Utah Stories November/December 2020 issue

STAYCATIONING IN OGDEN NOV/DEC 2020

winter gis comin Utah Theater

BROKEN PROMISES

Ogden Valley

DEVELOPER TAKE-OVER?

Sugar House

SIDEWALK DEBACLE

COVID DINING

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NOVEMBER 2020

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UTAH STORIES MAGAZINE

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 7

6 Utah Stories Contributors 12 Issue Intro 14 Broken Promises Were campaign contributions involved in development deal?

18 When a Mobile Home is Not Mobile Development will replace mobile home park

22 Trophy and Meat Hunting in Utah Hunting is a Utah Tradition

SPOTLIGHT 52 Food

28 Sugar House

Running at Restaurant in a Pandemic

Highland Drive Sidewalk Project Little Free Libraries

34 Ogden

60 COVID Marketplace

Ogden Then & Now Discovering Ogden Valley

48 Marketplace

Small Shops

63 Bars & Pubs

Red Flower Glass Blowing Western Timber Frame

LOCAL & AWESOME? Utah Stories invites excellent local businesses to inquire about our advertising rates and determine if our readership is a good fit. For more information please contact Richard at 801-856-3595 or visit utahstories.com/advertising

UTAH STORIES CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER/EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

Mike Jones

Pamela Manson

Richard Markosian

David Jensen

Braden Latimer

Al Sacharov

Richard Markosian

WRITERS CONTINUED

PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT Connie Lewis

Matthew Sargent

Emily McLean

SALES & ACCOUNTS

GRAPHIC DESIGN

WRITERS

Maria Milligan

Penny Bohn

Nicole Anderson

Eric S. Peterson

Penny Bohn

Sanya Durich

Tom Bennett

Dan Potts

DIGITAL PUBLISHER & MARKETING & EVENTS

Fletcher Marchant

Penny Bohn

Ted Scheffler

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Taylor Hartman

COVER:

Golda Hukic-Markosian

Golda Hukic-Markosian

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Dung Hoang

Sandro Larson

Richard Markosian Amiee Maxwell

Aaron K. Baker

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BEHIND THE STORIES Tom Bennett Tom Bennett is a nationally touring, outlaw-country, oneman-band from Georgia, currently based in St. George. A lover of all of Utah, Tom has lived in Ogden, Logan, Layton, Bountiful and Salt Lake City. He was originally featured in Utah Stories as a cocaine dealer back in 2006. He is the founder of The Colorado City Music Festival in Hildale — Utah’s Short Creek FLDS polygamist community.

Tom distributes Utah Stories all over Southwest Utah on his Harley Davidson. He is the founder of H.O.W.L. — the Holy Order of Wildlife, and gives lectures on philosophy and religion. He is also a Sasquatch enthusiast. He meets with witnesses and scientists to discuss the phenomenon in his travels.

Aaron K. Baker Hey everyone!

My name is Aaron K. Baker and I am a landscape photographer based out of Salt Lake City, UT. I grew up in a small town in Northern Vermont where I spent my childhood years and attended college at Castleton University. After discovering my passion for photography a few years back I decided to make the move to Utah. The incredible landscape and variety of terrain Utah has to offer has proven to be a photographers paradise for myself. I am on a constant journey to explore and create images that show the true beauty this world has to offer. I hope that you will all follow along with me on this journey!!

Web: www.aaronkbaker.com | IG: @aaron.k.baker

Amiee Maxwell Amiee is a freelance writer who splits her time between Salt Lake City and Capitol Reef Country, where she is building a home with the help of her dad. She is currently living in a tent on the edge of a mesa where wind gusts typically exceed 40 mph. It is not uncommon for her to wake up with small sand dunes on her pillow.

Aimee reports on local government for the Wayne and Garfield County Insider, a weekly community newspaper covering 20 rural communities, and writes about food, travel, and adventure sports for several regional publications. When she’s not writing, she’s out trail running with her hard-working Australian Shepherd, devouring obscure history books, or trying to grow vegetables in harsh places. Although she’s originally from Wisconsin, she’s found a home in Utah and is currently pouring her love of the place into a book about the Great Salt Lake.

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ONLINE INDEX

COMING IN DECEMBER Visit UtahStories.com for exclusive online content including our Utah Stories podcasts.

Watch for podcasts from our Utah Stories “Hidden Utah” Show as Richard Markosian brings you stories not covered by other media outlets. He’ll also be going beyond today’s headlines in Utah Tidbits, bringing you the most interesting, compelling and culturally representative Utah stories

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Look for our podcast with Joel Janetski, PhD from BYU, who specializes in early Utah history and the indigenous people who lived here.

Soren Simonsen and Ari Bruening from Envision Utah discuss the Jordan River Parkway trail and community outreach efforts.

Tom Biebighauser, a wildlife biologist and wetland ecologist, discusses beaver habitats and wetlands protection.

And every Friday, look for our Utah Bites newsletter content from Ted Scheffler, covering restaurant reviews, food news and events, recipes, and cocktail, wine and beer recommendations

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Issue Introduction

By Richard Markosian

T

his morning I woke up thinking about the life of my late Grandma Markosian.

Born four years prior to the Great Depression, she never talked about it being tough. Her father died from Tuberculosis after working with harmful chemicals in the Murray assaying mill. I don’t remember her ever mentioning his death and the impact it had on her life. She wasn’t a complainer.

She never complained about caring for her special-needs daughter her entire life. I wonder how a person like her is made? How did she remain so strong?

She had a wonderful demeanor; she was always working around her house, and she maintained the same friends her entire life.

She loved her kids and grandkids, and she loved God, but was not strongly ideological in her religion nor in her political beliefs.

I wish I would have asked her about how she endured hardship and the death of her father when she was only 13. She had to take jobs all through her teenage years; her mother worked as a librarian till she died. And luckily, there was no wealth tax because a land sale by her mother’s family supported her

12 | utahstories.com

mother and the family till her mother died. there was no welfare back then, and no big government solutions. Community consisted of neighbors, relatives and church. Both Democrats and Republicans believed that the government’s role was to govern, not hand out money to the needy. That was the role of families and churches.

Every November at Utah Stories, we take a look back and examine some of the biggest changes facing Utah, and what we might be sacrificing or neglecting to notice as we progress.

This year our gains are not so much in financial abundance but in our ever increasing population due to migration exceeding birth rate. We would like to examine what is happening today within a historical context and what families have to say.

We thought we would spend some time in Ogden Valley to see what old-timers and realtors have to say about the current housing boom. Today, there are more people relocating to Utah from big metro areas than ever before. We are certainly witnessing demographic changes in Utah due to this

PHOTO: ©KYLE BARR

migration. “We are happy to have you come, but please don’t screw this place up,” said an Ogden Valley realtor.

Utah is unique in the United States for several reasons.

The late author/philosopher Joseph Campbell pointed out thirty years ago, how up until the last century, the largest buildings in every major city were always cathedrals.

Approaching Salt Lake City from the north, it’s quaint to see how the Temple is so nicely buttressed against our Capitol.

Downtown church and government buildings are opposing but complimentary edifices. Today, government buildings are far larger and far more imposing than the church buildings in most cities, with Salt Lake being an exception. Many people want Salt Lake City and Utah to remain this way for good reason. Even if I don’t agree with all of the beliefs of the LDS Church, I’m glad that most people here worship and trust in God and family more than government. But as secularism is growing in popularity and religion is in decline, should we ask: Is this the world we want?

Cities have become major financial centers—places for consumption, work and to produce profit. Cities are no longer destinations for worship (although, once again, Salt Lake is an exception). Cities are places for commerce, business, finance and government centers, and to worship progress.

