Sandy Journal | March 2024

WARRIOR REVIVAL SUPPORTS VETS TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN LIFE

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

In a November 2023 survey conducted by OnePoll, 1,000 U.S. military veterans defined three big challenges in the transition from military service to civilian life: finding a job and purposeful career, leaving military companions and the absence of structure. The survey also showed it takes veterans an average of seven months to assimilate into civilian life.

Warrior Revival, a nonprofit organization located in Sandy, was created to support veterans and their families through the transition with fun activities and wellness retreats. By providing resources and opportunities, the founders of Warrior Revival hope to foster a sense of camaraderie and purpose in the veterans they work with.

“We like to raise

awareness in the community to help them understand what it’s like for a veteran to leave service,” said Dr. Katie Fry, a clinical psychologist and founder of Warrior Revival. “Once you’re in civilian life, it’s a totally different structure. Just to have time on your hands, the structure is much different than what it was like in the military and the pace is much different.”

Veterans and their families can attend free monthly events with Warrior Revival. Past adventures include indoor rock climbing, axe throwing, scuba diving, archery, hot air balloon launches and a cornhole tournament.

By creating a community outside of the military structure, Warrior Revival allows veterans to develop

Continued page 27

Warrior Revival participants learned the basics of scuba diving during one of the organization’s monthly events for veterans who are transitioning to civilian life. (Photo courtesy of Warrior Revival)

Art contest

Cadet

On March 17, many people look for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and wear green to avoid being pinched. But did you know there are lessons we can learn from the day’s honoree—St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was born into a very wealthy family. However, his luck took a turn when he was kidnapped by Irish raiders. Despite his circumstances, he found the courage to escape and traveled over 200 miles across the rugged Irish terrain where he came across a shipping vessel that happened to be bound for his homeland.

This is where we find four golden nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from St. Patty:

1. Take action. Note that St. Patrick didn’t wait to be rescued from his circumstances. He took action himself. What action do we need to take? Where might we need to step out of our comfort zone? We won’t ever reach those waters heading to where we want to be until we take that first step.

2. Forgive. One of the most surprising aspects of St. Patrick’s life was his decision to return to Ireland as a missionary 15 years after he had escaped. Despite his being held captive there, he was able to muster up the strength to forgive his captors to the point where he willingly returned. Who might we need to forgive in our life? Remember, holding onto resentment only creates bitterness and burden within us.

3. Take the higher road. Not only did St. Patrick return to his captors to share with them as a missionary, but he also went above and beyond in paying them a full ransom price of a slave as compensation for his escape. Although the eye for an eye revenge approach might be the first thought when a wrong has been done to us, might we try the “killing them with kindness”

Four lessons from St. Patrick

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

concept by simply taking the higher road? Yes, often easier said than done.

4. Understand those around us. While in captivity, St. Patrick learned how to speak the Celtic language of his captives. This proved especially beneficial years later when returning as a missionary since he was able to speak the native tongue to the people he was trying to reach. Such a powerful reminder for us to invest in our listening, understanding and communicating skills. Whether it be through resources such as personality tests or the five love languages, meeting those around us where they are fosters healthier, more impacting relationships.

Through these four nuggets of wisdom, St. Patrick not only reached his very enemy who had taken him captive, but he ended up reaching the entire nation of Ireland with his faith. As a leader at work, in the community, in our church or even in our own home, how might the tale of St. Patrick teach us to transform our circumstances into opportunities for growth and impact?

This St. Patrick’s Day, might we remember that it is more than just a tale and opportunity to dress from head to toe in green. May we be encouraged and inspired to intentionally live our lives full of purpose, no matter our circumstances, as we make it a great day for a great day.

Want to learn more about personality tests or using the five love languages?

Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 2 Episode 4 and Season 3 Episode 3. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available on www.hollycurby.com and wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast.” l

SANDY TEAM

The Sandy Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Sandy. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Bryan

Travis Barton |

Mieka

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

Racing the clock:

Canyons high school students unleash creativity in four-hour art contest

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Jordan High junior Olivia Hill was surrounded by about 60 other high school artists all busily drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking and perfecting other art techniques.

The clock was ticking.

Their mission was to create a piece of work from scratch in four hours. While they could bring in any reference and could explore any medium, there was no theme. Their artwork only had to fit into five categories: fantasy, contemporary, traditional, 3D sculptural and 3D functional.

This is Artstock, Canyons School District’s art competition for students in six high schools: Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Diamond Ridge, Jordan and Hillcrest. A Utah Arts Festival juror would judge their pieces and medals given to the top three in each category as well as best of show and Sweepstakes for best school overall. Every student would receive feedback from the art teachers and the students also could vote for a people’s choice award.

It’s a contest that has been around for at least 20 years.

“Competition brings out the best of us,” Brighton High art teacher Derek Chandler said. “It goes along with Canyons School District’s motto of getting students ready for college and career. This is what artists do. We not only compete with ourselves and try to make a living, whether or not it’s our full-time job, but we create and like to see what others create. This is a good way for students to see all the different spices and varieties, and what’s possible. It advances their own art tremendously. Students are seeing what works, what doesn’t, what others are doing, what’s possible.”

Hill had never participated in an art competition before.

“Just being around other people who like to paint and like art is cool,” she said as she used watercolor on her mermaid painting. “I wanted to do something that had a lot of movement so I thought mermaids and then I thought it would be cool if the mermaid was restrained somehow. I like acrylics but I wanted a challenge so I’m doing watercolor.”

She is enrolled in Advanced Placement Drawing, so she was planning to include this piece of art in her portfolio.

Chandler said that is the point behind not having a theme.

“A lot of these students are AP artists, meaning they submit a portfolio for college credit,” he said. “We wanted to keep the theme open so they could use their artwork from Artstock for that portfolio.”

Jordan High fine arts teacher Collette

Baddley said that it’s “an awesome opportunity for them to pursue their interests.”

“My students tell me that it really helps them to learn time and how to pace creating their art,” she said. “They get to see techniques other schools are doing and talk to them about their common interest. I love watching what they come up with; it’s just impressive.”

Nearby, Brighton High’s Corbin Stewart has been doing art ever since he could remember.

At Artstock, he was using dip pens to create a comic art style painting.

“I like the DC Comics art; it’s pretty aesthetic looking,” he said. “I love dip pens and to experiment with textures that they can give me. I prefer how they work compared to other paints because you can do a lot with them.”

The high school junior is looking into architecture as a possible career.

“I thought this would be fun and something I can put on my resume. I can zone out and destress from school. It’s something I enjoy; art has always been a joy for me.”

Nearby Brighton junior Chiara Onwuegbu was using watercolor to create a humorous dog painting.

“I saw this on Pinterest, and I just think it’s funny,” she said. “I think I’m good at drawing animals so I thought I’d do it here. I’m going to put it on my wall of my room. Watercolor works well with this. It’s very forgiving; I can fix things easy. I love the shading that you can do with watercolors.”

Onwuegbu started art lessons in first grade.

“It’s fun, it’s creative, it can make you think, feel and be expressive,” she said. “The best part is finishing. It makes me feel proud at the end, seeing it all come together.”

This year, Alta High won the Sweepstakes, ending Hillcrest High’s two-year winning streak to claim the traveling trophy. Corner Canyon was second and Hillcrest placed third.

Overall individual winners went to Alta’s Blake Carter for best in show and Hillcrest’s Faith Furgeson for people’s choice.

Fantasy category winners were Elizabeth Nelson, Alta, first; Romana Beaver, Jordan, second; and Kripa Thapa, Corner Canyon, third. In contemporary, Mia Bell, Alta, first; Brooklyn Jackson, Corner Canyon, second; and Josilyn Stevens, Jordan, third. In traditional, the winners were Kale Davis, Corner Canyon, first; Annika Amundson, Hillcrest, second; and McKenna Gibbons, Corner Canyon, third.

