North Ogden Connection December 2020

NORTH OGDEN CONNECTION

THE MAYOR & CITY COUNCILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOLIDAY FEATURE

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December 2020

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+ F R O M T H E M AY O R

CONNECTIONPUBLISHING North Ogden & Pleasant View Connection are published monthly by Connection Publishing© www.northogdenconnection.com ryan@connectionpub.com | (801)721-3762 PUBLISHER Ryan Spelts GRAPHIC DESIGN Kristina Case WRITERS Mayor Neal Berube Jon Call Lynne Bexell Jenny Goldsberry Hailey Minton Ann Park Melissa Spelts AD DESIGN Robert Dodd Abigail Rigby Crystal Rappleye EDITORS Carolyn White Hailey Minton Brittany Carroll

CONNECT WITH US! News, contests, photos from readers and lots more! We love hearing from you! northogdenconnection Connection Publishing www.connectionpub.com

Merry Christmas!

y observations over the years would lead me to believe that whether one is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or something else at this time of year, there seems to be a willingness to reach out to others in a more positive manner. Many of you are familiar with the story of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. If not, I would encourage you to become so. The story takes place in a town called Whoville where everyone is excited about Christmas except the misanthropic Grinch. Cindy Lou Who, a six-year-old, befriends the Grinch and decides to make him the center of attention at the town’s Christmas celebration. To make a long story shorter, the Grinch participated in the celebration, but got ticked off and stole all the gifts in town. The town’s people were outraged. Lou Lou Who, Cindy Lou’s dad, reminds the people that they don’t need gifts and takes the opportunity to remind everyone that Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. The people finally recognize this truth and break out in joyous singing, which the Grinch hears and he too recognizes that Christmas means much more than material gifts. In fact, as a result of this realization the Grinch’s heart grows to three times its normal size. He returns the town’s gifts and everyone lives happily ever after. It would be nice if things were that simple in the real world and everyone lived happily thereafter, but unfortunately that is not the case. I would like to share a few things we can learn from the above story along with a few thoughts of my own. People can be sad and discouraged for reasons we may not understand. It is not ours to judge, but it is a great opportunity to reach out and offer a hand of compassion and help. Don’t get stressed out about material gifts during the season, but instead spend time with family, friends and coworkers strengthening relationships. Who can even remember what material gift they received for Christmas last year? However, you can probably remember vividly how you were treated throughout the year by those around you. Let your heart grow bigger and softer and forget about all those things that upset you and make you angry. Reflect upon the things you have instead of worrying about things you want.

If you'd like to advertise in our publications that reach over 10,000 homes in North Ogden, please contact Melinda Hortin at 801-645-5054 or melinda@connectionpub. com, for ad rates and to receive a media kit.

If you see someone who needs a helping hand have the courage to let them know you are willing to help. Serving others can help minimize our own problems.

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

If you’re lonely find someone else who feels the same way and have a socially distanced party. (:

Have hope that things will get better and just like the people of Whoville, understand that joy and happiness can come from the little things .

It’s my hope that we won’t wait for the holidays to be more like the people of Whoville, but that we can find joy in the little things and reach out to others throughout the year. Happy holidays and may 2021 be a much better year! Mayor Berube

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 3

in this issue

DECEMBER The Connection Publishing Team Meet the people behind the pages of our magazines! ‘TIS THE SEASON! We asked our staff what their favorite Christmas movie and snack is. Ryan Spelts Publisher/Owner Melissa Spelts Owner Rhett Long Sales VP

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Abigail Rigby Ad Design

CONTENTS 5

Crystal Rappleye Ad Design

CITY NEWS

Our city council’s favorite Christmas movie and snack selections! pg. 16

COMMUNITY Calendar of Events A Look Back Students of the Month Make-A-Wish 22 BUSINESS Bryson’s Rock Shop

ON OUR COVER 16 Favorite Christmas Movie and Snack

Cover photo by Melissa Spelts

Special Advertisement Pages Heiner's Insurance Center IntegraLAW Wasatch Peaks Credit Union Rocky Mountain Dermatology

CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Vy Trinh Sales Leadership Melinda Hortin Sales Kim Crook Media Manager Ann Park Sales & Writer Hailey Minton Editor & Writer Jenny Goldsberry Writer Scott Jones Sales

northogdenconnection

Kristina Case Graphic Design

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“Christmas Bah! Humbug! Christmas Carol Fanatic. George C. Scott would have to be my all time fav. As for snack. I guess what’s ever is in the house that sounds good at the time.”

Robert Dodd Graphic Design of Roy Connection, and Ad Design

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and my aunt Chris’s Kiflin cookies.”

