Sandy Journal | April 2023

It was the second half of the 5A state championship game for the Alta High boys basketball team.

The Hawks were facing Timpview at Weber State and came out firing to start the third quarter. Junior Carter Doleac has just been fouled for his third and-one basket. Second-year head coach Travis Ohrn watched Doleac turn and flex to the bench. He then proceeded to try yelling to junior Ace Reiser, who walks down the court, turns and simply stares at the hoop.

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.”

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician

Brookwood students use imagination, curiosity, problem-solving during STEM Night

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Brookwood Elementary third-grader

Rowan Erlacher likes math.

“It’s always fun,” he said. “I know three ways to subtract.”

Rowan, his first-grade sister, Hadley, his 3-year-old sibling, Kit, and mother, Lauren, were at the school’s second annual STEM Night, where they completed the “Are You Smarter Than Your Child in Math?” worksheets.

“As a family, I think we always find ways to do math with board games like Yahtzee and card games,” his mother said. “By making math fun and playing games, the kids enjoy math. We’re grateful that this event provides opportunities for kids to come together as a community and learn about the importance of STEM through activities. It gets our kids excited, and they learn STEM is fun. It hopefully sets someone on a path for STEM.”

Rowan and his family then tried the Loading Pictures hands-on experiment, where students colored shapes on a non-porous surface with dry erase markers. Then, warm water was poured on the design, which loosened the design to make it appear as if it were floating, said volunteer Natalie Hansen.

“The kids learned the reaction of the markers when the right temperature of water is poured on it,” she said. “If cold water is poured on it, it won’t release. If hot water is poured on it, it will dissolve. When they get the right temperature with the water, about 110 to 112 degrees, it has a reaction with pigments in the marker which releases the designs.”

Hansen helps with the school’s hands-on science program that Brookwood’s 400 students engage in about three times per year.

“I hope they want to explore all the areas science and technology and engineering and get excited to try new things,” she said. “Students can use their imagination with what they’ve learned in school in math and science

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to have a great time.”

PTA STEM Night organizer Camille Merkley said that students and their families were “amazed at the science” of the Loading Pictures experiment.

About 300 people rotated through the activities; each of the stations represented a different part of STEM, she said.

For example, at another station, students engineered structures using toothpicks and marshmallows.

For the technology station, students could engage with Code Ninjas and with the Aluminum Falcons FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team. Brookwood students were able to take control of the robot and ask questions of the robotics students, some who attend nearby Albion Middle School.

“I think students were having a lot of fun learning about engineering and the robots,” she said. “The kids loved all the activities, and it was great for them to have exposure to all the activities and realize that science is fun. We’re lucky we have a hands-on science program, but the day goes by so fast, and there’s so many things that need to be taught, that STEM Night gives students additional exposure to the sciences so they’re able to think creatively and challenge their problem-solving skills and curiosity.”

Merkley appreciates that it allows people to interact with each other and learn together.

“It’s definitely a community builder,” she said. “STEM Night brings out a whole different crowd of people, and many of the students like doing these activities, especially with their dads as the dads seem to show up to this activity more than any other. We also get a lot of people who live in our neighborhood who are excited about it.”

About 10 volunteers ran stations or assisted parents helping their children with the activities.

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“I think the parents were having as much fun as the kids,” Merkley said.

Justin Lafeen brought his fourth-grade son, Milo, to STEM Night that evening. The rest of the family, including two older siblings, joined in on the fun.

“We love STEM Night; the kids get hands-on experience and we’re supporting them as they get interested in science,” he said. “Coming here is fun for them because they do

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a lot of activities together and get to see their friends outside of a normal school day.”

Milo, who does Scratch programming on a computer at home and likes to figure out different ways to win playing chess with his school club, was filling out his STEM Night passport, hitting every station.

“It’s fun,” he said. “I just like it all.” l

Ty Gorton

Amanda Luker

Stacy Bronson

Our

A Brookwood Elementary student uses the robot’s controls to move it around as Brookwood families look on during the school’s STEM night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Beehive students engaged in projects for STEM Expo

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Beehive

Science & Technology Academy

sophomore Malen Ursua demonstrated magnetism with a bottle of water and ferrofluid added as a layer on top.

“I had some magnets so when someone pulled the magnet into that bottle, then it created really pretty shapes and they could see the shapes really well,” she said, adding that children and families who came to Beehive’s 10th annual STEM Expo found that appealing.

It was the international student’s first time using ferrofluid, which she said is “basically like motor oil” and commonly used for computer hard drives.

“I also had a petri dish full of this fluid and a string of magnets connected so they could see it that way too,” she said. “The experiment is fairly easy, but it allowed us to learn more about magnetic fields and why it becomes magnetized. Basically, the electrons in the iron begin to align with the flow of the magnetic fields that the magnet creates. That’s why it becomes magnetized.”

Ursua appreciated so many people coming to learn about STEM at the expo, demonstrated through the hundreds of students’ experiments.

“We don’t have anything like this at my school in Spain. It was nice seeing everybody with their experiments. We’ve been working on them since October,” she said. “Seeing all the little children come by was neat because most of the experiments are easy to make so they could make them at home. One girl, I think she was in third grade, really liked my experiment so I ended up giving it to her.”

Beehive’s first STEM Expo was held at the school, but outgrew its space at its former campus and expanded to the Mountain America Expo Center. Since then, the Expo has attracted a greater crowd, upward around 3,000 people, said school STEM Coordinator Kerrie Upenieks, who added that it was held virtually in 2021 during COVID-19.

This was the first year elementary students participated after the addition of lower grades to the school at the new campus that opened this past fall.

“The elementary students were in groups; so in kindergarten, they all did the same project,” Upenieks said. “Each group demonstrated their project for 20 minutes, because three hours is a long time for them. Their lead teacher was there to help the students, and they were able to see other experiments, and get excited. Like the other students, they were able to explain their project and understand it, and describe it, but not necessarily in scientific terms.”

Secondary students selected their projects from a database or come up with an experiment on their own, with the approval of Upenieks.

“The idea is that the students are to talk about what the science is, what’s happening or the math of it, or what is the connection

to STEM and then they talk about society, where this may be used or applied,” she said.

Many students decide on their project in September.

“The first step is creating a short PowerPoint to show their research of the science and what places it can be used,” she said. “Our students are self-motivated and want to research to find that information. One year, a student had a hard time with identifying the application of bubble art. We talked about the cohesion of the water and allowing the bubble to stay formed; and we talked about the stickiness of being able to use that when we make things float and the strength of the bonds. It’s more than ‘I’m doing this because it makes me happy.’”

The next step is for students to identify or gather materials for the project. By October, they make a video of their experiment and explain the science behind it. They write the scripts as part of their English classes.

“It gets them prepared for the Expo when they’re doing the demonstration for the public. So, when somebody comes in and asks them a question, they’re knowledgeable about their project and they have ownership in it,” Upenieks said.

With that video, students sit down with other peers to evaluate their project and presentation and can make changes before presenting it to the class. Then, during the winter, students create a e-portfolio on their website about their project.

“Each step allows us to make sure they’re on task and it gives us ways to check on them to support them; they take ownership and feel proud of what they’re doing,” she said. “These students are showing that they really understand their projects and have a connection to society, which could lead them to careers.”

At the Expo, students wore matching Beehive shirts to make the presenters more

identifiable and to bring in art into science, Upenieks said. The front was designed by junior Ashely Pedersen, with the back of the elementary shirt, by third-grader Alfie Murphy, and the back of the secondary shirt, by ninth-grader Isa Beltri.

Also, several businesses and organizations took part in the STEM Expo, such as Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Hawk Watch and The Leonardo.

“The Expo allows people to learn about so many different sciences and they can build rubber band-powered rockets and they can understand simulators for flying aircraft. Then, they can understand the care and science of the animals so it’s not just looking at the technology of flying,” Upenieks said. “They’re learning there is a whole world of things out there that are related to science.” l

At Beehive’s STEM Expo, students learn about water cohesion in the gigantic bubbles. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

In the first year of elementary, students at Beehive Academy demonstrate the water cycle at the school’s STEM Expo. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“Between Doleac, who shows no emotion, he’s flexing at the bench. Then I look at Ace and how locked in and focused he was. In that moment I was like, ‘we’re gonna win this game,’” Ohrn recalled.

That was one of Ohrn’s most memorable moments from a season full of them, as Alta proceeded to beat Timpview and capture the 5A state championship going 24-4.

But the making of Alta’s storybook year started long before they rushed the court to celebrate. The program needed its coach (and coaching staff), the players and the mentality.

Coach O +

Ohrn is a South Jordan native, Bingham High alum and just finished his second year as a head coach at Alta.

A former point guard, he was asked by one of his wife’s friends while he was still in college to help with a BYU basketball camp one summer that would eventually alter his career path. He lived in Murray so the days were long, leaving at 7 a.m. and returning home at 9 p.m. At the end of the week, his wife told him: “You need to coach. I’ve never seen you this happy.”

What followed that year (2010 ironically the last time Alta won a boys basketball state title) were emails to coaches across the state, a short stint with a West Jordan eighth-grade team, before landing back at Bingham with his former high school coach helping the sophomore team.

Ohrn stayed on the Miners staff until 2021 when he applied for the Alta job. He was originally positioned to take over for Jake Schroeder when he returned to the Utah Tech (then Dixie) coaching staff in 2019. Ohrn however, was bypassed for the position. He interviewed at a few places but was hired at Alta two years later.

“In that moment, you’re frustrated and disappointed and you’re wondering why, why did it happen?” Ohrn told the Sandy Journal. “But now that I’m sitting here, it’s like, oh, I know exactly why it happened. This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Coming to Alta holds a unique connection to his playing days. During Ohrn’s senior year at Bingham (2003), his Miners squad split their region games with Alta and the expectation was round three would be in the championship game. But Bingham lost a tight threepoint game to Jordan in the semis and had to watch Alta lift the trophy from afar. A trophy he’s refused to touch since coming to work at the school.

“It’s just crazy the full circle how I ended up here,” he said.

Alta Athletic Director Morgan Brown estimates there were 12-15 applicants for the job. One moment while interviewing Ohrn stood out to him though. They asked him who was a coach Ohrn looked up to and why.

“There was this 15, 20 seconds pause, then the emotion started to flow with Travis,” Brown said. “And I thought, ‘ah this is about

more than just basketball for Travis. This is about people.’”

Ohrn, called “Coach O” by his players, has orchestrated a successful two years as the conductor. In the five years prior to his arrival, the Hawks were 50-61. In the two seasons with Ohrn: 43-11, a region championship and a state championship.

“There were great pieces here, I was walking into a great situation,” Ohrn said.

