ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESSWOMAN VERONA MAUGA BEGINS HER FIRST TERM IN THE UTAH HOUSE
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Arecord number of women in the Utah Legislature this year includes one who defeated two men in elections last year to get there.
House District 31 Representative Verona Mauga defeated a fellow Democrat – the seat’s incumbent, Brett Garner – at last year’s party convention. Then, last November, she upended her Republican opponent, Bill Swann, in the general election. Neither race was close: 73% to 27% at the convention; 58% to 42% in the general.
Now Mauga is representing nearly half of Taylorsville’s residents, along with just about as many constituents in West Valley City.
“I ran a very robust campaign, knocking on about 10,000 doors,” Mauga said. “I felt good going into the election. But you just don’t know. We live in a conservative state. I was nervous.”
About two hours after the polls closed, the first numbers in her race were released. Although they weren’t yet final, the lead margin told Mauga and her supporters they had won.
One of the most excited Mauga supporters on election night was someone else who was awaiting her own election results.
“Verona is absolutely ready for this; she’s already doing such amazing work in the community,” Sen. Karen Kwan said. “Verona knows the issues in the district. She is hitting the ground running.”
Kwan first met Mauga about a decade ago, early in her political career, when Mauga worked on her Utah House election campaigns. Mauga was still a Kwan campaign volunteer in the fall of 2022 when Kwan was elected to the newly-reconfigured House District 31 seat.
Shortly after that is when Sen. Karen Mayne resigned her position for health reasons. Mayne passed away last
summer, following a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
A special election in January 2023 shifted Kwan from the Utah House to the Senate – and ever since then, she has supported Mauga’s effort to replace her in House District 31.
“I am really excited about what Verona brings to the legislature,” Kwan concluded. “She has such a strong, unique perspective as a business owner. Her keen interest in our criminal justice process will also be very important. She’s ready.”
Several years ago, Mauga joined family members in opening a bakery and café. Then last year, Mauga opened a new business. In a letter to the Salt Lake Tribune, she described how she believes each of those businesses have helped prepare her for her new task as a state lawmaker.
“In 2018, my family and I opened Sagato Bakery & Café in Midvale (sagatofoods.com). Running a small business has taught me resilience, patience and the value of every customer. It’s also shown me how crucial community support is to success. No business, no person, no family can thrive without it.
“As the co-owner of My Choice Utah (mychoiceutah. com), a business that provides supportive host home services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I’ve gained an even deeper understanding of the challenges many families face – finding quality care, balancing work and life and making sure their loved ones are safe and supported. This experience has strengthened my resolve to fight for policies that make life better for all families in our district.”
Since winning her election a dozen weeks ago, Mauga has been doing what Kwan describes as “drinking from a firehose.”
Continued page 4
New West Valley Utah House Representative Verona Mauga began her first session on the hill last month. (Photo courtesy Verona Mauga)
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“When you’re a freshman in the Legislature, so much comes at you at once,” Kwan said. “One bit of advice I gave Verona is, use two phones. You need to keep your legislative work and your personal life a little bit separate. They frontload a lot of information for new lawmakers – but I know she’s getting it just fine.”
Mauga says she learned she’d be busy within 24 hours of winning her seat.
“After campaigning so long and hard, my goal after the election was to turn my phone completely off for 24 hours – just one day,” Mauga said. “I didn’t quite make it. At 6 p.m. the next evening I turned it back on and I already had a bunch of paperwork to fill out for the legislature. Since then, it’s been an interim session, caucus meetings, talking with organizations and community stakeholders. They’ve
offered information on how to draft and file bills. It’s been busy.”
Less than a week before this year’s session opened on Jan. 21, Mauga and several other Utah freshman representatives flew to Texas to attend a public safety conference. She was asked to join that trip because of her placement on the legislature’s Judiciary Standing Committee.
“Each freshman representative was asked to submit the names of committees they wanted to serve,” Mauga explained. “I requested the Judiciary and Economic Development Committees and got placed on both of them. I am also serving on the Economic Development Appropriations Committee. So I received all the assignments I was hoping for.”
As for her first bills, Mauga is prefiling a half dozen.
“I didn’t go in planning to file six bills;
but people have already come to me with issues I want to support,” she explained. “All of these bills were brought to me by community organizations and constituents. None of them are something I preplanned, to come in with some kind of agenda. I am here to represent my constituents.”
Two of the six bills Mauga is sponsoring relate to public safety for people riding bicycles in bike lanes and fraud protections for military Veterans.
In the run up to this year’s legislative session, Mauga also had the opportunity to talk with Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson.
“I am very impressed with her,” the mayor said of Mauga. “She’s been a Taylorsville resident for many years. Her family is very strong and rooted in the community. I think she will be a great addition. I didn’t inundate her with things the city would like her to do. I just said
we look forward to having good communication and assisting her with anything she might need from Taylorsville City.”
As she enters this first session, Mauga is confident she can work well on behalf of her conservative and more liberal constituents alike.
“I spoke with so many families during the campaign – Republicans, Democrats, everyone,” she concluded. “A Democrat can’t earn an elected office in Utah without support from both parties. I learned everyone has about the same core values. We want our families to be safe. We want our kids to get good educations with supportive teachers. We want affordable housing. We want to protect the Great Salt Lake and our water supply. We want to slow inflation as best we can. These aren’t partisan issues –and I plan to do the best I can to help with all of them.” l
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Perhaps freshman Utah House Representative Verona Mauga’s (L) biggest supporter, besides relatives, is veteran state lawmaker Karen Kwan. (Photo courtesy Verona Mauga)
At the Taylorsville Dayzz parade last summer, then Utah House candidate Verona Mauga had plenty of support from husband Apollo and son Loimata. (Photo courtesy Verona Mauga)
WVC firefighters join forces to battle California wildfires
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Four firefighters from the West Valley City Fire Department were part of a statewide deployment of first responders traveling to Southern California to help with the deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
In a post on the department’s Facebook page, the four firefighters and a Type 1 fire engine left for California on Jan. 9. As of our press deadline on Jan. 17, they remained in the area as members of a state task force to help fight the fires.
It was part of a response since the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received requests from the state of California for firefighting assistance in combating the ongoing wildfires.
DPS’s Division of Emergency Management (DEM) received an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request for Type 1 and Type 3 Engine Strike Teams/Task forces from the California Office of Emergency Services to aid in fire suppression efforts across various portions of Southern California. EMAC is state-tostate mutual aid through emergency management agencies that facilitate assistance during state-declared emergencies.
According to the DPS release, California also requested additional wildland firefighting resources from DNR. The state is currently mobilizing wildland firefighters and equipment, including a combination of state and local firefighters from communities across Utah.
In addition to West Valley City, local fire agencies in the task force include Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake City Fire, Weber Fire, Lone Peak Fire, Draper Fire, Orem Fire, West Jordan Fire, Sandy Fire,
South Jordan Fire, Murray Fire, Provo Fire, Cedar City Fire, Utah County Fire, North Tooele Fire, Woodland Hills Fire, Moab Valley, North Fork, North Tooele, Park City and Duchesne County.
“This is something we train for, it’s part of our job, so they were excited to be able to go and use their expertise to support those efforts,” Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith said. “But they also understand that is one of those, we hope, once-in-a-lifetime events that has caused so much devastation and destruction. They knew they were going into an area they wouldn’t have seen before and probably experience some feelings they haven’t felt before.”
If there’s one upside to sending a crew to help others in a time of total devastation, Smith said it’s the learning experience that may prove useful in Utah at some point.
“It’s not ideal for us to have to deploy for these types of incidents, but the one thing we’ve always said is these give us great learning opportunities. It’s unfortunate that this is happening to those people in California, but it gives us an opportunity to send our people and gain experience. It allows us to bring that knowledge and training back and implement it for the benefit of our residents,” Smith said.
Smith, whose department lost Matt Burchett on a California wildfire deployment several years ago, said he offers this advice to his crew at their departure. “My words to them are always go and represent your department and your families well, represent your training well, but most of all, take care of each other.”
Additional reporting by Mimi Dutton. l
Dungeons & Dragons offers play and connection for adults
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Gatheredaround a table strewn with colorful dice, a map, notebooks and snacks, a group of adults at Whitmore Library (2197 Fort Union Blvd.) dive into the immersive and imaginative world of Dungeons & Dragons.
