West Jordan March 2018 by The City Journals

March 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 03

WEST JORDAN

FREE

801-280-4114 3961 W 9000 S

10 Shirts For

HAPPY HUBERS CREATE MEMORIES ON ‘FAMILY FEUD’ By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com

fter a fire gutted her home three and a half years ago, Kristy Huber realized her lost possessions were just things, even the 30 scrapbooks she had made for her kids. “As I drove up and saw my house in flames, I said, ‘it’s just a home, we can rebuild,’” said Kristy. “We decided that from then on we were going to make memories, and you can’t take memories away.” Kristy said when you lose everything, the only thing that’s important is relationships. What matters is family and memories. You learn to laugh more. Kristy’s daughter Julie and her husband Andrew, who lived in the house, got out of the fire with just a cell phone, wearing no shoes or coat in November. Kristy wasn’t at home, but was off babysitting grandkids. It took nine months to rebuild. “We decided we loved West Jordan so much, we would rebuild here and live rather than rebuild and sell. You get integrated into neighborhoods and friends,” said Kristy. This desire to create memories inspired Kristy and four of her five children to try out for the “Family Feud” game show. Kristy has been a doula for 23 years, one who helps with comfort measures for the mother during childbirth. She also teaches at Salt Lake Community College and at the Midwives College of Utah. She is one of the longest practicing doulas in the state. Her oldest child, Josh, is a football coach at Brighton High, where he went to school. Daughter Heidi, the middle child, ran track at BYU and was All-American in high school. Julie has been a stay-at-home mom to a beautiful little boy and is currently student teaching at West Jordan middle school. The youngest is Kameron, nicknamed Bubba, studying to become a real estate agent. There is another child who lives out of state who was not able to be part of the game show team.

$20

(tax included) Expires 3/31/18

mrlecleaners.com

The Hubers: Bubba, Julie, Heidi, Kristy and Josh pose with Steve Harvey. (Julie Frank)

Before the tryout event, the Hubers sent in a video of the family. Kameron wrote a rap, and they danced with masks of Steve Harvey, the host of the show. “It helped us stand out, and just showed how nuts we are,” said Kristy. Tryouts were held in January 2017 at the Expo Center and “Family Feud” producers came. The Hubers brought their Steve Harvey masks, including one for Reuben, who is the warm-up act for Steve before the show. The producers were impressed they had done research.

They wore color-coordinated clothing and held signs saying “The Happy Hubers love Family Feud.” They played a mock game. The producers chose about 30 families who were taken to another room and were videotaped as they introduced themselves. The family was told that in eight weeks they would get a postcard, but their postcard was lost in the mail. However, Julie got an email asking when they could come. The family traveled to Atlanta in June 2017. The show paid for their flights and hotel. “You have to try out Continued on Page 5...

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

Science. Technology. Engineering. Math.

page 12

Local Postal Customer ECRWSS

page 4

Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

Become a better clarinet player than Squidward

FrattoBoys.com

Thank You to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals

Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Riverton, UT Permit #44

Page 2 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Documentary shown as part of Black History Month 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 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Ty Gorton and John Guertler

West Jordan Journal 9500 South 500 West Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 Phone: 801 254 5974

Designed, Published & Distributed by

Image from documentary “Street Fighting Men.” (utahfilmcenter.org)

n honor of Black History Month, county library staff offered a free film screening of a documentary called “Street Fighting Men” at the library’s Viridian Event Center on Feb. 1. The showing was part of a “Culture in Motion” program by the Utah Film Center. The documentary was also shown at other locations during February, including Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden and UVU’s Fulton Library Auditorium in Orem. Filmmaker Andrew James was on hand to answer questions after the show. “This is a film about the human spirit,” said James. It was also described as a modern American narrative: a story of hard work, faith and manhood in a community left to fend for itself. James made the film over three years of shooting and three years of editing. His intention was to make the film experiential. There were no interviews or narration. Rather, the viewer learned by observing moments from the lives of three men from different generations living in Detroit. At first, James was filming on his own time

Thank You

and money. Later he got a grant from Sundance to help finance it. James chose the city of Detroit because he found it interesting, with many layers in its economy and history. After choosing the city, he saw an article about the man named Jack Rabbit and looked him up online. James became interested in the issues of racism and inequality. Detroit residents were helpful to James. When he was filming, people came up to him and said, “Dude, you need to leave, someone’s going to jack your camera.” One man named Luke met him in the street and invited James to his home. He became one of the film’s subjects. Asked how he was able to stay with the men through pivotal life moments, James said it was just by hanging out with them a lot and becoming their friend. “We were open with them,” he said. “We’d swap stories.” It became a reciprocal relationship where it was fun for the men to show James around. The man nicknamed Jack Rabbit was a retired policeman who used his own time to help fight crime in his neighborhood. When

Jack participated in a radio program, the host asked him why he didn’t enjoy his retirement in Florida. Jack said, “Detroit is my home. I have time, blood, sweat and tears invested here.” Jack operated a towing and snow-removal service and cruised the streets at night in his tow truck. He watched a van parked at a house down the street and recorded the license number. Later he videotaped men at a warehouse. “I’m trying to keep the community safe,” said Jack. Jack was shown along with others in the Neighborhood Watch going door to door through various buildings, searching for a murder suspect. “We will stand up against the criminals and drug dealers that are killing our community and destroying our families,” said Jack. Secondly, a young man named Deris tried to finish school while helping to care for his baby daughter. Deris was part of a program called Young Detroit Builders, which helped young adults from poor families get general education as well as training on construction of houses and office buildings. Deris had a setback when he appeared with a black eye, saying he had been jumped and robbed. He tried to get back on track with school, but later he was shown in jail, with his mother coming to visit. The viewer doesn’t know if he was wrongly jailed or not. “I always told myself I wouldn’t be a musician or something like that, because I wanted to be there for my kids,” said Deris to his mother. The third man, Luke, was shown working to rebuild an abandoned home. It was heartbreaking when later the home burned down. Luke believed someone threw a bomb in the house. He wasn’t home at the time but lost everything he owned. Luke had just bought an insurance policy on the home but learned that the policy was not valid for 30 days. “You’re all I got now,” Luke sobbed while hugging his faithful dog, huddled in an old car. A scene with Jack Rabbit ended the film when a boy from the neighborhood pushed his bike along the sidewalk in front of Jack’s house where he sat on the porch. Jack called the boy over and put the dislodged bike chain back on the gear. When the boy thanked him, Jack said, “That’s what big guys do for little guys.” l

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

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

March 2018 | Page 3

WestJordanJournal .com

Not Just News... Your Community News...

Page 4 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

It’s a sensory small world at Viridian Event Center

olks are becoming familiar with the STEM acronym. It stands for Science. Technology. Engineering. Math. It’s a way of teaching, parenting and mentoring. One of the ideas behind STEM theory is to get kids comfortable trying each of the four subjects. And better yet, it’s to try them at an early age so they can prepare for school. The Viridian has jumped to action with a high opinion of this learning approach. It provided a morning of activities, targeted for pre- and grade school children at its Jan. 27th “Get Curious” event. No special ticket was required. Families were encouraged to drop in and try out free crafts, sensory stations and friendly exhibits.

By Amy Green | a.green@mycityjournals.com Salt Lake County librarians offered their familiar faces and help. Upon entering, Cynthia Hinckley showed a display of dinosaur bones and massive teeth, “all replicas of real fossils found, borrowed from the Utah Geological Society,” she said. Viridian staff encouraged visitors to pick up the models. “This whole event is about touching, feeling, and learning things about a lot of different stuff,” Hinckley said. Across the room, kids were also drawn to a more modern set of anatomy sculptures. This display was an animal match game challenge. One could look at a small skull or heart and guess

Cassandra Crane exhibits “Name the Animal Brain.” (Amy Green/City Journals)

what species it belongs to. Some of the choices were alligator, pigeon and dogfish. Shaving cream was lathered across another table. The fluffy-smooth texture cued kids to delve in with bare hands. Is it a liquid or a solid? Oversized Legos were blocked out over a colorful floor spread for open play. Other attractions were cardboard boxes for stacking and for making tunnels and towers. Bubble wrap laid out a tempting sensory walkway. Even Curious George made an appearance to give unlimited photo-ops and high-fives. A candy-inspired architecture table supplied construction materials. For small fingers, toothpicks and mini marshmallows worked nicely. Piper Jensen, age 5, modeled her project. “It’s a house... with a hammer,” she said with confidence. Piper showed ingenuity. Her design included a convenient tool attached right to the roof. This is exactly what the Viridian staff is rallying the community together for: getting STEM going with the early learners. Age 5 and even sooner, is a prime time to begin. Piper’s older sister Isabel also joined in to design a delicate pyramid. Susan Spicer, early learning activities manager, spoke about the importance of the program. “In public libraries, everyone benefits if your children participate, because they have an opportunity to interact with people who think differently, which is a remarkable thing,” she said. Spicer demonstrated her sensitivity to all types of kid personalities.

“A space like this, is for some children, sensory overload,” she said. “But for other children, it provides a space for them to maybe act a little bit differently. And the expectation is not the same as it would be in a storytime.” Bubbles and books even made their way into the mix. Marilee Moon represented the Children’s Literature Association of Utah, dressed as a fuzzy winged bumblebee. She welcomed children into her beehive. There were no real bees; it was a book-testing area for little ones to practice handling books. And for older kids at reading level, it was a chance to sample authors. Lisa Grant offered a reminder about how kids can vote for favorite reads at their local library and also pick up a list of the “Beehive Book Award” winners—the most acclaimed reading material, preferred and elected by kid peers. Grant knows the library experience can vary, saying, “Not every book is for every kid. Trying to find what’s going to get your child interested in reading is so huge. It can be overwhelming walking into a library and not knowing what to read.” Viridian event planners and coordinators gave valuable information and shared it enthusiastically. Like their own well-oiled metaphoric STEM machine, they set up an inviting, easy-to-navigate space. There were enough opportunities to keep every child engaged, trying out materials for two solid hours. It was a small world of big exploring—color, texture, light, shape, building, mixing and moving. Mostly, it was for the very curious. l

March 2018 | Page 5

WestJordanJournal .com Continued from cover...

again when you get there. You’re not guaranteed to get on the show once you arrive,” said Julie. The Hubers worked with a coach named Bryce who helped them through the process. “One of the hardest things was selecting clothing that looks good together. They want bright colors,” said Kristy. They decided to coordinate around Bubba who had a hot pink jacket. “It really looked sharp on set.” The masks the Hubers brought with them to the show became their trademark. When they held up their masks on set, Steve Harvey

said, “That’s the best-looking family I’ve ever seen.” The family had to sign statements agreeing not to say anything about their show until it aired, which it did on Feb. 1 and 2. “We had a viewing party, and the dumb answers we gave were put on t-shirts for all of us to wear,” Julie said. On the first game the Hubers played, they won $20,000 in “fast money”. They lost the second game, but got a $500 gift card. “We had a great time with both of the

families that we played, but we especially bonded with the Frost family from Michigan, the ones we lost to,” said Julie. “We laughed a lot and had a blast,” said Kristy. “A highlight for me was that I had four of my five kids with me for a few days, without spouses, without kids, and we just had fun.” The family succeeded in creating a remarkable memory that cannot be taken away from them. For those who missed the show, it will reair June 1 and 4 on Channel 2 at 3:00 pm. l

The Huber team on the Family Feud set. (Julie Frank)

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

Not Just News... Your Community News...