His first season included a team with seven seniors that saw them go 19-7, win a region championship and fall 55-54 in the quarterfinals as the No. 5-seed to Bonneville.

In what can sometimes be a transition year, Ohrn hit the ground running with his servant leadership style.

“My first approach has to let these guys know that I’m here for them,” he recalled.

“It’s our program. It’s not mine, it’s not the coaches’ program, it’s our program; our assistant coaches, our players, our training staff, our managers, our admins, everybody,” he said. “I want it to be one big family and we all have a piece in this and I’m just lucky enough to be able to stand on the sideline and clap and cheer and yell occasionally.”

Junior Jaxon Johnson remembers their first open gym, he found Ohrn to be very personable and he told the team he’d be fair with everyone. That what stands out to him is effort.

“Right then I was sold on the dude,” Johnson said.

Typically seniors, having just spent three years with a different coach, might clash with

a new coach. But Ohrn noted how “blessed” he felt because the seniors bought in and were “phenomenal.”

“Those seniors last year really set kind of the foundation for what we’re doing now,” he said.

Brown remembers that end of season banquet, when the team captains were in tears, describing the love they have for him and how Ohrn treated them just like his own family.

Johnson described him as his “second dad” where it’s not just basketball with him.

“He’s someone I can rely on in any aspect of my life and that’s why he’s so special,” Johnson said.

The talent +

Coming into this season, Ohrn knew the pieces were there for another run. The JV team had a good season the year prior but it was more about translating that to 7 p.m. (when varsity plays).

One offseason tournament gave the coaching staff some confidence. When one opposing coach questioned Alta’s quality given its dearth of seniors to graduation, the Hawks proceeded to beat them by almost 30 points.

“It was that moment right there. I was like, ‘OK, we got some really good pieces and we got guys that just know how to play basketball,’” Ohrn said.

That perception of a rebuilding year was the talk Johnson and his teammates continued to hear, and it put a chip on their shoulders.

“It pushed us to be greater…it was just a

special group and we all had that mindset,” he said.

The Hawks had one returning starter but the rest were mostly untested at the varsity level. But Ohrn saw guys rising to the occasion like Doleac, Nash Hinck and Carter Goodfellow (all of whom would become playoff starters).

Goodfellow in particular started the season on the bench and didn’t play one minute against Lone Peak in the championship game of a preseason tournament at Skyridge. But due to an eligibility situation, he ended up starting his first game at their Las Vegas tournament, and was the leading scorer.

“He just makes winning plays,” Ohrn said of the junior.

But there was one guy the team could really build around: Johnson.

“He’s a coach’s dream, he can do everything on the basketball court,” Ohrn said of the 6-foot-8 junior.

Johnson’s skillset allows him to find ways to score from all over the floor, but his defensive basketball IQ might impress his coach the most. Ohrn would let him roam defensively trusting his ability to read the game anticipating back door cuts or block passing lanes with his length.

“He’s so smart when it comes to the game of basketball, offensively, defensively and then obviously being 6-foot-8, he can do anything that he wants out there on the court,” Ohrn said, highlighting a block in the championship game where Johnson basically caught the ball

The boys team takes a photo with the Alta student section, described by the head coach as the best in the state. (Photo by Rose Mason)

out of the air, a play Johnson admits was probably his best block ever.

His ability to read the game not only fills up the stat sheet (17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks per game), but also executes on the smaller details like starting a fast break, making the extra pass or tipping rebounds to a teammate.

“I just try to make the right basketball play,” Johnson said. “I could care less if I score 30 points and we lose, I’d rather score two points and get a win. That’s just the way I play, if I have a good shot, but see one of my teammates in the corner that’s wide open I’ll pass it because I have all the trust in the world that they’ll make it.”

Ohrn pointed to the junior’s unselfishness as a key intangible.

“I think he’s the best player in the state,” he said. “He could have averaged 30 points a game if he wanted, but he knew that’s not how you win a championship. You got to have your guys with you, he did such a great job of getting everybody involved in the game.”

One of those guys wasn’t even on the team last year in Ace Reiser, but he proved pivotal as the team’s starting point guard.

Reiser was coming off an all-state year at Bingham. His older played both basketball and baseball before graduating in 2021, but the junior transferred to Alta a week into the school year.

Ohrn was familiar with Reiser having coached him a little his freshman year at Bingham, Ohrn also knew the family having played with his uncle in college and coached Reiser’s older brother, Justis.

Due to the leadership on the team, and Reiser’s attitude, the integration was fairly seamless, Ohrn said.

“It’s cool to see Ace and who he is today,” Ohrn said. “The personality that he has, how he’s thriving here in our school, he’s really come out of his shell.”

Prior to Reiser’s arrival, Johnson felt they were contenders, but his addition made them favorites.

“He’s just the perfect player you want to play with, he’s the perfect point guard,” Johnson said.

His presence brought an extra dimension to the squad’s arsenal of talent—he averaged 14 points and five assists per game—as well as be an example in hard work and focus.

At the team’s morning shootaround on the day of the semifinal, Reiser stayed after for an hour getting in extra shots. The junior would go on to score 21 points on 8-13 shooting with four 3-pointers and 10 assists against the No. 1-seed Olympus.

“We already had a really good team, and he helped us become a great team,” Ohrn said. The mentality =

The moment Ohrn knew this team could be special came well before the season even started. It was the fall and the team is encouraged to support other school programs. On the day of a football game where Alta was traveling to Utah County, senior Ryan Richards announced to the team during a weight session

that whoever needed a ride to the game could meet at 5 p.m. and they’d drive everyone, including freshmen.

“When I heard those conversations going on, it was like, ‘you know, we got a chance to do something special because we got the right guys,’” Ohrn remembered.

Richards, who won a state title with soccer last year, was referred to several times by Ohrn and Johnson as the “glue guy” of the locker room.

“Ryan’s a perfect leader,” Johnson said. “Kept us all together, kept us focused. Little things like that, taking underclassmen to football games, that is really what made this group a brotherhood.”

That inclusivity and cohesion was present among the coaching staff as well. When Ohrn was hired, his first order of business was perhaps the hardest part, finding a coaching staff

as a new coach. He found three assistants who were all former players of his at Bingham. Then added a fourth this year. The oldest of which graduated high school in 2013.

The staff became a close-knit group, often having dinners at Ohrn’s house.

“What makes our team very unique, is our coaching staff is so close,” he said. “It makes a big difference to have guys that care about me, care about our program, my family, the boys. It definitely helped with all the success that we had this year.”

The team-first mentality among the players infused an environment of selflessness, Ohrn said.

“We have guys that are unselfish, and all they want to do is win, which makes it fun,” he said.

Goodfellow in Vegas, Doleac in the championship game, Hinck in the semis all

serve to highlight how quickly Johnson knew this team was special.

“We had all the pieces and everyone was just buying into their role,” Johnson said of their first couple practices. “We have so many guys that could go to other schools and average 20 points a game or stuff like that. I just knew instantly we were gonna be special and it was just fun.”

It means passing up good shots for great shots, moving without the ball and making good reads. For Ohrn, it means trusting the players to think for themselves.

“I’m just on the sidelines,” he said. “Yeah, I’m gonna yell for certain things that I think I see. But you’re the one that’s out there. If you see something, if you feel something, let’s go with it, I trust you guys.”

In the semifinals, Ohrn suggested the team switch their defense up, but Reiser and Johnson both said no, they should stay in manto-man defense. The two were guarding Olympus’ two best players.

Beating the Titans in the semifinals, the

The coaching staff would regularly get together for dinners at head coach Travis Ohrn’s house. (Photo by Rose Mason) The team huddles during the state championship game. (Photo by Rose Mason)

Head coach Travis Ohrn said their student section was easily the best in the state tournament. (Photo by Rose Mason)

Carter Doleac went on a personal 8-0 run to start the second half against of the 5A state championship game. (Photo by Rose Mason)

defending state champs, by 20 was impressive on numbers alone, but also in the shifting mindset Ohrn is trying to instill.

While teams like Olympus or American Fork, Lone Peak previously and Corner Canyon currently, enjoy a certain aura over their programs. Ohrn wants to instill a fear factor in their opponents before the game even starts.

“We respect all of our opponents, but we understand that we’re there too. They have to respect us and who we are,” he said.

Championship

The Hawks soared through preseason going 10-1 with its only loss coming against the eventual 4A state champions from Florida, Mater Lakes where a shot clock violation on a made 3-pointer changed the outcome of the five-point loss.

First round of region games saw its closest contest come in a seven-point win over Lehi. But the back half of region saw the Hawks lose

to Lehi and Timpview by a combined three points, while a tight loss to basketball power Wasatch Academy during a region bye provided enough of a dip to sharpen the team’s focus. Those region losses were enough to cost Alta the region title. But more importantly, it taught the team how they could be beat: slower tempo, physicality and playing with a lead.

While they defeated Timpview by 14 the first game, the Thunderbirds adjusted for the second game. Ohrn said if they had won both region games playing their style, the Thunderbirds could have “slowed the game way down and it would’ve shocked us.”

“Losing that game at Timpview ultimately, helped us win the championship game,” he said.

The Hawks were able to get out in transition more and really break the game open in the second half. Johnson was subbed out with nine seconds left and the dawning comprehen-

sion they were about to win the state championship set in.

“It was unbelievable, you work all year to just make it to the state championship, let alone win it and to do that with your best friends,” he said. “When we saw the zeros on the clock and we won, it was amazing.”

Ohrn, who won a baseball state championship as a senior, said winning one as a coach feels so much better.

“To see (the players) run out on the court and celebrate…I don’t even know how to describe that feeling,” he said.

The coach had to duck into the tunnel at one point because he was crying so much.

Celebrations started with receiving the state trophy and cutting down the nets. They stayed at the Dee Events Center so long Weber State officials had to ask them to leave so they could go home. Their bus was treated to a police escort and the celebrations continued at the

school when they returned.

“I’m super lucky and fortunate to be here and coach the guys that I have and have that opportunity to win it. People don’t realize how rare that is,” he said.

Ohrn will carry multiple memorable moments from this season, from the finals, to calling the 20-point victory over Olympus, to revving up their student section in a preseason win at Brighton.

As for what comes next, the Hawks will participate in the prestigious Section 7 tournament June 23-25 at the Cardinals Stadium in Arizona. The team returns four starters and several other contributors for next season.

Perhaps the best indicator came three days after the state championship when Ohrn wandered into the gym to find Reiser shooting. His comment to his coach: “If we’re gonna repeat, I got to put in the work.” l

Travis Ohrn, in only his second season at Alta and as a head coach, cuts down the net after leading the Hawks to a state championship. (Photo by Rose Mason)

Jaxon Johnson practically catches his block against Timpview in the 64-53 championship win. (Photo by Rose Mason)

Ace Reiser was a late addition to the Alta squad as a transfer this year, becoming essential to the Hawks magical season. (Photo by Rose Mason) Jaxon Johnson caps off a fast break with a dunk.

