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By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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emple Grandin, perhaps the most famous person with autism, visited Utah in August and was impressed with the opportunities she saw for children and adults with autism. “I’ve seen more good stuff yesterday and today than I’ve seen in a long time— you’re doing some stuff that’s really special,” she said after visiting the Utah STEM Action Center and seeing the creative design and building tools available to Utah students in the STEM Lab. Grandin believes hands-on learning is ideal for encouraging innovation—especially for kids with autism. “I watched an autistic kid just blossom in there,” she said. “[He was] about 12 years old, acting really autistic. He started doing a 3D printer, he turned into a different kid.” Grandin worries that many children get stuck in the “autism box” and that many capable autistic young people are wasting away their time, playing video games in their parents’ basement, when they should be in the workforce innovating, designing and building. She said many visual thinkers could be successful engineers but they struggle to complete traditional engineering programs because of the math requirements. “I get worried that my kind of visual thinker is getting strained Continued page 6 Auticon provides an autism-friendly work environment. (Photo courtesy of David Reeve.)
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January 2022 | Page 3
These families open their hearts and homes to foster pets By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
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he Spencer family gazed down with pride at the new mom, snuggled up in a makeshift bed with her nine healthy, week-old puppies. The Spencers took in the dog just before she gave birth as part of a fostering partnership with Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption. The family is just one of many in who open their homes and hearts to homeless pets in need. The Spencers have fostered a total of 23 dogs since they began working with Nuzzles & Co. last summer. “We always had dogs in our home,” said Misti Spencer. “I wanted to buy a home so bad so we could get a dog. I just have to have a dog in my life. I think I’ll be fostering forever!” Nuzzles & Co. is always seeking volunteers to foster pets. The organization has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding in 1990 and now includes a pet adoption center in Park City as well as a Rescue and Rehab Ranch. Nuzzles & Co. works with the Navajo Nation and the Ute Reservation to care for and find homes for the many homeless dogs and cats on the reservation. In 2020, the organization saved a grand total of 1,863 dogs and cats. There is a great need for people to foster dogs who are pregnant or nursing pups and the Spencers agreed to take on the challenge. Jonathan Spencer explained, “We help the moms to get back in good health, socialized and used to living indoors. We’re helping them to become a desirable family pet.” “We give the moms lots of love, they get a lot of attention,” said Ronan Spencer, a student at Corner Canyon High School. “The moms are often in bad shape,” Misti explained. “The first mom we picked up was so sick, they thought she was going to die. It felt so good to bring her back to life.” She recalled the joy the family felt watching
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Jonathan, Misti, Emerald and Ronan Spencer pose for a family holiday photo with their foster pups. (Photo courtesy Emerald Spencer)
their first foster dog play with her puppies in the backyard. That dog was later adopted by a family in Murray and the Spencers had the pleasure of seeing her again when the family brought her to Draper Dog Park. As a pet foster family, the Spencers are not responsible for finding forever homes for the dogs. When the puppies are eight weeks old, they are taken back to Nuzzles & Co. to be adopted out. However, the family often finds ways to keep in touch with their former canine charges. Emerald Spencer, a student at Utah State University, explained that a family friend adopted a couple of puppies that they
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had fostered. “We still get to see them, which is cool!” she said. Emerald described how her family helps to socialize the dogs which includes leash training them and taking them on walks. “We invite the neighbors over to play with the dogs,” she said. Jonathan added, “The kids bring friends over so that the dogs get used to teens.” Misti noted that having older kids who can help care for the dogs is a bonus when you’re a pet foster parent. She also explained that the key to being a good foster pet family is flexibility. “You have to be a problem solver,” Misti said. “Every dog has its own personality and issues, their needs are so different. Every batch of puppies has its unique needs.” “There’s going to be some characters in this batch!” Jonathan said of the tiny, roly-poly puppies who are currently in their care. “There is a stigma on rescue dogs,” he continued. “But these are good animals, dogs that are going to love you forever because you gave them a home. The pets we’ve had have always been rescues.” “People pay a fortune for a purebred dog,” Misti said. “There are so many good dogs out there. Dogs make such an impact on peoples’ lives. That’s what I find so rewarding.” Ronan observed that dogs can become a key part of the family. He explained that while he enjoys helping to care for the family’s dogs, “I feel a connection with cats. If I ever see a cat, I have to go up to it and pet it.” There are many others who share that love of all things feline, including folks who foster cats and kittens. The Day family has fostered nine kittens so far since October 2020. “I had thought about fostering for a long
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time,” Becca Day explained. She began her journey as a foster cat mom when her mother found a tiny stray kitten hiding in her garage. Becca and her family cared for the kitten until it was adopted by a family friend. “We still get to see it,” she said with a smile. Becca joined Celestial Zoo Pet Rescue, a Facebook community based in Bluffdale. Unlike Nuzzles & Co., Celestial Zoo does not have a brick-and-mortar location. There are separate Celestial Zoo Facebook groups for those who foster cats and dogs. Through the online community, “the nice thing is that we can find other kitties that need help,” Becca explained. “They do a lot with feral cats. If a cat shows signs of being a potential good pet, we foster them. Really feral cats end up as barn cats.” The Celestial Zoo community often coordinates foster care for homeless cats and kittens found in the rural areas of southern Utah and brings them north where they are more likely to find forever homes. The first two kittens that the Day family
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fostered from Celestial Zoo were from a large cat colony in Utah County. At first, the black kitten later known as Jiji was very fearful of humans and would hiss when approached. Becca’s husband, Ben, helped to socialize Jiji by sitting with him and eventually had the kitten literally eating from his hand. “It was calming for me,” Ben said. “I gave him the opportunity to build trust with humans and form a bond.” Fifteen year old Oliver Day is a bit wary of getting too attached to the kittens but enjoys playing with them. “I really like cats,” he said. “They are always cute! I like the experience of raising them and finding them a good home.” For Oliver, the best part of fostering kittens is, “You get to have the expe-
rience of having a lot of pets and, if you like one, you get to keep them.” Currently, the Days are fostering a young gray and white cat who has bonded with their own older pet cat. The family is leaning toward adopting him, making him a so-called, “foster fail.” Becca admits that it’s hard not to keep all of their young feline charges. Sending kittens off to a new home can be bittersweet. “Of course you’re going to be sad at the end,” she said. “It’s because you care.” The cats and dogs being fostered through Celestial Zoo are advertised for adoption on Petfinder and the organization hosts weekend adoption events at PetSmart stores in Sandy, West Jordan and Orem. “Celestial Zoo
really cares about who is adopting the cats,” Becca explained. Prospective owners need to complete an adoption form and are interviewed by the pet’s foster parents. Making sure that a prospective owner is not getting a pet on a whim is key as is determining the sort of home environment that the pet would be going to. Not every dog or cat has the temperament to get along with young children or other pets. “If the adoption doesn’t work out, the kitty goes back to the foster,” Becca said. She happily keeps in touch with some of her adopters. Becca would encourage others to foster pets if they have the time and capacity, but added that there are other ways people can
help homeless pets. “Maybe you can volunteer to transport animals or make a donation,” she said. “Keep an eye on your neighborhood and if you see a cat that is clearly not someone’s pet or find a litter of kittens, contact a rescue group to help.” Both Nuzzles & Co. and Celestial Zoo are seeking people to foster pets and volunteer in other capacities. Nuzzles & Co.’s Pet Adoption Center is located at The Outlets, 6699 N. Landmark Drive, Suite B-103 in Park City. Call 435-649-5441 for more information or visit www.nuzzlesandco.org. Celestial Zoo Pet Rescue has a website as well; visit www.celestialzoo.org or find them on Facebook. l
Top:A proud mama poses with her pups in the Spencer family’s backyard in Draper. The family fostered the dogs as volunteers with Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption. (Photo courtesy Emerald Spencer)Bottom: Bluffdale’s Becca Day poses with Grey Boy, a foster cat who may soon become a new member of her family. (Photo courtesy Becca Day)
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January 2022 | Page 5
