Millcreek Journal | February 2025

JED JENSEN LEAVES A LEGACY OF KINDNESS

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When Millcreek resident Jed Jensen died on Dec. 29, 2024, he left a legacy of love and service in the hearts of his family and friends. Jensen passed away after complications from a car crash that happened in early December but his contributions and connections to his community won’t soon be forgotten.

Jensen, 64, worked as the Zamboni driver/Santa at the Millcreek Common Skate Loop for two years and was just starting his third year at the time of the accident. Black bands were placed on the Zamboni to honor his memory.

“Jed never met a person that wasn’t a friend,” said Sheri Jensen, his wife of 31 years. “He liked talking to everyone and anyone. He would go up and strike up conversations and make friends everywhere. He loved driving the Zamboni and even when he didn’t wear his Santa suit the kids thought he was Santa. He loved that persona.”

While he enjoyed driving the Zamboni and working his day job as an electrician, Jensen’s true passion was supporting his daughter Shelby Jensen Mitchell on her Paralympic journey as a parafencing competitor. After Mitchell competed at the

2020 Tokyo Paralympian Games in 2021, her father designed and created a parafencing chair that was cost-effective and easily available to clubs.

His design, the Jedi Chair, allowed athletes interested in wheelchair/para/seated fencing to try the sport without the hefty investment of $3,500 in a professional chair. Jensen and his wife both served on the board of the Utah Fencing Foundation and worked with its president Bill Nikolai who helped create and distribute the chairs. The UFF recently announced on its social media platforms that the chair would be renamed Jed’s Chair.

“There are countries across the world that wanted our chair plan so they could make their own Jedi chairs,” Sheri Jensen said. “There are clubs across the country that want to start parafencing programs. They want to grow the sport because they’re looking to have a big, big showing at [the 2028 Summer Olympic] Games in L.A.”

As a car enthusiast, Jensen was also involved with the W.O.W. Car Community and embraced the group’s motto, “Spreading Smiles for Miles.” He loved cruising in Continued page 8

Paralympian Shelby Mitchell and her father Jed Jensen at one of her many parafencing competitions. Jensen created the Jedi Chair to help parafencing athletes. (Photo courtesy of Sheri Jensen)

When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site. Find

Salt Lake County works to provide safe travel during winter weather conditions

Utah is known for its “cold smoke” powder snow. Certainly, from the standpoint of skiing and snowboarding, a convincing argument can be made that the “Greatest Snow on Earth” can be found in Utah. The famous snow, created from unique environmental conditions, may be unsurpassed on the planet for its quality. However, it can also turn a routine morning commute into quite a hazardous ordeal.

When the snow flies in Utah, the Salt Lake County Public Works Operations team rolls across the valley with large snow removal vehicles loaded with salt and equipped with 12-foot-wide, 2,000-pound blades to promote safe travel during winter weather conditions. The team works around the clock to ensure safe, accessible roads for residents throughout Salt Lake County.

According to the Director of Salt Lake County Public Works Operations, Steven Kuhlmeier, the Public Works team comprises about 81 department employees operating 60 large plows. The team is on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Kuhlmeier says the goal is to address snow and ice events in contracted jurisdictions within 36 hours after the end of a storm.

When a snow event occurs, street maintenance in the community is addressed according to a priority plan. First, the main arterial roads and priority roadways that provide access for emergency vehicles are cleared. Next, attention is given to school routes and areas in higher elevations and arterial streets in steeper neighborhoods. Snow plows then move on to public transportation routes and residential streets. Cul-de-sacs and dead ends, which are the most challenging to clear, are managed last.

“When dispatching our drivers, we have two snow supervisors for each day and night shifts who split up the valley” Kuhlmeier said. “They are monitoring weather conditions and assessing any reports coming in from law enforcement as well as going out and making inspections. So, we are not necessarily waiting for snow to be on the ground. If we are seeing what could possibly be icy or unsafe conditions, we will go out and wet the asphalt with a brine salt water solution which helps to mitigate ice formation and makes it easier for the drivers to plow and to get the salt down later.”

The drivers face several challenges that affect the

By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

effectiveness of snow removal in neighborhoods. Parked cars create an unsafe situation for trucks trying to pass, often leading to roads being skipped. However, the driver will frequently try to circle back, check for clearance, and try to plow again, which can cause delays in other areas needing service.

Many times, people assume an area hasn’t been cleared, but often, this is due to residents blowing snow back into already-cleared roads. This can create icy or unsafe conditions. Blowing snow back onto a resident’s property is best practice for helping keep roads safe. When residents are clearing out the drive approach, it is advised to push the snow with the flow of traffic so the plows don’t push it right back into the drive approach. Additionally, navigating around garbage cans and untrimmed trees can be difficult for a 12-foot-wide plow. Following local ordinances and keeping trees trimmed improve access for plow drivers.

Cul-de-sacs and dead ends are specific challenges for drivers providing service. When drivers have difficulties navigating plows in these areas, such as when snow cannot be removed for various reasons or the truck cannot be turned around, more seasoned drivers may back the truck in and drop salt to help reduce the severity of ice and snow.

Have you ever wondered how soon your area will receive plowing service during a large snow event? To address these questions and concerns, Salt Lake County has provided an online Plow Tracker tool. This tool shows the locations of the snowplow trucks and highlights the areas that have recently been plowed.

“All of our trucks are equipped with a GPS that registers where the trucks are and when the plow blades are down,” Kuhlmeier said. “This is a publicly accessible tool that can show where drivers have plowed within the past 12 to 48 hours. The tool can be accessed by visiting your city’s public works or county website. It allows citizens to see where we have been providing service. Also, we have 24-hour dispatch to address and track concerns.”

Great snow brings great responsibility. Salt Lake County Public Works asks residents to remember to be patient during large snow events, avoid parking on the street, understand minor arterial roads are lower priority,

avoid blowing snow into the street when clearing walkways and driveways, and when cleaning out a driveway approach, push snow with the flow of the traffic.

Few things are as reassuring to a snowed-in neighborhood as the sight of flashing white lights piercing through the heavy snowfall and the deep rumbling sound of a snowplow blade scraping against the snow-covered asphalt. Snow removal is an essential service that helps ensure a safer, more accessible community.

If you have questions or concerns about snow removal in your area, use the Salt Lake County online Plow Tracker citizeninsights.geotab.com/#/pwops, call 24-hour dispatch 385-468-6101, or email Salt Lake County Public Works Operations, pwops-online@saltlakecounty.gov. l

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Few things are as reassuring to a snowed-in neighborhood as the sight of flashing white lights piercing through the heavy snowfall and the deep rumbling sound of a snowplow blade scraping against the snow-covered asphalt. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Public Works Operations)

Documented and undocumented people express fears and anxiety about mass deportation

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

One

of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises on day one of his new administration is a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants from the United States.

Gov. Spencer Cox announced that Utah’s government would support the incoming presidential administration’s priorities on illegal immigration.

Gina Crezee, the executive director of the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Services located in Millcreek said, “Undocumented folks came to the door of America, through the airport, the border across Canada or walked through the river and they all came here with the hopes of having a better life. I do not call them illegal. They are just doing exactly what our grandparents did.”

“Are there people in our community that are scared? 100%! Are there people that are documented and going through the process that are scared? 100%!”

“If someone comes to our country and says they are seeking asylum, they are given a one year deadline. It means you better get in your application for asylum within one year of this date and find representation to make your case. If they miss this one year deadline they are ‘hosed’ and they have no shot,” Crezee said.

“There are only five ways to get asylum: political leanings, religion, race, sexual orientation and convention against being tortured by someone in power,” Crezee said.

Crezee talked about one young 12-year-old girl from Honduras. “Her mother was in Utah and the girl stayed in Honduras and lived with grandma who then passed away. A gang moved in and this 12 year old was gang raped horribly.”

“This girl got away and walked from Honduras to the border. She will tell you it was cold, she struggled for food and just sits and cries about what she went through. When she gets to the border she is seven months pregnant from the rape and is seeking asylum,” Crezee tells this story and added, “This is not considered asylum.”

