Clearfield Connection September - October 2023

Mayors Message

Let’s admit it—change isn’t easy. And when it comes to changing traffic patterns, it can really throw us for a loop. Unfortunately, with the growth northern Utah is experiencing, changing traffic patterns is inevitable. 2000 W. will be widened, 1800 N. in Clinton and 5600 S. in Roy will also be widened and receive new I-15 interchanges. On these projects alone, construction will likely be happening for the next 5 years, causing major shifts in driving habits.

Meanwhile, in Clearfield, we have our own changes to deal with. As many may be aware, there are changes planned around Clearfield Station. Because traffic to and from the station is expected to increase over the next 10 years, there will be a new traffic light at the entrance of Clearfield Station. The addition of that light will set off a barrage of changes around the station, including two new roads and the moving of the stoplight on State Street from 1000 E. to 1450 S., as well as a raised median to prevent thru traffic at 1000 E. I am happy to review those changes with you at any time, as is any member of the City Council or

CONNECTIONPUBLISHING

staff. Our main concern is the safety of our residents—those who are driving, as well as those children walking to and from school. While the solutions being put in place will take some time to get used to, they are the best solutions available. Now, with that said, we are working with UDOT to postpone these changes until it is absolutely necessary. Our proposal to UDOT

is to add the new road at 1450 S. but not change or activate the signals, nor install the raised median until a certain threshold of new traffic from Clearfield Station is reached. As we don’t anticipate construction on the new commercial and residential spaces to begin until spring, and it will likely take 18-24 months to be built and occupied, an agreement with UDOT could potentially postpone the intersection changes for 2-3 years. On a positive note, while there is a lot of change going on around us, there is one thing that did not change. Unlike many of the cities around us this year, Clearfield did NOT raise property taxes. We were able to balance our budget without raising taxes or even maintaining the current tax rate. That means you should see a reduction in the city’s portion of your property taxes. As we continue to grow over the next 10 years, we will continue to add additional revenue from property taxes and sales tax. It is our hope that those revenues will continue to keep up with increased expenses and allow us to continue to pass on further reductions to you.

Mayor Mark Shepherd

Clearfield Connection is published bimonthly by Connection Publishing© connectionpublishing.com

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Ryan Spelts | ryan@connectionpub.com | 801-624-9652

Advertising Danielle Arana | danielle@connectionpublishing.com | 801-395-4640

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www.clearfieldmagazine.com @clearfield.connection

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within the Clearfield magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Connection Publishing or Clearfield City. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies. The City is also not responsible for any content in the magazines except for that which they directly submit for print.

"Unlike many of the cities around us this year, Clearfield did NOT raise property taxes. We were able to balance our budget without raising taxes or even maintaining the current tax rate."

Cindy Jones Proofreaders

Nathaniel Loomis

Katie Jane Park

Bill Cobabe

Kendal Rae Jensen

Erinne Jones

Sabrina Lee

Nathaniel Loomis

Tiffany McLelland

Annette Mifflin

Hailey Minton

Marliss Scott

Melissa Spelts

Abraham Tinklepaugh

Berlie Joy Acosido

Designers

Sarah Bodiker

Cindy Jones

Hyrum Rappleye

Crystal Rappleye

Photographers

Dawn Paul

Melissa Spelts

Sales Danielle Arana

Kendal Rae Jensen

Diane Liberator

Mayor Mark Shepherd

City of Clearfield

Our City Council at Work

This is an election year for the city council, and there are three city council seats open. Council members Kent Bush and Vern Phipps are not running again. Council Member Nike Peterson is running for office along with five other contenders. Visit the elections page on our website to learn about the candidates.

Here’s what the council has been up to recently:

• Amended city parking regulations for apartment complexes to be based on the bedroom count instead of the number of apartment units in a complex.

• Appointed a youth council member to the planning commission.

• Approved the budget for fiscal year 2024 beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024.

• Discussed changes to our school resource officer agreement with Davis School District.

• Enacted a culinary water impact fee facilities plan and sanitary sewer impact fee facilities plan.

You can participate in council meetings on Tuesday nights in person or virtually via Facebook Live. Visit www.clearfield. city for meeting schedules and agendas.

Stay Connected!

The city's website has information on every department in the city and our social media channels will keep you updated!

We Can Help You Pay for Aquatics Memberships Soccer,

and More...

Clearfield Community Services’ Financial Assistance Program can help cover the cost of recreation program fees. The financial assistance will cover up to 75% of the cost of registration (up to $90) for Clearfield residents who qualify. Assistance is also available for memberships at the Clearfield Aquatic & Fitness Center, which will cover up to 50% of the cost of a membership. Applicants need to provide proof of residency in Clearfield and proof of need for the program. Those who qualify for WIC, food stamps, or reduced school lunch are eligible for financial assistance.

Call city hall to learn more at 801-525-2701.

Enhancing Clearfield Trails

Introducing New Exercise Equipment for a Healthier Community

Clearfield City is getting some new upgrades to our trails! We are excited to announce that we have purchased exercise equipment to line our trails and walking paths in parks. We will be placing exercise equipment along the Rio Grand Trail in North Steed Park, on the south side of 300 N., and at Chelemes Park. We will also be lining the walking path around Barlow Park with exercise equipment sometime in the future.