Page 6 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

From rockets to coffee: Wright rewarded for service to community By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

t was two years ago when an older woman entered High Point Coffee Shop in West Jordan. She was lost and not thinking clearly. Hundreds of dollars filled her purse and she was offering it to whoever could help her, even dumping its contents on a table. The shop’s owner, Steve Wright, decided to see if he could help. What he found was a woman with Alzheimer’s, a wrecked car and an unfortunate situation. The woman’s husband had recently died, so if she got lost, she would push her Uber app to get home. But she forgot about the app. After some time, Wright tracked down the woman’s son and got her home, ensuring the police followed up a few hours later to confirm she was safe and that no one took advantage of her. The woman’s son, a busy doctor, later told Wright he was trying to get his mother help. Wright’s wife, Kim, remembered how he called her recounting the ordeal through tears wondering what potentially could have happened to the woman. “I’m just trying to help,” Wright said about the experience. “If somebody falls down in front of me, I try to pick them back up.” Helping a woman with Alzheimer’s serves as one of countless examples why the West Jordan Chamber of Commerce presented Wright with the Craig Dearing Legacy Award at its annual community awards banquet. Created in 2016 to honor Craig Dearing for his decades of service to the West Jordan community, the award goes to someone who serves the community in a variety of ways, leaving a lasting impact. “I was surprised,” Wright said of winning the award. “I guess I figure no one realizes I’m even doing it, but apparently I was wrong.” Dearing and Al Richards, director of member relations with the chamber, decided who would receive the 2018 edition. They were looking for someone who is charitably engaged with the community. “We both started thinking of Steve (Wright) because he’s done so much in the community throughout the years,” Richards said. That could include donating coats, clothing and gifts to children at Majestic Elementary who

need help. It could reference his time (along with family and employees), money and compassion to the women’s shelter in West Jordan. And that says nothing of his donations to suicide prevention, high school athletics (even though Wright isn’t enamored with sports) and free coffee to anyone in uniform, whether it’s police, fire or military. Or it’s possibly the countless fundraisers organized for those in need, such as Grace, a 2-year-old cancer patient. Steve, along with friends he described as “fundraiser gods,” raised $15,435 to go toward her medical bills through efforts organized and done at his coffee shop. Grace spent 18 weeks doing chemotherapy and radiation. How did they come to know Grace? She was Steve’s nephew’s neighbor. “That should never happen to a little kid,” Wright said. He credited the people around him and the people of West Jordan. “They give me this award, but the family, the people that help me do these things—they’re just as responsible as I am,” he said. Kim Wright said her husband has never profited from any of his charitable contributions, which are so many she’s had to step in occasionally and say, “enough is enough; you cannot save the world.” His greatest service might come simply from being a family man. After all, he did take his four kids to rape crisis centers and homeless shelters to pass out blankets, fix sinks and mow lawns, among many other things. The best example though, comes from his wife. It was 2014, and Kim had been gone seven days on a business trip to San Francisco when she suffered what felt like a stroke. A few hours after having an MRI, she was rushed to the University of Utah Hospital where doctors had found multiple brain tumors. She would be in the hospital for the next 18 days. “(Steve) didn’t leave the hospital, he didn’t change his clothes,” Kim said. “The nurse told him to go home and take a shower. He stayed right by my side for 18 days in the hospital. That’s his level of integrity, just his commitment. He would do that for anybody.”

Steve Wright (center) is presented with the Craig Dearing Legacy Award at the West Jordan Chamber of Commerce by Al Richards (right) and Craig Dearing. (Photo Courtesy West Jordan Chamber of Commerce)

“She wasn’t supposed to survive that,” he said. “It was a miracle she did, and I didn’t want to not be there in case something went wrong.” It’s been almost 26 years since Steve and Kim Wright tied the knot. She never would’ve thought this would be the life they had. They have owned High Point Coffee Shop for 10 years. But coffee wasn’t always the plan. Steve Wright was building rocket motors for ATK. He was the union vice president, and he decided to leave to open a coffee shop. Steve said he grew tired of the corporate world and felt like it was turning on the workforce. It reached a point where he was no longer happy. “I always tell people, ‘If you don’t like it, quit,’” he said. “Then one day I realized I was one of those people.” While he initially planned to open the coffee shop in Sanpete County, West Jordan ended up as the place. He wasn’t sure how he decided on

a coffee shop. His mother worked with a woman who opened a Beans and Brews. “Maybe it just kind of stuck in my mind that it would be a cool thing to do,” he said. While Wright’s handlebar mustache suggests a tough exterior, Kim said he is soft when it comes to people. “He just has a heart that lets him see people that are in need or need a little bit of a push,” she said. Having spent countless days serving those in the community, Wright can’t pinpoint where his desire to help originated. “It’s just something I guess I’ve always done,” he said. “If I see someone out on the side of the road with a flat tire, I’ll stop and help them change their flat. I feel like everybody should be that way.” Richards may have found the best way to sum up the 2018 Legacy Award winner when he said, “You don’t find too many guys like him.”l

New Community in West Jordan Townhomes – Call to reserve yours

Starting

in the $230’s

Lisa Willden

Realtor

801-913-3553 | LisaWillden@gmail.com

Located at: 7847 S. 5440 W.

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

Page 8 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

‘True love story’ hits diseased road block By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

t was in a ’51 Chevy pickup truck that Valerie Densley learned to drive at a young age. And almost 50 years later, that same truck helped find her husband. Valerie and Tom Densley were friends when they were little. It was the late 60s, early 70s when they went their separate ways rarely hearing from one another. Tom had always wanted the truck and told Valerie’s father to sell it to him when the time came. It took decades but Tom, now 62, finally got the truck. Meanwhile, Valerie, now 57, saw a similar truck at a car show and decided to look for the Chevy from her childhood. Through Facebook she found Tom had it and was planning to turn it into a hot rod. “We met up with each other and found out we lived pretty parallel lives and immediately fell in love and got married,” she said. “It was very crazy.” They celebrated their one-year anniversary at the end of February. Once reconnected, they discovered both had recently gone through bad divorces and moved into new homes. Now married, they moved into Tom’s house in West Jordan, where he grew up. “It’s a true love story,” Valerie said. Recently though, that story hit a road block. Tom was born with polycystic kidney disease where numerous cysts grow in the kidneys which reduces function and leads to kidney failure. About 600,000 people in the US have PKD, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

March is National Kidney Month. It wasn’t until about 20 years ago Tom found out he had the hereditary disease, and it was a few years ago on Thanksgiving his body took a downturn. Now his kidney function at level 7, out of 100. They are now in search of a kidney donor for the O blood type Tom has. Anybody can receive blood from O, but only O blood types can receive from each other. Last fall, the couple had a donor set up—a young friend of Tom’s from their work as heavy equipment mechanics on large drill rigs in gold mines and gravel pits. The surgery was scheduled for November 2017, but they didn’t get that far. The young man, who Valerie described as “very health conscious,” found out he was diabetic shortly before the procedure. “(He) came to the house broken-hearted,” Valerie said. “I’m glad they found that,” Tom said. “If they donated and then found out he had a health issue (because of the donation), I couldn’t have lived with that.” The two are exploring all avenues before them. A Facebook page was put together called “Give me an O.” They are on the donor list at the University of Utah donor center and donors can submit online for “Thomas Densley.” Though Valerie is not a match for Tom, she is undergoing testing so they become a team. This is when the clinic looks for another pair where Valerie can donate her kidney while her counterpoint donates to Tom. “Just an extra something they will search for

but sadly our team is rare as well and is difficult to match,” Valerie said. Looking for another donor has been difficult, Valerie said. She describes Tom just like his blood type, generously giving to everyone, but also not one to make public his health issues often disguising the pain he often suffers. Tom still works when he can saying he’ll work as long as his body allows. “I can be his advocate but it wears me down because I’m so emotionally attached,” she said. Tom said his wife’s been wonderful looking for donors. He added that testing to become a donor is a three- to four-month process paid for by his insurance. “In the long run, they get a hell of a physical examination to see if they have anything wrong,” Tom joked. The couple strives to identify the funny moments. Tom is unable to regulate his body temperature so he often feels cold. So cold he “could be in blankets sitting in front of the fire place with heat up to 78 degrees in the house and still be freezing,” Valerie said. She will come home to “what feels like a fire” and show Tom the butter melting on the kitchen counter. “This is proof that it’s too warm in here,” she’ll say. What’s harder to laugh about is how the disease affects his joints. For his body to get nutrients, it’s pulling from his bone supply causing him significant pain. This happens especially if overexerts himself. “The next day or two feels like somebody is

beating me up with a baseball bat, every bone in the body hurts,” Tom said. “I can’t function, can’t sit or lay down—just uncomfortable and the lack of sleep is terrible.” He will often go weeks in between a decent night of sleep, which is considered 2-4 hours long. Medication possibilities are limited due to their harsh nature on body organs. “A lot of time,” Valerie said. “He just has to try his best to endure.” l

Valerie and Tom Densley were childhood friends before reuniting a few years ago and getting married. (Courtesy Valerie Densley)

Palm Sunday Procession & Worship March 25, 8:30am & 11:00am Youth Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast After both services.

Holy Thursday Worship

March 29 at 7:30pm @ Mountain Vista UMC Led by Pastor Dennis Shaw.

