Midvale February 2016

February 2016

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Vol. 2 Iss. 2

FREE

Mond Midvale C ay, Fe bruary ity Offices C 15, 20 16 – P losed reside nts Da

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Midvale Author Karl Beckstrand Debuts Two New Books PAGE

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By Amanda Butler | Amanda@mycityjournals.com

Midvale resident Karl Beckstrand is an award-winning author and publisher. – Karl Beckstrand

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Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

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“We are all thrilled to be able to present this concert series and give free entertainment to the community,” page 2

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local life

Page 2 | February 2016

Midvale City Journal

Midvale Receives Leavitt AMP Grant

By Amanda Butler | Amanda@mycityjournals.com

L

evitt Pavilions announced that Midvale was one of 15 cities that will receive up to $25,000 in matching funds to create a Levitt AMP Music Series on Jan. 5. All funds raised will be used this summer to bring a 10-week concert series to the city.

An online public voting process in November determined the top 25 finalists. Levitt Pavilions reviewed the top 25 proposals and selected Midvale as one of the winning cities.

“We are all thrilled to be able to present this concert series and give free entertainment to the community,” Stephanie Johnson, president of the Midvale Arts Volunteer Council (MAVC), said. “It is very important for us as an arts council to provide free and low cost entertainment.”

The concerts will be held on Friday nights, in conjunction with the Friday Night Lights program currently being planned by Mayor JoAnn Seghini and her office. The Cinco de Mayo committee, the Harvest Days committee, the Boys and Girls Club, the Canyon School District and the Unified Police Department are also helping to plan the concert series.

The online campaign to receive the grant depended heavily on community participation, including sharing on social media and voting for Midvale on the Levitt AMP website. Johnson praised the “long hard work many people put in. We posted videos and asked people to share on social media. Without people shar-

Communities across the nation competed for the grant. – Stephanie Johnson

ing and these grassroots efforts, we would not have gotten the grant or in the top 25. We are very grateful to the people who shared.”

However, securing the grant was a first

Midvale was one of 15 cities in the United States to receive a Levitt AMP Grant. – Stephanie Johnson

step. Under the Leavitt AMP Grant, Midvale will receive a “dollar for dollar match on everything we raise to spend on our free concert series, up to $25,000,” Johnson said. “So we will be looking for donations from our businesses and neighbors in the community to help bring the best concert series we can to Midvale.”

“Members of the MAVC will be visiting businesses in the coming months to help raise funds,” Johnson said. “We will appreciate any amount we can get from anybody. If we get $1,000 from a business, Levitt AMP will match $1,000. If we get $10 from a member of the community, Levitt AMP will match $10.

Obviously we want to raise $25,000 so Levitt AMP will give us $25,000 in matching funds.”

While the Midvale Arts Council (MAC) had already planned a free summer concert series, the funds from community donations and the matching grant money will allow the council to enhance those existing plans. “We want to give the youth of the community and families something to do on Friday night,” Johnson said. “The concerts will be family friendly.

There will also be dinners and art projects.”

The mission of the MAC is “to promote the arts in Midvale by sponsoring quality entertainment and by providing opportunities for Midvale citizens of all ages and backgrounds to enrich their lives by experiencing the positive benefits of the arts and local culture.”

Through the free concert series, the MAC hopes to “to amplify community pride and the city’s unique character, enrich lives through the power of free, live music and illustrate the importance of vibrant public places.”

“The community really wanted this,” Johnson said of the grant. “It was great we could all pull together.” l

February 2016 | Page 3

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M C J on the cover Midvale Author Karl Beckstrand Debuts Two New Books

Page 4 | February 2016

idvale ity

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By Amanda Butler | Amanda@mycityjournals.com

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arl Beckstrand is an international publisher and speaker who has lived in Midvale for 16 years. He is the award-winning author of 15 books and more than 40 online titles. He recently published a new book for children, “The Dancing Flamingos of Lake Chimichanga,” and has branched out into writing novels.

“I have a new suspense novel set in the Nevada silver rush: ‘To Swallow the Earth,’” Beckstrand said.

erally needed some polishing so that it would flow.”

One challenge Beckstrand encountered while working on the novel “was to develop the characters while preserving the action and authentic vernacular.” Beckstrand tried to maintain his grandfather’s vocabulary, “because I thought having lived that life he’d really used a lot of unique words.”

Beckstrand described the novel’s main

searching for her family as well. Few people gain her trust or approval. Wade must decide if risking his life to help Patricia means aiding the enemy. And Patricia must choose a killer to trust with her life.”

The novel was recently named as a finalist for a Laramie Award, a competition that “recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genres of Western Fiction.” The competition will award a total of over $30,000

“I write mostly to save families from ‘I’m bored’ disease,” he said. “But yes, my stories teach language, counting, courage, friendship, sharing, faith, cooking, astronomy, geography and entomology. So I guess the idea is that kids will gain skills but not know it because they’re so busy being entertained.”

In addition to authoring books, Beckstrand writes scripts for TV and radio, and is working on a screenplay, which he described

in cash and prizes to the winners.

“A Sky So Big” will be released as a graphic novel this summer. Meanwhile, Beckstrand has continued to find story ideas in his family history. “I’m enjoying putting together biographies of late [mostly family stories].

They inspire me,” Beckstrand said.

One of these biographies was a story for children, titled “Anna’s Prayer.” Beckstrand described it as “a true story of my great aunt who came from Sweden.” The experience of writing and publishing that book “prompted me to look for more family stories that I thought would be interesting. I have a couple more now that are written and they just need to be illustrated.”

“The Dancing Flamingos of Lake Chimichanga” is a picture book featuring “quirky birds that revel, feast, and dance on the shores of a shimmering lake.” The story features counting activities for children ages 3 – 8.

“Like most of the kids books it just kind of came to me. Just an off the wall idea I scribbled down about these flamingos being goofy,” Beckstrand said.

While Beckstrand likes to entertain people, his books have a teaching objective.

as “a historic adventure set in pre-Columbian America.” Beckstrand has also run Premio Publishing and Gozo Books since 2004. He teaches media at a state college, and speaks on traditional publishing versus digital self-publishing.

Beckstrand offered the following advice to aspiring writers: “If you want to go with a traditional publisher you need to be prepared to be very persistent, because it can take a long time before you get noticed.”

He also stressed the importance of finding a good editor.

“Whether you go traditional or self-publishing, it’s always a good idea to pay an editor.

A traditional publisher has their own editors, but if you submit to them and it’s poorly written, it’s less likely you’re going to get attention.”

He also advised: “Write from your heart—from what you know firsthand. Don’t try to write about something that you think is popular (unless that is what you know).”

More information about Karl Beckstrand and his books can be found at http://KarlBeckstrand.com. l

Beckstrand’s published works include books for readers of all ages. – Karl Beckstrand

The novel is also known by the title “A Sky So Big.” Beckstrand inherited the manuscript from his grandfather, who was born in Canada but raised in Northern California, and “grew up exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains on horseback nearly 100 years ago.”

The story “wasn’t quite complete,” Beckstrand said. “It needed a lot of character development so that the characters were believable.

There were some holes in the plot, and it gen-

character as, “Outcast, rebel, different (half-Mexican, raised by Indians), loyal, fearless.” He also noted, “in addition to a tough, dark hero, there’s a gutsy female lead who’s unintimidated in the worst kinds of opposition.”

