Cottonwood Heights Journal | November 2022 by The City Journals

Nov. 2022 | Vol. 18 Iss. 11

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By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

n Feb. 15, potential development plans for Hillside Plaza (approximately 2378 Fort Union Blvd.) within Cottonwood Heights were presented by Wright Development Group during a neighborhood meeting for surrounding residents. The attendance was rather unexpected. Over 90 residents arrived with significant interest in the future of the area and a resident group began to emerge. Now, the Hillside Neighborhood Resident Group is comprised of over 185 residents. Their main objective is to share perspective about the development of Hillside Plaza and what could possibly be done with that area. “We are a group of residents that got together because one of the developers told us they would be putting in high-density and we’d have to fight the city council in order to not get (high-density),” said spokesperson Randy Whitehead. “Hillside Plaza is not very busy,” Whitehead said. “Rite Aid, Reams, and Planet Fitness used to be there. Today, there is a Dollar Tree.” The resident group has met regularly

Hillside Plaza (approximately 2378 Fort Union Blvd.) has been quite barren after the local grocery store Reams closed its doors. (Photo courtesy of Randy Whitehead/Hillside Neighborhood Resident Group)

at city hall to discuss the future of the Hillside Plaza area. They have formed committees, attended city council meetings, reviewed city planning and zoning docu-

ments, met with the Cottonwood Heights Planning and Economic staff members, and brought in experts to learn more about Utah’s land use laws. “We are willing to roll up our sleeves

and get our hands dirty to make a difference,” Whitehead said.

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Nov. 2022 | Page 3

Salt Lake County Mayor and Council pass resolution opposing the gondola By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

fter the Utah Department of Transportation identified Gondola Alternative B as the best option to improve transportation in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and the county council passed a joint resolution asking UDOT to remove the gondola from consideration. The resolution suggested that UDOT adopt the Common-Sense Solutions Approach, stating it would be more fiscally responsible and help protect and preserve the canyon. “Instead of constructing 23 skyscraper-sized gondola towers that will devastate the majestic views of the canyon, UDOT should pursue common-sense solutions that invest in more practical, adaptable, and less invasive transportation strategies,” Wilson said. “These solutions on their own have the potential to solve the traffic problem without destroying our canyon. This common-sense approach will demonstrate that the costly and unsightly gondola is not right for our canyons.” Common-sense solutions include creating a toll for the canyon, providing electric buses with mobility hubs, adopting parking management strategies that would include parking reservations and a smartphone app, and adding incentives for carpooling and rideshare programs. Environmental organizations and many city leaders in the county have come forward to oppose construction of the gondola, which has a $550-million price tag, just for initial construction costs. Concerns were raised that the gondola only stops at two private ski resorts, only removes about 30% of canyon traffic and involves constructing nearly two dozen gondola towers up Little Cottonwood Canyon, plus a base-camp location at the mouth of the canyon. “We are moving into a difficult time in our economy,” said Salt Lake County Council Chair Laurie Stringham. “As UDOT looks at building a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon, I would urge the State of Utah to look at all facets of this issue: water protection, fire safety, two ways in and out of the canyon in case of fire or avalanche, and other options available that solve more than just a narrow scope. It is easy for an entity with a narrow scope to come to a conclusion, but as public officials, we have a range of problems to solve and we need to look at solutions that solve those problems, not just a narrow scope.” UDOT’s decision comes after a four-year Environmental Impact Study that started in the spring of 2018. The intent was to create transportation solutions to improve mobility and safe-

Journals T H E

A mock-up of the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola shows one of the 23 towers that will be built up the canyon as part of the project. The Salt Lake County Mayor and Council recently passed a resolution opposing construction of the gondola. (Photo courtesy of UDOT)

ty for visitors to Little Cottonwood Canyon and along Wasatch Boulevard. For information about the results of the study, visit Littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov. “Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for a permanent and risky project like this, especially when we could invest in common-sense solutions like electric buses that can also be used to benefit transportation issues across Salt Lake Valley,” said Salt Lake County Council Member Jim Bradley. After heated public comment and a debate between coun-

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cil members, the resolution narrowly passed with a 5-4 vote. Council members Dave Alvord, Aimee Winder Newton, Steve Debry and Dea Theodore voted against the resolution. “I was a ‘No’ vote on this resolution because the resolution had misleading information and I also believe we need to keep all options on the table for consideration as we look at long-term solutions to the traffic in the canyon,” Newton said. l

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Recent high school graduate shares study strategies in new book

tudy smarter, not harder. That’s what a recent area high school graduate advises secondary students. Emily Erickson graduated in 2021, but in the last month of her senior year of high school, she wrote the book, “The Art of the A: A Guide to Earning Straight A’s in Middle and High School Without Sacrificing Your Social Life, Sleep Schedule, or Sanity.” She self-published the 300-page book that is available on Amazon. As a 4.0 grade-point student who took 14 advanced placement classes, earned her associate’s degree while in high school, was named Utah’s business and marketing Sterling Scholar, finished first in her class of 563 students and was involved in seven clubs, Erickson said she was able to do so with eight hours of sleep per night and being able to do activities with friends. “I found that a lot of the information on the internet isn’t good advice. The people who write it, they haven’t actually gotten straight A’s themselves, or they haven’t actually done it recently, or really understand what it’s like to be a student now,” she said. “I also feel there’s a lot of books on the market of study tips for college students, but not really for middle and high school students—and not one written by a high schooler for high schoolers and middle schoolers.” In her book, she addresses the mistaken impression that a student needs to be brilliant to succeed in school. “There are a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to get straight A’s. A lot of people think that you have to be a genius to get straight A’s and while there’s some level of intelligence that you need, I don’t think you have to be prodigious in any way. If you’re strategic and you’re organized, and you have an idea for what you’re doing and know how to work effectively, it’s very possible for any student to aim to get A’s,” she said. “The idea that students have to work all day long, be completely obsessed with their studies, have no life outside of school, not have a sleep schedule and be under tremendous amounts of stress is a stereotype which is incorrect and harmful.” She used her knowledge of being a student today along with her strategies she used to write the book to help others succeed. “The perspective I wrote the book from is if you’re a student who’s struggling in school, and you ask how you can do better. The advice people typically give you is study harder, engage more in class or take good notes. Those are OK tips, but they’re kind of poor advice because they don’t ask the central question: what does it really take to earn straight A’s? The answer is really simple. It’s earning a high enough percentage on your assignments, your exams, your essays, your projects, everything you do in a class, so that at the end of this semester, you have enough points or percentage of points that your grade falls above a certain point cut off for getting an A,” she said. Erickson said she ensured what she was doing would affect her grade, not just complete busy work. “I asked myself, ‘How can I put in my time, effort and strategies in a direction that moves me toward that A instead of just saying, ‘take better notes.’ I questioned, ‘Why do we need to take better notes? What is the function of notes, how are they earning points?’ A lot of people will come home, and study and they’ll make their notes pretty, which doesn’t help get A’s because it’s the assignments that you turn in and are graded on that earns you points. Identifying that is a huge thing,” she said. With her assignments and tests, she tried to be effi-

