West Jordan City Journal | February 2023

GARDNER VILLAGE REFLECTS ON LEGACY OF FOUNDER NANCY LONG

By Isa Alcaraz | i.alcaraz@my.cityjournals.com

Gardner Village founder Nancy Long passed away last November due to complications from a stroke, after battling muscular dystrophy for many years. Friends, family and locals who love Gardner Village gathered for an open-door celebration of life held at the Gathering Place on Jan. 15.

Gardner Village has been around for close to 42 years, its 43rd birthday coming up in May of this year. The flour mill, built in 1857 and a staple of Gardner Village, was purchased by Nancy Long in 1979. Long was born in Massachusetts and moved to Utah as a young girl. Early friends and family of Long described her as “always an entrepreneur,” even since childhood.

Fast forward to 1979, upon purchase of the flour mill, Long began renovations and eventually started Country Furniture and Gifts, a furniture store in the mill and the first shop ever featured at Gardner Village. Archibald’s Restaurant emerged in the same flour mill in 1990. Gardner Village acts as a true Utah historic hub. Many old builds were moved onto the property over time, then renovated and turned into local businesses.

Long’s daughter, Angie Gerdes, who is also Gardner Village’s president and owner, reflected on the importance of the history and soul of the place.

“Our vision is to preserve our history while

creating Utah’s favorite shopping and dining experience,” she said. “The mission is to provide people an escape from the ordinary, a chance to step back in time and experience raving fan service and exceptional quality.”

But none of it could have happened without Long, who was there from the very beginning.

“She started everything on a shoestring,” Gerdes said about her mother. “Very few people could have envisioned what she did. She worked tirelessly and with great passion to make this place what it has become.”

Gardner Village has not only allowed for the past to live on in the present, it has also created a refreshing culture amongst employees that is not often seen in other businesses today. The place attracts creatives who are looking for something different, a nice change of pace from the madness of the modern day.

“The people are wonderful. We attract customers and employees who are creative and want something unusual,” Gerdes said. “It is a cozy and charming area.”

And it all drew from its founder. Long set the example for how the business should be run, from attitude to work ethic, traces of her legacy are rampant at Gardner Village today. Gerdes described her mother

Continued page 9

Nancy Long and her first husband, Joe. (Photos courtesy Angie Gerdes)

Come

“This ball is a wonderful opportunity to get our community out to an event during the colder months. We have a lot of engagement with the community and events in the summer with the Western Stampede and food truck events. We’ve also been holding this event for long enough that it has become tradition for many of our residents. It’s the perfect opportunity to have a night out on the town dressed up and dancing,” Marie Magers said, public information manager of West Jordan.

Having a Small and Tall Ball is fun for the family and helps families to bond and enjoy making family memories that will last for a lifetime.

The Small and Tall Ball is great for the community of West Jordan. The residents can get out and enjoy being with their family and friends. It is a great way to connect with the community.

“In past years West Jordan has always had their Western Stampede Royalty, Mrs. Utah, Mrs. West Jordan and others at the event. The theme of the event is royalty, they all fit in. It’s so impressive to see all of the costumes that some of the guests show up in, a few years ago we had a family show up in

Jou r nals

WEST JORDAN TEAM

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By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

one, come all to the Small and Tall Ball. West Jordan is hosting the Small and Tall Ball event for all family members and residents. A daughter-mother, son-aunt, cousin-grandma, daddy-daughter, mommy-son, any partner with any partner dance, this fun activity is for everybody. West Jordan City first marketed this event as The Princess Ball, and was organized as a daddy-daughter dance. The event was rebranded and organized as the Small and Tall Ball to be more inclusive and ensure all are welcome. The event started in 2018, then the name was changed three years ago.huge ball gowns and tuxedos - they looked like they stepped out of a story book. Last year we held a balloon drop at the end of the event - dropping more than 300 balloons on our guests. Everyone loved it!

“The reason we do anything in our community - is FOR our community. This event started as an opportunity to get our residents out and engage with them. Since then, it has turned into a tradition for families. We’ve always received very positive feedback from attendants who tell us they look forward to the Small and Tall Ball every year. It’s also a great opportunity to get residents in a county building (the West Jordan Library) where they can learn even more about their community. We hold our event in the Viridianwhich is attached to the library,” Magers said.

Come to the event, dress up, dance to the music, enjoy the food, arts and crafts, princess show and a balloon drop. Bring all of your family and friends. The ball is Feb. 17, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Viridian Event Center (8030 S. 1825 West) For more information, or to register online go to www.westjordan. utah.gov or call the events department at 801569-5160. l

Left: Crowns for guests at a previous Small and Tall Ball.Top Right: Character actor princess talking with princess guests at the Small and Tall Ball. Bottom Right: West Jordan residents of all sizes and ages enjoy the Small and Tall Ball held annually. (Photos courtesy Steve Gray)

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County library celebrates all-star readers just in time for NBA All-Star game

WithSalt Lake City and the newly renamed Delta Center set to host the NBA All-Star game in February, the Salt Lake County Library system decided to celebrate a different kind of all-star.

All-Star Winter Reading, an all-ages, basketball-themed event presented in partnership with the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office, will offer opportunities to read, create, learn, play and connect in Salt Lake County and beyond, while scoring big with books, Utah Jazz tickets and other prizes in the process.

“It’s kind of like we took the referee out of the game,” County Library Program Manager Nyssa Fleig said in a press release. “There are so many ways people can take part in Winter Reading, whether by reading; playing sports like basketball; jumping in on a board game; volunteering; visiting rec centers, museums, and parks; making new friends; or starting a new club. It’s really up to the participant.”

