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KAYSVILLE CITY COMES TOGETHER TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED Montana Rose Divine | The City Journals

very year hundreds of families around the globe request assistance in getting clothes, books, bedding, and toys for Christmas. For five years now Kaysville city has run a non-profit organization called Kaysville GIVES to do just that. A project that according to Director Mindi Edstrom, has helped every family that has signed up. Kaysville GIVES was created to help give back to the community and it started with just 10 families, Mountain High School, Safe Harbor, and Bountiful Food Pantry. Five years later it now reaches 45 families and counting and its vision remains the same as it was in the beginning. “The vision and goal of Kaysville GIVES has always been to give back to those who are in need in our own community,” said Edstrom. From church groups, to soccer teams, everyone seems to come together to make this vision remain true. So what makes Kaysville GIVES different? Unlike some organizations that have an age cut off, or certain items that can be donated and received, Kaysville GIVES helps everyone and accepts any donation. Starting the first of October the organization begins by “collecting the needs of local organizations,” Edstrom said. Then they begin assigning Christmas tree tags the week of Thanksgiving, with financial donations including

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gift cards handed out the first Saturday of December. This is done at Kaysville Fire Station during their “Fill the Fire Truck” event. “We were so nervous to do Kaysville GIVES last year,” she said. “It was even bigger than years before.” With a nationwide pandemic that either sent parents home, or laid them off, it’s not a big surprise that the number of families requesting help grew in number. Donning masks and with hand sanitizer at the ready, everyone came together to make 2020 another successful year. Due to the pandemic a few changes were made to include an Amazon Wishlist, and the option of choosing Christmas tree tags online. With the exception of the many service groups that come together each year, Edstrom has a few people that help her make every year a successful one. Tami Tran, Crista Crane, Malia Roundy, Karen dent, and Shanna Barker are just a few of the super heroes that help to make Christmas for every family that signs up. To donate or request help this holiday season families can go to www. kaysvillegives.com or they can contact Edstrom herself at medstrom@kaysville.gov. “There is something amazing that is created when you have people wanting to reach out and serve those in their community.” — Director A few Kaysville city volunteers hold signs for the Fill the Fire Truck event. Kaysville GIVES program fills the need for local families. Courtesy photo Mindi Edstroml

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Witt reflects on Mayor term

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Davis County’s ‘Princess’

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Academic coaches at VHS recognized by Davis School District By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

eidi Pitkin remembers her high school years as a time when she went to school, attended class, did her homework and got good grades. Now, as an academic coach at Viewmont High School, Pitkin said she’s realized that for many high school students, academic success doesn’t come that easy. Pitkin is finishing a masters program to become a school counselor and her work this year with struggling students has been invaluable as she’s had to overcome her own biases and judgements around underperforming students. “I have learned that I’m wrong a lot,” she said. “I’m almost 20 years removed from high school and things have changed so much. Coming from the corporate world, I was very judgmental of some of the students. Now that I’m here, I see it’s not that easy. I just didn’t really have a good understanding of the wide array of challenges that students face.” The academic coaching program instituted this year at Viewmont hopes to change that. As academic coaches, Pitkin, Gabe Johnson and Joy Farley were recognized by the Davis School District Board of Education for their dedication to students at VHS. VHS Principal Travis Lund is credited with creating the academic coaching positions as a way to address the complex issues that can stop a student from graduating and having a balanced life. Adopting the Josh Shipp quote, “Every child is one caring adult away from being a success story,” the coaches were asked to be that one caring adult in a student’s life. “It has been an incredible program,” Johnson said. “A lot of these students don’t always hear ‘good job’ because they’re not the types of students that get that kind of recognition. We ask that each student we work with

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gives 100% effort, and sometimes just showing up at school is their 100% effort that day.” It’s Johnson’s first year at Viewmont and his main focus is to identify students who might be struggling and give them the support, resources and encouragement they need to succeed. Because each student faces different challenges, it can be an ongoing process to create a strategy for success, and coaches are dedicated to finding creative solutions. Johnson worked with a student who ended up missing the first part of school due to health concerns. The teen had missed a lot of assignments and felt overwhelmed with what he had to do to catch up. Johnson helped him work through one assignment at a time and celebrated every success. The student ended the semester with a 4.0 GPA. “Travis created the positions and got the ball rolling,” Johnson said. “Eventually the district wants to have academic coaches in every school.” Farley taught in the Philippines for several years before moving to Utah. As she works to get licensed to teach in the state, becoming an academic coach has given her critical experience. It could be the structure of classes or being overwhelmed by assignments, but the teens targeted in the program often struggle and frequently drop out of school. Many students working with an academic coach don’t fit in with a structured form of education. Farley works with 16 students and each one has a learning strategy created just for them. For one young man, Farley’s approach wasn’t working. He was frustrated and wanted to drop out. Farley met with his mother and got some valuable information. “I thought I was doing him a favor but I was actually cutting a thread that is the only thing keeping him in school,” she said. “The

Gabe Johnson (center) stands next to Joy Farley and Heidi Pitkin as they are recognized for the work they do as academic coaches at Viewmont. Photo courtesy of Davis School District

plan I’d created was too strict. Now I have a really good relationship with him and he respects me more. I’m not another reason he doesn’t want to go to school. I get to help kids as another person they can trust, a person who can stand with them and know that there’s hope for them.” Pitkin coaches a student who has a fulltime job and gets home from work at 11:30 at night. She hopes to create a plan that allows him more time for rest because he’s exhausted when he comes to school. They’ve discussed options of a reduced school schedule or a different job or finding more distance learning opportunities. A lot of the work is trial and error, and all three coaches admit they’ve made mistakes. It’s a constant process of gathering information, building trust, becoming aware of challenges and stepping out of judgement.

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The City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Kaysville and Fruit Heights For information about distribution please email brad.c@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

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“What I hope to do is not make pre-judgements or assume I know a person’s situation. Everything isn’t always as it seems,” Pitkin said. “I definitely worry about a lot of the students I work with. I want them to be okay and have happy lives.” The biggest takeaway from the first year of this coaching program is that kids are overwhelmed, valuable and fragile. The coaches said they provide tender loving care and no micromanagement. While not all students are interested in working with an academic coach, the participating students are making progress. “Sometimes academic coaching isn’t about academics,” Farley said. “It’s about having the kids stay in school. Having a kid stay in school is a huge success.”l

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Farmington High boys team captures 6A XC title By Tom Haraldsen | tom.h@davisjournal.com ROSE PARK—The Farmington High boys cross country team has run on three different state championship courses over the past three years, but one thing hasn’t changed. The Phoenix haven’t been beaten. Again this year, at the new venue (the Regional Athletic Complex in Rose Park), Farmington’s boys dominated to bring home the gold. In the school’s four years of existence, the boys team has taken third place once and now three consecutive first-place titles. Along with their success at state, the Phoenix are currently ranked number 4 in the nation. “We felt pretty good about our chances coming in here, because we’ve had a great season,” coach Chris Brower said. “We knew that American Fork would be tough, along with Riverton, Corner Canyon and Skyridge, but we thought winning was possible again.” The state races had been run for many years in Sugar House Park, where Farmington won the 5A title two years ago. Last fall, races were moved to Soldier Hollow in Wasatch County, a much different kind of venue with lots of hills. Still, Farmington prevailed. This year, the Phoenix were moved up to the 6A classification due to high enrollment. It didn’t matter. Led by four top 10 finishes from seniors Matthew Neuenschwander, Britton Austin, Ethan Peterson and Isaac Halverson, Farmington clinched the title when senior Ryan Bennett came in 17th, giving them a team score of 49. That easily beat the talented Cavemen from American Fork who took second at 68 points. “My biggest worry was that I didn’t want the kids to think it was a shoe-in because of the success they’ve had this year,” Brower said. “I wanted them to show up when it really mattered, and they did today.” Farmington lost only one race this year. That was at the Border Wars race in September at Sugar House where they finished sec-

ond to Cheyenne High School from Colorado Springs, a team currently ranked number 2 in the nation. “We lost to them by 8 points and I think that was kind of a wake up call for the boys,” Brower said. “We’re excited to see them again in three weeks at the Nike Regional in Tempe. It should be a great post season for us.” American Fork senior Nathan Jaster won the race in a time of 14:55.5 over the flat 5K course at the complex. The course was a bit soft and a little soggy after recent rains, and the fact that 11 other races had already been run over it by the time the 6A boys started. But the consistent Farmington boys, who won Davis District and Region 1 titles earlier this year, were not to be denied. The only non-senior of Farmington’s top seven (runners who were scored in the race) is junior Spencer Bradshaw, who took 26th. “We’ve had an amazing senior class, and yes, we’re going to take a hit from graduation. But these seniors have been at Farmington all four years – they’ll be part of the first four-year graduating class. They’ve been part of every team we’ve ever had here thus far,” Brower said. In addition to the Nike regional, Farmington will be one of the nation’s top 20 ranked schools competing in the Running Lane National Championships on Dec. 4 in Huntsville, Alabama. Two other Utah schools – American Fork and Mountain View of Orem – will also be in the Alabama meet. Davis finished 8th in 6A boys. The Darts were led by seniors Tyler Spencer and Jacob Jones, who took 16th and 18th respectively. All seven Darts’ runners in the finals are seniors. In 6A girls, Farmington finished in 7th place and Davis in 10th. Davis junior Kenedy Maudsley was the top local finisher, coming in 11th at 18:17.4, with teammate Ellie

State cross country champions for the third straight year! The Farmington boys captured the 6A title on Oct. 27. From left are coach Sarah Anae, head coach Chris Brower, runners Britton Austin, Drew Hildreth, Spencer Bradshaw, Isaac Halverson, Matthew Neuenschwander, Ryan Bennett and Ethan Peterson, and coaches Jason Lynch and Brooke Lynch. Photo courtesy of Chris Brower

Zaugg, a senior, finishing 12th at 18:18.49. Addi Bruening of Herriman won the race at 17:28.3. Farmington was led by senior Chloe

Christy with a 16th place finish at 18:44.9, and freshman Skye Siddoway, who took 23rd at 18:54.5. l

Give the gift of community news!

