Sandy Journal | October 2024

WILLOW CANYON’S DEDICATED TEACHERS FEEL THE LOVE THROUGH ITS 50 YEARS

By Julie Slama

1974 — 50 years ago.

It was a time when the nation was in turmoil as President Richard Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal, gas prices were still high after the 1973 oil crisis and troops were still fighting in Vietnam.

In Sandy, Willow Canyon Elementary opened in a quiet neighborhood off 1700 East.

It started with its own turmoil, said Kirk Denison, the sixth former principal of the school.

“The first principal, Vern Clegg, was my cousin,” he said. “He told me that it was a challenge opening the school when everything wasn’t finished. It was mostly done, but the playground wasn’t ready. They had black-topped it, but there wasn’t any equipment, no lines for four-square and other games and the grass fields weren’t ready.”

Denison said that his cousin said despite that, he was excited.

“Vern said, ‘I’ve got a dedicated staff to start this school in this new community. It’s going to be a great school,’” he recalled.

Denison didn’t realize he’d be principal 20 years later at that same “great school.”

“There were some changes from when he opened the doors to when I stepped in them. They built walls so they were no longer open classrooms. We were a year-round school then and needed 10 portables to have enough classrooms for our 1,200 students. I used to call it the ‘little city,’ but it took up a lot of the playground so there wasn’t as much room for the kids at recess. The biggest problems were fitting students in the cafeteria and gym, which weren’t built for that many students so we had strict timelines, and especially the bathrooms. They didn’t anticipate that many students when those were built,” he said.

Despite that, Denison said the “kids were great and very coop-

Continued page 14

Families look through Willow Canyon’s class photos through the years at the 50-year celebration of the school. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Candidates confirmed to attend October PTA community nights

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

This November, voters will not only elect a new president, but they will decide several local and state offices as well.

Utah Region 17 PTA is hosting two Meet the Candidate nights where all local candidates were invited to participate. There also will be discussion about proposed constitutional amendments that affect education.

The nights will begin at 5:30 p.m. with an hour-long discussion on the proposed amendments, with questions being taken. Then, at 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., there will be the candidate portion of the night. The first Meet the Candidates night on Oct. 3 will be at Indian Hills Middle School, 1180 E. Sanders Road. A second night will be held Oct. 9 at Union Middle School, 615 E. 8000 South.

This falls in line with the PTA’s mission, said Rachael de Azevedo, the Region 17 advocacy chairwoman.

“The PTA is the largest advocacy group for public education in Utah,” she said. “Our mission statement is ‘To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.’ I hope that by hosting a ‘Meet the Candidate’ night we’ll encourage open dialogue between voters and candidates about the issues facing schools, families and neighborhoods. By creating a space of meaningful conversations, we hope to empower voters with the information they need to make informed decisions at the ballot and to understand the jobs of our representatives.”

While the candidates had a date after press deadline to respond, amongst those who committed early to attending include candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House as well as for Utah governor, Utah attorney general, state senate, state house, state school board, Salt Lake County mayor and council, county assessor, county recorder, county surveyor and county treasurer and Canyons Board of Education.

Within Canyons Board of Education district 1 race, three candidates — Jackson Lewis, Rainer Lilbok and Kristine L. Millerberg — confirmed their attendance to Meet the Candidates Night.

District 1 is one of the fastest growing areas within the school district, serving about 8,000 students in Midvale and northern Sandy. The seat was unexpectedly vacated in February with the death of then school board vice president Mont Millerberg; and later, filled by his wife, Kristine L. Millerberg, a long-time teacher.

The candidates who sent in a RSVP by press deadline include Brian King (tentative) and Charlie Tautuaa, Utah governor; Carlton E. Bowen and Caroline Gleich, U.S. Sen-

ate; Glenn J. Wright, U.S. House 3; Derek Brown, Austin Hepworth, Michelle Quist, Utah attorney general; John Arthur and Molly L. Hart, district 7, state board of education; Amanda B. Bollinger, district 9, state board of education.

Also confirmed to attend are state senate district 15 candidates Scott Cuthbertson and Kathleen Ann Riebe and state house candidates Jessica Wignall, district 39; Travis Smith, district 42; Sara Rose Cimmers and Tracy Miller, district 45; and Cal Roberts, district 46; for state auditor Tina Cannon and Jeffrey Ostler; for state treasurer, Miles Pomeroy.

In the county races, Salt Lake County mayoral candidate Erin Rider has confirmed

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her attendance as did county council at-large C candidate Rachelle Morris, council 4 candidates Nolan Kruse, Roger A. Livingston and Ross I. Romero; and council 6 candidates Zach Robinson and Dea Theodore. For the county assessor, candidates confirmed to come are Joel Frost and Chris Starvos; for county recorder, candidate Rashelle Hobbs; for county surveyor, Bradley Park and Kent D. Setterberg; and for county treasurer, Phil Conder and Sheila Srivastava.

In addition to the Canyons School Board district 1 candidates, Barbara A. Gentry confirmed her attendance in the district 3 race.

While Region 17 PTA mirrors Canyons School District, de Azevedo said this nonpartisan event is a public service to better inform voters and the PTA and school district do not promote any candidates. l

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The polls will be open to voters on Nov. 5. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Voters can drop off ballots or mail them in to cast their choices in the elections this November. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Granite Elementary’s third graders jam to inclusivity with ‘Schoolhouse Rock’

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

By the end of third grade, most Granite Elementary students know their nouns, conjunctions and adjectives.

They know the preamble of the U.S. Constitution and how a bill becomes a law. They learn that circulation takes nutrition to their cells and can name the planets in the solar system.

The students realize America is a melting pot with many cultures and languages and realized the need for western expansion in the early days of the United States.

Those are lessons they look forward to all year long, said teacher Lisa Rausher-Hekking.

“For the past 11 years, all of our third graders have looked forward to putting on ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’” she said. “We used to do other plays, but once we did this, we have never looked back. We start the first day of school with the music. The arts are important and watching the kids grow from the arts, it changes them. You can see it changes these kids for the better.”

Rausher-Hekking hears from the fifthgrade teachers that students come in prepared, knowing the preamble, which typically is memorized in fifth grade. They’ll sing songs to remind themselves about interjections or how a bill becomes a law.

“They learn so much academically, much more than they would if we didn’t do ‘Schoolhouse Rock.’ What they learn will stay with them forever,” she said. “It’s just not the subjects, but they also learn about presenting, memorization and teamwork.”

The last part is critical as “every single third-grade student is included in the performance. Every kid, including our special ed buddies, get parts. We’re all singing, act-

ing and speaking,” Rausher-Hekking said.

That’s the way the students want it to be.

Last year, third-grader Molly Fenton was one of the peers who reminded the buddies of a song, a hand motion or moving to another part of the stage, which was set up in the school’s multipurpose room for both school and parent performances.

“We’re all helping our buddies do their parts,” she said. “We’re all at the school, being brought up together. We do a lot together; we wouldn’t want them not to be in it.”

Her classmate, Olivia Taylor, adds: “It’s more fun when everyone is involved.”

Rausher-Hekking said she’s amazed when she watches the students interact.

“When kids get on stage with their buddies, it’s awesome. At first, one girl wouldn’t say her part, but with her buddy, she’d say it a little more each week. By the end, the girl said her part by herself. Another buddy knew all the words to the songs, but when it was music time, he was still. When his buddy smiled and encouraged him, he shouted out every word and did every action. That support was important,” she said.

Being a peer helper is not an assigned task.

“I have to tell my third graders to be patient; they’ll have their turn to help,” Rausher-Hekking said. “Whenever the buddies needed help on or off the stage, I never had to ask because the gen ed kids were willing and wanting to help their buddies. It hasn’t just been with the show. It’s with recess, it’s when we go to library, art, science or share a special activity together. These kids realize how important it is for these

kids to be in the play with us and be a part of their school life,” she said.

Third-grade students also pair up with severe special education first-grade and kindergarten students monthly for activities.

“My students want to miss free time Friday so they can help with their buddies,” she said. “It makes me happy they want to be inclusive.”

Last spring, 60 third graders took the stage for “Schoolhouse Rock, Jr!” Nine third-grade buddies performed amongst their peers.

Everyone had a favorite song or moment.

Many, including Angelique Mutesi, liked “Do the Circulation.” Baldo Arriaga appreciated the impersonation of Elvis performed in the song. Joseph Knapp couldn’t pick his favorite: “I liked them all.”

Lily Lewis thought “it was exciting when we all got our parts” while Roe Seifers was amazed how after months of learning bit by bit, it came together for their performances.

“It was fun doing it in front of everyone,” Roe said.

Isa Dora Diogo wanted to continue singing the songs with her peers even after the show was over.

Special education teacher Leddy Burdiss wasn’t surprised.

“The kids are still singing the songs; I tell them at least once a day we can’t sing or dance right now, but they always ask for ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ anyway,” she said. “It’s been such a great experience for them. I saw them learn to work together to perform together. I grew up doing theater and coming from that background, I can see the value in

arts within education, especially for our students with disabilities. Getting exposure not to just the arts itself, but to become a team, to collaborate and to put on something of this scale has been really cool.”

It’s the students’ initiating the interaction between each other is what also impresses Burdiss.

“It’s gratifying to see my students initiate interactions with their peers. If this inclusion at Granite did not exist like it is, I don’t think they would have those opportunities to build relationships with their peers and feel comfortable enough to play or eat with them, invite them to their birthday parties, and those things. I never saw this in school when I was growing up, so it’s been rewarding for me as a teacher, to watch them grow and build those meaningful relationships with each other,” she said.

Laurie Tovey, a new teacher coach for Canyons School District, isn’t surprised.

“We set them up for success because life is outside this little classroom and they need to know how to function with their peers and how to get along with other people, and other people need to know how to get along with our kiddos,” she said. “This isn’t being forced; the kids are reaching out to do these inclusive activities and that’s the best part.”

For the students, it’s a natural part of their schooling.

“We love our buddies, and ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ brings us together; the best part is seeing how happy they are being a part of it,” third-grader Molly said. “I know I’ll look back at the photos and remember all these happy times.” l

Through Granite Elementary’s “Schoolhouse Rock” performances, third-grade students comprehend subject matter, such as the title of the song suggests — “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing,” but also learn presenting, memorization and teamwork skills with all their peers. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Granite Elementary students hold up numbers during the song, “Three is a magic number,” in “Schoolhouse Rock.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Book Blitz expands students’ readers, forms bonds with classmates

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

This year, on the fourth- and fifth-grade Book Blitz Jr. list, there are a dozen books including “The Girl in the Lake” by India Hill Brown, “A Wolf Called Wander” by Rosanne Parry and “The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary” by Laura Shovan.

Third-graders can read “Wings of Olympus” by Kallie George, “The Puppets of Spelhorst” by Kate DiCamillo and “Who was Jim Thorpe?” by James Buckley Jr. among their selections.

Last spring, Canyon View Elementary fifth-grade student Liviana Ramirez had read all the books on Canyons School District’s Book Blitz Jr. list.

“I really like to read and there’s some good books on the list,” she said. “My team got all the way to second place at the district last year (being edged out by Sunrise Elementary), but I wasn’t there because I was too tired with my diabetes. I want to be a part of it this year.”

Liviana was able to achieve her goal and she and her team were on stage in the final round of Book Blitz Jr; they repeated their second-place finish in the competition that had 16 teams in the district’s rounds.

Bella Vista’s team, which placed third the year before, took the top honors.

Student Anna Armstrong was excited.

“I love exploring new books,” she said. “The books they choose are great. I read them all — six times.”

She wasn’t the only one, said Lauren Robinson, a fourth-grade teacher and Book Blitz Jr. coach of eight Bella Vista teams.

“Several students read the list multiple times,” she said. “They love reading as much as I do, and they love to support each

other by being a team.”

In addition to Anna, the winning team included Carter Anderson, Camden Betenson, Eli McNamer and Sammy Merback.

Book Blitz Jr. is an annual program in Canyons School District elementary schools. About 800 students signed up to participate; students can read all the books individually or with a team from a list created by district librarians. Schools hold their own competitions prior to advancing to the district level.

able in eBook and audiobook form,” she said, adding they work with a public library on their availability of the list’s titles.