What will become of our cities when worshiping God and helping our neighbors are aspects that are no longer present? When will wearing yoga pants become more popular than wearing anything that reminds people of their devotion to God? This has already happened nationwide. In this case, Utah is not an exception. And, I must admit, I like yoga pants.

Today, many more people are migrating to Utah for our “affordable housing”—but many who already live here believe it’s actually to escape the totalitarianism of liberalism: high taxes, intrusive government, “defund the police!” they shout, and support for riots and demonstrations (as witnessed in Portland and Seattle). As a nation, we are feeling the effects of what happens when politics in large part replaces religion.

utahstories.com | 13

Interior of the majestic Utah Theatre

Broken Promises Historic Utah Theatre donated to a developer with an affordable housing promise. Impossible, now claims developer.

By Taylor Hartman The following story was written and reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories.

O

n December 3, 2019, in a crowded room in the Salt Lake City and County Building, the Save The Utah Theater group waited for a vote that would decide the fate of the historic Utah Theatre building. After months of fighting and gathering thousands of signatures, the group was worried that the

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old vaudeville playhouse, built in 1918 at 144 S. Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City, would be torn down and its history razed and forgotten.

On the one hand, preservationists with the Save the Utah Theater group, organized by internet entrepreneur Pete Ashdown, wanted it upgraded and restored to its old glory as a downtown cultural centerpiece.

However, some city officials, put off by the estimated $60 million cost of renovating

PHOTO: ©SAVE THE UTAH THEATRE GROUP

a venue that would have to compete for performances with the glittering new downtown Eccles Theater, favored selling it to developers in exchange for concessions — including low-income housing — that would benefit the public and cover the city’s $5.5 million stake in the building.

In September of 2019, then-Salt Lake City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Erin Mendenhall, asked about “broken promises” she’d heard about from the public when it came to the theater. Despite multiple city council members expressing concern for the property, the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency (RDA) voted to sell the theater building to two developers for zero dollars, thereby squashing the battle for the theater’s preservation.

But the preservationists, including Pete vAshdown (who also serves on the advisory board of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project), have cried foul and pointed to a series of what they claim are illegal campaign contributions to elected officials that preceded the vote to sell.

The Utah Investigative Journalism Project inspected campaign finance records for the 2019 Salt Lake City mayoral race and found that during the theater development decision, one of the developers of the property contributed thousands of dollars to candidates who were involved in the process — including a donation to Erin Mendenhall’s campaign two months before she voted to approve the sale of the theater for $0.

During the time of the vote, Mendenhall did not recuse herself, nor did she mention the donation she received from that developer.

The donation itself was potentially a violation of a city ordinance that prohibits donations from individuals negotiating work with the city, although the Mayor’s Office denies this.

The Utah Theater, formerly known as the Pantages Theater, was purchased by the Salt

Lake City RDA for $5.5 million in 2010, with hopes that it would be restored to its former glory. But, in 2015, after choosing the Eccles Theater to house SLC’s new Broadway-style theater, the RDA began talks with Lasalle Group about a possible sale.

The Utah-based Lasalle firm is known for owning some of Salt Lake’s most popular restaurants like the Oasis Cafe and Café Niche. In 2016, Joel Lasalle, managing partner at the LaSalle Group, expressed interest in converting the theater into a venue for “live music, a cabaret, or a dinner theater,” according to RDA memos.

The dream Lasalle had for a renovated dinner theater never materialized. Between the years 2010 and 2016, two studies were conducted exploring the viability of renovating the theater, finding the path to success was not clear, “without monumental public investment to address structural, seismic, and code compliance deficiencies,” an RDA memo stated.

One study conducted by Salt Lake County and the Utah Film and Media Arts Center, said the renovation of the theater would cost $62 to $70 million, while another study by a Chicago-based commercial real estate services company, said it would cost $61 million for full theatrical use, and $49 million for use as a movie theater.

On December 3, 2019, following multiple meetings and contentious debates since August of that year, the Salt Lake City RDA approved the sale of the Utah Theater property for $0 to the Lasalle Group and Hines Interests Limited Partnership, a real estate company from Texas that owns a property next to the theater building.

Per the deal, Hines and Lasalle were required to include public benefits such as affordable housing in 10% of the apartment spaces built, a midblock walkway next to the theater, and to provide a historic repurposing

utahstories.com | 15

the delivery of certain elements and services of theater elements — all of which the RDA to the city (which would, according to says add up to the $5.75 million to $6.98 contracts, more than cover the $5.5 million million that Lasalle and Hines will spend. the city spent on the theater), the deal was After an appraisal in June 2019, valuing the not illegal. property at $4.07 million, the RDA says “This contract — for the sale of real the developers will end up paying millions making improvements to the site, despite the property — is not listed in the prohibitions in the campaign finance ordinance,” the $0 price tag. attorney’s office wrote. Despite repeated In 2019, during his time negotiating attempts, Lasalle could not be reached with the Salt Lake City RDA, Joel Lasalle, for comment by the Utah Investigative managing partner at the LaSalle Group, Journalism Project. donated multiple times to candidates for When asked why Mendenhall didn’t Salt Lake City mayor. These donations mention the campaign contribution or came from Lasalle despite city codes that recuse herself from the vote, a spokesperson ban contributions by individuals with whom for the mayor said only contracts with the city are that the nature of Lasalle’s pending.

WE ALSO KNOW contract with the RDA In 2019, records show

BY LOOKING AT didn’t prevent him from Lasalle contributed $1,000 contributing to her to the mayoral campaign of THE COUNTRY’S campaign, “and was within state Senator Luz Escamilla HISTORY, THAT the legal bounds set forth (D), Salt Lake City, $500 AT SOME POINT by the City for campaign to David Garbett, and $200 PEOPLE WILL contributions.” to Michael Iverson. On ENGAGE IN “Conflicts of interest October 14, 2019, Lasalle ACTIVITIES THAT and campaign politics is as contributed $2,000 to ARE UNETHICAL. old as politics itself,” says Mendenhall’s campaign.

Damon Cann, a political City election laws and science professor at Utah State University, RDA contracts contain clauses meant to who is also the mayor of North Logan keep conflicts of interest from arising and City. While the problem is old, he adds improper donations from being made. Salt that efforts “to mitigate conflicts of interest Lake City Code 2.46.050(H) specifically bars contributions from those under contract are actually relatively new.” Some cities for example put the burden on elected officials or seeking to contract with the city for the “rendition of personal services or furnishing to avoid conflicts. With Salt Lake City, the code actually puts the burden on the any material, supplies, or equipment to the developer to not make donations to officials city or for selling any land or building to the while conducting business with the city. city, if payment for the performance of the “I believe that most of the time most contract is to be made in whole or in part people try to do what’s right,” Cann says. from city funds.”

“But we also know by looking at the In a request for comment about the country’s history, that at some point, people legality of the campaign contributions, will engage in activities that are unethical.”

Mendenhall’s office, citing the city attorney, says that despite the developers promising

16 | utahstories.com

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Long-time residents of Centerville Mobile Estates are being forced out because the property owner are selling to developers

Deborah Cabezas

When a Mobile Home is Not Mobile Park residents lose homes in Centerville

C

enterville Mobile Estates has been home for Dennis Tireman, an army veteran, for nearly half a century. His home was paid for and life was good in the Davis County community at 555 N 400 W, near Interstate 15.

Casey Nielsen, who has lived at the trailer park for six years, also owns his home free and clear, and put $10,000 into fixing it up. “It’s a nice little home for me,” he said.

“This has been my haven.”

A newer resident, Jennifer Pace, a single mother of two, spent two months and more than $15,000 renovating a double-wide she bought in April 2019. She felt good about the location (her parents live a block away and her grandparents also live in

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Centerville) and the $250 monthly rent for her space at the park.

Even when she and the other residents received a written notice on their doors that rent was going up, Pace was still happy she had moved to the park because of a sentence at the bottom of the paper saying, “we look forward to having you here for many more years.”

