February 2016 | Vol. 2 Iss. 02
FREE
A Former Wolverine Grew Up to be a Beaver By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
page 14 Noah Togiai caught two passes for 30 yards in his first game experience of the civil war (Oregon vs. Oregon State football game). –Oregon State University
page 5
page 7 Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
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LOCAL LIFE
Page 2 | February 2016
Harman Senior Recreation Center
Calendar for February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
West Valley
Library Schedule FEBRUARY
MONDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 9:15 Ceramics 9:30 Oil Painting Class 10:00 Crochet Club 10:30 Chair Exercise 11:00 Wellness Class 12:00 Lunch – Donation $3.00 12:30 Bowling @ Delton Lanes TUESDAYS Birthday Tuesday 9:15 Fun Fitness 10:00 Choir 10:30 Massage 11:00 Railroad Club 12:00 Lunch Donation $3.00 12:45 Bingo WEDNESDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 10:00 Choir 10:30 Chair Exercise 12:00 Lunch – Donation $3.00 12:30 Chess Club THURSDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 9:15 Fun Fitness 10:00 Skip Bo 10:00 Wii Games 10:00 Poetry Class 11:00 Railroad Club 12:00 Lunch – Donation $3.00 12:45 Bingo FRIDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 10:30 Chair Exercise 12:00 Lunch – Donation $3.00
Events
February 2 Ground Hog Day Birthday Tuesday 10:30 Blood Pressure and Glucose Check 11:00 Waldis Bradley Duo Entertainment February 4 9:30 Lawyer 9:30 Granger High Bingo 9:45 Haircuts 10:30 Crafty Raedell February 5 10:30 Fun Bunch Lunch
2 Tuesday Toddler Time
10:15 am
3 Wednesday Preschool Storytime
10:15 am
5 Friday Music and Movement Valentine’s Craft
10:15 am 3:00 pm
8 Monday Family Craft Night
7:00 pm
9 Tuesday Toddler Time
10:15 am
10 Wednesday Preschool Storytime
10:15 am
11 Thursday Hero Adventure Club
7:00pm
February 8 9:15 Lil’ Abner Movie at Center 10:00 Council Meeting 10:00 Facial Class Free
12 Friday Music and Movement Creative Therapy Craft Club
10:15 am 1:00 pm
February 9 10:00 Medicare & Insurance Consultant
15 Monday President’s Day All Libraries
Closed
February 10 10:00 Ronald McDonald’s House
16 Tuesday Toddler Time
10:15 am
17 Wednesday Preschool Storytime
10:15 am
18 Thursday Great Reads for Girls
7:00 pm
February 16 11:00 New Fiddlers Entertainment
19 Friday Music and Movement Hand Warmers
10:15 am 3:00 pm
February 17 1:00 Heritage Series Entertainment
22 Monday Diver dos con Libros
7:00 pm
February 11 11:00 Donor Presentation February 12 11:00 Valentine’s Dance February 15 CLOSED FOR PRESIDENT’S DAY
February 18 11:00 Bingo February 19 9:15 Breakfast Trip February 22 10:00 Professional Facials February 23 11:00 Harmony 5+ Entertainment February 24 9:15 Provo Temple Tour February 26 10:30 Bingo
4090 South 3600 West / 801-965-5822
23 Tuesday Toddler Time
10:15 am
24 Wednesday Preschool Storytime
10:15 am
26 Friday Music and Movement Flashback Friday Movie “Pretty in Pink”
10:15am 3:00 pm
2880 West 3650 South 801-943-4636 Visit www.slcolibrary.org to see programs for
the whole family!
February 2016 | Page 3
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LOCAL LIFE
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus Earns 2015 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award
F
or the first year and as the only hospital in Utah to receive this award in 2015, The Leapfrog Group has named Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus to its annual list of Top Hospitals. This coveted and respected recognition showcases Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus’ commitment to Leapfrog’s vision of providing the safest, highest quality healthcare for consumers and purchasers alike. “Patient safety and satisfaction are top priority for our staff at Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus,” Steven Anderson, CEO of Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus, said. “The Leapfrog Top Hospital Award is an outstanding accomplishment and serves as motivation to push forward and continue to strive for excellence.” Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus was one of 98 Top Hospitals recognized and selected from hospitals participating in The Leapfrog Group’s annual survey. Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus also received an “A” for its Hospital Safety score. The list includes: • 24 Top Rural Hospitals • 62 Top Urban Hospitals • 12 Top Children’s Hospitals The selection is based on the results of The Leapfrog Group’s annual hospital survey, which measures hospitals’ performance on patient safety and quality, focusing on three critical areas of hospital care: how patients fare, resource use and management structures established to prevent errors. Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including survival rates for high-risk procedures and a hospital’s ability to prevent medication errors. “Leapfrog’s Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious distinctions any hospital can achieve in the United States,” Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said. “Top hospitals have lower infection rates, better outcomes, decreased length of stay and fewer readmissions. By achieving Top Hospital status, Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus has proven it prioritizes the safety of its patients, is committed to transparency and provides exemplary care for families and patients in West
Valley City. I congratulate the board, staff, and clinicians of Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus whose efforts achieved these results.” The Top Hospital award is given to urban, rural and children’s hospitals that publicly report their performance through the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and meet the high standards defined in each year’s Top Hospitals Methodology. To see the full list of institutions honored as a 2015 Top Hospital, please visit www. leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals. l
LOCAL LIFE
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
February 2016 | Page 5
Destination: West Valley City Family Fitness Center
– Current Adaptive Recreation Classes: Splash class, Music and Movement, Basketball and Exploration Class
By Rachel Hall | r.hall@mycityjournals.com
– Love & Logic Parenting Techniques Class
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Events at West Valley City Family Fitness Center – Veteran and Family Climb Nights: Thursdays 7-9 p.m. at the rock wall – LINKS Healthy Relationships Class – Valentine Dance Party (for members): Feb. 12
est Valley City Family Fitness Center has a lot to offer the community, especially those who are looking for a budget-friendly recreation option. “The facility was open in 1999 and has been a community gem ever since. We offer numerous amenities, as well as programs for youth and adults,” Nancy Day, the director of the Family Fitness Center, said. The 77-acre outdoor complex includes basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields and softball diamonds. The 96,000-square-foot indoor area includes a jogging track, over 100 exercise machines, four tons of free weights, courts for basketball, pickleball, volley and racquetball, a 220-foot-long indoor water slide, meeting rooms and more. Patrons can participate is a wide variety of recreational activities, such as senior fitness programs, race and triathlon training, wellness seminars, CPR/first aid and lifeguard training and birthday party packages. While many amenities at the center are popular with the public, a favorite among kids is the Edutainment Center. The 6,000-square-foot village houses a soft-play structure, basketball court, theater, grocery store, tree house, toddler area, interactive video-gaming and more. The area provides a place for caregivers to interact creatively with children 11 and under. “There are many benefits for families. One of the