Zaitzeff said throughout the district, students are reading more than people realize. From Aug. 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024, 33,000 students checked out 1.24 million books, not including the digital library that features eBooks and audiobooks.

The list of books for the elementary and middle schools; competitions are created by librarians who read and review each book.

Brighton High librarian Marissa Merket, who was part of the Book Blitz middle school program when she was Indian Hills Middle School’s librarian, said the books are carefully selected.

“The lists are compiled with notable titles, a mix between entertainment and educational,” she said. “The titles are a reflection of our community because it’s picked by librarians in our community.”

Zaitzeff said they do take recommendations and have a criterion for selection.

“We look for different titles across genres, mostly new books that the students might not have discovered yet. This year, we have several Utah authors we highlighted,” she said.

At the district, the teams accumulate points by answering questions with the correct name of the book’s title and its author. The top two teams accumulating the most points over three rounds advance to the final round. Those teams received books and gift certificates to The Printed Garden bookstore in Sandy. Students who read all 12 books received T-shirts.

District Library Media Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff said the competition is open to all students.

“They don’t have to be tall and they don’t have to be fast to be a part of it,” she said. “Anybody can do it. We make sure the books are accessible.”

Zaitzeff said reading helps students’ learning.

“Besides brightening your mind, reading these books helps with your vocabulary and comprehension. If you read well and can comprehend what you’re reading, you can learn anything. Reading helps with our understanding, our empathy. It helps with perseverance; it helps with self-confidence,” she said.

It is supported by the Sandy Rotary, who presented a check to help the program this school year. PTA also supports the program with getting volunteers to run it in schools and supplying books, Zaitzeff said.

“We buy multiple copies for each school’s library and make the books avail-

At the Book Blitz middle school contest, Midvale Middle took the top honors, but it’s more than just winning.

Indian Hills librarian Trina McGowan said the Book Blitz programs unifies the school.

“I love that it creates a community of readers,” she said. “Kids are reading with their friends and they can discuss the books and they can meet. They’re discussing these books amongst themselves and they talk to me about them. It gives us a common ground. I love it challenges them to comprehend books by remembering what they read, not just reading them. I like the community that it creates, not just a school level, but also they know students in other schools are doing the same thing. They know there are readers everywhere.”

Glacier Hills student Peter Hall echoed McGowan.

“The best part is reading the books,” he said. “It’s cool to talk to your buddies about them.”

His mother, Kassidy, escorted Glacier Hill’s team to the district competition.

“Before Book Blitz, my son had a hard time finding something he liked to read; since joining, it’s given him good ideas from different genres,” she said. “Reading is important. It helps in everything in life no matter what he will go into if he can read and understand. I love seeing all these kids excited about reading and showing what they know in the moment.” l

Bella Vista Elementary’s team celebrates their win at Book Blitz Jr. last spring. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Alta High honor student explores the spooky side of historic Draper

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

When unexplained events began happening at the coffee shop where she worked, the ghost of an idea began to take shape in Anna Sokol’s mind. Inspired by ghost tours she had taken with her family, the Alta High School honor student decided to do some research and put together her own walking tour of haunted locales in historic Draper. Sokol hosted her first Draper ghost walks last year and is bringing them back on Oct. 25, 26 and 28.

“I think ghost tours are such a good way to learn about history in a fun way,” Sokol said. “It’s more intriguing.” She explained that she has been on ghost tours in Washington, D.C., Denver, Colorado, Salem, Massachusetts and London, England. “My favorite one was in Washington, walking around the older areas where the presidents used to live,” Sokol added.

She explained that her dad was the one who got the family into ghost tours. “Me and my dad are the adventurous ones,” she said. She said that her mom also has “a spiritual side” and some of her own ghost stories as well.

Sokol’s “Historic Draper Ghost Tours” starts at the gazebo in Draper Historic Park and meanders up Fort Street, through Draper City Cemetery and past the Sorenson Home Museum and La Petite Maison Antiques. Along the way, she shares a bit of Draper history along with ghostly anecdotes she has gathered from local businesses and from research she conducted at Draper Historical Society.

“I knocked on doors and talked to people,” she said. “Some people were super into it, some less so. I got a few odd looks.”

In June, the Salt Lake County Council launched the My County Rec Pass, a program offering school-age children free entry to participating Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation amenities, including pools, public skate sessions at four skate centers, supervised climbing walls, open gym time, and fitness area access for older teens. The program has been an enormous success. As of mid-August, over 60,000 people had registered.

The council recently expanded the program to include children ages 3-4 and has offered to reimburse families that might have purchased an annual pass after June 1, 2024, for their 3-4-year-old children. Children under 3 are already able to enter these facilities at no cost.

The My County Rec Pass program is funded by TRCC (Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention), a tourist tax from

reer goal is “to work as a lawyer for a good cause.” Her interest in local history and ghost stories was piqued during the time she worked at

up the road. George Whetman, who later established an automobile dealership on Fort Street, purchased the home in 1922. Whetman and his wife raised eight children there.

Sugiyama is philosophical about the “presence” at Bubble N Bean as well as the other ghost stories in the vicinity of Draper Historic Park. “People come and go, but the land stays,” he said.

The anecdotes Sokol collected from local businesses involve mysterious noises and moved objects as well as occasional sightings of apparitions. The Historical Society provided her with a couple of mysterious tales from pioneer days. Once Sokol had a small collection of stories, she wrote a narrative and put up posters around town advertising her ghost walks.

Last year, over 65 people attended the walks. “It was really great talking with the people who came because they saw the posters,” she said. “Some of the little kids said that they saw or felt ghosts. That was really cute!”

She regards the project of putting the tours together as a positive learning experience that she hopes will serve her well as she finishes her senior year and heads to college. Sokol said that her eventual ca -

Bubble N Bean which is located next to Draper Historic Park. Employees at the shop, which is located in a historic home, often heard footsteps upstairs and the bells indicating that someone was at the drive-thru or walk-up windows would go off when no one was there. Sokol said that she always felt safe in the shop although the basement where cups and flavored syrups are stored had an eerie feeling to it. “It feels like someone is there,” she said.

Bubble N Beans’ owner, Steve Sugiyama, said he too has felt a presence in the coffee shop, although he is quick to state that he doesn’t believe the business is “possessed” or “haunted” in a frightening way. “Some of the employees have sworn that they have heard doors open and close. I swear I have heard them open but there’s nobody here, nobody in the parking lot,” he said.

In the course of remodeling, Sugiyama has found traces of the people who lived in the home before he and his wife purchased it in 1996, including the remains of family pets buried outside. The house was built “on spec” in 1918 by S. J. Mickelsen who owned the hardware and lumber store just

The locale is rich in history. Sugiyama mentioned the old partially-built fort from pioneer times that was once nearby and the Native Americans who were there before then. The park itself was the site of Draper’s First Ward, built in 1903, and a rec hall known as the Roundhouse. The domed gazebo, which now stands on the spot, echoes the architecture of that longago building.

“The whole area has a good vibe,” he added. “Draper is a positive place.”

For her part, Sokol is a skeptic on the subject of ghosts. She said of her experience at Bubble N Bean, “I would love to believe it is a ghost but at the end of the day, it is unexplainable. We might as well have fun and pass along our stories, that’s how I see it.”

Sokol is offering Historic Draper Ghost Tours on Oct. 25, 26 and 28 at 6:30 p.m. starting at the gazebo in Draper Historic Park. The 40-minute tour covers approximately one mile and is appropriate for all ages. There are no tickets, but donations of $5 per individual or $15 per family are suggested. As a means of crowd control, Sokol has created a Sign-Up Genius page for those interested in attending a tour with the above QR code. l

the county's tourism, recreation, culture and convention tax revenue from restaurants and rental cars. A little more than $2 million went toward the program, and we hope it will end up paying for itself as more and more parents purchase rec center passes so they can play with their kids.

I believe we must also look to expand the program to include all non-participating rec centers, including Murray, Alta

Canyon Sports Center, Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, West Valley Recreation Center and Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center. These facilities are not county-owned. Some are city owned or in a special service district, but it would be great to allocate TRCC funds for them to participate.

Given the popularity and positive impact of the My County Rec Pass program, I plan to advocate for TRCC funding for the city-owned rec centers to adopt this same program. My goal is to help expand accessibility to these facilities and ensure all of our county's school-age children can enjoy the benefits of recreation and community engagement.

will benefit all county residents.

Have you taken advantage of this amazing program? Just go to your local Salt Lake County Parks and Rec location with proof of ID and an adult (who must show proof of residency), get a photo, and begin enjoying this free resource for Salt Lake County youth. We also encourage parents to purchase an annual pass so they can enjoy these activities with their kids. Aimee Winder Newton

The county wants to be an excellent partner to cities and towns. Helping our cities and towns access funding and expanding the My County Rec Pass program

We are proud of the My County Rec Pass program. It not only encourages physical activity and social interaction among children, but also improves mental health by getting kids off devices and connecting with others. By promoting healthy, active lifestyles and fostering a sense of community, this program is making a significant difference in the lives of our children and families.

Alta High School senior Anna Sokol, who hosts ghost tours of historic Draper, was photographed on Fort Street. (Photo by Juliet Bryant)

At 102, WWII Navy nurse Phyllis Ockerman continues to inspire and serve

Phyllis Ockerman, a 102-year-old Sandy resident and World War II Navy nurse, has led a life defined by resilience and service, inspiring both her family and community.

Ockerman was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating as a nurse, she enlisted in the Navy where she cared for injured servicemen during World War II. Unlike many who were stationed in Europe, Ockerman tended to the wounded from the Pacific Theater, working in Norfolk, Virginia, Great Lakes, Illinois, and Corvallis, Oregon.

After the war, Ockerman attended Northwestern University in Chicago, becoming a physical therapist in addition to her nursing credentials. Later, she took care of veterans at a hospital in Seattle and also volunteered at assisted living facilities, helping patients with physical therapy.

Ockerman has been actively involved in the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), which supports women’s education through scholarships and other initiatives. This commitment to education has rippled through her family, with her granddaughter becoming a biomedical engineer, thanks in part to a PEO scholarship.

“She’s just stayed really active her whole life in philanthropy,” Mary Barton, Ockerman’s daughter, said of her mother.

By Megan McKellar | m.mckellar@mycityjournals.com

One of the highlights of Ockerman’s service was being honored at the Utah Capitol last fall for Veterans Day. Recognized by Gov. Spencer Cox, she stood as the only female World War II veteran from Utah at the ceremony.

Barton is a witness of her mother’s lifelong dedication to service, not just in her professional

life but in her personal endeavors. “She just really believes in service,” Barton said.

While Barton was a special education teacher, Ockerman volunteered in the classroom every week. “The kids just absolutely loved her,” Barton said.

Ockerman eventually settled down in Sandy, where she chose her current home because of its proximity to her great-grandchildren’s elementary school so that they could “walk to her house after school and have milk and cookies with her.”

“She just has this personality of, ‘I’m grateful that I can walk and I’m grateful that I can make muffins and take them to my neighbors.’ She just has that kind of an attitude,” Barton said. “I think that’s probably helped her her whole life.”

Barton also believes that her mother’s longevity can be attributed to her core values: “She values friendships and looks for the good in others and in life. She loves her family and they know she is always there to support and encourage them. She expresses appreciation and that has been a vital part of lasting relationships and loving examples. She often says it’s so important to let people know you appreciate them.”

Ockerman has also prioritized her physical health throughout her life, particularly through regular stretching. “People have asked how she has such longevity, and I think part of it is because she’s a physical therapist,” Barton said. “She’s done stretching exercises her whole life. Even now, she does stretching exercises every morning for a half hour.” l

Phyllis Ockerman on her 100th birthday in June 2022. (Photo credit Joy Gough)

Phyllis Ockerman, former World War II Navy nurse, has lived a life defined by service to others. (Photo credit Mary Barton)

Mark Miller Subaru to host a pet adoption and costume party

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Bring a furry friend to Mark Miller Subaru South Towne (10920 S. State St.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for a celebration of pets.

