June 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 06
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THE YOUNGEST DRIVER might be the fastest By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
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ocky Mountain Raceway kicked off its final season and 14-year-old Natalie Waters is having an impact already. “I grew up with racing. My uncles are Jimmy Waters and Lynn Hardy (veteran racers at the RMR) so I was at the track when I was about 6 months old,” Natalie Waters said. “I got into a quarter midget (similar to a go-kart) when I was 6 years old. Then I drove a junior stinger and a focus midget.” Waters is currently driving a new midget racecar and an open wheel limited sprint car. In both classes she competes against drivers more than double her age. “I like the adrenaline rush. I have always thought it looked so cool. It is nice to know that I am doing well. Last year was my first year on the entire track and I think I have gotten it a little bit. This year I feel I can go as hard as I can,” Waters said. She has been fast. Her limited sprint averaged 91.2 mph around the ⅜-mile oval. Her qualifying time was fourth fastest for the opening night racers. In her midget division she has raced competitively against Chaz Groat for several years in quarter midgets and now in the focus midgets. Groat was last year’s class champion. “My family is really close with Chaz’s family,” Waters said. “We both got into this class together and seem to be in the same step in racing. There is a little pressure being a girl and I am the youngest ever to drive a sprint car in the state of Utah. It is different, but knowing that I get out of the car and beat those grown men is cool.” Waters has dreams of racing in NASCAR. She has support from several sponsors and a working crew. Her grandfather John Waters is her crew chief and has set up her cars from the beginning of her racing career.
Natalie Waters pilots this limited sprint race car at Rocky Mountain Raceway at speeds approaching 115 mph. She is 14 years old. (Photo courtesy Natalie Waters Facebook page)
“I have been racing since I was 11 years old and I have never seen anything like this,” John said. “It is so emotional to see
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
her start racing when she was six. She told me, ‘All I wanted was a trophy.’ She has so much passion for it. She just finished racing and she is back here waxing her car to make them look nice.” In a race last November at the Bullring in Las Vegas she flipped her car and totaled it. John found another car, purchased it and prepared it for this season. In set-up, John has always prepared the car limiting her on her throttle availability to ensure she could learn the handling of the car. “I did not want to give her full power. I wanted her to drive where she felt comfortable. This year we are giving her more of the edge,” John said. “We are close to $35,000 to race these cars this year. It is expensive, but she has learned to work with the sponsors and meet their expectations.” Seeing her daughter race has been a heart-racing experience for Natalie’s mother, Cassie Waters. “When she drives by the wall and I can see her face for like a split second, it might make me cry, I can’t believe that she is in control of the car,” Cassie said. “It is just crazy. I am with her every day. I make the oatmeal and do her laundry and buy her makeup. Now, she is here racing at night.” The final season at Rocky Mountain Raceway continues all summer. The sprint cars are scheduled to return June 16. “They started racing quarter midgets with the track and with the talent they have I know they are going to do a good job,” Rocky Mountain Raceway General Manager Mike Eames said. “These young drivers have potential and it is sad that the track is closing because it would be fun to see what they could do. They are respectful and watching them is one of the favorite parts of my job. I can’t cheer for her because she has cooties and is a girl, but I like good racing and hope she does well.l
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SPOTLIGHT
Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms 175 SR 138, Stansbury Park, Utah
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estled within the quiet community of Stansbury Park, Utah, is a quaint 1850’s home that provides the perfect touch of history mixed with rustic charm. This home, affectionately named by the Coulter Family as the Coulter House LLC Event Center at Mill Pond Farms, is now available to the community as an event venue. While specializing mainly in weddings, it has also hosted family reunions, baby/bridal showers, community events, family get-togethers, anniversaries, concerts, corporate events, birthday parties and more. This beautiful facility offers a literal step back in time for all who visit. Though used as an event venue since 2014, the history of this home has quite the story to tell. Since its original construction in 1851 by early Mormon settlers, this home has served over the years as a true farmhouse and community center for the many families that have lived within its walls or visited here. One family, however, made this house their home for over 50 years: the Clark Family. Apart from raising livestock and farming sugar beets on the several 100 acres which at one point belonged to this home, they also constructed a 150-foot-long coop on the property. The coop was utilized for their large chicken and turkey farm which operated mainly during the 1940s.
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www.coulterhouse.com, our Facebook page @ coulterhouseevents, or even our Instagram page @coulter_house. Please feel free to call for a quote or to schedule your free tour at (435) 8405587. The address of the Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms is 175 SR 138 in Stansbury Park, Utah. l
At the time, the family adopted the name of Mill Pond Farms. So, with the permission of the Clark Family, that name has become part of the Coulter House Event Center to honor their legacy. And amazingly enough, the large coop still stands on the property today. For anyone that has a taste for vintage charm, the Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms provides the perfect setting for all types of events and offers indoor and outdoor spaces. For more information, please visit our website at
Nestled in the communiyt of Standbury Park, The Coulter House has just the right amount of history to honor your future events.
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Granite School District is hiring Kitchen Managers, Nutrition Service Workers, and Nutrition Worker Substitutes! Applicants must have: High school diploma or equivalent, background check, and be willing to obtain a food handler’s permit. • • • •
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Call Us: (385) 646-4321
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WestValleyJ ournal.com
June 2018 | Page 3
Second annual Cars & Critters raises funds for West Valley Animal Shelter By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com The West Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley City. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.
The West Valley Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton travis@mycityjournals.com
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n Saturday, May 5, the Utah chapter of Challengers Unlimited car club held a charity car show to raise funds for the West Valley Animal Shelter. "Just about everybody in the club are animal lovers," said Joe Street, president of the car club. "We have a rescue dog and a lot of the other members have dogs and cats." The Challengers Unlimited club works to benefit a charity through a fundraiser every year and in 2017, Street and his wife, Terrie, who is also treasurer of the Utah chapter, decided they wanted to help the shelter, which can often
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Challengers Unlimited Utah brought their muscle to help raise funds for shelter animals. (Joe Street)
struggle with paying for medical care for the animals they take in. "We just thought it would be good to help them out," Street said. "Last year we raised $2,350 and every dollar goes to the shelter right at the show." Believing that they could do better this year, the club ramped up its advertising and increased the number of activities and vendors like Smoke a Billy BBQ (which also participated last year), Juniper Coffee and a Hawaiian ice truck set up at the shelter with the cars spread throughout the parking lot. The day began at 10 a.m. with the national anthem and raffle tickets sales, which benefited shelter animals. Several complete car clubs showed up as well as members of the Las Vegas chapter of Challengers Unlimited. Rockin Hotrod Productions provided the music and emceed the awards and counting of the money to hand directly to shelter director Dave Moss. The Cars & Critters show also made the list of top car shows to see in 2018 by Utah blogger, Utah Car Czar. "It's expensive to put on a car show, and it's well worth it," Street said. Street and the Challengers Unlimited have done a number of car show fundraisers, including one for a young girl with liver cancer two years ago. He learned that people aren't as bad as it seems.
"It's truly amazing how deep people dig for children and animals," said Street. "It seems like we're heading in the right direction." Challengers Unlimited began in Southern California five years ago as the dream child of Elliott Reyes. A year later, a mutual friend put him in contact with Street and the Utah chapter was formed, which now has over 300 members of Dodge Challenger enthusiasts who have gettogethers and meetings as well as rides, shows and other events. Their mission statement is to help those who need help and try to do good things. "It's just a big group of great people” with similar interests, said Street, who bought an R/T Redline Edition Challenger new in 2014. "More of a family than a group of friends which I think is the way a club should be." Reyes passed away three years ago from cancer but now his brother is president of the Las Vegas chapter that was formed in 2017. "Hopefully, he's happy with what we're doing," said Street, who also organizes a memorial ride for Reyes on his birthday every year. The second annual Cars & Critters show ended up having 163 cars present and raised $3,093.45 for West Valley Animal Services. To find out more ways to help through donating, volunteering or animal adoptions, visit: https://www.wvc-ut.gov/169/Adoptions l
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Page 4 | June 2018
West Valley City Journal
‘Bulgaria Two Views’ shows the country from the eyes of a native and visitor By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com
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he Utah Cultural Celebration Center is hosting a photo exhibit from May 1-26 called "Bulgaria Two Views." The exhibition combines photos of the country taken by West Valley resident Brian Baity and Bulgarian photojournalist Dragomir Bogomilov. "I've been there seven times totaling a year of my life and every time I go, I take my camera and document whatever I find of interest," said Baity who began traveling to Bulgaria in 2011 to display eggshell art. "I like photography and I like nature so I spent a lot of time wandering the hills and mountains and shooting photos." After the opportunity came about for Baity to view a live exhibit of Steve McCurry's work, the man who photographed the famous greeneyed "Afghan Girl," Baity realized that he had seen similarly striking subjects on his travels. He had previously met Bogomilov (who has been shown in “National Geographic” three times for his working covering archaeological digs in Bulgaria) because as an English-speaking photojournalist, Bogomilov had been assigned to cover Baity's egg exhibits around the country. The idea for the exhibit was that Bogomilov, as a photojournalist and a Bulgarian, use previous photos or document what he finds of interest in his country, and as a non-native Baity would photograph things that he found interesting in Bulgaria and the culture and combine 20 photographs each to create "Bulgaria
WestValleyJ ournal.com
