South Salt Lake Journal | January 2025 by The City Journals

SSL CITY COUNCIL MAKES BIG STEPS TOWARD FAMILY HOMELESS SHELTER

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

The South Salt Lake City Council moved forward with two main steps in the development of Family Interim Non-congregate Children Housing development at 315 W. 3300 South.

According to the South Salt Lake City Council agenda, Family Interim Non-congregate Children Housing facility (FINCH) means a facility that is owned, operated or contracted for operations, by a government entity or a charitable, nonprofit organization that provides free, temporary (on average, less than one year), non-congregate housing to families, which must include at least one minor child or one young-adult child who is still engaged as a student in the K-12 public school system, who are experiencing homelessness while the parents or guardians obtain work, job skills, or otherwise take steps to stabilize the family’s long-term housing circumstances.

The decision was made at the council meeting held Dec. 11 to approve a zone change from Transit Oriented Development to the FINCH Zone, which would enable the project to move forward. The original transit oriented development allowed for a mix of residential and commercial uses focused

around public transportation. With the new FINCH zoning, it is more centered around family homelessness.

They also approved an ordinance amendment to create the new FINCH zone and establish standards for the development. This includes a new definition for Family Interim Non-congregate Children Housing facility. The ordinance establishes specific regulations and standards for the development and operation of the facility. It also outlines requirements for on-site management, security and a comprehensive management plan to mitigate potential impacts on the surrounding community. The regulations are as follows:

• The FINCH facility shall conduct all operations within an enclosed structure;

• Serve only properly registered families who qualify for residency;

• Provide adequate staffed, 24-hour onsite management;

• Provide adequate staffed, licensed and bonded private security (or properly trained off-duty police officers) to minimize the demand on public emergency services providers;

SSL City Council gathers to discuss moving forward with the Family Interim Non-congregate Children Housing development. (Bailey Chism/City Journals)

DExperience the Difference at Main Street Dental

r. Mike Young, DDS, has been practicing dentistry for nearly 20 years. His father was a dentist and Mike spent his entire life around the profession. He opened Main Street Dental seven years ago in South Salt Lake to bring quality dental services to clients in the area.

He offers general dentistry, cleanings, periodontal therapy, fillings, crowns, tooth extractions, wisdom teeth extractions, dentures and dental implants. His office is conveniently located off 3300 South and I-15, so he sees patients from all over the Salt Lake Valley and beyond.

Dr Young was raised in Utah and studied dentistry at the Ohio State University. Mike is an avid sports fan and loves Buckeye football and Jazz basketball. He enjoys spending time with his wife Harmony and their four children Cayden, Brooklyn, Avery and Sophia.

What sets your business apart from your competitors?

At MSD you will find a dentist and hygienist that are professional, caring, and experienced, and love what they do. That helps to ensure good outcomes and experiences for the patient. Every day, we resolve pain for those suffering from toothaches. We also repair or replace broken teeth. However, the most important thing we do is in terms of prevention.

Who is your ideal client?

Our ideal clients are patients who really care about their teeth

and patients who take the time each day to do proper dental hygiene.If the individual doesn’t take the time each night to care for themselves, then, over the years, their teeth will fail them.

Patients should understand that putting off dental problems is the worst thing they can do. This puts them in a position of having fewer options and options that are generally more expensive. If you haven’t seen a dentist for a while, stop putting it off and make it a priority to have any problems addressed.

How do potential clients choose between you or a competitor?

Often patients choose a dentist based on their insurance, rather than the doctor who will be providing services and his experience. Patients should do their homework to know who they are working with. Google reviews can offer great insight.

When you come into my office I promise to give you a fair and honest evaluation. I won’t suggest anything that is not in your best interest. I offer solutions that we can confidently stand behind. When looking for a dentist, you want someone honest, caring and capable of managing your specific issues.

What is your favorite service Main Street Dental offers?

We provide immediate dental implants and temporary crowns. When a front tooth is otherwise unrepairable, the tooth can be removed, an implant placed and a temporary tooth made

all in one visit. I’ve had many patients over the years who have needed this treatment and it makes for incredible results.

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you?

As a second generation dentist, I pride myself on the quality of dental care I provide to my patients. I’m dedicated to saving my patients time and money by treating your needs as though they were my own and providing quality dentistry at an affordable price.

3195 S Main St. #225, South Salt Lake 801-467-2255 Mainstreetdentalslc.com

Cottonwood football loads up on postseason accolades

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

For this football tribe at Cottonwood High School, their 2024-25 Colts student-athletes welcomed not only a new head coach over the offseason—they ushered in several new players as well.

To their credit, the Colts still had nearly a dozen student-athletes named All-Region 10 selections by area coaches and administrators. One of them was senior Caleb Loveless-Delamora, who was named to the All-Region second team.

“It’s an honor to receive such a reward,” said Loveless-Delamora, who was playing just his third year of organized football. “It’s more rewarding for me because it shows the hard work, time, dedication, and effort I put into football. I really have to give all the glory to God.”

Loveless-Delamora played three different positions for Cottonwood this season, most notably as wide receiver where he finished the year with nine receptions for 55 yards. Loveless-Delamora also played defensive back and running back.

On the All-Region first team, wide receiver Bo Smith was playing in his first varsity action for the Colts—but he made it count. The senior transfer hadn’t played since his sophomore year at Alta, but he still led the way for Cottonwood this season on their receiving corps, averaging 46.5 yards per game.

In all, the two-sport star Smith had 279 yards receiving on 16 catches for Cottonwood and had three or more receptions in three different games. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior’s season-high for receptions and yards in a game came during the Colts 41-3 loss at home to Mountain View when Smith had four catches for 53 yards.

Smith’s longest reception of the season was at Stansbury, a 35-yard grab in

which he ended that game with 82 yards. He was joined on the All-Region first team by linebacker Nikk Rains, who is also a senior at Cottonwood. Rains, who is a 6-foot, 190-pound bruiser, also featured as a blocking tight end for the Colts.

On the All-Region second team are four Colts in no particular order, starting with Loveless-Delamora. On the Colts’ offensive line, senior Daven Peterson, was also named to the All-Region second

team.

On the defensive side of the ball, two Colts were named to the All-Region second team. At defensive back, Korbin Lynch got the honor. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior also played at wide receiver and finished the year with 11 catches for 157 yards receiving, second-best on the team. Lynch was accompanied on the All-Region second team by senior Lucas See, a 5-foot-10, 212- pound defensive

end and long snapper.

Four other Colts made honorable mention on the All-Region 10 team. Kicker Parker Evans had never played a down of football before this season, but that didn’t stop him. The senior two-sport star assailed the school’s record books by kicking six field goals in 2024, marking Evans’ performance second all-time in Cottonwood football modern-day history in a single season.

When the Colts needed a first down and some tough yards, they often turned to Palmer Johansen. The senior running back capped off a successful three-year career with 562 yards rushing on 193 carries and one TD. Johansen also had 87 yards receiving on 12 catches.

Malcolm Mundy was a two-year starter at Cottonwood, and the Colts QB1 to boot. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior threw for 1,360 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 102 yards. A two-sport star who also plays for the Colts’ baseball team, Mundy’s arm and legs got Cottonwood 132 yards of total offense per game during the season and an honorable mention from Region 10 coaches.

Last but not least, senior Kayden Cameron also received an honorable mention on the All-Region 10 team at defensive end. He also played on the offensive line for the Colts, who graduate 19 seniors and had a total of 10 seniors named to this All-Region 10 team.

With a hashtag of #4TheTribe, these Colts etched their names in the history books and give all future Colts the chance to think about how they can make a name for themselves and for their Cottonwood football teams as well. l

SOUTH SALT LAKE TEAM

The South Salt Lake Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Salt Lake.

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

SOUTHJORDAN JOURNAL.COM

PUBLISHER

Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

EDITOR

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com

Lindsay Andreasen | lindsay.a@thecityjournals.com

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR

Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022

Rack locations are also available on our website.

EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN

Anna Pro

Ty Gorton

Stacey LaMont

SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY JOURNAL 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070

PHONE: 801-254-5974

Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media.

PUBLISHER Designed, Published, & Distributed by

The 2024-25 Cottonwood football team captains from l-r: Kayden Cameron, Kes Archuleta, Gabriel Bricio and Caleb Loveless-Delamora, who was named to the All-Region 10 second team. (Cottonwood High Athletics)

Girl Scouts of Utah responds to increase in membership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

AsGirl Scouts of Utah prepare to enter a new cookie season, they are also preparing for increases in membership fees. On Oct. 19, the Girl Scouts of the USA approved an increase of membership fees in a special National Council session that will be implemented over the next two years. Delegates from Utah, who were elected, were able to weigh in on the decision.

