Riverton Journal | December 2022

a bad year for Riverton runners.

Both Riverton High’s cross-country teams fin ished in the top six at the state meet, which took place at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, with the girls coming in at sixth and the boys repeating their 2021 finish taking third.

The boys average time was under 16 minutes at state with the top five runners ranging from 15:32 to 15:58.

“Usually you’re a national caliber team if you can av erage a sub 16,” said Chase Englestead, Riverton’s head cross country coach. “There’s not been many teams in Utah that have done it.”

The third-place finish saw them land just two points behind second-placed Lone Peak and 25 points ahead of region rival Herriman.

“We returned an extremely good boys team,” Engles tead said of the crew that reached the same place last year with the bronze medal.

“We’re stoked with it overall, I think a few of the boys have high expectations and because of those, it has taken a little bit of the joy out of it,” he said. “Sometimes that happens where you expect to be at a certain place and then you don’t get it even though you did something really cool and really good.”

Since 2017, when the 6A classification was formed, the boys have finished third now four times, with a fifth and seventh place filling out the other two years. In a state with

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Along with schools like Herriman, American Fork and Lone Peak, Riverton are consistent contenders every year. (Photo courtesy Chase Engle stead)

Riverton sees 10 athletes moving onto next level

By

The athlete assembly line continues at Riverton.

Riverton High School featured 10 athletes on Nov. 11 who signed their national letters of intent to continue playing at the collegiate level.

The softball and girls soccer teams fea tured three each while the other four repre sented baseball, girls basketball, volleyball and gymnastics.

Softball, which has won the previous two state championships, saw reigning 6A player of the year Jolie Mayfield and Mariyah Delga do both sign for the University of Utah, while Kylee Ruesch signed for Salt Lake Communi ty College.

Girls soccer, state champs in 2021, saw Ella Voorhees sign for Snow College and its two keepers from this past season both sign to go out of state in Jade Goulding (Lower Co lumbia Community College in Washington) and Annika Franz (North Dakota).

The lone male from the group of signees was pitcher Remington Robbins from the base ball team who signed to play at Utah Valley University.

Basketball player Anna Ross is taking her talents to Arizona where she signed for Park University.

Volleyball player Kaieva Johnson and gymnast Hailey Openshaw opted to stay in state as they signed for Utah and BYU, respec tively.

The 10 signees is another sign of quality athletes at Riverton High School. This comes a year after one of the Silverwolves most suc cessful years with girls soccer, baseball and softball all taking state, with multiple athletes continuing to play at places such as BYU, Utah, Weber State and a host of out of state schools. Three different athletes also earned 6A player of the year awards.

“Look at the athleticism in our high

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school and look at the time and effort these kids put in,” softball coach Katelyn Elliott told the Journal in June. “You’re seeing it more and more each year. Come out and support your teams.” l

Remington Robbins signed to play baseball at UVU. (Photo by Pat McDonald)

Ten student-athletes signed their letters of intent together on Nov. 11 at Riverton High School. (Photo courtesy Riverton High School)

Jolie Mayfield signed to play softball at the Univer sity of Utah, where her high school coach Katelyn Elliott also played. (File photo City Journals)

Remington Robbins Baseball at Utah Valley University

Anna Ross Girls Basketball at Park University (Missouri)

Mariyah Delgado Softball at Utah

Jolie Mayfield Softball at Utah

Kylee Ruesch Softball at Salt Lake Community College

Annika Franz Girls Soccer at North Dakota Jade Goulding Girls Soccer at Lower Columbia Community College (Washington)

Ella Voorhees Girls Soccer at Snow College

Kaieva Johnson Volleyball at Utah

Hailey Openshaw Gymnastics at BYU

Mariyah Delgado signed to play softball at the Uni

versity

of Utah, where her high school coach Kate lyn Elliott also played. (File photo City Journals)

Mountain Ridge volleyball makes it to 6A state championship

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

The Mountain Ridge volleyball team made it to the 6A state championship last month, where they ultimately took second place after losing to Lone Peak three sets to one.

The Sentinels compiled an impressive regular season record of 25-4, including a 9-1 record in region play. That was good enough to earn a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

In the second round of the playoffs, held at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University, the Sentinels defeated American Fork 3-0. Lat er that afternoon, they defeated Pleasant Grove 3-1.