Continued from front page out because we can’t do algebra,” she said. “But it’s my kind of visual thinker that will build the next Amazon warehouse.” Grandin has written 13 books explaining the different ways autistic, or neurodiverse, minds process information. As an object visualizing thinker, Grandin transformed the meat processing industry with her revolutionary engineering designs. But she had to go through untraditional channels because of her autism. Grandin will explore the different ways people think to come up with innovative ideas in a podcast, “How Do You Think of That with Temple Grandin,” which will launch early this year in partnership with the Utah STEM Action Center and Sheri Quinn Productions. “Temple is interviewing a variety of people working on research projects and innovations, talking to them about their lives, the way they think, and the way that they incorporate STEM into their lives on a daily basis,” said Julienne Bailey, a program coordinator at the Utah STEM Action Center. The podcast will also delve into the role of education and what teachers and counselors can do to drive innovation. Grandin has strong opinions about the education of children with autism. In addition to hands-on classes such as shop classes, she said children with autism need life skills training. “The big thing we’ve got to be doing with kids in the pipeline is learning life skills, learning work skills—not enough emphasis on that,” Grandin said. Life skills training is what has made a difference for Amy Baker’s two sons with autism. The boys struggled in mainstream classes with neurotypical peers because of their delays in social and verbal skill development, which are typical with autism. The boys attended specialized schools, the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning and Spectrum Academy Charter School. Spectrum Academy’s teachers use research-based instruction methods and provide a variety of technological tools so that students are not held back by writing, reading, or verbal delays, Baker said. Their on-staff occupational, speech, behavior, and mental specialists worked with the teaching team to help Baker’s boys figure out what modifications they needed to succeed in the classroom. In Spectrum Academy’s social skills classes, Baker’s sons learned and practiced how to respond in social situations, something that comes naturally to neurotypical students but not those whose brains are wired differently. By the end of middle school, both of Baker’s sons were able to transfer to their neighborhood school in mainstream classes. They are now in their junior and senior years. “They’re doing so well,” Baker said. “But they wouldn’t be where they are with-
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out being at Spectrum to learn those tools. Those life skills that they’ve learned at Spectrum have just changed every aspect of our lives. Socially, they are keeping right up with their peers, which is huge. They need social skills to be able to get along in the world.” Jordan School District provides autism support classes at three elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school. The smaller class sizes and Individualized Education Plans help teams of teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists address each student’s academic needs, social skills development and behavior, said Angela Johnston, a special education teacher in one of Rose Creek Elementary’s three autism support classrooms. In the autism support classrooms, students learn appropriate replacement behaviors to reduce disruptions to learning. Things that are small annoyances to neurotypical children can trigger a sensory overload tantrum in an autistic or neurodiverse child. When they become overwhelmed, they may respond with stimming behaviors (rocking, pacing, flapping, biting, yelling.) In the autism support classrooms, students learn to prevent and replace those behaviors. “Our goal is for them to realize they’re starting to get overwhelmed and they come to us and ask us for a break, or say ‘I need to go for a walk’ or ‘I need to go get a drink of water’ or ‘Can I go to the sensory room?’ or ‘It’s loud in here, I need some headphones,’” Johnston said. “Our goal is to get them to a place where they can use those strategies independently.” Last year, Rose Creek Elementary created a Sensory Room, a former storage closet with low lighting, stocked with fidget toys, play-doh, pillows and a swing. “It’s been a great place for kids to go just to get out of the classroom if they feel like they’re starting to escalate or they’re overwhelmed, if it’s too loud, or they’re feeling off that day and they need to just be somewhere quiet,” Johnston said. Once students learn to prevent and replace behaviors, they are able to participate in mainstream classrooms, which is the goal of the program, said Johnston. “We teach them appropriate replacement behaviors so they can be in a school setting and get to the point where we can have them mainstream, or their parents can take them out into the community,” she said. In her 20 year career, Johnston has seen an improved educational experience for autistic students due to research and innovations as well as more parents advocating for their children, and more schools providing specialized services. Utah’s private and charter schools for autistic students are in high demand; Spectrum Academy, which has grown from one campus to seven in the last 15 years, continues to have a long enrollment waiting list. Job skills training is part of secondary school instruction for teenagers with au-
Students with autism at Spectrum Academy enjoy small class sizes and specially trained staff who use research-based instruction methods. (Photo courtesy of Christina Guevara.)
tism. Both Spectrum Academy and Jordan District schools begin transition planning in seventh grade. Throughout their middle and high school years, students explore career opportunities and learn job skills through school-based and community-partnership work experiences. Special education students in grades 9-12 can participate in part-time vocational instruction at JSD’s South Valley School in West Jordan, which also provides post high school life skills and job skills training for special education students ages 18-21. Some students learn and practice job skills while working in South Valley School’s greenhouse and woodworking, framing and engraving shops. Others fill jobs in the community. SVS Principal Rita Bouillon said students with autism have abilities that fill a need in the job force and community employers are thrilled to have such dedicated workers. “These students have such great skills because they pay such attention to detail, they like doing repetitive work, and they like doing work accurately,” Bouillon said. Many prefer jobs that are predictably the same every day such as gathering grocery carts, stocking shelves, making pizzas, and working on assembly lines. Bouillon said these first job experiences help young adults with autism learn basic job skills—how to be on time, follow directions, dress appropriately, use public transportation and budget—that will translate to any future career. In class, students role play how to ask for a raise, request a day off, and arrange an accommodation. They learn to advocate for themselves and to educate others about autism so that it is not a barrier. Autism is misunderstood by many and often causes a frustrating cycle of unemployment and underemployment. “The autism community suffers from an 85% underemployment rate,” said David Aspinall, CEO of U.S. operations of Auticon, an international IT service provider. “Underemployment is the notion that some-
body who could be an expert technologist is working in a role that doesn’t make them the compensation that they deserve for their skills. The other version of underemployment is an individual, an incredibly skilled technologist, that has gone from organization to organization, never growing roots, never feeling fulfilled, because they’re not an autism-friendly environment.” That was the experience of Scott McKell, a 30-something computer programmer from Hyrum, Utah. He said he felt he escaped the stigmatizing ‘box of autism’ because his mother opted to keep him out of the special education system. She did push his social skills development and he was able to do well in school. But post high school, he struggled to find stable work that paid well. He was a skilled musician and computer programmer but found himself working temporary jobs in warehouses and call centers. There were always problems with the jobs—call centers were uncomfortably loud, and if there was a big crash in the warehouse, it affected his ability to work accurately. “I’ve had lots of odd jobs because I hadn’t quite found something that fit or I didn’t realize how to ask for accommodations to make something that was a close fit a solid fit,” McKell said. Finally, in 2020, he found Auticon, which employs adults on the autism spectrum as technology consultants. Auticon has tapped into the autistic pool of employees to utilize their skill sets that are ideal in the software development and data science industries. Aspinall said one autistic cognitive strength is brutal honesty, which is an asset in data science. He said an autistic worker is dedicated to the data and provides unbiased results, while other people may have an interpretation bias based on what they want the data to show. Aspinall said people with autism who have the hard skills for a job often don’t
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make it through the social skills portion of a job interview. “The traditional interview process is one of the reasons our community is 85% underemployed,” Aspinall said. “There’s human bias, where you’re in an interview and you get that social spark with someone. That has zero bearing on that individual’s ability to do the job, especially in data science and software engineering.” Auticon uses an autism-friendly recruitment process—gamification to understand the applicant’s technical skills, and a series of chats with job coaches to under-
stand their soft skills. They provide job coaches to help employers understand how to support neurodiversity in the workplace so that they are inclusive and integrated. Many of the accommodations autistic workers ask for are just good business practices, Aspinall said. “Things we work with our partners on are things like written instruction instead of verbal instruction, making sure that meetings have an agenda, that communication is concise,” he said. “If you think about it, that is really not that much of an accommodation, that’s just good business practice.”
Autism takes front stage The workings of an autistic mind is front stage in Riverton High School’s upcoming production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” The protagonist of the Tony Award-winning play is a teenager with autism who is determined to solve a mystery. “It’s from his perspective, so we are seeing life through his extraordinary brain and how he’s able to maneuver things and do things that seem impossible for him,” RHS theater teacher Erin McGuire said. One of the cast members is autistic and McGuire is planning a sensory-friendly performance for autistic audience members. The play runs February 24-28. Visit rivertonhigh. jordandistrict.org for information and tickets.
