West Valley City Journal October 2018

October 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 10

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VOLUNTEERS HELP REDWOOD ELEMENTARY STUDENTS GEAR UP FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL

By Whitney Cox | w.cox@mycityjournals.com

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amilies lined up at 8 a.m. at Redwood Elementary the Saturday before school started for a highly anticipated and much-needed back-to-school giveaway. Employees at the elementary teamed up with the Granite Education Foundation, Molina Healthcare and other volunteers to provide students in need with school supplies, shoes, immunizations, haircuts, community resources and more.

“Granite School District is unique in that 65 percent of the students in this whole district are living at or below poverty, so that’s over 40,000 students. Redwood is an extreme case within the district,” said Brooke Porter, communications director at the Granite Education Foundation.

Jolynn Koehler, the principal at Redwood Elementary, stood at the entrance to the giveaway, welcoming each family by name.

“We like to provide a way for them to be able to start the school year with everything that kids need for a good start to a school year,” said Koehler.

This is Koehler’s fourth year as the principal at Redwood.

The giveaway has taken a different form each year, but it is a practice that is important to Koehler, the staff at Redwood Elementary, and the families in the community. Koehler knows the demographics of her school include children whose families cannot afford the small things necessary for a successful school year.

“One of the things I’ve tried to instill for the last three years is that we’re teaching the whole child. We have to not just provide the academics for them. We have to provide ways for them to be able to take care of themselves, and to be able to be happy, and to be able to be successful in life,” said Koehler.

Koehler understands that shoes, haircuts, and new backpacks are not “essentials” but recognizes the impact they have on each student’s confidence and success in school. “We have data to prove how much of a difference those kinds of things have made,” said Koehler, explaining that Redwood Elementary had one of the lowest attendance rates in the district two years ago.

“Last year, we had the fourth highest improvement in attendance in the whole district,” she said. Not coincidentally, the previous year was the first year Redwood partnered with Molina Healthcare for the back-to-school giveaway.

The importance of the event has been instilled in the hearts of Redwood’s employees.

“I have the best staff in the whole world. We thought Molina wouldn’t be able to help us this year, and they decided to take it on and get started with it anyway, because they knew how important it was. Then the foundation came and helped us, so it has happened because the great staff that I have,” said Koehler.

Hair stylists volunteered their Saturday morning to help at Redwood Elementary’s back-to-school giveaway. (Whitney Cox/City Journals)

Molina Healthcare is a Fortune 500, multi-state health care organization. Molina serves around four million members nationally, and their mission is “to help the underserved population,” said Brandon Hendrickson, president of the Utah/Idaho subsidiary of Molina Healthcare. Molina’s main function is to provide quality healthcare to those who can’t afford it, but they go above and beyond for their members with events like this one.

“We try to partner with schools that have the need,” said Hendrickson. They help with back-to-school events in the fall, coat and boot giveaways in the winter, other smaller events throughout the year, and the day-to-day medical needs of their members. The back-to-school giveaway is one of the larger events, and many employees at Molina use one of their two paid volunteer days to help with back-to-school events. “Our employees always get really engaged in this event and are willing to give their own money or donate supplies,” said Hendrickson.

Some years, Molina works with the community to gather supplies, but this year they provided a monetary donation to the Granite Education Foundation, who then purchased the supplies and organized the efforts of community volunteers.

The Granite Education Foundation works year-round to

supply students in the Granite School District with basic needs.

“Redwood is an extreme case within the district, but there are students in need across the whole district,” said Porter. The foundation helped organize many back-to-school giveaways, but the event at Redwood was one of the biggest, and the only one Molina partnered with.

Preparation began months in advance for the foundation.

Efforts were coordinated between the foundation, Molina, and other community volunteers such as the City Library, the West Valley City Police, the PTA, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and more. And this was only for the event at Redwood Elementary, one of the many back-to-school events that occurred in the district.

“The opportunity to help give those students the best chance they have at succeeding in school is incredible. We’re grateful for the community who is willing to step up and help. It’s the best to be able to see the kids excited about school, to be hugging the principal and teachers as they come in, and to get a new backpack, to get shoes to be able to start the school year right.

It’s worth every effort,” said Porter. l

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West Valley City Journal

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October 2018 | Page 3

WVC beware! Halloween events galore in October The West Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley City.

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By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

ay of the Dead at Utah Cultural Celebration Center Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will be celebrated on Sat., Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.

Featuring traditional Mexican musical and dance performances, traditional food, a beer garden and a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family. There will also be a chance to win prizes in the Catrina dress-up contest.

It is not a Mexican specific holiday, but rooted in Aztec culture and widely celebrated in Latin America. The day is a celebration of ancestors and others who have passed on. The holiday was recently highlighted in the Disney Pixar film “Coco.”

Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children under 12 and students with ID. Bewitching Breakfast Saturday, Oct. 21 will prove to be a spooktacular day at the Family Fitness Center (5415 West 3100 South).

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. will be a friendly neighborhood breakfast with warlocks and witches at the Bewitching Breakfast.

While dining, warlocks, witches and sorcerers will entertain with tricks and spells.

They’ll sign autographs, pose for pictures and show off their wickedly, wonderful talents.

Face painting will also be available.

Breakfast (served until 10 a.m.) will feature paranormal pancakes, spooky sausage, eerie eggs, and frightening fruit with potions of juice, milk, hot cocoa or coffee.

Adults are $9, 4-11 years old is $7 and children 1-3 are $5. All children and youth must be accompanied by a paying adult. Register online at wvc-ut.gov by Monday, Oct. 16.

Halloween Safety Fair That very same Saturday, nay, that very same morning will include the Halloween Safety Fair also at the Family Fitness Center.

From 11 a.m. to noon there will be a parade and costume contest. Categories include scariest, cutest and most creative. At 11:15 a.m. will have tips from police officers for safe trick-ortreating on Halloween, 11:25 a.m. is when the

costume awards and treat bags are handed out, and from 11:30 to noon will be trick-or-treating around the fitness center.

Participants may get to meet Patch, McGruff and other special guests.

Nightmare Alley Haunted House But that’s not all the Family Fitness Center has cooked up in its pot for Halloween. On Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m. and Oct. 28 from 6-9 p.m. is when the scares and screams come out for the Nightmare Alley. The haunted house began as an idea in 2007 and has become an annual favorite.

Due to some intense scares, it’s recommended for ages 8 and up. A spook-free zone will be available in the child care area on Friday, Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m. Children 8 and under can enjoy Halloween games, crafts and a movie.

Nightmare Alley will be $5 per person, buy five tickets get the sixth one free. The spookfree zone will be free for members and $2 per child for non members.

Valley Scare Mall Valley Fair Mall will feature events all month long as “Valley Scare Mall” with its opening scaremony on Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the main entrance fountain. Activities will include: Face Off Every Saturday, Sept. 29 – Oct. 27, the mall teams up with BATZ entertainment where two local makeup artists go head-to-head in a special effect makeup competition at the Grave Stage (the center court) from 1-4 p.m.