FOOD

+ CITY NEWS

City of North Ogden COMMUNITY QUESTION CORNER BY JON CALL, CITY MANAGER/ATTORNEY

If you live in North Ogden City and receive a North Ogden City utility bill, then I have GOOD NEWS! Beginning in July 2015 North Ogden City began to collect a $3 month Utility Transportation Fee, which was billed on your monthly utility statement. In a recent court decision that involved Pleasant Grove Utah, the Fourth District Court ruled that the collection of this type of fee was technically a tax, and was collected inappropriately. It is anticipated this decision may be appealed by Pleasant Grove, and there is also the possibility that the Utah State Legislature may clarify the current law pertaining to this type of fee. Because of the uncertainty regarding the ability of cities to collect a Transportation Utility Fee, the city made the decision to suspend the collection of the $3 fee, and is now refunding your utility account up to $36. The refund is based on how many times you were billed during the months of February 2019 and January 2020. For instance, if you were billed nine out of those twelve months, then you will be refunded $27. The refund process will be reflected on the November billing statement (mailed December 1st). Please be patient and limit phones calls. The city is working diligently to provide these refunds. If you would like to donate these funds, please send a check to North Ogden City. If you have questions about proper procedures, city code, building permits, community events, how-to's, .or other city-related questions, please send an email to jcall@nogden.org.

Employee of the Month Jon Call, City Manager/Attorney Jon Call has been with North Ogden City since July of 2017 as the City Manager/ Attorney; he also provided legal services to the city prior to 2017. His role is critical to the successful operations of the city as he works closely with employees, the mayor, city council, and the public. Jon is very knowledgeable and professional; he always strives for perfection, but is very modest in his successes. He handles concerns in a timely manner and has the ability to manage confrontations with civility. He is pleasant, helpful, kind, and treats everyone with respect and dignity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon has made it a priority to make sure that employees’ needs have been met, and that they are comfortable with their working conditions. He has made arrangements, when possible, to accommodate those who wish to work from home. He puts a great deal of effort into making the city run more efficiently, and puts an emphasis on transparency in governing our growing community. We are very fortunate to have Jon as a part of our team. His work ethic and dedication is a great asset to North Ogden City.

North Ogden City Can Help Questions? Do you have a question or concern? Please call us at 801-7827211 so we can assist you properly. We do not monitor other non-city sites and can’t respond to messages with incomplete information. Please allow us the opportunity to give you our best customer service. Thank you.

Service Requests

Did you know you are a few clicks away from service? If you have a request for service (pothole, sign down, garbage can repairs, etc.) visit www.northogdencity.com and click on “Report Concern.” Fill in the blanks and your request is on its way to us.

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 5

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northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

Which One Should I Follow? The city has many ways to provide information on-line BY LYNNE BEXELL As a city we have done our best to keep our residents updated on news, city events, and other happenings around North Ogden. Going paperless has become more of a trend since the early 2000’s, not only by residents but also the businesses we have forged relationships with, in order to provide information to everyone. Since that time, beginning in 2009 when we started the first Facebook page, we have added several other pages on Facebook. We have also upgraded our City website to be a place that residents can access any information they may need, and we started emailing out a monthly newsletter. Although going paperless has its perks, we realize that trying to reach all our residents on a digital platform is not as easy for some as it is for others. We do try to utilize the North Ogden Connection magazine when possible, and also have some notices printed on your utility bill. However these avenues are not very efficient when it comes to last-minute happenings

like road closures, water breaks, changes at the pool, and council meeting agendas, etc. We also realize that many things happening around the city may not always pertain to you, so being signed up for ALL our resources may seem like overkill. In order to help get the word out and also help you decide what avenues work best for you, we have compiled the attached list to assist you, to make decisions easier. We encourage our residents to sign up for whichever means of communication works best for you. If you’re good with monthly communications, the eNewsletter and North Ogden Connection magazine are probably going to be the one you choose. If you’d like to stay up to date daily or even weekly, we encourage you to make it a habit to follow any of the Facebook groups that pertain to you and check out our website frequently. These will be the sources we use for the most up-to-date information in North Ogden.

Find us on Facebook! Official North Ogden City Pages  CITY ADMINISTRATION City Administration information including city council and other meetings; projects, general information about happenings in each of our departments, special events, updates from the Mayor, elections, etc. www.facebook.com/ NorthOgdenCityUtah

 PUBLIC WORKS Trash updates, road closures, leaf truck updates, information pertaining to the green waste pit days and hours, spring & fall cleanup, water main breaks, signing up & terminating utility accounts, information on how to make your utility payments, and snow plow information. www.facebook.com/ NorthOgdenPublicWorks

 PARKS AND RECREATION Information on recreation sport signups and events such as Cherry Days,

Trunk or Treat, Chalk it-Up, Music in the Park, park updates and closures, and other miscellaneous events scheduled throughout the year. www.facebook.com/ NorthOgdenParksandRecreation

 NORTH SHORE AQUATIC CENTER Information regarding season opening and closing, lifeguard training, hiring, unexpected changes to hours, and special events. www.facebook.com/ NorthShoreAquaticCenter

NORTH OGDEN CITY WEBSITE:

www.northogdencity.com Sign up for the monthly eNewsletter or view our calendar of city events, city council meeting agendas, city code information; city COVID updates, pet licensing information, business licensing information; building and planning requirements, and contact information for each of our city offices.

