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December 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 12

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SERVICE, COOKING AND HEALTHY EATING keep cancer fighter going By Alisha Soeken | alisha.s@mycityjournals.com

orn in Shanghai and separated from her parents at eight months old, Eunice Chen began acquiring qualities early on that would ultimately aid her in a brave, trying and wonderful life where she was diagnosed with cancer three separate times. Chen was raised by her step-grandmother in China. “While under her care I was spoiled and was told that I had a mind of my own. When I was about six or seven, my step-grandmother would not give me money for candy so I somehow convinced the store owner that I would peel beans for candies,” Chen said. That enterprising ingenuity helped Chen build resilience as she moved four times, attended four different schools and learned two new languages by the age of 10. “With all the changes that took place in my early years, I learned to be flexible, accommodating, and grateful for when I have a roof over my head and food on the table to eat,” Chen said. When Chen was eight years old she left China. “God orchestrated an amazing opportunity for me to escape out of the bamboo curtained China,” Chen said. That move eventually lead Chen to Sugar House in 1977 to a home she now shares with her husband Al Chen. “We love this area so much and we love the house, the only problem is the kitchen is way too small for a person who likes to cook and especially when I need to cook over 250 meals for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation fundraising,” Chen said. Chen’s heart, unlike her kitchen, is extremely large and she spends much of her time serving those who, like herself, battle cancer. Chen was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 1993 when she was undergoing fertility treatment with Dr. Harry Hatasaka. Hatasaka referred Chen to oncologist Dr. Mark Dobsen. “I went to the appointment with Dr. Dobsen and I was in surgery two days later. Surgery confirmed the bad news, I had advanced stage uterine cancer. All of my female organs were removed along with my dream of becoming pregnant,” Chen said. Chen lived cancer-free for eight years but in 2001 after finding blood in her stool Chen went back to the doctor to be re-diagnosed, this time with colon cancer. “One foot of my colon was removed but I did not need further treatment because it had not spread. I was so thankful to God. I resumed working as soon as the surgeon allowed,” Chen said. Once again Chen lived cancer-free, but like ill-fated clockwork, eight years later again faced cancer. “I was fortunate to have Dr. Teresa Werner from the Huntsman Cancer hospital as my oncologist. She and her team were determined to find out the type of cancer I had. Was it a new one

Eunice Chen, a resident of Sugar House, cancer-fighter, survivor and volunteer. (Photo courtesy Eunice Chen)

or was it from the metastasis process from my uterine or colon cancer? Ultimately they decided that it was probably from my uterine cancer 16 years prior and I received a new diagnosis of stage four terminal cancer,” Chen said. Chen began chemotherapy in November of 2009, which shrunk her cancerous mass about 50 percent, but several months later the cancer was again growing. “Our options were minimal. It was either more chemo or do nothing. I chose to do nothing and let God take control of my life. Of course, that decision put my husband Al between a rock and a hard place. Al prayed hard and God inspired him with three simple things to implement in our life: consume a whole-grain plant-based diet, maintain a healthy pH balance, and ensure inclusion of vitamin B17,” Chen said. After implementing these changes plus the exercise program learned at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Chen began living what her husband called, “a peaceful coexistence with cancer.” In that time Chen began in earnest her community and volunteer service. It started with her first attempt at a 5K run in partnership with the Salt Lake Marathon to raise money for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. “Since I am not athletically blessed, I thought I would attempt to do it with my peer survivors. We called ourselves Huntsman Hometown Heroes. That was the beginning. I have done this event every year since,” Chen said.

In 2017, Chen was invited by the Huntsman Cancer Foundation to participate in their annual 5K. Chen now participates in two fundraising events per year. In appreciation to their donors Chen and her husband looked for ways to say thank you. “We decided to thank donors by giving them a healthy Oriental dinner because we know healthy eating is one important way to fight cancer and also because I was trained by my late mother how to cook. She was a chef and owned her own restaurant in Japan,” Chen said. Chen plans, shops for, chops and cooks over 250 meals a year in her small Sugar House kitchen. “The greatest challenge is doing all this in our little one-buttock-kitchen. Both Al and I work long hours to achieve this big task,” Chen said. Chen raised over $5,000 this year but recognizes her help in this accomplishment. “Starting in 2013, I was brave enough to reach out to our local businesses to be our partners. Many said no, but that yes list has grown longer each year. Although it still cannot cover the total cost of the raw materials needed to make all the thank-you meals, it all helps,” Chen said. Local businesses which continue to support Chen are Costco SLC, Costco Murray, Harmons Brickyard, Sprouts Farmer’s Market and Smith’s. Perhaps even more worthy than the Continued on page 5...

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A Christmas wish: Beloved Santa Shack needs new home for 2019 By Spencer W. Belnap | s.belnap@mycityjournals.com The Sugar House City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Sugar House. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.

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Santa waves outside the Santa Shack on Sugarmont Plaza a few seasons ago. (Courtesy Laurie Bray Photography)

he Sugar House Santa Shack, a beloved holiday landmark of the neighborhood for over 70 years will be back at Sugarmont Plaza (2234 S. Highland Dr.) on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The tradition will have one more season in the parking lot of the old Deseret Industries building, currently being leased by The Bicycle Center. It then must locate a new permanent home for 2019 and beyond. “We’re trying to find a good permanent spot for it,” said Laurie Bray, member of the Sugar House Chamber and main operator of the Santa Shack. “Somewhere commercial, or ideally Monument Plaza again.” The Santa Shack was last at Monument Plaza (1078 E. 2100 South) in 2013. The busy communal spot is now surrounded by new restaurants and businesses, but does not have enough power to support space heaters. The plaza has been used for the Sugar House Pub Crawl most recently, but nothing during the holidays. Bray believes if they change the pow-

er wattage for the plaza, it could open other possibilities for events throughout the year. “I’ll have to work with the city to try to get more power,” Bray said. “A lot of events could happen at that plaza though. I’d love to see it go there again, but we’re open to other areas in the neighborhood.” With all the big development in Sugar House, the tiny chalet-style structure has also been squeezed out of its familiar terrain. It is stored outside the old Deseret Industries building, locked up the other 11 months it is not in use. While there are no immediate plans for that large building and plot once The Bicycle Center vacates to its new space next summer, it’s a chunk of land continually being eyed and evaluated by developers. If the Santa Shack could evolve into a structure that is used throughout the year somewhere, that would be ideal for Bray and patrons too. While small, it certainly packs in a lot of charm, and could be an arts or crafts booth at

the right location in the neighborhood. Sugar House residents and fans of the shack are encouraged to go the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SugarHouseSantaShack, if they have any suggestions on locations or uses. The future of the seasonal tradition may be currently unsettled, but the tradition will have one last hurrah at Sugarmont Plaza. Santa Claus will arrive in style via the fire engine from Station 3 at noon on Nov. 24. Unlike a mall Santa, this Santa—now in his 14th year at the shack— offers a unique and more intimate setting to chat and have your picture taken. Some people, even adults, dress up for the occasion or bring their pets. All ages are invited to stop by the Santa Shack and see the jolly guy, and enjoy a cookie or purchase some local merchandise. It will be open 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the weekdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays throughout Christmas Eve. l

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completion of this ...continued from front page task is the way in which Chen chooses to preform it. “When I am working hard and losing rest, my husband will say, ‘Why don’t you take extra shifts at the hospital instead? You will make more money with less work than trying to get people to donate.’ Nevertheless, I like the idea of having over 100 donors in recent years instead of a dozen or so. It is definitely more work but it’s also very exciting to share the opportunity with our friends, neighbors, business associates, co-workers, and their friends,” Chen said. To this day Chen battles with cancer. In 2013, cancer in her liver caused an infection that became septic and almost killed her. But resilience learned in her youth continues to car-

ry her though as well as her adherence to good nutrition and faith. “God watches over the wildflowers and the sparrows, and He truly watched over me in that death and life junction,” Chen said. Chen continues to live and chooses to serve as long as she’s able. Leaving her wisdom with those who will listen. “I have learned that life is fragile and unpredictable. Health is the most valuable possession we have and without it we cannot enjoy life fully. Cancer is a dreaded diagnosis but it doesn’t have to equal a death sentence unless you choose to surrender to it. Do not give into cancer. Fight with all your might as long as you can. Cancer is not an easy battle to fight, equip yourself spiritually, emotionally, and physically,” Chen said. l

Eunice Chen cooks over 250 meals for people who donate to her fundraiser for cancer research.

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December 2018 | Page 5

December places and faces By Spencer W. Belnap | s.belnap@mycityjournals.com PLACES: Westminster Park Westminster Park (968 E. 1700 South) is a small, quiet urban park in Sugar House that plenty of people may drive by on a regular basis without notice. In the summertime, it can often be filled with children and teens killing time when schools out. There are swing sets and a jungle gym playground, as well as permanent tables with boards for games of chess or checkers. In the center of the park is a gazebo with benches and near constant shade. Patches of grass offer some spots to throw down a picnic blanket or toss a football around as well. A small white fence and some shrubs surround the perimeter of Westminster Park, and parking is available along 1000 East. Parents should be cautious of small kids and pets along busy 1700 South, but the quaint park definitely has some decent shade and fun features.

Geese and ducks living on Allen Park Drive. (Spencer W. Belnap/ City Journals)

: Westminster Park during a recent autumn afternoon. (Spencer W. Belnap/City Journals)

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Allen Park/ “Hobbitville” Some Sugar House and Salt Lake residents may be familiar with an urban legend known as “Hobbitville.” It is a myth that arose over time about a supposed group of very small homes in the city. The property at 1865 S. 1300 East became the supposed village. Located across the street from Westminster College, the space is often touted as being haunted and inhabited by little homes with little people, or “hobbits.” While this myth has been around for years and its roots unknowable, the truth is the private property has homes owned or rented by average sized humans and always has. It was actually a bird conservation sanctuary at one point. Dr. George Allen and his wife Ruth started a bird sanctuary on the property in the 1930s, and the public could come and see exotic birds every Sunday until it closed in the early 1960s. The woodsy area runs along Emigration Creek and still has some peacocks and geese living on the land. While there is no spooky “Hobbitville” in Sugar House, there is a neat cabin enclave with big birds as you walk along 1300 East. FACES: What do you enjoy about the holidays in Salt Lake City? Darryl Stamp “I always like to drive around Sugar House and different neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights on various homes, and the Christmas trees lit up in living rooms. On a side note, when my daughter Sophia was little, it was our tradition to drink and eat a little of the snacks we left for ‘Santa,’ along with a note to thank her and encourage her to continue being a good girl.”

Darryl Stamp (Courtesy Darryl Stamp)

A rock identifying the Allen Park residential area off 1300 East. (Spencer W. Belnap/City Journals)

Jason Webb “There’s a totally different energy during the holidays. It seems like in a weird way, the pace at which everyone vibrates and moves around the city slows down. The calm that can blanket the city is something I always look forward to.”

Juliana Ley “There’s just enough snow and cold. It gets pretty intense from where I’m from in Michigan. You can still walk outside comfortably here and enjoy decorations. I love seeing creative store signs in Sugar House. I also like that you can still go hiking, just got to layer, of course.” l

Jason Webb (Courtesy Jason Webb)

Juliana Ley (Courtesy Juliana Ley)

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Shopping locally creates connections By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com

here are a lot of different ways to go about shopping this holiday season — browsing at a bricks-and-mortar store, buying online, waiting in line for doorbusters — and each shopping experience meets different personal and family needs. But, how does the type of shopping that’s done impact Sandy, Draper, Midvale and surrounding communities? More specifically, does shopping at locally-owned businesses really make a noticeable and positive impact? Bethany Driscoll, a Sandy resident and mother of three, graduated in economic studies. She encourages buying from locally-owned businesses, when it’s an option. Driscoll knows that it really matters where people choose to shop. “When we buy local, it directly benefits the community’s microeconomy. It provides revenue for local business owners, uses local resources for internal use, and creates wages that benefit residents. It also raises contributions to local nonprofits,” Driscoll said. She tries to shop this way often, because more of each dollar spent locally, directly circulates over and over again. “It allows the community to culturally and qualitatively grow. That means, more resources are directly available for your family,” Driscoll explained. Alex Hickey is a frequent customer at the one-of-a-kind art gallery and collectibles store, Nātür (94 W. 7720 South). Hickey said his preferred type of buyer experience is shopping nearby. “I’d rather come look at stuff locally, rather than buy it online. You can get a lot of cool stuff, and it has a story behind it.” He also stated, “It helps diversify the city.” Nātür is a destination place operated by owner Jean-Michel Arrigona, who is also the creator and designer behind many of the sculptures and items on display. Arrigona has a consistent following of patrons who say their favorite gifts and most positive shopping experiences have come from locally-owned places like his — finding things they could not see anywhere else. “If you buy it on eBay, there’s a good chance you might find it for less. One thing that my customers come here for, is they’re able to pick what they want. They’re able to look at the quality. They’re able to make sure it’s what they’re looking for,” Arrigona explained. When shopping locally, there is an opportunity to get to know where products came from and what the passion is behind those products. “It changes what you’re looking at,” Arrigona said. In his

Locally-owned shops like Nātür (94 W. 7720 South) have added to the cultural uniqueness of SLC. (Amy Green/City Journals)

shop, he has unique bracelets made from antique button hooks (tiny disks made out of oyster shells, originally for lacing up women’s boots in the 1800s). Purchased online, it’s just a beautiful bracelet. Purchased in a shop, it’s a beautiful bracelet with a fascinating tie to history. John Roh, owner of The Razor & Dram, a single-chair barber shop in Sugar House said, “Shopping local is literally what keeps me alive.” Roh feels strongly about buying local. “When I put my money into your store, my money is going toward feeding your kids. Your money is going toward diapers for my son — not some investment account where it will become a digit in a computer screen that doesn’t exist anymore,” he said. “Local businesses enrich people’s lives, and we develop closer connec-

tions.” Another valuable aspect of buying with community in mind, is that many locally-owned stores can help educate buyers, offer “how-to-use” product advice, and direct shoppers to other highly recommended places. Locally-owned shops have added to the cultural uniqueness of each city in Salt Lake — places with consignment goods, handmade items, or miniature mermaid and dragon skeletons. Nātür has those. There are often locally-owned choices close by to consider — shops with items ranging from domestic, to athletic, musical, to medicinal, to remarkably artistic — with each one ready to impact the local community and, by extension, each resident. l

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Artists, breweries collaborate to make South Salt Lake a destination By Cami Mondeaux | c.mondeaux@mycityjournals.com

ocal artists and breweries joined together at the Art Factory on Oct. 27 for Craftoberfest, an event combining art and craft in an effort to make South Salt Lake a unique city. The event was held to celebrate the opening of seven breweries in South Salt Lake and create a brewery culture that attracted patrons to the city. “For a long time, there was nowhere to eat and drink and nothing brought people [to South Salt Lake] at night,” said Lesly Allen, arts council director of South Salt Lake. “We wanted to create an awareness about what’s happening in our city.” This brewery culture ignited in South Salt Lake after the city council repealed multiple liquor laws restricting the number of businesses allowed within city limits, according to an article by the Salt Lake Tribune. The council hoped this would attract more breweries and distilleries and it paved the way for the opening of seven breweries. Craftoberfest highlighted these breweries to set South Salt Lake apart from other cities and create a unique identity. Most people are unaware of the city boundaries or even that South Salt Lake exists and is separate from Salt Lake City, according to Allen. The event brought together local brewers

and artists to showcase their art and make city residents aware of their creative businesses. Artists were chosen to create barrel art, a piece representing each individual brewery on an unusual canvas. “It’s a great way to beautify the city and connect with the community,” wrote Alex Gregory, a local artist at the event, in an email. “The keg painting was a fun challenge and it’s fun seeing what everyone comes up with.” The barrel art was an important part of the event and meant a lot to the brewers, becoming a masterpiece that was like a time capsule because of the displayed art, said Katie Flanagan, business development and marketing manager for ARUDEM. This was the first year Craftoberfest was held in Utah and was considered a great success, according to some of the breweries represented. “I haven’t seen anything like this in Utah before,” said Flanagan. “It brought art and community together. It was a feel-good event.” The turnout was better than expected with the goal being 100 people to show up and resulting in around 450 participating, Flanagan said. Flanagan said she believes this is just the beginning of a strong brewery culture being born in South Salt Lake, and she hopes future

A piece of barrel art in front of Dented Brick Distillery’s table at Craftoberfest on Oct. 27. Local artists decorated barrels to represent the breweries they teamed up with, giving them a unique piece of art for their business. (Photo courtesy Lesly Allen)

Craftoberfests get bigger and better while focusing on the local artists. “Everyone should keep an eye on South

Salt Lake,” said Flanagan. “It is a new up-andcoming area.” l

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Highland High performs an authentic and traditional ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ By Spencer W. Belnap | s.belnap@mycityjournals.com

ighland High School’s Theatre Department produces a big musical each school year traditionally in the fall and offered up the classic “Fiddler on the Roof” for their first production this season. It ran from Nov. 5-13 in their main auditorium. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors comprised the cast of more than 50 in what has become one of the most popular musicals of all time. It is the historical tale of Tevye, a simple Jewish milkman from Imperial Russia at the turn of the 20th century. The struggles of him, his family and their town are brought to life in song and dance year after year across the country. “When choosing the school musical, the biggest thing I consider is variety,” Alexie Shaffer Baugh, theater teacher and director said. “In having many students join us for the show for all four years of high school, I try to offer them a chance to perform a comedic piece, a dramatic piece, a classical piece and a contemporary piece. I want them to try the whole gamut of theatrical options.” This year’s foray into ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ was no small undertaking for Baugh and her students. The auditions were the first week of school in August, and rehearsals began the second week. There were the typical processes of vocal practice, movement blocking and choreography, and character development and research. The cast and crew wanted to portray the

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era and culture as authentically and accurately as possible though, so additional efforts were factored in. Baugh invited in a local rabbi for one of the rehearsals. He answered questions and helped them understand and connect to the material. The cast even held a traditional Shabbat dinner one Friday night. “We scheduled one rehearsal just for a history lesson,” Baugh said. “Knowing we have a number of Jewish families and students in our program at Highland, we wanted to make sure to be honest and respectful and honor their traditions. One of our parents taught us about the Jewish ceremonies and blessings.” All the extra attention to detail and tradition came through during the performance. The young cast had great chemistry that shined through in musical moments such as the “To Life” and “Sunrise, Sunset” numbers. The wedding between Tevye’s daughter, Tzeitzel, and the village tailor, Motel, at the end of act one was another moment that showed how much they cared about the culture they were depicting. There were nuanced gestures as the rabbi and the two lovers performed the ceremony, and the traditional dances were fun to watch. By the time Tevye and his fellow Jewish villagers were forced to flee Russia at the end of the show, an audience member could tell the director and cast had worked hard to bring the classic production to life. Highland’s Theatre Department stays busy

Golde, her daughters, and other village Mamas in Highland High’s Fiddler on the Roof. (Courtesy Alexie Baugh/ Highland High Theatre)

all year long. They will be producing a Broadway Revue on Dec. 14 and a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as their winter play Feb. 6-11. A student-directed and stu-

dent-designed production of the musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be performed in April. l

December 2018 | Page 9

Rams get tough playoff draw, bow out in football postseason By Josh McFadden | josh@mycityjournals.com

n the postseason, matchups can determine a team’s fate. The Highland High School football team found that out the hard way in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament Oct. 26. The Rams lost to Timpview 35-10, the thirdplace team from Region 7. But Timpview isn’t like a lot of other thirdplace clubs. The Thunderbirds had to go up against the likes of Corner Canyon, which advanced to the state title game, and Jordan, among other tough squads. Had the Rams matched up against a thirdplace team from a different region, things may have turned out differently. Still, Highland players have no reason to hang their heads. The Rams finished the season by finishing second in Region 6, losing only to undefeated Olympus. Overall, Highland ended up with an 8-3 record on the year. It was the third time in the past four seasons that the program registered at least eight victories. Against Timpview, Highland couldn’t ride an energetic home crowd to victory. The game was actually a close, back-and-forth affair—if you take away the first quarter. Unfortunately for Highland, the first nine minutes were a disaster. Timpview rolled up three quick first-quarter touchdowns, bolting to a 21-0 lead by the three-minute mark of the opening period.

Highland did manage a Rex Graham field goal from 30 yards out as time expired in the first half, closing the gap to 21-3 at the break. Timpview put the game away with 14 straight points—a touchdown and extra point in both the third and fourth quarters. It wasn’t until the 9:28 mark of the fourth quarter that Highland got into the end zone. That score came on a blocked field goal attempt, as Cameron Levy scooped up the ball and ran 79 yards for the TD. The normally potent Ram running attack had just 128 yards on the ground, while the T-birds amassed an impressive 319. Trajan Benson completed seven of nine passes for 76 yards for Highland. The Rams did limit Timpview to 14 completions, but the T-Birds were content to keep things on the ground much of the game. Defensively, Tevita Tuha recorded eight tackles, while teammates Bronson Olevao, Kaufusi Pakofe and Lavell Manavahe each had five stops. The Rams will return its leading rusher, Colton White, next season. The junior had nearly 700 yards on the ground to go along with nine touchdowns. Benson graduates, leaving a starting opening at the quarterback spot. However, junior backup Hunter Lambert also saw some time under center this season. Key defensive players Olevao, Tuha and Pakofe graduate, so the Rams will have to reload for next season. l

Senior Trajan Benson runs the option against Murray where the Rams won 24-0. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Westminster’s School of Education: Who We Are and What We Do by Melanie Agnew, Ed.D. I have been the dean for the School of Education at Westminster College and lived in Sugar House for the past two years. I have come to appreciate the artistic, striking beauty of Utah’s landscapes and especially the welcoming feel of the Sugar House neighborhood. The unique shops, homes, green spaces — and the beautiful, kind people who live here — radiate a feeling of uniqueness and yet, collectively, come together to encompass a very welcoming, vibrant and eclectic community. Westminster’s School of Education provides unparalleled individualized student support through a talented group of faculty and staff with expertise in a number of different education programs. We are leading the way in preparing the next generation of leadership for the changing landscape of education. The state and national teacher shortage persists, but the urgent need to prepare Utah’s K–12 students for future economic success and civic responsibility is ever-present. Preparing for our collective future means that every classroom near and far needs a highly prepared educator who is ready to teach on day one. This is important to ensuring a healthy economy and an engaged citizenry. We believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our graduates engage

Page 10 | December 2018

in teaching that is critical to the social, emotional, artistic, cognitive, cultural and physical development of students. As such, we have created a range of stimulating and challenging learning experiences aimed at preparing highly dedicated students for important education leadership roles. Our students engage in signature practices that weave throughout curriculum, assessments and a wide variety of field and clinical experiences. Central to these signature practices are community engagement, critical thinking and global learning, which are demonstrated in students’ capstone projects. Beyond the classroom, our students learn in real-world settings that begin early in their program and continue through program completion. Our faculty encourage these future educators to go beyond classroom teaching to become advocates and change agents. We prepare educational leaders for a variety of community settings addressing significant societal issues on local, national, international and global levels (e.g., education for teaching issues of access, equity and inclusion; diversity, global learning, social justice, life-long learning and the environment). We are intensely proud of our graduates. They are highly sought after by schools and community organizations—and many are offered jobs before

Photos by Hudson Schmucker

they graduate. It is not unusual to hear that our graduates take on leadership roles early in their careers and continue on in this tradition. Yes, we can attribute their success to faculty, staff and our partners in the field who exude strong commitment and, of course, to our students who follow their passion and find their purpose. Importantly, success can also be attributed to our Sugar House neighbors—schools, community organizations, businesses and government—with whom we work to prepare new leaders in our communities. To be sure, we are tremendously thankful for our collaborative commitment. For more information on Westminster’s School of Education, visit www.westminstercollege.edu/education.

S ugar House City Journal

Rams ready to compete with Olympus for region boys basketball crown By Josh McFadden | josh@mycityjournals.com

f it hadn’t been for Olympus, the Highland High School boys basketball team would have enjoyed a Region 6 championship a year ago. Of course, the dominant, undefeated Titans ran away with both the region and state crowns, so there was no shame in losing out to them. Still, with talent and experience returning to the court, head coach James Boyce believes his Rams have what it takes to make the Region 6 race interesting this season. “We always expect to be in the mix for the region championship and make the state tournament,” he said. “This is a really good group. The start of each season is fun and exciting. Spirits are high, and it will be fun to see where this team ends up.” The Rams were second in league play with an 8-2 record. The team went 15-7 overall and lost to Corner Canyon in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament 69-57. This season, returning starters Liki Makaui and Christian Rich, a senior guard, will lead the team. Makaui, a three-year starter, averaged 11 points a game last season, while Rich led the team with a per-game average of 11.7. “[Makaui] a very talented guard,” Boyce said. “He is an elite dribbler, has good range and is an excellent passer. He has hit some huge shots for us in the past, and we expect him to do great

things this year. [Rich] is a great shooter and very skilled. He is an extremely intelligent player, and we also expect big things from him.” Senior guard Bronson Olevao didn’t start last season but will increase his role this year. Senior center Jackson Hawes was a reserve last season but will now be the main man in the middle. “[Olevao] is very athletic and can handle the ball and finish extremely well,” Boyce said. “[Hawes] is strong and athletic and could prove to be a matchup problem for opposing teams.” Highland does lack some depth, so Boyce hopes foul trouble doesn’t become an issue. The Rams are starting off with a short bench, so Boyce is looking for some other players to rise to the challenge and play quality minutes. “We need to be in great shape because of our depth,” Boyce said. “We need to stay healthy this year. We do have lack of size, and hopefully that will not be an issue. We need some of the younger players to step up and be positive contributors for our team.” Highland’s first game is Nov. 27 at home against Viewmont. The team will play in the Corner Canyon Tourney of Champions Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1. The Rams will tip off Region 6 action Jan. 11 when it travels to East. Regardless of what happens on the court, Boyce said basketball is secondary to the players’

Liki Makaui waves to the East High student section after hitting the game winning shot at the buzzer last season. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

classroom success. He’s pleased to report that the team has a combined grade point average of 3.5. “They are smart kids,” he said. “School is

much more important than basketball, and they have gotten it done in the classroom.” l

Winter driving safety: Snow falls and you slow down

he long line at the local auto body shop isn’t just for oil changes, it’s for winter tires too. With temperatures dropping and leaves soon to follow, it’s time for a refresher course on safe winter driving. 1) Know the conditions Technology affords us the privilege of knowing road conditions before ever leaving the house. Utah Department of Transportation has more than 2,200 traffic cameras or sensors which gives visuals and data on all major UDOT roads. Drivers can then adjust their routes or schedules according to the heaviness of traffic making for less congestion and less risk for accidents. The UDOT app means you can see all those cameras from your phone. Twitter feeds also provide alerts about traffic situations throughout the state, including roads up the canyon. Unified Police have a canyon alerts Twitter page for to update traffic in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons as well as tire requirements and road closures. 2) Prepare the car Make sure the car is prepared for the road conditions, first with good tires. Snow tires give greater tread for better traction. If only two new tires are placed on the car, make sure to put them in the rear. With the falling snow, it’s necessary to have quality wiper blades that ensures clear views rather than leaving water streaks across windshield impairing your ability to drive. The wiper

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fluid reservoir also needs to be replenished before the first snows hit. Snow and ice should be completely removed from the windows, headlights and taillights prior to driving to ensure visibility. If your car is parked outside overnight, place towels over the windows. This keeps the windows from icing over. A system should be in place to check everything in your car such as the battery power and your cooling system. Antifreeze helps the vehicle withstand the freezing temperatures. The vehicle should also be stocked with safety items in the case of an emergency. The Utah Department of Public Safety suggests on its website to have jumper cables, a tow rope and small shovel in case the car gets stuck, reflectors or flares to make sure your car is visible to others driving, flashlight and batteries, extra winter clothes, first-aid kit, battery or solar powered radio, sleeping bag, fresh water and non-perishable food, paper towels and hand warmers. 3) Control the vehicle Keeping the car under control requires some safe driving tips. The most obvious: drive slow. Despite our impatience or urgency to get to the desired location, slow driving is the safest driving. Staying under the speed limit, which is meant for ideal conditions, becomes even more important when traveling over snow, ice, standing water or slush. In drivers education courses, prospective

drivers learn about the rule for distance between your car and the one in front of you. Driving 60 mph? Stay six car lengths back. 70 mph? Seven car lengths back. This distance should be increased even more during wet conditions to allow the car time and space to stop without rear ending the vehicle in front. All movements should be gradual rather than sudden. This means avoiding sharp turns, accelerating slowly and braking softly. Though you may have four-wheel drive or even all-wheel drive, this does not give license to drive recklessly in winter conditions. This means staying off cruise control as well. The need for seat belts increases tenfold during the winter. With car seats, place coats or blankets around the children after strapping them in. Coats can limit the effectiveness of a car seat. Stay alert. Deer become more active after storms. Black ice causes many crashes and that ice typically looks like wet spots. If skidding does take place, steer in the direction the back of the car is going and ease off the gas. Remember to keep the gas tank at least halfway full, it will keep the gas tank from freezing and if you get stuck in a traffic jam, you may need as much gas as possible. 4) Time For those of you who struggle with punctuality, this becomes paramount. Giving yourself plenty of time to reach your destination means you won’t rush, decreasing the chances of a crash. l

December 2018 | Page 11

Highland wrestling focuses on improving, gaining experience By Josh McFadden | josh@mycityjournals.com

igh school coaches in every sport face similar challenges from season to season: replacing key athletes and finding ways to develop younger competitors. Highland wrestling coach Ted Sierer knows exactly what this is like. Sierer oversees a young, inexperienced team this season. Highland graduated some key athletes from last year’s squad and has some members this year who haven’t had much varsity experience. But Sierer isn’t panicking. He’s confident his returning competitors and newcomers alike will do their part to improve themselves and the team. “There will need to be several wrestlers who step into the role of a varsity wrestler and meet the challenges associated with that step up in competition,” Sierer said. “Having said that, though, I fully expect every wrestler to give his best effort every time he steps on the mat. The one thing we can control is our effort, so we need to be sure that we give nothing less than our all.” Last season, the Rams won Region 6, largely due to a positive attitude, strong work ethic and courage. Sierer hopes to see the same mindset and output this season. “I hope that we continue to build on what we established last year,” he said. “I feel that we wrestled above ourselves last year, which resulted in a region championship. The way we did that is we worked hard, did not fear anyone, answered the bell every time and had a lot of fun on the way. I hope that this year’s team can build on those attitudes.” Junior Colin Sierer, the coach’s son, headlines the Highland team. He placed sixth at state last season as a sophomore in the 106-pound class, where he hopes to wrestle again this season. Another one to watch is junior Paul Clark, who qualified for state last season. He’ll either compete in the 182-pound or 195-pound weight class. Seniors Isaiah Gonzalez and Taten Sykes bring ex-

SPOTLIGHT

perience to the squad. The competitors will likely wrestle at 170 pounds and 160 pounds, respectively. Their coach is pleased with how these young men have conducted themselves on and off the mat. “Each possesses a great work ethic,” Sierer said. “This means they are willing to do whatever they are asked without complaining. They want to improve and do whatever they can in order to make those improvements. They are also team leaders. They have embraced this role and look for opportunities to make their teammates better as well. I thoroughly enjoy working with them because they have a passion for Highland wrestling and represent the program well.” Though youth and inexperience will be a major hurdle for the team this season, Sierer believes the team can overcome these limitations through a positive mental attitude and focusing on improving each day. By the time region and state come around in February, he wants the team to be at its best. Sierer said the team is “very coachable,” and that even new wrestlers are catching on quickly. While he would love to guide the Rams to another league crown, he won’t measure success by looking at the win-loss column. “This will be a successful year if we are a better team at the end of the year than we are at the beginning of the year,” he said. “Of course, we would love to defend our region title, but I do not want to define this team by wins and losses. I want to look back on the season and see that each wrestler has become a more confident and solid wrestler. I want to see our team grow and reach its potential. If every wrestler makes solid improvement over the course of the season, wins and losses will take care of themselves.” l

Colin Sierer captured sixth place at the Class 5A state tournament last season. He’s back this season to help lead the Rams’ wrestling team. (Photo courtesy of Ted Sierer)

Desert Star Theater 4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107

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

esert Star’s latest parody takes on the Christmas villain that everybody loves to hate! No, not the Grinch... The Grouch! This zany parody opens November 8th and it’s a hilarious musical melodrama for the whole family you don’t want to miss! This show, written by Ben Millet, with an update for 2018 and directed by Scott Holman, follows the story of the Whoville Orphan Sisters as they attempt to save their Christmas future, and presents, from the notorious Grouch. Also hot on the Grouch’s trail is the handsome huntsman, Hunter Hyrum Y, who blames the green goon for the loss of his arm. The team pursues the Grouch into the snowy mountains surrounding their town, only to encounter an even greater threat... one so dangerous, they just might need to join forces with the Grouch himself in order survive! Comedy, romance, and adventure are all on the docket for this delightful send up of the classic children’s story, as well as topical humor torn from today’s headlines. “How The Grouch Stole Christmas” runs November 8th through January 5th, 2019. The evening also includes one of Desert Star’s

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side-splitting musical olios, following the show. The “Swingin’ Christmas Olio” features hit holiday themed songs and merry, musical steps mixed with more of Desert Star’s signature comedy. Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table. The menu includes gourmet pizza, fresh wraps, appetizers, and scrumptious desserts. “How the Grouch Stole Christmas” Plays November 8th - January 5th, 2019 Check website for show times: www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com Tickets: Adults: $24.95-$28.95, Children: $14.95 (Children 11 and under) 4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107 Call 801.266.2600 for reservations For additional information, visit our website at www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com l

S ugar House City Journal

Don’t let holiday activities break the bank! There’s lots of fun free events in the SLC area By Christy Jepson | christy@mycityjournals.com

he holidays are right around the corner and there are plenty of things to do in the Salt Lake Valley. Many of them are free. Here’s a list of activities that won’t put a dent in your budget and will provide fun for all. Herriman’s Night of Lights: Monday, Dec. 3 from 5-9 p.m. at City Hall and Crane Park (5355 W. Herriman Main St.). There will be a gingerbread contest, a visit with Santa, the tree lighting, a candy cane hunt, holiday crafts, food trucks, performances by Herriman Harmonyx and Herriman Orchestra, photo ops, and ice skating. There is a fee for ice skating (weather permitting), but everything else is free. Draper’s Candy Cane Hunt: Monday, Dec. 10 from 4-5 p.m. at the Draper Historic Park (12625 S. 900 East). This is a free family event sponsored by the Draper Parks and Recreation Department. Children ages 3-6 will hunt for thousands of candy canes that are scattered around the park and hidden in bushes and trees. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also arrive on a fire truck and will be available for photos under the gazebo. While you are in Draper, don’t forget to check out Draper’s Tree of Light (or sometimes called The Tree of Life), which is a big willow tree in the middle of Draper City Park (12500 S. 1300 East). This tree is decorated with more than 65,000 lights. Draper City first lit the tree for the Christmas season in 2008 and each year more lights have been added. The lights turn on at dusk and stay on until midnight everyday until New Years. This has become a popular holiday destination for people statewide. Gingerbread House Contest in South Jordan: Gingerbread houses will be on display in the Gale Center Auditorium (10300 S. Beckstead Lane) from Nov. 27-Dec. 6 for People’s Choice Award voting. The hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Light the Night at the South Jordan City: On Friday, Dec. 7 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the South Jordan City Plaza at 1600 W. Towne Center Drive. There will be pictures with Santa, hot cocoa, gingerbread houses, the unveiling of the candy windows display featuring artists Jennifer Vesper and Krista Johansen. Visit Santa on Towne Center Drive in South Jordan: On Dec. 7 from 6:30-8 p.m., Dec. 8 from 3-5 p.m., Dec. 14 from 6-8 p.m., Dec. 15 from 3-5 p.m., Dec. 21 from 6-8 p.m., and Dec. 22 from 3-5 p.m. (1600 W. Towne Center Drive) Riverton’s Holly Days in the Park: On Nov. 26, 30 and Dec. 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Riverton City Park, large pavilion, 1452 W. 12600 South. This free family event includes: the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on a fire engine, hot chocolate and warm buttery scones, and walking through the park reading from the giant-sized storybook pages of “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” There will also be vendor booths so visitors can get some holiday shopping done. Christmas Night of Music: This 3rd annual event will be on Dec. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at the Riverton High School auditorium and will be a night filled with a community choir of over 100 voices and a local orchestra. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Riverton High School is located at 12476 S. Silverwolf Way. This is a free event. Salt Lake City: If you are downtown celebrating the season be sure to drop by and look at Macy’s holiday candy window displays at City Creek Center. Also in Salt Lake City, on Dec. 17 is the 32nd Annual Christmas Carol Sing-Along at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. This free event will be filled with holiday music and fun. There will be musical numbers by the Bonner Family. This event starts at 7 p.m. Santa Is Coming to Town in West Jordan: On Thursday, Dec. 20 from 6-8 p.m. there will be a craft, a coloring station, story time with Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa and cookies, carolers, and a visit with Santa. Santa will be arriving at 6 p.m. sharp so don’t be late. This event will be located in the City Hall Community Room at

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Children are excited to see Santa arrive in Riverton. (Photo credit Angie Meine)

Two boys sit on the laps of Santa and Mrs. Claus during Holly Days at the Riverton City Park. (Photo credit Angie Meine)

8000 S. Redwood Road. Saturday with Santa: Christmas Around the World: On Saturday, Dec. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. families can come visit with Santa, enjoy food tasting from places around the world, crafts and games and entertainment. This event is free and is sponsored by Taylorsville Preservation Committee and will be held at the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South in Murray. Back for the second year at The Shops at South Town in Sandy is Chistmas in the Wizarding World. Step into the world of a wintry Hogsmeade village that features unique merchandise from the “Fantastic Beasts” and “Harry Potter” films. It is free to

walk through and will be opened from now until Jan. 21. Even though it is not free, there is another activity in Sandy that is inexpensive when it comes to ticket prices. The Dickens’ Christmas Festival at the Mountain America Exposition Center (9575 S. State Street) is produced and organized by Olde World Historical Council and claims to be a “unique and unusual entertainment and shopping experience.” From fortune tellers, to old English shops, the “real” Father Christmas, period costumes, street theater, puppet shows, a mini-production of “Scrooge” and visits from the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Ticket prices are $3.50 for children and $5.50 for adults. l

December 2018 | Page 13

State Department of Public Safety welcomes new commissioner By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com

ne of his earliest memories as a young boy growing up in Delta is of a “different sounding” telephone ring. New Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Jess Anderson said that “funny” ring was possibly the first thing to inspire him to dedicate his life to public service and emergency response. “My dad served for several years on the volunteer fire department in Delta,” Anderson explained. “This was before cell phones and pagers. Back then, they hooked up our phone so it had a different ring when it was a fire call. So, I associate that distinctive ring with my dad hurrying to the phone and then racing off to fight fires. I guess that is the first thing that taught me how critical it is for people to be willing to act quickly in an emergency to help others.” Last summer, when 31-year law enforcement professional Keith Squires tendered his resignation as DPS commissioner, Governor Gary Herbert also acted quickly in tapping Anderson to assume the post. “Jess Anderson is a respected leader in our law enforcement community and I have immense trust and faith in him,” Herbert said. “I look forward to working with him and I believe he will make wise decisions when it comes to public safety.” For Anderson, the move to the state Public Safety Department headquarters in Taylorsville (4501 S. 2700 West) is a kind of “coming home” in his law enforcement career. “I was attending Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) back in 1999 when I knew I wanted to pursue a law enforcement career,” Anderson said. “So, I decided to start in on my police academy training. I did not have a job yet, so I had to self-fund it. Back then the academy was held out of this same (Taylorsville DPS headquarters) building. “I am familiar with this area. I remember jogging the streets around here while attending the academy. So, coming back here feels a

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little like home. It’s a great place. People are so friendly. So many of them have dropped off goodies or just stopped by to say ‘hi.’ It feels a little like coming home.” The Police Officer Standards and Practice (POST) academy has since moved to Sandy. And Anderson said he has observed much bigger changes in Utah law enforcement over those past 19 years as well. “We used to have hundreds of people show up for officer candidate testing — many, many more than we could ever hire,” Anderson continued. “It was very competitive to become a police officer. But now, due to changes in retirement benefits, and some of the negative police coverage in the media, we often don’t even get enough people testing for the number of positions we have available.” However, despite that trend, Anderson noted that the number of Utah Highway Patrol troopers has grown by more than 10 percent in just the past year, from 425 to 475. “We have hired 103 new troopers this year alone,” he said. “About half of those were due to attrition, while the other half are new positions.” Nearly all of that growth, Anderson said, is due to the UHP’s on-going assistance in downtown Salt Lake policing, as a part of Operation Rio Grande. “I was a UHP major and assistant superintendent when the governor asked us to assist Salt Lake Police (August 2017) with Operation Rio Grande,” Anderson said. “We assigned 84 UHP troopers to assist in cleaning up the area for the first three weeks. We still maintain 50 to 55 officers there each week. Six to eight troopers are visible in the area at any given time.” And Anderson said it has worked. “It’s a complete night and day difference now,” he said. “You no longer see drug needles strewn around on the ground. People are starting to take their families back into the area. It

New Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess Anderson has come full circle, returning to the same Taylorsville site where he attended the police officer training academy a generation ago. (Utah Department of Public Safety)

has been largely successful and we are committed to keeping lawlessness out of that area.” As DPS commissioner, Anderson oversees the UHP, State Bureau of Investigation, State Crime Lab, Statewide Information and Analysis Center, Bureau of Criminal Identification, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Division of Emergency Management, Peace Officer Standards and Training, Driver License Division and Highway Safety Division. Utah DPS provides statewide public safety services and employs more than 1,500 employees. The 1994 Delta High School graduate earned a bachelor’s degree a few years after being hired by the Utah Highway Patrol in Feb-

ruary 2000. Anderson also earned a master’s degree at Weber State University two years ago. Anderson and his wife have three girls and two boys, ages 5 to 18, and make their home in Eagle Mountain. “I am so grateful for the support our Department of Public Safety receives,” Anderson concluded. “The legislature and local governments are very positive to work with. I have not come across the anti-police sentiments we sometimes see in other parts of the country. I credit that to the good people of Utah and the values we live by. Taking this job is the honor of a lifetime.” l

S ugar House City Journal

Former NBA coach hosts skills camp for kids By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

ore than half of former NBA coach Barry Hecker’s coaching career has been spent at the highest levels in the sport of basketball. Yet, his love of teaching the game spans all age ranges. The veteran coach will hold a three-day “Shooting and Offensive Skills” camp Dec. 26-28 at the Gene Fulmer Recreation Center, located at 8015 S. 2200 West, in West Jordan for boys and girls in grades three through nine. “These camps are all about the basic fundamentals of basketball,” Hecker said. “We focus on quality fundamental instruction, we work hard with a lot of discipline and structure and we have a lot of fun. When these kids walk out of there, they know they’ve been taught and improved.” The camp will be held Dec. 26, 27 and 28 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The cost of the camp is $80, which includes a T-shirt. Registrations are open online at www.slco.org/gene-fullmer/ or at Gene Fullmer Recreation Center through the first day of the camp. The first 25 kids registered will receive a free basketball. Contact Jason Kehr at jkehr@slco.org or (385) 468-1951 for more information. The camp is being sponsored by Ken Garff

Automotive Group, Champions of Autism and Standard Optical. Hecker has been coaching basketball at every level for more than 40 years — including 21 years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies — but particularly enjoys working with those new to the game. “If you teach skills, that leads to confidence and that confidence can allow anyone to do anything they want,” he said. “I have more fun with young kids than with the pros. In the NBA, you have guys who are making millions. These kids are making nothing and they’ll listen to you.” The long-time NBA coach is a native of the Salt Lake area and has been a resident of Murray for years. He said he loves to share the values of hard work, teamwork, unselfishness and persistence, along with the physical skills of the game itself, with others. “I don’t care who I coach or when I coach,” Hecker said. “I simply enjoy teaching the game. It’s great to see a smile on someone’s face as they experience success. If you help somebody, you’ll be somebody.” l

SPOTLIGHT

Former NBA coach Barry Hecker worked with current NBA player Rudy Gay during his 21 years in the NBA. (Photo courtesy Barry Hecker)

BGR

1202 E Wilmington Ave, Ste 120, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

ou want to eat local? It doesn’t get any more local than BGR, it is locally owned and operated by a native Utahn family. Since its grand opening in January 2018 – where it gave out 500 free burgers – BGR Sugar House grills its premium quality burgers to order for Sugar House residents. How do you want it? ’Cause they’ll wow you with excellence. Create your own 1/3 lb. burger. They’re made to order on a toasted brioche bun or lettuce wrap, toasted pretzel or gluten free bun. Not only is their menu covered with signature burgers and masterpieces (let us suggest the Triple D—egg, applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, grilled jalapenos, BGR mojo sauce… you salivating yet?), but they also do specials. November’s featured burger was “Thanksgiving on a Bun” featuring a turkey burger topped with cornbread stuffing, gravy and cranberries. That unique holiday appreciation runs through December as well with a holiday platter not normally on the menu with signature burgers in slider form. Soon you can find a winter burger and beer/cocktail pairing. Grilled on an open flame, these burgers are

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made to customers preferred temperature: rare, medium, well done and everything in between. A diverse menu needs more than beefy burgers though. You’ll find turkey burgers, salad hot dog, sushi grade ahi tuna, chicken clubs, and a chili cheese dog. Did we not say it was diverse? Owned and operated locally, BGR Sugar House caters to events, business meetings, birthday parties and even those tailgating parties for the University of Utah football games. They host luncheons, dinner parties. They pair burgers and beers. They have kombucha on tap! BGR has been named the No. 1 burger and french fries by Washingtonian Magazine, best burger patty by Washington Post and No. 1 burger in Washington, D.C. by Business Insider. They were the top vote getter as Readers Pick in Bethesda Magazine for Best Burger. No need to travel elsewhere for dessert. Shakes for kids and big kids (literally that’s how it reads on their menu) are available in some great flavors — vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Oreo (yum) and mint chocolate chip. Do they have a featured shake though?

Great question. Most recently, they had a pumpkin shake. Pumpkin pie in a glass. BGR means burgers grilled right. Their concept is based on perfecting the art of grilling. No matter what, BGR is committed to providing every customer with the unique dining experience of having their food grilled to tem-

perature and cooked to order on an open flame. Don’t believe us? Go check it out. We’ll be standing at the door saying, “I told you so.” Got questions, call the restaurant at 801487-6301, check out the SLC location website at www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com/locations-menus/ saltlake-ut or swing by at 1202 E. Wilmington Ave., suite 120. l

December 2018 | Page 15

Tests? Fitting in? It’s more than that as student anxiety increases By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com It may be that an elementary student is fearful to come to school and once there, he is afraid to enter the school. If that student makes it to the classroom, often he is unable to cope or focus. In secondary schools, feelings can be internalized, leading to disengagement and depression. “There is likely an equal distribution of anxiety and stress K (kindergarten) through 12 (12th grade), however associated behaviors will manifest in different ways,” said Judy Petersen, Granite School District’s college and career readiness director. “Younger students are more likely to act out and struggle to regulate their behavior. Older students tend to internalize their struggles until they manifest as self-harm and/or suicide ideation.” Veteran teacher Karen Larson, who instructs English at Canyons District’s Brighton High, learned that firsthand. “The anxiety level is off the charts,” she said. “Students worry about paying for college, competing in the global marketplace for a job to support themselves, failing, being on their own and having that responsibility, what’s going on in the world.” Larson, who has students keep a journal that she tells them she reviews, has read those entries and more, including a student trying to harm himself. “I immediately let people know. By looking through his phone, they learned there were more pressures coming at him. What is happening in the world — shootings, climate change, cyberbullying — just adds to anxiety,” she said, adding that before reading the journal entry, she had no idea that the student attempted suicide. Sometimes, teachers and counselors recognize anxiety, such as being nervous before a test, but other times, it can be disguised as anger, illness, apathy or other behaviors that look entirely different, said Torilyn Gillett, Canyons School District school counseling program specialist. “Everyone will feel a level of stress in their lives,” she said. “Anxiety is when that stress becomes a point at which the person can no longer accomplish their everyday tasks. Therefore, it is often that a student may not be able to concentrate and participate in academic learning nor complete assignments.” Anxiety in the classroom isn’t just hitting students locally, said Jordan School District Health and Wellness Specialist McKinley Withers. “Nationwide, the suicide rates have increased,” he said. “Hopelessness, depression, anxiety all contribute. This is a generation needing different support than we’ve seen in the past. Much of their social world is fragile, contained to a device. There is a definite biological need to be face to face, to have that human interaction and touch, that is being reduced by technology. Now some peers are lacking self-confidence and anxiety grows as they text their peers next to them and sit isolated with their earbuds.” The Child Mind Institute reported in 2015 that more than 17 million U.S. children and ad-

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olescents have or have had a diagnosable mental illness — and 80 percent of the kids with anxiety don’t get treatment. According to the National Education Association, nearly two-thirds of college students reported in 2016 “overwhelming anxiety,” up from 50 percent just five years earlier. For seven straight years, anxiety has been the top complaint among college students seeking mental health services, with nearly one quarter saying it affects their academic performance. Petersen said that social workers report a higher number of students with behavior issues related to anxiety. “Students seem to be more anxious about safety at school, away from their parents, especially in K (kindergarten) through 6 (sixth grade), by negative influence of social media, and issues related to their status — and their family’s status — related to immigration,” she said. Gillett said that anxiety at a young age often centers around separation, being worried about their parents when they’re at school, or being anxious in school, speaking to teachers or in front of a classroom. Sometimes, children worry about a variety of everyday things and are filled with stressful thoughts, Gillett said. “Some worry is excessive and not normally warranted,” she said. Testing and academics also may play a factor, said Granite School District parent Robyn Ivins, who has taught in a classroom. “Teens today are really pressured from a young age to succeed so by the time they’re in high school, there’s real pressure to get a 36 on the ACT (college standardized test) and have a 4.0 (grade-point average),” she said. “It’s really taken a toll. Students are struggling to get the best classes, the best teachers, the best of everything. Sometimes they feel the pressure from parents or their peers. Sometimes it’s pressure they put on themselves.” The National Education Association said that these teens grew up in classrooms governed by No Child Left Behind, the federal law that introduced high-stakes standardized testing to every public school in America. Starting in elementary school, instead of making art and new friends, the NEA said they learned to write fullon sentences in timed tests. These are the same students who instead of having hours of art and recess, attend pep rallies to pump them up for state testing. Even the stress of teachers needing to meet certain standards may be adding to the picture, wrote University of Michigan professor Daniel P. Keating in “Dealing with Stress at School in an Age of Anxiety.” Ivins said certain anxiety issues, such as families struggling, may impact a number of Cottonwood High students, with some of the 1,700 students coming from refuge families. She and others try to take away that anxiety by providing food and needed items through the school pantry, which is open to all students. “In high school, there are all sorts of pres-

The Zitting family attends Park Lane Elementary’s STEM Night. Counselors recommend families spend time together to help build bonds to make students feel safe and valued. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

sures from sleeping with a boyfriend or getting asked to a dance and wearing the cutest clothes to where their next meal will come from and how their family will cope with pressures,” she said. Ivins, who said she’s not an expert, has seen the effects of social anxiety maximized through technology, such as social media. “There is a false look of the world when something is posted on Snapchat,” she said. “Whether it’s students posting or the parents, what’s there is not the whole story. They’re only posting the best. They see that their friends are succeeding, but what isn’t posted is a child having a tantrum or getting a C on a test. It becomes a struggle to lead the perfect life they see their peers have.” Gillett said sometimes, youth can’t fully understand messages and posts on social media. “A friend may say something, and your child takes it as a harsh rejection, when it’s not meant that way at all. Or they see all the great things that people do, but that’s only one percent of their life that is posted. We tend not to post our whole stories, just great accomplishments, not our normal days. Often that results in feelings of not measuring up when they compare themselves on what they see posted,” she said. Withers agrees. “Social media sucks kids in and creates anxiety in who sees what or how they measure up. Kids bullied at school feel less anxious nowadays than those who have been cyberbullied. Online, you don’t know who has seen what and you feel your whole life has been broadcast. You have no idea how far it went or who talked about it,” he said. The accessibility of having a smartphone also has led to more concerns beyond social media. “The increased screen time affects stu-

dents,” Gillett said. “Constant access to the world can be a good thing, but it also means that the young are no longer sheltered from troubles, the next school shooting, bombing or even bullying, as we were when we young. Sometimes, they can’t process it at a young age. We need to build in escape time daily.” She said that even adding meditation, relaxation, deep breathing or taking a few minutes each day for a mindfulness app will help take away panic and anxiety feelings. “Even a walk without technology gives good exercise for both the body and the brain,” Gillett said. She also recommends that having family time as well as putting away devices at dinner will help build bonds to make students feel safe and valued. Sleep, about eight or nine hours nightly, is one the best things for students as well, Gillett said. “Just as your phone needs to be plugged in to recharge, your brain is the same way. It needs to recuperate,” she said. Gillett isn’t anti-technology. “It’s a factor of the world we live in and we need to find a healthy way to navigate through it. Technology developed super quickly and now we’re seeing the adverse effects and are understanding them. We need to help students make healthy choices that will support and protect them in the world they live in,” she said. Teachers are becoming more aware of how students cope with anxiety and how their relationships are critical, Gillett said. “Some anxiety, such as their ACT scores or fitting in the crowd, is normal, but it’s when there is hysterical crying or depression, those are warning signs and having a positive, strong relationship where a student can talk to and trust

S ugar House City Journal

an adult is important,” she said, adding that secondary schools have become more pro-active in sharing the SafeUT app or suicide hotlines with students. “We’re taking away the barriers in talking about mental illness. Any mental illness is a risk factor for suicide.” Suicide prevention education begins in seventh and eighth grades in Canyons District from warning signs to recognizing where to get help to good coping skills. Hope squads, students who are “the eyes and ears” of secondary schools who help identify warning signs and seek help from adults, are in place in a number of secondary schools across the state. In September, Canyons showed, “Angst,” a movie about students dealing with anxiety and had a panel discussion afterward. More than 500 families attended, Gillett said. “Anxiety has become a hot topic for parents and we have seen an increase in discussion and in seeing students who previously didn’t know where to get help,” she said. Olympus High in Granite School District also showed the movie in October and Skyline High held a suicide night Oct. 16. Several parent outreach meetings on mental health and suicide prevention are held throughout Granite School District. In Jordan District, where Herriman High community experienced seven student suicide deaths last year, 36 psychologists were added this year so every elementary has a full-time health and mental professional to match those already in place at the secondary schools. Petersen said there also has been an increase in the number of students — and their parents — reporting that they feel anxious and stressed. “We do not track this specifically, but we have seen an increase in ‘anxiety and stress’ used as reasons for not attending school and an increase in the number of students — and their parents — requesting a home instruction placement for the same rather than a traditional school schedule,” she said, adding that all Granite District staff are trained on what to look for and how to talk with struggling students. Murray School District Director of Personnel and Student Services Darren Dean said school personnel do not diagnose anxiety, but

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help with resources. “We train administrators and teachers to work with the parent on accommodations in the school setting that will help the student to be successful,” he said, adding that services include meeting with school counselors or extending referrals to an outside agency for counseling services. Withers said while school districts aren’t designed to treat mental health, Jordan District supports students and provides families with resources, including Jordan’s Family Education Center where students can receive eight weeks of free counseling services. Withers said there is even an anxiety group that meets regularly. Gillett said that some immediate changes such as healthy eating and sleeping can help. “By setting goals and exercising daily habits of living a healthy life, students are building protective factors against anxiety,” she said. “If those are already in place, then that routine will help when anxiety or depression comes. Balance is something we need to learn for ourselves and for our children.” l

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December 2018 | Page 17

Are letter grades failing students? Parents give the grade to report cards By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

t may be a positive experience when little Gabriella or Alex brings home a report card from elementary school informing parents they’ve mastered or are progressing to meet a standard in the core curriculum — all without the traditional letter grade. But parents say that may not be the answer for high school students. “So far, my kids have been spared the drama of the standard-based report cards,” Bingham High PTA vice president Jodee Packer said. “With my kids applying to colleges, random proficiencies compared to letter grades don’t make sense. Everyone knows that a 4.0 GPA (gradepoint average) means all As.” Packer, who lives in Jordan School District, also points out to compete in high school athletics, GPAs are checked to allow students to compete, and to change it “complicates the system unnecessarily.” “It’s a system we all know. How do we check grades if we’re all doing proficiency-based report cards?” she said. Nationally, the trend is exploring standard-based report cards as educators say letter grade report cards diminish students’ interest in learning and result in them thinking about how well they’re doing rather than be engaged in what they’re doing, said education expert Alfie Kohn, author of “Punished by Rewards” and “Schooling Beyond Measure.” “The research quite clearly shows that kids who are graded — and have been encouraged to try to improve their grades — tend to lose interest in the learning itself, avoid challenging tasks whenever possible (in order to maximize the chance of getting an A), and think less deeply than kids who aren’t graded,” Kohn told the National Education Association in 2015. “The problem isn’t with how we grade, nor is it limited to students who do especially well or poorly in school; it’s inherent to grading. That’s why the best teachers and schools replace grades (and grade-like reports) with narrative reports — qualitative accounts of student performance — or, better yet, conferences with students and parents.” Locally, school districts are taking a closer look at transitioning to or have already made the change to standard-based report cards to complement their parent-teacher conferences. Granite School District, Salt Lake City-area’s largest district, began reviewing the standard-based grading more than eight years ago and has been making the transition, tweaking it along the way, said Assistant Superintendent Linda Mariotti. Four years ago, 18 teachers tested the new system. Last spring, 400 Granite District teachers used proficiency-based grading. This fall, 1,200 of the 4,000 teachers in the district were on board, mostly in the elementaries, she said. “Any time something is new, it can be overwhelming because change is hard,” Mariotti said. “But proficiency-based grading empowers our students. It supports student learning and we

Page 18 | December 2018

want to do what’s right for our students.” She, along with other educators, inform parents in town meetings about what the district calls proficiency-based grading, which she said is a synonym for standard-based grading. “I may be one of the oldest in the room and grading hasn’t changed since I was in grade school, but we need to let you know how well your student is learning at that moment in time and we can do that with proficiency-based grading where a letter grade can’t do that,” Mariotti told parents recently at town meeting held at Cottonwood High. “The PBG report card will show where students are struggling and how you can help them and with what. It allows teachers to evaluate the assessments and know where to reteach. It eliminates grade inflation and extra credit not based on course work. Our report cards now will have value where the traditional letter grade report cards haven’t been making the grade when it comes to measuring student progress and achievement.” In traditional grading, Mariotti said letter grades report the number of points earned on assignments in a subject but it doesn’t reveal what the student has learned. Proficiency-based grading, she said, offers better feedback by evaluating how well the student has met measurable standards. Through the PBG or standards-based grading, students will receive a score based on assessments put into an algorithm. The latest assessment will carry the most weight as students are expected to know the subject better, she said. “This will ensure that we are being consistent and that the students will be learning the standards,” Mariotti said about the assessments that can be retaken during that school year. “With PBG, students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency in multiple ways — they can write it, build it, dance it, say it, paint it, say it in another language — any way they can articulate they know it.” That one to four score will be what is shown on report cards for elementary-grade children, but Granite secondary students currently will have that converted into letter grades as well. “Nationwide, colleges are placing less emphasis on GPAs and more on ACT (college standardized tests) and the courses students are enrolled in, but we realize it is a bigger system out there so right now, we’re continuing to provide both the score and letter grade. USHAA (Utah High School Activities Association) also has student-athletes eligibility on GPA so that’s another reason to provide both. But we know letter grades can be subjective and may not really be reflective of what students are learning and PBL eliminates that,” she said. However, the transition frustrates some parents. Sheri Wade’s children have some classes that are graded on a PBG system and some that are not — she thinks. “My daughter’s math class is straight forward,” she said about the eighth-grade honors

Granite School District Assistant Superintendent Linda Mariotti discusses the transition to proficiency-based report cards at Cottonwood High School. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

class at Bennion Junior High. “If the student gets a one, then we know the student needs improvement and in what area. If there’s a four, then we know the student has exceeded the expectations.” What confuses Wade is a science class. “I’ve been told that if a student receives 40 percent on a quiz, that it can’t be retaken and that assignments and labs are part of the grade where I’ve been told that with PBG it’s not graded so it’s hard to understand what is going on,” she said after the parent meeting at Cottonwood High. Earlier, Mariotti said that homework is not scored. “Homework is independent practice. Teachers demonstrate and talk about a skill, then they do it together with students and then ask students to do it on their own either in class or at home. Teachers provide students feedback, but not in terms of grades or scores, but rather to see them do well and improve,” she said. “There also is no extra credit. The scores are based on proficiencies’ assessments. It’s a new mindset that we’re needing to shift.” Cottonwood School Community Council member and parent Robyn Ivins then questions the motivation for homework. “I really like the proficiency-based grading and I’m grateful for them trying to make a difference, but it’s confusing to students and parents with how assessments really work and if homework and extra credit are really not part of the grade,” she said. “I feel like all the teachers who have switched to PBG are on the same program, but they aren’t.” For example, Ivins said her daughter, who she thought was in a PBG math class, just had her homework graded and was told that the teacher informed her that homework needed to

be completed if any student wanted to retake tests that term. Even the change of mindset may prove difficult, Ivins said. “If teachers tell them they’re not grading homework, the majority of high school students won’t do it. It’s hard for them to be motivated to do it just for the sake of learning. It’s hard for students to suddenly be told they don’t have to get a certain grade. It goes against everything they’ve been told from first grade that they need to have certain grades so they can be ready for college and receive scholarships,” she said. Ivins also expressed concerns with the new grading system for refugee students and those with disabilities. Mariotti gave the example if a parent has a sixth-grader and she is reading on a third-grade level, the teacher is still to teach the sixth-grade standards. “The IEP (the student’s individualized learning plan) will be able to show and help her with different ways she may be able to demonstrate her learning and trying to meet the proficiencies, which she may or may not get to, but she may get to a concept or objective level,” she said. “The same is true with an English learner, where a state test helps identify her understanding level and from there, she can demonstrate the learning.” Many parents wanted a concrete date the district will completely transition to PBG. Mariotti said there isn’t “a drop dead date,” but encourages teachers to shift when they’re comfortable. “Already this is rolling over on its own, just snowballing. I know it’s frustrating to parents we don’t have a specific date, but we want teachers to embrace it, not resist it,” she said, but added that in two years, she expects most teachers and

S ugar House City Journal

schools to be on board with PBG for Granite’s contact me. I just go to the teacher.” 67,900 students. Both Granite and Jordan districts have onThe transition also is occurring in nearby line report cards so students and parents can Jordan School District, that educates students in review students’ learning — as does Murray the southwest part of the Salt Lake Valley. School District. Jordan School District Administrator of Murray School District students receive the Middle Schools Michael Anderson said that he’s common letter grades. “excited to give more meaning to our grading “All Murray City School District schools system. It’s part of the trend to get to the heart use a traditional letter grade report card that meaof school and learning sures completion,” said and education.” Scott Bushnell, Murray While he said that District assistant superur report middle school and high intendent. “The MCSD cards now will school levels haven’t report card is issued changed their letter quarterly and gives a have value where the grades, with SBG, they snapshot of a student’s traditional letter grade are able to provide an academic, citizenship “accurate reflection of report cards haven’t been and attendance status what students know at that time.” making the grade when and are able to do.” However, Mur“With stanray District educators it comes to measuring dard-based grading, have looked into the student progress and extra credit, effort or pros and cons of stannot getting work down dard-based grading. achievement.” isn’t the focus; it’s as“We are focusing — Granite School District Assistant sessments,” he said. by grade levels and Superintendent Linda Mariotti “We’re changing resubject areas, across port cards from a gradschools, working on ing game to a learning agreement of stangame.” dards and levels of proficiency. We are currently He said that the assessments will reveal working within the traditional grading format what standards students miss and will help teach- and communicating with students and parents ers determine if the question was poor or if it’s on how a student is performing. In English/lanan area that needs to be retaught. He said that guage arts, math and science, we have begun to homework is used for students to practice what is monitor the progress of students with respect to taught to be ready to take the assessments. grade-level standards. This progress monitoring “Kids can retake assessments, but only af- has been beneficial in helping students and parter homework is done, so they have a chance to ents understand standards mastery. This process learn the material,” he said. “The four, three, began in elementary schools and is now being two, one score with proficiencies will show if used in secondary schools as well,” he said. students know or can show proficiency and can Canyons School District made the transition demonstrate and apply it. This will give more to SBG with elementary schools in 2013-14 and meaning to the A to F letter grade on current tweaking it with parent and teacher input for the report cards and allow the student to know why following school year. they may have a B in a class and know he or she “We feel parents have a better understandneeds to show proficiencies in certain standards ing of their child’s progress with our report to improve. Standard-based grading empowers card reflecting ‘mastered’ or ‘not yet mastered’ the students to know where they are learning and a standard rather than passing or failing,” Canwhat gaps they have.” yons spokeswoman Kirsten Stewart said. “The Anderson said that since letter grades are idea is not to penalize the student, but to learn “universal” with colleges worldwide, Jordan has the material and retake the tests to demonstrate remained with letters, but “has put more mean- the mastery of the standard. One of the benefits ing into those letters” at the high school level. of standards-based grading is it helps to convey Elementary students are on the numeral system. that mistakes can be made and not getting 100 “Our teachers and administrators have percent is part of the learning process.” worked their guts out for better education and While the standard-based grading system standards of learning for our kids,” he said. is in place in elementary schools, Stewart said “Standard-based grading takes the guess work there is discussion about placing it in the secout of report cards.” ondary schools although “there is no established Oquirrh Elementary PTA President Beth deadline.” LeFevre appreciates that. “It doesn’t have to be a score, but the let“The report cards are trying to explain it ter grade can be based on those standards,” she more and there’s no guessing that one assign- said, adding teachers have more than 90 hours ment can bring down a grade,” she said. “It gives annually of instructional training to help assess parents a better idea of what a child needs to student learning and achievement. “We feel stanwork on, but I’d still like to see more explanation dard-based grading is a nice balance to commuwith the scores and see the percentage of where nicate to parents that their child is learning and they’re at. If I don’t understand something, or learning skills that they will use through their want more detail, I don’t wait for the school to lives.” l

“O

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Amazon’s A-list book ‘Confessions of an Iyeska,’ has SLC significance By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com

“

Confessions of an Iyeska” recently hit No. 2 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases for the category of Native American & Aboriginal Biographies. The story is about the life and work of late Viola Burnette, a woman who faced diverse trials. Viola was the first attorney general of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She was also an Iyeska, meaning mixed-blood Native American. One of Viola Burnette’s daughters, Jo Overton of West Jordan, helped see the book through editing and publication. Family, friends and supporters gathered at the University of Utah Marriott Library Gould Auditorium on Nov. 10 for a book release launch reception. “My mother was a world changer,” Overton said. “She was the first in her family to go to college, becoming a lawyer and judge. She rewrote the domestic violence code for both our tribe and another tribe. She started a group called Lakota Women for Change, and they went on to help our people change our tribal constitution for the first time ever. The original constitution was a basic template given to the Oyate (people) by the federal government, when our tribe was forced to sign a treaty and give up their land.” Viola Burnette’s other daughters Terese Burnette, Janet Routzen and Anita Guevin have helped bring the story forward. They came from South Dakota and Southern California to unite with their sister Jo in SLC. It was a meeting in the middle—a literal halfway point to Utah from the sisters’ home states. The launch gathering was a special celebration of Viola’s life, family legacy, her preservation of culture and talent for telling important history through narratives. The biography weaves together what Viola Burnette faced in the 20th century, being forced into boarding school, being female, a Native American of mixedblood and more. Viola Burnette now has a wide and unfurling family tree of posterity, extending to Salt Lake City. The family branches out further, with legally adopted members who have an all-embracing attitude. Kate Overton, Jo Overton’s daughter from Murray said, “It’s not just my unci’s (grandmother’s) story but one that many Lakota women faced in that time. It’s a story of survival, perseverance and courage. It describes how difficult it was for Natives to live the way the wasicu (white

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Family, friends and supporters gathered at the University of Utah Marriott Library Gould Auditorium on Nov. 10 for a book release launch reception. Sisters left to right--Anita Guevin, Janet Routzen, Jo Overton, Terese Burnette (Photo courtesy Viola Burnette family).

man) wanted them to, instead of the way their people always had—how they were forced to depend on the government for everything and how that caused the oppression that we continue to face today.” Indy Blaney loved the book. “It has a ‘Forrest Gump’ quality about it,” she said. “She (Viola) brings in so many things that were happening—other things that were happening in the country outside the Reservation, like where she was when Kennedy was shot.” Without wanting to give too many spoilers, Blaney summed up the book saying, “This is the story about a very brave woman who faced a lot of opposition in her life, both on and off the Reservation.” On the Gould room’s biography launch table was an arrangement of fresh-printed copies. To the side was a plaque reading: “All of the proceeds from the sale of ‘Confessions of an Iyeska’ are being donated to a scholarship for Native American women studying law at the Uni-

versity of South Dakota Law School. In Memory of Viola Burnette.” Jo Overton added, “Many people in our family have now gone to college and been able to use their educations to help our tribe and other Native peoples.” The reception began with Native American song and drum performers singing tribute to the book’s author and also in worship of a Creator. Strength and honor sounded from their circle of beating tambour and oscillating voices. Her journey is now history, officially bound together—Viola’s remarkable story. It is a real account that one can pick up, and in likelihood, one that can inspire. The soft robin egg blue cover is styled with angled red and ultramarine shapes, together making a spirited pattern. The book stands out in bold simplicity. One could wonder if the quilt-like design and complimentary colors on the front, symbolize Viola Burnette’s life—a first vivid offering of the powerful telling within. l

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CASSIE GOFF

Tempting The Grinch

he animated film by Illumination “The Grinch” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Cameron Seely recently premiered on Nov. 9. During opening weekend, it made $66 million dollars. The popularly known version of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss was published on Oct. 12, 1957. It began as a 32-line illustrated poem titled “The Hoobub and The Grinch” and was originally published in May of 1955 in Redbook magazine. The book version was released in December of 1957 by Random House. Since then, the book has held the attention of young readers for decades. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, here’s a quick rundown. In the little town of Who¬ville, all of the Whos who live there love Christmas. The Grinch lives north of Whoville and, not being a Who, hates Christmas. As the holiday approaches, the Whos get antsier, creating all sorts of smells and noises, including a song they all sing together on Christmas Eve. As The Grinch radiates of hatred on that night, he comes up with an idea. He will steal Christmas. He disguises himself as Santy Claus and sleds into Whoville where he steals all the Christmas things. As he is stealing Christmas in the middle of the night, a Who child, Little Cindy-Lou Who questions him about

stealing the family’s Christmas tree. He feeds her a lie and moves on with his night. On Christmas morning, well…I won’t spoil it for you. In the story, The Grinch steals everything relating to Christmas, even though Dr. Seuss mentions a few very specific things on The Grinch’s list: pop guns, bicycles, roller skates, drums, checkerboards, tricycles, popcorn, plums, pudding, roast beef, ribbons, packages, boxes, bags, and even the tree. If you don’t want to tempt The Grinch this holiday season, maybe it’s worth not having all of the above-mentioned items easily accessible. We’re in good shape with the first item on this list. Pop guns will probably be unavailable for purchase in many stores. Instead of buying an entirely new bicycle, tricycle, or roller skates, maybe it would be worthwhile to provide a gift card for the app related to the dockless electric rental scooters littering the streets of downtown Salt Lake. I haven’t used one myself, but from what I understand, you pay through an app on your phone and the scooter will run for as long as you pay for. Instead of buying a drum kit, which can run anywhere from $200 to upwards of $600 or more, maybe gift some drumsticks and lessons; or the Rock Band video game provided a gaming console has

been previously purchased. Checkers isn’t the popular game it used to be. Instead of spending $15 to $300 (I’m surprised too) on checkerboards, pick up a few packs of cards for less than $10. Not only are cards less expensive, there are unlimited variations of games that can be played. I’m not so sure checkers can say the same. For popcorn, just don’t. Who wants kernels in their teeth? Or to string popped popcorn? Unless that’s crucial to family tradition, please don’t partake. Also, plums and pudding. I’ve never incorporated those into festivities myself, so I don’t personally understand the appeal. However, I do know that my home is flooded with cookies and other homemade treats gifted from neighbors and family members. If you’re like me and have a swarm of goodies anyway, don’t buy plums and puddings either. Along the same thread (no, not the popcorn one), is roast beef. Does anyone still do roast beef for Christmas? It must be a Who thing. For ribbons, packages, boxes, and bags: keep it simple. Let’s start with boxes and bags. I’m sure a good portion of us will be doing online shopping this year. Keep the boxes from those orders. Personally, I keep boxes from online orders all year long so I can re-purpose them for gift giving. If I need to use

bags, I’ll buy a wholesale pack, because spending $2 to $10 per bag is madness. For ribbons and packages, I recommend buying wholesale as well. Hit up your local craft or party store and buy a few spools of ribbon which you can use multiple times. Balloon ribbon makes for surprisingly fancy present wrapping ribbon. Finally, the tree. I’m exceptionally biased. There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh pine from a live tree throughout the season. I would have saved a few hundred dollars by now if I had invested in a fake tree, but some things are just worth it. l

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Life and Laughter—Dance of the Sugar Plum Peri

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never remember having visions of sugarplums dancing in my head, mostly because I didn’t know what a sugarplum was (but it sounds like something I’d eat). What I do remember is having visions of Christmas cookies piled on every possible surface in our kitchen as mom baked herself into a holiday frenzy. Around the middle of December, mom would cart home bags and bags of ingredients for her annual Christmas cookie bake-a-rama, preparing to make the treats she only made once a year. My siblings and I would “help” her unload bags of chocolate, sugar, cream and spices until she yelled at us to go watch TV. When mom donned her apron, adopted a determined expression and started grabbing bowls, that’s when I knew Christmas was really coming. We also knew to stay out of her way, which meant we had to be creative when it came to sneaking bits of cookie dough, scoops of frosting and pieces of pecans. During the ‘70s, sugar consumption wasn’t regulated, it was even encouraged! We ate so much sugar on a daily basis, our teeth were in a constant state of vibration. But at Christmas?! Our sugar levels reached critical mass to the point we peed sugar cubes. I’d eat cookies for

dinner, have a stomachache all night, and only be able to eat four bowls of Cap’n Crunch for breakfast. Each of us had our sugary Christmas cookie favorites, and mom made every single one. Mine were the cherry cookies; buttery sugar cookie dough baked around a maraschino cherry. My sisters loved the pineapple tarts cooked to a golden brown, and gingerbread men, decorated with frosting and Red Hot candies. We all loved the delicate spritz cookies, made with mom’s electric press, and the chocolate mousse balls (which we never got tired of saying). Once the baking was done, and the powdered sugar settled underfoot, mom would pile the cookies on sturdy paper plates and send us out in the snow to deliver the goodies to our neighbors. We roamed the neighborhood, passing other children delivering treats to nearby homes, and wave to each other because this was one chore we didn’t mind. More holiday treats came in the form of grandma’s raisin pudding with rum sauce that she’d warm up in an aluminum can on the stove, and pies she kept hidden in the back bedroom under dishtowels because she couldn’t trust us not to stick our finger in them. We’d decorate sugar cookies at

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