Syracuse Connection August 2020

SYRACUSE CONNECTION CONNECTION

Diversity in our

COMMUNITY Back to School in Uncommon Times RECIPES FEATURING

August 2020

Farm Fresh Flavor OFFICIAL SYRACUSE CITY MAGAZINE! www.syracuseconnection.com

Provo UT 84605 PERMIT NO 313

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+ F R O M T H E M AY O R

"Kids are Taking Over What We Produce"

A

CONNECTIONPUBLISHING

sweet chore is sitting at my desk each month and addressing you through the Syracuse Connection Magazine.

Because of time constraints, my words have to be penned nearly a month ahead. In recent days, I’ve heard rumblings concerning our youth returning to “in person” schooling in the fall.

I certainly hope that’s true.

Syracuse Connection is published monthly by Connection Publishing© www.syracuseconnection.com ryan@connectionpub.com | (801)721-3762 PUBLISHER Ryan Spelts GRAPHIC DESIGN Kristina Case WRITERS Mayor Mike Gailey Ryan Spelts Amon Pierson Tami L. Johnson Hailey Minton Donnica Martinez Melissa Spelts Kristina Case AD DESIGN Robert Dodd Abigail Rigby Crystal Rappleye EDITORS Hailey Minton Brittany Carroll

CONNECT WITH US! News, contests, photos from readers and lots more! We love hearing from you! syracuseconnection

Connection Publishing www.connectionpub.com If you'd like to advertise in our publications that reach over 10,000 homes in Syracuse, please contact Scott Jones at 801-628-0555 or scott@connectionpub.com, for ad rates and to receive a media kit.

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within the Syracuse Connection magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Connection Publishing or Syracuse City. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies. The City is also not responsible for any content in the magazines except for that which they directly submit for print.

The focus last month was on those who were to receive the Key to the City in 2020. Jan Jones, the wife of Brent Jones, was one of the wives accompanying her honored spouse. Now, I know Jan by her maiden name. She is a Dahl. I had a crush on her cousin in elementary school. Jan said to me in interview: “Syracuse is a great place to raise kids. Kids are taking over [what we produce]; instead of onions and grain!”

Now, that is worth noting and a bit remarkable, since her brother, Brad Dahl, is co-owner and Vice President/Sales at Onions 52 here in the community.

Sorry Brad! She’s right! The most valued produce is our children and grandchildren. They will be community leaders soon. After much discussion with the members of the City Council and staff, we are pleased to announce a reorganization of the Youth City Council and the creation of the Syracuse Youth Commission. We will retain a youth council, under newly written bylaws; however, we will be adding an affiliation with the North Davis Communities That Care Coalition [NDCTC] and establishing a community service youth component composed of high school-aged seniors living in Syracuse.

I was invited months ago by Davis County Behavioral Health to examine what would become the NDCTC. After attending a couple of orientations sessions, I invited councilwoman Corinne Bolduc (who has advance training in healthcare) to serve as the city’s liaison to NDCTC. When Lisa Bingham was appointed to replace Andrea Anderson on the Council, she became the liaison to the Youth Council. She now chairs the Youth Involvement Committee of the NDCTC. The two components of the Commission described above are specific to senior students. The final component of the new Syracuse Youth Commission is reserved for high school-aged juniors living in Syracuse. One day, I was awakened to the tremendous resource that is assembled in and among our city staff. The city has its pantry filled with professionals, those with post-graduate training, all meant to raise and sustain the level of service we enjoy. We’ve graduate degrees in management, engineering, planning, parks and recreation, law, law enforcement, fire, emergency services, recordkeeping, human resources, IT, and finance. We’ve certified staff in water and road system development and maintenance. We would offer our junior students a look into the window of possibilities regarding what they might become while serving as a volunteer intern to these professionals.

We envision the time commitment required to participate in any of the three components of this new commission to be approximately two hours a month.

If you’re a parent, give your son or daughter a nudge. If you are a high school senior or junior, please apply with Shauna, our HR specialist at sgreer@syracuseut.com. Hope to greet you in September.

-Mayor Mike Gailey August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 3

in this issue

AUGUST

The Connection Publishing Team Meet the people behind the pages of our magazines!

We asked our staff what their BEST VACATION has been:

"Oregon Coast! Crabbing, deep sea fishing, the ocean meets the forest.

Beautiful!"

Ryan Spelts Publisher/Owner Melissa Spelts Owner Rhett Long Sales VP

Art donations pg. 14

Vy Trinh Sales Leadership

CONTENTS 5

CITY NEWS

Kristina Case Graphic Design

Fresh raspberry lemonade pg. 32

Robert Dodd Graphic Design of Roy Connection, and Ad Design

12

COMMUNITY

Calendar of Events A Look Back Flitton Art Donations Back to School in Uncommon Times

22 BUSINESS

Oasis Montessori Schools

28

RECIPES Mexican Corn on the Cob Caprese Bruschetta Cowboy Caviar Fresh Raspberry Lemonade

Crystal Rappleye Ad Design

ON OUR COVER 16 Diversity in our Community

Kim Crook Media Manager

28 Farm Fresh Recipes

Hailey Minton Editor & Writer

31 Back to School in Uncommon Times

Ann Park Sales & Writer

"My cruise to Mexico was awesome!

Cozumel and Mahogany Bay were my favorite!"

Amon Pierson Writer

CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: syracuseconnectionutah

Special Advertisement Pages Econ Mortgage

Questions or comments? ryan@connectionpub.com or 801-624-9652 Website: www.syracuseconnection.com

4 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

Abigail Rigby Ad Design

Melinda Hortin Sales & Social Media

Tami L. Jonson Writer

"Sun Valley!

We rent bikes and ride to Ketchum for dinner and shopping."

Scott Jones Sales

+ CITY NEWS

Syracuse City Updates Exciting New Improvements to Founders Park The city is putting improvements in at Founders Park! Such improvements include the following: six new Pickleball courts on the southeast side of the park, along with a new playground, pavilion, and restroom. On the west side of the park, a new pavilion and new restrooms will be constructed. The west parking lot will be improved too!