For two years, the group has met to battle bipedal hyenas, capture magic relics and enjoy the realms of fantasy and friendship. Jackson Myrick is a customer service specialist for The County Library and also serves as the dungeon master for the group’s monthly adventures.
“The basics of Dungeons & Dragons is that it’s a cooperative storytelling tabletop war game,” Myrick said. “There’s one player who’s performing the role of the world and the characters within the world and then everyone else is a main character in the fantasy story. They’re all interacting with each other and that interaction forms the story that people come back for.”
D&D celebrated its 50th birthday last year and it’s estimated that 50 million people play the game worldwide. The Whitmore group is currently full but it’s only one of several D&D in the county’s library system.
West Valley resident Leah Sanford started playing a game similar to D&D 35 years ago, meeting with her group every Saturday. After COVID, she got interested in D&D and found the Whitmore players in 2023.
“Hasbro bought Wizards of the Coast and things have been getting very controversial ever since as they’re trying to gear it more to the younger player who is used to video game dynamics,” Sanford said. “There are those of us who like the pure tabletop type games…Adults don’t engage in imagination. This is cooperative storytelling in a venue where we can totally invest ourselves in imaginative, cooperative play. And it’s delightful.”
Each person keeps track of their character in a notebook so they have a record of its adven-
tures and changes and details of their character’s history. While the Whitmore group has an ongoing storyline that has taken them through surprising challenges, unexpected twists and interesting character development, other groups might have a one-off storyline that lasts for a couple of hours. These shorter stories allow people to drop in and join the fun without having to learn the history of the group.
Myrick said in our current world, people only interact with each other in specific ways. Playing D&D creates an open-ended collaboration and exploration into something that isn’t finite.
“It’s exploring that space in a more organic way and it’s nice for developing dynamics that you’re not normally going to see in a particular kind of evening’s conversation,” he said. “A question or puzzle can affect the other members of the group and how their characters interact. You have interesting conversations that put yourself into situations that are dynamic but aren’t high risk.”
The six members of the Whitmore D&D group come from all over the valley. Two even live in American Fork but travel to Cottonwood Heights for the story and camaraderie. Capping the group at six allows each member to have a chance to feel part of the adventure and fully invest in their character’s development.
“I just love watching other people play. I just think it’s great,” Sanford said. “You can end up with some high-tension moments. We had an adventure where one of our characters died and another character got upset and was desperately trying to revive him. My character got in on it and the next thing you know, between the two of us, we managed to revive him. That was fun.”
For information about joining a D&D group through The County Library, visit slcolibrary.org/dungeons-and-dragons. l
Four members of the West Valley City fire department took a Type 1 fire engine to Southern California on Jan. 9 to help with efforts in the wildfires that have devastated parts of the Los Angeles basin. (Photo courtesy of West Valley City Fire Department)
Jackson Myrick (left) leads a Dungeons & Dragons group that’s been meeting for two years. Players include (clockwise from Myrick), Leah Sanford, Brandon Drown, Parker Bone and Lorna Payne. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Cupid Chase 5K opens registration and hearts this Valentine’s Day
By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
The Cupid Chase 5K combines paper and actual hearts for Valentine’s Day.
On Feb. 8, in two Utah locations and 13 states, Community Options is hosting the 17th annual Cupid Chase 5K to raise money for those with disabilities to work, learn and find housing.
“The Cupid’s Chase 5K was inspired by Community Options’ commitment to raising awareness and funds to support housing and employment for individuals with disabilities,” said Shannon Wilkins, Community Option’s director of employment services and development in the West Valley office. “The event is held every February to commemorate the organization’s founding on February 9, 1989.”
Two races in Utah will be hosted at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City and Lorin Farr Park in Ogden to raise funds for the organization and local individuals.
The other 46 races will be held across the country in 12 states: Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
The race was first created in 2009 in Princeton, New Jersey and has become bigger every year since. It came to Utah in 2018.
Fun traditions have followed the event from region to region including runners wearing “unavailable” and “available” T-shirts.
“To match the Cupid theme, participants wear special shirts: ‘Available’ is printed on the back of white shirts, while ‘Unavailable’ appears on red shirts,” Wilkins said. “This playful feature adds a fun, Valentine’s Day twist to the event.”
Wilkins has worked for Community Options for seven years.
For her, the mission of the nonprofit matches her own personal values.
“I have a personal belief that all people should have the opportunity to live and work in their communities,” she said. “Community Options’ mission to support people with disabilities with housing employment, aligns with my personal beliefs.”
In 2024, the two races in Utah combined raised $15,000 of the nationally collected amount of $733,605 nationally. Wilkins said the goal is to increase that number this year.
Funds raised in all 46 races keep funds local to help local people with disabilities struggling with housing and employment.
The funds have made a difference in individual Utahn’s lives.
“An individual came into our services after her husband passed away, she had little to no resources of living on her own,” Wilkins said. “She did not know how to access available resources. Through Community Options she has learned to budget, prepare meals and her mental and physical health has drastically improved. She loves attending her day program and being a valued member of her community and church. Rebecca has started her own jewelry business making custom bracelets and necklaces and sells them at boutiques and other events.”
Registration ends the day before the race on Feb. 7.
To register for the race, visit www.comop.org/cupidschase/. For more ways to be involved email shannon.wilkins@comop. org or visit the website www.comop.org. l
A racer from the Salt Lake City 2024 Cupid’s Chase with friends and family. On Feb. 8, in two Utah locations and 13 states, Community Options is hosting the 17th annual Cupid’s Chase 5K to raise money for those with disabilities to work, learn and find housing. (Courtesy of Community Options)
A racer from the 2024 Ogden race shows off her trophy for first place female overall. Two races in Utah will be hosted at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City and Lorin Farr Park in Ogden to raise funds for the organization and local individuals. (Courtesy of Community Options)
(Courtesy of Community Options)
Traditions including white “available” and red “not available” shirts keep the race festive for Valentine’s Day. (Courtesy of Community Options)
Kearns Improvement District accepting entries for its Water Conservation Art Contest
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
TheKearns Improvement District
2025 Water Conservation Art Contest is underway and residents are encouraged to submit entries through Thursday, March 20. Using the theme “Water Conservation,” participants can create art that promotes water-saving practices, the beauty of water or the importance of conservation.
The medium for the artwork can include painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, collage or digital art. Prizes will be awarded in the adult, high school, junior high school and elementary categories. Participants must reside within the boundaries of the KID service area.
Contributors should submit a high-resolution photograph or scan of their artwork in digital format plus a 50-word (or less) description of how the artwork depicts water conservation. Prize money will be awarded to the top four finishers in each age group.
This is the third year for the art
contest. When announcing last year’s winners, KID General Manager Greg Anderson said, “Part of our continuing conservation effort is working with schools and helping the kids to realize how big an impact they could have on water conservation within their own home.”
Winners will be announced on Monday, April 21. Winning entries will be displayed on KID’s website and social media sites and used in the 2025 KID water conservation marketing effort.
All submissions must be sent to KIDContest@kidwater4ut.gov before the contest deadline. More information, rules and guidelines can be found at kidwater4ut.gov. l
Kearns High student Jocelyn Vazquez won first place in the high school category for last year’s KID art contest with the photograph, “Going for a Swim.” Entries are now open for this year’s competition. (Photo courtesy of KID)
Salt Lake City Stars host Dog Adoption Night
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
For the second year in a row, the Salt Lake City Stars teamed with Best Friends Animal Society and a local no-kill shelter to present a Dog Adoption Night at the Maverik Center Jan. 16. Working with the Happy Trails at Pegasus shelter in Tooele, some friendly canines greeted fans before and during the Stars’ game against Stockton.
“This actually started last year when we decided to partner with Best Friends and it was such a fun event that we decided to do it again,” said Megan Zipfel, the Stars’ public and community relations coordinator. “Last year, we partnered with the West Valley Animal Shelter and we had four dogs adopted in-game that evening. We’re hoping to get some of these dogs new homes.”
