Sandy Journal | December 2023

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Dec. 2023 | Vol. 23 Iss. 12

AMBITIONS, EXPECTATION HIGH

FOR DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION ALTA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

W

hen a team is coming off a state title and brings back several key players, you would expect plenty of excitement around the program. That’s exactly what permeates the Alta boys basketball team in 2023–24.

Last season, the Hawks went 24-4 overall and defeating Timpview 64-53 for the Class 5A state championship. Alta played its best basketball late in the season, when it mattered most, winning all its state tournament games by double digits. The Hawks didn’t win their region (Region 8) but ran through the postseason to capture a much bigger prize.

There’s no reason to think Alta won’t be one of 5A’s top teams again.

“We are super excited for this upcoming season,” head coach Travis Ohrn said. “With the group we have, we are expecting another great season. We have a tough preseason schedule that will prepare us for a run at a region title and hopefully a state championship. Our goals at Alta are to always be at the top. We set goals to pace us through the season.

We want to win our division at the Tarkanian Classic tournament in Las Vegas, win our region and win a state championship. We believe we have the group to do it. It’ll be super tough, but we’re excited to compete.”

Alta has a good mix of seniors and underclassmen leading the team.

Five seniors, power forward Jaxon Johnson, point guard Ace Reiser, shooting guard Carter Goodfellow, power forward Carter Doleac and shooting guard Bo Compton are all back after having strong seasons a year ago. Junior small forward Matt McKea and sophomore shooting guards Zak Paepke and Dash Resier bolster the Hawks’ lineup.

Johnson is one of the top players in the state and has already signed Continued page 8

Alta returns several key players for last season’s 5A state championship team. The Hawks are favorites to repeat this season. (Photo courtesy of Travis Ohrn.)

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Dec. 2023 | Page 3

Sandy Girl Scouts build houses to protect nonmigratory birds

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

T

wo Girl Scouts in Sandy earned their Bronze Award after building bird homes and placing them at Sego Lily Gardens (1472 Sego Lily Dr.). Madeleine Sission, 12, and Taylor Wicker, 10, chose the project as a way to help nonmigratory birds survive the winter.

To earn the award, the girls had to go into the community to find a need they could address. After doing some research, they learned the black-capped chickadee and the western screech owl needed safe places where they could be protected from predators and cold temperatures.

With help from their fathers, Harley Sission and Ed Wicker, the girls found birdhouse plans online and talked to managers at Home Depot and Lowe’s to get supplies donated for the project. They also worked with experts at Tracy Aviary to make sure they created the best homes in a secure location. They built four birdhouses for the chickadees and one nesting box for the screech owls.

“For the black-capped chickadees, we learned that they are going extinct, so that was a helpful reason to build them houses,” Madeline said. “So we’ll have four birds coming there and they might have babies, which can increase the number of black-capped chickadees, because right now they’re almost extinct. The population will grow and the birdhouses will protect them from predators.”

While the hardest part of the project for Madeleine was building the houses and making sure everything was exact, Taylor struggled with learning how to deal with all the red tape when it came to placing the birdhouses.

“I think the hardest part for me was all the confusion,” Taylor said. “We’d wanted to put the birdhouses in Dimple Dell, but we had to do it at Sego Lily because the city didn’t own the property in Dimple Dell.”

Members of Girl Scout Troop 294 attended a Sandy City Council meeting in November, offering the prayer and the pledge before Madeleine and Taylor presented their award-winning project. Madeleine, a student at Eastmont Middle School, and Taylor, a student at Peruvian Park Elementary, explained their project to the council and spent time answering questions.

In a Facebook post, Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski wrote, “Madeleine Sisson and Taylor Wicker told us all about their preservation project to help provide habitat for

Journals T H E

Sandy residents Madeleine Sission (left) and Taylor Wicker (right) built an owl nesting box for the western screech owl as part of their Girl Scout Bronze Award project. (Photo courtesy of the Sission family)

native birds. They raised funds, engineered, built, and placed bird houses…Their work is an example of innovation, self-reliance, and community stewardship that are the pillars of our Sandy community. Thanks to the Girl Scouts of Utah for their efforts to make our city a better place.”

With the success of their birdhouse project, the two girls plan to work together for their Silver and Gold Awards. Madeleine’s mother, Jessica Sission, said the girls learned a lot as they went through the process of deciding on a project, get-

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As part of their Girl Scout Bronze Award project, Sandy residents Madeleine Sission (left) and Taylor Wicker (right) built birdhouses for the black-capped chickadee that they placed at Sego Lily Gardens in Sandy. (Photo courtesy of the Sission family)

ting information and support, creating the houses and getting them placed at Sego Lily Gardens.

“With using blueprints and making the birdhouses, there were a lot of steps,” Jessica Sission said “So there was a lot of teamwork. When they did their presentation at the city, they took turns and they worked really, really well together.” l

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Sandy City Journal

Local author inspires students with differing abilities to pen their own stories

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Z

accary Turner cherishes his book, “Five Little Pumpkins: A Tale of Vegetability” by local author, Cameron Bell.

“I never got a book signed by author before,” he said. “Our whole class got books signed by him.”

Zac’s classmate, Daniel Uitdenhowen, said the book is special because “he told us he wrote the book because his son can’t speak so he wanted him to know it’s OK to be different. Being different is being special.”

The two aspiring young authors also appreciated learning the author’s writing process as well as the story he created in an easy rhyme about pumpkins and an eggplant being on the same team to escape their garden.

Bell came to the boys’ fourthand fifth-grade class at Sandy Elementary after their teacher, Megan Hunt, received a $152 Canyons Education Foundation grant to purchase a book for each student. Hunt’s mother, Sharon Okumura, a former Canyons School District principal, knew the author’s family and was able to extend the invitation for him to speak to Hunt’s special education class for students with mild to moderate differing abilities.

Bell, a parent of a son who has a chromosomal disorder, was able to relate to Hunt’s students.

“It was special because he talked to the students about writing the book about his son who has a disability, only he didn’t use the word disability; he just said, his son is ‘a little bit different from all of his peers,’” she said. “In the book, he’s different from the pumpkins since he’s an eggplant, but he ends up using his talents to escape. It’s a story with a message that it’s OK to be different. Then, he asked what makes each of us different or unique to show how can we relate to the story.”

Bell’s visit also tied into helping the students with their writing skills.

“Having the author here was great for my kids who have written chapter books in their heads, or in pictures, but not with words. I’m wanting them to try to use words so they can create their stories,” she said. “Right now, we’re working on sentence structure and basic grammar. I hope his visit inspires them to continue writing because writing is probably one of the hardest things

S andy Journal .com

Visit us in Sandy 11052 So Grapevine Cove

R E A D Y S E T Sandy Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders learn about writing and receive autographed books from local author Cameron Bell. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Okumura)

we do in this classroom. I have kids who have a really great imagination, but they have a hard time expressing it. I want them to see that anybody can become an author if they put in the time and the effort.”

Hunt should know. As a 16-yearold she also wrote and illustrated the book, “The Bare Beauty,” about a tree that doesn’t have leaves and learns about what “true beauty” is and how to accept others with differences. She plans to share her book and the process of choosing words and editing with her students to help them learn “it’s OK to make mistakes on our rough drafts; that’s why we rewrite it so we can fix our mistakes.”

She said that Bell also helped them understand that he had to write

and rewrite his story.

“He told them his story didn’t just pop out on the paper. I see so much potential in my students with their creativity and I want them to see it too. They get stuck on the fact that they’re not able to write and spell correctly and I want them to understand that it’s OK to make mistakes in the writing process and that writing is a process. It doesn’t just happen overnight.,” she said.

Ultimately, she hopes together, her class will write a collaborative story this school year and have it published.

“I’m excited about the prospect of it although we’ll have to work up to it,” Hunt said. “Then, they will be able to say that they’ve written and published a book as well.” l

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Over 50 years later, this gardener once again helps light up Temple Square

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

S

cott Goold helped to create special Christmas memories for visitors to Temple Square this year. In his position as head gardener, Goold is one of the workers who puts up the holiday light display that draws thousands of visitors each Christmas season. As a young boy in the 1960s, Goold helped his grandfather put up the first light displays in Temple Square. "I just find it interesting that the first job I ever had was doing the lights in Temple Square. Now that I'm back at the Church and taking care of the grounds, I've come full circle," he said.

The first holiday lighting ceremony on Temple Square was held in 1965 when nearly 15,000 people gathered to watch former Church President David O. McKay push the button to illuminate 40,000 lights.

Even though there is no longer a formal lighting ceremony, the lights have continued on Temple Square each year as a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Goold grew up in White City, but spent a good deal of time in Temple Square helping out his grandfather, Joseph Leland Behunin. Behunin was a trained arborist who was given the job of putting lights in the trees at Temple Square by President McKay. “I sat near the old pioneer museum on a wooden bench taking Christmas lights out of their boxes,” Goold explained. “My grandfather showed me how to take the brand new lights out of the box and wrap them around so that he could throw them over the tree branches.”

He continued to help his grandfather and later his uncle put up the lights for years. The process of hanging them has changed over time. “When I was younger I would climb up on a ladder and climb the trees,” Goold said. “Now we do it all from man lifts. You’re able to reach anywhere you’d want to be.”

Years ago, the gardeners had the creative license to put certain colors of lights on the trees. “Nowadays I believe the Church has a small planning committee,” he said.

Goold started his current position last April. Four groups of gardeners maintain different areas of Temple Square. Goold handles the area around the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Relief Society Building, Administration Building and the Church History Library. For much of the year, he divides his time between working at the Church-owned nursery and maintaining the grounds at Temple Square.

Setting up the Christmas lights is a project that brings all the workers together.

“With the missionary volunteers, there’s probably about 30 of us that work on the lights,” Goold said. “This year we started the process in mid-September.”

Page 6 | Dec. 2023

As head gardener, Draper resident Scott Goold maintains the grounds at Temple Square and helps put up the annual Christmas light display. (Photo

by Scott Goold)

Approximately 4 million tiny light bulbs twinkle from the trees and other structures on Temple Square. Each year The lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City have been a holiday destination since 1965. (Phothe lights on Temple Square are a little dif- to by David J. Weinstein) ferent, perhaps more so in recent years due to the ongoing construction. This year, the Church has added metal snowflake sculptures and artificial trees to the display.

Even during the years when Goold was working elsewhere, making an annual trip to see the lights each Christmas has been a family tradition. “We went all the time,” Goold remembered.

His wife, Angela Oldroyd has her own special memories of seeing the lights at Temple Square and tossing a coin into the Seagull Fountain. "It was probably the highlight of the season with my family. I remember my dad giving us money. I was always so excited to make a wish, a Christmas wish,” she said.

Oldroyd is happy that Goold is enjoying his work. “Scott loves working in Temple Square,” she said.

“The environment is awesome, the best I’ve ever worked in. You would be surprised at how many people you meet,” he said of the tourists who walk through Temple Square every day.

