Sugar House November 2015

November 2015 | Vol. 1 Issue 05

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City Plans a Rezone to Pave the Way for New Fire Station #3

By James Luke

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Page 2 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

City Plans a Rezone to Pave the Way for New Fire Station #3

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130 Years

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portion of the parking lot at the Forest Dale Golf Course at 2425 South 900 East in Sugar House may become the new home of Salt Lake City Fire Department Station #3 if current city plans continue on to completion.

Some residents think the city has not considered all other alternatives well enough, and urge a vote against continuing the process to move the station to the site south of Interstate 80 on 900 East.

Based on a study of 10 possible locations to host the station that serves the growing west and central areas of Sugar House, the small paved part of the golf course property is the preferred location. First, though, the Salt Lake City Council must rezone the property

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THE SUGAR HOUSE TEAM

The growth of Sugar House has outpaced the potential of the current Fire Station #3 to expand to meet demand.

By James Luke

from Open Space to Public Use so that it can accommodate the proposed use.

The paved portion of the 61-acre Forest Dale golf course property is currently used for wintertime salt storage, and is not essential to golf course functions.

The planning commission submitted its report on the proposed action to the Salt Lake City Council in August.

Sugar House residents provided public input at the Oct. 20 council meeting.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Sugar House resident George Chapman told the city council. Paraphrasing the mayor, Chapman noted that the location on 900 East, south of the freeway overpass, “would leave the north part of Sugar House without fire service if there is an earthquake.” Some experts predict that the overpasses on access roads like 900 East could fall if a major seismic event were to shake the valley.

Other Sugar House residents chided the council for considering an option that will take away open space in the area. Jeff Salt noted that “aesthetic values and property values” in the Forest Dale Golf Course area will be significantly impacted by a choice to convert the lot, which had once been tennis courts, to a fire station. He urged the council to retain Fire Station #3 in the central Sugar House area.

The next step comes on Nov. 10, when the city council is scheduled to vote on whether to remove the property from Open Space inventory to allow the fire station plans to proceed at the Forest Dale location. If the vote is affirmative, the rezone will take place in six months, following the law that requires a waiting period before the

change is official.

The proposed fire station will be across the street from dozens of homes along 900 East. Currently, Salt Lake City Fire Department operates six stations within residential neighborhoods. The department operates under strict guidelines for use of alarms and sirens that would be in effect if the station moved to the site.

When responding to calls after hours, noise protocols advise careful use of audible devices. In residential areas, lights and sirens are used on dispatch only for advanced life saving and fire calls. Of the 2,104 calls that station #3 served last year, 444 were fire calls and 1,660 for medical response.

The site selection process involved four key criteria. First, access to the site is crucial for large fire and rescue equipment and rapid response times. Second, long-term viability is important, as the investment in the station is substantial. Third, the property satisfies the demands of a maximum four-minute response time to any place in its service area that is required of a fire station location. Fourth, the parking lot property on 900 East is adequate size to accommodate a ladder truck and more room for growth.

The current fire station #3 houses one truck and four firefighters.

Without the ability to grow, the existing station is unable to keep up with increasing population and business demands in the area. Salt Lake City Fire Department Station #3 serves the city from 500 East to 1700 East and from 1700 South to the border of the city near 3000 South. l

Creative Director: Bryan Scott: bryan@mycityjournals.com Assistant Editor: Rachel Hall: r.hall@mycityjournals.com Staff Writers: The Sugar House City Journal is distributed each month directly to residents via the Jessican Bowe, Rhett Wilkinson, Elizabeth Suggs, McCall Mash, Joanie USPS as well as locations throughout Sugar House.

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Page 4 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

Ann Romney’s Book Signing

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n Friday, Oct. 2, the Sugar House Barnes and Noble held a book signing for Ann Romney’s new book, “In This Together.”

The book was released Sept. 29 and is a reflection on her early life, marriage and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1998. As with any book, the story centers around both positive and negative experiences of the disease and what could be done for her situation.

Multiple sclerosis, according to WebMD, is a long-lasting disease that can affect

By Elizabeth Suggs the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves in the eyes. The disease can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control and other functions of the body.

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation estimates about 400,000 people in the United States, and 2.5 million people worldwide, have multiple sclerosis, with higher rates of the disease occurring farther from the equator.

Despite having such overwhelming support from her husband, even being said to have told her he’d be “right there to push

Ann Romney signing a book in preparation for the “In This Together” book signing.

[the wheelchair],” it didn’t make things any easier for Romney. Being without a cure and only able to have treatment, Romney described the realization as “devastating.”

Since maintaining the disease, Romney experienced a glimmer of hope and was able to attain more energy to continue succeeding in life.

“There’s hope,” Romney said in a Facebook video post. “Together we can fight.”

What has helped her the most through her disease, according to Romney, was focusing on little goals to keep her body going.

To really get a sense of how to control both mind and body, she focused on mind, body and faith through trial and error with multiple sclerosis.

Later in her video, she describes the difficulties of writing her book, because of both the intimate nature of her story and how “fragile” she felt.

“It was really quite a journey for me to write this book,” Romney said, “It took a lot of courage for me to be so honest and to share sort of my most vulnerable moments.”

While “In This Together” is meant

to shed light on her experience throughout her disease, the book isn’t just about the vulnerable moments. Romney writes of her childhood, family, LDS faith, her kids and the storybook romance between herself and Mitt. “[Multiple sclerosis] opened my heart to be more loving and generous,” Romney said. “It gave me a kinder heart.”

Last year, according to the National MS Society, the Romneys opened the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, a research facility focusing on multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and brain tumors, in Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

According to Romney, the purpose for the research facility is to push more awareness and research into multiple sclerosis, and the same could be said about her book. “In This Together” focuses on what research has been done on MS, as well as hope through experience.

