Sandy City Journal | December 2020

December 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 12

FREE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 96-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ON ‘FARNSWORTH FARMS’ PROPERTY

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

A

nearly-year-long process came to a conclusion last month in regards to 10 undeveloped acres located at 11228 S. 700 East, known as Farnsworth Farms. After months of backand-forth between the Sandy City Council and the city planning commission, the council voted to approve a rezone that paves the way for 96 new units to be added to the city.

The rezone changes the parcel from an agricultural designation to a Planned Unit Development zone with a density of 10 units per acre. The project plans submitted by the developer project a total of 96 units. That includes 30 twin home units and 66 townhome units.

The developer said their target for pricing is $450,000+ for the twin homes. The townhomes are divided between two models, one of which will be in the range of $295,000$325,000 and the other between $350,000-$375,000.

One concern from homeowners whose properties border the proposed development was that any two-story houses would block their view of the mountains and potentially create a privacy concern. Consequently, the developer agreed to place the single-story twin homes around the boundaries of the development.

Other concerns were raised by residents from throughout the broader community over the course of multiple public meetings, from school enrollment and water pressure to increased traffic.

“A lot of the concerns have not been necessarily validated,” said Councilwoman Allison Stroud, who noted that she The developer of the proposed project has worked with residents whose homes neighbor the property to assuage their concerns. (Justin Adams/City had reached out to Canyons School District and was told there Journals) Continued page 5

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December 2020 | Page 3

Families find complimentary final resting place for ashes at Larkin’s Scatterday

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

W

hen Ruth Pratt, the mother of Sandy resident Brian Minnich, passed away in 2019, she had made her wishes to be cremated clear. Pratt had not lived in Utah long, so there wasn’t a place to scatter her ashes that she was particularly attached to.

Minnich scattered some ashes in various places, but in the end, he held on to most of them, unsure where her final resting place should be.

“She definitely wanted to be cremated, but there were no instructions for her remains. She loved to travel, loved art – she was open to anything. But the only place in Utah that reminded us of her was the assisted living center where she died, and we didn’t like that,” Minnich said.

When Minnich and his wife Dotti Gallagher heard about the free Scatterday event at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy on Oct. 17, they registered and came to see if it felt right.

“We drive by this cemetery almost every day. We think it’s lovely to live close by the cemetery —it’s quiet and spiritual.

We were just talking a couple of weeks ago about what we should do with mom’s ashes, then we opened the Sandy Journal and saw the ad about Scatterday,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher, who recently suffered the loss of her own mother from COVID, saw the Scatterday as the answer they’d been searching for. “We’ve had her [ashes] for a long time, and this felt right. Now we can drive by every day and say, ‘Hi Mom’ and it’s a beautiful place that makes us think of her,” Gallagher said.

Larkin associate Steve Kehl was in charge of the first Scatterday at Larkin’s Salt Lake City location in 2019. He said the response was “tremendous,” and got them thinking they needed to do the same thing at the Sandy location, and make it an annual event.

“What’s amazing is to look at the death

Journals

Sandy residents Brian Minnich and his wife Dotti Gallagher brought the remains of Minnich’s mother, Ruth Pratt, to the Larkin Scatterday event on Oct. 17. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

dates of how long the family members have held on to these urns. They may have had them for 20 or more years. The average was four to five years. They need a final resting place,” Kehl said.

“More families are choosing cremation now, but they want just the right place for the disposition of the ashes. They didn’t have that conversation with their loved one— what do you want done with your ashes? It can be a paralyzing decision,” Kehl said.

Larkin designed a new garden just for the remains of people who have been cremated. It is in the Garden of Atonement area, on the north side of the cemetery near Dimple Dell Road. They have created an underground ossuary which can hold a certain number of remains. All the names, birth

years and death years of those in the ossuary will be engraved on a granite epitaph.

“Cremation is an option, and we made an area for remains that’s integrated within the memorial park. It’s not off to the side or an afterthought. It’s a small garden with a water feature and plants. It’s a physical space to come and reflect and think of your loved one,” Kehl said.

Aside from the free Scatterday, space in the ossuary begins at $295, which is much less than a traditional burial plot. “There are numerous options and cost sensitive price points to fulfill the wishes of loved ones. Not everyone chooses cremation because of cost, but many do. We wanted to be sensitive to that,” Kehl said.

For questions about those services, Kehl

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Kehl said he hopes that when people know about their ossuary or memorial stone options, it will save indecision down the road. “I got a call from a storage park in Lindon a while ago. They were going through an abandoned storage unit and found an urn in there with ashes. They had no idea what to do with them. The death year on the urn was 2008.

“We don’t want people’s remains to be left in closets or attics or storage units indefinitely. We want to offer a final resting place that’s peaceful. We want families who have been carrying these ashes around to feel a sense of relief,” Kehl said. l

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Continued from front page were no concerns about overcrowding classrooms in the impacted area.

Another common concern for any rezoning decision is that a land-use authority will approve the rezone based on site plans and renderings that show a very attractive product, but that the development that ultimately gets built ends up being not nearly as nice.

To get around this concern, the council passed the ordinance approving the rezone in such a way that it will not go into effect until the developer has submitted and approved final site plans to the city.

This conditional approval was passed by the council with a 6-1 vote, with the dissenting vote coming from Councilwoman Monica Zoltanski who said she would prefer to see single-family detached housing instead.

“Our job is not to make the numbers work for the seller or the developer. Our job is to make the density work for the community. While I’m sympathetic that they need a return and a profit, I do not think that is how we should gauge this important decision,” she said.

Councilwoman Cindy Sharkey said she felt the development was a good fit for the area.

“I do think this project is a good one for this area. I do believe there is a demand and a need for this kind of housing,” she said. l

One of the concerns for the proposed project was how it would impact traffic on 700 East. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

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December 2020 | Page 5

‘The show must go on’—Does it? How? To what extent?

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

fter several high schools along the Wasatch Front were closed for two weeks or brought back on hybrid schedules, theatre teachers are questioning the old adage, “the show must go on” and to what extent.

“We take that scenario, ‘the show must go on,’ and change it to ‘one show at a time,’ and ‘one day at a time,’” said theatre teacher Adam Wilkins, who’s school, Cottonwood High, was shut down and students learned remotely two weeks in mid-October. “It’s really, whatever works well for high school theatre departments and their communities.”

Wilkins had planned the typical November musical performance of “Joseph,” only with a reduced cast size of 50 students. That now has been pushed back to 7 p.m., Dec. 3-5 and again on Dec. 7. There also will be a noon matinee on Dec. 5.

“We put recordings of our choreography on YouTube so our students can do their part and practice,” he said while the school was online and no in-person rehearsals were allowed. “We’re trying to keep the kids safe. So, we adapt to how we can do live theatre safely.

We wear masks, wash hands, sanitize, decrease numbers of kids, practice intentionally in small numbers of ensembles, and follow the Salt Lake County health guidelines.”

Wilkins said that at Cottonwood, patrons—only 500 of the 3,000 seats will be filled and they’ll sit socially distanced—can expect to see the performers in matching black masks.

“We’ll wear masks at performances and rehearsals. That’s nonnegotiable,” he said.

That’s not the same criteria at all high schools as each district determines what’s best for its communities. Nearby Murray High School allows actors to be unmasked for the performances.

Murray High, which also was shut down, allowed its students to rehearse during the two weeks in early October. Murray High students’ show, “Little Women,” was slated for Nov. 1213 and Nov. 16 as of press deadline. Students voted on the fall musical, citing a smaller cast and simpler set would be more appropriate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Draper’s Corner Canyon High experienced one of the highest COVID-19 outbreaks to date in the state. After weeks of online and hybrid schedules in the midst of their rehearsals, theatre director Phaidra Atkinson and her students are learning adaptability.

“There’s no normal day; we’re changing things every day,” she said in late October.

“With Shakespeare, we had three weeks of rehearsal, then four weeks where we were shut down. Initially, we weren’t allowed rehearsals while the school was closed, but we were able to get in four more rehearsals during that time, since we are sanctioned under the Utah High School Activities Association.”

And with those extra rehearsals, they were able to pull off first-place results at the

Page 6 | December 2020

44th annual Shakespeare Festival, which was held virtually.

“We swept everything; it was awesome,” Atkinson said, adding that they had a watch party over Google Meet. “It was the hardest thing we ever have done— to pull it together so fast. We cried a lot when we won.”

In December, the theatre students will take part in three senior one-act student-directed plays as well as “Broadway Backwards” charity fundraiser, both which are restricted to family and friends because of health guidelines.

With the shutdowns, Corner Canyon also moved back their auditions for their February musical, “Matilda.” Currently, they can only allow 300 family or friends in the auditorium per night for the run instead of the typical 1,300 patrons.

“It’s my hope and dream they’ll raise the 25% auditorium capacity to 50% if it’s safe,” she said. “The musical is absolutely worth doing. It’s these students’ joy, their passion and their love. We’ll take a huge hit financially, but students need something to look forward to.”

Atkinson said that she is glad she double-cast the musical as already she had 10 students in quarantine in the first 10 days of rehearsal.

“We’ve filmed some things and put them online so those at home can learn at home,” she said. “It’s so depressing for them to be at home and miss out. It’s a show that we don’t have the rights to film the entire show or to stream it, but it’s a show that’s right for our students.”

Nearby, Bingham High had planned a December screening of their filmed Shakespeare production of “Hamlet,” but in late October, students shifted to online as COVID-19 cases rose at their school and the decision was made to move it to mid-January.

“With the school closure it will be impossible for us to get everything shot and edited before Christmas break,” said show director, Jason Purdie. “We are hoping to get everything at least filmed before we leave for the break, but it all depends on how things go with COVID over the next few weeks. Hopefully, no other cast members will get COVID or quarantined and hopefully there won't be any more school closures. The schedule has become extremely tight at this point.”

Purdie, himself, was quarantined in late September, but was able to virtually meet with his students along with his co-director, Brittany Anderson.

Alta and Brighton high schools reached a peak number of COVID-19 cases in late September and early October, according to Canyons School District’s COVID-19 dashboard, so classes moved online. They returned on a hybrid schedule, but by mid-October, when cases dropped, students returned to full on-campus instruction for those in-person learners.

In mid-October, Alta theatre teacher Linze

Corner Canyon’s Shakespeare team, all masked up, swept the competition in their division of the virtual high school Shakespeare competition and three students earned college scholarships. (Melissa Thorne/Corner Canyon High School)

Struiksma was quarantined, along with six of her students, awaiting COVID-19 test results.

“I’ve had parents there helping as I Zoom in to be there during the three-hour rehearsals,” she said. “We’re adapting the best we can, given what we’ve gone through with being closed down, being on a hybrid schedule, and now quarantining and doing lesson plans and rehearsals virtually. We literally change what we’re doing every week. It’s teaching me and teaching the kids to be adaptable.”

Struiksma, who was able to have her kids compete and take second place in their ensemble performance in the virtual Shakespeare Festival, has been cautious in making theatre plans for the year, trying to adapt to the circumstances.

In mid-September, she talked with her seniors.

“I didn’t feel comfortable with a full show. I was really nervous. COVID cases were on the rise and we didn’t know what it was going to look like,” Struiksma said.

