August 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 08
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ALTA’S FIRST AND ONLY SOCCER
COACH RETIRES AFTER 35 YEARS, 16 TITLES
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“My first introduction to soccer was when I was 12 years old,” Mitchell said. “Some men in my (LDS) ward played in an adult league. They took me out and beat the crap out of me and I loved it.” He continued to play on club teams and whenever he could find a game. He found a job as a teacher at Indian Hills Middle School after graduating from the University of Utah. A few years later, in 1983, boys soccer finally became a sport at the high school level. Mitchell applied for the coaching position and got the job. When the girls program was added in 1989, Mitchell took the reins of that program as well. In the end he would have a perfect set: eight state championships on the boys side combined with eight titles with the girls in the fall. Not bad for a man who had never coached prior to taking over the high school program. “We figured it out as we went,” Mitchell said. “I had a learning curve I had to go through. The first few years were rough.” But figure it out he did. And along the way he developed a coaching style many other programs would try to emulate. “He built our soccer program from ground zero to what it is today,” Alta Athletic Director Morgan Brown said. “It has been incredible to watch it grow. One of the things that makes Mitchell special is he does all the little things you hear coaches should do.” Mitchell’s approach seemed very basic. He built his teams on
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By Ron Bevan | r.bevan@mycityjournals.com he roar of the crowd could be heard that Thursday night in May at Rio Tinto Stadium. It echoed in the ears of Alta soccer coach Lee Mitchell. He had led his boys team to another state title. The sounds, the feelings were not new to Mitchell. He had heard them before. But for him they rang differently. Although many wondered, only he and a few close associates knew at the time it would be his last game at the helm of the Hawks. One week later, Mitchell announced at the team’s final dinner that he was retiring as the coach of Alta. “I had made the decision earlier in the season that this would be my last,” Mitchell said. “But I didn’t tell the boys until after the championship game. I wanted the season to be about them, not me.” When Mitchell announced his retirement, it closed a storied career at Alta, something few coaches nowadays can even comprehend. Mitchell is the only coach to ever helm an Alta soccer team, both boys and girls. “Mitchell is a pioneer in the sport of soccer,” Utah High School Athletic Association Executive Director Rob Cuff said. “He is a great ambassador to high school sports. His impact and influence on soccer in Utah will never be forgotten.” Mitchell grew up in Utah, at a time when soccer wasn’t played very much except for perhaps an obligatory week in high school PE. But he found a love for the sport as a young lad.
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Hale Center Theatre’s My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale
page 15
Nationally renowned local gymnast soars before hometown crowd
After 35 years at the helm, Lee Mitchell, Alta’s only soccer coach for either boys or girls teams, announced his retirement in May. (Photo by Michelle Porter)
the principles of hard work, cohesiveness, respect and integrity. He wasn’t just building great soccer players, he wanted them to become great persons off the field as well. The hard work began on the very first day of practice. Although most of his charges play soccer year-round and are already in de-
cent condition, he made sure they were always ready for Alta soccer. So they ran, and ran, and ran some more. “He would have us running through the neighborhoods for miles,” said former player Kealia Ohai. “We dreaded the running, but looking back it was what helped us Continued on page 5...
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Don’t go chasing waterfalls. Stick to fireflies The Sandy City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Sandy. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.
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By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com
hen it comes to Utah insects, a few on the easy-to-spot list would be grasshoppers, ants, wasps and boxelder bugs. Earwigs find a way to make a casual sashay up the walls here. Daddy long-legs seem to have a rockhound club in every valley window well. Mosquitos regularly perform a funky flash mob out on the lakes. Moths find their place of expiration in that common graveyard of sliding door tracks. We have our predictable Utah creepy-crawlies. But don’t let the stink bug you accidentally squashed curb your wild-creature enthusiasm. It’s a good time to see something new. There are luminous beetle characters showing up on the Utah scene — fireflies. They are a curious thing, flashing their creature rhythm of morse-style code. They are convincing many that there is more biodiversity to our state than we may think. Utah entomologists and insect experts have a proposition for local residents. Researchers could use our assistance for a firefly citizen science project. The Natural History Museum of Utah and BYU specialists have merged efforts to find and observe firefly populations, and they’re looking for help. To badly mis-quote a 1990s hit TLC song: “Don’t go chasing waterfalls.” Please stick to the wetlands and the mud you’re used to, and help find fireflies. You can visit the citizen project details here:nhmu.utah.edu/fireflies, where you can learn about these interesting beetles, submit sightings and view a firefly map of where people have observed them. The map has a spreadout selection of possible places to find them. The project can help offer clues of where more might be found. For those interested in experiencing creatures behind glass, there is a temporary firefly exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Utah. When asked whether fireflies are native or invasive to Utah, Christy Bills, entomology collections manager at the Natural History Museum of Utah, clarifies that fireflies are in fact indigenous. “They’ve been here forever,” she said. “They’re not strong flyers. Once they’re in an area, they can’t move away from that area very successfully.” She talked about how some people believe anecdotes of their ancestors bringing fireflies to
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A large firefly sculpture lights up with the press of a button at Natural History Museum of Utah. (Amy Green/City Journals)
Utah in a jar. It’s not common to spot a firefly, though. “We don’t know about them, but farmers who go out to their pastures at night — they have known about them,” Bills noted. Just one firefly logged to the map provides a whole lot of data. There’s hope to find more and to involve resident scientists or even outdoor enthusiasts to take on new purpose in their adventures. It could be a fun outing to search, find, get pictures of and actually log a firefly onto the community map. It’s likely that more firefly sightings would be in areas with wet reeds, near still waters and around wild corn dogs (cattails). These are the best places to spot them. Head toward muddy areas. “Swaner Preserve (Park City), Spring Lake (near Payson) and Nibley (Cache County) are three places to possibly see them,” Bills said. “But, you never know. I hate to say, ‘Go there, and you’ll see one.’ You can never shop the wild.” Just go out during night-time hours, and you’ll probably need a headlamp and sturdy galoshes as you search. If you go firefly spotting, remember to
wear proper bug repellant, full coverage outerwear and choose a safe plan. Let others know where you’re going. These things are always best done in groups and with an adult. If you see fireflies, “Leave them alone,” Bills said. “We have the web farm (website above) for people to report that they’ve seen them. We never harm the population.” The few that are taken by scientists are kept in a specimen collection and used for important nationwide research. “They are not an endangered species,” Bills said. No one is going to have to give up their property for government scrutiny, and areas won’t become restricted if fireflies are spotted. Be careful not to trespass on others’ privacy, though. Go firefly searching in public areas. Scientists are calling for those who enjoy a tiny species hunt to help communicate where a firefly has been seen. Even if we can only spot one — playing the fiddle, living inside a giant peach or eating its way through a wild corn dog — each glowing firefly has loads of valuable information to offer us, with just one more dazzling dot on the map. l
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not only become better but grow together. Once you see his total progression of everything he teaches, he is actually a genius. That is why he has so many championships.” Cohesiveness was a different matter. Soccer is unlike many other high school programs. The football team usually has a feeding program that represents the school and builds the players from a young age. Same with basketball, baseball and other sports. But soccer players are typically with their club teams year-round until they get to high school. Then, nine months of the year they continue with the club teams. That gives Mitchell just three months to take rivals from different club teams and bring the unity together. He also needs to change different philosophies the clubs teach and mold them into what is best for Alta. He accomplished this through many methods, from how the team is introduced to each other to team dinners. But perhaps the most memorable approach to teaching the athletes about Alta soccer are the letters. Mitchell has former players write letters to the new players, telling of their time at Alta and what it means to put on the Hawk uniform. “He was a coach that cared not only about soccer but the players individually,” said former player Christian Bain. “He was always making sure we did well with school and with life. He even insisted that we were clean shaven and
kept a good appearance. He was involved in our success as a person and a soccer player.” Alta’s first state title came on the boys side in 1990 and the girls cracked the top spot in 1999. As the titles mounted, the reputation of Alta soccer grew as well. “I remember before I played at Alta it was seen as a dynasty,” said Ohai. “There were so many championships and everyone knew Mitchell. It was cool to play for him.” Ohai was the glue of the teams that gave Mitchell four straight state 5A girls titles, a feat never seen in the state before. “That final year was the first time the championships were held at Rio Tinto Stadium,” Mitchell remembered. “We had already won three in a row and no team had ever done that. We had to go to a shoot-out to win the fourth. They played so well as a team that year.” Mitchell actually retired from teaching several years ago, but stayed on as the soccer coach. He wanted to continue as long as he felt capable of improving the lives of those around him. “I have always tried to build a family-like atmosphere with the kids,” Mitchell said. “All of those kids feel like family to me.” Indeed, they were family. In the years Mitchell coached at Alta there were several times he ended up coaching children of former players. Retirement wasn’t even on Mitchell’s
Alta soccer coach Lee Mitchell celebrates the 2018 boys state 5A soccer title with a toe touch for his team, a tradition he has done for all 16 state titles. (Photo by Michelle Porter)
mind at the start of this year’s season. He had finished the girls fall league and was about midway through the boys season when he decided it was time to step down. “I let my assistants know, but I wanted to wait until the end of the season to officially announce it,” Mitchell said. “I guess you couldn’t ask for a better ending, with the championship. It was a storybook ending.” Through 16 championships Mitchell always celebrated by jumping in the air and
touching his outstretched toes with his hands in front of his teams. He did it one last time for the 2018 boys champions. Over the next week before his official announcement, Mitchell thought often of the program he had built. He thought of the many boys and girls that have put on the Alta uniform. “Anytime a coach puts that much dedication, sacrifice and service into a program, not even he knows how many lives he has impacted,” Cuff said. l
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August 2018 | Page 5
Utah clean-up: Tidying Tibble Fork By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com
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n July 12, a Tibble Fork cleanup project was hosted by Level 9 and 2nd Tracks Sports. Eddy Steele prepared a beverage cozy for his ride on a paddleboard. Steele participated in the day of free hot dogs, food and no-cost paddleboard rentals in exchange for helping pick up trash from the shore and surrounding areas, courtesy of sports retailers. Paddle garbage out, and don’t let it backpedal in. The companies hope to continue hosting outdoor clean-ups each month at different locations. You have to bring your own beer though, and pack up any wrappers or rubbish brought in. Shawn Trost with Level 9 and 2nd Tracks Sports explained the event’s purpose saying, “It’s community outreach and cleaning up the lakes. We do it about once a month, and bring all our paddle boards out. People can take them out for free, to clean up the lake because … why not?” Causey Reservoir (northeast of Ogden) is another place they hosted a cleanup project. “The turnout up there is what inspired us to keep going again and schedule throughout the
summer,” Trost said. Level 9 and 2nd Tracks Sports are both Utah-based companies, with a few locations, one at 2927 E. 3300 S. “We merged together about a year ago because we have very similar business models. Level 9 is really strong online (www.levelninesports.com), and 2nd Tracks is really strong as a retail store. What we do that’s unique is closeouts. We do closeouts for other stores, as well as closeouts for manufacturers.” The two storefronts sell a variety of equipment types for year-round sports — paddleboards, bikes and snowboards. “The ski industry stuff loses a lot of value after its first year, just because the top sheet has changed,” Trost said. That means graphics on sports equipment is redesigned each season. Those who care for a good deal can get killer prices on past season graphics — and the shorelines get shined up, too. These projects are barely background noise to those who appreciate clean beaches, free paddleboards, complimentary fix-ins, a man-made beer cozy and some hearty Mother Nature love.l
People enjoy the sun and a clean beach. (Amy Green/City Journals)
Eddy Steele prepares a beverage cozy for his ride on a paddle board. (Amy Green/City Journals)
Paddleboard enthusiasts enjoy Tibble Fork Reservoir. (Amy Green/City Journals)
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A boy enjoys a free barbecue provided by Level 9 and 2nd Tracks Sports. (Amy Green/City Journals)
Sandy City Journal
Meet Sandy’s new police chief Bill O’Neal By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com
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hroughout his 23-year career as a police officer in Sandy, Bill O’Neal has had the opportunity to literally save people’s lives but if you asked him, he’d say that’s not even the most gratifying part of his job. “Being there to save someone’s life is a great thing. But also making a difference in someone’s life is what reminds me that it’s all worth it,” said O’Neal. “You run into people years later and they say, ‘Hey, you may not realize it, but you really helped me and changed the path I was on,’ those are just as rewarding, if not more.” That kind of connection and service to the community is the number one thing O’Neal wants to improve throughout the Sandy Police Department as he takes over as its chief. “In community-oriented policing, we empower the officers to take ownership of their communities. I want us to get back to that,” said O’Neal. “I’ve challenged the officers to get out there and get known, to take time to walk into business and introduce themselves, ask what problems they’re facing and then find out how they can better serve them.” Public service has been a part of O’Neal’s life since he was a child when his father’s position in the US Navy led his family to move
all around the United States before settling in Utah. “We lived pretty much anywhere on the coasts, so it was a hard adjustment as a beach kid to move to Utah. All I had was shorts and tank tops at the time,” laughed O’Neal. The sacrifices of living in a military family, as well as the influence of his parents, taught O’Neal the importance of giving to his community. “They instilled in me from the time I was very young that serving your country and community is the most important thing you can do. It’s a right we’re given but it’s also our duty as an American to give back.” Since joining the Sandy Police Department in 1995, O’Neal has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles and functions including patrol officer, community oriented police officer, DARE officer, SWAT officer and in the traffic unit as a motor officer. Every single day at the beginning of your shift, you have no idea what’s going to happen. It’s exciting, but it’s also kind of scary,” said O’Neal about being a patrol officer. That feeling is similar to what O’Neal has gone through during the last few months as the interim-chief of the department.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
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ale Centre Theatre specializes in bringing true magic to the stage and is captivating parents and children yet again with the classic tale of Pinocchio in Disney’s My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale, set to run July 7 – Aug. 27 on the Sorensen Legacy Jewel Box Stage in the new Mountain America Performing Arts Centre in Sandy. For the presentation of this unforgettable show, Hale Center Theatre has lowered the minimum age for guests from five to three years old, with tickets on sale now. Guests will enjoy the story of Pinocchio from the unique perspective of the character Geppetto, told with the help of gifted child-actors, enchanting costumes, and famous music that has touched the world time and again!