Two Views." The first exhibits took place in Karovo and Isperih, Bulgaria in 2016 and for two months of 2018; they have also been in the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo before coming to the UCCC. "I have strong ties to this cultural center," said Baity, who has been part of several art exhibits at the cultural center through the years. "That's where I showed eggs for the first time and it was that exhibition in 2010 that led me to going to Bulgaria." Baity said he has a lot of plans tied into the exhibit, showing it in both Bulgaria and Utah but also using his connections as a member of the West Valley Sister City committee to connect with U.S. cities across the nation that have Sister Cities in Bulgaria and looking to display the photos through them, connecting them all. The 2018 Bulgaria Two Views exhibition plus the Easter Eggstravaganza at the Covey Center for the Arts were part of the TEDxTalks BYU where Baity had the opportunity to fill the role of "Meet the Artist" for the thousand people that attended. He will also be showing the exhibit at the Utah State Fair where he will be speaking about travel photography. A book is also planned where Baity and Bogomilov can show the photos that couldn't be included in the exhibit along with more detailed descriptions of the culture, area and people. "I love collaborations," said Baity. "Every show I've done in the last five or six years, even
overseas, I'll bring other people's two-dimensional work to compliment my 3D work and give them an international presence." Along with the "Bulgaria Two Views" exhibition and Baity's continued work in eggshell carving, he recently completed his third project with students and teachers at Westmore Elementary in Orem where a classroom has been set aside for preschool-aged children from the School for the Deaf and Blind to integrate with other children. Teacher Sandra Peppin approached Baity and requested help with a project combining 6th-grade students with preschoolers from the Deaf and Blind class. The first year, the theme was "Breaking Barriers" and the students teams carved gourds and attached them to a 4-foot wall hanging with crushed eggshells set into the words. The second year, the students made a bench with hand-print art and the words "No Put-Downs, Compliments Spoken Here" with the corresponding Braille letters set under each word. This year, the students, teachers, aides and Baity created a 4-foot by 4-foot friendship quilt made of wooden tiles decorated with things that were important to each contributor like fidget spinners and a mini wagon. For the blind children, each piece was made tactile, for the deaf children, they were made bright and everything is designed to be touched and seen. "It's been a blast," said Baity. "One of the
Art lovers gather at RUSE in Bulgaria to see the photographic collaboration of Brian Baity and Dragomir Bogomilov. (Brian Baity)
highlights of my year now, and we're already figuring out what projects we're going to do next year." The Utah Cultural Celebration Center is at 1355 W. 3100 South in West Valley City and information about Baity's upcoming projects can be found at http://www.brianbaity.com/ l
June 2018 | Page 5
Weekday tours offer insight into Utah’s Capitol building By Lawrence Linford | Lawrence@mycityjournals.com
2018 EvEning SEriES
Season Tickets: $49 Adult, $45 Senior, $29 Child Murray Amphitheater Parking: 495 E 5300 S Ticket Info: 801-264-2614 or murrary.utah.gov June 2 ................................... Hairspray, Sing-A-Long June 9 ................................. One Voice Children Choir June 21-23, 25-27 .............Thoroughly Modern Millie June 30 .................................... Murray Concert Band July 7.................................... Murray Symphony Pops July 13-14 ............................... Ballet Under the Stars July 26-28, 30, 31, Aug 1....................Into the Woods August 10-11, 13, 16-18 ......................Secret Garden August 25...................................... SLC Jazz Orchestra September 3 ..............Murray Acoustic Music Festival
FAMiLY nigHT SEriES
Bring the Whole Family Young and Old! The 2nd Monday of every month at 7 p.m., FREE Murray Heritage Senior Center (#10 E 6150 S – 1/2 block west of State) June 11 – In Cahoots.......................Cowboy Music July 9 – Skyedance..............................Celtic Music Aug 13 – Company B....................................Oldies Sept 10 – Mixed Nuts .......................... Jazz, Swing
LUnCH COnCErT SEriES
Every Tuesday at Noon in Murray Park Pavilion #5 FREE June 5 – Michael Robinson ............Cowboy Poetry June 12 – Eastern Arts ...................... Ethnic Dance June 19 –CHASKIS......Music & Dance of the Andes June 26 – Chris Proctor .. Guitar for the New World July 10 – Wasatch Jazz Titans .................Jazz Band July 17 – Red Desert Ramblers............... Bluegrass July 31 – Time Cruisers.................................Oldies
CHiLDrEn MATinEE SEriES
Every Thursday at 2 p.m. in Murray Park Pavilion #5 FREE June 7 – Stephanie Raff ......................Storytelling June 14 – Nino Reyos .........Native American Drum June 21 – Miss Margene ..............Children’s Dance June 28 – Coralie Leue .............The Puppet Players July 12 – Jonathan the Magician ....... Magic Show July 19 – Rebeca Wallin ........Shakespeare for Kids July 26 – Popcorn Media .....................Family Rock Aug 2 – Honey Buns........................... Song/Dance This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.
Page 6 | June 2018
The Utah Capitol in early April. (Lawrence Linford/City Journals)
“
She was the first woman in the United States to cast a vote in 1870 on Valentine’s Day,” said Baylee Montgomery, the Utah Capitol’s Visitors Services manager, during a new “Pioneering Women” tour at Utah’s State Capitol building. In the House Chamber, a painting shows Seraph Young, Brigham Young’s grandniece, casting her groundbreaking vote with a disapproving male official. Wyoming granted women full voting rights in 1869 and Utah shortly followed. “No one voted before her,” said Montgomery of Young. When Young cast her first vote in 1870 Utah legislators had no permanent capitol building. For decades lawmakers wrestled with constructing the capitol they aspired to build versus an affordable one. Then in 1911, after the railroad baron E.H. Harriman died, his widow Mary wrote a $798,546 check to the state to pay his estate’s inheritance tax. She could have easily contested the tax, since Utah rarely enforced it, but she paid without protest. Harriman’s financial infusion spurred the Utah legislature to finally build the capitol they wanted. They issued a $1 million bond and Richard Kletting, a respected Salt Lake City architect, won a national design competition for the capitol. While Kletting’s neoclassical design, incorporating Greek and Roman elements, was a traditional choice, he also used light and openness to emphasize the democratic ideal of transparency in government. The Great Hall on the second floor is an immense open space. The entrances of all three government branches open into the Great Hall: the House and Governor’s Office are at the west end, the Supreme Court is at the east end, and the Senate is to the north. Standing in the Rotunda you could theoretically see all the members of each branch coming and going. “He liked the use of natural light,” said Hoang Ha, a Capitol volunteer docent, about
Kletting during a separate general tour of the Capitol. The roofs on either side of the Rotunda, in the House, Senate and Supreme Court Chambers are nearly all skylights made of frosted glass, filling the Capitol with soft natural light. The Great Hall is made mainly of luminous Georgia white marble including 24 columns “each 25,000 pounds or three hippos,” Montgomery said. The interior of the Rotunda is graced with several murals, including an azure sky with seagulls flying upward on the ceiling. Other murals depict 19th-century Utah life and early explorations of Utah. At the west end, “Voice of the people,” is engraved in Latin above the Speaker’s Chair in the House Chamber. The room is decorated with paintings, elaborate gold trim and symbols like beehives, lion heads and angels. As in the Senate, the public can sit in a gallery overlooking the large House Chamber where the legislators work. The legislative session starts on the fourth Monday of January and continues for 45 days. “Anyone can come and go as they please during the legislative session,” said Ha. Elizabeth Weight, a Capitol volunteer docent and Utah Representative, shared that during the legislative session if representatives have treats on their desks they’re free for everyone to enjoy. “So that everyone treats everyone,” she said. “The paintings in the house are of people and historical events while in the Senate the paintings are of Utah’s natural beauty,” said Montgomery. The Senate Chamber still retains its 29 original desks and has honey onyx marble columns, unique to Utah and no longer available. “When you hold the marble in your hand, it almost looks like honeycomb,” said Montgomery. In 1896, Utah elected Martha Hughes Can-
non over her husband Angus, making her the nation’s first female state senator. Her statue stands in the courtyard north of the Capitol. Doctor, pharmacist and mother, she helped establish the state’s first Board of Health. Her statue will soon stand with Brigham Young’s in the U.S. Capitol representing Utah. At the east end, The Supreme Court Chamber is the most conservatively decorated. Laurel branches tied with ribbons weave throughout the room symbolizing strength through unity. The chamber is used just once a year because of its limited seating capacity. The State Reception Room, on the second floor, nicknamed “the gold room” is ornately decorated in the Victorian-style and “it was designed to impress foreign dignitaries,” Montgomery said. The governor uses the room for ceremonial signings and for formal announcements. The wavy glass in the windows is bulletproof. The first floor has a visitor center, the Hall of Governors (oil paintings of past governors are displayed) and several eclectic exhibitions including: some 900 movies and TV shows filmed in Utah (including a short video reel with movies as diverse as John Wayne’s “The Searchers” to “Austin Powers in Goldmember”), mining in Utah, Utah’s famous Art Bill and more. National unity symbols like a Liberty Bell replica, a Gettysburg Address plaque and a copy of The Declaration of Independence are also on this floor. If you’d like to go inside the House, Senate and Supreme Court Chambers you’ll need to join a tour, unless you go during a legislative session. The Capitol is open every day to the public, including holidays. Tours, however, are only Monday through Friday. For more information visit utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/visitors-tours/visitors-center. If you’d like to volunteer at the Capitol please email bayleemontgomery@utah.gov. l
West Valley City Journal
Contaminating recycling could mean losing your blue can By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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utting contaminated material in your recycling can may lead to it being removed once the city’s new recycling program begins July 1 with Ace Recycling. For that to happen, a resident would need to violate the can’s rules four times. City code gives authority to remove recycling cans. Under the new program’s rules, first and second violations would receive warnings but the cans would still be dumped; a third violation is a final warning and the can wouldn’t be dumped and a fourth violation means removal of can and recycling privileges suspended for six months. Residents would still be charged for the service and would need to take education training to have the can reinstated. Public Works Director Russ Willardson explained to the city council in March that recycling contamination is a nationwide problem and the increased cost to process contaminated materials could end recycling programs in the future. China no longer accepts recycling due to contaminated materials causing fees to rise around the country. A campaign to educate the public is underway, an informational flyer was sent to residents in May with their bills. June and July will feature a combination flyer with recycling and new hauler information. The city previously contracted with Waste Management for garbage and recycling disposal, but will switch to Ace Recycling starting July 1. The flyers will include a graphic of what items are allowed in the blue recycling container and what are not. Allowable items include paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel cans and plastic bottles and jugs. Items not allowed include glass products, Styrofoam and other plastics, coated paper containers, soiled paper products and plastic bags and plastic wrap.