“Multiple sclerosis was my cruelest teacher,” Romney said. “I’m grateful for the lessons that it taught me. They were unwelcome, but I am now grateful for them.” l

November 2015 | Page 5

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Bicycling Sugar House, Bottom to Top

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urrently some of the trail sections are hard to find without some urban sleuthing and a dose of adventurous spirit. At its best, though, when fully developed, Parley’s Trail will be an all-access bicycle path spanning east to west halfway across the Salt Lake Valley, connecting Tanner Park at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon with the Jordan River Parkway Trail on the city’s west side, and running through the heart of Sugar House along the way.

As it is now, Parley’s Trail is a very good start. The route lacks trail connections on the west for about a half-mile, between the Jordan River Trail and the TRAX line near 2100 South and 200 West, and is also incomplete on the east side above 1700 East.

By mid-2016, though, Salt Lake City crews anticipate completion of the final eastern link of the bicycle path, from 1700 East on the edge of Sugar House Park all the way up to Tanner Park.

The current western extreme of an actual bicycle trail that is mostly separate from roads and traffic begins at the UTA S-Line Main Street stop, near 2250 South between State and Main Streets. The wide smooth path continues east alongside the rail line through South Salt Lake and up into Sugar House, making a pleasant trip of the two-mile crosstown journey.

A few of the surface street crossings along this stretch of Parley’s Trail re-

By James Luke quire patience and caution. Traffic on State Street and 700 East, especially, stops only when the train is approaching, or if the red light at the crossing demands a stop for pedestrian or bicyclist crossing.

The portion of the nascent Parley’s Trail that goes alongside the S-line as it travels from Main St. up into Sugar House arrives eventually at Fairmont Park, where the rail line currently ends. The bicycle path continues east for another block or so, up Sugarmont Dr. to the intersection of Highland Drive.

Cyclists who find their way from the current end of the bike path, though, and continue on through the parking lots and shops, going northeast slightly and past Bed, Bath & Beyond and Petco, are on their way to discovering the beautiful continuation of the eastern stretch of Parley’s Trail.

Although the current break in the trail between Sugarmont Drive and its resumption beyond the parking lot of Petco makes it frustratingly hard at first to locate the continuation of the trail heading east, it is easy enough to carefully cross Highland Drive and improvise through parking lots to the next section of Parley’s Trail.

The part of the trail that is most nearly cloaked in complete invisibility for those unfamiliar with its route is the stretch

Before entering The Draw, Parley’s Trail passes through a faux red rock canyon between office buildings.

A sign on the corner of Highland Dr. and Sugarmont Dr. points to the continuation of Parley’s Trail west along the S-Line. where Parley’s Trail goes into the aptly named Hidden Hollow Natural Area (a.k.a. the dark woods beyond Petco). For those

bold enough to continue east past the outsized bronze sugar beat thrusting up from the patch of grass just north of the pet store, the trail opens itself again, with two equal routes breaking off and looping separately around the small wooded grove. Trail users in the area may expect to see some truant students or other assorted scruffy-looking urban characters loitering along the park benches or stream banks, but the trail is safe as it continues east uphill toward Sugar House Park.

Continuing east through Hidden Hollow park leads to another large bronze sugar beet, and then to an urban canyon between office buildings. Decorated on one wall to recreate Southern Utah’s red rock canyons, the beautiful new under-the-road engineering solution that is called the Draw provides bicycle and pedestrian traffic access between the offices, shopping and residences of central Sugar House to the park, without having to navigate across the busy traffic of 1300 East.

Completed in 2012, the Draw goes beneath the road to connect the large green expanse of Sugar House Park east of 1300 East with the small creek side park of Hidden Hollow, a shady wooded area nestled between office towers, lofts and the established retail shops stretching west toward Highland Drive.

After the Draw, Parley’s Trail enters Sugar House Park. The path continues along the south side of the park, with a paved stretch of bicycle and pedestrian trail that is separate from the road where cars circle the interior of the park. The trail runs alongside the chain link fence overlooking I-80 traffic zipping along below. The dedicated bicycle trail currently ends at the southeastern edge of the park where it meets 1700 East.

Plans currently in the works for construction scheduled to be complete by 2016 call for a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian route, separate from city streets and traffic, to continue on up the hill to Tanner Park, near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon. When complete, the full length of Parley’s Trail will be about eight miles, and will represent the first east-west connecting trail added to the long stretches of the Jordan River Parkway Trail that runs north and south the length of the Salt Lake Valley and continues on down to Utah Lake and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which also runs north-south along the mountain bench east of the valley and beyond. l

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Sugar House Journal

Sugar House Farmers Market: What Makes a Mini Market So Big?

By Elizabeth Suggs

E

very Friday from July 10 to Oct. 16, a Sugar House mini Farmers Market is set in a parking lot near the Sugarmont Plaza.

Opened in 2010, the farmers market offers a chance for local, and not-so-local, vendors to sell produce, cookies, cheeses and more to willing Sugar House residents and visitors. While the vendors are few in numbers, they make up for it in attitude.

In response to why Sugar House’s market is so small compared to downtown’s,

Kim Zarkin, board chair of Sugar House Farmers Market, said it had to do with the size of the community.

“We are a smaller community,” Zarkin said. “And there aren’t as many people who would attend on a regular basis.”

Zarkin says Sugar House Farmers Market isn’t planning to get bigger anytime soon. According to Zarkin, Sugar House will “always aim to be a smaller community market.”

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Epicurean Chefs and vendor at Sugar House Farmers Market, wasn’t aware of the purpose for a mini market and said the size had to do with its age.

Already working with other markets, Rosa was both more critical of Sugar House’s market as well as hopeful. He compared the market in Sugar House to the one in downtown, saying it still had a long way to go before it matched what downtown has to offer.

Rosa offered foods free of steroids, growth hormone and antibiotics.

“We want to be part of the food solution, not the problem,” he said.

While the “emphasis,” according to the Sugar House market website, is on local farmers and ranchers, the arts, packaged foods and prepared foods are encouraged.