3-D functional winners were Evan Wolf, Corner Canyon, first; Taylor Allen, Jordan, second; and Ellie Bouck, Hillcrest, third. 3-D sculpture winning students were Kaden Huffman, Alta, first; Kay Allen, Diamond Ridge, second; and Tyler Pullmer, Hillcrest, third.

Honorable mentions went to Brigh-

ton’s Ohwnuegbu; Corner Canyon’s Vivian Huh, Alex Jensen, and Sarah Naylor; Diamond Ridge’s Hailey Dyoree; Jordan’s Grace Mahoney and Lynslie Calacino; and Hillcrest’s Cecily Bennett, Cassidy Boykin and Ares Lou. l

About 60 Canyons School District high school students took in the four-hour Artstock competition where they could explore any medium in the District-wide contest. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Painting was just one of several mediums high school students chose during the annual Canyons School District Artstock competition. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Alta High assistant principal to run Boston Marathon to help fund cancer research

Growing up to Turkish immigrants who practiced their traditional customs, Melissa Lister didn’t dream of running the Boston Marathon. It was a stretch for her to have permission to try out for her high school JV soccer team.

In April, the Alta High assistant principal will lace up her running shoes to race 26.2 miles of familiar roads not just for herself, but to help those battling cancer.

Lister’s journey began growing up with her siblings in Fort Lauderdale; her parents moved there in the 1970s. Her dad, who used to sell newspapers on the subway stations as a boy, and her mother both worked hard in Florida. He was the true Turkish man, having a passion for eating feta cheese and olives every day.

“Literally, for 50 years he worked as a waiter every day, so he wasn’t around for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter; I barely saw him because he was working seven days a week,” she said.

Lister bonded with him over soccer.

“My dad played pickup soccer as a kid in Turkey and he would watch the Turkish satellite TV to watch the Turkish soccer games, so he let me try out for the JV soccer team,” she said.

When the captain and goalkeeper got hurt, the coach told Lister she would take over both positions.

“I had never played soccer in my life other than that year. When my dad found that out, he said. ‘we’re going to the park. I’m going to kick balls at you and you’re going to catch them,’” she said. “He approached that like everything, with that hard work ethic. He always appeared to be in good health. I never thought anything would happen to my dad.”

Lister graduated from high school while taking honors classes. She was involved in student government, worked at a supermarket 35 hours per week and got a year of college completed while in high school. That allowed her to graduate college at Florida State one year early and land a teaching position before a hiring freeze. She eventually earned her master’s degree at Florida Atlantic.

“It’s that work ethic that my parents ingrained in me. I can’t even think about how my life would be not having an education,” she said.

While in Florida, Lister had a rocky relationship and began running to overcome that. Without racing a 5K or 10K, she ran the Fort Lauderdale Half Marathon in 2009 and again, in 2010.

“Those were my first races. That unhealthy relationship kickstarted my journey into running, just recovering from the trauma. A lot of people go to therapy or take medication, for me, racing was my answer,” she said.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Soon after, Lister moved from Florida to Boston, where her sister and family lived. She ran the Boston Half Marathon three times and the New York City Half Marathon, five times.

She also got into Spartan racing, which “helped me heal from that relationship.”

Spartan races are a series of obstacle races with varying difficulty, ranging from three miles to ultramarathon distances, Lister said.

“I wanted to push myself. I was doing CrossFit six days a week to prepare for the Spartan Races that I did in the summer. It’s 15 races each year,” said the previously nationally and world-ranked competitor. “My mom was OK with the running, but as soon as I started obstacle course racing, the mountain running and high mileage running, she wasn’t so sure. She wasn’t as worried as my dad. My dad was always worried I was going to run too much and die of a heart attack.”

In 2014, Lister’s dad started coughing and he figured it was allergies.

“He never went to the doctor because in his mind, he was fine. But at 71 years old, and still coughing, he went to a hospital and was told he has fluid in his lungs. They found blood in the fluid and on Christmas Day 2014, he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. They determined because he was a nonsmoker that it must have been the secondhand smoke from being a child selling newspapers in the smoke-filled subways and then, also from being a waiter at restaurants where smoking wasn’t outlawed then,” she said. “For two months, he went through radiation on his brain because the cancer had spread to his brain.”

On Ash Wednesday in 2015, Lister’s father died.

What helped was her obstacle races.

“Those obstacles needed mental toughness,” Lister said. “I thought of my dad, and what he went through, without complaining to provide for us. My dad used to always say that to me: ‘You go to work, you go to school, you don’t complain. You put your head down. You do your job. You go home.’ That is what I would do with the races. Put my head down, do the obstacle, not complain. It would be painful, but I knew I would get through it.”

Fast forward a few years, Lister and her husband moved to Utah. The South Jordan resident has taken up trail running and mountain biking—competing in races that reach the top of ski resorts and back down. She averages 12 races from April to August and has goals of running area marathons.

“My dad would go ballistic if he knew I was doing these things, but I did it be-

cause of him. I feel that connection every time when I run and do these crazy races,” she said. “Running gives me a feeling of joy. It’s a euphoric experience when you run. It feels good. It feels powerful. I have a picture in my office of my 40,000 medals that has become a conversational piece. When students ask me about it, I tell them I got started running to help me deal with my anxiety. It’s become a way for us to talk about their anxiety and find a way, maybe it’s running, that can help them.”

Lister decided to run and was training to race her first marathon, the REVEL Big Cottonwood marathon, last fall. She hoped to qualify there to run the Boston Marathon this April.

It didn’t happen.

Sidelined with strained calf muscles, she didn’t race and turned to another way to qualify— running for charity.

Before her 16-week training schedule began in late October, Lister shared her story on her race application with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“Dana-Farber is one of the top three leading cancer research hospitals in the world and everything they do, their innovative research, is trying to find a cure for cancer. I want to help Dana-Farber make those advances in medication and treatment because I don’t want another child to lose their father,” she said about her goal to raise $15,000 as the only Utahn dedicated to helping race for the cause. “I want to give awareness. Telling my story, whether it’s people who currently have cancer or who have had loved ones they’ve lost, I want people who are in pain to know the

importance of early detection. I still can’t believe my dad died of lung cancer. He was just someone who worked hard for his family and was one of the healthiest guys on paper.”

To support Lister in raising $15,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: go to danafarber.jimmyfund.org. l

Alta High’s assistant principal Melissa Lister lost her dad to lung cancer, now she’s running the Boston Marathon to help raise money for cancer research. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Lister)

Alta High Assistant Principal Melissa Lister, a trail runner and mountain biker, competes in races that reach the top of ski resorts and back down and next month, she’ll race in the Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Lister)

Longtime Alta High teacher honored by legislature for dedication to public service

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

RiqueOchoa has seen a bit of history in his time.

He saw 1968 presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy the day before he was shot. He lived in the neighborhood of the Zoot Suit Riots and his school had Cold War rations on hand for emergencies. He’s met and invited Pulitzer Prize winners to speak to students and he’s taken students to see the presidential inaugurations of Bush, Obama and Trump. He’s made the call for some outstanding athletes and listened to students debate during his 45-year tenure at Alta High.

He retired this past summer, but his impact was far-reaching.

As part of his instruction, he encouraged students to volunteer to get involved in public service. That has gotten him recognized.

First, after several students volunteered for Suzanne Harrison’s campaigns, she met Ochoa and was so impressed, Harrison and her husband established an annual $1,000 student scholarship in Ochoa’s name at the high school.