In the semifinals, held on Nov. 5, Moun tain Ridge faced Skyridge, who had defeated the Sentinels 3-2 in their very first game of the season. This time around, the Sentinels came out on top, winning 3-1. l

50. (Justin Adams/ City Journals)

Mathnasium Transforms Lives

The Sentinels huddle before a serve against Skyridge. (Justin Adams/ City Journals)

The Sentinels celebrate a kill by senior outside hitter Rylee Parkinson, who will be continuing her volleyball career at Weber State. (Justin Adams/ City Journals)

Head coach Bryan Nicholson talks with his players during a timeout in the semifinal match against Skyridge High. (Justin Adams/ City Journals)

Sophomore setter Sadie White led the team in assists this year with 1,028. No other player had more than

The Sentinels had a strong contingent of student supporters backing them during their run in the state playoffs. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

Students get a sense of Native American culture through their five senses

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Students pat their hands, they crinkle paper, they hiss. They are creating a soundscape for a scene in a video of a Native American woman making tradi tional fry bread over a fire. Students use their voices, bodies and items around the classroom to mimic the sounds of the shaping of dough, the crackle of the fire and the sizzle of hot oil.

This is what learning about Native American heritage looks like at Majes tic Elementary Arts Academy. Creating a soundscape fits in with the school’s artbased teaching methods.

“That may not sound like your tra ditional music concepts, but they are lis tening, they're playing, they’re creating, and those are all really important aspects of music,” said Jennifer Purdy, program coordinator of BYU Arts in Partnership, who developed the fry bread lesson plan with the Native American Curriculum Initiative. They worked with input from teachers, artists and members of the eight sovereign tribal nations of Utah.

“We use our collective minds to come up with curriculum for students here in Utah,” Native American Curriculum Ini tiative Director Brenda Beyal said. “We go to the tribes, and we asked them, ‘What would you like the children of Utah to know about you and your history?’ and then we work with teaching artists and they lend their expertise in teaching the content through the arts.”

The curriculum includes a discussion about the kinds of bread each culture has, reading a book about fry bread, watching a video of fry bread being made, creating a soundscape, and listening to songs about fry bread written by Native American mu sicians.

“We're helping children build a con text around fry bread,” Purdy said. “And through this lesson, they learn important history of the Navajo people and where fry bread originated and how it came to be. And then we bring in all of the other cultures that use or make fry bread now across the country.”

Teachers at Majestic used the curricu lum in their classrooms to prepare students for a visit from Beyal, who is Navajo.

“We really try to think things out be forehand to make sure that they’ll get the most out of the activity,” Principal Mari anne Johansen said.

The fry bread lesson is like many of the lessons Majestic teachers use—it is immersive and uses a variety of teaching methods, especially music and art.

“We definitely shoot for a high depth of knowledge on all subjects,” Johansen said. “How the arts help with that is they help the students create things on a higher level, so that they really get a full under standing.”

When Beyal visited Majestic Ele mentary in November to share her own stories and items important to her culture, students already had a framework of un derstanding to connect the information to. They also finally got to taste the fry bread they’d been learning so much about with Beyal’s own recipe.

Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey was impressed with how Majestic teachers used the curriculum to lay the groundwork for an impactful ex perience for students.

“The partnership with BYU and tak ing advantage of the Native American Cur riculum Initiative are just two examples of the way that Majestic is focused on creat

ing a really immersive experience for kids, making sure that their learning is a deep level and involves some real-life experi ences,” he said.

Beyal hopes that these lessons and ex periences change children’s perception of Native Americans.

“What I hope they come away with is a new understanding, maybe a collection of narratives of how they think about Na tive Americans, that we are still here, that we are not invisible, that we are continu ing to move forward, that we have a legacy of resilience,” Beyal said. “We hope they continue to learn and become more curious about the true history of indigenous tribes here in Utah.” l

Brenda Beyal, Director of the Native American Curriculum Initiative, reads a story about fry bread to stu dents to share her Navajo history and culture. (Doug Flagler/Jordan District)

Majestic Elementary Arts Academy students get a taste of freshly made traditional fry bread. (Doug Flagler/ Jordan District)

Items representing Navajo culture and history which Brenda Beyal shared with students at Majestic Ele mentary Arts Academy. (Jet Burnham/City Journal)

Principal Marianne Johansen and other staff members serve up traditional Navajo fry bread to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. (Doug Flagler/Jordan District)

multiple national contenders, it’s an impres sive run for Englestead, now in his 11th year coaching at Riverton.

“We’re always in contention on the boys side, and always one of the better teams in the country,” he said.

This year’s iteration featured two of the state’s top runners in Tyler McDougal and Jake Seegmiller. McDougal finished this year’s race, in drizzling and cold conditions, with a time of 15:32.6 for 10th place while Seegmiller ended at 15:42 in 17th.

Englestead said while they didn’t finish as high as they would’ve liked, McDougal was only four seconds out of fifth place. See gmiller, he added, has the two fastest times in the school’s time trial course.

“He’s shown that he’s faster than any kid that’s ever been in our school,” he said of Seegmiller. “And faster than some boys that have qualified for nationals in the past.”

Both will run in college, Englestead said, and both have high GPAs and ACT scores, putting a lot of time into academics as well.