Headless Horseman Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6-9 p.m. there will be an opportunity to take photos with the Headless Horseman.

Haunted Hypnosis Every Saturday at 7 p.m., Sept. 29 – Oct. 27, BATZ entertainment brings hypnosis to the Grave Stage.

Movie Mondays Every Monday at 6 p.m. from Oct. 1-29, will feature some of the best family friendly Halloween films at the Grave Stage. Movies

will feature “The Haunted Mansion” (Oct. 1), “Halloweentown” (Oct. 8), “Nightmare Before Christmas” (Oct. 15), “Frankenweenie” (Oct. 22) and “Hocus Pocus.” (Oct. 29) Halloween Characters Photos Every Tuesday in October from 6-9 p.m. on the Grave Stage, the mall gives patrons a chance to get a professional photo taken with some of Halloween’s most iconic characters and monsters.

Halloween characters feature Frankenstein (Oct. 2 and 23), The Addams Family (Oct. 9 and 30) and Dracula (Oct. 16).

Trunk or Treat Every Wednesday from Oct. 3-31 will be trunk or treat night for all ages from 4-6 p.m.

Wear a different costume each week, or the same one, either way be sure to bring a bag for all the sweets and treats.

Halloween Trivia Night with Beetlejuice Test your Halloween trivia every Thursday in October from 7-9 p.m. at the Grave Stage as Beetlejuice hosts the ultimate test of Halloween trivia. Signups for participation are from 6-7 p.m.

Salem Idol Come with your own song (karaoke track) and performance ready to become Salem’s next Karaoke Idol. Valley Fair Mall combines with BATZ entertainment for a month long karaoke competition. Winners from each night (every Friday in October) advance to the finale on Oct. 26.

Costumes are encouraged, registration starts at 5 p.m. and the competition begins at 6 p.m.

Costume Contest Every Saturday will feature a family friendly costume contest with a different group each week. Oct. 6 will have pets, Oct. 13 is for kids, Oct. 20 for families and Oct. 27 for adults/ couples. Contests go from 11 a.m. to noon.

The winners will have their photo taken and hung on the wall of the main entrance through the Halloween season. Each winner also gets an in studio photo shoot with Snap Shot Photo. l

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Page 4 | October 2018

West Valley City Journal

Fall break is the perfect time to discover new places

By Christy Jepson | Christy@mycityjournals.com

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all is officially here and with fall break coming up, it is a perfect time to get out and explore new places while the weather is still good.

If you’re in town for the two-day break, explore some places that are not in your backyard, but are close enough to make a fun family outing.

Here are a few places all about an hour’s drive or less from the Salt Lake area.

Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park: Step back into time at a prehistoric dinosaur park where more than 100 dinosaur sculptures inhabit the grounds of this eightacre outdoor dinosaur park. Hours at the park are Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults (18 years and older), $6 for seniors (ages 62 and older), students (ages 13-17) are $6, and children (2-12 years old) are $5. Dinosaur Park is located at 1544 E. Park Blvd. in Ogden. Visit www.dinosaurpark.org for more information.

Treehouse Children’s Museum: Fun and learning go hand in hand at this great children’s museum in Ogden. The center of the museum is a giant 30-foot-high treehouse kids can climb and explore. Some of the other exhibits and play areas include: the big red barn workshop, a large map of Utah, adventure tower, king and queen thrones, an American map, and the Oval Office. The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday night they stay open until 8 p.m. They close at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission prices are $8 for children ages 1 to 12; $5 for children 13 to 17; and 18 and older are $5. The Treehouse Children’s Museum is located at 347 22nd Street in Ogden.

Visit their website at www.treehousemuseum. org for more information.

Heber Valley Railroad: About an hour’s drive from Salt Lake County, families can be in the clear, mountain air in Heber. Not only is Heber a great small town to explore, the Heber

WestValleyJ ournal.com

Valley Railroad is a perfect outdoor activity for fall break. The Pumpkin Train runs from October 4-29. Ticket prices include a 40-minute train ride on the Heber Valley Railroad. While enjoying the scenery, guests will be entertained by costumed characters who ride along on the train. In addition to the train ride, guests can select a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, get a Halloween sticker, a pumpkin cookie and a trip through the not-so-scary haunted train car.

Ticket prices are $15 for children 3 and up (including a pumpkin), and $3 for those 2 and under (including a pumpkin) or free for toddlers who do not want a pumpkin. To reserve your ticket for a train ride, visit www.hebervalleyrr. org.

Cornbelly’s: Located in north Utah County is the “The Greatest Maze on Earth.” Known as Utah’s first corn maze, Cornbelly’s is filled with activities for all ages. New this year are two additional corn mazes. The main maze will take guests about 30 to 45 minutes to navigate through the circus themed eight-acres of pathways. New this year is a ride on the grain train which takes guests through Candy Corn Acres maze. And for those children who want to try a corn maze but aren’t brave enough to try the main maze, the Kiddie Maze is a perfect five-minute adventure where kids try to find the gummy bear interactive game inside.

Other activities at Cornbelly’s include: the corn cob beach, princess playland, hayride, rat rollers, gemstone mining, giant jumping pillow, giant slide, animal band and a rat maze.

Cornbelly’s also has other haunted attractions for an additional cost. Cornbelly’s is located at Thanksgiving Point and opens on Sept. 28 and runs through Nov. 3. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Ticket prices (not including tax) are $12.95 per person

Guests enjoying the Halloween Cruise down the Provo River. (Photo courtesy CLAS Ropes Course)

for weekdays and $16.95 for weekend. They are located at 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way in Lehi.

Visit mwww.cornbelly’s.co for more information.

Halloween Cruise: Where can you take a cruise not too far from home during fall break?

Only about 45 minutes from Salt Lake is CLAS Ropes Course in Provo where families can take a Halloween cruise down the Provo River and see over 100 carved pumpkins along the river banks along with spooky holiday decorations.

Each 25-minute round-trip cruise ride is hosted

by a pirate who tells spooky stories. Watch out because guests might even encounter a pirate attack on their boat. Ticket prices are $8 per person ages 3 and older. CLAS Ropes Course is located at 3606 W. Center in Provo by Utah Lake. The first boat leaves each night starting at 6:30 p.m. and then about every 30 minutes. The last boat ride leaves at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

They are closed on Sunday. Visit www.clasropes.com for more information. l

October 2018 | Page 5

New pump track course coming to Centennial Park

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

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entennial Park has a new amenity on the way.

The popular, nearly 78-acre park features playgrounds, tennis courts, pavilions, basketball courts, softball fields, bike racks and jogging paths. It hosts the annual WestFest celebrations each year and in 2016 installed the ever populated skate park on the west side.

Until recently a dirt field could be found just north of the skate park, but not for long.

The West Valley City Council recently approved unanimously the purchase and installation of a pump track.

A what?

Used primarily by bikes, a pump track is a continuous loop of banks and turns that allows the rider to maneuver around the track without pedaling by utilizing control, balance and coordination.