These improvements will be paid for through a combination of the following funding sources: •

Impact Fees

•

Park Maintenance fees from monthly utility bill

•

Fundraising efforts from citizens

•

Recreation, Arts, & Parks (RAP) Tax

•

General Fund (property tax, sales tax, and general fees).

•

General Fund money that would have been used to pay for 2020 Syracuse Heritage Days festivities. Due to cancellation of these festivities, the city will reinvest that money back into the park in the form of new improvements.

Total cost of the Founder’s Park Project is $759,965 and is expected to be completed by October 1st.

RESTROOMS PICKELBALL COURTS PLAYGROUND PAVILION

COMMUNITY QUESTION CORNER

BY PAUL ROBERTS, CITY ATTORNEC

QUESTION: Can the City resolve my property boundary dispute with my neighbor?

Answer: In short, no.

The city’s involvement in establishing boundaries between properties is limited to our review of plats for adequate square footage and verifying setbacks for new construction. The city does not employ a surveyor to ensure that fences are placed exactly on boundaries or that other markings meet precise boundary descriptions; that is the seller’s responsibility.

Nor does the city file criminal citations against those who are exercising plausible property rights in such cases. We do not prosecute someone for taking down a fence or bush on a

mutual border, for instance, or for trespassing on land that may belong to either party. A police or code enforcement officer cannot determine an exact property boundary.

When two abutting neighbors dispute a boundary, whether it be due to fencing, vegetation, or other uses, it is a civil dispute between those neighbors – the only way the government will resolve the difference is through a District Court Judge, after a party brings suit against the other.

If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend that you do your best to work out an amicable arrangement.

Do you have a community question?

Submit your question to proberts@syracuseut.com.

August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 5

+ CITY NEWS

Public Works Update STORM DRAIN As debris, grime, and dirt get onto our parking lots and driveways, one good way to prevent these pollutants from getting into the storm drain system is to sweep it up and discard it into the garbage can. If we can each do our part, this will help prevent the pollutants from clogging up our storm drain pipes and will keep our waterways cleaner and our parking lots and driveways looking more appealing.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION: 2000 West construction proceeded in three separate segments to best accommodate traffic. The first two segments have now been paved (1700 South to 2175 South). There are manhole and valve lids that are being raised to the surface with concrete collars, so there is some limited traffic interference. The south half (2175 South to 2700 South) is closed until that section is paved. It is not on the schedule yet but anticipated to occur the end of July.

Bluff and Gentile roundabout is progressing, with concrete work happening for gutters and sidewalks. The asphalt trail is complete and may be used by pedestrians. Just be careful and do not enter the construction area. Be sure to drive slowly through this area to prevent gravel and dust from scattering. The base material for the road is being placed to form a solid layer for the new road. Driving fast over the base will inhibit the integrity of the base layer. Driving slowly still saves time rather than re-routing a detour around if all of the roads in this construction zone were closed.

OUTDOOR WATERING Please follow recommendations from the Division of Water Resources “Weekly Watering Guide” https://conservewater. utah.gov/guide.html .

PUBLIC WORKS FIRST RESPONDERS The American Public Works Association (APWA) has adopted this symbol as a reminder of the role that public works plays in emergencies. The symbol is reminiscent of road construction signs, safety cones, and construction barrels.

Besides the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, Syracuse City Public Works Department plays a critical role in emergency management efforts. This symbol is proudly displayed on the Public Works vehicles as well as on a flag at the Public Works building.

Employee Spotlight- Ciara Doenier Recreation Coordinator The city would like to recognize Ciara Doenier for her outstanding efforts in the Park and Recreation Department. Ciara was tasked with the challenge of creating virtual recreation programs while the community center was closed for COVID-19.

Along with this, she jumped in to help the mow crew in April to keep the parks looking spic and span! This enabled the Parks Division to be able to focus on other top priorities.

Thanks for all you do, Ciara!

THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication to our city residents!

6 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

+ CITY NEWS

The Contract Postal Unit The Post Office inside the Municipal Building is not actually a Post Office, but a Contract Postal Unit (CPU) that is run by Syracuse City. Our CPU is staffed with city employees, not postal workers, and we currently have three mail clerks working the morning and afternoon shifts.

We are contracted through the Freeport Post Office in Clearfield, which is the delivering post office for Syracuse City residents. We sell stamps and accept packages, including pre-paid USPS returns and international packages. We do not accept UPS or FedEx packages.

We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with mail pick-up at 4:30 PM. We are closed on weekends and holidays.

We cannot accept or process any mail after 4:30 PM on Fridays, so between 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM you may only buy stamps. If you need to buy postage for a package or drop off pre-paid package(s) after 4:30 PM, you may visit the Freeport Post Office until 5:30 PM. The blue mailbox outside (next to the silver utility payment drop box) is a 10:00 AM pick-up only, Monday through Friday, as shown on the box. If you drop off any mail after 10:00 AM on Friday, it will not be picked up until Monday morning.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, cash, and checks for payment, with checks being made out to CITY OF SYRACUSE, not the Postmaster. If you want to pay using American Express or Discover, you will have to visit a post office.

All mail delivery is handled by the Freeport Post Office at 391 E 1700 S in Clearfield. For example, when you receive an orange slip asking you to pick up mail that could not be delivered to your home, you will always visit the Freeport Post Office. Even if your tracking number shows ‘Syracuse Post Office,’ the slip means to go to Freeport Post Office since they handle all mail delivery for Syracuse residents.

THINGS WE CAN'T HELP WITH: We are not responsible for mail delivery, including lost or damaged mail. This includes pre-paid packages that are dropped off.

If you have questions regarding the following items, please visit or contact the Freeport Post Office at 801-7792347.

• Lost or damaged mail

• • • • •

P.O. boxes Mailbox key Vacation hold Overnight services Money orders

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August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 7

+ CITY NEWS

Parks and Recreation JR. JAZZ BASKETBALL Registration dates: 1st Session: August 1- September 30 Divisions: Itty Bitty Hoops (participant MUST be registered in Kindergarten), 1st grade boys, 2nd grade boys, 1st/2nd grade girls, 3rd/4th grade girls, 5th/6th grade girls, 7th- 9th grade girls, 10th-12th grade girls *Leagues will tentatively begin the end of October and run until mid-December.