With 18 children performing in the show between the two casts - ranging from ages eight to
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Sandy Police Chief Bill O’Neal stands next to a patrol car at the police department headquarters. (Justin Adams/Sandy Journal)
“It’s been very hectic, not knowing what the future holds and still being able to focus on the direction you need to take the police department. It’s a lot of pressure,” he said. O’Neal took over the position after thenchief Kevin Thacker was placed on leave and eventually fired by the city amid allegations of sexual harassment within the department. Dealing with the aftermath has been one of O’Neal’s tasks in the last few months (along with the regular day-to-day management of the department, overseeing an overhauled police compensation
deal and going through the application process to be the next chief permanently). “Whenever a chief or a leader leaves, especially under unfavorable or scandalous-type circumstances, you’re going to have different factions. You’re going to have your loyalists and your people that are against that person,” said O’Neal. “We’ve had extensive talks with the officers, both individually and as a group where I say we need to put our personal views aside. What happened has happened. It is what it is, but we need to move forward.” Handling difficult problems is nothing new for O’Neal, though. During his two decades of being a police officer, he said there’s been many times he’s thought about moving on to something else. “It’s a thankless job,” he said. “After years of being exposed to the things that we’re exposed to, you start to question it. But I’ve realized, it absolutely is worth it and I’m going to continue on.” To learn more about Chief O’Neal like what he’s afraid of or whether he prefers Utah or BYU, watch our video “25 Questions with Sandy’s New Police Chief” on the Sandy Journal Facebook page. l
Gifted Actors, Enchanting Costumes and Famous Music All Found in Hale Center Theatre’s My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale
12 years old - My Son Pinocchio is genuine children’s theater produced for children. These young actors have helped make the story even more real on stage with their retained belief in the magic of the story, and passion for bringing audience members into their world of fantasy and wonder. Dave Tinney, producer of My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale has said that children, with their creative imaginations, are wonderful storytellers, no matter their age. Creativity is further found in the costumes for this show, with Hale Center Theatre hiring a sole designer for Pinocchio’s nose. Eric Clark, a hair and makeup artist from Cirque du Soleil and other productions, spent a great deal of time with the HCT team researching and determining how to meet the challenge of making the nose grow on stage. Other main characters, including the lovely Blue Fairy, have been adorned with intricate and detailed costumes designed by Joy Zhu, to help bring greater animation to each show. Enhanced by spectacular costumes and sets, the impressive group of performers bring further enchantment to the stage when performing the famous songs featured in My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale. I’ve Got No Strings, When You Wish Upon a Star and additional music from Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, will delight children and send parents down memory lane. Music director Kelly DeHaan and choreographer
Brittany Sanders, as well as all other aiding crew, have done a beautiful job bringing these masterful arrangements to the Sorensen Legacy Jewel Box Stage in a way that cannot be witnessed elsewhere. Because this production is so magical for children, HCT recently treated a group of students and family members of Guadalupe School in Salt Lake City to a performance, through its HCT Applauds program. For every new HCT production, HCT Applauds provides free theater passes to a non-profit organization that contributes to the community’s quality of life. Guadalupe School is committed to transforming the lives of low-income children and adults through education.
Performance times for My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale are 7:30 p.m., Monday, Friday, and Saturday, and matinees Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. throughout July. August performance times are 7:30 p.m., Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and matinees Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for adults and $20 for youth, ages three to seventeen. For additional ticket information call 801-984-9000, go to www.hct.org, or visit the box office at 9900 S. Monroe Street in Sandy, UT. For updates, contests, and information on the current theater season, follow Hale Center Theatre on Facebook. l
August 2018 | Page 7
Sandy City to consider possibility of property tax increase By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com
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ities across the valley and throughout the state are considering raising their property taxes, and Sandy may be following suit next year. On July 17, Sandy-elected leaders and employees met for the first of several budget workshop meetings that will be taking place during the next six months. “We want to better prepare ourselves for the next budget cycle,” said City Council Director Mike Applegarth. Of top concern for the city will be whether they will need to raise property taxes next year. “We’re just looking at our budget and asking what do we need to pay for,” Sandy Deputy Mayor Evelyn Everton told the Sandy Journal. “We have a lot of facilities that need to be either completely built or remodeled.” Those facilities include a new public works building which burnt down last year, as well as repairs and renovations to the Sandy Senior Center and the city’s parks and recreation building. “Something needs to be done with the parks and recreation building,” said Everton. “It’s pretty much falling apart at this point.” Everton said the city also needs to build a new fire station near the Cairns development area to service all the growth happening there. All in all, Mayor Kurt Bradburn said during the workshop meeting that these facilities projects could cost the city upwards of $40 million over the next four to five years. Add to that the increased compensation packages for the police and fire departments that were passed during this year’s budget and it’s apparent why the city would consider a property tax increase. Nothing is certain at this point though. Everton said city leaders are going to take a
Sandy City officials meet for a budget workshop meeting on July 17. (Justin Adams/Sandy Journal)
hard look at making cuts to the budget before they decide to go with a property tax increase. “We want to make sure that we are cutting things that aren’t essential so we can make the case to residents that we’re not just raising taxes so we can spend carelessly,” she said. If city leaders decide to raise property taxes, Everton said it would be the first substantial increase in 25 years. “The mayors before (former) Mayor (Tom) Dolan were raising taxes pretty quickly. There was a lot of growth they were dealing with, going from farmland to a suburban area. So when Mayor Dolan came in he ran on a campaign of ‘I won’t raise taxes.’ To his credit he stuck to
that for a lot of years but maybe to the detriment of the budget when it comes to keeping up with inflation.” Another concern for the city is an imbalance between the city’s revenue from property tax versus sales tax. According to Everton, 75 percent of the city’s tax revenue comes from sales tax. Normally this is great for Sandy residents because that’s what allows Sandy to have the lowest property taxes in the county. But in the case of another financial recession, sales tax revenue can significantly diminish, causing problems for cities like Sandy that heavily rely on it for their budget. Helping residents to understand the city’s
financial status as well as the nuances of property tax is going to be a priority for Sandy if they go down this road. “Our goal is to make sure they understand that we’ve done our due diligence,” said Everton. “We want the residents to be confident that their money is being spent wisely, because at the end of the day it is their money.” The first opportunity for residents to learn more will come on Aug. 14 when a representative from the Utah League of Cities and Towns will be coming to the city council meeting to give a presentation about the logistics and details of property tax in Utah. l NEWS FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
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Sandy City Journal
Every student shines as superstar during Sports Day By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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ilver Mesa Elementary’s Whitney Fairbourn loves to dance to the music while CeeJay Clark likes “getting all sweaty” in the obstacle course set up on Alta High’s football field. Park Lane fifth-grader Conner Goodwin said he was looking forward to running races. “I want to be the fastest,” he said. These three students were amongst the 280 student-athletes who participated in Canyons School District’s ninth annual Sports Day, an opportunity for students with disabilities to participate University of Utah mascot Swoop helps lead Granite Elementary students in the parade of athletes during Canyons School and put their gross motor District’s Sports Day. (Julie Slama/City Journals) skills to the test through in 2009, the annual Sports Day became having fun and are so energetic.” five non-competition activities. more of a showcase rather than a compeCanyons Assistant Superintendent “The students practice the skills tition so students with behavioral support, Kathryn McCarrie said these student leadthey’ve learned in adaptive PE in several academic support, extended core, cogni- ers and peer tutors are gaining experience, activities such as running, obstacle course, tive disabilities, functional lifestyles and which some may pursue into careers as dancing, parachutes and more,” said ac- accommodated core could test their skills. teachers. It is a positive experience for commodated core teacher Lisa Hayes. “The activities are skills students both the high school students and the eleThe day began with a parade of stu- have worked on all year, such as balance mentary students. dent-athletes walking with their school and movement with dance or throwing, “I love to see how happy these stubanner to the beat of Alta High’s drum jumping with the obstacle course,” she dents are as they participate with smiles corps and giving high fives to Swoop, the said. “So instead of competing against on their faces and how proud they are of University of Utah mascot, who came to one another, all the students are doing it their ribbons,” she said. cheer the students. and are awarded ribbons, which they love, Canyons Board of Education memQuail Hollow’s seven students were for their participation.” ber Steve Wrigley, who had come to his amongst those in the parade of athletes. Cushing said area high school volun- fifth Sports Day, tried his ability in the “One of the students made their own teers come to help and participate with the obstacle course, crawling through a hula poster to represent the school,” Principal students in the activities. hoop amongst Edgemont Elementary stuShad DeMill said. “They’re pretty excited “The students just look up to those dents. to be here.” high school kids and want them to be “It’s a fun opportunity where every After Alta’s students sang the na- alongside them,” she said. student can do his or her personal best,” tional anthem, a student from each of the Hillcrest High School had 12 student he said. “They feel pride in what they are 10 participating elementary schools was body officers helping Bella Vista Elemen- able to do. Everyone is here and gets to selected to receive the Sportsmanship tary students with parachute games. participate and socialize with their peers Award. “It’s fun to participate and have fun and that is success for them. It would be At Park Lane, the teachers review with other students,” said Hillcrest High hard for these students to compete against students who try to exhibit positive be- Student Body President Boston Iacobazzi, another school’s star athlete so by includhavior not only in their adaptive PE class, who also participates with his school’s ing everyone this way, they build spirit but also throughout the school year in and Real Salt Lake’s unified soccer teams. and share in a common, positive expericlass, said Linda Tognoni, accommodated “This gives these students an idea of what ence.” core teacher for second, third and fourth competing is, but it’s more like participatEdgemont teacher aide Sandra Siorgrades. ing and having the best time.” dia said her 17 students, who had prepared “It not only gives this student, but Three Brighton High student gov- for the obstacle course through their adapall our students, a chance to build their ernment students — freshman Olivia tive PE class, looked forward to having a self-esteem,” she said. “The kids get ex- Derrick, sophomore Baylee El-Bakri and picnic lunch afterward. cited and just love it. Families come to senior Brieann Ingles — supported their It’s a day to test their gross motor support them and it’s just a positive ex- elementary students who were running skills, social skills and be supported by perience where they practice social skills, sprints. high school peers, said Superintendent test their adaptive PE skills and exhibit Ingles realized her position as a role Jim Briscoe. good sportsmanship.” model. “It’s an opportunity for each student District K-8 teacher specialist Carin “It’s heartwarming to see these stu- here to be recognized and where we can Cushing said that after Canyons School dents coming up to us and wanting to in- celebrate them,” he said. l District split from Jordan School District clude us with them,” she said. “They’re
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Sandy schools to see change of leadership this fall By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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hen students walk through the doors of Alta View Elementary this fall, they won’t be greeted by the same principal who has welcomed them since 2013. Former Altara Elementary principal and Albion Middle assistant principal Scott Jameson will be there — probably with a joke ready to share. “I’ve enjoyed telling jokes in the morning,” he said. “I’m a goofy guy, but I love having students start the day with a smile. My motto is to ‘work hard and have fun.’ I want students to enjoy their learning experience.” Jameson, who replaces Karen Medlin who is retiring after serving 40 years as an educator, is one of several Canyons School District administrators reassigned to new positions this fall. “I’m here for the kids,” Jameson said. “I’ve been duct-taped to a wall, had pies thrown in my face, dyed my hair, been a clown riding a unicycle and will do about anything as long as it doesn’t kill me to help student achievement.” That includes having students paint his car — twice — and driving it that way. “I’ll miss my students here at Albion and the faculty and parents. It’s the people and the relationships I’ve had the last five years that are the hardest to leave, but now after serving in a middle school, I’ll be an even better elementary school principal and know how to help them develop good habits that will help them retain
Incoming Alta View Principal Scott Jameson presents certificate to Altara Elementary students when he was principal there in 2010. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
what they’ve learned and prepare them for secondary education.” Missing students is what Medlin says is the hardest part about retiring. “I love what I’ve been doing,” she said about her lifelong career. “What makes a difference is making connections.” Medlin’s career began at Jordan Valley School, but “even then, I realized I’ve had a bigger vision for students than just the classroom.” Through several administrative positions as well as serving on district committees, including the implementation advisory committee that identifies new initiatives for students,
Medlin has impacted both teachers and students. After helping with the building of the new Alta View Elementary that opened last fall, she was awarded with the district’s APEX award as Administrator of the Year. “I’ve worked hard to support teachers and have them take a lot of ownership to be the experts in the classroom,” she said. She recommends to administrators making changes this fall to “listen to the community, to the teachers and to the kids. Ask a lot of questions so you know what is going on.” Hillcrest High assistant principal Justin Matagi will replace Jameson at Albion Middle School as assistant principal. “I began teaching as a middle school teacher so I’m looking forward to returning to that level,” he said, adding that being a middle school administrator will allow him to have more evenings to spend coaching his own children in their sporting events. “I’m going to try to instill in them (Albion students) the value of learning from every class and developing good student habits. I want them to love learning and to continue to be engaged in their class and at school.” Matagi said he will miss Hillcrest’s caliber of students and the amazing opportunities he has had accompanying students at competitions — most recently, with the instrumental groups tour of San Diego.
