City Weekly October 24, 2024

CITY WEEKLY salt lake

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NIMBYism Isn’t Helping

Utah’s housing crisis is only getting worse, and NIMBYism (“Not In My Backyard”) is a recurring obstruction to meaningful solutions.

NIMBYism, in this case, refers to pushback against building high-density housing and diverse home types in Utah—from duplexes to accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The status quo, where single-family homes dominate and “density” is treated like a dirty word, is unsustainable. More than 80% of Utah house-

holds are priced out of new homes, with median home prices hovering near $600,000. Our housing market caused this by holding on to outdated perceptions and local regulations that restrict creative design solutions.

Utahns need to understand that fears surrounding density—like the idea that it decreases property values or invites crime—are largely unfounded. In fact, studies show that smart, well-designed, dense housing can increase property values, improve walkability and strengthen the sense of community.

If we want to ensure future generations can live close to family and maintain the strong social ties that Utah is known for, we must embrace a wider variety of housing types.

Smaller-lot homes, ADUs, apartments and mixed-use developments can provide much-needed affordability while preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods.

JOHN YELLAND Libertas Institute

“Cutting the Grass,”

Oct. 17 Cover Story

Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC are made with chemicals. Consumption of any of these can make you very sick. Delta-8 and -9 are synthetics; they cause horrible withdrawals and cause cannabis hyperemesis. Almost 90% of all Delta-8 and -9 in Utah is imported and most is false testing.

TIM FRATTO Via Facebook

“Cox the Unworthy,”

Oct.

17 Private Eye

Unworthy is far too kind a word for Gov. Cox who, in my opinion, has never had an “x” in his last name but, instead, a “cks.”

RAYMOND CANNEFAX Via Facebook

Great article. Cox fooled a lot of us. So sad I fell for it last time. No more.

DIANE HAMMER Via Facebook

City Weekly 40th Anniversary Book

Editor’s note: This year we celebrated our 40th anniversary! To help celebrate, we’re putting together a 40-year anniversary souvenir book to showcase all the best of City Weekly’s first 40 years! Included will be recaps from each year in operation. If you followed along with our weekly “rewind,” we will have more pieces included here as well as flashbacks from folks near and dear to City Weekly

Let us know if you’re interested in being on our outreach list for the release date! Contact marketing@cityweekly. net for more information.

THE WATER COOLER

Have you ever lost all respect for someone in a matter of minutes? Tell me about it.

Scott Renshaw

I suspect the name “Bill Cosby” rings a bell for most people.

Katharine Biele

I can’t believe you’re asking this just before the election and possibly the end of democracy as we know it. I have lost one good friend, no longer can engage with some family members, and generally consider myself as part of the “lunatic left” these days.

Paula Saltas

What Katharine Biele said. Something crazy everyday—Arnold Palmer, McDonald’s, the list of crazy is every single day.

Benjamin Wood

Without naming names, I’ve worked at a few different Salt Lake City-based newsrooms and it’s been incredibly disheartening to watch some (not all) of my media peers devolve into useless hacks in the internet age.

Mike Tanner

When it comes to “celebrities” or something like that, when I see them shilling for Trump I immediately lose anything like respect, if I ever had any. I have Trumpers in my family, as everybody does I’m sure, but I am more tolerant with them.

BY JOHN RASMUSON

OPINION Of Bugs and Bellwethers

Iwas startled. A praying mantis materialized in the flowers, inches from my hand. I was watering with a hose, and the big bug made its way gingerly up a nearby fence to escape the water.

The mantis paused now and then to swivel its triangular head to get a look at me. I watched it tiptoe up the slats of the fence.

It was an unprecedented sight. Growing up in Salt Lake City, I don’t remember ever seeing a praying mantis, let alone one the size of a popsicle stick. Mantises are not native to Utah—I think they were imported along with ladybugs and nematodes as organic gardening gained in popularity over the years.

What I remember from long-ago summer nights were bugs swirling about porch lights like kindergarteners at recess—a gaggle of moths, mayflies, mosquitoes, lacewings and dime-sized beetles we called “June bugs.”

I haven’t seen a June bug in decades. That realization triggered such other of my bug-related memories as:

—Vacuuming up a swarm of carpenter ants as they poured out of a nest inside a bathroom wall.

—Sleeping under a net to keep malarial mosquitoes at bay.

—Driving into a wide swath of Mormon crickets crawling across Highway 50, east of Ely.

—Pouring gasoline into a yellowjackets’ underground nest in a flaming, night-time assault.

—Watching fireflies spark in unmowed fields on hot, humid nights.

—Suffering the bites of New England’s springtime trium-

virate: black flies, no-see-ums and mosquitoes.

—Bombing lairs of black widow spiders with firecrackers.

—Mulling the advice of a bed-bug exterminator to cover theater seats with a plastic bag before sitting on one.

Memories aside, it is apparent to me that there aren’t nearly as many bugs congregating at porch lights as there were when “Meet the Beatles!” topped the record charts, many years before mountain pine beetles ravaged Utah’s forests. I don’t rule out the porch light as a bellwether that registers either the influence of climate change or the cumulative effect of insecticides—or both.

My mother—a sweet, garden club mainstay—poisoned snails, killed aphids and emptied countless aerosol cans of insecticide to kill any spider she encountered. Only the ubiquitous daddy long-legs were spared.

In retrospect, she was an unapologetic agent of what Andrew Van Dam called an “insect apocalypse.” The Washington Post data columnist analyzed 20 years of Google searches, “seeking an unfiltered glimpse into what Americans are trying to kill.” In the bug category, ants, fleas, flies and bed bugs topped the hit list. Utahns sought information on killing black widows, earwigs, grubs, wasps and grasshoppers, he found.

No surprise to find grasshoppers on the Utah list. Battling infestations of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets is a well-known subtext of the Utah story. Only the Willie and Martin handcart disaster of 1856 is more salient. As a descendent of pioneer immigrants, I know that eradication of crop-denuding crickets has been viewed as an existential imperative. To save their crops, my forebears in Sanpete County drove crickets by the thousands into brush-lined ditches and set fire to them.

Less familiar are details of Native Americans’ interaction with the thumb-sized bugs. To them, “Mormon” crickets were as much a culinary windfall as manna was to the Israelites. The Utes and other Great Basin tribes roasted them, ground them with seeds and ate them.

But eating crickets evokes Utah’s most famous story of all—the 1848 “miracle” in which a providential flock of seagulls scarfed enough bugs to save 900 acres of pioneers’ crops. A statue on Temple Square memorializes the

event for Mormon faithful, but to my mind, the seagull intervention is best viewed paradoxically.

To the pioneers, the crickets were a threat to their crops; to native peoples, the bugs were a windfall of protein-rich food.

The Native Americans had taught the Mormon settlers to forage for the Sego Lily roots that Brigham Young called “a heaven-sent source of food.” That John the Baptist’s wilderness diet included locusts with wild honey got short shrift from Brother Brigham, as the prophet was known. Nonetheless, the pioneers’ time would have been more profitably spent laying in a winter supply of insect meal than spending days drowning, burning, burying and clubbing the swarming native bugs.

Since then, the spread of such non-native insects as spotted lanternflies and gypsy moths has generated its own stories.

Nineteen years after the miracle of the seagulls, gypsy moths were introduced into New England from Europe. They were well established in Massachusetts by the time I moved there in 1975, so I witnessed the population of gypsy moths explode in 1981. A scourge of millions of caterpillars laid waste to New England’s trees, defoliating most of the oaks on 12 million acres before the frost.

I remember walking in a forest and hearing what I thought were rain drops landing on the duff. The sound was actually the patter of caterpillar droppings raining down from the overstory. There was such a plague of caterpillars that railroad trains stalled on uphill grades, the wheels having lost traction in the ooze of crushed caterpillars coating the rails.

The invasive moths have since expanded westward year by year—so have the mantises. The spotted lanternflies that are taking a toll on New York’s vineyards? Also heading this way. Perhaps the handwriting is on the wall, readable in porch light in Salt Lake City. CW

Private Eye is off this week. Send feedback to comments@ cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele

MISS: Locked and Loaded

If high school students are trapped in a room while an armed assailant is roaming the halls, what should they do? Lie down and cover themselves with the blood of fallen students so the shooter will think they’re dead? This was the school shooting training that a teenage friend recently described to me. We were talking about the “good old days” when students were taught to “duck and cover” in case of a nuclear attack or an earthquake. Today, things are different. “We have to make the doors lock better, we have to make the windows stronger and of course we’ve got to increase school resource officers,” vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance said during his debate with Tim Walz, “because the idea that we can magically wave a wand and take guns out of the hands of bad guys, it just doesn’t fit with recent experience.” While Utah lawmakers haven’t taken direct action, at least they’re thinking about it. Republican Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, suggests that parents lock their guns away. The untouchable 2nd Amendment has not only put our children’s lives at risk, but also their mental well-being.

MISS: Get Out the Vote

Your fall planting headquarters

Don’t expect Utah to approve open primaries any time soon. But at least the law now gives citizens in any party a voice and a vote. That’s what the signature path to the ballot is all about. Utah added the signature path in 2014 to address legal challenges to the law requiring caucuses. Die-hard Republicans have never liked adding “the people” to the vote, and have made signature gathering more expensive while they continue to try to pass laws to protect the caucuses. All this came to a head this year when the GOP’s presidential primary imploded with irregularities and long lines. No one was happy, as Daryl Acumen will tell you. A legislative committee was set to hear about the problems but ended up shutting down the discussion as “inappropriate.” Acumen, a former vice chair of the Utah County Republican Party, wanted to present statistics showing why the caucus system sucks. Lawmakers had none of it, and now have to fend off thin, conspiracy-ridden arguments against signatures.