“Wade Forester has to stay in the shadows. His father has disappeared, and his sister won’t speak to anyone,” Beckstrand wrote about the main character in the novel. Of the female lead, he wrote, “Patricia Laughlin is

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local life Midvale Arts Council Honors Volunteers

M idvalejournal.com

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he Midvale Arts Council (MAC) honored two longtime volunteers on Dec. 5, 2015.

Joanne Buhler was awarded Volunteer of the Year 2015, and Nedra Farrington received the Lifetime Service Volunteer award.

Buhler, who has volunteered with MAC for over 25 years said, “It’s so fun. I’ve always lived in Midvale and I wanted to do something to help.”

Farrington is an original member of MAC and has been with the council for 30 years. “I always have volunteered,” she said. “It was how I was raised. I went to school with the original members of the arts council. We want-

February 2016 | Page 5

By Amanda Butler | Amanda@mycityjournals.com ed to do something together, so we started the arts council.”

“Nedra has been with us since 1985 and we love her. She has worked tirelessly to make the program what it is today,” Stephanie Johnson, president of the Midvale Arts Volunteer Council (MAVC), said.

The awards were presented at MAC’s annual Christmas party, which has been held on the first Saturday in December for the past three years as a way to honor the volunteers for their dedication and hard work.

Volunteers and their guests were invited to the dinner.

“We cannot do what we do without our amazing volunteers,” Johnson said. “The board of directors puts the party together to honor them. This is the first year we have had a Lifetime Service award in addition to the Volunteer of the Year award.”

MAC was established in 1985 to serve the city of Midvale and the surrounding community. All events are held within Midvale. MAC seeks to include the entire community, particularly low-income youth, people with disabilities and senior citizens. MAVC is a group of citizens who believe the arts are vital to the Midvale community. l

Midvale Arts Council volunteer Nedra Farrington received a Lifetime Service Volunteer award. –Stephanie Johnson

Joanne Buhler (left) and Nedra Farrington (right) received awards for their service to the Midvale Arts Council.

–Stephanie Johnson

local life

Page 6 | February 2016

Midvale City Journal

The Road Home Opens New Shelter in Midvale

By Amanda Butler | Amanda@mycityjournals.com

T

he Road Home announced the completion of its new Midvale community winter shelter on Nov. 25, 2015. Located at 529 West 7300 South in Midvale, the facility provides shelter for homeless families during potentially life-threatening cold weather. The facility offers temporary shelter for families 24 hours a day from October through March, when the need for shelter traditionally increases.

“We’re glad to have the Midvale shelter open so that we can accommodate families during the cold winter months,” Matt Minkevitch, executive director of the Road Home, said. “We anticipate that 300 low-income families will find temporary shelter there this year.”

For many families, the shelter opened just in time to provide refuge during the coldest months of the year.

“We are serving between 70 and 85 families each day at the Midvale shelter – including around 150 to 175 children,” Michelle Flynn, associate executive director of programs for The Road Home, said.

The Road Home operates two shelters, as well as provides emergency services, case management and housing solutions to help its clients become independent and transition into affordable permanent housing.

“We have continued our focus on providing safe shelter and connecting families with resources they need to move out and remain stable in the community,” Flynn said. “In addition to our case managers and housing team who are officed onsite at the Midvale shelter, we also have partners providing services onsite including the Department of Workforce Services, Salt Lake Community Action Program, Fourth Street Clinic and the Canyons School District.”

Work began on the new shelter in March 2015. It was built on the site of a warehouse from the 1940s that had served as a temporary winter shelter since 1989. The new building is a safe, secure facility that provides adequate restrooms, a laundry room, kitchens, and community spaces; as well as private meeting spaces where families can sit down together for a meal. The building also features plenty of natural light and views of the Wasatch Mountains.

“We’re very grateful to NJRA Architects for designing this beautiful new building, and to Hogan & Associates Construction for working tirelessly to finish the project,” Minkevitch said. “We also want to say thank you again to all the organizations and individuals who donated funds to finance the rebuilding of the shelter, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Larry H. and Gail Miller Foundation and the Utah State Legislature.”

Additionally, Flynn expressed gratitude to local individuals and families who have provided donations. “A huge thanks to the Midvale community who have supported our efforts with an incredible amount of in-kind donations to the shelter, including blankets,

The exterior of the shelter. –Jeanmarie Meas

The new shelter includes kitchen areas for residents to store, prepare and cook meals. –Jeanmarie Meas

local life

M idvalejournal.com towels, diapers and other needed items.”

The Road Home is the largest provider of homeless services in Utah. The non-profit organization “begins by providing people with basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, while immediately working with them to develop a plan for housing. Their programs are designed to connect people with resources and to help integrate them back into the community.”

“The Road Home and its community partners serve as a lifeline for the children and

adults who are experiencing homelessness along the Wasatch Front,” Minkevitch said.

“And, tackling the critical needs of so many Utahns during the winter months creates an increased need for funding and in-kind donations.”

The Road Home is happy to receive online donations at www.theroadhome.org and donations of warm clothing, blankets and coats at the Midvale Community Winter Shelter; or at the Main Shelter, located at 210 South Rio Grande Street (455 West) in Salt Lake City. l

February 2016 | Page 7

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The new shelter includes kitchen areas for residents to store, prepare and cook meals. Photo provided by Jeanmarie Meas

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Midvale City Journal

Page 8 | February 2016

Midvale City

As I See It

7505 South Holden Street Midvale, UT 84047

By Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini

Midvale City Directory City Hall 801-567-7200 Finance/Utilities 801-567-7202 Court 801-255-4234 City Attorney’s Office 801-567-7250 City Recorder/H.R.

801-567-7225

Community Development

801-567-7211

Public Works

801-567-7235

Ace Disposal/Recycling

801-363-9995

City Museum

801-569-8040

Senior Citizens Center

801-566-6590

SL County Animal Services

385-468-7387

Midvale Precinct UPD

385-468-9350

Police Dispatch

801-743-7000

Unified Fire Authority

801-743-7200

Fire Dispatch

801-840-4000

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS: Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini

801-567-7204

Email: joanns@midvale.com City Council District 1 - Quinn Sperry

801-255-5428

Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover

801-561-5773

Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Paul Hunt

801-255-2727

Email: phunt@midvale.com District 4 - Wayne Sharp

801-567-8709

Email: wsharp@midvale.com District 5 - Stephen Brown

801-783-0962

Email: sbrown@midvale.com Who to call for…

Utility Billing regarding water bills

(801)567-7258 Ordering a new trash can, reserving the bowery

(801)567-7202

Permits

(801)567-7212

GRAMA requests

(801)567-7207

Court

(801)255-4234

Paying for Traffic School

(801)567-7202

Business Licensing

(801)567-7213

Property Questions

(801)567-7231

Cemetery

(801)567-7235

Water Line Breaks

(801)567-7235

Planning and Zoning

(801)567-7231

Building Inspections

(801)567-7208

(801)567-7209

Code Enforcement Graffiti North of 7200 S

(801)256-2537 Code Enforcement/Graffiti South of 7200 S

(801)256-2541 CITY WEBSITE: WWW.MIDVALECITY.ORG FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MidvaleCity TWITTER: www.twitter.com / MidvaleCity or @MidvaleCIty

DID YOU KNOW? This letter is a reminder to us all about city services and citizen responsibilities.

