West Jordan City Journal - Oct 2017 by The City Journals

October 2017 | Vol. 17 Iss. 10

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TEACHERS WHO GO TO THE EXTREME By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Benefit concert lineup dazzles supporters of West Jordan Middle’s Gibbons’s Kids. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

ome amazing teachers have gone to the extreme to help students in need—from using their bridal registry to providing coats for students to entering a boxing ring to solicit canned goods. “I think teachers naturally have a good heart,” said West Jordan Middle School Vice Principal Eric Price. “It’s not about the money; it’s about the kids.” All eyes on the bride One example is Copper Hills High School’s marketing teacher, Rickee Stewart, who was nationally recognized when she used her bridal registry to collect coats and shoes for the homeless students at her school. Her generous actions were featured in newspapers and on TV during the whirlwind weeks between the first day of school and her wedding in September. When Stewart had realized there were more than 100 homeless students at CHHS, she used social media to invite the community to donate through her bridal registry. CHHS Vice Principal Glen Varga said once Stewart’s first DonorsChoose.org request was filled, the online donation site decided to promote her campaign, opening it to international exposure.

That’s when boxes of coats began arriving at the school. Varga said the 110 boxes of coats they’ve received take up a lot of space. “We’ve got a good problem on our hands,” said Varga. “We’re running out of storage space. The storage room is packed full and we’re looking for other spaces.” As the weather turns colder, the coats will be distributed to students, the surplus being shared with other schools. This isn’t the first time Stewart has caused an overflow in the school’s pantry. Varga said when Stewart started teaching at CHHS three years ago, she organized a food drive. “We got such an enormous response, we filled our own Principals Pantry and were able to donate hundreds of pounds to local food banks,” he said. “Since Rickee Stewart has been on campus, it’s been fully stocked.” Milonie Taylor, who runs the pantry at CHHS, is glad Stewart’s bridal registry story gained popularity with so many media outlets. “I’m hoping it has brought some positive needed attention to homelessness; it’s not just people living on a park bench eating out of a dumpster, it could be that kid sitting right next to in class,” said Taylor. She hopes students take advantage of what the pantry can provide and won’t be embarrassed to ask for help. “I’ve made our pantry look warm and inviting; it looks like a store, and they are welcome to pick up want they need,” said Taylor. The Pantry provides students with food, school supplies, personal hygiene items and clothing—even formal dresses for dances. CHHS students are fully involved in the pantry, collecting donations and organizing them on the shelves. The school’s Latino in Action Club recently sponsored a clothing drive, which gleaned hundreds of clothing donations. In Stewart’s marketing-based business class, she incorporates the pantry into the curriculum. Taylor said they discuss homelessness, encouraging students to consider how it would affect their lives. “Rickee will ask them to write down the difference between a want and a need,” said Taylor. “I think it’s pretty eye-opening to her students.”

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Taking a punch for the pantry Tyler Garcia, business teacher and football coach at Kearns High School, has likewise been passionate about stocking multiple school pantries. He agreed to compete in a boxing match at a local sports arena—if it benefited school pantries. Originally, he was giving his sports and entertainment marketing students some “real-world” experience helping market the Executive Fight Night. “It quickly turned into an opportunity to get food and money for the food banks at Kearns and Cyprus—if I took more of an active role in the event—so I spoke with the promoter and committed to the nine-week training to be ready to fight,” said Garcia. Spectators at the July 29 event were asked to donate food with their admission, and Garcia was able to collect about 20 cases of food and close to $1000, which he divided between the Kearns Community Food Pantry and Cyprus’ Pirate Pantry. Before the match he said, “I do not have any boxing experience, and yes, I am a bit crazy for doing this, but if it can raise food and awareness to help our students then I am willing to take the punch.” To the delight of his students, Garcia was declared the winner over his opponent, who towered half a foot above him. Will sing for food Krista Gibbons runs the food pantry at West Jordan Middle School. She coordinated a series of fundraisers over the summer to stock the pantry for the school year. Local artists such as The Backview Heights from Provo and ukulele player Abbey Hafen entertained audiences at the largest benefit concert held Aug. 23 at the Viridian Event Center. Local businesses committed to match contributions and donated items for the raffle such as Papa Murphy’s pizzas, passes for rock climbing at The Front, field time at Let’s Play Soccer and a helicopter ride. But the big winners of the evening were the students who face hunger, immigration, financial and family problems.

FrattoBoys.com “If a kid comes to school hungry, they’re not going to learn,” said Gibbons. She said many teachers have snacks they make available for kids in need. One teacher keeps peanut butter and jelly and bread on hand for kids who don’t have a lunch. Others have a drawer of granola bars. But when the need is long term, they send them to Gibbons whose stash has grown from a shelf to her entire classroom closet. Gibbons even provides backpacks for the students to fill up with food to take home to their families to ensure that they have something to eat over the weekend. WJMS teacher Erika Rand said she used to assume kids who needed free lunch would get it, not realizing those from refugee families couldn’t qualify for the program. She said teachers are aware who the homeless students are, even when it isn’t obvious by their appearance. “Mostly you can tell by discipline and by how stressed out they are,” said Rand. She has been touched by students who generously share their lunch or slip money to friends so they can buy something to eat. “They’re just kids but their needs are so much more,” said WJMS teacher Erika Rand. “We have some awesome teachers that really make them feel like family.” Many teachers donate their time as well, staying after school to play soccer with kids who need something to do after school said Price. Some teachers become the support and encouragement the kids aren’t getting at home. He said parents do their best, but times get tough; his teachers do their best to help in any way they can. “We tell our kids every day at school on the announcements, ‘We love you, we care about you, make it a great day,’” said Price. That sentiment is expressed through the many teachers who, through both simple and extreme actions, are taking care of their students. How you can help: Donorschoose.org Copper Hills Freefunder.com Kearns and Cyprus Gofundme.com West Jordan Middle l

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West Jordan Journal

Mrs. Utah focuses on literacy 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 Steve Hession steve@mycityjournals.com 801-433-8051 Josh Ragsdale Josh.R@mycityjournals.com 801-824-9854 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com

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By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com

nne Royall Forester feels honored to represent her state as the reigning Mrs. Utah. Forester went to school at Snow College. She studied broadcast journalism and completed a degree in communications. After graduation, she worked at KSL TV for about seven years in production and investigative producing. She did some on-air reporting as well. Then she freelanced for two years. Her husband is a history teacher. After her second child was born, Forester decided to take a break from the work force. Being a mom is now her full-time job. She has two boys ages 2 and 4. Forester has always been interested in pageants. She loved watching Miss America on TV growing up. “The timing was never right to do a pageant when I was younger, so my first pageant was actually last year as Mrs. Utah United States,” said Forester. She got second runner-up in that pageant. “I just had the best experience; it was such a positive thing for me and such an awesome opportunity for personal growth. I loved it.” She returned for this year’s pageant at the end of April and won the title of Mrs. Utah United States. “The Mrs. Utah pageant had a lot of accomplished women competing,” she said. “It was important to me that I do well in Mrs. Utah. I really wanted to win the title, and I had plan for what I would do with it, so it was a memorable night.” The national pageant was held during the week of July 4 in Orlando, Florida, with three nights of competition. Forester’s husband came along for the event. “He’s been really supportive of my pageant journey,” she said. The segments of the competition are swimwear, evening gown, and a one-on-one interview with the judges, then an onstage question. “There are five judges, and you only get four minutes, so you really have to make a last-

ing impression and quickly answer your questions,” she said. Forester placed fourth runner-up in the national pageant. “It was probably one of the best experiences of my life,” she said. “It was so fun. And it was just good to take time for me, and that’s what I like about pageants. It gives an outlet for me to work on myself.” A main emphasis for Mrs. United States is on service. “I like using that platform to do service; it’s something that I really enjoy and love,” she said. Her platform is “Read, Lead, Succeed,” which is about setting a foundation for success. “I focus on childhood literacy, although reading isn’t just for young kids; it’s a lifelong skill, so I like to encourage that,” she said. A woman of many interests, Forester has a teaching license in elementary education and taught second grade as a student teacher. She has also written a children’s book that was published in 2016 called “Busy Beebo,” about a bumblebee and the value of hard work. “I just feel that with my background, I am able to reach out and use my skills and talents to help further literacy and reading, getting kids reading early,” she said. Forester teamed up with other organizations that make an impact in the community. One organization is “Read Today,” which is KSL TV’s reading initiative. In August, the station held an event to celebrate its summer reading challenge to get kids reading 20 minutes a day. Those who completed the challenge got to attend a Bees baseball game with their family. She also volunteers with “My Story Matters,” which works with special populations in the community, interviews them and publishes their story in a book. One group is refugees living in Utah. Having their own their personal story in a printed book is powerful, and it gives them a first reader to practice their language skills. Forester helped with an event at Cotton-

Anne Forester worked with a young refugee to write her story in a book. (Anne Forester)

wood high school for refugee students. “We interview them and teach them that they can take ownership of their story, that they can overcome hard things,” she said. She enjoys hearing about their experiences. Another organization Forester supports is “Reach Out and Read,” which is a nationwide nonprofit. It works to get books into pediatric health care, so medical providers can give a new book to children at well-child visits. More importantly, it encourages families to read aloud with their child. “I’ve organized a book drive for them,” said Forester. “It relays a message to parents to begin reading early with them.” Forester continues her reign as Mrs. Utah through next April and hopes to keep working on literacy causes afterward. She also hopes to do more humanitarian work in the future. As pageants are in her blood, she may be back to compete in others. l

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Star-led A Day of Champions looks to support student athletes and hurricane victims with upcoming event