This Christmas, give your loved ones news and information from their communities--a oneyear gift subscription to the Davis Journal! Every week they can enjoy local news, school happenings, sports, feature stories, games and puzzles, a TV guide and so much more! Halverson, second from left, and teammates start to make their move at the half-mile mark of the course at the Regional Athletic Complex in Rose Park. Photo courtesy of Chris Brower

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December 2021 | Page 5

An adventure with Ty always brings joy

By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournal.com

hen Kaysville’s Sandi Quick adopted Ty Burningham when he was 3 months old, they were told that he would not live to see his first birthday. Ty has Trisomy 9p, an extremely rare condition where he has an extra piece of chromosome number 9. Quick said, “He is extra special.” Yet Ty continues to defy the doctors’ expectations and celebrated his 26th birthday on July 4. Ty has become a fixture in Kaysville and regularly ventures into town on his scooter or bike to interact and converse with neighbors. “Ty’s greatest joy is people,” Quick said. And with his huge smile and outgoing and friendly demeanor, Ty gives that joy right back to everyone he meets. Meeting Ty in random Kaysville locations has become such a highlight for Kaysville residents that Jeff Bosen created a Facebook group called “Adventures with Ty,” where people can post selfies and share stories about their interactions with him. Kaysville’s Melissa Saunders Jackson shared a Ty selfie after she saw him at Walgreens. Jackson said, “Thanks Ty for brightening my day!” Other residents have shared stories and videos of Ty sending greetings to LDS missionaries, how he can remember details about people he meets such as their kids’ names and ages, and how he makes people feel like they

have been lifelong friends - even from the first brief interaction. Kaysville’s Carol Hartvigsen Ferguson has run into Ty several times over the years but after the most recent one in October at the Dollar Store. “He asked a lot of genuine and sincere questions about me and my family,” Ferguson said. “We talked about weather, watches, wallets, phones, and weekend plans. Ty should teach a communications course on how to be genuine and sincere and have no inhibitions when speaking to friends or strangers. With Ty, there are no strangers, only friends.” On Ty’s 25th birthday on July 4, 2020, a dozen Kaysville teens pooled together their money to replace his broken scooter. The recent Davis High grads wanted to do something nice for Ty for his birthday, so they each donated money to surprise Ty with an upgraded and much faster electric scooter. Hunter Garrett told KSL news, “He’s got that personality where it’s like you see him and you just can’t not smile. He just lights up a room wherever he is.” When Ty’s bike was stolen on October 27, the Adventures with Ty Facebook group donated to replace his bike. On November 2, Bosen posted, “PLEASE NO MORE DONATIONS. First off I want to thank everyone who donated money towards Ty’s bike. In less than 24 hours

Brittney Johnson, an employee of Bennion Crafts, often enjoys quality time with Ty. Photo courtesy of Samantha Johnson.

you guys raised a lot of money!” Raising more money than what was needed, Bosen and Ty’s mother, Sandi Quick, asked the community what to do with the surplus money. While they were willing to return an equal amount back to everyone, the community replied that the money be put towards the Kaysville Gives holiday project, an endeavor that provides holiday gifts

to over 35 local families in need. Ty was thrilled when Bosen presented him with a new bike on November 7. Ty then surprised Bosen with gifts as well - some delicious snacks and a bottle of Goo Gone. If you would like to continue the spirit of friendship, joy, and generosity that Ty inspires, visit www. kaysvillegives.com. l

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Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal 10/20/2021 12:18:52 PM

Business supporting Business in Kaysville

By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

he Business Supporting Business group was created during the COVID pandemic to help support local Kaysville businesses, but it has since grown into a group to support all things positive in “Utah’s Home Town!” The group has loved supporting local businesses and organizers tout how rewarding it’s been to see how many unique and creative businesses there are, along with the great people who work so hard to run them. “We Are Kaysville” is partnering with the Business Supporting Business in Kaysville effort to connect local businesses owners and employees with other businesses to share support, applicable education, and resources. Monthly meetings are scheduled from 7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. for the 2nd Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise noted) with breakfast and education before work at the DATC Business Re-

source Center, 450 Simmons Way. The meetings are free to attend and are open to all owners and employees involved with businesses in Kaysville City. Kaysville has councilmembers who are committed to making essential services a priority. Their department managers lead by example, as many are often wear- Kaysville Police Department’s mission statement is shown here. Courtesy photo ing multiple hats in order to cover all the necessary tasks required to handle and maintain the amenities our citizens have come to expect and appreciate. The group is grateful for its volunteers who willingly donate time and talents to take part on By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com committees and boards that help all of us. he Kaysville Police Department recent- professionalism, and partnership with our Visit the “We Are Kaysville” Facely updated its mission statement. Officer community, as guided by the constitution of book page to keep up on current events, see what type of businesses people are looking Bret Bateman was kind enough to put this this great state and country. We will enforce the law impartially with a reverence for hufor, view business recommendations, and image together. It reads: “The mission of the Kaysville Police man life and provide service with compasrespond if you can help. l Department is to protect the lives, property, sion, integrity, and honor.”l and rights of all people through prevention,

Police Department updates its Mission Statement

Birds of a feather flock together at Farmington High By Becky Ginos | becky.g@becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—Adam Blundell’s love for birds came from his mother – now it’s become his passion. After months of preparation and hours and hours of work the Farmington High teacher’s idea has come to fruition with the creation of a first-of-its-kind aviary at the school. “When I started the ornithology class four years ago I only had a few students,” he said. “Now it’s a thriving program and kids are on a waiting list to get into it.” The aviary opened last Friday with South American, African and Australian displays and more to come. “This creates a great atmosphere for the students,” said FHS Principal Rich Swanson. “We were just in the right place at the right time. Youth are so engaged with the wetlands. It’s amazing to be able to have this here where kids can get hands-on experience in a world where they can really make a difference.” It’s really the students who did all the work, Blundell said. “They put in an insane amount of work to get this done. It’s all the students, they’ve been fantastic.” Farmington High senior Bella Hansen is one of those students who helped bring the aviary to the school. “I’m mainly in charge of the South American exhibit,” she said. “We have a bird club that goes out to the bay to watch for birds and identify them. I love being outside in the environment so I found a bunch of people with the same idea and made a club. I just love it.” Hansen said she was one of the main people who pushed for the aviary. “I’ve been in the ornithology class since the 10th grade. We spent most of last year planning the aviary then finished it up this year. Every day we spend

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most of class time feeding the birds and cleaning the cages.” It wasn’t just ornithology students who contributed to the display. “A computer science student developed an interactive app where you can select the country and it will tell you about the birds,” said Blundell. “The art department also got involved and past and present students. I designed the exhibit but it was student driven. They put up walls, hammered nails and put it all together.” Blundell said for some students it was life changing. “It gave them a clearer direction of what they want to do with their life.” Bryon Geddes said his daughter Judith was one of those students who has had a life changing experience in Blundell’s class. “With COVID going on and just being high school kids it’s tough enough to be students,” he said. “We moved here at the beginning of her junior year. There were clicks, etc. that made it hard for her to make friends.” Mr. Blundell took her under his wing without knowing the private yearnings in the heart of a parent, said Geddes. “He answered the call of providence to care about her. As a result of the love of a teacher she gained friendships and purpose and he gave her a direction of what she wants to be when she grows up. I can’t say enough about this man. He’s a rock star in the Geddes family.” A conference room was remodeled across from the counseling office to create the exhibit, Swanson said. “Adam wanted it to be on one of the ends of the school but we wanted to put it in the middle where it’s a focal point where people can see it and see what it’s doing for the stu-

Students look at the three bird rooms in the aviary display at FHS.

dents. You can’t walk out of the office without it catching your eye of this amazing exhibit.” Blundell was teaching at the University of Utah when he decided to come to Farmington High. “I wasn’t looking for a job,” he said. “I loved the job I had. It’s crazy. When I told my wife I was leaving my position to go to Farmington High she said ‘are you sure about this?’ I said ‘nope’ but it all turned out great in the end.” “This is a world-class experience for our students. They’ll do all the cleaning, feeding, etc. l

December 2021 | Page 7

New tech pathways provides high school students job opportunities By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—Talent Ready Utah in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity has launched a new program designed to help high school students get the skills they need to enter the tech industry. The Tech Sales Pathways Program in partnership with MarketStar Corporation will provide career pathways to sales in social media, SaaS, digital ads, IT and cloud services. “There’s a growing need for talent in sales as businesses across industries adopt new technology,” said Dan Hemmert, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “Through work-based learning programs, we can better prepare the younger generation for future careers.” “Students take courses in high school or Davis Technical College in business, sales or marketing,” said Davis District CTE Supervisor Camille Hogge. “When those are completed they do an internship in that tech pathway.” Once they’ve finished their internship they are guaranteed an interview in that industry, she said. “A lot of students walk out with a job right out of high school. it gives them a head start in that career. Then if they want to go on and get more education some industry partners will pay for tuition depending on the industry partner.” The district is involved in quite a few of

the Governor’s pathways, said Hogge. “We’ve been working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and industry partners as we’ve been getting this going.” MarketStar is one of the first, she said. “We’ve been working together for about a year to solidify how it will work to benefit students that take the program as well as have an interview.” The industry partner also becomes part of the advisory board, said Hogge. “It’s nice to bring all of the industry partners in to advise us on what to teach.” Hogge said the program just started in the district. “If students finish up their courses this semester they can start an internship next semester if they meet the requirements. It’s usually after school working onsite at the industry location. They usually work with students individually on when they can do it, etc.” Students who are interested in the program can work with their school counselors to get enrolled. “They can also talk with the CTE coordinator to make sure they take the right classes,” said Hogge. “The business and marketing instructors can also help. They’re an integral part in learning and can give students the right information so they can be successful. This is a great opportunity for our students.”l