HIT: Anywhere but Here

Power to the people—even if they don’t often win. If you’ve ever tried to get a billboard moved in Utah, you know the law is not on your side. Billboard locations are grandfathered by law, but Cottonwood Heights residents may be getting a reprieve. Reagan Outdoor Advertising began construction on a billboard near Hillside Plaza and neighbors fear that it will obstruct their mountain views. Reportedly, Reagan is actually considering relocating the billboard. Meanwhile, Clinton residents are gathering signatures in opposition of a planned townhome project. You can’t call them affordable—the cost apparently would start at $430,000. The Clinton City Council voted 3-2 to rezone the acreage. They now face a referendum next year. CW

Olympic Records

If you wanted to research who participated in the Torch Relay during Salt Lake’s 2002 Winter Olympics, you could look into it. That’s because determined people made sure everything broadcast, printed or performed at the time was archived and cataloged.

“I remember that stuff pretty vividly. It was very challenging,” said Dr. Greg Thompson, emeritus associate dean for the J. Willard Marriott Library, where the Games are archived. “It took a lot of hard work and constant moving to get to the people that count—and then convince my own university and my own library that they should help fund all this.”

To ensure every bit of information was gathered and archived, Thompson and former Tribune writer Mike Korologos went to Atlanta to see how information and memorabilia from the 1996 Summer Olympics was saved.

“There were 10,000 cartons lined up in a row at the Georgia State Archives looking for a home. They had been processed, and they seemed organized, and there they sat,” Thompson said. “Nobody wanted them. Nobody had the capacity to take that kind of size on. I’m used to large carton collections and this was beyond that.”

Korologos, communications director for the 2002 Bid and Organizing Committees, calls himself a “history nut.” He went home and started filling cartons. In the end, he says he saved 10 boxes of “records, files, pictures, videos, brochures, manuscripts, reports, contracts—any bazillion number of things” that came across his desk.

“The committee—as I remember— they were busy putting on the Games,” Korologos says. “They were doing housing, traffic, meeting VIPs, trying to raise money, going to the state and federal governments … Let’s say that the records were a way-down-yearsaway-who-cares type of thing.”

Thompson remembers another facet of the problem: the bribery scandal that beset the games, dissolved the first Organizing Committee and led to a second. Some people carried over, but much of the work to support archivists had to be redone. It took 10 years to develop the archival process and put it in place. After the Games, a call was made to the university community, the media and members of the public to donate mementos and images, which today are available for public use. This was a boon to the collection, because the TV broadcast is the property of the International Olympic Committee, which strictly controls its public use.

“Peoples’ interest in helping us try to document the whole experience was pretty strong,” said Thompson.

When considering the upcoming 2034 Games, Thompson says the challenge lies in the way documentation has changed. “Most of it will be visual, not just audio, so you’re burning up scads of storage space,” he said. “And I’m certain at this point nobody’s even begun to give a thought to that topic.”

“I hope they can expand some way to house all that [for the next Games],” added Korologos, “but it all comes down to funding.” CW

THEATER

Behind the Scenes

Scenic designer Janice Chan and lighting designer Emilio Casillas on their contributions to Plan-B Theatre Company’s Full Color

BY ARICA ROBERTS comments@cityweekly.net

The behind-the-scenes crew at a theater are not visible to the audience, but they play crucial roles in helping the production come together, even if they aren’t stars of the show. Scenic designer Janice Chan and lighting designer Emilio Casillas shared their experiences working on PlanB Theatre Company’s upcoming production Full Color, which features monologues from BIPOC individuals in Utah.

Chan, the resident scenic designer for Plan-B, has been with them since 2021, starting with the show The Clean-Up Project Elaborating on her role as a scenic designer, Chan emphasizes the importance of storytelling through scenery.

“Usually, the design process happens three to six months in advance, right prior to each of the shows,” Chan explains. “My role as a scenic designer is to tell a story through scenery, so through objects that you see on a stage, and that is one part of the storytelling process. I will start with a meeting with the director and all the producers, if they’re available, and we’ll talk about the script, the story that they want to tell, and the playwright is also an active part of the production, so I’ll get a chance to talk to them as well.”

Lighting designer Casillas has been with Plan-B since 2018, and explains his role in designing lights as entirely pre-performance. “[I] first determine where they are hung in the theater, where they are focused on the stage, what color they are, etc,” Casillas elucidated. “I then program the light board with each individual look.”

It is a collaborative process with all designers—from scenery, lighting, costumes, sound, props and make-up—to ensure consistency and support the overall vision. It’s the collaboration with technical directors, set builders and other team members that ultimately bring Chan’s designs to life.

Chan explains her artistic process as starting “with ideas that I create with a director, then everything gets laid out like a set of design drawings. I draft all of my own designs using a CAD program called Vectorworks, then I pass off those drawings directly to the set builder to be built, according to my plans.”

While the director will usually have a creative direction for the show and a message that they want to tell, Chan’s designs support the overall vision while also containing her own artistic lens. For example, the monologues in Full Color are designed to feel intimate and relatable, with the setting resembling a camping trip. The set design includes a tent, string lights and actors sitting on logs and benches, to create that familiar and relatable atmosphere.

Chan emphasizes the importance of breaking the fourth wall and making the audience feel like part of the community. Including details like low-hanging string lights and the semi-circle seating arrangement further enhances the intimate, grounded feel of the show.

Casillas explains that Full Color “is interesting because we’re not telling one

story. We’re telling eight different stories with eight different settings and moods, so my role in a project like this feels far more technical than it does artistic.”

Specifically, Casillas directs the audience’s focus to particular places on the stage, keeps the lighting unobtrusively shifting to avoid fatiguing the eyes of the audience, and gives subtle nods to where the action is occurring. However, he also employs artistic touches to reinforce and highlight the work of other designers by drawing attention to a stage radio where sound is sourced, choosing to light inside a tent to add depth to the overall set and adding tree silhouettes to pull together the scenic concept.

The specific design choices support the

script’s emphasis on the importance of community and personal stories, aiming to spark conversations and social change. Chan’s incorporation of symbolism and social commentary into the scenic designs encourages audience reflection and dialogue in a play about Utahns by Utahns. “It’s a deeply personal experience that I think a lot of Utahns will be able to take something away from,” Chan says.

Plan-B’s Full Color runs Oct. 24 - Nov. 11 in the Studio Theatre at The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W. 300 South). For ticket and full event information go to planbtheatre.org/fullcolor.

To see additional on Janice Chan’s past and current projects, go to janicechan.design/scenic. CW

PHOTO

Emilio Casillas

PHOTO

Janice Chan

theESSENTIALS

Jim Gaffigan

Comedian Jim Gaffigan’s observational humor often finds him coming across as an unassuming and, at times, seemingly unknowing, Everyman. It’s that slightly naïve attitude that not only makes him extremely funny, but also marks him as a comic that many of us can relate to. The situations he stumbles into often find him fumbling, but not entirely defeated, and as a result, he somehow manages to emerge with an optimistic attitude and a humorous perspective.

That unlikely approach became the focus of his self-titled sitcom, which found him in the role of a hapless dad, based on his real-life experiences. At the same time, he proved to be a convincing character actor whose perplexed persona provides fodder for repeated punchlines. That’s not to say he hasn’t had some serious achievements. An actor, writer, producer and best-selling author, he can claim seven Grammy Award nominations, three Emmys, 10 popular comedy specials, and ranking as a top-ten earning comedian according to both Forbes and Pollstar. Plus, he was recently recognized as the first comedian to attain one billion streams on Pandora. And, if you’ve seen Saturday Night Live lately, you also know he does a great impression of VP nominee Tim Walz. Reallife polling aside, that’s definitely a winner in our book.

Jim Gaffigan brings his “Barely Alive” Tour to Delta Hall at the Eccles Theater on Oct. 23 - Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39.75 - $250; visit arttix.org for tickets and additional event information. (Lee Zimmerman)

Pioneer Theatre Company: Prayer for the French Republic

It would be easy enough to make a “ripped from today’s headlines” case for Joshua Harmon’s award-winning 2022 play Prayer for the French Republic—but the reality is that its themes could be ripped from the headlines of far too many years. “I was floored to see such a powerful, intergenerational drama touching on so many timely, yet timeless, themes,” Pioneer Theatre Company artistic director Karen Azenberg, who directs the company’s regional premiere of the play, said of her experience seeing it. “[It’s] also a haunting reminder that what we may think is ancient history may be a sobering contemporary reality.”

The story deals in part with an American student named Molly, who decides to visit France to connect with relatives and understand her family history. That visit happens to take place in 2016, a time when antisemitism was on the rise in the country—inspiring Molly’s Jewish aunt and uncle to decide to move to Israel. Tensions flare within the family, even as the contemporary narrative shares stage time with a portrayal of events from the 1940s, capturing how Molly’s earlier ancestors came to France in the first place. The result is a provocative exploration of how easy it is for fascism to arise anywhere—something that, unfortunately, remains part of today’s headlines very close to home.

