October 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 10
FREE WEST VALLEY CITY RECOGNIZED FOR COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC RECOVERY By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
F
ew cities in America have escaped the economic fallout from lockdowns and restrictions on business activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. West Valley City is no exception. However, the finance website, WalletHub, ranks the city as one of the top municipalities in the country for recovering relatively quickly from the depths of the economic toll inflicted by the spread of the virus. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub rated West Valley City ninth among cities in the U.S. in the fast improvement of its unemployment rate during the worst stretch of the health crisis. “West Valley City is among the top cities whose unemployment rates are bouncing back the most,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Its July unemployment rate was 5.6%, the fifth lowest in the country and just about half of the national average of 10.2%.” The national jobless rate has since dropped to 8.4% in August. Utah registered 4.5% in July. By contrast, New York City’s unemployment rate shot up to 20% in July, a 464% increase since January.
West Valley City economic development director Mark Nord credits the rebound to the city’s diverse economy compared to other locales that have narrower, more volatile business bases. “West Valley City has made tremendous efforts to make sure that we had this diverse base so if a certain sector was negatively impacted we would still be able to provide the same level of services to our residents,” he said. Gonzalez cites another reason for the better employment numbers. “The report is an indicator of how well local authorities have handled the health crisis.” That in turn has allowed West Valley and other cities on the list to reopen their economies more quickly and get people back to work. “The WalletHub ranking is another validation to what we are already seeing in terms of new capital investment and new development in West Valley City,” Nord said. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky tops the WalletHub unemployment recovery list. Surrounding West Valley in the rankings are Boise at eighth and 10th-place Billings, Montana. l
West Valley City’s diverse economy with existing and new businesses has helped soften the financial blow of lockdowns and shutdowns caused by COVID-19. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
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West Valley City Journal
Save a life! Plasma donors are heroes.
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STEP 2 STEP 2 STEP 2 STEPSTEP 2 2 convalescent plasma STEP Separate 2 Separate STEPconvalescent 2 Separate convalescent plasma plasma
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October 2020 | Page 3
West Granite Composite ‘family’ bikes its way to the top By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
he Utah High School Cycling League has grown immensely since its inception in 2012. The West Granite Composite team was organized recently to encompass student-athletes from several westside schools. Mountain biking is not an official sport recognized by the Utah High School Activities Association and because of that, they lack support from many schools. That has not stopped Granite School District students from forming a team or, as they call it, an ohana (Hawaiian for family). “Every person on the team is important,” composite coach Rochelle Bartschi said. “Every one of our kids cheers for and makes the other team members feel like they are part of our family. We have a good range of abilities on our team.” The team is made up of 17 riders. The high school-aged athletes come from Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns and Paradigm high schools. The team also has seven middle school-aged students from Granite School District feeder junior highs and charter schools. In the league, many of the more established teams have about 150 riders and have large sponsorships from cycle shops and businesses. West Granite has made great strides in competing against and learning the sport but lacks aspects the larger teams have garnered because of their experience. The team is still acquiring the necessary equipment such as trailers, bike racks and hydration packs. “Most of the kids who come out are beginners. We work with them on their basic skills in practice. One day a week we train and then we go onto trails to implement the skills they have been working on.
Journals
It is good to practice because we can stop and let them try obstacles again and again. It could be a rocky section or downhill trail they can do it until they feel comfortable,” Bartschi said. “When they come to an obstacle they know how to tackle it and know they can overcome. That translates into life.” In cooperation with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association and the Utah High School Cycling League new riders are coached by certified adults and can have access to loaner bikes and equipment. No matter the rider’s skill level they still compete. Each is placed into his or her skill level and rides against the same level riders. “Everyone gets to play, no one is ever benched. This Kierra Kemp is one of four girls riding for the West Granite Composite Mountain Biking Team. She competes in the freshman takes a lot of practice if they girls division. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Davis) have a good attitude they can do it and become a team player,” Bartschi said. “At our first race, it second event of the season, he placed sec“This can be absolutely a girls sport. was pretty good. All of the kids finished ond. Our first year we only had one girl on and that was a wonderful experience. Ev“The kids have been pouring their the team, we have four this year. I feel ery other year I have had one or two kids hearts and minds into practicing. They like once they ride they will get hooked,” that weren’t able to.” have done well at the races because they Bartschi said. “They compete against other The racers have lap time limits and have dedicated everything they have to be girls at their level. There are some amazing are monitored for injuries and dehydration. successful,” Bartschi said. girls that have come into this sport.” Track officials can pull the rider if they fall Mountain biking is not just a boys Not having a bike does not hold back behind or exhibit patterns of being unsafe. sport, either. Currently, girls represent 20% its participants. At the first race of the season in Price, of NICA’s overall student-athlete participa“We will find a bike. This year we Kearns sophomore Tucker Grappendorf tion. A new initiative, ‘GRiT’ (Girls Riding have had so much parent involvement. We finished fourth in his division and landed Together), seeks to increase the number support the riders, and it is very inclusive,” the team’s first-ever podium finish. At the significantly. Bartschi said. l
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October 2020 | Page 5
Westbrook morphs into West Lake STEM Junior High By Bill Hardesty | B.Hardesty@mycityjournals.com
H
ow long does it take to change an elementary school into a junior high school? For Granite School District, it took about four months. As a result of the March 18 earthquake, West Lake STEM Junior High School (WLJH) located in the Granger area of West Valley City, sustained enough damage to make it unsafe for students and faculty. Weeks after the earthquake, reports of a partially collapsed wall, caved-in ceilings, and rubble scattered throughout hallways were made. The decision to close Westbrook Elementary (3451 W. 6200 South) at the end of the school year became a serendipitous decision. “This is a lifeboat for West Lake Junior High,” said Ben Horsley, communications director for Granite School District. “It is a miracle how this campus has morphed from an elementary to a junior high. It has taken a lot of work these past couple of months,” Principal Tyler Howe said. WLJH will stay at the Westbrook site until either the old school is repaired or a new school is built. The state, which acts as the GSD insurer, has not yet decided. Not only did Westbrook need to be remodeled to accommodate a larger student body, but also changes due to the pandemic.