CottonwoodHeightsJournal .com

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com cient and effective. “In the book, I talked about different strategies for different types of assignments. I go into detail in the book on each type of assignment so like essays, how you plan and write and do those effectively and how you do daily assignments, math homework or just short things,” she said adding that she also shares specific strategies for long-term projects. She includes organizational systems so “you can succeed and handle things that are coming in when you get into the middle of the school year.” Even if you read her book at this point in the school year, Erickson has advice. “Start with making sure you put out any fires,” she said. “Make a list of what needs to be done, and then do what’s worth the highest number of points and due the soonest and then attack it as much as you can. Then refine your systems. Learn organization.” One section Erickson is especially proud of is a chapter titled, “Creating time out of nowhere.” “When I was a sophomore, I took five AP classes at the same time. My counselor was like, ‘You’re insane; nobody’s done that. You’re going to be stressed out of your mind and go crazy’ —and I kind of did at first,” she said, remembering she took even more AP classes her junior year. “Then, I realized there are periods of time throughout the day like when my dad dropped me off for school or was picking me up. I had a 30- to 45-minute window there. I had 30 minutes during lunch, and then we had advisory, which was a 30-minute study hall, and I realized if I used those times, instead of just talking with friends or wandering around having lunch and texting, like everybody does, then I could get two hours of homework time during the day that I never realized existed. When a student who feels overwhelmed by homework realizes this, it can really help. I made the choice to do homework at those times because I was at school anyway and I found that by finishing what I needed to do at school, I was left with the evenings free.” Erickson also addresses stress and burnout of high school students. “If you’re doing school right, stress can be a positive thing; it means you’re doing something that matters. I’d reframe that stress as if I was playing a game to get good grades and trying to learn to move forward in the world to make it fun. It’s a challenge to build mastery. I talk a lot about mindset and dealing with the game and doing it proactively in the book,” she said. That mindset extended to assignments, and she would see if she could concentrate on them and turn them in the same day. “I found that the times I was working most intense, were when something was due in 30 minutes. So, there’s the game there; I’d make the strategic game to not procrastinate and get it back to the teachers as if it was due sooner. I remember my English teacher would give out projects and assignments. I had this joke with her that she would finish her lunch and I would hand her my homework before the next period,” she said. Part of the trick, Erickson said, was to stay organized. She kept her papers and assignments in files at home so she could quickly review assignments or refer to them. “It’s really helpful to keep track of assignments. I’ve also had times where teachers have missed entering a grade, so I was able to go to my filing cabinet and pull it out and that really did end up saving my butt a couple of

Alta High School graduate Emily Erickson wrote a 300-page book on how to get straight A’s for middle and high school students. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Erickson)

times,” she said. Especially for high school seniors, she said make sure organization and strategies are in place for assignments “as you may be trying to fill out these college applications or traveling for scholarship interviews. Having the ability to have things on autopilot and just having the systems in place to keep you on track when you have other priorities going on. That’s huge as a senior.” “The Art of the A” is Erickson’s second book. The current University of Utah student wrote a book about education reform titled “Unlearned: A Student’s Perspective on Bridging the Divide Between Schooling and Educatedness” during the COVID-19 Alta High School closure in 2020. “The best part of writing this book was just thinking about what I did. It forced me to go back and reflect on everything that I’ve learned all throughout my K through 12 education, about studying and homework and all the strategies and the experiences I had with teachers,” Erickson said. “I realized everything I’ve learned over the years would be lost unless I could share it with someone, maybe a little sixth-grade girl who was like me and really wants to succeed academically in school. Maybe she’s going to find my book and will develop a solid strategy and find inspiration. Just knowing that my experiences may have that positive impact is really cool. It brings things full circle for me.”l

Nov. 2022 | Page 5

Cottonwood Heights celebrates community with block party Photos by Cassie Goff/City Journals

Chalk art masterpieces were on display as block party spectators took pause to appreciate the creative skills of the artists.

Young chalk artists each had one large cement square to create their masterpieces.

Silver Moon Taqueria, Utah Killer Dogs, Marvelous Ice Cream, and Finest Sno on Earth served dinner and snacks to help attendees alleviate their hunger.

Avid bicyclists rode for hours during the bicycle safety rodeo.

Dynamic Chiropractic was one of many local businesses manning their booth during the Community Block Party.

The Community Block Party offered many family-friendly activities, including cornhole.

Page 6 Nov. 2022

Attendees met local business owners and gained awareness of the variety of goods sold within the city’s boundaries.

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Transportation projects, including multi-use trails, submitted for funding consideration By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

very year, a variety of projects are funded by Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC)’s programs. A call for Letter of Intent submissions is announced for municipalities, communities and partners during late summer/early autumn. The proposed projects are then distributed to members of the Councils of Governments (CoGs) and judged through a rigorous merit-based process involving qualitative analysis. The City of Cottonwood Heights proposes numerous transportation projects each year in hopes of receiving potential funding. In prior years, the city’s proposals for a HAWK crosswalk and the Bengal Boulevard roundabout were approved for funding. (The roundabout was awarded $2.3 million.) Cottonwood Heights submits project proposals in four categories set by the Wasatch Front Regional Council. Those categories are: Surface Transportation Program (STP), Congestion Mitigation for Air Quality (CMAQ), Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). STP funds projects for active transportation, transit capital improvements, and on federal-aid eligible highways. CMAQ funds are awarded to projects that improve air quality. TAP funds the construction and planning of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

CRP funds transportation projects that reduce on-road carbon dioxide emissions. On Sept. 20, Public Works Director Matt Shipp highlighted a handful of potential city projects that would meet the qualifications to be considered for funding. He asked the city council for guidance on which projects they would support being submitted for consideration. Since the WFRC splits $5 million for transportation projects between all of the cities within Salt Lake proper, he stressed the need to be strategic. The potential project that received the most enthusiastic council support was a protected cycle track trail along Fort Union Boulevard, covering the stretch of the boulevard running from Union Park Avenue to 1300 East. “This piece of road is part of the Mid-Valley Transportation plan which stretches all of Fort Union,” Shipp said, highlighting more potential to receive funding. If funded, the project would include a protected cycle track, a 10-foot multiuse trail on the north and south sides of the road, a separate grade from the road, and intersection improvements for the Union Park Avenue and Fort Union Boulevard intersection. “Big kudos to (Senior Planner) Andy Hulka for this one,” Shipp said. Another potential project involving a

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If funding is acquired, Cottonwood Heights could install sidewalks along Wasatch Boulevard east of the high-T intersection. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

protected cycle track trail was supported by the council to be submitted for funding as well. This protected cycle trail would run along Highland Drive between Fort Union Boulevard and Bengal Boulevard. “We can work with the existing trails and make a bigger sidewalk,” Shipp said. This potential project would include a 10-foot multiuse protected trail on the east side of Highland Drive to provide additional safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. It would also increase pedestrian safety for the students attending Brighton High School. “I watch students walking along that road and it doesn’t look that safe,” said Councilmember Shawn Newell expressing his support. The last potential project the city council supported, with requested modifications, was the Wasatch Boulevard Operations Project. Sidewalks would be added along the east side of Wasatch Boulevard, beginning at the high-T intersection were north

Little Cottonwood Road begins until the city’s boundary on Wasatch Boulevard. In addition, a missing section of sidewalk along the west side of the boulevard would be constructed. Bicycle lanes would be provided on both sides of the roads while maintaining the three existing vehicle lanes. For any project that is approved for funding by the WFRC, Cottonwood Heights has pay for an environmental study and preliminary project costs. “We have to do preliminary engineering, which is anywhere from 20% to 30% of the engineering design, and that comes out of the city pocket,” Shipp said. Then, WFRC pays for 93.2% of the total project costs (as the city provides a 6.7% match). These costs include construction engineering, UDOT oversight and design engineering, contingency, and any land acquisition that may be needed. l

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Fort Union Boulevard could use some protected bike lanes. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