(Photo by Rose Mason)

Sandy sponsored Earth Day cleanup needs you to make a difference April 22

All Sandy residents are invited to help with a spring cleanup for Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. The seventh annual Earth Day event is run by the Dimple Dell Preservation Committee. This year they’ll meet at 2765 E. Dimple Dell Road at 8:30 a.m.

“We’re meeting at a different location this year because our usual place is getting some seasonal upgrades and work done. But we’re excited to see who comes out this year. In the past we’ve had up to 500 volunteers, and it really makes a difference,” said Joyce Walker, president of the DDPC.

The DDPC cares passionately about Dimple Dell Park. They were appointed by Sandy City to care for the recreation area and hold several events a year. The annual cleanup helps get the area ready for summer use.

“When we first started doing the cleanup, we had a lot of garbage to get rid of. We needed big trucks and moved out six tons of trash, including old couches and tires.

“Last year, we didn’t need any big trucks. Due to the efforts of the community, the park is almost free of trash. It shows that we’re making a difference,” Walker said.

The cleanup is held rain or shine, so Walker encourages people to dress for the weather in sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants. Volunteers should bring their own work gloves, hard rakes, shovels and spades.

Trash bags are provided, and local businesses often donate drinks and snacks to volunteers. The area is known as the

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

Dimple Dell or Monument trailhead. There is a dirt gravel parking lot and bathrooms nearby.

“You really are making a difference, and we want to see everyone there. So grab your work group, church group, family, neighbors, bowling league, book club— whoever you associate with to make this a fun morning,” Walker said.

Walker asks those that want to come with a group to call her at 801-598-1008 or email her at joycewalker@remax.net ahead of time so she can give them a specific assignment.

The morning’s planned projects are painting foot bridges, restoring vegetation zones along the North Rim Trail, tree trimming and fire mitigation efforts. They’ll also be removing invasive weeds. Invasive species take over the wild areas and divert nutrients from native plants.

“Come ready to learn about which plants here are invasive and how to remove them. We’ve had a lot of success with this. Now that people are educated, they remove the plants on their own when they’re out enjoying the park, which helps a lot,” Walker said.

There will also be an opportunity to reseed areas with native plants. If you’d like to help with that, please bring a spade.

“This is a very organized event, but the thing we really need is for people to bring their own tools—we only have so many of those. Tools that can dig out plant roots are especially helpful,” Walker said.

The cleanup is supported officially by Salt Lake County Parks, Sandy City Parks, Sandy Police and Fire Departments, and

public utilities. Animal services and other groups will also have education booths there.

Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski is deeply involved with the DDPC. She’s an avid horseback rider who promotes use of the Dimple Dell area. She’s also a regular at the annual cleanup events and asks that

Sandy residents come help.

“As we all know, many hands make light work. It’s amazing what we can do when we come together as a community. This is a wonderful chance to beautify our neighborhoods and parks and meet our neighbors,” Zoltanski said. “I encourage everyone to get involved.” l

Removing invasive weeds like thistle is a big part of the Earth Day cleanup project on April 22 and is a fun job for kids. (DDPC)

The Earth Day cleanup is open to everyone. Families who come teach their kids how to care for their environment. (DDPC)

Many people in Sandy enjoy and use the Dimple Dell Recreation Area throughout the year. The annual cleanup keeps it safe and pleasant for everyone. (DDPC)

A clean and protected Dimple Dell habitat gives people a place to reconnect with nature. (DDPC)

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jamie.chambers@citywidehomeloans.com

K. TYSON BAILEY, DO Internal Medicine

Dr. Tyson Bailey joins Granger Medical Clinic Internal Medicine—Sandy/Draper clinic after completing his residency with Abrazo Healthcare in Glendale, Arizona. As a native to Utah, he is excited to be building a lifelong practice caring for patients. Dr. Bailey is an advocate for his patients, having won both “Resident of the Year Award” in 2021 during the height of the COVID pandemic and “Outpatient Medicine Resident of The Year” in 2022.

Dr. Bailey completed medical school at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. While at this faith-based university, he learned how to integrate modern, evidence-based medical practices while focusing on the three tenets of health: mind, body, and soul. Dr. Bailey believes that optimal health comes when all three of these tenets are addressed properly. To address these three tenets fully, Dr. Bailey uses a multidisciplinary approach to ensure every aspect of patients’ well-being is taken care of.

HOW DO YOU SAVE A LIFE?

It is not uncommon that individuals witness a choking, a drug overdose, heart attack or some other life-threatening issue. How many of us know what to do in this kind of situation? Apparently, it doesn’t take a lot of training to help out in many types of emergencies. We reached out to Brenda Hatch with Heart Song Rescue Training to find out more about this important topic.

CITY JOURNALS: Hello Brenda and thank you for talking to us. I understand you took the instructor courses through the Red Cross and have been teaching for five years now. Why did you decide to become a CPR Instructor?

BRENDA: Well, that’s a great question. I did not grow up wanting to be a CPR and First Aid Instructor. I’d been a nurse for about 15 years when I had an accident. One night while I was recovering, I walked into my son’s room and found him lying on his bed, blue and lifeless. I knew I was looking at cardiac arrest. I’d seen it and worked through it at work many times but I’ll never forget how different this felt. I provided care for about 8 minutes while we waited for the EMTs. When they arrived, they started a Naloxone IV on him. Naloxone, also referred to as Narcan, is the drug that is used to reverse a drug overdose. My son responded promptly, which confirmed my suspicion that the situation was drug related.

After this incident, I shifted focus and decided to become an advocate for First Aid and CPR. This is my way of battling the opioid epidemic. Back to my son: He’s fine. He is a pleasant and productive man with a wife and 4 children. Because of these events, I have become thankful for the accident that crashed my career. It put me home the night that he overdosed, and in a position to save his life. I guess, sometimes bad things happen so worse things don’t.

CITY JOURNAL: In your expert opinion, who needs to know CPR and First Aid?

BRENDA: Well, when you recognize the fact that every living, breathing human is at risk for becoming the victim of a life threatening emergency at any given moment, this is something we ALL need to know. People often deceive themselves into thinking that their family and friends are young, healthy people and this will not happen in their world. The truth is, injuries and illnesses can occur anywhere and anytime.

I had a conversation once with a grocery store employee. He noticed my “American Red Cross Instructor” badge and I asked if he was trained in CPR and First Aid. He wasn’t and was worried about having someone slip and fall at the store. Let’s look at the store for a second: The customer that might slip and fall is certainly something to be concerned about since this presents the possibility of serious head injuries and fractures among other things. The baker works with extremely hot and slippery surfaces. The butcher works with very sharp tools such as knives and bone saws. In the deli, you will also find hot surfaces and sharp objects. Any mishap here could throw multiple people into a life-threatening situation.

I, personally, would never want to be in a situation where I stand idly by watching a person die and not know how to help. I would like to believe that everybody feels the same way.

CITY JOURNAL: What have you found to be some of the major reasons people hold back from training up?

BRENDA: Time and money are big hang ups. However, CPR and First Aid training is not terribly expensive or time consuming. We need to consider the worth of a life. The cost of our training is less than $100 and will take about 5-6 hours every 2 years. People often think that they should get some training

but put it off for “the time being” because it’s just not in the budget or doesn’t work into their schedule. They rationalize that they will do it later. Then, suddenly, it’s too late and they are experiencing the loss of a loved one due to drowning, an accidental injury or an undiagnosed medical condition. Physical limitation is also often used as an excuse. They think they can’t get down on the ground because of bad knees, or perhaps they have a bad shoulder or a back injury. For whatever reason, some individuals feel like they just couldn’t physically help. People fail to realize that there is more to do at the scene of a life-threatening emergency than to actually participate in giving CPR or providing First Aid. Someone will need to call 911 while others may get an AED or bandages, handle crowd or traffic control, ensure that the scene is safe, or be the look out for the EMTs. There are a lot of roles that a person who is not capable of providing care can assume in order to promote a favorable outcome. We teach these things in our classes too. Even if I had 2 broken arms, I’d find a way to be helpful. Abraham Lincoln said it like this: “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.”

If you would like to find out more about CPR and Emergency Rescue Training, you can reach out to the Utah Red Cross or contact Brenda directly at 801-935-5004 or by scanning the link to her website below.

Longtime resident and cycling instructor receives first Healthy Sandy Champion Award

Clint Juhl has taught indoor cycling classes four mornings a week for 20 years. That adds up to approximately 4,000 classes and 44,000 students. So it’s no mystery why he was chosen to be the recipient of the first Healthy Sandy Champion Award.

The award was presented during the Sandy City Council meeting on Feb. 28.

“We decided to do this Healthy Sandy Champion to recognize individuals or groups that commit to making Sandy a healthier place to live and work and have fun,” said Darin Butler, the Sandy Library manager and past chair of the Healthy Sandy steering committee.

The committee is made up of 18 volunteers and city leaders who advocate for better health in the community, which includes access to healthy food and mental health resources as well as active living.

Juhl was nominated by a member of the committee who stated “he’s passionate and caring and cares for the well-being of our community.”

“Just recently, one of our members at Alta Canyon had an incident, a cardiac incident, in his class,” said Mayor Monica Zoltanski when presenting the award. “And Clint literally was there to catch the patron before he fell. We are so grateful for your service and your leadership and all you do for the community, so congratulations.”

One of Juhl’s students is recently-retired Fire Department Chief Bruce Cline.

“Bruce is a frequent rider,” Juhl said. “He’s still an active member of the 6 a.m. class even after retiring. We all keep an eye on each other. It’s a family. If people aren’t there, I call you and say ‘Where are you? What’s going on?’”

At age 63, Juhl enjoys staying active and has competed in multiple Ironman Triathlons. He is a cycling instructor two days a week each at Alta Canyon Sports Center and VASA Fitness in Sandy in the morning and runs a small business during the day.

“I’d like to thank my wife, who’s really the only reason I’m getting this,” Juhl said. “Because she does the music and it’s her music that brings everybody.”

Juhl also mentioned his children, who have worked as lifeguards, pool managers and swim coaches at Alta Canyon over the years.

“Clint creates a sense of community. I noticed this with him the first time I met him during a tree planting project at Alta Canyon many years ago,” said Dan Medina, director of Parks & Recreation for Sandy City and a member of the Healthy Sandy steering committee. “And that sense of community is obvious in his spin class-

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

es. He encourages his riders to support and uplift one another and celebrate each other’s achievements. Not only does this create a sense of camaraderie but also help create a positive atmosphere and motivates riders to work hard.”

