South Salt Lake February 2017

February 2017 | Vol. 3 Iss. 02

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Recycling 101: Getting closer to best recycling practices in the valley

By Mandy Morgan Ditto | m.ditto@mycityjournals.com

page 18

Lovely home, upgraded throughout, lovely hardwood floors with tall ceilings, wonderful family area adjacent to kitchen. Large covered deck brings outside in, magical backyard with huge Deer Valley type Plenty of products can be recycled in curbside bins, including plastics, aluminum and mixed papers. (Mandy Ditto/City Journals) deck overlooking trees, lawns, and pool. $649,900

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Homeless center frustrations

page 7

Residents asked to do their part to improve air quality

page 16

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LOCAL LIFE

Page 2 | February 2017

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

United We Read hopes to bring county together through reading The South Salt Lake City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Salt Lake.

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The South Salt Lake Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton travis@mycityjournals.com ADVERTISING: 801-254-5974 DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Ryan Casper ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com 801-671-2034 SALES ASSOCIATES: Melissa Worthen melissa@mycityjournals.com 801-897-5231 Steve Hession steve@mycityjournals.com 801-433-8051 Josh Ragsdale Josh.R@MyCityJournals.com 801-824-9854 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Tina Falk Ty Gorton South Salt Lake City Journal 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 Phone: 801 254 5974

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By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

S

alt Lake County Library Services is hoping to bring residents and community together through the shared experience of reading the same book in United We Read. Over the next few months, residents are encouraged to read “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman and participate in programs and events based on the book.

This is the first year of United We Read. In years past, libraries have participated in “One County, One Book.” However, this was the first year every library in the county was involved in planning the initiative.

“We just wanted to make sure we provided the community with the opportunity to come together,” said Liz Sollis, marketing and community manager for the Salt Lake County Library Services. “We felt the best way to do it is to make sure the three main public libraries within Salt Lake County were providing a similar user experience no matter what library they went to.”

“A Man Called Ove” tells the story of a cranky yet sad old man who is forced to interact with his chatty and lively new neighbors after they accidently flatten his mailbox. Sollis said it was chosen to be the United We Read book because of its themes of unity.

“We know the election year has been very divisive and we wanted to find something that was really unifying. We read several books and decided this book, it has a sense of community and it provided a lot of elements that I think, if you’re in a community, it’s hard not to experience,” Sollis said. “The other thing we wanted to promote was kindness. This book, we felt also encourages and promotes kindness. It shares examples of kindness.”

The United We Read website, www. unitedwereadslc.org, will provide a place for readers to connect and share their experiences reading the book, including examples of kindness they’ve either received or given.

Salt Lake Library Director Jim Cooper reads “A Man Called Ove,” the book for the first United We Read. (Liz Sollis/ Salt Lake County Library Services)

Sollis said the book is also a fairly easy read.

“We wanted to find a book that wouldn’t be too difficult to read. Sometimes books are selected that are real deep topics and really long,” Sollis said. “We wanted a book that was right in the middle that connected with a lot of people and where people could relate to the situation.”

In order to accommodate the number of people who will be reading the book, all libraries have increased the number of copies of the book, both in paper copies and in electronic copies.

“Additionally, at the different branches, we’re also giving away some books through programs. The books are first come, first served but the idea is once you read it, you share it with someone else,” Sollis said. “There will be free copies of the book floating around and there

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will be copies people can check out.”

The official launch for United We Read was on Jan. 18 but different libraries will be doing programs related to the book through May. There will also be a screening of the Swedish movie based on the book in February.

“We’re going to have classes on auto mechanics. We’re going to be doing classes on bike repair. We’re going to do classes on suicide prevention. We’re going to have classes on cooking. We’re funding a variety of classes that we can offer,” Sollis said. “There will be book discussions in addition. Many of the branches do book clubs so we’ll have books for the book discussions. There will be a variety of programs that tie into the money topics in the books.”

Sollis advised residents to be patient when they wait to get a copy of the book, since they will be promoting the book throughout the entire county. l

M yCityJournal.Com

February 20167 | Page 3

LOCAL LIFE

Page 4 | February 2017

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S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Daddy-Daughter Dance returns to South Salt Lake for 2017

By Brian Shaw | brian.shaw@cityjournals.com

A

long standing tradition returns to South Salt Lake for the new year. The city will bring area residents and others another DaddyDaughter Dance at the Columbus Center from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fri. Feb. 10.

“This event has been going on for about 15 or 20 years, and we’re really pleased to be able to bring it back for another year,” said Myrna Clark, the city’s deputy recreation director and event organizer.

The dance ties itself around that most celebrated of romantic events—Valentine’s Day. However, in order to appease the wives and girlfriends the city holds the dance on Friday—leaving everyone to still celebrate the holiday to their heart’s content.

According to Clark, the event has become so popular that other cities have called asking for advice on how to coordinate such an event at their recreation centers. When asked why there is such intense interest in the event, Clark was honest in her assessment of the DaddyDaughter Dance.

“You know, I think it’s a low-cost, informal event. It all goes back to the investment in events like these that we make to keep people coming,” Clark said.

She added that even dads who have moved out of the area in which they were raised, often bring their daughters back for the dance.

Several years ago, Clark said former residents complained about not being allowed to attend because they weren’t current residents, and so the city changed their policy and now allows anyone to come.

The cost is only $3 per couple or $2 for each additional daughter in the group, an amazing price considering what goes into every Daddy-Daughter Dance, according to Clark.

With princess activities such as face painting and light costuming, not to mention refreshments, crafts, and photos for a small fee, it’s an event dads and their daughters don’t want to miss.

For more, call Myrna at 801-483-8076 or email her at mclark@sslc.com. l

Area residents enjoy a Daddy-Daughter Dance. (Trisha Gold Shaw)

Innovative We Are Makers technology program brings area refugees into the 21st century

By Brian Shaw | brian.shaw@cityjournals.com

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fter many discussions centered on how refugees can become involved in the rapidly changing and emerging tech sector, an idea was hatched in the offices of the Utah Office of Economic Development.

Starting out with just one community and one company, the We Are Makers program began with a simple mission: connect today’s emerging technology companies and their programs to a sizable refugee population in South Salt Lake and its surrounding areas.

“We started this project about two years ago in response to frequent requests by refugee organizations for more tech orientated training as well as noticing how quickly individuals, particularly youth, were becoming connected to and proficient with smart phones,” said Michael Pekarske, Outreach and Initiatives Officer for the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

From the point at which the program launched as a 20-week pilot course until now, We Are Makers has changed lives, according to Pekarske. Refugees from war-torn, ravaged countries like Sudan, Bhutan and Burma have learned through their continuing education efforts that they too can now connect to the 21st century in ways they never thought possible.

Companies were quick to jump on, too, said Pekarske. At first, one company taught a one-hour course to 15 Bhutanese children on coding.

A teacher helps a student. (US Department of Education)

However, things didn’t go as smooth in the pilot program as the economic planners had hoped, he added. “Lots of lessons were learned during this time, in particular that to keep the youths’ attention we had to add additional engaging content,” said Pekarske. “For example, the company started deconstructing their own website, or a version of it, to show the inner workings, even though it was at that time beyond the students’ abilities.”

From that point forward, the program grew after taking a few lumps. In its next iteration, We Are Makers expanded to include six refugee communities in South Salt Lake and even more businesses became involved. “Additionally, we expanded to four companies each leading a separate month of the 20-week course and

added another hour of STEM-related activities,” said Pekarske.

The program also attracted new refugees and, according to Pekarske, “quickly developed a really long waiting list of students for future courses.” In addition to the courses already being offered to these refugees, a college professor taught film making and Goldman Sachs and Adobe provided two separate robotics classes to pique the students’ interests.

Of the 42 students—all of whom completed their course curriculum and graduated—six were offered tech internships, Pekarske added.

In addition, he said the program was able to pair 12 students with a professional mentor.