things which the parks and recreation profession emphasizes is that families who play and move together are much healthier and happier,” Day said. “With the epidemic of childhood obesity, this is a substantial benefit which the center offers.” Anyone is welcome to purchase a membership to the center, but non-residents of West Valley City have to pay an additional fee of $50 per year. The annual memberships can be paid in full each year or monthly with a bank draft. Benefits to having a membership include: free childcare, free personal fitness consultation by a personal trainer, free member events throughout the year and free equipment rental. A family club membership, for up to six family members, is $370 plus tax per year or a monthly draft of $36 per month. “Our club membership includes all areas of the facility, and our premium membership includes unlimited fitness classes – and there are 63 classes per week,” Day said. It seems that the public is excited to participate in all the facility has to offer, such as spending some time in the pool and enjoying the longest, indoor water slide in Utah. The rock climbing wall is also a popular destination. The out-of-school camp is state licensed, and they do activities and field trips with kids who participate in the summer, afterschool and kindergarten programs available. “Some [people] just come here to hang out, while others want a great workout. Others enjoy the variety of programs offered, including the emphasis on adaptive recreation and health wellness,” Day said. The public is invited to tour the facility at any time. The staff at the center also runs city events and recreational programming outside of the facility. For that reason, Day is putting together a Recreation and Family Fitness Center Advisory Board. Those who are interested in volunteering on the board can contact Nancy Day at 801-955-4009 or through email at nancy. day@wvc-ut.gov “There are many amenities, but we are most proud of the true sense of community which resides here from staff and patrons,” Day said. The West Valley City Family Fitness Center is located at 5415 West 3100 South. For more information about the amenities and programs offered, call 801-955-4000 or visit www.wvc-ut. gov/fitnesscenter l
The West Valley City Family Fitness Center is a prime destination for families and individuals looking for recreational activities. --West Valley City Family Fitness Center
The indoor pool is fun for patrons of all ages. --West Valley City Family Fitness Center
The rock wall at the West Valley City Family Fitness Center is one of the most popular attractions for patrons. --West Valley City Family Fitness Center
The Edutainment Center is an interactive area where caregivers can have fun spending time and learning with children ages 11 and under. --West Valley City Family Fitness Center
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GOVERNMENT
Page 6 | February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
Storm Water Changes Could Ask Developers for Extra Analysis By Rachel Molenda | rmolenda@mycityjournals.com
130 Years
OF TRUST Taking Care of
YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
West Valley City engineer Dan Johnson explains proposed changes to the city’s storm water ordinance during a city conciliatory study meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The changes would ask developers to conduct drainage analyses and consider low-impact development.
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evelopers in West Valley City could have an extra step in their process when it comes to storm water. West Valley city council is considering a proposal to change its storm water ordinance so that developers are asked to conduct a drainage analysis and consider low-impact development, which reduces the amount of runoff from a building site. “From our storm water permit with the state of Utah, we are required to encourage the use of low-impact development. This is the first step in doing that,” Dan Johnson, West Valley City engineer, said. Johnson called the change “substantial” during the Jan. 19 study meeting prior to the council meeting. An additional change to the ordinance would give developers, which retain the first three-eighths inch of rain that falls on a site, a chance to be eligible for a lower rate of the city’s storm water utility fee. “The idea is to capture a certain volume of storm water and store it and let it infiltrate, and that will transpire or evaporate. And then capture the pollutants and store them onsite, not running them off the site,” Johnson said. Johnson said this ordinance allows low-impact development to be an option, not a mandate. But he added that
the next set of storm water regulations from the state would require low-impact development. During its regular meeting, council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement between West Valley City and the Granger-Hunter Improvement District that states both entities will pay fees levied by the other when doing sewer and water line work. It also amended its code changes regarding application fees for excavation permits by water and sewer districts. Mayor Ron Bigelow said from his seat that the changes would “formalize” an existing process outlined in that agreement. “We’ve decided that it is better to have that defined and paid back and forth so that it is clear to each organization,” Bigelow said. Council also voted to enter into an agreement with the Utah & Salt Lake Canal Company to start construction of the Mountain View Corridor Segment Six. The agreement releases the company’s easement at 4100 South Street. The city will then allow the company to maintain the canal crossing through the right-of-way. For more information about city council, visit www.wvcut.gov l
Police and Fire Departments Team Up to Replace Stolen Christmas
A
West Valley City family left their vehicle running in their driveway on Dec. 21, 2015 at approximately 5:30 a.m. The vehicle, which had all of the Christmas presents the family had purchased for their children inside, was stolen. The vehicle’s owner reported it stolen then later saw her vehicle in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store located at 3140 South Redwood Road. The vehicle owner attempted to block the vehicle in an effort to prevent the suspect from leaving, however the suspect fled, hitting a parked car in the process. West Valley City Police responded to the scene. West
Valley City Fire also responded due to high stress and anxiety symptoms experienced by the vehicle owner. Upon gathering information from the vehicle owner, the West Valley City Fire and Police departments decided to team up to help replace the family’s stolen Christmas gifts. “Today was a true blessing. In my almost 15 years here, I have never seen anything come together easier and faster. In less then 24 hours, we were able to save Christmas for this sweet little family,” engineer firefighter Mary Lindsay said. l
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
EDUCATION
February 2016 | Page 7
Students at Hunter High Take Pride to a New Level By Aimee L. Cook | aimee@mycityjournals.com
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unter High School has adopted a unique way to get students to do their best, not just academically but in matters of developing character as well. Students caught exhibiting good behavior, such as picking up trash, are given a “Pride” coupon. These golden tickets can buy certain rewards, like hats and sweatshirts, or they can be saved and entered to win the biggest reward: a car. “This is another way to reward kids other than for grades,” Erin Tanner, assistant principal, said. “We use this as a positive behavior system. Not all kids are motivated by grades, so the goal here is to find another way to get kids to come to school and to behave at school – reward for the good instead of just punish for the bad.”