Good Friday Worship

March 30 at 7:30pm @ Hilltop UMC 985 East 10600 South in Sandy Led by Pastor Olga Hard.

Easter Sunday Worship

April 1, Sunrise Service 7:00am in Pavilion Followed by Easter Breakfast Easter Services 8:30am & 11:00am Children’s Easter Egg Hunt 9:50am

CanTaTa

April 23, 8:30am & 11:00am Worship

8931 S. 3200 W. • West Jordan, UT 84088

www.mtnvistaumc.org 801-280-4148

WestJordanJournal .com

Construction continues along Mountain View Corridor

March 2018 | Page 9

By Mariden Williams | mariden.w@mycityjournals.com

DOT’s current plans for the Mountain View Corridor feature more connections and interchanges at key roads and destinations, and the incorporation of more public transit. “The way that this kinda works, we’re calling it a balanced transportation plan,” UDOT project director Joe Kammerer explained to the Riverton City Council. “We build roadway and trail, and then we build a transit component, so there’s three phases of each of those.” Phase one of transit in Salt Lake County, according to Kammerer, will be an express bus system. It will run along 5600 West, connect to Daybreak Parkway and Salt Lake International Airport, and continue into downtown Salt Lake. “Once this is in place, we will build those interchanges north of Old Bingham Highway up to Interstate 80. So, you can see that the transit component is a very critical part of developing the roadway as well,” said Kam-

merer. Originally UDOT was planning to have a rail system, “but now we’ve changed it.” For Mountain View Corridor, the public transit component south of Old Bingham Highway is already complete. “In order for us to go to phase two of the roadway…the only remaining component is to connect Mountain View Corridor from 2100 North [in Lehi] to Porter Rockwell Boulevard,” Kammerer said. “Once we do that, we will, provided we have funding, start building interchanges along Mountain View Corridor to the north. So, 12600 South, 13400 (South), and so on.” “At 5600 West, south of 201, so south of 2100 south, we’re expecting those travel volumes to go back to [what they were in the] early 1980s, once we build the interchange at Mountain View and 201.” The most recently completed segment of the Mountain View Corridor, finished just a couple of months ago, connects I-15 to Redwood Road, and

then picks up from Porter Rockwell Boulevard and extends all the way to 4100 South. Another segment, which will connect State Route 73 to 2100 North in Lehi, is funded and due to be constructed this summer. “It will be similar configuration to what is out there now—two lanes in each direction, a 12-foot wide bicycle/pedestrian trail, and a center median,” said Kammerer. Another planned and funded piece, from 4100 South up to State Route 201, will be extended a little further, out to California Avenue. “We expect that construction to begin about one year from now, and will last a couple of years.” Another segment, which will connect the roadway from 2100 North to Porter Rockwell, still needs to be funded. “When that piece is connected, that will complete phase one of Mountain View Corridor, with the exception of the piece from California Avenue to I-80.” l

Not Just News... Your Community News...

Mountain View Corridor December 2017 project update map. (Utah Department of Transportation)

Page 10 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

OPEN

ENROLLMENT

Say ‘top of the morning’ to some St. Patty’s Day plans By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

Musically based Preschool & Private Kindergarten 2 hour, 3 hour, and ALL DAY instruction classes available

IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER SENIOR LIVING?

Have you noticed your loved one: • Falling? • Skipping meals? • Skipping meds? • Untidy house? • Repeating stories? • Mail piling up?

If so, please give us a call.

CALL TO SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY! Call: 801-840-4600 summitseniors.com

5524 West 6200 South • Salt Lake City, UT 84118

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home or maybe at the parade. (Pixabay)

ucky charms, green beer and pinching those not wearing clothes of an emerald shade. St. Patrick’s Day arrives on Saturday, March 17. For a holiday recognized by the aforementioned luck, alcohol and color, it may not always be clear what options are available in the Salt Lake Valley to celebrate the Irish holiday. Whether you are a single mom with two kids, recent college graduate or multiple decades into existence, here are some ideas to spend the day. St. Patrick’s Day Parade Put on by the Hibernian Society of Utah, the parade takes place in Salt Lake City going down 300 South from 500 East to the Gallivan Center. This marks the 40th anniversary of the parade that will start at 10 a.m. The parade after-party, known as the Siamsa (sheem-sa) will be held at the Gallivan Center. The Hibernian Society is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and preserve Irish history, culture and traditions in Utah. Irish pub If you’re looking for a traditional old-style Irish pub, then Murphy’s Bar and Grill at 160 South Main Street in Salt Lake City is the place. Salt Lake City also features Squatters, Gracie’s and MacCool’s Public House. No word yet if green beer will be on their March 17 menus. McDonald’s What? McDonald’s has nothing to do with

St. Patrick’s Day. But it does return every year with its minty Shamrock Shake to celebrate the holiday. Find one at your local McDonald’s. The Leprechaun Lope The 29th annual Leprechaun Lope features a timed 10K, 5K and 2-mile fun run on US certified track and field courses. Races run from the State Capitol to Memory Grove (300 North Canyon Road) with the 10K starting at 10:30 a.m., 5K at 8:35 a.m. and 2-mile fun run at 8:40 a.m. The event features division winners including best Irish costume, wheelchair, centipede (four runners linked with a costume or rope) and many others. The Lope will benefit Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. Register at lourdesschool.org/lope. At home food You can even celebrate the holiday in your home, whether you hail from Ireland or not. Plenty of recipes can include green covered food such as green candied popcorn, green M&M’s, your own shamrock shake trading in mint ice cream for vanilla or Irish brown bread. At home crafts While food is necessary, so is entertainment, especially if you have kids. There are plenty of DIY projects to do at home whether it’s T-shirts stamped with green shamrocks, leprechaun hats made with toilet paper rolls, sparkling green play dough or even a wreath for your door. l

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

March 2018 | Page 11

WestJordanJournal .com

New Kearns drug treatment facility aims to help break chains of addiction By Jennifer Gardiner | j.gardiner@mycityjournals.com

Living room of new Valley Behavioral Health treatment facility in Kearns.(Jennifer Gardiner/City Journals)

his past year, there has been a lot happening to try to help the homeless. One of those things is to provide treatment and support for those bound by the ropes of drug addiction. The new campus of Valley Behavioral Health in Kearns is doing all they can to help. The 110-bed campus runs side-by-side in conjunction with the EPIC program (Evidencebased Programs and Interventions Campus) and has one main goal: to help people break the chains of addiction so they can re-enter the community. Their target audience is men and women with substance abuse issues who might also be struggling with mental illness and behavioral issues. The program is designed to help them have a successful re-entry into the community and to help reduce criminal recidivism. Rebecca Brown, senior business director for Valley Behavioral Health, said the campus was converted from a 16-bed facility for youth to a 78-bed facility for adult substance abusers. “The reason we have done that is our youth facility closed in early spring based on funding changes and we were really looking into what we would do next,” Brown said. “In November the Medicaid 11-15 waiver passed allowing us to expand access to programming and increase the capacity of beds.” Brown said there is a need in the community for the facility with the rise in the opioid epidemic and the long wait lists for those wanting treatment. “We have Operation Rio Grande happening at the state level and this is part of the second phase of that,” Brown said. “This campus will have four living facilities, counseling and day treatment on site, a full-service, 365 days a year program. We have a full staff including nursing and all levels of treatment.” The campus is a remodel of their buildings located at 3809 West 6200 South which will

operate in a modified therapeutic community model of treatment. It is considered a premier facility, and has a fully functioning decor including living rooms, kitchen space and separate bedrooms. Seventy-eight beds will be open in March 2018 but they have the ability to open up to 110 beds if the need arises, which Brown anticipates will happen. Once someone enters the facility for treatment they are roomed with several others, which is said to help with accountability. In time, they can move into rooms with less occupants as a form of reward for their progress. Brittany Peck, 38, said she has struggled with drug addiction for years and just hit her three year anniversary of being sober. She was in an abusive relationship and battled with trauma, depression and anxiety and eventually lost her kids. She used meth and heroin until she overdosed on Jan. 18, 2015 and was referred to Valley Behavioral Health. Peck said at the time it was chaotic but as it progressed she started therapy and discovered the root reasons she went down the path she did. “I learned how to get along with others, I learned how to love myself, how to cope with things in everyday society which I didn’t know how to,” Peck said. “They helped me with medication, they helped me with aftercare.” Peck said she still goes to therapy as she knows the real struggle is learning how to cope with living in the real world and integrating with society. She knows she can come to Valley Behavioral Health for help anytime as she continues her transition into a sober life. Brown said they have many different ways in which individuals can get into the program, whether it is a referral through the Medicaid waiver program, the Operation Rio Grande, court ordered treatment or by going to valleycares.com or calling 888-949-4864 to get a referral to the program. l

Not Just News... Your Community News...

Page 12 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Musical petting zoo

he sound coming out of the French horn was more like an elephant than an actual note, but Ava Basinger got a cheer from her friends. “If they can just get a sound—even if it’s not a pretty sound—that’s good enough,” said Christine Christofferson, band and orchestra teacher at Sunset Ridge Middle. Christofferson provided a petting zoo of instruments for sixth-graders at Falcon Ridge, Fox Hollow, Mountain Shadows and Oakcrest elementary schools to introduce them to instruments they might want to play as they prepare to register for seventh-grade music classes. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for many students to play these instruments,” said Jenifer Olson from Summerhays Music, who provides rental instruments for students. “The whole purpose is to let them have a good musical experience and to have fun with the instruments.” Christofferson, who can play all the instruments in the band, performed the theme from “Indiana Jones” on each one to demonstrate their unique sounds and ranges. Most kids were familiar with the clarinet, the instrument Squidward (a character from “Sponge Bob Square Pants”) plays badly. “If you join band and play clarinet, you will be a better clarinet player than Squidward,” Christofferson promised. She said clarinet is one of the most popular instruments; she currently

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com has 20 clarinet players in her beginning band. The cello and violin sections of her orchestra are also large. “I have a lot of cello players—a lot of time the inspiration is Piano Guys and the 2 Cellos,” she said. “I don’t get as many violas and basses or the obscure instruments that aren’t on the internet.” At the petting zoo, students were exposed to instruments they don’t get to hear as much or see as much—like the euphonium. She also countered some stigmas associated with certain instruments, insisting the flute is not a “girly” instrument, and the tuba is not just for boys. But both Christofferson and Olson believe that certain kinds of personalities are drawn to certain instruments. “If you are a loud, obnoxious person, this instrument is for you,” Christofferson said about the trombone. She said the whimsical sliding sound attracts that kind of personality. Senior Riley Baxter, a trombone player at Copper Hills High School, agreed. “You kind of have a little bit of that inside you, and then when you play the instrument, it gets amplified,” he said. Students from the high school band were there to help the sixth-graders try out the instruments. Students got to blow the horns, finger the valves, slide the slides and pluck the strings of nine different band and orchestra

instruments. Christofferson said since she began using the petting zoo as a recruitment tool four years ago, her beginning band has grown from 20 students to 65. “This is what gets me the kids,” said Christofferson, who now has 220 total students enrolled in the seven music classes offered at Sunset Ridge. Choir director Patricia Rogers agrees the recruitment tool builds her program better than anything else. She invited interested individuals to sing “Happy Birthday to You” to audition for the middle school’s advanced choirs. “They all know it and feel comfortable singing it so ‘Happy Birthday’ is my go-to song,” said Rogers. She said it is also a great song to determine a singer’s range and his or her ability to hold a pitch. The teachers also emphasized the music program as a great place to form lasting friendships. “We know that they’re really worried about friendships in junior high, and so we talk about band friendships,” said Olson, who is still in touch with her band friends from 40 years ago. “It’s so much different than math or English because we work together as a team, and we have to rely on each other to play our parts well,” she said. “Those friendships really form and they’re tight.” l

Ava Basinger has fun trying out various band instruments—like the tuba. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

G O OD NE IG H BOR

NEWS

MARCH 2018

Paid for by the City of West Jordan

Make a lasting difference in our community COMCAST CARES DAY APRIL 21

M AY O R ’ S M E S S A G E

Happenings on the Hill . . . Making Your Voice Heard This past month I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time up on Capitol Hill witnessing our legislators in action. This has been an eye-opening experience as I’ve met with a variety of people to let them know how proposed legislation could impact our community. I’ve learned the importance of making sure our city’s interests are represented, and I am working hard to make sure that our collective voices are heard. At a local level, we want to give you a chance to make your voice heard. In addition to my weekly “Meet the Mayor” meetings each Thursday from 3-5 p.m. where I invite residents to stop by and visit with me at City Hall, we are conducting a Citizen Satisfaction Survey where you can weigh in and rate things like city services and other factors that impact your quality of life. Do you think West Jordan is headed in the right direction? Please tell us what you think. (Find out more on page 15.) One issue that has been highlighted by many residents is the need to beautify our community. You can help by participating in our city-wide cleanup on April 21 during Comcast Cares Day. Please join us as we spread bark mulch in the parks, plant trees, pick up trash along the trails and spruce up the city. All ages are welcome and Comcast will provide breakfast, lunch and t-shirts. Please register in advance.

Make a lasting difference in our community during Comcast Cares Day Saturday, April 21. Join us as we spend the morning planting trees, spreading bark mulch, pulling weeds, cleaning flower beds, and sprucing up the city. Volunteers check in at Ron Wood Baseball Complex, 5900 W. New Bingham Highway, from 7-8 a.m. where they will be divided into project groups and enjoy donuts, juice and receive a t-shirt (first come/first served). Projects run 8 a.m. until noon when volunteers meet back at the Ron Wood Baseball Complex pavilion for lunch. All ages are welcome to participate. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. In addition to making improvements to the community, Comcast will donate money based on the number of volunteers who attend. Please register in advance so that we can plan projects, t-shirts and food. Projects take place rain or shine. Visit WestJordan.Utah.Gov or email volunteer@wjordan.com or call 801-569-5160.

Another issue I hear about is the need for economic development. To that end, we’ve partnered with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and are working with them to find companies that will be good additions to our city. Economic development is more than just bringing in new stores to shop or dine at or keeping our existing businesses thriving. It’s also about opportunities to bring in larger businesses that provide good-paying jobs. Economic development is also important because the tax revenue (both property and sales tax) that businesses pay directly impacts the city’s ability to provide services that make our community a nice place to live. (Businesses pay property tax on the full value of their business. Residents are only taxed at half the value of their property.) There are a lot of exciting things happening around the city! Please let me know what you think by taking the Citizen Satisfaction Survey. You can access it online at WestJordan.Utah.Gov or email me at mayorsoffice@wjordan.com.

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

Upcoming construction projects

The big reveal!

As the weather warms up, construction projects kick into high gear. These projects are necessary to keep the different utilities and roadways in good condition. At any given time, there are many construction projects in various stages under way around the city. Not all projects are “city” projects and managed by the city’s engineering team. Some are state roads and are UDOT projects, and some involve maintaining or replacing other utilities like gas lines, electric wires, internet fiber, and other infrastructure that are owned and operated by independent companies. Many of these projects are summarized on the city’s website at WestJordan.Utah. Gov on the “Construction” page that can be accessed from the homepage. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the major projects scheduled for 2018:

WEST JORDAN’S ‘ALTON THACKER’ FEATURED ON MIKE ROWE’S “RETURNING THE FAVOR”

5600 WEST PROJECT UPDATE Construction is scheduled to begin in April (weather permitting) and last about four months to widen 5600 West between 7800 South and 8200 South. The widening will include: • New signal at 8200 South • Improvements to old pavement • New sidewalk • Improved drainage facilities • Bicycle lanes • New lighting and privacy wall where none exist Contact the project public information team by emailing 5600wconstruction@ wjordan.com or calling the project hotline at 888-966-6624, ext 5. BANGERTER INTERCHANGES 7000 South: A 48-day closure at 7000 South will begin as early as Monday, March 12 (weather permitting). All four left turns will be closed at the 7000 South and Bangerter Highway interchange. East and west through traffic beneath the overpass will also be closed. All four right turns at the 7000 South and Bangerter Highway interchange will be open. Bangerter Highway northbound and southbound will remain open. Updated information, detour and alternate routes will be provided prior to the closure on the project website at udot.utah.gov/bangeter7000South. 9000 South: Construction activities are ongoing day and night. Residents, businesses and drivers should be aware of trucks entering and exiting the work zone. Continue to expect noise, dust, vibration and nighttime construction lighting. 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. 7000 SOUTH UTILITIES PROJECT  REDWOOD ROAD TO 1985 WEST Over the past two years, the city has been working to replace old utility lines and replace roadway surfaces along 7000 South from the Jordan River to 3200 West. This project is one of the largest both in terms of miles of infrastructure and also project costs, and replaces some of the oldest pipes in the city. Much of the project is complete, with the final section from Redwood Road to 1985 West scheduled to start this spring. During construction, portions of 7000 South will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Heavy delays and congestion can be expected. Drivers should use alternate routes including 7800 South, 9000 South, and 6200 South as detour routes around the construction zone. As with all construction, schedules are subject to change due to weather and equipment. Sign up for project emails at Construction@wjordan.com or call the project hotline 801-569-5101. Visit WestJordan.Utah.gov for more information.

In December, Mike Rowe, from the hit show “Dirty Jobs,” came to West Jordan to film his new show “Returning the Favor” which premiered on Facebook in August 2017. Mike travels the country in search of people who make a difference in their communities. In West Jordan, he found 82-year-old Alton Thacker, the founder of Tiny Tim’s Foundation for Kids, a toy workshop that builds and donates wooden cars to children all over the world. The episode will be available on Facebook March 6. Because Alton likes parades, the community came together and held a parade in the park. A big thank you to all who braved the cold and came to show their support! Also, a special shout out to those who helped make it happen including the LOCAL BUSINESSES Salt Lake County Library, Jordan School District, West • Highpoint Coﬀee Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the City Journals. • Dunford Bakers Alton opened the foundation in 2002, not long af• Chick-fil-A of West Jordan ter he retired as a barber. He and his volunteers build and Taylorsville about 85,000 cars a year! These toy cars comfort sick • Sam’s Club children, travel abroad with missionaries and vaca• Nothing Bundt Cakes tioners, and have helped hundreds of boys earn their • Taﬀy Town, Inc. Eagle Scout award. Local cabinet companies donate PARADE PARTICIPANTS excess wood for the cars, inmates at the Gunnison • West Jordan High School prison paint the cars, and retired senior citizens and • Copper Hills High School other volunteers attach the wheels. • Utah Jazz Bear Alton’s stories inspired Mike and his crew to travel • Columbia Elementary to West Jordan, and we are so excited to share his • Terra Linda Elementary • Owlexander the Owl story! The show’s Facebook page sums it up nicely: • Miss Utah “Returning the Favor gives back to those who pay it • Western Stampede Royalty forward with humor, heart and surprise. Because one • Maxwell Dance Studio good turn deserves another.” • Forever Cheer • ABC Great Beginnings • Sinclair Oil Dinosaur • Salt Lake Stars/ Buster • Be Smart Auto • Rotary Club • West Jordan Police • West Jordan Fire • West Jordan Parks • West Jordan Public Works • West Jordan Mayor and City Council

THANK YOU!

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

Collective Works

Meet the Mayor

ILLUSTRATORS ON DISPLAY AT THE SCHORR GALLERY

Every Thursday* from 3 - 5 p.m. residents can stop by the Mayor’s office on the 3rd floor in City Hall and visit with the Mayor on any issue, question or concern. Please stop by and share your concerns and vision for our city. For those who are unable to visit during this time, appointments can be made by contacting our main administration office at 801-569-5100. *Occasionally Mayor Riding will have commitments that require him to be away from the office on Thursdays. On these days, a city council member or someone from the mayor’s staff will be available.

The West Jordan Schorr Gallery’s next exhibition begins in March and will include the collective works of several Utah illustrators. There will be an artists’ reception Thursday, March 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the City Hall Schorr Gallery, 8000 S. Redwood Road. The public is invited to come and meet the artists and enjoy their work. Light refreshments will be served.

Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls! Ashley Harrison is one of the featured artists and is an aspiring author and full-time illustrator. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at Utah Valley University and currently works for Azevedo Studios creating background illustrations for various YouTube channels. “I love all things Disney, in fact I was so inspired by the illustrations done in the movie Tangled that I decided illustrating is what I wanted to pursue,” Harrison said. Mikie Lines is a freelance artist who usually draws people in anime style. Although Lines attended a few art classes at Salt Lake Community College, Lines is mostly self-taught. “I create fantasy and anime themed art because I find solace in its symbology,” Lines said. “I suffer from some depression and anxiety and my art helps me to self-sooth.” Also included in March’s exhibit is the artistic works of fellow Utahn, Erin Pearson. Pearson studied Fine Art from Utah Valley University and the University of California San Jose. She graduated from UVU with a BFA degree. “There are three artistic styles that have influenced my own art development: art process with its use of unconventional tools, water media and its swift drying, and layering and printmaking,” Pearson said. “I never plan a piece out from the beginning. The piece evolves as I work my own process.”

The Western Stampede Committee is looking for volunteers, like you! The Western Stampede is celebrating its 64th annual PRCA rodeo, and we are looking for volunteers willing to dig their feet in and make this event EXCEPTIONAL. Learn more about opportunities to serve on the Western Stampede Committee by emailing events@wjordan. com or calling 801-569-5160.

Are you happy with the direction West Jordan is headed? TAKE THE CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

City leaders want to know what you think about city services and the direction the city is headed. The city is conducting a short survey to give residents the opportunity to make their voices heard. This online survey can be found at WestJordan.Utah.gov. We will also be sharing it on the West Jordan City Hall Facebook page. Please take a few minutes (it shouldn’t take more than five) and share your thoughts on the quality of life in West Jordan. (If you don’t have access to a computer and would like a hard copy, please call 801-569-5163.)

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

M ARC H

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.

M ARC H

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

EASTER EGG HUNT

City Hall Council Chambers 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

Soccer Complex 7965 S. 4000 West 9 a.m.

APR I L

GREEN WASTE PICK UP BEGINS THIS WEEK

CITY PARKS OPEN FOR THE SEASON

PLANNING COMMISSION

GREEN WASTE COLLECTION BEGINS ON YOUR REGULAR PICK UP DAY THE WEEK OF APRIL 2 West Jordan’s popular green waste collection begins the week of April 2. Green waste containers are collected once a week on a seasonal basis on your normal collection day. The program begins the first Monday in April and ends with the last Friday in November. Place only yard clippings in the green waste can.

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

APR I L

12-21

APR I L

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS

PLANNING COMMISSION

APR I L

City Hall Council Chambers 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

The Importance of Being Earnest Pioneer Hall, 1137 W 7800 S April 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. April 14 matinee at 2 p.m.

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

KEEP IT CLEAN • DO NOT bag any items. • Please DO NOT put dirt, sod, cardboard, garbage, debris, concrete, rocks or plastic bags in the container. • All materials should fall freely from the container when dumped. • Please do not overload. Lid of the container must close completely and branches should not stick out of the container. • Place container curbside by 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day during green waste season.

Daddy Daughter

Princess Ball

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

Thanks to all who joined us for our first-annual ‘Daddy Daughter Princess Ball!’ Many royals could be found enjoying the festivities. Next year the Events Team will look at expanding the event and making it a Royal Ball.

March 2018 | Page 17

WestJordanJournal .com

Fourteen-year-old authors

ithin the next few months, all of Chase Raymond’s eighth-grade English students will be published authors. Writing a book and getting it published is an assignment he has given them the whole school year to complete. “The goal is to expose their work to others,” said Raymond, who teaches at Hawthorn Academy in West Jordan. Raymond told the students they could write any genre of book. Most students chose to write fiction and fantasy because that is what they like to read. A few of his students have a children’s book in the works. Others are writing non-fiction, including a self-help book, a biography of Michael Jordan and a memoir about being a Native American in America. “I leave much of the project open,” he said. “Above all, I want it to be an expression of themselves and something they are passionate about. That said, I encourage them to apply the lessons we learn.” Eighth-grade language arts curriculum teaches writing and grammar skills that are necessary to be an author. “Writing a book fulfills a large portion of the standards they are required to learn as eighth-graders,” said Raymond. Students are not graded on their progress and, for the most part, do their writing at home.

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com However, Raymond schedules regular editing sessions for students to receive feedback from their peers. Becca Wesley said the opportunity to read others’ stories has helped her improve her writing style. Exchanging stories with a friend made her realize she needed more description in her story, noting that’s what made her friend’s story so interesting. “The hardest part of this assignment is I have an idea, and I write it down, but then it doesn’t sound as good as I thought it would be, so I have to change my writing,” said Becca. “Writers make it look easy, but it’s actually not.” Becca already knows how her novel will end and is currently writing chapter 13 of the mystery story. She is not concerned about having enough time to finish it. Haley Ashurst-McGee is writing a fantasy/ mystery/adventure chapter book titled “Saving NYC in 3 Days” about magical twins who save the day. She has written 20 chapters so far and estimates it will be about 30 chapters when complete. She enjoys the assignment and has been writing short stories for years—though she hasn’t finished very many of them. “This assignment has made me more motivated,” said Haley. She is looking forward to finishing her story and sharing it with others. Fourteen might be a young age to write a

book, but Raymond thinks the eighth-graders are at a good stage of development for such a project. He said during the middle school years, kids are at a vulnerable developmental stage. “The students’ vision of themselves and who they want to be begins to shift, and there are few things as upsetting as losing one’s sense of self,” he said. “Writing a book helps the students evaluate character, explore situations and solidify personal philosophies in a far more measured and thoughtful process.” Becca chose to write a fictional chapter book, although she is borrowing characteristics of her real-life friends to develop the characters. “It’s kind of like a story of my life, but half of it’s true and half of it’s not,” said Becca. Her story is about a girl who is rescued by her two friends after she is kidnapped by the villain, Scarlett. Raymond gave no specific due date except that books must be published some time by the end of the school year. “I’m surprised and encouraged by how much many of the students are eager about the project without much prodding,” he said. Students will choose a publishing platform such as Amazon, Wattpad, or even a blog or social media to share their work. They also have the option to send query letters to publishers. l

English teacher Chase Raymond discusses strategies that will help his students get their stories published. (Chase Raymond/Hawthorn Academy)

Page 18 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Belated blanket

ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS.

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Same day and next day appointments are available. InSURanCES aCCEPTED:

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 801-285-4800 3723 West 12600 South, Suite 350 Riverton, Utah 84065 www.westerngynob.com

CALL US TODAY! 801-290-8827

Cosmetic and Health-Based dentistry We love doing ALL types of dentistry, especially cosmetic and implant dentistry. We’d love to help you with whatever it will take to give you a happy and healthy smile, so you can live better!

FREE FREE 50 $

Exam & X-Ray

GIFT CARD

or Second Opinion

with Exam, Cleaning & X-Rays

New patients only. Cannot be combined with other offers.

New patients only. Two per family. Cannot be combined with other offers.

EvErgrEEn DEntal Dr. Christian lassen 3961 W. 9000 S. #I West Jordan, Ut 84088

801-290-8827 myevergreendental.com

From left to right: Ralph Zobell, BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake, Jim Jaramillo, Paul Tidwell (Jim Jaramillo)

YU football player Jim Jaramillo received his traditional Senior Blanket 37 years after his final game. “It was something always in the back of my mind that I never got it,” said Jaramillo, who played football for BYU from 1976 to 1980 and now teaches at West Jordan High School. It is a tradition at BYU for coaches to present their senior players with a personalized blanket at their final game. “When it came the final home game where they presented the blankets, I didn’t attend that home game,” said Jaramillo, whose injuries prevented him from finishing out his senior season. When long-time friend Ralph Zobell realized the omission, he quietly arranged for Jaramillo to receive the belated blanket. Zobell, who works in the athletic communications department at the university, knew how much the tradition means to players and coaches. “I don’t know what happened to his senior blanket and didn’t ask if it was still around,” said Zobell. “I just thought, ‘I can do something about this.’” Zobell contacted the company that makes the blankets and arranged to purchase the memoir himself. He decided it would be even more meaningful if a football coach made the presentation. Zobell coordinated with BYU football coach Kalani Sitake’s schedule and invited Jaramillo down to BYU, on the premise of giving him a tour of the updated athletic facilities. “I didn’t tell him what I was doing,” said Zobell. Jaramillo said he was very surprised when Sitake stepped out of a meeting to talk with him. Jaramillo explained what happened next. “He said ‘I heard there’s something after your career at BYU that you didn’t receive. Come on into my office; I’ve got something for you,” he said. Sitake presented the dark blue blanket with Jaramillo’s name and the years he had played embroidered on it. “He said, ‘We’d like to make you whole as one of our players—we like to take care of our

people. I’d like to present you with your senior blanket,’” Jaramillo recounted. Sitake said he wanted to thank him for what he had done for the school as a player. Jaramillo said he was shocked and touched by the impromptu ceremony. “It turned out to be a nice little surprise,” Jaramillo said. He was especially surprised that the coach made time for him. The day of the presentation was also the first day players would be signing their letters of intent to play. The whole department was busy keeping track of what players were signing. “It turned out to be coach Sitake’s busiest day that we could have picked,” said Zobell. “But coach Sitake found time in his schedule to officially present the blanket.” Zobell said the coach said this kind of omission should never have happened and the coaching staff feels strongly that players should be remembered. Jaramillo felt appreciated. “For him to take that time out, especially that day—I thought it was pretty special of him to do that,” he said. “He’s a super guy for doing that.” He also appreciates the effort his friend made to get him the belated memoir. Zobell and Jaramillo arrived at BYU at the same time in 1976— Jaramillo as a football player and Zobell as an intern for the Sports Information Department. Later, they became neighbors, and Zobell visited Jaramillo’s home as part of an assignment in their church. Zobell said he felt it was important to arrange this for his friend. “I just feel good about Jim getting a blanket,” said Zobell. Even without the blanket, Jaramillo remembers his time on the BYU team. “My favorite memories are the friendships I made—and the travel,” he said. Jaramillo values lessons learned through sports. He previously coached track and football at West Jordan High where he now teaches history and coaches the girls soccer team. “College football taught me how to get along with people, deal with adversity and compete at a relatively high level in my sport,” he said. l

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

March 2018 | Page 19

WestJordanJournal .com

Health requires preventative measures, here’s some tips

teps to a healthier lifestyle begins by being preventative, said Medical Doctor Greg Bean. “Each year, I treat women trying to stay committed to difficult New Year’s resolutions like losing weight or cutting out sweets. As doctors, we always try to remind them of much easier and important ways to build a healthy lifestyle,” Bean said. Here are four tips for all women, regardless of age, to better and safely control their health. 1. See a gynecologist annually Seeing a gynecologist at least once per year is an essential component of women’s preventative health care. A gynecologist will be able to test for diseases including breast cancer, cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Women who are between the ages of 21 and 65 should check in with their gynecologist for a pap smear once every three years to screen for cervical cancer, according to Mayo Clinic. In addition, a gynecologist can prescribe birth control—which not only prevents unplanned pregnancy but can lower the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers—and help women plan to start a family.

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

2. Prioritize exercise Regular exercise is the best defense against osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, the leading cause of death among U.S. women. It also boosts energy, improves mood, helps with weight control and promotes better sleep. Women should aim to complete a mix of cardio and strength training at least three to five days per week to fully reap its benefits. 3. Eat more natural, unprocessed foods Rather than obsessing over calorie intake, women should resolve to eat a range of whole foods including whole grains, vegetables, fruit and unprocessed meat, while staying away from added sugars. One Yale study compared a range of diets and found that “a diet of minimally processed foods, close to nature” was best for longevity and disease prevention. Eating real, whole foods proved more effective than other popular diets, including low-carb, low-fat, low-glycemic and Paleolithic diets. 4. Don’t count out mental health Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to preventative care, particularly among women. Women are

at a much higher risk for mental illness then men; one study found women are about 40 percent more likely to develop depression. Neglecting mental health care can lead to a number of complications, including high

Make health a priority throughout 2018.

blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, insomnia and chronic disease. If you suspect you might be struggling, your doctor can help you navigate solutions. Information courtesy Steward Hospitals l

Page 20 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Card shows for sports collectors By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

At the sports memorabilia card shows at South Towne and Valley Fair malls you can find cards, autographs, game used jerseys and even collectible money. (Greg James/City Journals)

C 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 • Blackridge • Columbia • Copper Canyon Daybreak • Foothills • JATC-South • Jordan Hills Majestic • Mountain Shadows Rosamond • Silver Crest • West Jordan

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

ard collectors have been gathering at Valley Fair, South Towne and Layton Hills malls sharing collecting stories and trading cards of their favorite players. “We have all kinds of people coming to these shows,” card show organizer David Avila said. “They complete sets and collect certain players. We like to think Valley Fair Mall is our home base, but we rotate to South Towne Mall and Layton Hills too.” Valley Fair Mall has hosted the show every other month for nearly five years. Avila said they have been great to work with. “We can allow collectors to put their hands on the card. We have as many as 20 dealers that come out,” Avila said. The card shows feature sport cards, but collectors can find non-sports cards, comics, collectible coins and memorabilia. “Honestly, my husband and I work fulltime jobs and collecting is a side hobby,” assistant card show organizer Missy Bates said. “He collected when he was young and I married into the hobby so to say. Now I help him and we buy and sell what we like.” A 1909 cigarette card of Honus Wagner sold for more than 2.8 million dollars. The price and rarity of his card is because he was against his picture being sold in cigarette packs. He did not allow production of his card; it is assumed that less than 100 cards exist. Collecting sports cards and memorabilia was a booming business in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The popularity caused an overproduction of cards and pricing dropped dramatically. Many small card shops closed like “Baseball Cards America” that was located in West Valley City. More recently card companies have

produced more collectible cards and items. Cards with pieces of jerseys, equipment and other valuable items can now be purchased in certain collectors boxes. “I keep up with the times by getting Mike Trout and the new guys, but I collect the vintage Yankees. I do not have a favorite card, but my 61 Yankees cards are special to me,” Avila said. In the late 1990s card companies started randomly inserting autographs into boxes of cards. Many companies will authenticate an autograph to assure its realness. Cards are also graded by condition. Evaluators will look at a card in four areas; centering, corners, edges and imperfections. A pristine condition card will generally be valued higher than a card in poor condition. “We just bought this box for $430 last week it has six cards in it, but if I get a great rookie (card) it can be a bonus,” Bates said. “It had a Ezekiel Elliott card in it so it is a bonus.” Overtime cards in Midvale (7620 S. Main St.) is the only card shop still open in the Salt Lake Valley. Many dealers sell their cards on the internet through eBay or Amazon. “We see older guys and mostly mid-20s,” Avila said. “Most kids nowadays don’t collect. I think kids remember players like Michael Jordan and stuff like that. It would be great to get more kids interested in this hobby. Getting people to come to our shows is important.” Past shows have included players signing autographs. The Salt Lake market has a Facebook group of local collectors and dealers promoting card shows and local sellers. The next card show is scheduled to be held March 2-4 at Shops At South Towne (formerly South Towne Mall) in Sandy. l

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

March 2018 | Page 21

WestJordanJournal .com

Life

Laughter AND

PERI KINDER

WEST JORDAN

Would you care to dance? In an alternate universe, I’m a prima ballerina. I’m performing jetes and arabesques and other fancy-sounding French words. I’m twirling across the stage in a flowing costume. I’m curtsying to my adoring fans while they toss roses at my feet. However, in this universe, I’m a . . . what’s the opposite of ballerina? Whatever that is, that’s what I am. I’ve fought a lifelong battle with grace and gravity. My family watches in horror as I ricochet off doorknobs, fumble down stairways and trip on carpets. I tried really hard to be a dancer. I enrolled in classes when I was 5, and wore pink leotards and white tights, creating some serious panty lines. My mom pulled my long hair into a bun so tight I looked constantly surprised. Every week we’d butcher a series of ballet steps while my dance instructor tried not to handcuff us to the barre. She often sipped from her “dance thermos.” I’d cut up the Arts section of the newspaper, snipping out photos of Ballet West dancers to glue into my scrapbook. I had ballerina paper dolls, ballerina coloring books and ballerina dreams—but a giraffe-like body with knobby knees that bent in several different directions.

As a child, I went to see “Giselle” at Kingsbury Hall. The ballet is pretty grim. A disguised prince breaks the heart of a peasant girl who kills herself then becomes a ghost who has to dance the prince to death. Dancers are pretty melodramatic. For weeks after the ballet, I wore tutus that draped toward the floor and floated when I jumped. I channeled Giselle through my 7-year-old body. Picture a little girl evoking the devastation of betrayed love while falling on a sword that ends her life. I’m pretty sure I nailed it. When I was 12, I was finally able to go en pointe. That’s French for “Standing on the tips of your toes until your toe-knuckles bleed and you’re crippled for weeks, all for the sake of those beautiful satin slippers.” The purpose of pointe shoes is to give the illusion that ballerinas are weightless wisps, floating gracefully as swans or nymphs or any type of ethereal and doomed young women. In reality, learning to dance en pointe is similar to putting your toes in a vise, then running a marathon. But I didn’t give up. I continued to practice daily in the hope I’d channel Anna Pavlova, the acclaimed Russian bal-

PROFESSIONALS

Value REMODELING

Carlson Handyman Basement Finishing And Remodel Projects

801-979-8855 ENTERTAINMENT

Jonathan the Magician Magic Shows for all occasions Birthdays, Family Gatherings, Schools, Company Parties, Trade Shows, Scouts, Banquets Stage and Close Up 801.550.0993 | SwiftMagician.com

PAINTING

Paul Nunley 3rd Generation

-- PROFESSIONAL PAINTER --

Licensed & Insured Residential & Commercial.

Call Paul

801-819-9158

PLACE AN AD: Call

801-254-5974

CARPET CLEANING & REPAIR “Specializing in Carpet Repair” -Chad Crowther

Cleaning Carpet, Area Rugs, Upholstery, Tile & Grout, Air Ducts, Dryer Vents

Call – 801-707-0554 VEHICLES WANTED

Gumby’s Auto Parts We’ll buy your non-running, wrecked or broken car, truck or van.

(801) 506-6098

lerina who died at the age of 49, probably from gangrene from her pointe shoes. Because I’m writing this column instead of performing in “Swan Lake,” you can correctly surmise that my ballet career fell flat. I tried out for Ballet West’s “Nutcracker” a couple of times, to no avail, and after years of practice, I hung up my pointe shoes and succumbed to gravity. I never transformed from gangly giraffe to graceful swan. I never glided across the stage, hoping to lure a young prince to his death. (At least, not as a ballerina.) I never received standing ovations for my role in “Coppelia,” the ballet of a young woman pretending to be a mechanical doll. (Because that makes total sense.) But. In that alternate universe, I’m

Safe Tubs

FENCING

Safe Step Walk-In Tub

#1 Selling Walk-in Tub in North America. BBB Accredited. Arthritis Foundation Commendation. Therapeutic Jets. MicroSoothe Air Therapy System Less than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Call 844-476-9737 for up to $1500 Off.

AJ Fencing

20+ Years Experience Licensed and Insured All types of Fencing Installs and Repairs Free Estimates

GARAGE DOORS

A PLUS GARAGE DOORS

Service Available 24/7 Certiﬁed Experts 100% Warrantied

801-260-2030

OMAHA STEAKS

All In One

SPRING FULL YARD CLEAN-UP & HAUL, 20% OFF, IF SCHEDULED BY MARCH 31ST Also Schedule Aeration and Power Raking

Book Publishing

Page Publishing Become a published author! International distribution, print and digital formats. Books sold at major retailers. Contact Page Publishing for your FREE author submission kit.

CALL 1-844-440-5622 GROOMERY

GRANNIES GROOMERY

ENJOY 100% guaranteed, delivered to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 75% PLUS get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet - ONLY $49.99. Call 1-855752-2308 mention code 51689JCF or visit www.omahasteaks.com/love40

801-981-8404 / 801-243-1762

TREE SERVICES

FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS

LANDSCAPING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

801.471.9688

soaring, twirling, spinning, leaping and gliding en pointe, hearing the crowd bellow “Brava!” as I take a bow at the edge of the stage. And because in this alternate universe, I’m graceful and lithe, I don’t fall into the orchestra pit. l

INTERMOUNTAIN TREE EXPERTS

Removals . Trimming . Pruning Licensed and Insured / 15 Yrs Experience

Chris Anderson Owner/Groomer

2755 W. 8450 South in West Jordan

OLYMPUS ROOFING

801.887.7663 SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973

“It’s worth your time to call!”

DAVE at 801-455-6705

801-244-3542

HOME REPAIRS

ROOFING

PHARMACY

Hearing Aids

Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your ﬁrst prescription! CALL 1-855-977-8477 Promo Code CDC201725

Hearing Help Express FDA-Registered Hearing Aids. 100% Risk-Free! 45-Day Home Trial. Comfort Fit. Crisp Clear Sound. If you decide to keep it, PAY ONLY $299 per aid. FREE Shipping.

– licensed and insured –

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

FREE ESTIMATES

Not Just News... Your Community News...

Call Hearing Help Express 1- 855-701-7349

Page 22 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Hooper signs at Wyoming By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

The Wyoming Cowboys celebrated the early signing of Summit Academy’s Jess Hooper. (Jenny Burgess/Summit Academy)

ummit Academy student-athlete and West Jordan resident Jesse Hooper signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Wyoming. “They were my only Division 1 full scholarship offer, so that played a big role in my choice,” Hooper said. “Laramie reminds me a lot of home, and it is similar to Utah. We also play in the Mountain West (Conference), so we play Utah State every year. All of my games are close to home, so my family can come and support me.” As a sophomore at Copper Hills, his uncle was a chemistry teacher at Summit Academy. He decided to check the school out and made the difficult decision to transfer. He said he enjoyed the camaraderie and friends he made at Summit Academy. “It was a great school,” he said. “I felt like I knew everyone.” He was an offensive lineman in high school, and being bigger than most kids growing up, he spent a majority of time as an x-man in little league where he constantly weighed more than those in his grade. “I always looked at it that, yes, I weighed more than most of the kids” he said. “I would not change anything. As a lineman, you hit every play. It taught me not be scared of contact. I liked making that block that opened the hole for the score.” The 5-foot-11-inch 230-pound senior also played linebacker in high school. He will be a long snapper at Wyoming. “Playing long snapper is a lot of work when no one is watching,” he said. “You work on small technical things as well as practicing the skill to be good at it.” In the final regular season game this past season against Juan Diego, the Bears were backed up

and were forced to punt deep in their own territory. Execution of the long snap was necessary. “A bad snap would have ended up in the end zone,” Hooper said. “It is one of those things you don’t think about. If you think too much it becomes a problem.” Hooper graduated early and enrolled at Wyoming in January. He is already participating in offseason training and getting ready for spring practice. He is majoring in secondary education and plans to become an English teacher. He hopes to teach at Summit Academy. “I am going to give it my best and try to challenge for a starting position my freshman season,” Hooper said. “Right now we are just training and weight lifting. The coaches would like get me to be a little faster and put on some muscle.” In his senior season, Summit Academy lost in the state semifinals to Juan Diego, 38-37. The team had defeated the Soaring Eagle three weeks earlier, 51-49. The Bears competed in the 3A South division of the Utah High School Activities Association. They had a 9-2 record overall. “You hear all of the time my team is a family, but I think at Summit that is true,” Hooper said. “Everyone knows each other. The teams all support each other. We had kids from all over the valley, and it taught me to respect kids who didn’t have the same experiences growing up that I did.” Wyoming football has been improving its facilities, including finishing a new weight room. He said he likes the class sizes. “I did meet Josh Allen (projected first-round NFL draft pick),” Hooper said. “It is awesome to see people succeed. Patience and prayer got me through my recruiting experience, and it all paid off. I am very thankful to everyone that helped me along the way.” l

City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

WestJordanJournal .com

Grizzlies wrestlers have success

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he Copper Hills High School wrestling team and its coaches have learned throughout the season that the hard work they put in leads to positive results. “We just want to have fun,” Grizzly head coach Jeff Humphreys said. “That is what it is all about. We had 14 wrestlers qualify for state. We have a few you will want to watch out for.” The team will graduate 22 seniors at the end of this school year. It had wrestlers with experience and had several beginners, but females Alyssa Pace and senior Jazmin Herrera impacted their team for good. “We treat them (Herrera and Pace) like any of our other wrestlers,” Humphreys said. “They are part of our team, and they know it coming in. We incorporate them in our Jazmin Herrera is one of 22 seniors honored on senior night for the Copper Hills wrestling team. (Greg James/City Journals) team, and they love it.” Herrera started wrestling her freshman year. She wrestled just like her sister (Jessica) did for four years. “I mostly wanted to be better than my sister,” Herrera said. “It sounds weird, but I tired of other sports with the girls, but wrestling was where I felt the best. Wrestling was hard, but then my coaches helped me, and I started taking down kids. They helped me reach my potential.” Herrera said girls wrestling is getting more popular. She won the all-girl division state championship last season. This year she was selected to participate in the all-star tournament mid-season at Utah Valley University. Herrera will defend her state championship Feb. 17 in the allgirls state championship (after press deadline). “Alyssa is a coach’s daughter and has only been wrestling for a year,” Humphreys said. “She will be back for us. They are both part of our team and wrestling family.” The Grizzlies placed sixth in the 6A divisional held at West Jordan High School Feb. 1–2. The top eight wrestlers in each weight class qualified for the state wrestling tournament Feb. 7–8 at Utah Valley University. Copper Hills had 14 wrestlers at the state tournament. Seniors Copper Hills senior Ryan Johnson attempts to pin a wrestler from North Summit Bryson Reed, Ryan Watanabe, Mitchell Reese, Dakota Larsen, in the team’s final match of the season. (Dave Reeder) Josh Henderson, Ryan Johnson,and David Munsey were among those wrestlers. said. “We have kids that come out through our victory wrestling “Our lower weights will do well, and I am excited to see how program, but a lot of them come from football or band or other our seniors prepare themselves,” Humphreys said. “Jaeden Fowers clubs and just want to be a part of a team. I think that about 20 is only a sophomore, and Ryan Bullough is a freshman. They are were brand-new wrestlers.” kids you want to watch as they grow in our program.” Humphreys encourages his team to have determination, work At the state tournament, Dakota Buckner placed fourth overall hard and sacrifice. in the 6A 182-pound weight class. “The hard things you sacrifice make you better,” he said. The Grizzlies captured their fourth straight region “When friends want to go out sometimes you have to miss. championship. They defeated Herriman 42-37, Riverton 48-27, Wrestling requires giving 100 percent. This team is one of the best Taylorsville 51-18 and West Jordan 51-24. teams I have ever had. They are full of character. It is fun; we did “We had 60-plus kids on our team this year,” Humphreys not think we could do it, but we did.” l

Not Just News... Your Community News...

March 2018 | Page 23

Page 24 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

SPOTLIGHT

NOAH’S Event Venue 322 11000 S, South Jordan, UT 84095

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

any people in Utah know of NOAH’S Event Venue as the premier location for weddings, business meetings and events. With two state-of-the-art venues in South Jordan and Lindon, NOAH’S is often the first location that comes to mind when someone thinks of events in Utah.

But what many locals don’t know is that over the last decade, NOAH’S has expanded nationwide and is now the largest event venue corporation in the country. NOAH’S was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in South Jordan. Every year more than 4,000 events are held at NOAH’S across the country. “The buildings are gorgeous and we are known for having the best customer service in the industry, but I think what really draws people in is our flexibility,” said NOAH’S Design Director, Bella McCorvey. One of the most unique things about NOAH’S is their open-vendor policy. Customers have the flexibility to bring in the vendors of their choice (including their caterer) to fit their budget and their tastes.

Customers can rent each room individually or the entire building for the block of time that they would like. NOAH’S provides event essentials for no extra charge including tables, chairs, tablecloths, audiovisual, setup and cleanup. NOAH’S also provides countless ways to customize each space. The most notable involves NOAH’S unique movable ceiling. This revolutionary technology can only be found at NOAH’S and it allows decorations to be suspended above the Main Hall without the need for a ladder. With various ceiling décor packages available, the space can be completely transformed. “I’ve worked at NOAH’S for 12 years and I’ve never seen two events that look the same,” said Nick Redd, the Vice President of Marketing at NOAH’S. “We have so many different layouts and ways that each customer can customize the space with lighting, tablecloths and ceiling décor. When someone comes in with a vision, we love making it come to life.” Unlike most venues that have hidden fees and closely guard their pricing, NOAH’S has a very straightforward pricing structure. All prices can be found online at www.NoahsEventVenue.

com. Customers can also check availability, see pictures, and even book their events online. There are currently 39 NOAH’S venues operating nationwide and an additional 4 venues are under construction. The company’s largest venue is the 32,000-square-foot building in South Jordan (322 W. 11000 S.). NOAH’S of South Jordan features 11 rentable event spaces including an ice skating rink, a racquetball court, the Main Hall, conference rooms, a theater room and four board rooms. NOAH’S of Utah County in Lindon (1976 W. 700 N.) features a streamlined one-story layout and a new high-end design. While NOAH’S has rapidly grown into a household name nationwide, the industry leader is

proud of its Utah roots. “When you host an event at NOAH’S, you’ll get the kind of attention and genuine service that you would get from a small, family-owned business,” said Redd. “But at the same time you will benefit from the expertise and experience of working with the best in the business.” l

all-Day Pass for Two: Monday-Thursday - $11 Friday-Saturday - $17

10% off

With this coupon

Any treAtment

Highjumput.com

Including Permanent Cosmetics 801-859-5458 info@vipvanitypoint.com Medical Plaza 8822 S Redwood RD. Ste. C112 West Jordan, UT 84088

an aCTIVE 55+ COMMUnITY

Highjump 7988 Welby Park Drive West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-260-0000

Starting

in the $290’s

• MAIN FLOOR LIVING • CLUBHOUSE • CONVENIENT LOCATION

Lisa Willden Realtor

Cell: (801)- 913-3553 3150 South 7200 West, West Valley City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.

March 2018 | Page 25

WestJordanJournal .com

Grizzly cheer captures a multitude of awards By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

130 Years

OF TRUST Taking Care of YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

The Copper Hills cheerleaders spend many hours practicing and supporting many activities at their school. (Greg James/City Journals)

he Copper Hills High School cheerleading squad came home from the Utah State Cheerleading competition with an armful of awards. “It was so exciting for Copper Hills,” Grizzly cheerleading head coach Ulby Dyson said. “Many of these are firsts for our school. It is fun to experience. It was a very good weekend. They are competing at a high level and are good people on and off the mat.” At the state cheerleading competition Jan. 27, the Grizzlies earned first place in the song division, second in sideline dance and second in coed show cheer. Cheerleading competitions are divided into several competing categories. The song division includes the school fight song with tumbling and dance routines. The sideline dance routine cannot include tumbling or stunts and is generally short and includes upbeat crowd-raising cheers. “Cheerleading requires the girls to be good members of the community,” Dyson said. “Our team members get good grades; they all have over a 3.0 grade point average. They represent Copper Hills always.” They also earned several individual awards. Dyson was given the 6A coach of the year award. “I am honored; it is definitely a group effort,” she said. “I do not do this by myself. I have amazing coaches, team parents and an administration that supports us. The school recognizes us. The student government made a huge poster for us. It speaks volumes to Copper Hills itself.” Individually, junior Kaylee Overby was the 6A jumpoff state champion. Jump-off is a separate division in the competition. Individuals can choose to perform their best skill, such as toe touches or splits. The judges evaluate each selected jump. “I competed at region and then competed at state,” Overby

said. “I picked a hurdler-toe touch-toe touch jump. I was judged on how I executed and landed my chosen jump. We all are like a family and work together.” Other team members also earned individual awards. Mckenna Rich was named to the Academic All-State team. She is a regular contributor to the team and maintained a high grade point average. The Grizzlies had three team members named to the AllState team: Chayne Delacasas, Hailey Nichols and Schuler Darger. “These are amazing athletes,” Dyson said. “They are also good people. Some think that all cheerleaders do is shake pom poms, but it is more about creating an enthusiastic atmosphere whether at a game or a community activity.” The team competed in the UVA National Competition Feb. 9–11 in Orlando, Florida. Some Utah high school cheer teams require experience to be part of the team. The desired skills could include tumbling aspects or dance skills. “The direction Utah high school cheer teams are headed, it is becoming more important to have some prior training,” Dyson said. “Cheerleading is more than just the skills. These kids need to have good attitudes, composure, leadership and team abilities. It takes a lot of time. They become ambassadors to the community.” The Grizzly cheerleaders helped with fundraisers such as paws with a cause and helped make banners for teams to celebrate their victories. “I am already proud of them,” Dyson said. “They have become good people and carry themselves well. They work hard. This program is growing, and it has been an amazing year. We have good support from our athletic director and principal.” l

Not Just News... Your Community News...

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.

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

Page 26 | March 2018

West Jordan City Journal

Saving tricks from budget-minded students

CASSIE GOFF

id-semester is a stressful time for college students. Not only are we prepping for midterms and projects, working on assignments, completing readings, and cramming in some additional studying, there’s also spring break plans to make. Being a college student is a full-time job; but instead of being paid, we pay for it. Tips and tricks on how to be frugal as a student are learned out of necessity (do you know how much textbooks cost?!). As a student, “you really have to focus on needs, not wants,” said education graduate student Brett Merkley. “I am really, really careful to budget my money. I have a spreadsheet where I list everything I spent in the last month so I can keep track of where I’m spending what and if my budget is holding up or if it needs work,” said writing and rhetoric student Casey Koldewyn. Food spending is one of the biggest cuts students make during their time in college. “Learn to cook. Eating out is really expensive. It’s especially cost effective to make large amounts of something and then eat it over the next couple of days—beans in particular. They are a really great way to eat healthily and heartily on a budget. I make a crock-pot of some kind, often beans, 3 to 4 times a month. Mix it with rice to change things up and it can last a while,” said rhetoric graduate student Justin Whitney. “Take a lunch instead of buying one, especially on campus,” suggests mechanical engineering student Francie Rodriguez. “If I do buy food on campus, sometimes I’ll wander up to the hospital cafeterias. Specifically, Pri-

mary Children’s, where I can get a good sized breakfast burrito for around $5,” says sociology student Luis Silva Santisteban. “Try to buy food in bulk. If you don’t have a Costco card, pay attention to grocery stores like Smith’s that have case lot sales. Also, pay attention to events held on campus that give out free food,” says communications graduate student Mitchell Reber. “Don’t go out for coffee—make your own and take a Thermos. Also, scan through mailers and see if there are coupons. They may not seem like much, but they can add up to a lot,” says theatre student Cate Heiner. A few restaurants around town offer student discounts including: Red Robin, The Pie Pizzeria, Village Inn and Costa Vida. For clothing, many students repurpose articles they already own, or just try not to get their clothes too dirty. “If you ever find yourself needing clothing, Uptown Cheapskate, a clothing exchange store, has both quality and affordable options. I scored a $600 suit for $60,” said Reber. Thankfully, some clothing stores offer student discounts including: J Crew, ASOS, American Eagle, Banana Republic, Forever 21 and Redbubble. For the extremely limited amount of free time students have, there are free or cheap entertainment options as well. “Outside of the obvious, like hiking and skiing, there is the Nickel Arcade. There are also loads of free concerts, guest lectures, and other activities on campus (utah.edu/events),” said Reber. “Rather than spending money to go see a movie

in theatres, see if it’s playing at the library or through a school function,” Heiner said. Cinemark theaters offer occasional student discounts if you don’t want to see a movie on campus. For other entertainment forms: Ballet West offer $15 student tickets, StubHub offers student discounts, and Red Butte Garden as well as the Natural History Museum offer free admission for students. In order to make some extra cash, writing and rhetoric student Claudia Sauz says, “I donate plasma. It pays like a part-time job with working less hours. Donating plasma really just feels like being harvested for organs.” One of the biggest recommendations from students is to keep a good relationship with your parents. “I’ve been very dependent on my parents for food since I’ve been paying for school all on my own; everything I’ve made while working has been going towards school,” said psychology student Sam Llewellyn. Sam’s classmate, psychology student Candice Jensen echoes her statement. “Eat at your parents’ house as often as possible.” For tech savings, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Tidal, and Best Buy offer student discounts. Additionally, many schools offer free downloadable software, such as Microsoft Office products and the Adobe Creative Cloud. Get the most out of a student ID with tap-on tapoff services from UTA for transportation needs. Lastly, when all the savings in the world can’t help the financial stresses of student life and you feel down, visit your student health or wellness center for quality, low-cost physical and mental health care.

Become an AMSOIL

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

10% OFF ANY 1 ITEM

Cannot be combined with any other oﬀer. Expires 3/31/18.

1366 West 7800 South • West Jordan, UT 84088

801-566-5844

WasatchMedicalSupply.com

Buy One Get One 1/2 Off Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 3/31/18.

$10 OFF your next visit

With Purchase of $30 Or More

801-280-4099

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.

www.SpudToddos.com

801-282-8591 • www.carinos.com

7251 Plaza Center Drive (Next to Famous Dave's)

West Jordan –At The Jordan Landing

WEST JORDAN

Free 10lb bag of ice with any water fill, your bottle or ours.

1615 W 7000 S West Jordan, UT 84084 801-569-9492

801-280-4114 3961 W 9000 S

$10~OFF

Any Purchase of $35 or More Menu at www.simplysushi.us

801.676.7008

7117 S. Redwood Rd, West Jordan Exp 3/31/18. Not Valid with Any Other Offer

Buy One Get One

$5 0ff

$25 Or More

Limit 1 per table. Expires 3/31/18.

801-446-6644 www.tusharexpress.com 1078 West 10400 South • South Jordan, UT 84095

FREE

ON ANY COMFORTER OR LARGE BLANKET Expires 3/31/18

mrlecleaners.com

March 2018 | Page 27

WestJordanJournal .com

Students sing songs with powerful messages

hen Jordan Ridge students sang, “I’ll be nice; I’ll be kind; treat others right — made up my mind,” the audience of about 1,100 clapped right along. The message may be simple, but powerful, said South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, who also serves as PTA Region 6 director. “Character education is an important part of education,” she said. “Steve and Lisa James’ songs teach about character to our Jordan Ridge students and reinforces the values that are so important for our kids.” Ramsey said the songs’ messages go deeper than the catchy tunes. “Kids now are growing up in a digital world, so others who feel they are anonymous are bullying online or our kids are comparing themselves to the best version of others and are being affected by social media. Steve and Lisa’s songs reinforce the value that everyone has value and respecting others and themselves is important,” she said, adding that she appreciates them sharing the messages within Jordan School District schools. Steve, who has been sharing the word through his children’s music series for more than a decade in Utah, came to present the community concert as part of his “Communities to the Rescue” concert model. It was sponsored by Jordan Education Foundation and hosted by Jor-

By Julie Slama | Julie@mycityjournals.com dan Ridge Parent-Teacher Association. Steve, and his wife, Lisa, met with students at an assembly, then over the course of a month, teachers selected and taught each grade songs, which they performed with the singers Jan. 11 on Bingham High School’s stage. Between the songs, James would deliver messages. “Research shows that children do listen to their parents, so it gives time for the parents to hear the messages of prevention from their children and see them perform,” Steve said. “It gathers the community together from community leaders to the actual kids to realize the importance of the messages in the songs.” The messages are motivational, sprinkled with comedy, he said. “The kids like to have fun, and we like to have fun, so it’s awesome community gathering,” Steve said. “Through the songs, students learn to be kind and respectful of one another, as well as say no to drugs, alcohol, violence and crime. The feedback from parents is positive. One mother came up and said that they listen to my music while in the car, so they’re reinforcing how to make good choices. Kids thank me for teaching them how to make good decisions, and they remember these songs.” Jordan Ridge PTA president Todd Hougaard can attest to that as he remembers songs such as “Be Nice, Be Kind” and “Buckle Up”

from when he first learned it a decade ago. “I’ve known Steve and Lisa for 10 years and thought this would go hand-in-hand with our anti-bullying message, but in a positive way,” he said. The focus on anti-bullying is in response to a parent survey at the end of last school year that asked parents about concerns. Anti-bullying and internet safety were top issues, along with

the statewide PTA concern on student suicide, he said. “As Steve goes through these songs at the assembly, he gives mini-lessons to the students, and the teachers explore and talk to students about deeper meanings,” Hougaard said. “The kids are so excited, and it provides a positive memory around an experience that will stick with them the rest of their lives.” l

Entertainer Steve James joins Jordan Ridge Elementary students in a community concert where students perform character education songs. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Not Just News... Your Community News...

How can I save lives? Have you been told you have an antibody?

NEW DONORS Bring this coupon in for a

$15 BonUs on your second donation Coupon good for the GRIFOLS Biomat in Taylorsville.

If you are Rh Negative and have been told you have a blood antibody, you may qualify for our Anti-D specialty program. You could be donating plasma used to create life-saving Rh Immunoglobulin medication. In doing so, you can earn up to $660 a month. Medications derived from these proteins literally saves the lives of babies during pregnancy.

GRIFOLS Biomat in Taylorsville 2520 W. 4700 So., Space 1 Bldg. A Taylorsville, UT 84129 (801) 965-9160

Hours of operation for Monday – Thursday : 6:30am-7:30pm | Friday: 6:30am – 7:00pm | Saturday: 7:30am – 3:00pm