Northridge High School students gather at the launch of the Tech Sales Pathways Program. Courtesy Davis School District

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Mayor Katie Witt reflects over her last four years as Kaysville leader

By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

ayor Katie Witt spent most of her childhood growing up in Utah where her father covered the Utah State Legislature as a journalist for the Associated Press. When Witt moved back to Kaysville from Longmont, Colorado in 2014, she was no stranger to local politics. She had run campaigns as well as running for office herself. “If I see a need and I feel it’s something I can fix or help, I am passionate about being involved,” said Witt. She had unsuccessfully run for City Council in 2015 prior to being elected as Mayor in 2017, and in 2020, she ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Utah’s 1st Congressional District. She lost in the Republican primary on June 30, 2020. Listing her accomplishments as mayor, Witt included the City’s Strategic Plan and the near completion of the General Plan (four years in the making). She said these plans entail “what the citizens wanted” and include “great community feedback for the future.” She discussed implementation of the road impact fee that allows the city to set aside this funding mechanism to do a better job maintaining their roads. She discussed the City Hall remodel that upgraded the City’s infrastructure to become more accom-

modating and bring services up to date. Other items included the fiber project that will allow Connext to install infrastructure for the 21st Century and provide residents with options

for stable broadband. With increased community engagement from Witt’s efforts, Kaysville residents now have a say in what’s going on in their local government. Opportunities include an every third Saturday Q & A with the Mayor and Council, and at 6:30 p.m. prior to every City Council meeting. Witt said she dug into structure and process and agendas that have changed in that the Council now considers a work item on one agenda before an action item on another. This supplies added opportunity for citizens to become aware, involved, and express their concerns. Witt also created the Central Davis Interfaith Council, which includes multiple

congregational representatives from Farmington, Fruit Heights, and Kaysville. She said when various community disasters such as the windstorm and earthquake hit, it became clear there was the need for this sort of social infrastructure to better serve their community. Witt is a state leader and influencer among her colleagues and fellow conservatives. When asked about her future plans, she indicated she had her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and is now returning to school at the University of Utah in their Master’s program. For now, she is “getting more schooling and keeping her eye on the horizon.” Councilwoman Tamara Tran will become Kaysville’s next Mayor. Witt did not seek reelection in the city’s mayoral race. She said that Tran understands the process and will do a fabulous job, with a great focus on the economy and downtown development. She “has loved her time as Mayor” but “now it is someone else’s turn” and “this is how we keep democracy alive.” Witt will focus on finishing up some loose ends, saying goodbye (for now) to her beloved City Staff and fellow elected officials, and focus on the upcoming holiday programs and season. l

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December 2021 | Page 9

New Conviction Integrity Unit’s role is to consider new evidence By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—The Davis County Attorney’s Office announced last month, the creation of a new Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) whose purpose is to review and investigate post-conviction claims of innocence. “The legislature passed a statute in May 2020 that authorized how it would happen and how we could use it so we worked to implement it,” said Davis County Attorney, Troy Rawlings. “It’s another layer of review. The impact of a conviction can be significant. This gives us another tool, a different tool for everybody who has been convicted to be validated.” It’s very different than a court of appeals, he said. “They still appeal through the federal system. The appeals process looks at what happened at trial. They don’t stray outside of that. They can’t look at anything but what happened in the trial.” The CIU’s role is to consider new evidence, Rawlings said. “Such as if a new witness comes forward, information was withheld, scientific testing on old evidence, process or procedure and new or additional information than what happened at trial. If it’s another way for errors to be caught why not use it? I have no interest in convicting an

Page 10 | December 2021

Glen R. Dawson will chair the CIU. Photo courtesy of the Davis County Attorney’s Office

innocent person.” It’s a formal body under Utah code with specific power, authority and criteria that must be met, he said. “The panel volunteers their time for free. There’s no cost involved.” The panel is made up of high level professionals in their areas, he said. “We wanted top notch people. We targeted a broad group that have good judgment. Their common denominator was their passion for fairness, equality, justice and getting things right. We got exactly what we wanted.” There are 90 CIUs around the country, said Rawlings. “It’s relative new. Utah is one of the first in America. A lot of states are not even doing it.” If the CIU determines the conviction should be overturned Rawlings said he would then file a petition with the court to have it overturned. “I don’t think there are problems in Davis County but let’s catch them if there are and take a look at it.” Rawlings said right now his office has a case where two witnesses came forward claiming to have witnessed a homicide in Davis County 25 years ago. “They have a guilty conscience but the question is can we prove it?” Generally when people believe they’ve been wrongly convicted they get an attorney involved, he said. “They’re proactive someway, somehow. They usually work through a defense attorney to get it filed and sometimes get a private investigator involved. To have a chance you have to have some homework behind it to convince the panel there is a good reason to look at this if they’ve lost all appeals.” Rawlings said he’s confident in his office. “Juries in Davis County tend to get it right and our attorney’s get it right. But let’s double check. I’m not afraid of the process – I embrace it. We’ve put this in place for our citizenry and think it’s the right thing to do.” l

Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

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The 2019-20 winning Book Battle teams from Eagle Bay Elementary never got to compete in the district event because schools shut down in the spring of 2020. Photo courtesy Taya Johnson

Davis elementary school readers get ready for battle

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everal years ago, Davis School District created a reading competition to get students excited about books, and the program has been a hit. The Davis Book Battle pits students against students and schools against schools to see which team will be crowned the district winner each year. Last year, the district-wide competition was canceled due to COVID-19 but this year, students are gearing up for a book battle of wits and knowledge. “I have seen the Book Battles program get students excited about reading and excited about paying attention to important details in what they read,” said Eagle Bay Elementary Principal Taya Johnson. “They learn to really be cautious readers who pay attention to important details. It is a great learning experience for our students.” The program is open to two groups of students: third and fourth graders, and fifth and sixth graders. Competitors are given a reading list with 15-20 books to choose from and are asked to read at least three to prove they’re ready to support the team. Once a month, the teams get together for a battle based on trivia questions from the content of the books. Teams go head-to-head in a heated competition to determine a winner, getting points for each correct answer. “I love that the program encourages students to branch out from what they usually gravitate toward,” said Eagle Bay Librarian Bethany Monroe, who heads the school’s Book Battle teams. “It’s so fun to see how it works and see how it gets students out of their comfort zone. Even our reluctant readers enjoy the competition.” Danae Leu has been the Sunburst Elementary librarian for three years and is excited for her first non-COVID year of the Book

DavisJournal.com

I have seen the Book Battles program get students excited about reading and excited about paying attention to important details in what they read. Taya Johnson Battle competitions. Choosing from books like Bunnicula, Wild Robot, The Black Stallion and Maniac Magee, students enjoy reading impactful stories while building comprehension and reading retention skills. Students at every reading level are encouraged to participate. “It invites in a lot of types of readers,” Leu said. “Kids who love to read are drawn to it but kids who are struggling to read find they have an incentive to read and it gives them a chance to be part of a team.” “It’s pretty awesome,” Monroe said. “Our district is great at choosing books at all reading levels. We have books that will help our lower-level readers and higher-levels.” The Davis Book Battles championship event is scheduled for March. Each participating school can send one team from each grade to compete for the district title. Because it’s an after school program, both Monroe and Leu are grateful for the help they’ve received in keeping this program running. “It’s a lot of work and it involves a lot of support from parents and staff,” Leu said. “It’s been heartening to see parents willing to help and show up.” l

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3401 US 89 • Bountiful December 2021 | Page 11

City adopts updates to Stormwater requirements

aysville Public Works Director Josh Belnap explained that the Public Works Department, along with elected officials, consultants, and internal city staff, have worked together to update the City’s standard detail drawings for construction projects and reviewing ordinances relating to stormwater. The EPA has mandated the implementation of Low Impact Development (LID) standards for new construction to treat surface water before entering natural systems. An ordinance has been prepared together with a manual to aid builders and developers in their efforts to select and install appropriate LID facilities. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and recommended approval to the City Council. The term “low impact development” refers to systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes that result in the infiltration, evapotranspiration or use of stormwater in order to protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat. EPA currently uses the term green infrastructure to refer to the management of wet weather flows that use these processes, and to refer to the patchwork of natural areas that supply habitat, flood protection, cleaner air and cleaner water. At both the site and regional scale, LID practices aim to preserve, restore, and create

Page 12 | December 2021

By Cindi Mansell / c.mansell@mycityjournals.com green space using soils, vegetation, and rainwater harvest techniques. LID is an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. It employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product. There are practices that have been used to adhere to these principles such as bioretention facilities, rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, rain barrels and permeable pavements. By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed. Applied on a broad scale, LID can keep or restore a watershed’s hydrologic and ecological functions. Councilmember Mike Blackham added that the city has been speaking with the Utah League of Cities & Towns (ULCT) regarding how to address the diminishing water in the Great Salt Lake. He said the federal government is asking them to detain and retain any water runoff and put it into the ground; if it is sent to the Lake, then Kaysville is asked

to process it first. Belnap said “this plan is quite complex, and staff are grateful to have had the opportunity to methodically think about this. There are large concerns about the lack of water in the Great Salt Lake. This area is unique from other parts of the country. There are high water tables, especially on the west side of our city. We have written in this plan and have said that what the federal government is asking us is not feasible for our area. We want to see more examples of water conservancies being implemented.” A great deal of research has been done in hopes to elevate concerns over the flow amount and quality of water going into the Great Salt Lake. While most people viewed water as an important ecological asset and that natural waters need first priority, others disagreed, saying that communities are better off by using up all of the water before it can reach the lake. There is the need to untangle competing ideologies about natural resources for policymakers and water managers. Policy ultimately drives the decisions surrounding how much water eventually winds up in the lake. Salvaging the lake’s freshwater inputs requires innovation and cooperation at an unprecedented level. Belnap explained the federal requirements are currently very broad and vague,