Grandin attended the ribbon-cutting for Auticon’s Salt Lake operations center when she was in Utah in August and praised the company for recognizing the skills and capabilities of employees with autism. The majority of Auticon’s employees are autistic but Aspinall is quick to dismiss it as anything but good business strategy. “This notion that this is altruistic is not accurate,” he said. “It’s performance-based. This isn’t altruism. Our team is bringing them a performance advantage. They are using what has been considered a barrier as a strength.” McKell was hired by Auticon as a consultant for Fidelity Investments and said the workplace environment is the best he’s ever had because his employer understands what he needs to do his job; it is normalized for him to wear noise-cancelling headphones or to take a break. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before—in a positive way,” he said. “Just the mere understanding that if I get overstimulated and I need to take a break and walk away, they’re not only OK with that but they encourage that. If I’m too uncomfortable or bothered by something, I disengage and find my zen, so to speak, and then come back and I’m much more efficient than when I was overstimulated and trying to push through.” l
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January 2022 | Page 7
The Point, the prison and historic preservation By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
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even years ago, the historic Draper Park School in the center of town was nearly demolished. The city owned it but could no longer afford to maintain or remodel it. It had become a safety hazard and a resulting liability. Just weeks before it was set to be demolished, a buyer came forward to purchase the old school in what some felt was a “Christmas miracle.” “It’s like most historic preservation, it’s usually expensive. We made it available cheaply for what was the demolition cost, with the requirement they had to save it. The developer turned it into a commercial enterprise. It was a win-win,” Draper Mayor Troy Walker said. In the many months leading up to that last-minute “miracle,” community groups and individuals set about to raise funds, hoping to purchase and re-imagine the old school. But they weren’t able to raise nearly enough money. They repeatedly pled their case to the mayor and city council, hoping to save what they saw as a treasure, before it was turned into rubble. It was a contentious topic at council meetings that ended with a positive resolution for both the city and concerned community members, just in the nick of time. For some people, there is a strong sense of duty to consider the historic value of what surrounds them or risk losing it forever. And it’s often the role of everyday residents to push for preservation while a city’s leaders are focused on matters of growth, economics, and wise use of taxpayer funds. Todd Shoemaker is one such individual for whom history is a passion. Shoemaker moved to Draper in 1955 and attended school in that historic building on Pioneer Road. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history from the University of Utah and taught history for 30 years at Union Middle School. After retiring, Shoemaker served on Draper’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). He participated in efforts to save the historic school. In doing so, he recognizes that the actions he and others took to save the school likely ruffled the feathers of city leaders. He also partnered with two other individuals to purchase the Day Barn at auction, not with city funds earmarked for historic preservation, but with their own money. He worked with the city and other willing partners to relocate it from where it formerly sat on 12300 South near 600 East to where it now resides near the library, land the city donated for it. “I was able to talk to Todd Wadsworth and he was willing to help with the money to move it and fix up the barn. Without him, it wouldn’t have happened,” Shoemaker said. Fast forward several years, and Shoemaker, along with others, has wanted to see parts of the Utah State Prison preserved when the development known as The Point begins to take shape. According to Alan Matheson, executive director of The Point, prisoners will be moved to the new prison on the west side of Salt Lake City this summer and demolition of the Draper site will begin soon after. For Shoemaker, it’s not a matter of glorifying criminal behavior, but of recognizing that the prison has been part of the Draper community since 1951. That’s the year it was opened to replace the former prison in Sugar House, an old territory prison. Shoemaker said some of the buildings at the Draper site date back to the 1940s and those older buildings are the focus of preservationist efforts. “We mainly want to tell the story because it’s in Draper, so many people from Draper worked there and so many have gone out there and volunteered. It’s education-
Page 8 | January 2022
The Utah State Prison has been operating in Draper since 1951. Prisoners will be moved to the new prison west of Salt Lake City in the summer of 2022 and nearly all of the prison buildings will be demolished to begin development of The Point. (Photo courtesy Utah Department of Corrections)
al. We’ve done research on what people have done with old prisons. In Europe, some are hotels. We just think the prison is unique and we tried to find out if they were going to tear down those buildings. The Utah State Historical Society didn’t know when we reached out to them and we couldn’t get anything specific from the mayor or the city council. We started this in 2015 or 2016. We spent a lot of time on it,” Shoemaker said. Other prisons have been saved for historic purposes. San Francisco has Alcatraz, the former maximum security federal prison that attracts 1.5 million visitors annually, a public museum run by the National Parks Service. Boise has the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a tourist site operated by the Idaho State Historical Society. Both are registered with the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP). But both are older than the Utah State Prison. Alcatraz operated as a prison from 1934-1963 and the Old Idaho Penitentiary was built between 1870-1872 when Idaho was just a territory. The Utah State Prison has some interesting historical occurrences and has housed some well-known names. Ted Bundy was sentenced to 15 years there but later extradited to Colorado. It has housed Warren Jeffs, Wanda Barzee, and Mark Hoffman among others. In 1977, Gary Gilmore was executed in Draper, the first execution in the United States after the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. That prompted Norman Mailer to write his famous novel “The Executioner’s Song.” A 1957 riot gained national news attention and resulted in the building of a chapel, one of the demands made by the prisoners. According to Shoemaker, that chapel was built largely with the prisoners’ money so
they had a place to worship and sing. Mayor Walker serves on two boards regarding development of The Point: The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, tasked with development of the prison site, and the Point of the Mountain Commission, an advisory planning commission that looks at the greater Point of the Mountain area. Walker said a decision on historic preservation of the prison was made at The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority’s October 2021 meeting. “Most of the buildings are old, the function of them has been to house inmates, so there wasn’t an interest from the board to save buildings…You’d have to reconfigure the way we’re designing the site, the buildings aren’t where we want them to be. However, the lock, which is historic (the Johnson Bar Lock system which is the same as at Alcatraz), the Department of Corrections is going to save and put in a museum that they’re going to do at the new prison. Uniquely, we wanted to preserve something, and what we came up with is the guard towers…up to two of them could be preserved on the site. They’re symbolic of keeping the outside safe, protecting society from criminals. That’s really the extent of the historical preservation at the site. We want a conference center there, not in old Cell Block A, but more like a world class hotel,” Walker said. Matheson said, “We’ve had some good conversations with people in the community. We appreciate their passion and the input they’ve provided. As reflected in the board’s decision in October, there is a willingness to preserve appropriate elements of the site. There are a few members of
Riverton City Journal
the community concerned about historical preservation and many others that are not. The board is also considering the economic opportunity costs and public safety in making those decisions. Some of these old facilities may not be safe for the public to be in after a time.” Shoemaker said he was removed from his position on the HPC, reappointed at some point, and that more recently he didn’t reapply for the commission when his term ended. “I can do better by not being a member and trying to do things on my own,” he said. Shoemaker is frustrated that the city has changed their procedures for committees and commissions, and he’s felt more restrained than heard on topics that he feels some members of the community want to discuss. “You may apply to be on the commission agenda and are required to state what you want to talk about, but the commission chair can, evidently, deny your request with no reason given. A citizen’s next course of action is to go to a city council meeting where they are given three minutes to state their concerns. The city is not required to have any further engagement with the citizen in a discussion of the issue that is brought forward,” he said. Shoemaker would like to see the format changed so that residents are given three minutes to speak at commission meetings, and if the city wants to follow
through on the topic, it would then be on an agenda. “I know why you have to have an agenda, but there’s no reason why people on the commission can’t get input from the general public. I’m pushing now for a change on that. I think that format should be changed.” The city has spent the last year revising the roles and rules for its various committees and commissions. Councilmember Marsha Vawdrey serves as a liaison between the city and the HPC. “I’ve been encouraging this whole year to look at all our boards and commissions and make sure we’re having consistency, clarifying roles and duties. It was a general overhaul of all the committees. We were trying to help unify, clarify and make consistency for all the boards and committees because all of them were struggling, in their own ways, especially with membership. I could see it and just thought we could do better. It’s been cool to see how many people have applied and been put on boards,” she said. “You shouldn’t have unelected officials speaking for the city or council, so we’ve revamped our commission rules, making it clear what they’re supposed to do and what they’re not supposed to do,” Walker said. Regarding historic preservation in the city, Walker said, “There are old homes we want to see stay. We have the cabin (the old Chamber of Commerce building) and
Guard tower in front of the Wasatch entrance at the Utah State Prison in Draper. The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority has committed to preserving one or two of the six prison towers for historic purposes. The Department of Corrections will preserve a locking system found only at this prison and at Alcatraz. (Photo courtesy Utah Department of Corrections)
I think our commitment to historic preservation is solid. We like our history, but you can’t do everything. I’d like to see us develop a proper museum, a building that showcases the history of Draper, and that’s something the council is interested in. It was just this prison business—we heard all the arguments, but it just wasn’t going to fit in what we were trying to do. My goal has always been to develop that site into the greatest economic opportunity that the
state has had in the last 100 years.” Walker and Shoemaker do agree on something. “The Sugar House prison would have been worth preserving, but it wasn’t,” Walker said. That historic, territorial prison was demolished and is now the location of Sugar House Park. “I get his passion,” Walker said of Shoemaker. l
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January 2022 | Page 9
Riverton’s best photos of 2021
Medusa shows off her hair and nails to the judges as part of the Jordan Academy of Technology and Careers annual hair and nail design competition. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Mechling.)
The Riverton softball team celebrates a win over Bingham which effectively clinched the region championship. The softball team would go on to defeat Bingham for the state championship. (Photo by Pat McDonald)
Weston Curtis fields a ground and throws to first for the Riverton baseball team. (Photo by Pat McDonald)
Todd Monson retired in 2021, he famously spent the night on the roof of Peterson’s Market to promote Oquirrh Hills Middle School’s annual fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Dawn Monson.)
Page 10 | January 2022
Riverton Elementary students greet Principal Joel Pullan with the secret wave he taught them. (Photo courtesy of Joel Pullan.)
Justin Miller played his senior season at Summit Academy and spent a season at Snow College before walking on at Southern Utah and starting this past spring. (Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics.)