“It’s fun to listen to them make college plans and ask me to impart words of wisdom,” he said. “But Albion has a much smaller student enrollment, so I’ll get to know students in a more intimate setting. I’m excited to be a part of a new school, meet students and learn their traditions.” The other Sandy administrative appointment is East Sandy Elementary achievement coach Lori Reynolds being hired as Sprucewood Elementary principal, as current principal Colleen Smith will become a Canyons School District Responsive Services Program administrator. Other district-wide appointments include Brighton High Assistant Principal Matt Schelble being reassigned to replace Matagi at Hillcrest; current East Midvale Elementary Principal Justin Pitcher being reassigned to replace Schelble; current Murray School District’s Viewmont Elementary Principal Matt Nelson being hired to replace Pitcher; current Midvale Middle School achievement coach Sara Allen replacing Butler Middle School Assistant Principal Jody Wihongi, who is retiring; current Midvale Elementary Assistant Principal Matt Watts replacing current Midvale Middle Assistant Principal Kip Carlsen, who has accepted a position in Granite School District; and current Canyons District Responsive Services specialist Ashley McKinney replacing Watts. l
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Sandy City Journal
Former Jazzman motivates students, teachers with his story By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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he coach came up to him, crossed his arms and looked at the lanky 6'7" eighth-grader and said, “Son, give it up. You don’t have what it takes to be a basketball player. You’re wasting my time. I don’t have time to teach you to play. I’m looking for boys who can help me win a championship. Don’t try out next year.” If those words weren’t heart-breaking enough, it was the second time the middle school boy had faced being cut. “The first time I failed at something, it was painful, but it was my passion and the drive that made me try again — and again,” said the boy who ended up making the team the next year under a new coach. “The coach shook my hand, congratulated me and complimented me and every single one of us. I was crying when I saw my name on the list. I worked really hard to get on the team.” This was former Utah Jazz center Thurl Bailey’s message to Canyons School District students and teachers. He encouraged teachers to believe in their students — and for students to believe in themselves. “I am grateful that I had teachers and coaches who didn’t give up on me. They saw potential and believed in me and what they saw in me and what I was capable of,” he said. “That’s what I ask of you. Teachers, find those students who need your belief that they are capable of getting good grades and becoming more than they see. I had those who stuck with me. I am where I am because of people like you. They saw something and wouldn’t let me extinguish my goals and for that, I thank them and I thank you for what you’re doing to support these students.” Then, he turned to the students and gave them a mission. “Find something that will stick with you and become your passion. It takes hard work to be successful. Find the right people and ask the right questions. Then, when you are successful, use the platform, reach down and pick up others
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to see the view from where you are,” he said. Bailey has done just that. Not only does Bailey give motivational speeches, he also has been recognized by the NBA with the Citizenship Award, ran a leg of the Salt Lake Olympic torch relay and visited soldiers in Iraq in 2008. The late Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller once said, “Thurl has always been a person willing to give back.” Bailey credits his parents and knows “it’s about the journey” that has helped him to be successful. Bailey grew up in a poor section of Washington, D.C. during the Civil Rights era, and he would be bused into a desegregated school where everything was “foreign in a sense.” He was bullied and was a misfit amongst his peers. Yet, his parents had high hopes for him, Bailey said. “I didn’t like school, but my mom said, ‘Boy, I don’t ever want to see a C or below on a report card. Son, that’s average and I don’t raise average kids.’ So I knew I had to be successful and get a good education,” he said. “But I didn’t discover basketball until I saw my dad watching our old Zenith TV with an antenna and saw this guy with short shorts who looked cool flying up over two or three guys and was laying the ball in the hoop. My dad told me it was one of the greatest athletes of the world, Dr. J (Julius Erving). I asked him if doctors played professional basketball — that’s how little I knew, but it’s also when it clicked and I knew that was what I wanted to do.” Now, years later after practicing his Dr. J moves for hours in his driveway and failing to make his school team twice, Bailey was on the basketball team — but his hard work was just beginning. “I worked hard for years to make the team, but still the coach called me into his office and looked at me and said, ‘If you want to be a great basketball player, you have a lot more work to do. If you’re willing to commit — your grades,
your time, your energy — then I’ll come an hour early and stay an hour late to help you. I see potential in you,’” Bailey said. So with Bailey practicing twice as much as his teammates, he started every game — to win the tip — and then would be substituted out for the rest of the game. “I averaged 2.3 seconds per game, but I got every possession and played every game,” said Bailey, who learned to play a few years earlier from his dad with a garbage can nailed to the side of his house. “It wasn’t until the next year that I realized my potential.” Bailey credits this coach with believing in him and helping him believe in himself. He earned a four-year scholarship to North Carolina State, where he won the NCAA basketball championship in 1983. “Once you know someone believes in you, it’s an amazing feeling. And once you are on a championship team, then you’re a champion and that is a feeling that nobody can take away from you,” he said. “My career didn’t end with that championship. I was 6'11", 189 pounds — a tall but really skinny player. I didn’t know how long I’d last in the NBA, but the Jazz took a chance on me as the seventh pick.” Bailey got to play his idol, Dr. J of the Philadelphia 76ers, in one of his early rookie games. “He said, ‘Welcome to the NBA,’ and I was really excited that I was not only meeting him, but going up against him. I knew I had to play with confidence and I couldn’t quit. I had teachers and coaches who believed in me. I had worked hard. So that night, I held Dr. J to 47 points — there wasn’t a chance he was going to score 50 on me,” he said with a smile. “I got better and he got older, but he inspired me and coaches and teachers believed in me. It’s about the journey.” Canyons Board of Education member Steve Wrigley said Bailey gave an important message to students: “Never give up.”
Second Lt Matthew Plendl 419th Fighter Wing and Thurl Bailey, retired NBA player with the Utah Jazz, dispose of old brick at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, during a service project, Nov. 6, 2014. In honor of Veterans Day, active duty personnel from military bases around Utah, participated side-by-side with NBA players from the Utah Jazz basketball team, in several service projects at the VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar/Released)
“I hope all our students find people who believe in them and their ability to accomplish some amazing things,” Wrigley said. “And I hope our teachers help motivate our students and realize how important they are in the lives of students. It only takes one teacher to mentor a student, or in Thurl’s case, one coach to believe in him and get him out of the ghetto and into the light. Teachers really can impact lives and change history.” l
August 2018 | Page 11
Alta High turns 40, celebrates with renovation
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here wasn’t a happy birthday song or a cake, but supporters wore the traditional black to the 40th celebration of Alta High. The black was coupled with the other school color, red, as Hawks turned out to support the groundbreaking ceremony of the renovation project, which will include a 1,400-seat performing arts center on the northwest corner of the campus and a field house north of the football stadium. Amongst the cheers of “We are Alta” and displays of spirit by the cheerleaders, flag squad and drum line, there was a ceremonial turn of the shovels full of dirt. This followed Principal Brian McGill backhoeing dirt in an area where crews already had torn up a parking lot for the $45.6-million project. Funding came from the $283-million bond approved in November. The 1978 blockbuster “Grease;” Andy Gibb, who held the No. 1 pop chart hit with “Shadow Dancing;” Garfield in the newspapers and Reese’s Pieces on the candy shelves, all debuted the same year Alta High opened its doors as a modern-day, two-level brick building on 27 acres. “In a sense, this is our birthday celebration,” said McGill, a 1991 Alta graduate. “It’s sad as the school changes, but it will really be dynamic changes that will modernize the environment for learning.” Before the June 7 groundbreaking ceremony, crews began on the performing arts center. McGill presented Canyons Board of Education President Sherrill Taylor the first lifetime pass during the ceremony. “Some of the finest students in the whole state are right here at Alta High School,” Taylor said. “This school will be like a brand-new high school with all the built-in traditions of a 40year high school.” The new red, gray and glass facade on the front of the performing arts center will mirror the front of the current building, and a new marquee and electronic sign will be placed at the corner of 11000 South and 1000 East to inform the community about events and student accomplishments. The performance center is scheduled for completion in January 2020. The current auditorium will be remodeled into a black box theater. In addition, several offices will be relocated, the ceiling in the commons area will be raised 35 feet, a green room will be added for video broadcast, and windows will be added for more natural light. A security entrance will guide visitors to the main office before they can gain access to the hallways. Another renovation the former Alta tennis star and running back is excited about is the field house. The new facility, which will be used for physical education classes, marching band as well as several sports, will feature a second-level gallery with windows facing the football field so patrons can support the Hawks in the warmth as well as have restrooms closer to the stadium and an indoor concession stand. The field house will be completed next summer.