Remodel
The projected population for WLJH is around 900 students. Six hundred students are expected to attend in class while around 300 students are distance learners. To accommodate the increase, an entire new wing was built from portable classrooms. In addition, other portable buildings were added for a new cafeteria and locker rooms and showers. The class size is smaller. At the old school, the average classroom size was 900
square feet. At the new school, the average size is 700 square feet. However, even with the smaller size, they were able to bring the furniture from the old school. Because of the STEM teaching methodology, students sit at tables rather than individual desks. The old cafeteria is now the gym. Students will not have lockers, which works well with pandemic regulations. Since students tend to gather around lockers, other schools are not using them. Besides a traditional faculty room, a collaboration hub was built. The hub has only small desk dividers, which allows teachers from the different disciplines to discuss curriculum, teaching techniques, and classroom management among other subjects. These types of areas are becoming popular throughout the district. “We don’t want our teachers to stay in their classrooms,” Horsley said. Because WLJH is a boundary school and the school is now located over 3 miles to the south,16 buses provide transportation. All remodeling costs were covered by Workers make the change official by changing the name to West Lake STEM Junior High. (Bill Hardesty/City the state. Journals)
Pandemic procedures
Physical distancing and guiding student movement are key pandemic prevention protocol. Just like grocery stores, there are reminders on the floor of the school to stand 6 feet apart. Hallways are one way. The school office and administrative offices form a square in the middle of the school. Students travel around the square in one direction. However, this is only during class changes. “So, if it’s in the middle of class and you need to run to the bathroom and the doors right there, you’re not going to have to run all
Plexiglass shields have been added to protect office workers at the new WLJH. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
Page 6 | October 2020
the way around. You’ll be able to just go right there. This is just during the busy part of the day,” Horsley explained. In addition, there are entrance doors and exit doors. For example, when students go out to the portables, they enter either on the south side or in the middle. However, they exit the hall on the north side. In the cafeteria, students line up on the west side, but there are blue X’s for the students to stand on. Students sit between blue X’s on the table allowing for physical distancing. If requested, teachers’ shields are available. They are a lightweight plastic shield which allows teachers to move it around the classroom if needed. There are also student shields available to separate students. While classroom tables accommodate six, there will only be three students. The office and counselor counters are shielded with plexiglass. On the first day of school, students were given Mustang go-bags. In the bag was a mask that needs to be worn all day except for when eating, a water bottle because water fountains are turned off, and other school supplies. Because there are no lockers, these go-bags become portable lockers. At the end of each class period, students use a mild cleaning solution and microfiber cloth to wipe down all common touch areas. “We have microfiber rags and cleanser. We use two different types of sprays. This is a disinfecting sanitizing solution that is electrolyzed water. We have a higher grade for our teachers and custodial staff. This is safe for students to be able to use,” Horsley said.
Markers on the ground indicate which direction students should walk in the hall. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
ence, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) school by the GSD Board of Education about five years ago. WLJH is the first junior high school in the district to have the STEM designation. “We still teach the same Utah core standards, but as a staff, we’re really striving to teach that curriculum using the procedures and the philosophies that exist in the sciences,” Howe said. The STEM methodology is about helping students make connections across all disciplines and their world. It is a hands-on collaborative approach. Students are challenged to be innovators and critical thinkStem methodology WLJH was designated as a STEM (Sci- ers. l
West Valley City Journal
Pandemic-friendly lawn business launches in West Valley area By Stephanie DeGraw | s.degraw@mycityjournals.com
A vendor mows a homeowner’s yard after receiving an order on the GreenPal’s app. (Photo GreenPal)
One business is revving up despite the pandemic. GreenPal, an on-demand lawn mowing service app, is launching in the West Valley area. “The coronavirus is still with us and
Wvc Journal .com
social distancing is a community priority,” Gene Caballero, co-founder of GreenPal, said. “Our technology allows vendors to bid on lawns without having to visit the property and talk face to face with the homeowner.”
Across the country, over 30% of GreenPal customers are over the age of 60. This demographic is the most susceptible to contracting COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill. GreenPal eliminates the need to meet for a cash payment Caballero said since payment is done online. On the app, homeowners can connect with local, vetted lawn care professionals. Homeowners can list their lawns with their service date and lawn care needs. Lawn care pros then bid on their properties based on the Google street and aerial images and any other lawn details the homeowner provides. Homeowners can then select who they want to work with based on the vendor’s ratings, reviews and price. Once a vendor has completed the service, the lawn care pro will send a timestamped photo of the finished work. Homeowners can then pay via the app and set up more appointments. “After successfully launching in 200 other markets, we are excited to help homeowners in Utah find reliable, safe and local lawn care,” Caballero said. His company presently has over 1 million homeowners using the GreenPal app. They have over 20,000 landscaping professionals running their business on GreenPal and operate in 46 states. A vendor’s view on the GreenPal app. They are based out of Nashville. l
October 2020 | Page 7
End of a grocery era By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
Because no one wants to spend eternity in a shoebox.