Nick Smedes and wife Jessica Doner, part of Jessica’s Jewelry Box, started selling their product at Sugar House Farmers Market in hopes to be part of the farmers market.

Doner started making her jewelry five years ago and while she’s been creating her jewelry two years longer than Smedes, she wasn’t present at the farmers market. According to Smedes, Doner was out of town.

“My wife got me into this,” Smedes said. “I like this and like supporting my wife, but she’s the main person.”

Jessica’s Jewelry offers a range of stones, earrings and other jewels. According to Smedes, it was the first time Jessica’s Jewelry was sold at Sugar House Farmers Market.

“We heard there were bigger crowds,” Smedes said. “It’s a nice place to be part of this. We like farmers markets.”

Even the Girl Scouts were getting in on the action. In order for Girl Scout Troop 762 to earn their Silver Award Project, they were earning money by selling dog treats.

Having everything handmade, because

the girls didn’t obtain food handler’s permits, according to one of the Girl Scouts present at the market, the treats had to be for pets.

Cookies and other treats for human consumption could be found at the market. Some of the treats were even made for Halloween. Festive treats could be found at Auntie Rae’s Dessert Island. Treats included cookies dressed up as pumpkins, skeletons and blue and red spider webs.

The treats sold, according to worker Kara Black, were sold better in store, but after reduced fees in the company, having the product sold temporarily at the market helped get their name out.

“It’s a good experience for more coming to the shop,” Black said. “We don’t expect to make much money here at all.”

Others at the market were there for an experience different from that of the downtown farmers market. Seeing regulars was more important for Caribbean-styled hot sauce company Van Kwartel. This, according to Tracy, Van Kwartel’s hot sauce cook, was to be part of the Sugar House Farmers Market.

“This is a chance to talk to our regular customers,” Tracy said. “It’s a more intimate feel.”

Even unopened, Van Kwartel’s hot sauce had to be refrigerated due to the product being fresh rather than fermented or canned.

According to the Van Kwartel website, the company hopes to add a twist to modern society by giving a chance for customers to explore complex flavors from different cultures.

For all of those who missed this year’s event, the market generally opens the Friday after July 4 and runs for 15 weeks, according to Zarkin. Dates for next year’s market have not been set officially. l

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November 2015 | Page 7

MyS ugar H ouseJournal.com

Try Coffee and Open Mic Wednesday Nights

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n the last Wednesday of each month, Sugar House Coffee invites potential singers and songwriters to perform for open mic night.

Usually packed with potential performers, Lacey Jones, a Sugar House Coffee employee and open mic performer, has to turn people away. Unlike most months, however, September was, according to Jones, “oddly slow.”

Despite the slow night, however, the performers had high energy. Six performers

By Elizabeth Suggs played at open mic, with two accompanying others already performing. Jones was the second to perform.

“I started open mic night about a year and a half ago,” Jones said, saying that she “really” wanted it to happen and eventually it did.

According to Jones, jazz is popular amongst Sugar House Coffee lovers. “It’s nice to find other styles,” she said.

Jones, like Ashleigh Bassett, the performer before her, sang and played acoustic

Lacy Jones, in blue, a Sugar House Coffee worker, waits to play second at open mic night.

guitar.

Having returned from living in New York, Bassett described her situation as a performer “difficult” while living in New York. According to Bassett, she was a “dime a dozen.” “[In New York] it was really about connections,” Bassett said. “I like Salt Lake City, how it’s a big city but small town.”

Bassett works as a vet tech full time and performs part time. She plans to always have music in her life even if, according to Bassett, she has stage fright.

“It’s a beast I’ve been taming, and the guitar makes me more nervous,” she said.

To combat stage fright, Bassett says she performs a cover song first, then originals.

“That way if I [mess] up, it’s only a cover song,” Bassett said.

Stage fright, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is one of the biggest fears reported by American adults, topping flying, sickness, financial ruin and death.

Stage fright isn’t a case for professional folk artist, Kate Macleod and husband Mark Hazel, who played the last set at open mic.

Not a professional musician himself,

Hazel describes his love for music as a hobby which sparked his interest at church gatherings, classical music concerts, and learning how to play the trombone.

After learning the trombone, Hazel learned the guitar, piano and even taught himself to sing.

Hazel worked at a radio station dealing mostly with 60s music, but every so often he covered the blues radio station. He even gave Sugar House Coffee customers the chance to listen to one blues song he played while at the radio station.

When Hazel moved to Utah, he met Macleod. Every so often, both Hazel and Macleod sing together, but it didn’t always start that way. When first together, Hazel and Macleod sang separately.

Unlike Macleod, Hazel doesn’t plan to be a music professional. “[My] songs are written compulsively,” he said.

To end the night, Hazel wanted Macleod to sing, and after coercing her from work, she sang with him yet again.

“This is where I hang out when not traveling for work,” Macleod said. “My neighborhood coffee shop.” l

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Page 8 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

Long-time Resident Shares Her Journey

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live Rayner is 93 years young and, safe to say, one of Sugar House’s oldest residents. Born in Dover, England on Feb. 25, 1922, Rayner witnessed some of the most memorable events in the history of America after she and her late husband, Bill Rayner, boarded the Queen Mary in March of 1949.

Bill was a soldier in the British Army during World War II. The two met by chance at a dance, and together created a new life centered on family and religion. They were married on Sept. 12, 1942. Olive recalls being severely rationed in England during the war, and when the war ended, Bill had to stay in Germany in the Army of Occu-

By Aimee L. Cook

pation. He was finally released in June of 1946.

Bill was a Mormon, and later Olive converted as well. After several years of trying to make ends meet in England, along with the couple’s desire to have their marriage blessed in the LDS Temple, they both felt that Utah was the place for them to raise their small family: the couple had two boys at the time.

“Coming to the United States on the Queen Mary was fun,” Olive chuckled. “ Except that my little boy Pete, who was two, was a little terror.