Zipfel said a few players for the Stars and the parent club Utah Jazz visited the Best Friends shelter in Sugar House and played with some of the puppies. “Everyone loves dogs, so we’re very excited to be doing this again this year.”
“Hopefully, it’s something we can continue to do in the future,” said Jonathan Rinehart, team president of the Stars. “Sadly, there are a lot of pets out there that need a forever home. The more that we can raise awareness and give them a forum in a place where we have people gather as they come
to the game, the better.”
Rinehart said last year they brought the dogs onto the floor at halftime, announced their names and walked them around, and the crowd loved it. “That gave everyone a good look at them.”
Zipfel reached out to Pat Theobald with Best Friends last year to set up the first event.
“This is great because it not only helped these dogs find families and homes, but it also brought kind of a new atmosphere to the Stars. It attracts a new fan base and gets the community involved. We’re trying to have a fun basketball game while we’re at it.”
Rinehart said the Stars, which is the G-League team for the Jazz, also acts as sort of a research and development arm for the NBA club. That means successful events like the Dog Adoption Night could become something for the Jazz to consider doing in the future.
“I think we’re bringing in fans tonight who love basketball and are looking for a new pet to take home,” he said. “It’s giving fans a chance to discover the Stars or find a new furry friend to add to their family.”
The program has a connection with Best Friends to help with rescue efforts for victims in the Los Angeles wildfires. In the
past 10 days, Best Friends has brought in more than 240 animals who were displaced due to the fires.
“Happy Tails at Pegasus is one of our partners in the Utah No-Kill coalition,” Theobald said. “We’re really highlighting our partners, because they are what’s making our Los Angeles work possible. Because we have partners like Happy Tails looking after dogs in our local shelters, that frees Best Friends up to take care of the LA dogs right now.” He said other partners like the Humane Society of Utah, CAWS, and Celestial Zoo All Paws Count are working with them. “We’ve had about 10 different groups absorb the brunt of all of these animals coming in.”
Rinehart said a member of the Stars’ staff brought her family to the Dog Adoption Night last year and ended up adopting one of the dogs. “I don’t think that was their intention to start with, but they fell in love with a dog and it became a part of their family,” he said.
“This was our third West Valley City Night,” Zipfel said. “We really like to highlight the community, because the Stars are of course located here and play at the Maverik Center. We like to highlight local businesses and will be doing more of that with future events.” l
FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Feb. 1 and 3: Idaho Steelheads vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 4: Capital City Go Gos vs. Utah Stars, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 5: South Bay Lakers vs. Utah Stars, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 7: LOVB Volleyball, 6:30 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 7-March 1: “The Play That Goes Wrong,” various times, WV Performing Arts Center
Feb. 8: LOVB Volleyball, 4:30 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 14 and 15: Idaho Steelheads vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 16: Luis R. Conriquez, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 17: Idaho Steelheads vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 21 and 22: Rapid City Rush vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 23: Rapid City Rush vs. Utah Grizzlies, 3:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 24 and 26: College Park Skyhawks vs. Utah Stars, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Feb. 28: South Bay Lakers vs. Utah Stars, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Early March: March 4: Dream Theatre, 40th anniversary tour, 7:30 p.m., Maverik Center
Koda was one of the beautiful dogs visiting the Salt Lake City Stars game for Dog Adoption Night on Jan. 16. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Utah Veteran Business Resource Center launches the ‘Year of the Veteran Entrepreneur’
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
The Utah Veteran Business Resource Center at Salt Lake Community College has declared 2025 the Year of the Veteran Entrepreneur. To launch the statewide initiative, the VBRC hosted a networking event, bringing dozens of veterans to The Mill Entrepreneurship Center at SLCC’s Miller Campus in Sandy to share their success stories.
Several veteran-owned business entrepreneurs gave presentations about their companies at the event and explained how the VBRC helps them find resources, partnerships and support as they navigate their business journey.
“Bringing veterans together who are in all different stages of owning or starting a business provides them with the camaraderie that they experienced while in the military. They really connect and want to see each other succeed,” said Becky Guertler, VBRC manager. “Utah’s veteran business community is poised for unprecedented growth, and we’re excited to support them and recognize their contribution.”
The VBRC has worked with about 2,300 vet entrepreneurs since its founding in 2017. With nearly 19,000 veteran-owned businesses in Utah, the center offers assistance during every stage of business, from idea creation to getting financial assistance.
Navy veteran Donyale West, owner of 21West Productions, provides video production and digital marketing to businesses to build brand awareness and recognition.
“This is an invaluable opportunity for our veterans to network, share experiences, and support one another on our business journeys,” West said. “The VBRC provides sup-
port and space to celebrate our successes, navigate challenges, gain insight into resources, and camaraderie around balancing military service, family, and entrepreneurship. We discover we are not alone on our entrepreneurial paths.”
Other presenters included Katie Fry (Warrior Revival), Michael Donnell (Measure Once Cut Once), Bear Bangs ($99 Weddings), Joshua Benson (Salt Lake Dumpster) and Brian Herbstritt (Fidelitech).
“Some of the things that I’ve learned over the years is collaboration over competition,” Benson said. “When I learned about this program, I realized this is an opportunity to actually come meet with other businesses. A lot of people
get in the mindset of ‘we're in this for ourselves’…But as I’ve gone through this business process, I’ve realized that working together, we can do so much more than we can alone.”
These VRBC networking events usually sell out but it’s just one component of services offered to veteran entrepreneurs. The Strive program is a deep dive into business start-ups and the Minnow Tank Pitch Competition offers a platform for entrepreneurs to win prize money for their ideas.
Fry started her nonprofit, Warrior Revival, about 18 months ago. Its purpose is to empower veterans as they transition to civilian life through wellness retreats, recreation adventures and community building.
“I noticed that there was this big gap of services on weekends and at night for military and veterans,” Fry said. “At first, we were offering one event a month, and now we’re up to about eight events a month, just getting veterans out doing recreational activities.
“We’re trying to really work with service members while they’re in service, as well as when they get out of service. We believe it’s a life-long process. The first year tends to be the hardest.”
The VBRC is a non-profit that partners with SLCC and the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. With workshops, conferences, training, mentorship opportunities, counseling, financial advising and business critiques, veteran business owners get the best chance to succeed. For more information, visit utahvbrc.org. l
Veteran entreprueners Bear Bangs, Nick Reithel, Donayle West, Michael Donnell, Joshua Benson, Brian Herbstritt and Zachary Wellman gave presentations about their businesses during a networking event with the Utah Veteran Business Resource Center at Salt Lake Community College. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Bob Carter named senior vice president for health sciences at the U
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
TheUniversity of Utah Health’s new chief is a veteran brain surgeon, educator, health care administrator – and a BYU graduate.
The state’s flagship university announced that Dr. Bob S. Carter will be the new CEO of University of Utah Health and the school’s senior vice president for health sciences. He begins his duties at the university mid-February.
“With his own history of research and clinical excellence, Dr. Carter brings a unique ability to run an academic medical center going through exceptional growth and institutional change,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall in a university release.
“With his leadership, we will ensure University of Utah Health continues to innovate, educate and provide high quality, responsive health care,” Randall said.
Carter will reportedly manage both the academic and research enterprises at University of Utah Health, with its nearly $500 million research portfolio across five schools and colleges and a health sciences library, according to the release.
He will also oversee a $6.3 billion academic health system comprised of nearly 27,000 faculty and staff, and 6,400 students.
Carter will be charged with integrating a clinical enterprise of 3,700-member faculty and 17 hospitals and community health cen-
ters.
“University of Utah Health, and its dedicated faculty, staff and students, are at a unique inflection point,” Carter said in the university release.
“I am impressed by what they have accomplished already as a team. And I am particularly drawn to the vision of the University of Utah as a public university striving to improve every person’s life, and U. of U. Health’s shared missions of leading-edge health care, curing through discovery and enlightening tomorrow’s leaders,” he said.
According to the university, Carter will be responsible for completing several in-process projects – including dedicating a new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Building in 2026; launching the West Valley City Hospital and Health Center; and opening several new Huntsman Cancer Institute and Huntsman Mental Health Institute facilities.
“I expect Dr. Carter to help us make the case to state lawmakers, donors and others for accelerating the growth and achievement of the University of Utah’s world class medical discovery, health care education and patient care,” Randall said.