As part of the Subaru Loves Pets initiative, Mark Miller Subaru will partner with Salt Lake County Animal Services to host a Make A Dog’s Day pet adoption and party that includes a pet costume contest

(with a $500 grand prize), free microchipping, a pet photographer and vendors, food trucks and fun pet activities.

“All of the vendors are pet-focused,” said Teylor Crenshaw, Mark Miller Subaru community partnership and events manager. “There are local pet-treat companies, companies that make pet clothes or things that drive home the idea of making a dog’s

day and prioritizing and giving love to our furry friends.”

Mark Miller Subaru will also donate up to $8,000 to Salt Lake County Animal Services to help further its goal of furthering the adoption, health and welfare of pets. The organization will also donate 300 dog toys and 20 new pet parent kits that include leashes, bags, travel bowls and more. For

more information, visit Markmillersubaru. com/make-a-dogs-day.

“It’s awesome to be a part of something that big, to give back to the community, especially with animals, where they can’t advocate for themselves,” Crenshaw said. “We want to make it an experience for the animals as well. It will be a good community day.” l

Bring your pet or adopt a new one at the Mark Miller Subaru South Towne pet adoption party on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10920 S. State St. (Photos courtesy of Mark Miller Subaru)

JENNY

WILSON, NATALIE PINKNEY, AND ZACH ROBINSON ARE

FIGHTING FOR SANDY FAMILIES NOT

WAGING PARTISAN CULTURE WARS.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, and County Council candidates Natalie Pinkney and Zach Robinson are common-sense public servants. They don’t get distracted by political extremism and culture wars. They are focused on the issues that matter most to Salt Lake County residents:

CAPS program partners with local businesses to give students hands-on learning

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

CanyonsTechnical Education Center

students in the Center for Advanced Professional Studies program typically look forward to the end of the semester.

Not because their course is over, but because they can showcase their project-based learning with local business and education leaders, said David Smith, CTEC’s business leadership and CAPS facilitator.

“The CAPS program is a nationally recognized program where students are immersed in a professional culture, solving real-world problems, creating a business or developing tools and materials that are needed by actual employers while earning credit,” he said. “CAPS shows how businesses and education can work together to provide individualized learning experiences while educating students in skills to fill high-demand jobs in the business world. It’s an innovative and collaborative approach to education.”

It comes about through partnerships with local businesses.

“Professionals partner and mentor our students and share with them the best practices and tools of the field. Students learn creative thinking and problem-solving while gaining real-world experience, which will give them an advantage when entering the field,” he said.

ing innovative thinking and communication skills, developing latest marketing technologies and strategies while learning best practices for businesses.”

The program is open to 50 high school juniors and seniors each term.

“The program is beneficial for any student, certainly any in the technical education field,” Smith said. “I teach some business and marketing aspects in the first part of class so business classes as a prerequisite aren’t necessary. This gives students a chance to be empowered in their own education, to learn hands-on for a real business or develop their own and evaluate if this is the way of their future all while learning important skills that are valuable in any field.”

Future students also attend the showcase to learn more about the CAPS program, he added.

New to CTEC last year, students’ projects have included projects from the League of Women Voters to Larkin Mortuary or creating their own businesses. They’ve worked to develop their business skills on a variety of businesses from medical grade socks and athleticwear to custom leatherworks, trophies and car detailing.

“After hearing companies pitch their projects, often students work in small groups

CTEC Principal Doug Hallenbeck said when students work directly with professionals, “it’s an important piece. Oftentimes, people say business partnerships and it can be looking for money, but not in this case. With this program, the key is time for mentoring — to have the industry professional work directly with the students on the projects is the key element.”

with a mentor. They’ll work on the project and gain experience while providing a service to the company,” he said. “We’ve provided services to other programs and they’ve used skills to start their own businesses.”

Canyons School District Director of Career and Technical Education Janet Goble appreciates the hands-on learning.

“The premise behind this is that students are doing projects for actual industry people; it’s giving them business and entrepreneurial skills,” she said. “They also are develop-

“They take that invitation to meet students who have done projects and ask me questions about projects. It’s an amazing opportunity where they can learn more about the program, meet mentors and business and educational leaders and start that networking piece of the program,” Smith said.

Hallenbeck said the student-led project learning model already has proven to be successful.

“We started the CAPS model with business leadership and hope to expand CAPS to other strands, which could be the building construction or 3D multimedia or whatever students can do along with their regular learning,” he said. “It’s a great learning model that’s beneficial to students.” l

Students statewide visit 10th annual STEMfest

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Apairof girls who attend Terra Linda Elementary in West Jordan were excited maneuvering robots for their first time at a robotics booth overseen by Beehive Science & Technology Academy and Jordan High students at the 10th Utah STEMFest. They were among the thousands of Utah fifth-grade through 10th-grade students who came to explore the STEM world around them. Sponsored by Utah STEM Action Center, about 120 businesses, colleges and universities and nonprofits offered hands-on learning during the two-day event at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, where students discovered more about STEM fields from the natural world of animals and avalanches to the technical world learning about hydraulics and synthetic diamonds. A West Valley City teacher who has brought her sixth-grade students every year said she appreciated giving them the opportunity to engage in fields they’re interested in while using their skills in reading, math and science — and hopefully, sparking a future career interest. (Photo by Julie Slama) l

CTEC CAPS students explain their project to Principal Doug Hallenbeck and other education and business leaders at their spring showcase. (David Smith/CTEC)

erative.”

He was involved with their learning whether it was turning on the new Commodore 64 computers in the lab at the start of the day or writing musicals about the United States and history of music for sixth graders to perform.

“It was like a tour of the U.S. and they’d sing songs about the different states like ‘California, Here I Come,’ ‘Oklahoma!’ and ‘New York, New York.” Another one they’d sing a song from every decade, from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s up until that time, in the 1990s,” Denison said.

The PTA was “outstanding” at motivating students to read 9,000 books, he recalled.

“I promised to shave my head if they met their goal,” Denison said. “After they shaved it, they painted it green and gold, the school colors. It was around Halloween, so I used that as part of my costume; I was the Greek god, Atlas.”

Other times, for successful fun runs, he ate worms — deep fried, dipped in chocolate and other prepared ways — and got pulled in a wagon having soap and water thrown on him as part of a “human car wash.”

Denison also dressed up as Santa Claus to distribute candy canes for the annual holiday singalongs.

“It was so funny because my beard kept falling off and the kids all knew it was me,” he said.

Not only was his heart with the kids, but the students also remembered him.

Mike Knaub, who, during Willow Canyon’s 50th anniversary open house and welcome back to school night, had paged through school photos found his own school photo taken in a Boy Scout uniform, remembered his principal.

“Mr. Denison, he knew every single kid’s name. That was amazing to me. He always was involved in what we were doing,” he said. “We lived a street away, so I walked and had good friends I grew up with. I remember we had great playgrounds and great teachers. We went on fun field trips to the zoo, Hansen Planetarium, Kennecott, some plays, the symphony.”

He also remembered being bused to Granite Elementary for part of his kindergarten year because they were putting up the interior walls to make individual classrooms.

Decades later, his own son, Colby, walks to Willow Canyon and has similar impressions of his elementary school.

“I like the playgrounds, they’re really fun and my friends are really nice,” Colby Knaub said. “I’ve been on field trips to the zoo, the symphony and some plays and my teacher all are really nice.”

Denison said “the staff was professional. The faculty were hard workers and ready to introduce any new programs to help students learn. They were dedicated to that community; there was not much turnover.”

Canyons Board of Education member Karen Pedersen taught 33 of her 41 years at

There is such camaraderie as a faculty that we stayed intact. Oftentimes, at other schools, teachers move, but we stayed together. We’d help each other. We worked as a family. The kids could feel that we supported one another.

Karen Pedersen

Willow Canyon and lives in the neighborhood.

“There is such camaraderie as a faculty that we stayed intact,” she said. “Oftentimes, at other schools, teachers move, but we stayed together. We’d help each other. We worked as a family. The kids could feel that we supported one another,” she said.

Pedersen remembers the open classroom, followed by the busing to Granite Elementary.

“I was teaching fourth grade and I could look across the media center to see and hear what was happening in another class,” she said. “As teachers, we built walls with our bookcases to define our space. It wasn’t good educational situation. Only the kiva offered a closed room back in the day. We would go there for music, and you could go there if you had a presenter or need to show videos or filmstrips before that. They worked on putting the walls up in the summer, but they weren’t done in time for us to return since we were year-round, so we were bused with our totes to Granite, the only time our students have ever been bus students — and they loved it,” she said.

Pedersen remembers the school getting upgrades, like skylights, that added natural light to the classrooms; upgraded computers where they would introduce educational games like “The Oregon Trail,” and when “an actual wildcat was reported in the neighborhood. We had to call the kids in from recess, not just to keep the kids safe, but to keep that poor mountain lion safe, because all the kids would have wanted to swarm it.”

Not only were there multiple principals during her tenure, but multiple Wilford the Wildcat mascots as well.

Now, with the school’s 50th, came the rolling out of the fifth version of the mascot, designed by Canyons graphic designer, Jeff Olson, who worked alongside the school’s 13th and current principal, Nicole Svee Magann, and members of the committee.

“The last mascot was a little bit too cartoony so we wanted to give Wilford a bit more of a sports feel; we also wanted to make sure he looked like a wildcat, not a bobcat, but more of a lynx to give him a unique

look,” Olson said. “I had most of him designed last year, but I worked on the fonts and the shape of the wildcat before unveiling him tonight.”

When students look at the mascot at first, they can recognize it, but when they move closer, they can discover more about Wilford, such as seeing a forest in his green eyes.

“We wanted to harken back to the color green and include the forest. I designed a suite of logos to give them different options that they could use for different situations,” Olson said.

Svee Magann said it was important to give Wilford a more dignified look.

“He has a strong tie to the community; everyone seems to remember him,” she said as she talked amongst the patrons that night. “It was amazing that we found school photos from every year, pictures of every principal and even the dedication ceremony speech on a tape reel so all we need is to find a player.”

Earlier, with the help of a student, she opened a 20-year time capsule with items about the school and community, including a DVD of the fastest mile of pennies in a world record time of two hours, 26 minutes and seven seconds set at the school on Dec. 4, 2004.

Svee Magann also pulled out a photo book.

“It shows what the school looked like then; it hasn’t changed much,” she said.

Thirteen-year teaching veteran LaRonda Blanchat welcomed her 24 third-grade students to their new classroom.

“I’ve got lots of siblings from other former students, so I know several families already,” she said. “It’s going to be a fun year. I’m going to let the kids brainstorm together what we would like to do to celebrate the 50th of Willow Canyon to involve them to make it special.” l

With the help of a student, Willow Canyon Principal Nicole Svee Magann opens a time capsule and pulls out a Salt Lake Tribune that was published in October 2004. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Leadership and teamwork: Cowdell learning lesson on field for Alta girls soccer

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

The standings may not reflect it, but in many ways, it has been a successful season for the Alta girls soccer team.

As of Sept. 24, the Hawks were 5-9 overall and 4-6 in Region 6, sitting in fifth place. At this point, Alta had just two regular-season games remaining: Sept. 26 at Skyline and Oct. 1 at home against Highland. The Hawks were 9-9 a year ago and lost in the second round of the Class 5A state tournament to Clearfield.

But Alta’s Lizzie Cowdell, a team leader and captain, has been pleased with her effort and with how hard her teammates have worked.

“We haven’t won as many games as we have in the past year, but we have improved significantly as the season has progressed. I’m so proud of my team for the work and grit we put into every practice and game.”

Through 14 games, Cowdell had scored six goals and dished out seven assists. In her career, she has tallied 16 goals and 13 assists. However, she said “more importantly, I have strived to make the team come together and work as a team.”

Cowdell’s assist total led the team at this point, and her goal total was tied for second. Her greatest asset might be her leadership and attitude, which she has kept positive through the ups and downs of this challenging season and throughout her career. The junior midfielder also has good field vision and is fast on and off the ball. Though her time as a Hawk is almost over, she’s still working on aspects of her game.

“I think I am always striving to play better defense,” she said. “I have a very offensive mind, so playing midfield during high school season has forced me to learn how to play both sides of the ball.”