“The young girl could not seek asylum but did qualify as a special immigrant juvenile or SIJ,” Crezee said.

It is hard to seek asylum but these folks are desperate and returning to their country is not a safe option so many will stay here and work in jobs that other Americans might not be willing to work and get paid under the table.

“After you apply for asylum, you wait 150 days and you can apply for an employment authorization document or EAD which is a work permit, but these can be revoked and it happens,” Crezee said.

Crezee stated that “There are between 11 million or 20 million undocumented or potentially documented people in this country.” Crezee said this number includes deferred action for childhood arrivals or DACA recipients who are not citizens but are documented.

A DACA recipient using the name Maria to protect herself and her family said she is “scared to death.”

“DACA, when it first was introduced by Obama, was a way for children who were brought to the U.S. at a very young age who didn’t have a choice because our parents brought us here to be able to obtain a better way of life and a way to work and be successful,” Maria said.

“What the DACA program is, is a work permit essentially for only two years. We have to pay over $600 to renew it and if you hire an attorney or someone to represent you and fill out the paperwork, some offices charge over $500 to do that,” Maria said.

Maria said DACA recipients receive no finanical aid like FAFS loans for college unless they are private loans

through your bank.

“Interest rates are through the roof because they are only guaranteed for two years,” Maria said.

“There are certain states that will not allow DACA recipients to pursue certain careers like becoming lawyers, nurses, doctors and you cannot apply for scholarships. There are private scholarships just for DACA and people in the Hispanic community, but hard to earn them since you are competing with everyone else in the community,” Maria said.

She says she constantly lives in fear.

“There is no pathway to citizenship through DACA. If you get pulled over for a traffic citation, there is a possibility that you could lose that DACA status,” added Maria.

DACA is no longer an option for new applicants but those with DACA status can still go through the renewal process.

“Some folks seeking a better way of life have been here 20 or 30 years but could not seek asylum,” Crezee said. “These folks entered without inspection, not with immigration and customs agents, ICE, and now they are here. They do not qualify for any benefits and they are on what I like to refer to as the ‘Island of Misfit Toys.’”

“Every time they go to the grocery store, fill up with gas or buy anything, they’re paying taxes. A misconception is that these immigrants are getting food stamps but they cannot get this,” added Crezee.

“There is nothing for them here but to have a better life than what they had in their country. I have clients from an Asian country where they owned a high tech business company that they gave up to come to America,” Crezee said.

Miguel, his wife and two daughters are originally from Venezuela. He is using the name Miguel to protect himself and his family. Miguel stated they are all very anxious and concerned about what might happen to them when the new administration takes over.

“I came to Utah in 2023 from Ecuador where I lived with my family since 2016 after we left Venezuela," Miguel said. “We left both countries due to insecurities and the harsh

economic situation.”

“Like all immigrants, we worry about the future. During the next year we will try to stay legally here. In my case, I’m trying to get a professional visa that allows me to stay and still work here,” Miguel said. Miguel currently has a fulltime job through the University of Utah.

“This country and the people have been very generous to us. Until now we have very good relationships with all the people that we have known since we arrived. Our family and friends in Venezuela and Ecuador have always worried about our destiny. We help them as much as we can, so our permanency here is very important to them and us,” Miguel said.

There is a huge impact on mental health from immigration on the immigrants as Crezee explained, “First you apply for asylum, then apply for the EAD and if you don’t qualify, you are done. You can appeal it but if you don’t win, you are done. If you do win, then you have to apply for your green card which is one year later. Then you have to apply for citizenship which can take years and cost $20,000 to $30,000 and that is just for one person in the family.”

Crezee explained about the impact on the mental health of the children of these immigrant families: “Maria had to be pulled out of school as a child and go to every doctor's appointment with her parents so she could translate, to the DMV to translate, and taken to the hospital to translate for a family member. She was still expected to go to school and do well as a DACA recipient. The impact on the kids' mental health if they mistranslate and the fear these kids have of that is pretty horrible.”

“The mass deportation that has been proposed could affect the economy and people will be scared but it could take the new administration a very long time and may not follow through with this campaign promise,” Crezee said. “The business community will rise up and the chambers all support immigration and immigration reform. The businesses need these people to work.”

More information can be found at www.immigrantlegalservices.org/.l

Old-school games entertain all at Electric Alley Arcade at Millcreek Common Public Market

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

Electric Alley Arcade was held during January at Millcreek Common Public Market. The area was turned into an arcade with games from years ago. Lights, bings and bells all sounding off depending on the machine being used.

People came out to enjoy themselves with family members and friends at the table hockey game, Pac-Mac, Donkey Kong Jr. and the Skee-Ball machines to name a few.

Admission was only $5 with unlimited game play.

Roberto and his daughters Bellanice and Elaina from West Valley had heard about the Electric Alley Arcade and decided to venture out to play the games. Bellanice was getting good at playing Skee-Ball.

Jody Buttars and his son Will are from Millcreek and selected the Donkey Kong Jr. game to play. “This is one of the games we played together as a kid on a Nintendo 64,” Will said. “We are challenging each other,”

Will’s father Jody added. Maria, Evo and Hunter were here to ice skate and then decided to play some arcade games too. There was a special deal that if you paid to skate, you were automatically able to play the arcade games for free. Hunter claimed to be the best in their group.

Ben, Hudson and Zander were out playing Pac-Man. “It’s crazy we just played tonight for the first time ever and it is insane,” the group jokingly said.

Meg was working the desk at Millcreek and said this is the second year we have offered the Electric Alley Arcade and it has been popular. She indicated that there is talk of having the arcade during school breaks and possibly twice per year. It is a little cost prohibitive as of now but if there is a way to make it cost neutral, they will have the arcades multiple times.l

Stomp, run, snowshoe in the Snow Stomp race Feb. 8 at Little Dell Rec Area

Snow may have come late this year, but it’s just in time for the Snow Stomp.

“We created the Snow Stomp event, and it has been going for about 20 years,” James Zwick of SportsAmEvents said. “We do a lot of events.”

“We started doing them in Park City then we decided to move it closer to Salt Lake City,” said Zwick. The inspiration behind Snow Stomp was, “We wanted to do an event in the winter.”

Snow Stomp is a family event and it is a chance to run, stomp or snowshoe in the snow. It is being held Feb. 8 with two races at the Little Dell Recreation Area, which is not far off I-80 between Salt Lake City and Park City. There is a 1K race for kids up to 10 and a 5K race for anyone ages 10 up to 70 years of age.

“We have around 50 people doing these races. We always encourage the adults to run the event with the kids,” Zwick said.

People need to register by Feb. 5 to be in the races.

The first race is at 9:30 a.m. and will be for kids but the parents or guardians are encouraged to run with them.

“The kids always get a medal,” added Zwick.

“The next race starts at 10 a.m. and it is

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

the 5K race and it is with snowshoes or shoes with crampons or just shoes,” Zwick said. “We always have music. We have our chef Rene that will cook pancakes and sausage. We have hot chocolate and coffee along with bars to eat.”

Participants are encouraged to donate to The Road Home and Huntsman Cancer Institute.

The cost for kids is $15 and the 5K race is $35 per person.l

(Stock photo)

Ben, Hunter and Zander of Millcreek were having a blast playing a game from the past, Pac-Man. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

A fun game of table hockey being played at the Electric Alley Arcade at Millcreek Public Market. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Hunter of Millcreek came out to skate and enjoy some arcades. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

A game of Donkey Kong Jr. for Millcreek residents Jody Buttars and his son Will. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Skyline swimmers are ranked highly in several events, according to the Utah Swimming Coaches Association. With the 5A state championships set for Feb. 14 and 15 at BYU, the Eagles are gearing up for

Skyline swimmers rank high in state

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

runs at state titles and school records

As of Jan. 10, here are how Skyline swimmers rank among the top times registered thus far this year. l

SWIMMING RESULTS

GIRLS’ EVENTS

200 Free

Rori Sorenson, 2nd, 1:56.85

Shayla Zulcic, 3rd, 1:57.05

200 IM

Jade Garstang, 1st, 2:06.40

Elaine Liu, 3rd, 2:10.26

50 Free

Jade Garstang, 4th, 24.3

100 Fly

Jade Garstang, 1st, 55.6

Elaine Liu, 7th, 59.18

100 Free

Jade Garstang, 4th, 53.41

Shayla Zulcic, 7th, 54.29

500 Free

Rori Sorenson, 2nd, 5:13.36

Jade Garstang, 4th, 5:16.71

100 Back

Jade Garstang, 1st, 55.74

Felicia Shi, 8th, 59.58

200 Medley Relay Skyline, 1st, 1:48.5

200 Free Relay Skyline, 2nd, 1:39.77

400 Free Relay Skyline, 2nd, 3:36.08

Eagle hoopsters venture into Region 6 play

As the Region 6 basketball season reaches its midpoint, Skyline’s boys led the league with a 3-0 record through games of Jan. 16, while the Lady Eagles are 1-2 in fifth place in league.

