West Valley March 2016 by The City Journals

March 2016 | Vol. 2 Iss. 03

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Nordfelt Recognized for Distinguished Service By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

page 16 Dennis Nordfelt has refereed high school basketball for 23 years. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dennis Nordfelt

page 7

page 12 Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

page 14 Like the West Valley Journal on FACEBOOK

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

LOCAL LIFE

Page 2 | March 2016

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Harman Senior Recreation Center

Calendar for March 2016 March 8 10:00 Medicare Consultation 11:00 Older Than Dirt Display March 9 11:00 Emergency Prep. on a Budget 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) 12:30 Bowling @ Delton Lanes

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) 12:45 Bingo

TUESDAYS Birthday Tuesday 9:15 Fun Fitness 10:00 Choir 10:30 Massage 11:00 Railroad Club 12:00 Lunch (Donation $3) 12:45 Bingo

FRIDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 10:30 Chair Exercise 12:00 Lunch (Donation $3)

Sun

March 11 10:00 Utah State Capitol Tour March 15 9:30 AARP Driving Class 11:00 Caption Phones March 16 9:30 Waffles 1:00 Heritage Program March 17 11:00 Irish Dancers 12:00 St. Patrick’s Day Buffet March 18 10:45 Fun Bunch Lunch

Events

March 1 Birthday Tuesday 11:00 Blood Pressure and Glucose Check 11:00 Clogging Grandmother’s Entertainment

WEDNESDAYS 9:00 Taste “Buds” 10:00 Choir 10:30 Chair Exercise 12:00 Lunch (Donation $3) 12:30 Chess Club

March 10 9:30 Granger High Bingo 11:00 Around the World Presentation

March 3 9:30 Skin Cancer Screenings 9:30 Lawyer 9:45 Haircuts 11:00 Games at Center

Mon

Tue

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Toddler Time 10:15am

March 24 10:30 Crafty Raedell March 25 10:00 Prisoner of War Exhibit 6:00 Grizzlies Hockey Game March 29 11:00 Country Blue Folks Entertainment

MARCH 2016 Wed

March 22 9:30 Granger High Talent Show

West Valley Library

Thu

Fri

Preschool Storytime 10:15 am

Sat

Music & Movement 10:15 am Marshmallow Towers

3:00 pm

6 13 20 27

PUPPET SHOW Ugly Duckling 7:00pm

14 21

Tesla Coil Science 7:00pm

Divertidos con Libros 7:00pm

Toddler Time 10:15am

Preschool Storytime 10:15 am

Hero Adventure Club 7:00pm

Music & Movement 10:15 am

Creative Therapy Craft Club

1:00 pm

Toddler Time 10:15am

Preschool Storytime 10:15 am

Preschool Storytime 10:15 am College and Me 7:00 pm

Great Reads for Girls 7:00pm

Music & Movement 10:15 am

Leprechan Snot

3:00 pm

College and Me en Español 7:00pm

Music & Movement 10:15 am

All programs are free and no registration is required unless otherwise noted. Kids Teens Adults Family

March 2016 | Page 3

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Page 4 | March 2016

March 2016 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 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. 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

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Construction Continues on Mountain View Corridor

March Events 9

WVC Watch Wednesday City Hall, 6 - 7 PM

Community Meeting with Chief Russo City Hall, 7 - 8 PM

10 Utah Women Artists Exhibition (through April 19) Cultural Celebration Center Construction is moving forward on Mountain View Corridor from 5400 South to 4100 South in West Valley City. Major construction will start early spring 2016 on the 2-mile segment. This segment of construction will be building the outside lanes of Mountain View Corridor from 5400 South to 4100 South in the initial construction phase, connecting to the already open section of Mountain View Corridor. In addition, the intersection of 4100 South and 5600 West will be reconstructed as part of this segment of construction. The planned finish date for construction of this segment is the fall of 2017. For additional information regarding the construction of the Mountain View Corridor from 5400 South to 4100 South, please contact the construction information team at mountainview@ utah.gov or 1-800-596-2556, or visit www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview. Follow Mountain View Corridor on Facebook for up-to-the-minute construction alerts and project information: https://www.facebook. com/MountainViewCorridor.

10 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM 14 Utah Shakespeare Festival Presents: Hamlet Cultural Celebration Center, 7 PM 16 Harman Heritage Series Presents: Family Stories Harman Senior Recreation Center, 1PM 17 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM 17 Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Class (Part 1) Registration required; email meritbadges@wvc-ut.gov to register. Fire Station 74, 6 - 8 PM 24 #ThursdayLeague Food Trucks Fairbourne Station, 5 - 8 PM 29 Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Class (Part 2) Registration required; email meritbadges@wvc-ut.gov to register. Fire Station 74, 6 - 8 PM New events are added daily. For a complete list, visit www.wvc-ut.gov/events

LOCAL LIFE

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

March 2016 | Page 5

West Valley Library Offers Programs for Teens and Adults By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

he West Valley Library offers different arts and crafts programs tailored specifically for teens and adults. These programs are free and open to the public. At 3 p.m. on the first and third Friday of every month is a teen craft project. These projects are open to those between 10 and 17 years old and are slightly more advanced than the other craft projects offered by the library. “I try to plan two craft projects a month and try to tie it into the season,” Stephanie Tile, the youth services librarian at the West Valley Library, said. February’s projects centered around Valentine’s Day and included making yarn hearts and heart-shaped hand warmers. The first project in March will be making structures out of dry spaghetti and marshmallows. The second activity will be centered around St. Patrick’s Day: the teens will be making leprechaun snot, a green slime mixture. According to Tile, this was one of the most popular activities last year with nearly 30 in attendance. Also geared toward both teens and families is Flashback Friday when the library screens movies from the 1980s and 1990s. “I try to pick movies that teens probably haven’t

heard of,” Tile said. While the movie night originally started out as being just for teens, it has since expanded to include the whole family. A new program for adults started in January called Creative Therapy Craft Club. These programs offer small, soothing projects for adults. Tile explained in January that the library purchased coloring books for adults, which offer intricate and detailed designs. Adults were encouraged to come in and color in those pages. In February, adults created homemade Valentine cards. Tile explained that the idea came from seeing other libraries offering crafts for adults. “It’s really hard to get adults into the library for programs,” Tile said. “It’s just fun projects to get adults into the library.” While not a creative program, the West Valley Library also offers a Community Resource Center. From 1 to 5 p.m. every Monday, a social worker is available at the library to answer the public’s questions and provide resources. If members of the public have specific questions, the social worker can take the individual into a private room to discuss their options. l