For Cowdell, playing for Alta is about much more than wins and losses. She takes seriously her role as a leader and mentor. She also takes pride in wearing the Alta uniform. She said the Hawk players get along well in practice, during games and away from soc-

cused on doing her job and helping her team win. Alta has won 37 games since Cowdell joined the squad. Still, nothing is more gratifying to her than forming friendships.

“The things I enjoy most about soccer is all the memories and friendships I’ve gained over the years,” she said. “I have been on the same club team for 12 years, and I have gained a family through it, and I have gained my best friends throughout high school from being a Lady Hawk.”

Alta has a tough road ahead in the state tournament. At press time, the Hawks were ranked 15th in the 5A RPI rankings. If that number holds up, Alta would host a firstround game but then face higher-seeded teams if it were to advance.

Win or lose, Cowdell intends to go out on the field doing her best every day.

“I hope each player leaves this season with the love of Alta soccer and for their teammates,” she said. “My goal individually is to give my everything each game and get our team ready for playoffs.”

Hawks: a 6-0 defeat at home to league-leading Olympus on Sept. 19. Alta followed that loss up with a 6-0 win at home over West, the largest margin of victory of the season for the Hawks. Cowdell had a goal and two assists in the triumph. Alta also erupted for five goals in a 5-4 win at East on Sept. 16.

As Cowdell reflects on her career, she’s grateful for the many people who have influenced her and made her the person and player she is today. Cowdell credits teammates, coaches and family for their examples and encouragement.

cer, which makes the experience of playing together all the more satisfying.

“I am a captain this year, and it has given me new opportunities to help the whole team and be a leader on and off the field,” she said. “My favorite thing about playing for Alta is representing my school and playing in front of my friends. I love the sisterhood and the saying ‘Once a Lady Hawk, always a Lady Hawk.’ I love being with my best friends every day doing the sport I love.”

Cowdell is a veteran soccer player, having first started playing at the young age of 3. Like many athletes, Cowdell became interested in playing because of the example of a family member.

“I had watched my older sister Maggie, and I wanted to be like her and play like her one day,” she said.

When she’s on the field, Cowdell is fo-

Region 6 has been a competitive league this season. Despite suffering six losses through 10 region games, the Hawks have held their own. Three of those defeats were by a single goal, while two more were two-point losses. Only one game got away from the

“My mentors throughout soccer have been Bella Woods and Ella Labrum (former Alta players),” she said. “They were absolutely amazing players, and I have always strived to play like them, especially when they played on Alta. Not only were they incredible players, but always felt like big sisters to me when I was a lower classman. I credit all my success and give all my gratitude to my club coaches Matt Bain and Courtney Smith, and also my high school coach Kenz Hyer. They have made me into the player I am today, and I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to play for them. Also, a shoutout to my family who have been my biggest supporters throughout my soccer career and have never missed a game.” l

Lizzie Cowdell, a senior on the Alta girls soccer team, has been a prolific scorer and unselfish player for the Hawks. She has also been a leader in guiding the team this season. (Photo courtesy of Marianne Cowdell)

Hello Sandy Friends,

is is one of my favorite times of year in Sandy. e leaves begin to turn red and gold as we enjoy mild daytime temperatures and brisk nights. In fact, it all takes me back to my childhood when we’d get ready for Halloween in the Zoltanski household. My parents would help me, and my eight brothers and sisters carve pumpkins carefully saving the seeds so we could roast them later. Nothing goes to waste in a family with nine kids.

In fact, in a big household like ours, there was no shopping for Halloween costumes each year. We had a huge bin full of previously used costumes and we all knew that when something ts, it’s what we’d be wearing on Halloween night. We were often football players or ghosts, re ghters, construction workers, or doctors. My favorite costume was dressing up like a businessman with a smudged beard on my chin and my dad’s briefcase. e holiday would include a lot of family time and time spent with our neighbors.

I love trunk or treat events, like our Sandy City Trunk or Treat, but I also see more and more neighbors walking together with kids, saying hello to those who live nearby and making new friends, and I applaud that e ort. It’s a great way to build our community. Personally, I like to leave the porch light on.

Now, let me tell you about a few things we have in store in our Sandy City “goodies bag for you this season.

NHL Hockey Practice Field

During October, you’ll start to see the beginning of what will one day become a community gathering place - the Utah Hockey Club practice facility. On August 12, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), which now owns the Shops at South Town, broke ground on a site directly south of the old Macy’s store to build the club’s new hockey training facility. Inside the walls that used to be Macy’s department store will be the headquarters and o ces for the Utah Hockey Club. Adjacent to Macy’s will be two new ice sheets where the pros will practice. And it’s expected to become much more - a community gathering spot where youth and adults alike can enjoy the ice.

I recently returned from visits to Seattle and Las Vegas, where NHL practice facilities for the local teams have become community gathering places. ese are venue that SEG calls models for what is envisioned in Sandy. I saw rst-hand how each hockey practice facility became a eld of dreams; they built it, and now, people come in droves! Both venues are examples of sports landmarks that draw teams, leagues, fans, and families. Professional sports not only attract players, but they bring business clout and cache to a city. Facilities like this can become a catalyst for a community and we welcome it. I look forward to seeing local families and friends lling the ice.

Trunk or Treat - Oct 26

To help celebrate Halloween this year, bring the kids and grandkids to our annual Trunk or Treat celebration, Saturday,

October 26th, at the Promenade south of City Hall. We’ve had growing attendance each year at this fun family event. Children can ll their bags with candy while parents can see the amazing classic cars lining the promenade. We’ll also have vendor booths, face painting, caricature drawings, and live music. Join us at the Sandy Promenade Saturday, October 26, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

Shop & Stroll

Sandy’s 2nd Shop & Stroll event is scheduled in conjunction with our Halloween Trunk or Treat. Our Economic Development team has invited dozens of local business owners to join us at the tents in the Promenade and show o their amazing products. It’s always enlightening to see the many goods and services o ered in our own hometown where we can shop while investing in our own community.

Sandy

Visual Arts Show - Oct. 22- Nov 1

And here’s one more treat for you this season - a treat for your senses! e Sandy Visual Art Show features the work of local artists and includes a variety of mediums such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, sculpture, 3-D arts, and photography. You’ll nd hundreds of amazing works of art that ll the exhibit space at the Sandy Senior Center. e exhibit is free and open to the public. It runs from October 22 to November 1 at the Sandy Senior Center located at 9310 South 1300 East. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and celebrations of this Halloween season. While you spend time with your families, I hope you also meet some new neighbors, make some new friends, and join us at our city events. It’s how we build the community we love.

Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski

Photo contest winner: Laura Peterson

NHL Practice Facility

Ryan’s Bagel Cafe is the place to go for that “big city” bagel experience without having to get on a plane to New York City. All of their bagels are made fresh in-house from a perfected recipe, hand-rolled and boiled before being baked in batches throughout the day to provide the freshest bagel at any time. ey o er 15 di erent types of bagels, some sweet and some savory, and seven di erent types of house-whipped cream cheeses. If you aren’t sure what you’re in the mood for, consider trying their Sausage and Bacon Breakfast Bagel with an Orange Cream Smoothie, two of their most popular items.

Visit us at 10261 S 1300 E, Sandy, or order online at orderryansbagelcafe.com

INSTALLATION

• Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home (including the basement), outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom.

• For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound. It is important to have interconnected smoke alarms if you sleep with the bedroom doors closed.

• A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall.

TYPES

OF SMOKE ALARMS

• It is important to buy smoke alarms that are listed by a quali ed testing laboratory.

• e two most common types of smoke alarms are ionization and photoelectric.

• For the best protection or where extra time is needed to wake up or help others, both types or dual sensor ionization-photoelectric alarms are recommended.

• An ionization alarm is more responsive to aming res, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is more responsive to smoldering res.

• Photoelectric smoke alarms are the best type of alarms to be installed near the kitchen and bathrooms to reduce nuisance alarms.

• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

TESTING

• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.

• Demonstrate how to test a smoke alarm and what to do if it fails the test.

MAINTENANCE

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning to keep the smoke alarms working.

• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain e ective for up to 10 years. If the smoke alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.

• For smoke alarms without non-replaceable (long-life) batteries, replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace the battery.

• Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or if they don’t respond when tested.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. For the best protection, interconnect all the smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.

Sandy Visual Art Show

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

the first to buy 2025 tickets to the Sandy Amphitheater!

We are already busy working on our 2025 season - our email list is notified every time we announce a new show, AND gets local presale access for tickets!

9565 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS:

Imagine waking up every day feeling energized, con dent, and ready to conquer the world. at's the power of committing to your health and tness! Join satis ed members who've already experienced incredible transformations. Don't let another year slip by – your best self is waiting to emerge at Alta Canyon Sports Center!

Resident pricing starting at:

• $251 for a single adult

• $327 annual couple

• $402 for an annual family membership

Monthly memberships are also available! Choose your option and sign up at: altacanyonsportscenter.activityreg.com/ClientPage_t2.wcs AEROBICS

Experience the ultimate high-energy workout with our Aerobics classes! Our expert instructors craft dynamic routines that cater to all tness levels, ensuring everyone gets an e ective workout. You'll boost your muscle tone, skyrocket your cardio endurance, and leave each session feeling energized!

Visit our website now to check out class times. sandy.utah.gov/1762/Aerobic-Classes

POWER CHESS

is is a fun 6-week introduction to the game of chess, learning the fundamentals and basic principles of the game.

• Six-week program • Grades K - 6 • 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. • $119

• Mondays, November 4, 11, 18, 25, December 2 & 9

SOCCER STARS

Get your little ones excited about soccer with learning basic movements, playing skilled games, and drills.

Ages 2-3

• Mondays, November 4, 11, 18, 25, December 2 & 9

• 9–9:45 a.m. or 6–6:45 p.m.

Ages 2-3

• Saturdays, November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7 &14

• 9–9:45 a.m.

Ages 3-4

• Saturdays, November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7 & 14

• 10–10:45 a.m.

Ages 4-5

• Saturdays, November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7 & 14

• 11–11:45 a.m.

Ages 5-7

• ursdays, November 7, 14, 21, December 5 & 12

• 9–9:45 a.m., or 6–6:45 p.m.

SAVE THE TURKEY

It’s time again to disguise your Turkey! Get t and gobble up the fun at Alta Canyon! Strut to the front desk for the November tness challenge. Starting November 1 and ends November 30.

River Oaks Golf Course

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

Sandy.utah.gov/golf

BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN GOLF AT RIVER OAKS GOLF COURSE!

Come enjoy one of the valley’s most beautiful golf courses. To reserve your tee time visit us online at sandy.utah.gov/golf or call (801) 568-4653 to book your tee time.

e Banquet Facility located in the River Oaks Clubhouse is one of the most popular venues in the valley. Our friendly sta will make your special event memorable and worryfree. Family dinners, receptions, weddings and golf tournaments will enjoy a fabulous view of our pristine, golf course along the heavily wooded Jordan River. Adjacent to the banquet room, the River Oaks Café o ers excellent grilled food and golf fare. We cater all events on location and o er a large variety of menu items.

For more information email ivonne@marketcatering.com

Our North Range facility is open all month for late season practice. Come down and hit a bucket of balls or use our practice green and bunker to improve your short game!

Fall Bulk Waste Program – Key Reminders

As fall approaches, please keep these guidelines in mind for the Fall Bulk Waste Program:

• Placement Time: Place your waste out no more than 72 hours before your scheduled collection date.

• Pile Size: Limit your pile to 20 ft. x 6 ft. x 4 ft. Only one pile per household is allowed.

• Pile Location: Keep piles 2 feet from the gutter and 3 feet away from storm drains. Don’t block driveways.

• Accepted Items: Visit sandy.utah.gov/bulkwaste for a list of accepted items.

Remember: Keep your bulk waste out of the gutter!

PARKS & RECREATION

JUNIOR JAZZ BASKETBALL

Boys & Girls Leagues: Kindergarten (Rookie League), and grades 1 – 12.

• Registration deadline for the 2024-25 season is November 10.

• Late Registration begins November14 upon availability with an additional $10 late fee.

• Practices and games begin in December 2024.

• Cost: $65-$100 depending on grade.