“I’m blown away at their dedication,” he said, adding they’ll even cut short social events at 9 p.m. if they have an early morn ing run.

“I just don’t know very many people that are as disciplined as they are in every thing in their lives,” he said. “They're incred ible kids.”

Both run track as well, so their high school careers aren’t over quite yet.

On the girls side, Englestead expected more of a rebuilding year after losing 12 of their top 15 girls from last year. Four of which signed to run at SLCC and another signed for Utah State.

“We were stoked on the girl’s side for the sixth-place finish,” he said. “We were really, really happy they finished as high as they did just because it was unexpected.”

At the beginning of the season, Engles tead felt finishing in the eight to 12 range was a reasonable goal, especially with a group of girls that had never run varsity before. But with each passing week, their progress start ing feeling like a five to seventh place finish was possible.

“Our girls were consistent, worked re ally hard and raced an amazing race at state. That was really fun for them,” he said. “Al most every girl set a personal best at state, even on a cold, rainy day.”

One of those girls who encapsulated that progress was Mya Oyler. After a 58th place finish and 19:42 time as a freshman last year, Oyler improved by almost 40 seconds this year to take 19th with a time of 19:04.

Senior Ryann Jones was another to im prove her time, going eight seconds faster this year to finish 26th versus 48th a year ago.

Englestead said the team’s improve ment came down to its efforts at consistency.

The Riverton High boys cross country team finished third at state, averaged a sub 16 time and have been regularly ranked in the top 20 nationally this year. Jake Seegmiller (far left) and Tyler McDougal (far right) will graduate as the team’s top two runners. (Photo courtesy Chase Englestead)

“We don’t have to hit home runs ev ery single workout, we want to hit a lot of singles in our workouts,” he said. “If we're consistently getting good workouts week after week after week, we'll consistently im

prove. But when we swing for the fence for our workouts, there's a lot of times we strike out and then we have this up and down in emotions.”

Up next for the runners was the Nike

Arts Announces Auditions For

Friday, December 30 from 6-9 pm Saturday 31 from 9 am to noon or by appointment - call 801-680-1192 at the Bluffdale City Office Building 2200 West 14400 South

ALL PARTS ARE OPEN

AUDITION AS A FAMILY THERE’S A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND ALL WHO AUDITION WILL BE CAST!!!

Come prepared to sing 16 bars of an upbeat Broadway song Bring a hard copy of your music An accompanist will be provided. NO CD’S of MP3’s please!

Performance Dates – March 9-11, 2023 Questions, contact Laura Garner at: 801-680-1192 | garnerc@msn.com

This project is made possible by support from Bluffdale City, Zoo Arts and Parks (ZAP) funding and by special arrangement with Music Theatre International bluffdalearts@gmail.com

Bluffdale

Cross Southwest Regionals in Arizona Nov. 19 (after press deadline), with the possibili ty of qualifying for nationals in Oregon two weeks after that.

Regardless of how the Silverwolves perform there, Englestead is confident in the program and its direction.

Both teams will return most of their top 15 runners. The girls lose one while the boys lose four to graduation. But the junior and sophomore classes have him feeling good.

“I think we’re one of the best (pro grams) in the state, no doubt,” he said. l

year. (Photo courtesy Chase Englestead)

American Outlaws chapter hosts World Cup parties

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Utahns have found a soft spot for the most popular game in the entire world. The World Cup begins the week before Thanksgiving and Salt Lake City ranks in the top 10 of soccer fans' best cities.

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

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

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

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

The chapter helps grow the game in the

United States.

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

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

In a study done by wallethub.com based on 52 key matrices, cities were ranked accord ing to their acceptance of the game, Salt Lake is number nine. Some of the soccer excitement is attributed to the growth of the women's game, but Nate said this year's tournament will be fun to watch.

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

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

“I cheer for the Mexican National team,” West Valley resident Ray Mondragon said. “My team is in limbo. They are not playing with their best players.”

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

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

The United States is scheduled to play Wales on Nov. 21 and England Nov. 25. There will be four games broadcast on Thanksgiving Day. The finals will be played Dec. 18. All

games will be played in Qatar. This is the first time the tournament has been held in the Mid dle East and Qatar is the smallest country to be a host.

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

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

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

RIVERTON REVIEW

Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Finding Opportunities to Serve or Give

By Mayor Trent Staggs

December is an excel lent time to serve your family, neighbors and those in need.

You don’t ever need an excuse to serve, but this holiday month does provide a great excuse to think a little more about others. As your Mayor, I wanted to encourage you to either give a little of your time, attention or money this month to a person, family, organization or cause that would benefit.

Along those lines, there are a few things Riverton City is doing this month that we need help with:

Holiday Donation Drive: We will be collecting holi day donations at Riverton City Hall for The Christmas Box House until Friday, Decem ber 12. Items must be new and unwrapped. Items currently needed include: children’s clothes, children’s sneakers, clothes for teens, duffel backs, hair brushes and more. You can find details at rivertonutah. gov/holiday-donations.

