South Jordan Journal | December 2023

Dec. 2023 | Vol. 10 Iss. 12

FREE

GIVE A LITTLE: JORDAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION’S 10TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

his holiday, give a little of yourself to make the season brighter for a child.

Jordan Education Foundation’s 10th annual Christmas for Kids needs volunteers to chaperone about 650 middle and high school students Dec. 9 while they shop at the Walmart Supercenter, 3590 S. Jordan Parkway, South Jordan.

Adults who are 18 and up and are not a student within Jordan School District are needed to help shop on a budget with an individual student. There are starting times every 30 minutes from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Please allow up to 90 minutes to help the student.

A volunteer online registration form with information about the program is available at www.jefchristmasforkids.org/registration.

Volunteers are asked to indicate languages they speak in addition to English.

There is an option to donate to financially help support students to shop. Walmart also makes an annu-

fresh - fast - indian

al donation.

“They’re a wonderful partner and sponsor for this opportunity to provide Christmas for our middle and high school students,” JEF Associate Director Anne Gould said.

This year, the need is greater with about 150 more students identified than last holiday season, Gould said, hence the call for more volunteers. In years past, volunteers have been community members as well as first responders, educational and political leaders, Miss Utah and Santa Claus.

“One thing we hear back from the students is of course, they’re appreciative of being able to make the purchased items, but they also are grateful to have spent the morning with their chaperones, because they are so caring,” she said. “It just ends up being a great experience.” l

In years past, Santa Claus helps spread joy and shops with middle school and high school students during Jordan Education Foundation’s Christmas for Kids. (Photo courtesy of Jordan Education Foundation)

NOW OPEN in South Jordan!

Buy One Get One

50% OFF!

Plates and bowls only.

One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers. Expires December 31, 2023.

FREE

Samosa OR Drink with $15 purchase!

One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers. Expires December 31, 2023.

Thank You

to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals

801.923.2377

1776 W 10610 S, Suite A South Jordan, UT 84095

munchkart.com

Page 2 | Dec. 2023

S outh Jordan City Journal

Tis e Season

to Boost Your Savings 9-MONTH CERTIFICATE

5.50

APY

PROMO RATE AVAILABLE FOR NEW MONEY ONLY

LEARN MORE AT UFIRSTCU.COM

APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is current as of 7/11/2023. $500 minimum deposit of new money required to open. (New money must consist of funds not previously held at UFirst Credit Union.) Early withdrawal penalties may apply and reduce earnings and principal. At maturity, the Special 9-Month Certificate will convert to a Regular 12 Month Certificate at the current dividend rate. Must qualify for membership and have a valid SSN/ITIN to join. Opening an account requires a $10 minimum deposit which must be maintained in a savings account. For current rates call 801-481-8800, visit your local branch, or ufirstcu.com. Offer subject to change without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply. Federally Insured by NCUA.

Here are

5 tips to survive the holiday season with your family:

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you have some bad feelings about others, acknowledge those feelings are there, and maybe for a good reason, but decide not to let them grow.

2. Set healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries will help reduce stress and give you a sense of control over your environment.

3. Be sensitive to those around you. Utah has the nation’s highest rate of mental illness. Be aware that the holidays can be especially stressful for some people. Be on the lookout to help someone around you.

4. Have realistic expectations. Here’s the thing about families: You know a

lot about each other — the good and the bad. Avoid the temptation to make a case against those who bother you and make an effort to see their strengths in addition to their weaknesses in order to keep a balanced view. Remember this: everyone has something they’re battling.

5. There’s some very real pain out there. If you find yourself in an

emotionally abusive situation, you need to look for a healthier place to be. Families can come in all forms, so if relatives are distanced because of abuse or trauma, find your "family" with people who enhance your health and well-being.

S outh J ournal .com JournalsJ Adordan Dec 2021.indd 1

| Page 11/08/21 10:54 AM3 Dec. 2023

Live Nativity in South Jordan attracts visitors from across the valley

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

I

t’s a chilly December night but visitors from across Salt Lake County have arrived at a farm in South Jordan to view a live Nativity sharing the timeless story of Jesus’s birth. The scene is intended to send visitors back to the humble beginnings of Christmas.

For many years, Jan Criner, Judy Cox and Joan and Ron Ward have organized the Nativity that gets set up at the corner of 2700 W. 10000 South on Thanksgiving evening and runs through December. Christmas music accompanies the scene that includes live horses, goats, lambs and donkeys. On the canal bank near the Nativity, three wise men stand with their camels.

“It’s good to take time to think about the whole plan of life and be humbled that way,” Criner said. “It’s about everything that the Savior has done for us and how much He cherishes and loves us and cares for us. It’s just a reminder not to forget Him.” The farm has been in Criner’s family since her great-grandfather bought the property in 1906 and has been home to five generations. Except for a few years she spent in Oklahoma, Criner has lived in the area her whole life. She enjoys setting up the display each year and understands the meaning it has for the community.

“Lots of people come from all over to enjoy it every year and it’s truly a labor of love,” South Jordan resident McKenzie Mitchell said.

The Nativity started with a stable that included Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, some llamas and sheep in its first year, and each year a new component has been added including shepherds, an angel and a “new and improved” star.

This year’s Nativity uses 1,500 feet of extension cords, 10 spotlights, a plethora of Christmas lights and 15 corral panels for

ournals

For years, Jan Criner, Judy Cox and Joan and Ron Ward have set up a Nativity on the corner of 2700 W. 10000 South. The display grows every year and includes live animals, music and Christmas lights.

The families consider it a gift to the community.

(Photo courtesy Jan Criner)

the animals. Each year the family recreates the journey to Bethlehem where they dress up like shepherds and walk to the Nativity where they read the account from the book of Luke and sing Christmas carols.

“Our family has loved their Nativity,” South Jordan resident Sheri Petersen said.

“Now my grandkids ask me to please drive past it every day. It is a highlight at Christmas.”

The families consider the Nativity a Christmas gift to Jesus. They’ve received lots of messages from people who tell them

how much the display inspires them.

“Two people told me they live in Idaho, but always get their grandkids and stop by when they come for the holidays,” Cri-

CITY

YOUR OWN C OMMU NI T Y NEWSPA PER

SOUTH JORDAN TEAM

The South Jordan Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Jordan.