Pioneer Theatre Company’s production of Prayer for the French Republic comes to the Pioneer Memorial Theatre (300 S. 1400 East) Oct. 25 – Nov. 9, with performances Monday – Saturday. Tickets are $44 – 62; visit pioneertheatre.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Ballet West: Jekyll & Hyde

The beauty of ballet and the unsettling feelings of terror aren’t necessarily incompatible, as Ballet West clearly demonstrated with last season’s recordbreaking production of Dracula. The arts and the Halloween season aren’t a match made only for scary movies and scary plays, so Ballet West has once again opted to launch its season with a ballet adaptation of a classic monster story—in this case, choreographer Val Caniparoli’s 2020 adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The story—about a doctor whose attempt to create a serum to repress the darker parts of his nature instead ends up creating a homicidal alterego—has become almost synonymous with the dual natures existing inside of each person. Choreographer Caniparoli viewed that story as a unique opportunity in crafting dance, as he explained to KCUR radio when Jekyll & Hyde received its North American premiere in Kansas City in 2023. “I’ve always wanted to create a duet between two men, and their duet is between their two personalities,” Caniparoli said. “It’s not two different people—you’re actually dancing with yourself.” Set to work by Frédéric Chopin, Henryk Górecki, Krzysztof Penderecki and more, Jekyll & Hyde becomes a fascinating theatrical exploration of inner darkness. Ballet West’s production of Jekyll & Hyde comes to the J. Q. Lawson Capitol Theatre (50 W. 200 South) from Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, with performances 7:30 p.m. Tuesday – Friday, and 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets start at $30; visit arttix.org to purchase tickets as well as for additional event information. (SR)

From Our Friends At

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

W

hen discussing her new role as programming director for the Utah Queer Film Festival—formerly “Damn These Heels”—Cat Palmer expresses a self-deprecating sense of her own limitations. “I’ll be honest with you: I am not young,” Palmer says. “I think I’m the ‘cool mom,’ but I’m not. I wanted to have a diverse audience this year, and have [the festival] appeal to a lot of people; it was important to me to have a diverse team on many levels.”

Still, Palmer is the first non-male-identifying programming director in the festival’s history, and diversity in the programming was a crucial goal for the artist/photographer (and occasional City Weekly editorial contributor), who had already been part of the festival’s programming team for six years. This year was going to be a time of transition anyway, with a rebrand designed in part to clarify the festival’s mission. “We get submissions from everywhere,” Palmer says. “[Damn These Heels] may be precious to our hearts, but when filmmakers from another country are searching for festivals, they don’t know what it means.”

The mission remains fundamentally the same, though, even if Palmer wanted to use her role to expand the sense of what a queer film festival could represent. “You look at queer space across time,” Palmer notes, “it has always been a safe space predominantly run by cis white males. For me, … we had to celebrate all the letters in ‘LGBTQ.’”

Throw in a goal to emphasize Utah filmmakers—including a local short films showcase—and the programming team had an even more challenging task than usual combing through hundreds of submissions for just a few feature and short film slots. “And the ones that we don’t program are still really terrific films,” Palmer adds.

Palmer’s contract for the role of programming director was only for the 2024 festival, and she emphasizes that even agreeing to that role took a lot of consideration. “Nothing I do, I do lightly,” she says. So for now, she’ll focus on making this festival as successful as possible before looking forward.

“They did discuss potentially lengthening [the contract],” Palmer says. “Let’s see how it goes, and we’ll approach it again later. It’s like pregnancy: You can’t ask again this soon.” CW

UTAH QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

In-person: Oct. 25 – 27, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W. 300 South)

Limited online: Oct. 27 – Nov. 3 $15 individual screening/passes $60 - $120 utahqff.org

CINEMA

A Long Way from Heaven

Program Highlights

A Long Way from Heaven: Director David Sant takes a wide-ranging look through the experience of LGBTQ students at Brigham Young University, with a focus on a controversial re-wording/backtracking of the university’s Honor Code language involving homosexual relationships, and a subsequent action to light the trademark mountainside “Y” in rainbow colors. Former students convey the challenge of being queer at BYU, while Sant effectively investigates the history of church language on the subject (including some truly horrifying wink-nudge approvals of gay-bashing). Though brief at only 63 minutes, the feature provides a sensitive portrait of those working for change, and those in whose name they do that work.

Chasing Chasing Amy (Closing Night Film): Writer/director Kevin Smith’s 1997 feature Chasing Amy has been controversial with the gay community for its cis-white-guy POV on a bisexual protagonist, but filmmaker Sav Rodgers makes a strong case against blanket dismissals. Rodgers—who came out as trans during the making of the film—becomes a central character, explaining how watching the film as an adolescent offered visibility for fluid sexuality and gender roles, and the hope of finding love, even as interview subjects relate various ways in which the film remains problematic. The result is a nuanced, compelling case study for why simplistic binaries aren’t useful not only for human experience, but also for the art those humans create.

The World According to Allee Willis: The titular subject might be best known as a Songwriting Hall of Fame tunesmith—credits including Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance,” the Friends theme “I’ll Be There for You” and the stage musical of The Color Purple—but Alexis Spraic’s documentary paints an even more comprehensive portrait of the quirky Willis as artist and person. Taking advantage of Willis’s extensive video self-chronicling, Spraic explores the role of Willis’ identity as a deeply closeted lesbian on her workaholism and need for public recognition of her work. It’s a poignant character study of an immensely talented creator who was ahead of her time in some respects, and born too soon in others. CW

Chasing Chasing Amy

The World According to Allee Willis

Utah wildlife managers say an atypically cold spring in 2024 may have contributed to an uptick in black bear sightings.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

EXPERTS STRESS WILDLIFE SAFETY AFTER AN INCREASE IN BEAR SIGHTINGS THROUGHOUT UTAH.

BY BRANDI CHRISTOFFERSEN COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

Courtesy Photo

“Old Ephraim, Old Ephraim, your deeds were so wrong, Yet we build you this marker and sing you this song. To the king of the forest so mighty and tall, we salute you, Old Ephraim, the king of them all.”—poem by Nephi J. Bott, engraved on a stone monument in Cache County.

If you were a child growing up in Northern Utah, chances are you heard the terrifying story of Old Ephraim—the fearsome grizzly bear of Logan Canyon that hunted children, small pets and livestock. It was said that the 11-foot, 800-pound beast could dismantle any bear trap and could rip through a 9-inch log with just one bite. In reality, while the legendary creature did cause havoc for the homesteaders of the early 20th century, Old Ephraim, like most wild animals, would only kill what he needed to survive and spent his days avoiding humans, not confronting them. (This was even notated by Frank Clark, the rancher who eventually trapped and brought down the bear.)

After Old Ephraim’s death, local encounters with grizzlies abruptly stopped, and they haven’t been seen in the Beehive State since the 1920s. However, Ephraim’s smaller and stockier cousin, the black bear, can be found rambling throughout Utah’s forests, mountains and canyons. And, like the grizzly, the black bear will occasionally come in contact with his human neighbors.

Although these encounters are uncommon, they’ve recently been on the rise, according to Darren DeBloois, game mammals coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

“We have seen more of these incidents in the last couple of years—in particular, there has been an increase this year,” DeBloois said. “We think this may be due to our late, cold spring. This season, we lost some of our berry crops—elderberry, serviceberry, chokecherry—and bears rely upon these fruits to supplement their diet.”

Because bears are omnivores, they obtain their energy and nutrients from

both plants and animals. Most of a black bear’s diet consists of nuts, berries, honey and plants, which are affected by seasonal weather patterns. “With the lack of berries, bears are moving around more, to find more resources,” DeBloois added. “This means they are coming in contact with more people, which means more close encounters.”

Fortunately, despite what Hollywood would have us believe, bears are not ominously lurking in the forest stalking unsuspecting prey.

Like most wild animals, bears do not show an affinity for human flesh. However, it is true that bears may attack a human if they feel threatened or are defending their offspring. (After all, there is a reason the term “mama bear” is used to describe a protective mother.)

“While they will eat larger animals, most of their protein actually comes from insects,” DeBloois observed, “which they get from digging through logs, grubs and things like that.”

Nevertheless, because their taste buds

are similar to ours, a bear will gladly consume a deli sandwich, a bag of chips or a pepperoni pizza, especially if they’re easy to locate and reach. And with their heightened sense of smell, bears can easily detect a campground filled with human goodies.

“Bears are smart animals and they do learn tricks to use the least amount of energy to gain the most calories,” DeBloois explained. “Once they discover a human site with food, they will inevitably keep coming back.”

Unfortunately, if a bear does come in close vicinity to a human, it may become frightened and even aggressive. And in cases where an attack has occurred, wildlife managers are compelled to relocate the animals or, in more serious cases, euthanize them.

“An average female black bear is around 150 pounds, while a male can reach upwards of 300 pounds,” DeBloois said. “So if a bear does attack, the chance of getting severely injured is quite likely.”

Continued from page 19

In the Wild

Amidst bears searching for food and expanding their territories, the possibility of human-animal contact has been greatly enhanced. So far this year, DWR has received 90 nuisance reports involving bears, compared to 53 in 2023.

This has put both species at a higher risk of conflict, particularly the bears. Sadly, close encounters of the human and bear kind often result in euthanization for the animal.

For DWR, the summer of 2024 was exceptionally difficult regarding these types of occurrences. On July 23rd, DWR received a report from the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service that a precocious 2-year-old male bear had gotten into trash at several campsites and dumpsters at the Soapstone Campground. The bear was trapped on August 3 by state officials.

Around this same time, they were also notified that a curious 5-year-old black bear was visiting several campgrounds in American Fork Canyon, including Granite Flats, Timpooneke, Salamander Flat, Altamont and Silver Lake. On the morning of July 27, the bear was captured in a culvert live trap at the Timpooneke Campground.

According to Faith Heaton Jolley, Public Information Officer of DWR, it was determined that the bears were “habituated to getting food from areas with people, which can create a dangerous situation that would not be solved by simply relocating the bear. ”

Consequently, both animals had to be put to sleep.

Then, on July 31 between 1:15 and 1:30 pm, a human-bear encounter turned dangerous. A jogger had been trail running in the Mill D North Fork Trail area of Big Cottonwood Canyon when he heard a noise in the distance. Unexpectedly, an adult bear emerged from the brush and began approaching the man.

The man immediately backed away and tried to make himself look big, but unfortunately tripped over a log. This action startled the bear, causing the animal to charge. As the bear bit the upper part of the jogger’s arm, the man began to fight and kick back. Luckily, he was able to free his arm from the bear’s jaws and get away to safety.