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Page 8 | October 2020
Davis Food and Drug closed in August after decades next to Valley Fair Mall. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
The surrounding landscape has changed significantly over the years with the remaking of Valley Fair Mall and the addition of In-N-Out Burger and Costco. Even the businesses directly next to it have changed multiple times. But Davis Food and Drug was a mainstay through it all. That is, until August when the small, family-owned grocery store closed for good after decades serving residents in central West Valley City. Davis Food and Drug, also known as Davis Jubilee before that, quietly shut its doors following a brief sale period to clear out its merchandise. “It really has been in economic decline over the past several years and from a business standpoint probably should have been closed at least four to six years ago,” said CJ Davis, son of owners Jim and Debbie Davis. “We really only kept it open because many of our employees have been with us since the very beginning. We lost a lot of money doing this, but we felt like we owed it to them.” The Davis’s, who continue to run their other namesake markets in Vernal, Roosevelt, and La Verkin, took over the lease for the West Valley location on Sept. 25, 1999, which was Debbie’s birthday. “Dad joked it was her ‘birthday present,’” CJ said. The demise of Davis Food and Drug in West Valley City is somewhat of an anomaly among small, independent grocers in Utah, according to
Dave Davis (no relation to the store owners), president of the Utah Food Industry Association, which represents the interests of 600 grocery and convenience stores, wholesalers, suppliers, and manufacturers. “Utah compared to other states has a really robust independent grocery community.” But Davis admits it’s tougher for stores like Davis Food and Drug to thrive in the ultra-competitive urban areas of Utah, where big chains like Walmart and Kroger’s Smith’s Food and Drug dominate. Local family-run grocers usually find their success in smaller markets. “They’ve done an exceptional job in rural Utah” and in other underserved communities, Davis said. “Oftentimes, that store is a community gathering place.” Still, he laments the loss of a store like Davis Food and Drug from the middle of the state’s second-largest city after some 40 years in business. “It made me exceptionally sad when the retailer has been a fixture of the community for a long period of time.” CJ Davis says the fate of the building vacated by his family’s store is up in the air. “It may sit vacant for a while until the owners decide what to do with it. We were just the leaseholders and the term was coming up and it fiscally didn’t make sense for either party to continue.” l
West Valley City Journal
Sales tax numbers show large, sustained COVID-19 boost for most cities By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
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his June, the City Journals featured an article about how the first sales tax reports released by the state showed early signs that COVID-19 had actually boosted sales tax collection in the month of March, relative to the same month the previous year. Readers responded with valid feedback, pointing out that sales tax numbers for March included all the panic-buying of food and toilet paper that was going on at the time. They theorized that sales tax numbers would go down in the following months as the bulk-buying relaxed and as the County’s order to not allow dine-in eating was put in place. Others pointed out that an increase in sales tax from year to year should be expected, as populations grow and new businesses open. They suggested that the Journals compare 2020 sales tax numbers not just to 2019, but to previous years as well in order to provide more context to how COVID-19 is impacting our economy. So with these two pieces of feedback, this reporter downloaded additional sales tax reports from the Utah Tax Commission for the months of March through June between the years of 2017 and 2020. What this reporter found is that COVID-19 has been a big boost for the coffers of most cities in the Salt Lake valley. Twelve out of 15 cities collected more sales
tax in the four-month period than in the same period any of the previous three years. The only cities that didn’t were Salt Lake City, Murray and Sandy. (Murray and Sandy trailed previous years’ numbers March-May, but rebounded in June to beat previous June numbers.) Many cities have experienced a sustained period of increased sales tax collection throughout all four months, suggesting that there’s been more than just a two-week period of panic buying that’s kept Utah dollars flowing. Seven of the 15 cities have stayed ahead of previous years’ numbers for all four months. Many of them by quite a bit. Riverton’s sales tax collection is up 36% relative to its 20172019 average. West Jordan is up 26% and Holladay 22%. Five others are in the 10-20% range (West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, Millcreek and Cottonwood Heights). The question is: why the big increase? Stocking up on toilet paper in March doesn’t explain it. And the growth is more than what one would expect from regular economic expansion. So why are Utah businesses as a whole collecting more sales tax during COVID-19? One possible reason could be that Utahns who normally would be traveling out-of-state for vacation—spending their money at Disneyland or Las Vegas or in Europe—are staying
More sales tax was collected in West Valley City between March and June of this year than in the same period any of the previous three years. (Graphic by Justin Adams/City Journals)
home and spending that money here instead. There also may have been an influx of college students who normally would have been living on campus, in places like Provo or Logan or other university towns out of state, but who returned to their parents’ houses in Salt Lake County, bringing their generous young adult spending habits with them. Of course, all these numbers mean is
that these city governments should be in good shape. They’re not reflective of the state economy as a whole. According to UtahPolicy.com, sales tax collection is up statewide by 5.9% but the state’s revenue from income taxes is down 10.1%. So while most city governments seem to be in good shape, many individuals and small businesses within those cities may not have been as fortunate. l
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October 2020 | Page 9
West Valley seniors deal with the obstacles of solitude By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
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s if older adults weren’t affected enough by their higher susceptibility to the coronavirus, many are coping with another issue brought on by COVID-19—loneliness and loss of social opportunities. Several local agencies and facilities serving older adults have restricted or can-
Adele King receives a lunch at the Harman Senior Recreation Center in West Valley City. She and other older adults are coping with the various ways COVID-19 restrictions have limited activities and social interaction at the center. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
celed activities and other functions that typically bring the elderly together and give them opportunities for social interaction. While the purpose is to protect seniors, whose age and underlying health issues make them more vulnerable to the virus, the result has been a dearth of contact with the outside world—or least the world beyond their homes or assisted living centers. Zenda Rogers, director of West Valley City’s Harman Senior Recreation Center, says the elderly, many of whom are widows or widowers, miss the chance to be around their peers. “They’re missing the hugs, they’re missing the handshakes, they’re missing the human contact, and we can’t give them that.” Not long after the pandemic arrived in force in March, the senior center canceled its daily schedule and offerings of in-person meals, activities and resources to promote mental and physical health, independence, and an overall better quality of life for elderly clients. “We can’t allow them in the building and do socializing,” Rogers said. At least, not until Salt Lake County moves from the yellow risk level (as of September) to green. “Our No. 1 priority is to keep seniors safe.” Harman Senior Recreation Center is trying to keep patrons engaged and receiving services—at a distance. Weekday lunches that were provided indoors are now given
