Sandy Journal | September 2023

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

Thousands of people gathered in the predawn hours for Sandy’s annual hot air balloon fes tival on Aug. 11 and 12, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Though things on the ground were calm and dry on Saturday, the seasoned balloon pilots were concerned about a storm cell visible above Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The balloons were scheduled to lift off at 6:30 a.m. at Storm Mountain Park. Hopeful peo ple set up their chairs and blankets on the grass and waited.

“One of the best things to watch is those helium balloons that the kids have,” said balloon-meister Mike Bauwens of Kubicek Balloons. Bauwens has decades of balloon pilot experience and led a briefing at 6:45 a.m. with the 14 other pilots there. They’d been watching the weather forecast all night hoping the bad air would move out quickly.

Bauwens and the other pilots had already spent hours checking forecast and radar systems. They were tracking a storm higher up in the atmosphere and watched as every balloon the kids let go of was pulled erratically up into the air.

“Even on a clear day like today where it

feels nice on the ground, we watch those little balloons in the air for an aberration. We watch how fast they travel and if they go in a straight line or get pulled in a zig-zag. As you go higher the air is unstable and unsafe,” Bauwens said.

Another pilot, Lyle Bingham of Payson, was watching for the same thing. Bingham got interested in hot air balloons when his daughter, then 4 years old, saw one at a city event near their house. She made him promise to let her ride in one. Now she’s 36, and Bingham is the one giving rides to kids in his own hot air balloon.

Continued page 14

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

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician

USA Rugby to host International Friendly in Utah

Rugby is a popular sport in Utah and teams and players here have helped build up the sport in the United States. One player who has thrived in this environment is Paul Mullen.

“I’m from Ireland,” Mullen said. “It’s on a small island off the coast. When I went to high school on the mainland, the only sport they played was rugby. It was sink or swim. Fortunately, I was able to excel.”

Utah’s Major League Rugby team, the Utah Warriors, is hosting an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest rugby scrum, and proceeds from the event will benefit 5 for the Fight and Make-AWish Utah. With fan and player participation, the challenge will take place immediately following the upcoming international rugby spectacle featuring the USA Eagles and France’s Stade Toulousain on Sept. 16.

“We have a partnership with Stade Toulousain,” Utah Warriors CEO Kimball Kjar said. “They are arguably the Real Madrid of rugby. They won the most recent French championship. They are the most successful rugby club in the world. One goal of the partnership is to grow the sport of rugby but specifically within North America to help their brand grow. We also want the Utah Warriors brand to grow internationally and throughout Europe. We want to create events that showcase the sport of rugby.”

The thrilling matchup will be held at America First Field in Sandy with gates opening at 3 p.m. and game kickoff at 4 p.m. The pursuit for the world record begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to participate in the scrum, along with a commemorative T-shirt, cost $10 and can be purchased as an add-on at checkout when purchasing match tickets here.

Jou r nals

SANDY TEAM

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By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

“American football fans like big hits,” Mullen said. “Rugby is the same but doesn’t go on for four hours. It’s only 80 minutes.”

While Mullen didn’t grow up in the United States, he still is happy to be a part of the national rugby team.

“My grandfather grew up in the U.S.,” he said. “For me to represent America is a great honor.”

This momentous endeavor in rugby history serves to engage the community and rugby fans from around the world and raise funds for the Utah Warriors’ local nonprofit partners. Fans who have upgraded their match ticket at the cost of $10 are invited to come down onto America First Field after the game, where over 3,000 people will lock arms to break the record of 2,586 participants set in 2018 in Aichi, Japan.

“This will be the biggest scrum in the world,” Mullen said. “It should be a friendly scrum. It is like a huge huddle. That would be cool if it was broken.”

“The long-term goal is to make Utah the epicenter of rugby for North America,” Kjar said. “We also want to be growing on a global scale. Utah has a love affair with the sport of rugby. Rugby playing countries led to the University of Utah playing rugby on their campus and eventually American football. Rugby was being played in the mid-20th century. BYU has won five national championships. Utah won a national championship too, in about 2010. Highland High School was successful and won over 20 national championships. We have one of the largest Polynesian communities outside of Polynesia. The guys that are in the NFL out of Utah all played rugby. Rugby is a part of Utah’s DNA. We are trying with the Warriors to help people

understand the energy that is played in this sport. We can help re-awaken the energy of the sport.”

This event should be an educational opportunity for those involved.

“Anyone who hasn’t come to a game of rugby should come. It’s a perfect opportunity to watch the best players in our backyard. We make it very easy for people to come out and enjoy the sport and game. Educational things. Gives people a view of what the sport looks like. People love it carries the day,” Kjar said.

“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest event,” Mullen said. “But we are playing against incredible world class athletes. They are one of the best clubs in the world.”

While this event will take place during

the middle of the Rugby World Cup, there will still be plenty of talented athletes who will line up against each other. The Rugby World Cup will take place from Sept. 8-Oct. 28.

The tickets are much cheaper than basketball, football, and soccer,” Mullen said. “It will be hard hitting with lots of scores and tackles. It should be an exciting time.”

While not every player from these teams will be in attendance, it will still be a world class matchup.

“We will have six to seven Utah Warriors playing as well as many of the best players from Toulouse,” Kjar said. “These are some of the best players in the world.” l

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Midvale Middle’s math teacher contender for top state teacher honors

WhenMidvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington went to the University of Utah as an undergraduate, he was planning to study piano performance—then, later, Russian.

“I had no plans of being a teacher,” he said. “All while growing up, I was very serious about piano. I’m a classically trained pianist, and I paid for most of college as a pianist.”

Eddington’s love of Russian came about in eighth grade when a girl who spoke Russian moved to the United States from Yugoslavia and sat next to him in math class.

“She had no idea what was going on. My brother-in-law speaks Russian so he would teach me things to say to her and then she would say things back. I tried to remember them so my brother-in-law could tell me what they meant. It was fun to know words in another language and I became kind of obsessed with Russian,” he said.

With his mind set in those disciplines, Eddington chose his classes.

“When my dad, who really is a gifted mathematician, asked to see my freshman schedule, and I didn’t have any math classes on my schedule since my AP (advanced placement) calculus had fulfilled the requirement, he said, ‘You need to take a math class even if you don’t need it.’ I said, ‘I don’t want to spend money on credits that I don’t need.’ His exact quote was, ‘You never know when you’re going to want to be a math teacher.’ I just rolled my eyes and I didn’t take one. So when I got my first job as a math teacher, I called my dad. He knew me better than I knew myself at that point,” Eddington said.

Now, that math teacher is a candidate for the state teacher of the year, after being heralded Canyons School District teacher of the year this past spring. It was the first time in Canyons’ history where the top three finalists were all from Midvale.

“I knew that I was the middle school choice, but I was totally surprised, no idea that that this honor was coming,” he said. “When it was announced the winning teacher is from a Midvale school, I hadn’t even put it together that all three of us (finalists Hillcrest High’s Tasha Jensen and East Midvale Elementary’s Rachel Teasley) taught in Midvale.”

Eddington was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from the Canyons Education Foundation and an inscribed crystal award from Canyons Board of Education as well as a gift basket. He was selected from a record number 3,000 nominations.

On hand was Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson, who was joined by Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins, to honor the teachers. The finalists also were honored at the Midvale City Council meeting with a proclamation.

“My family came up from Arizona, my girlfriend, friends and so many came. I had a great crew there to support me,” he said.

Eddington is in his ninth year teaching.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

“I taught my first four years at four different schools and each year, I could tell the school was not a total perfect fit for me so I went to a different school. Midvale is just the perfect combination of students, staff, faculty, the building—everything about it just fit and I feel so supported. I love it and have no plans of leaving,” he said.

When Eddington first started, he taught an honors section of math along with general education courses, but he prefers teaching the non-honors classes.

“My skills are better geared toward helping students who are not feeling motivated to learn, who are struggling or behind. I’m skilled at reaching and connecting with and filling gaps in their educational past and helping them make big strides in their learning,” he said.

While Eddington earned his Bachelor’s in Russian, after serving a church mission in Russia, his Master’s in Education from Arizona State University is a dual certification program that included teaching kindergarten through eighth grade as well as special education kindergarten through 12th-grade students with mild to moderate disabilities.

At Midvale Middle, he teaches students who have Individualized Education Programs.

“Having that education has been important for me to know how to educate kids with disabilities because it’s something that I studied to know how to approach those students in my general classes who have individualized learning plans,” Eddington said, adding that he has used his Russian as well to help students who speak that as their native language.

His approach for all students starts with personal relationships.

“I try to communicate with every single student in every class every day. I try to know things about them outside of academics and to find ways for them to know that I am not just a teacher, but I’m a person who cares about them,” he said. “At the same time, I have very high expectations for every student, and they try hard to reach those goals. I spend a lot of energy, trying to get my students to understand why learning these things are important. One of the most common questions that I get as math teacher is ‘When are we ever going to have to know that?’ I help them imagine their futures and the fact that they’re going to need to earn money. They’re going to need jobs and the best way to be secure is to be educated. My main answer to the question is that ‘You’re going to have a higher earning potential, be more secure and graduate from high school.’”

Eddington also challenges his students to find something in their lives not connected to math.

“I try to help them feel confident because a lot of these kids have convinced themselves at some point, that they’re not able to do math. But when they realize they will have to use basic math skills throughout their lives, it helps them kind of break down the walls of math

trauma. Being afraid of it is no way to live. So we just really work on trying to become comfortable with it and not afraid of it—confident that we’re all able to do it,” he said.

Eddington also tries to have them envision their future, mounting his framed degrees on the wall and place the award he received as teacher of the year nearby.

“We talk a lot about higher education in my class and it’s a good visual for them to have in the classroom to help them see what can be ahead for them,” he said.

When Eddington made the decision to teach, he wanted to be in a middle school.

“It was a time in my life that was difficult, and I didn’t really have mentors and teachers who really cared about me. I like being there at this formative time in their lives and being an adult who cares and treats them with respect,” he said.

More than 20 of his students respond to Eddington so well that they were prompted to write nominations, praising the fifth-year Midvale Middle teacher, for this award.

“When you walk into Max’s classroom you are overwhelmed with the sense of community and belonging,” said Midvale Middle Principal Mindy Robinson, who as a former math teacher, also appreciates his problem-solving skills on the school’s building leadership team. “Students are respectful. They are willing to take risks and are encouraged to care for one another, while being engaged in every part of the lesson.”

When Eddington decided to teach, he gave up another job he loved.

“I was the wilderness driver guide in Alaska and drove tours across the state and in the Yukon Territory. I’ve been on a highway called the Top of the World Highway to a onelane, dirt highway in northern Alaska. I saw migrating caribou and hundreds and hundreds

of moose during those two years. It was a cool experience, but it’s a five-month contract that (conflicts) with the teaching schedule,” he said, now having to limit his outdoor adventures to some backroads in his time off from school or when he’s not on stage as he was two summers ago when he played Willard in “Footloose” at Sundance Summer Theatre.

“The reason why I continue teaching is because it’s making a difference in their lives,” Eddington said, then adds mathematically: “Even if it’s a slight angle, it goes on a more positive trajectory. That means a lot to me and that’s why I teach." l

Midvale teachers, East Midvale Elementary’s Rachel Teasley, Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington and Hillcrest High’s Tasha Jensen, were the finalists in this year’s teacher of the year. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington receives a hug from his mother as his dad looks on; they traveled from Arizona to witness their son being named Canyons School District teacher of the year. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Union Middle students begin online while new school construction finishes

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Retired Union Middle School teachers

Allen Richardson and Michael Goodwin saw each other May 16 when they said goodbye to the school where they both had worked. They planned to meet up again at the new Union Middle in August once it was constructed, but that reunion is on hold as the school isn’t quite ready.

Instead, Union Middle sixth- through eighth-grade students will start the school year with online classes Aug. 21 for about two weeks. Starting with remote learning will provide crews enough time to substantially finish the 219,000-square-foot school rebuild at 615 E. 8000 South, said Leon Wilcox, Canyons School District’s business administrator and chief financial officer.

“We’re working like crazy to get Union finished,” Wilcox said. “The main thing is inside, we’re trying to get all the electrical done, those sprinkler heads for fire suppression, and tying that into the fire alarm system. There’s a big shortage right now in qualified electricians so our general contractor is pulling electricians off other jobs trying to get this done for us. Then, the fire marshal will go through his testing.”

Union Middle families can check out Chromebooks and are given access to free Wi-Fi. A temporary learning site is available for Union Middle’s accommodated core classroom and extended core classrooms.

Previously scheduled before- and after-school activities are postponed.

The two-week delay will give crews the opportunity to finish the media center as well as the kitchen. With the postponement of in-person learning, the kitchen’s electrical work is expected to be finished, which means students wouldn’t be starting off with paper bag lunches, he said.

Wilcox said crews are trying to ensure the school will open for the students and be a safe, welcoming environment.

“I was over there the other day and there were 200 men and women not only working on the fire system, but also trying to clean up everything — washing the windows, dusting off the millwork, installing furniture and things of that nature. It all goes back to the labor shortage that started way back, when there weren’t enough workers who supply materials like the concrete we needed when we were working on Peruvian Park and Glacier Hills. The same thing happened at Union with that back up, and then, coupled with the weather last winter, it slowed down construction,” he said.

Other schools have used the former Crescent View Middle School to house students during rebuilds, but Wilcox said that virtual learning gives them an immediate alternative rather than getting that former school ready and redirecting school bus routes.

The ribbon-cutting for the school has been changed to a grand opening on Sept. 6

for the community.

Once school is in person, other areas, including the 600-seat auditorium, are expected to be done by early winter, he said.

The entire school project—building, design and equipment—totals $62 million, Wilcox said, which was made possible through the $283-million bond measure approved by CSD voters in 2017.

Richardson, who taught English, reading and art history at Union from 1974 through 2004, said there were many fond memories with the old school building.

“We teachers would fight over fans. The cooling system wasn’t very good here. I can see why they’re replacing it for nothing more than heating and cooling. I had my own fan, and I was the envy of many teachers until they got their own,” he said. “Seriously, it was really a good experience working here. Each year got better. My last year was my best; I finally learned how to do it after learning little tricks over the years.”

Richardson added, “By and large, students were well behaved. I have some really good memories, but I’d have to say, my worst student of all time became my best and he’s still in touch with me.”

Goodwin started teaching at Union when he was 25 in 1973. He taught English, French, art and American history for 25 years and, in 1998, he went to Mt. Jordan Middle.

Much of the structure of building looked unchanged, but the inside was remodeled since it was first constructed in 1968, he said.

“All these rooms used to be pods with removable walls,” Goodwin said. “You could have four classrooms, you could have two big classrooms, you can have one classroom and that was the greatest thing. The walls, when they were put together, were soundproof so you didn’t hear anything from other rooms. We could reconfigure it to what we needed.”

Union, then as it is now, is known for its theater program. Goodwin directed ninthgrade plays.

“We started out with ‘Christmas Carol’ and Allen, here, did scenery for it. We did extravaganzas and vaudeville shows. We had a lot of talent every year for the 15 years I directed,” Goodwin said, adding that he also taught a number of those students who performed. “During rehearsals, if they weren’t on stage, I’d have them do role practice from their classes. I never called it homework because that sounds like work. When it’s called practice, it solidifies what they’re getting in the classroom.”

Goodwin planned to return his former school one last time.

“It’s going to be a sad day when they take the wrecking ball to this school,” he said. “I watched Mt. Jordan be demolished and I was tearing up. I spent a lot of time there, too. New schools are needed for progress, but we have a lot of good memories with this building.”

Now, Goodwin and others, can view the video he made up of still images of “Union Middle School 1968-2023” and will put on YouTube to relive those memories.

Other Canyons School District construction projects

At Alta High, construction continues on the $4-million band room expansion that is expected to accommodate about 140 student musicians.

“We didn’t enlarge it when we just did the renovation (which finished in 2021),” Wilcox said. “The program had about 70 kids and it’s basically doubled. The room that was built was for about 80 students so it’s hard to get everyone in when they’re playing trombones and drums and saxophones.”

The new band room will be 6,000 square feet. It will be housed in the former driver’s education and dance room as well as adding about 2,000 feet to those, he said.

Dance will use its other designated classroom and driver’s education will use a room near the gymnasium, Wilcox said. He also said the current band room will be converted into a yoga room which can double with dance.

Construction began soon after the 202223 winter sports season; it is expected to be completed at the end of this winter’s sports season, depending upon materials and labor, he said.

Eastmont Middle’s Patriots have returned to their home to celebrate their 50th year in their school after moving to the former Crescent View halfway through last school year.

“We had an asbestos problem, so we had to go mitigate all the asbestos in the building. Basically, it was tearing up a basement floor and having an abatement company go through and make sure it was all cleaned out,” Wilcox

said.

On that level, the flooring will remain concrete.

“The issue is we still have water until we have fixed the water issue from the groundwater. They’ve given us some estimates of what we can do, but until we do that, there’s no use putting the tile back,” he said.

Wilcox said it took four months to remediate the project at a cost of $500,000. l

Retired Union Middle School teachers Allen Richardson and Michael Goodwin returned May 16 to tour Union Middle School before it turned to rubble this summer. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Former students, faculty and community members relived some memories at Union Middle School before the 55-year-old building was demolished this summer to make room for the new school campus. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Understanding Grief: Caring for Yourself, Caring for Others

Thursday, September 14, 2023

6:45–8pm

Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah

SPEAKER

William G. (Bill) Hoy, PH.D., FT

Author • Educator

Grief Counselor • Chaplain

Bereavement is not about “recovery,” but rather, about finding renewed life. The basic task for a bereaved person is to learn to live in a radically–changed world that no longer includes the physical relationship with our loved one. In this practical, community workshop, Dr. Bill Hoy will help bereaved people and those who care for them understand the practical steps to take charge of their grief and live again, even in the aftermath of incredible sorrow. For those in attendance who are curious about how to help, there will be ample ideas for the practical things to say and do (as well as to not say and do!).

During the workshop, we’ll find answers together to questions like:

• What simple actions can I take now to get my life back on track?

• Is what I’m feeling and seeing normal?

• How do I deal with well–meaning friends and their unwanted advice?

• The holidays are coming; what in the world are we going to do without them?

This event is complimentary of Larkin Mortuary and registration is not required. For more information, call (801) 571-2771

Jordan girls tennis gears up for new region, new opportunities

It’s been a rough go for some sports at Jordan High School in recent years. The girls tennis team has felt some of these struggles. Part of the reason for this has been the region in which Jordan has competed. The Beetdiggers have gone up against some strong opposition.

But relief could be coming this year as the Beetdiggers move down to Class 4A’s Region 10.

Head girls tennis coach Matthew Bell has been eager to be a part of the new region and see what his squad can do.

“I’m excited about a new region and for the varsity players that have been working hard to prepare for the season,” he said. “We expect to be in the mix for a region title and to qualify every position for the state tournament.”

Bell is bullish on his three captains— seniors Sarah Cowdell, Tori Roper and Ella Bradshaw—not just because of their abilities on the court but because of their leadership qualities and how they are bringing the girls together.

“They lead the team and carry on great traditions for team dinners and activities,” he said of the trio.

Cowdell, along with junior Olivia Hill, are year-round tennis players who

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

have dedicated much time and effort to improving. Bell said they are “the two players we will lean on, and they will help to elevate their teammates along the way.”

The move to Region 10 puts Jordan on a more even playing level than it had been previously. However, there are still challenges. The Beetdiggers now have some more travel, as opponents now include teams such as Stansbury, Tooele and Park City. Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Murray are the other region foes. There is also some uncertainty, as most of the Region 10 teams are schools Jordan hasn’t faced.

Plus, Bell said playing in the summer can also be difficult, as the weather acts as an opponent too.

“To be successful the team will need to endure the heat,” he said. “We have the talent, but the sunny weather tends to test your grit.”

Jordan competed in August and will have region matches in September. The Class 4A state tournament will be held Sept. 23 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.

Now in a new region, the Jordan girls tennis team is optimistic about its fortunes this season. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Bell)

App could literally save your life

Did you know that every 10-foot square in the world is assigned a three-word code for navigation purposes and that those three words could potentially be life-saving in an emergency?

Draper and Sandy Fire Departments held a joint news conference in July to announce their use of the What3words app and to encourage hikers and recreationists to make use of it as well. To that end, the cities shared the cost and purchased signs to be posted at local trailheads with a QR code for the app.

“Look it up on the app store or just scan the QR code at the trailhead…it’s self-explanatory,” said Sandy’s Deputy Chief Ryan McConaghie.

Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith explained that the two fire departments often work cooperatively. “Sandy and Draper share a border and rely on each other heavily on a day-to-day basis. If Sandy is responding as mutual aid, they can use it, and vice-versa,” Smith said.

Sandy Fire and Emergency personnel had already used it three times prior to the press conference and Draper’s department also had a success story to share. “We’re very fortunate to have a vast trail system with nearly 4,000 acres of open space in Draper and a 100mile trail system. The challenge we have is when people are in need of help…finding them can be difficult. Every minute costs to be able to render aid,” Smith said. He shared the story of three women who’d gone hiking in Draper, one of whom fell and hurt her ankle. “Using the app, we were able to extricate them within about 15 minutes,” he said.

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

Officials from both cities explained that because of the vast trails in each city, recreationists can easily lose track of where they are, or start out on one trail and unknowingly end up on another because of trails that intersect. In an emergency, that makes it difficult to find them quickly, but that’s where the app comes into play. “It’s hard to give landmarks, but a 10-square-foot mark…increases your chance of survival,” Sandy Fire Chief Jeff Bassett said.

The three-words assigned to each 10-square-foot area are random, combinations such as “potato, answer, spins” or “fears, point, field”, but they could save critical time when even seconds count.

“Before you venture out, use that QR code to down

load the app,” Bassett said. “We think this is a critical resource.” l

Draper and Sandy’s fire departments often work cooperatively in emergencies. Both cities invested in signs for local trailheads to encourage recreationists to use the What3words app so emergency personnel can more quickly find people in need of help. “Every minute costs to be able to render aid,” said Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith. (Courtesy Draper City)

• $50 / month (1 member)

• $75 / month (party of 2)

• $100 / month (family of 3)

• $120 / month (family of 4 to 6)

*$25 additional per person (family of 7 to 12)

registration fee – 12-month contract

Alta High graduate aims to make immigrant family proud, to study at college on scholarship

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

This fall, Johnny Salazar will attend college—thanks, in part, to the Daniels Scholarship, which awards up to $100,000 for college tuition.

The Daniels Scholarship was awarded to 238 scholars in the Intermountain region of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. More than 3,000 high school seniors applied. Recipients were selected based on their strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to serving the community and academic potential.

The 2023 Alta High graduate applied for the scholarship after his mother learned about it.

“When I saw how big it was and how well organized it looked, I realized it’s a really good scholarship,” he said. “I had a bunch of essays where I had to write about myself, how I felt when I didn’t achieve something and what I learned from it. I also wrote about being a head lifeguard. I’ve worked at a pool for three years, and I’m constantly learning something new, almost every day.”

Salazar said he wrote about using those lifeguarding skills he learned in an essay.

“The skills I learned are life-saving skills and they are ones I can use at any moment. Since it’s a priority to keep patrons safe, I’m always prepared for those situations. I’m also constantly teaching the lifeguards those scenarios, the drills, and information they need to know to keep people safe and themselves as well. So, I wrote about how I teach them and as the head guard, I’m a leader,” he said.

Salazar, who began his high school experience at RSL Academy, participated in several sports—soccer, swimming, volleyball, track and wrestling, where the Draper resident said he learned “dedication and discipline.” His love of sports also worked into his scholarship application essays.

“I wrote how sports always keeps your health up. I prioritize my health because I think about the future and if I’m not healthy, there’s a lot of things that I can’t enjoy. With sports, it helps me to keep that mindset to push yourself to another level. I like building teamwork too, because that’s how I made a lot of my friends,” he said.

Salazar wrote and submitted his application last fall. He also had interviews, where he spoke more about his leadership experience.

“I prepared for it first by researching about Bill Dan-

iels and learned about his childhood, his serving in wars and how he helped the community by bringing in cable to small towns and helped bring the Utah Stars here. I learned how much of a leader he is and how he wants to inspire the youth. I used that—being in leadership position to inspire people—because that’s what I do,” he said. “I feel I stood out; I have a desire to be a role model. I try to be the best leader to show others what they can become, like if they have a desire to be a head guard. I’ve shown them the responsibilities I have and encourage others to go for it.”

During the interview, Salazar was asked about his main motivation for the scholarship.

“I talked about my parents coming here from Guatemala so their children could have better opportunities, in education, in everything. I was born here, but we went to visit in 2018 and I met all the relatives. So, I told the two who interviewed me that with the opportunity to have this scholarship, I’d be able to do my best and make my family proud,” said the bilingual student who took six Advanced Placement courses during high school and maintained a 3.6 GPA.

It was during his shift as a lifeguard, after he checked the pump room, that he received an email.

“I was making sure everything at the pool was fine when I checked my phone, and I saw this email update from Daniels Scholars. I opened it, and it took a few seconds to process. I got the scholarship. I was so excited and really happy. I immediately sent a screenshot to my parents,” he said.

Salazar wants to study computer programming and can decide where he wants to study, knowing cost won’t be a factor.

“I started computer programming in seventh grade. I learned JavaScript and I’ll be honest, I was confused. But I learned and there was a lot of cool stuff we did. One of them was programming an Alexa. I also took web development. Then over the COVID summer, I took an online coding camp, where they taught HTML and I made my own website. I’ve taken robotics and there is coding in that too. I enjoyed that class a lot and I’ve had a lot of cool opportunities,” he said. “This scholarship allows me not having to worry about paying for college so I can just focus on studying. I can really focus on my degree.” l

Jordan girls soccer off and running against new competition

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

It’s a new season in a new-look league for the Jordan girls soccer team. So far, the Beetdiggers are more than holding their own.

Jordan has moved down to Region 10 in Class 4A after having played in 5A previously. Last season, the Beetdiggers went 3-13 overall and 1-11 in league play. After seven games this season, Jordan had already won four contests. It also was 1-2 after three region matches as of Aug. 21.

The move to 4A seems to have been a positive one. Head coach Justin Jahnke believes the experience against talented 5A teams prepared this group for the 2023 campaign.

“I’m really excited to see what our girls can do in a new region,” he said at the beginning of the season. “It was such a great test playing against the likes of Lehi and Alta (as well as the rest of that region) for the last two years, that I feel like the girls are already battle-tested. I’m also excited to see what our seniors can do. This group has been together for a while, so I want to see some chemistry right away.”

Region 10 spans a big geographic area and teams that Jordan hasn’t seen much of over the years. The league consists of opponents Murray, Stansbury, Tooele, Park City, Hillcrest and

Cottonwood.

The region is different but still not a cakewalk for Jordan.

“Dropping to 4A does not mean the competition is any easier,” Jahnke said. “Murray, Park City and Stansbury are all very good teams, and I feel like every game in the region will be competitive with the likes of Hillcrest, Cottonwood and Tooele. Then for playoffs you look outside the region we have old foes like Mountain View, Timpanogos and Timpview, who are all great programs, not to mention the Northern 4A and St. George 4A teams. It’s highly competitive and exciting.”

Leading the team is senior striker Kenzie Colunga, a player Jahnke said has consistently improved over the past few years. June Joseph is the team’s goalkeeper. Just a freshman, she has posted four shutouts so far. Senior midfielder Graycie Griffiths is a great distributor and helps to control the pace of the game. Meanwhile, Julia Willham, a junior, is a “Swiss army knife,” as Jahnke describes. He said she “can play up top, in the middle or the backline—it’s great to have that kind of versatility in the lineup.” Senior midfielder Susi Luna Rico is a good playmaker and helps with the Beetdiggers’ attack.

Through the first seven games,

Colunga paced the team with six goals and three assists. Samantha Mayo-Gonzalez had three goals during that span.

Jahnke is pleased with how his team has played and come together so far. It started in the summer during preseason workouts and has continued in the early part of the season.

“I feel like the girls are well connected already,” he said. “We spent all summer together, to the point where we all felt we had no summer. It helped us seeing each other push limits on the pitch and in the weight room. There was a lot of sacrifice shown, so I feel that our girls know that each other are bought-in.”

Jahnke knows his team still has a ways to go, but there have been signs of maturity, development and improvement. He hopes this continues as the season goes on.

“For this season to be a success we need growth and resilience,” he said. “We will have ups and downs, but I need our girls to see how we are growing and learning throughout the season and to not stop seeing that growth and resilience.”

Jordan wraps up the regular season Sept. 27, after which the 4A state playoffs begin. l

The Jordan girls soccer team gathers to discuss strategy during a game against Hillcrest. (Photo courtesy Justin Jahnke)

Jordan High grad is a world-renowned sculptor

Foras long as he can remember, Herriman resident Eric Michael Wilson has been drawn to art. He loved to sketch and paint as a child and taught himself how to sculpt at Jordan High

School. It was supposed to be a pottery class, but Wilson had bigger ideas. He talked his teacher into letting him create a life-sized bust and he was hooked.

Wilson had the opportunity to work as an apprentice to Richard MacDonald, a legendary figurative sculptor in California, where Wilson studied anatomy and écorché, a figure sculpted to show the muscles without the skin.

“In France in the 1800s, they would sculpt the skeleton and then build the muscles, the deepest ones to the most superficial, so they would really learn anatomy,” he said. “Because of their diligent study of anatomy and art, and standing on the shoulders of giants like Michelangelo, they raised the bar like crazy.”

Écorché has almost become a thing of the past, with very few sculptors learning and creating the anatomical structure of their figures. But Wilson dedicated himself to anatomy, spending hours at the University of Utah’s anatomy lab where he studied and dissected bodies. Now he’s one of only a few people in the world practicing this type of art. He considers it a calling.

Some of Wilson’s figures are used as anatomical references for other artists and he teaches anatomy workshops at places like Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar.

“Sculpture is not about detail, it’s not about being really pretty, it’s about trying to tell the human story,” Wilson said. “You’re trying to share something that is emoting the human spirit and, hopefully, it’s something people can relate to.”

People are definitely relating to Wilson’s art, finding their own connection and interpretation of his creations. He’s currently working on an Atlas sculpture, based on Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged,” that will be installed as a monument in Boise, Idaho.

He’s also creating a 30-foot-tall Phoenix made from stainless steel, although he usually works with bronze. Wilson’s sculpture is based on the mythical bird that lives for hundreds of years before bursting into flames and is then reborn from the ashes.

Wilson’s Phoenix is a flying woman that symbolizes bravery and the ability to reinvent. As a final touch, he’s figuring out a way to plumb the statue with natural gas or propane to set it on fire.

“Art’s very subjective but I think it’s cool that long after I’m dead I’m still having some sort of positive impact, and that’s all I can really hope for,” he said.

Wilson comes from a long line of artists and craftspeople. His father was a painter and his mother was a professional seamstress, making costumes for movies. Wilson’s grandfather was a woodworker and carver and owned a large furniture company.

With his wife Amanda, Wilson is raising their blended family of four daughters and two sons in Herriman. For more information about his work, visit @EricMichaelWilson on Facebook and Instagram.

“I create something, and the coolest thing is that people project their own meanings and have their own personal experience with art,” Wilson said. “It’s like a universal human experience. I don’t know what’s going on behind it, but there’s definitely some kind of spirit there, a collective experience.” l

By Peri Kinder | Peri.k@thecityjournals.com

(right) Eric Michael Wilson’s sculpture, Phoenix, represents rebirth, reinvention, bravery and transformation. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Herriman resident and Jordan High School grad Eric Michael Wilson has developed a worldwide reputation for his figurative modeling and sculpture. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Eric Michael Wilson created this sculpture based on Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged.” A life-sized version of the piece will be installed as a monument in Boise. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Continued from front page

“The danger for going up when it’s unstable is that when you’re in a congested, crowded area like this, we’re limited on where we can land. In Sandy there are lots of houses and power lines. Then if the wind carries you farther, you are headed into controlled airspace,” Bingham said.

Balloon pilot Dan Montgomery of West Jordan flies at the Sandy Festival every year. This year he brought several family members, including his 9-year-old grandson Carter, a balloon pilot in the making.

Wearing safety gloves, Carter jumped in the basket, found the pilot light, and flipped the switches controlling the propane flame. He’d been excited to fly in the Sandy event for the first time.

“This would be my first time here, but I’ve been up in the balloon with my grandpa a hundred times. It’s so fun when you go up there and you’re just looking down on the people,” Carter said. An experienced flier, he knew that weather was a big factor is a safe ride.

“It’s too windy right now, we have to wait until it calms down a little,” he said. Watching a helium balloon go up, he gauged the speed. “Uh oh! That’s way too fast!”

Montgomery pointed out virga, cloud trails of precipitation that fall from the underside of a storm cloud, but evaporate before they reach the ground.

“The rain is evaporating before it hits the ground. There’s colder air hitting the ground and it makes a lot of wind. If this blows over and the atmosphere cleans up, possibly we could still fly, but right now I’d say it’s unlikely,” Montgomery said.

Unfortunately, he was right. The balloons never did launch on Saturday morning, nor did the pilots get to do the tethered up-and-down rides the kids come for.

The rest of the day’s events continued as planned. Sandy City hosted a Glow event at the promenade near city hall Saturday evening. The event featured food trucks, a DJ and a drone light show. Many of the balloon pilots came back, too.

Montgomery was disappointed the balloons couldn’t fly that day, but he took it in the

stride of an experienced pilot.

“You’d rather be down here wanting to be up there, than up there wanting to be down here,” Montgomery said. “I’ve been on both ends of it, and it’s better to be safe.” l

Nine-year-old Carter of West Jordan has gone up in a balloon with his grandpa Dan Montgomery “a hundred times” and was anxious to fly at the Sandy festival. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

A pilot explains how a hovering storm makes launching the hot air balloons unsafe. (Heather Lawrence/ City Journals)

A storm cell hanging over Little Cottonwood Canyon Aug. 12 made for a beautiful sunrise, but wasn’t good news for the thousands gathered in Sandy to watch hot air balloons. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

Some pilots tried to ease the early-morning disappointment of no flights by letting kids in the basket and showing them the fuel pulls. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

Balloon-meister Mike Bauwens briefs the pilots at sunrise on Sandy’s weather conditions at sunrise. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

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Local skaters’ revolutionary skateboard brake changes the game

Theworld of skateboarding is about to change – big time. Thanks to some innovative engineering and smart marketing, VibeRide has introduced the world’s first braking system for skateboards.

The brake adds an element of control and safety to the skateboard, never before seen in the sport. Founded by young, local skaters, VibeRide is taking the industry by storm.

Charlie Cannon (23), Carson Macdonald (22) and Chris Goodhue (27), were students at the University of Utah who came up with the idea to create a longboard brake and spent several years doing research and development before acquiring the design and patent of Brakeboard, an earlier braking system.

Once the patent was acquired, the team began the process of changing, updating and perfecting the design and VibeRide recently launched the finished product.

“It’s like a mini disc brake system. In fact, the only place we could get the ceramic discs was an actual car factory,” Cannon said. “You put pressure down [on the brake] and the pressure

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

gets equally distributed across these two disc brakes. The disc brakes close and then wears down that actual ceramic disc rather than wearing down your wheel.”

Before brakes, Cannon said he was always wearing the soles off his shoes, trying to stop his board on the steep hills near the university. But the skate brake is a life-changing (and shoe saving) device that can be installed on any board, or skaters can buy a board with the system already included.

Cannon, a former Sandy resident, is no stranger to success. During COVID, he founded EXO Drones, making millions of dollars before selling the company. Using the proceeds from the sale, he co-founded VibeRide with Macdonald, Goodhue and Australian partner Alex Beveridge, and they’re all riding a mega ramp of success.

The braking system was a hit at this year’s Outdoor Retail Expo and the company made more than $50,000 in sales in the first couple of months.

On the VibeRide TikTok channel @viberide.co, videos demonstrate the efficiency and ease of the brake,

and the brand is quickly gaining fans. Cannon was recently invited to make a YouTube video with Braille Skateboarding, a platform with nearly 6 million followers.

“We all love making videos and we make pretty fun videos,” Cannon said. “We have these crazy video ideas. We can put the brakes on anything. We’re gonna turn some wild objects into skateboards, like an old flat screen television, and two-by-fours.”

They consider this product a great fit for Utah, with all the hills and canyon roads. Cannon believes the skateboard brake is perfect for the unique landscape in the state and will give skaters access to new rides and adventures. For more information, visit VibeRide.com.

“For us here, it truly changes the way we get to skateboard and longboard and go down these hills and streets and sidewalks and campuses that we never could before,” Cannon said. “It’s so fun. We’re gonna make a whole video series in places like Little Cottonwood and Emigration Canyon just to show people how game-changing this really is.” l

VibeRide’s new skateboard braking system allows skaters to ride hills with more control and safety. The device was created by three University of Utah students. (Photos courtesy of VibeRide)

Improved Alta volleyball team makes progress in new region

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Lastseason as a member of Region 8, the Alta volleyball team went 1014 overall and 3-8 in league play. Now in Region 6 with some new opponents, the Hawks are looking to move up the standings and be more competitive.

So far, head coach Sara Kane is pleased with what she has seen.

“I think I’m most excited to be able to see the progress of the team as we go throughout the season,” she said. “We’ve already seen so much growth just in the first couple weeks of the season, so I can’t wait to see what we will look like in the postseason.”

Kane has plenty of players to rely on to lead her team. The Hawks have a solid lineup consisting of a good mix of seniors and underclassmen. Senior Talia Brown is a starting setter and captain. Another captain, senior Kinnley Lingmann, is a key outside hitter for Alta. The third captain, outside hitter Brooke Ridge, is just a sophomore. Whitney Schmitt, a senior who plays in the middle, along with senior middle Madison Evans, also headlines the team. Kane also pointed out senior right-side hitter Mariah Benson, senior libero Paisley Wallace, junior outside Sienna Frederickson, junior setter Gra-

cie Johnson, and sophomore outside hitter Catherine Brinkman.

“This team is so coachable,” Kane said. “They make adjustments quickly and rarely linger on mistakes.”

Kane believes that hard work breeds results. She also recognizes that no one is perfect and that any player can fall short or have an off day. Though it can be difficult to give it one’s all 100% of the time, she only asks players to put forth an effort.

“In our gym we always give 80% effort, as it’s more sustainable and more realistic,” she said. “With that being said, I would say that my only expectation for this team is that they work hard and consistently give that 80% effort for themselves and for their teammates.”

Leading a group of high school athletes can be difficult, especially when tough times arise, Kane said. She is happy with her players and how they respond to adversity. She said overcoming these obstacles and believing in each other is critical to success.

“The biggest challenge with any team is confidence, especially when coaching teenagers,” she said. “We have a lot of talent on our team; our

biggest challenge is going to be helping these athletes realize what their potential is and helping them play confidently to be able to reach that potential. We want to be able to set the tempo of any match against any opponent, and playing with confidence from the start is going to help us achieve that.”

Alta began region play on Aug. 29 at Olympus, a new league foe. The region season goes until Oct. 24, after which the Class 5A state tournament will start.

Kane is optimistic that her squad will continue to progress and play well against the teams it faces. But to achieve their goals, the Hawks will need to play selflessly.

“This season will be successful if this team plays for each other and together,” she said. “Volleyball is a very unique sport in that it takes each of the six people on the court to be successful and make plays happen. There is never a time in which an individual can go and win a game by themselves. If this team can work hard together and for each other, it will be a really exciting season.” l

Quartet of seniors leads Alta boys golf team

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

n a high school sport like boys golf, having a large team makes a big difference. The Alta Hawks have some experienced seniors helping to make the team more competitive.

Seniors Jared Russell, Bryce Nelsen, Tate Kammerman and Jeremy Christensen each have multiple years under their belts playing at Alta. This experience helps on the golf course and off, as the players have good ca-

“These guys are pretty easy going; they don’t put a lot of pressure on themselves, and that’s good for staying loose and playing free,” head coach Cody Nesbit said. “My seniors have good chemistry and are good to our underclassmen, which hopefully improves their individual games also. They get along well. I love their joking attitudes and willingness to work

Nesbit singled out Nelsen as a player he’s excited about coaching this season. He has been practicing relentlessly and has a chance to be the top golfer on the team.

“Made the team as a junior last year and hasn’t stopped playing golf and improving his play since,” he said. “He’s worked his way as our No. 2 golfer and will compete for No. 1 on our team this year. He played in a lot of junior events over the summer. His hard work has paid off and really helped the depth of our team.”

Last season, Alta had one player qualify for state, graduated senior Ryan Richards. Nesbit is hopeful that more players, including his four seniors, can reach the tournament and make a good showing for the Hawks.

“Our team goal is to make the state tournament as a team,” he said “So, our focus is team scoring average, which is now the determinate to qualify for state.”

Of course, reaching this objective won’t happen without hard work and doing the little things each day. Nesbit believes success starts at practice and each match the team has. Attitude and a good mindset will go a long way too, he said.

“We need to show up and play

well in region events,” he said. “It all starts with an emphasis on practicing with purpose to improve each week and grind out on the course when things aren’t going well. Golf is so mental, and the mental aspect of the game needs to be talked about at practice and throughout practice rounds.”

Regardless of what happens on the scorecard or whether the Hawks make a big impression at state, Nesbit loves coaching at Alta. He can’t say enough about the young men on the team—not just their efforts on the golf course but more so how they carry themselves off it.

“Alta golf always has great young men,” he said. “They are so fun to be around at practice, and events are a joy to be at. They don’t take things too seriously and enjoy being around the team and being part of a team. The relationships built on the golf team is what it is all about, and there are memories being made that they will talk about their entire lives.” l

Connect With

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Hello Sandy Friends,

Happy birthday, Sandy! You sure look great at 130 years old! is year our city celebrates an important milestone. Our city has grown from a rural outpost settled by pioneers in 1893 to a bustling hub of business, recreation, entertainment, and sports in 2023.

Heritage Festival and Horse Parade

Let’s get ready to celebrate! Your name is on the guest list for the party – the Historic Sandy Heritage Festival and Horse Parade on Saturday, September 16th. It’ll be a fun- lled day of celebration in our beautiful historic neighborhood that starts with the horse parade at 10 a.m. Festivities continue at Main Street Park on 70 East 8760 South. You’ll want to be at the main stage when the new city ag is unfurled, a 100-year time capsule is buried, and this year’s Noal Bateman Award winner is honored.

must do to get there. You are an essential participant in that. ere are several simple ways to get involved.

• Prepare for the Election

First, register to vote. Learn about the candidates for Sandy City Council and the important city issue to be presented as a general bond option on the ballot.

• Fire Station 31 Bond

is would fund a new Fire Station 31, our city’s Fire Department headquarters. Sandy City residents have the opportunity to fund a new main re station which will replace the aging Station 31 which is crumbling and not equipped to serve the needs of our growing city. e new Fire Station 31 will be in the heart of Sandy’s Cairns District where business grows and new housing options rise.

• City Council Positions

You don’t want to miss our headliner live country music performances, exhibits from local artists, kids’ activities, and of course a classic car show. ere’s a whole slate of happenings and you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for our beautiful historic neighborhood and community.

You’ll have to come to the Heritage Festival to see which of these top three entries was selected by our City Flag Design Committee!

Appreciating our history gives us a sense of meaning as we make our mark on the city’s timeline. Our history instills a better vision of what we want our city to be and what we

ere are four city council positions on the ballot this year and each candidate represents varying viewpoints and priorities. It’s vital as residents of an outstanding city like ours – regularly ranked as one of the best places to live in the nation – to make the right choices for our present and future needs. To meet the candidates, check out our website sandy.utah.gov/elections

• Key Election Dates

It’s also important to note the election dates this year, which have changed from previous years. One of the most important things you can do – register to vote! e primary election is Sep. 5 and the general election is Nov. 21. e deadline to register is 11 days before election day. You can easily register to vote or make sure you are registered at vote.utah.gov.

• Pace of Progress Open House

Another simple way for you to help shape our city for decades to come is to participate in our Pace of Progress general planning process. You can identify where the city is on the right track and where we need modi cations by clicking on our interactive map on Sandy’s Pace of Progress webpage, sandypaceofprogress.org. Also, come learn more and share your ideas at an open house for all Sandy residents on September 13th at City Hall. Our Parks Department is also working on updating its master plan. You can nd an interactive map to comment on our city parks and their amenities by visiting sandypaceofprogress. org/parks-master-plan

Just as Sandy City celebrated its incorporation 130 years ago, we encourage you to get on board as we celebrate our heritage and our future. Ours is a vibrant community. Let’s work together to assure our city ourishes.

Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski

Photo contest winner: Gordon Swensen

Unveiling the Heroes Behind Sandy City's Water Division

In Sandy City, a dedicated group of individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that residents have access to clean and safe drinking water. is group forms the Water Division, consisting of two key teams: Distribution and Compliance.

The Distribution Team:

e Distribution Team serves as the lifeline that connects the vast network of water supply to the homes and businesses of Sandy City. A crucial aspect of their

throughout the city. is way, the distribution team ensures that the water supply remains consistent and reliable.

To streamline their operations and keep a watchful eye on the intricate distribution network, the team relies on a sophisticated SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. SCADA plays a vital role in monitoring the water system throughout the city, ensuring the pressure remains optimal, and promptly detecting any irregularities, such as high or low water levels in tanks or power outages. A dedicated water operator continuously watches over the SCADA system and making certain that the water distribution system runs smoothly and e ciently.

The Compliance Team:

In Sandy City, the health and safety of its residents are of utmost importance, especially when it comes to the quality of drinking water. e Compliance Team takes the lead in this critical aspect, working diligently to preserve and protect the city's valuable water resources.

Weekly water samples are collected and tested for bacteria and uoride. Before activating any well, water quality samples undergo testing for pesticides, metals, and other contaminants to guarantee that the water supplied is free from harmful substances.

maintains the distribution systems, ensuring water is brought into the city, whether from surface water or groundwater sources. ey diligently monitor water demand and production, ne-tuning the processes to meet the everchanging needs of the community.

To achieve seamless coordination and balance between water demand and production, the Water Division works hand in hand with Metropolitan District of Salt Lake and Sandy (METRO) every day. is collaboration ensures that the city's water needs are met e ciently, and any challenges are addressed promptly. e decision to activate a well is a carefully calculated process, involving communication with METRO and the vigilant monitoring of pressure levels

e Compliance O cer is currently preparing the UCMR 5 report, a comprehensive assessment of unregulated contaminants. is report aids in determining whether any contaminants should be regulated to ensure water safety. Further, annual water quality testing is conducted to produce the Consumer Con dence Report (CCR), providing residents with transparent and comprehensive information about their drinking water's quality and safety. Preserving wells is a signi cant focus and ensuring these vital resources remain in excellent condition to deliver the highest standard of drinking water quality for the city's residents.

Another crucial responsibility of the Compliance Team lies in the Cross-Connection and Back ow Control Program. is program ensures that no illegal connections exist that could potentially contaminate the drinking water

Sam Hall, whose combined expertise and dedication to their craft ensure the smooth operation of the distribution system. Additionally, Virgil Hanson, the Distribution Coordinator and SCADA Operator, plays a pivotal role in overseeing the SCADA system, ensuring it functions optimally.

Karen Hoagland, the Compliance O cer, and Paul Evans, the Cross-Connection Specialist, work diligently to ensure water quality and safety are never compromised. eir expertise and vigilance are crucial in preventing contamination and maintaining the high standard of Sandy City's drinking water.

At the heart of this team stands Mike Campbell, the Assistant Operations Manager and Distribution Supervisor. Mike's remarkable 35-year tenure exempli es his passion for providing clean and safe drinking water to the residents of Sandy City. He began his career in the water construction division before transitioning to distribution, where he started as a water operator. With a passion for excellence and a determination to make a di erence, Mike climbed the ranks within the distribution division, earning the respect and admiration of his team members, many of whom have worked alongside him for two decades or more. His leadership and dedication have been an inspiration to the entire department.

Sandy City is fortunate to have a water division comprised of skilled professionals dedicated to delivering clean and safe drinking water to its residents. e distribution team ensures a reliable water supply, while the compliance team diligently protects the quality of the water. Together, they form an exceptional team that is committed to maintaining the highest standards in water distribution and safety. e residents of Sandy City can rest assured that their water needs are in the capable hands of these dedicated professionals, who work tirelessly to uphold the city's reputation for excellence in water management.

Distribution team.

Paul Evans teaching cross-connection and back ow safety.

Karen Hoagland.

Mike Campbell.

National Preparedness Month

e roots of the word disaster can be traced back to Ancient Greek and a word that translates to ‘bad star.’ is is in reference to the idea that bad things happen because of the position of the planets.

A disaster, a calamity, an emergency, is an event that causes widespread human, material, economic, and/or environmental damage. is event can be a short-term or long-term one. Earthquakes, hurricanes, oods, res, and even terrorist attacks are all classi ed as such. Whatever the cause, the result of such a disaster devastates societies, changing life as we know it. In some cases, disasters have also been known to change history as we know it.

e Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) created the National Preparedness Month (NPM) three years after the September 11 attacks to encourage every American to plan for emergencies. is year FEMA’s ready campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disaster, speci cally older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events.

We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas. Visit o cial websites like ready. gov/older-adults and bereadyutah.gov/family-preparedness/seniors/ to learn more about how to reduce risks to life and property in the event of any major disaster.

9565 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092

PLAY & LEARN PRESCHOOL

August 21, 2023 – May 30, 2024

Half Day and Full Day available

Children will enjoy their day at Play & Learn Preschool with a variety of games and activities! ere is playtime, class time, lunch, and more playtime. Our teachers work hard to make learning fun and engaging. See website for more information.

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL (K-5TH GRADE)

We provide transportation to and from school. We also provide all day care for children when o school. Children enjoy games, arts and crafts, eld 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. Enroll online. New this year Beehive Science & Technology Academy

O.U.T. OUTDOOR ULTIMATE TRAINING

Take your tness routine outdoors and get ready for the summer with Outdoor Ultimate Training (O.U.T.). Our Personal Trainer, Tess, will lead you through a variety of explosive routines like interval training, lifting weights, and stretching to get you in shape for the summer season! Don't miss out on the ultimate workout experience! Beginning September 4. Sign up online.

NOW HIRING

Do you have experience working with children? We are NOW HIRING! Part-time exible hours, we're seeking individuals who will assist in the successful operation of our Before & After School program.

Come work with us and help make a di erence in our community.

Youth Counselor I – visit: sandy.utah.gov/jobs

DIPPIN’ DOGS

Cost: $15 per dog with owner / $3 per additional dog

Date: September 9 & September 16

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

SNAPOLOGY

Unlock Your Child's Imagination with STEAM! Unleash their creativity and give them the opportunity to do something fun, educational, and engaging! With Snapology's S.T.E.A.M. 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!

PERSONAL TRAINING

Do you want an experienced personal trainer to help you get t 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 tness trends and knows how to design a training plan that will suit your needs.

Email tess@fuz tness.com to set up an appointment.

KARATE:

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

Friday night class at Alta Canyon Sports Center from 5 - 6 p.m. imautah.com

River Oaks Golf Course

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

Sandy.utah.gov/golf

River Oaks Golf Course at Sandy City is centrally located in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley in Sandy, Utah. Its unique proximity to the Jordan River makes for an unforgettable eighteen holes of golf. With water or wetlands in play on almost every hole, a premium is placed on accuracy from tee shots to approach shots. With a par of 70 and a total length of just over 6500 yards from the championship tees, River Oaks o ers something for every golfer and every skill level. e front nine at River Oaks winds alongside the Jordan River and accompanying wetlands. With two par 5’s and some short par 4’s there are opportunities for scoring, but the front nine is considered the harder of two nines.

e back nine is by far the most popular stretch of the holes at River Oaks. With several elevation changes and a more secluded feel, our back nine demands focus and attention on every shot. With the addition of the popular Sandy City Urban Fishery adjacent to holes twelve and thirteen, the back nine is a scenic and pleasant way to spend your time.

ere are many species of wildlife that call River Oaks home. If you look hard enough, you may see an eagle or even a fox.

After a round of golf at River Oaks, enjoy a cold drink and a meal at our café’ and snack bar. Browse our full service and well stocked pro shop or utilize our state of the art practice facility which is one of the best in the state. Our friendly sta can give you a lesson or t you with the latest in golf equipment.

SANDY AMPHITHEATER 2023 SEASON

COMING UP NExT:

September 1: Tash Sultana

September 8: Peter Breinholt

September 9: Zeppelin USA

September 22: Justin Moore

September 23: The Lower Lights

October 5 & 7: Ben Rector

October 6: Brett Young

October 13: Midland

TiCkETS

PARKS & RECREATION

NOW HIRING

Sport O cials/Referees/Umpires.

$13.00 – $25.00/hour

Must be 14 years old to apply sandy.utah.gov/jobs

JUNIOR JAZZ BASKETBALL

Registration for the 2023-24 Junior Jazz Basketball begins September 11. More detailed information available sandy.utah.gov/registration.

Registration Deadline for all grades: November 12

Grades: Kindergarten (Rookie League), 1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th, 7th & 8th, 9th & 10th, 11th & 12th

TURKEY TROT 5K RUN

Register now for our Annual Turkey Trot 5K on November 11.

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Lone Peak Park (Gazebo) - 10140 South 700 East

Registration Fee: $30/individual or $25/family or groups

Registration Deadline: In person ursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.

Online Registration: Closes on ursday, Nov. 10 at 7 a.m.

Packet pick-up: Friday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. –5 p.m. - 440 East 8680 South

Late Registration: Nov. 10-11 in person only!

Late Registration Fee: $35/individual or $30/family or groups

Day of race registration at Lone Peak Park from 9–9:45 a.m.

To register or for more information visit sandy.utah.gov/registration.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR ALL PROGRAMS: sandy.utah.gov/registration

PARKS & RECREATION JOB OPENINGS: sandy.utah.gov/jobs

2023 Municipal Elections

September 5 is Primary Election Day! You will be selecting two candidates for Council At-Large seats and one candidate for Council District 4. Please mail in your voter ballot or stop by the Salt Lake City Vote center on Election Day, September 5, to vote for your Sandy City Council Representative.

VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT ONE OF THREE WAYS:

1. Deposit it in a ballot drop-box (up until 8pm on Election Day) in Salt Lake County.

2. Drop it o at any Election Day Vote Center between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.

3. Return it by mail in the postage-paid return envelope provided in your ballot packet. To be valid, your ballot must be postmarked no later than September 5, 2023

For information on voting, drop-box locations, or Election Day Vote Centers, please visit slco.org/clerk/elections.

For more information regarding the Sandy City Municipal Elections, please visit the Sandy City website, sandy.utah.gov/elections

Meet Colleen Breinholt

I’ve been scorekeeping for Sandy City Recreation for 37-38 years now. It started when our oldest daughter had a tournament game at Dewey Bluth Park and her coach asked me if I would keep score. I had been keeping score for three of my kids’ softball and baseball teams for several years. After the game, they paid me $5.00, and I was surprised because I had been doing it for years and never got paid previously.

A year or so later, I got a letter from Sandy Recreation asking if I was interested in scorekeeping for their leagues. I started doing it for the girls fast pitch leagues because my daughters were playing in them. But later, I added the slow pitch leagues because they went longer into the summer than fast pitch. At the time, we were struggling nancially so it was a great thing for us. I now do it more for the association with others and because I still enjoy it.

At rst, I worked under a supervisor named Garth. Several years later, Linda Martin was my supervisor until she retired a few years ago. But I have enjoyed my time with Sandy City Rec. I have made friends and got to know many people. I don’t always remember names, but I know people’s faces and uniforms. I always wished I had a photographic memory to remember all of them.

When I started there were only the two elds: Bicentennial and Bluth. Later, I did a little bit with the baseball at Falcon and Flat Iron Parks. Over the years, I remember when they added the elds at Crescent Park, then later, Lone Peak and Quarry Bend. It was di cult to leave at night for the entire evening when our kids were young, but it helped our family and kept us in sports. I used to play fast pitch in my teens, and I still enjoy the game.

I eventually also started working for Junior Jazz as an on-site coordinator. I cut back on that a few years ago but am considering doing it again. I have even done a few shifts working in the Parks and Rec. o ce when they needed help or had special events going on. I have enjoyed my time at Sandy Recreation.

Community Development By The Numbers

Education and Income

According to the US Census Bureau (July 2022), approximately 45% of adults age 25 and older in Sandy have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. is high level of education contributes to the elevated median income. e median household income in Sandy is $100,749.

Housing Stock

According to the US Census Bureau (July 2022), there are approximately 32,966 housing units in Sandy City. e majority of housing stock in Sandy is over 10 years old with 33% of housing being built between 1970 and 1979. Despite the age of the housing stock the average home value over the past eight years has continued to increase. Approximately 53% of the homes fall within the $300,000 to $500,000 price range with the median home value of owner-occupied units in Sandy being $418,700.

Population Projections YEAR ESTIMATES

2010 87,461

2020 97,404

2030 105,983

2040 113,209

2050 120,687

As of Jan 1, 2023, estimated population was 97,887

Zoning Inventory

Sandy City General Plan

Other Interesting Numbers

12 Retirement and Assisted Living facilities

49 parks

37 commercial centers

58 churches

Application Numbers (Jan thru July 2023)

1,098 Building permits issued

5,269 inspections completed

1,337 code enforcement cases created

525 new business licenses

113 sign applications

39 commercial site plan review projects

25 subdivision projects

One of our building inspectors completed the required eight International Code Council certi cation exams in residential and commercial construction to become a Professional Building Inspector (International Code Council Certi ed Combination Inspector).

e General Plan update process has generated a lot of exciting input from Sandy residents this summer. As we’ve transitioned from learning about the Sandy of today to envisioning Sandy in 2050 you’ve let us know about housing, natural hazards, as well as parks, recreation, and open pace.

During the month of September, we’re interested in Sandy’s future regarding health and wellness. Please take an opportunity to leave your ideas and suggestions about Health and Wellness on the map at SandyPaceofProgress.org using the “Ideas and Suggestions” icon or start a conversation on the Idea Wall using the “Planning the Future” icon.

Check out the Events Calendar on the website to plan your attendance to the upcoming events. Come visit us at City Hall on September 13th for the third community Open House. We will also be at the Heritage Festival and Horse Parade on September 16th – look for our booth in Historic Sandy! Watch for the announcements on social media, visit the online newsletter, look for us at community events, or go to the General Plan website SandyPaceofProgress.org to see what your neighbors have said and to make sure your voice is heard. We hope to see you soon!

SANDY CITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2023

Dazzling the skies: Drone light shows take flight

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

During the Cottonwood Heights Butlerville Days celebration, a merging of lights and technology took center stage in the night sky. Residents gathered to watch a mesmerizing drone show, where art and innovation collide.

Cottonwood Heights Culture Manager Ann Eatchel added the drone show to this year’s celebration after meeting with Open Sky, a drone light show company. She wanted to bring a new element to the annual celebration and offer an alternative to fireworks.

Not quite breaking with tradition, Eatchel scheduled the drone show for Friday night and the regular fireworks show for Saturday. There was mixed reaction from residents for both shows.

“Some people left the drone show saying that was the coolest thing ever…It didn’t have the loud noises that can scare pets and it doesn’t leave the smoke and pollution a fireworks show does,” Eatchel said. “And then I had people say no, I’m a fireworks person. I gotta have the booms, gotta have the sparkles. So it totally went both ways.”

Cities across Salt Lake County are choosing drone shows over fireworks for celebrations. Salt Lake City held a drone show for its Fourth of July event and the city of South Jordan teamed with LiveDAYBREAK to bring a drone show to city residents.

Nate Mortensen, Open Sky CEO, said demand for drone shows has increased significantly. Last year, the company did about 30 shows, but now they’re doing that many each month. He says comparing drone shows to fireworks is an apples to oranges situation. While drones can’t replicate the pop and sizzle of fireworks, the show provides cities with the ability to person-

alize the production and tell a story.

“We customize and change the show to match the theme of each event that we fly and use this as a storytelling opportunity as opposed to just entertainment,” Mortensen said. “If you can imagine staring at the sky and seeing shooting stars or meteors crossing the sky, it happens so quick, but you really remember that experience. A drone show is 10 to 13 minutes of choreographed shooting stars that you're watching in the sky.”

A customized drone show’s cost can be equivalent to a fireworks show, usually starting around $15,000, based on the

number of drones used. Most city shows average 150 drones but Open Sky has created shows using hundreds of drones at a six-figure cost.

Proponents of drone shows say drones are better for the environment and safer for residents than traditional fireworks. But while a fireworks show can last up to 30 minutes, a drone show lasts about half that time.

Each drone costs thousands of dollars and battery life lasts about 14 minutes. Mortensen has found that’s a great length of time to keep the audience engaged without losing their attention.

The Cottonwood Heights event featured 150 drones with music and was customized to include the city’s logo and the logo of two event sponsors. If she has her way, Eatchel would love to offer both a drone and fireworks show at next year’s Butlerville Days.

“I have a whole plan if the council wants to move forward,” she said. “But I’m here to do what the council wants, what the Butlerville Days committee wants and what the public wants.”

As drone technology evolves, Mortensen expects the Open Sky shows to bring more creativity, choreography and customization to his clients. He’s excited to see what comes next and he challenges everyone to get out to see a drone show in person.

“Watching [a drone show] online is a great way to see it. But it’s much different in person when you see the size and the scale of these formations that are hundreds of feet wide and hundreds of feet tall. It’s really something to behold,” he said. “The most common takeaway we hear from people after a show is they didn't know what to expect….It just exceeds their expectations when they finally see one in person.” l

Cottonwood Heights residents enjoyed the city’s first drone show during Butlerville Days, as more cities explore drone show options. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

New Canyons District administrative changes aimed to enhance student education

Canyons School District recently made some historic decisions, including naming McKay Robinson as assistant superintendent and Tom Sherwood as the District high school director amongst other administrative appointments.

Both are familiar faces in the District.

Robinson, who has been the elementary schools’ performance director the past four years, will now lead the implementation of Canyons’ new strategic plan with the intention to improve and enhance student education, provide professional development and supervise directors in several areas. He also will be part of the decision-making in the superintendent’s cabinet meetings amongst others.

He already has had influence in the district as he helped to lead and support elementary school principals through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also was part of the team who helped to build safety protocols in Canyons schools. For his contribution, he earned 2022 Apex Award as the Administrator of the Year.

It’s not the first time he’s been honored.

Robinson earned the 2012 Utah Association of Elementary School Principals’ Rookie of the Year Award and the 2013 Utah PTA Outstanding Administrator of the Year, where he served as Lone Peak Elementary’s principal for six years. He then was principal at Sandy Elementary for four years and was awarded the 2016 Innovator of the Year Award from the Canyons Association of Elementary School Principals. During his time in the District office, he also was lauded with Utah State University’s 2000 Teacher of Tomorrow Award.

The 23-year educator was inspired at an early age to enter the profession.

“It was my third-grade teacher, Mr. Miner, who stepped up in my life and became more than just a teacher,” Robinson said. “He became my advocate, my biggest fan, and my hero, inspiration. It was at that time as an 8 year old that I decided I wanted to be just like him. Ever since that time I have known what I wanted to become and do with my life, and I have never looked back.”

Robinson, who earned his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a Minor in Korean from Utah State University, began teaching at Sprucewood Elementary. While teaching there, he earned his Master’s in Teaching at Grand Canyon University. He was awarded his Master’s in Education in Administrative Licensure, leadership preparation program at Brigham Young University shortly after teaching fourth grade at Butterfield Canyon Elementary in Jordan School District and being an intern assistant principal at Southland Elementary (Jordan District), and at Union Middle

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

(then Jordan, now Canyons District) and Lone Peak High (Alpine School District). He earned his Doctorate in K-12 Leadership and Policy in 2020.

While known as a baseball aficionado, he also is an outdoors enthusiast, camping with friends and family and racing his road bike in cycling events including the 200-plus-mile LoToJa (Logan to Jackson, Wyoming) Classic, which is one of the longest USA cycling-sanctioned bike races in the country.

Sherwood, the recipient of Canyons’ School Administrator of the Year APEX Award in 2021, steps into the director of high schools after serving the past 15 years as principal at Brighton and Jordan high schools. This is his 26th year in education.

“I’ve developed a good understanding of instruction, high school athletics and activities, and have a vision and carried out that vision for the schools; I have made strong efforts to be transparent and friendly and welcoming to our school communities,” he said.

That helped Sherwood transition to his current position where he will use his visionary leadership to guide and support principals at the District’s five comprehensive high schools as well as at Canyons Technical Education Center, Diamond Ridge and Entrada alternative schools as they prepare students to be college and career ready.

“I want to help principals be more effective in what they do. The job of the high school principal has become so big that it’s more than one person can do and it’s a high-demanding, time-consuming job. The average high school principal probably averages between 60 to 70 hours per week of labor and that includes extra work supervising athletic activities, dealing with personnel issues or working with the community about concerns. In this new position, I want to problem-solve to make it more manageable so principals can focus more on the most important work, which is student learning,” Sherwood said. “I’ll serve on the superintendent’s cabinet to help make informed decisions that impact high schools and make sure that we’re trying to move forward in a positive way with policies, procedures and resources.”

Another part of his position is to help coordinate and be the liaison with athletics and activities.

“Athletics and activities are a big part of what we offer in high schools. My involvement with the USHAA Board of Trustees and executive committee the past 12 years has really helped me learn a lot about best practices,” Sherwood said. “I’ll be helping with making sure that all coaches follow the state requirements, making sure that our district’s coaches get more

training on appropriate coaching techniques and positive coaching behaviors. Ultimately, I want to make sure that we’re doing the best job we can and providing the best product we can for students.”

During his tenure at Brighton, where he also previously taught biology and chemistry, Sherwood oversaw the building and transition from the old school to the current and ensured education continued throughout that and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Those were challenging years, especially with COVID on top of it and keeping everything safe. We were holding instruction in that manner while building a school and making sure that the new school had all the necessary elements. When we started, I have no idea how big of a challenge and how time consuming that would all be and then it was compounded. I’m proud of the finished product as well as what we’re able to accomplish during those years,” he said.

Known as a multitasker (Sherwood has a sign in his office from his assistant principal that reads “don’t interrupt me while I’m texting” as he admits to texting, calling and doing everything at the same time), he will stop to listen to a student or take a break to boogie down on the dance floor with them (while admitting he doesn’t dance).

“I’m going to miss the students, giving them a high-five, cheering them, watching them perform, seeing their presentations, their banter back and forth in the hallways,

just developing good relationships with the students in my building,” Sherwood said. “They’re why I got into education— to make a difference in the lives of students. There is something about teenagers; their energy and positivity is contagious and they’re just a fun group of people to be around.”

Other recent Canyons’ appointments include Butler Middle School’s principal Paul Logan as the District’s federal and state programs director, replacing Wendy Dau, who was appointed Provo City School District’s superintendent; East Sandy Principal Bryan Rudes will replace Logan at Butler Middle and Scott Dwyer will join him as assistant principal after working as an adaptive physical education teacher in the District’s special education department. Midvalley Elementary’s Assistant Principal Dan Ashbridge will become East Sandy’s new principal.

Corner Canyon High Assistant Principal Marielle Rawle will replace Sherwood as Brighton High’s principal, and joining her as an assistant principal will be April Sagala, a Jordan High counselor.

At Corner Canyon, Dina Kohler, formerly Hillcrest High assistant principal, will take the helm as its principal as Darrell Jensen left to be Provo City School District’s assistant superintendent. Jordan Denos, from Davis School District, will serve as an assistant principal for the Chargers, as well as science department chair Taylor Anderson, filling the vacancy of Steve Bailey, who retired. OJ Gulley, an

New Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson takes a spin on a tricycle during a Sandy Elementary event in 2019. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Oregon middle school principal, will take Kohler’s place as Hillcrest High assistant principal.

Alta High Assistant Principal Shelly Karren will succeed Indian Hills Principal Doug Graham, who will be an administrator on special assignment; and Joseph Olson, currently a middle school principal in Moab, will be Indian Hills Middle School’s assistant principal. Brandon Jacobson, Alta’s career and technical education coordinator, and Justin Matagi, an assistant principal at Albion Middle, will serve as Alta’s assistant principals.

Bella Vista Elementary Principal Eric Gardner will serve as Albion Middle principal, replacing Molly Hart, who left to become Summit Academy’s executive director. Glacier Hills Assistant Principal Angi Holden will become Bella Vista Elementary’s principal. Butler Middle Assistant Principal Halley Nelson will become a Glacier Hills assistant principal.

Union Middle Assistant Principal John Hellwig will take the same position at Albion Middle; Indian Hills Middle Assistant Principal Roger Moody will become assistant principal at Union Middle; and Draper Park Middle Assistant Principal Kristana Price will transfer to become Midvale Middle assistant principal. Mary Simao, Brighton High’s assistant principal, will serve as Draper Park Middle’s assistant principal.

Midvale Elementary principal Lori

Reynolds will be the District’s human resources administrator in charge of recruiting elementary teachers replacing Sally Sansom, who was appointed school performance director of elementary schools. Midvale’s assistant principal Carolee Mackay will become the school’s principal.

Silver Mesa Elementary Principal Julie Fielding will be Altara Elementary’s principal replacing Nicole Svee Magann who will be Willow Canyon Elementary’s principal. Michelle Snarr, who was Willow Canyon’s principal, will serve as Copperview Elementary’s assistant principal. Noelle Jones, Alta View Elementary’s achievement coach will serve as Silver Mesa’s principal.

Midvale Middle Assistant Principal Divya Nagpal replaces Peruvian Park Elementary Principal Leslie Jewkes, who retired. Sandy Elementary Assistant Principal Anne Hansen will be principal at Willow Springs Elementary replacing Marianne Watts who retired. Canyon View Elementary teacher Karla Antivilo will become the assistant principal at Sandy Elementary.

Other new assistant principals include Aimee Wagner at Midvale Elementary; Raschelle Davis at Copperview Elementary; and Barbra Winder at Midvalley Elementary. l

Canyons

School District welcomes its new teachers in style

NeuroStar is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression. With NeuroStar, you can live on your terms.

“I had taken 11 different medications without any relief… NeuroStar treatment has helped me bring my life back with a happiness that I’ve never experienced before” ~TODD

Photo by Julie Slama

After walking the red carpet to the sounds of a high school drumline, cheering of student body officers and swishing of cheerleader pom poms, more than 200 new teachers could check out local business and community organization booths and enjoy a hot dog barbecue welcoming them to Canyons School District and the school year.

As a dance studio that values each child as an artist, South Valley Creative Dance teaches and nurtures skills and abilities that support dance as a performance art, not a competitive sport. This philosophy empowers students to make powerful, artistic statements about the world in which they live.

Tami Redd Knubel is co-owner/co-artistic director at South Valley Creative Dance. She saw a need for a quality creative and modern dance program in the south end of the valley. The studio is owned and operated by Knubel, Nicholas Cendese, Julie Johnston, Carrie Peterson and Kristen Messenger.

When did you start South Valley Creative Dance?

This fall is our 20th year in business and it’s the perfect time for new endeavors with the studio. Several of us involved with the program came together under a new joint ownership to better reach the studio’s goals and serve the interests of our students.

We established a 501(c)3 non-pro t, the “Utah Creative Dance Foundation.” With this piece of the puzzle in place, we will establish scholarships for students and provide outreach to the community. Why did you start your business?

I didn’t know much about owning a small business, but I did know that children love to dance. Providing a studio with high artistic value was a purposeful endeavor to focus on in my professional life.

What classes do you o er?

We o er classes in creative and modern dance for ages 2 to 18. We also o er ballet technique, a music/dance/theatre class and a Boys Who Move class. Our teachers have a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in modern dance and several of our teachers have performed professionally throughout the U.S. Our student choreography classes for 6th to 12th graders give dancers

opportunities to participate with professional guest artists and present their own performance each spring.

Does your business solve a problem for your customers?

Yes! We are a place where children are respected as individuals with inherent talents. We want to be aware of each child’s needs, knowing each dancer as an individual. We see our studio and educational programs as essential elements in helping students

build not only artistic skills, but life and college, career-ready skills. Our students are outstanding creative problem solvers who learn how to think outside the box. These things can be applied in any career and life situation.

How do potential clients choose between you or a competitor?

Whether a child wants to dance as an extracurricular activity or as a foundation to a professional career, we support their endeavors and consider dance a valuable piece of their development. Clients see our quality dance education, purposeful instruction, lifelong learning and development of the whole child - mind, body and spirit. Our studio has connections to most of the professional companies that call Utah home. Our faculty includes past and current performing members of some of these companies. Coowner and co-artistic director Nicholas Cendese is the Artistic Associate/Development Director of Repertory Dance Theatre. Are you o ering any specials?

We o er a free trial class. Your child or teen can choose to observe or participate, the parent can observe and the teacher will answer any questions. We o er a 15% discount when enrolling one student in multiple classes and a 15% discount for enrollment of a second child.

What else you would like readers to know?

We’re a small dance studio, but we’ve had dancers excel during their high school and college years. We credit this to the quality of our faculty and the artistic expression of our students. Kara Komarnitsky, current faculty member and South Valley Creative Dance alumni, was the 2018 Statewide Sterling Scholar in Dance. In addition, several of our high school graduates have continued their education in modern dance at the college level. We’re excited that our students develop a passion for dance in their lives.

Few girls soccer teams in Utah can match the pedigree of the Alta Hawks.

Since the school opened its doors in 1978, the girls soccer program has won eight state titles, all of which came during a 13-season span between 1999 and 2011. The Hawks captured four consecutive state crowns between 2006 and 2009. So it’s not surprising to learn that the standard is high for the Hawks.

The past several years have also seen many changes in the region makeup and the opponents Alta has played. This season is no different. The Hawks are now in Region 6 after having been in Region 8 the past few seasons. Previously, Alta played region games against Orem, Jordan, Mountain View, Timpview, Lehi and Timpanogos. Region 6 foes are Skyline, Brighton, East, Olympus, West and Highland.

“We can compete with every team in our new region, but it is a new region, so every game is brand new,” head coach Kenzie Hyer said. “That makes it extra exciting.”

Through the first seven games, Alta had a 3-4 record, including a 1-2 start in region play. The Hawks had 17 goals and allowed 14 during that span. Hyer is looking for the offense to be more consistent and productive.

“We need to score more goals,” she said. “Seems simple but it’s true. We are working the ball well throughout the whole

New stars emerging for Alta girls soccer

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

field, great team defense, and taking shots. Now we need to increase our finishes.”

It’s not a shock that the Hawks have had some struggles this season. Alta had to say goodbye to some talented players from last season’s squad. This team is young and inexperienced.

“We lost so much talent and starters from last year’s team,” Hyer said. “Most players are new to varsity and really getting the opportunity to step up and make a huge, positive impact.”

Despite the youth of this team, there are some great senior leaders headlining

the team. Hyer praised senior defender Annie Heaton, senior defender Alaina Ogden and senior midfielder Emily Dachenhausen for their efforts on and off the field. Lizzie Cowdell, a junior midfielder is another player that Hyer pointed out.

Heaton was second on the team in goals through seven games with four. Dachenhausen was the leader in assists at that point with five. Natalie Abba was the top scorer through seven contests with seven goals. Goalkeeper Biz Vietti had a 7-0 shutout of Highland on Aug. 14.

Hyer has enjoyed this group, especially with how well they have gotten along and

how coachable they have been.

“This group of players are working on unity and team so much and so well,” she said. “It is fun to be around them every day. This team is such an amazing group of girls. They are a joy to be around and are consistently working hard to continue the legacy of Alta soccer.”

Alta finishes the regular season Sept. 28 against West. The 5A state tournament follows. Last season, Alta went 12-6 overall and lost to Timpanogos 3-2 in the second round of the playoffs. l

The Alta Haws celebrate a goal in a game earlier this season against Olympus. (Photo courtesy of Angela Ferguson.)

Jordan volleyball team works hard on overcoming challenges, improving

Last season, as part of Class 5A’s Region 8, the Jordan Beetdiggers went 0-12 in league play and 6-15 overall. The season was a struggle, but there is still optimism this year.

The Beetdiggers are now members of Class 4A’s Region 10 with new foes Stansbury, Murray, Tooele, Cottonwood, Hillcrest and Park City. Though geographically it’s a spread-out region, which can be difficult to manage, the opposition should be less daunting than it has been.

Despite recent struggles, Jordan has a positive outlook on the new campaign.

“We are in a new region, so I expect [the players] to show up and compete against these new teams,” head coach Crystal Nye said. “I expect them to give every game everything they've got.”

Nye believes the players are improving, and she is eager to see them continue to get better, enjoy playing with one another and overcoming obstacles.

“I'm most excited to see the athlete progress—to watch them grow as a team, face hard things, overcome, share in wins and losses, be there for each other,” she said. “Being part of a team is a unique experience, and I'm excited to see what they can make of it.”

Five of Jordan’s six starters are seniors. These players include outside hitter Avery La-

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

vaka, setter Kylee McDonald, middle blocker Ella Blackburn, libero Taylor Hilton and pin hitter Abby Barron. Junior outside hitter Brooke Hatch rounds out the starting lineup.

Tough times and unfavorable results have not deterred these determined girls, Nye said.

“Our strengths are fight, hustle and resilience,” she said. “These athletes have been through a lot—as individuals and as a program. That bonds them together and gives them a unique power.”

It has been awhile since Jordan volleyball has finished high in region standings or won a lot of games. Nye is trying to change that by improving the culture around the program. She has seen signs of success in that regard and is optimistic that this season could be a turning point.

“Before I took over for head coach, the program had high turnover in coaches, which makes it hard to have a successful program,” she said. “I am working to overcome this by putting in the time, effort and energy into creating a competitive and successful program.”

Jordan started the season with a pair of wins in its first three games. After losing to East 3-1 on Aug. 15, the Beetdiggers shut out Judge Memorial 3-0 on Aug. 17 and then defeated Kearns 3-1 on Aug. 22. That was al-

ready halfway to last season’s total with 13 matches left.

To be more competitive this season in their new region, the Beetdiggers need to play as a single unit and trust one another, Nye said. She also said they need to focus on this season and not dwell on what has taken place before.

“The athletes need to come together and play as a team,” she said. “They need to put themselves and the past aside to create the

season they are capable of.”

The final game of the regular season is Oct. 10. The 4A state tournament is the second week of October.

“I'm proud of these athletes,” Nye said. “I'm proud of where they have come and the work they are putting in to create the future that they want. They are good athletes on the court and amazing humans off the court. I'm proud to be the coach of Jordan volleyball.” l

“ Robert and Mark were great! We had pipes burst at night and they were right there to help us get the water shut off and to help us get all the water out and dried. They were both professional, communication was great and they were thorough.I would recommend them to anyone! ”

—Anna D

Jordan High volleyball is now part of Regoin 10. (Photo courtesy Crystal Nye)

SLCC exercise science student aims to repeat speedskating gold medal at 2026 Olympics

Erin Jackson is the first Black American woman to win a winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport. She claimed the 500-meter speed skating gold at Beijing in 2022.

“It was a lot of shock, disbelief,” she remembered one year later. “It was surreal. I felt a lot of pride; I saw my dad’s face, then my coach, my teammates, those who supported me along the way. This was a group win, for sure.”

Jackson hopes to add another medal at the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Recently, she took one month off to recover from surgery.

“I get that itch to get out and do something. I’m being active by going for long walks and spending time on the bike. I’m taking it step by step,” she said. “I always tell people to take that first step right because if you think about your goals as these big long-term things like wanting to go to the Olympics that seems like an insurmountable goal. But when you just take that first step to what you’re trying to accomplish, then the next step comes a little easier. Then the next thing you’re snowballing into your goals.”

Jackson is an exercise science student at Salt Lake Community College.

At 31, she already has graduated with honors from the University of Florida’s materials science and engineering program and earned an associate degree from SLCC in computer science.

“I’m a naturally very lazy person. If I don’t have enough things to fill my day, I’ll just sit down and watch TV. I feel like keeping a few things on my plate helps me with time management,” she said. “My career goal is biomechanics; I want to work with prosthetics. I know a lot of Paralympians and I’m always asking questions, trying to figure out the ins and outs of their prosthetics and devices.”

Jackson, who was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports in 2012 and 2013, followed a lot of skaters who transition to ice to pursue the Olympics. However, she needed some persuasion.

“I didn’t see that in my future. I always thought I’m happy on my skates, my inlines. I hate being cold. Why would I switch over to the ice? I was focused on getting my degree,” she said, remembering she shifted to ice when she was convinced she “could possibly go to the Olympics.”

With four months of speedskating experience on ice, Jackson qualified for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. In 2021, she became the first Black American woman to win the World Cup in the 500 meters. Her Olympic speed skating gold medal is the first since Chris Witty in 1000 meters in 2002 and the first American woman to win the women’s

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

500 meters since Bonnie Blair in 1994.

The student-athlete was part of a keynote panel for the post-COVID-19 return of SLCC’s exercise science conference, sharing her insights with fitness instructors, personal trainers, students and other exercise enthusiasts.

“I don’t really like to eat my vegetables, but if I do, I just douse them in ranch,” Jackson told them. “Dr. Jen told me it doesn’t hurt to do that, just because you’re dousing them doesn’t negate the fact that you’re still getting your nutrients.”

Her diet and exercise are monitored by the U.S. speedskating team. Two members—SLCC Assistant Professor “Dr. Jen” Day, a certified specialist in sports dietetics, and SLCC Associate Professor Carrie Needham, a doctorate who has worked in exercise science for more than 25 years—joined Jackson, describing how they support Olympic excellence.

Day traveled with the speedskating team and watched Jackson win her gold medal.

“It was a really cool moment,” she said. “I was crying and screaming. It felt Erin just brought the whole world together, and everyone celebrated with her. I’m very grateful to be a part of it. It’s probably one of the top 10 experiences of my whole life.”

Day said her role is to pair sports nutrition with the science of exercise physiology and science of nutrition for the 20- to 30-member speed skating team, ages 15 to 36, who not only practice on the ice, but often cross train, biking up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the summer.

“It’s a big difference in fueling needs if they’re out on the bike on a hot day in July compared to doing intervals in a cold, dry environment on ice. There’s a lot of education that goes into teaching them depending on their environment, what kind of training they’re doing, what phase of training there and what their nutrition needs are going to be,” she said.

Day provides healthy diet counseling individually as well as team talks.

“I’m teaching these athletes how to eat a baseline healthy diet,” she said, adding that the team also undergoes regular body composition testing, including girth measurements.

Jackson supports a healthy diet and proper training.

“I wasn’t the best athlete before I joined the skating team,” she said. “I relied mostly on talent so when I came out to Salt Lake City, the coach had all these different ideas about training such as warming up and cooling down. I said that I never warmed up and cooled down. My thoughts around exercise and training changed completely. Now, I’m

one of those athletes who always asks a lot of questions. I learn why we’re doing certain things. That’s also why I’m pursuing this degree in exercise science; I feel as a top-level athlete, it’s important to know the science behind what I’m doing every day. I’ve learned fueling can be one thing that people kind of overlook. When it comes to training and being a top-level athlete, people think that you win in the gym, but refueling is one of the most important things. Your muscles are still working and breaking down after training until you refuel them to repair the muscle fibers.”

Day shops and packs food for the athletes and monitors their supplements.

“It is important for them to have access to food that’s going to support their training, and I don’t just willy-nilly get everyone on supplements. We supplement based on need,” she said. “I focus on food first. I’d rather them get their vitamin C from a whole orange because it contains carbohydrates, healthy fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants, right? All of these are perfectly packaged in a little health snack. Where if they take a vitamin C supplement, they’re only getting vitamin C. So, I have a food first approach always.”

By monitoring athletes, she has a better understanding of what is needed.

During the Olympic year, Day noticed Jackson was “getting tired all the time. She needed multiple naps a day. We did some blood work, and it wasn’t surprising to see

that her iron levels had tanked.”

With a change of diet and supplements, she was able to increase her level and along with it, Jackson had improved energy.

“We have comprehensive labs so we can see all angles of what’s going on and we have a doctor that provides guidance for us,” Day said. “We work a lot with the physiology of exercise, so we understand what the body is going through when it’s stressed with exercise.”

Needham said that exercise science can support Olympians as well as any population since the concepts are the same.

“I look at how can we take that research and apply it in a real-world setting,” she said, saying it is the same whether it’s for somebody who has a chronic disease and needs to improve their lifestyle through an exercise program or if it’s “training for athletes so that they can improve their time by 1% to make it onto the podium. The job of the exercise or sports scientist is to answer questions from the coach or from the athlete. We can look at research and find answers. We can do testing and find those answers. But when we can answer the questions for the coach and the athletes, then we are giving them valuable information that they can use in their performance.”

Her programs are individualized, matching the physiological profile to the athlete.

“We have to know what that physiological profile looks like and the type of athlete

Salt Lake Community College student and 2022 Olympic 500-meter speed skating gold medalist Erin Jackson shared her story with attendees at the school’s annual exercise science program conference. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

they are. Do they have more fast twitch muscle fiber or slow twitch muscle fiber? What are the demands of the sport? Is it more of an aerobic sport and they need to be able to do that for long periods of time? Or is it a more explosive sport and they need to have that quick, powerful movement,” she said, adding they run tests, including oxidative systems, lactate threshold and aerobic capacity. “That’s valuable information for coaches, for athletes, for a personal trainer, for an exercise therapist, to know what we’re doing is making a difference in that training.”

Jackson said she gives “a solid effort” when it comes to testing.

“Testing is really important because our sports scientists, they use this data to help me achieve my goals,” she said, adding that she also makes sure she gets plenty of rest, stretches and massages her muscles for the next training session. “I used to sleep five to six hours a night because of being a student and staying up late doing homework. I had to work on getting eight hours of sleep a night.”

As Jackson looks ahead to her skating career and the possibility of the Olympics returning to Utah, she’s pumped.

“I’m currently 30 years old and I want to skate forever, but that’s not feasible. I would love to have the Salt Lake Olympics in 2030 and be able to compete on home ice,” she said. “If it’s 2034, I’ll likely be on the sidelines, but I’ll be supporting Salt Lake’s Olympics 100%.” l

“Megan is a world class acupuncturist who has helped me with pain from a spinal injury and chronic nerve pain… gratefully, Megan and her team helped me to recover holistically. I recommend her to my friends and family all the time.”

– Sean

Utah Water Savers incentivizes homeowners to create waterwise landscapes

By Genevieve Vahl | g.vahl@mycityjournals.com

We’veall seen the waste of water. A sprinkler gushes water onto the concrete. The delicate rays of water to be dispersed evenly across the grass jumbled into a mass of unfettered drench reaching nothing but the hot concrete to evaporate into thin air. In arid Utah, that’s a problem.

“Approximately two-thirds of drinking water in Utah is used to water lawns and landscapes,” according to Utah State University’s extension Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping. “Much of this water is being applied inefficiently, either due to sprinkler system design flaws or because sprinklers are running too long.”

A unified approach to saving water

In May of this year, a program called Utah Water Savers, the nation’s first statewide landscape incentive program, rolled out, working to eliminate wasteful moments exactly like this. The Division of Water Resources has partnered with Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County and Weber Basin Water Conservancy Districts to develop the program that gives rebates to qualified homeowners in municipalities that have adopted water efficiency standards, of up to $3 per square foot when they replace their grass with water efficient, or waterwise, landscaping.

The most recent legislative session allocated a one-time $5 million and an ongoing $3 million to the program, on top of the $5 million one-time allocation in 2022. “This means that the amount of money available to help homeowners reduce (they don’t have to entirely eliminate all lawn) have increased threefold,” said Cynthia Bee, the public information officer for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and one of the creators of the localscapes method.

These state funds are available to those living in municipalities that have adopted water efficiency standards for new construction—52 cities have already done so—and will be matched in areas served by Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County and Weber Basin water conservancy districts. Cities will be added as landscape ordinances are updated to meet state requirements. “New construction will operate within some limits on how much lawn area they can have and how water is applied,” Bee said. “The incentives are intended to help those with existing landscapes who choose to convert them to the new standards, to do so more affordably.”

“I think having our new growth come in as waterwise as possible is going to make a significant difference because the water and the landscape decisions we make today impact our water use decisions for decades to come,” said Candace Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.

“Every planning decision, every land use decision, is a water use decision,” Bee said.

The team concocting the program involved experts from across the spectrum of

industries, including horticulturists, maintenance staff, landscape construction, water experts, collaborating to create tangible, efficient solutions to the ongoing reckoning with drought, water shortages and rising populations in the West. “The last couple of years of drought has shown us that we need to do better and that we’re willing to do better,” Hasenyager said.

“Rather than trying to go through each funding source and municipality separately and make it really awkward, we built all of that calculating into the Utah Water Savers site,” Bee said. “Instead of each individual agency doing their own thing in their own program, we’ve all banned together in one unified approach.”

The localscapes method

Current homeowners can “flip their strip” or convert their yard entirely using the Utah Water Savers Program localscapes method, created specifically for Utah.

“Localscapes is an approach to landscaping that shows how to get landscapes that fit, rather than fight, our climate,” Bee said. They include waterwise plants, trees and shrubs local to Utah with different creative landscaping solutions to fill yards with purposeful activities and zones, ultimately looking to remove

nonfunctional grass. “There are parts of your landscape where the only time you’re there is when you’re pushing the lawn mower,” Bee said. Localscaping promotes looking at those nonfunctional turf areas and reevaluating what it could be used for.

“In places where there’s an active purpose for it, we want to be able to keep it, which means you can keep up to 35% lawn,” Bee said.

But where there is no active recreation point—the kids outgrew the playset, the park strip is not walked on—and with a minimum of 200 square feet, localscapes can “integrate water and land use planning,” to better serve the climate and the homeowner. “Changing out these different specialty zones becomes really easy over time and it makes the yard far simpler to manage,” Bee said.

“We want water efficient plants, but water efficient plants are only a plant with potential if you don't change how you're delivering water to that plant,” Bee said. Also no water is saved if the sprinkler system is inefficient. “In a localscape, we control that water, only providing water to the plants that we’re intentionally planting. We’re disadvantaging the weeds and you’re seeing fewer of them,” Bee said.

To realistically get homeowners to con-

vert their lawns into thriving localscapes, Utah Water Savers requires free classes, both in person or online, to teach how to apply localscapes correctly, within the water efficiency standards, giving tools on how to do it yourself. Hired out landscapers can also be used, depending on the homeowners’ budget. “We’re trying to provide a full slate of tools to help them accomplish the outcome,” Bee said.

To apply, go to utahwatersavers.com, enter your water provider or register for an account and you can see what type of rebates you qualify for in your municipality. For example, the process of submitting a landscape plan to be approved, completing the project within one year and maintaining the new landscape for a minimum of three years are common parameters.

“The key is you need to apply before you start,” Bee said. “We do not rebate retroactively, so don’t tear out anything until you’re approved in the program.”

Homeowners’ experiences

In the months since its launch, some homeowners talked about what is working and not working.

Draper homeowner Nancy Bromfield and her husband flipped their strip, side yards and front and backyards, removing 7,500 square feet of grass across the whole property. Because of their flagstone walkway in the back, they did not qualify for the rebate back there. “But we didn’t care. We still did it because we knew we wanted to save water and we knew it was the right thing to do,” she said.

Now between the front and back, their property has 2,500 square feet of grass. “We overseeded our water hogging grass with white Dutch clover,” a localscapes plant type, Bromfield said. They also added 40 tons of rock around their property amongst the waterwise plants. “Having these beautiful pollinator friendly, waterwise plants have brought us different varieties of bumble bees and hummingbirds and moths. It’s just amazing.”

When they bought their home in July 2013, the previous owners were using 115,000 gallons of water a month, making a bill of $147, with a winter consumption of 60,000 gallons. After implementing their localscape via Utah Water Savers in July of 2023 they have gotten their water consumption down to 13,000 gallons, over a 100,000 gallon difference. In addition to the water cuts, their lawn care efforts have been cut drastically too. “It used to take us 46 minutes to cut the grass, now it takes seven minutes, front and back,” Bromfield said.

They were once quoted $20,000 to $30,000 to redo their yard because of its sheer size. But with the localscape approach, their project cost about $4,000 with a rebate check of just over $1,000. “The rebate was about 25% of what we spent, but only 40% of what we did was rebate eligible,” Bromfield said.

To help find the right waterwise plants

Waterwise plants dispersed within Nancy Bromfield’s front rock beds. (Nancy Bromfield)

for her full-sun-all-day property, Bromfield attended localscape university classes, the required classes in person—which she found especially helpful—visited ConservationGardenPark.org/plants, as well as used the

localscapes YouTube channel.

For others like Elizabeth Sweat and her husband, who are a part of a homeowners association in Draper, the online classes proved trivial, but they found visiting the Jordan Val-

ley Water’s Conservation Garden Park much more helpful in their project vision. “They had all different stations and you could learn and look at examples and I grabbed brochures. That was more educational than anything,” Sweat said. Although the couple did the work themselves, they found the process more expensive than expected. “Once manufacturers and rock companies saw that the state was paying, they jacked up their prices,” Sweat said.

They also had to make several runs to the county dump to dispose of their 90 square feet of sod they removed per project requirements, tacking on unexpected expenses. Bromfield left her ripped up sod out for free for the taking, and about three quarters of it was gone by the end of the day. The rest they had to take to the dump. “Unfortunately,” she said.

Both homeowners did most of the work themselves and both found it difficult to get an initial inspection because of increased demand. But once someone did finally make it to their properties, it was a five to 10 minute review.

Ultimately, both homeowners would recommend the program to others. “I would recommend it if you want to flip your strip, but if you’re trying to make some money on it, it won’t,” Sweat said.

“I would definitely recommend it. It’s really weird how I didn’t like gardening and now I have my plants and I really enjoy taking care of them,” Bromfield said. “It’s really cool

the world that it opened up for me that I had no idea of.”

Time for a change

“Doing a small project is a great place to start. You don’t have to commit your whole landscape. Commit your park strip, your side yard,” Bee said. “Test everything out that we’re teaching and verify for yourself before you obligate yourself to do more.”

Since the launch, there have been over 2,500 applications across the state and another 460 flip your strip applications. “That’s almost 3,000 applications, which is pretty amazing,” Hasenyager said. In Washington County alone, just over 600,000 square feet of grass has already been removed, according to Hasenyager.

“We’re in a change window, we have to change, that’s non-negotiable,” Bee said. “What we’re figuring out is how do we do it in a way that is the most orderly and accomplishable for people.”

“Not only is there more water in our reservoirs and groundwater, less is evaporated that completely leaves the system. There’s more that goes into our lakes and streams including the Great Salt Lake,” Hasenyager said. “I think there’s a really good incentive for people to do it. Not only for those that are here today and making our current water supply more resilient, but also those that might be here tomorrow.”l

Waterwise plants finally taking space in the Bromfield’s front localscape. (Nancy Bromfield)

Waterford School’s new science building gives students opportunity to learn

Waterford School’s new science building isn’t just a building, but rather a teaching tool.

The two-story building that welcomes students this fall, just one year and a few months after ground was broken in April 2022, houses six classrooms dedicated to biology, chemistry and physics, as well as additional rooms for the school’s signature outdoor program, world-known robotics program, a singular nature laboratory and classrooms for their science courses.

Yet throughout the building, steel trust beams aren’t hidden in walls, so students can learn about the engineering and infrastructure that is designed to withstand earthquakes as well as an open mechanics area to understand about the school’s geothermal climate system. Students also can learn about pulleys and tensions in hydraulics as the elevator shaft is open for viewing. Even the position of the Wasatch observation deck is in line with Little Cottonwood Canyon so students can learn from the natural world.

“The students will be able to read the structure and be able to understand how the building is an application of science knowledge,” science department chair James Harris said. “For example, we’re right near the Wasatch Fault so we’ll be understanding our sense of place right here on the Wasatch Front and know that this structure will protect us when the big one hits. The framing provides shear strength and it’s not hidden in the walls, but it’s exposed so we can use it as a teaching tool. We’ll use the open elevator as an opportunity so students can see how counterweight works.”

He also said the use of a geothermal system to heat and cool the building teaches students to be good stewards of their natural resources.

“We’ve been mindful to design and build this facility that exemplifies stewardship of resources with our geothermal system. It’s all electric except for a small pipe of gas for our Bunsen burners. That means we won’t be contributing to local winter inversion or air pollution problems,” he said.

Those 45 400-foot geothermal shafts are underneath the soccer field and will bring a 54-degree temperature into the building that then can be adjusted. The building also was designed to be “bright and vibrant” by bringing in natural light through narrow window ribbons that allows the sunlight to enter from the rooftop, said Todd Winters, assistant head of school for enrollment and institutional advancement, who added that the building’s design also calls for solar panels on the roof.

Harris pointed out the landscaping in front of the building is native plants that require low water so it will reduce the amount of water needed for campus beautification.

“Everything just brings us up to date and beyond for the students to be able to work collaboratively both in the classroom and in the

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

lab space and also, independently outside the classroom lab space as scientists do,” he said about the building that houses advanced placement (AP) biology, AP chemistry, AP physics and AP environmental science in addition to courses that include natural history, molecular biology, zoology, botany, biotech, molecular biology, robotics and more.

Winters said that the design of the building, by EDA architecture firm with Okland Construction as the general contractor, was intentional “to dedicate and show our investment in the environment with some of those stewardship opportunities from solar to geothermal, to a large bioswale and even the design of the building itself. We’ve been building a building that not only is functional for the kinds of sciences our students are learning, but also we introduced an opportunity to build a building that really supports the mission, the vision and the kinds of sciences our students are learning.”

The science building, which cost about $22.5 million, is part of the master plan, which includes a new turf field that will be finished by early winter; a 40,000-square-foot student center, which will completed next fall; and new parking infrastructure that will be completed by early winter. Already added are new basketball and pickleball courts. It’s part of the school’s capital campaign, Waterford Rises, which raised more than $45 million and will grow the school’s endowment.

As of press deadline, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was slated for later August with a ground-breaking on Sept. 1 for the new student center, which will house a dining commons for 475 people, a student store, a gathering area, meeting spaces, an outdoor plaza and the offices for the dean of students.

Waterford School emerged from the Waterford Institute plan, which began in 1976 as a “think tank, to incubate the use of digital technology as an instructional tool,” Winter said, who added in 1981, the non-tuition laboratory school was opened in an abandoned Catholic school in Provo.

Waterford School in Sandy opened as a model school to 150 kindergarten through fifth-grade students in 1986.

“When we opened this campus, it was really a bootstrap effort. There was no endowment, there was no benefactor. The vision was to grow the school to be a full K through 12 school,” said Winters who was a part of the effort to build the campus where apricot trees, alfalfa and potatoes fields and gladiolas once grew.

Throughout the years, the campus was built as more land was acquired. In 1999, the last land purchased made the campus complete at 42 acres.

“In 2010, the two organization became separate nonprofit entities and Waterford School is continuing to honor that legacy as we continue to deliver the world class liberal arts education. We have a shared legacy,” he said.

Currently, the 12-building school is at its target enrollment, 1,050 pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students from six counties, and are taught by 270 part- and full-time faculty. Thirty-four percent of Waterford’s student body identify as students of color and the school welcomes students of diverse religious backgrounds and those with physical disabilities. About 17% of its students receive financial assistance for the tuition that ranges from $15,000 to $29,000 per year, depending upon the student’s year in school. One hundred percent of Waterford’s graduating seniors attend colleges and universities. Currently, there is a wait list for almost every grade, Winter said. Other notable aspects of the new science building:

• The robotics room is large enough to not only use equipment to build and code robots, and store parts, but has enough room to host local robotics competitions.

• One of the school’s founding science

teachers, Mark Bromley, collected and donated his collection from butterflies to an African elephant head that will be exhibited in a nature lab so students can examine and learn about zoology and botany. Art and photography lessons also will use the lab.

• Computer science classrooms for students to learn by beginning scratch programming and visual basic in middle school and more advanced classes such as Python, Java and HTML in high school.

• Student study and lounge areas as well as project classrooms where students can leave their materials in place when the bell rings and pick up later without needing to set up again.

• Teacher spaces for research, collaboration with colleagues, innovating their craft and professional development.

• Large multipurpose classroom as well as the observation deck that can be used as gathering spaces. l

Waterford School’s new science building has dedicated classrooms and labs for biology, chemistry and physics as well as additional rooms for other scientific study; outside this room, crews work to put in a new turf field. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Waterford School will open the school year with a new science building that will serve as a teaching tool to students as well as provide them classroom and laboratory space. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

In a recent national study, a concerning trend has come to light within our police departments. Law Enforcement agencies across the country are facing challenges in recruiting new officers, and what's more, a growing number of officers are opting to leave their positions or retire earlier than expected (Source: Police Executive Research Forum).

We know that when a police force is stretched thin, struggling to respond promptly to emergencies and investigate crimes, it impacts our community’s safety. The heart of effective policing lies in the experience and expertise of our officers. If we find ourselves with a shortage of seasoned officers, it could affect the quality of training, decision-making, and overall effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

The life of a police officer is anything but easy. They face a multitude of demands, carrying the weight of public expectations on their shoulders. Every day, they confront challenging, and sometimes heart-wrenching, situations. It's important to recognize that amidst the stress, many officers are driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact in their communities. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that prolonged exposure to stressors can take a toll on their mental well-being, leading to burnout and other health issues. We must stand together to support their journey toward mental wellness.

As a society, it is our responsibility to treat our police officers with empathy and respect. While constructive feedback is valuable, it's equally important to remember that the weight of their responsibilities can impact their mental health. Demonstrating appreciation and understanding will go a long way in boosting their morale and overall well-being.

Police officers are not just symbols in uniform – they are individuals with families, emotions, and aspirations. The pressures they face on the job can ripple into their personal lives, affecting their relationships and overall happiness. Recognizing their humanity and the toll their profession takes on their mental health enables us to build a community that truly values those who safeguard us.

Challenges police officers endure are immense, often exposing them to traumatic events and high-stress situations. Research indicates that police officers are more suscepti-

ble to mental health struggles compared to the general population.

As a united community, we can make a difference by offering support for the emotional well-being of our police officers. Express your gratitude for their dedication and support programs focusing on mental health training for both officers and the public. Educate yourself and those around you about recognizing

signs of mental health issues and providing a compassionate hand.

By standing together, we can ignite a positive transformation. Let's prioritize the mental well-being of our law enforcement officers, ensuring they have the necessary support and resources to thrive personally and professionally. In doing so, we fortify our police force, cultivating safer and stronger communities for all.

Last month, I watched the neighborhood kids trudge back to school. Hunched under the weight of heavy backpacks, the little Quasimodos marched into the school year carrying a 300-page summer homework packet, an associate’s degree they earned at math camp, 750 colored pencils, scissors, an emotional support stuffed animal, cleaning products, a mass spectrometer, a non-BPA bento box and some allergen-free crackers.

When I attended elementary school in the 1900s, we didn’t use backpacks. They hadn’t been invented. It was too cumbersome to drag our handcart to school, so we carried our math, history, language, science, reading and social studies books home in our arms every night.

Most kids didn’t fail because they didn’t understand the homework, they failed because they were too weak to carry 50 pounds of textbooks.

Parents and educators set the bar for us at “extremely low” and we were lucky to hit that. One of my biggest challenges came in fourth grade when I started the school year wearing homemade avocado-green culottes. And it got worse. My Bionic Woman lunchbox had an unreliable latch, so I spent lunchtime worrying my PB&J would fall onto the floor and

Getting Schooled

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

everyone would laugh.

Not sure if I learned anything that year.

The motto at the elementary school near my home is “Academically smart, character strong.” I don’t think my school had a motto, unless it was “Sit down and shut up.” It wasn’t that our teachers didn’t care, they just thought “quiet reading time” or “rest your heads on your desks” was the best way to spend the majority of our day.

But that first day of school was always exciting. New school supplies had to be arranged carefully in my desk, including a brand new cardboard pencil box with a built-in pencil sharpener that was never sharp enough to create a point. It just mangled the top of my pencils, leaving a broken lead I kept pushing back into place.

And, of course, there had to be space

for my colorful hoppy taw, for hopscotch, and a bag of cat’s-eyes so I could shoot marbles at recess. Not real cat’s eyes. I’m not that old.

My grandson is in sixth grade, taking classes like flight science, robotics and computer engineering. When I was in sixth grade, we wrapped eggs in styrofoam and threw them off the school roof.

#Science

Luckily for today’s hard-working students, they get vacation days all the time. They’re off for Burning Man and Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest and (ironically) International Literacy Day. In the 1970s, we had Christmas Day off and a half-day for Thanksgiving. We didn’t even miss school for being sick. We just took our pneumonia-filled lungs to class and hoped we didn’t die during recess.

I’m not saying elementary school was better in the 20th century. It wasn’t. Not at all. If we could eat with a spoon in kindergarten, we would be at the top of the class. Kids who knew the difference between a letter and a number were named class president. Our role models were Bugs Bunny and the Muppets, so we were trained early in sarcasm.

Kids are so much smarter now than we ever were. I’m amazed at what my grandkids learn. I have a 7-year-old granddaughter learning Spanish and a 6-year-old granddaughter building LEGO robots. When I was their age, my biggest challenge was learning cat’s cradle. I guess the content in those heavy backpacks is paying off.

PROFESSIONAL