DWR conservation officers and biologists responded to the scene and used tracking hounds to locate the bear later that evening. “Because the bear had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person, it was euthanized,” Jolley said.

A bear active in American Fork Canyon this year left behind prints on recreational vehicles (top) and

“Having to euthanize an animal is really hard and is not a decision we make lightly.”—DWR

While Jolley explained that it can be necessary to put down an animal that has interacted with humans, she said those situations remain heartbreaking for division personnel. She said it’s crucial that Utahns keep their campsites and other areas clean in order to avoid attracting bears.

“Our staff got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife. We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them,” Jolley said. “Having to euthanize an animal is really hard and is not a decision we make lightly.”

Bear Necessities

Fortunately, as Jolley explained, there are simple actions that campers and hikers can take to “bear-proof” their sites and which, in turn, will reduce the chance of an “unwanted rendezvous.” These include properly storing food and supplies, including scented items like deodorant and toothpaste, and not leaving items on tables or in tents.

She also stressed the importance of keeping cooking areas and campsites clean. Oil and grease from food preparation should not be dumped on the ground; instead, it should be collected in a container and taken with campers when they leave. Food scraps and trash should also be collected and removed.

“By keeping your camping area clean, you reduce the chance that a bear will smell food and trash, and be lured to your camp,” Jolley stressed. “And, if a bear does make its way to the area where you’re staying, if it isn’t rewarded with food, it will likely move on.”

Now that Utah is entering the autumn months, the possibility of coming across a bear actually increases. This is because bears are preparing for winter and hibernation, which requires them to be out and about continually.

During this time of year, the animals will need to eat and drink nearly nonstop to put on additional weight—a process called hyperphagia.

As DeBloois further explained, female bears that are pregnant need to consume even more calories to get them though the winter months. This means they are even more likely to be spotted.

“Although bears mate in early summer, there is a delayed implantation of the embryo. So the egg gets fertilized

but won’t implant unless the female is able to gain enough weight,” DeBloois explained. “If the female does consume enough calories, she will give birth in December or January, usually to twins. The cubs are fairly aware and will nurse and move around during that time. Meantime, the mother will wake up when necessary to tend to her little ones.”

While adult males will usually enter their hibernation burrows in mid-December, females tend to enter their dens around the beginning of November.

Because young bears stay with their mothers for about 18 months, if she already has cubs, she will bring them with her into the shelter.

Around the beginning of March, males and females without offspring will start to emerge from their caves—whereas momma bears will remain inside with their cubs until late April.

Naturally, the harsher the winter, the less foliage and plant life will be available in the spring. Given these circumstances, a black bear is far more likely to venture into human territory.

It is by being aware of your surroundings and environmental conditions that you can avoid stumbling upon a hungry bear. However, in the unlikely event you actually do come face to face with a black bear, Jolley recommended tried and tested safety tips.

She emphasized that in the event of a bear encounter, it’s best to stand your ground—don’t back up or lie down, stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. It’s a bad idea to run away or attempt to climb a tree—bears are excellent climbers and can move at up to 35 miles per hour.

If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive—these are ways that a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses interest. And rather than “playing dead,” Jolley said it’s best to fight back if attacked, as people have successfully defended themselves using rocks, sticks, backpacks, waterbottles or even their hands and feet.

With an adult bear population of around 2,000, all Utahns can do their part to ensure these creatures remain safe, healthy and secure, and that both human and bear can live in peace. “Let’s try to keep our distance from bear territory,” DeBloois said. “This way, nobody gets hurt—the people or the bear.” CW

DWR spokesperson Faith Heaton Jolley stressed the need to keep camps clean of food and trash to avoid luring bears into an area.

trash receptacles (bottom).

A black bear investigates a live trap set by wildlife managers in American Fork Canyon.

DWR signage reminds outdoor recreationalists to practice bear safety in wildlife areas.

spokesperson Faith Heaton Jolley

PROUD OF U

STUDENT-RUN PRIDE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

LOOKS TO FILL THE GAPS LEFT BY UTAH’S ANTI-DEI LAW.

BY JOSI HINDS COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

Tucked into a corner of the second floor of the University of Utah’s Marriott Library, a room brandished with Pride flags and informational posters sits open for U students to visit every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Student Pride Center opened this fall as a volunteer-run resource center for students, by students. Located in room N2130, the center is open three days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Our mission is to support and empower LGBTQ+ students by offering educational and community resources, advocacy and a safe space where everyone can express their authentic selves,” said Ien Zielinski, a senior in chemical engineering.

Zielinski is also the executive director of the Student Pride Center. They spearheaded the center’s creation after HB261, an antidiversity, equity and inclusion bill, was signed into law last winter, impacting the existing resource services on campus.

“We started getting word of HB261, and its implications way back in March. Back then, there was this underlying understanding that the LGBTQ-plus Resource Center [at the U] would probably close,” Zielinski said. “Nobody would really say anything, and nobody really knew anything.”

Zielinski’s understanding was correct. Over the summer, the U closed its LGBT Resource Center alongside the Black Cultural Center and Women’s Resource Center. It also closed the Center for Equity and Student Belonging.

The U closed these centers in response to a provision in the new law prohibiting an institution from engaging in or maintaining a policy, practice, office, initiative or the like based on individuals’ “personal identity characteristics.” Personal identity characteristics are defined in the law as “an individual’s race, color, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or gender identity.”

Because these campus centers were built to serve certain populations—LGBTQ+,

Black and female students—they became violations of HB261.

“I recognize that these changes are difficult,” Mitzi Montoya, University of Utah senior vice president for academic affairs, said in a newsletter in June. “However, as this new organization takes shape, I am confident that our students, faculty and staff will continue to receive the personalized support and services they need to thrive and succeed as we foster an ongoing culture of care.”

The U created two new resource centers in the aftermath of HB261. The Center for Student Access and Resources was built to provide students with scholarships, training workshops and personalized support. Meanwhile, the Center for Community and Cultural Engagement, which is still awaiting approval by the Utah Board of Higher Education (UBHE), will focus on community engagement and cultural education.

The university does have plans, however, to create a reorganized LGBT Resource Center and Black Cultural Center, pending the Utah Board of Higher Education’s approval of the new Center for Community and Cultural Engagement.

Organizing Against Adversity

The U’s LGBT Resource Center announced its closure via Instagram. Comments on the post were flooded with statements of support for the work the center did and disappointment over its closure.

“Thank you for all the hard work. I am sad to see this change,” one comment read. Another comment: “[I] can’t believe I’m in a place where this can happen.”

Zielinski saw the effects of the center’s closure, too. They said the closures, and their effect on other affinity groups at the U, “sends a message of intolerance, both to new and existing and prospective students at the U,” Zielinski said. “It, in all honesty, paves the way for people who previously had bad opinions to make their bad opin-

ions more public. It shows that we are tolerating discrimination. We are tolerating people being unkind.”

But while HB261 has led to the breakdown of these resource centers, Zielinski said they’ve also seen people come together to fight the bill and create new safe spaces for marginalized students.

“People are willing and have been coming together in ways that I don’t think we’ve seen previously,” Zielinski observed, adding that it’s felt “really empowering, and it’s been very validating in what I’m doing.”

Though it’s been motivational to see people come together to form organizations like the Student Pride Center, Utah Pride Center executive director Chad Call explained how bills like HB261 put marginalized people in positions to create spaces for themselves.

“I think it’s really important to recognize what [Zielinski] is talking about with our community that is coming together and filling the gaps where they shouldn’t need to have to fill the gaps, but they are, inevitably,” Call said. “It’s what queer people have done forever, and it’s something that’s really inspiring to see.”

Student Pride Center

Once it was clear the LGBT Resource Center would close, Zielinski quickly got to work organizing a new resource center for LGBTQ+ students.

“My concept was a student-run resource center somewhere, doing something for some amount of time, which was very vague,” they explained. “So, I started just sending out things left and right. The volunteers started with five friends who I texted, and I was like, ‘you’re never going to guess what I have in store for you.’ But from there, we started actually forming the center into what it is today.”

The center was initially built on resources Zielinski already had at their disposal. They secured a room in the library because they had a friend who worked there. The

center’s initial promotional materials were created by friends who knew how to design. But eventually, Zielinski needed funding. So they reached out to the Utah Pride Center for support.

“From there, once I reached out to them, things really started to take shape,” Zielinski said. “[The center] kind of stopped being a little basement garage project and started to actually become something.”

The Student Pride Center functions as a campus-based chapter of the Utah Pride Center. Although it operates out of a room on the U’s campus, the center is not affiliated or associated with the U administration in any way.

That’s how it’s able to serve LGBTQ+ students without violating HB261.

Volunteers at the center, of which there are now numbering more than 30, all receive training in reporting.

That means that if a student comes in and reports discrimination or harassment, volunteers at the center can confidentially connect the student to resources, help them report any issues they’re facing and act as an advocate for them in the process.

Beyond that, the center also connects students to resources through referrals.

“I think that’s oftentimes a service that maybe goes overlooked but is actually pretty critical—the students know that there’s a place they can come to for finding accessible health care, homelessness [services],” Call explained. “A gamut of things that people are looking for—the Center serves as that hub for them.”

And even if a student is just looking for a place to do homework or connect with friends, the center provides that space for them, too.

“There’s been a lot of people who just want a place where they can still go, and they can know that they’ll be accepted,” Zielinski emphasized. “They can know that they will have somewhere comfortable, somewhere safe—somewhere they feel a sense of belonging.”

Ien Zielinski (center) and community members celebrate the launch of a student Pride Center.

From Korea With Love

Brat Summer is over; it’s time for tteokbokki autumn.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

In the years since I’ve been covering local restaurants, I feel like the Korean food scene in Utah has started to head in an interesting direction. I think we owe a lot of this to local favorites like The Angry Korean, Stun Cube, Bumblebees and CupBop, which have done wonders with introducing Utah diners to the appeal of Korean food. Now that the scene is a bit more confident, the time has come to welcome Halgatteok, a franchise that has over 200 locations in Korea.

The core concept of Halgatteok is a traditional Korean street food dish called tteokbokki (pronounced toke-bo-kee). Tteokbokki is made from cylindrical rice cakes that are extremely chewy. The trademark texture comes from the nonglutinous rice flour that is mixed with salt and hot water, then pounded into a smooth, chewy consistency. While it’s still very different, the best approximation I can make is that of Japanese mochi Once these cakes are prepped and rolled into cylinders that can be as large as hot dogs, they get tossed with a gochujangbased sauce plus boiled eggs, veggies or whatever else sounds good.

Locally, tteokbokki has been on the menu of a few Korean spots; I first tried it at Stun Cube, myself. I liked it enough to get perhaps overly excited when I heard

that this Korean restaurant was bringing its tteokbokki-based menu to the Chinatown Supermarket in South Salt Lake. The menu is set up for you to select the type of rice cake (tteok) that you’d like.

I like the ssal tteok, because the tteok is already prepared in smaller, bite-sized pieces, but there is something to be said about the longer, thicker garae tteok, which is served with a pair of kitchen shears to snip it into smaller pieces. From there, diners select the type of sauce and the spice level.

My wife and I visited, so we got both the Grandma Tteokbokki ($13) and the Jjajang Tteokbokki ($13). When you order, you get the option to add a healthy dollop of melted cheese and/or ramen noodles to your dish, and the correct answer to both options is “yes.” The portions are pretty huge—I think it’s totally reasonable to split one plate of tteokbokki between two people, but too much food is never a bad problem to have.

The tteokbokki plates take a bit of time to prepare, so we also ordered some appetizers. We went with the Mayak Gimbap ($9.50), which are spring roll-adjacent snacks made from rice, spinach, grilled tofu and a spear of pickled radish wrapped up in gim or nori sheets. They come served with a vinegary hot mustard sauce that packs a nice, sinus-clearing punch.

We also ordered the rice ball ($6), which marked one of the first times in a long while that I’ve been surprised by a dish. On the menu, it’s pictured as a row of spheres made from sticky rice and other mix-ins. It arrives at the table as a giant bowl full of rice, scallions, chopped pickles, shredded gim and warm rice, along with a pair of disposable plastic gloves. The idea here is that you make your own rice balls from the provided ingredients, which was honestly quite a lot of fun.

Once everything is smushed together, you get a warm, fluffy bite full of briny salt from the gim and acid from the pickles. Of course, you can just dip into this and mix it up with your chopsticks, but I’d recommend putting those gloves to good use.

When our tteokbokki arrived, my wife and I were both impressed with the arrangements. The Grandma Tteokbokki is tossed in a crimson broth, and is touted as the original tteokbokki, so this is where I’d suggest newcomers start. Even at spice level one, this dish has a pretty decent kick. It’s not the kind of heat that just burns, however; the flavors are gorgeous. There’s a sweetness to the broth that offsets the smoky notes, and it lovingly clings to each rice cake so you don’t miss any of it.

I got my Jjajang Tteokbokki at a spice level two, which was definitely my heat limit. One of the things I love about restaurants that come here from overseas is that they have no interest in blunting their heat levels to accommodate American diners. This version of tteokbokki is made with a black bean sauce, which was less sweet and more earthy than the Grandma Ttteokbokki. I got mine with a tangle of ramen noodles and a dollop of melted cheese, both of which made this dish into a grab bag of delightful flavors and textures. I could take or leave the ramen noodles, but that blob of melted cheese is a must.

Whether you’re a Korean food expert on the lookout for this traditional fixture of street food or a newbie just trying out something new, Halgatteok is an excellent addition to our local food scene. CW

Jjajang Tteokbokki

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Piney Peaks “West Coast

avenuesproper.com

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Festbier

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: California Steam Lager, American Heritage Lager NEW: Oktoberfest Märzenbier

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: HARVEST - Wet Hop Amber

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Ay Curuba! Curuba Sour

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: No IBU For You - a Zero IBU IPA

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: Imperial Cider, RaspberryHibiscus Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Sauvin Blanc Brut

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Blonde Ale; Pale Ale [Gold medalists at the Great American Beer Fest!]

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake

LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Vienna-Style Lager

Follow us on Instagram: @ levelcrossingbrewing

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST

550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC

LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Bat Country Blonde Ale FREE yoga every other Saturday. 10:15am

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  Arnie (Co-Lab with 2 Row brewing): cream ale base with Lychee black tea and fresh pasteurized lemon juice.

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Boysenberry Hibiscus Cider for a Cure

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: GNAR Juice - 5.0% Hard Seltzer, infused with electrolytes from Gnarly Nutrition

Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing

25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project

30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Brewers Select: Zamboni Hazy IPA

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Roosters Ogtoberfest

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap: Limoncello Ale

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: Prickly Pear Kolsch

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: Scion Rosemary’s BAE-BEE 6.80%

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider. com

On Tap: Spiced Peach

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: 6 Wheat Under; Black Cloud Black Lager

Shades On State

366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Salud Mexican Lager; Spring Fever Grapefruit Radler

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co.

147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. – Monkey’s Dunkel

Squatters and Wasatch

Brewery

1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Lord of Bavaria Marzen Small Batch Series Release: Polyandry Pilsner

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: Lonesome Shadow (Schwarzbier); Talons & Lanterns (Pumpkin Spiced English Mild)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: The Gambler (Mango Kolsch); Caught in the Rain (Pineapple Sour)

TF

BEER NERD

Beer Boosters

Whether it’s out of support or charity, these beers are made for the community

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Epic - Hip Check: This new Imperial Pilsner was brewed to celebrate the state’s new NHL team, the temporarilynamed Utah Hockey Club. This beer was brewed to emulate the classic strong Canadian lagers from famed breweries like Labatt’s and Molson. While not available at the Delta Center arena (due to its higher 7.5 ABV), it can be found at DABS stores and sports bars.

It pours a clear and pale-yellow color, with an initially rocky and foamy head of white, that settles down to some faint webbing and a mess of lace; the carbonation is fine and refined. Overall, it’s a pretty suitable look for a pilsner. The nose is clean and fresh—leafy, with a slight apple peel aroma mixed with a pleasant clean malt and tinged with a pilsner sweetness. That’s something of a surprise, and perhaps it’s here that the extra body— or the “imperial” of the name—is borne. The taste is very pleasant: clean malt character peppered with grainy overtones, balanced with a very crisply delivered whack of hop bitterness. A faint booziness emerges towards the back, almost a suggestion of higher alcohol, with a lingering, dancing, volatile floral note on the finish. The finish also has a pleasant uptilt in sweetness; it gives a slight sherbet sugar character that mingles nicely with the residual hop oils to provide a crisp, bright ending. Very nice stuff. Mouthfeel is light, fresh and pleasant but I wouldn’t expect anything else from Epic.

Verdict: Despite my worries about the aroma, this is a damn good beer. It’s clean, crisp, remarkably drinkable and

very, very refreshing. Ignore the “Imperial” in the title, though, and take this as just a damn-good Pils.

Level Crossing - Rising Hope: Rising Hope is Level Crossing’s annual beer release which benefits the National Pediatric Cancer Fund. Proceeds from every pint of this IPA are donated to the fight against pediatric cancer. This year’s IPA is infused with white peach and is hopped with Centennial, Krush, Cashmere Cryo and Ekuanot Cryo. It has a cloudy straw color, with typical-to-light carbonation. It keeps its creamy feeling while producing an active cap of foam. The aroma is very sweet and peachy, with some herbal hops; I also smell some bread—pleasant, but not overwhelmingly strong. Some fruitiness from the hops is also detected. Peach hits immediately after it slides past the tongue. Citrus and a floral lychee flavor balance it out with malty/ yeast breadiness. Most of the hoppy flavor is contained in the aftertaste, accompanied by floral notes and peach. If you’ve had peach tea, you’ll be familiar with this taste, and it might taste somewhat herbal as a result. Bitterness is slight, similar to the perceived bitterness of some pale ales, which is less than most despite having a fairly light 14 IBUs (International Bittering Units).

Verdict: Some may say it’s a stretch to call a beer like this an IPA, and that you should just classify them as fruit beers. I disagree: I think if your fruit compliments the present flavors that are naturally produced by the malt, hops and yeast, you’re just providing an enhanced drinking experience. Plus, the white peach used here is quite subtle and pleasantly fruity. Pile on the donation to pediatric cancer research—you’ll find this fruited IPA is a no-brainer.

This session IPA can be found at both Level Crossing locations and is available on-draft only this year. Hip Check from Epic is in 16-ounce cans and can be found all around town in beer pubs, sports bars and, of course, liquor stores. As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

James Beard Finalist Chef Dinner

2024 James Beard Award finalists Nick Zocco (Urban Hill) and Ali Sabbah (Mazza) will be joining forces for a seven-course meal hosted by Urban Hill. Locals were thrilled at the news that Chefs Zocco and Sabbah earned some recognition from the highest authority on national culinary talent, and the opportunity to see both of them work their magic will be huge for local food fans. Details are sparse at the moment, but just imagining what this duo will cook up already has me salivating. The event will be taking place on Chef Zocco’s home turf at Urban Hill (urban-hill.com) on Oct. 30. Check out their website or visit them on Instagram (@urbanhillslc).