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Managing Grief in the Holidays By William G. Hoy Holidays in grief can be particularly challenging with familiar and sentimental sights, sounds, and smells reminding us our loved one is not here. Because this period of the year is built around relationships, a death in the family can make these weeks very difficult. But rather than attempt to just “grope our way” through these special days, there are ways to grow personally through the holidays as grief becomes transformative for us. Saying goodbye to a loved one is anything but easy, especially if well-meaning friends and family members expect you to just “get on with your life.” Allow time and space for grieving and crying this holiday season. Keeping a journal can provide a vital opportunity for reflection during the holidays. These weeks will not be the same as before because of the “empty chair” at the table so the pain is inevitable. A list of favorite holiday activities might be quite lengthy but make that list anyway. The list might include many holiday traditions such when the house is decorated, when and where worship takes place, and in whose home the family meals are shared. Though it is impossible to do everything “just like when Mom was here,” you can evaluate what you do for the holidays and determine, with your family’s help, which of those traditions you want to preserve. In evaluating holiday traditions, consider creating something new. Lighting a special candle, purchasing a unique holiday decoration, providing gifts to a needy family, or hosting an international student can become meaningful holiday traditions. Well-meaning friends or family may want you to attend parties and gatherings, hoping to “cheer you up” but take control of your schedule and do only as much celebrating as you feel ready to do. Choosing which events to participate in acknowledges that grief is a tiring experience. Even under the best of circumstances, holidays can be taxing so attempting to attend every event, party, or celebration may bring about total exhaustion. Instead, say “no” to some well-intentioned invitations. Simply remind friends, “My energy level hasn’t returned to where it was before he died; thank you for understanding my need to decline.” Pay close attention to physical well-being, too. Adequate rest, good nutrition, and moderate exercise is essential for the grief process. Lean meats with fresh fruits and vegetables are better choices than sugar- and fat-laden treats. If your health care provider approves, a brisk walk or other moderate exercise can help you feel better physically and emotionally. And eating a healthy diet coupled with moderate exercise is a remedy for insomnia for many mourners. Be sure to consider the spiritual aspects of life, too. Because holidays have spiritual roots make sure to include time for worship and reflection during this period. Volunteering to help others or making a memorial contribution is a meaningful way to put feet to faith during the holiday season. While it is inevitable to face pain at the holidays, following these suggestions can help bereaved individuals and families find transformative growth during this special season of the year. William G. Hoy is educational consultant to Larkin Mortuaries in Salt Lake City. Following a career of care for the dying and bereaved for a Long Beach, California-based hospice program, since 2012, Dr. Hoy has been Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Next spring, Larkin Mortuaries will host a seminar series featuring Dr. Hoy. For more information on Larkin’s educational program, please call 801-363-5781 or email skehl@larkincares.com.

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Donations sought to brighten Cottonwood High students’ holidays By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

hen Black Friday comes around, consider picking up some extra board games, art kits, basketballs, curling irons, socks and stocking stuffers for Cottonwood High School’s neighborhood day of service. On Dec. 10 morning, between 9 a.m. and noon, Cottonwood PTA will accept donations for the school’s Christmas Extravaganza, which provides items for students to give to family members, said Jennifer Young, who is on the Cottonwood PTA planning committee. Donations can be dropped off at Cottonwood High, 5715 S. 1300 East. “The students just love this,” she said. “They look forward to it. They come and the thing is they get to go shopping. We have all the donations set up, so they pick out things for their family. It’s so neat to see how much they’re excited to be able to give gifts to their families. We open it up to any student and many of them are refugees and came here with nothing so getting a fuzzy pair of socks or a fleece blanket means the world to them. The students can only go through all the tables once, but last year one boy saw a doll stroller for his sister, and he pretty much flew past a few of the tables because he had his eye on that for her. It's emotional to watch these kids. This is their only opportunity for many of these kids to do anything for their families.” After the PTA gathers the donations, they set up tables in the lunchroom with items so students can pick up items at a set time on Dec. 13. Everything is free, but because of such demand, students may be limited on some items, such as one sports ball, she said. “The sports balls are huge; the students usually pick those out for their siblings. They love picking out board games that the whole family could play together. We usually get a ton of games and they’re just grabbed up. It’s incredible. Blankets are huge. They love giving a new blanket at Christmastime. The students also love choosing socks for member in their family,” she said, adding that hats, mittens, scarves, lotion, nail polish and candles also are popular amongst students. “Every student gets a gift card. We get a lot of Walmart and Target gift cards that are donated, in $20 amounts.” Monetary contributions also are accepted, and with the funds, items are purchased to fill in the gaps of donations, Young said. Last year, the Extravaganza benefitted 761 of Cottonwood’s 1,600 students. “We really want to try and reach out to the whole community for more donations because we have an even greater demand,” she said. “We ask for everything to be new because these are gifts for their families and everything in their life is al-

CottonwoodHeightsJournal .com

ways gently used or secondhand. This is the one time of the year they get new items, which is amazing.” While this is Young’s fourth year helping with the event, she said it has been going longer than that. At that time, the PTA was able to help about 100 students. Many of the students who pick items at the Extravaganza also are the ones who regularly use the school’s pantry. Young estimates it serves about 150 students every Monday and Thursday it’s open. The pantry opened in January 2017 when there was a realization that students were too hungry to focus on their homework during an after-school tutoring program. “We realized many of these kids were only eating what food they got at the school, so we decided to start the pantry,” she said, adding that more than 50% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. “There’s a definite need. A lot of our students are cooking for younger siblings because parents are working and aren't home, so they come twice a week after school to get anything they want.” Donations for both the Extravaganza and pantry come from families and neighbors as well as members of St. Vincent de Paul Parish and The Church of Jesus Christ

Tables full of donated items last year awaited Cottonwood Heights students to select items to give to their families. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Young/Cottonwood High)

of Latter-day Saints. “We love that this is a huge community event, people helping other people, giving so these students can have a great Christmas, too,” Young said. “Seeing these

kids be so excited, it makes it the ‘funnest’ day of the whole school year. The Christmas Extravaganza really is just an amazing event to be a part of and to witness.” l

Nov. 2022 | Page 11

District holds cross country race By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Brighton High alumni gather on the new Alumni Plaza. (Jerry Christensen/City Journals)

With Brighton’s rebuild comes a new homecoming tradition for alumni By Jerry Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

crisp autumn evening, the Wasatch Front in full splendor and 52 years of Brighton alumni turned up to celebrate the completion of the new school and witness the Brighton football team defeat Park City for the Region 6 title. “The new Brighton gives us an opportunity to create new traditions,” said Brighton alumni chair Krista Cullimore. “The Alumni Association is sponsoring an annual alumni event at the homecoming game.” MHTN Architects designed a spectacular plaza with a 270-degree view of the south valley, the football field (Freestone Field) and the Wasatch Front. Newly dubbed “Alumni Plaza,” this venue will host the an-

nual gathering of all Brighton alumni before and during the homecoming football game each fall. This event featured formal tours of the new $118-million facility. The community can expect to receive notifications of next year’s gathering via social media and the official Brighton communications and calendar. “It's a chance to gather as alumni and utilize the beautiful spaces created by the rebuild,” Cullimore said. “Our hope as the Alumni Association is to connect all Bengals and create a network that supports each other and gives back to the community that supported us.” l

ozens of middle school runners took off on the Canyons middle school district cross country race Oct. 8 on Jordan High School’s campus. While middle school cross country is an intramural event, there were plenty of cheers from the crowd along the course for all the teams. Top team finishes were Albion winning both the girls and boys races; with Draper Park taking second place and Midvale in third for the girls; and for the boys, Butler was second, with Union in third place. (Julie Slama/City Journals) l