The current membership dues for participants are $25 a year, an amount that has been unchanged since 2018. The future increase in dues will be implemented over a two-year span, increasing to $45 in 2026, and $65 starting in 2027. There will also be an increase for adult volunteers from $25 to $30 a year. The dues will remain at $25 for the year 2025.

Leaders, volunteers, and parents were notified via email on Oct. 21 of the decision by the National Council. Despite the increase, the email ended as follows: “We are committed to providing financial assistance to all who need it.”

According to GSUSA, “We will explore other membership dues options such as family plans, differentiated pricing for volunteers/ adults, differentiated pricing by Girl Scout age, and multi-year memberships as part of our three-year strategy.”

Expanding the programs

Beyond selling cookies, girls as early as kindergarten age and as old as 12th grade, participate in weekly or biweekly troop meetings and work towards badges in one of the four pillars of the Girl Scout program: STEM, outdoor, life skills and entrepreneurship.

GSU Board Chair Joelle Creager said the National Council of GSUSA has strategic plans for the membership increase.

“Those national membership dues, they use those...they build the program, and then we are the implementers,” Creager said. “That will help us to be able to expand our programming into areas that we haven’t even dreamed of.”

One of the expansions in programming is the Daisy box, launched in August of 2024. The once-a-month kit is complimentary, and goes out to all the Daisy troop leaders, providing all the resources needed to be able to earn badges within the four pillars of the Girl Scout program.

Adorned with daisy petals on their blue vests or tunics, the rank of Daisy is for ages kindergarten through first grade, after which, the Girl Scout advances to the widely recognized rank of Brownie. The Daisy rank was introduced into Girl Scouts in 1984.

“Growing and sustaining our ‘movement’ requires consistent and prudent investment— and our Girl Scouts expect and deserve to be invested in,” the Girl Scouts USA responded in an email. “To continue to maintain our core programming and make the necessary investments to provide an unparalleled experience for our current and future members and volun-

teers, we routinely need to reevaluate how we fund our mission.”

No matter the rank, the Girl Scout organization is a girl-led program. All decisions about what activities to participate in and what badges to work towards are decided upon collectively by the girls within a troop.

According to the Girl Scout website, “When girls step up and take ownership of their decisions, they grow into confident leaders who can make informed and empowered decisions—a valuable skill they’ll carry throughout their lives.”

Once a Girl Scout herself, Creager found the program at 10 years old. She recalled a lot of life changes around that time, causing her to feel as though she did not fit in. With encouragement from a friend, she “leapt at the chance,” and joined as a ‘Junior’ in the fifth grade.

“Girl Scouts really offers a wide variety of activities,” Creager said. “We’re not holding just one skill. We’re encouraging them to taste a little bit of everything.”

GSU Chief Executive Officer Lisa Hardin-Reynolds has been with the organization for 31 years in various roles. With a background in social work, Hardin-Reynolds highlighted the aspects of Girl Scouts that she believes are the most impactful such as, “helping girls to have a voice and to see girls realize what they are capable of.”

Interests and increases

Growing up in New Mexico, Briana Tate and her sister participated in Girl Scouts and continued participating after moving to Utah. Now a mother herself, Tate’s fourth grade daughter has been a Girl Scout since she was in kindergarten and started in the rank of Daisy.

“I love that it teaches them so much personally,” Tate said. “It gives them exposure to so many things that they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to be exposed to.”

Tate and her daughter had been active in their South Jordan troop until this past fall, now participating only occasionally, as other extracurricular activities have taken precedence.

For the past two years, Tate relied on the Utah council’s early bird renewal to keep her daughter’s membership status active. The Utah council paid for the $25 memberships outright for the troops who renewed their membership status before it expired, typically around the month of April.

Before that, Tate applied for financial assistance from GSU to pay membership dues. Financial assistance is available for troop dues, uniforms and other materials.

Tate was surprised by the decision to increase the dues, and felt there were other means to launch Daisy boxes. With the increase in dues, coupled with their sporadic participation, Tate is unsure how they will proceed with GSU in the coming years.

“If I have to go through some extra process to just get the financial assistance for a program that she’s not currently really using, it seems kinda pointless,” Tate said.

Alia Criddle didn’t get the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouts when she was young but has watched for the past seven years as her eldest child participated, as well as a younger child who is currently a Daisy.

Criddle said that both her kids’ troops have been very girl-led and have let the girls explore their interests without being “pushy” about badges or even cookie sales. For her older child, that troop has realized the potential for more community engagement and impact.

Not only does Criddle have two kids participating in GSU, but she also had a child in Boy Scouts, where the membership fees are $85 annually. In evaluating the cost comparison, she admitted that she has spent a lot more money for Scouting than she has done for Girl Scouts.

“I love being able to say yes to my kids,” Criddle said. “For my family, [the price increase] is not going to be an impact or a resistance for them participating or for me volunteering.”

In addition, Criddle emphasized the opportunity that she has had to apply for scholarships for the various day camps throughout the years.

“Girl Scouts of Utah has been so inclusive over the years and so generous and clearly well managed,” Criddle said.

Criddle said she expects that the scholarship opportunities will be well communicated moving forward, as well as the possibility of future training opportunities that can match local businesses with nearby troops in the hopes of acquiring sponsorships.

GSUSA also commented the following in an email response: “We remain committed to ensuring that every girl who wants to participate in Girl Scouting has the option to do so.”

A brief history

The Girl Scouts program was started in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Her nickname was ‘Daisy.’ The GS website reported the following about what society was like back then.

“At a time when women in the United States couldn’t yet vote and were expected to stick to strict social norms, encouraging girls to embrace their unique strengths and create their own opportunities was game-changing.”

According to the 2023 GSU annual report, there were 6,457 girls with a total adult membership of 3,684. The largest group of girl scouts was the ‘Brownie’ rank, for those girls who are in second to third grade at 1,661.

The Girl Scout mission is that “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.” The Girl Scouts make the world a better place as they live the Girl Scout law:

“I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”

Hardin-Reynolds believes that girls need Girl Scouting more than ever, and her dream is that every girl will come to see the value of Girl Scouts. The answer to the question, how do Girl Scouts make the world a better place? It’s in the connection.

“Girl Scouting saves girls lives,” Hardin-Reynolds said. “It’s a sisterhood, people need that connection.”

For more information about how to get involved either by participating, volunteering, or donating visit www.gsutah.org. l

Girl Scout Troop 583 of South Jordan, ranging in rank from Daisies to Juniors, learned some introductory American Sign Language words and phrases at a bi-weekly meeting in November, where each girl was encouraged to practice by using flash cards that were cut and pasted together. (Rachel Aubrey/City Journals)

The Girl Scouts of Utah headquarters is at 445 E. 4500 South in Murray, and has a space for larger activities and events and the Girl Scout merchandise store. (Rachel Aubrey/City Journals)

Junior co-captain Sophie Yates, a selfless leader on Cottonwood’s girls soccer team

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

Backin the day, Bart Simpson was a classic underachiever at school.

According to Cottonwood head soccer coaches BryLee Harvest and his brother Bryce, that would not be how you’d characterize Sophie Yates.

“As a person, she’s an overachiever and one of the sweetest people you will meet. She’s genuine, compassionate, and is hilarious,” said coach BryLee Harvest of his team’s junior co-captain. “I can’t recount the number of times Sophie has made us laugh or smile, she’s the type of person that you instantly miss when she is not in your presence.”

On and off the soccer field, Yates kept team spirits light despite having a highly competitive nature.

“Sophie Yates absolutely hates to lose, one of the most competitive athletes we’ve had in our time at Cottonwood,” said Harvest. “Bryce and I often play in practice and will trash talk a lot, she will reciprocate that back at us and amplify that tenfold when she beats us.”

In all, Yates also plays three sports at Cottonwood and said she enjoys the time she’s spent on the Colts’ girls team.

“I absolutely love playing for Coach Bryce and Coach BryLee and Cottonwood soccer,” said Yates. “Although this past year we did not win as many games as we would

have liked, I loved that we were competitive in each game we played and that we got better as the season went on. My teammates are amazing to play with, and we strive to work hard to improve each day. It is fun and rewarding to be a part of a soccer program where we know we are trying to build something that is great.”

When he and his brother asked her to move to center back after the Colts lost their region opener to Tooele by a 6-0 final score, she didn’t hesitate despite having never played the position.

“We would often start her there for the first 10 minutes of the game because that’s where we were conceding most of our goals,” Harvest said.

“We would gauge how much pressure we were absorbing in those first minutes, and if it was a game we felt we could be more aggressive, we would move her up the field slowly from center back to center defensive midfield—all the way up to striker at times.

“… Believe me, she would’ve played goalie if we allowed her to,” joked Harvest.

Yates—who plays golf and basketball as well at Cottonwood—wasn’t able to score any goals or notch any assists for the Colts this past season, but Harvest said he and his brother will be forever indebted to Yates and

the selfless leadership example she provided in spite of it all.