Putting up the lights is a very special part of his job. “I’ve always been fascinated with the lights. It’s easy for me to get carried away,” Goold said. “You try to imagine how it’s going to look and see the branches in front of you. The idea is to The lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City are put up every year by a crew of about 30 turn how you hope it will look into reality. workers. (Photo by David J. Weinstein) You become an artist.”l

Sandy City Journal

Mixed recycling pilot program proved successful in Canyons School District

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

L

ast year, then Hillcrest High School senior Sofia Moeinvaziri picked up the school’s paper recycling to place it in a recycling dumpster in the school’s parking lot.

“I’d take a cardboard box and then sort out the cans and any plastic because it wasn’t part of paper recycling,” Moeinvaziri said. “I knew there had to be a way to recycle that material at school.”

Unknowingly, her classmate, Abigail Slama-Catron, separately had signatures of students, faculty and staff and parents who have children at a Canyons School District school who wanted to introduce more recycling options. She was advocating that cause with District officials.

The two now graduates both belonged to Hillcrest High’s Earth Club. Moeinvaziri and others led the efforts in school composting.

Slama-Catron had led the club to pledge to improve the environment through the Adopta-Highway program.

Both were championing for mixed recycling for the 34,000 students and 2,000 employees in the District.

“It’s a need in any community and especially people in my age group are wanting to recycle and help improve our environment, but some people don’t know how or there’s not an avenue to do so,” Slama-Catron said. “I wanted to make that happen.”

Once the friends learned they both were working for the same goal, they united.

The result was a successful pilot program at three Canyons School District schools — Hillcrest High, Midvale Middle and Midvalley Elementary — which now opens the doors for the district to introduce mixed recycling in all of its buildings.

But it was an effort that stretched their entire senior year.

With advice from Chris Eppler, who then was the school district’s energy engineer, Slama-Catron reached out to see the interest of school principals. She also met with Canyons School District Business Administrator and CFO Leon Wilcox and then Canyons Board of Education member Steve Wrigley, who supported the effort.

“Abigail came to me after talking to Chris and she had quite a few schools that were interested, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to be more work for our custodial staff to be out there sorting garbage and recycling,” Wilcox said. “I wanted to be green and efficient, but I didn’t know if it would be a savings for our district and wanted to learn that.”

After getting commitments from the three schools to introduce mixed recycling and finding student leaders or clubs to take responsibility for emptying the bins around the school, the district placed mixed recycling dumpsters in those school parking lots.

The impact was almost immediate, the

S andy Journal .com

Former Hillcrest High School student Abigail Slama-Catron advocated for mixed recycling in Canyons School District schools. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Abigail Slama-Catron and Sofia Moeinvaziri, seen here at Hillcrest High, implemented a pilot program of mixed recycling in three Canyons School District schools last year. (Lyndee McKay/Hillcrest High School)

girls said.

Moeinvaziri and Slama-Catron monitored the usage of recycling in the dumpsters, documenting its usage with photos.

“At Hillcrest, it was placed outside of the wood and robotics shops, so they used it quite a bit. It works well, especially in high schools because we have vending machines, and a lot of students would put their plastic and energy drink cans in there,” said Moenvaziri, who started looking into a contract with the mixed recycling company.

Slama-Catron said the pilot program got a slow start at Midvale Middle because the mixed recycling dumpster was misplaced, but at Midvalley it was an instant success.

“Midvalley had to change their bin to be picked up once a week instead of every other week because of how much it was being filled.

It was surprising; I knew that there was a need, but I didn’t realize how fast that would be shown to me,” she said, adding that Hillcrest’s dumpster was “full every single time I looked.

It was great to see that people cared and wanted to recycle.”

During the school year, Eppler retired, but the girls continued their effort.

“People were willing to even meet with us, and we were really pushing it forward.

They liked our initiative and were willing to listen to us,” Moeinvaziri said. “I learned a lot about convincing people to listen to your cause. I learned promoting environmental sus-

tainability isn’t enough to convince someone to support your program. You have to know the financial aspect of it because at the end of the day, for a lot of school districts, it does come down to money, and they are monitoring that budget closely. If it’s cheaper for them to just have paper recycling, then they’re just going to go that route. There was one school district that stopped recycling completely because of the financial cost that comes with it.”

She said the district covered the funds for the pilot program.

“We calculated exactly how much it would cost and we found that there would be fewer trips to the landfill because students would put their plastic and aluminum in the mixed recycling rather than the trash. Plus, the landfill is farther away than where the mixed recycling was being dumped. We pointed out that it’s not only great for the environment, but it would be a financial saving to the district because less plastic and metal were being put in the trash. We convinced them and they said that they’ll move forward with it,” said Moenvaziri, who is studying engineering and hopes to continue to compete in public policy debate about environmental sustainability in college.

Canyons Director of Facility Services Matt Wolford said the girls answered their questions of finding the balance between fiscal responsibility and being environmentally sustainable.

“Some of our schools were already recycling paper and that cost actually came out of our custodial budget, and these ladies found a point of contact at each school to oversee the recycling in the schools to get emptied into the recycling bin outside the school,” he said. “We have recycling pickup once a week at 43 CSD

(Canyons School District) locations for the ‘23-’24 school year.”

Slama-Catron, who now is studying environmental policy and working at her college’s sustainability center, created a video and posted it on Instagram to help educate students about the recycling program.

“The video was entertaining while also being educational about mixed recycling in any of the schools. It has Hillcrest’s student body president in it, so students knew who she was as a person of authority as well as just having a more high school approach to recycling.

It was designed to be fun, but the purpose was for them to gain knowledge about the recycling program and what could go in those bins,” she said.

Slama-Catron used the project toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, which she received in November.

“I have the passion for this project, because it’s something I care about. If I can be a force for change to positively affect the earth, then I’m willing to do that. I wanted to see mixed recycling happen and I knew I could do that,” she said.

Information about the project, she calls, “Recycle remix” can be found recycleremix. weebly.com, which serves as a model for other schools and districts to follow.

“Mixed recycling is a positive step to improving our environment and people are willing to if they’re given the opportunity,” Slama-Catron said. “Now, there is a drastic decrease of stuff on the ground at schools as people put their plastic water bottles and aluminum cans into the recycling bin. It’s making our world healthier.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

Hawks bow out in state football semifinals

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

B

y a narrow margin, the Alta football team just missed a chance to play for a Class 5A state title.

Alta lost in the state semifinals Nov. 9 to 10th-seeded Bountiful by the count of 20-19, ending the Hawks’ season at 10-4. The game was back and forth all night long, but Bountiful scored the winning touchdown with a minute left to play, erasing a 19-14 deficit to go up for good.

Alta scored first in the opening quarter when Matt McKea crossed the goal line from a yard out. After Bountiful answered in the second quarter with a score, the Hawks went up 13-7 when McKea completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Weber. Bountiful regained the lead just before halftime and went into the locker room with a 14-13 advantage.

The offense struggled in the second half.

Alta managed just a pair of field goals after halftime— both in the third quarter. Jack McAllister hit one from 35 with 6:58 in the third and another form 28 yards with 1:12 to play in the period. But the Hawks couldn’t get back on the scoreboard.

In defeat, Kepa Niumeitolu went 19 of 32 passing for 195 yards. Abe Jager had a nice outing, catching six passes for 104 yards. McKea also caught six passes, in addition to completing a pair of passes, one for a score.

Getting to the semifinals was not something a lot of people would have expected from the Hawks. Alta was the 11th seed coming into the state tournament after placing fourth in Region 6 with a 3-3 record.

Alta began the tournament Oct. 20 with a 34-10 blowout over No. 22 Highland. It was a nearly identical outcome to the previous meeting when the region rivals met Sept. 14. On

Continued from front page to play next season at the University of Utah.

The four-star recruit averaged 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a year ago to lead the team in both categories. Ace Reiser was second on the team in scoring last season with an average of 14.2 a game. He also paced the team with 5.6 assists an outing. Doleac was the third-leading scoring in 2022–23 by chipping in 12.3 points a game.

Ohrn not only loves his players’ skills and abilities but their attitudes and work ethic.

“What makes this team so good is their competitive drive,” he said. “All of them want to win so bad they are willing to sacrifice their own glory for the team. They love each other and want to see their teammates succeed. They find joy in watching everyone have success. We don’t have egos on this team, and they all have the same goal to win each game. We have guys that cheer for each other and care about each other win or lose and no matter how many minutes they get or points they score.”

Alta is going to be a difficult team to beat this season. Ohrn said the Hawks’ speed, athleticism and toughness are their biggest attributes. He said the players also give it 100% all the time.

“We have guys that are the top of the state skill wise, but what sets them apart

Page 8 | Dec. 2023

Alta football reached the semifinals of the 5A state tournament.

(Photo by Dave Adamson)

that night, Alta won at home 34-14. In the first round of the state playoffs, Alta used a dominant 21-point fourth quarter to turn a close come into a comfortable win. The Hawks were up just 13-10 after three quarters but scored on three touchdown runs in a 9 ½-minute span to secure the win. McKea had a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, followed by a 46-yard TD run from Anthony Cottis with 6:08 to play. Nolan Lohness punctuated the victory with a 24-yard scamper into the end zone with 2:16 left to go.

Cottis had 103 yards rushing on 19 carries, while

is how hard they play every play,” he said.

“We take pride in competing to win on every possession. I think we have a lot of depth as well. We have a lot of guys that will help contribute this year.”

Of course, when you’re the defending state champions, everyone wants a piece of you. Every Hawks’ opponent will want to take them down, but Ohrn said he isn’t worried about how his team will respond.

“A lot of people from the outside expect us to be great,” he said. “Our guys have earned the right to be in the spotlight but now they have to handle it the right way. We will face adversity this year, and we have to be able to stick together as a team and not let outside voices pull us apart. We need to focus on one day at a time and do our part to be the best we can when our best is required.”

Alta opens the season Nov. 20 on the road against Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, followed by home games with state powers American Fork and Lone Peak Nov. 22 and 30, respectively. On Jan. 3, the Hawks begin league play in their new region—Region 6—when they face East at home.

“This is a special group,” Ohrn said. “I love how much they care about each other and our program. Every day it is an absolute joy to go to practice and work with these kids. They love competing and work so hard; it makes our jobs as coaches easy.

Lohness had 65 on just four carries. Niumeitolu had 148 yards passing, with 111 of the yards going to Wyatt Johnson on five catches. Dammion Singleton had seven tackles for the Hawks.

In an Oct. 27 second-round matchup with West, Alta was on the road facing a sixth-seeded foe. But the Hawks weren’t intimidated. In a classic showdown, Alta prevailed 36-34 in a marathon four-overtime game. Alta claimed the win in the fourth overtime with a successful two-point pass.

Niumeitolu had 85 yards rushing and a touchdown along with 201 yards passing and a TD. Nine Hawks caught at least one pass, led by Wyatt Johnson, who grabbed seven for 60 yards.