Keith, my older son, was a bit easier. The journey took five days. We arrived in New York, then took a train to Salt Lake. With two small boys, it was something.”

Olive Rayner, with her granddaughter Lindsey Atkinson and her great granddaughter Kenzly Violet Olive Atkinson, at her apartment in Sugar House.

Sugar House Coffee AlphaGraphics

Bill quickly found work washing and waxing cars. After a few months, Bill fell sick and almost died due to dehydration. The more cars he washed, the more money he made, and Bill had sweated all the sodium out of his system. Fortunately, a local doctor was found that knew how to properly treat the condition and saved Bill’s life.

He later worked for Clover Leaf Dairy, where he retired after 25 years.

Before Bill had gotten sick, Olive discovered she was expecting. The couple had not found an obstetrician yet, so Bill’s doctor recommended one. Olive remembers her first visit with him fondly.

“I was told it would cost $75 to have a visit and exam with Dr. Galen Belden,” Olive recalled.

“After the appointment I had the money in my hand, and he said, ‘What’s this? You don’t pay me until after you have the baby.’ I just loved him.”

Olive gave birth to her daughter, Susan [Peterson] in Dec. 1949, the first of three daughters born in the United States. Julie [Tolman] and Nancy [Miller] followed.

Olive is the last living child of George and Mae Stock. She had two sisters, Betty Harper, the eldest who lived to be 92, and Joyce Cook, the youngest, who passed away at 87. Her late husband was raised by his aunt after a flu epidemic broke out in England and took the lives of his parents and grandfather within three days of each other, when he was just eight years old.

Olive raised her five children, then worked

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at Auerbach’s Department Store and the Granite National Bank in Sugar House when her youngest, Nancy, was in school. She recalls working at the bank one day and meeting Mr. Thomas Monson, the current LDS Church president.

“The bank president brought [President] Monson over to meet me,” Olive said. “He told me he had a question about his account, so I helped him with it. He shook my hand and thanked me for my help. That really was quite a day; I will never forget how nice he was.”

Olive received her driver’s license at the age of 72 but never really drove. Still, it was an important milestone in her life.

At her age, Olive is the picture of good health. She has only had two surgeries in her life, one just last year due to the removal of a blood clot that she was told was larger than her heart.

She recently received a clean bill of health from her doctor, who told her, “See you next year.’”

“I replied to him, ‘Well, you are very optimistic,’” Olive said.

Olive has 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Her large family keeps her young and busy. Olive enjoys reading books and has been knitting since she was a young girl after learning how in school. She continues to knit beautiful hooded sweaters and baby shoes for family and friends.

“One piece of advice I would tell my younger self is to enjoy my children more,” Olive said.

“I use to not take as much time as I should have, I can see that now.” l

November 2015 | Page 9

MyS ugar H ouseJournal.com

Racing with Ginormous Pumpkins in Sugar House Pond

By Elizabeth Suggs

T

he sun shone bright on Oct. 17 as both growers and non-growers came together for the fifth annual Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta at Sugar House Park.

Following the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off at Thanksgiving point on Sept. 27, the Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta was held by Giant Pumpkin Growers Association of Utah and Mountain Valley Seed Co. as participants, both members and non-members, raced across the Sugar House Pond in three heats and a final round. Travis Evans, pumpkin grower, won the race.

“It’s a six-month hobby,” Evans said. “We’re trying to have fun in different ways.”

Dressed as Darth Maul from “Star Wars,” Evans’ paddle, a light saber, stayed true to the theme. He has grown pumpkins for seven years and has participated in two pumpkin regattas, always dressed up. His most embarrassing costume, according to Evans, was his spandex-tight ninja turtle suit.

“If you’re going to carve out a 1,000 pound pumpkin to climb inside and row around,” Robb Baumann, part of Mountain Valley Seeds, said, “what else would you wear?”

Costumes worn at the event included John-

As winner, Darth Maul.

ny Appleseed by Kyle Fox, committee head of Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers, Baumann as Captain Crunch and Indy Heaton, a pumpkin racer, dressed as a chicken.

“I’ve raced the last two years,” Heaton said, “but this is the smallest pumpkin I’ve ever used.”

Heaton raced with his father, Lance Heaton, who was dressed as a hippie. The pumpkin weighed in at 540 pounds, smaller compared to many of the other pumpkins, which weighed between 800-1000 pounds.

According to Baumann, everyone who participated in the race regatta weighed their pumpkins at either the Thanksgiving Point Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off or through the first-ever pumpkin weigh off at Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove.

Hee Haws Farms’ first place prize went to Chad Black, pumpkin grower, at 1090 pounds.

While happy with the prospect of winning, Black calls his victory “bittersweet.”

“We expected [the pumpkin] to be bigger,” Black said.

Despite a bittersweet ending, Black didn’t participate in this year’s regatta. Instead, he gave up his pumpkin to a friend after the friend’s pumpkin died.

“He loves to row,” Black said. “So, I let him use mine.”

At the event, several pumpkin growers were without pumpkins due to cracks and damages.

Cracks, according to Matt McConkie, a pumpkin grower, happen if the pumpkin grows too fast.

“You can get them to grow up to 50 pounds

alive.”

Since April, Evans had been growing his pumpkin. His pumpkin, named Reggie, was 872 pounds.

“We really just want to row some pumpkins,” Baumann said, “and let the community come out and have a good time.”

“We really just want to row some pumpkins,” Baumann said, “and let the community come out and have a good time.” per day,” McConkie said, though on the Utah Pumpkin Growers website it says up to 25 pounds per day.

Whether it’s 25 or 50 pounds, according to Utah Pumpkin Growers website, “slow and steady wins the race.” The problem with size or growth rate might have something to do with fertilization, according to the site. Too much fertilizer will speed the process too quickly. All that’s needed, according to the site, is better soil and lots of organic matter.