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By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Alta High students help with ceremonial digging on the site where a new performing arts center will be built. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“This is an incredibly exciting time,” McGill said. “Once a Hawk, always a Hawk. If they would let me, I’d suit up and play ball in the fall.” Board member Chad Iverson, who has one child enrolled at Alta and another will this fall, said he remembers being nervous as he was on a bus getting ready to play Alta. “The Alta Hawks are always a strong team and have a great winning tradition here,” he said. Superintendent Jim Briscoe said he appreciates the dedication to schools in the community. “This is the second bond the community has passed since Canyons School District began nine years ago,” he said. “It shows our community is committed to education.” Even with the commitment, Taylor recognized the patience of neighbors. “We know you live near this construction site and it will be filled with disruptions and dust for the next couple years. We promise we will keep it to a minimum,” he said. Once completed, not only will the neighborhood streets return to normal, but traffic flow within Alta High campus will be improved. “I am a proud graduate of Alta High, and I live in this community. We will still hold strong to a lot of the same school traditions,” said McGill, who has met with architects, contractors and Canyons School District personnel for two hours weekly in preparation for the renovation. “This will be our 40th year legacy.” l
Sandy City Journal
A refreshed Indian Hills to open doors this fall By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com “Nothing prepares you for this.” These words were spoken by Indian Hills Principal Doug Graham as he walked through Indian Hills Middle School with a hard hat as the school was nearing the end of its one-year remodel. Graham, who has met regularly with architects, contractors, Canyons School District officials and others, still is amazed at the transformation of the 38-year-old school. “We can say there are a lot of improvements and natural light, but when you walk in here and see the commons and the changes in the interior classrooms, it blows you away,” he said. In June, construction crews were still working on the $20 million renovation, the last of 13 projects approved by a $250 million bond passed in 2010. The school remodel was being completed in waves, with some classrooms and hallways already carpeted with bright school colors in Native American geometric patterns, honoring the school’s name and Warriors mascot, while some classrooms were still being constructed. Indian Hills, which was extended in the rear and to the side, now is organized so core classrooms for each grade for the 1,200 students are near one another, as are the science, art, music and language classrooms. During construction, Graham said workers kept their humor even when everything didn’t go smoothly. One eighth-grade room in the rear of the building was fondly nicknamed the “fire hydrant room,” because 37 weeks into the project, there still were ongoing talks with Sandy City about the fire hydrant that was in the middle of the core subject classroom. Outside that classroom, a fire lane and retention wall were to go in place during the summer. In each classroom and office, faculty and staff have built-in cabinets and desks, with a discussion of how to add more office file cabinets happening in June. “There are so many unknowns when tackling a project like this,” Canyons Facilities Director Rick Conger said. “Especially with the mechanical and electrical components. Still it’s on time and pretty much on budget.” Much of the renovation has gone smoothly. “There have been a lot of improvements, starting with our six science labs created from eight classrooms. The lab stations run alongside the walls of the class which allows more flexibility in the classrooms,” Graham said, pointing out a prototype design room and a 3D printing lab nearby. Those rooms, along with many other interior rooms, now have solar tubing to allow natural light to flood into the classrooms and in the new student commons. “I’m most excited about the incredible light in the school now. It’s not dark and dreary, but it’s giving us a fresh new start after so many years of dark colors, dark bricks and no light,”
S andy Journal .com
The new commons area in Indian Hills Middle School is expected to bring students together as well as provide more natural light in the recently renovated school building. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
he said. In each core area, there are special education classrooms where teachers can easily help in co-taught classes, but also be able to pull students into small group learning strategies, Graham said. Elective classrooms also are grouped together by subject. In one classroom, there will be 40 new Bernina sewing machines for 200 students and in another classroom, eight stations, one for ADA use, each with stoves, ovens and microwaves, for students enrolling in family and consumer sciences. “We did it right with the CTE (career and technical education) rooms. They are functionable and updated for our students,” he said. In the front of the western side of the school are new language rooms, with an installed dual-immersion language system. Nearby, the new music rooms, which were just being cemented, had practice rooms, a music library, instrument storage and built-in risers for the choir. Remaining in the same location, the kiva, with the floor extended to the first row of seats, a new light board installed and the soundboard moved, will be home to the new dance and musical theater teacher. “When we expanded to a seven-class period day, we asked students about adding electives, and musical theater and art were overwhelming responses,” he said. On the east, two spacious art rooms —
one for two-dimensional projects and one for ceramics, which included a kiln — had natural lighting for the 24 sections of classes offered during the year. Indian Hills’ media center also was reimagined, with a new circulation desk and workroom, computer area in the front and seating among the stacks. The remodeled school also will feature two writing labs. The gym and lunchroom also have fresh new looks. The gym now features a weight room off to the side and a refurbished floor with lines painted for volleyball and basketball. The cafeteria features several food lines for students. New to the school is a large meeting room designed by former principal Floyd Stensrud. The room can be used for staff meetings, PTSA, professional development, School Community Council or other large group activities, Graham said. “He designed this meeting room, something we didn’t have before. When we needed a space before, we had to shut down the media center and use space there, and now we won’t have to,” he said. As of press deadline, crews were still adding a security vestibule to the front offices, which along with the counseling office, were moved to the front of the school to both welcome guests and provide a more secure entrance. Trophy cases were planned to be installed in the commons area so each grade lev-
el could showcase work as well as those reinstalled by the kiva. Materials that were in the process of being packed at the former Crescent View Middle School, where the Warriors had been housed the past year, needed to be moved back home. “Next year, some maintenance staff will use the former middle school, but the long-term use is still undecided,” Canyons Chief Financial Officer Leon Wilcox said. Indian Hills isn’t the only Canyons project underway this summer. Groundbreaking ceremonies for a new Hillcrest High, estimated at $98 million and to be completed by fall 2021, and $45.6 million in renovations to Alta High for a slated fall 2020 completion date, were held in early summer. The rebuilding of Brighton High, with a groundbreaking ceremony slated for Aug. 9, also is estimated at $98 million and will be completed fall 2021. Altara Elementary’s parking lot is being restructured this summer and new office remodels are underway at Brookwood, Park Lake and Silver Mesa elementaries with other elementary schools’ offices and projects, including Corner Canyon High’s $5 million in a classroom addition, are scheduled for the upcoming school year and summer 2019. Many of these projects, including a new Union Middle and four new elementary schools, were made possible by the $283 million bond that passed in November 2017. l
August 2018 | Page 13
Utah history program includes enriching activities for Silver Mesa fourth-graders By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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eware — there are wanted posters on bulletin boards around Silver Mesa. It’s just one part of the year-end fourthgrade Utah history program that students look forward to each year. In addition to learning about Utah history, they have projects that involve what they could possibly carry in their mountain man leather purse or covered wagon and writing a message in petroglyphs. Fourth-graders also have a parent program filled with music about Utah and its heritage and a trifold research project about famous people or parts of Utah history, which they begin in January, according to fourth-grade dual-language immersion teacher Kristen Baird. “They can choose an individual or population in Utah history,” she said. “Some students may have a personal connection as they research their own families for their projects.” Trifolds lined fourth-grade classrooms with historical facts about Captain Bonneville, the Paiutes, Kit Carson, early railroad workers, Eliza Ann Young, Henry Wells Jackson, Karen Catherine Jenson Nelson and others. The trifolds were tied in a short oral report and PowerPoint presentation as well as having each fourth-grader dress up to portray the Utahn they represent. Fourth-grader John Hamm did his project on Pony Express riders while Hanne Newell researched the Navajo.
Silver Mesa fourth-graders perform a Utah history program in addition to presenting trifold research projects and participating in a mountain man rendezvous. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“I looked up information about the tribe since March so I could present my report and include everything on my board,” she said. “By doing the trifold, it made our program more interesting and fun.” Their projects were then displayed during the parent program, where students sing songs such as “There’s No Place Like Utah” and “This is the Place,” and songs about Utah’s Native
Americans, fur traders and trappers, pioneers and Promontory Point. “They learn and reinforce Utah history through the song program — and it’s something they’ll always remember,” fourth-grade teacher Kristy West said. The program, which was narrated by students, featured classmates dressed up, posing as famous people in Utah history, including
Brigham Young, Native American drummers, pioneer dancers, mountain men, transcontinental railroad workers and others. It also featured Violet Wahlquist on piano and Tadd Snowder on violin. Hanne said that through the program, she learned all 29 counties in Utah while John learned about the Union Pacific and Central Pacific meeting in Utah to become the Transcontinental Railroad. Fourth-grade classmate Gideon Kirby said he learned about Utah’s state dances, songs, pioneers and mountain men. “My favorite part was learning about the Native Americans’ cliff dwellings and the cliff palace, how they survived by making baskets to use from grains and animals, how they ground their own food and cooked in earth ovens and in their pits in the kivas” he said. “Their petroglyphs tell us what period they came from and what messages they were sharing.” The cumulative project for fourth-graders learning Utah history is their annual mountain man rendezvous that is filled with several activities, including listening to mountain man stories and catching a live fish with their bare hands. “They learn by living it and they love it,” West said. l
Top five ways to avoid an accident
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ccidents are inevitable. Or are they? We’ve all met someone who says (more like “claims”) they have never experienced a car accident before. While we might doubt the veracity of such a statement, there are countless ways to avoid those nauseatingly time consuming situations — the ones where you wait for law enforcement on the side of the road (or middle of the intersection), deal with insurance companies and figure out finances for fixing the fender. There are countless ways to avoid an accident, here are the top five. 1. Attitude You probably weren’t expecting this one first. As a driver, you control over 3,000 pounds (or more) of metal that can cause incalculable damage. Driving with maturity and the right mindset makes a world of difference. Speeding to beat another car to the exit or to get back at the person who cut you off a minute ago may give you a moment of satisfaction, but is it worth the risk and ramifications? If all drivers commit to having a responsible attitude, imagine how much less we’d find ourselves in bumper to bumper traffic waiting to pass the accident. 2. Speed From 2012-2016, 40 percent of motor vehicle traffic crash deaths in Utah were because
Page 14 | August 2018
of speeding, according to Utah Department of let someone else go first. Public Safety’s crash data. This also applies when driving in poor Slowing down isn’t going to kill you, but weather conditions. Heavy rainfall and snowflying past others just might. storms blot windshields and make roads slick, 3. Distraction adverse circumstances to traveling safely. BaStay focused. Keep your guard up. Though sics become even more vital like keeping your you may be a phenomenal driver, others aren’t. distance from the vehicle in front of you. Be aware of your surroundings by paying 5. Maintenance attention to what’s in front of you and checkThe best way to avoid car malfunction is ing your mirrors. Knowing where everyone else the maintenance of said car. is helps avoid collisions. If you’re distracted Ensure tires and brakes are operating withby your phone, music, or billboards with cows out issue. Keep fluids to their proper levels. writing on them, it limits your response time to Oil changes and car washes make a difference. what another driver may being doing in front of These simple, but effective maintenance tips enyou. sure your car remains a well-oiled machine (pun 4. Defense intended). l This was one of the first concepts taught in driver education and one of the first we forget: drive defensively. Failing to yield caused 12 percent of deaths from 20122016 in the same data mentioned before. That comes to 154 people who died Here are some ways to avoid a car accident, like this one. (Photo by David Shankbone) because they didn’t
Sandy City Journal
Nationally renowned local gymnast soars before hometown crowd By Joshua Wood | joshw@mycityjournals.com
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tah gymnast Lundyn VanderToolen competed in front of a home crowd in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City for the first time as a junior Olympic gymnast. She did not disappoint. VanderToolen finished third overall in the Hopes Classic on July 6 to advance to the national Hopes Championship on July 28. She also won the individual event title for the uneven bars, her favorite event. “I like swinging,” VanderToolen,12, said of the uneven bars. “It’s fun.” VanderToolen started gymnastics at the age of 5. She was inspired watching Team USA compete in the 2012 Olympics in London, of all places. She now trains at Olympus Gymnastics in South Jordan. “When she was little, she was probably 7 at the time, I remember her coach saying to me, ‘She’s the whole package,’” VanderToolen’s mother Julie VanderToolen said. “I didn’t know what that meant because I didn’t come from gymnastics, my husband didn’t come from gymnastics.” The sacrifices involved in training and competing have continued to pay off. Last year, Lundyn was named International Gymnast Magazine’s Junior Olympic Gymnast of the Year. This time around, competing at the junior Olympic level in Utah for the first time was something special.