“As a coach, I cannot talk enough about how great a privilege it is to get to watch her play soccer—let alone be one of her coaches,” said Harvest.

“You wouldn’t be able to tell that she is a center attacking midfielder and not a center back the way she played it. Never complained about center back. And, her incredible willingness to learn makes any coaches’ job easier.”

Yates will now turn her attention to basketball and head coach Tes Soracco’s twotime Region 10 champions. Like Harvest, Yates’s basketball coach had nothing but glowing things to say about the Cottonwood junior.

“Sophie is a standout athlete and an incredible young lady, excelling both on the basketball court and the soccer field. Her competitive spirit and drive to improve make her a joy to coach,” said coach Soracco. “Sophie’s coachability and eagerness to learn are matched only by her remarkable defensive skills, which set her apart as a true game changer.”

In closing, Harvest said he wanted to remind everyone that Yates is indeed one of one.

“Whether it’s at practice, games, play-

ing cards, or college sports rivalries, never bet against Sophie Yates,” said Harvest. “I mean that figuratively and literally, I recently learned this the hard way when my alma mater University of Utah lost to her BYU Cougars in football, and I owed her Swig. She’s always someone you want to have in your corner and the game is never over until it is officially over.

“It is well known that we did not have the best season. Sophie Yates is a fighter and never once let the scoreboard affect how she played. Whether we were up multiple goals up or down multiple goals, you would never be able to tell what the score was if it weren’t for the scoreboard.”

Looking ahead to next year when Yates will be a senior at Cottonwood, Harvest said the heartbeat of the Colts girls soccer team will be in great hands.

“She wears her heart on her sleeve when she plays soccer, it is truly remarkable to see,” said Harvest. “Her passion and work ethic speaks volumes to her character and her parents, and we are excited to see what the rest of her time at Cottonwood brings. There’s a reason she is one of our captains and someone Bryce and I believe has more greatness in her unwritten chapter here at Cottonwood.” l

Sophie Yates juggles the soccer ball. (Cottonwood High Athletics)

Sophie Yates is recognized for her athletic achievement playing three sports at Cottonwood. (Cottonwood High Athletics)

Your voice in 2025: How to get involved with SSL’s City Council

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

AsSouth Salt Lake looks ahead to 2025, the South Salt Lake City Council is committed to fostering an engaged and empowered community. One of the most important things in a city is community involvement. As the council works to make the city better, they need public opinion in order to know how their residents feel about things.

“Communication is definitely one of the greatest challenges,” said Sharla Bynum, SSL council chair. “We’ve worked hard over the years to improve communication with our residents in hopes that would lead to increased involvement.”

Here are some things residents can do to foster communication:

Attend City Council Meetings

City council meetings are held regularly at City Hall. Check the official calendar on the South Salt Lake website for dates and times.

Meetings are open to the public and provide firsthand insights into discussions on local policies, development plans and budget decisions.

During public comment sessions, residents are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, or express concerns directly to councilmembers.

Join a Citizen Advisory Board

Advisory boards focus on specific areas like transportation, housing or sustainability. They provide valuable input to the council.

If you want to get involved but you’re not sure where to start, Bynum says to start small. Start with getting to know your neighbors and community more, attend city events, a council meeting or volunteer with the city.

“Then consider submitting your resume for the possibility of representing our city on the Planning Commission or the Civilian Review Board,” Bynum said. “There are so many amazing things happening in South Salt Lake.”

Serving on a board allows residents to work closely with city leaders and other passionate community members to address key issues.

Stay Informed

Subscribe to email updates to receive agendas, summaries and information on upcoming events.

“Most residents who are not using digital tools or social media still receive utility bills in the mail,” Bynum said. “We have included flyers with important information with those bills in the past and will continue to build on that.”

Follow South Salt Lake on platforms like Facebook and YouTube for real-time updates and meeting broadcasts.

Share your opinions or report concerns through the city’s website.

Connect with Your Council Representatives

South Salt Lake is divided into districts,

each with its own representative. Find out who represents your area.

Councilmembers are approachable and welcome communication via email, phone, or in-person meetings.

“Residents can always reach out to all elected officials,” Bynum said. “Our emails and phone numbers are listed on the website. Another way to give us feedback is to make sure they are signed up for FlashVote. That is the survey tool we use to get feedback on key issues.”

If you want to look into the FlashVote, you can go to www.flashvote.com/sslc.

Volunteer and Advocate

Work with city programs or nonprofits that align with council goals, such as neighborhood cleanups or youth initiatives.

Join local organizations that focus on issues you care about to amplify your voice collectively.

Bynum expressed her hope for greater involvement in 2025, saying the council would love to see more residents regularly communicating with elected officials, showing up to council meetings, attending more city events and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities within South Salt Lake.

South Salt Lake’s City Council was elected for their love of the city and their de-

sire to shape the city’s future in the best way they can.

“My favorite thing about South Salt Lake is our diversity and kindness,” Bynum said. “We’ve welcomed families from all over the world and provided resources

through our Promise program that benefit all residents. Many of these recipients are now part of giving back to our newer residents and their feedback helps us continue to improve our Promise program.” l

Council chair Sharla Bynum (left) speaks with a girl scout in 2017. Bynum encouraged various ways for the public to get involved. (File photo City Journals)

South Jordan business named one of 100 Companies Championing Women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

NeuroHealth in South Jordan (10437 S. Temple Drive) was recently named as one of 100 Companies Championing Women in Utah. The clinic provides transcranial magnetic stimulation to help those battling depression, OCD or recurring migraines.

Created by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Cox-Henderson Administration and the Utah Women & Leadership Project in 2022, the 100 Companies Championing Women initiative encourages businesses to provide family-friendly policies and promote women in the organization.

NeuroHealth was named to the 2025 100 Companies Championing Women cohort, recognized for building a family-centered company culture.

“As an employer, we have focused on creating a work environment that is attractive to the modern woman in Utah,” NeuroHealth Manager Jason Corbridge said. “Each employee is empowered to make decisions to positively impact the experience of our patients.”

Pay equality, flexible parental leave and scheduling, and a family-first mentality helped NeuroHealth attain the status of 100 Companies Championing Women. NeuroHealth CEO Bryan Scott said creating a workplace where women feel comfortable was imperative when starting the business.

“Not only is it the right thing to do, but those working in the mental health space must be compassionate and empathetic,” Scott said. “I believe that these skills are more innate in women than in men. By not putting these policies in effect, we would have made it harder for us to find the right caregivers. Our goal is to help people suffering from depression and anxiety, we take that into account in every policy we create.”

Corbridge said the majority of NeuroHealth’s patients are women suffering from postpartum depression, major depressive

disorders, anxiety or OCD tendencies. He believes it’s critical to hire women who can connect with and support other women who are taking steps to improve themselves and their mental health.

Moving forward, NeuroHealth will continue to staff the clinic with women who are in the best situation to help those struggling with mental health issues.

“There are so many voices out there that tear people down,” Corbridge said. “Expectations and pressures that make life seem unbearable. These fantastic women in our clinic help fight that, and when people leave, they leave feeling better. They ensure every experience here is a positive one.”

According to WalletHub’s 2024 Best States for Women results, Utah ranks 36th in women’s economic and social well-being and ranks 35th overall. The state’s Inspire in Utah initiative is designed to support women in business at every level and to offer resources to help them succeed.

Other companies in the 100 Companies Championing Women 2025 cohort include Mortenson, Mountainland Technical College, Squeeze, MAG and What Utah Makes. For more information, visit InUtah.org.

Scott is the publisher of The City Journals, a company that was named in the 2024 cohort of 100 Companies Championing Women. The City Journals implements recruitment strategies to encourage women to apply for positions with the company while creating flexible work schedules and remote work options.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the team we put together at NeuroHealth,” Corbridge said. “These women care and go above and beyond to help everyone who walks in our door. They make sure every patient feels safe, secure and accepted.”

To learn more about NeuroHealth’s treatment options, visit NeuroHealthUtah.com. l

Most Common Winter Ailments & How to Prevent Them

A Q&A with Dr. Jared Lambert, MD — West Jordan Family Medicine Physician

With the winter season in full swing, so too are those pesky illnesses and ailments we all seem to catch this time of year. We’re sitting down with Dr. Jared Lambert, MD, at CommonSpirit Health West Jordan Family Medicine Clinic, to discuss what illnesses he treats during the colder months and how you can prevent them!

What are the most common winter ailments you treat year after year?

1. By far the most common illness seen this type of year are viral respiratory tract infections. This could be one of the many types of viruses that cause the common cold, RSV, inﬂuenza or COVID-19. Typical viral symptoms include sinus congestion, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, fever, and cough. These illnesses are best treated with over-the-counter medications to ease symptoms as our bodies ﬁght off the viral infection. Typically, symptoms last 1-2 weeks and some common medications include over-the-counter decongestants, cough suppressants, ibuprofen and Tylenol. In the case of a COVID-19 infection however, higher risk patients (i.e. having a history of diabetes, asthma, age >50, or having COPD) are recommended to be seen by their provider to strongly consider utilizing the antiviral medication “Paxlovid”. This medication can decrease their risk of progression to a severe form of COVID-19 that could potentially warrant hospitalization.

