Sandy Journal | March 2021

March 2021 | Vol. 21 Iss. 03

PAGES 15-20 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

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ALTA BASKETBALL STANDOUT BRINLEE MCRAE: SECOND LEADING SCORER IN THE STATE

By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com

T

he Alta women’s basketball team is up and running after a two-week break due to three positive COVID-19 tests within the organization. Going two weeks without basketball practice turned out to be more difficult than the team expected. Although the girls missed playing basketball, they were more excited just to see each other again.

“We get back to campus and I’m hearing all these laughs and giggles in the team room, it has never been this loud,” said head coach Elizabeth Gustafson.

This season has shown them how much it means just to be able to connect with teammates, because they never know when the pandemic will keep them on the sidelines.

“Everyone has bought in and is just trying to do what they need to. They understand that all these experiences can be taken away,” Gustafson said.

After the two-week hiatus, the Lady Hawks are glad to be together to work on their most important team goal—finding joy.

“We are just trying to have a lot of fun this season.

That’s what we came into it to do,” said junior Brinlee McRae. With their lighthearted approach to the season, the Lady Hawks don’t get too caught up in the stats. An emphasis on team unity has proved to be more important.

“I feel like we’re doing better than last season. I think our record is better,” said McRae before asking Gustafson, “Is it?”

“I don’t know the record either. We don’t celebrate that kind of stuff, we try to just recognize the hustle,” Gustafson replied.

In fact, coach Gustafson hadn’t even known that McRae is currently ranked second in the state in points per game. Even though it was news to her, she was not at all surprised.

McRae, a Sandy native, made the decision to attend Hillcrest High her freshman year to participate in the rigorous academic opportunities provided there. After a year, she returned to Alta, wanting to see familiar faces.

“Her life, her friends, her community—it’s here,” Gustafson said.

After her transfer, McRae was cleared to play in sub-varsity competition. After a sophomore season spent dominating in JV games, McRae exploded onto the high school scene this year.

“That’s why right now as a junior everyone is so shocked. No one knew she even existed, but she was putting up those same stats last year in JV. She’s always been this competitive,” Gustafson said.

McRae admits that having to sit out in those varsity games was tough, but she learned patience. She was able to create bonds with her JV teammates that have translated to a well-rounded 2020-21 team.

“It was so frustrating. Having to sit there knowing what I could do, just wanting to be in there, but I grew so much as a player,” McRae said.

After a unique start to Continued page 5

Brinlee McRae shoots a foul shot in a 2020 Alta Hawks basketball game. (Photo courtesy Jeff Stephenson)

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March 2021 | Page 3

Sandy Arts celebrates 35 years, moves ahead with 2021 shows

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

O

ne could make the argument that 2020 was not a good year for the arts. But Sandy Arts Guild spokesperson Elyse George said their team found ways to carry on and even innovate during COVID restrictions. The guild is moving forward with traditional and new events in 2021.

“We celebrated our 35th anniversary over Facebook and it went really well.

Recorded performances and interviews were broken into five acts or episodes, one shown each night beginning Dec. 11. The posts on all of our social channels reached a combined 11,500 people,” George said.

The celebration turned into a best of the best of the past 35 years. Performances of actors in costume were recorded on fully-set stages. The videos remain on Facebook, and George acknowledged Rocky Mountain Power, whose sponsorship made the event possible.

Briana Beatse Chipman performed in episode two. She sang “Shy” from “Once Upon a Mattress,” which Sandy Arts Guild presented in 1988.

“Happy Anniversary, Sandy Arts! This episode specifically expressed how I feel about this theatre group. It has changed my life. Love you all so much,” Chipman wrote in comments for the finale video.

In another episode, Crystal Sutton reprised her role as a Dynamo from 2019’s “Mamma Mia” with Julie Blatter and Corinne Adair. Fan Jann LeVitre commented that the ladies “killed it” and still looked great doing the choreography a year later. “[I] loved every minute of this,” Sutton said of the reprised performance. “Can’t wait until we can all do another show together. Let’s make it a big one!”

An anniversary of another sort will happen in March when the annual Elementary School Art Show returns to the Shops

Journals

The Dynamos from Sandy Amphitheater’s 2019 “Mamma Mia!” production were some of the performers who reprised their roles from the past 35 years in Sandy Arts Guild’s online celebration in December. (2019 photo, Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

at South Town March 17-25.

“The art show was the first event in 2020 that we had to cancel due to the pandemic.

We’re excited to have it back. We can’t have the in-person awards ceremony because of gathering restrictions, but the artwork will be on display,” George said.

“People love the elementary school arts show. It’s open to public, private and charter school students in the area. Each year between 800-1,100 kids participate,” George said.

Other changes to traditional events have let the guild reach more people. After canceled shows like “Frozen, Jr.” in spring and summer, Sandy Arts restarted live performances in the fall. Limited capacity, distancing, masks and digital programs were all utilized to keep actors and patrons safe.

“Our team was creative about pivoting

to virtual events and safer versions of in-person events. Looking at attendance stats for 2020, we were actually able to reach significantly more people because with virtual events distance isn’t a barrier.

“With a broader scope we still fulfilled our mission. We had over 53,000 people attend our free events where usually it’s only 10,000 people,” George said.

One thing that’s still up in the air is the Sandy Amphitheater’s season. “They want to open the venue and we will if the state allows it. We’re planning a lineup of local artists and community events, but can’t announce national acts because they haven’t committed to tours yet,” George said.

Live shows continue. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised]” ran in February. And in April the

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young cast of “Frozen, Jr.” will finally get to perform the show they were ready to do a year ago.

“We’re so glad we get to present ‘Frozen, Jr.’ It was such a disappointment to cancel it last year because everything was ready to go. It was shut down just two weeks before opening night,” George said.

With a few exceptions, most of the cast was available and happy to perform the show this April. With some creative restaging and choreography to keep actors distanced, the show will go on.

“Our remarkable and creative team has done so much over the last year to continue bringing the arts to our community. We invite everyone to safely get involved and continue to support Sandy Arts Guild for the next 35 years and beyond,” George said. l

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Continued from front page her high school basketball career, McRae is finally able to show everyone what she is capable of. McRae’s current points per game of 22.5 is second only to Judge Memorial standout Teya Sidberry.

McRae is still getting used to this spotlight. Being a state leader in a points per game stat can take emphasis away from team play and incentivize players to take the ball to the basket every time.

“I put a little more pressure on myself.

Every game, I want to get to that average. I don’t want to come out until I hit that, but I try not to focus on it too much,” McRae said.

At the end of the day, McRae tries to zone in on her two goals: have fun and work hard. The two-week hiatus provided a reminder to enjoy the process and not get too caught up in statistics and state leader boards.

“It’s just numbers,” McRae said. “You just got to play for the team.” l

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March 2021 | Page 5

Albion principal elected to state school board, wants to bring educators’ voice to policymaking

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“I

had no idea I wanted to run,” said the newly elected state school board member. “But the incumbent Sean Newell chose not to run for re-election, and I felt like there needed to be some more educators on the board making decisions.”

Albion Middle School Principal Molly Hart ran against two challengers in the primary election, then ran unopposed in the general election for a seat on the 15-member Utah State Board of Education.

While being a principal, first at Mt. Jordan Middle and now at Albion, she has followed the state school board and its decision-making.

“I’ve always been interested in policy.

I’ve always been interested in governance. I feel like I’m a better principal when I understand why certain decisions are made and I understand them from the source,” she said.

While she’s not critical and knows the board’s decisions are meant to be well intended, Hart said it doesn’t always end up the way it was thought.

“A lot of times in my career, I see their decisions that are made that I have to implement as a school principal, and I have to lead teachers in that. I understand the motivation. I understand the thought process, but the implementation of it or how it ends up becoming policy and what becomes policy

kind of misses the mark sometimes, and it makes it harder to actually accomplish what was set out to do,” she said. “And I think that’s because partially, the people that are making those decisions, don’t always understand the context. So, by serving in this role, I feel I can really make a contribution.”

Hart said with her knowledge of how to oversee schools, it will help with her new position.

“There’s a lot of complexity in running schools that you wouldn’t necessarily expect and knowing those systems puts me in a position to help make better decisions.

And better decisions saves money and saves times—and if there’s one thing we know, teachers don’t have enough of that’s time or money,” she said.

For example, Hart said that recently there were some new procedures passed for teacher evaluations.

“In the improvement of procedures, we actually added complexity for the teachers.

It’s going to take teachers longer to do the same process,” she said.

Another example is making assumptions about teachers not wanting high stakes testing and assessments—or, in other words, looking at a snapshot of information at a particular time.

“That’s not necessarily true. Teachers

need and want the feedback on how well they’re doing with students, but what they don’t appreciate or need is the high stakes part of testing. They have really good ideas that ought to be considered on how to make it better and better for everyone. I don’t think that perspective is always heard, and I want to make sure that perspective is heard,” Hart said. “When you’re dealing with young humans, you can’t put too much stock into one single measure; you have to use a holistic kind of approach.”

