South Jordan City Journal - December 2014 - Vol. 1 Iss. 11

HOLIDAY

HAPPENINGS

SEE PAGE 7

!

singing in the season

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FCCLA members shine

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The South Jordan Fire and Rescue team receive Jordan Valley Hospital’s Great Save Award for their quick thinking in saving the life of a female heart attack patient. From left, Dr. R. Bart Johansen, emergency care physician, Dr. Konstantyn Szwajkun, cardiologist, Ryan Christensen, Curtis Evans, Chris Richards, Jon Stone, Brian Allred and Steven M. Anderson, CEO Jordan Valley Hospital.

SJ Fire And Rescue Honored For Saving A Life

By Karen Holt Bennion

B

y the time she became nauseous and turned pale at dinner, her family knew something was terribly wrong on that hot June 15 evening. Even when she had a dull pain in her throat, the 51-year-old woman didn’t think she was having a heart attack. Only when South Jordan rescue workers arrived at her home did she realize the seriousness of her condition.

The woman (who asked that her name be kept private) is alive and doing well at home now and is extremely grateful for those paramedics and firefighters who listened to their instincts and quickly knew what to do to save her life.

When they arrived on the scene, the crew immediately

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hooked her up to a portable 12-lead electrocardiogram. They saw some disturbing signs on the monitor that alerted them to contact Jordan Valley Hospital to let physicians know they were bringing in a heart patient.

Once at the hospital, physicians took over. An aspiration thrombectomy was performed and a stent was placed in her heart. The whole episode took under 81 minutes.

The team, South Jordan Station #62’s fire and rescue unit, was honored at a press conference breakfast at Jordan Valley on Oct. 21. They received the hospital’s “Great Save”

Fire & Rescue continued on page 5

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“This has saved more than a dozen lives since it was mandated. With the

proper funding and training, more and more people will be able to stop an [cardiac] arrest from progressing further.” page 2

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NEWS

City Council To Vote On Possible Rebate For Heart-Saving Devices

By Karen Holt Bennion

S

uppose you’re in a grocery store, a dentist’s office or your local gym and suddenly felt a pain in your chest, shoulder or throat? Since symptoms of cardiac arrest vary with each individual, you could be experiencing a heart attack and not even know it.

Fortunately, if it happened in South Jordan, many businesses would have the equipment on hand to help you.

Since 2008, South Jordan City has mandated that certain businesses carry an automated external defibrillator at their own expense. Any type of business that has an occupancy rate of 150 people or more per day must acquire one. The policy has had a 100 percent compliance rate so far.

However, at that time, current-Mayor David Alvord wasn’t too keen on purchasing the unit using his own funds from his dental practice. He felt that there should be a way for him and other local business owners to obtain the devices without having to do so out of their own pockets.

Now, Alvord has been at the forefront of coming up with an ordinance that will be up for a vote by the end of the year.

“This has saved more than a dozen

lives since it was mandated. With the proper funding and training, more and more people will be able to stop an arrest from progressing further.”

THE SOUTH JORDAN TEAM

In December the South Jordan City Council will vote on an ordinance that would make obtaining an AED more affordable by offering a full rebate with each purchase.

Alvord thinks that’s a great idea.

“This rebate program promises to keep the program strong by funding it through the city. Or, put differently, an unfunded mandate is now a funded mandate,” he said.

Alvord and Fire Chief Chris Evans believe other businesses will appreciate the rebate as well. The city is

Immediate CPR and early defibrillation with an AED can more than double a victim’s chance of survival.

Early defibrillation, along with CPR, is the only way to restore the victim’s heart rhythm to normal in a lot of cases of cardiac arrest.

For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10 percent.

Twenty-three percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are“shockable” arrhythmias, or those that respond to a shock from an AED. Source: www.heart.org expecting new businesses to get on board with buying the life-saving devices.

“Actually, the idea for the rebate came from the mayor, before he was the mayor,” Evans said. “He’s always been concerned about our government’s unfunded mandates.”

Evans thinks the ordinance will be approved unanimously, and will be a positive factor in getting future South Jordan businesses on board with owning the portable life savers.

AEDs are lightweight, and, with the proper training, anybody can to use them. They can check the heart rhythm, and, if needed, can send an electric shock wave directly to the heart in order to gain a normal heartbeat. It can be a much-needed partner in aiding CPR until paramedics arrive.

South Jordan is currently contracting with Zoll AED Plus, to provide the AEDs and will sell these devices at its wholesale rate to the businesses.

AEDs can cost from $1,175 to $1,400, with batteries costing close to $150. Batteries are usually replaced every five years. (The rebate may not cover the cost of new batteries and accessories.)

Funding for the rebates could come from the city’s ambulance revenue, which currently has a surplus. Even businesses that have already purchased an AED will have a window that will allow them to apply for the rebate as well. (The timeline for requesting a rebate and its funding mechanism will be confirmed at a future city

Staff Writers: Karen Holt Bennion, Julie Slama, Shawna Meyer and Catherine Garrett Ad Sales: 801-264-6649 Sales Associate: Steve Hession: 801-907-1606 Circulation Coordinator: Vitaly Kouten: Circulation@valleyjournals.com Ad Design: Paula Rushton: Paula@valleyjournals.com Editorial Design: Ty Gorton: Design@myutahjournals.com

council meeting.)

The rebate will not only be available to businesses, residents will also have an opportunity to purchase an AED. Free training for using the machine will be offered through the South Jordan Fire Department, as it has been in the past.

South Jordan council members were in agreement about the rebate at the city’s Oct. 21 work session.

“I think we’re all in agreeance that this will be a positive thing for the city,” Councilmember Steve Barnes said.