Currently, the We Are Makers program is blossoming, according to Pekarske. Now serving 78 students, the program — which is co-sponsored by Goldman Sachs, The Utah Refugee Education and Training Center, the Utah Asian Foundation, The Mastery Academy and Salt Lake County, among others — reaches out into 13 refugee communities, teaching kids and adults alike new offerings of courses such as brain building, intro to coding, video game design, web development and IT careers.

From these offerings, the program expects it will make these students employable for years to come, giving these refugees a chance to give something back to those companies who helped them succeed in the first place. l

LOCAL LIFE

M yCityJournal.Com

February 20167 | Page 5

Psychic fair provides insight into new year

By Orlando Rodriguez | orlando.r@mycityjournals.com

C

rone’s Hollow, a pagan supply store located on 3834 S. Main St, held the first of its triannual psychic fairs. It was a chance for professional readers of essential divinations to offer their mystic craft to those seeking answers about what possible and positive life changes or challenges await in the new year.

“This time of year is what we call the dark time, where the days are short,” said TaMara Gold, crystal ball seer. “During this time people are introspective, which sets up planning, and we give them an idea of what’s coming up.”

At the event, guests were granted a token for a 10-minute session with a reader of their choice. The readers possessed specific abilities with certain tools, such as lenormand cards and oracle cards. Not only that, but some pet readers were available.

Gold used her crystal ball and fire scrying abilities to tell people’s fortunes. She explained that fire holds transformative faculties.

“When I look into the crystal ball, the image is like a snapshot, fire helps that image become more clear,” said Gold.

She understands that during this time, people want to know about things such as money, love or knowledge. And, this perception attains to Crone’s Hollow’s philosophy of being “more than just a store,’’ as she explained. The store possesses a charm of its own with tomes, figurines, goblets and candles keeping the interest of patrons after their reading was finished.

Since its inception in March 2011, Crone’s Hollow has held this event and many others that are available to those practicing and those interested in the pagan craft. The space is owned by four practicing witches, some acting as leaders of local covens.

Their mission statement is to provide a safe space for those seeking

Tamara Gold poses with her crystal ball. (Orlando Rodriguez/City Journals)

A guest receives a reading. (Orlando Rodriguez/City Journals)

pagan paths in Utah.

“You don’t have to be seeking a path of pagan craft,” said Gold. “We are here to help you understand. We are your friends.”

The store offers classes for both the new and the experienced. It also serves as a haven for those practicing other esoteric mysticisms, such as the gnostic and Rosicrucian orders. Introductory courses of the history of witchcraft are available, as well as an introduction to pagan rituals, such as seances and full moon rituals, and the basics of certain forms of divination.

Their “cryptic coffee” events every Friday night serves as a networking events where those new to the craft can meet other witches, wiccans and pagans from local covens and organizations.

Crone’s Hollow hosts these events to create friendships amongst people new and old to the pagan craft.

The next psychic fair will take place in July. More information about this and other events can be found at www.croneshollow. com. l

LOCAL LIFE

Page 6 | February 2017

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Book reveals revolutionary spirit of early Mormon women

By Orlando Rodriguez | orlando.r@mycityjournals.com

Screaming Eagles debut at Maverik Center

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

I

ndoor football returns to the Maverik Center in West Valley. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles begin play February 16 as members of the Indoor Football League. The team also forges in a new era of sports team management. The fans helped hire coaches, pick dancers and will call plays as part of the franchise.

“We are excited and have signed 28 guys and make some cuts down to 25 guys that will lead to a great team out on the field,” said Screaming Eagles President Thom Carter. “I am more excited about how we want people to experience sports. We are trying to make history. We are allowing fans to have their voices be heard.”

The fans have decided the team name, hired the coaches and with a downloadable app will be able to call the plays during the game.

“This will be perfect for lots of fans.

The guy who likes to bring his family to the game and buy a beer and a hot dog; the fantasy football guy that is all about the stats and lastly the video game fans who want to feel like they are playing the game,” Carter said.

The Screaming Eagles have signed University of Charleston graduate Jeremy Johnson to compete for playing time at quarterback. The 6-foot-1, 197 lb. dual threat QB was a highly recruited four-star athlete from Silsbee, Texas. He originally played at West Virginia after leaving with several injuries he was finally resigned to ending his football career, but The University of Charleston found him and offered a chance.

In 2015 Johnson threw for 2,170 yards, 17 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.

University of Utah offensive lineman Junior Salt has signed to be part of a line that includes another former Ute, Siaosi Aiono and Arizona Wildcat Steven Gurrola.

“We do not know what our final roster will look like, but the local standouts make

me excited. Everyone has bought into this team. Our opponents are well established and winning programs. We also think our 10,000 offensive coordinators will help us figure out ways to win. The power of all of these ideas will make us a better team and organization,” Carter said.

Devin Mahina, a former BYU Cougar and Washington Redskin tight end, and Utah State wide receiver Alex Wheat should provide reliable targets for Johnson. Mahina is a 6-foot6 receiver who finished his Cougar career with 46 receptions and five touchdowns.

“We feel we are empowering arm-chair quarterbacks. The people who call in on Monday mornings to the sports talk shows can now show us what they got. We live in an age of immediate access and fans are demanding this of their sports teams,” Carter said.

William Macarthy was hired by the fans as the team’s first head coach. The organization narrowed down nearly 220 applicants to the best six finalists. Facebook live interviews and 38,000 votes from fans in 21 different countries finally gave Macarthy 34.9 percent of the votes.

He has coached on four different indoor teams. He has been a general manager, defensive coordinator, head coach and special teams coordinator. Most recently he has been working as special teams coordinator at Monroe College in New York.

The Screaming Eagles begin their season Feb. 16 at the Maverik Center against the Nebraska Danger. Tickets range from $5 to $85.

In indoor football if a ball goes into the stands the fan keeps it.

The Screaming Eagles also have contributed to improving the wireless service in the arena. The fan will not need to use cellular data to participate in the games.

“The game will have something for everyone,” Carter said. l

The City Journals has secured special ticket prices for our readers.

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Benchmark Books is celebrating their 30th anniversary.

(Orlando Rodriguez)

B

enchmark Books, an LDS bookstore located on 3269 S. Main St, hosted “Evening With An Author” with prize-winning author and historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Her most recent book “A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women’s Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870,” was at the spotlight for the evening. The intimate space allowed visitors to hear the author speak about the finer points and inspirations of her publication.

She said the title, “A House Full of Females” is a quotation from the diary of Wilford Woodruff.

Ulrich explained that Woodruff had visited the Salt Lake City 14th Ward, the members of which were working on a notorious album quilt at the time.

“As soon as I read that, I felt I had the title for my book,” Ulrich said.

Some of the inspiration for the book came from her interest in the dynamic between women in the household and those more active in the public sphere. More specifically those who defended their right to a plural marriage, and made the public know their commitment to their faith.

She also wanted to understand how did they go from ordinary 19th-century women into a religious community that asked them to practice polygamy and what that had to do with their emergence in the national spotlight.

The publication recollects diaries, letters, articles and other pieces of information of what everyday life was for these women, and their accounts of what was occurring for the church and the nation at the time.

“What’s different about this book is that it is self-consciously written not for you (Mormons) but for rather a national audience,”

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich holding a copy of her book. (Orlando Rodriguez)

Ulrich explained.

She emphasized her focus on women, the relationship between them and men, what that meant for the creation of the church’s ideals over a relatively short amount of time and why these women stood up and defended polygamy.

The book spans the early history of the church, from the vantage point of not only leaders but followers of the faith, and the painful challenges they endured while attempting to gather those who shared the faith.

“When we talk about family in early Mormonism, we’re talking about a whole lot more than marriage,” Ulrich said.

Among the indignation from the national eye about the church’s practices, and the physical and emotional suffering these people went through, Ulrich drives forward that these women understood what they could do as a collective. She recollects the founding of the Relief Society and its 20-year recovery following an early disbandment.

The purpose of her book is to help readers understand, through these personal accounts, how these women overcame the obstacles of a patriarchal institution, and how they exercised their religious freedom regardless of persecution.