She said when determinations are made in the state, it’s simplified.

“We boil everything down to a letter grade for schools and we do that because that is easy for the public to understand or to make sense of, but there are other things, other information that we should be providing to parents,” Hart said. “Instead of talking accountability, I believe in transparency. I think that would solve a lot of concerns about not only high stakes assessments or assessments in general, but also some of the issues. I like the idea of transparency and giving community members and parents information that they can use and make sense of to determine whether or not what they value in education of their children is being accomplished.”

Hart, who has worked 23 years in education, will join some other educators on the

board and can provide actual teacher input and experience to the discussions of issues.

“I have my own experiences, and the experiences of teachers to add to it, to make decisions,” said the principal who does not plan to leave her current position and also, was congratulated at a recent Canyons Board of Education meeting.

Throughout her career, she has experience working with different groups of people, which is another quality she can bring to the job.

“Working with the legislature to get things accomplished for Utah students is something I think I can help with,” she said, adding that she has talked to legislators in the past. “I’ve called and said, ‘What the heck are you doing?’ or ‘I really liked this idea, please don’t drop it.’ I communicate informally because I feel like that’s part of my job as an educator.”

It was a couple of legislators who “finally just said, ‘run for the state school board,’” said Hart, who continuously adds educational degrees to her repertoire. “It was either I run for state school board or I go to law school, and this is less expensive. I would perpetually be a student if I could. I really love learning and I’m passionate about teaching kids to love learning and making their educational experience the best it can be.” l

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Waterford students provide baskets to IRC during Week of Giving

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

hirteen newly arrived refugee families will be a little warmer and feel more welcome, thanks to Waterford School’s students providing baskets of supplies and hand-tied fleece blankets.

As part of Waterford’s All Schools Week of Giving, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, 2020, students in all grades could take part in bringing in donated items or tying fleece blankets to benefit those who have just arrived in Utah through their contributions to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said Isabel Hiestand, Waterford community service club president.

“We encouraged volunteering and saw an immense turnout to help these 13 families,” said Hiestand, who tied five blankets with a friend for the families.

She said students in each of the upper grades were asked to make donations of winter clothing and personal hygiene items, if they were able. The blankets were assigned to elementary students, but anyone or any family could tie them. As a result, there were more than 100 blankets made, she said.

“We’ve learned that we have so much, and these families are so grateful for the kindness we’re sharing,” she said.

Waterford has helped the IRC for years and it usually includes the Joni Jenson Dinner, which was named for a Waterford parent who died while her daughter was a student at the school. Typically, at the dinner, students interact with the families and learn about them.

Senior Kate Parker said that usually is the highlight of the week.

“I love playing with the kids and hearing their stories, their dreams and where they come from,” she said. “I love to be able to give them things they need to make it a happier, better, easier winter season, especially this year during COVID-19.”

However, with following the pandemic health and community guidelines, the dinner was not held, said Ingrid Warner, who is the club’s staff adviser.

“It’s a really special part of the week that we were missing; we value our partnership with IRC and it’s mutually beneficial,” she said.

Thus, this year, the Week of Giving looked a little different. Club organizers made announcements, but so did Warner and Waterford parent Bethany Jones, who is involved with the IRC. Warner shared with students the meaning of nonprofit, explaining that both Waterford and the IRC are nonprofits and they rely upon, in part, donations. She also defined philanthropy as a way that helps both the received and the giver, and how on Giving Tuesday, which fell in the school’s Week of Giving, is a good time to give and provide service.

“I felt that this was an opportunity to introduce the concept as well as give service, so

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Hiestand said that they are providing monthly volunteer activities for students to get involved.

“I’ve volunteered all my life, and I’ve learned a lot by doing it. I’ve met so many people and have bonded with my family and friends by serving,” she said. “I love giving service. It’s not a calling, but it’s a necessity.”

In the fall, students organized and held a blood drive and also put on a campus fun run fundraiser for For the Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides weekend meals to elementary students who depend on the federal free lunch program.

Club leaders are making plans for the spring, which may include sewing masks for a hospital or homeless shelter and holding a toy drive for a children’s hospital.

“We have a lot of events and ideas we want to do yet. We’ve done more than we have other years and we’re not even halfway through the year,” Parker said. “Service is important in our lives regardless of our age or what we More than 100 blankets were tied and donated by Waterford students to be given along with other essential want to do. It’s a life experience everyone items to 13 refugee families during the school’s Week of Giving. (Amanda Apple/Waterford School) should have.”

Hiestand agrees: “It’s imperative for our they understand what nonprofits do and how surplus items are returned to the IRC to benefit generation to help bring people up…to betthey serve people and why they ask for sup- other families in the weeks and months after the ter our communities. Our goal is to go out to holiday season.” make it a better place.” l port,” she said.

Waterford’s Week of Giving isn’t the only Jones, who shared the impact her opportunities have been with helping others, told opportunity the student club has given service. students that the IRC was founded in 1933 by Albert Einstein, who was a refugee himself.

She explained the mission and how that the organization has helped more than 35,000 people from 32 countries in 25 offices, including Salt Lake City.

Since Salt Lake City opened in 1994, the local IRC office has helped resettle more than 12,000 refugees.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for them to understand the mission and understand the plight of refugees from a parent who is passionate about her work,” Warner said.

IRC Development Manager Jesse Sheets said they are grateful for Waterford’s ongoing contributions.

“The International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City has worked with Waterford School for more than a decade, helping connect newly arrived refugee families with some of their neighbors in the valley to enjoy a meal together and receive household basic supplies,” Sheets said. “We are grateful for the student-led effort at Waterford School: it goes beyond welcoming to ensuring families are included in the activities directly. They create a true, community space with games for the kids and connections made between the students at Waterford School and the families joining during the event. Waterford School works to carefully identify and address family needs while also creating a space for families to feel included in their community. The in-kind donations gathered by Waterford School directly support the families identified through the process and

March 2021 | Page 7

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The other day I was talking with my husband and we were both commenting on how we’ve felt a bit of depression set in from this long COVID year. We all need human interaction to thrive, and with health challenges, financial pressures, political unrest, and so much uncertainty, it’s no wonder that many of us feel a little down. I wanted to share some tips from Salt Lake County’s Health Department on how to improve or maintain your mental and social health as we head into the final stretch.

Take breaks from the news and social media - It is important to stay informed, but constantly hearing about the pandemic or politics is exhausting and upsetting. Limit your news and social media intake to once a day or every other day.

Practice Mindfulness – Set aside time every day (even for five minutes) to be in the present moment. You can do this by meditating, journaling, or focusing on your breathing.

Go outside for 30 minutes every day– Bundle up and get outside. Being outdoors is a natural antidepressant as sunshine naturally increases serotonin and endorphins that boost energy and reduce pain.

Get enough sleep – Stick to a regular sleep schedule and give yourself extra wind-down time each night before bed to read, stretch, and/or meditate to ensure quality sleep.

Stay in touch – Be intentional with your connections by scheduling regular video chats, phone calls, or text messages with loved ones.

Try online exercise classes – Salt Lake County Parks and Rec are hosting online exercise classes for all activity levels. Check out the schedules at slco.org/parks-recreation.

Take Virtual Tours with loved ones – The Utah Hogle Zoo, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, The Leonardo, and the Tracy Aviary all offer virtual experiences to enjoy with family and friends.

Write letters – Create handwritten letters

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

with your household for a senior citizen fighting loneliness. Learn more at loveforourelders.org/ letters Adopt or foster a pet – Adopting or fostering a pet is one of the best ways to ease loneliness.

Pets offer companionship, instill a routine, reduce blood pressure, and provide mental stimulation.

More information at slco.org/animal-services/ adoption-information/ Continue doing the things you enjoy virtually - Host a virtual movie night, book club, game night, online cooking class or karaoke.

After reviewing this list, I have to admit that I need to do better on my sleep habits. And keeping my cell phone next to my bed is probably not helpful. One thing we did this past summer is welcomed our first pet (fish excluded) into our family. Ripley, our mini goldendoodle puppy, has forced us out for walks every day, and she’s kept life interesting during the pandemic. Some of my favorite memories have been Zoom calls with the entire Winder or Newton extended family so we could catch up and hear how everyone was doing.

This pandemic will only break down our mental health and friendships if we let it, so take active steps to stay engaged, integrate healthy behaviors, and connect with our loved ones. If you have other mental health issues where you are thinking about harming yourself or others, please call the crisis line at 801-587-3000 or contact them on the SAFE UT app.

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VoteKrisnicholl@gmail.com March 2021 | Page 9

Sandy Library celebrates Year of the Ox with take-home crafts for patrons

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

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he Sandy Library continues to host fun activities for the community, despite not being able to have gatherings in the library.

During February, they bagged “take and make” crafts to celebrate Lunar New Year.