 POLICE DEPARTMENT Weekly police call breakdown, dog licensing, changes to court times or schedules, code enforcement information, police department specific information, and clean out your cabinet medicine events. www.facebook.com/ NorthOgdenPD

 ANIMAL SERVICES Dog licensing information, lost & found animal posts, and information on keeping your animals safe. www.facebook.com/ North-Ogden-City-AnimalServices-684965588375743

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 7

+ CITY NEWS

The Cherry on Top: Officer Rhoades The Cherry on Top recognizes Officer Robert Rhoades, who was one of the officers who responded to a trespassing call. Recently, officers from the North Ogden Police Department were called by Lee’s Marketplace employees, regarding a gentleman who had entered the store prior to the store opening. The individual was asked to leave, but refused to do so. The police officers on the scene thought the man may have a medical issue, so they requested assistance from paramedics. Upon arrival, the paramedics noticed that the man wore a medical bracelet which indicated that he was suffering from progressive

dementia. After paramedics checked his vitals, the gentleman was released to his wife, who attempted to get him into their car. However, the gentleman refused to leave until he got a Mountain Dew, which was his initial reason for going to the store. His wife was frustrated, and didn’t quite know what to do. Suddenly, North Ogden Police Officer Rhoades showed up with a bottle of Mountain Dew! We want to thank Officer Rhoades for being kind and compassionate to this man; we are lucky to have such a fine officer working for North Ogden City.

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northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

FOOD CITY NEWS

Flood Zones

Key Community Contacts

Questions regarding flood zones should be directed to Lorin Gardner, City Engineer, at 801-782-8111. FEMA flood maps are available for your review at the city offices. We also have elevation certificates.

Mayor: Neal Berube: 801-686-0688 nberube@nogden.org

Questions, comments, accolades? Go to www.northogdencity.com/i-want-to/contact-us or see community contacts, right, for information.

Council Members: Cheryl Stoker: 801-782-9302 cstoker@nogden.org Phillip Swanson: 801-940-2111 pswanson@nogden.org Charlotte Ekstrom: 801-920-6987 cekstrom@nogden.org

City Council Meetings The Mayor and Council welcome your input and attendance at the council meetings held the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month starting at 6 p.m. Work sessions are held as needed on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Check www.northogdencity.com for changes.

Blake Cevering: 801-549-8202 bcevering@nogden.org Ryan Barker: 801-814-4306 rbarker@nogden.org City Hall: 801-782-7211

For more news www.northogdencity.com

Planning:

801-737-2215 Rob Scott - rscott@nogden.org

City Recorder: 801-737-9830 Annette Spendlove - aspend@nogden.org Building:

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801-737-9831 Bruce Higley - bhigley@nogden.org

Police: Business 801-782-7219 Dispatch 801-629-8221 Emergency 911 Chief Dirk Quinney dquinney@nogden.org Paul Rhoades - prhoades@nogden.org Public Works: 801-782-8111 David Espinoza - despinoza@nogden.org Shelly Robison - srobison@nogden.org Parks & Recreation: 801-737-0587 Tiffany Staheli - tstaheli@nogden.org Becca Godfrey - bgodfrey@nogden.org Jesse Felter - jfelter@nogden.org Justin Rasmussen - jrasmussen@nogden.org Nik Brown - n.brown@nogden.org City Manager/ City Attorney: Jon Call - jcall@nogden.org 801-737-9846 Senior Center: Zella Richards: 801-782-6211

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 9

+ COMMUNITY

December Calendar of Events NORTH VIEW SENIOR CENTER Take-out lunches are available at the North View Senior Center for Seniors 60 years old and above. Call Zella(801) 782-6211 to order your lunch. Call the day before you want to pick lunches up, or on a Friday, for Monday’s lunch. Upon receiving your meal, a three dollar donation will be appreciated. Mon - Fri 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Dec 7 - Jan 15: Food Drive. Drop off donated items inside front door. Thank you for your donations. Call 801-7826211 if you have any questions.

LIBRARY EVENTS New Service: Book Bundles Parents and caregivers, there is a new way to get quick access to reading materials for children ages 0-12 years old. Call your library location and let the staff know the reading level and topic(s) your child is interested in, and the staff will do the rest. Book Bundles, which are available in English and Spanish, include resources to help you teach your students.Staff will notify you when your bundle of 5-10 books is ready. At check out, each book in the Bundle will be placed on your account, but items can be returned separately at any of the five Weber County Libraries. For more information or to start your bundle, call (801) 337-2652 New Collection: Binge Boxes One checkout, multiple movies. Binge Boxes contain 4-6 movies based on a theme, an actor, a director, a genre ~ anything! Movie lovers of all ages will find a set they love. Binge Boxes are now available at the Main Library for browsing. Patrons may use the Library catalog at https://www. weberpl.org to find a Binge Box, place a hold, and have their selection delivered to their Weber County Library location for checkout and pickup. Binge Boxes may be checked out for up to seven

