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March 2019 | Vol. 5 Iss. 03

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STORIES OF ACHIEVEMENT SHARED AT GRANITE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S BLACK EXCELLENCE EVENT By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

he first story told by Charlotte Blake Alston during Granite School District’s Black Excellence event was a traditional story from the West African country Liberia. It tells the story of Ogaloussa, a man with five sons and one more on the way. One day, Ogaloussa doesn’t return from his hunt. Months pass. Eventually his sons stop asking what had happened to him. Then Ogaloussa’s wife gives birth to her sixth child. When that child grows old enough to talk, he asks, “Where is my father?” Together, the six brothers go into the forest to try to find their father. They soon find his remains. At this point, a little magic enters the story as the five older brothers bring their father back to life. One puts his bones back together. Another reattaches his muscles and sinews. When Ogaloussa and his sons return to the village, he says he is going to reward the son most responsible for bringing him back to life. The five older brothers who put his body back together argue over who was most important. However, Ogaloussa decides to reward the youngest son. “Had he not asked the question, ‘Where is my father?’ I would still be lying cold and stiff in the land of the dead,” he says. The story underscores a long-held belief of the Liberian people that one is not truly dead unless he is forgotten and never spoken of again, Alston explained to the crowd in attendance at West Lake Junior High. “And so it is we must share the stories of our history or the possibilities of our human understanding may lie cold and stiff in the land of the dead,” she said. The theme of remembrance was present throughout the event, organized by the Granite School District’s office of Educational Equity in conjunction with the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute. The night began with a dance performance by members of Hunter High School’s African American club. Nimaa Osman, one of the club officers, said it was a great experience. “It’s a way for us to express our culture and share it with everybody. There’s people from so many different places here and we all get to be a part of it,” she said. After the dance, Alston, a professional storyteller, took the stage and captivated the audience with her stories. Some, like the story of Ogaloussa, had their roots in African oral tradition. Others were modern, such as a rap written by Alston about the life of Louis Armstrong. She also told the story of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license.

Professional storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston performs the telling of a story as part of Granite School District’s Black Excellence event. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

Because no one in America would teach Coleman, she had to attend flight school in France where she had to walk six miles every day just to get to the airfield. Eventually she returned to America and became a successful stunt pilot. She was so popular, in fact, that she became known as “Queen Bess” or “Queen of the Skies.” Coleman used her popularity as leverage to promote social equality. At one point she refused to fly in an event where there was to be separate entrances for white and black people. “They took a look at how much money they would lose, and they decided to have just one entrance,” explained Alston. Remembering how people like Coleman overcame their obstacles to achieve great things is a big part of what Black Excellence entails, said event organizer Michelle Love-Day, the associate director for the district’s educational equity office. “It encompasses a lot of who we are as a community,” she said. “Making sure that we are successful no matter what situations are put before us. It’s rising above each and every day.” The same sentiment was echoed by Alston when she spoke with the West Valley City Journal. “[Black Excellence] represents what people of African ancestry in this country have always had to do in the midst

of obstacles that have always been put in front of them. You continue moving forward, to strive, to present yourself to the world with character, dignity and respect,” she said. As a student, Osman said it was empowering to listen to the stories. “It makes me think, ‘I can be part of that,’” she said. Osman said she wants to become a writer, and that she really looks up to Maya Angelou. “She’s just this perfect woman who wears her culture on her sleeve. She’s so amazing and I wish I could be like her one day.” The Black Excellence event is just one of many organized by the Educational Equity office. Earlier this school year they hosted an event on Latino culture. Later this year they will be putting on a Polynesian cultural night as well as a Holocaust remembrance event. Love-Day said these events are an important part of the district’s efforts to create an inclusive environment. “It’s important to get to know other people and their culture so you can be comfortable and respect one another. We all have to work together in our differences to make our communities successful.” l

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In-house pet surgeries proven successful at West Valley City-Taylorsville Animal Shelter

WEST VALLEY CITY

C ITY OURNAL The West Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley. 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.

West Valley City Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton travis@mycityjournals.com ADVERTISING: 801-254-5974 DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Ryan Casper ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com 801-671-2034 ACCOUNT ASSOCIATES: Melissa Worthen melissa@mycityjournals.com 801-897-5231 Tracy Langer Tracy.l@mycityjournals.com 385-557-1021 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Ty Gorton Kevin Bushrow Amanda Luker

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est Valley City-Taylorsville Animal Control officials are pleased with a pair of experiments they launched last spring and are planning to continue them through 2019. A year ago, the agency began patrolling area parks on bicycles, keeping an eye out for unleashed and unattended animals. About the same time, they also chose to bring their animal surgeries in-house, to their shelter at 4522 W. 3500 South. “The bike patrols proved very successful, as our staff members were able to get to know pet owners in a less confrontational way,” said Animal Services Director David Moss. “The feedback we got from people was that they found the interactions to be more positive. Our people didn’t write many tickets; it was mostly a public relations thing. We plan to start those up again soon, now that the weather is improving.” As for the animal surgeries, Moss said things got off to a bit of a rocky start but have since improved. “We had more animal deaths during surgery during the first several months of the contract, which was creating morale problems for our staff.” Moss continued. “Our people care for these animals, and deaths upset them. Our rate of deaths for those first months was higher than when we transported the animals for surgery. But I have seen improvement since then.”

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A year ago, semi-retired Bountiful veterinarian Dr. Daniel Sims won the contract to perform the surgeries. Sims, 75, became a veterinarian in 1967 and will reach 52 years in practice this summer. His contract with animal services pays him $70 per hour. “I particularly like performing surgeries, especially spays and neuters, so this has been a good fit for me,” Sims said. “I also set a few broken bones. And occasionally, I have to treat something we call ‘happy tail.’ This occurs when a dog wags its tail so much it hits things and injures it. In these surgeries, I amputate a part of the tail and simply make them shorttailed dogs.” As a part of his contract, Sims also supervises the West Valley City-Taylorsville rabies vaccination program. State law does not require a licensed veterinarian to perform all of the vaccinations, but a vet must train those administering the shots and supervise the program. Taylorsville City is a one-third partner in West Valley City Animal Control and a onethird owner in the agency’s relatively new animal shelter. “It is a good partnership with West Valley City, and I see no reason why it won’t continue into the future,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “We meet with David Moss often to understand and clarify policies and procedures. We have a really good relationship with West Valley City.” Before veterinary surgical procedures could be taken in-house a year ago, Moss requested and received $20,000 from the West Valley City Council to purchase necessary