Arts and crafts are available for free and are open to the public. –West Valley Library

Coloring books are fun projects that help entice teens and adults to visit the library. –West Valley Library

LOCAL LIFE

Page 6 | March 2016

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

West Valley Police Respond to House Fire By Natalie Mollinet | natalie@mycityjournals.com

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West Valley Police Officer Scott Folkers. –Natalie Mollinet

hile many Unified police officers attended Officer Doug Barney’s funeral in West Valley on Jan. 25, other officers, including those from West Valley, were filling in for police while they attended the funeral. Around 8 a.m., two West Valley police officers were dispatched to a house fire in Kearns at a home near 4380 West and 5255 South. When the officers arrived, they could see smoke coming from the roof around the eaves and knew they had to act quickly. When the dispatched police arrived, to their surprise they found another officer was already at the scene dressed in his class A uniform on his way to the funeral. “To be on the way to a funeral of one of your fellow officers, and you have the character to stop at a burning house to get two elderly people out of this, and three to four minutes later, you’re back on your way to the funeral, I think that’s really amazing,” Sgt. Trudy Cropper said, commenting on Unified Officer Brandon Sulich’s quick thinking. Sulich said it took him all of pulling down the shift gear to know what he had to do. “I heard dispatch say there was a house fire. Once they put out the address, I knew I was about 30 seconds away from it,” he said. Sulich, along with West Valley City Police Department Sgt. Trudy Cropper and Scott Folkers, rushed into the burning home knowing that there were two people in the home that needed to be rescued. Sulich said he could hear people downstairs as he was calling out. He found an elderly couple, believed to be in their 70s, in a room and told them they had to act quickly. Sulich found the West Valley officers on the stairs and helped the elderly couple up the stairs and through the front door to safety. The West Valley officers had the woman sit down

Unified Police Officer Brandon Sulich. –Natalie Mollinet

on her walker and wheeled her out. Once the elderly man was outside the home, Folkers lifted the elderly man and pulled him away from the burning home. “Then the fire department came. I talked to them, and they said if it was probably five more minutes, the fire probably would have collapsed the entrance right down to the basement. And that was the only exit and entrance to the house,” Folkers said. As for Sulich, as soon as he knew the elderly couple was out of the house, he made his way back over to the funeral. “If Doug Barney was there yesterday, he wouldn’t have wanted us to stop any sort of police response because of him,” Sulich said. “He would have been happy to respond, and if Doug was there he would have wanted to respond as well.” Sulich made it back to his precinct on time before heading to the funeral, even though he smelled like smoke. He added that having the West Valley police there to help cover the area during the time of the funeral was also uplifting. “It was a testament; that’s part of the reason that we’re law enforcement. The biggest thing for me in regards to law enforcement is the esprit de corps. You can take an officer from South Jordan and an officer from West Valley and an officer from Unified Police and we’re all brothers and sisters,” Sulich said. Even though the West Valley police officers were out of their precinct, they responded to a call knowing it was important to save the life of anyone and no thanks was needed. “They don’t need to thank us; it’s our job. I don’t need thanks,” Folkers said. The elderly couple made it out safely and only suffered minor injuries. l

LOCAL LIFE

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

March 2016 | Page 7

Train Tour Fits in One Room at Harman Senior Center By Natalie Mollinet | Natalie@mycityjournals.com

Neva and Lee Fels. –Natalie Mollinet

Mini West Fest Celebration and KFC. –Natalie Mollinet

eva and Lee Fels never expected that moving to Utah would lead them to a senior recreation center where they would spend almost five years completing an intricate train model of West Valley City, Park City, Magna and other areas in the Salt Lake Valley. You can find this one-room train land at the Harman Senior Recreation Center in West Valley on the corner of 4100 South and 3600 West. The Fels moved to Utah from Wisconsin after their daughter told them they needed to move to Salt Lake. The two found themselves in West Valley City and decided to sign up for a train club at the senior recreation center. Little did they know, they were the only members. The couple decided to turn some donated pieces from the Kennecott Copper Mine and other resources into an HO model train set, “HO scale” meaning 3.5 millimeters represents one actual foot. The large yet small train set provides a tour of areas such as the Great Salt Lake, Magna, Park City and parts of West Valley, and of course a small KFC to commemorate Colonel Sanders, whose parents owned the home that the senior home now resides in. Neva and her husband, Lee, took a basic train set and, according to them, gave it life. “We gave it life, made it our ideal West Valley. It’s speaking to you; it’s got a story to tell you, where before it

was kind of a train room,” Neva said. When Neva and Lee got the train room, it was just a basic train set with no features or mini people going about their day in Utah. With their patience and newfound art skills, they turned it into a masterpiece of a little Utah that you can take by train. “We try and change things down here once a week so that the people upstairs will come down to see what we did,” Lee said. The train set sits in an 11-by-7-foot room that is now filled almost to the top with mountains and at least 250 miles of scaled train track. They say the seniors in the home don’t really help too much with the train set, because they are afraid they might hurt the hard work that has gone into the making. Lee suspects that there is about $10,000 worth of equipment in the room, including a lot of donated trains with models dating back to 1940. A lot of the donated trains have come from seniors in the home, including a Civil War model train that a family of a member had. The man that was originally in charge of the train owned a train shop in Kearns and only had one train inside the room. The train set hadn’t been touched for a couple years until the Felses came in and made it a place of their own that people could enjoy. “It almost took us a year to get a train to run around,” Lee said, because of how damaged the tracks had become.