days. To learn more, call 801-337-2636. Word Puzzles Dec 1-31: Word Puzzles. Grades K-6. Word puzzles will be available at your Library during the month of December. Stop by the Youth Services desk and try them all! Virtual Programs Check out Weber County Library’s virtual programming content! New videos are shared online and via the Library’s Facebook page. To watch the latest videos, visit: www.weberpl.org Art at Home: Watercolor Landscape Tutorial Learn the basics for painting landscapes with watercolor. The instructional video can be found at https://vimeo.com/showcase/wclartathome . Craft at Home: Tea Light Snowmen Video available Dec 1 Tea light snowmen can be made into ornaments, magnets, and pins, or they can be used to decorate wreaths and holiday arrangements. Pick up your kit at your Library location while supplies last. The instructional video can be found at https://vimeo.com/showcase/wclcrafting . Cuentos en Español Un programa en español con historias y canciones para toda la familia. Novel Teen Book Talks Get reading recommendations just for teens from Weber County Library staff. Zoom Programs Wednesdays and Thursdays: Dungeons & Dragons Ages 12-18. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Register: 801-337-2660 Dec 1: Kahoot! Teen Trivia Historical Edition 7 p.m. Register: 801-337-2639 Ages 12-18. Put your smarts to the test and join us for a night of Kahoot history trivia. This program will be held via Zoom; a computer and an email address are required. Dec 9: Teen Drawing 4 p.m. Register: 801-337-2639 Ages 12-18. Learn illustration fundamentals that will boost your skills to the next

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

level. This program will be held via Zoom; a computer and an email address are required.

SCHOOL EVENTS Weber High Dec 1: Boys Basketball @ Kearns 3:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Girls Basketball @ Bountiful 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Dec 3: PTA Meeting 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Swimming @ Weber 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Wrestling @ Weber 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Girls Basketball @ Highland 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Dec 4: Quarters and Cans Kick off Assembly | Debate Competition 3:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Dec 5: Swimming County/District Championship | Debate Competition 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Wrestling @ Syracuse 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 7: Choir - Cone Concert @ Weber 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 8: Swimming @ Weber 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Girls Basketball @ Weber 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Dec 10: Boys Basketball @ American Fork 4:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Wrestling @ Weber 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 11: Boys Basketball @ American Fork 4:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Dec 12: ACT Test 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Boys Basketball @ American Fork 4:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. | Wrestling @ Green Canyons 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 14: Choir Holiday Concert @ Weber 7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dec 15: Boys Basketball @ Weber 3:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Swimming @ Roy 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Girls Basketball @ Hunter 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. | Holiday Band Concert @ Weber 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 16 - 17: Orchestra Recruiting Tour Dec 17: Wrestling @ Weber 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Orchestra Holiday Concert 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dec 18: Swimming @ Ogden High 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Dec 19: Wrestling @ Weber 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Dec 22: Holiday Assembly | Early Out | Girls Basketball @ Weber 3:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. | Boys Basketball Endowment 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Dec 23 - Jan 1: Winter Break - No School Dec 29: Girls Basketball Endowment 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Dec 30: Boys Basketball @ Skyview 3:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Girls Basketball @ Ben Lomond 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. North Ogden Jr Dec 1: NAL @ NOJH | Volleyball @ NOJH Dec 4: NAL @ Orion | Volleyball @ Orion Dec 8: Volleyball Playoffs Dec 10: NAL Playoffs Dec 11: Volleyball Championship Dec 15: NAL Championship Dec 23 - Jan 1: Winter Break - No School Orion Jr Dec 1: Volleyball / NAL @ Roy 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Dec 4: Auditions for the School Musical 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Volleyball / NAL Games @ Orion 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Dec 7: School Musical Call Backs 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Dec 8: Volleyball Playoffs Dec 9: Boys Basketball Tryouts 2:15 p.m.

- 5:15 p.m. Dec 10: NAL Playoffs Dec 11: Volleyball Championship Game Dec 15: NAL Championship game 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Dec 16: Choir Concert @ Weber High 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dec 22: Early Out Dec 23 - Jan 1: Christmas Break Majestic Elementary Dec 22: Early Out

FUN THINGS TO DO Dec 1 - Jan 2: Lumazelights Indoor Christmas Light Festival @ The Salt Palace visit lumazelights.com for tickets Dec 2: Simple Treasures Holiday Boutique @ Golden Spike Event Center 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Virtual Wild Wednesdays: Animals and Plants Prepare for Winter @ Ogden Nature Center Facebook Page 3:45 p.m. Dec 4 - 5: Craft Lake City Holiday Market In Person @ The Monarch Venues 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Dec 16: Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Christmas Concert @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Virtual Wild Wednesdays: Nature’s Hoarders @

Ogden Nature Center Facebook Page 3:45 p.m. Dec 23: Utah Symphony: Here Comes Santa Claus @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Virtual Wild Wednesdays: Snow, Snow, Snow! @ Ogden Nature Center Facebook Page 3:45 p.m. Dec 28: The Greatest Showman SingAlong @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.; Costumes highly encouraged. Tickets now on sale. Dec 31: Bull Wars @ Golden Spike Event Center 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