Christmas Wreaths: I am grateful to all who sponsored a wreath for a veteran’s grave at Riverton City Cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America pro gram. Because of your gener osity, every vet eran will have a wreath on their grave for Christ mas. We need help placing the wreaths at veter an’s graves. Join us on Saturday, December 17 at 10 a.m. for a brief ceremony and then to help place wreaths.

Pet Rescue Dona tions: We are collecting new and gently used pet toys and supplies at Riverton City Hall to donate be fore Christmas to the rescue organi zations that have been so good to take in unclaimed pets picked by Riv erton City’s animal control officers.

Ideas include dry food, canned food, toys, treats, blankets, towels, brushes, dog coats, leashes, collars, food bowls

and beds. The donation deadline is Wednesday, December 14.

Silver Rush at Riverton High School is a fantastic way to give to a de serving charity organization. Other service or giving ideas that come to mind off hand include giving to a food bank, doing a Secret Santa for a family in need, helping an elderly neighbor shovel their sidewalk, or donating to a Sub for Santa pro gram.

It’s easy to get caught up with all the Christmas preparations and forget the importance of service this time of year. Though it sometimes may not seem like it, there are many in our community who could use your help. Any service you can provide to your family, neighbors and those in need will help make our community a better place.

“I wanted to encourage you to either give a little of your time, attention or money this month to a person, family, organization or cause that would benefit.”

Donations from Riverton City’s Holiday Donation Drive provide needed gifts for The Christmas Box House. Donations can be dropped off at Riverton City Hall until Friday, December 12.

By Councilmember Troy McDougal

Forgive me for taking a personal moment, but this year has brought some big chang es in my house hold. A son who had been serving a mission in Uruguay returned home, and my two youngest kids left home to serve missions in Brazil and Ecuador. All three expressed how much they missed home and how blessed they felt to have grown up in Riverton. They did not realize how unique and special it was until they saw something different. I realized that I was guilty of the same thing. In a world full of constant dripping of negativity, political and social division, and constant focus on the bad, it wears us down and we begin to believe it and forget the good we have.

“When I turn off the drip of negativity and look around, I realize how lucky I am. I live in a land of great freedoms.”

When I turn off the drip of negativity and look around, I realize how lucky

I am. I live in a land of great freedoms. I am surrounded by good honorable people. I live in a community where people look after each other. A commu nity where doz ens and dozens of youth from Gospel Hope Church volun teer to clean up and serve at our Riverton Town Days celebra tion. A community with parks full of volunteer coaches and neighbor hood kids laughing and having fun. A commu nity where hundreds of people unite for a day of service to clean trails and parks and take pride in the way their community looks. A town where the biggest high school activ ity of the year is Silver Rush, where funds are raised for charity, and everyone gets involved. There are many more small and simple acts of

service by so many of our residents.

Certainly, we live in difficult and challenging times, but if we are going to overcome them, it will be because we come together as a community and city. We walk away from the fighting, and yelling and build on common ground, reach out to each other, and look for oppor tunities to serve rather than attack. I invite us all this wonderful holiday time to reach out to your neighbor, make a new friend, look for the good all around us. It’s there we just need to see it. As we serve each other, we lift our community and make it something worth missing. Love where you live!

Winter Parking Policy & Snow Removal Protocol

Dozens of youth from Gospel Hope Church volunteered to serve at this year’s Riverton Town Days celebration.

By Chief Don Hutson

Unfortunately, we in the busi ness of policing find ourselves working extra hard during the holiday season due to an increase in the number of thefts which typically occur at this time of year.

First, we must acknowledge the sad fact there are individuals living among us who are exerting an un believable amount of energy, every day, to formulate a plan to steal property and otherwise victimize the law-abiding citizens in our com munity, even during the holidays. Prime targets for these thieves are packages left on porches, checks received in the mail, vehicles left running and unattended, and gifts purchased and left in vehicles. The following actions can make a differ ence and will minimize the possibili ty you will be victimized.

Remove packages from your porch as soon as possible or arrange for someone to do it for you if you are not available. Do the same with your mail. Many of our home

burglaries and thefts happen in the middle of the day, when the per petrators assume no one is home. Also, lock your doors and windows, even when you are home, to avoid a confrontation with a suspect who may enter thinking the home is empty. Motion-activated lighting and external camera systems with motion alarms are also very helpful to let you know when a prowler is lurking around your property.