“The most difficult part of pumpkins,” Evans said, “is growing pumpkins and keeping them

Every year, a week after the pumpkin race, Hee Haw Farms holds a pumpkin drop. And, on Nov. 26, there will be “Feast with the Beast” at the Hogle Zoo for elephants. But, according to Fox, more events will come soon.

“We’ve got a few things up our sleeves,” Fox said. “Things that have to do with airplanes.”

If interested in growing or donating pumpkins, make sure to stay active on the Utah Giant Pumpkin Grower Facebook page or website, and keep up-to-date with Fox’s Youtube channel, “Kyle C Fox.” l

During the final round, Darth Maul and Johnny Appleseed paddle for the winner.

Page 10 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

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Garden Members Free. http://www.redbuttegarden.org/exhibits

FLORAL SHOW November 7 & 8 - ORCHID SHOW http://www.redbuttegarden.org/orchid-show The Utah Orchid Society will display and sell exotic orchids. Red Butte Garden is the only place you will see this large of an orchid exhibit in Utah.

ART EXHIBITS November 6 - December 20 - GLASS ART SHOW http://www.redbuttegarden.org/glass-art-show The Glass Art Guild of Utah returns to Red Butte Garden for another stunning show of kiln work and blown glass. Large and small pieces including garden art, decorative boxes, sculptural works, and jewelry pieces will display the brilliant colors of this delightful medium. Items displayed will be available for sale.

Meet the Artists Reception on Saturday, November 14 from 2-5PM. December 5 & 6 - HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR h t t p : / / w w w. r e d b u t t e g a r d e n . o r g / h o l i day-open-house Kick off the holiday season and find unique holiday gifts made by local artists. You’ll find handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber art, glass, photography, and more.

Free Garden admission Dec. 5 & 6 thanks to Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks.

And to make your shopping even brighter, on Dec. 5 & 6 all items sold at the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop will be marked down 10%.

HOLIDAY WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP – SQUARED Saturday, December 5 from 5-8PM Garden Members $52 / General Public $65 A variety of fresh greens will be used to fill a 14” square wreath frame. Workshop materials include fresh greens, cones, fruits, assorted decorations, and ribbon for bows. Attendees are encouraged to bring unusual greens or your favorite ornaments to include. Bring gloves, scissors, hand pruners, and a basket.

116th ANNUAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Saturday, December 20 from 9AM-Noon Free with regular Garden admission / Garden Members Free Be a part of the 116th Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count – the longest running citizen-science survey in the world, providing critical data on bird population trends. Red Butte Garden is once again privileged to be a host this year. Space is limited. Adults only.

Call to register: 801-581-8454 FAMILY EVENTS GARDEN ADVENTURES Garden Adventures are classes for kids ages 4-12. Each class focuses on a different topic and seeks to help kids explore the wonders of the natural world.

Garden Members $5 / General Public $7 Register at 801-581-8454 or http://www.redbuttegarden.org/garden-adventures GOURD-TASTIC November 7 from 10-11:30AM Learn about all the crazy gourds and create fall decorations with ornamental gourds to take home.

FANTASTIC FALL FOLIAGE November 21 from 10-11:30AM Discover why leaves change color in the fall and create a leaf-inspired art project.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Saturday, December 19 from 10AM - 2PM Garden Members $3 / General Public $3 + General Admission Winter Solstice has long been celebrated all over the world because it heralds the return of the light after the shortest and darkest day of the year. Bring your kids to the Children’s Garden and create head wreaths, winter candles, and more. Sip hot chocolate and make a new-year wish at the Yule Log. The Red Butte Garden Gift Shop is open yearround during regular garden business hours.

You’ll find a unique selection of locally made products and a wide variety of garden-inspired gifts including fine jewelry, fun kid’s items, books, and home and holiday décor.

Book your Holiday Event at Red Butte Garden now! 801-585-9563 http://www.redbuttegarden.org/event-rental RED BUTTE GARDEN GENERAL INFORMATION 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 www.redbuttegarden.org / 801-585-0556 General Admission: Adults (ages 18-64): $10 Seniors (65+): $8 Military ID: $8, Children (ages 3-17): $6 Children under age three: Free UU Faculty/Staff: $8, UU students: Free, Garden Members: Free Spring Hours: April 1-30, open daily 9AM to 7:30PM Summer Hours: May 1 - August 31, open daily 9AM to 9PM Fall Hours: September 1-30, open daily 9AM to 7:30PM Winter Hours: October 1 - March 31, open daily 9AM to 5PM Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Dec. 24 – Jan. 1 Enjoy 1/2 admission December, January & February Red Butte Garden is Utah’s botanical garden and arboretum. Our mission is to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. Through our mission we strive to create a community that understands, values, protects and is enriched by the world of plants.

After More than 30 Years, the Dodo is Still a Crowd Pleaser

S

By Aimee L. Cook

ince 1981 the Dodo Restaurant has been feeding the masses. Like the unique bird from the island of Mauritius it is named after, the Dodo has a unique menu that regular customers and newcomers alike rave about.

Owned by Bryon Loveall, also owner of The Porcupine Restaurant in Cottonwood Heights, The Dodo has a definite following. For people that visit the restaurant on a regular basis, the menu items, carefully prepared by Chef Mateo Juarez, pretty much stay the same tried-andtrue dishes people have come to crave.

Take the roasted tomato polenta cakes ($8.99) for example. Served on a bed of cool avocado spread and topped with a spicy chipotle aioli and a fresh pine nut relish, the combination of flavors packed into these small polenta cakes is a taste treat.

The house-smoked wings ($11.00) come either based in traditional wing sauce, or their house barbecue sauce, or a combination of both, which is the way to go. The smoky wings are tender, juicy and have the right amount of kick.