Recently, former Advanced Placement student Gabby Saunders, who was involved in the Ochoa’s pilot of the Rutgers University women’s leadership program at Alta High, presented her former teacher a letter at his retirement inviting him to the Utah House of

Representatives.

“She learned she had a voice and should use it. So back in 2015, the Utah legislature was getting set to cut funding for domestic violence shelters and that was important to her. She started working the system, met with Sen. (Wayne) Niederhauser, who was president of the senate at the time, and worked with him and other members in the legislature. Not only did they not cut the funding, they increased it. As a result, she became more active.”

Fast forward and this past spring, Saunders was working on a project with Rep. Anthony Loubet.

“He was astounded at how good she was and wanted to know how she got started. She told him, ‘My government teacher Mr. Ochoa encouraged us.’ He opened up the idea of honoring my career,” Ochoa said.

On Jan. 29, Ochoa and his family stood in front of the Utah House of Representatives as a citation about his dedication to students was being read.

Ochoa received a standing ovation.

“I have to admit I was emotional as they read the citation,” he said, adding that he had tears. “It was a culmination of everything I’ve done it for so long. I’ve loved teaching, loved all of it. I’ve always thought teaching

high school was the place to be. You can provide direction, guidance, encouragement. I look back on and realize how big a difference it was to be in the classroom. Teaching is a tough job. When someone takes note and

appreciates that you’re putting in the effort, that’s what makes it special. This struck me more than at any other time. It’s a great acknowledgement and then to get a standing ovation at the end, it was incredible.” l

With this powerful spaker, it’s easy to hear the specialist answer your call.

Just press one button to speak with a specialist and get help. It’s that simple. circular light

the light on the button lets you know when a call is in progress and when the pendant needs to be charged.

Dual noise-canceling microphones allow you to speak with a kind, courteous specialist. They can send emergency help or contact a loved one to assist.

Joined by his family, Alta High’s Rique Ochoa (right) was honored with a standing ovation by the Utah House of Representatives. (Melissa Lister/Alta High)

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.” l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

Jordan boys place fourth in 4A state swimming meet

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Ayearafter placing eighth in the Class 5A state swimming championships, the Jordan boys improved to fourth place overall—this time in the 4A classification.

At the Feb. 16-17 state meet, held on the campus of Brigham Young University, the Beetdiggers picked up 161 points, just two behind third-place Sky View’s 163. Fellow Region 10 foe Murray was second with 248.5 points.

The biggest accomplishment of the championships for the Jordan boys was its 200-yard individual medley relay team capturing first place. The team of Robert Barton, Will Coccimiglio, Nick Nigbur and Owen Hirschi finished the race with a time of 1:40.34, .52 seconds in front of the second-place challengers from Crimson Cliffs High School. Jordan had placed behind Crimson Cliffs in the preliminary round but bounced back to inch ahead for the title. The 200 free relay team came in third with a time of 1:30.22. The Beetdiggers were .47 seconds out of second place and 1.02 seconds in back of the winners from Murray. Owen Hirschi, Tyson Hirschi, Spencer Moore and Barton comprised the 200 free relay team for Jordan.

In the 400 free relay, Jordan’s team of Tyson Hirschi, Moore, Nigbur and Mitch

Stepan placed 12th. The relay team swam the event in 3:32.22, less than four seconds behind the winners.

Individually, the highlight of the meet was Barton, a senior, claiming first place in the 200 freestyle. Barton didn’t just win the event; he dominated, finishing with a time of 1:41.41, nearly five seconds in front of the runner-up.

But Barton wasn’t done there.

The talented swimmer also won the 100-yard race of what may be the most challenging stroke: the butterfly. Barton finished the event in 49.97 seconds, 2.67 seconds better than the second-place finisher.

Another standout performer was Owen Hirschi, a senior. He was second in the 50 free. With a time of 21.68 in this sprint event, Hirschi was only .47 seconds away from winning the race. He was also third in the 100 free, swimming it in 47.79, .2 seconds behind second place and .7 seconds in back of the winner. In addition, Moore, a senior, placed 11th in the distance race, the 500 free. Moore finished with a finals time of 5:13.52, improving slightly on his preliminary time of 5:13.66.

For the Jordan girls, junior Samantha Callahan just missed the cut of advancing to the 100 butterfly. She finished the prelimi-

A year after placing eighth in the Class 5A state swimming championships, the Jordan boys improved to fourth place overall—this time in the 4A classification. (Stock photo)

nary race with a time 1:07.76. She was also just outside the group to reach the finals in the 100 backstroke, swimming the preliminary round in 1:08.79. Also, junior Niya Glover represented the Beetdiggers in the

500 free, swimming the preliminary race in 6:22.88, missing the cut to advance to the finals. She also swam the 100 breaststroke race. l

Z News

Hello Sandy Friends,

ere’s an old Irish proverb that says, “If you’re enough lucky to be Irish… you’re lucky enough!” When people ask me about Sandy, I describe it as living in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! So, with the luck of the Irish shining upon us, I say, “If you’re enough lucky to be from Sandy… you’re lucky enough!”

It’s true, I feel so lucky to live where we do and I know you do, too. at’s why my team and I are spending so much time this spring working to manage expenses while delivering excellence. You may not realize it, but while Sandy delivers quality services to our homes and neighborhoods each day, we also have one of the lowest tax rates of all cities in the Salt Lake Valley.

I want to remind you there are simple steps we can all take to assure taxes stay low in our city. A very easy option is to shop in Sandy. A portion of the sales taxes collected on each dollar spent within our city comes back to our city and boosts our budget. It’s a very small portion – 0.92% of each, dollar – but it adds up. at sales tax revenue goes toward a police o cer or re ghter’s salary, city park maintenance,

or lling a pothole. When you decide to shop, gas up, or go through a drive through, choose #SandyBusinessFirst. You’ll be investing in your own community and rewarding yourself.

Last month I visited a Sandy neighborhood where emergency crews were dispatched in response to a water main line break. An eight-inch pipe burst and quickly grew into a massive sinkhole right in the front yard of the Cunli e home. While the earth eroded, the water carried a river of sandy soil directly down the residential street. When I arrived, our Sandy crews were on-site, digging down to nd the source of the leak and make necessary repairs. When they learned the erosion was also coming from a sewer line directly beneath the water line, they dispatched bigger backhoes and additional crews. is scene showed the coordination of highly skilled experts, millions of dollars in specialized equipment, and neighbors working together to keep a bad situation from getting worse.

By the following day, the water and sewer lines had been xed and the 25-foot-deep hole was lled. Street sweepers were cleaning up the mud and working to prepare the surface of the Cunli e’s front yard for landscaping, which will be done as soon as the weather permits. e residents a ected all expressed their praise and gratitude for the crews responding to make the needed repairs and restore their homes and

property from the water damage. Lucky indeed!

Your investment in our community pays o in many ways. Its reward comes in a high quality of life. As your mayor, I commit to bringing you the highest return on your investment. I ask you to consider the simple ways you can help keep taxes low.

• Shop in Sandy. Always choose #SandyBusinessFirst.

• Get involved in local government. Attend a city council meeting, a town hall or a planning meeting.

• Share your ideas at a “Pace of Progress” open house, which is the public input process to guide the creation of our new master plan.

In my recent State of the City remarks, I explained how, over the next few years, we will all witness Sandy Rising. We’ll build our new Fire Station 31/Department Headquarters. We’ll also move forward with our next phase of a Public Works capital project to add proper storage for our expensive equipment and vehicles to preserve their performance and value. We’ll see new mixed-use housing coming into the Cairns District. We’ll improve transportation on Monroe Street which will better allow the South Town Mall to attract additional restaurants and retail. We’ll also determine a sustainable path forward for the aging Alta Canyon Sports Center with your input on recreational interests and funding options. is generation of Sandy residents, along with our city’s elected o cials and sta , have an opportunity to exercise thoughtful stewardship of our city’s valuable assets.