This is also the time of year to obtain your influenza vaccination, which helps reduce the risk of complications from the flu, including post-influenza bacterial pneumonia.

Viral infections do increase the risk of developing bacterial infections including bacterial sinusitis and otitis

media (ear infection and bacterial pneumonia). These forms of infections do require treatment with antibiotics. Risks of untreated bacterial pneumonia can be severe and prompt treatment with oral antibiotics is warranted. If symptoms include a persistent cough, fever or prolonged chest pain, then an in-person visit for evaluation and consideration for a chest Xray would be considered.

2. Strep Pharyngitis (strep throat)

Strep throat can occur at any time of the year but is most prevalent in the winter and spring months, likely due to our increased time indoors – overall, it is more common in children. Symptoms including a sudden sore throat, tender neck, red swollen tonsils and fever are typical. This bacterial infection of the throat can lead to several complications and it is recommended that it is treated promptly with a course of antibiotics.

3. Arthritis-related pain

The cold weather is known to certainly exacerbate aches and pains related to arthritis (wear and tear of joints). The most common joints affected by arthritis are the knees, hands, hips and spine. First line management is staying active or considering structured physical therapy with a physical therapist, in addition to, as needed, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inﬂammatory medications (i.e. ibuprofen). In addition, taking a 3000-4000 mg total daily dose of a turmeric supplement, divided into two doses, has also shown particular promise in being a potent anti-inﬂammatory in reducing arthritis pain; however this supplement (along with others) can interact with prescribed medications. It is recommended that you review this option with your primary care provider before taking it.

When is it time to see a physician?

Those common colds are best managed at home. However, if there are any concerns with prolonged or severe symptoms, evaluation would be recommended.

If a patient suspects they have strep throat, they should be seen by a healthcare provider. At our clinic, we have on-site testing to conﬁrm strep throat to aid with appropriate management.

Should patients have concerns for severe pain secondary to arthritis, more advanced interventions can certainly be considered for management. Those can be best assessed and discussed in-person at our clinic.

What are some tips to stay healthy throughout the winter months?

Hand washing, staying home when ill, staying active and ensuring a balanced diet throughout the winter season.

We are here for you – should you suffer from any of the symptoms outlined above, Dr. Lambert encourages you to seek care! “I love being a Family Medicine Physician, treating all ages, and greatly enjoy getting to know and caring for my patients,” said Dr. Lambert. “Our ofﬁce has some of the most caring providers and amazing staff I have had the privilege to work with.” You may reach Dr. Lambert’s ofﬁce at 801-569-9133.

Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

Dr. Jared Lambert, MD

West Jordan Family Medicine

Cottonwood girls basketball is off to a strong start

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

The reigning Region 10 champions are off to a great start, according to their head coach.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team,” said Cottonwood head girls basketball coach Tess Soracco, in part.

There’s a good reason for that. The Colts are absolutely trampling over teams thus far. With the exception of one game, Cottonwood has won every game by 20 points or more.

The Colts tipped off the 2024-25 season with a 63-24 home win against 5A Taylorsville Nov. 22 in which Cottonwood raced out to a 17-3 first quarter lead and never looked back.

In game two, Cottonwood traveled to Skyline and took a 16-11 lead after one quarter, upped it to 15 points by the half and cruised to a 76-53 victory.

Then the Colts took a week’s break over Thanksgiving—only to come back with the same hunger in a 68-38 victory over 5A Hunter at home on Dec. 2.

“Our most recent win was a hardfought double-overtime battle against Olympus, which really showcased the heart and resilience of this group,” said Soracco of Cottonwood’s 79-76 thriller of a victory on Dec. 4.

Those wins should propel Cottonwood toward the region opener which will get underway against Stansbury on Dec. 11. By the time you read this, the Colts will have played about half their games in Region 10 and a holiday tournament to take them through the month of December 2024.

From the looks of things, the Colts have a balanced group that is paced by junior Carley Caton who is averaging over 16 points per game. Named a 4A All-State Honorable Mention last year, she had a season-high 20 points in the overtime win over Olympus.

In addition to Caton, Avea Van der Beek is back and is already putting her size and athleticism to good use. The senior is

steadily picking up the pace and poured in 24 in that Olympus double-OT thriller. She’s already averaging just over 15 points per game for Cottonwood.

Senior newcomer Taylor Workman has been a revelation thus far for the Colts, picking up where the graduated Alivia Hutton once left opponents in the dust. Workman drilled five three-pointers in the victory over Hunter and is scoring the ball at a 12-points-per-game clip.

Seniors Bella Morris and Ashlyn Tripp are each averaging 11 points per game for a Cottonwood team that will be looking to not only win another Region 10 championship—they have said they want to advance deep in the state playoffs, according to Soracco.

“We’re gelling as a team and learning more about each other every day,” said Soracco, who enters her fifth season at Cottonwood and has a 56-39 record. “These girls work incredibly hard, and they’ve set some ambitious goals for this season.”

A trademark of Soracco-coached teams has been to play a tenacious trapping defense, coupled with athleticism to attack teams inside and outside the perimeter.

The other, and probably most important, tenet to her teams is how Soracco allows the girls to be themselves.

“What makes them special is their love for the game and for each other—it’s a fun and rewarding group to coach. I’m excited to watch them continue to grow, improve and chase their goals as the season progresses.”

For the 2024-25 season, the Cottonwood Colts girls basketball team will be: Bella Morris, Sophie Yates, Carley Caton, Lulu Vernon, Lexie Tripp, Lei’la Nu’usila, Avea Van der Beek, Taylor Workman, Jovana Cecez, Belle Kellywood, Piper Wilking and Ashlyn Tripp. l

Continued from front page

• Participate in and support the city’s comprehensive management plan to prevent the deterioration of public health and public safety in the vicinity as a result of the use, the potential for loss of community in the neighborhood, the deterioration of public assets or the devaluation of private property.

Jonathan Weidenhamer, the community and economic development director, said the city has been working with the applicant,

Shelter the Homeless, to finalize all the details and ensure a smooth transition from TOD to a FINCH zone.

Following Weidenhamer’s presentation, Councilmember Natalie Pinkney made a motion to approve the changes and move forward with the FINCH development. The final step in the process will be the conditional use permit to be discussed with the Planning Commission. That meeting is scheduled to take place on Jan. 16. l

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

In Person Location: Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092) Event also be held online via Zoom 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

In Person Location: Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092)

In Person Location: Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092) Event also be held online via Zoom 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

5 CEUs (1 Ethics)

This training is free but registration is required. Continental breakfast and lunch to be provided.

Event will also be held online via Zoom 9:00 am - 2:30 pm 5 CEUs (1 Ethics)

Continental breakfast and lunch to be provided. is training is free but registration is required.

https://utahnursing.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TJzEqlevFHx58G

UPCOMING EVENT:

LOCATION: Le Jardin, 1910 Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy, UT 84092

DATE: Tuesday, 1/28/25

TIME: 12:00 PM OR 6:00 PM

RSVP: (801) 829-1772

Cottonwood boys hoops finishes a shortened preseason on a roll

The great thing about losing one game during the preseason is that there is usually an opportunity to win the next one and learn from past mistakes.

That’s what the Cottonwood Colts boys basketball team was able to do this past December at the Tournament of Champions.

Played at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, it pitted some of the region’s top high school teams against each other.

Over three days of action, they got to find out how they matched up against teams they probably might not play in the regular season—if ever.

For the Colts, they’ll now go into their Region 10 slate with a win streak.

Cottonwood [4-3 at press time] opened the three-day tournament at Corner Canyon on Dec. 5 with a 65-52 win over a Provo team out of Class 4A that the Colts could see again, come state playoff time.

Big man Luka Cecez poured in 17 points, had six blocks and hauled in five rebounds, as the 6-foot-8 sophomore sensation proved to be too much for the Bulldogs out of Utah County. Senior John Rosevear contributed 14 points, and two-sport athlete Bo Smith had 13 points to go with nine rebounds while senior guard Luke Park chipped in 12 points and dished out eight assists.

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

On Dec. 6, the second day of the threeday tournament, the Colts took on an unfamiliar opponent—Rocky Mountain out of Idaho. Cottonwood galloped out to a 39-19 lead at the half and were never threatened in an 83-52 win, as Rosevear buried six threes and had a game-high 22 points. Junior Tengis Bayasgalan scored a season-high 15 points. Cecez poured in 10 points and had seven rebounds.

