfl. streets

Forty-six new, powerful lights will soon be installed along the important arterial street, Orchard Drive, it was announced this week by Mayor Matt Galt.

The state highway department has agreed to provide the 45 lights, with city power workers installing and maintaining them.

In addition to these, there will be 12 lights installed on the south end of old Highway 91, at an equipment cost of $2012, or a total of $10,490.

1974

They knew costs have risen, but they weren’t ready for this

Costs of most things have risen drastically, but Davis County Commissioners were shocked this week to find out construction costs for a proposed pro-shop at the County-owned Valleyview Golf Course in Layton had nearly doubled over earlier estimates.

Low bid for the shop was for $134,742, submitted by Wadman Construction Company of Ogden.

1984

Btfl. okays automated garbage units

BOUNTIFUL—Bountiful’s Sanitation Department soon will be joining the era of automation – and there will be no more manual slinging of garbage by sanitation crewmen.

Garbage collection will be carried out by remote control from each of three mechanized garbage-hauling trucks, City Manager Tom Hardy told the City Council last week.

He explained that a long mechanical arm – reaching out as far as seven feet from a sanitation truck will secure and gently lift large rubber-like cans from the curbside and dump the contents into the enclosed truck bed.

West Bountiful woman still missing

As of press time, the West Bountiful Police were still trying to locate Kay Prince Vest who left her home in West Bountiful at approximately 2 p.m. on April 8 and was last seen in the area of 12th Street and Washington Boulevard in Ogden at approximately 4:45 p.m. the same day.

According to the West Bountiful Police Department Facebook page the department has been receiving numerous inquiries seeking updated information regarding her disappearance. “Regrettably, as of now, there are no new leads or developments to share,” the post said. “Rest assured, should there be any advancements or information forthcoming, we will promptly inform the public. We extend our gratitude for the ongoing support and collaboration from the community in this matter.”

Vest has memory issues and is easily confused. Her vehicle is a silver 2017 Toyota Camry, Utah In God We Trust license plate W365U. She is 80 years old, described as being 5’1” tall, 105 lbs. with white hair.

If located, please contact the West Bountiful Police Department at 801298-6000 or simply call 911 for local law enforcement.

American Legion flag retirement

An American Legion flag retirement and military tribute will be held April 27 at 5 p.m. at the Layton Fire Training Center.

The public is invited to this free ceremony where old or worn flags will be correctly disposed of. Due to limited seating, residents are advised

to bring lawn chairs or other event seating.

The Layton Fire Training Center is located at 1890 North Fort Lane.

Jason Read Foundation donates to police agencies around the county

The Centerville Police Department received a donation of $3,755 last week from the Jason W. Read Foundation. Other agencies also received donations from the Foundation. Jason Read was a Centerville Police officer who tragically lost his life in 2018, his legacy lives on through this foundation of protection and service, a CPD Facebook post said.

The donation will be used to purchase bullet resistant shields to enhance the safety of the officers and the community they serve.

US-89 closures

Motorists who use US-89 are advised to plan on delays and closures southbound Friday, April 26 at 1 p.m. ending Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. and northbound, Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. ending Monday, May 6 at 1 p.m.

Southbound April 26-29: All US-89 traffic should detour to I-15 South from Riverdale. Hard closure at South Weber Drive. Business traffic only. Through traffic will be detoured back to Riverdale on I-84 West.

Northbound May 3-6: All US-89 NB traffic should detour to I-15 North. Hard closure at SR-193. South Weber residents/business access via EB I-84 from Riverdale.

Dreams come true in Clearfield High’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

By Kate Pearson Davis Journal Intern

Clearfield High School Theater is putting on the production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for their spring musical. They are the first high school in Utah to perform it.

“It’s cool to be the first high school to produce Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Alyn Bone, Clearfield theater teacher and director said. “That’s a huge thing.”

Being the first school to produce this show is a lot of work. The process is long and exhausting. “You have to acquire the royalties, make sure you have the right cast, design costumes and props, build set, get performance tracks, choreograph, block scenes, rehearse, get a stage crew together, figure out lighting, and make sure the timing is right,” Bone said.

This work doesn’t fall on the director alone. The stage crew works hard to get this all done on time. The show would fall apart without them.

“Every single detail has to be thought of in the show,” Emilio Sessions, stage manager, said. “Every part is important from somebody’s shoelace to the spotlights.” Sessions has been working along with the rest of the crew on this show for four months.

Cast members have countless rehearsals to get the show “performance ready.” They spend many hours in out of school rehearsals and at home practicing their dances and music.

“It’s a lot of afterschool commitment and a whole bunch of memorizing lines, learning dances, and learning to work as a team,” Josie Ertel, Madame Gloop, said.

“There is so much that goes into a production like

this,” Kyson Jeppeson, Charlie Bucket said. “It’s rehearsals, blocking, and learning music in a short amount of time. But it is so much fun.”

The story of Charlie and the Chocolate factory has an inspiring theme and message behind it that touches the people working on the story in different ways.

“I love this show because it is super silly, but still emotional,” Sessions said. “It has heartwarming moments and still is hilarious.”

“This show is very powerful,” Jeppeson said. “It tells you that it’s OK to enjoy simple pleasures. Find things in the world that make you happy.”

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about everyone having a chance,” Ertel said. “Charlie got his ticket. He only had one shot, one chance to get that ticket. That inspires me because all I need is one shot to accomplish something huge.”

“My mom read Roald Dahl’s books to me as a kid,” Bone said. “I feel connected to his stories because of her. She loved them and made me love them.” Bone’s mom passed away last year. Putting on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gives her a way to feel closer to and connect to her mother in a different way.

Performances of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are April 24-27, 29 at 7 p.m. with a matinee at 1 p.m. on April 27. Tickets can only be purchased online on the CHS website at chs.davis.k12.ut.us/activities/ events-tickets.

Clearfield High students have worked very hard to put on this show. It requires hard work, dedication, and no shortage of imagination. And as Willy Wonka said, “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination!” l

KYSON JEPPESON (CHARLIE BUCKET) left and Elijah Lopez (Willy Wonka) perform a scene. Photo by Alyn Bone

OPINION

The process of self-definition

The process of defining ourselves may seem complicated and confusing but most of us have lived with ourselves long enough that we know our strengths and weaknesses pretty well. And yet, problems seem to creep up and take control when we least expect it. When this process settles in, it can be confusing and irritating, to say the least.

On one hand, we tend to define ourselves by our weaknesses. This includes what we can’t do well or by what we’re not capable of doing at all. There might even be a tendency to define ourselves by where we live, or what we’ve accomplished, or what we’ve achieved. We need to remind ourselves that these variables are not even closely related to an accurate self-definition because these capacities were undoubtedly given to us by Heavenly Father. In other words, they must be purposeful.

Specifically, they didn’t come to stay, they came to pass. We learn from them, we learn to manage them, and then we grow beyond them. So, what does this mean? Very simply, trust God, but build your house on higher ground, trust yourself, but wear your seat belt, and trust your fellowman, but count your change. Recognize that life is full of cycles that seem to teach us and guide us. Some of them include: The Season of Uncertainty. Uncertainty seems to develop when life

becomes confusing, overwhelming, or too many things are happening, and we feel that we can’t keep up with expectations. At that point we need to remember that we’re not alone, and that with the help of others, solutions can be found and problems can be solved. So, when life becomes so uncertain that we feel lost and it appears that there is no solution, that’s the time that we need to remember that we’ve been through similar problems before and everything can be worked through. We are proven commodities. Options include calling a friend, praying, talking to a therapist, contacting our religious leader, or talking to our physician. Even though it feels that we have no options, there are lots of possibilities, even when we feel there are none. Don’t trust your uncertainty. Put yourself into motion because motion cures emotion. The goal is to develop self-reliance.