CITY EVENTS Dec 1: City Council Meeting 6 p.m. Dec 2: Planning Commissions meeting 6:30 p.m. Dec 8: City Council Meeting 6 p.m. Dec 9: Public Safety Building Committee Meeting 6 p.m. Dec 16: Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m. Dec 20 - 23: The North Pole @ Barker Park 5:30 p.m. Dec 22: City Council Meeting 6 p.m. Dec 25: Christmas - City Offices Closed

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 11

+ A LOOK BACK

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS This year, we’re sharing some of the locals’ holiday traditions. Maybe you’ve heard of these traditions before, or maybe you’d just like to give them a try yourself. Behind every one is a fascinating history, originating from the families of North Ogden citizens. We hope that reading these stories will get you in the holiday spirit. BY JENNY GOLDSBERRY

Lindsey Myers: Every year on each of the six nights leading up to Christmas Eve, the kids put their shoes in the windowsill. If the kids have been good, they get candy from the elves. If not, the elves bring coal or a rock. My parents used to remind us to be good by telling us, “The elves are watching!” I believe it’s an old Scandinavian tradition that has been passed down through our family for several generations. My mother’s maiden name was Prawitt (which is actually German), but a lot of her ancestry came from the Scandinavian countries. My mother’s grandma grew up in Germany. After WWI and the inflation that followed, their family suffered a lot of hardships. They worked as farmers and saved their money for 14 years to immigrate to the United States, and they ended up settling in North Ogden, Utah, around 1929. The next three generations were raised in North Ogden. My grandparents lived in the Ogden area their entire lives. My grandpa George Prawitt, son of the woman that immigrated to the United States, still lives in North Ogden, at 86 years old. George married Diana Van Alfen, whose parents traveled here from the Netherlands. Their daughter, Laurie Prawitt, was my mother; she passed away in 2018. Mom married Mike Foley and had seven children, six of which still live in northern Utah. I’m number five of seven, and I continue their traditions with my own kids. Sarah Weaver: My parents would buy each of the kids a new ornament for each year, usually related to something that had happened during the year. We’d all decorate the tree together and reminisce 12

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

about the ornaments and the memories attached, as we pulled them out each year. Finally after we started to grow up and move away, our parents gave us our box of ornaments to start our own trees with. I’ve carried the tradition on with my kids now, and they love to look back on the memories made each year too. Weber High School: Weber High has a tradition that started in 1986. Quarters and Cans raises money to help local families WHS teachers Mrs. Kinghorn and Mrs. Hodges have a help find gifts for those in need. good Christmas, and the program also assists those families struggling financially. Families, students, and businesses unite together and donate money and canned goods. Food and gifts have been delivered to needy families every year since its inception. Last year, they beat the previous year’s fundraising record.

Marilyn Love Thorstensen: When the extended family got too big to do dinner together, we created “Pie Night.” We all get together the night before Thanksgiving and have the piece of pie we will be too full to eat on Thanksgiving Day. And of course, we visit with our cousins, aunts and uncles then as well. Krystal Stokes Barker: We do a pie night as well, but we do it the Saturday after Thanksgiving! It’s so fun to enjoy family, and the pie we couldn’t get to on Thanksgiving. Suzanne McDougal: Our multiple-generational family tradition is to make homemade individual meat pies with gravy for everyone, and then getting together on Christmas Eve (all 60 of us sometimes), to eat them. My mother, who passed away eighteen months ago, taught several generations of children and grandchildren (and even some great grandchildren) to make pies (even when we had prime rib once to save everyone some work). Everyone revolted and said they weren’t coming if we didn’t have meat pies!

Christmas. Once, the car ran out of gas (found out the gauge was broken). Another time, there was a horrible blizzard ~ so bad that the suitcases and duffle bag blew off of the station wagon! (Dad was willing to search in the blizzard for the precious cargo). Years later, Dad and Mom confessed that Santa knew we weren’t going to be “My other home, so he came by early and dropped off grandma the presents which had been stashed in made the those bags. My dad risked his life in that traditional blizzard to get those packages! How I miss Christmas him. We would always leave the day after Stockings for school closed for the holiday. It was a great each child as yearly family reunion! I loved playing with they were the “cuzins”. My other grandma made the born.” traditional Christmas Stockings for each child as they were born. They were made with narrow corduroy and decorated with handmade designs. Tracy Twine Wiesenberg: Our Christmas tradition started about 25 years ago. We started doing a Children’s Nativity as a neighbor gift.

Robin Rhoades: My family would travel to grandma’s house every year for

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+ COMMUNITY

Students of the Month Preston Palmer Weber High School Preston is such a kind, thoughtful student. He is always willing to help with whatever he can. Preston is constantly asking if there is more he can do after he finishes a task. He has a great attitude, and we really enjoy having Preston work as a student aide in the counseling office. ~WHS Counseling

Annaston Koer Orion Jr. High School Anna is a 7th grader at Orion Junior High. Her favorite class is English, and she says her favorite part of attending Orion is that she has more independence. Anna loves hanging out with her friends and family. She shows up to school each and every day with a smile on her face, and spreads cheer everywhere she goes. Anna likes to interact with others, and has a very contagious smile and personality. She is outgoing, a lot of fun to be around, and a joy to have at Orion. Congratulations, Anna!