“We’ve been celebrating Lunar New Year for many years. We love the diversity in our community and want people to learn how the holiday is celebrated in different cultures,” said Liesl Seborg, Adult Services librarian at the Sandy Library.

The library is open for limited numbers of patrons to pick up holds and materials. However, in-person learning programs have been on hold for the last year due to the pandemic.

“We needed to figure out a way to continue our tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year. So we created hundreds of ‘take and make’ craft bags for kids and a lucky home bag for adults in early February. At the end of the month we did it again with a lantern take and make craft,” Seborg said.

The crafts included paper bag puppets of an ox to celebrate the Year of the Ox. There was also an accordion-folding dragon craft.

“They went really fast. We had something for adults, too. It was a surprise ‘lucky home’ bag. Inside was origami paper to make an ox, a lucky charm for your car or keychain and a

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Upcoming Dates:

March 19th: Irish Pub Food $100 per couple

April 16th: Spanish Appetizers & Paella

Sandy librarians assembled hundreds of take and make puppet, origami and lantern crafts to help people celebrate Lunar New Year. (Liesl Seborg/Sandy Library)

recipe for fortune cookies,” Seborg said.

Though sometimes called Chinese New Year, Seborg said that Lunar New Year is a more appropriate name as the holiday is celebrated in many cultures. “It may have originated in China, but it’s also celebrated in Korea and Vietnam and all over Asia.”

Seborg said the kits were a hit and they are already planning a St. Patrick’s Day craft. “We regularly get people who comment on how they love the take and make bags, and we get positive feedback every time we do something like this.”

Typically, the library would also have events for Black History Month during February. But with gathering restrictions in place, options were limited.

“We had a Black History Month display in February, where we pulled books written by members of the Black community. Other branches also had small displays. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do a lot because we’re not doing in-person programming now,” Seborg said.

Seborg knows that in-person programming is something many in the community enjoy and look forward to. It includes story times for younger kids, art shows and group events.

The library also has several events each month in collaboration with their partners at the Clark Planetarium and the Natural History Museum of Utah.

“Right now we’re not planning any in-person programming until August at the earliest.

Check our calendar to see what events we have planned, including more take and makes,” Seborg said.

If you missed the Lunar New Year fun, don’t worry—the library’s activities are ongoing. “We’re planning a St. Patrick’s Day craft, but we don’t list all of our craft distribution dates in the calendar. That way we’re able to surprise and delight our patrons with serendipitous opportunities,” Seborg said.

Seborg hopes everyone takes advantage of the opportunities and programs at the library.

Go to their website at www.slcolibrary.org to see their current calendar, which includes daily virtual activities like storybook time for kids, Facebook yoga or Dungeons & Dragons groups for teens.

“We have familiar faces that come in and pick up holds and families with kids we see at least every other week. We’re still doing our best to offer programs to everyone in the community,” Seborg said. l A take and make kit provided by the Sandy Library to hundreds of patrons included Lunar New Year crafts for the Year of the Ox. (Liesl Seborg/Sandy Library)

$100 per couple + $15 for wine pairings

I prep and deliver the ingredients along with the recipe to participants homes on Thursday evening and we cook together on Friday at 6:00 PM.

Page 10 | March 2021

Sandy City Journal

Canyons School District announces top awards—virtually

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

L

earning that she was named the 2020 APEX Award-winner of School Administrator of the Year, Kelly Tauteoli said it renewed her spirit in an otherwise “stressful, discouraging year” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was very surprised,” she said. “It has been a rough year for everyone; this is a happy, shining moment.”

The Union Middle School principal was tipped off to the award shortly before she received an official letter from Canyons Board of Education. Then, APEX winners were given a basket of gifts and recognized at the Nov. 10 board meeting instead of at a dinner since Canyons School District is following health and safety guidelines for COVID-19.

Other awards were given included district administrator of the year, teacher of the year, business/community partner of the year, volunteers of the year, elected official of the year, student support services professional of the year, education support professional of the year and the legacy award.

“I go to work, do my best, and hope to make a difference in students’ lives. I try to meet the needs of my staff and community,” she said.

That has been a challenge that Tauteoli has met in her tenure in Canyons School District. Coming to the District after teaching at Salt Lake Valley Detention Center and at a private psychiatric hospital and after serving as an assistant vice principal at Joel P. Jensen Middle School in West Jordan, Tauteoli served three years at Midvale Middle as an assistant principal, two years at Park Lane Elementary as principal and now is in her sixth year at Union Middle in Sandy.

Described as “the calm in the eye of the storm,” she has navigated students and staff through a water main break at Midvale Middle to a shooting four years ago on the Union campus. Tauteoli also has helped students, families and her staff through Union’s fire last year where she said for about six weeks, she “worked around the clock” trying to respond to parents’ concerns and emails, up to 100 per day. She also worked with the district and state for the return of students on a split schedule to ensure their education continued.

While restoring the building, Tauteoli also has been part of the discussion of the rebuild of the school. Those meetings will continue through the construction process as a groundbreaking ceremony is expected this spring.

“It’s been a lot, but we’ve created a very resilient and caring staff who have learned to collaborate, adapt and, as a result, become tight-knit and have worked hard to provide students with great learning experiences,” she said. “This means a lot, but I still plan to go into work each day and keep doing my best for the kids, staff and community of

S andy Journal .com

Former Canyons School District superintendent Jim Briscoe, seen here supporting student robotics a week before soft closure of schools last spring, recently received the school district’s APEX Legacy Award.

(Julie Slama/City Journals)

Union.”

Joining Tauteoli as an award-winner is Bob Dowdle, who as an assistant superintendent and educator of 31 years, is responsible for keeping 6,000 employees working to support the growth and achievement of 34,000 students.

“Dowdle is more like a stealth leader of leaders, quietly planting in others the seeds of progress and change,” said Canyons spokesman Jeff Haney. “Whether teaching high school history lessons or serving as assistant superintendent, Dowdle's approach has been to build trust with people and give them the freedom to do their best work.”

With every inherited responsibility has come more work, but Dowdle says his colleagues make his job easy. Even as the pandemic has brought unforeseen challenges, Dowdle credits his team for finding solutions, though he's missed nary a day of work since the onset of the health crisis, Haney said.

Dowdle shares the District Administrator of the Year with Susan Edwards, Canyons public engagement coordinator.

Twelve years ago when the District was created and a clear directive from the voters that the district should be innovative, responsive and proactive, Edwards has made it become her personal mission, Haney said.

“Whether the call comes at midnight on a Saturday or 6 a.m. on a Sunday—or both— Edwards is known to put all other matters aside and respond,” he said.

Edwards works with local legislators, city leaders, parents and volunteers to ensure the District creates and maintains valuable relationships, advocates for school funding at the Legislature, and remains focused on

the success of Canyons' students.

Though her job is demanding, Edwards always finds a way to say “yes,” and backs it up with the energy and commitment that makes everything seem possible, said Charlie Evans, Canyons’ director of external relations.

“In Susan Edwards’ mind, there is no insurmountable problem,” Evans said. “I have never worked with anybody who is willing to work harder and longer hours and do whatever it takes to get the job done like Susan.”

Canyons teacher of the year and the state’s runner-up for the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, Emma Moss also is the APEX teacher of the year, who says, “I just do whatever I can do to help.”

During her three years teaching, doing “whatever” has meant changing classes and grades every year she’s taught, learning new curriculum, earning her endorsements and preparing challenging, yet engaging lessons. She also has volunteered to help write curriculum for a new digital literacy course for the district and is guiding others statewide on the standards—that is, when she isn’t advising the 35 members of student council.

During last spring’s soft closure of schools, Moss lead the transformation to digital learning on the Canvas learning platform and Google Meet video meetings alongside the school’s education technology coach.

“She is always the first to reach out and support the other teachers and staff members,” said her principal, Stacy Kurtzhals. “She already had infused technology into her classrooms and was ready to im-

plement it online.”

If implementing it isn’t enough, she also dons a lab coat and safety goggles and leads students to dissecting computers so they can understand technology better.

“They take it apart, treat it as organs of a body, asking what it is, how it works, why it works. She lets them take it apart, but they also have to be able to put it back in working order,” Kurtzhals said, who added that while online, Moss held lunchtime trivia games to challenge any Eastmont student. “She wants to keep connected with the kids, to be a friend to them, to make them feel appreciated and loved, to show how she cares about each and every one of them.”

The District’s APEX Legacy Award was given to former Superintendent Jim Briscoe, who served students from 2014 through the pandemic this past spring.

“He had a vision of creating a school district where students and employees thrived and community relationships were strengthened,” Haney said. “In his words, Briscoe sought to build an environment where ‘every single person knows they are valued.’”

In fact, Briscoe would guide the District by that belief of serving students.

“I think they’re all my kids,” he said prior to his retirement. “I think every time I have a discussion with the administrators and board members, I always remember that every kid in this district is my responsibility. Every student here is important to me.”