JOHN WATERBURY

Uncertainty has been around for thousands of years, and many of the greatest minds in life have found ways to manage it. For instance, let me share a quote from St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century: May we seek not so much to be consoled, as to console; not so much to be understood, as to understand;

and not so much to lo be loved as to love.

For it is in giving of ourselves that we receive; it is in forgetting ourselves that we are found; For it is in giving of ourselves that we receive; it is in forgetting ourselves that we are found; and it is in forgiving that we are forgiven. And then there’s Dr. Seuss. He had a lot to say about self-reliance: So, you see! There’s no end to the things you might know, depending how far beyond Zebra you go. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better…it’s not. I’m sorry to say so, but sadly it’s true, that hang-ups and bang-ups can happen to you. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s a great balancing act. Will you succeed? Yes, you will in deed. 98 3/4 percent guaranteed. All this and more is self-reliance.

And moving to leaders of the 20th century, President Marion G. Romney emphasized that: self-reliance is an essential principle in our lives. It’s a necessary part of our preparation and development. In fact, in D&C section 104 verse 17, it states that we are to be agents unto ourselves. Apparently, we are to be “doers of the word, and not

hearers only.” We have a responsibility to make things happen. In other words, self-reliance is a major part of our transformation.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin wrote: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.

President Romney stated: We have a responsibility to prepare ourselves in all areas, that we might be instruments in reaching others. With few exceptions, people don’t see God, they see us, so we need to be prepared to let our light shine. We have specific gifts and abilities that enable us to accomplish things that only we can accomplish. It has been said that people may forget what you say, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. So prepare yourself to be a blessing in the lives of others.

John Waterbury is a retired Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has lived in Utah since 1984 when he moved to Bountiful with his wife and four children. Since then, he has written a weekly column for several years for the Davis County Clipper titled “The Dear John Letters” which was also used throughout the intermountain West focusing on addiction and mental health problems. This new column will focus on mental health and life management issues. l

Will Catlin Clark do OK in the WNBA?

Caitlin Clark will do great in the WNBA. She can shoot, she can pass and she’s a savvy player.

Clark did what no one ever dreamed anyone would do and that was to score more points than Pistol Pete Maravich who played for LSU from 1967 – 1970. Maravich scored 3,667 total points at LSU and averaged 42.2 points per game for the tigers.

Clark totaled 3,951 points and averaged 30 points per game. Old timers are quick to recall that Maravich did it before the day of the shot clock and the three-point line. Also, it was in a day when freshmen weren’t allowed to play on the varsity. Still, this does not take away from the incredible feat accomplished by Clark playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

When Maravich signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 1970. He signed for $1.9 million which was the largest amount to be signed for by a college player at that time.

Clark will sign for $75,000 for her rookie season if she is picked number 1 according to WNBA pay cap structures. It doesn’t sound like much for the greatest women’s college basketball player

By Braden Nelsen braden.n@mycityjournals.com

of all time but she will make it up in endorsements. According to the NIL database, (name, image, likeness), Clark has already made $3.1 million during her college play.There will be more to come during her WNBA days.

GLENN MOLETTE AUTHOR

The WENBA is growing. ESPN recorded viewership of the women’s final four games of over 14 million for the semi-finals and over 18 million for the final game. Such interest will bring bigger dollars to the league in time.

Clark may become the richest of the WNBA players. However, she may not catch up with Seth Curry of the Golden State Warriors whose team pay alone is $51.9 million a year. Or, Labron James who earns just over $47 million a year. Actually, the lowest paid players in the NBA are still making just a little over $1.6 million a year. Wait, whoever thought she would score such a massive number of points? Don’t rule her out on anything.

Most of the WNBA players are mak-

ing under $200,000 a year from their team pay.

Some pick up extra money from playing in other countries in the off season and from endorsements.

Diana Taurasi has an estimated net worth of $3.5 million. Most of Diana’s earnings come from her endorsements with Body Armour and her deal with Nike to wear LeBron’s signature shoes. With an average salary of $234,936 and a contract until 2025, the number might just grow further.

Britney Griner is Infamous for her prison sentence in Russia, Griner is one of the most recognizable WNBA athletes in the world. Despite her imprisonment Griner still makes the list as one of the richest players in the WNBA. One of the tallest-ever players Brittney has made most of her fortunes playing abroad. A common feature in the WNBA Griner was once paid $600,000 to play for a Chinese based team for three months. Add to that her endorsements with Nike and you have an estimated net worth of

Changing the world with ‘One Kind Act a Day’

SALT LAKE CITY—It seems like a simple idea: performing just one kind act a day, but for Khosrow Semnani, it’s something that has changed his world, and that he hopes will change the entire world for the better. It’s a view shared by many and one that was celebrated at the Kindness Summit at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

In introducing the topic of the summit, Semnani spoke about his first experiences with kindness in the United States shortly after his arrival in 1978, “People were friendlier,” he said, sharing how nearly everyone said hello, and greeted him, “We don’t do that anymore.” Semnani also credited the kindness of the people of Utah for helping him survive those first few turbulent years following his immigration, “If it wasn’t for the grace and wonderful attitude of the people in this state, I wouldn’t be standing here.”

However, said Semnani, that same spirit of kindness and grace has ebbed in recent years, “(There is) so much lack of friendship and kindness,” he recalled thinking, “I’ve got to do something.” Semnani wasted no time, and in 2021, he brought the idea of One Kind Act a Day to Gov. Spencer Cox, who said, “I’m In!” April 12 was subsequently declared a day of kindness in Utah, and the Kindness Summit this year, the first of its kind, was brought to fruition. Although it was the first, Semnani hopes it will not be the last, or the only one.

Following Semnani’s remarks, attendees witnessed a panel of religious leaders who guide congregations around the state: Rabbi Sam Spector from the congregation Kol Ami, Archbishop John C. Wester of the Catholic church,

Bishop Phyllis A. Spiegel of the Episcopal Church in Utah, Imam Dawood Yasin Director of Student Life and Center for Ethical Living and Learning at Zaytuna College, and Elder Brian K. Taylor General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Each panelist, highly qualified in their field, spoke to not only the event, but also the concept of kindness itself, and being kind every day. “This is radical,” said Imam Yasin, referencing the idea of simply being kind every day. It was a sentiment echoed by Bishop Spiegel who said that the whole concept of One Kind Act a Day is, for her, “Less about legislation, more about who we are,” and about “fos-

$4 million.

Sue Bird is the highest earning player in the history of the WNBA. Drafted in 2002, Bird has gone on to win four WNBA titles with three of them coming in three separate decades.With an estimated salary of $500,000 from various sources, the 13x All-Star also has multiple partnerships with huge brands. Representing the likes of Nike, State Farm and American Express it is no surprise that Sue Bird is the highest earning WNBA athlete of all time. Source. (Essentiallysports.com)

Catlin Clark may not attain the riches that most have in the NBA, but she should do more than OK in the WNBA.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. l

tering the best we can be in each other.”

Elder Taylor cited the poem by C.R. Gibson, “I have wept in the night at my shortness of sight, That to others’ needs made me blind, but I never have yet had a twinge of regret for being a little too kind,” saying how he has never forgotten hearing the poem since being introduced to it in a training and has tried to integrate into his own day-to-day life. Archbishop Wester agreed, saying, “kindness begets kindness,” and that it’s all about relationships.

The panel also discussed challenges to the movement for kindness, particularly with the younger generation. When asked how each of them could help young people to be more kind, Rabbi Spector responded, “We see holiness in them…Every person contains holiness and godliness within them.” Archbishop Wester agreed, adding the charge for everyone present to think, “What do we see when we see another human being?”

In bringing kindness to the community at large, each panelist said that it is ultimately the small things that will make the difference, “Smiling in the face of your brother or sister is charity,” said Imam Yasin. Bishop Spiegel said that simply being aware of other people can help with performing one kind act a day, and that, “the way we heal the fastest is when we help others.” Archbishop Wester encouraged being intentional about kindness, and Elder Taylor concluded with the scriptural charge of “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” saying “That means everybody.”