The Hawks reached the semifinals by defeating third-seeded Roy on the road, 13-9. Alta handed Roy its lowest point total of the year. Roy didn’t manage a single offensive touchdown, as it had a kickoff return for a TD to start the game as well as a field goal. Neither team scored in the second half in a game where Alta score a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter. Cottis scored on an 8-yard pass from McKea, and Tele Afu hauled in a pass from McKea from 18 yards out. Cottis had a huge night with 186 yard rushing on 16 carries. McKea added 68 yards on the ground and 90 yards passing. Alta limited Roy to only 27 yards passing.

Alta will miss Cottis, who will graduate. He rumbled for 1,120 yards this season. However, McKea will return next season as a senior. He rushed for 422 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for 654 yards and eight scores. Also, Niumeitolu is just a sophomore. The quarterback had 2,492 yards passing with 14 touchdowns this season. l

Head coach Travis Ohrn returns for the defending state champion Hawks. (City Journals)

They take pride in representing Alta and what it means to be a part of this basketball program. We have had a lot of great players come through here, and we want to build on that foundation that all those previous alumni built. Alta is a special place to be, and our

guys recognize that. They take pride in representing our student body and community.

We have the best student section in the state, and they are a huge part of what we do. I feel our team plays for more than just themselves.” l

Sandy City Journal

S andy Journal .com

Dec. 2023 | Page 9

Page 10 | Dec. 2023

Sandy City Journal

Jordan boys basketball looking for better things, improvement in Region 10

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

R

egion play wasn’t too kind to the Jordan basketball team a year ago.

Thankfully for the Beetdiggers, they won’t have to face those teams this season.

Jordan is now a member of Class 4A’s Region 10, having moved from Region 8 in Class 5A. The Beetdiggers lost all 12 of their region games last season in what was a challenging league filled with talented teams. Region 10 should offer some relief.

Overall, Jordan was 2-21 a year ago and didn’t participate in the state tournament. Head coach Tallon Robertson enters his first season at the helm of the program looking to change Jordan’s fortunes.

He has some tools at his disposal to be successful.

The Beetdiggers return four starters and other contributors to bolster the team’s chances of significantly improving on its win total from the previous season. Leading the way are seniors Ayden Doyle, a forward, and Matt Magness, a guard. Doyle averaged 8.4 points a game last season, good enough for second on the team. Magness contributed 5.8 points an outing, which was third for the Beetdiggers in 2022–23. They also averaged 4.5 and 3.2 rebounds, respectively. Senior guard Trent Benson is another key returner

to the team. He scored 3.4 points a game and hauled down 2.6 rebounds a contest a season ago. Two other senior guards, Udochi Iheanacho and Brandt Steed are back to add depth to the backcourt. Iheanacho scored 4.5 points a clip last season, while Steed contributed 4.8 points per game. Yet another senior, Jacob Thomsen could see more game action and be a critical part of the Beetdiggers' offense. Senior forward Walt Gooden is new to the squad and could offer some help on both ends of the court.

Jordan’s competition should not be as stiff as it was a year ago when it had to deal with the likes of Lehi, Alta and Timpview.

The Beetdiggers will contend with new region foes Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Murray, Park City, Stansbury and Tooele.

The season began with a home game against Highland on Nov. 17. The nonleague schedule is relatively short, as region play starts early, Dec. 19 at home against Cottonwood. l

Tallon Robertson takes over the boys program having led the girls team previously. (File photo City Journals)

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Dec. 2023 | Page 11

Jordan girls basketball set for new year with new challenges, opportunities

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

L

ast season, the Jordan girls basketball team more than held its own. This season, the Beetdiggers are looking for more.

Jordan is once again in a new region, moving from Class 5A’s Region 8 to Class 4A’s Region 10. Jordan will have a full set of new league opponents: Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Murray, Park City, Stansbury and Tooele. The spread-out region offers some intriguing matchups as well as challenges with travel. The new faces could also be a fresh change for Jordan.

The Beetdiggers were fourth in Region 8 a year ago with a 6-6 record. They were also 14-11 overall, having gone a solid 8-5 in non-region contests. Jordan beat Box Elder in the first round of the 5A state tournament last season, 46-41, before losing in the second round to Lehi by the exact same score.

Fortunately for Jordan, it has its returning leading scorer back in the lineup.

Senior Fui Niumeitolu will be the focal point of the offense. As a junior, she scored 17.7 points per game and was also the second-leading rebounder with 6.8 a game.

She also chipped in 1.8 assists a contest and had nearly two steals each game. Niumeitolu paced the team with 46 three-pointers as

well.

Jordan will need some other players to step up.

The next four leading scorers on last year’s team were all seniors and have since graduated. Lea Afu, Elle Jacobson, Rachel McKea and Kirsten Oldham leave a big void in the lineup that Jordan will need to fill. Senior guard Tess Joseph chipped in 1.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season and will need to take on more duties this season.

Other contributors could be junior guard Tess Jacobson, senior guard Sara Newman and junior guard Claire Todacheeny, among others.

The Beetdiggers hosted Hurricane on Nov. 18 to open the 2023–24 season. Jordan closes out November with a Nov. 28 game at Mountain View. Jordan has five games slated for December, the last of which is the Region 10 opener at home against Cottonwood Dec. 20. l Senior Fui Niumeitolu will be the focal point of the offense. As a junior, she scored 17.7 points per game and was also the second-leading rebounder with 6.8 a game. (File photo City Journals)

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Page 12 | Dec. 2023

ow do you thank someone who saved your life? I need to thank the compassionate and professional team of EMTs and firefighters from Sandy Station 33 and 34, and Sandy police officers, because without them, I wouldn’t be here today.

On May 27, my heart stopped. I don’t remember anything from that night. My husband told me he performed CPR until the paramedics arrived - he is my hero! Even though I was unconscious, I knew I was being helped and felt what was happening to me. I sensed people trying everything they could to save my life, people who didn’t even know me.

Later, when I could drive again, I found out which stations were dispatched, and I took each station a thank you card and some cookies. I was unable to thank each team member who worked that night, but the few I was able to meet melted my heart from the minute I saw them. I can’t speak about them without crying and the love I feel for these great people is overwhelming. They are my heroes in every sense of the word.

People who go into these professions have unique qualities that, for my sake, were very well executed. How lucky I am that these people decided to become first responders. Please support them in any way possible.

Those teams have my deepest gratitude, love and respect, as do all the first responders in my city and every city.

Love, Julie

385-296-1461

Monday - Saturday 11 AM – 9 PM

Sandy City Journal

Former NBA coach hosting local basketball camp

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

U

tah native Barry Hecker, who coached in the NBA for more than two decades, continues to teach the game of basketball to young players. During the winter break, he will host a camp for boys and girls in third through ninth grades on Dec. 27-29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Sandy Recreation Center, located at 440 E. 8680 South.

“These camps are all about the basic fundamentals of basketball,” Hecker said.

“We focus on quality fundamental instruction, we work hard with a lot of discipline and structure and we have a lot of fun.

When these kids walk out of there, they know they’ve been taught and improved.”

The cost of the camp is $65. Registrations are open online by visiting www. sandy.utah.gov/registration and clicking on “Basketball Camp – Barry Hecker” under Quick Links.

The veteran coach, who lives in Murray, said the values he has learned from his basketball coaching journey—beginning at Maryland’s Oxon Hill High School and spanning through Salt Lake Community College and stints with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies—are invaluable. He loves nothing more than being able to

share those principles of hard work, teamwork, unselfishness and persistence, along with the physical skills of the game itself, with others.

“I don’t care who I coach or when I coach,” Hecker said, who has worked with current Jazz players Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, said. “I simply enjoy teaching the game. It’s great to see a smile on someone’s face as they experience success. If you help somebody, you’ll be somebody.”

Hecker has conducted clinics all over the world for more than 40 years, including many since his retirement from coaching in the NBA. He said he particularly enjoys working with the youth.

“If you teach skills, that leads to confidence and that confidence can allow anyone to do anything they want,” he said. “I have more fun with young kids than with the pros. In the NBA, you have guys who are making millions and they don’t listen.

These kids are making nothing and they’ll listen to you.”l

Former NBA coach Barry Hecker, who has been teaching the game of basketball for more than 40 years, will host a winter camp for young players. (Photo courtesy Barry Hecker)

Jordan cross country program continues to make progress

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

I

The Jordan cross country team won its region and sent all varsity members to the 4A state championships in late October. (Photo courtesy of Gregory Shaw.)

S andy Journal .com

n 2019, the Jordan High School cross country team didn’t have enough participants to send anyone to state. This season, both the boys and girls once again sent a full team to the state championships on Oct. 26.

The Jordan boys have now had four years in a row of having a full team at state.

It was the third year in a row for the girls sending a complete team to the championship race. Both teams continue to improve and are competing at a higher level.

“We’re continuing to move in a positive direction,” head coach Gregory Shaw said.

“We’re loving the direction our team is headed and making steady progress.”

Before heading to state, the Beetdiggers won the Region 10 title by defeating Stansbury by one point in come-from-behind fashion. At the region meet, four Jordan boys placed in the top 10, with Kolter Parkin taking first overall. In an exciting race, Parkin sprinted with all his might toward the finish line at the end, overtaking the lead runner.

The Jordan girls placed 14th out of 21 teams at the Class 4A state championship.

Junior Caroline Wagner was the top Jordan runner on the girls’ side, finishing 51st with a time of 20:40.9. Senior Sarah Seamons was second on the team and 69th overall, running the race in 21:07, while sophomore Sierra Ferguson was third for Jordan with a time of

21.43.4.

Meanwhile, the boys placed 13th at state, with Parkin coming in 20th overall with a time of 16:22.6. Parker Lassig, a junior, was second on the time, finishing in 17:27.8. All seven Beetdigger boys ran the race in under 20 minutes.

The Jordan cross country team does much more than run, however.

Shaw has helped oversee some community service efforts where the team members have joined with Park Lane Elementary School for its Fun Run. Jordan runners assist Park Lane students of all abilities start and finish a 1-mile run. Jordan has also visited nearby middle schools to run with their teams and even hosted the Canyons School District middle school championships. The Beetdiggers also played host to a high school invitational where several schools from around the state came to compete.

These efforts have given the program more exposure and are helping the Beetdiggers continue to improve the team.

“Many of the kids and parents have given their time and energy to give to our program and help us to grow in success,” Shaw said. “We are grateful for the community that has surrounded and supported our cross country program as we continue to work together toward our goals.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 13

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Sandy City Journal

DECEMBER 2023 – JANUARY 2024 IN THIS ISSUE:

Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizenconnect

Z News................................................ 1 Code Enforcement Corner .................... 2 Sandy City General Plan....................... 2 Holiday Sounds ................................... 2 Sandy Arts Volunteer of the Year ........... 3 HR Job Corner ..................................... 3 Waste & Recycling Calendar ................ 3 Alta Canyon Sports Center.................... 4 River Oaks Golf Course ........................ 4 Sandy Arts: The 39 Steps ...................... 4 Parks & Recreation .............................. 5

Winter Parking ..................................... 5 Sandy Youth Court Highlight ................. 5 Heating Safety ..................................... 6 Sandy City's New Passport Office. ......... 6 Holiday Card Design Contest. ............... 6 The Nutcracker .................................... 6 Shop Sandy. ........................................ 6 Roads & Neighborhoods Safety............. 7 Christmas Tree Collection. .................... 7 Calendar of Events............................... 7

Photo contest winner: Brandon Handman

Z News — The Holiday Magic Hello Sandy Friends, It’s the holidays – a time of year when we are all looking to create and enjoy magical moments. If you’re like me, the smell of a freshly cut pine tree or the sight of snowflakes frosting a home outlined in twinkling lights brings a rush of memories of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that characterize the holiday spirit.