Sometimes we forget and sometimes we are new in town, and sometimes we are just not informed. This year we have finally had a snowy winter. The city plows all main arterial streets and as many neighborhood streets as possible depending on the storm. The plows will go down the streets in the middle and then on both sides. If you get up early, before the plows have passed, they may put some snow back on your sidewalk and driveways. The Midvale ordinance requires all citizens to remove the snow from the sidewalk after the storm has passed. It is not safe to walk in the roads when they are icy. School children and pedestrians depend on us to get the sidewalks clear. If you have not been removing the snow from your frontage, please do so.

Salt is not added to residential streets unless there is an intersection that needs to be treated. All salt added to the roads must be removed by treating the melting water prior to allowing it to flow into the rivers. This is a federal law and the community can be sued if our waste water is contaminated. Water contamination can also occur if you put oil, debris, or garden clippings in the gutters. Cleaning up contaminants is expensive. That’s why your help in bagging leaves in the fall is so very important and all of those leaves stay out of the waste water system.

Did you know that Midvale is part owner of the Trans-Jordan Landfill? This is a cooperative group of cities that support and operate a landfill for garbage and commercial waste and is located near Copperton, Utah. The brown cans are for trash that cannot be recycled, which is taken to the landfill by Ace Disposal.

The blue cans are for recycling materials. A list of what is allowed as recycling materials can

be found on the Ace Disposal website located at www.acedisposal.com then click on Midvale City. This site also shows your garbage pickup days as well other valuable information. However, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Janice at 801-567-7202. You can also call that number if you have a damaged can that needs to be replaced or if you would like to request additional cans. If you live in a high density apartment or an area that has a Homeowners Association (HOA) you may have different instructions regarding your trash pickup and recycling.

Midvale also has a bulky waste program in April and October. This pickup includes bulky waste and green waste. Watch your Midvale utility bills for the dates for your neighborhood pickup and for the rules as to how the curbside items must be separated.

Did you know Midvale City has a drop off for unused medications? Every year people have pain medications stolen or shared.

This results in overdoses and deaths. Never put medicines down the drain because this contaminates the water and is not removed at the sewage treatment plant. You can dispose of prescription and over the counter drugs at the Midvale Police Precinct. There is a lock box in the foyer and I encourage you to use it.

Did you know you can get free legal assistance? Midvale City offers a free legal clinic every third Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Dahl Conference Room at Midvale City Hall (7505 South Holden Street).

Services provided include: family (divorce, custody, etc.); employment law; disability and housing; immigration; and general legal questions.

You are the eyes and ears of your neighborhood and your community. If you see something, say something. Happy New Year to you all.

Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini

Make your own Emergency Air Quality Implementation Plan: Whenever possible, walk, bike, use mass transit, carpool or telecommute.

Stop idling your engine. Don’t idle if you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds. Don’t idle your engine to warm it up. It isn’t necessary.

Combine errands for the week into one, big trip.

Use mass transit Shop near home Avoid major routes during peak driving hours Postpone errands on high pollution days Carpool Consider alternative ways to get your kids to school: walking, using the bus, carpooling or biking Get Involved-Visit: http://www. breatheutah.org/how_to_help and: http://www.airquality.utah.gov/

February 2016 | Page 9

M idvalejournal.com

Midvale Art Council The Midvale Arts Council will present “The Foreigner” by Larry Shue on February 19-20 & 22-27, 2016. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Midvale Performing Arts Center (MPAC) 695 West Center Street (7720 South) in Midvale, Utah. Tickets may be purchased online at www.midvalearts.com. Ticket prices are $7 for general admission, $5 for seniors and children, & family passes are available for $25 (one household.) Midvale residents get $1 off. Group discounts are available by contacting Producer Melody Chapman at Productions@MidvaleArts.com.

Betty Meek’s lodge tucked away in a little town in Georgia doesn’t get a lot of out of town visitors, until Charlie Baker shows up. To save

Charlie the agony of having to socialize with others (something he dreads), Charlie’s buddy “Froggy” convinces every one that Charlie is a foreigner and doesn’t speak any English. Charlie suddenly becomes privy to all the town’s secrets, with unexpected and hilarious results including story telling in his native (made up) dialect. This is one you and your family don’t want to miss!

Employee Spotlight Junior Aiono Civil Claims Coordinator

This production of “The Foreigner” is directed by Bruce Craven, and also showcases the amazing onstage talents of Chris Kucera, Jenner Bate, Nancy Jensen, Chris Henderson, Krystal Funk, Jim Schroeder and Thomas Kulkus.

Junior has been working for the City of Midvale for 16 years starting in the public works sector and then moving to the court. In his own words Junior described his main responsibility as the civil claims coordinator as “making sure the public is aware of the judicial system available to them here in Midvale City.”

His daily routine is centered around filing claims, preparing them for court, and educating citizens on their options. Being able to stay calm and level headed under pressure and with clients in elevated emotional states are some of Junior’s greatest assets.

Junior takes pride in his interactions with his customers and the citizens of Midvale at large. Starting out at public works, Junior has been able to communicate and work with people from a variety of different angles. Outside of work, he continues to devote his time to the community by coaching Hillcrest’s Little League football. This year he will be coaching the 12-13 age bracket.

When asked the following questions, Junior’s responses were: What do your colleagues think of you? C- Razy.

Tell me about the last time you did the right thing and nobody saw? Every day! Yesterday I found $20 at a gas station and gave it up to the clerk. A few minutes later a lady returned looking for it and I told the clerk not to tell her I returned it. “Don’t look at me.”

Would you rather be liked or respected? Respected. Respect is a large part of my culture.

If you had to be an animal, which one and why? A silverback gorilla.

They’re tough and strong!

Who is your favorite super hero? Mighty Mouse.

If you were an animated character who would you be? Mighty Mouse.

Star Wars or Star Trek? How about neither? None.

What song best fits your leadership style? “Today was a Good Day” by Ice Cube.

Midvale Journal

Page 10 | February 2016

Preventing Home Fire Safety Tips for the Winter Season

People are at greater risk of a home fire in the winter season. You can help prevent winter weather-related home fires in your community by sharing these safety tips, messages, and public service announcements.

Winter is just beginning, but we have already experienced winter storms that have left homes and businesses without electricity; leaving us to find alternate ways to heat our homes. Whenever we use alternate heating methods we increase the risk of having a home fire or exposing ourselves to dangerous carbon monoxide. Home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. This is due in part to an increase in cooking and heating fires.

Holiday decorations and winter storms that can interrupt electrical service and cause people to turn to alternative heating sources also contribute to the increased risk of fire in winter. Winter fires can be prevented!

Space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths. Protect your family: if you’re heating your home with a space heater this winter, take a few moments to review these: Facts about home heating fires: From 2010-2012, an average of 45,200 home heating fires occurred in the United States each year and resulted in an annual average of approximately 155 deaths, 625 injuries and $351 million in property loss.

Heating was the second leading cause of home fires following cooking.

Home heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5 and 9 p.m. with the highest peak between 6 and 8 p.m. This fourhour period accounted for 30 percent of all home heating fires.