One Kind Act a Day is slowly gaining traction, and, if all goes according to plan, will become more and more prevalent than just the once-a-year Kindness Summit. After all, the name is One Kind Act a Day, and representatives from the foundation have already begun speaking with city leaders all over the state, including right here in Davis County. l

IMAM DAWOOD YASIN, Bishop Phyllis A. Spiegel, Archbishop John C. Wester, Rabbi Sam Spector, and Elder Brian K. Taylor participate in the religious panel at the Kindness Symposium. Photo courtesy One Kind Act a Day Facebook.

vided here and paint things that were near and dear to their hearts, she said. “There were illustrations of the Savior, other temples, children and youth with their families and favorite scriptures.”

Those rocks were mixed in with the foundation, said Wright. “They were literally the foundation of the house of the Lord. That speaks volumes to the faith of the future rising generation.”

The Tarma family can see the temple from their back windows. “This is super exciting,” said Sarah Tarma. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

“I’m grateful for the closeness of the temple to us,” said Spencer Tarma. “It will make it convent to serve in the house of the Lord. It gives me the chance to teach my kids about the ordinances we perform in the temple.”

The Layton Utah Temple is one of the Church of Jesus Christ’s 30 houses of the Lord dedicated or under construction or renovation in Utah, a release said. It is the second temple in Davis County with the Bountiful Utah Temple nearby that was dedicated in January 1995.

Inside, the temple has design motifs

inspired by the agricultural heritage of the Layton City area. Interior and exterior motifs feature seedlings, leafy branches and cherry blossoms. On the second floor is a Tiffany art glass piece titled, “The Resurrection,” that dates back to 1915. It was purchased from a United Presbyterian Church in Armenia, New York, which was torn down in 2015, the release said.

The artwork is intended to elevate the Savior’s creations and to depict his life and teachings, said Elder Kevin R. Duncan, executive director, Temple Department. “People ask why we build such beautiful temples. This is the house of the Lord we do our best to come to serve and worship him.”

The church builds temples so that more people can access the wonderful things that occur inside the temple, he said. “The Layton Temple is a house of hope and place of peace. My friends, I hope that as you’re inside this temple, you’ll really feel that it is a place of refuge from the storms of life for all of us.”

There is no cost to attend the Layton Utah Temple public open house. Reservations to walk through the house of the Lord can be made online. l

Actor Michael Flynn our guest on the Davis Beat podcast

Veteran actor, director and screenplay writer Michael Flynn, who has appeared in more than 50 movies and television shows and is very recognizable to many Utahns, discusses his career, how he got started as an actor, and what’s next for him on our Davis Beat podcast this week.

Mr. Flynn discusses his role in the original “Footloose,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Lead actor Kevin Bacon is returning to Payson High School this Saturday for an anniversary event and Mr. Flynn will talk about working on that film and giving Bacon’s character a traffic ticket! His stories about working in motion pictures and television are fascinating.

Host Tom Haraldsen (who was also an extra in that film) visits with Mr. Flynn as we bring the Davis Beat podcast back on a regular basis. You can link in at https://open. spotify.com/show/3zrNRlwBrEVvbCI0SBlghp or scan QR code. Listen and enjoy!

A FOUNTAIN in front of the temple lights up the grounds. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

ENTERING THE CELESTIAL ROOM in the Layton Utah Temple symbolizes coming into the presence of God and Jesus Christ. © 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved

Foxboro educator vying to be named America’s Favorite Teacher

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

NORTH SALT LAKE—Foxboro third grade teacher Cole Wilkes might just be America’s Favorite Teacher – at least he hopes to be. Wilkes has been nominated for the Reader’s Digest contest that recognizes outstanding teachers in the country.

“It’s flattering,” said Wilkes. “It’s determined by votes, usually from people who had you as a teacher.”

As of Tuesday, Wilkes was standing at number one. Voting for the top 10 closed on Thursday after press time.

“I love to teach,” he said. “I want to share my love of reading and history, etc. with others, not just my students.”

During COVID Wilkes didn’t want his students to stop learning. “I went online with YouTube so that they would stay engaged.”

Wilkes has developed a series of YouTube videos with teaching tips. “It’s a growth mindset that I share in class, with other schools and states, even other countries. I have 11,000 subscribers.”

Each spring, Wilkes has his students create their own books centered around an actual book the class is reading. He holds a Red Carpet event where the kids show their parents and other Foxboro students their work, complete with popcorn and drinks. This year, Wilkes is having his class create a video to show at the event on May 3.

The grand prize for the Reader’s Digest contest is $25,000, a trip to Hawaii and a story in the Reader’s Digest. “If I won $25,000, I'd invest in expanding my YouTube learning videos, enhancing content quality, and reaching a wider audience,” said Wilkes in his nomination

contest.

application. “Additionally, I'd allocate some funds to pay off bills, ensuring financial stability while pursuing my passion for education through online platforms.”

Wilkes said one parent came to him and said her son used to cry when he went to school. “She said he fell in love with reading after he had me as a teacher. My favorite part of teaching is witnessing students discover a genuine passion for learning. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their curiosity ignite and their confidence grow as they delve into new topics and ideas. Helping them find joy in learning is what makes being a teacher so fulfilling.”

To vote for Wilkes go to https:// americasfavteacher.org/2024/cole-wilkes. Watch his videos at www.youtube. com/@ColeWilkes.

“I tell my students, ‘focus on something you love,’” said Wilkes. “You’ll learn it if you find something you love.” l

Salon helps those coming out of recovery feel better about themselves

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

BOUNTIFUL—Crazy Beautiful

Salon was doing more than cutting hair last week – they were changing lives. This was the second year of the nonprofit Ashley Michelle project that helps men and women who are in substance abuse recovery.

“It’s named after my two daughters who are in recovery,” said Kelly Wareham founder of the program. “We went through 16 detox and 14 rehabs to get my daughters sober. I feel like I need to help out other families that are struggling.”

Men and women come to the salon from treatment centers, some are court ordered or therapists reach out, she said. “We’re doing 10 men and six women and giving them a makeover, color, cut, style, makeup and nails. We have eight hairstylists, two barbers, two nail technicians, one esthetician and a makeup artist. Most work here but some are coming from different places.”

Wareham’s brother Justin Puls has owned the salon since 2008 and is part of the project. “Tyson Steed is on the board of directors along with my daughters and Jodi Parker,” she said. “Tyson works with people who are coming out of jail to get on with their lives. He’s been in prison himself.”

“I’m in recovery myself so I wanted to be a part of this,” said Stephanie Tanner, a volunteer on the Ashley Michelle committee. “When I first got into recovery I was in jail and had to go into treatment. A girl brought me some makeup. That was the first kindness I’d seen. It really softened my heart. The simplest thing of some foundation changed my world.”

Tanner said helping these women is really special. “This is close to my heart. I’ve come out of a rough life.

It’s a way of giving back. I don’t have money to give but I sure have a heart I can share.”

Jasmine Watkins came from Odyssey House in Salt Lake. “I’ve never had my hair professionally colored,” she said. “This is an awesome program that they’re doing for us. I struggle with self care. I never make time or have the opportunity to do things for myself. I’m always helping other people in the program and my husband and daughter. This feels great.”

Watkins said it’s hard because people look down on her because of her past. “It’s discouraging. I had a job I liked but when they did a background check they didn’t want me anymore.”

It’s nice that Odyssey House does this, she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

“It’s a fun event,” said Randall Carlise, Media and Community Affairs, Odyssey House. “This can make a difference for somebody who is trying to overcome addiction and make them feel special.”

Addicts are dealing with shame, guilt and moral judgment, he said. “To help them feel normal and do what other people do is a real treat. This makes a huge difference.”