The program began Jan. 3 and runs through Feb. 18. Participants, all ages and abilities are welcome, may register any time during the program’s run.

Winter readers may participate through the County Library’s Beanstack app, a safe, secure, interactive activity tracking program or with paper reading records, available at any branch. Either method aims to keep All-Star Winter Reading stats a fun, engaging and rewarding experience.

Finishers will be entered into a drawing to win books and Utah Jazz tickets, with each of the County Library’s 18 branches giving away a pair of tickets. Finishers will also have the opportunity to meet NBA mascots and the County Library’s Owlexander the Owl at an exclusive event at the Library’s Viridian Event Center Feb. 15 in West Jordan.

More information on the County Library’s All-Star Winter Reading program can be found at thecountylibrary. org/WinterReading.

In addition to All-Star Winter Reading, Salt Lake County is boosting the NBA All-Star Experience with ticket giveaways and fan events. Learn more at slco.org/mayor/slco-all-star-experience. l

School employees sent walking…for their health

Catherine Crosby hates exercising but she knows she needs to do it.

It’s become easier for her this year. Crosby, a language arts teacher at West Jordan Middle School, is participating in the Iron Lion Challenge for school employees. For every 30 minutes of movement or 3,000 steps, she marks off a box on the challenge tracker.

“The Iron Lion challenge has shown me that I can get healthy by being aware of my steps,” Crosby said. “I’ve also started doing yoga and dancing again. Checking off my exercise on our tracker has been motivating to me because I have to answer to it.”

Crosby said the benefits have been both physical and mental.

“I feel healthier and have more energy,” she said. “Moving more is good for my mental health as well because it helps me feel like I’m accomplishing something.”

WJMS health teacher Kathy Howa came up with the challenge that rewards everyone no matter their fitness level. Every teacher, aide, custodian, lunch worker, office staff, counselor and administrator received an Iron Lion T-shirt and was invited to participate.

Howa said the buy-in has been great. In the first semester of the year, school employees logged more than 1,988 hours of exercise.

“They are realizing this is kind of fun,” Howa said. “They find all different ways to exercise and they’re finding out that they already do stuff and then they’re able to mark it down and then they want to do more.”

The challenge has inspired groups of employees to take a walk together during their breaks and after school. Some have gone hiking and snowshoeing together. Howa has received positive feedback from colleagues who said they wouldn’t be moving this much if it weren’t for the challenge.

The goal of the challenge is to increase employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. Howa said even those who are walking a little bit more than they used to are getting benefits. A bonus benefit is that it is increasing unity.

“It’s really building community throughout the school because it’s a little friendly competition, and people share videos or pictures of how they’ve been active or moving,” science teacher Ally Jelitto said.

Jelitto shares her love of movement by teaching daily morning meditations with movement and weekly yoga sessions for school employees.

“The biggest takeaway, at least for me, is it’s been good to connect with teachers or staff that I hadn’t in the past,” Jelitto said.

Kaylynn Schiffman agrees. She’s been a hall monitor at WJMS for six years, but because she doesn’t participate in teacher meetings, she doesn’t know many of the teachers well.

“I feel like with us all doing this, it has

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

brought me closer with the staff,” she said.

Schiffman was one of the semester winners of the challenge because she averages 10,000-12,000 steps a day just as part of her job. The Iron Lion challenge inspired her to be more active on the weekends and to track her food habits, which has helped her lose 21 pounds.

“I just decided, if I’m doing all those steps and making an effort to count my steps, I might as well make an effort to count my intake,” she said.

Reading teacher Michelle Bagley has also been inspired— she said this is the first fitness program she’s taken seriously.

“The Iron Lion Challenge has helped me be more intentional about fitness and helped actually do it,” Bagley said. “I always have good intentions about getting healthier, but they always fall through. Apparently I need a village to make it happen, and I love knowing my fellow teachers are in this with me.”

Bagley has adopted new healthier habits.

“I started walking more so I could put marks on my spreadsheet, so now I don’t circle a parking lot twelve times to find the best spot, I walk,” she said.

She has also experimented with new ways to get moving. She uses an under-thedesk cycle machine while grading papers.

She is trying a new online exercise program and got a dance program for her Nintendo Switch so she can exercise while playing with her grandchildren.

“The Iron Lion Challenge at our school has made a huge difference in my attitude and how I feel,” Bagley said. “I only set out to prove to the school I wasn’t a couch potato and a team player, but I feel better, and even though weight loss wasn’t my goal, I’ve dropped seven pounds just by adding a little bit more exercise to my everyday routine.”

Challenge participants earn prizes such as water tumblers, trail mix bars, school swag and Lion King merchandise. There are two floating trophies which weekly winners for Most Improved and Most Hours get to display in their classrooms for that week.

Because of her competitive nature, special education teacher Kasi Monsen is very motivated to participate in the challenge.

“Winning is something I like doing, so I think, ‘I can do the most steps, I can go to volleyball instead of sitting on the couch and watching a movie today,’” Monsen said. “Obviously my health has to be important to me, but yeah, it’s a little bit more motivating to win.”

Her choices have paid off. Monsen was another of the semester winners.

Jordan School District prioritizes the

wellness of employees and has wellness committees at each school and an entire department at the district. Friday, Feb. 10 has been scheduled as the 2nd Annual Health and Wellness Virtual Day.

Instead of being required to be at the school on that day, JSD employees will be encouraged to engage in activities that benefit their physical and mental health. JSD will be providing group exercise classes and professional development workshops focused on mental health topics during the day. Employees who participate in activities will earn prizes.

