West Valley City Journal | April 2020

April 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 04

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EVERYONE COUNTS IN WEST VALLEY CITY

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

A

s the U.S. Census Bureau conducts its 2020 census, West Valley City officials say a lot more is riding on it than just counting how many people live in the city. It also impacts the amount of money the city receives for services, programs and overall quality of life.

“It’s extremely important because this is basically tax money that all our residents pay to the federal government that gets deposited into a big pool of federal aid that gets distributed to states based on their populations,” said John Rock, a management analyst in the city manager’s office and head of the West Valley City Complete Count Committee.

“If someone doesn’t fill out the census and isn’t counted, it’s pretty much direct money not coming to Utah” and ultimately to the state’s cities and towns like West Valley City, he added.

West Valley City is comprised of a number of census tracts, or geographic areas as specific as certain neighborhoods, where census data is gathered on the makeup of the people living in those areas—everything from age, gender, race, nationality, number of people in households and an array of socio-economic factors.

Rock says that each person that is counted within those tracts is worth $1,086 in direct federal aid to the city. If a person is not included in the tally, the city loses out on that money. “If we are undercounted by 10%, that’s

tens of millions of dollars we don’t get in federal aid,” Rock said. “That’s money that pays for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), school lunches, after-school programs, Section 8 housing, pretty much a lot of programs people rely on in their day-to-day lives.” Grants awarded to cities are also based in part on the number of people within their boundaries.

Rock said the return to the city of sales taxes collected is predicated on population statistics. That money helps pay for public safety, roads, and other programs and services that benefit residents. A 10% undercount of people would mean the potential loss of $2 million for the city. “If they’re not counted, that’s money we’re not getting,” Rock said.

Rock said the census response rate of West Valley City residents in 2010 was below average compared to other municipalities in Salt Lake County, something he’d like to see reversed this year.

The U.S. Census Bureau says 95% of households will be invited to participate in the census by way of a mailed form. Nearly 5% of households that don’t get their mail at their street address will have their forms dropped off by a census worker. Fewer than 1% of homes, mostly in remote areas of the U.S. like Alaska, will be visited by a census taker who will gather information in person.

Households should have received a postcard about the census in March. It gives peo-

Like everywhere else in the U.S., the Census Bureau will use a variety of methods to gather information about the makeup of West Valley City’s population.

ple the option of completing the questionnaire online, by mail, or by phone, according to the Census Bureau. Those who haven’t returned their information will receive reminders in April.

Besides the distribution of tax money, the data collected by the census determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. States that have added people over the past decade could get seats added to their congressional delegation

while states that have lost population could lose some. The total number of representatives has been set at 435 since 1929.

West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow agreed that the census has a lot on the line for the city and its population which is currently estimated at nearly 138,000. “Clearly it is important. The city is taking the census as a very critical thing.”

For more information on West Valley’s census efforts, visit wvc2020census.com. l

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During school dismissal, GSD facilitates learning, offers meals except on earthquake day

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

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n March 13, under direction from Gov. Gary Herbert, Granite School District dismissed students from daily school attendance at least through March 27. A statement released by GSD clarified that this is not a closure from a learning standpoint, but a preventive measure to stop the spread of disease.

“Students will not report to school, but facilities will remain open and staff will report to work as normal, using appropriate social distancing. School will continue on a digital and distance platform,” GSD’s statement said. The full text is available at www. graniteschools.org.

GSD teachers worked out distance lesson plans, and schools made Chromebooks available for checkout so students could work on assignments at home.

Then on March 23, state officials announced schools would remain closed until May 1.

Zhu Bao teaches Chinese at Cottonwood High in the Dual Immersion program. Bao is from China. He said he tried not to talk about the coronavirus too much early on “in order to avoid panic in school, though some students asked me how to say ‘coronavirus’ in Chinese.”

Bao has focused on Chinese culture in the past. During the Lunar New Year in January, he had his students practice calligraphy. During the March dismissal, he wrote an email to his students. “I encouraged them to use this time to work on their Chinese at home, and recommended a few ways to practice. This was along with their assignments on AP Central and Canvas.”

GSD takes its social role seriously. They were the only district not to close school for a snow day on Feb. 3, in part due to the many students who count on meals at school. GSD made sure that meals would be available during the dismissal.

“Grab and go lunches will be provided to all students … students will not be able to eat their lunches on campus. Lunch meals will be available at all school locations except for Hunter High School. Breakfast … will be available at participating locations,” said GSD Publications Specialist Steven Powell in a media release.

But school administrators were shocked on March 18, when another disruption came in the form of a 5.7-magnitude earthquake in Magna. Superintendent Martin Bates posted on the website that meals would cease for the day because emergency management officials asked everyone to stay home and shelter in place. No injuries were immediately reported.

A student in Zhu Bao’s Chinese class at Cottonwood School meals were not planned for High practices calligraphy. Students worked at home March 19-22 during the planned spring during the closure. (Photo courtesy Zhu Bao) break, but Communications Director Ben

Journals

Horsley said they would provide a meal on March 19. Anyone with questions about the nutrition program can contact Dana Adams at 385-646-4321 or dmadams@graniteschools. org.

No meals will be provided at Hunter High. The campus was completely closed on March 14 when “Salt Lake County Health Department identified potential exposure of COVID-19 at Hunter High School,” per the GSD website. It underwent deep cleaning.

Though missing school might not be seen as a hardship, spring is full of school activities that many students and teachers were looking forward to. All school-sponsored activities, practices, plays, concerts and athletics were cancelled.

Diane Taylor teaches band and orchestra at Churchill Jr. High. “For my classes, students will do theory, listen to assignments and record themselves playing their instruments for assignments. Our junior high festivals will be postponed. We’ll send the recordings off to the adjudicators. Hopefully, nothing will be permanently cancelled, just postponed,” Taylor said.

For high school seniors, it’s more of a disappointment. Bailey Dunn is a senior at Olympus High. Dunn was the dance finalist for the Sterling Scholar competition, which cancelled its awards night on March 19.

Dunn took a medical assisting class at school with a rigorous curriculum, meant to prepare students for a national certification test. “But because we’re students, we’re prohibited from attending our clinics, and many of us will no longer be able to take the test,” Dunn said.

“It’s sad that I cannot spend my last months in high school with my best friends.

But also everything I have worked so hard for this year is cancelled, starting with the Ster-

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Olympus senior, and Sterling Scholar winner, Zoe Schramm practices her clarinet at home since school is dismissed. (Photo courtesy Zoe Schramm)

ling Scholar announcement ceremony. If the virus continues at this rate, I will not be able to dance in my last dance company concert,” Dunn said.

Olympus High’s Music Sterling Scholar winner Zoe Schramm had similar feelings.

“It is disappointing as a senior to … have so much uncertainty about how the year will conclude. My peers and I are hopeful that prom and graduation will not be cancelled,” Schramm said.

“I’m trying to make good use of my time by studying for my AP tests and helping out wherever I can. I recognize that these worries are minor in comparison to the concerns of those around the world. ... This will definitely make a memorable senior year!” Schramm said. l

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Everyday Psych: I didn’t want to talk about COVID

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@thecityjournals.com “I’m not afraid of the virus, I’m afraid of the people.”

This sentiment is one I’ve heard constantly in my social circles. It’s a sentiment I share and would like to elaborate on here.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not only important to stay safe and healthy (by routinely practicing proper handwashing and social distancing to combat the virus), but level-headed and grounded as well (by routinely practicing research and critical thinking to combat mass hysteria and panic).

The TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) version of what I’m suggesting here is: don’t freak out.

Even in the throes of the “toilet paper crisis” there were still rolls of toilet paper in many stores (don’t worry, I checked). But with everyone sharing stories and frantic pleas for toilet paper on social media, we all flocked to our local stores to hoard the goods.

With such instances, we temporarily forget about the primary concern we are all facing.

And getting into a grocery store fight doesn’t help combat that primary concern.

Researching and understanding the science of the coronavirus is extremely important for keeping ourselves and our loved ones happy and healthy. Credible information helps to combat mass hysteria. If we allow ourselves to become too worried, anxious, and/or pan-

icked, we could enter the realm of mass hysteria or acute conversion.

“Mass hysteria is the spread of bodily complaints within a school or workplace with no organic bases for the symptoms,” explains psychology professor Dr. David Myers. Mass hysteria is most commonly termed in cases without medically diagnosed physical illnesses, but noticeable symptoms.

For example, psychiatry professor Dr. Gary Small wrote about the “phantom gasser” in Illinois who would spray poisonous mist into the windows of teenage girls. The girls were showing physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and burning sensations. Other such examples of mass hysteria include nervousness around nuclear testing in the 1950s, meowing nuns during the Middle Ages, and arm and hand tremors in writing classes in Germany in 1893, among others.

However, sociologist Dr. Robert Bartholomew defines mass hysteria as “a collective stress response.” From the collective stress we are all encountering and/or experiencing related to the coronavirus, I think we have the potential to exhibit signs of mass hysteria, even with a real organic basis for the symptoms.

For example, “Notes from the field” by Iuliano et al., a 2009 study focusing on the H1N1 outbreak in Delaware, showed the

possible effects of mass hysteria, even with a real physical illness.

As Jaimee Bell, a freelance writer for the website Big Think, describes, “Mass hysteria isn’t only about your mind convincing you that you have symptoms of a non-existent disease or virus—it’s a collective state of mind that can convince entire populations of things that aren’t based in evidence or logic.”

In his commentary, Bartholomew goes on to say, “Think of mass hysteria as the placebo effect in reverse. If people can think themselves better, they can make themselves sick.” Here, he references conversion disorder, which is a somatic symptom disorder within the DSM-5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual – five). These disorders have symptoms “associated with significant distress and impairment.”

(However, I think our current situation might call for acute illness anxiety disorder, as the criteria for which is a “preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness” and “a high level of anxiety and health.”)

This is all to say, let’s be cautious and careful in the wake of this pandemic. We don’t need to be constructing hysteria, experiencing symptoms of acute anxiety, or reverse placebo-ing ourselves. Instead, know

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the symptoms of COVID-19 to be wary of (fever, tiredness, and dry cough) and react as normal to everything else (like allergies).

Don’t panic or become too hysterical.

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April 2020 | Page 5

When screen time is a good thing

By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com

Connecting as a neighborhood while practicing social distancing.

1. Stay in touch with you neighbors.

Call, text or message them on social media.

This is a great time to sign up to your neighborhood nextdoor.com group.

2. Find safe ways to offer service for neighbors in need.

3. Spring clean your house - inside and outside.

4. Go on walks and bike rides in your neighborhood and say hello to neighbors, but remember the 6’ rule.

5. Organize neighborhood activities like side walk chalk art, seasonal yard decorating, online talent shows, virtual dinner parties, etc.

6. Use video chat with neighbors to host cooking demonstrations, hold neighborhood meetings, and stay connected.

7. Share photos of spring changes in your yard such as flowers blooming.

U

tah Film Festival’s ninth annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival is geared entirely toward children. This year’s event was scheduled March 6-8 and 13-15 (though the second weekend was postponed for public health concerns), with showings at the City Library. But Tumbleweeds also expands its audience beyond downtown Salt Lake City with field trips that bring the film to schoolchildren. One such field trip took place March 9 at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan.

Over 300 students from Hayden Peak Elementary in West Jordan, Neil Armstrong Academy in West Valley and Riverton Elementary filled the Viridian’s auditorium. They watched a series of international short films, interspersed with discussion moderated by professional animator Jarom Neumann.

“How many of you know how to read?” Neumann asked the auditorium of students, who ranged from third to sixth grade. Almost every hand went up. “Did you know how to read right away?” he followed. With the exception of a few class clowns who shouted that they did, everyone shook their heads. Neumann then explained that his purpose was to teach the students to read a film.

Michelle Walker, education manager for the film center, echoed his sentiment. “I want kids to watch film almost as text,” Walker said. While screen time is derided as at best a waste

The program given to students featured an image from one of the screened films, a Norwegian short called “Forglemmegei” (“ForgetMe-Not”). (Alison Brimley/City Journals)

of time and at worst a brain-drain, some may question the wisdom of a field trip whose purpose is to let kids watch movies. But Walker emphasized that the focus of Tumbleweeds is media literacy, not just media consumption.

Before and after each short film shown during the field trip, Neumann asked students to focus on things like how the color scheme of a scene made them feel, what a central object in a film might symbolize, why a certain scene made them laugh, or who the protagonist and antagonist of a film were.

8. Create a neighborhood newsletter.

9. Plan your neighborhood block party for once the pandemic ends. Plan to participate in National Night Out as a neighborhood in August.

10. Take this time to virtually connect with your neighbors and start or strengthen your neighborhood watch.

For city, county, state and national updates about COVID-19, please visit

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Page 6 | April 2020

Jarom Neumann speaks to students at a March 9 field trip screening presented by the Tumbleweeds Film Festival. (Alison Brimley/City Journals)

The films shown were all international animated shorts, many with no dialogue at all. The films chosen were diverse in their style, sound, and country of origin. They aim to “give kids access to films that they’re never going to see in a Megaplex or on Netflix,” Walker said.

Walker spent years as a high school English teacher before coming to the Film Center. As a teacher, she realized that she relied more and more on films to teach an idea. “Film is where all the art forms converge,” she said.

It’s sound, it’s movement, it’s dance, it’s photography, it’s painting. Everything comes together in that.”

Her time in the classroom showed her that kids are already on their screens all the time. The goal, then, is to teach them to “engage, analyze, and apply” what they’re seeing. “Kids more than ever, they learn in images. It is our responsibility to help them read image. They’re going to be constant consumers of media, but can we teach them to be better discerners of media?” she said.

In total, Tumbleweeds reaches over 3,100 students through field trips, with hundreds more attending public screenings on the weekends. The Viridian’s screening filled up this year, and the Film Center hopes to be able to add more showings in coming years. Tumbleweeds is well-known downtown but hopes to increase its presence in the southern end of the valley and into Utah County.

While the Film Center promoted Tumbleweeds field trips by reaching out to principals of hundreds of schools, teachers primarily learn about it through word of mouth. Walker conducts educational workshops in classrooms throughout the year, which allows her to make a personal connection with teachers and spread the word about Tumbleweeds. Sometimes parents will attend one of the public screenings or workshops and reach out to their child’s teacher. Tumbleweeds uses its donor funding to cover all or most of the busing costs for field trips.

If there’s one thing Walker wants people to know about Tumbleweeds, it’s how carefully curated it is. “I respect so much that a lot of families and parents are really careful about what they put their kids in front of,” she said.

“I know I could walk any of my nieces or nephews into any screening. You’re going to see really awesome film that’s going to be different than anything you’ve seen, but it’s going to be family-friendly.” l

West Valley City Journal

Pirates coach takes head coaching job at Hastings College

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

Cyprus fielded its first ever girls high school wrestling team. Next year girls wrestling will be a sanctioned sport in Utah. (Photo courtesy Cara Romeike)

Cara Romeike, Tori Poulson, Kaci Mecham and Angel Garcia celebrate at the girls state wrestling championships, they placed third as a team. (Photo courtesy Cara Romeike)

Wvc Journal .com

She was a two-time state placer. After high school she attended the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. She placed second at the NAIA nationals.

Many colleges are beginning to offer women’s wrestling.

“I have found that most girls who wrestle have been approached by a college.

Right now I am targeting girls that may not think they are good enough and trying to give them that opportunity,” Romeike said.

“I would advise girls to be proactive and if they want to wrestle in college reach out to the coaches. Colleges are looking for girls to fill out the teams. I would love to have Utah girls on my team.”

Romeike said wrestling has impacted her life.

“I learned to work hard. Wrestling teaches you how to do everything right. To be a good wrestler you need to eat right, train hard and be in the right mindset and never give up. There are a lot of lows and it can be a struggle,” she said.

Before she takes over the Hastings position full time she will finish her teaching contract at Cyprus High School as a physics teacher.

Cyprus had 16 wrestlers on the team this season, 11 of those competed at the girls state tournament.

“We had a decent sized team. We practiced on our own Tuesday through Friday and worked with the boys on Mondays. I think that it will grow even more next year when it is sanctioned. More girls will want to come out,” Romeike said.

Cyprus placed third at the girls state tournament this spring behind Westlake and Fremont.

“I don’t feel bad about our season. We had a state champion, two second places and a third and fourth. We had less girls and every girl did better than last year. Being on a girls only team made a difference for them,” Romeike said.

Tori Poulsen placed first in the 180-pound weight class. In the final match she defeated a wrestler from Westlake 12-1.

“She (Poulsen)is the hardest worker on the team. She always wants to do extra. This was her first year to wrestle and we were not sure how she would do. When it was over she was so happy. In the final match she kept asking if it was for real,” Romeike said.

Kacy Mecham and Bailee Hawks Nelson each placed second, Arleth Espinoza third and Cheyenne Cummings fourth in their respective weight classes. l

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he explosion of girls wrestling in Utah has led to a new job for the Cyprus’ girls head coach in Nebraska.

“We started the first ever girls wrestling team at Cyprus,” former Pirates girls wrestling coach Cara Romeike said. “I think we were at the forefront of girls wrestling in Utah. We started the first full team in the state.”

She has recently accepted the women’s wrestling head coaching position at Hastings College in Nebraska. The college has recently opened women’s wrestling at the school.

Romeike will be its first coach.

“I am so excited, it is like a dream come true for me. I never really thought I would get offered this type of position. I have only taught for one year and I am really excited for the opportunity. I get to do what I love 100% and focus on coaching,” Romeike said.

Romeike grew up in Texas and began wrestling as a sophomore in high school. In Texas girls wrestling is a sanctioned sport.

April 2020 | Page 7

What’s your legacy?

West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow inducted into ChamberWest Hall of Fame

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

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West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow is the fourth person to join the ChamberWest Hall of Fame. (Courtesy West Valley City)

W

est Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow is the newest member of the ChamberWest Hall of Fame.

The chamber of commerce, which represents businesses in West Valley, Taylorsville, Kearns, and West Jordan, inducted Bigelow at its 2020 Annual Awards Gala at the Maverik Center.

“Our Hall of Fame award is for people who have made a significant contribution to promote and enhance the community and economic development in our area that is represented by ChamberWest,” said chamber president and CEO Barbara Riddle. “It’s really a forum to honor those who give to the local community.”

Bigelow downplayed the recognition, saying he was just doing what a mayor does in promoting his community.

“I must admit I was very surprised. It was not something I thought about, but certainly it was an honor. I didn’t feel individually like I was doing anything unusual, but I guess they appreciated the efforts I put in,” he said.

ChamberWest started the Hall of Fame in 2017. Members are voted in by the chamber’s board of directors. Past inductees are Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, and her late husband, Ed, a former state senator and long-time president of the Utah AFLCIO; Bob Harmon, vice president of Harmon’s Grocery; and Kyle Treadway of Kenworth Truck Sales in West Valley.

Other awards handed out at the gala were for Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Best Place to Work, Best New Business, and Volunteer of the Year. l

West Valley City Journal

West Valley City government responds to coronavirus threat, earthquake damage

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Take the ElevateHERTM Challenge

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A magnitude 5.7 earthquake rocked West Valley City on March 18. The epicenter was located in nearby Magna.

(Map via earthquake.usgs.gov)

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To protect against the spread of COVID-19 among the public and city employees, West Valley has declared a local emergency. (Image by Pete Linforth/Pixabay)

I

n responding to what is perhaps the greatest one-two punch suffered since it became a city, West Valley City has implemented significant changes to municipal operations and services because of the coronavirus and opened phone lines for residents who suffered earthquake damage.

To protect against the spread of COVID-19 among the public and city employees, West Valley has declared a local emergency and nearly all city buildings are closed until further notice to in-person visits, services, events, and other activities that bring people face to face.

Mayor Ron Bigelow said in a city-produced video that the emergency declaration is mainly an administrative procedure. “If anything should arise, we can respond much more quickly under this order” and seek state and federal funds.

City Hall, the Family Fitness Center, Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Harman Theatre, and Harman Senior Recreation Center are among the facilities whose doors are locked for the time being. However, many city services, including building permit ap-

Wvc Journal .com

plications, can be accessed online at wvc-ut. gov or by calling the appropriate office.

The West Valley City Justice Court remains open for business, but access to the public is severely limited. Any filings or other business with the court can be conducted primarily by email and phone, with email the preferred option. Arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and trials that were scheduled up to June 1 will be postponed until later dates.

Public events and meetings scheduled by the police and fire departments have been postponed or cancelled, but emergency services are available as always by calling 911.

Non-emergency needs and services can be accessed by phone. Numbers for various departments within those agencies can be found at wvcpd.com and wvcfd.com.

Property owners who suffered damage in the March 18 earthquake can call special phone lines for which numbers are listed at wvc-ut.gov. The magnitude 5.7 quake did the most damage to mobile homes in the city, some of which were knocked off their foundations. l

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www.graniteschools.org/ nutritionservices/jobs April 2020 | Page 9

Council denies 100-foot cell phone tower

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

An example of a disguised monopole tower with a pine tree. (SteveKazella/Wikimedia Commons)

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n a move to protect an area’s future, the West Valley City Council denied a request to allow an increase in monopole height.

The denial (in a 5-2 vote), blocks a request by Nefi Garcia of APC Towers that would have seen a 100-foot Verizon tower built on ATK Aerospace Systems property near 4100 South and 7500 West. Standard height is currently 60 feet.

Garcia also requested there be an amendment to the stealth portion of the ordinance, where poles can be built and disguised as another option such as trees or flag poles. But Garcia suggested this would be too difficult.

“It’s really hard to do a stealth op-

Page 10 | April 2020

tion that blends in there with the whole flat land (around it),” Garcia told the City Council during its Feb. 18 meeting. When discussing the options of stealth, Garcia felt a pine tree would still stand out, maybe even more so than tower, and a palm tree or water tower can only accommodate two carriers. Garcia added the taller pole allows you to put more phone carriers— Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile—on the pole rather a separate one for each.

“I think it’s better to have one 100foot monopole with four carriers on it rather than four 60-foot monopoles,” Garcia said.

But the council majority didn’t like the idea of a tower that large all by

itself. Councilmembers had noted in a previous study meeting that if zoning in the area changed, the pole would have to stay. Councilwoman Karen Lang said the area could change and a pole hidden by a pine tree would fit better.

“I think I would still prefer a lone pine tree out there than just a monopole,” Lang said.

Councilman Lars Nordfelt agreed, noting the area has great opportunity and that he’d like “to preserve that.”

The West Valley City Planning Commission had unanimously recommended passing the ordinance in January. l

West Valley City Journal

West Valley City’s parks maintenance staff and equipment have a new home

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

W

est Valley City’s Parks and Recreation maintenance staff and equipment have a new home.

The Parks and Recreation Department has moved 13 full-time employees, a similar number of seasonal workers, and most of its trucks and other equipment to a recently constructed building on the northwest side of the city.

The structure with water-conserving landscaping is at 2729 S. 6750 West. Many of the workers and equipment were previously based at West Valley City’s public works building on 3600 West, which is nearing the completion of an expansion project to house its own growing operations.

The 30,000-square-foot facility sits on 2.5 acres of city-owned land surrounded by a few homes, horses, fields and a growing light industrial corridor to the north. The cost of the facility is $3.3 million. “I’ve been trying to get a new shop for us for 20 years,” said Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Jason Erekson.

Another parks and recreation development is underway with the arrival of milder weather. The construction of an “all-abilities” or “inclusive” playground at Peachwood Park began in early March. As reported in the October West Valley Journal, the play area will feature equipment designed

Much of West Valley City’s Parks and Recreation Department maintenance staff and equipment have moved to a new building near 6400 West and Parkway Boulevard.

(Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

and installed so that children and adults with physical, mobility and other limitations can enjoy using swings, slides, and climbing structures that were previously easily acces-

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

sible to only able-bodied kids and grownups. “Everybody can use the equipment. It’s not just strictly for people with limited abilities,” Erekson said last fall.

The project at 3510 W. 3965 South is expected to be finished in late April or early May when a ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark its opening. l

First Utah Bank

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.c@thecityjournals.com

T

hose who support “Shop Local” initiatives may want to Bank Local as well.

Within Utah, there are a handful of regional banks and credit unions, but First Utah Bank is the only true community bank. First Utah Bank has been locally owned and operated in the Salt Lake valley for over 40 years.

“We have great products for consumers,” said Vice President Jean John. Such products include a full range of business and personal financial services, including checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, check depositing, business lending, banking from offices, automated systems, wire transfers, corporate credit cards, merchant services, and treasury management.

First Utah Bank routinely implements many services to help customers feel at ease with their banking. At the top of the list is their readily available customer service. Customers can pick up the phone and call at any time, including outside of business hours. A human will pick up the phone any time a customer needs to call.

In addition, “all day-to-day banking can be done online,” said John. First Utah Bank is extremely technologically savvy, as their Chief Information Officer and IT department works hard to make online banking easy and

Wvc Journal .com

secure.

First Utah Bank offers the latest technology in online banking, including iOS and Android Apps so that customers can make remote deposits with their mobile devices.

“We take cybersecurity very seriously,” said John, who stresses that keeping First Utah Bank’s customers’ information safe is their primary focus. “We really know our customers. If we see something unusual, we stop and ask. We will pick up the phone and call.”

When encountering a less individualized concern, First Utah Bank informs their customers of that concern through their website and social media accounts. “We work to keep customers informed,” reported John.

For example, the most recent notice on their website stated, “It has come to our attention that individuals are being contacted by a person posing as a First Utah Bank employ-

ee. The Bank is not making these calls – do not provide personal information to any such caller.”

The majority of First Utah Bank’s customer base are business owners within the Salt Lake Valley, even though they do lend across the country. Working with a community bank has proven to be beneficial for business owners.

“We can look at the structure of the company and figure out what type of loan is needed,” said John. “We can tweak things to meet the needs of the business owners, including looking at different options for collateral and payments.”

First Utah Bank can lend up to eight million dollars to business owners. They can also participate the loan with other banks if a business owner requires a bigger loan. “We work with people,” said John.

As a community bank, First Utah Bank takes their commitment to their communi-

ty seriously. “We support the communities where we live and work,” said John. “We give back as much as possible.”

For example, First Utah Bank employees volunteer for Reality Towns (a mock reality day where middle-school aged students get to learn about mortgages, buying a car, budgeting, taxes, etc.)

They have also partnered with the Discover Gateway Children’s Museum. There is a children’s branch inside the museum, complete with a drive-up window, ATM, coin sorter, shredded money wind tube, and vault door.

In addition, First Utah Bank is a major sponsor for the Greek Festival which occurs annually in September.

“We encourage all of our employees to sit on nonprofit boards,” said John. First Utah Bank will allow their employees to take time off to do charitable work, and the bank will make donations to those nonprofits.

For more information on First Utah Bank, visit one of their six locations within the Salt Lake Valley (soon to be seven as one will be opening in Lehi).

Or visit their website (www.firstutahbank.com) or social media (First Utah Bank on Twitter and Facebook).

April 2020 | Page 11

Safe Driving Habits

S

pring is upon us, summer is on the way; and with warmer temperatures and (hopefully) blue skies on the horizon, drivers can’t blame slick roads or blinding flurries for their faulty driving anymore.

Driving safely requires good driving habits. Habits. Not occasionally safe maneuvers.

The following are some prudent practices to implement in your daily travels.

Blinkers and blind spots Driving 101. If you plan on changing lanes, let others in on your secret. Everyone will appreciate it. Others want to know what you are planning.

Likewise, if you see a blinker come on indicating your lane is that car’s desired destination, let it in. This isn’t the Daytona 500. We are not racing for $19 million. It is common courtesy, if we want people to use their blinkers, then we should reward them for doing so.

Remember the blinker doesn’t automatically assume safe passage to the next lane. And while your car’s sensors in the rearview mirrors are helpful, they are not omniscient. Check your blind spot with your own eyes. There’s a reason it’s called a “blind” spot.

Tire pressure This one is almost as simple as the first.

Check your tire pressure on a regular basis to know if there is a small leak. Maybe you drove over a nail and didn’t realize it.

We often don’t look at the tires on the passenger side since we don’t approach the car from that direction, checking regularly allows you to examine those opposite side wheels.

It will keep your car’s handling in its best condition. Each vehicle can have different appropriate PSI (measurement for tire pressure), but when temperatures drop, so does the pressure in your tires.

Drive defensively This means keeping distance between you and the car in front of you.

Touching their bumper does nothing for you. And if you need to get that close to read their license plate or sticker, your eyesight is troubling and you probably shouldn’t be behind a steering wheel.

Also you can’t always see what’s in front of the car before you. They may have to slam on their brakes due to an unexpected obstruction. If you rear end them, insurance rarely works out in your favor.

This can also mean slowing down on wet roads or not weaving in and out of traffic.

Distractions This is the No. 1 reason for accidents. This is not limited to using the cell phone, though texting, checking news alerts or making a phone call are all terrible decisions to make while driving.

It also extends to dozing off or checking the price at the gas station you just passed. Be alert, stay vigilant. Other drivers may suddenly stop, they may not see you as you yield or turn.

By staying engaged and sharp, your reactions can be sharper and you may even anticipate what other drivers are looking to do.

These habits are important and it is not overdramatic to say that they could save a life.

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West Valley City Journal

The benefits of poetry in a time of uncertainty

By Katy Whittingham | k.whittingham@mycityjournals.com

I

t’s never too early to introduce children to poetry and to celebrate National Poetry month this April. There are many resources available to help children reap the benefits of reading and writing poetry, including building community and advancing literacy, while still having tremendous fun while you’re at it.

Former Colorado Western Slope Poet Laureate Rosemerry Whatola Trommer, a poet, teacher, storyteller and creative consultant for her site “Word Woman,” talked about the outcomes, creative exercises, resources, and poems to help promote a child’s interest and investment in poetry even during a time of social distancing and school closures.

With many parents and caregivers now in the uncertain position of developing and supplementing school curriculum at home for a temporary time, Whatola Trommer explained that poetry can be an enjoyable way to learn and connect and, “perhaps best of all, poetry will be a way to foster creative discussions about what is happening in the world right now.”

Whatola Trommer also wants to reassure educators and parents that despite suggestions, there is no wrong way to go about it. “There is not a right way to read a poem. There are many right ways to read a poem. I would suggest that parents and kids read poems and begin a discussion by talking about what stood out about it, what phrase or word or image.

And in this way, the poetry can open up larger discussions about feeling and ideas related to the poem.”

Instead of poetry workshops, Whatola Trommer leads what she calls “playshops” because they are too enjoyable to include the word “work.” She breaks down some of the benefits of exposing children to poetry as follows: “One, poetry is fun.

Two, poetry is highly useful for literacy in young children (especially rhyming poems). Three, poetry can be acted out.

Four, poetry can be used to supplement other classes and open up other subjects – poems about math, nature, other languages, other cultures. Five, poetry helps children access and talk about feelings. Six, poetry is fun to say aloud. Seven, poetry is fun to write.”

At an early age Whatola Trommer fell in love with children’s poet Shel Silverstein and still appreciates his poems today as they are “supremely playful, but also have dark underbellies.” She sees the value of also introducing children to some adult poets. For example, she said, “Most kids will find joy in Blake’s ‘The Tyger,’ in Dickinson’s ‘Hope,’ and in Shihab Nye’s ‘Kindness.’” She credits E.E. Cummings’ poems for first instilling in her that poetry can be both playful and still tackle

Wvc Journal .com

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Books in the “Poetry for Young People” series.

difficult subjects.

Whatola Trommer has continued in this vein herself by writing such poems including her recent poem about the pandemic, “Staying Home,” which she said would be accessible for kids. The poem recognizes fears that children, and all of us, might have right now, but ends with the following lines of comfort: “They remind you who you are /invite you to look out the window/and see how beautiful the world/when the shadows are long.”

This poem and many others, including other poems about the pandemic, are available on her blog www.ahundredfallingveils.com, where Whatola Trommer continues to write poetry daily. While she can’t promise all poems will be as accessible for children, she said some will.

For more of Whatola Trommer’s poems, playshop information, prompts and other resources including creative exercises visit her website wordwoman.com.

National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and includes participation opportunities for young people including the “Dear Poet” project. For more information visit poets.org. l

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April 2020 | Page 13

Former Hunter player named conference defensive player of the year

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

A

product of Hunter High School has made a name for herself, miles from home in Massachusetts. She brought home individual and team awards for her school.

Jenn Burnham, a 2016 Hunter graduate, snagged the defensive player of the year award in the New England Collegiate Conference. The 5-foot-7 senior guard from Eastern Nazarene College, south of Boston, helped her team to a runner-up conference finish.

“I have enjoyed coaching her the last two years,” Lions head coach Sacha Santimano said. “She has grown so much not just as a player, but also as a person. Seeing her dedication and work ethic has been pretty impressive and has set the bar for our next two classes at the school.”

The Lions lost in the conference championship game 84-81 to New England College. They finished the season with a 21-4 record overall.

“Our last two seasons have been the best years since I took over the program.

Jenn has had a lot to do with that. She is freakishly athletic and has the ability to do a lot of things that other players could not guard.”

In her senior season Burnham averaged 8.3 points per game and 2.4 steals.

“It was a pretty shocking season,” Burnham said. “Going into the season we just really wanted it. It was exciting.”

She transferred to ENC after playing one year each at Miles Community College (Montana) and Dickinson State (North Dakota).

“We had recruited two sisters from Miles Community College and had the ability to see her play as a sophomore. We told her she needed to come play for us,” Santimano said. “She has a competitive mentality and does not like to lose. If a player scores on her she gets mad and does everything she can to lock it down on the next possession.

That is what we liked about her. She creates a lot of disruption defensively. I am not sure how we are going to fill that gap next season.”

Burnham never had too many collegiate offers.

“My senior year Coach Robinson (former Hunter girls head coach) reached out to some old teammates and helped me find a spot,” Burnham said.

She began studying chemistry, but has recently changed her major to sports management. She wants to work with kids in a recreation department or at a school.

Eastern Nazarene is located south of

Boston. The school enrollment is currently above 1,200 students. Santimano said this gives students plenty of one-on-one learning time.

“I was proud of what we did this year.

There were things we did off the court that built character. They came ready. They volunteered and spent hours with kids in the Dominican Republic running drills. It helped them with the success of this program,” Santimano said. She was named coach of the year for the conference. It was the second time in her tenure at the school.

“Accolades reflect on those we have around us. It is the same as with Jenn’s award.

The more positive you have surrounding you the better you can become,” Santimano said.

“We have a great thing to offer kids. I feel that some players lack the confidence to try to play after high school. We try to bring out the best in a player’s skills.”

Burnham echoed her coaches thoughts on recruiting.

“A lot of coaches don’t know that you want to play. I would suggest young players to reach out and try to contact coaches. Give it a try, this was a family vibe for me. I really tried to make myself better every day,” Burnham said. l

Hunter High graduate Jenn Burnham finished her senior year with a bang by winning conference defensive player of the year. (Photo courtesy of Eastern Nazarene College)

Staying Safe and Healthy in Salt Lake County

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

Page 14 | April 2020

At the time I submitted this article, we were all at home, trying to steer clear of other humans to avoid COVID-19. Who knows what the next two weeks will bring as our state, nation and world deal with this crazy virus? And to make matters even more interesting… we had an earthquake.

I spent some time at our Salt Lake County Emergency Operations Center. Rest assured we have professionals helping us navigate these difficult situations. Our county health director has been involved in every detail related to COVID-19. Our public safety and public works personnel oversaw issues related to the earthquake. We have others who are monitoring public safety and health 24/7 and keeping policy-makers and other decision-makers informed. These people are watching out for you.

It’s times like these that I think

about how lucky we are to have strong communities that band together and help each other during times of need. It’s touching to see neighbors reaching out to each other to make sure they are okay. I love hearing stories of how families are trying to still support local businesses during these difficult times.

There is a lot of uncertainty right now. This text from my neighbor was poignant, and I share this with his permission so we can all better understand some of the additional burdens small business owners may be carrying. Others may have these same fears as they wonder if they will be getting a paycheck, or if their job will exist: “Of course we all want to be civil minded and help keep the virus from spreading, but at what economic cost? We all have families to feed. My business is responsible for the income of six families. If I go

under, a lot of people will become welfare burdens on the state. I believe It is very shortsighted for the government to mandate so much of small businesses without giving any definitive help. They want to force us to give employees paid time off.

That mandate alone will bankrupt me. Promises of small business loans and a website address aren’t going to cut it.”

I get it. It’s frustrating when we have no timelines and not a lot of great answers. The great thing about Utah, though, is we know how to do hard things and this will not last forever - aftershocks will stop, immunity will develop, supply chains and economies will adapt, and markets will recover. Jobs will once again be plentiful and businesses will boom. We can do this! In the meantime, hug your families (or maybe elbow-bump), keep an eye out for your neighbors, and stay healthy.

West Valley City Journal

Hunter and Granger still hope to play roundnet season

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Here when you need us.

We are Excited to welcome Dr. David Ryan to our family medicine team.

David Ryan, DO Family Medicine Taylorsville is the defending state champion roundnet team, they had three teams finish in the top 10. (Photo courtesy of Utah Roundnet Association)

T

he high school roundnet season was postponed in light of the coronavirus outbreak, with plans to reevaluate soon. Taylorsville is the defending state champion, but clubs from Granger and Hunter want to make some noise.

“We have had about eight to 10 kids,” Granger roundnet club organizer Jacob Hall said. “I got a spikeball set for a Christmas gift two years ago. My friends and I liked it a lot.”

Teams of two players play the game around a 3-foot round net. The object is to serve the ball off the net so that the other team cannot return it, much like volleyball. The team is allowed three successive hits, a set can be used to spike the ball toward the net.

A roundnet is used in the center and the ball is about the size of a softball. Spikeball ™ is one manufacturer of equipment for the sport. Utah Roundnet is the official association for Utah. They host adult and youth tournaments.

The team that fails to return the ball to the net or hits the rim loses a point to its opponents. Scoring pro-

Wvc Journal .com

ceeds until one team gets to 21, best of three or five constitutes a match win, like volleyball.

“It is basically four players, two on each team and you are trying to rally against the other team. Whoever fails to hit it back on the net loses that point,” Hall said. “Once the ball is served you play all around the net.”

Last season Taylorsville received the overall school participation trophy.

They earned more season points than any other school.

“I played with my brother last season. We did alright, boys and girls can play. We have had one girl play. I play soccer and basketball too. It helps keep me active,” Hall said.

The high school regular season consists of eight tournaments at schools around the state. There are JV and varsity divisions at each tournament. These tournaments are held on Thursday evenings. Teams acquire points based on they finish at each tournament. The more points acquired gives the team an advantage at the state finals scheduled for May 22 at Lone

Peak Park in Sandy under the lights.

Though it remains to be seen what will happen with those tournaments now.

“I started playing about a year ago,” Hunter club president Ollie Tanner said. “Spikeball is a good exercise and really kept me going. We have had about 13 come out and play.”

Last year’s high school season was the first to be held in the country.

They had 35 teams representing 14 high schools. There are currently 25 clubs organized in the state. Salt Lake City is scheduled to host the first ever high school nationals June 6 pending coronavirus protocols at that time.

The only equipment necessary is a roundnet and a ball. Some players play in cleats or bare feet. Students can become Spikeball ambassadors and they will receive help acquiring equipment and organizing games.

“I would tell anyone to try it out.

It is lots of fun,” Hall said. l

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April 2020 | Page 15

DON’T SETTLE FOR AVERAGE.

Hunter High School student organization hopes to brighten people’s lives through books

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

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Hunter High School junior Kaitlyn Shamo and teacher/advisor Laura Dieckmann kneel by hundreds of books collected for local adults and children in need by the school’s student-run chapter of the national organization Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

B

ooks and magazines can often provide an escape for people from their everyday lives, whether they are read for entertainment, information or education.

That is especially true for folks who are bored, lonely, aging, hospitalized, underprivileged, homeless or otherwise not in the best of circumstances.

A group of civic-minded and caring students at Hunter High School in West Valley City has taken on a project to hopefully help people young and old turn the page to new chapters in their lives by providing them with a variety of reading materials to stimulate their minds, intellect and overall outlook on things.

The dozen or so students are part of the school’s chapter of the national nonprofit student organization Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA. It started in December when junior Kaitlyn Shamo and her fellow Hunter High FCCLA members brainstormed ideas for a spring semester service project.

They settled on a book drive. Not just to simply gather books and give them away to whomever, but to collect and donate them to organizations that serve groups of people who might lack things to read. Things that can take them away for a while to different environments and worlds than the real, not-always-enjoyable ones they exist in each day.

Kaitlyn said her neighbor, a retired teacher who was moving, got the ball rolling when she donated a bunch of books she didn’t want to haul to her new residence. “These books aren’t only helping people they’re going to, they’re also helping declutter people’s houses,” she added.

And it kept rolling as she and her fellow FCCLA students advertised the need for books to Hunter High’s approximately 2,600 students, at parent-teacher conferences, and among parents, friends, and others in the community.

Page 16 | April 2020

Kaitlyn says the initial goal was to collect 500 books, itself a lofty target. They easily blew past that by gathering more than 1,500 publications of various types, from children’s books to novels to how-to books and other fiction and non-fiction paperback and hardcover works.

There was even an audiobook on cassette. “The community response has just been so much more than we thought,” Kaitlyn said.

With that, the project needed a name.

Kaitlyn said that sparked another brainstorming session, this time at home with her parents which resulted in Books BOX (Brightening Others’ eXperiences).

As the books and magazines sat in boxes in the classroom of Laura Dieckmann, the Hunter High Family and Consumer Science teacher, who serves as adviser to the school’s FCCLA chapter, was impressed by the initiative of the teens to make Books BOX a success.

“I suggested it to them and they totally ran with it,” she said. “One of the things I love about FCCLA is it is all about student leadership. I’m an adviser, but they run the show. It’s definitely been successful. I think they’ve learned a lot from it as far as how to get people involved.”

FCCLA students were planning to deliver the books in late March to various nursing homes and other organizations serving adults and children. “I have a list of every place the books are going,” Kaitlyn said, proceeding to name them: Ronald McDonald House, Family Promise Salt Lake, Children’s Center, Fairview Care Center, Pine Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing, Christmas Box House, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Mark’s Hospital.

For the exuberant teen, the satisfaction of the successfully executed Books BOX is deeper than just accumulating a larger-than-expected number of books. “I personally just love seeing people coming together to serve others that have a need.” l

West Valley City Journal

Truman Literacy Night highlights the arts

By Jess Nielsen Beach | j.beach@mycityjournals.com

O

n March 5, Truman Elementary had their annual Literacy Night, hosted by the PTA and attended by dozens of students and their families.

Along with the provided pizza, there were many stations set up where the students could complete projects and challenges in order to earn a checkmark on their wristbands. The children made bookmarks, unscrambled words, built story development boxes and more.

Once a student received four checkmarks, spelling out the word READ, they were able to place their name in a book drawing.

A noticeable difference in this year’s traditional lineup, however, came in the form of a student art gallery, situated at the top of the stage and open for all to view.

The focus on art was supported by the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP), which celebrates what kids can do by putting art in Utah elementary schools to work with the students and teachers.

Nathan Smith, the BTSALP visual arts specialist for Truman, talked about the changes he made to this year’s event.

“The whole idea is that we integrate visual arts, music, dance and theater into the core subjects, because we find that when we

Truman Elementary third-grade art projects focus on geometric shapes to coincide with the sciences. (Jess Nielsen Beach/City Journals)

cover the core subjects and connect them to artistic learning, the kids retain the information better,” Smith said.

The event was fully supported by the school’s principal, Jared Broderick.

“We hold this event in the spring every year,” Broderick said. “It’s always a big hit and very well-attended, so I figured, let’s

mash Literacy Night and the arts together.”

There were many different themes rendered by each grade, all of which coincided with a core subject.

“The themes came from what they’re covering in class currently,” Smith said. “In third grade, we’ve talked about solar eclipses, connecting warm and cool colors and

geometric shapes into their science core.”

Every grade was encouraged to participate, from the youngest to the oldest students. Kindergartners, for example, took inspiration from a book titled, “Snowmen at Night” and were able to illustrate what would happen if snowmen came to life.

Sixth graders, on the other hand, were challenged with poetry.

“We had relative success with them,” Smith said. “The kids are afraid of poetry, and it is tough, but many of the students did a great job and really pushed their limits.”

Smith hopes to continue the effort with future goals for students to reach.

“I want to do more with reading and writing specifically,” Smith said. “I do a lot of science and social studies, because those things tie very easily to art, but I would like to branch out and connect art more closely to literacy.”

At the close of the event, the students gathered in front of the gallery and the raffle began. Dozens of children were able to pick a book if their name was called, with almost every child in attendance able to take home a new piece of literature.

For more information on the BTSALP programs and their work in Utah schools, visit www.artworksforkids.org. l

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Wvc Journal .com

April 2020 | Page 17

Female senators protest abortion laws

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

D

uring Utah’s 2020 legislative session, H.B. 364 two controversial bills concerning House Bill 364 (HB364) would imabortion laws in the state were introduced, plement additional necessary requirements amended, voted on and sparked protest. in order for an abortion to occur. In Utah, a S.B. 174 woman must give informed consent in order Senate Bill 174 (SB174) would restrict to receive an abortion. This bill would rewomen from getting abortions, with limited quire informed consent to include: viewing exceptions. Primarily this bill would “pro- live fetal images of the unborn child, listenhibit an abortion at any stage of a pregnant ing to a description of those fetal images, and woman’s pregnancy, except under certain listening to an audible heartbeat of the fetus, circumstances.” Those certain circumstances if possible. In addition, the woman must wait when an abortion would be allowed would 72 hours after to give informed consent. be when childbirth would result in death or a Abortion Revision was sponsored by “substantial and irreversible impairment of a Rep. Steve R. Christiansen and Sen. Curtis major bodily function;” when two physicians S. Bramble. agree that the fetus has an abnormality that During the bill’s introduction Chriswould be lethal; or the “woman is pregnant tiansen explained that “a doctor who fails to as a result of rape or incest.” give an ultrasound would face a fine up to In addition, this bill would enact penal- $100,000 on the first instance, and $250,000 ties for physicians who perform abortions. If on later instances,” reported Imlay. the abortion did not meet any of the above Action criteria, the person who performed the aborOn March 10, when HB364 was introtion “is guilty of a second-degree felony.” duced to the senate floor, all six female senaAbortion Prohibition Amendments was tors (Deidre Henderson, Republican-District sponsored by Sen. Daniel McCay and Rep. 7; Jani Iwamoto, Democrat-District 4; Karen Karianne Lisonbee.

Mayne, Democrat-District 5; Ann Millner, During the bill’s hearing, “McCay clar- Republican-District 18; Kathleen Riebe, ified that if a woman performed an abortion Democrat- District 8; and Luz Escamilla, on herself, she could face felony charges,” Democrat-District 1) stepped off the floor reported Ashley Imlay from Deseret News. in protest, before the vote was taken. Seven

Roundtable Talk with Representative Weight Role of Government During the legislative session, a common question about a proposed bill is whether it fits the role of government. With the steps in response to COVID19, questions have become more specific – whether the government role and emphasis should address economic or health or household needs, whether the first focus goes to private business, to public safety, or to the impacts on people’s lives. A primary purpose of government is for elected leaders to show up as people, listening to experts, being spokespersons in a wellinformed and coordinated management of elements that affect all these areas, starting with the well-being of the people they serve.

Certainly, on all levels and in all branches of government, thoughtful preparation is part of the role, so necessary networks are established and sustained. What we have seen in the Coronavirus response is the value of perspective, planning, and practice before the emergency occurs. In Utah, we’re pretty good at foresight, and we are learning even more.

Liz4Utah.com

Page 18 | April 2020

days later, the bill died on the floor without a final vote.

SB174 was recommended favorable and moved to the floor with a 10-3 vote. SB174 was passed by the Senate on March 2. It was

then passed and signed by the House of Representatives on March 12. On March 16, the final draft of the enrolled bill was prepared. l

Bringing Life to your Backyard ElizabethWeight@le.utah.gov

As your state representative, my views start with people and their lives. When government leaders build trustworthy security for daily routines, our neighborhoods and communities thrive and are positioned for resiliency in challenging times. That provides a stable source of support for our businesses and economy. In my work for West Valley residents and Utah, I agree with a growing majority of people across the country about some foundational pieces for building sureness in all circumstances: • good jobs • affordable, quality healthcare • investment in children • empowerment of people over special interests • equal opportunity for all • sustainable infrastructure, resilience, and innovation • clean air, water, and energy.

Underlying it all, for community stability and for accomplishing all our short- and long-term visions, I work most for your trust that I will listen, care, and communicate truthfully. Thank you for taking your role in our community!

Elizabeth Weight, Utah Representative

Senator Ann Millner, Senator Karen Mayne, Senator Jani Iwamoto, Senator Luz Escamilla, Senator Diedre Henderson and Senator Kathleen Riebe made national news this legislative session as they protested bills concerning abortion on the senate floor. (Photo courtesy of Utah State Democrats)

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High school sports events on hiatus during COVID-19 pandemic

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

L

ocal high school and youth sports programs are on hold as the country braces itself against COVID-19 concerns.

“We are currently following the direction from the Granite School District,” Hunter High School’s athletic director Pam Olson said.

The Utah High School Activities Association released a statement dated March 13 stating all activities, athletics, practices and team gatherings be suspended beginning March 16. This directive is set to last approximately two weeks. More information can be accessed on the website www.uhsaa.com.

“It has been a little bit crazy,” Taylorsville High School athletic director Guy Mackay said. “Most of the kids are disappointed. They want to compete, that is one of the reasons they put in all of the hard work.

It will definitely be more difficult to keep up the enthusiasm of the teams if they are unable to play.”

At press deadline all UHSAA events had been postponed. The NCAA has cancelled its spring sports including March Madness. The Utah Grizzlies also announced the remainder of their season has been cancelled.

Trying to keep things as normal as possi-

ble could be difficult.

“We don’t want to cause a panic. We haven’t taken too many precautions other than cleaning equipment and encouraging good hygiene. We are trying to be understanding when kids don’t feel good too,” Mackay said.

Kearns High School initiated a no handshake or high five policy before events were cancelled.

“Our kids are understandably disappointed,” Kearns athletic director Davis Ballard said. “But they understand why it is happening.”

The UHSAA board of directors is in constant contact with Utah public health officials. They pledge to reevaluate in two weeks and notify their member schools.

“We encourage schools to follow best practices from the Utah Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control, along with the best practices of school districts and charter boards,” UHSAA Assistant Director Jeff Cluff said.

Spring sports schedules and makeup arrangements will be made following the approval to proceed by state government officials. l

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Wvc Journal .com

April 2020 | Page 19

Residents express differing opinions about upsurge of panic buying

By Drew Crawford | d.crawford@mycityjournals.com

P

anic, confusion and self-isolation have become increasingly common scenes as the coronavirus has changed not just our way of living, but our perception of it.

Schools have closed, businesses have modified their operations, and consumers have begun behaving in erratic and unpredictable ways.

With toilet paper, sanitation supplies and groceries flying off of the shelf, one might wonder why panicked people began panic buying at grocery stores in the first place?

Pam Crotter, who is 61 and experiences underlying health conditions that puts her in the at-risk population, was shocked to see how much people were buying out of fear.

“The devastating thing was to see all of the canned and boxed good aisles — the whole aisles were just gone. I got one of the last loaves of bread. I mean it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday,” Crotter said.

“People were just getting off of work and just starting to react to everything that got shut down that day.”

At the store, Crotter realized that people were hoarding an excessive amount of supplies, with consequences that could affect vulnerable populations and those who were the most at need of them.

Even though this could potentially have a great impact on her, Crotter’s first instinct was to think the risks that this type of consumption has on other people.

“That’s the hard thing is to see how uncaring society is being about taking everyone into account. Like buying that hand sanitizer and toilet paper, not to think about all the elderly people and all the immune compromised people. There are little babies that are on (tracheal tubes) and older people that are at home that do self-care, they can’t get distilled water because when people are running out of the bottle, they are buying distilled water too. They’re just buying it all!” Crotter said.

As people hoard supplies and buy excessively there is a chance that they might forget that there are essential goods that compromised groups must have.

“There’s different medical conditions that you need distilled water for, not just (tracheal tubes). You have to clean home nebulizers for asthma and lung conditions, and they’re having a hard time getting those supplies. It’s risking people’s lives this craziness.

And it’s just like: why do you need that much toilet paper?” Crotter said.

Fortunately, Crotter has been a witness to the kindness of others amid the panic buying.

“That’s one good thing that I noticed is that I probably had five people reach out to me yesterday on social media or call me and ask me if I needed anything. They were off work for the day and asked me if I needed anything,” Crotter said.

Page 20 | April 2020

Empty shelf aisles. (Travis Barton-/City Journals)

According to clinical psychologist Steven Taylor, consumer behavior changes during pandemics because of anticipatory anxiety and fear. People perceive that they might be in danger because of the things that they see and hear around them.

They see others taking drastic precautionary measures such as buying a threemonth supply of food or 50 cases of toilet paper. Their minds then turns toward what they can do to protect their families, and they view the danger around them as a perceived threat.

However, it is important to recognize this psychology at play and not just react based on emotion.

At the Smith’s on 922 E. 2100 South employees who spoke on conditions of anonymity said that the store had been relatively calm from the time that the buying en masse had ensued. No fights for items or mass hysteria had occurred during the shopping experience, however, there was still an unusually large number of shoppers at the store on Sunday, March 15, with around 200 shoppers buying toiletries at 11 a.m.

In their opinion, the two employees at the Smith’s felt that the panic buying was the result of fear stoked by the news cycle.

“They’re panicking for no reason, they’re just paranoid. The media just (is) saying you need to get this, this, and this, instead of listening to the CDC who actually know what the virus is, they’re just panicking,” they explained, saying that people should just stay calm and help others as much as they can. “They’re just saying the worst-case scenario instead of actually helping prepare people for this,” they said.

The employees feel that elderly people and the at-risk population should take necessary precautions, but that everyone else should just stay calm. They don’t see the situation at Smith’s getting worse because the supply of product is being ordered in quantities that are expected to keep up with the demand. Smith’s has adjusted its normal hours in order to prepare the store for people buying.

Another shopper at the store, Arjun Gopal, who is in his 20s, came to the Smith’s for his routine grocery shopping trip.

“It is a bad flu for people our age, for people under 40 it’s going to be a normal flu, so there’s no point in stocking up so much,” Gopal said. “I think it’s because of a few people who want to be prepared for all kinds of situations, and then other people see them doing things and posting things online. People are like sheep: one person does something and everyone else wants to do the same thing and follow the part. I feel like it’s just a few people igniting everyone else, and then just everyone else following through.”

As one might surmise there are plenty of attitudes on what consumer behavior should be during the time of crisis. With so many different voices, opinions and information on the topic, what should one’s approach actually be?

The truth of the matter is that there is plenty of supply to meet the demand for groceries and toiletries, and if people resist buying excessively then there will be plenty to go around.

The temporary shortage of some groceries and other supplies is a result of a sudden

upsurge in demand driven by panic. In response to this, supply chains are ramping up their production and hours to make sure that the demand for food is adequately met.

The United States Department of Homeland Security has recommended that during a pandemic a household should stock up on two week’s supply of food.

They also advise households to have a continuous supply of prescription drugs and to make sure that they have any nonprescription drugs and health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.

Additionally, stores like Smith’s are adjusting their hours to provide adequate time to restock shelves. On March 16, they released a press release stating that they are creating a senior shopping hour from 7-8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to help provide the at-risk population with the time that they need.

“Smith’s wants to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need to avoid busier and more crowded shopping times. We request that customers respect these hours for the health of our community during this time of uncertainty,” the press release said.