A lot of them have been dealing with addiction for years and spent time behind bars, said Carlise. “It’s great that the salon does this. They don’t realize what a difference it makes to have someone pay attention to you and make them feel so special.”

This is really needed and a lot of fun, said Wareham. “They’ve lost everything and the last thing they think about is getting their hair done. Everybody looks forward to this. They love helping.”

There is an epidemic of drugs and alcohol, she said. “It’s so sad. I figure I’ve been through this. If I don’t help what kind of person am I?” l

FOXBORO ELEMENTARY third grade teacher Cole Wilkes is in the running for the Reader’s Digest America’s Favorite Teacher

Courtesy photo

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL STYLIST MICHELLE SWENSEN gives Jasmine Watkins a new hair color. It was part of the Ashley Michelle project, a nonprofit that gives makeovers to men and women in drug recovery.

Photos by Becky Ginos

MIKE BONACCI had a picture of the haircut he wanted and stylist Wes Durr helped him get it. Durr works in Salt Lake but wanted to be a part of the project so he came to the salon to help.

SPORTS

#1 Bountiful softball squad keeps on rollin’

By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Bountiful picked up three more wins this week – outscoring opponents 17-2 – and remain undefeated through seven Region 5 games. Viewmont went 2-1 while Davis and Farmington split their two Region 1 games and Woods Cross won its first game of the season this past week.

Bountiful

Top-ranked Bountiful battled with Clearfield April 9 in a scoreless game through six innings before Jaci Alvey scored all the way from first base on an errant throw – on a close play at home – in the seventh inning to pull out a 1-0 win.

“It was a good game with both teams playing great defense,” said head coach Butch Latey. “Both pitchers were outstanding.”

Ella Miller struck out 12, pitching a one-hitter and facing just 21 Falcons batters, to help the Redhawks to the narrow win.

Against Bonneville April 11, Bountiful won 3-0. After three scoreless innings, the Redhawks got on the board and then added two more runs in the sixth inning.

Isabeau Hoff provided much of the offense with a double and home run, driving in two runs.

Ella Miller was the winning pitcher with 13 strikeouts on the mound and giving up just two hits. Hoff’s home run and double brought in two of the team’s three runs.

Farmington High girls golfers learning and developing

By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

The Farmington High’s girls golf team is being led this season by Kate Dewsnup and Claire Norton as the Phoenix are in rebuilding mode. “They are our more experienced players and are doing pretty well this year,” said head coach Stephanie Belnap. “We have a few girls that have lots of potential and hope that they will work hard and help us in years to come. We have lots of new girls to the game that are enjoying learning and growing.”

In the first Region 1 tournament this season at Remuda March 21, Dewsnup shot a round of 84 while Norton had an 89 to lead the Darts to a fifth-place finish as a team.

On April 9 at Glen Eagle, Dewsnup’s round of 18 resulted in a score of 86 and Norton had a 90 to both again finish among the region’s top 12 individual golfers. The Darts placed fourth.

“We have fought weather like we always do and have only finished two of our four scheduled tournaments,” said Belnap. Also on the FHS squad this season are seniors Kenzie Baron and Brooke Belnap along with Ellie Baugh, Brinklee Bradshaw, Stella Chappell, Sophie Clegg, Paisley Gibb, Carrington Hendry, Kylie McKeown, Avery Rice, Caroline Rigby, Ruby Starling and Gigi Tapia.

“We have a great group of girls that are so fun to be with,” said coach Belnap. “They have such positive attitudes and always have smiles on their faces.

Davis is also scheduled to play at The Barn April 15, Davis Park April 25 and Valley View April 29 before a two-day Region tournament at Lakeside May 2 and Eagle Mountain May 7. The 6A state tournament will be played at Soldier Hollow May 20-21.

“This is a really fun team and we look forward to a large number of girls working hard in the summer and off season and coming back and helping in years to come,” said coach Belnap. l

Bountiful then beat Roy 13-2 April 12. Melissa Turpin had six strikeouts as the winning pitcher on the mound and helped herself on offense with a double and two RBIs. Frankie Galeana went 3-for-4 at the plate with one double and two RBIs.

Bountiful defeated Viewmont 5-0

April 16. After a scoreless first inning, the Redhawks put up four runs in the bottom of the second inning before adding another run in the fourth.

Ella Miller had struck out 15 Vikings batters, pitching a one-hitter, to pick up the win on the mound. Melissa Turpin and Jaci Alvey drove in two runs with Mylie Burnes adding an additional RBI.

Bountiful is now 15-2 overall and 8-0 in Region 5. Viewmont fell to 4-7 this season and 1-3 in Region 5.

Viewmont Viewmont defeated Roy 13-9 April 9. The Vikings were up 5-3 early before having to battle back from an 8-6 deficit with seven runs over the later innings to pull out the win.

Ricki Smith and Kennedy Embrey combined for seven RBIs to lead the offense while Marlee Moser (two RBIs), Haley Rodabough (one) and Emi Jones (one) also drove in runs.

Against Clearfield April 11, Viewmont won 11-10. The Vikings got down 5-0 going into the third inning before nearly equalizing things with four runs in the top half of the inning. The game went back and forth from there with the Vikings bringing in two runs in extra in-

Please see SOFTBALL: pg. 8

Lacrosse teams return to full schedules following vacation week

By Tom Haraldsen t..haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

High school lacrosse resumed last week following the spring break, and local teams went an impressive 12-2 for games played from Wednesday on. Here’s a look back.

BOYS

Bountiful (3-5) won its only game, beating Mountain Ridge 174, with Michael Kasper, Carter Terry and Tate Terry each scoring three times. Nathan Horne added two goals, and single-goal scorers included Wyatt Farr, Jensen Freeman, Brandon Wilkinson, Mason Crane, Dawson Alsop and Faletau Satuala. Davis improved to 6-1 with a 28-1 rout of Syracuse and a 13-9 win at Fremont. Against Syracuse, 16 different Darts scored, led by Brek Jensen, Ben Roylance and Luke Donigan with four goals each. The

Darts beat Fremont but scoring was not posted as of our press deadline.

Farmington beat Weber 13-6 on Thursday and is now 5-2 on the year. Mitchel Milne, Kai Beynon and Kia Leavitt each scored three goals, Ryan Eddins added two, and both Dominic Coats and Taylor Kendall scored. The Phoenix had previously beaten Fremont 11-10 on Tuesday.

Viewmont’s boys remained at 6-5 on the year after beating Skyridge on April 8. They did not play later in the week.

Woods Cross lost its only game last week, falling 11-6 at Waterford. No scoring information was posted as of our press deadline.

GIRLS

Bountiful (5-2) won twice last week. On Wednesday, the Redhawks topped Clearfield 9-7. Naomi Brice led the way with four goals, Ava

MYLIE BURNES, Bountiful (44) watches the pitch as Aspen Danner leads-off from Second base.

Photos by Roger V. Tuttle

MCKINLEY DURYEA, Bountiful (white jersey) crashes into the glove of Viewmont’s Peyton Burningham, but avoided being Out despite the collision. The Redhawks secured another safe game winning 5 - 0 over the Vikings April 16 at Home.

THE FARMINGTON HIGH girls golf team has placed fourth and fifth in the two Region 1 tournaments that have been played so far this season.

Photo courtesy Erin Dewsnup

HALEY ERIKSON, VIEWMONT (WHITE JERSEY) pressures Clearfield’s Lorelai Peterson. The focus on defense worked as the Vikings cleared-thedeck on the Falcons 15 - 3, April 12 at Home.

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Bountiful stays on top in Region 5 boys volleyball

By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Bountiful won two more region matchups to stay on top of Region 5, while being ranked second statewide in 5A, while Viewmont and Farmington also picked up two more wins. Davis and Woods Cross split their matches this week.

Bountiful

Second ranked Bountiful defeated Box Elder 23-25, 25-9, 25-7, 25-20 April 9.