During Briscoe's six-year tenure, Canyons' students regularly outperformed their Utah peers on year-end tests, and the district’s graduation rate rose to an alltime high. He also oversaw the completion of several schools’ construction projects, and he led the successful passage of a $283 million bond in 2017 for more schools to be rebuilt or renovated.

Briscoe also oversaw innovative programs that were created to meet the needs of students while advocating for employee compensation increases and working with the Board of Education to increase teacher salaries to among the highest in Utah.

Other APEX award-winners include Kevin Kelson, custodial coordinator for the education support professional of the year; Sally Goodger, school nurse specialist, and the instructional supports department’s education technology team specialists for the student support services professionals of the year. Volunteers of the year are Araceli Rivera, East Midvale Elementary volunteer; and Stacey Kratz, who has volunteered in Sandy and Midvale area schools. The elected official of the year is Rep. Steve Eliason and the business/community partner of the year is the Utah Food Bank. l

March 2021 | Page 11

Happy 100th Birthday to Norma Epperson A little girl entered the world in the year 1921 in Heber City, Utah. As an only child, she watched her parents divorce and lived with her aunts and grandparents until her mother remarried her dear step father, Ben. The Great Depression never bothered her because Ben was a miner in Keetley and took good care of Blanche and her little girl, Norma.

Norma loved school and was a straight A student. She was in gymnastics as the ‘top’ of the pyramids because she was the ‘lightest and smallest” Wasatch School had ball room dance class where she and her assigned partner, Max Epperson, practiced and won all the contests. She was the Rodeo Queen of Heber and had many boyfriends.

Norma became a skilled Beautician, moved to Idaho to work and married a man working on the Idaho Falls Temple and had 3 daughters. While he was stationed in the Navy, in California, he divorced her for another woman and left them in their new home in Canyon Rim, Salt Lake, where she raised us, with the help of her parents, and wonderful neighborhood.

The sweetest love story was when a friend invited her to an dance but she declined, saying, “I don’t have a partner.” Her friend said, “Oh, yes you do, Max just came back from the Army.” He came dressed in his uniform and they danced the night away and I was so happy to have a Daddy! Norma’s dying wish is to “dance with Max again.”

Norma was baptized in the Mormon Church at the urging of her Grandmother, who she loved and admired. Norma is a perfect example of “good , clean living and love”. Happy birthday, Mom. You made it to the be the first Centurion in our family!

Lovingly, your daughter, Linda.

Treating you like family for over 35 years.

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Page 12 | March 2021

Sandy City Journal

Don’t toss that debit card—it’s your stimulus payment

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

A

fter the government announced its second stimulus payment, people eagerly awaited their funds. Most got them as paper checks or direct bank deposits, but others were sent stimulus prepaid debit cards in the mail, leading them to wonder if they were a scam.

“We heard from many people through emails and calls. Usually when you get ‘free money’ in the mail, it’s a scam. I’m glad people are cautious, but this time it just happened to be real,” said Britta Clark, communications director for the Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada and Utah.

Clark’s department released a statement on Jan. 26 to get the word out that the pre-loaded debit cards were legitimate and people should not throw them away.

Clark thinks the confusion happened in part because payments were staggered and came throughout January. The different payment formats added to the confusion.

“Please note that the form of payment for the second mailed EIP may be different than for the first mailed EIP. Some people who received a paper check last time might receive a debit card this time, and some people who received a debit card last time may receive a paper check,” the IRS wrote on their website.

Clark got reports of people throwing

their envelopes away (then retrieving them) or letting them pile up for days with the junk mail. Some said it looked promotional instead of official. Others were suspicious of the plain white envelope, and the generic sounding “Economic Stimulus” or “MetaBank.”

“The government told us what to look for on a legitimate card. They would come in a white envelope with the U.S. Treasury seal, there would be a welcome kit, Visa would be on the front of the card, and the issuing bank, MetaBank, would be on the back,” Clark said.

“Something from the government should have information about a reliable website so you can research it. There should be a number you can call if you have questions and some kind of official seal.

“You can also do a Google search to see if any news agencies have reported on it or if the government has issued any statements.

And of course you can call us at 801-8926009,” Clark said.

Ty Nielsen of Bluffdale did just that.

Nielsen got his debit card in the mail on a Friday afternoon. The BBB was closed, so he left a message and submitted a BBB scam tracker report.

“I was watching for a paper check because that’s what I got last spring. I don’t

think this form of payment was communicated very well, so that raised some red flags,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen reached out to local news stations and was interviewed by Matt Gephardt of KSL to inform people about the debit cards.

“I’ve seen a lot of scams on Facebook and we all get those credit card offers in the mail, so that’s what I thought this was. The BBB returned my phone call, and when I took the card to the credit union they told me it was real,” Nielsen said.

Once recipients confirm the card is legitimate, they must activate it so the funds are accessible.

“Once the card has been verified, you should activate it by calling the number provided, set a PIN number, sign the card, keep it in a safe place and don’t share the information on the card with anyone,” Clark said.

Clark also said to watch out for scammers who call after the fact, asking for information about your debit card. “We wouldn’t be surprised to see scams where people try to get you to give them your card information so they can take a piece of that stimulus.”

Anyone who threw away their card thinking it was a scam or junk mail can call 1-800-240-8100 to report the card as lost or stolen. l

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March 2021 | Page 13

Start Your Child on the Path to Virtual Personalized Learning Rocky Peak Elementary, Kelsey Peak Middle and Kings Peak High will offer K-12 students a choice in learning, personalized instruction and daily interaction with teachers Get started and register your student today at connect.jordandistrict.org or by scanning the QR Code

Exploring the Arts Starts with Your Student • New Majestic Elementary Arts Academy in West Jordan opening in the 2021-22 school year • Arts integrated into daily classroom instruction • Focusing on Instrumental Music & Visual Arts • Enrolling all K-6 students NOW! • Register today at majestic.jordandistrict.org

Listen to stories from the Superintendent on his podcast | Subscribe today @ supercast.jordandistrict.org Page 14 | March 2021

Sandy City Journal

MARCH – APRIL 2021 I N T HI S I S S UE: Bradburn Brief ..................................1

Current Job Openings..........................3

Testing Emergency Communications ....1

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

Citizen Award Winners. .......................1

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

Elementary School Art Show ................2

Internet Safety for Kids .........................5

Sandy Arts Guild: Disney’s Frozen ........2

Meet Our Team: Fire Department ..........5

Working to Make The Point ..................2

By the Numbers: Public Works 2020 ...6

Community Dev Block Grant Program...2

What Causes A Pothole? .....................6

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

Bulk Waste Program Guidelines ...........6

Election 2021 ....................................3

Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizenconnect

BRAD BUR N BRIEF Dear Sandy Resident, As I am sure you have heard by now, I have decided not to seek a second term as Mayor. I am so extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish, especially in regards to improved transparency, communication, and modernizing the city through innovative technology.

This decision did not come lightly, and I will greatly miss working with the Sandy City staff and serving our wonderful residents.

My family comes first, and this change will afford me time to focus more on them. I could not have served in this capacity without the support of my four children and especially my incredible wife, Marie. Her sacrifice on my

behalf these past few years is something I will be forever grateful for.

Sandy City is full of smart and capable individuals and I have no doubt there will be a long list of great candidates to replace me. Thank you to all of the residents who have allowed me to serve, and to the city staff who work hard every single day to provide outstanding service in our community. I look forward to accomplishing even more for Sandy during this final year of my term.

Over the last few years, we have made huge strides to improve Sandy City’s emergency communication system. To test that system, Sandy City will be sending out a message on March 12 at 10 a.m. If you would like to receive a text message, email, and/or robocall in the event of an emergency,

please text Join SandyCity to 30890 or sign up online at sandy-notify. regroup.com/signup.

Don’t forget you can always get more information by going to the City websites sandy.utah.gov and SandyNow.com and by accessing Sandy City’s social media channels Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, (@SandyCityUtah) and YouTube (@SandyCityUT) for daily updated information. You can also send me a direct email at mayor@sandy.utah.gov.

It is an honor to serve you!

Mayor Kurt Bradburn

Congratulations 2020 Citizen Award Winners Citizens are the heartbeat of our city and we appreciate the many unsung heroes of our community. To view the winner award videos, visit sandy.utah.gov/awards.

Volunteer of the Year Deanna Lambson Teacher of the Year Amanda McKnight Coach of the Year Joey Miyashima Humanitarian Award Tericka Paul Hero of the Year Doug Christensen Mayor’s Excellence Award Stephanie Kinder

Mayor Bradburn with Stephanie Kinder I S S U E # 81

MARCH – APRIL 2021

P A G E

1

WORKING TO MAKE THE POINT

Elementary School Art Show March 17-25, 2021 The Shops at South Town

John Libertini - 2nd Grade Saint John the Baptist Elementary School

Ask your teacher how you can be a part of the show!