I have fond childhood memories of growing up in rural Northwest Ohio. The Christmas season began the day my family went out to cut our own Christmas tree. When we found that perfect tree we cut it, hauled it inside, and covered it with the long, silver strands of shiny tinsel and spools of lights that, amazingly, never set fire to the trees! (There were no running LED lights then—it was the opaque, 1-inch, individual bulbs that would get terribly hot to the touch and quite dangerous as the wires weakened.)

On Christmas morning, we opened our bags and gift boxes of the traditional socks, underwear, and pajamas and enjoyed the magic of the holiday captured in the lights sparkling off the tinsel icicles. My mother’s birthday was also on Christmas Day and we always loved singing Happy Birthday on Christmas morning.

With the years came the wisdom to understand that magic happens when we make it happen. It was the work of my parents and my eager siblings to cut, haul, and decorate that tree. That experience created an enduring memory of teamwork around a shared purpose. When I S S U E # 110

we set our mind to something with that shared vision, together, we work to achieve it.

It’s in that same spirit of making magic that I look back over the past year and recognize the many gifts that have come to our city as the result of hard work, community involvement, a fantastic team, and a vision.

1. Fire Station 31a. My wish list last year began with improving our public safety. I’m pleased that we’re moving forward with plans to replace our fire department headquarters, where the walls and foundation are cracking, and the roof is leaking. With your support of the general obligation bond on election day, we are closer to construction of a new fire station in the heart of our city’s growing Cairns District which will allow a stronger, better response to our community needs.

2. Public safety fundinga. Another public safety need was especially apparent during our last winter season.

Many of our older police cars were unable to navigate the terrain in the thick snow and icy conditions. With the passage of this year’s budget, we are now able to begin replacing the old fleet vehicles with police cars designed to handle Sandy’s diverse terrain.

3. Compensation packagea. With the passage of this year’s budget, we were able to reward our great Sandy City employees for their dedication and professionalism in providing quality services to you, our residents. We have a great team and we want to reward excellent work with fair compensation.

4. Enhanced eventsa. The year was packed with memorable events that bring us together as a community. From last year’s Light up the Cairns, to the 4th of

D E C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 – JA N UA RY 2024

July Celebration, the Heritage Festival and Horse Parade, the Balloon Glow, and Trunk or Treat at Halloween, our community celebrations are bigger and better than ever. Hopefully you’re enjoying these great celebrations.

5. Communicationa. We’ve grown our communications to connect with you– to share information and listen to your concerns. To date, Sandy City has 46,577 followers across our social media platforms. Our Citizen Connect feature makes it easy to report problems such as potholes or a tree blocking a roadway. Our city-wide emergency notification database is growing with 40,086 subscribers to the alert list. This helps us notify you immediately when a threat exists.

6. Residential survey feedbacka. We’re getting regular feedback from you through our city surveys. With FlashVote, we can quickly get your views on issues of importance to our community, such as rebuilding Fire Station 31, managing traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon, city building priorities, our “Pace of Progress” master plan, and Sandy’s parks general plan. Your input is shaping the future of our city.

Upon returning to my childhood home, I’d expect to find dozens of stumps among the trees representing Christmas of the 1970s. They also represent the magic of a big family of 12 and many wonderful memories. As we each look back on the work of the city in 2023, we can more clearly appreciate the rewards, or gifts, that have come this year. May we all continue to create that magic!

Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski P A G E

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Code Enforcement Corner Sandy City adopted the first Sensitive Area Overlay Zone (SAOZ) that deals with hillsides, native vegetation, waterways, and geological hazards in 1978. The purpose of this ordinance was to address development standards for the properties that have sensitive areas.

Some examples of the protected areas include properties that have 30 percent or greater slopes, earthquake fault lines, and rock fall hazards. These regulations provide standards, guidelines, and criteria to minimize flooding, erosion, and other environmental hazards.

There are a number of properties within Sandy City that fall within the SAOZ. More recent subdivision plats (post-1990) identify where these sensitive areas are on the lots and information about the restrictions. However, many property owners may not realize there are restrictions on what they can or cannot do to these areas. Over the years, some property owners have modified these protected areas for a variety of reasons without getting any sort of approval. Some of those reasons include wanting a bigger/flat rear yard or installing a pool or accessory structure.

Violations that occur within the SAOZ are a serious matter that can have negative impacts on the public health, safety and welfare, the environment and property values.

Consequently, it is in the interest of the city and its residents to ensure the standards of the SAOZ are applied consistently and violations of those standards are avoided.

In October 2023 the city amended the SOAZ by establishing an administrative procedure and penalties for enforcement on violations. The effect of the code amendment was the creation of an efficient administrative enforcement mechanism to deter violations from occurring and establishing incentives to promptly cure the violation. Prior to this code amendment, enforcement penalties were applied through civil or criminal courts and were punishable by a Class C misdemeanor. This process can be costly and time consuming for the city with uncertain and sometime ineffective outcomes.

The following is a summary of the recent changes to the SAOZ: 1. A new Section to Chapter 21-15 of the Sensitive Area Overly Zone is added as Section 7 and titled: “Violations, Enforcement and Penalties.”

2. A violation is defined as construction, grading, filling, clearing or land disturbance in the SAOZ without first obtaining appropriate (permit) approval from the City.

3. A procedure for issuing citations, enforcement, and remediation of violations in the SAOZ is established.

4. A penalty fine schedule for minor, intermediate and major violations, as well as a base fine and daily fine amount is established, as shown below: BASE FINE DAILY FINE (add to base fine)

Minor Violation – Encroachment less than 250 square feet of affected area Intermediate Violation – Encroachment between 250 square feet and 1,000 square feet of affected area Major Violation – Encroachment greater than 1,000 square feet of affected area

$1,000

$10

$3,000

$18

$5,000

$25

5. Incentives for curing a violation in a timely manner is established. The base fine mount may not be reduced, but the daily fine amount may be reduced, as shown below: Length of Time to Cure Reduction to Total Daily Fine Amount Minor and Intermediate 30 Days 100% Violations 60 Days 75% 120 Days 50% 180 Days 25% Over 180 days 0% Major Violation 90 Days

90 Days 180 Days 365 Days Over 365 Days

75% 50% 25% 0%

We plead with residents to talk with the Community Development Department, Planning Division, to find out if your property is within the SAOZ and what the possible restrictions are prior to making any adjustments to your property. You can read about the SAOZ at bit.ly/SAOZone. Sandy City has created a website that identifies what geological hazards are found within the city boundaries. You can see that website at bit.ly/UtahHazardsMap. If you have any questions, please call the Community Development Department at (801) 568-7256.

Sandy City General Plan The Pace of Progress team was hard at work over the summer generating significant community and stakeholder input on Sandy values and key strategies. We are continuing to identify and refine the General Plan Vision and Values, identify key strategies for the future, and generate the direction, goals, and policy direction of each of the General Plan chapters.

This is where you come in. On the project website we have included the draft values that have emerged throughout the process. You can visit the Idea Wall to see what’s emerged and give your thoughts and feedback regarding the draft values.

Make sure to check the website SandyPaceofProgress.Org or December newsletter to find out about upcoming events in the new year!

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P A G E

Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30pm

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

8575 S 700 E, Sandy

MORE INFORMATION AT AMERICANWESTSYMPHONY.COM

Sandy Arts Volunteer of the Year: Dennis Reum

Animal Services Officer Drainage Maintenance Laborer

HR JOB CORNER Full Time, Benefitted

Sandy Community Arts has awarded The Linda Snyder Award in Outstanding Service to Dennis Reum for 2023. Dennis has embodied the spirit of the award, which reflects the late Linda Snyder's selfless dedication to service to the community. A relative newcomer to Utah, Dennis joined the Sandy Amphitheater volunteers in 2022 after seeing a call for volunteers on the amphitheater marquee. "I wanted to meet new friends and volunteers are generally pretty cool people," Dennis reflected. He quickly became a beloved part of the group with his positive outlook, kind and tender heart, and always-ready-to help attitude. He loves to ski and cycle, and also referees youth sports. We are so grateful to have Dennis as part of our Community Arts family.

• Drainage Maintenance Laborer

Part-Time, Non-Benefitted/Seasonal • Crossing Guard • Recreation Site Supervisor • Official/Referee • Custodian

ALL AVAILABLE OPENINGS: sandy.utah.gov/jobs

2024 Calendar 2024 Calendar Sandy City - Waste & Recycling Services Sandy City - Waste & Recycling Services RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULE: Trash is collected weekly. Recycling is collected every other week.

To confirm your collection day andTrash whether your recycling is Greenevery or Gold, visit RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULE: is collected weekly.collection Recyclingweek is collected other sandy.utah.gov/Recycling to view the local collection service map and access additional information week. To confirm your collection day and whether your recycling collection week is Green or Gold, visit about recycling in Sandy City. sandy.utah.gov/Recycling to view the local collection service map and access additional information about recycling in Sandy City.

SERVICE GUIDELINES •SERVICE Place your WM recycling and trash carts at the curb GUIDELINES by 6 a.m. -- wheels facing the curb.

• Place your WM recycling and trash carts at the curb • Place carts-- at least 3facing feet from other objects such as by 6 a.m. wheels the curb. cars, mailboxes, trees and other carts.

• Place carts at least 3 feet from other objects such as • Ensure all material fits and inside your carts with the lids cars, mailboxes, trees other carts. fully closed. Be sure to break down cardboard boxes.

• Ensure all material fits inside your carts with the lids • Do not leaveBe anysure materials next to orcardboard outside your fully closed. to break down boxes. carts. Excess materials will not be collected.

• Do not leave any materials next to or outside your • For questions about what accepted in carts.

Excess materials willisnot be collected. recycling visit sandy.utah.gov/Recycling or • For questions about what is accepted in wm.com/RecycleRight. recycling visit sandy.utah.gov/Recycling or wm.com/RecycleRight.

SCHEDULE HOLIDAYS

•SCHEDULE New YearsHOLIDAYS Day Monday, Jan. 1 • Independence Day Thursday, July 4 • New Years Day Monday, Jan. 1 • Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 28 • Independence Day Thursday, July 4 • Christmas Day Wednesday, Dec. 25 • Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 28 Holidays by theDec. WM 25 team • Christmasthat Daymay be observed Wednesday, servicing your residence are noted with a blue square Holidays that may be observed by the WM team in the calendar. servicing your residence are noted with a blue square If service day falls on or after an observed in your the calendar. holiday, your service that week may be delayed by one If your service day falls on or after an observed day.