“Not all kids are motivated by grades, so the goal here is to find another way to get kids to come to school and to behave at school…” Forty students who had coupons were called down during the assembly and played minuteto-win-it type games so everyone gets something, even a candy bar. The students keep moving up until they are eliminated or in the final drawing for the car. Two cars have been donated and given away to students so far within the Pride Program. Scott Watson, the electronics teacher, donates his own cars to give away. “The PT’s were my own cars,” Watson said. “I’ve been driving PT Cruisers for more than a decade now and decided to replace my early PT Cruisers with newer ones. I donate them to the school, because I would rather see the cars become an inspiration than recoup a few dollars. The car given away in December was a 2004 model. The nicest of the PT Cruisers is the car being given away this spring before the end of the school year. It’s a highly customized 2007 model.” l
Above: Mikayla Debries, a 10th-grade student, won the car that was awarded at the Pride assembly at Hunter High for exhibiting good behavior. Right: Teacher Scott Watson, student Mikayla Debries and Principal Craig Stauffer in front of the PT Cruiser that Watson donated to the school.
EDUCATION
Page 8 | February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
Your Career Begins
with Us! Santa Sacks are given out to students in the Granite School District during the holiday season based on need. –Matt Mietchen
Member Care Representative
Granite Education Foundation Provides Santa Sacks to Students in Need
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By Aimee L. Cook | aimee@mycityjournals.com
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or the past six years, the folks at the Granite Education Foundation have assembled and distributed thousands of Santa Sacks to students in the Granite School District in need. Each year, over 2,000 are given out to students who are identified by a school administrator or school social worker. “Santa Sacks include basic items such as warm winter apparel, fleece blanket, personal toiletry items, a new book, new school supplies, an educational game and a new toy,” Brent Severe, CEO of Granite Education Foundation, said. “Items are donated by large corporations and area businesses. Some items are purchased through funds that are raised by the foundation through fundraising means.” The Granite Education Foundation serves more than 67,000 students. Of those, 65 percent are classified as being at or below poverty level standards, thus creating a large demand for basic needs for students in the district. “If individuals and or businesses would like to participate in the 2016 Santa Sack program, the foundation gathers and accepts needed items throughout the year,” Severe said. “Many businesses do charitable toy drives, sock drives, etc. Monetary donations are accepted as well and can be 100 percent tax deductible.” l
Apply online at teleperformance.com Salt Lake City • Ogden • Sandy Finished Santa Sacks ready to distribute to students in need. –Matt Mietchen
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EDUCATION
February 2016 | Page 9
C New Bill Would Require School Districts to Share More Funds with Charter Schools By Aimee L. Cook | aimee@mycityjournals.com
“We are glad that the legislature is recognizing and putting dollars behind the truth that the value of a child’s education doesn’t go down just because they attend a public charter school like Roots.”
What is the Role of a Funeral Home? By Spencer Larkin
harter schools, like Roots in West Valley, may be getting a large funding boost thanks to a new bill created by the Charter School Funding Task Force. The new bill would require school districts to divvy up more of their revenue to charter schools. “We believe the Charter School Funding Task Force is making a necessary and important step to ensure charter school students receive the funding they deserve,” Executive Director of Utah Association of Charter Schools Royce Van Tassell, said. “Districts and charter schools are both part of the education system, and there should be no difference in their funding levels. No child in Utah should receive less for their education, simply because their parents chose to take advantage of the unique and innovative programs offered by Utah’s charter schools.” The bill would change the formula known as the local replacement that works as an alternative to property taxes that school districts get to utilize, but not charter schools, and could result in a $16 million dollar increase to charter school funding. According to The Utah Association of Charter Schools; “The Local Replacement Fund (LRF) represents a series of legislative compromises. Over time, those compromises have cost Utah charter schools tens of millions of dollars. In 2005 the non-partisan Utah Foundation recommended that the LRF include state guarantees to school districts’ voted, board and capital outlay levies. By their estimates, including these guarantees would have netted charter schools an additional $229 per pupil per year clear back in 2004.” Roots Charter High School would be on the receiving end of the new bill. Roots is Utah’s first farm-based charter high school. This hands-on school utilizes an actual farm as a classroom, teaching students real life problem solving skills while living sustainable lives. “Like all public charter schools, the funding Roots receives from taxpayers to fund education is several hundred dollars per student less than what students receive when they attend a district public school,” Roots founder, Tyler Bastian, said. “We are glad that the legislature is recognizing and putting dollars behind the truth that the value of a child’s education doesn’t go down just because they attend a public charter school like Roots.” l
V
ery few people know what to expect from their funeral home until the day they have to make some difficult decisions and deal with seemingly mundane details during a time of duress. These distraction postpone a healthy grieving process, one that begins the moment arrangements for the service begin. Choosing the right funeral home can make all the difference. First: the logistics. Behind the scenes, the funeral home arranges for the removal of the body, obtains all the required legal documents, prepares the loved one for viewing, helps plan the service, arranges for the final disposition, provides facilities for the visitation and funeral service and the transportation to the final resting place. An experienced funeral home is essential in getting all these details right---in the sense that they make the funeral appropriate to the family’s wishes and not just offer cookiecutter solutions. Experience goes a long way. An idea that sounds good at the time, may not turn out the way you plan. Having a funeral director with a lot of experience you can trust to guide you is essential. Especially if
you are doing a cremation with a service, mixed religion services, coordinating mixed families, or having the service outside the funeral home at say a farm, or ski resort, in the National Forest, at a private estate or repatriated in a different country. A savvy funeral home will be sensitive to the story you are trying to create and make sure all the necessary laws are met and all feelings are respected. There are other considerations, too; like special services for children, vets, public servants and religious leaders. A good funeral home will have experience in all these areas and have helpful suggestions. Lastly, you have to like and trust them. Emotions will be a little raw during this time. Hugs will come often and honest feelings shared easily. It’s important to have a friend and confidant in the funeral director; one you should feel confident hugging when the day is over, the service was perfect and friends have all gone home. Believe me when I tell you, funeral directors are moved by the tributes and shared feelings of every funeral they manage. It’s OK to give them a thanks and an embrace. They probably need it too.