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but the state’s regulations are a little more specific. However, this plan meets the requirements of both. He said “infiltration of water into the ground is not feasible here and we have the data to back it up.” Councilmember Blackham said the previous plan was burdensome to developers and they have worked with and come up with a better plan. He added that “we need to take care of what water we have here.” The Council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.l

Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

Retail sale of dogs & cats by pet shops By Cindi Mansell | The City Journals

KAYSVILLE--The City Council was recently approached by Humane Society volunteers with concern about pet stores selling animals that come from puppy mills and wanting to restrict this practice. Their request was for an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of some pets in pet stores in Kaysville. The Humane Society showed that countless dogs are bred for profit and kept in cruel conditions just to keep the puppy industry in business. The Society says this shadowy industry hurts dogs and there is a reason the retail pet industry doesn’t show you where its puppies come from. To turn a profit, corners need to be cut, which means poor care for dogs in puppy mills. Consider who gets the puppies from the breeder to the pet store and that between points A and B, there is a lesser-known side industry at work that perpetuates and profits from animal cruelty. The PETA organization says puppy mills are a wellkept secret of the pet-trade industry. They supply animals to pet stores and purebred enthusiasts without any concern for the millions of animals who will die in animal shelters as a result. It’s standard practice for puppy mills to keep animals in cramped, crude, and filthy conditions without proper veterinary care or socialization. PETA says. Female dogs are bred over and over until they can no longer produce puppies – at which point they are auctioned off or killed. Mothers and their litters often suffer from malnutrition, exposure, and a lack of adequate veterinary care. There is simply no reason for animals to be bred and sold for the pet-shop trade. Without these

stores, the financial incentive for puppy mills would disappear and the suffering of these dogs would end. City Manager Shayne Scott said although the city currently does not have a pet store, there are some pet-related businesses. He said “while this is not a situation that presents a problem in the present, taking preemptive action may limit future instances that may not be ideal for some animals.” He said if the ordinance were not adopted now and a business were to come in and apply for a license, there would be nothing in place to regulate them. “If the city tried to adopt an ordinance because of a proposed business, it could be considered discriminatory. The business would also be grandfathered in under the new ordinance,” Scott said. The ordinance states that it shall be unlawful for any pet shop to supply space for the display of adoptable dogs or cats unless specific requirements are met. Those requirements are such that any dog or cat displayed for adoption is displayed by either an animal rescue organization or a public animal shelter, no part of any fees associated shall be paid to or received by the host pet shop or to any entity affiliated, the host pet shop shall not have any ownership interest in any animal displayed for adoption, and each dog or cat displayed for adoption shall for adopted for total fees not in excess of $500. The City Council wrestled with adoption of an ordinance “just in case” but discussed the chicken and egg concept and not waiting until it became an issue. Scott said the issue was apparently a problem in other areas

besides Kaysville. He said the concern was that local pet stores obtain their dogs from puppy mills, with obvious negative impacts, and this would enact measures to prevent the inhumane treatment of animals. Councilmember Mike Blackham said he “would like to make sure that a reputable pet shop could return to the City and request an ordinance amendment.” Scott said absolutely it could be amended to address a specific situation. City Attorney Nic Mills added that if, for example, in the future, there were a kennel club that wanted to open in Kaysville, they could look at amending the ordinance to allow the sales of certified dogs or purebred cats. The City Council voted unanimously to enact the ordinance.l

Energy efficiency saves money while providing better learning environment By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—The Davis School District has seen an increase of just under 3 million square feet over the last 14 years, but energy use has actually gone down by 13 percent. “That’s a lot of buildings,” said District Utility Services Director Doug Anderson during a presentation to the school board. “I love energy management, it’s a passion of mine. We’re behind the scenes. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But we’re able to provide a better learning environment for the students both in comfort and in light while returning money to the district for education.” Anderson said there was a drop in energy usage during COVID when all of the schools were shut down. “There was nobody there for a time. Then you can see that we’re rising again. Some of the things we’re doing for COVID is we’re running the air two hours before school starts and two hours after students leave to purge the building and try and get rid of the virus. We also had several summer programs this year that we haven’t had in the past so we had to run the air conditioners for those.” The department tracks a lot of things, he said. “We track heating and cooling days, student count and how many thousands of gallons of water we use. We track our natural

DavisJournal.com

gas and CO2 we emit. We’re also beginning to track our renewable generation.” Utility costs have increased, said Anderson. “Back in 2006 we paid $7.2 million for natural gas electricity and today we paid $8.2 million this fiscal year. Our kilowatt hours increased. That’s how much time you leave a light on, that’s a kilowatt hour. That’s increased by 5 percent which isn’t bad when you consider we’ve increased the square footage by 36 percent and air conditioned many of our facilities.” Schools use electricity more and more to heat and cool the buildings, he said. “We’re using a little bit less gas because of that. Also our decrease in gas is because of all the upgrades we’ve done. We’ve upgraded the boilers that were really old, we’ve gone through the schools and upgraded the buildings’ automation system and gotten rid of the old numatics where you can turn the thermostat up and hear the air hiss out of it. They’re electronic now so you can visually see that offline.” The energy department has also received praise from professionals outside of the district. Paul A. Mathew, Ph.D. Staff Scientist, Department head, Whole Building Systems Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory made the following statement: “We were im-

Farmington High has many energy saving systems in place. Ten schools have photovoltaic panels on their roofs and 16 schools have ground source heating and cooling options. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

pressed to hear about the energy team’s work and Doug Anderson’s leadership to make energy efficiency a priority in Davis School District operations. In particular, we were struck by his focus on building trust among different functions and key stakeholders in the district, which has enabled Davis School District to make many energy efficiency investments

such as in system controls – which has energy, comfort and maintenance benefits.” “Mr. Anderson and his group are exceptional,” said Superintendent Reid Newey. “The effort they make is great for the kids as well as the teachers. Teachers are happy when they have some level of comfort in the buildings.” l

December 2021 | Page 13

Swimming teams ready to make a splash

avis

Davis returns two 6A state champions in Lauryn Hall in the 50 freestyle and Lia Merrill in the 100 backstroke on the 2021-22 squad whose theme for the year is “H2O – Here To Overcome.” Also back for the Darts are state swimmers Sam Carlson, Macie Cragun, Ethan Frandsen, Luke Deller, Breanna Mertens and Hannah Shaw. Head coach Kit Barker noted others expected to improve and help the Darts this season are seniors Shandrey Allman, Bryce Nichols, Matt Iverson, and Zoe Weaver; juniors Tyler Bennett, Jake Edwards, Dylan Grant, Andy Nielsen and Rylee Johnson; and sophomores Garrett Barker, Adlen Groberg and Mason Simons. Also on this year’s team are Allie Allen, Noah Arnell, Henry Barber, Jane Bassett, Garrick Bench, Bryson Bernhardt, Valery Caile, Olivia Carlson, Breah Christofferson, Alyssa Cottam, Kaden Francom, Ethan Hall, Jonathan Hansen, Jonah Hender, Noah Hender, Brooke Higley, Cosette Jensen, Taylor Johnson, Maureen Karren, Bella Kesler, Noah Lorimer, Bronco Maxfield, Akyiah McKenzie, Devun Mercer, Caleb Miller, Chase Neider, Austin Perry, Joseph Petersen, Hope Potter, Jackson Prisbrey, Ashlyn Sillito, Hailey Sillito, Bradley Slaugh, Elsie Smith, Lincoln Smith, Bo Stromberg, Cody Titel, Samantha Van Drumen, Laila Westover, Jacob Williams, Alex Wolf and Dallin Worthen. Davis is scheduled this season to compete at the Davis District Meet Dec. 4, a Syracuse/ Clearfield meet Dec. 9, at Weber Dec. 16, a Layton/Northridge meet Jan. 4, South Davis Holiday Invite Jan. 7-8, at Herriman Jan. 11, against Fremont Jan. 2, and against Farmington Jan. 27. The Region 1 championships at South Davis will take place Feb. 4 with the 6A state meet at BYU to be held Feb. 18-19. Farmington Farmington begins the year with a new coach coming off its best season in school history with the girls taking third in region and the boys coming in fourth. Stacy Edholm was volunteering with the team early in the school year -- where her daughter Teal is a junior – and now finds herself at the helm of the program. The former collegiate swimmer at BYU had previously coached age-group swimmers in North Carolina where her family just recently moved from. She will be assisted by Heather Lyman, former FHS swimmer Brett Lyman and Lynette Bodell. “We’re so excited about this group. It’s twice as big as last year with a ton of talent, experience and first year swimmers who are working so hard and really bringing it,” Edholm said. “With coaching and their energy, we feel very confident about helping these kids perform better individually, get more kids to state, place higher and get further in the championship season.”