For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices.

Rack locations are also available on our website.

The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Page 4 | Dec. 2023

SOUTHJORDAN JOURNAL.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/ SOUTHJORDAN JOURNAL/

PUBLISHER

Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

TWITTER.COM/ SJJGOINGS

Connect social media

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR

EDITOR

Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022 Rack locations are also available on our website.

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com Kayla Palmer | kayla.p@thecityjournals.com Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

ner said. “Several people have dropped off treats, cash and thank you notes at my door, which I promptly give to Joan and Ron, since they are the masterminds of the project.” l

Anna Pro Ty Gorton Amanda Luker Stacy Bronson

INSTAGRAM.COM/ CITYJOURNALS

LINKEDIN.COM/ COMPANY/ CITY-JOURNALS

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media.

PUBLISHER

Designed, Published, & Distributed by

SOUTH JORDAN CITY JOURNAL 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070

PHONE: 801-254-5974

FREE | COMMUNITY | PAPERS

S outh Jordan City Journal

Youngsters advocate for donations to put every child in a coat this winter

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

bout 1,000 kids may be warmer this holiday season, if some elementary kids have a say.

Five-year-old Ember and 6-year-old Lucas heard the story, “The Coat” by Séverine Vidal, and wanted to do the same thing — only they are teaming up with friends to give on a grander scale.

“It’s a story about a little girl who gave away the red coat she loved because there was a little girl who was cold and poor and didn’t have a coat,” Ember said. “It made her happy to give it away. She was being nice.”

Her big brother added: “We made boxes and glued them together so people can donate coats. I don’t want anyone to be cold.”

Coats and monetary donations are still needed for the youngsters and their friends to reach their goal. Coats can be donated through AAA Garage Door. The company’s drivers will pick up coats from donors who reach out by text at 801-792-6597. Drop-off donation sites are listed at the end of this article.

Monetary contributions made to the Every Kid in a Coat’s Go Fund Me page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/every-kid-ina-coat-2023, and at the Venmo account @ Nicole-Hofer-4 will go toward purchasing new children’s coats. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1033927014067936.

Kat Naessens, Ember and Lucas’s mother, said donated coats can be new or gently used. Any hand-me-down coats are being washed and mended, if necessary, before being donated to a child.

The grass roots coat drive came about from the youngsters, their friends and their parents.

“I looked for books about kindness and checked it out from the (county) library,” Naessens said. “We always do things so our kids understand they have a lot of blessings in their lives. After reading the book, we decided a coat drive would be something simple for them to understand the act of kindness and giving and it would have a big impact on those who need coats.”

While her children attend Providence Hall, which is not a Jordan School District school, Naessens learned Jordan Education Foundation serves many of the schools in the area and has a way to distribute the coats to those who need them the most. When she asked how many coats were needed, she was told 1,000.

“To be honest, I thought we’d just do a coat drive in our community and turn everything over to someone who was doing a bigger fundraiser, but there wasn’t someone.

That’s when we decided it would be us. It’s really shocking, actually, to learn how many kids are living in food scarcity, and obviously, if the families in food scarcity don’t have the spare cash for food, then they won’t have

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Local families sort coats that were donated for “Every Kid in a Coat” drive; the coats will be distributed to Jordan School District students. (Photo courtesy of Jason Watson)

it for other things like winter coats,” she said.

Jordan Education Foundation Associate Director Anne Gould said that about 2,100 students in Jordan School District are considered homeless.

“There’s definitely a higher need than ever before,” she said.

Jordan Education Foundation regularly distributes donated food, hygiene and school supplies and some clothing to students who are identified as being in need by teachers, counselors, principals and other professionals in the school.

“Usually, we receive a donation from someone somewhere in the universe and it’s miraculous how then we get a phone call that someone needs that exact item. We have an amazing, generous community,” Gould said.

Approximately 40 percent of the District’s school children are refugees; a great many of them reside in the Herriman community. Beds and bedding supplies that have been donated are often given to those who have none, Gould said.

For Naessens and her children, this coat drive is being held in addition to their school’s food drive.

“I always grew up being aware of people with higher needs than ourselves and how we’d help other people,” she said. “I’m hoping my own kids see through their eyes

that people aren’t as blessed as we are. We live in a very affluent part of the world.”

Naessens grew up in Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya.

“As you can imagine, there’s an incredible amount of poverty in Nairobi. My primary school was next to a shanty town. So, from a very young age, we knew that there were people living in poverty and everybody would be involved with helping. We’d visit orphanages or homes for disabled kids and do fundraisers for them. That culture is what I want to make sure my kids know. Living in wonderful Utah is a bit more insulated to that. There is need here, but you don’t see it in the same way.”

Through the coat drive, Naessens has seen people’s generosity.

“It’s inspiring to see when people give, and some people have donated massive donations. It’s lovely when people send that positive message; it’s seeing kindness in action, and spreading it,” she said. “AAA garage doors has given us a lot of help. They made and paid for our fliers, they’re picking up donations and they gave us a big donation because they feel strongly about kids and wanting to make sure that they’re well stocked and supplied.”

She’s also grateful for Mountain Ridge High School’s service club students who

helped distribute fliers.

“It’s inspiring to see our community come together to help our kids,” she said.

Gould said that the family itself is an inspiration.

“Kat is one of the many examples of a caring community member who sees a need and wants to help out,” she said, adding that it’s great that children are involved in every step of the drive as well. “The Jordan Education Foundation is the receiving house for these donations. We work with the schools directly and with people who know the needs of the students so we can make sure that those items get out to those students who need them the most.” l

Coat donation drop-off locations:

Herriman: 6022 W. Champlain Way Herriman: Tiffany’s Dance Co., 6361 W. 13400 South Daybreak: 11843 S. Logan’s Run Cove South Jordan: 3171 W. 9765 South Bluffdale: City Hall, 2222 W. 14400 South West Jordan: West Jordan county library, 8030 S. 1825 West

Dec. 2023 | Page 5

Bingham students immerse themselves in Shakespeare plays; Bingham ensemble takes second place

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

F

or weeks, 19 Bingham High thespians would practice their monologues, scenes and an ensemble piece from William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” before they took to the stage in Cedar City at the 47th annual Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Junior Raya Tanner was in a “Two Gentlemen of Verona” scene where Launce, who is deeply devoted to his poorly trained dog, Crab, was trying to win the dog’s affection.