Lundyn VanderToolen competing in junior Olympic gymnastics competition. (Photo/John Cheng, courtesy Julie VanderToolen)
“Most people have one or two people cheering them on because they have to travel from all across the country,” Julie said. “When Lundyn’s name was announced, the whole crowd erupted. It was so cool. She had an amazing support system.” So how does Lundyn focus with all that attention on her during a competition? “Sticky fairy feet,” Lundyn says to herself before start-
Lundyn VanderToolen competing in junior Olympic gymnastics competition. (Photo/John Cheng, courtesy Julie VanderToolen)
S andy Journal .com
ing a routine on the balance beam. And how does she reward herself after another successful competition, that third place finish that sent her to the national finals? “A bacon cheeseburger,” she said with a smile. One thing that Lundyn and Julie want people to know about her is that she’s a normal kid. “I like to spend time with my family, bike, go camping,” Lundyn said. She also likes to play
games with her family and swim. She lists her hobbies and favorite things in a bashful voice that barely crosses the room. The quietude of her demeanor reflects that calm focus Julie admires most in Lundyn’s gymnastics. That quiet, though, is contrasted by the strength she shows during each routine. “She was born that way. It’s just who she is,” Julie said of Lundyn’s determination. That special combination of skill, mindset and determination drives Lundyn to work hard for what she has accomplished. It’s a sacrifice that involves the entire family. “It’s not just me, it’s the whole family sacrificing for her to be able to live this dream,” Julie said. “It’s a huge sacrifice for her. They say gymnasts all have a boyfriend, and his name is gym. It’s true. She’s training 30 to 40 hours per week. For someone her age to sacrifice that much is huge, and for her sisters to say they’ll sacrifice for her too, it’s worth it.” The work will continue for Lundyn and her family. There are many possibilities ahead, and Lundyn remains focused. As for her future goals, Lundyn said, “I want to be a Red Rock.” After that? “I want to be a kindergarten teacher or a first grade teacher.” Meanwhile, the best thing about gymnastics for Lundyn is “having friends and teammates that support you. And having fun.” l
Lundyn VanderToolen competing in junior Olympic gymnastics competition. (Photo/John Cheng, courtesy Julie VanderToolen)
August 2018 | Page 15
Alta alums shine in women’s professional soccer By Ron Bevan | r.bevan@mycityjournals.com
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he addition of the Utah Royals not only means women’s professional soccer is now played in Sandy, but also that two home-grown athletes can be seen on the pitch once again. And both came not just through the halls of Alta High School, but at one time were also teammates. Kealia Ohai and Michele Vasconcelos both sported the red and white colors of Alta High School. Ohai is now a member of the Houston Dash and Vasconcelos plays for the Chicago Red Stars, teams in the National Women’s Soccer League and competition to the Royals. Although Ohai was older than Vasconcelos, the two did team up for two of Alta’s eight girls soccer titles while in high school. Vasconcelos was then known as Michele Murphy. Perhaps the best known of the duo is Ohai, who has been a force on national teams since she was a teenager. She made the U15 national team and kept playing on different teams representing the United States worldwide. She even scored the winning goal over Germany in the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. The international competition was a far cry for a young girl growing up in Draper, Utah. Ohai’s soccer career began when she was just 4 years old. “Both my older sisters played so I would go watch them,” Ohai said. “I began playing every day. Soccer has been my whole life.” She played club soccer for Avalanche, even while representing both Alta and the US, keeping her soccer calendar full week in and week out. Sacrifices had to be made both on the club level and then on the high school level whenever Ohai was needed nationally. But while she was busy representing the US, Ohai didn’t want to miss out on her high school years. She still attended Alta and played on the high school team that won an unprecedented four straight state soccer titles. She did miss some Alta regular season games due to her national commitments, but made sure she was around for the state playoffs. “I got called into the national camp once and it was at a time where we had a big game for Alta,” Ohai said. “They let me stay for the game and come to camp late. I grew up watching Alta soccer. I just always wanted to go there and play there. It was such an honor to be able to play at Alta.” Besides being perfect in championships her entire high school career, Ohai also earned two Gatorade State Player of the Year honors, three 5A Soccer MVP awards and was also the 2010 NSCAA National High School player of the year. “(Ohai) deserved every recognition she received,” Alta coach Lee Mitchell said. “Her feel for the game and also her ability on the ball are better than most any player out there. She gets the ball on her foot and knows what to do with it.” Ohai moved on to play for North Caroli-
Page 16 | August 2018
Alta, she was pretty young when they played and had to forge her own path in soccer. “I was 5 years old when I began playing soccer,” Vasoncelos said. “My closest sibling is 12 years older than me, so they had me playing as soon as I could walk.” From the recreation leagues to the competition teams, Vasconcelos began on her journey that would land her a position on the varsity team at Alta as a freshman. She teamed with Ohai for the final two titles of the four-peat. But two rings weren’t enough for Vasconcelos. She stormed her way through the 5A ranks her senior season, scoring 38 goals including the winning shot that beat Viewmont in the 2011 title match and gave her a third ring. From there she went on to lead BYU’s women’s team, where she would rack up 32 Chicago Red Star forward Michele Vasconcelos was on three championship teams at Alta High School when she was career collegiate goals and 30 assists. She was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Michele Murphy. (Photo by Dan Bartel, ISI Photos) her senior season and was a four-time AllWCC selection while at BYU. Her abilities were noticed by the professional teams, and the Red Stars made her the 11th pick of the 2017 NWSL draft. At the time, Red Stars coach Rory Dames called her the best wing player in the draft, and even hinted she had a shot at Rookie of the Year honors. But all that would have to be put on hold. On draft day, Vasconcelos was on a trip to Brazil with her husband Pedro, whom she met while he was also playing soccer at BYU. She wasn’t feeling well and at first attributed it to eating foreign food or perhaps the travel. It wasn’t until she came back to Utah that she found out why. “I found out I was pregnant,” Vasconcelos said. And her dreams of playing for the Red Stars had to wait. But the wait wasn’t long. She was ready Former Alta phenom Kealia Ohai now plays for the Houston Dash. She has also played for the US Women’s National the next season, working herself back into team, where she holds the record for the fastest debut goal. (Photo courtesy Houston Dash) top-tier athletic shape in a matter of months. “It is incredible that she has had a baby na in the collegiate ranks, and helped the Tar memories of that field.” and is still so fast,” Ohai said of her former Heels win the NCAA title in 2012. Ohai got to return to Rio Tinto this seateammate. “I am so proud of her for how she is She was the second overall pick of the son as a member of the Houston Dash, playing doing. She is not just a great player, but a great 2014 NWSL draft, landing with the Houston against the Royals. person as well.” Dash. She scored 11 goals in 10 games during “I love that stadium,” Ohai said. “To play Vasconcelos’ Red Stars were the first team the 2016 season to earn her first captains band there again in front of my entire family and to play the Royals in their inaugural season at for the Dash. Also that year, she got her first friends was incredible.” Rio Tinto Stadium. Walking into the Sandy call up to the US Women’s National team. Vasconcelos took a slightly different path arena as a professional brought back a lot of Although she was on the team that played to her professional debut. Unlike Ohai, Vasmemories for her. a friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium, Ohai didn’t concelos never pursued the Olympic training “I teared up a little in my very first game see action in that game. Instead, she appeared teams and consequently didn’t get the national for Chicago, but playing at Rio Tinto with my for the first time for the US national team Oct. recognition. family and friends in attendance was way more 23, 2016 in a game versus Switzerland. Just 48 “It took Murph (Vasconcelos’ nickname emotional,” Vasconcelos said. “It is the stadiseconds after entering the match, Ohai took a in high school) a little longer to develop,” um I won my state titles, so it will always be a pass and put it into the back of the net, setting Mitchell said. “But she works so hard. She alspecial place for me. a record for the fastest goal in a debut for the ways has. She comes from a family that has When she is on the field representing the US women’s national team. great ability in the game of soccer. Her older Red Stars, Vasconcelos also remembers she is “Making the women’s national team was brothers and sister played for Alta.” still representing Alta. a dream of mine for so long,” Ohai said. “I Vasconcelos grew up on the soccer fields “Whenever I think of Alta soccer, the first cried when I first got called up. It was bitter- of Sandy, playing for club teams Avalanche word that comes to my mind is pride,” Vasconsweet not to actually play in the game at Rio and then Olympic Montreaux. And although celos said. “I am very proud that I was part of Tinto, but I was excited to be there. So many her older family members played soccer at the history at Alta.” l
Sandy City Journal
Classes help homeowners learn about water conservation By Lana Medina | l.medina@mycityjournals.com times a week. But Moser said it’s even more important to cut back on the grass in your yard. The average sprinkler system isn’t designed to water any Utah lawn area smaller than 8 feet wide, such as park strips or sides of a home. The Jordan Valley Wato an innovative, ter Conservancy District offers monthly classes Landscape for where you live. practical landscape designed for Utah. to give residents examples on how to cut back on sod grass at Localscapes.com. Medium Tree “The style of landscaping that has been adopted here in Utah really doesn’t fit our climate. Part Shade Vegtable Garden Perennial Mix The English style of landscaping developed (Activity Zone) in an area that gets rain a lot of time,” Moser Children's Playset (Activity Zone) explained about landscapes filled with grass. Central Open Shape Large “Here in Utah we need irrigation systems to Ornamental Grass keep things alive.” Path Cynthia Bee, outreach coordinator for the Gazebo Large Tree (Gathering Space) Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, says Backyard Patio Focal Point Tree (Gathering Space) Local Scapes offers a small reward to residents who take their classes teaching water conservaColumnar Shrub tion and implement changes to their own landPath scape. Small Shrub “We’re not calling it an incentive, because Shade Shrub it’s not enough to cover costs for changing your landscape,” Bee explained. Small Tree The small bonus is up to $.25 per square Flowering Shrub footage in a landscape, but the real benefit is reducing water. Shade Perennial Mix To learn more about Local Scapes, the next Evergreen Shrub beginner class will be at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1 at Full Sun the Conservation Garden Park at 8275 S. 1300 Perennial Mix West in West Jordan. You can sign up for Local Local Scapes offers ideas to Utah residents to alter their landscape to conserve more water. (Courtesy Local Scapes) Localscapes.com Scapes 101 on LocalScapes.com l Shed
Localscape
Sample Landscape Plan
Path
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iving in a desert state, some Salt Lake Valley residents are making it a mission to conserve water. Utah received limited snowpack in the mountains, and local water officials say they’ve had to dip into reservoir water early this year. But Shaun Moser, an instructor at the Conservation Water Garden in West Jordan, said even heavy snowpack years aren’t an excuse to waste water. “Conservation should be an ethic here in Utah. More often than not, we’re in some kind of drought here,” Moser explained. That’s why state officials have been pushing to implement a statewide water conservation campaign called Slow the Flo. It’s designed to educate residents and also to encourage changes in residents’ landscapes, including using less grass in their yards. Dani Workman, a West Jordan homeowner and mom, said she’s trying to make small changes to her landscape to reduce water use. “We water our lawn twice a week and watch the weather to decide what days will be best to do it,” Workman explained. “For our garden, we collect rainwater in barrels from our downspouts and use that to hand water our garden. Not only is it free, but it saves a little bit of water and money.” Moser said the average lawn only needs 20 minutes of water every other day during the hottest months. In the spring and fall, grass only needs 20 minutes of water approximately 1-2
(Activity Zone)
This design is free to use. Please credit Localscapes.com in order to copy, or share the content. For Non-Commercial use. Do not change content.
Medium Shrub
Medium Shrub Front Yard Seating (Gathering Space)
Large Shrub Med. Ornamental Grass Small Ornamental Grass Little Trudy Catmint Hameln Fountain Grass Thyme
S andy Journal .com
Central Open Shape
Medium Tree Path
Path Focal Point Shrub
Bright Edge Yucca Sundancer Daisy
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August 2018 | Page 17
Utah’s housing unaffordability crisis By Lana Medina | l.medina@mycityjournals.com
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espite an uptick in employment, Utah is becoming more unaffordable for low-income families. According to a recent report from the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, housing prices have been steadily rising since the 1990s, but Utah wages are not matching that growth, and low-income families are starting to suffer as a result. “Eighty six percent of people pay more than 50 percent of their income toward housing,” said Tara Rollins, executive director of the Utah Housing Coalition. “The issue has been happening for some time. Wages haven’t been keeping up with rent.” Rollins says it’s especially affecting Utah because population growth is outpacing the number of homes and apartments available, and construction isn’t meeting demand. Jennifer Gilchrist, a realtor in Salt Lake County, said she often sees homes in the $200,000 to $250,000 price range get offers within a matter of hours. “It’s really crazy right now. There are a lot of people who want to buy houses and not that many people who are selling,” she said. Since last year alone, the average single family home has gone up approximately 13 percent in price. For example, a $300,000 home for sale last year, would now be selling for about $340,000, according to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. While other states are suffering from an increase in housing prices, Utah is ranked as the 4th highest in the nation for that growth, and experts believe it’s only going to get worse. For Jerusha Stucki and her husband, who were both born and raised in Utah, the rise in housing prices has made it difficult for them to search for a home for their growing family. They’ve tried looking at houses, but the rising cost makes it a daunting task.
“Our price range is for houses that are old, dirty and cheap, and we don’t want to be house poor,” Stucki explained. But waiting for a few years down the road could be even worse. Stucki says just three years ago, she and her husband nearly bought a townhouse but ultimately had to back out. Now, that townhouse is worth $35,000 more than the asking price from just a few years ago. “There’s a good chance, we may not see houses at the prices we saw even three years ago,” Stucki says. The housing unaffordability crisis isn’t just affecting families wanting to buy homes, but rentals are rising at an alarming rate. Rollins says many families are combining with other households in one home to manage rental costs, and some are putting up with substandard housing because there isn’t anything better available in their price range. “Last year the housing wage was $17.02 and it just went up to $17.77, that’s a 75 cent increase per hour,” Rollins said. But Rollins says for the average person to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Salt Lake County, their wage needs to match approximately $19.90 an hour. “That’s up 86 cents from last year,” Rollins explained. The University of Utah Gardner Policy Institute report suggested some municipal measures to help reduce housing unaffordability, including waive or reduce fees for affording housing, change building codes to encourage more affordable housing, and adopt zoning ordinances that provide a wide range of housing types and prices. But in the meantime, families like the Stuckis continue to follow the housing market and hope future changes will make housing more affordable in Utah. l
The Top 10 most expensive Wasatch Front areas in Q1 by median home price (courtesy Salt Lake Board of Realtors)
1.
$600,000
Emigration-84108 (up 19.5 percent)
2.
$555,000
The Avenues-84103 (up 20.4 percent)
3.
$522,000
Alpine-84004 (up 7.4 percent)
4.
$501,500
Holladay-84124 (up 14.7 percent)
5.
$486,000
Draper-84020 (up 3.5 percent)
5.
$486,000
Holladay-84117 (up 10.2 percent)
6.
$465,000
South Jordan-84095 (up 16.7 percent)
7.
$456,400
Sandy-84092 (down 7.4 percent)
8.
$440,550
East Central SLC-84102 (up 31.3 percent)
9.
$437,000
Eden-84310 (down 3.4 percent)
10.
$431,000
Canyon Rim-84109 (up 3.9 percent)
The limitations of the Wasatch Front geography means there’s not much more room for sprawl, so new Utah housing developments are going to have to get creative. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
Page 18 | August 2018
Sandy City Journal
Salt Lake Chamber hopes to raise awareness about Utah’s housing situation By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com
Top and bottom: A block party was held as the TGIF was demolished at the old Cottonwood Mall site in Holladay. The demolition makes way for the planned Holladay Quarter development which has seen varying amounts of opposition from residents. (Aspen Perry/City Journals)
Representatives from the Salt Lake Chamber will be visiting with the following cities at each municipality’s city hall in the coming weeks and months with more to be scheduled. North Ogden
August 14 @ 6 p.m.