They decided to perform in a showcase featuring groups of up to three students singing or performing a scene together and having two narrators bringing it together in a storyline. A tech student was assigned to each group to help design their set and costumes.

“It works well to be able to rehearse in small groups, so there’s limited interaction and if we have to (because of students being in quarantine), we can remove a scene,” she said. “The kids came up with the theme and created it.”

The show, “Divine Connections,” examines the relationships humans have—from those with siblings and parents to platonic and romantic relationships. The show was scheduled to be held at the school’s new Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m., Nov. 12-13, with only 25% of the auditorium filled with patrons.

“We wear masks at rehearsals, and had planned not to wear them during the second tech week or dress rehearsals when on stage and created a system for them when they were off, but now, we’ll be rethinking that and talking to parents,” Struiksma said.

She said that she also is rethinking the production of “Little Mermaid” for February, with concerns about producing a full musical during COVID-19 and the costs involved with it, when seating is limited.

Brighton theatre director Tiffany Davis gives credit to her students for adjusting during the challenging time.

“We rehearsed over Google Meet and learned what we could put into the scene, but it’s hard to adjust,” she said. “When we were allowed to continue to rehearse in person, kids came in, we did a symptom and temperature check, we were masked, 6-feet apart and took frequent breaks. When we could do virtual rehearsals on monologues, we did that to eliminate the risk.”

On top of working under COVID restrictions, Davis also had other concerns. As Brighton is under construction, she got news that the new auditorium wasn’t going to be ready in time for the show, so Davis moved the Nov. 19-25 production of “Hamlet” to Butler Middle—an hour before fall break, during which she got married.

“It was a crazy time, but we rallied through,” she said. “The students were so diligent and worked so hard. Nobody in the production tested positive as of now and we put their personal safety first.”

Davis did have one student pull out when rehearsals went virtually, which she respected the immediate decision was shared with her. She also said that technical aspects were impacted as they could only talk virtually, so some parts were delayed.

“It’s been hard since I love to see actors grow in their acting, and because of the circumstances, I’m not able to coach them as much as I would. It’s been challenging as some activities rely on groups, but when we break it down, it forces me to be creative and find innovative methods,” Davis said. “The show will go on—if we can continue in a safe climate.”

Note: As of press deadline, with the governor’s mandate of no extracurricular activities until Nov. 23, check with the high school for show updates and ticket information. l

Sandy City Journal

Sandy family keeps Hanukkah traditions safely

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

L

arry Green of Sandy is on the Board of Directors at Congregation Kol Ami Synagogue in Salt Lake City. As a board, they argue back and forth about the best way to do things, but they agree on one thing— they want their members to stay safe while having meaningful Hanukkah celebrations.

“There’s an old joke that if you ask two Jews a question, you’ll get three opinions.

We’re a people who are commanded to seek out truth, and we do that by asking a lot of questions and arguing.

“But taking safety precautions is critical as the guardians of our congregation and community. We take that job seriously,” Green said.

Those precautions will limit Hanukkah celebrations to family members in their homes. This year, the eight-day (night) celebration of Hanukkah is Dec. 10-18.

Green and his wife Laura have lived in Sandy for 20 years. Originally from New York, business and travel brought them out west. “My introduction to Salt Lake City was a huge snowstorm the first time I tried to get up Little Cottonwood Canyon to go skiing,” Green said.

Now, Little Cottonwood Canyon is right outside their front door.

Green has researched Utah’s Jewish history. “There has been a Jewish presence here since right after 1847. The name Kol Ami means ‘all my people’ in Hebrew. The synagogue combined two Salt Lake City congregations, a reform and a conservative, into one,” Green said.

Kol Ami recognized the need for virtual meetings “immediately” when churches shut down in March. “We went to streaming Saturday morning services, and it worked fairly

well. We can now attend in our pajamas,” Green said with a laugh.

The Greens have a daughter and grandchildren who live in California, and family “scattered all over the globe.” But without family in Utah, fellowship at Kol Ami is a big part of their lives. “[Our congregation] is a hugging and kissing lot, so come the end of the [worship] service we would meet outside the hall. We break bread and have blessings over the wine. Then we converse,” Green said.

For the Greens, a typical year’s Hanukkah includes gathering in their home each of the eight nights at sundown. They invite five or six other families to their home. They light the candle, chant a hymn, and say a blessing. “There’s a blessing for everything!

Let your imagination run wild, anything you can think of—in Judaism there’s a blessing for it,” Green said.

They also give gifts. “Some are big gifts, some are just tokens. The important thing is the giving,” Green said.

Also called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates a miracle in Jewish history. During the temple rededication, the purified oil that was needed to light lamps in the temple had been spoiled by attackers.

There was only one cruse of it left.

The lamps at the temple were lit while new olive oil was prepared. The preparation took eight days, and miraculously, the oil lasted until more was properly prepared.

“It’s thinking about where eternal light comes from,” Green said. “You light one candle per night and a helper candle. And we don’t light a menorah—I don’t even own a menorah. We light a Hanukkiah (han-OOkee-uh). I own five or six Hanukkiahs and

The Sandy Target sells Hanukkah-related items—a Hanukkiah, dreidels, gold coins and the less-traditional Hanukkah socks. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

S andy Journal .com

Before 2020, Larry and Laura Green of Sandy gathered with friends to light the Hanukkiah candles and celebrate Hanukkah. (Qiling Wang/Deseret News with permission)

the more fanciful the better. It’s a joyful celebration. We also eat a lot of fried foods to remember the oil.”

None of those aspects will change with this year’s gathering restrictions. “It’s a family holiday that you celebrate in your home. There are hymns and blessings that are specific to Hanukkah. That will all stay the same. We’ll practice our traditions. We just won’t invite friends over.”

Green speaks freely about his Jewish faith and thinks it’s good when people want to learn more. He and other board members

decided to invest in safety measures for the synagogue. When they return to in-person services, they will happily welcome visitors.

“I think what has to be said in today’s climate is that we are a people of peace,” Green said. “We value peace and tranquility above everything else. We wish everyone a happy holiday season regardless of what their faith is and who they worship.

God willing, we’ll see everyone next year in better conditions.” l

Larry and Laura Green celebrate Jewish traditions in their Sandy home. (Qiling Wang/Deseret News with permission)

December 2020 | Page 7

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Plans for 93,000-square-foot Glacier Hills Elementary will incorporate school colors of blue and white throughout the building and an interior visual effect resembling aurora borealis. (Rendering courtesy of Canyons School District)

New White City ‘cool’ school name to reflect nearby canyons, give new home to 800 students

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“I

t’s a great day to be a Yeti!” said Julie Winfree, the inaugural principal of a new White City elementary school to replace nearby aging Bell View and Edgemont elementaries.

On Oct. 6, the Canyons Board of Education approved the Yeti as the school’s mascot and Glacier Hills Elementary as name of the school after a four-month process that involved Bell View and Edgemont parents, students, staff members and community members.

The community was surveyed on their preferences, which also included school colors, between the Bear Park Bees, Bear Park Bears, Glacier Hills Yetis and Glacier Hills Dinos, which narrowed it to the Bear Park Bears and the Glacier Hills Yetis before the final email vote, Winfree said.

“I’m glad it’s Glacier Hills as all our canyons were formed by glaciers so we have a history base and a great teaching opportunity for our students,” she said. “We’re branding it new instead of using a combination of the former schools, Bell View and Edgemont, and trying to make it Bellmont or Edgeview.”

The color choice is a blue and white, which will be incorporated into the design of the new two-story building. Both current schools’ colors have blue, so that tradition will carryover, she said.

“Together, Bell View and Edgemont have more than 115 years of history to build upon.

When we asked parents and teachers what makes their schools unique, they came up with a surprising number of shared characteristics and ideals,” she said.

The current Edgemont Elementary was built in 1958 and Bell View, eight years later.

Between the two schools, there are about 680 students. The new school will house about 800 students.

While Canyons graphic designer Jeff Olsen will develop the logo and mascot for the new school, Winfree will create an advisory council.

She also will continue to meet with architects from the firm MHTN Architects, which has created new designs for Brighton High, Mt. Jordan Middle and the district office addition.

“It’s fun to do something new and the architects are so excited about the theme,” she

S andy Journal .com

said. “They’re creating a visual like the aurora borealis, using colors from that to create hallways of purple, teal and blue to identify grade-level pods. The stairway will feature blue glass.”

The design is similar to Silver Ridge Elementary, a Weber County school, but is being tweaked for the needs of the White City community.

“It’s really open and airy,” Winfree said.

“I’m really excited about the collaboration space in the middle of each grade-level pod.

We will be able to use that in a lot of different ways, especially as we transition in blending learning groups. It will be great nice not having to go to a gym whenever we need to collaborate. I’m excited to see where our teachers are going to take it.”

The 93,000-square-foot building will be about $23 million in construction costs, part of the $283-million bond voters approved in November 2017, Wilcox said, adding that a contractor is expected to be named in January.

After Edgemont is torn down, the student body will be housed at the nearby former Crescent View Middle School while Glacier Hills is built on the same campus, at 1085 E. 9800 South, Canyons School District Business Manager and Chief Financial Officer Leon Wilcox said.

A proposal is being discussed amongst the Canyons Board of Education whether to move up the timeline and have the Edgemont students finish the school year at Crescent View to allow for construction to begin on the new school before the school year is over.

“It should take about 14 to 16 months to build the school depending on the delays we see with COVID as factories are shut down,” Wilcox said, adding that he was impressed with the design of Silver Ridge Elementary.

Glacier Hills Elementary is expected to open in fall 2022.

As the two school communities will consolidate into one White City school, Winfree said each employee will still have a job, whether at Glacier Hills or another location throughout the district. The District’s human resources office is working on a timeline for placement, she added. l

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STEP STEP 1 STEP 1 1 STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 1antibodies STEP 1 antibodies Obtain from those whowhoSnow shoveling is easier through new GreenPal app now available in Sandy. (Photo courtesy GreenPal) Obtain Obtain antibodies from those from those who

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BRING THIS COUPON IN FOR A

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You must off theprovide virus. a valid photo ID, proof of your current address and your Social the virus.card to donate. Must be 18 years of age or older to donate.

Immigration Security oroff

$20 BONUS

S

New on-demand snow removal app launches in Sandy

By Stephanie DeGraw | s.degraw@mycityjournals.com

now shoveling just got easier thanks to a new app. The nation's leader in on-deSTEP 2 STEP 2 STEP 2 mand lawn mowing has just launched its STEPSTEP 2 2 convalescent plasma STEP Separate 2 Separate STEPconvalescent 2 Separate convalescent plasma plasma on-demand snow removal service in Sandy.