SPORTS
Page 10 | February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
Memorabilia Collectors Search for Favorites at Valley Fair Mall By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
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Several collectors stop at the tables in Valley Fair Mall to talk sports and trade their favorite cards. – Kolbie James
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ports card collecting is a hobby that can attract collectors of all ages. The Valley Fair Mall in West Valley hosts its own core of collectors every other month. “The mall has been a great place for us to come. We get some hard core collectors and casual fans that wander by and see something that catches their eye,” card show organizer Dave Avila said. The shows at the mall included 20 tables and approximately 14 card dealers. The next card show is scheduled for Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 6-8. “They drive some traffic into the mall. We absolutely see an increase in the number of people in the mall. We find a lot of people like to get memorabilia for gifts, and these collectors know a lot about this merchandise. Plus, they all get a chance to get together and talk sports,” Valley Fair Mall director of events Jan Brownstein said. Sports cards began as promotional items for tobacco companies. In the 1930s, the tobacco was replaced with bubble gum. After World War II, cards began to be produced regularly first by Bowman then Topps. Since the late ‘80s, sports card sets and companies exploded in popularity. Several card companies now exist including Topps, Upper Deck and Panini. “I like the pictures of the players. When I was younger, I used to lay the baseball cards out in their positions and play pretend games. I even have baseball cards with my picture on them from little league. I have worked with the Bees and enjoy collecting cards of the players I have met,” collector Chris James said.
There are as many different ways to collect as there are types of collectors. Some casual fans may think of sports cards as strictly baseball cards, but there is a lot more than that to choose from. Cards have been produced for most major sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf and racing. Many people collect cards by building sets, others collect cards from a particular team or player. One local fan collects only players who played for BYU. “I collect New York Yankees cards and unique cards. I also like Utah Jazz stuff. That is the beauty of collecting cards. You can have stuff from today that is neat and cards that are 100 years old,” Avila said. The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card was issued by the American Tobacco Company from 1909 to 1910. Wagner refused to allow production of his baseball card to continue because he did not want children to buy cigarette packs to get his card. The ATC stopped production of his card and only distributed 50-200 cards (the exact number is unknown). In 2011 the Arizona Diamondbacks owner purchased the only known remaining card for $2.8 million. The Wagner card is considered to be the most valuable card in history by many collectors. The shows at the mall have also included autograph tables with local athletes like Ron Fellows (Dallas Cowboys), and players from the Grizzlies and the Blaze. “These shows are fun. We have started having them at Southtowne and Layton Hills malls too,” Avila said. l
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Card dealers have boxes with their favorite players’ cards for collectors to browse through. –Kolbie James
SPORTS
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
February 2016 | Page 11
Lancer Basketball Strives for Success By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com Granger Boys Basketball Schedule Tuesday Feb. 2 vs. Syracuse 7 p.m. Friday Feb. 5 at Viewmont
7 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 9 at Davis
7 p.m.
Friday Feb. 12 vs. West
7 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 16 at Hunter
7 p.m.
Friday Feb. 19 vs. Layton
7 p.m.
L
ook up the word inexperience in the dictionary and there might be a picture of the Granger High School boys basketball team. “We certainly lack some experience, but that is not an excuse. We have some players that play AAU (Amateur Athletic Union, a non-profit amateur sports organization) and have seen this type (high caliber) of play before. We really need to work harder than other teams to find those extra wins,” head coach Jason Chandler said. The Lancers lost University of Utah recruit Makol Mawien to graduation last season. Replacing his 18.4 points per game and 9.7 rebounds has been difficult.
“It has been a change this season. Having a D1 (division one) recruit certainly helps. Last season, we got so we could throw the ball in the air and he would go get it. We have had to play a different style and it is taking some time to catch on,” Chandler said. The Lancers have experienced some opportunities for wins this season. They opened the year with a narrow loss to Cyprus, 60-56. They led by one point to start the fourth quarter, but only scored nine points in the final quarter of the loss. Sophomore Anel Alagic led the team with 20 points. They rebounded to defeat the Pirates in the Riverton Holiday tournament on Dec. 30, 77-68. Sophomore Jason Murillo scored 21 points and Alagic had 13 in the victory. The Lancers dominated from the beginning, they led by eight after one quarter and 18 at halftime. “We have had bits and pieces playing really well. Jason (Murillo) is so aggressive. He leads our team in rebounds and for a six-foot guy that is really good. I just want to get eight guys to play well together,” Chandler said.
Alagic leads the team in scoring averaging 12.7 points per game. He has hit 14 three pointers in the team’s first 12 games. “Anel is a three-point guy. He is a little slow to score off the dribble, but he has a good feel for the game. Basketball is a game of feel and skill. We have been working on his skill, because he was born with the feel,” Chandler said. The Utah High School Activities Association realigned the schools in Region 2 for this season. A repeat of last season’s state tournament appearance will be difficult. Chandler said every team in their region shows promise and it will be tough sledding. Region 2 consists of Hunter, West, Viewmont, Davis, Layton, Syracuse and Granger. Chandler is entering his second season as head coach for the Lancers. He had been an assistant coach at the school for the previous three years. “These are great kids. I think this is the first year we have not had students with grade problems. We have some AP students and they are laying the foundation for our team,” Chandler said. l
The Granger Lancers boys basketball team gathers around their coach for a few instructions during the Riverton Holiday tournament. They finished in sixth place. –Greg James
Page 12 | February 2016
family memberships for about $1 a day!