We wanted to put exercise equipment around our walking paths for a few reasons. We believe that adding athletic equipment is a great way to keep park/trail visitors active and motivated. It encourages healthy behaviors and builds a sense of community by adding additional gathering spaces. We believe the outdoor exercise equipment will benefit the community’s physical and mental health. The parks department will start putting the equipment out this fall.

The city received funds to purchase the exercise equipment through a federal grant called the “Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).” We received $100,000 for the exercise equipment from the grant. The CDBG grant helps urban communities create better access to services and increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income persons.

F A L L E V E N T S C L E A R F I E L D

PARKS & RECREATION

PARKS & RECREATION

Jr. Jazz Basketball Registration

Kids will play during the fall session. Registration for grades 3+ will open on Oct. 1st, they will play during the winter session. Register at www.clearfield.life.

Pumpkin Float: Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 16th to set pumpkins afloat on Steed Pond and shoot them out of a cannon into the soccer fields.

Pickleball: Registration for the Dinksgiving Pickleball Tournament is open until Nov. 6th. Indoor pickleball clinics and leagues are also open for registration. Sign up at www.clearfield.life.

Start Smart: Children will learn skills for multiple sports in a fun, non-competitive environment. Registration opens on Oct. 1st for winter sessions.

AQUATIC & FITNESS CENTER

Back to School Bingo: Complete different activities on a bingo card at the Aquatic and Fitness Center from Sept. 11-30 to be entered to win prizes. Get a blackout to win bigger prizes!

Dive-in Movie: Clearfield Aquatic & Fitness Center members are invited to join at the center on Sat., Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Movie TBA.

Boonanza: This is the Clearfield Aquatic and Fitness Center’s biggest party of the year. Join us the night of Oct. 27th for carnival games, food, prizes, and more. This year’s theme is Treasure Island!

Swim Lessons: Swim lessons happen monthly. Group and private lesson are available. Members and residents receive priority registration, open 1 day in advance.

The Clearfield Aquatic and Fitness Center will be closed Sept. 5-10 for annual maintenance. The lap pool will be closed from Sept. 11-25 so the liner can be replaced. This schedule is subject to change. Regular updates will be posted on social media @clearfieldaquaandfit.

COMMUNITY ARTS

Children’s Choir: Returning Sept. 18th there are slots available for ages 5-14. Registration is available online.

Community Choir: Enrollment for the Clearfield Community Choir returns every Wednesday starting Sept. 27th and is open for ages 15+.

Annie Jr.: Performances of Annie Jr. will be at the Clearfield Community Arts Center from Oct. 9-14. Tickets are on sale online.

Fall Concert: The Clearfield Community Band is hosting a concert on Oct. 25th at 7 p.m. at North Davis Jr. High. They’ll be featuring music composed by the famous John Williams. Vocal Performance Class: This class is designed to build confidence in your singing abilities and will touch on ear training abilities. This is available for ages 10-18 and is open for registration online.

Paint Nites: Participate in this instructor-led painting course and bring your fall spirit to life on canvas.

Date Nites: Need an excuse to get out of the house? Join us for a new activity each month at our adult-only Date Nites featuring painting, a hypnotist, games, and more.

Kids Krafts: Kids ages 5-12 are welcome to join us for three fun fall crafting sessions! Registration is available online. Fine Oils: Fine Oils Social will be held Tuesdays from 5-9 p.m.

OTHER HAPPENINGS

Night Out Against Crime: Join the Clearfield Police Department for an evening of food, SWAG giveaways, hanging out with our officers and the fire department, checking out their vehicles, and driving the bomb bot on Sept. 14 from 6-8 p.m.

Halloween Decorating Contest: Nominate your favorite houses with the best Halloween decorations! Nominations are open from Oct. 1–19. Search the City: Search the City is back, Halloweenstyle! Follow us on social media @clearfieldcity for the first clue, then follow the riddles to the rest of the locations. The hunt is from Oct. 19-22.

Aquatics, arts, and recreation programs are available on the new website: clearfield.life

Tragedy to Triumph – Welcome Circle Inn Pizzeria

After a devastating end in Sunset City, we’re happy to welcome Circle Inn Pizzeria to Clearfield! About a year and a half ago, a structure fire destroyed the beloved local pizza joint in the middle of the night. Now they’ve set up shop at 1060 W 300 N, just across from Steed Park and Holt Elementary. We’re so excited that they were able to reopen, especially now that they get to call Clearfield City their home. Check them out online at circleinnpizza.com.

Curious about what else is coming to our city? Clearfield’s Planning Department created a map that shows everything being built in our city right now!

Scan the code or visit bit.ly/ ClearfieldMap to view the map.

Flipping Your Strip? Don’t Cover the Water Meter Lid!

The city is part of Weber Basin’s Flip Your Strip program. This program gives homeowners rebates on their water bill for flipping their park strip. We encourage all residents to flip their strips to preserve water and save money. BUT…. When you flip your strip, please don’t cover water meters. We’ve had an uptick in residents burying water meter lids with rock or other materials when they flip their strips. This is a big safety hazard and flooding concern for homeowners. If you cover the water meter lids, our crews cannot get to them in an emergency to shut the water off. Keeping the water meter lids free of debris will help our crews keep you safe if there is an emergency.

Only Rain Should Go Down Your Drain

Our stormwater system feeds right back into the groundwater we use to drink, so please don’t put anything down the drain system other than rainwater. Speaking of rain… fall leaves mixed with rain is the perfect recipe for flooding in your neighborhood. Here’s how you can help!