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Brighton High homecoming game versus Park City. (Jerry Christensen/City Journals)

Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Needs Beyond Medicine reduces financial stress for cancer patients By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

cancer diagnosis brings up so much uncertainty. Along with the emotional and physical fears of possible surgery and treatment, cancer takes a financial toll on patients as well. Many patients miss work and people in rural areas might have to travel to get the chemotherapy or radiation procedures they need. That’s where Needs Beyond Medicine steps in. The organization was founded by Philip Brown in 2006, and expanded to a 501(c)(3) in 2009. It offers living expense grants to cancer patients who need help paying for food, bills and transportation. The goal is to alleviate some of the stress that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. “I don’t think people realize the toll [cancer] takes, along with everything else you’re dealing with in your life,” Brown said. “We help current cancer patients with non-medical costs. That includes transportation, groceries, rent or anything considered non-medical. We also do education outreach.” A longtime advocate for cancer education, early detection and care, Brown has his own connection to the disease. His mother passed away in 1996 after an 18-month-long battle with ovarian cancer. His mission is to raise awareness about cancer screenings in

the hope more lives can be saved. The concept for Needs Beyond Medicine started when Brown was going to school to earn his bachelor’s degree. He got an internship working with doctors, nurses and social workers who created a task force to help cancer patients. Brown eventually took it over and has helped nearly 2,000 people with the nonprofit’s relief program. Because the group is not aligned with any specific hospital or provider, people across the state are eligible for its services. Patients are usually referred to Needs Beyond Medicine by a social worker who knows what the individual is going through. “We’re Utah-based and cover the whole state. I think people don’t realize we help a lot of people in the rural towns who have to travel a few hours a day to get treatment,” Brown said. “We can work with all the cancer programs in the state, which is unique, so we’re able to help all the patients.” On Friday, Nov. 4, Needs Beyond Medicine will hold its annual canSURVIVE gala at the Cottonwood Country Club (1780 Lakewood Drive) in Holladay, from 5-9:30 p.m. The fundraising event lets cancer survivors tell their stories and helps raise money for the organization with a raffle and silent auction. All proceeds go to help Utah cancer

Heidi Jo Taylor (left) and Annette Page are cancer survivors who volunteer with Needs Beyond Medicine, a nonprofit that helps cancer patients with living expenses and provides education about early cancer screening. (Courtesy of Chad Hurst)

patients with living expenses. Needs Beyond Medicine helps an average of 15 people each month as they go through their cancer journey. For information about sponsoring the canSURVIVE gala or to donate items for the raffle and silent auction, email Brown at info@needsbeyondmedicine.org. To learn more about the relief

program, visit needsbeyondmedicine.org. “It’s shocking that each year we’ve done this, we’ve made a profit. Even the first one, which is kind of mind-boggling. I’ve been told if you’re making money, you should keep doing what you’re doing,” Brown said. “It’s a public event and we just accept donations at the door.” l

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Canyons’ high school students take part in mock drill By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

illcrest High senior Aiden Reid was slumped in front of a door in a hospital, hearing rounds of bullets echoing from being fired. Semiconscious, he remembered lots of yelling and radio communication. “I heard people yelling, ‘Get down, get down,” he recalled before he was assisted outside by a SWAT team and medics. Luckily for Reid, it was a mock shooting drill. Each year, Intermountain Health Care participates in safety drills to ensure that its caregivers are prepared to respond to a variety of scenarios to ensure the safety of its staff and patients, said Jess Gomez, Intermountain’s media relations director. “For many of these drills, we work closely with local law enforcement and first responders so that they also have an opportunity to learn and test their preparedness, as well,” he said. “When the opportunity arises, we also include students from area schools to participate in these drills, so they have an opportunity to learn more about safety and what’s involved in keeping our facilities and patients as safe as possible. They have been fantastic to work with and help us add a realistic approach to these drills.” While this drill was done at Intermountain TOSH or The Orthopedic Specialty Hos-

Hillcrest High senior Tianna Brown, seen here with a fake neck injury, was one of several Canyons School District students who volunteered to take part in a mock shooting drill at an area hospital. (Photo courtesy of Aiden Reid/Hillcrest High)

pital in Murray, Gomez said Intermountain conducts safety preparedness drills at all of its hospitals and tries to involve the commuCanyons School District high school students volunteered to take part as victims in a mock shooting drill. (Photo courtesy of Aiden Reid/Hillcrest High)

nity, when appropriate. Reid said he was surprised at the realism of the scenario. “They were firing blanks and noisemaking ammunition and that was really loud. Even with earplugs, it was pretty loud,” he said. Reid, along with four other Canyons School District high school students, were briefed beforehand and provided an index card, which gave them individual instructions. He said the injuries varied from his 4-inch gash above his right eyebrow to an eye injury to a neck wound to another, who was fully unconscious. Some victims had bottles of “blood” to spray around them to look like splatter from bullets. The high school students, most who are enrolled in medical classes and drama, spent about 20 minutes getting their injury and wound make-up done. “It was really good make-up and being a victim was a cool experience, but it also freaked me out a little with how loud the ammunition was,” he said. “They provided us with mental health services in case something did trigger or something in the activity did harm us. I was very grateful for that.” Reid volunteered to be part of the scenario. “I’m glad I got to do this and I’m glad

Page 14 Nov. 2022

the hospital gets to do it as well. Not only does it train the SWAT on how to handle real-life situations, but it also helps the hospital workers to know what to do as well,” he said. Once helped outside, Reid was told to put pressure on his wound. “There was not a lot of after medical care, the focus was more inside and of the evacuation,” he said. The scenario also gave him a different kind of look into his possible medical future as Reid, who is enrolled in the medical pathways program, hopes to work in pharmacology at a hospital. As a 4.0 grade-point average student, he is Canyons Technical Education Center’s Health Occupations Student Association president as well as Hillcrest High’s Careers Club vice president. “It was a good opportunity to go and see TOSH and meet the staff and just give everyone involved a better experience with training in real-life situations,” he said. While Reid gave his mother a fright, sending her a photo of his injury without explanation—“I feel bad about that”—the service is one he will remember—“I thought this would just be a good opportunity to do some community service because not everyone is up and willing to go volunteer for something like this”— along with a bullet shell casing he picked up as a souvenir. l

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The resident group began hosting brainstorming sessions where everyone’s ideas for the future of Hillside Plaza could be shared. Residents suggested ideas included farmers markets, community and rooftop gardens, art studios, hardware shops, pickleball courts, underground parking, and an intermodal hub. Then, each resident prioritized those ideas by picking three of most importance from the exhaustive list. The major preferences among the resident group overall were to include local shops and restaurants to Hillside Plaza in order to provide more of a town or community center. “It could become a destination in the city for people to walk through. It would be a total transformation,” Whitehead said. Thirty-one percent of the resident group was in favor of local shops and restaurants to be developed within the area; 18% expressed wanting green gathering spaces and walking paths; 15% would like to see a small (or boutique) grocery store; 11% hoped to visit a community and performing arts center; and 10% was in favor of outdoor performance spaces. “They would like to see some way of performing arts, either indoor or outdoor,” Whitehead said. “Multiuse spaces for arts and recreation—those just resonated over and over.”