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

Aiden Nelson North Ogden Junior High School Aiden Nelson has been a joy to have as -a student! She is one of those students who has a true thirst for knowledge. In addition to her desire to learn, she is very quick and efficient at everything she does. She is the first to complete assignments, and is usually ahead of everyone; she learns very quickly. I love that Aiden is willing to help other students who may not learn as easily as she does, or are struggling. Aiden is always respectful of everyone and everything. One of my favorite things about Aiden is that she is very willing to work with anyone, be in any group, and looks for ways she can help peers feel welcome and included in the classroom.

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COUNCIL FAVORITES THE NORTH OGDEN CITY COUNCIL DIVULGES THEIR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES, HOLIDAY TREATS, FAMILY TRADITIONS, AND MOVIE SNACKS. BY HAILEY MINTON

Holiday films certainly have a place in our culture. When I went to Facebook to ask for your favorite Christmas movie quotes, I got more responses than I knew what to do with! I’ll say that Christmas Vacation, Elf, the Grinch, and Home Alone were certainly the most popular. It’s funny how lines from these holiday movies jump into our heads, whether or not it’s the Christmas season. A few months ago when I put my four-month- old daughter in her pink fuzzy bear suit, we couldn’t help but laugh at how cute and bulky she looked. Her appetite for her fists was as strong as ever, even though she

no longer had access to her hands. It reminded us of Ralphie’s brother from A Christmas Story after he was all bundled up to go outside. “I can’t put my arms down!” Other times when I am trying on clothes, I find myself reenacting Jim Carey’s Grinch. “Ooh…. Ahh… Hmmm….That’s it, I’m not going.” Our mayor and city council members have shared a little about themselves and divulged their favorite Christmas movies, holiday treats, movie snacks, and a few family traditions. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to try something new this year!

CHRISTMAS MOVIE COLLECTION

Do you see one of your favorite Christmas movies? Read on to see which favorite movie our city council selected. 16

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

At Mayor Neal Berube’s home, everyone in his family gets a unique t-shirt with some sort of sarcastic saying. It is usually some sort of humorous jab at their profession and they all wear them on Christmas Eve. When they are all together, he makes sausage sandwiches, but he makes his home-made warm sticky buns specially for the wives of his three sons. He has made it a sort of get-away for the moms after they’ve made it through the craziness of Christmas. “The boys get the leftovers, but they’re not warm,” he said with a smile. Mayor Berube enjoys the humor of Will Ferrell in Elf and his go-to snack as he watches it is popcorn with a lot of butter!

Neal Berube

Neal Berube makes his home-made warm sticky buns specially for the wives of his three sons.

Ryan Barker’s favorite part about the holiday season is spending time with his family. He doesn’t have a favorite Christmas movie, but he enjoys the movies they watch together as a family like Elf, Polar Express, and Christmas Vacation with his older kids. He enjoys ALL the holiday treats, but if he had to pick a favorite, it would be Chex Muddy buddies. “Whether making [treats] to deliver to neighbors or enjoying what is brought to us, it’s just a fun time of year.”

Ryan Barker

CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRIVIA 1. “He’s an angry elf.” Lisa Knowles Muns

2. “Keep the change ya filthy animal.” Steven Harkness

Here we have some of our residents’ favorite movie quotes from Christmas movies.

Can you guess what movies they’re from?

3. “If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn’t be more suprised than I am right now.” Matthew Eshbach 4. “Seeing isn’t believing. Beliving is seeing.” Mandi Larsen

5. “Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.” Tom West 6. “I triple-dog dare ya!” Lynn Greenwell Campos

7. “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” Tamra Nield Furqueron ANSWERS: 1. Elf 2. Home Alone 3. Christmas Vacation 4. The Santa Clause 5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) 6. A Christmas Story 7. It’s a Wonderful Life December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 17

“I have lots of favorite recipes! Most of them have been collected from dear friends and family members, so the food is associated with loving memories.” -Charlotte Ekstrom

Charlotte’s Banana Cream Pie Grandma Griffin’s Pie Crust (Single) 1 1/3 cups sifted flour Scant 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup chilled Crisco (I use the sticks) 3 Tbsp. ICE water

Combine flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour mixture until mixture resembles fine gravel. Add water, 1 Tbs at a time, tossing to moisten. Press dough together, handling as minimally as possible. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a half hour. Roll onto floured surface, carefully minimizing handling. Loosen dough from surface with a sharp-edged spatula. Carefully transfer to pie plate. Trim edge and flute as desired. Prick dough with a fork spacing holes about 1/8 inch apart along both bottom and sides. Bake at 425 for 12 minutes. Cool.