BOYS

Skyline is 9-5 on the year, ranked No. 8 in the RPI. The Eagles started the new year on a three-game winning streak, beating Brighton 67-62, topping Alta 58-50 and defeating East 69-58.

Senior Cameron Wilson led the Eagles in scoring with a 13.1 points per game average. He also led the team in rebounding at 6.1 per game. Senior Andrew Lindquist was second in scoring at 12.6 per game, and senior David Rasmussen was third in scoring at 10.6 per game. He was second in rebounding at 5.3 per game, and led the team in assists with an average of 2.6 per game.

GIRLS

The Lady Eagles have had a rough start to the season, and are 1-2 in league play, 4-10 overall. Skyline won its most recent contest with a 42-37 win over East.

Senior Leely Bare leads the scoring at 13.4 points per game. Freshman Estella Myers is second at 13.1 per game, and junior Mia Johnson is third at 10.9 per game.

Junior Ashley Price leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 per game. Bare is second at 5.5 per game. Bare also leads in assists with 4.3 per game average. l

BOYS’ EVENTS

200 Free Kai Hale, 22nd, 1:50.52

200 IM

Chase Johnson, 3rd, 1:56.26

Nash Hale, 6th, 1:57.22

100 Fly

Chase Johnson, 6th, 51:44

100 Free

Nash Hale, 7th, 47.68

500 Free Nash Hale, 2nd, 4:43.90

100 Back

Nash Hale, 1st, 50.22

100 Breast Yunpeng Tao, 4th, 1:00.57

200 Medley Relay Skyline, 2nd, 1:35.33

200 Free Relay Skyline, 6th, 1:29.48

400 Free Relay Skyline, 2nd, 3:13.20

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

BOYS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Jan. 17 West

Jan. 21 at Highland

Jan. 24 Olympus

Jan 28 Brighton

Jan. 30 at Alta

Jan. 31 East

Feb. 7 at West

Feb. 11 Highland Feb. 13 at Olympus

GIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Jan. 17 West

Jan. 21 Highland

Jan. 24 at Olympus

Jan. 28 at Brighton

Jan. 30 Alta

Jan. 31 at East

Feb. 7 at West

Feb. 11 at Highland Feb. 13 Olympus

The 5A state championships will be Feb. 14 and 15 at BYU. (File photo City Journals)

Skyline boys basketball team was ranked in the top of the RPI

his late father-in-law’s 1956 Ford one-ton truck, participating in car shows and helping with fundraising events.

The Jensens have lived in Millcreek for 18 years. Sheri Jensen said their elderly neighbors knew if a snowstorm hit, the Jensens would be out snow-blowing sidewalks to ensure people could get in and out of the neighborhood. Jensen also loved sitting on the back patio watching birds at the numerous bird feeders in the yard and taking care of their fishpond. Jensen’s 5-yearold nephew has promised to take care of the birds for him.

“Jed was a tinkerer; he didn’t spend a lot of time sitting around,” Sheri Jensen said. “He was always puttering with something and he made friends everywhere. We would go to a car show and when we left he’d have 10 new friends.”

Even after a month of ups and downs while Jensen was in the hospital, his death at the end of December was a shock to his loved ones. “It was so devastating,” Sheri Jensen said. “I mean, for 27 days he fought it. He really fought it. He really tried.”

Mitchell knew her dad was her biggest cheerleader. She said she’ll miss his big hugs and their constant bickering.

“We would call my mom and tattle on each other and she would get frustrated and

say, ‘You two are both adults. Go figure it out,’” Mitchell said. “We loved getting on each other’s nerves. I will miss that. That sounds so ridiculous but I’ll miss him getting on my nerves. I don’t have that kind of relationship with anyone else.”

“His legacy was to be kind and spread kindness,” Sheri Jensen said. “Don’t be afraid to make a friend. Nobody was a stranger when it came to him. You wish the world was more like that.” l

As a member of the W.O.W. Car Community, Jed Jensen enjoyed taking his 1956 Ford to car shows and events. (Photo courtesy of Sheri Jensen)

Zamboni driver and community Santa, Jed Jensen, was a Millcreek favorite. He passed away in December, following complications from an automobile accident. (Photo courtesy of Sheri Jensen)

UFSA board approves 23% tax increase in 2025

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

Unified Fire Service Area board members voted in a public meeting in December to approve a proposed tax increase for 2025. The 23% tax increase would yield $11,473,218 in revenue, according to officials.

The increase will be implemented in two parts, with the first part of the increase – referred to as the second phase of the 2024 increase – costing an estimated $5,088,123, according to the Unified Fire Service Area.

The second part of the proposed increase would address additional staffing in Kearns and Eagle Mountain, and is estimated to cost $6,385,095, according to UFSA.

“Most of the increase we’re talking about here is going to the firefighters,” Board member and Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini said at the meeting. “If we don’t pay competitive wages, they’ll go somewhere else and we’ll be even more short-staffed than we already are.”

With the 2025 tax increase being approved, the annual tax would increase from $405.35 to $498.58 for residential properties, and from $737.00 to $906.50 for commercial properties. Before 2024, the last UFSA tax increases were in 2008

and 2018.

The 2025 tax increase would make a monthly difference of $7.77 (for an annual difference of $93.23) and a monthly difference of $14.13 for commercial properties (or an annual difference of $169.51), according to the UFSA.

Many board members acknowledged that their own families would feel the effects of the increase, but they said

property taxes are the only revenue for the UFSA.

“This is not an organization that is abusing the system,” Board member Kathleen Bailey of Copperton told residents after the public comment period. “This is not being done frivolously.”

The proposed tax increase would be used to address the cost of service, upgrade fire stations, add staff members

Riverstone Medical — Dr. Khalid Hararah

Dr. Khalid Hararah opened his new clinic, Riverstone Medical, in October 2024, bringing primary care and his specialized practice to Salt Lake County.

A University of Utah grad, Dr. Hararah completed his family medicine residency at NYU Langone in New York City. He then attended SUNY Upstate University Hospital to complete an undersea and hyperbaric medicine/wound care fellowship. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Tell us about Riverstone Medical.

My clinic is designed to make patients feel comfortable, at ease and not too anxious. I want my patients to be seen as individuals, not just another patient. Each patient’s well-being is my top priority. I work with any adult, 18 and older, to help them create the best life. We also offer convenient online booking on the website, Riverstone-Medical.com.

What is your medical philosophy?

I consider myself very empathetic. My approach to patient care is that it’s a partnership. When someone comes into the office, it’s my job to educate and tell them all the facts, risks and benefits of treatments. That allows them to make

an informed decision. It’s hard being a patient and it’s hard to find someone willing to listen to you, hear what you have to say, see what your perspective is and not be dismissive.

How do you stand out from your competition?

First of all is my availability and in terms of training, I went to NYU, one of the top hospitals in the nation. I received top training from some of the best doctors. I can help with general medical needs but also weight loss and complex wound care.

I also specialize in dive medicine and clinical hyperbarics. Dr. Hararah is one of few dive specialists in Utah.

What is hyperbaric medicine?