Mountain Ridge junior Colby Roberts (in red) helps Alta junior Ian Bushell (in white) off the field during a 13-7 win over Alta on March 25. (Photo courtesy of Mountain Ridge High School athletics.)
Riverton City Journal
Riverton City displayed a special field of American flags at Riverton City Park behind the Old Dome Meeting Hall in early September to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
A pair of Mountain Ridge players go up for an attempted block against Pleasant Grove during the playoffs. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
More than 300 fallen Utah soldiers who have died in uniform since 9/11 are honored with a traveling boot memorial by Operation Hero. (Photos courtesy Antoinette Stapley.)
Cody Nixon drives against Bingham during a region game. Nixon signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Southwestern Oregon Community College. (Pat McDonald)
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Riverton athletes compete at the region championship in May. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
A mournful bagpipe solo precedes a moment of silence on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. (Photo courtesy of Jordan School District.)
Top-earning students chose a teacher at which to throw a pie as part of the fundraiser. Pennies for Patients is Saint Andrew Catholic School’s annual fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help families with children who are affected by childhood illness. They usually raise about $2,000 each year. This year’s goal was $2,021. (Photo courtesy of Erin Carrabba.)
January 2022 | Page 11
Riverton sports enjoyed a memorable 2021 By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
2
021 was a banner year in many respects for the Riverton Silverwolves sports teams. A couple state championships, a few region titles and an overall competitive level at the top end of Utah’s largest classification, 6A. The year saw the school win two state championships to bring its tally to nine, and its first in five years. Here we look back at four of the biggest sports stories from the year, in no particular order. Riverton softball The Silverwolves reached the softball summit in June, defeating Bingham 5-4 and 4-3 in the championship series to take home the state championship, its first since 2016. “It was like an indescribable feeling,” Chloe Borges told the Riverton Journal in June. “It was crazy just to be in that moment. I felt like you were on cloud nine.” Borges was one of four seniors on Riverton’s 2021 softball team, now preparing to ply her trade at the University of Hawaii this coming spring. The star pitcher and centerfielder was one member of a deep and talented Silverwolves team who were dominant to say the least. Riverton finished the season 24-1, only losing to 5A champions Spanish Fork in extra innings 5-3. Of its 25 games, only five were decided by scores closer than eight runs. The Silverwolves outscored their opponents 273-36 on the year hitting 48 home runs and pitching 14 shutouts (which included five in a row). But for head coach Katelyn Elliot, perhaps the impressive aspect of the team was its mindset. Elliot continually highlighted the team’s mental strength throughout the season, noting the girls’ ability to focus on the process. “They come in with a mentality that they want to get better every single day,” she told the Journal in June. “With that mentality, it’s a coach’s dream.” With only four seniors on the 2021 team and star Kaysen Korth returning, the Silverwolves are in a solid position to contend again. Riverton baseball While the baseball team didn’t hit the same heights as the softball team, it sure enjoyed a successful spring. The Silverwolves earned the No. 5 seed for the state playoffs after finishing 20-9 (12-3 in region). They also tied for the region championship with Jordan, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the playoffs, Riverton defeated Taylorsville (twice) and Layton before losing a tight one to eventual state champion American Fork 4-3. Then, in the double elimination tournament, lost to Bingham 12-10. A Miners team it went 2-1 against in the regular season. Behind its deep pitching staff (four pitchers reached at least 24 innings) and excellent defense (boasting an almost .950 fielding percentage and only 104 runs allowed all season), the Silverwolves were able to make a deep run in the playoffs. If you throw in the essentially canceled 2020 season and the 2021 version only having three seniors, they basically traversed the year with an entirely new team. It bodes well for a future that sees most of its team returning for 2022. Riverton soccer While the boys team got head coach Paul Mozier a state title in 2014, a championship on the girls side (let alone a semifinals or finals appearance) had eluded him. Until 2021. Mozier’s heavily experienced team with 15 seniors were able to break that duck this past year with a memorable 19-1 season, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Skyridge at Rio Tinto to win the 6A state championship. The program’s first in its
Page 12 | January 2022
Belle Christensen scored the eventual game-winning goal in the state championship against Skyridge at Rio Tinto. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
Cooper Hansen was one of the underclassmen to step up for the Silverwolves in 2021. (Photo by Pat McDonald)
The Riverton football team celebrates a touchdown in its first-round win over Cyprus. It also celebrated a region championship this year. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
history. The Silverwolves went 5-1 in preseason defeating Jordan, Alta and Orem by multiple goals. They also won a tight shootout victory over Olympus, before falling to Corner Canyon 2-0 in its final nonregion game. Region saw them go undefeated with only a shootout victory over Bingham and a double overtime win over Mountain Ridge truly threaten to blemish their region record. The team, led by player of the year Belle Christensen’s 26 goals and 12 assists on offense and the athleticism of goalkeeper Dylan Huff on defense, then stormed through the first two rounds of the playoffs beating Fremont 4-1 and then Mountain Ridge 3-0 in the quarterfinals. If not for a Taylor O’Farrell goal in the closing minutes of the semifinal against Layton to send it to overtime, the fairytale season could have been lost. But the goal galvanized the Silverwolves, with Erin Naylor then scoring in the first overtime sending her and her teammates to the state championship game. In the finals, Riverton met Skyridge, a Falcons team it defeated in overtime during preseason 2-1. After important first-half goals from Mariana Regla and Christensen to put them up 2-0, the Silverwolves spent much of the second half defending with key interventions from Huff and the backline. While Skyridge did pull one back, it wasn’t
Chloe Borges, named Ms. Softball by the Deseret News, was instrumental in Riverton’s magical 24-1 season. (Photo by Pat McDonald)
enough as Whitney Garn side-footed a vital insurance goal with three minutes to go to secure the state championship. Riverton football Participating in a region with Bingham over the past decade has meant region championships were hard to come by. But maybe not anymore. With its 28-17 victory over its region rival on senior night, Riverton clinched a share of the region championship for the second year in a row. This year saw them take the tiebreaker over Bingham by virtue of its head-to-head win. The Silverwolves finished the year 8-4 (4-1 in region) with its four losses coming by a combined 15 points. The playoffs saw them crush Cyprus in the first round 63-6 before a narrow loss to American Fork 20-13 in the second round. l
Riverton City Journal
JANUARY 2022
RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Top 10 Impacts of 2021 By Mayor Trent Staggs
2021 was another great year for Riverton City! The success we have seen is a result of city employees working tirelessly to execute on the strategic priorities laid out by our residents, through their elected officials. Here are a few highlights from 2021:
New
1
New City Streets To help alleviate traffic congestion and provide for greater connectivity, given unprecedented growth in the southwest quadrant of Salt Lake County, Riverton’s Public Works Department completed Old Liberty Way and Majestic Rise Parkway, west of Bangerter Highway in between 12600 S and 13400 S.
2 Record Sales Tax Revenue Riverton continues to grow its sales tax base with more retail stores having another record-breaking year of $9.8 million in sales tax revenue - an 18.6 % increase year over year. This economic
development helps us keep taxes and utility fees low for our residents.
3 Local First Riverton Riverton City launched the Local First Riverton marketing and public education campaign to help support businesses. The campaign incentivized nearly $630,000 in local spending, and, according to a citizen survey, 64% of residents say they consider supporting businesses in Riverton more often as a result.
4 Legislative Infrastructure Funding During the 2021 Utah Legislative Session, our local legislators were able to pass H.B. 244, which will provide Riverton $700,000 every year for fifteen years. These funds can be used on roadway infrastructure projects that will help mitigate congestion and improve transportation safety. In addition, Riverton saw $75 million and a prioritization for the construction of a freeway style interchange at Bangerter Highway and 13400 S.
5 Citizen’s Police Academy The Riverton Police Department
RIVERTON REVIEW | JANUARY 2022
held its very first, of what will be an annual, Citizen’s Police Academy. This six-week academy included educational workshops on various topics centered around community policing, daily operations, school resource officers, and live-action scenarios to include firearms trainings.
6 Costco Wholesale Construction Begins Following an announcement in 2020, this construction on Costco’s newest store officially began in the spring. Located on the northeast corner of 13200 S and Mountain View Corridor, this 160,000 square foot warehouse and gas station is scheduled to be opened in the spring of 2022.
7 Online Business Licensing In a continuing effort to make Riverton a great place to do business, Riverton City has transitioned to a fully online business license process, making it easier for businesses to become and remain licensed. This follows the city’s move in 2018 to eliminate application and renewal fees for standard businesses.
8 East Riverton Improvements While many large-scale projects are taking place near Riverton’s western district, our east side had its own projects to be excited about. We saw the completion of the 1300 W “S-Curve” roadway project, added sidewalk along major sections of 1300 W, as well as the creation of the Page-Hansen Park located just north of Jim’s Family Restaurant on Redwood Road.