The success of the skate park has seen more than just skateboarders using it with bicyclists regularly riding through the skate park, Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Day told the city council.

“This (pump track) is another amenity for (bikers) and it’s something that has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years across the country,” she said.

Day expects the track to alleviate congestion in the skate park and increase safety for all participants.

The track won’t just be for bikers though, but all wheeled users including skateboards, scooters and roller blades. Two tracks will be installed, a shorter one for beginners and a larger one for more advanced users.

The track is also of a modular design meaning the shape of the track could be adjusted from time to time.

“If they were to have some sort of event or competition, they could make a different design specifically for that particular group,” said Mayor Ron Bigelow.

Members of the council not only approved the building of the pump track course, but were enthused about the prospect.

“I was excited to see the skate park open, and I’m excited to see this,” said Councilman Steve Buhler. “And to bring more opportunities to especially our youth to exercise and have fun out there.”

Funding for the track, just over $156,000, comes from park impact fees.

Day said there are few other pump tracks in the state. The riding surface is ¼” fiberglass composite with custom no-slip riding surface, according to city documents.

The track, to be made by American Ramp Company, is expected to last 10-15 years. Day estimated construction of the track would be completed in November. l

A rendering of the pump track course to be installed at Centennial Park by the American Ramp Company. (Rendering

by American Ramp Company)

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Page 6 | October 2018

West Valley City Journal

West Valley to get 15 new firefighters

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

A

new fire station was recently built in southwest West Valley City. Now the fire department has the personnel to staff it.

The West Valley City Council unanimously approved accepting a grant from FEMA for the hiring of 15 new firefighters.

The grant pays for the hiring of 15 new firefighters with 75 percent of their wages and benefits paid for during the first and second years. Thirty-five percent will be paid during the third year, but starting the fourth year, WVC will be required to pay all of the firefighter’s wages and benefits.

As part of the grant agreement, the city agrees to not drop below 110 personnel—95 plus the additional 15.

The grant is known as SAFER and this isn’t the first time West Valley City has received it. The last time saw four firefighters hired. Fire Chief John Evans specifically requested 15 this time to fully staff the new station 76 at 5372 S. Upper Ridge Road.

Mayor Ron Bigelow pointed out during the city council meeting prior to its approval that the cost of those 15 firefighters to the city would be $855,000 which runs about $57,000 per firefighter — the standard starting wage.

Bigelow said they would be essentially committing to approving these salaries four years from now.

“The way I look at it,” said Councilman Steve Buhler, “is we built a fire station, we found a grant to fund staffing it, to ease us into that…if we keep it staffed and don’t close down another station, we’ll of course have to pay for staff.”

Buhler would later add, “we’re not sending fire trucks without hoses and we’re not building fire stations without staffing them. We’re trying to protect our residents.”

Added Councilman Don Christensen, “this gives us four years to work it into the budget without any problem.” l

Through a grant from FEMA, West Valley City will be able to hire 15 new firefighters, primarily to staff the new Station 76. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

ExpEriEncE that counts

As your Salt Lake County Auditor, I have worked hard over the last four years as the watchdog for your tax dollars. I understand how important it is to have an independent, elected auditor to hold county government accountable and promote openness and transparency for the citizens of Salt Lake County. I bring the right experience and qualifications to the job. I am a professionally certified auditor (Certified Internal Auditor “CIA” and Certified Government Auditing Professional “CGAP”) with over 11 years of government auditing experience.

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October 2018 | Page 7

Major development approved in southwest WVC

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

A

primary piece of undeveloped land, located along 5600 West and 6400 South, is set to move forward after a 5-1 vote by the West Valley City Council to approve zoning for a senior housing project on the land.

The piece of land in question, previously designated for commercial, now changes to allow for an 89-unit senior housing development.

While the rezone was being considered for just over eight acres for senior housing, that was only part of the intended larger development of the area — 43.91 acres.

Other parts of the development includes commercial located along 5600 West, a senior living and assisted living facility would be placed behind the commercial buildings (directly west). Behind those facilities would be two townhome developments with approximately 150 units between the two of them. The overall density of the project would be 11.1 units/acre.

Other than the senior housing facility, all other projects are allowed in the city’s general plan without needing a rezone.

The issue was continued in July after the council expressed concerns about parking availability and an exterior material, stucco, being used. The revamped development agreement removed stucco and increased parking requirements. Senior apartments will have 1.5 parking stalls per unit and the townhomes will have 3.5 parking stalls per unit.

While the majority of the council felt comfortable with the upgrades, Mayor Ron Bigelow was still concerned the development agreement didn’t address interior features, something that’s not currently not required in development agreements. Bigelow stressed the council has done a great job elevating the building standards in the city code, but still feels the city code’s requirements are too low.

“We have a little hammer, not a big hammer,” he said during an August study meeting.

In the end, the mayor voted in favor of the project. The one dissenting vote was Councilman Tom Huynh, who said there wasn’t adequate security in place for the senior housing.

“These people are very much the most vulnerable people,” Huynh said prior to the vote.

“The senior people need to be protected and we need to have a gate for this senior housing and also a wall or something that can go around.”

He cited senior housing along Redwood Road that is gated. Security was his only concern noting he was pleased with the townhomes and the future commercial uses along 5600 South.

Planning Director Steve Pastorik explained in a previous study meeting that currently there is no requirement for gate or perimeter fencing from one residential use to another (as it is in this case), only from commercial to residential.

Councilman Steve Buhler said it was a

A rendering of the proposed senior housing near 5600 West and 6400 South. (West Valley City Documents)

good project that complies with most of the current zoning. “We’re just adding a little bit to that so they can build the project they have planned,” he said. “I think that it’s worthwhile to let them build this on their land.”

Councilman Jake Fitisemanu Jr., who rep-

resents the district where the development is being proposed, said he felt confident in his vote because of the discussions he had with residents in the area who were well-informed by the city. l

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www.graniteschools.org/ foodservices/jobs Page 8 | October 2018

West Valley City Journal

Granite School District unveils 40 buses with Idle Free Heat technology

By Whitney Cox | w.cox@mycityjournals.com

G

ranite School District unveiled the first 40 buses in Utah that have been installed with Idle Free Heat technology.

“Idle Free Heat is a simple solution to a common problem,” said Joel Ewell, inventor of Idle Free Heat technology. “We idle because we don’t want to be cold. Idle Free Heat directly addresses this problem by allowing bus drivers to turn off their engines and still keep warm.

This is all done without using a drop of fuel or producing one ounce of pollution.”

Air quality is an ongoing problem in Utah and idling school buses contribute. A single school bus idling for an hour emits 81 grams of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, PM10, PM2.5 and other pollutants. Not only will the new technology help decrease pollution, but it will also help save on fuel and extend the life of the engines. “Idle Free was born out of my desire to eliminate waste. I hate waste,” said Ewell.

Almost two years ago, Joel and his wife Jessica first presented their idea at the annual Clear the Air Challenge. Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) holds a contest annually and grants money to the winners, helping make their ideas become reality.

“UCAIR grant program provides funding for businesses and organizations that want to be part of the solution but do not have the means to make it become a reality,” said Thom Carter,

executive director at UCAIR. Rep. Mike Winder first saw Idle Free Heat technology while acting as a judge at the UCAIR competition and he attended the unveiling to show his support. “It’s only 40 buses in Granite School District today, but I hope that grows to be more buses around the state and around the country,” said Winder.

The UCAIR grants program began five years ago and has since awarded more than 47 grants, totaling more than 1.1 million dollars.

UCAIR provided the grant funding in 2017 for the Idle Free Heat technology to be installed in the Granite School District buses.

“I am proud to be a part of it…It is our role to make sure that each Utahn knows their role in making sure that Utah lives up to its potential. Since everyone plays a part in air quality problem, everyone must be a part of the solution. And we are putting our money where our mouth is,” said Carter.

At the unveiling, Ewell expressed his gratitude to UCAIR and his passion for clean air.

“It’s great to see something you worked so hard on actually come to fruition and start benefitting the community…I wouldn’t be here today without UCAIR. They really do put their money where their mouth is,” said Ewell.

If there was one theme at the unveiling, it was revealed by each speaker passionately challenging every single person in Utah to

Granite School District officially unveils Idle Free Heat technology to the public on Aug. 21. From left to right: Dave Gatti, director of transportation at Granite School District; Rep. Mike Winder; Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox; Joel Ewell, inventor of Idle Free Heat technology; Thom Carter, executive director at UCAIR. (Whitney Cox/City Journals)

do their part for cleaner air. From Carter challenging every family in the district to come up with practical solutions this school year, to Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox warning us that the progress Utah has made toward cleaner air is not nearly enough.

“Government has an important role to play in helping clean our air, but I’m here to tell you

that there is nothing that government or legislature can do that is going to solve this problem. It’s going to take every single one of us in this state making thousands of small choices for ourselves to actually clean the air up and make it safer every day for our children to go outside,” said Cox. l

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October 2018 | Page 9

RMR closes its doors for the final time

T

he 2018 summer racing season has come to a close. Rocky Mountain Raceway has closed the doors and locked the gates. It’s the end of an era for local motorsports enthusiasts.

“I have had a storied career at Rocky Mountain Raceway. I was one of the first to make a lap on the track, and I hope to be one of the last,” Jimmy Waters said. “In the 20 plus years the track has been open I have called it my second home. I am devastated by it closing. It will be like a part of the family is gone.”

The multi-purpose facility hosted motocross, drag racing and oval track events in its final season. It has been in operation for 23 years.

The Young Automotive Group owned and operated the track.

Its closing marks the end of drag and oval track racing in the Salt Lake Valley. Racing in the state was first documented at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1912. Salt Lake City housed the fairgrounds track near downtown and Bonneville Raceways near the current RMR location.

“I have had several family members that have helped me keep my cars running. Then they have raced. I have grandkids in cars now.

It is a family place for us. It is like one big family that we have had for several years,” Waters said.

For many oval track competitors they ar-

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com rive early for practice and stay late running the main event. Families can be seen in the pits area sharing potluck dinners and racing stories.

“We can share parts and pieces, but when the green flag drops we are all for ourselves.

We are all trying to do the best we can,” Waters said.

The Maverik Modifieds have had a tightly contested championship in 2018. Tyler Whetstone (#00) has clinched the season title. Former champion Lynn Hardy finished second.

“Winning NASCAR championships in the early 2000s and winning the Sam Young Memorial weekend are some of my top memories,” Hardy said. “I met my wife at the track. A few of my relatives race. I think I have raised my kids at the track. It takes a lot of work and it is an accomplishment to win. I think the modifieds is probably the most competitive car class.

When we put our helmets on we are not friends no more.”

Waters and Hardy both expressed interest in traveling to race. There are tracks near Boise and Twin Falls that host competitive racing series similar to RMR. Delta, Vernal and Rock Springs have dirt tracks that offer different types of oval track racing.

“A lot of memories were made and good times had. I hate to see it go away. I think it

Lynn Hardy has been a past champion at the racetrack, but starting next year he will need to take his talents someplace else. (Action Sports Photography)

was one of the best tracks in the western United States. There are lots of rumors, and I wish something could be built,” Hardy said. “I hope to participate in the Royal Purple Modified Series next year, but that means some travel to other tracks.”

The drag racers will need to go to Boise and Las Vegas for the nearest racing competitions. Heading into the final race weekend (after press deadline) Frank Santarosa leads the NHRA super pro division. Karl Martin leads NHRA pro.

“Some of the younger kids started in quarter midgets and are now up competing. The

unfortunate part is not only are we losing one of the best facilities in the country, but now the younger racers will need to invest more money to enjoy the sport. It is sad to see it go,” Waters said.

The 50-acre racing facility was sold in 2014 to Freeport West. RMR held a five-year lease on the property that finishes after this season.

In a written statement, RMR General Manager Mike Eames said, “I am proud of the 23 years and historic racing and family memories we’ve made.” l

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West Valley City Journal

Ghosts, goblins and monsters…Oh my! The not-so-scary Halloween activities in the area

By Christy Jepson | Christy@mycityjournals.com

W

hile most children look forward to Halloween, some are scared by the creepy masks that hang on hooks in the local stores or the zombies that are placed on front doorsteps. Younger children, in particular, may not like the scary aspect of Halloween but still want to participate in the activities. The good thing is the Salt Lake area has a lot of activities for families that are not-so-scary, so everyone can participate. Here is a list of some of those activities.

WitchFest at Gardner Village: The notso-spooky witches have flown into Gardner Village and will be on display until Oct. 31. There is no cost to walk around the village and look at the witches and go on the witch scavenger hunt. The “Six Hags Witches Adventure” is $6 per person (ages 1 and older) and includes: a giant jumping pillow, an area where kids can climb through spider webs, and a place to test their skills at the Maze of Mayhem. This adventure begins Sept. 28 and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Halloween from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (weather permitting). This is located in the lot west of Archibald’s Restaurant. Gardner Village also offers select dates where visitors can eat breakfast with witches. Enjoy a warm breakfast buffet and have your picture taken with the Gardner Village witches and watch as they perform some fun witchy spells. Ticket prices are $16 for the breakfast. Check their website at www.gardnervillage.com for specific dates and information. Gardner Village is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is located at 1100 W. 7800 South in West Jordan.

Herriman Howl: Herriman City hosts this fun free event for kids of all ages on Monday, Oct. 15 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the J. Lynn Crane Park. There will be prizes, activities and games. Trunk or Treat begins at 6 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for the best decorated trunk. There will also be a mad science show starting at 6:45 p.m. Other activities and areas include: a pumpkin patch (pumpkins for sale), food trucks, Restless Acres, Treasures of the Sea, Hocus Pocus, Wizarding World and Stella Live Fortunes. The food truck lineup for that night will be: Corndog Commander, Kona Ice, and South of the Border Tacos. The J. Lynn

Crane Park is located at 5355 W. Herriman Main Street, just south of City Hall.

Trick or Treat Street at The Utah Olympic Oval: On Friday Oct. 19, the Utah Olympic Oval will host Trick or Treat Street, a huge, free indoor trick-or-treating event. Treats and prizes will be distributed from sports clubs, local vendors and other community groups. In addition to trick-or-treating, children (12 and younger) can also ice skate for free that night (skate rental not included). Rates are $6 for adults (13 years and older) and $3 for skate rentals. The Utah Olympic Oval is located at 5662 Cougar Lane in Kearns.

Haunted Hollow in Draper: Get your little ones in their costumes and bring them to the Galena Hills Park in Draper on Monday, Oct. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. for some free Halloween family fun. There will be carnival games, prizes, a pumpkin patch, live entertainment, candy, and more. Galena Hills Park is located at 12452 S. Vista Station Blvd. in Draper.

Halloween Bash in Riverton: For two nights, Oct. 29 and 30, Riverton City hosts an outdoor family friendly Halloween event. Activities include: scavenger hunts, the Troll Stroll where you can get candy and prizes around the park, a mini-spook alley, spooky stores and the annual search for The Great Pumpkin. The event begins each night at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. The Search for The Great Pumpkin begins at 8:30 p.m. each night. This free event is held at the Riverton City Park, 1452 W. 12600 South.

Little Haunts at This is the Place Heritage Park: During Little Haunts, little boys and ghouls can visit This is the Place in their costumes and go trick-or-treating, hear stories from the Story Telling Witch, go on pony rides or train rides, and make crafts. Ticket prices are: $12.95 for adults, $8.95 for children 3-11 and children 2 and under are free. The Little Haunts event is held Oct. 13, 18-20 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is the Place Heritage Park is located at 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave. in Salt Lake City.

Garden After Dark at Red Butte Garden: The theme for this year’s Garden After Dark event is Oaklore Academy of Magic.

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A witch from Gardner Village’s WitchFest. (Photo credit Gardner Village)

guests will learn about the magical properties of real-life plants from around the world, select a magic wand, learn all about magical creatures, and dig into herbology. After picking up an Oaklore student manual at the amphitheater, visitors will be given a school map, class schedule and extra credit activities they can do between classes. Class subjects include: Wand Theory 101, Potions Lab 202, Charms 303, Magical Creatures Studies 404, Herbology 505, and even a final exam that has something to do with trying to ban the mischievous Myrtle Spurge who seeks to cause trouble all around the Academy. Ticket prices are $14 or $11 if you are a Red Butte Garden member. This event is Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Red Butte Garden is located at 300 Wakara Way in Salt Lake City.

Boo at the Zoo at Hogle Zoo: Boo at the Zoo is where children (12 and younger) come to the zoo and go trick-or-treating in their costumes at booths scattered throughout the zoo.

They provide trick-or-treating bags or you can bring one from home. This popular event is included with regular zoo admission (or free with a zoo membership) and is on Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular zoo admission for adults (13 to 64 years old) is $16.95, seniors (65 and older) $14.95, children (3 to 12) $12.95, and 2 and younger are free.

BooLights at Hogle Zoo is on Oct. 5-6, 11-13, 17-20, and 26 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

BooLights includes a train ride at night, not-soscary light displays of a graveyard, pirates’ lair, the land of spiders, walk through Bat Cave, and a labyrinth-themed maze with puppets. Also included is the performance “Spiderella.” Prices are $12.95 for adults (13 and older), children ages 3-12 are $9.95 and toddlers 2 and under are free. Papa Murphy’s Pizza offers a discount coupon (while supplies last) when you buy any size pizza you will receive a coupon for a buy one regularly priced adult ticket to BooLights and receive one child ticket free. l

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October 2018 | Page 11

Football teams see a decrease in participation

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

H

igh school football teams around the Salt Lake Valley are encountering a similar problem. The number of athletes participating in the sport is on the decline.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, Utah’s participation in tackle football has decreased by nearly four percent the past two seasons. Currently,107 schools field teams; 8,944 boys and 16 girls are playing.

“We are only down about 10-15 athletes, but nationally the sport is experiencing a decrease in participation,” West Jordan head coach Mike Meifu said. “I think there are several things that are driving our numbers down.”

Player safety has become a concern among parents and participants alike, but it is not the only contributing factor.

“Our son got hurt,” West Jordan football booster Shelley Oliverson said. “He had a concussion, and his doctor told us to watch him and make sure he was ready to get back on the field before we let him. It made us wonder if it was worth it.”

Teams track concussions by documenting the occurrence date, the player’s rehabilitation and their return to the game. Beyond that many teams have developed preventative programs.

“We teach correct tackling and are diligent in protecting these kids. We have also worked on warm-up activities that are known to prevent injuries. We love our football family and do not want anything to happen to them,” Meifu said.

Sport specialization has also become a contributing factor.

Copper Hills High School two years ago reported only one athlete that participated in more than two high school sports. Certainly there are things to gain by focusing on one sport, an off season or perhaps a chance to play collegiately, but kids can also lose by specializing.

Growing bodies can become overly stressed because of rep-

Page 12 | October 2018

etition which can lead to injuries. Playing multiple sports leads to better muscle, motor and skill development. It also promotes general athleticism, balance, speed and agility, according to a 2017 ESPN report.

Kids who spend too much time on one sport risk tiring of the sport all together. Football friends will naturally be different than swimming friends and karate friends. Participating in multiple sports allows them to share experiences with different people and learn from different coaches, said the same ESPN report.

“At our school we have kids that should be playing football.

Some of it is the time and commitment. I have had kids tell me they are not playing because they cannot afford it. I try to help them and find ways to subsidize that,” Meifu said.

Adults tend to point to student transfers as a possible decrease in participation. In the age of open enrollment an athlete can choose to attend a school that he feels has a program more suited to his needs as an athlete. This shifts participation from one school.

“Society has changed and there are a number of things a kid can do to give them satisfaction,” Hunter High head coach Tarell Richards said. “Football pushes kids to physical limits. With no guarantee of success. We have kids that we don’t even get a chance to coach. They have taken their talents somewhere else.”

Successful programs are encouraging their teams to work year round on becoming better. While the coaching staffs strive to build relationships with their players, the year-round participation and conditioning has improved.

“A positive of all of this is that our sophomores and freshman are getting coached by our varsity staff. They are learning our way of the game early in their high school career,” Richards said.

The best programs have coaches that make the sport fun, encourage positive relationships and have high expectations to assist the players to reach their potential. l

High school football teams in the state of Utah have seen a four percent decrease in the number of participants. (Shelley Oliverson/WJ football)

West Valley City Journal

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October 2018 | Page 15

Beginning teachers begin to see better salaries

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com Julie Slama | Julie@mycityjournals.com

J

anice Voorhies began her teaching career in Alpine School District in 1969, a time when it was the lowest-paying school district in a state with the lowest teacher salary in the nation.

“I arguably was—for a brief while— the lowest paid teacher in America,” she said.

Voorhies is now Board of Education president for Jordan District and was thrilled to announce a pay increase for Utah teachers for the 2018-2019 school year.

The raise includes an $875 step increase for every teacher and a $2,500 costof-living adjustment for every licensed employee for a total raise of $3,675.

“We had a goal to retain quality teachers and attract new teachers,” Voorhies said. “This compensation is something I never could have dreamed of when I started my first-year salary at $4,800.”

When the package was announced, some teachers argued the raise was unfair because, by percentages, new teachers got a bigger raise than experienced teachers.

Others, like Jordan Ridge Elementary’s Laurie Christensen, thought it was a great package. With the announcement, she reminded her colleagues that it incentivizes college students to enter and remain in the profession.

“We’ve got to shift our view,” she

Page 16 | October 2018

said. “We’ve got to look at what’s best for all of the educators out there.”

West Hills Middle teacher Victor Neves has been teaching for 27 years.

He said before the raise last year, he was making about twice as much as a first-year teacher.

“I certainly don’t work twice as hard as first-year teachers,” he said. “I’d say I work about one-tenth as hard as first-year teachers. And because I know what I’m doing, I think I teach better than them — but not twice as well as them.”

In Canyons District, first-year teacher Whitney Lott will be teaching Midvale Middle School eighth-graders.

“My contract begins Aug. 17 and already I’ve been getting the room ready,” she said in late July, adding that she has read the core curriculum, a teaching strategy book and will have attended a teaching “base camp” before her contract begins. “Being a new teacher may be more work than a veteran as I’m learning everything and creating a curriculum while veteran teachers usually are not on the same learning curve. (But) I truly, truly believe this is the one of the most important jobs we can do.”

Neves said the salary arms race among the districts competing for new teachers is encouraging.

“If we’re going to attract and retain

new teachers, which we need to do, we have to pay them market rates,” he said.

Voorhies said the board had beginning teachers in mind when they approved the raise.

“It’s never easy for a first-year teacher — financially or with the workload— there’s a huge learning curve,” she said.

“But anything we can do to allow teachers to earn more money—they’ll go someplace else if they can’t feed their family.”

Emily Oscarson is a first-year teacher at Golden Fields Elementary in Jordan District, starting at $42,800 a year. She survived on her intern wage last year—50 percent of a teacher’s wage—even while she ran her classroom independently.

“Like any career, you have to work your way up,” she said. “You’re not going to start fresh out of college making some huge salary.”

Utah Education Association spokesman Mike Kelley said that school districts together worked to “set the mark above $40,000 in all school districts here in the valley,” but that starting salary is not across the state as rural school districts may not have the same resources.

Murray Education Association President and Murray High School government teacher Mark Durfey is grateful for the pay raise.

“Murray Education Association members

West Valley City Journal

are appreciative of the 2.75 percent raise,” he said, adding there won’t be an additional increase in insurance rates. “With this increase, added to the considerable adjustment from last year’s negotiations, we think Murray is a great place to work.”

Utah teachers have always been quick to point out they are some of the lowest paid in the nation.

According to statistics from EdBuild.org, a nonprofit organization in support of public schools, (see table), Utah’s salary ranking moved up from 35th to 31st when average teacher wages were adjusted for cost of living.

However, the study used 2013 wages. The recent raises—nearly 12 percent last year and the additional bump from this year’s packages— may have moved Utah closer to the middle of the pack.

However, there still is a need to make the pay scale equal to those of starting professionals, such as a computer programmer or a medical technician. (see table).

In a recent article, the National Education Association states: “It is true that most educators decide to enter the teaching profession because of a desire to work with children, but to attract and retain a greater number of dedicated, committed professionals, educators need salaries that are literally ‘attractive.’”

In a 2006 NEA study, half of new U.S. teach-

ers are likely to quit within the first five years because of poor working conditions and low salaries.

However, with salaries on the rise, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics study found in 2015 that after three years, only 17 percent of teachers leave their field. The determining factor was money.

Their study of 1,900 teachers showed that 97 percent of teachers who earned more than $40,000 their first year returned the next year, compared with 87 percent who earned less than $40,000.

Utah teachers, like Neves, are hopeful additional funding for education will be approved by the state legislature. He said it’s important to ease the burden of the high rent many young teachers are facing.

“The raise is big and it’s great but the legislature needs to step up,” he said. “If we are going to get teachers, we have to pay new teachers enough to pay their rent.”

Voorhies said those employed by taxpayers—police, fire fighters and teachers—have traditionally been underpaid and undervalued by the community.

“I don’t think they have to be rich, but they should be able to make a living so we can encourage good people—people that really care about the community—to work in the fields that will influence our children for better and keep us safe,” she said. l Whitney Lott, a first-year teacher stands outside her classroom at Midvale Middle School a week before school starts.

(Photo/Daniel Davis)

WestValleyJ ournal.com

October 2018 | Page 17

20 safety tips for trick-or-treaters

Y

ou’re never too old to trick-or-treat (unless you are 35 and going by yourself, then yes, you are too old to trick-or-treat). But being safe knows no age limits, especially on a night when most people are wearing disguises.

While it’s time to get your costume and candy bag ready, preparation of another kind is required for kid and adult alike. Here are some tips to stay safe this Halloween.

1. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

2. Costume accessories such as swords and knives should be short, soft and flexible.

3. Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. And as difficult as it may be, limit the amount of treats you eat.

4. Beware the homemade treats made by strangers. Better to eat only factory-wrapped treats.

5. Walk from house to house, don’t run.

Doing so with a flashlight will help you see and others to see you.

6. Test makeup in a small area before applying. Then remove it before sleeping to prevent possible skin or eye irritation.

7. Look both ways before crossing the street. Do we even need to say this one?

8. Only visit well-lit houses.

9. Do not enter a home without a trusted adult.

10. Never accept rides from strangers.

Stranger danger is a real thing.

11. By not wearing decorative contact lenses, you lower the risk for serious eye injury.

12. Wear well-fitted costumes, masks and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, falls and relentless mockery from your peers.

13. Drive extra safely on Halloween. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert during those hours.

Slow down in residential neighborhoods. We all know how excited kids can be. Enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully.

14. Remind children to watch for cars turning or backing up and to not dart into the street or between parked cars.

15. Put your electronic devices down as you walk around.

16. Keep costumes bright, or add reflective tape, to ensure kids are easier to spot.

17. Be careful next to candles or Jack-o’lanterns.

18. Keep an eye for allergies. If someone has serious allergies or food sensitivities, read any unfamiliar labels before handing over the candy.

19. Brush your teeth. Candy is sticky and cavities will scare you.

20. You can maximize your candy intake by planning your route. Stick to places you are familiar with so you can also circle back around

to Halloween headquarters. l

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Page 18 | October 2018

West Valley City Journal

Pirates football captures hopes of a community

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

T

he excitement is back in the small Salt Lake Valley community of Magna. The Cyprus Pirates football team has captured the hearts of their fans and student body.

A valiant come back against Spanish Fork led by junior quarterback Parker Meldrum on Sept. 7 had fans driving by the stadium, stopping and crowding the fence line to catch a glimpse. The rowdy crowd and timely play of the team quickly turned momentum in their favor. They scored 28 unanswered points and their defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt for a 35-34 victory.

“We play to win and condition to win. This season we have had to make the plays to win and it is something special,” head coach Jed Smith said.

For the first time since 2007 the Pirates have started their season with four straight victories. The four wins are more than the team has experienced in eight of the last 10 years. Last season they placed fourth in Region 2 and qualified for a first round playoff matchup with the eventual state champion Bingham Miners.

“We want to be Region 2 champions. I think the potential is there. We believe the sky’s the limit. We have size and strength. We have speed in the right areas. We want to finish up at Rice Eccles Stadium and play on the turf,” Smith said.

WestValleyJ ournal.com

Meldrum has settled in as the team’s quarterback. Against Spanish Fork he completed 16 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns and ran for one more.

“When Parker (Meldrum) stops thinking and just plays he is one great quarterback,” Smith said.

Meldrum believes his team has the talent to succeed.

“We need to settle in and play the entire game with full intensity. Our defense stepped it up. Once I started passing better it opens up the game. Like coach said, we condition to finish the game,” Meldrum said.

The Pirates defense is led by senior linebacker Lopeti Aiolupotea. He leads the team in tackles after four games with 25 solo tackles.

He is able to get to the ball carrier because of the play of the defensive line that includes Amon Gasu, Alex Lanktree and Sosefo Moimoi.

“Our defense has played really well. We have been very fortunate to have them keep us in the games,” Smith said.

Special teams is a definite strength for the Pirates. The return team of Isaia Sedillo and Davousie Zissi has averaged nearly 17 yards per return.

The Pirates placekicker, Ivan Ortiz, connected on a 40-yard extra point and kicked three straight kickoffs through the end zone.

The defensive line has been a key to the undefeated start of the Cyprus Pirates football team. (Greg James/City Journals)

“He (Ortiz) does not miss. He is phenomenal and has a strong leg. He is one that could go on to college and play for sure. I would like for him to have the opportunity,” Smith said.

The Pirates open their Region 2 season against Hunter Sept. 14 (after press deadline).

They are 4-11 all-time against the Wolverines and have not beat them since 2001.

Their Region 2 schedule also includes Kearns, Granger and Hillcrest. The state 6A football tournament is scheduled to begin Oct. 26.

“We have a lot of heart. The kids also believe they can win. It is easy when you are down 28-7 to say it is not our night and give up.

They do not. We are working hard to attain our goals,” Smith said. l

October 2018 | Page 19

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Page 20 | October 2018

West Valley City Journal

What makes a state champion in Utah high school sports?

F

all is an exciting time for high school sports. Every team starts with a clean slate and a new senior class of leaders eager to leave their mark on their school. Ask any coach and they’ll be positive that their team has made big improvements from the previous year and are ready to compete for region and state championships. But in reality, some schools have almost no chance of winning a championship in any sport.

It’s no secret that competitive balance isn’t a very prevalent feature of high school sports. Some schools are really good. Others aren’t. But what makes the difference?

The size of the school? The coaching? The program’s history? Money? All these factors contribute, but some are much more important than others.

To figure out which are the most important, we took all the schools that currently compete in 5A and 6A and counted the number of state championships they have won in the last five years across all team sports. Then we compared those totals to various criteria like enrollment, graduation rates and levels of wealth.

Enrollment Obviously there are different classifications in Utah high school sports, from 1A to 6A, that are largely based on enrollment.

A team from 6A is always going to be better than a team from 1A because you’re going to have more athletes when pulling from a pool of 2,000-plus students than when pulling from a pool of a couple hundred students.

But what about within a single classification? Do schools with a higher enrollment have an advantage over smaller schools within the 5A or 6A divisions? Not really.

In 6A, the school with the highest enrollment, Granger High School, hasn’t won a single state championship in the last five years. (Enrollment numbers taken from publicschoolreview.com.) And in 5A, the top 50% of schools in terms of enrollment account for 36 state championships, while the bottom 50% account for 45 state championships.

Graduation Rates People often think about athletics and academics as two completely different spheres, perhaps even antithetical to one another (as in the old nerd vs. jock stereotypes). But it turns out there’s a strong correlation between graduation rates and onthe-field success for Utah high schools.

Of the 24 schools with a graduation rate of 92% or better, only five have failed to win a state championship in the last five years. Of the 20 schools with a graduation rate of 91% or worse, half of them have failed to win a championship in the same span. And the top 50% of schools by graduation rate account for nearly three times as many state championships as the bottom

WestValleyJ ournal.com

Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com 50% (100 to 35).

Those numbers didn’t surprise Rob Cuff, the executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association, the governing body of Utah high school sports.

“Your best students are usually also your best athletes,” he told the City Journals. “I think they go hand in hand.”

Cuff also said that the UHSAA committee charged with handling reclassifications has considered incorporating graduation rates into their decision-making progress.

Of course, correlation does not equal causation. Perhaps there is a third factor that contributes to both athletic and academic success.

Wealth of Student Athletes Wealth is a difficult metric to measure for a school body. School boundaries don’t often align with the areas (cities, counties, zip codes) for which you can access public data like median household income. Instead, like others who have considered this same question, we looked at the rate of students that qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a “federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.” To qualify for the reduced or free lunches, families need to be under a certain poverty level. Schools that participate in the program report the percentage of their students that take advantage of the program, making those reports a relatively convenient method of comparing affluence between schools.

Of the high schools competing in 5A and 6A, those with a low percentage of students using the NSLP program have a large advantage when it comes to sports.

The top 25 percent of high schools in terms of wealth (as measured by NSLP participation) have 10 times as many state championships as the bottom 25 percent of

high schools, and more than the bottom 75 percent combined.

There also aren’t as many outliers as when considering graduation rates. Having a graduation rate of 95 percent or above is a strong indicator of success (the three schools with the most state championships all have graduation rates of 95 percent) but it’s no guarantee, as two other schools with graduation rates of 95 percent did not win a single state championship over the five years. However, when it comes to affluence, there isn’t really an exception. Of the 12 schools with a 15 percent NSLP usage rate or less, every single one has won multiple state championships, with the two most dominant schools being at the very lowest rates of NSLP usage.

Conversely, of the 21 schools in which 25 percent or more of the student body uses the NSLP program, over half did not win a single state championship in the last five years.

If one were to choose a single metric to predict which Utah high schools will win the most state championships in 2018, this is it.

It’s not ideal for competitive balance that the least affluent schools have little to no chance of being in the best in the state, but competitive balance isn’t the end goal for UHSAA. “I think it’s important to maintain a level playing field,” said Cuff, “but our mission is all about participation. If teams are fielding sports teams and students have the opportunity to play, that’s the most important.”

So as much as each high school student athlete is full of hope and as much as any coach thinks they’re going to finally turn their program around, in all likelihood the same schools will continue to win championships and everyone else will get the proverbial participation trophy. l

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LarkinMortuary.com October 2018 | Page 21

I

Trick (free but timely) or Treat (expensive but quick)

t’s the most won-der-ful time of the year! It’s spooky time! Halloween is my favorite holiday. In my opinion, we don’t have nearly enough occasions to dress up in costume and eat candy.

Almost every year, I start planning my costume early. I’m one of those people that need my costume exact to every last detail. I’ve even bleached my hair to make sure the long blonde hair I needed for my costume was accurate. Wigs are way too expensive.

Unfortunately, not spending $50 to $200 on costumes at the pop-up Halloween stores can only be off-set by time. Spending the time to create your own unique costumes can save loads of cash. Head to your local Michaels craft store or JoAnn’s fabric store for all the knickknacks and fabric you will need for your costume. Coupons are always available for Michaels, make sure to visit their website and download that coupon before you head to the store. JoAnn’s usually has coupons available on their website as well.

I wouldn’t say I have a talent for sewing, which is why I love visiting JoAnn’s. In the middle of the store, an entire table of pattern books and file cabinets full of patterns to choose from awaits. My suggested process is to spend some time looking through multiple books to find the perfect pattern, pick the pattern from the corresponding cabinet, and then go look for the appropriate fabric.

For accessories, like bracelets, hats, shoes, facewear, etc., shop around early. I generally like to go online and screen-shop through sites like Amazon and eBay for the perfect iteration of the accessory I’m looking for. I have two different extensions on my Chrome browser that automatically compare prices throughout the internet. If I’m lucky, they will

by

CASSIE GOFF

pop up before I check-out with coupons or websites that offer the same product at a lower price. (The two I use are Best Price and Honey.)

Not surprisingly, I adore hosting Halloween parties. Pinterest is my ultimate go-to for fun Halloween-themed treats, drinks, and decorations. One of my favorite treats to make is Ghost Pretzels. Pick up a bag of long pretzels from the grocery store, dip them in melted white chocolate, throw some small googly-eyes on there, and they’re done! Some other simple recipes include Halloween popcorn or trail mix, ghost bananas, pumpkin clementines, spider cookies, blood-splattered Oreos, Jell-O worms, mummy hotdogs, and Halloween spaghetti.

Decorations require a balancing act between time and money as well. Buying decorations from a store (my favorites are Michaels and Spirit Halloween) is quick, but can be expensive. Homemade decorations are inexpensive, but they require a fair amount of time. One of the most inexpensive decorations is a front-yard spider web. All it requires is a long spool of thick thread. If you have trees and other plants in the front-yard, this can be pretty painless; just walk through your yard and hook the thread over some branches to create the outer perimeter of the web, then keep walking in circles, making the perimeter smaller and smaller each time. Tie a few perpendicular thread pieces throughout the circle, and that’s it! Don’t forget the spider made out of a black bag full of fallen leaves and some pipe cleaners.

Witches brooms can also be simple to make, depending on how fancy the witch is. If you have an old dusty broom lying around, that’s perfect. Wrap the handle with some fabric, preferably black, orange, or

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purple, splatter some green spray paint across the rest of the handle, and jostle up the brush on the end of the broom. Easy-peasy.

There are many other decoration ideas easily googleable that I have yet to try, including floating candles, glowing eyes, wicked witch feet, packing tape ghosts, potion bottles, bats, stacked pumpkins and whimsical grave stones.

Need more? Spoox Bootique (3453 S. State St.) is open all year and they have fantastic Halloween-themed decorations, collectables, apparel, homeware, accessories, furniture, and trick or treat buckets. l

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Page 22 | October 2018

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West Valley City Journal

Life and Laughter—Dressed to Kill

Life

Laughter AND

by

PERI KINDER

West Valley

E

very autumn, as I reconstructed our home after three months of child infestation, my daughters settled into their school classes and thoughts turned to Halloween. More specifically, thoughts turned to Halloween costumes.

I’d load my girls into the minivan and we’d attack the pattern books at Joann fabric, looking for the perfect costumes. (These pattern books weighed approximately 450 lbs. and had to be moved carefully or they would fall off the narrow perch and crush your hip bones.)

Costumes ranged from Disney princesses to Death, and each outfit had to last for decades because they were worn all the time and handed down for generations. (For example, one daughter, dressed as Snow White, shredded the hem of her gown under the plastic tires of her Big Wheel. Her dress looked like Snow White had been attacked by a pack of very short raccoons. She still wore it every day.)

After finding the right pattern, we’d roam the aisles, looking for fabric that didn’t cost the equivalent of an actual Disney movie.

During my costume-making tenure, I created all of the Disney princesses, a

cheerleader, Super Girl, a lion, a pumpkin and several witches. (Sidenote: A witch costume in 1990 consisted of a long black dress, a long black cape, long black hair, a black hat and a broomstick.

Now a witch costume is a black miniskirt, fishnet stockings and a push-up bra. I have no idea how to fly a broom in that outfit.)

Speaking of slutty clothes, my daughters were often pushing the envelope when it came to modesty. According to my daughter, her belly dancer’s shirt was too long, so (when I wasn’t around) she rolled it up several times to display her 10-year-old abs, and the gypsy Esmeralda’s blouse kept “accidentally” falling off her shoulders.

Daughter number three used her Cinderella costume as a method of seduction as she walked up and down our driveway in her slappy plastic high heels, flirting with the men building the garage. Did I mention she was four?

During another Halloween, she wanted to be Darth Maul. I made her costume, painted her face, but refused to put horns on her head. She grew her own devil horns a few years later.

By Oct. 20, all my intentions to create the perfect Halloween costume for each daughter devolved into madness

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as I frantically sewed to have everything done for the school’s Halloween parade (which is now the Fall Festival).

My Singer sewing machine would be thrumming 24-hours a day as I slowly lost my mind. I’d throw boxes of cold cereal at them for dinner, while I shrieked, “I’m making these costumes because I love you. Now shut the hell up!”

Once Halloween was over, costumes went into a big box and were worn by my daughters and their friends all year. At any given moment, a girl wearing Beauty’s voluminous yellow ball gown would be chasing Super Girl through the living room, with a toddler-sized Jack-o’-lantern nipping at

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My daughters have carried on the costume tradition. My grandchildren have been garden gnomes, Austin Powers, a unicorn, and even an 18-month-old Betty Boop. It makes my black Halloween heart smile.

Now, my Singer gathers dust and I haven’t looked through pattern books for years, but every October my fingers twitch and I fight the urge to take my girls to browse fabric aisles. I wonder what my husband is doing this weekend.

He’d make a beautiful Disney princess. l

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October 2018 | Page 23

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