Sandy Arts Guild Presents

April 1 - 3

The Theater at Mt. Jordan

Tickets: sandyarts.com This is a COVID-19 safe performance.

Masks and social distancing required.

2

P A G E

The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority has announced a roadmap for The Point master planning efforts that will take place during the first half of 2021. The Point is owned by all Utahns so Utah residents will have the opportunity to help plan the site. The process to create The Point master plan kicked off in January with a public workshop.

In the coming months there will be four more public workshops, two public open houses, and two public surveys. A stakeholder advisory committee has been created to represent broader public and community perspectives. In addition, The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority will continue to hold regular board meetings. All meetings, workshops, and open houses will be held virtually and live streamed on The Point’s social media accounts, including YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

The master planning process is a top priority for The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, which recently gained two new board members. Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson and Daniel Hemmert, the newest executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, have joined, demonstrating the importance of the site to Governor Spencer Cox and his administration.

Community Development Block Grant Program Sandy City receives approximately $400,000 annually from a federal grant called the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The primary objective of the grant program is to assist low to moderate income individuals through the provision of decent housing, suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunity.

With the grant money, the City provides funds for services and projects that improve the lives of Sandy residents. In the current year, grant money has been used to support services provided by organizations such as Senior Charity Care, The Sharing Place, The Inn Between, Family Support Center, YWCA, South Valley Sanctuary, Assist, Neighborworks, The Road Home, Utah Community Action, United Way of Salt Lake, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, and The South Valley Chamber. Grant money has also been allocated to improve sidewalks and parks in Historic Sandy.

One example of an organization that has received CDBG funds from the City is Senior Charity Care. Senior Charity Care provides mobile vision services at two locations in Sandy: Willowood Apartments and Silver Pines Apartments. The vision services include full eye exams and fittings for glasses. Their services are available to eligible seniors. In the current year, Senior Charity Care is projected to provide vision services to 30 Sandy City seniors.

To contact Senior Charity Care, please call (801) 515-0480, ext. 2, or visit their website at seniorcharitycare.org.

For more information about the Sandy City CDBG program on the City’s CDBG webpage at sandy.utah.gov/736.

I CAN TRI

June 12, 2021 This one of a kind sprint triathlon is the perfect race to start your summer off right.

For the first time athlete to the seasoned pro this event if build for everyone. Get the kids involved by registering them up for the kids challenge.

INDIVIDUAL DISTANCE 400 M Swim 9 Mile Bike 5K Run

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

Pricing structure: March 1–April 30: Individual $65 | Kids $20 May 1–31: Individual $70 | Kids $20 June 1–11: Individual $80 | Kids $25 Register online: sportstats.raceentry.com/races/i-can-tri-sprint-challenge/2021/register

SUMMER/REBEL CAMP

June, July, August Mark your Calendars for March 11, 2021, 6 a.m.

Summer/Rebel Camp registration opens online! altacanyonsportscenter.activityreg.com/contact_t2.wcs

POWER HOUR

SUMMER HIRING

March–May Looking for a summer job? Alta Canyon Sports Center is hiring all summer positions right now. Tennis Instructors, lifeguards, snack shack, front desk, camp counselors, and so much more.

Apply online at sandy.utah.gov/jobs.

March 1–24 Join us for virtual workouts Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m., from the safety of your own home. If you can’t make it at 6:30, don’t worry the workout will be waiting for you all day. Just log in when you are ready to work and get it done. Register online or over the phone to get access to the workouts.

Cost: $50 per person

CURRENT JOB OPENINGS

Election 2021

Seats up for Election:

Full Time - Benefited

• City Mayor • District 1 • District 3 • At-Large (1 seat)

• Payroll Accounting Technician • Accountant • Street Maintenance Worker I

Filing dates: June 1–7 Primary Election Date: Aug. 10 General Election Date: Nov. 2

Time to schedule your golf tournament. Call the pro shop to confirm a date (801) 568-4650.

SPRING HAPPENINGS

2-Man Scramble: Friday, April 9, 2021

www.sandy.utah.gov/riveroaks

INMOTION SPRING 2021 JUNIOR GOLF

NORTH RANGE

Opening March 1, 2021 (weather permitting)

GOLF LEAGUES

Come and join our adult golf leagues. Men’s League begins Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Women’s and Co-ed leagues begin Monday, April 6, 2021.

Register Now. For more information call (801) 568-4653 or visit sandy.utah.gov/golf 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

Our programs are taught by PGA Professionals, Todd Tanner & Stacey Jones.

Our 1- and 2-hour programs are held once a week. Each class has a 5:1 student to instructor ratio. Students are placed in a class based on their age and skill level.

Each program includes short game practice, range balls, in depth instruction, video analysis, and on course playing time. For more information, call (801) 980-0162 Listed below are our 9-week Spring programs.

Ages: 4–18 years Level: Beginner –Intermediate –Advanced Times: 3–7 p.m. Time slots Registration: inmotionjuniorgolf.com

NORTH RANGE TEACHING ACADEMY

Spring is just around the corner, and now is a great time to tune up your golf game. River Oaks has one of the best practice facilities and golf instructors in the State. We offer individual private lessons and group lessons. We cover all aspects of your game. For more information, call Ryan at (435) 840-3102.

MARCH – APRIL 2021

• Various Alta Canyon Positions

GOLF TOURNAMENT

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

I S S U E # 81

Part-Time Non-Benefitted

Visit link for more available positions: www.sandy.utah.gov/jobs

River Oaks Golf Course

GOLF LESSONS

KIDS CHALLENGE 100 M Swim 1 Mile run (2 laps around the park)

P A G E

3

SOCCER ACADEMY

(Ages 3–8) Sponsored by Utah Avalanche Soccer Club This is a 5-week program where each week builds on learnings from the previous weeks. Curriculum for the various groups will be modified based on current skill levels of the players in an age group.

Cost: $25 Session Dates: Mon: Apr 19, 26, May 3, 10, & 17 Tues: Apr 20, 27, May 4, 11, & 18 Time: 5-6 pm 3-5 years old Mon OR Tues 6-7 pm 6-8 years old Mon OR Tues Location: Lone Peak Park, 10140 S.700 E. Registration includes an Academy T-shirt & a soccer ball. Please bring water!

PARK S & RE C R EAT I O N Youth Soccer registration deadline is past. Please call for availability.

SPRING SPORT REGISTRATION

SPORT AGE COST Boys Baseball 7–13 $30–$52 Girls Softball 7–13 $52–$57 Coed T-ball/Coach Pitch 4–6 $40–$52 Adult Softball Adult $555/team New Teams – Registration Begins March 1 until full

2021 RACE SERIES REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 17 March 10 March 17 Feb. 26 (Returning 2020 Teams)

WANTED: SOCCER AND BASEBALL REFEREES APPLY TODAY AT SANDY.UTAH.GOV/JOBS Must be at least 14 years old.

SPRING PROGRAMS • Summer Camps (Alta Canyon Sports Center): Sign-up begins March 11 • Spring Tennis (Alta Canyon Sports Center): TBA • Junior Golf: Sessions begin April 1 • Youth Fishing Class: Classes begin the week of May 3 • Fiesta 5K: May 1 • Youth Soccer Academy Session Starts April 19, 20

FALCON RUNNING CLUB

A program designed for children ages 8–13 to prepare them to run a 5K! Club meets twice a week for one hour. Registration includes workbook and entry in the 4th of July 5K race or virtual 5K (Including race t-shirt). Weekly topics are on character & physical development. Training begins the week of April 5, 2021.

Cost: Days: Time: Location:

4

P A G E

$50 Tuesdays & Thursdays 4–5 p.m.

Falcon Park, 9200 S. 1700 E.

Our 2021 Race Series includes discounts for those participating in all four races. You must register for all four races at the same time in the same shopping cart, to receive the discounted price per race. Family Discounts available.

• 5K Fiesta Saturday, May 1 River Oaks • Sandy Classic 4th of July 5K Saturday, July 3 City Promenade • Balloon Fest 5K Saturday, Aug 14 City Promenade • Turkey Trot Saturday, Nov. 13 Lone Peak Park For more information visit us at sandy.utah.gov/parks

PARKS DIVISION • Park Pavilion Restroom Openings starting March 15 (weather permitting) • Irrigation Line Opening starting March 15 (weather permitting) • Spring Aeration: March 1 • Sports Field daily maintenance: March 1 • Fertilizer application: March and April • Landscape clean-up and first mow: April 6 • Beatification Day: May 15, tentative (Looking for Volunteers) • Parks returning orientation first day back: March 19 Thank You for choosing Sandy Parks, Recreation, River Oaks Golf Course, and Alta Canyon Sports Center!