Carter currently serves as the William and Elizabeth Sweet Endowed Professor in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and neurosurgeon-in-chief at Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
He also has almost two decades of experience as a researcher and professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and another seven years at the University of California, San Diego, where he served as chairman of the faculty of the school of medicine.
A neurosurgical oncologist, Carter has also served as co-director of the Moores Cancer Center Brain Tumor Program at UC San Diego and the Brain Tumor Program at Mass General.
Carter brings to the University of Utah a rich history in health care administration, according to the news release.
He helped launch the integration of academic and clinical teams at Massachusetts General with Brigham and Women’s Hospital earlier this year. Carter previously served as the
clinical director of the UC San Diego Neurological Institute, a co-founder of Mass General Neuroscience, and as a member of the UC San Diego Health Board of Governors.
Carter received his medical degree and a doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1992. He claimed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Brigham Young University in 1986.
Carter replaces Mike Good, who spent seven years at the helm of University of Utah Health.
During Good’s tenure, the system nearly doubled its budget, added a hospital and community health center and recruited nearly 8,000 new faculty, staff and students. Meanwhile, patient visits increased by 25%, and research funding grew from $365 million to $492 million, according to the university.
Randall saluted Good’s “steady and calm leadership.”
“Mike Good has been an extraordinarily perceptive and effective partner in the effort to guide this institution forward through times of transition, the global COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented growth,” Randall said. “I am so grateful for his wisdom, patience and calm counsel. His leadership leaves us well-positioned to continue this effort.” l
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SL County Mayor Jenny Wilson discusses goals for second term in office
By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
It is not an easy task leading the nation's 37th most populous county with over one million residents. Yet Salt Lake County voters have decided to let County Mayor Jenny Wilson have a second term as mayor. Wilson reaffirmed her oath of office on Jan. 6 at the Midvalley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville.
“I’ve had a great working relationship with the current council and am looking forward to working cohesively with new and existing members in the coming years,” Wilson said. “I’m confident we’ll work constructively moving forward.”
Planning for Growth
With Salt Lake County’s population projected to reach nearly two million by 2060, Wilson acknowledges the importance of regional planning. “Salt Lake County advocates for and leads regional planning efforts to maintain and improve quality of life for our growing population,” she explained. This includes initiatives like the newly announced Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center in South Jordan and the development of 13 miles of multiuse trails at Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park in partnership with Kennecott Rio Tinto and the Bureau of Land Management.
“Trail connectivity is important to us,” Wilson said. She highlighted the county’s commitment to recreation through its 10-year Recreational Facilities plan, which identifies countywide needs and opportunities. “Informed by national best practices and public input, the next plan will be published in 2025,” she added.
Homelessness and Housing
Affordable housing remains a cornerstone of Wilson’s administration. Under her leadership, the county has implemented a comprehensive action plan addressing homelessness, behavioral health and criminal justice reform. “Our shared vision is that homelessness is brief, rare and non-recurring,” Wilson said.
The plan prioritizes affordable and supportive housing, along with new initiatives like the HOME Court program and the upcoming Kem & Carolyn Gardner Crisis Care Center. Scheduled to open in 2025, the center will provide critical mental health resources. “It is essential that systems—criminal justice, behavioral health treatment, workforce, housing and temporary shelter—are functional and intersect for efficiency and effectiveness,” Wilson said.
Salt Lake County’s Housing Trust Fund, which has invested over $25 million, is another example of her administration’s commitment. “We’ve set a goal to build 1,000 affordable and supportive housing units in five years,” she said. Recent changes to the accessory dwelling unit ordinance also aim to increase housing density and affordability.
Public Safety Challenges
Although a proposed $507-million public safety bond failed to pass, Wilson remains focused on addressing the county’s jail capacity issues. “The jail is at capacity, and there are a lot of residents who would benefit from the resources that the Justice and Accountability Center would have provided,” she said. With the county’s population having grown by 300,000 since 2001, she stressed the need for expanded facilities and services. “We are moving toward efficiently operating only one expanded county jail…ensuring it has the mental health and medical resources that many people with justice involvement so desperately need,” Wilson said.
Preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics
Looking ahead to the 2034 Winter Olympics, Wilson’s administration is working closely with public and private agencies to ensure success. “Venues are definitely a priority, as is lodging, volunteers, and ensuring that everyone involved in the Olympics has an incredible and memorable time,” she said.
According to Wilson, the county’s efforts aim to capitalize on the opportunities the games will bring while enhancing infrastructure and community engagement.
Balancing Budgets and Fiscal Responsibility
“I am proud to tout that Salt Lake County is one of the best-run counties in the nation,” Wilson said.
Salt Lake County’s financial stewardship is a point of pride for Wilson. “Salt Lake County has a triple AAA bond rating, effectively placing us in the top 1% of all counties in terms of creditworthiness,” she said. Despite the fiscal pressures from inflation and reduced tax revenue, her administration has maintained balanced budgets. “Annually,
we go through a months-long budget process where each budget request is analyzed and weighed against competing needs and priorities,” she said.
Environmental Leadership
Water conservation is a key focus for Wilson as the county grapples with the ongoing drought and the plight of the Great Salt Lake. “We allocated $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support efforts to flip park strips to waterwise landscaping and replace outdated irrigation systems with smart water management tools,” she said.
“At Salt Lake County, we are doing our part to conserve water. From monitoring our snowpack to implementing water-wise initiatives, we are committed to long-term water conservation amid frequent emergency droughts and changing environmental landscapes,” Wilson said.
Preserving Quality of Life
Programs like the My County Rec Pass, which offers free access to recreational amenities for youth, reflect Wilson’s dedication to enhancing residents’ quality of life. “Since the My County Rec Pass program launched, more than 66,000 youth have become pass holders,” she said.
Other priorities include conserving open
spaces, improving air quality, and supporting arts and culture through initiatives like the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) tax. “The ZAP program enhances Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through arts, cultural, historical, zoological and recreational offerings,” Wilson said.
Collaborative Governance
Despite the county council’s partisan divisions, Wilson has fostered a spirit of cooperation. “Every budget I’ve proposed as mayor has been balanced and approved with bipartisan support,” she said, adding that the 2024 budget passed unanimously.
Wilson also notes that although there was one dissenting vote against the 2025 budget, the reason provided was related to a council proposal intended to actualize cost savings.
A Vision for the Future
As she begins her second term, Wilson identifies affordable housing, homelessness and economic stability as the county’s biggest challenges. “Working with my incredible team of employees, county partners, and other elected officials, I remain committed to finding common-sense solutions that are fiscally responsible and meet the most basic of all human needs for everyone,” she said. l
Jenny Wilson was sworn in for her second term as county mayor on Jan. 6. (Photo contributed)
Busting winter driving myths: What really keeps you safe on icy roads
Driving in the winter is a different kind of beast, especially when some of the most common advice for driving in the snow and cold isn’t always accurate.
With much of the country set to deal with snow, ice and bitter-cold temperatures, here are some of the most common winter driving myths.
Pump your brakes on ice
The age-old advice of pumping your brakes while on ice isn’t always true for drivers nowadays.
Pumping the brakes, when the driver steps on the brake pedal multiple times in a row to stop the wheels from locking up, is an old-fashioned way to prevent skidding on ice that can be counterproductive for many cars.
According to AAA, anti-lock braking systems, which pump the brakes for you, have become a standard since the 1990s. These days, most cars have anti-locking brakes, but it’s best to check the manual to make sure.
So, when cars with anti-lock brakes are on ice, the best practice is to apply steady pressure.
Gas freezes if you don’t have enough in the tank
This myth is close, but not necessarily true.
AAA said the gas in the tank won’t freeze until temperatures hit 50 degrees below zero, which means drivers will most likely not be finding a block of gas in the tank anytime soon.
However, your gas tank can freeze, so drivers should keep more gas in the tank in the winter. According to AAA, this can help minimize the space in the tank for water condensation to form. That condensation could enter your fuel line and freeze, preventing your vehicle from starting and damaging the fuel line.
o, the more gas you have in your tank, there’s less of a chance that condensation will have a place to form.