Hyperbaric medicine is the use of a pressurized oxygen chamber to treat disease. First, there’s dive medicine, which is scuba diving clearances and supervision of scuba diving operations. We diagnose and treat scuba diving emergencies and accidents. We’ll treat and manage those conditions. More commonly, we treat things like chronic non-healing wounds, like diabetic ulcers, radiation damage from cancer treatment, carbon monoxide poisoning, sudden hearing loss, sudden blindness, chronic bone infections, and severe anemia.

and maintain a minimum fund balance, UFSA said.

The UFSA serves 12 jurisdictions: Alta, Brighton, Eagle Mountain, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, Millcreek, Taylorsville, White City and unincorporated Salt Lake County.

“UFSA’s primary source of income is property taxes which are collected from property owners located within UFSA boundaries,” UFSA explained.

UFSA is a “taxing entity that uses collected taxes to go directly toward fire service costs,” according to the Unified Fire Service Area. UFSA said it uses property taxes to pay its member fee to Unified Fire Authority, and that fee “is what pays for the actual service that UFSA residents benefit from.”

The taxes are also used to purchase and maintain property within UFSA boundaries (for example, building and maintaining fire stations). UFSA said taxes are also used to pay for administrative costs.

Full financial statements and annual budgets are available on the UFSA website. The tentative budget for 2025 is also available online. l

688 E. Vine Street, Suite 16 801-509-9138 riverstonemed@gmail.com Riverstone-Medical.com

Tell me about your work with bariatric medicine.

I do medical weight loss for the right candidate but not everyone is the right candidate. For me, it’s more in the mind of helping people be healthier and decreasing their risk of having diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

I’m certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine to provide nutritional counseling, exercise counseling, to discuss the medications and prescribe the weight loss medications that are out there.

Why should patients work with you?

I like to think of it as you’re the quarterback and I’m the coach. At the end of the day, I can tell you what to do, but you’re the one that’s going to have to execute the plan. I try to formulate a plan that the patient is comfortable with but I’m also willing to explore other options. I’m open-minded. I’m very evidence-based in my recommendations but I’m humble. I understand that we don’t know everything in medicine and we should have an open mind when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

Fire Station 124 is one of three stations in Riverton City. (City Journals)

Testing and prevention are key to reducing lead poisoning in children

By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com

High risk areas for lead are in many zip codes around the Salt Lake Valley that have homes built before 1978. These homes more than likely have been painted with lead paints. The soils around these older homes could contain lead. The Salt Lake County Health Department offers help with testing and ways of preventing lead poisoning in families.

Lead particles can be found in older homes and buildings. “Prevention is the educational portion and how to live within your environment,” said Candice Briese, health educator with the Salt Lake County Health Department.

“Our focus is children under 6 since they have a faster breathing rate and they are exposed to lead dust. They put everything into their mouths and touch the ground more often,” Briese said. This makes children more at risk for lead poisoning.

No level of lead is safe for a child. If a child has 3.5 µg/dL then this needs to be addressed right away. Lead poisoning can cause learning and behavioral problems, lowered intelligence, digestive issues, hearing and speech concerns and has been linked to incarceration later in life.

Have your child tested. “Testing can be done at the doctor’s office,” Briese said.

“We will do a home visit if a child test results are at 3.5 µg/dL. We will bring the XRF analyzer to the home so we can test and discuss the dietary needs of the kiddos and we really encourage reading. Reading is a good way to build those neurons and compensate for that loss from lead poisoning,” Briese said.

There is a real concern with nutritional aspects for children with lead exposure.

“Lead can mimic calcium and iron in our bodies. What it does is cause things like anemia because it replaces the iron in their bodies. What we like to do is encourage the dietary approach in that the kids have the required amount of iron and vitamin C, which can help with the absorption of iron,” Briese said.

“Lead can store in the bones for 10 to 20 years. We encourage women that want to get pregnant to get tested,” Briese added. Lead poisoning can cause miscarriages and developmental effects on the growing fetus like low birth weight or hurt the baby's nervous system, kidneys and brain.

“We do testing events in the community and we have an XRF analyzer that we have when we are out and about,” Briese said. People can bring Ziplock bags full of paint chips from their homes or bags of soil along with spices to be tested at the events to see if there is lead there. “We are always happy to test the products if people want to check for lead.”

“With older homes painted with lead

paint, you can encapsulate it, but if you get a ding on the wall, you want to cover it up,” Briese said. “It is important to find ways to make your old home safe. There is a program in the county that is called Lead Safe Housing that can come to your home and test for lead. There are requirements for this service like if you have a child in your home or a pregnant woman is visiting.”

Homeowners may want to get connected to lead safe certified contractors by visiting www.saltlakecounty.gov/ and search for the Lead Safe Housing program.

“Our primary objective is to find it and get it out of the environment. We see it with mugs and the paint on the product,” Briese said. “We want to get it out of there and get the nutrients into the child’s body and then let’s read.”

“We encourage wet cleaning to dust since lead does not break down quickly. It has a very long life. We need to be aware if it is there and wash our hands more often.”

Growing a garden in the yard of an older home could be concerning since lead could be present in the soil. “Certain vegetables will be better than others for growing in the yard of an old house. We might encourage a raised bed in those areas,” Briese said.

Spices can be a concern. “If buying them online or if from other countries those are the ones we worry about having lead in them. We see it in turmeric, lead is heavy and it is added to a spice they get more bang for the buck. It makes the color more vibrant and lead is sweet. This is why kids eat paint chips. It has a sweet taste and that is why they add it to the spice,” Briese added.

Some makeup from certain communities might use kohl liner or surma around their eyes, which has lead in it. This make-

up is typically bought online or from other countries. Check the ingredients in the products you purchase to be sure no lead is in it.

A person can be exposed to lead when visiting a gun range. "Every time you fire the gun you get lead dust back splashed onto you. So it is important to wash your hands, face and your clothes afterwards,” Briese said.

Fishing exposes a person to lead. If

you use lead fishing sinkers you will want to wash your hands along with any children who are fishing with you before eating food due to the lead exposure. There is the Safe Kids Fare on Feb. 22 at the Mountain America Expo that residents can get things tested at and if more information is needed, email leadprovention@saltlakecounty.gov. l

Water pipes in homes built before 1978 are places where you might find lead. (Wikimedia)

Utah’s childcare problem explained in 8 steps

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals

AnnaThomas, senior policy analyst for Voices for Utah Children, presented to a group full of women and a handful of men.

The childcare system in Utah, Thomas said during her presentation at the Hilton Garden Inn, is in need of definite revamping because it affects everyone—families, employers and childcare professionals alike.

“Most families struggle, and when I say most, I mean everybody except most wealthy people,” Thomas said to the audience. “You can be pulling down two really good salaries [and] if you’re putting $2,500 out the door for two kids in daycare, that hurts. It still really, really hurts.”

The Center for American Progress reported that 77% of people in Utah live in a child care desert, which was defined as “any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.”

Thomas defined the problem by breaking it down into eight steps, namely:

1. Both parents work, either out of necessity or by choice

2. Children require care during working hours

3. What women used to be able to

“A”chieving

do for free, now requires compensation

4. Most families struggle to afford childcare

5. Providers try to keep costs down for families

6. Providers struggle to pay their own bills

7. People leave the childcare field, and few people become providers

8. Parents do their best to find

whatever works

Thomas noted, the problem lies in the fact that there isn’t enough quality and affordable childcare available in the state.

In more business-oriented terms, she deemed the childcare system in Utah a “market failure,” where the free market cannot produce the necessary amount of childcare services.

“For every three kids potentially need-

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ing childcare in Utah,” Thomas said, “there is one licensed spot.”

With few spots available, the average cost of childcare ranges from $200 to $1,600 monthly per child with 25% of families paying more than $1,500.

Most childcare providers can’t keep up with the expenses of maintaining a well-run facility and quality childcare while keeping costs low for families—leading most providers to lower their prices and close their doors, continuing the cycle of the scarcity of childcare.

Thomas said the lack of childcare is taking women out of the workforce, which is also a correlation that CAP found in 2024. Thomas added that it also is widening the pay gap and hurting children during the most formative years of their lives.

Possible solutions to alleviate the crisis presented by Thomas include flexible work policies such as hours and location, financial support from employers and the state, and employer-provided childcare benefits.