9 Bangerter / 12600 S Interchange Progress UDOT is making great progress on the construction of a freeway style interchange along Bangerter Highway and 12600 S. Expected completion is scheduled for spring.
10 Lowest Utility Fees in the Region This year, extensive reorganization efforts were made to cut budgetary expenditures, pay off debts and innovate the way we pay for services. Through this hard work, Riverton City remains a great place to live work and play as residents experience the lowest utility fees in the region.
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COUNCIL MESSAGE
City Strategic Priorities to be Reviewed By Councilmember Sheldon Stewart
MAYOR Trent Staggs tstaggs@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129
CITY COUNCIL Sheldon Stewart - District 1 sstewart@rivertonutah.gov 801-953-5672 Troy McDougal - District 2 tmcdougal@rivertonutah.gov 801-931-9933 Tawnee McCay - District 3 tmccay@rivertonutah.gov 801-634-7692 Tish Buroker - District 4 tburoker@rivertonutah.gov 801-673-6103 Claude Wells - District 5 cwells@rivertonutah.gov 801-875-0116
CITY MANAGER David R. Brickey citymanager@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129
CITY OFFICES City Hall ................................801-254-0704 Administration ......................801-208-3129 Animal Control......................801-208-3108 Cemetery ..............................801-208-3128 Code Enforcement ................801-208-3108 Development Services ..........801-208-3138 Fire (UFA) ..............................801-743-7200 Justice Court .........................801-208-3131 Recreation & Events .............801-208-3101 Police ....................................385-281-2455 Public Works .........................801-208-3162 Recorder ...............................801-208-3128 Utility Billing .........................801-208-3133 Water....................................801-208-3164
FIND US ONLINE! @rivertonutahgov www.rivertonutah.gov PAGE 2
In 2017, the Mayor and City Council established our city’s first vision and mission statement along with our first published set of strategic priorities. Each year in January, the Mayor and City Council along with members of the city staff spend a full day dedicated to re-evaluating each of the strategic priorities and updating them needed. As we enter 2022, we will review the current vision and mission of the city which are: Vision Statement While preserving our past, citizens, families, businesses and leaders unite in building a community where we can live, work and play. Mission Statement Riverton City provides essential services that enhance the quality of life and sense of community for all citizens. We foster kind, open and responsive interactions, generating positive citizen involvement and innovative solutions. Leaders, citizens and employees hold each other accountable to meet the needs of the community. These statements have driven Riverton’s future. As a city, we have
strengthened our community with our strategic priorities and are a leader in areas of innovation, and foresight. As a business leader, I have seen massive growth in my business similar to what we are seeing in Riverton, with the 40+ years in Riverton I have watched our city transition from small to large. As a leader, I have seen two things that have helped me direct and manage expectations: 1. Strategic Priorities 2. Service Level Agreements or SLAs As a city, we have developed strategic priorities that help provide the guidance to those that work within and serve our community. Those strategic priorities are as follows: 1. Foster safe and healthy neighborhoods that provide a strong sense of community and balanced opportunities to live work and play. 2. Promote a thriving business climate that supports the needs of Riverton residents. 3. Create a revitalized, pedestrian-friendly downtown destination. 4. Establish vibrant parks, recreational opportunities, and events that build bridges within the community. 5. Create a well-connected
community with properly maintained utilities and infrastructure. 6. Actively engage and inform residents. 7. Establish operational excellence. 8. Promote fiscally responsible governance. The city has made a lot of progress in accomplishing these priorities, but there is still more to do. These priorities have given the direction needed to help us through many things and each member of the city staff sees how their job affects these priorities. The second point is service level agreements or more commonly known as SLAs. In my business, this is a predefined agreement established at the highest levels primarily to manage expectations between multiple parties and usually tied to communication, systems, or functionality. I introduced this concept several years ago and I’m excited to finally see it come fruition. With the Mayor and City Council supporting the development of these agreements, this past November our city manager and staff presented the first set of defined SLAs. I am proud of the work that has been done in this area, which strengthens our vision and mission, and the strategic priorities we have established. We now have a process that sets appropriate expectations and creates accountability to the SLAs.
Upcoming City Meetings CITY COUNCIL • Tuesday, January 4 & 18 at 7 p.m. PLANNING COMMISSION • Thursday, January 13 & 27, 6:30 p.m.
RIVERTON REVIEW | JANUARY 2022
PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE
A Mission Driven Legacy By Chief Wade Watkins
Honoring the Past As a firefighter for the past 20-years, I have been able to serve with amazing people. Many of these people are from Riverton, as this is where I was fortunate enough to start my career. Being able to interact and learn from this mission driven emergency responder community has been amazing on a personal and professional level. In my early career, I worked with volunteers / part-time firefighters that supported the full-time crews. These firefighters brought incredible dedication and an attitude of service to the community. As Riverton was their community and as firefighters, they viewed this as their “first in area.” First in encompasses the idea tjat this is our home turf/responsibility. Firefighters pride themselves with knowing the ins-and-outs of their first in and
they take ownership to ensure the community is served to the best of their abilities. Responding in the Present The legacy of being mission driven as a first responder isn’t a new concept. As community members have always been there for each other in times of need. Even more so when the community experiences extreme challenges during emergency situations. The evolution of what that looks like has evolved and is presently evolving. The firefighter community honors the past, responds in the present and plans for the future to ensure the community is effectively served. As the mission of the of Unified Fire Authority; Riverton’s local fire department is “to save lives, protect property, and strengthen community relationships with professionalism, courage, and dedication.” Planning for the Future The priority of saving life and protecting property leads decisions at the strategic level. Related to
fire station locations, selecting response equipment and staffing. When seconds matter and parts of seconds change the outcomes of community members. Everything to reduce the emergency response time is analyzed. The mission becomes very clear as the saving of life prioritizes decisions and supports the considerations of our community leaders and fire department members.
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Examples of using the “Mission” to drive decisions are strategically placing fire stations and response resources, designing fire stations to support turnout times, improving dispatching software and refining processes to support response. Constantly assessing data to ensure the system is working as efficient as possible while maintaining financial sustainability.
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Through exercising mission driven decision making on every emergency incident and decision impacting service. The legacy of all that have contributed to keeping the community safe are honored.
Winter Parking Policy and Snow Removal Protocol The following snow removal protocol and winter parking policy is in effect in Riverton:
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Get the latest city updates, e-newsletters, event information and other news delivered right to your inbox.
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Get emergency alerts and notifications on important city updates on your cell phone 3-4 times per month.
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Report a problem, see the city calendar, get directions to parks and city facilities, and find city information right from your mobile device.
• Between November 1 and March 1, no vehicle may be parked on city streets during a snow storm OR where snow has accumulated on road shoulders. • Major roadways, high-traffic areas and school zones are prioritized in snow removal efforts as a matter of public safety. • Minor roads and cul-de-sacs are cleared if 4 inches of snow or more has accumulated once main roadways are clear.
For additional details, visit rivertonutah.gov/snow RIVERTON REVIEW | JANUARY 2022
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PAGE 3
UPCOMING EVENTS
RIVERTON REVIEW
Christmas Tree Drop-Off
Utah Artists Exhibition
Not Your Parent’s Art Show
Register: Just You & I Daddy-Daughter Date
Riverton Hope Walk
Riverton City offers free drop-off locations for live Christmas trees: Centennial Park, Monarch Meadows Park, and Riverton Rodeo Arena.
Come see the beautiful work of artists David “Oz” Osterczy, Brian Baity and Gunter Radinger at the Utah Artists Exhibition at the Old Dome Meeting Hall.
Young artists and creators under 18 are invited to submit entries in the Not Your Parent’s Art Show. Find details at rivetonutah.gov/exhibits.
This daddy-daughter date night near Valentine’s Day is a hit and sells out early! Suitable for girls ages 3-12. Register today at rivertonutah.gov/recreation.
Join Riverton City and Riverton High School as we walk in solidarity with those impacted by suicide and for suicide prevention awareness.
• Drop-Off Anytime: Through January 31
• Open January 10 to February 15
• Artwork Entry Period: February 1-15
• Friday, February 11, 6 p.m., San- • Saturday, February 5, 9 a.m. Riverton High School dra N. Lloyd Community Center
2022 Recreation and Events Calendar Has Arrived!
Register Now for The Riverton Half Marathon and 4Life® 5K! Come participate in one of the valley’s best half marathon and 5K races. The race is designed for all ages and abilities. Come to win or come for fun, either way it’s a great way to get out and get healthy!
The new 2022 Riverton Calendar will keep you in the know on events and happenings this year. You should have received it in your mailbox already. If you haven’t received one you can pick one up for free at the Recreation & Events window at Riverton City Hall.
Saturday, March 26, 2022 Registration and more information can be found at rivertonutah.gov/half.
Riverton Business Peak Awards
Nominations Wanted Featuring Craig Scott Monday, January 31, 7 p.m. Riverton High School Auditorium 12476 S Silverwolf Way Riverton, Utah 84065 Join Riverton City and Jordan School District for an evening of motivation and inspiration featuring Craig Scott, a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting. All are welcome!