Let your car warm up before you drive
Cars used to need to idle for the carburetors to work and for oils to warm up, but with new technology, as long as your vehicle isn’t older than the early 1990s, you probably don’t need to let your car thaw before you hit the road.
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
When driving on slippery roads, be sure to keep double the normal amount of space between you and the driver in front of you. (Photo AI generated)
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that guidance from most car manufacturers says your vehicle is ready to drive after 30 seconds of warming up.
However, it can take your engine between five and 15 minutes to completely warm up, according to Business Insider. If it’s an extremely cold day, it may not be a bad idea to let your car run for more than 30 seconds before driving off.
Now, while we’re getting into the deep end of winter and finally starting to see some snow, there are some things you want to keep in mind as you hit the icy roads.
Slow down
This one might seem obvious, but given the number of people speeding down the freeway in both lanes during
Ua snowstorm, the idea of reducing speed during increment weather appears to be a foreign concept to some Utah drivers.
The slippier it gets, the more you need to reduce your speed. Stopping on slippery roads can take more than triple the usual distance. Anticipate your moves and turns in advance and keep your steering and throttle input as smooth as possible.
Clear ice and snow from your vehicle before driving
Again, it may seem like this one is obvious, but there are more cars on the road with snow piled up and ice frosting the windshield than you may think.
As we’re taught in driver’s education, if you can’t see, you can’t drive safely. If you park your car outside, you’re bound to deal with ice, frost and fresh snow on some mornings. As much as it hurts to stand in the cold for that long, it’s much safer to clear your entire car of snow, frost and ice before leaving.
Give extra space to the vehicle ahead
When conditions are wet there’s no telling what it will take to avoid an accident, especially if you need to stop. In winter conditions, it’s best to give at least double the amount of space you’re used to for the vehicle ahead.
Having good tires will help you stop and keep control, but even with new tires it’s best to keep a healthy distance between you and the next car.
Read the road
During a drive on snowy surfaces, your traction will ebb and flow from moment to moment. Newer cars have a wide array of helpful safety technologies, but they shouldn’t replace your driver instincts and awareness – especially in adverse weather conditions.
Keep both hands on the wheel, turn down your music, avoid using cruise control and constantly assess how the vehicle and road feel. If you sense a loss of grip on the road, don’t panic. Slow down, take a deep breath and make slow, gradual movements as you keep driving. l
Salt Lake Volleyball brings professional game back to Utah
tahns have always been fans of volleyball, whether it’s through recreational play or their local church leagues. And boys’ volleyball became an officially sanctioned high school sport just last year.
Now professional women's volleyball returns to Salt Lake City as part of the League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “Love”). The city has one of six franchises for the first-year league that kicked off on Jan. 8 in Atlanta. It was founded in 2020 as a “holistic volleyball ecosystem” that covered players from the beginner level through clubs and the pros. The plan was to start a pro league after the Paris Olympics, and now play is set to begin.
The teams don’t have names, other than the cities they play in. The six teams this year are in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake. Utah’s team includes two-time Olympic medalists and 2020 gold medal winners Haleigh Washington and Jordyn Poulter, who lead
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
a roster with 21 collective All-American honors. Several come from local colleges like former University of Utah player Dani Drews, and former BYU teammates Roni
Jones-Perry and Mary Lake. Reigning VNL Best Libero Manami Kojima of the Japanese National Team will patrol the backcourt. U.S. National Team assistant Tama Miyashiro will instruct the squad, and she’ll be assisted by Bruno Chateau, who’s found success coaching internationally and in his native France.
Salt Lake played its first home match against Houston on Jan. 22 at Salt Lake Community College, where all of its home matches are scheduled except for the “Weekend with LOVB" on Feb. 7-8 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The team will play matches on both days that weekend.
Other home matches are set for March 20 against Madison, April 4 against Madison, April 5 against Austin. League finals will be held in mid-April in Louisville, Kentucky.
Members of the 15 player roster for Salt Lake Volleyball are as follows:
• Jordyn Poulter, S, Illinois
• Tamaki Matsui, S, Japan Women's College of Physical Education
• Morgan Miller, OH, Cal
• Maddie Haynes, OH, Cal
• Skylar Fields, OH, USC
• Tori Dixon, MB, Minnesota
• Sophie Fischer, MB, Georgia
• Serena Gray, MB, Pittsburgh
• Roni Jones-Perry, OH, BYU
• Haleigh Washington, MB, Penn State
• Manami Kojima, LIB, Aoyama Gakuin University
• Dani Drews, OH, Utah
• Mary Lake, LIB, BYU
• Claire Hoffman, OH, Washington
• Heidy Casanova, OPP
Every game will be broadcast through the ESPN family of networks, streamed on ESPN+ or broadcast through the league's website at LOVB Live. Ticket information available on line at www.lovb.com. l
The new logo for Salt Lake Volleyball, which has begun play in the LOVB league and will host home matches at the Maverik Center and Salt Lake Community College. (Logo courtesy of LOVB)
Valentine’s Day. A day of love. A day we often focus on showing such love to our family, our friends, our coworkers, and even through Valentine’s we get for our children to give to their teachers. However, regardless of whether we are single, married, or in a relationship, we can often overlook showing a little love to ourselves.
Jayna Marie, a renowned celebrity makeup artist in L.A. whose work has transformed many lives, says “Loving ourselves is so important because we teach other people how to treat us.” She cautions, “The way we see ourselves determines the love we are going to accept from other people.”
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in societal expectations and lose sight of our uniqueness as we focus on our imperfections. We often struggle with body image concerns, seeking validation, or simply focusing on the challenges of life we face. Instead, Marie encourages us to embrace imperfections and celebrate individuality as an integral part of who we are through the following three steps:
1. Overcoming insecurities
2. Having gratitude for one's body
3. Understanding and accepting one's story
Overcoming our insecurities is not to
Embracing self-love this Valentine’s Day
By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com
be expected overnight, but rather a lifelong process. Marie lives by a mantra of “breathe in self-confidence, breathe out self-doubt.”
Criticism often mirrors personal insecurities and by understanding this, we can better support one another's journeys. “Seeking validation from others can be both exhausting and unfulfilling,” Marie says. Instead, she encourages introspection and support for each other.
As for having gratitude for one’s body, Marie emphasizes, “We are never going to
Itbe younger than we are right now. Before we know it another 10 years will be gone and we’ll be wishing we looked like we do now or had the energy we do now.” Marie believes we are in either a phase of glowing or growing. Growing can be painful, but the glowing part is the outcome after the difficulties and hard work have been put in. There is such significance in having gratitude for our current selves and the fleeting nature of time, so might we cherish the present and live authentically.
Marie advises, “Part of understanding and accepting one’s story is being courageous and believing it’s going to end beautifully no matter where we are at in our story.” She continues that, “sometimes we have a hard time embracing our story because we aren’t where we want to be.” She encourages embracing faith in what is to come compared to the fear of where you are at on your journey. Resilience is gained through faith during such challenges of life. Both self-love and self-acceptance are significant in overcoming life challenges as we seek to live authentically, celebrate our unique stories and differences, and build a supportive community of mutual support and growth. “No matter where you are right now, how hard or scary it might seem, it’s exactly where you are to be,” encourages Marie.
As we navigate our journeys, let us remember that we are wonderfully made and that our stories can be more beautiful than we ever imagined. Listen to this inspiring interview in full and embark on a journey of self-love and empowerment on Holly’s Highlights Season 4 Episode 3. Embrace your inner beauty and cherish the present moment as you transform your life through self-love this Valentine’s Day. l
Intricate glass art on display at Utah Cultural Celebration Center
By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
is both intricate and delicate.
It is glass art and pieces made through this form of artistic expression are on display right now by the Glass Art Guild of Utah at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. “Bling in the New Year” is a free exhibit through March 12 featuring about 200 pieces of glass art.
The guild is a volunteer organization with 53 members ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s who have a passion for making, or fusing, things out of glass. “The guild provides a camaraderie for people that do fused glass” a process of melting and shaping glass said Sheen Wolfe, a guild member. The group also provides education, training, demonstrations and scholarships to those who want to pursue the craft.
Like the material itself, creating something out of glass is a delicate process, requiring a fairly precise temperature from fire in a kiln, a thermally insulated oven, that must be risen or lowered depending on how the portion of glass is to be shaped. “Glass melts at 1,500 degrees, give or take a few, and if you don’t go up slowly and you don’t hold at a certain spot and go back down slowly, it will crack and do all kinds of weird stuff. It’s very finicky,” Wolfe said.
She said glass art is one of the oldest
forms of art involving the use of glass, whose main ingredient is sand. Its origins lie in Europe as far back as the first century B.C. Today, glass art design and creation is aided by computer programs.
The Utah Cultural Celebration Center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about the Glass Art Guild of Utah, visit glassartguild.org. l
Full interview on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Photo courtesy of Jayna Marie)
Learning to self-love. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Jones)
Dozens of items made of glass by local artists are on exhibit through March 12 at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
These vases made out of glass by local glass artists are among the items of glass art on display by the Glass Art Guild of Utah at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
University of Utah pioneers new medical humanities degree
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
Literature is filled with examples of all sorts of doctors: Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Faustus, Dr. Zhivago, even Dr. Dolittle.
And it turns out that reading those books –and the study of humanities in general – can be instructive for real doctors, too. At least that’s the kind of thinking behind a new program being pitched at the University of Utah.
Two professors at the U. are pushing for the school to launch a bachelor’s degree called “medical humanities,” where students who want to go into the medical field will study the classics of writing, the arts, philosophy and ethics – all with the intention of making them better, more holistic health care providers.
“The U. is already known for its excellence in providing healthcare for medical research, for its expertise in medical ethics, for arts-and-health initiatives,” said Gretchen Case, director of the U.’s longstanding Center for Health Ethics, Arts and Humanities. “We have the great fortune of having a health sciences campus adjacent to the main campus, which is not true at all universities. We can share knowledge and expertise easily in all directions.”
Jim Tabery, one of the professors overseeing the new degree, said they designed the degree looking at the background in medical humanities, both historically and contemporar-
ily, to see that it’s really interdisciplinary.
“You’ve got everything from people in theater and media studies to folk like me in philosophy, to people over in health communication to people in disability studies,” Tabery said. “There’s lots of people interested in doing that and making sure it’s helping people and not hurting people beyond the clinicians and the folks in the hospital.”
Tabery said they wanted to give students a sense of that interdisciplinary breath when designing the degree.
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The health and ethics center has existed at the state’s flagship institution with various name changes but a singular mission since 1989. It is focused on bringing insights from the humanities and arts into the medical world of science, an intersection that Case sees as
natural and beneficial, teaching healers to act with compassion, according to the center’s mission statement.
“Healthcare is humans giving care to humans,” she said. “Without attention to all humans in that exchange, you aren’t truly giving or receiving care.”
The U. already has a minor in medical humanities; it is also currently the only traditional public university in the state with an associated medical school. Now, Case wants to see the program expand into a full degree for students to major in to train the next generation of doctors.
The degree would be carved into four “core areas.” Tabery said the core areas consist of communication and culture, ethics and epistemology, arts and letters, and disability, gender and ethnic studies. Each student would have to take at least two classes in each of the core areas.
Tabery said they started by scouring the university and asking other professors if their medical students could take their classes, and he said other professors were very interested in getting involved. Soon enough, Tabery said they had a huge list of courses that are offered across the campus.
Tabery said, this way, students get to figure out how they want their medical human-
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The University of Utah hopes to launch a new bachelor’s degree called medical humanities by fall 2025. (Adobe file photo)
ities degree to focus on.
“We think that combining medical humanities with some other health related or science related field is going to make them both more competitive for that next thing, but also make them a more patient centered and informed practitioner of that health related discipline,” Tabery said.
Softer skills, like close reading, analyzing a text, listening, asking questions, connecting with people, are often developed in the humanities classroom. And they can go a long way in building a foundation for health professionals, along with the science they learn in chemistry or biology, when working with patients with complex illnesses.
That can include telling someone they have a life-changing diagnosis, studying a patient’s symptoms, thinking creatively about how to treat an illness and generally communicating with kindness. Essentially, viewing an X-ray uses the same skills as interpreting art.
“We want students who are not explicitly interested in becoming a healthcare professional also to choose this major,” Case said. “We need people in all professions who understand health and healthcare.”
Tabery said there is demand for it in Utah, which doesn’t have any school offering degrees in this field while roughly 130 universities nationwide do, mostly on the East Coast.
“And I would say there has certainly been no pushback,” he said. “If anything, it’s been the opposite of people sort of coming out of the
woodworks and expressing more interest in it.”
Tabery said it’s been gratifying to see the response and that it “speaks to the need for this program” and how well positioned the U. is to provide it.
“I would love to see the University of Utah known internationally for its innovative, interdisciplinary approach to health and healthcare, and I think that is absolutely possible,” Case said.
The new degree would help give students an edge in applying to medical school, particularly if they pair it with a traditional science degree.
“I hope adding medical humanities to what they do makes them think more about things like how to communicate better about the ethical implications of their decisions about how medicine, when it’s deployed, affects certain populations differently than other populations,” Tabery said.
Tabery said the degree would make students much more well-rounded and more informed consumers of the medical research they’ll have to put into practice.
If approved, the program would start in fall 2025, as a collaboration between the Department of Philosophy and College of Humanities. It passed unanimously in the Academic Senate, though it will still require final approval from both the U.’s board of trustees and the greater Utah System of Higher Education. l
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South Salt Lake seeking to prohibit public camping
By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
South Salt Lake officials were looking to change city code that would give law enforcement more leverage to preventing homeless camps within the city.
While the city already prohibited public camping at its parks, the code change would expand to all public property.
City Attorney Josh Collins told the council in early January one of the city’s goals is to provide a safe, clean home and neighborhood and that this ordinance would be better for everyone.
“This proposed ordinance would help not only individuals that live in the city, but those that are suffering from homelessness and looking for a place to reside by connecting them with services,” he said. “The work our (homeless resource officers) do in the city is second to none and they go out and don’t just seek to punish people but to find and help connect with services.”
The new language defines both camping and public places which includes “any park, playground, street, right-of-way, sidewalk, park strip, alley, or publicly owned building or real property.”
Collins said the officers previously would have to rely on a “hodge-podge” of codes, county ordinances and regulations to enforce the camping violations.
Councilmember Clarissa Williams noted the police have already done this for years, and the camps are encroaching onto kids baseball fields.
“This is not harming anybody,” she said. “We’re just trying to make sure we protect our own children who are in these communities as well. This is just giving our officers a little more leverage to what they can do, but again, our officers have been doing this for many years and they continue to do it.”
The code change is also crucial to show state legislature leaders, Collins said, as part of a larger push to curb camping and panhandling. There is no state law that prevents camping in municipalities so, he said, it relies on local communities to do that themselves.
Without this ordinance, Collins explained, the mitigation funding for homeless services South Salt Lake receives could be reduced or lost.
Mayor Cherie Wood, who now serves on the Utah Homeless Services Board representing the shelter cities advisory council, added the funding risk “has been communicated frequently at UHSB meetings.”
She also added they cannot enforce during a code blue which is when temperatures in specific areas are expected to drop to 18 degrees for two hours or more during a 24-hour period. The alert allows shelters flexibility to find places to shield people from the cold such as during the Jan. 19 weekend.
Councilmember Corey Thomas said it was unfortunate to tie the funding to this ordi-
nance, but noted the importance of that funding.
“I can’t not support this and risk losing that funding because that helps our police department greatly,” she said. “It funds the homeless resource officers department of the city.”
She added every legislative session it’s a battle to keep that funding.
As for how pervasive it is the city, Collins said it “can be a pretty consistent problem along the river and in other places.”
But Collins and Councilmember Sharla Bynum stressed the quality of the HROs and how they specialize in connecting those experiencing homeless to the resources that can help them. She’s done a ride along with those officers, she said, and felt they were so in tune with the people’s needs.
“It was eye-opening,” she said.
Collins said he’s seen them help pack up a person’s gear and drive them to where they needed to go.
“It’s not just a heavy handed approach that may happen in other places,” he said. “It’s also not a non-approach which may happen in other places. This is a delicate balance the police and the city have to strike because we have dueling interests on multiple sides that we’re trying to manage.”
The ordinance was expected to pass at the Jan. 22 council meeting (after press deadline).
“We ultimately want people to have safe housing and so striking that balance is a difficult thing to do,” said Councilmember LeAnne Huff. l
Public camping was already restricted at city parks, or county-owned Harmony Park pictured here in 2018, but the ordinance proposed would prevent camping on all public places. (File photo City Journals)
The code change is aimed to prevent homeless encampments forming not only in the parks but around the city. (File photo City Journals)
Public camping was already restricted at city parks, or county-owned Harmony Park pictured here in 2018, but the ordinance proposed would prevent camping on all public places. (File photo City Journals)
Documented and undocumented people express fears and anxiety about mass deportation
By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
Oneof President Donald Trump’s campaign promises on day one of his new administration is a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants from the United States.
Gov. Spencer Cox announced that Utah’s government would support the incoming presidential administration’s priorities on illegal immigration.
Gina Crezee, the executive director of the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Services located in Millcreek said, “Undocumented folks came to the door of America, through the airport, the border across Canada or walked through the river and they all came here with the hopes of having a better life. I do not call them illegal. They are just doing exactly what our grandparents did.”
“Are there people in our community that are scared? 100%! Are there people that are documented and going through the process that are scared? 100%!”
“If someone comes to our country and says they are seeking asylum, they are given a one year deadline. It means you better get in your application for asylum within one year of this date and find representation to make your case. If they miss this one year deadline they are ‘hosed’ and they have no shot,” Crezee said.
“There are only five ways to get asylum: political leanings, religion, race, sexual orientation and convention against being tortured by someone in power,” Crezee said.
Crezee talked about one young 12-year-old girl from Honduras. “Her mother was in Utah and the girl stayed in Honduras and lived with grandma who then passed away. A gang moved in and this 12 year old was gang raped horribly.”
“This girl got away and walked from Honduras to the border. She will tell you it was cold, she struggled for food and just sits and cries about what she went through. When she gets to the border she is seven months pregnant from the rape and is seeking asylum,” Crezee tells this story and added, “This is not considered asylum.”
“The young girl could not seek asylum but did qualify as a special immigrant juvenile or SIJ,” Crezee said.
It is hard to seek asylum but these folks are desperate and returning to their country is not a safe option so many will stay here and work in jobs that other Americans might not be willing to work and get paid under the table.
“After you apply for asylum, you wait 150 days and you can apply for an employment authorization document or EAD which is a work permit, but these can be revoked and it happens,” Crezee said.
Crezee stated that “There are between 11 million or 20 million undocumented or potentially documented people in this country.” Crezee said this number includes deferred action for childhood arrivals or DACA recipients who are not citizens but are documented.
A DACA recipient using the name Maria to protect herself and her family said she is “scared to death.”
“DACA, when it first was introduced by Obama, was a way for children who were brought to the U.S. at a very young age who didn’t have a choice because our parents brought us here to be able to obtain a better way of life and a way to work and be successful,” Maria said.
“What the DACA program is, is a work permit essentially for only two years. We have to pay over $600 to renew it and if you hire an attorney or someone to represent you and fill out the paperwork, some offices charge over $500 to do that,” Maria said.
Maria said DACA recipients receive no finanical aid like FAFS loans for college unless they are private loans
through your bank.
“Interest rates are through the roof because they are only guaranteed for two years,” Maria said.
“There are certain states that will not allow DACA recipients to pursue certain careers like becoming lawyers, nurses, doctors and you cannot apply for scholarships. There are private scholarships just for DACA and people in the Hispanic community, but hard to earn them since you are competing with everyone else in the community,” Maria said.
She says she constantly lives in fear.
“There is no pathway to citizenship through DACA. If you get pulled over for a traffic citation, there is a possibility that you could lose that DACA status,” added Maria.
DACA is no longer an option for new applicants but those with DACA status can still go through the renewal process.
“Some folks seeking a better way of life have been here 20 or 30 years but could not seek asylum,” Crezee said. “These folks entered without inspection, not with immigration and customs agents, ICE, and now they are here. They do not qualify for any benefits and they are on what I like to refer to as the ‘Island of Misfit Toys.’”
“Every time they go to the grocery store, fill up with gas or buy anything, they’re paying taxes. A misconception is that these immigrants are getting food stamps but they cannot get this,” added Crezee.
“There is nothing for them here but to have a better life than what they had in their country. I have clients from an Asian country where they owned a high tech business company that they gave up to come to America,” Crezee said.
Miguel, his wife and two daughters are originally from Venezuela. He is using the name Miguel to protect himself and his family. Miguel stated they are all very anxious and concerned about what might happen to them when the new administration takes over.
“I came to Utah in 2023 from Ecuador where I lived with my family since 2016 after we left Venezuela," Miguel said. “We left both countries due to insecurities and the harsh
economic situation.”
“Like all immigrants, we worry about the future. During the next year we will try to stay legally here. In my case, I’m trying to get a professional visa that allows me to stay and still work here,” Miguel said. Miguel currently has a fulltime job through the University of Utah.
“This country and the people have been very generous to us. Until now we have very good relationships with all the people that we have known since we arrived. Our family and friends in Venezuela and Ecuador have always worried about our destiny. We help them as much as we can, so our permanency here is very important to them and us,” Miguel said.
There is a huge impact on mental health from immigration on the immigrants as Crezee explained, “First you apply for asylum, then apply for the EAD and if you don’t qualify, you are done. You can appeal it but if you don’t win, you are done. If you do win, then you have to apply for your green card which is one year later. Then you have to apply for citizenship which can take years and cost $20,000 to $30,000 and that is just for one person in the family.”
Crezee explained about the impact on the mental health of the children of these immigrant families: “Maria had to be pulled out of school as a child and go to every doctor's appointment with her parents so she could translate, to the DMV to translate, and taken to the hospital to translate for a family member. She was still expected to go to school and do well as a DACA recipient. The impact on the kids' mental health if they mistranslate and the fear these kids have of that is pretty horrible.”
“The mass deportation that has been proposed could affect the economy and people will be scared but it could take the new administration a very long time and may not follow through with this campaign promise,” Crezee said. “The business community will rise up and the chambers all support immigration and immigration reform. The businesses need these people to work.”
More information can be found at www.immigrantlegalservices.org/.l
10 National Days to observe in February
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
If you’re not a fan of Valentine’s Day and President’s Day doesn’t seem like a celebration, there are still many ways to bring some fun to February. You can create your own holiday this month or use these National Days to build new traditions with friends, family or coworkers.
Feb. 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day
When was the last time you sent someone a letter, oldschool-mail-style? Well, today’s the day. Find (or make) a card that reflects your friend’s or loved one’s personality then write a heartfelt note that expresses appreciation, love or humor. Stick a stamp on it, drop it in the mailbox and pat yourself on the back for making someone’s day a little brighter.
Feb. 8: Kite Flying Day
You’d think Kite Flying Day would be observed in April because it’s hard to fly a kite during a blizzard, but here we are. If it’s too cold and wet outside to fly a kite, this is a good day to build a kite or research kite-flying celebrations around Utah. It’s a time to dream about warm weather and sunny days.
Feb. 9: National Pizza Day
Sure you can stop by The Pie Pizzeria and bring home a tasty Mountain of Meat pizza, but to really honor this day, spend time making homemade pizza. Invite family or friends over to create individual pizzas and have a variety of toppings to choose from. Give a prize for the most creative pie.
Feb. 11: Inventor’s Day
This day is a tribute to all the people who’ve made our lives better. Watch a documentary about your favor ite scientist, dress up like Thomas Edison, host a family science fair or create your own invention. Bonus points if you share your invention on social media.
Feb. 12: Plum Pudding Day
If this Dickens-esque dessert is a favorite, today is your day. Knock yourself out.
Feb. 15: Wisconsin Day
Revisit your eighth-grade U.S. history class by learning some things about the 30th state. Take a virtual tour of Milwaukee, read about the Wisconsin residents who started Harley-Davidson, learn the history of Lambeau Field and don’t forget the cheese plate. Did you know Wisconsinites eat more than 20 million gallons of ice cream each year? Challenge accepted, Wisconsin.
Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
Every year, this national day grows in popularity. Spreading positivity through small acts of kindness is a way to bring more love to this world. Call a friend, take groceries to the local pantry, buy a stranger’s lunch, take
cookies to the fire department or share a poem with a loved one. The options are endless.
Feb. 20: Love Your Pet Day
You should love your pet every day, but make today a little more special for your furry friend by lavishing them with praise, healthy snacks and an extra walk. Homemade dog treats, a catnip toy, playing catch in the backyard or a snuggle session on the couch will help your pet feel loved.
Feb. 26: Tell A Fairy Tale Day
Fairy tales date back hundreds of years and we’re still enthralled by the stories of princesses, knights, fairies and wolves. Find your favorite fairy tales at the library and spend an evening retelling the stories. You could also write your own fairy tales and have a family fairy tale night.
Feb. 27: Retro Day
Unpack the roller skates, slap a cassette in the player and spend the day reliving a bygone era. Choose your favorite decade and honor its fashion, hairstyles, music, food and lingo. Show up at work in a zoot suit and dance the Charleston during lunch. Dust off your disco attire and impress family members with your Electric Slide. Have fun. That’s the point. l
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Testing and prevention are key to reducing lead poisoning in children
By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
High risk areas for lead are in many zip codes around the Salt Lake Valley that have homes built before 1978. These homes more than likely have been painted with lead paints. The soils around these older homes could contain lead. The Salt Lake County Health Department offers help with testing and ways of preventing lead poisoning in families.
Lead particles can be found in older homes and buildings. “Prevention is the educational portion and how to live within your environment,” said Candice Briese, health educator with the Salt Lake County Health Department.
“Our focus is children under 6 since they have a faster breathing rate and they are exposed to lead dust. They put everything into their mouths and touch the ground more often,” Briese said. This makes children more at risk for lead poisoning.
No level of lead is safe for a child. If a child has 3.5 µg/dL then this needs to be addressed right away. Lead poisoning can cause learning and behavioral problems, lowered intelligence, digestive issues, hearing and speech concerns and has been linked to incarceration later in life.
Have your child tested. “Testing can be done at the doctor’s office,” Briese said.
“We will do a home visit if a child test results are at 3.5 µg/dL. We will bring the XRF analyzer to the home so we can test and discuss the dietary needs of the kiddos and we really encourage reading. Reading is a good way to build those neurons and compensate for that loss from lead poisoning,” Briese said.
There is a real concern with nutritional aspects for children with lead exposure.
“Lead can mimic calcium and iron in our bodies. What it does is cause things like anemia because it replaces the iron in their bodies. What we like to do is encourage the dietary approach in that the kids have the required amount of iron and vitamin C, which can help with the absorption of iron,” Briese said.
“Lead can store in the bones for 10 to 20 years. We encourage women that want to get pregnant to get tested,” Briese added. Lead poisoning can cause miscarriages and developmental effects on the growing fetus like low birth weight or hurt the baby's nervous system, kidneys and brain.
“We do testing events in the community and we have an XRF analyzer that we have when we are out and about,” Briese said. People can bring Ziplock bags full of paint chips from their homes or bags of soil along with spices to be tested at the events to see if there is lead there. “We are always happy to test the products if people want to check for lead.”
“With older homes painted with lead
paint, you can encapsulate it, but if you get a ding on the wall, you want to cover it up,” Briese said. “It is important to find ways to make your old home safe. There is a program in the county that is called Lead Safe Housing that can come to your home and test for lead. There are requirements for this service like if you have a child in your home or a pregnant woman is visiting.”
Homeowners may want to get connected to lead safe certified contractors by visiting www.saltlakecounty.gov/ and search for the Lead Safe Housing program.
“Our primary objective is to find it and get it out of the environment. We see it with mugs and the paint on the product,” Briese said. “We want to get it out of there and get the nutrients into the child’s body and then let’s read.”
“We encourage wet cleaning to dust since lead does not break down quickly. It has a very long life. We need to be aware if it is there and wash our hands more often.”
Growing a garden in the yard of an older home could be concerning since lead could be present in the soil. “Certain vegetables will be better than others for growing in the yard of an old house. We might encourage a raised bed in those areas,” Briese said.
Spices can be a concern. “If buying them online or if from other countries those are the ones we worry about having lead in them. We see it in turmeric, lead is heavy and it is added to a spice they get more bang for the buck. It makes the color more vibrant and lead is sweet. This is why kids eat paint chips. It has a sweet taste and that is why they add it to the spice,” Briese added.
Some makeup from certain communities might use kohl liner or surma around their eyes, which has lead in it. This make-
up is typically bought online or from other countries. Check the ingredients in the products you purchase to be sure no lead is in it.
A person can be exposed to lead when visiting a gun range. "Every time you fire the gun you get lead dust back splashed onto you. So it is important to wash your hands, face and your clothes afterwards,” Briese said.
Fishing exposes a person to lead. If
you use lead fishing sinkers you will want to wash your hands along with any children who are fishing with you before eating food due to the lead exposure. There is the Safe Kids Fare on Feb. 22 at the Mountain America Expo that residents can get things tested at and if more information is needed, email leadprovention@saltlakecounty.gov. l
Water pipes in homes built before 1978 are places where you might find lead. (Wikimedia)
Withvisions of Jack White, Prince and Sophie Lloyd strumming in my head, I started taking guitar lessons last year to prove that old dogs can still be tricky. After months of lessons, I confidently state Jack White can rest easy. I won’t be coming for his job.
Guitar lessons have challenged my patience but expanded my capacity for playing incorrect chords on a slightly outof-tune instrument. I pluck through terrible-sounding riffs and know practice time is over when I drop the guitar pick in the sound hole for the hundredth time.
Each week, I meet with the ever-patient Emily at Guitar Center so I can go over my lesson. I spend most of the time trying to convince her I really did practice while ignoring the eye twitch she develops whenever I play an F chord.
She’ll give me advice like, “Press the strings harder” or “Change the position of your thumb” or “Maybe take up baking.” I go home and practice chords and strums and fingerpicking until even the dog leaves the room. But after practicing “Blowin’ in the Wind” for six weeks, my husband finally recognized the chorus.
I’ve gained an appreciation for guitar players, and I get enraged by people who say they taught themselves to play the guitar because that can’t possibly be a thing. Like every child in Utah, I took piano lessons, and that background has helped with counting and timing but that’s the extent of its helpfulness when it comes to the guitar.
The hubby and I visited Nashville in October, where even toddlers can play the intro to “Stairway to Heaven,” and it highlighted how much I still have to learn. Every dive bar had an exceptional guitarist strumming chords while holding a beer bottle. I ate chicken wings and sipped margaritas, mesmerized by their talent.
Time to face the music
Peri Kinder
Life and Laughter
Not only were they exceptional, but they could play any song by heart. My brain has no storage capacity. My hard drive is full. I can’t memorize songs, and I can barely remember chord progressions. I’m still looking at chord charts like they’re hieroglyphics.
Learning guitar is mostly about finding new ways to use your nondominant hand. In theory, a plucked string should create a musical vibration. In reality, a plucked string provides a muffled thud because I’m not on my fingertips or I’m too far from the fret or I can’t stretch my hand into a barre chord or I’m just inept. All of those things can be true.
After I played “If I Had a Hammer” for several weeks, my husband said if he had a hammer he’d smash my guitar. Not nice. But fair.
I grew up listening to singers like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Mom and my aunt would visit assisted living centers (they were called rest homes in the ’70s) to sing and play the guitar, entertaining the captive audience. Sometimes I’d sing along and screw up their “Leaving on a Jet Plane” harmonies with my squeaky 8-year-old voice.
Learning to play the guitar is a connection to my late mom. I can’t say my guitar music honors my mom because no one deserves that kind of honor, but I can imagine her
smiling (and probably grimacing) whenever I pick up the guitar. Maybe there are earplugs in heaven.
Watching Prince perform at the Super Bowl, seeing Jack White in concert and hearing Sophie Lloyd shred has become an act of reverence. I stand in awe at their talent as I slowly pick through “Five Hundred Miles” for what feels like the 500th time.
(435) 770-6917 cam@reeverbent.net