Sandy was designated as a Healthy Utah Community in 2021, one of 33 municipalities in Utah to be given that recognition to date. The designation program, a partnership between Get Healthy Utah and the Utah League of Cities and Towns, recognizes communities that implement

evidence-based strategies to improve community health.

Some of those strategies can be found at the Healthy Sandy website, ut-healthysandy.civicplus.pro. The website offers information on a range of topics, from

vaccines to suicide prevention to nutrition. “Clint has the perfect personality to encourage and motivate people to be healthy,” Medina said. “This award is very well deserved and earned.” l

Clint Juhl (center) celebrates the retirement of former Sandy Fire Chief Bruce Cline during his spinning class at Alta Canyon Sports Center. (Photo courtesy Clint Juhl)

Charles Otis, the Healthy Sandy Steering Committee Chair, gives Clint Juhl the first Healthy Sandy Champion Award. (Photo courtesy Sandy City Council Facebook page)

Intermountain Health’s giant inflatable colon offers a unique colorectal perspective

According to the medical community, early-onset colorectal cancer will become the leading cancer and leading cause of death for people aged 20-49 by 2030. That’s a 90% increase for colon cancer and a 124% increase for rectal cancer.

Intermountain Health took the opportunity during Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March to bring awareness to the importance of potentially life-saving screenings by holding the “Let’s Get to the Bottom of Colon Cancer” giant inflatable colon tour that traveled to 21 hospitals and clinics in Utah and Idaho.

A walk-through tour of the 12-foot, 113-pound inflatable colon, depicts the different stages of colorectal cancer and educates patients about how to prevent this disease.

“We want patients to be more aware of colon cancer and what it means,” said Nickole Gardner, nurse manager at Alta View Endoscopy. “We want them to know that 45 is the new 50, that’s the new age we want people to start screening with colonoscopies. The only way to know you have polyps is to have a colonoscopy. We can go in and see polyps long before they can turn into colon cancer or a malignant polyp. More and more people are getting diagnosed at younger ages.”

Dr. Austin Cannon, colon and rectal surgeon at Intermountain Medical Center, said the giant colon is great for visual learners to help them understand how polyps in the colon change over time, what they look like and how they can become cancerous.

He said he sees patients all the time with no family history of colorectal cancer, who practice a healthy lifestyle

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

and they have been diagnosed with cancer. Cannon hopes as younger people get screened, they can catch these cancers earlier and save more lives.

“For anybody who has a first-degree relative with colon cancer, the colonoscopy is the only test you should be using to screen,” Cannon said. “It’s better at identifying polyps, and if we see polyps, we can take them out before they turn into colon cancer. We can find them, look at them and treat them to reduce the risk of colon cancer actually happening.”

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 153,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, making it the third-most common cancer diagnosed for men and women and the second leading cause of total cancer-related deaths.

Cannon would like people to get past the idea that a colonoscopy is a terrible ordeal and start normalizing the conversations about screenings to reduce the stigma and fear.

“You’re pretty much asleep during the entire procedure,” he said. “Taking that bowel prep and having that experience is not fun, but it’s also not painful. We also try to make it not scary, knowing that all procedures can be scary.”

While the cause of the increase in colorectal cancer isn’t clear, it’s possible that rising obesity levels, especially among young people, could contribute to the rise in cancers. Sugary drinks, diets high in processed foods and sugars, and not eating enough whole foods and fiber could be adding to the risk.

“In Utah we’re blessed because we have a pretty healthy population compared to a lot of places,” Cannon

said. “The largest studies that have been done consistently show smoking, obesity and high consumption of red meat as risk factors for colon cancer. It’s just trying to live a healthy life.” l

Dr. Austin Cannon, colon and rectal surgeon at Intermountain Medical Center, stands inside the giant inflatable colon. With the giant colon, visual learners can better understand how polyps in the colon change over time. (City Journals)

Unified basketball brings skills, inclusion, friendship to Jordan’s, Alta’s teams

Jordan High sophomore Tegan Mast is playing on unified basketball for her second year and was getting ready to compete at a regional tournament in early March.

“I like playing ball with everyone,” said the student-athlete. “We play twice each week and have a lot of fun.”

Mast’s teammate and senior class president Cameryn Coffey has played alongside her both years.

“I like how unified sports brings everyone together, not necessarily to win, but to be united,” she said. “It’s also fun that the tournament is held during inclusion week. We’ve been doing all sorts of activities at lunch from having pancakes to face painting so everyone can participate and have fun.”

In unified basketball, there are five players on the court—three athletes and two unified partners. Teams play against other squads of the same ability in two eight-minute halves. Supported by Special Olympics and the Utah High School Activities Association, unified sports has both a competitive and a player development level, the latter which provides more of a cooperative environment with partners being teammates and mentors.

UHSAA referee Paul Madsen said he appreciates unified basketball.

“There’s great sportsmanship,” he said. “Everyone is helping each other. It’s wonderful to see.”

Alta High Principal Ken Rowley, who was watching the Hawks, agrees.

“What an amazing experience to see our Special Olympic athletes from Alta High School learning life lessons with other Special Olympian’s from across the Salt Lake Valley,” he said. “The look of sheer joy on their face as they or a friend scored a basket. It made my heart smile as I experienced this

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

for the first time. This is something that Alta High School will be a part of for years to come.”

Rowley said unified sports ties to Alta’s theme of the year, “better together.” Alta’s inclusion week celebrated students’ differences, which included highlighting different cultures as well.

“Our differences can and do make us stronger. We also gained a greater appreciation for each other and celebrated the uniqueness of each individual in our community,” he said.

Canyons Education Foundation Officer Denise Haycock helped at the regional tournament and appreciated the partnerships between Jordan and Canyons foundations and the support of sponsors, including Scheels in providing equipment for the unified athletes.

When the regional tournament ended, the two Jordan High teams both came in second in their respective divisions while Alta took fourth in its division.

In Utah, involvement in unified high school basketball has skyrocketed. This year, there were the most teams in its history competing to play at state—73 teams competed for 32 state seeds, said Courtnie Worthen, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools manager.

At the March 8 state unified basketball tournament, there was plenty of smiles and cheers as the Jordan Beetdiggers brought home a bronze medal in its division. Administrators from several school districts and educational foundations joined Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox to support the competition, which was held at Weber State University.

Abby Cox said she was proud of everyone in the gym.

“Utah, as a state—we are part of the in-

clusion revolution,” she told them.

Unified sports engages students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams, leading to not only sports skills development and competition, but also inclusion and friendship, Worthen said.

“Unified sports provides social inclusion opportunities for all teammates to build friendships on and off the court,” she said. “The teammates challenge each other to improve their skills and fitness and at the same time, increase positive attitudes and establish friendships and provide a model of inclusion for the entire school community.”

Unified sports, Worthen said, is includ-

ed in the Unified Champion Schools model, where a unified team is supported by the entire school and there is inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement.

“With schools that embrace the Unified Champion Schools model, they create communities where all students feel welcome and are included in all school activities and opportunities. Students feel socially and emotionally secure, they’re more engaged in the school and feel supported, and are respected,” she said. “It changes school climates.” l

Jordan School District Superintendent Rick Robins awards medals to the Beetdiggers at their regional unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Alta High parades in to thundering applause at the regional unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Jordan High and Alta High met up at the regional tournament in unified basketball. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

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Sandy honors police officers for busting ‘porch pirate’ ring

Sandy City’s Police Department ended 2022 on a high note.

On Dec. 7, six officers from the Crime Suppression Unit used doorbell camera footage and tips obtained through social media, including the license plate number from a vehicle, to identify and locate seven individuals suspected to be involved in a porch pirate package theft ring.

“They were on the way to a citywide holiday luncheon when a call came in saying that a vehicle they had identified was located,” Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said during a special recognition ceremony in February. “They made a beeline for where they were needed and worked together under the direction of Chief (Greg) Severson.”

The officers quickly mobilized after learning of multiple thefts and located one of the suspect’s cars meeting up with another vehicle in the parking lot of a Walmart in Midvale. Officers ultimately arrested seven people from both cars and recovered stolen packages along with illegal narcotics and weapons, according to Severson. Several of

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

the suspects had outstanding felony warrants.

“It was quite remarkable because it wasn’t like somebody just handed them the vehicle description and said they’re going to be at this place at this time,” Zoltanski said.

“No, all of these pieces of the puzzle were put together through proactive policing, community policing, monitoring what’s happening in online groups, and all the other resources our department has. It’s a little bit of information here, a little bit there, and then talking to our community and then going out and making the arrests happen.”

Chief Severson described the Crime Suppression Unit as being like the Swiss army knife of the police department.

“This unit is tasked with amazing things,” Severson said. “They take care of our parks, they do homeless outreach, they do fugitive apprehension, they do gang enforcement. You name it, they take care of it—including package theft. I’m just tremendously proud of what this unit is doing and all the things they’ve ac-

complished.”

Zoltanski recognized the officers involved in stopping the theft ring during the Sandy City Council meeting on Feb. 14. The officers included Jacob Olsen, Michael Piekarczyk, Steven Pomeroy, Michael Thornton, Graham Tinius and Sgt. Jacob Knight.

“There’s not one neighborhood in our city who hasn’t been affected by property crime,” Zoltanski said. “Since the pandemic more and more of us are relying on online purchases, and who hasn’t felt the frustration of porch pirates and packages coming up missing? You can’t talk to any crime watch group without that being the chief complaint in Sandy.”

The mayor added that Sandy has been working on education for crime prevention in addition to enforcement. Residential burglaries in general decreased by 53% in Sandy during 2022, according to a press release from Sandy City Public Affairs.

In February, Severson was awarded Chief of the Year at the Black and Blue Gala put on by the

Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary (FOPA) and Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).

Tips from the Sandy Police Department on the city blog in fall 2022 recommended tracking your packages in order to anticipate at home deliveries. It also recommended reporting suspicious activity believed

to be package theft to Sandy Police at 801-568-7200.

“Is it the crime of the century? No,” Zoltanski said. “But is it important to every single neighborhood in our city? You bet.” l

Utah’s donations to Ukraine are being distributed reports Miller Foundation

It’sbeen over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis is still at the forefront of the news. Concerned Utahns donated to the Driven to Assist fundraiser in 2022, and the Miller Family Foundation reported on Feb. 23 that those donations have reached Europe and been distributed.

“The Miller Family Foundation delivered four shipping containers filled with donated supplies to Constanta, Romania between November 2022 and January 2023. The…Driven to Assist…donation drive raised $4 million and collected 250 pallets of donated goods to benefit refugees fleeing Ukraine, many of which were included in this recent and timely delivery,” a press release from Feb. 23 stated.

From Constanta on the Black Sea, the supplies traveled more than 300 miles north to Suceava, Romania where there is a humanitarian distribution hub, according to Mircea Divricean. Divricean is the Honorary Consul of Romania to Utah.