On the final day of the tournament Dec. 7, the Colts would again play a team from Idaho—Meridian. Rosevear led the way with 28 points, a season-high for the senior in Cottonwood’s 71-60 win. Bayasgalan again had a big game for the Colts with 12 points, but the player of the game—and the tournament—might have been Park who had 16 assists to go with 10 points.

In all, the Colts finished the three-day tournament at Corner Canyon High School unbeaten at 3-0, and won every game by 10 points or more.

It helped Cottonwood’s boys forget about the first three games of the season, in which the Colts narrowly lost their first two games of the preseason by six points apiece—to Lone Peak of Class 6A and to 3A Richfield. The third loss was a 30-point drubbing at the hands of 5A Highland in which

Cottonwood shot just 24% from the field and could not get any sort of game going other than what could be provided by Rosevear, who scored 15 points to pace the Colts.

For Cottonwood though, Region 10 play starts early. By the time this goes to press, the Colts will have played games against Stansbury at home and at Park City Dec. 10 and 13. A home nonregion tilt against Sky View Dec. 16 comes before another Region 10 contest at Jordan.

A highly touted Murray squad with a new head coach that gave Highland problems earlier in the season comes to Cottonwood’s gymnasium on Dec. 19 in another Region 10 showdown, marking four league games the Colts will be playing before Christmas.

For Cottonwood, Rosevear is averaging 21 points per game to lead the way in scoring, followed by Park at 13 per contest. Bayasgalan is the team’s leading three-point shooter with 2.33 per game while Bo Smith is tops in rebounds, averaging eight per game.

Meanwhile, Park’s nine assists per game is the best in 4A and third in the state. At the moment, the 5-foot-10 senior is on pace to have over 200 assists this season and may even threaten the all-time mark of 249 set by Kirath Makhar in 2022-23. Cottonwood will compete in the Utah Autism Holiday Classic Dec. 28-31 against four nonregion opponents. l

Cottonwood students turn out for a basketball game in 2022. This year’s team is on a roll. (File photo)

ON THE MOVE

What do Fitts Park, your weekly trash pickup, the Mural Fest, and your drinking water all have in common?

They are all overseen by the City of South Salt Lake! While it’s sometimes overlooked, local government deeply inﬂuences our daily lives in big and small ways every day.

I became Mayor because I truly believe in our city’s critical role in everyday life and its potential for building better communities. It’s important for residents to understand our city’s form of government and how they can participate to keep our city strong. So let’s spend a little time this month on “Civics 101: How does your city work?”

South Salt Lake has a Mayor-Council form of government (sometimes called a “strong mayor” form of government), which means I am elected by our residents and given administrative authority over the city’s various departments. I oversee daily operations of those departments, enforce city laws, and manage the city budget.

Our Council acts as the legislative body – crafting and passing laws and ordinances to enhance the residents everyday quality of life. Our council members work with me to address community needs and ensure smooth city operations.

Our Municipal Court and Justice Court Judge make up the judicial branch of our government –upholding and enforcing the laws.

With so much attention on the national political environment, people often don’t understand how much of their daily lives are being determined at a local level. Whether it’s a street light getting installed in your neighborhood or the ﬁre department responding to an incident next door, here are just a few of the ways city government serves you:

• Safety: Our Police and Fire Departments and Animal Control Ofﬁcers all protect residents, respond to emergencies, and maintain public safety.

• Infrastructure: Our Engineering Department oversees new projects while our Public Works Department maintains roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes that citizens rely on for daily commutes.

Zoning and Land Use: Local ordinances determine how land can be used, affecting property values and community development. Our Community Development Department leads long-term planning efforts to help navigate growth and change in the city.

Utilities: Our Public Works provides essential services like drinking water, stormwater, sanitary sewer, and garbage collection. These are fee-based services with ﬂuctuating rates to keep the utilities solvent through service fees.

Recreation: Our Parks Division maintains our 9 city parks and other public use spaces, and our Recreation Department manages the many sports programs and community events.

Make a resolution this New Year to be more engaged with your local municipal government. Learn ways to get involved at sslc.gov.

Discover Mural Fest! Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 10, 2025 for the 8th annual Mural Fest in South Salt Lake.

Congratulations to City Recorder, Ariel Andrus, for becoming a Certified Municipal Clerk through the Utah Municipal Clerks Association Board. The purpose of Municipal Clerk Certification is to enhance the job performance of City Recorders and Clerks in areas such as meeting procedures, record keeping, government transparency, ethics, and election laws. This is a long, involved process which will raise the bar in our Recorder’s Office, and ultimately benefit our city as a whole. Thank you, Ariel.

Utility Bills are Getting a Makeover

Residents who receive South Salt Lake utility bills should expect a new and improved look to their bills in the next few months. As always, we encourage utility costumers to sign-up for paperless billing to save resources. Sign up for paperless billing and pay your utility bills online using Xpress Bill Pay. Visit sslc.gov for more information.

Public Safety

Igniting Excellence: SSLFD’s Year in Review

South Salt Lake Fire Department released their FY 2024 Annual Report, detailing the lengths that the department goes to on a daily basis to keep our city safe. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the Department responded to 7,379 calls (1,255 fire and 6,124 medical). Among 74 personnel, a combined 5,260 hours were spent training on topics ranging from fire prevention and hazardous materials to pharmacology and emergency medical operations. You can find the whole report at sslc.gov > Fire Department.

January is National Radon Action Month

Have you tested your home for radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally as chemicals in the earth break down over time. Radon is radioactive, and prolonged exposure can cause lung cancer–in fact, it is the second most common cause of lung cancer. The ﬁrst step to protecting yourself and your family from radon is to test for it. You can get a free radon test kit from utahradonservice.com.

Get Involved

South Salt Lake Public Safety Meetings Civilian Review Board

Monday, January 6 at 6:30 pm

Monday, February 3 at 6:30 pm

Visit sslc.gov to learn more about the Civilian Review Board, or apply to be a member.

Neighborhood Watch

Thursday, February 6 at 7:00 pm

Neighborhood Watch meets virtually on the first Thursday of every month. Visit sslc.gov for the zoom link or more information. Please call 801-412-3600 with questions.

Business Watch and Coffee with a Cop have been cancelled until further notice.

South Salt Lake Senior Center

EVENTS FOR JANUARY 2025

Live Entertainment

Music by BD Howes | Wed, 1/15 at 10:30 am Music by Deci’ Bells | Wed, 1/29 at 10:30 am

Health & Wellness

Monthly Blood Pressure Checks | Wed, 1/08 at 9:15 am

Vital Aging: Setting Better Goals | Fri, 1/03 at 10:30 am

U of U Exercise Class | Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 am (starting January 14)

Line Dance | Fridays at 10:30 am

Workshops

Craft with Vickie: Card Holders for Arthritis | Wed, 1/22 at 10:30 am

Mon - Fri | 8:30 am - 4 pm 2531 South 400 East (385) 468-3340 slco.org/aging

arts@sslc.gov sslarts.org

to us (801) 483-6018 arts@sslc.gov sslarts.org @southsaltlakearts

learn more sharing your talents as

to sign up!

Community & Economic Development

New Housing Facility Will Support Families Experiencing Homelessness

To connect with the SSL Chamber, email: tereza@sslchamber.com sslchamber.com

Shelter the Homeless purchased the shuttered Motel 6 property in South Salt Lake in April 2023 with the intent to open a non-congregate housing facility for families experiencing homelessness, the ﬁrst of its kind in the state. The Road Home will operate the facility, which will serve families with special needs including those with infants, youth recovering from medical conditions, and keeping students in Granite School District to avoid education disruptions. The new Family Interim Non-congregate Housing facility will make two homeless resource centers in the City of South Salt Lake. During the August 2024 public hearing, Mayor Cherie Wood and City Council members went on record saying enough is enough for our small community of 27,000 residents, drawing a line in the sand and calling on other Salt Lake County municipalities to engage and help ﬁnd solutions for our homeless crisis.

The Public Process.

When the nonprofit organization submitted their building application and conditional use permit (CUP) in September 2023, the city cited several issues the applicant needed to address to ensure the health and safety of the clients. One of which was a requirement to install fencing along two high-traffic routes of the property, I-15 to the west and 3300 S to the north. Both roads are owned by UDOT and their approval was needed to install a fence. After several months of working the formal public process and addressing building and use permit concerns, Shelter the Homeless and The Road Home presented during a special joint meeting of the South Salt Lake City Council and Planning Commission in August 2024 to answer questions from government officials and the public. This public hearing was necessary before the applicant could move forward with final zoning approval from the Council and CUP approval from the Planning Commission. Three months later, progress was made when the City Council approved the zoning change for the property in their December 2024 meeting. What’s Next?

The Planning Commission will meet to review the ﬁnal Conditional Use Permit from the applicant during a public meeting in January 2025. If approved, Shelter the Homeless will have authority to open the doors and work with The Road Home to start providing family housing services. While Shelter the Homeless was working on getting permits for their property at 315 West 3300 South, The Road Home was working on securing the necessary funding to open and operate the facility. They will soon start hiring and training staff for the new family housing facility and anticipate an opening date this spring.