Home heating fires peaked in January (21 percent) and declined to the lowest point during the summer months from June to August.

Confined fires, those fires confined to chimneys, flues or fuel burners, accounted for 84 percent of home heating fires.

Twenty-nine percent of the nonconfined home heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to things that can burn.

An estimated 900 portable heater fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause 70 deaths, 150 injuries and $53 million in property loss.

Portable heater fires in homes peak in January and most occur because they are too close to items that can burn. 38 percent of home portable heater fires originate in bedrooms. In these fires, bedding, such as blankets, sheets and comforters, is the leading item first ignited by portable heaters.

150+ people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning occurring from products and equipment in their home. The key to protecting your family is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Learn more about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: Headache Fatigue Shortness of breath Nausea Dizziness High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including: Mental confusion Vomiting Loss of muscular coordination Loss of consciousness Ultimately death Fire Is Everyone’s Fight Fire Is Everyone’s Fight™ is a national initiative to unite the fire service, life safety organizations and professionals in an effort to reduce home fire injuries, deaths and property loss by changing how people think about fire and fire prevention.

All prevention and public education materials are part of Fire is Everyone’s Fight. You can find more information at: https://www. usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/fief/ Don’t forget to join the fight.

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Midvale City Code for Snow Removal

With snow season here in full force, it’s time for the obligatory article regarding snow removal from the sidewalk in front of your home or business. While Section 12.08.010 of the Midvale Code spells out in language that few wish to read, that it is “unlawful not to remove snow within a reasonable time,” we need to step back and recognize the reasoning behind this requirement. Midvale City has many schools with walking routes, three Trax stations and multiple bus routes. What it comes down to is many residents and school-aged children rely on sidewalks to get to their destination in a safe manner. When sidewalks are

not cleared this becomes difficult, if not dangerous, as pedestrians attempt to walk on slick, snow packed sidewalks or are forced to walk in the street with traffic. This became quite apparent last year when we had heavy snowfall, followed by weeks of subfreezing temperatures which kept those sidewalks that hadn’t been shoveled covered in snow. So please, do your part in keeping the snow cleared from the sidewalk in front of your home or business so we may provide safe routes for those who need them, and so the city’s code compliance officers don’t have to send you a letter regarding snow removal.

February 2016 | Page 11

M idvalejournal.com

In the Middle of Everything Midvale defines location, location, location. It’s within the name. The central location within the Salt Lake Metropolitan area, the unparalleled access to regional transportation networks and the Wasatch Mountains featuring all four mountain resorts for Ski City serve opportunity to Midvale within the overall regional tourism sector.

The Midvale Fort Union Mountain/Ski Corridor last year had some 1,653 Ski City Super Passes sold through our motels. These Super Passes provide direct to lift access to the four mountain resorts featured in Ski City campaign: Alta, Brighton, Solitude, and Snowbird.

It provides freedom to ski any one of the four resorts and includes an all-day UTA pass for ski buses and TRAX light rail with service to SLC Airport. So the thousands of people who come and visit can take advantage of this value and enjoy great valley access to mountains.

As one of eight featured neighborhoods in the Ski City campaign, Midvale has identified participating lodging options with some 963 rooms along the corridor all with direct ski bus access up Fort Union Blvd (7200 South) and an additional 90 rooms coming soon supported by numerous places to eat, visit and entertain.

We have a great story to tell. As one of the eight distinct areas in Ski City, Midvale gets to promote our historic sights and attractions, arts and culture, dining, nightlife, shopping, and character with visitors. It’s one that keeps expanding and evolving. The choices are expanding, offering more and more venues for after hours, dinner, entertainment, lodging, and recreation after visiting the resorts. Next year we’ll be able to ski all day and hit golf balls into the night.

As tourism expands and the mountain vis-

its grow, the demand for additional base services and rooms rises. Hence, the objective of the Ski City USA campaign is to focus in on the various options offered in Salt Lake Valley after the lifts close. Our location, with close access to all four resorts provides an opportunity.

The specific sites through Ski City USA and our Ski Corridor offer links into many of the businesses for electronic access and your specific webpage. Once there, future customers can review menus, check availability, convey interest and make reservations.

Visit and see related links below.

Related Links: Video link with narrative hosted on city web page: http://www.elocallink.tv/clients3/ut/ midvale/tourplay.php?movie=midvut10_skii_ rev2_iwd&spon=skicorri Link off Midvale City webpage for home page for Midvale-Fort Union Corridor: http://www.midvalecity.org/mp.aspx?p=32 Story Link map of corridor: http://maps.mapsynergy.com/SkiCorridor/ShortList/index.html Ski City website: http://maps.mapsynergy.com/SkiCorridor/ShortList/index.html Neighborhood featured link through Ski City for Midvale: http://www.visitsaltlake.com/skicity/ neighborhoods/midvalley/midvale/

Road Closure Announcement STAPP Construction will be replacing the bridge deck on the bridge over the Salt Lake and Jordan Canal on Larchwood Drive. The location is roughly 690 East Larchwood Drive(6755 S.).

STAPP Construction will mobilize and begin demolition January 25, at which time Larchwood Drive will be closed at that location. The closure will remain in effect until the later part of April.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Keith Ludwig, PE, Midvale City Engineer, at kludwig@midvale.com

Ten Things We Can Do To Prevent Storm Water Runoff Pollution Conserve Water Stop faucet drips Never dump anything down storm draims Pick up after your pet Sweep up driveways and sidewalks Use fertilizers & pesticides sparingly Plant gardens in bare spots Direct rooftop runoff to grass or gardens Check the cars for leaks Wash cars at the car wash Compost your yard and organic waste

Midvale City Journal

Page 12 | February 2016

Purposes of Court Y The Midvale Stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Invite You to attend the Easter

Presentation of Handel’s Messiah

March 20, 2016 7:00 PM

Hillcrest High School Auditorium

Please join with us to celebrate the Birth, Death and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

If you would lIke to PArtIcIPAte In tHe cHoIr or orcHeStrA: Choir rehearsals begin Jan. 30, 2016 8:00-9:30 AM at LDS Stake Center 8171 South Jackson Street Orchestra rehearsals start Feb. 20, 2016

call or text Jan litster 801-566-0789 • JLITSTER@q.com

ou have just received a ticket for speeding, rolling through a stop sign or speeding through a school zone and now you have to go to the local justice court to take care of it. You feel annoyed, a little scared and apprehensive about having to deal with it all. The courts are hard to navigate and now you are going to have to, potentially, rearrange your entire schedule to take care of it. Justice courts aren’t even real courts with real judges are they?

Yes, they are real courts with real judges doing a very important and constitutionally provided for function. Justice courts in your local community are the third branch of your local government. Just like the state and ederal governments, Midvale City is set up according to the Constitution of the United States: The legislative branch, your local city council, create ordinances, or laws, that govern the specific needs of the city.

The executive branch, the elected mayor and city staff, enable the enforcement of those laws through local police contracts, code enforcement officers, and administrative actions.

The judicial branch, the justice courts, interpret state and local law and ensure that violators are held accountable if it is proven that they violated those laws.