SLC
August 21 @ 3 p.m.
West Jordan
August 22 @ 6 p.m.
Ogden
August 28 @ 6 p.m.
Springville
September 4 @ 5:30 p.m.
Woods Cross
September 4 @ 6:30 p.m.
Bountiful
September 11 @ 6 p.m.
Pleasant Grove
September 18 @ 5 p.m.
Lindon
September 18 @ 7 p.m.
Hurricane
September 20 @ 6 p.m.
South Jordan
October 2 @ 4:30 p.m.
West Bountiful
October 2 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sandy
October 9 @ 5:30 p.m.
Providence
October 9 @ 6 p.m.
S andy Journal .com
“Anytime a developer comes in with a plan that involves high-density housing, it’s like a four-letter word,” said Draper Mayor Troy Walker during a meeting of Draper officials and representatives from the Salt Lake Chamber. The meeting was the second of many meetings the Salt Lake Chamber hopes to conduct with every city council along the Wasatch Front in order to discuss the topic of housing affordability. “Recently we’ve had a lot of business owners coming to us and saying, ‘Our employees are struggling to find housing,’” explained Abby Osborne, the chamber’s vice president of government relations. The Salt Lake Chamber, a business association that operates throughout the state, then partnered with the Kem C. Gardner Institute to produce a report on housing affordability, released earlier this year. “What we found in the report was quite alarming. For the first time we have more households than household units,” said Osborne. “That’s a big component of why you’re seeing these skyrocketing prices. It’s just supply and demand.” While there are factors that limit what state and local governments can do about housing prices — for example, the state can’t do anything about rising material costs or the fact that the opportunity for further “sprawl” is limited by the Wasatch corridor’s geography — the Salt Lake Chamber is on a mission to let governments and individuals know what they can do. “We’re just starting a dialogue with the city councils,” Osborne told the City Journals. “We’re asking them, ‘What do you think about
this issue? Would you consider smaller lot sizes? Why are you opposed to higher density housing?” Osborne pointed to the Daybreak community in South Jordan and Holladay’s still-in-theworks Holladay Quarter development as examples of cities using creative zoning policies to create more housing in a smart way. However, the opposition to new housing efforts is much more likely to come from residents, not local governments, according to Osborne. “We have a lot of NIMBYism in Utah,” she said, referring to an acronym that stands for “Not In My Backyard.” That can be seen with the case of the Holladay Quarter, where community groups formed to fight against the development. Part of the Salt Lake Chamber’s mission will include a “full-blown media campaign” this fall to educate people about the nuances of the housing affordability issue. Osborne said she hopes the campaign will start to remove the stigmas and misunderstandings that people have about new housing developments. For example, one misconception people have is that most of our growth is coming from out-of-state. “Not true,” said Osborne. “It is us, having children who want to stay here and live here because of our quality of life.” “I think the unknown is fearful for people,” she said. “They have this perception of how they want to raise their large families on big pieces of property. But when those kids grow up, where are they going to live? If these trends continue, there won’t be enough homes for the people that want to live here.” l
Plots of land around the valley are constantly being considered for new housing, like this piece in northeast West Valley City. A development proposal for townhomes was denied in June after nearby residents mobilized against the level of density. Residents want single-family homes built there. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
August 2018 | Page 19
Students access real-life scientific resources to build dinosaurs By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Students use museum resources and their imagination to create the ultimate dinosaur species. (Photo Alex Goodlett)
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ike scientists in a scene from a popular dinosaur movie, students teamed up with the Natural History Museum of Utah to design the ultimate dinosaur species. Using Research Quest, a creative digital program developed by the museum, students determined the best combination of various heads, torsos, tails and legs from a digitized library of fossils scanned from the museum’s paleontology collection. “We are getting some of the expertise of our scientists out there to kids, and we’re getting objects out there—they’re looking at actual scanned fossils that we have at the museum,” said McKenna Lane, digital learning and curriculum specialist at NHMU. Research Quest brings the museum resources to the classroom through the internet and is easily accessed from computer labs or classroom Chromebooks. Using digitized fossils and scientific materials, video segments from leading scientists and printable resources, students work their way through activities called investigations. The teaching resource— available to all Utah teachers—was developed by the museum in partnership with the Utah Educational Network and the University of Utah’s departments of Educational Psychology and Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Kirsten Butcher, of the University of Utah’s Instructional Design & Educational Technology Program, said not all species of dinosaurs have been discovered, so students are using the simulation to create a feasible design for a potential species using the same resources
Page 20 | August 2018
as actual scientists. Students designed dinosaurs that would most successfully perform in simulated tests of survivability, diet, reproduction and physical stability, based on the features of each fossil. Research Quest provides teachers with three different investigations that engage students in actual paleontology work as well as the development of critical thinking skills. “Critical thinking has been recognized as a huge concern for education for a long time,” said Butcher. “But it’s notoriously difficult to teach and to engage students in these processes.” Research Quest uses a digital interface and a gaming style to appeal to students, while providing practice in this important life skill. “We live in a very information-rich world,” said Butcher. “It takes really strong critical thinking skills to sift through information, to make sense of information, to know what to do with that information.” Another investigation, targeted to older grades, asks students to study a real-life quarry site where many dinosaur skeletons have been found. Students develop a theory of how the dinosaurs ended up there, based on available evidence. Then they debate with peers who interpreted the data differently and support an opposing theory. “This is a real scientific question—there’s no one correct answer,” said Butcher. Students use the same resources that are available to paleontologists to develop their theories and then
compare it to leading scientific theories. “From the teachers, we hear a lot that it’s a really great tool for getting kids to construct evidence-based arguments, and that’s something they feel is really unique and valuable,” said Lane. “Students are gathering evidence to support an argument and communicating that argument—something they don’t usually get a chance to do.” Another investigation gives students access to 3-D digitized models of fossils found in the NHMU’s collection. Using observation and analysis, they determine what kind of dinosaur the bones are from. Research Quest has been available for classroom use since the beginning of this school year and has been well received by students of all ages, said Lane. The program was initially targeted to middle school students but is adaptable for younger grades as well. “I had to do a little preparation to scaffold the program since it’s a middle school-designed program,” said Kristine Jolley, a teacher at Midas Creek Elementary in Riverton. She said her students were excited to use the technology and were engaged in learning. She felt her fourth-graders benefitted from the challenge to think more critically in a fun way. “The best part is just the fact that it is a cool subject, and the kids enjoy it,” she said. More information can be found at www. researchquest.org. l
Sandy City Journal
Airport reconstruction project on schedule for 2020 By Lana Medina | l.medina@mycityjournals.com
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ust two years from now, Utahns will see a brand new Salt Lake International Airport opening. A construction project that has been decades in the making is underway at the airport, as crews are working to build a new parking garage, central terminal and a new north and south concourse. “One of the biggest milestones was in May,” said Nancy Volmer, the airport public relations director. “That’s when one of the final steel beams went up.” Why build a new airport? When the Salt Lake International Airport was first built in the 1960s, it was designed for 10 million passengers per year. But now, more than 60 years later, the airport serves more than 24 million passengers annually, and that number is increasing. Volmer says with the current design, only one plane can take off at a time, and the airport wasn’t built for a hub operation. “There’s congestion on the curb side, there’s congestion on the gate side,” Volmer explained. “There’s not enough seating for passengers waiting for their flights.” Who is paying for the new airport? “No local taxpayer dollars are being spent on the airport,” Volmer said. For the $3.6 billion reconstruction project, the airport is relying on several major areas of funding: 41.3 percent - Future bonds to pay for the remaining cost 23 percent - 2017 revenue bonds issued by the airport 14.8 percent - Airport savings 11.5 percent - Passenger facility charges 4.9 percent - Rental car facility charges 4.5 percent - Federal grants Volmer says one of the primary reasons why the Salt Lake International Airport is able to fund the reconstruction project without local taxpayer assistance is because the airport has been saving for this project since the 1990s. “People who use the airport are helping pay for this redevelopment. Passenger user fee, the airlines, the car rental user fees,” Volmer said. Future Changes One of the biggest changes that will push the Salt Lake International Airport into the spotlight is security. The new airport will have state of the art equipment for security screening to help cut down on wait times and limit the hassle as passengers try to make their flights. The entire design of the airport is focused on making it easier for passengers, Volmer explained. “You can check your bag, print your boarding pass, go through security, and you won’t have to go up and down levels. It (will be) convenient for passengers,” Volmer said. Some other major improvements include: • A larger parking garage able to fit up
S andy Journal .com
Airport officials say the new airport design will allow for easier access to passengers. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake International Airport)
to 3,600 vehicles, with separate areas for drop off and pick up. • Separate arrival and departure levels • On-site car rental pick-up and dropoff counters • Tech friendly with more locations to
plug in electronics • More shopping and dining What is Phase 2? Phase 1 is expected to be completed by Fall 2020, and then construction will begin on Phase 2, which includes building the north and south
concourses on the east side, the demolition of concourses B, C and D, and the demolition of the International Terminal. For more information about the Airport Reconstruction project, visit www.slcairport. com/thenewslc. l
August 2018 | Page 21
Murray Park wins the City Journals’ Park Madness tournament By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com
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www.thecleverbean.com Page 22 | August 2018
uly was national Parks and Recreation month, and we here at the City Journals celebrated with a friendly little tournament to determine the best park in the valley. Each round, the parks went head-to-head in a Facebook poll. Whichever park garnered the most votes moved on to the next round. We called it “Park Madness.” The tournament had a little bit of everything, from a No. 16 seed upsetting a No. 1 seed to lopsided blowouts to intense down-to-thewire finishes. Here are our tournament awards: Park Madness Champion: Murray Park Murray Park came into the tournament as the No. 6 seed (based on Google reviews) but immediately showed that it was a top contender when it picked up a whopping 88 percent of the vote in its first round matchup with Herriman. It went on to win by large margins in both the semifinal and final. It’s only test was a second
round matchup with Riverton, which brings us to… Most Improved Park: Riverton Park It’s too bad that Riverton and Murray had to meet in the second round, because that matchup would have made for a great finals. The two parks were neck and neck for the entire two-day voting period, sometimes separated by as little as a tenth of a percentage point. Riverton Park was supported by many residents who voted and commented about how much they love the park. As for the Most Improved Park award? We figured that made sense just because the park was recently reconstructed in 2015. Rookie of the Tournament: Mountview Park In a tournament full of parks that have been around for decades, Mountview Park made a lot of noise by making it to the finals as a park that’s less than 10 years old. The Cottonwood Heights Park may not be as well-known
throughout the valley, but it was able to beat the likes of West Valley’s Centennial Park, Sugar House Park and Dimple Dell Park on its way to the finals. Upset of the Tournament: Eastlake Park Eastlake Park, located in South Jordan/ Daybreak would be another good candidate for Rookie of the Tournament, but its first-round upset of the top-seeded Memorial Grove Park in Salt Lake City deserves its own award. Sadly, the Cinderella story stopped there, as Eastlake Park fell in the second round to Dimple Dell Park. While Murray Park may have won the tournament, the real winners are Salt Lake Valley residents who can visit and play at these amazing parks. We have some great parks and recreation departments that make sure we all have safe, fun and beautiful places to enjoy the summer. l
Sandy City Journal
‘Brigadoon’ will bring authentic Scottish music and dance to Draper By Katherine Weinstein | katherine@mycityjournals.com
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he magical, mythical Scottish village of “Brigadoon” will come to life on the Draper Amphitheater stage in late August. This production of the classic Broadway musical by Draper Arts Council will feature not only talented actors, singers and dancers from the community, but also dance numbers choreographed by local Scottish dance instructor Carol Elrick in addition to authentic Scottish music performed by the Utah Pipe Band at some performances. “Bridgadoon” tells the story of two Americans on a hunting trip in Scotland who stumble upon an enchanted village that only appears for one day every hundred years. They find themselves swept up in the lives of the town folk experiencing drama, danger and romance. In the end, one man must choose whether to go back to his old life in New York or stay forever with his newfound love in the highlands of Scotland. Producer Jocelyn Allred describes the show as “an iconic tale of love.” One of the overriding themes, she said, is to “trust in magic.” “Brigadoon” (1947) was the first successful collaboration by Broadway lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. The pair went on to write more hit musicals including “Paint Your Wagon” (1951) and “My Fair Lady” (1956). “Almost Like Being in Love” is perhaps the best known song from “Brigadoon” and has become part of the “Great American Songbook.” Assistant producer Tamara Stokes said one reason Draper Arts Council chose this musical was because the play’s highland setting fits so well with the outdoor space of Draper Amphitheatre with its green vistas and rolling hills. “It is a beautiful story in a beautiful setting with beautiful dancers,” she said. There are different styles of dance in “Brigadoon” and two local choreographers, Elrick and Ivy Wilson, will be working together on this production. Elrick, who grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland, will be choreographing the traditional Scottish dance numbers such as the sword dance. “We want to make it as authentic as we can,” she said. Elrick has taught Scottish country dancing and highland dancing since moving to Utah 23 years ago. “Scottish country dancing and highland dancing is something I’ve done all my life,” said Elrick, who has been dancing since age 2. She wasn’t a fan of some productions of “Brigadoon” because the dancing didn’t look anything like the authentic Scottish dances she had grown up with. In recent years, however, both Elrick and her husband have become involved with choreography and dialect coaching for productions of “Brigadoon” in northern Utah. The Draper Arts Council production will be Elrick’s third. Adding to the musical authenticity of “Brigadoon” will be the Utah Pipe Band. Founded in 1937, the Utah Pipe Band is the oldest continuously operated Scottish bagpipe band in the western United States. Their full
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Bradley Hatch and Serena Mackerell play Tommy Albright and Fiona Campbell in Draper Arts Council’s “Brigadoon.” (Photo courtesy Draper Arts Council)
complement of drummers and pipers will play in some performances. “Brigadoon” features a cast of 50 actors from the Draper community. The director, Robin Edwards, will be making her directorial debut at Draper Arts Council with this production. She teaches drama at Olympus High School where she has directed student theater. Draper Arts Council is dedicated to producing quality community musical theater and is sponsored by Draper Community Foundation and ZAP. The nonprofit organization stages five productions each year and is always looking
for more volunteers. Following “Brigadoon,” Draper Arts Council will present their annual Big Band Tribute Show Sept. 7 and 8. “Brigadoon” will be presented Aug. 24, 25, 27, 31 and Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. at Draper City Amphitheater, 944 East Vestry Road. Tickets may be purchased online via the Draper City Amphitheater website (www.draper.ut.us) or in person at the Draper Parks & Recreation department office, 1020 East Pioneer Road. l
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August 2018 | Page 23
UTAH WOMEN’s
Golf Tournament & Clinic
The Draper City Amphitheater Presents:
The Music of
Tuesday, August 28 at Thanksgiving Point
Starring Jim Curry and Band
SPonSorShiP
OPPOrTUNITIeS AvAILABLe! Benefits of ParticiPating • Play in a 9-hole scramble or join the 3-part clinic • Expand and reconnect with your network How you can ParticiPate • Become a Sponsor • Invite Friends • Donate an Auction Item $75 Per Individual Golfer or Individual Clinic Attendee $40 Luncheon ONLY | $300 Per Foursome All proceeds benefit WLI and The First Tee of Utah. Both organizations are a 501(c )3.