Evans thinks the rebate would be another great step in preventing cardiac arrests from being fatal.

“This has saved more than a dozen lives since it was mandated,” he said. “With the proper funding and training, more and more people will be able to stop an arrest from progressing further.” l m i ss i o n s tate m e n t

Creative Director Bryan Scott: bryanscott@myutahjournals.com Editor Linda Petersen: linda@valleyjournals.com

Battalion Chief Wayne Edington holds an AED at the city’s fire station #61 on 10758 South Redwood Road.

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Paying It Forward

By Shawna Meyer

O

ne South Jordan family has benefitted directly from the annual Festival of Trees. The Meier family has attended the Festival for many years. When their daughter Nicole was 9, she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor in the muscles that are attached to the bones.

Because of her illness, Nicole and her family spent a lot of time in Primary Children’s Hospital. All of them were close to the nurses and doctors that helped her daughter.

“The people at the hospital were the most amazing people. The nurses that she had were like family to us,” Linda Meier, Nicole’s mother, said. “I think that they just became part of our lives . . . Even though what happened there was unpleasant, she didn’t hate going there because the people were so sweet to her and so kind, and they just helped her so much to get through what she had to go through.”

The family went to the Festival of Trees every year.

One year, while looking around at the trees, Nicole noticed that some of them had pictures of kids she recognized from the hospital that had passed away.

“We started to explain how the money that they raised when they auction off these trees and things helped the kids at the hospital. That’s when she said, ‘I think we should do a tree. I think we need to help all those sick kids out there.’ And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re one of them.’

But that’s just kind of how she was. She was just always looking out for others,” Meier said.

Unfortunately, Nicole passed away in 1991, the year they were going to decorate a tree to donate.

“I kind of promised her that we would do a tree, so the next year I decided to fulfill that promise to her,” Meier said. “Then I got hooked on it . . . This year will be our 23rd year.”

Meier described the first year of participating as therapeutic for both herself and her family.

“It really helped me that first year to get through it. She died right before Festival of Trees time, and it helped me get through those first couple years of grief, I guess. It really made it easier for me and for my family to know that we were doing something in her honor,” Meier said.

What started as a promise became therapy, but now Meier says she does it because it’s fun.

This year’s tree is going to be called “Lights of Christmas,” and will feature snowmen and Santas holding lanterns. The colors will be traditional reds and greens, with black and white interspersed throughout. Meier says that it takes about seven hours to decorate the tree.

In addition to decorating a tree, Meier also quilts,

Paying It Forward continued on page 5

Linda Meier and her family have been decorating Christmas trees for the Festival of Trees for 23 years now. In this picture, Meier poses with the tree she decorated last year.

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Christmas Music A Way Of Life For Local Choir And Orchestra

By Shawna Meyer

T

he Sounds of the Season Chorale and Orchestra will perform its annual holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the Bingham High School auditorium, 2160 West 10400 South. There will be a matinee concert at 2 p.m. and an evening one at 7 p.m. Admission is free for both.

“Music is a universal language—no matter what language you speak, everybody understands it. Music makes you feel good, bad, uplifted, and Christmas music does nothing but uplift you,” said Marlene Stanley, Sounds of the Season director.

Stanley has been the director of the Sounds of the Season group for 10 years now.

Her father directed choirs and taught voice at the University of Utah, so music was always an integral part of Stanley’s childhood. She began singing in choirs in elementary school. She went to Brighton High, where she was in an acapella group, and she took music classes while at the University of Utah.

“I feel music because of the parenting I had. I lived in a home that was filled with music. It would have been very hard for me to grow up and not have it be an integral part of my life,” she said.

After college, Stanley moved to Houston, Texas, where she lived for about 40 years. While there, she continued to sing in choirs. However, when she was around 33, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which made singing very difficult.

Fortunately, her illness didn’t end her

The Sounds of the Season Chorale and Orchestra has played together for about 10 years. It is composed of 125 singers and about 28 instrumentalists.

love for music. Instead of singing in choirs, she decided that she would direct them. She began directing smaller choirs while still in Houston, but then decided to move back to Utah in 2000, settling in South Jordan.

When Christmas time came around, Stanley noticed that her community didn’t really have a choir that was separate from local churches. She decided to present her idea for a choir to the South Jordan Arts Council, and her idea was approved.

“I just felt like sometimes we need to have something that’s more light and fun. I felt like people needed a place to go that was maybe close to home that did not require auditions, and they could just sing,” Stanley said.

The choir started basically by word of mouth. Stanley had spent so much time away from Utah that she had only a few contacts, but she called everybody musical that she knew and invited them to join her choir.

“I thought that if I could get 50 people,

I would be good. I ended up with 80,” Stanley said.

Ten years later, the Sounds of the Season Chorale and Orchestra has about 125 singers and about 28 instrumentalists who play strings, woodwinds, one French horn and percussion.

The choir began rehearsing for their December shows way back in August because they have so much music and words that they have to learn and memorize. The orchestra will join them for rehearsal in about mid-November.

“They just love Christmas music. It’s great music. I’ve never had anybody say that they’re tired of it,” Stanley said.

The Dec. 6 program will have 17 musical numbers—eight will be recycled from past years and nine will be brand new.

It will run about an hour and half long with no intermission.

This choir and orchestra is a pretty big commitment, but Stanley makes sure that it

remains fun and lighthearted. In fact, about half of her group members have been with her since the beginning.

She has a couple who are both 87 who have been singing in this group for 10 years.

“They sit—and you know what—the thing about them is that they can still sing . . . They can follow music and they can sing. They’re just darling. They’ve been with me for 10 years and have hardly missed a rehearsal,” Stanley said.