“The intent is to give employees some time to prioritize their personal wellness,” District Health and Wellness Consultant McKinley Withers said. “This is one of many opportunities that the district is looking at to try and give employees a better sense of wellness, because when adults are taken care of, they’ll take better care of our kids.”

There will also be options and resources for students and their families to focus on their health and wellness on Feb. 10, which is not an in-person learning day. More information about the Annual Employee Health and Wellness Day and other wellness resources can be found at wellness.jordandistrict.org.

Left: Teachers can borrow a desk cycle to exercise while working at their desk. Middle: Megan Singleton rock climbs. Right: Jorge Ibanez participates in a soccer league. (Photos courtesy of Kathy Howa)

Jordan District’s seventh-graders discover career agricultural opportunities

Atthe Salt Lake County fairgrounds, there were animals — alpacas, goats, birds, wild horses; fruits and vegetables — apples, peaches, pumpkins; as well as animal skeletons, tractors, flowers, water experiments, healthy-eating diagrams and more.

It was Jordan School District’s sixth annual agriculture day. More than 4,800 seventh-grade students from all the district’s middle schools, including its virtual middle school, learned from 56 different organizations about agriculture, said Shauna West, Jordan School District’s career and technical education assistant.

“Seventh-graders in the state are required to take a college and career awareness class, with 17 of those days being devoted to agriculture,” she said. “We decided to hold this event to help our teachers educate seventh-graders about all aspects of agriculture.”

The broad spectrum showed sheep shearing to drone use in agriculture. Students learned about things ranging from the price of machinery that gets wheat onto a dining room table to the importance of good nutrition.

“We’re hoping students learned the important part that agriculture plays in their everyday life, that their bread does not come from the shelf, their milk does not come from the refrigerator. We wanted to give them an opportunity to see and smell and feel what it’s all about, to get that hands-on experience,” West said.

She said teachers prepared students beforehand and about 120 Future Farmers of America and science high school students set up for the day as well as escorted student groups in rotations and answered their questions.

Elk Ridge career and technical education teacher Steven Asp was overseeing two groups of his students through the rotations.

“I want my students to become aware of all the different career clusters, and agriculture is a big one,” he said. “I love that students are getting exposed to where food comes first-hand from people in the industry to having the opportunity to learn about clubs and careers in high school and college. This is much more interactive than a discussion and I love that we’re getting out of the classroom to experience it.”

Elk Ridge seventh-grader Ola Hamadi was excited to see the sheep and to learn about them. She and classmate Emery Ross just learned that they needed to have plenty of vegetables and protein to eat healthy.

They had listened to Jordan School District nutrition coordinators Lisa Totorica and Jodie Bowles.

“We taught them about the five groups of food on ‘My Plate,’” Totorica said.

Bowles said that not all the students were aware that Jordan School District offers students breakfast with fresh bread every

By Julie Slama | j.slama@yahoo.com

morning.

“We talked to them about some of their favorites – chicken sandwiches and spicy orange chicken – and they were able to understand the nutrition of the meals,” she said. “It’s amazing how smart they are.”

Students rotated to learn that alpacas, the shortest member of the camel family, have an average lifespan of 22 years, and then to learning about aviation technology in agriculture for a college class choice. They also learned about wild mustangs in nearby Butterfield Canyon and how a high school student adopts and trains horses, and how she rides them now to compete for prizes.

Horticulturalist Crystal Trentelman shared with students her knowledge and love of plants and answered their questions, such as why her strawberry plant has pink flowers instead of white.

“I’m a Utah State student, but I also work for Progressive Plants and in both cases, I really like to be involved in the plant community and share with anyone interested about plant education,” she said. “I talked a lot about plant breeding, working on different genetics to make those things happen. The kids were really asking some intelligent questions. I just am so jealous of these guys getting to learn about these options while they’re young.”

Elk Ridge seventh-grader Amalia Vallejo appreciated learning from Trentelman that working with plants is a peaceful career and one which also can focus on need and beauty with plants’ different colors. She also liked learning about the different programs available at Utah State University.

West Jordan Middle School student

Naomi Fisutalia Hamilton said through her rotations, she learned that most breads are made from part whole wheat flour and part white and can share that with her family.

West Jordan science teacher Allyson Jellito said she can tie what they learned into her class discussion.

“I really like the pods with ducks, chickens and horses and dogs since they’re learning about the diversity of life,” she said. “We can use those to determine what is living,

what isn’t living, and particularly how to care for living things themselves. I’m going to bring this back to my class to implement.”

Parent Dan Hastings was escorting a group of seventh-grade students.

“It’s cool that these students are exposed to as much as possible here,” he said, remembering he helped farm and ride horses where the district offices now stand. “There are so many more choices in agriculture today.”

Top: Horticulturalist Crystal Trentelman shared with students about plant breeding at Jordan School District’s annual agriculture day. Bottom: During Jordan School District’s sixth annual agriculture day, current and former high school students shared with seventh-graders how they found success breaking wild mustangs. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

West-side advocate Sen. Karen Mayne resigns her senate seat

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Whenpeople describe Utah State Sen. Karen Mayne, they always use one word: champion. Since assuming office on Jan. 2, 2008, Mayne has been a formidable advocate for residents on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley.

In early January, Mayne submitted her letter of resignation to the Utah Senate, citing health concerns. Although she just won reelection in November, the democrat and minority whip doesn’t want her illness to affect the representation of her constituents.