to register for tHe event or sign uP to sPonsor:
www.thefirstteeutah.org/wligolf
Saturday, August 18 • 8pm
One of America’s greatest singers and songwriters Featuring all your favorites and more: • Rocky Mountain High • Sunshine on my Shoulders • Thank God I’m a Country Boy • Leaving on a Jet Plane • Grandma’s Feather Bed • Calypso • Annie’s Song • Take Me Home, Country Roads
For tickets and more info visit: www.DraperAmphitheater.com
THE SANDY CLUB
“A Safe Place for Boys and Girls”
Member of the Month
Profile by Sanford Profile by Sanford is new to Utah, but comes with years of experience. Based out of the mid-west, Sanford Health is one of the largest non-profit health care providers in the country. Six years ago, they began opening health coaching/weight loss retail locations to accommodate the needs of their patients. The coaching model, created by Sanford’s physicians and scientists has taken off as the weight loss results have been astounding and sustainable. Profile provides nutrition, activity and lifestyle coaching and is designed to take the guesswork out of meal planning while educating its members on healthy groceries. Its members meet with a certified health coach on a regular basis to set and achieve targets, while learning nutrition. The Draper location opened in April and Cottonwood Heights opened in May. Sugarhouse is set to open its doors in October 2018. A new member interested in knowing more is able to schedule a one hour free consultation with a certified Profile coach.
Congratulations to our September “Member of the Month” Faviola Camacho! Faviola is 15 years old and attends Jordan High School where her favorite subject is math. Faviola has been coming to the Sandy Club for 7 years. When she grows up she wants to become a nurse. When asked if she could have any wish what it would be she said, “to have a college education and a big house”. Faviola’s favorite thing to do at the Club is to be with her friends. Her favorite thing about herself is that she has self confidence. We asked Faviola what she has learned since joining the Club she replied, “to be helpful”. When asked shy she thinks she was voted “Member of the Month” she said, “I think I was voted because I’ve been respectful and responsible. I have been nice to everyone here. I am really helpful at the Club. Every time I come to the Club I show up with a smiling face. Congratulations Faviola!!! We are proud of you!!!
If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, please call 801-561-4854.
Page 24 | August 2018
Sandy City Journal
Empathy is the key to solving homelessness for Kid Labs duo By Katherine Weinstein | katherine@mycityjournals.com
I
n the movie “Justice League,” the Flash hesitates before setting out to rescue some hostages. “I don’t know what to do,” he confesses to Batman. Batman replies, “Go save one and then you’ll know what to do.” This is a favorite quote for John Hansen and his 9-year-old son Chase as it captures the spirit of their “empathy project,” a “social experiment” devised to actively help homeless and at-risk individuals. Over the past two years, father and son have sat down with over 120 homeless individuals, often over a meal, to learn about the problems and issues they struggle with. Sometimes these conversations have resulted in John and Chase helping individuals move out of shelters and into housing or stepping in when someone faces difficulty in maintaining family relationships. “They (John and Chase) helped me out for six months picking up my boys for me,” said Mike Campbell, a recipient of their aid. “John also gave me a very nice bike that helps me be more mobile and active.” In other instances, Chase and John have simply listened and gathered information. “Empathy is the practice of feeling with someone,” said John. The goal is to offer validation and ultimately give people a voice. In aiming to find out what the homeless really need, they have worked with the Department of Workforce Services to devise questions and will share the data they collect with them. “When you talk to the homeless, you can see patterns in their experiences,” said Chase. John added, “We think that the needs and ideas of the homeless population deserve to be part of the discussion from the beginning and that the data gathered will be of interest to the citizens of Utah.” Homelessness is a hot-button issue in Utah, and Chase and his dad have met with Governor Gary Herbert and other officials to discuss strategies to address it. They believe that a key to changing public perceptions about the homeless is to involve a lot of people in conversation and build a sense of belonging. To that end, they have been experimenting with ways to build community that transcend social barriers. Chase and John have been working on fostering community in various ways since founding their social impact nonprofit, Kid Labs, in 2013. “Kid Labs is all the good things we’re doing,” said Chase. Kid Labs’ overarching mission is to be a force for good in the world and to empower kids to reach out to others. By actively assisting those in the community who need help, Chase and John are living Chase’s dream of being real superheroes. When Chase was 4, John decided to create a “superhero lab” where kids could be empowered to be effective heroes in society. The project started in a garage and later expanded into a renovated industrial warehouse in Salt Lake City. John has referred to that location as a “living social experiment” in which at-risk kids and families came together to create, connect and
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JOIN THE FIGHT FOR ALZHEIMER’S FIRST SURVIVOR UTAH CHAPTER WALK DATES AND LOCATIONS: September 15, Salt Lake City, State Capitol September 22, Daybreak, Daybreak Park 1. Start a team. Sign up as a Team Captain and form a team. You can also join a team or register as an individual.
Chase Hansen and his dad, John. (Photo by J. Photography, courtesy John Hansen)
contribute to the community. Classes in yoga, robotics and art were offered. Through community partnerships, Kid Labs was able to offer special events such as makeovers for single moms with stylists from Paul Mitchell. Sadly, the Kid Labs space closed less than a year after it opened. While John and Chase would like to find another physical base for Kid Labs, they are continuing their mission to make the world a better place through bringing people together. John spoke of a “giant disconnect between what needs to happen and the will to accomplish it” when it comes to solving homelessness. He envisions a grassroots effort to build advocacy groups. Most recently, Chase and John have been working with the family shelter in Midvale in their community-building experiments. One recent experiment, “Pizza with Purpose,” involved connecting shelter families with community members who are interested in reaching
out to the disadvantaged over pizza. Kid Labs found sponsors to help cover the costs and 30 to 40 people attended. Two months ago, Kid Labs organized a hike and picnic in the mountains for three families from the shelter and two families from Cottonwood Heights. One experiment at a time, Chase and John continue to bridge social divides between individuals. When people ask Chase about how to interact with the homeless he simply says, “Be their friends.” Chase will start fourth grade at Draper Elementary next month and both he and his father would like Draper residents to step up and get involved in addressing the problem of homelessness. “We need resources and funding for staff. Even more than the money, we need people who want to get involved,” said John. To learn about volunteering with Kid Labs, John and Chase Hansen may be contacted via their website at kidlabs.org. l
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August 2018 | Page 25
SPOTLIGHT
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Business Spotlights are a service offered to our advertisers to help them inform our readers about their businesses. For information on scheduling a Spotlight, please call us at 801-254-5974 or email us at ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com
S
tephan Micklos became a financial advisor more than 20 years ago. He was always passionate about helping people, and was looking for a way to feel like he was making a real and lasting impact on their lives. When he met with Merrill Lynch and learned what a financial advisor really does, he knew it was the perfect career for him. “We are not stock brokers. We really get to know our clients and understand their individual priorities and goals. It’s only then that we can create a unique strategy to help them meet those goals.” says Stephan. This approach has allowed him to build his practice and he prides himself on the life-long client relationships he has developed. Stephan is now a Sr. Vice President – Investments and a Business Wealth Management Advisor. In 2015, he and tenured Financial Advisors, Nicole Fernandez-Seoane and Robert Markosian, partnered together to create a plan for the future of their practice and to preserve their standard of service for clients for years to come. The result of that planning was the creation of The Micklos Group. In 2017, they added three additional Financial Advisors: Andrew Harding, Nicholas Marsh and Cassie Al-
Page 26 | August 2018
vey. Stephan explained his strategic vision, “We wanted to bring on fresh energy and thinking. In addition to succession planning, we found partners with diverse backgrounds and strengths. The outcome is definitely greater than the sum of its parts with our group.” Rounding out their team are veteran Client Associates, Kimberly Mitchell and Julie Ewell. Robert Markosian describes their team dynamic; “Our integrity is demonstrated through our transparency. We are committed to helping clients work through their issues and identify opportunities. We work as a team, so that clients may benefit from the knowledge and diversity of experience of the entire group. To put it simply, we only succeed when clients succeed. One of the real benefits of working with our team is that you get the personal touch of a Family Office but the reputation, research, security and expertise of Merrill Lynch.” In addition to investments and wealth management, this team can also connect clients to the global resources of Bank of America. Nicole Fernandez-Seoane explains. “We operate like our clients personal CFO. We want to be their first resource for any financial need. They can call us about anything,
big or small.” Nicholas Marsh describes why the Micklos Group is different. “Where we believe we add tremendous value is in how well we know our clients. Listening is our full-time job. We need to truly understand client’s lives, goals and challenges, so we can adapt strategies as their lives change.” One passion that all of the members of the team share is giving back to and interacting with the community. Robert is a past president of the Olympus Kiwanis Club and a part-time ski instructor, Stephan and Nick both coach
youth football - Stephan at Alta High School & Nick with The Ute Conference; Andrew volunteers with the Special Olympics; Nicole supports the music program at Judge Memorial High School; and Cassie sits on the Board of The Family Support Center. The Micklos Group operates out of Merrill Lynch’s Cottonwood Office. You can connect with them at fa.ml.com/ micklosgroup, 801.284.1980 or micklosgroup@ml.com l
Sandy City Journal
S andy Journal .com
August 2018 | Page 27
Car enthusiasts bring passion projects to Town Days’ annual show By Brett Jay Apgood | b.apgood@mycityjournals.com
Jerry Van Scott’s 1973 Z28 Chevrolet Camaro (Brett Jay Apgood/City Journals)
O
n July 7, a warm Saturday afternoon, Riverton City hosted its annual car show as part of its Town Days celebration. Participants came from across the valley, displaying a variety of makes and models spanning various decades and with every car comes a story. Some of the cars have been lifelong passion projects for their owners, while others have been projects that allowed for family bonding. “I’ve had it for a little over eight years; just bought it on KSL, and I’ve been restoring it for the last three years,” said Jerry Van Scott. Van Scott has been rebuilding a 1973 Z28 Chevrolet Camaro, which he has restored completely from bottom to top. “I have been a mechanic for 40 years,” he said. “So I had a guy do the body work and the paint. He gave it to me as an empty shell, and I assembled the whole thing.” This has been his first restoration that he was finally able to get started during retirement. “I redid the interior and redid the engine,” Van Scott said. “It was a total restoration; it was pretty ugly.” The decision to restore the Camaro was easy. “I’ve always been a Chevy fan,” he said. Riverton resident Brian Thacker was at the show displaying his 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, which is his first restoration. “It had a 350 small block Chevy in it when I got it, so I pulled it out and found the correct 400 and went through the front end and redid
Page 28 | August 2018
everything completely,” Thacker said. His interest in cars started young and took off from there. “I’ve been into cars ever since I was a kid,” he said. Lane Sutowaty brought a 1934 Ford 5 Window Coupe, which has been a family restoration project. “My favorite part was just building it with family, with my brother and father, when my father was still alive,” he said. The desire to work on cars has been lifelong for Lane, as the 1934 Ford has been a part of his family his entire life. Sutowaty has rebuilt many cars through employment, but some of his memories from rebuilding stay within the family. “I’ve rebuilt this 34; I rebuilt my brother’s 67 Corvette; the Model T we rebuilt for a family project,” Sutowaty said. Sutowaty has found a lot of joy from working on cars and enjoys working with various makes and models. “I enjoy all the aspects of cars; it doesn’t matter if it’s Ford, Chevy or Chrysler,” he said. “Each car is unique in its own way, and they’re fun.” Wayne Mcallister was at the festival showing his 1951 Chevrolet Belair, which he rebuilt himself. The festival went from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to close out Riverton’s annual Town Days festival.l