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Riverton City and the South Valley Chamber are seeking nominations for • Business of the Year • Business Woman of the Year • Business Man of the Year Submit a nomination at rivertonutah.gov/awards. Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, January 18
RIVERTON REVIEW | JANUARY 2022
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Buroker returning as District 4 councilmember By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
T
he Riverton City Council will look quite familiar in 2022. Tish Buroker, councilmember for District 4, the northeastern portion of the city, is one of three returning elected officials this year after she, Councilmember Tawnee McCay and Mayor Trent Staggs all ran unopposed in the 2021 election. For Buroker, it means entering her second term having initially won in 2017 garnering 53% of the vote. Running unopposed made for a different kind of campaign. “This campaign was so much easier than the first time,” Buroker told the Riverton Journal. “I had many people ask me if I needed donations (which I didn’t) which did not happen the first time because no one knew me. The first time you run you really need to be all in financially and emotionally.” She added it also helped writing articles for the city’s newsletter (found in the Journal) that allowed for residents to get to know her better. “Many people stop and talk to me regarding the articles,” she said. “And I now know many more residents than I did the first time.” Many of those residents turned out to vote for Buroker as well. In a race where she ran with no opponent, simply one vote would
Page 18 | January 2022
Left: Tish Buroker enters her second term in 2022 as councilmember for District 4. (Photo courtesy Riverton City) Right:Riverton City Hall will have a familiar look in the council chambers. (File photo City Journals)
have won her the council seat. But almost 25% of registered voters still cast ballots. “I was so pleased,” Buroker said of the voter turnout, noting one reason is due to the large number of seniors, “and historically seniors consistently vote.” “However, I also believe it demonstrates strong support for the agenda I have championed,” she added. “If people have neutral feelings they are less inclined to actively en-
gage in the voting process.” The lack of candidates wasn’t limited to just Riverton. Taylorsville saw three incumbents of their four races run unopposed. South Jordan and Holladay both went two for three. Buroker felt there could be a couple reasons. “I believe that with such strong political emotions at the national level they have
made residents more reluctant than ever to become actively involved,” she said. “And COVID has certainly impacted involvement in so many events from group exercise classes, church attendance, school attendance etc. Running for office has also been negatively impacted.” Buroker even wrote about civic participation in the city’s November newsletter, encouraging all residents to still vote. Buroker wrote, quoting Thomas Jefferson who said, “We in America do not have government by the majority—we have government by the majority who participate.” She took that one step beyond voting, asking residents to contact their councilmembers to “let them know of your most pressing concerns or to share ideas for the coming four years.” Each January, elected officials and city staff sit down for a strategic planning meeting (this year takes place on Jan. 22). Buroker solicited feedback from residents on some topics to be discussed in that meeting such as: maintenance or expansion of parks and trails, quality of the roads, the storm water system, or the city’s IT connectivity. “These issues and more will continue to engage and challenge your elected officials and city employees,” she wrote. l
Riverton City Journal
RivertonJournal.com
January 2022 | Page 19
Local schools review social media policies, fundraising activities for inclusivity
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his winter, many schools have been participating in fundraising opportunities to give back to their schools and their community. Summit Academy High School in Bluffdale has held its Bears Give Back, an annual fundraiser, since the school opened in 2010. Throughout the year students perform several service projects such as giving winter wear to those in need, providing snacks to health care workers and supporting Be the Match, encouraging people to register to donate bone marrow or blood stem cells. They also select a non-profit organization to support every winter. This year, the student body of 525 students were supporting the Leukemia Research Foundation, selected in part because a former athletic director is going through cancer treatments, said Principal Angela Grimmer. She said that $8,000 had already been raised by Dec. 2, a month after the fundraising began. They planned to wrap it up before winter break and give the funds to the foundation in January. This year, there have been questions that have arisen in regards to social media, starting with a post that was up for a couple hours before a teacher notified the principal and it was immediately taken down, said Summit Academy Executive Director Michael Clark. Posted on the school’s Instagram account was a cartoon depiction of a Black male behind bars, indicating students could pay $5 to put a classmate in “jail” and $7 to get the classmate out. “Jail” was a portion of the school cafeteria that was behind streamers portraying bars; participation was optional, Clark said. The money raised was put toward the fundraiser. “Everyone at Summit Academy High School is welcome and we want everyone to feel welcome; It’s really unfortunate and really sad that it happened. We love all of our students and all of our community, and we would never want to alienate or make anyone feel bad. We truly believe in educating all students, no matter what your background is, no matter who you are,” Clark said. The marketing campaign process has been reviewed and revised, Clark said. It began with an opportunity to have a digital marketing and media student apply his learning to a real-life fundraising event. Clark said the student quickly searched “cartoon jail image,” and used one of the first images that popped up to complete the assignment for the post about the school lunch fundraiser. A teacher — “he didn’t consider the implications of it” — signed off on it before being posted, Clark said. That lesson also became more “real life” with social implications. “The teacher took that opportunity to really drill that into the class and help them to understand that when we create an advertisement, we need to look at it with a critical eye from all different perspectives and lenses to make sure we’re not hurting or alienating anyone,” he said. Clark said there have been discussions with students, some who were unaware of the controversy since the post was put up and taken down during a school day. “We just tried to help them to understand sometimes things like this happen and people are hurt, and we need to apologize and fix it, so it doesn’t happen again. It was a good learning experience for them,” he said. Grimmer said that in the future, students will have that same experience that not only allows them to create social media posts, but also the fliers and videos for the school’s weekly announcements. “We’re going to allow our students to keep doing that and
Page 20 | January 2022
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Summit Academy High School reviewed its social media policy after a winter fundraising post. (Photo courtesy of Summit Academy High School Facebook)
create that,” she said. “The approval to actually be posted will come through me.” The same rules regarding only principals posting on social media apply to all the Summit Academy campuses, Clark said. In addition to the “jail,” students had other ways to contribute to the leukemia foundation, such as purchasing a muffin on Mondays, admission to a school dance, or students performing odd jobs in the community for donations to their fundraiser Although the student-driven idea was adapted from neighboring high schools and has been “pretty successful as they’ve been able to donate lots of money to different foundations and charities across Utah and across the country,” the “jail” idea won’t continue in the future, Clark said. “We just discontinued it; sometimes these things, the political environment changes in the country, and so then these kinds of ideas kind of fade out,” he said. “We’re going to let the students come together and try to think of something else that’s creative and different.” Administrators say they’re looking to expand their online teacher training. “I’ve also reached out to Utah Black Roundtable to see if they would come on campus with us and help us with some of these discussions,” Grimmer said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to make some connections there and understand moving forward, how best we can be educational and be sensitive.” Grimmer also said that she has had discussions with students about concerns and they’re wanting to organize a group to meet on the subject going forward. “The one thing that is so fantastic about our students, and I think this comes from being a smaller school too, is they feel like they have the ability to really self-advocate and when they do things, they do not hesitate to come in and chat and start a group. We run so many diverse clubs to involve all of our students, so it’s always great to see student response,” she said. “This is really a good opportunity for us to learn and to reengage some efforts in new areas.” Grimmer said that as more people and schools have learned about the post, there hasn’t been any negative response or schools wanting to disassociate with them. Two area schools, Hillcrest High in Midvale and Ameri-
can Preparatory Academy in Draper, who both plan to proceed with their basketball games against Summit Academy, are also reviewing their fundraising methods and social media policies. Hillcrest Principal Greg Leavitt said that while there are several ways students contribute to their fundraising of choice — this year the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — one of the popular ways is to bid on a date with a student body officer. “Our biggest one is pay for a date and actually, we shut that down this year,” he said. “There’s just too many students who are not comfortable with that old-fashioned type of idea and we have a lot of minority students…and people who aren’t into that, so I told them they needed to think of another way. They could pay to go on a group activity with Hillcrest High School SBOs– and they’ve always done the date thing as a group anyway, but it’s just the way they say it makes it awkward for some students.” It also takes away a popularity element, he said. “It’s always surrounded with this kid will pay this much money for this student and they’ll only pay $10 for me. It just makes people feel awkward,” he said. Leavitt said that the most active school social media account is the student body account, where student leaders will discuss with their adviser about what their message will say and look like before posting it. Early in the school year, they also had discussions ensuring that the posts are sensitive to the student body. At American Preparatory Academy in Draper, communications director Dan Bazan said controls over their social media accounts are limited to himself and a select few others at each of the campuses. He was aware of the Summit Academy post. “A lot of times when we see things like this happen in the culture, our goal is to help our students understand what’s going on, and using what we’ve already taught them,” he said. “Our goal is for them to already know that all students, all humans, have value. Everyone has value and so we have to respect it. The whole purpose of a classical education – is the flourishing of human rights and it’s to understand the differences.” l
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Silverwolves off to hot start Photos by Travis Barton
The Silverwolves swarming and tenacious defense has been key to its early season success with the team getting multiple steals every game. In their game against Granger Dec. 7, they held the Lancers to only three points in the second half.