More detailed information available at sandy.utah.gov/registration.

TURKEY TROT 5K RUN

Register now for our Annual Turkey Trot 5K on November 9.

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Lone Peak Park (Gazebo) - 10140 South 700 East

Registration Fee: $30/individual or $25/family or groups

Registration Deadline: In person Friday, November 8 at 5 p.m.

Online Registration: Closes on Friday, November 8 at 3 p.m.

Packet pick-up: Friday, November 8 from 8 a.m. –5 p.m. - 440 East 8680 South

Late Registration: Morning of race at Lone Peak Park from 9–9:45 a.m. In person only!

Late Registration Fee: $40/individual or $35/family or groups

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR ALL PROGRAMS: sandy.utah.gov/registration.

Now Hiring Basketball O cials

Youth $13.00 - $16.00/hour

Adult $16.00 - $24.00/hour

Must be 14 years old to apply

Sandy.utah.gov/jobs

PARKS & RECREATION JOB OPENINGS: sandy.utah.gov/jobs

Little Women Comes to Sandy This October

is October, the Sandy Arts Guild invites you to immerse yourself in the timeless story of Little Women. is beloved musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel brings the tale of the four March sisters to life through captivating songs, heartwarming moments, and vibrant characters. is production showcases the journey of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy as they navigate the challenges of growing up during the Civil War, each sister pursuing her dreams and nding her place in the world.

Little Women promises a delightful experience, blending humor, emotion, and unforgettable music that will leave you inspired. From Jo’s erce independence and literary ambitions to Beth’s quiet strength and compassion, the characters’ stories are beautifully portrayed by a talented cast who bring passion and authenticity to the stage. Whether you are revisiting the cherished story or discovering it for the rst time, the performances, set design, and costumes will transport you into the world of the March family, evoking nostalgia and new insights alike.

e Sandy Arts Guild is a four-time and 2024 Best of State winner known for their high quality community productions. Most of the Sandy Arts shows have been sold out over the last few years and with limited performances, tickets are sure to go fast! Don’t miss your chance to see Little Women come alive in this charming, heartfelt musical production. Tickets are $10-$18, a ordable high-quality entertainment for the whole family. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to experience the magic and joy that can only be found in live theater!

Little Women runs select dates October 4-19. Tickets at sandyarts.com

Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Water Smart Fall Yard Actions in Sandy City

Domestic violence is a serious public health problem. Utah has very high rates of domestic and sexual violence. However, a recent study conducted by Utah State University’s Women & Leadership Project found that only 25% of Utahns agreed that domestic violence is a problem in Utah. is highlights the fact that education and awareness regarding domestic violence is critical. As a community, one way we can show support is to educate ourselves about domestic violence and domestic violence prevention.

KNOW THE SIGNS

Education is the number one way to prevent intimate partner violence. Learn to recognize relationship red ags such as jealousy, isolation, shaming, controlling behavior, threats, pressure to have sex, intimidation, gaslighting, manipulation, love bombing, and others.

DON'T IGNORE THE SIGNS

RESOURCES

South Valley Services – (801) 255-1095

YWCA - (801) 537-8600

National DV Hotline - 1-800-799-7233

Utah DV Coalition Link Line - 1-800-897-5465

UT 24-Hour Sexual Violence Crisis Line – (801) 736-4356

Neighbors/witnesses often “don’t want to get involved.” If you hear or see abuse happening, you could save a life by reporting it to police. If it’s an emergency call 911. If it’s not an emergency and you need to make a report, the Sandy Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch number is (801)799-3000.

LISTEN AND SUPPORT

Sandy Police Department Victim Advocates: • (801) 568-4627 • (801) 568-4628 • (801) 568-6059 • (801) 568-7283

If someone con des in you about abuse they’re experiencing, believe them. Listen without judgment and ask how you can help them. Be willing to assist with an escape/safety plan. Be a resource for them by helping them research and contact local domestic violence resources as they may not be able to.

CHECK-IN

If someone is experiencing abuse, check-in with that person regularly to ensure they are safe. Do not let them become isolated as isolation increases the risk of abuse.

GET TO KNOW LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESOURCES

ere are several shelters and domestic violence service providers in Salt Lake County. One great way to nd local resources is to go to Utah211.org and search for domestic violence service providers.

DOCUMENT THE ABUSE YOU WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE

Documentation plays an important role in ling a police report or in a court case (criminal or civil). Include the date, time, location, whether there were injuries, and what happened.

CHALLENGE MISCONCEPTIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Harmful myths about domestic violence are prevalent in our society. When confronted with harmful myths, challenge them and seize the opportunity to educate others. Speak out against victim blaming to help destigmatize domestic violence. No one deserves to be the victim of abuse.

If you or a loved one are in danger, call 911. ere is help available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition Link Line 1-800-897-LINK (5465)

Fall is here! is means cooler temps, shorter days, and of course, yard clean up. Here are some “water smart” clean up tips from your friends at Public Utilities.

• Many of us fertilize our lawns in the fall. If you do so, please use fertilizer sparingly. Excess fertilizer can make it into our waterways via storm drains and cause nutrient pollution.

• Compost, mulch, or rake and bag leaves. It’s okay if you don’t pick them all up! It’s good to leave some leaves on your landscape. ey decompose and release nutrients back into the soil, while providing habitats for bene cial insects. You might even consider mowing your leaf piles to create your own mulch!

• Keep storm drains clean of debris, please! is simple action helps reduce potential ooding and improves water quality.

• Reduce your irrigation schedule and prepare to turn your irrigation o before the rst hard frost. Smart irrigation controller rebates are still available! Visit utahwatersavers. com for information and applications.

• Speaking of which, prepare to winterize your irrigation! Drain or aerate any sprinkler lines and detach hoses from hose bibs.

• Fall temperature uctuations can lead to weakened or broken pipes. Sign up for our WaterSmart software to help identify leaks and breaks as they occur and to customize the settings for your own home: sandycityut.watersmart.com

SANDY CITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2024

Oct

HALLOWEEN SECTION

A publication covering local Halloween legends and activities for everyone around the Salt Lake Valley

6 terrifying haunted locations in Salt Lake County to visit this Halloween

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

When the air grows chilly and the veil between worlds thins during Halloween, Salt Lake County becomes a playground for the paranormal. This region, steeped in history and folklore, is home to some of Utah’s most spine-chilling locations where ghost sightings and eerie encounters are the norm. Whether you’re a thrill seeker or a believer in the supernatural, these terrifying places will give you goosebumps long after you’ve left. If you're looking for a truly terrifying Halloween experience, here are the scariest haunted spots in Salt Lake County.

Fear Factory

Located just outside downtown Salt Lake City, Fear Factory isn’t just a haunted attraction for thrill seekers—it’s a real-life haunted site. Once the Portland Cement Factory, this massive industrial facility was the scene of numerous gruesome deaths, including factory accidents where workers were crushed by machinery or fell into vats of cement. Today, the factory stands abandoned, except for the reported spirits of the workers who died there.

Visitors and staff at Fear Factory have reported hearing eerie whispers, seeing shadowy figures dart across the dilapidated buildings, and feeling an oppressive energy that seems to follow them. One of the most harrowing sightings is that of a disembodied hand, believed to belong to a worker who lost his life in a terrible accident. On Halloween, the site transforms into a commercial haunted house, but many say the real terror is the spirits that never left.

The Old Mill

Arguably the most infamous haunted location in Salt Lake County, the Old Mill sits abandoned in Cottonwood Heights, shrouded in mystery and fear. Built in the late 1800s, the mill was used to process

grain before a fire destroyed much of the building. While the mill has stood vacant for decades, it has gained a reputation as one of Utah’s most terrifying places.

Local legends claim that the Old Mill is haunted by the ghosts of workers who died in the fire, as well as by more sinister forces. Paranormal investigators have reported intense cold spots, phantom footsteps, and feelings of dread upon entering the property. The most terrifying accounts tell of shadowy figures watching from the upper floors, and some visitors claim to have been physically touched or shoved by unseen hands. Trespassing is illegal, but that hasn’t stopped urban explorers from visiting—many of whom leave in a hurry, spooked by the unsettling atmosphere.

The Shilo Inn

The Shilo Inn, now a Holiday Inn Express, is one of Salt Lake City's most tragic and haunted locations. In 1978, the hotel became the site of a horrific mass murder-suicide when a mother, who had become obsessed with religious doomsday beliefs, threw her seven children from the hotel’s balcony before leaping to her death. The tragedy shocked the community, and ever since, the hotel has been plagued by paranormal activity.

Guests have reported hearing the sound of children crying or laughing in the hallways, even when no children are staying there. Some have woken up to see ghostly children standing at the foot of their bed, only for the figures to disappear moments later. The hotel's staff also report eerie occurrences, such as flickering lights, doors opening and closing on their own, and sudden cold drafts. This real-life horror makes the former Shilo Inn one of the most unsettling locations in Salt Lake County and a place few would dare stay on Halloween night.

The Old Deseret Hospital

Located near the historic Avenues District in Salt Lake City, the Old Deseret Hospital opened its doors in 1882, catering mainly to women and children. While the hospital is long gone, many locals believe that the spirits of patients who died there still linger. Those who visit the area report hearing phantom cries, especially at night, and some have even seen the apparition of a nurse walking down where the hospital once stood.

Today, the location is a hotspot for ghost hunters who claim that the residual energy from the building still haunts the area. As the sun sets, the once-bustling neighborhood can take on a much more somber and eerie tone, making it the perfect place for a Halloween exploration.

The Rio Grande Depot

A hub of history, The Rio Grande Depot in Salt Lake City was once a bustling train station. Now home to offices and a museum, it’s better known for the ghostly “Purple Lady,” a spectral figure seen wan-

dering the building. According to legend, the Purple Lady died on the train platform in the 1920s after a lover’s quarrel. Distraught, she either fell or was pushed in front of a train, her body mangled in the accident.

Since then, her ghost has been spotted by countless people, often appearing in her elegant purple dress, wandering the halls or standing at the end of the platform. Lights flicker mysteriously, and security guards working after hours have reported objects moving on their own and the feeling of being watched. The depot’s cavernous halls amplify every sound, making even the slightest noise unsettling. On Halloween night, the energy in the depot becomes even more intense, and many believe it’s the best time to catch a glimpse of the Purple Lady herself.

Asylum 49

Technically located just outside Salt Lake County in Tooele, Asylum 49 deContinued on page 25

Which haunted house is the best in Utah?

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

When does “spooky season” really start? For most of the haunted attractions in Utah, the answer appears to be September.

But when the attractions open, how do you know where to go? Well, reviews have a lot to say when it comes to that. Here are the most highly rated haunted attractions in Utah.

Some attractions may not be included on this list if certain information—such as Google reviews, websites, or a 2024 schedule—was not available.

Castle of Chaos Haunted House and Escape Rooms, Midvale

Castle of Chaos Haunted House and Escape Rooms is a year-round attraction that has earned a 4.6-star rating from more than 2,600 Google reviews. The attraction has a 3.7-star rating from 110 reviews on Yelp.

The haunted house attraction is open Sept. 6 and will run most weekends for the remainder of September. In October, the haunted house will be open for most days except for the first three Wednesdays.

The haunted escape rooms have many different themes: Paranormal, “Nightmare Realm,” serial killer, asylum

By Bailey Chism

As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, a curious transformation takes place. Porches are adorned with jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, and eerie decorations, and people willingly seek out haunted houses, scary movies and tales of the macabre. The question arises: why do we love to be scared, especially around Halloween?

At the heart of this fascination is the adrenaline rush that accompanies fear. When faced with a frightening situation— whether it’s the jump-scare in a horror film or the ominous creak of a floorboard in a haunted house—our bodies react instinctively. The "fight or flight" response kicks in, releasing adrenaline and other stress hormones that heighten our senses and quicken our pulse. This surge of energy can be thrilling, especially when we know we are in no real danger. It’s the same reason people enjoy extreme sports or roller coasters; the controlled risk makes the experience exhilarating rather than terrifying.

Beyond the physical thrill, there’s a deeper psychological process at play: catharsis. Halloween, with its focus on the eerie and the supernatural, provides a socially acceptable outlet for exploring our

and lockdown. Tickets for the escape rooms range from $27 to $30.