* I N P E R S O N R E G I S T R AT I O N : Sandy Parks & Recreation - 440 E. 8680 S. Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (801) 568-2900

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

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

Internet Safety for Kids

Meet Our Team – Sandy City Fire Department

Nearly every American child has access to the internet in one form or another. Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and computers are more prevalent in homes than ever before. An increase in internet usage has perpetuated numerous methods for victimizing children.

For this reason, it is vital that parents recognize the risks and be willing to help their children understand and avoid them.

Sandy is an outstanding community who the exceptional men and women of Sandy City Fire Department are proud to serve. We are dedicated to providing our community with high quality emergency services, as well as life safety educational opportunities and fire prevention training.

Sandy City Fire Department recently presented our Ring the Bell Safety Campaign to City Council. This video helps represent why we do what we do each day.

Parent/Child Discussion Items:

Who We Are

• Dangerous/Inappropriate websites • Malware/Spyware • Fraud/Identity Theft • Sexual Predators • Bullying

What Kids Are Doing Online*?

• 30 percent have used the internet in ways their parents would not approve.

• 21 percent have visited sites where they can chat with strangers.

• 17 percent have visited pornographic websites.

• 11 percent have visited sites that offer ways to cheat on homework.

• 4 percent have visited online gambling sites.

Common Rules for Internet Safety • Never give out personal information (address, phone, SS#, etc.)

• Do not post photos on public sites.

• Do not chat with strangers.

• Do not open emails from strangers.

• Do not respond to messages of a bullying nature.

• Report inappropriate messages to an adult.

• Never meet with someone in person who you have only met online.

• Set time limits for internet usage.

Keep Your Kids Safe You can be proactive in keeping your children safe while they are online.

• Know their passwords.

• Use security software and privacy features.

• Keep devices in common areas.

• Check browser history.

• Watch for changes in your child’s behavior.

Discuss Dangers with Your Children Keep an open dialogue with your kids and talk to them about the dangers of the internet. Let them know you are looking out for their safety and are open to their questions and concerns. The most effective way to keep you children safe while online is to discuss the risks and keep an open line of communication. Understanding these risks yourself will better prepare you to talk to your kids about their online activities. *Center for Cyber Safety and Education, Children’s Internet Usage Study (Grades 4-8) I S S U E # 81

MARCH – APRIL 2021

• Sandy City Fire Department is currently fully staffed and consists of (76) combat firefighters and (11) administrative staff personnel: o (1) Fire Chief o (1) Deputy Chief o (5) Battalion Chiefs o (17) Fire Captains o (15) Fire Engineers o (1) Logistics Coordinator o (14) Paramedics o (29) Firefighter/EMTs o (1) Fire Inspector o (1) Community Risk Reduction Supervisor o (1) Community Risk Reduction Educator o (1) Executive Assistant • Our department has five stations: o Station 31: 9010 S 150 E o Station 32: 9475 S 2000 E o Station 33: 2015 E 11270 S o Station 34: 10765 S 700 E o Station 35: 8186 S 1300 E • Sandy City Fire Department’s front-line apparatus consists of: (4) Engines, (1) Ladder Truck, (4) Ambulances, (1) Heavy Rescue, (1) Haz-Mat Response Unit, and (3) Wildland Brush Trucks.

What We Do • Sandy City Fire Department responds to more than 8,000 calls annually with 80% of the calls being medical emergencies and 20% of the calls being fire, hazardous materials, or technical rescue responses.

• Sandy City Fire Department responds to all fire, medical, and rescue related calls throughout our response area which covers 26 square miles, including: I-15, Union Pacific, Trax and Front-runner lines, Dimple Dell Park, Rio Tinto Stadium, Mountain America Expo Center, as well as the thousands of commercial and residential structures in the city.

• Our crews provide emergency medical care, structural protection, wildland fire response, technical and rope rescue capabilities, and hazardous materials response.

• In addition to the calls that we respond to, our daily routine consists of training, apparatus checks and maintenance, business inspections, physical fitness, fire prevention and life safety education.

• We continue to work with our neighboring departments through the Metro Fire Agency and the automatic aid system to better address needs

at the local and county-wide level. This has been supported through our partnership with Salt Lake City 911 Dispatch Center and the Valley Fire Chiefs.

These partnerships allow us to provide services more efficiently and cost effectively to the residents of our community, while allowing us to assist other departments in fulfilling their respective missions.

Fire Prevention Training and Life Safety Education Offered • CERT Classes • CPR Training • Fire Extinguisher Training for Businesses • School Fire Prevention Programs • Career Day (Spring) (16- to 20-year-olds) • Junior Firefighter Academy (Summer) (8-to -10-yearolds) • Citizen’s Academy (Fall) • Babysitting Classes (12- to 14-year-olds)

Sandy City Fire Department’s Mission Statement • To prevent emergencies through public education and positive code enforcement • To mitigate emergencies and disasters through proper planning and preparedness • To respond promptly and efficiently to all emergencies involving fire, medical, or environmental concerns The citizens we serve are the heart of our mission.

We continue to strive to maintain the highest standards of public service and integrity. Therefore, continuing education and employee development serve as cornerstones for all of our planning and preparation.

For more information • sandy.utah.gov/departments/fire-department • Instagram @sandy_fire_department • Facebook @sandycityfiredepartment • Twitter @SandyCityFD • Administration (801) 568-2930 P A G E

5

What Causes a Pothole?

Public Works 2020

BY THE NUMBERS

Spring/Fall Bulk Waste Loads Collected: 5,389 Dumpsters requested by Sandy Residents: 736 Curbside Material Recycled:

3,631 Tons

Residential Solid Waste Collected:

38,506 Tons

Glass Recycled:

279.5 Tons

OTHER ITEMS: Trees Trimmed:

5,788

Excavation Permits Issued:

448

Snow Plowing:

30,686 Miles

Street Sweeping:

12,519 Miles sandy.utah.gov/bulkwaste

6

P A G E

Potholes are created when the top layer of pavement and the material beneath (called the base or sub-base) cannot support the weight of the traffic. Two factors are always present in such a failure: traffic and water.

The development of a pothole includes: 1. Snow-melt or rain seeps through cracks in the pavement and into the sub-base. If the moisture cannot adequately drain away from the sub-base and soil underneath, it becomes saturated and soft.

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

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

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

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

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Sandy moving to biweekly recycling pickup

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

C

hanges are coming to Sandy residents’ recycling pickup. During its Feb. 9 meeting, the Sandy City Council voted to move toward biweekly pickup as part of a new contract with Waste Management.

The change follows a shakeup in the recycled materials market in recent years.

For a long time, China was willing to pay a premium for recycled materials. That money helped subsidize recycling programs for cities like Sandy. However, in recent years China has significantly decreased the amount of recycled material it’s willing to purchase.

Naturally, the price for recycled materials as a commodity decreased, which has led to an increase in the price for recycling as a service.

“Recycling was subsidized by the commodity value of plastic,” explained Waste Management representative Blake Leonelli during the city council meeting. “That’s why for such a long time the rates were much cheaper than for trash. But when the downturn in the recycling market occurred, that was no longer viable to continue to do that. Recycling unfortunately became more expensive than trash. That’s why the rate increase is where it is.”

The city’s contract with Waste Management is scheduled to expire in November of

Recycling pickup in Sandy City will change to biweekly collection later this year. (Photo via Waste Management)

this year. The two sides have been working on incorporating these new market conditions into a contract renewal for months. That process produced two primary options for the council to consider.

The first option would maintain weekly recycling pickup but would require a fee increase from $3.54 to $5.99 per month for residents.

The second option would reduce the monthly fee from $3.54 to $3.25, but would change collection from weekly to biweekly. To compensate for the decreased pickup, residents would be able to get a second recycling can for an additional $2.45 per month.

In addition to those options, a few residents who gave public comment recommended ending the city’s recycling program alto-

gether or at least allow residents to opt out.

That proposal wasn’t discussed by the council, but Councilwoman Brooke Christensen acknowledged that the inability of residents to opt out influenced her vote to support biweekly collection.

“We don’t give people in Sandy an option to opt out of recycling. We’ve forced that decision on them, which I’m fine with, but I don’t think it’s OK to force an increase on them when we have a completely creative and realistic opportunity for them to have the same capacity,” she said.

Resident surveys produced mixed results according to Councilwoman Kris Coleman-Nicholl.

“Literally, it is 50-50. There is no clear cut majority of citizens who want one or the other,” she said.

On the other hand, Councilwoman Cyndi Sharkey said that she had seen more people supportive of keeping weekly pickup. That led her to vote against the resolution authorizing the administration to negotiate a new contract including biweekly pickup, though she said both options were equally valid.

Sharkey was joined by Councilman Zach Robinson in voting against the resolution. All other council members voted to approve. l

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Creative solution paves way for Kuwahara Farms survival

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

O

ne year after a much-loved community farmers market was nearly forced to close because of a failure to comply with city codes, the Sandy City Council appears to have found a solution.