to seniors as they drive up in their cars. Fifty-five meals a day are handed out. On Thursdays, folks can pull up and play “parking lot” bingo, a makeshift version of the game that is usually played inside the building. Rec center staff members announce the numbers over loudspeakers in the parking lot and seniors participate with disposable bingo cards while seated in their vehicles. The center also organized a progressive dinner in September to enable seniors to get out and be with each other. Separate groups circulated among four city parks where they partook of a different course of the meal at each park. All at a safe distance, of course. For those who can’t make it out, Harman employees and volunteers regularly check in with elderly patrons by phone to see how they are doing. Rogers says her people sometimes have to politely wrap up the phone calls to accomplish other things because the seniors would otherwise talk “for hours.” Traditions Assisted Living in West Valley City is home to about 60 residents of varying ages, including non-seniors. The staff at the facility has implemented ways to maintain normal life for residents as much as possible while safeguarding their health. “Bingo is a little more spaced out,” said Nate Porter, regional director of marketing for SAL Management Group, which owns and/or manages
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Traditions and 19 other assisted living centers in Utah and five other Western states. In-person visits by family members and friends began to be allowed in September, but in the form of “window visits”—talking by phone through a closed window or plexiglass in a common area. Visitors must wear gowns, masks, and face shields with plenty of social distancing. SAL Management even bought tablets for Traditions residents so they can connect with family by video chat. “We’ve found a way for every family to be as involved and have as much contact as they possibly can,” Porter added. “Now that it’s becoming unfortunately kind of the new norm, everyone’s been able to adapt to it and adjust,” he said. “Morale’s a lot better than it was at first. Spirits are up and good right now.” Back at the Harman Senior Recreation Center, Janice Jeffers drove up in her small SUV to pick up lunch on a Wednesday in September. When asked how she was dealing with being shut in, the 76-year-old whose husband died in August answered cheerfully, “I’m not shut in. I go somewhere every day.” But she still looks forward to joining her peers when activities resume, especially the fitness classes. “I like to work out.” Glendel Bunker, 83, said just driving
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West Valley City Journal
over to the center to pick up lunch is something of a break from the solitude. “At least you’re seeing someone,” he said, adding that being home is “mighty tiresome and boring.” Octogenarian Adele King is managing to pass the time by exercising four hours a day, in part to rehab from surgery, but longs to reconnect with other rec center regulars. “I miss my friends. We had a fabulous going-on here at the center.” In a post on Massachusetts General Hospital’s website, Dr. Matthew Russell, a geriatrician, says that “Loneliness amongst the older population will be a much more insidious cause of casualty than we previously realized.” Zenda Rogers expressed a similar fear if activities are still curtailed during the upcoming holiday season, a time when some seniors with few loved ones around feel lonelier than usual. She cited one woman who questioned her will to live if and when that occurs. “This is where the kindness and the compassion has to happen,” Russell states in the web article. “Ask (seniors) the questions that you would not necessarily normally ask, even if they have not prompted you to do so.” He suggests inquiring about their appetites, sleep patterns, and moods “to discover red flags,” as well as finding creative ways to connect with them to bridge the physical separation. A few surprise acts of kindness for the elderly may also fill their emptiness. At the Harman Senior Recreation Center, Rogers said, “We’re doing everything we SALT LAKE VALLEY JOURNALS 7.73x5.49.eps can to keep them safe, happy and healthy.” l
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October 2020 | Page 11
Former Wolverine swimmer takes on Willard Bay By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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former Hunter High School swimmer swam the length of Willard Bay and now has his eyes set on accomplishing other marathon swim goals. “I moved to Arizona and had been going to the gym and getting back into swimming because I loved it so much,” Mike Peters said. “I was going pretty often then COVID hit. I started swimming in some local reservoirs and lakes. I realized I liked swimming in the open water.” Peters graduated from Hunter in 2012 and now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. He works as a CPA for a renewable energy investment firm and decided to try marathon swimming. “I swam the shortest distances in high school, but this opened my mind up to an entire world of marathon swimming. I have become more and more interested in that,” Peters said. The open water swim made him more alert to his surroundings. “I like the challenge. At times in my training I did not have a guide or spotting crew. Sometimes the waves and currents are different. This was my first attempt at a marathon open water swim and I figured Willard Bay was a good place to start,” Peters said. Straight across Willard Bay is slightly shorter than the required distance to qualify
as a marathon swim. Peters added distance to complete the 6.2 miles on Aug. 28. He was supported by his wife Courtney and longtime friend Peter Leung. “My wife saw some fish by the boat, but I did not see anything. The bugs were the worst of it. I did not have much trouble, but Peter got some in his eyes and they got swollen,” Peters said. The length of Bear Lake is the next target swim on his goal sheet. That swim averages about 19 miles. His other plans include swimming Lake Tahoe, but those will most likely wait until next year. The Bear Lake leg is part of the Utah open water triple crown. Peters finished 19th overall in the 50 freestyle at the 2012 Utah High School Activities Association’s state swim meet. He was also part of the 200 medley relay team that finished sixth that year. “My whole life I have been trying to accomplish the next thing. I think I am very goal oriented,” he said. “I think that kids should know that there is more to swimming than going back and forth in the pool. It can keep you in good shape. I have met interesting people that have my same goals.” Salt Lake Open Water (SLOW) is an organization that helps promote safe swimming in Utah’s many lakes and reservoirs. The triple crown of open water swimming includes the English Channel, Catalina Channel, and the Manhattan Island swim. Utah has had three residents complete all three: Gordon Gridley, Joelle Beard and Chad Starks. Utah has its own version of the triple crown; Antelope Island to Black Rock Beach (8 miles), Bear Lake Marina to Cisco Beach (7 miles), and Deer Creek Reservoir (10 miles). SLOW helps organize each of these swims once a year in June, July and August. Currently, 28 swimmers have completed the Utah triple crown. “I am excited to see what other swims that are available. I can’t wait to see what else I can Mike Peters, his wife Courtney, and longtime friend accomplish. There are swims everywhere in Peter Leung celebrate his swim across Willard Bay. the world. Marathon swimming can take you Mike Peters, who graduated from Hunter High School in 2012, recently swam across Willard Bay, nearly 6.2 to lots of unique places,” Peters said. l (Photo courtesy of Courtney Peters) miles. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Peters)
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West Valley City Journal
Mobile food pantries roll out to schools in Granite School District By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com basic needs so that they can focus on learning and academics.” The rolling pantries contain dinner, snack, and hygiene kits and a supply of food to get students through the weekend. The food is assembled and loaded on carts at a GEF warehouse. The program is made possible by community donations and grants. Most of the kits are put together by local businesses as part of their community-service efforts and by other volunteer groups. “We’re ready for the school year. We have enough kits to get us by,” Oborn said. The nonprofit Granite Education Foundation works with the school district, business, community, and other not-for-profit organizations to advance the academic achievement of students and help them build a foundation for future success in higher education, careers and life. l
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The Granite Education Foundation has introduced Rolling Foods Pantries to help Granite School District schools address the food needs of underprivileged students. (Courtesy Granite Education Foundation)