� Clear debris off the top of storm drains near your house.

� Sweep and throw away trash/leaves in your gutter. These actions will reduce blockage and help water drain effectively. Now… some of you might ask, “Isn’t that the city’s job?” Yes, it is part of our job to clear drains. But there are 4,330 storm drains, 5,900 homes with gutters, and only seven staff members in our streets department. With your help, we can keep our drains free of leaves, trash, and debris to avoid flooding in your neighborhood.

Clearfield City Information

Crossing Guards Wanted!

Clearfield City is currently hiring crossing guards for the 2023–2024 school year. Crossing guards are vital for a safe school experience. Starting pay is $15 an hour with a $50 initial sign-on bonus; there is also an opportunity to receive an additional $500 bonus if 300 or more hours are worked! Our crossing guards observe road traffic, help pedestrians into designated locations, escort children as needed for safe crossings, etc. Applicants must be 18 years of age and be able to fulfill the related duties.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Clearfield City alone averages 200 cases of domestic violence (DV) per quarter, and more than 10 million people each year in the U.S. are victims of DV. If you or someone you know is experiencing partner or family abuse, our victim advocates and DV investigators are here to help.

Contact a city victim’s advocate or housing advocate at 801525-2759. If there is a medical crisis or emergency, please call 911. For more information on victim services, check out www. clearfield.city/victim-resources.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, or any other violent crime, you are not alone.

TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

City Directory

MAYOR

Mark Shepherd: 801-540-0348 mark.shepherd@clearfieldcity.org

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Kent Bush: 801-940-4502 kent.bush@clearfieldcity.org

Nike Peterson: 801-332-0323 nike.peterson@clearfieldcity.org

Vern Phipps: 801-628-4673 vern.phipps@clearfieldcity.org

Tim Roper: 801-682-6296 tim.roper@clearfieldcity.org

Karece Thompson: 385-383-5600 karece.thompson@clearfieldcity.org

CLEARFIELD SERVICES

Municipal Center & Utilities: 801-525-2701

Utility Bill • Garbage/Recycling • Facility Rental

Recreation • Cemetery • Police Records • Fingerprinting

Business License • Building Permit & Inspection • Planning

Emergency Home Repair Grants • Home Rehab Grants

Dumpster Rental • Code Compliance/Enforcement New Resident Information.

Emergency: 911

Police Dispatch: 801-525-2806

Justice Court: 801-525-2760

Victim Advocates: 801-525-2759

Verbal Abuse

Financial Abuse

Physical Abuse

Emotional & Psychological Abuse

Scan the Code or visit www.clearfield.city to apply today! Stay

Technological Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Aquatic & Fitness Center: 801-525-2641

Water/Sewer Leaks: 801-525-4419 8

The city's website has information on every department in the city and our social media channels will keep you updated!

www.clearfield.city

@clearfieldcity

SCHOOLS

Due to limited space, school sporting events will no longer be listed below.

CLEARFIELD HIGH

Sep 11-15: Homecoming Week

Sep 11: Movie Night 8 p.m.

Sep 13: Hoco Splat 5:30 p.m.

Sep 14: Chalk Art 2:30 p.m.

Sep 15: Tailgate Party 5 p.m.

Sep 15: Homecoming Game 7 p.m.

Sep 16: Homecoming Dance 7 p.m.

Sep 18-19: Parent Teacher

Conferences 3-6:30 p.m.

Sep 27: Final Picture Day

Oct 9-13: Club Rush Week

Oct 19-23: No School Fall Break

Oct 31: ACT Practice Test (Juniors)

NORTH DAVIS JR HIGH

Sep 12: Beginning Band Preview 6:30 p.m.

Sep 14, 21, 28: Strengthening

Families Parenting Classes 6:30 p.m.

Sep 21: Parent Teacher Conference 3:30-7 p.m.

EVENTS

Oct 3: Fall Band Concert at Clearfield High 7 p.m.

Oct 5, 12, 26: Strengthening Families

Parenting Classes 6:30 p.m.

Oct 10: Choir Concert at Clearfield High 7 p.m.

Oct 17: Yearbook Picture Retakes

Oct 19-23: No School Fall Break

Oct 24-27: Red Ribbon Week

FUN THINGS TO DO

Clearfield Community Band

Rehearsals Clearfield Community

Arts Center, Tuesdays 7 p.m.

Clearfield Community Jazz Band

Rehearsals Clearfield Community Arts Center, every other Tuesday 8:30 p.m.

Clearfield Community Choir

Rehearsals Clearfield Community Arts Center, Ages 15+ Wednesday 7:15 p.m.

Sep 1-5: Will Newhall Snow

Horse Art Gallery, IHC Layton, 1st Floor 201 W Pkwy FREE

Sep 5: Splish Splash: The Music of Bobby Darin starring Ron Gartner

Kenly Amphitheater 8 p.m.

Sep 6, 13, 20, 27: Roy Community

Farmers Market 4059 S 1900 W 5-8 p.m.

Sep 8: Gangrene Comedy Festival

Kenly Amphitheater 7 p.m.

Sep 9: 9/11 Day of Service For more info, email 9.11DayofService2023@gmail.com or facebook, 9/11 Service Project

Sep 9: Illumination Promoting Mental Health Awareness: Food Trucks, Booths, Entertainment, Keynote Speaker, and Fireworks, Founders Park in Syracuse 5-9:30 p.m.