“Box Elder is a very athletic team and I was happy with how we battled back after dropping the first set,” said head coach Sarah Chism.

Against Orem April 10, the Redhawks won 24-26, 20-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-11.

“I am very proud of our team for how hard they played,” Chism said. “They are learning every day and focusing in on what they are being asked to do. I thought we played well as a team. We are starting to build trust in each other and playing together as a team, rather than individuals.”

Bountiful swept Woods Cross 25-13 25-21, 25-13 April 11 to pick up its seventh region victory and remain undefeated in Region 5 play.

“Finishing the first round of region, we feel good about where we are at,” said Chism. “We know everyone will continue to improve and make changes, so we will work hard and focus in on improving for the second half of the season.”

The Redhawks are 9-2 overall this season.

Viewmont

Viewmont defeated Roy in three sets 25-16, 27-25, 25-16 April 9.

“Roy played some scrappy defense and I credit their play for causing us to make different shot selections throughout the match,” said head coach Karl Lippa. “I was pleased with our defense as well. My team knows I expect them to work for a level of play that continually improves throughout the season and start to build more into this second half of the regular season. All in all, I was pleased with our play and I would like to see us polish up more things offensively to be more effective.”

Against Clearfield April 11, the Vikings recorded another sweep with a 2511, 25-18, 25-20 win.

“I was extremely pleased with our mindset in this match,” said Lippa. “We had a discussion this week at practice about playing as part of a bigger picture,

LAX: Continued from pg. 7

and I was happy with how they responded. Our focus points were to play defense and serve-receive well, which I think we did. Offensively, I felt we were smart with our attacks, and the entire match was balanced well. They went on some excellent scoring runs and had some pretty powerful hits, which I credit our defense for naturalizing some of those hits early.”

Viewmont is now 6-1 in Region 5 and 9-6 overall.

“The second half of region play will be even more exciting with so many teams showing excellent improvement so far this season,” Lippa said. “It’ll be fun to watch.”

Farmington

Farmington swept Fremont 25-16, 25-19, 25-13 April 9.

“It was an impressive performance showcasing our dominance, highlighted by a consistent attack and formidable defense,” said head coach Fermin Soriano Bautista. “Overall, it was a testament to our talent, teamwork and relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Jake Connell led the Phoenix squad with eight kills and seven aces while Dylan Borland added seven kills. Defensively, Tavin Fulton had nine digs with Connell recording seven. Brayden Peck ran the offense with 16 assists.

Against Weber April 11, Farmington won 16-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16.

“We demonstrated an impressive comeback, rallying together and delivering a remarkable performance that left Weber struggling to keep up,” Bautista said. “Our players showed exceptional effort on defense, effectively shutting down Weber’s offensive plays. Our attack line proved formidable, consistently breaking through Weber’s defense and securing crucial points. A practical tactical approach was essential in this victory, where our boys showed intelligent play. The determination and skill displayed by our entire team was instrumental in turning the game around and obtaining victory in the following three sets. This outstanding display of resilience and teamwork is evidence of the talent and dedication of our boys.”

The Phoenix are undefeated through three Region 1 matches and 7-5 this year.

“Our practice efforts are not just efforts but a testament to the guys’ commitment to refining their skills and strategies,” Bautista said. “This dedication is paying dividends as demonstrated by its cohesive gameplay and individual performances. Their consistent attack and effective defense are a direct result of their hard work and dedication, reflecting the

Vorwaller added two, and single goals came from Veronica Loveless, Clair Jensen and Ella Gillian. Bountiful toppled Bonneville 17-6 on Friday. Layla Blanchard and Brice each scored six times, with Sierra Gehring, Jensen, Loveless, Gillian and Christina Eyring each scoring a goal.

Davis (3-5) lost 9-6 to Fremont. MacKenzie Coleman and Esther Facer each scored twice. Kaydance Johnson and Olivia Lifferth also scored for the Darts.

Farmington is now 6-3 on the year. Following a 7-5 win at Fremont on Monday, the Phoenix beat Weber 11-2 and Waterford 16-9. Against Weber, Hailey Larsen scored four times, Alexandra MacAuley scored three and Kathleen Moffat two goals. Ruby Roche and Lydia Todd added single goals. At Waterford, Kate Carter led the way with six goals, Larsen had four, Roche and Kathleen Moffat two, and both Edith Bayles and Lydia Judd scored single goals.

Viewmont moved to 8-1 on the year with a 17-7

SOFTBALL

nings to go up 11-9 and then holding the Falcons to a run to pull out the win. Molly Roberts recorded six strikeouts as the winning pitcher while also helping herself at the plate with an RBI. Also providing offense were Smith and Embrey with three RBIs each and Moser and Karli Dickerson each driving in a run.

Viewmont lost to Box Elder 14-0 April 12, bringing their Region 5 mark to 2-1 with a 5-5 season record.

Davis

Davis began Region 1 play with a 10-3 win over Syracuse April 9. The Darts started off strong, going up 6-0 by the end of the second inning before adding four runs in the later innings to win handily.

“We won with a great team effort in both hitting and fielding,” said head coach Todd Street.

Jewel Korth led offensively with four RBIs while Rayleigh Starnes (two),

positive impact of their rigorous training regimen. With our consistent performance and unwavering determination, we continue to establish ourselves as a formidable force in the volleyball arena.”

Davis

Davis lost to Syracuse 25-19, 15-25, 25-18, 25-21 April 9. The Darts were led by Chase Valentine with 19 kills and 18 digs and Luke McKnight with 16 kills and 18 digs. Jack Bennett also had a double-double with 19 assists and 14 digs in the loss.

Against Fremont April 11, Davis picked up its first Region 1 win with a 2514, 25-13, 25-10 sweep.

Valentine had 10 kills with McKnight adding eight and McKnight and Josh Wood serving up three aces each. On defense, Valentine recorded 20 digs while McKnight and Brandon Sims had 14 and Brigham Garber recorded four blocks at the net. Wood and Jack Bennett combined for 24 assists in running the offense. The Darts had 33 kills, eight aces and 66 digs in the three-set match.

The Darts are 1-2 in Region 1 play and 8-4 so far this season.

Woods Cross

Woods Cross defeated Northridge 2624, 28-26, 25-20 April 9 in a tight threeset match.

“Lincoln Hibbert was our player of the match,” said head coach Josey Hilton. “With some starters out, he showed up big time and did an amazing job playing right side for us. He had some key momentum-changing hits and blocks, did a great job on defense, and as usual, was extremely consistent with his serves. He played a huge part in our win and he stepped into the role seamlessly. I’m super proud of the progress that he has made and look forward to seeing what he can do going into the second half of our season.”

The junior varsity team won in five sets against the Knights 22-25, 26-24, 159, 16-17, 15-12 with Leo Vanderberghe earning ‘player of the match” honors for the Wildcats. “He is starting to become a regular in our starting lineup,” said Hilton. “His passing and hitting improvements from the start of the season are just a couple of reasons why. Leo is working hard to become a mainstay in the starting lineup as we get deeper into the season. He is definitely one to keep a close eye on.”

In the sophomore match against Northridge, Woods Cross won 25-20, 2518. “Grant Hamblin was our player of the match,” Hilton said. “He did an amazing job owning his position as a middle block-

win at Roy and a 15-3 victory over Clearfield. At Roy, Cecilia Walton scored eight times, with Avery Drake adding four, Brienna Wallis three and Alexis Lee two. In the win over Clearfield, Walton was at it again with six goals. Lee added three, and Drake, Maddie Gaskill and Wallis each scored twice.

Woods Cross remained the only unbeaten team, improving to 8-0 with an 18-5 win at Northridge (no scoring posted) and an 11-9 victory over Box Elder. In that contest, Rylee Linton scored seven times. Lila Dunn and Ella Mathews each added two goals.