But what exactly does the justice court do? Midvale City Justice Court’s Mission statement says: “The Midvale Justice Court is here to provide the public with a fair, independent and

impartial forum for resolution of conflict under the law by promoting fair and equal access to the courts, utilizing public resources efficiently and effectively and providing education, empathy and understanding to those navigating the judicial system in our community. “ In other words, the job of the court is to provide a place for the city prosecutor and the citizens of the community to convene to state their facts regarding a case, and, have an impartial judge determine whether or not a law was broken and what the consequence should be. It is also a place where they can have their basic questions regarding process and procedure answered, pay fines for violations they aren’t contesting, or file small claims suits.

What violations does the justice court process? The State of Utah, County of Salt Lake and Midvale City all have laws (statutes and ordinances) that have been passed by the state legislature, county council or city council.

Midvale City has incorporated into their city code all of the state and county statutes and ordinances as written, meaning that in Midvale City any violation of those three bodies of law can be cited. Midvale Justice Court processes all violations of these laws that are designated as Class B or Class C Misdemeanors, Infractions or small claims cases where the monetary compensation requested is less than $10,000.

The most severe criminal offenses that are processed through the justice court are domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), theft and minor drug offenses. The majority of cases filed in the Midvale Justice Court are traffic offenses.

The court has two major players: the judge and the court clerks. Without each other, the court cannot run efficiently or effectively.

Their roles, though very different, are both vital if a fair and equitable experience is going to be had by the public.

Role of the judge: The Honorable Judge Ronald C. Wolthuis has been the Midvale City’s Justice Court Judge since 2008. As an elected judge, he is able to preside over cases independently and with only the law and his years of legal experience guiding his decisions.

Judge Wolthuis presides over traffic, criminal, small claims and municipal code cases brought by police, Midvale City Code Enforcement or private citizens filing small claims cases. As the presiding judge it is his duty to listen to testimony, review evidence and interpret the law in favor of one party or the other. In criminal, traffic and municipal code violation cases the parties who come before him are the Midvale City prosecutor, who represents the city, and the citizen who was issued a citation or had a case filed against them. In civil or small claims cases the parties are the plaintiff, the person who files the claim for lost money, and the respondent, the person the claim is filed against.

In all instances both parties provide testimony and evidence which they feel give them the legal standing to have the case decided in their favor. The judge weighs the testimony, statues and laws of record and makes a decision based upon his interpretation of the same. In a criminal or traffic case, once his decision has been made he reviews the rules and guidelines provided by the State of Utah and imposes an

appropriate sentence for the violation committed. In a small claims case he determines a monetary amount to award either the plaintiff or respondent to compensate them for lost money, time or damages. The State of Utah created a Uniform Bail Schedule which specifically states fine amounts for criminal and traffic code violations. The judge has discretion in waiving fines and jail time if he feels that they are not going to be beneficial in preventing the re-occurrence of the violation. Conversely, if he feels that the only way a violator will be deterred from committing the crime again, or if he feels that it is in the best interest of the community, he can impose the maximum sentence as allowed. If he finds that no violation was committed, or that there is insufficient proof that a party hasn’t paid a debt, he will dismiss the case.

Role of Court Clerks: Court clerks have a limited, but vital, role in the court. They are here to process and manage cases and case documents, create a record in the court for those who are before the judge, help those who are unsure of what to do navigate the system by educating the public on what the processes are once a ticket or civil suit have been filed and to answer any non-legal questions regarding those processes. Court clerks can answer questions regarding the amount of fines that can be paid without a hearing, traffic school options, court dates if your case is mandatory and you must appear before the judge, and they can provide blank documents for things such as Criminal Case Expungements and Small Claims Affidavits. They can explain the differences between types of court documents but they cannot help you fill them out. Court clerks are also here to take fine payments and case filing fees for processing certain types of documents. Court clerks cannot reduce fines or make payment arrangements. The Court clerks of Midvale City Justice Court pride themselves on their knowledge and desire to help the community. If you have questions regarding a case that you may be involved in, they are here to help to their fullest ability.

Court proceedings are open to the public and the staff of the Midvale Justice Court would invite anyone who is curious about how court proceedings work to come and watch a court calendar. If you are interested in attending a session you can access the court calendar at http://www.utcourts.gov/cal/data/Just_Midvale_1851_Calendar. Please check in with the court clerk if you attend so that we can inform the judge you are here to observe, not a defendant waiting to be heard.

If you have questions about a citation you may have been issued you can contact the court directly at 801-524-4234 or if you’d like to visit our page on the Midvale City Website you can go to http://www.midvalecity.org/mp.aspx?p=9. Midvale City Justice Court’s operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located on the north end of the new Midvale Municipal complex.

If you have any questions not directly related to a case that you are involved in, please feel free to contact Michelle Henderson, the Justice Court Administrator at mhenderson@ midvale.com or 801-567-7290. l

February 2016 | Page 13

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Medallus Medical

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here is no doubt that we are in the middle of a healthcare crisis. Some call it a “healthcare demise”. Obamacare, so far, is here to stay. As long as it is here, people are forced to buy health insurance whose premiums are uncontrollable and whose policies make the insured pay more out-of-pocket expenses. Some families have filed for bankruptcy due to medical bills, others have loved ones who have passed on because they denied medical care and medications due to the higher healthcare costs. It can seem alarming, and cause many people wonder what they can do about it.

The key to navigating through healthcare safely is to become as healthy as possible, minimizing any chances of accessing expen-

sive medical care. The best and most affordable approach to accomplish this is to pre-pay a family doctor for routine care, while having a health insurance policy for catastrophic events.

This model allows health insurance to be set aside and be used as “true insurance”--to cover unexpected major medical needs--while allowing a person to visit the doctor as often as needed without concern for cost. This increases the person’s well-being and overall healthiness. While this scenario is ideal, it can be difficult to find quality medical professionals who allow you to pre-pay for expenses. That is where Medallus Medical is here to help.

Medallus Medical has 9 clinics across the Wasatch Front that provide urgent care, primary care, and work medicine, with three ways to

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be seen in any of them. First, you can use your insurance. Pay your insurance copay at the visit, and Medallus will send claims to them to be processed. Second, you can pay cash at the time of service, with a flat fee ranging from $119 to $199, depending on the procedure.

Third, you can join Medallus’s Medical Membership program. Under this program, members pay a monthly fee, then are able to recieve the care they need for only $10 per visit, for most procedures.

There are several ways to benefit from Medallus’s Medical Membership. One way is to add Medallus Medical Membership alongside your current health insurance plan. This allows you to reduce your out-of-pocket costs, using the membership to stay healthy with ur-

gent and primary care visits, and setting your insurance aside for major medical needs. Another way is to modify your current health insurance plan to have a higher deductible, with a much lower premium, adding Medallus Medical Membership for your routine and sick visits. By both modifying your plan to reduce premiums, and using Medallus to reduce outof-pocket expenses, the average person can save thousands of dollars a year.

Medallus Medical provides a simple solution to decrease your out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums, allowing you to restore your heath and your family’s well being at a greatly reduced rate. Visit www.medallus.com to learn more, or find the location of the clinic closest to you. l

EDUCATION

Page 14 | February 2016

Midvale City Journal

“Crazy” Idea Helps Midvale Middle School Students Enjoy the Holidays

By Stephanie Lauritzen | Stephanie@mycityjournals.com

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he holidays can be a difficult time for students who rely on free breakfast and lunch programs during the school year. After reading an article about highrisk students going hungry during the two-week winter break, Midvale Middle School principal Wendy Dau decided to find a way to help her students stay happy and healthy. Her plan was ambitious.

“Schools have done cereal drives in the past, but I wanted to do even more. I decided that if I could send each student home with a case of ramen – at least 14 packages, one for each day of the break – two boxes of cereal and one large jar of peanut butter, I might be on the right track to help these students and their families,” Dau said.

In order to achieve this goal, Dau needed to collect 750 cases of ramen, 1,500 boxes of cereal, and 750 jars of peanut butter within just a few weeks.

“Everyone told me I was insane, and that it would never happen. But we exceeded this goal. We received over 2,000 cases of ramen, 2,000 boxes of cereal and 800 jars of peanut butter,” she said.

In addition to food donations, Midvale Middle School also received monetary donations used by Dau to buy school supplies such as binders, pens and pencils for her students.

“I never want a child to lose access to learning because he or she doesn’t have the right supplies. We will provide them. This is my obligation as a principal,” she said.

Dau said any extra monetary donations will go towards maintaining school supplies and a food pantry to help stu-

dents throughout the year. She let the community know of her goals via Facebook, and her post was shared by the school secretary as well as by coworkers and friends. She contacted principals at other schools, and worked with both parents and students to collect supplies.

“Matt Bell and Carrie Earl from

Midvale Middle School Principal Wendy Dau

Jordan High School worked with their Latinos in Action club and student body officers to collect 1,000 boxes of cereal.

Eastmont Middle extended our initial goal by collecting winter clothing, and basically adopted our school for the holidays. The principal at Brighton High collected goods, and a mother at Draper Park Middle School dropped off truckloads

Jordan High School students deliver food and winter clothing to Midvale Middle School.

of things each week. Everything was done simply based on connections between teachers and individuals,” she said.

Dau joked that this isn’t the first time she’s tried something “crazy.”

“At this point, people generally feel sorry for me when I try something a little nuts, and are often willing to help me out. But, I never thought we would get so much help. The response was overwhelming,” she said.

At Jordan High School, student body officer adviser Carrie Earl was happy for the opportunity to teach her students the importance of service.

“Our job includes teaching kids to build character, it’s not just about schooling. Part of our role as teachers is helping our students learn how to be good people,” Earl said.

Additionally, Earl believes that service is a key component in Canyon School District’s mission statement for all students to graduate “career and college ready.”

“Character is a key component to a successful adulthood, not just academics,” Earl said.

As for Dau, she believes the experience helped her learn something new as well.

“I have learned that you must dream big. When you don’t let the mentality of scarcity limit you, great things are possible. I feel extremely happy to be part of a district where the more affluent areas came to our assistance so willingly and so completely. My faith in humanity has been restored,” she said. l

EDUCATION

M idvalejournal.com

February 2016 | Page 15

Hillcrest Students: Learning Leadership through Service

By Stephanie Lauritzen | Stephanie@mycityjournals.com

Husky Hospital Helpers pose for a photo with adviser Phil Talbot.

A

t Hillcrest High School, service clubs such as National Honor Society and Husky Hospital Helpers provide students with leadership practice, community engagement and learning opportunities outside the classroom. For NHS adviser Rebecca Farr, working with service-minded students is one of the best parts of her job.

“I personally love getting to work with such a bright and talented group of students and to help facilitate opportunities for them to get involved in their community,” she said.

For Phil Talbot, the faculty adviser for the Husky Hospital Helpers, watching students try new things and grow as individuals makes getting involved in extracurricular feel worthwhile.

“As a teacher, it’s hard when you get involved with too many extra activities, but in this sense, I am truly just an adviser. It is important to let the students discover the best

way to positively serve the community,” Talbot said.

Six years ago, Hillcrest High School Biology teacher Phil Talbot remembered a shy student named Cathy who came to his classroom after school looking for advice on starting a service club. Cathy wanted to help the children at Shriner’s Hospital, whose medical conditions often require long hospital stays. Talbot helped her fill out the necessary paperwork, forming the first chapter of the Husky Hospital Helpers. Now the club is almost 200 members strong and raises funds and donations for Shriner’s several times a year.

Each year, the Hospital Helpers collect materials and funds for children’s activities.

From book drives and school supplies, to holiday decorations, the club hopes to make life fun and enjoyable for kids staying in the hospital long term.

“Our goal is to find donations that are

meaningful for the kids. Last year we made kits out of fabric and tie templates so patients could make Father’s Day cards for their dads,” Talbot said.

For NHS members, students balance rigorous academic schedules with their volunteer work. In order to join the National Honor Society, students must maintain a 3.75 GPA while completing 100 hours of service each year. This year, students have successfully completed an annual food drive for the Road Home, donating over $500 to the homeless shelter.

Students also volunteer at Canyon Creek Hospice Center, and according to Farr, plan on helping recognize Hillcrest High’s faculty during teacher appreciation week.

“We are looking forward to our upcoming project for teacher appreciation week, where our charter has the honor of recognizing the staff at our school and all the amazing work

they do,” Farr said.

Farr and advisor Alysse McDowell believe service should play an integral role in student’s high school education.

“We believe this opportunity to serve will help impact and shape their views on life and humanity. It is essential that students understand that they are a small part of this community and understand how important their role is. We want the students in NHS to understand they are part of a community and to take pride in it,” she said.

For Talbot, learning how to lead a service club will help students develop the skills they will use in the adult word.

“Learning to organize a fundraiser and motivate others helps students make smart decisions and think about the consequences of what they do. Students should be given opportunities to be in charge,” Talbot said. l

SPORTS

Page 16 | February 2016

Midvale City Journal

Hillcrest: A Young, Talented Team in Girls Basketball

By Ron Bevan | Ron@mycityjournals.com

S

ometimes when a coach takes over the helm of a high school team, they have the luxury of relying on a strong senior class to help with growing pains.

Shannon Hurst did not have that luxury at Hillcrest.

Hurst is in her first year as the head coach for the Husky girls basketball team, although she has been with the program five years as an assistant coach.

And she has one of the youngest teams recently fielded at Hillcrest.

“We only have one senior playing this season,” Hurst said. “We should have two, but one tore her ACL in her knee and will be out the entire season.”

Sia Ika is the lone senior suiting up this season for the Huskies. And at one time even she was out with an injury.

“Ika had something going on with her leg, and it was tough for our team when she had to sit out for a few games,” Hurst said. “Ika is not only athletic, but she also brings a lot of positive energy to the floor. Everyone loves playing basketball with her. She has senior leadership that will be hard to replace next year.”

Usually lined up in the guard position, Ika has been utilized as a small forward when needed.

“She is an animal when we put her down low,” Hurst said. “She can rebound strong and run the floor.”

Ika would have a fellow classmate with her in Morgan Trelease, who was on last year’s squad. But Trelease tore her ACL during fall basketball leagues.

She is still helping the team, however, using her basketball knowledge from

the sidelines helping Hurst make adjust“I get two additional years with ments during games. these girls before they graduate,” Hurst “Trelease sees things we might miss said. “I am hoping all this experience and points them out,” Hurst said. “It has they are getting at the varsity level been nice to have her on the sideline. She will help them in the next two years. is like a student coach.”

We could really be turning some heads Hillcrest is even shallow at the ju- soon.” l nior class, with only three girls on the team. To that end, Hurst relies on several sophomores and even a few freshmen to fill the void.

“We have a lot of talent in our sophomore group,” Hurst said.

A quartet of sophomores is leading Hillcrest in scoring. Annabella Jensen leads all scorers with 153 points this season. Taylee Allen has put in an additional 138 points and Cara Snowder has added 114. Gabi Desjardins, also a sophomore, has been the long ball threat for Hillcrest, hitting eight treys this year and scoring 74 points.

Because the team is so young and relatively inexperienced at the varsity level, Hillcrest has struggled for the first part of the season. The Huskies grabbed only one win during the preseason, but backto-back wins against Cyprus and Kearns has given Hillcrest a 2-1 region record and a shot at making the preseason.

Whether this season brings success for Hillcrest remains to be seen, with seven games remaining.

But the experience being gained Hillcrest forward Annabella Jensen uses her height to establish position in a recent girls basketball game. by the underclassmen is giving Jensen is one of several sophomores on a young Husky Hurst hope for the future. team.

Hillcrest sophomore Taylee Allen uses her athletic ability to get off a shot for the Husky girls basketball team.

What is the Role of a Funeral Home?

By Spencer Larkin

V

ery few people know what to expect from their funeral home until the day they have to make some difficult decisions and deal with seemingly mundane details during a time of duress. These distraction postpone a healthy grieving process, one that begins the moment arrangements for the service begin. Choosing the right funeral home can make all the difference.

First: the logistics. Behind the scenes, the funeral home arranges for the removal of the body, obtains all the required legal documents, prepares the loved one for viewing, helps plan

the service, arranges for the final disposition, provides facilities for the visitation and funeral service and the transportation to the final resting place. An experienced funeral home is essential in getting all these details right---in the sense that they make the funeral appropriate to the family’s wishes and not just offer cookie-cutter solutions.

Experience goes a long way. An idea that sounds good at the time, may not turn out the way you plan. Having a funeral director with a lot of experience you can trust to guide you is essential. Especially if you are

doing a cremation with a service, mixed religion services, coordinating mixed families, or having the service outside the funeral home at say a farm, or ski resort, in the National Forest, at a private estate or repatriated in a different country. A savvy funeral home will be sensitive to the story you are trying to create and make sure all the necessary laws are met and all feelings are respected. There are other considerations, too; like special services for children, vets, public servants and religious leaders. A good funeral home will have experience in all these areas and have helpful

suggestions.

Lastly, you have to like and trust them.

Emotions will be a little raw during this time.

Hugs will come often and honest feelings shared easily. It’s important to have a friend and confidant in the Funeral Director; one you should feel confident hugging when the day is over, the service was perfect and friends have all gone home. Believe me when I tell you, funeral directors are moved by the tributes and shared feelings of every funeral they manage.

It’s OK to give them a thanks and an embrace.

They probably need it too. l

New Digital Dashboard Lets Residents Track Progress

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alt Lake County is launching our firstever dashboard to track the progress we are making on the services we provide for residents and businesses. Just as you use information displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle to gauge performance on your travels, the county wants the public to see how well government is performing. The dashboard can be viewed on the home page of our website: https://dashboard.slco.org A dashboard in this case is a software-based solution that transforms sets of data into easy-to-read data charts. Thanks to our ability to collect and analyze a lot of data, the county dashboard will be a reliable tool for the public to use to answer questions such as “Where are our tax dollars being spent?” and “How safe are our neighborhoods?”

In deciding what we would track and what metrics we’d use as a way to measure our progress, we surveyed many residents to find out what they would most like to see. The survey results ranked public safety, addressing homelessness, air quality, job opportunities and support for education as top priorities.

Residents also said they’d like to know about the availability of parks and trails, the current state of repair of roads and buildings, and what

the county is doing to operate efficiently and save money.

We also asked ourselves what are the quality of life conditions we would like to see for children, adults and families who live in the county. Our discussion produced four broad categories: • Healthy People – county residents are safe, have a place to call home and are healthy. Some of the indicators we will track include the crime rate; the number of homeless individuals and children in the county; the number of children who lack health insurance; and the percentage of teens who are physically active.

• Healthy Places – county residents have

clean air and clean water; they participate in and have access to recreation, arts and culture; and have transportation choices that are safe, efficient and meet their needs for commuting, school and recreation.

• Expanded Opportunities – county residents have access to good-paying jobs in the private sector; children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn; youth graduate from high school; and businesses have the resources they need to expand into and compete in global markets.

• Responsive Government – county residents deserve a government that operates efficiently and effectively, includ-

ing a 9-1-1 emergency response system that gets life-saving personnel rapidly to where they are needed.

We believe that our dashboard is a tool that will help Salt Lake County make better decisions about how we use our resources, and it will hold us accountable to our customers for accomplishing our jobs and enable residents to track our progress. Local governments around the country are learning that there is almost nothing that needs to be done that can’t be done, if there is the will to do it, and a commitment to measuring progress. Take a look at our dashboard and please send me your comments and ideas about how we can improve it and make it more useful to you. l

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ravel and tourism in Utah has a sunny outlook going into 2016, being named on Fodor’s list of top places to visit, and our ‘Mighty Five’ National Parks at the forefront of this year’s 100 year celebration of the National Parks Service. We have been noted as one of the fastest growing states more than once, and are among the new wave of leaders that have long championed a future of sustainable business, travel, and preserving our outdoors. So what does the future of transformative travel look like for us, and what are we doing about it?

As someone who has been in the industry of marketing and tourism for over ten years, one of the things that dragged me down the most, seemed out of my control. The multi trillion dollar travel industry consumed resources, communities, and was more of a cultural voyeur than a caregiver. The hidden costs of tourism are real, including unfavorable economic and cultural effects in host communities. So I started thinking, “If you can’t change a situation, change your mind.”

This shift lead to an inspiring trek in the highlands of Sapa, Vietnam getting to know the history and lives of those behind tourism. As

chance would have it, my change of mind, and a fierce desire to create a social return, started an international partnership that supports the education of women and children both in Utah and Vietnam.

Women have long been underserved in the business sphere, impacted by tourism, and have less access to capital and training.

Even though they make over 85% of household purchasing decisions, and are starting new businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts. It’s time for a change in thinking. The initiative to launch the cause based social in March, benefiting Miao & Co. Ethical Imports, hopes to bring more transparency and support for social enterprise, transformative travel, and an open discussion with an informative impact panel during the event.

I feel we all have a desire to build trust in our communities and create powerful connections that shift ideas towards the social good.

This event is an chance to join a growing voice to create travel plus social good. Where profit, tourism, enterprise and conservation co-exist. In March leading entrepreneurs, the Utah.Gov, WTC Utah, and Women’s Busi-

*Minimum purchase required. See store or website for details. All discounts apply to our regular prices. All prices include expert installation. Sorry, no adjustments can be made on prior sales. See store for warranty. Offer expires 2-29-16 ©Champion®, 2016 OFFER CODE: 34091

.

ness Center will be among other panel members who will share their expertise, support and share business goals that impact our bottom line in local and global tourism.

We all have choices and experience setbacks, but it’s how we handle them that really determines the course of our lives. It’s about doing work that is fulfilling. Changing something I can control, like providing impact in our local communities and fundraising, has made all the difference for me. I can bridge gaps between transformative, ethical tourism and the connection of millions of intelligent and motivated travelers who are bombarded with profit oriented branding that leaves a disconnect. The Give Bold Benefit social is open to the public with, RSVP on the evening of March 8th, where we can all create a transparent world of travel that leaves more than just a footprint.

RSVP to saltlakecity@travelsocialgood. org to reserve your tickets.This event is created with the special support of sponsors: Royal House Management, Latitude 38 Luxury Adventures, Women’s Business Center, Five Wives Vodka, CORT, Utah.Gov, WTC Utah, Cottonwood Journals and many more. l

Dating Beyond the “I Do”

M

y husband and I dated for a year before we married. We thought we had it figured out, had discussed it all, from the number of kids we wanted, right down to the color of carpet in our home.

After the arrival of our firstborn things started getting rocky. My sweet and lovable hubby suddenly turned into a matted green, irritable grouch. Instead of helping him and trying to understand, all I could do was nag.

Life became a chore. Money was tight. We barely talked to each other. We were sliding down a slippery slope.

It was during this time that a turning point happened. We found ourselves on a real date. I can’t recall how it happened, but nonetheless, the hubs and I had dropped off the little one at Mom’s, packed a picnic lunch and headed to the park for what turned out to be the one of best dates of our relationship.

Having the alone time allowed me to open up to listening without distraction to what was really bugging him, his stresses at work and financial concerns. We problem solved, had open conversation and worked together to fix it. In the time it took to prepare a $10 picnic lunch for two, throw down

a blanket and open our hearts to listen to one another we had solved many built up frustrations.

This made me a believer in “the date night.” A date night is a time you and your partner set aside to spend quality time focusing on the other. It’s a time to refresh and reboot your relationship and allows you to reevaluate what’s working for your family and more importantly, what isn’t. Date nights should not be a couple’s luxury, but instead a couple’s necessity and should be part of a regular schedule, just like paying the bills.

It’s easy to put off dating after marriage.

With expenses and the never-ending needs of the kids, finding just $25 a week can be hard.

Here are some ideas to make your date night money stretch a little further: #1- Make it appetizers or dessert: Instead of going out for a complete meal, make it appetizers instead. This is a fantastic way to check out a new restaurant without breaking the bank. I’ve found that I often enjoy these small bites more than the regular meal. If a full meal is in your plan, look for restaurants with early bird specials between 5 and 6 p.m. #2- Split the babysitter costs: Sitters

typically only charge a little more for additional kids so, plan to share your sitter with a friend that has kids and double date. Or, take turns babysitting each other’s kids. #3- Get familiar with the Daily Deals websites: We’ve all heard of Groupon and Living Social by now. A new one you may not be familiar with is C4Udeals.com.

These daily deal websites can be great sources for discounts for eating out. They also offer creative ideas for dates, like ghost tours, paint mixers and sushi-making classes. All three can currently be found on C4Udeals. com.

A regular date night is an important investment in your marriage and will lead to a stronger lifelong partnership. For more fantastic date ideas, check out a Utah based website called the TheDatingDivas.com and

APriortizedMarriage.com. Both have fabulous ideas for date nights and ideas to help you keep the communication in your relationl ship strong.

Spotlight on Ruth Vine Tyler Library

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T

he Ruth Vine Tyler library opened in January of 1967, and is named after the founder and first director of the county library system.

• The Tyler library is 11,346 square feet, and sits on 1 ¾ acres, with plenty of parking and lovely gardens.

• Conveniently located right below State Street, near the Midvale Center Trax stop.

• An auditorium with a 50-person capacity is available for public meetings.

• Join us Wednesday mornings for our drop-in story time, and Tuesday afternoons for our after-school club.

• Free WiFi is available in the library as well as 21 computers with internet, Microsoft Office and printing. .

• The Tyler library has an excellent Spanish collection, with fiction and non-fiction books for kids and adults, plus DVDs, CDs, and audio-books.

• The Tyler library is an excellent place to study with plenty of tables and chairs.

Ruth Vine Tyler Library is located at 8041 South Wood Street (55 West). Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Chew on This

T

here’s a divide in our country, and it’s not about whether the Founding Fathers believed every citizen should own an AK-47. It’s between people who eat only organic foods and people who treat their meals as a death-defying extreme sport.

Let’s address these two groups in a completely stereotypical manner.

First, the Organictonians never let processed foods pass their lips. Refined sugar is the equivalent of sprinkling arsenic in their coffee. A meal usually consists of a piece of kale with three garbanzo beans and a forkful of sustainable tuna. They obnoxiously tell you the backstory of every snack they put in their bodies.

Example: “The leaves in this green tea are only found in the Himalayas and are naturally crushed under the hoofs of grass-fed mountain goats.” Shut up, already.

You can often find these Whole Foods free-range aficionados grazing through the aisles in their yoga clothes, purchasing wheatgrass smoothies, kohlrabi burgers and amaranth water, and not-so-silently judging the person slurping a Coca-Cola in the check-out line. (It was my first Coke for January! Stop

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sneering at me!)

These people have eliminated greasy grease, sugary sugar and fatty fats from their diets. They are usually praying mantis-thin with a penchant for anger because they’re pretty hungry. (Oreos are stealthily stashed under couch cushions for late-night sugar binges.)

On the opposite (and larger) end of the spectrum, we have the Couldn’t-Care-Less connoisseur who consumes 3/$1 hot dogs from the corner gas station, drinks bacon-flavored Mountain Dew and gorges on deep-fried, chocolate-covered butter cubes.

Throwing grease on the fire are restaurants that carbo-load their menus with foods that would make a pig nauseous. Take a look at these (real) menu items.

The Thickburger is a cheeseburger topped with a hot dog and potato chips. Then there’s the Hot Dog pizza that has 28 hot dog pieces baked into the crust. It’s served with mustard and a bottle of ipecac.

Better yet, Baconator French fries are drenched in cheese sauce and smoked bacon, and heaped with grated cheddar. The fries come with a vial of epinephrine to restart your

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heart. Doctors recommend you never order these fries unless it’s your last meal on death row.

Even “healthy” burgers are out of control. How ‘bout an organic beef patty topped with onion marmalade (ew!), green apple slices, pureed chicken livers (double ew!) Swiss cheese and arugula. Well, if there’s arugula on it, we’re good.

The phenomenon that makes our bodies puff up like a marshmallow in the microwave is referred to by nutritional scholars as “lardbutt syndrome,” caused by eating thousands of calories per day.

There has to be some middle ground be-

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tween snacking on three crunchy wasabi peas and downing a hot fudge baklava shake. Isn’t it time we stopped the food shaming and made some reasonable choices?

Let’s agree to meet somewhere in the middle where we eat more fruits and vegetables (but not eggplant), cut back on sugary snacks (except Butterfinger bars), make meat a side dish (no more 16-ounce prime rib dinners) and enjoy an occasional splurge (movie theater popcorn!) to keep us pleasant and easier to live with—on both sides.

And those Founding Fathers can go back to worrying about whether we can eat buffalo l chicken wings while carrying a firearm.

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