The haunted house starts at $20 for groups of one to six people.

Nightmare on 13th, Salt Lake City

Nightmare on 13th is a haunted house located in Salt Lake City and its website declares its “Utah’s No. 1 scariest haunted house,” and the attraction boasts a 4.5star rating from more than 2,000 Google reviews. On Yelp, the haunted house has a 4-star average from about 80 reviews.

Nightmare on 13th is scheduled to open Friday, Sept. 13 and will run on Fridays and Saturdays for the remainder of September. In October, the haunted house will be open most days except Sunday. The haunted house will also run the first two days of November.

Tickets can range from $25 to $76 depending on the days and times you choose to attend.

Fear Factory, Salt Lake City

Fear Factory in Salt Lake City is located at 666 W. 800 South, and says on its website that it's “one of the top Halloween attractions in the world.”

Based on more than 2,600 Google

reviews, it averages a 4.4-star rating from visitors. On Yelp, it averages a 3.3-star rating from just over 110 reviews.

Fear Factory is set to open Friday, Sept. 6 and will be open on weekends in September before opening Wednesday through Sunday for most of October. The haunted house will be open for “Lights Out Night” on the first two days of November.

Tickets for Fear Factory can range from about $30 to about $250 depending on which experiences and souvenirs you’re interested in.

Haunted Forest, American Fork

The Haunted Forest in American Fork averages about 4.2 stars from almost 1,300 Google reviews, and 2.8 stars from 33 Yelp reviews.

The attraction doesn’t have a set schedule available online for 2024, but has advertised its featured attractions for 2024: Leech Lagoon at Bone Creek and Alien Attack.

Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus, American Fork

The Strangling Bros. Haunted Circus in American Fork has earned a 4-star rating from more than 660 reviews on Google. On Yelp, it’s garnered a 2.8-star rating

from about 40 reviewers.

The haunted circus’s website said it was “voted the No. 1 scariest haunted house in Utah” but it also offers visitors the chance to walk through the forest without the scare actors.

The circus is expected to begin Friday, Sept. 13 and will continue on Fridays and Saturdays for the rest of the month. Starting Oct. 1, the attraction will be open most days except Sunday.

Tickets for the haunted attraction can range from $30 to $80 depending on whether you purchase general admission, fast pass or VIP tickets.

Other Haunted Options

While there are far more haunted attractions than those listed, the attractions listed about are what the public deems to be the best of the best. A few other attractions in Utah are listed below:

• Asylum 49, Tooele

• Field of Fear, West Haven

• Frightmares, (Lagoon Theme Park) Farmington

• Hidden Lake Haunts, Bountiful

• Night Stalkers Haunted Trail, West Jordan

fears. In everyday life, we often suppress feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Engaging with scary stories or participating in Halloween rituals allows us to confront these emotions head-on, in a safe and controlled environment. This confrontation can lead to a sense of release or relief, a psychological cleansing that leaves us feeling lighter and more at ease.

Another key aspect of why we enjoy being scared around Halloween is the social element. Fear, much like laughter, can be contagious. When we experience something frightening with others— whether it’s huddling together during a horror movie or navigating a haunted maze as a group—we create shared memories and bond over the mutual experience. The laughter and camaraderie that often follow a good scare are part of what makes these experiences enjoyable. They bring people closer, fostering a sense of connection and community.

The tradition of celebrating fear during Halloween has deep cultural roots. Originating from ancient Celtic festivals like Samhain, where people believed the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, Halloween has long been asso-

ciated with the supernatural. Over time, these traditions evolved, blending with other cultural practices to create the Halloween we know today—a holiday where the scary, the strange, and the spooky are celebrated. Participating in these rituals, whether by donning a scary costume or telling ghost stories, is a way of connecting with these ancient traditions and honoring the past.

There’s also an element of curiosity

and exploration in our love of Halloween scares. The unknown, the mysterious, and the macabre have always fascinated humanity. Halloween provides a socially acceptable opportunity to delve into these darker aspects of life, to question what lies beyond the veil of our everyday existence. It’s a time to explore themes that are often taboo, such as death, the supernatural, and the afterlife, in a way that is both playful and profound.

Halloween offers a form of escapism. In a world filled with daily routines and responsibilities, the chance to immerse ourselves in a night of fantasy and fear is a welcome diversion. It allows us to step out of our ordinary lives and into a world where anything can happen—a world of ghosts, goblins and ghouls.

So, as you carve your pumpkin, don your costume, or settle in for a scary movie this Halloween, remember that the thrill of fear is not just a seasonal pastime. It’s a complex, multifaceted experience that taps into deep-seated psychological needs and cultural traditions, making it a beloved part of the Halloween season.

10 family-friendly Halloween activities this month

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Halloween is a spooky time for families to create lasting memories. From eerie displays to costume contests, many activities in Salt Lake County cater to all ages, ensuring everyone gets in on the festive spirit. These family-friendly, spine-tingling adventures will bring excitement to your Halloween celebrations while keeping the scares at a comfortable level.

BooLights, Hogle Zoo (2600 Sunnyside Ave., SLC)

Specific nights from Oct. 2-30, 6:309:30 p.m., $12.95-$18.95

This after-hours light display transforms Hogle Zoo into a bewitching destination. With entertainment and attractions like Dr. Frankenstein's Lab Show at the Wildlife Theatre, the event is the perfect way to celebrate the season. Costumes are allowed, but face-covering masks and any resemblance of weapons are prohibited. Check HogleZoo.org for dates. Little Haunts, This is the Place Heritage Park (2601 Sunnyside Ave., SLC)

October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $14.95-$18.95

Don your costumes and visit This is the Place for storytelling, trick-or-treating and take-home crafts. Learn about creepy bugs at the Creature Encounters and enjoy the petting corral, pony and train rides and more. Bring your own trick-or-treat bag. Tickets at ThisIsThePlace.org.

Riverton Halloween Bash, Riverton City Park (12600 S. 1452 West)

Monday, Oct. 14, 6-8 p.m., FREE

This annual Halloween tradition features age-appropriate games and activities for every family member. Snap holiday

pictures at the photo booth and enjoy the Scare Rodeo spook alley. Families are encouraged to wear costumes.

BOOtanical, Red Butte Garden (300 Wakara Way, SLC)

Oct. 17-30, Members $13, Public $16

BOOtanical Nights, 6-9 p.m. and BOOtanical Days, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Visit the magical world of Wonderland, where you can find hidden seeds and stop the Jabberwocky from transforming Wonderland forever. Join the adventure at RedButteGarden.org.

The Haunted Woods, Murray City Park (296 E. Murray Park Ave.)

Oct. 21-25, 5:30-9 p.m., $5

A family-friendly haunted attraction, the Haunted Woods offers a “Silly Trail” and a scarier “Spooky Trail” so everyone can have fun. All proceeds fund child abuse prevention programs. Tickets at MurrayHauntedWoods.com.

Monster Mash dance party, West Valley City Family Fitness Center (5415 W. 3100 South)

Friday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m., $5 per person, 50% off for members

The West Valley Halloween Dance Party is a fun time for the family with dancing, balloons and a costume contest. Pre-register by Wednesday, Oct. 23 at WVC-Ut.gov.

Halloween Fun Fest & Disability Resource Fair, Miller Conference Center (9750 S. 300 West, Sandy)

Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., FREE

This event features trick-or-treating, sensory activities and DJ Rebecca to

keep the music hopping. Caregivers can chat with experts and find resources. Costumes welcome!

Samhain Festival, Gallivan Center (239 S. Main Street, SLC)

Sunday, Oct. 27, Noon-7 p.m., $13$15

Experience Samhain, the festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Learn pagan traditions, enjoy live entertainment and food trucks, and activities for all ages.

Halloween Spooktacular, Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple, SLC)

Tuesday, Oct. 29, $8-$45 Wear a costume to this night of

hair-raising melodies featuring music from Halloween favorites. Watch and listen as members of the Utah Symphony bring monsters to life. Find tickets at UtahSymphony.org.

Día de los Muertos celebration (Millcreek Common, 1354 E. Chambers Ave., Millcreek) Oct. 27-Nov. 2, FREE

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Millcreek Common. Bring photos of loved ones for the community Ofrenda and enjoy the Halloween Party on Oct. 31 from 7-10 p.m. The big celebration is on Nov. 2, from 6-9 p.m., with the La Catrina parade, mariachi music, face painting, traditional treats and the movie “Coco.”

Continued from page 23

serves a mention for its terrifying proximity and haunted history. Once a hospital, this site is now a full-fledged haunted attraction. But while actors and special effects create a terrifying show, the real horror lies in the ghosts that are said to haunt the building.

Former patients of the hospital are believed to roam the halls, and many visitors have claimed to see shadow figures, hear ghostly voices, and feel sudden cold spots. Paranormal investigators have documented disembodied voices and even poltergeist activity in certain rooms. Unlike most haunted houses, Asylum 49 encourages interaction with both the living and

the dead, making it one of the most immersive and frightening haunted locations in Utah. If you're looking for an experience that blurs the line between entertainment and real paranormal encounters, this is the place to go.

Salt Lake County is filled with ghostly tales and terrifying haunted sites, each with its own dark history and eerie energy. From the real-life tragedy at the Shilo Inn to the haunted corridors of the Old Mill, these locations offer a chilling experience that will make for a Halloween night you won’t forget. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these haunted places are sure to give you a scare, leaving you wondering what might be lurking just out of sight.

Families have a variety of choices when choosing fun holiday activities in October. (Stock photo)

The Old Mill in Cottonwood Heights. (File photo City Journals)

Draper’s Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch and Thriller Park open for the season

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch and Thriller Park opened for the season on Sept. 20, giving thrill seekers more than a month to enjoy the park. Alex Kuwahara, the park’s owner, started the pumpkin patch when he was 12 years old at the original location now called Kuwahara Wholesale. It’s since grown into a pumpkin patch paradise with 25 to 30 different varieties of locally-grown pumpkins and pumpkin archways. He now runs the park along with his wife Sarah Kuwahara.

“That was a big expansion when we started to decorate our tunnels and do it all,” she said. “I mean, we always decorated them but when we made the switch to making it a real wow factor, that's definitely what puts us on the map in pumpkin patches.”

In 2016, the thriller part of the park was added and has been growing ever since.

“I would like the community to know just how much goes into this,” Sarah Kuwahara said. “We have lots of immersive attractions…[and] lots of employees here to make it awesome, so it really is a bang for your buck when you think about what

you're getting.”

Overall, the park employs about 120 people to make the experience as smooth and as fun for the crowds as possible.

More than 30 attractions draw crowds yearly, including the pumpkin patch, haunted house, Halloween Main Street, Once Upon a Time land, corn maze, Grand Bizarre, a magician and more. A crowning feature of the park is the shows and dance parties on the center stage, keeping the Halloween atmosphere alive with live entertainment ranging from fire dancers to musical performances.

Kuwahara said that park visitors can expect a reimagined pirate show to make a reappearance and the popular fire show to be back this season.

During the 2023 season, Kuwahara said more than 40,000 people visited the park and she expects even more this year.

Her advice for those experiencing the park for the first time or the 100th time is to come at night.

“At night, you really get to experience the lights and all the fun,” she said, with a big smile.

More information on park hours, pricing and events can be found online at www.kuwaharawholesale.com.

A mom takes a picture of her kids in Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch on opening night of the park, Sept. 20.

Known as a go-to fall picture destination, these teens came dressed for the occasion with crocheted pumpkin hats.

In the Grand Bizarre, vendors like Angie Broadbent (left) from Gemini Twins Art Studio and Photography, dress in their best ghoulish costumes to sell their wares.

Dracula was the first performance to don the stage during opening night of the park on Sept. 20. (Photos by Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

Face painting artist, Terri Williams, shows her customer the first glimpse at her handiwork in the Grand Bizarre. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

The Once Upon a Time addition to the park gives kids (and parents) a chance to immerse themselves in the magic of the season. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

Kuwahara’s is full of magical decorations to set the scene in each part of the park. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

Parkgoers enter the park’s corn maze. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

To the left of the park entrance is an archway that leads to the big stage. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

This is a local family’s second year going to the park where carts allow for easy pumpkin towing when you’ve found the best pumpkin in the patch.