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little more than half of the students in the Granite School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, an indication that accessibility to affordable, nutritious food is a problem for them and their families. To address that growing need in Utah’s third-largest school district, the Granite Education Foundation is rolling out its new Rolling Food Pantries. The pantries are large cage-like carts stocked with mostly ready-made meals and food staples for students deemed by school principals to need them because of family finances and other challenges at home. The mobile pantries are prepared for 23 schools each month and their contents are distributed to students and families as needed. “They’re guaranteed that every month they receive a full rolling cage,” said Kim Oborn, program and allocations coordinator for GEF. “There’s a lot of need in these schools.” Five more schools are expected to join the program in January. The Rolling Food Pantries don’t replace but instead supplement existing in-school pantries, which Oborn estimates are already serving about 5,000 of Granite’s 67,000 students, most of whom live in West Valley City. “The principals feel such a weight on their shoulders to ensure that their kids have the
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Want to keep Utah’s museums open? Visit or donate By Mariden Williams | m.williams@mycityjournals.com
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ccording to a July survey by the American Alliance of Museums, some 16% of museums across the United States are in danger of closing their doors due to the financial strain of the pandemic. Even those that aren’t in immediate danger of closing are still under immense financial pressure. Utah’s museums are, sadly, no exception. The Hogle Zoo, the Living Planet Aquarium, the Tracy Aviary, Utah’s numerous dinosaur museums—all of them are under a lot of strain, and if they’re to stay open, need the public’s support. While most museums do have endowments and financial reserves to fall back on, they’re not big enough to keep them going for very long, and closures earlier in the year have already eaten up almost all of that cushion. Funding is particularly important, and tight, in facilities with live animals. Places like the Natural History Museum of Utah have the option of closing up completely for a while: the dinosaur bones won’t get any deader if no employees come in for weeks at a time. But zoos don’t have that option. The animals need to be fed and cared for whether visitors are coming in or not, and that makes funding disappear even faster. The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, the Tracy Aviary, and the Hogle Zoo all closed for around 50 days from mid-March to midMay—the high season for most zoos—and all three are still reeling from the impact. “The Hogle Zoo has taken a major hit, there’s no doubt. We were closed for 50 days during a time of year that is critical to the financial health of the zoo. Spring is when we fill our coffers to help keep us afloat during the fall and winter when attendance declines,” said Erica Hansen, the Hogle Zoo’s public relations manager. A lot more was lost than just ticket revenue. Spring is also a key time for many zoos’ fundraising events, most of which had to be canceled or moved online. “We had to cancel our conservation fundraising garden party, and our education fundraiser, which raises money for camp scholarships and free nature programs,” said Patricia Dark, the Tracy Aviary’s marketing director. “Additionally, we had dozens of weddings booked that had to be canceled. All in all we lost about $500,000.” Keeping zoos open is important, and not just because they’re fun to visit. Zoos are crucial for wildlife conservation, both locally and abroad, and they sponsor a lot of habitat protection and breeding programs for endangered animals. The Living Planet Aquarium farms coral and uses it to bolster struggling and dying coral reefs, which are vital to marine life. The Tracy Aviary hosts and breeds several species that are extinct in the wild, such as the Guam kingfisher. Zoos are the only chance we have at introducing such species back into their native ecosystems. “We engage over 100 community science
Page 14 | October 2020
The Living Planet Aquarium’s timed ticketing system ensures that the building never gets too crowded for social distancing. (Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)
volunteers each year in local and state-wide projects that help conserve birds and their habitats. Our work helps many species—from rosy-finches, owls, and hummingbirds in Utah to macaws, pelicans, and plovers in Central America,” said Dark. To keep doing the important work, zoos need every bit of money they can get, according to Loveland Living Planet Aquarium CEO Brent Andersen. “It costs over $2 million a year just to care for all of the animals—that includes food, veterinary care, staffing, habitat maintenance, etc. The closure happening right before spring break, our busiest two months of the year, has had a tremendous negative impact on funding,” Andersen said. “The reopening has relieved some of that pressure,” but not all of it. To make things even harder, all three zoos are currently operating at limited capacity—in the aquarium’s case, this is by design, as they have been forced to limit ticket sales in order to enforce social distancing requirements in their mostly-indoor buildings. “We’ve created a timed ticketing system. This online reservation system allows guests to reserve a specific day and time for their visit. This system ensures that there is always enough room for guests to make physical distancing possible,” Andersen said. It’s a system that helps keep everyone safe, but it also means they’re seeing 40% less attendance than they have in prior years, which makes things hard. “Fewer guests means less revenue, while the cost of caring for the animals and running the facility remains.” At the mostly outdoor Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary, tickets are being sold as normal,
but visitors still seem to be hesitant to return in the numbers they used to. According to Dark, the Tracy Aviary is only seeing 40% of its usual amount of visitors. The story at the Hogle Zoo is similar, even though staff are doing everything they can to make sure that visiting the zoo is as safe as possible. “We were among the first three zoos in the country to reopen and our team worked tirelessly to make that happen,” Hansen said of Hogle Zoo. “We have hours for high-risk and elderly on Monday mornings, 8 to 10 a.m. Masks are required indoors and strongly encouraged outside, we have numerous hand sanitizer stations throughout zoo grounds, distance markers and lots of reminders for guests to take caution. We’ve had a few vocal parties on the great mask debate of 2020, but otherwise, most guests seem to be enjoying their time and are happy to have a safe place to stretch their legs.” With this decrease in visitor revenue, there’s a fair amount of worry as to what will happen should a winter resurgence of the virus trigger a second wave of closures. Will the museums be able to survive it? “Boy, we sure hope so,” Hansen said. “That could be tough for us, and we’re currently counting on revenue and attendance during our popular BooLights and ZooLights events to help us out.” At BooLights and ZooLights, which occur around Halloween and Christmas respectively, the Hogle Zoo grounds are bedecked in hundreds of colorful holiday-themed lights. Both events are good family fun, and have been well attended in the past. Unfortunately, they also take place in fall and winter, which is when epidemiologists say
a resurgence of the virus is likely. Government aid is also a possibility. “Depending on the length of any closure, we would be seeking federal and local funding like those that were allocated through Congress in April,” Andersen said of the aquarium. This would also be an option for Utah’s other zoos. Representatives from all the state’s museums and zoos said the public can help them to stay open. People can make a difference, through visiting them and simply donating. “We need visitors now more than ever. Or we at least need your support. There are many ways to donate,” Hansen said. Many museums, including the Hogle Zoo, are currently holding silent auctions, with prize packages donated by community businesses. Some even open after regular hours on fundraiser nights: the aviary is holding $30 socially-distanced outdoor movie nights throughout September, which gives people an opportunity to explore when the sun is less intense and nocturnal birds are active. Buying annual memberships to your favorite museums functions as a donation as well as a pass to visit them often. And, of course, there’s always the tried-andtrue simple cash donation, which can be made through most any museum’s main website. Donations really do make a difference for museums. It sure made a difference for the Natural History Museum of Utah, whose curators were, earlier this summer, worried whether it could survive the year. But after their Fund the Future drive in June yielded nearly triple their original goal, their future is secured. With the public’s help, that same security can be given to other favorite museums. l
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October 2020 | Page 15
New coach at Cyprus brings excitement to cross country program By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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here is new excitement along with a new coach for Cyprus High School’s cross country team. “I worked with the kids a little bit last year before the pandemic hit,” first-year head coach Tim Nowicki said. “I jumped in with
them for the short track season. This is a good group of girls and boys. They have been working hard all summer long.” Nowicki comes to the Pirates from Chicago. “I am used to the gritty area like Cyprus. I think this team has a talent pool with lots of potential. We just need to tap into that,” he said. In their first meet of the season at the Bruin Invitational at Mountain View High School, the Pirates showed off their skills but also gave a hint to the improvement possibilities. The girls were led by senior Kaylee Glover. Her 36th place finish with a time of 21 minutes 7 seconds was only slightly slower than her personal best last season at the Region 2 championships. “She (Glover) went through a transition with the new coaches and stuff, but she has stuck with it. I am excited for the rest of the season,” Nowicki said. “Cross country is hard, and it takes a lot of dedication,” Glover said. “No matter how much you don’t want to run it is important Senior Logan Olsen finished the 3-mile course at to come to practice and put in the time and Orem City Park in 19 minutes and 40 seconds. He effort. It is a good environment.” is part of a resurgent Pirates cross country program. Cross country running is a team sport (Greg James/City Journals) that incorporates individual accomplish-
ments. The team of runners try to score points by finishing higher than its opponents. “We have several good runners that help to complement our top runner,” Nowicki said. In the team’s first race of the season freshman Hannah Ellis and seniors Jael Hymas and Hannah Miles finished two, three, and four for the Pirates. “Hannah (Ellis) is from a middle school feeder. I am excited about what these girls have shown. Today was a good day for all of them,” Nowicki said at the conclusion of the event. “They are doing what they need to do despite all of the restrictions and limitations. We have about 40 kids on the roster. I think that is up from years past and they all seem excited.” Senior Daniel Poulson is a captain and set a personal record in the first event of the season. His 16 minute 9 second 3-mile run led the team and finished 19th overall. Nowicki called him a “hard-working four-year kid.” “It takes a lot of discipline to run cross country,” Poulson said. “Coming to practice every day is hard. I really think we will have a lot of PRs (personal records) this season.” \“This is an exciting group of kids so far. I am excited to see what we have coming up. I really wish I could have these seniors for
Daniel Poulson is the team captain and had the Pirates’ fastest time at the Bruin Invitational to begin the season. (Greg James/City Journals)
one more year,” Nowicki said. “Cross country is unique, it is individual because you are running against yourself and it takes a lot of willpower and mental toughness. This is an outstanding group of kids so far.” l
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Local school districts to provide free breakfast, lunch this fall By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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he American Academy of Innovation charter school in South Jordan is joining local school districts in providing free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students, thanks to a temporary meal waiver granted by the USDA. The USDA free meal waiver will continue to the end of December 2020 or until all funds are gone, whichever comes first. There’s no need to apply for the benefit; all students are automatically eligible. However, with most locations, children must be present to receive meals, so check with your individual school. The new breakfast program at AAI will be offered before the bell and lunch will be served as scheduled during the school day. Students enrolled in AAI’s online and independent study learning programs may pick up meals at the front office at designated times. “At AAI, we strive to offer fresh housemade meals to our students,” food service director and chef David Kimball said. “We are grateful to do what we can to ease the financial burden for all of our families, particularly any who are facing difficult times.” At nearby Jordan School District, officials are encouraging parents to continue applying for free and reduced meal eligibility so that they won’t experience a lapse in benefits because of the potential expiration of this waiver. All Jordan District schools will serve free meals for face-to-face students in the school cafeteria. Online and at-home learners may pick up meals at specific times and locations designated by each school. In addition, free curbside lunch and breakfast for the next morning will be available for all children 18 years old and under at Elk Ridge Middle, Joel P. Jensen Middle and South Hills Middle. Meal service at these three locations will be from 10 to 11 a.m. weekdays. At Canyons School District, Nutrition Services Director Sebasthian Varas said this was welcome news for their communities. “We have families who may not quali-
fy for free or reduced-price lunch, but have been financially hurt by the pandemic,” he said. “This will hopefully bring them some peace of mind and take at least one worry off their shoulders.” Four schools—Butler Middle, Draper Park Middle, Jordan High and Midvale Middle—will make grab-and-go sack lunches and breakfasts available to remote learners and non-Canyons students. Parents or guardians may pick up these meals without having their children present, however, students are encouraged to preorder if they are enrolled online or at-home. Members of the community, who do not have students enrolled at those schools, do not need to preorder. Granite School District Child Nutrition Director Dana Adams also welcomes the free meal service. “There will be some challenges to navigate, but it’s such good news for our students and families,” Adams said. Because of staffing limitations and safety measures at all schools, meals will be available only to students (both in-person and distance-learners) who are enrolled in Granite schools. Distance-learners need to arrange meal pick-up times with their individual schools. Murray School District students, both in-person and online learners, as well as children under the age of 18, can get their free weekday meals at their local schools or at these local apartment complexes: Hunter Woods, 1111:20 a.m.; Frontgate bus stop, 11:30-11:50 a.m., and Fireclay, noon to 12:20 p.m. For more information about Murray District’s food services, see www.murrayschools.org/nutrition-services/ Salt Lake City’s grab-and-go meal service is designated at certain locations through Oct. 30, excluding holidays and weekends. For more information and a list of schools to get meals, see www.slcschools.org/departments/business-administration/child-nutrition/drive-thru-meals/ l
Roundtable Talk with Representative Weight Your Vote and My Duty Since its start, the 2020 election cycle has been unique. We candidates have regularly assessed how to deliver messages with COVID considerations. As always, I want to address the issues and topics on voters’ minds. And this year, the climate is more politicized than usual. It might be useful to understand more about my view of the job of being your representative. My background is public school teaching. During my 32-year career, I taught in grades 7 through 12. I worked with gifted learners, high achievers, kids with severe mental illnesses, youth in state custody, “regular” kids, and all their parents. I came to the job of State Representative with awareness from these families of the broad spectrum of effects from jobs, food security, health care, air quality, transportation, and safety on lives and learning. Every condition and situation at home reflects itself at school, and I reflect on those in all my work as a legislator.
Liz4Utah.com
ElizabethWeight@le.utah.gov
The job includes my connections among stakeholders, research, budget, and with other legislators on four committees as well as in hundreds of votes for West Valley families during legislative sessions. I am also an appointed member in two important commissions – the Women in the Economy and Judicial Conduct Commissions. My most important role is listening to and sharing ideas with the people I represent. When I vote, speak, and sponsor legislation, my duty is to what benefits our families, neighborhoods, and economy. Your vote for me is a vote for honoring the whole job of representing you. ABOUT YOUR BALLOT: Ballots arrive the week after October 13. Every registered voter in Utah will receive a ballot in the mail. Now is the time to make a voting plan. Check your registration. Learn about candidates and issues. Check websites Voterise.org and Vote.Utah.gov. The best way to vote – mail your ballot by October 27.
Elizabeth Weight, Utah Representative
@RepEWeight
Whether in times of prosperity or times of crisis, we are with you on the front lines, leading the way and making sure our community emerges stronger than ever. We are all in this together at www.chamberwest.com Children across the Salt Lake Valley can receive free meals this fall, thanks to a USDA meal waiver. (Photo courtesy of Jordan School District)
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October 2020 | Page 17
COVID numbers for schools posted online weekly By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
Granite School District posts their COVID-19 case numbers online each week “in the interest of transparency.” Case numbers are listed by school under the headings elementary, junior high, senior high and specialty schools. Though there is specificity to the school, and it includes staff and student cases, there is no identifying information published. “We are not permitted to disclose breakdowns between numbers of staff or student cases, nor identify grade or class information to ensure compliance with federal health privacy laws,” said Communications Director Ben Horsley. “We believe this extra layer of transparency is critical in helping our parents make appropriate decisions for their kids,” said Karyn Winder, president of the Granite Board of Education. www.graniteschools.org/ covid/current-case-counts/ l
Source: Granite School District www.graniteschools.org/covid/current-case-counts/
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Utah families and doctors join national DNA autism study By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
S
tatistics published by the CDC for autism have held for several years: about 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A national study called SPARK is looking for DNA components to autism—and some Utah families are eager to participate. “My son was almost 17 years old before he was diagnosed with autism. We always knew that there was something different about him, and he had an Individualized Education Plan since kindergarten. He went through a lot of doctors before he was finally diagnosed,” said Julieta Tischer of West Valley City about her son Leroy. Getting insurance to cover autism services is an uphill battle for many families. Most need speech therapy, occupational therapy and intense behavior therapy to get life-changing outcomes. So genetic testing can be an afterthought for families dealing with the day-to-day challenges of raising a child on the spectrum. “When we heard about SPARK, we were very interested. We heard there was a genetic link for autism, but no one in my family is on the spectrum and no one from my husband’s family. We want to know where it comes from,” Tischer said. SPARK is a nationwide study that hopes to test DNA from tens of thousands of people. It collects saliva from entire families with at
least one child who has been diagnosed with ASD. The study covers all shipping and processing charges, and several genes connected with autism are tested. Leroy’s doctor, Dr. Paul Carbone, is a developmental pediatrician and professor at the University of Utah. He is part of the Utah SPARK team, and coauthored a book by the American Pediatrics Association on autism spectrum disorders. “I have devoted my career to the care of children with autism. I am also the father of a child with ASD, so the work is very personal for me. “Recent research has shown that genetic differences or changes in genes play a major role in autism. There are likely hundreds of genes involved, and while some of these have already been discovered, very large studies like SPARK are needed to identify more,” Carbone said. “Getting a diagnosis for a child with ASD often isn’t easy. Unlike some other medical conditions, ASD is not diagnosed with a blood test or x-rays. The diagnosis is made on the basis of caregivers’ descriptions of the child’s development, and by careful observations by providers who have expertise with ASD,” Carbone said. In Leroy’s case, the long road to a diagnosis was difficult on the whole family. “It’s hard for people on the spectrum. It’s hard to
Julieta Tischer’s family in West Valley participated in the national DNA study on autism—her son Leroy is on the autism spectrum. (Photo courtesy Julieta Tischer)
understand them sometimes, and hard for ily,” Tischer said. Calleen Kenney’s family in Sandy also them in school. Leroy was always different. They can feel rejected. It’s a learning process. participated in the SPARK study. Kenney is It’s been a growing process for the whole fam- on the leadership board for the Autism Coun-
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cil of Utah. Her 22-year-old daughter Maya is on the autism spectrum. Recently, Kenney was frustrated when some of the usual autism therapies and strategies didn’t work for Maya. “We had done some genetic testing already, and found out that in addition to autism, Maya had Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, a rare genetic disease cause by a deletion on chromosome 22. That accounted for her developmental delay,” Kenney said. Getting answers through genetic testing helped explain why some autism therapies didn’t work. Getting results from the study is a marathon, not a sprint. “It’s been about a year and we haven’t heard back on the DNA. But they told us it would take a while. In the meantime they send us emails with surveys and information, which is interesting. We want to do anything we can to learn how to help our son,” Tischer said. Kenney said the questions on the surveys helped her realize how far Maya has come. “They ask about these milestones, and it’s kind of fun to look back on them. A lot of families don’t get answers about what caused their children’s conditions. So anything we can do to further research and find a community helps a ton,” Kenney said. Kenney is very involved in the community and often speaks publicly about autism. She tries to make sure she always casts her daughter in a positive light while balancing the fact that raising a child on the spectrum can be a challenge. “I’ve found a lot of relief in the community. It’s hard. It’s difficult every single day.