Keep items out of plain view. If you leave items of value in your vehicle, lock the car, but hide the valuables too. If the items aren’t visible, it means the suspects have to work to find the items, and in many instanc es, they are looking for the quick and easy score. Also know, if it is a larger venue you are attending (church meetings, funerals, concerts, etc.), there is a chance the bad guys/girls are watching. After you enter the venue, they may walk the parking lot looking for the easy score. If they see you take your purse and put it in the trunk, all they need to do is find the trunk button inside your car and they will take your purse.

Finally, never leave your car running and unattended, even for a few sec onds. As the weather turns cold, it is

Make arrangements for someone to remove packages from your porch as soon as they are delivered and do the same with your mail.

tempting to leave your car running and unattended to allow it to warm up. This is an invitation to a criminal opportunist to take it for a spin.

Thank you for watching out for one another and keeping your fellow citizens safe by taking steps to pro tect yourself and your property and reporting suspicious circumstances when you see them. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

For a list of items to donate, visit: rivertonutah.gov/holiday-donations

Riverton City is collecting holiday donations for The Christmas Box House – an organization dedicated to providing emergency shelter to children in need. Donations will be accepted until Friday, December 12 at Riverton City Hall. Donated items must be new and unwrapped.

Join us in the new year for the Mission Slim Possible Weight Loss Challenge, an individual 8-week mission to lose weight and feel great! Mission Slim Possible is a weight loss challenge, not a weight loss program. It is up to you to lose the weight. Cash prizes will be given out for the highest percentage of body fat lost, most pounds lost, and male and female division winners.

January 4 - March 1, 2023 | $30 per person

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 3, 2023 Register at rivertonutah.gov/slimpossible

Couch to 5K Training Program

Have you ever wanted to start run ning, but just aren’t sure how? Join us for a Couch to 5K program to gradually build up your running abil ity in just eight weeks. This program is for people looking for a structured introduction to running with support along the way. Cost is $30.

Free entry in the 4Life 5K on March 25, 2023, with a race t-shirt training support and much more.

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/couch-to-5k

December 14 to Sunday, December 25

Drive by homes decked out in lights and decorations for the holidays during the Riverton Tour of Lights! A map will be made available to the public at the website URL listed below on December 11 to help you identify locations to drive by on this self-guided tour.

ENTRY DETAILS

Riverton residents who put up awesome holiday light displays are encouraged to enter their home in the Riverton Tour of Lights! The entry deadline is Sunday, December 11. Entry is free. Participants will have their name and address included on a map and will receive a sign to place in their yard during the tour.

To see the tour map or enter your home, visit: rivertonutah.gov/tour-of-lights

Be part of a Riverton tradition and come participate in one of the valley’s best races. The race is designed for all ages and abilities with medals and prizes awarded for participants and winners.

General registration opens January 2 for the Riverton ½ Marathon & 4Life 5K

Race Day is Saturday, March 25, 2023 9 a.m. (Half), 9:15 a.m. (5K), City Park

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/half

JON NEILSON, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Jon graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies in 2012, then a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. Looking to expand his skill set, and broaden his ability to care for his patients, he went back to further his education once more and graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah in 2020. Prior to nursing school, Jon worked as a therapeutic preschool specialist at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake City which was ultimately the defining point that inspired him to seek a long-term career working with, and advocating for, children. He worked as a registered nurse at Primary Children’s Medical Center for over five years while working on his doctorate degree. Following graduation, he practiced family medicine for almost a year when he realized that pediatric and adolescent patients were the most fun and decided to switch to a pediatric care-focused clinic. Now he is excited to join Granger Pediatrics – Riverton and provide superior care for the children and adolescents of this rapidly growing community.

Connectivity, including connection to nature, is paramount in plans for The Point

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

Progress is happening at The Point, the former prison site in its infancy of becoming an ultra-modern development. Officials announced that the Utah Division of Facilities and Construction is running ahead of schedule on site abatement, the first step toward demolition. In December, the Phase 1 development partner will present refined plans to The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority.

“This is getting more and more real. Rather than a place where people are con strained, it’s going to be a place of new opportunity…and change life for the better for the people of the state,” said Alan Matheson, The Point’s executive director.

Funeral arrangements are a deeply personal choice. Preplanning provides you with the time needed to make practical, detailed decisions that reflect your standards, lifestyle, taste and budget. And we assure you and your family that the choices you make will be carried out as planned.

Innovation Point Partners (IPP), the Phase 1 development partner, is a team of three firms: the Lincoln Property Company headquartered in Dallas, Texas and local partners Colmena Group and Wadsworth Development Group. According to The Point officials, the IPP team has experience building large-scale, sustainable communities and innova tive, mixed-use projects.

Though they couldn’t share specifics prior to the December Land Authority meeting, Matheson and IPP spokesperson Abbey Ehman spoke in general terms about refinements to the plan. Ehman is based in Los Angeles, but she previously lived in Utah.