“When we help parents, we do help kids,” Thomas said. “It’s one of the few ways that we can help kids directly as community members, is by supporting their parents.” l

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Senior Policy Analyst for Voices for Utah Children Anna Thomas deemed the childcare system in Utah a “market failure,” where the free market cannot produce the necessary amount of childcare services.

(Jason Sung/Unsplash)

10 National Days to observe in February

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

If you’re not a fan of Valentine’s Day and President’s Day doesn’t seem like a celebration, there are still many ways to bring some fun to February. You can create your own holiday this month or use these National Days to build new traditions with friends, family or coworkers.

Feb. 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day

When was the last time you sent someone a letter, oldschool-mail-style? Well, today’s the day. Find (or make) a card that reflects your friend’s or loved one’s personality then write a heartfelt note that expresses appreciation, love or humor. Stick a stamp on it, drop it in the mailbox and pat yourself on the back for making someone’s day a little brighter.

Feb. 8: Kite Flying Day

You’d think Kite Flying Day would be observed in April because it’s hard to fly a kite during a blizzard, but here we are. If it’s too cold and wet outside to fly a kite, this is a good day to build a kite or research kite-flying celebrations around Utah. It’s a time to dream about warm weather and sunny days.

Feb. 9: National Pizza Day

Sure you can stop by The Pie Pizzeria and bring home a tasty Mountain of Meat pizza, but to really honor this day, spend time making homemade pizza. Invite family or friends over to create individual pizzas and have a variety of toppings to choose from. Give a prize for the most

creative pie.

Feb. 11: Inventor’s Day

This day is a tribute to all the people who’ve made our lives better. Watch a documentary about your favor ite scientist, dress up like Thomas Edison, host a family science fair or create your own invention. Bonus points if you share your invention on social media.

Feb. 12: Plum Pudding Day

If this Dickens-esque dessert is a favorite, today is your day. Knock yourself out.

Feb. 15: Wisconsin Day

Revisit your eighth-grade U.S. history class by learning some things about the 30th state. Take a virtual tour of Milwaukee, read about the Wisconsin residents who started Harley-Davidson, learn the history of Lambeau Field and don’t forget the cheese plate. Did you know Wisconsinites eat more than 20 million gallons of ice cream each year? Challenge accepted, Wisconsin.

Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Every year, this national day grows in popularity. Spreading positivity through small acts of kindness is a

way to bring more love to this world. Call a friend, take groceries to the local pantry, buy a stranger’s lunch, take cookies to the fire department or share a poem with a loved one. The options are endless.

Feb. 20: Love Your Pet Day

You should love your pet every day, but make today a little more special for your furry friend by lavishing them with praise, healthy snacks and an extra walk. Homemade dog treats, a catnip toy, playing catch in the backyard or a snuggle session on the couch will help your pet feel loved.

Feb. 26: Tell A Fairy Tale Day

Fairy tales date back hundreds of years and we’re still enthralled by the stories of princesses, knights, fairies and wolves. Find your favorite fairy tales at the library and spend an evening retelling the stories. You could also write your own fairy tales and have a family fairy tale night.

Feb. 27: Retro Day

Unpack the roller skates, slap a cassette in the player and spend the day reliving a bygone era. Choose your favorite decade and honor its fashion, hairstyles, music, food and lingo. Show up at work in a zoot suit and dance the Charleston during lunch. Dust off your disco attire and impress family members with your Electric Slide. Have fun. That’s the point. l

Don’t let the February blues get you down. Observe some of the fun National Days this month, including Retro Day on Feb. 27. (Stock photo)

Skyline football moving to 4A for 2025 season

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

There’s going to be a change for the Skyline Eagles’ athletic teams next school year, as the Utah High School Activities Association approved realignments for 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.

Starting next fall, Skyline will remain a 5A school for all sports except football. The Eagles will be in 5A Region 6 along with Alta, Bountiful, Brighton, Olympus, Viewmont and Woods Cross. For football, they will be playing in 4A Region 10 along with Cottonwood, East, Highland, Jordan, Juan Diego and Murray.

It’s quite the change for the three Davis County schools that have been playing in northern Utah regions for several years. As always, it took a few rounds or proposals and negotiations before the final alignments were adopted. The meeting was the fourth time officials met before the end of last year to adopt the changes.

The UHSAA studies school enrollments as the main criteria for moving teams around, but it also takes into account recent successes and competitiveness of teams. A classic example is Ogden High, which was a 5A and then

a 4A school for many years, but with decreasing student numbers even though its enrollment figures fit with the higher regions. The Tigers were moved to 3A for football only, then finally classified as 3A for all of its sports, as it will be in 2025-26 and 2026-27.

The realignment gives schools an opportunity to retrofit their schedules for the next year. After two years, the UHSAA will likely study the issue again as school enrollments continue to ebb and flow. l

Skyline will remain a 5A school for all sports except football, such as girls soccer, seen here in the 5A state championship game in 2021. (File photo by Tyler Baker)

For football, Skyline will be playing in 4A Region 10 along with Cottonwood, East, Highland, Jordan, Juan Diego and Murray. (File photo City Journals)

From Breakfast with Santa to business pitches: GTI students take entrepreneurial leaps

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Granite Technical Institute senior Eden Rychert is in the process of launching her own business. Over the winter break, she prepared to pitch her idea at the school’s “Shark Tank” event, alongside her classmates.

Judges will assess the student businesses and award seed money from funds raised through the class’s Breakfast with Santa event.

“We were interested in bringing joy to families and creating a lasting event where people could make memories, and, little kids could come and have fun,” she said, adding a silent auction was held in conjunction with the breakfast.

The students organized the event as a business, with each of the 22 classmates taking on a specific role. Rychert was responsible for marketing the breakfast, and on the day of the event, she became known as the “sprinkle lady.”

“I went around with a big tray of sprinkles and whipping cream and ask all the kids if they wanted extra whipped cream or sprinkles on their hot chocolate; they really liked that,” she said, saying the class sold 170 tickets for each of the two sessions.

This experience is part of GTI’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities, or CEO, program, which was introduced three years ago by program facilitator Erin Paulsen. The national initiative offers students a chance to become entrepreneurs through partnerships with local businesses and are paired with mentors. Students take part in company tours, listen to guest speakers, plan events, and earn six college credit hours.

The students, all of whom applied from area high schools last spring, began planning the breakfast in September.

“We run it as a business so it’s an opportunity to organize an event and get that business experience,” she said. “We’re able to apply what we’re learning.”

One piece of advice Rychert learned from a program mentor is to “bless, not impress.”

“What it means is when you’re talking to customers or for us, breakfast patrons, make sure you’re turning the conversation back to them, ask engaging questions and provide that customer service. We know the parents, grandparents or whoever brought the kids for them to have a good time, so we went out of our way to provide that for them,” she said.

Rychert, who attends Skyline High, is interested in a career in business and as an entrepreneur.

“I wanted to learn if being an entrepreneur was something I want to do in my life. I figured this was the best place to start. We’re given so many opportunities in this class, like having a mentor and going on site tours and having guest speakers on top of starting your own personal business and the class business,” she said.

For her pitch at the class’s “Shark Tank” event, Rychert decided to present her idea for a bracelet kit business, although she initially worried about competing with established companies in the market.

“My mentor gave me good advice. He said, ‘the riches are in the niches,’ meaning if you try and cater to every person, you’re not going to be successful. If you find a specific niche, that will make the difference,” she said.

We were interested in bringing joy to families and creating a lasting event where people could make memories, and, little kids could come and have fun.

Rychert’s inspiration came from a time when her aunt was in the hospital and there wasn’t much for her to do.

Eden Rychert

“I decided to target the bracelet kits for kids and teens in the hospital (which they can purchase in the hospital gift shop) so while they’re sitting in their hospital beds likely bored, they can have a bracelet kit with string and beads they can be making,” she said. “I’d include a QR code which will lead to a YouTube channel to see samples and directions. I’m working on a business plan for it.”

The students will showcase their businesses at a trade show. In the past, it has been in early May at Trolley Square.

Over the past two years, GTI students have competed in the national CEO pitch contest. Last year, five students made it to the national finals. In the program’s inaugural year, GTI students took first place, third and honorable mention.