Separate convalescent plasma Separate convalescent plasma into its components GreenPal is known as "Uber for lawn Separate Separate convalescent convalescent plasma plasma into its into components its components intointo its components its components care," and now is available for snow removintoPlasma its into components itsis similar components donation to giving blood, except the blood is cycled through a al. "In freezing temperatures and bad weathPlasma donation Plasma is similar donation to giving is similar blood, toofgiving except blood, the blood except is cycled the blood through isthe cycled a through a special machine that pulls some the plasma out before returning blood Plasma Plasma donation is similar to giving blood,blood, exceptexcept the blood is cycled through a donation is similar to giving the blood is cycled through a special machine that machine pulls some that of pulls the plasma some ofout the before plasma returning out before thereturning blood blood a er conditions, homeowners may not want to cellsspecial back the body. there, we can use special technology to separate Plasma Plasma isto similar donation to giving isFrom similar blood, to giving except blood, the blood except is the cycled blood through isthe cycled athethrough special donation machine that pulls some of the plasma out before returning the blood special machine that pulls some of the plasma out before returning blood cells back to cells the body. back From to the there, body. we From can there, use special we can technology use special to technology separate to separate theto plasma into different components, one of which is the antibodies that can special machine special pulls some that of pulls the some plasma ofcan out the before plasma returning out before the returning blood the blood remove the snow and ice from their drivecells back tomachine the body.

From there, use special technology to separate cells back thethat body.

From there, we canwe use special technology to separate the plasma into different plasma into components, different components, one which one is the of antibodies which is the that antibodies can toyears that can defeat the virus.

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Gene Caballero, GreenPal co-founder, said.

STEP 3 "Neighbors, delivery personnel, and even STEP STEP 3 3 3into a medicine to pets can fall victim to ice. The commercial Convert STEP 3 STEP STEPConvert 3 Convert STEP 3 into a amedicine machines that the pros use are engineered a medicine treat patients Convert Convert into ainto medicine into medicine toto toto to consistently and quickly remove all the Convert Convert into a into medicine a medicine to to treat patients treat patients treat patients treat patients snow and ice."

We can purify and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated plasma treat patients treat patients Your local Grifols plasma Donor Center is NOW accepting to develop a special medicine for still sick with COVID-19 or possibly We can and concentrate thethose antibodies collected from donated plasma plasma Caballero added that with COVID runWepurify can purify and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated We can purifythose We andcan concentrate purify and the concentrate antibodies the collected antibodies from collected donated from plasma donated plasma protect who have not been infected.

With this medicine, doctors will to develop a special medicine for those still sickstill with COVID-19 or possibly to develop a special medicine for those sick with COVID-19 or possibly ning rampant in the wintertime, it's best to We canhave purify We and concentrate purify concentrate the antibodies the collected antibodies from collected donated from plasma donated plasma from people who recovered from to develop a consistent special tocan develop medicine aand special for those medicine still for those with COVID-19 still sick or possibly COVID-19 or possibly ahave precise dosing ofsick theCOVID-19. antibodies thatwith can fight COVID-19 protect those those whoand have not been infected.

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With this medicine, doctors will to develop a to special develop medicine a special for medicine those still for sick those with still COVID-19 sick with or COVID-19 possibly or possibly keep socially distancing in place. Compaprotect those protect who have those not who been have infected. not been With infected. this medicine, With this doctors medicine, will doctors will to possibly help them get back to lifeof faster or serve asthat a temporary defense have a consistent and precise dosing the antibodies canthat fight COVID-19 have a consistent and precise dosing of the antibodies can fight COVID-19 protect those who have those not who been have infected. not infected. this medicine, With this doctors medicine, will doctors haveCOVID-19, auntil consistent haveand a precise dosing and precise of been theWith antibodies dosing of the that antibodies can fight that COVID-19 can fight will COVID-19 aprotect vaccine isconsistent developed. nies like GreenPal have trustworthy, contactIf you don't have your plasma donations are still to possibly help them get back to life faster or serve as a temporary defense to possibly help them get of back to life of fasterthat or serve as that a temporary have a consistent have a and consistent precise and dosing the dosing antibodies can fight fightdefense COVID-19 to possibly help to them possibly help back them toprecise life get faster back ortoserve life the faster as antibodies a temporary or serve asCOVID-19 defense a can temporary defense less service to handle snow and ice removal. until auntil vaccine is get developed. a vaccine is developed. needed to treat ais to multitude of illnesses. to possibly help to until possibly get help back them get life faster back to orlife serve faster as aortemporary serve as adefense temporary defense until a patients vaccine isthem developed. a with vaccine developed.

"The coronavirus is still with us, and social until a vaccine until is a developed. vaccine is developed. distancing is a community priority," Caballero said. "Our technology allows vendors to New donors visit www.grifolsplasma.com to bid on snow removal without having to visit This medicine is thethe This This isis the the property and talk face to face with the find a Grifols Donation center near Thismedicine medicine Thismedicine medicine theisis the you.

This medicine This medicine is the is the homeowner."

Across the country, over 30% of GreenPal customers are over the age of 60. This Tomore find out donating in our COVID-19 Convalescent For infomore visit -about WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 demographic is the most susceptible to conProgram call (866) 363-2819.

For more For info more visit info WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 For more For infomore visit -info WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visitinfo - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 |info PFor agemore 10For Dmore ecember 2020 EXPIRES 12/31/2020

Are you a first time plasma donor with Grifols? Or has it been 6 months since your last donation?

You can receive up to $600 in your first month as a new donor.

Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin

tracting COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill. GreenPal eliminates the need to meet for a cash payment since payment is made online, Caballero said.

Historically, the snow removal industry has been a cash business.

Homeowners can use the app to list their snow removal needs with their desired service date. Snow removal companies then bid on the property. The app uses Google Street View and aerial images and any other details the homeowner provides.

Homeowners can then select who they want to work with based on the vendor's ratings, reviews, and price. Once the service provider has completed the job, they send a time-stamped photo of the finished work.

Homeowners pay using the app and can set up more appointments.

The app has already launched in over 100 major markets around the U.S., including Pittsburgh, Omaha, Boise, Chicago, St. Louis, Rochester and Indianapolis. Over 1 million homeowners use the GreenPal app.

They have over 20,000 landscaping professionals running their business on GreenPal and operate in 46 states. GreenPal headquarters is in Nashville.

To visit GreenPal click www.yourgreenpal.com/local/lawn-care-sandy-ut l

Sandy City Journal

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S andy Journal .com

December 2020 | Page 11

Waterford history teacher makes history come alive, interactive

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

W

aterford AP U.S. history teacher Aaron Stockham didn’t just vote this fall. He didn’t just discuss the elections in class. He stepped up to be a poll worker.

“I showed my students how I put my values into action,” he said. “There are more ways to get involved, more than voting, and so when I saw on the website that they were needing poll workers, I responded. It’s my first time and it’s been great to see the young people and everyone in the community vote.”

He also wants students to know that history isn’t something they read about in a book.

“I want students not to see history as a bunch of dull names and dates, but there are ways to explore and find how history can excite them,” he said.

As part of that engagement, Stockham teaches with hands-on approaches so students remember what they’re learning.

Some of his ideas are his own, others he read about and adapted from a University of Michigan professor.

For example, already this fall, students read and discussed Thomas Payne’s “Common Sense,” which is a 60-page pamphlet published in January 1776 that advocates

independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Instead of just leaving the lesson there, Stockham asked students to write their own version of “Common Sense.”

“I tell them I’m King Stockham from Stockhamstan and ask them to explain why they believe I’m an idiot,” he said.

That way, Stockham has them apply their understanding and principles to their own writing.

“I’ve been told I’m a fraud since my wife refused my last name or they say I dress like an ape in a tuxedo (since he wears button-down dress shirts) or they say I peaked in high school (since he teaches at his alma mater),” he said. “We’re learning and seeing the importance of literature by reading, analyzing and applying it. Students understand the importance of ‘Common Sense’ as it leads up to the importance of the Declaration of Independence, but they can relate to it as it has colorful language and they can trash talk.”

The assignment goes on to learn about the Declaration of Independence, understanding “here’s a decision we’re making and why we’re making it and about the powerful piece of writing it is.”

There is no one like us

In 2003, Blending a home-like Memory Care Assisted Living Dr. Fehlauer with a Hospital level of care was honored by the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work for the Alzheimer’s Association and in 2018 received the Geriatric Advocate of the Year Award by the Utah Geriatrics Society.

Waterford history teacher Aaron Stockham became a poll worker on Election Day to illustrate the importance of the voting process to his students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Fast forward to January and the study of industrialization and Stockham knows students don’t always understand the significance.

“I teach why the assembly line is so transformative, knowing they can compete at lower prices to drive out their competition, but students live in an industrial world and don’t understand what it was to live before then when there were small shops and farming before the 1820s,” he said.

So traditionally Stockham asks for a student who is a self-proclaimed expert in making a paper airplane and times them making paper airplanes during a given period. Then, he has small groups in the rest of the class make the same paper airplanes in an assembly line during the same time limit.

“Usually, I have one kid make 10, while the others may make 45,” he said.

This year, with students on a hybrid schedule, he may have those online make the paper airplanes individually and those in the class work together as an assembly line.

“They understand the importance of an assembly line and the conversation about why artisans oppose industrialization,” he said, adding that they then go on to discuss Henry Ford’s assembly line and muckraking in “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair.

After students take the AP exam in

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May, Stockham encourages students to step into the role of historians.

“We have students research and choose topics that interest them, usually on the United States stubs, which are on underdeveloped Wikipedia pages,” he said. “Then, as guest editors, they can add details, sources, images and depth to an entry.”

He said that Wikipedia also will tell students if they need more information, which allows the conversation of research and primary sources.

“We’ve run the gamut from students researching obscure Civil War battles to local Utah women and men. Some students have family relationships to those so they’re able to add personal photos,” he said. “The idea behind it is that they’re providing a public

service, which is up to date, and exploring topics as historians and getting a sense of what historians do. Wikipedia is a good source of information, but it isn’t an end source. It’s useful to others who are interested in the same things and it’s where most everyone goes first. So, we’re making it an even more reliable source.”

Stockham said his lessons are a way to engross students and make history come “alive.”

“Students look forward to these and have a chance to think differently,” he said.

“Students’ eyes can glaze over when you just read historic topics, but this gives them a chance to think differently, engage in their learning and it’s an approach to do something useful as a historian.” l

Local author publishes book on parenting

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

A

West Jordan man is sharing the lessons he’s learned about parenting throughout his 84 years in a new book titled “Pyramids of Parenting.”

August Spoerri was born in Switzerland in 1936. His father died when he was 2 years old, leaving his mother to take care of him and his 13 older siblings as well as look after the family farm.

Through this experience, August learned about the importance of hard work and relying on family. Now he wants to share those and other values with people today through his book.

You can find the book by searching for “Pyramids of Parenting” on Amazon, where it can be purchased for $11. l

Thank you!

Leadership South Valley is here

SCHEDULE

Leadership South Valley is designed to provide business leaders with a deeper understanding of the critical and essential issues affecting communities in Salt Lake County. The program’s mission is to develop and enhance personal and civic leadership and communication, as well as support team cohesion, collaboration, and networking.

All times are 8:30-4:00 unless otherwise indicated.

This once-a-month, 9-week course will meet from 8:30 am to 4 pm at various locations across the South Valley region. Class size is limited, and class members are selected to represent a broad range of occupations, industries, and backgrounds.