2nd Session: August 1 – October 31 Divisions: 3rd grade boys, 4th grade boys, 5th grade boys, 6th grade boys, 7th grade boys, 8th grade boys, 9th grade boys, 10th-12th grade boys *Leagues will tentatively begin mid-December and run until March.

Cost: Itty Bitty Hoops (participant MUST be registered in Kindergarten): $45.00 1st-4th grade boys and 1st-6th grade girls: $52.00 5th-12th grade boys and 7th-12th grade girls: $57.00 **Teams for Itty Bitty and 1st/2nd grade will be organized by the Parks and Recreation Department. Grades 3rd- 8th and 7- 9th grade girls will be organized through drafts. **9th- 12th grade boys and 10-12 grade girls must register as a team.

For more detailed information go to www.syracuseut.gov

ADULT FITNESS SUMMER PUMP IT UP! Tuesday & Thursday 7:45 a.m. Boost your metabolism and tone your muscles with resistance training. We provide hand weights and exercise balls; you just bring your own exercise mat. All skill levels are welcome. $3 drop-in, $20 10-class punch pass, first class FREE!

STEP IT UP! Mon, Wed, Fri 9 a.m-10 a.m.

Work your heart, muscles, and mind in this fun, energetic workout! All skill levels are welcome, we offer low and high intensity options for you to choose from. ​​​Find more info on Facebook at Syracuse Fitness Classes. $3 Drop-In, $20 10-class punch pass, First class FREE!

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR VIRTUAL HERITAGE DAYS SPONSORS! Russon Mortuary & Crematory, J & J Nursery and Garden Center, and America First Credit Union.

8 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

Your child has you and you have WIC! Davis County WIC is open and providing healthy food to families.

Income guidelines have also increased as of July 1st. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for women who are pregnant or just had a baby and children under the age of 5. Many services are currently provided over the phone or online. To see if you qualify, call 801-525-5010, request an appointment online at http://bit.ly/WICAppt or go to www.daviscountyutah.gov/health.

WIC is an equal opportunity provider. *Note: if you are pregnant, you may count the unborn child in the household size.

Household Size*

Annual

Monthly

Weekly

1

$23,606

$1,968

$454

2

$31,894

$2,658

$614

3

$40,182

$3,349

$773

4

$48,470

$4,040

$933

5

$56,758

$4,730

$1,092

Each Additional Family Member Add

$8,288

$691

$160

Office Space in City Hall Now Available for Lease The city is leasing out office/light retail space at City Hall to any businesses looking for a great place to locate.

This space is 2,430 square feet and includes the following: • storage areas • free parking • both private offices and open work station areas • great front desk/reception area • open floor plan • location next to municipal administration offices and the post office • receives steady daytime foot traffic • is located in the best city on earth!

If you are interested or have any questions, contact Brody Bovero at 801-825-1477 or email Bbovero@syracuseut.com

We match competitors’ prices with a lifetime workmanship warranty!

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Licensed • Insured • Satisfaction Guaranteed August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 9

+ CITY NEWS

Hotline & Services for High-Risk Individuals During the pandemic, high-risk individuals follow stricter instructions because they are more likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19.

Individuals at higher risk include those age 65 and older and people of all ages with underlying medical conditions.

For those who find staying safe at home challenging and need extra assistance, there is help available such as home delivered meals, medical transportation, and more.

Call the high-risk hotline, 801-525-5050, Option 5 (M-F, 8-5), to access services.

10 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

Syracuse City Information

Key Community Contacts MAYOR

Michael Gailey: 801-589-0976 mgailey@syracuseut.com

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Lisa W. Bingham: 801-725-2300 lbingham@syracuseut.com Corinne Bolduc: 801-529-5779 cbolduc@syracuseut.com Dave Maughan: 801-927-7752 dmaughan@syracuseut.com

Syracuse Library

The newly expanded Syracuse Library is now open!

Jordan Savage: 385-424-0258 jsavage@syracuseut.com

Located at 1875 S 2000 W in Syracuse.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: (801) 451-1850

Seth Teague: 915-516-6423 steague@syracuseut.com

Passport Applications Passport application processing services are offered at City Hall between 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Processing takes approximately 20-30 minutes per application. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted and served in order of arrival. For multiple applications and/or photos, wait times may be longer. All required forms, photos, and payments must be completed prior to 4 p.m. to be accepted the same day. Applications can be found on the www.travel.state.gov website. Application fees must be paid with a check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State. More info available on our website www.syracuseut. com/Passports

SYRACUSE SERVICES

City Arts Council: 801-896-8101 volunteer@syracuseutaharts.org City Hall: 801-825-1477 1979 West 1900 South Open Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm, closed holidays City Museum: 801-614-9674 Hours: Tues, Wed, & Thurs 2pm - 5pm Community Center: 801-614-9660 1912 West 1900 South Summer hours: Mon-Thurs-6am-8pm; Fri- 6am-8pm; Sat- 8am-12pm Fire Station: 801-614-9614 1869 South 3000 West

Fix-It Requests

Lady Lions Service & Social Club: 801-825-1752

We appreciate our citizens helping the city be aware of issues that need to be addressed throughout the city such as road repairs, street light/sign repair, park maintenance, water problems (culinary & secondary), garbage can pickup, code ordinance enforcement, and even employee feedback. The city website is a great tool for providing us with notifications. The Fix-it Request link can be found on our home page by clicking on the REPORT A CONCERN icon.

Lions Club: 801-719-1804 Utah Lions District 28UT (open to all)

Job Openings For a list of the current openings with Syracuse City, click on the 'Jobs' link on our main city page www.syracuseut.com

Follow us on Facebook: syracuseut or visit www.syracuseut.com

Parks & Recreation: 801-614-9660 1912 W. 1900 S. parksandrecreation@syracuseut.com Police Station: 801-825-4400 1751 South 2000 West Post Office: 801-614-9677 (Inside City Hall) Public Works Facility: 801-825-7235 3061 South 2400 West Utilities Department: 801-825-1477 Opt #2 Volunteer/Eagle Scout Projects: Tess Jones 801-614-9655 tjones@syracuseut.com Youth Council: 801-643-8996

August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 11

+ COMMUNITY

August Calendar of Events SCHOOL EVENTS Aug 25: First Day of School. Read the letter from the Superintendent at www.davis.k12.ut.us/departments/riskmanagement/covid19/school-reopening Syracuse Arts Academy Aug 13-14: Back to School Night Aug 18: First day of school Aug 19-21: Early Out

Aug 14: Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway. @ Alpine Church, Riverdale 5050 S. 1275 W. 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. The student and a guardian need to both be present to receive the supplies.