“After much prayer, personal consideration, and deliberation with my family,” Mayne wrote, “I have made the difficult decision to resign my position as senator for Utah Senate District 12. Since the election in November of 2022, my health has taken an unexpected turn, and the constituents of District 12 deserve full-time representation at the beginning of the legislative session.”

A lifelong resident of West Valley City, Mayne started her political career after her husband’s death in 2007. Starting in 1994, Sen. Ed Mayne was elected to the state senate four times and served as president of the Utah AFL-CIO. Mayne was appointed to her husband’s senate seat in January 2008 and won her re-election bid later that same year.

In a news release, Senate President J. Stuart Adams said Mayne has been a cham-

pion for her district and a force for bipartisan camaraderie.

“Throughout her 15 years in the legislature, she has passionately advocated for impactful change, including workforce safety,

economic opportunity and family support,” Adams said. “Sen. Mayne’s list of accomplishments on behalf of her constituents and state is long and revered. She is one of the most effective legislators and consistently passes the most bills during sessions. This is a testament to her tenacity, hard work and resilience. Utah has been blessed because of her service.”

Mayne served on the Senate Transportation Committee, supporting legislation to improve traffic on the west side. She fought against a toll on Mountain View Corridor and worked to improve intersections on Bangerter Highway.

Before serving as senator, Mayne was a paraeducator in the Granite School District. Her vision to provide additional funding and manageable class sizes was a priority during her time in the legislature.

As a proponent for health care and worker safety, Mayne led the effort to require drug and alcohol testing for state construction contracts. She served on numerous committees, task forces and commissions in her efforts to help residents in her area and across the state.

“Sen. Mayne is the epitome of what true public service and representation is all about,” said Senate Minority Leader Sen. Luz Escamilla. “Her dedication to her district and to the people of Utah has been thoughtful, genuine, and kind-hearted every step of the way. She has consistently championed legislation to support the health, well-being, and security of working families throughout the state of Utah. Her extensive legacy is a guiding light for public policy to embrace more compassion, more care, and more attention to the people of Utah.”

Aimee Winder Newton serves on the

Salt Lake County Council, representing Taylorsville, Murray, West Jordan and West Valley City. She said Mayne has been a pillar in the community and her resignation will be a huge loss for the west side.

“She truly was a champion for people who needed a champion and maybe didn’t have a loud voice,” Newton said. “She was a champion for west-side residents overall and for her district. It’s so sad to me to see her suffering and her health declining but we are so grateful for all the years of service both she and Ed have given to the residents of Salt Lake County.”

In her resignation letter, Mayne thanked her constituents and colleagues for their support and expressed gratitude for the opportunities she’s had to collaborate with those in public service.

“I am proud and privileged to have been able to create meaningful change in many areas of public policy including worker safety, family support, Utah Women In Trades, and economic opportunity for all people,” she said. “It has truly been an honor to serve.”

Mayne’s resignation went into effect on Jan. 16. A replacement will be appointed by democratic delegates to fill Mayne’s remaining term. Senate democrats will select a new minority whip.

“While we are heartbroken about her resignation, we are rallying behind Sen. Mayne,” Escamilla said. “We look forward to her community-minded efforts continuing to have an impact throughout the state.”

Karen Mayne was named to the ChamberWest Hall of Fame in 2016. (File photo City Journals)

State Sen. Karen Mayne served 15 years in the senate as a champion for the west side. Due to health concerns, she submitted her resignation which went into effect Jan. 16. (Photo courtesy Utah Senate)

Continued from front page

as “a character” who always thought outside the box and strived to prove doubters wrong.

“She made a huge impact on other people’s lives through what she created,” Gerdes said. “I am grateful for the life it has helped me to enjoy.”

While Gardner Village remains one of Utah’s most popular historic destinations, all businesses aren’t without their challenges.

Gerdes explained that online shopping, big box and chain stores were some of their closest competitors at times. However, the thing that sets Gardner Village apart is its uniqueness. They’ve even introduced new entertainment like Mystic Dining, a dinner and show experience, magic shows, escape rooms and a variety of classes including knitting and painting. These are things you aren’t getting from just any business down the road.

“Our focus on specialty stores with unique offerings has helped us a lot,” Gerdes said.

Long was active in the business until Gerdes and her brother, Joe, purchased it in 2000.

Gardner Village features 17 stores and boutiques including The Black Goose Design, CF Home and Furniture Design, and Chocolate Covered Wagon. There are also a few dining options, a spa, photo studio and a farm.

The flour mill is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. l

Archibald's Restaurant was built by pioneer Archibald Gardner. (Photo courtesy Angie Gerdes)

Donations provide win-win for teachers, students

How do you encourage good student behavior?

A chicken hat was the incentive for one student.

Columbia Elementary implemented a new positive behavior system this year in which students earn Astro Bucks for good behavior.

“When we see good behavior, we can just hand them Astro Bucks, so the kids know that we’re always looking for those positives,” instructional coach Melinda Carpenter said.

Students save their money to spend at the school store, which is open for one week each month. While other students are motivated by being able to buy a bag of Takis, a toy skateboard or a Dog Man book, for one fifth grader, it was a chicken hat that encouraged him to follow school rules and show respect to others.

Store merchandise ranges from candy and soda to stuffed animals and holiday items. Unique items, such as the chicken hat, are often donated by teachers. Last month, the principal and some teachers donated autographed framed pictures of themselves.

“It has been fun to listen to the students talk about how they are saving their money for one specific item and want to know desperately how much our pictures are priced at so they can make sure they have enough money to buy it,” third grade teacher Angela Drope said. “It has been a good lesson in saving and earning.”

Drope said her students have really bought-in to the incentive program.

“It gives them something to look forward to each month,” she said. “There is really no limit to how many teachers can give out. We just try and reserve the larger $5 and $10 amounts for spectacular events. For example, at Christmas time, I gifted them all $10 Astro Bucks. You would have thought I gave them real money.”

Carpenter relies heavily on donations to keep the store stocked with items kids like, to ensure the positive behavior program remains effective. Much of the store merchandise has been donated by parents, teachers and local businesses such as Walgreens and Smith’s Marketplace. Carpenter also recently received a grant from the Association of American Educators Foundation.

Donations help fund programs such as the school store, but Carpenter said most teachers rely on donations to simply run their classrooms.

“The school gives you a set of headphones every year at the beginning of the year and you’re lucky if they last three

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

or four months, and then your kids don’t have headphones for any of your computer things that you do,” Carpenter said.gets for classroom supplies, once they run out, teachers must pay for materials outof-pocket, ask for donations or apply for grants.

Jordan District teachers can apply for an annual classroom grant through the Jor dan Education Foundation. Other grants available to teachers can be too specific or have a tedious application process, Carpenter said. Many teachers opt to use the user-friendly DonorsChoose, an online crowdfunding platform which was created by a public school teacher in 2000.

site, teachers at 87% of the nation’s public schools have posted a project on the site,

and $1,412,484,851 has been spent helping teachers fund their classrooms.

Several Columbia Elementary teachers currently have requests listed through DonorsChoose. Drope uses DonorsChoose regularly to provide basic classroom supplies such as snacks and art supplies, more expensive items such as wobbly stools and a color printer, and materials for special activities such as glow sticks and candy.

“I used M&Ms to help with identifying and writing fractions,” Drope said. “One of my students yelled, ‘Mrs. Drope!! Fractions are delicious!’ If they were excited about M&Ms, wait until we get to the Hershey bars.”

The Hershey bars are part of Drope’s next DonorsChoose request.

Drope said much of her support comes from family and friends who find it easy to donate through the online platform. Some of her projects have been fully funded by the Panda Cares Foundation and Jordan Education Foundation.

Drope is appreciative of the support and posts a thank you note each time one of her projects is funded, which often only takes one day.

“The gratitude of strangers warms our hearts. We cannot be successful without your generosity and the love for my students that you don’t even know,” she wrote after her project for snacks and glow sticks was fully funded. l

Items range in price so that students can find something to buy with their Astro Bucks at Columbia Elementary School’s school store. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Carpenter)

Snacks are some of the most popular items at Columbia Elementary’s school store. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Carpenter)

Columbia Elementary students learn to save their Astro Bucks to be able to purchase some of the high value items in the school store. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Carpenter)

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This study is for men and women who are 18 to 80 years old, you must be able to sign and understand informed consent. You must have Cirrhosis due to NASH. This is defined as having either a historical liver biopsy within 180 days, or if it’s been longer we will do a fibro scan to determine if you have Cirrhosis.

CRISTCOT - ULCERATIVE COLITIS:

This study is for males or non-pregnant, non-lactating females 18 years and older who have a confirmed diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. Participants must be having an active flare-up of Ulcerative Colitis of the rectum in order to

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This study is for adults 18 years and older who have hypertriglyceridemia and who are on lipid-lowering therapy, such as a statin that has been stabilized for at least 4 weeks. You must be willing to comply with diet and lifestyle recommendations as much as possible. If you are taking an over-the-counter omega-3 fatty acid, you should make every effort to stay on the same brand through the end of the study.

*We are also conducting free Fibro Scans to help people check for fatty liver, if you think you have one and haven’t been checked yet, call us today to schedule a 15-minute liver scan.

The CORE study is exploring an investigational study drug for severe

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For more information, contact:

You may have Fatty Liver or NASH.

What’s your legacy?

Jordan District asks legislators to prioritize support of high quality educators

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

TheJordan School District Board of Education hosted a breakfast for state legislators Jan. 11 to share their educational priorities and to answer questions from representatives preparing for this year’s legislative session.

The Board asked for support from lawmakers as they focus on providing safe working and learning environments at schools and in recruiting and retaining high quality educators and educational support professionals.

“We understand that the fundamental thing that makes education great, that affects the lives of individuals, are great educators,” Board First Vice President Niki George said.

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In his Supercast podcast, Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey regularly highlights outstanding employees who have an impact on students. One of the teacher-student relationships he featured was Bingham High School sophomore Claire Burnham, who has become a national youth storyteller because of the support of her teachers at Jordan Ridge Elementary. Burnham and her sixth-grade teacher Frankie Walton shared their story with the legislators at the breakfast.

It reminded the legislators of the teachers that have had an impact on their lives.

“My ‘Mrs. Walton’ was Mr. Young,” Rep. Mark Strong (house 47) said. “I had him three classes a day for my entire senior year of high school. I still talk to him—every few months I call him.”

An intern for one of the state representatives shared that the only reason she had good attendance during her senior year was because she had a connection with her choir teacher.

Rep. Jordan Teuscher (house 44), who attended Jordan District schools, said, “Each of my elementary school teachers was really amazing,” but he remembers specifically his fifth-grade teacher. “I just remember being given more responsibilities and being looked at differently from a teacher than I had in the past.”

Teuscher still sees his AP political science teacher, Scott Crump, who taught the class at Bingham High for 25 years, and now works as a green coat at legislative sessions. Jenicee Jacobson, who is now an administrator at West Jordan High, was Teuscher’s debate teacher his senior year and helped him become who he is today. “She really took an interest in us and found ways for us to be able to accomplish the things we wanted to do,” he said.

Godfrey’s podcast also highlights the behind-the-scenes workers such as aides, nutrition workers, custodians, bus drivers and other support personnel who are critical

to creating a successful educational environment for students. Currently there is a shortage in these positions—custodial crews are the most short-handed right now. The Board told legislators their current priority is to be able to provide competitive pay to fill these positions.

“It’s easy to look at a school, and the teacher, but we have so many people that play a huge part in the education of our children, and we hope that we can recognize all of those needs,” George said. “Students are constantly receiving extra help through education support professionals, receiving experiences in the lunchroom and receiving relationships through school bus drivers.”

Board members also reported on how legislative funding has been spent. Their priorities have been employee pay, school safety and mental health resources.

They took time to answer questions legislators had about topics such as student attendance and discipline and the procedure for banning books.

Bingham High School ProStart students provided the food for the breakfast and the Madrigals Choir performed two songs.

JSD hosts a legislative breakfast every year before the legislative session. Last year’s legislative breakfast was particularly productive. It took place at Herriman High School, which on that day happened to be implementing the test-to-stay protocols the governor had put in place. When the lawmakers saw the procedure in action, they immediately texted the governor about the problems with the protocol.

“It was a very striking moment,” Associate Superintendent Mike Anderson said to lawmakers at this year’s breakfast. “It was thanks to your jumping in at that point that we were able to get some things changed rather quickly at the state level.”

Godfrey said the entire state benefited from the lawmakers’ efforts that day.

“That’s the best example of us working together in really difficult times,” he said. l

Some of the state legislators and board members in attendance at the Jordan School District Legislative Breakfast held Jan. 11 (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

UHSAA schools have action plans to treat sports injuries

Damar Hamlin, defensive back for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed on the field of a Monday Night football game. He was in cardiac arrest. Players, coaches and fans stood in silence watching the response of field safety workers. At high school games in Utah, many schools have an emergency plan in place to help keep players safe.

“You have always got to prepare for that type of injury,” Cyprus High School trainer and exercise science and sports medicine teacher Cole Kissick said. “We have an Emergency Action Plan in place.”

An EAP is developed to ensure the safety of and provide the best immediate care for all student-athletes. Athletic injuries can occur at any time and at any level of participation. Having an EAP in place ensures that these injuries are managed and cared for appropriately.

“Each venue we have here at Cyprus has a specific plan. Our main gym, the football field, swimming pool and aux gym each have different plans. Our administration, athletic directors, police officers and training staff go through it at the first of each year. These are for the worst situations, our ‘oh crap’ moments,” Kissick said.

The UHSAA has mandated health examinations prior to participating in a sport. Each student athlete must present a certificate signed by a physician stating that he/she is physically able to compete in school athletics.

The UHSAA specifically targets heat stroke and sudden cardiac arrest in its handbook. The handbook states “cold water immersion tubs” are used for onsite cool down. It also includes AEDs for cardiac arrest situations.

The EAP documents the individuals responsible for the

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

equipment and documentation of the training.

“It is what I prepare for. We walk through it. We have AEDs in the hall and in the cart, it all comes down to preparing. It is scary and not something we ever want to do, but we are prepared,” Kissick said.

Hamlin fell to the ground after making a routine tackle in the first quarter of the football game. He went into cardiac arrest and was administered CPR on the field. His heartbeat was revived by the training staff.

After nine days and two hospital stays, he has since been released to his home in Buffalo, New York. His recovery could take weeks to months. It is unknown why Hamlin’s heart stopped. That injury is unusual. The chest must be struck in a brief moment (about 20 milliseconds) while the heart is relaxing.

“I show sports injuries in my class, and we talk about what they have to do. Prevention is most of my job. I deal with lots of ankle sprains. After an injury, we work with the players to get them playing again. They still need to do things to make sure they don’t reinjure themselves,” Kissick said.

Playing sports can be inherently dangerous. The Hamlin injury made some people think about how dangerous sports can be.

“I do think we need to have better equipment,” Utah girls tackle football coach Crys Sacco said.

“I would think twice about letting my kids play football,” Sofia Broadhead said.

“There are car accidents every day, but I don’t stop driving,” Jennie Best said.

Parents have many different opinions.

“I have had some honest conversations with people (con-

GEETA NAGPAL, MD Granger Pain & Spine

cerning safety). We have stepped back and tried to explain what actually happened. No parents have said anything, but we have talked with the coaches and they can understand why we (trainers) do what we do. Sometimes I can be mean, but at the end of the day, everyone looks at us if someone is on the floor, wondering what we do,” Kissick said.

The UHSAA asks that the school’s EAP focuses on training, equipment and maintenance, actions taken during an emergency, and post-event evaluation of the emergency response. l

Dr. Geeta Nagpal joins Granger Medical after relocating with her family from Chicago, IL. She is a boardcertified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. She started her higher education at MIT and went to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. She then studied anesthesiology and pain medicine at two Harvard hospitals, Brigham, and Women’s as well as MGH. After jumping from coast to coast during her education she landed in the Midwest where she started her career. She was at Northwestern University for nearly 11 years where she practiced interventional pain medicine and was an Associate Professor of anesthesiology and medical education. Her interest in the field of pain medicine began with a genuine desire to maintain continuity with her patients and a passion for improving her patient’s function. Dr. Nagpal sees pain medicine as a rapidly evolving field with multiple opportunities to impact and improve a patient’s quality of life.

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Injuries to student-athletes can happen at any time. The school’s administration is prepared to handle it. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Cyprus baseball)

Grizzlies proving preseason prediction correct

Photos by Travis Barton

Left: Jake Timpson has the Copper Hills girls basketball team out to a 12-4 record and the No. 7 seed in the RPI. The Grizzlies were picked to finish first in Region 3 by coaches. Right: The Copper Hills girls celebrate another 3-pointer from Ellie Taylor during a 50-35 win over Riverton.

From left to right: Junior Anslie Yazzie swings the ball around the perimeter for the talented Grizzlies. Ellie Taylor shoots a free throw. The junior is averaging almost 16 points per game which leads the team. Ellie Taylor drives inside looking to find teammates such as Skylie Barker. Alyssa Loza and the Grizzlies had only dropped a game to Herriman in early region action.

Jaguars looking to compete in tough Region 3

Photos by Travis Barton

Left: Madison Anderson looks for an offensive rebound against Riverton in region play. The senior is signed to play for Utah State Eastern in college. Middle: Ashlyne Donat was averaging almost 9 points and two assists per game for the Jaguars. The senior guard helped pace West Jordan to a 9-5 preseason. Right: Sophomore Giselle Muffett was leading the Jaguars in scoring midway through the season with almost 14 per game.

Copper Hills Parkway replaces the name New Bingham Highway

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

For more than a year, Copper Hills High School’s student body officers and the CHHS School Community Council worked with West Jordan City leaders to rename a portion of New Bingham Highway (7800 S. to 5600 West). That stretch of road is now known as Copper Hills Parkway.

On Thursday, Jan. 5, a renaming celebration unveiled the new street sign. CHHS cheerleaders, band and choir performed at the ceremony and the entire student body gathered to witness the historic change. CHHS now sits on the corner of Copper Hills Parkway and Grizzly Way.

“It’s always a good thing when young people can see how a grassroots movement can turn into a change in their community,” said SCC member Nichole Coombs. “This wasn’t a fast-moving request. It took over a year to get the process completed. Many students, community leaders and volunteers worked to make this happen. It was also a lesson in perseverance.”

The name was selected to better represent the community, but the process to get the street name changed was a firsthand lesson in civic procedures for the SBOs. As students spent the year working with West Jordan City

officials, they created an easier process for future requests.

“Many of you can’t even vote yet, and here you are making big changes in your community,” said West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton. “It took many separate entities to make this change happen. We worked closely with Salt Lake County and because of students who reached out about this name change, we have a better process for others who may have a request like this in the future, and that is thanks to all of you. Go Grizzlies!”

The change will not affect residential addresses along the parkway, however, a few businesses who supported the renaming will have a change of address. Council member David Pack commended the students’ efforts and their perseverance to make the name change happen. He hopes other residents will follow their example and work with the city to create improvements.

“Show up to your city council meetings,” Pack said. “It makes a big difference in your community.”

CHHS students no longer have to drive along New Bingham Highway to get to school. With Bingham High School being

a rival of CHHS, the students felt the new name created a greater sense of pride in the school and community.

“It’s only fitting that Copper Hills High School sits on the corner of Grizzly Way and Copper Hills Parkway. It’s the perfect repre-

sentation of our community,” Coombs said. “It was so exciting to see so many students, faculty and community members at the unveiling. It was a great show of community support for a school that’s a key part of this community.” l

Students, parents, community leaders and West Jordan officials celebrate the renaming of a portion of New Bingham Highway. Now called Copper Hills Parkway, students feel the name change better reflects the CHHS community. (Photos courtesy of West Jordan City)

TAP INTO A NEW POSSIBILITY for depression

New 55+ Community Now Building in South Jordan

Just south of Salt Lake Community College, Utah’s leading builder of active adult communities has begun construction of their newest development. Leisure Villas, known for their lifestyle-oriented neighborhoods, has broken ground on what is promising to be one of their more premiere locations.

55+ Community offers better living for retirees

While nobody likes to see another open field disappear to housing, it is nice to see that it will be constructed by a builder who has a strong reputation for not only building quality homes, but homes and communities that are attractive and fun.

Hearthstone Villas, located at 9550 S. 3400 W. has just opened its first building for sale. While supply and labor shortages threaten to slow construction, the builder is committed to doing all in their power to open four new homes for sale each month.

This long-anticipated community will soon have its community clubhouse under construction also, with its accompanying amenities, like a pool, theater, exercise room, billiards, library, community gathering areas. This community is also planning on installing two pickleball courts and some horseshoe pits in the next phase of construction. Needless to say, there will be plenty to do, and great people to do it with.

If you would like more information about this new community, you can speak with a representative by visiting the sales office on site, or by calling: 801-701-1147.

Photo: Don Polo Photography

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New board member ready to

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

listen

Lisa Dean was elected to fill the vacancy left by Jen Atwood as the Jordan School District Board of Education District 7 Representative for the West Jordan area.

“I know her heart as a community member and as a mom, and I think she’ll do a fantastic job,” said Atwood, who has worked with Dean on local school PTA boards and school community councils.

Dean is jumping into the position on the heels of the board’s difficult decision to close West Jordan Elementary School. She will serve on the committee tasked with determining what to do with the school property and is eager to get input from community members.

“It’s my constituency, it’s the people that I’m elected to represent, so I want them to get the best possible outcome for the most people,” Dean said.

As a graduate of West Jordan High School, Dean is aware of the declining enrollment and aging buildings in the east West Jordan area.

“I remember back in the ‘80s, when I was in high school and junior high, it was packed,” she said. “The development was crazy, the schools were really full, there were tons of kids in the neighborhoods, and now it’s just not like that anymore. That’s

just how things go.”

With her own children currently attending West Jordan High School, Joel P. Jensen Middle School and Columbia Elementary School, Dean understands the unique challenges of the West Jordan feeder system, including the needs of English language learners and Title One schools.

Dean worked as a math aide at both West Jordan High and Joel P. Jensen Middle, and has served regularly as a classroom volunteer, PTA member and school council member at many West Jordan area schools.

“I’ve seen what is actually happening in classrooms and in hallways,” Dean said.

The board is working to address the needs of the east West Jordan area of the district. With the closure of West Jordan Elementary, they plan to make building improvements to the elementary schools that are absorbing the displaced students.

West Jordan High, built in 1981, is the next priority for major building improvements now that the Bingham High School building, which is four years older, has been updated. Resurfacing West Jordan High School’s track is already on the schedule for this summer.

Board Vice President Niki George, who serves on the facilities committee,

said it will take a few years and will be a one-step-at-a-time process, but improving the West Jordan High School building for the community is a priority.

“We want them to walk into their school and feel like first class citizens,” she said. “The hope is that we can give them

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a facelift that makes it comparable to any school in the state of Utah in function and in aesthetics.”

Dean said the decisions she will make as a board member will be directed by people’s ideas, expert opinions and data.

“I’m very open-minded,” Dean said. “I’m very interested in all opinions, and I like to hear everybody’s point of view. I think that in every situation there’s more than one possible good outcome.”

Dean has started a newsletter to keep community members informed about what the board is doing and discussing. Request to receive the newsletter at lisa.dean@jordandistrict.org.

“I just feel very humbled and excited to be on the board,” Dean said. “I hope to learn a lot and I hope to listen a lot. I want to hear what people think, people’s ideas. I know that the board doesn’t solve people’s individual problems, but I’m still willing to listen to what people want to tell me anyway.”

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Dean has a BA in Spanish with a math minor from BYU. She joined the Utah Army National Guard and studied Arabic at the Defense Language Institute.

She comes from a civically-minded family. Her father was a city councilman for West Jordan and her sister served on the Provo School Board and is now a state legislator. Another sister is a teacher at West Jordan High School.

Dean is not the only new member of the seven member board. Brian W. Barnett was elected as the new district 2 representative for the Riverton and Bluffdale area. Tracy J. Miller was re-elected to represent district 3 (Riverton and South Jordan areas) and, last month, was elected to serve as board president for another term. l

Jordan District Board of Education District 7 Representative Lisa Dean is sworn in on Jan. 10. (Sandy Riesgraf/JSD Communications)

If you’d told me 20 years ago that I’d be a yoga instructor, I’d have laughed hard enough to tear a hamstring because I was very inflexible.

I took my first yoga class as a dare. My tennis instructor laughed at how tight I was and challenged me to try yoga. I hated every minute of that stupid class. I hated the words and I hated the poses and I hated the teacher and I loathed downward facing dog with a fiery passion.

But I realized my tennis instructor was right. My muscles were as tight as two-byfours, but less bendy. So I kept going back to yoga. Hated it every single time.

After about two months of practicing yoga, I noticed, little by little, my flexibility was improving. I could almost touch my toes without the usual amount of grunting and tears. My hips didn’t scream out loud while doing pigeon pose. My shoulders dropped away from my ears, where I’d held them at strict attention for decades. Even my back stopped hurting each time I rolled out of bed.

I grudgingly had to admit yoga wasn’t the hippy-dippy dumpster fire I thought it was. But learning the poses was just the beginning. As I explored yoga’s history, philosophy and favorite recipes, I came to realize yoga was a lifestyle that encouraged, nay demanded, self-love and com-

A bit of a stretch

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

passion.

Yikes. As a lifelong subscriber to self-loathing, I wasn’t sure how to handle that type of ideology. Just like when I started the physical practice, I took lots of tiny, baby steps toward accepting myself as a worthy human.

Fast forward 20 years and not only do I teach yoga but I LOVE yoga with a fiery passion. Yoga has changed me in so many ways. I used to be sarcastic, cynical and snarky but after studying yoga for so many years, I’m a sarcastic, cynical and snarky yoga instructor.

See. People change.

I’m also much less judgmental. I’m not so hard on myself and I give most people the benefit of the doubt. Most people. Maybe someone can propose a bill that would require our legislators to take a yoga class each morning before discussing the divisive and harmful bills proposed

this year. OK, when it comes to our lawmakers, I’m still pretty judgmental.

Being a yoga instructor is super silly. As an instructor, I get to say things in class that don’t make a whole lot of sense, and my students listen to me!

I’ll say, “Breathe in through your collarbones, breathe out through your kneecaps. Inhale to fill up your armpits, exhale to release tension in the ear lobes.”

Or I’ll instruct students to “Melt into the mat, send energy out of your fingertips, ground through your sitz bones, wring out your body and lengthen the crown of your head.” And I’m totally serious. (Laugh emoji)

My yoga practice has evolved from trying to do the most difficult poses and making my students sweat and swear, to focusing on deep stretches and stress-reducing breathing exercises.

It isn’t about who can be the bendy-est or the one who can hold crow pose for five minutes. It’s about appreciating what my body can do today. Not what I think it should do or what I want it to do tomorrow, but what it can accomplish right now.

I appreciate all the yoga teachers who took this rigid block of a body and mind and transformed it into a pliable, warm and accepting human being. My hamstrings thank you. l

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.”

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician