WEST JORDAN
June 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 06
801-280-4114 3961 W 9000 S
FREE
Buy One Get One
OAKCREST TEACHER
FREE
RECEIVES NEW CAR AS BONUS By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Amanda Dickson loves to honor teachers in a Teacher Feature spotlight each week on KSL Newsradio. She believes teaching is a profession that needs more recognition—specifically material recognition. “They need more than a plaque,” said Dickson. “They need actual material things that they can enjoy.” Like a new car. That’s just what Rupali Munot, a fourth-grade teacher at Oakcrest Elementary in West Jordan, won in a random drawing of this year’s 46 Teacher Feature winners. Burt Brothers Tires and Service provided the two-year lease of a brand-new Chevy Trax. “It’s been such a privilege to see the joy on the teachers’ faces,” said company owner Ron Burt. “I think it rekindles that motivation in them to want to go back and even give it a little bit more.” Rob Brough, executive vice president of communications at Zions Bank, a sponsor of Teacher Feature, said teachers deserve to be rewarded because they ultimately have such an impact on the future. “Every day, I send my kids off to school into the hands of a great teacher who loves them and who will impact their life forever,” he said. “This is really fun to take one of those teachers—and they’re all so deserving—and to be able to surprise them with a new car.” Munot was counting on winning the car—her husband drives a ‘97 Honda Civic that they’ve been putting off replacing. “It’s old, and it’s leaking, and it has all sort of problems, so my husband is probably even more excited than I am,” she said.
ON ANY COMFORTER OR LARGE BLANKET Expires 6/30/18
mrlecleaners.com
Rob Brough of Zion’s Bank and Ron Burt of Burt Brothers were thrilled to be a part of awarding Rupali Munot with a new car. (Adam Young/Zion’s Bank)
“But more than a car, it’s a reward for me, and that’s what makes this so special.” The new car will be a reprieve from car problems for the Munots. “We take care of the maintenance and tires on it,” said Brandon Burt of Burt Bros. “All she has to do is gas it up.” Munot was spotlighted in a Teacher Feature last December, nominated by a parent of one of her students who said Munot had
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
literally changed her son’s life. Dickson said she sees so many nominations of amazing teachers like Munot, who stand out because they so obviously love their students. She said these teachers are doing extraordinary things without receiving any extra compensation for it. “There is no way to factor that into a salary,” said Dickson. “You can’t build in a bonus for love.” Continued on page 5...
Thank You to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Riverton, UT Permit #44
Jordan School District NOW accepting
Preschool applications for 2018-19 School Year!
Registration fee of $40.00 Tuition Costs: Two Days per week $70.00 Four Days per week $140.00 Children need to be 3 or 4 on or before September 1, 2018
Preschool classrooms offered at these locations: Bastian • Columbia • Copper Canyon Foothills • JATC-South • Jordan Hills Majestic • Mountain Shadows • Rosamond • Silver Crest • West Jordan • Westvale
Free Preschool For Income eligible Families Grants are available for children who are 4 years old and eligible for Kindergarten in the fall of 2019.
Call now for more information
801-567-8510
Page 2 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
�
WestJordanJournal .com
June 2018 | Page 3
Volunteers spruce up the city on Comcast Cares Day By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com The West Jordan City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Jordan. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com 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.
The West Jordan Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton Travis@mycityjournals.com ADVERTISING: 801-254-5974 DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Ryan Casper ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com 801-671-2034 SALES ASSOCIATES: Melissa Worthen melissa@mycityjournals.com 801-897-5231 Tracy Langer Tracy.l@mycityjournals.com 385-557-1021 Corbett Carrel Corbett@mycityjournals.com 385-557-1016 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Ty Gorton
West Jordan Journal 9500 South 500 West Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 Phone: 801 254 5974
Designed, Published & Distributed by
A
n army of volunteers showed up on Saturday, April 21 to make a lasting difference in our community during Comcast Cares Day. Comcast estimates that 10,000 volunteers joined together to make change happen across the Wasatch Front. Comcast Cares Day has grown to become one of the State’s largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts where Comcast employees, community partners, non-profits, families, and friends all join together to clean, rejuvenate and beautify public areas around Utah. In West Jordan, volunteers enjoyed donuts, juice and received a t-shirt while checking in at the Ron Wood Baseball Com- Volunteers paint the restrooms at Veterans Memorial park as part of Complex from 7 to 8 a.m. Then they cast Cares Day. (Jenny Dinkelman) divided into project groups and the park for this season. spread throughout West Jordan from 8 a.m. unThe group reached an agreement with the til noon, ready to plant trees, spread bark mulch, city council to have at least 100 volunteers pull weeds, clean flower beds, and spruce up the show up and make improvements at the Vetercity in many ways. ans Memorial park. From noon to 1 p.m., the volunteers enJenny Dinkelman, a leader with PONY joyed lunch and a thank-you celebration back at baseball, said, “We had between 115 and 130 the Ron Wood Baseball Complex. volunteers show up, since some came by later. One group of volunteers represented the The youngest volunteer was 2 years old.” West Jordan PONY Baseball league. The volunteers worked to paint the bathThe league plays at the Veterans’ Memori- rooms and pavilions at the park. They also al park. They had lost a previous source of reve- trimmed the rose bushes and pulled weeds near nue when a building they used as a snack shack 2200 West and 7800 South. for concession sales had to be torn down three So whether the group received a break years ago, and has not yet been rebuilt. from the city on fees, or they gave of their time PONY Baseball approached the West Jor- with no return, the event showed that many dan City Council around March and asked if West Jordan residents care enough about their they could perform service in lieu of the fees community to give their time and muscle power normally charged to rent the baseball fields at in service to their neighborhood. l
33+ years of helping people find the perfect place to call home.
WORK WITH SOMEONE YOU
CAN TRUST.
“Real Estate Joe” Olschewski 801-573-5056
joeolschewski41@gmail.com
Utah’s #1 Self Proclaimed Pet Odor Remover F R E E E S T I M AT E
801-301-2863 - Patrick
Heck Ya!
We Clean Upholstery
FrattoBoys.com
Thank You
to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
MISSION STATEMENT 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.
free l community l papers
Page 4 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
Continued from front page...
Dickson and her morning show co-host, Brian Martin, along with representatives from Zions Bank, the Utah Board of Education and KSL, read every nomination letter and then ranked them. Nominees with the highest rankings were selected as winners. Dickson said it is difficult to narrow down the hundreds of nominations submitted by parents, students, principals and colleagues of teachers from all over the state for the weekly spotlight. “It’s painful because there are so many good ones,” said Dickson. Dickson said if one of the committee members finds a letter that moves them so much that they can’t imagine not honoring that teacher, they can override the process and automatically name them a winner. Dickson knows some nominations get passed over because the letter lacked the details to show just how spectacular the teacher is. She wishes all teachers could win or at least know that someone appreciates them enough to have nominated them. Brough agrees that more teachers deserve to be recognized and to win a new car. “If there’s any downside to it, it’s we can only do one,” he said. “We wish we could do it for all teachers.” All teachers spotlighted this year received a stay at Anniversary Inn, dinner at The Roof
WestJordanJournal .com
Meier & Meier
medical supplies STAIRLIFTS
New & Used Low Prices!!
SALE – New $2,560
FREE INSTALLATION! Representatives from Zion’s Bank, KSL and Burt Bros are thrilled to giving away a new car to teacher Rupali Munot. (Adam Young/Zion’s Bank)
Restaurant, season tickets to Hale Center Theater and a plaque. They were all invited to an end-ofyear awards banquet, held May 23, where they
had more chances to win high-value raffle prizes. l
2712 South 300 East Salt Lake City, UT 84115
801-484-8444
June 2018 | Page 5
The Force was strong with this crowd By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com
Participants in the Star Wars lip sync contest. (Salt Lake County Library)
W
here does Darth Vader buy his black leather designer boots? At the Darth
mall! That joke was told to the crowd celebrating at the Mos Eisley Cantina, also known as the County Library’s Viridian Event Center. May 4 is known as Star Wars day and celebrates director George Lucas’s Star Wars movies. It comes from a variation of the famous phrase: “May the Fourth be with you.” “We are excited to bring this popular event back for a third year,” Librarian Liesl Seborg said. “It’s an amazing and immersive experience that lets you feel like you’re in the Star Wars universe.” The county library hosted this free event for adults ages 18 and older. Costumes were encouraged, but not required. Many residents did dust off their Jedi robes and dress as their favorite character from that galaxy far, far away. The festivities included costume and trivia contests, mocktails, refreshments and games. Galactic helpers also took free souvenir photos. Vendors set up display tables selling their wares. Inside the main hall was a stage where participants performed in a lip sync contest. Audience members cheered for their favorite lip sync performance, which was factored in to the views of judges to determine the winners. At the back of the hall refreshments were sold including churros from San Diablo and drinks such as bantha blue milk and Tatooine sunrise. On the previous night, the county library hosted a free screening of the film “The People vs. George Lucas,” in partnership with the Utah Film Center. Hilarious and heartfelt, this film delved into Lucas’s cultural legacy to ask: who truly owns that galaxy far, far away—Lucas or those who worship it? At the May 4 event, the master of ceremonies reminded the audience to check out the droid station where several 3-D printers were
Page 6 | June 2018
set up creating models of the death star, Yoda and R2D2. The announcer informed everyone that many library branches offer services you may not be aware of. For example, you can turn in an order to have something printed on one of the 3-D printers for free. Star gazers can also check out a high-powered telescope from the library. This would come in handy for watching events such as the launching of the rocket to Mars at 4 a.m. on May 5. “Jedi Master Tyler” told the crowd that, “Here at the library, we’re all about providing great community-building experiences.” “Here in Utah, we are the biggest bunch of geeks in all the land, right?” said Tyler, to which the crowd hooted and cheered their agreement. Tyler then hosted a game of “Say it Backwards” where contestants went head-to-head saying a word or phrase from the Star Wars universe backwards into a recording device. Whoever said the words best when played backwards went on to the next round until a winner was named. One participant who went by the name of Kylo Glen came to the event last year and returned this year. “It’s great to celebrate Star Wars day,” he said. He suggested they celebrate another event the next day, calling it the Revenge of the Fifth. He was proud of his double-bladed cross guard light saber. “When I saw George Lucas’s special trailer for The Force Awakens, I saw him using one. So I thought to myself, that’s definitely me.” He looked for two light sabers and put them together. As a motorized, remote controlled R2D2 wandered the hall, a staff member handed out numbers to those wearing costumes, so attendees could vote for the best one. For more information on this and other events at the county library, visit the web site slcolibrary.org/specialevents. l
West Jordan City Journal
Something to shake your maracas at
A
By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com
na Aranda brought her fine art fame to West Jordan’s Viridian Event Center on Sat April 28th, to speak to youth and families at a free event called “Kids Fiesta.” She arrived to the stage wearing vivid yellow. Raised in Mexico City, her huipil-style embroidered dress was a bright expression of her upbringing. She presented slides showing her artwork, the strong craftsman culture of Mexico, and what influences her. Aranda has impressive talents. It seems she can paint a unique version of any creature and organic thing. Her anthropomorphic style is appealing worldwide to children and adults alike. Many of her illustrations show plants and animals native to Mexico, feisty and bold, in balanced compositions. Her art received even more positive attention when a popular book “The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra” by author Marc Tyler Nobleman, debuted Aranda’s striking cover-to-cover artwork. “I play games when I paint,” Aranda said, describing how she uses different techniques. She talked of one particular game using a toothbrush to apply color to her drawings. “As if you’re playing tennis, throw paint to the canvas,” Aranda said. She invited all to try sometime, and reminded kids saying, “You don’t need a canvas. Paper works too.” Viridian patrons also walked in to see Mexico themed attractions. A picture-taking
station had silly props on hand, for anyone to pose with a mustache or sombrero. The venue was full of craft tables, learning areas and outdoor activities. Bounce houses were set up by All About Bounce, LLC for jumping. Children took turns taking a swing at the piñata. Aranda explained how looking at animals is one way for artists to get ideas (make sure to observe wildlife in a safe way or with an expert). Aranda said her chupacabra illustration turned out to have a combination of appearances that are part “alien, coyote, and dog.” Tables with exhibits offered education about creature biodiversity. Hogle Zoo brought a touch ‘n feel display with real moose and mule-deer antlers. One could pick up the casted footprints of a bison, goose, possum or puma. Can you imagine a bison with goose feet, moose face and a possum tail? Hogle zoo-keepers might look at you funny if you ask where a chupacabra is. It could be fun to ask anyway. The Natural History Museum of Utah brought a diverse collection of desert insects-moths, beetles, spiders and a hopping whoknows-what. Kids could see them up close behind glass, read the labels and ask questions. The Chavez Academy brought live music. They launched into an energetic performance of “La Bamba” with their skilled group of young string players-- a real fiesta. Kids could even get a taste of sweet cul-
tural cuisine. San Diablo Churros came from their home base treat shop in Draper to serve mini-churro samples. Families could see how the churros were shaped, fried, and how creamy filling gets inside. Librarians even offered a bilingual storytime. They showed how to introduce Spanish and English language to kids using early reader books. Raquel Ruiz, public service librarian said, “When playing at home, use flashcards, or a (language learning) program. It should be something they like.” Ruiz described how keeping it simple will be less overwhelming. “Use books that don’t have too many words,” she suggested. Another station had everything to make your own maracas. Empty water bottles were ready for kids to fill with colored rice. Anyone could decorate a homemade sound-maker with stickers and craft tape. The whole event was engaging--something like an Aranda painting come to life! The whimsical nature of Aranda’s work is interesting to see. If you ever thought it unacceptable to stare, Aranda’s art is actually meant for staring at--to wonder if that animal even exists? To guess what creature it’s supposed to be? To think… will I ever get to see a chupacabra? or an electric indigo porcupine? Maybe, in Ana Aranda’s world. l
Illustrator speaks to library patrons about her artwork (courtesy Audrey Livingston/The County Library)
Remember these safety tips during fireworks season
I
ndependence Day is a day (and night) to celebrate the birth of our nation. There’s watching parades, enjoying backyard barbecues and, of course, igniting fireworks. Fireworks. There’s lots of them here, especially with July 24 , Pioneer Day, also being a holiday where fireworks play a major entertainment role. In makes for month full of blasts, bangs, whizzes, and sparkly colors lighting up the dark. But the joys of fireworks come with risks. To avoid accidents (or even death), here’s a few tips to remember as you and neighbors prepare to celebrate your state and country. 1. Recent legislation passed in Utah limits the days of the year allowed to light fireworks. Only light fireworks during those days in accordance with the newly passed law. 2. Check with your city to determine what areas allow fireworks. Cities such as Sandy and Herriman have decreased the areas that permit fireworks. 3. Know your fireworks. Read cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting. 4. Don’t get fancy. While it may be tempting to be creative and construct your own fireworks, the results may not be worth it. Just ask a friend who lost half his hair and needed to wear a hat/bandana for six months to protect his scalp. 5. Responsible adults should not only be present, but should supervise closely. Never give fireworks to small children. 6. Alcohol and fireworks does not make a good cocktail. Save your alcohol for after the show. 7. Light one firework at a time and don’t linger. Fireworks look just as pretty from 30 feet away as they do from five. 8. This one may seem obvious, but fireworks should be shot outside, not inside. 9. Dress appropriately. Loose clothing that can catch fire easily should be left in the drawer, while snugly fitted long sleeves and pants can protect from potential burns. 10. Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby. 11. Never shoot fireworks into metal or glass containers. The ricochet hurts just as much.
WestJordanJournal .com
12. Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials. 13. Report illegal explosives. They ruin it for the rest of us. 14. Don’t forget about your pets. Make sure they are securely indoors and have identification tags in case they do escape during a fireworks display. 15. Keep fireworks out of reach where curious children can’t get to them. High heat or damp air can damage the fireworks. The best place to put them is in a cardboard box in a high location such as a cabinet or shelf. 16. Last, but not least, make sure everyone using fireworks has safety glasses or goggles. l
June 2018 | Page 7
Mother and son dominate, two women tie to cap off West Jordan’s healthy contest
W
est Jordan’s “Way to a Better Life” 2018 contest was finalized on April 26th at the Gene Fullmer Recreation Center. This annual contest (open for anyone 18 and older) focused on helping people everywhere, to make permanent healthy lifestyle changes. While some competitors lost a lot of weight, the central focus was about improving well-being and overall health. Even the tiniest improvement was still a big win. “We went, we participated, we won,” Francine Simkins said. She, along with Melissa Ainsworth tied for first place after a tight race, in the women’s overall points category. The contest had separate scoring brackets for guys and gals, allowing for more chances to win something. Melissa plans to use her winnings to “buy some new clothes,” she said. Rebekah Linnell won first place in women’s weight loss percentage. The men’s weight loss percentage titlist was Nathan Linnell, with $200 awarded to each for their victories. Double bills and some paired wins amongst family contenders this year. Richard Simkins, who won the men’s category in highest points, happens to be Francine’s son. The mother/son victory was coincidental, but could be considered inspiring. The Linnell and Simkins high-scorers might be motivating for others wanting to get healthy with relatives. The Simkins have also done the contest before with past winnings. A few ongoing triumphs for them.
Page 8 | June 2018
By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com The challenge started with a small registration fee collected from each participant, but after 13 weeks, ended with $200 gift cards handed to top winners. Each contestant gained points by meeting daily goals of eating well, drinking water, exercising, and showing up for weekly weigh-ins. Everyone was scored on their individual progress. It was anybody’s game. “I think it’s something everyone should do, regardless if they have weight to lose,” said Melissa Ainsworth. “My mental health is a lot better. I sleep better at night. My mood is better. My family is more active.” Different awards allowed more than a few participants to win something. This was not a stingy contest. The organizers Linsey Miller, Katie Prawitt, Polina Konuchkova, Makyla Grovenburg, Mike Wilson, Joe Johnson, Tanya Packer, Keith Papenfuss, Wade Brinton, Al Richards, Rob Bridge and Nathan Peterson were dedicated volunteers running the contest. Gift cards were ready for even random prize drawings. This was a surprise aspect of the finale. Any WBL participant could win something just for signing up and making an effort. Adam Ainsworth was a random drawing winner from a group of upper tier scorers, who won 50 dollars. The Ainsworths are another family pair of winners. “I enjoyed the contest. It was motivating. It’s a good thing the city does,” Adam said. All contestants reacted similarly. They were humble and grateful about their success. Each clapped for others or walked up to
Top contestants take home 200 dollar gift cards (Photo courtesy Healthy West Jordan)
get awards with calm and supportive Zen. Regular exercise is purported to have that effect. Life changes are hard. Weight loss is really hard. The interweb can be a confusing way to navigate and learn how to do it. Often weight loss advice from random places, can be downright dangerous. To educate and encourage, healthywestjordan.blogspot.com provides safe and credible ways for getting started with improvements. Following Healthy West Jordan on Facebook, the public page shows progress made by contestants, posted over their weeks of dedication. The page is informative and ready for anyone to “like”. You can “follow” to see healthy
recipes or find out when the next challenge starts. It was a contest and culmination party full of appeal — getting healthy and also having a chance to be awarded money at the end. Though a winner’s momentum doesn’t have to stop at fancy gift cards and finish lines. Whether someone went home with $10, 400 smackaroos (or something in between), the general consensus from participants was that healthy habits are worth continuing. A “better life” can be rewarding, in many priceless ways. The next event for Healthy West Jordan will be the Linda Buttars Memorial Fun Run on June 30 at Veterans Memorial Park. l
West Jordan City Journal
Welcome to your summer festival guide By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
C
ometh summer, cometh the festivals. Each year, cities across the Salt Lake Valley hold a summer celebration to commemorate the community, city or country. They do so with parades, contests, music and fireworks. This year’s slate of festivals starts after Memorial Day and will run into fall. Here’s a chronological guide to everything on tap for summer 2018. SoJo Summerfest | May 30–June 2 South Jordan kicks off the summer spectacles with its third annual SoJo Summerfest. This replaced its traditional Country Fest two years ago. The four-day festival features events all over the city from Mulligans Golf Course (10600 South 692 West) and City Park (11000 South Redwood Road) to the public works parking lot (10996 South Redwood Road) and fitness and aquatic center (10866 South Redwood Road). Events will feature family fun activities such as the carnival, 5K race, parade, car show, superhero party or swim with local performing group, Utah Mermaids. A skateboard competition, tennis tournament, chalk art contest and multi-category Battle of the Bands are also set to take place throughout the festival. A complete list of events and times can be found at sjc.utah.gov/sojo-summerfest/. Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo | June 1–2 Held at W&M Butterfield Park (6212 West 14200 South), Herriman’s annual rodeo features a family night on Friday and military night on Saturday. The rodeo will also include a special needs roundup on Saturday from 3–4:30 p.m. Visit herriman.org/prca-rodeo/ for more information. Music Stroll | June 9 The seventh annual Heart and Soul Music Stroll returns to Sugar House on June 9. Dozens of local performers will share their musical talents throughout the day (last year featured 44). Free to the community, the Music Stroll has 14 different locations spread throughout a two-block radius along Filmore and Glenmore streets between 2700 South and Zenith Avenue. Thirteen performing areas are arranged on front lawns with one stage set up at Imperial Park (1560 East Atkin Avenue). Heart and Soul is a nonprofit organization based out of Salt Lake City that aims to bring the “healing power of music” to people in isolation. Performers donate their time throughout the year performing at places like senior centers, prisons or hospitals. Streets are lined not only with hundreds of people but several food trucks as well. Visit heartsoul.org/music-stroll for more information. WestFest | June 14–17 What started in the late ’70s at Granger Park with a car show, pony rides and a few food booths has blossomed into one of West Valley City’s premier events. The annual celebration, which commemorates the establishment of West Valley City and the recognition of its residents’ various backgrounds, will take place at Centennial Park (5415 West 3100 South) from June 14–17. The 2018 version will feature a WestFest Sombrero Bowl Skate Competition, the 13th an-
WestJordanJournal .com
nual Dutch Oven Cook-off, a 5K and 10K and entertainment from No limits, This is YOUR Band, Chance McKinney and Channel Z. For more information and for those interested in volunteering, visit westfest.org. Fort Herriman Towne Days | June 18–23 The city’s weeklong celebration of everything Herriman begins on Monday, June 18, with a talent show and ends on Saturday June 23 with a carnival, parade and fireworks. Each day of the week features something different such as a disc golf tournament, home run derby, K9 and trampoline shows and a foam party. All events will take place at W&M Butterfield Park (6212 West 14200 South), J. Lynn Crane Park (5355 West Main Street) and Rosecrest Park (13850 South Rosecrest Road), where the Herriman Hyzer Disc Golf Tournament will take place. Times and events can be found at herriman. org/fort-herriman-days/. Taylorsville Dayzz | June 28–30 Located at Valley Regional Park (5100 South 2700 West), Taylorsville Dayzz holds a full slate for its city celebration on the west side of the valley. From Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. when the carnival begins to Saturday’s fireworks finale at 10 p.m., the festival is nonstop with entertainment. Tributes bands Imagine (Beatles) along with the West Valley Symphony & Cannons will perform Thursday night, Desperado (Eagles) takes the stage Friday night and Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees) with the Taylorsville Orchestra will close it out on Saturday. Every show is free to the public. Saturday also includes a 5K fun run, pony rides and a car show. A full list of events and times is available at taylorsvilledayzz.com. Riverton Town Days | June 28–July 4 Riverton starts its celebration one day early this year on June 28 with its Three-Man Arena Sorting Competition and the Riverton Rodeo and runs right through to July 4 with its full slate of activities on Independence Day. July 4 will feature the 11th annual ATV Rodeo (Riverton Rodeo Grounds, 12780 South 1300 West) where races will include pole bending, barrel racing, pantyhose race, a key hole race and a hide race. Independence Day will also see Riverton Country Mile 10K, 5K and one-mile races in addition to the Tour de Riverton Bike Race. The starting lines will begin on the south side of Riverton City Park at 12800 South. Food, hay dives and a July 3 evening parade are still on the docket for this tradition since the early 1900s. For more information, visit rivertoncity.com. Western Stampede | June 30–July 4 What starts with a fun run, children’s parade, carnival and family fun night on June 30 continues with the focus of West Jordan’s summer festival — its rodeo. July 2–4 features a PRCA rodeo at the city’s rodeo arena, 8035 South 2200 West. The rodeo also features the winner of the Western Stampede Queen Contest, which was scheduled for May 12. Visit westernstampede.com for more infor-
Holladay City Hall Park will play host to its annual Blue Moon Arts Festival on Aug. 25. (City Journals)
mation. Murray Fun Days | July 4 Murray City carries a full slate of activities for Independence Day. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. will be the annual parade, which begins at Fashion Place Mall (6100 South State Street) and ends at the west end of Murray Park (296 East Murray Park Avenue). Awards are given for the following parade entry categories: special interest/antique, business/commercial, equestrian/animal and civic/ royalty/political/float. The rest of the day takes place at Murray Park. It features a community breakfast, chalk art contest, talent show, a Ducky Derby along the creek in Murray Park, a coed volleyball tournament on the softball field and ends with fireworks. For exact times and events, visit murray. utah.gov/283/Fun-Days. July 4 Parade and Festivities | July 4 South Salt Lake will continue its festival tradition at Fitts Park (3050 South 500 East) on July 4. The day begins with a 5K fun run at 8 a.m. while the parade gets underway at 9:30 a.m. and the one-day celebration rounds out with a festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sandy City 4th of July | July 4 Sandy holds its Independence Day Celebration on the grassy promenade between Sandy City Hall and South Towne Mall at 10000 South Centennial Parkway. The Sandy Classic 5K race begins at 7 a.m. A youth arts festival commences at 10 a.m. where children ages 4–12 can participate in face painting, craft stations and sand sculpting. At 6 p.m. the parade begins with a concert at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks to close out the night at 10 p.m. Draper Days | July 5–7, 12–14 Draper’s festival will take place over two weekends in July. Culminating in the second weekend with fireworks and concerts, Draper Days will begin with various athletic contests the first weekend including a tennis tournament, pickleball tournament and 3 v. 3 basketball tournament. Other events include Splash Dogs, horse pull, pie contest, rodeo, Draper Idol and a children’s parade. Full event schedules and information can be found at draper.ut.us. Butlerville Days | July 23–24 Cottonwood Heights continues its traditional celebration this year on Monday and Tuesday, July 23–24.
Planned by volunteers, city staff and the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, Butlerville Days takes place at Butler Park (7500 South 2700 East). The festival expects to have games, entertainment, a carnival, parade and fireworks show. A creative craft market and pickleball tournament are recent additions to the yearly commemoration to go along with the 5K fun run. Bluffdale Old West Days | July 27–28, August 6–11 While the rodeo will take place July 27–28, the city’s official Old West Days celebration goes all week long in August. Details for events are still to come, but if last year is anything to go by then this year can expect another monster truck competition. Last year also featured a 25-mile cycling ride and ATV rodeo. Check bluffdaleoldwestdays.com later this summer for more information. Harvest Days | August 6–11 1938 marked the first Harvest Days in Midvale, according to the Midvale Historical Society. It was sponsored by the Midvale Kiwanis club. Details are still being ironed out, but the weeklong celebration of Midvale, begins August 6. The week’s events generally feature an induction into the Midvale Arts Council’s Hall of Honors, a parade and a grand festival and Midvale’s City Park (between Center Street and 7500 South, at approximately 425 West). Check midvaleharvestdays.com later this summer for more information. Blue Moon Arts Festival | August 25 Holladay rounds out the summer season with its annual Blue Moon Arts Festival. The one-day celebration is different from other cities’ week-long engagements. Holladay will have its Concerts in the Commons series running from July 14 through Aug. 25. July will also feature Jim McGee’s ambitious art project combining storytelling and large-scale charcoal portraits. “It’s an opportunity for people to model and collaborate, to be seen and heard in a unique kind of way,” McGee told the Journals in February. Culminating in a festival for music and arts, the Blue Moon Arts Festival takes place at Holladay City Hall Park (4580 South 2300 East) from 3-10 p.m. on Aug. 25. This year’s musical attractions will include Motown group Changing Lanes Experience and Gypsy jazz group Red Rock Hot Club. For more information, visit holladayarts. org. l
June 2018 | Page 9
Master carver, painter, creator
T
By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com
he third floor of West Jordan City Hall has a special upper room called The Schorr Gallery. It is located at 8000 S. Redwood Rd, and is available to visitors from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. The room brings to view several artists throughout the year. Schorr Gallery is an open-house style display where all are invited to walk in and see diverse forms of art in one relaxed space. Recently, the gallery hosted works of master craftsman, David Sharp. The art has a distinctive quality that Sharp describes as “modern primitivism.” He said, “I’ve always loved work by indigenous cultures; African masks and carvings, Meso-American stone carvers and Polynesian work.” On May 3rd, Sharp brought his paintings, sculptures, music and limberjacks, for a truly immersed-in-art type of experience. A limberjack is a three dimensional wood carving—a nimble, limber, functional stick puppet. Sharp even demonstrated his limberjacks in action. Some were hewn in the shape of wild moorland ponies. Walking into the gallery, Sharp’s wife Carol manipulated the marionette-like animals. The carved horses moved and clopped in a percussive gallop, while Sharp played string and woodwind instruments. He is proficient on the Appalachian dulcimer, Renaissance recorders and French epinette. Carol and David Sharp often perform in duo together as the artistic team “Idlewild.” They play Celtic and World music with an entertaining, soothing sound. David Sharp can
make whistling through a pipe or strumming the banjo look easy. Their music has a faraway, fairytale quality. “We’re storytellers with the Utah Storytelling Guild. We appear frequently at the Viridian Center and with Story Crossroads,” Sharp said. Story Crossroads is an annual Utah festival with professional artists who can really perform, spin a yarn and incorporate music into storytelling. Throughout the gallery, Sharp’s paintings set a welcoming mood along with the music he and Carol played. It was an interactive and easy attention-grabbing time for kids. Dancing seemed to be a natural response for the children who took part. Families listened to his folk narratives and were encouraged to ask questions or make observations about his works around the room. Rachael Hedman brought her kids to the gallery—Conner (10), Jaden (8) and Alexis (4). It can be nerve-racking taking younger children to art exhibit. But Hedman explained, “The more that kids come to events like this, the more they learn to respect art. It’s hard in the beginning, but it’s worth it in the end. Art is meant to be for all generations.” Kids gathered at the feet of David and Carol Sharp, to experience art up close. Even the tiniest of toddlers and gnomes were allowed to test a limberjack unicorn and see what it’s like to be a master puppeteer. The Sharps were very warm and friendly. West Jordan Arts Councilwoman and pro-
David on strings while Carol plays the limberjack. (Amy Green/City Journals)
fessional artist Rebecca Klundt helped bring Sharp’s work to the Schorr Gallery. “The great thing about David is that his pieces all have stories,” Klundt said. “It’s really fun to get to talk to him. I really love the primitive people he carves.” She marveled over one of Sharp’s wood sculptures called “Primitive Man on the Block.” Klundt described the piece saying, “It’s got character. It’s got a story to it. It’s interesting.” She admires Sharp’s methods. “He takes different cultures and mythologies, and studies them,” Klundt said. The art remained on exhibit through May 30. Sharp also displayed his relief carvings intermingled with his paintings. Relief carv-
ings are pictures and designs formed on a flat plane of wood. The Schorr Gallery exhibit case was chock-full of his human-image sculptures in different sizes and postures. “The figures represent ancestor guardian figures,” Sharp described. The sculptures reveal how deft a master carver Sharp really is, and how much time he devotes to learning cultures and subject matter. There also might be magic in his timber craftsmanship tools. David Sharp has had a long career of study, practice and skill. He has an impressive resume and interesting life to hear about. He creates art even with his conversation, his prose--and, with his presence. l
New American Funding New American Funding, a leader in the mortgage industry, is expanding and just opened a branch at 8787 S Redwood Road Suite #200. They celebrated with the West Jordan Chamber of commerce at their Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony last month. The new location is a full-service provider that will bring the region a scope of Purchase and Refinance options with a focus on down payment assistance programs. “With all of New American Funding’s niche programs, we make mortgages affordable and we grow neighborhoods. We’re a one-stop shop that finds the best option for our customer,” said Lindsey McDonald (NMLS #315070) a Salt Lake native that was selected to lead the new branch and brings 16 years of experience to her new role. “We are passionate about working with first time homebuyers. Our goal is to make homeownership a dream come true.” Our branch has a team of Top Loan officers that are ready to talk to you for a free mortgage consultation. Call our office at 801-506-6719 and mention this ad to receive $500 off your closing costs. New American Funding is dedicated to helping mortgage professionals grow! Contact Lindsey McDonald 801-518-6799 if you are looking for a job opportunity within the mortgage industry. New American Funding, NMLS #6606. Equal housing opportunity lender.
Page 10 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
New economic development director
K
ent G. Andersen was sworn in at City Council on April 11 as the new economic development director for West Jordan. He replaces David Oka who retired in December 2017. Andersen, a former city planner and most recently the economic development director from Layton, answered some questions from the West Jordan Journal about his position and what West Jordan can expect from him in the future. What are you primary responsibilities as economic development director? “Typically they include implementing the vision of city leadership, growing the tax base, interacting and attracting businesses, marketing the community, removing barriers to business, building relationships, proactive planning, reducing the amount of retail “leakage” (when our residents shop elsewhere for their goods or services), the list goes on and on. This always leads me to when I get asked the question ‘what is economic development?’ I respond, ‘what isn’t it?’ My primary responsibilities as economic development director will evolve with the environment and available opportunities.” What is your education? “I earned a master of public policy and administration from California State University – Sacramento and a bachelor of science from Utah State University.” How is the Economic Development Director selected for the city? “The application process was typical, with a public noticing, interview process and selection recommendation to the City Manager. The city did not reach out to me directly.” What past successes do you bring to West Jordan? “I assisted in attracting a broad array of companies to Layton, including advanced material manufacturers, SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium, R.C Willey Home Furnishings (planned
WestJordanJournal .com
By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
Kent G. Andersen, new Economic Development Director. (Photo courtesy Kent G. Anderson)
to begin construction this year), just to name a few. I helped Layton City achieve a 21 percent increase in sales tax revenue from 2012-2016 and an 18 percent increase in total taxable sales during the same time frame. I participated in several transportation projects, including a $42 million UDOT I-15 interchange improvement project, West Davis Corridor planning, a Snowbasin Ski Bus and the free Midtown Trolley. I also lead a rebranding effort for Layton and oversaw the implementation of online business license applications.” What works well in West Jordan that you want to continue? “There is significant momentum that is occurring in economic development in the region, with the Inland Port, the growing Silicon Slopes, etc. West Jordan is in a prime position to capitalize on this momentum. With a central location in the Salt Lake Valley, strong population demographic and available land adjacent to the Mountain View Corridor, West Jordan has a unique opportunity to shape the economic growth of the region.” What economic changes do you see necessary for West Jordan? How will you make those changes? What changes will be the most visible to the public? “Important economic considerations that I will focus on will include continued diversification of the economy, revitalizing and/or redeveloping shopping centers, improving transportation infrastructure, [and] attracting strong tax base generator... The challenge with economic development, is that it takes time, and some of the most important projects that have the greatest impact can take even more time. The public will not notice a change overnight, but as time progresses, they will see the future of West Jordan’s economy taking shape in a way that will have a positive impact.” l
June 2018 | Page 11
Federal money is allocated each year to help West Jordan nonprofits and charities By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com AGENCY SOUTH VALLEY SANCTUARY LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SALT LAKE FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER THE ROAD HOME COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM THE INN BETWEEN COLOMBUS FOUNDATION YWCA BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CITY OF WEST JORDAN CITY OF WEST JORDAN CITY OF WEST JORDAN CITY OF WEST JORDAN ASSIST
PROGRAM Bilingual Case Manager at Shelter & Resource Center Legal Assistance Program
FUNDING APPROVED $15,000
Crisis Nursery Program
$12,000
Homeless Shelter Operations South Valley Emergency Food Pantry
$8,000 $6,000
Rent Assistance
$10,000
Hospice Care Services Building Rehab
$5,000 $6,390
Crisis Shelter and Counseling “AT-RISK” Youth Mentoring
$10,000 $7,500
Section 108 Loan Payment (West Jordan Senior Center) Program Administration
$190,000
Homebuyer Assistance
$40,000 + $50,000 from Prior Year $35,716
ADA Ramp Construction
Emergency Home Repair and Access Improvements CITY OF WEST Housing Rehabilitation JORDAN
$12,000
$122,521
$150,000 $40,000 from RL Fund
Allocation of CDBG funds for fiscal year 2018-2019. (Courtesy Charles Tarver)
W
est Jordan is a recipient of the federal program called the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG. It is a fund that is provided to cities with over 50,000 residents to aid city programs such as non-profits and infrastructure development. During the May 9 city council meeting, Charles Tarver, grant and CDBG manager, presented to the council the recommended allocation of those funds for the fiscal year 2018-2019. Applicants submit requests and complete interviews with the CDBG council before the allocation of funds is granted. The funds available to the city this year is $707,606. Organizations supported by West Jordan City range from the Crisis Nursery operated by the Family Support Center, to the South Valley Emergency Food Pantry and the Road Home. The money can be taken as a loan for large projects, and make yearly payments within their given budget. “The city of West Jordan has two more payments on the section 108 loan for $190,000, which is for the West Jordan Senior Center. In two years that will be paid in full after 20 years. We’ll have an additional $190,000 at that point to allocate each year,” said Tarver. There are grants available for low-income citizens for home repairs. “The program is designed to address emergency home repairs and ADA access improvements to help keep residents in their homes. Most recipients are single, usually on a fixed income with no means of making the needed repairs. The majority of the repairs are for plumbing, roofing, heating and access improvements,” said Tarver. Money is also used to assist individuals, elderly or handicapped, find housing at a zero percent interest rate. The housing
Page 12 | June 2018
rehabilitation fund is ultimately self-funded. “Every housing rehab loan that we make to people in West Jordan… they either pay it back when they sell the home or pass away. If they’re under 62 we set up a repayment schedule for them,” said Tarver. “We’re revamping the program this year because of the excessive price of housing, based on eligibility.” Funds are generally sufficient but because materials and repair costs are rising the expense is increasing. One recipient of the CDBG grant is the Utah Community Action. They help low-income citizens regain self-sufficiency. Housing manager Tony Milner gave details of where the money will be going. “The funding from the CDBG is going to be helping with one of our food pantries, as well as our rent assistance program…With our food pantry we’ll serve about 12,000 households a year with about 6 million pounds of food. With our housing case management program we’re serving individuals who are either currently homeless or about to be homeless… We intervene with case management and rent assistance. Both clientele that we’re serving are very vulnerable; they are seniors, they are disabled, they are young families,” said Milner. Utah Community Action is receiving $16,000 in total from CDBG this year. Residents desiring aid can call ASSIST directly at (801) 355-7085 for an appointment. The proposed budget for the Community Development Block Grant was approved by city council in a vote 7-0 in favor. l
West Jordan City Journal
Trend of waiving fees continues By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
The Ron Wood Baseball Complex. The Cal Ripken Baseball League requested and was granted waiver of fees from the city and will return the favor with updates and service. (Google maps)
T
en organizations this year have already requested, and were granted, waiving of rental fees if they provided services in turn. On April 11 another fee was waived for the Cal Ripken Baseball League. Three council members—Councilman Chris McConnehey of District 1; Councilman Chad Lamb, at-large; and Councilman Alan Anderson of District 4— professed their endorsement for this trend. The baseball league’s fee waiver request was passed with a 7-0 vote. “While money is typically the discussion of why we are doing this, all 10 of these organizations are organizations that are part of our city and are doing great things,” said Lamb. “They’re not going out and asking for money or trying to make money. So, I full-heartedly agree that the waiver of fees for me is not a big thing. I think it’s a great thing for our city.” Anderson had similar comments. “I know we’ve had a lot of dialogue this year over the waiver of fees,” he said. “This to me is how it should be done going forward. I know we don’t have a policy in place to do this, but the waiving of fees for service I think is the right way to do this.” The baseball league requested a waiver of fees that totals $14,650, but league officials plan to fund four awnings above bleachers at the Ron Wood Baseball Complex with the money that they would save, which will cost more than $10,000. On May 9, another fee was waived for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk at Vet-
WestJordanJournal .com
erans Memorial Park. The program is an organized walk event with a one-on-one pairing of a special needs child with non-special needs. This year is the second time the waiver was requested, and it was subsequently granted in a 6-1 vote in favor of waiving the $650 fee. Extra time is spent in cleaning up after this event above the normal daily maintenance. Councilmembers Kayleen Whitelock and Anderson had differing views on the waiving of this particular fee. “I struggle with these, and they seem to come by our city a lot,” Whitelock said. “We’re currently undergoing the budget, and every dollar counts. Do I waive fees, or do I get another crossing guard? Everyone that comes before us, they’re all good causes. I, too, have a son with disabilities; he could use a best buddy. But I’m going to have to vote ‘no’ just because on principle I feel like it’s not my money to give away. And in the end, it’s only $150 for the organization, and I know every penny counts, but it also counts for our city.” Anderson had an opposing view. “I do have a child with a disability, so I’m grateful that we have a park that we’re able to do that,” Anderson said. “And as I look at the request for the $650, it’s $500 for a deposit which I’m assuming to bring the park back to what it was when you got there, and then the $150 fee for set-up and cleaning, which I know they’re more than capable of doing, so I’m going to be supportive of the resolution.” l
June 2018 | Page 13
Water conservation necessary as county population grows By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
T
he Salt Lake Valley is increasing in population, but the water supply is not. This increase in demand requires change in how water is used. Water to West Jordan comes from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, or JVWCD, which also provides to most of the valley. It sells its water to the 17 districts on a wholesale basis. Water is collected from the Provo, Weber and Duchesne rivers and other Salt Lake County streams. Water is then stored in Deer Creek and Jordanelle Reservoirs. About 11 percent comes from West Jordan groundwater wells. Reduction of water use by 25 percent is a necessity JVWCD Communications Manager Matt Olsen presented a conservancy plan to the West Jordan City Council on April 24. They launched a new an online program filled with monetary incentives for the public to reduce each household’s daily use of water. “We’re getting a little concerned about our water conservation progress as we look over to the next few years because we really feel like a lot of the easy conservation’s been accomplished,” said Olsen. This new initiative has additional strategies to help individuals begin to curb their own consumption. “We’re finding that we need to move more from situational conservation, which is what happens when people respond to like a drought message to what we’re calling structural conservation, which is actually changing the way we use water,” Olsen said. “That could be plumbing; that could be the way our landscapes are designed, and that’s where we’re really focusing our efforts.” JVWCD Assistant General Manager Water Supply Bart Forsyth stated that the water supply for the valley will not be increasing, but the population will. It is necessary, therefore, for every household to make reductions in their water use to accommodate the growth. “[Our] mission is ‘Delivering Quality Water and Services Every Day,’” Forsyth said. “Achieving its goal of reducing water use 25 percent by 2025 will be essential in meeting this mission and providing a sustainable water sup-
ply moving into the future.” The city is accountable too West Jordan City government is also encouraged to reduce its water consumption. Later in the same meeting, the city’s landscape requirements’ concerning landscaping adjacent to arterial streets, or main roads, was being discussed in public hearing. Council members Alan Anderson and Kayleen Whitelock vocalized concerns about enacting the advice that was just given. “While I want our city to be beautified, I want to have water to shower, drink,” Whitelock said. “The very night they come to tell us we need to be better stewards of our water, we say, ‘Let’s put in all these plants,’ and not one thing in here says anything about water wise plants. I think we can do a lot of water wise things that look nice.” “I would like to explore what Conservation Garden has for low maintenance, water-wise,” Anderson said. “I think they could have some input on something like this.” The parks department is ultimately in charge of making those decisions of choosing plants and managing irrigation of city property. “We have better control of our irrigation since we’re on central irrigation,” said Director of Parks Brian Clegg. The city council approved
What does it do for conservation? 130,000 gallon annual water savings
Typical @ 40” per season= 196,250 Gal.
Outdoor water use is changed with different types of landscaping.
a lot of money to step that up. The industry has changed where there are better products to manage that.”. The intricacies of the ordinance was tabled and will be brought forth as a business item in the future. Utah droughts and water supply Utah relies on the snow each winter to provide water. Apply today for a FREE consultation or cash rebates! (Programs available throughout most of JVWCD’s service area)
Cash rebates for homeowners who purchase a smart controller for their irrigation system.
Cash rebates for homeowners who replace toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
Cash rebates for homeowners who convert grass park strips to water-efficient designs.
Free consultations for homeowners wanting to improve the water efficiency of their yard.
Cash rebates for sprinklers converted to drip identified during a Landscape Consultation.
Cash rewards and landscape plan reviews for graduates who complete Localscapes projects.
Water savers programs available through Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.
AN ACTIVE 55+ COMMUNITY
Vs. Designed for Utah Localscape = 64,766 Gal. “Last year at this time, we experienced very good, above-normal snowpack conditions,” said Forsyth. “Our current reservoir storage is in better shape this year than last year at this time. Thus, our current storage will provide an adequate supply for this year.” The winter of 2017–18 brought very little snow to the Salt Lake Valley. What does this mean for the availability of water this coming summer? “...[O]ur snowpack this year is well below normal,” Forsyth said. “Water conservation will continue to be important to be sure that we have adequate supplies next year and into the future. Any water that can be conserved this year can be held in storage and used for next year’s supply.” You get paid to conserve On May 1, incentives to reduce your household water consumption were made available through JVWCD. There are programs that incentivize updating toilets, converting the park strips in front of houses, personal landscape consultations by professionals and more. It is an online program that gives access to the conservation programs and incentives. Access is available through https://utahwatersavers.com/. l
Starting
in the $290’s
• MAIN FLOOR LIVING • CLUBHOUSE • CONVENIENT LOCATION
Lisa Willden Realtor Cell: (801) 913-3553
Colleen Henderson Realtor Cell: (801) 898-0342
3150 South 7200 West, West Valley Page 14 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
Copper Rim development plan confirmed By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
A
recently rezoned plot of land was reviewed in a public hearing on May 9. The development plan, called Copper Rim, is in the concept phase. Kent Andersen, the new economic development director for West Jordan City is overseeing this plan. “This is a 205-acre development that will include a mix of residential and commercial uses,” Andersen said. “The proximity to the Mountain View Corridor interchange at 7800 South makes this property a prime site for development. There are zones for residential, open space and commercial use. The land is divided into 10 zones and will be constructed in phases over the next several years. The residential spaces range from medium density with single-family dwellings to very high density with senior living units. In total there will be 753 units of living space. In medium-density lots, the minimum distance between the house and the property line is 5 feet, as it is here. Thirty-seven percent of the space is classified as open space that includes walking trails, parks and “tot lots.” The commercial lot is currently in marketing phase. No tenants are scheduled to move into the space. There was some public comment about the project. Steve Jones, a West Jordan resident, is concerned about fire and police
WestJordanJournal .com
Copper Rim development plan includes very high density and medium density housing, as well as commercial land.
availability with the increase of residents. “Where’s our budget to increase our fire?” he said. “That directly affects me because all a sudden, they’re spending all their time over in this high-density homes, and they’re a long way from me when I need them.” Fire and police confirmed this concern.
Copper Rim Development concept, bordering 7000 South and Mountain View Corridor.
“As you’re aware, we do have a station right off 7800 South and 6400 West,” said Fire Chief Clint Petersen. “It’s a small station, five handed. Depends on what goes in there if an aerial will be needed; if it’s 2 or 3 stories, aerial is
quite a ways away. We might want to consider that.” “It concerns us with population increase,” said Police Chief Doug Diamond. "And typically with high density, obviously that increases even a little bit more as well. So that does concern us as well.” Julia Glade is a resident in the community just north of the new development. She expressed another concerned. “One thing that I want the council to take in consideration: if you go down 7000 South, the road narrows, and people are already parking on the street, so it becomes like a one-car lane,” she said. “Also, there’s a school, and there’s a ton of kids that go to that school and walk down that street, walk down those sidewalks and you have cars speeding up and down that lane even when there’s pedestrian walking signs. I rarely see cars stop for the elementary school. Please widen the road for the safety of the community.” Widening of 7000 South adjacent to the new development is part of the construction plan, as well as a bridge connecting across the Mountain View corridor, but dates have not been set. The concept plan was passed in favor 5-2, with Council members Kayleen Whitelock and Zach Jacob being the dissenting votes. l
June 2018 | Page 15
Sell Your Home, Get Superior Service, Save Thousands!!
Local Brokers/Owners Our customers come to us to save money… They come back for our service!
McOmberTeam@hotmail.com
(801) 792-4837 Mike Michele (801) 792-4855
ONLY!
1.5%
JUST SAY NO TO 6%! FULL SERVICE LISTING COMMISSION $4,500 Savings On $300,000 Home $6,000 Savings On $400,000 Home $7,500 Savings On $500,000 Home $9,000 Savings on $600,000 Home
Including Multiple Listing Service! If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation.
WE HAVE SAVED OUR CUSTOMERS OVER $2,000,000 IN REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS
www.UtahListForLess.com Page 16 | June 2018
Students go one on one with deputies
S
everal police cars and motorcycles filled the parking lot of South Valley School at 8400 South Redwood Road in West Jordan on April 27. They were there for the school’s fourth annual Sheriff Week. Deputies and officers from the Salt Lake County’s Sheriff’s office spent five days with South Valley School students, who range in age from15 to 22 and have various special needs. Skyler Talbot, public information officer from the sheriff’s office, said the students were thrilled by the presence of the officers and their equipment. “It’s not a lot to come and park our vehicle here and let the students see what it is we do,” said Talbot. “Just a little bit of our day can really add a lot to these student’s lives.” Officers signed up for shifts to participate in the various activities planned for the week. “We’re always looking for ways to give back and to interact and foster those positive relationships,” he said. “Deputies absolutely love it.” He said they don’t often get this kind of opportunity. “Unfortunately, the reality is law enforcement—in our day-to-day function—we don’t get to always have positive interactions with people,” said Talbot. “People don’t call the sheriff’s office when they’re having a good day. This is a time to come out, and it’s 100 percent positive.” Students challenged the officers to a series
By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Officers learned to be patient with students, and students learned that officers are their friends. (Dani Bills/Sheriff’s Office)
of basketball games and then to an afternoon of bowling. (Students won both tournaments.) Officers shadowed students as they worked in the campus’ greenhouse and woodshop, where students receive vocational skills training. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said officers look forward to this activity all year. “It's so rewarding,” said Rivera. “Our officers and deputies get to interact with these kids and build a relationship with them. They’re more confident in law enforcement, and they feel like we’re their friend.” Rivera said one student told her he had heard on news that police officers aren’t nice. She believes changing the perception young people have of law enforcement is key to help-
ing them understand officers represent safety. Nancy Neff, a teacher at the school, said the experience affected officers’ perceptions of people with disabilities, too. “It's awesome that it’s two-fold,” she said. “The police officers get to know people with disabilities and how to deal with them, and it’s awesome for our students that they become familiar with the police and know that they’ll help them.” Rivera said the opportunity for officers to get to know the students helped them become more familiar with the characteristics of people with various disabilities. “We have to learn how to best serve that community,” she said. “It’s key for us to do our job.” Students were thrilled when the officers allowed them to explore their patrol cars and motorcycles. They also got to meet the UPD mascot, Sgt. Lightning, who has a large, engaging horse head. Talbot said the level of student enthusiasm throughout the week was amazing. “It's very rewarding to see so much excitement,” he said. “Sometimes we take for granted the things that make their day.” Officers taught a gun safety seminar, role-playing through possible scenarios to educate students what to do if they find a gun. In other classes, they reviewed crosswalk safety tips, reminding students to take off headphones and pay attention to traffic as they cross an intersection. Neff said the officers were good role models for the students, balancing between educating and just goofing around with them. Rivera believes everyone involved benefitted from the relationships formed. She was touched when she saw students hugging officers. “The fact that they feel that confident to come up to a police officer and give them a big hug—that just makes my whole day,” she said. The week of activities concluded with a party. Students watched a K-9 demonstration, climbed a rock wall, had their picture taken in front of a huge rescue truck, and shared cake and ice cream with their new friends. l
West Jordan City Journal
Fox Hollow’s rocking school project By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
S
econd-grade teacher Deborah Hansen learned about her students in a unique way this year. “I had them think about different experiences in their life that have made them who they are or impacted them a lot,” she said. After writing essays about their specific experience, they illustrated it—on a rock. The art project was inspired by a book, "Only One You" by Linda Kranz in which the characters are rocks painted to look like fish. Students and their teachers considered who they are and painted a rock to represent their individuality. The 1,100 rocks—decorated with acrylic paint, outlined with black sharpie marker and sprayed with a clear coat spray—filled a display case in the front hall of Fox Hollow Elementary, 6020 West 8200 South in West Jordan. A seascape theme illustrated that they are all individual fish swimming in a school, said Hansen. She wanted students to understand that they’re all individuals with their own stories, and when they come together, they make each other better. Principal Kevin Pullan was very supportive of Hansen’s idea to include everyone in the school for the project. He said it helped students feel like an important part of their school. Hansen invited the faculty to paint their rocks first, during a professional development session over the summer.
A school of fish highlights the individuality of students and teachers. (Deborah Hansen/Fox Hollow Elementary)
“It was lovely to learn more about other faculty members as they explained why they chose their rock designs,” said Amy Martz, a fourth-grade teacher. “Some teachers stayed long after the others, enjoying the art. The mood of the room was so relaxed and positive.” When teachers did the project with their students, they got a glimpse into what is important to the kids. Martz’s fourth-graders’ rocks revealed their senses of humor, their interests and what they love most. “The project did help me understand the students better after seeing their rock,” said Martz. Hansen was inspired further by the book’s advice for life, given by the father fish in the
book. “There are a lot of good lessons in the little book,” she said. Each month, Hansen focused on one of the life lessons. Teaching the lesson, “Always be on the lookout for a new friend,” helped students form friendships at the beginning of the year. They continued to be aware of including others as six new students joined their class during the year. Hansen also reminded students of this lesson when kids were being left out of recess games. Another lesson that made a big impact on students was, “If something gets in your way, move around it.” For her students with autism especially, Hansen found the need to help kids deal with their frequent frustration. She
prompted students to think their way around the problem. Other wisdom shared from the book: “Find your own way—you don’t have to follow the crowd,” “There are times to blend in and times to stand out” “Look for beauty in the world,” “Know when to speak and when to listen” and “There’s so much to discover.” Hansen said her 7 and 8-year-olds were able to apply the concepts across various contexts. She often heard her students coaching each other in the application of one of the lessons. “There are some kids that always take it to heart a lot more than others, so they’ll tend to remind other kids,” said Hansen. One of the most-used lessons was “If you make a wrong turn, circle back.” “When someone is upset—like about missing too many on a math test—then we talk about that if you make a mistake, you can circle back,” said Hansen. “It’s not too late to learn it; they just have to decide that that's what they want to do.” The life lessons from the picture book were posted in the classroom for students to refer to often. “In other parts of the curriculum, when those kinds of things come up, then we refer back to the theme,” said Hansen. “Hopefully, they learn something lasting.” l
THANK YOU Welcome to the Beauty of Ultrasound Imaging!
Prince or Princess Package! onlyImaging Packages 3D/4DNow LIVE Motion Gender Reveal Packages
• 15 weeks plus • Unsurpassed clarity and gender accuracy • All pictures saved digitally on a CD ROM • DVD of entire session available • Gender reveal parties available
$10 OFF Any Gender Package
$69
• 24 weeks plus • High speed 4D live motion imaging shows baby’s movement in 3D • All pictures and 4D video clips saved digitally on a CD ROM • DVD of entire session available • Multiple visit packages available
a limited time special offer, a $79 value. Includes a 30 minute session with 6+ photos, CD with photos and video clips, DVD recording of entire session.
See Your Baby To
day !
$20 OFF the Delu xe 3D/4D Package
Stork Vision Salt Lake City 9235 S Redwood Rd • 801.414.0132 • www.StorkVisionSLC.com
ElevateHER Challenge Participants The Women’s Leadership Institute would like to thank all 40 new businesses and organizations who have joined the ElevateHER Challenge to elevate women in the workplace. We also appreciate the continued efforts of the 170 organizations who have participated in the past and continue to work for change. Together we are elevating the talents of women.
To See a Complete List:
wliut.com/participants WestJordanJournal .com
June 2018 | Page 17
Money bubbles up for Hawthorn fundraiser
A
By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
dding even more fun to its Fun Run on April 20, Hawthorn Academy flooded the field with bubbles. Five automatic bubble machines spewed bubbles at families as they took the first turn of the track. Both the South Jordan and West Jordan campuses participated in the fundraiser, which collected $16,000 for the two schools and 17 units of lifesaving blood for the Red Cross. “I think it was very successful—we made money, had fun and enjoyed family time together,” said event coordinator Stephanie Dykstra. “Mostly, it’s about getting out in the community, doing things and getting active.” In addition to the Fun Run and blood drive, the fundraiser hosted a silent auction and food trucks. Participants even received a souvenir shirt. A $15 donation covered the cost of registration and an event T-shirt. For each lap the runners completed, their shirts were stamped with a splash of color. “It’s fun they get a different color of star stamp for each lap,” said Amy Lifferth, parent of a fourth- and a sixth-grader. “It makes it a fun memory.” The stamped shirt became a unique keepsake of the event, one that students can wear on designated dress-down days. Dykstra, who has run the fundraiser for nine years, said the activities were aimed at younger students since, between the two loca-
Page 18 | June 2018
tions, there are two elementary schools and one middle school. There was a bouncy house, face painting, balloon animals, karate and dance demonstrations, and plenty of prizes. The focus for older students and parents was on healthy lifestyles. They perused vendor booths for crafts, martial arts instruction, poison control, Winder Dairy, First Med Urgent Care, Rocky Mountain Physical Therapy, Bikers Against Child Abuse and more. “I like the focus on the healthy living and getting the kids active,” said Lifferth. Volunteers on the school’s Health and Wellness Committee planned the event. They solicited donations from the community, corporate sponsors, family businesses, academy employees and families. “We just reached out to them, and the community is so generous,” said Yvonne Ruiz-Diaz, president of the parent organization at the South Jordan campus and co-coordinator of the event. Community businesses provided items for the prize wheel, raffle and silent auction. The silent auction brought in $2,800. Families bid on high-value gift baskets that included a Park City hotel stay, family memberships to the Loveland Living Aquarium, Natural History Museum passes, tickets to Deer Valley Music Festival, Real Salt Lake soccer games, Hale Center Theater and Desert Star Theater. Other themed baskets included products from Home Depot, Scentsy, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef and
Families can’t resist running through the bubbles during the Fun Run. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
ilovekickboxing.com. Shaunae Behunin, counselor at the South Jordan campus, bid on several baskets. She hoped to get theater tickets and to take home the most popular basket—Southwest Airlines tickets. Student donations and Fun Run registrations totaled more than half of the proceeds. Students were encouraged to earn the money themselves. The committee created a calendar with daily suggestions: fold laundry, pull weeds, help neighbors or just appeal to grandma for cash. “I just had her do little odd jobs to earn the money,” said Marianne Anderson, grandma of a first-grader. Linda Lundgren asked her kids—a kindergartener, fourth-grader and seventh-grader—to clean the house to earn their donations. Marina Limbaugh’s 8-year-old asked if she
could earn money for getting up in the morning without whining. The promise of a tablet for the top-earner was a huge incentive for students to collect money. “We had talked about if someone earned over $300, they would get a special prize,” said Dykstra. “Somehow, when they were announcing it in the classes, the word ‘tablet’ was thrown in.” Limbaugh, who serves on the wellness committee, was so impressed when a first-grader collected $510, she donated the tablet herself. All proceeds from the fundraiser go directly to the two campuses. “Our donations to the school almost always go toward technology items, such as tablets and computer labs for the students,” said Dykstra. l
West Jordan City Journal
G O OD NE IG HBOR
NEWS
JUNE 2018
Paid for by the City of West Jordan
Construction Update @WestJordan.Utah.Gov Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the major projects scheduled for this summer:
7000 SOUTH UTILITY PROJECT Crews are getting ready to install concrete on the east side of Redwood Road. UDOT is requiring concrete in this intersection because it lasts about 2 1/2 times longer than asphalt. Crews continue to work west of Redwood Road connecting neighborhoods into the new sewer main. This work will continue to impact traffic and the ability to make left-hand turns both into the neighborhood side streets and onto 70th South. Please exercise caution and follow traffic control devices. A waterline break on the west side of Redwood Road lead to the discovery of a wooden waterline (pictured). This pipe once serviced residents living along Redwood Road. It’s utility projects like the one taking place now along 70th South that keep clean water flowing from your tap, provide adequate water for fire suppression, reliable sanitary sewer service, and storm water mitigation. These utility replacement projects are inconvenient but necessary to provide reliable, safe utility services.
5600 WEST CONSTRUCTION Construction on the 5600 West Widening Project from 7800 South to 8600 South has begun. The city is improving 5600 West from 7800 South to 8600 South by widening it to five lanes, adding a new traffic signal at 8200 South, new storm drain, sidewalk, bike lanes, lighting and a privacy wall where none exist. The project will close 5600 West from 8200 South to 8600 South near the end of June. Please stay up to date by signing up for email updates at 5600wconstruction@wjordan.com or by calling the hotline at 888-966-6624. Additional information can be found by visiting www. westjordan.utah.gov/5600-west-construction-project.
BANGERTER INTERCHANGES 7000 SOUTH 7000 South at Bangerter is open! Crews are in the final stages of cleanup. Pedestrians can cross Bangerter Highway using the new pedestrian bridge.
9000 SOUTH Crews and equipment are working day and night (weather permitting) to complete the construction of the new overpass bridge. Concrete work continues on the medians and roadside barrier on the new overpass. Demolition work is progressing underneath the Old Bingham Highway bridge, near 9000 South. Northbound and southbound traffic between 9000 South and 7800 South is restricted to two lanes, day and night through mid-July. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes where possible during these lane restrictions. Contact the project public information team by calling the hotline at 888-766ROAD (7623) or emailing bangerter@utah.gov or visit udot.utah.gov/bangerter for the latest updates.
M AY O R ’ S M E S S A G E
Graduation Time ENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED The past few weeks have been busy with high school and college graduations for me and my family, as I’m sure they have been for many of you. Attending these events always makes me think about the youth of our community and how we’re preparing them to be self-sufficient, contributing members of society who are civically engaged. Several weeks ago, I received nearly 20 letters from residents who wrote impassioned pleas that we consider the plight of the homeless in our community and offered various proposals on how to help them. After a bit of investigating, I discovered the letters were written by students from Lisbeth Ericksen’s seventh-grade Utah Studies class at Sunset Ridge Middle School. Of course, this was a class assignment, but I was impressed with the students’ genuine interest in learning more about this complex problem and their desire to help. What a great opportunity to show these youth that you can make a difference when you take the time to speak up and get involved. On May 22, I and five others who work directly with people experiencing homelessness met with this and two other Utah Studies classes to talk about the issue. It was a great experience and both the students and I learned a lot. Thank you to Michelle Hoon of the Road Home, Loggins Merrill of the Department of Workforce Services, Mindy Leonard of the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Rick Bouillon of Salt Lake Community College, and Terry Holt of South Valley Services for participating in the panel discussion and sharing your expertise. I also had the opportunity to speak to a small graduating class of students who have moved here and earned their GED, others that received certificates for basic computer skills and certificates for learning English. It’s great to see folks improve their lives through education. I, along with Interim Police Chief Richard Davis and City Prosecutor Ed Berkovich, also had the chance recently to meet with the criminal justice class at Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers to talk about law enforcement and criminal justice within the city. This was such an impressive group of students – they were polite, engaged and had many questions that demonstrated they were really thinking about criminal justice issues as well as their potential future careers. These three experiences really increased my optimism for the future of our community. Thank you to all of you who teach and model active civic engagement as well as compassion for others to your children and other youth you interact with. And thank you to the teachers who put so much time and effort into educating and preparing the next generation. Graduation time also means summertime! And in West Jordan, summertime means the Western Stampede. This has been a West Jordan tradition since 1954 and has become one of the premiere rodeos in the region. We will also have a carnival, Fun Run, Movie in the Park, Independence Day Parade and, of course, a world-class fireworks show. I hope you join us this year and make it part of your family tradition.
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
Events take place at Veterans Memorial Park (8030 South 1825 West) and the Rodeo Arena (8035 South 2200 West). Details online at WesternStampede.com
Mutton Bustin’ and Junior Princess Sign-ups • June 1 • 6-9 p.m.
Mutton Bustin’ takes place during the preshow rodeo and intermission every night at the Western Stampede Rodeo, July 2, 3 & 4. This is a fun opportunity for little cowpokes to try their skills at riding sheep in the rodeo arena and win great prizes! Kids must be at least 4 years old, no taller than 4 feet and weigh less than 50 pounds. Parent and child must be present to register and when checking in on the night of the rodeo. There is a $20 nonrefundable registration fee per child.
Junior Princess Girls 6-12 years old can sign up to be a Junior Princess during the Western Stampede Rodeo! Princesses receive a tiara, sash and enjoy a buggy ride during the Grand Entry at the rodeo. There is a $20 nonrefundable registration fee per child. Mutton Bustin’ and Junior Princess sign ups take place Friday, June 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Library Summer Reading Kickoff in Veterans Memorial Park.
Carnival
June 30, July 2, 3 & 4 The carnival is in town! Admission is free and rides and food are available for purchase. Hours of operation are: June 30 from 3-11 p.m.; July 2 from 3-11 p.m.; July 3 from 3-11 p.m. and July 4 from 12-11 p.m.
Park Activities
June 30, July 2, 3, & 4 A variety of other activities will take place in Veterans Memorial Park including an entertainment stage, vendors, Free Family Fun Night with inflatable rides and a Children’s Parade on June 30. July 4 starts with a free pancake breakfast with the Mayor and City Council, pie eating contest, pony rides, movie in the park and fireworks finale.
Western Stampede PRCA Rodeo July 2, 3 & 4 7 p.m. Mutton Bustin’ Preshow 8 p.m. PRCA
The Western Stampede rides into town for the 64th year of rodeo excitement! Cervi Championship Rodeo is back for their sixth year and brings their award-winning “Born to Buck” program and top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls. Tickets start at just $6! Get your tickets online now for best availability. The Arena Box Office will be open June 29 from 4-8 p.m., June 30 from 12-8 p.m. July 2-3 from 4-8 p.m. and July 4 from 12-8 p.m. Rodeo tickets range from $6-$18. Visit WesternStampede.com for tickets and event details.
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
Linda Buttars Memorial Fun Run June 30 • 8 a.m.
All ages are welcome to participate in this fun run. A timed 5K and also a 1-mile walk that is open to bikes, skateboards, strollers and more honors Linda Buttars, a West Jordan volunteer extraordinaire who passed away in 2006. Registration is just $5 for an individual, and $10 for families of up to 10, and $10 for business teams for the first five and then $2 for each additional member. Register online at Active.com by June 15 to receive a t-shirt. (Walkup registration available but doesn’t guarantee t-shirts.)
Fourth of July Parade July 4 • 10:30 a.m.
The parade starts at City Hall, 8000 South Redwood Road, and runs north to 7000 South. There will also be road closures to accommodate the parade. Please use alternate routes during these times. We are also looking for parade entries. Applications are online at WesternStampede.com.
West Jordan Band Concert July 4 • 1:30 p.m.
Viridian Amphitheater, 8030 South 1825 West Enjoy patriotic music with the West Jordan Band.
Movie in the Park July 4 • 9:30 p.m.
“Beauty and the Beast” lights up the big screen in the park. Come enjoy the tale as old as time in this live-action re-telling of Disney’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs.
Fireworks
July 4 • 10:15 p.m. The fireworks show begins when the Western Stampede Rodeo is over and the livestock are secured at the adjacent arena. Fireworks will be visible throughout the park and arena. Personal fireworks are not allowed in city parks. Fireworks may be discharged according to state code between the dates of July 2-5 and July 22-25 in non-restricted areas. Visit WestJordan.Utah.gov for additional details.
The Western Stampede is excited to name Jordan Valley Medical Center as our title sponsor! A BIG thank you to community-minded sponsors like Jordan Valley for supporting the Western Stampede! This event has been a West Jordan tradition since 1954 and generous sponsors like Jordan Valley Medical Center help make it possible.
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
LIBRARY SUMMER READING KICKOFF & SAFETY FAIR
WESTERN STAMPEDE MUTTON BUSTIN’ AND JR. PRINCESS SIGNUPS
SUMMER MOVIE SERIES “PETER RABBIT”
Veterans Memorial Park 8030 S. 1825 West, 6 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park 8030 S. 1825 West, 6 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park 8030 S. 1825 West Dusk
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
1
5
1
1
13
19
PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
PLANNING COMMISSION
City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.
City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
27
30
WJC BAND SPRING CONCERT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Viridian Event Center 8030 S. 1825 West 7 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.
LINDA BUTTARS MEMORIAL 5K/1-MILE FUN RUN
J U N E – J U LY
J U LY
22
Veterans Memorial Park 8030 S. 1825 West, 8 a.m.
J U LY
2-4
2-4
WESTERN STAMPEDE CARNIVAL
WESTERN STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO
WESTERN STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO
Veterans Memorial Park 8030 S. 1825 West 3-11 p.m.
West Jordan Arena 8035 S. 2200 West, 8 p.m. Pre-rodeo 7:30 p.m.
West Jordan Arena 8035 S. 2200 West, 8 p.m. Pre-rodeo 7:30 p.m.
30-4
The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation! Follow (801) 569-5100 www.wjordan.com West Jordan – City Hall.
West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch
City financial report recognized for excellence The City of West Jordan’s Finance Department received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report. The certificate is awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada and is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The financial report communicates the city’s financial picture and is a full disclosure of the city’s finances. This is the 37th consecutive year that the city has received this award.
2018 WATER QUALITY REPORT The latest Water Quality Report has just been released, and we are pleased to report that our drinking water meets all federal and state requirements. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires water providers to report to their customers on the quality of their drinking water each year. The city’s water supply comes from two sources – approximately 85% comes from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and the remaining 15% comes from city-owned wells. The latest report is available online at WestJordan. Utah.gov. For questions or concerns, please call 801-569-5700.
Summer Reading Kickoff Party & ‘Peter Rabbit’ Free Movie in the Park June 1 The County Library Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff party is set for June 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Library’s Viridian Event Center and Veterans Memorial Park, 8030 S. 1825 West. Enjoy live entertainment, face painting, crafts, music, food, summer reading signups and more. In partnership with West Jordan City, there’s also a screening of the family film “Peter Rabbit” at dusk.
No yelling, no cheering, Shhhh! It’s silent Saturday
T
he coach’s cheeks turned scarlet red as the referee missed an obvious call against his team, yet his lips sat clenched, and his complaint was quiet enough for a public library. It was silent Saturday at the West Jordan soccer complex. Silent Saturday is the name given to the day on which the coaches are asked not to coach and parents are asked not cheer or give direction. There is no shouting, no yelling, no threatening officials or swearing at fathers from the opposing team. “We have done this for a while,” West Jordan Youth Soccer president Chad Barnett said. “We have found this beneficial and are trying to do it in the spring and the fall.” This concept has been extremely successful in clubs all across the country. It helps players concentrate and learn to communicate with each other on the field. Parents were asked to find new and creative ways to cheer (posters, hand waving, etc.). The coaches were able to instruct during quarter breaks and halftime, but for the most part, the players were left to play the game without constant direction from the sideline. “It helps promote sportsmanship,” Barnett said. “In the older age groups, it allows the players to play without having to be told from the sideline what to do. The kids learn to figure it out themselves. It also gives one week as a reminder not to yell and complain. The older
WestJordanJournal .com
By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com more competitive teams sometimes have the sportsmanship problems.” West Jordan Youth Soccer is a recreation league and member of the Utah Youth Soccer Association. The league supports more than 1,250 kids and more the 120 teams. It’s players range from ages 3 to 18. The league also hosted a street soccer event May 9. Children of all ages were welcome in the ”pick-up” style soccer game. It was free to all players. The kids organized their own teams, coached themselves and called their own fouls. “It was a fun weeknight get together,” Barnett said. “We had a good turnout, and the kids all seemed to have fun. The idea was just like a pickup basketball game. We also try to organize events throughout the year. We also offered clinic style camps at the beginning of the spring—something different to keep everyone excited.” The league was part of the recreation night at an RSL game earlier this season. Many players were involved in opening ceremonies and halftime games. The recreation league has developed many players to advance to competition and high school teams. “I coach a competition level team, and more than half of the players on the team started playing at West Jordan Youth Soccer,” Barnett said. “We have lots of clubs interested in offering camps to our players as a way of getting
The West Jordan youth soccer teaches teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship to players as young as 3 years old. (Greg James/City Journals)
exposure to our players.” The league’s core values include promoting and enhancing sportsmanship; player, parent and coach development; and improvement of referees. The volunteer league board strives to maintain and teach these values throughout
the seasons. Registration for West Jordan Youth Soccer is now open through June 20. It includes fall and spring seasons, a uniform, soccer ball, pictures and a participation award. l
June 2018 | Page 23
The youngest driver might be the fastest By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
R
ocky Mountain Raceway kicked off its final season, and 14-year-old Natalie Waters is having an impact already. “I grew up with racing,” Natalie Waters said. “My uncles are Jimmy Waters and Lynn Hardy (veteran racers at the RMR), so I was at the track when I was about 6 months old. I got into a quarter midget (similar to a go-kart) when I was 6 years old. Then I drove a junior stinger and a focus midget.” Waters is currently driving a new midget racecar and an open wheel limited sprint car. In both classes, she competes against drivers more than double her age. “I like the adrenaline rush,” Waters said. “I have always thought it looked so cool. It is nice to know that I am doing well. Last year was my first year on the entire track, and I think I have gotten it a little bit. This year I feel I can go as hard as I can.” She has been fast. Her limited sprint averaged 91.2 mph around the ⅜-mile oval. Her qualifying time was fourth fastest for the opening night racers. In her midget division, she has raced competitively against Chaz Groat for several years in quarter midgets and now in the focus midgets. Groat was last year’s class champion. “My family is really close with Chaz’s family,” Waters said. “We both got into this class together and seem to be in the same step in racing. There is a little pressure being a girl,
and I am the youngest ever to drive a sprint car in the state of Utah. It is different, but knowing that I get out of the car and beat those grown men is cool.” Waters has dreams of racing in NASCAR. She has support from several sponsors and a working crew. Her grandfather John Waters is her crew chief and has set up her cars from the beginning of her racing career. “I have been racing since I was 11 years old, and I have never seen anything like this,” John said. “It is so emotional to see her start racing when she was 6. She told me, ‘All I wanted was a trophy.’ She has so much passion for it. She just finished racing, and she is back here waxing her car to make them look nice.” In a race last November at the Bullring in Las Vegas, she flipped her car and totaled it. John found another car, purchased it and prepared it for this season. In set-up, John has always prepared the car limiting her on her throttle availability to ensure she could learn the handling of the car. “I did not want to give her full power,” John said. “I wanted her to drive where she felt comfortable. This year, we are giving her more of the edge. We are close to $35,000 to race these cars this year. It is expensive, but she has learned to work with the sponsors and meet their expectations.” Seeing her daughter race has been a heart-racing experience for Natalie’s mother,
Natalie Waters pilots this limited sprint race car at Rocky Mountain Raceway at speeds approaching 115 mph. She is 14 years old. (Photo courtesy Natalie Waters Facebook page)
Cassie Waters. “When she drives by the wall and I can see her face for like a split second, it might make me cry; I can’t believe that she is in control of the car,” Cassie said. “It is just crazy. I am with her every day. I make the oatmeal and do her laundry and buy her makeup. Now, she is here racing at night.” The final season at Rocky Mountain Raceway continues all summer. The sprint cars are scheduled to return June 16.
“They started racing quarter midgets with the track and with the talent they have I know they are going to do a good job,” Rocky Mountain Raceway General Manager Mike Eames said. “These young drivers have potential, and it is sad that the track is closing because it would be fun to see what they could do. They are respectful, and watching them is one of the favorite parts of my job. I can’t cheer for her because she has cooties and is a girl, but I like good racing and hope she does well.” l
Red Wing Shoes in South Jordan Red Wing Shoes is now open in South Jordan. In addition to high quality work boots and shoes, we also carry the largest selection of the Heritage Red Wing line in the state, the Vasque outdoor line and Irish Setter hunt boots. Red Wing Shoes are American-made in Red Wing, MN. We offer free lifetime care of your boot or shoe. Our quality product is only matched by our excellent customer service. Our shoe fit experts will digitally measure your foot to ensure the best fit. Come see us today! 5474 W Daybreak Pkwy | South Jordan, UT | 801-253-6299
Page 24 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
Grizzlies face top competition in Region 3 By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
I
n pregame warmups at Copper Hills High School softball games, you might notice that some of the players look surprisingly similar. The Grizzlies have three sets of twins on their roster. The roster includes seniors Jessica and Jaden Mecham, Gaby and Hailee Lamoreaux, and Kaylee and Kylee Ortega, but the Grizzlies have become accustomed to the similarities. “We have certainly had to learn to distinguish one from another, but we have figured it out,” head coach John Flores said. “It makes our team unique and obviously different. We just hope this season finishes well.” Those familial bonds helped the Grizzlies as they faced stiff competition in Region 3 this season. The top four teams finished the regular season within one game of each other in the standings. The Grizzlies only lost three regular season games, including two to Taylorsville and one to Herriman. Flores felt the season had gone well through region play. “We have been tied for first in our region, and the girls are fighting hard and playing their best,” she said. “We have a lot of athletes that are fighting hard to make sure the great history at Copper Hills continues on.” Flores took over for former Grizzlies head coach Jentry Johnson before the season began. He has high school and competitive summer ball experience on his resume.
Copper Hills softball team has a new coach and new direction but are finding the same successful results. (Copper Hills softball)
“I came to Copper Hills after being an assistant at Bingham, so I am used to the winning culture,” Flores said. “I want us to keep up the deep history that Copper Hills has had. We certainly want to be competitive into the future
as well and keep going what Copper Hills has done in the past.” Senior Jessica Mecham has pitched in 13 games at press time. She and Kaylee Ortega have anchored the Grizzlies pitching staff.
“Pitching is a huge part of what we do,” Flores said. “We have made a few mistakes this season, but overall our strong pitching has kept us in games.” Offensively, freshman Alyxx Estrada and Makaiya Gomez (MK) have belted seven home runs, respectively. Gomez has 21 runs batted in. “Both of them (Estrada and Gomez) bring a calm spark to our lineup,” Flores said. “Our offense has been very good. We have six players hitting over .500. MK and Alyxx are definitely important to our team offensively.” They average over eight runs per game and stepped that up to 12.5 per game in region. “The competition is tough top to bottom in our region,” Flores said. “We have teams that hit the ball and play great defense. It is good for us to keep us game ready and prepared for the playoffs. I love playing in a tough region.” Jaden and Jessica Mecham were named to the Utah High School Activities Association Academic All-State team. The UHSAA has honored students who have excelled in the classroom and athletic competition for over 25 years. The Grizzlies have qualified for the state softball tournament. It began May 15, with the Grizzlies losing to Kearns 10-5 before defeating Westlake 12-1 and Riverton in the losers bracket. Copper Hills season ended when it lost to Davis 11-5. l
Salt Lake City’s Premier Source of Vinyl Fencing Solutions
• • • •
Fence Materials Deck Products Railing Supplies A company that has been serving Utah since 1968. • Our vinyl fencing supplies and materials are manufactured to optimum standards for superior quality. With a full spectrum of styles to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect one that suits your home’s needs.
1333 West 9000 South West Jordan, UT 84088
801-262-6429
www.usvinylfence.com sales@usvinylfence.com
Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Celebration June 13th at 11:30 a.m. • Lunch •Meet and talk with vendors
WestJordanJournal .com
June 2018 | Page 25
See how animals run, adapt and help modern-day science at ‘Nature’s Ultimate Machines’ By Christy Jepson l christy@mycityjournals.com
H
ave you ever wondered why a woodpecker never gets a headache? Or what tiny animal has a punch so strong that it can break aquarium glass? Or who has a stronger grip: a human or a chimpanzee? These questions and many more can be answered at the new traveling exhibit “Nature’s Ultimate Machines” at the Natural History Museum of Utah from now until Sept. 3. “I believe this exhibit is one of the most hands-on and interactive exhibits we’ve had to date,” said Lisa Thompson, the exhibit developer for the Natural History Museum of Utah. This exhibit shows the amazing inner workings of how creatures have learned to adapt to harsh environmental conditions and how they fight daily battles to help them survive. The exhibit features 130 specimens, scale models, videos and interactive displays to help guests discover how plants and animals have developed unique ways of moving, adapting and surviving in their own habitat. When visiting the new exhibit guests can explore a larger-than-life termite mound and look and see how its design is used in modern architecture. Guest can feel how much energy it takes to pump blood up through a giraffe’s 7-foot neck. People can learn which creatures can crush over 8,000 pounds in one bite, and they can learn about different ways creatures
Students visiting ‘Nature’s Ultimate Machines’ exhibit and exploring the strength test of different materials in our bodies and in nature. (Photo/Caity Gainer, Natural History Museum of Utah)
swim, slither, jump and gallop. “One of the favorite areas for kids is the flying chair where guests can sit on a tall office chair that spins and choose between two different types of wings that are made out of a light PVC pipe and canvas,” Thompson said. “They flap the wings up and down to help them spin around.” Different-shaped wings have different results when you start to move them up and down. According to Thompson, this hands-on flying area gets guests thinking about which shape of
SPOTLIGHT
wings help birds fly away quickly versus which shape of wings are needed for birds that fly long distance. Guests will be engaged in all the interactive and digital exhibits while learning also about the marvels of natural engineering that inspire modern mechanics, such as the creation of Velcro, chainsaws and wind turbines. This entire exhibit brings to life the connection between biology and modern-day engineering. For example, guests will be able to see that by studying the bone structure of a woodpecker— and why they never get headaches or concussions even when they peck wood 20 times per second—is helpful and useful in research to help make better, stronger and safer helmets for football players. This exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in Chicago. All Field Museum exhibits are in English and Spanish. The Natural History Museum of Utah is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Wednesdays when it is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors 65 and older, $12.95 for ages 13–24 and $9.95 for children 3–12. University of Utah students and faculty are free with valid ID. The museum is located at 301 Wakara Way in Salt Lake City. For additional information, visit: nhmu.utah.edu/ultimate. l
Students at the museum looking at how hard the giraffe’s heart must pump in order to get blood up through its tall seven-foot neck. (Photo/Caity Gainer, Natural History Museum of Utah)
Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms 175 SR 138, Stansbury Park, Utah
Business Spotlights are a service offered to our advertisers to help them inform our readers about their businesses. For information on scheduling a Spotlight, please call us at 801-254-5974 or email us at ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com
Nestled within the quiet community of Stansbury Park, Utah, there is a quaint 1850s home that provides the perfect touch of history mixed with a nostalgic touch of rustic and vintage charm. This home, now affectionately named by the Coulter Family as the Coulter House LLC Event Center at Mill Pond Farms, is now available to the whole community as an event venue. While specializing mainly in weddings, it has also hosted many other types of events such as family reunions, baby/bridal showers, community events, family get-togethers, anniversaries, concerts, corporate events, birthday parties and much more! This beautiful facility offers a literal step back in time for all who visit! Though currently utilized as an event venue since 2014, the history of this home has quite the story to tell. Since its original construction in 1851 by early Mormon Settlers, this home has served over the years as a true farmhouse and community center for the many families that have lived within its walls or visited here. One family in particular, however, made this house their home for over 50 years. This was the Clark Family. Apart from raising livestock and farming sugar beets on the several hundred acres which at one point belonged to this home, they also constructed a 150 foot-long coop on the property. The coop was utilized for their
Page 26 | June 2018
all types of events and offers indoor and outdoor spaces. For more information, please visit our website at www.coulterhouse.com, our Facebook page @coulterhouseevents, or even our Instagram page @coulter_house. Please feel free to call for a quote or to schedule your free tour at (435) 8405587. The address of the Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms is 175 SR 138 in Stansbury Park, Utah. l
large chicken and turkey farm which operated mainly during the 1940s. At the time, the family adopted the name of Mill Pond Farms. So with the permission of the Clark Family, that name has become part of the Coulter House Event Center to honor their legacy. And amazingly enough, the large coop still stands on the property today. For anyone that has a taste for historic and vintage charm, the Coulter House Event Center at Mill Pond Farms provides the perfect setting for
Nestled in the communiyt of Standbury Park, The Coulter House has just the right amount of history to honor your future events.
West Jordan City Journal
Jordan District STEM night provides interactive activities for students By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com
S
o, the pair went about designing a way to use two 9-inch charges with liquid electrical tape to create a duo charger prototype for their school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fair. Eastlake teacher Christina Madsen said the purpose of the fair was to take an everyday problem and try to come up with a solution. “Many of our students were able to create working prototypes and use their entrepreneurial skills to solve problems they defined,” she said. “Some students took it so seriously they looked at real issues and plan to apply for patents on their projects.” While students across the area completed projects for their school STEM fair earlier this year, in hopes of then advancing to the regional science fair and beyond, Jordan School District holds its own STEM community night with activities and challenges designed to engage students of all ages without a competition. “There is a lot of interactive activities that we hope sparks students’ interest in STEM,” District STEM Curriculum Consultant Jane Harwood said about the District’s third annual event held in late April in Elk Ridge Middle School’s gymnasium. “There are drones, a hovercraft, a catapult contest and other experiments students can try out.” Fifth-grader Jaycee Best, who was with his fourth-grade brother, Kyle, had just flown the drones. “I want to be a pilot, so I wanted to try flying a drone,” Jaycee said. “We just checked out the dry ice that bubbles in our hands.” His mom, Lauren, said both her boys are fascinated with science. “This is a really amazing event,” she said. “They want to do everything. It will give them ideas for their future careers.” Sixth-grader Kaitlin Swank said she came to represent her school in the district catapult contest. “We had our own school catapult contest, and my partner and I were one of the winners who could compete here, only she couldn’t come,” Kaitlin said. “I’m wanting to become a mechanical engineer, so this STEM fair is really neat.” Jordan District’s middle and high school MESA (mathematics, engineering, science achievement) and STEM clubs sponsored booths as well as other local businesses, including IM
WestJordanJournal .com
130 Years
OF TRUST Taking Care of YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
2018 EvEning SEriES
Season Tickets: $49 Adult, $45 Senior, $29 Child Murray Amphitheater Parking: 495 E 5300 S Ticket Info: 801-264-2614 or murrary.utah.gov June 2 ................................... Hairspray, Sing-A-Long June 9 ................................. One Voice Children Choir June 21-23, 25-27 .............Thoroughly Modern Millie June 30 .................................... Murray Concert Band July 7.................................... Murray Symphony Pops July 13-14 ............................... Ballet Under the Stars July 26-28, 30, 31, Aug 1....................Into the Woods August 10-11, 13, 16-18 ......................Secret Garden August 25...................................... SLC Jazz Orchestra September 3 ..............Murray Acoustic Music Festival
FAMiLY nigHT SEriES
Bring the Whole Family Young and Old! The 2nd Monday of every month at 7 p.m., FREE Murray Heritage Senior Center (#10 E 6150 S – 1/2 block west of State) June 11 – In Cahoots.......................Cowboy Music July 9 – Skyedance..............................Celtic Music Aug 13 – Company B....................................Oldies Sept 10 – Mixed Nuts .......................... Jazz, Swing
At Jordan School District STEM night, a student tries out a robot as one of the interactive activities featured. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Flash, Boeing, WSP USA Engineering, HawkWatch International, Ivanti and others. At Bingham High’s MESA booth, across from the hovercraft booth, senior Parker Price was conducting a reaction test with students. “I joined MESA my junior year, and one or twice each month, we’ve been doing activities that we typically wouldn’t do in class,” he said. “We’ve dissected a cow’s heart, made elephant toothpaste and even had a paper airplane contest. It’s been a lot of fun.” Price said that it’s a great way to get more involved in science, math and engineering outside of his classes, all which he sees will help him before he heads to Utah State to study engineering in the fall. Seventh-grader Melissa Oman, who had checked out the Shrinky Dinks, explained how they work. “Shrinky Dinks are plastic polymers that are made of long chains of repeating molecules,” Oman said. “The polymer used for Shrinky Dinks is stretched out when it cools. So, when it heats up in the oven, the molecules are actually being released and returned to their original size, so it appears that they are shrinking. Science has always interested me; it’s cool.” l
LUnCH COnCErT SEriES
At a time when emotions are tender, receiving guidance by someone who has been around and understands your needs can help you find the perfect service.
Every Tuesday at Noon in Murray Park Pavilion #5 FREE June 5 – Michael Robinson ............Cowboy Poetry June 12 – Eastern Arts ...................... Ethnic Dance June 19 –CHASKIS......Music & Dance of the Andes June 26 – Chris Proctor .. Guitar for the New World July 10 – Wasatch Jazz Titans .................Jazz Band July 17 – Red Desert Ramblers............... Bluegrass July 31 – Time Cruisers.................................Oldies
CHiLDrEn MATinEE SEriES
Helping Families Heal for Over 130 years Larkin Mortuary 260 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-5781
Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 582-1582
Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.) • Sandy, UT 84092 (801) 571-2771
Larkin Mortuary Riverton 3688 West 12600 South Riverton, UT 84065 (801) 254-4850
LarkinMortuary.com
Every Thursday at 2 p.m. in Murray Park Pavilion #5 FREE June 7 – Stephanie Raff ......................Storytelling June 14 – Nino Reyos .........Native American Drum June 21 – Miss Margene ..............Children’s Dance June 28 – Coralie Leue .............The Puppet Players July 12 – Jonathan the Magician ....... Magic Show July 19 – Rebeca Wallin ........Shakespeare for Kids July 26 – Popcorn Media .....................Family Rock Aug 2 – Honey Buns........................... Song/Dance This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.
June 2018 | Page 27
Utah native and three-time Olympian returns to showcase volleyball By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
T
hree-time Olympian Jake Gibb, 42, who hails from Utah, is coming home for an exhibition beach volleyball match and clinic Saturday, June 16 during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament at the Utah Sports Mall, located at 5445 S. 900 East in Murray. “I love interactions with kids who want to learn about volleyball,” Gibb said. “It’s a cool position to be in with the wealth of knowledge I have and to be able to share a little bit of that. I just want to share my passion and help people see that and feel that.” “Jake is a global icon in the beach volleyball community,” said WBV Juniors Director Warren Van Schalkwyk. “He is also one of the most down-to-earth people you’d ever meet. To have Jake participate in this event speaks to his love for the game and his willingness to give back.” Gibb grew up in Bountiful, the youngest of 11 children, and played basketball and golf in high school until he tried boys volleyball on a club team his senior year. Following an LDS mission, he played with his twin brother, Coleman —who is 6 inches shorter than the 6-foot-7 Jake—in a Utah Outdoor Volleyball tournament in the “B” division and took second place.
“We thought that was pretty good,” Gibb said. “So, there was my real competitive start to outdoor volleyball, in a ‘B’ tournament on grass.” While playing on grass, Gibb said he often watched the players on the sand and thought they were “pretty cool cats with their tattoos and everything.” One of those players—a Utah legend named Joe Famasino—asked Gibb if he wanted to play with him. “Here I was, this big clunky kid, and I literally was so nervous that Joe was talking to me that I couldn’t even remember my phone number to give him,” Gibb said. And, that was just the beginning of Gibb’s rise in the sport while he studied business at the University of Utah and married his wife, Jane. Following graduation and working toward becoming a loan officer, his wife encouraged him to give professional beach volleyball a try. So, the pair moved to California in 2002 for a two-year trial run to see if the sport could become their livelihood. “That’s the scariest move I’ve ever made in my life,” Gibb said. “I was comfortable being where I was at as the best in Utah. Good thing I was young; I don’t think I would do it now.”
Pro beach volleyball player Jake Gibb, from Utah, has been a top player on the world circuit for several years. The three-time Olympian will appear in an exhibition match and then host a clinic during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament Saturday, June 16 at the Utah Sports Mall. (Photo courtesy Jake Gibb)
Gibb said he showed up at a beach in California for the first time, trying to get into a
Providing Wheelchairs / Walkers / Crutches Wound Care, Bath Aids, First Aids, Incontinence Supplies Orthopedic Supports, Compression Hose
1366 West 7800 South, West Jordan, UT 84088 801-566-5844 WasatchMedicalSupply.com Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mention this ad for 10% off!
Page 28 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
SUMMER CAMPS
Musically based, hands-on, academic FUN! 1/2 day and Full day programs available. Check our website for weekly themes.
Pro beach volleyball player Jake Gibb, from Utah, has been a top player on the world circuit for several years. The three-time Olympian will appear in an exhibition match and then host a clinic during a Wasatch Beach Volleyball Juniors tournament Saturday, June 16 at the Utah Sports Mall. (Photo courtesy Jake Gibb)
game and was told there was a six game wait. “I left the beach that day without getting a game and with my tail wagging between my legs thinking, ‘Nobody knows that I’m pretty good,’” he said. Gibb’s wait for a court paid off, and by 2004, Gibb won his first Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour title and was named the Most Valuable Player the next season. He has since won 27 more titles with several partners —most notably, Sean Rosenthal and Casey Patterson—and competed at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, placing tied for fifth twice and 19th. For the past
YOUr gEnErOSiTY WiLL MAKE A DiFFErEnCE!
WestJordanJournal .com
year and a half, he has been partnered with Taylor Crabb and feels “fortunate to get a young kid who doesn’t know how good he is yet.” Gibb, who is the father of 6-year-old Crosby and 3-year-old Cora Jane, said, “This sport has given me my entire lifestyle,” he said. “I feel like I’m the most fortunate guy on the planet.” The June 16 match and clinic in Murray is free although seating will be limited. Spectators will be able to take pictures with Gibb and hear about his experiences from over two decades in the sport. l
The West Jordan Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary is gathering classroom supplies (markers, crayons, pencils, composition notebooks, hand sanitizer, three-ring binders, Kleenex, Ziploc bags, socks, underwear, sweat pants, non-perishable snacks, and much more!) for a local West Jordan elementary school and would love your support! Monetary or physical donations would be greatly appreciated and may be taken to the West Jordan Police Station. Questions and/or further inquiries may be directed to WJFOPAux@gmail.com.
Call Legacy today for current one bedroom specials! 801-253-4556 1617 West Temple Lane (10200 S), South Jordan
June 2018 | Page 29
Utah’s local bookstores unite for Indie Bookstore Day By Joshua Wood | joshw@mycityjournals.com
B
uying local does a community good. That’s why several area businesses took part in Indie Bookstore Day on April 28 to help connect Utah readers with their neighborhood bookstore. With the growth of online shopping and recent decline in sales at brick and mortar stores, bookstores, like businesses around the country, have worked to combat the retreat of faceto-face business. According to the American Booksellers Association, independent bookstores express confidence that they are better equipped than chains to weather the changing retail landscape. Visiting Utah’s diverse independent bookstores shows good reason for that confidence. “I am always preaching the gospel of local businesses,” said Tony Weller of Weller Book Works in Downtown Salt Lake. “It’s not about the preservation of our own old family bookstore. It’s about the community I want to live in. There are a lot of businesses in this community that I used to support that no longer exist. I am saddened to see good businesses disappear.” For supporters and members of the local bookstore scene, Indie Bookstore Day is about more than reading and local bookstores. It is about community and the important role that local businesses play in how they are shaped. “The Local First movements across the country, and especially in Utah, are educating
people about what shopping locally does for them, how it keeps their economy healthy, how it keeps their neighbors in their houses, pays for their sidewalks,” said Anne Holman of The King’s English Bookshop in Sugar House. “It’s a good thing to do. It’s the right thing to do.” With many local businesses struggling to compete with chain stores and online retail outlets, independent bookstores have led a budding renaissance. In fact, the American Booksellers Association stated that there has been a 35 percent increase in the number of independent bookstore locations since 2009. “People have come to realize that where we shop defines our community,” said Aaron Cance of The Printed Garden in Sandy. “Where we buy our stuff defines what our neighborhood looks like. Independently owned businesses of all types have enjoyed a little resurgence in support.” As part of Indie Bookstore Day, patrons could participate in a bookstore crawl, get a passport card stamped at each location, and get a chance to win free books. The event has taken place for four years and is gaining traction in Utah with the bookstore crawl now in its second year. “It says a lot about the valley that there is a lot of value placed on reading,” said Cance. The event served as a reminder to buy local, to let more people in the community know
that there are more independent bookstores in the area than they might realize, and of course, to encourage people to enjoy books. The diversity of bookstores in Utah is similar to the diverse subjects they offer their customers. “You should balance the information that you’re bringing into your head,” said Weller. “I try to convince readers to leave that department where that they feel so comfortable and walk across my bookstore to a different section and pick a book.” The same could be said for the businesses people support and how they help shape the character of their communities. “You have work, you have home, and you have the other place you like to spend time,” said Cance. “It’s a place where you can be yourself, where you can discuss things without fear. It’s important for a lot of reasons.” Indie Bookstore Day served as a reminder of the importance of local bookstores, and local businesses in general. Those who discover them, tend to keep coming back. “A lot of our customers have been shopping here for 40 years, and now we’re on third generation, fourth generation,” said Holman. Other local bookstores in the Greater Salt Lake area include the Golden Braid (Salt Lake City), Ken Sanders Rare Books (Salt Lake City), Booked on 25th (Ogden), Marissa’s Books and Gifts (Murray), The Children’s
Hour (Salt Lake City), and more. The American Booksellers Association’s website has a search function to help people find bookstores in their communities. Visit www.bookweb.org l
Independent bookstores host local author events like this children’s book author Mac Barnett at the King’s English Bookstore in 2016. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
Beautiful furniture at the best prices.
FREE DELIVERY and setup. When you mention this ad!
0% Financing available for 1 year! OAC
Family owned and operated for 108 years. 1475 West 9000 South | www.granitefurniture.com | 801-566-4444 Page 30 | June 2018
West Jordan City Journal
ality ther es
in
South Jordan Professional
QUALiTY
handcrafted leather boots and shoes Premium um customer service: • • • •
Shoe fit experts to get you in the right shoe for the job Free lifetime care of any boot or shoe Digital measurement for the most accurate fit Free Industrial programs available
$25 OFF ONE FREE BUY THREE AND GET
ANY PURCHASE OF $130 OR MORE
Valid only at South Jordan location. One coupon per customer. Discounts cannot be combined. Expires 6/30/18.
of our lifetime Merino wool socks
Valid only at South Jordan location. One coupon per customer. Discounts cannot be combined. Expires 6/30/18.
801-253-6299 • 5474 W Daybreak Pkwy & Mountain View Corridor Mon-Fri 10am-7pm • Sat 10am-6pm • Sun Closed
WestJordanJournal .com
June 2018 | Page 31
TEXT
DEALS TO
313131
OR GO TO
shoppingwestjordan.com for a full directory listing
For offers from West Jordan businesses
For the latest info on local business, follow us! facebook.com/westjordanchamber www.
westjordanchamber
.com
ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. Same day and next day appointments are available. INSURANCES ACCEPTED:
The West Jordan City Chamber of Commerce Family of Businesses! Together we represent a significant voice and promote a profitable business environment for a stronger community.
• Advocacy • Visibility • Community • Connections
Tina Goldsmith, MSNP
Sue Anders, MD
Jeffrey Quinn, MD
Robert Merrill, DO, MD
Select Med & Med Plus Select Value Select Care & Care Plus Select Shared Select Advantage Select Choice Select Community Care
David Matthews, MD
Blue Cross Blue Shield PEHP United Health Care Aetna Altius Tricare Educators Mutual
And Many More
Diane Heubusch, CNM, FNP
Angela Judd, MD
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT: (801)-285-4800 CALL TODAY for more information on how you can grow your business while supporting your community!
RECEIVE A $300 AD CREDIT
in the West Jordan Journal with your membership.
Page 32 | June 2018
801-285-4800 3723 West 12600 South, Suite 350 Riverton, Utah 84065 www.westerngynob.com
West Jordan City Journal
WestJordanJournal .com
June 2018 | Page 33
Travel Budget
by
CASSIE GOFF
Schools out for summer! It’s time for vacation! One of my friends told me that her family spent around 10 grand on a two-week holiday. Don’t do that. Instead, use this nifty little invention called the internet to do some research. There are hundreds of blogs and forums where people share their travel experiences, sharing information about the cheapest transportation and best deals in various cities worldwide. Before going anywhere, check what people say about that destination and what they recommend when traveling on a budget. Flying can be an expensive hassle. Many travel bugs recommend using a credit card that offers the chance to earn miles. Cashing in those miles can mean a free plane ticket. I’ve also heard that checking fares on Tuesday, two weeks before your travel date, will be the cheapest option. Don’t hold me to that though. Driving can be boring. Don’t forget entertainment if you’re going on a road trip. If you have a Netflix subscription, download the app on your phone, and download episodes, podcasts, or comedy specials. Have everyone in your car do the same for hours of internet-free entertainment. Oh, and make sure to bring an auxiliary cord. And water. Stay hydrated people.
For lodging, don’t stay stay in your destination city. It’s generally cheaper to book a place outside of the area. For example, it’s cheaper to stay in Murray than it is is downtown Salt Lake City. It’s cheaper to stay in Sandy or Cottonwood Heights than it is to stay in the canyon resorts during ski season. Know the areas around your destination city. Luckily, we live in the era of Airbnb, where hotel prices are almost obsolete. The website is fantastic for any kind of group traveling. If you’re going with the whole family, you can check for full homes to book. If you’re traveling alone or with friends, you can rent out a room for low prices. Hostels are also great options for the lone traveler. If you’re going on vacation to see a physical place, and not going for an event, go during the off season. Tourist attractions, lodging, and other accommodations will be marked down. Plus, there won’t be so many crowds. You may end up on a tour with just a few other people, instead of a few busses. When visiting new cities, check for free walking tours. Not only are they budget-friendly, they help you get acquainted with the city. You may see something you want to visit, which you didn’t know existed.
While you’re on that walking tour, find the local grocery store. Take some time to do your grocery shopping and make your own meals. Eating out is expensive, especially if you’re doing it every day. I recommend trying some local food no matter where the destination, but don’t go crazy. Eat out on only a few occasions and pack your own food the rest of the time. Booking tours or buying attraction tickets the day-of can be mind-bogglingly expensive. Before you leave home, take some time to research ticket prices for the places you might want to visit. Many places have discounts if you book in advance or through third-party websites. If you have a discount associated
Become an AMSOIL
WEST JORDAN
PREFERRED CUSTOMER TODAY!
SAVE UP TO 25% on AMSOIL products AND receive the following: • Exclusive product and • FREE shipping on orders over freight promotions $100 U.S./$130 Canada • Points on purchases • Referral rewards Intermountain Synthetic Oil & Lubricants Independent AMSOIL Dealer Al Roberts: 801-699-6811 amsoil_dealer@mail.com | imsol.shopamsoil.com
801-280-4114 3961 W 9000 S
$10 OFF your next visit
With Purchase of $30 Or More
Not valid with any other offer or discount. Limit one coupon per customer, per visit, per table. No cash value. Excludes taxes, gratuity, alcoholic beverages & gift card purchases. DINE-IN ONLY.
West Jordan –At The Jordan Landing
10 Shirts For
$20
(tax included) Expires 6/30/18
801-282-8591 • www.carinos.com
mrlecleaners.com
$10 off
Buy One Get One 1/2 Off
Free 10lb bag of ice with any water fill, your bottle or ours.
1615 W 7000 S West Jordan, UT 84084 801-569-9492
Page 34 | June 2018
with your identity, ask for it. There are so many places that offer discounts for military personnel, seniors, students, etc. Bring some proof, just in case. I used my University of Utah student card to get a discount on a tour in Australia. Want to work while traveling? Many places offer free lodging in exchange for labor. Like farm-stays, where you can stay for free if you help out around the farm. They may even feed you too. There are also many programs outside of the country for teaching English. One day, I plan to go help baby turtles make it to the ocean safety. A free place to stay for chasing birds away?! Yes. Please. l
1 hour massage 801.808.0153
8543 S Redwood Rd. Suite A, West Jordan, UT 84088 www.luminosity.massagetherapy.com
Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 6/30/18.
801-280-4099
7251 Plaza Center Drive (Next to Famous Dave's)
www.SpudToddos.com
$5 0ff $25 Or More Limit 1 per table. Expires 6/30/18.
801-446-6644 www.tusharexpress.com 1078 West 10400 South • South Jordan, UT 84095
Mention this ad and we will pay of your bill! (bills over $500)
$50
28 West 700 South • Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801.363.440 rickwarnerbodyshop.com
West Jordan City Journal
Don’t Kill the Messenger
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
WEST JORDAN
Back when Paleolithic man ruled the world, humans only learned what was happening outside their cave when another caveman rode into town on his velociraptor. Soon, dinosaurs evolved into horses (duh, that’s just science) and traveling merchants shared stories and events as they roamed the country. They’d sit around campfires, making s’mores and spreading gossip. In cities, town criers walked the streets in ridiculous outfits, ringing bells and shouting information at passersby. When Johannes Gutenberg mechanized the printing process, he started a revolution that led to books, newspapers and inexpensive bird cage lining. Town criers became journalists, people dedicated to the pursuit of truth, shining a light on injustice and living on hot coffee and cold pizza. America’s Founding Fathers recognized the importance of the press, protecting free speech in the first amendment. Journalists were regarded as necessary vermin, an invaluable cog in the democratic process of checks and balances. Distinguished reporters like Carl Bernstein, Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite took journalism to its apex before its Icarus-like plunge into the mud of “journalism” today.
With the introduction of the Internet Machine, news has changed. A flood of misinformation is available at our fingertips and anyone can post “news” and share it as reality. Your crazy Uncle Joe has the ability to post his conspiracy theories as fact, while negating facts as theories. (Yes, I’m talking to you, holocaust deniers and urine therapy adherents.) As newspapers fold and journalists are fired, consumers must find their way in a wild wilderness, navigating blogs, podcasts, posts, tweets, forums and websites, searching for truth, justice and the American way. On TV, Barbie and Ken dolls throw softball questions at politicians, making no effort to hide their biases. They’re like balloon bouquets; pretty
PROFESSIONALS
Value REMODELING
Carlson Handyman Basement Finishing And Remodel Projects
801-979-8855 YARD SERVICES
Affordable Yard Care / Tree Trimming & Removal Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts
Call Dan:
801-518-7365 Roofing
On Call Roofers 30+ Years of Experience All Types of Roofing and Gutters Residential and Commerical www.OnCallRoofingInc.com
Call Now: 385-529-1032
WestJordanJournal .com
PLACE AN AD: Call
801-254-5974 CONCRETE WORK
Reasonable Prices, Quality Work, Prompt Service Flat work, Driveways, Patios, RV Pads, Sidwalks, Etc.
Call Dan.: 801.518.7365 VEHICLES WANTED
Gumby’s Auto Parts We’ll buy your non-running, wrecked or broken car, truck or van.
(801) 506-6098
Automotive Services
Randy’s Tire and Muffler
Complete Auto Repair & Service Manager Owned and Operated Serving Bluffdale/South Valley for 3 Generations 14250 S Redwood Rd 801-254.9971
RandysTireAndMuffler.com GARAGE DOORS
A PLUS GARAGE DOORS
Service Available 24/7 Certified Experts 100% Warrantied
801-260-2030
LANDSCAPING
All In One
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SPRING FULL YARD CLEAN-UP & HAUL, 20% OFF, IF SCHEDULED BY MARCH 31ST Also Schedule Aeration and Power Raking – licensed and insured –
“It’s worth your time to call!”
DAVE at 801-455-6705
HOME REPAIRS
ROOFING
Handy Home Services
801-449-9875
NO JOB TOO SMALL Mark Landers 801-641-9644
$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.
Electrical, plumbing, drywall, painting, bathrooms & kitchens remodeled…
All types of roofs
to look at and fun for a while, but then they float creepily through your home, lurking in doorways and scaring the skittles out of you at 3 a.m. Sponsored content (advertorials) sneak their way into news broadcasts and articles, looking like journalism, but in reality they’re just fancy ads. Usually, readers don’t even know. Journalists have become public relations specialists, crafting news instead of reporting it. On top of all that, our president declared war on the press. The U.S. just ranked 45th on the World Press Freedom Index, coming in behind places like Bahari, Namibia and Sokovia. (Only one of those countries is real, but I’m presenting it as fact. Most readers don’t bother dis-
covering the truth.) Do reporters pick on Trump? Yes. Does he deserve it? Maybe not all the time. Maybe. But his anti-press pomposity further erodes the faith we’ve placed in our news agencies as his bellowing cry of “Fake news!” rings from media outlets. Investigative journalists are an endangered species. It seems little vetting, research or fact-checking is being done. It’s more important to have the story first—even if it’s inaccurate. Wikipedia isn’t research. (I know that, because I looked up journalism on Wikipedia and it said, “This is not a news source.”) Here are other things that aren’t news sources: Facebook, Twitter, hateful bloggers and venom-spewing talk show hosts. In 2009, I wrote a column, grumbling about the sensationalizing of stories where a celebrity’s activities were treated as breaking news. (FYI: It’s not.) Things have only gone downhill. There are many journalists working diligently to present the truth, but it’s getting harder to hear their voices over the screeching of velociraptors, the screaming of town criers and the bellicose rants of our leaders. No news isn’t good news. No news is no news. l
FENCING
APPLIANCE REPAIR
AJ Fencing
Glen’s Appliance Repair
20+ Years Experience Licensed and Insured All types of Fencing Installs and Repairs Free Estimates
801.471.9688
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Katie Sheen Painter Excellent Paint Jobs - Affordable Prices Interior/Exterior . Residential/Commercial
Major Appliance Repair & Installation REASONABLE RATES 38 Years Experience
Call Glenn at 801-510-3513 GROOMERY
GRANNIES GROOMERY Chris Anderson Owner/Groomer
LICENSED AND INSURED
2755 W. 8450 South in West Jordan
FREE ESTIMATES! NO JOB TOO SMALL!
801-981-8404 / 801-243-1762
Call Katie 385.628.7514 TREE SERVICES
INTERMOUNTAIN TREE EXPERTS
Removals . Trimming . Pruning Licensed and Insured / 15 Yrs Experience
801-244-3542 FREE ESTIMATES
Bounce Houses Bounce Crazy Party Rentals
20 Styles to Choose from Water, Non-Water & Bubble Bouncers Complete Set Up and Take Down Other Rentals: Tables, Chairs, Canopy
Call Amanda: 385-299-3383
www.bounce-crazy-llc.business.site
FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
OLYMPUS ROOFING
801.887.7663 SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973
Lawn & Landscaping 801.867.7800 greg@stronglandscape.com
Professional Lawn Care Services Mowing, Sprinkler Install and Repair Custom Landscaping 17 Years Experience, Licensed & Insured
June 2018 | Page 35
Saturday, July 28th 5:00 to 8:00 PM Taylor’s Landing 4700 South & I-215
2nd ANNUAL
Join us to support the Granite Education Foundation 65% of students living in the Granite School District live at or below the poverty line, often facing severe food insecurities, inadequate access to basic needs such as clothing, and many more roadblocks to education. Help us support our children by bringing new school supplies. All money raised goes to charity.
Car Show
TAYLORSVILLE
jFood Trucks jGreat Music jFace Painting jRaffle for Great Prizes If interested in registering your car for the event, please contact Steve at stephen.raguskus@grifols.com. Registered cars receive a meal voucher.
SPONSORED BY:
RECEIVE A $10 MEAL VOUCHER FOR YOUR $10 CAR REGISTRATION