South Salt Lake City Journal | September 2020

September 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 09

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SOUTH SALT LAKE’S 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL, OLENE WALKER ELEMENTARY, OPENS

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

B

efore opening on Aug. 24, parents and students were welcome at two open houses for the new Olene Walker Elementary School in the Riverfront area of South Salt Lake.

This is the first newly-built school in SSL for decades.

The school is expecting about 400 K-5 students along with a preschool class. They are expecting about 20 home languages spoken by the students.

“We wanted to let parents and students see their new school,” Principal Valerie Bergera said.

“This school is so much closer than Roosevelt when my child is sick or something,” said Elizavet Cacares, mother of a fourth-grader and preschool student.

21st century school The district refers to this school as a 21st century school and certainly looks like it.

Each 32 classrooms have a regular door, but they also have a large glass garage door that opens into the hall. The halls are wide and will be used as an extension of the classroom.

Since each desk is on casters, students can roll out their desk for specialized instruction or work together on a project. The halls are not halls; they are collaboration areas with welcoming soft chairs.

There is an open foyer with one door into the office. The only way to get into the school is to go into the office and be buzzed out a different door.

The school does not have a lunchroom. Round and obContinued page 4

Principal Valerie Bergera conducts a tour during the open house for Olene Walker Elementary School. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

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Continued from front page long tables are rolled into the main hall.

Currently, each chair has a number and each student is assigned where to sit in case they must do contact tracing for COVID-19.

The gym also has glass garage doors that can be closed for instruction or opened for an assembly, which will be allowed sometime.

The school has two STEM-focused classrooms and two seclusion rooms used by special education students who might need a quiet space.

There is a lot of natural light, open space, and air flow which should help with COVID-19 control.

The playground is more than swings and a slide and more like a climbing rock.

The school is surrounded by an 8- to 10-foot fence. Each entrance has double doors allowing for monitoring movement.

Daily procedures School safety and COVID-19 concerns have added to a student’s school life.

Students are asked not to come to school early. They can only play on the school equipment during recess.

Each class will line up outside at designated doors. Teachers will come out to lead them into the classroom.

Students must wear a mask all day, including recess time. They can remove the mask while eating.

Students are given a water bottle, which can be filled at the bottle filling stations.

Namesake Gov. Olene S. Walker became the 15th Utah governor and the first female governor in 2003.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree from Stanford University, and a doctorate from the University of Utah. From 1969 to 1992, Walker served as vice president of

Journals

County Crisp Food, a family business.

Before entering politics, Walker founded the Salt Lake Education Foundation and served as its director. While serving as lieutenant governor, she spearheaded many important initiatives regarding education programs.

“Having a school named after someone who has done so much for education in Utah is a privilege,” Bergera said.

Community school Bergera and her staff including teachers have spent time reaching out to the greater community.

They sent welcome letters and welcome email. They did many home visits with social distancing measures in place.

A separate community center was built on the campus. The district partners with many organizations like Promise SSL to give the students and parents resources to succeed.

Promise SSL will also conduct an after-school program at the center. l

Top: Olene Walker Elementary School opened Aug. 24. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) Above:A typical classroom in the new Olene Walker Elementary School. Each desk is on casters allowing for numerous configurations. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

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Adopt, Don’t Shop

By Rachel Heatley, Advocacy Director, The Humane Society of Utah

Because no one wants to spend eternity in a shoebox.

____________ HSU/Mountain America Credit Union Fall in Love adoption event

W

e are experiencing a crisis in the United States - a crisis of companion animal overpopulation. The overpopulation crisis is leading to a staggering number of animal deaths in shelters.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters in the United States each year. Of that 6.5 million, 1.5 million do not make it out alive. That is roughly 23% or one-quarter of the animals. This means that for every four animals that enter a shelter, one is killed. The reasons animals are killed in shelters varies, but the number one killer is a lack of space.

At the Humane Society of Utah, we work to reduce the number of animals entering shelters through low-cost spay and neuter services, veterinary medical help for those who can’t afford traditional veterinary care, and behavioral counseling.

Further, because we have excellent adoption rates at our shelter in Murray, Utah, we work to reduce shelter overpopulation by transferring in animals from high-kill shelters in Utah, as well as Texas, Arizona, and other states in our region. We work tirelessly to relieve the pressure at these shelters, but truth be told, the flow of animals never stops.

Companion animal overpopulation is one of the reasons why the Humane Society of Utah opposes companion animal breeding, but it is not the only reason.

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Companion animal breeding is largely unregulated in the United States. As a result, companion animals are often overbred, inbred, and dangerously undersocialized.

An undersocialized puppy often grows up to become an unruly (and sometimes aggressive) adult dog. When a family can no longer handle the dog, he or she gets turned into a shelter. Once there, a shelter uses its meager resources to try to help the animal become adoptable. Sometimes, it is successful. Other times, the damage done is too great and a shelter is forced to euthanize the dog for safety reasons. The toll this takes on the individuals in the shelter is immeasurable. More importantly, the loss of life is unforgivable when it can easily be prevented by adopting instead of shopping.

A side note on breed preference: According to Best Friends Animal Society, it is estimated that between 25 and 30 percent of companion animals in shelters are purebred. This means it is incredibly likely that, with a little patience, an individual can find their preferred breed at a shelter or rescue. Why buy a dog and contribute to the overpopulation crisis, when, instead, you can adopt and save two lives?

You save the life of the dog you adopt, and in turn, space is made in the shelter to save another dog. Adoption is truly a winwin situation.l

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September 2020 | Page 5

Refugees learn skills through community gardens and farmers markets

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

A

mong the many farmers markets across the Salt Lake Valley, the Sunnyvale Farmers Market and the New Roots Farmers Market are unique because they offer the opportunity for refugees to develop self-reliance.

Markets The Sunnyvale Farmer Market is held at the Sunnyvale Park (4013 S. 700 West) each Saturday until October 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The New Roots Farmers Market is held in two locations every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The locations are Central Park (2797 S. 200 East) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) office (221 S. 400 West).

The participating refugees work on two farms leased through Salt Lake County. One is a 2-acre farm in West Valley City and the other is a 13-acre farm in Draper. The farming is part of a microtraining farm program conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

As Abdullah Saboon displayed his produce for sale, he said, “I farmed in the Sudan and farming is the same. But here we use more machines.”

Not only do refugees learn farming on a larger scale, they also grow produce common to countries around the world but are difficult to find in Salt Lake City.

Another unique part of these markets is how shoppers pay for the produce. The markets work on a token system. The tokens are purchased before entering the market using some form of credit card. This is done because for those individuals who use EBT/ SNAP cards, which are government food assistance programs, their purchasing power is doubled with funds from the state administered through the Department of Health. A shopper must spend at least $20 with their EBT/SNAP card and they get $20 to buy additional produce.

The markets are popular so getting there early is a wise idea.

Community gardening The Community Gardening Program is working with over 120 families in 11 garden sites across the Salt Lake Valley. One such garden is located at Central Park in SSL. IRC supplies seeds, seedlings, and instruction on best gardening practices in Utah.

This helps ensure a bountiful harvest. The food is used as supplemental food for participants. Not only does the program provide food, but it also provides a sense of community for refugees.

International Rescue Committee The farmers markets and the community gardens are part of the IRC’s New Roots program.

“The New Roots program enables refugees to celebrate their heritage and nourish themselves and their neighbors by planting

Page 6 | September 2020

strong roots—literally—in their new communities,” according to the IRC website.

The IRC has operated in Salt Lake City since 1994.

“Over that 25-year history in Utah, we have welcomed over 11,000 refugees and served thousands more through our breadth of innovative programs designed to empower refugees, and other new Americans, to create stable families and prosper as they positively integrate into life in the Salt Lake community,” Natalie El-Deir, executive director for IRC Salt Lake City.

Since 1994, the IRC has resettled nearly 12,000 refugees in the state and have helped many more with additional programs.

In Salt Lake City, the help for a refugee begins well before they arrive. The IRC makes sure newly arrived refugees receive a furnished and supplied home, temporary help with rent, access to health care, English classes, and help with education and job skills.

In addition to these efforts, the IRC in Salt Lake City offers immigration services, Spice Kitchen Incubator, New Roots, microtraining farming program, and the East African Refugee Goat projects of Utah.

Because of the pandemic, the use of volunteers is limited, but are still needed. Contact SaltLakeCity@rescue.org.

In a larger sense, the IRC “responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. In more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, our dedicated teams provide clean water, shelter, health care, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people,” according to the IRC website.l

Above: Abdullah Saboon prepares his produce for sale at the Sunnyvale Farmers Market. (Bill Hardesty/ City Journals) Below: New Roots Community Garden at Central Park. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

SSLPD says many reform initiatives already in practice

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

S

ince the death of George Floyd over three months ago, many people have called for police reform across the nation, the state, and in the City of South Salt Lake.

National initiatives like 8 can’t wait or the Reform/Transform Policy Reform were briefly mentioned in City Council meetings and other forums as frameworks for reform.

What are these initiatives and how is South Salt Lake Police Department responding?

8 can’t wait 8 can’t wait is a project by Campaign Zero. They are calling for these eight actions to happen immediately. The eight actions are: • Ban chokeholds and strangleholds: They argue this action can result in death or serious injury.

• Require de-escalation: They are asking for officers to de-escalate situations by communicating with subjects, maintaining a distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use of force.

• Require warning before shooting: They want to require all officers to give a verbal warning in all situations before shooting.

• Exhaust all alternatives before shooting: They want to require all officers to exhaust all other alternatives, including nonforce and less-lethal force options prior to using deadly force.

• Duty to intervene: They are asking for a requirement for other officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and to report the incident immediately.

• Ban shooting at moving vehicles: They are asking for a ban on shooting at moving vehicles in all cases.

• Require use of force continuum: They want to establish a force continuum that restricts the most severe types of force to the most extreme situations including a clear policy on their use.

• Report comprehensive reporting: They want officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against an individual.

Besides these eight actions, Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org) is built around 10 policy solutions because they “can live in a world where the police don’t kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability,” according to the Campaign Zero website.

Ray deWolfe, councilmember at-large, mentioned this initiative during a recent meeting.

“The intention behind this is really doing a self-evaluation of our policing policies.

We want to make sure we are providing the best possible policing to our community and this creates a conversation with our police chief, council, and administration to ensure

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Many people are calling for police reform. (Image by Bruce Emmerling /Pixabay)

we are,” deWolfe said.

Reform/Transform Policy reforms The Reform/Transform 11 Policy is an initiative of Local Progress (Reform/Transform.org), which is a national network of progressive elected officials from cities and counties.

The 11 policy reforms were developed as a policing policy toolkit that can be used by local officials to evaluate their city’s policing policies.

The 11 policy reforms are: • independent oversight; • data transparency; • transparency in police and civilian encounters; • an end to the co-optation of local law enforcement for federal immigration enforcement; • demilitarization; • pre-booking diversion programs; • an end to the school to prison and deportation pipeline; • bans on bias-based policing; • use of force; • property seizure and asset forfeiture; and • investments in public safety beyond policing.

With each of these reforms, there is an assessment tool that city councils, city staff, police departments and residents can use to

measure the advances in the community.

Natalie Pinkney, councilmember atlarge, supports this initiative.

“Assessing our policies is an important part of government. We cannot with confidence say we are on par, improving, or falling short of our residents when we simply do not know. I am asking for these evaluations for just that reason. I believe it’s important to ask if our policies are helping move our community forward and not be afraid to acknowledge that some police policies are outdated and may not focus on the correction of behavior we are seeking,” Pinkney said.

SSLPD Danielle Croyle, the SSLPD public information officer (PIO) and training coordinator, pointed out that some of these initiatives are already in practice in the department.

For example, Section 53-13-115 of the State Code enacted in a special session and effective June 25 states, “A police officer may not restrain a person by the application of a knee applying pressure on the neck or throat of a person.”

The code states violation of this section is a third degree felony. If the action results in serious bodily injury or loss of consciousness, it is bumped up to a second degree felony. If death occurs, it is a first degree felony.

Croyle pointed out that actions don’t

necessarily need to be written in a policy to be part of the SSLPD standards. SSLPD is governed by three sources: state law, like Section 53-13-115; POST (Police Office Standards and Training) standards; and city ordinances, such as creating a Citizen Review Board.

“Whatever that Citizen’s Review Board decides to be part of and how they want to be part of the change, we are supportive of it,” Croyle said.

She mentioned that they are already working on additional changes, but they don’t want to be redundant if the state enacts additional standards.

“Law enforcement is a fluid career. We don’t do the same thing we did a year ago or five years ago or 10 years ago. Laws change.

Expectations change. We are constantly evolving to support those initiatives,” Croyle said.

Croyle did mention a big concern within the department.

“One of the big concerns we have is that there is a big push to defund the police department. Obviously, such action does not support our mission of what we are trying to accomplish here in South Salt Lake. If anything, we should be adding funds to our organization to ensure everybody is properly trained,” Croyle said. l

September 2020 | Page 7

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Beverley, Cottonwood High’s 2019-2020 No. 1 female golfer. (Photo courtesy Aleigha Beverley)

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By Ryanne Riet | r.riet@mycityjournals.com

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Page 8 | September 2020

when we would all go to the range,” Beverley said. “My favorite to hit with was the driver.”

It wasn’t until her sophomore year of high school that her older brother suggested that she try out for the golf team.

After giving it a try she found that she loved going out on the range and practicing.

“I wasn’t too bad,” Beverley said. “It became a way to release my stress.”

In addition to playing on the varsity golf team, Beverley was editor of the yearbook, HOSA president, and National Honor Society secretary.

Though she was approached by recruiters to play golf in college this 2020-2021 school year, she has decided to keep golf as a hobby and focus solely on her studies.

Beverley is attending the University of Utah on a full-ride academic scholarship where she plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant.

As Beverley looks back at playing high school golf, she considers her biggest accomplishment in her golf career as impressing coach Southwick her sophomore year. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

SSL Citizen Review Board starts to take shape

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

D

uring the Aug.12 City Council work meeting, the council continued to discuss the Citizens Review Board. Between the last work meeting on July 22 and this one, council members met in small groups with city staff to better understand what the board can do and what it can’t do legally.

Areas of consensus Since Sharla Bynum, City Council chairperson, attended each small group session, she started the work meeting by summing up the areas where there is agreement.

City Council members want to make sure the board is diverse and represents all stakeholders including the police department.

It is suggested that at least two business owners are on the board.

The board will be a recommending body to the City Council. The board will report to the council on a regular basis.

Residents will serve a one- or two-year term. They will meet monthly and be compensated like Planning Commission members.

The board will also receive a lot training to help with their deliberations.

The board most likely will have seven members with two alternates.

Areas still open Bynum said there was still two areas open for discussion. The first is the scope and the second is how members are selected.

Bynum begun the discussion by remind-

The City Council continues to work on a creating a Citizen Review Board for reviewing police actions.

(Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

ing members that scope is tied to resources and it is important to be realistic given the bare bones budget they recently passed.

All councilmembers supported the recommendation that all Use of Force incidents should be reviewed by the board. However, the definition of Use of Force is open for interpretation.

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of Force to additional four areas for review. The council will need to balance a larger scope with the reality of smaller resources.

Members selected deWolfe suggested each council member be allowed to nominate one member. Each nomination will be approved by the City Council. Each nominee would provide a resume helping the council know their qualifications.

Some members voiced concern over that plan because members would nominate people they know, which might not give the board the diversity needed.

Pinkney favors open recruitment using an application process. She mentioned that this would allow people who aren’t known to the council but want to serve to get involved. deWolfe countered by pointing out an application process could be difficult. He asked, “Who would select the members?”

Pinkney replied, “Appoint a director who will choose the members.”

Next steps At the close of the work meeting, Bynum said the council will continue to work on the board. The board is planning to observe the West Valley City Review Board to learn best practices. deWolfe offered his opinion on next steps.

“I think we need to move quicker than slower. Let’s get something in place and then fix what isn’t working,” deWolfe said. l

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ing from low to high, the continuum is Officer Presence moving to Verbalization moving to Empty-Hand Control (the officer uses bodily force to gain control of the situation), moving to Less-Lethal Methods (officers may use a baton or a Taser), and finally moving to Lethal Force.

A question not yet discussed in a public meeting is where along the continuum does the Citizens Review Board start to review the actions of the police.

Bynum reported that Police Chief Jack Carruth said in a small group meeting that there is an average of 30 Use of Force incidents per month.

Corey Thomas, District 2, suggested adding car chases to the scope because of the potential damage they may cause.

Ray deWolfe, councilmember at-large, suggested adding level 1 citizen complaints.

Natalie Pinkney, councilmember at-large, spoke further on the board handling complaints.

She mentioned that some minority community members are afraid to go to the police department to file a complaint and the board should receive complaints. She also continued to voice concern about the power of the board.

“What teeth does the board have?” Pinkney asked.

Shane Siwik, District 5, suggested adding “No-Knock” warrants and seizing high ticket property to the scope.

In summary, the scope went from the Use

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September 2020 | Page 9

Higher Census 2020 response rate means more money for SSL

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

D

uring the Aug. 12 South Salt Lake City Council meeting, Julie Taylor, public relations coordinator for the City of South Salt Lake, and Kelli Meranda of Direct Promise SSL, provided a Census 2020 update to the council.

“Time is running out,” Taylor said.

As of press time, only 60.3% of SSL residents are counted. This is lower than the Utah rate of 67.7% and the national rate of 63.6%.

It is not too late to respond either online or through the mail. However, the deadline has changed to Sept. 30.

The cost of under reporting The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, reports that every resident not counted is a loss of $1,086 per year for the next 10 years.

“If the SSL completion rate stayed where it is today, looking at South Salt Lake’s population of 25,000, 60% of our residents counted is 15,000. $10,000 for each individual (10,000 undercount) over the next 10 years, we are looking at up to a $100,000,000 loss for SSL residents,” Meranda said.

The possible effects An accurate count is tied to many sources of funds for the city. George Washington University lists 16 large federal programs used in the state that are tied to the census count in-

cluding Medicaid, highway planning and construction, Head Start, State Children’s Health Insurance program (S-CHIP), WIC funds, the National School Lunch Program, and numerous health and home assistance programs.

The biggest example of how funds are tied to the census is Title 1 funds. Title 1 is part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). However, the funds originated for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Title 1 provides federal funds to schools with a high percentage of low-income students. While each school decides how to use Title 1 funds, they are commonly used to improve curriculum and programs, instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement and increase staff. With a population of 22% below the poverty level, these funds are used widely in schools in SSL. “With the theme of Invest in People running through so much of the work we do, we regularly take stock of who we are and what services are needed. The census is a key piece that informs this process. Many of our programs and services receive some form of local, state or federal funding or other grants,” Mayor Cherie Wood said in March.

Other examples of programs affected are Pell Grants, Block Grants, a variety of healthcare resources and local infrastructure and highways.

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Barriers to count SSL is considered a hard-to-count city because of its demographics. Minorities have traditionally been under counted. A large refugee population not understanding the process is another undercounted group. Low-income individuals without access to technology is a potential barrier.

COVID-19 is also affecting the response rate because of the closure of county libraries or other places used by residents to access the Internet.

The fear of enumerators coming to the door asking questions resulting in no response is another concern.

Enumerators Enumerators, who were sidelined during the early part of the pandemic, are now hitting the streets hoping to increase the response rate.

Enumerators have ID badges and people can call the U.S. Census Bureau to confirm the identity of the person standing on their doorstep. Enumerators along with other U.S. Census Bureau employees take an oath to protect personal information.

Information protection In our modern world, sharing personal information is always a concern. The U.S. Census Bureau is governed by Title 13 of the U.S. Code.

According to their website, “Title 13 provides the following protections to individuals and businesses: • Private information is never published.

It is against the law to disclose or publish any private information that identifies an individual or business such, including names, addresses (including GPS coordinates), Social Security numbers, and telephone numbers.

• The Census Bureau collects information to produce statistics. Personal information cannot be used against respondents by any government agency or court.

• Census Bureau employees are sworn to protect confidentiality. People sworn to uphold Title 13 are legally required to maintain the confidentiality of your data. Every person with access to your data is sworn for life to protect your information and understands that the penalties for violating this law are applicable for a lifetime.

• Violating the law is a serious federal crime. Anyone who violates this law will face severe penalties, including a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.”

Stated simply, personal information given as part of the census, will not be available to landlords, employers, school officials, or anyone else. l

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S outh Salt Lake City Journal

South Salt Lake students top technology awards in computing

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

hree Granite Technical Institute girls recently were awarded honors at the National Center for Women & Information Technology Award for Aspirations in Computing.

GTI students Tiare Jorquera and Cynthia Perez-Pacheco were named honorable mention regional winners and classmate Alayna Pinales receiving the Rising Star award March 7 as the NCWIT honored local high school students for their interest and achievements. Jorquera and Perez-Pacheco received an engraved crystal trophy for the high school as well as individual crystal. Pinales received a certificate and they all received technology prizes.

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors ninth- through 12thgrade students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

Other area regional winners are Manya Nair, Riverton High; Katelyn Swain, JATC; Maili Vu, AMES; Maya Heesch, Providence

Hall; and Sydney Leister, Mountain Ridge High; and Sanjana Kargi and Abigail Slama-Catron, both of Hillcrest High.

Area honorable mention awards went to Marianne Liu of Sandy, West High; Tea Flores, Herriman High; Katheryn Wesley, AMES; Lillian McElheny, Riverton High; Quinn Quinley, Riverton; Shae Harmon, Murray High; Samantha Wilhelm, Murray High; Kayla Bacon, Herriman High; Michelle Chiem, Herriman High; and Maria Feist, Herriman High.

Area Rising Star awards, for those who are starting out in their pursuit of studying computing, went to Kaitlyn Lowe, Brighton High; Ashley Hillstead, Beehive Academy; Hannah Braeger, Herriman High; Madisen Homer, Murray High; and Grace Haglund, Olympus High.

Since 2007, nearly 17,000 students have received an Aspirations in Computing award and regional affiliate award programs are hosted in 79 locations nationwide by NCWIT member organizations—a national network of universities, companies, nonprofits, and government organizations working to increase the influence and meaningful participation of girls and women from every community.

According to its website, NCWIT was

National Center for Women & Information Technology honored local high school girls during the Award for Aspirations in Computing banquet. (Photo courtesy of NCWIT)

chartered in 2005 by the National Science status—in the field of computing, particularFoundation and is a nonprofit community that ly in terms of innovation and development.l convenes, equips, and unites change leader organizations to increase the influential and meaningful participation of girls and women—at the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, and disability

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September 2020 | Page 11

All GSD schools now on same schedule; ventilation upgrades being put in place

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

A

s you read this, schools are open or may be closed. We live in an unpredictable world.

“We are on a big dial here and as we continue to receive guidance from the health department and if infection rate or caseloads increases, we fully expect that some of our schools will need to quarantine. People ask what will happen. We will adjust the dial,” said Ben Horsley, communications director for Granite School District.

The main driver for adjusting the dial is three infections in a class or 15 in a school.

Horsley pointed out that when you consider the size of a high school, 15 infections is a low threshold.

Current plan?

On Aug. 17, the Granite School District (GSD) Board met in an emergency session to adjust the elementary schedule.

Originally, elementary schools and secondary schools had different schedules.

Secondary schools—junior high schools and high schools—are having in-classroom instruction Monday through Thursday. Friday will be a distant learning and planning day.

The elementary schools would have in-classroom instruction Monday through Friday.

Friday would be a short-day, allowing teachers planning time.

In an emergency meeting, the Granite School District Board makes changes to the elementary school schedule. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

This plan was based on the notion of having dedicated in-classroom teachers and dedicated distant learning teachers for those students choosing the District’s distant learning option. However, with 90% of the students selecting in-class instruction, this puts a difficult burden on smaller elementary schools.

For example, if there are two fourthgrade teachers with 60 students and two fifthgrade teachers with 60 students it is impractical to pull out one teacher for each grade. So, one teacher is pulled out for distant learning which requires a combined fourth- and fifthgrade distant learning class and maybe even TM an in-class combined class.

In addition, given the low online enrollment, the combined class most likely would have more grade levels combined to make a class.

On Aug. 13, the Granite Education Association wrote an open letter to the GSD Board asking for change. “…Requesting that a weekly schedule similar to secondary be provided for elementary schools (Monday-Thursday students face-to-face, educators managing both modalities, and Fridays with all students online and an opportunity to prepare for their online Are you a business leader?

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Page 12 | September 2020

line. Which can add more difficulty for teachers. However, it also allows for continuity for the students on Friday and if a class or school has to switch to full-time online instruction.

The board also approved two additional no school days at the end of the first quarter.

Oct. 21 and 22 are now professional development days and will allow the District and schools to make any adjustments.

Zenger proposal Boardmember Todd Zenger made a motion in the meeting for a more modified schedule for all grades. His proposal would mean 50% of the students would attend every other day. Horsley pointed out this schedule would mean high school students would see all of their teachers only once a week.

The proposal addressed a concern of the GEA. In the open letter of Aug. 13 GEA wrote: “GEA just completed a survey of its membership. There were over 1,400 responses.

A very large majority, over 69%, feel unsafe with the district’s current plan. Over 55%, 792 educators, say, “No amount of PPE and cleaning will be enough without the ability to create adequate distance between people in the building,” and only 8% say they have no concerns with Granite’s current plan for the 2020-21 school year.”

The proposal never received a second and therefore was never discussed in the Aug.17 board meeting.

Safety measures Superintendent Martin Bates reported at the meeting that GSD has tens of thousands of face masks and face shields for teachers and students.

He also reported they have 10,000 desk dividers and 3,000 teachers’ shields available. A teacher shield is three-sided plastic placed on the teacher’s desk. The desk dividers are three-sided plastic self-standing barriers around a student’s desk.

Another safety measure GSD is putting into place concerns air flow. Proper air flow is one factor, along with face covering, hand washing, and physical distancing, that helps reduce the spread of viruses.

The District is installing hospital-grade filters, known as MRVS, into all HVAC systems and is expected to be completed by the end of September.

“The current requirement from the CDC that we have received is to have fresh air exchange twice a day. We already provide three fresh air exchanges an hour. Not only that but we continue to run our HVAC system throughout the evening. So, those fresh air exchanges are happening constantly for the safety of our students and staff,” Horsley said.

Having more fresh air exchanges and installing hospital-grade filters is above and beyond the current requirements.

Online learning concern During a post meeting interview with the media, Horsley mentioned that last spring 20% of students did not log on at all to online learning and that an additional 15-20% did once.

“Over 25,000 students struggled with distant learning either did not do it at all or only participated minimally. In respect to that, we cannot write off 25,000 students in Granite School District. We know and our board knows there needs to be an in-person component. I think the number of families committed to in-person instruction is a reflection of that,” Horsley said.

These surprising numbers occurred despite the district providing a Chromebook to students and using Wi-Fi enabled buses as hot spots. The district now has a 1:1 ratio of Chromebooks as well 1,000 portable hotspots that can be checked out by students along with 27 Wi-Fi buses.l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

During the pandemic, Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert got big assist from former PAL boxing coach

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

O

ne week after Utah Jazz star center Rudy Gobert came down with COVID-19 in March and had returned to Salt Lake City, he picked up the phone and contacted an old friend.

Matt Pena, the former boxing coach at South Salt Lake PAL, happened to be on the other end of that call.

“One of the worst things that you can go through when you’re someone like [Rudy] is having to deal with the social media. Utah has been super positive,” said Pena.

“But, when you look at what he had to deal with from a larger perspective across the country, there was a lot of negativity out there.”

Gobert was the first professional athlete to test positive for COVID-19 at the outset of the pandemic. He was diagnosed with the disease moments before the Jazz were to tip off in Oklahoma City in midMarch.

Pena added that he felt bad for what Gobert was going through, because he said the Jazz star felt he was alone here in Utah.

“A lot of folks don’t realize that Rudy

Rudy Gobert working with former PAL boxing coach Matt Pena. (Photo courtesy Rudy Gobert)

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doesn’t have a lot of family here—people he can hang out with,” said Pena. “So really, all he had was his small staff...and I have grown to consider [Rudy] a good friend.”

Gobert and Pena go a ways back, according to the former PAL coach, who started working with Gobert about three years ago.

Mark McCown—who was the Jazz strength and conditioning coach at that time—requested that [Pena] start working with Gobert and Gordon Hayward in their offseason training program.

“I haven’t been as busy with some of the team lately,” added Pena. “However, Rudy had requested to continue to work with him during the summers and whenever he has off time, he has requested to work with me.”

Once the pandemic put a stop to Gobert’s 2019-20 season, the Jazz center needed someone to help him get back into playing shape after beating the virus.

“Of course at that time the coronavirus was something new and something that made a lot of people quite concerned,” said Pena, who added that he understood the seriousness of the disease before he decided to work with Gobert.

The former PAL coach double checked with his own doctors to make sure his risks

were low. Gobert told Pena the Jazz and Utah Department of Health had given the Jazz center the green light to train again.

“Basically, I’ve limited my contact because I’ve just worked from home and the only time I dealt with anyone was when I went up to Rudy’s [home] and we just trained in his gym,” said Pena. “We basically isolated ourselves from the rest of the world for this entire time.”

After putting Gobert through a brief warmup, Pena would pick up the Jazz center’s pace, having Gobert undergo agility drills using HECOstixs.

“Then we would work about 10 rounds of boxing training,” added Pena. “Working through combinations on the pads and hitting the bag to go along with other boxing-related training.”

The only time that Gobert left his house was for doctor visits, according to Pena.

“The real focus [in training] was getting him ready for the next step,” he said.

The next phase for Gobert would be the NBA restart, which began on July 30 in Orlando.

In the preseason, which started July 21 and lasted three games inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World, Gobert averaged 15.1 points per game and 13.7 rebounds for the Jazz. l

September 2020 | Page 13

School pantries and community donations essential to learning in Granite District

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

F

ans of KUTV sportscaster David James might know that school pantries are a project close to his heart.

“In 2002, I had a service experience, and decided to help fight poverty wherever I saw it. My experience was with people in Bosnia, but I found out that child hunger was a massive problem in Utah,” James said.

James is on the Board of Directors of the Granite Education Foundation. GEF is a nonprofit community organization that directly impacts children within Granite School District. School pantries focused on food insecure students have become a big part of how GEF accomplishes its mission.

“Talk to educators everywhere and you will hear the same thing. Kids who are hungry can’t learn. They act up, they fall asleep, they’re anxious. School pantries are a place where principals or social workers can take the kids for a snack, and then they’re ready to go back to class and be engaged learners,” James said.

Kim Oborn is the programs coordinator for food pantries in Granite School District.

“Last school year we had 23 pantries up and running. We received requests from principals for 20 more pantries. There is a huge need across the entire district,” Oborn said.

Oborn and James spent a hot day Aug. 13 with their team in the parking lot of the Maverik Center in West Valley City collecting school supplies. The fundraiser was sponsored by KUTV, and was in part a response to pandemic precautions: students doing in-person learning will each need their own personal supplies.

“COVID has intensified the need for these things—each kid needs their own pencil, their own notebook, their own calculator.

We want to limit the amount of touching and sharing items within the classroom. These donations will help families who can’t afford them to comply with that level of cleanliness,” Oborn said.

Pantries don’t just supply food for kids at school. “There are weekend kits where a kid can grab a bag and it has supplies in it

Page 14 | September 2020

for the whole family. Some clean diapers for younger siblings, snacks and enough food to make a meal for four. For food insecure families, it’s a lifesaver,” Oborn said.

Statistics compiled by GEF cite that GSD is comprised of 91 schools serving 67,000 students. The geographic range of GSD goes from East Millcreek out to Magna. There are 160 languages spoken in GSD schools, and 50% of students come from families at an economic disadvantage.

“Times have changed, and schools are doing a lot more now than just academics.

This supports academics. Kids can’t learn if they’re hungry or worried about food insecurity,” Oborn said.

Rolling pantries are one of Oborn’s new projects. “We couldn’t fulfill the request we got to double our in-school pantries this year.

So we came up with the rolling pantries.

“The shelves have wheels on them, and we stock the shelves with supplies. Then we load them on a truck and take them around to different schools where they stay for a month. We take the empty one back to the distribution center and fill it,” Oborn said.

GEF relies on donations from sponsors and the community to keep the pantries stocked. Their website www.granitekids.org has information on donation needs and service opportunities.

“The great thing about these projects is that even little ones can help. Sometimes it’s

Top: Principals are deeply appreciative of service organizations that build up and stock their food pantries, like this Eagle Scout project organized by Anton Goodick for James E. Moss Elementary. (Photo courtesy Sophia DiCaro) Above: Access to school pantries helps kids who are food insecure get what they need so they can concentrate in school. Service groups who come in and stock the shelves are essential to the program. (Photo courtesy Sophia DiCaro)

just assembling kits and putting one of everything in a bag,” Oborn said.

Recently, Cyprus High freshman Anton Goodick built pantry shelves and ran a fundraiser for pantries at two Millcreek area schools for his Eagle Scout project. He involved local politicians, friends and cub scouts. “This is a way you can make a difference in our community,” Oborn said.

Knowing you’re making a difference is powerful. “The experience that started this all for me was when I was in charge of a service project with a youth Sunday School class.

We’d raised money to buy a cow for a group in Bosnia that had been hit hard by their civil war.

“We received a thank-you note back from a group in Bosnia that had been touched by our donation. It was incredibly graphic; a level of gratitude and suffering that we don’t even know. I read it to the youth, and you could have heard a pin drop. I vowed then to fight poverty whenever I could,” James said.

He’s convinced the food pantries make that kind of difference in his own community.

Principals report to Oborn that the pantries have a big impact. “The principals and

social workers are so appreciative. They feel the weight of the need in their schools. One group with a great need is refugees; of all the refugees in Utah, 65% of them live within GSD boundaries,” Oborn said.

“Food insecurity hits on a cultural level. Food is such a big part of culture. So we appreciate donations that are sensitive to different cultures. Small things make a difference—knowing that some cultures are more used to cooking with dried beans than beans from a can. Things like that,” Oborn said.

Oborn and James had a goal of collecting 15,000 backpacks with school supplies during the Aug. 13 drive. But the need is ongoing and donations are accepted on a rolling basis. There is always a need for financial donations, non-perishable food, clothing, shoes and school supplies.

“The full impact of COVID in our communities is yet to be determined. There is so much uncertainty, and our pantries have become even more important. They are open to kids who learn in-person or distance learning. We need to secure the funding to take the burden off kids so they can focus on learning,” Oborn said. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

www.sslc.com

CITY NEWSLETTER

September 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

Get Counted…Today!

I’m going to cut to the chase, South Salt Lake needs your help. For our City to receive its fair share over the coming decade of critical state and federal funds, which the City uses to support many of our community-minded services and programs, we need every household in South Salt Lake to complete the 2020 Census. Today!

Mayor Cherie Wood The 2020 Census ends on September 30. Currently, only 61% of our City’s residents have completed the 2020 Census survey. On behalf of all our City services and programs, I’m asking for you to act today:

and the Senior Ball. Parks and trails is also highly dependent on this funding. The Granite School District and the education of our youth is enhanced by funds secured through this data. Lastly, our Promise SSL programs rely on grant funds to provide needed afterschool and supportive programing for families.

• If you haven’t filled out the 2020 Census, please visit https:// my2020census.gov/ to complete it today.

Q: Is my information secure?

A: The Census Bureau has a legal duty to protect information. Title 13 of the U.S. Code requires info to be kept confidential. It cannot be shared with law enforcement or other government agencies.

There is no citizenship question on the census survey.

• If you need help filling out the Census, we have people who can guide you through the process.

For assistance, call 801-483-6057.

• If you’ve already filled out the Census, thank you. Now, please take the time to encourage your friends and neighbors to complete their Census too.

Since the Census season started, we’ve received some great questions about the Census.

Q: Why is it so important to South Salt Lake that all City residents get counted in the Census?

A: About 80% of our budget for community programs comes from sales tax that the State allocates to our City. The amount we get is based on South Salt Lake’s population, as counted during the Census; this number won’t be adjusted for another ten years.

Without an accurate 2020 Census count, we stand to miss out on a large amount of state and federal funds – as much as $1-2 million per year.

Q: What community programs rely on funding based on Census data?

A: SSL community-based programs rely on state or federal funds for day-to-day operations, including Head Start preschool and nutrition programs, youth sports, programs at the Columbus Center and the Refugee Training and Education Center, and events hosted by SSL Recreation, like the Daddy-Daughter Dance

Q: Do renters and homeowners alike need to fill out the Census?

A: Yes! The Census captures a snapshot of the many people who live in communities across the country. Everyone in South Salt Lake, regardless of if you have kids or not, own a home, rent an apartment or have only lived in SSL for a little while, counts!

With your help, South Salt Lake can continue to Invest in People and offer big-city benefits for our small, but mighty City.

Fill out your Census form today: my2020census.gov

City News SSL City Council Meetings Meetings likely electronic only, visit sslc.com for info.

Wednesday, September 9, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 30, 7 p.m

SSL City Planning Commission Meetings Thursday, September 3, 7 p.m.

Thursday, September 17, 7 p.m.

NOTICE: All meetings are subject to postponement, cancellation or live stream only. Check sslc.com for updates.

Holiday Closures

South Salt Lake City Offices will be closed: Monday, September 7th Wishing you a safe holiday!

Garbage and Recycling Pickup – Labor Day Waste will be collected on Monday, September 7th

New Resident CORNER

Grass and Weeds – Maintained at Six Inches or Less Greetings from South Salt Lake Urban Livability. We know how busy life gets, especially during the summer with all the fun in the sun and vacations. But, before we know it, our lawns have grown taller than six inches. Weeds season is still upon us and we ask that grasses and lawns be kept to 6 inches or less at all times, this includes park strip areas between sidewalks and streets. A huge THANK YOU to all those who maintain their yards and properties and help to keep our neighborhoods looking welcoming and vibrant! Contact us at 801-4646712 with any questions.

City Council Corner – A Lesson From my First Camping Trip

By Natalie Pinkney, City Council At-Large During this quarantine I have done things I never thought I would do, like camping. Maybe it’s from the constant state of being at home or because the Wasatch has grown on me. Either way, I am happy I took a leap and embraced the outdoors. One thing about me is, I am not an outdoorsy person at all. I never understood why I would choose to sleep in dirt and away from modern utilities. I’ll admit it, I was stubborn and close-minded but when quarantine became too much I decided to try something new.

Camping in the Unitas a month ago turned out to teach me an unexpected lesson. That lesson is: change isn’t scary, staying

the same is. Without the external pushes, I would have never discovered how much being in nature made me happy. I believed that the world I had always known was enough and that I knew what was best for me. We all operate that way and then our environment changes like it has in the last 6 months and we find ourselves in a position to embrace those changes or fight it. I could have fought but then I would have never experienced the beautiful night sky and radiant stars. Imagine what else we never experience when we decide to stay the same?

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

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 Agenda Item Subject Action 7/22/20 2020 Audit Engagement Letter A Resolution approving the 2020 Financial Auditing Services Approved Agreement w/ Squire and Company, PC 7/22/20 Interlocal Agreement with Salt A Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Salt Approved Lake County- Traffic Signals Lake County for installation of new traffic signals at 2700 S Main 7/22/20 Interlocal Agreement with UDOT A Resolution Authorizing Cooperation Agreement with UDOT Moved to the consent agenda – Bus Stop regarding removal of bus stop at 940 W and 3300 S for August 12 7/22/20 Ordinance amending Chapter An Ordinance amending 17.03 to include and establish a New Moved to Unfinished Business 17.03 to establish new TTBU Temporary Transitional Beneficial Use (TTBU) Overlay District, for August 12 Overlay District creating New Section 17.03.260, and amending the zoning map to include TTBU Overlay District 7/22/20 Designate Juneteenth as a State A Resolution expressing support to designate Juneteenth as a Further Discussion needed. May Holiday State Holiday bring back to a future meeting 7/22/20 Tax Increment Participation for Review and Discussion of Tax Increment participation for the Bring back to future meeting for the South City Urban Renewal South City Urban Renewal Project further discussion Project 7/22/20 Update to Council Rules Council Rules Discussion regarding Electronic Meetings Moved to Unfinished Business regarding Electronic Meetings for August 12 8/12/20 Interlocal Agreement with UDOT A Resolution Authorizing Cooperation Agreement w/ UDOT Approved – Bus Stop regarding removal of bus stop at 940 W and 3300 S 8/12/20 Ordinance Amending Chapter An Ordinance amending 17.03 to include and establish a New Approved 17.03 to establish new TTBU Temporary Transitional Beneficial Use (TTBU) Overlay District, Overlay District creating New Section 17.03.260, and amending the zoning map to include TTBU Overlay District 8/12/20 Update of Council Rules A Resolution amending the City Council Rules of Procedure Approved regarding electronic meetings 8/12/20 Census 2020 Update Update on the 2020 Census Tips given on how to spread the word on the Census

Next Step No Further Action No Further Action Approval at next meeting Further Discussion

Further Discussion Further Discussion Further Discussion No Further Action No Further Action

No Further Action No Further Action from the Council

Are you registered to vote?

With election season just around the corner, now is the time to register to vote! There are several ways you can register: ONLINE REGISTRATION You can register at vote.utah.gov by completing the online form.

Make sure you have a current Utah Driver’s License or ID. If you have moved, you can update your address on your driver’s license by going to dld.utah.gov. If registering online, make sure you register at least 11 days before the election on November 3.

BY-MAIL REGISTRATION Mail-in registration is another convenient option. Start by filling out the Voter Registration form at slco.org/clerk/elections.

Once completed, print and send to: Salt Lake County Clerk Election Division 2001 S State Street #S1-200 PO Box 144575 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4575

Mail your completed registration form at least 11 days before the election on November 3.

You can also register in-person at the Election Division. The office is closed to the public due to COVID-19. However, voter registration can be done by-appointment only 385-468-8683.

UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION ADDRESS If you are already registered, but have moved, you can update your information by emailing got-vote@slco.org. Include your name, birthdate, previous address and current address.

Public Safety Citizen Police Review Board and Our commitment to a New Process Following the death of George Floyd, many organizations, groups, and individuals began to protest nationwide demanding police reform and accountability. In addition to specific bans and revisions on police policies, there is a general consensus that law enforcement agencies should have civilian oversight.

The demand for civilian oversight is being heard loudly, but it is far from a new concept. Civilian Review Boards have been in existence for decades and have been implemented by hundreds of agencies across the nation. There are many variations to how they are implemented, what they are called, and the actual role the members of the board have.

With the national attention to the demand for citizen oversight, members of our City Council with the support of Mayor Cherie Wood have committed to creating a Citizen’s Review Board. As I engage in discussions with our City Council and Mayor Wood, it has become particularly clear to me that forming a Citizen Review Board in South Salt Lake isn’t an allegation of police deficiencies on behalf of our City Council Members, it’s a commitment of trust from our City Council to our community and a pledge from Mayor Wood for equity and prosperity for all residents.

As we move forward in the creation of a Citizen Review Board, I want to express my commitment to reviewing all our police department policies and practices. It has been the practice of the South Salt Lake Police Department to continually examine our policies for improvement. I believe that providing public transparency in our processes and our policies will improve

the service we provide to our community, and strengthen the trust every community should have in law enforcement.

To be effective, I believe a Citizen’s Review Board must be independent of our Police Department so that reviews Police Chief remain as unbiased as possible. The Jack Carruth establishment of the board with respect to what powers they have over police policies, practices and disciplinary actions are sensitive topics. To have an effective review board, the process and powers of the board must establish community trust as well as the trust of the police department. Review boards must also be provided with proper training, funding and resources to ensure members of the board are educated on police use of force topics, best practices of law enforcement nationally, and current laws.

I have had the privilege of serving the City of South Salt Lake as Chief of Police since February of 2014 and have policed the community of South Salt Lake since 1996. I am confident in our policies and procedures, and I have complete confidence in the men and women of the South Salt Lake Police Department that provide exemplary service to our community. I believe that a Citizen’s Review Board will only increase community support and trust in our Police Department and will show our commitment to providing the best police services to date.

Home Fire and Life Safety Tips During COVID-19 The COVID-19 situation has been with us in Utah since early March and has resulted in recommendations such as “selfisolation,” minimizing social movement except for going to the doctor or getting groceries and, wearing a mask. The fact that many more people are staying in their homes for longer periods of time presents an enhanced risk of fire due to cooking and other activities, like smoking, that might normally be done outdoors.

These activities, although somewhat routine, can turn disastrous if you are not paying attention.

Our current situation in the community provides us with the opportunity to review key fire prevention topics in order to reduce risk and avoid a tragic emergency. Please take some time with your family to review the following with all those in the home: 1. Develop a home exit plan and start home fire safety inspections.

2. Talk about cooking safety -- Pay special attention to associated risks among target populations, notably the elderly and children.

3. Review the proper use and disposal of smoking material.

4. Test all of your smoke alarms and conduct any maintenance that may be needed; be sure to change the batteries twice a year.

5. With cooler weather around the corner, have your furnace evaluated and ensure you have carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

6. “Close before you doze!” Closing your bedroom door before going to sleep will help prevent the spread of smoke and

fire in the event that a fire occurs in the home.

7. Take a look around your home and remove trip-and-fall hazards such as boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and area rugs from walkways. Keep your home brightly lit at night to help you avoid objects that are hard to see.

8. Fire prevention must be a yearround priority. We must take every opportunity available to reduce the risk of fire, reduce injury and illness, and save lives. Please take this opportunity to look around your homes and make them as safe as possible!

Preparedness Tip #9: Include Neighbors and Friends in Plans -Identify Roles and Skills Discuss with your neighbors how you can work together during an emergency. Make note and start inventorying specialized equipment like generator and supplies. Determining roles and assessing skills can save time and lives in an emergency. Decide who will conduct wellness checks on elderly or disabled neighbors.

By creating contingency plans, a neighborhood can create several actionable steps in the event of an emergency. By combining or sharing plans a neighborhood can be better prepared.

School is Back in Session Be alert, phones down, travel slowly and yield to pedestrians.

Stormwater is NOT Treated

Fire Chief Terry Addison

Continue to protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus. Know how it spreads. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person among those who are in close contact with one another. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Avoid close contact with people inside and outside your home.

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when you’re around others. Clean and disinfect frequently, and monitor your health daily by looking for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms found on the CDC website: www.cdc.gov.

Everything in stormwater that flows into catch basins and storm drains ends up in the Mill Creek, Jordan River, and eventually the Great Salt Lake. Everyday activities can impact stormwater and greatly affect water quality. We are all responsible for protecting the water that travels downstream.

Ways you can help: • Bag grass clippings and leaves • 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 • Pick up and dispose of pet waste properly

Business & Development Founders Day Scavenger Hunt Sept. 28 - Oct.1 $100 gift cards for those who find Founders day posters in the City.

Daily themes for the location where the poster may be placed. 10 posters will be posted throughout the week.

For more information contact: mclark@sslc.com or check for updates on social media.

SSL Housing Market Trends in 2020 If you’ve been wondering about what the housing market will look like over the next 12 months, we’ve got good news for you, especially if you own a home in South Salt Lake. With a 4-month slump during March-June of 2020, Utah’s real estate market heated up this summer and should remain strong in the coming months. Building and construction is also strong.

According to Deputy Director Sean Lewis, SSL’s Community Development office has not seen any decrease over the past several months, “South Salt Lake remains a viable and attractive place for developers who have creative and unique project ideas --we can help those ideas come to fruition.”

Hawthorne Townhomes at 2852 S West Temple

Nominate a South Salt Lake Beautiful Yard

Affordable housing units are still in short supply, and low mortgage rates, population growth, and an increase in buyer interest continue to increase the demand for available housing.

Lewis says, “South Salt Lake does not have any active owneroccupied affordable housing developments, but there are several areas where rentals can be found for less expensive prices than elsewhere across the Wasatch Front, including a few hundred units that may qualify for affordable housing tax credit incentive programs. The City is regularly looking to partner with developers who are seeking to provide more affordable opportunities for our residents.”

A local SSL resident and realtor for Keller Williams, Heather Wood says, “The housing market in South Salt Lake has remained strong throughout this year, demand has continued to pick up, as people value the homes here because of being more affordable and close to desirable areas like Liberty Wells and Sugar House.”

“A lot of people are moving here and making improvements after buying older homes. It’s just getting better and better,” Wood says that the inventory of homes under $300,000 right now is very low, making it a competitive market. She says, “The average home sells in less than a month, but how fast your home sells really depends on the price, it’s condition and how you market it.”

Wood recommends that if you are wanting to buy, to be sure to work with someone who knows how to make an offer stand out, and says, “The housing market is just too extreme and sellers are able to demand top dollar for their listings.”

Little Free Libraries

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 Urban Livability at 801464-6712 or vlelo@sslc.com to recognize a deserving yard.

Congratulations to the Ms. Burk!

Thank you for your commitment to a Beautiful Yard!

A popular trend popping up in neighborhoods around the country is the Little Free Library. A Little Free Library is a small, decorative, weather resistant box where books can be exchanged with anyone on a “take a book, leave a book” honor system. There is never a charge for the books, and passers-by are welcome to browse and take any book they would like to read. The intent is to offer books you enjoy to share with others and allow others to share books that they may have enjoyed with you.

Little Free Libraries can be an attractive addition to your home. They also foster a welcome community environment and encourage reading for all ages.

There are many sets of simple construction plans available online. Part of the fun of the libraries is to see the clever and unique designs that have been created.

Some folks build the libraries to match their house, car or RV. Others are made to look like pop culture icons like the Dr. Who Tardis or R2-D2 from Star Wars.

If you are considering installing a Little Free Library at your home, please remember that it must be placed entirely on your property, and may not be placed on or over a sidewalk or park strip. A Building Permit is not usually required for installation unless you include electricity for lighting. When digging to place a post, always first dial 811 or visit bluestakes.org For more information on Little Free Libraries, visit: www.littlefreelibrary.org

Photo courtesy of Andria McQueen

Community Happenings Greetings from South Salt Lake Animal Services!

We would like to remind everyone who has furry friends that dogs can be sensitive to heat, especially when the temperature reaches above 70 degrees. Something to consider before taking your dog for a long walk is the temperature of the asphalt or sidewalk. A dogs paws are one of the most sensitive part of the body and can easily burn.

A way to test if the ground is too hot for your pet is to lay the back of your hand against the ground. If you can’t hold it there for more than 10 seconds, chances are your dog shouldn’t be walking across it for long distances. Additionally, a friendly reminder to make sure your dog is leashed at all times, unless otherwise posted. Please be considerate and keep South Salt Lake a pet-friendly City by picking up your pets waste and placing it in labeled containers. We also ask that while on walks you be vigilant of no trespassing signs and respect resident’s wishes. We do have a dog park at 311 East Robert Ave that is open to all dog owners to socialize and is large enough to physically distance. Stay safe and healthy! We appreciate all the love and gratitude we receive daily from citizens.

Leaf Bags

Beginning next month, South Salt Lake residents can participate in an annual leaf collection program.

Each fall season, five leaf bags are supplied to residents at no cost.

Bags can be picked up at the Public Works building located at 195 W Oakland Ave in October. The leaf bags will be picked up curbside through the end of November.

SAVE the DATE for FALL CLEAN-UP:

FIRST TWO FULL WEEKS OF NOVEMBER

ANIMAL

SERVICES

THINGS ALL APARTMENT PET OWNERS SHOULD KNOW All dogs and cats need to be licensed with South Salt Lake Animal Services Spayed /neutered animals are $1 5; $ 4 0 if not spayed /neutered $5 discount for microchipped animals All cats and dogs are required to be on leash when outside of a fenced yard Leashes should not be longer than 6 feet It is required by law to pick up all animal feces and dispose of it properly in a trash can Pets should not be allowed to wander onto another’s property and should only use the park strip to urinate and defecate City officials have been made aware of problems in your neighborhood, and will be conducting extra patrols.

All those found out of compliance may be subject to an Administrative Citation.

Please remember to be a good neighbor to everyone around you!

Boxed, Bundled and Bagged Curbside Cleanup The citywide cleanup program will be back again this year for approved items that are boxed, bundled or bagged. The intent of this program is to reduce pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes and to keep our City clean. Ace Recycling and Disposal, the city’s garbage and recycling contractor, will be collecting bulky waste items during the first two weeks of November. Mark your calendar, details to be mailed out next month.

Community Happenings Welcome Back to School and Afterschool LUNCH on the Move Wednesday, September 16 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!

Metal in Recycling Bins It is widely known that metals are infinitely recyclable. But why is it that curbside programs throughout the country limit what metal items are accepted to only food and beverage cans?

All recyclables collected from your home are dropped off at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Your items are placed on conveyor belts and are sorted by people and machinery.

The first step in the sorting process is called a pre-sort, where sorters must act quickly and remove any items that can harm workers and the equipment. Metal items that are not beverage or food cans can damage equipment and the employees at facilities.

What can you do with those metal items not allowed? Take them to your local metal recycler! They are equipped to handle beyond what our local MRFs can accept in terms of metals. You may even make some extra cash!

Questions? Contact us: recycle@acedisposal.com

Dear South Salt Lake Youth and Families,

Welcome back to school and afterschool. We are thrilled to be returning to afterschool programming with you and your family. We know that there are many concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the safety of youth in direct service programs. Promise South Salt Lake is following the latest health and safety guidelines, contact tracing, and reduced numbers to allow our best efforts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in our programs. All of our Promise SSL programs will be providing in-person programming, see below to learn more and apply to take part this fall.

– Best Wishes ~ Promise SSL Lincoln Elementary- Deborah Peel dpeel@sslc.com | 801-657-0416 Deborah is the Afterschool Coordinator at Lincoln Elementary. She brings passion and experience to create a safe and welcoming environment for all youth. Serving K-5th grade youth who attend Lincoln Elementary. This program offers students the chance to choose from a general daily program structure or interest-based clubs. Clubs include soccer, cooking, chess, Lego League, ukulele, and more.

Granite Park Junior High- Joseph Genda jgenda@sslc.com | 801-440-4499 Joseph is the Afterschool Coordinator at Granite Park Junior High (GPJH).

Joseph is a mentor and friend, working tirelessly to reduce barriers to success for youth and families in his program.

GPJH serves 6th-8th grade youth who attend. GPJH students have been able to participate in robust clubs and activities, engage in tutoring, and other homework help with their school day teachers close by.

Woodrow Wilson Elementary- Emily Blakeley eblakeley@sslc.com | 801-386-0589 Emily is the new Afterschool Coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Emily has experience working with youth and families in both school and community settings.

Serving K-5th grade youth who attend Woodrow Wilson Elementary. This program was Promise’s second center, opening in 2008. From the beginning, we’ve created a community where youth can feel safe, can learn and grow through mentorship, and building life skills.

Cottonwood High School- Colleen Bradburn cbradburn@sslc.com | 385-630-9748 Colleen is the Afterschool Coordinator for Cottonwood High School. Colleen builds strong relationships with the youth enrolled in the program. Acting as an advocate, Colleen brings in activities and programs that support youth academic and social development. Serving 9th-12th grade youth who attend Cottonwood High School in Murray. Clubs and Activities include Art Club, Robotics, Colts in the Kitchen (Cooking Club), Team Sports, Chess Club, MESA, Video Game Club, ACT Prep, and much more!

Olene Walker Elementary- Tori Smith tsmith@sslc.com | 801-828-8219 Tori is the Afterschool Coordinator at Olene Walker Elementary. Tori’s commitment to high-quality programming sees her bring in new strategies and partners to enhance the work at her site. Serving K-5th grade youth who attend Olene Walker Elementary. This program is in SSL’s newest school.

We are excited to provide a safe place for youth to explore and grow their personal interests.

Kearns St Ann School- Heidi Qin hqin@sslc.com | 385-630-9754 Heidi is the new Afterschool Coordinator at Keans St Anns School.

Heidi knows how to build safe and inclusive programming for youth, all while keeping activities fun and engaging. Serving K-8th grade youth who attend Kearns St Ann School. This program opened in 2016. Activities include robotics, cooking, art projects, STEM exploration, coding, choir, Friday field trips, and more.

Moss Elementary- Lauren Levorsen llevorsen@sslc.com | 385-258-6360 Lauren is the Coordinator at Moss Elementary. Lauren is always making her youth and families feel welcome and supported, all while using innovative practices to improve program offerings. Serving 1st-5th grade youth who attend James E. Moss Elementary in Millcreek. This program focuses on interest-based clubs, hosting daily classes such as judo, Girl Scouts, art, chess, Girls on the Run, science, choir, school play, and so much more.

Utah International Charter School- Leroy Brandon lbrandon@sslc.com | 801-520-7175 Leroy is the new Afterschool Coordinator at Utah International Charter School. Leroy works hard to develop lasting and meaningful relationships with the youth and families in the program. Serving 7th-12th grade youth who attend Utah International Charter School. Our vision is to honor and celebrate each student’s culture and identity while empowering him or her with language, global literacy, collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking skills.

Promise Hser Ner Moo Community Center- Kaylee Milliner kmilliner@sslc.com | 801-828-7245 Kaylee is the Afterschool Coordinator at the Hser Ner Moo Community Center. Kaylee is driven to provide the highest quality programs and services to youth and families enrolled in program.

Kaylee is an advocate for Afterschool and the importance for youth success.

Serving K-12th grade youth, located within the Columbus Center. Our focus is academic excellence, mentorship, and life skills for all youth that attend program. While partnering with local universities to offer tutoring and homework help, STEM cooking labs, robotics and engineering, multi-media art, and service projects students are allowed to be themselves and explore new career fields and hobbies.

Best Buy Teen Tech Center- Kayla Mayers kmayers@sslc.com | 801-455-0994 Kayla is the Coordinator at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center. Kayla built the programming at the Best Buy Teen Tech center to engage youth in tech learning and exploration. Serving youth ages 13-18, located within the Columbus Center. At the Teen Tech Center, we call the teens “members” because it’s a space that we want them to take ownership in. The space is filled with state-of-the-art technology that members can use as tools to complete passion projects, such as making music, creating multimedia art, designing 3D objects, and much more. This is a safe space for teens to be themselves through collaboration and creativity.

Central Park Community Center- Ashley McFarland amcfarland@sslc.com | 801-386-4949 Ashley is the Afterschool Coordinator for the Central Park Community Center.

Ashley has worked hard to help youth feel a sense of belonging at the Center, paired with high quality recreation and academic programming. Serving K-12th grade youth, located in Central Park Community Center. We believe that youth thrive when given opportunities to step outside their comfort zones. Whether we’re doing art, STEM, recreation, or working on our academic skills, youth in our programs are met with encouragement from caring staff and volunteers. We’re also home to the Pete Suazo PAL Boxing Gym, where students from ages 8-18 can participate in boxing coaching and exercises.

Community Engagement- Edward Lopez elopez@sslc.com | 801-455-1729 Edward is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Promise South Salt Lake, supervising our Family Liaison Team. Edward gives 100% of himself to every program or resident he works with. Always with a smile, Edward can do anything. The Family Liaison team goal is to facilitate community engagement, community connection and community empowerment. Family Liaisons are available to support families and youth to thrive in the City of South Salt Lake and can help facilitate access to various community resources and programs.

Historic Scott School/CommonwealthTaylor Kirch Grzeskiewicz tkirch@sslc.com | 801-803-3632 Taylor is the Afterschool Coordinator for the Historic Scott School and Commonwealth Programs. Taylor creates space for youth programming to be new and exciting. Developing programming and bringing in partners to meet the needs of youth and families. Serving K-12th grade youth, located at the Historic Scott School Arts & Community Center. This is a place where youth can come and be themselves. Our youth are given the opportunity to explore their talents, meet new people, and reach new academic heights in a unique and accepting atmosphere.

Meadowbrook STEM Center- Summer Derieg sderieg@sslc.com | 385-799-1360 Summer is the new Afterschool Coordinator for Meadowbrook STEM Center. Summer knows the strength in leading by example and teaching skills to help youth have important conversations and solve problems independently. Serving K-12th grade youth, located within the Utah Refugee Education and Training Center. We believe that through creative STEM enrichment, caring mentors, and quality programming we can help youth find their passions and be successful in their lives while exploring and growing their personal interests.

NEW PROGRAM ALERT!

Interested in applying?

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High school sports return to play…for now

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

I

n unprecedented times with uncertainty continuing over many aspects of life due to the current pandemic, the idea of sports at all levels coming back sounds so refreshing.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights have resumed, PGA golf tournaments are again being held, Major League baseball has begun their delayed season and the NBA created a bubble in Orlando, Florida to bring 22 teams to play out the last regular season games and playoffs—all without fans in attendance.

And yet, just as our excitement builds as we watch live sports returning, we see the number of COVID-19 cases, patterns and deaths fluctuating on a daily basis and are left to wonder—will high school fall sports really happen? The seasons have already begun for most of the state’s boys golf, girls soccer, girls tennis, volleyball, football and cross country teams, but how long will it last? As schools begin opening statewide as well, a lot of apprehension hangs in the air.

“This is literally an hour-by-hour situation as we have been continually adapting to the current pandemic, making plans to ‘return to play,’ scrapping plans and making new plans,” Utah High School Activities Association director Rob Cuff said.

The UHSAA has been working tirelessly since March when the coronavirus shut down the sports world—and the country for a time—to brainstorm scenarios that could allow Utah high school athletics to resume.

Initially, the organization suspended play for two weeks and continued to delay participation until mid-April when the spring sports seasons were officially canceled.

Before the school year ended, the UHSAA lifted the typical moratorium that be-

gins after Memorial Day to allow sports programs to hold summer trainings without date restrictions while encouraging strict adherence to local health recommendations. On July 10, the UHSAA board voted to resume the fall sports season and within two weeks had released a “Return to Play” set of guidelines to help districts and schools to outline their own protocols based on the local health procedures in their area and with specific evaluations of the use of their own facilities.

Those policies include: 1) Eliminating handshakes between opposing teams and coaches.

2) “Masking up” all players and coaches who are on the sidelines along with fans in the stands, particularly when social distancing isn’t possible.

3) Having schools and districts establish and enforce protocols and place signs at their facilities to inform participants and spectators of their own required policies, which may include mandated masks. This also includes determining seating capacity allowed.

4) Mandating that sick players, coaches or spectators not participate in practices or games.

5) Having each school fill out Utah Event Management forms and sending copies to the UHSAA. Additionally, daily temperature screenings for athletes and coaches, constant sanitizing, using personal water bottles, having wider sidelines, longer timeouts and setting a cap on uniformed players (at 50 for football) are among other procedures being required for each school.

In an Aug. 13 memo to UHSAA schools and administrators, Cuff called for all members to “double down on efforts to ensure that safety guidelines are being universally adhered to across the association…one district, one school, one team, one coach, one student participant who chooses not to follow these guidelines has the potential to undermine participation for all.”

While many states around the country have delayed the start of high school fall sports until at least the start of the new year, Utah was one of 17 states nationwide to begin as scheduled.

“For months, we have been working closely with the state health department and the governor’s office to stay in tune to what’s happening,” Cuff said. “We are in uncharted territory, so we are carefully and constantly navigating how to move forward.”

Keeko Georgelas, Murray High’s athletic director said, “The district has worked really hard to put a model in place. A lot of work has gone into designing a model to give This season looks different than in years past as three this thing a shot and it has a chance to work, Juan Diego Catholic High School soccer players although I’m apprehensive about the human “mask up” at a recent game. (Photo courtesy Alysia nature of things, especially in the pre-game Love) and post-game. I’m actually not as fearful of

Many high school athletes are celebrating a return to the field after spring sports were shutdown in mid-March due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Astrongphotography)

the games themselves.”

And despite the best efforts of the nearly 100,000 members and 155 teams state-wide, COVID-19 has again disrupted high school sports in Utah.

A positive test on the Lone Peak girls soccer team put the whole program in quarantine, missing four games over a two-week period.

Most notably, three players on Bingham’s football team tested positive which led to the cancellation of its season opener against Weber Aug. 13.

“Those kids have never showed any symptoms and are as healthy as can be,” said Bingham head coach Dave Peck, who noted that they were cleared for a return to practice Aug. 17. “The health department came in and tested the whole team—100 kids and coaches—and there were two more positive tests found. Those players have been quarantining and will for 10 days. What we’ve proven here is that we’re not spreading it through our team; it’s coming through outside sources.”

Peck said his program canceled camps and scrimmages over the summer to deal with cases and out of an abundance of caution, but losing that time along with their first game has been tough.

“We have a group that could seriously challenge for the state title, but with all that we dealt with in the summer, we’re behind,” he said. “Plus, we didn’t play this week while everyone else did.”

And yet, the grim reality of the COVID-19 situation sets in further for Peck as he has watched one player struggle with

coronavirus so severely that the player’s 25-year-old sister contracted the virus and she is now on life support.

Now, for the second week in a row to begin the football season, a game will not be played as Cyprus had two players test positive which will cancel its game with Ridgeline Aug. 20.

These cancellations are considered no contests and will not be rescheduled, for most sports, and do not count against them in RPI rankings.

And those are just the more current cases that are more widely known. That doesn’t even include the various sports from Bonneville, Box Elder, Clearfield, Farmington, Fremont, Granger, Herriman, Layton, Syracuse, Weber and others that had to cancel practices, scrimmages and camps throughout the summer as they dealt with positive tests for some players and coaches.

“We’re doing all we can to play safe so we can play as long as we can,” Georgelas said.

Cuff noted the “remarkable job” schools and districts are doing.

“This is a massive effort to provide the best for our kids,” he said. “We want them safe, so we’ll start playing. We recognize that among all of the factors we are considering that mental wellness for our student-athletes are so important and we are constantly evaluating if the reward outweighs the risk so we can condense or adjust things. We’re certainly in uncharted territory, but we are working diligently to ensure that we make the safest decisions for everyone. As long as school’s in session, we’ll keep playing.” l

Redevelopment agency brings economic development

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

D

uring the August RDA meeting, Randy Sant, economic development consultant working with the City of South Salt Lake RDA, provided updates on the SSL Economic Development Strategic Plan goals.

Acting as the RDA board of directors, the City Council established four economic development goals in 2015. The goals were reestablished in 2018.

Goal One – West 3300 South corridor This area starts west of I-15 and moves west around 3300 South to the Jordan River, which is also the city limits.

The focus of the goal is to promote best land use and to remove blight. In terms of land use, blight is defined as an area falling into disrepair and decrepitude. Moving out salvage yards is an example of removing blight. An economic reinvestment area was created for the area.

“We have had a lot of progress on this goal,” Sant said.

Last summer, the Planning Commission approved a final plat allowing Maverik to build a convenience store with gas pumps on the southwest corner of 500 West and 300 South. The store is open and has truck pumps and a truck scale and wash. The Maverik store on 900 West and 3300 South is already coming down.

A neighborhood development plan is under development and should be released by the end of August.

Sant is proposing to create three or four project areas rather than one large area. This will allow more flexibility in development.

The hope is to have flex warehouse space, office space, and additional retail space.

Goal Two – Downtown The Downtown economic reinvestment area runs from I-15 to State Street between 2100 South and I-80.

“We have made great strides on this goal,” Sant said.

Within this area, WinCo was built along with The Crossing Apartments along the S-line. In addition, smaller developments such as the ASA Insurance building and the Chartway Federal Credit Union were built.

Under development in this area is South City, the tallest building in SSL. It also brings Class A office space to the area along with apartments.

The Time Square area on 300 West across from RC Willey is under consideration for future technology development.

The empty parcel south of the S-line is owned by Boyer Company. Once the HazMat cleanup is completed, future development is planned for the site.

For the next two years, the old Salt Lake Suzuki dealership on the west side of State Street and Truman Avenue will be used by Strong Motor Group as a used car dealership.

This is possible by creating a Temporary

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Transitional Beneficial Use (TTBU) Overlay District passed by the City Council on July 22. The TTBU is designed to expire in two years or if the land is sold for development within the Downtown zone regulations.

Goal Three – Business Retention and Acquisition A major step for this goal was completed last year when Sant was appointed as the business liaison with the Mayor’s office. Sant reported this appointment is successfully resolving business issues with the city.

Another effort in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce is to meet with business owners and ask them to complete a survey. The goal is to visit six businesses a month. The initiative started the week of Aug. 24.

Goal Four – State Street District Sant reported that because lack of funding, nothing has been done on this goal.

However, the city received a grant for new streetlights along State Street and UDOT put in large pedestrian signage at Gregson Avenue for Granite Park Junior High School students. l

Progress on phase I of South City on Main Street and Utopia Avenue as part of the Downtown district. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

The new Maverik store on 3300 South as part of the 3300 South development area. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

September 2020 | Page 23

Miss Africa Utah pageant: A diverse cultural scholarship program

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

T

he 10th annual Miss Africa Utah pageant was Aug. 11-15. The pageant is for single Utah women with ties to Africa. The result is an event like no other where African women feel supported as they educate others and celebrate their heritage.

The pageant was created by Gloria Mensah of GK Folks Foundation. Mensah was born in Nigeria and resides in Utah. “It started as a culture night, just to learn more about different African cultures. It was so successful that I decided to make a nonprofit and create a scholarship,” Mensah said.

This year’s pageant went online due to the pandemic, so events were shown on the website, www.missafricautah.org. Like other pageants, each contestant chose a platform or social issue to promote. There was a talent segment and judges who select the queen. But unlike other pageants, there was a traditional costume segment and a parade of nations.

“There is a lot of diversity. It doesn’t matter your size or shape or height—you have to be within three generations from Africa. Some of the women are adopted, some are single moms and many are in college or have already graduated,” Mensah said.

This year’s final contest involved women from eight African nations: Anna Elizabeth Robbins of Cameroon; Amira Kherrallah of Central African Republic; Perpetual Stevens of Ghana; Aziza Jabhad Hussein of Kenya; Nini Ndongo Macias of Ecuatorial Guinea; Easter Shadrack of North Sudan (born in Ethiopia); Pauline Makoma of Rwanda and Seary Kallon of Sierra Leone.

The women come from across the valley—Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, West Jordan, Draper and Kearns. The theme of belonging and fitting in came up for several as they introduced themselves and their platforms.

“People said I wasn’t African enough, or I wasn’t Latina enough,” said Nini Ndongo Macias, Miss Ecuatorial Guinea. Macias was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and code-switches easily between English and Spanish. Ecuatorial Guinea is the only official Spanish-speaking African nation.

Aziza Jabhad Hussein, Miss Kenya Utah, said she didn’t fit in “because I couldn’t walk until age 5.” Hussein was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder and lost friends because they didn’t understand what that meant.

“It taught me that sometimes we judge people too quickly. Our differences seem more like weaknesses, instead of them making us more rounded and interesting individuals for our communities. I’ve made it my mission to get to know people on a deeper level,” Hussein said.

Perpetual Stevens won the People’s Choice Award through online voting. “I lived in an orphanage until I was 7, and then I was

Page 24 | September 2020

African Queens: Pauline Makoma (center, back) is crowned Miss Africa Utah 2020; other winners are L to R: Amira Kherrallah, Aziza Jabhad Hussein and Perpetual Stevens. (Lisa Chriss Photography)

adopted and moved to America,” Stevens said.

Stevens chose the Kaeme Foundation as her platform, which supports families in Ghana so they can keep their children at home instead of having to utilize orphanages.

“Kaeme is very personal and important to me. I want to share my story of living in an orphanage, show people that they can trust me and my platform, and educate and help people better understand what Kaeme does,” Stevens said.

Stevens said that though the African community in Utah may be small, “we are powerful, loving and resilient. We have continuously shown that we are here to stay. We will forever stand up and speak out about our dreams, rights and beliefs.”

The events were broadcast each night leading up to the finale on Aug. 15. The second runner-up was Hussein, the first runner-up was Amira Kherrallah and the winner was Pauline Makoma.

Makoma is a web developer studying software engineering. “I plan to visit high schools during my reign and talk about my platform: helping young African women explore career fields that are not looked at as ‘traditional.’ African women still struggle to see themselves in technology and STEM [fields],” Makoma said.

Brittany Johnson, a news presenter at ABC4, hosted the event. Johnson said the virtual edition speaks to the importance of the event. “The GK Folks Foundation could have canceled due to the pandemic, but in-

stead they found a way to adapt by making the event virtual.

“The pageant allows contestants to feel empowered, showcase their talent and create a platform in which a young African woman can thrive. The MAU Pageant promotes positivity, and that’s what the world needs more of today,” Johnson said.

Makoma said when she moved to Utah three years ago, she was surprised by the size of the African community. “You can search for African events that are happening near you and try to attend those. You will learn so much about the culture, get the most amazing food and the music there is always the best,” Makoma said.

The virtual aspect of this year’s contest meant there were no tickets sales, which brings in a lot of support for the program.

“We’re taking a lot of losses this year because we don’t have a live event we can sell tickets for. There is so much these young women learn in the pageant, and since we’re a nonprofit, all donations go toward helping them,” Mensah said.

GK Folks coordinates events to support the community. “There is so much for people to process with their mental health. We did a march for George Floyd where the girls wore their crowns and sashes. We want Black people to be seen as people, not a threat.

“Our mental health programs give people a safe space to come and talk. It really worked. People were pouring out their feelings,” Mensah said.

To support the scholarships awarded by

Pauline Makoma is crowned Miss Africa Utah 2020 via a virtual event. (Tempestt Williams/Vivid Kodaks)

the pageant or learn more about the young women and their platforms, visit their website. And Mensah hopes that more sponsors will step up and people in the community will donate to the causes.

Makoma offers this invitation of inclusion to everyone: “I want you to join in creating and finding opportunities for young African women to…be [who] they were meant to be, here in Utah, in Africa and all over the world.” l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

SLC companies team up to develop face masks

By Libby Allnatt | l.allnatt@mycityjournals.com

T

wo companies in Salt Lake City are teaming up to develop a face mask that packs a punch in the fight against COVID-19 and other viruses.

Dr. Sonny Bal, the president and CEO of SINTX Technologies (www.sintx.com), said the partnership with O2TODAY (www.o2today.com) will help create masks that people are happy to wear and that are effective at controlling the spread of infectious disease. The key is a material called silicon nitride.

Bal said that SINTX began antiviral testing of the material about a year and a half ago out of scientific curiosity.

They found that silicon nitride was effective at inactivating several viruses, leading them to believe it would be a good material for masks during the flu season.

When COVID-19 came along, they started looking for mask companies and manufacturers, particularly in the Salt Lake City area, which is how Bal discovered O2TODAY. “Specific to COVID-19, our hope is to inactivate the virus on synthetic surfaces,” Bal said. “For example, your masks, but more importantly, on tabletops, commonly touched surfaces, cell phone covers, screens. We know the COVID-19 virus can persist for days…If we create surfaces that don’t have to be wiped down with cleaning agents and bleach all the time, I think we can contribute to discouraging the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, particularly among the populations that are most vulnerable to it.”

Bal said the companies bring different strengths to the partnership.

“Silicon nitride is our main and only product for SINTX and we believe we are the world’s leaders on this, having published on it and studied it, particularly its remarkable properties in terms of inactivating pathogens that have since been reproduced by other medical centers,” he said.

“O2TODAY brings a phenomenal amount of knowledge about masks, their social positioning, the customer base, the retail sales, how to sell them, how to make them.”

Bal said silicon nitride works in a similar way that commercial cleaners do, essentially making its own ammonia.

“The surface chemistry has nitrogen in it which reacts with moisture, so if you touch a surface or you rub it with a moist rag, there’s a hydrolytic reaction with the water that produces a microscopic amount of ammonia on the surface,” he said. “It’s harmless to the human touch and it doesn’t smell, but when a microbe touches it, like bacteria or the virus, it’s inactivated, just like a commercial cleaner would.”

Think of masks as passive versus active. A regular cloth mask might trap the virus, but not kill it.

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Two companies in Salt Lake City, O2TODAY and SINTX, are working to develop a face mask that inactivates viruses and bacteria. (Courtesy of Amanda Barry/O2 Design)

“Some studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can stay active and infectious on a mask for up to seven days after you throw it out,” Bal said.

A more active mask would inactivate the virus.

“With silicon nitride, it’s a two-prong effect,” he said.

“The material is harmless to human cells but will inactivate the virus. The speed of inactivation is very impressive. I’ve seen the effect within a minute so it’s not a matter of hours or days. Our strategy is to develop a mask that actively degrades and inactivates infectious agents like viruses and bacteria.”

Bal said they hope to have a commercially available consumer mask by the end of the year.

“The research we’re doing right now is integrating the silicon nitride particles or soluble products into the mask fabric in such a way that you’re not breathing the particles in. They’re all in the mask itself, and you can breathe

easy…That work, which has begun, and started even before the agreement, gives us a timeline before the end of the year before we have a commercially available consumer mask.”

They also hope to eventually create masks that would be available on a medical level.

“Medical facilities would be a very important market because contamination is big in hospitals,” he said. “Medical personnel need masks. They’ve been wearing them before COVID-19. For them to have an active mask that kills pathogens would be very exciting.”

However, the process for such an endeavor would take a bit longer than that of the consumer product due to regulatory factors and additional data and testing that would need to be submitted to the FDA. “It will take longer, but certainly the medical market is a key target for us,” Bal said. l

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September 2020 | Page 25

Mail-in ballots: Salt Lake County a model system says County Clerk

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

S

alt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen and her team have been fielding many calls about mail-in ballots and the possibility of fraud. Despite the national news and concerns, Swensen wants people to know the system we’ve used for years is “safe, secure and efficient.”

“Since I took office in 1991, I’ve been working on mak-

mail,” Swensen said.

Swensen also addressed the argument that the U.S. Postal Service could play a role in fraud or may slow down the process of tabulating votes.

“The cutbacks make me concerned.

[USPS has] always been very responsive and treated [the ballots] well. They care about the service they pro-

The ballot drop box at the Sandy Senior Center near 9400 South and 1300 East is one of 20 across Salt Lake County, and an alternative for those who don’t want to mail their ballots. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals) Stay safe from coronavirus and still get your “I Voted!” sticker—they’ll be sent with mail-in ballots this year.

(Courtesy County Clerk Sherrie Swensen)

ing voting more accessible, and that includes mail-in ballots. Mail-in voting has been in the news, and I want people to know that in Salt Lake County we’ve been doing this for a long time, and it works,” said Swensen, who lives in Sandy.

“Random ballots cannot be produced by just anyone. The idea being circulated that ballots could be printed by Russians, or in living rooms by anyone, is ridiculous,” Swensen said.

Swensen’s longevity in her job has given her many years and many elections to develop mail-in ballots. She even designed the envelope with the required voter’s signature over the seal.

“We mail out a ballot to active registered voters. Every ballot mailed has a ballot ID number assigned, which correlates to the voter for whom it is ordered. If a voter asks to have another ballot sent because they didn’t receive it, or it was lost or ruined, the first ballot ordered for that voter is spoiled/canceled.

The new ballot has a different ID number,” Swensen said.

Ballots are run through a series of human- and machine-operated steps. Each step ensures that signatures are matched, secrecy is maintained, the vote is counted and the computer-generated ID number recorded.

“If someone tried to prepare bogus ballot packets, they would not pass through our system and would not be accepted and counted.

Those circulating these rumors do not understand the vote-by-mail process or do not want voters to have the convenience of voting by

Page 26 | September 2020

Swensen said.

Election Day is Tues., Nov. 3. The voting schedule is posted on www.got-vote.org or www.slco.org/clerk/elections. Vote by mail ballots will be mailed the week of Oct. 12. If you haven’t received yours by Oct. 20, call the Clerk’s office at 385-468-7400 or email them at got-vote@slco.org.

Swensen said that most issues with voting have to do with confusion, not fraud. Most of them can be cleared up ahead of time by visiting the website. Voters can make updates to their registration, and review instructions about things like who can sign your ballot or what to do if you accidentally put your ballot in your spouse’s envelope.

Poll workers are also still needed on Election Day. “We will be hiring poll workers and staff, so if people are interested, they can go

to got-vote @slc.org. It’s a long day, and you need to have some technical skills. But you’re trained and paid, and if anyone’s interested we’d love to hear from them,” Swensen said.

The bottom line for Swensen: increase accessibility for everyone who’s eligible to vote.

“It’s extremely important to me that people get out to vote. For all the years I’ve been doing this, it was always about getting people to register—going to high schools, going to senior centers and other events.

“We want to make it simple for every person who’s eligible to register and cast a vote.

It shouldn’t just be left to those that have the means to figure it out. That’s what makes democracy work—being accessible to everyone who has the right to vote,” Swensen said. l

vide to us. We use postage paid envelopes. We can track things through the USPS. If there’s a concerted effort trying to make it harder for the [Postal Service], that’s a concern to me.

“And if people don’t feel comfortable sending their ballot through the mail, we have 20 drop boxes located throughout the valley,” Swensen said.

The mail-in ballot program started as a permanent absentee option for seniors. “By 2013, we offered it to all registered voters, and only two cities opted out. In 2016, we conducted our first major elections by mail, and in 2017 all cities wanted to do it,” Swensen said.

Not only did the ballots work for security purposes, they increased voter turnout overall.

“We found that the percentage of turnout was so much better. In 2018, Salt Lake County had an 80% turnout rate for voters, and 88% of those were by mail,” Swensen said.

Voting in person is always an option, though with more social gathering restrictions in place this year, Swensen hopes as many people as possible use mail-in ballots.

Getting a ballot in the mail doesn’t mean that someone can’t vote in person. Even if you were to drop your ballot in a ballot box or send it in through the mail, if you vote in person in addition to that, you’ll only be counted once.

Swensen offers tours of the ballot process to anyone who’s interested. “We have had lawmakers, the Lt. Governor’s staff, the state auditor’s staff, media, political parties, candidates and even international visitors tour our The Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office uses a multi-step process including humans and machines to count votes processes. They come away impressed with while maintaining ballot secrecy. (Courtesy County Clerk Sherrie Swensen) our system and the security we have in place,”

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

A Brave New World

Liffee Lauighter L AND

Laughter AND by

PERI KINDER by PERI KINDER

Not necessarily known for our patience, Americans are suffering from COVID fatigue. People can’t wait for things to return to a “new normal” like suddenly everything’s going to be ice cream sundaes and furry kittens. The way 2020 is going, the new normal will probably be kitten sundaes and furry ice cream.

Our world has changed, for better or worse, so now’s a good time to decide what we keep and what we toss. I’m all for tossing office jobs, dress pants and family reunions, while keeping pajamas-as-clothes, Uber Eats and virtual baby showers.

Let’s look at how the new normal is evolving, shall we?

Sports – Like a canary in a coal mine, team sports started up this summer with the hope of bringing entertainment to millions of sports-starved individuals, and millions of dollars to money-starved sports organizations.

It’s been a bit Hunger Games-ish

as teams drop out once their players contract COVID. Who’d have thought activities that include spitting, shouting, sweating and grunting could easily spread viruses?

School – Or as I like to call it, the Catch-22 Education Plan.

Parents and teachers are negotiating this real-life version of Oregon Trail where one wrong move can end up with junior high students being eaten by cannibals in Donner Pass. (Not the worse thing.) Here’s an idea: make the best decision for your family without judging everyone else.

Parenting – Let’s just agree that “screen time” rules have been suspended indefinitely, and it’s just fine if your toddler wears the same outfit for three days. Let’s also agree chicken nuggets are healthy, YouTube personalities are annoying, and everyone gets a blue ribbon for doing the best they can.

Work – Every introvert’s birthday wish was granted when they were told to work from home.

Turns out, with these new-fangled computers, lots of stuff can be done at home. Who knew? Maybe companies don’t need 50,000 square feet of office and ping-pong space, or outdoor meditation biospheres.

Date night – You’ve spent an inordinate amount of time with your significant other. You’ve worked from home together, prepared 5,459 meals together, rearranged closets, sock drawers and bathroom cabinets. Maybe the new normal will be individuals spending date night alone, so they don’t drive to the grocery store one day and end up with a new life in Cheyenne.

Weddings – Can we please standardize virtual weddings? That is all.

Holidays – Even with social distancing guidelines, summer holidays stayed the same as everyone went to national parks, held BBQs and spent the day sitting at the community pool with hundreds of other people. These holidays were

always followed by a COVID spike. I’m sure the fall/winter holidays will be no different because people are crappy at following CDC advisories.

The 2020 Election – It’s been 28 years since the 2016 election and this year’s election has disaster written all over it. Literally. Will there be mail-in ballots?

Russian interference? A loser who refuses to leave the White House?

Civil war? The return of our alien overlords? All of the above? My best guess for election aftermath is equivalent to shaking a Magic 8 Ball, and then lighting it on fire.

Mindset – Some people say COVID will help the world achieve a higher level of consciousness where people are more compassionate, kind understanding and . . . hahahaha . . . never mind. I don’t think we’re there yet. Time to go make a kitten sundae. l

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REPLENISH LANDSCAPE

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SIDING

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HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Apex Clean Air

Installations & Repairs Call today for a free in home estimate.

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All types of roofs

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Call NOW For SPECIALS (801) 253-2566

MOUNT LIBERTY COLLEGE

NOTICE: All activities undertaken

by Mount Liberty College, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, admissions, financial aid, advancement and graduation, are governed by a rigorous policy of non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or ethnicity. info@mountlibertycollege.org

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

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AIR/WATER QUALITY TEST

PLUMBING/HVAC

24Hr Rooter Connectionz Drain, Sewer, Plumbing, Heating & Air Services. $49 OFF Any Service!

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FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS

OLYMPUS ROOFING

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Free Estimate - Call Yama 801-835-0051

September 2020 | Page 27

Retirement Planning Seminar Š 2020 Wealth Management CPAs

Given the current political & economic environment, many Salt Lake residents are worried about their future.

Two

FREE consultations & a personalized retirement plan with registration ($1,000 Value)

10 Reasons You Should Attend This FREE Seminar 1.

Learn how to protect your estate from longterm care expenses.

6.

Learn how to avoid being taxed on your social security benefits.

2.

Lessen the chance that you outlive your retirement income due to taxes or inflation.

7.

Discover the pitfalls of probate and the steps you can take to avoid it.

3.

Learn how to avoid being forced to sell your assets or surrender your money to Medicaid.

8.

Learn why a living trust may be more effective than a regular will and why you may need one.

4.

Learn how to receive long-term care benefits while remaining in your own home.

9.

Learn when you should not put your children on your bank accounts and property titles.

5.

Learn how to decrease the tax on your IRA or 401(k) for a more comfortable retirement.

10. Learn about best practices to investing and safe alternatives to the stock market.

Attend Sept.

16th

Robert J. Beck CPA

Monica Sonnier CFA

Elliot P. Smith JD, CPA

Sept.

or

17th

6:00 - 7:30 PM

6:00 - 7:30 PM

(Wed.)

(Thurs.)

9750 S 300 W Sandy, UT 84070

Room #220

FREE to the public | Seating is limited | Social distancing will be observed

Register Today! (801) 797-2954 WealthCPAs.com Investment Advisory Representative and advisory services offered through TownSquare Capital, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor 5314 River Run Drive, Provo, UT 84604. All named entities are unaffiliated.