Sugarhouse Journal | January 2022

January 2022 | Vol. 8 Iss. 13

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HIGHLAND WRESTLING LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK FROM TOUGH YEAR

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

T

o say the last 21 or so months have been strange is a gross understatement.

The COVID pandemic has affected, and continues to affect, many aspects of life. Though the Highland wrestling team got in a full season last year, there were fewer participants on the squad than head coach Swede Robinson would like to have. Low numbers made it a rough season for the Rams, but Robinson is optimistic.

“Last season we had a very low participation rate and did not bring in many newcomers to the program,” Robinson said. “We have seen a good uptick this season in participation. We have a lot of new young wrestlers.”

With the new team members, Robinson acknowledges that the Rams could experience some growing pains and have their work cut out for them.

He said Highland will need some time to be competitive. Still, he does have eight returning wrestlers who work hard and have a positive attitude.

Despite the challenges ahead, Robinson maintains high expectations.

“Our expectations are similar to each season in that we want to be the best wrestling team in Salt Lake City, we want to be in the hunt for a region title and qualify as many wrestlers as we can into the state tournament,” he said. “Hopefully, we have some wrestlers that can improve well enough to place in state this year. The 5A state tournament is by far the most difficult in [Utah high school] wrestling.”

The Rams’ top-ranked wrestler is Connor Straessler, a junior in the 175-pound weight class. He was one match shy of placing last season.

Robinson is working on getting him back to health so he can return to competing at an elite level. Some notable seniors are Isaac Simpson (a 175-pound returning state qualifier), Riley Townley (126 pounds), Zo Sua (138 pounds) and Joaquin Gonzalez (132 pounds). Each of them are expe- Senior Zo Sua, at 138 pounds, takes part in the Syracuse Scuffle, pinning an opponent with a headlock. (Photo courtesy Highland Continued page 10 wrestling)

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January 2022 | Page 3

SL School District nurse receives 2021 Utah School Nurse of the Year Award

By Lizzie Walje | l.walje@mycityjournals.com

J

udi Yaworsky is this year’s recipient of the Utah School Nurse of the Year Award. The award, which has been around since 1999, is gifted to a single recipient each year by the Utah School Nurses Association. The award honors those nurses who go above and beyond their call of duty by demonstrating solid ethics, a genuine care for children’s well-being, and the ability to act with integrity in the midst of adversity.

Yaworsky, who is the lead nurse for the Salt Lake City School District, has worked in schools throughout the district providing care for students between the ages of four and 24. Yaworsky graduated from the University of Utah in 1986. Following her graduation, she began working at Primary Children’s Hospital. For several years she enjoyed her time at the hospital, gaining experience and refining her skills.

“I loved working in the pediatric intensive care unit,” Yaworsky said. “During that time I gained a lot of valuable experience and realized that pediatrics is where I belonged, where I felt most useful.”

Despite her love for the hospital and the knowledge she gained in the intensive care unit, Yaworsky had aspirations of working in the school system. In 1992, she transitioned into school nurse work and never looked back.

She has been with the Salt Lake City School District for 14 years.

“I knew I had found my calling and from that point on I never looked back. Through all the trials and tribulations this is the job I know I was meant to do,” she said.

While the work has always been worth it for Yaworksy, it hasn’t always been easy. In her 14 years with the school district, Yaworksy has faced a number of challenges from statewide school nurse shortages to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When it came to 2020…well…there was just nothing like it,” Yaworsky said. “Even with decades of practice, how do you ever really prepare for something like that?”

The ways in which the pandemic changed day-today life are almost innumerable, nevertheless, Yaworsky shared that in spite of the overwhelming negative effects of Covid-19 on healthcare, there are certain silver linings.

“There used to be this mentality for us to power

Journals T H E

through, whether in work or in school. We’d hear it from bosses, from peers, even parents. But this pandemic has helped us to realize that’s really not the best thing to do,” she said.

While Covid-19 is the most notable challenge Yaworsky has faced to date, it is far from the only one. In fact, back in 2017, Utah schools were making national headlines due to a school nurse shortage. During that year, school nurses in the state were left with six times the recommended students under their care. As enrollment in the state continued to trend upward, the struggle to find quality competent nurses persevered.

If the school nurse shortage was alarming in 2017 it was amplified in 2020. At that time, Utah had one nurse for every 4,893 students. In other states, this ratio is far less disparaging. The coronavirus amplified the shortage, making contributions from workers like Yaworsky pivotal.

Despite the challenges that Yaworsky has faced both recently and in her nearly four decade career, there was never a second thought that she would fold or succumb to the pressure. In the end, she knew it was her duty to buckle down and get to work.

“We do whatever we have to do. That’s always been my mentality. That’s what we as school nurses do. Sometimes you can’t think too much about it, you just have to get it done,” she said.

As far as her peers are concerned, Yaworsky received praise across the board for her compassionate approach, impressive competence, and her ability to persevere and get to work in the midst of pandemonium.

A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke in detail about Yaworsky’s work with her son who suffered from developmental setbacks. For children with disabilities and cognition issues, school can oftentimes feel like an unfriendly place.

“I was afraid to send him to school, even though I was told that he was behind developmentally, and it would be good for him. I felt like he was still just a baby, and I could not protect him at school. Then came Judi, with her big eyes and a big smile. She helped me understand how his health care would be a priority with the District, and how it would work,” the parent said.

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Yaworsky seems to have mastered the art of bedside manner. She’s direct, competent, and to the point, but never at the risk of alienating or isolating students. At a point in time where they’re fragile and generally trusting of authority, that’s the time when it’s imperative for healthcare workers to leave a lasting impact, she said.

The parent continued to praise Yaworsky’s proactive attitude. “She eased my mind about his health care needs and how they could be managed while he still has a full school experience. She fully included me and my husband in writing his Health Care Plan and met with us and the IEP team to coordinate and make sure everyone was on the same page and felt confident and positive about proceeding with him attending school.”

Despite the praise and the award, Yaworsky remains humble.

“I just do what I have to do,” she said. “Show up every day and put my head down.” l

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Judi Yaworsky is the 2021 recipient of the Utah School Nurse of the Year Award. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake City School District)

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Sugar House City Journal

Youthlinc is a nonprofit organization in Sugar House that aims to create lifelong humanitarians. Youthlinc started in 1999. (Photos courtesy Youthlinc)

Youthlinc provides international service opportunities for Utah teens

Y

outhlinc is a nonprofit organization in Sugar House that creates lifelong humanitarians by empowering youth to lead a life filled with service to others.

Youthlinc started in 1999 by Judy Zone. Zone was a high school teacher who saw that a lot of people really wanted to serve, so she set up the first service year trip to Kenya. Since 2002, they have been partnering with different service organizations and programs throughout Utah.

Youthlinc’s signature program is the Youthlinc Service Year. The Service Year program is a nine-month program that provides high school and college students the opportunity to go on a two-week international humanitarian service trip.

Currently, the Youthlinc program takes humanitarians to nine countries: Cambodia, Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, Thailand and Vietnam.

Trips range from $2,900-$4,000 depending on the site. “You are going there to serve.

Ninety-five percent of our trip is active service, ” says Taylor Ostmark Beidler, the operations director for Youthlinc. Students spend the majority of their trip working hands-on to make the communities better and make a difference.

“The transformation of kids as they go through the service year program is huge.

Our program pushes people from wherever they are on their humanitarian journey,” Beidler said.

One of the most meaningful parts of

MyS ugar HouseJournal .com

W

By Anagha Rao | a.rao@mycityjournals.com

e want to empower the next generation of leaders and humanitarians to continue to lead a life of service and make a difference in the community.

Taylor Ostmark Beidler

the trip is the culture. Youthlinc volunteers usually prepare a song, dance, or musical number that reflects our culture, and the visitor country will do the same. In this way, they get to connect with the local community and bridge the gap between the volunteers and their culture.

Before their international capstone trip, humanitarians must complete 50 hours of service in their local community. Throughout the school year, students and mentors will work together to plan education, healthcare, and social well-being community projects. Throughout the year, students will have monthly meetings to plan service projects for their humanitarian trip. Depending on the needs of the country, students may learn how to sew so they can teach women, prepare English and STEM lessons, and even focus on preventing drug or alcohol use.

In addition to serving the international community, Youthlinc also works to change lives in Utah. The Youthlinc Real Life is a peer mentoring program where high school and college volunteers from Utah provide homework help and run after-school activities for refugee and immigrant teens in Utah. Volunteers teach financial literacy, English language and communication, STEM and nutrition, and college and career readiness skills.

“Volunteers will provide extra academic support to the struggling population and allow them to become better acquainted with the volunteers and form a community between the mentors and mentees,” said Beidler.

In 2005, Youthlinc started their Young Humanitarian Award, Utah’s largest service-based scholarship for youth. One outstanding high school student and one outstanding college student will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship. One high school student and one college student will each receive a $3,000 college scholarship.

“We want to empower the next generation of leaders and humanitarians to continue to lead a life of service and make a difference in the community,” Beidler said.

To participate in the Youthlinc Service Year, visit youthlinc.org/service-year/register/. l

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Refugee women gain access to service and support through local organization

By Lindsey Baxter | l.baxter@mycityjournals.com

C

an you imagine what life would be like if you were forcibly displaced from your home and country? Where would you get support? Who would you turn to? or many refugee women here in Utah, that answer is with WoW, or Women of the World. Their mission is to empower forcibly displaced women from all nations to achieve independence, economic success, and a voice in the community. WoW has been in Utah since 2010 and is currently located at 415 E. 3900 South in Millcreek.

According to Samira Harnish, founder and executive director, WoW’s activities are broken down into three programs: • Customized Service and Advocacy. “Displacement from home and community is hard, most of our ladies do not even know who to turn to. Women of the World’s customized approach assures that our new neighbors have a fighting chance.

We try to ensure that our ladies understand that insurance or other services are avail-

F

able to offset expense and the outcome of this program is to reduce our clients’ outof-pocket expense,” Harnish said.

• Community Building. “Women of the World strives to be the ‘third place’ (after home and work) for our women.

Beyond being a safe space, we provide an environment in which women can learn English—the most essential skill in their integration into American society—by making mistakes and developing their English in those domains most important to their skills,” Harnish said.

• Economic Empowerment. “Finally, displaced women have unique skills and value propositions to share within American society. WoW works closely with our women to ensure they are progressing in the workplace, getting promoted into careers, and educating themselves and their children,” Harnish said.

On the afternoon of Dec. 4, over 150 people attended “The Annual Celebration of Women’s Success” held by WoW. “With the exception of 2020 for the pandemic, we have handed our certificates of appreciation each of our 12 years,” Harnish said.

“This event recognizes the milestones of self-reliance achieved by our clients through intelligence, hard work, and perseverance. Everything meaningful to our women’s custom view of self-reliance, from learning to drive to getting a Ph.D. is recognized.”

Pictures of the event were taken and shared by Heidi Baxter and can be viewed at photos.app.goo.gl/PF4y5XuVGgTrJnSQ8.

“Attending the ceremony for Women of the World at the county building has been exhilarating,” said participant Dauphanie Daniels. “Seeing women from so many corners of the world celebrate, honor and respect each other's successes and

Women of the World Annual Celebration of Success recognized women for their achievements. (Photos courtesy Heidi Baxter)

Page 6 | January 2022

Women of the World Annual Celebration of Success recognized women for their achievements, including Leila Abdul seen here. (Photo courtesy Heidi Baxter)

share their love made me realize having a world that works for everyone is within reach if we all just do the same. My favorite aspect of the ceremony was watching women perform dances to music from their part of the world. Some participants wore gorgeous clothing native to their countries which added to the specialness of the event. A deep felt thank you to all in the community that helped to make this happen."

The impact that WoW has made on the community and for the women it helps is noteworthy. According to Harnish, in 2021, WoW has: • Helped in 700 different service and advocacy cases, resulting in $159,000 of expense savings (like healthcare and housing).

• Secured new employment for 30 women, resulting in $853,000 in annual earnings growth available to their family’s budgets.

• Even with the ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of the pandemic and maintain social distance, WoW conducted over 150 hours of training both virtually and in-person, mostly English Language Learning courses for all levels of language

learners.

• For every $1 invested in WoW, they produce a $2.81 return through job assistance and expense reduction in women’s lives.

The next event hosted by WoW is their Annual Fashion Show and Cultural Gala on March 9. Harnish said it is their largest fundraiser. “Our event is designed to help connect our cultures and provide you with an excellent opportunity to meet many of your amazing neighbors,” she said. “The fashion show gives women that are connected to Women of the World a chance to show off the parts of their homeland they love and teach you about their beautiful cultures. You will also be able to meet and interact with these women, hear their stories firsthand, and share yours with them. These personal exchanges increase understanding and will empower you to help others overcome their misplaced fear of our amazing neighbors.”

Tickets are available at: www.womenofworld.org/events-1/2022FashionShowTickets. If you want to get involved, support, or donate to WoW, visit www. womenofworld.org. l

Sugar House City Journal

Sugar House nonprofit HawkWatch International celebrates 35th anniversary

By Anagha Rao | a.rao@mycityjournals.com

H

awkWatch International, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Sugar House, is celebrating 35 years in business and continues to work toward conserving the environment by rescuing raptors, conducting scientific research, and educating the public about the importance of raptors.

HawkWatch conducted a five-week virtual celebration for their 35th-year anniversary. Each week included two seminar-style presentations about bird-related issues. That culminated with a virtual fundraising gala and a silent auction.

HawkWatch started when Steve Hoffman traveled to Utah to further his education, and when he discovered his passion for birds, he started HawkWatch International to help birds in his community.

One popular program HawkWatch International does to raise awareness about raptors is by taking ambassador birds to visit local middle and high schools in the Salt

Lake area and allow students to interact with the animals. They have visited over 40,000 people and educated them about birds and the issues they face. In addition, HawkWatch receives ZAP funding, which allow them to conduct free community programs “Having the opportunity to get up close and personal with a bird of prey gives you a greater appreciation for birds and nature. We hope to give that experience to as many people as possible,” said Nikki Wayment, the executive director of HawkWatch International.

One of HWI’s signature programs is the migration monitoring network. Volunteer teams that consist of biologists and wildlife professionals spend two to three months scanning the sky and counting migrating raptors.

“The special thing about HWI is that we have migration sites that range throughout the western United States from California to Texas, and this gives us a much larger picture

of what’s going on with larger populations,” said Dave Oleyar, the director of Long-term Monitoring and Community Science at HawkWatch International.

HWI also impacts the golden eagle population in Utah through their conservation efforts. One way they help is by putting out satellite transmitters on young golden eagles who haven’t left the nest yet to monitor their movement and survivability. This helps researchers conduct studies to learn about some of the issues faced by the eagle population and work to resolve these issues.

“If you see golden eagles or bald eagle populations going down, it may be because contaminants in the environment may be causing the prey population to decrease.

These contaminants in the environment directly affect people and their well-being,” Oyelar said.

After conducting these studies HWI discovered that many birds are being struck by moving cars as they are feasting on roadkill.

They have studied this threat for five years by measuring how many animals are killed on the road and placing cameras on carcasses to document the presence of eagles and other scavengers.

To support HawkWatch International, patrons can either donate money or volunteer. There are opportunities for volunteers to get involved with the various conservation and education projects HawkWatch does. To donate, visit hawkwatch.org/support/donation. l

HawkWatch brings live raptors to local schools as part of their educational awareness program. (Photos courtesy HawkWatch)

MyS ugar HouseJournal .com

January 2022 | Page 7

Best photos of Sugar House 2021

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America hosted a Team Hope Walk fundraising event in Sugar House Park. (Anagha Rao/City Journals)

Highland’s Logan Browne swims the 500 freestyle during the 5A state championships at the Wasatch Aquatic Center in Heber City. Browne’s finals time was almost five seconds faster than his preliminary time the day before. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Highland’s Macie Christiansen steps to the plate against Olympus. The Rams would go on to win with a football-like score of 33-18. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Highland’s Sosefina Langi looks to attack the paint against Hillcrest. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Page 8 | January 2022

The historic Blue Plate Diner closed in 2021, its building to be torn down to make way for multi-level, multi-use structures. (Daniel Smith/ Highland’s baseball team. (Travis Barton/City Journals) City Journals)

Sugar House City Journal

Highland’s Eliza McCullough was a major contributor to the Rams team this year, seen here in a game against Skyridge. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Karen Mowrer, a local author of two children’s books, reads her books with her son. (Photo courtesy Karen Mowrer)

Highland native Garrett Metcalf started skating at two and played his first organized hockey games when he was five or six. He made his professional debut with the Utah Grizzlies.

(Photo courtesy of Robert Church/Utah Grizzlies)

One mural is painted outside Cameron Wellness Spa by Chris Peterson, highlighting the two peacocks that live in Allen Park. (Photo contributed)

Sunflower plot and tool shed at Sugar House Community Garden. (Photo courtesy Sugar House Garden Instagram)

MyS ugar HouseJournal .com

From left, Highland girls tennis team members Elsa Pearce, Sam Kiburtz, Gabrielle Dooling, Lucy Foulks, Dylan Lolofie, Kate Creamer, Grace Harman pose with the Class 5A state championship trophy. The Rams shared the title with Woods Cross after a successful tournament.

(Photo by Brevin Elsholz, B Rev Photography)

January 2022 | Page 9

Isaac Simpson, a 175-pound senior, wrestlers at the Syracuse Scuffle, pinning his foe with a cradle. (Photo courtesy Highland wrestling)

Continued from front page rienced wrestlers, and Robinson is looking to them for their experience and leadership for his young team.

Robinson also has a girl on the squad.

“We even have some female wrestlers starting to come out this season,” he said. “An up-and-coming wrestler with some talent is freshman Nehemiah Cook (135 pounds). She is showing some good potential to our program.”

Though young and lacking experience, the team does have some strengths that Rob-

inson is excited about. He said the wrestlers are eager to learn and progress.

“COVID put stress on all of us in different ways,” he said. “There is a renewed sense of optimism within the team to compete and build to a brighter future. We are learning what is means that in this sport that everything is earned and not given. We have some good returning wrestlers that are helping to teach our young ones how to build into that champion mindset.”

Robinson also praises his coaching staff for the support his assistants give the wrestlers. Coaches Aldo Gutierrez, Vaea Fiefia and

Senior Riley Townley, 126 pounds, competes in the Jordan Turkey Brawl. (Courtesy Highland wrestling)

Paul Tate each comes a wealth of experience and skill to help the team achieve its best.

As for success, Robinson said that will hinge on how well his wrestlers compete in postseason action. He also is looking beyond this season, hoping the program can take the next step to competitiveness.

“A successful season will be getting our seniors to the state tournament and fighting for a place on the podium,” he said. “As a team, we are going to be growing and build-

ing for the future. We have many young wrestlers that do not fully realize their potential.

A successful season will be for us to create that reality that they can become what we see in them as coaches. Keeping our numbers in the room up and staying healthy will be paramount to our success. Our program is all about creating outstanding young people that have a skill set to approach their post-graduation lives with success and an ability to overcome adversity.” l

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Sugar House City Journal

Kids get new bikes from FB4K

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

A

bicycle gives a child his or her first feeling of freedom. A bicycle is their first set of wheels. A bicycle is a means to explore their world, pedal to friends’ homes and to school and to enjoy just being a kid.

"Every kid deserves a bike," Nick Ekdahl, the president of FB4K Utah, said.

And with that in mind, folks from FB4K (Free Bikes for Kidz) spent Dec. 4 giving away 160 bicycles to eager young bicyclists. The event was a culmination of three months of collecting, repairing and organizing bikes.

Giveaway day Working with agencies such as Promise South Salt Lake, Circles Salt Lake, and Hartland Community 4 Youth and Families, recipients' names were collected. They also collaborated with middle schools. However, they do not work directly with families.

The young recipients and family members came to their current warehouse (2250 S. Main) to find their bike of choice.

Dakota Pacific donated the warehouse.

By 10 a.m. a line had formed, and the 30 FB4K volunteers worked quickly to accommodate each child. Finally, their name

was checked on the list, and the child was given a name tag.

The kids moved to the helmet line to receive a new bike helmet. Robert J. DeBry and Associates donated some helmets.

However, most were purchased with donated funds.

The kids headed to the show floor with their helmets in hand or on their heads. Volunteers welcomed each child as

if they were buying a new car. First, the volunteer led the family to the area with the correct size of bikes. Then, just like a salesperson, volunteers suggested red ones or blue ones. Bikes with baskets. Bikes that roared like the Hulk.

"We focus our attention on the kids.

We want to treat them very special," Ekdahl said.

Once the child selected their bike,

A FB4K volunteer explains bike feature to the new owner, Seini. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

they moved to the mechanic shop. Each bike was given a final check. Mechanics also explained how to use items like hand brakes and gears.

A final step was to take the bike out for a spin around the parking lot.

"It is pretty cool that people are willing to donate bikes for people who don't have one," Lyal Holder said.

While sitting on his bike, his son yelled out, "I am going to ride this to school on Monday."

"Bikes are important—the feeling of freedom. The feeling of air through your hair," Ekdahl said. "For many of these kids, this is the first thing they own. It is their bike."

FB4K FB4K is an affiliate of the national FB4K organization. The nonprofit started in Minneapolis and currently has 15 locations across the United States. Their goal is to give over a million bikes by 2025 and be in 110 locations.

FB4K Utah collects bikes in September and October and gives them away in December. Bikes can be donated directly to FB4K or at Guthrie Bicycle Company in the fall.

They also want to scale up to provide more bikes and collect bikes year round. l

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January 2022 | Page 11

Find joy in winter by embracing outdoor activities

By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

I

n just a few weeks, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, will emerge to predict when winter will end. For many people who hate the cold days, grey skies, and treacherous icy roads, they hope Phil does not see his shadow and predicts an early spring.

When Herriman residents were polled about how they feel about winter, 25% replied that they absolutely hate winter and are already counting down the days until spring.

The cold and darkness are some of the factors why winter months trigger the onset of seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a type of depression that is related to a change in seasons.

Herriman’s Celeste Barrow Bruening said, “About mid-October I start to notice a drastic change in my attitude and outlook on life. I get an overwhelming feeling of dread just thinking about the cold. I hate everything about it. Not necessarily the snow, just the cold. The short dark days are a struggle and the grey, cloudy atmosphere is depressing.”

According to Mental Health America, Bruening is not alone as SAD affects over 10 million Americans a year. If you experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, please consult a mental health provider.

With the milder Utah winters in recent years, even winter haters admit that the snow is necessary for summer water levels. Herriman’s Katie Jo Stratton said, “I don’t love the snow like I did when I skied. But I want it to snow like it did in the ‘90s so we can have all the water we need in the lakes to play!”

Amanda Brown revels in the snow with her son, 8-year-old Eli. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Brown.)

Although most Utahns recognize snow is necessary for our desert state, the darkness, the cold, and the dangerous driving conditions incite a teeth-chattering, snow-shoveling, white-knuckle-driving tolerance of the season.

However, many Utahns absolutely love winter and all of the beauty and outdoor rec-

reation it brings. The Brown family from South Jordan look forward to winter every year as they are avid skiers. Amanda Brown even works at Park City Mountain Resort every season for the sole purpose of providing ski lessons for her four children who range in age from six to 12. Brown said, “Winter can be long and dreary if you allow it to be. We

Left: Penny Watkins loves ice fishing because she loves sliding around on the ice. (Photo courtesy of Teal Anderson. ) Right: Six-year-old Olivia Brown skiing at Park City Mountain Resort. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Brown.)

Page 12 | January 2022

wanted to instill a love of the season in our children at an early age by enrolling them in ski lessons since they were very young. Now we look forward to it every year as we can get outside as a family and enjoy something active together.”

Kaysville’s Margot Marrs Pauni said, “I absolutely hated winter and counted the days until it was over, and then I learned to ski. It made a huge difference in my attitude and mental well-being. Now I look forward to winter.” Pauni has been skiing for over 3 years.

If gliding downhill at 20+ mph while dodging other people and trees is not your thing, there are a multitude of other winter activities to try to experience Utah’s famous “Greatest Snow on Earth.”. Exploring our spectacular mountains is extremely popular during the spring, summer and fall, but winter hiking is in a class of its own. A trail that you have hiked many times during other seasons will look completely different when it is covered with snow and provides a new experience. Creeks will have frozen sections with icicles adorning rocky edges. Waterfalls will be partially or completely frozen, giving you a breathtaking and magical view. Trails such as Ogden’s Waterfall Canyon and Layton’s Adam’s Canyon offer awesome winter adventures with picture perfect vistas that Jack Frost will be proud of.

Herriman’s Rachel Dekker Moody said, “There is something magical about going for a ‘snow globe’ run early in the morning and hearing the crunch of snow under your feet and knowing you are the first footprints out for the day!”

Though cycling is typically a warm weather sport, winter riding has become popular since fat bikes emerged on the market.

While standard mountain bikes have tire widths anywhere between 1.6” and 2.6”, a fat bike’s tires are 3.7” to 5”, allowing the rider to cruise through on snow-packed trails with greater traction and better handling. Various local bike dealers rent fat bikes so you can give it a try. Visit www.cyclingutah.com for suggestions on the best fat biking trails.

Sledding or inner tubing is another popular winter activity, and you don’t even have to go up into the mountains to enjoy it. Even a local park or neighborhood with a good slope can serve as a decent sledding hill. Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City and Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake have awesome hills that are free to sled and tube on. Or visit a designated sledding park such as Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway or Woodward in Park City.

Avid fishermen don’t need to pack up their poles for the season as ice fishing is popular in Utah. Frozen lakes such as Strawberry Reservoir and even local ponds such as Farmington Pond and Bountiful Pond attract anglers of all ages once the ice is thick enough.

Sugar House City Journal

Shaylee Watkins and Cody Carter show off their ice fishing catches at Utah Lake. (Photo courtesy of Teal Anderson.)

The website Best Fishing in America said, “The season typically starts in mid to late December in Utah, depending on the weather.

There are years when the hard water doesn’t set in until mid-January, while other years,

it can happen in late November. A good rule of thumb is that 4 inches is thick enough for an average person, 5-6 inches is suitable for a snowmobile or 4-wheeler, and 8-12 inches will support a truck.”

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Ice anglers use an ice auger with a 6-8” bit to drill a hole in the ice large enough to pull caught fish through. In addition to the appropriate fishing equipment, other gear such as ice tents and tent heaters can be used for additional warmth and comfort. The Watkins family from Davis County look forward to ice fishing every winter. Kaysville’s Shaylee Watkins said, “I love ice fishing because it’s fun to sit and snack out in a heated tent on the ice and get nice and comfy and kick your boots off.” North Salt Lake’s Challis Watkins said, “Ice fishing is like fishing but way better.”

It is important to be prepared before venturing outside during the winter months.

Tolerating the cold is much easier with proper clothing and gear. Dressing in layers is a good practice because you will warm up as your activity level increases and you will be much more comfortable removing or adding layers as needed.

REI’s website suggests three basic layers: “1) Base layer (underwear layer): wicks sweat off your skin, 2) Middle layer (insulating layer): retains body heat to protect you from the cold, and 3) Outer layer (shell layer): shields you from wind and rain. Even if you don’t wear all three layers at the outset, it’s a good idea to take all layers on every outing.

You can peel off layers if things heat up, but you can’t put on layers that you didn’t bring along.”

Other important gear includes warm head and ear coverings such as beanies and

ear muffs, scarves, and waterproof gloves.

Proper shoes such as waterproof boots that provide warmth and traction are a necessity.

For additional traction, particularly on steep icy terrain, use crampons or microspikes, a mechanism that typically consists of spikes and chains that fit over your shoes and can be easily slipped off and on the trails as needed.

Driving during the winter is a big reason why many people hate the season so preparing your vehicle for the cooler months is important. Tips for winterizing your vehicle include testing your battery and tire pressure as battery power and tire pressure drop when the air temperature drops, changing to winter tires, checking wiper blades and replacing if needed, and always keeping at least a half tank of gas. Tips for winter driving include driving slower, increasing your following distance, and accelerating and decelerating slowly. But if it is snowing heavily, the best practice is to stay home if you can and avoid unnecessary risks.

Someone once said, “If you choose not to find joy in snow, you will have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow.” With proper gear, clothing, and other preparations to keep you warm along with an adventurous spirit to try something new, perhaps the multitude of winter activities Utah offers can coax your inner Elsa out as you declare, “The cold never bothered me anyway.” l

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G

uests gathered at Venue 6SIX9 in downtown Salt Lake City in November for a black-tie gala to honor nine outstanding women. Those celebrated women were the 2021 graduates from WoWUtah.

“WoW” stands for “Women of Worth,” and the Utah-based nonprofit works to help women who have overcome difficult circumstances such as addiction, abuse or disease. The women selected for the program go through a year of workshops and training to help them gain self-worth and give them the tools they need for a fresh start. Each of the women is paired with a mentor, a volunteer who is there to help through the entire journey.

Along with teaching them valuable life skills, each participant is given a makeover.

According to WoWUtah’s Facebook page, they are gifted a collection of business attire and casual clothing selected by a team of stylists. “So she can feel confident and beautiful in her personal and professional life.” They also give each graduate formal wear and shoes for the gala event.

While the program usually spans a year, the graduates at Friday’s event had been with WoWUtah for two years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, workshops and classes that usually would have taken place in person switched to online. As a result, WoWUtah decided to keep the same participants for another year so they could better experience the program.

Gala attendees enjoyed watching videos made by the 2021 graduates to highlight their achievements. Following their video, each graduate walked across the stage, just like in a classic school graduation. Then they were invited to say a few words about their experience, all of them finishing with the proclamation of “I am a woman of worth.”

Barbara Moeller, who graduated from the program in 2012, now sits on WoW’s Chair of Mentees. Speaking about her experience, she

said, “WoW helped me to find out how amazing it is to be myself. I had gotten lost under the pressures and circumstances in life. The program gave me the tools to defend myself against challenges that eroded my self-worth.

The magic is being paired with a mentor for a journey of self-discovery. I not only found my worth again but learned to be responsible and accountable for how I comport myself.”

Along with honoring the 2021 graduates, the gala also celebrated the 10 years WoWUtah has been in operation. Judee Guay, who founded WoW and now works alongside COO Marie Jess to keep it running, spoke about the organization’s beginnings.

She started WoW after she got a second chance at life. Guay recalled her years spent in an abusive marriage and how hopeless she’d felt. Hopelessness, only made worse by autoimmune diseases she was suffering from at the time. But, slowly, she was able to put the pieces back together. She left the abusive marriage, lost 100 pounds, and started to heal.

Going through such a life-changing experience made Guay want to help other women overcome their struggles. So, she started WoWUtah in 2011. Though she had a vision, Guay said their first gala was nothing like the event that evening. “If anybody had told me that 10 years later this would be here, I wouldn’t have believed them,” she said, looking out at the crowd.

The guests were also invited to participate in a silent auction to raise money for WoW’s continuation. The auction included prizes such as theater tickets, gift baskets, romantic getaways and several cakes. The evening presenter and a member of WoW’s advisory board, Ty Bennett, joked that he’d won several cakes that his children had bid on for him.

Speaking of how WoWUtah has operated and will continue to operate on donations, Guay said, “[WoW] has been supported by

Sugar House City Journal

volunteers, including the directors, executive board and advisory board. No one has received remuneration, and it will stay that way with all donations going toward the women being served now and in the future.”

After presenting the graduates, Guay and Jess took turns presenting awards to those who’d helped WoWUtah throughout its 10 years. One of the award recipients included Chad Hymas, a highly respected international speaker who is also on WoW’s advisory board. Hymas was given the Inspiration Award.

Sheri Thompson, who’d come all the way from Arizona for the event, was given the Soul Sister Award. Guay told The City Journals, “Sheri's incredible connection with

her WoW sisters and the mentees is why she is so deserving of this award.”

They also surprised Bennett, the presenter, with the Legacy Award, for being with WoW from the beginning.

Guay finished by surprising her COO Jess, and her husband, Lewie Guay, with the Founder’s Awards.

After the awards, they finished the evening by inviting the women of WoW to perform a special musical number. They stood on the stage to sing “Breaking Free; Becoming My Best Me,” WoW’s official theme song, written by Nina Angela Lee, the president of Wow’s Executive Board.

WoWUtah will be helping another group of women in 2022. l

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January 2022 | Page 17

Autism: In the schools and workplace; local opportunities promise bright future

T

emple Grandin, perhaps the most famous person with autism, visited Utah in August and was impressed with the opportunities she saw for children and adults with autism.

“I’ve seen more good stuff yesterday and today than I’ve seen in a long time— you’re doing some stuff that’s really special,” she said after visiting the Utah STEM Action Center and seeing the creative design and building tools available to Utah students in the STEM Lab. Grandin believes hands-on learning is ideal for encouraging innovation—especially for kids with autism.

“I watched an autistic kid just blossom in there,” she said. “[He was] about 12 years old, acting really autistic. He started doing a 3D printer, he turned into a different kid.”

Grandin worries that many children get stuck in the “autism box” and that many capable autistic young people are wasting away their time, playing video games in their parents’ basement, when they should be in the workforce innovating, designing and building.

She said many visual thinkers could be successful engineers but they struggle to complete traditional engineering programs because of the math requirements.

“I get worried that my kind of visual thinker is getting strained out because we can’t do algebra,” she said. “But it’s my kind of visual thinker that will build the next Amazon warehouse.”

Grandin has written 13 books explaining the different ways autistic, or neurodiverse, minds process information. As an object visualizing thinker, Grandin transformed the meat processing industry with her revolutionary engineering designs. But she had to go through untraditional channels because of her autism.

Grandin will explore the different ways people think to come up with innovative ideas in a podcast, “How Do You Think of That with Temple Grandin,” which will launch early this year in partnership with the Utah STEM Action Center and Sheri Quinn Productions.

“Temple is interviewing a variety of

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Auticon provides an autism-friendly work environment. (Photo courtesy of David Reeve.)

people working on research projects and innovations, talking to them about their lives, the way they think, and the way that they incorporate STEM into their lives on a daily basis,” said Julienne Bailey, a program coordinator at the Utah STEM Action Center.

The podcast will also delve into the role of education and what teachers and counselors can do to drive innovation.

Grandin has strong opinions about the education of children with autism. In addition to hands-on classes such as shop classes, she said children with autism need life skills training.

“The big thing we’ve got to be doing with kids in the pipeline is learning life skills, learning work skills—not enough emphasis on that,” Grandin said.

Life skills training is what has made a difference for Amy Baker’s two sons with

Autism takes front stage The workings of an autistic mind is front stage in Riverton High School’s upcoming production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.”

The protagonist of the Tony Award-winning play is a teenager with autism who is determined to solve a mystery.

“It’s from his perspective, so we are seeing life through his extraordinary brain and how he’s able to maneuver things and do things that seem impossible for him,” RHS theater teacher Erin McGuire said.

One of the cast members is autistic and McGuire is planning a sensory-friendly performance for autistic audience members. The play runs February 24-28. Visit rivertonhigh.jordandistrict.org for information and tickets.

Page 18 | January 2022

autism. The boys struggled in mainstream classes with neurotypical peers because of their delays in social and verbal skill development, which are typical with autism.

The boys attended specialized schools, the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning and Spectrum Academy Charter School. Spectrum Academy’s teachers use research-based instruction methods and provide a variety of technological tools so that students are not held back by writing, reading, or verbal delays, Baker said.

Their on-staff occupational, speech, behavior, and mental specialists worked with the teaching team to help Baker’s boys figure out what modifications they needed to succeed in the classroom.

In Spectrum Academy’s social skills classes, Baker’s sons learned and practiced how to respond in social situations, something that comes naturally to neurotypical students but not those whose brains are wired differently.

By the end of middle school, both of Baker’s sons were able to transfer to their neighborhood school in mainstream classes. They are now in their junior and senior years.

“They’re doing so well,” Baker said.

“But they wouldn’t be where they are without being at Spectrum to learn those tools. Those life skills that they’ve learned at Spectrum have just changed every aspect of our lives. Socially, they are keeping right up with their peers, which is

huge. They need social skills to be able to get along in the world.”

Jordan School District provides autism support classes at three elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school. The smaller class sizes and Individualized Education Plans help teams of teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists address each student’s academic needs, social skills development and behavior, said Angela Johnston, a special education teacher in one of Rose Creek Elementary’s three autism support classrooms.

In the autism support classrooms, students learn appropriate replacement behaviors to reduce disruptions to learning.

Things that are small annoyances to neurotypical children can trigger a sensory overload tantrum in an autistic or neurodiverse child. When they become overwhelmed, they may respond with stimming behaviors (rocking, pacing, flapping, biting, yelling.) In the autism support classrooms, students learn to prevent and replace those behaviors.

“Our goal is for them to realize they’re starting to get overwhelmed and they come to us and ask us for a break, or say ‘I need to go for a walk’ or ‘I need to go get a drink of water’ or ‘Can I go to the sensory room?’ or ‘It’s loud in here, I need some headphones,’” Johnston said. “Our goal is to get them to a place where they can use those strategies independently.”

Last year, Rose Creek Elementary

Sugar House City Journal

Top: Students with autism at Spectrum Academy enjoy small class sizes and specially trained staff who use research-based instruction methods. (Photo courtesy of Christina Guevara.) Bottom: Temple Grandin speaks at the opening of Auticon’s Salt Lake location. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

created a Sensory Room, a former storage closet with low lighting, stocked with fidget toys, play-doh, pillows and a swing.

“It’s been a great place for kids to go just to get out of the classroom if they feel like they’re starting to escalate or they’re overwhelmed, if it’s too loud, or they’re feeling off that day and they need to just be somewhere quiet,” Johnston said.

Once students learn to prevent and replace behaviors, they are able to participate in mainstream classrooms, which is the goal of the program, said Johnston.

“We teach them appropriate replacement behaviors so they can be in a school setting and get to the point where we can have them mainstream, or their parents can take them out into the community,” she said.

In her 20 year career, Johnston has seen an improved educational experience for autistic students due to research and innovations as well as more parents advocating for their children, and more schools providing specialized services. Utah’s private and charter schools for autistic students are in high demand; Spectrum Acad-

MyS ugar HouseJournal .com

emy, which has grown from one campus to seven in the last 15 years, continues to have a long enrollment waiting list.

Job skills training is part of secondary school instruction for teenagers with autism. Both Spectrum Academy and Jordan District schools begin transition planning in seventh grade. Throughout their middle and high school years, students explore career opportunities and learn job skills through school-based and community-partnership work experiences.

Special education students in grades 9-12 can participate in part-time vocational instruction at JSD’s South Valley School in West Jordan, which also provides post high school life skills and job skills training for special education students ages 1821.

Some students learn and practice job skills while working in South Valley School’s greenhouse and woodworking, framing and engraving shops. Others fill jobs in the community. SVS Principal Rita Bouillon said students with autism have abilities that fill a need in the job force and community employers are thrilled to have

such dedicated workers.

“These students have such great skills because they pay such attention to detail, they like doing repetitive work, and they like doing work accurately,” Bouillon said.

Many prefer jobs that are predictably the same every day such as gathering grocery carts, stocking shelves, making pizzas, and working on assembly lines.

Bouillon said these first job experiences help young adults with autism learn basic job skills—how to be on time, follow directions, dress appropriately, use public transportation and budget—that will translate to any future career. In class, students role play how to ask for a raise, request a day off, and arrange an accommodation. They learn to advocate for themselves and to educate others about autism so that it is not a barrier.

Autism is misunderstood by many and often causes a frustrating cycle of unemployment and underemployment.

“The autism community suffers from an 85% underemployment rate,” said David Aspinall, CEO of U.S. operations of Auticon, an international IT service provider. “Underemployment is the notion that somebody who could be an expert technologist is working in a role that doesn’t make them the compensation that they deserve for their skills. The other version of underemployment is an individual, an incredibly skilled technologist, that has gone from organization to organization, never growing roots, never feeling fulfilled, because they’re not an autism-friendly environment.”

That was the experience of Scott McKell, a 30-something computer programmer from Hyrum, Utah. He said he felt he escaped the stigmatizing ‘box of autism’ because his mother opted to keep him out of the special education system.

She did push his social skills development and he was able to do well in school. But post high school, he struggled to find stable work that paid well. He was a skilled musician and computer programmer but found himself working temporary jobs in warehouses and call centers.

There were always problems with the jobs—call centers were uncomfortably loud, and if there was a big crash in the warehouse, it affected his ability to work accurately.

“I’ve had lots of odd jobs because I hadn’t quite found something that fit or I didn’t realize how to ask for accommodations to make something that was a close fit a solid fit,” McKell said.

Finally, in 2020, he found Auticon, which employs adults on the autism spectrum as technology consultants.

Auticon has tapped into the autistic pool of employees to utilize their skill sets that are ideal in the software development and data science industries. Aspinall said one autistic cognitive strength is brutal honesty, which is an asset in data science.

He said an autistic worker is dedicated to

the data and provides unbiased results, while other people may have an interpretation bias based on what they want the data to show.

Aspinall said people with autism who have the hard skills for a job often don’t make it through the social skills portion of a job interview.

“The traditional interview process is one of the reasons our community is 85% underemployed,” Aspinall said. “There’s human bias, where you’re in an interview and you get that social spark with someone. That has zero bearing on that individual’s ability to do the job, especially in data science and software engineering.”

Auticon uses an autism-friendly recruitment process—gamification to understand the applicant’s technical skills, and a series of chats with job coaches to understand their soft skills. They provide job coaches to help employers understand how to support neurodiversity in the workplace so that they are inclusive and integrated.

Many of the accommodations autistic workers ask for are just good business practices, Aspinall said.

“Things we work with our partners on are things like written instruction instead of verbal instruction, making sure that meetings have an agenda, that communication is concise,” he said. “If you think about it, that is really not that much of an accommodation, that’s just good business practice.”

Grandin attended the ribbon-cutting for Auticon’s Salt Lake operations center when she was in Utah in August and praised the company for recognizing the skills and capabilities of employees with autism. The majority of Auticon’s employees are autistic but Aspinall is quick to dismiss it as anything but good business strategy.

“This notion that this is altruistic is not accurate,” he said. “It’s performance-based. This isn’t altruism. Our team is bringing them a performance advantage.

They are using what has been considered a barrier as a strength.”

McKell was hired by Auticon as a consultant for Fidelity Investments and said the workplace environment is the best he’s ever had because his employer understands what he needs to do his job; it is normalized for him to wear noise-cancelling headphones or to take a break.

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before—in a positive way,” he said. “Just the mere understanding that if I get overstimulated and I need to take a break and walk away, they’re not only OK with that but they encourage that. If I’m too uncomfortable or bothered by something, I disengage and find my zen, so to speak, and then come back and I’m much more efficient than when I was overstimulated and trying to push through.” l

January 2022 | Page 19

Help wanted: Officials for youth sports

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

he number of high school referees and sports officials is declining rapidly across the country. Until recently, Utah had not experienced much of a decline, but this season it has finally hit home. Why is this happening and what can be done to make sure athletes don’t miss games because of it?

“If high school is in session I am doing a sport,” Harley Gold said. “I have officiated since 1967. I started because I was invited to a little league umpires clinic then and I became an umpire. I enjoy all of the sports and picking a favorite is like picking my favorite child.”

Gold is not alone, many of the officials started young and have continued for years.

Former USA Hockey Supervisor of Officials Jim Mckenna started officiating youth and adult recreation hockey games in 1994. He continues working collegiate and junior league games as well as games in the ECHL. “I was looking for a way to earn some extra money back then,” Mckenna said. “I dealt with the assignment of officials and contracts with leagues and organizations and helped with training. It was a lot of work, but it was fun.”

Both of these longtime arbiters enjoy what they do.

“I like being around the game and with the kids,” Gold said.

According to an Ohio University study many states are reporting a decrease in officials. Oregon alone saw a 12% drop in registered football referees this fall.

The shortage has finally hit Utah. Two weeks before the boys basketball season began the Utah High School Activities Association had 450 people registered for the job, nearly 250 less than what they need to complete the season.

In northern California they have seen a decrease of nearly 30%.

Utah has also increased the number of schools therefore increasing the number of games. Making this a two-headed problem for officials.

The lack of officials has forced postponement and cancellation of many sub-varsity games in the state. Some schools are moving games to make it easier to find people to help.

“Every year in the last five or six years we have seen a decline in the number of officials,” McKenna said. “The abuse from parents and players contributes. The younger officials wonder why they would want to go and get yelled at for two hours.”

Sportsmanship, specifically the lack thereof, has become a key factor in the decline of officials. Sportsmanship refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control and

Page 20 | January 2022

courage. In today’s sporting culture those virtues can take a back seat to winning at all costs.

“We have really lost the sense of what is appropriate. It seems OK to scream at some official and tell them how crappy they are. Society is a lot less accepting and willing to come to an understanding,” McKenna said.

In a National Association of Sporting Officials survey, adult recreation and youth competitive sports had the worst sportsmanship and 47% of officials surveyed feared for their safety because of a fan, player, coach or administrator.

According to UHSAA assistant director Jeff Cluff, poor sportsmanship is “probably the No. 1 reason an official does not return. We lose about 75% of first-year officials. It is hard if you don’t have the personality to handle it. There is no place for bad sportsmanship.”

In early November, at a 13-14-year-old division hockey tournament in Colorado, Ron Groothedde, a 25-year veteran referee, was sprayed in the face with a large can of Lysol by an angry parent. The suspect was arrested for harassment.

Incidents of poor sportsmanship are numerous.

“I think it takes communication. I see a lot of officials that get yelled at and they

yell right back and all that does is fuel the fire. Talking to a coach and explaining what you saw in a conversation and come to an agreement,” McKenna said. “Some of the younger officials are intimidated by the coaches.”

The extra money of a part-time job like officiating was a big draw to begin with, but many potential officials have found other jobs that also pay well.

In March of 2020, when the pandemic started many games and competitions were canceled. For six to eight months officials sat at home. Many have not returned, citing COVID concerns and also a lack of interest.

“We have tried a few different things,” United States Specialty Sports Association’s Utah Director Jerry Ong said. “We work hard on having good compensation, umpire treatment and fan control. I know as an industry we have suffered with the loss of referees.”

The UHSAA pay scale for officials varies by sport and level. A varsity football referee can take home $74 whereas a volleyball official makes $59. Some schools offer dinner and food stipends to help with travel expenses.

The current pay rates have increased nearly 10% across the board. Some officials can get paid mileage to travel to an

event.

“Basketball and softball have been affected the most,” Cluff said. “We have games in rural areas that need to have officials. We are paying more to get guys to travel to those places. We are looking for ways to recruit new help.”

The athletes and coaches of today are the officials of tomorrow. Cluff said getting them involved when they are young could help increase numbers.

“Our coaches make the best officials,” Cluff said. “A basketball coach can be a great baseball umpire or football referee.

They have great relationships with kids and know how to work positively with them. It also gives kids a better understanding of the game.”

The UHSAA encourages its athletes to participate in little leagues and youth sports programs. Its older referees also attempt to persuade friends to join the organization.

“You can never find a more fulfilling part-time job,” Gold said. “I get to set my own hours, work when I want to work.

There is also plenty of help available.

Training every year and other mentors to keep you straight.”

According to a recent NASO survey, 48% of all current officials started because of an invitation from a friend.

There are also numerous other reasons why many people get involved. They include extra money, the love of sports, a way to stay active, and giving back to a game they love.

“I get to work the ECHL games and there are times that I think ‘why do I still do this.’ I just got berated for the entire game, but there are times when the action is intense and the game is back and forth.

It is awesome to be involved in a game that is back and forth and the guys are playing well,” McKenna said. “I have also worked with other officials that have gone on and had great careers in the NHL.” The hard work of officials does not go unnoticed.

“I definitely think officials have the hardest job to do. No matter what they do it will upset one side or the other,” West Jordan boys basketball head coach Christian Wouden said. “We have some great officials and they work extremely hard.”

In 2021, Tammy Spencer and Lance Nielsen were awarded officials of the year

by UHSAA. Many leagues offer training for new officials. The UHSAA has set up official associations and they provide constant training and are always looking for new hires to try it out. l

High school basketball referees work together to make sure rules are followed and the games are officiated correctly. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

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Sugar House City Journal

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maybe the sequel to Dune.

Once the dust was hauled away and the walls were beautifully painted, we turned our attention to the floors. Our carpet crossed the prairie in the back of a handcart, survived nuclear testing in Southern Utah and was definitely sprouting tentacles. Time to toss it before it murdered us in our sleep.

Then came the discussion of wood versus carpet. My husband is old school and likes soft carpeting, probably so he doesn’t break a hip if he falls. I like the clean line of wood. We compromised with me getting wood flooring in my office, and carpet everywhere else; except the bathroom. We’re not animals.

When it came time to move furniture out of the house, I threw things away willy-nilly.

I took bags of clothes and shoes and children to Goodwill. My husband followed behind me, taking things out of donation bags and hiding them. He has sentimental attachments to items like water bottles and lanyards and the blouse I wore when we saw the Blue Man Group in 2008.

Finally, the walls were painted, flooring was complete, furniture was moved back and everything was right with the world. But our dog was hyperventilating.

Before renovation (BR), she’d nap under the guest bed, which is now in another home.

She wandered the halls, forlorn and lost, carrying her bone from room to room, trying to navigate her apocalyptic new world.

Not only that, but the wood floor distressed her and she refused to walk on it. She slept on the couch until midnight. Then I heard her toenails clicking as she walked across the floor and threw herself onto her bed, sighing loudly, so we’d know she’d been inconvenienced.

For a while, we played The Floor is Lava to keep the carpet looking bright and new. But walls get scratched and carpet gets stained because life is a messy, dirty, grimy experiment where sometimes you don’t know if the stain on the carpet is blood or pudding, and your dog needs therapy, and your husband unpacks the donation bags. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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