But now the train fills the room and spirals down the two-foot mountains. “We could use a bigger room,” Neva said with a smile on her face, looking at all the donated trains. The couple said their love for trains came before they were introduced to the senior center. Lee played with trains when he was a kid and built them, and their daughter was their driving force to get them involved. “She didn’t think I’d have enough to do that I would want to stay here, so she actually took us to a train shop and we bought a train just to start,” Lee said. Now Neva’s living room curtains are being used as a drape for underneath the tables where the train sets sit. The couple said that grandparents love to take their grandchildren into the room and show them the model trains and tell stories about how they used to work on trains or how a train used to pass through their yard, and it gives a connection between generations. “Everyone has got a memory or a story to tell us,” Neva said. But as for putting anything Wisconsin into their model, the only thing they say is Wisconsin is the green grass that they have over the set. Visit the Harman Senior Center for a chance to see the trains in person. The Felses are more than excited to let visitors come and see their creation. l

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Page 8 | March 2016

LOCAL LIFE

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

West Valley City Is a Melting Pot By Natalie Mollinet | natalie@mycityjournals.com

Gold Medal Hockey 2002 Photo Credit: Chris Lewis

elieve it or not, Brigham Young, the first governor of Utah, said that the west side of the Jordan River would be more populated than the east side. This prediction was made in the mid-19th century, and it doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore, especially considering the amazing culture that West Valley has, with an estimated 37 different languages spoken. Before the Mormon pioneers entered the valley, the western part of the valley was occupied by the Ute and Shoshoni Native American tribes. Once the pioneers came into the valley in 1847, West Valley was called “over Jordan.” Joseph Harker and his family were the first the settle in “over Jordan,” but very little was happening in growth. Harker, according to records, would have settled around present-day 600 West and 3300 South, where a Motel 6 currently resides. As soon as the 1900s hit, the farming communities were developing into residential communities. By 1918, West Valley had a paved road (3500 South). and cars were coming through and people were becoming more connected with Salt Lake City. As farms started to disappear, the Granger and Hunter neighborhoods found ways to provide their own sewer and water. With this new development, subdivisions became a reality and people were now able to start moving down. The growth was a bit unorganized, and political leaders in Salt Lake County placed disproportionate shares of the valley’s multifamily residential units in the area – neither did they focus on aesthetics of business signage, neighborhood street infrastructure or parks and recreation needs. But residents kept pressing to organize groups and even a chamber of commerce, and finally in 1980 West Valley City was born. “West Valley City was a popular place to settle for new immigrants,” former mayor Mike Winder and member of the West Valley City Historical Society said, “be they ‘boat people’ from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War, LDS Pacific Islanders desiring to live near the center of Mormonism or Hispanic immigrants working in the area.”

In fact, in the past 10 years the demographics of West Valley have changed dramatically, with the caucasian population decreasing quite a bit and immigrants’ demographics growing. According to the West Valley government website, in 1990, 90 percent of West Valley City was white; as of 2013 the white population decreased to 5.4 percent, and almost all other ethnicities grew more than 10 percent. West Valley is known for having a lot of immigrants because the housing is so affordable. Even when the city’s housing stock improved, minority groups felt more comfortable in a community where there was more diversity and continued to settle in West Valley. “We’re Utah’s most ethnically diverse city. [45 percent are minorities and 31 percent speak a language other than English at home.] We have the highest percentage of Pacific Islanders of any U.S. city larger than 100,000 in the country, second only to Honolulu,” Winder said. Another surprising fact is that West Valley’s Chinese Heritage Gate at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center (UCCC) is larger than San Francisco’s Chinatown gate. Also at the UCCC, West Valley is one of the three places in the United States that hold ones of the three Olmec heads from Mexico. West Valley’s culture and many mixed cultures are what makes West Valley such a rich part of the community. It started off with people wanting to improve their way of life, and today there are still people doing the same thing. “Sometimes people forget we are Utah’s second-largest city because we are in the shadow of the giant capital city next door. We’re Salt Lake City’s scrappy, bluecollar, can-do little brother. We had ice hockey. We have the number-one Olive Garden in North America here and the highest-tech movie theater in the state,” Winder said. As West Valley continues to grow, so do its people, and even though West Valley may be young, is showing it has great things ahead for the future. l

GOVERNMENT

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

March 2016 | Page 9

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OFFER PERIOD FEB. 22 – MARCH 31, 2016 West Valley’s city council approved increases at its golf courses.

West Valley Golf Fees to Increase By Rachel Molenda | rmolenda@mycityjournals.com

ate increases are coming to West Valley City’s golf courses. The city council approved a $1 increase per nine holes during its Feb. 9 meeting. West Valley City’s Parks and Recreation Department proposed the increase at a Feb. 2 study meeting. While council members spoke in favor of raising fees to help maintain city courses, there were questions of how much profit should be made. Parks and Recreation director Kevin Astill said the new prices take into consideration what other area golf courses are charging, as well as operational and maintenance costs. Astill said the market has gone up. “We want to raise our fees but we need to pick the right time, and all the staff feels like this is the right time to do it,” Astill told council members during the study meeting before the regularly scheduled council meeting on Feb. 2. The proposed bill — which governs golfing costs at the Ridge Golf Club and Stonebridge Golf Course — would raise green fees for 9-hole golf from $15 to $16. Green fees for 18 holes would increase from $30 to $32. Club rentals for 9- and 10-hole games would increase by $5, costing $15 and $25, respectively. Senior games would increase by $2 and early bird golfing would cost $23 for nine holes and $46 for 18 if the bill is passed. Councliman Steve Buhler questioned whether the increases would help the golf courses break even or create a profit. “From a policy decision, I’d like to just be kind of right there. I don’t really want to be making profit. I don’t want to be running in red,” Buhler said. The Ridge golf club brought in $1.4 million to the city last year, while Stonebridge brought in $1.9 million in revenue. The greatest increase is the cost of a player’s pass, which allows golfers to play seven days a week, including holidays, anytime after 1 p.m. The proposal raises that

fee from $199 to $249. But Astill said the department only wants the option to charge that much but doesn’t plan to right now. “What we want to do with that one is not go that high right now. We just want the ability to go that high,” Astill said. Councilman Steve Vincent wondered if the one- or two-dollar increases would give the department the funds it needs to maintain the golf course. “Does that really meet our needs? Should we be doing more to meet our needs?” Vincent asked. Astill said he is “always asking the staff for more,” but raising course fees can be tricky, as golfers tend to shop around for the best prices. “They’re pushing back, watching what’s going on in the market, watching the players jump around,” he said. During the regular council meeting on Feb. 2, council members also honored West Valley police officer Megan Clark with its employee of the month award. Clark was recognized for her service to the city, particularly for organizing a fundraiser to provide a family with Christmas gifts after presents already bought were stolen out of the mother’s car. The council also approved an amendment to the interlocal agreement between West Valley and Salt Lake County that increases the hours of two meals-program employees at the Harman Senior Resource Center. West Valley City will now be reimbursed for 20 hours of work for each staff member. Also on Feb. 2, the council: • approved the purchase of two CPR units ($31,320) and an image trend reporting system ($37,500) for the West Valley Fire Department. • appointed Eunice Lane, Michele Anderson and Patricia Dark to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center Foundation Committee. l