Page 14 | December 2021

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com The Phoenix will be led by team captains Colby Connover, Abby Crowther, Lina Dunn, Emma Garff, Joseph Schraedel, Zachary Shumway, Bibbles Startup, and Phillip Wall. “This is a great group of leaders for this team,” Edholm said. Also on the 2021-22 squad are Brook Belnap, Isabelle Biesinger, Kenedy Bird, Louise Borgeat, M’Li Brock, JT Cahoon, Cannon Christiansen, Jack Cresap, Hayden Davis, Mason Draxler, Teal Edholm, Luke Erickson, William Farnsworth, Georgie Frandsen, Ava Fronk, Juddith Geddes, Kaitlyn Holladay, Hunter Johnson, Sarah Kennedy, Lillian Kraczek, Mary Lawrence, Kade Leavitt, Garrett Lines, John Lyman, Emma Madsen, Kael Michaelson, Ezra Moom, Madison Nacey, Davis Nielson, Henry Norseth, PJ Norseth, James Olsen, Maddie Peterson, Grant Phillipps, Olivia Pinson, Katelyn Quist, Leah Rohm, Mairyn Romney, Matthew Scoresby, Katherine Simmons, London Spears, Ada Stewart, Charlotte Stuettgen, James Taggart, Jeffrey Taylor, Eliza Treu, Mary Treu, Coban Turnbaugh, Nerys Turnbaugh, Hallie Wangemann and Hayden Wagemann. “I’m so impressed with how tight this group is,” Coach Edholm said. “Every single one is a great kid and it’s like a family and is super inclusive. It doesn’t matter if you’re fast or slow, everyone is happy you’re there.” Farmington is scheduled to compete in the District meet Dec. 4, at Weber Dec. 9, at Layton Dec. 16, at Bountiful Dec. 17, the TGI Invite Jan. 7-8, the Mayors Cup Jan. 14, against Syacuse/Clearfield Jan. 21 and at Davis Jan. 27 before the region and state meets. Bountiful Head coach Alexa Lou Olson added strength to her coaching staff in Sonya Bishop and Chad Reinchussel to join her and Emily Su’a in managing nearly 60 swimmers for Bountiful this season. “We are very excited for a more normal season with a bigger coaching staff and we are looking forward to competing as a team, Olson said. The closure of the South Davis Recreation Center until mid-December is affecting all area swimmers, including the Redhawks, who now have to drive further to find facilities and do more dryland training because of limited pool time. “I admire the kids’ strength enough to stay on the team and do what it takes to get better at swimming,” Olson said. “I am proud of them for their commitment to the team and to themselves. This is going to be challenging fur us, but adversity is good for the soul.” Bountiful will be captained by Brendan Bennett, Nia Bingham, Sydney Crystal, Pedro De Marchi, Sadie Duke, Abby Firth, Mia Fowler, Tyler Gunn, Grace Hanni, Emily Knowlton, Spencer Monson Kayla Myers, Tyler Orme, Tyson Page, Eva Stoddard, Zane Syverson, Loni Tippetts and Sam Wang, Also on the BHS team this season are se-

niors Ayden Fieuw, Aaron Galso, Erik Landheim, Avery Mcpheters and Gabby Westergard; juniors Emma Anjewierden, Max Clifford, Nicholas Crockett, Isabelle De Leeuw, Emilia DeLeon, Staysa Hansen, Caroline Huch, Emily Jacobson, Kyran Justice, Caden Levin, Tyler Love, Jaelyn Miller, Nathan Richins, Brigham Scoville, Ellie Staheli, Emily Subardjo, Rylee Tholen, Lucas Van Vliet and Kobi Vanderlinden; sophomores Quentin Auernig, Madelyn Fenwick, Brighton Reed, Katelynn Rogers, Parker Tennant, Lizzie Williams, Drew Wilson and Livia Winsett; and freshmen Claire Bryson, Andy Duke, Liam Glissmeyer, Caleb Jacobson, Trevor Laing, Ellie Moss, Britain Orchard and Thomas Steed. The Redhawks will compete at Syracuse Dec. 4, at Box Elder Dec. 10, against Woods Cross/West Jordan Dec. 17, (rescheduled) Thanksgiving Invite Jan. 7-8, Mayors Cup Jan. 14, at Bonneville Jan. 20 and at Woods Cross Jan. 21. The Region 5 meet is scheduled for Feb. 5 with the 5A state meet at BYU on Feb. 18-19. Olson said the team is aiming to get all of their boys and girls relay teams to state while also maintaining a team GPA of 3.5 throughout the season. Viewmont New Viewmont head coach Jessica Trauner is excited about heading up the 35-member swimming team this season and coaching alongside her assistant Tanner Grossman. “I really couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids to coach as my first year of high school swim coaching, “ Trauner, who also coaches for Layton Surfers, said, while also noting her assistant being “an absolute rockstar from day one.” “I’m hoping to keep building on everything in the future seasons, but for this season I feel good about what our team can do.” Trauner is originally from Indiana and competed in swimming through high school and coached during the summers. “I was never the fastest kid on the team but I had a knack for mechanics and helping my teammates,” she said. She served in the Navy in San Diego, and coached cheerleading while there, which led her to realize that sports was going to fit in her post-active duty plans. She again coached swimming in Hawaii for varied skill levels with ages 6 through 18. Now, she’s coaching in Utah while also attending the University of Utah, studying kinesiology. “I had some great coaches growing up who I still go to for advice and resources, but I also was around other coaches and leadership who failed myself and others,” Trauner said. “There is a continuing need to have good coaching in sports to encourage these kids. I need to be who I needed when I was in their shoes. I want to be the best I can be for each athlete I coach and give them the support they need to be successful in athletics and life in general.” The Vikings’ team captains this season are

Reese Allen, Eric Chamberlain, Jared Chamberlain, Ashlyn Danielson, Ryan Ramierez, Jane Jeppeson, Leslie Smuin and Sarah Spangenberg. Also on the VHS squad are Ayden Aeria, Mia Allen, Annie Breinholt, Nicole Cunningham, Tim Chinsky, Isaac Hale, Elle Decker, Ben Harris, Hallie Gerrard, Matthew Howe, Madelyn Hall, Eli Lewis, Izzy Harris, Gabby Henry, Austin Page, Malin Howe, Andrew Webster, Marquis Zobell, Audrey Kim, Kate Moore, Camille Parke, Camilla Rios-Arroyo, Campell Showalter, Katelyn Lemon, Clara Wadswroth, Addie Wood and Sarah Young. “I’m still new to Utah and navigating how everything is done here, but the parent and veteran swimmer support that’s on the team is amazing and it has made taking over this team much easier,” Trauner said. “Beyond that, there is great talent and ability on this team in each grade level, that any coach would be lucky to have. We also just have a lot of great leadership and spirit.” Viewmont’s season includes Dec. 4 at Districts, Dec. 7 against Bear River, Dec. 10 against Woods Cross, Box Elder and Bountiful, Dec. 14 against Syracuse/Clearfield, Jan. 4 against Box Elder, Jan. 7-8 at the TG Invite, Jan. 14 at the Mayors Cup and Jan. 18 against Bear River before region and state meets. Woods Cross Region 200 IM champion Nohea Kamauu headlines the returning girl swimmers for Woods Cross which also includes Aveyr Boynton, Elle Hall, Gaib Hilbig, Alanna Holzer, Sophia Mortensen, Hayley Neuenschwander and Grace Woodbury. The boys squad is led by region 100 back champion Abel Chomjak along with Miller Campbell, Justin Chamberlain, Isaac Chomjak, Nate Cyril, Mark Glissmeyer, Diego Gutierrez, Lee Hunter, Ammon Kamauu, Isaac Miller, Badger Norman, Moose (James) Norman, Dylan Suarez and Tomas Suarez. Also on the Wildcats squad coached by Andrew Bird and Jamie Holzer are Landon Ballard, Shane Ballard, Ryler Barden, Ethan Baxter, Blake Carver, Saje Colisimo, Sabrina Di Bello, Kate Francis, Grace Gilbert, Ben Green, Daniel Hansen, Whitney Holbrook, William Hunter, Max Jensen, Ava Jud, Santiago Leal, Kendra Lubeck, Austin Mallory, Emi Mcbride, Emily Nelson, Nathan Parker, Tessa Parker, Rylie Patterson, Quinn Paulson, Gabe Pippin, Savannah Poll, Sam Porter, Michael Poulsen, Logan Richards, Christian Rogers, Brynlee Rough, Evan Spencer, Logan Stuart, Andrew Tippets, Jenna Violette, RJ Violette and Landon Wade. Woods Cross is scheduled for the District Championships Dec. 4, against West Jordan, Bountiful, Viewmont Dec. 17, at Taylorsville Jan. 4, at the Mayors Cup Jan. 14, at Bonneville Jan. 20, and against Lehi/Bountiful Jan. 21 before the region and state meets. l

Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

December holidays beyond Santa Claus and the Nativity By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

rom colorful lights and gingerbread to holiday music and candy cane decor, December in Utah generally signifies Christmas. While most Utahns celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 with its symbolic meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ, others celebrate different December holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Yule. Sue Tice of Kaysville celebrates Hanukkah and shared what the holiday means to her family. “After the Temple was desecrated and then recaptured, it was then re-dedicated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev in 164 BCE and made holy again,” she said. “This is why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah beginning on this day every year which usually occurs sometime in November or December. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, which is a recognition of the holy oil that was found and thought to be only enough for one night but actually burned for eight nights. We also eat fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganyot (jelly donuts) for this holiday to commemorate the miracle of the oil.” “In our house,” Tice continued, “as in many other Jewish households, we say the prayers each night before lighting the candles that represent whichever night of Hanukkah we’re celebrating. The reason there are nine candles is that one of them is called the Shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others. We also play dreidel which is a top with a Hebrew letter on each side representing the phrase ‘Nes Gadol Hayah Sham,’ which is Hebrew for ‘a great miracle happened there,’ referring to the miracle around which Hanukkah is centered. We use Hanukkah gelt when we play dreidel which are foil covered chocolate coins. Another tradition we take part in is to exchange small gifts each night which is an American Jewish phenomenon established in the early 1900s. We also participate in a party that our synagogue holds every year. While there we have a community lighting of everyone’s candles. Hanukkah is a joyful holiday, although a minor one in the lexicon of Jewish holidays. It’s a reminder that the darkness of winter can be pierced and banished with the lights of Hanukkah.” This year, Hanukkah is Nov. 28 – Dec. 6, 2021. Kwanzaa, which is a Swahili word meaning “first” and signifying the first fruits of the harvest, is an annual celebration of Af-

rican-American culture that is held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually held on the sixth day. Malunga Karenga, professor and chairman of Africana Studies at California State University, created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a response to the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles as a means to bring African-Americans together as a community. During the week of Kwanzaa, seven core principles are discussed: 1) Umoja: Unity, 2) Kujichagulia: Self-Determination, 3) Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility, 4) Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics, 5) Nia: Purpose, 6) Kuumba: Creativity, and 7) Imani: Faith. Kwanzaa also incorporates seven core symbols: 1) Mazao: Crops, 2) Mkeka: Place Mat 3) Muhindi: Ear of Corn, 4) Mishumaa Saba: The Seven Candles (three red, three green, one black), 5) Kinara: The Candleholder, 6) Kikombe Cha Umoja: The Unity Cup, and 7) Zawadi: Gifts. Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, is Winter Solstice, and in conjunction with Yule, an ancient Germanic tradition to honor the god Odin, has been celebrated for centuries long before Christianity emerged. According to Kate Bishop who works at Salt Lake City’s Crone’s Hollow shop, Yule is mostly celebrated by pagan, heathen, and the Wiccan religions. Bishop said, “The celebration means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new year and new birth.” Many of the shop’s customers which come from all over the valley from Herriman to Davis County to even out-of-state residents, practice these religions and purchase their Yule decor such as items for their Yule altar which includes red, green and silver cloths, a chalice, drinking horn, and decorations such as fur, pine, holly, and other evergreen foliage to celebrate life and rebirth. Many Christmas customs today originate from Yule. The burning of the Yule log originally symbolized the sun and spring’s imminent arrival but the modern interpretation is associated with beacons guiding the Christ child. The Christmas tree was seen as a symbol of continual life, especially at the time of solstice. Other evergreen plants such as holly and mistletoe were also solstice traditions first. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originates from Norse mythology. Baldur, the son of Odin and the goddess Frigg, was so beloved that his mother made all earthly elements such as fire, water, stones, trees, sicknesses, poisons, beasts, birds, and in-

sects swear not to hurt him. The mischievous Loki learned that the poisonous plant mistletoe was not under this oath and directed the blind god Hother to hurl it at Balder, killing him. In their grief, the gods made the mistletoe promise it would never do harm but be forever dedicated to acts of happiness. The website anbg.gov. au which shared the myth of Balder said, “So perhaps the hanging of mistletoe and the kissing relate to the goodness the plant bestows, and the habits of Frigg, the goddess of love and beauty.” Layton’s Emily Burton and her wife, Ashley, who practice Heathenry, the Norse version

of Pagan, celebrate Yule by feasting, baking, and decorating the tree. “As part of our feasting and decorating, a portion of what we eat is left for the Gods,” Burton said. “They don't actually ‘eat’ our offerings, just enjoy the essence and the smell. We basically ask the Gods for good health during the winter months.” While December ushers in various customs, the common threads of joy, family, new life, and tradition are common threads that are cause for celebration and gatherings, in whichever form is meaningful to us. l

The community candle lighting to celebrate Hanukkah at Sue Tice’s synagogue. Photo courtesy of Sue Tice.

DavisJournal.com

December 2021 | Page 15

Local volleyball squads compete in state playoffs By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

oods Cross Woods Cross came into the 5A state volleyball tournament ranked fourth and they stayed true to that position in reaching the Final Four to take on Bountiful in the semifinal round at Utah Valley University on Nov. 6. After a first-round bye, the Wildcats took on Spanish Fork Nov. 4 and won 25-13, 2511, 25-20. Against Maple Mountain Nov. 4, Woods Cross won 25-17, 26-28, 25-23, 25-23 to reach the semifinal matchup with Bountiful. After that loss, they played in the third/ fourth place game where the Wildcats lost to Timpview 25-10, 25- 23, 25-23. Viewmont Viewmont lost their starting setter just days before the 5A state tournament and had to face Springville in a play-in game to get into the postseason. The Vikings defeated the Red Devils 25-28, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19. “It took us a couple of games to get our groove going,” said head coach Cathy Hope. “Our JV setter Kenley Edwards did great!” Hope said. “Her serving and defense was amazing! We put her in a tough situation throwing her in last minute without having a fair amount of playing time with the varsity team, so our camaraderie was not quite there.” Against Timpview Nov. 4, Viewmont

lost 25-8, 25-16, 25-11. “Timpview is a great team,” Hope said. “It was a tough one for us to start off with.” In the consolation bracket, the Vikings defeated Olympus 25-16, 25-18, 25-20. “We had a much better showing against Olympus and our confidence was much better,” Hope said. Viewmont then lost to Lehi 25-14, 2522, 25-20. “We did hand on with them after the first set, but we just couldn’t keep the lead and stay ahead,” Hope said. “They did a great job shutting our middles down which hurt us.” Hope said she feels that the program has come a long way in her three years. “To finish off in 11th overall in 5A is a huge accomplishment for this great group of girls,” she said. “They continued to improve and fight all season. As a coach, winning is important, but what is more important to me is to see their individual success and growth.” Hope noted an exchange between Liza Montalbo and Kaylee Smith during the state tournament that epitomizes the culture within the Vikings program. “As Kaylee was going to hit the ball, Liza backed her up and said, ‘You’re good Kaylee, I got your back.’ This is the character of a teammate I love to see. That’s what high school athletics is about,”

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Woods Cross’ Saane Katoa spikes into the waiting arms of Spanish Fork’s Maline Robarge. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Hope said. Davis 14th-ranked Davis defeated Granger, who was seeded 19th, in straight sets 25-15, 25-12, 25-18 to open up 6A state tournament play Nov. 2. Against Lone Peak Nov. 4, the Darts lost 25-5, 25-5, 25-8. “Against Lone Peak, the scores may not have showed it, but the girls worked really hard,” said head coach McKay Barker. “It was our best passing game of the season and fun to see the girls work so hard. Ultimately, it was not our day.” In the consolation bracket, Davis lost to Clearfield 25-16, 25-19, 25-12. “We have to work extra hard in the off-season to get better and start preparing for next season,” Barker said. Farmington 18th-seeded Farmington defeated 15thranked Roy in three sets 25-11, 25-12, 25-10 Nov. 4 to advance from the first round of the 6A state tournament.

“We had a very even offense and played great team defense,” said head coach April Painter. Against Syracuse, the Phoenix lost to the Titans 25-14, 25-17, 25- 17. “They were a tough, disciplined team and we loved having the opportunity to play them at state,” Painter said. “We felt like we had a solid game plan coming in, but Syracuse makes very minimal unforced errors.” In the consolation bracket, Farmington battled back from two sets down to defeat Hunter 13-25, 13-25,25-14, 25-13, 17-15. They then defeated Clearfield 25-23, 25-20, 16-25, 25-19 before losing to Weber 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 17-19. “For being the 18th seed and coming out with an eighth place finish, I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” Painter said. “They worked extremely hard and battled with so many injuries this season, but never stopped fighting for each other. Many great memories and relationships were made this season and I’m sad to see it end.” l

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Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

Suicide rates remain stable during the pandemic By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

SALT LAKE CITY—Although there has been an observed increase in the number of suicides and drug overdoses in other states, data shows that Utah has not seen an increase in these during the pandemic, according to a report by the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) released last month. “We’ll still be dealing with the impact for years to come,” said Michael Staley, suicide prevention research coordinator with the UDOH. Suicide rates remain consistent with the trends prior to the pandemic.” Utah had a disproportionate rate in suicides between the years of 2015-2020, he said. “The concern is among teens. The death of just one is one too many.” Any decrease is welcome news, said Staley. “Our work is never done until the number of suicides is zero. Suicide prevention is not limited to only those close to us, it belongs to the community, churches, etc.” Death by suicide is overwhelmingly tragic, he said. “Someone dies every 13 hours by suicide. This is not acceptable. Behind every one of those numbers is a devastated family.” The data also showed that the num-

ber of Utahns who died by accidental or undetermined drug overdose from March 2020 to the end of May 2021 remained consistent with the number of deaths in previous years. “For every death there are those that are not fatal and there are still consequences,” said Megan Broekemeier, Opioid Fatality Research Coordinator UDHD. “We look at the number of people who went to the emergency room to identify clusters and patterns.” Ov Broekemeier listed these points when responding to an overdose: • Try to wake the person up • Call 911 • Administer Naloxone • Check for breathing • Stay with the person “We all have a role to play in preventing suicide,” said Allison Foust, suicide prevention program administrator with the Utah Department of Human Services and co-chair of the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition. “If you hear someone expressing hopelessness and thoughts of suicide you need to check in with them.” Other signs include sleeping too

What do you do if someone is in crisis? ASK DIRECTLY It is safe and helpful to ask someone directly about suicide. For example: “You’ve mentioned that you’ve been feeling hopeless lately. Are you having thoughts about killing yourself?”

LISTEN WITH CONCERN AND EMPATHY Give the person the opportunity to tell you how they’re feeling and what they’re going through. Sometimes just expressing feelings and being heard can provide immense relief for someone who is struggling.

GET HELP Call or text a 24/7 crisis line such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to speak to a trained clinician, or connect to support via the SafeUtah app. They can help you assess the risk of suicide and decide what to do next.

little or too much or losing interest in things, she said. “Take all of these signs seriously. Ask directly and listen in a safe and helpful tone. It’s our responsibility to check in. Checking in can help prevent The Utah Department of Health & The Utah Department of Human Services

CREATE A SAFE SPACE Putting time and distance between a person at risk of suicide and a firearm can save a life. Remove firearms and lethal medications from the home, if possible, or take extra precautions to lock them away.

BE A SUPPORT Involve family members, friends, or others to provide a safety net. Recovery is a process that takes time and support. Help the person create a Safety Plan (like the one in the MY3 app) so they are prepared to manage returning thoughts of suicide. Check in on them and help them stay engaged in treatment and on the road to recovery.

suicide.” For anyone needing help for themselves or a loved one, call 800-273-TALK (8255) or visit liveonutah.org. l 25

Things to know about your Medicare options By Tom Haraldsen | tom.h@davisjournal.com

t’s Medicare open enrollment time through Dec. 7, and like many recipients, I’ve been getting a lot of promotional materials outlining options. Much of what I’ve read is confusing, but like the 61 million Americans who are on Medicare, I’m most concerned about making sure I have adequate coverage and can maximize the benefits to which I’m entitled. That said, here are some basic things that first time, or renewing, members should know about Medicare. • Traditional Medicare. Traditional Medicare provides the same level of coverage to all enrollees across the country. There are no pre-existing condition limitations or wait periods. Every medical provider who accepts Medicare will treat a patient on traditional Medicare in any part of the country. If you travel frequently, you might look into a Medicare Supplement policy that will limit your out-of-pocket exposure. • Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. Here’s how the alphabet soup of Medicare coverage breaks down. Medicare Part A pays for hospital and skilled nursing facility care. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of costs for doctors, outpatient services and medical equipment. Medicare Part C is private Advantage Plans. Medicare Part D provides a variety of options to pay for prescriptions.