If you'd like to donate items, please contact alpinecares@alpinechurch.org Aug 15: Water Lantern Festival @ Jensen Nature Park 5:30 p.m. Get tickets at waterlaternfestival.com Aug 20: Alice in Wonderland @ Perry’s Egyptian Theater 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Aug 22: TedX Ogden @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

CITY EVENTS

FUN THINGS TO DO Davis County Fair is CANCELLED Aug 1: Steven Cubed @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater 7 p.m.

Aug 4: Planning Commission @ Syracuse City Hall 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

National Parks Update: Arches National Park roads, trails, park store, and restrooms are open. The visitor center, campground, and Fiery Furnace remain closed. Canyonlands National Park roads, trails, park stores, and restrooms are open. Campgrounds will open July 1, 2020. Visitor centers remain closed. Entrance fees are being collected. Capitol Reef National Park is fully open with implementation of our final phased resumption in operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The visitor center and Gifford House are open with social distancing measures in place. In Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons Area, Scenic Drive, and Visitor Center are temporarily closed to all traffic. Park shuttles have resumed modified operations-tickets required.

Book tickets in advance on Recreation. gov.

Private vehicles are not allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive when shuttles are in operation. Bryce Canyon is increasing recreational access and services. Visit nps.gov for more details.

Aug 11: City Council Business Meeting @ Syracuse City Hall 6 p.m.

Aug 18: Planning Commission @ Syracuse City Hall 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Aug 25: City Council Work Session @ Syracuse City Hall 6 p.m.

Aug 1 - 2: Australian Shepherd Dog Show @ Legacy Events Center. Free to public Aug 3 - 8: Antelope Island Spiderfest - VIRTUAL visit https://stateparks.utah. gov/parks/antelope-island/2020-spiderfestival-virtual-version/ for more details

OPEN!

Although visitor centers are closed, some parks are still open!!

STUDENTS: Welcome back to school, whatever it may look like!

12 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 13

+ COMMUNITY

Flitton Art Donations

BY RYAN SPELTS

In a time when it seems the world has been turned on its head, it is so good to hear of those who are doing good. Syracuse resident, Carol Flitton, is an advocate of reaching out and doing something for others.

Plus, she leads by example. Carol is appreciative of the efforts that our first responders make every day and wanted to do something to recognize them. The sacrifices they make are often unknown to the general public, but they put themselves in harm’s way as part of their work. They protect our land and our properties, along with our personal safety. She also believes that the police officers have been given a great deal of criticism lately and not enough praise for those that perform their duties bravely and with honor.

When Carol was searching for a way she could personally say thank you to these valuable men and women, she turned to her personal talent as a professional artist. A few years back, she started to donate large works of art to various organizations as a personal thank you. Previously, she has donated paintings to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Layton Fire Department, Layton Police Department, and Weber State. This year, she has donated to Kaysville Fire Department, Syracuse Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, and Farmington City Fire Department.

These are very special and personal ways for Carol to show her appreciation for hard work in some of the toughest jobs in our communities. Carol has devoted the last two years to creating and donating these beautiful paintings to say thank you to those in scrubs and uniforms. Thank you, Carol, for being a shining light in dark times.

Thank you to Barry Flitton for bragging to us about his wife and her awesome service. Surprise Carol!

Carol has devoted the last two years to creating and donating these beautiful paintings to say thank you those in scrubs and uniforms.

Thank you, Carol, for being a shining light in dark times.

14 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

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Furniture • Electronics • Appliances • Flooring • Mattresses August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 15

diversity in our community

BY AMON PIERSON

16 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

Our community is like a home. While it has a few cracks, the foundation is sound. The

walls are values that our community upholds, such as honesty and friendship. The appliances and furniture are like the people in our community; we have wide array of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. Our community, our “home,” has so many different types of people that come from a multitude of different backgrounds. During this chaotic time, understanding of different experiences is important for our community to develop and maintain a happy and healthy “home.” This article serves as a lens into new and different perspectives, it serves as an examination of the diversity we have in our community.

I grew up in northern Utah. I went to Weber High, and my best friend lives five minutes away. I have roots here. Growing up, I always felt “othered” or “different” than the rest of the school kids. Because of the “othering” I experienced, I created my own community of friends and family, which helped me make a “home” here for myself. My hope for our community is for it to be open, so that everyone is able to live as their authentic selves.

As a Black and gay man, this community or my “home” has left me with mixed feelings. It is not exempt from the racism and homophobia that is present across the country, but at the same time, it is a serene, beautiful place to live. These two conflicting feelings show the balancing act between exclusion and inclusion that is present in our community and have left me with mixed feelings. I have at times felt both included and loved in our community, yet at other times, I have felt excluded.

My perspective isn’t the only one that matters, though. Good friend of mine and fellow Weber High graduate, Jaida Hall, says that her experience of this community has been “mostly positive.” Growing up, Hall says, “I am biracial and was raised by my white mother. I would occasionally see my father, who is a wonderful person, on weekends. But I only would see my white family, I would only play with my white cousins, and had mostly white friends. With all of these people around me during my very influential years, I lost touch with my Black side. I would wake up and look at myself, wishing I was white. It’s so weird to look back at my past self and remember that she hated being Black. Because I love being Black now.” While a person of color’s (POC) proximity to white people isn’t a negative or bad thing, it is obvious that Hall’s experience with our community has projected a negative self-image onto herself.

She continues, “To be fair, though, I did have some people who kept me in check. But, as I’ve grown up, I realize how important it is to have friends that are people of color.” Like myself, Hall has created a micro- community that is a part of our larger community to help become more comfortable with her “Black side.” These micro-communities are important to the survival of people of color in a community that is primarily white because it provides the opportunity to connect with people that share similar experiences.

As Hall grew into adulthood, her experience has continued to be laced with racism. She says, “I think a lot of the racism

I have faced isn’t intentional. I have been called the n-word, dirty, been compared to a monkey, etc. Those comments are so common.” While these comments at Hall have been detrimental to her experience with our “home,” she has an amazing attitude about it. She says that she has enjoyed living here and that the racism she has faced has given her the opportunity to educate the members of our community on her experience.

She says, “Seeing people I’ve grown up with learn and grow to understand, in any amount, the racism that people face in our community is so heartwarming.”

Next, I decided to ask creator of the Butterfly Coils Project, hairstylist, and mother of five, LaTonya Jackson, about her experience in our community. The Ogden native says, “My experience was great, with some random issues of racism and feeling like I didn’t belong sprinkled throughout here and there.

But I come from a huge family…so I have a ton of aunties and cousins that I grew up with…I was young though; I couldn’t wait to get out of here and see what else the world had to offer.” Jackson’s experience is similar to what most people of color experience in our “home.” As an adult, Jackson moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia, back in 2002, and came back to northern Utah in 2005. She says that her move back here has made her realize that northern Utah is home. She says, “This is where my people are. And in the end, life is what you make it wherever you are. Utah isn’t all bad. It’s definitely calmer, and a good place to raise kids. Diversity has improved over the years, and I think that’s helped bring more culture to our state.”

In our community, Jackson has had a strong impact on diversity. As a “natural-born leader and fixer,” Jackson is motivated to do something about the issues that directly affect her and her family. She says, “In high school, my friends and I initiated the first-ever black history assembly. When I worked my corporate job, I was the only black person in my office, but I never let that stop me from giving my all and creating a new training department that our division was lacking. If I know I can bring value to a situation, I try to step up. The color of my skin shouldn’t matter, but it’s important that people understand diversity helps bring awareness to things that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of because of your limited experiences. Diversity helps broaden perspective, and that’s important in so many areas of life when you’re dealing with people.” Jackson’s tenacity to enact change and to create more diversity in the spaces that she inhabits is inspiring. In our

Left page clockwise: LaTonya Jackson, annette mifflin, amon pierson and vy trinh August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 17

community, people like Jackson and Hall are doing great work to educate and create a more inclusive and diverse community.

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Given that we live in an area without many people of color, Jackson has been able to connect to her culture through her family first. Jackson asserts, “My grandparents and parents made sure we always understood where we came from. Getting out of northern Utah a few times a year brought perspective and helped me realize that life is never just what you see in front of you. In addition, I’m always looking for ways to educate and expose my kids to things that will teach them and make them feel proud about who they are as black children through technology, the arts, theater, movies, and music.” Her family, another form of community or “home,” is her part of connection to Black culture. She hopes to pass on generational knowledge of Blackness to her children through Black visual culture. Like Hall and me, Jackson has been able to integrate her own community of friends and family into our larger community.

Throughout all of her experiences with racism, Jackson chooses to take the high road and “roll with the punches.” She said, “[I] try to promote change where I can, and just do my best to be a good person and lead with love. It’s not always easy, but if I know I want to protect my peace, I have to. My motto is, don’t bother me, and I won’t bother you. I mind the business that pays me.”

Next, from Roy city, I will turn to Annette Mifflin. Originally from London, England, Mifflin came to northern Utah with her husband, who was in the military and stationed in Germany, where they met. Like me, Mifflin has had mixed experiences with our community. She said, “I lived in Utah during the Olympics, and Utahns are overwhelmingly friendly and helpful.

I was offered a job here, and I knew that Utah was a great place to raise a family…When I left Utah 12 years ago, the one thing I would miss is the landscape. The parks, the hiking, the skiing”. For Mifflin, Utah was a safe and comfortable place to raise a family and live. She said that, while it has been difficult to connect with other people of color, there is access. “I said to my husband ‘I just need one black friend.’ I am not affiliated with the church; I’m actually Episcopalian, and I think there’s

The hall family 18 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

"I try to promote change where I can, and just do my best to be a good person and lead with love."

-LaTonya Jackson only one other person of color [in my church]. My daughter is partnered with a Black man, and my husband has Black extended family, so it’s hard to get in contact with people, but there is access.” Although she doesn’t think racism is a problem in our community, she said there is definitely room for improvement. Mifflin’s mixed experiences with our “home” is due to the fact that though northern Utah is a friendly and comfortable space, it is also a space where it is hard to connect with other people of color.

Mifflin has had an interesting time connecting with diversity in our area. As a member of the Weber County Democrats, she said, “…I have met so many great and diverse people, such as Malik Dayo, who put me in contact with the Black Lives Matter movement, where I was able to speak at one of the rallies. I also substitute at Ogden High, where there are no Black high school teachers, so my experience with diversity has been interesting.”

Focusing on her engagement in city planning and education, Mifflin says, “I don’t get out much, but I am on the Roy City planning commission where I am the only person of color, and I don’t think that there are any people of color on the school board. Those children need to see people that are like them.

When they’re in there day-to-day life, they need to see example of themselves.” Here, Mifflin underscores the importance of having people of color in positions to enact change.

Although her time in northern Utah has been mostly positive, she has experienced instances of racism. While there is no part of our community that is “harmful” to her identities, she has been weary of the police. “I don’t ever speed, but now that things have changed since the murder of George Floyd, I have been hyper vigilant and cautiously aware.”

Originally from California, Roger Magana has lived in northern Utah for eighteen years. Like many people of color in our community, Magana has experienced some racism. Magana says, “It definitely depends on the city. Like when I was in Farr West, and I would go to the store, I could tell that they didn’t want me there. There are people out there that are racist.”

Despite this, Magana has had a positive experience in our community. He says, “It’s nicer here than where I came from.

California is too crowded and there’s lots of crime. When I first came here, my dad and I lived in South Ogden on 38th and Adams. From 24th Street to about 36th, they would call it the ‘ghetto,’ and I would drive through there and think that that isn’t a ‘ghetto’ compared to California.” For Magana, northern Utah is a safe and calm place for him and his family.