Consensus among the resident group was that the design for the area is crucial. Walkable paths and transitions into the neighborhoods must be incorporated into the development designs. “Everyone is concerned about green spaces and walking paths,” Whitehead said. The resident group studied three main resources to guide their discussions and development suggestions including the Cottonwood Heights General Plan, Fort Union Boulevard Master Plan, and the recently conducted Y2 Analytics survey. Whitehead mentioned that Mayor Mike Weichers has been helpful as well. “As our group has come together and studied these issues, my perception of the city has changed. I am in awe of how much the city has actually done,” Whitehead said. Weichers expressed his preference for the area to serve a city and community purpose, not a commercial purpose. “A public purpose cannot come to pass if it’s left to commercial interests,” he said. “The Hillside Plaza redevelopment presents a unique opportunity for current decision makers to leave a lasting legacy and impact on the City of Cottonwood Heights,” Whitehead said. “I believe that a city center concept could be the anchor for development up and down the Fort Union corridor and set the tone.” l

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Employee well-being is top priority for new UFA fire chief

eet Fire Chief Dominic Burchett: the 14th fire chief for Unified Fire Authority (UFA) within their 100-year history. Beginning his career in 1997, Burchett worked as a wildland firefighter before being hired as a fulltime structural firefighter in 2001. He has spent the last 20 years as a paramedic, engineer, captain, division chief over the wildland program, and assistant chief over support services. When Burchett is not fighting fires, he can be found spending time outdoors with his wife and five children. They particularly enjoy hiking, biking, hunting and skiing together. “My beautiful wife Jillian is a veterinarian, so she keeps bringing pets home,” Burchett said. “We have too many animals to count; everything from a frog to a hunting dog, and chickens in between.” Burchett was appointed as UFA’s Fire Chief in April of this year. The first thing he did was lay out an 100-day plan. “What I hoped to accomplish within those first 100 days was to get out and visit everyone,” he said. There are 24 different fire sta-

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com tions on three different platoons throughout UFA’s service area. Visiting each of those stations took Burchett the majority of those 100 days. As his plan has now morphed into more of a 200-day plan, he is working to meet all the members of the councils for each of the municipalities UFA services. During his visits, Burchett hoped to get a sense for the problems and issues UFA faces today. He thought he had a pretty good sense of what to expect before each visit and was pleased to hear that most of the problems expressed was already anticipated. “My plan moving forward is to prioritize and act on all the information that I’ve gathered. The threeyear plan is to readjust, reevaluate, and plan for the future within a fiveyear plan,” Burchett said. Burchett has identified three critical areas he plans to focus on during his tenure as fire chief. Those three areas include health and well-being, staying relevant in the areas UFA serves, and continuous improvement within the organization.

“In the history of the fire service, health and well-being has been a reactive type of action. We see more cancer and we put in cancer initiatives. We see more suicide and we put in emotional and mental health resources. I hope to be able to focus on those proactively and make sure our people stay as healthy as they can,” Burchett said. The No. 1 priority for Burchett will be focusing on how to keep each of the 694 people within UFA healthy. The State Legislature recently passed legislation requiring UFA to provide behavioral health to retirees for three years after retirement. Burchett hopes to prolong providing those resources for retired first responders. As UFA services 15 different communities, Burchett wants to stay well-informed on all the complex neighborhoods. UFA serves 15 different communities including: the townships of Copperton, Emigration, Kearns, Magna, and White City; the towns of Alta and Brighton; the cities of Cottonwood Heights, Eagle Mountain, Herriman, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Riverton,

Dominic Burchett has been hired as the 14th fire chief in UFA’s history. (Photo courtesy of UFA)

Taylorsville; and the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County. “We need to know the neighborhoods and streets so we can provide the best service,” Burchett said. Burchett stressed to the Cottonwood Heights City Council to keep communication open in regard to what is needed from their local fire department. He encouraged the council to share information with their liaison Assistant Chief Riley Pilgrim to bring back anytime. “We love our assistant chief,” said Mayor Mike Weichers. “We are

Unified Fire Authority Assistant Chief Riley Pilgrim serves as liaison for Cottonwood Heights. (Photo courtesy of UFA)

the only city with an assistant chief as our liaison and we take pride in that. We appreciate what he does for us.” Lastly, Burchett would like to stay relevant to the over 450,000 people UFA serves with continuous improvement within the department. He continually mentioned how Chief Dan Peterson (who retired in April this year) left the organization in a healthy place so UFA will be able to prosper into the future. l

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Neighbor helps save woman trapped in house fire

ason Gottfredson was recognized by UFA Fire Chief Dominic Burchett with a fire chief coin on Oct. 4 for his efforts assisting in response to a house fire. “Every so often we have someone in our community who stands out and rises to the call,” said UFA Assistant Chief Riley Pilgrim. On July 18, Gottfredson saw a plume of smoke billowing from his neighbors’ home. As he was walking toward the scene, someone asked if there was someone still inside and it inspired a sense of urgency within him. “Around the back, it was blazing. The front door was locked. The side door was locked,” recalled Gottfredson. Gottfredson circled around the opposite side of the building. Finding his neighbor trapped inside, Gottfredson pulled an AC unit from the wall to establish communication with her and to let her know the fire department was on the way. Arriving on scene, Captain Steve Halligan and his crew knew they were approaching a significant house fire with a known victim trapped inside. Gottfredson quickly provided information about where the victim was. “The information Gottfredson shared about where she was potentially saved her life,” Burchett said. As he watched the scene unfold, he realized the firefighters could use some additional labor pulling the fire hose lines and he quickly jumped in to help. “With a three-handed engine, the captain is busy doing a walk around and providing scene safety. The firefighter or paramedic is pulling the hose line to start attacking the fire and the engineer is pulling the hose line to the hydrant to start pumping the fire,” Burchett said. Alongside a firefighter, Gottfredson provided assistance getting through the locked front door by using an ax and a Halligan bar. “It’s generally our job to break down doors and get in,” chuckled Burchett. “The assistance he provided our crew saved seconds—and in these situations, seconds really matter.” Gottfredson mentioned how grateful he was to everyone on scene for getting the woman safe and taken care of. “Some of the neighbors not only helped in the moment, but with after care. Insurance doesn’t cover anything. They were thinking about what she needs, not only physically but psychologically,” Gottfredson said. “The fact that you did something to help save somebody’s life…I can’t thank you enough,” said Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Weichers. “Nobody would have noticed if you didn’t do anything. Thank you for being an example to others.” l

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What is Concierge Medicine? Instead of walking away, Jason Gottfredson ran toward the flames during a recent house fire within Cottonwood Heights. (Photo courtesy of Riley Pilgrim/UFA)

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On July 18, UFA crews responded to a two-alarm house fire call knowing a victim was trapped inside. (Photo courtesy of Riley Pilgrim/UFA)

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Nov. 2022 | Page 19

Cottonwood Heights opposes gondola By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

his article continues coverage of Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)’s announcement regarding their preferred preference of Gondola B within Little Cottonwood Canyon as part of their Environmental Impact Study (EIS). After learning UDOT’s preferred plan would be to develop a gondola within Little Cottonwood Canyon, many residents voiced their opposition to the Cottonwood Heights City Council. Their hope was that the city would have a louder voice than individual residents. “You guys can stand up to them,” said 15-year-old Alta High School student Roman Fisher. “Who is to say UDOT will even listen to people? I love the natural beauty of that canyon. I can’t even vote yet and other people are speaking for me.” “It’s an environmental injustice,” said 17-year-old Alta High School student Lucy Piper. “I go up that canyon all the time, and I do not want to see towers. There is so much more we need to take into consideration.” “Reducing the amount of vehicles is truly the answer,” said Corner Canyon High School senior Naya West. “Find alternative solutions that do not have such permanent results to the canyon.”