The SSL Chamber Business Education Committee builds partnerships between local businesses, city departments, and educational institutions to provide opportunities for our future workforce. Partners play a key role in connecting students to business resources that help them gain skills and insights that align with industry needs. For schools, these collaborations help students understand the value of community connections while raising awareness of potential future employment opportunities within local businesses and city departments. If you’re interested in learning more about the Business Education Committee or in sharing insights about your industry to invest in our future workforce, visit the Committees and Programs page at sslchamber.com.

Teen Tech Center Students Take 3rd Place

Last month, teens from the Promise South Salt Lake Best Buy Teen Tech Center participated in Change Reaction: Business for Social Change. This competition, hosted by Slyngshot and the Clubhouse Network, encouraged participants to pitch business ideas that could create a positive impact in their communities. The contest received 40 entries from four different countries. Among the Promise South Salt Lake participants were a top 10 ﬁnalist, as well as the third place winner!

One business proposal, entitled Sacred Spaces, is for a culturally inclusive holiday store. The idea was born out of this youth’s own experience with difﬁculty ﬁnding Diwali candles in any local stores. They said, “I want to make a business that could represent more holidays in Utah so more people could feel represented.”

The other winning proposal, called Woven Heritage, was for a store that specializes in Native American-designed fashion. Describing their vision, this youth said, “I want to start this to express the culture and emotions of Natives around the country through fashionable and comfortable clothes.”

Keep an eye out for these young entrepreneurs at local craft markets in the spring and summer!

Westminster Lacrosse Team

Visits Granite Park Jr. High

Members of the Westminster Men’s Lacrosse Team visited with youth from Granite Park Jr. High. They spoke with our youth about what it means to be student athletes and the importance of secondary education, and provided some fun games and school supplies.

Girls on the Run Activate Star

Power

Promise Program youth from Moss and Walker elementaries teamed up with the SSL Fire Department to conquer a cold November morning 5k run. This was the culmination of a partnership with Girls on the Run–a program that empowers youth through building confidence, strength, kindness, and above all, activating their “star power”. Great job girls (and firefighters!)

Economy Off to Strong Start in 2025 Despite Policy Uncertainty

By most metrics, the U.S. economy closed out 2024 stronger than it began the year. Inflation was down, consumer confidence was up, and economic growth outpaced expectations. The economies of the U.S. and the mountain region performed well in 2024 while still unwinding from the pandemic-induced shockwaves of 2021 and 2022. That strength is expected to carry into 2025, though uncertainty remains persistent surrounding how potential policy changes could impact the economy with a new presidential administration and a new Congress.

Here are some economic possibilities to watch for in 2025:

Interest rates could drop more slowly. In their last policy decision of 2024, Federal Reserve officials cut their short-term benchmark interest rate for the third consecutive time this year. That amounted to a full percentage point drop from September to December. But Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also indicated that the Fed plans to slow the pace of

DBy Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Economist

further rate drops in 2025. The Fed forecasts two rate cuts in 2025, balancing inflation risk with a cooling labor market.

The job market may soften further. While the overheated labor market cooled in 2024, job growth was solid. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly but remains historically low. From January to November, Utah’s unemployment rate rose from 2.8% to 3.5%, while the national jobless rate climbed from 3.7% to 4.2%. This is widely considered a healthy rate of unemployment — sometimes called the “natural rate” — where there are enough job openings for job seekers and people transitioning between jobs while the portion of people without jobs remains low. The national unemployment rate is projected to inch up to 4.3% in 2025, with steady job growth persisting. In Utah, the unemployment rate is expected to remain similar to its current range, with an average rate of 3.1% in 2025, according to estimates from the State of Utah Revenue Assumptions Working Group.

The Federal Reserve will be closely watching the strength of the labor market as it considers whether to move rates.

Stubborn inflation set to stick around. Inflation has dropped dramatically over the past two-and-a-half years, with the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index falling from a 40-year high in the summer of 2022 to 2.4% in November 2024. Even so, consumers continue to feel the effects of high prices. Wages will need to grow faster than prices for a sustained period before people regain the purchasing power lost to inflation. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile categories of food and fuel, is projected to come down from 2.8% in 2024 to 2.5% in 2025. Inflation was sticky the last half of 2024, and the Fed estimates it may take until 2026 or 2027 to reach its 2% target. Additionally, economic policy could impact whether that inflation rate continues its downward trajectory.

Confident consumers could step up spending, fueling growth. While changes in

the federal government create a level of economic uncertainty, consumer confidence is up regionally and nationally. Utah’s consumer sentiment soared 9.1% in November, as measured by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, which noted that the large monthly change appears to be correlated with the presidential election. A similar University of Michigan survey found a 1.8% increase in sentiment among Americans as a whole in November. If the positive sentiment persists, high levels of consumer confidence could spur retail spending, fueling economic growth.

Heading into 2025, the Utah and U.S. economies remain strong and resilient. The state continues to benefit from strong population growth and a solid labor market.

Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A l

Utah launches round-up program to fund homeless services

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

uring the final days of the 2024 Utah Legislature, a new provision into the omnibus alcohol bill for the year came together last minute.

The bill, HB548, established a new program at state liquor stores to ask customers whether they’d like to round up their purchases to donate to a state fund that supports homeless service programs across Utah.

Starting Nov. 19, 2024, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services officially launched that program in liquor and wine stores across the state.

Now, at checkout, liquor store cashiers will ask customers if they would like to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. If they agree, their donation will go directly to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account, a fund named after a prominent homeless advocate. The state uses the fund to direct donations to a wide variety of homeless programs, according to state officials, including:

• Emergency services like temporary shelters, meal services, day centers and outreach programs.

• Supportive services, including case management to help people move into stable housing.

• Housing services, including rapid rehousing programs, transitional housing, rental assistance, case management and security.

• Domestic violence service providers.

“This program offers Utahns a simple way to make a meaningful impact,” said Senate Budget Chair Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, in a statement. “By rounding up, we can provide essential resources to those who need them most and make significant strides toward

addressing homelessness in our state.”

Though the round-up program will be asking Utah customers to donate small amounts –less than a dollar – each transaction can add up. Last year, Utah saw more than $579 million in alcohol sales, according to the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services’ 2023 annual report.

State officials estimate it will bring in roughly $2.5 million a year to the Pamela Atkinson fund.

To spread the word about the new program, officials from the Utah Office of Homeless Services and the Utah Department of Al-

coholic Beverage Services held a media event at one of the state’s liquor and wine stores in Salt Lake City.

State officials said they were eager to launch the program after the Pamela Atkinson fund’s annual donations has been “pretty stagnant” in recent years.

Utah’s growing homeless system is also seeing more projects come to fruition, including a new 50-bed microshelter community on state-owned land under freeway overpasses in Salt Lake City. State officials are also looking at possibly doing more for youth and family homelessness, as well as generally expanding

the state homeless system’s capacity.

Through the round-up program, Utahns can contribute to services that have faced increased pressures as Utah’s homelessness population has grown amid diminished housing affordability, increasing cost of living, and other issues including increased needs for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

In recent years, Utah’s emergency homeless shelters have been operating at essentially mass capacity, people suffering from mental illness have been living in shelters and jails, and “the deficit for deeply affordable housing is at 77,000 units,” according to a January report issued by the Utah Office of Homeless Services.

Meanwhile, state leaders have also dramatically increased the amount of state and federal funds funneled toward homeless services over the past three years as state leaders have taken on a more active role, agreeing that homelessness is a statewide problem, and not just a Salt Lake City problem.

In 2022, Utah appropriated about $35 million in state and federal funds on homeless services, according to the state’s budget website. That amount grew to $70 million in 2023, then to over $167.7 million in 2024 – including $30 million in one-time COVID-19 relief funding, plus about $37.3 million in other federal funds. For fiscal year 2025, state leaders appropriated about $153.7 million in state and federal funds. Ongoing revenue resources are harder to come by than one-time money during the legislature’s budgeting process, so even though it’s a comparatively small amount to the state’s larger homeless services budget, the round-up program will still help. l

Utah officials have launched a new program allowing customers to round up their purchases at state liquor stores to support homeless services. (Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash)

h ealth & W ellness

By Rebecca Olds

Moving and getting in shape doesn’t have to be a chore.

Finding something that you enjoy doing makes exercising and being active feel more like play rather than work, while still giving you the same or better benefits as visiting a normal gym.

Unique fitness experiences exist around Salt Lake County which offers unique excursions and experiences like a new underwater yoga flow, an educational and adventurous late-night snowshoe tour, and so much more.