“We felt good about our choice then,” Pace said.

But last March, the 45 households received letters from Centerville Mobile Estates saying the land had been sold and they had nine months to vacate. The buyer, CW Land Co., a Centerville-based company, had contracted to buy the 6.6-

PHOTOS: DUNG HOANG

By Pamela Manson

acre site and plans to build a development that includes duplexes, townhomes, racquetball and tennis courts and green space.

The residents have until Jan. 4, 2021, to leave. CW Land offered $2,000 to those who vacated the property by October 15.

Many residents say a few thousand dollars is not nearly enough to cover relocation costs. Trailers can be expensive to relocate and many residents say a few thousand dollars is not nearly enough to cover relocation costs. In addition, mobile homes manufactured before June 15, 1976, do not meet federal Housing and Urban Development Department standards so other trailer parks will not accept them.

Adding to the residents’ stress are the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn, which caused some to lose their jobs.

Some residents hoped Centerville would intervene, but the city doesn’t have any jurisdiction over a private sale or development plans as long as the owners comply with zoning and building regulations, according to Cory Snyder, community development director. In July, residents protested outside CW offices, demanding that the sale be called off.

“All of these trailers are too old to be moved, so pretty much they are taking our homes from us and giving us $2,000,” Pace said.

She added that there are veterans, elderly people and single mothers “who can’t afford to live in Centerville, let alone anywhere, on their incomes right now. Some have already moved out and some are still wondering what to do. We don’t believe that CW is going to compensate us for what our trailers are appraised for.”

For a short time, it looked like the residents might get a reprieve. Rulon

Harrison, one of the siblings who owned the park, said he had not given permission for the sale and was concerned about what would happen to the residents. The Centerville Mobile Estates LLC owners, and CW Land representatives, held a mediation a few days after the protest to resolve the dispute.

The parties reached an agreement that the sale would go through on October 13 as scheduled, and CW Land would set up a fund to help out the residents.

A third-party will decide, based on the residents’ individual circumstances, how much assistance each will receive. Every household is guaranteed the $2,000, regardless of whether the trailer is moved or left on the property. The two sides are not saying how much money will be distributed.

During this process, the primary concern of Centerville Mobile Estates (CME) has been the well-being of the park residents, attorney Jordan Bledsoe, who represents Rulon Harrison, said.

“CME appreciates CW Development Group’s willingness to participate in this process in good faith and to go above and beyond what is legally required to assist the residents,” Bledsoe said in an email.

Brad Bangerter

utahstories.com | 19

In a written statement, Darlene Carter, president of CW Urban, a subsidiary of the CW Group, said, “we are sensitive to the plight of the residents who will need to relocate.”

The statement continues, “We realize the seriousness of the situation and, following our purchase of the real property, we will be fully committed to assisting the residents, logistically and financially, to find new housing arrangements.”

Still, it will be hard for many to find housing they can afford in Davis County.

Nielsen was putting belongings in storage in the summer while he tried to figure out what to do. He will have to leave his trailer behind because it’s too old to move.

“Rent is expensive,” he said. “Houses are ridiculously expensive. I’m not really sure what to do.”

Many others are in the same bind.

Inge Richins said rent for a two-bedroom apartment can be $1,300 a month — a big jump from the $450 a month she and her husband paid for their spot at the park, where they’ve lived for 20 years.

However, she said, “We’re better off than a lot of us here, but it’s going to be a

20 | utahstories.com

struggle. There are some who will end up on the street.”

Tireman and his wife have moved to an apartment in Bountiful, leaving behind their trailer, which they purchased for $6,000, when they moved to the park in 1973.

Pace said some people sold their trailers but “nobody will get close to market value.”

She bought a trailer in another park and is sad that she and her kids will no longer live in the home she spent so much time fixing up.

“I am not expecting anything from CW,” Pace said in an email. “If we get anything, I feel it will be laughable.”

Caroline Echols, 88, who lives in a recently updated trailer that can’t be moved, said the sellers will make a lot of money on the park sale, but she and her neighbors don’t have the funds to easily relocate. Plus, she’ll miss living at Centerville Mobile Estates which she has called home for the past 25 years.

“We’re just in a big mess,” she said. “It’s been a battle since March. I didn’t think I’d leave here until I was in a pine box.”

PHOTOS: DUNG HOANG

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Two Male Mule Deer

Trophy and Meat Hunting in Utah Hunters help manage Utah wildlife

By Dan Potts

22 | utahstories.com

PHOTO: ©ANDREW COOP

A

s an avid big game hunter with university degrees in wildlife management, our North American model of managing game animals for sport and meat hunting is the best in the world.

The approach involves limiting take, hunting in appropriate seasons, equipment restrictions, and restoring wildlife habitat.

Our model has been exported to Europe and parts of Asia, and is now being employed in Africa, where managing the hunting of big game animals can bring desperately needed money to local communities.

The best part of responsible management is the restoration of complete ecosystems, which benefits all of us.

Restoring habitats, however, costs lots of money. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources gets much of that money from selling hunting and fishing licenses. But nationwide, the interest in fishing and hunting has fallen. Reasons for this trend aren’t entirely clear, but hunting has seen a steep decline in the past five years, dropping by more than two million hunters.

Even here in the West, those funds have flattened out as younger millennials and those whose relatives or friends do not hunt have never been introduced to the hunting tradition, and today’s techie generation just isn’t as interested in outdoor activities as their parents and grandparents were.

I was taught to hunt by my father and grandfather. My grandfather was an avid duck hunter who helped start the Utah Duck Club, and also a well-known fly fisherman.

My father mostly hunted pheasants and flyfished.

I grew up wading the Provo River near our cabin in Woodland, sitting in a duck blind, or chasing pheasants west of Rose Park where I grew up.

The skills I had learned as a kid

24 | utahstories.com

later helped me and my undergraduate roommates at Utah State University, as we served up healthy meals of duck, pheasant, fish and rabbit every week.

Over the years I have killed a few trophy deer, but I have yet to find a good recipe for eating antlers! Although their focus is mostly on the “mount”, these “elitist” hunters usually do not waste the meat, but often take the carcass to a meat cutter who is skilled in processing domestic meat.

The meat of wild animals is significantly leaner but healthier than corn-fed beef and pork. Cooked properly, wild meats do not taste wild, although domestic meat cutters often produce cuts that are not as tasty as those processed by experienced meat hunters who cut and freeze their own kills.

I have no problem with “elitist” hunters.

However, hunting regulations to promote trophy hunting may have pushed many of us common meat hunters aside.

Also, potential new hunters might think the sport too expensive if they need to buy a high-end gun and a big truck to haul several all-terrain vehicles to invade the forest.

Every year I get up early to hike-hunt the same area I have frequented for decades, using the same old rifle to harvest yet another buck deer for the table regardless of the size of its antlers.

Because my wife and friends have harvested so many wild animals over the years, we have learned how to process, freeze and cook wild sustainable meats that taste great and help to keep us leaner and healthier than most.

The current pandemic has lured many new hunters into the field. The internet can provide them with the information to start filling their freezer with hunted, fished and foraged wild resources. To these individuals I can only say, “Good hunting.”

Tom Proctor Hollywood actor, Utah native, cowboy at heart

By Tom Bennett hen I asked Hollywood actor Tom Proctor what he loves about Utah, he simply said, “I can sum that up in one sentence: It’s home.”

Tom has a diverse acting resume including such films as Twelve Years a Slave, Django Unchained, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, Guardians of the Galaxy, and many more. He was born in Salt Lake City and raised in the Oquirrh Mountains.

Tom’s childhood laid the track for the Westerns he would eventually make. The Proctors were cattle people, and Tom gained experience in the brush searching alone on horseback for lost cattle. A smile crosses Tom’s face as he remembers himself at seven years old with his Catahoula leopard dog, doing the honest work of a cowboy.

His love of movies began when he saw the movie Billy Jack. As a child he had developed a love of martial arts and found that the film’s Tim Laughlin was trained in his same lineage and style. The seed was planted and Tom began to believe he, too, could fight in the movies.

Tom went on to earn five black belts in a variety of martial arts styles. His fighting however, wasn’t limited to the screen. Tom

26 | utahstories.com

was a champion bare knuckle cage fighter and eventually started his own martial arts school, teaching Tao Chido, which is defined as the study of self. His martial arts studies took him around the world and he personally trained 17 world champions.

Tom’s martial arts expertise put him in a position to choreograph fights for movies and also do stunt work. Despite being a martial arts master, He jokes that due to his burly biker appearance, directors just make him throw haymaker knock-out punches that are a far cry from the precision fighting he’s so good at.

Instead of moving immediately to Hollywood, his first film work happened by accident here in Utah where a western was being filmed. Tom and some of his friends rode their horses onto the set while out cowboying. They were hired on as actors and stuntmen and his career was off and running. Tom would go on to have a career in California, but he knew he wanted to raise his kids in his home state of Utah. He wouldn’t relocate to California until after

PHOTO: ©MARVEL STUDIOS

W

Tom in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

his kids were grown.

There is plenty of work here to keep an actor busy. Tom is currently working on Guilt is a psychological thriller about a musician. The entire film will be shot in Utah. It highlights the issues of alcoholism, mental health and suicide. “It’s a dark film,” Tom said.

Tom mentioned that Hollywood no longer looks for actors to play roles. Rather, they want people who truly embody whatever the role calls for. Being Utahborn and raised has been pivotal to Tom’s success. It provides him an authenticity that couldn’t come any other way.

Tom expressed that the way he rides a horse or draws a gun comes from having done it all his life. Utah and its natural beauty provides him with spirituality and solace, whether he’s riding his Harley, fishing, or just getting lost outdoors somewhere.

Music also plays a big role in Tom’s life, though it’s an element that came in much later. He won his first guitar in an

impromptu arm wrestling match in a middle-of-nowhere Texas service station.

As he tells it, seven years ago he loaded everything he owned into his car and headed to Louisiana. Miles from nowhere, his gas light came on. Tom crossed his fingers and took a 17-mile detour in search of fuel. He found a little old single pump service station where he saw a group of men gathered around an arm wrestling table.

One yelled out to him, inviting Tom to join the contest with a 20 dollar bet. With a quick calculation, Tom realized he needed about 80 dollars to cover the fuel for the rest of his trip, so he joined the men. After a few wins, and finding themselves low on cash, the men wagered an acoustic guitar, and Tom left Texas as a troubadour.

Tom Proctor has lived a wild life as a young Utah cowboy, martial artist, stuntman, actor and an outlaw country singer. It’s hard to say where the road will take a man like him, but you can bet it will often bring him back to Utah, the place he will always call home.

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SUGAR HOUSE

Sidestepping the Sidewalk City agrees to postpone Highland Drive street repairs

By Amiee Maxwell

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hen Sugar House area business owners were informed that Highland Drive would close north of 2100 South this fall for a long-awaited curb and gutter project, the community uttered a collective “not now.”

“If the whole street was closed, it would be Small Shops like Central Book Exchange will be affected by the construction

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worse than COVID,” said Pam Tedersen, owner of the Central Book Exchange. The project has been on Salt Lake City’s to-do list for the last five years and was originally requested by area business owners. The project aims to improve some drainage issues by replacing sections of curb and

PHOTO: PENNY BOHN

gutter in addition to improving some drive approaches.

“Our goal was to get the improvements done this fall so when the winter season comes, we wouldn’t experience drainage issues anymore,” said Adán Carrillo, Transportation Engagement Manager for Salt Lake City.

“This project really needs to be done, but the timing — are you kidding me? The timing was terrible,” said Tedersen.

The project would not only force lane closures, but would also impact foot traffic and access to parking lots, and a business community still feeling the negative economic impact of Covid wasn’t going to have it.

Local Sugar House area businesses banded together and made a formal request that the city delay the repair and the city listened. “When we communicated with the

businesses, they wanted us to put a hold on the project, giving them enough time to sort of recoup from the pandemic,” said Carrillo.

The city decided to postpone the project until spring. “We really want to make sure we do the right thing. We listened to their concerns, both the business and the community, and felt pretty good about postponing it,” said Carrillo.

Carrillo noted that this is the first of two projects slated for 1100 East. There are plans to totally reconstruct 1100 East from 900 South to Warnock Avenue in 2023.

This will be a much more significant project and it will replace sewer drains, water lines, and upgrade other infrastructure, essentially reconstructing the road from scratch.

In the meantime, the city will gather business and community feedback on how to best tackle this project when the time comes.

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SUGAR HOUSE

Little Free Libraries Sites in Sugar House foster community

By Sandro Larson

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n our wonderful, whimsical, walkable Sugar House, among my favorite things to discover are the take-a-book leave-a-book boxes known as Little Free Libraries. These are small, sidewalk adjacent book houses eagerly waiting to share their contents with a passerby. They may be simple or elaborate, small or roomy, no-nonsense or fanciful.

They may reflect the personality of their caretaker, or simply be a box of books.

Most (but not all) little libraries are registered with littlefreelibrary.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to books and building community connections in the process.

There are more than 100,000 nationwide.

I chose to register mine as the Wee Free Library after the Terry Pratchett book The Wee Free Men, and have painted Wee Free Men on the sides. I set up my library as an outlet for some of the many books that seem to follow me home from my compulsive

In addition to finding libraries at private homes, you can find them in public spaces, in front of, or even inside, places of business.

For example, one is inside Tracy Aviary and another just inside Sugarhouse Coffee was placed there by a Girl Scout troop.

Further afield, I have seen them along the Jordan River Trail. Those were set up by a local elementary school. The conspicuous book house at the Liberty Wells Community Garden is not only a lure for readers, but a perfect advertisement for the garden.

Books are not the only things shared through this project. You can find games, puzzles, toys, seeds, masks, canned goods and more! You get the idea. Now take this map, https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/, and go find treasure!

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PHOTOS: SANDRO LARSON

I

buying sprees. I collect some and sell some, but offering books for free to the right home just feels good.

There are a variety of Little Library designs, including a rabbit hutch, a garden box, matching colors, mini-me’s, and many that are simply attractive and enticing.

Although books are the main draw, one might also think of these little libraries as tiny community centers. They are a great place to strike up a conversation with a fellow saunterer or the steward of the library. I like to ambush anyone who stops by at mine and compliment them on their obviously excellent taste in reading. Not really. I’m shy and ... um … bookish.

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OGDEN

OGDEN THEN

Ogden Valley’s rolling hills and farmland

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Bear River from Idaho to the Great Salt Lake to the Weber River. En route, they encountered several trapper companies as well as independent deserters who had formed their own companies. Twenty-four of Skene’s men would eventually desert him during his first expedition and join the American fur trading company.

Ogden mentioned in his diary that French, Spanish and British trappers were all present in their travels following the Bear and Weber Rivers. All were in pursuit of the high-demand beaver pelts. On good days they would trap, collect and skin up Who Was Peter Skene Ogden? to 200 beavers. Whites and Indians alike The first detailed descriptions of the area were highly territorial came in 1824 from fur as they all knew they trapper Peter Skene would pursue the Ogden. He worked as a precious beaver to captain for the Hudson obliteration. And the Bay Company with British and Americans a brigade of 30 men fought over who the under his command. territory belonged to, Ogden was born in seemingly ignoring the Quebec (and a subject fact that it was indeed of the British Empire), Mexican territory. but his parents were This is an account Americans who had from Peter Skene been sympathetic PETER SKENE OGDEN Ogden’s Diary: to American The whole Country independence. overrun with Americans & Canadians all in the Ogden was known for his small, stout pursuit of the Same object [beaver] of this we had size, violent temper and mean streak. At just 15 years of age, he left home to become convincing proofs this Spring on Bears River & an explorer and work for the American Fur now here for this party know nothing of the others, it appears we are now on the Utas Lands who they Company. His father had intended for him represent as being most friendly to the Whites. to be a lawyer, and as a result, Ogden had It was thanks in part to the account an excellent education, but he used his wits that the “Utas” (later called Utes) as being and knowledge to rise in the ranks of the “friendly to the Whites,” that twenty-four fur trading companies.

Ogden was courageous as well as violent, years later, Brigham Young was encouraged to settle in the Salt Lake Valley after and he soon achieved high command. the Mormon exodus from their former On Skeens’ Snake Country Expedition to settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, in search of the territory which is now Utah (between the promised land.

1824 and 1829), his brigade followed the

PHOTO: RICHARD MARKIOSAN

rior to the arrival of the Mormon pioneers, the Ogden Valley was recognized by Indians as a special place.

Abundant game in the area made the traverse across the mountain pass (now called Trapper’s Loop) a seasonal migration for the nomadic Shoshone Indians, who camped and hunted the abundant beaver, moose, elk and waterfowl that are native to the region. Each summer they hosted rendezvous where they traded with neighboring tribes and mountain men.

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OGDEN TODAY A Microcosm of Growth Issues in Utah

By Richard Markiosan

Large modern home builds are a common sight throughout the valley

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The Oldest Operating Bar in Utah

The Shooting Star Saloon: One of the Oldest Saloons in the West

PHOTO: RICHARD MARKIOSAN

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e visited the Shooting Star Saloon to find locals who could provide leads for our story. The saloon survived prohibition by maintaining a lookout for prohibition agents, whereby, if agents or the law were seen ascending Ogden Canyon, saloon owners would be alerted to kick everyone out and shut down.

Today it’s a local hangout. Inside, thousands of bills (of various denominations) are hanging from the saloon’s ceiling. The bills marked with sharpies and names are sealing the love of hundreds of couples.

Inside we find Shayne Loewenstein sipping an Amber Ale. He tells us that he is a maternal descendant of Granny Smith. He is obviously one of the town elders who has personally witnessed the dramatic changes to the area.

“I had 80 acres [in Liberty, Utah]. I sold twenty acres a few years back.” Lowenstein says that the land sale essentially paid for his retirement, and that while his father was a full-time farmer, he has been a “hobby farmer.”

They still grow alfalfa on most of his land but he has always had other employment.

For 45 years he drove trucks, his family owned a meat-packing facility, and for 30 years he drove a snowplow. He has the aura of a man who is happily retired and enjoys life within his element and his community.

He just has one major complaint:

Property Tax Increases Squeezing Locals

“The problem now is how the government is trying to get their hands on every penny we have.” For long-time locals (who have small incomes) see that the increases in property

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The Growth of Snowbasin

Snowbasin is now officially the “fastest growing ski resort in America.” We learn that all of the AirB&Bs and vacation rentals in the valley are already booked for the season. The area has no large hotels, only one small grocery store and a few restaurants and bars. But the locals seem to like it this way.

Across Huntsville Square, from the saloon, a new 15-room Inn—The Desert Compass—was completed last January.

The owners are locals, and it gives the sleepy downtown Huntsville area a glimpse of future growth while still honoring the history of the area. The significant growth of

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Snowbasin and the more frequent ski trips from Easterners is making a lasting impact on the area.

The Booming Real Estate Market

“Outsiders are moving in.” We are told by an area real estate agent that property and houses remain on the market for sometimes just a week before there are bidding wars.

Often buyers need to plan on overbidding homes by tens of thousands of dollars to have a chance of getting in.

“It’s a lot of people from California who have money that are driving the prices up,” says Julie Christensen from Remax Realty. The market is so hot right now it’s unbelievable. Loewenstein highly recommends we talk to the most prominent old timer in the area, Bill Hadlock, saying that Hadlock and his family really know a lot about what is going on that is dramatically changing the area.

Liberty in Utah

The following Monday, we visit the north end of the valley and enter the less populated area of Liberty, Utah. A solitary road leading to Avon and Northfork Pass ends up at our destination. Here, there are still wide-open golden fields and well-kept cattle and horse pastures. The low-lying grey/purple hills with scrub oak are red and orange. A few deer have descended into the pastures, seeming to know instinctively that the deer hunt is over. It’s a rare place where it still feels like the wilderness is directly in contact with the farms and the people.

Cowboys and Horsemen: Bill Hadlock and Sons

Hadlock’s original family property was on 115 acres including the river bed. He moved to Liberty when he was eight, grew up on this land raising cattle and riding horses everyday.

PHOTOS: RICHARD MARKIOSAN

taxes are debilitating to maintaining a good living.

Area property taxes have nearly tripled since 2009. Increases are considered justified by the significant increases in property values, but Loewenstein and others live on dirt or single-lane roads. Their use of city resources has not increased, and they see the increases unjustified. We discuss many of the pros and cons to the area’s changes since it was “discovered by the world” after the Olympics in 2002.

“It used to be I would see a car go by my house maybe once an hour, now it’s flit-flitflit-flit. It’s still very pretty,” he says with a smile.

Indeed it is. Around Pineview Reservoir’s beaches families are fishing for trout and walleye. The beaches at Pineview are sandy and frequented by residents from all over Utah. The trails accessing Ogden Canyon: Wheeler Canyon, Wheeler Creek, Art Nord and the Skyline Trail have become famous.

Old Snowbasin Road leads to some of the best mountain biking trails found anywhere.

The hunting in the area is some of the best in the world.

Long-time Liberty resident, Bill Hadlock, on his family farm

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He was hired 55 years ago to manage the Browning’s Bar B Ranch in Eden.

Hadlock’s son Lex’s property is just below his new house. The family members, Hadlock senior, and his three sons and grandsons, all have horse properties.

We travel a dirt road to reach him and encounter Hadlock’s daughter-in-law, Carri.

She is friendly and seems pleased that we are here to “get the local perspective” on growth issues.

She takes us to meet 80-year-old Bill. He greets us with a warm smile and a firm handshake (despite Covid). Hadlock is thin; his skin is leathery; he looks just like a man who has spent his life outdoors.

On Hadlock’s Shayne Lowenstein table I see the family has won honors in national rodeo competitions. The Hadlock’s have become widely known for training cutting horses that do incredibly difficult turns and maneuvers. They have been on the cover of rodeo magazines and have won dozens of awards.

Bill Hadlock is a legend in the rodeo world. A collage of honors hangs on his wall along with a letter from former Senator Robert Bennett, stating, in part, “You embody the tradition, heritage and culture of the West.” Bill was the manager of the Browning Ranch for fifty-seven years.

Hadlock says he knows what it feels like to be “an outsider moving in.” When he first moved to this valley with his family at the age of eight, the locals didn’t immediately take kindly to them. He felt like he needed to

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prove his toughness.

The Hadlocks moved to their ranch in 1953, buying a few hundred acres with water for $4,000. “But,” he adds, “even back then they didn’t like a newcomer to the valley.

That’s where it got its name, “Liberty,” with free roads to range. But everybody kind of got along together. Now it’s a different ballgame.”

“The county commissioners are trying to steal our water,” says Hadlock.

There isn’t enough water for more people here, so they are digging wells deeper and deeper, which dries up our aquifers.”

Hadlocks says he has received no sympathy from the County Commissioner or area politicians.

“They are all developers themselves, so they want to get as many people in here as they possibly can.

They are greedy and they want to cash in.”

The Hadlock’s said that their way of life is threatened by the developments happening in Ogden Valley. “We are all very independent. We don’t want to go work for people. We want to remain cowboys.”

The biggest problem they face is the opening up of new land to development.

The biggest problem, Hadlock points out, is that the newest house “has five furnaces and 14,000 square feet. He has three or four boys. I don’t know where he came up with all of this cash. And the house next to him is a great big house. And they hauled up 20 loads of gravel to put a parking lot up there.

I haven’t met any of them.”

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The Politics of Water and Growth

Utah Stories spoke to County Commissioner Gage Froerer for comment, and this was his response to the claims that he was attempting to take the water rights of the Hadlocks and other local residents. “[The Hadlock’s] are a long-time farming family. There is no question that people who have vacant ground feel like they are getting pressure.” But, he says that the county commissioners have nothing to do with the issue. “Water rights are regulated by the state. The water is all owned by the state and Weber Basin is under control of the drilling.

Any water that isn’t allocated is controlled by the Weber Basin.”

Regarding property tax increases: “Property taxes are based on market value, and obviously if their property has increased 300%, then their taxes will increase. They can of course appeal this to the truth-intaxation and the taxing agencies. Sixty percent of taxes go to schools. But it is really a function of market value. They have the ability to apply for a greenbelt status and pay much less in property taxes.”

Noise ordinances: “We have noise ordinances in place right now. We absolutely have those in place. Whether they got turned

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in or whether there is a sheriff. They just need to call the sheriff and get a license plate number.”

Water rights: Water is a personal property.

A lot of time that is transferred. The only say we have in it, when somebody comes to us and wants to subdivide, is they need to have the water to do so.

But the Hadlocks say that they have seen a decrease in the amount of water they have access to. In answer to this issue, Commissioner Gage says, “Water notices go out, and they have typically 90-100 days to protest that well. If you are within a mile of that well, you have every right to protest.”

If they disagree with the values, or anytime there is a rate increase, there is a truth in taxation hearing, and they have a right to protest the changes.

Gage added, “I understand their concerns.

Growth is never 100 percent good for everybody. We have people up there who are tired of farming.”

Regarding non-residents paying more in taxes

By state statute, non-residents pay 45% more in taxes on secondary homes. It has to be their full-time residence for six months and one day each year. If it’s a secondary home, they will pay the higher rate.

Under current law Weber County can justify reasons for taxing the locals out of the area. But if Eden, Liberty and Huntsville are to remain places where the western traditions remain, there will need to be changes to the laws. The state will need to increase property taxes more for non-residents and homeowners who choose to abide only weeks in their mansions every year, and reduce taxes for locals, and work on better methods for them to retain their water rights.

PHOTO: PENNY BOHN

The massive home required a new gas line to be put in. These additional infrastructure costs are being absorbed by the locals in property tax increases, according to Hadlock. Development projects are continuing to expand which lack the necessary infrastructure.

Hadlock says that, “Weber County has allowed them [newcomers] to build up Sagebrush Hill [where there is no water], and now the poor folks need to help pay for them to get water up there.”

OGDEN

Ogden and It’s Beautiful Valley Destination for a Staycation

By Penny Bohn

Christmas Time in Downtown Ogden

utahstories.com | 43

The brand new beautiful, and nationally recognized, Rose Compass Lodge

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ravel these days looks a whole lot different than it did a year ago. Planes, trains, and ships are basically out of the question for most Utahns, who, by this time, would have finished their summer vacations and started planning their holiday travels.

That’s why staycations — excursions close to home — have cabin-fevered locals traveling to places that are close enough to drive to but far enough to feel like a real vacation.

About an hour’s drive north of Salt Lake City, Ogden and Ogden Valley are full of rich history, sought-after attractions, and amazing views of the Wasatch Mountains.

If you’re planning a day or weekend, as a couple or a family, here’s what you’re not going to want to miss.

Ogden Union Station A visit to Ogden Union Station sits at the base of Ogden’s historic 25th Street, and is a must for Utah history buffs. Looking up the length of this eclectic street, a visitor is quick to notice the Victorian style structures with brick-constructed facades, stamped metal pediments, and Queen

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Anne windows. You may pass tour guides telling stories behind the facades, of the bustling and risque beginnings and recent revitalization of the street. A few blocks up is a favorite breakfast spot, Pig and a Jelly Jar, where you’ll enjoy freshly made sausages, pancakes, home-made jams and omelets while marveling at the decades-old interior, wondering what stories the walls would tell if they could talk.

Pineview Reservoir Your next stop is 25 minutes east, up 12th Street, into Ogden Canyon — a 5-mile, narrow and windy stretch of road that’s sometimes mere inches from the vertical rock walls of the canyon. Along the way runs the Ogden River and remnants of a bygone trolley system that brought city folk into this expansive valley. At the top is a dam that harnesses an expansive man-made lake.

Pineview Reservoir is well known for its boating and beach fun, and for ice fishing in the winter.

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Continuing north on a stretch of highway that winds itself around the lake will take you to one of the oldest towns in the west — Huntsville. Maze-like roads lead to the center of this quaint town, home to two unique businesses that are equally appealing but couldn’t be more different. One is the Shooting Star Saloon, where adult travelers can grab a burger and a beer and listen to locals shoot the bull.

Compass Rose Lodge Kiddy corner to the saloon, is a brand new family hotel; the nationally recognized, Compass Rose Lodge. This beautifully constructed boutique hotel has so much history infused into its exquisitely and thought-out interior decor. Plan ahead and make reservations to visit the observatory at the top of the silo. Or spend a couple of hours in a tee-pee, wrapped in blankets, cozying up to a fire and enjoying the fare brought to you by the staff. The lodge is a truly unique and inspiring answer to safe distancing while keeping your loved ones close.

Downtown Eden

Ski-Resorts If you’re making a weekend or just a day out of your staycation, Ogden Valley offers outdoor recreation opportunities such as North Fork Park, which holds an International Dark Sky designation, making it an amazing stargazing spot, along with Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and Nordic and Wolf Mountain ski resorts.

Powder Mountain, on the North end of the valley, though less steep than the Basin, typically boasts better snow conditions due to its higher elevation. With both so close, and the smaller Wolf Creek and Nordic Valley night skiing in between, a skier will easily fill his or her downhill quota.

What are you waiting for? Pack a bag, load the car, and make the drive north. Ogden and its beautiful valley are just the ticket for a staycation this year.

PHOTO: ©SNOWBASIN RESORT

Centered near the biggest four-way stop in Eden is a small cluster of tiny but sought-

after shops huddled around a large gazebo.

These family-oriented venues include Creme De La Creme Ice Cream Shop, Ogden Valley Pizza, Simply Eden, Red Bicycle, and Pat’s Bar. The nearby New World Distillery beckons adults with world class spirit concoctions, tasting the spirits, and tours of their distillery process.

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MARKETPLACE

Story Head TK Subhead Subhead TK TK Byline Byline TK TK

Beautiful display featuring Red Flower Studio’s wares

Fire. Air. Art. Vistors create glass beauty at Red Flower Studios

By Eric S. Peterson

PHOTO: ©RED FLOWER

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ucked away in Park City, and guarded by two friendly golden retrievers, is a unique and off-the-beaten-path resort destination — Red Flower Studios. Here, owners Daniel Bell and Micah Goddard teach the ancient art of glass blowing.

Customers melt color into glass before a 2000 degree oven, blow air into the molten globules to give them shape, and then put finishing touches on the crafts that they then get to keep.

Yes, that’s right — an oven that is 500 degrees hotter than molten lava. While that

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may sound like some hardcore crafting, it’s actually perfectly safe under the skilled supervision of Bell and Goddard.

“You can feel the heat, but you won’t be close enough to get burned,” Goddard says.

They will help you start a project such as a cup or vase — or, depending on the season, Christmas ornaments, glass pumpkins or Easter eggs. Guests choose broken glass shards that will be added to the project to give it color.

“Molten glass has the consistency of honey,” Goddard says. The colored shards

be picked up the next day.

Most creations cost around $50, but that includes time spent working the ovens and forging your art by the very breath in your lungs — making it a very affordable and unique experience. As a result, Goddard says, it’s one that’s very popular with date nights and group outings.

The “create your own” experience is best booked in advance as the studio is only open for limited hours for these activities. Bell and Goddard do work on commission and create custom lighting projects for homes and offices. But they really revel in sharing the magic of glass blowing with the public.

“There are a lot of glass blowing studios across the country, but not many that let people have hands-on experience with it,” Goddard says.

RedFlowerStudios.com

Young participant breaths life into a new glass creation

utahstories.com | 49

PHOTO: ©RED FLOWER

are “kind of like sprinkles on ice cream.”

Guests turn the piece at the end of a long tool inside the very hot furnace — roasting it like a marshmallow to allow the colored shards to melt into the piece.

The novice glassblowers then blow air into their creations — again under the guidance of Goddard and Bell. Breathing life into the project is a real art but one that’s perfectly safe. You won’t get your lips melted off or even chapped.

The whole process is very impressive.

Molten glass only keeps its shape for a short while. Once it’s out of the furnace there is not much time to manipulate the material before it begins to harden. To keep the creations from cracking, they are placed in an annealer — basically a temperaturecontrolled cooler that keeps the creations from cooling so fast that they shatter. After the creations have cooled overnight, they can

MARKETPLACE

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Hyrum Thompson, owner of Western Timber Frame in his workshop

Western Timber Frame

By Nicole Anderson

PHOTO: MIKE JONES

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he family gathers at the table, resting in the shade of their new pergola. The sunset and the evening lights illuminate the pathway to this new gathering place. The ceiling fan suspended from the wood rafter pushes the hot summer air away, as laughter and good food brings the family together, forging lasting memories.

Hyrum Thompson, a cabinet maker, and his son Brad, started what would become Western Timber Frame in their driveway

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in 2008. Hyrum had been a cabinet builder his entire life, but thought it might be fun to build a pergola with Brad’s help. Brad worked as the sales lead. He’d go out, make a sale, come home and help his dad build the pergola in their driveway. Once complete, they’d disassemble it, load it in the truck, deliver it to the customer’s house, and reassemble it.

Eventually, through word of mouth and impeccable craftsmanship, Western Timber

He laughed as he explained that these pergolas give the guys an excuse to BBQ after they put one together. This multifunctional pergola is built with a dovetail on each piece so building it is as simple — although much heavier — as the Lincoln Logs you played with as a kid. The company also has a special patented Timberbolt design to help hold those huge 6X6 timbers in place.

As the company grew, the projects and the custom builds got bigger and more complex.

In 2019, they completed 280 projects, and so far in 2020, they have completed 320 projects with two months remaining. It seems that Covid-19 has contributed to business growth as families everywhere are building memories together. westerntimberframe.com

Multi-functional pergola built with dovetail construction

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PHOTO: ©WESTERN TIMBER FRAME

Frame became big enough that they moved their side gig to a new building, and Hyrum eventually stopped building cabinets.

When asked what makes them so special, receptionist Eva Jessop, responded, “We can custom design what the customer wants based on their budget and the space available.”

James Adair, the manager at Western Timber Frame, explained that, “We always strive to have the best possible customer service. We understand that the product is expensive, and we want our customers to know we truly care about them and their situation.”

Western Timber Frame has gone from a driveway build to a nationwide business.

“We ship all over the country,” said Adair.

“Right now, I am shipping pergolas to New Mexico and New York, and one to New Jersey.”

FOOD

Customers enjoying Cunina’s outdoor patio

Running A Restaraunt In A Pandemic Spoiler: It’s Not All Bad News

By Ted Scheffler

PHOTO: CUCINA PATIO

N

ationwide - worldwide, in fact restaurants are facing huge challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands and thousands have closed permanently and many more are hanging by a thread. Others are doing better but have had to adjust the way they do business significantly to survive. Who ever thought Log Haven, for example, would be doing takeout curbside meals?

Sadly, in SLC alone we’ve permanently

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lost more restaurants than I have room to list here. But they include Cannella’s, which operated for 42 years, Alamexo, Mollie & Ollie, Elevo, the 9th & 9th Mazza location, Martine, Punch Bowl Social, Red Butte Cafe, and so many others. Operating a successful restaurant in the best of times is a very difficult thing to accomplish. During a pandemic, it’s next to impossible. It’s been nine months now since the world was turned on its head. I recently reached out

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PHOTO: SLC EATERY

SLC Eateries socialdistancing patio

to some local chefs and restaurateurs to see how they’re faring during this challenging moment in time. Some are actually able to shake their heads and laugh a little.

A restaurant like Stoneground Italian Kitchen is fortunate to have a gorgeous outdoor deck to dine on, as well as a spacious interior that makes social distancing feasible. Still, Stoneground has also implemented takeout and curbside dining such as their Weekend Suppers to go, take home pizza kits, and more.

Even during these trying times, Stoneground Executive Chef Justin Shifflett manages to stay positive. He starts by saying to anyone just reopening or who has just been open for a short time: “Things get better. I personally loved the challenge coming back from a pandemic, getting the crew together, and facing them head on.

What I didn’t expect was how emotional it would be for everyone. Most of us were at

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home for weeks collecting unemployment, not sure what the future would bring but we were safe in our bubbles. Coming back we had to face the fears of a new world and none of us had thought how our psyches had been affected until hit dead on. Great leadership will get you through anything though, and I’m thankful we have that at Stoneground and in my personal life.”

As owner of WB’s Eatery and Pig & A Jelly Jar, Amy Wanderley-Britt says that in response to COVID-19 challenges, “We pivoted. We created new revenue streams: Market Meals and a lunch box delivery program, as well as gift packs called “Good Day Sunshine” that include our jam, waffle mix and house coffee shipping nationally and coming to a doorstep near you soon.

We will go to our guests if they can’t come to us is how I think it’s best described. Pig & A Jelly Jar, Pig Kitchen and WB’s Eatery are committed to our team and community

more than ever. We do meal donations to the Volunteers of America twice weekly, Buy 1 Give 1 socks for the women’s shelter, and give backs to Nuzzles and Co. no-kill animal shelter by way of our Beans and Bones.

We are salmon swimming upstream, my friend, and if the bears, birds and what else the world brings our way don’t eat us we will keep swimming!”

Co-owner and chef at SLC Eatery, Logen Crew says “We’re being insanely cautious,” referring to social distancing, sanitization and such. “Luckily, the indoor tables at our restaurant were already spaced pretty far apart, so we only lost 10 seats due to social distancing.” In addition, he and his partner Paul Chamberlain spent thousands of dollars to create a beautiful outdoor dining area, complete with overhead lighting and covering. As if the pandemic isn’t enough to deal with, the hurricane force winds we had in early September destroyed most of the SLC Eatery patio and it had to be rebuilt.

Regarding the mandated closure of indoor dining during the early stages of the pandemic, Crew manages to put a positive spin saying, “I actually enjoyed the challenge of being a fancy food restaurant and having to create fast-casual food suited for takeout. I like to eat things like chicken sandwiches and burritos, so it was kind of fun to create fast food that was still interesting.”

My wife, Faith Scheffler, coordinates special events such as weddings and private parties at Log Haven restaurant up in Millcreek Canyon. One of her biggest challenges for the past few months especially during weddings - is getting folks to wear facial coverings when they are not seated at a table. “I hate having to be Mask Cop,” she says. Faith has heard so many excuses for not wearing masks - some of them pretty creative - that she’s compiled a list of them. Here are a few of her favorites:

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“I have immunity.” “I’m hot.” “It messes up my make-up.” “This is ridiculous.” And my favorite: “It messes up my beard.”

At Cucina Wine Bar, Executive Chef Joey Ferran says, “We have had to adapt and change as we go. When we first went into lock down in the spring we really upped our take out game, offering pasta and pizza kits complete with ingredients and directions for people to make our gourmet food at home.

The pizza kits were received so well they are still sporadically available. Also, in an effort to remain environmentally conscious I’ve sourced a full line of eco friendly containers made from sugar cane that look as good as the food, but eliminate the use of plastic.

The restaurant has stayed busy thanks to the warm weather as well as us expanding our patio into our parking lot in order to space our patrons as far apart as possible.

We had to get creative once again to make the dining experience feel curated.

We added planters of flowers, lights for ambience, and weekly live music. Our staffing had to expand to include a server whose only job was to bus tables and sanitize every surface.

Another factor that has helped is a stronger presence on social media.”

Maggie Alvarez, restaurant partner with her chef husband Matt Harris, opened Afterword in Heber smack dab in the middle of the pandemic. “It’s going to be a really tough winter,” she predicts. “Our outdoor seating has been a blessing thus far, but I will need to tent it for the winter to keep seating capacity. There are still so many people who will only dine outdoors.

In this state with our winter climate, that’s a really scary prospect for a restaurant.”

Alvarez and Harris are hardcore outdoor adventurers; I’m betting on them to conquer this challenge, too.

Alpenglobes Prove Huge Hit with Utah Resturaunts

By Richard Markosian

W

PHOTOS:ŠALPENGLOBES

hen Covid struck Insight Exhibits, they were faced with either laying off the majority of their employees or finding a way to keep workers on their payroll.

They found the opportunity in helping restaurants by making Covid-friendly outdoor igloos. The igloos allow diners to feel safe, and also enjoy the outdoors. They construct the igloos of wood and plexiglass, which they call Alpenglobes.

So far they have tested the Alpenglobes at Cafe Galleria in Midway, Utah and they are an astounding hit. The Cafe says that they are now booked out for reservations until February. Reservations are $20, which goes toward the cost of food if diners spend more than $100. The cost of the igloos if you want to buy one? $12,000. http://alpenglobe.com Instagram: @alpen_globe

Igloos at Cafe Galeria Midway

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Story Head TK Subhead TK Byline TK

Tortoises in the Fast Lane Northern corridor threatens Mojave desert tortoise habitat in Washington County

By Tom Bennett

T

he desert possesses a special beauty.

In these harsh environs, life must fight to persevere, and the desert deserves special protection. In 1995, 4,500 acres in Washington County were set apart as the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

To the north is Pine Mountain and Dixie National Forest. Surrounding the area are the communities of Ivins, Saint George, Washington, and Leeds. The area is amongst the fastest growing in the nation.

The NCA is home to 130 miles of non-motorized trails and is a crucial

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habitat to many iconic creatures such as the Mojave desert tortoise. A Northern Corridor Highway — an extension of Red Hills Parkway — has been proposed to connect Washington City to Saint George.

Currently, I-15 in Washington County is under construction to widen the freeway.

County officials claim that the Northern Corridor is also essential to deal with the area’s growth.

The Bureau of Land Management initiated an environmental review as of December 5, 2019, and the public was

line in our hearts and minds. We have lost allowed to submit comments until January our sensitivity to such loss. Or even worse, 6, 2020. maybe, we, the American people, have Historical significance is also a factor in forgotten the power of our voices against protecting the land. Conserve Southwest a government that has forgotten who it is Utah has stated that “260 artifact-bearing sites have been discovered in the Red Cliffs subject to.

As the sun set today, I went to this perfect area, though only twelve percent has been piece of desert and surveyed.� found the little Considering I-15 is Washington County is trail into the red that this land is under construciton to widen the freeway cliffs was blocked protected under and that highway federal law, and destruction had is now at risk of already begun. I development, walked back to my we must ask: car and laughed in how effective are disgust at the irony such laws at their as I remembered intended purpose the signs, way of protecting back there, not so at-risk habitats?

Red Cliffs National long ago, which Relinquishing Conservation Area reminded us to protected status is tread lightly on the a slippery slope. protected ground.

We have to take a stand, as we are driving Where do we take a stand, and when? Or towards decimation, not merely of one will we? species, but of nature in general.

Perhaps we have already crossed that

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COVID MARKETPLACE

Pandemic Pivot 2850 S Redwood Rd, SLC 801-973-6067 Owner: Branimir Drljaca

For over 17 years Branimir Drljaca and his family have been providing the exYugoslavian community living in Salt Lake with the foods that evoke childhood memories. The small shop is jam-packed with European foods from all over Europe: starting with Milka chocolates to delicious smoked meats and foods that only exYugoslavian knows about such as Burek, tulumbe, cevapi, Vegeta, sudzuk, argeta.....

It is needless to say that most of the customers are from the Balkans. And the 4

ANGIE OF EUROPA MARKET

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employee team is proud to be able to serve them for so many years.

At the beginning of the pandemic, they saw a rush of people trying to stock up on all of their favorite foods but as everybody got used to COVID- 19 the flow of customers became as steady as it was pre-pandemic.

Since the food is essential COVID did not make much of the impact on their business.

Some of the foods are harder to import, but the shop still offers the majority of the foods and articles as it did before.

Qaderi Sweetz N Spicez Owner: Zubeda Bano Two locations: 1. 1785 State St, Salt Lake City 2. 3546 S Redwood Rd, West Valley City

Zubeda Bano immigrated to the United States from Pakistan and opened Qaderi Sweetz N Spicez grocery shop in West Valley 25 years ago. Seven years ago he opened a second location in Liberty Wells.

I visited the shop in Liberty Wells and was surprised by its size. It is spacious and packed with Indian and Pakistani goods, from food items to music and movies.

The shelves by the long counter are lined with hundreds of DVDs. The Bano family is proud to serve a diverse clientele, that besides the Indian and Pakistani population includes average Utahns, for two and a half decades.

At the beginning of pandemics, a rush of customers overflowed the shop stocking up on their favorite food items in fear of famine.

But afterward, the flow of customers tapered off and business slowed down. People just

PHOTOS:BRADEN LATIMER

Europa Market

Armenian couple Artur Makian and Ruzan Mnoyan. I chatted with the son, Andrew Makian who is carrying their legacy of making German, Polish, Bulgarian, Russian, ex-Yugoslavian, and many other imported and baked in-house foods available to immigrants.

Their clientele reflects the origin of their inventory. Most of the time Russian is the language resonating through the store.

However, at the beginning of the pandemic, when all the toilet paper shelves became bare YOUSUF KHANANI OF SWEETZ N SPICEZ at big box stores, born and raised Americans sieged European Tastees and emptied the shelves of all flour, rice, and other essential are not spending as much ad they used to foods. due to job loss or uncertainty that COVID Despite COVID the business is thriving. brought to all of our lives.

Like many other businesses, European Tastees had to adapt by utilizing delivery European Tastees services, wearing masks, and constant 4700 S 900 E, Murray sanitizing. Since all of their grocery items are Owner: Artur Makian, Ruzan Mnoyan, and imported, it takes 3 times longer to receive Andrew Makian them. Nevertheless, the eight employee team Since 2005 European Tastees has been providing a taste of nostalgia to the European takes pride in being able to offer exactly the same array of food items as pre-pandemic. population in the Greater Salt Lake area.

It is a true family business, founded by an

ANDREW MAKIAN OF EUROPEAN TASTEES

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