REGION STANDINGS

Davis leads Region One in boys’ play at 3-0. Farmington and Weber are tied for second at 2-1. In Region Five, no boys league games have been played.

In girls’ play, Farmington leads Region One at 3-0. Davis is 0-3 in league play. Region Five girls are led by Woods Cross at 7-0, with Viewmont second at 6-1 and Bountiful third at 5-2. l

Katie Klauman (two) and Hadlee Isaacs (one) also drove in runs. Serena Roth struck out five Titans batters as the winning pitcher.

Against Fremont April 11, Davis lost 7-6. The Darts struck first with three runs to begin the game in a back-andforth affair that was tied at 6-all in the sixth inning before the Silverwolves scored on a walkoff to end the game in the bottom of the seventh.

“We made a few errors and struggled to get key hits,” Street said.

Starnes had two RBIs with Roth, Korth and Sydney Marrelli also driving in a run each in the loss.

Davis is now 1-1 in Region 1 play and 8-3 overall.

Farmington

Farmington pulled out a 5-4 win

April 9 over Fremont to start off its region slate, breaking a 4-4 tie when Ruby Andrus singled to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Nev Carrasquel, Lexi Crowley, Kiley Gazafy and Madison Kelker also

er and makes a big impact on the court. His eye work has improved and he did a great job reading and anticipating where the hitters were going. He had multiple blocks they’re impressive to see. A coach can always identify focused and determined players and he was that play for us in this match.”

The Wildcats then lost to top-ranked Bountiful in three sets April 11.

“We knew this was going to be a tough match so we practiced a ton on staying in the moment and focused as well as staying loose,” Hilton said. “Our mental mindset was going to be key during this match and unfortunately, we didn’t perform to the best of our ability right out of the gates. After the first set, we reset expectations and priorities, refocused and made a much better showing. However, by the time the third set came around, the momentum of the game was fully in their favor. We did see some good things, and a lot of things that we need to continue to work on in order to finish the season strong.”

Hilton credited Eli Michaelis for his five blocks in the match. “Most of his blocks were at critical points to switch the momentum,” Hilton said. “He is just a big and intimidating presence at the net and he does a great job for us.”

The JV squad beat the Redhawks in five sets 25-16, 25-21, 16-17, 8-15, 1512. “Elliot Gardner is ‘Mr. Even-Keeled’ himself,” Hilton said of her player of the match. “He is never too high and never too low when it comes to playing volleyball. Elliot is one of our consistent servers and showed that in this match. He always takes being coached hard with a smile on his face and a willingness to get better. He might not be the loudest vocal leader on the court, but his play is starting to speak volumes.”

The sophomore team lost to Bountiful in three sets 18-25, 25-13, 10-15. “Bentley Murdock was our player of the match,” said Hilton. “He had his best performance yet for the season. He may be the smallest player on our team, but he definitely had the biggest presence in the back row. He played a crucial role in keeping us in system with his amazing passes and digs. He is a natural leader and an assertive person and it shows every single game with the way he carries himself and the way he talks with his teammates. We are so excited for what else is in store for Bentley and we are so proud of how much he has improved.”

Woods Cross is 5-2 in the Region 5 standings and 5-10 on the year. l

drove in a run for the Phoenix while Kelker was the winning pitcher on the mound.

Against Weber April 11, Farmington lost 16-7. The Phoenix squad scored first and controlled much of the game, holding a 7-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning before the Warriors scored 13 runs over the next two innings to flip the script in the loss.

Ella Nielson drove in three runs while Crowley, Andrus and Lola Ogzewalla had an RBI each. Farmington is 1-1 in Region 1 and 5-5 on the season.

Woods Cross Woods Cross lost to Northridge 14-4

April 9. The Wildcats scored first and had the game tied at 2-all after three innings before the Knights put up 12 runs over the final three innings to run away with the game.

“We had a pretty good game going until the fifth inning,” said head coach Casey Plowman. “They went ahead three runs and then their bats just got hot

and they scored nine more in the next two innings while we could only answer back with two more runs. We were also only able to put together three hits for the whole game.”

Savannah Juggert had two RBIs with Tina Tuakiapimahu also driving in a run in the loss.

Against Box Elder April 11, Woods Cross lost 11-1. The Wildcats gave up runs in every inning to get down 11-0 by the top of the fifth before Natalie Wall drove in a run to avoid the shutout.

Woods Cross picked up their first win of the season with an 18-5 victory over Highland April 12.

Audrey Ayala hit an in-the-park grand slam – going 4-for-4 in her plate appearances – and brought in five runs, coming up a double short of hitting for the cycle. She also was the winning pitcher on the mound. Ashlynn Nelson went 2-for-3, including a double, while Kaylee Moen and Breck Harris also hit doubles in the win. The Wildcats are now 1-7 on the year and 0-6 in Region 5 play. l

I’M 18 AND I LIKE IT! Lainey Kurtz, Viewmont and #18, Brinlee Hamblin, Clearfield may like the number on their jerseys, only the Vikings found it satisfying at the end of the game taking the win.

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

: Continued from pg. 7

Viewmont, Woods Cross off to great starts in Region 5 baseball

By Josh McFadden joshm@mycityjournals.com

After up-and-down non-region games, the Viewmont and Woods Cross baseball teams had successful starts to the region portion of the season.

Both squads were 3-0 heading into their Wednesday contests. Plenty of action remains.

Viewmont

The Vikings hosted Clearfield on Wednesday sporting a record of 9-3 overall.

After dispatching Box Elder 10-0 in the region opener April 8, the Vikings routed the Bees once again, this time 11-4 on April 10. Viewmont racked up 13 hits on the day and turned a 3-2 deficit in the sixth inning into a commanding 11-3 lead with nine runs. Plenty of players made highlights in the contest. Cal Miller hit a home run and had three RBI. Boston Williams also had three RBI, while Brody Hooper had two. Gage Kortman had a double and an RBI.

Viewmont outlasted Northridge 5-3 on April 12. Elias Culley was the winning pitcher, and he struck out four batters as well. Miller once again had a huge game at the plate, hitting a home run for the second game in a row. He added two RBI in helping his team prevail. Viewmont won despite getting outhit 8-3.

The Vikings hosted Clearfield on Wednesday, after our press deadline. They will then travel to Clearfield on Friday.

Woods Cross

The Wildcats were 4-7 in non-league play but were unblemished in their first three region games.

Wood Cross scored a pair of blowouts in its last two outings, first blanking Clearfield 11-0 on April 10. That game saw the Wildcats amass 13 hits to just two for the Falcons. Harley Vicchrilli had seven strikeouts and got the win. Beckham Stanger hit a triple and batted in three runs. Max Moffat also had three RBI in the win.

SOCCER: Continued from pg. 1

converted on five to secure the victory. On April 12, Davis fell to Fremont 1-0, allowing a second-half goal after a scoreless first half. Despite losing four times in seven games this season, Davis has only given up seven total goals.

The Darts played at Layton on Wednesday and host Weber on Friday as the second half of region play begins.

Bountiful

Region 5 has been competitive this season, with four teams vying for the top spot. Bountiful is 5-3 in league play, tied with Roy a game back of Bonneville and Box Elder.

Most of the Redhawks’ games have been close.

Bountiful lost in a shootout at Bonneville on April 12, losing three kicks to two in the penalty kicks competition. It was 3-3 after regulation, with Bountiful overcoming a 2-1 halftime deficit to score twice

Alexander Holdstock had a double and an RBI, while Beau Blackwell hit a double as well. Wood Cross did most of its damage in the third inning where it exploded for 10 runs.