“His dog would never care about him,” Tanner said. “I was the dog, so I had to learn to show my objectives as a dog. I learned how my movements could portray my character’s thoughts. A bunch of times when the character would be talking, I would turn away to show he wouldn’t like him. I wouldn’t lick him or act happy to see him.”

With the advice of their teacher, Chris Hults, she and other members of the Shakespearean team dove into their characters.

“He told us to ‘learn about your character,’ so that’s what I did,” she said as she studied dogs’ movements and behavior.

During their two- to three-hour rehearsals, Tanner said her group, which included juniors Chris Pacini and Chandler Lerud, would run through their scene six or seven times. Then they’d get feedback from Hults and they would incorporate that advice.

“He’d let us know if something wasn’t working and we’d adjust. There constantly was a lot of changing, but our result was better than we had it at the beginning,” she said. “We also had a family night before going to the competition. We learned from our audience when something wasn’t working right or if it was confusing. We changed ours after that and had a couple practices before we performed it.”

After arriving at the competition, Bingham’s team faced their competition that day and the next two in the largest division, Buckingham. This was the return of Bingham High competing in the Shakespeare festival after a three-year absence.

It was Tanner’s first experience.

The scenes and monologues had three rounds, one round every day, performing in a classroom, with a different judge every day. Her team used black wooden blocks in their four-minute scene that were carried by other members of Bingham’s team.

“When we would head to our performances, there were three members of the team, who were from the ensemble, who would come as emotional support, help find the room and to help carry all the

Page 6 | Dec. 2023

props,” she said.

Dressed in a brown shirt with a dog ear headband and googly eyeglasses, Tanner, who was on all fours, said they had some “nerves in their first round, but everyone there was so supportive, we became confident. Everybody was kind and supportive; that was one of the best parts.”

Tanner said their last performance was the best. While her group didn’t medal, she said that was OK. “All that matters is that we did our best,” Tanner said.

Bingham’s ensemble performed once before judges.

“During the performances, the judges picked the pieces they really wanted people to see. Our ensemble was picked to perform in the showcase,” she said.

Tanner said the ensemble, who worked with Hults as well as music director Shayla Bentley, performed their piece as a barbershop quartet.

“I watched it several times, but that was their best performance,” she said.

Bingham’s ensemble of student-actors were all seniors: Grace Iron, Hannah Church, Taeya Peck, Piper Duquette, Chloe Warnas, Ben Larson, Brady Thompson, Setu Lealaogata and Josh Lamont.

They won second place.

“We were all happy. We got so close and that was my favorite part. We became a family together,” she said.

In addition to performing, the team saw Utah Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Timon of Athens.”

“It was cool. The actors performed as Shakespearean actors performed back in the day where the actors would engage with the audience and bring them their stories. A couple times during the performance, they would interact with the audience. One of my friends said, ‘I thought he was that character. I can’t imagine him as an actor. He was just so good in the character,’” she said.

They also attended workshops. One

by Marco Vega struck a chord with Tanner.

“We learned about living in the moment. As a clown performer, he lived in the moment and immersed himself in that character. He said that usually he faced a problem and had to stick with it until he could solve it. He talked about using imagination and how to make the kids feel their emotions,” she said.

Tanner, who was in the recent school production of “42nd Street,” also is on the improv team.

“Acting and improv can also help us in our daily lives with social skills, confidence, going with the flow,” she said. “I likely will use what I learned about living

Bingham High’s Shakespeare team won second place in their ensemble in the Buckingham division at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Warnas)

Bingham High’s ensemble took the stage performing part of “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at the Engelstad Theatre in Cedar City at the 47th annual Utah Shakespeare Festival. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Warnas)

in the moment with improv, being yourself and using your creativity to connect with other people.”

Bingham students also performed a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” combined with “Hamlet;” it featured senior Courtney Ross, junior Reagan

Galli, and junior Bre Thompson.

Bingham had three monologues. One from “Richard II” performed by senior Ray Woichik, one from “Hamlet” portrayed by senior Aeryn Cousineau and one from “Henry IV” by Merlin Lack. l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Local helps those who haven’t danced in a while

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

D

ancers, if it has been a while since you’ve danced, then It’s Been A While Dance Company is the place for you to get back into it. Jackie Nuttall, owner/director of It’s Been A While Dance Company for 19 years, started dancing when she was a child.

She got married and had her first child, and she wanted to keep dancing. But she couldn’t find any opportunities to dance. She started teaching children’s classes at South Jordan Recreation Center. There was an adult beginning ballet class that she took over and started teaching a very small class. The classes, however, didn’t have a performance in conjunction with the learning. “What is the point for people to take lessons if they weren’t performing? If the students were just dancing for themselves and not performing, how were they going to improve? Dance is so you can share your passion, share your artistry, share your technique with others,” Nuttall said.

Nuttall’s philosophy is that adults get busy, and if the classes don’t have a goal to work toward they will stop going to class.

She realized what the adult classes needed was a community of dancers working toward a specific performance. Word spread and the classes took off. Her classes started out with six adults, now she has forty adults in her adult class.

Nuttall started doing performances that had meaning and a storyline with a purpose, with the dancers acting out a true story about someone and what was going on in the person’s life through their dance moves. “It becomes therapeutic for everyone in the class because they are dancing a story that might be close to their story,” she said.

Nuttall teaches children as well as adults. She enjoys watching them grow and become a dancer. “It’s great to know you have an impact on your students and know you have played a role in their dance journey, it’s so rewarding,” she said. She has been teaching some of her students since they were 5 years old. It is rewarding for her to see how much they improve.

Nuttall’s students performed a story about Josephine Baker, a civil rights activist and an amazing dancer. Baker left America and went to Paris to dance. When Martin Luther King, Jr. died his wife asked Baker to take over his platform. The performance

by Nuttall’s students was an opportunity for viewers to see beautiful dancing as well as learn about a prominent woman in dance and civil rights.

Nuttall’s motivation is to tell women’s stories while teaching dance. “As I’ve grown through the years, it is important to me to make sure there is a strong woman character in the story because as I study history nobody tells the women’s stories; it’s all about men. I’m really interested in telling stories about women we haven’t heard before, and especially women dancers. Telling stories

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Jackie Nuttall is the owner of It’s Been A While Dance Company. (Photo Courtesy Joe Grigg)

through dance is what has become important to me,” she said.

Not only does Nuttall teach and choreograph, she also dances in her performances with her students. “It is very time consuming, but I think it is worth it because I have students who didn’t like to dance, but when they started to understand what the dance is about, they connected with the idea and they started to like dance,” she said.

Nuttall teaches at South Jordan Recreation Center, 10866 S. Redwood Road. She has considered opening up her own studio and calling it Storytellers or Stories That Dance, because “that is like the most important thing to me is that we are telling stories through dance,” she said.

Nuttall majored in dance at Snow College. Her high school dance teacher at Sunwest Art of Dance made her take ballet classes. Her teacher was a stickler for making sure her students took ballet and learned technique. When she went to Snow College she signed up for a dance class, unaware it

Spanish dancers. (Photo courtesy Todd Horne)

It’s Been A While Dance Company in 2022. (Photo courtesy Joe Grigg)

was a class only for those majoring in dance and required an audition. The teacher asked her why she was in the class when she hadn’t auditioned. Her response was, “I just want to dance.” The teacher told her that the first class would be her audition. After class the teacher pulled her aside and said, “You have something in you and you need to be a dance major, so change your major right now.

And I’m giving you a partial scholarship.”

Nuttall gives credit to her high school ballet teacher for being adamant about proper technique.

Nuttall was made Vice President in the dance company her first year at Snow College. Her second year the teacher said, “you are going to be President in dance company,

you are going to have a full scholarship in dance and you are going to choreograph.”

She started doing a lot of choreography for Snow College Dance Company. The teacher told her, “you have a gift for choreography,” and Nuttall really believed her. “It is impactful how important teachers can be in your life,” Nuttall said.

“The ladies that are taking dance from me always had a dream to dance, now they are dancing as adults and fulfilling their dream,” she said. It’s Been A While Dance Company is the perfect place for getting adult dancers out to dance class and fulfilling their dream of dancing. Nuttall teaches dance for every level. For more information go to www.itsbeenawhiledance.com. l

Group picture of the dancers. (Photo courtesy Kerrimee Garn)

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

Call Diamond Tree Experts Today!

801-938-4345

DiamondTreeExperts.com

Now Hiring!

Up to $80K 801.262.1596

Now Accepting Green Waste at our Magna Yard!

Tree health care Tree trimming/removal Organic mulch Stump grinding Emergency tree services Demolition

10 OFF Tree Services %

Ask your salesman about extra winter discounts!

Must present coupon at time of estimate Expires 1/15/24

7774 West SR201 - Magna, UT Commercial & Residential

Your 24/7 Stress Reduction & Relaxation Center

Because Stress and Pain Doesn’t Just Happen from 9-5 Come Experience Ahhhsome Relaxation and get

50% OFF your session!

Offer may be applied for 2 people. Must call to schedule your appointment. Expires 1/15/24.

Call to schedule your appointment today!

(801) 590-3737 • www.ahhhsomerelaxation.com Page 8 | Dec. 2023

Discover our complete range of wellness services: 7057 S. Plaza Center Drive • West Jordan, UT 84084 Monday - Saturday: 10 AM - 9 PM, Open to Members 24/7

S outh Jordan City Journal

A Labor of Love in Salt Lake County

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

I

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food pantries face high demand and low inventory

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

T

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

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

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

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

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

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

where both parents are employed or have second jobs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So how can the public help out pantries?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dec. 2023 | Page 9

Splash & dash adds fun to Aspen Elementary’s fundraiser

A

spen Elementary sixth-grader Dahlia Wright was excited for the school’s color run.

She already had her shirt chalked in bright colors.

“I bought chalk to throw at all my friends,” she said. “I got some on me, too.”

She was thinking about throwing softballs at the dunk tank release in hopes of dunking a teacher as well.

Her dad, Adam, was there to support his daughter.

“I like to spend time with her,” he said, adding that he hasn’t quite mastered the cleaning of the chalk out of clothes in the third year of the run. “We just plan on wearing garbage clothes in case they don’t get clean.”

First grade teacher Haley McCall was navigating her kids through the activities, bake sale and food options.

“We’ve raised $38,000 of our $40,000 so we’re hoping tonight, we’ll make it,” she said, adding that she agreed to take a pie to the face for the cause. “My kids are excited about some of the incentives, like duct taping the principal (Suzie Williams) and earning a cotton candy party, besides the color run.”

Robin Haueter was catching up to her son, Reagan, and twins, Georgia and Abigail, who were to pie McCall.

Page 10 | Dec. 2023

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com “I’m excited to donate directly to the school and that we can support it,” she said.

“The school really does have good teachers who are willing to do this to help raise funds, but they’re also good at what they do. I love seeing my kids come home with papers every day and teachers sending us updates on what they’re working on.”

Groups of students raced around the school’s field, with teachers dousing them in bright-colored chalk as part of the school fundraiser. More than $40,000 was raised to help fund field trip transportation, Reflections, Red Ribbon Week, DARE, assemblies, movie nights, school T-shirts, pastries and parent events, teachers’ classroom requests, teacher meals during parent-teacher conferences and “all the fun things,” PTA treasurer Jocelyn Anderson said.

“Each class will have a cotton candy or snow cone party, then there are other incentives like a PJ and crazy sock day,” she said.

“I love that the color run is like a celebration for the kids when it’s actually our fundraiser.”

PTA president Abigail Underwood said the difference between this year’s fundraiser and those of the past two years, which brought in about $10,000 and $17,000 respectively, was the addition of online donations.

“We had a website which they could

Aspen Elementary students get coated in color as they run to raise funds for their school. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

share across the country with grandparents and friends,” she said, adding that donations came from 29 states. “We also had more daily communication and more incentives.”

Another addition was two weeks prior to the event, students could purchase chalk to color designs on school grounds, Underwood said. l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Talented Bingham boys basketball returns Photo by Travis Barton

A

fter a 12-13 run a year ago that saw the Bingham boys basketball take second in region with a 7-3 record and a second-round loss to a formidable Cyprus squad, the Miners are back for a new season. With Kyle Straatman at the helm again and a talented group of shooters, Bingham will look to make noise as it welcomes Corner Canyon to a slightly altered Region 2 and realigned 6A classification.

Sophomore Luke West (pictured) returns after being named all-state honorable mention as a freshman last season. He averaged 10 points a game last year and is off to a blistering start averaging almost 20 points through two games.

Stockton Tuellar, a senior point guard, jumpstarted this new campaign with his defense and almost 15 points per game. Tuellar’s leadership, along with senior Rykan Meadows’ inside presence and senior Luke Cantwell’s sharpshooting, should provide an intriguing foundation for the Miners season.

Bingham dropped its opening game on the road to Fremont 71-63 but bounced back with a road victory over Westlake 80-69 for its pre-Thanksgiving matchups. December will see the Miners take on Pleasant Grove Dec. 1, Ridgeline Dec. 6, West Jordan Dec. 8, at Farmington Dec. 12 and Olympus Dec. 19 (four of those at home) before embarking to Rancho Mirage, California for the Desert Holiday Classic. The first region game is Jan. 12 at Copper Hills. l

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 11

Page 12 | Dec. 2023

S outh Jordan City Journal

With a star-studded lineup, Bingham girls hoops opens with an emphatic win

T

his just in: Brianna Badonie is bad.

Bad as in very good. As in, this senior that Bingham head coach Skyler Beard has might be the baddest [best] player of the bunch, but that might be up for debate.

“We have a young but talented group and some good senior leaders,” said Coach Beard of his Miners’ girls basketball squad without naming one particular player. “We are excited to see what this team does as they are bought in and playing for each other.”

The better news for Bingham is that in addition to the two-year starter Badonie, the Miners have several other senior team captains still in the mix. Uma Tukuafu and Peyton Gough are back for a Bingham bunch that has four seniors, seven juniors and a handful of sophomores and freshmen.

But this is also the age of name, image and likeness. And with that comes the possibility that perhaps a student-athlete will decide to head for greener pastures.

Such was the case with senior Mak Horsley, who is new to Bingham from Mountain Ridge but is already part of the senior leadership team that Beard mentioned.

With Mak came perhaps the biggest transfer this year in girls high school bas-

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com ketball in Utah: Addy Horsley.

Addy, a junior, was a 6A first-team AllState selection last year at nearby Mountain Ridge. And Mak wasn’t too shabby herself at the same Herriman school.

Together with those new additions, this Miners team cruised to an 18-point victory a long way from home at Timpview, 69-51.

Brianna Badonie’s game-high 26 points was impressive for a season opener. And Badonie’s stat line was almost mind-boggling: six made three-point shots, three steals and two rebounds.

But in order to score the basketball like that, you have to have help. That’s what the Horsley’s provided. Mak added 11 points, three threes, two assists, and a steal.

And then there was Addy’s stat line.

10 points, seven assists and seven steals. Yes, you just read that right: a 10-77, which is usually reserved for lanky wings who can get up and down the floor and collect boards.

But, seven steals? Addy’s only 5-foot-5 and a point guard, to boot. The state record for steals in one game is 18. But if you’d have to pick anyone who could threaten that mark by the end of this season, it’s Addy.

Do the math here after such a thumping and the Miners are on track to win a lot

SNOWMEN SEARCH Visit us!

Tuesday-Thursday: 10-6 Friday: 10-4 Closed: Saturday - Monday

this season and perhaps even collect their first state title since Rand Rasmussen was pacing the sideline in the 1990s and 2000s.

When you read that Badonie was named to the 6A third-team last year by comparison, you could make that assumption.

As for other contributors, Lena Casperson scored seven points and had four rebounds for Bingham, who never trailed and led 33-22 at the half at Timpview. Raylynn Richardson contributed 6-and-4 for the Miners, who played on the road again Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Westlake.

“We were very pleased with [the win over Timpview] and the way the girls played,” Beard said. “We know we have areas to improve in and we are working to get better each and every day.”

Bingham [1-0] will then welcome the senior leaders, the Horsleys, and the rest of the Miners back to The Pit for their first home game on Nov. 28 [American Fork].

Two nights later on Nov. 30 they’ll entertain Skyridge, the same team that eliminated Badonie and the Miners last year in the 6A second round.

Layton will invade The Pit on Dec. 5— then the Miners will hit the road for games at Lehi [Dec. 6] and at Brighton [Dec. 12]

Brianna Badonie returns for her senior year with a talented crew. (File photo City Journals)

before heading for the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas over Christmas break.

For Beard, this is always going to be a team effort regardless of who’s on the court.

“They are dedicated to our core values and pillars of Attitude, Commitment, and Team,” Beard said. “We’re excited to represent Bingham and the South Jordan Community and give our best effort every time we step on the court.” l

December at the Gale Center Snowflake Ornament Craft Kit Snowmen Search Scavenger Hunt

The museum is closed December 25, 26 S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 13

Page 14 | Dec. 2023

S outh Jordan City Journal

AIR DUCT CLEANING What’s Hiding in Your

AIR VENTS? We can sanitize your vents to help strengthen your immune system.

BACTERIA

DUST MITES

POLLEN

PET DANDER

ARE YO U EXPER IEN CIN G: • Allergies • Asthma • Headaches • Coughing/Sneezing • Excessive Dust?

Do you KNOW what your Family is Breathing?

WITH SUPERIOR QUALITY

100% GUARANTEED AIR DUCT CLEANING DRYER VENT CLEANING ASTHMA & ALLERGY TREATMENT

CALL US

TODAY!

49

$

10 vents,1 return, and 1 main comes with free system analysis/inspection

Additional vents priced separately. With coupon. Expires 1-15-24.

FREE

dryer vent cleaning with any complete air duct system cleaning

With this coupon. Expires 1-15-24.

801-618-4649 50OFF %

allergy/asthma sanitizer with any complete duct cleaning

With this coupon. Expires 1-15-24.

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

WINTER CLEANOUT SPECIALS

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE

www.apexcleanair.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 15

Herriman boys cross country finish second in state; girls make improvements

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

G

irls wrestling has only been a sanctioned high school sport in Utah since 2020, but momentum is already building for the sport at Mountain Ridge.

The Sentinels continue to attract girls to their squad, as numbers for this year’s team are higher than ever.

“This is my third year as a girls head wrestling coach,” head coach Brandon Birch said. “It’s amazing to see the progress every year in girls wrestling. Numbers are skyrocketing, and competition is increasing.”

Birch said a big reason for the interest is that girls have more options than ever before to compete in the sport after high school.

“There are opportunities now for girls to get college scholarships in wrestling and compete at the college level, and every year I have more and more girls that are gaining interest in competing at the next level,” he said. “The first year I coached, it was very difficult to recruit anybody, but now that we have some established girls wrestlers, and people are seeing and hearing about how girls can actually wrestle, I am now seeing girls come in on their own wanting to wrestle because they see that it’s just like any other girls sport, and not just a boys sport.

Very exciting.”

But it isn’t just newcomers who are filling spots on the mat for the Sentinels.

Each year, more and more girls are coming with experience.

“When I started 3 years ago, there were three girls out of my 13 who had one year of wrestling experience,” Birch said. “This year, I have 16 girls with at least one year of experience and four with multiple years of experience out of 29 right now.”

Page 16 | Dec. 2023

Four wrestlers are back for Mountain Ridge who placed at the 2023 girls wrestling tournament. Karlie Bishop, a sophomore at the 100-pound class, was fourth in state a year ago. Maddi Fulks, a junior, was third in state at the 170-pound class last season. Olivia Merino, a sophomore wrestling in the 145-pound group, was sixth a year ago at state. Junior Eva Newland placed sixth at state last season. A fifth returner, senior Cedar Curtis, was sixth at the state tournament in 2022 but took last season off.

Sophomores Sadie Ashton (130 pounds), Naidelyn Lucio (145 pounds) and Eden Hunt (110 pounds) are others Birch is counting on to qualify for state once again, as they did a year ago. Juniors McKenna Housekeeper (125 pounds), Danae Fisher (125 pounds), Gloria Jessop (120 pounds), Vanhessa Vu (115 pounds), Hannah Whitlock (235 pounds) and Gabi Merino (155 pounds) also qualified for state last season and are back to bolster the Sentinels this year.

Birch loves how hard the girls work and how they work well together.

“They work hard together, support each other and push each other in the wrestling room,” he said. “They are great scholar-athletes and have a desire to be as good as they possibly can. They teach and mentor our new wrestlers at the same time, so they have the same mindset. They are not afraid to go out and try their hardest, and they are not afraid of pushing through to the last whistle.”

Birch said team unity is the Sentinels’ biggest strength. The girls genuinely like one another and love competing with one another.

“We like each other and want to see

Herriman had five of the top 12 boys runners at the championships. (Photos courtesy Doug Soles)

everyone succeed,” he said. “We have the kind of team where, after a tough match, win or lose, I have half the team lining up to high-five, hug or show support in one way or another. It’s fantastic.”

Birch admits there is a stigma against girls wrestling, with some people believing it is a boys-only sport. He said multiple girls have wanted to wrestle on the team but have declined because of friends shaming them or parents forbidding it, stating that it is a boys’ sport.

But Mountain Ridge is moving forward, undeterred and eager to improve on what was a solid season a year ago.

“Our goals and expectations this year

are to go out and wrestle our best and get better each day,” Birch said. “We placed fifth in state the last two years, and feel like we have gotten even better, so we hope to do even better this year.”

Birch also credits his coaching staff— Zan Elder, Jim Birch, Melanie Thornhill and Paris Bowen—for the team’s success and improvement.

“Honestly, it’s been great to have the opportunity to be a part of something that has been so great and to help build what I think will be a solid competitive sport for years to come,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better, more fun, tight-knit team to be around.” l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Funeral arrangements are a deeply personal choice. Preplanning provides you with the time needed to make practical, detailed decisions that reflect your standards, lifestyle, taste and budget. And we assure you and your family that the choices you make will be carried out as planned.

Plan Ahead

We’ll take the first step with you.

Questions? Call us (801) 254-3389

801-253-4556

1617 West Temple Lane (10200 S) South Jordan, UT

URGENT AND PRIMARY CARE:

Only $10 MEMBERSHIP A Visit! WITH

Medallus Medical Membership is a simple membership program to all of our 8 clinics.

Members can receive discounted medical services at $10/visit flat fee in exchange for a monthly membership fee: • $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)

$20 registration fee – 12-month contract

801-810-7058

arlissf@medallus.com AfterHoursMedical.com S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 17

Bingham High grad’s The Giving Grinch brings happiness to thousands each year

local expertise you can trust

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

S

ROBERT PICO INSURANCE AGENCY 801-582-6600

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Ins. Co & affiliates: 2775 Sanders Rd Northbrook IL 60062. © 2021 Allstate Insurance Co.

19514456

robertpico@allstate.com

You love living in South Jordan as much as I do. But, are you doing everything you can to protect the life you’ve built here? As your local Allstate Agent, I can help you make informed decisions to help ensure that everything you love is well protected. Contact me to get covered.

heena Rose was 16 years old when she worked at a day care. It was 1996 and the Bingham High student was talking to the kids about Christmas. A little boy named Austin Hansen told her he didn’t have a Christmas tree and his aunt had told him Santa wouldn’t be able to come that year.

Rose, a Riverton resident, did some investigating and discovered Austin’s family was struggling and didn’t have extra money for Christmas. She took matters into her own hands.

At school, she asked students for their lunch money, explaining she wanted to give Austin’s family a tree and presents for the holiday. So many students gave her money that Rose was called into the principal’s office because he was concerned she was stealing money. When she explained her plan, he supported her wholeheartedly, and The Giving Grinch was started.

“I went to Smith’s in South Jordan, because I worked there too, and I told the manager I had $30 and there was a little boy in my class who needed presents and stocking stuffers and a Christmas tree,” Rose said.

“He told me $30 wouldn’t cover it. But he told me to pull my truck up and he threw a Christmas tree in the back and gave me store credit for everything I needed.”

The Giving Grinch has gone from helping one family to helping hundreds of families and senior citizens each year. Rose goes into assisted living centers to ask the seniors what they’d like for Christmas. Requests

range from Oreo cookies to new socks and Rose is happy to accommodate their wishes.

Last year The Giving Grinch helped 900 senior citizens and 100 families, and she expects to assist that many people again this year. Community members can visit TheGivingGrinch.org to donate to a senior, a teenager, a child or an infant. Or money can be donated for pajamas, shoes, socks and toys to help make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.

“With the elderly homes, we actually go on every holiday,” Rose said. “They love when we go in around Valentine’s. We try to visit them all the time just because they’re forgotten. So people can donate all year on our website for these different things.”

Rose’s daughter, Gentry Rose, serves as Miss Utah Volunteer and the duo enjoy serving the community together. They often support other charities and encourage people to get involved.

“It doesn’t matter what the charity is, as long as you’re doing good in your neighborhood,” she said. “Go support each other. That’s what it’s all about. We’ve had so much fun supporting so many different things this year.”

The Giving Grinch holds two fundraisers each year to raise money. It hosts a car show in June and a Bingo night in October.

During the last Bingo event, Hansen, now a grown man, showed up to support Rose and the organization.

“He’s the reason for beginning The Giving Grinch,” Rose said. “I just thank him for coming tonight because it means a lot.” l

Se habla español.

DON'T GET CAUGHT

IN THE SNOW! Snowblower & Snowmobile TUNE-UPS Mention this ad for

Buy One Get One 1/2 Off Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 1/15/24

10% OFF (Up to $100 value) Expires 1/15/24.

OPEN FOR TAKE OUT

DELIVERY: Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats

801-280-4099

7251 Plaza Center Drive • SpudToddos.com

Page 18 | Dec. 2023

385.253.0707

Sheena Rose (right) started The Giving Grinch in 1996, providing presents for senior citizens and families.

She’s joined here with her mother Becci Denison (left). (Photo courtesy Sheena Rose)

S outh Jordan City Journal

First responders provide holiday cheer

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@mycityjournals.com

Navigating Grief and the Holidays

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

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

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

After a South Jordan woman fell off a ladder while she was hanging Christmas lights on her house, members of the South Jordan Fire Department arrived at the scene to take her to the hospital, but then they stayed to finish hanging the woman’s Christmas lights. (Photo courtesy of Daniella Morreale-Prickett)

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

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

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

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

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

GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES

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

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

GET TICKETS

DesertStarPlayhouse.com

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

SCAN QR CODE OR GO TO LARKINMORTUARY.COM

Serving Utah Families for Over 139 Years MORTUARIES•CEMETERIES•MAUSOLEUMS•CREMATION CENTER•PRE-PLANNING

www.LarkinCares.com Dec. 2023 | Page 19

Bingham football takes second in region, bows out in the quarterfinals Photos by Pat McDonald

P

laying possibly the toughest schedule in the state, the Bingham Miners football team finished 6-6 on the year and 4-1 in Region 2. Its only region loss came to eventual state champion Corner Canyon while defeating Copper Hills (24-14), Herriman (47-38), Riverton (31-6) and Mountain Ridge (37-27).

Bingham’s preseason slate featured three perennial 6A contenders in Lone Peak, Skyridge and American Fork to go along with national blue chip program Mater Dei (California), the fifth ranked team in the country. The Miners only win of preseason came against eventual 4A state champion Crimson Cliffs overcoming a 10-point deficit to win 26-23.

The playoffs saw Bingham, as the No. 8 seed, defeating No. 9 Syracuse with a hardfought 27-21 before succumbing to the No. 1 seed American Fork Cavemen 42-14.

The Miners were led in rushing this year by the senior trio of Triston Brimhall (879 yards, six touchdowns), Carson Sudbury (680 yards, nine touchdowns) and Chase Swensen (586 yards, four touchdowns). Arona Ka’ili got the majority of snaps at quarterback finishing with 623 yards passing and four touchdowns

while Makoy Aiono and Carson Stettler added to the receiving corps with them averaging 17 and 28 yards per reception respectively.

Defensively Bode Peterson led the way with 76 tackles with linebacker Tyson McBride tallying 64 tackles of his own.

Will Van Cott and Brooks Hofhine were the two to terrorize quarterbacks as they recorded nine and five sacks, respectively. l

• Adoption • Estate Planning • Guardianship • Inheritance • Name Change • Probate • Trusts • Wills • Family Law

URGENT AND PRIMARY CARE:

“Over 25 Years

Helping

People Like You.”

Call Attorney Steve Buhler at (801) 964-6901 or visit us at www.4utahlaw.com First Visit Free • Many Cases Flat Fee Located in the Harmon Building - 3540 S. 4000 W. West Valley City

Page 20 | Dec. 2023

Only $10 MEMBERSHIP A Visit! WITH

Medallus Medical Membership is a simple membership program to all of our 8 clinics.

Members can receive discounted medical services at $10/visit flat fee in exchange for a monthly membership fee: • $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)

$20 registration fee – 12-month contract

801-810-7058

arlissf@medallus.com AfterHoursMedical.com S outh Jordan City Journal

GRIEF HAS NO TIMELINE Grief is an individual journey with a path as unique as each one of us. To offer support and hope, we provide various Grief Support Services for those who are mourning a recent or past loss.

Ask for

Call or go to: Jenkins-Soffe.com and click on Resources then Grief & Healing.

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

MURRAY 4760 S State Street

801.266.0222

SOUTH JORDAN 1007 W South Jordan Pkwy

801.254.1928

Brent “Bunk” Bunkall Call 801-915-0123 to make an appointment bbunkall@lhmauto.com | LHMFordDraper.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 21

Emergency Water Storage Made Simple 160 Gallons Dimensions: 29”x36”x45” Large Cap For Easy Filling Stackable to Save Space FDA Food Grade Materials BPA FREE

BLUE 160 GALLON

WATER STORAGE TANK retail $699

NOW $ ONLY

449 35% OFF

MADE IN UTAH – Support Local!

801-758-2539 UTAHWATERVAULT.COM

DO YOU SUFFER

FROM Depression?

• NOT medicine • NOT shock therapy • NOT invasive

WE CAN

HELP.

• IS safe and effective • IS COVERED by most insurance

B Y T H E WA Y… TMS is cov ered by most insura nc Let us run a es!

FREE benefit che ck!

Scan here to take a free HIPPA compliant PHQ9 self assessment test.

TMS is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to an MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression.

With NeuroHealth, you can take back your life.

“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 Outcomes Registry data was published by Sackeim HA, et al. J Affective Disorders, 2020, 277(12):65-74. The outcomes reported represent the subset of study patients for which the CGI-S data was reported before and after an acute course of NeuroStar TMS. Patients were treated under real-world conditions where patients may have been prescribed concomitant depression treatments including medications. “Measurable relief” was defined as a CGI-S score <=3 and “complete remission” was defined as a CGI-S score <=2 at the end of treatment.

Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.

NeuroHealthUtah.Com

Page 22 | Dec. 2023

10437 So Temple Dr., Suite 200 South Jordan, UT 84095 385-217-6890

S outh Jordan City Journal

Christmas Unwrapped

I

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

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

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

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

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

That left a present for dad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOUTH JORDAN WATER SOFTENER & FILTRATION

Water Softener & Filtration NuWater Technologies - Smart Technology - High Efficiency - Zero Maintenance also offering Reverse Osmosis, Water Storage Call for no cost Water Test

801-856-9671

PERMANENT LIGHTING

TRIMLIGHT

Permanent Holiday & Accent Lighting Experts!

Save Up to $800 Off Your Lights Today!

Visit Trimlight.com/saltlake for full details.

801-890-3381 EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE

Blue 160 gallon water storage tank

Sale price $449 (retail $699)

(385) 393-1566

MUSIC LESSONS

GIVE A GIFT FOR A LIFETIME! Beginner Piano Lessons Fun, creative teaching style 29 years of teaching ages 3 + Beginners are my FORTE!

Call/Text Karen

DRYWALL REPAIR & PAINT

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING

40 Years Experience

NobleOne Professional Painting

Focus on Quality & Honesty!

Textures, Water Damage, Patches, Trim, Basements

Call Mike for Free Estimate

www.nobleonepropainting.com

PLUMBING

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

CONCRETE

RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL PLUMBING We’re in your neighborhood.

Installations & Repairs

WE SPECIALIZE IN CONCRETE.

DECKER PLUMBING LLC

801-412-9293

FREE ESTIMATES

Water, Sewer, Water Heaters, Faucets, Etc. Licensed / Insured

WATER TREAMENT DROPS

Keep your stored water safe for up to 5 years!

H20 RES-Q cleans • balances • deodorizes

(385) 393-1566

Apex Clean Air Call today for a free in home estimate.

801-449-1939

PATIO COVERS & HANDRAILS Don’t slip and fall this winter!

We offer quality handrails to ensure your safety.

• Steel Covered Carports, Patios & Porches • Steel Handrails NOW • Quality Decks Call John today for a FREE estimate.

HIRING!

801-205-5999

Quality and Integrity for over 25 Years

TREE SERVICE

Automotive Services

ROOFING

Tarabetz Yard Care and Tree Service

Randy’s Tire and Muffler

Trees trimmed, shaped or removed, storm damage, green waste hauling, stump grinding, mulch

Licensed and Insured

Complete Auto Repair & Service Manager Owned and Operated Serving Bluffdale/South Valley for 3 Generations 14250 S Redwood Rd 801.254.9971

Steve Tarabetz 801-913-9385

RandysTireAndMuffler.com

Call for your free bid

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Call: 801-750-0977

801-696-7735

801-647-8688

treats 330 gallons up to five years

UtahWaterVault.com

Residential, Commercial, Interior, Exterior Reliable, Dependable, and CLEAN 25 Years of Experience

801-272-7000

All types of roofs

$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.

CONCRETE

T3 Concrete LLC

Specializes in Driveways, Walkways, Patios, Foundations, Retaining Walls, Basement Entrances Stamp & Color Concrete Call Mate’ for a FREE Estimate

801-918-8843

SIDER-MAN SIDING

Concrete Installation & Removal | Flatwork Patios | Walkways | Driveways | RV Pads Stamp & Color | Garages | Retaining Walls

Specializing in : • Vinyl siding • Aluminum soffit and fascia • Expert Repairs • Custom Wrapping: Garage Door, Posts, Windows, etc.

“Your friendly neighborhood Sider-Man” Kelly Dallof

AnEConstructionLLC@gmail.com

Office: 801.262.8592 • Cell: 801.243.2516

Call Ala for Estimate 801-835-0051 TREE SERVICES

INTERMOUNTAIN TREE EXPERTS

Removals . Trimming . Pruning

40 years experience

TRIBAL HOUSE MOVERS Support Sober Movers in Recovery Full Service • Across Town • Across Country Fast & Efficient • Fully Licensed & Insured Spa Movers • Piano Movers

Licensed and Insured / 30+ Yrs Experience

Have your own truck? We can pack it.

FREE ESTIMATES

801-599-9957

801-244-3542

www.tribalhousemovers.com • movers@menstribalhouse.com

WATER SOFTENER RELIABLE SOFT WATER

FENCE REPAIR

without the typical water softener problems

• Zero maintenance • No breakdowns • 2/3 LESS salt

For free in-home estimate:

visit www.KineticoUtah.com or call 801-890-5344

Jack’s Fence Repair

Most Fences are Repairable!

20 years experience - licensed and insured SENIOR DISCOUNTS

Call or text Jack

801-865-6382

Dec. 2023 | Page 23

NO SURGERY. NO DRUGS. NO GIMMICKS.

THE PAIN STOPS HERE • BACK PAIN

• SCIATICA

• SPINAL DEGENERATION

• NEUROPATHY

• FAILED SURGERY

• SPINAL STENOSIS

• ARTHRITIS

• WHIPLASH

• HERNIATED & BULGING DISCS

• AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES AND MORE

Join the hundreds of patients that have experienced complete relief from the frustrating pain of severe back, neck, and joint problems without surgery, without drugs, and without having to live feeling miserable.

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

86-94%

SUCCESSFUL

ROBOTIC GUIDED CLASS IV LASER

in the Treatment of Serious Spinal Conditions!

“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

Comprehensive Spinal Exam, Consultation (X-rays if needed) & 3 Pain Relieving Treatments for $37 Expires December 31, 2023

(801) 302 02-- 0280 AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES ARE 100% COVERED BY AUTO INSURANCE

Matthew D. Smith

D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician