West Valley City Journal | February 2023

PIRATE BASKETBALL IS CRUSHING IT THIS SEASON

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Cyprus High School boys basketball has ascended to the No. 1 spot at times this season in the RPI rankings. But they play each game one day at a time in hopes of reaching their goals.

“We started off a little bad and struggled at the beginning of the season,” starting Pirates guard Quentin Meza said. “Now we are on a (14) game win streak. I feel like we have started to put it together.”

The Pirates held a 15-3 record at press time and are undefeated against Region 2 teams.

Against Kearns Jan. 13 they jumped out to a 20-point lead. Slowly the lead started to deteriorate, but the Pirates strengthened their defense and pulled away for a 15-point victory. Meza scored 22 points and Justus Jackson-Fobbs had 20 in the game.

“We are feeling good. I think the kids are playing great right now,” Pirates head coach Tre Smith said. “It is one step in front of the other. We want to play really good basketball in late February and March. That is the goal. We can win games now and continue to gel as a team.”

They have not lost a region game since February 2021, a 77-69 loss to Taylorsville. In that game Meza scored 26 points.

As a four-year contributor, Meza has scored over 1,800 career points. This season Jackson-Fobbs has contributed 8.7 rebounds per game and junior Diego Mulford has pitched in 8.7 points per game.

Continued page 11

The Pirates bench celebrates a Diego Mulfod 3-pointer against Taylorsville. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

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e’s polite, articulate and quick with a slew of clean jokes. He has a commercial driver’s license and currently works in security. He’s a “Star Trek” fan, a dad, and a dog and cat owner. His name is Lawrence Horman, and he’s homeless (depending on your perspective).“I never intended to be a spokesperson or a poster boy for the homeless, but somebody has to speak up and advocate...I’ve been put in a unique position that allows me to do what most homeless can’t do for themselves,” he said.

Horman has been traveling to city council meetings throughout Salt Lake County to give insight into the plight of people in his predicament and to offer ideas for potential solutions. “Things have changed for the homeless, some for the better, some for the worse. I give a perspective of lived experience,” he said.

Horman said people in the homeless community and their advocates prefer the term unhoused, but he’s OK using the term homeless since it’s most familiar.

He was there in 2017 when a public meeting was held about Draper being a potential homeless shelter location. He was driving home from work that evening and heard a radio report that the meeting was happening at Draper Park Middle School. “I found out it was still going on so I went there, and I stood up to speak up for the homeless,” he said.

It was intended to be an open house with then Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who had been tasked by the legislature with finding a shelter location within a short amount of time, and Draper Mayor Troy Walker. “It turned into a town hall where the mayors were virtually forced onto the stage, visibly uncomfortable, and people lined up to voice their opinions from microphones. Everyone who said anything positive about the resource centers was booed, hissed and sworn at. I was so scared I was shaking. Me and one other person who are homeless got up to advocate for the homeless. When I got up, I said, ‘I am homeless, will you let me speak?’ Then they realized they’d been yelling about people they didn’t even know were in the room. They figured it was all housed people, you could tell by their reaction,” he said.

Since that time, Horman has tried to brainstorm solutions. One of his main points to those who will listen is,

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Advocates for the homeless argue that housing should be a right rather than a privilege. Lawrence Horman has been sharing his lived experience as an unhoused person in hopes of being part of the solution. “Those who are in the situation might have something to contribute to better steer solutions,” he told Draper’s city council. (Courtesy Lawrence Horman)

“People are people no matter what their living situation. Sometimes homeless people are manipulative, sometimes they aren’t, just like everybody else.” He feels strongly that the rates of drug addiction, mental illness and criminal activity are roughly the same percentage among the housed as the unhoused. “The significant difference between the housed and unhoused in those regards is that the unhoused don’t have walls to hide behind for those activities. The thing that most people don’t get is the people not participating in those activities among the unhoused are unseen because they know how to stay out of view while those who are having a mental health issue and participat-

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ing in criminal activity like drugs are seen because they have no place to hide.”

He keeps a binder with copies of the letters he sent about five years ago to mayors of each of the cities within Salt Lake County, only two of whom replied in any way. The letters offer the idea that cities could pass ordinances allowing property owners, should they choose, to have someone live on their property in a small camper, RV or commercial trailer in exchange for doing maintenance or security work on the property. “This would be an ordinance that would allow the property owner to have inexpensive security on site, and give local law en-

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A profile in unhoused courage

forcement someone they could count on to help see possible criminal activity that they wouldn’t be afraid to report to police (because it would be a legal arrangement), and give one more homeless person a place to live and be useful while trying to get on their feet as well.”

Horman runs a Facebook page by the homeless for the homeless which he calls the Deseret Defiant Initiative. “Its purpose is to wake up local cities and make them aware of their part in causing homelessness and to try and get them to actively participate in effectively solving the problem in a positive and more permanent way, and allow those who are homeless to participate in their own transition and recovery from homeless to housed while supporting themselves legally and effectively without any more dependence on government and charitable organizations than is necessary.”

Horman himself gets by on social security disability and help from family and his church. He says that you can’t just provide housing for the homeless, but that continuing services such as health care, transportation, help with bill paying, etc. must be part of the equation.

“It won’t matter how many people you put in a house unless you have continuing support. And the best way to get it right isn’t to explain how solving homelessness will benefit the homeless, but how it will benefit the community and those who are already housed,” he said.

Horman suggests a less expensive and more permanent solution would be putting the unhoused into permanent housing (not shelters), even something like an authorized campground. “Some housed people object, but the homeless can and do it. A tent is a house if all you have is the alcove of a building, an alcove is a home if all you have is a tree, a tree is a home if all you have is the sidewalk. All you want is a place to sleep, get cleaned up, eat in peace and be able to come back to after work the next day.” Horman envisions an ordinance that would allow for a public or private program, or a combination thereof. He suggests that the properties could be reviewed and regulated by health inspectors and would stay open or close according to local health ordinances and requirements as happens with restaurants and hotels.

Horman has strong feelings against “sweeps” such as what has been done by law enforcement in Salt Lake City. “It’s money wasted,” he said. “The homeless simply find another camp, another space, until they’re swept again. It’s better that they don’t have to move their tent every couple days or every couple weeks. By not giving people a safe, stable place to be, by ‘sweeping’ them, you’re criminalizing homelessness.” He explained that by having a legal arrangement, such as an authorized campground, people in the homeless community would be inclined to work

with law enforcement rather than being afraid to call them for fear of losing where they’re living.

He expressed frustration with programs designed to help the homeless, saying that often you “graduate” from one but you don’t quite qualify for another, resulting in huge gaps in the bureaucracy of those programs. “The official programs create as many barriers as they resolve,” he said. Horman said he’s gotten the most help from his family and his church.

What scares him most? “There’s no way anyone who’s homeless doesn’t sometimes find themselves terrified. There’s always a fear, a chance that someone in government or a private property owner will decide they’re done letting you be where you are and you lose what you’ve got.”

He recognizes that he’s luckier than most in that he has shelter in a commercial trailer he owns that is parked on private property with permission from the landowner. But he doesn’t have electricity or running water. “By comparison to most people who are on the street homeless, I live in a palace,” he said.

Horman said it’s challenging to hold a job while homeless. “Some unhoused keep up appearances…go to a job and talk with coworkers, but they have to be careful… the moment you bring it up…you can’t talk about it (homelessness) like it’s an everyday thing,” he said.

What are his hopes for the future? That his adult daughter would have permanent housing which she doesn’t at the present. And that the trailer he occupies could be converted to be “more like an RV style in a more permanent fashion.”

Who inspires him in his advocacy for the homeless? First, former Salt Lake County Mayor McAdams. “Without being asked or forced into it, or for the sake of getting glory, he went incognito on the street for three days, spent a couple nights in a shelter and a night or two on the street to see what it would be like to be homeless. He learned why people are living on the street rather than being in the shelters because they don’t feel safe in the shelters. We need to do better.” Second, a California man named Mark Horvath who is on YouTube and Facebook and runs a website called Invisible People. “He was working in the media when he got addicted to drugs. He lost everything. He pulled himself out of it, not without help, and then he used his media skills to help other people. He interviews people who are homeless. He puts a real human face on it.”

Horman summed it up in this way: “There’s one race, the human race, and we all deserve dignity and respect…we all have a right to reasonable housing, and necessities like shelter, clothing, food, personal hygiene and the chance to work and provide for ourselves which you don’t get

Though he has worked as a truck driver and currently has a job in security, Lawrence Horman found himself unhoused several years ago. He explained that unless a person is on the street right away, they often don’t realize they’re homeless until their temporary living situations fall through. “It very rarely hits you right away,” he said. (Courtesy Lawrence Horman)

if you’re being rousted every night from place to place. There has to be a human face to the problem before it’s resolved.”

Advocates for the homeless argue that housing should be a right rather than a privilege. Lawrence Horman has been sharing his lived experience as an unhoused person in hopes of being part of the solution. “Those who are in the situation might have something to contribute to better steer solutions,” he told Draper’s city council.

(Courtesy Lawrence Horman)

With hopes for future homes, council denies rezone for biomedical facility

TheWest Valley City Council denied a rezone in December that would have seen almost 40 acres of land turn into a manufacturing facility off Lake Park Boulevard.

The proposal, from Wasatch Commercial Development, would have designed and prepared to build two office buildings along with the facility ideally suited for a national pharmaceutical company, Wasatch representative John Dahlstrom explained to the council.

That company (alluded to as Nusano), he said, would create a “novel new product for the market that will significantly change the way radio isotopes are delivered to the market.”

He said they believed this would bring more biomedical manufacturers to West Valley City and that the University of Utah Healthcare, who is planning a large hospital expansion in the city, would also have interest into the campus they’re proposing.

“We believe this is a great opportunity for West Valley City to create high paying jobs that can come into this area, and that the impact of what we’re proposing will be of great benefit to the area,” Dahlstrom told the council. “We are very much committed that this is a world-class type of facility that will be attractive to CEOs and companies from around the world to West Valley City as its Utah home.”

But the council felt otherwise, voting 6-1, preferring to keep the land open for housing with the city’s rapidly declining available land.

“We don’t have much land left in our city,” Councilman Tom Huynh said. “And I think this property is for residential.”

The land in question, located at approximately 5000 West Lake Park Blvd., and the council’s history with it goes back almost eight years.

In 2015, the City Council reviewed over 700 acres of properties and, in efforts to diversify and provide a different type of housing, decided to rezone many of the properties so that they could be targeted for their newly created residential estate zone: larger lots for bigger houses.

Today, according to Community and Economic Development Director Steve Pastorik, of those 700 acres he listed 65 acres went to the RE zone; 44 acres to the RM zone with three of those developments senior condos; 29 acres to UDOT for Mountain View Corridor drainage; 23 is set aside for a future hospital; 15.5 acres have gone to a charter school, church and city park and 4.3 acres to the recently created residential sustainability zone.

When council asked if there’s been interest in building houses on the land, Pastorik said there’s been developer interest but never received an application for the property.

The 2022 version of the City Council

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

agreed with the council’s decision in 2015 and felt the desire to preserve land for that type of housing still applied.

Mayor Karen Lang said when this whole Lake Park area was planned and presented, she said this area was “saved for lower density, we gave up a lot of density on the other pieces.”

She highlighted the commercial to the east, elementary schools to the west and nearby Stonebridge golf course. “Larger homes, larger lots made more sense there then something like this.”

Dahlstrom said he understood the proposed development would be different than previously envisioned, but held a different view.

“Because of the way things have developed and because of the way the market is in this area, I think what we’re proposing will be much more valuable and much better use of the property than what’s currently in the master plan for the area,” he said.

He noted their own traffic study done on the area and its proposed flexible design, that it’s not meant to be an industrial property and they agreed to limit the amount of dock doors in the facility to reflect that.

The lone dissenting vote, Councilmember Don Christensen, said the property isn’t stirring much movement.

“It isn’t being developed much more than a weed patch at this point,” he said prior to voting. “I don’t see a real pressing reason to hold onto it when there is a developer that can develop it and bring business and income into

the city on the hope that someday, somebody will want to build homes there.”

Lang said Fairbourne Station took 20 years to develop, “so for me, seven years from 2015 to now isn’t enough time to see what the potential is there.”

Most of the council agreed, with Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu Jr. noting the proposal was “compelling” and he wasn’t necessarily opposed to the project, but after consulting with community members, was inclined toward residential rather than a business park.

Developer Ken Milne, responsible for the Newton Farms subdivision in the city, told the council he felt the area was best suited for an RE zone and was surprised to hear it was being considered for an industrial project.

“My perspective would be a residential estate (zone) sitting on a golf course? There’s no better combination,” he said.

Councilman Lars Nordfelt felt the proposed project would be a “great addition to the city,” but he was in favor of keeping it inclined toward the RE, especially in light of Milne’s comments. l

Overhead map of the land in question off Lake Park Boulevard. (West Valley City)

The land looking north from Lake Park Boulevard. The council denied a biomedical facility with the hope for high-end homes to be built there. (West Valley City)

Region realignments set for high school sports

Teams in the Utah High School Activities Association’s Region 2 will be the new Region 4 in 5A.

Every two years the UHSAA adjusts its school's region placement. The changes are scheduled to take effect for the 2023-24 school year.

“I am excited about the proposed region alignment,” Hunter boys soccer coach Brett Solberg said. “It is our best fit. An ideal region should consist of schools that are similar.”

A public hearing was held on Dec. 14, to receive feedback from districts and schools. The new alignment was adopted on Dec. 15 and approved by the Board of Trustees. Schools wishing to move up or down in classification may petition the board in its Jan. 19 meeting.

“The board is going to reconsider the current realignment based on the petitions of a few schools,” Copper Hills Athletic Director Ben Morley said prior to the Jan. 19 petitions. “I am not convinced the proposed realignment will remain as such a few weeks from now. Many schools are upset at the uneven regions at the 6A level.”

Morley was proven correct. Originally, Copper Hills was placed in 6A Region 2 with Bingham, Lehi, Herriman, Mountain Ridge, Riverton and Westlake. But Lehi and Westlake were moved to 6A Region 3 after the Jan. 19 meeting, with Corner Canyon joining Copper Hills in the new Region 2. The aim was to keep schools within their own counties.

West Jordan High School was moved to 5A Region 4 with Cyprus, Hunter, Granger, Taylorsville and Kearns.

The move to 5A may indicate the drop in enrollment and the competitiveness of the region.

Region 2 teams have not had much state competition success recently but have amassed 132 football playoff wins. Granger High School began playing football in 1958, and Taylorsville

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

in 1981. The schools have many former players with NFL and NCAA experience.

“Playing Kearns and Hunter is good for us,” Cyprus head basketball coach Tre Smith said. “These are our rivals, but at the end of the day, we want them all to be successful. We want our neighbor schools on the westside to be successful and reach their goals.”

The high school association administers and supervises all interschool activities. These activities are a significant educational force for students to develop skills to become contributing members of the community.

The board of trustees takes into account the opportunity to promote fair competition in its activities. Some of the things the board considers include enrollment, demographics, time out of school, rivalries and competitive success.

“It is more fun to play our rivals. We know each other and may talk a little more trash in those games,” Cyprus guard Quentin Meza said.

One of the new factors the board of trustees has been considering is the elimination of regions. The RPI system has diminished the importance of regions. If regions are eliminated the coaches could arrange their schedules in whatever manner they wished. Schools could play a demanding or easier schedule depending on what the administrative staff wished.

“You can’t have your feet in both, one in RPI and one in regions. Maybe it's the learning lesson of this realignment year,” Board of Trustees Chair Jerre Holmes said.

“Trying to have our cake and eat it too, can’t sustain regions and RPI. We are working against ourselves,” Wasatch Superintendent Paul Sweat said.

Region 2 teams will have a whole new classification to compete against. l

The UHSAA is scheduled to announce its realignment for the 2023-24 school year. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

Local schools Cyprus, Granger and Hunter will move down a classification to 5A for the next two years of high school realignment. (File photos City Journals)

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Luxury housing complex to be built near Valley Fair Mall

It’sanother step in the development of the heart of West Valley City.

A large luxury apartment complex is in the early stages of construction south of Valley Fair Mall.

Back 9, as it’s called, will be a 262unit, five-story development on three acres west of Costco and southeast of city hall near 3700 S. 2700 West. The apartments will average 839 square feet and the project will feature amenities like a “resort-style pool,” rooftop plaza, leasing center, fitness center, kids play area, and a clubhouse with a kitchen and entertainment area, according to Seattle-based developer Timberlane Partners.

“We're thrilled to be planting a flag here with this development that is sure to add excitement to downtown West Valley,” said Timberlane principal John Chaffetz in a statement.

Back 9 will utilize podium construction which is basically concrete ground and lower levels with wood-frame construction on the upper floors. In this case, the apartments will be built above parking consisting of 424 stalls.

Projected completion of the project is 2024. Jacobsen Construction is the contractor.

Back 9 will add some rental housing

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

to a tight market, although it isn’t quite the affordable type community leaders around Salt Lake County say is desperately needed.

Because of limited rental inventory and high mortgage rates to buy a house, would-be home buyers are being forced into a competitive rental market. Those and other factors account for an average 15% increase in rents in both 2021 and 2022 after flatlining during the peak pandemic year of 2020. That was still “a lot less than home prices went up” during that period, said Paul Smith, executive director of the Rental Housing Association of Utah (formerly the Utah Apartment Association) which represents over 160,000 rental units in the state.

Smith said that homeownership in Utah reached as high as 75% in 2007 just before the Great Recession, but dropped to 65% after the downturn. He says that each percentage point increase or decrease of owner-occupied homes means a corresponding difference of 10,000 people leaving or entering the rental market.

Right now the state is about 50,000 housing units short of demand. “Cities are not allowing builders to build enough units. It’s really put a crunch on supply and increased prices,” Smith said.

Some 15,000 to 20,000 housing units

are needed each year to keep up with the annual increase in the state’s population and Utahns looking to get into their own place. Only 5,000 to 10,000 are being constructed annually. “It’s going to take a long time to catch up,” Smith said.

Smith praised West Valley City and Salt Lake City as being “more accommodating and pragmatic” in their approaches to allowing multi-family housing to be built than some suburban communities where an attitude of NIMBYism is more prevalent among some residents and city governments. Some localities even experience what Smith says is referred to as BANANA, an acronym for “build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.”

“Unfortunately, the cities get a lot of political pressure to resist building of all kinds, especially lower-income or high-density housing, whether it’s ownership or rental,” he said.

As for the Timberlane project at the south end of Valley Fair, Smith said similar multi-family developments have gone up around University Place (formerly University Mall) in Orem and The District in South Jordan and have been successful because of their proximity to shopping and transportation. He hopes for the same for Back 9 with its abundance of shopping and dining options and the nearby UTA TRAX and bus station. “It’s got a lot of advantages,” Smith added. l

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This rendering shows what the completed Back 9 apartments west of Costco in West Valley City will look like when finished in 2024. (Courtesy Timberlane Partners)

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Granite School District releases weather closure procedures and introduces free app

By Lizzie Walje | l.walje@mycityjournals.com

Herein Utah, our infrastructure is equipped to handle the rapid onset of winter conditions with relative ease. However, when should safety take precedence over school attendance, and how can school weather protocol keep families and students safe? This year, Granite School District has outlined its own protocols and procedures.

In a statement on its website, the district made it clear that keeping schools open is a top priority. “First and foremost, please know that Granite School District aims to keep schools open whenever possible. Snowstorms are a reality in the Salt Lake Valley, and though winter weather may present challenges, school closures or delays are rare.”

Furthermore, the district takes efforts through social media postings, text messaging, and other platforms to keep students updated on any closures. The district does its part to keep students apprised, however, it is best to assume that schools will remain open even during storms and other disruptive weather.

The district works hard to maintain a tight and functioning bus schedule that ensures students arrive at school on time. However, weather can cause unexpected delays, which is why the district relies on the mobile

application, “Here Comes the Bus.” The app, available on Google Play and the App Store, provides information regarding the whereabouts of your bus, including its real-time location. The application also provides scheduled and actual arrival times for both home and school routes and sends out push and email notifications when a bus is near.

Signing up for the application is simple,

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and Granite School District provides step-bystep instructions and troubleshooting on its website for those who are interested in utilizing the app. The application is both free and user-friendly, making it easy for students to navigate.

While schools aim to operate during snowstorms both major and minor, there are always exceptions and other factors to con-

sider. Ultimately, it should be up to parents to determine if conditions are safe.

“We trust parents to make the ultimate call when it comes to their child’s safety. Not all streets are plowed at the same time, and snow totals may differ from region to region. If you do not think it is safe to send or take your kids to school during inclement weather, please keep them home. School officials will be lenient regarding tardiness and absences during winter weather,” the district stated on social media.

The district works to prepare for any inclement weather in the forecast and is equipped to utilize virtual learning in the event of a school closure. Thankfully, in recent years, virtual learning has become a viable alternative in the event that in-person learning needs to be temporarily halted.

The district also acknowledges that its desire to stay open isn’t just for academic purposes. “Like any public service, people count on schools to remain open, and there are many services we provide beyond education,” the memo says and then goes on to state that students rely on schools staying open for multiple reasons. First and foremost, many working parents and families do not have the luxury of drastically shifting their schedules,

Snow is cleared off the walkway in 2019 at Oakcrest Elementary. (File photo courtesy Tod Cracroft)

and often have to risk leaving their children unsupervised or missing work.

Another reason why Granite District Schools aim to stay open? Food security. More than half of the district’s students rely on their neighborhood school for breakfast and lunch. Students may risk not having their nutritional needs met in the event of closures. Finally, schools often provide a warm and safe environment for students in the cooler months.

As previously mentioned, the district will aim to be lenient during major storms and extreme weather. Especially considering that many Granite School District institutions are located on or by major roadways and highways that are often impacted the most by delays. The district also aims to mitigate automobile congestion by limiting emergency late starts. These late starts are often the culprit of an increased vehicle pileup.

Unless you receive notice from the district, and/or your child’s specific school it is best to assume that classes will be in session. To learn more about opting in on push notifications and other helpful alerts, the district has outlined how to do so on its website. Assuming it’s routinely updated, social media is also a good place to check for any emergency information. Above all else, prioritize your own safety and use discretion when navigating the roads. Even smaller-scale storms and weather can prove disastrous if not carefully navigated. l

“They have been playing together for so long. It does not matter who gets the credit. It is not about the numbers,” Smith said.

The Pirates have competed in a few top tournaments including Hoopfest in Utah County in November. That is where they experienced their losses.

In December they traveled to California to compete in The Classic at Damien, a competitive top-tier high school tournament. They won the diamond division. Meza was selected as the tournament MVP and Jackson-Fobbs was named to the all-tournament team.

“We know we have a target on our backs. The community knows it and we know it. At the same time, it is about us getting better. Every night the two teams lace up their shoes and we have got to figure out a way to win the basketball game,” Smith said.

They were averaging over 66 points a game.

“We have been playing together for so long it should not matter who gets the credit. It is not about the numbers or about the records. We are looking at something bigger that has never been done in the community. I need us to focus on the team,” Smith said.

Every Pirate practice and game they talk about getting better every day.

“There are a lot of good teams in this state. If we understand that there are six coaches, 15 players, and 36 other players in our program. We need to stick together one step and one day at a time,” Smith said. “This is a really talented group. If we can buckle down on defense we can do

JAMES R. CRAIG, MD Urology

something special.”

“This is a team effort, sometimes one of us is not playing very well and the other guys can pick it up,” Meza said. “It doesn’t matter who is making buckets we all just care about winning.” l

Dr. Craig is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and trained at the University of Utah. He joins Granger Medical Clinic from his practice with Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

Urologists specialize in the male and female urinary tract and male reproductive organs. Urologic organs include the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, ureters, urethra, testes, epididymis, and prostate. Patients may have bladder or prostate cancer, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and other genitourinary disorders. Urologists may have additional sub disciplinary training as well.

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Spies Tia is part of a talented Cyprus crew this season. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

It’sa revolutionary idea. Build a neighborhood where the chronically homeless can learn how to own and care for a home, be a good neighbor and invest in building a community. It’s the mission behind The Other Side Village and will become reality this summer.

Located at 1850 W. Indiana Ave., The Other Side Village’s pilot phase is an 8-acre area that will include 85 homes, each ranging in size from 280-400 square feet. Most of the homes will be given to those who sign up for the Welcome Neighborhood program, some will be used for staff and community buildings, and several will be used as shortterm rentals to raise money to support the project.

“This will create a place for those who haven’t really fit into other places, so they can build their own sense of identity and their own sense of safety,” said Samuel Grenny, manager of Welcome Neighborhood. “It’s a peer-led model, so everything that happens in the community is determined by members of the community and it gives them the ability to define their safe, shared space in a way that is best for them.”

The Salt Lake County Council approved a $2 million investment to support the village which isn’t just about homes for the unsheltered, but creating a social system and culture that changes lives.

Welcome Neighborhood is a program that transitions people out of the homeless lifestyle and into The Other Side Village community where people are invested in personal growth and home ownership. When a new occupant arrives, they are given guidance to adjust to the new environment. This includes help with drug or alcohol addiction, mental health counseling and classes in how to be a member of a

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

therapeutic community.

“The only criteria is we don’t allow sex offenders or people convicted of arson charges. They must be chronically homeless and interested in living in a clean and sober community,” Grenny said. “They must have a desire to improve their life. This is permanent supportive housing, not a transitional model.”

Part of the program is teaching residents how to have healthy, strong relationships with each other. They’ll learn life skills like how to keep a neighborhood clean and how to resolve conflicts. It borrows from a housing model that shows people need base-level resources, like having a roof over their head, before asking them to take on challenges like personal growth and addressing health issues.

“People actually want expectations to be had of them,” Grenny said. “People actually thrive when they feel they’re capable of something. The Welcome Neighborhood is where people spend two, three or four months identifying and working on core areas that are important to them and will help set them up for success with their housing so they’re not cycling through it.”

After the resident completes the program, they are allowed to choose their forever home in The Other Side Village. Welcome Neighborhood is already working with future residents and 17% of the homes are taken. By the time the village opens in the summer, Grenny expects the first phase to be 25% full.

“Really core to our model is the self-reliance aspect, teaching skills to individuals to live as self-sufficiently as possible,” Grenny said. “We hope everybody gets to be

the best version of themselves. We have a social enterprise where neighbors are able to work, making $14 an hour. They learn job skills and all profits go to paying for the operational needs of the village.”

Salt Lake City gave The Other Side Village a 40-year lease on city-owned land to develop phase one of the project. The $2 million investment from the Salt Lake County Council will help fund the phase, estimated to cost $14 million. For more information, visit TheOtherSideVillage.com.

“This budget is an example of what we can accomplish when we all work together for the greater good,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. l

The Other Side Village in Salt Lake City was given a $2 million boost from the Salt Lake County Council. The village offers a safe community for those transitioning out of homelessness. (Rendering courtesy of The Other Side Village)

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

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

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

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

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

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

In a news release, Senate President J.

Stuart Adams said Mayne has been a champion for her district and a force for bipartisan camaraderie.

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

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

Emily Lewis joins Granger Medical Clinic after working in the Newborn ICU at the University of Utah. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, she has now settled in Salt Lake City with her husband. Emily went to Brigham Young University and received her Bachelor’s in Nursing in 2014. She began her nursing career at LDS Hospital in Inpatient Psychiatry. She then worked for several years in the Emergency Department and then spent some time working as a school nurse. This is where she learned her love for pediatrics. In order to gain more experience, she worked at the University of Utah Newborn ICU. She decided to further her career and attended graduate school at Westminster College. In May of 2022, she graduated with her Master’s in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner. With her diverse past medical experience, she is thrilled to become a Pediatric Primary Care Provider.

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

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

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

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

more care, and more attention to the people of Utah.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An active shooter at a school is perhaps the biggest nightmare for any student, parent, teacher and the surrounding community.

To prepare for what is becoming less of an impossibility anywhere or any time, Granite School District police with the help of West Valley City police conducted an active shooter training at Hunter Junior High School in January.

Students were absent that day because of term break, giving responders from both police forces the opportunity to plan and practice tactics without interrupting school operations. A few school staff members were working, however, and some officers played the role of students and bystanders to give the exercise a little more realism.

“Police are able to get that on-location, scenario-based training that’s very insightful and useful for their training purposes,” said Granite School District spokesperson Matt Sampson.

Granite police fired simulation rounds, or blanks, to familiarize school staff with the sound of real gunshots so they “have a little more heightened awareness and alertness to that,” Sampson said.

This and other similar training drills also include coordinating communication among agencies, chain of command, who arrives first on the scene, entry to the building, securing classrooms and hallways, a suspect barricade situation, and getting people safely out of the school.

The Granite School District, the third largest in Utah with 83 schools and 60,000 students, conducts similar training with police in the other cities where its schools are located. “Whenever we have an opportunity to get some handson, collaborative training like this, we jump at those opportunities,” Sampson said.

In the last few years, Granite schools have undergone security renovations to create a single point of entry to the public, giving staff a better view and handle on who is coming and going throughout the day with the goal of protecting the interior of the schools from unknown or unwanted visitors.

Education Week, a national publication, has been tracking school shootings in the U.S. since 2018. Last year saw the most with 51 events resulting in deaths and injuries. In those, 39 people were killed—32 students and seven school employees and other adults. More than 100 were injured.

The most tragic incident in 2022 was

Training for a tragedy

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

in Uvalde, Texas where 19 elementary school students and two teachers were gunned down and 16 people were hurt in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

The exercise at Hunter Junior High School was given added urgency by a false-alarm incident at Granger Elementary School in November in which noises from a classroom science experiment were mistaken for gunshots by a teacher who called 911, prompting a large response from police and other emergency responders.

“We’re always looking to improve our security measures,” Sampson said. l

Photo: Don Polo Photography

Police enter the mostly vacant Hunter Junior High School in West Valley City as part of training to respond to a shooting incident at a school. (Courtesy Granite School District)

A Granite School District police officer fires blanks at Hunter Junior High School to imitate the sound of real gunshots. (Courtesy Granite School District)

Over the fence: No vacancy at South Salt Lake’s animal shelter

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

On a December afternoon, in the kennel room at South Salt Lake Animal Services (SSLAS), 22 dogs erupt in a fit of cacophonous barking because Jackson Wood, animal care volunteer, has entered the room with a leash—each of the dogs, no doubt, hopes the leash is for them.

Moments later a Great Pyrenees named Spaghetti bounds down the hall and leaps out the backdoor to take a turn in the yard, a massive white tail wagging vigorously behind him.

The excitement may seem typical of a 2-year-old canine, but it’s a stark contrast to the dog who was brought to the shelter a week before, malnourished and dangerously thin, with gouge wounds in his neck from a pinch collar.

“When he first came here, none of this would be happening. He wouldn’t let you pet him, he was skittish and afraid. He’s come a long way,” said Jenica Laws, Animal Services supervisor, who explained that many animals are brought to the shelter neglected, abused and malnourished.

If Spaghetti is a testament to successful work of civil servants like Laws, the daunting truth is that this Great Pyrenees is just one of the bourgeoning number of strays who’ve pushed shelters to capacity across the state—according to data from Best Friends Animal Society—and with adoptions becoming further and fewer between, providers like SSLAS are working to understand causes of the surge and find new ways to get animals help.

Uptick in abandonment

One reason for overcapacity at kennels today is related to the uptick in animal ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic, as households acquired pets both as a way to cope with the stresses of lockdown and also because work-from-home lifestyles made ownership more feasible, animal experts say.

But now many of those same owners have surrendered or abandoned their animals as the whipsaw return to pre-pandemic lifestyles made pet caretaking more difficult, according to SSLAC.

“A lot of what we’re seeing is that people said, ‘Hey, I got a pandemic puppy. Turns out I’m not home as much as I was,’” said Julie Taylor, communications and outreach manager for the city of South Salt Lake.

“Now that many have transitioned back into the office you're seeing some increased behavioral dilemmas. When there is separation anxiety or pets are not getting their exercise, they tend to be a lot to handle,” said Taylor, who believes behavioral issues are a significant contributor to the increased strays and surrenders and says the

challenges are especially evident in canine populations.

In addition to having less time at home to be with animals, Taylor says that many pet owners have abandoned or surrendered animals due to financial hardship.

“I think you have the possibility that folks in this extreme housing crisis, and with the cost of living in general having gone up, who can't necessarily afford to feed their pets. It's become an expense that's beyond their budget. I think we're witnessing some of that with strays and abandonment,” Taylor said.

Compassion fatigue

Worse still, the psychological toll on animals only increases with abandonment as the trauma of orphanage and malnourishment intensify. And while admission to a shelter will return many animals to health, the emotional hardship doesn’t end there— and it doesn’t stop with the animals.

“A major problem in our work is compassion fatigue. We put our heart and soul into these animals. We love them from the first day they arrive. We come in and take care of these animals day-in-day-out,” Laws said. “But we see a lot of horrible things in this field, with neglect and abuse cases. We feel for those animals and it can be overwhelming, so we get a lot of compassion fatigue.”

To address their own emotional exhaustion, animal care workers rely on professional counselors and supportive relationships with city employees. Laws described the atmosphere at animal services akin to a family who provide a shoulder in times of fatigue.

Crowdfunding for animals

Compassion has also driven workers at SSLAS to find creative solutions to help animals in need.

A poignant example is seen in the story of Malin, a 3-month-old Yorkie-Pomeranian who was thrown from a moving vehicle, according to an eyewitness, resulting in two broken legs and five broken ribs. To save Malin’s life required a $10,000 surgery, a sum beyond SSLAS resources.

In desperation, leaders at SSLAS tried something new and put out a plea for help on Facebook. The community response was remarkable, showing that compassion goes beyond the walls of SSLAS.

“We raised the funds in a day, and even exceeded the $10,000. She had surgery that day,” Laws said.

SSLAS hopes the crowdfunding success can be replicated for other animals at the shelter, including a 1-year-old Great Dane named Bubbas, who’d been found with a broken foot that healed crookedly

and now requires corrective surgery.

“Without our volunteers none of this would be possible”

SSLAS relies on a team of volunteers, who clean kennels, exercise dogs, and provide much needed emotional attention to animals.

“We only have three animal officers here and one front desk. Without our volunteers none of this would be possible. These animals have been neglected and abused, and the volunteers help get them acclimated, take them out on hikes up in the mountains, play with them outside, clean their kennels,” Laws said.

Volunteer Wood, a student at Cottonwood High School, has been a critical part of the shelter’s training efforts.

“I’ve lived with animals throughout my life. I’ve grown to love them and love

being with them. And when I heard they were short staffed, I decided I wanted to help,” Wood said, pulling Spaghetti, the Great Pyrenees, into a cuddly hug.

Wood explained that after arriving at the shelter Spaghetti was scared and averse to humans. So Wood began sitting patiently with the dog in its cage. Eventually, he had a breakthrough and was able to remove his pinch collar.

Now when Wood enters the kennel, Spaghetti lunges emphatically into his arms.

In his time at the shelter Wood has witnessed a number of breakthroughs. The animal that affected him most was Mamba, a pit bull who was brought in emaciated and demonstrably afraid of men—a trait that Laws says is common of dogs who’ve been physically abused.

With the same patience shown with

Jenica Laws takes a break in the day to spend time with a cat at the shelter. (Zak Sonntag/City Journals)

Q: What is your name and position with the company?

A: Wade Glather, Lead Director.

Q: Tell us more about you. How long have you been with the company and what qualifications do you have?

A: I have been with Ascent since spring 2014, since before the first schools opened. I helped prepare the schools to open and hired teachers prior to our first day of school. I've been a part of Ascent since day one!

Q: How long has your business been in business?

A: We opened our first 2 schools in August 2014 in West Jordan and Farmington. Since then we have added 3 more schools, West Valley, Lehi and our brand new school in Saratoga Springs!

Q: What products and services do you offer?

A: Ascent Academies is a Tuition-Free Public Charter School open to all families, fostering small classes and personalized education led by supportive faculty. We are on a mission to provide enriching, individualized and varied educational experiences.

Q: What sets your company apart from your competitors?

A: Award winning schools and staff! We recently won charter school of the year in 2021! This year we had 19 of our teachers and employees nominated for teacher\employee of the year and our Network Librarian, Cymberly Erni, won! Besides having amazing teachers and smaller class sizes, our network of schools combines the Schoolwide Enrichment Model’s (SEM) researchbased strategies with curriculum and instructional methods aligned to the Utah Core Curricula in order to provide students throughout the network with engaging learning opportunities.

Q: Does your business solve a problem for your customers?

A: We are a school of choice - Students and Parents choose to come to Ascent and we are honored.

Q: Who is your ideal client/customer?

A: At our Farmington school we serve students from K-9, our West Valley school serves K-6. We love all students who are ready for a challenge and ready to learn!

Q: How do potential clients normally choose between you or a competitor?

A: Our Schoolwide Enrichment Model is a huge draw along with our award winning teachers and staff. Individualized learning! Who doesn't love smaller class sizes?

Q: What is your best advice for someone who is considering doing business with you?

A: Come take a personal tour of one of our schools. Register for our new student lottery, our classes fill up quick!

Q: What is your favorite product/service your company offers?

A: Schoolwide Enrichment Model

Q: Are you currently running any special or hosting any upcoming events?

A: Our new student lottery is open! The lottery will be drawn on January 24th 2023.

Q: Where can customers find you?

A: Farmington Ascent K-9, 22 S 650 W, Farmington, UT 84025, (385) 220-2200, www.ascentutah.org FB: www.facebook.com/AAUFarmington/ West Valley Ascent K-6, 5685 W Cilma Dr, West Valley City, UT 84128, (801) 685-0228, www.ascentutah.org, FB: www.facebook.com/AscentWestValley

Q: If you are a service provider, what is your service area?

A: Service areas include Farmington, West Valley, West Jordan, Lehi and Saratoga Springs.

Q: Anything else you would like our readers to know about your business?

A: We are proud our schools were some of the handful of schools statewide that stayed open safely during the pandemic.

T

What began as a crisis hotline with a handful of volunteers grew into an organization dedicated to championing mental and physical health issues for those living with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Now, a $2 million grant from Salt Lake County will help UAF create the first LGBTQ+ community health care center in Utah.

“It’s a game-changing grant,” said Ahmer Afroz, executive director of the Utah AIDS Foundation. “Finding funds for capital projects is quite difficult, so the support of the council and the mayor was game-changing. Our goal at UAF is to make impacts on health equity and reduce health disparity. If we can make quality, culturally competent health care accessible to everyone, we can make strides to achieve health equity in a real tangible way.”

Located at 150 S. 1000 East, UAF provides HIV case management, linkage to care and HIV and STI testing. Last year, the nonprofit added a mental health component by hiring a full-time therapist and demand soon exceeded availability. As the need for mental health services expanded, the foundation hired another therapist and will hire a Spanish-speaking therapist this spring.

As members of the LGBTQ+ community search for services that feel safe, UAF felt the community clinic was

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

he Utah AIDS Foundation has been a compassionate voice for people struggling with HIV/AIDS for nearly 40 years. In 1985, when the Utah Department of Health reported 17 people in the state living with the disease, UAF was established to address the need for public information while offering assistance to those dealing with HIV/AIDS.a natural step, based on a model used by health centers across the country.

“It will all be in the same location,” Afroz said. “One side will be mental health, one side will be medical, and programming is upstairs. It’s a unique model and that’s why we strongly feel it will make an impact in the community.”

Offering social activities, clinical care and a mind/ body/soul approach to healing, UAF provides services for any person living with HIV/AIDS or anyone who is part of the LGBTQ+ population. Services are provided whether a person is insured, uninsured, undocumented or underinsured.

UAF is the largest tester for HIV in the state and case managers serve nearly 200 people living with the disease. The foundation’s medical director, Dr. Susana Keeshin, is one of the top infectious disease providers in the state and sits on the board of the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Along with medical and mental health services, UAF offers educational presentations, including HIV 101 which is a basic understanding of HIV infection and transmission and how to reduce risk. The trained volunteers can give presentations anywhere in Utah.

The foundation also offers food bank services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and the UAF Thrive program encouraging healthy movement, nutrition, community and education. For more information, visit UtahAids. org.

“There’s a lot of pieces to what we do,” Afroz said.

KOMAL RASTOGI, MD Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurology

Accepting

(From left) Shiya Zeng, Ahmer Afroz, Ellie Echeverio, Ryan Gibbs, Bobbi Farnsworth, Chelsea Mitchell and Jared Hafen work at the Utah AIDS Foundation, which just received a $2 million grant from Salt Lake County to support the capital costs of the foundation’s new community health center. (Photo courtesy of UAF)

“It’s been a long time of needing to grow. We were able to get into a new building and expand our services. One of the biggest gaps we’re seeing in Utah is looking at clinical care and general LGBTQ+ competent care and HIV care. We hope to open in June 2023. We really want to be able to celebrate Pride Month with the launch. It’s really amazing.” l

Dr. Rastogi joined Granger Medical Clinic from Steward Medical Group. He was born and raised in Oklahoma and moved to the Salt Lake area in 2018. Dr. Rastogi previously worked in San Antonio, Texas, at River City Neurology prior to joining Steward Medical Group. Since moving to Utah, he has served as the stroke medical director of Davis Hospital & Medical Center in Layton, Utah. Under his leadership, Davis Hospital & Medical Center achieved a Primary Stroke Center Plus accreditation from the DNV and became the first certified stroke center in Davis County. He is a member of the Utah State Stroke Task Force which is a coalition of local providers whose goal is to improve stroke care in the state of Utah.

Dr. Rastogi offers both inpatient and outpatient neurological care. His training focused on procedures such as EEG, EMG, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, VNS programming, and skin biopsies. This allows him to specialize in epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders in addition to any general neurological disorders.

Dr. Rastogi believes that the patient-physician relationship is an important factor in providing good care. He completed his fellowship in a variety of neurological procedures to make sure patients can see one neurologist for all aspects of their neurological care, thus providing a lasting and trusting relationship.

SERVICES OFFERED:

• General Neurology services which include stroke, concussion, traumatic brain injury, headaches (including migraines), neuropathy, back pain/radiculopathy, sciatica, seizures/epilepsy, muscle diseases, motor neuron disease (ALS), myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s Disease, Essential tremor, multiple sclerosis, and dementias (including Alzheimer’s Disease) along with many others.

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)

• Electromyography & Nerve Conduction Study (EMG/ NCS)

• Botox injections

• Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

• Skin Biopsies

• Nerve Blocks for Headaches

Salt Lake County grant supports the Utah AIDS Foundation’s community health center

The year 2023 brings new hope for Salt Lake County

Anew year brings new changes to Salt Lake County. This year we saw several new additions to Salt Lake County leadership. After the November election some of us were re-elected and will continue to serve - Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw, Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, Attorney General Sim Gill, Auditor Chris Harding Judge Shauna Graves-Robertson and Sheriff Rosie Rivera. But we have a few new faces including Councilman Sheldon Stewart, Councilwoman Suzanne Harrison and Clerk Lannie Chapman.

This is the first year the council has more women than men. I remember beginning my council service in January 2014 and I was the only woman on the council. It’s interesting to see how things have changed over time. We’ve also elected new leadership for 2023. I will be serving as chair. Councilman Dave Alvord will be vice chair, Councilwoman Dea Theodore is Pro Tem, and Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw is the Minority Leader.

One of the great things about Salt Lake County is that even though we have both Democrats and Republicans, we are still friends and get along. That doesn’t mean we always agree on issues, but we can disagree and still be respectful to each other. I look forward to a great year where we can tackle some of the big issues like

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

homelessness, mental health, public safety, The Great Salt Lake, air quality, water conservation and investment in infrastructure as the County continues to grow. Ensuring we are keeping government “lean and mean” is important as I value every tax dollar and how we invest for the future.

We have a county council and mayor who commit to keeping our AAA bond rating. This means that the bond rating agencies believe Salt Lake County will pay their debts. It translates to lower interest rates, which saves you money. Of the 3,100 counties in the U.S., Salt Lake County is one of only 49 counties with this great bond rating. You can rest assured that our council will ensure a balanced budget each year.

Salt Lake County is in good hands and we look forward to 2023 with great optimism. One of the things we would ask of

you is that you make a goal to connect with your neighbors, family and friends. Because of the pandemic and the decreased human connection, we have some of our residents who are lonely or depressed. People need people to thrive. Please look for those who you can reach out to–those who may need a friendly smile, a warm

MARK NEVERS, OD Optometry

greeting, or a handshake or hug. We need each other now more than ever. Let’s make Salt Lake County the best place to livenot just because of our fantastic county services, but because of our loving and caring people. l

Dr. Nevers is originally from Oak Park, CA. After working the last 8 years in Spokane, WA, he now returns to Utah where he previously lived. Dr. Nevers is excited to be back in Utah and to help patients with their vision needs.

Dr. Nevers enjoys helping people with their vision needs so they can actively pursue what they love to do. He loves his patients and the time he can spend with them. He is kind and respectful and values the trust patients have in him to be their eye care provider.

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Granger grad recognized as ‘Most Valuable Educator’ by the Utah Jazz and Instructure

It’sonly her second year of teaching but Rio Polidori, a CTE teacher at Taylorsville High School, is already making a big impact. After nine students submitted nominations, Polidori was recently named a “Most Valuable Educator” by the Utah Jazz and Instructure.

She was honored at a Jazz game in January at Vivint Arena and received a $1,000 classroom grant from Instructure, parent company of Canvas, and a personalized jersey at the game.

“I was shocked because I’m a brand new teacher, so I feel like there are much more deserving teachers than me, especially those who’ve been teaching longer than myself,” she said.

A graduate of Granger High and the University of Utah, Polidori spent six years in the military before becoming a senior financial analyst. When she was laid off during COVID, she decided it was a good time to change careers. She always wanted to teach in the Granite School District and found the perfect fit teaching business classes at THS.

Her classes teach students tangible skills. Accounting, entrepreneurship, sports marketing and real estate are just a few of the courses she teaches each day. Polidori also runs an after-school program and a concurrent enrollment business class through Salt Lake Community College. She wants to make the classroom fun and teach beyond the textbook.

“Growing up, teachers were the ones to guide me to make the best decisions for myself. When I see students struggling or wanting to talk about their day or asking me what I think about things, it goes back to relationships,” she

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

said. “[Teaching] was something I always wanted to do and getting laid off opened that door for me to pursue that.”

Polidori goes out of her way to make her classes inclusive, safe spaces for her students. She tries not to judge or have preconceived ideas about a student’s ability. When a student was late to class, Polidori didn’t shame him in front of the class. Instead, her welcoming and encouraging approach gave him the confidence to take more business classes, where he’s received high grades.

“If a teacher would have welcomed him differently, his direction would have been different,” she said. “He wouldn’t have taken business classes and developed that interest. That’s what I get excited about. To see those changes the students make.”

One of the nominations came from a student who took her real estate class last year. He has since graduated, earned his real estate license and just sold his fifth house.

“Rio has been an outstanding addition to our business department,” said THS Principal Emily Liddell. “She works hard to motivate her students and provide them with real life examples of how they can start and run their own business and see what it takes to be a true entrepreneur. She also has done a great job running our Esports team. We are excited to have her as part of our Taylorsville High School family.”

Polidori plans to use the $1,000 grant to create fun rewards for students, whether that’s treats, activities or class parties. She says that’s the model for business; people set a goal and get compensated.

“Students feel they can have a relationship with me as

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far as approaching me with questions about school or getting guidance for life,” Polidori said. “I’m always willing to help them out, whatever it is, whatever type of guidance.” l

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Rio Polidori (to the right of the Jazz Bear) was named a “Most Valuable Educator” by Instructure and the Utah Jazz for her work with business students at Taylorsville High School. (Photo courtesy of Polidori)

Council directs city to rejoin Utah League of Cities and Towns

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

West Valley City councilmembers informally voted to rejoin the Utah League of Cities and Towns in January, right before the state legislative session began.

Mayor Karen Lang brought the possibility up in December saying councilmembers had expressed interest in rejoining.

City officials originally stepped away with West Valley City facing different challenges to ones faced by other municipalities, such as growth where WVC is already mostly built out.

The Utah League of Cities and Towns has over 250 members and its job is effectively to advocate for cities year round, explained its Executive Director Cameron Diehl to the council during a January study meeting.

But most importantly, its advocacy is most prevalent during the legislative session where they work on everything minus education and health care. Diehl listed transportation, homelessness policy, property taxes, sales tax, gas tax as but a few of the issues they work on.

He said their top three focuses this year were land use, public safety and growth (i.e. transportation, water, economic development).

“The strength of the league is its membership,” he said.

Each member city is entitled of up to three voting members. On top of that there is a board of directors made up of mayors and councilmembers from around the state and an executive board which consists of a president and a first and second vice president (which are the mayors of Millcreek, Provo and Draper, respectively).

Despite leaving the league, city officials noted Diehl continued working with the city and built trust through a working relationship.

In the interim, the city created its own in-house team headlined by Lincoln Shurtz, government relations director who incidentally once worked for the league running its government affairs for 14 years.

The difference boiled down to timely and applicable effectiveness. While the league could be a partner with the city working toward common goals, there lacked a specificity for uniquely designed West Valley City challenges such as certain requests regarding Olympic venues, additional infrastructure dollars and transportation safety on Mountain View Corridor within city boundaries. Those specific challenges would not suit the league who has hundreds of other clients.

Participation did not require membership, though fees for trainings would be higher as a nonmember, but Lang noted

membership would allow for a partnership without “freeloading” off their kindness as well as facilitate friendlier channels with other cities.

Councilmember Don Christensen, who was West Valley’s league representative when the city were members, was happy either way. Councilmember Lars Nordfelt felt the same way.

Councilmember Will Whetstone said the “benefits would outweigh the potential conflicts.”

Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu Jr. said he didn’t see it as a binary anymore between membership and a WVC team but was curious about the cost of having both.

“I’m interested in looking at those numbers (cost) to see if there isn’t a way to leverage both,” he said. “Having an inhouse team but also giving us leverage and being good neighbors, helping out other municipalities as well.”

City officials said the current budgeting process already allows for them to hire a specialist lobbyist if needed, so there is enough funding to do both.

The choice to rejoin was informal, with no official vote required. Fitisemanu, Nordfelt and Christensen were fine either way, while the other four—Lang, Whetstone, Tom Huynh and Scott Harmon— were in favor leading to the city rejoining the league. There will be reports to the council from both the league and the city later this year on the partnership. l

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The ULCT has over 250 members and works round the clock during the legislative session to ensure municipalities are properly represented. (Photo courtesy Utah State Capitol)

UHSAA schools have action plans in place to treat sports injuries

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

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

“You have always got to prepare for that type of injury,” Cyprus High School trainer and exercise science and sports medicine teacher Cole Kissick said. “We have an emergency action plan (EAP) in place.”

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

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

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

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

The EAP documents the individuals responsible for the equipment and documentation of the training.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parents have many different opinions. “I would think twice about letting my kids play football,” Sofia Broadhead said.

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

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

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

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

The Invention of the Year

Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinge r.

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness! Thank You!”

–Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features onetouch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a

Available in Green, Black and Blue (shown)

Granite School District doubles down on efforts to prevent illnesses this winter

By Lizzie Walje | l.walje@mycityjournals.com

backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

While statistics affirm that the chokehold of COVID-19 has lessened, in a September White House press briefing, federal health officials claimed that with an average of 400 deaths each day, this number of fatalities is “still too high.” Moreover, as we enter the long stretch of winter, it’s become evident that COVID has joined the ranks of routine illnesses Americans should highly consider vaccinating against.

What are these other routine illnesses? Most notably, winter marks flu season, and according to a recent post by the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah is currently facing what might just end up being its worst season in a while as cases and hospitalizations surge.

“This uptick comes after flu cases decreased dramatically in the first years of the coronavirus pandemic, and Utah isn’t alone—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported similar trends across the country,” the article stated.

that risks aren’t present.

Granite School District took to its social media pages to remind students and families of the following: “Cold and flu season is here and although COVID-19 case counts in the Granite School District have remained low, we’d like to remind students and families about the proper protocols for staying home when sick. If a student is feeling sick or demonstrating any symptoms of COVID-19, or any other illness, they should stay home.”