Suceava is about an hour away from the Ukrainian border and positioned to help those fleeing from Ukraine into Romania and nearby Moldova. Donated supplies included coats, blankets, gloves, diapers and feminine hygiene products.

The Foundation reported that the supplies “arrived in time to help and comfort refugees

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

during the cold winter months.” They also said Divricean “worked directly [with] and helped facilitate and coordinate the partnership with the Romanian government and Romanian counterparts” to distribute donations to refugees.

“The people of Utah came together in a time of need to try to bring love and warmth to the people of Ukraine. As the aid from Utah has made it to the European Union Humanitarian HUB in Suceava, Romania, I am very happy to know those donations will come at a critical time to help and support Ukrainians in need,” Divricean said.

The complete press release is available on the Miller Family Foundation website, www. lhm.com.driven-to-assist. It reports that 90% of donations given were $100 or less.

Those searching for ongoing local ways to help Ukrainians can check the Utah Ukrainian Association, the Community Foundation of Utah (which worked with Driven to Assist) and Catholic Community Services of Utah. A resource guide has also been created by the Utah Division of Workforce Services for Ukrainians navigating life in Utah and can be found at www.jobs.utah.gov. l

Mayor Monica Zoltanski and members of the Sandy City Council pose with members of the Crime Suppression Unit who were being honored for excellent work.

(Photo courtesy Sandy City Public Affairs & Public Information)

Miller Family Foundation reports that donations have made it from Utah… (Miller Family Foundation)

Miller Family Foundation reports that donations have made it from Utah… (Miller Family Foundation)

…To Ukrainian refugees in Romania. (Miller Family Foundation)

…To Ukrainian refugees in Romania. (Miller Family Foundation)

Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizenconnect

Z News

Hello Sandy Friends,

Spring is arriving with warmer temperatures, longer days, and owers sprouting up around our city. I love this time of year with the sense of optimism and invigoration it brings. is year I’m especially excited because my two buckskin mares, Little Miss and Tiramisu, are pregnant and their foals are expected any day now. I can’t wait to post and share pictures. ere’s nothing cuter than baby horses.

Spring is the time when we emerge from our hibernation and get organized with a good spring cleaning. Our Sandy City bulk waste program is already underway. In the spring we start from the west of the city and work east. You should have already received your postcards with your pickup date.

ere are two great volunteer opportunities to get outside and work with your neighbors. One is the annual Earth Day cleanup in Dimple Dell Park on Saturday, April 22nd. is year the Dimple Dell Preservation Community is staging its volunteer day from Lone Peak Park, not Wrangler Trailhead as usual. Be sure to check out the DDPC on Facebook for details.

Next month, Sandy Beauti cation Day occurs on May 20th. I invite you to join others on a community clean-up project to help spruce up our city parks and neighborhoods. I always nd it really rewarding. Many hands make light work and it's incredible how much our volunteers get done on these two community days each spring.

is is the time of year when my budget planning is coming together, a process we’ve been working on for months. We’ve been running a complete assessment of city services, creating e ciencies and savings, and incorporating the new requirements we’ve received from our state legislature this year. My budget will be presented to the city council the rst week of May. While drilling down on the details, I’m constantly seeking input from residents on budget priorities like public safety, economic development, and investing in the places, events and services that bind our city together.

I hear so much from you in the community about the importance of supporting our police and re personnel, our essential workers such as our plow drivers, utility workers, parks employees, and all our Sandy employees who deliver the services important to you. I hear loud and clear how you want me to advance the build-out of the new Fire Station 31, maintain our three-hand sta ng on each re engine (an increase from two last year), and make sure our public safety and essential workers have the tools they need to stay safe while keeping us safe.

To that point, one issue you might not be aware of is our aging eet of police vehicles in Sandy. To put it frankly, in recent years we just haven’t had the budget to replace our police vehicles as we should. Many of the cars our o cers are driving are more than ten years old, well past the life span of a performance police vehicle that’s in service almost daily. It’s recommended a marked police vehicle remain in service for ve years. From today, that would date back to 2019. However, the average model year of our police cars is 2016, with some of our Impalas dating back to 2009 and 2011. You can imagine your own experience with a high-mileage older vehicle; it comes to the point that it’s more expensive to service it than replace it.

If you talk to our police chief or o cers that you see around town, each one will have a story about how our Chevy Impalas are no longer performing to meet the modern needs and terrain of our city. e older Impalas are di cult to navigate during extreme weather. When public safety is critical, we can’t a ord having an o cer’s vehicle stalling out on the way to a call or stuck in the snow. Not only are we left with an immobilized vehicle, but it takes an o cer out of commission. When response time matters, we can’t allow this to happen.

All our city vehicles are rated by our city engineers and our city eet manager. is year, out of 148 police vehicles, 97 are recommended for replacement. My goal is to make a big dent in that number with this year’s budget.

Not only do the men and women in blue rely on their vehicles to respond to your calls for service, but their police cars are also literally their mobile o ce. When you consider that each o cer carries about 40 pounds of gear on their vest and duty belt, and is surrounded by a computer, speed detector, and a long inventory of technology tools and emergency equipment, the police vehicle, itself, becomes an essential tool for the o cer’s agility, performance, and responsiveness. at’s why it’s so important we have the right police vehicles on the road.

e big weather events this year have clari ed that we can no longer put o this pressing need. We need to establish a program for routine eet replacement. My goal is to put us on course for routine eet replacement beginning with this year’s budget. It’s important you hear this from me because our loyal o cers are not ones to complain. Please watch the upcoming budget for vehicle investments that will assure the high standard of public safety readiness you deserve.

As we discuss the needs of our city, I invite you to get involved. We’ll be sharing information about our city’s budgetary needs through June, and I’d like to hear from you. You can always contact me directly by email at mayor@sandy.utah.gov . Be sure to follow my daily posts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayorZoltanski is way I can keep you informed on other budgetary items. It’s the most current source of accurate information directly from me. Also, remember my public open o ce hours and schedule a visit to share ideas.

ank you for your being an educated and active participant in our local decision making and understanding the dollars and “sense” it takes to operate our world-class city.

Yours in Service, Mayor

Monica Zoltanski

Photo contest winner: Richard Steele

Sandy Police Department

Quick Tips: Gun Safety

What causes a pothole?

is winter has been very hard on our roads. As you drive around there seems to be potholes developing on every street. is begs the question, what causes a pothole? Potholes are created when the top layer of pavement and the material beneath – called the base or sub-base – cannot support the weight of the tra c. Two factors are always present in such a failure: TRAFFIC and WATER.

e development of a pothole includes:

1. Snowmelt or rain seeps through cracks in the pavement and into the sub-base; if the moisture cannot adequately drain away from the sub-base and soil underneath, it becomes saturated and soft.

2. Trapped moisture is subjected to repeated freeze/thaw cycles – and with each occurrence, the expanding ice lifts and cracks the pavement more. e passing tra c weakens the pavement, cracking it further.

3. As temperatures rise and the ice melts, a void is left under the pavement. is void collects more water, and during the next freeze, the void will enlarge.

e Sandy Police Department wants responsible gun owners who follow gun safety practices.

• Always treat a gun as if it were loaded

• Always keep your nger o the trigger until ready to shoot

• Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

• Know how the gun operates

• Store your rearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when not in use

• Use a gun locking device that renders the rearm inoperable when not in use

o Gun locks are available from the Sandy Police Department at no cost

• Make sure young people in your home are aware of and understand the safety guidelines concerning rearms

• Educate everyone in your family about rearms safety and its importance

o Visit the Project ChildSafe website for additional safety information: www.projectchildsafe.org

4. Vehicles driving over the weakened pavement pound it until the surface breaks and collapses into the void below, thus creating a pothole.

If you see a pothole, please contact the Public Works Department at (801) 568-2999 or send an email to pw@sandy.utah.gov. You can also quickly report it with your Sandy City CityServe app. If you haven’t setup your account, download the app and stay connected to Sandy City.

Meet the Sandy City Administration Team

Monica Zoltanski – Mayor

Kimberly Bell – Deputy Mayor

Shane Pace – Chief Administrative O cer

Jared Gerber – Deputy Chief Administrative O cer

Susan Wood – Public A airs & PIO

Jamie Jacobson – Project & Sustainability Manager

Cortney Kuntz – Executive Assisant to the Mayor

Administration is responsible for overseeing operations of all city departments. Sta assists the Mayor in developing and implementing programs to promote citizen engagement and e ectiveness of city programs or services. Administration also directs, prepares, and administers the annual city budget and develops policies and procedures designed to facilitate e ective and e cient conduct of governmental business.

Sandy Service Ambassador Program

Our new Sandy Service Ambassador Program launched at the beginning of this year. is program provides another opportunity for residents to connect more with the city, learn about the city processes, give feedback to city sta , and share information with their neighbors.

We have updated our Sandy Service Ambassador list, see below for the most current list:

• Paul Corlett

• Dave Egelund

• Bruce Cline

• Scott Drysdale

• Sean Kowallis

• Steven McKinnon

• Karen omas

• Melissa Schaefer

• Patricia ompson

• Cathy Spuck

• Angie Pe er

• Mona Vollmer

As this program moves forward, the need to add more ambassadors may arise. If you are interested in serving as an ambassador in the future, please sign up at sandy.utah.gov/myalerts to receive noti cations for when we have openings.

9565 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092 NOW HIRING

Alta Canyon is hiring for several positions. To see the full list, visit: sandy.utah.gov/jobs

SUMMER CAMPS:

ere are limited spots left in the following camps: Kinder Camp for ages 3-5 (half day)

Rebel Camp for ages 11-15 (full day)

Play & Learn Camp for ages 3-5 (full day) Register online.

RENTALS

Summer rental reservations open April 1. Be sure to make your reservations early because they ll up quick!

SNAPOLOGY (STEM / STEAM PROGRAMS)

Educational, Fun and A ordable Classes and Camps! Registration is currently open. Camps begin in June

I CAN TRI & 5K - JUNE 24, 2023

e I Can Tri is perfect for rst-time triathletes, veteran racers, families, and friends. ough it’s a sprint, only in this endurance sport is it called a “sprint.” e sprint includes a 400m swim, a 9k bike, and a 5k run.

If you’re not sure about the entire course, nd some friends and make it a relay!

New in 2023: sign up for the 5K portion only! 3.1 miles in our beautiful Sandy neighborhoods. Bring the kiddos for the kid’s race! With a 100m swim & 1-mile run, they will be ready for that well-deserved medal too!

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

Learn how to e ectively prevent and respond to water emergencies with the American Red Cross lifeguard training. Classes begin May 1-6 or May 8-13 or May 15-20.

LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

Take this course to prepare for being a Lifeguard Instructor. Learn to teach others how to e ectively prevent and respond to water emergencies. May 1 - 5

SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTOR (WSI)

Earn your certi cation to teach American Red Cross swimming and water safety, and gain the skills needed to teach courses and make presentations to swimmers of every age and ability. May 8-12

ACES PRE-COMP SWIM TEAM

ACES swim team is designed to give swimmers an opportunity to compete at all skill levels. From beginning swim team to advanced, ACES o ers something for every level.

River Oaks Golf Course

9300 South Riverside Drive, Sandy, Utah (801) 568-4653

Sandy.utah.gov/golf

INMOTION SPRING 2023 JUNIOR GOLF

Our programs are taught by PGA Professionals, Todd Tanner & Stacey Jones. Our 1- and 2-hour programs are held once a week. Each class has a 5:1 student to instructor ratio. Students are placed in a class based on their age and skill level. Each program includes short game practice, range balls, in-depth instruction, video analysis, and on-course playing time. For more information call 801-980-0162.

Listed below are our 9-week Spring programs.

Ages: 4–18 years

Level: Beginner –Intermediate –Advanced

Times: 3–7 p.m. Time slots

Registration: inmotionjuniorgolf.com

2023 LADIES & CO-ED LEAGUE

All Ladies and Co-Ed Leagues will play on Mondays. Players may play any time of the day. Players must play with someone else in the league to verify their score.

Start Date: Monday, April 3. League Members can book tee times 8 days in advance.

Fees: $40 Annual Fee ($80 for Co-Ed)

Weekly Cost: $5 per person on top of the applicable green and cart fees. For more info & to sign-up visit sandy.utah.gov/golf

Waterwise Landscaping Incentives Available!

Looking to save water on your sod?

inking of tearing out your turfgrass?

Tired of sprinkler tinkering?

Whether you’re seeking to save water, reduce maintenance, or change up your landscape, we’re here to help! Sandy residents are eligible for waterwise landscape incentives. Eligible projects may receive between $2-$3 per square foot of turf replaced with waterwise landscaping.

Before you pick up the shovel, head to www.utahwatersavers.com to learn about incentive program requirements and ll out an application. We’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible! Once your application is approved, you may begin your project.

In the meantime, check out these helpful resources for starting your project:

• Free waterwise landscaping classes: sandy.utah.gov/1814

• Waterwise landscaping for Utah: www.localscapes.com

PARKS & RECREATION

SPRING

WANTED: SOCCER & BASEBALL REFEREES

APPLY TODAY AT SANDY.UTAH.GOV/JOBS

Must be at least 14 years old. Work schedule exibility.

GREAT PAY!

2023 5K RACES

We o er a “family discount” to immediate family members with three or more people registering from the same household. We also o er a “group discount” for those representing a business, organization, etc. To be eligible for a group discount there must be a minimum of ve (5) participants. ese discounts are available online. When registering online you must register at the same time in the same transaction to receive the discount.

• 5K Fiesta Saturday, April 29 River Oaks

• 4th of July 5K Tuesday, July 4 City Promenade

• Midnight Moon 5K Saturday, Aug. 4 Alta Canyon Sports Center

• Turkey Trot 5K Saturday, Nov. 11 Lone Peak Park

FISHING CLUB

Ages: 7 to 13 (children over 12 must have a shing license)

Online Registration: sandy.utah.gov/registration

Class Begins: May 3

Day: Wednesday

Time: Session 1: 5:30-6:45 p.m. Session 2: 7-8:15 p.m.

Cost: $20 (resident) $30 (non-resident)

Fishing Pole can be purchased for an additional $15

Location: Grandpa’s Pond-900 W. Shields Lane (10000 S.)

For more information visit us at sandy.utah.gov/parks

ank you for choosing Sandy Parks and Recreation!

Conservation Quarterly

When it comes to saving water at home, the best place to start is with your irrigation. e average Sandy resident puts 70% more water on their landscape during the summer than they use indoors in a year. Believe it or not, most of this water is wasted! Identifying potential water wasting elements as soon as possible can help you save money, time, and water.

Here are some ways to ensure your system is owing smoothly:

• Perform a simple walk through once you’re ready to turn your irrigation on.

o Turn on one zone at a time and walk through it.

o Check for broken, misdirected, or misting spray heads, clogged or disconnected drip lines.

o Note or ag problem area for follow up.

• Sign up for a professional water audit through USU. Specialists will inspect your system and make recommendations for more e cient watering.

• Monitor your water usage for sneaky leaks with our new and improved water monitoring program.

• Links to these resources and more can be found at sandy.utah.gov/waterconservation

irsty for more?

Come to the Sego Lily Spring Fair! June 3, 9am-noon to visit with local experts about water conservation. e gardens open April 20 for the season.

Sandy will be participating in a rain barrel purchase program this spring. For more information, go to: sandy.utah.gov/1974/Rain-Barrels

Water questions? Call 801-568-7187 or email nwyman@sandy.utah.gov

Is your Sandy Business waterwise? We want to connect with you!

Email nwyman@sandy.utah.gov

15 Tips for Greener Living to Celebrate Earth Day on April 22

Earth Day is a great time to take a beat and nd new ways to improve our sustainable living choices. From the volume of waste we generate, the materials we toss into the recycling bin, the resources we use and much more, bettering our environmental choices adds up to positive change. Waste Management o ers 15 Tips for honoring the earth and becoming better stewards of the planet we call home.

1. Ground Yourself: Shed those shoes and wiggle your toes in the grass. Physical contact with the earth itself is said to ground a person’s energy and is known as “earthing."

2. Smell the Roses: Studies have shown that quiet time enjoyed out-of-doors can lower stress, improve mental attention and better one’s mood.

3. Sow Seeds: Whether you plant a tree, cultivate a vegetable garden or grow herbs in tiny pots on a windowsill, planting something green that must be watered and tended is an active way to honor Mother Nature.

4. Feed the Birds: Making winged guests welcome in your neck of the woods can support pollination and help control insects and weeds.

5. Recycle Right: e rules of recycling are fundamentally simple so don’t over-think them. Put only clean cardboard, paper, metal cans, and plastic containers shaped like bottles, jugs, tubs and jars into recycling bins. To learn more, visit wm.com/RecycleRight.

6. Keep Recycling Clean: Clean recycling makes for successful community recycling programs. Never put plastic bags or plastic packaging into recycling bins. Never bag-up recyclables. Keep food, liquids and organic material out of recycling.

7. Stash Totes in the Trunk: If you keep reusable tote bags handy, you’re more likely to grab them when you head into the grocery store. Estimated bene ts vary but the regular use of a single tote bag can annually replace the need for upwards of 500 plastic bags.

8. BYO Cup: Taking your own travel tumbler when you pick up morning co ee or investing in the re llable soft drink cup accepted at your favorite convenience store is a pro-environment choice. If you pick up one beverage every business day this year, by opting not to use disposable cups you will save 260 cups.

9. Forego Hard Copies: Visions of the paperless o ce have not yet been achieved considering the average o ce worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year. Being ever mindful to only print documents that are truly needed in hard copy form saves paper which saves trees.

10. Read Labels: Check out product labels to seek out goods made from recycled materials or that utilize sustainable packaging.

11. Frequent a Little Library: Books are historically not intended to be single use reads. Support a Little Library in your neighborhood or start one.

12. Donate Clothing: e EPA reports that Americans annually generate 16 million tons of textile waste which equates to 6 percent of all municipal waste. Donate unwanted clothing and household linens and consider buying gently used items. Remember it take 1,800 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans.

13. Reduce Single-Use Plastic Use: Invest in sustainable items that replace the need for single-use plastics. Reusable stretch covers for food containers, beeswax food wrap, bamboo utensils and stainless-steel drink straws replace throw-away plastics.

14. Time Showers: Given that the shower heads ow at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, a 15-minute shower uses 37.5 gallons. If you reduce your shower time by just 5 minutes, you can save 12 gallons of water.

15. Unplug Chargers: e average person owns 3 chargers for mobile devices. ose chargers continue to draw electricity even when not in use. Simply unplugging them when not in use saves resources.

Spring Bulk Waste Program –Items of Importance

• Spring Bulk Waste kicked o on March 13 and runs through the end of May.

• Please don't put your waste out until 72-hours prior to your scheduled collection date.

• e pile size is limited to 20 ft. x 6 ft x 4 ft. Only one pile per house.

• Piles should be 2 feet out from edge of gutter and 3 feet away from any storm drain. Please do not block driveways.

• Sandy City WILL NOT pickup:

º Rocks, concrete, gravel, soil, or sod.

º Construction debris, such as Sheetrock, tiles, glass, roo ng materials, or bricks.

º Vehicle parts, tires, or propane tanks

º Oil, gas, paint, ammable, toxic, or hazardous chemicals

º Lawnmowers and other similar items must have the oil and gasoline removed.

º Items containing Freon (refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners) must have the chemical removed by a professional and a copy of the receipt must be attached to it.

• Go to sandy.utah.gov/bulkwaste for complete list of accepted items you can and cannot place in your bulk waste pile.

By the Number: Community Events 2022

SANDY AMPHITHEATER 2023 SEASON

40,000+ attended the July 4th Freedom Day

20,000+ attended the Balloon Festival

7,000+ attended the 4th Annual Trunk or Treat event

2,000+ attended the Heritage Festival with newly added horse parade

3,000 attended the Historic Sandy BBQ

Around 2,000 total attendances for the Movies in the Park

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

First year since COVID that we were able to run every event normally.

Added the Horse Parade to our Heritage Festival and saw a very good turnout for the first year. Added the Historic Sandy neighborhood BBQ.

Added a drone light show to the Balloon Festival and the Light up the Cairns.

In total we put together 15 community events for the citizens of Sandy.

Hosted a Movie in the Park at Rio Tinto Stadium (now called America First Field).

TickETS & MORE: SANDYAMP.cOM

Follow @sandy.amphitheater on Facebook & Instagram for more show announcements and updates!

SANDY CITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL–MAY 2023

All events subject to change due to COVID-19. Go to sandy.utah.gov for more events.

Indian Hills Middle community supports 5-year-old with cancer

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Thanks to the Indian Hills Middle School community, a Utah boy will be able to live his dream.

“Nathan is a cute little 5-year-old who has leukemia,” Indian Hills National Junior Honors Society adviser Andrea Smith said. “Make-A-Wish has a resort with Disney World and it’s only for Make-A-Wish families. He saw that they have a life-size Candyland playground and that’s his favorite game so he’s excited.”

Before the end of their fundraising campaign for Nathan, the middle school students and their families had raised $13,000, surpassing their $10,000 goal.