Chamber Member Tuition | $1000 Non-Chamber Member Tuition | $1,500

I’m grateful for your support and the opportunity to continue to represent ALL of you in District 45

As with all worthwhile endeavors, this program requires a strong commitment of time on the part of each participant. Attendance is mandatory for successful completion of the program, as is the following: 1. Community Service Project 2. One of your own cities council meetings 3. One of your own school districts meetings 4. Two South Valley Chamber events

Date

Topic

January 28, 2021

Orientation / Economic Development

February 25, 2021

Health Care

March 25, 2021

Environment

April 22, 2021

Transportation and Housing

May 31, 2021

Arts and Culture / Community Service

June 24, 2021

Education

July 29, 2021

National, State, and Local Politics

August 26, 2021

Diversity and Inclusion / Justice Day

September 23, 2021

Current Issues, Key Learnings, and Graduation

APPLICATION PROCESS An online application must be submitted by December 3, 2020. You will then be contacted for an interview. For more information, please contact Karla Rogers at karla@southvalleychamber.com.

Paid for by the Committee to elect Steve Eliason

Follow me on Facebook Contact me: 801.673.4748 Seliason@le.Utah.gov www.TellSteve.org

S andy Journal .com

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southvalleychamber.com

December 2020 | Page 13

Lawmakers approved increase to enrollment cap at Utah Virtual Academy as more students turn to online learning during COVID-19

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

M

urray-based Utah Virtual Academy extends to students statewide, so some numbers are harder to track, according to the school’s presentation made to the Utah State Board of Education in September.

Even so, the Board’s review panel could see the vast improvement the school has made.

“The State Review Panel concluded that Utah Virtual Academy (UTVA) would have achieved above the bottom 3% threshold for a second, consecutive year and exited School Turnaround,” it was stated. “The UTVA team presented positive qualitative and/or quantitative data from the implementation of its School Turnaround Plan regarding numbers of students taking the ACT, increasing graduation rates, numbers of different classes offered, and the retention of important staff.”

The School Turnaround and Leadership Development Act, passed by the Utah Legislature in 2015, is a state initiative that identifies low-performing schools as being in the bottom 3% of schools statewide for two consecutive

years. Those schools are provided outside resources and have three years to show improved academic achievement to exit out of the turnaround status.

“The improvement we’ve made has made us a better school,” UTVA Head of School Meghan Merideth said. “We’ve set a long-term model of structure with the Utah Education Policy Center at the University of Utah and will be continuing with their support because there’s always room for improvement.”

In UTVA’s turnaround exit criteria presentation, it showed ACT participation more than doubled from 2015-16 through 2018-19, and the students’ scores have remained fairly consistent.

School officials also stated that logistics in administering the state year-end SAGE (now RISE) exam was difficult as students would need to travel to testing locations, in unfamiliar environments and some simply chose to opt out.

Furthermore, last spring’s soft closure, which directed in-person instruction to online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed and canceled many statewide assessments, which are used

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to determine schools’ academic performance.

However, graduation rates have improved from 38.4% in 2017 to about 77% in 2020. Concurrent enrollment has improved from 12 credits in 2016-17 to around 400 credits the past two school years.

Staff retention also has improved, going from 82% in 2016-17 to 97% this current school year, which UTVA officials believe is less disruptive to the school environment.

According to the UTVA presentation, the top three reasons for students enrolling in the virtual school is to remove the students from bullying at traditional schools, decrease their anxiety levels and improve their health and safety.

This year, more students turned to UTVA as their educational option as an alternative to in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 1,500 K-12 students took advantage of the opportunity to enroll at Utah Virtual Academy once the Utah legislature authorized an increased enrollment cap for the online charter school in August.

UTVA’s studentbody, at more than 3,000 this fall, is almost half economically disadvantaged and just above half credit deficient upon enrolling. The stats reveal that 48% are mobile, with several homeless or experienced homelessness, and 21% are students with disabilities, according to the statistics presented to the state board.

Since there was the disruption of many statewide assessments, the State School Board established a review board in April to evaluate schools’ data and make recommendations whether each school has demonstrated sufficient improvement to exit school turnaround status.

Schools presented responses to the Board's guiding questions: Did the school achieve above the lowest 3% threshold using the 2018-19 school accountability data/measures? Can the school provide evidence of substantial progress and growth in addition to the data in the accountability system? Does the school have qualitative and/or quantitative data from the implementation of its School Turnaround Plan that also demonstrates substantial improvement? l

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Sandy City Journal

Salt Lake County concludes budget process with no tax increase

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

With the final approval of the 2021 Salt Lake County budget drawing near, I wanted to share some of the proactive steps we have taken as your County Council to tighten up spending.

In June, because of concerns surrounding revenue impacts from COVID-19, we scoured our budget to find as many cuts as possible – leading to a massive $77 million budget reduction.

Because of all the cuts we made in June, and because sales tax revenue did not fall as much as we anticipated, we ultimately had a fairly uneventful budget season.

As we strive to be as fiscally prudent as possible, one of our top priorities is maintaining our AAA bond rating. We are one of only 27 counties in the entire nation with this highest-achievable bond rating. Keeping this bond rating results in much lower interest rates on bonds and loans.

Here are some key principles I have always prioritized during the budget process, this year included.

First and foremost, tax dollars don’t “belong” to the county. The funds are yours. Taxpayers entrust the county, or any government for that matter, with a portion of their hard-earned money because they expect that entity to provide

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essential services for society to function.

There is no amount of tax dollars that is too small to be scrutinized. That is why I push back aggressively anytime I hear someone flippantly say, “It’s only x dollars… so we shouldn’t worry about it.”

Any expenditure, whether it is $10 or $10 million, should be reviewed, and if it can’t be fully justified to the taxpayers, it should be cut.

Second, I believe that all government functions should be viewed in two different categories: “need to have” and “nice to have.”

The “need to have” list obviously includes things that are statutorily required of the county to perform, think constitutionally mandated services such as criminal justice and election administration.

I also consider public safety to be in the “need to have” category, since keeping our residents safe is a core function of government. However, just because they are essential does not mean they are above scrutiny, because efficiencies can still be found.

The “nice to have” list includes quality of life services the county provides, as well as any other program or initiative that can easily be described as a benefit to county residents, but not necessarily

considered essential. Libraries and open space some of the things in this category.

The separation of these two categories demonstrates the same principle that every family in our county goes through in their annual budgets. They strive to live within their means and focus on essential family expenditures sometimes at the expense of luxuries.

Lastly, I review each aspect of our budget and ask, “Is this the proper role of county government?” I’ve said many times that government can’t and shouldn’t be all things to all people. There are many programs or services that are better suited to other government entities, nonprofits, or the private sector. Particularly in a tight budget year, it’s important to review each program, service, or expenditure and ask that question again and again.

I’m confident that these principles are the essence of good budgeting and fiscal discipline, and I will always advocate for this approach any time government is entrusted with taxpayer dollars.

You can rest assured that for 2021, Salt Lake County has a balanced budget with no tax increase.

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DECEMBER 2020 – JANUARY 2021 I N T HI S I S S UE: Bradburn Brief ................................1

River Oaks Golf Course......................3

The Point Initiates Next Steps .............1

Sandy Arts Guild ...............................3

Development Block Grant Program. ....2

Parks & Recreation ...........................4

Sandy Youth Court ............................2

Winter Holiday Safety Tips .................4

I AM SANDY: Melisse Stiglich .............2

Christmas Tree Recycling...................5

Alta Canyon Sports Center..................3

Road Safety During the Winter............5

Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizenconnect

BRAD BUR N BRIEF Dear Sandy Resident, We are all eager to create joy and happiness amidst the tumultuous times that have dominated 2020. The holiday season is a wonderful way to re-center our priorities, create memories with our loved ones, and focus on what is positive. While we are living in unprecedented times, we can still serve our friends and neighbors in a COVID-friendly way. Shoveling a sidewalk or dropping off a gift on a doorstep are just a few contactless ways to show we care and celebrate the season.

While most of the focus has been on COVID-19 at Sandy City during 2020, it has also afforded the time to make internal changes to increase efficiencies. The city has utilized technology to move Sandy employees onto digital platforms where they can create timecards, review planning, sign documents, and participate in online training, to name a few. This effort has been instrumental in maintaining a high level of service while allowing for more remote work. This also means tax dollars are spent more wisely and frees up employees to focus on serving residents. Sandy City can no longer rely on tax revenue

from new growth, so we must look for ways to spend each dollar more efficiently.

COVID-19 has had detrimental impacts on small businesses in Sandy. As you purchase your holiday gifts, please consider supporting our small businesses. We have created a campaign called “Shop Sandy” that encourages residents to seek out local businesses where you can purchase everyday items as well as one-of-a-kind gifts. For more details, visit sandy.utah.gov/shopsandy.

Lastly, please remember that you can always connect with us to get more information by going to our City websites sandy.utah.gov and SandyNow.com and accessing our social media channels Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for daily updated information.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and cheers to a brighter 2021!

Mayor Kurt Bradburn

The Point Initiates Next Steps and Releases Survey and Working Group Findings

As The Point takes the next steps to initiate the master planning process, important findings from its statewide public survey and a report authored by its five working groups have been released. With nearly 3,000 Utahns participating in the statewide public survey, the response has been significant, demonstrating widespread interest I S S U E # 76

and excitement for the site’s potential.

Key findings from the survey show Utahns want parks, open space, and trails on the site, with an approach to sustainable development that will improve air quality and enhance the quality of life. “We are encouraged to see that the input we received from the thousands of Utahns who

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 – J A NU AR Y 2021

participated in this survey is consistent with our vision,” said The Point Executive Director Alan Matheson. “We want to create a vibrant place with parks, regional trail connections, and recreational opportunities that support robust economic development and job creation for generations of Utahns.”

In addition to this, discussions from The Point’s five working groups have been compiled in a report that outlines the subject-matter insight gained from these important meetings. Outlining the key vision elements that have become crucial to the site’s future, the report goes in depth with the analysis done by several Utah leaders. “Our working group members are tremendous assets that have provided invaluable subject-matter expertise throughout this process,” said Authority Co-Chair and State Representative Lowry Snow. “Collectively, they represent some of Utah’s best and brightest and we are fortunate y to have them.”

The comprehensive survey results and the working groups report can be found on The Point’s website at thepointutah.org.

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Sandy City’s Community Development Block Grant Program Sandy City, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the benefit of the City’s residents.

Under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the CDBG was authorized with the objective of developing viable communities, principally for low to moderate-income persons, through providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities.

CDBG funding has strict rules and regulations that help ensure the funding complies with this mission.

Funding is established at the federal level using a complex formula to determine the amount of the City’s allocation. This last year, the City was awarded $376,923 for the program year. Eligible spending includes housing and other real property improvements, public facilities (parks, open space, etc.), public services (counseling, food banks, shelters, etc.), economic development, and other activities (including administration of the grant).

All activities must meet an approved national objective identified by HUD, either by benefiting low to moderateincome residents, improving blighted geographic areas, or addressing an urgent need (such as a natural disaster).

Programs included in the current funding year in Sandy City include Historic Sandy street improvements, housing rehabilitation through a partnership with

Neighborworks, a home repair, and accessibility program administered

by Assist, funding for homeless shelters and services (while not located in Sandy, this addresses a regional need), Main Street Park improvements, and several public services. Each year the CDBG Citizen’s Committee reviews grant applications and makes recommendations to the City Council on funding appropriations.