Sandy City Journal
Little Cottonwood Canyon improvements By Cassie Goff | cassie@mycityjournals.com
T
he mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon will be getting a makeover during the spring of 2020. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is currently working on an environmental impact statement (EIS) with plans to totally re-vamp the area. “About two million people visit Little Cottonwood Canyon. That is comparable to Zion,” said UDOT Project Manager John Thomas. With so many people visiting the canyon, transportation has become quite an issue. The two-lane road can’t keep up with the canyon traffic, especially during the popular ski days of winter. “It’s not going to get better,” Thomas said. “There is more population in Utah and tourism is increasing.” The EIS project aims to improve the area for the increasing traffic. The UDOT team hopes to manage the number of vehicles on the road, improve vehicle mobility, and improve roadway safety and reliability for all users, while still reflecting the character and scale of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The entire corridor is being studied for improvement considerations, from the 6200 South/I-215 interchange, through Wasatch Boulevard and State Road 210 (the road up the canyon), all the way up to the Alta Ski Area and Snowbird, including the Bypass Road. On April 24, the Cottonwood Heights City Council met with Thomas to discuss the plans for the EIS project. Over the prior few months, Thomas and the UDOT team met with many residents, students, municipalities and entities to discuss possible alternative improvements for the canyon. This included an open house on April 10 at the Cottonwood Heights City Hall building. As possible alternative improvements were discussed, the main considerations for the UDOT team were transportation issues, congestion in the canyons, dispersed parking along the roadway, population growth and increased tourism. The overall goal is to reduce peak congestion and improve recreation and tourism experiences. Some of the possible alternative improvements proposed include tolling, avalanche sheds, park and rides outside the canyon, enforcement, van shuttles, signalized intersections, improved communications, roadway improvements, bike lanes, gondolas and trailhead parking and restrooms. Out of these possible alterative improvements, some were a little more costly than others. Gondolas have to move along straight lines, which mean it would require breaks throughout the canyon. There would have to be a base at the mouth of
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Additional park-and-ride hubs with more busses being prioritized in canyon traffic is one of the proposed alternatives for canyon transportation. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
the canyon, with a stop somewhere near Tanners Flat, before it could reach the top of the canyon. Even though this would be an expensive alternative, a gondola could carry up to 1,200 people per hour through the canyon. One of the most crucial concerns for the canyon corridor is parking. The UDOT team has been attempting to find areas for more parking and park-and-ride hubs. After talking with community members, one idea stood out. “What if we consolidate parking; if we had one big node at the gravel pit, or one big node at 9400 South and Highland Drive,” Thomas said. More park-and-ride hubs would require busses to have priority through the canyon traffic. UDOT has considered cue jumping to allow busses to get a time advantage over other cars. “If a toll was added on top of that, busses might start to make sense,” Thomas said. For Cottonwood Heights residents, Wasatch Boulevard is a big concern. The UDOT team is creating a Wasatch Boulevard EIS where they are currently gaining input from stakeholders. They will also be working with Community and Economic Development Director Mike Johnson, as he created a Wasatch Boulevard Master Plan for the city. UDOT is also working on a $50 million project for the 6200 South/I-215 interchange. For more information on the interchange project, visit here: uplan. maps.arcgis.com For this huge Little Cottonwood Canyon project, which encompasses smaller
projects like the interchange, Wasatch Boulevard, and park-and-rides, the state will be contributing some resources from transportation funds. “We can meet other objects in the canyon with tolling,” said Thomas. “Everything is working for us right now. UDOT and UTA (Utah Transit Authority) are under the same roof, with some state funding. We have a lot of citizens trying to solve the problem. We are really in a neat situation,” Thomas said. In June, alternative improvement sketches were published online. Over the next few months, deliberations for a preferred alternative improvement will be ongoing. There will be at least one more 30day public comment period as concepts of alternatives are developed and refined. By October, the UDOT teams hope to have a preferred improvement finalized. From this October until summer 2019, a draft for the EIS will be completed and a public hearing will be held with a 45-day public comment period. The final EIS will be completed by spring 2020, at which point construction for preferred improvements will begin. UDOT has met with the Alta Town Council, Cottonwood Heights City Council, Central Wasatch Commission, Forest Service, Holladay City Council, Sandy City Council and the Salt Lake County Council. For more information, visit www. udot.utah.gov/littlecottonwoodeis/ Or follow the project on Twitter: twitter.com/UDOTlcceis l
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LarkinMortuary.com August 2018 | Page 29
Making sense of cents
T
by
CASSIE GOFF
he importance of saving money has been emphasized ever since I was a child. I was bombarded with the sentiment from my parents, my teachers and from the media. “Save Big” marketing messages have been in my life ever since I have been able to make sense of my senses. Lately, I’ve been wondering why. Why do we need to save money? As soon as I was old enough to receive a paycheck, my parents told me to put at least 10 percent of it into a savings account, if not more (hopefully one that accrues interest). They always told me to keep a $100 comfort pillow in my primary checking account and to keep a significant safety net. When I would ask “Why?” their response was always, “In case of an emergency.” What if the car breaks down and you need to pay for a pretty hefty repair? What if you break a part of yourself and need to pay for medical expenses? Saving money was to keep myself out of debt when outstanding situations arose. In school, we were required to take financial planning classes. We received instruction on how to budget, how to buy a house, how to get the best agreements for car payments, and how to plan for retirement. The essentials
for our personal budgets, right? Buy a car. Buy a house. Save enough to retire on time. Saving money was to maintain a comfortable lifestyle to transport ourselves, shelter ourselves, and take care of ourselves in old age. As soon as we reproduce, we start saving money for our children. I’ve always heard that one child costs $20,000 per year, on average. Offspring are expensive. On top of that average support, parents tend to save for their children’s future (aka a college education). Parents also tend to want to leave their children something of merit when they pass. So, we save money for emergencies, for a comfortable lifestyle, and for our offspring. Besides those canons of saving money, what else do you
save money for? What do you put value on? What do you not mind spending full price on and what do you absolutely need a coupon for in order to buy? It may be food. Some people don’t mind paying money to go out to eat multiple times per week at real restaurants (not fast food joints). Other people will stock pile coupons and go to different grocery stores in order to get the best deals. It may be clothes. Some people don’t mind paying triple digits to have a specific name or logo on the fabric wrapped around their bodies. Other people buy their jeans from Wal-Mart for $10. It may be cars. Some people pay for fuel efficiency, or speed, or sporty-looking body styles. Other peo-
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ple can’t even imagine paying more than four figures on something that just gets them from point A to point B. It may be family and friends. Some people will make agreements with family and friends to not exchange gifts. Other people don’t mind spending some cash on their people. Why are we so driven to save a few dollars here and a few cents there? Why are we so turned on by sales and big savings tactics? Is it so we can have money for emergency situations? Or to spend money on things we perceive to have value? Or is it some ideal the marketing industries have driven into us since before we can remember? Let me know so I don’t feel like I’m just rambling into the ether. l
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Sandy City Journal
Life and Laughter—Uncommon Courtesy
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
SANDY
W
e’ve become an unpleasant people. All the commons, like courtesy, sense, knowledge and good, aren’t nearly as prevalent as they should be. But we’re Americans! We’re resilient! We survived New Coke and the Sony Betamax. We can definitely start using old-fashioned common courtesy. Making America Great Again should include some of the following: Be Thoughtful Being thoughtful doesn’t have to be inconvenient, like throwing your jacket on top of a mud puddle so I can cross without getting my dainty feet wet. (Disclaimer: I’ve never had dainty feet). Even small actions amp up your kindness cred. Open doors, smile, give up your seat, wipe down the machines at the gym (you know who you are!!) or offer to carry a bag of groceries. Maybe thoughtfulness means doing something you’d rather not do, like play Yahtzee with your grandson 327 times in a row, watch golf with your husband or help a friend move. Offer to buy a stranger’s coffee, remember important dates, use manners, write thank you cards and let someone go in front of you at Walmart. Watching their wary acceptance is pretty hilarious.
Shut up and Listen Have you ever talked to someone and realized their eyes were more glazed than a Krispy Kreme conveyer belt? That means you’ve monopolized the conversation and it’s someone else’s turn to talk. (“Conversation” means two or more people exchanging ideas.) We’re horrible listeners. We interrupt, interject with personal stories, refuse to make eye contact and try to keep that supercool thought in our brain so we can jump right in as soon as the speaker takes a breath. Calm yourself. Listen to learn. If we already know everything, there’s absolutely no reason to pay attention to someone who’s talking to us. If you agreed with that last sentence, your wife is slowly poisoning you. Put Down Your Damn Phone We are WAY too invested in our cell phones. I’m not excluding myself. My husband and I often have this conversation: Tom: Can you put down your phone and watch TV? Me: I’m watching. Tom: What just happened? Me: The guy did that one thing to that other guy. Tom: Hand me your phone. Me: [Eye roll] Gees, you don’t
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understand. Our discourteous cell phone behavior made headlines this spring after a cast member of Hamilton called out audience members in Salt Lake because they wouldn’t turn their phones off during the performance. Good grief! We’ve even irritated the Founding Fathers (again). Leave your phone in your car, on your shelf or in your fish tank if you’re in a situation that requires decent human behavior. Be Generous Utahns are notoriously cheap. I mean seriously-perhaps-we-should-be-in-therapy cheap. I’ve had two daughters who worked in food services. They’ve shared horror stories of impolite guests, demanding drunks and overall poorly behaved people. Come on, everyone. The wait staff survives off your chintzy tips. They usually make less than $3 an hour and when you tip $2.75 on a bill of $100, you are a villain. Don’t be afraid to pry open that creaky, dusty wallet and tip your restaurant servers, hair stylists, pizza guy, Uber driver or dog walker. Let Drivers Merge for Cryin’ Out Loud Nothing more needs to be said
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801-518-7365
Tile, Back Splashes, and Bathrooms Laminate Flooring, Finish Work, and Handyman Services
“It’s worth your time to call!”
Call Chris for a free estimate 801.708.1123
(801) 506-6098
801.887.7663 801-449-9875
Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts
We’ll buy your non-running, wrecked or broken car, truck or van.
Gumby’s Auto Parts
Brick and Block Work
ROOFING
Affordable Yard Care / Tree Trimming & Removal
Tile and Flooring Powell Tile and Laminate Flooring
Brick and Masonry Work
SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973
YARD SERVICES
VEHICLES WANTED
FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
OLYMPUS ROOFING
about this one. (You know who you are!!) Every action we take builds or destroys a community. I don’t want to see common courtesy go the way of Freshen Up gum, dodo birds and our democracy. Let’s Make America Pleasant Again. l
Insurance Repair Chimney and Mailbox Repair
Property Maintenance
All in One Property Maintenance Full Property Clean Up & Trash Haul Trimming, Pruning and Weeding Licensed and Insured
Call Dave 801-455-6705
Call Grant at 801-254-7697
https://www.facebook.com/yardmaintenanceinc
Automotive Services
Roofing
Randy’s Tire and Muffler
On Call Roofers
Complete Auto Repair & Service Manager Owned and Operated Serving Bluffdale/South Valley for 3 Generations 14250 S Redwood Rd 801.254.9971
RandysTireAndMuffler.com
30+ Years of Experience All Types of Roofing and Gutters Residential and Commercial www.OnCallRoofersInc.com
Call Now: 385-529-1032
August 2018 | Page 31
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10220 South 1300 East Sandy
801-523-1111
www.DrSkanchy.com
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