This book has won the Pulitzer Prize for history, but it is not the only work Ulrich has received accolades for. Her 1990 account of famous midwife and healer Martha Ballard in “A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812” also won the same award. She is currently a history professor at Harvard University and in 2006 was appointed the distinct title of 300th Anniversary University Professor at the institution. l

“A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women’s Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870.”

M yCityJournal.Com

GOVERNMENT

February 20167 | Page 7

Frustration boils to surface over homeless center site choice

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

M

ore than 250 residents squeezed into Sprague Library’s basement on Jan. 4 to express their support, concern or outright anger about the planned homeless resource center to be built at 653 E. Simpson Ave. in Sugar House.

“Due process wasn’t done properly,” said resident Richard Davis before adding, “nobody wants it here and the worst part is we weren’t even asked.”

One hour of the night’s Sugar House Community Council meeting was apportioned for Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski to share a statement and answer, along with her staff, questions from residents about the homeless center.

South Salt Lake residents aren’t happy either being only a few blocks away from the proposed site. The “Commonwealth Coalition,” located between State Street and 200 East, said in a blog post they sent a letter to the South Salt Lake and Salt Lake City mayors urging them to convince Salt Lake City to abandon the Simpson site.

Biskupski said “the biggest issue so far, is people are just envisioning the shelter that exists today coming to your neighborhood” referring to The Road Home shelter at Rio Grande Street in downtown Salt Lake City.

Mary Thompson, who moved to nearby Lake Street a decade ago from Gateway, said she was frustrated at the city’s decision to put a homeless shelter in a residential area.

“I lived at Gateway, I understand what is going on at the homeless center down there… the reason I moved was to have family and raise kids away from that,” Thompson said.

Biskupski explained the centers will be very different.

“We have not done a good job of putting into your hands what this service model is and isn’t. We will make sure to do that moving forward,” Biskupski told the crowd.

The model being presented is a scatter site model with four separate locations of 150 person facilities. City officials said this allows for decreased concentration of people which should reduce criminal activity.

Each center will also be specific to a different demographic such as single women, men or families. The Simpson site is expected to be the family location.

Biskupski said residents should learn more about the system being set up which will connect people to all service providers. Social workers, new detox and rehabilitation centers and affordable housing programs are some of the initiatives used to encompass the needs for each of the centers.

Biskupski urged compassion for the homeless and viewed this plan as a means to stop the homeless cycle from infecting generations.

“We are talking about families that need

to be embraced by us, that need a little bit of help,” Biskupski said. She added that they need to “break up the homeless population and stop subjecting them to easy access by drug dealers.”

“I know this is hard, but I also know what we have today can’t keep going,” Biskupski said. “It will crush our city. It already is, and we need your help. We either keep doing what we’re doing or we have some faith.”

Sugar House Resident Shane Stroud said he felt with the experimental nature of this model, it’s too much of a risk.

“You’re asking us to take a leap of faith.

This isn’t a leap of faith, this is a gamble and the costs of that gamble are extremely high,” Stroud said. He added that if the center doesn’t work as officials intend, the repercussions could last decades.

Chris Sveiven lives 75 feet from where the shelter will be built. He said the city needs to acknowledge this is an experiment for helping the homeless.

“No one in this room wants you to fail in this, (but) almost everyone in this room believes that the Simpson Avenue site—by your own standards—was a poor choice, a bad decision, a rushed decision and a mistake. There is no room for failure in that neighborhood,” Sveiven told the mayor.

Much of the public’s consternation stemmed from what they felt was a “lack of transparency” with the city choosing the sites behind closed doors. Sveiven found out when news crews pounded on his door seeking his reaction.

“The way the city’s handled this, it’s building nothing but resentment from most of the community,” Sveiven said.

Tina Escobar-Taft, of the Sugar House Community Council, echoed those sentiments when she said while “we need a plan for homelessness…people in my neighborhood are concerned about the back-door way it was done.”

City officials have maintained they did the process to avoid pitting neighborhoods against neighborhoods and that it wasn’t an easy decision for them.

“A process that would pit different communities in our city against each other and tear our city apart as we try to affect change, was not something we felt comfortable doing,” Biskupski said. “And I note that decision is not resting well with you.”

Choosing Simpson Avenue David Litvack, deputy chief of staff to the mayor, explained that as part of the scatter site model requires disbursement of locations and Simpson was one of three potential locations east of 200 East. He also noted that Washington, D.C. is doing something similar putting a center in each district of the city.

Of the $12 million set aside by the city for the four sites, $7 million was used on the Simpson site. A property where the owner, Forest Company, was paid $300,000 to resolve a lawsuit against Utah Transit Authority relating to the adjacent S-Line construction.

Councilwoman Lisa Adams, who represents the district where the Simpson site is located, has said she would like to see plans whittled to three sites instead of four removing the Simpson site. That idea has met little support from the mayor and council.

Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall, whose district lies a few blocks away from the site, favors choosing a new site rather than reducing it to three.

Adams wrote in her monthly newsletter email to District seven residents she initially supported the choice of site with the understanding it would be used for families or single mothers.

“Since the announcement, I heard from scores of District seven residents,” she wrote.

“Overwhelmingly, there has been opposition to this site, not because we are not a caring community, but because there seem to be too many uncertainties.”

While Simpson is the only site in a residential area, it’s one of the main reasons it was chosen, Biskupski said.

“One thing we learned from service providers is that children need to be in a community setting when they are experiencing homelessness,” she said. “We have to look out for them.”

Adams wrote in her newsletter that “it is a challenge to find the balance between helping those in our community who are in desperate need of assistance, and respecting and protecting homes and businesses.”

Residents were also concerned about businesses being uprooted because of the center.

Businesses being replaced by the homeless shelter are Lit’l Scholars Learning Center, Dancing Cranes Imports, Sherman Kendall Academy of Beauty Arts and Sciences and Fitness on 7th gym.

Litvack said the city is committed to helping those businesses find relocation within Salt Lake City.

Not everyone is against the shelter coming to Sugar House. One resident took a quick straw poll on who wanted the center and who didn’t. A strong majority said no while a smattering of people raised their hands for yes.

One of those in favor, Sugar House resident Christopher Thomas, asked the mayor what they could do to help.

“This is going to be a challenge for our neighborhood, but I think we can welcome these people,” Thomas said, a former member of the Sugar House Community Council. l

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GOVERNMENT

Page 8 | February 2017

New youth council sworn in

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Legislative representatives speak to city council about session

By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

Local teenagers are sworn in as members of the South Salt Lake Youth Council. (Kelly Cannon/City Journals)

State Representative Mark Wheatley addressed the South Salt Lake City Council about the legislative session. (Kelly Cannon/City Journals)

T

L

hirteen local teenagers were sworn in to the South Salt Lake Youth Council during the City Council meeting on Jan. 11. City Recorder Craig Burton first swore in the leader of the group, Mayor Aaron Dustin and then the second in command, Mayor pro tem Saida Dahir before swearing in the rest of the group.

“We’ve got a great group of young people to swear in for our Youth City Council,” Burton said.

During the official swearing ceremony, members of the youth council promise not only to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States but also the Constitution of the State of Utah. They also promise to perform their duties with fidelity.

According to the South Salt Lake City website, the role of the youth council is to provide service to the city while also teaching the teens about local government.

The members speak at city council meetings, shadow employees and sit on advisory board.

After the swearing in, Councilman Ben Pender thanked the members of the youth council for getting involved in the council and in their city.

“You really are our future. This is wonderful to see and very humbling to see how many people have interest in it, again, knowing you are going to be our future leaders,” Pender said. “Thank you very much.”

Later in the meeting, Mayor Cherie Wood also praised the youth council. Wood said she recently had the opportunity to spend time with both Dustin and Daher.

“The goals they have in place and what they’re trying to accomplish in their lives, they’re amazing,” Wood said. “I know you (councilmembers) don’t get to see that part of them but I want to thank them for the service they do in the community.”

Wood also recognized Edward Lopez, the advisor of the youth council.