This daunting task of determining the most significant needs is completed by a volunteer group comprised of caring and concerned citizens, assisted by staff from the Community Development Department.

In addition to the regular funding, the City was awarded $234,295 in the first round of HUD’s distribution of CARES Act funding and another $256,502 in the third round. As a result, the Annual Action Plan (the document approved by the City Council that guides distribution of CDBG funding) is undergoing an amendment to allocate these funds. Public comments are being sought either in writing through Dec. 23, 2020 or at the public hearing to be held before the City Council on Dec. 8, 2020, at 6 p.m.

For the proposed plan, additional information, or questions/comments: Jake Warner at 801-568-7262 Email: jwarner@sandy.utah.gov Web: sandy.utah.gov/CDBG

Sandy Youth Court Sandy Youth Court provides arrested juveniles with an opportunity to resolve their crime by meeting with a panel of their peers instead of a juvenile court. The peer panel provides mentoring, service opportunities, classes, and projects which empower the arrested juveniles to connect with their community, repair the harm they caused, and develop meaningful skills. Sandy Youth Court has been in operation since 2006. We have helped hundreds of teens resolve offenses that include theft, assault, property damage, and trespassing during that time. Over 90% of participants successfully completed the program last year. Our Youth Panel members generally serve for multiple years and report feeling that they helped their community. Many use their Youth Court experience to support their college applications and other ambitions.

I AM SANDY Melisse Stiglich

Utah Courts Employee of the Year

The Board of Justice Court Judges recently recognized Melisse as the Justice Court Employee of the Year. She was one of two people who won this year in the entire State of Utah. Each year, the board recognizes some of the many judges and employees who have made an exceptional contribution to strengthening Utah’s Justice Courts.

With over 11 years of work in courts and law, Melisse has been instrumental in developing an innovative project to move Small Claims cases online.

It has been tested in four courts statewide and is in the process of statewide implementation, including here at the Sandy Justice Court.

“As a resident, I understand the issues the Justice Court resolves and the impacts those issues have on our community,” Melisse said. “For me, the Justice Court brings justice to the local level and to the average citizen. Plus, being in a court with Judge Paul Farr, one of the best Justice Court judges in the state, is something to be proud of as well.”

Covid-19 has presented some significant challenges at Sandy Justice Courts this year. “We have amazing staff who have worked hard to ensure the court continues to run and ensure those who have cases get the information they need.” The state has recognized Melisse’s passion for citizen-centric service, and Sandy is lucky to have her. She stated, “I love working with people because one of the main issues that leads to being frustrated is a misunderstanding of the procedures and role of the court.

Working with people to understand this fundamental branch, their rights, and how the system works really puts people at ease and helps them navigate what they can do.”

If you ever have any questions for Sandy Justice Courts, send them to justicecourt@sandy.utah.gov.

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River Oaks Golf Course 9300 South Riverside Drive, Sandy, Utah (801) 568-4653 www.sandy.utah.gov/riveroaks

9565 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092 To register for classes/events: altacanyonsportscenter.com

GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

If you want to hit a hole in one with your present buying, we offer golfers the best gifts to suit every budget. We always have a large selection of brand name golf clubs on sale.

Choose from Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway, Ping, and many other golf club manufacturers. In addition to golf clubs for sale, we also offer golf range finders, golf bags, golf balls, golf hats, golf clothing, and golf club accessories.

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Gift Certificate Golf Special: Four 18-holes with cart for $160 (savings of $40.00) Purchase gift certificate from Dec 1-31, 2020

WINTER “INDOOR” GOLF LESSONS

Wintertime is a perfect time to make significant swing changes that will give you big results in 2021. All winter long, 2016 Utah PGA Teacher of the Year Ryan Holt will teach indoor lessons at River Oaks Teaching Academy. Using high-speed video analysis, a pressure pad, and sensors that measure weight transfer, Ryan can get the most out of your swing. Whether you want big changes or to keep the rust off, Ryan can help you out.

If you are looking for holiday gifts, we match and beat any price in the valley for golf equipment. Anything from soft spikes to full sets of golf clubs! We do advanced fittings for FREE with the purchase of the equipment. Gift certificates for lessons and fittings are also available.

Email Ryan at ryanholtgolf@gmail.com or call (435)840-3102.

HOLIDAY HOURS – DEC. 24, 25, 31, JAN. 1 Thursday, Dec. 24 Building Hours 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 31 Building Hours 5:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 25 Building Closed

Friday, Jan. 1 Building Hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MERRY FITMAS! Give the gift of health.

Alta Canyon Sports Center Gift Certificates will be available all month long. Purchase one today and receive a free holiday gift bag full of stocking stuffers.

Gift Certificates available for Memberships, punch cards, karate, and so much more.

Stocking stuffers include water bottles, guest passes, earbuds, cooling towels, neck gaiter/buffs.

LOOK FORWARD TO 2021 WITH OUR “COMMIT TO BE FIT” CHALLENGES Every month Alta Canyon Sports Center will be offering various programming to help you stay committed to your fitness goals. Specialty classes for your mind, body, and soul, challenges to keep you motivated, and training options to keep it flexible. #committobefit I S S U E # 76

S andy Journal .com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 – J A NU AR Y 2021

1985 - 2020 Join the Sandy Arts Guild in celebrating 35 years with a fun virtual production of some of our biggest hits!

More info: sandyarts.com/35th P A G E

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December 2020 | Page 19

WINTER HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

Winter Holiday Safety • More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.

• More than two of every five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

PARK S & RE C R EAT I O N 36th Annual Men’s Snowball Softball Tournament

Join us for our 36th annual Snowball Softball Tournament. Grab your friends, coworkers, family members, and/or neighbors, form a team, and come play softball in the winter. Double elimination format. Games played with field conditions as is, rain or snow.

Dates: Location: Deadline: Cost:

Jan. 29–30 Bicentennial Park – 530 E. 8680 S. Quarry Bend Park – 9020 S. Quarry Bend Parkway Jan. 21 by 5 p.m. $290/Team

JR JAZZ Basketball

Holiday Decorating • Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.

• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.

• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.

• Replace any string of lights with worn, broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.

• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights, so the cords do not get damaged.

• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Holiday Entertaining • Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.

• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.

• Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers.

Wet cigarette butts before discarding.

Before Heading Out or to Bed • Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed.

• Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

Registration for Jr Jazz has passed. Please call for availability.

NOW HIRING REFEREES Sandy.utah.gov/jobs

NOW HIRING REFEREES Sandy.utah.gov/jobs

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Spring Youth Sports Registration FOR Soccer, Girls Softball, Boys Baseball, & T-Ball/Coach Pitch.

Begins Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 Adult Softball Registration begins Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 (for returning 2020 spring & fall teams) * I N P E R S O N R E G I S T R AT I O N : Sandy Parks & Recreation - 440 E. 8680 S. Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (801) 568-2900

O N L I N E R E G I S T R AT I O N :

sandy.utah.gov/registration (available for most sports & programs)

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Page 20 | December 2020

Sandy City Journal

Christmas Tree Recycling Sandy City will have areas identified at the following locations for the collection of Christmas trees from Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, until Monday morning, Jan. 11, 2021: Storm Mountain Park

11400 S. 1000 E.

Bell Canyon Park

11400 S. 1700 E.

Flat Iron Mesa Park

8600 S. 1700 E. (Lower west parking lot)

Highpoint Park

7800 S. 1000 E.

Crescent Park

11000 S. 230 E.

Wildflower Park

9939 S. Wildflower Road

Parks and Cemetery Shop

9120 S. 700 E.

Please ensure that all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and garland are removed from the trees as well as stands. Trees that have been flocked should not be taken to any of these locations since they are not recyclable. Flocked trees can be cut into pieces and placed in your waste container. Finally, bulk waste, garbage, yard waste, and commercial dumping of trees are not acceptable. If you have any questions, call Public Works at (801) 568-2999 or Parks and Recreation at (801) 568-2900.

Holiday Waste Collection Since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Friday this year, all waste collection services on this day will be delayed until Saturday.

Making Roads and Neighborhoods Safe During the Winter During the winter months, travel conditions can change quickly during a major snowstorm. Oftentimes, just getting to and from destinations like work and school can be stressful. Icy conditions can cause delays and be very dangerous. It is a priority of Sandy City to minimize the danger and to make all public areas, including parks and roads, safe and passable as quickly as possible.

• The Public Works Department has crews prepared 24 hours a day in the event of a storm. Their priority is to make all main roads passable for schools, hospitals, fire stations, and commuter traffic. As long as the snow continues to fall, the city’s first goal is to keep the main roads clear. In such instances, it is unlikely that residential roads will be reached immediately because the main roads must be repeatedly plowed. After the main roads are cleared, they are able to move to other roads and residential streets depending on the size of the storm and the amount of snowfall.

Please keep in mind that it could be 12-18 hours after a storm ends before a plow enters your neighborhood.

• The Parks Division maintains over 90 locations for snow removal. Their priority is to clear sidewalks near city buildings and school walkways. Crews can remove snow from all paved sections of trails and jogging paths as soon as all other priority locations are safe. Depending on the storm’s size, crews may not be able to reach a location for a couple of days.

• The Police Department strives to keep city streets safe during a snowstorm. They would like to remind drivers that parking restrictions on residential streets are in place during the winter months from Nov. 1 through Apr. 30. This is for the residents’ safety in that neighborhood and for the snowplow drivers who must clear the streets.

Police officers can either cite vehicles or have them towed if they are parked on city streets during a storm or within 24 hours after a storm.

• The Fire Department asks that residents clear areas around fire hydrants. Time is of the essence when a structure is on fire and someone requires assistance. Hydrants are located in every neighborhood, and delays can come when snow or other debris block hydrants. Taking just a few minutes to clear around a hydrant may mean life or death in the event of a fire.

I S S U E # 76

S andy Journal .com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 – J A NU AR Y 2021

Other tips for making your neighborhood safer: • Clear snow from your driveway and sidewalk within 24 hours of a storm.

• Do not create a hazard by blowing or pushing snow into any city street.

• Clear common areas in neighborhoods such as mailboxes, fire hydrants, or sidewalks for children walking to school.

• Help the elderly or infirmed by shoveling their areas.

It is our goal to clear the snow within a reasonable timeframe and quickly resolve any safety issues. For questions regarding snow removal, please call: STREETS – Public Works: (801) 568-2999 PRIVATE SIDEWALKS – Code Enforcement: (801) 568-7254 PARKING ISSUES – Police Dispatch: (801) 799-3000 CITY BUILDINGS, TRAILS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKING LOTS – Parks & Recreation: (801) 568-2900 During a snowstorm, if you would like to see the locations for the Sandy City snowplows, please go to sandy.utah.gov/plowtracker.

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December 2020 | Page 21

‘There is still kindness in the world’ says Sandy recipient of roofing services

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

T

he Elizabeth and Dallas Fullmer family of Sandy has experienced the greatest fear of every parent—that their child will get sick, and they will run out of options. But in the depths of heartache, they also learned that kindness still exists when a neighbor recommended their house as a project to a local roofing company.

“We have four children, Aiden, Claire, Emmett and Maggie. Two of them have needed life-saving medical care. Maggie is 3, and she was born with a congenital heart defect. She had multiple surgeries and was in the NICU for several weeks.