equipment. He remains convinced the change will save taxpayers money over the long haul, while also being better for the animals. But at this one-year anniversary of the change, Moss has also decided to reevaluate who is performing the work. “I spoke with Dr. Sims in late January and gave him a 90-day termination notice, meaning a new contract will need to be in place by April 30,” Moss continued. “Certainly, Dr. Sims will remain in the running to continue his work for us. But we also want to consider other candidates.” “I will work there as long as I am capable and they want me,” Sims said. “I like what I do. We did have some fatalities during our first few months but have made improvements since then. I don’t like losing animals — period.” Sims said seven surgery-related animal fatalities during his first six months on the job prompted a change in animal anesthesia and some procedures. Since September, Sims says there has been only one animal fatality. Sims also conducts the shelter’s popular pet vaccine clinics on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, from 3 to 6 p.m. “We are committed to having an on-site vet,” Moss said. “There is a great benefit in not having to transport the animals. And the vet is also able to conduct wellness checks on animals that don’t need surgery. It’s a huge advantage.” Animal control officials say the change has also saved taxpayers’ money, though the exact amount is still being calculated.

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Veterinarian Dr. Daniel Sims has been performing surgeries at the West Valley City-Taylorsville Animal Shelter for about a year. (David Moss)

West Valley City Journal

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West Valley City Journal

History’s ‘Traveling Treasures’ roll through West Valley’s Zions Bank All photos taken by Travis Barton

Museum archaeologist and University of Utah Professor Lisbeth Louderback speaks with students at Zions Bank in West Valley City in January. The Natural History Museum of Utah had its Traveling Treasures exhibit, “Collecting the Past for the Future,” in the bank for a month.

Fourth-grade students from Rolling Meadows Elementary participated in various stations where they saw a few rare treasures from the Natural History Museum of Utah’s 1.6 million object collections.

Students from Rolling Meadows Elementary, where the fourth grade is learning about Utah history this year, saw various pieces from the Natural History Museum of Utah in January. The museum’s Traveling Treasures exhibit follows a geologist’s journey in Utah and around the world to collect dazzling minerals..

Fourth-grade students from Rolling Meadows Elementary listened to various archaeologists and curators from the Natural History Museum of Utah at Zions Bank in West Valley City. The museum is celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2019 and Zions Bank has partnered with the Museum for the past 24 years to bring the Museum and its collections to its financial centers in diverse communities throughout the state.

Rolling Meadows students look at a collection of shimmering orbs. The collection was donated by Ruth Waldo in 1970. Sculpted by a dentist named Arthur Leroy “Doc” Inglesby, the orbs were found by miners which Inglesby then bartered for by fixing their teeth.

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March 2019 | Page 7

WVC approves additional standards for potential cannabis facility By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

he West Valley City Council unanimously approved changes to show where cannabis production facilities and cannabis pharmacies are allowed to be built within the city. This comes in response to the medicinal cannabis bill, prop 2, passed in December. Changes to city code not only brought the city in compliance with state law, but added additional standards “that would limit the number as well as the placement of these facilities in the city,” Steve Pastorik, assistant community economic director, told city council at a study meeting in January. Additional restrictions for both facilities include: • No facility can be within 1,000 feet of another cannabis production establish-

ment, cannabis pharmacy or alcohol establishment—any place that sells alcohol. • Must be 500 feet from major streets such as 5600 West, 3500 South, Redwood Road. • Must meet lighting standards, identified as a security measure by city officials. For cannabis production facilities, restrictions would include: • No dust, fumes, vapors, odors or waste can be emitted into the environment. • No signage is allowed. This follows state law. For medical cannabis pharmacies, restrictions would include: • No drive-through service. • No outdoor seating areas.

• No outdoor vending machines. • No direct or home delivery service. • Hours of operation allowed are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. • The maximum size a facility can be is 3,000 square feet. • One pharmacy is allowed per 135,000 residents. West Valley City’s population in 2017 was just over 136,000, according the US Census Bureau. For a second pharmacy to be built, the city would need to grow to 270,000 residents. The number of pharmacies allowed in the state is seven, though there are provisions in place to increase that number. “We look at a situation where you have seven in the state, (one) would probably be

our share,” Pastorik said. In Salt Lake County, West Valley City appears to be the first to implement such an ordinance. On Feb. 19, the West Jordan Planning Commission was scheduled to discuss potential zones where a cannabis facility could go. No residents came to speak during the council meeting where the ordinance was passed. “In my mind,” Councilman Steve Buhler said, “the day is going to come in the not too distant future where (medicinal marijuana) is regulated like any other medication and should probably be in all pharmacies. But sounds like that’s a long ways away from what the legislature’s going to do.” l

These side by side maps show where cannabis production facilities would be allowed under state code and where they are now allowed under city code. (West Valley City documents)

Page 8 | March 2019

West Valley City Journal

SPOTLIGHT

The Joint Chiropractic

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

f you’re suffering from pain and looking for an affordable alternative, The Joint Chiropractic West Valley is a clinic that offers a patient-centric model for quality care. “We specialize in pain relief and prevention made easy. Our model allows guests to access affordable, quality chiropractic care on their terms, all for single visit costs that cost less than an average copay,” said Julie Cluff, co-owner of The Joint Chiropractic in West Valley at 5567 West High Market Dr. Suite #K-300. The Joint clinic staff in West Valley includes Dr. Quentin Madsen. “I’ve been around chiropractic my entire life. My dad is a retired chiropractor. I studied at Logan University in St. Louis and have been practicing in Utah for the last four years,” Dr. Madsen said. Dr. Madsen found fulfillment in his work with patients who thought their pain was beyond hope. “I have had multiple people come in with debilitating back pain who were told there is nothing wrong with them, or that there wasn’t anything else the medical community could do,” said Dr. Madsen. However, through The Joint’s care plans and adjustments, “these people are now living

pain free or nearly pain free lives. We are dedicated to improving quality of life through affordable chiropractic care,” said Dr. Madsen. Cluff opened the clinics in part because she found the statistics compelling. “According to a seven-year study, patients whose primary physician was a chiropractor experienced 60 percent fewer hospital admissions, 62 percent fewer outpatient surgeries and 85 percent less in prescription costs,” Cluff said. Cluff and Dr. Madsen also see the flexible clinic hours and no-appointment philosophy as a great aspect of the care they offer. “Our practice is to offer affordable chiropractic adjustments We don’t set appointments so each patient is able to walk into our location at their convenience,” Dr. Madsen said. For patients who are new to the clinic or new to chiropractic care, you can expect the highest levels of care and planning that works with your needs. “Our chiropractic physicians are licensed and experienced with advanced medical training. We offer convenience and affordability,” said Cluff. So what can you expect? “New patients can walk in at any time and be seen at our clinic for $29. That will cover a consultation,

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exam and adjustment at the first visit. If needed, we’ll make a care plan for follow up,” Cluff said. Those follow-up walk-in visits are meant to be flexible and convenient. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Saturday hours are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Closed Sundays. Depending on the care patients need, there are multiple plans and packages. “We want to be an affordable source of care,” Cluff said. Cluff hopes that their care and pain relief can become a part of the West Valley community. “We are locally owned and operated. We want to be a part of the community, and we’re here to serve by offering a natural approach to pain relief and prevention,” said Cluff. For more information, call the West Valley office at 385.252.4477, or visit them online at www.thejoint.com and search zip code 84120. Or walk in and visit The Joint Chiropractic West Valley at 5567 West High Market Dr. In the Target shopping center next to Café Rio. l

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When wildfires blaze, these West Valley firefighters respond By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Fire could spread up to 1,000 feet a minute. The fire seen here engulfs the hillside in Woodland Hills. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Cruz)

aptain Chuck Cruz was in Thousand Oaks, California last year. Not to visit family or take a vacation, but to help stop the devastating fires blazing through the state. “That fire was moving so fast that people caught up in it weren’t even able to run away,” Cruz recalled. Over the past few years, Cruz, Sean Hoffman, Kevin Pagel, Nick Herzog and many other members of the West Valley City Fire Department have deployed to fight wildfires in both California and Payson, Utah. The department is in a good position to assist these emergencies. Spearheaded by Deputy Chief Chris Beichner, leaders with WVCFD have led four-man crews to help with these disasters. “They’re the kind of guys that want to help,” said Fire Chief John Evans. “It’s just in their DNA.” Cruz is a seasoned veteran. He also works for the Department of Health and Human Services as a deputy commander for a disaster medical assistance team—an international federal team. That means he’s been deployed for both fire, hurricane and other medical related instances. Cruz lists Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi as places deployed. He estimated it’s been 16 or 17 times he’s gone. That’s over a career spanning to 1982. Pagel, who joined the department 14 years ago after retiring as a driver from Fed Ex, has deployed twice. Whether it’s been two or 17 times, there’s a lot that goes into a deployment. Cruz and Pagel recently sat down with the

Page 10 | March 2019

socks and underwear ready to go. What fighting wildfires means What do the firefighters do on these deployments? Whatever is asked of them. Even if it means loading up homeowners’ vehicles as they evacuate the area. In Payson, crews did structure protection. Any trees close to houses were cut down. For any house bordering wildland, crews would lay down hoses on either side. They laid down 15,000 feet of hose. “We were building giant sprinkler systems is what we were doing,” Cruz said. Crews did structure protection in California too, cutting down trees or removing any flammable brush away from homes. Some jobs were to cut fire lines leading away from a house to create a back burn, meant to ensure the fire would burn away from the house. They had to determine which houses were defensible. One house had 10 cords of wood on the back porch, if it catches fire, there wouldn’t be enough water to put it out. It couldn’t be saved. Any houses under construction next to a home that caught fire wouldn’t survive. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Charlie Sheen had houses burned down. “Most of the time your hands are tied,” Pagel said. “If you’re in this neighborhood and you see that neighborhood burning, you can’t freelance and go over there.” Pagel also spent a lot of time walking. In California, hollowed out trees would burn for days, “like a chimney,” Pagel said. At night, planes would fly overhead with a thermal image camera to locate the ones still burning. Pagel hiked three to four miles up and down ravines to find these

“hotspots” and cut them down. All this while carrying 30-pound packs of food, water, the chainsaw, gas and extra parts for the chainsaws. Hiking continued for Pagel. After the fire is out, his crew had to pick up 3.5 miles of hose line that stretched from a mountain peak down to its bench. Charred remains and Alfred Hitchcock scenes Countless moments stand out to firefighters from the weeks-long experience of battling a burning blaze. Deciding which houses to save can be a tough situation, let alone when the homeowner is present. Cruz recalled a time in Utah County last year when police brought homeowners with them to ask which houses could be saved. “Well, we’ve written that one off, we can’t even save that,” Cruz remembers saying. Then a lady started crying. “And I’m like, ‘(expletive) it’s your house, isn’t it?’” The lady’s husband was a military armorer. The house was filled with ammo and guns. “Stay away from that house because it’s going to blow up,” Cruz said. Fire moves fast. Especially when three-foot high dry grass catches fire with the right wind conditions. Pagel said it was traveling 1,000 feet a minute. “You could actually see it go,” he said. “It’s different because you can’t do anything about it. When you’re on a house fire here, you have 12-15 guys, we can make something happen.” Devastation covered thousands of miles in California with all kinds of victims. Cruz said he saw what looked like

West Valley Journal to talk about it all. The certifications required to go Plenty of training and certifications are required to be eligible to go battle wildland fires. In the fire service, it never stops. To be deployed, a firefighter must have all their structure and wildland certifications. A wildland certification must be renewed each year in March where they have to pass a physical agility test, online course and in-house classes. This includes training for confined spaces, rope rescue, trench rescue, high angle rescue, swift water rescue and heavy collapse rescue. Just to name a few. All the extra work to specialize comes either on a firefighter’s day off or if they traded shifts with someone. This earns them a “red card” meaning they are wildland eligible to go battle a Pole Creek Fire or Thomas Fire. It is above and beyond what’s required, according to Cruz. He said some firefighters are happy to work two days, respond to calls and go home. “Then there’s type-A guys like us, who if you leave us sitting still long enough, we’re gonna get in trouble,” joked Cruz, who has additional certifications in Urban Search and Rescue. Of the more than 100 firefighters in West Valley City, 38 have “red cards” or are deployable firefighters. “Having them not only helps out there,” Evans said. “Their experience helps just as much here.” They must be prepared for 21 days if called upon. In Pagel’s bedroom right now, he has a tech rescue bag with harnesses and Smoke billows over Woodland Hills last year. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Cruz) rope, and a wildland bag with extra boots,

West Valley City Journal

West Valley City firefighters worked to save houses and put out fires in Thousand Oaks last year. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Cruz)

large rodents, fields and fields of them. “The fire moved through so fast that as we would go through these fields, you would just see them skeletonized, burned mid stride, trying to run away,” he said. “Everywhere you look, there’s just all of these black statues of these rat-like creatures.” It’s not just the animals who were charred. Everything was charred. “Can’t even hear a bird chirp,” Pagel said. “It’s just dead quiet, dark, stinky.” “It’s Alfred Hitchcock-ish,” Cruz added. “It looked like a nuclear bomb went off, there’s nothing left,” Pagel concluded. Every morning from their camp it looked like a bomb went off. Pagel said it’s called a pyro cumulus cloud that would suck the moisture into the fire and burn. The moisture then gets into the clouds and when it can’t hold anymore, it drops all at

once and flattens out. “But when you’re underneath it and it does that,” he said, “you can just feel it’s a little bit colder and then all of sudden you feel that heat drop back down on you.” While everything’s burnt, ash covers the ground. When firefighters took a break to rest, they oftentimes napped on the ash, “which was quite comfortable,” Pagel said. Fire is not only fast, but also fickle. Depending on how winds shift, a fire’s precision can be surgical. Cruz has pictures of two houses six feet apart. On the left, the charred house is all over the ground. But on the right, not even the bushes were singed. Cruz explained where the burned house was built, there is a draw in the hill behind it that created a “vortex” for the wind— leading right to the home. Pagel said the mindset is very different from working on a house fire in WVC. “It’s a different type of fire because it can come

up and kill you.” “And everyone around you,” Cruz added. The people One memorable aspect for the firefighters are the friends they find from other departments in their task force. After weeks of hiking together, sharing water, telling jokes, carrying their equipment and teasing one another; it’s easy to form a bond. They even worked side by side with prisoners in orange jumpsuits doing the same thing. Pagel said the camaraderie extended to everyone. Pagel’s task force in California was led by Matthew Burchett, the Draper firefighter who died fighting the wildfire last year. “It was crazy to see 200 inmates lined up on the side of the road saluting (Burchett),” he said. But there were special moments for the firefighters. Ones that Cruz will always remember. Whether it was a young lady in Santa Cruz who left food and drinks for them in her house or the lines of signs thanking them for their work. “We couldn’t walk into a Starbucks and buy our own coffee, people wouldn’t let us,” Cruz said. According to Cruz, one night before they left California they were eating dinner at a restaurant when they asked for the check. The waitress said no. Everybody in The remnants of one burned down house from the Woolsey and Hill Fires in California last year. (Photo Cour- the restaurant had paid their tab. l tesy Chuck Cruz)

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Elevating women in the workplace By Aspen Perry | a.perry@mycityjournals.com

: A packed auditorium during the May 2018 ElevateHER panel. (Nicole Carpenter/WLI)

t a time when Utah’s business industry has a poor showing for gender pay equality, in addition to record low numbers of women in executive roles, many wonder: Can Utah elevate its business practices? Five years ago, the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) created the ElevateHER challenge, in an effort to encourage Utah companies to do better, while fostering a collaborative environment, in lieu of blame. “It’s not a blame or shame game,” said Pat Jones, CEO of WLI. “Men [are] important in addressing this and finding solutions to maximizing our talent pool,” she continued. When a Utah company accepts the El-

Page 12 | March 2019

evateHER challenge, they agree to evaluate the role women hold within their organization. This serves as a means to both increase the number of women in leadership, as well as retain existing talent. Companies are also encouraged to both monitor and identify gender pay inequity within their organization—a practice Jones said has resulted in salary bumps for men, as well as women. Jones explained the idea is to provide companies with a toolbox, which will increase their ability to attract and retain talent. Thus far, almost 200 companies have taken part in the ElevateHER challenge, according to the list of companies on WLI’s

website, with the number increasing every year. Of those companies, The Salt Lake Chamber, went from participating in the ElevateHER challenge to inviting WLI to collaborate on an awareness campaign. The gender wage gap campaign was launched in December of 2018, and is designed to offer both education and solutions on ways companies can close the gender wage gap. According to the information from the campaign, Utah ranks 50th in the nation for gender pay inequity, which the Salt Lake Chamber and WLI argue are not just bad for local business, but can also deter quality companies from moving their businesses to Utah. Materials made available by Salt Lake Chamber and WLI provide real-time examples and current practices of companies who are succeeding in this realm, in addition to highlighting various ways women are often viewed differently in the workplace. In spite of the disparity in treatment for males and females, Jones feels it’s important both parties understand the complimentary differences they both bring to the table. “Men are absolutely advocates and allies of women and working with us,” Jones said. In addition to the ElevateHER challenge, WLI runs other programs including a

Career Development Series (CDS), designed to help women maximize their career potential. CDS meets once a month, over an eightmonth period, and includes workshops and conferences for $995, which are geared toward women in mid- to upper-level careers. “We try to keep cost down, but quality very high,” Jones said, of the various programs offered. WLI is also in the process of wrapping up its fourth year running a Political Development Series. For political development training, participants are required to only buy lunch, since WLI did not want any women to not participate due to financial reasons. “I didn’t want women to not take [the class], and not run for office, because they couldn’t afford it,” Jones said. Jones attributes WLI’s ability to keep costs down to the support of the local business community and their sponsorship of the multitude of programs offered. “Frankly, they’re wanting to increase the number of the women they hire,” Jones said, as she explained why companies take such an active role with WLI. While Utah is far from holding a great spot on the national scale of equality in the office, the number of programs in place to help Utah businesses mend their ways suggests prospects may be looking up. l

West Valley City Journal

Hunter High’s ‘Our Town’ simplified scenes, but expanded themes By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

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Hunter High’s theatre department performed “Our Town” in February. (Photo/Chuck Smith)

fter the “behemoth” production of “Tarzan” last fall, Hunter High Drama Teacher Kjersti Parkes wanted something simple. “Tarzan” featured aerials, a trampoline, actors running off stage, things breaking. For the drama team’s next play, it had no curtains, no scenery. From a set design perspective, the shows couldn’t be any different. Parkes and her team performed “Our Town,” Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning drama about a fictional Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire beginning in 1901. The stage had actors in costume, twinkle lights hanging above them and a few chairs. Props were pantomimed by the actors and left to the imagination of the audience. Quite the difference from “Tarzan.” “It wasn’t about the spectacle,” said Erick Ramos, who played the Stage Manager, a de facto narrator who accompanies the audience throughout the play. “It was about the words, this playwright, and this beautiful town of Grover’s Corners. That was awesome to do.” With almost no props, Ramos said the audience could focus on Wilder’s words and his story. “It’s not me that’s the star, not the two leads,” he said. “The story was the star.” The play was a different kind of challenge, Parkes said, and a good fit for the students. “I feel like this is show is one that is either really boring or really beautiful,” she said. “So I wanted the challenge. I felt the kids were a good group to do this with because it can become very dry.” As Stage Manager, Ramos takes the audience through three acts over a 12-year span: 1901, 1904 and 1913. The audience witnesses how time changes the characters’ perspectives. Some go from a happy introduction in their teenage years to their eventual deaths, reminding one character, after her death, to appreciate life while living it. With such heavy themes, Parkes said a primary focus was connecting kids to the material. The play was written in the early 1900s about a time they are not familiar with. “But more than that, it’s about connecting with the emotion,” she said. “The humanity of it I think is challenging because high school students haven’t undergone a ton of life experiences yet.”

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Parkes said she wanted the show as authentic as possible, as much for the audience as for the actors. That meant taking one of their first rehearsals to simply talk about the themes of the show, such as what it means to live in the moment and making the most of the time they have. Judging from Ramos’ assessment, students made the connection. “It’s about sometimes stopping and realizing the small things in life,” Ramos said about the play’s message shortly after the opening night performance. “While you’re doing them they’re going to mean nothing to you. Once you look back at them, they’re going to mean everything to you. And I think that’s the beautiful part of it.” Though the story takes place in fictionalized Grover’s Corners, it’s meant to represent all towns, ergo the minimalist set. Ramos said Wilder wrote the story as if he took a handful of towns at the turn of the century, threw them in a hat and took one out. He then placed a magnifying glass over the town, focusing on the everyday lives of the milkman, teacher or town doctor. “(Wilder) made something extraordinary out of ordinary,” Ramos said. Parkes, who doesn’t watch the actual performances so she can “let it be,” said her favorite parts are the twinkle lights and Act 3. “The other stuff is great but Act 3 is the heart of it,” she said. “I think the girl who played Emily (Emily Johnson), I thought she did such a good job and it was just fun to see her grow in that part.” Up next for the Hunter High theatre department are student directed one-act plays at the end of April—one about Harry Houdini that features actual magic tricks and another about gossip and mistaken identity. Students will then close out the year with regional and state competition. Ramos started doing theater in junior high and said Hunter High has “an awesome theater program.” “I think that’s something a lot of people don’t know,” he said. “But once you come here, see that the kids and teachers put a lot of effort, thought, and passion into what they do.” l

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igh school art students created beautiful works under pressure on Jan. 24 at the Granite School District Art Olympics. Rewards were given for overall winners in several categories, with students winning medals, cash awards and scholarships. “I left school around third period and went to the district office. We heard from two guest speakers, a Disney animator and gallery owner. After that we were dismissed for the competition. They said, ‘Go!’ and we started,” said Amanda Kelly of Kearns High. Kelly made a 16” X 12” sculpture of her cat. Artists got four hours to work, then 30 minutes for cleanup. Judging was done immediately afterward by local artists, including Al Rounds and Nick Pinnock. “I’m a senior and started doing sculpture my junior year. My uncle is a sculptor, so he has encouraged me. And my art teacher Mr. Zellinski helped me a lot,” Kelly said. The work paid off. Kelly won two medals (Overall 3D Winner and Sculpture), $125 in cash and a $500 scholarship. Chad Zellinski is Amanda’s AP studio art teacher at Kearns High. Jennifer Rojas, also of Kearns High, won in the category of Color Drawing. Her teacher K.R. Osterberg said, “Jennifer is a very creative young lady. Her artistic vision is uniquely her own. Art makes her happy and she uses it to express and experience joy!” Art teacher Jeremy Petersen of Olympus High School is thrilled the Art Olympics program is back. “It is the only event of its

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kind in the state. A few years ago the Granite Education Foundation decided to drop the program for what they considered a lack of interest and funding, but my fellow art teachers in the district and I helped bring it back,” said Petersen. “Our art students train like athletes, and rarely get the opportunity to be recognized at that level. The evening is a confidence-building experience. Many students have visited me years after they graduated to share how much it meant for them to participate,” said Petersen. Olympus High had three winners: Jasmine Malouf, Life Drawing; Martha Moffat, Watercolor; and Makenna Ames, Ceramics. Malouf thrived on the speed and stress of the competition. “I just went with it. I brought my friend Audrey as my model and drew with acrylic paint. I was nervous at first, but as the competition went on I gained confidence and had fun with it. My teacher Mr. Petersen believed in me,” said Malouf. Ames carefully planned her piece for two months. “I made a geometric teapot and it was stressful. People were walking around looking at me and I felt like an animal at the zoo. But the judges were great and made helpful suggestions. I’m still working on my teapot and will fire it soon,” said Ames. Ceramics artists could choose to use a pottery wheel or hand building, which is what Ames chose. Maren Sumpter, sophomore at Cottonwood High, won the Black and White Drawing and Overall 2D category. “I drew an adaptation of the Joker character. Honestly, (the time limit) wasn’t that bad. The judges were complimenting me, which was really nice,” said Sumpter. Sumpter’s classmate Maggie Driggs won in the Opaque Painting category. “I used oil paint and used pictures of my neighbor Megan as a subject,” said Driggs. The time constraint was a challenge, but also helpful. “It encouraged me to work faster and smarter. I had to plan everything out and make sure I did it right the first time. It was really satisfying to say, ‘I did this in four hours,’” Driggs said. Other winners were Jaren Kamakana and Gabriel Sherman of Cyprus, Jersson Gomez of Taylorsville, Miranda Obic and Sheena Valdez of Hunter. “We appreciate the support of those in our community that donate funds to the Granite Education Foundation. They are in great need of more support to be able to continue this program in the future,” said Petersen. “It is without a doubt the most thrilling night of the year for art teachers. I can only compare the excitement to that of a championship football game, but for artists,” said Petersen. l

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Third year head coach sees teams promise By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

Granger’s 5-foot-9 senior Oseola Pauni has averaged 7.7 points per game this season. She scored a season high 24 against Ogden in December. (Greg James/City Journals)

n Jan. 8, the Granger Lancers grabbed the rebound and dribbled out the final seconds of a hard-fought win over its crosstown rival, Hunter. Their bruises and sweaty faces suggested the implications and importance of the victory. “I am so proud of them,” Lancer head coach Shawnee Smith said. “Everything in this game went the way we had been working on it. In this game, it finally clicked.” The Lancers trailed heading into the fourth quarter by two. They scored 24 points while holding the Wolverines to only eight in

the final stanza to pull out the win. Junior Nani Lemaveve scored 17 and Oseola Pauni 13 in the game. Smith was excited with the team’s effort. “We have some amazing physical ability and for us to finally get it going has been great,” she said. “We have been working on playing under pressure, especially in big games like against Hunter. Sometimes we get bogged down. Little things that might normally hurt us did not tonight.” Lemaveve is averaging 6.8 points per game. She had a season high 19 points against

Cottonwood and has scored in double figures six times this season. “Lemaveve is a young player experience-wise and is only going to get better,” Smith said. This is Smith’s third year as head coach at Granger. She had served as an assistant to Aaron Cousins at the school before taking the top position. “I was told that in your third year as coach I would finally see things start to come together and this year has been great,” she said. “We have had great leadership that have worked really hard. These girls have been with us through their whole careers. The older girls are teaching the younger girls the game and what is expected in our program. Our seniors have all been great role players. They do the little things that help us improve.” The Lancers began the season with a rousing 22 point victory over the Ben Lomond Scots. They never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 21 points in the first half, but after their initial win they lost four straight before earning victories over Cottonwood and Park City. They finished their preseason schedule with a 3-5 record. Senior Kaelijah Sligar is the team’s leading scorer with 10.8 points per game. Sligar scored a season high 21 against Davis in De-

cember. “She (Sligar) transferred in from New Mexico and plays point guard for us. She has stepped in and played pressure role for us. She is not a natural point guard either. She is phenomenal,” Smith said. “We have some other players that have really settled in for us. When we concentrate we can really be unstoppable.” Smith said the off-court activities of the team have been exemplary. “I am really proud of these kids. In my first years we struggled keeping girls eligible. This year they have really worked hard in the classroom. They have great character and are very passionate. They have gotten to know each other and are very strong,” she said. Granger competes in Region 2 against Kearns, Hunter, Cyprus and Hillcrest. “It is great to build rivalries with schools close by. I like playing in our region now because these schools have similar demographics. The kids get into it and our fans have really gotten behind us,” said Smith. In region contests they have a 3-6 record (at press deadline) and stand in fourth place in Region 2. They have clinched a spot in the Utah High School Activities Association girls state tournament. State was scheduled to begin Feb. 18 at Salt Lake Community College. l

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West Valley City Journal

Maverik Center — a hotbed of sports activity By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

The Maverik Center in West Valley City recently hosted the All-Star Monster Truck Tour. (Greg James/City Journals)

est Valley City is home to a universal sports venue. The Maverik Center hosts many types of sporting events for all to enjoy. The All-Star Monster Truck Tour occupied the space Jan. 25-26 for a spectacular show of horsepower and car-crushing capabilities. Four trucks from Utah showcased their equipment in the two-day event. “We typically take about six monster

Wvc Journal .com

trucks for a two-hour show and time frame,” trucks are owned and operated by individuals and four of them are from here in Utah.” Mikael Christensen and Paul Jensen from Ogden, Wally Turner and Ron Duncombe all showcased their abilities in the Maverik Center show. The trucks are recognizable for their fans. They run nationally and in several shows locally.

In the Maverik Center the driving style of the trucks requires the drivers to use the brakes and gas efficiently. “The drivers love seeing the fans so close. They enjoy having the fans waving and asking for autographs. At an arena like this one they get the full experience. They enjoy the pit parties and all of that stuff,” Wagner said. The Maverik Center ice was removed and 900 yards of dirt was moved in to make for the exhibition surface. It took a crew nine hours to replace the surface and install the obstacles. The same dirt is used for rodeos and the upcoming Arenacross event Feb 2223. “We get some great crowds for the dirty four events,” Maverik Center Director of Marketing Dave Hutton said. “There is the monster trucks, the Days of ’47 bulls and broncs, a Spanish rodeo and Arenacross that will use this same facility and dirt.” Utah Grizzlies hockey, graduations, concerts and corporate events have been hosted by the events center. “We have done all kinds of things,” Hutton said. The Maverik Center is scheduled to host the Pac 12 gymnastics championship March 23 and have recently announced that “The

Basketball Tournament” will host its Salt Lake Regionals July 25-27. TBT is a 64-team single elimination tournament for a grand prize of $2 million. The games are televised on ESPN. This is the sixth year of the tournament. Former BYU guard Jimmer Fredette participated last season. “I would like to say how excited I am that TBT will be in Salt Lake this year,” Fredette said in a press release. “TBT is definitely gonna be a can’t miss event this summer.” Overseas Elite has won the tournament for four years straight and is 25-0 all-time, taking home approximately $7 million in prize money. The tournament is open to anyone 18 years and older. In 2018, more than 60 players with NBA experience participated in the tournament. Applications are being accepted beginning March 1. “This is a multi-purpose facility,” Hutton said. “We are excited about the possibility of the Olympics returning and we have kept the fire burning with hockey here. We are ready to go when the time comes.” The Grizzlies currently stand in second place in the Western Conference of the ECHL. They are scheduled to host the Maine Mariners Feb. 27 and March 1-2. l

March 2019 | Page 17

Referees say respect, good manners win the game By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

The last week of January basketball officials wore blue arm bands to point out the need for improved sportsmanship from coaches and athletes, but especially from fans and parents. (Greg James/City Journals)

asketball referees around the state wore blue arm bands the last week of January to emphasize good sportsmanship to fans, players and coaches. They’ve witnessed poor sportsmanship rearing its ugly head at many games. One seasoned referee said after finishing a hotly contested game a group of fans followed him to his car. The entire way the fans made it clear they thought he was not good at his job in loud overtones. He was threatened and eventually he called the police to make sure he could get home safely. “I did what I should not have,” said the referee who wished to remain anonymous. “I turned to the fans as they were heckling me and said, ‘This is why there will come a time when there will not be anyone here to referee these games.’ I had enough that night.”