Eat Drink SLC’s Fundraising Success

This year’s Eat Drink SLC (eatdrinkslc.com) had a great turnout for its 10th annual festival, which in turn resulted in over $50,000 raised for their chosen nonprofits this year. Half of that amount will go to support the International Rescue Committee’s New Roots Program, and the other half will be split between Tracy Aviary and SB Dance. Though we’ve got a whole year to wait until Eat Drink SLC once again transforms Tracy Aviary into a gorgeous exploration of Utah’s finest eats and drinks, interested locals can get involved year-round by checking out their website.

Fazoli’s Returns to Utah

I’m not sure how many locals remember the time when the fast-casual Italian chain known as Fazoli’s (fazolis.com) once had a modest presence in Utah. I remember being fonder of their breadsticks than anything else; they were awesome to dip in the Fazoli’s alfredo sauce. Local Fazoli’s locations all closed rather abruptly, but a recent press release from FAT Brands Inc. (Fazoli’s parent company) announced that the drought is over. The current plan is to bring five locations to Utah, with the first one opening in Saratoga Springs in 2025. This means veterans to our fast-casual food scene will be enjoying Fazoli’s breadsticks, lasagna and spaghetti in no time at all.

Quote of the Week: “Never underestimate the power of dinner.” – Julia Roberts

HAIL SEITAN GO VEGAN!

Learning Life Lessons

The Last Gatsby returns to the scene with a new song.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

It’s inevitable that at one point or another, we become complacent in life and go through the motions without another thought. Or we get so caught up in the rat race that we lose sight of what’s really important. Then one day, something happens that jolts you awake, and you realize that your priorities are in the wrong place.

SLC band The Last Gatsby were on a roll in the early 2010’s—releasing great music, playing incredible shows like Warped Tour 2014 and getting their name out there. The group quickly burned out, though, and realized they weren’t making music for fun. Plus, their friend/lead singer of the band Josh Paul was diagnosed with brain cancer, and that was the end of The Last Gatsby for a while. Now in 2024, Josh Paul, Jonathan Hoopes (drums), Chase Gerber (bass/guitar) and Garrett Samuelson (lead guitar) are back with a new purpose, ready to live life to the fullest.

After hard years of playing multiple shows a week, maintaining a rigorous recording schedule and acting like intense professionals, they felt like the wind had been taken out of their sails. “We never sat down and had a conversation with the band and said, ‘All right, I think we’re a little burnt out. I think we need to take a step back and reevaluate, and get our headspace correct and then come back,’” Paul said. “It’s almost like, we just stopped getting together suddenly one day. I don’t even remember what happened.”

On top of that, Paul had been diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma, so all of that unintentionally spelled the end for The Last Gatsby. Coming back together with their new song “Life Lessons” this year, however, was a much more intentional act.

“Right when things were slowing down with the band and it was wrapping up, or to the eventual hiatus, we had written ‘Life Lessons’ one day at band practice,” Paul said. “We demoed it out, and then the band fell apart. We had to demo this song that we all thought was the best song we’d ever written, and were really excited about it when we wrote it.”

Enter Paul, challenging Hoopes to mix and remaster the song for 2024. Hoopes and Gerber worked tirelessly to get the song where they wanted it, and that’s what listeners get to hear today.

“It has the energy that we needed,” Hoopes said. “We were like, ‘Yes, this is loud as hell. It’s awesome, and it’s cool, and let’s release it.’”

While it was originally intended to be a bookend for the band, “Life Lessons” has instead reinvigorated the group, inspiring them to make more music—especially in the wake of Paul’s returning brain cancer diagnosis.

“With time now feeling more precious than ever, we reunited with a renewed sense of purpose. Our music has always centered on themes of perseverance, overcoming challenges, and living life to the fullest—now those themes carry even greater meaning,” Hoopes stated.

“Life Lessons” is an exciting, upbeat yet meaningful track that instantly pulls you in. Fans of alt rock/emo will immediately feel at home here; the driving guitar, longing vocals and punchy drums will transport you back to the early ’10s, and you can hear why they were such a good fit at Warped Tour ’14. You can tell that a great deal of love and care was poured into the song, and knowing the story behind it makes it that much better.

“Music has been a lifeline for Josh and

MUSIC

all of us. ‘Life Lessons,’ our new song, encapsulates that journey. It’s raw, emotional, and speaks not only to the battles we face but, more importantly, to the power of never giving up,” Hoopes expressed.

“It feels very cathartic to finally be able to put ‘Life Lessons’ out there and give it the release that it deserves,” he added, “because that song is more than just another song we’ve written. It’s a super meaningful one, and it has even more relevance now with what Josh has gone through and what we’ve gone through, and how it communicates with our fans and potential listeners.”

“I think before the band went on hiatus, sometimes we were a little overly focused and put too much pressure on ourselves to ‘make it.’ Make it big,” Paul recalled. “That took away some of the fun from playing in a band. I think this time, now that we’re back together, there’s none of that. This is just about making music be-

cause we like to do it.”

Now that The Last Gatsby is back together, there’s going to be more music coming soon. They have a few more songs from the past that they’re looking to resurrect and share with listeners.

“We won’t go into what our strategy is, but we can say that there is music on the horizon, and we’re really excited about it,” Hoopes said.

“Life Lessons” is streaming everywhere now, and The Last Gatsby hopes that it resonates with their audience as much as it does with them. They want listeners to feel connected and to absorb the message of hope, perseverance and determination evoked by the song. They also urge everyone to live their lives to the fullest— just like they are as a band. CW

The Last Gatsby

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

John Hiatt @ The State Room 10/24-25

John Hiatt belongs to the rare breed of singer/songwriters: an artist who’s become part of the foundation of Americana. While Hiatt tends to tap tender feelings, he also brings warmth, wry humor and sweet sentimentality to his music, reflecting core values while also allowing for ample doses of wistful reflection. He is, in that regard, a musical storyteller in the tradition of John Prine, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. The nine-time Grammy nominee’s songs—such as “Memphis in the Meantime,” “Riding With the King,” “Across the Borderline,” “Have a Little Faith in Me,” “Thing Called Love” and “Perfectly Good Guitar”—not only became his signature songs, but also found favor with other artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Delbert McClinton and Joe Cocker. And his classic albums—The Tiki Bar Is Open, Crossing Muddy Waters and Terms of My Surrender, among the many—have found Hiatt casting an occasionally gruff demeanor into the vast expanse of heartland happenstance. A true American original, he possesses a singular stature that’s made him rightfully revered. To paraphrase the title of one of his seminal standards, have a little faith in the fact that the opportunity to catch him in an acoustic concert is one not to be missed. John Hiatt—with special guests Paul Jacobsen and Alicia Stockman—performs a 21+ show at The State Room at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets cost $78 - $107.75 at axs.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

MUSIC PICK S

Get Freaky @ Utah State Fairpark 10/25-27

It’s that time of year where the ghouls and all things spooky come out in Halloween rave outfits and dance the night away for an entire weekend. V2 Presents’ annual Get Freaky festival is here, and it won’t disappoint. With artists like dubstep legend Zomboy and house & bass favorite Corrupt (UK) on Friday, Slander’s well-known melodic future bass, house and heaven trap and Kayzo’s signature hardstyle on Saturday and Crankdat’s bass-heavy set Sunday, each day will be packed with power and touches of dark, spooky fun. And, it’s not all dubstep! Artists like Andy C (the king of drum and bass) and one of the OG house/techno producers, Will Clarke, are part of this year’s Get Freaky. The SLC local Ranger sound car will be present at the Utah State Fairpark this time, and will be full of house sets, emphasizing local talent such as Cyntax, Lextacy, Obayashi and Scott Haslam b2b Cash Rose. V2 promises that this year, “We’re going bigger, bolder, and freakier than ever under the big top this Halloween!” The lineup is truly stacked, with more than 50 artists across the weekend, so look into the full festival pass for Friday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 27. Put your costume on and get tickets fast. Three-day General Admission costs $215. Friday costs $85, Saturday costs $80, and Sunday costs $75. For full event information and to purchase tickets, go to v2presents.com. (Arica Roberts)

Get Freaky

GWAR @ The Depot, 10/26

Christopher Guest’s Nigel Tufnel character in This is Spinal Tap coined and immortalized the concept of “going to 11” more than 40 years ago. But GWAR starts at 11, and goes from there. This Virginia-based collective of artists and creative types set out to create the most outrageous, over-the-top spectacle known to music—and they clearly decided the only way to achieve that goal was to devise a show that incorporated all elements in their most absolutely extreme, and then use that as merely a starting point. The music is roaring, unrelenting metal, but it’s the visual element that sets this band apart. Musicians are clad in elaborate, garish monster costumes and armed with fearful weapons. Lots and lots (and lots) of liquid— fake blood or simulated ooze of another variety—will forcefully emanate from injured monsters. And the ruddy stream will soak those crowd members foolish (or calculating) enough to have positioned themselves up front. The GWAR ethos is more, faster, louder.

More than perhaps any other contemporary concertgoing experience, a GWAR show is all about being there. The spectacle, the volume and the songs about death and hate are all so ludicrously outrageous as to be very, very funny. You have been warned. GWAR plays a very much 21+ show at The Depot on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 at livenation.com. (Bill Kopp)

Halloween Records Gallery Stroll @ Fountain Records 10/26

The archiving of past media is a matter of cultural history rather than just commercial history, so perhaps there should be a public archive, public library or some sort of institute that takes charge of it. Enter: the Lost Media Archive. The Utah-based collective specializes in kitsch, music and film, offering antique items ranging from aesthetic to historical pieces. Founder BC Starrett has partnered with Adam Michael Terry of Fountain Records to create Utah’s first ever Halloween Records Gallery Stroll. This free

self-guided tour will showcase hard-to-find records with an All Hallow’s Eve panache. Displayed in different categories—such as sound effects, library, spoken word, wacky children’s vintage vinyl and prime collectibles—the offerings should provide a chill up one’s spine. Some of the LPs lurking in the store will be JPM’s rare rad garage bubblegum rock ‘n’ roller Maledictus Sound; Edgar Allan Poe’s Nightmare (which has “The Pit and The Pendulum” on one side and “The Tell-Tale Heart” on the flip); It’s Monster Surfing Time (which serves up awesome surf rock, of course); Monster Man Lon Chaney Jr’s The Wolfman Speaks; and the really rare and special, Robbie the Werewolf (which should be on every Halloween playlist). Get there early, as there’s a limited runtime on this truly horrific evening (psst, until 9 p.m.) Catch this event at Fountain Records (202 E. 500 South in Salt Lake City) on Saturday, Oct. 26. Show at 6 p.m. Admission for the-all ages record stroll is free. For more information, please check fountainrecordsslc.com or @fountainrecordsslc. (Mark Dago)

MUSIC PICK S

La Luz @ The Urban Lounge 10/30

La Luz is bringing their sweetly psychedelic rock all the way from Seattle to Salt Lake City on Oct. 30, just in time to be utterly bewitched by their hauntingly marvelous melodies. This no-man band has long held hostage the new rise of garage psych with honest and unflinching lyrics, married to steady yet intricate musicality. After blasting onto the scene with their 2013 EP Damp Face, their 2024 release of News of the Universe 10 or so odd years later reminds die-hard fans of what marked their splashy debut in the first place: grounded grit and floating ecstasy disguised as song. Their newest album, while paying tribute to their roots as a small superstar act, also explodes forth as a mature, well-developed endeavor, indicating their growth as a band as the years have passed. With opening act Tele Novella joining La Luz for this show, this pre-Halloween event promises to be both frighteningly good and wickedly wonderful. The show is 21+ and tickets can be purchased at 24tix.com, starting at $22. Doors open at 7 p.m. (Sophie Caligiuri)

La Luz

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Secrets and hidden agendas have been preventing an accurate picture of what’s actually happening. But you now have power to uncover them. I hope you will consider the following bold moves: 1. Seek insights that could be the key to your future sexiness; 2. Change an aspect of life you’ve always wanted to change but have never been able to; 3. Find out how far you can safely go in exploring the undersides of things; 4. Help your allies in ways that will ultimately inspire them to help you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

From the 1910s to the late 1920s, silent films were the only kind of films that were made. The proper technology wasn’t available to pair sounds with images. “Talking pictures,” or “talkies,” finally came into prominence in the 1930s. Sadly, the majority of silent films, some of which were fine works of art, were poorly preserved or only exist now in second- or third-generation copies. I’m meditating on this situation as a metaphor for your life, Taurus. Are there parts of your history that seem lost, erased or unavailable? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to try to recover them. Remembering and reviving your past can be a potent healing agent.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

An old proverb tells us, “You must run toward the future and catch it. It is not coming to meet you, but is fleeing from you, escaping into the unknown.” This adage isn’t true for you at all right now, Gemini. In fact, the future is dashing toward you from all directions. It is not shy or evasive, but is eager to embrace you and is full of welcoming energy. How should you respond? I recommend you make yourself very grounded. Root yourself firmly in an understanding of who you are and what you want. Show the future clearly which parts of it you really want and which parts are uninteresting to you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Early in his musical career, Cancerian innovator Harry Partch played traditional instruments and composed a regular string quartet. But by age 29, he was inventing and building novel instruments that had never before been used. Among the materials he used in constructing his Zymo-Xyl, Eucal Blossom and Chromelodeon were tree branches, light bulbs and wine bottles. I’m inviting you to enter into a Harry Partch phase of your cycle, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to express your unique genius—whether that’s in your art, your business, your personal life or any other sphere where you love to express your authentic self.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Life’s unpredictable flow will bring you interesting blessings if you revamp your fundamentals. Listen closely, because this is a subtle turn of events: A slew of good fortune will arrive if you joyfully initiate shifts in your approaches to talking, walking, exercising, eating, sleeping, meditating and having fun. These aren’t necessarily earth-shaking transformations. They may be as delicate and nuanced as the following: 1. adding amusing words to your vocabulary; 2. playfully hopping and skipping as you stroll along; 3. sampling new cuisines; 4. keeping a notebook or recorder by your bed to capture your dreams; 5. trying novel ways to open your mind and heart; 6. seeking fresh pleasures that surprise you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

In an old Irish folk tale, fairies give a queen a crystal cauldron with special properties. If anyone speaks three falsehoods in its presence, it cracks into three fragments. If someone utters three hearty truths near it, the three pieces unite again. According to my metaphorical reading of your current destiny, Virgo, you are now in the vicinity of the broken cauldron. You have expressed one restorative truth, and need to proclaim two more. Be gently brave and bold as you provide the healing words.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Let’s review highlights of recent months. First, you expanded your perspective, blew your mind and raised your consciousness. Fabulous! Next, you wandered half-dazed and thoroughly enchanted, pleased with your new freedom and spaciousness. That, too, was fantastic! Then, you luxuriously indulged in the sheer enjoyment of your whimsical explorations and experimentations. Again, that was marvelous! Now you’re ready to spend time integrating all the teachings and epiphanies that have surged into your life in recent months. This might be less exciting, but it’s equally important.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

As a teen, I loved the music of Jefferson Airplane. I recall sitting in my New Jersey home, listening to their albums over and over again. Years later, I was performing at a San Francisco nightclub with my band, World Entertainment War. In the audience was Paul Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane. After, he came backstage and introduced himself. He said he wanted his current band, Jefferson Starship, to cover two of my band’s songs on his future album. Which he did. I suspect you’ll soon experience a comparable version of my story, Scorpio. Your past will show up bearing a gift for your future. A seed planted long ago will finally blossom.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

My horoscopes are directed toward individuals. Yet it’s impossible to provide oracles about your destiny without considering the collective influences that affect you. Every day, you are impacted by the culture you live in. For instance, you encounter media that present propaganda as information and regard cynicism as intellectual vigor. You live on a planet where the climate is rapidly changing, endangering stability and security. You are not a narrow-minded bigot who doles out hatred toward those unlike you, but you may have to deal with such people. I bring this to your attention, because now is an excellent time to take an inventory of the world’s negative influences—and initiate aggressive measures to protect yourself from them. Even further, I hope you will cultivate and embody positive alternatives.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

I suspect you’ll be extra attractive, appealing and engaging in the coming weeks. You may be especially convincing, influential and inspirational. What do you plan to do with this potency? How will you wield your flair? I hope you’ll dispense blessings everywhere you go. You will nurture the collective health of groups and communities you are part of. PS: In unexpected ways, being unselfish will generate wonderful selfish benefits.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Do you fantasize about being a masterful manager of your world? Have you imagined the joy of being the supreme sovereign of your holy destiny? Do you love the idea of rebelling against anyone who imagines they have the right to tell you what you should do and who you are? If you answered yes to those questions, I have excellent news, Aquarius: You are now primed to take exciting steps to further the goals I described. Here’s a helpful tip: Re-dedicate yourself to the fulfillment of your two deepest desires. Swear an oath to that intention.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

The Liberation Season is here. How can you take maximum advantage of emancipatory energies? Here are suggestions: 1. Plan adventures to frontier zones; 2. Sing and dance in the wilderness; 3. Experiment with fun and pleasure outside your usual repertoire; 4. Investigate what it would mean for you to be on the vanguard of your field; 5. Expand your understanding of sexuality; 6. Venture out on a pilgrimage; 7. Give yourself permission to fantasize extravagantly; 8. Consider engaging in a smart gamble; 9. Ramble, wander and explore.

ETL Developer (ETLD-SKRM) in Midvale, UT. Telecommute permitted from anywhere in the U.S. Eval tech options for data needs by analyzing reqs using various SW, update tech design docs & creating a task plan for implementation. MS+2 or BS followed by 5 yrs rltd prog exp. Send resumes to Zions Bancorporation at ZionsCareers@ zionsbancorp.com. Must reference job title & code in subject line.

on instagram! @brennabnails @nailssbysam @Mckeldoesnails @polished.bytessa

Finance Manager sought by NexHealth Inc. Draper, UT, F/T. Responsible for efficiency & profitability. Record & aggregate fin’l transactions to fin’l statements & provide fin’l reports to mgmt. Perform monthly Budget & Variance, examine budget, monitor spending to identify budget deviations. Analyze & audit operating expenses, revenue KPIs, acctg records. Create & maintain company-wide fin’l model. Remote work option/telecommuting from anywhere in US. Bach’s Finance, Business, or related field or foreign equiv. Required Coursework Fin’l Reporting Standards, Mgmt Acctg, Fin’l Acctg, Economics, Corporate Finance Principles of Business & Mgmt. Resumes to: kelley.martin@nexhealth.com

Need a New Hive?

urban LIVING

Salty History

Years ago, some friends of mine took a road trip in their old Volvo station wagon out to the Salt Flats—en route to California—as a side trip. They had never actually driven on the salt bed before, but passed by a directional sign pointing to the unofficial race track. Once out there, they decided to do their own speed test and took the car past 100 mph for a minute, before realizing their car was starting to shake badly. That was enough rush for the day.

This month, on October 15, is the 60th anniversary of the land-speed record broken by Craig Breedlove in his rocket-engine-powered Spirit of America car, when his vehicle went 526.277 mph across the salt. That record only lasted two weeks and Breedlove and his crew went back out and broke the record again. But at the end of his run, his car lost its braking parachutes and literally skidded for five miles across the flats until he crashed into a row of telephone poles and ended up in a brine pond.

When his crew got to him, he laughed, climbed out of his cockpit and declared, “And now for my next act I’m going to set myself on fire!” Not to sit on his laurels, Breedlove set a new land-speed record of 600.601 mph a year later, which wasn’t broken until 1970. He then went back to the drawing board and in 1996, he went out to Black Rock Desert in Nevada (where Burning Man is held) to try at another record, but crashed his new car going 675 mph.

Later, in 1997, a Brit by the name of Andy Green became the first (and only) driver to break the sound barrier by driving 763 mph in his car, ThrustSSC.

So many people come to the Bonneville Salt Flats each year to race a variety of vehicles. Sadly, the flats are thinning due to the West’s third decade of drought. Racers love the salt crust— remnants of a prehistoric lake bed— because it keeps tires cool when racing at high speeds. The racing industry has changed water flow patterns there and the potash mining company working the land there through mineral extraction may be depleting the aquifer.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Beyonce alter ego ___ Fierce

6. Moving picture?

9. Mouselike farmland critter

13. Constellation with a belt

14. 1,500-mile Eurasian chain

16. “Batman” star West

17. “Cheers!” in Mexico

18. ___ Lee (dessert brand)

19. Salon creation

20. Actress Teri appearing on every network at once?

23. This, in Spain

24. Partner of paste

25. Cash-spewing devices

28. Everyday glass container?

34. Jazz legend Armstrong

36. Sea bird

37. Reverent wonder

38. Pub where you can drink samples of precipitation from around the world?

42. ___Kosh B’Gosh (kids’ clothing line)

43. P’s somewhere on campus?

44. Limerick’s rhyme scheme

45. Sailor with a foot injury?

49. Stuck-up

50. Assistance

51. Annual milestone, for short

53. Author who’s a distant relative of Henry VIII’s last wife?

60. The trans pride one has light blue, light pink, and white stripes

61. “Birthplace of Aviation” state

62. Cobra’s foe

63. Cosmo rival

64. ___ doble (two-step dance)

65. K-pop hub

66. Musical with the song “Good Morning Starshine”

67. Emeril’s catchphrase

68. “___ Remember”

DOWN

1. 1998 baseball MVP Sammy

2. Sea bordering Uzbekistan

3. Place for a planter

4. Keep watch while the owner’s away

5. Warhol and Williams

6. Composer Mahler

7. “Dies ___” (Latin requiem)

8. Old MacDonald’s home

9. Leave the premises

10. Stench

11. Animal den

12. “Unbelievable” band

15. Opera venue in Milan

21. Amtrak stop, for short

22. Canadian Olympic skateboarder and LGBTQ rights activist Annie

25. Section on risers

26. Glass-lifting reason

27. “Mulan” dragon voiced by Eddie Murphy

29. Eliminate from the body, to a biologist

30. Karel Capek robot play

31. “Star Wars” villain ___ the Hutt

32. Abalone, in sushi bars

33. Played once more

35. Belgrade’s country

39. 2014 Tom Hardy/ James Gandolfini crime drama

40. Brick transporter

41. Landmark on the Chicago shoreline

46. Supermarket assistant

47. In full flower

48. Nutrition label fig.

Research has shown that about onethird of that salt base has thinned in the past 60 years, shrinking to about half of its biggest size since measurements were taken in 1994. Racers blame the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for not doing enough to preserve the area and “Speed Week” has been canceled in past years due to the salt flats flooding, which left too small of a track on which to race.

Our Legislature has funded studies of

salty track, but currently, there isn’t

52. Dreadful feeling

53.

54. Painter of melting watches

55. Subject of Ishmael’s tale

56. Actress Kudrow

57. “... beauty is ___ forever” (Keats)

58. Crushing defeat

59. Change addresses, in real estate lingo

60. Disgusted utterance

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Emhoff

NEWS of the WEIRD

What’s My Fetish?

Jesse Johnson, 28, was arrested on Sept. 24 in Gilbert, Arizona, after three instances in which he allegedly spied on women’s feet as the victims vacuumed their cars, AZFamily.com reported. Police said that Johnson’s M.O. at the Super Star Car Wash in Gilbert was to park next to a woman’s car at the vacuum station and then slide underneath the woman’s car for a few minutes before climbing back out. One victim said she felt “very violated and I’ve been having nightmares.” It’s not the first time that Johnson has been caught lusting after feet: Court documents revealed that he had previously been cited at least four times in Nebraska, and that he had touched a woman’s ankle in a grocery store. He admitted to authorities there that he “is sexually attracted to women’s feet” and “at times, can’t control his sexual desires.” Johnson was charged with three counts of voyeurism and three counts of disorderly conduct and held on $10,000 bond.

Creepy

In late September, Derek Johnson, owner of JVI Secret Gardens in Donelson, Tennessee, was alerted by an employee that someone was walking around the garden center wearing a clown mask, WTVF-TV reported. But Johnson was not about to physically confront the creepy clown, whom he could see on surveillance video. Johnson clicked on his security system’s speaker, but before he could say anything, the clown backed off: “I’m leaving.” He left behind the propane tank and saw blade that he had picked up with the intention to steal. “This is a sweet little garden center,” Johnson said incredulously. Police are investigating.

Great Art?

A work of art at the LAM museum in Lisse, the Netherlands, was mistakenly thrown away by an elevator technician in late September, CNN reported. “All the good times we spent together” by French artist Alexandre Lavet appears to be two empty beer cans, but, the museum said, it is really “meticulously hand-painted with acrylics, with each detail painstakingly replicated.” The work was displayed in the facility’s glass elevator shaft, and when a technician came in to work on the lift, he helpfully pitched it in the trash. “He was just doing his job in good faith,” said Sietske van Zanten, the museum director. The cans were later recovered, cleaned and returned to display, albeit in a different location.

We Regret To Inform You ...

Tizi Hodson, 70, of Lincolnshire, England, sent off an application in January 1976, hoping to become a motorcycle stunt rider, the BBC reported on Oct. 5. But recently, the letter was returned to Hodson with a note: “Late delivery by Staines Post Office. Found behind a draw(er). Only about 50 years late.” “How they found me when I’ve moved house 50-odd times, and even moved countries four or five times, is a mystery,” Hodson said. “I was so disappointed because I really, really wanted to be a stunt rider on a motorcycle.” Instead, Hodson’s life’s work has included working as a snake handler, a horse whisperer, an aerobatic pilot and a flying instructor. “It means so much to me to get it back all this time later,” she said.

Awesome!

Reddit user Springchikun was doing some lawn cleanup in September when she noticed that a small hatch leading to a crawlspace under her home was unlatched. The New York Post reported that the Oregon woman investigated, finding a makeshift bed and several bags of belongings. She noted that the crawlspace was free of cobwebs, suggesting that someone had been there recently. “I’m sure someone is using the space,” she said. But Springchikun didn’t want to call the authorities about the squatter. “We have an option to be kind,” she said. Instead, she wrote the person a note, offering support such as food, a phone or help with resources. As a result, she met her unexpected guest, whose name is

Gaby, and connected her with a friend who could help her with shelter and a mental health evaluation. “I’m not without empathy,” she said. “I just can’t have humans living under my home.”

News You Can Use

n When Hannah Willow arrived at the Scottish Tree Hugging Championships in Glasgow on Oct. 6, she thought that the event was a charity affair, The Guardian reported on Oct. 9. “When I was told it was a competition, my inner child took a somersault ... This was a moment of glory for me,” Willow said. Now, she is on her way to the World Tree Hugging Championship in HaliPuu Forest in Finland in August 2025. Willow has already strategizing about how to win: “I need to step up my game for the world championships,” she said. “I will have to bring out my fairy wings and my ukelele and go singing to the trees.” Willow said her children were “hugely embarrassed” to learn she had won the Glasgow contest.

n As if folks in Florida didn’t have enough to worry about, State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced on Oct. 9 that after Hurricane Helene came through in September, at least 48 fires involving lithium-ion batteries had been reported—11 in electric vehicles. “Floridians living on the coastline who own EVs are at risk of those EVs being inundated with saltwater storm surge, which presents a dangerous fire threat to Florida families and homes,” Patronis said, according to WFTSTV. Other products like electric scooters, golf carts or children’s toys could also be affected. “These compromised vehicles and devices are ticking time bombs,” Patronis said. He suggested people move affected vehicles away from their homes.

The Neighbors

Caroline Ashley, 41, of Liverpool, England, went all out on her Halloween decorations this year, installing fake tombstones and human skulls, but the pièces de résistance were the two “body bags” hanging upside down from a tree in front of her home. But, as Metro News reported, the fun didn’t last long: On Sept. 24, a Liverpool City Council worker stopped by to tell Ashley she would have to remove the body bags because a neighbor had complained. “It was the quickest the council has come out for anything,” Ashley said. “I put them up, and then he was round the following day.” But, she conceded, a neighbor may have been “triggered” by the display. “I don’t want to offend anyone. That wasn’t the intention,” she said. Ashley said she’ll keep the body bags in her garage going forward—which might be creepier.

Family Values

Indonesian police have arrested a man near Jakarta, identified as RA, after he allegedly sold his 11-monthold baby on Facebook for $995 to fund his gambling addiction. The Telegraph reported that when the baby’s mother returned home, she asked him where the child was. “RA saw on Facebook that the buyers were looking to purchase a toddler so he sent them a message and arranged the purchase,” the police chief said. Police found the child in a rented home and arrested two adults suspected of human trafficking.

Saw That Coming

On Oct. 6, 36-year-old Clejuan Williams of Toledo, Ohio, was teaching his 9-year-old son how to back up the car (first mistake) with another child in the backseat (second mistake). Williams was standing outside the car with the driver’s door open, WTVG reported, and told the boy to hit the brake. When the child pressed the wrong pedal, Williams, who was intoxicated (third mistake), was struck and dragged under the car. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to face charges of wrongful entrustment of a motor vehicle and endangering children.