Those in attendance can expect familiar songs such as “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “Joy To The World,” “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch,” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.”

“It’s the music that people love, but they’re very unique, difficult arrangements,” Stanley said. “I think Christmas music is a way of life in this country. I think it’s a tradition. . . I think if you asked any musical person in the world some of their most favorite music of all time is Christmas.” l

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S outh JordanJournal .com Paying It Forward continued from page 3 so each tree comes with a coordinating handmade tree skirt and quilt.

“It’s kind of fun to do that,” Meier said.

When the Festival of Trees included a wreath display about three years ago, Meier

people help,” Meier said.

When Nicole was sick, Meier’s husband Jon lost his job, and the family worried about how they would pay their medical bills. Fortunately, because of the amount of fundraising the Festival of Trees does each year, they didn’t have to worry about it.

www.SouthJordanJournal.com

“I know how much of a burden that took off my mind as a parent to not have to worry about the money. If I can do that for another family, then that is the best thing ever.” also began making a wreath every year.

“I’ve been busy,” Meier said. “Anything that I can donate that will help raise money for the hospital is awesome.”

However, she doesn’t do everything herself.

Meier says that she has neighborhood people help her, as well as family and friends. She has four older sons that mostly live out of state, but they help their mother financially with the tree. She also has men in her neighborhood hand make a wooden stand to go with each quilt she makes.

“I’m just so blessed to have so many

“I just feel like this is kind of a way to pay back what we were able to get from Primary’s. I know how much of a burden that took off my mind as a parent to not have to worry about the money. If I can do that for another family, then that is the best thing ever,” Meier said. “I didn’t realize how much it really helped until I needed it myself.”

Meier intends to continue participating in the Festival of Trees for many years to come.

“I’m already thinking about next year,” she said. l

Fire & Rescue continued from page 1 award, which is given out each quarter to those with timely and sensitive responses.

At the award ceremony, Holly B. Burke, RN and EMS/state liaison, introduced the fire and rescue workers and expressed appreciation for their timeliness and keen sense of instinct.

“Those guys made the difference in the outcome of this patient,” she said. “We are proud to be partners with such a great fire department and incredible paramedics.”

A few years ago, Fire Chief Chris Evans approached administrators at Jordan Valley and asked to work with them in helping cardiac arrest patients get to the hospital quickly to an already prepared lab where physicians could take care of the patient in only minutes.

Evans said he simply wanted to prevent cardiac arrests from turning into fatalities, and Jordan Valley was the closest hospital at the time to South Jordan.

By using a 12-lead EKG monitor, instead of the normal six-lead, rescue workers can detect a rise in a particular heart rhythm called a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or a “stemi.” They are able to call into the hospital and let them know about this type of attack. This saves significant

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“I believe our partnership with South Jordan Fire and Rescue is the first in our valley,” Jordan Valley CEO Steven Anderson said. “These guys are able to make a diagnosis in the field and work with our hospital, which can get ready for the incoming patient.”

The local program of rescue workers working closely with the hospital’s emergency cardiac care unit is also recognized by the American Heart Association.

Evans and the others on his team thanked the hospital for the award but said that all they did was their job. “We were glad to be able to help her and will be ready to help others in the same situation,” he said. l

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Page 6 | December 2014

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NEWS

Survey Results Bring Smiles To Mulligan’s Group

By Karen Holt Bennion

O

n Oct. 21, in Mulligan’s Golf and Games, the president of Save Mulligans, Julie Holbrook, happily announced the results of the group’s survey that it posted in the September issue of the South Jordan Journal.

The survey posed three questions to residents and nonresidents, asking if they wanted to preserve the golf and games center, if they wanted to see the city develop the land or if they’d like to see the city develop a portion of Mulligan’s and use the rest of the land as an open park.

“We had an outstanding response,” Holbrook said.

“Over 94 percent of the results from residents are in favor of keeping Mulligan’s.”

A mere 1.85 percent of respondents wanted Mulligan’s to be sold and developed, and 4.56 percent of the residents would like to see some of the land developed. The numbers from nonresidents were similar except for the question of developing the golf course. The responses were higher at 5.88 percent.

“We did receive feedback from all over the city,” Holbrook said.

However, Save Mulligans will not be presenting the survey results to the city council anytime soon.

“They don’t want to hear from us so we don’t go anymore,” Holbrook said. “We’ve not been invited to the

table for a year and a half now.”

Funding for the questionnaire came from donations to Save Mulligans which is now a nonprofit organization.

The cost of the survey was $1,250.

“We’ll now just hold on to our numbers and wait until the city’s survey results come out in order to compare them,” Holbrook said.

“We had an outstanding

response. Over 94 percent of the results from residents are in favor of keeping Mulligan’s.”

Earlier this fall, the city hired Y2 Analytics to conduct focus groups in order to gather its own data to put on its survey. City council members also gave the firm their own suggestions for the survey, which has been emailed out to 500 random registered South Jordan voters.

“One of the topics I suggested Y2 put on the survey is whether our residents want to use a tax increase to fix it [Mulligan’s] up,” Councilmember Chuck Newton said.

“That question wasn’t on the Save Mulligans survey. Our survey is a truly representative sample of South Jordan.”

Newton said that the city survey is a scientific one that will pose more questions to residents, therefore giving the city a better idea of how to move forward with the prized parcel of land.

“Save Mulligans’ survey was self-selective,” he said.

“Only those who wanted to send their vote back did so, and they had to add their personal information on it.”

Holbrook responded sharply to Newton’s remark.

“Save Mulligans has never claimed the ‘survey’ was scientific,” she said. “It was an avenue for everyone to voice their opinion.”

The city has also produced an information video about Mulligan’s and ideas for its future, which can be viewed on the city website.

Although she thinks the video seems more like “a political propaganda ploy,” Holbrook isn’t worried. She and the members of Save Mulligans are ready to move forward and try to use all survey information to their advantage in saving the golf course.

“We’ve got a great team to do what it takes to save this valuable piece of land,” she said.

Holbrook is certain that Save Mulligans will be able to secure their objective to keep Mulligan’s alive. l

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South Jordan Filled With Holiday Happenings

T

here’s some great family fun planned in and around South Jordan for the holidays. The South Jordan Journal has tried to round up information on as many as we can below. Tear this page out and put it on your fridge so you don’t miss out on all the fun events!

LIGHT THE NIGHT South Jordan is holding Light the Night, the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony, on Friday Dec. 5 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the South Jordan City Plaza, 1600 West Towne Center Drive. Families are invited to attend for free, and young children will have the opportunity to meet Santa and remind him of what they want for Christmas.

Those attending are encouraged to dress warm because there will be free ice skating at the rink next to the plaza, where people can cruise around outside while waiting for Santa to arrive. For those wary about the cold, there is a warming hut at the rink and hot cocoa.

There will also be hayrides happening at the plaza, and the South Jordan Library will be doing fun holiday-themed crafts until they close at 9 p.m. The Christmas tree in the middle of the skating rink will be lit up around 8 p.m. for all to marvel at.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST South Jordan residents have entered their creations into this year’s Gale Center Gingerbread House Contest. All entries will be displayed through Dec. 5 at the Gale Center, 10300 South Beckstead Lane.

Those who come to see the edible creations can cast their vote for their favorite through Dec. 4. The People’s Choice winner will be announced at the city’s Light the Night event.

SANTA CLAUS Families can visit Santa Claus on Towne Center Drive (1600 West 10610 South) in his own special hut just west of City Hall: Friday, Dec. 5 • 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6 • 3-5 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 12 • 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 13 • 3-5 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 19 • 6-8 p.m.

CANDY WINDOWS Now in its second year, Candy Windows will have 10 window displays on Towne Center Drive throughout December beginning on Dec. 5 with Light the Night. The theme of this year’s Candy Windows project is “Hearts all Aglow.”

There will be large candy structures at South Jordan City Hall, One Sweet Slice, Dressed in White, Soccer Plus, Material Girls, Downtown Philly, Pie Five, Elements, Cold Store Creamery and Fed Ex. These locations are in and around the South Jordan Towne Center.

There is a small contest involved this year. If families take their kids to the event, they can count the number of candy canes in each window. The form that they fill out can be found online on the city’s website, at City Hall or at the Gale Center.

After they have counted them, they should bring their completed form to City Hall to be entered into a drawing to win dinner and a movie for a family.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON The Sounds of the Season Chorale and Orchestra will perform its annual holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Bingham High School auditorium, 2160 West 10400 South. There will be a matinee concert at 2 p.m. and an evening one at 7 p.m. Admission is free for both.

There are about 130 singers and around 30 instrumentalists in the group this year, and each one volunteered his or her time. Rehearsals for the singers began clear back in August, and the orchestra will join the rehearsals in mid November.

The group is large because they accept everyone who wants to participate—there are no auditions. This, along with a fun, upbeat set list made up of holiday classics, sets the Sounds of the Season group apart from other holiday choirs and orchestras.

JORDAN YOUTH SYMPHONY Jordan Youth Symphony will perform on the south stage at Festival of the Trees at 4:35 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State St., Sandy. They will play “A Christmas Hymn (Till Morning Is Nigh),”“O Holy Night,”“Two Songs for the Holidays,”“Tidings of Comfort and Joy,”“The Little Drummer Boy,” and “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.”

Jordan Youth Symphony will perform at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8 at Butler Middle School auditorium, 7530 South 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights. They will play “A Christmas Hymn (Till Morning Is Nigh),” “O Holy Night,” “Two Songs for the Holidays,” “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” and “Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo 12/24.”They will be joined by the Canyons Youth Symphony.

Page 8 | December 2014

The Sound Of Silence

By City Councilmember Steve Barnes

I

always enjoy the opportunity to write about the latest news in our city every five months or so. This month I’d like to share my thoughts with you about some things that may concern you as a resident of South Jordan.

It has been made increasingly difficult over the last 11 months for South Jordan residents to have their voices heard and take part in the “Public Comment” portion of our meetings. Until this year, to speak during the Public Comment portion of a City Council meeting the only thing required was to step up to the microphone and state your name and address.

Occasionally throughout the year there were arbitrary time limits imposed on the amount of time that would be allotted to Public Comment. The process was later changed, requiring participants to fill out a “comment card” that among other things, required a description of the nature of their comments.

Finally, during the Public Comment portion of the Oct. 7 meeting an additional requirement was randomly imposed which mandated that comment cards had to be submitted before the beginning of Public Comment.

This last requirement imposed on the public is also very concerning to me. Now, upon hearing your neighbor share an opinion, you will not have the opportunity to immediately respond to this comment with a supporting or opposing view. All of the measures above have literally

S outh Jordan City Journal

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS restricted participation and resulted in residents not being allowed to speak.

I strongly oppose these practices. When South Jordan residents take the time out of their busy lives and make arrangements to attend a City Council meeting to voice their views on issues that they are passionate about, they deserve to have their turn to speak. They do not deserve to be silenced due to arbitrary restrictions, opposing points of view, or the Council’s desire to go home earlier.

One particularly large issue that has come up this year has been the discussion of whether or not to develop the city-owned park, Mulligan’s Golf and Games.

There has been a lot of one-sided information put out lately by the mayor and council in favor of developing Mulligan’s. I am disturbed by the fact that not only are other points of view on this issue being actively silenced, they are also being mocked, belittled, and marginalized.

I have personally witnessed South Jordan residents with opposing views being compared in a public forum to “Bill Clinton lying about the Monica Lewinsky affair,” or written off as being part of a vocal minority, or even just being called unintelligent.

S

outh Jordan residents deserve better treatment than this from those that they elected to represent them. There is simply NO excuse for these actions.

In spite of the Public Comment process becoming more restricted, and a climate of condescension being created over the last several months, the mayor recently sent each household a letter saying that YOU get to decide the fate of Mulligan’s. If that truly were the case, we would have

mailed you a ballot instead of a biased letter. The fact is, only 500 residents of the city will have the opportunity to participate in the city-commissioned survey.

I have personally been advocating for several months to send out an “unofficial ballot” or survey to all South Jordan residents. (State law does not allow for city councils to put certain issues on an official ballot) Unfortunately, instead of sending out an “unofficial ballot” to the entire city, the decision was made, without a council vote, to send out a one-sided and biased letter, which I feel contaminates the entire survey process.

The reasoning given by those who agree with the mayor in this process state that the survey of 500 residents will yield a more “scientific result.” This councilman believes that we don’t live in a “scientific survey-ocracy” if I can coin that term. We live in a democratic republic which gives every qualifying resident who would like to participate the opportunity to have their voice heard.

I

apologize for not writing a more positive article about the other great things that are coming up in the holiday season. I feel, however, that it is important that I share my thoughts with you on these issues and invite you to advocate with me for a different process. It is not too late to send a survey to every household. It is not too late to ask that Public Comment in our meetings be restored to what it used to be. It is okay to make some mistakes along the way as long as we can recognize them, fix them, and end up in a better place. I want the people of South Jordan to be heard and not be represented by “The Sound of Silence.” l

The Gale Center of History and Culture 2015 TERRIFIC TUESDAY PROGRAM Beginning in 2015, the Gale Center of History & Culture, Terrific Tuesday program, will be held the last Tuesday of the month, and will be held at 10:00 a.m. This program is open to the public and we are also inviting preschool groups to make reservations to attend and be a part of this program. Contact: Candy Ponzurick for more information.

TOURS Schedule a tour of the Gale Center of History and Culture, an educational facility where children and adults can explore the past in a hands-on manner.

The Gale Center promotes Utah history through Exhibits, Events and Education.

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FREE Admission Saturday by appointment Please call ahead to schedule groups

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Mayor David L. Alvord City Council Members Steve Barnes Donald J. Shelton Mark Seethaler Chuck Newton Christopher J. Rogers

Nov.-Dec. 2014

•

Focus

www.sjc.utah.gov

A monthly newsletter for South Jordan residents CONGRATULATIONS SOUTH JORDAN UNIVERSITY FALL 2014 GRADUATES!

Pictured (left to right): Katie Lindquist, Stephanie Rahn, Lori Edmunds, Adam Kolowich (and children), June Kerby, Jason Hall, Wendy Cox, Robert McKinley, Becci Lammi, Phil Lammi. Not pictured: Tom Kerby, Sandi Kirkendoll.

Registration is open for the next season. Hold your place for South Jordan University Spring 2015 as space is limited.

This eight-week program is held on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., starting March 25 at various city buildings. www.sjc.utah.gov/southjordanuniversity.asp. Contact: Melinda Nagai Seager, mseager@sjc.utah.gov, 801-254-3742.

Appointed Officials: City Manager, Gary L. Whatcott; ACM/Legal & Legislative, I. Robert Wall; Chief of Staff, Paul Cunningham.

Nov.-Dec. 2014 • www.sjc.utah.gov

A monthly newsletter for South Jordan residents

WELCOMING NEW SOUTH JORDAN BUSINESSES!

South Jordan City would like to welcome the following new businesses to the city: New Business Licenses: Mindi Westley – 10577 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 107 Joel Vincent MacDonald – 1072 W. South Jordan Pkwy., Ste. B Fletcher Jacobs – 1072 W. South Jordan Pkwy., Ste. B Sagewood at Daybreak (sales office) – 11248 S. Kestrel Rise Rd., Ste. B101 Soccer Plus – 1645 W. Towne Center Dr., Ste. C-5 Muscle Dynamics Therapy and Wellness – 10382 S. Jordan Gtwy., Ste. 160 New Home Occupation Business Licenses: The KPI System; Alex Bown; Bad Dog L.L.C.; M.A.D. Marceting; VSK Enterprises; NOD Outdoors; Modern Accents; Hatch Speech Therapy; JNR Concrete

South Jordan City Hall • 1600 West Towne Center Drive • South Jordan, Utah 84095 • (801) 254-3742 • info@sjc.utah.gov

Page 12 | December 2014

S outh Jordan City Journal

EDUCATION

Bingham High Students Demonstrate Leadership, Service

By Julie Slama

A

bout 85 Bingham High students are learning leadership and career preparation skills, thanks to the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter.

Back in the 1950s, Future Homemakers of America encouraged girls to stay in school to focus on family and marriage. Since then, the organization has gone through many changes, including changing its name, to reflect societal changes. It now offers male and female students a chance to develop leadership and personal growth skills to prepare for careers.

“FCCLA is the only student-led organization that focuses on family and the community and even breaks down to the individual,” adviser Aubrey Turnbow said. “We have a place for everyone where they can create, plan, budget and organize activities and service, and those skills can be helpful to them when they apply for college and scholarships.”

Sixteen student leaders direct the club

that helps members develop skills in the organization’s focus of family, career and community. Those leaders were trained and listened to keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox at a Sept. 23-24 fall leadership conference.

“They learned to work with others, and they’re putting the skills to use as each of them will be leading an activity, service project or event this year,” Turnbow said.

Student leader and junior Claire Malloy is organizing others in decorating and sponsoring a tree at the Festival of Trees Dec. 4-6.

She organized her team to design the tree, and they are currently making ornaments, wood cut-outs and a tree skirt to match the theme of the childhood game, Candyland.

“Every year, we donate a tree, but this year, we decided to dedicate it to someone.

So the student leader asked FCCLA student leadership, and then, sent out an email to teachers asking if there is someone who they can dedicate the tree to. Out of the responses, they selected a teacher whose friend recently lost her 8-year-old daughter,

Some of Bingham High’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America student leaders and adviser Aubrey Turbow attended a fall leadership conference where they learned skills to lead their chapter this year. Photo courtesy of Aubrey Turnbow Cora Adams, so they thought this theme would bring back childhood memories,” Turnbow said.

At the same time, student leaders and seniors Breanna Gray and Teisha Christensen have been working on a campaign, “Don’t Text and Drive.” They organized a presentation for all 120 students in the family and consumer sciences department and invited South Jordan Police Officer Scott Russell to share statistics and arrange an AT&T simulation of what happens when people aren’t focused on the road. They also had students sign a pledge not to text and drive.

“There are a lot of national programs

where our students can take action and it fits into our mission,” Turnbow said.

That mission includes family, career and community studies; human development and early childhood; food science; hospitality, tourism and recreation; and fashion and housing design. Those are the same categories that a team of five Bingham students will competed in the knowledge bowl at the national cluster Nov. 13, held in Salt Lake City.

Other members of Bingham High’s FCCLA plan to compete at the regional competition Feb. 5 and hope to qualify for the state contest March 10-11. l

South Jordan Elementary Students’ Future Bright Without Drugs

By Julie Slama

S

outh Jordan Elementary students have better things to do than drugs.

That was their theme during their Oct. 22-29 Red Ribbon Celebration, a time set aside when students focus on drug prevention and education. While many schools recognize a week in October and mix fun slogans and dress-up days, South Jordan Elementary officials hope the message will remain present each and every day.

“One day, we had Bingham High School’s peer leadership come, and those 20 kids addressed the students about bullying, drugs, ways to identify problems and the right way to decide what to do,” Red Ribbon Week organizer Michelle Bodin said. “It was ‘Be a Hero, Not a Zero’ theme day so many students wore team sports jerseys and gear, but if they looked deeper, these Bingham students were teaching them

about that slogan.”

A highlight Bodin said was when everyone embraced the color red one day by tying red ribbons to their backpacks and the school fence and wearing as much of the color red as possible. The class with the most red won a popcorn party with popcorn donated from the local Carmike Cinemas.

“We counted how many red items people wore and gave a point for each one.

Some students really got into it, and girls painted all their nails and wanted a point for each nail. Even staff members wore eight or nine red items. It was a really neat thing to see everyone going all out to support it,” she said.

Students also seemed to enjoy the obstacle course that was set up one day in

Future Bright continued on page 13

December 2014 | Page 13

S outh JordanJournal .com Future Bright continued from page 12 the school gym. After eating lunch, up to six students at once could complete the course, jumping in red pillowcases around orange plastic cones to “Jump Away from Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco.”

“It wasn’t super hard or difficult, but it was fun,” Bodin said.

By the end of the week, paper die-cut shoes decorated the school’s walls, each shoe holding a pledge from a student to be drug-free.

“We want students to have fun, but at the same time, take to heart the Red Ribbon Week message,” Bodin said. l

South Jordan Elementary students wrote a pledge to be drug-free on die-cut shoes that were displayed on the school’s walls. Photo courtesy of Michelle Bodin

SENIORS South Jordan Senior Center 10778 South Redwood Road • 801-302-1222 Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch is served daily at noon. Suggested lunch donation is $2.50 for patrons over 60.

Patrons under 60 must pay $5.25. Reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the previous business day. Transportation is available for South Jordan residents age 60 and older. Call the center for information.

Find them online at sjc.utah.gov/recreation/communitycenter.asp Nov. 26, Dec. 24, 12:30 p.m. -- Bingo sponsored by Proactive Wealth Solutions Nov. 27, 28, -- Center Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday Dec 2, 10:30 a.m. -- “Healthy at Every Age” Cancer prevention

Quidditch Anyone? American Heritage Students Learn How

By Julie Slama

A

merican Heritage of South Jordan students have embraced Harry Potter lore. For the first time, their school has been divided into four houses which are playing one another in Quidditch, a once-imaginary broomstick game, now a real sport that hosts a world championship.

“It was something that (school director) Ms. Jorgensen saw at a conference, and she thought it would draw students together and form unity at our school,” Curriculum Director Scotti Hansen said. “It has been a lot of fun in the school and on the field.”

Each Wednesday, teams square off against one another. Players try to get three or four balls that start out on the ground through hoops. Each team has six players on the field, and since American Heritage students pose before a Quidditch match, a game described in the they aren’t able to fly on broomsticks, they are Harry Potter novels. Photo courtesy of Natalie Hall restricted to using just one hand to play.

“If you look at it for the first time, it seems like semi- wears colors that match those in the Harry Potter series, organized chaos, but in reality, there is a set of rules, and and, at the end of the year the top teams will play for the these teams take it seriously. They practice one or two times school’s Quidditch world cup, similar to the novels.