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
JUST SEE WHAT YOU • FREE State Licensed Childcare WILL GET… • FREE Admission for Children under 4 • • • • • • •
FREE Personal Fitness Consultation every year FREE Equipment Rental Basketball Courts Racquetball Courts Indoor Track 6,000 Square Foot Children’s Play Area Indoor Rock Climbing Wall
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need a before or after school program? Before School Kamp - Kids Ages 5-12 years Monday-Friday Before School 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. at West Valley City Family Fitness Center Fees: $20.00 per week per child OR $4.00 per day per child *We provide transportation to Valley Crest, Neil Armstrong & Monticello Academy ONLY
After School Kamp - Kids Ages 5-12 years
Monday-Friday After School (3:30pm) until 6:00 p.m. at West Valley City Family Fitness Center After School Kamp Fees: $35.00 per week per child OR $8.00 per day per child *After School Kamp Includes transportation from: Entheos Academy – Magna, Monticello Academy, Valley Crest, Neil Armstrong, West Valley & Wright Elementary Schools to the West Valley City Family Fitness Center. Activities Include: Yummy Snacks, Super Sports, Rock Climbing, Arts, Super Science, Swimming, Kidz ZUMBA, & much more. Registration Deadline: All registrations are due Tuesdays by the WVC Family Fitness Center Close of Business the week prior to the beginning of camp. Children from any other school may attend, however transportation will not be provided. No late registrations or date changes accepted.
Kinder Kamp - Kids Ages 5-6 years
SAFE SITTER- Kids Ages 11-16 years
Become a nationally certified babysitter. Classes include: Child Care Essentials, Safety for the Sitter, Injury Prevention and More. Session 2: Monday, Feb. 15- 9:30 am-6:00pm Session 4: Monday, March 28- 9:30am-6:00pm Session5: Tuesday, March 29- 9:30am-6:00pm Includes certification in CPR & First Aid Members: $130 Non-members: $140 Session 3: Mon. Wed, Fri. March 7-11- 6:00pm- 9:00pm Does NOT include certification in CPR & FIrst Aid Members: $65 Non-members: $75
TINY TOT TIME
Mondays & Wednesdays 9:30 – 10:30 AM Fees: (per calendar month) Members: 2 days per week = $25 • 1 day per week = $15 Non-members: 2 days per week = $35 • 1 day per week = $20 Tiny Tot Time is a 60 minute program that meets twice a week for 3 & 4 year olds that allows them to explore music, games, dance, and other fun activities without Mom or Dad. This program provides a great opportunity for children to develop fine and gross motor skills, listening and social skills.
Adaptive Recreation
Afternoon Kindergarteners: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. We offer land, water, and sport based fitness classes Morning Kindergarteners: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and activities with more exciting programs on the way! Activities Include: Awesome Lunches & Snacks, Kidz ZUMBA, Kidz Yoga, Veteran & Family Climb Nights Swimming Lessons, Rock Climbing, Field Trips, Silly Games and much more. • For current and former service members and their immediate families. Fees: $55.00 per week per child OR $13.00 per day per child Come join us every Thursday from 7-9pm *We provide transportation to & from Entheos Academy – Magna, Neil Wellness Activities Armstrong, Valley Crest & Monticello Academy ONLY. Children from any other 1. LINKS Class (Jan 27-Feb 10) school may attend, however transportation will not be provided. • Free 3-day healthy relationships course with DINNER INCLUDED Registration Deadline: All registrations are due Tuesdays by the WVC Fam2. Love & Logic Class (Feb 17-March 2) ily Fitness Center Close of Business the week prior to the beginning of camp. • Free 3-day parenting techniques course with snacks included
Swimming Lessons:
3 week sessions start Jan 4th and 5th - Choices of: Mon/Wed/Fri Morning or Evening, Tue/Thurs Morning or Evening - Prices vary depending on class, see the website for more details.
Pre-competitive Swim Team:
3 week Sessions start Jan 4th - Mon/Wed/Fri 6:00-7:00pm Fees: $29 for Members — $34 for Non-members
Seawolves Swim-Team:
Competitive Swim Team, Meets weekdays. See www.WestValleyAquatics.com for more details.
Boy Scout Merit Badge Classes:
Swimming Merit Badge - Feb 2, March 1 - 7-9pm Lifesaving Merit Badge - Feb 9-11, March 8-10 7-9pm Multiple water fitness classes for all ages & abilities.