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“The students are showing up in droves,” said Canyons School District teacher Zoe Hardy. “They are showing up angry. Students of mine are watching and participating in policy in a very young range. It’s important that they see their frustrations recognized.” “Residents are so helpless and frustrated,” said Mickey Harris. “We are happy to share our canyons and community, but not at this expense. We do feel disrespected. Take our voice to get louder and stronger.” While listening to each public comment regarding the gondola and canyon transportation, the city councilmembers urged residents to submit their comments to UDOT as well. The City of Cottonwood Heights did the same. “The gondola option is not making sense with the impacts to our community,” said City Manager Tim Tingey. “There has not been priority to us as the community most impacted.” Before the public comment period closed on Oct. 17, Cottonwood Heights submitted a letter in opposition of Gondola B. The letter re-emphasized the city’s main points of opposition that seemed to remain unaddressed before elaborating on more

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Page 20 Nov. 2022

“We do want to find a solution that works widely but also works for our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Scott Bracken. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

recent points of concern. “We have consistently and strongly opposed the gondola alternative,” Tingey said. “At every point in the process we have re-emphasized what our position is.” In previous conversations with UDOT (including a five-page letter submitted during the prior public input process), Cottonwood Heights continually voiced their concerns related to: neighborhood access along Wasatch Boulevard; high traffic speeds; reducing shoulder widths; inadequate noise reduction; and local impacts that would affect the mobility of all users. “Not treating Wasatch (Boulevard) as an arterial but as a highway, as a gateway to the canyons, would not be conducive for pedestrian elements,” Tingey said. In addition to their continual concerns, Cottonwood Heights expressed opposition of the Gondola B alternative based on recent additions to the EIS plans. “The original gondola base station was 1,500 parking stalls. That, for us, was too much because it did not stop traffic through our city. UDOT came back and said they are going to make it 2,500 parking stalls, which to me is kind of a slap in the face,” said Mayor Mike Weichers. “We feel disrespected. We had concerns with the parking garage, and they not only disregarded them, but they increased parking.” The addition of parking stalls in the EIS was perceived as a lack of consideration to local impact. With more parking, traffic issues along the corridor on peak days are anticipated to increase. “There will be a self-inflicted need to widen the roadway which we don’t think

they should be even looking at,” Tingey said. “They should not be adding capacity before it’s warranted.” If UDOT were to incorporate a fivelane or seven-lane highway option design for Wasatch Boulevard, neighborhood access would be greatly impacted as well. “They have stated specifically that they are in favor of removing the old pine trees in favor of road widening,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell. The current preferred solutions for transportation solutions within the EIS are incompatible with the Cottonwood Heights Wasatch Boulevard Master Plan as the gondola does not provide flexibility in removing canyon traffic. Cottonwood Heights would like UDOT to address these issues in relation to the city’s planning document. As it has become an essential point for Cottonwood Heights to reduce traffic speeds along Wasatch Boulevard, the city “needs to play a significant role in the roadway design of Wasatch Boulevard,” Tingey said. Cottonwood Heights has been supportive of an approach to transportation alternatives within the canyon involving phased-in bussing. They have requested more accurate and recent data regarding UTA’s ridership as flex busses could be used year-round for a more suitable longterm investment. “Develop a year-round plan for bussing beyond Little Cottonwood Canyon resorts’ demand, and it’s a better investment of public funds,” Birrell said. l

Cottonwood Heights City Journal

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Twin Peaks Elementary under consideration of closure By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

win Peaks Elementary’s days may be numbered. On Granite Board of Education’s Nov. 1 agenda is the ongoing discussion and decision-making of possibly closing Twin Peaks Elementary. Twin Peaks, built in 1966, is in an established, aging Murray neighborhood. It is the smallest school in Granite School District with 225 students. “A final decision has not been made. It’s on all three school closure proposals, but the decision rests with the Board,” Ben Horsley, chief of staff with Granite School District, said, adding that the Board also is scheduled to make a second vote at the Dec. 6 meeting and that any anticipated changes would take place for the 2023-24 school year unless the Board indicates otherwise. He said that since February, the District’s population analysis committee had evaluated more than two dozen possibilities before presenting the three options to the community. The committee also discusses feedback from the 90 meetings it has had with stakeholders before it will make its final recommendation to the Board. Also being considered for closure in all three options is Spring Lane Elementary, which is the second smallest school in the Van Winkle-700 East corridor study area with 280 students. “We assessed all the feedback that we got in our community meetings last spring, it was very clear. Spring Lane and Twin Peaks have lost a majority of their boundary population to special permits. In other words, people have already left those schools for a variety of reasons and gone to their neighboring schools. So, it did not make sense that we continue to try to keep those schools open and especially because they are older facilities, we wouldn’t want to have to rebuild something unnecessarily,” Horsley said. In each of the three options, one of three other schools— Lincoln, Moss and Millcreek—also are under consideration of closure. “At the end of the day, the Board doesn’t have to follow any recommendations we make,” he said. “As long as we go through the process, and we’ve identified the schools that are potentially going to have boundaries adjusted or closed. They can ultimately do what they see as appropriate, including keep every one of the 25 elementary schools open.” Although that is a possibility, Horsley said, “In recent history, I have not seen the board vote contrary to an official PAC recommendation. That’s the reason why it’s taken us nine months to get to this point where we came to these recommendations. They are based on a lot of expertise and public feedback.” In the past five years, Granite School District has closed Oquirrh Hills, Westbrook and Sandburg elementary schools. “Our population as a whole is declining, and we expect it will decline an additional few 1,000 students. We will go back to the west side, and likely close a few more locations, then come back in 2024 and evaluate the farthest eastern portion of the district. We anticipate closing between 12 and 14 elementary schools districtwide in total,” he said. While Twin Peaks students feed into Bonneville Junior and Cottonwood High, Horsley doesn’t anticipate any closures for junior highs or high schools. Much of the reason determined for closing elementary schools is to level the population of students to be roughly 550 students. “We peaked at 78,000 kids in the ’80s and ’90s. Right now, we have roughly the same number of facilities that we had so we have a lot of small elementary schools,” he said. Examining nine elementary schools in the current study,

CottonwoodHeightsJournal .com

Twin Peaks Elementary, which was built in 1966, is on all three of Granite School District’s boundary proposals for possible school closure. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Horsley said those schools averaged 366 students enrolled, which was not at the optimum level. He said with closing three schools, it would bring that number up to an average of 550 students. He said that with less than three teachers per grade level, schools typically have split-grade classes; it’s difficult to team teach; there’s a lack of parental choice to match a student’s learning style; it can be harder to maintain a PTA, school community council or even get volunteers in the classroom since there are fewer parents to draw from; teachers can be overworked as there are fewer faculty members to fulfill the same number of school committee assignments and funding per pupil is reduced, which results in less support staff and program supports. “Overall, it’s not fiscally responsible or a good use of District resources,” Horsley said. “We do expect some growth on the west bench in the Cyprus network, but the rest of our District is maturing, and our populations are stabilizing at lower amounts than when those schools were originally opened.” If the school board closes Twin Peaks, Horsley said faculty and staff will not lose their jobs. “Faculty are not assigned to buildings; they’re assigned to students. So, they follow students. Even though we’re reducing the number of facilities, we’re not reducing the overall number of kids. We do not anticipate any staff losing their jobs as a result of closures, because we would need those individuals to serve another school location,” he said, adding that with attrition and retirements, usually there are more positions open than people to fill them. If any of the schools close, Horsley said that likely “those facilities would be used as lifeboats as we rebuild other schools. The overwhelming likelihood is that they will continue to be used as schools, maybe for different campuses