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Incidentally, there’s yet another illness making the rounds this holiday season. The respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, is surging in cases across the country. As of November 2022, cases of RSV and other respiratory illnesses are showing sharp increases across the country. The main demographic affected? Children.

With a triple threat of illness on the horizon, schools across the nation, including those in Granite School District, are working hard to remind parents and students to remain vigilant against illness and not to be fooled by the shift back into normalcy. Just because social distancing is no longer actively enforced, doesn’t mean

As of now, testing is particularly helpful because if one is ill and can rule out COVID-19 as the cause, they can take further action to get tested for RSV, the flu, or other respiratory infections. Taking control of your health and getting a proper diagnosis can help dictate the best course of treatment. Moreover, because RSV is largely affecting children, it’s yet another illness families should be aware of. With children spending more time in close quarters during the colder months, maintaining wellness becomes a districtwide priority.

“If you have symptoms, we highly encourage that you test,” Granite School District asserted on their Facebook page. “Those who test positive should isolate for five days. Please see our website for Health Department Guidelines. Masks (including KN95) are available for students and staff upon request at your school.”

As always, vaccines are one of the most effective ways to ward off illness and remain healthy during the winter months. It is advised that those who are eligible should consider receiving a COVID-19 booster and a general flu shot. Especially

The Zinger folds

Granite School District is providing families with helpful tools to combat winter illness including promoting vaccinations and staying home when sick. (Courtesy of KSL)

children who will be interacting in close quarters for the next handful of months.

In an effort to mitigate cases, COVID-19 vaccines remain free, and appointments can be scheduled at major retailers such as Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS. Grocery store pharmacies also have availability for appointments and stock of both COVID-19 and flu vaccines. For those who haven’t received a COVID-19 or flu vaccination before, it’s never too late to get your first dose. These vaccinations have been proven effective and are considered beneficial for the vast majority of people.

As for schools? The biggest takeaway

is for students to self-isolate and stay out of the classroom if they feel sick. Although COVID-19’s overall threat level has decreased, what we have learned from its presence remains helpful. Social distancing, isolation, and masking up help reduce the spread. These safety measures aren’t just helpful for COVID-19 mitigation, but for preventing the spread of the flu and RSV.

For more information regarding districtwide policies and responses to COVID-19 and other illnesses, Granite School District has guidelines on its website, including protocol for students who test positive. l

An infographic breaks down the school’s policy for testing, recovery and reintegration into school. (Courtesy of Granite School District)

Four steps to learning the languages of love

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

‘Tisthe season of love. These days everyone seems to claim they have a language of love. For some it’s coffee, others a day at the spa and for many it’s cheering on their favorite football team. Author of “The 5 Love Languages,” Gary Chapman, claims that “Love languages actually apply to how people express and understand love.”

Those five love languages are:

1. Words of affirmation. Those needing love in this area need to be verbally encouraged, shown appreciation, extended empathy and genuinely heard.

2. Physical touch. This physical affection can be shown appropriately in many different relationships of love. You might hug a friend, pat a co-worker on the back, rub your kids’ shoulders, kiss your partner, or simply sit next to someone going through a rough time (physical presence).

3. Receiving gifts. We communicate this through our thoughtfulness in giving something to someone, and we feel loved by receiving even a small token. It doesn't have to be grand, it just needs to be thoughtful and heartfelt.

4. Quality time. This is intentional, undivided attention spent with the other person. Time playing a board game with your kids,

a walk around the block with your spouse, a lunch outing with your friends, a one-on-one meeting with a co-worker.

5. Acts of service. This could simply be offering to help someone through your actions (or someone offering to help you). From teaching your child a new skill, cooking dinner for your spouse, helping your co-worker with a project, pulling in your neighbor’s garbage cans, or simply showing support of someone’s idea in a meeting.

So, why is it important to know and understand these languages of love?

- To better help us understand what we need so that we can better communicate our needs to others. We can't expect others to just know what we need or be able to read our mind.

- To avoid showing love to others using the love language of how we feel loved. This can result in our expressions of our love being overlooked if this isn’t their primary love language too.

- To help us learn how to effectively show our love to those around us in a way they prefer to receive it.

Four steps we can take today to find our love language include:

1) Visit www.5lovelanguages.com or download the Love Nudge app (the official app to The 5 Love Languages).

2) Take the quiz to discover your pri-

mary love language, what it means, and how you can use it to better connect with your loved ones.

3) Have your loved ones take the quiz. Then discuss what you learned about yourselves and each other.

4) Encourage your workplace to incorporate learning the love languages of your co-workers as a way to help open pathways of improving communication and your company culture.

Want to learn more about the importance of knowing, understanding and expressing love through the five love languages? Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast season 3 episode 3. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available on www.hollycurby.com and wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast season 3 episode 3.” l

Learn more on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

The Harding family expresses their language of love with a group hug. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Jones)

Utah Must be Nimble to Adapt to an Evolving Landscape

Irecently toured Lone Peak Hospital in southern Salt Lake County. This facility, in the heart of one of the fastest growing areas of Utah, must adapt to the constantly changing economic and demographic landscape. Although the hospital opened its doors only 10 years ago, it just completed a major expansion, including nearly doubling its bed count and expanding its women’s services, surgical services, and interventional radiology services. It is also expanding into other communities, including Herriman, Riverton, and South Jordan.

To survive and thrive in our changing environment, all businesses must remain nimble and responsive to the needs of a growing population.

Our state continues to grow. Utah’s population topped 3.4 million last year, and grew by more than 61,000 people, according to the recently released 2023 Economic Report to the Governor. This is like adding a new city the size of Herriman every year. And Utah remains one of the fastest growing states in the nation.

Our birth rate is slowing. One of the traditional unique characteristics of Utah’s population growth is that because of our high fertility rate, most of the population growth has come from “natural increase” — the number of births minus deaths in the year. However, in recent years Utah’s fertility rate dropped and is now lower than South Dakota, Nebraska,

By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist

and North Dakota. But Utah recently saw a resurgence in births. For the first time since 2008, Utah births increased, topping 46,000 in 2022.

Migration is driving our growth. On the other hand, Utah has seen a migration surge in recent years. The Utah Population Committee estimates that net migration (in-migration minus out-migration) brought more than 38,000 new residents to our state in 2022. This represents 62% of the total population growth in Utah and it is the highest number of people moving into the Beehive State in a single year.

Growth is a struggle and a blessing. There is no doubt that our state has struggled under the weight of high population growth and high migration. Population growth puts greater strains on roads, schools, housing, public utilities, natural resources, and social services. It is vital for civic leaders across the state to appropriately plan for population growth and build the infrastructure necessary to support these new residents. And we must all adjust to higher demand for our limited resources as the population grows.

However, while population growth produces challenges, it is much better than the alternative. Many states in our country are currently experiencing the struggles of population loss. In these states, governments struggle to fix roads, bridges, and infrastructure; businesses struggle with decreasing demand as customers move away; and housing price growth slows or drops as people leave. On the other side of the world, China just announced that for the first time since 1961 the country’s population shrank. A shrinking population will cause the supply of workers to shrink, which may cause productivity and overall economic growth to languish.

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Supporting the needs of China’s aging population will place a greater strain on workers and taxpayers as the dependency ratio increases.

Utah is blessed to have unmatched natural beauty, a high quality of life, and a strong and vibrant economy. Businesses are attracted to our state because of our strong and growing workforce, which is driven by strong population growth. And nimble companies and communities will be able to thrive in our growing state. l

“ The technician was prompt, worked quickly, and was very professional. They provided outstanding same day service.”

—David C

—Anna D

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

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

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

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

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

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

passion.

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

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

See. People change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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