Phase 1 development focuses on Main Street, the central park, and creating a 15-min ute city that supports all forms of mobility including pedestrians, vehicles, cyclists and transit. Ehman was highly complimentary of the framework plan already created for The Point with public input from Utahns. “Never before have we seen such an effort…it’s a credit to Utah,” she said. The IPP team is working with that existing framework plan to further refine and enhance it.

“The adaptations are enhancing connectivity, vibrancy and a strong sense of place. This is our opportunity to build a new downtown in Utah…we’re very thoughtful on building types, the pedestrian experience…economic investment driving jobs, and think ing about how that all exists together. The signature element is the recreation space, the commitment to the outdoors and nature that makes it a Utah project. We’re making sure we have places of respite, places we tie into the trail network…we heard the desire to be connected to nature. Market conditions have informed our process, but connectivity to outdoors is the big shift we’ve seen through the pandemic. People want readily accessible outdoor space,” Ehman said.

Matheson indicated these revisions better tie the central park to the River to Range trail and offer new connectivity elements to help people get around the site without ever getting on the road.

Ehman called the Main Street “the heart of our first phase” and said there will be “a keen focus on local businesses.” It will be pedestrian-focused with a mix of local and national shops and restaurants that spill out onto a promenade.

“We as a firm are so excited about Utah, specifically the demographic, the economic growth, the quality of life, this amazing canvas, and all the work that came before us to make this a preeminent development. There really is no better infill opportunity in the western U.S. because of the location between two population centers. And with the good work that’s come before us on transit and infrastructure, we’re excited to focus our ef forts here,” Ehman said. l

A conceptual rendering of the River to Range plans for The Point. Phase 1 development plans are being refined with a focus on connection to nature. (Courtesy The Point)

Gymnasium to be full again with Silverwolves basketball back

Nature’s Virus Killer

Copper can stop a virus before it starts

By Priscilla Schnarr www.copperzap.com

Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast.

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

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

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

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

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

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Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of bad germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.

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The EPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.

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

When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

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After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented

As thousands more tried it, some found other things they could use it against, including: Colds, flu, new viruses and variants, sinus trouble, cold sores, canker sores, strep throat, nighttime stuffiness, morning congestion, nasal drip, skin infections, thrush, warts, styes, and ringworm.

The handle is curved and textured to increase contact.

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Scientists placed millions of viruses on copper. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it,” said Dr. Bill Keevil.

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Photos by Pat McDonald

Anna Ross returns as one of the primary contributors for a Riverton team that lost eight seniors from last year’s squad that went 18-5, falling in the quarterfinals. This year’s team will also feature a new face at the helm as Jonathan Haag takes over for Jodi Lee, who stepped down after last year to spend more time with her family.

Stratton Johnson is one of a handful of returners for the Riverton boys basketball team. The Silverwolves went 7-16 a year ago and started off the season with three straight home games against Fremont, Brighton and Alta. Riverton will once again host its annual holiday classic starting Dec. 27.

Degrees vs experience: city looks at its employment position requirements

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Less than 14% of Riverton City’s fulltime jobs require a college degree. That’s what city officials found after compiling a report for the city council in October.

Kevin Hicks, the city’s administrative services director, said the idea came after a house bill in 2021 was passed that wanted to make sure “we’re only requiring degrees and not allowing experience in lieu of the degree if it’s one that is dictated by the ac tual role and responsibilities.”

The combination of the bill and re cent discussion about the federal decision to forgive student loans led Mayor Trent Staggs to feel it would be useful informa tion.

Of the total full-time positions city wide, only 22 require a degree, or 13.63%. Outside of those 22 degrees, Hicks said there might be a preference for a degree, but it’s not a requirement.

Among the 22 positions, a few include city attorney, city prosecutor, city engi neer, city manager, city planner, city trea surer, communications director and public works director

“The public needs to be made aware and even our residents that we have several

positions that don’t even require a college degree,” Staggs said during the Oct. 18 council work meeting.

City Manager David Brickey ex plained that of those 22 positions, at least 13 or 14 are state statutes they cannot change.

“The other seven we could add lan guage that says ‘work experience or equiv alent,’” he told the council before adding, “frankly, there are some very qualified people that after you work in a particular area for six to 10 years in government, you’re smarter than the kid that’s coming out of college.”

Hicks clarified on the financial side that when the city is scored on its fraud assessment, they receive points for having accountants with accounting degrees. He said work experience could be in lieu of that.

But “if we started reducing the need for accounting degrees, we could have problems in that fraud assessment,” Hicks said.

The council and staff discussed the possibility of changing certain language in the job descriptions, but no official deci sion was made during the meeting. l

MONICA HINZ, DO, JD

Pediatrics

Monica Hinz joins Granger Medical Clinic as a recent graduate of University of Florida, Jacksonville’s pediatric residency. Following residency she served as a chief resident for one year. As a native Floridian, she and her family have loved moving to Utah this past summer and are enjoying all the natural beauty and outdoor activities that Salt Lake City area has to offer. Dr. Hinz is of Columbian descent and is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Hinz is passionate about not only helping her patients grow, but also ensuring the entire family unit is thriving.