Oct 3: Fire Prevention Open House

North Davis Fire District 385 N 3150 W West Point 5-8 p.m.

Oct 5, 12, 19, 26: Create Better Health With Favorite Fall Foods, Davis County Health Dept 22 S. State Street, Clearfield 7 p.m.

Oct 9-14: Annie Jr Clearfield Community Arts Center 7 p.m.

Oct 25: Clearfield Community Band

Concert North Davis Jr High 7 p.m.

Oct 27-29: Ogden Home Show

Golden Spike Arena Fri 12-8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

DON'T REPLACE IT RENEW IT AND SAVE MONEY!!

roofrenewalogden.com

DAVIS COUNTY LIBRARY – Clearfield Branch

1 North Main St • Clearfield, UT • (801) 451-1840

WEEKLY

ACTIVITIES

Mon: Play & Learn 10:30 a.m.

STEAM All ages 3:30 p.m.

Tue: Story Time 1:30 p.m.

Wed: Virtual Story Time 10:30 a.m.

(sign up for a link at bit.ly/3qftb65)

Thur: Story Time 10:30 a.m.

ACTIVITIES

Sep 6, 13, 20, 27: Create Better Health With Favorite Fall Foods bit.ly/cbh-sept-cflibrary 7 p.m.

Sep 9: Teen Book Club 11 a.m.

Sep 19: Teen Trivia Night 6:30 p.m.

Sep 21: Tween Book Club 4th-6th Graders 4 p.m.

All library events are FREE

Oct 14: Teen Book Club 11 a.m.

Oct 19: Tween Book Club 4th-6th Graders 4 p.m.

Oct 25: After Words Book Club Adults & Teens 7 p.m.

Scan code for more details & library events

That's one BIG FISH!

In our June issues, in the Summer Bucket List, we asked for photos of your biggest catches of the summer, with a promise to provide a local treat to the submitter with the biggest fish. Meet our winner, 12-year-old local resident, Brooks Campbell! Brooks caught this giant carp at Smith Family Park in Farr West. Thanks also to his mom Rachel Campbell for sending in this photo.

Brooks won a $25 gift card to Nana's Sugar Shack in North Ogden.

Congratulations Brooks We hope you keep on fishin'!

COMMUNITY NFLUENCERS

The word "influencer" brings up a certain imagery these days. It tends to be of the trendy, fashionable sort-people with a large social media following with the ability to persuade their niche audiences to purchase products or simply click a like or follow button.

But in the big picture, no one has as much impact on the quality of our lives as the people in our immediate communities. We don’t need TikTok or Instagram to benefit from the positive messages and assistance of our friends and neighbors, local leaders, volunteers and business owners. This year’s list of Community Influencers, the people actively making a positive impact on the places we live and work through their passions and common goals, is no exception.

THE NOMINEES

Community Nominated Influencers for 2023

Gary Attebery Do-Good Today

Anna Bravard Advanced Electrolysis

Peggy Barker Barker Park Committee

Tim Billings Red White and Boom Event

Blake Cevering Barker Park Committee

Dr. Kendell Coburn Bountiful Internal Medicine

Kirk Chugg The Gentleman’s Project Podcast

Kurtis Fredericks Project Illumination

Norah Gadd Baron Clearfield Unofficial Facebook Page

Whitney Hidalgo Inspire Dance Studio

Suzanne Kemp Strike Boxing

Hali Larsen Smarty Pants Academy

We hope you enjoy meeting some of the people who were nominated for this year’s list, and extend thanks to everyone who took a few minutes to send in nominations. We encourage you to look for the influencers in your neighborhood, and thank them for playing an active role in shaping their community

Kenneth Naegle PARC

Judy Nixon Syracuse Arts Academy

Stephanie O’Brien Radiate Nutrition

Dale Pfister Syracuse Arts Academy

Grant Protzman Barker Park Committee

Steve Reich R Marketing

Teya Ridenour Tr.ue Beauty

Preston Creed Strike Boxing

Colleen Thurgood Lady Lions Service and Social Club

Major Kit Workman Utah Military Academy

Lori Russon Worthington Russon Mortuary

Amber Wykstra Ovation Homes

–The Connection Publishing Team

Photos by Dawn Paul & Melissa Spelts

COMMUNITY NFLUENCERS

By Abraham Tinklepaugh

Amber Wykstra has been the Marketing Manager at Ovation Homes since 2019, and a driving force in the housing industry for more than 25 years. Amber creates unique ways for home buyers to realize their dreams, and she’s an integral part of the Ovation Homes Executive Team.

For more than 20 years, Ovation Homes has been creating communities focused on adults, 55 and older, with active lifestyles. Among their happiest clients are serious buyers who want the convenience of one-level living without compromising the comfort of quality space. “We want our products to be relevant. My personal focus is studying the real-estate and new-construction markets in order to understand how to improve the communities we live in,” Wykstra said.

Ovation Homes customers love choosing from an enticing selection of design elements to match their taste and lifestyle. According to Wykstra, “giving buyers the opportunity to personalize their new home provides an immediate connection to the build process. This sets Ovation apart from other production builders.