Whether it’s a new restaurant choosing to open its doors here, a new re station under construction, or a backhoe and street sweeper repairing a water main break, you see our city working for you. What we enjoy in Sandy today is the culmination of the personal investment of our residents and proper planning to realize a uni ed vision for the strong, sustainable future our great city deserves.

Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski

Photo contest winner: Shahdad Sorenson

25 foot sinkhole forms on Silver Sage Road

Crews repair broken water and sewer lines

Sandy Service Ambassadors Highlight

e Sandy Service Ambassadors truly excel in their roles as volunteers for our actively engaged city. Ambassadors are thoughtfully selected for their commitment and genuine concern for the well-being of their communities.

Ambassadors play a crucial role in in uencing their neighborhoods. Involvement in community events, such as assisting in lling sandbags for Sandy’s 2023 citywide ood preparation, exempli es their dedication to enhancing the resilience of the community. Ambassadors also attend hands-on initiatives like open houses, town halls and council meetings, greet community members and guests at events, and foster meaningful connections within the community.

A special thank you to each of our Sandy City Ambassadors for their dedicated service:

Paul Corlett, Dave Egleund, Bruce Cline, Scott Drysdale, Steve McKinnon, Karen omas, Melissa Schaefer, Patricia ompson, Cathy Spuck, Angie Pe er, Mona Vollmer.

We look forward to serving Sandy City with you!

Sandy City General Plan

Do not miss your opportunity this month to engage with the Sandy Pace of Progress General Plan update! e project team will continue seeking community feedback as we transition to the next phase of the planning process. In addition to the open house event listed below, there will also be a third and nal survey from Y2 analytics.

• March 20 (6:00 - 8:00 PM) – General Plan Open House (Sandy City Hall, Multi-purpose Room)

Check out the Events Calendar on the website and plan your attendance to the upcoming General Plan Update event. And remember, you can always learn more and leave your ideas on the website SandyPaceofProgress.Org.

Dawgs N Whiskers

Established in Sandy in 2015, Dawgs N Whiskers was founded by owners who recognized a growing demand for a ordable, high-quality pet food. Distinguishing themselves with prices that compete with major retailers, Dawgs N Whiskers’ owners are proud to provide a price-matching option, ensuring you get the best value for your pet’s needs. Don't forget to explore their grooming services – another fantastic feature to enhance your pet care experience!

Dawgs N Whiskers is located at 9177 S 700 E, Sandy, UT 84070.

Sandy City works hard to maintain a safe and pleasant environment for its residents. is includes providing a network of sidewalks and trails that they can utilize as an alternative to cars. Keeping these routes clear during winter storms requires a strong team e ort between the city and residents. Sidewalks that are clear for pedestrian access, provide accessible routes to school, work, and shopping, keep pedestrians out of the street, and help reduce the possibility of serious injury from falls and other accidents.

Each year the City’s Code Enforcement O cers respond to approximately 100 complaints regarding snow removal. Sandy City Ordinance requires all property owners to remove snow, hail, and sleet from the sidewalks adjacent to their property. is must occur within 24 hours of the end of a storm event and snow may not be shoveled or pushed into the public street. Our o cers work to remedy the problem in a timely manner, but failure to respond, or repeat o enses may result in a citation.

Additionally, please remember that from November 1 to April 30 of each year, parking on any city street is prohibited within 24 hours (before and after) a winter storm event. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of this ordinance increase the chance for accidents and impedes the e ective operation of snowplows. Sandy City Police may also tow/impound the vehicle and issue a citation.

We appreciate your help in keeping the public streets and sidewalks safe for travel and making Sandy a great place to live. If you have questions or if you would like to le a complaint, please call the Code Enforcement Division at 801-568-7254 or send an email to steimisa@sandy.utah.gov. You can also report it with your Sandy City CityServe app. If you haven’t setup your account, download the app and stay connected to Sandy City.

More than 50% of all ood fatalities are vehicle-related. Don’t risk driving into oodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown!

Elementary School Art Show

March 13 - 21, 2024

The Shops at South Town

MARCH 7 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS!

Open registration will begin Mar. 7 at 6:30 a.m.

We o er 3 camps for kids:

• Play & Learn Summer Camp for ages 3-5

ª Summer Camp for ages 5-11

• Rebel Camp for ages 11-15

Campers enjoy eld trips, snacks, arts & crafts, swimming, and lifelong friendships. Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot.

KINDER CAMP (AGES 3-5)

5 Sessions Jun - Aug

is fun 2 ½ hour camp is perfect for your little ones.

Includes outdoor play, games, snacks, Arts & crafts, and a 30- minute swim lesson. Visit sandy.utah.gov/1067/Programs for more information.

SNAPOLOGY – LEGO BUILDING CLASS

March 4 – April 22

Unleash their creativity and give them the opportunity to do something fun, educational, and engaging! Creators will work learn about Robotics with a Star Wars twist.

CELEBRATING OUR 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

We would love to hear your favorite memory from the past four decades! Email lstillion@sandy.utah.gov.

River Oaks Golf Course

9300 S. Riverside Drive, Sandy, Utah (801) 568-4653

Sandy.utah.gov/golf

NORTH RANGE

Opening March 1, 2024 (weather permitting)

GOLF LEAGUES

Come join our adult golf leagues. Men’s League begins Tuesday, Mar 5, 2024, Women’s and Co-ed leagues begin Monday, Apr 1, 2024.

Register Now. For more information, visit sandy.utah.gov/golf

GOLF TOURNAMENT

Time to schedule your golf tournament! For more information, visit sandy.utah.gov/golf

BANQUET ROOM RENTALS AND CATERING

Looking for the perfect venue to host your next special occasion? Look no further! Our luxurious clubhouse o ers an indoor banquet facility that can comfortably accommodate up to 150 guests. Whether you’re planning a luncheon, party, wedding, or reception, our banquet room is the ideal setting.

Step into a world of elegance and sophistication as our secluded banquet room boasts breathtaking panoramic views of the picturesque Jordan River natural areas. With large windows enveloping the space, you and your guest will feel immersed in nature while enjoying your celebration.

But that’s not all – we’ve partnered with Market Catering to ensure all your culinary desires are met. From delectable appetizers to mouthwatering main course and tantalizing desserts, their expert team will elevate your event with their exceptional catering services.

PARKS & RECREATION

WANTED: SOCCER & BASEBALL REFEREES APPLY TODAY AT SANDY.UTAH.GOV/JOBS

Must be at least 14 years old. Work schedule exibility. GREAT PAY!

SPRING SPORT REGISTRATION

SPORT GRADE COST DEADLINE

Boys Baseball 3-6 $60 April 7

Girls Softball 3-6 $55 April 7

Coed T-ball/Coach Pitch Pre-K - 2 $40 April 7

Adult Softball Adult $600/team Feb. 26 (Returning 2023 Teams)

New Teams – Registration Begins March 1 until full.

SPRING PROGRAMS

• Adult Pick-up Basketball: Wednesdays - April 3, 10, 17, 24

• Youth Fishing Class: Classes begin Wednesday, May 1

• Fiesta 5K: May 4

Sandy Parks & Recreation - 440 E. 8680 S.

Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (801) 568-2900

SOCCER ACADEMY (Ages 3–8) Sponsored by Utah Avalanche Soccer Club is is a 5-week program where each week builds on learnings from the previous weeks. Curriculum for the various groups will be modi ed based on current skill levels of the players in an age group.