Much can be expected to change during the coronavirus pandemic, and it is important to follow the advice of officials and the proper experts to stay informed on how to be prepared. For the latest updates on how to prepare yourself and protect others visit The Center for Disease Control website at www. cdc.gov l

West Valley City Journal

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Wvc Journal .com

April 2020 | Page 21

Easy Recipe Ideas from the Pantry

by

Cathy Taylor

I was once asked to write down some easy recipes for the husband of a woman who is a quadriplegic. He wanted dinner ideas that were quick and inexpensive, and easy enough for someone with little cooking experience.

After some thought, I decided that instead of writing down each individual recipe, I could share a list of pantry items that, if he kept on hand, could provide him with a variety of meal ideas. This list has since been shared with newly-weds, college students, and wonderfully enough, my own teenagers who are taking on more cooking responsibilities.

ies, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, rice, or corn.

Chili can be eaten alone, or spiced up with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, olives, and peppers. You can use it as a smother for chicken, on Navajo tacos, for chili dogs, in a baked potato bar, over French fries, or mix it into macaroni and cheese. It also makes a delicious dip when mixed with cream cheese. Trying to eat less meat? They make vegetarian chili too – and it tastes great!

4 – Potatoes

1 – Canned chili

2 – Canned refried beans

These can be used in all sorts of Mexican inspired dishes: tacos, tostadas, burritos, taco salads, nachos, quesadillas, etc. You can change up the flavor by mixing in other items as well, such as salsa, enchilada sauce, canned black beans, ground beef, diced chil-

3- Pasta

Pastas like rigatoni, macaroni, fettucine, linguini, cheese stuffed tortellini, and penne are great to break up the monotony of regular old spaghetti noodles. And the toppings for pasta can be just as varied: marinara, Alfredo, meat sauce, sautéed vegetables, butter and seasonings, parmesan, salad dressings, olive and other flavored oils, or vinaigrettes.

While these probably aren’t considered a pantry item, I love to include them because they are so versatile, and pair well with most anything. They can be fried with onion, grated into hash browns, boiled and mashed, used in soup, roasted with olive oil and a variety of seasonings, baked and topped with veggies, chili, cheese, cream soups, salsa, sour cream, etc. You can even bake them the night before and keep them in the fridge for later use.

5 – Bottled sauces, dressings and marinades

Slow cookers are a busy family’s best friend – and there are few things easier than putting a few frozen chicken breasts in the

slow cooker, pouring in a bottle of sauce, and putting on the lid. (Don’t forget to turn it on too!) Salad dressings like Italian, Catalina, vinaigrettes, and honey mustard are great over chicken. You can also use BBQ sauces, salsas, spaghetti sauce, marinades, and Indian simmer sauces. Then serve with pasta, rice or potatoes and you’re good to go!

Dressings can of course top your salads, but they can also add a delicious kick to sandwiches, wraps and pasta.

Now, these aren’t by any means gourmet meals. What they are, is a solution for the reality of having our lives displaced. While we love having the whole world of cuisine right at our fingertips the reality of making do with what’s on the pantry shelf can spark our inner chef.

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A Woman’s Place As the mother of four daughters, and grandma to several granddaughters, I’m frequently asked (okay, twice) what advice I’d give to young women. Women are stronger than ever before, yet many men try to drag us back to the Victorian Era. Men keep gettin’ up in our bizness, drafting regulations about our bodies, creating rules about everything from prom wear to breastfeeding, and making sure we’re slutshamed if we behave out-of-line.

We’re called hysterical. We’re labeled as trouble-makers. We’re branded as unreasonable. We’re given a warm glass of milk, a pat on the head and sent to the kids’ table.

Men have had thousands of years to run the world – and I’m not impressed. Maybe it’s time they step aside and let women do the heavy lifting. (Which we can totally do.)

Here’s what young women (of every age) should know:

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Own your voice.

Don’t waste time explaining yourself and don’t apologize for being a smart, confident, breath of fresh air. Shout your brilliance from the rooftops and ignore those grumpy old men who slam their windows to block out the noise.

Live an authentic life.

Travel. Get educated. Eat what you want. Drink what you want. Wear what you want. If a man’s morals are compromised because he caught a glimpse of your shoulders (or ankles, or earlobes) – not your problem.

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When you’re being pushed aside, refuse to budge. There are generations of women who fought for your right to stand tall, raise your voice and share your truth. They’re cheering you on. You can feel their energy, right?

Embrace your goddess self.

Remember that amazing idea you had?

Remember how you set it aside because you thought you had to be something else? Dust that idea off.

Shower it with love and attention.

Don’t be afraid of big ideas. The world needs your creativity.

Plant yourself at the table.

We’re tired of being dismissed. We’re sick to death of being talked down to (mansplaining, anyone?). We’re capable, functioning adults and we have something to say. Ladies, don’t back away when you’re described as “shrill” or “harsh” or “bitchy” or any other words men use to slap us down.

Give yourself permission to be human.

We’re not robots who smile 24/7, tidy up after meetings and schedule luncheons. Don’t feel self-conscious if your expression isn’t “happy” enough. Look serious. Who cares? Men certainly aren’t smiling, cheerful androids.

Stand your ground.

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801-890-0415

435-425-2500

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10/6/2014

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1086 W South Jordan Pkwy South Jordan

801-302-0777

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3652 West 2100 South Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102

April 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 04

FREE

EVERYONE COUNTS IN WEST VALLEY CITY

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

A

s the U.S. Census Bureau conducts its 2020 census, West Valley City officials say a lot more is riding on it than just counting how many people live in the city. It also impacts the amount of money the city receives for services, programs and overall quality of life.

“It’s extremely important because this is basically tax money that all our residents pay to the federal government that gets deposited into a big pool of federal aid that gets distributed to states based on their populations,” said John Rock, a management analyst in the city manager’s office and head of the West Valley City Complete Count Committee.

“If someone doesn’t fill out the census and isn’t counted, it’s pretty much direct money not coming to Utah” and ultimately to the state’s cities and towns like West Valley City, he added.

West Valley City is comprised of a number of census tracts, or geographic areas as specific as certain neighborhoods, where census data is gathered on the makeup of the people living in those areas—everything from age, gender, race, nationality, number of people in households and an array of socio-economic factors.

Rock says that each person that is counted within those tracts is worth $1,086 in direct federal aid to the city. If a person is not included in the tally, the city loses out on that money. “If we are undercounted by 10%, that’s

tens of millions of dollars we don’t get in federal aid,” Rock said. “That’s money that pays for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), school lunches, after-school programs, Section 8 housing, pretty much a lot of programs people rely on in their day-to-day lives.” Grants awarded to cities are also based in part on the number of people within their boundaries.

Rock said the return to the city of sales taxes collected is predicated on population statistics. That money helps pay for public safety, roads, and other programs and services that benefit residents. A 10% undercount of people would mean the potential loss of $2 million for the city. “If they’re not counted, that’s money we’re not getting,” Rock said.

Rock said the census response rate of West Valley City residents in 2010 was below average compared to other municipalities in Salt Lake County, something he’d like to see reversed this year.

The U.S. Census Bureau says 95% of households will be invited to participate in the census by way of a mailed form. Nearly 5% of households that don’t get their mail at their street address will have their forms dropped off by a census worker. Fewer than 1% of homes, mostly in remote areas of the U.S. like Alaska, will be visited by a census taker who will gather information in person.

Households should have received a postcard about the census in March. It gives peo-

Like everywhere else in the U.S., the Census Bureau will use a variety of methods to gather information about the makeup of West Valley City’s population.

ple the option of completing the questionnaire online, by mail, or by phone, according to the Census Bureau. Those who haven’t returned their information will receive reminders in April.

Besides the distribution of tax money, the data collected by the census determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. States that have added people over the past decade could get seats added to their congressional delegation

while states that have lost population could lose some. The total number of representatives has been set at 435 since 1929.

West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow agreed that the census has a lot on the line for the city and its population which is currently estimated at nearly 138,000. “Clearly it is important. The city is taking the census as a very critical thing.”

For more information on West Valley’s census efforts, visit wvc2020census.com. l

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