on temporary basis, or for specific programs. As we continue to use a lot of those facilities (that have already closed) the District and Board are reluctant to dispose of any property. Depending on the condition of the facility, it might be leased out for other opportunities, or it might be demolished and made way for open space within that particular community. But because we don’t know exactly what schools will be closing at this point in time, we’ve not made any specific plans.” Last spring, Twin Peaks had 56.6% identify as ethnic minorities, and 34% English language learners, Principal Rebecca Spence said. “We have such a diverse culture here,” she said then about her Panthers. “Cultural night has been very ingrained in the culture of the school. This is just an opportunity for us to remember how lucky we are that we have people from all cultures that we get to learn from.” Horsley said that if schools close, their traditions, such as culture night, may not. “It’s important for those schools embracing those communities look and evaluate the opportunities that exist to welcome those students and those families; that would include also embracing some of those traditions and opportunities,” he said. Spence, who in 2021 became Twin Peak’s principal as her first administrative appointment, had ideas to increase enrollment as she knew it was a possibility then that the doors may close. “There’s lots of rumors about whether or not it’ll stay open, but there are no immediate plans to close it,” she said then. “It’s just a really great school with a great community that’s just kind of aging.” l

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Brighton football dominates Region 6 By Jerry Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

he unheralded Brighton football program, with a new coach, was picked by no media outlet to successfully defend its Region 6 title. Olympus, Skyline, East and Park City were more likely to knock out the championship. The early August start seemed to confirm the prediction as Brighton fell to 4A powerhouse Desert Hills. However, coach Casey Sutera took the sting of the 0-1 start and used it as motivation to end the regular season on a nine-game winning streak. Brighton is 9-1 going into the postseason and is the “three-peat” Region 6 champions. “This team has done a great job with the process, whether it’s in season lifting or on the practice field our players have continued to work hard and improve,” Sutera said. Brighton standouts lead Region 6 in four key statistical categories: Nash Matheson, JR WR, has both the most receptions (64) and receiving yardage (928 yards); Jack Johnson, JR QB, earned most yards gained (2,450); and Kace Gurr, SR RB, scored most points in the region (90) and also scored the most touchdowns in the region (17). Non-region 5A opponent Woods Cross proved to be an early-season defensive turning point for Brighton. The double overtime win came down to two critical goal line stands that tested the skills of senior captain Mana

Nonu and freshman defenseman Ami Moala. Not only did the defense line hold on the oneyard line for four downs, they forced a fumble on fourth down and ran it up field 20 yards. Sutera had such confidence in the defense that he called a gutsy midfield punt with a minute left and the score tied. The calculated gamble was that the Bengal defense would hold and transition the game to overtime periods. Sutera was rewarded for the risk. The defense not only held, but also held on the oneyard in the second overtime period to gain the dramatic victory. “I have been very proud of the resiliency of this team during this regular season. We have had quite a bit of adversity in almost every game we played this year and we have handled it very well,” Sutera said. The team shocked East High on the arm of Jack Johnson, Brighton’s junior quarterback. The Leopards were the preseason pick by the Deseret News to be region champions. However, the title-clinching game came on the homecoming game in late September when both defense and offense peaked. On Sept. 30, the Park City High School Miners came to Cottonwood Heights looking for vengeance for Brighton edging them out of the region title on the last game of the regular season last year. Just before halftime, the

The third time is a charm for senior Brighton football players who are once again Region 6 champions. (Photo courtesy Lisa Beames)

Miners looked unstoppable with a 33-14 lead. It became a tale of two halves as Brighton’s defense stiffened to allow no more Miner scoring in the last 32 minutes of the game. The offense matched the defense intensity and scored the next 33 points to thrill the near-capacity crowd with a 47-33 win. The region title and the three-peat was secured. Many players on senior night cited the “Park City comeback” as the highlight of their four years in the Brighton football program. “I have been proud of our poise especial-

ly in some of the big games we played in the region,” Sutera said. The rare three-peat caps the high school career for Brighton’s 27 senior players who have fought hard over the last several years. The state tournament could be the payoff for the years of steady progress. “I like where we are as a team,” Sutera said, “and I’m excited to see what we can do in the postseason.” l

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Nov. 2022 | Page 25

Brighton High still winners in unified soccer By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

hile Brighton High Bengals may not have won the state unified soccer title, they are still winners in the sport. Playing on Real Salt Lake’s home field after Miss America Emma Broyles sang the national anthem, Brighton High fell short of beating Orem High Oct. 4 at the second annual Show Up for Unified Sports Special Olympics State Soccer Championship game. The players were congratulated with second-place medals in their division by Broyles, Miss Utah Lindsey Larsen, Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox and RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath. Unified soccer, a program of Special Olympics Utah in partnership with the Utah High School Activities Association, allows student-athletes with and without disabilities to play on the same team. While the teams are coed and play competitively five versus five on a smaller sized soccer field, the focus is on development of skills, friendship, understanding and sportsmanship as often players on either team will cheer for one another. Brighton began its season playing at a regional tournament before competing in the state playoffs Sept. 30 where they qualified for the state championship. From more than 30 high school unified soccer teams in the area, 16 teams advanced in their respective divisions to the state championship games and participated in the parade of athletes. Other area high school teams that competed in the soccer championships or playoffs include Alta, Jordan, Hillcrest, Hunter, Murray, Riverton and Skyline. l

Brighton’s unified soccer team celebrates their second-place medals at the state championships. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Brighton’s cross country region champion: Lia Belle Selander By Jerry Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

righton’s senior long distance runner has been busy since last spring when the regular track and field season ended in May. Lia Belle Selander, age 17, was crowned Region 6 Cross Country Champion in the 5K competition at Big Cottonwood Complex this month. She finished first with a time of 18:22—26 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. Brighton girls varsity team finished second in region competition. The city of Cottonwood Heights has become used to the boys and girls long distance runners streaming through the neighborhoods and down Bengal Boulevard preparing for this event and the state tournament. Actually, Cottonwood Heights also got a glimpse of the East High Leopard cross country teams as well. The Leopards met at the Brighton roundabout on the Friday when Brighton Football played East High. They then ran the 13 miles (half marathon) to East’s stadium just in time for the opening kickoff. Selander qualified for state at the divisional meet despite one of her shoes coming untied in the first half mile. Undaunted, she ran the entire race with her shoe loose. She gained the bid to state and a proper blister. Brighton girls varsity qualified for state in fifth place. When asked what goes on in her mind when she runs she said, “Winning boils down to whoever can withstand pain the longest.” l

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Page 26 Nov. 2022

Lia Belle Selander leads the Brighton cross country team. (Photo courtesy Annie Selander)