Kuwahara Farms Wholesale (8565 State St.) was told by the city that they wouldn’t be allowed to open for the 2020 season because they weren’t complying with various city codes and ordinances. Only after a tension-filled city council meeting, in which the community turned out in droves to voice their support for Kuwahara, did the city reverse course.

While the city agreed to “look the other way” for a season, the underlying problem is: what to do with a valuable community asset whose unique characteristics make it almost impossible to comply with city code?

The problem facing Kuwahara Farms is that its location contains multiple uses that couldn’t all fit under one city zone. A zoning designation determines what kind of uses are permitted for a certain piece of land. Land zoned for residential can only be used to build residential buildings, for example.

As a family farm property dating back generations, Kuwahara contains residential, commercial and agricultural features,

making it difficult to zone properly. So what could the city do? Create a new zone tailored to the unique needs of Kuwahara Farms.

“They didn’t fit in any box in the city so we created a new box,” explained Councilwoman Brooke Christensen who represents the district where Kuwahara Farms is located. For the past year, she has led discussions between the city and Kuwahara. (Previous city councilmembers and city staff have been working on the issue for years.)

“I loved that I could sit down with them and the city and hash out a middle ground,” she said. “They’re such a gem in our community. To have a farmers market and nursery that’s been in their family for 70-plus years, to keep them there is a huge win for the neighborhood. It’s a perfect fit for the historic district.”

The new zone will allow Kuwahara Farms to maintain a permanent plant nursery, keep a residential building as a “caretaker’s residence,” and to sell their produce on site for 180 continuous days each year.

The zone would also exempt Kuwahara Farms from certain features normally required by businesses, such as bathrooms or parking requirements.

After a unanimous approval from the

city council, the process continues with the city’s planning commission. They’ll have the chance to make changes and then send it back to the city council for final approval. After that, Kuwahara Farms would still have to apply for a rezone.

While it may take several months to go through that process, owner Alex Kuwahara is happy just to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“It’s been so hard for everyone involved.

That hardness is a learning lesson,” he told the city council. “Now it’s starting to feel a lot easier and I think we’ve all grown and become better people...Thank you so much for all your help.”

“This is what community government is all about: having a big complicated problem and people coming together with a common purpose to save a legacy business, the historic component of our community,” said Councilwoman Monica Zoltanski, who was also involved in developing the solution over the course of the last year.

“I think that’s what the city should be doing,” Christensen said. “We should be creating more solutions for unique small businesses in our city. I think the one size fits all isn’t—it doesn’t work. When we have unique circumstances where we can actually help out—I think that’s what local government is all about— making a difference for residents.” l

PROTECT What Matters MOST!

Alex Kuwahara, owner of Kuwahara Farms Wholesale, is happy to know that his business finally has a path toward compliance with Sandy City code requirements. (Justin Adams/City Journals File Photo)

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Jordan Cheer named 6A State Champions in pom routine

By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com

A

year ago, Jordan High School Cheer head coach Nicole Calloway wasn’t sure if she would have a team to compete in the 2021 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. When she was finally able to host tryouts, she had to host them via video chat.

“I wanted to wait to do in person, but we eventually had to do it virtually,” Calloway said. “We usually do the clinic before, but this year we only saw them one time and had to base our decision off that.”

Despite the difficulties of navigating this live video tryout for the first time, Calloway and her assistants were able to select their team. During tryouts, Calloway noticed that she had many strong dancers on the team. She decided to do something she had never done before— compile a team of six girls to compete in the pom routine.

“At our tryouts this year we noticed we have a lot of strong dancers, so we decided to just try it. We were kind of going into it blind, not knowing what the other teams looked like,” Calloway said.

According to the State Cheer Competition website, the pom routine is a combination of dance skills, precision cheer moves, jumps and tumbling. The routines are judged on choreography, difficulty, execution and crowd leading.

“It’s more of a technical dance, but also very cheery. It’s way different from what you might see at a drill competition,” Calloway said.

Once the team was formed, Calloway

Jordan Cheer competes in pom at the state competition at Hillcrest High School. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Calloway)

and the six members (Haley McMillan, Sasha Moore, Isabelle Hauber, Cassidy Ensign, Kimberly Wong and Kate Odom) got to work. Because the pom group was a select group of the whole team, they had to commit even more time to practices.

“We had to do extra practices or sometimes we would go earlier or stay later. We do have to put in extra time to be on the team but it's worth it,” said captain Haley McMillan.

The team entered the 2021 competition season not sure what to expect. Not

only were they new to the pom routine, but COVID-19 changed how competitions were run.

“Competitions have been different this year. There are no spectators, just judges,” Calloway said. “You go in, do your routine, and as soon as you’re done you leave.”

Although Calloway and her team were not able to watch their competitors to get an idea of what to expect, they excelled. After winning the Region title, they were excited to be able to showcase their talents at the state level. On Jan. 23, the team headed to

Hillcrest High School to compete against the best in the state.

After another great routine, the Jordan team went home where they waited to hear the results. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the teams were unable to gather for the award ceremony. When Jordan was announced as the 2021 champions, the team wasn’t together.

“I was driving to my dad’s house listening to the award ceremony and it was just like ‘oh, we won.’ It was weird not being with everyone,” McMillan said.

Although both Calloway and McMillan agree it was hard to win their first state title without the usual trophy reception and excitement, the team couldn’t be more ecstatic.

“I never thought that I would be a state champion, it feels so cool to say that,” McMillan said.

Due to district restrictions, Jordan will be unable to travel to the national competition, which they qualified for in both the pom and show routines. The Beetdiggers will still host their annual year-end showcase on Feb. 20 to wrap up a successful season.

McMillan, a junior, is excited to see what the next year will hold. The team is working to establish a culture of greatness at Jordan.

“I think that winning state showed people that Jordan cheer is good. Hopefully, people will want to come to Jordan to be on the team and win a state title. I think it will bring more girls to our team,” she said. l

Jordan LIA donates hundreds of cereal boxes to elementary students

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

his winter, Bell View Elementary students and families have appreciated the support of their local community, said Principal Chanci Loran.

“We are so grateful for our community partners and all of the collaboration that went into this drive for our students,” Loran said.

“Parents appreciated this, and our students loved being able to take home three boxes of cereal for the winter break.”

Through the efforts of 35 Jordan High Latinos in Action members, about 600 boxes of cereal arrived in time for the holiday break.

“Jordan LIA students have participated in some form of grocery handout like this for the last 10 years,” LIA adviser Matt Bell said. “As a service learning group, LIA loves making this happen. They love being a part of something that is bigger than themselves. It’s been fun to see how the students light up when we deliver—especially when it benefits future Beetdiggers.”

Bell said to make it possible, LIA typically pairs up with a community group. This year they partnered up with Alta High tennis coach Lori Sperry, who “pulled her neighborhood to-

S andy Journal .com

gether along with her team to help us in a big way,” he said.

In addition, Meraie Kimball and Tyler Sperry also contributed to the drive.

Loran also said that Horace Mann Educators Corporation, and state Rep. Preston Day’s agency, donated $800 and purchased cereal at cost from Harmons. The neighborhood grocer coordinated free delivery of more than 500 additional boxes of cereal to the school.

“We were able to give the kids a ton of cereal and make sure they had at least breakfast to eat (during winter break) because I know a lot of those kids eat breakfast and lunch at the school,” said Day about the pallet of cereal they donated.

Day was able to help distribute the cereal to students in the classrooms.

“They were pumped up. It was fun to just see (the students say), ‘Oh man, I got Trix’ or ‘I got Lucky Charms’ or ‘I got Honeycombs,’” he said, adding that Horace Mann’s guidelines were that the students could receive cereal they may enjoy. “They just wanted to make the kids happy. We dropped off what they’d be excited to eat.”

Horace Mann Educators Corp. and state Rep. Preston Day, right, helped Bell View Principal Chanci Loran deliver their donated cereal to students. (Amber Tuckett/Bell View Elementary)

Day said that if he were to have received one of those cereal varieties: “I would have probably eaten them all before my parents got home from work.”

He also is looking to support educators by

funding their projects through DonorsChoose grants.

“This was actually really cool, and Chanci was awesome to let me be a part of it,” Day said. l

March 2021 | Page 27

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nimal shelters and rescues around the country have reported an increase of people fostering animals during the pandemic. Fostering provides room for shelters to take in more animals and helps place the animal in a well-fit forever home.

Christelle Del Prete works for Best Friends Animal Society with their sanctuary in Kanab and shelters and networks around the country, including their Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Sugar House. “Pets thrive in homes, not shelters,” she said.

“And it’s a beautiful thing when communities come together to care for their homeless animals as so many people have done during the pandemic.”

Even nearly one year into the pandemic, many people still find themselves working or going to school fully or partially remotely, so this increase in time at home certainly is a contributing factor to both increases in adoptions and fostering. For the foster family of a 9-month-old mixed breed dog, Hugh, a medical foster from Salt Lake County Animal Services, this was the case with all three members of the family working or attending school at least partially remotely.