Banana Cream Pie Filling 3/4 cup sugar 3 heaping Tbsp cornstarch Dash of salt 2 cups milk 3 egg yolks 2 Tbsp butter 2 tsp vanilla 1 Tbsp banana liqueur 2-3 bananas

Over medium heat, bring sugar, cornstarch, salt, and milk to a boil and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Slightly beat 3 egg yolks. Stir about a cup of hot mixture into yolks, then pour egg mixture into the rest of hot mixture. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Add butter, pure vanilla, and banana liqueur. Slice bananas into pre-baked pie shell. Pour filling over bananas. Let cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until set for several hours. Serve with homemade whipped cream.

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

Charlotte Ekstrom’s favorite holiday movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. “I love the message of the story that an individual can make an immense impact by choosing to do what’s right in seemingly insignificant instances.” The story is about the value of personal sacrifice and the consequences that are not immediately apparent, but are deep and long lasting. “I also love A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Movies are a favorite Ekstrom family activity, so they usually watch a lot of them through the holidays. “We are a family who communicates through movie quotes, song lyrics, and memes. No season is complete without quotes from Elf and A Christmas Story particularly.”

Charlotte Ekstrom

“We also love holiday food!” They snack on her brother Eldon’s homemade candy, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s chocolates, caramel popcorn, candy canes, homemade pies, hot chocolate, and egg nog. Of course, every occasion includes Pizza Man pizza! “We lived in San Antonio for eight years, so we brought some traditions back to Utah. One is a Mexican food dinner for Christmas Eve, which we order from Bella’s and eat with my brother Clark’s family.” Another holiday tradition is reading the story of Christ’s birth from the Bible, along with other Christmas Stories like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. “No holiday is complete without lots of music! Our family members play piano, guitar, violin, and flute, and we also love to sing.” Every Christmas season includes Handel’s Messiah and traditional Christmas carols. “We also try to see lots of light displays!” This time of year they reflect on their many blessings—faith, country, family, and community.

Stef’s Caramel Corn Provided by Charlotte Ekstrom 6 quarts popped corn 1/2 cup Karo syrup 4 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda

2 cups brown sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) butter 1/2 tsp salt

Bring brown sugar, Karo syrup, butter, cream of tartar, and salt to a boil and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp baking soda. (Beware, this becomes foamy). Pour over popped corn in a large roasting pan (disposable aluminum turkey roasting pans work great). Bake at 250 degrees for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Pour over waxed paper, spread out and let cool.

Phillip Swanson’s favorite movie-watching treats are Milk Duds, Red Vines, Chocolate Covered Raisins, Star Bursts, ice water, and occasionally popcorn. His two favorite movies during the Christmas season are It’s a Wonderful Life, and Elf. “I love the over-the-top Buddy the Elf and his love of the season. It’s fun and silly and doesn’t take itself seriously.” Both movies remind him of the importance of relationships and keeping the childlike spirit of joy. “They remind me of the our individual worth in the world, that we all go through tough times, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel… Sappy, I know, but that’s what I think of.”

Phillip Swanson

Blake Cevering enjoys eating Pizzaria Pizza with a Cherry Coke and watching Tim Allen’s Santa Clause trilogy. “Tim Allen all dressed up IS Santa Claus,” said Blake. He loves the moment when he looks like Santa and even his son acknowledges it. When Blake’s children were little, he and his wife took them to the Layton’s Surf n’ Swim on Christmas Eve. It was a neighborhood affair too, they’d take their children’s friends with them and they would all have a lot of fun. After, they would get dinner at Crown Burger. He and his wife did this intentionally to wipe their kids out so they were too tired to stay up late anticipating Santa’s arrival. It worked out really well.

Blake Cevering

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December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 19

Speaking of sappy, the sappy Christmas movies on tv that are oh so predictable are the ones Cheryl Stoker loves best. Her distaste for cooking and her affinity for healthy food makes her favorite movie snack a clear choice. Carrots. She admitted, “I have a saying on my kitchen wall in vinyl that says: The only reason I have a kitchen is because it came with the house.” However, every Christmas morning her family witnesses a Christmas miracle, she cooks her sausage soufflé for breakfast!

Cheryl Stoker Every Christmas morning her family witnesses a Christmas miracle; she cooks her sausage soufflé for breakfast!

She has 5 children, 26 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Add in the spouses and you can imagine it’s quite the get-together. Some come on Christmas Eve to play games, and others come on Christmas morning, but they usually all come at some point. When the holidays roll around, the first decoration to emerge is her 3 1/2 ft wood cutout of Santa Claus she painted. The names of her children are painted on his list he is checking twice. Her Christmas clock also brings her joy… but at her children’s expense. It plays a Christmas carol every hour on the hour… even at 3 a.m. “It’s torture-ville for them,” she said as she snickered.

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Working together for your community! One thing is certain, the North Ogden City Council cares about the community they serve and they care about each other. It was fun to see them interact

when we took the cover photo for this magazine. If you have a concern, reach out, and participate in their meetings. A couple years back I watched every city council meeting and wrote a synopsis of the discussions and decisions. Trust me, it’s how I knew Councilman Swanson owned that Santa jacket! It’s revealing to see the amount of thought they put into the decisions they make. It has taught me that it’s my civic duty to be aware of what’s happening in the city where I live and to let my voice be heard. If you have a comment,

if you see something happening in the city that is going well, or if you see something that needs some attention, let them know. You can watch the meetings live on YouTube, or you can watch them later and turn the speed up to x2 to make them sound like chipmunks. Each of these council members care about you and the city as a whole. I firmly believe that it is at our local government level where we can really make the biggest impact, and personally, I think North Ogden is in good hands. Merry Christmas!