EASTER EVENTS
March 25: FREE Teen Flashlight Hunt, Ages 13-17 @ 9PM March 25: Adult Flashlight Hunt, Ages 18 and Older @ 9PM ($7 until March 24) March 26: FREE Outdoor Egg Hunt, Ages 12 and Under @ 8:30 AM March 26: Breakfast with the Bunny @ 9:00 AM (Must Pre-register by Mon. March 21) Adults (12 & up) - $9 Youth (4 to 11) - $7 Child (1 to 3) - $5 March 26: Edutainment Egg Hunts from 10:30 a.m. to 11:40 am Children will be separated into age groups Members: $2.50 Non-Members: $3.50 For Children ages 11 and Under March 26: Easter Egg Plunge from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm Children will be separated into age groups Members: $2.50 Non-members: $3.50 For Children ages 15 and Under
Monday-Friday: 5 AM-10 PM 6:30AM-9 AM-9PM PM Sunday Sunday 10:30 AM-5 Monday-Friday: 5 AM-10 PM Saturday: Saturday: 6:30 10:30 AM-5 PM PM
WestValley ValleyParks City Parks and Recreation • 5415 W. 3100 S., West Valley • 801-955-4000•• www.wvc-ut.gov/fitnesscenter www.wvc-ut.gov/fitnesscenter West and Recreation • 5415 W. 3100 S., West Valley CityCity • 801-955-4000
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
S
New Digital Dashboard Lets Residents Track Progress
alt Lake County is launching our firstever dashboard to track the progress we are making on the services we provide for residents and businesses. Just as you use information displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle to gauge performance on your travels, the county wants the public to see how well government is performing. The dashboard can be viewed on the home page of our website: https://dashboard.slco.org A dashboard in this case is a software-based solution that transforms sets of data into easy-to-read data charts. Thanks to our ability to collect and analyze a lot of data, the county dashboard will be a reliable tool for the public to use to answer questions such as “Where are our tax dollars being spent?” and “How safe are our neighborhoods?” In deciding what we would track and what metrics we’d use as a way to measure our progress, we surveyed many residents to find out what they would most like to see. The survey results ranked public safety, addressing homelessness, air quality, job opportunities and support for education as top priorities. Residents also said they’d like to know about the availability of parks and trails, the current state of repair of roads and buildings, and what
the county is doing to operate efficiently and save money. We also asked ourselves what are the quality of life conditions we would like to see for children, adults and families who live in the county. Our discussion produced four broad categories: Healthy People – county residents are safe, have a place to call home and are healthy. Some of the indicators we will track include the crime rate; the number of homeless individuals and children in the county; the number of children who lack health insurance; and the percentage of teens who are physically active. Healthy Places – county residents have clean
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air and clean water; they participate in and have access to recreation, arts and culture; and have transportation choices that are safe, efficient and meet their needs for commuting, school and recreation. Expanded Opportunities – county residents have access to good-paying jobs in the private sector; children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn; youth graduate from high school; and businesses have the resources they need to expand into and compete in global markets. Responsive Government – county residents deserve a government that operates efficiently and effectively, including a 9-1-1 emergency response system that gets life-saving personnel
February 2016 | Page 13
rapidly to where they are needed. We believe that our dashboard is a tool that will help Salt Lake County make better decisions about how we use our resources, and it will hold us accountable to our customers for accomplishing our jobs and enable residents to track our progress. Local governments around the country are learning that there is almost nothing that needs to be done that can’t be done, if there is the will to do it, and a commitment to measuring progress. Take a look at our dashboard and please send me your comments and ideas about how we can improve it and make it more useful to you. l
ON THE COVER
Page 14 | February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
A Former Wolverine Grew Up to be a Beaver By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
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Oregon State freshman, Noah Togiai, has yet to make an impact on the Beaver basketball team, he joined the team in early December. --Oregon State University
unter High School graduate Noah Togiai has taken his talents 789 miles from his hometown of West Valley City. As a two-sport athlete, he now makes his home in Corvallis, Ore. The former Wolverine was heavily recruited out of high school. At one point, it was rumored that he was headed to the University of Utah, but he changed his mind and is now six months into his freshman year at Oregon State University. His boys basketball teammates and coaches at Hunter High School miss his leadership and ability. “Noah was our go to guy. Not necessarily to score every time, but he would make the right play. He always had a swagger about him. We would be headed into a big game and he would grab my sleeve and tell me we are going to be okay,” Hunter basketball head coach Rob Collins said. Togiai has yet to make an impact for the Beavers at Gill Coliseum (Beavers basketball home court). He joined the team shortly after finishing his football commitment in December. He has appeared in one game, playing only two minutes and grabbed one rebound. As part of the Beavers football team, the 6’4”, 214 lbs. freshman caught 10 passes for 73 yards and one touchdown. His only touchdown reception came with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of the Beavers 54-24 loss to California.
“It was a great moment to catch my first touchdown, a dream come true,” Togiai said. His first collegiate catch came in the team’s third game of the season against San Jose State. The Beavers football team finished their 2015 season 2-10. Togiai was ranked as the 39th best tight end in the country after his senior season at Hunter by scout.com. He was also an honorable mention 5A tight end at Hunter despite a leg injury. He was rated as a three-star recruit in basketball by scout.com. Togiai averaged 22.2 points per game his junior and senior basketball seasons for the Wolverines. “It is obvious what talent Noah has,” former Hunter boys basketball coach Dave Filimoehala said after his sophomore season. The Wolverines basketball team won its first round state tournament game 53-46 over Weber last season. It was the team’s first postseason victory since its state title in 2004. Togiai scored 22 points and had seven rebounds in the victory. “Noah was very humble and coachable. I was nervous coming in as his new coach. He had been a threeyear starter, and I thought he would expect to roll over me. I took him out of games and tried to teach him. He could have said whatever and shrugged me off, but he didn’t. He worked with me and learned,” Collins said. l
February 2016 | Page 15
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
Children and Family Programs Popular at West Valley Library By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com
T
he West Valley Library offers several different programs for families and children of all ages. These programs are free and open to the public. At 10:15 a.m. every Tuesday is toddler time. Specific for children ages one to three with an accompanied adult, the halfhour program includes stories, songs and small dances. “It’s primarily learning the alphabet and different sounds,” Cindy Smiley, the library manager at West Valley Library, said. Toddler time also focuses on movement with small dances and steps to try and develop coordination among the small children. From 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. every Wednesday is preschool storytime. Geared toward children ages three to five years old, the program offers 30 minutes of songs, finger plays, stories, and fun-filled activities. “This is more into letters and numbers that help support early literacy,” Smiley said. Children make a small craft that they can take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult and siblings are also welcome to attend. Starting at 10:15 a.m. every Friday, children of any age can participate in music and movement. For 30 minutes, kids can dance and sing along to familiar songs such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” Smiley explained the purpose of the program is to teach the
kids movement and coordination in a fun and safe environment. While those activities are weekly, there are also monthly activities for young kids. Two books clubs are available for kids ages seven to 12 years old. While the books clubs are divided between girls and boys, either gender can join either group. The first book club is Hero Adventure and meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month. This group is geared toward young boys and is centered on books written for young boys. The group reads the book and after a brief discussion the group has an activity based on the book. For the month of February, the group is reading “A World Without Heroes” by Brandon Mull. It is the first of the fantasy trilogy Beyonders.