By Jesse Sindelar | jesse.s@mycityjournals.com

ormer American bobsled athlete Jeremy Holm has put a lot of effort into educating student athletes in Utah. His organization, A Day of Champions, hosts events that are meant to educate student athletes and their parents and coaches on the art of competition. “It’s pretty much a TED talk for student athletes,” Holm said. “We want to take our previous experiences and successes and teach the current generation of athletes how we achieved our goals,” Holm said. The event involves a couple speakers that are helping Holm preach this champion attitude. Gretchen Jensen is a former Miss USA and ESPN commentator who lives in the Salt Lake Valley. Dr. Nicole Detling is a sports psychologist who has worked with the NBA, NFL, MLB and Olympic teams. Alan Tran is a high-performance chef who has worked with Olympic teams and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. The list also includes a Paralympic snowboarder and cancer survivor Nicol Roundy and three other Olympian athletes. “Each of them will discuss their area of expertise and how it relates to being a champion. Tran will talk about how to eat well, especially as an athlete on a budget. Detling will talk about how to think like a champion, and

the champion psyche. Roundy will talk about overcoming adversity, as she has overcome one of the hardest challenges life can throw at you,” Holm said. However, due to recent hurricanes plaguing the coasts, the event will have a humanitarian aspect as well. “At first we wanted to donate the ticket proceeds to local high schools to help pay for sports teams and equipment. But with Hurricane Harvey and now Irma, it seems that those people need all the help they can get right now,” Holm said. The event will donate 50 percent of initial ticket sales, and then after the event expenses are covered, they will donate the rest. “We haven’t decided on the organization yet, maybe the Red Cross or the LDS Humanitarian Center. We just want to give back and make a difference,” Holm said. “People like these informative talk events. We can use our influence as world-class athletes to serve the Utah community and others. We decided that we need to get these funds to those who really need it. Everyone can be a champion,” Holm said. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at Cottonwood High School. If you would like to assist victims of

Jeremy Holm is a former American bobsled athlete who started A Day of Champions and will be speaking at the event as well. (Jeremy Holm/ Holladay)

Hurricane Harvey or Irma, you can donate to local organizations like the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, the United Way of Greater Houston

or to national organizations like the All Hands Volunteers or Americares. l

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West Jordan Journal

$10,000 donated to kick-off schoolwide book club By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

ormer University of Utah football coach Ron McBride surprised West Jordan Middle School with a $10,000 check on Aug. 31. Principal Dixie Garrison and school librarian Lisa Morey will use the funds for a reading blitz. “It’s a joy to be able to give back to the community,” said McBride, representing The McBride Foundation. “The great thing is how appreciative the principals and the educators are and to see the smile on the librarian’s face today—that’s worth more than a million dollars to see how happy she was.” Garrison accepted the check and a football autographed by McBride and Jesse Boone, president of the foundation. She was thrilled to receive the funds. “We have the world’s best librarian, and she needs more books,” Garrison said. “These funds are going to go to get reading materials in the hands of the students.” Morey sponsors programs to encourage students to read novels. About 40–60 kids sign up every six to eight weeks for a program called “Brown Bag and a Book.” Students are given a copy of the same book and meet to discuss it during their lunch time. “Every year we try to scramble to come up with funds to get you those books for Brown Bag,” Garrison told students. With the funding from the Foundation, this and other programs will be expanded to reach more students, especially the low-income students, which make up about half the school demographic. Garrison hopes to help students build their own home libraries. “We wanted to get books in their hands, something they can keep and treasure,” she said. “It’s different when it’s your book to take home and to share with your family and to curl up to at night—it means more.” With the boon from the McBride Foundation, Garrison will be able to initiate a schoolwide book club experience called “One School, One Book.” The school will purchase a book for every student in the school. They will read the novel and then will have the

opportunity to discuss it together. Morey said this program will be a good way to explore significant topics such as bullying, poverty, refugees and immigrants. “The school picks what the kids need and then everybody is on the same page,” she said. “We choose a book that is ripe for discussion.” She is excited to have the funding available to support her reading programs. She will also use the funding to update and expand the 59-year-old library. The WJMS library still uses the original chairs and tables purchased in 1958. Morey said they are well-built and sturdy, but when the science department bought 3-D printers last year, she asked them to duplicate some new parts for the tables. “The feet have worn out, and you can’t buy them anymore because the tables are so old,” she said. Morey said many of the books she plans to buy to enhance the library resources will be books in Spanish. Dual Language Immersion students have a very limited Spanish section in the school library currently. Morey said that reading books in the language they are learning is very beneficial for these students. But the library hasn’t had the funds to provide these materials. “They’re expensive,” Morey said. “The current books that have been translated into Spanish are not the same price as the current books that are printed in English.” Garrison said she is always looking for ways to bring more funding into the school, so when she heard about The McBride Foundation, she applied to update the library and its programs. She expressed appreciation to the Foundation members and pointed out to her students how amazing the donation is. “There are a lot of people in the community that care about you and care about what we do here at WJMS,” she told the students. Garrison said she loves working with students and acknowledges the importance of literacy in their education. “The library is kind of the heart of the school,” she said. “Ms.

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Morey has been the heart of our school for a long time.”. Morey has worked at WJMS for 23 years as a reading teacher, drama teacher and now the librarian. “I’ve always wanted to be the librarian,” she said. “I’m in my dream job right now.” l

Principal Dixie Garrison celebrates receiving an autographed football and $10,000 from former University of Utah head coach Ron McBride’s Foundation. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

October 2017 | Page 5

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West Jordan Journal

Prime real-estate reserved for potential Research Park and very low-density housing By Becca Ketelsleger | Becca.k@mycityjournals.com “This has to be long term. What do we imagine this will look like in 50, 80, 100 years from now?” asked Councilman Chris McConnehey at the July 12 West Jordan City Council Meeting. “I don’t want to limit us.”

This query was regarding roughly 1,700 acres in the southwest corner of the city. With beautiful views of the valley and ample space, this large, unspoiled area was given special consideration for a specific purpose within the city: to house a potential research park. With a temporary land use ordinance set to expire on July13, the decision for a general land use amendment had to be made immediately. In preparation, the planning commission considered several options for how it envisioned the land use, before narrowing the options down to two, which they recommended to council. The first option (labeled Option No. 5) offered a large amount of very low-density housing in the prime locations of the area, with the research park inhabiting the northwest corner of the acreage. The total acreage allotted for very low residential housing was 212.7 acres, with 146.8 acres being proposed for a research park. This option was the one recommended by most of the subcommittee within the advisory study committee. “We have no very low-density residential in our city,” said Councilman Zack Jacob, speaking in favor of Option No.5. “I would love to see a neighborhood in West Jordan where we could get a Utah Jazz player to move to.” However, some felt that the area designated for the research park was not large enough in Option No. 5. “I think having a larger component of research park will allow larger businesses to see this as a home for their corporate office,” said Councilman Alan Anderson. The second option (labeled Option No. 6) earmarked a much larger area for the research park. With more than 300 acres being

The Public Hearing notice on the site for the potential future research park. (Becca Ketelsleger/City Journals)

set aside, the area would be comparable to the research park at the University of Utah. The area chosen for the research park would

envelop the whole western edge of the plot in question from the northern to southern boundaries. In comparison to Option No. 5, this option had no very low residential housing allotment but did allow for 227.2 acres of low-density housing. “We want to make sure we can preserve any opportunity for economic development,” said McConnehey “We have a 10 percent advantage over anybody else in the state. It would be foolish to give that up.” While many agreed that the larger research park was necessary, the complete lack of very low residential housing made this option less appealing to the council. After much heated debate, a motion was made in favor of each option, with both motions failing. “I would be fine if we could mix the two of these,” said Councilman Dirk Burton. “Make the research park bigger but still get some very low-density.” Finally, a compromise was reached, containing large spaces for both the research park and very low residential housing, both on the western edge of property. While the research park acreage is more than that zoned for very low density, an appropriate balance seemed to have been found. “We have to have a balance of commercial and we have to have a balance of residential,” said Anderson. “If we can set aside a good chunk of space so that we can land some large businesses, then their employees can buy these homes.” The compromise came just in the nick of time. If a decision had not been reached that evening, the land use map would have reverted to the previous land allocations, which had no mention of a research park. “This for us, the five of us here tonight, is a 30,000-foot view of how we see this portion of West Jordan shaping out over the next several decades,” said Anderson. l

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W estJordanJournal.Com

Artists chalk up their art at Chalk the Walk By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com

n Sept. 2, the sidewalks surrounding the West Jordan Library’s Viridian Event Center were more colorful than usual due to its “Chalk the Walk” festival. The free day-long sidewalk chalk art event was open to anyone, but artists had to register in advance to participate. While the artists were on their knees creating original artwork, family and friends enjoyed the art, music, food trucks and other festivities. Artists began working at 9 a.m. and had to completely fill their 6-foot-by-6-foot drawing space by 6 p.m. “I’ve done chalk art before at my high school as part of the art club,” said artist Jamie Murdock. Murdock’s friend, Mikayla Dodge, is also an artist, and she follows the Salt Lake County library page where she saw information about the chalk art festival. Dodge asked Murdock to enter the event with her. “We both really like video games, particularly Nintendo,” said Murdock. “So we just wanted a bunch of Nintendo characters and we thought up the idea to have them jumping out of a TV.” Murdock’s favorite character is from the legend of Zelda and Dodge’s favorite is Pikachu, so they featured those images in their drawing. The categories for the artists to compete in were youth for individuals from 10 to 17 years old, adult for individuals from 18 years old and up, and groups of up to four individuals. The public voted on their favorite drawing until 6 p.m. A panel of judges also evaluated the drawings. Winners were announced at 7 p.m. Artist Janette Brown created a swirly design. “I’ve been doing chalk art for a couple of years now,” she said. “This is like my 13th event I think, and it’s a lot of fun.” She is an artist at home, working as a freelance illustrator. She sees the chalk art event as a way to broaden her repertoire. “It’s challenging,” she said. “Every time I’m like pushing myself to do something harder. It’s just fun to get out there.”

It took Brown about seven hours to complete her drawing. “When coloring, I try to start at one end and go to the next,” she said. “You don’t want to paint yourself in a corner, where you can’t reach what you need to get to.” Brown explained that she has worked on bigger drawings, where it’s really hard to reach everything. She thought the 6-foot-by-6-foot space was a good size. “I wore football kneepads, and I also have a block I can rest my arm on while I’m leaning over,” she said. “I come equipped because I already have really bad knees and carpal tunnel, so this is probably the worst thing that I could do, but I do it anyway!” Ten-year-old Ally Ward was one of the youth artists. She worked by herself from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on her drawing. Her design featured the eclipse, showing sunset colors and a tree with birds in their nests getting ready to settle down for a night at midday. Ward and her family had been coming to chalk art festivals for the last few summers, and Ward has been wanting to participate for two years. When she saw the information about the Viridian event, she decided this was the time to do it. The plan for her design came about a few weeks before the event. “It started at back-to-school night, and I was like ‘I’m bored,’ so I just started drawing, and when I got home I said. ‘This is what I want to do for the chalk art festival,’” said Ward. She was guarding her picture because people kept stepping on her drawing when she went to get something to eat. “I stomped all the way down and started telling people to get off my picture.” About 90 total participants competed as individuals or teams to create 41 art pieces. The winners of the People’s Choice award was team “Chalk-N-Awe!” made up of Stephanie Russell, Jourdan Amerson, Mickey Schmidky and Tara Moore. Judges awarded the Team prize to “Quite Chalkative,” made up of Hillary Clift, Taylor Clift and Stephanie Jasper.

The Adult category winner was Rebecca Haacke, and the Youth category winner was M’Lynn Suwinski. More photos can be found at the library’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/TheCountyLibrary/. l

Winning design of the Team prize by “Quite Chalkative.” (Audrey Livingston/ The County Library)

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West Jordan Journal

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rofessional, college, high school and youth football players have strapped on their pads and laced up their cleats this fall. The health of these players, as well as the risks they take, are again hot topics among fans and team administrators. “We (parents and coaches) really need to educate ourselves. Football gets a black eye for things, we can do better at helping ourselves recognize dangers and learn to react appropriately. I wonder if the guys that get hurt are wearing a mouthpiece all of the time? Does their helmet fit correctly? This training is something I pride myself on. We have coaches that are aware and watching,” Herriman head coach and acting Utah Football Coaches Association President Dustin Pearce said.

Risk Injuries in football are frequent. Knees, ankles and shoulder joints are often times the most commonly affected areas. Today brain injuries and concussions are making football executives wonder if the game is safe for its players. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, was found in 99 percent of deceased NFL players brains donated for scientific research, according to a study published July 25 in the medical journal JAMA. The disease affects the brain in ways doctors still do not understand. In 2016, the NFL publicly acknowledged for the first time a connection between football and CTE. Concussions and head injuries being

October 2017 | Page 9

W estJordanJournal.Com the most likely culprits. The disease can be found in individuals who have been exposed to repeated head trauma. It can only be formally diagnosed with an autopsy, but carriers of the disease have shown symptoms of memory loss, confusion, aggression, depression, anxiety and sometimes suicidal behavior. “I think we have averaged 10 concussions a year, but it seems to be on the decline,” West Jordan High School head trainer Sarah Bradley said. “Even mild concussions should be treated the same. They (the injured player) need to go 24 hours without contact before they can get back at it.” The force of even a youth player’s tackle can be startling. According to a Popular Mechanics 2009 study, a fighter pilot may experience a G-force rating of 9 g’s; an extremely hard football tackle can produce as much as 30 g’s and an NFL hit 100 g’s. Diagnosis and Treatment Symptoms that parents and coaches should watch for include dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and drowsiness. Bradley said to watch for lack of concentration and confusion in the athlete. She said players should be reminded to tell the truth about what they are feeling. Rest is the best treatment. The athlete should avoid watching TV and using a cell phone. Bradley said they should not return to play until they have been evaluated and cleared by a licensed health care provider. “Something we forget that is simple is just staying hydrated, but they always need to see a doctor for the best treatment,” Bradley said. A team of scientists from the University of Winsor suspected that dehydration may increase the risk of concussions, as presented at the Experimental Biology Meeting in San Diego in 2014. Dehydration can cause a reduction of fluid in and around the brain. The fluid can cushion the brain during hard hits. Prevention In high schools, the athletic directors are responsible for the safety of the players. In the youth leagues it’s the commissioners. Training and education has become important in the involvement of coaches and parents. “I think our league did a lot to prevent injuries. We train our coaches with USA Football and teach about heads-up tackling. They are also trained to watch for symptoms and we have a concussion protocol. In our three years we have documented only six concussions,” Utah Girls Tackle Football league director Crystal Sacco said. “I had to trust our coaches. We trained them so well that we left it up to them.” USA Football is a national program supported by the Utah High School Activities Association. Training includes emphasis in concussion recognition and response, heat preparedness and hydration, sudden cardiac arrest, proper equipment fitting and proper gameplay techniques. Coaches and administrators agree that education is the first step to improving prevention of injuries.

The amount of force a player can feel in a hard tackle can be five times what a fighter pilot experiences. (Greg James/City Journals)

“I have seen the numbers of concussions decrease after we implemented a neck strengthening program. We have seen good results from concentrating on the player’s development. We taught the players exercises they could do. During lifting workouts every other day they work on it. These kids are just learning about their bodies so we have tried to help them through it,” Bradley said. The UHSAA supports a national recommendation on limiting contact in practice. The national task force suggests limiting full contact to two or three times a week. They also support an initiative to reduce two-way players (players who play both offense and defense).

Benefits “Nothing can replace football, getting 11 guys to work together and depend on each other to win a game is a hard thing. Football is hard, not everyone can do it. It is easier to sit at home and play the Xbox. It is just like life, not everyone is going to be the CEO. It teaches life skills to these kids,” Pearce said. In its injury prevention bulletin, the UHSAA stated it believes athletic participation by students promotes health and fitness, academic achievement and good citizenship. They agree that there is a risk in playing all sports. “I personally would only feel comfortable with my kids playing if they were prepared physically, and I would want the coach to be

safety oriented. I played when I was younger and know the commitment it takes,” West Jordan resident Mike Taylor said. According to USA Football, every year nearly three million children ages 6-14 take to football fields across America. College and university fans pack stadiums on Saturdays and NFL fans are glued to every move of the NFL on Sundays. And, football is a multi-million dollar industry. Recently, the Dallas Cowboys franchise was appraised at $4.2 billion dollars. Local sporting goods stores sell equipment, families eat out and tailgate on game days and fans purchase team merchandise. The effects of football games on the community can be far reaching. l

Page 10 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Conditional single family senior housing rezone approved

“

By Becca Ketelsleger | Becca.k@mycityjournals.com

There are 10,000 people turning 65 in the U.S. a day right now,” said resident Gary Cannon at the Aug. 23 West Jordan City Council meeting. “This will meet the needs of these people.” This plea was in response to some resistance from the city council regarding his request to rezone a total of 3.82 acres to a mixture of professional office and multi-family residential with a senior housing overlay. The changes would alter the current zoning of high-density residential and single-family residential (8,000-square-foot lots) to hold professional office space on a total of 1.74 acres, and single-family senior housing on 2.08 acres (no more than 8 units per acre).

A sample of the homes that would be built within the senior housing community. (Gary Cannon/West Jordan City)

The area in question is a property to the north side of Drake Lane in West Jordan. The concerns were not with the professional office building, for which the applicant already has a tenant in mind but with the rezone of the single-family housing. Even within that parcel of the property, concern was not raised by the plan for the space, but the contingencies in case the plan went awry. “I just get a little bit nervous when we rezone without a binding concept plan,” said Councilman Zach Jacob. “This could go into multi-family, according to the zone.” While there are other possible ways to rezone the area without the option for multi-family housing but still gaining the desired lot size per house, the other options would involve developing a fully planned community, which the applicant did not want to pursue. The residents mirrored these worries. “You don’t need to compact more people in that particular area,” said West Jordan resident Alexandra Eframo, advocating for the zoning to remain unchanged. While the applicant only voiced plans to put a maximum of 14 single-family homes in the area, the flexibility regarding the units per acre was something that the committee could not see past. With the density being set on the higher end, even if the current applicant did not plan to take advantage, it would leave the option open for future developers if the current plan was not able to come to fruition. “I would much rather see this come up as a planned residential development,” said Jacob. Councilman Chris McConnehey summarized the sentiments of many on the council by stating that he would like to eliminate the “what if” with the rezone. Several options were discussed on how to eliminate the possibility for multi-family housing. One option was to set a minimum price per until that could not possibly be met by multi-family housing. The planned sale value of the homes is between $250,000 and $300,000. “I would be very happy with any stipulations that you guys would like to put on this product, to make sure that it does get done right and meets the standards you set forth,” said Cannon. In the end, a zoning condition was what ended up causing the ordinance to pass with only one dissenting vote (Jacob). The condition stated that the subdivision will need to be platted within 12 months, or the zoning will be brought back before the city council for further deliberation, and possible reversal. “I really do like these kinds of developments; they really are good neighbors. This kind of senior development is, to me, what our city needs to attract,” said West Jordan resident Steve Jones. “I like it if that’s what he is truly going to build there.” l

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West Jordan Journal

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Recognizing challenges becomes first step to economic development in city By Becca Ketelsleger | Becca.k@mycityjournals.com

t the Aug. 23 West Jordan City Council meeting, council members reviewed and discussed the status of West Jordan’s economy. “With the focus on economic development, staff are in the process of updating the Strategic Plan,” said West Jordan Economic Development Director David Oka. “The first step in this was to identify some of the issues we are facing here in West Jordan.” The first step in identifying the cities strengths and weaknesses was to bring in Lewis, Young, Robertson & Burningham (an independent financial advisory and consulting firm) to conduct a study on the city’s economic development and “sales leakage.” From a broad perspective, the presentation made at the city council meeting was meant to illustrate what the average person spends on various items (i.e., food and beverage, hardware, sporting goods) and then what percentage of those sales the city is capturing within their borders. These numbers were also compared to previous years to see trends within West Jordan. “If the average person is buying x amount of hardware every year, and you aren’t selling that much hardware for your population, they may be going somewhere else to do that shopping,” said principal adviser Laura Lewis from Lewis, Young, Robertson & Burningham. While some of the decreases in West Jordan’s ability to capture sales tax (a decrease of 70 percent in sales capture for furniture and home furnishings, and a decrease of 19 percent in sales capture for sporting goods) can be tied directly to the loss of large retailers within the city (RC Wiley and Sports Authority respectively), other sales leakage causes are much more complex. For example, while sales capture for motor vehicle and parts dealers has remained fairly consistent (only a 1 percent decrease since 2011), the total amount of leakage for that category sits at the staggering amount of $197,791,097. What this means is that West Jordan auto sales are below average for the state, and that West Jordan residents are having to

go elsewhere to buy their vehicles. This is not due to a loss of car dealerships within the city but the initial lack of them. “We know that due to the ‘rules’ governed by the car dealership association, we have been prohibited from having new car dealerships in our city,” said Oka for clarification. Although according to the report, “the average capture rate has declined almost universally across all major categories,” West Jordan officials are still capturing “77 percent of the retail and service sales.” All of this information compiled will help to direct the updates to West Jordan’s strategic plan. Five recommendations were made by the consulting firm to also help aid in the process: conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) analysis, host an economic development workshop, review focus areas, prioritize focus areas, and identify immediate and long-term goals. Along with these formal recommendations, Lewis had another word of caution. “I do think it’s important that you, again not just you up there on the dais, but your constituents need to understand the tools that are available to you,” said Lewis. “If you are only using a hammer and everyone else has the whole toolbox, you are not going to retain as many businesses.” One step forward in the right direction came roughly two weeks later, with an attempt to recapture some of the sporting goods sales that have been lost within the city. On Sept. 8 a ribbon cutting occurred for a new Smith & Edwards location in West Jordan, with the grand opening following the next day. Smith & Edwards has been selling military surplus gear, Western wear and many other items in west Ogden since 1947. This year, it is celebrating its 70th anniversary, which includes the opening of a second location. The grand opening of Smith & Edwards West Jordan location

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featured booths and prize giveaways outside the stores entrance, as well as multiple sales and activities inside. Attendance was high, with families and children enjoying the day’s events and lining up to make their purchases. l

The grand opening of the West Jordan location of Smith & Edwards could be deemed nothing less than a success. (Becca Ketelsleger/City Journals)

Page 14 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Jaguars hunt for playoff spot in Region 3

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he West Jordan High School football team has continued its rise under the tutelage of thirdyear head coach Mike Meifu. A solid defense has provided a foundation for the team to build around, and its offense is producing enough to keep the team on top. “I really think our guys have had the right attitude,” Meifu said. “They have been excited to play on the new turf. Our defense has been up for the challenge. Our offense has struggled the first few games of the season, and they have wanted to come out and show what they can do.” The Jaguars scored 40 points in their opening game of the season against Westlake. Since then, they have struggled on offense. Kearns and Bear River both held the Jaguars to less than 86 yards

The Jaguars Carl Odom runs the ball. (Shelly Oliverson/football booster)

rushing, and junior quarterback Oakley Kopp only completed 45 percent of his passes. “We lost nine players from last season’s offense,” Meifu said. “We expect to have some bumps in the road. We have made some mistakes along the way, but we have learned from them and moved on. The kids continue to work, and I am proud of the way they have played. They bounced back against Hunter.” The Jaguars’ offense opened up against Hunter Sept. 7 in a game televised locally. The Jaguars opening play of the game, a screen pass, led to a 65-yard touchdown by Danson Omar. He ended up with two touchdowns on the night, and KJZZ named him player of the game. “I have not done as good of a job at getting him the ball,” Meifu said. “He is a special player and makes people miss, but without all of the other players blocking he does not get anywhere.” Oakley Kopp threw for three touchdowns; the last was a 55-yard connection over the shoulder of Omar as he out sprinted his defender down the sideline. “This has been a team effort,” Omar said. “Our defense has played their butts off, and it has been fun. We just need to keep it up.” Defense remains the foundation to this Jaguar team. In three games, the unit has allowed only 49 points. The two senior interior lineman, 6-foot-5 Marquel Sealey, and 6-foot Omarion Fa’amoe, force Jaguar opponents to run the ball to the outside or pass. Meifu said the play of the defensive line has elevated the importance of the defensive backs playing well. “Our coaches really set up a great game plan. Our defense is really good. They have a lot of returning players with lots of experience,” Meifu said. “The entire defense is playing well. The defensive backs are making plays that really help give us a chance.” Linebackers Bryson Percival and Carl Odom defend the middle of the defense. Seniors Preston Michaelsen and Saia Lapale have each snagged interceptions. “We work together and try to the best we can,” Sealey said. “I am proud of my teammates. I feel we just need to keep working on learning and getting better.” The Jaguars face fierce competition in Region 3. Their schedule includes state title contenders East and Herriman, bookending traditional rival Copper Hills. Herriman will visit Jaguar stadium Friday, Sept. 29. The Jaguars make the short trip to Copper Hills Oct. 6 and then they travel to East Oct. 13. The state tournament is scheduled to begin Oct. 27–28, and the finals are slated for Nov. 17 at the University of Utah. l

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Artist Rob Wilson Featured at the Schorr

An art lover can always tell who has crossed paths with artist Rob Wilson, because they are probably in one of his paintings. He has been known to stop people at the grocery store, or walking through the park near his home, asking if they’ll model for a painting. Beginning September 22, the Schorr Gallery will exhibit the creative works of Utah artist Rob Wilson. Wilson began painting seriously when he was 15 and received his first commission at 17. Mostly a self-taught artist, Wilson does admit to studying art in college on a scholarship. While he originally cut his teeth on watercolors, winning several awards early on, Wilson has since moved to oils. This is Wilson’s first exhibit at the Schorr Gallery. His works will be up throughout the month of October until November 10. The Schorr Gallery is open 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located on the third floor of City Hall, 8000 S. Redwood Road.

M AY O R ’ S M E S S A G E

September was another exciting month for the City of West Jordan! The West Jordan Arena was once again the site of a great community event – the Demolition Derby. It was a fun show that rocked the arena with hard-hitting action. The arena is also the home of the Western Stampede rodeo, a West Jordan tradition since 1954. At one point, I thought the rodeo might be in jeopardy. But I’m happy to report, that for the first time in many years, the rodeo was in the black. It’s been a priority since I took office to make the rodeo profitable. This year, thanks to an increase in sponsorship dollars, strong ticket sales and a continued partnership with Cervi Championship Rodeo, one of the top stock contractors in the business, after the books were balanced, we had a profit of over $9,000. That might not sound like much, but it’s a big improvement over where this event has been in year’s past. Thanks to all the volunteers and staff who worked hard to make this event a success! Unless you’ve come to the rodeo, derby or the Osmond’s Pioneer Pageant, you might not know that we have this great facility that seats over 4,500 people. In the future, I’d like to look at other ways we could use this venue to bring self-sustaining community events to the arena. It’s located in our expanding “civic center” just south of the County Library headquarters and Viridian Library and west of the State Third District Courthouse at 8035 South 2200 West. We’ve also had some exciting businesses open in our city. We had a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome Smith and Edwards to our city. We are honored to be the site of their first-ever expansion! Their new store features an extensive collection of goods including an ACE hardware section, Western tack, Western jewelry, clothing, coats, footwear, toys, housewares, hardware, paint, U.S. and international military surplus, an extraordinary selection of Dutch oven cookware and all sorts of hunting, fishing, marine, water sports, automotive, camping, backpacking, climbing, search and rescue, and emergency preparedness gear. Stop by and check it out. It’s at the corner of 9000 South and Redwood Road. Burlington Coat Factory also opened a City officials welcome Smith and Edwards to West Jordan new store adjacent to Sears in Jordan Landduring the Sept. 8 ribbon cutting ceremony. The store is their ing. Marriott International is opening a new first expansion and second store. Residence Inn in Jordan Landing this fall that will feature 99 rooms and 1,700 square feet of meeting space. Also, please be sure and watch your mailboxes for your Voter Information Pamphlet. These will be mailed to all households and arrive by Oct. 25. They will include information on two different ballot propositions that voters will be voting on in the General Election. More information can be found in this newsletter on the following page.

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

VOTE! TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 – If you don’t, who will? Submitted By Melanie S. Briggs, City Clerk/Election Officer As the City Clerk for the City of West Jordan, it is my desire to stress the importance to vote in the upcoming Municipal Election process! Local leaders are the ones who determine policies that directly impact your quality of life. Municipal Elections are often decided by a handful of votes, so make yours count. A Voter Information Packet will be mailed by Oct. 25 to all households and can also be found online at WestJordan.Utah.gov. The positions and candidates on the ballot are as follows: MAYOR (vote for 1) Jim Riding Kim V. Rolfe

elected by districts (one member from each district). The proposal, if approved, would become effective two years later, after the Nov. 5, 2019 general election. The proposal is for a Council-Mayor form of government with separate branches of government. The Mayor would not be a member of the council, but would be the head of the executive/administrative branch. The Mayor would appoint a chief administrative officer to assist him/her. The seven-member City Council (one of which is a chairman, elected by the others) would be the head of the legislative branch. The Mayor and three of the Council members would be elected at large and the other four Council members would be elected by districts (one member from each district). The Council boundaries would be the same as in the current form of government.

COUNCIL AT-LARGE (vote for 2) Jay Thomas Hyrum Smith Matthews Chad R. Lamb Kayleen Whitelock COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 Alan R. Anderson PROPOSITIONS: GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND & CHANGE OF CITY GOVERNMENT In addition to voting for mayor, two council at-large seats, and the council member for District 4 position (only voters who live in District 4), voters will have the opportunity to vote on two ballot propositions: a general obligation bond that, if approved, would fund the construction of a new aquatic and recreation center, and also a change in the city’s form of government. AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER BOND PROPOSITION Shall the City of West Jordan, Utah (the “City”), be authorized to issue General Obligation Bonds (the “Bonds”) in a principal amount not to exceed Forty-Six Million Dollars ($46,000,000) for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs to acquire, construct, improve and equip an aquatic and recreation center in the City; and the authorization and issuance of the Bonds due and payable with a term not to exceed thirty (30) years from the date or dates of issuance of the Bonds? PROPERTY TAX COST OF BONDS If the Bonds are issued as planned, a property tax sufficient to pay debt service on the Bonds will be required over a period of thirty (30) years in the estimated amount of $54.51 per year on a $245,100 primary residence and in the estimated amount of $99.12 per year on a business or secondary residence having the same value. The foregoing information is only an estimate and is not a limit on the amount of taxes that the City may be required to levy to pay debt service on the Bonds. The City is obligated to levy taxes to the extent provided by law in order to pay the Bonds. The amounts are based on various assumptions and estimates, including estimated debt service on the Bonds and taxable values of property in the City.

VOTE BY MAIL ELECTION The City of West Jordan will be conducting the 2017 Municipal Election entirely by mail. There will not be a regular polling location for your precinct on General Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Ballots will be mailed during the week of Oct. 16, 2017. You may return your ballot by any one of the following methods: • By mail as long as it is postmarked by Nov. 6th, the day before Election Day • Ballot drop box in the City Hall parking lot, 8000 South Redwood Road • Ballot drop box at the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office through 8 p.m. on Election Day, located on the east side of the County Govt. Center (2001 South State Street) • 24-hour drive-thru drop boxes are also located at many locations throughout Salt Lake County • City Clerk’s Office at 8000 South Redwood Road (during business hours) • At any of the three West Jordan Vote Centers on Election Day (open until 8 p.m.)

PROPOSITION 10  FORM OF GOVERNMENT Shall the City of West Jordan, Utah, change its form of government to the Council-Mayor Form, with a seven-member Council? The City currently has a Council-Manager form of government. This form of government consists of a seven-member City Council (one of the members being the Mayor) and a chief executive officer, called a City Manager, who is appointed by a majority of the City Council. The Mayor and two of the Council members are elected at large and the other four Council members are

Viridian Library 8030 South 1825 West Hampton Inn & Suites 3923 W. Center Park Drive (7185 South) Copper Hills LDS Church 5349 West 9000 South

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7000 South Utilities Construction to Suspend Work for Winter

Over the last eight months, the City of West Jordan has been conducting a major utilities upgrade project on badly aging storm drain, water and sewer lines along 7000 South between 1300 West and 3200 West. This is the largest and most complex infrastructure project the City has undertaken, with eight separate projects being completed at once. Prior to construction, the City established an aggressive schedule to complete the project in six months, or one construction season. From the beginning, the project has experienced significant delays, mainly due to record-setting rainfall, flooding, third party utility conflicts, and interagency permitting conflicts. These delays and respective impacts have been frustrating to the City, project team, but especially local residents and businesses. In order to maintain a safe roadway on this crucial corridor during the winter and provide some relief to those on and around 7000 South, the City has determined that shutting the project down and restoring all travel lanes for the winter months is in the best interest of the public and the quality of the project work. Construction will suspend on or before Nov. 30, 2017 and resume in the spring/early summer. Total project completion is tentatively anticipated for summer 2018. While the project is delayed, significant progress has been made and will continue to be made in the weeks ahead. Work between 1300 West and Redwood Road and between 1985 West and the Utah Salt Lake Canal will be substantially complete by the winter shutdown. All travel lanes will be restored and traffic control will be removed by this time. When work resumes next year, the project, work zone and schedule will be reduced, creating less impact to nearby residents and the travelling public. We understand the severe impact this project has had on citizens and businesses residing on and around 7000 South and those motorists who utilize 7000 South daily. Construction is never easy, but this project in particular has been extremely complex and impactful. We hope this pause in construction will be a welcomed break by those who have been most impacted by its effects. The City will use this time to work with the contractor on improving the future construction process and limiting impacts to nearby residents and the traveling public.

Join Our Team The City of West Jordan is looking for crossing guards to help our children arrive safely at school. This is a great part-time job for someone looking for flexibility and extra income. Please spread the word and help us find good people. Visit WestJordan.Utah.com for more information and to apply.

Family Friendly Things to Do Highlighted on Culture & Tourism Map The City of West Jordan has added a “Culture and Tourism” map to the online Public Maps Portal. If you are looking for family friendly things to do in the area with your family and friends, this map may give you some ideas! Here you will see a brief description of the attraction along with a link to the site itself. The GIS department has also updated and made the interactive maps more user friendly than ever. Of particular interest is the “West Jordan City Info Map.” This map has clickable layers you can turn on and off to see zoning, land use, garbage pickup days, schools and more. You can find these maps on the city website at WestJordan.Utah.gov and then click the Quick Links tab.

Demolition Derby Recap Thank you to all those who attended the 2017 Demolition Derby! Over 3,000 people were there to watch the demolition fun and enjoy funnel cakes, cobbler, buffalo burgers, and fresh cut fries. Heats included large trucks, passenger cars, and even a large, decorated school bus. Based on the turnout and feedback from the event this year, the City of West Jordan is hopeful that 2018 will feature an even bigger, better Demolition Derby.

Flames emitted from a truck during one of the most intense heats of the night!

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

O CTOBE R

PLANNING COMMISSION

THEATRE BOARD “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN”

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

Midvale Performing Arts Center 695 W Center St 7:30 p.m.

WEST JORDAN YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”

O CTOBE R

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

LITERARY WORKSHOP WITH UTAH HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION

PLANNING COMMISSION

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

5-12

6-16

Joel P. Jensen Middle School 8105 South 3200 West 7 p.m. (Sat. Matinees at 2 p.m.)

City Hall Community Room 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 7 p.m.

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

O CTOBE R

NOV E M B E R

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

DOCUMENT SHRED AND E-WASTE RECYCLING

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

8000 South 1825 West (parking lot behind City Hall) 10 a.m.-noon

Green Waste Collection Ends Green Waste Collection Ends On The Last Full Week Of November Green waste pick up is coming to an end for the 2017 season so plan now to complete your fall yard projects. The last collection will be on your regular collection day the week of Nov. 20th. Green waste collection will resume Monday, April 2, 2018. Remember to keep the green clean and place only loose grass clippings, leaves, non-treated wood, small tree branches and dirt-free vegetative matter in the container. 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.

NOV E M B E R

GENERAL ELECTION

NOV E M B E R

CITY COUNCIL MEETING City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

LITERARY WORKSHOP City Hall Community Room 8000 S. Redwood Road 7 p.m.

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

• 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. Website: www.westjordan.utah.gov/garbageandrecycling

October 2017 | Page 19

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West Jordan City Journal

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West Jordan Journal

Fighting Eagles are changing lives and winning baseball games By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

Westridge Academy’s baseball team is having a successful season. It hopes to make an impact on the state playoffs this fall. (Jamie Keefer/Westridge)

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estridge Academy is a place for students, parents and even teachers to learn how to improve their lives. Eagles athletic director Jamie Keefer is using his experience to help his team’s players to succeed. “I think if we can get to the first round of the playoffs, we could win our games,” he said. “When our kids first arrive (on campus) they have issues. Then they start to get it and turn things around. I see them learn and change their lives. For some of them, sports is part of that.” Westridge Academy in West Jordan has provided schooling and clinical care for troubled youth ages 9–18. The program includes assessment, outpatient services and counseling. The sports teams are members of the Utah High School Activities Association and compete in Region 21 in Class 1A. West Ridge generally houses 20–30 students, and they compete in boys baseball and girls volleyball in the fall. Keefer said sports can be an important part of their therapy. Westridge began competing in varsity sports in 1990. The sports programs supports the school’s overall mission by building self-esteem, team bonding and encourage learning new things. Senior Will LaLonde, a resident from Minnesota, was named Deseret News player of the week when he pitched a perfect game and struck out 23 batters in three appearances this fall. He has lived on the Westridge campus for seven months. “He (LaLonde) ran into a little bit of problems here and there back home and came to us and has done a good job,” Keefer said. “He

could get us the wins when he pitches. He is a great pitcher, has a good change up and throws about 84 miles per hour. He is a great young man and has turned a leaf and has worked hard.” Jayden Hill is from Nevada and is hitting .667 for the Fighting Eagles. Will Adams, from California, is hitting .600 and has eight runs batted in. In the last 10 years West Ridge has won seven Region baseball titles. “We have had a great season,” Keefer said. “This group has bonded together. We have some great athletes. We have worked hard this summer, and I know our program is just getting better.” The Eagles head coach has also suffered hardships. Keefer had a kidney transplant in May. He had a hernia and major infection and spent almost a month in the hospital. He said his players understand the recovery he is going through because they share a common goal to change. “It has been a tough recovery,” he said. “I think I tried to get back at it too soon. I connect with these kids very well. I have developed a great relationship with them. For a team that is small and really not in the limelight we are pulling it together. They are hard workers.” The Eagles had only lost two games headed into what Keefer described as tough road games at Dugway and Tabiona. They are scheduled to close out the regular season at home against Telos. The 1A state baseball tournament is scheduled to begin in October. l

October 2017 | Page 21

W estJordanJournal.Com

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any residents used the Aug. 21 solar eclipse to increase or enhance their knowledge of science. Salt Lake County libraries throughout the valley hosted eclipse-viewing parties from 10 a.m. until past noon. The eclipse reached maximum coverage at 11:33 a.m. While Salt Lake county residents were not in the zone to see the total eclipse, the viewpoint here was 92 percent at fullest coverage. “People were lined up at the doors of many branches before the libraries even opened,” said Kelsy Thompson, public relations coordinator for the library. She reported that Sandy alone had about 700 people attend. “I’d say between all 18 of our branches, we easily had a few thousand patrons attend and partake in the festivities.” The library branches gave out 3,000 pairs of viewing glasses on eclipse day alone, and had been distributing them, as available, before the event as well. “For those patrons who couldn’t acquire glasses, many of the branches also created pinhole viewers and cardboard viewers with solar film for patrons to watch the eclipse. We also had a full schedule of branch events leading up to Aug. 21,” said Thompson. These events included talks about the solar system at the Taylorsville branch, related storytime readings at various branches, crafts at the Whitmore branch, rocket launchings at Bingham Creek and a Lunar Tunes/Looney Tunes cartoon marathon at Bingham Creek. Joakima Carr came to the West Jordan library viewing party with her son, 7-year-old Daisun, and daughter, 5-year-old Daiyana. Her baby, Dailuna, also came along to the party. Joakima laughed that several of her children had space-related names, one with “sun” and one with “luna.” Damon, the father, is a mechanical engineer and likes to promote science learning with the kids. “I want to be an astronaut. I want to go to Jupiter,” said Daisun. He explained how Jupiter was the largest planet, and he talked about the storms on Mars. Joakima had helped the kids build cardboard eclipse viewers. She had watched a video on YouTube to learn how to build them. Daisun was already learning about the phases of the moon in school. The family also recently watched the movie “The Martian” and had discussed living on Mars. The kids had used blocks at home to make stackable buildings and a satellite, inspired by the movie. Joakima said the family has also gone to visit a space museum and that the kids enjoy anything with a space theme. Retiree John Perry also came to the viewing party. Perry has been interested in space since

John Perry lets the public view the eclipse through his telescope. (Ruth Hendricks/City Journals)

the TV show “Star Trek” debuted. Perry came to the library grounds because there were no obstructions, and he could set up his telescope with a filter and camera attachment. He programmed the camera to take a photo every 40 seconds to document the movement of the moon across the sun. “It’s amazing to see the sun and moon both together at the same time,” he said. Attendees at the party expressed appreciation that Perry let them look through his telescope. Perry enjoys taking photos of celestial events. He took 268 images when Mercury crossed the sun. Mercury and Venus are closer to the sun than our planet, so when they cross in between the Earth and the sun it’s called a transit. Mercury’s last transit was May 9, 2016. Information from the county library website shows that the 2017 Great American Eclipse united most of the country in viewing it. CNN recently projected that about half the country (150 million people) watched some portion of the eclipse. This compares to 20 million people who watched the 2017 NBA Championship, and 111 million people who watched the Super Bowl this past February. l

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By Ruth Hendricks | Ruth.H@mycityjournals.com

Page 22 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Checkered flags fly for young driver By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

Natalie Waters is amongst the youngest drivers on the oval at Rocky Mountain Raceway. (Creative Resource & Design)

o race a car fast, a driver’s license is not necessary, apparently. Chaz Groat is making a name for himself on the threeeighths mile oval at Rocky Mountain Raceway. At 13 years old it is not legal for him to be behind the wheel of a car on the streets, but at the track he is beating more experienced and older drivers. “We are a racing family. I have been around racing for a

There’s More to

long time. He ran a go kart out at the Larry H. Miller track for two years starting when he was four years old. Soon after that RMR (Rocky Mountain Raceway) started the quarter midget program for kids, he progressed up through that program,” said Chaz’s father Chuck Groat. In the quarter midget program at RMR the cars are generally half the size of a normal midget race car and run in classes with engine restriction rules. Drivers range in age from 5-16 years old. Last summer Chaz moved into a junior stinger class on the larger oval. This class is for drivers age 12-16. He said he always wanted to drive a midget car. After some discussion with officials the age was lowered to match what other Intermountain race tracks were offering and Chaz found a car. “I joke with my wife that I feel like I am completely helpless. I just sit back and try to watch him do what he does,” Chuck said. In 2016, he was invited to Meridian Raceway in Boise, Idaho to race for the first time in his midget car. He also ran his car in Pocatello, Idaho. His first main event victory came at Meridian. This season will be his first complete season in the racing class and he has made the most of his opportunity. Midget cars run a Ford Focus alcohol-injected engine. At this altitude it generally has about 155 horsepower and weighs about 1,100 lbs. The engine is sealed and cannot be tampered with. The competitive edge comes from suspension set up and setting up the fuel.

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Chuck owns two complete cars. He has raced alongside his son. Chaz’s racing career is funded by his parents. He also is sponsored by Powder Works Powder Coating and Roto Grip Bowling Balls. “He kicked my butt. It was thrilling to watch. I figured this was his first year and he should just get some seat time. He has taken to it. I think it took me three years to get my first win,” Chuck said. Chaz captured his first main event victory Aug. 5. He was fast qualifier and started the main near the back of the pack. He patiently made his move towards the front. At one point he was nose-to-tail with his father, passing him with about five laps remaining in the event. Natalie Waters has followed Chaz’s same path in the series. Waters is also 13 years old and lives in West Jordan. “From a dad perspective I think these kids are doing something amazing. People should come watch what they are doing in these race cars,” Chuck said. They plan on going to the Bullring in Las Vegas at the end of October. “I really just look for the best opportunity. I watch the cars around me and try to figure out the best way to get around the track. It was an amazing feeling to win the main. We have an amazing car. My dad is my favorite race car driver it has to be,” Chaz said. Chaz is in eighth grade and attends Kennedy Junior High in West Valley. He is the son of Chuck and Julie Groat. “The thrill of it is amazing. Going 100 miles-per-hour down the track at RMR, it is exciting,” Chaz said. l

October 2017 | Page 23

W estJordanJournal.Com

Grappler and coach head to world finals

he story of U.S. grappling team member Koffi Adzitso begins at a young age when his family left Africa and settled in Utah as refugees. His new life would take him on a journey to the World Grappling Championships in Azerbaijan. “Only 20 people made the team, lots tried out and two of us come from Utah. We get to represent the USA and travel out of the country as team members,” Adzitso said. The World Grappling Championships are scheduled for Oct. 1821 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Adzitso trains with Taylorsville resident and former grappling World Champion Brandon Ruiz. He began hand-to-hand combat training after graduating from Cottonwood High School in 2007. While training he met Ruiz and began learning from him. “I heard about wrestling my senior year and went out for the team. After high school I was doing MMA (mixed martial arts) and that is when I met Brandon. Every time I compete Brandon is in my corner. I have learned everything from him. This time I made the team with him,” Adzitso said. He joined the Colts wrestling team his senior year and placed second in his weight class at the Utah High School Activities Association state wrestling meet. He encourages kids to wrestle as early as they can. “Wrestling teaches a lot of discipline and how to respect people. I learned to honor people and be responsible,” Adzitso said. Adzitso and his family came to Utah when he was 11 years old. He moved from Togo, Africa. His parents got jobs at the airport to support his family. “My parents really struggled to give us a good life here. They

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com gave up a lot of stuff to come here and we settled in and became citizens. We came here with only the stuff we could fit in our suitcase,” Adzitso said. Because he is different he got into a lot of fights in school. “I dressed different, did not speak English and looked different than everyone else. Back in Africa we fought a lot. When I was bullied I would defend myself. Then I started wrestling and instead of fighting after school I was on a team. I felt this was it, and I knew it would keep me away from trouble,” Adzitso said. Grappling differs from wrestling—it is wrestling to submission. This means a competitor is expected to submit either verbally or by tapping his opponent to admit defeat. Refusing to “tap out” can risk unconsciousness or serious injury. His supporters have started a go fund me account to help him raise funds for travel while attending the championships. It can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/send-koffi-to-world-championship. Adzitso estimates his trip to the world championships will cost about $5,000. He works for Intermountain Health Care in the purchasing warehouse. He trains by riding his bicycle to work and working out with Ruiz his coach. He rides 34 miles a day and spends approximately 12 hours a week perfecting his skill. He qualified for the team in April at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas. He finished fourth in the 84 kg class. Adzitso is nicknamed “The Lion King” in Ultimate Fighting circles and began fighting in 2007. His UFC record includes 20 wins and 11 losses. He had nine knockouts. His last UFC fight was in 2014 when he began training for submission grappling full time. l

Koffi Adzitso will represent the United States at the World Grappling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Koffi Adzitso)

Page 24 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Sagewood at daybreak resident celebrates 102 years of adventure By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com

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agewood at Daybreak is a premier senior living community where everyone has a chance to participate in a host of activities from shopping trips to crafts, exercise and eating amazing food made by their team of chefs. Another activity that they like to participate in is the monthly birthday party. “After physical wellness, we really have to keep residents entertained and social and happy, and birthday parties are a great way to do that and celebrate their life,” said Jonathan Sherman Tate, Sagewood wellness director. Residents are treated to an in-house masseuse and balloon artist along with decorations and cake. “Rob, our balloon guy, was a Scout in a Scout Troop that one of our residents was a leader of,” Tate said. “He just really loves doing it. We decorate and have some fun times.” Eris Kirby has been a resident of Sagewood’s for the last eight months after spending 50 years in the same house in Holladay. She said she and her husband love it because it has everything they need. “It’s entertaining, it’s educational, it’s social, and it helps us to develop and grow with their programs,” said Kirby, who teaches ceramics and is happy there are so many artistic opportunities. Kirby has also been excited by the birthday celebrations that happen every month and the opportunity they present to get to know their neighbors better. “I know all of these people with birthdays, and I love every one of them,” Kirby said. “They’re wonderful people. They do this once a month, and it’s just such a builder-upper of people, we get to know them and appreciate them.” One of those people, in particular, is Claudio Dos Santos, who celebrated his 102nd birthday on Aug. 23. Dos Santos was born in 1915 in Brazil and moved to the United States in 1955 as an industrial engineer. “Right now, I’m more American than Brazilian,” said Dos Santos. “It was mostly church influence that brought me to the U.S., and adventure. We can’t live without being in adventure.” Dos Santos is the 12th of 14 children and the only one still alive. His last job in the U.S. was at Beehive Machinery where he holds the patent as the inventor of a chicken deboner that has been used all over the world. He has travelled to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and several Communist countries, including Russia and the now absorbed Yugoslavia, to instruct in the use of his deboning machine. “We had about 21 people from all over Russia come to the plant to learn how to use the equipment,” said Dos Santos. “People are good people all over the world. The world is beautiful all over it because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” Dos Santos said of all the places he had travelled, Switzerland was his favorite, especially Zurich. “Zurich is a beautiful city,” he said.. “We went to the Alps. I took my wife, and we went to the side of the Matterhorn. Switzerland is clean. The roads are clean but very narrow, and people are milking cows right along the road.” After 70 years in engineering, Dos Santos re-

Claudio Dos Santos celebrates his 102nd birthday at Sagewood at Daybreak. (Keyra Kristoffersen/City Journals)

tired in 1985 to West Jordan, where he learned to play golf, make movies, take pictures and continue his passion for music. Dos Santos performed as First Tenor in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1965 to 1979, the first Brazilian and South American choir member. “One of his daughters continued that tradition. He has two daughters and a son, lovingly referred to as the baby at 67 years old along with 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Dos Santos moved to Sagewood in 2016, and the other residents and staff have grown fond of him. “He’s very special,” said Kirby, “He eats European style, which is very unusual for here.” Tate said he’s glad to see that Dos Santos doesn’t show any signs of stopping and is glad to see how motivated he is to exercise and work out by himself in the center’s gym. “We’ve dabbled in chess discussions, and he loves music,” Tate said. “I really love to hear about his engineering products that he has.” Dos Santos feels like he’s done a lot in 102 years and feels privileged to be living this long. When describing his life, he said, “I’m happy.”l

October 2017 | Page 25

W estJordanJournal.Com

JP Jensen Student is published By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

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Izabel Stewart, with her art teacher at Joel P. Jensen Middle School, Jason Dunn.

zabel Stewart, a ninth grader at Joel P. Jensen Middle School, will have her art work published in the Utah Labor Commission’s 2018 Workplace Safety calendar, distributed to various businesses and organizations around the state. Her poster, submitted to the Utah Labor Commission’s 2017 Workplace Safety Poster Contest, was one of five runners-up in the contest open to middle and junior high school students from around the state. “Students are encouraged to think about and express through art the importance of working safely in places that are free from hazards that

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Page 26 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Principal goes to law school to sue state

n her 12 years of teaching and 13 years as principal, Amy Martz has worked to provide the best for Utah students. She cares so much for her students that, when as a principal, she discovered students in need of a home, she applied to be a foster parent and brought them into her own home. She adopted a student in 2008 and three more last year. As a principal, Martz advocated for children as well as teachers. Her frustration with budgeting restraints built up over the years until she finally made another life-changing decision. “I just got really tired of having to tell teachers ‘no’ for things that they desperately needed,” she said In 2012, she quit her high-paying administration job to go back to school to earn a law degree that would enable her to sue the state for education funding. “The legislature is really going to have to dig deep and find a source of funding; we’re so far behind,” said Martz. While she finished her degree, Martz returned to part-time teaching at Fox Hills Elementary, taking a nearly 80 percent pay cut while continuing to deal with problems exacerbated by lack of funding. “I have a new perspective on it from having been a teacher and a principal,” she said.

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“Now I’m also a student (I’ve done 10 years of college), and now I have these kids. These guys have really made me think about where we are right now with funding for education and that I want to fight for them because they deserve to have a better education.” The biggest problem, according to Martz, is class size. She said classrooms aren’t made to accommodate so many children. Last year she had a class of 33 students and said it was very difficult to move around and to stay on top of everything. “To have 33 was just really unconscionable, and it affected the kids,” said Martz. “You never get 30 people to ever stop talking.” Because the school added another track, this year she has 19 students, making it easier to monitor student progress, have more oneon-one time and communicate with parents. Behavior is also better, she said. “It’s a whole different experience to have a class size like the rest of the nation,” she said. She’d also like to have the means to provide more technology opportunities for her students. “We’re fighting over a set of Chromebooks right now, trying to get technology into everyone’s hands,” she said of the teachers at her school. “I would use it every day for

a couple of hours if I could have it but everybody wants it, and it’s hard to get enough for all.” More school counselors, psychologists and administration should also be a high priority for budgeting, said Martz. Martz believes many students with behavior problems, that don’t qualify for special education aides, would benefit from oneon-one help in the classroom to help monitor behavior. “You can’t teach when you are worried about making sure everyone is safe,” said Martz. Principals spend time chasing these children, she said. When she was a principal, Martz felt her time was consumed with dealing with crises. “There’s not enough of me to go around to do all the things I need to do,” she said. Just one principal and a half-time administrative assistant are responsible for the 1,200 students at Fox Hills, illustrating how Utah not only has the highest student-to-teacher ratios but also principal to student ratios. Martz believes going to court could help bring needed changes to the education budget. She said similar lawsuits have been brought before 46 states—and 27 of them have won.

In the time she’s been working toward her law degree, progress has been made. In 2016, the Alliance for a Better Utah (betterutah.org) announced its intention to sue the state. “Better Utah believes that the legislature is not living up to its duty under the Utah Constitution to provide adequate funding for our children’s schools. It is our belief that if the legislature continues to ignore their responsibility to provide for our children’s future, they should face up to their failures in a court of law,” organization officials said in a statement. The Alliance is waiting to see how the legislature will respond. Meanwhile, Alliance Board Chair Josh Kanter encourages the community to let their government leaders know their feelings about the issue. It’s a slow process that’s not moving fast enough for Our Schools Now (ourschoolsnow.com), a coalition of business and civic leaders who believe local leaders can make better decisions for education funding. They are campaigning for a ballot initiative proposing a tax increase that would generate $700 million each year, increasing spending nearly $1,000 per student. “New funding will be allocated directly to Utah schools so that the teachers and students of those schools will directly receive

October 2017 | Page 27

W estJordanJournal.Com

the benefits of greater investment in education,” said Austin Cox, campaign manager of the coalition. “We must provide our teachers with the resources they need to teach our students the skills they need for future success.” Funding from the initiative will be used for teacher salaries, early learning, technology, professional development, class size reduction, additional teachers, counselors, tutors and specialists, or any other purpose to improve student performance. It would not go toward district administration expenses or construction. Martz is actively involved with the Our Schools Now campaign, collecting signatures (they need 113,000) to get the initiative on the ballot for November 2018. She believes this campaign sends a message to a legislature that hasn’t been willing to take action. “The people want education so badly that they’re willing to do it themselves and put through this voter initiative,” Martz said. “If it doesn’t go through, that will be very difficult on the lawsuit because it shows the public isn’t willing to pay more money.” Kanter said it is the outcome of the initiative and whether the legislature responds with a significant change that will determine if the alliance follows through with the lawsuit. Martz hopes as momentum builds, improvements in education will garner more

support. Granite School District has made some progress with its recent 11.67 percent salary increase for teachers. Other districts are expected to follow suit, said Martz. “The school districts have realized there’s a teacher shortage coming, that they really need to do something to motivate teachers to come to their district,” she said. But she said districts are still limited by funding. “They can do this one-time allotment that’s really going to help, but they don’t have any authority to go higher. The ultimate problem is they’re going to outgrow that tax increase when they need more teachers.” Martz passed her bar exam in September. She is considering going into public service. She feels that she would do well in juvenile defense. Also, being a parent of an autistic child, she said she could help families with special needs children navigate the education system to get the most benefit for their children. Or she might just return to being a principal. Either way, she will continue to push for better funding for education, fueled by her own children’s needs. “I want their education to be better,” she said. “I fight as much for them now as for the kids I had when I was the principal. I consider those my kids, too.” l

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A dedicated educator, Amy Martz went to law school so she could sue the state for funding. (courtesy of Amy Martz)

Page 28 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

Concert benefits clean water access throughout the world

said Jennifer Roberts of WHOLives, a South Jordan based, nonprofit that is looking to help get clean, sustainable water to every corner of the earth using a human-powered, selfpropelled drill that can be easily transported by truck or canoe to different areas not usually By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com accessible. WHO stands for Water, Health and Opportunity, and the organization has been recognized and awarded internationally for its work to bring sustainability, rather than dependence to people around the world in need of access to clean water. John Renouard, the founder and president, was presented with the Red Cross Hero Award for the work that’s being done. In the last three years, WHOLives has more than 1,200 water points in more than 25 different countries, bringing water to more than 1.2 million people. “It really can fix the world water crisis,” said Roberts. “We often say that WhoLives is the leading technology in the fight against poverty because it really does all begin with clean water. It allows economic opportunities to people. Prosperity can begin to take hold in the lives of people.” Roberts notes that part of that prosperity is the opportunity to bypass the often seven-hour A night of music to benefit clean water sustainability throughout the world with local Utah artists. (Jennifer Roberts) constant journey back and forth that young girls are charged with to bring mostly dirty water n Oct. 28, the Libby Gardner Concert Hall that don’t have access to clean water, and there to their families throughout the day. With the at the University of Utah will host a score are about 3.4 million people every year that die drill, that process is cut to a fraction, allowing of Utah’s musical talent in the hopes of drawing because they don’t have that clean water, and them the chance to spend that time in school attention to the need for clean water access all that has kind of a ripple effect of other negative learning, gaining social development skills and impacts, waterborne illnesses, sanitation, lack reclaiming their childhood. around the world. In 2016, an average of one well a day was “There are over a billion people in the world of water in dry season to keep things growing,”

dug by a village drill in more than 25 countries such as India, Vanuatu and others in Africa and South America. This year, WHOLives is hoping to double that number and go beyond it. The drills that go out are owned and operated by an active drilling team, local team of entrepreneurs, hospital or school which, Roberts said, isn’t traditionally how it has been done with clean water. Normally, water is brought in through funding or a gift but, when the system breaks, it tends to stay broken and the source of water is cut off because there just isn’t the funding or expertise to fix it. The WHOLives sustainability model insists that certain economic opportunities must be in place before the drill is put in to ensure that the water will continue being accessible to the community. Not enough water isn’t the problem, said Roberts; it’s not having reasonable access to clean water that is the problem. “The goal for this concert is to continue that mission,” said Roberts. With the sponsorship from Gary Young of Young Living, all the proceeds from the concert, donations and ticket sales will go directly toward funding global water projects as well as helping local refugees who have resettled in Utah with a scholarship gift. Raffle and auction prizes are also part of the program. “We’re going to put on an amazing show and inspire the audience to help,” said Roberts, “It’s going to be a special, unforgettable evening.” Artists include Dallyn Vail Bayles, the One Voice Children’s Choir, Stephen Beus and more. Seats are limited. To purchase tickets, go to www.wholivesevent.org. l

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W estJordanJournal.Com

Family Support Center receives $10,000 donation from national clothing chain T.J. Maxx By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com

Carpe Di End

Clinical Director Paul Ricks (pictured) painted this aquatic mural at the Family Support Center. (Carl Fauver)

hen T.J. Maxx opens a new clothing store in a city, the corporation has a custom of making a $10,000 donation to community service organizations. Generally, several different worthwhile causes receive a portion of the money. As the chain was preparing to open its newest store in Taylorsville (5670 South Redwood Road), company officials called the city offices for advice on what worthwhile charities should be considered for the donation. After speaking with the city’s public information officer Tiffany Janzen, T.J. Maxx chose to make the entire $10,000 donation to the Family Support Center. “I told them about all the good things the center does for families in crisis,” Janzen said at a recent city council meeting. “They provide a crisis nursery, along with reduced cost housing, counseling— just a lot of great things. The Family Support Center is an important resource and that’s just the first thing I thought of when (T.J. Maxx) called.” At that same city council meeting, Janzen received a “certificate of appreciation” from the Family Support Center, for touting their services to the clothing store chain. Taylorsville T.J. Maxx Store Manager Daniel Lacey is confident his company made the right choice. “We look for charities that help a lot of people, particularly lower-income residents,” Lacey said. “After doing a little research, we determined the Family Support Center was definitely at the top of our list. We’re pleased to make this connection so we can donate supplies, money and volunteer service in the future.” The Family Support Center (1760 West 4805 South) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It was launched in

1977 by the Utah Association of Therapists and the Junior League of Salt Lake City. Soon after, the center opened crisis nurseries in Sugar House and Midvale. Years later (in 2008), a third center opened in West Valley City. It remains open 24 hours a day. “We have children there every single night,” Family Support Center Executive Director Jeff Bird said. “And occasionally, if it gets to full, we have to call out staff in the middle of the night to open another center for overnight needs.” About half of the 3,000 people the support center serves each year are parents dropping their kids at a crisis nursery. “It’s a place for parents to leave their children for a few hours—or even all day—if they need to go to work, get to an important appointment, or if they just need a break from their kids for a little while,” said Family Support Development Director Barbara Stallone. “There are limits to how many times a parent can use the service. So it should only be used in a crisis.” There is not a crisis nursery at the Family Support Center’s Taylorsville location. That site is their administrative headquarters and also provides mental health counseling. While parents are in session they can leave their children in a waiting area that features lots of stuffed animals and toys. The area comes complete with a large under the sea mural, painted by the center’s clinical director, Paul Ricks. “We have committed, well-trained therapists who are willing to work for less money than they would earn almost anywhere else,” Ricks said. “We normally serve people who simply don’t have the resources to turn anywhere else. Our therapists help them make sense out of life.”

The T.J. Maxx donation was earmarked specifically for yet another service the Family Support Center provides: family mentoring. “We send paraprofessionals into people’s homes—once a week, for up to 10 weeks—to teach parenting skills,” Stallone added. “That (T.J Maxx) donation will pay for the workbooks, games and other materials our mentors leave with the families. It’s all designed to assist people in coping with parenting challenges, to help prevent child abuse.” In addition to these services, the Family Support Center also operates a homeless and low-income facility in Midvale. “Our Life Start Village has 54 units; many of them filled with single-parent families,” Bird said. “We provide food donations and assist with addiction recovery.” About 65 employees work for the 501c3 nonprofit Family Support Center; only a third of them are full time. The center’s annual budget is just under $2 million, funded primarily through the federal Department of Child and Family Services, along with local foundation grants and individual donations. Unified Fire Authority Assistant Chief Jay Ziolkowski is proud to serve the Family Support Center as the vice chairman of its board of directors. “The thing that impresses me the most is, we all have ups and downs in life and sometimes desperately need a place to turn,” he said. “The Family Support Center has the resources necessary to help people get through those down times.” Anyone interested in supporting the Family Support Center should call 801955-9110. l

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Page 30 | October 2017

West Jordan Journal

CAVIER TAILGATING ON A CHEAPSKATE BUDGET

JOANI TAYLOR

It’s here at last, football season is back, and you know what that means, tailgating. Time to paint your face like a primal maniac, put on some music, grill some meat and have a grilling throw down in the stadium parking lot. Now, it would be nice to tailgate like a king. Grill up some Ribeye’s and lobster tails, but we’re not going to do that because this is the nutty coupon lady talking. Instead we’re going to tailgate…. on a budget. I decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and do some extensive and exhaustive field studies. Yes, these are the kinds of sacrifices we make at Coupons4Utah.com for our amazing readers. Here are few suggestions to help you keep from breaking the bank. Play #1 – LEAVE THE GROCERIES AT HOME AND EAT FOR FREE Through November 25, when you purchase $25 in participating groceries at Smith’s Food and Drug stores using your rewards card, you’ll receive a FREE ticket for admission to their University of Utah tailgating party. The free tailgate admission will print automatically on your receipt at checkout. Note that only receipts may be used to gain admittance, you are not able to purchase a ticket to the tailgate at the event, and the tailgate tickets do not include game tickets. Visit Coupons4Utah.com/smiths-tailgate or head to your local Smith’s store for full details and a schedule. Play #2 – USE THE CASHBACK REBATE APP., IBOTTA This app. is my secret strategy for getting cashback on hot dogs, mustard, cheese, chips, soda and even beer (bonus, no beer purchase required). In fact, as I write this, there’s even a rebate for submitting for

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Ultimately, tailgating is not about the food… well, okay, it’s about the food. But, it’s also about the people, the friendship and the experience. It’s those things that make the food taste so good. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Serving: 8-10 – Under $20 total Ingredients: • 6-7 lbs Pork Shoulder Chuck Roast • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1 tablespoon chile powder • 1 tablespoon paprika • 2 teaspoons garlic powder • 2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1 large onion • 1 bottle BBQ Sauce • sturdy hamburger buns Marinade: • 1 cup chicken broth • 1 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce • 3 large garlic cloves, pressed • 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1-Stir together the brown sugar, chile powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the pork shoulder. Wrap the pork in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Place meat in slow cooker on top of slice onion. 2-Combine Marinade in a bowl and pour the marinade over the pork. 3-Cover and set on low for 8 hours. Remove the meat to a large bowl and shred with forks mix in desired amount of BBQ sauce. Serve on buns. It’s delicious topped with coleslaw. l

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October 2017 | Page 31

W estJordanJournal.Com

Laughter AND

PERI KINDER

WEST JORDAN

certain terms, that playing with a Ouija board was guaranteed to beckon all sorts of demons. It didn’t help that I didn’t know Ouija was pronounced “WeeJee.” I thought I was playing Owja. Once, my sister stayed home from church pretending to be sick and heard (cloven?) footsteps in the room above her. She swore off Ouija boards and Black Sabbath for a month or two before returning to her demonic ways. My dad was no help. He frequently added to my levels of hellish anxiety, especially when I yelled for him in the middle of the night, certain I’d heard a demon growling under my bed. He’d stumble into my room, look under the bed and say, “You’ll be fine as long as you stay in bed. If you have to get up, I hope you can run fast. You should probably keep your feet under the covers.” Dad would go back to bed, leaving me absolutely terrified. So I’d wake up my sister so we could be terrified together. On top of the constant fear of running into Satan, we had to avoid accidentally summoning Bloody Mary by saying her name three times or luring any number of evil spirits to our living

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have a tail and horns, but looked like an ordinary human. Occasionally, the Fuller Brush salesman would come to the door and I’d eye him with deep suspicion. Was it really a door-to-door salesman, or was it Satan trying to infiltrate our weak defenses. At one point, I wished he would just show up so I could stop worrying about it. I imagined he’d knock on the door and, resigned, I’d let him in and tell him to find a place to sleep. “But you can’t live under the bed,” I’d say. “It’s taken.” l

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