Rychert, who serves as a GTI ambassador, competes in DECA business competitions and takes Advanced Placement and concurrent enrollment courses, plans to continue her business after graduation to help fund her college education.

“The class has given me a lot of opportunities which I would have never gotten in high school,” she said. “It has taught me how to take accountability, like if you do something and maybe you mess up, it doesn’t only affect you. It affects the whole class, especially our class business. There are lessons I’ve learned that aren’t necessarily part of the curriculum, but will be ones I can use my whole life.” l

GTI students help St. Nick with the CEO program’s Breakfast with Santa. (Photo courtesy of Granite School District’s CEO program)

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A fighter, a writer, an avid skier and an optimist—nothing stops Harriet

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

Harriet Wallis is a fighter, a writer, an avid skier, an optimist and so much more.

She’d tell you she’s led an “average” life as the girl who was the last to get picked to do any team sport in school.

You would have never guessed her life would be what it is now given where she started in school—but she has been an active adventurer with a life full of outdoor activities and skiing the slopes.

Despite having two artificial hips and knees at the age of 84, Sandy resident Wallis continues to ski and maintain an active lifestyle, including walking daily, swimming weekly, participating in local bike club activities and working in her yard.

Skier

Her passion for skiing is really what started it all for her in her 30s when she first learned how to ski with her then-husband and two young children.

“My husband said, ‘I'm going to learn to ski,’” Wallis said. “Now, I thought that was something crazy people on the other side of the planet did. So I'm processing that thought and then he said, ‘And you can babysit the kids.’ And I said, ‘Over my dead body, we're all going to learn to ski,’ and so we did."

Learning to ski was a game-changer for how she saw herself for the rest of her life.

“I didn't think of myself as being athletic with volleyball and team sports,” she said. “When I learned to ski, I realized, ‘Hey, I can do this.’”

She has been skiing recreationally ever since and so have her kids.

Eventually, Wallis worked as a ski instructor for two different ski resorts on the East Coast before moving westward.

In Utah, even in her off years she still finds time to ski at least 40 days out of the season. Metal hips and all.

Outdoorswoman

Not too long after learning to ski, in 1974 Wallis and her family completed a challenge they’d accepted as members of the Appalachian Mountain Club to climb the 100 tallest mountains in New England.

“By world standards, they are not that high,” she admitted. But “the highest is 6,000feet Mount Washington, but it gets some of the worst weather in the whole world.”

For three years, she and her family would drive every weekend, hike 25 miles on Saturday and head home on Sunday, just to do it all over again the next weekend.

She added mountaineering to her growing list of hobbies, including fishing, camping and biking.

She also describes herself as an avid fisherman and goes camping and biking regularly with her housemate Laurie when the weather is warm.

“I am not macho,” Wallis said. “I'm an average person who enjoys doing things outdoors and being active.”

This past year, the housemates volunteered to be a part of the safety team for the annual Bonneville Bike Club's 3,000 all-women fundraiser for Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Writer

Writing was a pastime that stemmed from her love of pottery and shaping nearly five tons of clay into homemade goods each year while she lived in New England as her kids were growing up.

She lived in Connecticut and began writing for a local newspaper on different topics from the art she made and to how to cut costs on an expensive energy bill. Wallis worked her way up from a freelancer to a full-time paid writer for the paper. During her time there, she wrote on a “checkerboard” of topics including weddings, gardening and eventually skiing.

Wallis started writing for the City Journals when it was still the Valley Journals and still contributes to the online Cottonwood Heights Journal regularly.

Every year, she writes a year recap for friends and family.

Optimist

What’s driven her to keep going even when many people she knows have long given up on the active lifestyle she enjoys, is her optimism and willingness to adapt and change to her circumstances.

“It's thinking outside the box, finding ways to do things, and having a positive attitude,” she said. “It's much more fun to have a positive attitude than it is to be a downer. I think those are three things that make me tick.”

The health challenges that come with living a long life can’t stop her; she refuses to let them.

In recent years, despite a cancer diagnosis and difficult treatment, Wallis has continued to walk as she is able and adapt her activity to how she is feeling. But she doesn’t stop. She continued to ride her bike through the “agonizing side effects” of her chemo treatment.

Overall, Wallis strongly advocates for an optimistic, adaptable mindset as a key to overcoming challenges and continuing to live an active, fulfilling life.

“I think it's come about kind of as a lifelong thing,” Wallis said. “It's nothing that just popped up. But it's crucial to me now.”

Every year for the past few years, Wallis has chosen a new mantra she writes in her yearly Christmas letter which she plans to live by for the year to come.

Her 2025 mantra will be similar to those of years past—a positive one. She shares with family and friends a yearly letter stating 2025 will be a year in which she "expects the best— and works hard to achieve it.”

Her mantra for the year is “Quit looking back. You're not going that way.”

Wallis’s 85th birthday was on Jan. 7, and who knows what adventure she’ll be on next. l

Despite having two artificial hips and knees at the age of 84, Sandy resident Harriet Wallis continues to ski and maintain an active lifestyle. (Courtesy of Peak Photo Alta)

Among her many outdoor hobbies, Harriet Wallis is an avid fisherman in the summer months and often uses her inflatable canoe. (Courtesy of Harriet Wallis)

SL County Mayor Jenny Wilson discusses goals for second term in office

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

It is not an easy task leading the nation's 37th most populous county with over one million residents. Yet Salt Lake County voters have decided to let County Mayor Jenny Wilson have a second term as mayor. Wilson reaffirmed her oath of office on Jan. 6 at the Midvalley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville.

“I’ve had a great working relationship with the current council and am looking forward to working cohesively with new and existing members in the coming years,” Wilson said. “I’m confident we’ll work constructively moving forward.”

Planning for Growth

With Salt Lake County’s population projected to reach nearly two million by 2060, Wilson acknowledges the importance of regional planning. “Salt Lake County advocates for and leads regional planning efforts to maintain and improve quality of life for our growing population,” she explained. This includes initiatives like the newly announced Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center in South Jordan and the development of 13 miles of multiuse trails at Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park in partnership with Kennecott Rio Tinto and the Bureau of Land Management.

“Trail connectivity is important to us,” Wilson said. She highlighted the county’s commitment to recreation through its 10-year Recreational Facilities plan, which identifies countywide needs and opportunities. “Informed by national best practices and public input, the next plan will be published in 2025,” she added.

Homelessness and Housing

Affordable housing remains a cornerstone of Wilson’s administration. Under her leadership, the county has implemented a comprehensive action plan addressing homelessness, behavioral health and criminal justice reform. “Our shared vision is that homelessness is brief, rare and non-recurring,” Wilson said.

The plan prioritizes affordable and supportive housing, along with new initiatives like the HOME Court program and the upcoming Kem & Carolyn Gardner Crisis Care Center. Scheduled to open in 2025, the center will provide critical mental health resources. “It is essential that systems—criminal justice, behavioral health treatment, workforce, housing and temporary shelter—are functional and intersect for efficiency and effectiveness,” Wilson said.

Salt Lake County’s Housing Trust Fund, which has invested over $25 million, is another example of her administration’s commitment. “We’ve set a goal to build 1,000 affordable and supportive housing units in five years,” she said. Recent changes to the accessory dwelling unit ordinance also aim to increase housing density and affordability.

Public Safety Challenges

Although a proposed $507-million public safety bond failed to pass, Wilson remains focused on addressing the county’s jail capacity issues. “The jail is at capacity, and there are a lot of residents who would benefit from the resources that the Justice and Accountability Center would have provided,” she said. With the county’s population having grown by 300,000 since 2001, she stressed the need for expanded facilities and services. “We are moving toward efficiently operating only one expanded county jail…ensuring it has the mental health and medical resources that many people with justice involvement so desperately need,” Wilson said.

Preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics

Looking ahead to the 2034 Winter Olympics, Wilson’s administration is working closely with public and private agencies to ensure success. “Venues are definitely a priority, as is lodging, volunteers, and ensuring that everyone involved in the Olympics has an incredible and memorable time,” she said.

According to Wilson, the county’s efforts aim to capitalize on the opportunities the games will bring while enhancing infrastructure and community engagement.

Balancing Budgets and Fiscal Responsibility

“I am proud to tout that Salt Lake County is one of the best-run counties in the nation,” Wilson said.

Salt Lake County’s financial stewardship is a point of pride for Wilson. “Salt Lake County has a triple AAA bond rating, effectively placing us in the top 1% of all counties in terms of creditworthiness,” she said. Despite the fiscal pressures from inflation and reduced tax revenue, her administration has maintained balanced budgets. “Annually, we go through a months-long budget process

where each budget request is analyzed and weighed against competing needs and priorities,” she said.

Environmental Leadership

Water conservation is a key focus for Wilson as the county grapples with the ongoing drought and the plight of the Great Salt Lake. “We allocated $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support efforts to flip park strips to waterwise landscaping and replace outdated irrigation systems with smart water management tools,” she said.

“At Salt Lake County, we are doing our part to conserve water. From monitoring our snowpack to implementing water-wise initiatives, we are committed to long-term water conservation amid frequent emergency droughts and changing environmental landscapes,” Wilson said.

Preserving Quality of Life

Programs like the My County Rec Pass, which offers free access to recreational amenities for youth, reflect Wilson’s dedication to enhancing residents’ quality of life. “Since the My County Rec Pass program launched, more than 66,000 youth have become pass holders,” she said.

Other priorities include conserving open spaces, improving air quality, and supporting

arts and culture through initiatives like the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) tax. “The ZAP program enhances Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through arts, cultural, historical, zoological and recreational offerings,” Wilson said.

Collaborative Governance

Despite the county council’s partisan divisions, Wilson has fostered a spirit of cooperation. “Every budget I’ve proposed as mayor has been balanced and approved with bipartisan support,” she said, adding that the 2024 budget passed unanimously.

Wilson also notes that although there was one dissenting vote against the 2025 budget, the reason provided was related to a council proposal intended to actualize cost savings.

A Vision for the Future

As she begins her second term, Wilson identifies affordable housing, homelessness and economic stability as the county’s biggest challenges. “Working with my incredible team of employees, county partners, and other elected officials, I remain committed to finding common-sense solutions that are fiscally responsible and meet the most basic of all human needs for everyone,” she said. l

Jenny Wilson was sworn in for her second term as county mayor on Jan. 6. (Photo contributed)

University of Utah pioneers new medical humanities degree

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

Literature is filled with examples of all sorts of doctors: Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Faustus, Dr. Zhivago, even Dr. Dolittle.

And it turns out that reading those books –and the study of humanities in general – can be instructive for real doctors, too. At least that’s the kind of thinking behind a new program being pitched at the University of Utah.

Two professors at the U. are pushing for the school to launch a bachelor’s degree called “medical humanities,” where students who want to go into the medical field will study the classics of writing, the arts, philosophy and ethics – all with the intention of making them better, more holistic health care providers.

“The U. is already known for its excellence in providing healthcare for medical research, for its expertise in medical ethics, for arts-andhealth initiatives,” said Gretchen Case, director of the U.’s longstanding Center for Health Ethics, Arts and Humanities. “We have the great fortune of having a health sciences campus adjacent to the main campus, which is not true at all universities. We can share knowledge and expertise easily in all directions.”

Jim Tabery, one of the professors overseeing the new degree, said they designed the degree looking at the background in medical humanities, both historically and contemporarily, to see that it’s really interdisciplinary.

“You’ve got everything from people in theater and media studies to folk like me in philosophy, to people over in health communication to people in disability studies,” Tabery said. “There’s lots of people interested in doing that and making sure it’s helping people and not hurting people beyond the clinicians and the folks in the hospital.”

Tabery said they wanted to give students a sense of that interdisciplinary breath when designing the degree.

The health and ethics center has existed at the state’s flagship institution with various name changes but a singular mission since 1989. It is focused on bringing insights from the humanities and arts into the medical world of science, an intersection that Case sees as natural and beneficial, teaching healers to act with

compassion, according to the center’s mission statement.

“Healthcare is humans giving care to humans,” she said. “Without attention to all humans in that exchange, you aren’t truly giving or receiving care.”

The U. already has a minor in medical humanities; it is also currently the only traditional public university in the state with an associated medical school. Now, Case wants to see the program expand into a full degree for students to major in to train the next generation of doctors.

The degree would be carved into four “core areas.” Tabery said the core areas consist of communication and culture, ethics and epistemology, arts and letters, and disability, gender and ethnic studies. Each student would have to take at least two classes in each of the core areas.

Tabery said they started by scouring the university and asking other professors if their medical students could take their classes, and he said other professors were very interested

in getting involved. Soon enough, Tabery said they had a huge list of courses that are offered across the campus.

Tabery said, this way, students get to figure out how they want their medical humanities degree to focus on.

“We think that combining medical humanities with some other health related or science related field is going to make them both more competitive for that next thing, but also make them a more patient centered and informed practitioner of that health related discipline,” Tabery said.

Softer skills, like close reading, analyzing a text, listening, asking questions, connecting with people, are often developed in the humanities classroom. And they can go a long way in building a foundation for health professionals, along with the science they learn in chemistry or biology, when working with patients with complex illnesses.

That can include telling someone they have a life-changing diagnosis, studying a patient’s symptoms, thinking creatively about

how to treat an illness and generally communicating with kindness. Essentially, viewing an X-ray uses the same skills as interpreting art.

“We want students who are not explicitly interested in becoming a healthcare professional also to choose this major,” Case said. “We need people in all professions who understand health and healthcare.”

Tabery said there is demand for it in Utah, which doesn’t have any school offering degrees in this field while roughly 130 universities nationwide do, mostly on the East Coast.

“And I would say there has certainly been no pushback,” he said. “If anything, it’s been the opposite of people sort of coming out of the woodworks and expressing more interest in it.”

Tabery said it’s been gratifying to see the response and that it “speaks to the need for this program” and how well positioned the U. is to provide it.

“I would love to see the University of Utah known internationally for its innovative, interdisciplinary approach to health and healthcare, and I think that is absolutely possible,” Case said.

The new degree would help give students an edge in applying to medical school, particularly if they pair it with a traditional science degree.

“I hope adding medical humanities to what they do makes them think more about things like how to communicate better about the ethical implications of their decisions about how medicine, when it’s deployed, affects certain populations differently than other populations,” Tabery said.

Tabery said the degree would make students much more well-rounded and more informed consumers of the medical research they’ll have to put into practice.

If approved, the program would start in fall 2025, as a collaboration between the Department of Philosophy and College of Humanities. It passed unanimously in the Academic Senate, though it will still require final approval from both the U.’s board of trustees and the greater Utah System of Higher Education. l

The University of Utah hopes to launch a new bachelor’s degree called medical humanities by fall 2025. (Adobe file photo)

Busting winter driving myths: what really keeps you safe on icy roads

Driving in the winter is a different kind of beast, especially when some of the most common advice for driving in the snow and cold isn’t always accurate.

With much of the country set to deal with snow, ice and bitter-cold temperatures, here are some of the most common winter driving myths.

Pump your brakes on ice

The age-old advice of pumping your brakes while on ice isn’t always true for drivers nowadays.

Pumping the brakes, when the driver steps on the brake pedal multiple times in a row to stop the wheels from locking up, is an old-fashioned way to prevent skidding on ice that can be counterproductive for many cars.

According to AAA, anti-lock braking systems, which pump the brakes for you, have become a standard since the 1990s. These days, most cars have anti-locking brakes, but it’s best to check the manual to make sure.

So, when cars with anti-lock brakes are on ice, the best practice is to apply steady pressure.

Gas freezes if you don’t have enough in the tank

This myth is close, but not necessarily true.

AAA said the gas in the tank won’t freeze until temperatures hit 50 degrees below zero, which means drivers will most likely not be finding a block of gas in the tank anytime soon.

However, your gas tank can freeze, so drivers should keep more gas in the tank in the winter. According to AAA, this can help minimize the space in the tank for water condensation to form. That condensation could enter your fuel line and freeze, preventing your vehicle from starting and damaging the fuel line.

o, the more gas you have in your tank, there’s less of a chance that condensation will have a place to form.

Let your car warm up before you drive

Cars used to need to idle for the carburetors to work and for oils to warm up, but with new technology, as long as your vehicle isn’t older than the early 1990s, you probably don’t need to let your car thaw before you hit the road.

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

When driving on slippery roads, be sure to keep double the normal amount of space between you and the driver in front of you. (Photo AI generated)

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that guidance from most car manufacturers says your vehicle is ready to drive after 30 seconds of warming up.

However, it can take your engine between five and 15 minutes to completely warm up, according to Business Insider. If it’s an extremely cold day, it may not be a bad idea to let your car run for more than 30 seconds before driving off.

Now, while we’re getting into the deep end of winter and finally starting to see some snow, there are some things you want to keep in mind as you hit the icy roads.

Slow down

This one might seem obvious, but given the number of people speeding down the freeway in both lanes during

Utahnsa snowstorm, the idea of reducing speed during increment weather appears to be a foreign concept to some Utah drivers.

The slippier it gets, the more you need to reduce your speed. Stopping on slippery roads can take more than triple the usual distance. Anticipate your moves and turns in advance and keep your steering and throttle input as smooth as possible.

Clear ice and snow from your vehicle before driving

Again, it may seem like this one is obvious, but there are more cars on the road with snow piled up and ice frosting the windshield than you may think.

As we’re taught in driver’s education, if you can’t see, you can’t drive safely. If you park your car outside, you’re bound to deal with ice, frost and fresh snow on some mornings. As much as it hurts to stand in the cold for that long, it’s much safer to clear your entire car of snow, frost and ice before leaving.

Give extra space to the vehicle ahead

When conditions are wet there’s no telling what it will take to avoid an accident, especially if you need to stop. In winter conditions, it’s best to give at least double the amount of space you’re used to for the vehicle ahead.

Having good tires will help you stop and keep control, but even with new tires it’s best to keep a healthy distance between you and the next car.

Read the road

During a drive on snowy surfaces, your traction will ebb and flow from moment to moment. Newer cars have a wide array of helpful safety technologies, but they shouldn’t replace your driver instincts and awareness – especially in adverse weather conditions.

Keep both hands on the wheel, turn down your music, avoid using cruise control and constantly assess how the vehicle and road feel. If you sense a loss of grip on the road, don’t panic. Slow down, take a deep breath and make slow, gradual movements as you keep driving. l

Salt Lake Volleyball brings professional game back to Utah

have always been fans of volleyball, whether it’s through recreational play or their local church leagues. And boys’ volleyball became an officially sanctioned high school sport just last year.

Now professional women's volleyball returns to Salt Lake City as part of the League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “Love”). The city has one of six franchises for the first-year league that kicked off on Jan. 8 in Atlanta. It was founded in 2020 as a “holistic volleyball ecosystem” that covered players from the beginner level through clubs and the pros. The plan was to start a pro league after the Paris Olympics, and now play is set to begin.

The teams don’t have names, other than the cities they play in. The six teams this year are in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake. Utah’s team includes two-time Olympic medalists and 2020 gold medal winners Haleigh Washington and Jordyn Poulter, who lead a ros-

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

ter with 21 collective All-American honors.

Several come from local colleges like former Brighton High and University of Utah player Dani Drews, and former BYU teammates

Roni Jones-Perry and Mary Lake. Reigning VNL Best Libero Manami Kojima of the Japanese National Team will patrol the backcourt. U.S. National Team assistant Tama Miyashiro will instruct the squad, and she’ll be assisted by Bruno Chateau, who’s found success coaching internationally and in his native France.

Salt Lake played its first home match against Houston on Jan. 22 at Salt Lake Community College, where all of its home matches are scheduled except for the “Weekend with LOVB" on Feb. 7-8 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The team will play matches on both days that weekend.

Other home matches are set for March 20 against Madison, April 4 against Madison, April 5 against Austin. League finals will be held in mid-April in Louisville, Kentucky.

Members of the 15 player roster for Salt Lake Volleyball are as follows:

• Jordyn Poulter, S, Illinois

• Tamaki Matsui, S, Japan Women's College of Physical Education

• Morgan Miller, OH, Cal

• Maddie Haynes, OH, Cal

• Skylar Fields, OH, USC

• Tori Dixon, MB, Minnesota

• Sophie Fischer, MB, Georgia

• Serena Gray, MB, Pittsburgh

• Roni Jones-Perry, OH, BYU

• Haleigh Washington, MB, Penn State

• Manami Kojima, LIB, Aoyama Gakuin University

• Dani Drews, OH, Utah

• Mary Lake, LIB, BYU

• Claire Hoffman, OH, Washington

• Heidy Casanova, OPP

Every game will be broadcast through the ESPN family of networks, streamed on ESPN+ or broadcast through the league's website at LOVB Live. Ticket information available on line at www.lovb.com. l

The new logo for Salt Lake Volleyball, which has begun play in the LOVB league and will host home matches at the Maverik Center and Salt Lake Community College. (Logo courtesy of LOVB)

Your Mental Health Deserves Care, No Matter the Season

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TMS is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression. With NeuroStar, you can live on your terms. Our Psychiatrist is available now, don’t wait to get help.

With visions of Jack White, Prince and Sophie Lloyd strumming in my head, I started taking guitar lessons last year to prove that old dogs can still be tricky. After months of lessons, I confidently state Jack White can rest easy. I won’t be coming for his job.

Guitar lessons have challenged my patience but expanded my capacity for playing incorrect chords on a slightly outof-tune instrument. I pluck through terrible-sounding riffs and know practice time is over when I drop the guitar pick in the sound hole for the hundredth time.

Each week, I meet with the ever-patient Emily at Guitar Center so I can go over my lesson. I spend most of the time trying to convince her I really did practice while ignoring the eye twitch she develops whenever I play an F chord.

She’ll give me advice like, “Press the strings harder” or “Change the position of your thumb” or “Maybe take up baking.” I go home and practice chords and strums and fingerpicking until even the dog leaves the room. But after practicing “Blowin’ in the Wind” for six weeks, my husband finally recognized the chorus.

I’ve gained an appreciation for guitar players, and I get enraged by people who say they taught themselves to play the guitar because that can’t possibly be a thing. Like every child in Utah, I took piano lessons, and that background has helped with counting and timing but that’s the extent of its helpfulness when it comes to the guitar.

The hubby and I visited Nashville in October, where even toddlers can play the intro to “Stairway to Heaven,” and it highlighted how much I still have to learn. Every dive bar had an exceptional guitarist strumming chords while holding a beer bottle. I ate chicken wings and sipped margaritas, mesmerized by their talent.

Time to face the music

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Not only were they exceptional, but they could play any song by heart. My brain has no storage capacity. My hard drive is full. I can’t memorize songs, and I can barely remember chord progressions. I’m still looking at chord charts like they’re hieroglyphics.

Learning guitar is mostly about finding new ways to use your nondominant hand. In theory, a plucked string should create a musical vibration. In reality, a plucked string provides a muffled thud because I’m not on my fingertips or I’m too far from the fret or I can’t stretch my hand into a barre chord or I’m just inept. All of those things can be true.

After I played “If I Had a Hammer” for several weeks, my husband said if he had a hammer he’d smash my guitar. Not nice. But fair.

I grew up listening to singers like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Mom and my aunt would visit assisted living centers (they were called rest homes in the ’70s) to sing and play the guitar, entertaining the captive audience. Sometimes I’d sing along and screw up their “Leaving on a Jet Plane” harmonies with my squeaky 8-year-old voice.

Learning to play the guitar is a connection to my late mom. I can’t say my guitar music honors my mom because no one deserves that kind of honor, but I can imagine her

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smiling (and probably grimacing) whenever I pick up the guitar. Maybe there are earplugs in heaven.

Watching Prince perform at the Super Bowl, seeing Jack White in concert and hearing Sophie Lloyd shred has become an act of reverence. I stand in awe at their talent as I slowly pick through “Five Hundred Miles” for what feels like the 500th time.