Cottonwood Heights City Journal

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Pay attention and slow down say school crossing guards to drivers

reen and black ribbons are tied on posts at the intersection of an Orem neighborhood in memory of an 11-yearold who was struck and killed in a crosswalk by a motorist. Harm to a child is a constant fear amongst school crossing guards as they say there has been an increase of motorists who speed through school zones and crosswalks, or become distracted and aren’t being cautious to pedestrians, or may have forgotten that they need to stop until everyone is out of the cross walk. The issue isn’t just in Orem. Last spring, 11-year crossing guard Lorena Marcotte stood in the intersection of Isla Daybreak and Top View near Eastlake Elementary in South Jordan when her crossing guard partner Heidi Cook alerted her to a car entering the intersection that was “rolling right through the stop, heading right toward the girl.” “She didn’t see us, despite wearing big yellow jackets, having orange cones set up and having our stop signs up. She was just zoned out,” Marcotte said. After jumping out in front of the car, the driver “slammed on her brakes. Thankfully, she wasn’t going that fast,” Marcotte said. Thanks to their quick actions, the girl safely made it to school and the mother wrote the crossing guards a note of appreciation, said DeAnn Bland, South Jordan Police Department crossing guard supervisor. Bland said it’s important for motorists to be aware of their surroundings, especially in school zones. “The longest drivers ever tend to stop is just a matter of seconds,” she said. “A few seconds matter. It meant all the world to that mother and her daughter.” Earlier this school year, on the afternoon on Sept. 22, 10-year crossing guard Lisa VanWagenen was crossing a fifthgrade student at the intersection of 1000 East and 11000 South in Sandy when a motorist entered the crosswalk while both VanWagenen and the student were in the crosswalk. “I was out there and I’m like, ‘Are you really going to hit me?’” VanWagenen said. “Then the driver saw me and stopped, and I proceeded to make sure the kid got across safely. I had told the kid, ‘Stay, wait’ because I didn’t know if the car was going to stop or not.” A week earlier, VanWagenen’s crossing guard partner, Stacey Sierer had a nearmiss in the same intersection when a car entered the intersection after she crossed a second-grade student who was on his way to Altara Elementary. “He was still in the intersection and…a car came and turned left and I was

CottonwoodHeightsJournal .com

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com still standing out there with my stop sign,” she said. “There was another that morning who was going straight through. I had to stop him literally with my stop sign and say, ‘You can't go through here while I'm in the middle of the crosswalk.’ He just kind of shrugged.” Sierer admits that crossing students with traffic is concerning. “It gives me anxiety. When there are kids around, I'm watching, but otherwise I look away,” said the second-year crossing guard. “I love the kids and the hours works with my schedule. It’s a fun job except for worrying about the traffic and if you’ll survive.” While VanWagenen said, “most are pretty respectful,” she estimates at least three or four motorists attempt or drive through the intersection every day while they are crossing elementary schools. She said that often drivers don’t wait their turn and will proceed with the car in front of them. “Everybody's in such a hurry and they speed up to stop so they can say ‘I was here first’ so they can proceed,” VanWagenen said. “They should just set their alarm five minutes earlier or deal with being late. We all need to be observant and find patience to make sure these kids are safe.” Sandy crossing guard supervisor Janice Parker said that throughout Sandy there have been such incidents, including having had two of her crossing guards hit by drivers in the past five years. “We get lots of speeders; one car was going 50 mph in a 20 mph speed zone,” she said about a motorist recently driving by an elementary school. “We have issues everywhere; there's really not a specific area that is worse than another one.” The crossing guards say that it gets “scary” when motorists proceed or turn into the intersection before they’re out of it and that’s when they try to educate them. “I'll say, ‘I'm still holding the stop sign. I'm still in the intersection’ and try to remind them. I try to be nice and not try to be scolding, but it’s hard when they try to run me over,” VanWagenen said. “I’m here because I love these kids and want to keep them safe.” In a school crossing walk—the one commonly referred to as a “ladder,” “zebra stripes” or “piano keys”—all pedestrians and the crossing guard need to be safely on the sidewalk before a motorist can enter it. These, and reduced school speed zone beacons, are determined through safe-walking routes which meet regulations, Sandy City Transportation Engineer Britney Ward said. “The intersection at 10th East and 11000 South is really busy,” she said. “It's a high traffic area with a lot of trips, a lot

While crossing an Altara Elementary student, crossing guard Lisa VanWagenen stopped a car from proceeding into the cross walk to ensure the student safely made it across the street. (Photo courtesy of Stacey Sierer)

of vehicles and a lot of students there. There's just a lot going on there.” Even with safety precautions in place, Ward recommends “pedestrians should always be cautious when crossing the road and look and check if there are vehicles coming first. They can't just count on the drivers suddenly seeing them or paying attention or seeing that there’s a crosswalk there.” VanWagenen and Sierer are among 52 Sandy crossing guards who cross children 40 minutes in the morning before school and 30 minutes after school. While crossing guards undergo training, their priority is to ensure the safety of the students. However, when the crossing guards have time to capture photos of the motorists who violate the law on their cell phones or jot the license plate down, they are instructed to turn it over to Parker, who works with the Sandy Police. Parker said violators can be issued tickets. “There's three things that are really issues: speeding through a school zone; going through crosswalks that are occupied; and talking on your cell phone and not paying attention,” she said. “People just need to realize crossing guards are there to keep your children in Sandy safe and they are among our everyday heroes every day. So slow down, pay attention and have some patience.” l

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Page 30 Nov. 2022

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Cottonwood Heights City Journal

Barking up the wrong tree

y dog Jedi started barking at cars. All the time. I don’t know why but my best guess is she a) hates cars, b) loves cars, c) wants to scare cars or d) she needs a ride to Petsmart to pick up some jerky treats and tennis balls. I stop her from dragging us both into traffic by creating a distraction, usually with yummy treats. I tell her to look at me, hoping to snag her attention away from the tempting Hondas and Toyotas with their tantalizing and rumbly engines. Sometimes she continues flinging herself toward cars but once she realizes a treat is coming, in the form of mozzarella or pepperoni, she usually stops barking and waits to be rewarded. Not really rocket surgery, but it works. Someone suggested Jedi’s barking could be a reaction to stress which is probably true because we’re all as stressed as a Yellowstone bison being approached by human-shaped idiots. Jedi also feels the urge to run outside at 3 a.m. to bark at neighbor dogs, tree shadows and (probably) aliens. Her woofing seems to be important. It’s like breaking news in the canine world. I can’t yell at her to be quiet because then we’d both be barking at three in the morning. Plus, she’d translate my yapping as, “You are doing such a good job at howling, Jedi. Please, continue louder. Some neighbors might still be asleep.” Once the noise levels drop, I check social media where barking has been elevated to an Olympic sport. Viral TikToks catch people in the act of snarling at each other. Twitter feeds show a slow regression back to our caveman roots where everyone spoke in grunts and howls.

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Parents bark at teachers and librarians. Drivers bark at each other. Customers bark at grocery store cashiers, and let me tell you, cashiers don’t get paid enough to put up with

that baloney. Restaurant guests bark at the waitstaff, which usually ends with a footprint on your waffle. Y’all bark so much, I think some of you might have rabies. Dogs bark because they’re excited, hungry, bored, scared, tired, playful and frustrated. The trick is to distract them and teach them a different way to communicate. Humans also need a different way to communicate, because barking isn’t working. It doesn’t matter if you’re barking in fear or anger or fatigue, your message gets lost in the noise. Every time. Have you ever screamed at someone and thought, “Boy, I really think I got my point across. I feel so heard”? Yeah, me neither. On the opposite end of the rainbow, my daughter had a teacher who only spoke in a whisper. The kids had to be quiet to hear what she was saying. It was kind of creepy talking to her because she’d forget she was talking to an adult and keep whispering. Maybe there’s a happy medium between barking and mumbling. I know, let’s call it “civil discourse” where our conversations actually promote understanding and connection. Revolutionary! Instead of talking to prove your point, can you kindly explain why you hate avocados, without melting into a puddle of sweat? Can you avoid the gnashing and spittle that comes with barking and just talk like a human being? It might take practice but maybe if we calm down, our families will settle, our communities will rebuild and our civil discourse will improve. Less barking, more listening. And lots of treats. l

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Nov. 2022 | Page 31