Cost: $30

Session Dates: Mon: Apr 8, 15, 22, 29, May 1

Tues: Apr 9, 16, 23, 30, May 2

Time: 5-6 p.m. PreK-Kindergarten Mon OR Tues

6-7 p.m. 1-2 Grades Mon OR Tues

Location: Lone Peak Park - 10140 S.700 E. Registration includes an Academy T-shirt & a soccer ball. Please bring water! For more information visit us at sandy.utah.gov/parks

Plastic

Perfection: Sandy Arts Guild Presents Mean Girls Jr.

Are you ready to relive the iconic moments of North Shore High School with a dash of Broadway magic? e Sandy Arts Guild proudly presents Mean Girls Jr., a vibrant and hilarious musical adaptation of the cult classic lm that took the world by storm. Tailored for a younger audience, this junior edition promises a night of familyfriendly fun, showcasing the immense talent of local youth performers.

A family-friendly version of the popular movie, featuring a cast ages 10 -18!

March 20 - 23

The Theater at Mount Jordan

Based on the hit 2004 movie, Mean Girls Jr. is a high-energy, toe-tapping journey into the treacherous world of high school cliques and teenage drama. is high-energy production captures the essence of the original lm, with a fresh and youthful twist that is sure to captivate audiences of all ages. From the sassy dialogue to the catchy tunes, every moment is a celebration of teenage spirit and resilience. e heart of the Sandy Arts Guild lies in its commitment to nurturing local talent - you're not just enjoying a night of entertainment, you're supporting the community and encouraging young artists. is musical extravaganza is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by the talented youth, promising an unforgettable performance that will leave you in awe. e Sandy Arts Guild is a multiple Best of State winner, known across Utah for their exceptional productions.

Tickets are $9-$15, a ordable high-quality entertainment for the whole family. All ages welcome - bring your family, friends, and neighbors to an experience that promises to be fetch in every way

Mean Girls Jr. runs March 20 - 23 with evening and matinee performances available. Tickets at sandyarts.com.

River Oaks Golf Course Recognized

for Outstanding Service to Youth

Oaks Golf Course in Sandy, Utah, was recently honored with the Utah Golf Foundation’s ird Annual Youth on Course Partnership Award for its exceptional commitment to supporting youth golf initiatives. Since joining Youth on Course (YOC) Utah in 2019, River Oaks has provided 2,500 YOC rounds of golf.

“ is award means a lot to us,” said Sandy Parks and Recreation division manager Mitch Stone. “It is all about growing the game, and it all starts with the youth and being able to give them accessibility.”

In 2022, River Oaks, led by Head Golf Professional Mitch Stone and his team, orchestrated a successful fundraiser for YOC Utah, raising an impressive $6,500 with the assistance of the Utah Flood and Fire Network.

“ e Parks and Recreation Department is all about changing people’s lives for the better. is program in uences the youth for the rest of their lives,” said Sandy City Parks and Recreation director Dan Medina. I’m so proud of the sta ’s e orts to be a leader in this program and making this happen for the youth in our community.”

Youth on Course has a track record of success. Once enrolled, youth can play any course partnered with the Utah Golf Foundation and YOC. e cost is also nominal at $5 per nine holes.

“Residents should be proud that River Oaks Golf Course is giving back to the community through this program and the Veterans on Course program,” Medina said.

River Oaks was one of the pioneering golf courses to host the UGF’s Veterans on Course program in 2016.

Contact the Utah Golf Foundation and the YOC program for more information about available programs.

Apr

Five former Jordan High drill team captains are part of the University of Utah Dance

the

performing at the University of Utah men’s and women’s home basketball games,

class of 2022; Taylor Perry and Jimena Gutierrez, class of 2023; Bella Pulsipher, class of 2021; and Ana Villalona, class of 2019. (Performance photo by Julie Slama/City Journals; Jordan alumnae photo courtesy of Sierra Mcnall)

The cost to play high school sports may increase next school year

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Thecost to participate in high school athletics in Canyons School District may increase next school year, but District officials say it’s to match inflation and the rising costs associated with sports.

The proposed bump “isn’t unusual; it occurs every couple years,” said Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood.

“The UHSAA (Utah High School Activities Association) has had an increase for the cost of officials the past few years; they’re paying more to attract more officials, so we have to account for that,” Sherwood said. “We don’t raise fees every year. We try to phase them in.”

One of the least expensive sports, cross country is proposed to cost a maximum of $2,560 per student-athlete, up $265 from last year and up $655 from 2021-22 season. While the UHSAA participation fee has increased $40 during the past few years, camp costs have increased $325 and team travel, $250.

Cheer, one of the more expensive sports, has risen from $3,950 in 2021-22 to a proposed $4,240. However, the increased from last year to this year is only $40. During the past couple years, UHSAA participation fees have remained the same, but its camps, clinics and team meals that have fluctuated.

“We tried to equalize the sports in terms of travel and camps and clinics. There’s no reason to have a camp and clinics cap different by sport. It should be the same for all sports and the same can be said for travel,” he said.

Canyons’ proposed camp and clinic maximum within each sport is $400. Travel, at $1,500, matches the current school year’s maximum cost.

“It’s important to realize that the maximum amount per student in athletics and in activities is $5,000. That doesn’t mean every student will reach that amount. Last year, we only had one student who did. It also doesn’t mean every coach will spend $1,500 per student on travel; we’re setting the boundaries and trying to make it fair across the board,” he said. “All this money goes to that program and to kids by rule. We don’t use it to pay for anything outside of that program or for the kids. None of this goes into the coaches’ pockets or to the school. This is just the operational costs for these activities. A few years ago, the (Utah) legislature made it so every activity had to be self-funded. The kids have to pay whatever it costs to play that activity. So, when the activities become more expensive than what we’re collecting, we got to adjust it.”

Canyons School District’s fees also increased for soccer, golf, track and volleyball. The proposed fees for Canyons’ sports and

In Canyons School District, cross country and other UHSAA-sanctioned sports may experience a price increase next school year by its school board to cover rising costs. Other school districts’ school boards also will review athletic fees. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

activities can be found at www.feeschedules. canyonsdistrict.org/#/home/700.

The student fee proposal will be reviewed by the Canyons Board of Education through its March 12 meeting, said Canyons spokeswoman Kirsten Stewart. Patrons can address the Board through public comment or by contacting their school’s Board member.

“No child has ever been turned away from an activity,” Stewart said. “We always work with families.”

Families who qualify can apply for fee waivers. Schools, on a case-by-case basis, may grant fee waivers to a student who does not qualify for a waiver, but because of extenuating circumstances, is not capable of paying the fee, she said.

Sherwood added that most teams also provide fundraising opportunities.

The cost of student fees for athletics and activities is reviewed annually by school districts. While each district may break it down differently and can vary per sport, usually it accounts for participation fee, camps and clinics, uniforms and clothing, team activities and meals, travel and miscellaneous costs.

Murray School District’s proposed student fees for the 2024-25 school year can be found at www.murrayschools.org/highschool-fees.

Jordan School District’s proposed student fees for the 2024-25 school year can be found at www.proposedfees.jordandistrict. org/schedule/high.

Granite Board of Education will review their high school student fees at a March meeting, said spokesman Ben Horsley. l

From land to sea: Jordan High introduces naval cadet corps program

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Online Naval National Defense

Cadet Corps’ applications are open for any incoming ninth- through 12th-grade student who wishes to participate in the forerunner to the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

The program is new at Jordan High.

It’s the first Utah comprehensive high school naval cadet corps program in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley. It’s also the first training program in Canyons School District.

“We believe it will be an asset not only to the school, but for all high school students who want to participate in the surrounding areas,” Jordan High Principal Bruce Eschler said. “The program’s mission goals are aligned with ours. It has a strong STEM focus and offers hands-on technical training while also building students’ physical fitness and aptitude for leadership. The cadet corps combines academic excellence with military discipline to prepare students for leadership roles in the military or in civilian careers by instilling values such as teamwork and responsibility.”