“Edward has done amazing work with this group of kids,” Wood said. “Edward has a lot

of energy and is perfect for helping these youth navigate their way through our community, their schools and help them plan their next steps for college.”

Dustin and Daher addressed the city council to talk about what the youth council has done in the past and the new things the council plans on doing for this year.

“South Salt Lake has had a wonderful time this holiday season,” Dustin said. “The Angel Tree and Sub-4-Santa program along with United Way gift cards, we were able to spread cheer to over 50 families. That included over 200 individuals.”

Dustin said these programs wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from their partners, committees and community members, as well as many local businesses.

Daher listed some of the gifts given by the youth council, including Xboxes and other game consoles with games, a laptop, a crib, a hoverboard, bicycles, toys, games, winter clothing, toiletries and household necessities.

Dustin said he and other members of the youth council were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and hoped they could continue to support each other every day.

“Thanks again for helping us to make the holiday season extra special for our South Salt Lake families, and we hope for continuing support.”

Daher explained to the council what the youth council plans to do in the upcoming months.

“In the following months, in addition to our volunteer efforts in city events in the community, we will be partnering with the YMCA Youth and Government program for a free 12-session course,” Daher said.

“The curriculum teaches bill writing, public speaking, legislative debate rules, legislative research, leadership and team work. We look forward to learning more about the ins and outs of the government and what we can do to make a difference as leaders of tomorrow.” l

ocal state representatives visited with the South Salt Lake City Council on Jan. 11 to discuss the legislative session. Representative Mark Wheatley (R) and Senator Gene Davis (D) both spoke about their plans for the session, which began Jan. 23. Wheatley represents District 35, which includes most of South Salt Lake and areas of Murray. Davis represents South Salt Lake, West Valley City, Millcreek, Sugarhouse and Murray.

Wheatley addressed the council first, thanking them for inviting both him and Davis to talk about the legislative session.

“It’s our favorite time of the year,” Wheatley said. “It’s like Christmas.”

Wheatley asked the council if they have any concerns about what will be discussed, to give him a call.

Davis addressed the council after Wheatley, promising at the end of the 45-day session, there will be a balanced budget.

“Beyond that, everything that is on the table is up for debate and I hope to be able to debate those greatly,” Davis said.

Wheatley explained there are a lot of issues that will be discussed during the 45-day session. The No. 1 issue Wheatley said he has been involved with in his 12 years of service is education.

“Back then, we were talking about education and how we’re going to fund the growing population of our students,” Wheatley said. “And we’re still having those discussions today.”

He explained he and Davis and other representatives had met with the Granite Education Association and had a “lively and robust” discussion about education.

“We have tremendous individuals who are teaching our children,” Wheatley said. “But sometimes they have challenges we create as legislatures.”

Wheatley cited the challenges of not only having enough funding for schools but the problem of retaining qualified and experienced teachers. He said last year in one school, there

were 24 vacancies so 13 new teachers were hired. However, 11 of those had left.

“We’re losing a lot of individuals with experience that can teach our students and make sure our students are successful,” Wheatley said.

Like Wheatley, Davis also addressed the need for focus on education, including a number of issues to get money into the classroom.

“The thing is, business is the one writing the bill this year,” Davis said. “We’re afraid it’s going to cause some economic distress if we raise taxes.”

Davis cited the 2008 recession as one where budgets both at the state and local level had to be cut.

“We have not restored to the point of eight years ago the amount of money he had cut because of that downturn,” Davis said. “We’re just barely getting back to where we were some eight years later.”

During that time, Davis said the population has been growing and the education is at a busting point.

“Education is the number one thing we need to do,” Davis said.

Wheatley also talked about the issue of air quality, referencing the fact he has asthma.

“During inversion days, it really affects our children and our elderly,” Wheatley said.

Other bills already slated in the session include a carbon emission tax, education funding, mortgage and student loan forgiveness and a bill to ensure rape kits are tested. Wheatley also cited issues on public lands, cannabis and voter rights which will also be a major part of the session.

“We have a full agenda and I ask that you please contact me to ensure that I can answer any questions you may have,” Wheatley said.

Davis said in order to accomplish what they want to do, they need input from representatives of local government like the city council and from residents at large.

“What are your concerns? What are your needs?” Davis said. l

February 20167 | Page 9

M yCityJournal.Com

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THE FIRST PRO TEAM WHERE FANS CALL THE PLAYS IS STARTING HERE IN UTAH. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles of the Indoor Football League begin play on February 16th with an innovative approach to sports. Fans can call plays from their phones in the arena.

And at the Maverik Center, that means up to 10,856 fans that can call the plays. We are bringing the best of online gaming to the game itself. To find out how you can be a coach or for season tickets visit saltlakescreamingeagles.com.

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GOVERNMENT Residents asked to do their part to improve air quality

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

W

inters in Salt Lake County not only means cold and snow. It also means inversion and poor air quality. While it may seem like an overwhelming task, there are things residents can do to help alleviate the bad air and make the winter a little bit more breathable.

Donna Spangler, the communications director at the Division of Air Quality at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality explained the inversion is caused by cold air being trapped next to the valley floor by a layer of warmer air above. In that cold air is particulate matter that is the main source of the inversion.

The DAQ has air monitors all around the county and state next to schools that measure the particulate matter.

“Typically, we have the air monitors near schools because we want to know what the particulates say next to our most vulnerable population, which is our children because they tend to breath in more air,” Spangler said. “What the air monitors show us during the winter time and during an inversion, much of the pollution, and we’ve done inventories to show where that pollution is coming from, 48 percent comes from automobiles.”

According to Spangler, other sources include industries such as power plants and what are called area sources. These are sources where there is no specific kind or particular industry or business that is emitting the form of particulates that cause inversion. This includes cooking happening in restaurants, heating homes and various small businesses.

“The reason that’s important is because when the Utah Department of Environmental

Quality Division of Air Quality looks at trying to come up with regulations to limit these kinds of pollution that form this kind of particulates, it’s really difficult because you can’t regulate one specific sector,” Spangler said. “It’s a bunch of little things. That’s why it’s important for people to understand that every action that we take, everything we do does add to the pollution.”

According to Spangler, breathing in particulate matter during an inversion is harmful because the particulates get trapped in the lungs.

Persistent and prolonged exposure could lead to lung damage.

“As far as the health issue, it depends on how healthy you are. People react differently depending on what pollution they breath,” Spangler said. “We call our most sensitive population children because they breath in more, the elderly because they have compromised respiratory systems if they’re older, people with asthma are obviously impacted more than those who are normally healthy.”

Since cars are the primary source of particulate pollution, Spangler said consolidating trips and using public transportation is the best way to help improve the air quality. Choosing not to leave the car idling also helps improve the air quality.

Through grants, the DAQ and the Utah Clean Air partnership work together to get businesses to install pollution control equipment to improve the air quality.

“We offer people to convert their wood burning stoves into gas heating systems. If a person uses wood burning as their sole source of heat, they are exempt from our rules that say you

can’t burn,” Spangler said. “But we go in and we offer them a replacement. So we actually pay to have them convert to a cleaner source of heat.”

Air quality is sure to be a topic discussed at the legislative session. Spangler said the main need right now is funding to replace old monitoring equipment.

“A lot of the research that is needed is in

collaboration with universities, with our federal partners to actually get a better understanding of what is causing the air pollution so that we can have better regulatory controls that are more targeted to reducing pollution and making our air quality better,” Spangler said.

For more information about air quality, visit deq.utah.gov. l

Particulates from air pollution can lodge inside the lungs and cause lung damage. (Utah Health Department)

NEWS FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

INDUSTRY

A

New tax law requires the IRS to hold some refunds until February 15

Millions of taxpayers face refund delays in 2017

s many as 15 million taxpayers could have their refunds delayed until at least February 15 next year.

The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act now requires the IRS to hold refunds for returns claiming the earned income tax credit (EITC) and additional child tax credit (ACTC) until February 15. Approximately 30 million taxpayers claim the EITC or ACTC, with half filing early.

Taxpayers should file as they normally would, even if they expect their refund will be delayed. The IRS still expects to issue most refunds in less than 21 days, although the IRS will hold refunds for EITC and ACTCrelated tax returns filed early in 2017 until February 15 and then begin issuing them.

While the IRS will release those refunds on February15 many taxpayers may not see the funds deposit into their banking accounts for a few days afterward. This additional delay could be for many reasons and it is best for taxpayers to check the IRS’s Where’s My Refund website for any funding updates.

INDUSTRY

Delay helps IRS combat tax identity fraud The EITC received nationwide averaged approximately $2,500 per eligible taxpayer last year. While $65.6 billion was paid out last year, the IRS indicates that approximately one in five payments are made in error, either through fraudulent filing or confusion due to complexity in claiming the benefit. These credits are target rich for tax identity thieves and fraudsters. In fact, the EITC has one of the highest improper payment rates of the 16 “higherror” programs identified by the government.

Holding taxpayer refunds until February 15, along with the mandate that employers send employee W-2s to the IRS by January 31, allows the IRS additional time to help prevent revenue lost due to identity theft and refund fraud related to fabricated wages and withholdings.

It is important for taxpayers who claim these benefits to plan now for the delay. Visiting with a tax professional now can help them better understand the overall impact.

Delays just one part of tax law changes The PATH Act made dozens of changes to the tax code, including permanently extending many tax benefits, implementing renewal requirements for Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), changing eligibility requirements for certain tax credits, expanding other tax benefits, increasing the cost of making mistakes and altering small business tax benefits. But its delay of millions of refunds until at least February 15 will be widely felt by early filers who in the past could expect a refund which averaged more than $3,500 in 2015 by late January.

To learn more about tax law changes and refund delays due to the PATH Act, taxpayers can visit www. hrblock.com/path.

[Sam Hernandez is a tax professional forADVERTISERS H&R Block, NEWS FROM OUR the world’s largest tax services provider. Sam has been providing expert tax advice and preparation support for taxpayers in the Salt Lake City area since 2010.]

ENTERPRISE

M yCityJournal.Com

February 20167 | Page 17

Health insurance help: How to live with it and not without

By Mandy Ditto | m.ditto@mycityjournals.com

E

ven though open enrollment for this year has closed, there are plenty of things to be confused about when it comes to health insurance. Though many people may know the basics about deductibles, premiums and copayments, there are always pitfalls — or just deeper questions — people should be aware of and asking about.

Unfortunately, there are times that insurance companies are simply limited, or have created policies that limit them with what they can cover, and people aren’t aware until a medical emergency of some kind comes up and they need help. Here are some professionals’ tips, and personal stories from the Salt Lake Valley pertaining to navigating health insurance.

What isn’t covered Due to the fact that every insurance provider is different, it is difficult to say which things are typically not covered. However, if people are asking questions about the conditions they have or may have to deal with before they pin down which insurance policy to use, they can often get the answers they need about which carrier and policy works best for them, said Heidi Castaneda, Small Employer and Individual Plan sales director at Select Health.

Oftentimes, however, nobody can know what exactly what is going to happen to them or their family, and they simply need coverage for emergencies. There are also experimental procedures that insurance companies often don’t cover for various reasons, and needing something like this with no coverage can be costly.

For the Nichols family this has been a reality over the past several years, as they have fought for understanding about their 15-year-old son’s medical conditions and health. Brody — or Spencer, at school — was born with hydronephrosis on the left side, which causes swelling of the kidney because urine can’t drain properly. He had surgery at 10-months-old and the family was told he would live a normal life.

They later found out that Brody also had it on the right side, and in May 2015 he was feeling sick again. After several months and fighting for an ultrasound, they discovered that neither kidneys were draining properly. Surgery was done again on both sides at the beginning of 2016, but they still had to have nephrostomy tubes put in during the summer, to help the kidneys drain into bags Brody carries on his back. After several doctors discussed Brody’s condition they decided he needed a kidney autotransplant.

“Brody will be the first minor in Utah to have this procedure done, he’ll be the first one at Primary Children’s to have it done, if it gets authorized to be okay,” said Rachel Nichols, Brody’s mom.

“University of Utah is a research school, so they have done at least 30 cases on adults, but there’s not enough evidence for children with his diagnosis to prove that this will work, so they’re calling it

In regards to covering experimental procedures like autotransplants, “all types of insurance have limitations and exclusions, and the reason around that is from a cost standpoint,” said Scott Schneider, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Select Health. “You could cover every single thing possible and then the cost would be reflective of that … insurance plans typically covered a mandated level of benefits … all forms have a form of limitations or exclusions.”

Rachel Nichols and her son Brody, who is in need of an kidney autotransplant, and is waiting for approval from their insurance to cover the experimental procedure. (Mandy Ditto/City Journals)

experimental.”

However, because of its experimental nature, the Nichols’s health provider, Select Health, told them they wouldn’t be able to cover it, due to their policy. The family has been fighting and appealing to gain coverage for the $100,000 to $150,000 procedure ever since so that “Brody can live and be a teenager,” Nichols said.

Because Brody’s right kidney was saved in time and is functioning, the autotransplant would simply move the kidney into the pelvic area to attach directly to the bladder, Nichols said, which is what is done with kidney transplants from donors.

“If we can do that, we feel that he will live a healthy life, he will not be on any anti-rejection medicine and he will not be on any opioids,” Nichols said. “From the doctors that we’ve had, we’ve had three different opinions, they all say yes, he needs to have this done.

Select Health gets to rubberstamp it after five doctors have said … all five have said yes, but they are calling it experimental and there’s not enough information stating that this will work for him.”

Nichols believes that if this can be approved and pushed forward, that Brody “can open the doors for other children to have this done.”

The Nichols were denied on December 14 and so Rachel turned to social media about it, and got the attention of an appeals manager. Brody had a surgery date set for January 3, but the appeal wasn’t processed in time. As of mid-January the chief medical officer of Select Health is looking at the case personally, and the Nichols are waiting to see what will happen.

“It makes you think about what health insurance company you want to use, and that’s something people need to look into: what is covered by one insurance and what is not covered by another insurance,” Nichols said.

Questions that need asking about health insurance Because it can be intimidating for people to look through those official documents that explain coverage, Castaneda suggests that “reaching out for additional resources is obviously going to be a good idea for some, whether it’s reaching right out to your insurer or agent or broker, to be able to answer some of those questions you might have that are not straightforward.”

Out-of-pocket maximums, deductibles, pharmacy copays, emergency room copays and urgent care costs are some of the specific things people should look at as they go over their SBC and schedule of benefits, Schneider said.

In regards to medical emergencies, people should “get a feel for, ‘Where could I go receive urgent care benefits?’ It’s nice to look at those things while you’re calm, so you could say, ‘Hey urgent care is a $100 visit but the emergency room is $500,’ and go back and say ‘Where is my nearest urgent care unit,’ so they get a feel for what are their copay differentials,” Schneider said.

Something many people may not consider is that they can’t always buy insurance, at any time of the year. Because of the Affordable Care Act, there is an enrollment period that goes from November 1 to January 31, said Robert Sautter, current president of the Utah Association of Health Underwriters.

People need to be aware of when they need insurance and when they can sign onto a plan; preparedness for the plan they want is also important, so that they are stuck with what works for them.

Cost is an obvious thing people are looking at with insurance plans and it all depends on one’s needs to decide how much is reasonable to spend.

“People should be looking at what are their needs, are they buying insurance to cover a catastrophic need, in other words do they not have many day-to-day needs, or do you have a common condition to where you need to establish day-to-day care, you need to be covered for that,” Sautter said. “They need to look at their situation, they need to know how much insurance they need.

Costs are so high these days, and people will ask to just show them the lowest price product and of course that comes with a high deductible and very high out-of-pocket. The price may be right, but what they realistically need it doesn’t make sense to buy that.” l

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Page 18 | February 2017

ENTERPRISE

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Recycling 101: Getting closer to best recycling practices in the valley

By Mandy Ditto | m.ditto@mycityjournals.com

F

or years, Salt Lake Valley residents have put out big, green bins to support recycling.

However, there isn’t a year that goes by where those residents find themselves unsure of exactly what can be recycled.

Why Recycling is Important There are plenty of financial and environmental reasons to recycle, but some area experts say there are things residents should know in order to encourage them to recycle more efficiently.

“A lot of our landfills will sustain us for about 15 more years, and then we will either need to ship things out further or have transfer stations,” said Dawn Beagley, who is in charge of business development at ACE Recycling and Disposal. “Or, we can keep all of the recyclables out of landfills and they will last a lot longer.”

Besides the environmental impact on landfills, Beagley also believes recycling is simply the right thing to do.

“It’s too bad we don’t have kids or grandkids that could invent something using these recyclables to reuse a lot more stuff — that would be best,” Beagley said. “I hate to see when someone throws a plastic bottle in the trash. I teach my kids at home, ‘No, that’s recyclable.’ I just think it’s very important.”

Jennifer Meriwether, who handles business development for Rocky Mountain Recycling, sees recycling as real sustainability, “a good alternative, that also keeps people engaged and aware ... that is very important and necessary.” Rocky Mountain Recycling helps with curbside service in the valley by having items picked up by ACE taken to RMR plant facility to go through for contamination and recycling.

Many Salt Lake Valley disposal companies want to use community engagement as a way to get people to see the good in recycling.

Educating and getting kids involved is especially relevant and is something many parents are doing to show their kids how to make an impact in their community.

For Trena L., a Murray resident, recycling definitely feels like she’s engaged and part of a community effort, she said.

“There’s always that guilt that comes with it, if you don’t do it, and you feel like you should probably be doing it more,” she said.

She puts her curbside bin out at least every other week. “But you are always aware of it and once you just do it, it becomes a habit.”

What NOT to Recycle Unfortunately, no matter how much residents are engaged in recycling, there is still misinformation and confusion about what can or cannot be recycled. And though many

Recycling bins line the curbs of Murray streets ready for pick up.(Mandy Ditto / City Journals)

“It’s good for the local economy: it creates jobs, giving sustainable, long-term employment.”

things can be recycled, it depends on whether the city — and the disposal companies that service the city — has the resources to recycle every product, Beagley said.

“Because, right now, the recycling numbers are down the products are not worth as much as they use to be,” Beagley said. “And with the recyclers, we are taking items to them that they don’t want as much as they use to.”

Currently, plastic foam and any cardboard with wax film are items that recyclers don’t have any place for, and don’t want in recycling.

It has also become cheaper for companies to make new plastic bags, rather than recycle and reuse them. When plastic bags are put into curbside recycling bins and taken to the lots where recycled goods are sorted, they are doing what recyclers and disposal companies call contaminating.

An entire load may be deemed unrecyclable due to this contamination, unless it is sorted out in time. Plastic bags also frequently clog the recycling machines and local trucks that pick up curbside garbage, Meriwether said. Currently Rocky Mountain Recycling is trying to do a “bag ban” so that plastic bags can only be taken back to grocery stores to be recycled or reused, she said.

Contamination is the biggest issue for recyclers. Food waste that is in or on recyclable products, as well as clothing and plastic bags, are a few of the things that can also cause contamination, Beagley said.

“We want the recycling bins to be clean.

Food waste is the worst. And with clothing, that is the wrong place to recycle it. There are other places for that,” like donation centers, she said.

The worst culprit of contamination in curbside bins is glass, since it can break and spread through an entire load of recycling.

Glass is a great thing to recycle and reuse, and there are glass drop-offs throughout the valley for it. Most glasses can be recycled, but it is necessary for glass to be taken to specific dropoffs, so that it doesn’t affect other recyclables.

There are a few types of glass that cannot be recycled, and those include ceramic, mirrored glass and light bulbs, all of which have problematic contaminants to get out once a load of glass is melted together.

Pyrex products, such as pie plates, are also contaminants. The rule to live by with that type of glass can be recycled is: “basically if you can put it in your oven, it can’t be recycled,” noted John Lair, president and CEO of Momentum Recycling, a glass recycling company in Utah and Colorado.

For a more comprehensive list of what cannot be recycled by ACE Disposal, which services in the Salt Lake Valley, go to: www.acedisposal.com/index.php/recyclingdisposal-for-your-home/residential-recycling.

What TO Recycle Luckily, many items people use on a daily

basis can be recycled.

“Glass is a low-hanging fruit: it’s easy material to identify, glass is always recyclable besides the few we listed and everyone can do it,” Lair said.

Glass can also be reused playing another part in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle cycle.

“Glass is 100 percent recyclable. You can make a new container with glass that you can’t do with other (materials),” Lair said. “If you are shopping based on your sustainability preferences, glass is your best packing choice.

I really encourage people to embrace glass and close the loop and make sure to recycle glass locally.”

When it comes to plastics, papers and metals that can be recycled, there are many options and are not as limited as many may think.

“A lot of people, they think they can’t put a lot of things in the recycling bin, so they put it in the garbage…it’s actually a lot easier than people think,” Meriwether said. “People think they have to go through a big process, sorting them and all and they don’t necessarily have to do that.”

Below are household items that can be recycled: • Paper: office, note • Brochures, catalogues • Newspaper • Wrapping paper • Cardboard (flattened or cut) • Envelopes • Paper egg cartons • Plastic containers #1-7 • Washed out milk, juice, water jugs & bottles • Washed out laundry jugs and bottles • Aluminum cans • Tin cans • Clean aluminum foil • Aluminum disposable pans and plates For a more comprehensive list of recyclable items, visit: www.acedisposal.com/ index.php/recycling-disposal-for-your-home/ residential-recycling.

Lair sees recycling as important for the entire community, and not just for environmental concerns.

“It’s good for the local economy: it creates jobs, giving sustainable, long-term employment. Like ours, most are small businesses, which is very good for the community in many ways,” Lair said. “I would encourage people to get involved...and in the long run, help us conserve our limited, dwindling recycled materials. Whether it’s products or packaging, it doesn’t have to be dug from the earth; it extends longevity of natural resources, it’s the smart thing to do, and not just environmentally.” l

EDUCATION

M yCityJournal.Com

February 20167 | Page 19

Granite Park Junior High National Demonstration status renewed

By Aspen Perry | a.perry@mycityjournals.com

Your Career Begins

with Us!

Member Care Representative Software Sales Specialist Granite Park Junior High National AVID Demonstration School. (Granite School District)

I

n December 2016, after a rigorous evaluation, Granite Park Junior High’s status as a National Demonstration School for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program was renewed through 2019.

The purpose of the AVID program, as described in AVID’s mission statement is, “to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.”

Career and college readiness are the main objective for AVID, which is considered a global nonprofit that prides itself on the foundation to, “hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise.”

In addition to preparing students from an academic standpoint, the AVID programs focus on preparing educators to be able to aid students when they need guidance applying for college, as well as scholarships and financial aid.

As Granite Park Junior High AVID teacher Keri Graybill said, “AVID works because great strategies teamed with individual determination results in academic achievement.

Dreams become reality as students accomplish their goals.”

Graybill described AVID as the difference for students graduating and attending college, especially considering many of the students being the first in their family to attend college. In turn, because Granite Park is a demonstration school, those students are then able to inspire other students from schools throughout the state.

“Just this week we had a former student return with her acceptance letter in hand to Dixie State University. And another letter informing her she had received a scholarship.

Just two months prior to this she was a guest

speaker in our AVID classes where she inspired students with her journey,” said Graybill.

To earn the title as a National Demonstration School of the AVID program, Granite Park must be re-evaluated every three years, and in accordance with the Granite School District site, is a title less than four percent of all schools with AVID programs nationwide have earned.

Though the process to become renewed is rigorous, for the school administration and teachers, one of the biggest thrills is witnessing the pride their students take in being a demonstration school.

Principal Danny Stirland, described being able to hear students from nearby classrooms cheer and clap as their teachers informed them the school had been renewed.