The Utah High School Activities Association has seen a two percent decline in the number of referees this year. Statewide referee associations declared Jan. 28 through Feb. 2 as sportsmanship week. The participating officials wore blue wrist bands to remind fans, players and coaches of the need for civility and respect in the game. “This has become an ongoing concern,” Utah County referee association President Stuart Dean said. “We have had a lot more situations with fans, parents and coaches that have arisen because of a deterioration in sportsmanship. Unfortunately, this is problematic not only here but nationally.” In a National Association of Officials (naso.org) survey, 57 percent of respondents believe sportsmanship is getting worse. Good behavior is more than interaction with the officials. It comes from how opponents are treated and what the cheering is like. According the same survey, 59 percent of poor sportsmanship is from the parents and fans. “I generally do not think the players and coaches have had a big issue. It is really with fans and parents. They have taken a license to abuse officials. That is where this has gotten out of hand,” Dean said. A recent study by the Stanford Children’s Hospital emphasized things parents can do to encourage better sportsmanship. It includes avoid arguing, playing fair, following directions, respecting the other team, encouraging the team and respecting the officials decisions. “We take our role seriously,” Dean said. “There is testing, evaluations and orientation. We start the year by going to rules clinics. We have meetings five times during the season. We talk about how we can become better professionals. How can we handle things on the court. We work hard at that.” Dean said the best officials are good communicators.

“I was working with an official when I was up and coming and I remember my partner telling a coach, ‘I am sorry if I missed that call. I will work hard to get it right next time.’ Those are things that make our role better,” Dean said. “We are down 400 officials from six years ago. We have seen the impact in the sub varsity games.” This is the start of something that could continue to happen every year. The UHSAA

has received inquiries from schools and administrators hoping to participate more fully. “This is a call to draw attention to the issue,” Dean said. “By and large the coaches in this state are very good. They are very competitive, but they know what their job is. This has been a cultural shift. There has been times I can’t believe what I’m hearing. It crosses the line.” l

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Cyprus girls rebound into state tournament By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

Cyprus senior Abby Garreaud has had multiple collegiate programs discussing with her options to continue to play after she graduates. (Greg James/City Journals)

batch of young and talented girls has taken the court at Cyprus High School. Their determination has earned them a region championship. “We are playing a lot of young girls big minutes,” Pirates head coach Chad Stevens said. “We knew that this would be a tough preseason, but we used that to get ready for region. That has been our goal the whole time is to get better, I feel like we got better.” The Pirates only had three seniors that played significant minutes this season: Abby Garreaud, Kailee Hunter and Janae Sigrest. In his sixth season as the Pirates head coach, Stevens has relied on his upperclassman to teach the younger players what is needed to become winners. “This team has fight and heart. They will not give up. I think we make a lot of mistakes and we just try to learn from them. We don’t give up. As a coach that is what I ask for,” Stevens said. Despite a lackluster performance in its preseason games the Pirates rebounded to be in the hunt for a region championship. They began by losing four of their first six preseason games, but Stevens said he knew this would prepare them for region. “Our region will be a battle every night. There is not much separation between (team) one and (team) five. That is why we emphasized in preseason our improvement. So we can be ready,” he said. Cyprus managed to finish 10-2 and capture first place in Region 2. Their only two region losses came at the hands of Hunter who finished in second place.

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In its final contest against Hunter, the Pirates were held to five points in the first half. Despite the deficit they rallied to force overtime. Their comeback fell just short as they lost 38-37. The Pirates were led in scoring this season by Garreaud. She averaged 14.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. “Her (Garreaud) biggest skill is that she is relentless,” Stevens said. “She goes 100 miles an hour when she is on the court. That energy and hustle leads to a lot of good things. She has worked hard on her foot work and touch around the basket, but her best ability is how hard she plays in practice and games. She is also a leader for our younger players.” Garreaud has had interest from junior college basketball programs and some division two teams. Stevens said he is confident she will have an opportunity to play basketball after high school. “We have a freshman that is really talented (Karina Grayer). She is coming along nicely and we are going to rely on her a lot this year. She has a lot to learn, but we like her progress,” Stevens said. “This team works hard on the court and off the court,” Stevens said. “It makes my job easy.” The Pirates qualified for the UHSAA state tournament, but were bounced out in the first round of state falling to Riverton.

March 2019 | Page 19

You were just in a car accident, now what?

nless you’re one of the few anomalies in the world, we’ve all been in an accident. We’ve experienced that sickening feeling when your car makes unwanted contact with another vehicle. We’re frustrated and disheartened. While we may want to crawl into a hole, we can’t. There are things to do and we’ve given you 10 to be aware of (in no particular order). 1. Have an emergency kit in your car. While this step comes before the accident occurs, it’s essential to be prepared. Whatever you kit entails, make sure it has a first-aid kit, flashlight, reflective triangles and a small (and simple) camera in case there’s been damage to your phone. We’re typically frustrated or frazzled after an accident and not inclined to rational thinking. Being prepared limits the possibility of forgetfulness. 2. Take a deep breath. Accidents are traumatic experiences. Taking a breath will shift focus from what just happened to what needs to be done next. 3. Get a status check on everyone in the car. Check with each passenger to see if they are OK. Have someone call 911 immediately if someone is injured or unresponsive. 4. Move to a safe location. Most insurance companies recommend relocating the vehicle to the sidewalk or shoulder of the road as soon as possible after the accident. If the damage to the car is minor, this should be relatively easy. But if there are major injuries or questions about the safety of the car, leave it where it is, even if its blocking traffic. 5. Increase your visibility. Turn on your hazard lights and set out your attention items from the emergency kit—flares, orange cones, reflective triangles, etc. One accident should not lead to another. Take precaution to ensure other drivers on the road remain safe. 6. Stay calm. It is very easy to lose your temper in this situation, it’s human nature. Keeping your cool will keep the situation from getting worse. If it wasn’t your fault, it’s easy to want to let your emotions loose on the other driver. This will cloud your judgment and may lead to something that does not help the situation. You still need to exchange information.