The Dodo is best known for its desserts, as well as meats, such as the smoked turkey sandwich ($9.99). All meats are smoked in-house, and the turkey is done to perfection. Thin slices are served on a garlic sourdough roll with a side of the Dodo’s signature barbecue sauce. This sandwich is fresh, flavorful and delicious. I was

unsure of the barbecue sauce on the side as a dipper, like an au jus, but I was pleasantly surprised at the enhancement it provided to the sandwich.

Soups are also house-made. The creamy mushroom soup ($3.99) was both creamy and loaded with mushrooms. The hearty soup is served with a hard roll and side salad, and the combination makes for a nice, lighter option.

You can’t talk about the Dodo without mentioning the fantastic desserts prepared daily by Ramone Montelongo, who has been the pastry chef for over 25 years. Six dessert staples are available every day. From the carrot cake to the Tollhouse pie ($7.99), the pure decadence of his creations are sure to make you find some room for at least a bite. I tried the Tollhouse pie, warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it was divine. A sweet crust surrounds the soft, warm, gooey center, and the ice cream provides the right amount of coolness to make each bite worth the calories.

Overall, the food and the service were great, even though the restaurant was a bustle.

Manager Dan Washburn can be seen making the rounds throughout the crowd, ensuring that everything is prepared to your likeness and taking a personal interest in your dining experience.

The Dodo in Sugar House is located at 1355 East 2100 South or call 801-486-(BIRD).l

Free Pasta for the Gordons at Olive Garden

F

By Elizabeth Suggs

rom Oct. 5 through Nov. 22, loyal Olive Garden customers Kim and Susan Gordon have won seven weeks of a free, unlimited pasta pass to homemade sauces, pasta toppings, soup or salad, breadsticks and soft drinks.

Olive Garden’s never-ending pasta pass sold out in less than an hour, with 2,000 passes sold in seconds. As part of a commitment to the community, every Olive Garden across the nation gives out a pasta pass and a family pass to anyone that particular Olive Garden thinks is worthy of the pass.

Because of their loyalty, Giovanni Arismendi, general manager of Olive Garden, thought the Gordons were prime candidates.

“They’re one of our regulars, and with their daughter in the hospital for cancer, they’re a big story,” Arismendi said. “That’s why we chose them.”

The Gordons have attended Olive Garden nearly every night for the past two years. When asked why, Kim said it was because of the people, not the food, that kept them coming back.

“I’ve worked here for only six months, and already it’s like they’re family,” Arismendi said.

“They know me, they know my kids. They’re everyone’s family here.”

So close to the workers at Olive Garden, the Gordons have attended weddings, softball games and other events put together by the staff.

According to Kim, other customers have asked whether the Gordons are owners of the corporation and are hard-pressed to believe otherwise.

“You end up talking to a lot of people there,” Kim said. “People just don’t understand

why we’re so close to them.”

The relationship between the Gordons and the Olive Garden employees slowly happened because of two large events in the Gordons’ lives.

One, according to Kim, was because of their house being flooded.

“Our water heater blew up,” Kim said.

“The process took a couple weeks [to fix up].”

According to Kim, he and his wife would have to go through individual items frequently to check for water damage. At the end of the day, neither Kim nor Susan had the energy to cook.

The second event was the necessity of frequent hospital visits to a recovering family member. Kim and Susan would watch over the member in the morning so that the rest of the family could visit the hospital in the evening.

“We’d be on our way home,” Kim said, “and my wife would just look at me and say ‘Let’s go to the Olive Garden.’”

After that, it became a tradition. Before either event, the Gordons had only been a “couple times.” Now, the restaurant was a second home.

But Kim stressed he had never heard of the free pasta pass until he and his wife were given it.

“We were very surprised,” Kim said. “You can imagine us trying to come up with a schedule to use the pass on kids, friends and neighbors.”

The few times the Gordons haven’t been able to attend Olive Garden, it has raised concerns with the staff. According to Kim, even if the pair is later than their usual time, between 6-9 p.m., the staff will ask questions.

“They’ll ask us if everything is all right,” Kim said. And, in response to that, both he and Susan “worry about them like they’re our kids.”

November 2015 | Page 11

MyS ugar H ouseJournal.com

2016 Budget Prioritizes Public Safety, Criminal Justice Reform

By Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams

S

alt Lake County’s 1.1 million residents deserve a county government that steps up to the plate and confronts a serious criminal justice challenge. That’s what I’ve tried to do with my 2016 proposed budget. It is structurally balanced with existing revenues and it supports my belief in taking on tough issues and solving problems. This year, I have prioritized the county’s core responsibility – public safety.

We have a lot going for us. As a thriving metropolitan area, Salt Lake County is leading the way forward on economic growth and jobs, low taxes, cleaner air and quality education. I share the positive view most residents have that Salt Lake County is a great place to raise a family, start a business and give something back to the community.

However, we do face some challenges.

This year, due in part to the legislature’s passage of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, sentencing for some drug crimes and other non-violent offenses will require jail time, rather than prison. That change took

effect Oct. 1. I support the reforms to our criminal justice system, but in the short term, this adds to the jail overcrowding without providing sufficient funding for much-needed jail diversion programs that provide sentencing alternatives, dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. Also, without a Utah plan for Medicaid expansion, this amounts to an unfunded mandate on the counties.

Instead of just throwing up our hands, we’ve come up with a plan. Fully three fourths of the county’s general fund is taken up by the county’s criminal justice and human services investments. The jail and the District Attorney’s office are both experiencing a double digit increase in jail bookings and new criminal cases screened by law enforcement and that trajectory is continuing. We must pay for those immediate needs and at the same time, look for new ways to address the major causes of recidivism that just add to the problem.

My budget proposes that we continue

a jail levy—passed by taxpayers in 1995 to build a new jail—and re-dedicate the approximately $9.4 million annually to deal with increased crime while trying to stem the tide in the future. A portion of the money would be used to build a Community Corrections Center. This secure treatment facility is a sentencing alternative to the jail.

It would include space for intake efforts, behavioral health services, job counseling and other programs, within a secure environment. This will free up the “hard beds” for criminals who need to be kept away from society.