“Our daughter Claire was diagnosed with medulloblastoma brain cancer in 2018. Despite multiple treatments and surgeries, her fighting spirit continued even through her last breath in 2019,” Elizabeth Fullmer said.

In the midst of fighting their children’s medical battles, the Fullmers had little time, energy or finances left for home maintenance. Their roof in particular was in bad shape.

“It leaked like crazy. In the kitchen, every time it rained, you could see water coming down the cabinets. My husband was ready to YouTube how to do a roof yourself so we could get it on by winter,”

Elizabeth said.

Mandy Mounteer, the Fullmers’ friend and neighbor, thought there might be someone who could help. She called around to roofing companies and asked if they ever did pro bono projects for families in need.

“After a lot of ‘no’s’, she finally got a ‘let me check,’” Elizabeth said.

That response was from Millcreek-based company RoofTek, owned by Jake Ackerman. “Jake called us back and he was so empathetic. He came to look at our roof and said, ‘You guys need this.

Claire is living in this house, trying to recover. We’re going to take care of this for you,’” Elizabeth said.

RoofTek donated the supplies and labor. “They tore off the whole thing and found four layers of tiles, which is illegal. They had to replace the sub roof.

When they got into it, we realized it was something we never could have done ourselves,” Elizabeth said.

They got the new roof on before winter 2018, with a promise to install solar panels when life calmed down for the family. RoofTek made good on their promise and finished installing solar panels on Nov. 20, 2020.

The RoofTek team installs solar panels for the Fullmer family of Sandy in November. RoofTek donated materials and services because the Fullmers had children with severe medical issues. (Bear Ackerman/RoofTek)

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“We’ve been in touch with Jake ever since. We made a new friend. Even when we were going through the worst time in our lives, there is still kindness in the world. People still really care,” Elizabeth said, getting emotional.

For owner Ackerman, the project quickly became personal. “We weren’t in the business of donating roofs at that time.

But this was different—it wasn’t even them calling to ask, it was a neighbor. We met them, and their kids were so dang sweet.

I said we have to do this,” Ackerman said.

As a parent, Ackerman empathized with all the Fullmers were going through.

“If my kid was sick, I’d do anything and sell anything to make them healthy. We just wanted to make it happen. And when it was done they just cried,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman got excited about helping other people, so they added a nomination form to their website, www.rooftek. com, where people can nominate someone in need. It’s under the heading ‘Why RoofTek?’ and then ‘RoofTek cares.’

“The RoofTek Cares initiative provides a total roof replacement service for people who have insurmountable struggles. People can nominate individuals and families who they think could benefit.

“RoofTek orders all materials, performs the work and provides warranties so the family can focus on what’s most important—getting back to stability,” said

The Utah Radon Coalition

WHO WE ARE!

The Utah Radon Coalition (URC) is Utah’s only all volunteer, non-profit provider of radon awareness, advocacy and community service programs. Members and friends of the URC include physicians and other health care providers; health education specialists; organizations such as AARP Utah; The Utah Medical Association; and The Huntsman Cancer Institute and perhaps most importantly, citizens of Utah who are either survivors of radon induced lung cancer or are or have been caregivers for patients of radon induced lung cancer.

The RoofTek team installs solar panels for the Fullmer family of Sandy in November. RoofTek donated materials and services because the Fullmers had children with severe medical issues. (Bear Ackerman/ RoofTek)

Spencer Willis, marketing director for RoofTek. “It’s not cheap to do something like this, but it’s so impactful. RoofTek was amazing. We still have bills, money is still tight and I lost my job due to COVID. So things like this help,” Elizabeth said.

“This experience has redeemed my faith in humanity. With so many awful things going on in the world, there are still people who care. I just get chills every time I think about it,” Elizabeth said. l

DID YOU KNOW? ✓ Radon is a carcinogen and is the

second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

✓ More than 21,000 Americans die

of radon induced lung cancer each year; an average of 136 Utahns per year.

✓ Radon is prevalent in Utah;

it’s estimated that 1 in 3 homes in Utah have high levels of radon.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

January is National Radon Action Month.

The Utah Radon Coalition is conducting a radon action month activity where we will be providing radon information and

FREE RADON TESTING TO RESIDENTS OF YOUR CITY. Our activity will start December 1 and run through the month of January. The goals of the activity are to increase awareness, increase testing and mitigation and save lives by eliminating radon exposure.

HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE?

Go to our website to read more about the dangers of radon and to apply for a free radon test.

HTTPS://WWW.UTAHRADONCOALITION.ORG/RADON-ACTION-MONTH-2021.HTML

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December 2020 | Page 23

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

OUTLAW DISTILLERY 552 W. 8360 South, Midvale, UT

Business Spotlights are a service offered to our advertisers to help them inform our readers about their businesses. For information on scheduling a Spotlight, please call us at 801-254-5974 or email us at ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

There’s no compromise on the practice “from grain to glass” at Outlaw Distillery. Kirk and Denise Sedgwick, co-founders of Outlaw Distillery, are passionate about ensuring the best quality products for their customers. All of their spirits are hand crafted in Midvale and are made from natural, local, quality ingredients.

In order to create Outlaw Distillery’s line of handcrafted spirits including Rum, Spiced Rum, Coffee Rum, White Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey and Moonshine, Kirk and Denise partner with local companies to include only the highest grade of raw natural materials in their distillery. The majority of these materials, like corn, wheat, oats, rye and barley, are all produced by Utah farmers. Any materials the Sedgwick’s can’t obtain locally, they’ll purchase from U.S.-based companies exclusively.

As an example of raw natural quality ingredients, Outlaw Distillery only uses fancy molasses. “That’s what the industry calls their finest batches,” clarified Kirk, as many people have questioned the term “fancy.” (That’s in comparison to blackstrap molasses, which is the lowest-quality molasses, Kirk explained.)

Denise and Kirk are strict about pulling all of their flavors from the natural ingredients themselves, not adding artificial flavoring or sweeteners. For example, Outlaw Distillery’s coffee rum is made from a unique partnership with a local coffee company, Bad Ass Coffee, and the strong coffee notes the product has become known for comes from the coffee beans directly.

Kirk described the process as similar to how cold brew coffee is steeped and made at artisanal coffee shops. He takes these coffee beans and throws them in with the other ingredients needed to

distil rum. After the coffee rum has acquired the desired flavor, Kirk will filter out the coffee beans.

Kirk has built an incredible reputation within the distilling industry and shared that many of the local distillers are friends, so he doesn’t see any of them as competition.

Outlaw Distillery’s products can take anywhere from two weeks to two years to distill. Kirk can distill a barrel of moonshine or white whiskey in as little as two weeks. However, a barrel of rum and/or bourbon will need to age for at least two years.

Growing up in Utah, Kirk has always been fascinated by the infamous history of the state. He always loved reading about Butch Cassidy, who was born in Beaver, and the Outlaw Trail which ran through Utah. These two widely known bits of history helped inspire the creation of Outlaw Distillery, hence the “Outlaw” portion of the name.

Outlaw Distillery is completely locally owned and operated. Denise and Kirk do all their own distilling, with their family and friends helping out when needed. Kirk, a master at all these mechanical, designed and built all the equipment needed to run the distillery.

In addition to their liquor products, Outlaw Distillery hosts tours and tastings. During this 90-minute tour, Kirk educates attendees on an assortment of information relative to distilling.

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Sandy City Journal

Jordan among local high schools to welcome UHSAA’s newest sport: girls wrestling

By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com

W

hile all high school sports coaches are trying to navigate seasons with new COVID-19 mandates, Utah’s wrestling coaches are facing another challenge—how to incorporate a girls’ program into their long existing boys’ programs.

Although girls have long participated in boys wrestling, the Utah High School Athletics Association (UHSAA) is sanctioning girls wrestling for the first time this year.

Now girls will have their own place where they can compete against other girls across the state.

“I anticipate girls wrestling to not only grow but also to draw a crowd, as much of a crowd as any other girls’ sport. I think that it’s a great opportunity for young women to find success,” said coach Kim Weaver, Brighton’s first girls wrestling coach.

When it came time for the administration and coaches to decide how to move forward with the girls wrestling program, both Brighton and Jordan high schools separately came to the same conclusion—a coed program. Similar to how high school cross country and swimming teams are set up, boys and girls will train together.

“We practice and train in the same room and have one big Brighton wrestling family,” Weaver said. “We just compete separately.”

The decision to add girls wrestling as a UHSAA sport came after years of high school girls competing in boys’ competitions. Girls will now be able to train alongside their male teammates but won’t have to compete against them. Wrestling fans and coaches alike hope this will increase turnout for this up-and-coming sport.

“I’ve seen plenty of girls handle themselves against boys. But for other girls it’s an opportunity to wrestle girls and feel more comfortable,” said Jordan coach Luis Cruz.

Cruz, in his first year at Jordan, accepted a job as the head girls wrestling coach in its inaugural year. Although there are many firsts for Cruz this year, his athletes are lucky to have an experienced coach. Cruz moves to Jordan after five years at West High School where he worked with the wrestling team.

During his time there he was able to coach many successful girls, most notably Mia May, a three-time Utah club state champ.

Some moves, like the half-nelson, Cruz knows won’t be as common in girls wrestling. The half-nelson is a well-known wrestling hold in which an athlete pins an opponent down by putting a hand under their arm and locking it at the neck.

“There’s a couple of techniques that we can’t teach the girls, they’re more flexible than the boys. Girls can get out of half-nelsons because they have great mobility in their shoulders,” Cruz said.

Coaches at Brighton and Jordan plan to teach techniques to both boys and girls but

S andy Journal .com

Girls wrestle at a training put on by Utah Wrestling. (Photo Courtesy Utah Girls Wrestling Facebook page)

work on those moves in separate groups. In wrestling, the feel of an opponent’s body forces athletes to adjust on the spot. Coaches will be able to critique form more accurately when practiced in different groups.

Although many head coaches will be new to girls wrestling, any coach with wrestling experience should be up to the task.

Veteran coaches have learned to make adjustments for different weight classes.

“Heavy weights don’t wrestle the same as 106 (pounds), but in practice we give everyone the opportunity to learn the same skills,” Weaver said. “When we move to live wrestling, we allow them to use the combinations that work well for them and then coach them as individuals.”

Girls wrestling is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the United States and Utah is among the first 20 states to sanction it as a high school sport. This progressive decision will allow girls more opportunities to participate in high school athletics. High school students who participate in sports are more likely to graduate high school and pursue higher education.

“I’m so happy to see it sanctioned. It gives the girls in the building another opportunity, another sport to try and build upon their high school resume. That’s what it’s all about, giving kids more opportunities,” Cruz said.

With only a small percentage of high school athletes moving on to college and professional athletics, administrators know that participation in sports provides students with lessons that reach beyond the court, field or mat. As an individual endurance sport, wrestlers learn how to persevere in a difficult match even when they are alone on the mat.

“I hope that as we build the girls pro-

gram here that we can build strong women who can confront not only obstacles and challenges on the mat, but in life with the same resilience, tenacity and determination that one needs on the mat,” Weaver said.

Both Weaver and Cruz are ecstatic to take the lead at their prospective schools. As

they welcome girls into the wrestling room, they can’t wait to start helping their athletes learn a new skill.