Hugh came to Salt Lake County Animal Services as a stray with a hip injury that he had “for a good amount of time,” and required surgery. After the surgery that the shelter provided, Hugh needed to receive physical therapy, time to heal, and encouragement to use his back leg again, so he was placed in a foster home where they could make this commitment.

In addition to helping Hugh heal, his foster family helped to further determine information a potential adopter might be interested in, such as was he good with other dogs, good with children, afraid of men or people in general, good with cats, and so on.

Also how well trained he was, how well he did riding in the car, how well he walked on a leash, how well he did in a crate both during the day and at night, and if he had any signs of separation anxiety.

In Hugh’s case, he seemed to do well with everyone and everything, which surprised one of his fosters, Matt Ackley of Sandy. “I had wrongly assumed since he was a stray that he would require a lot more behavioral training, but he truly is an amazing dog, especially considering his circumstances and young age.”

Since Hugh made tremendous progress in his recovery and proved to be a great example of how resilient and loving animals can still be even when humans initially fail them, he was able to meet with a potential adopter ahead of schedule. When it was deemed a good fit, the adoptive family agreed to continue his therapy, and he went to his new forever home after only three weeks post-surgery and with his foster. Ack-

Hugh, a mixed breed medical foster from Salt Lake County Animal Services, at his foster home in Sandy.

ley said that one concern he had about fostering was that their child, a second-grader, would get too attached especially because she was one of the main caretakers of Hugh, and they developed a quick and close bond, but it helped that she got to meet the new adoptive family that included two young girls around her age. She knew upon meeting them that they would continue to love and take care of Hugh like she did.

“Because more and more people are opening their hearts and homes to homeless pets, I truly believe we can put an end to the unnecessary killing of cats and dogs in our country’s shelters and begin to celebrate all the precious lives we’ve saved,” Del Prete said.

There are several ways to reach out locally if you are interested in fostering, adopting or helping dogs and cats in our area in any way by checking out rescue and shelter websites and social media pages.

The website for Salt Lake Animal Services is slco.org/animal-services and the Foster and Outreach Coordinator Megan Allred can be reached by email at mallred@slco. org.

Best Friends continues to promote a “Save Them All” approach and a “No Kill 2025” meaning the goal is “saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved” and “healing the animals who can be healed, treating behaviors that can be treated, and prioritizing safety and a high quality of life for both pets and people in our communities.” More information and links to locally foster and adopt can be found on their website bestfriends.org. l

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March 2021 | Page 29

Recreation opportunities abound for southwest residents

Chair Steve DeBry Salt Lake County Council District 5

2020 was certainly a year of many changes and a year where life wasn’t “normal.” As the pandemic hit, we all made adjustments and many residents discovered the amazing amenities we have in our own backyards. As the weather got warmer, our outdoor recreation opportunities were used in record numbers.

For several years, Salt Lake County has invested in having parks, open space, and a vibrant trail system. We have great amenities in our own district. You have visited Wardle Fields in Bluffdale with its large splash pad and climbing amenities. A new park is scheduled to open in 2022 in the western part of South Jordan. This park and will be an incredible amenity to residents of Salt Lake County. Bingham Creek Park will eventually be a 160-acre park. Phase 1 will have multi-purpose fields, a playground, walking paths, a disc golf course, restrooms, and parking.

Funding for this project comes from the ZAP bond and a partnership with the City of South Jordan.

As summer came, people headed to the mountains to hike our trails. Many are familiar with the trails in Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Little Cottonwood Canyon; but did you know we have a trail system in Rose Canyon in the Oquirrhs? Trails are open to Hiking, Equestrian, and Mountain Biking Users. And if you want to stay closer to home you can walk the Jordan River Parkway. This 45-mile system

in Salt Lake County has been beautified by a collaborative effort of the County, State, and Municipalities. I’m grateful these entities wisely invested over the years in these trails.

The County Council is working hard to enhance trail opportunities around Butterfield Canyon. We are currently taking the first steps to build a trail system that generations will enjoy.

The JL Sorenson Rec Center in Herriman might be the largest and feels like the busiest Rec

Center in the County. I know there is a need for another Rec Center in the southwest part of the valley and am hopeful if voters approve the next ZAP bond that we can make that a reality.

I love attending my grandchildren’s Jr Jazz basketball and soccer games at our County facilities. While COVID has ruined the basketball season this year – you can count on seeing me on the sidelines next year cheering on every participant.

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Like a mother in a Disney movie, my cell phone died inexplicably. Well, not inexplicably. I dropped it in the toilet.

I was wearing jeans for the first time in seven months and had the phone in my back pocket when it promptly fell into the commode. My phone, not my back pocket.

There’s a universal response when you drop your phone in liquid; you reach in and grab the damn thing. It could be submerged in molten lava or boiling oil; you will instinctively reach for the phone at the expense of ever using your hand again.

Snatching it up, I screamed several unprintable words and resorted to 15 minutes of “No, no, no, no, no!” I shook my phone, blew in it, prayed over it and dashed home to dump it in a bowl of rice. (A robot on Mars can send information to NASA but I have to submerge my phone in rice because it got wet.)

I thought, this would make a great Instagram post and frantically looked for my phone so I could take a picture of my phone sitting in a bowl of rice.

But I was phoneless. I reached for my phone nonstop. I absently grabbed the TV remote, trying to scroll through Tik Tok. I picked up my computer mouse to check the time. I kept patting my leggings where my cell phone used to be, frisking myself like some weird felon.

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Simple Fix in West Jordan, saying they work miracles. Miracles sounded pretty good, but they couldn’t look at my phone for several days.

Several days without a phone? Impossible! What would I listen to while walking my dog? Who was Scam Likely going to call? What if Samantha Bee texts me about a job? How would I waste hours of my time doing something unnecessary?

The typical cell phone weighs four or five ounces but after a day without my phone, I felt weightless. After two days I could talk to my husband without furtive glances at my phone. After three days, I didn’t miss playing Words with Friends.

Is this what life is supposed to feel like?

I swore when I got my phone back, it wouldn’t control me anymore.

Then I got my phone back. I listened to all the podcasts, played all the games, bought everything on Amazon and beat my family at Words with Friends. I ignored my husband, tuned out the world in general and scrolled endlessly through social media platforms.

The lesson here should be turn off your phone and interact with the real world. But what I learned was I need to buy cargo pants with dozens of secure pockets so my phone will never fall into the toilet again.

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March 2021 | Vol. 21 Iss. 03

PAGES 15-20 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

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ALTA BASKETBALL STANDOUT BRINLEE MCRAE: SECOND LEADING SCORER IN THE STATE

By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com

T

he Alta women’s basketball team is up and running after a two-week break due to three positive COVID-19 tests within the organization. Going two weeks without basketball practice turned out to be more difficult than the team expected. Although the girls missed playing basketball, they were more excited just to see each other again.

“We get back to campus and I’m hearing all these laughs and giggles in the team room, it has never been this loud,” said head coach Elizabeth Gustafson.

This season has shown them how much it means just to be able to connect with teammates, because they never know when the pandemic will keep them on the sidelines.

“Everyone has bought in and is just trying to do what they need to. They understand that all these experiences can be taken away,” Gustafson said.

After the two-week hiatus, the Lady Hawks are glad to be together to work on their most important team goal—finding joy.

“We are just trying to have a lot of fun this season.

That’s what we came into it to do,” said junior Brinlee McRae. With their lighthearted approach to the season, the Lady Hawks don’t get too caught up in the stats. An emphasis on team unity has proved to be more important.

“I feel like we’re doing better than last season. I think our record is better,” said McRae before asking Gustafson, “Is it?”

“I don’t know the record either. We don’t celebrate that kind of stuff, we try to just recognize the hustle,” Gustafson replied.

In fact, coach Gustafson hadn’t even known that McRae is currently ranked second in the state in points per game. Even though it was news to her, she was not at all surprised.

McRae, a Sandy native, made the decision to attend Hillcrest High her freshman year to participate in the rigorous academic opportunities provided there. After a year, she returned to Alta, wanting to see familiar faces.

“Her life, her friends, her community—it’s here,” Gustafson said.

After her transfer, McRae was cleared to play in sub-varsity competition. After a sophomore season spent dominating in JV games, McRae exploded onto the high school scene this year.

“That’s why right now as a junior everyone is so shocked. No one knew she even existed, but she was putting up those same stats last year in JV. She’s always been this competitive,” Gustafson said.

McRae admits that having to sit out in those varsity games was tough, but she learned patience. She was able to create bonds with her JV teammates that have translated to a well-rounded 2020-21 team.

“It was so frustrating. Having to sit there knowing what I could do, just wanting to be in there, but I grew so much as a player,” McRae said.

After a unique start to Continued page 5

Brinlee McRae shoots a foul shot in a 2020 Alta Hawks basketball game. (Photo courtesy Jeff Stephenson)

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