“Our kids take pride in this, it’s a success for them to have other kids coming to see what they are doing,” Stirland said.

Following Stirland’s sentiment, Graybill added, “They realize that what we learn and do in our AVID classes not only impacts their future, but it also impacts students, teachers, counselors, and principals in other schools.”

Additionally, AVID promotes their program as being the “most appropriate partner” for the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) an important element considering The Utah State Board of Education set the new Utah Core Standards based on framework of the CCSS. Another feature of the AVID program is a collaborative involvement from colleges and universities across the United States to offer support to students through continued college support. This feature is available for students regardless if they are seeking an advanced degree or career certifications. l

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SPORTS

Page 20 | February 2017

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

South Salt Lake brings Spikeball to Columbus Center

GET CONNECTED,

STAY CONNECTED

By Brian Shaw | brian.shaw@mycityjournals.com

A Special Thank You

to our new and renewing members!

– Salt Lake Community College – Granite School District – Diamond Parties and Events

...

“THANKS” to outgoing Chamber board members and “WELCOME” to our incoming colleagues.

We recognized these folks at the Annual Chamber Banquet on February 3, 2017!

Outgoing Chamber Board Members:

Jill Kirsling, CPA Juli Miller, Utah Family Dental Plans Gary Nielsen, Martin Garage Door Kathy Ricci, Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund Bette Taylor, America First Credit Union Vilia Van Tonder, VT Accounting Services

Incoming Chamber Board Members:

John Cameron, Cameron Construction Gina Webb-Harris, Cytozyme Michael Holt, Brighton Bank Gregg McDonough, Alphagraphics Mark Norton, Utah Grizzlies & Maverik Center Sara Sorensen, Mountain Land Design

We enjoyed a fantastic Chamber Banquet event on February 3rd.

Several awards and recognitions were handed out.

UPCOMING EVENTS NOTE: To received regular information for all events please contact info@sslchamber.com. Please visit www.sslchamber.com for more event details.

Wednesday, March 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coffee with a Cop Wednesday, March 15 . . . . . . . Mayor Wood - State of the City Thursday, March 23 . . . . . . . . . . . Multi-Chamber Luncheon

www.sslchamber.com

Area residents enjoy playing a game of Spikeball. (Elvert Barnes)

S

pikeball. A sport that originated in the dark recesses of someone’s mind who had the guts to take it to “Shark Tank”, the popular TV show on ABC, five years ago. Born from combining the sports of volleyball and four-square, they took their idea to national TV, from whence it started becoming a household name.

Now, recreation department coordinator Myrna Clark brings this big idea to South Salt Lake’s Columbus Center gymnasium every Saturday, where Spikeball open play will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“We really hope to get some interest in Spikeball so that we can continue it in the future,” said Clark, who added that city officials will give information and instructions to anyone who comes out Saturdays so that they understand how to play.

What is the sport exactly?

Spikeball is a sport that is played with four players, two on each team, on which a hula hoop-sized net is placed between each team. That’s where the fun begins, because as soon as a player serves the ball into net and it ricochets, it’s game on.

Like volleyball, each team can take up to three hits to return the ball to their opponent by bouncing it back off the net.

But, that’s where the volleyball similarity

ends. Because unlike volleyball, there aren’t any boundaries in Spikeball. So, if you or your teammate smash a ball into the stratosphere and it lands somewhere in Murray’s city limits, the ball is still in play. Newsflash: you can move anywhere.

However, if your opponent whiffs on the ball you just hit, you get a point. You can also get a point by hitting the ball on rim of the Spikeball net. Or, if it lands on the ground, point for you.

But don’t let the ball bounce twice on the net, because if you do, it’s a point for the other team.

Spikeball has been catching on across the country, according to Clark, who along with several recreation department members, first saw it displayed at a conference and then tried it out on a volleyball club last year.

Later, Clark gave it a shot at her family reunion and it took off. Late last year, she said the decision was made to introduce it to the general public.

Starting on Sat. Jan. 21, the city will lay down the Spikeball court and see what happens.

While the jury is out on the sport, Clark is confident that Spikeball could have the same effect as another popular pastime in the city.

“We hope it picks up like pickleball did,” said Clark, who added that she would like to hold a Spikeball tournament in the summer if the sport takes off. l

EDUCATION

M yCityJournal.Com

February 20167 | Page 21

College Application Week proves successful at Connection High School

Teacher Spotlight: Jamilya Hankishiyeva Love of Learning Connects with Students

By Aspen Perry | a.perry@mycityjournals.com

By Aspen Perry | a.perry@mycityjournals.com

A few of the students who participated in UCAW at Connection High School. Photo by Aspen Perry

Jamilya Hankishiyeva speaks with her students at the Utah International Charter School on Jan. 11. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

I

F

n December, Connection High School participated in Utah College Application Week (UCAW) for the third consecutive year, a program designed to help the increasing number of students applying for college each year.

According to Step Up Utah, despite 90 percent of junior high students stating they plan to attend college, in reality when that time of their life arrives, roughly two-thirds end up actually attending. Completing college applications is a major hurdle for many students.

The purpose of UCAW, according to Heidi Nielsen, counselor at Connection High School, “is to prepare students, particularly 12th graders for college.”

Offering a week dedicated to focusing on their future also reduces anxiety some students feel regarding taking the next step after graduation.

“The transition from high school graduation to the next step is difficult. At times, society forgets this difficult transition. Senior students have warranted anxieties about that next step.

UCAW best supports students by allowing the students one or two weeks to have support with these transitions,” said Jonny Matich, an English teacher at Connection High School.

Both counselors and teachers agree UCAW sets up the transition by helping students become aware of the options available to them and the process to apply, which in turn eases pressure students feel about what they should do next.

“When UCAW begins, I see a huge burden being lifted off many of the senior students,” Matich said.

Fellow counselor Nielsen agrees, “Students are more eager to apply since UCAW was implemented because students are more aware of the process.”

According to Step Up, in 2013 the pilot program for UCAW included three school districts and eight high schools. In its second year, UCAW saw 10,000 senior participants in 15 districts and 49 high schools. By 2015, Step Up reported over 21,000 applications were

submitted from students in 25 districts and 83 schools with 96 percent of those students claiming UCAW increased their understanding of the application process.

In an effort to best help students make sense of a great deal of information regarding possibilities after graduation, Connection High School, held multiple breakout sessions, for all 10th- through 12th-grade students, geared toward information and guidance for completing and continuing their education.

The sessions included information regarding Knowledge Base Diplomas, various programs and certifications offered through the School of Applied Technology at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), certification programs in the medical field, as well as, various associates degrees offered through SLCC. “UCAW affords opportunities that many students would be unaware of if it weren’t for UCAW activities,” Matich said.

In addition to the breakout sessions, Nielsen said, “We also have lunch activities for the students who participate, where they can learn more about college and win college swag.”

Holding UCAW in December appears to also serve as a motivator for students who may have to raise grades or complete more credits before they are eligible to apply, while they still have time to do so.

Thus far, Nielsen and fellow counselor Michelle Glaittli, have already assisted 22 students in applying for college and will continue to do so through May, as more students become ready for the application step.

Of the 22 that have already applied, the majority applied to SLCC, Dixie, or Snow College, with one student applying to Southern Utah University.

For students with financial insecurity, the Granite Education Foundation tries to alleviate any financial concerns by offering to cover application fees when a student is unable.

Connection High School is at 509 E. 3900 South. It was formerly called Granite Peaks. l

rom the age of 14 Jamilya Hankishiyeva held the professions of teachers and lawyers in high regard. But, when she had to make a career choice, she took teaching over becoming a lawyer, a decision she has never regretted.

Hankishiyeva has been with the Utah International Charter School (UI) since before its inception, and adores many aspects of teaching, from her own love of learning to enjoying seeing students excited about learning.

“I love learning and there is something new I learn every day about my students and about teaching. It is very rewarding to see students’ progress and think,” said Hankishiyeva.

Aside from almost 20 years in the field, another part of what makes Hankishiyeva such an incredible fit for UI is her life experience.

Though Hankishiyeva has been in the United States for 20 years, she was born in the former Soviet Union, and has experienced first hand what it is like to make a new country her home.

“I feel that I understand where my students are coming from because I have been to some of their countries. It helps me to connect to my students,” said Hankishiyeva.

Hankishiyeva’s fluency in other languages help, as well. “Jamilya is the most experienced with English learners… she is fluent in Turkish, which is a second or third language for many refugees,” Principal Angela Rowland said.

Hankishiyeva’s ability to connect with students does not go unnoticed by her fellow teachers. “She is gifted in getting a student to speak and feel comfortable speaking. Since we are a school full of English language learners, the more students can speak, the better,” said Amelie Heyse, a U.S. history and government teacher at UI. Hankishiyeva started with UI as a member of the planning committee, before the school even opened the doors. It is a time she describes as being exciting, but worrisome due to uncertainty of what would be required to

create a comfortable learning environment in a school of students with such varying needs.

“I knew our kids were coming from different schools and different countries, and it was going to take time to get to know each other... [in] our fourth year, I don’t worry anymore,” said Hankishiyeva.

Some might say the collaborative learning model at the core of UI is part of the reason the students and teachers find such success.

Hankishiyeva points out how kids are more prone to learn from peers than adults, so in Hankishiyeva’s words, “Why not use it? Working in groups improves student’s academic and social skills… they are more engaged.”

Hankishiyeva’s ability to embrace the collaborative learning model is apparent to those around her, as well. “She is one of the strongest in her use of collaborative groups… other teachers look to her for guidance in this important feature of our learning model,” said Rowland.

Fellow teaching colleague Heyse agrees, “Jamilya is the leader when it comes to classroom routines and group work.”

Not only does Hankishiyeva’s love of teaching carry through in her ability to excel in collaborative group work and class routines, but colleagues can feel the love she puts into her work, as Heyse highlights Hankishiyeva’s energy as one of her favorite aspects when working with her.

Hankishiyeva’s energy is apparent in her willingness to always help the department, as well as the school. An energy her students appear to pick up on, as well.

Heyse said, “I have so many students who come to my class and say that Ms. Hankishiyeva is the best teacher. She truly prepares students to be upperclassmen.”

From a fascination in her mid-teens to making her dream a reality, Hankishiyeva is making a real difference in the lives of her students. l

Page 22 | February 2017

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

A New Way to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

I

by

JOANI TAYLOR

remember as a child carefully picking the card from the box of Valentines that had the perfect pun on it for that particular friend. Maybe it was a picture of an Elephant, “I won’t forget you are my Valentine” or the bear that proclaims “I can’t bear to be without you.”

We would carefully tear along the dotted lines, so as not to rip them, then stuff each envelope with pink and yellow hearts, that when combined, made a secret message? Then we would run around the neighborhood leaving our creations on the doorsteps of our friends and those we had a childhood crush on. I remember that no matter how much we licked the envelope it wouldn’t stay stuck shut.

Later as teens, when the hormones were raging, Valentines became a day of Teddy Bears and giant candy kisses, first dates and holding hands in the movie. Then finally I found that special someone and Valentines became the day where we would present cards to each other and try to think of creative ways to express our love without spending too much.

After over 3 decades of marriage though, I’m finding that few of the sentiments on cards apply and I have often considered designing my own line of valentine cards that are sold according the number of years one has been together.

“Valentine, our body’s may be sagging, but my love for you never will.” Or: “I can’t wait to celebrate our love tonight at

Monte’s Steakhouse and use the buy 1, get 1 free coupon we have.”

As the years have gone by, it’s become the day to day little things that mean more to me than this designated day of love, like when my hubby brings me a cup of early morning coffee before I get out of bed or folding a load of laundry on a night when I’m working late.

Valentines has really just become another day for us, so we decided to do something different and make Valentines a day of generosity. Instead of making it a selfish day of loving each other, something we already do every day, we’re turning it into a day of loving one another. We’ve discovered that by spending time together giving back is wonderful way to spread some Valentine cheer and

bring us closer together at the same time. Here’s a few ideas we’ve had for this year: • Make arrangements to drop off Valentine goodies to an elderly care facility. While at it you could stay a while and play a game of cards or just listen while they reminisce about the person they are missing.

• Contact a children’s grief facility, like the Sharing Place, and donate craft boxes or needed supplies.

• Plan a date night volunteering at the Utah Food Bank or serving up a meal at your local shelter.

• Instead of dinner at a restaurant, have dinner at a charity event. Many non-profits hold charity gala’s and auctions. To find them, check http:// www.valleyjournals.com/calendar or contact the charity foundation of your choice.

• Give blood together. It’s something we all intend to do, make a date of it and then have a meal together afterwards.

Making February 14th a day to open your heart and share generosity is a great way for those of us with or without a Valentine. What better way is there to spend Valentine’s Day? _________________________________________ Joani Taylor is the founder of Coupons4Utah.com. A website devoted to helping Utah families save time and money on restaurants, things to do and everyday needs.

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February 20167 | Page 23

M yCityJournal.Com

Life

Laughter AND

by

PERI KINDER

SO SALT LAKE

Head Over Heels

I

’m a terrible romantic. I mean that literally. I’m terrible at being romantic. When God handed out sentimentality, I was hiding in a bathroom stall eating a box of chocolate donuts. If I’d married an unfeeling psychopath that wouldn’t be a problem, but my husband could be the spokesperson for the Hallmark channel.

He’ll plan Valentine’s Day like he’s competing for a spot on “The Nicholas Sparks RomanceA-Thon Reality Evening.” There’s roses and poetry and candlelight and chocolates and puppies and rainbows and glitter. And then there’s me, sitting dumbfounded saying something like, “Did Valentine’s Day come early this year?”

Don’t get me wrong. I’m lucky to have a husband who remembers not only my birthday, but the time of my birth, what the #1 song was and the Oscar-winning movie from the year I was born.

But by comparison, it makes me look pretty pathetic.

I often return kind thoughts with chilling sarcasm—but he still hugs me and makes me feel like I’m not quite the monster I think I am. (But he should probably stop calling me FrankenPeri.)

So because of all the sweetness he shows me, and because I’m still learning this whole romance thing, this is my Valentine’s letter to my hubbie: Thank you for having my back and being willing to fly into battle to defend me from the smallest slights.

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Thank you for telling me I’m beautiful even without make-up (you always look beautiful without make-up) and when my hair looks like I barely survived a rabid ferret attack.

Thank you for not noticing when I have a zit the size of Mt. Rushmore hanging off my chin. Well, I’m sure you notice, but thank you for not calling me the Zit Witch.

The same goes for when I have a scorch mark on my forehead from the flat iron, a gash on my shin from my razor and cuticles that look like I get manicures with a cheese grater.

Thank you for telling me when the bloody parts are over during Quentin Tarantino’s films. Thank you for not taking me to any more Quentin Tarantino movies.

Thank you for not noticeably rolling your eyes when I serve a meal consisting of quinoa, sweet potatoes and kale. Thank you for ordering pizza when the meal tastes like $%&*.

Thank you for understanding that I hate watching romantic comedies (see paragraph #1) and appreciating when I sometimes suffer through a sob-fest of a manipulative romance. In return, thank you for occasionally watching animated films, even though you hate it as much as I despise romance.

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Amazon (“Where did that come from?”).

Thank you for binge watching TV shows, not dragging me to parties, reading next to me in bed, laughing at my jokes, going to my yoga class and snuggling every morning before we head out to face the world.

And here’s the funny thing. Despite my resistance and outer shell of cynicism, I often feel like the Grinch when his heart grows three sizes. I’ll find myself crying at movies without embarrassment (but I’ll still get offended when you offer me a tissue). You’ve taught me to appreciate sunsets, beautiful clouds and a gentle hug at the end of the day.

Maybe one day I’ll change from being a terrible romantic to being terribly romantic. Probably not.

But it could happen.

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