While housed at Jordan High, all high school students in Canyons’ high schools will be able to enroll in the program while remaining at their home schools. Students from outside Canyons can request to permit into Jordan High to participate.

Jordan was awarded the unit by the Navy after an evaluation process. Eventually, Canyons District wants to transition to the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Eschler said up to 100 students can enroll in the first year. The Cadet Corps is a four-year program, but students don’t have to participate all four years.

Those who complete three years of the program can enlist in the armed forces at a higher pay grade, he added.

The program, as the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, follow the same curriculum, coursework, and post-high school opportunities, Eschler said.

While the cadet corps’ training is a military education program, the leadership skills are transferrable; students will be introduced to the meaning of citizenship and build confidence, discipline, and a capacity for hard work, said Canyons Superintendent Rick Robins.

“These are the personal charac-

ter traits that are in such high demand by colleges and employers,” he said.

Jordan High was established in 1907 and serves as one of the oldest high schools in the state. Currently, about 2,000 students continue honoring many of the school’s traditions, Robins said.

“I’m grateful for that Dr. Eschler saw in the partnership with the US Navy as a chance to reinforce the Beetdiggers’ best traditions, and the best of what our United States military has to offer. Jordan’s Navy Cadet Corps program is the perfect marriage of those ideals of service and preparing our students to succeed in whatever career path they may choose,” he said.

Canyons Board vice president Mont Millerberg backs the cadet corps.

“As someone with military background, I support the program,” he said. “It will give our students a chance to better understand citizenship and government as well as help them personally in their development.”

Canyons Board of Education member Andrew Edlt said his teenage years were influenced in a program that led him to serve in the Air National Guard.

“Looking back on my journey, my teenage years were profoundly influenced while in a similar program,” he said. “This wasn’t just about mastering skills or adhering to a regimen. It was a place of transformation. Here I forged lasting relationships connected with mentors and was introduced to disciplines that instill competence, resilience and leadership. The challenges faced and the triumph celebrated in the program were instrumental in further developing my passion for lifelong learning and growth. Beyond the tangible, being part of the cadet program instilled in me values that have been instrumental in every phase of my life. It fostered a deep sense of patriotism, an unwavering commitment to community service, a focus on physical well-being and an introduction to the expansive world of aerospace.”

Eschler is excited about this program to begin next year.

“We believe it will foster a sense of camaraderie to empower students to excel and become responsible citizens,” he said. “These are students who will make a positive impact to our community and our nation.” l

Jordan High Principal Bruce Eschler and Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins are excited about the Naval National Defense Cadet Corps program that will be housed next year at the high school. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Jordan High Principal Bruce Eschler shakes hands and thanks U.S. Navy representatives from the Sandy recruiting office at a football game last fall. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Larkin Mortuary is the most respected funeral home in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885 and today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a quali ed and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside in uences. Larkin can meet any need by providing all varieties of funeral and graveside services, cremation facilities, cemeteries, indoor and outdoor mausoleums, cremation niche and scattering gardens, personalized life memorials and legacy keepsakes.

One of the most important aspects of being locally owned and operated is our rsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 139 years of excellence and innovation in providing quality memorial products and compassionate service, Larkin Mortuary provides a full spectrum of end of life services.

Being a quali ed resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier oral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. This full range of services o ers individuals and families the exibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual sta honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and e cient transfers to other countries.

We are community minded and donate either monetarily or with our time to many worthwhile causes in the local area. Being community-minded is who we are. It de nes our character and provides a solid foundation with the people we serve.

Memorial preplanning services are o ered by quali ed and compassionate Larkin counselors who will help determine nal wishes. Advanced funeral arrangements can provide peace of mind knowing that end of life plans are complete and will be carried out exactly as speci ed. Preplanning reduces the details and decisions loved ones must confront during a time of

Brighton wrestling season peaks at state tournament with 12 state qualifiers

By Jerry S. Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

The high school sport of wrestling is both an individual sport as well as a team sport. Wrestling coaches are fond of saying things like “sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” A 6-minute, three-round match can expose a wrestler’s weaknesses. A four-month season can expose a team’s weaknesses and reveal its strengths.

After only four seasons as a UHSAA-sanctioned sport, girls wrestling at Brighton has established itself as a top 10 5A program. It joins the boys wrestling program as a Brighton strength.

The two teams set preseason goals to qualify as many wrestlers as possible to the coveted state tournament in February. State qualification is a grueling process. Wrestlers work all season to be competitive at their chosen weight classification. In late January, a two-day “Divisionals” tournament is held where eight wrestlers out of a typical field of 32 aspirants rise to the top of the brackets and achieve “state wrestler” status. Those eight wrestlers prepare to compete against the eight state qualifiers from the other Divisionals.

Brighton achieved its goals by sending an even dozen wrestlers to the state tournament.

From the boys team: Jarom Gappmayer, Nathan Collins, Landon Hill, Jack Burton and Ben Tillman.

From the girls team: Daisy Dastrup, Kat Walden, Lydia Lewis, Elise Lewis, Sanne Taufa, Ava Nye and Mei-Mei Engebretsen.

While it is a team and an individual honor to reach the goal of qualifying for state, the rare air is “achieving the podium” or placing among the top six at state. Three of Brighton's girl wrestlers took the next step and placed at state. Mei-Mei Engebretsen, a sophomore, placed third at 120 weight class; Elise Lewis, a sophomore, placed fourth at 125 weight class; and Saane Taufa, a junior, placed third at 235 weight class.

“All of these girls wrestled with heart beating wrestlers that they had previously lost to, making well-earned state pins and coming back from difficult positions” noted first-year girls wrestling head coach Joidee Gappmayer.

Larkin Mortuary is one of the most respected funeral homes in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885. Today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, four mortuaries, cremation facilities and two cemeteries, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Larkin’s vertically integrated services also provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, along with beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures.

Brighton girls wrestling produced three state placers: Saane Taufa, Mei-Mei Engebretsen and Elise Lewis. (Jerry Christensen/City Journals )

State wrestler Landon Hill, a sophomore, shows strength. (Jerry Christensen/City Journals)

Innovative Union musical revue teaches students to adapt; allows audience to experience intimate productions

Union eighth-grader Carter Backman walked from pod to pod in his school, seeing excerpts of a dozen musicals his school had put on through the years.

It was this year’s school production called “UMS Musicals: Awesome Mix Vol. 1.”

“A lot of kids had been practicing for a long time and it was performed so everybody could come walk around our new building while seeing parts of all these shows,” he said. “It turned out great. I liked seeing the variety of shows our school has done in its history and seeing how they could use our building as different performing venues. They came together at the end in the cafeteria as the finale.”

Union Middle, which was rebuilt on the same campus, opened this school year; however the auditorium still is under construction because of a shortage of labor and materials, said Leon Wilcox, Canyons School District’s business administrator.

The moving musical production was a solution to not having an auditorium ready in time for a first-term production, said Brooke Grant, Union’s drama teacher who directed the show along with music teacher David Christensen and dance teacher Roxanne Paulsen.

“We wanted to make sure these students had a performance opportunity in spite of the auditorium not being done,” she said. “We decided that a musical revue of songs from some of our shows in the past as a musical tour around the school, would allow the audience to experience the new building. We had student tour guides move the groups to classrooms, which once you open the garage doors, it allowed it to act as a mini-proscenium. We timed it so we had a tour upstairs and a different tour downstairs and then ended together with the full audience in the cafeteria.”

It took a great amount of coordination. Each night, for four nights, there were two tour groups upstairs and two downstairs. Each night, the directors, parent volunteers and stage

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

crew moved desks and set up hundreds of chairs in each performance venue. Afterwards, they’d put them back in classroom order.

“They joke we should have Ph.D.s in spreadsheets because the logistics of doing multiple stages, with varying lengths of songs sung by 150 students to end at the same times while moving 50- or 60-member audiences was crazy, but the audience liked the more intimate production venues and they could see their kid perform up close and not have to sit through a long production. We chose songs that we could cast a lot of kids in and that an audience could come into and see how well the song makes sense out of context of the full show.”

There were songs from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown;” “Spamalot;” “James and the Giant Peach;” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat;” “Thoroughly Modern Millie;” “Newsies;” “Seussical the Musical;” “Music Man;” “Beauty and the Beast;” and “The Addams Family.” The last two numbers brought the productions class together to perform a song from “Annie” and the entire cast to perform a hit from “High School Musical.”

“When we first moved into this building, everyone mentioned how much the cafeteria reminded them of ‘High School Musical.’ So, we decided to have the finale number be ‘We’re All in This Together’ from ‘High School Musical.’ The audience sat at the cafeteria tables and the kids danced and sang around them and then up that grand staircase. It was absolutely a fitting finale,” she said.

The directors also worked with stage crew students and the tour guides to make sure the production tour ran smoothly.

“We invested in walkie talkies and were able to communicate that way,” she said. “We also used portable speakers because we couldn’t have body mics in that many locations. We used makeshift lighting, but that allowed our kids to learn different skills and learn

to be adaptable and problem solve. Our tour guides wrote their own scripts and researched the shows they were introducing so they could give the audience background information and tell them about the new Union.”

Once they figured out the tours and songs, it still wasn’t smooth sailing.

“We had stored our costumes during the move and one of our challenges was that everything from the old building was still packed. Then, we were missing a bunch of it for a large portion of them during the transfer from the old building to this one,” she said. “We had boxes and boxes on pallets backstage ready to be moved. We eventually found some that were moved to a trailer, but we also had many parent volunteers who were amazing and helped with costumes, so everyone was able to perform in costume.”

This was sixth-grader Azaylea Olson’s first middle school performance. She was excited to be part of the “Newsies” ensemble after watching Union perform it last year.

She wore white capris, an apron and a Newsies hat.

“We learned our song over a couple of weeks; we only had about a month and a half to get the entire production together,” she said about her first play experience. “I’ve loved theater in general—singing, dancing, acting. That’s all in a musical so I thought it would be fun. It was, and I made some new friends that I probably wouldn’t have thought if I was just walking in the halls.”

Eighth-grader Charles Mills played Schroder in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” He, too, made friends through the musical.

“I met a lot of new people in the musical and it was really fun to have the experience with them,” he said. “We’re all in different grades, but we became friends. We all had our own solos so that was really fun.”

His friend, eighth-grader Alex Gonzalez

studied his character, Gaston, in “Beauty and the Beast.” It was his first speaking role.

“I have a lot of anxiety, so preparing and then performing on stage helps me feel more confident,” he said, adding that he has been in musicals and plays previously. “I like performing and wanted to be in the musical because a lot of my friends are in it; it’s a good way to bond with friends.”

Brother and sister Jack and Emma Reich were excited to be in the production. For Jack, he realized as a sixth grader, it would be the only time he could perform with his eighthgrade sister. It was his first musical.

“I was in ‘Music Man,’” he said. “I learned how to move while singing. I learned that it’s a lot harder to hold a note for eight seconds while you’re going down to kneeling on one knee. But it was a lot of fun and I made a lot of friends.”

Emma played “Mayzie” and got to perform “Amazing Mayzie” and “Amazing Gertrude” in “Seussical.”

“It was fun to do this hip hop, just to help flip our tails,” she said of the boa tails. “Everyone wore different colors and my costume was like a rainbow. I really like being able to perform in front of people. I’m definitely shy and I get stage fright so I was just really nervous about auditioning. I learned to be myself and it’s OK to be a little crazy. When we’re all out there in character, it’s just a lot of fun. I liked this year’s revue. It was a good introduction to the new Union, but also kind of saying goodbye to the old Union.”

Besides the friendships bonded and the skills acquired, Grant said there were a lot of lessons learned.

“It’s a completely different type of theater than we’ve ever done before and it was a lot of work,” she said. “We’re all proud of the students. It was rewarding to see the kids perform.” l

“Gaston” was performed from “Beauty and the Beast” as one of 12 musicals that were highlighted in this year’s show, “UMS Musicals: Awesome Mix Vol. 1.” (Photo courtesy of Union Middle School)

Union Middle School students performed songs from past musicals, including “Newsies,” in their own production, “UMS Musicals: Awesome Mix Vol. 1.” (Photo courtesy of Union Middle School)

Making history: Hillcrest High will debut its girls lacrosse team this season

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Sanctioned girls’ high school lacrosse was supposed to begin in March 2020, but was delayed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While many other schools began the following year, Hillcrest High is rolling out its inaugural season this year.

It came after some girls interested in the sport played on nearby teams and one, in particular, freshman Claire McMann, petitioned the school’s athletic director.

“She was just begging the athletic director (Scott Carrell) to make the team, so he said, ‘If you want to put forth the effort in recruiting and make sure we have a team, I will put in the money to make sure we have one,’” said firstyear coach Tucker Gamble. “She’s the reason we have a team and as many girls here as we do.”

McMann, who also runs cross country and track for the Huskies, is one of the three players with experience.

“She helped during open gyms run and teaches the new girls,” Gamble said. “And now, during moratorium before tryouts, Claire has been getting them to play at a local field on their own. If it’s snowing, they’ll go to a church and practice catching there.”

True to his word, Carrell got the team balls, goals, jerseys. a bunch of sticks, eye protection and goalie gear.

The team will play 12 on the field at a time—four on defense (including the goalkeeper), four midfielders or middies, and four on offense or attackers. They’ll face other teams on the school’s football field, with a slightly larger painted field.

“In our open gyms, we’ve been teaching the sport and we’ve had 21 players, mostly freshmen and sophomores, consistently coming. We should have a good-sized team,” Gamble said prior to the team selection on Feb. 27, which is one week before the first game against Uintah High. There is no JV squad this year.

“I set up preseason games against some JV games (against Bountiful and Skyridge) so that the team will get some experience. I just don’t want them to be blindsided going into our region season, not having enough experience to know how the games played. We also have games against other new teams (Uintah and Weber),” he said. “In region, we play each team twice. Our region has some teams with newer programs and then, we are in the region that includes the smaller schools in 2A and 3A in it.”

Even with little lacrosse experience, Gamble is optimistic.

“I have pretty high hopes for my team,” he said. “We have a lot of girls from different sports, and those from the soccer team and basketball learned the defense movements are the same—same type of footwork, same type

of everything. You can just do a few different things with the stick. They’ve picked that up and then, they’ve picked up the cradling, passing, catching, shooting as well. Then, we transitioned into game scenarios and they’ve been doing well there. I’m hopeful that we do well.”

Gamble also said the team has been fortunate to have their goalie, sophomore Savvy Watson, a newcomer to the sport.

“She’s a natural. I’ve really impressed. I had our boys’ team goalie come to give her a few tips. He said that he didn’t have much for her and he’s been playing for a while,” he said.

Gamble started playing lacrosse in fourth grade.

“It was just something that all the kids in my area did growing up, so I started to play, and I just developed a love for it. I’ve played close to 17 years now and supported the girls’ lacrosse team at my high school, Viewmont. I went to play in college (Utah State University), but it was a club sport, and I couldn’t afford the fees,” he said, adding that he buckled down in his studies.

Since then, Gamble earned his doctorate at Rocky Mountain University in physical therapy and works with students at nearby Jordan Valley School.

“I’ve been around lacrosse my whole life. It’s a fun game. It teaches a lot of discipline. There’s a lot of running so it’s a fast-moving

game with high scoring. There aren’t many dull moments where you’re sitting and waiting for plays,” he said about the sport that will return to the summer Olympics in 2028. “The fun thing about its history is knowing that women’s lacrosse actually got to be an organized sanctioned sport in America before men’s lacrosse, which is pretty unique for sports, but it’s actually been a part of our history since the Native Americans back in the day.” l

Tucker Gamble will coach the inaugural season of Hillcrest High girls lacrosse. (Photo courtesy of Jordan Valley School website)

Continued from front page

a sense of purpose and passion. Fry said without meaningful connections, retired vets often experience depression, anger and irritability. Transitioning to civilian life can also bring an onset of PTSD once their high-stress military jobs are complete.

“The military keeps you busy, so you’re not always paying attention to how you feel about things,” she said. “I see a lot of veterans feeling like they can handle it on their own, but then a couple years go by and they realize they might need some help. Often, 40% of veterans who leave the service have substance misuse.”

Zach Jacobs USAF (ret.) is vice president of Warrior Revival. He served active duty in the United States Air Force for six years, deployed to Afghanistan on three combat tours and provided air support to the U.S. military and its NATO allies. Jacobs then spent 10 years in the Washington Air National Guard.

Now a manufacturing engineer, Jacobs said he witnessed the harsh realities of war during his service and the aftereffects on military personnel. Those experiences propelled him to become involved with Warrior Revival to help veterans heal and navigate a new path.

“It was really eye opening when I left

the military because I thought I would just go back to civilian life. It was no big deal. But it was very difficult,” Jacobs said. “No one really cares that you were in the military once you’re out. You can put whatever you want on your resume but they’re not paying attention to military service. So we’re going to help with mentoring service members that leave, helping them with that aspect of the transition.”

Using mentors, Warrior Revival creates opportunities for veterans to support and encourage each other, along with sharing valuable insight and experience as they transition to civilian life.

The organization is always looking for community partners, willing to sponsor events and retreats, or provide educational, career and counseling opportunities. For instance, Alpha Coffee donated space in its Cottonwood Heights location (7260 Racquet Club Drive) so Warrior Revival can host a monthly coffee meet-up.

For information about how to become a part of Warrior Revival, or how to become a community partner, visit Warrior-revival.org.

“We very much want the community to come together in this,” Fry said. “It’s really everyone’s business to give back to service members and help them reintegrate to civilian life.” l

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Dog Training Elite Salt Lake City opened in 2013 and the franchise has grown across the country. The founders worked in the dog training community for over 40 years and the current training team has some of the brightest minds in the dog training world. All franchises are kept up-to-date with the latest training techniques.

Oakley Gurr is the owner and director of operations for Dog Training Elite Salt Lake City. She worked directly with the company’s CEOs to build a successful program that creates positive, long-term results.

What services do you o er?

We o er a variety of popular programs. Puppy training, service dog and therapy dog training, as well as behavior modi cation. We also include group classes to work on safe socialization and distraction training.

What sets your company apart?

At Dog Training Elite, we want owners to become the trainers by the end of the program. Our mission is to teach clients how to handle their dog and their future dogs. Our slogan is “The Last Dog Trainer You’ll Need” because while our competitors will train your dog, you, as the owner, might not be given the tools to uphold the training long-term.

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Anyone with a dog who wants to x a problem, build a better life with their dog, and train the dog of their dreams. We expect our clients to be involved in the training if they want long-term results. All we ask is clients work with their dog for 20 minutes a day. Training is like learning a new sport or hobby; practice is important for good results.

What problem do you solve for your customers?

Does your dog rush out the door? Does it take you on a walk instead of walking together? Do they jump on people? Does your dog beg at the dinner table? Do they come to you when called? Does your dog have a hard time around kids and other dogs? These are the most common concerns we hear from owners. All dogs are di erent, so when you come to us with these problems, we work with you to help your dog overcome the challenge.

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We realize dog training is an investment and making that investment with someone you trust is important.

We recommend people looking for a dog trainer to see a demonstration and visit the facility. It’s nice to see a trainer’s relationship with their dog because it can re ect what your relationship with your dog will look like once training is complete. If a trainer is unwilling to let you see their training space, I would not recommend moving forward.

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Give us a call! We’d love to chat, learn more about your dog and see how we can train the dog of your dreams. Nothing is needed for a free in-home evaluation. It can be set up with a quick phone call, text or email.

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Comcast helps private school implement updated technology for security and connectivity

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When high school students and faculty at American Heritage School went back to class last September, they were given a personal MacBook Air to use throughout their high school experience. With more people logging onto the internet, the need for connectivity soared. The school looked for a solution that would increase bandwidth.

Levi Crockett, the school’s education technology director, reached out to Comcast for solutions. Daniel Jasinski was the Comcast sales associate who helped work on the two main problems facing the school: the ability to manage their network and the need for visibility of the network.

“We brought in some specialty teams within Comcast business for a managed Wi-Fi solution, like the ability to have visibility and setting up managed firewalls,” Jasinski said. “They definitely valued the kind of innovative approach that Comcast business had. We’re honored to provide the necessary communication equipment and services that will fuel their school’s growth and educational initiatives.”

Internet safety was a big concern for American Heritage. Along with protection

against cyberattacks, ensuring students were safe online was imperative. With Comcast’s help, the school’s IT team will be able to set protocols in place to monitor websites students visit and to create safeguards and firewalls to increase online safety.

“That’s something that’s top of mind for them. As a private school in American Fork, they have some pretty significant concerns,” Jasinski said. “We’re actually taking that off their plate so they can focus on the important things, such as educating the kids. Let Comcast business be the security experts when it comes to your Wi-Fi.”

Not only will Comcast provide all the hardware and access points necessary to increase internet speed for the school, but it will help build a sustainable network to take the school into the future. It took several months to resolve the issue at American Heritage School, but moving forward, the school is in better shape for technology and growth.

Jasinski said many organizations and businesses should take a look at their current internet system to see if it has the appropriate bandwidth and be willing to

upgrade to avoid a potential crash. If the internet seems slow or if there’s an expansion into cloud computing, talking with Comcast could be the fastest way to increase speed and capability while keeping the network operational.

“There’s a general trend among businesses in Utah that are striving for business growth and initiatives and they need the technology to support those initiatives that will expand their network and their operational execution.”

The updated infrastructure for American Heritage will be completed in June, in time for the next school year. Crockett said working with Comcast was the best choice

they could have made.

“The expertise, professionalism and organization demonstrated in our interview and onboarding processes has been seamless,” he said. “Comcast has left no stone unturned. The lesson we learned that could benefit other organizations is that you can really tell the quality of an organization by how efficiently and exactly they implement well-thought-out procedures and operations.”

To learn how Comcast Business Solutions can support your business needs, contact Jasinski at daniel_jasinski@comcast. com, 801-946-7415 or business.comcast. com/contact. l

Congratulations once again, we are so proud of you all!

Congratulations to our February Members of the Month, Ramon Velazquez, Cesar Palermo Andrade, and Camilla Gonzales! Ramon is 8 years old: Ramon wants to become a singer when he grows up, Ramon has been attending the Sandy Club for 2 years, in that time he has learned to be nice and help others. Cesar is 8 years old: he wants to work at a restaurant, he has been attending for 2 years, in that time he has learned to make new friends. Camilla is 10 years old: she is not sure what she wants to be when she grows up, she has been attending for 6 months, and in that time, she has learned to be more kind and have more fun.

American Heritage School looked to Comcast to increase connectivity, internet safety and manageability for its high school students and staff. (Stock photo)

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.