Less than 14% of Riverton City’s full-time jobs require a college degree. (Unsplash)

Navigating Grief and the Holidays

By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program. Caring Connections is a not-for-profit program that offers clinician-facili tated grief support groups in Utah. 801-585-9522 healthcare.utah.edu/caring-connections

North Star celebrates veterans with spirit and song

By Camille Emmer | c.emmer@mycityjournals.com

Typically, when we see servicemen and women in uniform, they are on a military assignment; training, protecting or fighting. But on Nov. 11, at North Star Academy, they were there to honor vet erans and participate in the Veterans Day assembly.

This assembly has become an annual tradition for more than ten years at North Star Academy, which teaches kindergarten through ninth grade. NSA celebrates Vet erans Day to help their students learn the responsibilities of being a citizen, and to recognize the freedoms and privileges we enjoy because of the sacrifices of our mili tary men and women.

Over 500 students from North Star Academy participated in the assembly wearing combinations of red, white and blue outfits, showcasing months of work and preparation. Students waved to their parents as they entered the auditorium with smiles, excitement and enthusiasm. Kindergarten through sixth grade sang patriotic songs ranging from “When John ny Comes Marching Home” and “Yankee Doodle” to “Fifty Nifty United States” and “America the Beautiful.”

The assembly began with a welcome from Bluffdale Mayor Natalie Hall and the

national anthem. Angela Peterson, event organizer and music director said, “I want [the students] to understand how important our military is, and especially our veter ans. They don’t always get the recognition they deserve. This is a wonderful assembly to give back to our veterans and miliary servicemen and women.” She also com mented on how helpful and encouraging the community is. “I do it because it is a great way to give back to the community.”

Veterans from nearly every branch of the military were in the audience, includ ing Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy. One of the Navy veterans in attendance, Larry Gibson, who served in Vietnam and was mobilized several times said, “it is amazing that I am still here. There were many times I could have died.”

Another attendee who was an ac tive-duty serviceman for more than eight years and in the reserves for another 13 years said, “Veterans Day reminds people what America is all about. It helps hold our country together.”

North Star Academy also recogniz es the sacrifices of the families of those who serve in the military. Cindy Woodruff attended the program and currently has students that attend North Star Academy.

Her husband’s work in the Army has taken them all over the world. They have moved 11 times in 14 years. She echoed the senti ments of the veterans by saying, “Veterans

Day unifies Americans; we can all appreci ate the sacrifice of veterans.”

One poignant segment of the pro gram was a video presentation of the North

A note presented to a veteran at Texas Roadhouse. (Camille Emmer/City Journals)

Star Academy alumni serving in the mili tary. One alumnus, an Air Force software programmer, encouraged each student to “take advantage of this amazing country and never let an opportunity pass you up. There are people around the world that don’t have the same opportunities that we do.”

Another alumnus who was highlight ed attended NSA from K- 9 grade. He re

cently finished serving in the United States Army 25th Infantry Division Schofield Barracks Army Base. He said, “I wanted to serve our country because we have a lot of freedoms to protect, and you can help protect our freedoms by voting when you are 18 and learning about our constitution. I’m grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve and those who have served before me.”

The assembly concluded with a visitor from the office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He said that each day 22 veterans die from suicide in the U.S. He reminded each in attendance that they are important and they matter. The VA has support for veterans in need of mental health services and education opportuni ties. They encourage veterans to reach out for any support and help they need.

North Star Academy collaborates with Texas Roadhouse on Veterans Day to celebrate and honor veterans. Texas Roadhouse gives a free meal to veterans in appreciation of their service. North Star Academy students write notes of thanks and gratitude that are given to the veterans when they arrive at Texas Roadhouse. l

of CA, IN, PA and MI. Expires 12/31/22.

EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2022

Over 500 students from North Star Academy participated in the assembly. (Camille Emmer/City Journals) Multiple veterans attended North Star’s assembly. (Camille Emmer/City Journals)

To recycle or not? That is among the questions of Riverton’s next waste contract

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Riverton’s potential next contract for hauling its waste could increase almost $200,000.

Craig Calvert, the city’s contract ad ministrator and purchasing manager, re ported the number to the Riverton City Council in October as the city prepares for its next municipal waste contract that’s due to end in June of next year.

City officials are recommending the city contract with Waste Management after it came in with the lowest responsible bid by almost $700,000. Part of the reason for the significantly lower bids, officials said, is because the city owns its own cans.

But the contract will still increase, which officials say isn’t due to the portion with Waste Management—which went down—but because of recycling.