Belle Christensen (20) looks to grab another steal against Pleasant Grove. The Silverwolves started the season 7-0 (at press deadline).
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January 2022 | Page 23
Amanda Brown revels in the snow with her son, 8-year-old Eli. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Brown.)
Sequoia loves winter and playing in the snow. (Photo courtesy of Bree Mooers)
Find joy in winter by embracing outdoor activities By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com
I
n just a few weeks, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, will emerge to predict when winter will end. For many people who hate the cold days, grey skies, and treacherous icy roads, they hope Phil does not see his shadow and predicts an early spring. When Herriman residents were polled about how they feel about winter, 25% replied that they absolutely hate winter and are already counting down the days until spring. The cold and darkness are some of the factors why winter months trigger the onset of seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a type of depression that is related to a change in seasons. Herriman’s Celeste Barrow Bruening said, “About mid-October I start to notice a drastic change in my attitude and outlook on life. I get an overwhelming feeling of dread just thinking about the cold. I hate everything about it. Not necessarily the snow, just the cold. The short dark days are a struggle and the grey, cloudy atmosphere is depressing.” According to Mental Health America, Bruening is not alone as SAD affects over 10 million Americans a year. If you experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, please consult a mental health provider. With the milder Utah winters in recent years, even winter haters admit that the snow is necessary for summer water levels. Herriman’s Katie Jo Stratton said,
Page 24 | January 2022
“I don’t love the snow like I did when I skied. But I want it to snow like it did in the ‘90s so we can have all the water we need in the lakes to play!” Although most Utahns recognize snow is necessary for our desert state, the darkness, the cold, and the dangerous driving conditions incite a teeth-chattering, snow-shoveling, white-knuckle-driving tolerance of the season. However, many Utahns absolutely love winter and all of the beauty and outdoor recreation it brings. The Brown family from South Jordan look forward to winter every year as they are avid skiers. Amanda Brown even works at Park City Mountain Resort every season for the sole purpose of providing ski lessons for her four children who range in age from six to 12. Brown said, “Winter can be long and dreary if you allow it to be. We wanted to instill a love of the season in our children at an early age by enrolling them in ski lessons since they were very young. Now we look forward to it every year as we can get outside as a family and enjoy something active together.” Kaysville’s Margot Marrs Pauni said, “I absolutely hated winter and counted the days until it was over, and then I learned to ski. It made a huge difference in my attitude and mental well-being. Now I look forward to winter.” Pauni has been skiing for over 3 years. If gliding downhill at 20+ mph while dodging other people and trees is
not your thing, there are a multitude of other winter activities to try to experience Utah’s famous “Greatest Snow on Earth.”. Exploring our spectacular mountains is extremely popular during the spring, summer and fall, but winter hiking is in a class of its own. A trail that you have hiked many times during other seasons will look completely different when it is covered with snow and provides a new experience. Creeks will have frozen sections with icicles adorning rocky edges. Waterfalls will be partially or completely frozen, giving you a breathtaking and magical view. Trails such as Ogden’s Waterfall Canyon and Layton’s Adam’s Canyon offer awesome winter adventures with picture perfect vistas that Jack Frost will be proud of. Herriman’s Rachel Dekker Moody said, “There is something magical about going for a ‘snow globe’ run early in the morning and hearing the crunch of snow under your feet and knowing you are the first footprints out for the day!” Though cycling is typically a warm weather sport, winter riding has become popular since fat bikes emerged on the market. While standard mountain bikes have tire widths anywhere between 1.6” and 2.6”, a fat bike’s tires are 3.7” to 5”, allowing the rider to cruise through on snow-packed trails with greater traction and better handling. Various local bike dealers rent fat bikes so you can give it a try. Visit www.cyclingutah.com for sug-
gestions on the best fat biking trails. Sledding or inner tubing is another popular winter activity, and you don’t even have to go up into the mountains to enjoy it. Even a local park or neighborhood with a good slope can serve as a decent sledding hill. Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City and Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake have awesome hills that are free to sled and tube on. Or visit a designated sledding park such as Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway or Woodward in Park City. Avid fishermen don’t need to pack up their poles for the season as ice fishing is popular in Utah. Frozen lakes such as Strawberry Reservoir and even local ponds such as Farmington Pond and Bountiful Pond attract anglers of all ages once the ice is thick enough. The website Best Fishing in America said, “The season typically starts in mid to late December in Utah, depending on the weather. There are years when the hard water doesn’t set in until mid-January, while other years, it can happen in late November. A good rule of thumb is that 4 inches is thick enough for an average person, 5-6 inches is suitable for a snowmobile or 4-wheeler, and 8-12 inches will support a truck.” Ice anglers use an ice auger with a 6-8” bit to drill a hole in the ice large enough to pull caught fish through. In addition to the appropriate fishing equipment, other gear such as ice tents and tent
Riverton City Journal
heaters can be used for additional warmth and comfort. The Watkins family from Davis County look forward to ice fishing every winter. Kaysville’s Shaylee Watkins said, “I love ice fishing because it’s fun to sit and snack out in a heated tent on the ice and get nice and comfy and kick your boots off.” North Salt Lake’s Challis Watkins said, “Ice fishing is like fishing but way better.” It is important to be prepared before venturing outside during the winter months. Tolerating the cold is much easier with proper clothing and gear. Dressing in layers is a good practice because you will warm up as your activity level increases and you will be much more comfortable removing or adding layers as needed. REI’s website suggests three basic layers: “1) Base layer (underwear layer): wicks sweat off your skin, 2) Middle layer (insulating layer): retains body heat to protect you from the cold, and 3) Outer layer (shell layer): shields you from wind and rain. Even if you don’t wear all three layers at the outset, it’s a good idea to take all layers on every outing. You can peel off layers if things heat up, but you can’t put on layers that you didn’t bring along.” Other important gear includes warm head and ear coverings such as beanies and ear muffs, scarves, and waterproof gloves. Proper shoes such as waterproof
boots that provide warmth and traction are a necessity. For additional traction, particularly on steep icy terrain, use crampons or microspikes, a mechanism that typically consists of spikes and chains that fit over your shoes and can be easily slipped off and on the trails as needed. Driving during the winter is a big reason why many people hate the season so preparing your vehicle for the cooler months is important. Tips for winterizing your vehicle include testing your battery and tire pressure as battery power and tire pressure drop when the air temperature drops, changing to winter tires, checking wiper blades and replacing if needed, and always keeping at least a half tank of gas. Tips for winter driving include driving slower, increasing your following distance, and accelerating and decelerating slowly. But if it is snowing heavily, the best practice is to stay home if you can and avoid unnecessary risks. Someone once said, “If you choose not to find joy in snow, you will have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow.” With proper gear, clothing, and other preparations to keep you warm along with an adventurous spirit to try something new, perhaps the multitude of winter activities Utah offers can coax your inner Elsa out as you declare, “The cold never bothered me anyway.” l
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Riverton City Journal
Council denies proposed project on ‘unique piece of property’ By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
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he Riverton City Council unanimously denied a development proposal at a mostly vacant lot along 4000 West at 12261 South. If it was approved, the project would have featured 36 units on the six-acre lot. The land is a “unique piece of property,” Jason Lethbridge, development services director, told the council during its November meeting. Its history dates back to 2007 when the council at that time approved the McKenzie Park Estates subdivision. When the recession hit in 2008, the project was put on hold and never moved forward, going through what Lethbridge described as a “convoluted history of foreclosure” that featured multiple owners. Mayor Trent Staggs noted the property, adjacent to Bangerter Highway, came before the council a few times over the intervening years. The land is already subdivided and zoned for third acre lots, a size nearby residents would like to
maintain. Jay Butterfield, who lives across from the area, said they’ve dealt with the land “since the very beginning,” and “weren’t crazy about the third acre lots” to begin with. He said they worried an already congested 4000 West would get worse by squeezing in a high number of units. “Six per acre would be crazy in our opinion,” he said. Other residents spoke at the meeting also worried about the traffic on the road. Those opinions were shared by Councilmember Troy McDougal, whose district represents that area. McDougal said 11800 South will continue to get busier, making 4000 West a thoroughfare for people. “We have a major traffic congestion problem here and that problem is only going to get worse.” He also pointed to safety concerns as well as nearby residents who felt going to third acre lots was already meeting the developer halfway. Lethbridge also explained the
ownership of the area is unique. The subdivision road and detention basin in the northeast corner of the property belonged to the city. An existing home on the southern end was included in the property proposal. Property to the south is a storage facility while to the north is a meetinghouse for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The road does not connect to either property, with the only access point coming on 4000 West. McDougal said when the council looked at the master plan in the spring, he felt they did a good job analyzing how they wanted Riverton to develop and this area meets the third acre plans they have. “I think we need to honor that and the citizens that already bought there,” he said prior to the vote. The proposal was also unanimously denied by the planning commission. Neither the applicant nor a representative was present at the city A map of the area at 12261 South and 4000 West where a higher density of housing council meeting. l was proposed. (Courtesy Riverton City)
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Mountain Ridge boys, girls basketball start season off strong
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By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
igh school basketball in the state of Utah got underway last month, and both the Mountain Ridge boys and girls teams got off to a hot start. The boys team, coached by Scott Briggs, won its first four games by a combined score of 266-154. They are led by a strong senior class of six players, something the team has never had before.