Roy was up next for Woods Cross on April 12, and the Royals were no match for the Wildcats. Playing at home, Woods Cross had 13 hits on the day and had another 10-run surge in a 14-3 win. This time, the 10 runs came in the second inning, putting the game away early. Several players got into the action offensively, with Blackwell headlining the day with a home run and three RBI. Stanger, Thomas Pattison and Ryan Jones each had doubles, with Jones and Pattison adding two RBI. Stetson Critchley also had two RBI. Woods Cross hosted Bonneville on Wednesday. The Wildcats play at Roy on Thursday and at Bonneville on Friday.

Bountiful

The 5-9 Redhawks are 2-2 in league play and have had an assortment of results this season: close victories and losses, blowout wins and lopsided defeats.

in the second half. Neither team scored in the two overtimes. For the Redhawks, Thomas Thorne had two goals, while Ivan Jackson contributed one. Jakob Patterson had an assist.

On Tuesday, Bountiful regrouped and defeated Viewmont 2-1 on the road, with both its goals coming in the first half. Sammy Serio had a goal and an assist for the Redhawks. Cody Forbes also scored, and Thorne had an assist. Next up for the Redhawks is a home game with Northridge on Friday. Bountiful travels to Box Elder for a key matchup on April 23.

Viewmont

Meanwhile, the Vikings are 4-4 in Region 5, hanging around in the standings. Their last two games were decided by a single goal.

On April 12, Viewmont shut out Clearfield 1-0 to improve to 4-3. Sam Vanderlinden assisted on a goal from Max Larsen. The defense stood tall and posted its second

Bountiful was 1-2 in Region 5 games last week but picked up a close win this week.

The Redhawks fell at home to Roy, 3-1, April 10, getting their only run in the bottom of the final inning. In a losing cause, pitcher Tavis Danner had an excellent game, allowing just four hits and striking out eight batters.

On April 12, the Redhawks lost at Box Elder 7-3, despite getting seven hits to Box Elder’s four. Five errors were detrimental for Bountiful. Danner was big at the plate this time, hitting a home run and getting an RBI. Jackson Kyhl hit a double.

On Tuesday, the Redhawks picked up a key win with an 8-7 decision at home over Box Elder. Danner was the winning pitcher and also had eight strikeouts. He also had an RBI. TJ Dahlke hit a home run and lit up the stat sheet by bringing in five runs.

The Redhawks hosted Northridge on Wednesday and entertain Clearfield on Monday.

shutout of the season.

On Tuesday’s loss at home to Bountiful, Jacob Ramos scored in the second half to keep things close, but the Vikings couldn’t get the equalizer.

Viewmont plays at Bonneville on Friday before traveling to Northridge on April 23.

Woods Cross Woods Cross fell to the 3-5 in league play with a pair of recent losses, both of which saw the Wildcats on the wrong ends of shutouts.

The Wildcats lost at Box Elder April 12 by the score of 1-0, with the game’s lone goal coming in the first half. Woods Cross returned home to play Bonneville on Tuesday but struggled on both ends of the field in a 3-0 setback.

On Friday, the Wildcats host Roy, followed by a road game at Clearfield on April 23. l

Davis In Region 1, Davis owns a solid 10-3 record and have own two of its first three league games.

Davis defeated Syracuse 4-2 on the road on April 10, thanks largely to good pitching and fielding in a nine-inning game. Davis allowed just four hits on the day as well as a single run in the first inning and one in the seventh. The seventh-inning run from Syracuse extended the game, but the Darts secured the win with two runs in the ninth. Owen Talbot had two RBI, while Brody McGuire and Carter Garrett each had doubles.

In a rematch on April 12, Davis once again won in a close game. This time it was 3-1, as Kaleb Weaver had seven strikeouts for Davis from the mound. Talbot and Garrett contributed doubles.

Davis hosted Fremont on Wednesday and then play at Fremont on both Thursday and Friday.

Farmington

The Phoenix are still looking for win No. 1 in league play and are 1-11 overall.

Farmington lost in a shutout to Fremont on the road on April 10, falling 7-0. Austin Rees had four strikeouts for the Phoenix in defeat. Two days later, Farmington lost at home to the same Fremont team, this time 16-6. The game went just five innings and saw the Silverwolves rack up 19 hits. All six of Farmington’s runs came in the first two innings, with three in each one. In defeat, James Peterson had a big day for Farmington. The junior catcher hit a home run and had an RBI.

On Tuesday, Farmington came close but fell 6-6 at Weber in a nine-inning heartbreaker. Gage Farr had four strikeouts for Farmington and had an RBI as well. Easton Hunt had a double and drove in two runs for the Phoenix.

Farmington was aiming for its first region win on Wednesday at home against Weber. The Phoenix finish their threegame series with the Warriors on the road on Friday before playing at Syracuse next Tuesday. l

2024 CONVENTION RESULTS

Things became a little rowdy at the Davis County Republican Party Convention last Saturday. A loud crowd booed the governor and some continued to boo. Others sported T-shirts in support of their candidates. Here are the results after the dust settled.

HD 13-No

Primary

Curtis Beames: 23.08%

Karen Peterson: 76.92%

HD 16

Trevor Lee : 73.03%

(Party Endorsed Candidate)

Daniela Harding: 26.97%

Adv to Primary

HD 17

Stewart Barlow: 43.12%

Jennifer Garner: 56.88%

Adv to Primary

HD 19

Raymond Ward: 53.33%

Tenna Hartman: 46.67%

Adv to Primary Commissioner (IRV Round 6)

John Crofts : 60.61%

Liz Mumford: 39.39

No Primary Recorder (IRV Round 2)

Kelly Silvester : 60.23%

Anthony Thompson : 39.77%

No Primary Treasurer (Primary)

Matt Brady: 53.53%

Blake Woodall: 46.47%

Adv to Primary

BECKHAM SMITH, VIEWMONT STEALS Third by sliding under the tag. The heads-up jump helped the Vikings slide into a win over the Knights 5 - 3 April 12 at Home.

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Davis local, Muskan Walia, leads a different kind of climate charge

By Braden Nelsen braden.n@mycityjournals.com

DAVIS COUNTY—Readers will remember a story from November in which a college senior from Woods Cross ran for city council. That student, Muskan Walia, said that win, lose, or draw she would be dedicated to improving the lives of people in Davis County and the surrounding area, and her recent activity has shown that she really, genuinely meant what she said.

A leader and mentor within the Utah Youth Environmental Solutions (UYES), Walia was recently featured as a keynote speaker at the Youth Climate Summit at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Working together, Walia with UYES has been working to educate, and train the youth of the state in climate issues, and, “give them the tools and resources” they need to be on the front lines when it comes to climate issues.

UYES has already been making big differences around the state, including its campaign to get public schools in Utah to convert to 100% clean energy. While seemingly a tall order, many schools have already gotten on board. The Salt Lake, Granite, Park City, and even Davis School Districts have all taken great strides to utilize completely clean and renewable energy, and it’s the little things that will ulti-

mately make the difference.

For the Great Salt Lake, those little things include filling in the gaps in the movement to protect the body of water. For Walia, and UYES, that includes helping people realize how important the lake is personally, reminding them of, “personal stories of impact beyond recreational use.” Working with the Great Salt Lake,

and climate change can seem it would foster an environment of doom and gloom, but Walia and others at UYES try to balance their education and trading with an understanding, and foster, as Walia put it, “A climate of hope.”

In that way, Walia says, their climate campaign is a little different, and hopefully, more approachable. That isn’t where

UYES’ differences end, however. “Young people get tokenized in social movements,” explained Walia, saying how her organization works to empower youth in these social movements, and helping them to, “be engaged in political conversations in a more meaningful way.” For Walia and those that she has helped instruct, it’s all about learning, and empowering.

“I’m making lots of mistakes along the way,” she said but said as well that making mistakes and learning from them is all part of the journey. “I understand and empathize with lots of people around climate change,” Walia said, adding how UYES does a great job of helping those who might feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world of climate change, meeting them where they are, and helping them make a difference.