The cost of recycling, Calvert said, is going up $144,000. “We could eliminate recycling,” Calvert responded when asked about the possibility, “but that’s your call.”

That number, Councilmember Troy McDougal said, is “really the question.”

McDougal, who serves on the Trans-Jordan board of directors, noted re cycling is the “biggest bite” on the con tract.

“There are no foreign markets for it and the local markets are incredibly expen sive to get the recyclables to a state we can actually use them,” he said.

If the city decides to include recy cling, Calvert said the contract will need to include language about what to do with residents who contaminate the recycling or continually overload waste cans, which causes additional hauling charges.

He said Waste Management intends to roll out smart trucks with cameras that can identify what’s in the recycling load.

Officials pointed out that if recycling isn’t included, it could increase the prob lem with people then possibly overloading their single can or paying for a second gar bage can that could increase landfill costs.

Mayor Trent Staggs noted the intent to contract with Waste Management, but added city officials need to decide “what type of recycling effort this city is going to promote going forward?”

Officials decided to hold off on the decision until after touring facilities to see how the smart trucks work. In the mean time, staff will work on the contract to then be brought back before the council. l

ANGELO PULGIANO, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Pulgiano joins Granger Internal Medicine – Riverton from the University of Utah. He graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine degree from Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2002. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in 2005.

Dr. Pulgiano is passionate about being a strong patient advocate and gives his best efforts to educate, support, and encourage each patient throughout all aspects of their care. He is a strong believer in preventative medicine, utilizing annual routine exams and age-appropriate screenings, combined with a healthy lifestyle. He is dedicated to applying his knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide accurate diagnoses with the most advanced medical treatments in order to provide superior care to his patients. In addition to internal medicine, Dr. Pulgiano also offers facial rejuvenation treatments that include dermal fillers for the cheeks and lips in addition to Botox for the face.

The potential cost of recycling in Riverton’s next municipal waste contract would go up $144,000. (Wikime dia)

Happy Holidays! We wish you and yours all the best this season and in the New Year. We had a great time welcoming many new businesses. Quench IT, La Fountain, Los Tapititos, Quick Quack, X-Golf and Visionworks held ribbon cuttings. We want you to know a bit more about our members.

Quench It Soda! We serve award-winning Suss Cookies, pretzel bites, gourmet popcorn, and of course, the best drinks around! Come try our mixed sodas and treats! Life’s better mixed up!

X-Golf’s technology allows you to play some of the best courses in the world without having to leave your own city. They are located in Mountain View Village and their exclusive technology offers the best simulator experience available while allowing you to:

• Play new and unique golf courses

• Compete in local and national leagues

• Enjoy golf 365 days out of the year

Quick Quack has two locations in Herriman. They bought Gorilla Carwash and updated the location to the necessary wash equip ment to give the best wash. The locations are 13400 South 5702 West and 12523 S. Herri man Main.

Visionworks is open and ready for business in Mountain View Village. Visionworks is a leading provider of eye care services in the U.S., sitting at the intersection of healthcare and retail. They are devoted to healthy eyes and are passionate about flawless vision. They want every person who visits their stores and affiliated doctors to have an incredible experi ence, in an unexpectedly simple way.

UFirstCU opened a new branch in Daybreak. UFirst Credit Union is a values-based, full-ser vice financial co operative serving the needs of more than 100,000 member-owners and their communities. It’s mission is to create a positive impact on their community and to make a difference for every member, every day.

Remember to shop local and help keep these businesses in business.

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

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

SheMoney, a content platform dedi cated to financial equity, is a sister brand to ShePlace, a network designed to help members build social capital through resource sharing and opportunities for worldwide collaboration.

Madison Limansky, COO of SheP lace, worked in the fashion industry and production for 17 years. After receiving a degree in gender studies from the Univer sity of Utah, it changed her perception of the fashion world and she revolutionized the way companies approach representa tion through media campaigns.

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

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

ShePlace is a network where individ uals and groups can share opportunities and challenges and have the opportunity to coordinate efforts. Approximately 70% of ShePlace members are based in Utah, but the platform includes women+ from 28 states and 13 countries. It encompasses nonbinary or gender fluid individuals and is intentionally inclusive of people that don’t identify on the binary spectrum.

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

Through its custom framework called the 7 Money Moves, SheMoney delves into the actions a person can take with money. Whether it’s spending, saving, investing, protecting, giving, borrowing or earning, SheMoney offers women a

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

chance to understand and control their fi nancial security.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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That Ol’ Christmas Spirit

ven though 2022 seemed to last as long as a 5-year-old reading “Green Eggs and Ham,” the holidays rushed in like a wicked case of intestinal flu. But high grocery prices? Rising inflation? Those things have never stopped Americans from over-celebrating the holidays.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter