South Salt Lake City Journal | June 2020

June 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 06

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By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.comt

H

ave you wondered why there are still school zones and school buses on the road when schools are closed?

It is because of Granite School District’s community commitment to help serve meals at local schools and bring Wi-Fi hotspots to students with the help of school buses.

Nutrition Services

Each school day, 83 schools were open to provide breakfast and lunch to neighborhood students. Regardless of which school they attend, students were welcome to the neighborhood school. For example, a Cottonwood High School student who lives by Roosevelt Elementary could go to the elementary school rather than traveling to Cottonwood.

The same plan will be used for the summer meal service starting May 26.

“Traditionally, we open summer sites in parks, but due to the current situation and the public health orders in place from Salt Lake County, we will be operating the feeding program out of school sites only, with the exception of one church location,” according to the GSD website.

Meals will be served Monday through Friday with two holiday exceptions. For South Salt Lake, Lincoln Elementary, Monroe Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, and Granite Park Junior High School are on the list. Sites will remain open based on participation.

All children under 18 will receive meals at no charge.

Children must be present at the time of meal pick up, but parents are not required to accompany children. Households may A elementary student picks up lunches from a food delivery bus. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) Continued page 5

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

PASSING THE TORCH: MARK MILLER SUBARU NOW ENTERS THE FOURTH GENERATION OF THE MILLER FAMILY

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

After more than 40 years in the automotive industry, Mark Miller announces his retirement and succession plan as he passes the Mark Miller Auto Group torch to his two sons, paving the way for a fourth generation to the family business.

The vibrant light of this Miller Family Torch was passed from Harry Carleson to his son-in-law Laury Miller in 1953, then from Laury Miller to his son, Mark Miller, on July 1, 1975. It is with great excitement that Mark passes this same Family Torch to his sons, Jeff Miller and John Miller.

Starting May 1, 2020, Jeff Miller will now be the sole proprietor of Mark Miller Subaru, which includes two retailer locations (the Midtown store in South Salt Lake and South Towne store in Sandy), a Subaru Certified Collision Center, and a Subaru Rental location.

While nothing about Mark Miller Subaru will change, including the name which will continue to bare Mark’s name, this transition is a sign of strength and potential for the future of Mark Miller Subaru and for the future of the company’s employees, customers, and our community.

“Jeff has been preparing his whole life to take over our family business, and I’m so proud of him,” said Mark Miller. “He’s ready, and I’m

Page 2 | June 2020

ready for the next chapter of my life.”

From earning nickels by inspecting cars around the age of 7, to working his way thru each department and position at Mark Miller Subaru, Jeff has been preparing to become the next Miller Family Torchbearer for over thirty years. Jeff’s journey hasn’t just been about learning the nuts and bolts of the automotive business though, Mark has long been committed to teaching Jeff about what the Miller’s Torchbearer’s flame represents: to care deeply for others and to leave the world better than you found it.

For decades the Miller Family has left an undeniable ‘MARK’ on the lives of Mark Miller Subaru’s customers, employees and neighbors, supporting numerous community non-profits and providing over $2 million in philanthropic support over the past decade alone. It has been this philosophy of caring for others that Mark has instilled into the business, and into Jeff.

“Even in the face of a global pandemic, I’m certain there is no better time to carry my family’s legacy forward,” said Jeff Miller.

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the Novel Coronavirus Global Pandemic, Jeff has shown a steady handed approach to leading and managing Mark Miller Subaru’s response.

It has been his approach to implementing in-

creased safety precautions to keep Mark Miller Subaru’s employees, customers, and community safe that, in addition to developing a business plan to keep every Mark Miller Subaru team member employed, is evidence of his ability to lead with compassion during a crisis. If the Coronavirus Pandemic has proven anything, it’s that Jeff is ready and prepared to carry his Family’s Torch.

While I’m sure our journey won’t always be easy, I know that our future is bright, as bright

as the flame in my family’s torch that I now am fortunate enough to carry. My heart is full of love and gratitude to my father for grooming, preparing, and trusting me to become the next Torchbearer of our family business. I do not take this gravity of this responsibility lighting; in fact, I am dedicated to our employees, our customers, and our community to be the kind of leader my dad would be proud of. – Jeff Miller, Mark Miller Subaru, General Manager and Chief Executive officer

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This summer it’s virtual camp and private lessons for Parker Theatre kids

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

P

arker Theatre, formerly known as the Utah Children’s Theatre, is known for their robust summer camps for children ages 5-15.

They had a full calendar of acting camps, singing camps and storybook camps. However, due to COVID-19 this summer things are different.

“Since kids can’t go to camp this summer, we are bringing camp to the kids,” said Nellie Kelly, project manager for Camp in a Box. While there isn’t a real box, the term describes their virtual camp. All box items will be online.

“The goal is to have activities children can do on their own while learning things,” Kelly said.

Each box has a variety of activities for children to do on their own or with limited parental assistance or interacting with theatre school coaches virtually. The boxes are designed to cover one week.

Each day, children will be given about five arts and crafts activities, five or six adventure activities and a snack recipe.

There is also a performing arts activity, which the child will work on all week. At the end of the week, the performing arts activity can be performed for family, friends or theatre school coaches.

The boxes will be available starting June 1.

Another educational activity at the Parker Theatre is after-school classes. Each semester,

they have classes in acting, musical theatre, improv and production. With the closing of schools, the classes switched to online.

Theatre school coaches adapted to an online environment with the focus on the student. For example, in the musical theatre online class there were weekly one-on-one voice lessons where students learned about their favorite style of music theater as well as learned one song as an entire class.

This summer, theatre school coaches are available for private lessons. They will be available around the second week of June.

Contact Parker Theatre School for pricing and availability.

Currently, there are five theatre school coaches on staff. Each one holds a degree in the performing arts. In one case, Amber Hendrix, holds two master’s degrees.

Most have vast theatre experience. For example, there’s Kelly who has performed on stage since she was 6. Others like Amanda Van Orden, McKay Elwood and Meighan Smith perform in Parker Theatre productions as well as at other local theatres.

Parents can go to the Parker Theatre website (parkertheatre.org) for additional information on private lessons and/or to register for a Camp in the Box. l

The Parker Theatre is offering private acting and singing lessons during the summer. (Bill Hardesty/ City Journals)

The Parker Theatre, known for its summer activities, is offering Camp in a Box as well as private lessons.

(Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

Journals

The Parker Theatre, formerly known as Utah Children’s Theatre, has developed a Camp in a Box for children this summer. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

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Continued from front page not pick up meals for someone else. Day cares within the area are welcome to participate, but children must be present.

Check the GSD website for details.

Transportation services

When a neighborhood school doesn’t exist yet like in the Riverfront area of SSL, Nutrition Services teamed up with GSD transportation to turn school buses into delivery vehicles.

Each school day, busses roll out of the

depot at 10:15 a.m. traveling to a variety of locations to pick up meals. In the case of bus No. 903, it traveled to Olympus High School to pick up lunches for two 700 West locations.

Olympus produces about 600 meals a day.

Bus No. 903 stops south of 3900 South on 700 West for 45 minutes. When it arrived, people were waiting. At 11:30 a.m., it moved up the street to the Mountain Shadows apartments.

Soon people began to arrive.

“This is fantastic. Drivers doing this

means a lot,” said Bryan Cowley, a caretaker of three children.

“Helping out others is good. At least we can help everybody,” a six-year bus driver said.

Across the street, another food bus was waiting for customers.

“It is wonderful to give food during times like this. It is a great plan to use school bus stops and for me, it is nice to have a schedule and be working during this pandemic,” said a 22-year bus driver.

Another service provided by GSD

Transportation Services is Wi-Fi hotspots.

Thirty-five buses with Wi-Fi on board are placed throughout the district. The driver parks the bus by 9 a.m. and turns on the WiFi and locks the door. They come back at 5 p.m. to drive the bus back to the depot.

The buses boost the GSD Wi-Fi signal, allowing students in areas with no or spotty Internet connections to take their online courses.

In SSL, there are two buses: one at Fitts Park, 3050 S. 500 East, and the other by the South Parc Townhomes, 2248 S. 440 East. l

Since mid-March, some school buses have become Wi-Fi hotspots or food buses. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

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Sales tax down, so is the 2021 budget

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

A

t the May 13 South Salt Lake City Council meeting, Mayor Cherie Wood and Kyle Kershaw, director of finance, presented the draft fiscal year 2021 budget. With little comment, the City Council acknowledged receiving the budget. So far, no fireworks like last year.

The council plans to discuss the budget at their next meeting on May 27. Public comment is scheduled for the June 3 meeting. A city budget must be passed by June 30 according to state law.

“Of the 11 budgets we have worked, this is the one that we have lost sleep over,” Wood said.

Unprecedented

“We have never seen anything like this,” Kershaw said.

SSL saw a 32% decrease in sales tax revenue during the 2008 recession. This occurred over 12-15 months. This year, the same decrease is possible after just a couple of months.

This is significant because most of the revenue used in the General Fund comes from sales tax. In addition, less state revenues have resulted in less homeless mitigation dollars.

In other words, in FY2020, the city was given the funds to hire 12 police officers and 12 EMTs. For FY2021, some of their costs must be paid for by the city.

The numbers

For planning purposes, the city used a 25% decrease in sales tax revenue, but it could be higher or lower. The city projects a $5.2 million dollar decrease in revenue, including $2.1 million in sales tax, $300,000 in energy sales/use tax, $375,000 in building permits, which has been a cash cow for the city in the past few years, and $400,000 in state homeless mitigation funds.

SSL has six funds and each fund must be balanced within themselves. The General Fund is the largest budget and handles day to day city functions. The Capital Improvement Fund is used to manage larger expenses covering multiple budget years. There are three utility funds: Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Collection. Utility funds revenue come only from fees. The final fund is the Insurance Reserve. This fund is used to pay property and liability insurance and each department pays into the fund.

The proposed General Fund budget is approximately $630,000 less than the current FY2020 budget. Across all the funds, the tentative FY2021 budget total is $53,374,505 compared to the adopted FY2020 budget of $53,594,480. Almost a $222,000 reduction.

“We have taken strides to tighten our belt,” Kershaw said.

These actions include suspending hiring for eight open positions. Three other open positions are considered essential and are included in the FY2021 budget. All training and conference budgets across all depart-

Page 6 | June 2020

The South Salt Lake City Council receives the fiscal year 2021 budget,earlier this year. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

The city does have the ability to access funds With additional homes and with some residing in the city’s revenue bond replace- adjustments, the Solid Waste Collection Fund ment/reserve account for unforeseen projects remains unchanged for FY2021. or repairs.

Numbers for the Insurance Reserve An increase in sewer rates passed ear- Fund are still undetermined. lier this year will provide the increase fund- More details The entire proposed budget document ing required in the Sewer Utility Fund. This Balancing the budget increase is due to pay increasing operating is available on the SSL website (SSLC.com) Even with belt tightening, the tentative costs and fund capital projects at the Central under the news section on the home page. l budget is short. The administration is sug- Valley Water Reclamation Facility. gesting moving $4.3 million from fund balance into the General Fund. Fund balance is the city’s savings account.

The $4.3 million represents about twothirds of the balance. With the withdrawal, about $1.5 to $2 million remains.

“Using fund balance, buys us some time,” Kershaw said.

The city will use the time to gather more solid numbers, allowing for better forecasting.

The Capital Improvement Fund will be balanced by delaying certain projects and working to extend the useful lives of existing equipment and vehicles.

The Water Utility Fund revenue is expected to see a $167,000 decrease due to businesses closing and hardship on homeowners. With some minor adjustments and corrections in some budget lines and the Jordan Valley Conservancy District reducing A bar chart from the proposed fiscal year 2021 showing revenue comparisons. (Courtesy of South Salt Lake) water rates by 5%, the fund should balance.

ments were significantly reduced.

In addition, there are no employee raises or additional benefits in the budget. No layoffs are expected.

“It is very commendable for you to create a budget without any layoffs,” said Councilmember Ray deWolfe.

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Parker Theatre brings back live theatre with ‘Corona Conundrum’

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

The Parker Theatre prepares for the opening of “Corona Conundrum” by ensuring 6-feet social distancing.

(Courtesy of Parker Theatre)

O

ne theatre broke the ice by bringing live theatre back to South Salt Lake with the opening of an original comedy show on May 15 at the Parker Theatre (3605 S. State St.).

James Parker, the executive director, and the Parker Theatre Company has designed a way for the audience to return in a contactless environment.

“I really believe people will feel safe.

Maybe even more than going to the grocery store,” Parker said.

“I’m so excited to open the doors to our beautiful theatre safely. We miss our audiences and so we’ve adapted to the conditions safely so we can have a wonderful laugh,”

Joanne Parker, the artistic director, added.

Contactless theatre

The contactless experience begins with buying tickets online (parkertheatre.org) or calling the box office at 801-532-6000.

The lobby is divided into a coming and a going section. When patrons arrive at the theatre, the front door will be open. While maintaining social distancing, patrons will work their way to the box office where they will give their name. There are no playbills.

Each patron group will be ushered to their assigned seats before another group comes in.

They have designed a four-person seat-

The Parker Theatre’s seating chart ensures 6 feet of social distancing. (Courtesy of Parker Theatre)

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

ing chart which provides 6 feet around each group. The chart is flexible based on the size of the group. A sign with the patron’s name on it will indicate their seats.

There won’t be any people crossing in front of others, since each group will enter from separate sides. Patrons are also asked to wear a mask during the play.

After the 40-minute play, patrons are dismissed row by row again allowing social distancing while leaving the theater.

Water will be available at the snack bar because the water fountain is turned off. The The Parker Theatre prepares for the opening of “Coonly bathrooms available are the family re- rona Conundrum” by ensuring 6-feet social distancstrooms. Patrons are encouraged to take care ing. (Courtesy of Parker Theatre) of such matters before arriving, if possible.

“We are doing everything we have been actor Meighan Smith. asked to do. We are obeying all guidelines,” Even the actors on stage will obey social James said. distancing guidelines.

‘Corona Conundrum’ “I’m excited to act on stage again, no The play is a rapid-fire style of comedy matter how many feet away my scene partner for the whole family. is,” Lexie Thomsen, another actor, said.

“It is sketch comedy like ‘Saturday Currently, “Corona Conundrum” is Night Live’ or the old ‘Laugh-In’ show,” scheduled to run to mid-June. Additional James said. showings will be added based on audience In a news release the show is described demand. as “‘Corona Conundrum’ follows the lives of The show opened on May 15 with shows very average people trying their best to thrive at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, shows in very unaverage times. From the woes of will be at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5:30 dating during a time of social distancing, to p.m. the struggle of never knowing if you will find Tickets are $17 which include a $5 dotoilet paper when you most need it.” nation or $12 without the donation.

“They say art imitates life. And boy, “Our theatre is here to bring you much what a crazy life we’re imitating. ‘Corona needed comedic relief. We thrive off your Conundrum’ is an absurd take on daily life in happiness. Also, please donate…corona lockdown. It’s funny because it’s true,” said hates theatre,” James said. l

The Parker Theatre has developed a way to safely offer live theatre by assigning seats. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

June 2020 | Page 7

What’s your legacy?

At height of the pandemic, PAL donates valuable PPE to South Salt Lake police, fire

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

A

Serving Local Families Since 1885

bout one year after the South Salt Lake Police Athletic League took a break to restructure the organization under new leadership and a board of directors, it has regrouped under new director Jonathan Hertel.

First on his agenda was supposed to have been PAL’s annual golf tournament in August, its largest fundraiser. Once the coronavirus pandemic struck in March however, the golf tournament was unfortunately canceled.

Hertel’s focus shifted from rebuilding PAL after former director Jerry Silva retired, to serving the needs of this community hardhit by this public health crisis.

“A lot of good people have donated to us. What we did this year because our programming was halted (due to the pandemic) and our funds haven’t been needed as often, was give a little bit back to the community,” Hertel said.

Foremost among those in need during the height of the pandemic, according to Hertel, were the South Salt Lake police and fire departments.

“Both had posted a need for masks and sanitation wipes,” Hertel said. “So what I did through some connections that I have, is I reached out to a friend of mine who lives in China who was able to get 2,000 masks and 500 alcohol wipes.”

Hertel’s friend had the KN95 masks and wipes shipped here via express delivery with-

in days, thanks to generous private business donors and funding from PAL sponsors.

From that shipment, PAL donated 1,000 masks each to the police and fire departments.

That should give both departments enough personal protective equipment through the end of the summer, Hertel added.

These were sorely needed, according to Hertel, who said he learned there was a spike in positive COVID-19 cases at the new Gail Miller Homeless Resource Center.

To which South Salt Lake police and fire found themselves responding to 911 emergency calls at that facility and others in the vicinity—without the necessary PPE to protect themselves and others.

“You know, when you look at that, they have dedicated officers that go there and if they don’t have the proper PPE, you’re exposing these officers to it and so we felt that was probably the best step that we could take,” Hertel said.

In addition to helping out police and fire in this pandemic, Hertel and PAL are also reaching out to area families in need by putting together meal kits for them. This is being done in collaboration with the Salt Lake Education Culinary Center, or SLICE. Hertel added that along with donations from business supporters, he will be contributing a $500 grant from his State Farm Insurance agency which will help go toward funding for these necessary meal kits. l

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A South Salt Lake police officer wears one of 1,000 donated KN95 masks courtesy of the Police Athletic League. (Photo courtesy Jonathan Hertel)

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

COVID-19 can’t stop Granite Park’s art show

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

J

ulia Bossi, an art teacher at Granite Park Junior High School and a 2020 Granite School District EXCEL winner, won’t let something like a school shutdown stop her from exhibiting some of her students’ art.

Typically, GPJHS holds two art shows a year. A benefit of the school shutdown is that anyone with Internet access can view art from 12 of her students.

The GPJHS digital art show is part of a larger GSD digital art show, but the art on GPJHS’s website was chosen by Bossi.

While this is not a contest, each exhib-

itor will receive a high-end sketch book and color pencil set.

“The Maze of Life in 2020” is a pencil and color pencil piece done by Blanca, a seventh grader. Speaking of the piece, she wrote, “My idea behind my artwork is what is actually happening in life right now, the coronavirus. The virus represents the grey parts, dangerous. But the colors represent those who are helping to fight it. Doctors, governments, store workers, and everybody else. Everybody can be the colors, even you, your family, friends, and even your pet. Let’s be those colors.”

“Closed Doors” is a pencil, markers and a ruler piece done by Brianna, also a seventh grader. She wrote, “Closed doors, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Unless those doors are opened by ‘brave’ people. I came up with this idea while I was crying, I was upset because my mother had just yelled at me. It may look simThe GPJHS Digital Art Show is now open with 12 art pieces. (Bill Hardesty/ ple, but it holds a deep City Journals) meaning.”

“The Forest” is an acrylic paint on canvas piece done by Brayan, another seventh grader. He wrote, “I was inspired by the beautiful forest when the sunset is so beautiful. I explored painting with acrylic paint, it is very easy to mix the paintings, I love to draw a lot, when I feel sad and I only draw and transmit my feelings in art it is very interesting. There is nothing more beautiful than art.”

In Bossi’s class, students don’t replicate art, they are free to create what is in their mind and heart.

Bossi wants to develop creative thinkers.

“Creative thinkers are in demand for future careers,” Bossi said.

She teaches what she calls “creative skills” of observing the smallest details, envisioning, innovating through exploration, and reflective self-evaluation.

In her classroom, there are many mediums such as pencils, paints and clay. Students think through what they want to create. They create and evaluate.

“The process is more important than the end product,” Bossi said.

Bossi also said that many students find their voice through art, which can help students navigate adolescence.

“Arts education not only prepares students for success in careers, it enriches and brings joy to our lives,” she said. “The pro-

Brayan’s art piece “The Forest” is part of the GPJHS 2020 Digital Art Show. (Courtesy of Brayan)

cess of creating art is deep learning that helps us to make creative connections and make sense of the world.” l

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June 2020 | Page 9

New SSLPD Public Information Officer seeks community engagement

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

Danielle Croyle is the new Public Information Officer for the SSLPD. (Photo courtesy of Danielle Croyle)

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D

anielle Croyle has joined the South Salt Lake Police Department (SSLPD) as the new Public Information Officer (PIO) and Training Coordinator. The former PIO, Officer Gary Keller, retired earlier this year.

In speaking about her new position, Croyle said, “I want to engage in the community. People are people and they want to be heard.”

“In the month that I have been here, I have observed frequently supervisors and officers engaging with people on the street.

Having interactions with them. Introducing themselves to a new business owner. Sharing information how to reach out to the police and be involved in neighborhood watch. I am impressed with the caliber of the officers here,” Croyle added.

Croyle comes to the SSLPD with over 25 years of law enforcement experience. She started her career has a reserved officer for Ogden PD. She was soon hired as a patrol officer. She worked up the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant and retired as a captain in 2018.

She was the Administrative Officer for the Salt Lake City FBI office. She left that position to join SSLPD. A PIO (think of Garrett on “Blue Bloods”) is the public face of the department.

They provide information during an incident such as a major traffic accident or significant arrest.

However, Croyle just doesn’t want to be reactive with her interaction with the community but be proactive as well.

“Besides providing updates on crime

and crime prevention stuff, but also update on community events that have a law enforcement or community interest,” Croyle said.

Besides being the PIO, Croyle is also the Training Coordinator. In this role, she will ensure that all officers are up to date on their POST (Police Officer Standard and Training) requirements along with other required training for all employees of the SSLPD. Croyle’s main goal to do more community outreach via social media.

“We are trying increase followship and engagement. That is one of the things that is paramount for one of my goals,” Croyle said.

She wants to add Twitter and Instagram accounts in addition to their current Facebook page (facebook.com/sslpd).

The police department’s Facebook page is quite active. The page contains information about COVID-19, Census 2020, and crime prevention with hotline numbers such as the Utah Domestic Violence Hotline (800-8975465) or the Domestic Violence 24 hours Hotline (801-377-5500).

The Facebook page includes news of the department, such as Chief Jack Carruth and others bike riding in the 2020 Police Unity Tour, a 263-mile ride from Provo to Ogden to honor fallen officers or Mrs. Timpanogas delivering Crumbl Cookies during National Police Week.

At times, the Facebook page is used to solicit community involvement, with a crime investigation or help in finding a missing person. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Online therapy groups during COVID-19 have pros, cons say organizers

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

L

ast month, the City Journals covered a story about how the COVID-19 shutdown has affected group therapy initiatives like AA and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 12-Step program. The article was from the participant’s point of view.

This follow-up is from the perspective of a facilitator or organizer of a group.

In the world of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) no one directs or facilitates a meeting.

Individuals called Home Group Members are responsible for the meeting like setting up chairs, unlocking the doors, and beginning the meeting. After that, the meeting goes where the meeting goes.

NA is a 12-step program modeled after the AA 12-step program. They don’t focus on any particular drug because addiction can be played out with a variety of drugs. They strive to find their higher power and do service.

Their hotline (801-25-CLEAN (25326) or Spanish 801-33-AYUDA (29832) is staffed by six volunteers who can direct callers to meetings held through the Salt Lake Valley.

RJ (no last name to protect privacy) is a home group member.

“Some participants find online frustrating,” RJ said.

RJ explained that a big part of their meetings is giving hugs and looking into people’s eyes.

“Even when people say they are fine, you can tell something is wrong by looking into their eyes,” RJ said.

Sometimes in a Zoom meeting, people either don’t show their faces or when things get painful, they just turn off the video or sign off.

“One positive part of being online is that we have people from all over the world tapping into a meeting,” RJ said.

With the state moving to a yellow status, RJ said they are talking about returning to some face to face meetings or maybe even a hybrid where some participants are social distancing in a room while others are still online.

It is up to each home group to decide if and when to move to face to face meetings and Normally group therapy programs involve meeting in person, where even hugs can be offered. Not anymore with meetings going what they will look like. l online. (Pixabay)

A commitment to community needs, Granite Education Foundation feeds ith nearly 65% of Granite School District’s student population food insecure before the pandemic, Granite Education Foundation has stepped up efforts to provide help even with school food pantries closed by keeping food donations flowing into the community.

According to Granite Education

Unpacking meal boxes distributed by Granite Education Foundation. (Photo courtesy Kimberly Oborn)

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Foundation CEO Brent Severe this would not be possible without the help of partners and volunteers. “Many have been volunteering with us from the very start when schools were closed. Our Donation and Distribution Center is large enough to receive large pallets of food from partnering agencies like the LDS Church, Utah Food Bank and others,” he said.

As of May 14, approximately 202,304 meals were delivered, and with the nine weeks since schools had been closed, this equates to an average of 4,496 meals a day.

“Every Monday and Tuesday, volunteers come to our distribution center to help fill food bags and load pallets for deliveries to our schools with food pantries.

We deliver approximately 12 to 16 pallets a week, along with bread delivery,” said Kim Oborn, food pantry program coordinator for the foundation.

Not a part of the free and reduced lunch program, the meals that Granite Education Foundation volunteers hand out are a replacement for the now closed inschool food pantries.

“We get requests and help as many as we can,” Oborn said. “We have assisted the Utah Food Bank with their mobile

food pantry. The Utah Food Bank usually distributes to schools once a month, but with the closing of schools and many corporate businesses unable to send volunteers, the foundation has helped by having the food delivered to our distribution center and then a group of drivers, including volunteers from Rocky Mountain Power have dropped off the pre-bagged food at each school.”

Granite Education Foundation is also currently engaged in efforts with local restaurants by partnering with these restaurants to keep employees engaged, provide nutritionally balanced, culturally diverse, and affordable fresh meals as additional nourishment to highly impacted communities.

“Our Restaurant Meal Kit Initiative has provided 7,980 meals as we have partnered with Saffron Valley, Marley’s Sliders, Rico Foods, and HB Boys/Burger King,” Oborn said.

All of these efforts have not gone unacknowledged. A senior community school director at one local elementary school explained, “We had a family come in this morning to pick up their Chromebooks. We found out it was one of her stu-

dent’s birthdays, so the whole gym burst out in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.

We were then able to provide them with a food bag that had a cake and frosting in it for his birthday. This student was smiling ear to ear and so were we. Our district is incredibly lucky to have the foundation supporting our students, and we were all reminded of that this morning.”

For more information on all of the Granite Education Foundation’s efforts and ways to volunteer visit granitekids. org. l

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By Katy Whittingham | k.whittingham@mycitjournals.com

June 2020 | Page 11

More traffic on local trails as residents seek escape

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

S

alt Lake County’s trails have afforded residents a nearby escape from COVID-19 restrictions. While crowded routes have added waste and social distancing concerns, they have also helped grow community appreciation of local trails.

Mitt Stewart and members of the Wasatch Trail Run Series still hold out hope for some form of in-person running events later in the summer. Meanwhile, they have taken their popular series online. Stewart has worked on developing an online feature that will enable people to find challenges and trail routes to run, log their times, and compete with others.

“The whole reason for doing this is to offer people some connection while we’re not connected,” Stewart said. “We’ll be running virtual races.”

To do that, people can look up the race route and take it on individually. They can then submit verification of their effort using their favorite fitness app. Stewart hopes to help people connect as a running and biking community while they maintain a safe distance.

Keeping that distance has been a challenge with increased trail usage.

“Any increase in trail or usage is anecdotal, but it is clear that our public spac-

es have been a place of refuge during this time,” said Clayton J. Scrivner of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. “Last month we launched our ‘Be Park Smart, Stay Apart’ campaign that is designed to educate users of

our public spaces on responsible use according to current health guidelines.”

Stewart has noticed the increased traffic on the trails as well. While more people on the trails can create problems, it also gives

people throughout the community a healthy outdoor activity.

“A big reason to go out is to have solitude, so that’s been a bit of a buzzkill,” Stewart said. “On the flipside, it’s healthy and good for people.”

Stewart likes the idea of people connecting by sharing their appreciation of local trails and their achievements on them. He also thinks measures could be taken to help vulnerable members of the community enjoy the trails. More signage at trailheads instructing people on trail etiquette and social distancing could help, he said. Stewart would also like to see special hours set aside for the elderly to enjoy trails without the crowds.

Those crowds have plenty to enjoy, though. “Salt Lake County maintains over 100 miles of trails and pathways,” Scrivner said. “Jordan Parkway, Dimple Dell, Rose and Yellow Fork Canyons, Parley’s, and Utah and Salt Lake Canal trails are the most extensive.”

While increased trail use has produced things like more garbage and animal waste bags left behind, it has also helped the community through unprecedented times.

“People need to get out and exercise,” Runners have been able to connect online until they can race together in person again. (Photo courtesy of Stewart said. “It’s a great way to keep people Mitt Stewart) motivated.” l

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Page 12 | June 2020

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Virtual County Library available as reopening takes shape

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

R

esidents of Salt Lake County have gone without a lot of things over the past couple months. Some resources and services previously taken for granted have suddenly been dearly missed. One of those resources is the Salt Lake County Library system. Since midMarch, all 18 full-service physical branches

have been closed. However, many of the library system’s services have been available online, and its staff members have worked to expand virtual offerings while the community stays at home.

“Everything is online right now,” said Sara Neal, marketing and communications

manager for Salt Lake County Library. “Limited staff is going into branches to do some prep work for opening the libraries.”

In the meantime, and for the past several weeks, librarians have worked to make themselves more available online to the community. They started a daily online story time for kids on the library’s Facebook page each morning at 10:30. The library’s focus on children home from school has driven an expansion of online book offerings for kids of all ages.

The County Library has developed programs like its Stay at Home Challenge encouraging people to do things like write a letter to a grandparent they can’t see in person. Kids were also challenged to read a short book in a half hour. “We wanted to help people fill some time and try to take their minds off things,” Neal said.

Online offerings have expanded to include access to more books, magazines and movies. People can even get their library card by applying online.

“Librarians are not at a desk right now, but they are still getting resources available Salt Lake County Library is offering many of its usual programs and events in a digital format during to the community,” Neal said. The virtuCOVID-19 shutdowns. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Library) al Ask a Librarian service offers the kind

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of help that librarians typically offer when physical branches are open. People can ask their librarians online for help with research, writing a resume, or how to apply for unemployment.

That type of online assistance will not go away when physical branches start to reopen.

“We are working on how to serve members of the community who might be high risk,” Neal said.

The County Library has worked with government officials to plan how to reopen safely. “We are working closely with the county and state,” said Cottonwood Heights Communications Manager Timothy Beery.

“We have to take into account our needs and the needs of our neighbors.”

As communities work toward reopening, the County Library has worked on how to keep patrons safe when libraries reopen.

Everything from a safe curbside pickup program to properly cleaning materials as they come in has to be considered.

“How do you monitor a 6-foot distance in a library?” Neal asked. “We are looking at what other urban libraries are doing to find what’s safest for the community.” l

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June 2020 | Page 13

Lifesaving medication now becomes affordable, accessible

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

A

pharmacy bill of $800 covering a onemonth supply of medication. That’s what sparked T1International Utah #insulin4all chapter leader Mindie Hooley to take action in her local community and state government.

Hooley’s son, diagnosed with diabetes, needs insulin to survive. After being met with that $800 bill, Hooley went home to do some research. She came upon other stories like hers, as well as stories where people had died from not being able to afford their insulin.

“I couldn’t believe we live in a country that has unaffordable lifesaving medications where people must ration insulin and even die from a lack of being able to afford medication,” Hooley said. “There’s been times when we had to choose between buying his insulin or buying food and paying our bills.

We have lost our home and cars trying to keep him alive.”

Three months after receiving the first $800 bill, Hooley’s son admitted to rationing his insulin “because he saw the financial struggles we were going though buying his insulin and other diabetic supplies, and he was trying to help with the financial cost,” Hooley said.

While Hooley was researching, she found T1International; a nonprofit run by people with type 1 diabetes for people with type 1 diabetes. T1International supports local communities around the world by giving them the tools they need to stand up for their rights. Their aim is to ensure access to insulin and diabetes supplies becomes a reality for all. On Feb. 19, 2019, Hooley started the T1International Utah #insulin4all chapter.

“People all over Utah have emailed me telling me how they have lost a loved one due to them not being able to afford insulin,” Hooley said.

In June 2019, Utah #insulin4all media lead Stephanie Arceneaux came across Hooley asking for members to join the fight for affordable insulin. “As someone that has had T1D for 35 years and seen greater and greater amounts of money go toward purchasing insulin, I decided that I wanted to join that fight. I also felt compelled to do something after I began reading stories of my fellow T1Ds that were dying because they could not afford their insulin.”

Administrative lead Jennifer Draney joined the T1International Utah chapter when there were 36 members. Draney became an advocate after her son was diagnosed at 16 years old. “Two years after my son’s diagnosis, I was diagnosed type 1 diabetes as well.

The immune system didn’t care how old you are and T1D happens at any age.”

In August 2019, Hooley reached out to her local representative, Rep. Norman K. Thurston expressing that there was a need for change in Utah’s diabetic community.

“We were able to meet with him multi-

Page 14 | June 2020

Utah #insulin4all chapter rally for affordable insulin. (Photo courtesy of Mindie Hooley)

ple times and share our stories, our headaches and our concerns. Thurston listened, brainstormed ideas with us and worked incredibly hard. We met with Dr. (Joseph) Miner from the Utah Department of Health. That meeting was impactful because he was onboard for changing the current system,” Draney said.

Soon, Thurston began drafting a bill to sponsor in the state legislature. He requested the Utah T1International chapter to be involved in drafting that bill.

“As chapter leader, (Hooley) did all of the conversing with Rep. Thurston as to how a bill could be written and what should be included to help address the issues that had been discussed in that meeting,” Arceneaux said.

“Rep. Thurston first sent me the draft before the bill even had a bill number,” Hooley said. “The bill was revised two times and each time I was able to see the bill changes before anyone else saw them. I was able to add my input and stress parts of the bill that I supported and also stressed to him that the uninsured needed to be covered as well.”

That bill was introduced to the state legislature as H.B. (House Bill) 207 – Insulin Access Amendments. Throughout the session, members of the T1International Utah chapter were in attendance anytime there was discussion of the bill.

“I went to the capitol several times with (Hooley) and other advocates in the chapter to lobby on behalf of H.B. 207,” Arceneaux said. “We met with several important members of the Utah House and then some of the Utah senators. Once, when I was leaving to go home, I even ran into U.S. Senator Mike

Lee and lobbied him.”

“The next few weeks were full of us begging for support on our bill, writing everyone—I believe I wrote all 76 representatives plus the Governor. I know (Hooley) was working 12 hours a day on it,” Draney said.

During the last week of the legislative session, “we learned that one of the senators was going to propose an amendment. A portion of the bill directed that pharmacists could prescribe insulin up to 90 days in an emergency situation. This amendment shortened that time frame to 30 days. We considered this an unfriendly amendment. That was a nerve-wracking day because we desperately wanted the bill to pass as it had been written in the final version by Rep. Thurston, yet we did not want to push any senators into opposing the bill altogether by demanding that they leave H.B. 207 as is. In the end, around 6 p.m., Rep. Thurston let us know that our lobbying had forced a compromise,” Arceneaux said.

On March 10, the bill passed. “It still brings me to tears when I think back on the moment when the Utah senators voted unanimously to pass H.B. 207. It was an amazing feeling to know that, even if in just a small way, I was a part of helping those, like me and my husband, and now our son, in the future, that must have exogenous insulin in order to live,” Arceneaux said.

“In the end it passed and now it’s effective seven months sooner than expected— June 1,” Draney said.

H.B. 207 aims to create mechanisms to “increase Utahn’s access to affordable insulin.” The bill “creates an incentive for health

benefit plans to reduce the required copayments for insulin; directs the Insurance Department to conduct a study on insulin pricing; directs the Public Employees’ Benefit and Insurance Program to purchase insulin at discounted prices and to create a program that allows Utahns to purchase the discounted insulin; increases the number of days for which an insulin prescription can be refilled; and authorizes a pharmacist to refill an expired insulin prescription.

“H.B. 207 would not exist if it were not for Mindie Hooley and her starting the local T1International chapter, Utah #insulin4all. It is because of her and that chapter that I became involved in the bill at all,” Arceneaux said.

“I believe this bill will save many lives and it sets the bar for other states to follow.

Our fight is far from over but this step was an amazing one,” Draney said.

“Many wonderful and kind people have reached out to me in the last three months from all over the world. These complete strangers asked us to make a GoFundMe account because they feel that no American should have to go without lifesaving medication or supplies. Because of these nice people, we were able to buy a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) for my son that will save his life. My heart is overwhelmed with the amount of love that has been shown to my son,” Hooley said.

“The diabetic community deserves the best and no one should lose a loved one because they can’t afford a lifesaving medication that has been around for 100 years,” she said. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

www.sslc.com

CITY NEWSLETTER

June 2020 Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.com

South Salt Lake City Council Members LeAnne Huff, District 1 801-440-8510 lhuff@sslc.com Corey Thomas, District 2 801-755-8015 cthomas@sslc.com Sharla Bynum, District 3 801-803-4127 sbeverly@sslc.com Portia Mila, District 4 801-792-0912 pmila@sslc.com L. Shane Siwik, District 5 801-548-7953 ssiwik@sslc.com Natalie Pinkney, At-Large 385-775-4980 npinkney@sslc.com Ray deWolfe, At-Large 801-347-6939 rdewolfe@sslc.com

City Offices

Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

801-483-6000 220 East Morris Ave SSL, UT 84115 Animal Service 801-483-6024 Building Permits 801-483-6005 Business Licensing 801-483-6063 Code Enforcement 801-464-6712 Fire Administration 801-483-6043 Justice Court 801-483-6072 Police Admin 801-412-3606 Promise 801-483-6057 Public Works 801-483-6045 Recreation 801-412-3217 Utility Billing 801-483-6074 Emergencies 911 Police/Fire Dispatch 801-840-4000

Navigating our New Normal Together Welcome to summer! We have all been waiting for this moment, especially during quarantine, but we all know this summer will be a bit different. I am more than ready to see friends, family, and neighbors and would love to celebrate the season, but have been Mayor Cherie Wood proceeding with caution. My frame of mind continues to be, “How do I protect others and keep myself safe?” While it doesn’t feel exactly like a “care-free” summer, I am still enjoying the best parts of our community while playing it safe. My priority is to make sure we can have more freedom and security in the coming months. I’m enjoying our parks and trails, but still working remotely when I can, wearing a mask when I shop, and spending time just with those closest to me. It is a small price to pay for a healthy, happy summer.

The city has by necessity changed the way we do business, and we are slowly making our way back to a new normal. I appreciate your patience as we work through this together. We are closely following the shifts in the color-coded health guidelines of the state’s Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan. When the dial moves to green —the “new normal risk” phase, we will continue to do a lot of things differently. We aren’t going back to normal. Each of us will still need to practice strict hygiene, stay home if ill, and protect those we know who are high risk. We will slowly reopen city facilities, restart recreation programs, and eventually, schedule city events again. We will continue to provide essential services, of course, but can bring back some of the items that were paused.

Our FY21 Budget looks different, too. The extreme changes in our economy have led to major revenue drops that we predict will linger. This has been the hardest budget to put together in my entire career. My focus for the proposed budget is to retain existing services and every employee. It is a big lift, but there really are no city-funded services or positions that are “extra”.

We have operated this lean since the Great Recession. The proposed General Fund budget is $630,000 less than the current 2020 budget and still requires an appropriation of $4.3 million from rainy day savings. Every city department will see a decrease and only critical building repairs and vehicle maintenance are included. Budget planning has always required collaboration and cooperation between staff and Council – and the need has never been greater. The budget draft can be viewed at sslc. com. The public hearing will be held on June 3 at 7:30 p.m. You can also reach out to your City Council representative to share your comments.

Our busy little city has picked up the pace over these past few weeks. Business doors are open again, but not without financial strain and new restrictions. We are known as the City of Industry and your hard work has earned us this reputation. As our economy rebounds, now is the time to shop local and patronize our small and large businesses. Their rebound depends on us!

As we navigate the new normal together, my primary focus is on the health and safety of all who live, work, and play in South Salt Lake. Patience and kindness are warranted in the weeks and months to come.

SSLC.com has a New Look

It has never been more important for South Salt Lake to ensure clear channels of communication to our residents and businesses. We regularly communicate through: • This On the Move newsletter • Bi-weekly City Council meetings • Social Media Channels • Our municipal website, SSLC.com

In an effort to have timely news and announcements that impact those who live, work and play in SSL, our website is undergoing an overhaul. We are making a concerted effort to improve our online presence and make changes that serve you.

Here’s what we’ve been working on: • New Home page, where residents can see upcoming events and recent news, or easily navigate to their destination • Updating all existing pages, standardizing content and info • COVID-19 page, with regularly-updates on resources and news • Clear bulletins on pages, letting residents know which services are continuing and which have been postponed or modified We are looking for your feedback on all of this! If you have any suggestions, send an email to connect@sslc.com or message us on any of our social media channels. We look forward to hearing from you!

City News City Council Corner – Pedestrian Safety

SSL City Council Meetings The Council has been holding Zoom Online Meetings, visit sslc.com for info.

220 E. Morris Ave., 2nd Floor Wednesday, June 3, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17, 7 p.m

SSL City Planning Commission Meetings 220 E. Morris Ave., 2nd Floor Thursday, June 4, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m.

NOTICE: All meetings are subject to cancellation.

Check sslc.com for updates.

By Corey Thomas, City Council District 2 Now that it is getting warmer outside, I want to remind everyone to pay attention to pedestrians walking, biking, or other means of travel. Pedestrian safety has been my biggest passion while I’ve been serving on the City Council. After witnessing someone get hit at a crosswalk near my house, it really kicked my passion into full gear.

I worked hard to bring awareness to that crosswalk (State Street & Gregson Ave). I was contacted by UDOT and began working with them to get a crosswalk light installed. I am so thankful that they took this issue seriously and installed the signal.

I continued my efforts in improving other areas of the city. Once the Men’s Resource Center was opened last November, we started seeing several pedestrian accidents and unfortunately a few deaths.

I reached out to UDOT once again and pressed hard for them to act quickly to install another signaled crosswalk light, which is now up. I am thankful to UDOT for taking pedestrian safety in our city seriously.

Please remember to pay attention when you are driving or if you are the pedestrian to watch out for your surroundings. We can all help in preventing pedestrian accidents, if we pay better attention.

These pedestrian accidents impact more than just the pedestrian. It greatly changes their live, the driver, and their family members lives.

I want to thank all those residents, fellow council members, UDOT and city staff for helping and supporting me with this passion.

Note: Opinions expressed here may not be representative of all Members of the City Council.

The Public Hearing on the 2020/2021 Budget has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Comments can also be sent to the Mayor or City Council Members, see Page 1 of this section for contact info.

Rent a Roll Off Dumpster Residential garbage customers can rent a dumpster for $25.

This service books quickly and it may be several weeks before you can secure rental dates.

Rental form is available at sslc. com or email utility@sslc.com.

Don’t have email? Give us a call 801-483-6000.

WHAT IS STORMWATER? Stormwater is any water that falls from the sky including rain, hail and snow. Stormwater runoff is water that runs across hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, roofs and streets. Stormwater collects debris and other pollutants as it flows to our stormwater system and into local canals, rivers, streams and lakes. This runoff can create potentially serious risks to the health and safety of our residents, visitors and the environment.

Stormwater is not treated. Everything in stormwater that flows into catch basins and storm drains ends up in the Mill Creek, Jordan River and Great Salt Lake. Everyday activities impact stormwater and make a huge difference in water quality.

Everyone in the City is responsible for protecting the water that travels downstream. Here are some ways you can help: • Sweep and collect trash and debris on and around your property weekly • Secure your garbage can, keep the lid closed and ensure all trash is contained • Bag grass clippings and leaves, don’t blow them in the gutter • If washing your vehicle, do so on the grass • Apply fertilizer and pesticides as directed by product labels and avoid spraying hard surfaces • Repair leaking vehicles and equipment, catch leaking fluids if awaiting repairs • Landscape bare soil areas to limit wind and water erosion Report illegal dumping or a spill STORMWATER HOTLINE 801-412-3245 Available 24 hours a day

South Salt Lake City Council Action Report Summary Full agendas, minutes, handouts and video recorded meetings available at: sslc.com/city-government/council-meeting Date 4/8/20 5/13/20

Agenda Item Subject Wastewater Annual Report Presentation of the Annual Wastewater Annual Report Presentation of 2020/2021 Mayor Wood presented the 2020/2021 tentative budget tentative budget to the Council

Action Approved

Next Step No further action

Council accepted the 2020/2021 Public Hearing set for tentative budget June 3, 2020

Ace and REDO Kickoff Recycling Education Campaign Ace Recycling and Disposal, South Salt Lake’s contracted waste hauler, is teaming up with REDO, an emerging recycling education non-profit, to tackle recycling contamination in South Salt Lake.

Beginning in July, Ace and REDO will be placing stickers on the lids of each residential recycling cart in the City that show the items that are acceptable for recycling. SSL residents can place empty plastic bottles and jugs, food and beverage cans, paper, and cardboard in recycling bins. Items that are unacceptable, but commonly found in recycling bins, are stretchy plastics, such as plastic bags and bubble wrap. Please do not place stretchy plastics in your recycling bin. Stretchy plastics get wrapped up in the equipment at the sorting facility and do not get recycled!

Thank you for your help in cleaning up the recycling stream!

Have a question or would you like to volunteer e-mail: recycle@acedisposal.com

Public Safety Together we meet our Community’s Needs The South Salt Lake Police Department is part of the city’s Unified Command that addresses the needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unified Command is a structure that brings together the divisions involved in an incident to coordinate an effective response, while allowing each to carry out their own jurisdictional, legal, and functional responsibilities.

Members of the Unified Command work together to develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, share information, maximize the use of available resources, and enhance the efficiency of response. We work in collaboration with administration, fire, and legal to ensure the community’s needs are met during these trying times.

Additionally, we are committed to working with state and local community leaders to ensure timely notification of updated orders and guidelines. As Utah has moved from the red to orange and then orange to yellow phases of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, we have seen our community come together as businesses reopen and restrictions ease.

This pandemic has brought on concerns and uncertainty. But, has also brought out the best in our community to assist those in need. We continue to collaborate with various entities to provide services and additional resources to help support our community.

Salt Lake County Mental Health 801-974-7717, Salt Lake Behavioral Health 801-264-6000, and Intermountain Healthcare 833-442-2211 all have mental health relief hotlines available to anyone experiencing emotional distress due to COVID-19.

The state of Utah has also committed to providing masks to the state’s households free of charge, while supplies last, through “A Mask for Every Utahn”, they can be ordered online at coronavirus.utah.gov I would personally like to express my appreciation to the many businesses and community members who have reached

out to provide meals, PPE products, and essential items to maintain our city’s public safety. Thank you to: Friends of Chinatown Market Dali Crepes El Asadero Fox 13 News Mountain America Woodside Homes SSL Police Athletics/Activities League (PAL) State Farm Insurance: Jon Hertel Apple Spice Catering Bank of Utah The Children’s Fund Foundation Service Master Clean of Salt Lake Eyeson Investigation: Kevin Wyatt Mrs. Timpanogos, Payton Ashby Crumbl Cookies

Preparedness Tip #6: Review, Renew, Replenish & Rehearse Police Chief Jack Carruth

As of this writing, our lobby has limited access, if you need to collect property or require records assistance call 801-412-3600.

If you are legally required to register or need an appointment call 801-412-3600 option 2. These are scheduled between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies or dispatch 801-840-4000 for non-emergencies.

Your police department is at the forefront taking the necessary precautions and providing public safety measures.

None of us know what the lasting effects of this pandemic will be, however if we continue to support each other and work together.

We will get through this – stay safe, strong and healthy.

Check your Emergency Supply Kit every six months to be sure nothing has expired or spoiled.

Purchase foods that are nonperishable, don’t require cooking and can be easily stored. A review of your emergency exits and preparedness plan should be looked over and acted out.

While we haven’t been able to meet in person we are still actively assisting our residents and businesses. Please reach out if you have a concern that needs our attention.

Maintaining Operational Capabilities Your Fire Department plays a critical role in pre-hospital emergency care and continues to provide this essential service in addition to many emergency roles in the community. During a pandemic, workloads increase, and staffing can become problematic as employees and their families become ill or quarantined. In order to continue providing essential services, we have taken proactive steps to protect first responders and their families which contributes to the safety and security of our entire community during the pandemic. Better-protected first responders are better able to protect their communities.

We have increased our infection control, enhanced workforce protection by encouraging sick employees to stay at home, limiting family and public visits to stations, multiple daily disinfection of facilities, and social distancing from other work groups by suspending multi-fire station trainings.

As the COVID-19 pandemic changes in size and scope, the fire department must adapt to meet any pandemic event including scaling up preparedness efforts to meet an acute workload surge or, scaling down as the work demand subsides and conditions start to return to normal. Our model allows us to scale up or down both vertically or horizontally with the intensity and severity of the pandemic. Some adaptations you may see from us include suspending some non-emergent tasks, assess patients from a distance of 6 feet or ask the patient if they can come outside

to be assessed in order to determine the presence of the virus, minimize crew exposure to patients by having only one or two conduct a patient assessment, and following CDC guideline by wearing masks, gowns, and safety goggles.

As the State transitions from Orange (moderate) to Yellow (low) risk of the coronavirus please remember to take all necessary precautions to keep yourself virus free. Additionally, when you’re out in the yard preparing to enjoy the sunshine review the Open Burning graphic on page 5 for some important reminders. Stay Safe and Healthy!

Fire Chief Terry Addison

See page 5 of Newsletter for: City of South Salt Lake Fire Department “Open Burning” Rules and Regulations

Sgt. Hogan 801-412-3631

Officer Keller 801-412-3654

Business & Development Columbus Senior Center

South Salt Lake Food Scene: Support Local Business

At the time of printing: All in person activities at the County Senior Center have been suspended.

Find updates on Facebook: Columbus Senior Center sslc.com or call 385-468-3340

DALI CREPES

New Business: Dali Crepes is located at 2854 S. West Temple at the entrance of the new Hawthorne Townhomes. Dali Crepes is open 7 days a week and has a delivery option. Call 385-228-4280 or visit dalicrepes.com for more information.

DAVID’S KITCHEN

David’s Kitchen is located at 45 W. 3300 S. Call 801-463-0888 or visit davidskitchenslc.com for more information.

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Town & Country Market is located at 2840 S. Main. Call 801-487-3132 or visit their Facebook page facebook. com/Town-and-Country-Market for more information.

Have you completed your Census survey?

OH MAI

AFGHAN KITCHEN The Census collects basic information on all people in the United States. Census data is used to determine where billions of dollars are invested.

Each household submits 1 survey.

Your survey should include everyone living with you on April 1st.

Oh Mai is located at 3425 S. State.

Call 801-467-6882 or visit www.ohmaisandwich.com for more information.

Afghan Kitchen is located at 3142 S. Main. Through the month of May, Afghan Kitchen raised money for the Utah Food Bank, to support our local community.

They continue to offer online orders, curbside pickup and delivery. Call 385229-4155 or visit afghan-kitchen.com for more information.

DELICE BAKERY & CAFE

Delice Bakery & Cafe is located at 2747 S. State. Call 801-953-1910 or visit delicebakeryslc.com for more information.

You Matter! Be Counted!

Represent SSL! Take your survey online today at:

my2020census.gov

PAT’S BBQ

GETTING OUTSIDE Walking, Biking & Hiking In & Near SSL Parley’s Trail Millcreek Trail Fitts Park walking path Sugar House Park Hidden Hollow Memorial Grove Park and Trail Red Butte Canyon Trail Ensign Peak Hiking Trail Jordan River Parkway Trail State Capital walking path

Pat’s BBQ is located at 155 W. Commonwealth Ave. Call 801-484-5963 or visit their website at patsbbq.com for more information.

BJORN’S BREW

Bjorn’s Brew is located at 2165 S. State.

Bjorn’s will be giving all doctors, nurses and medical staff a drink on them as a token of appreciation for all the hard work during the COVID crisis. Call 801935-4445 or visit bjornsbrew.com for more information.

Community Happenings Nominate a South Salt Lake Beautiful Yard

Mayor Cherie Wood’s Beautiful Yard Award thanks SSL residents who have made exceptional efforts that positively impact their neighborhood.

Beautiful yards make neighborhoods more attractive and vibrant. It’s easy to nominate, please take a moment to contact the Urban Livability Department at 801-464-6712 or vlelo@sslc.com to recognize a deserving yard.

Congratulations to the Jolley & Fife family! Thank you for your commitment to a Beautiful Yard!

Columbus Park

Construction is continuing at the Columbus Center to bring the city a new all-abilities park. The park will include a playground, games, and plaza area. The sport court has been started, and is designed for pickleball, hockey, futsal, handball, and any other game with a goal or net. The playground features are currently being selected and if you would like to share your thoughts, please contact Sharen Hauri at shauri@sslc.com. Preliminary park designs are on the Parks page sslc.com

Huck Finn Day 2020 has been canceled A fun and safe summer is right around the corner. This means staying healthy and not gathering in large groups! We look forward to this community event in 2021.

“Our Family Serving Your Family”

City of South Salt Lake Fire Department “Open Burning” Rules and Regulations

1.

Except for approved designated recreational fires, open burning is not allowed within the City limits of South Salt Lake. City Ord. 13. 72. 040 and IFC 307.1.1

2.

Extinguishment authority is the decision of the fire officer who responds to a complaint. If the fire adds to a hazardous situation the fire officer is authorized to order the fire extinguished. IFC 307.3

3.

A portable outdoor fireplace cannot be used within 15 feet of a structure.

4.

Open flame cooking devices cannot be used within 10 feet of a structure or on balconies, except where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

IFC 307.4.3

IFC 308.1.4

Bonfires are not allowed. City Ord. 13. 72. 040

6.

Recreational fires must be 25 ft. from a structure, with the pile size to be 3 ft. or less in diameter and 2 ft. or less in height. IFC 307.4

7.

Trash consisting of moist or green vegetation or other objectionable materials causing unwanted smoke are not allowed to be burned. Burn barrels, trash, tires, wire insulation, etc. are not allowed to be burned. City Ord. 13. 72. 040

8.

When a legal recreational fire is allowed, the fire shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A means of “Fire extinguishment” such as a hose, shovel or portable fire extinguisher shall be readily available and on-site. IFC 307.5

3 ft. wide

Wednesday, June 17 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

SSL City Hall 220 East Morris Ave Discover a new food truck each month and stop in to see what’s new at City Hall!

Okay for use at one & two family dwellings

5.

2 ft. high

LUNCH on the Move

Freedom Fest is going virtual!

For more information please call Fire Station 41 at 801-483-6043

Open burning at any construction site is prohibited. During winter conditions, small fires necessary to prevent water from freezing for masonry operations are allowed. Nuisance type fires will be extinguished immediately. IFC 3304.2

Find Updates on sslc.com Facebook: southsaltlakecity Instagram: southsaltlake Twitter: southsaltlake

Community Happenings In Spite of Pandemic, Murals Brighten Downtown The SSL Recreation Department is looking forward to recreating together again soon. While we all miss our organized sports, the health and safety of our community is the priority. We still recommend daily physical activity. Free play or individual training are great options.

See below for some suggestions

Low Risk Ways to Recreate

RUN - at home on a treadmill or outdoors with your household members WALK OR HIKE - pick trails or roadways that allow for distancing, get out during non- peak times YOGA OR MINDFULNESS - at home indoors or outdoors BASEBALL - training activities or drills, catch with your household members BASKETBALL - ballhandling drills, in your driveway or backyard SOCCER - footwork drills alone or with immediate family BIKE - use wide trails or pick nonpeak times

While the annual Mural Fest celebration was canceled in May, leave it to our Arts Council to pivot, as they announce several new artists and murals in the works for the downtown area this year. Thanks to Rocky Mountain Power Foundation and our anonymous donor who make this open-air gallery possible.

What happens when two artists, both who specialize in screen printing, get a chance to paint together on a mural on the outdoor canvas of Clever Octopus (2250 S. West Temple), to a still new to the area, repurpose and upcycled arts and crafts business? Well, to be honest, it’s still in the design stages. While both artists are extremely honored to be a part of this, as of yet, the fact that they haven’t been able to work side-by-side has slowed things a bit. Once the design is complete, Evan Jed Memmott and Isaac Hastings will be pulling out the rollers and brushes—as they plan on giving this mural a more “screen-printed” look and feel by using a technique that is more common to their method of spreading ink than mural painting. As explained by Hastings, “We will be able to achieve texture and dimension, not by shading or traditional spraying, but with only a few colors. The illusion of depth is from the spacing between lines, or from the placement and proximity of dabs or dots of paint.”

Jump a few blocks south on West Temple to Level Crossing Brewing Co. and soon you will witness another mural on Oakland Ave by artist Alex Johnstone. Previous mural work has been with Jann Haworth, one a colorful desert landscape inside Level Crossing, and a black and white turn-of-the lens of Dennis Hopper in SLC’s Granary District. To speed up and simplify the process, together the two artists refined a system of digital image projection and then outlining the design using chalk and tape on the actual wall surface. “One thing many people don’t account for is how hot and physically draining painting a mural outdoors can be,” explains Johnstone.

“My idea for this new mural stems from the concept of a level crossing intersection, which is keeping true to the name of the brewery.” He shares, “Its concept will be the flow of energy and objects which intersect in a powerful way.” As an inspiration, Johnstone is looking at several works from the early 20th century Futurism art movement, and the artists who attempted for the first time to capture rapid in-motion objects such as trains and vehicles.

And, we can’t wait to see them. To keep up with the artists, the mural progress, and the businesses they’ll brighten, visit themuralfest.com!

Sneak Peak of 2020 Mural Artist: Veronica Zak

Desert Landscape, inside Level Crossing Brewing Co. Artists: Jann Haworth & Alex Johnstone

Promise

JULY

WEDNESDAYS, July 8 to October 7

4:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Neighborhood farm stands selling produce locally grown by New American and Refugee Farmers

AUGUST

8

15

5

12

22

29

19

26

SEPTEMBER 2

9

23

30

16

OCTOBER 7

700 E

State St.

Interstate 80

Central Park 2797 S. 200 E. South Salt Lake

Spend $20 with your EBT/SNAP card and get $20 to buy fresh fruits & veggies The New Roots Farmers Market is a program of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City.

Learn more at Rescue.org/NewRootsSLC

Is Utah’s new high school playoff format working?

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

T

his year, the Utah High School Activities Association changed the way it runs state tournaments. First, it began allowing all teams to participate in the state tournament.

Second, it began seeding the tournament based on a formula, the Ratings Percentage Index, or RPI, rather than on how a team finished in its region.

Why did UHSAA make these changes?

Contrary to some Facebook commenters, it wasn’t for the purpose of giving every team a “participation trophy” in the form of a state tournament invite. The actual reason was to create a more competitive state tournament, as counterintuitive as that may seem. The question is, were they successful?

Unbalanced Regions

Prior to these changes, a team had to finish in the top four of their six-school region to make the state tournament. This meant that in certain deeper regions, a talented team with the potential to go far in the tournament wouldn’t even get a chance. On the flip side, the runner-up or even the winner of a weaker region might be bounced in the first round. Seeding the tournament based on region rankings sometimes led to anticlimactic tournaments in which the best two teams happened to meet in the quarter or semifinals, rather than the finals.

The idea is that separating tournament qualification and seeding from region finish should ensure that the best teams make it into the tournament and are also seeded by how good they are, rather than geography.

A perfect example of this would be this year’s Lone Peak boys basketball team. The Knights finished fifth in the very competitive Region 4 standings (only two games separated the second place team from the fifth place team). In previous years, they would have been left out of the playoffs. However, the RPI formula (which considers a team’s record, its strength of schedule and its opponents strength of schedule) rated them the 12th best team in the 6A classification. They turned out to be even better than that, as they made it all the way to the semifinals where they lost by two to the No. 1 seed Davis. The difference between being left out of the tournament completely and being a basket away from the championship game was a change in tournament rules.

Similarly in 5A, Provo High’s boys basketball team finished second-to-last in its eight-team region. However, they made it to the quarterfinals of the state tournament where they also lost by just one basket to Farmington (who themselves lost by one basket to the eventual champions).

While Provo and Lone Peak show how the new format can work well, they were the exceptions this year. The vast majority of teams who finished in the bottom of their region didn’t do much at their respective state tournaments.

The average margin of victory in the state basketball tournament from the first round through semifinals. (Graphic by Justin Adams/City Journals)

In 5A football, the eight teams who finished in the bottom two of their regions went a combined 0-7 and were outscored by a combined total of 78 to 305 in the first round of the playoffs. The eighth team, Cottonwood High, declined their invitation to the playoffs after an 0-10 season in which they were outscored by a combined total of 579-13.

Similarly in 5A girls soccer, the bottom two teams from each region all failed to advance past the first round and were outscored by a total of 2 to 38.

These examples might lead some to question why weaker teams are being subjected to humiliating blowout losses for their final game of the season.

One side effect of this change is that it makes region realignment a little easier. Under the previous rules, you wouldn’t want the six best schools to be in a region together, even if that’s what made the most sense geographically, because it would mean two of those six teams would be punished each year just for being in a better region. Now, UHSAA can form regions that make more sense geographically without having to worry as much about competitive repercussions.

Competitiveness

UHSAA Assistant Director Jon Oglesby told the Standard-Examiner before this year that “the goal of the RPI is to create a more competitive state tournament, which some coaches believe will be accomplished.”

As previously noted, many of the lower-seeded teams experienced some pretty lopsided losses in the first rounds of state tournaments this year, but that’s bound to

happen in any tournament that seeds the best teams against the worst teams in the first round. But does the different seeding strategy result in more competitive games later on in the tournament?

To try to answer that question, the City Journals looked at the scores of all the games in the boys and girls state basketball tournaments for both the 5A and 6A classifications comparing the average margin of victory (both by round and throughout the tournament as a whole) to last year’s tournament to see if there was a noticeable difference.

On the boys side, there was almost no change at all. In 5A, the average margin of victory throughout the 2019 tournament was 10.7 points. In 2020, the exact same. At the 6A level, the average margin of victory actually increased from 12.5 to 12.7 points.

However, there may be some evidence that the seeding resulted in better matchups toward the end of the tournaments. In 6A, the average margin of victory during the semifinal round dropped from 9.5 to 4 points, while in 5A, it dropped from 8 to 2 points.

(Granted, this is a small sample size of just two games per classification. We will have to wait for future years to say whether or not the new system consistently produces more competitive games in the late stages of the state tournament.)

On the girls side, there was a little more evidence of increased competitive balance throughout the competition. In 6A, the average margin of victory throughout the tournament dropped from 20.5 to 18.5 points, while 5A dropped from 15.1 to 12.2 points.

Quirks

The new playoff format has introduced a few quirks that may or may not have been anticipated by UHSAA. Lone Peak sanctions – This fall the Lone Peak football team had five of its wins vacated due to a sanction. Under previous rules, that would have meant they would likely miss the state tournament. But because every team goes to the tournament now, Lone Peak still got to go and got seeded as the 20th best team, even though they were in fact much better than that. That was bad news for their first round opponent, No. 13th-seeded Riverton. Through no fault of their own, Riverton had to play a much better team in the first round than they should have and subsequently lost 37-8.

Region races – Many coaches have bemoaned the fact that winning one’s region doesn’t matter as much anymore. It’s not a guarantee that a region winner will be seeded higher by the RPI system than the region’s runner-up, which is critical when considering that first-round byes are awarded to the three to five highest-rated teams.

Region rematches – The previous state tournament purposefully placed teams from the same region on opposite sides of the bracket. Now, with seeding being untied from region alignment, you get instances like the Timpanogos football team losing its regular season finale to region foe Timpview by a score of 52-23, only to then get matched up with them again in the first round of the state playoffs, losing by a similar score just one week later.

Utah graduates showered with love in special Adopt a Utah Senior project

By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com

H

igh school seniors across the Salt Lake valley are sharing a common experience they never anticipated…graduation during a pandemic. Although every school district is handling the end of the year differently, there is no doubt that the class of 2020 is not getting the graduation they dreamed of or deserve.

One Utah mom is trying to soften the blow of unmet expectations through a project called Adopt a Utah Senior and teens across the valley and state are being recognized by strangers in a very special way.

Monica Kennedy from Erda, Utah saw what her senior daughter Paige was experiencing and wanted to make a difference for all high school seniors.

“I was really sad for my own senior,” Kennedy said. “I reached out to family and friends for ideas to get some excitement into this season because I can’t make up for the stuff she’s missed out on.”

Modeling a Facebook group after a similar one in Alaska, Kennedy started the Adopt a Utah Senior project which has paired over 2,500 seniors with “adoptive” individuals and families. Parents or legal guardians share pictures and information about their high school graduates, and angel adopters offer to recognize the senior with cards and/or gifts.

Once they are paired, the adopter is encouraged to send or deliver something to the grad within two weeks.

Kimmy DelAndrae posted about her daughter Haley who is graduating from Bingham High School. After reading posts from other parents she decided she wanted to adopt another senior.

“I wish I could adopt every one of these kids,” DelAndrae said. “They are missing so much. I want to let them know that one, they are not alone and two, everyone is rooting for them. The whole thing just made my heart so happy.”

Haley helped her mom pick out another senior and together they put together a gift basket for him.

“It was a really fun experience to get one and to give one,” said Haley DelAndrae.

Luke Vickery, a senior at Alta High School, was adopted by Shalysa Meier from West Valley City. Meier also adopted two other seniors.

“Anytime I see a good thing it is a no-brainer to be a part of it,” Meier said. “Not only do I feel it impacted seniors on the receiving end, it brightened my spirits on my end. It gave me something to look forward to and a project I could do to spread kindness beyond my social circle.”

“As seniors, it’s a bummer we don’t get to experience the traditions that most people do,” Vickery said. “Everyone is trying to make a difference and [the Adopt a Senior Project] is a really cool way that people are

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

CENSUS 2020 BEGINS ONLINE MARCH 12, 2020 The U.S. Census helps fund our schools, health care, roads, and other important parts of our community.

It’s quick, easy to fill out and confidential.

Shalysa Meier gave a personalized gift basket to Alta senior Luke Vickery as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior project. (Photo courtesy of Kourtney Vickery)

doing something for our class to brighten our days. It’s really cool.”

Luke’s mom Kourtney, said she can’t believe how generous people have been.

“I love reading the kids’ stories and seeing the things they are involved in,” Kourtney Vickery said. “[The project] is giving people a chance to forget about what’s going on, all of the negative stuff in the world, and focus on other people. It is a bright spot I think.”

Kennedy said she was overwhelmed at how quickly the Facebook group grew.

Along with a team of eight other volunteers, she is spending many hours a day trying to make sure each senior is accounted for and matched to an individual or family.

“There is a lot of work involved,” Kennedy said. “We watch for posts that come in, make sure they have correct information including their high school and make sure they are posted by a parent or legal guardian. We tag them so it is easier for people to find who hasn’t been adopted and answer a lot of questions.”

Kennedy said the stories and pictures that come from the adoptions have been heartwarming.

“I love it when they find a common interest,” Kennedy said. “We will get emails with people who want to find someone who plays a certain sport or went to the high school they went to. We have people adopting from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.

It isn’t about getting stuff, it’s about cheering up the class of 2020.”

Just like all good things, Adopt a Utah Senior must end. Kennedy said they will take their last senior on May 23 and allow 24 more hours for adoptions to be finalized. The following week they plan to allow gratitude posts.

Kennedy isn’t worried about any of the graduates not being adopted because of all of the generosity she has seen so far.

“Anytime we’ve gone on and said we need angels to take a referred senior we’ve had so much support,” Kennedy said.

She is sad to see the project come to an end.

“There has been so much love and random kindness,” Kennedy said. “It’s been so awesome to see smiles on these kids’ faces that have had so much taken away.” l

WATCH FOR A

CENSUS BUREAU LETTER WITH INSTRUCTIONS ARRIVING IN

MAILBOXES SOON

VISIT SLCO.ORG/CENSUS FOR MORE I N F O R M AT I O N

P U E D E V I S I TA R SLCO.ORG/CENSUS PA R A O B T E N E R MÁS INFORMACIÓN

June 2020 | Page 23

Cottonwood High’s athletes and coaches find reasons to celebrate

Take the ElevateHERTM Challenge

By Ryanne Riet | r.riet@mycityjournals.com

Are you a business leader?

At no cost, the ElevateHERTM Challenge is easy to accept and will benefit your company.

Join businesses across Utah in our mission to elevate the stature of women’s leadership. Take the ElevateHERTM Challenge and stand with other businesses as we pledge to elevate women in senior leadership positions, in boardrooms, on management teams and on politcal ballots.

LEARN MORE: www.WLIUT.com/challenge Cottonwood High’s baseball team. (Photo courtesy Granite School District)

LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK? WANT FLEXIBLE HOURS WITH HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS OFF?

Granite School District is hiring Kitchen Managers, Nutrition Service Workers, and Nutrition Worker Substitutes!

Applicants must have: High school diploma or equivalent, background check, and be willing to obtain a food handler’s permit.

• • • •

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner positions available!

15 to 40 Hours per week with Flexible scheduling!

Hiring at over 100 schools within the district.

Pay starts at $12.25 per hour.

Call Us: (385) 646-4321

www.graniteschools.org/ nutritionservices/jobs Page 24 | June 2020

T

hroughout the country many high school sports athletic programs and athletes have had to cancel their 2020 season due to school shutdowns.

At Cottonwood High School, things are not much different from that.

Greg Southwick is the athletic director and head golf coach at Cottonwood High.

“It has been difficult, especially for the seniors,” Southwick said. “Like all athletes they understood they were among many who were making sacrifices for a better cause.”

Many senior athletes were already identified by college scouts prior to the shutdown.

However, some were affected more than others.

The Cottonwood High baseball team has felt the effects from the shutdown significantly.

“All of our seniors are suffering the impact from this,” head baseball coach Jason Crawford said. “From a player looking to improve his position in the draft, to players looking for college scholarships.”

After the team returned home from playing in the Boras Classic in Arizona, they learned that the rest of their short season would come to a halt.

There has been plenty of good to counteract the shutdown in the 2019-2020 school season for Cottonwood High’s athletics.

Head baseball coach Jason Crawford

Coach Jason Crawford accepts UHSAA’s Baseball Coach of the Year award. (Photo courtesy Granite School District)

was named Utah Baseball Coach of the Year

by UHSAA. Another positive event this year was girls golf MVP Aleigha Beverly qualified to compete in the state championship.

On the Cottonwood soccer field, next year’s team is already getting their prepa-

rations together to honor the 2020 seniors whose season was cut short.

“Practice hard and play hard,” head boys soccer coach Dominic Militello said. “The best way for us to do that is put even more off-season work and come out ready to roll next spring.” l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Schools scramble to refund students for classes, sports participation, tours

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

s in-person schools were dismissed abruptly under Gov. Gary Herbert’s “soft closure” order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many school activities were canceled, from spring sports to academic tours.

High school classes, which require fees such as woodworking and ceramics, now have classrooms of projects left in progress, uncertain when, if and how students will return to complete them.

In the midst of all this, school districts and school administrators are in the process of refunding students’ fees.

At Hillcrest High in Midvale, junior Abby Morrell had been looking forward to going to Washington, D.C. with the vocal ensemble, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra for a festival.

Her mother, Barbara Morrell, was asked last minute to be one of the 90-student group’s chaperones and just paid her tour fees two days before she got an email on March 12, saying that the trip scheduled for March 2630 was canceled and it was being looked into rescheduling or refunding.

Twelve days later, Barbara emailed the school, inquiring about the $1,250 refund for both herself and her daughter. The next day, Principal Greg Leavitt emailed saying the school’s decision was to reschedule the trip next spring and so all the funds would roll over for that tour. No new tour dates were provided.

The 21 seniors, chaperones of senior students, or those who weren’t planning to commit to the classes were to be refunded unless the fee was paid for out of fundraising. The latter would be donated to the music department.

“The rest of us weren’t given the option of getting a full refund,” Barbara said. “I’d love to get the money back to pay something or be able to use it. Some people may want or need to free up those funds now.”

Hillcrest vocal ensemble and chamber orchestra director RaNae Dalgleish said that the decision was made by administration after talking to parties involved, including WorldStrides that was hosting the festival where the groups would perform, be evaluated and participate in clinics given by notable musicians and professors.

The tour also included vocal ensemble performing the national anthem at a flag-raising ceremony at Fort McHenry, giving a tribute at the Martin Luther King Memorial and singing at a local cathedral. The groups also would go sightseeing in the area.

“It was unprecedented and ultimately, WorldStrides canceled the entire festival, which involved hundreds of tours or more,” Dalgleish said. “We had made the final tour payment days before. Our choices were to use the money on next spring’s tour at the same or a different location, but equivalent-priced tour, or get a refund and lose half the airfare,

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Seen here in 2018, Cottonwood High School students participated in their music tour in Los Angeles, however this year, the performing arts students weren’t able to travel to San Francisco after schools were put on “soft closure” during the COVID-19 pandemic and now students are awaiting refunds on tour fees. (Amber Tuckness/ Cottonwood High)

because the airline wasn’t given a full refund.”

Dalgleish said that right now, the school will absorb the cost of the seniors, and hope to be reimbursed as new members in the groups pay to go on tour next year.

She also said that while the tour is meant to celebrate and learn about music from other parts of the country, the absence of performing together also has had a powerful, bonding effect.

“The kids are all in and they’ve learned not to take this for granted. They even got together, six feet apart, to sing in the lawn of one of the students as they were missing singing and performing together. I think when we come back, we’ll be stronger and ready to start again,” Dalgleish said.

At Corner Canyon High in Draper, about 80 choir students were to participate in a festival in New York City. As of press deadline, negotiations were still being made with hotels to ensure students receive a full refund. The airlines reimbursed flights in vouchers and the two Broadway shows the group was to attend were reimbursed in full.

The group also planned on seeing Little Italy, Chinatown, 9/11 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Right now, we have $1,100 of the $1,250 or so back and we’re still negotiating the onenight deposit on the hotel,” Principal Darrell Jensen said. “We had a choice to roll over the funds, but we don’t know if we’ll travel next year or even what next year would be like, so we decided to make it a clean break.”

Students who paid for the trip through fundraisers will have their funds be earmarked to the music department, he said.

Jensen said that school officials are looking at all students’ accounts, including class fees, activity or participation fees, and fines, to determine the amount that may be refunded by early June.

Canyons District Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator Leon Wilcox said that he wasn’t aware of any of the five or six

trips approved for the remaining of the school year that were not in the process of reimbursement.

He also said that Canyons School District does not take out travel insurance, but individuals or schools can do so.

In an April 28 memo, Canyons School District outlined refunds to students, including that trips and tours should be worked with parents and teachers to determine the best method.

The memo continued to state $15 of activity fees to high school seniors should be returned while other students would have their fees reduced the next school year by the same amount. Participation fees for all sports would be refunded, but spirit packs that students already received would not. Dances and banquets that weren’t held should have money returned, while classes, would be up to the discretion of the teacher on materials used to determine any refunds. And if driver’s ed was completed online, money would not be refunded, but rather a time to schedule driving instruction would be determined when restrictions have been lifted.

At Brighton High, Principal Tom Sherwood said his performing arts groups planned to participate in the WorldStrides festival in Anaheim. Fortunately, the 150 students’ fees had been collected in the office, but not paid yet to the festival so he won’t have to be dealing with airlines, hotels and transportation to refund students’ money.

Sherwood said that refund process as well as the collection of student checkedout items, such as textbooks, calculators, uniforms, musical instruments and Chromebooks, will take place in late May. Even Canyons School District’s community education classes were in the process of prorating refunds for students in various afterschool programs and community education courses for approximately 1,080 people, said Jose Rincon, head administrative assistant.

Cottonwood High’s 130 members in choir, band, orchestra and jazz band were ex-

pecting full $750 refunds from their canceled San Francisco tour, that included a WorldStrides festival as well as “Hamilton” tickets and Alcatraz tour tickets that they had just purchased weeks prior to the tour cancellation.

“San Francisco was an early hot spot for the coronavirus, so we were watching what was happening,” said band director Amber Tuckness. “If I canceled our trip, we wouldn’t receive refunds, but when Gov. Herbert made it official, then we could get the refunds.”

However, students who fundraised, including seniors, will not be receiving refunds and instead, the money will be given to the music department, she said.

Murray High Principal Scott Wihongi, who had just returned with the drill team in early March from New York City, said that the only trip that hadn’t happened at his school involved 15 students who were scheduled to go to San Francisco with the AP art history class in late April.

“We’re getting a full refund from the hotel and tours, but we’re working with the airline and travel agency to see if we can get refunds for the flight instead of vouchers,” he said. “This was an opportunity for the students to see different art styles at museums, as a way to enhance what they’re learning.”

He also was working with his staff in the process of refunding student-athletes’ fees, including the canceled tennis and baseball teams’ trip to St. George, and students’ partial class fees if materials weren’t used. School officials also were collecting textbooks, library books, some athletic uniforms, and seniors’ Chromebooks.

“I think the programs and students will be fine heading into next year,” he said.

“Right now, we prioritized and streamlined our teaching to get in the standards. The students got through three-fourths of the meat of everything and it’s how much time students focus on learning that will determine how much we’ll need to reteach and reinforce that material when we return.” l

June 2020 | Page 25

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR THOUGHTFUL STUDENTS

by

CASSIE GOFF

Thoughtful gifts for thoughtful students Spring is the time for new beginnings… after graduations. During those events, you might overhear stories about someone’s parents buying them a new car for graduation, or someone’s rich relative flying them and their three closest friends to an island for a few weeks. Depending on how many people you know who are graduating, and how high the expectations have been set for you, buying gifts for grads can be expensive. Instead of spending more money, try one of these doit-yourself (DIY) gift ideas.

One of the most common DIY graduation gifts are graduation leis, similar to those Polynesian garlands of flowers, but without the flowers. You’ll need a lot of plastic wrap for this one. Gather the things you wish to include in your lei. This may include snacksized candy bars, gift cards, rolled-up dollar bills, mints, etc. Be very careful as you lay out a long piece of plastic wrap. (Alternatively, you may choose to use smaller pieces of plastic wrap and tie all the pieces together at the end.) Place all your goodies out, side by side, leaving about 2 inches between each item, down one edge of the plastic wrap.

Roll that plastic wrap over to trap the goodies in their new packaging. After you have wrapped all the items thoroughly, tie each of the spaces between goodies together. Alternatively, if you’re talented with origami, you

can fold dollar bills and tie them together to create a beautiful flower-resembling lei.

If you, or your graduating human, really likes being cheesy (like me, I usually go so-cheesy I approach Gouda territory), you can make small graduation caps to put on almost anything you may think of. You’ll need a circular base, something resembling a lid of a jar or a bottlecap, some parchment paper, a button, and some string. Wrap the parchment paper around the circular base and glue or tape it down. Then, glue or tape a square-shaped piece of parchment paper on top of the circular base to create the top of the cap. Glue or tape (hot glue might work best for this part) a button to the middle of the top of the squareshaped parchment paper. Lastly, wrap the string, (which needs to be tied to create a circle, with cut segments of the string draped through the middle, and tied together to create a tassel) over the button.

As mentioned, almost anything can be

capped. You might buy a small jar from your local Michael’s or Handy Dandy (my nickname for Hobby Lobby) and make the lid of the jar a graduation cap. Then you can fill the jar with candy, gift cards, anything your heart desires. You can do the same thing with a lightbulb and use a cheesy saying about how bright the graduate’s future is. You could put little graduation caps on a handful of different candies. You might even attach a cap to the lid of a drink tumbler and fill the tumbler with confetti and the aforementioned goodies. Lastly, you could stick a cap on the top of a money cake: a cake made out of rolled-up dollar bills placed in a circular shape.

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Now I do. Twice a day I sit for 20 minutes and watch the thoughts in my brain battle to the death. According to Instagram, nothing proves to the world how spiritual you are more than sitting for a long time in silence. The longer you sit, the better a person you are. Fact.

So now I’m a super-spiritual Zen person. I make sure I talk about my meditation practice all the time. The more you talk about how you’ve merged with your inner self, the more interested people around you become. They could listen to you talk about your meditation practice for hours.

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beach to go back to the hotel.

As I ran up the trail from the beach, I tripped on a rock and fell face-first onto a wooden stair, nearly breaking my nose and spending the rest of the weekend with a bruised and swollen face. If I’d been sitting on a beautiful cushion instead of the ground, my inner being wouldn’t have been pissed off and try to kill me. Fact.

Meditation in nature is supposed to be super-relaxing, but right when I close my eyes I feel an ant crawl across my foot and I have to look to make sure it isn’t a spider because then I have to jump up and scream.

The only reason to meditate outside is so people can see you mediate and understand you’re a super-spiritual person.

I’m teaching my puppy to mediate with me, hoping my calm energy will soothe her.

After 10 minutes of getting her to settle down, I’ll place my hand on her back, syncing our breath and heart rate.

Just as I create an intense connection to her heart chakra, she jumps in my lap to lick my face and ruins everything. She’ll never be as spiritual as me. Fact.

People ask what I do when meditating.

First, I sit quietly on my expensive cushion, noticing the thoughts running across my mind. I spend several minutes trying not to notice the thoughts running across my mind.

I achieve two seconds of stillness before the thoughts start up again.

Soon I become numb from the waist down. The more numb you feel, the more spiritual you are and the more disconnected from those pesky thoughts you become.

CONCRETE WORK

Soon, I can’t feel my toes and my knees are screaming for help. But that just proves to the Universe that I’m dedicated to my meditation practice. Sometimes I fall asleep and jerk awake before I hit the floor.

I expect I’ll achieve enlightenment any day now since I’m so good at meditating. If there’s one thing I excel at it’s doing absolutely nothing. Fact.

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