A brave little girl is held up by her mom while she rings the bell to the cheers of a park employee before she enters the haunted house. The entrance to the pumpkin patch where more than 25 varieties of pumpkins await.

Sandy City to install air quality monitors to keep residents informed

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

It’sno secret that Utah struggles with clean air.

What with the valley that traps in the smog of the commuters’ cars that prompt the “consider working from home” or “travel air-wise” signs that sometimes adorn the freeway.

In a step toward helping Sandy residents be more conscience of the air quality, Sandy City Councilmember Aaron Dekeyzer along with city administration initiated a new project that will place 20 mug-sized air monitors around the city. Sandy City is the first municipality to have a partnership with Draper-headquartered PurpleAir to localize the monitoring of air quality and give more accurate safety levels.

“In our region, air quality is a problem, and so, as someone who’s sustainability oriented, I want our city to be a leader in that,” Dekeyzer said. “[To] show our residents that we care about it…we’re gonna do something about it.”

Dekeyzer said he’s been speaking with PurpleAir since around March to get the program started in Sandy. It’s the first time PurpleAir has partnered with a municipality to monitor local air quality of an entire city.

PurpleAir has specialized in local air quality monitors for both indoors and outdoors since 2015 and currently has more than 35,000 sensors in more than 130 countries around the world. There are 500 in the Salt Lake Valley alone. Their data is used alongside data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Founder of PurpleAir Adrian Dybwad, who moved from South Africa to the Point of the Mountain in 2008, said the company’s partnership with Sandy makes sense because of the emphasis the company has placed on the community since day one.

“PurpleAir is all about local, local jobs, employing local

it’s likely the sensors could last upward of five years.

That price also includes a public dashboard on the city’s website which will allow residents to see real-time data to influence their outside activities.

Sandy’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Martin Jensen has been leading the project and said the goal is to “allow residents to make decisions that will make their lives better.”

“This could be to either stay inside and not exercise when air quality is poor or perhaps work from home when the air quality is poor so they are reducing trips and emissions,” he told the City Journals in an email.

Once residents are able to see the air quality and make decisions about what activities to do, Dybwad said, said those decisions will actually better the air quality.

“By measuring [air quality] and having a sensor in your home, you tend to change your behavior—don’t use the frying pan as hot as you used to, or you don’t burn your toast as often— you tend to be more aware of the actions you’re taking that are generating it,” he said.

people, making what we do here in Draper in Utah, we’re very proud of that heritage, of everything we do,” Dybwad said.

“It made sense to go to a local city council to see if they were interested in figuring out, how PurpleAir [can] be of use to a city council or a community like Sandy City, so we want to have them be the first, and be able to pioneer and help to develop a program other cities find useful.”

Dybwad hopes to see more cities follow Sandy’s model.

Dekeyzer said the cost of the air monitors to be distributed throughout the city will be as little as $5,000 for all 20 monitors that will last anywhere from two to four years. But Dybwad said

“The same is true with outdoor air quality to a smaller extent, or it needs bigger interaction. And that’s why the more people that know about air quality and are looking at air quality, the more people talking about it, the more chance there is of it becoming a bigger deal for your authorities, and they might do something about cleaning it up,” Dybwad said.

Jensen said current plans are to have the monitors installed and connected in Sandy during the fall, “prior to the winter months when our valley typically sees the worst air quality.” l

Sandy City Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Martin Jensen and Councilmember Aaron Dekeyzer met with PurpleAir founder Adrian Dybwad and another representative in May to start the partnership between the city and the company. (Courtesy of Aaron Dekeyzer)

A Q&A with Sandy’s newly sworn-in Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

On July 30, Ryan McConaghie was sworn in as Sandy City’s newest fire chief following the retirement of Fire Chief Bruce Cline.

McConaghie has been with the Sandy Fire Department for nearly 23 years and has steadily risen through the ranks since he first started as a firefighter and served most recently in the deputy chief position for the past 5.5 years.

The City Journals conducted a Q&A of five questions for residents to get to know the city’s new fire chief more:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in firefighting?

“I was drawn to the excitement of responding to emergencies and helping others in need. It is very rewarding to feel that you have fixed a problem and made a difference. I recognize the trust that the citizens extend to us as a fire department. I take that trust seriously and aim to always be ready to respond to emergencies in Sandy City.

“The experiences that I have had over the years have helped me recognize the importance of preparation. My goal is to keep our personnel trained to the highest level, keep our equipment and apparatus up to date and in good repair, and to use the latest technology and tools in the Sandy Fire Department response plan.”

2. What is your vision for the fire department over the next few years?

“My vision for the Sandy Fire Department is to continue to build a department that represents our mission statement and values. Our mission as a department is to prevent, mitigate and respond. Our values outline the qualities that we seek in our personnel and hiring practices. Our personnel have always been our most valued asset, and we have been fortunate to be able to employ such a high-caliber group of employees.

“Moving forward, my intention is to continue building and preparing for the future. The new Fire Station 31 project is another step in that process. Completion for that station is scheduled for the fall of 2025.

We have also recently completed a strategic planning process and will be looking at additional needs in the areas of capital improvements, equipment and apparatus, and staffing for adequate response.”

3. What challenges do you foresee for the fire department and how do you intend to address them?

“Funding is always a challenge. It is very expensive to run and outfit a modern fire service—the same can be said about the police department. We continually try to find ways through grants and other supplemental income to lessen the impact of taxes needed to fund these core services.

“Another challenge and concern is the wildland-urban interface that we have in Sandy. With the Dimple Dell Park and areas around the Wasatch Boulevard corridor, we face a continual threat of wildland fires. Our Wildland Division works throughout the year to mitigate and prepare for this threat. We train continuously and have been building up our equipment and resources to be ready. We have also been working to thin out the overgrowth in several areas through-

out the park to lessen the impact in the event of a fire.”

4. How can community members support the fire department and contribute to safety efforts in the area?

“I am so impressed with the community and citizens of Sandy—I often reflect on how grateful I am to have spent my career [here].

“I have had the opportunity to meet many of the residents through the numerous public events in the city. I also meet residents as they participate in the prevention classes that we provide, such as: First Aid, CPR and AED, Community Emergency Response Training (CERT), fire extinguisher training, Babysitting Academy and Junior First Responder Academy. I welcome all who are interested in learning more about these programs to reach out to the fire department for more information.”

5. What does your life look like outside of work, what are your favorite things to do?

“I like to stay busy in my time off. I stay active and enjoy mountain biking and road cycling. I also enjoy spending time

and traveling with my kids and family. I have had several opportunities to travel on humanitarian deployments to Africa, Nepal and Bolivia to help build several projects of need. I have taken my children on a couple of them and value the time and education that has come from those trips.” l

The Sandy City Fire Department stands in front of the Sandy Healing Fields. (Courtesy of Sandy City)

During the pinning ceremony, Ryan McConaghie’s rank was officially changed to fire chief. (Courtesy of Sandy City)

During the pinning ceremony, Ryan McConaghie’s rank was officially changed to fire chief. (Courtesy of Sandy City)

Just

Dual noise-canceling microphones allow you to speak with a

courteous specialist. They can send emergency help or contact a loved one to assist.

New Waterford student commons aims to connect, inspire student body

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

This school year, Waterford School greeted students through its “front door.”

Just days before the school year began, Waterford unveiled the Miller Student Commons, an 18,000-square-foot building located near 9400 South and welcomed its 1,100 students and the community. The Commons will serve as a 525-seat dining hall and gathering space on the 42-acre campus.

“We are thrilled now to have a place on campus that promotes connection and cohesion,” Waterford Head of School Andrew Menke said. “This student commons invites all of us to join together as a community, students, faculty and staff and practice our founding notion of communal and connected learning.”

Built with $16.2 million raised through its capital campaign, the building design and function was deliberate.

“This building, very importantly, as I look to Little Cottonwood Canyon in the east, anchors this end of the quad, preserving spectacular views, which are a key distinction of our campus. The placement of the Student Commons underscores the natural beauty of the Wasatch Front,” Menke said.

Todd Winters, assistant head of school for enrollment and institutional advancement, said the glass windows provide an open feel and give a view of the Wasatch mountains.

“We have an elevated and aspirational educational mission,” he said. “Those mountain views remind us each day of looking up and holding those values. I like our outdoor patio because it brings the outdoors in, and it takes the students from the indoors out. It still places them in this view…which is important to our aspirational mission and invites us to stand a little taller and have a little more meaning and purpose in our lives.”

It’s not overlooked that this is the first time in years where students can eat together, having outgrown their former dining location.

“We will enjoy lunch together each day as a full school community for the first time in a long time and for the first time for me ever sharing time, building connection and making memories resulting from frequent meaningful interactions and conversations,” Menke said.

Dean of Students Nancy Nebeker realizes the impact of the Miller Student Commons.

“I often talk to students about how this community can thrive and flourish, and it is rare that I do not make the point that there must be room for everyone at the table,” she said metaphorically. “For the last several years, I have been mindful of the iro-

“We did it one conversation at a time. We told a story that was impactful. When you can connect with people in a way that resonates with them, that’s the difference. We told them people before us built the buildings which their children benefitted from. We asked them to help us build something that’s lasting, like the bridge builder concept, and people responded in a big way,” he said.

His reference is to the poem, “The Bridge Builder,” by Will Allen Dromgoole, where a man, who had already crossed a chasm, paid it forward by spending his last hours of life building a bridge over it for others. That poem hangs in the Miller Student Commons.

Nebeker said it serves as a reminder of “the power of doing that will benefit others in years to come, that notion of stewardship, which is really important to the Miller family and to the founding philosophy of the educational values of Waterford.”

ny that we have been short on tables and chairs. But now, everyone has a place here, a place that is set for them, everything they will need to be successful, including nourishing learning, nourishing community of peers and adults and now a beautiful building with room for everyone at the table to be nourished at lunch.”

Daily pasta, salad bar and other selections are meal choices which are included in the school’s tuition at the Miller Student Commons.

“Our focus is very much on nutrition,” Winters said. “I think back to my own high school experience and the cafeteria was the gymnasium with roll-out tables. This is not a gymnasium in a multipurpose room. It is meant to be, both in its design and in its application, a place to come and commune, decompress for a moment of the day, share a meal together and make strong connections. Our vision is to inspire lives of meaning and purpose, and we wanted to build an inspirational space.”

Within the dining space, Waterford upheld its stewardship of the environment, using eco-friendly materials and having a fully electric kitchen, said Greg Miles, chief financial officer.

“We’re excited that it’s all electric because it decreases the amount of pollution in the (Salt Lake) Valley. We were thoughtful about that,” he said, adding that the dining hall uses washable tableware to eliminate single-use Styrofoam plates and bowls, which are harmful to the environment.

In addition to the dining area, there is a school store, a living room with a fireplace that can serve as a meeting or gathering place, and administrators’ offices.

Steve Miller, who has served on Waterford’s Board of Trustees, headed the capital campaign; he and his wife, Jennifer, walked through the completed building for the first time at the unveiling.

“I love it,” he said. “I love these high transit windows. The light is great. I love this comfortable common area. The fireplace is something I was keen on. When they were soliciting info from the board, I said I wanted the student commons to have a collegiate feel. I wanted it to be warm and inviting.”

Miller said donors were generous with their contributions.

After 14 months, the Miller Student Commons was constructed, complete with a plaza dedicated to Nebeker, made possible with the generosity of an anonymous donor.

“I was surprised and have no idea to this day who the donor is,” said the dean of 15 years who also taught at and had children attend Waterford. “It fills me with gratitude and gives me a sense that I’m loved and appreciated. I’ve never experienced anything like this, nor have I ever considered what it meant to give something on behalf of to someone anonymously. It’s incredibly heartwarming. It’s a gracious and generous gift and a beautiful addition to this building.” l

In August, Waterford opened the Miller Student Commons, which serves as a place students and faculty can gather as well as dine on campus. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

The Waterford’s new Miller Student Commons features a living room where students can meet on campus. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

In memory of Bradley W. Taylor—officers across Utah, Idaho, Nevada compete to honor fallen Sandy K-9 officer

In early September, the first Bradley W. Taylor Memorial K-9 Trials hosted more than 40 K-9 officers from across Utah, Idaho and Nevada in memory of fallen Sandy City K-9 officer, Bradley W. Taylor.