“Stewardship,” said Walia, “is a big value in Utah, being good stewards,” and that’s something she and others in UYES hope people will realize about the environment before the point of no return. “Try not to be too optimistic, but try not to fall into the trap of urgency,” she said, encouraging people around the state, not just youth, to stand up and take action, “It’s a thrilling opportunity.” More information about Utah Youth Environmental Solutions, their mission, and goals can be found at utahyes.org. l

Save the lake – save the snow

By Braden Nelsen braden.n@mycityjournals.com

GREAT SALT LAKE—When most skiers think of Utah, Davis County isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However, there’s a big reason why Davis, and skiers the world over should be concerned with what happens to the eastern part of

the county, namely, the Great Salt Lake. As surprising as it may seem, the lake plays a huge role in creating the Greatest Snow on Earth. But what makes Utah’s snow the “greatest”?

For skiers, the powder in Utah is ideal. The snow that falls on the mountains here is drier and aptly described as powder, al-

lowing for skiers to cut down the mountainsides with relative ease. It’s one thing that contributed greatly to the success of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and which makes Utah a hotspot for Olympic athletes training for future games. It’s also a huge draw for the International Olympic Committee as they eye Utah for a second chance at the games.

Part of what makes this snow possible is the semiarid climate which pervades much of the state. Utah is a high desert, which means that there is relatively little humidity year-round. This means that any snow that falls is going to be literally drier than in other areas that may be more humid. That’s not the only factor, however. The Great Salt Lake plays a huge role in making Utah’s snow the best on earth.

In addition to the low humidity, the Great Salt Lake contributes, according to one study, at least 10% of Utah’s annual snowfall through what’s called “lake effect.” Many on the Wasatch Front may be familiar with this term, but, the basic idea of lake effect occurs when cold wind blows clouds over a large body of warmer water, like a lake. Water vapor, from that warm lake, at lower elevations rises to meet those clouds where it cools, crystalizes, and falls as snow downwind of the lake.

The ecosystem here, and anywhere in the world, is a delicate one. When some-

thing as big as the Great Salt Lake is eliminated, the effects that ripple out are long-lasting, and can be devastating. Many people already know about the ecological disaster the dried-up Great Salt Lake would be, but the long-term economic effects would also spell doom for everyone in the state who depends on income from ski and snowboarding tourism.

The lake itself has been fortunate these past two years to have significant runoff to bolster its levels, but, there’s a long way to go before the lake reaches sustainable levels once more. According to the US Geological Survey, the Great Salt Lake needs around nine more feet to be in a good position ecologically, economically, and recreationally. Put in perspective, from its lowest point coming off a drought in 2022 to its highest following a record snowpack in 2023, the lake rose only five feet.

If Utah had two more years of record snow, which would certainly cause other issues, the lake would return to a healthy level. Hope isn’t lost, though: Many across the state, including some in the legislature are aware of and are taking steps to prevent the drying up of the lake. At the end of the day, however, much of it will boil down to conservation on the part of every resident, not using more water than is necessary, and bringing issues concerning the lake to their representatives. l

SKIERS TACKLE BALDY CHUTES at Alta, one of the many resorts that benefit from lake effect snow. Public Domain image

New vicar welcomes all regardless of who they are and what they believe

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

CENTERVILLE—The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville has a new vicar after being without one for some time. The congregation welcomed Rev. Charles Robinson who will lead the church part-time.

“I retired from full-time ministry in 2021,” said Robinson. “I swore I’d never, never, go back into church work. I was toast. I wanted to try and be useful though like maybe as a teaching aide then I found that the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection needed a part-time pastor and that’s how it happened.”

The Episcopal church was born out of the church of England, Robinson. “We are the American branch.”

Anglicanism started with the 16th century reformation, he said. “The Protestants were killing Catholics and the Catholics were killing the Protestants. Depending on who sat on the throne they’d persecute the other. The madness went on for a long time.”

When Elizabeth I took the throne in England she said “this has got to stop,” said Robinson. “‘There will be one church of England where everybody

will worship all together with a common book of prayer all would use.’That’s the DNA of our church. Episcopal is Greek

for Bishop.” Robinson said the church is built on tolerance. “We don’t demand that people believe the same, they are free to think

for themselves. We accept all.” His approach is to offer the congregation a modern interpretation of the Bible stories, said Robinson. “I avoid the supernaturalism of Moses, etc. I assume the story is written by humans for humans. That wisdom is helpful as the community strives to build a better world.”

Robinson said he wants to work with the congregation to figure out what lights them up. “We met for five hours last week and listened to each other and shared our experiences. We need a clear sense of direction so that we can touch and minister to the lives of the greater community in Centerville.”

There are 38 members of the church, he said. “Before COVID there were 6570. I want to see if we can rebuild that and be clear about who we are and what our purpose is with a clear flow out of that purpose.”

Robinson said he knows about 95 percent of the community is LDS. “That leaves a lot that are not LDS that are looking for something. Maybe they can find what they are looking for with us.”l

Davis School District Refugee Support team assisting children and families

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—Amir Al Mustafa, his wife and six children came from war-torn Syria in 2013 to seek a better life. When they stepped off the plane in Salt Lake City members of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) were waiting for the family to provide assistance in getting them housing, food and other necessities. Al Mustafa and his family are now living in Layton.

“When we first arrived from a long, exhausting trip we were tired,” said Al Mustafa. “When the kids saw the two women with the IRC they started crying.”

AI Mustafa said they took them to a house that was very warm and provided food for a month and beds for the children. “They helped us apply for food stamps, Social Security, ID, everything. They helped for a long time and paid part of the rent on a house.”

Since living in Davis County, AI Mustafa has received resources from the Davis School District (DSD) Refugee Supports team.

“There has been an increase of ref -

ugees coming into the district the last few years,” said Davis School District Refugee Family Advocate, Lindsey Zimmerman. “That is why they were recognized for the Refugee School Impact Grant in 2023.”

The Department of Workforce Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Federal Programs Department approved the grant and it started in the spring of 2023, said Jelina Hollberg, Refugee Family Advocate, DSD. “That is when our team began. The team is made up of four refugee family advocates and four student success coaches. The coaches help students with academics or behavioral issues and as a liaison with the teachers and families.”

The purpose of the team is to help refugee students and families to adjust to the American education system, said Hollberg. “Also to help them achieve self-sufficiency and integrate into the community.”

There are about 100 refugee students in the district, she said. “Some move and others no longer receive services.”

“We’re constantly receiving re -

ferrals so the numbers fluctuate,” said Zimmerman. “There are about 4050 refugee families in Davis County. Aunts, uncles, many families live together.”

Finding affordable housing is difficult, she said. “The majority of their families are large. That’s what is the most challenging, they can’t live in a one bedroom apartment. They don’t have the ability to drive because they can’t afford a vehicle. Housing, transportation and language are big barriers.”

“We want them to feel empowered,” said Hollberg. “They want to work. A lot of them had great lives. They were successful and had a normal life. They miss that. They want that.”

The program offers an English class twice a week, she said. “They didn’t have access to English. This has been really awesome. It’s a huge success for us.”

There are interpretive services through the district, she said. “There is also a language line that we can call on demand for an interpreter. We call a person with a three way call and then just talk normally.”

“The kids have learned the language in school a lot more,” said Al Mustafa. “It’s been easy for them to pick up. I don’t understand the teachers so they help me.”

The district recently held a Refugee Community Awareness night to help the community and refugees get to know each other. “If the community makes a little bit of effort to see what assets they are, they can build a friendship.”

“When kids learn about refugees and why they speak or dress differently, instead of making fun of them they’re getting to know them,” said Hollberg. “They can sit down at lunch and use Google translate.” l

REV. CHARLES ROBINSON takes over as vicar for the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville.

Courtesy photo from Facebook

DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT Refugee Family Advocate, Lindsey Zimmerman (center) works with students in an English class. Courtesy photo