December 2020 | northogdenconnection.com 21

+ BUSINESS

Bryson's Rock Shop BY ANN PARK

A family business since 1984, Bryson's offers their customers stones, beads, and much more.

There are over 150 kinds of tumbled stones to choose from at this very unique shop.

INFO Business: Rock Shop 801-399-2838 326 Washington Blvd. in Ogden

f this is your first visit to Bryson’s Rock Shop, be prepared to spend some time. This shop is fascinating! There is always something new and interesting to discover. They have a massive and varied inventory of rocks from all over the world. Owner Dave Wonderly says he’s polished rocks from Everest, Antarctica, and the quarry that Stonehenge came from. They have over 150 kinds of tumbled stones in all colors and textures. You can check them out and see which ones speak to you. They have towers, spheres, geodes, crystal beads, and silver and gemstone jewelry. This shop is truly unique. No one else in the city is doing what they do. Dave’s parents, Dennis and Ann Bryson opened the shop in 1984. Dave started working there with both of them in 1996 when Bryson’s Rock Shop moved to its current location at 326 Washington Blvd. He’s been here ever since. The Brysons passed away in 2004, and since then, Dave has taken ownership of his family business. He loves what he does, and the people and minerals he works with. “My Dad taught me how to cut rocks when I was seven,” Dave said, so he’s been doing this his whole life.

northogdenconnection.com | December 2020

This shop has secrets. I had never seen it before, but Dave has a back room where he keeps some of his most prized collector’s items. There were various spectacular pieces inside, such as large stone spheres weighing 70 lbs., and beautiful, rare, mixed-mineral formations. If you’re serious about art and love stone and gems, be sure to make yourself an appointment to explore Dave’s back room. There’s truly something at Bryson’s Rock Shop for everyone. It’s a great place to browse and explore. Dave carries all shapes and sizes of stones and one-of-a kind mineral art. He also carries books, rock-hounding tools, tarot cards, and singing bowls. Many people come to his shop to explore the metaphysical healing properties of the different minerals. I love the colors and textures of natural stone, and feeling a closer connection with the earth. Many of us are soothed by a palm stone, or feel energy from a crystal. The stone spheres are my favorite. I asked Dave if he had a favorite, and he said “The opal collection.” Very nice choice. Bryson’s has a skilled inhouse jeweler, Adan Molina. This enables them to repair jewelry and create amazing custom pieces. Adan has been with them for many years, and is able to work with gold, silver, and any kind of gemstone. Their selection of

jewelry is wide; everything from inexpensive jewelry that only costs a couple of dollars, up through higher end handmade pieces with rare stones. They have all sorts of beautiful and unique accessories, beads, bracelets, rings, pendants and much more. I really enjoy browsing their collection of gemstone and sterling jewelry. And if you find a stone you really

“My Dad taught me how to cut rocks when I was seven.”-Dave Bryson like, you can have their staff wire wrap it, and get a chain for it, right there while you shop. Instant custom pendant. Bryson’s Rock Shop is the place to go to discover stones, get equipment for doing your own mineral hunting expeditions, find awesome earthy accessories, gaze into translucent rock, and find a small piece of the earth that speaks to you.

EARLY DETECTION IS VITAL

kin care is a vital part of our health, and being diligent with check-ups can make all the difference in the world. I’d like to share a very personal story, with the intent of bringing awareness about the devastating effects of skin cancer.

BY BRIAN HOWE DIRECTOR OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN DERMATOLOGY

You no longer have an excuse for not getting that spot checked.

I first met Candice at a job interview, as she was seeking a position at our Dermatology practice. Her daughter had been working at our clinic for a couple of years, and she thought her mom, Candice, would be perfect for the job opening. When I met Candice, I agreed, and it wasn’t long before she was running our front desk, and later, our billing department. I was looking forward to her running our entire office – she was just one of those amazing human beings! At the time she was hired, I was unaware that Candice had previously been diagnosed with a malignant skin cancer called Melanoma. As an employee, Candice benefited from regular skin checks and treatments in our clinic. Unfortunately, during one of our examinations, it became obvious that the Melanoma she had originally been diagnosed with, had spread to other organs in her body. Even with immediate treatment of lesions found in our clinic, the silent damage from the first lesion had remained undiagnosed for far too long. It had continued to metastasize, or spread, within her body. After a trip to Florida, she started to experience a shortness of breath and cold-like symptoms. Tests confirmed that her lungs were filling with fluid, and further testing confirmed a diagnosis of lung cancer. After three months of vigilantly fighting her disease, she passed away; we miss her every day. I am relating this difficult story in order to highlight the need for early detection. Even as an employee of a dermatology practice who was frequently treated for lesions when the appeared, she could not escape the reality that very first spot wasn’t