As Weaver says, “Women are powerful.

This is just another opportunity for them to show it.” l

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December 2020 | Page 25

Jordan’s Mae Afoa signs with Utah Valley University

By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com

W

hen Gov. Gary Herbert announced a two-week mandate on Nov. 8 postponing extracurricular activities, high school sports came to a halt. Although sports fans were undoubtedly disappointed, they had one thing to look forward to— National Signing Day. On Nov. 11, high school athletes across the country signed Letters of Intent to the college programs they had been recruited to. One of these all-star athletes is Jordan High School’s Mae Afoa.

It might be daunting for most high school players to imagine moving into a college program, but Afoa is used to competing with the big dogs. When she began playing club basketball at age 10, her mom signed her up for a boys’ team. After two years, Afoa moved to a girls’ team at the same club. But it wasn’t just any girls’ team.

Afoa was playing with girls two years older than her.

“I think it’s helped me out a lot. I’ve always kind of been the worst on the team, but when I play with girls my age, I feel more developed,” Afoa said.

When Afoa was a freshman, she had the

opportunity to join a Nike sponsored EYBL team. This allowed her to travel across the country to some of her now favorite places like Chicago. In these tournaments, she was able to compete against some of the top prospects in the nation including multiple ESPN top 100 recruits.

“At these tournaments all the D1 and D2 schools are there, just sitting on the side of the court,” Afoa said. “It was so scary, but definitely invited a lot of exposure.”

When Afoa started her college search, she was certain she would end up outside of Utah. But as she talked to coaches and had discussions about her priorities, one thing kept coming up—her family.

“I found myself frequently saying that family is most important to me,” she said. “Then when COVID hit, I realized if I was out of state and unable to travel home during the pandemic, I would not be able to function.”

With this realization, Afoa narrowed down her long list of interested programs to four universities: Dixie, Utah State, Utah Valley and Weber State. To evaluate these schools, she focused on which would pro-

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Sandy City Journal

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Mae Afoa goes up for a layup in a game against West Jordan last season. (Photo courtesy of Mae Afoa)

vide her with the best atmosphere.

“I wanted to be at a place where I felt comfortable being myself and playing the game that I can play,” Afoa said.

When she looked into UVU, she felt it fulfilled that requirement and more. Afoa got along well with the coaches and other girls on the team. She knew she would fit right in.

“Immediately, when I talked to the UVU coach our chemistry was there. Conversations flowed effortlessly, it was amazing,” Afoa said.

Coach Dan Nielson and his staff had previously coached at BYU, where Afoa had attended basketball camps growing up.

They had seen her develop and were excited to see how they could coach her at the next level.

Not only is Afoa familiar with the coaches, she knows many of the girls as well. UVU prioritizes in-state recruiting, so Afoa has played with many girls on the current roster and fellow signee Ally Blackman from Skyridge High School.

As Afoa’s high school coach Tallon Robertson can attest to, her ability to play college ball has taken hard work and ded-

S andy Journal .com

ication.

“She’s a girl that is always staying after to get some shots up, always asking when the gym is open,” Robertson said.

Her motivation for the late nights and early mornings comes down to a love of the game. When she first started playing on boys’ teams, she would just show up wherever her mom took her. But with the time and commitment that her mom, jokingly referred to as her “manager,” put in, Afoa was able to commit to the love of the game.

“My mom was the one who took me to all my practices, went to all my games,” she said. “She’s been really involved in my basketball career.”

As Afoa leaves the prep scene for greener pastures, she wants to remind girls that there are many opportunities outside of the small basketball world in Utah. She was able to learn from the different coaching styles and players that she came in contact with while traveling.

Although the Beetdiggers will miss their all-state player and two-time MVP, they won’t have to travel far to see her play as a UVU Wolverine. l

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

S

ix years ago, Manuel Romero was asked by a friend to write a 20-page account of their time as graduate students in Mexico City. The resulting essay was double that and eventually became an entire book.

That book is called “Mi América: The Evolution of An American Family,” and it tells the story of Romero’s family, starting with an Aztec princess and ending with Romero himself, the first in his family to graduate from college.

Romero was born in New Mexico, then moved with his family to live briefly in San Francisco, then West Jordan, Bingham Canyon, and finally settling in Midvale. Romero now lives in Sandy.

“The more I wrote, the more I found out,” Romero said. “I started interviewing my family. It just blossomed into this book.”

Romero drew on a wealth of resources, including interviews with friends, family, politicians and community activists. He went through his own journals and photos and poured through archives at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The resulting book tells a riveting slice of America’s history.

The family’s story begins in 1603 when a conquistador and his wife moved north to help expand the Spanish empire.

The story also details Romero’s great-greatgreat-grandmother, who was considered a Spanish citizen when she was born in 1799.

When she was 22, Mexico won its independence from Spain and she became a citizen of Mexico. In 1848, the Mexican-American War ended and suddenly she was a citizen of the United States of America. But the backbone of the book is the story of Romero’s parents, Rodolfo Romero and Amelia Madrid, and their 13 children.

For generations, the Romero and Madrid families thrived on the land, but through the years they were stripped of their agricultural rights. The family moved to Utah in search of employment when Romero, the youngest child, was in the first grade.

“Our first home in West Jordan looked more like a run-down barn than a house,” wrote Romero in his book. “It was just off Redwood Road, across from the cemetery.

To get to our house, you had to travel about a third of a mile on a dirt road that ran next to the canal. There was no indoor bathroom and only two bedrooms for the seven of us.”

The family then moved to Bingham Canyon, where Romero’s older brothers had found employment in the mine. In 1963, Romero’s father bought a house on Main Street in Midvale that would serve as the family’s home base until his death at age 91.

Romero worked at Berns Superfoods on Main Street, which he says hired lo-

cal boys to keep them out of trouble. St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church on Allen Street was also a significant site for the family. Romero attended his first full traditional Nuevo Mexicano wedding, and the funeral masses for both of his parents took place there. In 2019, the family Christmas party filled the parish hall.

“Midvale was divided by railroad tracks,” wrote Romero in his book. “We lived on the west side of the tracks, in what was referred to as the Mexican side of town, a dangerous place. While a significant number of Latinos did live on the west side, I think the difference was highly exaggerated…We were all working class with a huge dose of diversity.”

Throughout the book Romero writes passionately about the outsized role of Latinos in the military, including the story of three family members and friends who were killed in Vietnam during a 16-day period.

Once discharged from his own military service, Romero enrolled at the University of Utah under the GI Bill.

“As I dove into the civil rights movement in college and began to take numerous Chicano Studies courses, it became evident that so much of our history has been hidden from us,” wrote Romero. “Not only do the spoils go to the victor, but they also get to write the stories, highlighting their adventures and courage and downplaying or dismissing the people they conquered.”

He later received a scholarship to attend graduate school in Mexico City, where he met his future wife and mother of his child. Romero completed his master’s degree at the University of New Mexico, beginning a long career of teaching, politics and community leadership.

What pushed Romero to complete his book through years of writing and research?

“A driving force was my nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces,” Romero said. “The more I wrote it made me think to make this bigger, more general than just about my family.”

Romero asked Daniela Lopez, a family friend, to paint the cover image. Lopez grew up in Midvale and West Jordan and now is the regional painter for Louis Vuitton Las Vegas. She is known for her hyperrealistic portraits of professional basketball players.

“The challenge for me was to try to bring life and color to a very old and pixelated black and white photo of the family house,” Lopez said. “We added elements here and there to tie into the book as well.

It’s always an honor to create something special for a family, but to be trusted with the cover for a book—a lifetime’s body of work—is something I’ll always be touched

Sandy City Journal

by.”

Romero finished all of the writing and editing in March, just as the pandemic hit Utah.

While more people are stuck at home with time to read, it’s been challenging for Romero to market his book. Most of his outreach has taken place via social media.

“I obviously come from a large extended family,” Romero said. “People we haven’t met are reaching out from places like Virginia and Spain to communicate with me or one of my siblings.”

Rose Pena of West Jordan read the book and reached Romero through Facebook. “We can relate to their struggles and also to their triumphs,” Pena wrote. “I enjoyed the historical, political, and educational references that serve as the background for your story…Our Hispanic culture is rich in its traditions and our love of family is who we are. Thank you for bringing it to life and sharing your family’s history with us.”

More information and ways to purchase the book can be found at www.miamerica2020. com.

Romero plans to be at Mestizo Coffee House at 631 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 19. Anyone can stop by to purchase a copy and have it signed by Romero.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” Romero said. “I left here three times, and I keep coming back.” l

Manuel Romero poses with his book, “Mi América: The Evolution of An American Family” in front of the old St. Therese Church where he served as an altar boy.

(Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

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S andy Journal .com

December 2020 | Page 29

Alta High Marching Band didn’t let the sun go down on their season

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

he 80-member Alta High Marching Band had two successes this year, according to director Caleb Shabestari.

“We didn’t go after trophies, but we pushed to be able to play and finish the season,” he said about competing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The student-musicians were able to march in four competitions, but they also competed and placed in the top five at state in the open 5A competition.

“At the end of the season, we were so relieved we were able to play the entire time. We had a few cases of COVID, and had people out with quarantine, and at one competition, we marched with 10 holes when our members were out. But we’re thankful we were able to play the entire season knowing it could end at any moment with all the restrictions from the school, district, county and governor,” he said. “We learned to live each day to the fullest.”

All season the Hawks were reminded of the pandemic. At competitions, student groups were ushered in and out of competitions, so they weren’t able to watch other schools and even judge numbers were limited so they could be socially distanced in

Alta High Marching Band performs a happier, upbeat program during COVID-19 pandemic, which helped place them in the top five in state. (Photo courtesy of Alta High Marching Band)

the press box.

The student-musician group, who also came from Juan Diego Catholic High, Jordan High, Corner Canyon High and a few other neighboring schools, knew to take safety precautions, wearing masks while competing as members of the color guard, percussion, even the reed and brass players. They were being socially distanced,

sanitizing and taking “vibe” checks or temperature and health symptom checks, he said.

While Shabestari realized times may look bleak, he wanted to encourage his students to give a meaningful show, which was titled “The Sun Will Rise.” The show included bright colors, joyful parts and the Elton John song, “Don’t Let the Sun Go

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Brothers Tyler and Dillon Green are the founders of Cache tailgating products. The Greens grew up in Sandy. They love skiing, backpacking, mountain biking and all that Utah has to offer. They’re a self-proclaimed “truck family,” who often find themselves sitting on the back of open tailgates, watching the sun go down after a long day of outdoor adventures.

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“But the biggest innovation is that the Basecamp System is modular. It securely stores the Jeffrey Cooler and Lounger Chairs on the tailgate, and then you grab them when you’re on the go, venturing out to backpack or fly fish,” Green said.

Page 30 | December 2020

Down On Me.” Parents, too, helped with the show, creating a rotating giant sun as a prop.

“My goal was something happy and uplifting. I planned it while everything was shutting down, so I wanted something the kids could attribute meaning to, not just get a trophy,” he said. “I think we were able to share that.” l

Our beloved dad’s sudden death was the spark to design the best modular tailgate system.

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“This is a really awesome discount. We love our local community and want to support them as they’ve supported us, and this 25% discount is one way we can do that,” Green said.