I’m convinced we can limit the number of new beds needed in the future, by funding some innovative programs that follow data and evidence to lower the recidivism rate, and prevent homeless individuals and those with mental illness and substance abuse issues from crowding the jail. Of 8,700 inmates released in 2011, nearly two-thirds were back in the jail within three years. In other words, they’re out just long enough to

get into legal trouble again. It’s a repeating loop that serves no one—not the victims of crime, not the police, not the prosecutors and not those cycling in and out of the system, or their families.

How will we measure success? We’ll know we’ve succeeded when 1) we’ve put the criminals behind bars, 2) the homeless in housing, 3) substance abusers in treatment, and 4) children in school, through high school graduation.

You can read more about my budget at www.slco.org/mayor. Thank you for giving me the privilege of representing you as Salt Lake County mayor. l

Page 12 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

Highland Golfer Takes 2nd in 4A Golf Tournament

S

taring down the last hole at Midway’s Soldier Hollow Golf Course, a par 5, all Oscar Maxfield, a sophomore at Highland High School, was thinking was to just keep the ball in a position where he could end the round with a par. It was the second day of the tournament, and Oscar’s hope was that he would at least end up on par. He finished out much better than that, ending up shooting two under par

By Tyson Peterson

on the day and finishing in the top 20.

Oscar took some time out from his school work this week to sit down with The Sugar House City Journal to talk about golf, basketball and life after high school. Starting off with golf, Oscar developed a love for the game from his father. He started playing when he was eight years old, when he also won his first tournament. Working hard to

improve his skills over the next seven years, Oscar ended up being one of only two individuals to qualify for the state tournament this year, an achievement he said did not come easy.

“I had to take top ten in the region for individuals to qualify for State, and my average of 76.5 got me the ninth place spot in the region. My team took fifth place in the region, and we weren’t able to make State because only the top four teams in the region qualify for State,” Oscar said.

The high school golf state tournament this year was held on Oct. 5 and 6 at The Soldier Hollow Golf Course in beautiful Midway.

When asked what was going through his mind when he finally got to the last hole of the tournament, Oscar said, “I just wanted to try to concentrate on keeping the ball in a position where I could end the round with a par. One of the most nerve-racking shots that I’ve ever had to hit was the approach shot on that final hole. I had to fly both water and bunkers on my way to a difficult pin placement, and when I did so I had a big sigh of relief thinking, ‘Just two-putt.’”

Not only does he love to play golf,

but Oscar also loves to play basketball. He currently plays on the Highland basketball team as both a point guard and off guard.

This year he plays on both the sophomore and junior varsity teams. Being surrounded by a love of sports, his family also instilled the love of basketball in him at a young age.

“I played Junior Jazz at the Boys and Girls Club. My love for the game has only grown since. I have played AAU basketball for Utah Pump N Run and Utah Basketball Club, and I have traveled across the West to play in tournaments,” Oscar said.

Oscar stays plenty busy with not only high school sports, but also with preparing for life after high school. When asked what his plans are for college, he said, “My plans for after high school are to hopefully earn a scholarship for golf and to go to that school to play collegiately. I am thinking about majoring in the PGA Golf Management Program; it seems like a good fit considering my great love for the game.”

The Highland golf season is done for this year, so Oscar can take a break from that now. But Highland basketball games will be starting on Nov. 9 and go through March 5. l

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November 2015 | Page 13

MyS ugar H ouseJournal.com

spotlight on: First National Bank

O

n May 15, 1905, First National Bank opened its doors for business in downtown Layton, Utah. Since that time, seven branches have been set up along the Wasatch Front, from Clearfield to Draper, with the South Valley Branch being their newest.

What once was a handful of directors and branch cashiers has now grown into a force

of more than 100 employees, who strive to continue providing the personalized service for which the bank is well known.

First National has been in business for over 110 years, which is a unique characteristic in and of itself. To find out how they have been successful for so long, one needs to look no further than their superior service. “Our bank is unique because we still provide relationship banking, something that has almost disappeared in today’s virtual world,” explains Brady Stratton, Business Development Officer for First National Bank. “When people have a question about their accounts or need financial help, they can call and speak directly to a real person. They don’t have to go through automated menus to solve their problems.”

Just because First National boasts a personalized touch doesn’t mean they are behind the times. They offer all of the high tech gadgets that make banking easy, while still providing personal help from experienced and friendly bankers who know your name and treat you like part of the

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family. They offer an exceptional Easy Checking account for consumers with no monthly service charge, no minimum balance requirements, and unlimited check writing. On the business side of things, First National provides the best Business Checking account around, with some of the lowest fees you will find in the state, plus a full line of other products to help a business succeed.

One service First National Bank is offering to businesses this month is free Small Business Association (SBA) Loan seminars. On each Wednesday in October, businesses can come and get a free bite to eat and learn about SBA Loans.

No matter your banking needs, First National Bank has a solution. “We have the best pens in the banking industry that will last you months on end,” says Brady. “Anybody can come into our branches for a free pen and a smile from any of our bankers.” Visit First National Bank’s South Valley Branch, located at 136 W 12300 S in Draper, or give them a call at (801) 813-1630 to see what First National can do for you. l

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Page 14 | November 2015

Sugar House Journal

The Gift of a Gift-less Holiday

By Joani Taylor

I

t’s almost here: turkey time. I’ve always felt that Thanksgiving gets cheated. Before Halloween is even over, the stores cram their holiday sections with Christmas displays and have stooped to bribery by bargain, in an effort to get you out spending dough before you’ve had time to digest your dinner rolls. Poor Thanksgiving: it gets skipped right over.