Page 20 | March 2019

7. Exchange insurance information. This is imperative. If you are to file a claim on your car, you will need the other driver’s information. Most likely, after an accident you are feeling jumpy or stressed. It means when you try to write down their information your handwriting will look like ancient hieroglyphics and, unless you are a cryptographer, will be unable to read it later. We live in the 21st century, take a photo of their information and take photos of the damage done to both cars. 8. Don’t admit guilt. Every insurance company will tell you to do this. Even if you are at fault and it was you to blame. This could drive your premium up or even lead to you being sued. Let the police and insurance companies determine this. 9. Call the police. While some minor accidents don’t require a report to be filed, it’s up to the discretion of the drivers in the accident to call the police. Law enforcement can take statements, get information on injuries and property damage. Be sure to ask for a copy of the accident report. If there is a dispute, the officer will be an important testimony. 10. See a doctor. Depending on the injuries suffered or not, it is easy to skip this. A large financial situation has just happened with the car accident, you don’t want another one by seeing the doctor and jacking up your health costs. It’s important to consider it, or possibly speak with one. Adrenaline can be pumping after the accident and one might not notice the amount of whiplash to your neck. Symptoms can take 24 hours to appear. The warning signs include neck pain, stiffness, loss of motion in the neck, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and pain in the shoulders or upper back. It can be better to be safe than sorry. l

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Page 22 | March 2019

(in Bountiful, of course) or The Olympian Restaurant in Salt Lake City. Don’t plan a quick trip down to Mexico for authentic Mexican food, instead visit: Taco Burrito in Orem, La Puente in Centerville, Mi Ranchito Grill in Salt Lake, or Moe’s Southwest Grill in Layton. Personally, my taste buds have been craving Thai food, so I’ll be visiting District Thai Lao in Orem, and Sala Thai Kitchen in Salt Lake. However, my family’s favorite place to take their taste buds is Italy. For fantastic Italian food, our thrifty options are Oregano Italian Kitchen in Provo, Macaroni Grill in

Murray, or Johnny Carino’s in West Jordan. But, if you’re taste buds want to stay close to home, there’s always pizza! Papa Johns, Domino’s, Papa Murphy’s, Little Caesars and Pizza Hut always have great rotating deals. I promote supporting local businesses through, so for pizza we’d recommend trying Este Pizzeria in Sugarhouse, MidiCi Neapolitan Pizza in Salt Lake City, The Junction Pizzeria in Midvale, Big Daddy’s Pizza in South Salt Lake, David’s Pizza in Kaysville, Francesco’s in Taylorsville, Wild Mushroom Pizza in Salt Lake, Big Apple Pizza in Salt Lake, The Pizza Runner in Ogden, or Pizza Factory in Lindon, Spanish Fork, Syracuse and Provo. Lastly, don’t forget that International Women’s Day is this month (March 8). So, ladies, if you need a place to eat, preferably without the munchkins, Bout Time Pub and Grub in Layton, Scoffy’s Social Pub in Midvale, Tailgaters Grill in Ogden, Christopher’s Prime Tavern or Grill in Salt Lake City should be your destination! These deals, and more (including The Pie Pizzeria and Leatherby’s) can always be found on the Entertainment app. For more information about the Entertainment Happenings book and app, please visit our website: coupons4utah.com, or follow us on social media: @coupons4utah, on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. l

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Life and Laughter—Humor Writing for Dummies

’m sometimes asked how I consistently come up with funny column ideas. I laugh breezily, toss my hair and say, “It’s so easy. I sit down to write and it just pours out of me like warm chocolate syrup.” Of course, that’s a blatant lie. Writing’s like pulling out my own molars. I don’t consistently write funny. I often write pure garbage; you just don’t get to see it. And sometimes what I think is hilarious, isn’t received well at all. (Offending topics include gluten, dentists, graffiti and child labor.) I look at the funny side of life. It’s much happier there. But sitting down to write can be excruciating. Sometimes an idea just works. Other times (most of the time), the path from brain to published column is fraught with mind traps and self-doubt. My writing process goes like this: Deadline: I’ve just submitted my hilarious column to the editor. I vow to work on my next one right away! Three weeks later: I’ve written no column. I have no ideas. All is darkness. I’ve used all my funny lines. I’ll never write again. Four days before deadline: I need to write something! Two days before deadline (at 2 a.m.): I just thought of something funny! Day of deadline: Complete column. Send it to editor. Vow to work on the next column immediately. Repeat for 15 years. There are lots of ways to get funny inspiration. Get out of bed. Humans are insane, and

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movies, hang out with funny people, try standup, tell knock-knock jokes at work until your co-workers poison your tea. Laugh out loud. Snort. Giggle. Guffaw. Write. If you don’t put your arse in a chair and write, your humor writing career will never take off. Write something every day. Compose a funny book or movie review. Write a description of your grandpa’s Edsel. Describe how to make dinner while holding a toddler. Then one day, when someone asks you how you come up with such funny ideas, you can toss your hair and say, “It just drips out of me like melted butter.” Well, don’t say that. Say something funny. l

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by observing them you’ll get tons of humor writing ideas. Watch people at the mall. Watch people at church. Watch people in stressful situations. Eavesdrop. Read the headlines. Comic gold! Exaggerate. Hyperbole is a humor writer’s greatest tool in the known (and unknown) universe. You didn’t just fall down the stairs, you slipped on a sock and bounced down the stairs, hitting each step with your elbow, head and hip twice before falling to the next step. It took 15 minutes to reach the bottom of the stairs. Read humor. David Sedaris, Mark Twain, Nora Ephron and Tina Fey, are some of my favorites. The idea is not to plagiarize their writing (illegal) but to study the flow of humor (totally legal). What words make you laugh? (Shenanigans, bloviate, canoodle.) What phrases make you burn with jealousy that you didn’t think of them first? (Most of them.) Find the serious. Somber people almost write comedy for you. When you run into someone who’s all “Harrumph, harrumph. I’m an important grown up” you’ve struck a comedic motherlode. Look back on all the stuffy authority figures in your life; could be your parents, could be your algebra teacher or your precocious cousin who graduated from high school at 8 years old. People who take themselves seriously are super easy to satirize and/or lampoon. (Thank you, Prez Trump.) Do things that make you laugh. It’s hard to write comedy when you’re crying into your big pillow every afternoon. Go to funny

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