Mayor Ron Bigelow was happy with the graphic on the flyer. “This is a huge improvement, this is great work,” Bigelow told Willardson during the April 24 study meeting. “It’s better than anything I’ve seen on national websites or on websites of the recyclers.” After an inquiry from Councilman Steve Buhler, Willardson said that the informational flyers can be printed in Spanish as well. Recycling is collected twice per month, but areas will be inspected four times over a two-month period to monitor the materials deposited in cans. Willardson said the city is no longer picking up garbage cans for those who don’t pay their bill. This frees up manpower to inspect recycling cans and put out notices without costing any further money to the city. l
Can I recycle it? YES (put these items in your blue container)
Paper & Cardboard
Aluminum & Steel Cans
Plastic Bottles & Jugs
NO (keep these items out of your blue container)
Glass Products
Soiled Paper Products
Styrofoam & Other Plastics
Plastic Bags & Wrap
Coated Paper Containers
Do Not Bag Recyclables
Recycle only the basics. Recycle all plastic bottles and jugs, all metal cans, all (non-food related) paper and cardboard. The flyer sent out by West Valley City to inform residents on what and what www.wvc-ut.gov/recycle not to recycle. (Graphic courtesy West Valley City)
Steward Urgent & Primary Care – NOW OPEN The new Steward Urgent & Primary Care, located in Taylorsville is now open and ready to care for your healthcare needs. Urgent care centers are a great choice for individuals who have a sudden injury or illness that they may normally see their primary care doctor for, but need to be seen right away. Some of these injuries can include minor traumas (cuts, sprains or breaks) and illnesses (flu, sore throat, ear infections, vomiting and upset stomachs.) The Steward Urgent & Primary Care is unique in that it is a high acuity center that includes onsite comprehensive x-ray and full laboratory services. In addition to serving those with an urgent healthcare need the center also offers primary care to the community with walk in services for sports, school and work physicals. We are also able to treat patients of all ages and for a full range of their medical needs. To find out more call 801-964-4170 or visit stewardurgentut.org.
WestValleyJ ournal.com
June 2018 | Page 7
Welcome to your summer festival guide By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
C
ometh summer, cometh the festivals. Each year, cities across the Salt Lake Valley hold a summer celebration to commemorate the community, city or country. They do so with parades, contests, music and fireworks. This year’s slate of festivals starts after Memorial Day and will run into fall. Here’s a chronological guide to everything on tap for summer 2018. SoJo Summerfest | May 30–June 2 South Jordan kicks off the summer spectacles with its third annual SoJo Summerfest. This replaced its traditional Country Fest two years ago. The four-day festival features events all over the city from Mulligans Golf Course (10600 South 692 West) and City Park (11000 South Redwood Road) to the public works parking lot (10996 South Redwood Road) and fitness and aquatic center (10866 South Redwood Road). Events will feature family fun activities such as the carnival, 5K race, parade, car show, superhero party or swim with local performing group, Utah Mermaids. A skateboard competition, tennis tournament, chalk art contest and multi-category Battle of the Bands are also set to take place throughout the festival. A complete list of events and times can be found at sjc.utah.gov/sojo-summerfest/. Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo | June 1–2 Held at W&M Butterfield Park (6212 West 14200 South), Herriman’s annual rodeo features a family night on Friday and military night on Saturday. The rodeo will also include a special needs roundup on Saturday from 3–4:30 p.m. Visit herriman.org/prca-rodeo/ for more information. Music Stroll | June 9 The seventh annual Heart and Soul Music Stroll returns to Sugar House on June 9. Dozens of local performers will share their musical talents throughout the day (last year featured 44). Free to the community, the Music Stroll has 14 different locations spread throughout a two-block radius along Filmore and Glenmore streets between 2700 South and Zenith Avenue. Thirteen performing areas are arranged on front lawns with one stage set up at Imperial Park (1560 East Atkin Avenue). Heart and Soul is a nonprofit organization based out of Salt Lake City that aims to bring the “healing power of music” to people in isolation. Performers donate their time throughout the year performing at places like senior centers, prisons or hospitals. Streets are lined not only with hundreds of people but several food trucks as well. Visit heartsoul.org/music-stroll for more information. WestFest | June 14–17 What started in the late ’70s at Granger Park with a car show, pony rides and a few food booths has blossomed into one of West Valley City’s premier events. The annual celebration, which commemorates the establishment of West Valley City and the recognition of its residents’ various backgrounds, will take place at Centennial Park (5415 West 3100 South) from June 14–17. The 2018 version will feature a WestFest Sombrero Bowl Skate Competition, the 13th an-
Page 8 | June 2018
nual Dutch Oven Cook-off, a 5K and 10K and entertainment from No limits, This is YOUR Band, Chance McKinney and Channel Z. For more information and for those interested in volunteering, visit westfest.org. Fort Herriman Towne Days | June 18–23 The city’s weeklong celebration of everything Herriman begins on Monday, June 18, with a talent show and ends on Saturday June 23 with a carnival, parade and fireworks. Each day of the week features something different such as a disc golf tournament, home run derby, K9 and trampoline shows and a foam party. All events will take place at W&M Butterfield Park (6212 West 14200 South), J. Lynn Crane Park (5355 West Main Street) and Rosecrest Park (13850 South Rosecrest Road), where the Herriman Hyzer Disc Golf Tournament will take place. Times and events can be found at herriman. org/fort-herriman-days/. Taylorsville Dayzz | June 28–30 Located at Valley Regional Park (5100 South 2700 West), Taylorsville Dayzz holds a full slate for its city celebration on the west side of the valley. From Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. when the carnival begins to Saturday’s fireworks finale at 10 p.m., the festival is nonstop with entertainment. Tributes bands Imagine (Beatles) along with the West Valley Symphony & Cannons will perform Thursday night, Desperado (Eagles) takes the stage Friday night and Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees) with the Taylorsville Orchestra will close it out on Saturday. Every show is free to the public. Saturday also includes a 5K fun run, pony rides and a car show. A full list of events and times is available at taylorsvilledayzz.com. Riverton Town Days | June 28–July 4 Riverton starts its celebration one day early this year on June 28 with its Three-Man Arena Sorting Competition and the Riverton Rodeo and runs right through to July 4 with its full slate of activities on Independence Day. July 4 will feature the 11th annual ATV Rodeo (Riverton Rodeo Grounds, 12780 South 1300 West) where races will include pole bending, barrel racing, pantyhose race, a key hole race and a hide race. Independence Day will also see Riverton Country Mile 10K, 5K and one-mile races in addition to the Tour de Riverton Bike Race. The starting lines will begin on the south side of Riverton City Park at 12800 South. Food, hay dives and a July 3 evening parade are still on the docket for this tradition since the early 1900s. For more information, visit rivertoncity.com. Western Stampede | June 30–July 4 What starts with a fun run, children’s parade, carnival and family fun night on June 30 continues with the focus of West Jordan’s summer festival — its rodeo. July 2–4 features a PRCA rodeo at the city’s rodeo arena, 8035 South 2200 West. The rodeo also features the winner of the Western Stampede Queen Contest, which was scheduled for May 12. Visit westernstampede.com for more infor-
Carnivals and rides will feature at multiple summer festivals including WestFest, shown here. (Kevin Conde/West Valley City Photographer)
mation. Murray Fun Days | July 4 Murray City carries a full slate of activities for Independence Day. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. will be the annual parade, which begins at Fashion Place Mall (6100 South State Street) and ends at the west end of Murray Park (296 East Murray Park Avenue). Awards are given for the following parade entry categories: special interest/antique, business/commercial, equestrian/animal and civic/ royalty/political/float. The rest of the day takes place at Murray Park. It features a community breakfast, chalk art contest, talent show, a Ducky Derby along the creek in Murray Park, a coed volleyball tournament on the softball field and ends with fireworks. For exact times and events, visit murray. utah.gov/283/Fun-Days. July 4 Parade and Festivities | July 4 South Salt Lake will continue its festival tradition at Fitts Park (3050 South 500 East) on July 4. The day begins with a 5K fun run at 8 a.m. while the parade gets underway at 9:30 a.m. and the one-day celebration rounds out with a festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sandy City 4th of July | July 4 Sandy holds its Independence Day Celebration on the grassy promenade between Sandy City Hall and South Towne Mall at 10000 South Centennial Parkway. The Sandy Classic 5K race begins at 7 a.m. A youth arts festival commences at 10 a.m. where children ages 4–12 can participate in face painting, craft stations and sand sculpting. At 6 p.m. the parade begins with a concert at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks to close out the night at 10 p.m. Draper Days | July 5–7, 12–14 Draper’s festival will take place over two weekends in July. Culminating in the second weekend with fireworks and concerts, Draper Days will begin with various athletic contests the first weekend including a tennis tournament, pickleball tournament and 3 v. 3 basketball tournament. Other events include Splash Dogs, horse pull, pie contest, rodeo, Draper Idol and a children’s parade. Full event schedules and information can be found at draper.ut.us. Butlerville Days | July 23–24 Cottonwood Heights continues its traditional celebration this year on Monday and Tuesday, July 23–24. Planned by volunteers, city staff and the
Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, Butlerville Days takes place at Butler Park (7500 South 2700 East). The festival expects to have games, entertainment, a carnival, parade and fireworks show. A creative craft market and pickleball tournament are recent additions to the yearly commemoration to go along with the 5K fun run. Bluffdale Old West Days | July 27–28, August 6–11 While the rodeo will take place July 27–28, the city’s official Old West Days celebration goes all week long in August. Details for events are still to come, but if last year is anything to go by then this year can expect another monster truck competition. Last year also featured a 25-mile cycling ride and ATV rodeo. Check bluffdaleoldwestdays.com later this summer for more information. Harvest Days | August 6–11 1938 marked the first Harvest Days in Midvale, according to the Midvale Historical Society. It was sponsored by the Midvale Kiwanis club. Details are still being ironed out, but the weeklong celebration of Midvale, begins August 6. The week’s events generally feature an induction into the Midvale Arts Council’s Hall of Honors, a parade and a grand festival and Midvale’s City Park (between Center Street and 7500 South, at approximately 425 West). Check midvaleharvestdays.com later this summer for more information. Blue Moon Arts Festival | August 25 Holladay rounds out the summer season with its annual Blue Moon Arts Festival. The one-day celebration is different from other cities’ week-long engagements. Holladay will have its Concerts in the Commons series running from July 14 through Aug. 25. July will also feature Jim McGee’s ambitious art project combining storytelling and large-scale charcoal portraits. “It’s an opportunity for people to model and collaborate, to be seen and heard in a unique kind of way,” McGee told the Journals in February. Culminating in a festival for music and arts, the Blue Moon Arts Festival takes place at Holladay City Hall Park (4580 South 2300 East) from 3-10 p.m. on Aug. 25. This year’s musical attractions will include Motown group Changing Lanes Experience and Gypsy jazz group Red Rock Hot Club. For more information, visit holladayarts.org. l West Valley City Journal
Aging skybridge concerns parents, but officials confident issues don’t pose safety threat By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
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he catastrophic pedestrian walkway bridge collapse at Florida International University on March 15 heightened awareness of such structures around the world — even in Taylorsville and West Valley City. “That tragedy made everyone much more aware of the potential dangers of walkway bridges, certainly,” said Forsgren Associates Inc. engineer Nick Patterson, who is Taylorsville City’s contracted city engineer. “But that collapse had nothing to do with our decision to take a look at the bridge across 4700 South.” Six people were killed when the Florida bridge fell onto a multi-lane roadway, just a few days after the new structure was put into place. The event also got parents across the country thinking more about the bridges they entrust their kids to each day, as they walk to and from school. “To be honest, I had never really given that bridge much thought, because we live on the West Valley City side (north) of 4700 South so my kids never walk across it to get to (Harry S. Truman Elementary) school,” Molly Upshaw said. “But when a few parents from the Taylorsville side brought it to my attention, we decided to take a closer look.” Upshaw has been president of the Truman Elementary Community Council since August. The school (4700 South 3200 West) sits along the southern border of West Valley City, drawing students from that city as well as Taylorsville. But only Taylorsville children need to traverse busy 4700 South to get there. And nearly all of those who walk to school, do so by crossing the bridge. “Sometimes it feels like one side (of the bridge) is a little lower than the other,” said Truman Elementary fifth-grader Mari Etherington. “And it looks like it is warping a little.” Mari and her mother, Jodi Etherington, joined Molly Up-
WestValleyJ ournal.com
Cement has worn away in several places on this pedestrian bridge that crosses 4700 South near 3100 West. (Jodi Etherington)
shaw at a recent Taylorsville City Council meeting, right after the parents had led Patterson and West Valley City Public Works Director Russ Willardson on a walking tour of the bridge. Jodi Etherington is also a secretary at Truman Elementary, but is quick to point out she became involved in this issue strictly as a parent. “There are a lot of places where cement has worn away on the bridge, along the edges of the path and around fence pipes,” Etherington said. “There’s also exposed rebar in some places and
a hole has been cut out of the fencing. So, we just wanted professionals to take a look at the bridge and determine whether major improvements are needed.” In a word, Taylorsville City Engineer Patterson says, “No.” “I would say, for a bridge this age it is still very structurally sound,” he said. “Certainly there is some wear and tear, and it definitely needs some maintenance. But we don’t see any exposed steel, just some rebar… which does not compromise the integrity of the bridge.” West Valley City’s Willardson added, “We are not concerned the bridge could collapse; but I am worried a larger piece of concrete could fall off the bridge, onto a car below.” Patterson said both cities are now researching to determine exactly when the bridge was built, and to try to find its original plans. So far, they believe Salt Lake County built the structure some 20 to 25 years ago. The cities then plan to join forces to complete maintenance work on the walkway. “It would be nice to get that done during the summer when kids aren’t using the bridge as much,” Patterson concluded. “I have no idea what the cost would be. But we don’t expect it to be a lot, and I would guess the two cities will split it. Repairing parts of the fence and adding concrete in areas where it has worn away is about all the bridge needs.” “Both Taylorsville and West Valley City were very quick to respond to our concerns,” Jodi Etherington added. “They joined us to tour the bridge within a week after we asked, before we could even appear before their city councils.” “The city representatives on the (skybridge) tour promised they would make improvements,” Upshaw concluded. “So I figured I would give them a couple of months to get going. If we don’t see any action, I’ll make some more calls.” l
June 2018 | Page 9
Seven-story building coming to southeast WVC By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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est Valley City will welcome a high-end apartment complex at 4100 South and 1770 West after a razor-thin city council vote approved a zone change and development agreement for the property. After almost 90 minutes of residents voicing their feelings, the developer and city staff answering council questions and extensive discussion among councilmembers; the council voted 4-3 in favor of building a seven-story complex at the old Kmart site along 4100 South. Though it was 90 minutes during a city council meeting, it was almost four years for the city’s economic development team who aimed to revitalize a location where Kmart’s business license terminated on February 8, 2017. City staff searched for big box retailers such as Home Depot, Trader Joe’s, VASA Fitness, WinCo or Fresh Market to replace the Kmart. Jeff Jackson, business development manager, explained to the city council during an April 10 work session they found no takers with multiple retailers not only downsizing their brick-and-mortar stores, but identifying the location as an “inbetweener.” It was too far from Valley Fair Mall and the 5600 South vibrant city centers to be an attractive location. Jackson said they spoke with developers about putting offices there, who said no, or putting in other multi-use developments, which were too expensive for a meaningful project. What they did find, was a developer willing to meet the city’s standards to build the best apartment complex possible. “They really held our feet to the fire,” Rich Day said of the city’s mandate for the developer meet certain standards with the project. Day is with Stay Capital, the project developer. The proposed development is set to feature 430 apartments
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A rendering of the Sage Valley Apartment complex proposed to be built at 4100 South 1770 West just off of Redwood Road. (AE Urbia)
and 21 townhomes, further land was bought to increase parking spaces to 700, which comes out to roughly 1.7 stalls per unit on site. What separates the planned Sage Valley apartment complex, according to City Planning Director Steve Pastorik, are the amenities offered in the development agreement. Day mentioned granite countertops, access only via key cards and custom cabinetry as a few items. Other comforts include a swimming pool, courtyard, garages, on-site manager, private balconies, roof pati-
os and bicycle storage. Day said they plan to pour $60 million into the project, which they hope will attract high-end clientele. It also explains the reasoning behind the high density. “To achieve what we need…(and) with the effort we’re going to put in on this project, we have to have a certain number of units,” Day said. Public reaction Of the 15 people who spoke during the city council meeting
West Valley City Journal
A rendering of the townhomes proposed to be built next to the Sage Valley Apartment complex at 4100 South 1770 West just off of Redwood Road. (Courtesy West Valley City documents)
(and the countless emails the city received), the majority opposed the development citing additional traffic, crime rates potentially increasing, safety concerns for children and overflow parking. All due to the density the complex would bring. “(Having) nothing (there) would be better than high-density housing,” said Laura Thackeray who lives near the property. West Valley City does not own the property so city officials did not have the choice to build a park. The land owner reportedly planned to turn the property into an indoor storage facility, which some residents preferred. City leaders felt enough storage facilities already existed in the area and the developer’s proposal was a more economically stimulating option. Much of the consternation stemmed from previous experiences with apartment complexes, residents cited high crime rates and not wanting to overexert an already stretched police force. “A lot of crime in neighborhoods comes from nearby apartment complexes,” said resident Joan Wildon. “Who’s going to pay for more police to handle this? Density wreaks havoc on our city.” Some nefarious incidents happened recently on and near the property including a dead body being found and a drive-by shooting that occurred across the street in the Smith’s grocery store parking lot. These incidents were highlighted by residents who pleaded with the council to not approve the proposed plan. Pastorik explained a study was done comparing the Fairbourne Station apartment complex at 2900 West Lehman Avenue, with two other neighborhoods both west of 5600 West, Sugar Plum and Meadow Breeze. He said police calls per unit were approximate 1-1.4 compared with 0.7 calls from Fairbourne. “These newer apartments appear to have comparable or less calls per unit than single-family subdivisions,” he said. Thackeray said the nearby intersection of Redwood Road and 4100 South was among the most dangerous in the state. She said there are 6,700 cars that drive on 2200 West daily and an
increase in traffic would only decrease safety for children in the area. Pastorik reported an Institute of Transportation Engineers study that said commercial development at the property would increase traffic 15 percent more than what was proposed in the development. With parking expected to be 1.7 stalls per unit on the development, some feared the overflow parking would simply spill into nearby neighborhoods. Day, who grew up in West Valley City, said the complex would increase the value of the area. “I really believe in (the project) and what you guys have here (in West Valley) is so special that someone needs to see that,” he said. City Council decision While residents expressed anxiety about a new apartment complex lowering property values and bringing fresh crime to an area already in dire need of upgrades, a few elected officials felt that was the exact reason to approve the zone change. It would revitalize the area. Mayor Ron Bigelow cited one of the only votes he’s ever regretted—he opposed the creation of a Hunter Town Center Zone in 2017 and felt that area was now “on the path to deterioration”—as one reason for voting in favor. The mayor also referenced the Idea House program previously done on several occasions by the city. Where a dilapidated house undergoes a complete remodel and is intended to spur investment in nearby homes, giving other homeowners ideas. He said the same concept can apply to this neighborhood. “If we go in and redevelop a home, refurbish it and it makes a difference in the neighborhood; there can be a good home here and it influences others,” Bigelow said. If it’s a high-quality development, “we will get more people who are more committed to the city, we’ve seen it happen at
AN ACTIVE 55+ COMMUNITY
Fairbourne Station,” Bigelow said. He added this was a difficult decision, he wasn’t a fan of the high density, but if they voted no, “things will stay as they are and it won’t add value to the area.” “We can’t promise anything but we make the best decisions with the information we have,” the mayor said. Councilman Steve Buhler said he believed it would revitalize the area. Having a variety of housing is important and the council has worked to increase high-end housing over the past few years, he said. “I think this will be good for the neighborhood.” But not everyone on the council felt that way. Councilwoman Karen Lang said the development was one of the finest she’d seen proposed in the city, but that it was designated for the wrong area. “We need something nice to lift up this area, I’m just not sure that the density is appropriate for that area seeing that we don’t have the facilities in place to take care of that amount of people,” she said. “I just don’t see these ratios of the parking and the density working at that location.” Councilman Jake Fitisemanu Jr. agreed with Lang highlighting the time he lived at City Creek in downtown Salt Lake City with his wife. It was great, he said, because of the resources nearby such as retail within walking distance and public transportation. Something the area around Redwood Road and 4100 South lacks, he said. Councilman Tom Huynh, who represents the district where the project will take place, concurred with residents’ concerns about crime listing off multiple incidents that occurred in the area and said he didn’t want any more to happen there. Those three votes, however, weren’t enough to oppose the new apartment complex now set to rise where the old Kmart used to be. l
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June 2018 | Page 11
One app you want your teen to have By Jessica Ivins | j.ivins@mycityjournals.com
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ranite Connection High counselor, Michelle Glaittli said, “We encourage all the kids to have the SafeUT app on their phones, especially with summer coming up.” Even when school is not in session, the app is still a great resource for kids when they need to report violence or safety concerns anonymously. “We mostly get reports of violence, safety and drugs,” said Glaittli. Every report is taken seriously. It is up to the reporting individual if they want to remain anonymous. Glaittli said, “The only problem is when kids do not share enough information. We need a first and last name of the persons involved, where, and when the incident took place in order to help.” Imagine kids at school in a group chat. They all receive the same text from a friend: “I want to die.” Then nothing more is said from that friend. There are two scenarios that could happen. One, the friends do nothing. Or, one of the friends, Jack, makes an anonymous tip on the SafeUT app. Jack’s friend has been having a hard time and Jack is worried. The first scenario is called the Bystander Effect or Bystander Apathy. John Darley and Bibb Latane coined the term while teaching in New York City in the 1960s. Jack’s friend needs help in the group text, but no one comes to his aid. Why? The friends might be worried how they look if they say something… and they were wrong. Or they may not want to get involved in other people’s business. Or they think someone else will help him. The second scenario that could happen is that Jack has the SafeUT app on this phone and makes an anonymous tip. He will reveal the location, school, event information, and person(s) involved. Then he can keep the tip number and password to check on updates. No one knows that he made the tip. The SafeUT program was developed with funding from the Utah State Legislature in collaboration with University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah Office of the Attorney General, and the Utah Anti-Bullying Coalition in 2016. The goal of SafeUT app is to keep Utahns from ignoring suicide, depression, cyber bullying, threats, and drug and alcohol abuse. Options of chat, text, or anonymous tip are available on the app. Licensed clinicians are available 24/7 on a crisis line call center to respond. There are referral services available, supportive and crisis counseling, and suicide prevention. Is the SafeUT app helping? The more people that have it the more it can help. Some updates included adding push notifications about tips, making it more reliable, and easier to use. In January they fully translated the app for Spanish/Española. Since its launch, it has been downloaded 33,000 times and clinicians have had conversations with over 19,000 students. Currently, over 1,900 tips or chats are sent in on average each month. Bullying makes up 79 percent of subject matter, suicide 76 percent, and depression 48 percent. There were 86 planned school attacks stopped since 2016. Stats were provided from the SafeUT: at a glance website on attorneygeneral.utah.gov. If there is eminent danger, UNI has a mobile crisis team that responds. If it is less eminent, the tip is reported to the school counselor and the school will help whoever is involved or the appropriate authorities. Remember Jack who made the anonymous tip from the group chat? He reported his friend’s first and last name, the time and place of the incident. UNI contacted the school counselor immediately. Within 5 minutes the school counselor and the vice principal walked into the
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“I want to die” kid’s classroom and spoke privately to him. It was determined that he was not in eminent danger. He was joking. However, a tip is never taken lightly. The school provided the child with support from the counselor and a phone call was placed to his parents to let them know what had happened. Every year Granite Connection High counselors invite students to prevent problems of bullying, depression, violence, cutting, threats, cyber bullying, and drug and alcohol abuse by downloading the SafeUT app. Glaittli wants to remind our kids that the SafeUT app is there and students need to have it on their phone. l
Screenshot of SafeUT app on the App Store. (Jessica Ivins /City Journals)
West Valley City Journal
Helping Utah’s foster children go to college By Jessica Ivins | j.ivins@mycityjournals.com
First Star Academy’s kick-off event last July on University of Utah’s field with Alex Smith, previous University student and quarterback for Washington Redskins. (Photo courtesy Marisol Perez Gonzalez)
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t’s graduation time and everyone is busy. Who is watching out for Utah’s foster youth to make sure they are on target for graduation from high school? Do foster youth know what college readiness looks like? “Nationally, 50 percent of foster youth graduate high school. A contributing factor could be moving foster homes every six months. This causes the child to fall behind in school and it becomes a challenge to catch up,” said Alexa Hudson, interim director of First Star. Firststar.org states the percentage of former foster children age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree is 3 percent. Crystal Vail is the adolescent services program administrator for Division of Child and Family Services. Vail refers children to Hudson and Marisol Perez Gonzalez, program coordinator of First Star Academy in Utah. Gonzalez said, “Crystal has been supportive by reaching out to families that may benefit from the First Star Program.” The children that qualify need to have an open case with DCFS, be within the age range of late middle school to early high school, submit an application, and have an interview. Once a child is submitted they remain in the program regardless of their foster care status of reunification or adoption. First Star Academy is a national non-profit charity that partners with universities and welfare agencies to ensure foster youth have adult academic support and mentors. There are 14 college campuses that have a First Star Academy program nationally. University of Utah’s Office of Engagement’s newest umbrella service is the First Star Academy to serve foster youth of Utah. Sandi Pershing, assistant vice president of Outreach & Engagement, piloted the First Star program. The National non-profit is wanting to expand, therefore, there are resources available for new First Star Academies. Some First Star students must drive three hours to get to the University of Utah’s First Star Academy. The program model is a cohort of 30 youth. So far, the University has 21 students. They meet one Saturday a month during the academic year, plus, a month-long summer academy on cam-
WestValleyJ ournal.com
pus. First Star Academy has the autonomy to fit the needs of Utah culture. A sample of the activities so far include: Skull Candy tour, meeting with professionals, community building, workshops from the law school and SpyHop opportunities of editing and creating video stories. The summer academy will include academics in the morning and hands-on extracurricular learning partnered with the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and The Leonardo Museum for the afternoon. Why universities? “First, the youth get to experience the college scene. Second, there are valuable resources. The universities work with the social work school, the department of education, educational psychology department, and university youth coaches serve the youth,” said Hudson. The foster youth that meet at First Star connect with team and trust building exercises. “The hope of the program is that if they don’t have consistency, at least they will have First Star,” said Hudson. “Some of the youth have changed schools just to be with their First Star friends,” said Gonzalez. A foster youth for 13 months, Mike, whose name is changed because he wishes to remain anonymous, has multiple goals. First, to be adopted. Second, to go to college. He is fortunate to have a foster mom advocate that found the First Star program through a support group. His foster mom is also hoping to adopt Mike. Mike said, “[The First Star program] is fun. It gives us tutors to help with homework and school. So that’s really cool.” He wants to go to the University of Utah and study pathology. Mike said, “Apparently foster kids don’t make it into college.” But that isn’t stopping Mike. “One hundred percent of First Star kids graduate high school, and 90 percent go on to college,” said Hudson. The odds are now in his favor. l
June 2018 | Page 13
Sports facility offers variety of camps and programs By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
Players have access to strength and conditioning instruction at Elite Level Sports Academy to improve their athletic performance. (Photo courtesy Denise Swope)
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he phrase “If you build it, they will come,” from the movie “Field of Dreams” is familiar to many baseballs fans and Cottonwood Heights resident Denise Johnson Swope has found that concept to be true since she opened her doors last year to the Elite Level Sports Academy, located at 2100 W. Alexander St. Ste. A in West Valley City. The facility boasts 13,000 square feet of turf, eight batting cages, six mounds, workout facilities and meeting rooms. “The response has been tremendous,” Swope said. “Parents and players really love our year-round skills and drills program and we provide quality instruction from top-notch instructors.” The facility has been a dream of Swope’s for a few years so she worked on the “right business model,” to ensure that everyone can walk away from each time “feeling like they got real value from their time in our place.” “I have always wanted to give back to kids, hoping they would experience the game and all it has to offer,” Swope said. “It is important to me that players get the skill development that is so badly needed in this area. I also wanted it to be a place where you can come regardless of your ability.” A weekly hitting camp in May and a summer baseball camp are the upcoming events at the facility, which also offers private baseball and softball lessons and space for team practices. They currently have an Elite 13u team – which has GPA and community service requirements – and are planning to add more teams in the fall. Swope said she recently brought on a strength and conditioning and speed and agility coach to help expand Elite Level’s services to other athletes including football players. Several football camps are also planned for this summer. The hitting camp for players ages 10 to 14 is scheduled for May 2, 9, 16 and 23 or May 3, 10, 17 and 31 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. each night. Instructors will teach the fundamentals of hitting and work through drills with individualized instruction. The cost is $100.
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For the summer baseball camp, professional instruction will focus on skills, proper mechanics, speed and agility, personal growth and fun. Two different weeks will be offered from June 4 through 8 and June 11 through 15 with a morning session from 8 a.m. to noon for players ages 7 to 10 and afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 11 to 14. “Our focus at camp is to advance each individual’s skill and knowledge of baseball,” Swope said. “Each camper will receive specific instruction on how to play the game and how to improve on and off the field. We will cover all aspects of baseball.” The cost is $150 per week and a T-shirt is included. Those interested can register at the facility or online at www.elitelevelsportsacademy.com or by calling (801) 972-2829. Swope got her start on the field as one of the original Bonnett Ball girls and started playing softball when she was young. She later played for Olympus High and accelerated teams and then watched a son and daughter play for a few years. She has been a softball and baseball coach, but has been part of the baseball community for more than 20 years—as a coach, Crown Colony Baseball board member and president and District Commissioner for Cal Ripken Baseball. “I was very fortunate, being able to travel all over the country, meeting people and experiencing so many things,” she said. The life lessons Swope has learned from sports—working hard, discipline, competing, teamwork, failure and success—are also part of what her goals are in the services she offers the sports community at Elite Level Sports Academy. “I have seen sports give a lot of kids the structure and discipline they need to be successful in life,” she said. “To me, baseball and sports are really about a bunch of great life lessons. I love to see a young player find success when they have been struggling and having their hard work pay off.” l
West Valley City Journal
Extra commitment drives Wolverine golf to second in region By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
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n abnormal season for the Hunter girls golf team could mean success next year and in the years to come. “Last year we had eight the year before we had six team members,” head girls golf coach Devon Cooper said. “As a girl golfer myself I know how hard it is and I did not want to turn anyone away that wanted to learn to play golf so I tried something new this year.” To be a varsity golfer each student must be in the class, pay extremely high fees and take intense lessons. Cooper set up a junior varsity team with less requirements hoping to encourage more participants. “I wanted to scoop up some underclassman, make it easier. They practiced every other day and on match day they only played nine holes. I felt like it created an environment that was less scary and less competitive,” Cooper said. The Wolverines ended up with 17 junior varsity and 7 varsity players. To compete in the Utah High School Activities Association girls golf meets you must have six varsity members (four players score for the team.) Some schools do not have enough interested players to field a team. “I was grateful to The Ridge and First Tee they provided lessons at a discounted rate for my team. These girls had never held a club or even knew how to hit a ball. Much less learn and know any of the 500 rules. This sport can be overwhelming,” Cooper said. With a full team the results improved. They finished second in region and had three individual medalists. “It has been a really great year for us. In past years we would finish near the bottom in sixth place at every match. This year all of the team is juniors and next year they are highly motivated,”
Golfers take second in region caption: The Hunter golf team increased in size to 24 team members this fall. (Hunter yearbook)
Cooper said. Overall the Wolverines finished in second place behind Hillcrest. They took second in their first three matches of the season and improved to first in the final four. Peyton Newell finished fourth in the region, Mallerie Brown seventh, and Lily Brock ninth. “Golf is such a skill and it is individual. You cannot blame a
teammate for dropping the ball or not making the basket. There are no boundaries. If you hit a bad ball you have to go find it. Sometimes a player is dealt a bad hole and you have to get through the hole,” Cooper said. Newell has golfed for three years at Hunter. Cooper said she always tried to be her best. “She (Newell) was not always our best player, but she was the most consistent. Mallerie is a fierce hitter and can knock the skin off the ball. Lily is also a second-year player and has provided crucial points for our team,” Cooper said. Region 2 played its tournaments at Meadowbrook, Fore Lakes, Golf in the Round, Stonebridge, Glendale, The Ridge and Rose Park. The state tournament was held at Meadowbrook May 14-15 where the Wolverines finished 13th. Cooper said the time the team puts into getting better is evident in their results. “Being good at golf is the time,” Coope said. “Golf requires putting in extra time. Getting to practice early, staying late and doing the lessons. This is the first year the girls have put in some Saturdays. I think there are a couple of girls working at courses this summer. That tells me they want to be around the environment more. I am stoked.” Cooper is finishing her third season at Hunter as golf coach. “We have a diverse team. We have soccer players, dance company members and drill team. This team is really trying to have fun. They are known for their courtesy which is big in golf. They pull a flag or rake a sand trap before anyone else. They are respectful and congratulate the other teams. The game is too mentally hard to be worried about smashing your opponents too,” Cooper said.l
Hunter soccer qualifies for state playoffs
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unter High School soccer has ridden a roller coaster of highs and lows this season. “Soccer is a cruel game. We look very dangerous at times and have had lots of offensive opportunities we just could not put away,” Hunter head coach Brett Solberg said. “We have great talent on this team. We have had a rough patch, but hopefully we can find our rhythm and pull out some victories.” Late season losses and a tough red card to one of the team leaders made the end of the regular season difficult. “We end with games against three tough teams (Hillcrest, Granger and Cyprus). We should finish in the top of our region, our goal is to host a state tournament game,” Solberg said. The Wolverines hosted Hillcrest in its final home game of the season May 1. Solberg said this was a must- win game. The Wolverines played like it too. The first half ended scoreless, but as the second half began the Wolverines began to play with a reckless abandon. Hillcrest was not able to secure possession because of the Wolverines midfield defense. Several close offensive attacks led to many offensive chances. Senior William Estrada struck a breakaway goal to break the tie. “It is amazing to score a goal on senior night, it is such a team effort. We all worked so hard for that goal. We have done our best. We have put forth a good effort. We need to work hard and learn from our mistakes,” Estrada said. The Wolverines continued to attack the Hillcrest defense aggressively. In the final minutes on a clear path breakaway Junior Gonzalez was tagged with a red card. “We continued to be aggressive even with a man down. They were able to take advantage of us and still chipped a last-minute
WestValleyJ ournal.com
By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
Hunter senior captain Junior Gonzalez prepares to send a corner kick in towards the Hillcrest goalkeeper. (Greg James/City Journals)
goal in,” Solberg said. Hillcrest then scored three minutes into overtime for the victory. “We really need to bounce back, put this loss behind us. There are times when I think our defense is the strongest and then times when our offense is playing well. I am not sure what I would call our strength,” Solberg said. Gonzalez leads the team with seven goals; Chris Loza has had five. “We have good players in all positions. Junior (Gonzalez) is a very intense player. He gets very into the game. His intensity costs him sometimes, but it also shows that he is out there playing hard every game,” Solberg said. “Willie (Estrada) is great at distribution and his ball control is incredible. Eddie (Lopez) has great vision and has a killer shot. Miguel (Alonso) is one of our better defenders.” The team has emphasized being good in the classroom too. “We have really tried to be diligent in the classroom by checking their grades more often. It is tough but we hope being good in class will spill over into discipline players on the pitch,” Solberg said. They closed out the season with three straight losses. Amongst those losses the team volunteered at Hillside Elementary where they tutored the students and helped with a soccer skills clinic. “This team is full of great kids,” Solberg said. The Wolverines qualified for the 6A state tournament as the No. 3 seed from Region 2. Where they were faced Copper Hills on May 15. In a hard fought match, Hunter came out on the losing side 4-3. l
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Need to mix up your summer fun? Try cooking with your kids By Christy Jepson | Christy@mycityjournals.com
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ummer is usually a time when schedules loosen, kids need a remedy for the “I’m bored” syndrome, and parents try to get kids off their electronics. During those long hot summer days taking time to teach cooking skills in the home or enrolling a child in a cooking class is a beneficial and educational activity. Over the past eight years, the McBride family has learned the many valuable lessons that can be taught in the kitchen, besides learning how to prepare a healthy meal or snack. “The skill and knowledge of how to run a kitchen, teaches so much more than just eating and not being hungry. Budgeting money, communication, trying new foods, learning about cultures around the world…. all of these principles can be and should be taught in the kitchen,” said Sara McBride, a mother of four children. Kylee and Kjerstin McBride enjoy cooking in the kitchen with their mom and dad, Sara and Corey. Kjerstin, age 9, realizes the special time she gets to spend with her dad when she helps him. “He is a really good cook and knows a lot. And l like that we can cook together and talk together. It’s extra time I get to be with him,” she said. Both sisters recently took a Little Chefs cooking class at Harmons and loved it. Although they were a little nervous at first, they quickly realized it was fun and they learned different kitchen skills. “My favorite part was the whole class. I’d never done anything like that before and it showed me I am a good cook. The chef was really nice and helpful,” said Kjerstin. During this three-hour kids’ cooking class,
about 15 little chefs gathered in a large kitchen around a central cooking area in Harmons and watched a professional chef demonstrate how to make macaroon cookies. Then the students were divided into groups of three and tried making their own macaroons. “If we needed help, the chef would come and help us and then tell us we were doing a good job,” said Kylee, age 7. “We each made our own mix and then that made our own cookies. There was lots of ingredients in the kitchen already and we each got to use what we needed to make our own cookies,” Kylee said. Not only did the McBride sisters make delicious macaroon cookies, they had fun and gained confidence while learning to make something new. “My favorite part of the class was being able to do it all on my own. I didn’t have anyone taking over for me. I got to scoop, measure, and stir and mix it all myself. And taking home a box of delicious cookies was really fun, too. I shared it with my whole family,” said Kylee. After the class, their mother noted the many benefits of the class. “Besides kitchen safety, they learned cooking techniques like whisking, piping, blending, and measuring, which reinforces basic math skills. They also learned to try new foods and flavors. They came away feeling proud of themselves and the delicious cookies they had created,” said Sara. Before his daughters took a cooking class, Corey took a cooking class to help increase his interest in cooking. “In the past I learned to cook from books and the internet. However, I
Corey McBride teaches one of his daughters, Kjerstin and one of his sons, Justin how to measure ingredients when cooking. (Photo/Sara McBride)
found that there is only so much you can learn by reading and watching videos. Just as a picture is worth a thousand words, live instruction is worth a thousand pictures,” he said. Corey enjoys cooking and wanted to try cooking with a wok. He read up on wok cooking and watched online videos, and he became more fascinated with this type of cooking. “I soon realized that reading and watching videos wasn’t going to be enough. So, I start looking for a cooking class I could take,” said Corey. He too enrolled in an adult cooking class at Harmons and had a wonderful experience. “The wok class introduced me to so many new ideas.” The McBride family believes that wheth-
er at home or in a community cooking class, teaching a child to cook lends itself to many positive outcomes. “Parents cooking with their kids is a great way to develop a good healthy relationship that extends into all parts of life,” said Corey. “In addition, there is a great sense of accomplishment that can come from something as simple as making cookies.” Some local places that offer cooking classes are: Harmons at Bangerter Crossing, City Creek or Holladay Market (visit www.harmonsgrocery.com for prices and classes) and The Home Lab (900 E. Pioneer Road in Draper, visit www.draperhomelab.com for prices and classes). l
Remember these safety tips during fireworks season
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ndependence Day is a day (and night) to celebrate the birth of our nation. There’s watching parades, enjoying backyard barbecues and, of course, igniting fireworks. Fireworks. There’s lots of them here, especially with July 24 , Pioneer Day, also being a holiday where fireworks play a major entertainment role. In makes for month full of blasts, bangs, whizzes, and sparkly colors lighting up the dark. But the joys of fireworks come with risks. To avoid accidents (or even death), here’s a few tips to remember as you and neighbors prepare to celebrate your state and country. 1. Recent legislation passed in Utah limits the days of the year allowed to light fireworks. Only light fireworks during those days in accordance with the newly passed law. 2. Check with your city to determine what areas allow fireworks. Cities such as Sandy and Herriman have decreased the areas that permit fireworks. 3. Know your fireworks. Read cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting. 4. Don’t get fancy. While it may be tempting to be creative and construct your own fireworks, the results may not be worth it. Just ask a friend who lost half his hair and needed to wear a hat/bandana for six months to protect his scalp. 5. Responsible adults should not only be present, but should supervise closely. Never give fireworks to small children. 6. Alcohol and fireworks does not make a good cocktail. Save your alcohol for after the show. 7. Light one firework at a time and don’t linger. Fireworks look just as pretty from 30 feet away as they do from five. 8. This one may seem obvious, but fireworks should be shot outside, not inside. 9. Dress appropriately. Loose clothing that can catch fire easily should be left in the drawer, while snugly fitted long sleeves and pants can protect from potential burns. 10. Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby. 11. Never shoot fireworks into metal or glass containers. The ricochet hurts just as much.
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12. Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials. 13. Report illegal explosives. They ruin it for the rest of us. 14. Don’t forget about your pets. Make sure they are securely indoors and have identification tags in case they do escape during a fireworks display. 15. Keep fireworks out of reach where curious children can’t get to them. High heat or damp air can damage the fireworks. The best place to put them is in a cardboard box in a high location such as a cabinet or shelf. 16. Last, but not least, make sure everyone using fireworks has safety glasses or goggles. l
West Valley City Journal
See how animals run, adapt and help modern-day science at ‘Nature’s Ultimate Machines’ By Christy Jepson | Christy@mycityjournals.com
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ave you ever wondered why a woodpecker never gets a headache? Or what tiny animal has a punch so strong that it can break aquarium glass? Or who has a stronger grip: a human or a chimpanzee? These questions and many more can be answered at the new traveling exhibit “Nature’s Ultimate Machines” at the Natural History Museum of Utah from now until Sept. 3. “I believe this exhibit is one of the most hands-on and interactive exhibits we’ve had to date,” said Lisa Thompson, the exhibit developer for the Natural History Museum of Utah. This exhibit shows the amazing inner workings of how creatures have learned to adapt to harsh environmental conditions and how they fight daily battles to help them survive. The exhibit features 130 specimens, scale models, videos and interactive displays to help guests discover how plants and animals have developed unique ways of moving, adapting and surviving in their own habitat. When visiting the new exhibit guests can: explore a larger-than-life termite mound and look and see how its design is used in modern architecture, feel how much energy it takes to pump blood up through a giraffe’s 7-foot neck, learn which creatures can crush over 8,000 pounds in one bite and learn about different ways creatures swim, slither, jump and gallop. “One of the favorite areas for kids is the flying chair where guests can sit on a tall office chair which spins, and choose between two different types of wings that are made out of a light PVC pipe and canvas. They flap the wings up and down to help them spin around,” said Thompson. Different shaped wings have different results when you start to move them up and down. According to Thompson, this handson flying area gets guests thinking about which shape of wings help birds fly away quickly versus which shape of wings are needed for birds that fly long distance. Guests engage in all the interactive and digital exhibits while learning also about the marvels of natural engineering that inspire modern mechanics, such as the creation of Velcro, chainsaws and wind turbines. This entire exhibit brings to life the connection between biology and modern day engineering. For example, guests will be able to see that by studying the bone structure of a woodpecker—and why they never get headaches or concussions even when they peck wood 20 times per second— is helpful and useful in research to help make better, stronger, and safer helmets for football players. This exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in Chicago. All Field Museum exhibits are in English and Spanish. The Natural History Museum of Utah is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WestValleyJ ournal.com
Students at the museum look at how hard the giraffe’s heart must pump in order to get blood up through its tall seven-foot neck. (Photo/Caity Gainer, Natural History Museum of Utah)
except Wednesdays when they are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors 65 and older, $12.95 for ages 13-24, and $9.95 for children 3-12 years old. University of Utah students and faculty are free with valid ID. The museum is located at 301 Wakara Way in Salt Lake City. For additional information, visit: nhmu.utah.edu/ ultimate. l
Students visit “Nature’s Ultimate Machines” exhibit and explore the strength test of different materials in our bodies and in nature. (Photo/Caity Gainer, Natural History Museum of Utah)
June 2018 | Page 17
Utah’s local bookstores unite for Indie Bookstore Day
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uying local does a community good. That’s why several area businesses took part in Indie Bookstore Day on April 28 to help connect Utah readers with their neighborhood bookstore. With the growth of online shopping and recent decline in sales at brick and mortar stores, bookstores, like businesses around the country, have worked to combat the retreat of faceto-face business. According to the American Booksellers Association, independent bookstores express confidence that they are better equipped than chains to weather the changing retail landscape. Visiting Utah’s diverse independent bookstores shows good reason for that confidence. “I am always preaching the gospel of local businesses,” said Tony Weller of Weller Book Works in Downtown Salt Lake. “It’s not about the preservation of our own old family bookstore. It’s about the community I want to live in. There are a lot of businesses in this community that I used to support that no longer exist. I am saddened to see good businesses disappear.” For supporters and members of the local bookstore scene, Indie Bookstore Day is about more than reading and local bookstores. It is about community and the important role that local businesses play in how they are shaped. “The Local First movements across the country, and especially in Utah, are educating
By Joshua Wood | joshw@mycityjournals.com people about what shopping locally does for them, how it keeps their economy healthy, how it keeps their neighbors in their houses, pays for their sidewalks,” said Anne Holman of The King’s English Bookshop in Sugar House. “It’s a good thing to do. It’s the right thing to do.” With many local businesses struggling to compete with chain stores and online retail outlets, independent bookstores have led a budding renaissance. In fact, the American Booksellers Association stated that there has been a 35 percent increase in the number of independent bookstore locations since 2009. “People have come to realize that where we shop defines our community,” said Aaron Cance of The Printed Garden in Sandy. “Where we buy our stuff defines what our neighborhood looks like. Independently owned businesses of all types have enjoyed a little resurgence in support.” As part of Indie Bookstore Day, patrons could participate in a bookstore crawl, get a passport card stamped at each location, and get a chance to win free books. The event has taken place for four years and is gaining traction in Utah with the bookstore crawl now in its second year. “It says a lot about the valley that there is a lot of value placed on reading,” said Cance. The event served as a reminder to buy local, to let more people in the community know
that there are more independent bookstores in the area than they might realize, and of course, to encourage people to enjoy books. The diversity of bookstores in Utah is similar to the diverse subjects they offer their customers. “You should balance the information that you’re bringing into your head,” said Weller. “I try to convince readers to leave that department where that they feel so comfortable and walk across my bookstore to a different section and pick a book.” The same could be said for the businesses people support and how they help shape the character of their communities. “You have work, you have home, and you have the other place you like to spend time,” said Cance. “It’s a place where you can be yourself, where you can discuss things without fear. It’s important for a lot of reasons.” Indie Bookstore Day served as a reminder of the importance of local bookstores, and local businesses in general. Those who discover them, tend to keep coming back. “A lot of our customers have been shopping here for 40 years, and now we’re on third generation, fourth generation,” said Holman. Other local bookstores in the Greater Salt Lake area include the Golden Braid (Salt Lake City), Ken Sanders Rare Books (Salt Lake City), Booked on 25th (Ogden), Marissa’s Books and Gifts (Murray), The Children’s
Hour (Salt Lake City), and more. The American Booksellers Association’s website has a search function to help people find bookstores in their communities. Visit www.bookweb.org l
Independent bookstores host local author events like this children’s book author Mac Barnett at the King’s English Bookstore in 2016. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
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West Valley City Journal
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June 2018 | Page 19
The youngest driver might be the fastest By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
“To Strengthen and Promote the Shared Interests of the Business Community” Representing the Business Voice in West Valley City, Taylorsville & Kearns Areas Contact Information: Barbara S. Riddle, CMP
To invest in your organization and community, invest in ChamberWest!
801-977-8755 barbara@chamberwest.org
The Why of ChamberWest CATALYST for business growth CONVENER of leads and influencers CHAMPION for a stronger community
UPCOMING EVENTS June 7 – Legislative Affairs June 12 – Women in Business Luncheon June 14 – Leadership Institute Graduation June 27 – Annual Golf Classic For more information or to register for an event, call 801-977-8755 or visit www.ChamberWest.com
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American Pacific Mortgage Comfort Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport Wild Ginger Asian Cuisine KMH Consulting & Government Affairs
• Volunteers of America Utah
Renewing Members • • • • • • • • • •
Easton Salt Lake Archery Center Associated General Contractors of Utah Layton Construction Company Avault Law Ken Garff West Valley Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge West Valley Symphony of Utah Elizabeth’s Custom Catering Snap Shop Photo Chevron/Texaco Express Lube Shula’s 347 Grill
Wild Ginger Asian Cuisine Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting 4782 West 4100 South – West Valley City
Thank You to our Community Investment Members
Page 20 | June 2018
Natalie Waters pilots this limited sprint race car at Rocky Mountain Raceway at speeds approaching 115 mph. She is 14 years old. (Photo courtesy Natalie Waters Facebook page)
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ocky Mountain Raceway kicked off its final season, and 14-year-old Natalie Waters is having an impact already. “I grew up with racing,” Natalie Waters said. “My uncles are Jimmy Waters and Lynn Hardy (veteran racers at the RMR), so I was at the track when I was about 6 months old. I got into a quarter midget (similar to a go-kart) when I was 6 years old. Then I drove a junior stinger and a focus midget.” Waters is currently driving a new midget racecar and an open wheel limited sprint car. In both classes, she competes against drivers more than double her age. “I like the adrenaline rush,” Waters said. “I have always thought it looked so cool. It is nice to know that I am doing well. Last year was my first year on the entire track, and I think I have gotten it a little bit. This year I feel I can go as hard as I can.” She has been fast. Her limited sprint averaged 91.2 mph around the ⅜-mile oval. Her qualifying time was fourth fastest for the opening night racers. In her midget division, she has raced competitively against Chaz Groat for several years in quarter midgets and now in the focus midgets. Groat was last year’s class champion. “My family is really close with Chaz’s family,” Waters said. “We both got into this class together and seem to be in the same step in racing. There is a little pressure being a girl, and I am the youngest ever to drive a sprint car in the state of Utah. It is different, but knowing that I get out of the car and beat those grown men is cool.” Waters has dreams of racing in NASCAR. She has support from several sponsors and a working crew. Her grandfather John Waters is her crew chief and has set up her cars from the beginning of her racing career. “I have been racing since I was 11 years old, and I have never seen anything like this,” John said. “It is so emotional to see her start
racing when she was 6. She told me, ‘All I wanted was a trophy.’ She has so much passion for it. She just finished racing, and she is back here waxing her car to make them look nice.” In a race last November at the Bullring in Las Vegas, she flipped her car and totaled it. John found another car, purchased it and prepared it for this season. In set-up, John has always prepared the car limiting her on her throttle availability to ensure she could learn the handling of the car. “I did not want to give her full power,” John said. “I wanted her to drive where she felt comfortable. This year, we are giving her more of the edge. We are close to $35,000 to race these cars this year. It is expensive, but she has learned to work with the sponsors and meet their expectations.” Seeing her daughter race has been a heart-racing experience for Natalie’s mother, Cassie Waters. “When she drives by the wall and I can see her face for like a split second, it might make me cry; I can’t believe that she is in control of the car,” Cassie said. “It is just crazy. I am with her every day. I make the oatmeal and do her laundry and buy her makeup. Now, she is here racing at night.” The final season at Rocky Mountain Raceway continues all summer. The sprint cars are scheduled to return June 16. “They started racing quarter midgets with the track and with the talent they have I know they are going to do a good job,” Rocky Mountain Raceway General Manager Mike Eames said. “These young drivers have potential, and it is sad that the track is closing because it would be fun to see what they could do. They are respectful, and watching them is one of the favorite parts of my job. I can’t cheer for her because she has cooties and is a girl, but I like good racing and hope she does well.” l
West Valley City Journal
Utah native and three-time Olympian returns to showcase volleyball By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
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hree-time Olympian Jake Gibb, 42, who hails from Utah, is coming home for an exhibition beach volleyball match and clinic Saturday, June 16 during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament at the Utah Sports Mall, located at 5445 S. 900 East in Murray. “I love interactions with kids who want to learn about volleyball,” Gibb said. “It’s a cool position to be in with the wealth of knowledge I have and to be able to share a little bit of that. I just want to share my passion and help people see that and feel that.” “Jake is a global icon in the beach volleyball community,” said WBV Juniors Director Warren Van Schalkwyk. “He is also one of the most down-to-earth people you’d ever meet. To have Jake participate in this event speaks to his love for the game and his willingness to give back.” Gibb grew up in Bountiful, the youngest of 11 children, and played basketball and golf in high school until he tried boys volleyball on a club team his senior year. Following an LDS mission, he played with his twin brother, Coleman —who is 6 inches shorter than the 6-foot7 Jake—in a Utah Outdoor Volleyball tournament in the “B” division and took second place. “We thought that was pretty good,” Gibb said. “So, there was my real competitive start to outdoor volleyball, in a ‘B’ tournament on grass.” While playing on grass, Gibb said he often watched the players on the sand and thought they were “pretty cool cats with their tattoos and everything.” One of those players—a Utah legend named Joe Famasino—asked Gibb if he wanted to play with him. “Here I was, this big clunky kid, and I literally was so nervous that Joe was talking to me that I couldn’t even remember my phone number to give him,” Gibb said. And, that was just the beginning of Gibb’s rise in the sport while he studied business at the University of Utah and married his wife, Jane. Following graduation and working toward becoming a loan officer, his wife encouraged him to give professional beach volleyball a try. So, the pair moved to California in 2002 for a two-year trial run to see if the sport could become their livelihood. “That’s the scariest move I’ve ever made in my life,” Gibb said. “I was comfortable being where I was at as the best in Utah. Good thing I was young; I don’t think I would do it now.” Gibb said he showed up at a beach in
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Carpe Di End
Gain peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of your way. Pro beach volleyball player Jake Gibb, from Utah, has been a top player on the world circuit for several years. The three-time Olympian will appear in an exhibition match and then host a clinic during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament Saturday, June 16 at the Utah Sports Mall. (Photo courtesy Jake Gibb)
California for the first time, trying to get into a game and was told there was a six game wait. “I left the beach that day without getting a game and with my tail wagging between my legs thinking, ‘Nobody knows that I’m pretty good,’” he said. Gibb’s wait for a court paid off, and by 2004, Gibb won his first Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour title and was named the Most Valuable Player the next season. He has since won 27 more titles with several partners —most notably, Sean Rosenthal and Casey Patterson—and competed at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, placing tied for fifth twice and 19th. For the past year and a half, he has been partnered with Taylor Crabb and feels “fortunate to get a young kid who doesn’t know how good he is yet.” Gibb, who is the father of 6-year-old Crosby and 3-year-old Cora Jane, said, “This sport has given me my entire lifestyle,” he said. “I feel like I’m the most fortunate guy on the planet.” The June 16 match and clinic in Murray is free although seating will be limited. Spectators will be able to take pictures with Gibb and hear about his experiences from over two decades in the sport. l
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Pro beach volleyball player Jake Gibb, from Utah, has been a top player on the world circuit for several years. The three-time Olympian will appear in an exhibition match and then host a clinic during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament Saturday, June 16 at the Utah Sports Mall. (Photo courtesy Jake Gibb)
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Travel Budget
by
CASSIE GOFF
For lodging, don’t stay stay in your destination city. It’s generally cheaper to book a place outside of the area. For example, it’s cheaper to stay in Murray than it is is downtown Salt Lake City. It’s cheaper to stay in Sandy or Cottonwood Heights than it is to stay in the canyon resorts during ski season. Know the areas around your destination city. Luckily, we live in the era of Airbnb, where hotel prices are almost obsolete. The website is fantastic for any kind of group traveling. If you’re going with the whole family, you can check for full homes to book. If you’re traveling alone or with friends, you can rent out a room for low prices. Hostels are also great options for the lone traveler. If you’re going on vacation to see a physical place, and not going for an event, go during the off season. Tourist attractions, lodging, and other accommodations will be marked down. Plus, there won’t be so many crowds. You may end up on a tour with just a few other people, instead of a few busses. When visiting new cities, check for free walking tours. Not only are they budget-friendly, they help you get acquainted with the city. You may see something you want to visit, which you didn’t know existed.
Schools out for summer! It’s time for vacation! One of my friends told me that her family spent around 10 grand on a two-week holiday. Don’t do that. Instead, use this nifty little invention called the internet to do some research. There are hundreds of blogs and forums where people share their travel experiences, sharing information about the cheapest transportation and best deals in various cities worldwide. Before going anywhere, check what people say about that destination and what they recommend when traveling on a budget. Flying can be an expensive hassle. Many travel bugs recommend using a credit card that offers the chance to earn miles. Cashing in those miles can mean a free plane ticket. I’ve also heard that checking fares on Tuesday, two weeks before your travel date, will be the cheapest option. Don’t hold me to that though. Driving can be boring. Don’t forget entertainment if you’re going on a road trip. If you have a Netflix subscription, download the app on your phone, and download episodes, podcasts, or comedy specials. Have everyone in your car do the same for hours of internet-free entertainment. Oh, and make sure to bring an auxiliary cord. And water. Stay hydrated people.
While you’re on that walking tour, find the local grocery store. Take some time to do your grocery shopping and make your own meals. Eating out is expensive, especially if you’re doing it every day. I recommend trying some local food no matter where the destination, but don’t go crazy. Eat out on only a few occasions and pack your own food the rest of the time. Booking tours or buying attraction tickets the day-of can be mind-bogglingly expensive. Before you leave home, take some time to research ticket prices for the places you might want to visit. Many places have discounts if you book in advance or through third-party websites. If you have a discount associated
with your identity, ask for it. There are so many places that offer discounts for military personnel, seniors, students, etc. Bring some proof, just in case. I used my University of Utah student card to get a discount on a tour in Australia. Want to work while traveling? Many places offer free lodging in exchange for labor. Like farm-stays, where you can stay for free if you help out around the farm. They may even feed you too. There are also many programs outside of the country for teaching English. One day, I plan to go help baby turtles make it to the ocean safety. A free place to stay for chasing birds away?! Yes. Please. l
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Don’t Kill the Messenger
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
West Valley
With the introduction of the Internet Machine, news has changed. A flood of misinformation is available at our fingertips and anyone can post “news” and share it as reality. Your crazy Uncle Joe has the ability to post his conspiracy theories as fact, while negating facts as theories. (Yes, I’m talking to you, holocaust deniers and urine therapy adherents.) As newspapers fold and journalists are fired, consumers must find their way in a wild wilderness, navigating blogs, podcasts, posts, tweets, forums and websites, searching for truth, justice and the American way. On TV, Barbie and Ken dolls throw softball questions at politicians, making no effort to hide their biases. They’re like balloon bouquets; pretty
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to look at and fun for a while, but then they float creepily through your home, lurking in doorways and scaring the skittles out of you at 3 a.m. Sponsored content (advertorials) sneak their way into news broadcasts and articles, looking like journalism, but in reality they’re just fancy ads. Usually, readers don’t even know. Journalists have become public relations specialists, crafting news instead of reporting it. On top of all that, our president declared war on the press. The U.S. just ranked 45th on the World Press Freedom Index, coming in behind places like Bahari, Namibia and Sokovia. (Only one of those countries is real, but I’m presenting it as fact. Most readers don’t bother dis-
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Life
Back when Paleolithic man ruled the world, humans only learned what was happening outside their cave when another caveman rode into town on his velociraptor. Soon, dinosaurs evolved into horses (duh, that’s just science) and traveling merchants shared stories and events as they roamed the country. They’d sit around campfires, making s’mores and spreading gossip. In cities, town criers walked the streets in ridiculous outfits, ringing bells and shouting information at passersby. When Johannes Gutenberg mechanized the printing process, he started a revolution that led to books, newspapers and inexpensive bird cage lining. Town criers became journalists, people dedicated to the pursuit of truth, shining a light on injustice and living on hot coffee and cold pizza. America’s Founding Fathers recognized the importance of the press, protecting free speech in the first amendment. Journalists were regarded as necessary vermin, an invaluable cog in the democratic process of checks and balances. Distinguished reporters like Carl Bernstein, Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite took journalism to its apex before its Icarus-like plunge into the mud of “journalism” today.
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covering the truth.) Do reporters pick on Trump? Yes. Does he deserve it? Maybe not all the time. Maybe. But his anti-press pomposity further erodes the faith we’ve placed in our news agencies as his bellowing cry of “Fake news!” rings from media outlets. Investigative journalists are an endangered species. It seems little vetting, research or fact-checking is being done. It’s more important to have the story first—even if it’s inaccurate. Wikipedia isn’t research. (I know that, because I looked up journalism on Wikipedia and it said, “This is not a news source.”) Here are other things that aren’t news sources: Facebook, Twitter, hateful bloggers and venom-spewing talk show hosts. In 2009, I wrote a column, grumbling about the sensationalizing of stories where a celebrity’s activities were treated as breaking news. (FYI: It’s not.) Things have only gone downhill. There are many journalists working diligently to present the truth, but it’s getting harder to hear their voices over the screeching of velociraptors, the screaming of town criers and the bellicose rants of our leaders. No news isn’t good news. No news is no news. l
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June 2018 | Page 23
Saturday, July 28th 5:00 to 8:00 PM Taylor’s Landing 4700 South & I-215
2nd ANNUAL
Join us to support the Granite Education Foundation 65% of students living in the Granite School District live at or below the poverty line, often facing severe food insecurities, inadequate access to basic needs such as clothing, and many more roadblocks to education. Help us support our children by bringing new school supplies. All money raised goes to charity.
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