HOLIDAY
HAPPENINGS
SEE PAGE 8
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flooding proves costly
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live nativity
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Climb Every Mountain, But Don’t Build Houses There, Herriman Residents Say chalk art
By Sherrie Ricks “Please don’t let them build homes on the mountain,” was the general comment given by every resident who chose to speak at an Oct. 8 Herriman public hearing on proposed development on the western Traverse Ridge above Herriman. The council room was packed and overflowing into the break room and halls. Attendance may have peaked due to a notice that the city sent to every home in Herriman. But that fact doesn’t undermine the passion that each person came with. At the outset, Mayor Carmen Freeman cautioned the audience that even though the council was very interested in what they had to say, he hoped they would be respectful and keep in mind that the land they were discussing was owned by people who are permitted by law to develop their land if they choose.
“It’s very easy to look at those mountains and think we have ownership of them, but we don’t,” Freeman said. “We will do what we can to preserve them if that’s the direction the community would like to go.” There are several neighborhoods being discussed, some with plans in place and others in the beginning stages. The proposed development that will make the greatest impact to the mountain is the Sky Village development, formally known as Deer Island. The new land owner, Utah Lowe Properties, would like to develop 496 acres in the area. John Lowe, who purchased the property in April, is planning a 496-unit neighborhood. No apartments are being proposed, but
Climb Every Mountain continued on page 4
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biles takes state - again! 14
quotable community:
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Page 2 | November 2014
South V alley City Journal
NEWS
Honoring All Those Who’ve Served
Increased Flooding In Herriman Could Mean Rising Fees
By Shawna Meyer
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o help Riverton residents honor veterans in and around their community, Riverton City is holding its annual Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center, 12830 South Redwood Road. This free event is a staple in Riverton, and it has been happening for over 12 years.
scheduled to perform at this year’s event. Its performance will include jazz music, patriotic songs and other popular music from the 1950s. During the event, there will also be a display of military artifacts. People can come and see uniforms, guns, ammunition and other types of military paraphernalia from many different eras.
By Sherrie Ricks
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n Aug. 29 a storm cell in the northwest corner of Herriman dumped threequarters of an inch of rain and hail in less than 45 minutes. The results were devastating for one Herriman home, and caused some water and debris damage to the city cemetery and other homes.
100-year storms. And, according to city officials, they are doing exactly that. However, the undeveloped farms to the west of the city do not have storm drains or roads. So the impact points where the water from those fields hits developed land can be devastating.
Volunteers form a line of helping hands while crews work to pump mud and water out of a home following an Oct. 8 storm.
THE SOUTH VALLEY TEAM
“It’s to honor the veterans of course— that’s what Veterans Day is all about,” Community Events Coordinator Ann Farr said. “I think it’s an awesome event. It’s a good opportunity for people to come out and thank the veterans for what they do for us.” The American Legion Post 140 with Denny Neilsen as their commander will perform the opening and closing flag ceremonies. This group from Riverton is composed of a handful of local senior veterans, and Farr says that they are happy to meet and shake hands with anyone in attendance. The Riverton Jazz Band is also
“Lane Schonfeld is a local collector of military artifacts, and he brings part of his collection each year and displays it,” Farr said. Mayor Bill Applegarth will be hosting the program, so he will introduce guests. The program is meant to celebrate not only veterans who have served in the military, but also members of the military who are currently taking time away from their lives to serve their country. “We need to show respect for the people who are willing to put their lives in danger for us to keep our freedoms, so I think it’s very important to honor our veterans,” Farr said. l
The storm was called a 100-year storm, meaning that such a storm only happens in the area about every 100 years. However, another “100-year storm” occurred just last year on Sept. 14. That storm overflowed Kennecott retention ponds, flooded Herriman High School and the Timbergate apartments. According to Assistant City Manager Gordon Haight, storm drains in Herriman are supposed to handle 10-year storms, while the streets are set up to handle
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Increased Flooding continued on page 7 m i ss i o n s tate m e n t
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City officials are currently developing a plan to address the more common occurrence of these storms. The first step of the plan to alleviate these flood problems is working with the land owners to reshape some parts of their land, creating berms and retention ponds. Some land owners have been more than willing to allow these changes to their land, and one property owner has already
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Page 4 | November 2014 Climb Every Mountain continued from page 1 townhomes have been mentioned. The land is currently zoned as forest residential which allows for an average of one unit per acre. State law gives Lowe the right to build this development as soon as he satisfies all code requirements. One of the first he must meet is to have two access points. These roads have to meet certain grade requirements so that public
services such as emergency apparatus and school busses can safely access the area. There are a few options that have been suggested, all of which would either need the council’s approval to construct roads on city property and/or a waiver of the 30 percent grade ordinance. Although the city has not been formally asked for access or special allowance on grade, it does not appear that the council would likely grant it. They are concerned about possible impact to Herriman residents through higher service fees in the future, they say. “I’m not in favor of crossing 30 percent slopes,” Councilmember Coralee Wessman Moser said.
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ON THE COVER This would mean Lowe must find other access options. City officials say they will not do anything to impede development, but they are not likely to help solve the problems he may face. “We will not treat this developer any different than other developers. We will respect his rights,” Freeman said. One of the council’s biggest concerns is that the city could end up going through
a similar predicament to that Draper City experienced with the development of the east side of the same Traverse Mountain
dollars, they say. They are concerned that part way through the project, Lowe would run into financial trouble and abandon the project, leaving a scarred mountain and a huge project for the city to finish. This could also add a huge financial burden to the city if the economy faltered and banks started failing again, they said. “I think it’s an economic disaster. There’s no way he’s going to build two roads at 66 feet wide. He’ll end up destroying the mountain. And we’re not even talking about getting water and sewer up there. He’s a nice guy, but he’s just going to be throwing money away,” Freeman said. City leaders are also worried about the added cost for the city to provide public services to the area. Because of its remote location, services such as water, sewer, snow removal and school bussing will cost more per home than the average service. In Draper, Suncrest has a special service district tax to help alleviate that burden to the rest of the city. But residents there are fighting what they feel is excessive assessed taxes in the area in a ballot initiative Nov. 4 (after press deadline). A year ago the Herriman City Council asked Kami Greengage Jones to form a trails committee. The committee was to study the needs and options of the Herriman
“ We built a group of volunteer citizens from the ground up.
We have had a world-renowned expert come in and train us.” Range, called Suncrest. That development faced much litigation and developer bankruptcy. City officials also expressed misgivings about whether the developer can make a profit after the costs to bring the required infrastructure to the area, which, at a broad estimate would be several million
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Hills (or western portion of the Traverse Mountain Range). Prior to public comments being given, Jones gave a report suggesting that the council study and be prepared to purchase land on the mountain when it becomes available. “We built a group of volunteer
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HERRIMAN TRAILS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HERRIMAN HILLS: Committee members felt that Herriman City should buy the as much of the 3,000 acres of the mountain as they can for: 1. Preservation To keep a healthy balance and diversity of animal and plant growth and to provide a noise-free refuge for the residents of the community. 2. To avoid the mistakes made with the Draper/Suncrest community Avoid financial hardship and community division due to bankruptcy and litigation. 3. Recreation Sixty-two percent of residents that responded to a parks-needs survey said they would support additional fees to improve and develop more parks, trails and open space. 4. Economic benefits Open space increases property value. Adding some of the previously mentioned amenities, will bring people from other cities that will spend money in Herriman. It will save on the future need to upkeep and service public infrastructure and reduce the added miles of school buses, garbage collection and other public services. citizens from the ground up. We have had a world-renowned expert come in and train us. We’ve educated ourselves about industry standards. We’ve talked to
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S outh ValleyJournal.com Climb Every Mountain continued from page 4 many property owners, and we’ve received feedback from a large number of residents. I can assure you that the recommendation I read tonight was conceived after countless hours of careful thought, study, assessment, discussion and planning,” Jones said. The committee’s recommendation is to prepare financially to purchase the mountains and preserve them with some added improvements for camping, hiking, trail running, horseback riding, rock
climbing and even a rope tow for tubing. Jones made it clear that the committee has complete respect for the landowner’s rights. “We recognize that they cannot and should not be forced to do anything with their property that they do not want to do. While not every property owner is currently interested in selling their land, there is definitely interest in working with the city for resolution on land use or purchase,” she said. “You can pay to look at a mountain covered in homes or you can pay to
preserve the mountain,” she added. Preliminary ideas suggested by the committee would be implementation of a $5 to $10 per month fee per residence to be set aside for the sole purpose of land purchase within a defined geographic area. City officials estimate the entire purchase price of the land could be somewhere in the region of $60 million, but no one really knows yet because the portion(s) of the mountain range to be purchased have not been determined. The next step is for the trails committee to give a more formal, complete recommendation of exactly which areas of the mountain they would like the city to take an interest in purchasing. “The mountain” can have a different definition to many people. Areas that already have some infrastructure available would be considerably more expensive (like the third of Herriman Springs Cove yet to be developed) and may not be the best use of taxpayers’ funds. Then the city would need to fund a financial study that would determine how much of the property the city would plan to purchase and how to fairly distribute the costs among the city’s residents. The last step for the committee would be to get an initiative on a future ballot so that the residents can decide for themselves if they wish to invest in keeping the mountain as open space. l
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New Regional Park in Bluffdale
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alt Lake County and Bluffdale City officials (along with Ned Wardle, second from left) break ground on the first phase of a new 80-acre regional park in Bluffdale. Located south of 14010 South and west of 2700 West, the park will serve
the South Valley area and this first phase will include a large adventure playground and splash pad, two 40 x 60-foot pavilions, two full-size sports fields and a variety of sport courts including basketball (two), tennis (two) and pickleball (three). Wardle’s grandfather originally owned the land before it was purchased by the LDS church in the late 1950s and put to work as a church farm. The county bought the property from the church in 2008. The new park is one of three regional parks funded by the $47 million Park Bond, authorized by voters in 2012. —Linda Petersen
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Page 6 | November 2014
NEWS
Nativity To Come Alive In Bluffdale By Denise Sabin
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n early November, it’s hard to start thinking about the holidays, especially about some of the activities our families may like to take part in. But one longstanding local tradition has been so popular, it just might make sense to get it on your calendar now. A live nativity, long held in Draper, is making the move to Bluffdale this Christmas as hundreds of volunteers strive to make the Christmas story come to life. The interfaith event will be held at the LDS church building located at 14400 South 2700 West from Monday, Dec. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 4. The nativity, formerly put on by the Riverview Stake Live Nativity in Draper, is moving with its founder, Steve Buntjer, who changed his residence to Bluffdale earlier this year. Buntjer spends so much time working on the nativity that he wanted it closer to home, and Draper supporters were willing to give another community an opportunity to host it. Buntjer started the nativity 17 years ago when he was a recently-called LDS bishop in a new, developing neighborhood. He saw the nativity as a powerful way to bring people together. “I felt like we needed to give back to the community and be a part of their Christmas holiday. So we decided to create a gift that we could share with them,” he said.
What originally started with about 25 cast members and three or four animals in a small barn has grown into a large-scale production, including 120 different cast members each night, a wide variety of animals and dozens of authentic scenes from old Bethlehem. Buntjer designed and built all of the scenery himself, with help from family and friends. “I was a designer by trade; so all of our sets are Disney quality. The detail is amazing, and we have hundreds of authentic-looking props,” Buntjer said. He said that most of the props are items he has found at Deseret Industries and repurposed or refurbished. All of the costumes are also handmade and authentic, created by his wife Cathy and his daughter Kelly Pack. Over the years, different scenes have been added to enhance the experience and to give patrons things to enjoy while waiting to see the nativity. Buntjer said that last year around 25,000 people came through the displays, so lines were often long and the wait could be over an hour. “I try to give people something to see all the way along the line,” he said.
Live Nativity continued on page 7
South V alley City Journal
These photos capture scenes from past live nativities held in Draper. The nativity, which is moving to Bluffdale this year, is like a living museum, as actors silently reenact scenes surrounding the Christmas story. Photos courtesy of Jake Buntjer Photography
November 2014 | Page 7
S outh ValleyJournal.com Increased Flooding continued from page 2 begun the contouring. UPD Sgt. Chris Christensen’s basement was filled floor to ceiling with mud, water and debris from the Aug. 29 flood. All of the home’s utilities, such as the furnace and water heater, were filled and destroyed. While the family has a long road to go to repair the home, city officials, neighbors and even Home Depot in Riverton stepped up to help. Volunteers were there for hours each day pumping and shoveling. Other neighbors brought drinks and food to keep them nourished while they worked. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to our residents, city staff, fire and police who answered the call to duty and assisted those besieged by the recent flooding. The acts of kindness and understanding amid this tragedy
Live Nativity continued from page 6 The first part of the nativity is outside, and there are a dozen different scenes to experience, such as a depiction of Isaiah, shepherds in the field, Mary and Joseph walking with a donkey and the three kings. After entering the pavilion, the manger scene is accompanied by another dozen scenes, including the carpenter and his son working, basket weavers, a baker and a potter. Buntjer said that all the scenes work together to help create the atmosphere of old Bethlehem.
were deeply touching. These unfortunate experiences, as difficult as they may be, help to define our character and moral fiber, individually and as a community,” Mayor Carmen Freeman said. Currently, as storm water hits the city’s storm drains, the debris it carries with it can plug the intake. This causes retention ponds to overflow. This is what caused the cemetery to flood. The clean-up effort for the cemetery had to wait a few days because the land was too saturated to handle the clean-up effort without causing damage to the ground. Damage to the cemetery was minimal, no grave markers were lost or damaged, and there were no reports of lost personal decorations. While several land owners have been working with the city, last holdout property owner Dave Bastian is a little more concerned about any changes to his land, since
of actors participating. Buntjer said that they have had interfaith casts for the past 12 years, bringing together different people with a common cause. One year the three kings included a Catholic, a Muslim and a fundamentalist. Buntjer said that they had a great time together and that the interaction of various faiths is an uplifting and unifying experience. “The goal is to create something that everyone can relate to. It is a wonderful spiritual experience for all who want to come,” he said.
he is currently farming it. Last year, as an emergency effort, the city dug a trench and put up a silt fence along 6000 West from 11800 South for 200 to 300 feet south. However, shortly afterward Bastian asked the city to return his property to its original state. In the overall solution, second-step efforts would include (if needed) sensors that would alert the city immediately when storm drains are receiving too much water and/or debris. City officials may also consider remote valve controls to save time in managing the amount of water that flows into and out of the drain systems. These options come with a large price tag and may require a storm water fee to be implemented in the city. This would be a new fee for Herriman but one that is common in other cities in the valley. There are only four cities in the county that do not currently have this fee: Alta, Bluffdale, Holladay and Herriman. l
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All of the cast members are trained to help create an authentic experience. There are recordings for sound effects to further bring old Bethlehem to life, but the only words spoken in the nativity are, “There’s no room in the inn.” The event is interdenominational, both for those attending and for the cast
The event is sponsored by the Bluffdale and Bluffdale South LDS Stakes and is free to the public. The event is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. Parking is available at the church building and at Bluffdale Elementary School across the street. The experience is also handicap-accessible. l
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South V alley City Journal
South Valley Filled With Holiday Happenings
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here’s a ton of great family fun planned in the communities of Bluffdale, Riverton and Herriman. The South Valley City Journal has tried to round up information on as many as we can below. Tear this page out and put it on your fridge so you don’t miss out on all the fun events! TURKEY TIME Riverton City and the Unified Police Department will host the Holiday Heroes 5K and 1-Mile Run on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. at the C.R. Hamilton Family Sports Complex, 13800 South 3700 West. Participants are asked to donate non-perishable food or monetary donations the day of the race. All donations and proceeds will benefit local families in need. Santa will be present at the finish line and all participants will receive a Holiday Heroes Christmas ornament. J.L. Sorenson Recreation Center, 5350 West 12600 South, in Herriman brings back the Turkey Bowl, Saturday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. just west of the front doors in the pick-up drop-off zone. There will be five pie winners from the following categories: Under 7, 7-11, 11-14, 15+ men’s and 15+ women’s. Pies are donated from Costco. Each $1 entry gives you two rolls of the frozen turkey. Registration is going on from now until 12:45 p.m. Nov. 15, and the first 50 registered will receive a holiday gift basket. (Register in person at the rec. center). SANTA CLAUS Santa Claus will arrive in Riverton on a big, red fire engine on Monday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center, 12830 South Redwood Road. You can visit with Santa and enjoy crafts, wagon rides, warm scones and hot chocolate until 8:30 p.m. Some activities will be outside, so dress warm. On Saturday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m., Bluffdale residents are invited to the lighting of City Park and a visit with Santa. The lighted tractor parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the main city park, 2200 West 14400 South. Afterwards, all residents are invited to visit with Santa and receive free photos with him in his workshop. The evening will include musical entertainment, bonfires, and hot chocolate and cookies for everyone. All activities are free. Those interested in decorating their own tractor, ATV or riding mower can go at 5 p.m. to the west parking lot. Parade entries will receive a fast pass for the photo line. Santa’s very busy, but he’s available to talk by radio at Herriman Library, 5380 West Main Street, on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit the library and let members of the Herriman Amateur Radio Club help you Chat With Santa. Santa will visit Riverton Library on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 11:30 p.m. Mrs. Claus will be there the following Monday, Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. LIVE NATIVITY A live Christmas nativity will be held at the LDS church on 14400 South 2700 West in Bluffdale Dec. 1 through Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a presentation that has been in Draper for the past 17 years, but is moving to Bluffdale this year. Families are welcome to come and walk through a depiction
of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth. The walk-through takes about 15 minutes, but wait times may be longer than an hour, so plan accordingly. CONCERTS Herriman Holiday Sing-A-Long will take place on Dec 8, 7 p.m. at Herriman City Hall, 13011 South Pioneer Street (6000 West). Herriman Harmonyx will help bring the spirit by singing a few selections and then the audience will join in if they’d like. Children will be called up by children to help pick the song to be sung. This is a family event, and Santa will be making an appearance to read a story and give kids a small gift. Herriman Holiday Festival held on Mon, December 15, 7:30 p.m. at Ft. Herriman Middle School 14058 Mirabella Dr (6000 West) will be a “traditional” Christmas event. Selections from Herriman Community Choir, Herriman Community Orchestra, Herriman Harmonyx and other local and school choirs and orchestras. There will be a Quartet set up in lobby help set the mood before entering the auditorium. HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST Herriman Holiday House Decorating contest will be judged on Dec 20. There are three categories: Mayor’s Choice, Best of Show and People’s Choice (Chosen by Facebook “likes”). In order to participate, applicants need to upload a picture or video of their home to the Herriman Arts Council Facebook page. Moderate cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. SILVER RUSH The annual charity drive, Silver Rush, sponsored by Riverton High School, has a few events to add to your calendar. All proceeds will be donated to a charity that will be revealed in an opening assembly on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. in the Riverton High auditorium. The public is invited. On Dec. 3 for a $5 admission, you will be treated to the talents of the students at Riverton High who have been chosen for this year’s Silver Rush CD. Their live concert is at 7 p.m. in the Riverton High auditorium. On Dec. 9, be sure to catch the Mr. Silver Rush Pageant in the RHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Students will be collecting donations for the Silver Rush charity from passersby on Dec. 17 outside the high school between 7 and 11 p.m. FUN AT THE LIBRARY Riverton Library — The whole family can enjoy The Shoemaker & the Elves puppet show on Monday, Dec. 8 and Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the library at 12877 South 1830 West. Or try some Holiday Origami, Friday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Monday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Herriman Library — 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar Craft, Monday, Dec. 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Teens can make their own Advent calendar to count down the 12 days of Christmas. All supplies provided, including prizes to fill the calendar. 5380 West Main St.
November 2014 | Page 9
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SENIORS Riverton Senior Center 12914 South Redwood Road 385-468-3040 The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. A requested donation of $2.50 for those 60 years and older. There is a mandatory price of $5.25 for anyone under 60 years old. Transportation is available daily to and from the center. Call in advance to arrange. Listed below are upcoming events. The center has many regularly scheduled classes (including exercise classes) and activities. Contact them for more information. Nov. 11 -- Center Closed for Veterans Day Nov. 12, 9:15 a.m. -- Computer Class Internet and Google 10 a.m. – Stampin’ Up Card Class. Registration needed 11:15 -- Herriman High Chamber Music Club Performs 1 p.m. -- Club Caregiver. Celebrating two years of accomplishments. Nov. 13, 11 a.m. -- Jim Reilly Performs. Enjoy some polka fun entertainment 6 p.m. -- Late Night Event: Finding Hope through the Different Changes and Challenges of Life.
Community invited. Refreshments served at 7 p.m. with free bingo to follow. Nov. 14, 11 a.m. -- The Link between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease 11 a.m. -- Navigating the Holidays: Vital Aging Project Nov. 17, 11 a.m. -- Rightsizing. Taking Control of Your Future. Registration needed Nov. 18, 11 a.m. -- Blood Pressure Checks with Harmony Home Health 11 a.m. -- Diabetes Specialty Center Presentation Nov. 19, 1 p.m. -- Advisory Committee Meeting Nov. 20, 9 a.m.; $8 Requested donation. Manicures by Kimberly Jensen. Appointments needed. 10 a.m. -- AARP Smart Driver Course. Registration needed 11 a.m. -- Attorney Phil Ferguson. Register for free 20 minute consultation Nov. 21, 11 a.m. -- Navigating the Holidays. Vital Aging Project
Enjoy a Thanksgiving Holiday Meal on Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. Nov. 27 and 28 -- Center Closed Fridays, 11 a.m. in Dec. -- Mindfulness-Meditation Group Discussion
11 a.m. -- Entertainment by Paul Frederick.
Dec. 2, 11 a.m. -- Harmony 5 performs for birthday Tuesday
11:45 a.m. -- Thanksgiving Holiday Meal. RSVP
Dec. 8, 11 a.m. -- Bill Stidd Performs
Nov. 25, 10 a.m. -- Around the World with Weston
Dec. 9, 11 a.m. -- Decibelles Performs
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CROCK-POTS: THEY AREN’T JUST FOR DINNER ANYMORE By Joani Taylor
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ne of the unspoken niceties about fall is the financial relief of turning off the A/C. Isn’t it lovely to have the reprieve where we neither have to heat nor cool our home? As we begin to turn off the grill outside and tuck ourselves in for the winter, I look forward to hunkering in with my favorite comfort foods. Have you broken out the slow-cooker yet? Rocky Mountain Power reports that small appliances like electric woks, electric griddles and slow-cookers, are a great way to save on the high cost of heating the oven or range top. Coming in at around $30, these small and handy appliances of the 1970’s that are making a comeback are not only frugal to use but to purchase too. Today’s chefs use them for roasting squash, baking pies and stewing up breakfast. You can find a plethora of Crock-Pot recipes on various websites devoted to honoring the magic of slow cooking. Check out CrockPotLadies.com, GetCrocked.com and 365DaysOfCrockpot.com for some inspiration. Here’s one of our family favorite go to recipes I learned years ago at a cooking demonstrations at a Tupperware party. It has some surprising ingredients that I bet most of you have in your kitchen right now. No bellbottoms or avocado green containers are required.
CROCK-POT RECIPE 2lbs Beef or Pork - You can use pretty much any cut of meat. Short ribs or pork loin are good choices. 1/2 c. Flour 3/4 c. Ketchup 3/4 c. Cola 1/2 Onion (thinly sliced) 3-4 Baking Potatoes (I like to use 3 very large ones and then cut them in half when serving) Olive Oil Salt & Pepper DIRECTIONS: Dredge 2 lbs. of the meat of your choice in a mixture of salt and pepper seasoned flour. Preheat a skillet to a nice hot temperature and brown all sides of your meat in olive oil (about 2 tablespoons). It’s tempting to skip this step (and I do on occasion) but the added flavor this adds to the meat, coupled with the pan juices and thicker sauce the flour creates is worth the additional dirty pan. Place
the meat in your slow-cooker and top with the onions. Combine the Ketchup and Cola in the skillet you browned the meat in and scrape up all those bits of yumminess on the bottom. Pour the sauce mixture over the meat. The two ingredients paired together make a nice BBQ flavor plus, the cola actually acts as a tenderizer for the meat. Poke the potatoes with a fork, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap the potatoes in heavy duty foil or two layers of regular foil. Place the potatoes on top of the meat with the fold of the foil on top. Cover and cook on low for 7 or 8 hours until the meat is falling apart and the potatoes are fork tender. Serve with a salad or your favorite veggies and enjoy. l
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Page 12 | November 2014
EDUCATION
South V alley City Journal
Grant Brings More School To Students At Oquirrh Hills Middle By Sherry Smith
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ixty students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School are thrilled to spend an additional four hours in class each week. They even applied to do it, and more than 55 were turned away. What would make the typical middle school student want more school? Computers and robots. Jordan School District applied for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) grant from the Department of Workforce Services for underserved populations. At OHMS, that population is students in ALPS or the Advanced Learning Placement Program for Students. The grant will allow selected students to stay after school for an additional two hours twice a week to study computer programming, including writing apps or games or to study robotics. The grant
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will provide busing, two teachers for each course and equipment. Classes began Nov. 3 and will go through the end of the school year. Funds will also be available to double the size of the program next year and add a third year. “Most middle schools do not have after school programs. We are lucky to have this program. STEM is the new buzzword. The Department of Workforce Services chose 60 students to participate in the program from 117 applications. Those who didn’t make it this year are top priority for next year,” Vice Principal Terry Price said. Projections show that the availability of STEM jobs will increase by 62 percent by 2020 and that STEM jobs outnumber other jobs by a three to one ratio.
scaping into the pages of a fairytale came one step closer to being a reality at Herriman High School on Oct. 16 when 34 art students, working with chalk, brought the Brothers’ Grimm stories to life. The students were divided into 17 groups
In an Oct. 23 meeting, parents at Oquirrh Hills Middle School listen to Vice Principal Terry Price explain the requirements of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) grant the school received from the Department of Workforce Services. “We are trying to help students develop a skill set on problem solving. It’s important for our kids to be better prepared. We want them to come out of this program with something. The teachers serve as guides,” Jordan School District Curriculum Technology Specialist Harrison Beckett said. By the end of the school year, students in the computer programming class will
have written an app for a mobile device or designed a game. The end product will be student-chosen. The robotics students will be designing and programming Lego Mindstorm robots and competing with them in robotics competitions during the course of the year. Students will also attend field trips exploring STEM jobs. l
and spent the school day working on their projects. Adviser Janet Fotu said of the experience, “I learned how grueling it is chalking out art on concrete for just three hours. I’m still limping. These kids did it for seven hours straight.” —Sherry Smith
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Local Schools Win Free Assembly By Sherry Smith
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illed as a “Las Vegas quality and family-friendly” assembly, three local schools won the entertaining antics of Jason Hewlett free of charge recently. Hewlett provides a G-Rated one-man show in the form of music, impersonations and motivational messages. He has performed more than 2,000 shows for more than a million audience members. Hewlett normally performs for Fortune 500 companies, but held a contest on Facebook, donating a free assembly to a school in Utah with the most comments on his page. Herriman High won the contest with more than 800 comments. Not wishing to leave other local schools out, Hewlett picked Copper Mountain Middle School and Butterfield Elementary School to also win assemblies. “One of our friends knows Jason Hewlett and made us aware of the contest. We asked parents to comment by linking through our Facebook page. In general, we spend a maximum of $300 on an assembly, and our total budget is $1,000. After three assemblies, if it’s not free, we can’t do it.
Jason Hewlett is an American entertainer, impressionist, musician, actor, speaker and author. We are lucky to have such a great performer donate his time,” Butterfield Elementary PTA President Yvette White said. Hewlett’s message to students was about being comfortable with who you are, and he shared it through personal anecdotes, wacky impersonations and popular music. The presentation even included the crowd favorite: a velociraptor. Hewlett performed for Herriman High on Oct. 20. Butterfield Canyon and Copper Mountain students were able to see him on Nov. 5. l
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oy Scouts from the Summit Ridge Troop hold a flag ceremony for an audience gathered for the dedication of Blackridge Elementary in Herriman on Oct. 7. “It’s an amazing facility filled with wonderful people. Normally, dedications happen in the spring, but we wanted to invite all the neighbors who put up with the dust, lights and noise to be here. We had about 500 people in attendance, and our students were there to sing,” Principal Steve Giles said. —Sherry Smith
Page 14 | November 2014
South V alley City Journal
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erriman High School senior Lucy Biles showed everyone her cross country running dominance and helped the Mustangs girls place fourth overall at state. “Lucy is the real deal, an AllAmerican and one of the best runners in the country. She is a great kid to have on the team. She has the ability and a work ethic that is second to none. She listens and does what I ask her to with a good attitude,” Herriman head cross country coach James Barnes said. Biles started running as a freshman and placed 41st at the state tournament that year. In 2012, she was 4A state champion and won the 5A title in 2013 and again in this season. On Oct. 22, she ran the 3-mile course in 17:41.0, winning by 2.4 seconds over Davis High School’s Aubrey Argyle. Her three championship race times are among the top 10 fastest times recorded at the Sugarhouse Park race venue. “She has done well. It has been fun to watch her progress and have lots of new exciting opportunities. She ran at the Nike Nationals in Oregon as a sophomore and the Foot Locker Nationals last season, and she went to Nike Elite Camp at Nike headquarters to train with Nike Elite athletes,” Lucy’s mother Dianna Biles said. Biles placed third in last season’s Foot Locker Individual West Regionals in Walnut, Calif. She also finished seventh at the National Finals in San Diego, Calif.
“Lucy is a normal teenager. She likes to run, sleep and socialize with her friends. She is very competitive. She loves running and making friends. Some of her best friends are kids she competes against from around the state. She does not like me to yell at her when she runs. She is focused, and I am excited for her,” Dianna Biles said. l
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he Herriman High School girls cross country team placed fourth at the state championship Oct. 22 at Sugarhouse Park. Head coach James Barnes said qualifying for state and taking second in Region 4 is an accomplishment to be proud of. “I feel pretty good about our team. We really thought this was going to be a building season. Lucy [Biles] was our only runner with experience. I really would have liked to see the boys team do a little better, but we are satisfied. I feel six of the top seven cross country teams in the state are in our region, so it is tough,” Barnes said. The Mustang boys placed sixth in Region 4. Jordan Nestman, Adam Wood and Stockton Enger placed in the top 30. The girls’ team place second overall in Region 4 to American Fork. The girls’ seven state qualifiers include Biles, Caitlin Butterfield, Milee Enger, Michelle Stanley, Madi Littleford, Emma Loftus and Miriam Briggs. Butterfield, Enger and Littleford are all freshmen. “We will only get better next year and the year after. Emma [Loftus] had never run before this season and with our freshmen ready to improve we will be better. We have a great program and great kids that are self-motivated,” Barnes said. The Mustang girls team is trying to qualify for the Nike Southwest Regional Nov. 22 in Casa Grande, Ariz.
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Lucy Biles won the individual 5A state girls cross country championship Oct. 22 at Sugarhouse Park. Photo courtesy of dsandersonpics.com
November 2014 | Page 15
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Silverwolves Volleyball Team Secures Spot In State Tournament By Greg James
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he experience the Riverton Silverwolves volleyball team gained last season, by advancing to the state tournament, has helped them succeed this year. They have clinched a return trip to the states final tournament and hope they can improve on their finishing position.
The Silverwolves finished their 2014 season with a 13-14 overall record and were 6-6 in region play; fourth place in Region 4. They are scheduled to play Taylorsville in the first round of the state tournament Friday Nov. 7 at Utah Valley University.
“It was great to see new faces and gain
tournament type experience. It has been great to see these girls working well together.” “It was exciting for our program to go to state. It was a learning experience. What we gained from last year [enthusiasm and experience] has helped us this season,” head coach Lindsay Lind said. “We had some injuries coming into this season so we were a little nervous to start out, but things have gone the way we expected.” Junior Shaylee Kartchner has 11 blocks and 99 kills for the Silverwolves volleyball team this season.
They defeated Westlake, Herriman and American Fork twice each during the regular season.“We have some seniors that had not played much varsity. I was worried about our smaller girls being able to keep up with the speed and height of the other teams. They have done the things by spending time and extra effort to improve
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ilverwolves head volleyball coach Lindsay Lind expected her team to go through a learning curve this season. Her returning seniors did not have much varsity experience, and the team had some key injuries to recover from. “Tiena [Afu] was not cleared by her doctor to play until one week before tryouts. She had an ACL injury at the beginning of basketball season last year, so we got off to a slow start. She has become our go- to player. She was a little hesitant at first, but now I can see it [confidence] build in her and she takes over,” Lind said. Afu and Shaylee Kartchner lead the team in kills (an attack that is unreturnable) with 197 between them. Kartchner had a season high 14 kills against Herriman in their 3-2 victory Oct. 7. “Shaylee did not have a ton of varsity experience coming into this season, but she has improved her game all-around. Our middle blockers [seniors Lauren Muhlestein and Mikayla Coats] have worked hard and done a nice job too,” Lind said. Muhlestein has had 30 blocks to lead the Silverwolves; Coates has 25. Afu, Lexi Averett and Allie Gibson have 55 additional blocks. Senior Brittney Enis leads the team with 14 serving aces (a serve that results directly into a point). “We have a great group of girls. We do not really have a superstar, but we work as a team and work together to win,” Lind said.
Lexi Averett and Lauren Muhlestein have been important parts of the Silverwolves front line defense. Photo courtesy of dsandersonpics.com and get better,” Lind said. Riverton co-hosted with Bingham the Claim Jumper tournament Oct. 2-3 and played in the Rocky Mountain Champions Classic Sept. 5-6. Lind said this gave her team a chance to see and play against
different types of teams. “We played teams from Idaho and Alabama. It was great to see new faces and gain tournament type experience. It has been great to see these girls working well together,” Lind said. l
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Page 16 | November 2014
CHAMBER CORNER
Local Seniors Remember Veterans Submitted by the Riverton Senior Center Ladies of the Riverton Senior Center have made lap robes for our vets. Daisy Jones gave them the idea, and
Riverton Limits Residents to Two Chickens By Rachel Hall
Oct. 28 some in the group went to the William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home and were handed lap
Pictured are some of the ladies who helped make lap quilts for local veterans. From left, Mazie White, Sharon, Larna Mousley, Carolee, Daisy Jones, Diane Henderson, Vera Kinyon, Diane Knapp and Cherie Kingsbury her sidekick Carolee said “Let’s do it.” Ninety-six robes were made with lots of love in the center and at home, all within five months. On
South V alley City Journal
robes out to each veteran. It was such a great reward to see the faces on the residents when they were given their own lap robe. l
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espite a national trend, some Riverton residents won’t have their own little barnyard anytime soon. On Oct. 7, Riverton City Council denied an ordinance that would allow up to six chickens to be kept as household pets in areas zoned as small, single-family residential lots with a vote of 3-2. Only Councilmembers Trent Staggs and Paul Wayman were in favor of the failed measure, while Brent Johnson, Sheldon Stewart and Tricia Tingey voted in opposition. City council members recognized that neighboring jurisdictions already allow for more than two chickens to be considered household pets, but there were concerns about permitting and enforcement. For example, Animal Services only deals with domesticated animals such as dogs. This means that no one would be responsible for handling chickens that escape from a yard, except the homeowner. Those issues raised doubts about passing the local ordinance that had been previously recommended for approval by the planning commission on Aug. 28.
Among the residents who addressed the council was Rick Stomack who said he was in favor of household chickens which he considered to be a national trend, although he did suggest that roosters and crowing hens not be allowed. Mayor Bill Applegarth spoke against the measure, citing examples of potentially dangerous situations between chickens and his family members. Years ago, when his daughter was almost 3, they were in their yard together when a neighbor’s loose rooster appeared and became aggressive toward the young girl. “He started trying to peck her and jump on her,” said Applegarth, who said he was lucky that he was nearby in order to save her from being badly hurt. He felt chickens should only be allowed on larger lots and not on the smaller residential lots that measure one-quarter-acre or less. Despite noise and nuisance ordinances that would still be in effect if household chickens would have been approved, the council’s vote shows that not everyone can agree on what constitutes a family pet. l
S outh ValleyJournal.com
RIVERTON CITY COUNCIL By City Councilmember Tricia Tingey Peace, Progress, and Tradition When I read this phrase on the Riverton logo, I am reminded of the great history that shaped our city. It started with Nicholas T. Silcock and his purchase of land in Riverton in 1865. That land is near the golf course on the east side of our city. His great wife, Jane, wasn’t as happy as Nicholas with that purchase. When she saw their new home, she stated, “Well, you have moved a great many times, but this is the last place on God’s earth to bring a woman.” Their hard work brought others to the area and with the help of each individual that settled here, this area grew and became better. In 1891, Thomas P. Page started a new merchandise store and at its peak, it was considered the largest department store in the valley outside of downtown Salt Lake City. Our city is rich with history and was founded on progress. Jane knew that changes were needed in order to make this area fitting for their family. I have had the opportunity to speak to some people about the events of the past and of the future, and I have come to realize that, while tradition is crucial in any culture, a balance with progress is just as important. We need to celebrate those who started the valued traditions, and we need to celebrate those who have moved here without deep roots in our city’s history. After all, roots can grow fast and deep if they are taken care of properly. We have many families move to our great city, and they have already established strong, deep roots because of this great community. As we anticipate celebrating Riverton’s 150th birthday, I am so excited about the progress we have made as a community. We have grocery stores, parks, department stores, a hospital, wonderful places to eat and places to learn. It is a time to celebrate! Our celebration will start in January with relay runners from each public school in our city. They will run their candle torches by each school and end up at Riverton High School where they will place 150 birthday candles in a birthday cake. There will be fireworks, food and plenty of excitement to start off our celebration. A “Passport to FUN” will be distributed to every citizen who wants to participate
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CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
in the activities for the upcoming year of celebration. We will celebrate the oldest and newest citizens. Mayor Applegarth will also visit every school to teach the students about our great past and to make each student feel part of the celebration. Each month will be full of celebrations. Here is a quick overview a few of the planned events: Feburary: Game night at the community center March: Going Green month will focus on taking care of our community through recycling. The city will provide recycle bins for glass and other events will take place to help us with our recycling. April: Miss Riverton and neighborhood clean up are the focuses this month. Our city horticulturist arborist will also help us with questions we may have concerning trees in our community. May: Look forward to a city historic tour. June: Mark your calendars for June 22. This will be a day you don’t want to miss as we open up our new park and celebrate with music, fireworks and other activities. July: Town Days! August: Don’t miss the weekly concerts in the park. S eptember : Riverton’s own farmers market will open in August and continue through September. October: Troll Stroll November: Veteran’s Day program December: This month is packed with Santa’s arrival, a Christmas festival, and on the 14th we will end our yearlong celebration by blowing out the candles on the city cake. (And, of course, there will be fireworks.)
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o as we take a look at our traditions and move forward with progress, we are left with the last word in that city phrase, “peace.” I believe peace is an individual’s decision. That is where we contribute to this great city on an individual basis. Peace brings the past and present together with a commitment from all to continue the vision of our ancestors. Peace doesn’t come without trials, obstacles and opinions, but conversely, peace comes because of those elements. People willing to give and take and people willing to serve all contribute to creating that peace. I’m looking forward to the celebration with everyone! l
BLUFFDALE CITY COUNCIL
A Common Sense Approach To The Cost Of Our Schools By Mayor Carmen R. Freeman
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hortly after the hit movie “High School Musical” made it to the movie theaters, a number of film critics evaluated the film. As best as I can recall, one particular critic questioned why the movie was filmed in such an unrealistic and improbable atmosphere instead of an actual high school. In his opinion, such a setting as an actual high school would have offered the viewer a more accurate and meaningful appraisal of what life was like in a typical school. In response to the film critic’s concern, those involved in the production of the movie pointed out that the movie was indeed filmed at an actual school— East High School—and that Utah was blessed with a number of similar schools which were attractively constructed and wonderfully furnished. As parents and residents of our community, each of us should feel grateful and fortunate to live in such an area where our children are educated in remarkable and unequalled facilities. Certainly, without saying, we want the very best for our children. However, in this age of economic volatility, financial uncertainty and the rising cost of goods and services, we must look at a practical and more common sense approach on how we construct our schools. As we consider our growing population and the number of schools that will be required, I believe the time has come to be more creative. It is time to think outside traditional norms, be more practical and perhaps most importantly, build what we can afford. Certainly, as we consider a budgetary reduction in school construction, student safety and learning must never be compromised. But I have been, and continue to be, a firm believer that taking a more practical and economical approach to constructing our schools can be accomplished without jeopardizing the safety of our students or inhibit their capacity to excel academically. Because I am so passionate about
this issue, I have recently volunteered to participate with an advisory committee to look at various ways we can be more cost efficient with respect to school construction. Hopefully, as we engage in this process, creative and dynamic options will be considered to ensure the fiscal longevity of public education and help reduce the financial burden placed on the shoulders of our taxpayers. In the next few months a report of the committee’s findings will be submitted to the Board of Education for their consideration.
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s we look to the future with respect to school construction funding, I am reminded of the counsel Winston Churchill once gave. During the dark days of World War II when England was struggling financially, he gathered his committee together and said, “Gentlemen, we have run out of money; now we have to think.” Now is our time to “think” resourcefully and ingeniously and with a little common sense with respect to the construction of our schools. l
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Page 18 | November 2014
South V alley City Journal
Carving Pumpkins For A Cause By Shawna Meyer
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he Fragile X Association of Utah hosted its third annual Parade of Pumpkins on Oct. 25 at the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center in Riverton, and the event brought in a little over $3,000 for the Fragile X Foundation. The Parade of Pumpkins is kind of like the Festival of Trees. However, instead of bidding on Christmas trees, people in attendance bid on Halloween displays, decorated pumpkins and haunted gingerbread houses. One Sweet Slice was also on hand selling cupcakes. Everything raised went to the Fragile X Foundation. Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition related to autism that causes many intellectual complications, along with speech delay, motor skills delay and sensitivity to light and sound. Although Fragile X can occur in both sexes, males are more likely to be af-
kids. It just so happens that I passed it to both my boys, and my daughter is a carrier,” Douglas said. Her oldest son Hunter, 13, attends Kauri Sue Hamilton School in Riverton, which is a school especially for special needs students. “He still isn’t very verbal. I mean, he can speak words, but he can’t put sentences together. But he’s a happy kid,” Douglas said. The case of Porter, 11, is a bit more mild. He goes to school at Monte Vista Elementary School. “He’s higher functioning. He can talk and read. He is just a couple of grades behind where he is supposed to be in school,” Douglas said. Douglas and her boys are a part of the Grandview Ward from the Herriman Utah Mountain View Stake.
“We’ve just been so overwhelmed with kindness.
We’ve been here for 15 years, and everybody has always been so good, kind and helpful with our boys.” fected by the disease than females, and generally, their symptoms present with greater severity. Tiffany Douglas from Riverton has been involved with the Fragile X Association of Utah for almost three years, and she was recently promoted to help lead the local chapter. Her two sons both were diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome, and her nephew also has it. “Since I’m a carrier, I had basically a 50 percent chance of passing it to my
Her sister Natalie Loveridge also has a 7-year-old son, Ashton, with Fragile X Syndrome, and they live in the Grand View Ward as well. “We’ve just been so overwhelmed with kindness. We’ve been here for 15 years, and everybody has always been so good, kind and helpful with our boys,” Douglas said. For this year’s personal progress project, the leaders of the young women in the ward decided to volunteer to help
Members of the Grandview Ward decorated haunted gingerbread houses and spooky pumpkins to auction off at this year’s Parade of Pumpkins, which is an organization helping to raise money and awareness for Fragile X syndrome. with the Parade of Pumpkins. They contacted Douglas and offered their help decorating, making displays to auction off and organizing Halloween-themed games for the kids. “We wanted to do a group project where we could all combine our efforts, and so that is why we chose the Parade of Pumpkins . . . We’ve known these boys since they were little babies, and we just love them and their families,” Young Women leader Wendy Burningham said. “The Fragile X Foundation is great because it helps to not only bring awareness to Fragile X, but it also helps to educate families.” At the event, Douglas stressed the importance of spreading awareness about Fragile X because not many people know about it. Many kids are misdiagnosed with
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autism, for which the treatment is very different, she said. “A lot of kids actually get misdiagnosed as autistic because there are some similarities . . . We’re trying to spread awareness for it because you teach autistic kids and Fragile X kids differently.” “With autistic kids, the main focus is to pull them out of their inner world. You want them to make eye contact, and that helps them to learn. But when you force a Fragile X kid to make eye contact, they pull inside themselves and you won’t get anything else out of them. They become too over-stimulated,” Douglas said. After the event, the young men and women from the Grandview Ward collected the displays that didn’t sell and took them to assisted living centers in the area for Halloween. l
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Fair Game By Peri Kinder
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here’s a small, football-shaped gland in the center of the brain that makes people go temporarily insane. It kicks into high gear during fall and winter. Each weekend, this gland swells to the size of an actual football, blocking rational thought and flooding the body with the hormone fanaticsol. This hormone produces the ability to recall facts about any sports player, in any game, in any era, at any time. Plus it encourages a person to drink copious amounts of beer while watching millionaires put on funny clothes and throw things at each other. Too much fanaticsol can result in stupid bar fights, irrational lifelong feuds, the spousal silent treatment and, in extreme cases, the need to contact an attorney. It also stimulates the desire to wear a favorite player’s team jersey, even though it’s stained with guacamole— because those are “Lucky guacamole stains, and you can’t wash them off!” If this sounds familiar, you or a loved one could be suffering from Sports-induced Addictive Pastime Syndrome (SAPS). While there is no cure, there is hope that the afflicted person in your life will stop watching back-to-back NFL or NBA games, as well as hockey, baseball, NASCAR, golf, swim meets, college sports, and if nothing else is on, bowling championships.
An entirely fabricated study shows more than 80 percent of SAPS victims are male. Once fanaticsol hits their system, they can understand complicated playoff brackets in complete detail. They are able to change
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(insert athlete’s name) broke (insert another athlete’s name) record for (insert sport terminology.)” But if you ask those same men what grade their daughter is in, the answer will be, “Um. Algebra?” And the stats! Somewhere in the Midwest, there’s a sports bartype office where employees create irrelevant facts so sports announcers can demonstrate their unparalleled knowledge of the game. The broadcaster might say,“If Mr. Football completes this pass, he’ll be the first left-handed quarterback in the history of the universe to throw 100 yards in the snow while recovering from tonsillitis at this venue.” How do you respond to that? While the majority of men choose their favorite teams based on who they watched growing up, women base their favorite teams on who their first boyfriend followed, or the color of the uniforms. Most women will stick around for world championship games, galactic title bouts and half-time shows, but that’s about it. I just heard the TV turn on. My husband is watching some type of sporting event. That means I have a few hours to shop at (insert department store), and he won’t even know I’m gone. l
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any variable and know the outcome. It’s like a version of Mad Libs. Example: “If the (insert sports team) win, that means the (insert another sports team) will play (insert another sports team) in (insert location) on (insert date and time) where it’s supposed to (insert weather condition).” And that information is in their brains! They don’t even have to Google it! I watched my husband (a SAPS sufferer) strike up a conversation with a total stranger that went like this: “Where are you from? I see you’re wearing a (insert sports team) hat.” “I’m from (insert city’s name),” the fellow SAPS casualty says. “Are you a (insert sports team) fan!? I grew up watching so-and-so play in the Whatchamacallit Dome.” “Did you see the game in 1972 where (insert athlete’s name) threw a (insert sports terminology) and they won the game (insert final score)?” “Yeah, that was crazy! But not as wild as when
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COUNTY MAYOR’S MESSAGE
By Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams
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alt Lake County is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation. We’re at a point in time where we can either shape the future that we choose, or sit back and let the future shape us. A perfect example of that is what is happening to our central Wasatch Mountains and the Wasatch Canyons. This iconic place—where the pioneers camped at the mouth of City Creek Canyon in 1847—is an essential water source, recreation destination and outdoor refuge to the more than one million people living in this valley and the fast-growing communities in Summit and Wasatch Counties. The same growth pressures that are forcing us to think about traffic congestion and air pollution and how we successfully educate our children, are
affecting that landscape and how residents and visitors continue to enjoy it. Last January, a broad group of stakeholders launched Mountain Accord. The goal of Mountain Accord is to preserve and improve the natural environment of this place by developing a plan of action that balances four broad system groups: environment, recreation, economy and transportation. Representatives from the state of Utah, Salt Lake, Summit and Wasatch Counties, the cities of Park City, Heber, Salt Lake City, Sandy City, Cottonwood Heights and Alta sat down with representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Save Our Canyons, Ski Utah, the Outdoor Industry Association and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, among others. Numerous plans and studies relating to the management of the Wasatch Mountains have been undertaken in recent years. They contain important information. But this effort—Mountain Accord—stands out in one major way: the collaboration and planning will lead to action – a preferred scenario for the future that includes policy decisions that will lead to actual projects and preservation choices on the ground. Phase One of Mountain Accord has reached a crucial stage. Working groups comprised of both experts and other
interested folks have held hundreds of hours of meetings. Several public meetings have been held as well, both in Salt Lake County and in Summit County. The results are four “ideal” scenarios. They include maps showing what, in isolation, each system group sees as “a perfect world.” Because Mountain Accord is about producing a scenario that balances these equally important resources, the critical work is now at hand. I’d like to invite you to visit the Mountain Accord website at www. mountainaccord.com and click on the tab called “Milestones” and then “Idealized Systems.” That’s where you can view the draft proposals on each of the four systems, study the maps and check to see if anything was overlooked. Beginning in
December, the entire stakeholder group will move toward what’s termed a “preferred scenario.” This will be the plan that will be presented to the public that seeks to balance the goals of each system—environment, recreation, economy and transportation— in one consensus-driven result. If you value the clean, affordable water that flows from your tap, if you’ve ever enjoyed a powder ski day, or hiked a mountain trail to see the wildflowers, driven a canyon road to see the fall colors or simply sought a cool refuge along the banks of one of these clear mountain creeks, you can be part of the solution we seek. We want our Rocky Mountain home to offer those same quality of life experiences now, and for generations to come. l
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I-15
There is a myth that says only tax attorneys are fully qualified to represent a taxpayer before the IRS. Nothing could be further from the truth. The IRS recognizes three different professions as fully qualified to represent taxpayers. Those are attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents (EAs). So what’s the difference? The short answer is … not much. Each has the right to represent a taxpayer and a right to client confidentiality. In those very rare situations where a case goes to tax court, then an attorney is needed to meet court requirements. And in those even more rare instances where a tax case has gone criminal then you’re best advised to retain a criminal attorney! Rich Tomlinson A more prudent question to ask is who is skilled to represent a taxpayer? Within all three professions there are only a select few that really understand the world of IRS representation. Virtually no college or university provides any training in this specialized field. So look for a professional that has completed specialized training such as through the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (www.astps.org), that has a successful track record, and who actively works in this very specialized field. In this arena attorneys, CPAs and EAs are peers.
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