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GOVERNMENT

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Public Works Director Pitches Road Maintenance Fund By Rachel Molenda | rmolenda@mycityjournals.com

A West Valley road crew works on a street overlay project in the city at 3200 West from 2400 South to Parkway Boulevard last year. –West Valley City

ith the expiration dates of many of West Valley City’s roads approaching, Public Works director Russ Willardson is making a pitch to council members for a dedicated maintenance fund. Data from a 2014 survey conducted with assistance from Utah State University shows West Valley City has a majority—about 33 percent—of roads that rank poorly in their remaining service lives. “We’re kind of in a situation where we need to spend some money fixing these,” Willardson said. He added that the city’s current funding goal for street maintenance—about $2 million annually—would put 46 percent of its roads in severe disrepair by 2024. Willardson has a goal of having West Valley City’s roads inspected every two years so maintenance can be kept up. A gas tax, which began last month, will bring in about $700,000 in new revenue to the city. But those funds are restrictive, Willardson said. “Right now the majority of our funding does come from gas tax money, which is restricted and can only be spent on new construction or maintenance of roads. So if the council decided to set aside money or a dedicated amount, I would be thrilled,” Willardson said. Utah’s Local Technical Assistance Program recommended West Valley City spend $4.9 million each year on road maintenance. Mayor Ron Bigelow said he didn’t have “any major concerns” after hearing Willardson’s presentation in January. While West Valley City isn’t staying on top of its maintenance of streets and buildings, neither are other cities, Bigelow said. “It’s not like this is something new or, oh, something we just discovered. It’s been that way for always. The state’s the same way,” Bigelow said. When asked how the city might take care of a major road problem without having a maintenance fund to pull from, Bigelow said, “We’ll take care of it.” Bigelow, who was not a supporter of Proposition 1, an initiative to fund roads and the Utah Transit Authority, used his position to outline his thoughts on road quality in West

Valley City. “Can you drive to your house? Can you drive to work? Can you drive to the store? So what’s the problem with the roads? They say, ‘Oh they’re getting worse.’ And I said, ‘Yes, they are, but it’s not as bad as it appears,” Bigelow said. Proposition 1 did not pass in Salt Lake County, according to a report by the Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake County voters turned down the initiative by more than 4,000 votes. Ten of the 17 counties on whose ballots Proposition 1 appeared approved the additional tax—one cent for every four dollars spent—according to the Tribune. The sales tax increase, which went through for those counties that approved the measure, would have brought in about $2.1 million to West Valley City if voters in the county had passed it. Willardson said road repairs aren’t always obvious from the surface, and the city will often repair it with a slurry seal. “For a little while it makes it look all nice and black again. But in reality, the problems are underneath. And where we don’t have enough funds to address the total reconstruction that needs to be done, we kind of put a Band-Aid on top of it and try to get by for a few more years,” Willardson said. Willardson added that the city is behind on its road reconstruction, despite planned projects like a $1.7 million road overlay project this summer. Bigelow said the public doesn’t typically complain about the city’s roads. “It’s not like we’re not aware of the problem. What we say is we’ll do the best we can with the funds the citizens have given us,” Bigelow said. Bigelow said the council will establish its goals for the coming year during its annual retreat, which was scheduled for Feb. 19. Bigelow went on to say deciding how to spend the city’s money is “a great challenge” influenced by city officials’ personal philosophies and pressure from the public. “You can’t just do the most important thing. You’ve got to be wise and spread it out. In other words, we can’t just fix roads. We’ve also got sidewalks, curb and gutter,” Bigelow said. l

March 2016 | Page 11

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Monday - Friday, 3:30 - 6 PM Fees: $35 per week per child or $8 per day per child *Transportation provided to the Family Fitness Center from Entheos Academy (Magna), Monticello Academy, Valley Crest, Neil Armstrong, West Valley, and Wright Elementary Schools. Before & After School Kamp activities include Super Sports, Rock Climbing, Arts, Super Science, Swimming, Kidz ZUMBA, snacks, and much more!

Kinder Kamp - Kids Ages 5 - 6 Years

Afternoon Kindergarteners: M - F, 7 AM - 12noon Morning Kindergarteners: M - F, 11:30 AM - 6 PM Fees: $55 per week per child or $13 per day per child *Transportation provided to and from the Family Fitness Center from Entheos Academy (Magna), Monticello Academy, Valley Crest & Neil Armstrong. Activities include Kidz ZUMBA, Kidz Yoga, Swimming Lessons, Rock Climbing, Field Trips, Silly Games, lunches, snacks, and much more! *Children from any other school may attend, however transportation will not be provided. Registration is due Tuesdays by close of business the week prior to the beginning of camp.

• Indoor Track • 6,000 Square Foot Children’s Play Area • Indoor Rock Climbing Wall • 8 Lane Lap Pool • Leisure Pool & Hot Tub • Utah’s Longest Indoor Waterslide

• Cardio Theater with 60+Pieces of Cardio Equipment • Weight Room • Community Room Rentals • Birthday Parties • State Licensed Afterschool & Summer Camp Programs • Programs for Everyone -- Discounts for Members

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 5 AM - 10 PM | Saturday: 6:30 AM - 9 PM | Sunday: 10:30 AM - 5 PM Swimming Lessons

Become a nationally certified babysitter. Classes include child care essentials, safety for the sitter, injury prevention, and more. One-Day Course (include CPR and First Aid Certification) March 28 or 29, 9:30 AM - 6 PM Members: $130; Non-Members: $140 Three-Day Course (does not include CPR and First Aid Certification) March 7, 9, and 11, 6 - 9 PM Members: $65; Non-Members: $75

3-week sessions start March 7th and 8th Choices of Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning or evening, or Tuesday/Thursday morning or evening. Prices vary depending on class; visit wvc-ut.gov/fitnesscenter for details.

Pre-Competitive Swim Team

3-week sessions start March 7th Monday/Wednesday/Friday 6 - 7 PM Members: $29; Non-Members: $34

Seawolves Swim Team

Competitive swim team meets weekdays. Visit www.westvalleyaquatics.com for details.

Boy Scout Merit Badge Class

Swimming Merit Badge: March 1 or April 5, 7 - 9 PM Lifesaving Merit Badge: March 8 - 10 or April 12 - 14, 7 - 9 PM

Easter Events March 25, 9 PM: FREE Flashlight Hunt; Ages 13 - 17 March 25, 9 PM: Adult Flashlight Hunt; Ages 18 and older; ($7 until March 24, $10 on day of hunt) March 26, 8:30 AM: FREE Outdoor Egg Hunt; Ages 12 and under March 26, 9 AM: Breakfast with the Bunny; $9 (adults 12+), $7 (youth 4 - 11), $5 (child 1 - 3); pre register by March 21 March 26, 10:30 - 11:40 AM: Edutainment egg hunts; children 11 and younger (will be separated by age); Members: $2.50; Non-Members $3.50 -- includes all day admission! March 26, 111:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Easter Egg Plunge; children 15 and younger (will be separated by age); Members: $2.50; Non-Members $3.50 -- includes all day admission!

Family Fitness Center 5415 West 3100 South | 801-955-4000

w w w. w v c - u t . g o v / f i t n e s s c e n t e r

EDUCATION

Page 12 | March 2016

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Girls on the Run at Valley Junior High

By Natalie Mollinet | natalie@mycityjournals.com

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Valley Jr. High Girls 5K 2015. –Brinna Torgersen

irls, especially in the junior high years, need more self-confidence. In fact, studies show that when girls reach the ages between third and eighth grades, that’s when their self-esteem starts to go down. There is a program, however, that is out there to help girls maintain self-confidence and learn to believe in themselves. The program is called Girls on the Run. It was started in 1996 and now helps more than 168,000 girls in cities all across North America. In West Valley there are several schools that are a part of the program, including Valley Junior High. Heidi Morton, who is over the Utah division, said the program has also had a lot of positive feedback from parents. A survey was conducted surveying 1,200 girls and their parents, and 96 percent of parents said that the program was a positive experience for their daughter, while 98 percent said they viewed their coach as a positive role model for their daughter. Brinna Torgersen is the coach for Valley Jr. High and has seen girls change not only by themselves but along with their teammates. “I have seen girls push themselves to run harder and faster as the season goes by. It’s really fun to watch them on the last day for the final 5K race because they have worked so hard,” Torgersen said. The program came to Valley Jr. High when another teacher, Jacob Ballentine, learned that he would need a female coach for the program. Torgersen was more than willing to volunteer for a few reasons. “I had been wanting to get involved more with the school and get to know the kids better. I grew up playing all sports and my parents signed me up for all sports at a young age,” she said. Torgersen said that living in the area, she noticed that not a lot of kids had opportunities to sign up for sports, and she wanted to be that person to give them that opportunity. Not only did she want to encourage students to be healthy, she wanted the girls to have space to make new friends. Torgersen said that Girls on the Run is taught differently at a junior high level and is called Girls on Track. “The curriculum focuses on empathy, self-awareness and self-confidence, which I really like. Kids these days feel so entitled to everything in life and could use some help with showing empathy towards others. This also can be a time when girls start to worry more about the way their body looks. This program has a focus on positive self-image and not to fall into peer pressure or the way the media portrays how females should look,” she said. At the end of each season, the girls and their running friends complete a 5K. According to Girls on the Run Utah, “completing a 5K gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as framework for setting and achieving life goals. Results are the same -- making the seemingly impossible possible. Simple, engaging the extraordinary. The result? Healthy, confident girls who can.” But why running? There are plenty of sports out there that girls can participate in. Morton said that running is a lot more accessible to girls. “It’s easy and simple and really just a tool to get out and move. It’s not really about training girls to be runners or athletes but to help boost their selfconfidence,” Morton said. “My number-one priority is for the girls to have fun. While Girls on the Track is different, we still spend two afternoons a week together and have the bus ride to the final 5K, which really bonds the girls together. I also hope they come away with a feeling of accomplishment,” Torgersen said. l

March 2016 | Page 13

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

Salt Lake County’s Future is Strong

ince the day for this year’s State of the County address occurred on Ground Hog day, I had a bit of fun with an analogy. Weather forecasters pull the furry critter out of his den, check to see if he sees his shadow and announce what the next six weeks of weather will be. Scientific? No. Based on data? Not really. But it reminds me of how hard Salt Lake County government is working to not just react to the changes in our community, but to take measurable action that will drive us towards the Future We Choose. Assess where the county stands today and what we’ve accomplished, and I believe you’ll see progress. As a thriving metropolitan area, Salt Lake County is leading the way forward on jobs and economic growth, public safety, fiscal discipline and responsive government. We retained our Triple A bond rating and added a rarely-received upgrade on another category of bonds, thanks to sound fiscal policy and careful management. We’ve opened a new, state-of-the-art fleet building with a CNG fueling station to reduce air pollution and save tax dollars. We opened a new senior center in Midvale and broke ground on a new regional health building in West Jordan. We made a new community health center available in West Valley City and secured land in Salt Lake to move forward with a regional health building there as well. We completed beautification and river bank restoration projects along the Jordan River. We broke ground on new mixed-used developments in Magna and Millcreek. We’re cleaning up toxic lead and asthma-causing

pollutants in older homes throughout the valley, supported the expansion of clean solar energy in the county and partnered with the transit agency to encourage people to use transit during the inversion season. All our initiatives roll up into our ultimate goal and outcome: to build a healthy community and a greater Salt Lake, through supporting healthy people, healthy places, expanded opportunities and responsive government. Ground Hog Day 2016 is when we unveiled a great new tool for the public to see how we’re following data to make decisions. It is our new dashboard – Salt Lake MetroStat. It’s loaded with information, goals and performance metrics for what our customers want to know and deserve to know such as: Are the roads maintained? Is air quality improving? Is the crime rate going down and are our buildings serving their public purpose? The link is https://dashboard.slco.org We’re not content to just sit back and coast, however. We have important initiatives ahead this year. First and foremost, in keeping with our core mission of ensuring public safety, we’re re-dedicating a jail bond levy to strengthen criminal justice needs for our Sheriff and the District Attorney. We are also moving ahead with performance-based projects that will tackle recidivism and homelessness. We’re not asking anyone to just take our word that we’re succeeding. We’ve designed the projects with tough scrutiny to prove that people actually receive the help they need.

When you put aside spreadsheets and PowerPoint slides, you see why this matters. The consequences of failing to measure the impact of our policies and programs goes well beyond wasting scarce tax dollars. Every time a child or a teenager or a homeless veteran participates in a program that doesn’t work—but could have participated in one that does— that represents a human cost. It is a great honor to serve as Salt Lake County Mayor. I am as energized as every to roll up my sleeves and move forward with these important initiatives. There are 1.1 million reasons why I do this job—the people of Salt Lake County and future generations who will follow us. l

Page 14 | March 2016

EDUCATION

Souper Bowl Comes to Granger

Classic Broadway Tale Finds a New Setting at Valley Fair Mall

et ready for big laughs and unexpected love as Desert Star Playhouse kicks off its 2016 Season with “My Valley Fair Lady: Get Me to the Mall on Time!” is hilarious parody for the whole family, which opened Jan. 7 at Desert Star Playhouse. “My Valley Fair Lady” is a comedic farce full of romance, outrageous characters, and the timeless conflict of East side vs West side. Sparks fly when Jenna Doohickey, a tough girl from West Valley City, enlists the help of nerdy British professor Phineas Philpot, to help turn her into a “proper” lady so she can win the object of her heart’s desire, Freddy Huffington. Aided by their new friend Colonel Flanders, the professor will stop at nothing to merge the worlds of East and West. But will Jenna’s new found propriety be all it’s cracked up to be? Written by Ben E. Millet and directed by Scott Holman, “My Valley Fair Lady” runs Jan. 7 through March 19. The evening also includes another of Desert Star’s signature musical olios following the show. The Salute to American Bandstand Olio will feature some of your favorite songs, with a unique and always hilarious, Desert Star twist! Desert Star audiences can enjoy gourmet pizza, fresh wraps, burgers, scrumptious desserts, and other finger foods as well as a full selection of so drinks, smoothies and a large array of iced and hot steamers and coffees while they watch the show. Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table. CALENDAR: “My Valley Fair Lady: Get Me to the Mall on Time!” Plays January 7 - March 19 Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. at 7 p.m. Sat. at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

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WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

By Natalie Mollinet | natalie@mycityjournals.com

Food collected. --Samantha Gonzalez

ranger High students took their football gear off but kept their competitive faces on as they challenged their other classmates to a Souper Bowl to help their fellow students who are in need of some canned food. The competition is freshmen against sophomores, juniors against seniors and all around. According to Samantha Gonzales, who’s the studentbody officer service learning coordinator, the food drive has been a bigger success than those in the past. “I’m very proud because the classes have definitely stepped up. This isn’t our first food drive, but it’s the first food drive where we did it between the classes and themed with the super bowl,” Gonzales said. The students loved the competition ,and the sophomores had the lead at one point and were going strong. “The winners get 1,000 points on the final spirit bowl of the year and a trophy that looks like the super bowl trophy, but it has a can instead of a football,” Gonzales said. The idea of the weeklong event came from an idea that the Utah Food Bank does the same time of year, but putting the competition into the student classes really pushed and motivated the students to get as much food as they could. Around the valley, different grocery stores and businesses were involved with Souper Bowl for Caring. This year Harmons donated $76,000 to the Utah Food Bank, and Rocky Mountain Power donated as well. But for Granger High students, the food that is being donated is local and will go to families in their neighborhood and school. “The food is very needed at our school,” Gonzales said. Back in November, the school had another food drive. By the end of the night, all of the food that was donated was completely gone and picked up by students and their families who needed it. Faculty and staff said it was a wonderful experience to see how students worked to meet what food was needed, and now they’re doing it in a fun way through the Souper Bowl. The competition is one thing that really motivates them, and so does helping the community. “People were so grateful, and to see my own peers going with their families made me happy, because I know we’re helping them not go hungry,” Gonzales said. Gonzales said that the community needs to know that there are struggling families in their community. The students know about the situation in West Valley City, but other residents don’t know. During the Souper Bowl week, families that needed the food could go into the counseling center and request to take the food that was donated. The counselors take them to the pantry and choose food to take home. In the end, all the students showed up and almost every bin was full from each class, but the winner turned out to be the junior class. l

SPORTS

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

March 2016 | Page 15

Wolverines Fall Short of Region Title By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he Hunter High School girls basketball team probably feels like they are swimming against the current. The Wolverines opened their season with three straight losses. Their initial win came against Tooele Dec. 7. It was a game they controlled from the beginning. They held the Buffalos to 1 point in the first quarter and led at halftime 31-10. That win propelled the Wolverines onto five straight victories. They looked like a team to beat in Region 2. Their winning streak included close wins over Jordan (41-39) and West Jordan (25-24), but it also included their largest victory of the season: a 52-15 drubbing of Ben Lomond. The Wolverines led from the start, and Kimauri Toia scored 11 points in the victory. Senior Jennifer Burnham was the leading scorer for the Wolverines this season, averaging 12.3 points per game. Her season high came in the team’s first region game against Syracuse, with 23 points in the contest. Against Syracuse, the Wolverines jumped out to an 18-6 lead early on. They led by five at the half, 22-17, and never looked back. Their 49-33 victory was the team’s first of three region wins this season. They beat Syracuse twice and Granger once, 44-40. Burnham had a team high of 30 three-pointers this season. Although the Wolverines struggled to score points in bulk this season, they did average 35 points per game in region play. They allowed 43.6 per game. The Wolverines were the defending Region 2 champions and made their second-straight state tournament appearance. Last season they lost in the first round to Davis, 44-36. The members of the 2015-16 girls team include April Semeatu, Katrina Azevedo, Savannah Makakona, Tofe Nai, Jennifer Burnham, McKenna Newell, Joycelin Lui, Roni Lui, Finau Tauteoli, McKenna Miller, Makalita Lapuaho and Kimauri Toia. Head coach Chelsea Robinson is in her fourth season at Hunter. She has compiled a 33-53 overall record. In her first season as head coach, they only won two games. Region 2 was completely overhauled before this season. Syracuse, Layton, Viewmont, Granger, West and Davis joined the Wolverines region. Davis, Layton and Viewmont all advanced to the quarterfinals of last season’s state tournament. This season’s state tournament was scheduled for Feb. 23-27 at Salt Lake Community College (after press deadline). l

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Above: Senior Jennifer Burnham led the Wolverines in scoring this season. –Citlally Alvarado Left: Makalita Lapuaho scored a season high of six points in the Wolverines’ victory over Granger. –Citlally Alvarado

SPORTS

Page 16 | March 2016

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Nordfelt Recognized for Distinguished Service

Building a Basketball Program

Dennis Nordfelt has refereed high school basketball for 23 years. –Dennis Nordfelt

The Pirates gather around second-year head coach Tre Smith for in-game instruction. –Cyprus Hoops

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he Utah High School Activities Association recently presented its list of honorees for its 2016 Distinguished Service Awards. West Valley resident Dennis Nordfelt was recognized as the male official of the year. “It is nice to be recognized. I got a call from a school administrator a few months ago, and he told me they were going to nominate me. It is a nice award. I guess if you do it long enough they run out of deserving winners so it had to be me. It is certainly a good recognition,” Nordfelt said. He has been refereeing girls and boys high school basketball games for 23 years. He began doing varsity contests in 1997, and in the last eight years he has started to officiate boys and girls varsity soccer games. He began his career as an official shortly after his high school graduation, at the urging of some friends he worked with at Winder Dairy. “I came home from my mission and saw an ad in the paper. I enjoy it a lot. It keeps me in shape and gives us [my family] a little extra money that we use for vacations. I end up with usually two games a week,” Nordfelt said. The referees are assigned by a coordinator. Nordfelt is able to block out the days and teams he would rather not work with. “I usually block Hunter games, because I know so many people in the area. On a varsity level I cannot think of a coach or team that I would be disappointed having them on my schedule. I know many of the coaches by name, but that does not mean they do not yell or question a few things,” he said. “Many of the coaches recognize we are professionals and trying to do a good job.” In his career he has refereed games with the UHSAA, the Scenic West Conference (Snow, Salt Lake Community College and Utah State Eastern) and a few Division 2 (Dixie State) games. “I have seen some great plays. A couple of years ago I was doing a Pleasant Grove and Lone Peak game. Both teams were undefeated and in the top five. One stretch of about five plays in a row were full of incredible shots, one after another. I was running down the court as the lead official and I wanted to cheer,” Nordfelt said. Once a year the UHSAA recognizes outstanding educators, coaches, officials and individuals who have made significant contributions to high school activities. The Distinguished Service Award began in 1987 to honor individuals for their service and contributions. Each recipient was chosen because of the standards of excellence they exemplify through their service, professional responsibilities, leadership and sportsmanship. “I really have an affinity for high school activities not just sports -- all activities. I see the blessing it was in my life as a kid and I know it makes a difference in these kids’ lives. I could never get rich refereeing, but I enjoy another opportunity to associate with pretty good kids, young men and women,” Nordfelt said. l

espite a lack of victories, the Cyprus girls and boys basketball programs see the importance of building a program. “It is built brick by brick,” “Life is more than wins and losses,” “A person who falls and gets back up is much stronger than a person who never fell” and “Let’s keep grinding to get better and better” are all sayings plastered on the teams’ Twitter pages. The players are not giving up. In their first game of the season, the Pirates boys team defeated Granger 60-56. They trailed heading into the fourth quarter by one point, but sophomore Cody Meza hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points, while Brooks Marshall poured in 20 to help the Pirates rally for the victory. The boys only won two games this season.

“There is no better feeling than seeing progress. Our team does not quit.” The Lady Pirates finished their season with only two victories also. They defeated Rockwell 53-21 and Ben Lomond 33-24. Despite the lack of success, the team kept working hard. “At times I felt like we could do better, but there were times when we played really hard. We just came up short. We have such a great relationship with each other and love basketball so much,” junior Kylie Williams said. The 6-foot-1 Marshall led the Pirates boys team in scoring this season. He averaged 14.3 points per game. Senior Lomi Aiolupotea led the girls team with 5.9 points per game. “Our coaches tell us they truly believe in us. I think that helps us to get better each day, even if it is practice,” Williams said. “There is no better feeling than seeing progress. Our team does not quit. We are not like that. We will not give up even after a mistake. We try to come back and fix those mistakes. We play our hearts out. We try to come to practice with a good attitude,” sophomore Josie Garcia said. The Pirates graduate a total of four seniors; three girls (Aiolupotea, Marissa Fowler and Tessa Skogerboe) and one boy (Thomas Lanktree). Next year they should return several players with varsity experience. The drought of state tournament appearances is a little longer for the boys team. They have not seen the post-season since 2010, but the girls last appearance was in 2013. “I believe we have good teams. If we work hard, we will get good results. This team never quits even when it gets hard,” Williams said. l

March 2016 | Page 17

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

istory is fascinating. Learning about those who have come before us can help us understand society, understand what can cause change, provide a sense of identity, and help us to be better people. If you are looking for a piece of history, look no further – Ab’s Drive-In definitely fits the bill. Back in 1951, in the farming community of Hunter, Utah, Ab and Dot Beutler first opened Ab’s Country Inn as a sort of hobby. Sixty–five years later there are many things that have changed, but you can still find Ab’s not far from where it started, in West Valley City, with the new name of Ab’s Drive-In. When the business first opened, it was operated out of a rented tin shack, which boasted a roof held down with railroad ties. A year later, that shack was upgraded into a small cinderblock building with no dining room. After another year passed, a cinderblock dining room was added. Ab’s was not just a hobby anymore; it was a way of life. Ab’s Drive-In stayed at that location on 3500 South until 2003, when they built and moved to their current location on 5600 West. The original menu created by Ab and Dot included steaks, homemade pies and the signature Fat Boy hamburger. The

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menu has changed with the passage of time, but the Fat Boy with its two patties of beef, cheese, fresh tomatoes and a special relish sauce is still the cornerstone of the menu. Besides a fantastic burger, you can also choose from many favorites an old-time burger joint might offer, including chicken, hand-cut fries, onion rings and 35 shake flavors. If that isn’t enough, a permanent part of their menu is a Saturday special, offering hamburgers for a $1.59 and corndogs for 89 cents on Saturdays. Ab’s Drive-In is now run by Ab and Dot’s youngest son, Bart, and his wife, Elizabeth. Their business philosophy is the same as their predecessors’: Ab’s has always cooked to order, and they have been doing hand-cut fries since their first day in business in 1951. They treat customers like friends and work hard to make sure your experience is a positive one, every single time. If you are looking for a great home-style hamburger with a side of friendship and a whole lot of history, your search ends here. Drop by Ab’s Drive-In restaurant at 4591 South 5600 West to experience the fun atmosphere, personal and friendly service and fantastic food. l

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Page 18 | March 2016

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Birthday Music I Can Hear – 11 Birthday Freebies for Restaurants and Shopping

appy birthday! “It’s scientifically proven that people who have more birthdays live longer.” “Age is just a number, in your case a really high one.” “You think age is funny? Wait until you look in the mirror.” Is it that time of year again when you open your Facebook page to find a barrage of jabs from family and friends who figure a digital greeting means more than a card and cake? Well guess what? I have a digital birthday surprise for you too. Whether you are 40, 50 or inching up on the world of 60 and beyond, getting another year older does have some perks, and I’m not talking about ordering off the senior menu at Denny’s, or the loss of hearing most distinguished adults can’t escape. I’m talking about Utah’s favorite “F” word … FREE! There are dozens of companies out there just waiting to send you a free gift for your birthday – restaurants that want to feed you and stores that want to give you freebies or money to spend. Here are 11 birthday freebies that topped my list.

*Kmart and Sears: Join the Shop Your Way Birthday Club and you will receive a special gift on your birthday. Mine was $10 to spend in the store. Plus, when you register your kids, they’ll get $5 in birthday bucks, a birthday crown, a happy birthday certificate and a birthday fun pack. *Ulta Beauty: Sign up for the Ulta Rewards Program and get a special birthday surprise. Last year mine was an exclusive lipstick that sells for $18. *Sephora: Get a FREE gift from Sephora on your birthday. Last year mine was a beauty product valued at $25. *Aveda: Join their birthday program and receive a FREE exclusive offer on your birthday. Last year mine was a bottle of an essential oil. *Victoria’s Secret: Sign up for emails and receive a special gift for your birthday. In past years this has been a $10 gift card. *Kohls: Sign up for YES2YOU rewards and get a $10 Kohls gift card for your birthday.

*Famous Footwear: They send rewards members a $5 gift card. Last year that bagged me a free pack of socks. *Red Robin: Get a free certificate for a burger for your birthday. *Noodles and Company: Score a free bowl of noodles. *Shula’s 347 Grill (West Valley City): Receive a complimentary entrée with the purchase of an entrée of equal or greater value. *Boondocks: Birthday Club members enjoy an unlimited FREE pass! Cashing in on the goods is easy; you simply join each company’s monthly emails. A little tip: these emails can be cumbersome. My advice is to join only the companies you enjoy hearing from, and don’t stash them away for just your birthday. Most of these companies send out special coupons during other times of the year too. Lastly, make sure you are signing up for their actual birthday club and not just their monthly newsletter;

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Offer expires: 03/31/2016 Valid only at: 3618 W. 3500 S. • 4161 S. Redwood Rd. 5550 W. 3500 S. • 2778 S. 5600 W. • 3461 S. 8400 W. 4591 South 5600 West • West Valley

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Limited time only at participating restaurants. Additional charge for Extras. Plus tax where applicable. No cash value. One coupon per customer per visit. May not be combined with other offers, coupons or discount cards. Coupon must be surrendered with purchase. Void if transferred, sold auctioned, reproduced or altered. ©2015 Doctor's Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's

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some of them require different forms. You can find dozens more and links to each of the forms on www.coupons4utah.com/birthday. Free lunch, shopping, dinner and entertainment on my birthday is birthday music I can hear. l

March 2016 | Page 19

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

Wild Child

oddlers and raccoons are eerily similar. They eat food off the floor, have nuclear levels of energy and they’re very clever, without having a shred of common sense. When I learned my daughter was expecting her first child this spring, I thought she should practice by raising a raccoon. Here’s my advice. When holding your little raccoon for the first time, you’ll be awestruck. You’ll touch her tiny fingers, gaze into her dark brown eyes and sniff her furry head. She’ll cuddle into you and all will be right with the world—for about seven minutes. Then she’ll get hungry, and stay hungry for nine years. As you’re breastfeeding, you’ll feel that wonderful bond between the two of you, the love flowing and “$#*&!!!” Do not punch your baby raccoon in the face when she bites you. As your little raccoon goes from crawling to running away from you at the store while stuffing candy in her mouth, you’ll wonder if you’ll ever stop being tired or ever spend another moment not worrying. The answer is no.

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All your clothes will be smeared with peanut butter, yogurt and snot. You’ll wear them anyway. When she shaves the dog or colors the tub with Sharpies, take it in stride. One day, you’ll rock little raccoon to sleep and place her gently in her crib. You’ll be relieved you can use the bathroom alone for the first time in days. Before you get comfortable,

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little raccoon has tunneled out of the crib and is frantically clawing at the door, shoving her fingers under the door and doing her best to chew through the door to get to you. Bath time will be a wet lesson in patience. Wrestle little raccoon into the tub, distracting her with toys as you lather her furry body. Keep her calm as the shampoo drips into her eyes and she shrieks while crawling up your arm, soaking your last semi-clean T-shirt. In the middle of the night, you’ll be anxious about little raccoon. You’ll sneak into her room like a ninja, to make sure she’s safe. As you tiptoe back to bed and step on a wooden block and slam your hip on the doorknob, you can’t swear, because not only will little raccoon wake up with an ear-splitting scream, but she’ll use the swear word exclusively for eight months. Little raccoon will love to make cookies. She’ll push the chair to the counter, climb up next to you and turn the mixer on full blast, shooting sugar and eggs everywhere. She’ll screech and jump onto your chest (whether

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you’re ready or not) and grab your hair so she won’t fall. Your hair will eventually grow back. Strap little raccoon into a stroller with a broken wheel and steer through a crowded mall with one hand, carrying a 25-pound diaper bag. When she escapes and scampers away, ignore the judging glances from childless women. Prepare yourself. You’ll leave little raccoon playing cheerfully, only to come back three minutes later to find she’s disappeared. You’ll search every room, closet and drawer to no avail. Immediately after you hysterically call the police, little raccoon will come stumbling down the hall after napping under the towels in the laundry basket. You won’t know whether to scream, laugh or cry; so you’ll do all three. But even with toys flushed in the toilet, melted crayons in the dryer and the layer of stickiness that coats your entire house, you’ll love little raccoon more than you ever imagined. And one day, when she has her own little raccoon, you can pass your hard-earned advice along to her. l

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