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Jay Greenberg said the Basecamp System is the new hangout spot on his 2018 Ford. “It fits great and doesn’t block my backup camera. I had four bikes on here the other day, and the chairs and cooler are perfect for post ride hang[out]. I can’t wait to use this at the ski resort.”

Reviewers of the Lounger Chair all agreed that it’s comfortable, a go-to concert and stadium chair, and can fit a blan-

ket inside. Fans of the Jeffrey Cooler called it “an amazing product,” and raved about how their drinks stayed cool on a three day trip and a day at the beach.

“Our customers come back to us and refer their friends because of the Basecamp System’s quality. You’ll start noticing these tailgate pads everywhere, and for function and design, ours are the best.

“Now word of mouth and reviews are bringing in new customers. That’s one of the reasons we’re doing the SHIP25 discount code on our website www.trustcache.com through the end of the year. We want people who have heard about our product to have every reason to give it a try,” Green said.

Sandy City Journal

Young city council makes it through 2020 by working together

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

O

ne year ago, the Sandy City Council was flipped on its head when three longtime members retired and a fourth member lost re-election. That resulted in a seven-member council where the majority of members were in their first year. That kind of turnover would be cause for at least a little concern in any organization, but when the Sandy Journal asked those new members last year, they were confident that the fresh blood would be a strength, not a weakness, for the city council. So how has the first year gone?

“I think it has been a big learning curve. It’s been an immersion experience,” said Monica Zoltanski, one of those four new council members who represents the city’s fourth district. “While there is benefit to having long-term representatives, I think it’s actually a plus for the community to have a younger council. We’ve been able to look at things that operate in the city with a new eye, saying, ‘why do we always do it that way?’”

Fellow City Councilmember Allison Stroud agreed that the council has actually benefited from the addition of four new sets of eyes.

“It hasn’t been as detrimental as what

I sometimes imagined could happen when you replace more than half of any body. It’s almost been a blessing because we’ve had to grow with each other and lean on each other. No one’s felt self-conscious for asking questions,” she said.

City Council Office Director Mike Applegarth said he has been impressed by the new council members’ attention to detail and willingness to spend time learning the process and digging deep into policy.

“I would characterize the council this year as very much into the details of policy.

They really want as much information as they can get, in advance of making a decision. They really spend time making sure they understand that information,” he said.

An added benefit of spending more time to dig into concepts is that residents watching the meetings are more likely to learn a thing or two about how the city works.

“Some of our meetings have been civics lessons. Some of them have accounting lessons,” Zoltanski said.

For example, following this summer’s budget process, the council decided that they wanted to spend more time digging into the fine details of the budget through-

out the year. Since then, the council (facilitated by the city’s budget director) has held informative discussions on the budget about every other week.

“It’s giving them better insight into why the budget is put together the way it is. I think that will have a huge benefit going into the next budget season,” Applegarth said.

Of course, it hasn’t been an easy or normal year by any measure, as the council had to grapple with a city budget in the face of uncertainty surrounding how COVID-19 would impact Sandy’s economic outlook.

Through that process there were passionate disagreements and debate on what approach the city should take, but through it all, Stroud said all the council members maintained a level of professionalism and respect for one another.

“You have seven people who may not agree on things but we’ve been respectful.

We’re all doing our best to represent our constituents. We respect each other and that’s why we’re able to get things done,” she said.

“I really like all my colleagues,” echoed Zoltanski. “When everyone shares a common focus, that brings everyone together.

We have disagreements of course, we don’t

see things the same way all the time. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get the job done.”

Aside from the economic impacts of COVID-19, the pandemic has also forced the council into holding its meetings virtually for the majority of the year.

“Relationships translate to value.

When we’re cut off from our co-workers, staff and stakeholders physically, we are missing a big element of success. We have to find ways to humanize the online experience,” Zoltanski said.

Still, it’s not all bad, said Stroud, who noted that online communication creates a record she can go back and review.

The online meetings have also made it easier for residents to get involved, whether as passive viewers or actually joining into the Zoom meeting to give public comment.

“I actually believe that the online format has made the council better,” Applegarth said. “The numbers demonstrate that we get much better public participation, and that makes the council better. Having people participate, it has an influence on the council’s deliberative process. With more resident feedback comes better decisions.”l

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December 2020 | Page 31

Middle-schoolers debate in-person, adhering to safety precautions

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

I

ndian Hills eighth-grader Gabe Lowe was ready to face his competitors in late October as he went head-to-head in Canyons School District’s first in-person middle school debate and speech tournament of the school year.

“I like debating and get most out of it going against others,” said the three-year veteran. “There are big issues this year, like police reform, COVID-19 and topics that relate more to Utah than previous years. I’m able to have better speeches and facts and glad I have a chance to compete.”

With so many extracurricular activities curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, District English Language Arts Specialist Leslie Robinett said she was glad to give students an opportunity to compete in one.

As the school year began, Robinett met with debate and speech coaches at all seven Canyons middle schools where it was decided as long as it’s safely possible, the tournaments will be held.

However, there are a few differences, such as teams are separated by school in different locations to keep them in smaller groups. Each round is posted in several places and announcements were provided over the intercom to reduce congregating. There also was not an in-person

end-of-tournament celebration and awards ceremony as the results with medals and trophies were given to coaches with a videotaped announcement the following week.

“Our coaches felt that there would be a lot more social distancing than during school as we could really spread out,” she said, adding that holding it online was discussed. “The teachers also felt that holding it in person is important as when students talk in front of a judge is different than talking to a computer.”

Even transporting the students to the tournament site of Indian Hills Middle was reviewed and Albion’s and Eastmont’s teams took two school buses to ensure there was enough social distancing.

The tournament size also was restricted, with no out-of-district teams invited.

As it turned out, for various reasons, only Indian Hills, Eastmont, Mt. Jordan and Albion’s full teams competed, along with a few from Draper Park, reducing the number to about 250 students.

Sanitizer was abundant and concessions were eliminated.

“We’re trying to provide the opportunity as much as normal while making it as safe as possible,” Robinett said, add-

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ing however, the elementary tournament would be judged by video submissions this year.

Mt. Jordan eighth-grader Parker Lassig appreciates competing at the tournament.

“It’s fun to voice my opinions in my speech,” he said, adding that he participated the two previous years.

Albion coach Emma Coates took about 35 students to the tournament, most who are in her course, which she is providing on the Canvas learning management platform.

“It’s made me rethink our system, and make positive changes,” said the eightyear-coach. “In the past, I would teach the basics; this year, I have assignments that force them to learn skills that may have seen optional in the past and weren’t always practiced.”

She said that many of those are skills that can translate to other classes and to life.

“One thing I love most about debate is that so many skills relate to the rest of their lives—the quality of their thoughts, researching, expressing disagreement, being organized, learning to be part of a team—there’s so much,” said Coates, who

judged the online national middle school tournament this past summer.

She also is making students understand that mask-wearing doesn’t limit communication, but gives them a chance to convey it more besides through words.

“We learn about and practice body expression,” she said. “We have our debaters practice at a distance from each other, but speaking up louder. We’ll have a specific lesson on enunciation and on learning about hand gestures before the next tournament.”

Coates said that the in-person Canyons tournament went smoothly.

“Things went so much better than we thought it would,” she said. “We didn’t have as many middle school students even with the teams that competed because some students are being quarantined, but it gave them motivation to really research hard and practice. They had the fire and passion and that wouldn’t be there if it was virtual. I asked the kids about it and without hesitation, 100% yes, they wanted the competition and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”

Indian Hills coach Gage Pulsifer said about 30 members of his 103-member team were quarantined.

“It has been tough as some kids hav-

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Sandy City Journal

en’t had as much time together this year,” he said, referring to the week delay start to the school year as well as quarantine time.

“We had some kids really want to participate so they were able to take the quick test (for COVID-19) and able to compete in the tournament. They spend time working on their speeches and research, so the tournament gives them a sense of accomplishment.”

While quarantined, many students would virtually connect with those in the classroom and debate one another.

“We had a little delay, but it’s students wanting to be part of this. We’re also learning that it’s taking a little longer to get ready as we didn’t finish last school year (because of the soft closure of schools at the outbreak of the pandemic),” the four-year coach said.

Pulsifer said after watching the initial presidential debate, students have appreciated what they’ve learned in class: “There are two sides of an argument and that they need to listen and present the civil discussion with facts so they can back up what is being said.”

As students watch the news and talk about current events such as social unrest and voting, they also need to understand there are different viewpoints based on different life experiences.

“We need to understand that the world is not black and white, we can’t be polar opposed. We need to find that middle ground,” he said.

At Eastmont, Corey Jensen and Cody

West coached about 60 kids at the tournament and said that they, too, also had class discussions about the first presidential debate.

“They know that’s not how a debate should go, but many of the topics during this year—the pandemic, social unrest, Black Lives Matter, voting rights and the importance of democracy, and others—is really inspiring students,” said seven-year coach Jensen, adding that he was a little surprised that the tournament was able to be held when so many activities have been canceled during the pandemic. “It’s important, especially right now, we need a sense of community and give our students a chance to be involved as part of team and be able to connect to school,” he said. “A lot of students play sports and have those opportunities, but a lot of others don’t, and debate gives them those same values.”

West, who has been co-head coach for three years, said he was happy the tournament was held and that even with the changes to the tournament, students were excited to take part.

“We still had the same vibe on the way here, the same sense of nervousness,” he said. “It created a sense of normalcy for the most part and that’s needed; the kids are excited.”

As long as conditions allow, the next Canyons tournaments will be held Dec. 17, March 18, 2021 and April 29, 2021. The middle school state tournament is slated for May 6, 2021. l

Jordan High’s Isaiah Cardenaz judges oratory competitor Parker Lassig, a Mt. Jordan eighth-grader, as Albion Middle eighth-grader McKenna Jones waits her turn. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

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December 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 12

FREE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 96-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ON ‘FARNSWORTH FARMS’ PROPERTY

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

A

nearly-year-long process came to a conclusion last month in regards to 10 undeveloped acres located at 11228 S. 700 East, known as Farnsworth Farms. After months of backand-forth between the Sandy City Council and the city planning commission, the council voted to approve a rezone that paves the way for 96 new units to be added to the city.

The rezone changes the parcel from an agricultural designation to a Planned Unit Development zone with a density of 10 units per acre. The project plans submitted by the developer project a total of 96 units. That includes 30 twin home units and 66 townhome units.

The developer said their target for pricing is $450,000+ for the twin homes. The townhomes are divided between two models, one of which will be in the range of $295,000$325,000 and the other between $350,000-$375,000.

One concern from homeowners whose properties border the proposed development was that any two-story houses would block their view of the mountains and potentially create a privacy concern. Consequently, the developer agreed to place the single-story twin homes around the boundaries of the development.

Other concerns were raised by residents from throughout the broader community over the course of multiple public meetings, from school enrollment and water pressure to increased traffic.

“A lot of the concerns have not been necessarily validated,” said Councilwoman Allison Stroud, who noted that she The developer of the proposed project has worked with residents whose homes neighbor the property to assuage their concerns. (Justin Adams/City had reached out to Canyons School District and was told there Journals) Continued page 5

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