Maya is one of these kids who will need a higher level of support throughout her life, so I need help finding answers,” Kenney said. Utah is one of the newest SPARK clinical sites, and Carbone said they are eager to have more families participate as the goal of the study is 50,000 families. “People who are interested can visit the website www. sparkforautism.org, or contact the University of Utah SPARK team by calling 1-833-4747092 or emailing sparkforautism@hsc.utah. edu,” Carbone said. Answers provided by SPARK and other studies may help families be more open about their experiences. “When Leroy was first diagnosed, I didn’t want anyone to know. But everyone already knew there was something different about him. So we woke up to the idea that there’s nothing wrong. He’s different, but there’s nothing wrong with being different,” Tischer said. Leroy graduated from Hunter High in the spring and now he’s doing a post high school program to gain more life skills. “He’s very smart. But it’s the job skills, social skills and life skills that he needs help with,” Tischer said. Tischer and Kenney hope other Utah families feel the same way they do about adding to autism research. “We want to add to the information they get doing this testing. We want to be part of that. If we can find out some information about having autism that’s in your DNA, that will be great,” Tischer said. l
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This year as the leaves changed I was reminded again how lucky we are to live in Utah where we get to experience four seasons in all their glory. Recently I had an opportunity to visit a beautiful area of our County--Butterfield Canyon--for a #BiketheButter Mountain Bike Rally. With a gentle nudge from our mountain biking friends, we have an opportunity to take some of our Salt Lake County open space and make it more accessible. We have the chance to build a multiuse trail system in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley and tie together Butterfield, Yellow Fork, and Rose Canyons. This exciting opportunity has been made possible with a partnership between Salt Lake County, the Bureau of Land Management, Rio Tinto, private property owners, and some dedicated
and passionate residents. These residents have taken their passion for mountain biking and pulled the community together to raise money and speed up the timeline for a desired trail system. This group recently raised $200,000 as a donation to begin this trail planning process. Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing high school sports in Utah and the west side of the valley has over a thousand students participating. Developing this trail system makes these recreational opportunities available right in their backyard and will expand participation and access. The proposed trail system will link over 70 miles of trail and will provide recreational opportunities for hikers and equestrians, in addition to mountain bikers. It will be another jewel in the open space crown of Salt Lake County.
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Every few years Salt Lake County conducts a countywide needs assessment and the results from both the 2012 and 2017 surveys told us that the number one priority of residents was open space and trails. This year especially, as we all found ourselves spending a little more time closer to home we also saw a marked increase in people using our parks and trails. We are so grateful for the foresight of visionary leaders who have been setting this
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West Valley City Journal
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
Witch, Please
It’s been a decade since COVID-19 reached our shores, ushering in 45 years of hand sanitizer, remote learning and face mask protesters sporting apostrophe-addled signs like “Your an idiot” and “Parent’s against masks”. But now it’s October. Halloween is at risk. S*** just got real. Nothing could be scarier than 2020, with its earthquakes and hurricane-force winds and rising COVID infection rates and elections, but Halloween isn’t just about fear. Halloween is the one day a year conservative moms can buy push-up bras and dress like lusty dog catchers, guilt free. It’s the day Snickers for breakfast and Reese’s for lunch are appropriate meals. It’s the day politically-inappropriate celebrities get tagged on social media. But COVID changed everything. Los Angeles prohibited trick-or-treating along with haunted house venues, Halloween carnivals and other spooky activities. After a swift and furious backlash from parents who need to give their kids ONE thing to look forward to this year, the city backed down and “recommended” common sense. Like that’s a thing. Even then, it’s gonna take a lot to scare our children anymore in 2020. They spent months locked in the house, learning fractions online and wearing face masks to the grocery store. Their stress levels are sky-high and adrenal fatigue has caused weepy breakdowns and heartbreaking acceptance. On the bright side, COVID-19 ushered in a whole new series of costumes for the holiday, including coronavirus outfits, teachers in hazmat suits and the very funny Elsa in a plastic bubble. I think I’ll dress up as a mail-in ballot since that seems to be the most terrifying thing in the country today. (Sidenote: Vote on Nov. 3. Vote by mail, vote in person, drop your vote off in a ballot box. I don’t
care how you vote. Crawl through a lake of spiders, a graveyard of zombies - just vote!) The CDC issued COVID-19 risk categories, pertaining to Halloween activities. The lowest risk is a virtual festival where celebrations are held on Zoom because we just can’t get enough of Zoom, can we? (Sidenote: Has anyone investigated the connection between the coronavirus and Zoom? Hmm??) Moderate risk includes small gatherings where individuals stay apart from each other and wear those Halloween masks from the ‘70s because there is no way germs (or breath) will get through that thick plastic. Higher risk activities will be your social distanced haunted houses where vampires and witches stand six feet away and snarl the horrible things they’d do if they could just get a little closer. That horrifying thing breathing down your back is the lo-
cal Karen, screeching into her cellphone and looking for a manager. Posing the highest risk are large, in-person, nomask gatherings made popular in places like Utah and Washington Counties. (Sidenote: Idiots.) People have tried to ruin Halloween for centuries. The latest attempt was the introduction of Trunk-or-Treat, which should be banned in all 50 states for its mediocre contribution to the holiday, so I don’t think COVID will stop Halloween enthusiasts. Some people find Halloween offensive, with its glittery bats and baby werewolves. But everything is offensive this year. If something didn’t offend someone in 2020, did it really happen? I guess we’ll see if people party safely this Halloween when COVID results start rolling in two weeks later. I’ll stand outside your hospital room with signs like, “I wish youd listened” and “Your an imbecile”.l
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