Thanksgiving is actually one of my favorite holidays. What other day of the year is it socially acceptable to stuff your face with potatoes covered in fat, yell at the television and sleep on the couch, all while enjoying the company of family and friends without the expectation of ANY GIFTS? Don’t misunderstand; I’m only a wee bit of a cheap, old scrooge. I love the light that shines in a child’s eyes when the jolly old man in a red velvet suit lands on the rooftop and sneaks a toy under the tree. Who can complain about a furry little barnyard animal that hides chocolate eggs under sofa cushions? But, it seems that entertaining kids with giving gifts is taking over our holidays.

Now we have creepy-looking elves wreaking havoc on the house and leaving daily surprises for an entire month. There are leprechauns that deliver gold coins. And, this year a Halloween witch has made her debut. She steals

your candy in the darkness of night and leaves a gift in exchange. What’s next: the 4th of July, gift-bearing Uncle Sam? While I’d love to be the one to capitalize on the making of Tom the Turkey, who would gobble in on Thanksgiving eve to stuff a magic cornucopia full of candy feathers and toy pilgrims before popping himself in the oven, I’ll have to leave that one to the magic of the marketing pros. Until then, I am thankful that Thanksgiving is still a holiday that celebrates family without the expectation of presents. Joining together for a meal can take a toll on the wallet, though. Here are some tips for keeping the holiday eats big and cutting the budget to a minimum.

Keep It Simple: Alleviate yourself of the feeling that you have to prepare everyone’s

favorite. Keep the popular favorites and get rid of the rest. My hubby loves a creamed corn casserole my grandmother used to serve, but no one else will touch it. So, I make it for his birthday instead.

Shop the sales early: The best prices for Thanksgiving meal essentials start three to four weeks before the holiday. Watch the ads and start purchasing the essentials early. Look for free and discounted turkey promos. Most stores run them a couple of weeks before the big day.

Clip the coupons: Pair your coupons with the sale items. If you’re a Smith’s shopper, check out a blog called Crazy4Smiths.com.

You’ll find the unadvertised bargains, along with the clipable, printable and digital coupons for those items. Maceys has coupons right on

their webpage (maceys.com). Harmons has a secret coupon special every Tuesday on Facebook.

And always check coupons.com for last minute printable coupons before heading to the store.

Volunteer: Skipping your own Thanksgiving meal and volunteering to serve up the chow at shelters like the Road Home or SL Mission is a great way to kick off the season of giving. If the volunteer schedule is full, consider making care packages for the homeless and then deliver them to the shelters on Thanksgiving.

Make your own decorations: Fancy napkin rings and centerpieces are expensive.

Check your local craft stores for ideas on making your own. Have the kids get in on it and make some memories, too. You can find a weekly list of craft store coupons on coupons4utah. com/craftstorecoupons.

Eating a dry turkey and unusual side dishes may not be the favorite of kids, but it is this gift-less holiday that joins family and kicks off the season of sacrifice, love and compassion, and that is one heck of a gift.

Note: Last month’s column had a notation about finding early movie previews at advance(d)screenings.com. There was a typo: the actual website is advancescreenings.com, without the “d”. l

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November 2015 | Page 15

MyS ugar H ouseJournal.com

Send in the Clowns

By Peri Kinder

I

t’s a time of natural selection. A season of mass hysteria. Wolves, disguised as sheep, travel in packs, attacking the weak, the inferior, the less adaptable. I’m not talking about the latest season of “The Walking Dead,”—but it’s close. I’m talking about the presidential campaign.

Next November we’ll be electing a new president, then we’ll spend 4-8 years slowly pecking him/her to death. And while the election is still a year away, I’m already tired of hearing campaign speeches, bloated promises and intolerant views.

Welcome to the Reality TV show political campaign landscape that’s a combination of “Survivor” and “Hell’s Kitchen.”

I call it “American Idle: Washington, D.C.” Instead of selecting a world leader who won’t be ridiculed by the entire planet, we seem to be more focused on a celebridential popularity contest, electing a president who has the strongest handshake, the best suit or the whitest smile.

The fact that Donald Trump thinks he represents this country with his intolerant, puffy-haired self-importance and insane detachment from reality makes the back of

my neck itch. I could list some of the dumbest things Trump has said, but it would be outdated before my column would be published.

In a circus act of national proportions, the presidential candidates twist the issues with the help of our frenzied media who jump on every possibly scandalous topic like piranhas in a bloody river. We watch in horror as blooper reels blast through the Internet 24/7, and citizens become too fedup (or lazy) to be educated about the real issues.

The constant pandering to minority/ women/young voters is nauseating and obnoxious. This pandermania has included Hillary Clinton appearing as a bartender on Saturday Night Live, and Trump interviewing himself on “The Tonight Show.” I’m still waiting for the “Chris Christie/Marco Rubio American Ninja Warrior Challenge.”

Candidates throw out terms like “equality” and “justice” in verbose sentences that make no sense, such as, “The idea of equal equality is mostly within our grasping fingers because justice.”

Backpedaling, recanting, denying and

contradicting are commonplace in modern elections. Candidates often appear on news shows explaining what they “meant” to say.

It seems voters don’t even expect ethical behavior from the president-to-be. Voters are nothing if not irrational—which is fine, because the candidates are also irrational.

It’s no surprise there is big money behind each candidate. Political action committees (inexplicably deemed legal by the Supreme Court) literally purchase the new president. Millions of dollars are spent on TV ads, glossy mailings and social media campaigns, not to explain why you should vote for a candidate, but why you shouldn’t vote for their opponent. Mean-spirited, hateful speeches spew into the air, clouding the issues with their hazy pollution.

As the presidential race continues weaning out the unpopular and the less pretty (leaving the populace with a candidate most likely to pose for a selfie with Kanye West), voters become desperate, feeling their voices are not being heard.

It’s like watching a remake of the “Wizard of Oz” with Clinton trying to prove she has a heart, Trump trying to prove he has a brain and everyone else screeching and flapping like a barrel of flying monkeys. If we’re lucky, a house will fall on all of them.

There will definitely be a winner next November. I’m pretty sure it won’t be the voters. l

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