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Finally, I will turn to Vy Trinh, operations manager for the company that publishes this magazine, Connection Publishing.

Vy grew up in Vietnam and came to Utah for school ten years ago. Her experience living in our “home” has been mostly positive. Trinh said, “I have been pretty fortunate to get a nice neighborhood where people are tied to each other. Although I do have a few experiences with racism that are minor here and there, it’s not aggressive.” Like Hall and Jackson, Trinh has had a mostly positive experience with our community.

To connect with other people of color and her culture, Trinh keeps in close contact with her family in Vietnam. Additionally, when Trinh moved into her neighborhood, she made it a point to introduce herself and come in contact with people that she did not know.

While living here, Trinh has taken the high road when dealing with racism. She said, “I treat them with kindness or kill them with kindness. Every time I know that someone is being racist toward me, I am super, extra nice to them to make them more comfortable and have a different opinion about race. I tend not to think about it much because they have different or no information about race. I try to educate them.” Again, like Hall and Jackson, Trinh sees racism in our community as the opportunity to educate people and help the community become more inclusive. In her experience with race, she said, “I don’t really see color, I don’t want to say ‘hey this is not diverse, we should bring in more’ as it’s much more dependent on which city you’re in.”

The testimonies you’ve read today are just some of the many experiences that our community members have had at “home.”

This article is a reminder of the diversity we have in our area.

It is an insight into the lives of some of your friends and neighbors who maybe haven’t had the same experiences as you while living here. In this turbulent time, it is more important than ever to see the diversity that our area has to offer and to understand that this diversity makes us stronger. I hope that this article is a step forward in understanding those different perspectives.

In this turbulent time, it is more important than ever to see the diversity that our area has to offer and to understand that this diversity makes us stronger.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Oasis Montessori Schools Tell us your beginnings.

Tell us more about your preschool program.

Oasis Montessori Schools started in a small location in 2015.

Within a short time, the demand for our program rapidly increased. Therefore, in 2016 we moved to our current location which gave us room for school expansion. In 2018, Oasis Montessori Schools were awarded High-Quality Preschool certification by the Department of Work Force Services in Utah.

This award gave us a lot of recognition and appreciation as an institute that offers high- quality early childhood education in our community. Despite the expansion, we still did not have enough classrooms to offer seats to families on our waiting list.

Therefore, we added a few more classrooms to the school in 2018. To meet the continuous high demand for the program, we started the construction of a new school building in 2019. This new building will add 10 more classrooms to our school and will be completed in August 2020.

Our preschool program is open for 12 hours, starting from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Parents have the liberty to drop off their children at any time between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and pick up children by 6:00 p.m. Our preschool program is structured into 3 levels: cycle 1 for infants of three months to 24 months, cycle 2 for toddlers of two to three years and cycle 3 for three to five-year-old children.

What type of programs do you offer at Oasis Montessori Schools?

Our preschool program is for infants starting from three months to five-year-old children. In addition to the preschool program, we have an extended day care program for schoolgoing children. We have our own fleet of vehicles to provide transportation to children in our extended day care program to back and forth from their schools to Oasis.

22 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

A preschool program for babies? How does a preschool program benefit an infant?

Our cycle 1 program is specifically designed for children of three months to 24 months old. The curriculum in our school is based on Montessori concepts, where Montessori materials and practices are employed to meet the child’s developmental needs.

The age between three months to 24 months is a crucial developmental stage in childhood because this is the time where the brain undergoes rapid development. Exposure to a Montessori environment at an early age is very beneficial as it gives the freedom to the child to safely explore and learn through discovery. When the children complete our cycle 1 program at the age of 24 months, they gain the ability to identify different shapes, letters, and numbers. All cycle 1 classrooms are provided with a refrigerator, enabling working mothers to store breastmilk needed for their babies for the day.

• The beauty of Montessori education is that it is childcentered, hands-on educational approach.

How is the day structured for preschoolers in cycles 2 and 3?

visit us!

What should the parents do if they want to enroll their children in Oasis Montessori Schools?

The first thing the parents can do is to take a tour in our facility.

The parents can book a tour by calling our office at (801) 8257827. Generally, we conduct tours every day between 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. In the tour, the parents get to observe the classrooms that are in session.

oasismontessorischools.com 780 S 2000 W, #B, Syracuse, UT Phone: (801) 825-7827

Generally, this is how the daily timetable looks like for a preschooler in cycles 2 and 3; From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., the children can have their breakfast and engage in free play.

From 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the preschool Montessori program starts. During this time, children engage in educational activities such as learning to read, write, mathematics, science, geography, and social studies. You may wonder whether learning subjects such as geography, botany etc. at such a young age is too advanced and may induce unnecessary stress to a preschooler. This is not so. Our preschool curriculum is based on Montessori concepts. The beauty of Montessori education is that it is a child centered, hands-on educational approach.

All the high-quality Montessori equipment available in our classrooms are designed to teach an educational concept by giving hands-on experience to the child. While learning, the child feels that he or she is engaged in play. Our daily schedule includes time for the children to engage in outdoor games and activities before lunch. We also emphasize on developing child’s creative intelligence. During the latter part of each day, children engage in additional educational activities of their choice, like learning a second language (Japanese and Spanish) or learning to play piano, sign language, computer and many more. We have teachers specialized in teaching these subjects. We also have highly experienced teachers in our staff who are trained to teach English reading and writing to very young children. Working with different teachers gives variety to the child’s daily schedule because the child gets to interact with different teachers in different classroom settings.

Can you describe your extended day care program?

Our extended day care program or cycle 4 program is designed for school-going

children. The parents can drop off their children at our school in the morning. After having breakfast, the children are given transportation to their schools. We take a special care when hiring drivers to our transportation team. All our drivers are above 25 years of age and have immaculate driving histories.

We provide lunch to the children who go to kindergarten. The daily schedule of cycle 4 is mainly focused on academic activities.

The children in cycle 4 complete their homework before they go home each day.

The teachers give a helping hand to children when needed to complete their homework.

What else is special about the Oasis Montessori Schools?

We conduct periodic assessments in our preschool program to determine whether the child develops language, numeracy, and sensorial skills at an age-appropriate level.

All the children in every cycle are evaluated every three to six months to determine the progress the child has made.

Sometimes I have seen that parents opt for daycare over preschool. This is mostly because some parents with young children are unaware of the benefits a preschool program provides. Preschool programs focus on early childhood education and teach variety of cognitive, social, emotional, and language skills. A high-quality preschool program like the one we offer at Oasis Montessori Schools prepare the children with skills needed for school readiness and academic success.

Also, most of the parents have the misconception that preschool programs are much more expensive than daycare.

Actually, this is not true. The preschool program we offer is available at an affordable price and is very cost effective as the child gets more benefits by being in a well-structured early childhood educational program than being in daycare.

August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 23

+ A LOOK BACK

Founding Families of Syracuse

BY TAMI L. JOHNSON

THE THURGOODS

C

olleen Thurgood has a twinkle in her eye when she remembers her first husband, Van Dahl. They enjoyed several years of happiness together while living in Syracuse and raised five children before he passed away. The following year, Colleen fell in love and married Van’s first cousin, DeLore Thurgood. DeLore has also since passed, but Colleen continues to live a life filled with devoted friends and family, while actively participating in the community.

Each of these two good men mentioned above, Van Dahl and DeLore Thurgood, have strong ties that take them back to one of Syracuse City’s founding families: the Thurgoods. We begin by learning about Van Dahl’s parents, Earl and Evaline Thurgood Dahl. Earl was born in South Hooper (which is now West Point). Evaline was born and raised in Syracuse. Both Earl and Evaline attended North Davis High School in Syracuse.

There, they met and started a five-year courtship. They married in April 1919. Earl and Evaline raised five boys, including Van Dahl.

The Dahl family ancestry goes all the way back to Sweden. Earl Dahl’s mother, Alma, immigrated to America in 1887, when she was 23 years old. Alma’s future husband, John, followed five months later, when he was only 19 years old. Neither John nor Alma brought any family history records with them. The names of their ancestors and the histories of their families were solely dependent upon the memories of a 19-year-old and a 23-yearold. Interestingly, the Dahl name was known as “Dahlin” but was later changed to Dahl.

The Swedish immigration was very high towards the last half of the nineteenth century. Very few personal possessions came with Alma and John to America. On February 1st, 1890, John and Alma were married. Alma was Thomas James Thurgood and Elizabeth living in Minnesota, Regena Stoker Thurgood were married in and John was in Utah, 1885 and went on to have ten children. but it was handwritten letters which brought them together. The young married couple bought a farm in South Hooper (now West Point), which they maintained for over 62 years.

Evaline Thurgood’s parents were Thomas James and Elizabeth Regena Stoker Thurgood. Their lives and accomplishments will always be remembered as a founding family of Syracuse.

While a young boy, Thomas Thurgood remembers when the railroad from Ogden to Salt Lake was being constructed. This railroad ran through the family farm of 10 acres. Thomas often made the long, 20-mile trip from Bountiful to Syracuse to work on the Sandridge Farm, which his father owned. Cultivating corn and potatoes, along with handling hay and grain, were part of the daily chores on the farm.

Thomas and Elizabeth Thurgood were a young married couple in 1885. The following year, in 1886, they began their lives in a tiny, one-bedroom home that Thomas’s father and uncle had built in Syracuse, Utah. Here, they chose to establish their roots.

In 1887, a large bundle of logs from an old stable in Bountiful were purchased for just $26.00 in order to build a small home. These logs were hauled to Syracuse, onto a 20-acre piece of land Elizabeth’s father had given the newlyweds. A cozy, humble log cabin was built and provided shelter, memories, and a place to call “home” for the next eight years.

As time went by, Elizabeth and Thomas decided to James and Elizabeth Thurgood

Left: John & Alma Dahl in 1940 on their Golden Wedding Anniversary Right: Earl & Evaline Dahl family in 1969

build a brick house to continue raising their growing family of ten children: six daughters and four sons. This brick home was built on 2285 S. 1000 W. in Syracuse. The old log cabin was not forgotten, however, and was still being used as a stable for the horses and cattle. In 1912, the Thurgoods built yet another home located at 1782 W. 1700 S. This home still stands today in Syracuse. Syracuse was incorporated as a town in 1935. Thomas Thurgood was remembered fondly by many community members as a long-time resident and a first town mayor of Syracuse. He was also elected as the first town board president.

Later on in his life, Thomas Thurgood was known as “TJ Thurgood.” Many “firsts” happened while TJ served as mayor

of Syracuse. The first services he would help provide for the city involved a central culinary water system, as well as an effort to establish a beautification plan for the Syracuse Cemetery, complete with a sprinkling system.

TJ also served for a time as a Davis County Commissioner and a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (he served six missions throughout his lifetime). Passing away at the age of 88 on April 21, 1954, TJ left a legacy as one of the first founding families in Syracuse City, along with his wife, Elizabeth Thurgood. She passed away at the age of 57 on February 12th, 1921.

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FARM FRESH

FLAVOR It's the season of plenty right now! Gardens are full of home-grown produce and farmers markets are abundant in fresh veggies and fruit. Here are some recipes to use up all that garden flavor!

Mexican Corn on the Cob

Caprese Bruschetta

PHOTO BY HAILEY MINTON, RECIPE BY DONNICA MARTINEZ

PHOTO AND RECIPE BY MELISSA SPELTS

6 ears of corn Mayonnaise Sour cream Parmesan cheese Queso Fresco Chili powder or Tajin 1 Lime

This was such a yummy recipe. Ryan and I enjoyed every bite. I wish our kids liked tomatoes; I would make this recipe all of the time. It is so delicious and easy. I found this recipe at spendwithpennies.com

Grill or boil corn. Mix equal parts mayo and sour cream and either roll the corn in it or spread the mixture on the corn.

Sprinkle on parmesan cheese. Crumble the queso fresco and sprinkle on the corn. Sprinkle on the chili powder or Tajin. Slice the lime into wedges and squeeze one wedge over each ear of corn.

