Taylorsville Journal | August 2023

WHAT MAKES A GREAT GIRL SCOUT LEADER? ONE LEADER SETS EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Fifty-seven-year-old

Shari Solomon-Klebba was harnessed, dangling about 100 feet from a tree.

She was with her Girl Scout troop on an approved climb to scale giant, old-growth pines to see the views of the Olympic Peninsula from Washington’s San Juan Islands.

Solomon-Klebba wasn’t scared or mad. Instead, she was joking as a guide was helping her accomplish her goal.

It was her first-time trying tree canopy climbing — and it wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go as planned for the co-leader of a high school-aged troop of girls. After trying 20 minutes to learn how to climb the tree ropes, Solomon-Klebba didn’t master it. Instead of giving up or becoming frustrated, she graciously accepted an ascending device to help her summit the 250 feet so she wouldn’t deprive the girls of the unique experience.

Through this experience, the Taylorsville role model exemplified the mission of Girl Scouting: courage — being willing to take on challenges and showing resilience from setbacks; confidence — accomplishing what she set out to do; and character — showing positive values in a challenging time.

In Utah, there are thousands of Girl Scouts.

They’re learning first aid, scaling new heights and advocating to better the community — in addition to performing service projects and selling Girl Scout cookies to earn money to go to camp.

Supporting them are countless volunteers.

While volunteers serve many roles, they are the backbone

This past June, Girl Scout leader Shari Solomon-Klebba joined her troop tree canopy climbing in Washington’s San Juan Islands. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

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Rep. Spackman Moss breaks record with 23 years of service as a female legislator

CarolSpackman Moss has made history as Utah’s longest-serving female state legislator. Moss, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives for over 23 years, was first elected in 2000 and has been re-elected every two years since then.

Moss represents District 34, which covers East Murray, Holladay and Millcreek.

“I ran for office because I had a call from my cousin, then a legislator, who said I should run for office because my current representative was not a good advocate for public education,” Moss said. “At that time, I was in my 32nd year of teaching English at Olympus High, and I loved my job. I was, however, getting burned out from grading essays at night, on weekends, and on holidays, and I thought being a legislator might be something I would enjoy if I retired from teaching.

“Note that I started teaching at age 23 but couldn’t afford to retire in my 50s and give up my health insurance. I thought about it for a few days, talked with my family, had a few more legislators call to persuade me to run, and I decided that with all the students I had taught in my neighborhood and community, I had name recognition and thought I would have a pretty good shot at winning.”

In retrospect, Moss might agree that the more things change, the more they stay the same when she characterizes how the legislature has changed since she started.

“The changes I have seen over the years is that the work is more intense, more bills, more meetings, more special sessions. The session is the same 45 days, but the budget has more than doubled to this year’s 29-billion-dollar budget. More bills than ever are written, over a 1,000, this year, but we have the same amount of time to complete the budget. That means more speed, less scrutiny, longer hours, and more competition for funding,” Moss said.

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By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

However, one change this year concerns her more over past years.

“The biggest change, especially noticeable this year, is the partisan divide is much greater. When I first was elected, and for many years, the two parties competed, of course, and had some different political views, but this year, it is much more partisan with bills that come from outside organizations, far-right groups that want to restrict what and how teachers can teach, what books students can read, what parents can do in terms of medications for their children who have gender dysphoria, and what rights women have in regards to their reproductive healthcare to name a few.

“This session also saw bills combined that forced legislators to choose between something they dislike, like school vouchers, coupled with pay raises for teachers, HB 215, which started the session on an adversarial note,” Moss said.

For a Democrat in a super-majority Republican legislature, Moss has passed quite a bit of legislation. However, the one she most fondly remembers is paving the way for using Naloxone.

“It has also been gratifying to meet people who have benefitted from laws I have passed, whose lives were saved by Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug,” Moss said. “That has saved countless lives after I passed bills to allow police to carry it, local health clinics to dispense it, and now it can be purchased without a prescription from a pharmacy, usually covered by insurance.”

Her last few years in the legislature have been challenging, not due to partisan fights but because she lost her beloved husband, Bob.

“Sadly, my life has changed considerably in the past 18 months because of the death of my husband in July 2021,” Moss said. “I am fortunate that all three of my

daughters, their husbands, and my grandchildren now live close by in Holladay, Millcreek and Murray. My daughters attend plays, book clubs, and political functions with me, events that my late husband Bob Moss always attended.”

Does she have any plans on retiring?

“Yes, of course, I plan on retiring. I will announce it when the time is right. Currently, I have another year and a half of my 12th term, and then I will decide. The filing deadline for the 2024 election is next year, the first week in January,” Moss said.

Moving into year 24 of her legislative service, there are things that drive her personally.

“My favorite part of being a legislator has been meeting many people from different backgrounds and professions. I have gained enormous respect for state employees in all the capacities that make our state run effectively, from the folks at the DMV to UDOT, to employees at the state and local health departments, Refugee Services, Consumer Services Division, the State Board of Education, and more.

“I have also met constituents, thousands of them at their doors when I am campaigning, and at town halls, and other events I attend, from parades to arts festivals in the cities I represent,” Moss said. l

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Rep. Carol Spackman Moss speaks at the Utah State Capitol about her Suicide Prevention in Correctional Facilities bill that passed this session. (Photo courtesy of Carol Spackman Moss)

Sen. Karen Kwan is still adjusting to that new title, following her quick shift from the state house earlier this year

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Ofcourse, we are all familiar with the pejorative definition of a “Karen”—some highfalutin, self-centered person, who seems to enjoy making life difficult for others, for no particularly good reason.

But anyone who’s worked with Karen Kwan on Utah’s Capitol Hill—or with the Karen she replaced in the state senate last winter, Karen Mayne—will tell you, these two Karens aren’t, well, “Karens.”

In the world of Utah politics, Kwan and Mayne are the underprivileged, the underdogs. Sure, sure, for starters, they are female. But more significantly, Karen and Karen are Democrats.

“In the last (state legislative) session, there were 14 Democrats in the Utah House, along with 61 Republicans,” Kwan said. “In my new body, the State Senate, I was one of six Democrats, along with 23 Republicans.”

If ever a Karen deserved to act like a “Karen”—put upon and in an unfair, uphill position—it would seem Kwan had that right. But despite her undisputed position of political underprivilege, the freshman senator is proud of year one in her new post.

“Even though we are in the minority, Democrats still get things done in the legislature,” Kwan added. “I stick to fixing problems. I’ve always been able to work with Republicans. We’re able to find common ground. The number of bills you get passed on Capitol Hill does not reflect how hard you are working. A couple of the bills I was going to introduce never were, because the issues were taken care of in other ways.”

Kwan had just returned from a family vacation last winter, when her political world was turned upside down. Fellow Karen, Mayne, had just been reelected to the Utah Senate a couple of months earlier—but chose to retire from her

post, for health reasons.

“Karen (Mayne) and I were both reelected in November; I was all set to go, in my House 31 position,” Kwan said. “Then, just after returning from our holiday trip, Karen announced her retirement. That led to a whirlwind special election. I was one of about nine people who entered the race and the only candidate who was a current member of the legislature.”

Kwan says about 60 Democratic Party delegates cast ballots in the election. The vote was non-binding, as Gov. Spencer Cox would appoint Mayne’s replacement. But everyone expected him to do what he did—appoint the leading vote-getter.

“My first session in the Utah House was in 2017, so I had plenty of experience there,” Kwan said. “But now, suddenly, I was shifting literally as this year’s session began. Even now, with the session over, I am still learning some of the differences between the house and senate. Honestly, I’m still learning my exact senate district boundaries. It is, roughly, from 3500 South to 5400 South, and from the Jordan River to 5600 West. I know I used to have about 40,000 constituents (in House District 31), and I now have about 100,000 (Senate District 12) constituents.”

As she learned the ropes at the “other end” of the state capitol building last winter, Kwan says she had a lot of mentors who were happy to help her out. Atop that list was Taylorsville’s “other” state senator, Wayne Harper. Just like Kwan, he shifted to the senate after several years in the Utah House.

“I got along very well with Wayne when I was in the House and he was very gracious to work with in the Senate,” she added. “In general, I found the entire Senate to be very collegial. I don’t mean to bash the House but it always felt like a competition there. In the Senate, it feels more like we work together on policy.”

“Karen Kwan has been a good asset to both the House and Senate,” Harper said. “She works hard to represent her constituents. Sen. Mayne is a hard person to replace, but Karen is doing a good job.”

Harper is proud of the fact, state senate policy discussions include the entire body. In other words, those six Democrats—including Kwan—are not cast to the sideline.

“We respect each elected official and are willing to work together,” he said. “We look for what unites us. Karen (Kwan) has been at the table. She’s been talking. Sometimes I slipped and called her ‘Rep. Kwan.’ But she’s doing a good job for her district.”

Because Kwan was appointed by the governor following a special election, she must now face the general electorate next fall. And although state senators are normally elected into four-year terms, even if she’s elected in 2024, Kwan will have to return to the ballot in November 2026. Only then would she be seated in

the state senate for a full, four-year term.

“That part of it is like being in the House again—running every other year,” Kwan said. “I know the Republicans will be gunning for my seat, because I am new. But I believe my constituents will see what I am doing for them. I love being a senator. But I would return to the House in a minute, if Karen Mayne could still be here. I miss her hard work and energy, every day.”

Sen. Harper had equally complimentary things to say about his former colleague.

“Karen Mayne was a champion for the west side,” he said. “I had the privilege to work with her for many years. Every year, we sat down ahead of the upcoming session to chat one-on-one about what our priorities should be for the west side. Then we worked independently in our different caucuses to get those items covered. She knew her principles. But she could also work across the aisle to get things done.”

For the record, following Kwan’s special election to the senate, West Valley City resident Brett Garner won the special election and was appointed by Gov. Cox to fill her House 31 seat. He was one of the handful of opponents Kwan defeated for the senate post.

On his website, Garner reports, “I am a fifth-generation Utahn, descended from Utah pioneers. My wife Shannon teaches special education resource at Taylorsville High, her alma mater. I’ve worked to improve educational opportunities and fought against threats to our students’ success.”

Like Kwan, Garner will face the general electorate in 16 months.

After another couple of months of legislative interim meetings, Kwan will return for her second Utah State Senate session. Mayne is expected to remain in retirement. And the rest of us will have to keep in mind, not all Karens are “Karens.” l

Karen Kwan has represented Taylorsville in the State Legislature since 2017. This past winter was her first on the senate side of the State Capitol building. (yahoo.com)

After being appointed to fill a state senate seat by Gov. Spencer Cox earlier this year, Karen Kwan will face her first general election vote for the post in November 2024. (kwanforsenate.com)

Sen. Karen Kwan was among the speakers at this year’s annual Utah Asian Festival. (Karen Kwan newsletter)

SLCC exercise science student Erin Jackson aiming to repeat speedskating gold medal at 2026 Olympics

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Erin Jackson is the first Black American woman to win a winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport. She claimed the 500-meter speed skating gold at Beijing in 2022.

“It was a lot of shock, disbelief,” she remembered one year later. “It was surreal. I felt a lot of pride; I saw my dad’s face, then my coach, my teammates, those who supported me along the way. This was a group win, for sure.”

Jackson hopes to add another medal at the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Recently, she took one month off to recover from surgery.

“I get that itch to get out and do something. I’m being active by going for long walks and spending time on the bike. I’m taking it step by step,” she said. “I always tell people to take that first step right because if you think about your goals as these big long-term things like wanting to go to the Olympics that seems like an insurmountable goal. But when you just take that first step to what you’re trying to accomplish, then the next step comes a little easier. Then the next thing you’re snowballing into your goals.”

Jackson is an exercise science student at Salt Lake Community College.

At 30, she already has graduated with honors from the University of Florida’s materials science and engineering program and earned an associate degree from SLCC in computer science.

“I’m a naturally very lazy person. If I don’t have enough things to fill my day, I’ll just sit down and watch TV. I feel like keeping a few things on my plate helps me with time management,” she said. “My career goal is biomechanics; I want to work with prosthetics. I know a lot of Paralympians and I’m always asking questions, trying to figure out the ins and outs of their prosthetics and devices.”

Jackson, who was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports in 2012 and 2013, followed a lot of skaters who transition to ice to pursue the Olympics. However, she needed some persuasion.

“I didn’t see that in my future. I always thought I’m happy on my skates, my inlines. I hate being cold. Why would I switch over to the ice? I was focused on getting my degree,” she said, remembering she shifted to ice when she was convinced she “could possibly go to the Olympics.”

With four months of speedskating experience on ice, Jackson qualified for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. In 2021, she became the first Black American woman to win the World Cup in the 500 meters. Her Olympic speed skating gold medal is

the first since Chris Witty in 1000 meters in 2002 and the first American woman to win the women’s 500 meters since Bonnie Blair in 1994.

The student-athlete was part of a keynote panel for the post-COVID-19 return of SLCC’s exercise science conference, sharing her insights with fitness instructors, personal trainers, students and other exercise enthusiasts.

“I don’t really like to eat my vegetables, but if I do, I just douse them in ranch,” Jackson told them. “Dr. Jen told me it doesn’t hurt to do that, just because you’re dousing them doesn’t negate the fact that you’re still getting your nutrients.”

Her diet and exercise are monitored by the U.S. speedskating team. Two members SLCC Assistant Professor “Dr. Jen” Day, a certified specialist in sports dietetics, and SLCC Associate Professor Carrie Needham, a doctorate who has worked in exercise science for more than 25 years — joined Jackson, describing how they support Olympic excellence.

Day traveled with the speedskating team and watched Jackson win her gold medal.

“It was a really cool moment,” she said. “I was crying and screaming. It felt Erin just brought the whole world together, and everyone celebrated with her. I’m very grateful to be a part of it. It’s probably one of the top 10 experiences of my whole life.”

Day said her role is to pair sports nutrition with the science of exercise physiology and science of nutrition for the 20to 30-member speed skating team, ages 15 to 36, who not only practice on the ice, but often cross train, biking up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the summer.

“It’s a big difference in fueling needs if they’re out on the bike on a hot day in July compared to doing intervals in a cold, dry environment on ice. There’s a lot of education that goes into teaching them depending on their environment, what kind of training they’re doing, what phase of training there and what their nutrition needs are going to be,” she said.

Day provides healthy diet counseling individually as well as team talks.

“I’m teaching these athletes how to eat a baseline healthy diet,” she said, adding that the team also undergoes regular body composition testing, including girth measurements.

Jackson supports a healthy diet and proper training.

“I wasn’t the best athlete before I joined the skating team,” she said. “I relied mostly on talent so when I came out to Salt Lake City, the coach had all these different ideas about training such as warming up and cooling down. I said that I never warmed up and cooled down. My thoughts around exercise and training changed completely. Now, I’m one of those athletes who always asks a lot of questions. I learn why we’re doing certain things. That’s

also why I’m pursuing this degree in exercise science; I feel as a top-level athlete, it’s important to know the science behind what I’m doing every day. I’ve learned fueling can be one thing that people kind of overlook. When it comes to training and being a top-level athlete, people think that you win in the gym, but refueling is one of the most important things. Your muscles are still working and breaking down after training until you refuel them to repair the muscle fibers.”

Day shops and packs food for the athletes and monitors their supplements.

“It is important for them to have access to food that’s going to support their training and I don’t just willy-nilly get everyone on supplements. We supplement based on need,” she said. “I focus on food first. I’d rather them get their vitamin C from a whole orange because it contains carbohydrates, healthy fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants, right? All of these are perfectly packaged in a little health snack. Where if they take a vitamin C supplement, they’re only getting vitamin C. So, I have a food first approach always.”

By monitoring athletes, she has a better understanding of what is needed.

During the Olympic year, Day noticed Jackson was “getting tired all the time. She needed multiple naps a day. We did some blood work, and it wasn’t surprising to see that her iron levels had tanked.”

With a change of diet and supplements, she was able to increase her level

Salt Lake Community College student and 2022 Olympic 500-meter speed skating gold medalist Erin Jackson shared her story with attendees at the school’s annual exercise science program conference. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Salt Lake Community College student Erin Jackson earned her Olympic gold medal following the nutrition and care of the school’s exercise science program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

and along with it, Jackson had improved energy.

“We have comprehensive labs so we can see all angles of what’s going on and we have a doctor that provides guidance for us,” Day said. “We work a lot with the physiology of exercise, so we understand what the body is going through when it’s stressed with exercise.”

Needham said that exercise science can support Olympians as well as any population since the concepts are the same.

“I look at how can we take that research and apply it in a real-world setting,” she said, saying it is the same whether it’s for somebody who has a chronic disease and needs to improve their lifestyle through an exercise program or if it’s “training for athletes so that they can improve their time by 1% to make it onto the podium. The job of the exercise or sports scientist is to answer questions from the coach or from the athlete. We can look at research and find answers. We can do testing and find those answers. But when we can answer the questions for the coach and the athletes, then we are giving them valuable information that they can use in their performance.”

Her programs are individualized, matching the physiological profile to the athlete.

“We have to know what that physiological profile looks like and the type of athlete they are. Do they have more fast

twitch muscle fiber or slow twitch muscle fiber? What are the demands of the sport? Is it more of an aerobic sport and they need to be able to do that for long periods of time? Or is it a more explosive sport and they need to have that quick, powerful movement,” she said, adding they run tests, including oxidavitve systems, lactate threshold and aerobic capacity. “That’s valuable information for coaches, for athletes, for a personal trainer, for an exercise therapist, to know what we’re doing is making a difference in that training.”

Jackson said she gives “a solid effort” when it comes to testing.

“Testing is really important because our sports scientists, they use this data to help me achieve my goals,” she said, adding that she also makes sure she gets plenty of rest, stretches and massages her muscles for the next training session. “I used to sleep five to six hours a night because of being a student and staying up late doing homework. I had to work on getting eight hours of sleep a night.”

As Jackson looks ahead to her skating career and the possibility of the Olympics returning to Utah, she’s pumped.

“I’m currently 30 years old and I want to skate forever, but that’s not feasible. I would love to have the Salt Lake Olympics in 2030 and be able to compete on home ice,” she said. “If it’s 2034, I’ll likely be on the sidelines, but I’ll be supporting Salt Lake’s Olympics 100%.” l

One smart cookie—founder of RubySnap Cookies, Tami Steggell, is committed to her customers and to her community

By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com

She may cook sweet, but the gal’s got grit. Tami Steggell is the founder of RubySnap Bakery where daily she bakes and serves up cookies. It is her dream job and may sound like the sweetest gig in the world, but Steggell worked hard, and continues to work hard, to make it so.

Necessary ingredients

Steggell’s father was a Marine, and as such, she grew up all over the world. She calculated that she’d moved 21 times by the time she was 18 years old. At about age 15, her family was living in Saudi Arabia, and she decided to move back to the States for educational opportunities.

She finished high school and went on to get her degree in Architectural Design from BYU. After that, she spent 15 years in the industry. At that time she was an avid cyclist, training all week, and on her one day off she wanted nothing more than something wonderful to eat. She’d think about it all week, because “every edible moment meant something to me,” but invariably the sweets she found would taste like nothing but sugar.

That’s when she started baking for herself, experimenting with seasonal ingredients like beets, rhubarb, cherries, mint and vanilla beans sourced directly from Bali. Her own cookies were “worth her time and calories,” sweettalking her architectural clients with a batch of fresh-baked was a success, and she thought maybe she had created something special.

In 2008, she quit her job, cashed out her IRA and opened the flagship store at 770 S. 300 West, in an area that is becoming the redeveloped and cool Granary District, but back then it was surrounded by industry and empty store fronts. Still, she liked the vibe of the place and it was rent she could afford. With sweat equity, she gutted the building and opened the doors. And the customers came.

Thankfully, the cookie didn’t crumble

That’s not where the story ends, and things haven’t always been sweet.

At conception, the company was named Dough Girl, a name Steggell had copyrighted, but Pillsbury sued anyway, as the name was a little too close to Dough Boy for their liking. Steggell decided she could be stuck in the courtroom proving she was right, or she could continue her dream journey, baking great cookies. She opted out of a lengthy legal battle and it took her $50,000 to rebrand to RubySnap, but her customers and the community responded and rallied behind her.

By 2018, RubySnap had expanded to five stores, a couple out of state, but Steggell realized with all the expansion, she and her crew had been working harder, not smarter. Her life was unbalanced. It was a hard decision, but RubySnap closed all but their flagship store and pulled out of 165 retail outlets, getting back to their core priorities.

And now we have the Salt Lake “Cookie Wars.” There is fresh cookie competition and it’s getting heated, as Crumbl, Dirty Dough and Crave battle it out in the bakery and in court. RubySnap is out of the legal fray, but when asked about the pop-up cookie shop competition on the South Valley Chamber Podcast, Steggell wasn’t worried, “Competition forces ingenuity, an evaluation of your product and priorities, and the people who win are the consumers.”

Change and innovation keep it fresh for this smart cookie

Steggell has a passion for fresh produce in season. She builds the flavor of her cookies through real ingredients and no preservatives: strawberries in the spring, peaches during harvest, citrus in the winter. She is always experimenting with new flavor palates and wants the seasonal options to taste “pulled from the garden.”

Each day visitors to the store are able to choose from 22 different types of cookie, and the choice isn’t easy. Eighteen are menu/customer staples, two are seasonal specialties, and two are show-off cookies, made with a variety of unusual ingredient combinations. Each cookie is named after one of the “We Can Do It” women of World War II, who Steggell so admires and who are a part of the RubySnap brand.

There’s the Ellie, a gluten-free (you’d never know it) topped with seasonal peaches, created in honor of a former employee with significant dietary restrictions. There’s the Sophia made with passion fruit and hibiscus, the Margo with chocolate cinnamon dough and a

milk chocolate mint center, and the Trudy, an old-fashioned chocolate chip girl. All in all, Steggell says they have developed and baked over 90 different recipes.

For those who don’t live close to the flagship store, frozen dough can be found at Harmons, Lee’s Marketplace and Whole Foods across the state. And for this next holiday season, RubySnap is creating a dry cookie mix for baking and gifting with flavors like eggnog and chocolate peppermint.

Something else to chew on Steggell is the mom of seven and a new empty-nester. This left her with a tiny crumb of extra time, and because one cannot live on cookies alone, Steggell started Bite Me Industries @bitemeindustries, an Instagram account where she creates one-minute tutorials of what she is cooking in her own kitchen. She films an actual dinner-in-the-making, edits the footage to a bite-sized portion and posts the segment with an ingredient list and instructions.

Her goal is to demystify a meal. Recipes include favorite salad dressings, mains, greens and grains salads, desserts (of course), and other recipes using all things seasonal.

Bite Me Industries started as a hobby and morphed quickly into a monthly cooking segment on KSL Studio 5, and a teaching gig at Orson Gygi.

A cookie to share with the community

Since RubySnap cookies are made fresh with no preservatives, at the end of each day unpurchased product is boxed and frozen for donation. Anyone can request cookies, but the company rule is that a donation must go toward a good cause. Recipients are places like the Ronald McDonald House, Primary Children’s

Hospital, unhoused family shelters, nonprofit preschools and various adult rehab sites. Steggell was told that attendance at several of the rehab sites is higher on the days they deliver, as the cookies provide a sweet reason to show up.

And new this year at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, kids can try their hand at working at a pretend RubySnap Bakery in a play kitchen complete with ovens, cookie sheets, and plastic cookies and frosting. RubySnap provided ideas and branding for the kitchen, and dollars toward the project. Annually, Steggell and RubySnap donate more than $165,000 to the community, a big bite for a small company. l

All sorts of deliciousness in one box. (Ella Joy Olsen/City Journals)

Tami Steggell founder of RubySnap Cookies stands in front of the flagship location in the Granary District on Third West. (Ella Joy Olsen/City Journals)

The flagship RubySnap location in the historic Granary District on Third West. (Ella Joy Olsen/ City Journals)

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UTWNG is about building relationships and collaboration

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Karin

Palle can name each of the 10 women who got together in 2011 for their first networking meeting. Most of the women worked from home and were starting businesses in fields like real estate, consulting and photography. Their goal was to encourage each other and provide insight into building a successful company.

Now, the Utah Women’s Networking Group, founded by Donna Rudzik, has more than 750 members across the state. It has grown to become one of the most successful networking groups for entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in Utah. With a focus on collaboration instead of competition, group members are mentors, cheerleaders, counselors and friends to help build women in business.

Palle took over UTWNG after Rudzik stepped away from the group. The mission of building relationships has stayed the top priority over the last 12 years.

“We want to connect people to build valuable relationships that will last beyond business,” she said. “We’ve helped people through deaths, we’ve helped people through births, we've helped people through businesses falling apart or starting businesses. A lot of these women have fought depression and anxiety and all types of mental health issues because they needed to belong somewhere. They know they belong with us.”

The organization’s Facebook page is run by UTWNG ambassadors who engage members on a daily basis, encouraging them to share lessons learned, best practices, hard-won advice and their sense of humor. That daily connection is valuable, especially for women (and men) who run small businesses out of their home.

Facebook page administrators are quick to enforce the no bullying, no politics, no selling and no religion rules to keep the social media platform a safe place for everyone.

“You can go on other groups and everybody's selling, selling, selling and trying to be better,” Palle said. “I don't see our people like that. They’re not trying to be better than some-

one else, they're just trying to be the best they can be. And there's a huge difference in that.”

Besides building relationships, UTWNG’s second goal is to educate. Whether it’s online training seminars or the annual women’s conference where the organization has awarded more than $125,000 in grant money to female entrepreneurs, members can be involved at any level.

UTWNG members can learn business skills like creating a resume, marketing or understanding best hiring practices. By partnering with other groups like the Women’s Business Center of Utah, the Utah Microloan Fund and local chambers, there is access to a wealth of knowledge.

The popular Coffee Connections that went away during COVID is getting restarted. People gather at a local coffee shop to have a relaxed conversation in an informal setting. It’s a chance for people to connect and share their wisdom.

Angie Gallegos is a UTWNG member and ambassador. She and her husband, Pete, own Utah Scale Center, an independent dealer of industrial weighing equipment. Gallegos joined the group five years ago as a way to create friendships.

“I think at my age, and just kind of being isolated at this small business, my world has gotten small, as far as friendships go,” Gallegos said. “So really, for me, the biggest benefit has been meeting other women that I’ve been able to connect with, on a personal level.”

Although many members are entrepreneurs and owners of cottage industries, there are also members who are part of larger companies looking for support and networking opportunities. And while it’s called a women’s networking group, membership is open to any gender.

For more information, visit utwng.com.

“[UTWNG] brings a level of support and camaraderie,” Gallegos said. “We gain things from one another like our ability to succeed, especially if it’s in a male-dominated field or company. That is a real benefit to networking with other women.” l

The Utah Women’s Networking Group provides opportunities for women in business to support each other, learn about entrepreneurship and create long-lasting relationships. (Photo courtesy of Rick Hepner)

support to a troop of girls age 5 through 18 running program-based meetings to provide Girl Scout experiences. These troops may be a group of neighborhood girls, those in community and refugee centers, or in homeless and domestic shelters.

Many of these volunteers were Girl Scouts themselves.

According to Girl Scouts of the USA’s 2021 alumni facts, more than one in three women in the United States were Girl Scouts at some point in their lives, resulting in more than 50 million Girl Scout alumnae.

More than 80% hold positions of leadership — 71% of the women in U.S. senate are Girl Scout alums and every female U.S. secretary of state has been a Girl Scout or Girl Guide (as they are commonly called in other countries).

Girl Scouts volunteer alumni earned higher levels of education (78%), more satisfied in their careers (68%) and are more likely to be involved civically (86%). If they earned the Gold Award, the alums are more likely to become more committed and volunteer.

The majority, like Solomon-Klebba, assert Girl Scouts has a positive impact on their lives.

Growing up, Solomon-Klebba was a member in several troops, including being part of what is now-known as Girl Scouts Overseas and a Mariner specialty troop. She found a place of belonging where others not just accepted her, but welcomed her. She thrived in this niche, earning her Girl Scout’s highest awards, First Class and Gold Award, and now, pays it back, volunteering to regularly mentor high school age girls who are earning their Gold Awards.

As a teacher for the deaf, Solomon-Klebba not only champions for those kids, but also for Girl Scouts. Just days after returning from her troop trip from the San Juan Islands, she dedicated several days to teaching new skills to Girl Scouts who came to statewide camporee. She also helped with the triennial 53rd Girl Scout Convention held in Salt Lake City in 2014.

Solomon-Klebba joined Girl Scouting as a 7-year-old Brownie in a multi-level troop in Norway. Her sister, Peg, was three years older and had already been a Scout when the family lived in Alaska. Finding no existing troop at the American school overseas, her mother started one for girls of all ages.

When the family moved to multiple Midwest states for her dad’s civil engineering job, her mother continued to be the troop leader. Camping was a big part of her life growing up, both with Scouts and her family. Her father liked to tinker and make things work, much like she does as she and her family recently converted a van and a school bus into campers.

“I’ve always had strong science interests. Nature, plants and flowers, animals — it was a big part of my life,” she said. “I thought I’d be a vet.”

Her family moved again, to Salt Lake City, where she joined another Girl Scout

troop, and attended Churchill Junior High and Skyline High.

Solomon-Klebba bonded with the girls in that troop. They worked on badges and performed service projects. Five of them joined her in the summers to be counselors at Cloud Rim residential camp, something she did every summer for seven years. She also served as a girl representative on the council’s board of directors and a co-leader for an elementary-age troop at the YWCA.

Several of her troop members were part of a specialty Mariner troop.

“We did everything boat and water related. We sailed, canoed, kayaked, wind sailed, rowed boats. We’d go to (Newport) California and compete at the Girl Scout gathering with other Mariners and be tested on parts of a ship, semaphore, Morse code, and knots, and we had boating and swimming races. We’d draw the shape of a ship around our campsite, so we had to keep everything shipshape,” she said.

Solomon-Klebba was one of eight girls across the U.S. selected to go to Venezuela to celebrate the country’s 25th anniversary of Girl Guiding shortly after the U.S. celebrated 70 years of Girl Scouting.

“We slept in army tents at a primitive camp in the back of a jungle. The camp was militaristic. We’d line up for uniform inspections and have calisthenics. We learned that girls in Venezuela were selected, so it was distinguished to be part of their eight-member patrol,” she said, adding that girls from Trinidad and Tobago participated in the gathering, too.

Solomon-Klebba also found a direction for her life.

In her troop, she learned some sign language to accompany Girl Scout songs. As a counselor, she used that skill to communicate with girls who were deaf and attended camp sessions and with a deaf staff member at camp.

But at Utah State University, she was studying science.

“Even though I love science, I wasn't enjoying it. I liked my sign language class, and I was told I should be a teacher. I remembered as a kid, I always played school and I loved teaching at Girl Scout camp, so I sat down with my professor and asked how I should pursue it,” she said.

Solomon-Klebba earned her bachelor's in elementary education with a minor in communicative disorders and has her master’s in deaf education. She also has a science endorsement.

“I’m a teacher for the deaf who teaches science. I love science and like that I can make learning accessible for deaf students,” she said.

She has taught 30 years in deaf education. She has worked at Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, as well as in Wyoming, Colorado and Maine. In 2019, she was nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year award.

“Many of the things I learned in Girl Scouts, I incorporate in my teaching, both in science and leadership such as taking care of environment and making sure everyone knows what’s going on and is included. I teach them to think outside the box, how to work as a team and how to problem solve, skills I learn and

teach in Girl Scouts,” she said. She is an advocate for her students. She leads after-school activities such as FIRST LEGO League, Battle of the Books and Academic Bowl.

“I’m giving my deaf students opportunities the same opportunities as everyone else,” she said. “When I was in Colorado, our students competed against traditional schools in an academic speed event called Match Witz. We lobbied to have questions given ahead of time to our interpreters so our deaf students would be on equal playing ground as others because when you're interpreting, there's always a delay. It’s important that we give everybody equal footing.”

She can make connections between her profession and her personal life.

“I'm a member of the LGBTQ community, and I see lots of similarities with the deaf community. The oppression they've encountered and are still battling, such as accessibility. The incident with Match Witz happened a while ago in a different state, but that kind of thing continues to happen. Similarly, there’s lots of oppression in the LGBTQ community. We've had to go through same sex marriage, and it's still something we’re having to fight for constantly,” she said.

Solomon-Klebba said it’s through Girl Scouting that she found a place to connect.

“I was shy as a teen, probably because I didn't have interest in the normal stuff teenagers typically do. I didn't go to dances; I didn’t go to prom. I didn't enjoy high school at all,” she remembered. “As soon as my schoolwork was done, I got to do Girl Scout stuff. Girl Scouts was my connection. Girl Scouts kept me alive. I think if I hadn't had it….I connected with people and made lifelong friendships. It wasn’t all talk about who you're dating. Girl Scouts gave me a place where I could succeed and become who I am today.”

Solomon-Klebba didn’t come out until college.

“I was raised in the Catholic Church, so I thought my only choice was to become a nun.

When I told my parents, I was expecting that my mom would be OK with it and my dad would be the one that struggles. Dad was sitting across the table and Mom was sitting right next to me. Dad got up and came around the table and gave me a hug. Mom couldn't even look at me. It was the weirdest thing because it was totally not what I expected,” she said, adding that it was the initial shock that surprised her mother. “Now, I talk openly and freely about my wife; I'm not afraid of people’s views.”

She also had to face not being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Being in Utah and not part of the dominant religion was a learning curve for me,” she remembered. “Within the first three minutes of any conversation, they want to know what ward you’re in. It was an assumption that everybody in Utah is LDS. I felt excluded. I knew I was Catholic, but I didn’t know what that meant as my family didn’t talk about it much. I had to find who I was, what worked for me.”

Now, she’s married to her spouse, Cindy, who not only is a college history professor, but also a minister. She, too, is a Girl Scout, as is their college-age daughter, who was a member of both a traditional troop and as a specialty outdoors troop.

“I know how important Girl Scouts can be to someone. I want to make sure girls have a connection because I know how that feels,” Solomon-Klebba said. “Girl Scouting is part of who I am. When I make a decision, it’s based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law. My actions and my words show I’m a person of character and I have confidence and am courageous. Like with tree climbing, it didn’t go as planned, but I was able to see everything, feel the movement of the tree and made sure the girls had that same opportunity. Girl Scouts made me feel comfortable in that situation. I want girls to know that they have a place where they have agency. I want them to know who they are, what they want and have that faith in their abilities. It’s important we empower girls and young women.” l

At the 2018 Girl Scouts of Utah Camporee, Shari Solomon-Klebba directs Girl Scouts to their next activity. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Our Starry Nights @the Plaza events are now at just over the halfway point for the season, and we are thrilled at how they have been going. We’ve loved gathering every Friday night at Centennial Plaza to enjoy good food from the food trucks and evenings packed with free entertainment, including live music, movies on the plaza and other activities.

Coming up there are still two more movie nights: On Aug. 11, “Strange World” will be playing in addition to three musical performers. Hear Morgan Thompson performing original songs and pop covers, Carter Prescott playing his ukulele and singing, and Spanish guitarist Alejandro Rowinsky who has performed in more than 30 cities throughout the United States — from The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Then, our nal movie night of the season will be on Sept. 8 with “Minions, The Rise of Gru.” On this night, the Children’s Entrepreneur Market will also be there in addition to Los Cumbia Kidz performing Spanish songs and Geneva Road playing classic rock. Be sure to mark your calendar!

Other Starry Nights events include our annual Night Out Against Crime on Aug. 4, and on Aug. 18, we will be unveiling new sculptures at our third annual Plaza +ART Art Walk. If you haven’t seen the sculptures that have been on display at Centennial Plaza over the past year, be sure to stop by because the new, incoming sculptures will be taking their place through fall 2024. We are so grateful to all the artists who have added tremendously to the beauty of Centennial Plaza.

Our nal Starry Nights @the Plaza event is Sept. 15, and you can nd the full schedule at taylorsvilleut.gov under Our City and Starry Nights. You can also see the schedule of what’s upcoming on Page 5 of this section.

We are grateful that this is now an event that people expect and plan on, and we appreciate all those who are involved behind the scenes, as well as the performers, food trucks and all who attend. It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces who are coming every week.

So, whether it’s a movie or a band, let’s get together this month and next — on Fridays at Centennial Plaza. Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Thank you again; it's been a fabulous season!

—Mayor Kristie S. Overson

City Opens New Pickleball Courts, Works to Construct Others

Two new pickleball courts have opened at Vista Park, next to the playground area at 2051 W. 5000 South, and construction of additional courts is nearing completion at the Taylorsville Senior Center at 4743 S. 1570 West.

Construction has also begun on the pickleball courts being added to a planned park on the 16-acre space next to the two water tanks at the northwest corner of 6200 S. 3200 West.

“Pickleball is here!” said Mayor Kristie Overson, who joined her City Council colleagues at an informal Ribbon Cutting to mark the opening and try out the new courts at Vista Park. (See additional pictures of the courts on Page 6 of this section).

While the landscaping around them is not quite nished, the courts at Vista Park are com-

plete and beautiful, Mayor Overson said at a recent City Council meeting. “This is a nice addition to our parks,” she said, “and I’m really excited for pickleball in our community.”

In all, the city is adding 10 pickleball courts to Taylorsville. Crews began working rst on the Senior Center and Vista Park courts, and recently broke ground for the courts at what is presently being called the Tank Park. All 10 courts are expected to be complete by the end of September.

The work is possible thanks to a grant from Salt Lake County’s Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention Board and matching funds from the city. Also enjoy playing on the two existing courts in Taylorsville at Millrace Park, 1150 W. 5400 South.

Frequently

Mayor Kristie S. Overson

EVENTS AUGUST 2023

Every Friday night through Sept. 15

Starry Nights @the Plaza. The food trucks arrive at 5 p.m. and most music starts at 6:30. See www.taylorsvilleut.gov for the full schedule.

Aug. 2 & 16 – 6:30 p.m.

City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a livestream of the meeting on the city’s website.

Aug. 4 – 6 to 8 p.m.

Night Out Against Crime @ Centennial Plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. Have some fun and learn ways to stay safe!

Aug. 8 – 7 p.m. & Aug. 22 – 6 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

Aug. 11 – 6 to 10 p.m. & Aug. 12 – noon to 10 p.m.

Wild Wild Westside Arts Fest @ the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Celebrate the westside! See accompanying ad on this page.

Aug. 25 – 7 to 9 p.m.

Jukebox Musical Revue auditions @ Taylorsville City Hall. Show is Sept. 15 and 16. See ad on Page 8.

Aug. 29 – 5 to 7 p.m.

Open House @ the Taylorsville Rec Center. Give your input on the future of Valley Regional Park. See ad on Page 6.

Upcoming: Sept. 23 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Fall Festival @ the Heritage Center. See accompanying ad on this page.

Find our monthly calendar of events on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Curt Cochran

It’s that time of year again, when children with help from their parents are preparing to go back to school even though it seems like it just ended. As my grandkids are entering school age, it has made me think of ways we all can be safer as the start of a new school year approaches.

For instance, here are some school zone driving safety tips to follow:

• Watch for school zone signals and always obey the speed limits.

• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow down before the school zone starts and obey all tra c laws.

• Always stop for school buses that are loading/ unloading children.

• Watch for school crossing guards and obey their signals.

• Watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, in school parking lots, etc.

• Never pass other vehicles, change lanes, or make U-turns while driving in a school zone.

• Never text or use your cell phone while driving in a school zone.

• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop o or pick up children at school.

Here are also some tips for children and parents of students riding bikes to school:

• Check with the school to make sure your child is allowed to ride their bicycle to school.

• Make sure your child always wears a bicycle helmet!

• Always stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as tra c.

We Offer Some Safety Tips for Back-to-School

• Be sure your child knows and uses all of the appropriate hand signals and the rules of the road.

• Choose the safest route between home and school and practice it with children until they can demonstrate tra c safety awareness.

• If possible, try to ride with someone else. There is safety in numbers.

And, please consider these guidelines for children walking to school:

• Leave early enough to arrive 10 minutes early.

• Go straight home after school unless you have permission.

• Always use public sidewalks and streets.

• Demonstrate traffic safety awareness and pick the safest route between home and school, and practice walking it with your children.

• Try to walk to school with other students. There is strength in numbers.

• Teach your children to recognize and obey tra c signals, signs and pavement markings.

• Only cross streets at designated crosswalks, street corners and tra c-controlled intersections.

• Always look both ways before crossing the street and never enter streets from between obstacles like parked cars, shrubbery, signs, etc.

• Always walk and never run across intersections.

• Avoid talking to strangers. Teach your children to get and keep their distance between themselves and anyone who tries to approach or contact them.

• If a stranger does approach your child, make sure they know to immediately report the incident to you or a teacher.

• Teach your children to never get into a vehicle with anyone, even if they know them, without your permission.

Lastly, here are some school bus safety tips:

• Arrive early at the bus stop, at least ve minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.

• Stay out of the street and avoid excessive horseplay while waiting for the school bus.

• Make sure the bus completely stops before getting on or o .

• Remain seated and keep head and arms inside the bus at all times.

• Do not shout or distract the driver.

• Do not walk in the driver’s “blind spot” — this is the area from the front of the bus to about 10 feet in front of the bus.

If we all do these things, we should all enjoy a safe and productive time as school gets underway again. Have a great year!

Taylorsville Student’s Duct Tape Tux Wins National Contest

Taylorsville High student Ian Hernandez Rojas took one of the two grand prizes and won a $10,000 scholarship in a national duct tape contest this past month.

Hernandez made a tuxedo out of duct tape to enter the 2023 Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. It took him 57 hours and 11 rolls of tape to make the tux, and the time and e ort paid o . He received the most votes online and won the contest for best tuxedo. The contest was sponsored by the Duck Tape brand.

Of his e ort, Hernandez is quoted by Duck Tape on their website, “All of my family are from El Salvador, and I wanted to make something to tribute that. In ancient times, both Mayans and Aztecs settled near El Salvador. … I wanted to fuse the culture of the Mayans and the elegance and formality of promwear, without coming o as a costume.”

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Hernandez, who learned to sew during the COVID-19 pandemic, was leaning toward studying fashion merchandising in college. His winning design was chosen from among 200 entries and 10 nalists.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Bob Knudsen, Chair (District 5), Curt Cochran, Vice Chair (District 2), Anna Barbieri, (District 3), Meredith Harker, (District 4) and Ernest Burgess (District 1)

Officer List Retires after 25 Years of Service, Stellar Career

Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community.

TVPD congratulates O cer List, who after 25 years of service has retired from Taylorsville Police Department. Officer List was described by his peers as being “professional and approachable, knowledgeable, and one who is always willing to jump in anywhere he can.” Colleagues also commended his “positive and contagious demeanor.”

Working for both West Jordan and Taylorsville police departments, Officer List has held various positions throughout his career, including patrol, motorcycle/traffic officer, middle and high school resource o cer, child abuse investigator, commercial vehicle inspector, fatal traffic accident investigator, public information o cer, citizen’s academy instructor and eld training o cer.

Most recently, he worked as patrol o cer with TVPD, in which he responded to any type of police call for service that can be imagined. He also served as one of TVPD’s rst drone operators.

In honor of his service, Valley Emergency Communication Center provided a nal dispatch recording of O cer List calling “o duty” for the last time and recognizing his honorable career. Thank you to the now former O cer List, and 10-42, brother!

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

O cer Smith, who began working with TVPD more than two years ago, is TVPD’s latest Employee of the Month. Prior to joining TVPD, he worked for Ogden and Vernal police departments and has more than 16 years of experience.

Officer Smith has worked in the capacity of a patrol sergeant, detective and patrol o cer. His detective experience includes working as an Internet Crimes Against Children task force member with the Utah Attorney General’s Office, as well as being a member of the Violent Fugitive and Apprehension team with the United States Marshals Service. O cer Smith is also a certi ed phlebotomist and is able to conduct blood draws on those suspected of driving while impaired.

He was nominated as Employee of the Month by Chief Cottam, who noted his “outstanding performance within his patrol responsibilities.” Chief Cottam said O cer Smith is a “driven o cer,” who is “consistently proactive in his patrol responsibilities.” Speci cally, Officer Smith has a knack for finding and recovering stolen vehicles, which includes tracking known suspects. Taylorsville City has some of the highest tra c volume in the state given our central location. O cer Smith’s approach to proactive law enforcement helps TVPD send the message to not travel through Taylorsville if you are involved in criminal activity.

When O cer Smith is not engaged in police work, he enjoys camping, shing, boating and home improvement projects. We are grateful to have O cer Smith on both the force and Team Taylorsville!

Firefighters Battle Taylorsville House Fire, Save 4 Dogs

Fire ghters responded to a structure re at a two-story home in Taylorsville this past month, safely evacuating the four occupants and rescuing four dogs.

The re occurred on Tuesday, July 18. Responding were crews from Uni ed Fire Authority, West Jordan and West Valley City re departments. The re started in an attached garage and extended through walls to the attic space.

When crews arrived on scene, heavy smoke and ames were showing from the front of the home. Fire ghters were able to quickly get inside to attack the re and rescue the dogs that were still within the home. There were no injuries, but the occupants were displaced. The cause is under investigation.

F R I D A Y , S E P T . 1

B l a s t e d P a s t C l a s s i c R o c k C o v e r s

t e r P r e s c o t t ( M u l t i p l e G e n r e s , U k u l e l e a n d V o c a l s )

8 P M - A l e j a n d r o R o w i n s k y ( S p a n i s h G u i t a r )

9 P M - M o v i e N i g h t' S t r a n g e W o r l d '

R u n a w a y F i r e R o c k ' n ' R o l l , A l t e r n a t i v e , I n d i e

6 : 3 0 P M - P l a z a + A R T N e w A r t U n v e i l i n g a n d A r t

W a l k

M o e L o w R o c k a n d D a n c e H i t s f r o m t h e

F R I D A Y , S E P T . 8

5 P M - L o s C u m b i a K i d z ( A V a r i e t y o f S p a n i s h S o n g s )

6 : 3 0 P M - G e n e v a R o a d ( C l a s s i c R o c k f r o m t h e 5 0 s t o t h e 9 0 s

5 - 8 P M - C h i l d r e n ' s E n t r e p r e n e u r M a r k e t

9 P M - M o v i e N i g h t - M i n i o n s T h e R i s e o f G r u '

F R I D A Y , S E P T . 1 5

Schedule subject to change. See the latest at: www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Let’s Play Pickleball

Did you know that pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport? The number of people playing pickleball grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

And you can now play on new courts in Taylorsville. The city has opened two new courts at Vista Park and eight others will be opening soon. (See story on Page 1 of this section). You can also learn to play pickleball at the Taylorsville Recreation Center. Go online to slco.org/taylorsville-rec or call 385-468-1732 for more information.

Wild Wild Westside Arts Fest: A Celebration of Music, Arts & Culture

Join in the rst annual Wild Wild Westside Arts Fest on Aug. 11 and 12 at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville. The Fest, sponsored by Salt Lake County Arts & Culture and the Utah Arts Alliance, will feature artists and performances representing the culturally rich and diverse westside of Salt Lake County.

This two-day family friendly celebration will immerse you in the spirit of the westside through music, live performances, an arts market, children’s activities and food. The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center is a perfect location for the event with its three performance spaces, outdoor plaza and central, westside location.

The event will feature live performances in the Main Stage Theatre and Studio 5400, including music, dance and other cultural acts. Aerial artists will perform in the lobby throughout the Fest and buskers will entertain on the outdoor plaza.

An arts market will feature local artists creating contemporary art works based in traditional cultures. O erings will include jewelry, paintings and sculpture and ne crafts. Bad Dog Arts will o er fun and engaging art activities for children of all ages, and you can savor the avors of the westside at a food truck lineup.

Don't miss this chance to celebrate the spirit and diversity of the westside! Come to the Wild Wild West Arts Fest at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center for a memorable weekend of music, arts, culture and community.

Wild Wild Westside Arts Fest is open from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11, and from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12.

The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center is a Salt Lake County Arts & Culture facility. The venue is located at 2525 W. Taylorsville Blvd, on the Taylorsville City Hall campus.

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES

Among Taylorsville’s Settlers were Thomas and Ann Mackay

One of the books in the library of the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Museum is titled “Descendants of Thomas Mackay — Utah Pioneer, volume 1, Wives and Children.”

Thomas Mackay is described as a large man of athletic build and mind. He liked sports, including wrestling, jumping and foot races. He told of having matched his ability in jumping and wrestling with that of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founder Joseph Smith while they lived in Nauvoo. Smith was known as the strongest man in that part of the country and often engaged in those sports as recreation. Mackay had golden-red hair and a dark auburn beard. His eyes were greenish blue or gray. He had a rm, set mouth that showed great determination. He was industrious and energetic, and never wasted time. He was not in the best of health in later years. He had a heart ailment, called neuralgia, that con ned him to home. He always wore a little shawl or scarf around his shoulders when he was sitting about the house or working around the yard or farm.

He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and died in Taylorsville, Utah. In the next century after his passing, he and his wife, Ann, had a posterity of more than 2,000 living descendants.

Don’t Miss These Library Events

The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of August. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:

TAYLORSVILLE WALKABOUT CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Aug. 1 to Thursday, Aug. 31

Pick up a walkabout map at the Info Desk. Visit the six Taylorsville locations in August to be entered into a drawing for a Leatherby's Creamery gift card.

WALKING BOOK CLUB

Thursdays in August, 10 a.m.

Walking Book Club is great for readers interested in a weekly walk session and book discussion. The group reads one book over the course of three weeks, discussing the book in segments. The club meets Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Take a 30-minute walk along the paths behind the library and then participate in a 30-minute book discussion. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.

“The Feather Thief” by Kirk Wallace Johnson reading schedule:

Aug. 3: Chapters 1-12

Aug. 10: Chapters 13-end

“To the Bright Edge of the World” by Eowyn Ivey reading schedule:

Aug. 17: Pages 1-106

Aug. 24: Pages 107-205

Aug. 31: Pages 206-302

Sept. 7: Pages 303-end

TEEN END OF SUMMER WATER FIGHT!

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.

Celebrate the end of summer with a water ght outside the library on the grass. Wear clothes that can get wet and bring a towel to dry o . Bringing your own water gun is encouraged but the library will have some available.

SENIOR BOOK CLUB at the Taylorsville Senior Center

Monday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.

Join in a lively discussion on a variety of ction and non ction books. Newcomers are welcome! The book club will be led by a librarian from the Taylorsville Library. This month, read “Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne.

VIRTUAL ADULT LECTURE: The Fabric of Civilization

Monday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m.

Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Author Virginia Postrel will highlight some of the innovations — in ber, spinning, weaving, and dyeing—that gave us today’s textile abundance and the ways textiles shaped civilization as we know it.

STORYTIMES WILL RETURN IN SEPTEMBER

The story of Ann Cowley Rodgers Mackay, began at her birth in Kirk Michael, England. She was tender-hearted and thoughtful, as well as charitable and kind to her neighbors. Throughout her life, she helped the sick and attended to her neighbors. Although older than her husband, they were compatible and happy together. He never did anything without her approval. Ann Mackay also died in Taylorsville, Utah, two years before her husband.

In the pages of the book about this couple, the descendants relate some the joys, sorrows, spirit and romances of these rugged Utah pioneers. Who wouldn’t be proud to be a descendant of Scotch-Irish carpenter-farmer Thomas Mackay and others who walked more than 1,200 miles across the Great Plains, pushing a handcart?

If you enjoyed this brief article about Thomas and Ann Mackay, feel free to visit the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center and check out further information about them. The center, located at 1488 W. 4800 South, is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, from 2 to 4 p.m.

ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY

AUGUST UPDATES

Glass Recycling

There has been a noticeable increase in contamination in community glass drop-o containers. Cardboard, plastic and paper bags are not accepted in WFWRD's community glass containers. Please place the glass bottles and jars directly into the container. Misuse of community glass sites may result in the removal of the containers. Cardboard and paper bags are recyclable in blue curbside recycle cans. Plastic bags and garbage must be placed in black curbside garbage cans.

Glass is 100% recyclable! If you recycle one glass bottle, it saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours, power a computer for 30 minutes or a television for 20 minutes. Glass collected from community drop-o containers is taken to Momentum Recycling where it is locally processed. Find out where to drop o your glass bottles and jars by visiting the "Glass Recycling 101" page at www.wasatchfrontwaste.org.

Get Paid for Saving Water

Save water, save money! Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District encourages customers to conserve water. Discover an amazing opportunity for Utah residents to get paid for their water-saving e orts right at home.

UtahWaterSavers.com is the go-to website where you can nd a wide range of bene ts. By visiting the site and creating a free account, you can take advantage of smart controller rebates, toilet rebates, rewards from Localscapes University and landscape consultations. Act now, sign up for a Utah Water Savers account and start saving water and money.

If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.

TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive

August Class Highlights

The center has planned a variety of classes this month:

A FARMER’S MARKET: Monday, Aug. 14, and Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. Please see front desk before 11 a.m. to reserve your ticket.

STEPPING UP YOUR NUTRITION: A two-hour workshop on balanced nutrition. Monday, Aug. 14, at 9:15 a.m.

MIND OVER MATTER: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder: A workshop to give women the tools they need to take control of their bladder and bowel leakage. Every other Thursday starting Aug. 17 to Sept. 14.

Recycling Myths Busted

There are many misconceptions surrounding recycling legitimacy. A common misconception is that the material in your blue bins doesn’t get recycled and is just taken to the land ll. In fact, the materials are taken to the WFWRD Materials Recovery Facilities and around 80% is recycled here. Recycling is indeed happening every day here in the valley and throughout North America. Your plastic recyclables are often turned into awesome new things like carpet, food containers or even agricultural piping.

Another recycling myth is that cardboard doesn’t have any monetary value. This is also false. Although cardboard has seen a slight decrease in value, it is still very valuable and is the most common commodity found in the community containers. The district expects to see an increase in value for cardboard as the holiday season approaches. Let’s work together to keep our communities clean by reducing, reusing and recycling!

Electronic Waste Recycling

Looking for a place to recycle your old computer, appliances, or even wires or cables? Take it to your local Best Buy. Best Buy will recycle up to three items of e-waste per household per day.

Electronic waste contains a rich source of metals that can be recycled and brought back into the production cycle. By recycling e-waste, there’s a reduction of pollution that would be generated while manufacturing a new product and the extraction of virgin materials is limited.

WFWRD is Hiring — Make a Positive Di erence

Equipment operators, Class B CDL collection truck driver positions available. CDL Class B minimum required, health insurance, pay for experience, 4-day/week work schedule, safety and e ciency pay, retirement, vacation, paid holidays.

JOIN THE TEAM! SCAN TO APPLY TODAY:

DRUMS ALIVE: Every Wednesday at 2 p.m. Extra class Thursday, Aug. 10.

AARP SAFE DRIVING CLASS: Friday, Aug. 18.

Visit the center’s website at www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center for other activities and lunch menu information. The Taylorsville Senior Center is located at 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive and can be contacted by phone at 801-385-3370.

Do You Have a Chronic Wound?

If you have a wound that has been open for more than 4 weeks, then something in your body is not allowing that wound to heal properly. Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that fail to proceed through the normal phases of wound healing in an orderly and timely manner. Often, chronic wounds stall in the inflammatory phase of healing.

How do you heal a wound that will not heal?

Debridement (removal of dead tissue) is the most common treatment for stubborn wounds, and involves the removal of unhealthy tissue within a chronic wound to promote the growth of healthy tissue, reduce complications of infection, and speed up the healing process.

Your care team may also suggest the following treatments:

• Antibiotics

• Skin substitute grafts

• Laser Treatments

• X-rays to assess for bone infection

• Scans to ensure proper blood flow is getting to the wound to promote healing

Visit Innovation Medical Group today to get a wound care specialist to help guide your care plan and to get your life back without a chronic wound present. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 801-758-2091. We are located at 4624 Holladay Blvd on the second floor in Suite 201 right above Olympus Family Medicine. We accept all major insurances and look forward to being able to enhance your quality of life.

Dr. Angela Dunn still serves the public, just not so publically

Her job is still to protect the public, but her role these days is a little more Clark Kent than Superman, and that’s just how she likes it.

She’s Dr. Angela Dunn, former Utah State Epidemiologist, and the face many still associate with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Even now when I meet new people they’ll say something like, ‘I feel like I should get your autograph,’ and that’s always a little unsettling to me,” Dunn says, indicating that public servants don’t serve for celebrity status, either positive or negative. “Heck, I dyed my hair blonde so I wouldn’t be as recognizable, but the hair thing is too much work, so I’m going back to brunette.”

Still, she feels a little bad about being associated with a public health crisis, with the years that were quite possibly some of the hardest ever encountered by our country, our state and the community-at-large.

The role of State Epidemiologist is, by nature, an outwardly focused one. Dunn’s duty was to share directly with the public emerging and science-based suggestions for containing any public health crisis. She just happened to get a global pandemic. She, and other health officials countrywide, worked against a political movement that belittled scientific expertise. This drew controversy from local detractors who circulated her address on social media and gathered in front of her home to protest.

“It was scary and wrong that someone would feel comfortable sharing my personal information,” Dunn told the Salt Lake Tribune in late 2020. “That people would think it is OK to harass civil servants.”

About that time she realized the controversy had diminished her ability to be perceived as a neutral figure, so in 2021 when the county’s executive health director, Gary Edwards, announced his retirement, and Dunn had the opportunity to move into a less visible role, she took off the cape, so to speak. Still a superhero

She’s now two years into her position as the Executive and Medical Director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, one of the largest local health departments in the nation, serving nearly 1.3 million residents. This new role is significantly different in that she is more behind- the-scenes, ensuring that the “best 500 public health practitioners,” those involved on the frontlines, have the resources to protect and improve the well-being of all county residents. She problem-solves in a team environment, doing big picture planning for the future of public health.

Services provided under the umbrella of the County Health Department are vast and seemingly jack-of-all-trades, ranging from expected things like screenings and immunizations, to more obscure services like: noise pollution, noxious weed control, tobacco prevention, bee inspection and water quality.

By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com

Or according to the department website, “Every day we immunize children, inspect restaurants, keep tobacco out of the hands of minors, encourage physical activity, teach proper nutrition, protect our water and air, and provide culturally appropriate services to a multitude of disparate populations.”

Dunn believes that, “these different divisions fit well together because, when combined, they touch the health, lives and livelihoods of every single person.”

Casting a community-focused web

Dunn’s first year in her new role was focused on adjusting to the aftermath of the pandemic, on helping staff to process the complex emotions after the adrenaline rush and heartbreak.

She now hopes to apply the lessons learned from those tumultuous years. She is working toward a change in perspective. Rather than applying top-down health objectives to all communities, health workers are now being strategically placed to reflect the unique communities they serve. They will be in a position to communicate with local trusted leaders, with the intent of proceeding from people toward policy (rather than the other way around). The goal is to ask about specific community-focused priorities and needs, then address those needs, then focus on health literacy so the information and services provided will be easily understood and used.

The hope is to build back trust lost during the pandemic, to be engaged with communities over the long term, to be in a positon to let people know why and how recommendations come about and may change, and to innovate and move faster when confronted with another health crisis.

Hero’s journey

Dunn was born in Texas. Her father was in the oil business and his job moved the family from state to state, so by the time she was 7, Dunn had lived in nine different houses. She learned to adapt to change, a trait she still uses in her profession.

Dunn received her medical degree from the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, and completed her residency training in general preventive medicine and public health at the University of California San Diego. She also holds a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University and a B.A. in international relations from Brown University.

After her education she served as an epidemic intelligence service officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she responded to the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. In 2014, she accepted an epidemiologist assignment with the Utah Department of Health and she became the state epidemiologist just four years later.

Along with her executive director position at the county, she’s currently the president of the Council of State and Territorial

Epidemiologists, or CSTE, which held their annual conference in SLC in June. Unmasking the superhero Dunn’s perfect day would start with an unhurried, unstructured morning of breakfast, reading and cuddling with her sons, ages 11 and 6. She loves trail running, so she might get a little exercise someplace like City Creek, on a trial with a bit of elevation and a perfect combination of shade, sun and views. She loves that she can access mountain trails from her back door, something she realizes is not found in many cities.

If she had a bit of extra free time during the day, she might listen to an audio book to allow for multitasking. Her favorites are not medical thrillers (because she sometimes feels like she’s lived it) but spy or crime novels. Or she wouldn’t mind watching a show. Dunn’s Covid-19 binge series was “Homeland,” which she enjoyed because the main

character’s job woes felt even more daunting than her own.

For dinner she’d go to HSL, where she loves the food and the décor. She’d choose one of the groovy high-backed booths for an easy, private conversation with friends and/or family.

These days Dunn no longer wears a mask at the farmer’s market, on a plane, or while attending the theater. She’s a hugger and is happy to get back to that norm. What she loves is that at this stage we have a better understanding of Covid-19 and tools to fight it. Individuals, knowing their prior conditions, risk factors and vaccination status, can take the proper precautions. We can mask or unmask, and she says, “Isn’t it refreshing that masks can now occupy a more politically neutral space?” l

Dr. Angela Dunn and her son represent the Salt Lake County Health Department at Pride. (Photo Angela Dunn)

Nourishing her community, one lasagna at a time

Every week for the past two years, Deea Hobbs has taken hours to shop and cook lasagna from scratch.

She has perfected her original recipe and often, generously bakes homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies to the meal.

Then, she drops off the dinner to a stranger.

It’s called Lasagna Love.

While Hobbs didn’t come up with the concept to provide this meal service to people, she may have mastered it.

The founder is Rhiannon Menn, who, concerned about food insecurity in her Hawaiian community in 2020, started cooking and delivering homemade dishes to those in need. To her surprise, that snowballed; when others heard of her generosity, they asked if they could cook and deliver hot meals.

Those acts of kindness became a nonprofit, which has turned into a global phenomenon of people reaching out, serving each other. Now, more than 350,000 lasagnas have been served to more than 1.5 million people by more than 45,000 volunteers worldwide, according to the Lasagna Love website.

Hobbs, a Sandy realtor, learned about Lasagna Love from one of her clients, who also provides lasagna on a regular basis.

“It was COVID, and we stopped going to church, so I really missed connecting with people through service,” she said. “When one of my clients posted about it on Instagram, I thought that’s exactly what I need. It’s perfect for me. So, I signed up and started volunteering.”

And recruiting. Hobbs’ sister, in Jacksonville, Florida, and her niece, who lives in Oklahoma, also are part of the Lasagna Love team.

“I’m kind of obsessed with it. I’m always recruiting more people, finding new volunteers, and more people who need the lasagna. I’m now the local leader or the Lasagna Love boss for 10 counties in Utah,” she said.

Hobbs has encouraged people to pledge to spread the word. As a grassroots effort, “Lasagna Love weaves kindness into communities by simple acts of love and from one human to another,” Hobbs said.

On a regular basis, she will drive around to community refrigerators — those that sit in someone’s driveway as a spot to donate or for those who are in need, to get food — and put fliers up about how to sign up for Lasagna Love.

“Even though the pandemic is over, people still need food. The need is just not pandemic-related. I’ve delivered lasagna to people in tents, and I’ve delivered lasagna to mansions. There are no questions asked, no judgment. Sometimes you don’t know what their needs are. Sometimes their needs are lasagna — and they have food in their fridge,

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

but they just needed lasagna and that’s OK. Sometimes, people are desperate for food and lasagna is that needed meal and we’re happy to give them that. We don’t ask their situation or need. We’re just here to provide a meal and to serve. All they have to do is sign up and we’ll deliver them a lasagna,” Hobbs said.

Her fliers have a QR code so people can scan it or they can go to the website, www. lasagnalove.org/request/ and sign up or sign up someone else. By filling out a simple online form, available in English and Spanish, with name, address, phone number, number of adults and children, allergies, an option to share about themselves and agree to consent, it starts the process of pairing the requestee with a volunteer chef.

Hobbs has posted about Lasagna Love on Facebook groups and provided food pantries and service organizations cards about the meals. She’s reached out to families who have babies in the neonatal intensive care units or long-term facilities and to those who provide foster care. She has included cards when dropping off Toys for Tots donations during the holidays.

She has given the opportunity to help serve the community to others, including teaming up with a local Girl Scout troop to make lasagna this month.

“I love offering this as a source, one people can use, but also one for others to use as they serve. I love connecting with other nonprofits,” Hobbs said.

Her 30 volunteers — some working professionals, some retired — set their own schedules. Some may provide lasagna a couple times per week, others, monthly. They may only be able to drive within a 5-mile radius or they may be willing to drive 50 miles. If she doesn’t have someone in a remote area who requested it, she will reach out to churches, social and service organizations to ask for someone to volunteer. Some volunteers may be willing to bake a vegetarian or special order lasagna while others stick to traditional recipes.

“I’ve had people who sign up for lasagna and they live in the middle of nowhere, but they’re thinking it’s not going to happen. But it does; we really try,” she said. “It helps them, and I love how this has changed our volunteers. It has impacted me. It’s inspiring to help people. It’s a ‘pay it forward’ thing. It’s uplifting.”

Knowing her volunteers’ perimeters, Hobbs helps create weekly assignments to fill about 100 requests monthly in her region.

“It isn’t a big deal because it’s what I love. It’s the easiest volunteer gig if you like to cook and you can adjust your budget because it is all self-run. Nobody is giving me money to buy groceries for lasagna; it’s just something I do. It fills the need for people who need lasagna and fills my need to serve

people,” Hobbs said.

Volunteers generally reach out to those who request the lasagna within 24 hours to arrange a day and time for the delivery.

“We’ll ask, ‘Will somebody be available at that time to collect the lasagna?’ It’s contactless for the most part. But sometimes, people will come out when I arrive and they may be crying, hugging me, giving me cards. Or they’ll respond saying, ‘It’s the best lasagna I’ve ever had,’ or ‘I haven’t had a hot meal in a week.’ That is very sweet, but it’s not expected,” she said. “Sometimes, there will be people who I don’t meet, and I never hear from them again and that’s totally fine too. I’m not doing this for someone to show me gratitude. I’m just doing this because I want people to know that they’re not alone. That is a message that I want to give them. I want people to know the world doesn’t suck.

Maybe it will ease the burden for just one night and let them know somebody cares.”

Hobbs feels most at home in a kitchen.

“My kitchen has always been a safe place for me. It’s my favorite place. As a kid, I would get my mom’s cookbooks out and pour over them to find a recipe with ingredients we already had, and I would cook,” she said.

Hobbs said it stemmed from her upbringing.

“I was raised in Indiana by a single mom who worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, but she always made sure that we were fed with good, homemade food. She inspired me to cook, but I also come from a long line of people who shared food and cooked. My mom would have every flat surface covered in trays of cookies to give to everyone. Every Valentine’s Day, she’d make the whole

A Sandy woman, Deea Hobbs, has perfected her lasagna recipe while making dinner for people who sign up for the meal. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

town heart-shaped cookies. We were at my grandma’s house for Sunday dinner with all my aunts, uncles, cousins — 30 of us, every single Sunday, and if somebody was new at church or was in need, they were invited to come over too. My mom, even though she didn’t have a lot of resources, she fed people. She credits God for everything, but that was her mission. She still does it and she’s 78. It’s a powerful lesson,” she said.

Now, Hobbs is sharing that same gift.

“Food is comfort and people need comfort and connection. I always felt safe when I had a warm, homemade meal that my mother prepared, and I want people to have that same feeling. I like to help people, and this is a great way to do it,” she said. “It helps me as I have a need to help people. It gets me outside of myself and helps me see different perspectives. It helps me be grateful for what

I have.”

Some of Hobbs’ volunteers incorporate making lasagna into their work, such as an occupational therapist who prepares a lasagna each week with a patient so that it helps with their motor skills, she said.

Sandy resident Alex Mettler has made 27 deliveries since he joined during the pandemic. He often has his two children help him make the lasagna and they include a note, that lists the ingredients and is signed by each chef.

“Before this, I felt there were other things I could do to help the community besides being a teacher,” he said. “When a friend told me about this, I knew it was something I could easily do since I like to cook and it’s on my own time so I can make it work with my teaching schedule. I’ve made lasagna now so many times that I don’t look at a recipe and I’ve tweaked it to make it a little better each time.”

Mettler said many of his deliveries are in Midvale by Hillcrest High, where he teaches.

“It makes me feel good that I can help somebody. When they text me or if I see them, they’re just appreciative; it feels good to help. I’ve dropped lasagnas off at motel rooms; when they open the door and I see there’s a family there, I know it must be tough,” he said. “For me, it’s worth it to help. I buy items in bulk from the big bags of cheese from Costco to the 30-pack of foil

lasagna pans from Amazon, so it becomes more economical. I tell my students about it at the beginning of the year; cooking is one of my ways to handle stress, so it’s a bit selfish, but I enjoy doing it. “

Hobbs will often deliver lasagnas with her husband.

“He knows the kitchen is my sacred place, but together, we can deliver,” she said.

Often those deliveries result in connections with people.

“I’ve delivered to hotels downtown that serve as overflow for the shelters and I’ve delivered to a lady who was a double amputee and couldn’t get to work. A lot of people are just not able to prepare food at all and live on TV dinners and frozen meals. The people who don’t get hot food are excited and tell me, ‘I haven’t had lasagna for 20 years,’” Hobbs said. “I like connecting with people, but when I hear some of the sad stories, I’m heartbroken for them.”

She takes a day off work each week for Lasagna Love, to make and delivery the lasagnas.

“I have a garden with tomatoes, zucchini and basil plants so I can make fresh homemade sauce for the lasagna,” she said. “I love creating and sharing food.”

To top off the gift of lasagna, Hobbs will create a heart out of pepperoni slices or red peppers on the top of the meal.

“It is Lasagna Love, after all.” l

Lasagna, with love, from Deea Hobbs may just be the nourishment several community members need. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

BE A MEDICAL HERO! JOIN A STUDY TODAY.

GILEAD

Treatment for COVID-19 for non-hospitalized people who have tested positive for and have symptoms of COVID. This is a 90-day study for ages 18-65. There are 10 visits total, 7 in person and 3 over the phone. You must also be willing to fill out a questionnaire from day 1 to day 29, and then for day 60 and 90.

CODAGENIX - CHILD RSV STUDY

This is a live vaccine for children ages 2-5 years old. This study is 8 months long, and there are 15 visits total. 10 of these are in-person visits and 5 are over the phone. 2 doses of nose drops are to be administered on day 1 and day 29. Only one child per household can participate, they must not be around children less than 6 months old, pregnant women or be in daycare. Must have been a fullterm birth of 36-42 weeks.

KAN-101-02 - CELIAC DISEASE

This study is for adults 18 - 70 years old who have a Celiac Disease diagnosis either by a positive Celiac serology or biopsy, and you must follow a gluten-free diet for 12 months. There are two parts to this study: Part A and Part B. What part you are assigned to will determine how long the study will be. Part A is 8 weeks with 4 weeks of screening, 7 days for treatment, 3 weeks of follow-up, and 3 IV doses. Part B is 58 weeks, 6 weeks of screening, 7 days for treatment, and 51 weeks of follow-up, also done in 3 IV doses.

Kindness, gratitude central to Bonnie Cordon’s leadership in church’s young women’s organization

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Women General President Bonnie Cordon and her counselors have served in leading one of the world’s largest young women’s organizations since 2018. Their goal as a general presidency has been to empower the youth to have eyes to see others as Christ sees them and to be a force for good in the world essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries.

Cordon grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from BYU with a bachelor of science in elementary education. Cordon worked in management in the software industry and eventually owned her own business. As a young adult, Cordon served as a missionary in Lisbon, Portugal. From 2010 to 2013, she served as a mission leader with her husband Derek in the Brazil Curitiba Mission. In March 2018, Cordon was called to serve as General Young Women’s President and, for the last five years, Cordon has served as a member of the Missionary Executive Council, the Church Education System Board of Education and BYU Broadcasting Board.

Young women are vital and valued leaders in the Church according to Cordon. They lead out in their classes as they are called to serve in their class presidencies. Their influence is vast and their perspective is needed, she says.

“You will never find youth more capable and willing to make a difference than the youth of today,” Cordon said. “We need them. We need to hear their insights and their voices. When we allow them to be part of the process to solve problems, our lives and our work will move forward with fresh ideas and energetic support. They seek this Jesus that is mighty to save. We have so much to learn from them.”

As youth are given opportunities to lead, their confidence and capabilities increase as they serve in the many programs the Church has for youth. Leadership and personal development opportunities prepare a young person to meet life’s challenges.

“As the Young Women General Presidency, our hearts, prayers and focus are centered on youth,” Cordon said. “The days are always full and joyful. As you would probably guess, that includes a lot of meetings about all the wonderful parts and pieces of the programs the Church has for youth: For the Strength of Youth conferences, annual Young Women camps, the Children and Youth program, the annual youth theme and seminary. It has been really exciting to work on the new For the Strength of Youth, a guide for making choices. Recently released content titled ‘Taking Charge of Technology’ includes video resources and a quick guide to help youth and parents to manage these incredible and inspired devices. Everything we do as a presidency is in an effort to help all come unto Christ.”

Having opportunities and assignments to travel the world has been a highlight of Cordon’s calling to serve youth globally. According to Cordon, she has traveled to six of the seven continents often meeting with government officials and other faith leaders to share common hopes of strengthening youth and building better communities.

In a world filled with violence and contention, empowering youth to value kindness promotes empathy which can help guide how youth approach the rest of the world. Cordon emphasizes the importance of being aware and grateful when kindness is shown and how kindness can make a difference in a person’s life.

“There is not just one moment but thousands of moments where one person after another has noticed, stepped in with kindness, and made a difference in my life,” Cordon said. “Each day there is someone doing something to lift me. My blessing and responsibility are to be aware and to be grateful. Just today, someone offered me water. It made a difference. Someone smiled as I was struggling with all my stuff—it warmed my heart. I hope I don’t miss the kindness of others. Challenges and

struggles are part of this mortal life. Navigating them is always better when we link arms and cheer each other on.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints new resource “Taking Charge of Technology” helps youth to develop responsible technology use.

“The advent of technology has been a huge blessing in our lives,” Cordon said “We can connect in ways that blurs borders, crosses seas, and skips lengthy travel. Language is becoming less of a stumbling block in communication with technology and all its wonders. We need to take charge of our technology and not have technology imprison us in the hours of mindless and sometimes destructive use. We have a new resource that helps youth and all of us with principles of taking charge of our technology use. You can find it on the Gospel Library app under the youth title. It is called ‘Taking Charge of Technology.’ You will love it; it is simple and powerful.”

Cordon and her counselors Michelle D. Craig and Becky Craven were released from their calling as general young women’s presidency during the 193rd annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-

“You will never find youth more capable and willing to make a difference than the youth of today,” said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Women General President Bonnie Cordon. (Photo credit Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

ter-day Saints on April 1. Effective Aug. 1, the new general young women’s presidency will take the helm to lead the young women in the Church. l

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Women General President Bonnie Cordon has traveled to six of the seven continents often meeting with government officials and other faith leaders to share common hopes of strengthening youth and building better communities. (Photo credit Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Women who work outside the home are supernatural shapeshifters. One minute they’re closing the deal on a $5-million property and the next minute they’re on the phone with their 5-year-old daughter who’s upset because the parakeet won’t talk to her.

I think we can agree women are in the workplace. I think we can agree most households need two incomes to afford the basics like food, shelter and Netflix. I think we can also agree that mothers take on the biggest load when it comes to child care. Well, our country’s child care system is failing women in a spectacular SpaceX explosion kind of way.

This disparity was highlighted during COVID, an infuriating pandemic where millions of women lost their jobs. As child care centers closed, women were usually the ones to step away from their careers to become full-time school teachers, nurses, referees, short-order cooks, video game experts and day drinkers.

Single mothers always draw the short straw when it comes to child care choices. If you’ve never been a single mom who has to decide between using a vacation day or leaving her sick 11 year old at home alone, consider yourself lucky.

Care.com reported on child care costs in the U.S., showing the average family

It Takes a Village

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

spends 27% of their income on child care with the majority spending around $18,000 each year. Utah’s costs are a bit lower than the national average but we make up for that by having one bajillion children.

There are always people who say, “Women should be home raising their children. Problem solved.” Guess what? Problem not solved because most families need two incomes to get by, even adding in the cost of child care. When women choose to stay home, it takes a big bite out of the household income.

To combat this, parents work multiple jobs, alternate work schedules with a spouse or partner, rely on family members to babysit and hope their toddler becomes a child star to cover living expenses.

Employers, do you know how often moms worry about asking for time off to take kids to dentist appointments, doctor visits, parent-teacher conferences, lobot-

omies, etc.? It’s constant. There’ve been times when I was shamed by my boss because I needed to deal with a situation at home. That should never happen.

Women and families need child care support and it’s about damn time to get

creative.

Let’s start with free (or low-cost) onsite child care. Let’s throw in flexible and remote schedules that allow parents to be home after school. Let’s address the stupid 40-hour work week that’s not only a waste of time, but a drain on families.

Kim Kardashian pays each of her nannies (she has at least four on call 24/7) nearly $100,000 per year. She got it right. That’s what women should be paid for watching children because it’s mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting. But the average family can’t afford ONE nanny for even half that price.

And, yes, sometimes it’s the father who stays home with the kids (and they struggle, too) but the majority of child care responsibility is placed on mothers.

Mothers are expected to work competently at a full-time job and turn into Mary Poppins/Mrs. Doubtfire/Amelia Bedelia the minute they get home. We’re tired of shapeshifting. It’s making us cranky.

If employers want to hire shapeshifters, they’d better be prepared to offer flexibility, creativity and full value for that skill or we’ll take our talents and go home. And then nobody wins.