Regular service resumes the following week. holiday, your service that week may be delayed by one day. Regular service resumes the following week.

RECYCLE RIGHT TIPS

Always Recycle

•RECYCLE Do not RIGHT bag yourTIPS recyclables. Place materials loosely and directly into carts.

• Do not bag your recyclables. Place materials loosely and directly into or carts.

• Never put foods liquids in recycling.

Always Recycle To learn more visit wm.com/RecycleRight To learn more visit wm.com/RecycleRight

I S S U E # 110

•

•

Never put accepted foods or liquids in recycling.

Items not in recycling include plastic bags or film, foam cups/containers/packaging, yard Items acceptedcarpeting, in recycling includefurniture, plastic waste,not electronics, clothing, bags or film, foam cups/containers/packaging, tires or hazardous materials in recycling carts. yard waste, electronics, carpeting, clothing, furniture, tires materials in recycling carts.

Glassoris hazardous not accepted in recycling.

•

Glass is not accepted in recycling.

• Metal Food & Beverage Cans Metal Food & Beverage Cans

D E C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 – JA N UA RY 2024

Plastic Bottles & Containers Plastic Bottles & Containers

Flattened Cardboard & Paperboard Flattened Cardboard & Paperboard

Paper Paper

P A G E

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River Oaks Golf Course 9300 S. Riverside Drive, Sandy, Utah (801) 568-4653 Sandy.utah.gov/golf 9565 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092 HOLIDAY HOURS Please visit our website for up-to-date holiday hours.

JANUARY MEMBERSHIP SALE January 1-31 Psst...we've got a secret for you! The biggest sale of the season is happening soon at Alta Canyon Sports Center.

Looking to get fit? We're giving you a whopping 20% off all annual memberships, aerobics punch cards (limit 2), and A+ memberships. Who needs New Year's resolutions when you've got discounts this good?

This once-a-year extravaganza only lasts from January 1-31. So, mark your calendar, set an alarm, and get ready to snag these sweet deals before they vanish into thin air.

Hurry on down to Alta Canyon Sports Center and treat yourself to some guilt-free savings.

After all, it's not just a sale - it's an opportunity to flex your money-saving muscles!

GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! If you want to hit a hole in one with your present buying this holiday season, we offer the best gifts for golfers 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. Can’t decide? Gift Certificates make great gifts!

B A N Q U E T R O O M AT S A N D Y C I T Y

D R I V I N G R A N G E AT S A N DY C I T Y

Follow us on Instagram @riveroaksgolfsandy and on Facebook River Oaks Golf at Sandy City

PLAY & LEARN PRESCHOOL August 21, 2023 – May 30, 2024 Play and Learn Preschool is the best choice for your child. We specialize in teaching kids a variety of skills. Our teachers are there to help your child learn and explore their interests.

We offer programs for children from ages three to six years old.

Half day & full day available!

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL (K-5 grade) Now Including Beehive Academy K-5 We provide transportation to and from school. We also provide all day care for children when off school.

Children enjoy games, arts and crafts, field trips, homework time, snacks, and many fun activities throughout the school year.

Schools: Brookwood, Granite, Park Lane, Quail Hollow, Silver Mesa, Peruvian Park, Willow Canyon, and Beehive Science & Tech Academy.

PERSONAL TRAINING Do you want an experienced personal trainer to help you get fit and motivate you in the process? If so, then our personal trainer is perfect for you! With over 20 years of experience, she is up to date on the latest fitness trends and knows how to design a training plan that will suit your needs.

SNAPOLOGY Unlock your child's imagination with S.T.E.A.M.! Unleash their creativity and give them the opportunity to do something fun, educational, and engaging! With Snapology's programs, your child will have a blast learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a safe and nurturing environment. Sign up today for an experience your child won't forget!

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KARATE: Dedicated to teaching Shotokan Karate, IMA is a family-oriented dojo offering classes to children and adults of all abilities and levels.

Friday night class at Alta Canyon Sports Center from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. imautah.com For more information and registration, visit: imautah.com.

4

P A G E

NORTH RANGE TEACHING ACADEMY

Best of State Community Arts & Theater

4 actors. Over 100 characters. 1 incredible story.

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39

Steps

Where Hitchcock meets hilarious!

January 26 - February 10 TickeTs: sandyarTs.com

PA R K S & RE CRE AT IO N

Sandy Parks & Recreation - 440 E. 8680 S. Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (801) 568-2900

BARRY HECKER BASKETBALL CAMP

The camp is for girls and boy’s grades 3-9. During the camp participants will be taught the basic fundamentals of foot work, passing, dribbling, and shooting.

Dates: Dec 27, 28, 29 Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Cost: $65 Location: Sandy City Parks & Recreation-440 E. 8680 S. Registration: sandy.utah.gov/registration

39TH ANNUAL SNOWBALL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Come join us for our Annual Snowball Softball Tournament. Grab your friends, coworkers, family members, and neighbors, form a team, and come play softball in the winter. Guaranteed 3 games. Games played with field conditions as-is, rain or snow.

Dates: Feb 2, 3 Division: Coed (must have at least 3 women on team) Deadline: Jan 24 by 5 p.m.

Cost: $350/Team Registration: sandy.utah.gov/registration Location: Bicentennial Park–530 East 8680 South Quarry Bend Park–9020 S. Quarry Bend Parkway

WANTED: JUNIOR JAZZ REFEREES

JUNIOR JAZZ BASKETBALL

Apply today at sandy.utah.gov/jobs GREAT PAY! FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE! Pay: $13-$24 (depending on age and experience, must be at least 14 years old)

Registration for Junior Jazz has passed. To check availability, please visit: sandy.utah.gov/registration

BASKETBALL FUN SHOT COMPETITION!

Each Participant will have two, one-minute rounds to score as many baskets as possible from five different shooting spots. Each shooting spot will have a different point value ranging from 2-5.

Divisions will be Boys 3&4, 5&6, 7&8, 9-12, Girls 3&4, 5&6th, 7&8, 9-12. Please sign up under the grade division we will separate boys and girls.

Date: Saturday, Jan. 13 or Saturday, Feb. 17 Time: For specific time frames for each division: sandy.utah.gov/registration Cost: Free (pre-registration required) Location: Sandy City Parks & Recreation-440 E. 8680 S.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, for Spring Soccer and Adult Softball (softball registration only for Sandy returning 2023 spring & fall teams).

O N LIN E REG I S T R AT I ON FOR AL L PROG R AMS : sandy.utah.gov/registration PARKS & R EC R EAT I ON J OB OPENI NG S : sandy.utah.gov/jobs

Sandy City Police: Winter Parking

Sandy Youth Court Highlight: Ethan Brennan

One of the best parts about the Holiday Season is getting together with family and friends. As we begin to plan all our gatherings, we want to share a few parking laws, so our officers don’t have to ruin anyone’s Christmas Party!

One of the most frequent is Winter Parking. Sandy City code states. (a)No person shall park a vehicle on any street from November 1 to April 30 for a period of time longer than one hour between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. of any day, except during emergency calls. Overnight parking on any street, during the period herein specified, is hereby prohibited. (b)No person shall park or leave a vehicle on any street during any snowstorm, nor shall such vehicle be parked on said street within 24 hours after the end of such storm. (Sec. 14-7-3. - Snow Removal, Parking Prohibited, Traffic Code, § 153) The other most frequent parking complaints we get are parking “In front of, within five feet of, or directly across from a public or private driveway” (Sec. 147-2 – Stopping, Standing or Parking Across Lines, Traffic Code, § 148) Please help keep our streets clear of these parking issues so our snow plows and our first responders can better serve you.

Ethan has been an active volunteer with the Sandy Youth Court program since 2021. He attends high school at the Waterford School in Sandy and is the current Senior Class President.

He is originally from Utah and has 8 other siblings. He enjoys being involved in school clubs, academics, and hanging out with friends. He became interested in Youth Court to look more attractive to potential colleges, but quickly realized that Youth Court is a lot of fun!

Ethan is passionate about theater and is currently playing Edgar in a production of King Lear at Waterford.

He enjoys the sense of community and self-expression that comes from being involved in theater. He really enjoys getting to know other people and appreciates learning from their experiences, which has helped him engage with the youth that come through the Youth Court program and better understand their perspective.

Ethan has been an amazing advocate for the Youth Court program and actively recruits other students into volunteering their time. He brings a lot of experience and enthusiasm to the panel. He sets a great example for the other panel members and consistently volunteers to mentor at-risk youth that go through the program. Sandy City is lucky to have him representing the Youth Court program!

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D E C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 – JA N UARY 2024

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Heating Safety

Sandy City's New Passport Office There is something about the winter months and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening. Be warm and safe this winter!

• Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.

• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

• Never use your oven to heat your home.

• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container.

Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Sandy City Holiday Card Design Contest Winner Navya Hoskere

6

P A G E

Exciting news! Sandy City has a new Passport Office! Please take a moment to come visit our new space.

Need a relaxing get away? Plan early and don’t forget your Passport.

Current processing times are 7 - 10 weeks for routine service and 3 - 5 weeks for expedited service. Processing times begin the day the U.S. Department of State receives your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you apply or mail your application. These are the same processing times whether you are renewing your passport or applying for the first time. For more information on processing times, please visit travel.state.gov Step 1 – Visit sandy.utah.gov/493/Passports and schedule an appointment.

Step 2 – Download and fill out forms travel.state.gov.

Step 3 – Bring proof of citizenship* and picture ID* Step 4 – Bring a passport photo* or we can take one here for $10 (plus tax) Step 5 – Bring a check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State Step 6 – Bring all the required forms and documentation to your appointment.

Step 7 – Go on vacation! *For more information on citizenship, picture ID, and passport photo guidelines please visit travel.state.gov

Making Roads & 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. 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. If 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 main roads must be repeatedly plowed. After main roads are cleared, they can move to other roads, residential streets, and cul-desacs 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 clear snow from all paved sections of trails and jogging paths as soon as all other priority locations are safe. Depending on the size of the storm, 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 there are parking restrictions on residential streets during the winter months from November 1 through April 30. This is for the safety of the residents 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 needs assistance. Hydrants are in every neighborhood and delays can come when snow or other debris blocks hydrants. Take a few minutes to clear the area around a hydrant.

Other tips for making your neighborhood safer: • Clear snow from your 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, see the locations for the Sandy City snowplows, please go to sandy.utah.gov/plowtracker.

SANDY CITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dec 1 Dec 1 Dec 5 Dec 7 Dec 9 - 19 Dec 12 Dec 14 Dec 21 Jan 4 Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 23 Jan 26 - Feb 10 Jan 30 - Feb 27

Light Up the Cairns FREE Holiday Sounds Concert | American West Symphony & Chorus First Aid, CPR and AED Class (Registration required) Planning Commission The Nutcracker | Mountain West Ballet First Aid, CPR and AED Class (Registration required) Planning Commission Planning Commission Planning Commission First Aid, CPR and AED Class (Registration required) BeReady Sandy First Aid, CPR and AED Class (Registration required) The 39 Steps (Theater - Comedy) | Sandy Arts Guild Community Emergency Response Training (Registration required)

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

9 a.m.

6:15 p.m.

Various 6 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

9 a.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Tuesday's 6 p.m.

Christmas Tree Collection

Sandy City will have areas identified at the following locations for the collection of Christmas Trees from Wednesday Dec. 27, 2023, until Tuesday morning Jan. 16, 2024: 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 Please ensure that all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and garland are removed from the trees as well as stands. 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.

HOLIDAY WASTE COLLECTION Since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Monday this year, all service will be delayed by one day on those weeks. Regular service days will resume the week of January 8.

DECEMBER 2023–JANUARY 2024 South Side of City Hall Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Station 31: 9010 S 150 E City Council Chambers The Theater at Mount Jordan Station 31: 9010 S 150 E City Council Chambers City Council Chambers City Council Chambers Station 31: 9010 S 150 E City Council Chambers Station 31: 9010 S 150 E The Theater at Mount Jordan Station 31: 9010 S 150 E

sandy.utah.gov/1398/Light-up-the-Cairns americanwestsymphony.com sandy.utah.gov/fire sandyutah.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx mountainwestballet.org sandy.utah.gov/fire sandyutah.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx sandyutah.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx sandyutah.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx sandy.utah.gov/fire sandy.utah.gov/2128/Be-Ready-Sandy sandy.utah.gov/fire sandyarts.com sandy.utah.gov/fire

FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, VISIT: SANDY.UTAH.GOV/862/CALENDAR I S S U E # 110

D E C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 – JA N UARY 2024

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Community helps Park Lane fun run be successful beyond dollar amount

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

C

ommunity members lined the streets near Park Lane Elementary cheering for the hundreds of youngsters participating in the school’s annual fun run.

Kindergartners through fifth-graders ran the route, some racing to meet goals for faster times, others happily finishing while talking with friends.

Still other youngsters got assistance from about 40 Jordan High student-athletes, said Park Lane Principal Justin Jeffery.

“We’ve had the cross country team help the past five or six years, but now we had a couple football players, some dancers, kids from the soccer team, volleyball team members and just a lot of student-athletes wanting to help,” Jeffery said. “It was a lot cooler than just cross country runners joining them on the route and making sure kids were doing okay. This year, I was able to assign buddies to a lot of classes.”

Jeffery matched a couple high school students with elementary classes and teachers who wanted older students’ help.

“It was motivating for our Park Lane kids to stretch and run with the high school athletes,” he said. “They related to them and gave them their respect.”

Jordan High School student-athletes warmed up alongside the younger students,

leading them in different stretches.

“It’s fantastic too because all of them are stretching before they run, but they’re also getting to know their buddies before the fun run. It’s good for our students to get to know these Jordan High students, which is part of our feeder system, and have this good experience with students from that school, which they’ll remember as they get older,” he said.

Already, Park Lane fifth-grade students get lessons encouraging good behavior and positive choices during the year from Jordan High’s 20-member Peer Leadership Team.

Last spring, about 10 members from Jordan High’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams came to play soccer and lead other activities with students during a recess, something Jeffery would like to do more frequently this year.

“Our kids got excited, and they had fun. It was a positive interaction between high school students and elementary students,” he said.

Jeffery also hopes to involve high school students with the school’s annual STEM and Arts nights.

“We’d love to grow that relationship more because it really helps give our stu-

dents a positive role model. I think the kids enjoyed learning from the older students who have been here,” he said. “It’s also been good for the older students to connect with others in the community and gain leadership experience. Some of them may want to go into education or youth sports or even become a pediatrician as a career path and this may be their first exposure working with kids younger than them. A lot of them are here to provide service for the community and when they’re Park Lane alums and the kids get excited for that.”

The fun run is Park Lane’s annual fundraiser, where “the kids and parents and the community want to help the school, so we have that common goal.” This year, the community helped raise $20,000, the most ever, he said, which goes to help with the costs of school activities such as field trips, Field Day, dance festival, birthday celebrations, fifth-grade party, Junior Achievement, Red Ribbon Week, teacher appreciation, Arts night, STEM night and other programs.

As a celebration, Park Lake students got to “explore s’more,” which matched the PTA theme, by running the school hallways and seeing their principal camp out on the school roof.

A Jordan High school student runs along with Park Lane Elementary students motivating them during their annual fun run. (Jeannie Hill/Park Lane Elementary)

“I’ve kissed an alligator, held a snake, jumped from an airplane, been duct taped to a wall, rode a mechanical ball, got soaked in a dunk tank — I do it for the kids. When they know at the end that we reached our goal, then they know there’s something memorable and fun for them. It motivates them and excites them — and that’s worth it,” he said. “It’s a great community with great support for the school.”l

Pirate O’s is the Place to Find Original Food Gifts for the Holidays

I

f your goal is to find unique, delicious and distinctive gifts for the holiday season, Pirate O’s Gourmet Market in Draper (11901 S. 700 East) should be your first stop.

The market is celebrating its 26th anniversary and this holiday’s inventory of items is bigger than it’s ever been.

Whether your taste runs sweet, salty, spicy or savory, finding the perfect treat is easy and affordable.

“It’s the biggest selection I’ve ever seen,” said Pirate O’s owner Orian Collinsworth. “There’s no doubt that we have an insane amount of product waiting for our customers. There is no place they’ll be able to go in the United States, maybe the world, where they can get the variety of European Christmas items we have. After 26 years of doing this, this is not only the pinnacle of this year, but of 26 years of practice.”

For your sweet tooth, Pirate O’s has a wide selection of holiday treats, including Cadbury advent calendars, genuine German Haribo gummies, pandoros and panettones (Italian holiday cakes) and torrone, a classic Italian nougat. It also has chocolate letters for those celebrating St. Nicholas Day in early December.

“We have all the Dutch chocolate letters that people buy and they put that chocolate letter in their shoes,” Orian said.

“People will be buying all of that along with Dutch licorice, and stroopwafels and Dutch hagelslag, which are chocolate sprinkles.”

You can find your favorite chocolate brands from all over the world, including

Page 22 | Dec. 2023

Milka, Maribou, Kinder, Lindt, Scharfenberger, Bissinger, and Ghirardelli.

Creating a delicious charcuterie board is a breeze with Pirate O’s selection of meats, cheeses and dips. The market boasts more than 100 different types of cheeses and a resident cheese expert can help you find the best product for your event. Adding authentic German salami, spicy pickles and an assortment of unique crackers will make your charcuterie board a one-of-a-kind offering.

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If you’re looking for exceptional sauces, oils, balsamic vinegars and hot sauce, you won’t be able to choose just one.

Pirate O’s has more than 170 hot sauce products from brands like Iguana, Peppadew and Ring of Fire. The infamous Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce is a customer favorite, and whether you’re looking for bread dipping ingredients or a delicious salad dressing, the options are endless.

“We’ve never had so much product for Christmas,” Orian said. “The store is at its pinnacle. We sit back and look at it and go, holy smoke! We get these 30 days of Christmas and it’s magical, in a sense.”

A personalized gift basket is perfect for an office party, corporate event or hostess gift. You can create your own, purchase a grab-and-go, or have a Pirate O’s basket artist conjure up the best ingredients for your needs.

For more information about Pirate O’s, including store hours, visit Pirate-Os.com, or their Instagram page: @PirateOsGourmet.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind, eclectic place,” Orian said. “Shop early for best selection, shop late for best price. But don’t wait because once it’s gone, it’s gone. The store is really fun. There is not a shop like this anywhere in the world. It’s worth a visit.”

Sandy City Journal

Alta boys place third in state cross country meet

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

I

n a highly competitive field, the Alta boys cross country ran with the best Class 5A had to offer. And the Hawks weren’t far from winning a state title.

Alta was the top Region 6 team at the state meet; the next-closest league opponent was Brighton, which placed seventh.

But the Hawks were 81 points ahead of the Bengals, distancing themselves as the top Region 6 team. Among all teams in 5A, Alta was third, 37 points out of first and 27 behind the second-place team, Viewmont.

Maple Mountain captured the 5A crown.

Alta had two of the top eight individual runners at the state championships and three in the top 22. The fastest time for the Hawks came from sophomore Aidan Neal, who had a blazing time of 15:42, good enough for sixth place. In eighth place overall and second for Alta was senior Cooper Walbeck, who had a time of 15:51.2. Fellow senior Cameron Archer was 22nd overall, running the race in 16:12.6. A pair of juniors came next for the Hawks. Jack Jensen was 37 with a time of 16:27.9, while Ethan Mendes ran the course in 16:34.9 to finish 46th.

Two other Alta runners took part in the 5k race at the state championships Oct. 26. Senior Kevin Law had a time of

S andy Journal .com

16:55.5. Meanwhile, Myles Jessen, just a freshman, finished in 17:15.3.

The third-place finish was a big improvement from last year’s 17th-place showing. Neal improved to sixth from 54th the year before.

The Alta girls placed 15th at the championships. The top Alta runner was Camilla Grant, who was 56th in the race with a time of 20:45.2. Six other Alta runners finished the race in under 22 minutes. Only 36 seconds separated junior Ruby Lewis, senior Natalie Walsh, freshman London Vierkant, sophomore Katelyn Vickers, freshman Avery Baker and senior Katie Koski. The girls improved significantly from last season. At the 2022 championships, only two Hawks participated, and Alta didn’t place among all the 5A schools.

Both the boys and girls will have some strong runners back next season.

Among those who ran at state, five girls team members and four boys team runners will return to the Hawks in 2024. l

Alta’s boys cross country team finished third at the 5A state championships. (Photo by Roger V. Tuttle)

Dec. 2023 | Page 23

Canyons District students of Shakespeare find sweet success

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

I

n “Julius Caesar,” William Shakespeare penned, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”

He suggests that people’s future is not determine by fate or destiny, but rather by their own actions.

The actions and hard work of many student-thespians became apparent during the 47th annual Shakespeare Competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University, as many students received awards and scholarships.

A first was three Canyons School District high schools sweeping the Oxford division in four of the five categories, including sweepstakes with Hillcrest taking first; Brighton, second; and Corner Canyon, third.

“This is the first major success in over a decade for Brighton at this competition,” Brighton High theatre director Makayla Conner said. “The team was dedicated and hardworking; every rehearsal was productive. It allowed for them to grow the scenes to the point where they needed for the competition.”

She said that now post-pandemic, several team members had been to the competition for the past several years, so they

Brighton High’s Shakespeare team took second place overall in Cedar City at the 47th annual Utah Shakespeare Festival. (Bella Koza/Brighton High)

understood the dedication and hard work that was needed.

“They understand what the competition is like, and they were able to help

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the other teammates understand what they needed to do,” she said.

The sweep was especially sweet for Conner as she was a student of Hillcrest

High’s director, Josh Long, then she student taught under Corner Canyon’s theatre director, Phaidra Atkinson.

“It was very exciting; everyone was rooting for each other,” she said. “There were about 15 schools in our division so that’s a pretty good showing for Canyons.”

One thing Canyons schools did was try to support each other during the competition.

“It was really cool; it was a camaraderie feeling which usually at competitions, you don’t get, but for this one, everyone was very united all weekend,” Conner said. “Alta High kids wrote notes for the performers. After watching each performance, they would give them these little notes saying, ‘you did really well.’

Hillcrest kids made videos of funny skits about the plays and put them on their Instagram page and tagged all the schools.

Brighton kids made good luck posters for each of the Canyons schools and put some fun puns in those to wish them good luck.

Some of them were so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing.”

Other placements include in ensemble, Corner Canyon took first; Hillcrest, second; and Brighton, third. In duo/trio

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Sandy City Journal

scenes, first place went to Hillcrest’s Nayantara Nair, Ellie Spilker and Riley Thompson while Alta’s Jaycey Bennion and Addi Scarborough took second.

Hillcrest’s Auston Beals, Lucas Fife and Gideon Kirby, took fourth. In monologue, Hillcrest’s Gabe Williams, Anna Fetzer and Munshe Tanjani took first, second and fifth, respectively, and Brighton’s Grace Brown took third.

Williams and Nair both received the Ray Jones $1,000 Scholarship award; Spilker and Thompson, won the Barbara Barrett $500 award and Brighton’s Jaxton Brenner was awarded the $1,000 Larry Lott Acting Award.

Hillcrest also had winners in the tech Olympics competition, including first place overall. Individual winners include Fischer Coleman, lighting; Elsie Slabbert, make-up; Cameron Sorenson, rigging; Tyler Strong, stage management. Harrison Treat earned second place in set construction and Coleman and Wesley Arbon were

tech portfolio runners-up.

In dance and choreography, Brighton’s Alisa Allen, Zoe Milner and Isabelle Foote won third place in duo/trio scenes.

Allen choreographed the piece inspired by “King Lear.” All 5 seniors — Allen, Milner, Alaina Burr, Sammie Falcon and Brooke Larson — who elected to participate in a dance scholarship audition received more than $40,000 combined from numerous colleges.

In dance and choreography, Corner Canyon took second place in ensemble; and in music, second place in troubadour and third place in minstrel.

In the Cambridge division, Jordan High’s Parker Bettinson took second place in the monologue while in the music competition, Jordan High won first in minstrel, third in madrigals and overall, second in sweepstakes Nearby Juan Diego Catholic High, in Draper, took third place in the Westminster division ensemble. l

Watch out Balboa, there’s a new Rocky in town

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

R

ocky Balboa, the champion of the “Rocky” movie series, may have lost his title.

In mid-October, Alta View Elementary students cast their final vote to name their roadrunner mascot — Rocky.

“We had the student council, faculty and staff vote on their top five, and then we took the top three from that,” said Alta View PTA President Jessica Davies.

Rocky won over the other top choices, Rio and Roady.

Earlier this school year, 160 names were nominated ranging from a spelling variation of popular singer-songwriter Taylor Swift to maintaining the mascot’s original name, Rodney.

There also was a nomination for Scott, matching the principal’s name.

“We named him because PTA purchased the mascot (costume),” Principal Scott Jameson said, adding that it was the first time the school had a mascot costume.

“In recent years, we’ve had a new building, a new look for our mascot, so why not a new name?”

Months before opening Alta View’s new building in 2017, Canyons School District graphic designer Jeff Olson’s new logo for the school was unveiled.

“I couldn’t copy the Warner Brothers’ roadrunner as in the past, but wanted to give it a more sports feel,” said the Alta View alumnus at the time. “I didn’t want it to be cartoon-y, but one that will work through time.” l

S andy Journal .com

Navigating Grief and the Holidays

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program.

Caring Connections is a not-for-profit program that offers clinician-facilitated grief support groups in Utah.

After a student vote, Alta View Elementary’s roadrunner mascot got his new name, Rocky. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Davies Photography)

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www.LarkinCares.com Dec. 2023 | Page 25

Waterford School’s student string quintet performs in Carnegie Hall after winning international contest

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

I

n between the November and December holidays and amongst classes and school activities, five Waterford students will spend a weekend in New York City.

The quintet recently won first prize in the 2023 Golden Classical Music Awards international competition. They will be performing at the awards ceremony Dec. 3 at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, where they also will receive their first place medals.

“We were thrilled; the kids are just ecstatic,” said Kathy Morris, Waterford School’s director and music chair. “It’s an absolutely beautiful recital hall and that part of Carnegie Hall is super famous, not everybody gets to play there.”

The string quintet — Adrian Walker, first violin; Grant Brady, second violin; Nathan Kwon, viola; Dalloway Smith, cello; and Connor Greally, bass — submitted a video recording with their application in June to the international contest this past summer.

“There were applications and videos from all over the world,” she said. “We received an email a month later saying, ‘We are delighted to announce that you have been chosen as a first prize winner.’”

The group is taking full advantage of being in the Big Apple.

They plan to give a recital for friends and family and Waterford alumni in the city at “a very cool venue in 1 Hotel Central Park that overlooks Central Park,” Morris said.

They also were arranging to play holiday music in the hotel lobby or at another location.

“We want them to do community service events, and this would be fun because it’ll be Christmas time in New York. I think the guests will love the holiday music,” Morris said.

The group also plans to visit the Highline and Times Square in addition to taking in the holiday decorations at the Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue.

“We may take in St. Patrick’s Church as its always beautiful. We want to see those iconic New York sites, which are beautiful especially at Christmastime,” she said.

Bookending their musical performances will be a tour of Columbia University for some students who are arriving early and then, they also will go to Julliard, Morris’ alma mater, before they leave.

“Columbia and Juilliard have a music

Waterford’s string quintet won and international competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. (Truman Christensen/Waterford School)

performance degree program where you study as an undergraduate at Columbia and then, earn a master’s at Julliard; it’s an amazing program. I know at least one of my students said it would be his dream to be accepted,” Morris said.

The student-musicians already have had “some amazing opportunities,” Morris said.

Last spring, the quintet won the chamber music portion of the Virtuoso International Music Competitions both in Brussels and in London. They attended the London ceremony, performing in the Royal Albert Hall recital hall and received their first-place medals. They also performed a 30-minute recital at the Milner Hall at Rhodes House at the University of Oxford, where they received “a very warm welcome.”

The group now is preparing for the Fischoff National Chamber Competition.

They’ll submit their video entry in February.

“Fischoff is an amazing competition, but if they make the finals, they’ll have to fly and go to South Bend, Indiana to compete

there in-person, so it’s different than knowing beforehand if they’ve won,” Morris said.

“They’re excited for these competitions, but they’re challenging, and these kids want that challenge.”

Morris said that unlike orchestral music, chamber pieces are performed without a conductor.

“These kids are like a well-oiled machine. They talk to each other, they’re savvy, smart, and really in tune with each other musically. Chamber music is a musical conversation where you have beautiful melodies and harmonies, and you pass that musical along. Each musician listens to each other and responds so it’s personal and emotional. They’re intimate with each other in terms of their musical phrasing, handing off their phrases to each other. It’s quite remarkable.

In 30 years of teaching, I’ve haven’t had an ensemble that just clicked,” she said. “On top of that, these kids are amazing people and are accomplishing so much. They’re really special.” l

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Sandy City Journal

Alta volleyball reaches 5A semifinals in outstanding postseason run

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

A

year after going just 10-14, the Alta volleyball team was just one game away from playing for a state title.

The Hawks put together an impressive state tournament run by reaching the semifinals where they lost to No. 2 seed Bountiful 3-0 on Nov. 4. The Hawks lost 25-22, 25-21, 25-18, ending their hunt for a state title. Alta then lost in the third-place match to Woods Cross, 3-0. Alta went 19-15 on the year and played their best volleyball of the season when it mattered most.

During the regular season, Alta had its share of ups and downs.

The Hawks were 7-5 in Region 6, placing third. In the regular season, the team had an early four-game winning streak, only to drop five of its next eight games. Heading into the playoffs, the team had some highs and lows but put it together down the stretch.

Alta was the 14th seed in the Class 5A state tournament and began with a 3-1 win over Spanish Fork, taking the match 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22. Next up on Nov. 2 was a tough matchup with third-seeded Hunter of Region 5. The Hawks dropped the first set, won the second but then lost the third. Trailing 2-1, Alta closed out the match by winning 25-12,

15-11 to prevail in five sets.

Later in the day on Nov. 2, Alta took on Northridge in the quarterfinals. The Knight were another surprise participant at that stage of the playoffs, having entered as the No. 11 seed. Alta wasn’t about to let them continue their run, as the Hawks won 3-1 after overcoming a difficult first set in which they lost 25-10. But Alta won three sets in a row (26-24, 25-22, 25-19) to advance to the semifinals. In the victory, sophomores Catherine Brinkman and Brooke Ridge each had 12 kills. Paisley Wallace was key with 19 digs.

The magic ran out against Bountiful, but it didn’t take away from a fantastic postseason.

The Hawks not only fared better than the two region foes that finished above them in the league standings, but they had quite a turnaround from the previous season. In 2022, Alta was just 3-8 as members of Region 8.

The Hawks return some key players of this year’s squad next season. First-year head coach Sarah Kane will have some talented athletes at her disposal when the 2024 campaign begins. l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 27

Alta’s murder-mystery fundraiser show steps back in time

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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The show was written by senior Kassie Holt, who spent about three hours per week for three months creating the script.

“I was announced as improv captain last April and so that comes with the responsibility to write and direct the show,” she said. “So, I wrote over it over the summer when I knew I’d have time.”

The show’s storyline is set in the 1990s and focuses on two college students who accidentally discovered time travel while doing research on one of their fathers who the student never knew. By listening to music, they’re transported to the 1970s, then to the 1950s and to the Roaring 20s.

“Along the way, people go missing and murdered and have to figure out who did it and why,” Holt said.

The show features songs by Fleetwood Mac, Doris Day and Ruth Etting.

“The songs were from those specific eras.

I love Fleetwood Mac, so I wanted music from that time period. I get to do costume design, which I love; I thought doing costumes, and hair and makeup for the different eras would be really fun,” Holt said.

At first, she thought writing the show seemed both overwhelming and exciting.

“I talked it over with my friend, Alex Liljenquist, who was the director last year, and asked her how she came up with her idea,”

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When the Clock Strikes Back” will take audiences back in time while never leaving their seat.

Alta High’s traditional murder-mystery show, which features appetizers and dessert, will be held at 5 p.m., and again at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 8 at the school, 11055 South 1100 East.

Tickets to the show, which serves as the theater department’s fundraiser, are available online following the Alta athletics’ link on the school’s webpage, ahs.canyonsdistrict.org, or in-person at the school’s main office.

Holt said. “I went through different ideas, but I really liked the idea of a throwback murder mystery to the murder mystery decades that I saw and was in as an actor, to bring it full circle. I tweaked the years a little, but it’s still fun.”

She wrote the show, starting with a list of bullet points.

“I put down all of my ideas to include, then I took a couple of days and pieced it together until I had a basic storyline. I wrote my script from there,” Holt said. “Basically, I outlined the basic plot points in the scenes, but it’s up to the actors to decide their lines and how they interact with each other. Since it’s a murder mystery dinner, the audience is involved, so the actors need to be able to bounce off whatever the audience says and interact with each other. Normally, improv scenes are four minutes max and this show is an hour and a half long, so my script gives the actors a backbone to work off of and make it their own.”

In the show, there are 24 different characters — 11 main cast members, nine ensemble actors who also are the meal servers and four singers.

“During the scene breaks, the servers will be talking with the audience, so that will be fun and engaging for everyone,” she said.

Auditions were set for Nov. 21, with rehearsals slated to begin Nov. 27, after Alta High closes their production of “Mean Girls.”

Holt is a part of that show as well.

Junior Ethan Reagan is the murder-mystery show’s assistant director.

Holt is eager for to see the show herself.

“I’m just super excited to see the cast in this show I created and how they perform it.

It’s been an experience that I’ve never done before by having something that I created, cast and directed,” she said. “I don’t think it’ll be quite what I’m expecting; I think it will be better and I’m really excited about it.” l

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Alta High’s improv students will be among those performing in the school’s murder-mystery show and fundraiser in December. (Photo courtesy of Kassie Holt/Alta High)

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Dec. 2023 | Page 29

A Labor of Love in Salt Lake County

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

I

t’s been 50 years since a group of parents got together to create a program where adults with disabilities could live in a traditional setting and experience being part of a community. Project TURN is now TURN Community Services and its mission is to turn dreams into reality.

Two-time Best of State winner, TURN offers day programs, residential living, summer camps, supported employment and art programs to participants from 11 to 80 years old. It also provides Christmas gifts to 200 people with disabilities through its Labor of Love project.

“We provide Christmas for people with disabilities and we open that up to the community,” said Alyssa DeHart, TURN director of development and communication. “People are able to submit names and profiles of people who would like help…It’s entirely funded by donations and volunteers who shop, wrap and then deliver the presents as well.”

The Labor of Love project has been going on for at least 30 years, helping hundreds of people with disabilities enjoy a fun holiday. Volunteers in the community deliver gifts to each one of the TURN offices in the state, from Ogden to St. George. The gifts are then distributed to some of Utah’s most vulnerable residents.

“We have volunteers that come year after year, some have participated for more than 20 years, and they bring more friends and extended family members each year because they find it so rewarding to help these people who often have no family members left to help with their basic needs and holiday celebrations,” said Cynthia Proctor, Labor of Love director. “They know they are extending critical help to this overlooked and underserved part of the community whose

needs are very real, extensive, and still often invisible.”

For information about volunteering with the Labor of Love project, contact DeHart at alyssadehart@turncommunityservices.org. The drop-off location in Salt Lake County is at 423 W. 800 South.

Along with the Labor of Love project, TURN provides support for individuals with disabilities by providing individualized care in a residential setting. Support includes health care, socialization, financial management, transportation, leisure activities and community events.

TURN’s art centers help people express themselves through the power of creativity with art classes, dance lessons and music education. The classes offer a chance for participants to build skills, explore the world, enhance self-expression and tap into their own artistic talents. Several artists in the program have submitted art for various fairs and contests.

A popular program at the nonprofit is employment services which helps individuals with disabilities, ages 14 and up, to find work in their community. Counselors take time to meet with each person to determine their skills, interests and abilities and then help them find a job that matches their preferences, allowing them to develop independence.

“Our mission statement is turning dreams into reality and that helps us focus and maintain our ideals of serving people,” DeHart said. “Sometimes we focus on sustaining life but enhancing life is really what we want to do. We want each individual to be able to have dignity and hopes and dreams and discover new abilities.” l

TURN Community Services volunteers shop, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to more than 200 people with disabilities throughout the state. (Photo courtesy of TURN)

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Food pantries face high demand and low inventory

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

T

he number of children living in poverty in the U.S. has more than doubled in the past year and a half, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It issued a release in September saying 12.4% of youth under 18 are living below the poverty line. That’s up from 5.2% in 2021 and totals over 9 million children.

Inflation overall, added to the expiration of the Child Tax Credit program that Congress instituted during the pandemic, has added to the economic challenges families are facing, including here along the Wasatch Front. It’s estimated that in Utah, one of every 11 residents will go to bed hungry tonight. So many are turning to local food pantries for help—and that’s a problem.

Food pantries are seeing lower inventories and fewer donations. With the holidays approaching, pantry leaders are alarmed.

“Our needs are extreme,” said Rebekah Anderson, executive director of the Bountiful Community Food Pantry. “Every single day, we have at least one new family come in who we haven’t served before. Two weeks ago, we served over 100 families in one day—the most in a single day since I’ve been here.”

She said most of the pantry’s clients are not destitute—many come from families

where both parents are employed or have second jobs.

“Every day Davis County residents are finding their paychecks aren’t going as far as in the past,” she said. “They still need help to feed their families.”

At the Open Doors pantry in Layton, executive director Jason Wilde tells a similar story.

“For the first nine months of this year, we’ve seen a 40% increase in the numbers of families we’ve served,” he said. “At least half of those are families that have never come into the pantry before. At the same time, our donations have dropped by about 10%. So there’s a great inequity between needs and our ability to meet them.”

The Murray Children’s Pantry serves clients from throughout Salt Lake County.

Jim Brass, president of the pantry board, says donations have dwindled throughout the summer, as they traditionally do, and he’s hopeful the upcoming holidays will put “people in a more giving mood.” As with Bountiful and Layton, clients have increased in numbers the past few months.

“We’re hearing the biggest challenge is rent—the costs of housing,” he said. “We’ve seen our client base grow by 30% to 40% some weeks. We have put together what we

call family boxes—enough to feed a family of four for a week—and demand for those has steadily grown. There are new families coming in for the first time every week.”

Anderson said the Bountiful Pantry is blessed to have over 200 volunteers who help with food organization and distribution.

She said one of those volunteers came back into work after being off for about a week and said “she couldn’t believe how empty our warehouse looked…in just a few days.”

And she’s concerned that with November and December holidays just around the corner, when the demand usually doubles or triples, her inventory continues to drop.

In Bountiful, Anderson’s crew is being extra careful with distribution.

“We’re not rationing food, but we are taking steps to make sure we reduce waste,” she said. “We can extend the shelf life of canned vegetables, for example. The USDA provides a shelf life guide because many products are still good past their published expiration dates. That said, we still offer clients many healthy, fresh perishable food items as well. Our number one focus is always on our clients.”

So how can the public help out pantries?

One way is through food drives at schools or through churches or community groups. The

Farmington High National Honors Society is planning a food drive from Nov. 6-10 for the Bountiful Pantry. Anderson said she’ll provide either barrels or large wire containers to gather food. Bountiful also received a $5,000 donation from the Bridge Community Church in Centerville, which held a golf tournament as a fundraiser for the pantry.

“We’re so grateful to both Farmington High and the Bridge Community Church for doing these,” Anderson said. “It helps take stress off of the pantry.”

Bountiful Pantry’s annual Sub for Santa program—which can assign clients to be Santas for families in need of help—is taking registrations through Nov. 18. Low-income families are vetted, and last year more than 4,000 children received gifts.

Brass said the Murray pantry is working for the third year with the Frank Cordova Foundation to provide Thanksgiving dinners for families. The foundation provides turkeys, and the pantry provides the rest of the fixings.

Those wishing to make donations and help out should reach out to the pantries on their websites. Each director says the needs are continuing to grow every day. l

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Page 32 | Dec. 2023

Sandy City Journal

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Christmas Unwrapped

I

t was the Christmas season as I Peri Kinder wandered the aisles at Gibson’s Discount Center with a $5 bill Life and Laughter crumpled in my pocket. It was 1975 and parents didn’t care if their 7-year-old wandered alone through a store.

I’d earned money to buy my parents Christmas gifts and I had to find the perfect presents. I imagined mom’s surprise when she unwrapped a brand new purse that wasn’t filled with broken crayons, Cheerios and used tissues. I pictured dad’s excitement as he opened the model airplane he would assemble at the kitchen table. I would be an example of humility as they raved about my thoughtfulness.

Dad agreed to drive me to Gibson’s and we climbed into our blue Ford Pinto. Once there, I told him he couldn’t follow me, that I wanted the presents to be a surprise. He hung out at the soda fountain drinking root beer so I could shop with privacy.

It didn’t take long to realize my $5 wouldn’t cover the cost of a purse or a model airplane. My heart sank as I walked the aisles. Everything was so expensive. Maybe mom wanted an oven mitt or a wooden spoon. Perhaps dad would like a small bottle of model glue.

Then I saw it. A pint-sized, cut-glass pitcher that gleamed under the store’s fluorescent lighting. It looked so elegant. It wasn’t big enough to mix a half-gallon of Kool-Aid but I didn’t think mom would care. She would cherish it for all eternity. And it was only $3.

That left a present for dad.

Walking past the drugstore aisle, I saw a mini-size bottle of Brut aftershave for less than $2. Mission accomplished.

I wrapped the presents and placed them under the tree, right up front. On Christmas Eve, I had the holiday insomnia where you try to sleep but you hear jingle bells and ho-ho-hos and prancing reindeer on the roof. Finally, it was morning and I dashed down the stairs.

I don’t remember what I got for Christmas that year.

Probably a Madame Alexander doll, a Nancy Drew book and a journal with a heart-shaped lock. What I do remember is being so excited for my parents to open their presents.

Mom unwrapped her gift first. I watched with the giddy excitement of a child who knows she nailed the perfect present. She opened her glass pitcher and held it up for everyone to see. It sparkled in the tree’s lights.

Dad was so grateful for his little bottle of Brut that he never used it. The tiny green bottle sat on the bathroom shelf for at least a decade. I asked him once why he didn’t use it. Didn’t he like it?

“I love it!” he said. “But if I use it, it will be gone and then I won’t have it anymore.”

I get it, dad. I feel the same way about the expensive bottle of tequila in my office.

Mom filled the pitcher with her homemade syrup we poured on pancakes, waffles and French toast. She used

it for all my childhood. My grandkids ate pancakes with syrup poured from that pitcher. I think she even took it with her when she moved to North Carolina.

It takes so little to make a child feel loved. It’s sometimes hard to use the gifts kids give you for the holidays, but they’re always watching. Wear the macaroni necklace.

Use the syrup pitcher. Put on the reindeer earrings. Your child will never forget.l

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Medicare Insurance

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• Need a new plan to better suit you needs?

• Just don’t understand Medicare?

Ask the experts serving Utah IHC Specialty Benefits Call or text Cheryl 801-941-5262

Dec. 2023 | Page 35