The event was hosted by the Bradley W. Taylor Memorial foundation which was started by Taylor’s wife, Marisa Taylor. Taylor hopes to encourage the use of K-9 officers and raise funds for K-9 training and equipment in her husband’s memory.

“I made the foundation to help Brad still reach [his] dream,” Taylor said. “Until you’re in the [K-9] world, you don’t realize just how important these dogs are, and then when you get there you realize how much work it is.”

In honor of Bradley W. Taylor

Marisa and Bradley Taylor were raising their family in Davis County when tragedy hit.

Taylor’s tragic death occurred last year on Sept. 3 when he was only 29 years old. His death came suddenly, just weeks after being diagnosed with stage four melanoma and shortly after the birth of his youngest daughter.

“There is a little bit of a calm to know that he died loving his life—he loved his family, he loved his job,” Marisa Taylor said. “He had found a purpose and not everyone gets to say that.”

Marisa Taylor said she watched Bradley Taylor find his passion as a K-9 officer after he had tried many different career paths.

“When he found the police, there was a change in him in a good way,” Marisa Taylor said. “There he found his passion. He loved it. He loved that he had a purpose to help people, that he went to work every day and did something every moment he was there.”

It was in Sandy where he started training his Police Service Dog, Trigg.

“He trained that dog day and night,” Marisa Taylor said. “That dog was so spoiled—he got ice cream and he would have snow cones with us as a family. He did everything.”

After her husband’s death, Marisa Taylor started the Bradley W. Taylor Memorial to do three things: to support her husband’s dream, support K-9 units and help their young daughters know a different side of their dad.

“I will make sure my girls get to be involved in that world, and so they get to know that side of dad in a way that I can’t just tell them about,” Marisa Taylor said. “This way my girls get to know a different side of dad.”

She hopes to have her girls continue to attend the K-9 trials and be a part of that “family” of K-9 officers.

“I come to these trials, and they all know Brad,” Marisa Taylor said.

The annual K-9 trials hosted by the memorial foundation, she said, is an event to

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

not only push police officers and their dogs to train, but to offer outreach and support for underfunded departments.

“[Taylor] strongly believed that K-9 officers help to avoid deadly conflict and bring home officers and citizens alike,” reads the memorial’s website.

Its mission is “to help continue that legacy in his honor by providing essential funding for K-9 units” and “ensure these courageous canines are well-equipped to serve and defend.”

The first annual Bradley W. Taylor K-9 Trials

Participants for the K-9 trials came from institutions in Idaho, Utah and Nevada, including West Jordan and Sandy Police Departments, as well as Utah Transit Authority, who took home the prize for Explosives Top Agency per an Instagram post.

Sergeant Mike Jones from the West Jordan Police Department, leader of the national award-winning K-9 department, said all five K-9 trainers participated in the event to support the cause. He interacted with Bradley Taylor on several occasions when departments came from all across the valley to train in West Jordan.

Jones said after Bradley Taylor died, Marisa Taylor “wanted to make sure agencies that didn’t have the funding or support” would have “an option to reach out and have some money to get those things.”

“It’s expensive to run a good canine program, we are truly appreciative of being able to run this program,” Jones said of the West Jordan Police Department’s K-9 program. “Our dogs are getting called all over the place

to help other agencies that just don’t have the support that we do.”

West Jordan is one of the few agencies in the state, Jones said, that allow their handlers to spend at least two hours a day training with their PSDs. For other departments, most training is done on a police officer’s own time.

Jones’ PSD Vranik won first-place prizes in the obedience and agility categories and fourth place in the patrol area search and Tuff Dog competitions. The WJPD as a whole won the Top Patrol Agency Award of the whole event.

Taylorsville Police Department was awarded a new PSD who was trained by Next Level Canine during the event.

In total, the event raised more than $12,000 which will be used in part to host a winter training held by the foundation and the rest will be awarded to different police departments based on needs, Marisa Taylor said.

Police departments can fill out a form to apply for aid from the memorial on the memorial’s website at www.bwtk9memorial. com. l

West Jordan PSD Echo participates in the Brad Taylor K9 Memorial Trials, attacking a man in a Demanet bite suit. (Photo courtesy Jossie Gagon)

West Jordan PSD Harley stands next to award plaques for placing first in Top Patrol Dog and Vehicle Narcotics search, second in Criminal Apprehension and third in Agility. (Photo courtesy Mike Jones)bite suit. (Photo courtesy Jossie Gagon)

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Best Seat in the House creates activities for disadvantaged youth

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Ivan Gonzalez was raised in poverty and didn’t have a lot of opportunities other kids enjoyed. He thought only wealthy people could afford to attend Broadway shows or theater performances. When he moved to Utah in his 20s, he fell in love with the state’s theater scene that he found incredibly fun and accessible.

He started working at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake more than seven years ago. Gonzalez’s 30th birthday was coming up and he decided to throw a party for himself, inviting all the kids at the center.

“I wanted to do a carnival and get kids out of their beds,” he said. “Primary Children’s [Hospital] and other hospitals are great, but most kids that are going through treatment, it’s like six months, nine months or a year. Video games and movies get old pretty quick.”

So he and his friends threw a party with princess and superheroes, games and a fire dancer. He even handed out presents to the kids. “It’s still the best birthday ever,” Gonzalez said.

He had so much fun planning the birthday party that he began holding other events, providing opportunities for kids to enjoy, even when they’re going through a rough

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

“Provide life-changing experiences for children during difficult times.”

Best Seat in the House focuses its attention on kids with medical conditions, refugees, children in the foster care system, kids in low-income or disadvantaged families and those with special needs. Gonzalez said it’s important for children to have fun, no matter their circumstances, and his program provides several free events each month to those who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Headquartered in Sandy (1570 E. 8600 South), Best Seat in the House partners with several community organizations including the Granite Education Foundation, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, and Nomi Health and the RSL Foundation that provides free tickets to hockey and soccer games.

“We want these kids to experience things they normally couldn’t because of their money situation or whatever their situation is,” Gonzalez said.

fall in love with the kids and the activities which range from carnivals, theater productions, sporting events, outings and parties.

“We need volunteers to run the games and hand out prizes, so we’re really trying to get more volunteers to join us,” he said. “I’ve also been trying to get more [donated] event tickets, because that’s another thing that a lot of families are asking for.”

In 2023, Gonzalez was presented with the Outstanding Volunteer Award from Utah Philanthropy Day. He’s still in disbelief that his organization has grown so quickly and he’s grateful for the help he’s received.

He loves to explain the origin for the nonprofit’s name, Best Seat in the House. It was during a party when he watched a 4-yearold boy, who was undergoing a serious medical treatment, play the Whac-A-Mole game. The boy’s mom told Gonzalez that it was the first day in a month she’d seen her son smile.

time. In 2018, he created the nonprofit Best Seat in the House where his mission is to

The program grew fast, serving 600 kids during the first year to working with 9,000 in 2023. Gonzalez invites volunteers to take part in the events. Unlike other nonprofits, Best Seat in the House allows children to volunteer, although anyone under 12 must be supervised by an adult.

He said volunteers come to serve and

“She was getting emotional, kind of crying, but happy seeing her son,” he said. “And my friend had a blast helping him with the game. And I was just like, ‘Man, this is the best seat in the house.’ It was the best view.”

For more information about volunteering or donations, visit Bestseatslc.org. l

Ivan Gonzalez, founder of Best Seat in the House, attends an RSL soccer game with one of the youth in his program that provides parties and activities for sick or disadvantaged children. (Photo courtesy of Ivan Gonzalez)

Report reveals how Utah's housing crisis impacts health

Anewpolicy brief from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute revealed the impacts housing can have on your health — both directly and indirectly.

The brief detailed three primary “pathways” to explain the effect a person’s living situation can have on their physical and mental health: housing conditions, neighborhood conditions and housing affordability.

The institute said housing affordability — which is impacted by Utah’s ongoing housing crisis — can both directly and indirectly affect the health outcomes of Utahns.

High housing costs can drive people into lower-quality homes, and housing affordability can also affect how much money someone is able to spend (or not spend) on healthcare. Housing affordability can also lead to homelessness, which is associated with higher rates of poor mental and physical health, according to the brief.

The brief said lower-quality housing (such as homes with water leaks, pest infestations, or other issues) is correlated with worse health outcomes. Poorly maintained housing can contribute to higher rates of indoor allergens, but a completed kitchen and adequate plumbing can help protect against disease, the brief explained.

The brief also explained that a person’s

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

neighborhood can have “profound implications” on their health, as unsafe neighborhoods can lead to worse mental and physical outcomes. On the other hand, the brief said access to affordable housing can limit stressors and support one’s mental health.

“Improving housing quality and affordability and making investments in neigh-

borhood conditions can positively impact Utahns’ health,” the brief said. “By addressing the state’s housing crisis, Utah is also investing in the health of its residents.”

The full policy brief — including graphs and statistics — can be viewed online through the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. l

As a sugar fiend, Halloween was a High Holy day in my childhood. Like a squirrel, I used the holiday to gather and hoard candy that would last me through the autumn months until Santa could fill my stocking with tooth-breaking peppermint discs.

On Halloween, my siblings and I would take pillowcases and trick-or-treat through the neighborhood. When the bags were full, we’d bring home our haul so Mom could scrutinize each piece. She’d look for razor blades poking out of apples, unwrapped candy laced with angel dust and Butterfinger bars that she confiscated as Halloween tax.

In sixth grade, I went trick-or-treating with a boy and we dressed as square dancers because Mr. Madson had taught us how to dance and it was an easy costume. The boy was more interested in trying to kiss me than in securing candy. So I told him we had no future and do-si-doed to the next house to see if they were handing out full-size candy bars.

The gathering of candy was just the beginning. After mom crime-proofed my loot, I’d sort it into categories: chocolate bars, Charms Blow-Pops, fruity Wacky Wafers, Pixy Stix, flavorless Smarties, wax bottles filled with questionable liquid, hard-as-rock orange taffy, Bazooka bubble gum and boring Tootsie Rolls. Then, I’d count each piece so I’d know if one of my bratty siblings took anything.

Once my bag-o-cavities was categorized and counted, I’d hide it under my pillow and sleep on it like Smaug protecting his treasure from the grubby hands of mortals. I sometimes woke up with a lollipop stuck to my face.

The real benefit of Halloween candy was having access to sweet treats at school. Sneaking candy to school was the tricky part. On Nov. 1, teachers knew we’d all have pockets full of candy and we wouldn’t be able to pay attention un-

Give Me Some Sugar

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

til after Thanksgiving. But they attempted to confiscate any sugary substance, so I had to be strategic.

I’d pretend to look for something in my desk and shove a handful of Milk Duds in my mouth. Invariably, the teacher would call on me as soon as I had the candy stuffed in my cheeks like a chipmunk. Do you know how hard it is to talk with a mouthful of Milk Duds?

After school, I’d dash home to my pile of candy to recategorize and recount, and to punish anyone within screeching distance if one piece of Laffy Taffy was missing. Yes, I was a bit obsessive. I understand that now.

Halloween candy was also perfect for smuggling into Sunday school. If I could get it past my mom, I could snack all through the long Sunday services. At the time, dresses didn’t have pockets (those were hard times) so I had to resort to creative options.

My socks became repositories for candy contraband. I was too young to realize mothers notice when their child’s legs are suddenly shaped like Baby Ruth bars. Plus, the plastic candy wrappers strapped around my ankles made a crinkling and crackling noise as subtle as a bull in a china shop.

A week after Halloween, my candy stash had dwindled

significantly. I needed to cut back if it was going to last until Christmas but the Bottle Caps, the Sugar Babies, the Bit-oHoney and the Boston Baked Beans called to me like a siren on a rock.

Whether I battled the world’s loudest candy wrappers or faced the principal for participating in black market candy sales, Halloween remained my favorite holiday. I still squirrel away my favorite candies and I warn everyone to touch my cache at their peril.