At every opportunity, Ovation focuses on connecting customers with their best

Ovation Homes Utah

Amber Wykstra

life experience. “We don’t limit customers to specific packages, and we absolutely strive to maintain a variety of the highest quality materials.”

Ovation loves to catch empty nesters as early as age 45 transitioning to life with different needs. They offer ideal living space for those seeking freedom to age gracefully in a brand new, low-maintenance home. “Our needs change as we age,” Wykstra said. “Some of our clients have mobility issues and need solutions such as roll-in showers, wide hallways and no more stairs. We are the only home builder who offers these features consistently.” Ovation builds homes with confidence, care, and attentiveness—the same way they build relationships with customers. Results, so far? Stronger communities, neighborhoods, and friendships. “We’re different because we personalize designs without sacrificing the integrity of the overall build, and we’re constantly adapting our preferred plans based on customer feedback.”

It's our clients who create the communities!

By Ann Park

Steve Reich is the founder of R Marketing Department, a local business focused on promoting and growing other businesses. Steve has spent his entire successful career in marketing and is a bestselling author on the subject. His unique expertise, as one of only 13 Certified Guerrilla Marketing Master Trainers in the world, provides a winning edge to businesses.

As well as helping the business community grow, Steve’s goal is to be a positive influence in the community. “It’s all about family,” Steve says. “We’ve all heard the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a village to raise a business too. No one can grow a business alone. We need our community around us.” In today’s competitive marketplace, the best marketing is word of mouth. “And that comes from people supporting others and spreading the word.”

A cornerstone member of his own community, Steve supports local charities and programs. “We wanted to be there for our neighbors. My wife and I thought it was important to join C.E.R.T (Community Emergency Response Team.) We both know CPR and wanted to help. We became teachers

Steve Reich

and cooperating with the fire department, we taught classes for years.”

From experience, Steve has learned the value of community. “It’s important to come out and support our local events,” Steve says. “When we show up, we show support for the people who took the time to put an event together. And when you do, the events become better every year.”

Over a long successful career, Steve’s advice to entrepreneurs and new business owners is to actively participate in their community. “People who aren’t involved and keep to themselves have a tough time growing their business. Get to know people and let them feel comfortable with you, and you’ll find that your business grows. We all need each other. If there’s anything I can do to help, come and see me.”

“We’ve all heard that it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to raise a business too.”

COMMUNITY NFLUENCERS

By Tiffany McLelland

We all have a superpower. Sometimes it’s easier to see it in others than in ourselves. Lori Russon Worthington is the Office Manager at the Russon Mortuary in Syracuse. Lori’s superpower is helping people through one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. While most of us feel uncomfortable around loss and mourning, Lori knows how to read a room and is not afraid to try to bring comfort.

The Russon family has owned and operated a mortuary since 1954 when Lori’s grandpa and his brothers purchased their first one in Salt Lake City. They sold their Salt Lake facility and now have three locations in Davis County. Lori started working in the family business at 12 years old. She’d clean the building in the evenings and later brought her children in to help clean. This early exposure to the industry helped prepare her for a life of compassion. Russon’s have a legacy of community involvement, whether waving from a float in the Fourth of July parade or carving pumpkins for the Halloween pumpkin walk. They’ve enjoyed donating to the Veteran’s Museum, sponsoring shows at local junior highs, and celebrating

Russon Mortuary & Crematory

Lori Worthington

the high school’s Student of the Month and Sterling Scholars. They love to be involved where they can.

Lori loves her job, “It’s been a lifetime of me watching people give love to people who need love.” She loves holding someone as they cry, laughing with them as they recount funny memories, or just letting them talk to help process their feelings. “It’s an honor to have these interactions with these sweet people.”

Lori shares, “Everybody wants to comfort, but they don’t know how. I’m not saying I know how I’m just comfortable enough to figure it out.” When we want to comfort those who are mourning, but we don’t know what to say or do. “It is better to say something, anything even if you don’t know if it’s the right thing, but also ask what you can do and be aware of them at the funeral and after. After the family and friends go home, when all is quiet, check back in with them. Continue to love those who need to be loved."

“With a specialized superpower, Lori Worthington comforts her community”

Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center

By Marliss Scott

Kenneth Naegle, Regional Executive Director of PARC, a ServiceSource Affiliate, is one passionate man. In talking with him you have no doubt he loves what he does. It's who he is. For the 36 years he’s been with PARC he's helped empower those with disabilities to find their place in the community and life.

PARC, Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center in Clearfield, has annually helped 400 individuals and families bring meaning and purpose to disabled adults since 1974. "We have as many programs as we have people, meaning, we take what's important to the individual, and caregivers, and we support them in whatever way they need," said Ken.

Ken never forgot when he heard Richard Pimentel, an American disability rights advocate, speak. Pimentel said, 'If you want to hire someone with a disability it doesn't matter if they can do the job. But, if you want to hire somebody that can do the job, it doesn't matter if they have a disability.'

"That captures the vision of what we're trying to accomplish at PARC," said Ken. Not just jobs, but careers. Not just careers, but life skills. Not just life skills but a selfdetermined life.

"We get to know the individual," shared Ken. "Our Discovery in Genius program identifies a person's passion and skill sets. It's like a sculptor chipping away to reveal the real person inside."

PARC's Customized Employment program matches an individual to their passion – for example, a dog lover working as a pet groomer. PARC's Day Program integrates individuals into the community through field trips, like restaurants, or movies, teaching social and money transaction skills. PARC prepares individuals for independent living, reading, writing, and more. Their Bloom program helps disabled artisans prepare products to sell at boutiques, with the artisan receiving the proceeds.

PARC has custodial service contracts with Hill Field, Tooele, and Brigham City, employing 130. PARC also assembles kits for the U.S. military, such as climbing, cold weather, and ammunition kits. "We know there are people out there that could use our services. I encourage caregivers and business owners to reach out," invited Ken. "We have a wealth of resources."

He is changing lives, and giving meaning and purpose to others.

By Ann Park

Ryan started Connection Publishing in 2016 with the support from his wife Melissa. Launching with a single magazine and a goal of creating “connection” in the community. As the first publication date approached and he had spent all his time selling ads, he quickly enrolled his wife Melissa to help generate articles, recipes and other content.

Now in 2023, Connection Media Co. has grown to include five print magazines and a full range of digital marketing products, as well as branding and marketing education. Ryan wrote The Get Attention Marketing Handbook that he uses as the curriculum for his courses. He recently partnered with Ogden Technical CollegeCustom Fit to offer marketing training to business owners. Our team now includes seven employees and fifteen contractors, who sell advertising, create designs, manage the office, and support the company. “No matter how much we grow, our goal is still the same, to create connection.”

Ryan supports the community by building up other businesses. “I look up to small business owners like sports fans look up to their favorite athletes,” Ryan says. “There

Ryan Spelts

is something special about someone who wants to build something, often something from nothing.”

Ryan has always loved helping others learn. “In college, I was an education major. But I didn’t like the pay scale, so I decided not to pursue that career.” Instead, Ryan ended up in sales, and quickly became a manager, training others to improve their sales skills.

He still loves teaching and is an excellent communicator. One of his gifts is explaining things so people can easily understand. “I want to be super clear and honest in all my communication. That’s the core of everything I do.”

His goal is to share his skills in a way that helps the local business community grow.

“I want to them do well, to succeed, to be better than they were. I own a small business myself and I teach my best skills in marketing and sales with an emphasis on my favorite people, small business owners. As we help each other, we can grow together.”

Ryan Spelts is innovative and

creative, with a desire to help the local business community grow.

Utah Military Academy

By Bill Cobabe

He has a passion for teaching and mentoring youth.

Nearly fifty years in the military provides Major Workman with an immense background of experience, education, and expertise that is unmatched. After spending nearly two decades as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructor, he recognized that there was something missing. He wanted to find a way to connect with more cadets and help more young people achieve their potential. The Utah Military Academy was established in 2014 to accomplish those missions.

“My greatest moments are when former cadets return and share their successes,” he reports. Former students find success in the military and out, in

college and technical or vocational schools, and in every aspect of life. He loves seeing the light come on in the cadets’ eyes when they start to realize their potential and accomplish things that seemed impossible.

The Academy is neither a reform school nor a funnel to the military. Only about 35% of cadets at the Academy go on to join the military. Rather, the Academy is a place for young people to experience education as they find their own paths forward. The school offers programs for those interested in music, art, computers, flying, athletics/team sports, medical fields, and many others. The Academy has also established relationships with Weber State, OTEC and DATC to help provide cadets with additional resources and opportunities. Cadets have found success with service academies, and Ivy League schools, along with opportunities for direct admission and scholarships with several universities.

BY SABRINA LEE

Box office records have been obliterated with the new Barbie movie raking in over 1 billion dollars, and with that has come a new interest and surge in the doll itself.

Young viewers are being introduced to the brand, and us old folks are reminiscing and digging through our storage units to find our old dolls. It is estimated that leading up to and after the movie’s release there has been a 25% increase in the Barbie brand’s value.

Barbie was founded by Ruth Handler in 1959 after seeing her daughter project her dreams and aspirations onto fashion with her paper dolls. At the time, baby dolls were the only similar product on the market. On a trip to Europe in 1956, Ruth and her daughter spotted a doll in a window shop named Bild Lilli. Bild Lilli was based on a German comic strip of a secretary that pursued rich men in provocative poses and clothes. The attraction for Ruth was that she was an adult looking doll with real curves and long legs, perfect for a fashion doll. Ruth tweaked the doll to have less sexual appeal after doing test groups with little girls and their mothers. She was able to sell the idea to her coworkers at Mattel, a company which she co-created in 1945. Production was done in Japan, due to the cheaper costs, and in 1959, Barbie made her debut as the premier fashion doll for little girls.

Not Just a Doll

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

I played with Barbies as a child in the 80’s and 90’s and even collected them in the early 2000’s. I probably have over 300 Barbies in storage, melted by the intense heat trapped within the unit. But I can remember anytime we went to the mall, I begged to go into FAO Schwartz and look at the collector dolls in the big glass cases with their dresses puffed out. The Barbie dolls of my youth are not the Barbie dolls of today. The company has transformed the doll to represent girls/ women of all ethnic backgrounds, shapes, and sizes. But at its core, the purpose of the Barbie Doll has stayed the same. It is meant to empower little girls to encourage, dream, and to teach them that they can be anything they want to be.

Barbie was founded by Ruth Handler in 1959 after seeing her daughter project her dreams and aspirations onto fashion with her paper dolls.

A North Ogden resident shared her large collection of vintage Barbies that she, her children and grandchildren have enjoyed through the years.

Lesli Niebergall's 20-Year old Mary Kay Edition Barbie, still in the original box.

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS

Date: September 13-November 15 (10 week course, Wednesdays)

Time: 5:30 - 7 PM

Location: OTECH BDO Campus 918 W. 2nd St. Bldg. 10A Ogden, UT 84404

Cost: $999

Up to 40% Custom Fit reimbursement for qualified companies

Instructor: Ryan Spelts

Welcome to Our New Look

To readers, the designs inside a magazine might not be obvious, and that’s precisely the idea. A good magazine design should subtly compliment and flavor the written content and photos without stealing the show. Our design team has been working on modernizing and simplifying Connection’s layout and tidying up the overall look and feel of our magazine. Our goal was to create cleaner, more readable pages for you to linger in, and subtle designs you are drawn to but not distracted by. Take a look through the pages and let us know what you think.

Table of Contents

Our Contents page is iconic of the overall redesign of the magazine. We’re using larger images with shorter, more condensed blocks of text. We also combined our Connection Team page with the current issue contributors page, both to allow for more space for our Mayor’s message and make the pages cleaner and less redundant.

Before

Fonts

After

Other Changes

We created a new mini-feature design, a new history page icon and title, and we removed page headers to give your eyes more space in between design and text. Larger, thinner headlines are more modern and don’t distract from images

Feed the fam in a FLASH

Batch cooking methods and freezer meal recipes for busy families

WITH ANNIE ROSKELLEY

PHOTOS BY MELISSA SPELTS

There are so many methods of feeding your family in a short amount of time. I recommend experimenting and finding what works for you. Many blogs have rules on foods you shouldn’t freeze. My opinion is that there are no rules! If you don’t mind the texture changes that can occur to food after being frozen then go ahead and make meals using those ingredients and enjoy them!

DOUBLE BATCH OR BIG BATCH COOKING

My first method for batch cooking meals is double batch cooking. I’ll make a double batch of whatever I’m making and freeze half for another night. It’s a great tactic for soups and stews, burritos, sloppy joes, philly cheesesteaks, and lots of other easy meals.

Big batch cooking, in my opinion is the best way to stock up on family favorites if you have extra time to spare. I’ll cook 2-3 big pots of the same food and portion it into meal sizes that meet my family’s needs. You can also experiment with making 2-3 pots of meals with overlapping ingredients, for example, chili, taco meat, and sloppy joes.

White Bean Chili

I make a double batch for my family, adjust as needed for your family size. This is my mom’s recipe, it’s very nostalgic dish for me since we have it at almost every family soup potluck.

2 lbs. ground pork or ground turkey

1 small onion, diced

2-4 cloves garlic, minced

2 15-oz. cans great northern or white beans, drained and rinsed

2 4-oz. cans diced green chilis

1 Tbsp. (3 cubes) chicken bouillon

1-2 tsp. ground cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: you can make a roux when the meat is cooked or use a cornstarch slurry to thicken when it’s almost done cooking. In a large pot, add a splash of oil and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes or until they start to soften. Add in the ground pork and brown it. Add the garlic, cumin, and other spices as desired and stir for an additional minute or two. Dump in the rest of the ingredients and 1-2 cups of water depending on how brothy or thick you like your soup. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, being sure to taste the seasonings. Serve with any toppings as desired. Portion into the freezer containers of your choice, put them in the fridge and freeze once cooled. For serving, use green tomatillo salsa, avocado, cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream, or whatever else your family likes.

Continued on page 26

Annie Roskelley is a busy mom of three who always loved cooking until her children started having opinions about food. She collects mac and cheese recipes and loves trying new recipes and ingredients from around the world. Annie is returning to Weber State University in the fall to get a master’s degree in social work.

CROCKPOT DUMP MEALS

A popular method of batch cooking is crockpot dump meals. You fill however many freezer bags of the same meal, freeze, rinse and repeat for as many other meals as desired, and then eventually dump into a slow cooker or instapot on the day you want to cook. Assembly is much faster when you add the same ingredient to each bag and then move along to the next ingredient. This is also a great way to take advantage of meat sales as they happen, especially when you’re buying a 40-pound box of chicken.

Honey Sesame Chicken

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 small onion, diced (optional)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp. oil

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

Sesame oil

Sesame seeds

Green onions

Rice for serving

Dump all liquid ingredients and spices into a freezer bag and squish until mixed. Add chicken. Freeze. Dump into crockpot on low for 4-6 hours. Stir in 1 tsp. sesame oil and sliced green onions, serve over rice. Optional: add in a bag of frozen broccoli or stir fry veggies for the last 30 minutes to an hour.

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs

20 oz. can pineapple chunks

(recommend fresh if you have the patience for that)

1 green pepper, cut into chunks

1 small onion, cut into chunks

1 tsp. dried ginger

2-3 garlic cloves, minced (or replace with powder)

2-3 garlic cloves, minced (or replace with powder)

1 cup BBQ sauce

Honey or sugar to taste (optional)

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper (1/2 tsp. each and add more as needed)

Drain around half of the pineapple juice if using canned, dump all ingredients into a freezer bag, and lay flat until frozen. On the day of cooking, add to slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours. If desired, shred or cut chicken and serve with rice.

Honey Rosemary Chicken

2 lbs. chicken thighs

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp. dried rosemary (can use thyme)

Salt and pepper to taste

Minced garlic (optional)

Mix all liquid ingredients in freezer bag, add chicken, and squish it around to ensure it’s coated. Freeze. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred or cut chicken as desired. Serve with your choice of rice, potatoes, pasta, or bread. Time permitting, you can cut the chicken into 1–2-inch chunks before freezing for faster cooking.

For me, the key to filling your freezer is using a few different methods so you can spend as little as five minutes, or as much as all day getting meals prepped to make your life easier on any given day.

COMPONENT COOKING

Another of my go-to methods is component cooking. The best example of this is meatballs. If you have a bag of meatballs in the freezer, you can make spaghetti and meatballs, Swedish meatballs, etc., and not have to worry about mixing, rolling, and cooking the meatballs on a busy night. I do this with my favorite pasta sauces too. The sauce takes 45 minutes to an hour, and I’ll cook a larger batch of the meat portion all at once. Then all I have to do is warm it up while I’m cooking pasta, add in the last couple ingredients that don’t freeze well, and viola, dinner is served in 20 minutes.

Continued on page 29

Meatballs Three Ways

Feel free to use your family’s favorite meatball recipe, but I recommend going with a more neutral flavored meatball so that you don’t have an Italian style of meatball competing with a sweet and sour sauce.

1 lb. ground pork

1 lb. ground beef

1/4 cup milk

1/2 - 1 cup plain bread crumbs

1-2 eggs

1 small onion, finely diced or shredded

1-2 cloves garlic, minced (can use powder)

1/2 cup grated parmesan

cheese (optional)

Freshly ground nutmeg (optional)

Salt, pepper, and various spices to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out the meat as balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet until there is none left. We usually use a small scoop so they’re around golf ball size, but feel free to use a big scoop if you want. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Allow to cool to room temperature. Portion into freezer bags and freeze until needed.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Your favorite Sweet and sour sauce, bell peppers, onions, pineapple, mushrooms, and serve with rice.

My Mom’s Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup pineapple juice (from drained can)

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1/2 tsp. each of garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger

Mix all ingredients and boil for 1-2 minutes until thickened.

BBQ Meatballs

Your favorite BBQ sauce. We love Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ.

Swedish Meatballs

4 Tbsp. butter

1/3 cup flour

1 14.5-oz. can each, chicken & beef broth Sour cream, salt and pepper to taste Freshly ground nutmeg (optional)

WET AND DRY METHOD

One bonus method isn’t really a freezer meal technique, it’s making mixes of your favorite spice blends, cakes, oatmeal, etc. Once all the dry ingredients are mixed together, you can toss in the wet ingredients when you’re ready to cook it. I’ve included my children’s favorite jar mix at the end, but we’ve done chai tea mixes (my hubby’s favorite), noodle or rice mixes, soups, pastas, and various spice blends (usually taco seasoning and a tandoori or garam masala blend).

Breakfast Cake (Baked Oatmeal)

My kids love breakfast cake and ask me to bake it all the time. It’s super easy to toss the dry ingredients into a quart sized mason jar (pint is just barely too small) and have a few jars on hand for busier mornings or afternoons. If doing jars, I recommend doing an assembly

line by adding a single ingredient to all the jars before moving on the next ingredient. The original recipe was from a Pioneer Woman cookbook, but I’ve modified it to fit what my family likes. You can easily add in a finely chopped apple (my favorite) dried fruit, nuts, or swap some of the liquid ingredients for pumpkin puree or applesauce.

2 1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1-2 tsp. ground cinnamon (swap w/ pumpkin pie spice, chai spice, or whatever you like)

1/2 tsp. kosher salt (1/4 tsp. fine table salt)

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup melted butter

Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add in eggs, milk, and vanilla, stirring to combine. Mix in melted butter. Spread into a greased, 9x9 baking dish and bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes, or until set and golden brown around the edges; you can use a 9x13 dish as well. Start checking for doneness around 22-25 minutes. Not optional for my kids: sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and serve.

LOVE TO COOK?

We’re looking for local recipes to feature in the magazines and on whattoeat4dinner. com. If you’re interested in collaborating with us, email cindy@ connectionpub. com and let’s get cooking!

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MADE FOR YOU MENU PLAN AND RECIPES. MAKE A MASTER SHOPPING LIST AND PRINT OR SEND TO YOUR PHONE FOR EASY MEAL AND GROCERY SHOPPING. Menu plan curated by Deidre Roush

SEPTEMBER

What to Eat 4 Dinner is here to make meal preparation enjoyable and stress-free.

WHATTOEAT4DINNER.COM

Roast served with baked potato slices, and green beans

Instant Pot BBQ

Pulled Pork served on buns with coleslaw & fresh fruit

Overnight Oatmeal

Sheet Pan Nachos

Baked Chicken with veggies and peaches & cream for dessert

Huevos Rancheros

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Potato, Pepper, & Sausage Bake

Baked Ziti served with garlic bread and broccoli

Crepe Night

English Muffin egg,bacon, ham, sausage sandwiches served with orange slices or grapfruit

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Smokey Chickpea, Red Lentil, and Vegetable Soup

Honey Sesame Chicken Zucchini Bisque One Pot Philly Cheesesteak Pasta 20-Minute

Garlic Chicken served with rice and asparagus

Greek Pasta Salad

Baked Potato Bar Night

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

Our Favorite Burger

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