The second book club is called Great Read of Girls. Geared toward girls and their moms or another female caring adult, the book club functions similarly to the Hero Adventure group. The girls and their accompanying adult read a book and then after a brief discussion, the group does an activity based around the book. The book list can be picked up at the library. Younger siblings are discouraged from attending. On the fourth Monday every month is a special storytime in English and Spanish. This program is geared toward bilingual families. “They sing songs in Spanish and read a story in Spanish,” Smiley said. There is also an activity all family members can participate in. On the second Monday of every month, families can get crafty during family craft night. According to Smiley, the craft is tailored to the season or holiday of the month. For instance, in January, families made snowmen out of marshmallows. In February, families can make Valentines for each other. Supplies will be provided by the library. Finally, the last Friday of every month is Flashback Friday where a movie from the recent past is shown. If the movie is rated PG-13, any child under the age of eight must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone between the ages of nine and 12 years old must have parental permission. For more information about library events, visit http:// www.slcolibrary.org/ l
Page 16 | February 2016
WEST VALLEY JOURNAL
February 2016
February Events
City Council Members: • Ron Bigelow, Mayor • Don Christensen, At-Large • Lars Nordfelt, At-Large • Tom Huynh, District 1 • Steve Buhler, District 2 • Karen Lang, District 3 • Steve Vincent, District 4
1
10 WVC Watch Wednesday City Hall, 6 - 7 PM 10 Community Meeting with Chief Russo City Hall, 7 - 8 PM
Public Meetings: City Council meetings are held the first four Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Study meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting.
11 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM 20 Harman Heritage Series, “A Canyon Peoples’ Portrait” with Filmmaker Isaac Goeckeritz Harman Senior Recreation Center, 1 - 3 PM
Planning Commission meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. City Phone Numbers: Main Number.................801-966-3600 Police Dispatch..............801-840-4000 Fire Department............801-963-3336 Emergency.....................................911 Fitness Center.................801-955-4000 Garbage.........................801-963-3334 Storm Water Utility...........801-963-3334 Code Enforcement.........801-963-3289 City Hall Address: West Valley City Hall 3600 S. Constitution Blvd. WVC, UT 84119 City Hall Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. www.wvc-ut.gov
Art of the Needle Embroidery Exhibition (through March 2) Cultural Celebration Center
17 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM
CERT Course Offered in WVC
18 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM 25 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes will be offered in West Valley City beginning February 25. The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Classes will be held from 7 - 10 PM at 4333 South 6400 West at a cost of $45 per person. For more information and a complete schedule, or to register, visit www.wvcert.com.
25 CERT Intro/Disaster Preparedness Registration required; for full schedule and registration info visit www.wvcert.com.
March Events 2
Meet with Mayor Bigelow City Hall, 4:30 - 6 PM
3
#ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM New events are added daily. For a complete list, visit www.wvc-ut.gov/events
February 2016 | Page 17
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
Medallus Medical
T
here is no doubt that we are in the middle of a healthcare crisis. Some call it a “healthcare demise”. Obamacare, so far, is here to stay. As long as it is here, people are forced to buy health insurance whose premiums are uncontrollable and whose policies make the insured pay more out-of-pocket expenses. Some families have filed for bankruptcy due to medical bills, others have loved ones who have passed on because they denied medical care and medications due to the higher healthcare costs. It can seem alarming, and cause many people wonder what they can do about it. The key to navigating through healthcare safely is to become as healthy as possible, minimizing any chances of accessing expensive medical care. The best, and most
affordable, approach to accomplish this is to pre-pay a family doctor for routine care, while having a health insurance policy for catastrophic events. This model allows health insurance to be set aside and be used as “true insurance”--to cover unexpected major medical needs--while allowing a person to visit the doctor as often as needed without concern for cost. This increases the person’s well-being and overall healthiness. While this scenario is ideal, it can be difficult to find quality medical professionals who allow you to pre-pay for expenses. That is where Medallus Medical is here to help. Medallus Medical has 9 clinics across the Wasatch Front that provide urgent care, primary care, and work medicine, with three
ways to be seen in any of them. First, you can use your insurance. Pay your insurance copay at the visit, and Medallus will send claims to them to be processed. Second, you can pay cash at the time of service, with a flat fee ranging from $119 to $199, depending on the procedure. Third, you can join Medallus’s Medical Membership program. Under this program, members pay a monthly fee, then are able to recieve the care they need for only $10 per visit, for most procedures. There are several ways to benefit from Medallus’s Medical Membership. One way is to add Medallus Medical Membership alongside your current health insurance plan. This allows you to reduce your out-of-pocket costs, using the membership to stay healthy
with urgent and primary care visits, and setting your insurance aside for major medical needs. Another way is to modify your current health insurance plan to have a higher deductible, with a much lower premium, adding Medallus Medical Membership for your routine and sick visits. By both modifying your plan to reduce premiums, and using Medallus to reduce outof-pocket expenses, the average person can save thousands of dollars a year. Medallus Medical provides a simple solution to decrease your out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums, allowing you to restore your heath and your family’s well being at a greatly reduced rate. Visit www.medallus. com to learn more, or find the location of the clinic closest to you. l
URGENT CARE
9 Locations Convenient walk-in 7 days a week (including holidays) Insurance accepted $10/visit Membership $119/visit Cash pay
By Rachel Hall | r.hall@mycityjournals.com
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Fire Department Offers Free Merit Badge Classes
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ducating the community on fire and life safety issues is a top priority for the West Valley City Fire Department. They also focus on getting to know the community better, and letting the community know them, and that is why merit badge classes are offered for free at the department, according to Nate Hansen, a fire prevention specialist. “I think it comes down to firefighters really care about the communities they serve, and we felt one way to promote fire safety, fire prevention and life safety was to help Boy Scouts earn their merit badges,” Hansen said. Currently four merit badges are offered: fire safety, safety, first aid and emergency preparedness. Each class is held twice a year, in the fall and spring, and there is space for 30 scouts in the training room. “We started out in 2013 teaching these classes once a year. Demand grew rapidly to the point that we fill our slots usually in a few days of listing them, so we are now offering these classes twice a year. We also get scouts from surrounding cities and counties,” Hansen said. The classes will be held on Feb. 4, March 17 and 19, April 28 and May 10. Start time is 6 p.m. and they usually last three hours. “Come prepared to learn and have fun. We do give homework and expect participation. It’s a great opportunity to meet the members of your local fire department, look around the station and see our fire engines and apparatus,” Hansen said. For more information, call the fire department at http://www.wvcfd.com l
Dating Beyond the “I Do”
M
y husband and I dated for a year before we married. We thought we had it figured out, had discussed it all, from the number of kids we wanted, right down to the color of carpet in our home. After the arrival of our firstborn things started getting rocky. My sweet and lovable hubby suddenly turned into a matted green, irritable grouch. Instead of helping him and trying to understand, all I could do was nag. Life became a chore. Money was tight. We barely talked to each other. We were sliding down a slippery slope. It was during this time that a turning point happened. We found ourselves on a real date. I can’t recall how it happened, but nonetheless, the hubs and I had dropped off the little one at Mom’s, packed a picnic lunch and headed to the park for what turned out to be the one of best dates of our relationship. Having the alone time allowed me to open up to listening without distraction to what was really bugging him, his stresses at work and financial concerns. We problem solved, had open conversation and worked together to fix it. In the time it took to prepare a $10 picnic lunch for two, throw down a blanket and open our hearts to listen to one another we had solved many built up frustrations. This made me a believer in “the date night.” A date night is a time you and your partner set aside to spend quality time focusing on the other. It’s a time to refresh and reboot your relationship and allows you to reevaluate what’s
working for your family and more importantly, what isn’t. Date nights should not be a couple’s luxury, but instead a couple’s necessity and should be part of a regular schedule, just like paying the bills. It’s easy to put off dating after marriage. With expenses and the never-ending needs of the kids, finding just $25 a week can be hard. Here are some ideas to make your date night money stretch a little further: #1 - Make it appetizers or dessert: Instead of going out for a complete meal, make it appetizers instead. This is a fantastic way to check out a new restaurant without breaking the bank. I’ve found that I often enjoy these small bites more than the regular meal. If a full meal is in your plan, look for restaurants with early bird specials between 5 and 6 p.m. #2 - Split the babysitter costs: Sitters typically only charge a little more for additional kids so, plan to share your sitter with a friend that has kids and double date. Or, take turns babysitting each other’s kids. #3- Get familiar with the Daily Deals websites: We’ve all heard of Groupon and Living Social by now. A new one you may not be familiar with is C4Udeals.com. These daily deal websites can be great sources for discounts for eating out. They also offer creative ideas for dates, like ghost tours, paint mixers and sushi-making classes. All three can currently be found on C4Udeals.com.
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A regular date night is an important investment in your marriage and will lead to a stronger lifelong partnership. For more fantastic date ideas, check out a Utah based website called the TheDatingDivas.com and APriortizedMarriage. com. Both have fabulous ideas for date nights and ideas to help you keep the communication in your relationship strong. l
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February 2016 | Page 19
M yWestV alleyJournal .Com
Chew on This
T
here’s a divide in our country, and it’s not about whether the Founding Fathers believed every citizen should own an AK-47. It’s between people who eat only organic foods and people who treat their meals as a deathdefying extreme sport. Let’s address these two groups in a completely stereotypical manner. First, the Organictonians never let processed foods pass their lips. Refined sugar is the equivalent of sprinkling arsenic in their coffee. A meal usually consists of a piece of kale with three garbanzo beans and a forkful of sustainable tuna. They obnoxiously tell you the backstory of every snack they put in their bodies. Example: “The leaves in this green tea are only found in the Himalayas and are naturally crushed under the hoofs of grass-fed mountain goats.” Shut up, already. You can often find these Whole Foods free-range aficionados grazing through the aisles in their yoga clothes, purchasing wheatgrass smoothies, kohlrabi burgers and amaranth water, and not-so-silently judging the person slurping a Coca-Cola in the check-
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out line. (It was my first Coke for January! Stop sneering at me!) These people have eliminated greasy grease, sugary sugar and fatty fats from their diets. They are usually praying mantis-thin with a penchant for anger because they’re pretty hungry. (Oreos are stealthily stashed under couch cushions for late-night sugar binges.) On the opposite (and larger) end of the spectrum, we have the Couldn’t-Care-Less connoisseur who consumes 3/$1 hot dogs from the corner gas station, drinks bacon-flavored Mountain Dew and gorges on deep-fried, chocolate-covered butter cubes. Throwing grease on the fire are restaurants
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that carbo-load their menus with foods that would make a pig nauseous. Take a look at these (real) menu items. The Thickburger is a cheeseburger topped with a hot dog and potato chips. Then there’s the Hot Dog pizza that has 28 hot dog pieces baked into the crust. It’s served with mustard and a bottle of ipecac. Better yet, Baconator French fries are drenched in cheese sauce and smoked bacon, and heaped with grated cheddar. The fries come with a vial of epinephrine to restart your heart. Doctors recommend you never order these fries unless it’s your last meal on death row. Even “healthy” burgers are out of control.
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How ‘bout an organic beef patty topped with onion marmalade (ew!), green apple slices, pureed chicken livers (double ew!) Swiss cheese and arugula. Well, if there’s arugula on it, we’re good. The phenomenon that makes our bodies puff up like a marshmallow in the microwave is referred to by nutritional scholars as “lardbutt syndrome,” caused by eating thousands of calories per day. There has to be some middle ground between snacking on three crunchy wasabi peas and downing a hot fudge baklava shake. Isn’t it time we stopped the food shaming and made some reasonable choices? Let’s agree to meet somewhere in the middle where we eat more fruits and vegetables (but not eggplant), cut back on sugary snacks (except Butterfinger bars), make meat a side dish (no more 16-ounce prime rib dinners) and enjoy an occasional splurge (movie theater popcorn!) to keep us pleasant and easier to live with—on both sides. And those Founding Fathers can go back to worrying about whether we can eat buffalo chicken wings while carrying a firearm. l
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