For at least six years, they’ve committed to helping Make-A-Wish children.

“This is a way for our kids to think outside of themselves and realize that there are people out there in need and unite them in helping someone else, which is something that middle schoolers children, in general, are trying to learn how to do,” she said. “It’s our way to give back to the community.”

Smith said by working together to raise funds for others in need connects the school.

“There’s also a little bit of antagonism as we raise funds through our penny wars with each grade uniting to sabotage other grades through donations of money. For example, $1 coins count positive, but quarters, nickels, dimes, all count negatives so students put them in another grade level’s jar to reduce their score, but in the end it’s all money going to Nathan,” she said.

To donate, some students raised their own money. Smith said she learned a couple students sold hot chocolate in their neighbor-

hood and traditionally, students have donated funds from babysitting or doing chores at home to help with Make-A-Wish.

Once students hit their goal, they are rewarded with activities such as an “opportunity to groove to music or watch a movie in the kiva,” Smith said.

In addition, teachers have volunteered to either cut or dye their hair as incentives. There also are experiences for students such as a chalk the walk, a cuddle up and read, a Mario Kart marathon, and Super Smash Bros. day.

At the final assembly, Nathan was scheduled to come to Indian Hills as well as Cosmo, Brigham Young University’s mascot.

“Nathan’s a big BYU fan, specifically football and soccer so we thought that would be fun for him,” Smith said.

Also planned were some yet-to-be-announced opportunities for students to get involved. In the past, they’ve thrown pies in teachers faces, guessed songs within 10 seconds, picked up spaghetti without breaking it and other challenges.

Throughout the fundraising campaign, Indian Hills’ National Junior Honors Society chapter partnered with PTSA.

In addition to Make-A-Wish, NJHS oversaw a schoolwide food drive last fall which Smith said brought in 5,700 items for the Utah Food Bank. They also are in charge of paper recycling at the school. PTSA delivers food to the teachers during parent-teacher conferences and helps to promote schoolwide activities. l

Indian Hills Middle student leaders fundraised for Nathan, seen on Cosmo’s shoulders, to grant his MakeA-Wish; he and his family came to a recent school assembly. (Photo courtesy of Camille Christensen)

Albion principal to face new challenge, leaving neighborhood school

Aprincipal oversees the functions of a school from creating a safe learning environment to helping set performance goals for students and teachers alike.

For 20 years, Molly Hart has been a principal and liked putting those pieces together in the best interest of school children.

For seven years, Hart has watched over 950 students at Albion Middle School in Sandy—although those days are limited.

As of July 1, she will become Summit Academy’s executive director and will oversee all Summit charter schools—a kindergarten through eighth-grade school in Draper and three schools in Bluffdale—an elementary, a second K-8 school and a high school.

“I have a lot of ideas about education, and different innovations and different ways of doing things and I want to try them out; I want to do something different,” Hart said. “The charter environment is a little bit more agile and, in a lot of ways, that’s why we have charters, is to try things out on a smaller scale. When you’re building something, it takes the community in the truest sense of the word—the teachers, the parents, the students, the administrators to create the vision. I’m not taking a plan over there and plopping it down. I’m going there to build a smaller

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

community where learners can thrive and parents feel really good about the experiences their kids have.”

Hart, who graduated from Michigan State University, began her career teaching and being an administrator in Georgia before being a principal in Canyons School District. Once here, she served students for four years at Mt. Jordan Middle School—a year in the old building, two years displaced in Crescent View Middle and then, one year in the current school building she helped to design before being named Albion’s principal.

“I will miss the Albion community—the students, the families, the teachers. That’s what makes this school,” she said.

Hart is passionate about the middle school’s “outstanding music program” with students taking part in the instrumental and vocal programs and with the annual musicals that are performed.

She’ll also miss how the students—and faculty—enjoy reading outside of assignments.

“Our community is a community of readers, and we have a book club and Book Blitz. In fact, the teachers here have their own Book Blitz and make teams to compete,” she said.

Another tradition at Albion is the in-

volvement around Halloween and spirit dress-up days.

“We’re fairly legendary, so we have fun with that,” she said recalling among her favorite costumes she’s dressed up as have been Bat Girl and also, Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series. “It is truly a sight. I have never been in a school where so many students participate in the dress up days as here. It sounds kind of like a little thing, but it really is fun and unifying when you’ve got a whole school embracing it.”

While her position and school will change, Hart will continue her role serving on the Utah State Board of Education.

“Being on the Board, I’m more aware of policies than the average person. I can keep a pulse on where things are going,” she said.

She hopes that through her tenure, she has propelled Albion forward.

“I’ve been and I am deeply committed to Albion; this is my neighborhood where I live. I’m going to miss this place, but there’s no reason to be afraid of change,” Hart said. “I know I didn’t have to go anywhere; I love Canyons and what Canyons stands for, but once I learned about the opportunity and met the people and learned what they want to do and how they want to grow Summit, I wanted to be part of it.” l

Principal Molly Hart, seen here in 2020 outside of the Albion Middle, is leaving Canyons School District at the end of the school year. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Silver Mesa’s STEAM Night: ‘Full speed ahead’ interactive learning

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

During Silver Mesa Elementary’s STEAM Night, students and their families learned that chemistry is magical.

Earlier in the day, the students screamed in excitement when a balloon filled with hydrogen was ignited, exploding in a fireball. Many students returned that evening to share the same experience and more with their families.

Fourth-grader Lucian Sanchez was one of those students.

“It’s so cool seeing the science and learning how it works,” Lucian said. “I didn’t know it was going to be a big explosion before, but now I’m ready for it.”

Along with Lucian was second-grader Sylvie and seventh-grader Theo along with their mother, Erin.

“This is a good way to spend time with the kids and our community outside of the school day,” Erin Sanchez said. “They’re learning and having fun at the same time.”

Seventh-grader Grace Belliston was with her fifth-grade brother, Grant.

“This is the best; I’ve been to STEAM Nights here before,” she said.

Close to the chemistry demonstration, and not far from where there was a space art station where students could construct paper rockets and planets, fifth-grader Chelsea Frees was driving a Sphero in the school’s kiva.

“I’m learning about angles and how it moves,” she said. “It helps me think, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

In addition, students learned about magnetism, DNA, coding, virtual reality, past technology, space simulation and robotics demonstrations by Jordan High’s robotics team as well as Silver Mesa’s FIRST LEGO League team that recently competed at the regional qualifier at Hillcrest High.

Fifth-grader John Penrod thought coding

the robots was a “cool thing” and his thirdgrade brother, Michael, wants to be in FLL. Their mother, Brooke Ann, said it was a good opportunity to see the robotics firsthand.

“The kids wanted to see what was going on and learn about it,” she said, adding that they also liked the virtual reality goggles.

PTA President Ashley Backman said the school holds STEAM Night in conjunction with the school’s science fair, which had the students’ science projects’ trifolds on display. Students’ Reflections projects were to be exhibited for several weeks.

Backman said a lot of students enjoyed the experiment where their petri dishes had Jell-O in it with sprinkles.

“It made it look like a culture and there were sprinkles all over the school, but the kids had fun,” she said. “They also really enjoyed that Space Mission lab because it was interactive.”

Another interactive session was when students used weights to predict how fast their chenille pipe cleaner stick-figures on Popsicle-stick skis or snowboards could go on a downhill track.

“I love when our projects are interactive because these are elementary kids who love to touch and manipulate and explore with their senses,” she said. “This gives students an opportunity to learn or experiment maybe with things they don’t have at home, like Spheros, or learning more about robotics.”

Joining Silver Mesa were several businesses, post-secondary schools and individuals who set up opportunities for students.

“We bring in some who provide really cool experiences for our students and so they’re able to just dip their fingers into the resources are out there to help them learn and grow,” Backman said. “It really is a community event.” l

At Silver Mesa’s STEAM Night, a balloon filled with hydrogen ignited, delighting many students and their families. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

March marked 20 years since Elizabeth Smart was found in Sandy

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

March 12 marked 20 years since Elizabeth Smart was found in Sandy. Smart had been kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home when she was 14. Dressed in a disguise and accompanied by her two captors, Smart was noticed by two couples who called in tips to the police.

Anita and Alvin Dickerson and Nancy and Rudy Montoya spotted Smart walking on State Street at about 10200 South. Police responded within minutes, eventually sending four officers to question the trio.

After nine months of abuse, trauma and threats, Smart said she was scared to give her identity to the officers. During questioning, her captors gave police false names and Smart initially went along with that.

“Her heart was beating so hard in her chest you could see it. She was extremely, visibly nervous,” said Sandy officer Bill O’Neal of that day. Officers Troy Rasmussen, Victor Quezada and Karen Jones were also there.

Eventually Smart was taken aside from the adults for questioning. In a March 2023 interview with Fox 13 News she talked about what happened next.

“The police officer said, ‘We need you to say who you are. There’s this girl, she’s been missing now for a very long time. Her family’s never stopped searching for her, they want her to come home more than anything in this world.’”

Fearing threats from her captors, Smart denied it, saying, “I know who you think I am, but I’m not that girl. That Elizabeth Smart girl, that’s not me.”

But she said inside she was thinking, “‘Oh my gosh, maybe, could [the police officer] mean me? Could he actually mean me?’ It really wasn’t until that moment that I was able to say, ‘I’m Elizabeth Smart.’”

A happy reunion with her family at the Sandy police station followed. Since then, Smart has gone on to prove that the best punishment she can give her captors is for her to live a happy life. She’s graduated from college, served a church mission, written a book, married and is raising three children.

She’s also become an advocate for those who suffer abuse and sexual violence. She’s shared her story countless times and started The Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Smart Defense and her new Wholehearted Consent education modules.

Smart gave several media interviews in March to discuss her experience and what’s happened in the 20 years since she was found. In an interview with Gayle King on CBS Morning News, Smart described how she feels when March 12 rolls around each year, the day she was found

in Sandy.

“March 12 is nothing but a good day, nothing but a happy day,” she said. “The biggest miracle in my life happened on March 12, so it’s definitely a good day.”

Archive from Salt Lake Tribune announcing Elizabeth Smart had been found in Sandy. (Utah Digital Newspapers Archive)

Elizabeth Smart was found walking along State Street near 10200 South in Sandy with her captors on March 12, 2003. Sandy police detained and questioned them, and she was reunited with her family later that day. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

we are advocates

for you, your safety and for your well being. You don’t know until you try. Start feeling good again!!

“I

“When

Questions about property rights, eyesores stirred up by proposed code amendment

Sandy City Councilmembers received more than 70 emails over one weekend from residents concerned about a seemingly uncontroversial agenda item: should a section of the Sandy Municipal Code be amended to allow temporary signs to be posted on fences in residential areas?