Here are six fitness adventures including indoor and outdoor fun for all skill levels:

Yoga with the Sharks at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (Draper)

There’s a certain type of Zen to obtain surrounded by shark-infested waters. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium offers an hourlong instructor-led class in front of a tank teeming with sea creatures on select Monday nights.

Allison Barker, director of development and chair of the Conservation Committee at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium said many participants have said the unique atmosphere creates a peaceful environment with many health benefits including “the gentle rhythm of the water and the mesmerizing movements of the sharks, fish and sea turtles” helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

“Ultimately, Yoga with the Sharks offers a transformative experience combining physical and mental benefits,” she said. “By practicing yoga in such an unusual and beautiful setting, participants gain a deeper appreciation for themselves and the natural world.”

The 2025 dates will be released near the end of December.

Included with the event is admission to check out the rest of the aquarium, but you’ll probably want to go earlier than

the class time from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. because the aquarium closes at 8 p.m. The class is open to 8-year-olds and older.

Registration is online and costs $25. The aquarium recommends bringing your own equipment but has some for new yogis.

Momentum Indoor Climbing (Millcreek, Sandy)

If you’ve never gone rock climbing, no biggie. It’s a new year to try new things and Momentum is a great place to learn. The Sandy location offers a variety of classes including belay instruction, rope climbing and even bouldering for any skill level.

“Our class structure is designed with progression in mind so that there’s always something for you to learn and work toward no matter your current ability,” is the Momentum mission.

If learning to climb isn’t your thing, the gym also offers yoga and group fitness classes.

Sign-up is online.

Intro to aerial class at Aerial Arts of Utah (Salt Lake City)

Think Zendaya in “The Greatest Showman”—that could be you this year. Granted, it’s a beginners class for more than just trapeze, Aerial Arts of Utah is offering quite the deal at $90 for three one-hour classes every Wednesday night.

The class is an introduction to several different types of aerial fitness, including fabric and static trapeze for those aged 13 years or older. Sign-up is online. Onyx Pole and Aerial Fitness Studio, hoop, pole, silks and hammock classes (Sandy)

In one studio, there are at least five different aerial fitness classes to choose from. Onyx offers everything from pole workouts to silks and hoops for differing levels of ability. The hammock beginner

(1.0) is referred to as the “perfect class to not only begin your journey but to keep coming back to build those forever essential movements.”

Most classes range from beginner (1.0) to pro (4.0).

Paddleboard yoga in a natural hot spring (Midway)

The name of the Midway Crater is becoming more well-known as a unique spot to visit in Midway, but did you know that you could not only swim in it but it’s large enough to do paddleboard yoga in?

Midway Crater offers a paddleboard yoga execution that offers a unique opportunity to find your Zen in one of nature’s beautiful (and oldest) yoga studios. Blue 95-degree Fahrenheit mineral water offers an inviting cushion if you fall in.

Booking can include just the paddleboard experience or be bundled with hiking, snowshoeing and more. Park City Yoga Adventures also offers yoga in a backcountry yurt, mountaintop yoga and winter forest meditation. Book online.

Cottonwood Canyons Foundation offers four types of snowshoe guided tours, with three open to the public. For the first time, the foundation is offering tours free of charge to celebrate their 25th anniversary, including a special treat with their moonlit tours.

“It's a wonderful night when you get to hear the great horned owls calling, and you get to see some good dark skies up there,” said Liz Anderson, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation education director.

Anderson said that tours start up again on Jan. 24 and are offered every Friday and Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in January and February, and 7 to 9 p.m. in March. All you need to do is bring some snow shoes and preferably a red flashlight, poles optional. Come ready to learn more about the native wildlife.

Registration opens one month before the event date on cottonwoodcanyons.org/events.

class

Guided full moon snowshoe tour by Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (Alta)

(Courtesy Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

Creating healthy financial habits in the new year

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

As we begin a new year many people set goals of unlocking their financial freedom as they strive to live a purposeful life. Sarah Fernandez, personal financial expert, claims, “The journey to financial freedom begins with acknowledging the importance of having a financial plan.” She emphasizes that a well-structured financial plan not only clarifies your current economic status, but also empowers you to make informed decisions. “Financial success is not just about numbers,” Fernandez said, “it's about mindset and discipline.” She highlights the importance of living within your means while still enjoying life's pleasures and encourages you to take control of your financial future in the new year through the following four ways.

1. A key indicator that money might be dictating your life is often referred to as “the vanishing paycheck phenomenon.” This is where you live paycheck to paycheck which can often produce a feeling of being overwhelmed by expenses. Fernandez suggests in situations such as this to focus on the concept of “having versus experiencing” and how it affects spending habits.

2. Cultivating a mindset for financial success. Fernandez encourages people to adopt an abundant mindset and likens this

to a growth mindset, where the belief that improvement is always possible fuels your financial journey. This mindset shift not only focuses on progress and improvement, but is essential for overcoming financial stress and achieving long-term goals. Fernandez reiterates that this perspective shift allows individuals to live their best life at the moment while working toward a brighter financial future.

3. Understanding how family upbringing

Mental Health Deserves Care, No Matter the Season

As the days grow shorter and the cold settles in, many of us start to feel the weight of seasonal depression. If your struggle with depression includes low energy, lack of ambition, or a sense of isolation, you’re not alone—and we can help.

Take a free HIPAA compliant PHQ9 self assessment test.

can shape financial habits is vital, especially in relationships where partners may have different spending and saving tendencies. By recognizing these differences, couples can work together to align their financial goals, foster a sense of unity and understanding while building a prosperous future. “By having open and honest conversations about spending habits and priorities, couples can create a financial plan that supports their shared dreams and aspirations,” Fernandez said.

4. Credit card usage is a double-edged sword that requires careful management. While the perks of earning miles or cash back are enticing, it's important to use credit responsibly to avoid potential pitfalls. From personal experience Fernandez stresses the necessity of self-awareness in financial decisions. “Setting boundaries and knowing when to steer clear of credit misuse are crucial steps in maintaining financial discipline” Fernandez said. Fernandez dives deeper into practical advice on how to navigate

these challenges effectively in her interview on Holly’s Highlights podcast (season 3 episode 13).

“Financial freedom is attainable for anyone willing to put in the effort and make informed decisions” Fernandez said. “By cultivating a mindset of abundance, setting clear goals, and managing finances responsibly, individuals can transform their financial habits and pave the way for a successful future.” Tune in to the complete interview with Fernandez on Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 3 Episode 13 for expert tips, personal anecdotes, and actionable strategies that will equip you with the tools needed to master your financial journey. Whether you're single or in a relationship, young or old, Fernandez's insights will inspire you to take charge of your financial destiny and live a life full of purpose. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-in and on www.HollyCurby.com.

TMS is like physical therapy for the brain. It uses magnetic pulses, similar in strength to MRI, to reignite dormant connections in the brain and give you control of your depression. With NeuroStar, you can live on your terms Our Psychiatrist is available now, don’t wait to get help.

which the CGI-S data was reported before and after an acute course of NeuroStar TMS. Patients were treated under real-world conditions where patients may have been prescribed concomitant depression treatments including medications. “Measurable relief” was deﬁned as a CGI-S score <=3 and “complete remission” was deﬁned as a CGI-S score <=2 at the end of treatment.

Children learn healthy financial habits at a young age. (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

Full interview with Sarah Fernandez available on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Fernandez)

How assisted stretching helps relieve pain and improve mobility

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

As we get into the cold months and lose the desire to go outside, we can become stagnant, sitting inside all the time. While some people may have more upbeat jobs, moving around throughout the day, some people are stuck inside, sitting at a desk all day.

We’ve all heard the benefits of regular exercise and the importance of stretching afterward, Dec. 11 was even National Stretching Day. But what about assisted stretching?

It’s not something widely known, but it may have more benefits than regular athome stretching. Stretch Zone is hoping to make it more well-known.

“We want to not be the best kept secret anymore,” said Jennifer Gibbs, general manager at the Draper Stretch Zone.

The company, founded in 2004 by Jorden Gold, started with an experience close to his heart. After watching his grandfather’s growing limitations due to diabetes, he decided to start helping his grandfather through assisted stretches. Within a year, his grandfather went from not being able to walk, to walking with a walker, to a cane, to dancing at his cousin’s wedding all through that stretching.

At this point, Gold knew he had to do something more, to help others that may be going through what his grandfather went through or to prevent them from getting to that point.

“The whole reason that I started Stretch Zone was sparked from watching my grandfather becoming immobile because of his diabetes,” Gold said in a statement. “It motivated me to develop a proprietary stretching method that I hoped would prevent others from having to see themselves and the people in their lives suffer in the same way.”

There are now four locations in Utah, one of them being in Draper, another in Cottonwood Heights. The practitioners at Stretch Zone offer a new approach to improving range of motion and flexibility. While traditional stretching methods can make you more flexible, it may take some time. Assisted stretching can get you there faster because you don’t have to think about the stretches you’re doing, or worry about other muscles aside from the one you’re stretching.

“So instead of walking around at 80% or 90%, super tight and stretched all the time, they can just live in a more manageable, normal, relaxed way and these changes become more lasting,” Gibbs said. Assisted stretching can benefit everyone, even if you don’t feel like you have problem muscles. For those sitting at an office all the time, they are stuck in the same position, cramping muscles that should be able to stretch and move throughout the

day. Stress can also play a large part in muscle tension.

Assisted stretching can help reduce everyday pain and help people move more fluidly for longer periods of time. Gibbs said she’s seen a number of different types of people walk through the Stretch Zone doors. Office workers that need to get away from cramped muscles, gymgoers and marathon runners preparing for races, older adults, even CEOs that may be more stressed than others.

Gibbs said assisted stretching can also help when there’s been trauma involved, like a car accident or surgery.

“The body is so wise,” she said. “It develops all these mechanisms that get all tangled up. And then you have another thing and another thing, then it’s hard to unwind yourself.”

She said developing that range of mo tion back, assisting and breaking down scar tissue that develops prevents movement. She’s seen people in recovery and also peo ple anticipating a surgery. She said assisted stretching can help loosen muscles before they’re put through surgery to stop it from yanking something around that shouldn’t move.

“The body is so amazing,” Gibbs said. “How it can heal itself with something so ho listic, like a stretch.”

Usually, clients at a Stretch Zone start going multiple times a week, maybe two or three times, then as time goes on and they begin to heal, they’ll only need to come twice a month for routine maintenance.

weeks before a race to stretch their muscles, mainly the hamstrings and hip flexors. Doing this routinely for those 12 weeks end-

ed up helping the client cut down on their race time.

“It’s keeping them healthy, too,” Gibbs said.

Many of their clients say they’ll stick with assisted stretching their entire lives. Heather Hemingway-Hales shares this point of view. Hemingway-Hales is still as active as ever, doing regular exercise, yoga, cycling, mountain biking and participating in 50-plus races. She comes in regularly to Stretch Zone.

“Just coming in here and getting this deep stress really helps,” Hemingway-Hales said.

Stretch Zones are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and open for half-days on Saturday.

Gibbs said if you’re curious about assisted stretching, to try it out for a complimentary first visit.

“I just encourage open invitation to anybody to just give the studio a call,” she said. “So I just invite anybody to come in and try it out, because it is such a new concept.” If you want to learn more about Stretch Zone and what they offer, you can visit stretchzone.com to find the location closest to you.

One of Gibbs’ favorite stories to share is a marathoner that started coming in 12

Stretch Zone patented their table with their “championship belt” to stop clients from falling off the table.

(Bailey Chism/City Journals)

Turn New Year’s fitness goal into lasting habits

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Nearly half of the people worldwide set a New Year’s resolution to improve their health.

A 2024 Forbes survey reveals 23% of U.S. participants fail in the first week and 43% drop out by February.

This trend is something Steve Espinosa, a nationally certified personal trainer at VASA's Draper gym, sees firsthand when the gym sees a spike in attendance during January and February, only to taper by March.

“It's their New Year's resolution to start working out and they have a long-term goal, but usually, it’s not specific enough for them to stick with it,” said Espinosa, who serves as the gym’s lead trainer. “Often people’s resolutions are too general, like, ‘I want to lose weight,’ ‘I want to get into the gym to build muscle or do a pull up.”

One of the first things he asks new clients is “Why do you want to come to the gym?”

Many respond with a desire to lose weight, but Espinosa digs deeper.

“Often, it’s not just about losing weight; it’s about feeling more comfortable in their bodies and gaining confidence — and that’s the why,” he said, adding often the answer is tied to emotional reasons or

to prevent health problems they’ve seen in others.

One of Espinosa’s clients, a 60-yearold woman started training three years ago, fearing she was following the same sedentary path as her mother.

“Her daily life has become easier with improved fitness. She’s stronger, more confident and skiing — and doing activities she never thought she could do, without being worried about being sore or getting hurt,” he said.

Unlike the vague New Year’s resolutions which often lead to early burnout, Espinosa works with clients to set specific, achievable goals. He recommends writing down goals to make them tangible and breaking them into smaller, incremental steps.

“You need to have a specific goal. Ask yourself, ‘What am I trying to achieve every month?’ A goal of going to the gym three times a week is a more realistic and attainable goal,” he said. “Set mini-goals, whether it’s five minutes, or an hour to hit your weekly goal. Then, build toward monthly, six-month, and yearly goals.”

Espinosa emphasizes the importance of regularly reassessing goals.

“Check in with yourself: ‘Am I am I do-

ing enough?’ If you’re not seeing results, ‘what am I not doing? Is my gym time efficient? Am I pushing myself as hard as I should be?’” he said. “Sometimes your goals may change, and you need to evolve with them.”

“Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, being comfortable in the uncomfortableness of working out, makes you mentally stronger,” he said. “When I see that, it makes me happy. I want to help people.”

Other advice Espinosa offers:

Espinosa talks from experience. He spent years strength training before running his first half-marathon.

“After I did one, it changed everything. I'm still working out, but my workouts changed with my goal to run more half-marathons,” he said. “Your training and your resolutions are going to evolve. The result is where you want to get to, but the journey is going to get you there.”

After being a high school athlete, Espinosa fell into unhealthy habits, including fast food and lack of exercise. Eventually he redefined his goals, embraced healthy eating, and became certified in endurance training, weight loss, muscle management and training for older adults.

• Use the gym as an escape: Espinosa said people join the gym because they need a break from the stresses of work and home. “Being in the gym helps you focus on what you're here for — yourself and your goals.”

• Be accountable: While personal trainers can provide motivation and customized workout plans, Espinosa emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility. “You need to be accountable to yourself.”

• Prioritize your fitness: “Make time for it. Don’t say, ‘When I have time, I'll do it,’” Espinosa said. “Schedule an hour twice a week to work out and build from there.”

Steve Espinosa, a nationally certified personal trainer at VASA Draper’s gym, said fitness goals should be manageable so they can be eased into routines and naturally, become habits. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Remember in the Looney Tunes cartoons when Wile E. Coyote runs off the edge of a cliff and hangs suspended in midair before he realizes there’s no ground beneath his feet? That’s how I feel going into 2025.

The holidays offered a jolly buffer between the U.S. presidential election and the official transfer of power this month, but now I’m looking down at the canyon floor, holding up a sign that reads “Help!” and preparing myself for the plunge where I hit rock bottom. Then, as I’m lying in a coyote-shaped hole, an anvil will land on my head.

Historically, January in Utah is not for the faint-hearted with its frigid temperatures, smoggy inversions and lack of holidays that involve celebrating with pie. Nothing screams January like buying a pound of peppermint chocolate bark on clearance and scarfing it down while binge-watching “Bridgerton” in sweatpants.

But for those of us still reeling from the election, every batty presidential cabinet pick, each mention of mass deportations and every promise to roll back environmental regulations is another anvil to the head.

I’m not a person who gets amped

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

“BEEP BEEP!”

about “A new year!” and “A better me!” but my goal this month is to change my mindset. I need to put down the leftover Christmas candy, change out of my sweatpants and do what I can to bring about positive change.

Maybe I’ll make a vision board or start repeating daily affirmations. Perhaps I’ll exercise more, although the gym will be as crowded as Times Square for the next six weeks. I will definitely not observe Dry January.

I could learn how to use the tech I got for Christmas or take up a new language. Like Russian. I could try to enjoy winter activities and make an effort not to groan when someone suggests a winter hike or a sledding trip at the local park.

One way to change my mindset is to volunteer with organizations that support causes dear to my heart. Getting out of my head and into the idea we can all make a

difference could make this dreary month (or year) bearable.

I should also take a social media break because the algorithm on my feeds stokes the flames of my angst and frustration. Haha! Just kidding. I’m not giving up TikTok until the government rips the phone from my grasping fingers. That platform brings me instances of joy with its mischievous pets, hilarious cooking vids and comic relief.

Maybe taking up a new hobby could put me in an optimistic state of mind, but not crocheting because that’s ridiculously hard. Perhaps I could start ballroom dancing or interpretive cake decorating. It’s conceivable I have a hidden talent for base jumping or parkour. I guess we’ll never know.

Some readers have suggested I take a writing class. I guess I could look into that.

Chasing that elusive Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote faced catastrophes every day. His ACME explosives blew up in his face, he was smashed by boulders over and over, he fell off cliffs and spent thousands of dollars for Road Runner traps that inevitably went wrong. His rocket-powered unicycle experiment didn’t end well.

But every day, he showed up to try

again, creating ingenious ways to catch the Road Runner. He never stopped believing one day he would succeed, that one day he wouldn’t be crushed. That’s where I am. I’m peeling myself off the boulder and starting over, never giving up hope that one person can change this world for the better.