“The kids get pretty excited, and it boosts their each week. They’re always running; it’s a pretty athletic school spirit. Others and quite a few parents are cheering game,” Hansen said. l The teams had try-outs earlier in the year. Each team the teams,” Hansen said.

and health information for seniors by the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Dec 3, 12:30 p.m. -- Bingo sponsored by Broomhead Funeral Home Dec. 4, 10:30 a.m. “Trip to the Festival of the Trees” at the South Towne Expo Center Dec 5, 9:30 a.m. -- Trip up to Midway, Utah for the “Swiss Christmas” and 15th annual Interfaith Creche Exhibit Dec. 8, 12:30 p.m. – Wal-Mart Shopping Trip Dec 10, 11 a.m. “Coping with Grief through the Holiday” with Terra from Silverado Hospice 12:30 p.m. -- Bingo Sponsored by Silverado Hospice Dec 11, 11 a.m. -- “Ask a Nurse” with Reliance Health Care Dec 16, 12:30 p.m. -- Book Club with Holly. This month’s read “The Hundred-Foot Journey” by Richard Morais.

Dec 17, 11 a.m. -- “Mindfulness Meditation” with Rhonda from

the Vital Aging Project. Learn how to practice mindfulness as a way to reduce stress and promote wellness in your life.

Dec 18, 11 a.m. -- Health Clinic with Care-A-Lot Homecare. Blood pressure checks and other useful information.

Dec 19, 11 a.m. -- Christmas Banquet. Entertainment by the Deci’ Belles.

Dec. 25, 26 – Center Closed Dec 30, 10:30 a.m. -- Red Hat Adventure to Grand America Hotel to see the Gingerbread House Dec 31, 11 a.m. -- New Year’s Eve Party with black tie entertainment from Brad and Peggy Curtis. Dance floor provided and a toast at noon.

12:30 p.m. -- New Year’s Bingo sponsored by the Senior Advisory Council. l

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Page 14 | December 2014

S outh Jordan City Journal

SPORTS

Miners Volleyball Squad Places Fifth At State

By Catherine Garrett

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ow you face adversity is the measure of who you are,” was the message Bingham High volleyball coach Melissa Glasker delivered to her team following its shocking four-set quarterfinal loss to Lehi in the 5A state volleyball tournament Nov. 7. The Miners responded with a dominating 3-0 sweep of Fremont in the consolation bracket before defeating Riverton in four games to take fifth place in the state.

“What happened at state was not what we had thought it would be,” Glasker said.

“We wanted a state title, and we worked for it. But that is adversity; that is life.

You sometimes don’t get what you think is owed to you.”

the biggest transformation this season, according to Glasker.

“I noticed this summer at the U of U camp, Megan was watching the current players, realizing that she would be there with them next year, and that made a big impact on her,” Glasker said. “She’s worked really hard and has really emerged and found herself this year.”

Glasker said senior Vaofua Kaili, who is undecided among college opportunities, along with her daughter Torre, a junior, were the other team leaders throughout the year in helping Bingham to a 24-3 record.

Seniors Lexi English, who committed to Western Wyoming, Gracey Tuifua,

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The Bingham High volleyball team ended the year with a 24-3 record and a fifth place finish at the 5A state tournament held Nov. 7-8.

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Bingham spent most of the year with the top ranking in the state, won its own Claim Jumper tournament in early October and entered the state tournament on an 18-match winning streak. In the first round of the tournament, Bingham defeated Syracuse 3-0 before reaching the quarterfinals.

The Miners found themselves facing Lehi at state in the same round for the second year in a row. In 2013, Lehi was expected to win and Bingham knocked them to the consolation bracket in a five-set thriller. This year, with Bingham as the favorite, Lehi rebounded from losing the first set to win the rematch.

Glasker noted the contributions of her “six-pack,” six seniors who have been instrumental in the team’s 51-8 record the past two seasons that have ended in two top-five finishes.

Megan Boudreaux, who will play for the University of Utah next fall, showed

who will play for Westminster College, and Sisilia Tausinga and Alana Zander complete the “six-pack” of seniors that Bingham will be replacing next year.

Also on the 2014 team were juniors Salote Havili, Victoria Ok, Ellie Pack and Shea Rasmussen; sophomores Marissa Berry, Megan Gurr, Madeline Holman, Baylie Huntsman, Courtney Isom, Makena Pratt, Atalina Pritchard, Taryn Rayburn, Gabbi Shunway, Olivia Siddoway and Callie Whitney; and freshmen Kennedy Beck, Olivia Boudreaux, Kendzee Cloward, Seleisa Elisaia, Annissa Kehl, Gabriella Langi, Talia Myers and Katherine Nguyen.

“I love these girls, and even those the expectations were there, they did not disappoint me in the slightest,” Glasker said.

“Sometimes, I feel like we’re forgetting what the real value of sports is and what we can learn from them. This is life, and we went out and proved that we can overcome adversity.” l

December 2014 | Page 15

S outh JordanJournal .com

Bingham Runners Place In Top 10 At State

By Catherine Garrett

B

ingham High junior Adam Haynes finished sixth at the 5A state cross country championships to lead the Miners to a ninth-place showing Oct. 22 at Sugarhouse Park. On the girls side, junior Whitney Rich placed 13th and senior MarLee Mitchell took 31st to pace Bingham to a ninth-place finish.

“I put in double the time as my team throughout the summer in trying to achieve a top 10 finish at state this year,” Haynes said. “I wanted to push myself, and that’s what drove me—every run and every mile was all worth it.”

Bingham coach Alisha Paxton said she was impressed with Haynes stepping up to lead the Miners team. “Adam has led every workout and has pushed himself more this year than any in the past and proved at state that our powerhouse runners are still in the game,” she said.

Haynes, the son of Mike and Melinda Haynes of South Jordan, was projected to finish no higher than 15th in the state race and that fueled the junior even more.

“I knew I could be seventh or eighth, and I knew how much work I had put in for it,” Haynes said. “It’s a great feeling and sense of accomplishment.”

Haynes started running his freshman year to stay in shape for other sports and enjoyed it so much it became his primary focus. He fought through patella tendinitis last year, but he has continued to use former teammate – and three-time state champion – Andrew Brewer’s times as benchmarks for himself.

“I tried to push myself as hard as I could to hit all of Andrew’s times,” Haynes said.

This year at state, Haynes had an identical time – 15 minutes, 36 seconds – to Brewer’s 2013 state race, in which he placed fourth.

On the girls’ side, Rich set a personal record at state, running the 3-mile course in 18 minutes, 41 seconds, in pursuit of her goal of a top-15 finish.

“With about 800 meters left, I heard my mom yelling that I was in 16th place, and I just turned it up and passed three runners,” she said. “I was really happy with how I finished and glad to end on a strong note.”

Rich, daughter of Scott and Tami Rich of South Jordan, was injured all summer with Achilles tendonitis and limited her races early on this season.

“Whitney worked so hard, she outdid her last year’s state performance,” Paxton said. “It was a frustrating season for her in many ways, but her positive, patient attitude proved that work ethic is really the key to success.”

Senior MarLee Mitchell, daughter of Jeffrey and Kathryn Mitchell of South Jordan, finished a disappointing 31st at state after two top-15 finishes the past two seasons.

“I was really stressed at the race and could tell immediately it wasn’t going to go well, and I stopped competing,” she said. “But, my coaches and the people cheering me on helped me finish.”

“MarLee has a determination and focus that has already proved to be successful,” Paxton said, of the 2013 Footlocker

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Max Bailey (38th), Cameron Smith (63rd), Christian Swensen (76th), Tyler LeBaron (81st), Austin Jager (86th) and Brennan McCleary (87th) ran for the boys at state while Ashlyn Henry (40th), Jenessa Soutas (74th), Rachel Young (77th), Clara Wahlquist (88th) and Jessica Teply (104th) rounded out the girls’ line-up. l

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Bingham High’s Adam Haynes (left) led the Miners to a ninth-place finish at the 5A state cross country championships Oct. 22. Bingham High’s Whitney Rich (right) led the Miners to a ninth-place finish at the 5A state cross country championships Oct. 22.

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Fair Game

By Peri Kinder

T

here’s a small, football-shaped gland in the center of the brain that makes people go temporarily insane. It kicks into high gear during fall and winter.

Each weekend, this gland swells to the size of an actual football, blocking rational thought and flooding the body with the hormone fanaticsol.

This hormone produces the ability to recall facts about any sports player, in any game, in any era, at any time. Plus it encourages a person to drink copious amounts of beer while watching millionaires put on funny clothes and throw things at each other.

Too much fanaticsol can result in stupid bar fights, irrational lifelong feuds, the spousal silent treatment and, in extreme cases, the need to contact an attorney.

It also stimulates the desire to wear a favorite player’s team jersey, even though it’s stained with guacamole— because those are “Lucky guacamole stains, and you can’t wash them off!”

If this sounds familiar, you or a loved one could be suffering from Sports-induced Addictive Pastime Syndrome (SAPS). While there is no cure, there is hope that the afflicted person in your life will stop watching back-to-back NFL or NBA games, as well as hockey, baseball, NASCAR, golf, swim meets, college sports, and if nothing else is on, bowling championships.

An entirely fabricated study shows more than 80 percent of SAPS victims are male. Once fanaticsol hits their system, they can understand complicated playoff brackets in complete detail. They are able to change

any variable and know the outcome. It’s like a version of Mad Libs.

Example: “If the (insert sports team) win, that means the (insert another sports team) will play (insert another sports team) in (insert location) on (insert date and time) where it’s supposed to (insert weather condition).”

And that information is in their brains! They don’t even have to Google it!

I watched my husband (a SAPS sufferer) strike up a conversation with a total stranger that went like this: “Where are you from? I see you’re wearing a (insert sports team) hat.”

“I’m from (insert city’s name),” the fellow SAPS casualty says.

“Are you a (insert sports team) fan!?

I grew up watching so-and-so play in the Whatchamacallit Dome.”

“Did you see the game in 1972 where (insert athlete’s name) threw a (insert sports terminology) and they won the game (insert final score)?”

“Yeah, that was crazy! But not as wild as when

(insert athlete’s name) broke (insert another athlete’s name) record for (insert sport terminology.)”

But if you ask those same men what grade their daughter is in, the answer will be, “Um. Algebra?”

And the stats!

Somewhere in the Midwest, there’s a sports bartype office where employees create irrelevant facts so sports announcers can demonstrate their unparalleled knowledge of the game.

The broadcaster might say,“If Mr. Football completes this pass, he’ll be the first left-handed quarterback in the history of the universe to throw 100 yards in the snow while recovering from tonsillitis at this venue.”

How do you respond to that?

While the majority of men choose their favorite teams based on who they watched growing up, women base their favorite teams on who their first boyfriend followed, or the color of the uniforms. Most women will stick around for world championship games, galactic title bouts and half-time shows, but that’s about it.

I just heard the TV turn on. My husband is watching some type of sporting event. That means I have a few hours to shop at (insert department store), and he won’t even know I’m gone. l