3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped 8-oz mozzarella, cubed 10 medium basil leaves 1 clove garlic, minced 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Salt & Pepper 1 baguette or Italian bread, sliced 1” thick 1 large clove fresh garlic, minced Mix tomatoes, basil, parsley, mozzarella, olive oil, garlic, and dash of salt and pepper. Allow to sit at room temperature while you prepare the bread.

Place bread slices under a broiler for 1 to 2 minutes or until the bread is very lightly toasted.

Optional: Immediately after removing bread from oven, rub the garlic cloves over each slice. (I didn’t do this.)

Top the bread slices with ¼ cup of the tomato and mozzarella mixture.

28 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

+ RECIPES

Cowboy Caviar PHOTO AND RECIPE BY KRISTINA CASE, ADAPTED FROM THE SIMPLE VEGANISTA.COM

Fresh Raspberry Lemonade

This delicious mix of fresh veggies and seasonings can be eaten as a dip, served with tortilla chips, used a side dish, or as a salad.

PHOTO AND RECIPE BY KRISTINA CASE

1 can (15-oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14-oz) corn, drained 2 red bell peppers, finely diced 1 jalapeno, finely diced (a few seeds are ok) 1/2 red onion, finely diced 1 large or 2 small avocados, diced 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 2 large limes, juice of 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/4 cup sugar 6 cup water 1 cup ice 1 pint fresh raspberries 1 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 7 lemons)

First, make the dressing: in a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, lime juice, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. Set aside.

Drain the corn and black beans, add diced red peppers, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, and avocado in large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and toss well to coat. Taste for flavor and add more salt or lime juice if needed.

This is like summer in a glass! My family had the pitcher gone in no time.

In medium sauce pan, combine 1 cup water, raspberries, and sugar. Cook until warm and bubbly and mash raspberries with fork. Pour the mixture over a strainer to remove seeds. Cool. In a large pitcher, combine fresh lemon juice with 5 cups water and ice. Mix in raspberry syrup. Depending on the raspberries you are using and their sweetness, you might want to taste and add more sugar at this point. Refrigerate before serving. Garnish glasses or pitcher with raspberries and lemon slices.

VARIATIONS: Blackberry raspberry lemonade: use 1/2 cup blackberries and 1/2 cup raspberries when making syrup.

Raspberry Iced tea: Use 5 cups of brewed ice tea instead of water.

Eat right away or let the salad rest in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the flavors mingle. Leftovers will stay fresh for up to 4 – 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 29

Special article brought to you by Econ Mortgage

Beware of the Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program If you’re trying to get into your first home but struggling to come up with a down payment, a down payment assistance program may sound like just what you need. Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs are typically state- or federally-ran housing finance programs that provide grants or loans to help offset the amount needed for a down payment on a new home.

These DPAs are usually reserved for first-time homebuyers or individuals who fall below certain income requirements. There are several different types of DPA programs available, and they can be helpful for first-time homebuyers who are otherwise not able to save enough for a down payment, but before you use a DPA, make sure you know all the facts, so you know what you’re signing up for.

One of the main pitfalls of a DPA is that they often include hefty fees, which make it more expensive to get into a home than using a traditional mortgage with a traditional down payment. It may seem that you’re getting a good deal with the grant/loan for the DPA, but the loan fees can be as much as two to three times more expensive than a “normal” (FHA/ Conventional/VA/USDA) mortgage when you have a standard down payment amount.

Buyers can be so focused on the down payment for their loan that they don’t consider how much the extra fees will increase their monthly payments, nor the overall amount financed, which can put you “upside-down” in your home from day one.

This ends up costing you a LOT more in the long run.

DPAs can be helpful if you need help getting into your first home, but don’t automatically assume that a DPA is the default best way to go. See if you qualify for a DPA and evaluate the

30 syracuseconnection.com | August 2020

cost compared to other non-DPA options. There are a lot of low down payment options available, so you may be surprised what you’re able to do without getting saddled with extra fees that come with some of the down payment assistance programs.

Work with a qualified loan expert to explore your options and make a decision on the loan that is best for your personal circumstances.

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+ COMMUNITY

Back to School in UNCOMMON TIMES

On campus, they will be promoting “The Big Five:” Hygiene Etiquette, Stay Home When Sick, Cloth Face Mask, Physical Distancing, and Clean and Disinfect.

BY RYAN SPELTS

As Davis County schools prepare to reopen in a few weeks, things look different than typical school years. The district has published their plans and guidelines for the upcoming school year. You can find out more by visiting their website at davis.k12.ut.us.

The district has a plan to reopen schools, and students will have the opportunity to attend on a regular schedule. With that goal in mind, and the understanding that times are uncertain, the following guidelines will be put in place to protect students, employees, and the community.

Everyone will be encouraged to participate in physical distancing, hand washing, sanitization, wearing masks, staggering class start times, follow hallway flow adjustments, adhere to adjusted lunch times and seating, modifying recess, and helping students stay spaced our in common areas. They will also stay aware of illness or symptoms and send students home with any flu-like symptoms. They are working on digital learning platforms and are willing to modify their approaches as needed, depending on changes to the health and safety to all involved.

Students and staff will be wearing masks at school in classes and around school grounds. Parents are encouraged to talk to their students to encourage them to wear their masks and maintain clean hands throughout the day. If kids are sick, keep them home. They also ask that people be ready for change.

Things can evolve quickly, and everyone must be ready to face those changes and the challenges they bring.

The district also understands that some parents will choose to keep their children home. The district has two options for this.

One option is Davis Connect K-12 Online School. Students will work with a teacher during school hours and have a traditional class load. Classes will be taught by Davis School District Licensed Teachers. The other option is online Davis Connect K-12 Independent Study. This option is parent directed and at a student’s own pace.

On campus, they will be promoting “The Big Five:” Hygiene Etiquette, Stay Home When Sick, Cloth Face Mask, Physical Distancing, and Clean and Disinfect. These protections will help protect against COVID-19, yet allow the schools to resume a more traditional operation.

This is an uncommon back-to-school in an unprecedented time. We all pray that things will continue to develop on the vaccine front and that much of the disease can be eradicated, but we also know that, right now, it is still scary. Good luck to all the students and teachers.

August 2020 | syracuseconnection.com 31

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