“The very first year we had one senior. Last year we had two. This year we have six. We feel like this is the first year we really have a senior class,” Briggs said. Even better, those six seniors all have accrued more experience than most seniors, as they were asked to play major varsity minutes as underclassmen. “I don’t know if they were ready to
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Page 28 | January 2022
Senior guard Merrick Sherwood goes up for a layup during the Sentinels’ home opener. (Justin Adams/ City Journals)
Riverton City Journal
Freshman guard Addy Horsley dribbles past a Cottonwood defender. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
one normally sees later in the year for region rivalry games or playoff action. “It’s fantastic for us,” Briggs said about the fan support. “When they’re making noise, it changes the atmosphere of the game. It does things to the opponent, it gives us a little more energy. Guys feed off of it. So yeah, I’m trying to convince some of those guys to bring even more of their friends.” The Mountain Ridge girls basketball team is also off to a hot start (winning their first five games), but unlike their male counterparts, they’re winning without the advantage of a big senior class. “We are very young, for sure. We have one senior year this year,” said head coach Kenzie Newton, who has been coaching the team since the school opened. That senior is Meg Cummings, who was elected one of the two team captains. “She’s a great leader and brings a lot of energy to the team,” Newton said. “The younger kids are really feeding off of that.” The other team captain is junior Brynnlee Murdoch, who led the team in scoring last year. One addition to this year’s team is freshman Addy Horsley who has already made an immediate impact, as she leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game, and is second in scoring at 9 points per game. Horsley told the Herriman Journal she initially felt a little intimidated being asked to play such an important role on the var-
sity team as a freshman, but it’s helped to know that her teammates have her back. One thing that stands out about the team is their aggressive style of defense. They utilize a full-court press on every possession, a decision which stems from the fact that the team is often under-sized compared to opponents. “We’re not a very tall team, so we have to be scrappy,” Newton said. “We have players that like to get after it. Good defense creates easier offense. A lot of our baskets come off of steals so that’s definitely something we try to do.” “Even though we don’t have the height, we’re always hustling and going after the ball. We put everything we have into each game,” Horsley added. That formula seems to be working, as the team’s five wins so far this season (as of the Herriman Journal’s press deadline) is already more than its first two years combined. It’s a sign that Newton is continuing to build the kind of program she envisioned when she took the job two years ago. “They get four years at the high school level and we just want them to enjoy every minute and have fun with basketball, make lifelong friendships and leave here knowing it was an awesome experience. Building that kind of culture is definitely one of our goals.” l
play, but because of our dynamics, they were thrown into the mix. Hopefully that veteran experience will help us down the road,” Briggs said. The team is led by captains Jake Fitton, Brantyn Van Dyke and Merrick Sherwood, all of whom are part of that senior class. From a purely statistical point of view, however, Briggs expects any of his players to be able to lead the team on any given night. “We feel like we have good depth and that any given night, we have guys across the board who can really contribute offensively, guys who can put the ball in the hole,” he said. After being moved up a classification during the summer, the team is now competing in 6A Region 3, which includes neighboring schools like Herriman, Riverton and Bingham. The prospect of playing schools where they know kids on the opposing team is exciting, said Briggs, who coached for years at West Jordan (one of the other Region 3 teams). “The fact that we’re competing against other schools from this same little community, there’s no question that there’s a little more enthusiasm and interest in what’s going on,” he said. That certainly appeared to be the case during the team’s home opener on Dec.1, a 62-46 win over Hillcrest. It was an early season game, but the Sentinels were backed up by a raucous student section that
RivertonJournal.com
January 2022 | Page 29
JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT - Public Notices
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SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD FIND Every child is entitled to a public education regardless of disability. Children with disabilities may go without services because families are not fully aware of their options. If you know of a child, birth to age 22, who is not receiving any education services or feel that your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your local school or call the Special Education Department in Jordan School District at (801) 567-8176. SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS DESTRUCTION On January 31, 2022, Jordan School District will destroy special education records of students born prior to September, 1994. Former special education students who are 27 years old may request their records from the school last attended; otherwise, the records will be destroyed. CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program. Further information is available at http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/Scholarships.aspx
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Page 30 | January 2022
Riverton City Journal
Home Makeover: COVID edition One morning I woke up and I’d had enough. The pandemic had forced us to look at our walls and carpet 24/7 and every day the chips in the paint got bigger and the stains on the carpet got wider. Was that blood or pudding? I couldn’t tell anymore. It was time to take action. My husband tends to overthink in a death-spiral sort of way, so our conversation went from “What kind of paint/flooring should we get?” to “What if we spend two weeks with our dog in a tent in a blizzard?” I let him ruminate for a while before moving to the next phase. We talked about painting the rooms ourselves and laughed hysterically for a couple of hours. We are not the DIY kind of people. We once assembled a bookshelf together so I knew we needed to hire a professional; either a professional painter or a professional divorce attorney. We reached out to our friend, Rick Hepner, who was delighted to paint our home, plus he got to enjoy our 4-year-old granddaughter following him around asking him what he was doing, why he was doing it, how long he’d be doing it and if he wanted to play Barbies. While preparing the walls, Rick discovered ecosystems behind our furniture where sentient beings lived in and breathed only dust. He waded through chest-deep dust like we were living in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl era, or
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
RIVERTON
PROFESSIONALS DECKS & HANDRAILS
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RivertonJournal.com
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maybe the sequel to Dune. Once the dust was hauled away and the walls were beautifully painted, we turned our attention to the floors. Our carpet crossed the prairie in the back of a handcart, survived nuclear testing in Southern Utah and was definitely sprouting tentacles. Time to toss it before it murdered us in our sleep. Then came the discussion of wood versus carpet. My husband is old school and likes soft carpeting, probably so he doesn’t break a hip if he falls. I like the clean line of wood. We compromised with me getting wood flooring in my office, and carpet everywhere else; except the bathroom. We’re not animals. When it came time to move furniture out of the house, I threw things away willy-nilly.
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CONCRETE
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visit www.KineticoUtah.com or call 801-890-5344
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I took bags of clothes and shoes and children to Goodwill. My husband followed behind me, taking things out of donation bags and hiding them. He has sentimental attachments to items like water bottles and lanyards and the blouse I wore when we saw the Blue Man Group in 2008. Finally, the walls were painted, flooring was complete, furniture was moved back and everything was right with the world. But our dog was hyperventilating. Before renovation (BR), she’d nap under the guest bed, which is now in another home. She wandered the halls, forlorn and lost, carrying her bone from room to room, trying to navigate her apocalyptic new world. Not only that, but the wood floor distressed her and she refused to walk on it. She slept on the couch until midnight. Then I heard her toenails clicking as she walked across the floor and threw herself onto her bed, sighing loudly, so we’d know she’d been inconvenienced. For a while, we played The Floor is Lava to keep the carpet looking bright and new. But walls get scratched and carpet gets stained because life is a messy, dirty, grimy experiment where sometimes you don’t know if the stain on the carpet is blood or pudding, and your dog needs therapy, and your husband unpacks the donation bags. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Metal Man Roofing LONGEVITY, DURABILITY SAFETY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, LIFE-TIME WARRANTY Call Today for a Free Estimate!
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ROOFING
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All types of roofs
$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.
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Randy’s Tire and Muffler
Complete Auto Repair & Service Manager Owned and Operated Serving Bluffdale/South Valley for 3 Generations 14250 S Redwood Rd 801.254.9971
RandysTireAndMuffler.com FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
OLYMPUS ROOFING
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METAL EXTERIORS
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www.aspen-roofing.com
SIDING
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OIL PAINTING CLASSES Take Home a Finished Painting! 3 to 4 Hour Classes All Supplies Included
Beginners Welcome!
® 801-635-5692 peggyllew2@hotmail.com Call for Class Times and Locations
PATIO COVERS & HANDRAILS ENJOY THE OUTSIDE THIS SUMMER
• Steel Covered Carports, Patios & Porches • Steel Handrails • Quality Decks
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Quality and Integrity for over 25 Years
YARD SERVICES
Affordable Yard Care / Tree Trimming & Removal Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts
Call Dan:
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January 2022 | Page 31