On March 7, the Sandy City Council voted 6-0 to not amend the code, maintaining the status quo. The code will continue to say that signs shall not be attached to utility poles, fences or trees.

“The law allows, and our own ordinances state, that we can and should take things like health, safety, welfare, equity, aesthetics, and property value preservation into consideration when we adopt policies and ordinances in Sandy,” said Councilmember Cyndi Sharkey. “We have a sign problem in Sandy. Our residents and neighbors have told us overwhelmingly that there are times when too many signs are out for too long, especially during municipal elections, and that our city looks trashy. They are also upset about the divisive political signage and speech that has assaulted our daily lives.”

Councilmember Marci Houseman agreed with the level of resident concern.

“By and large, the communication we’ve received has been about the more permanent nature of the signs,” Houseman said. “That’s fundamentally what people are concerned about—these big signs, small signs, multiple small signs that make up a big sign, whatever it might be—if they’re anchored to a fence, they’re very likely going to stay up and that makes them more permanent and more of a concern to our residents.”

The code amendment was presented to the Planning Commission on Feb. 16 at the request of the administration. A positive recommendation was forwarded to the City Council and the amendment was presented as an informational item on Feb. 28. The presentation given by a zoning administrator stated that the amendment would remove restrictions on property rights and “simplify enforcement issues because it is currently impractical for effective enforcement… since the legal remedy of going to court typically takes longer than the temporary sign is posted.”

Councilmember Brooke D’Sousa questioned using the difficulty for enforcement as a rationale for amending the code.

“There have been some things that have come up in the last year that have been difficult to have compliance with, such as speeding and traffic infractions, and also compliance issues with our bulk waste program,” D’Sousa said. “And the administration has done a really good job at setting up an educational campaign to alert residents to these laws and that we are going to be tough on them. And I think that we’ve seen a lot more compliance. If we educate the residents

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

about our laws and what we expect from them, I think this is one of those areas where that can play out, too.”

Freedom of speech was an issue brought up in resident comments. Several councilmembers agreed that the topic was resolved by the City Attorney on Feb. 28.

“It was made very clear that we are not currently violating anyone’s first amendment rights,” Houseman said. “I need our community to understand that I am a stalwart conservative and I believe in the Constitution. If I felt in any way that we were about to do something that infringed on people’s rights, I would run from it. I don’t feel that is the case here.”

Councilmember Alison Stroud shared she had initially grappled with the property rights issues.

“But what it really comes down to is campaign season and elected officials,” Stroud said. “It seems that is really the focus: the behavior of candidates and not being responsible enough to clean up their own garbage.”

Stroud noted that she voted down a similar request by Monica Zoltanski to allow temporary signs on fences in April 2021. Zoltanski was a councilmember at the time and preparing to run for mayor. Councilmembers expressed concerns about amending an ordinance during an election year and the difficulty of imposing time limitations on political signs. The motion failed by a vote of 4-3.

Though the Planning Department did not specifically mention political signs in its February 2023 presentation to the council, the definition for a temporary sign in Sandy’s Municipal Code plainly lists political signs first, then “special events signs, special business promotions or portable signs.” The code also clarifies that a sign can be “a banner, pennant, valance or advertising display

constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, fabric, cardboard, wall board or other materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed in or out of doors for a short period of time.”

This specific section of code is included in the candidate information packet given to anyone running for office in Sandy, and candidates are asked not to violate the rules.

Though she had requested the proposed amendment, the mayor expressed a desire to table the issue when it was time for the council to vote on March 7.

“Last night the Sandy City Council elected not to approve the proposed updates to our city’s sign ordinance,” Zoltanski said in a Facebook post on March 8. “Yet, after hearing from so many of you, it is clear that we need to take action to balance property rights and beautification in our city. I will work with my staff to study this issue further

and return with a proposal that is better suited to balance these two important priorities. My goal is to make the city better with a fair process where municipal candidates don’t get hassled and taxpayer money is not wasted by code enforcement officers becoming weapons in city election campaigns.”

In the comments section below her post, Zoltanski assured a resident that it’s just fine to hang a happy birthday banner on their front porch.

“I’ve gotten 80 to 90 emails on this issue, and only five were in favor of making this amendment,” Sharkey said. “The outreach from the public on this issue is clear and the underlying message they’re sending us is unmistakable. They want us to protect them from excessive political signage. The last thing we should do when our residents are complaining about signs is to relax our sign laws.” l

A proposed amendment to city code would have allowed temporary signs as large as 4-feet by 8-feet on fences like this one in Sandy. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Quick action at a Sandy fire means no fatalities, though six units now unlivable

Afire at the Liberty Heights apartment complex in Sandy on March 5 made several units unlivable. The fire at the three-story units, located at 8176 S. 1300 East, was reportedly set by a resident. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, thanks to a quick evacuation and the efforts of first responders and bystanders.

News station ABC 4 reported the fire started at 2:51 a.m. The apartments are next door to Sandy Fire Station No. 35. First responders saw the smoke, called dispatch for backup and ran over to knock on doors and evacuate residents.

Zulema Rubio was visiting a friend at the apartments and evacuated with the residents. However, she heard someone yell that an elderly man had not come out of his apartment yet.

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

“There [were] flames coming out of the roof, flames coming out of the door. I came out the front…and saw smoke coming out of the window. It was so hot the glass started to break,” Rubio said in a television interview.

Rubio banged on the elderly man’s door and realized it was unlocked, so she went in. She found him asleep in bed with his oxygen on. She woke him up and got him out. He was taken to the hospital because of difficulty breathing, but Rubio heard her “new friend” was expected to make a full recovery.

Mayor Monica Zoltanski posted praise on her social media for the first responders.

“The fire in Sandy City early this morning could have taken a very tragic toll. Six apartment units are uninhabitable after flames

broke out after 3 a.m. Fortunately, a Sandy City Police Department officer spotted smoke while on duty and immediately began evacuations.

“Sandy City Fire Department crews arrived quickly to assure everyone got out and extinguished the flames. I met with Police Chief Severson and Fire Chief Bassett today at the fire scene. Looking at how quickly the fire spread, it’s amazing there were no serious injuries and no lives lost,” Zoltanski wrote.

The apartments participate in a low-income housing tax credit program, meaning their rents are accessible to those with lower incomes. Those who secure low income housing can be most vulnerable to homelessness, but the Red Cross is helping Liberty Heights

residents while their apartments are repaired.

A resident of the complex was arrested for starting the fire. The 3rd District Court filing states Crystal Nicole Moss was charged with aggravated arson. Her booking affidavit states she “intentionally used a Bic lighter to ignite a tree of life” in her bedroom.

The affidavit also says she “poured a bottle of alcohol on it to speed up the process.” She intended to use the fire to “burn away the negative energy, sadness and pain in her life.”

The documents show that Moss also said she wanted to gain attention and have the incident “go viral.” Officers stated she was “incoherent” during her interview, and thought she showed evidence of “serious mental health issues.” l

The fire at the Liberty Heights apartments on March 5 was reportedly set by a resident. Due to quick action, no serious injuries or fatalities occurred. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

The view from 1300 East shows damaged units at a Sandy City apartment complex, where a fire broke out March 5. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

The cleanup efforts are under way at Liberty Heights apartments in Sandy after a fire on March 5 made six units uninhabitable. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

Congratulations to our March Members of the Month: Isis Retano, Christian Ochoa, & Kai Dowdle! Isis Retano is 9 years old: she wants to become a youtuber or an artist when she grows up, she has been attending the Sandy Club for 3 years, and in that time she has learned to be nice and listen to the staff. Christian Ochoa is 8 years old: he wants to become a soccer player, he has been attending for 1 year, and in that time he has learned to follow directions. Kai Dowdle is 5 years old: he wants to become either an animal rescuer, cop, or doctor, he has been attending for 5 months, and in that time he has learned to be kind.

Congratulations once again, we are so proud of you all!

First, robots came for assembly line workers. Then they came for agricultural and warehouse jobs. Then a cyborg assassin time-traveled from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor. What will artificial intelligence target next?

If you ask our publisher, journalism is on the robotic chopping block. He recently sat down with our editorial team and told us we’d better get our act together or AI will certainly replace us within five years.

It’s the plot of every sci-fi movie. “Let’s merge robotic efficiency and human connection to create a utopian workplace.” But then, the robots download a virus and turn into killing machines. It doesn’t end well for humanity.

But let’s back up a bit. When encyclopedias were created in the 1700s, people were astonished to have so much information at their fingertips. What’s an encyclopedia you ask? Thanks for asking, young whippersnapper.

Encyclopedias are books bound in fake leather that weigh the equivalent of a baby hippo. They were like printed versions of Wikipedia that became outdated as soon as they were purchased. They were used for footstools and sometimes for murder weapons.

Peri Kinder

Rage Against the Machine

came chatbots, or virtual assistants, like Siri, who learned to answer our stupid questions with a bit of sass.

Now, journalists are encouraged to use AI to produce copy. ChatGPT launched in November and millions of people have tried it out, creating everything from poetry to fake news. It’s like a Google search on steroids.

In fact, it’s so good at creating fake news, that the CNET media website published stories for months before the articles were discovered to be riddled with errors, misinformation and plagiarized material. Oops.

Following my publisher’s orders, I typed a few questions into ChatGPT and immediately ran into a virtual brick wall.

“How many people are living on Earth?” I asked. ChatGPT replied 7.9 billion but added its data ended in September 2021. I guess anyone born after that date doesn’t count.

by emotionless robots like Tucker Carlson?

Sometimes, the “journalism” churned out by AI is racist, offensive and inappropriate because, and here’s the issue, humans create code for these bots. Fallible, stupid humans who unintentionally create programming that mimics their own limiting beliefs.

In These Times writer Hamilton Nolan said, “Journalism is the product of a human mind. If something did not come from a human mind, it is not journalism.”

He said journalism requires accountability. The writer should be able to explain the origins and sources of any story. Can AI do that? Will robots request interviews from other robots? When questioned, will AI fall to pieces like HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey after being given contradictory orders: lie to the crew but be completely truthful. Pretty much like anything on Twitter.

They were also used for rampant plagiarism. Teachers often received essays copied straight from Encyclopedia Britannica.

As technology advanced, plagiarism got easier with the ability to copy-andpaste from any website; more efficient and much harder to detect. Then along

I asked it to tell me a joke. ChatGPT explained it didn’t have a sense of humor or emotions and didn’t understand jokes. So it could be a Utah legislator.

So, will AI adapt to create personality, voice, humor and journalistic ethics or will future generations get used to reading pedantic and pretentious articles written

I’m mixing movie metaphors, but if Sarah Connor’s interactions with the Terminator taught us anything, it’s that we control our own destiny. Can we unite robotic efficiency and humanity? The fate of journalism could hang in the balance.