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• Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage Plans are managed as HMO or PPO programs by private health insurance companies. They have lower out-of-pocket costs for staying in-network. They also offer prescription services (replacing Medicare Part D), and extra services such as dental, vision, hearing, care-related home improvements, transportation and even meal services. • The costs. Understanding Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs could mean the difference in thousands of dollars for enrollees. Most people will not pay a premium for Part A, but they will for Part B, Part C, and Part D. In 2021, the premium for Part B is $148.50 a month. The average Part D premium is $30.50 a month. Anyone who enrolls in a Medicare Advantage Plan or purchases a Medigap policy (which pays for any gaps in coverage) will pay premiums to the insurance company. Medicare Advantage enrollees still pay the Part B premium in addition to their Advantage Plan premiums. Medigap plans, sold by insurance companies, have a range of monthly premiums based on the plan type. • Prescription coverage. In addition to a monthly premium, Medicare Part D prescription coverage also has out-of-pocket costs. As of 2021, once out-of-pocket costs reach $4,130 the recipient is responsible for 25% of costs for

the remainder of that year. If prescription drug costs reach $6,550 in the same year, the share paid by the individual will then decrease to 5%. If you are confused, know that assistance is available. Insurance agents who specialize in Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans can help with initial enrollment and open enrollment. Free assistance also can be obtained

through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and the Medicare Rights Center. Also, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is the government agency that administers both Medicare and Medicaid, provides a wealth of information and resources. l

December 2021 | Page 17

Health Department promotes cleaner air through Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance program CLEARFIELD—Pollution is an ongoing challenge for the state. In an effort to get cleaner air along the Wasatch Front, the Davis County Health Department in partnership with UCAIR is offering a Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance Program (VRRAP). “The purpose is to improve our air quality in Davis County,” said Brielle with the Air Quality Program of the DCHD. “Because 50 percent of air pollution comes from cars alone. Cars that have failed emissions contribute 100 times more pollutants than cars that are working properly.” The purpose is to get those vehicles either repaired or off the road, she said. “Especially older vehicles that tend to emit more fumes. In Utah we like our old cars. Almost 26 percent of the whole vehicle fleet along the Wasatch Front are 2003 or older. We want to get our residents to have newer cars that are working cleaner and more efficiently to improve air quality.” The program is made possible by grants received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the health department’s partnership with UCAIR, said Brielle. “They give us the funding for those who may not be able to afford to repair their failing vehicle or replace that failing vehicle.” To receive assistance, individuals must meet the income requirements, she said. “To qualify their household income must be less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. So if you are 200 percent or below you

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com qualify for 100 percent of the repair costs up to $1,000. If it is 250 percent it covers 75 percent and you pay the rest and 300 percent it pays 50 percent of the cost up to $500.” Vehicles that qualify for repair assistance must have failed an emissions test and be registered in Davis County under the owner's name for at least 12 months, Brielle said. “There also has to be no evidence of tampering.” Repairs need to be related to the emissions system, she said. “It can’t be tires or a windshield. Anything that makes the engine light go on.” Another part of the program is vehicle replacement. “Vehicles that are 2003 or older can be replaced with a newer, cleaner vehicle,” said Brielle. “The vehicle must be able to drive on its own power to the dealership. Individuals will be given a voucher to purchase a newer vehicle that meets the EPA emissions standards. The dealership will know which vehicle falls into that category. The odometer has to read 70,000 miles or less and not cost more than $35,000.” The amount an individual gets also depends on their income level, she said. “If you’re 200 percent or below you get $4,000 to $5,500, 250 percent or below 3,500 to $5,000 and 300 percent or below is $3,000 to $4,500.” Participants can get an application at the DCHD on the second floor or they can also go online to the DCHD website and print out the application. “We need the most recent tax form for income veri-

fication,” said Brielle. “If you don’t have your tax form call us for other forms that can be used. We also need proof of a failed emissions test. Then we’ll give you a voucher based on how much you qualify for to take the vehicle to a certified repair station to be fixed or to buy a new car.” For more information visit https://www.co.davis. ut.us/.../vehicle_emissions/VRRAP or call the DCHD at 801-525-5128. l

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nce March, communities in south Davis County have been receiving our free monthly publication, the City Journal. There are four different City Journal papers, each produced separately and sent to every home in North Salt Lake-Woods Cross, BountifulWest Bountiful, Centerville-Farmington, and Kaysville-Ft. Heights. These papers include stories specific to their respective communities. Did you know we also publish a weekly subscription newspaper called the Davis Journal? This paper features timely stories on city and county governments, the Davis School District, high school sports, feature and business stories, a TV listing, movie reviews, cartoons and much more. It is avail-

Page 18 | December 2021

able to paid subscribers for a cost of $52 a year, or $1 per week. The Davis Journal continues the county’s legacy of having a weekly newspaper specifically about south Davis County. If you’re not getting our Davis Journal, you’re missing out. It’s easy to subscribe to our Davis Journal. You can do so by going to subscribe. davisjournal.net, or by mailing your name, address, and phone number, along with your check for $52, made payable to Newspaper Management Company, to our office at 837 South 500 West #201, Bountiful, UT 84010. Sign up today for the Davis Journal and keep local news coming to your home every Friday! l

Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

Davis County ‘princess’ teaches friendship, inclusion, and affirmation By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

hen South Jordan’s Cindy Chia, who is Malaysian Chinese, took her then 2-year-old daughter, Maya, to Disney On Ice last year, Maya was so upset that the show did not include Mulan, the Chinese heroine who saves her country. “So I lodged a complaint to Disney and I was still not hopeful,” Chia said. “But surprisingly this year there was a whole segment for Mulan! Maya was so thrilled! My mom and I were in tears because it’s very rare that we get represented in such a big production like that.” Although heroines of color have been rare in the early decades of Disney, recently more and more productions feature strong women of various ethnicities. As more of these princesses of color have become popular, the demand for character actors to play them has also increased which is why Davis County’s Allegra-Bree Moreno stays quite busy appearing at various events and parties as Princess Jasmine, Raya, and Moana among other characters. With an extensive background in musical theater, acting, and modeling, Moreno began her “princess” career in March of 2021 when she answered a casting call for the role of Jasmine. While Jasmine was rarely booked at the time, once Moreno took over the role, Jasmine bookings increased significantly, attributing to her talent of not only playing the role well but also her gift of connecting with children. From there, her roles expanded to Moana, Elena of Avalor, and Raya. In addition to Disney characters, Moreno also plays villains, super heroes, and science fiction characters. Most of her bookings come from word-of-mouth and recommendations. Chia, who recently moved from Herriman to Daybreak, celebrated her daughter

Maya’s third birthday by inviting Moreno to play Moana. Moreno, as Moana, paddle-boarded across Oquirrh Lake to greet an excited group of tots in front of Chia’s new home. Chia said Moreno “was patient, caring, and engaging to make sure my daughter had the best third birthday.” “It makes me feel good that they had a great experience with how we have been trained, the costuming we use, the wig quality, how we handle ourselves at a party and how we interact with children,” Moreno said. “A lot of people think it’s just dress up and cosplay. But when you have to be fully immersed in the role, it’s an entirely different skill because you have to create magic for the kids.” As a person of mixed race including Cuban, West African/Haitian, Chinese, Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, British, Scandinavian, and Filipino, Moreno and the three character companies she works for are passionate and proactive about representation and transcendent casting, the practice of casting people of color in traditionally whitecast roles. Moreno has had opportunities to play Belle and Cinderella, giving children the experience of interacting with favorite princesses who look like them. “In this industry, there are a lot of problems with colorism and racism and I have been fortunate to have found a community of people who do really care about these issues and strive to understand and become educated,” she said. When Moreno first started playing Jasmine she experienced the previous “white-washing” of Jasmine at a birthday party when one of the little girls showed her a Jasmine doll. Moreno said, She held her doll next to me and she said, ‘I didn’t know you really were brown. You are so pretty.’”

Moreno’s personal experience as a minority and a child who was bullied growing up has given her the dedication to empower children who feel “othered” and seek belonging. When she first arrives at an event, she seeks the outliers and shy kids who feel like they don’t fit in. “I recognize them because that was me,” Moreno said. “I approach them first before I interact with the other kids and I try to talk to them, relate to them, and personally invite them to join in. The child thinks, ‘Wow, Jasmine thought I was cool enough to talk to and be her friend.’ When it’s a kid that talks to you, well cool, you have made a new friend. When it’s another adult, you think they have to do that. But when it’s your HERO right in front of you, it gives you confidence for the rest of your life. I want to give them at least one memory that builds them up to draw on – especially when they need it the most.” And indeed, there is power in that. In a time when the Department of Justice recently delivered a scathing report about racism in the Davis School District followed by a 10-year-old North Salt Lake child taking her own life due to bullying because of her autism and skin color, teaching simple kindness and acceptance is more important than ever before. Perhaps what we truly need are more princesses and more super heroes to literally save lives. Moreno said, “I always tell kids when they’re down on themselves...I’ll ask, ‘Are you royal too?’ Of course they will first answer ‘No.’ But then I ask, ‘Are you loyal to your friends and family? Are you kind? Are you brave?’ Are you a good friend? Do you stand up for those who need help?’ And when they can answer ‘yes,’ they realize, ‘I

Moreno's Raya, the Southeast Asian warrior from “Raya and the Last Dragon,” appeals to her Filipino heritage. Photo by Ashley’s Flashy Photos.

AM royal. I can make a difference.’” But Moreno said we don’t have to be dressed up in tiaras and capes to lift children up. We just need to accept and love them exactly as they are. If you would like to hire Moreno at your next party or event, visit www.charactersandcrowns.com, www.characterbooking. com, or www.yourfairygodmotherutah.com. Moreno also volunteers as Wonder Woman with the Legacy Initiative Cosplay organization which sends super heroes to children’s hospitals and other events for hope and healing. l

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT December 2021

DEC. 1 Taco Meat Tortilla Chips Cheese Sauce Refried Beans Canned Pears DEC. 2 Popcorn Chicken Smackers Mashed Potatoes Chicken Gravy Whole Grain Roll Canned Peaches DEC. 3 Grilled Cheese

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Tomato Soup Crinkle Cut Carrots Canned Apricots Cookie Assortment DEC. 6 Cheese Omelet Hash Brown Patty Applesauce Welches Juice Slush DEC. 7 Cheese Pizza Rippers Pepperoni Pizza Rippers Marinara Sauce Canned Peaches

Chocolate Pudding DEC. 8 Popcorn Chicken Smackers Mac & Cheese Whole Grain Roll Green Beans Canned Pears DEC. 9 Beef Meatballs or Pork Meatballs Sweet & Sour Sauce Brown Rice Steamed Broccoli Canned Peaches

DEC. 10 Chalup, Bean & Cheese Cinnamon Puff Canned Apricots Cookie Assortment Shredded Lettuce Refried Beans DEC. 13 Cheese Bites Tomato Soup Cooked Corn Applesauce Welches Juice Slush

DEC. 14 Bean & 2 Cheese Dip Taco Meat Tortilla Chips Shredded Lettuce Canned Peaches

DEC. 16 Pot Pie Cinnamon Roll Steamed Broccoli Canned Peaches

DEC. 15 Cheese and Pepperoni Calzone Waffle Fries Canned Pears Marinara Sauce Apple Crisp Whipped Topping

DEC. 17 Sloppy Joe on a Bun Crispy Curly Fries Baked Beans Canned Apricots Cookie Assortment Winter Break—Happy Holidays See you in January

December 2021 | Page 19

Holiday vacations create lasting memories By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

“H

ow can we have Christmas without a Christmas tree, Mom?” — Kevin McCallister, Home Alone. Kevin asked this question as his family was packing for their holiday trip to Florida. Taking a vacation during the holidays was unheard of for the 1990 movie audience but introducing this concept in the movie added to the storyline, character development, and message of Home Alone. We all remember the rained-out Florida trip, a mother’s determination to be with her son for Christmas, and the message of forgiveness between parent and child. Yet nowadays, more and more families are opting to follow the McCallister tradition to teach their children another message: that memories last longer than objects. Instead of clicking on Amazon links, families are clicking on hotel and cruise line links to enjoy a vacation getaway during the Christmas holiday in lieu of physical presents. “We opted to start doing vacations instead of gifts several years ago because our kids already had too much stuff,” Kaysville’s Amy Herrin Inette said. “They will all agree that vacations are the best and make the best memories! We haven’t always been able to actually have the vacation be during Christmas, but they’re still so excited to see if we might go somewhere that year. I highly recommend it. We’ve done a couple of cruises, New Orleans, Disney, Thailand, China, Mexico.” The Rosqvist family of Kaysville regularly enjoy holiday vacations and have celebrated Christmas in Florida, Dubai, Turks and Caicos, and Cancun. They have even made arrangements for a turkey dinner to be

brought to their hotel room on Christmas Day where possible. “We keep our holiday traditions but nix the gifts,” Laura Rosqvist said. “The trip is the gift.” “I book clients for Christmas a lot,” said Jozettte Barker-Loumis, a travel advisor in Herriman. “As a family we go as well.” Barker-Loumis said the most popular holiday destination is Mexico as it is easy on restrictions and close to Utah. However, not everyone is sold on the idea of a Christmas getaway. In a poll of Kaysville residents on the Kaysville Utah Facebook page, of the nearly 200 responses, 14 said they will never take a vacation away for the holidays as they believe that Christmas is to be celebrated at home. For families with young children, trips can be too daunting and the magic of Christmas is still alive and well with little ones. Santa Claus visiting children on a cruise ship or a hotel room just does not have the same magic as visiting your own home. When Kaysville’s Christine Deppe planned a trip to New York for Christmas many years ago, her kids threw a fit and they did not go. However, Deppe said, “They regret it now.” “My vote is home for the holidays, but a family gift would be a trip,” Herriman’s Denise Fritz said. “The holiday season of putting up the tree, great smells of cookie baking, gingerbread house decorating, and relatives coming together. That’s what great memories are. Trips are fine but at another time.” Another option to have the best of both worlds is to

The Ratliff family from Herriman donning their festive apparel during their 2018 cruise to Cabo. Photo courtesy of Cassidy Ratliff.

give a vacation as the major family gift for Christmas but take the trip after Christmas. This strategy avoids the rush of holiday travel. Sherry Thompson of Kaysville shared a time when they went to Cancun as a way to heal from their Autumn miscarriage after five years of infertility. “I just could not face Christmas,” she said. “It was a needed break from heartbreak and frustration. Once we had kids, I never replaced holidays with trips. I guess we all arrive at these decisions from different places.” l

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What to expect during the 2021 pheasant and quail hunts

he general-season pheasant and quail hunts open Nov. 6. If you are planning to target either of these birds this fall, here is what you should know. Utah’s general pheasant hunting season runs from Nov. 6 to Dec. 5. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources releases thousands of pheasants on various wildlife management areas around the state each week during the general-season hunt. The number of pheasants and where they can be found will depend on where you are hunting in Utah. In northern Utah, there was an average brood production and no major population declines – despite the drought conditions – since the birds were still able to access water in rivers and irrigation canals. Hunting success should be about the same as last year. The majority of pheasants in this region can be located on private land in the eastern portion of Box Elder County. Hunters should remember that written permission from landowners is required to hunt on any private lands. In general, pheasants like areas with nearby fields of wheat or corn that provide feed for them. Pheasants also prefer habitat with stemmed grass that provides nesting cover, as well as areas with dense woods or wetlands with thick cattails that provide shelter during the snowy winter months. These birds are good at hiding in brush, so hunting with a well-trained dog will increase your chances of success. “If you don’t have a dog, you can still be successful by walking slowly to flush out the pheasants,” DWR Upland Game Coordinator Heather Talley said. “Many times, they will flush if you stand near them for a few minutes because they think that they’ve been spotted.” Walking along ditch banks or fence lines is also a good hunting strategy. Pheasants typically prefer to run rather than

brush or desert almond. California quail will occupy washes containing water and brushy cover, and will eat flowers from grasses, trees and shrubs, as well as seeds and leaves. The statewide youth pheasant hunt will take place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, and pheasants will be released just before the hunt. The statewide youth quail hunt will take place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. If you were 17 years of age or younger on July 31, and you’ve completed Hunter Education, you can participate in the hunt. If you haven’t yet finished Hunter Education – and you’re at least 12 years old – you still might be able to participate through Utah’s Trial Hunting program. You must also have a hunting license and follow all of the state’s upland game hunting rules. To add an extra challenge to your hunts this fall, consider participating in the Upland Game Slam. Similar to the Utah Cutthroat Slam, it encourages hunters to harvest a variety of upland game species, while generating money to help fund a variety of habitat and upland game-related projects. Hunters complete a slam by harvesting the required amount of the target species. Each slam is designed to give you an extra challenge while you’re hunting, as well as the opportunity to earn a commemorative, collectible coin. The entry fee is $20 for hunters 18 years of age or older, or $10 for hunters 17 years of age or younger. The “Appetizer Slam” includes some of Utah’s smaller game birds, including California quail, Gambel’s quail and mourning dove. To complete the slam, hunters must harvest one of each of the three species within a single hunting season. Learn more about how to participate in the various Upland Game Slams on the DWR website. – Tom Haraldsen

Beloved ballet returns to Capitol Theatre for the holidays

allet West’s most popular show and annual tradition, The Nutcracker, returns to the Capitol Theatre for live performances Dec. 4-26. It’s been two years since the holiday ballet was performed for a live audience, since COVID-19 shuttered entertainment venues in 2020. Audiences are eager to get back to live ballet as more than 13,000 tickets have already been sold and this year’s performance of The Nutcracker is expected to bring in the highest level of sales in 25 years. “Following the successful production of Dracula, where many performances were sold out, demand for The Nutcracker is expected to be high,” said Adam Sklute, Ballet West artistic director, in a media release. “We encourage all Nutcracker fans to purchase tickets early so they have a seat and don’t miss out.” Made possible through support from The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, the $3 million production is a classic ballet in two acts based on the fairy tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The iconic score by Tchaikovsky will be performed live, featuring the Ballet West Orchestra. Choreographed by Ballet West Founder Willam Christensen, The Nutcracker has evening performances at 7 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m., and a special holiday matinee on

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fly away, so if you walk along these areas, you are more likely to drive them out into the open, where they will flush. Visit the Division of Wildlife Resources website to see where pheasants will be released throughout the season. (Many of the locations include Wildlife Management Areas and walk-in access areas – which is an area of private land on which the DWR has leased certain hunting, trapping or fishing privileges.) To locate a walk-in access area near you, visit the DWR website. Hunters should also remember that several of the WMAs require non-toxic shot (for example, steel shot) when hunting. Lead shot may not be used. For more information about the pheasant hunts, visit the DWR website. Utah’s general quail hunting season runs from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31. Hunting quail also differs in each area of the state. In northern Utah, the drought didn’t have major impacts to the populations, since they primarily stayed in agricultural fields that were irrigated. Hunters should also be able to locate quail near the Great Salt Lake wetlands. In northeastern Utah, much of the quail habitat is on private land, so make sure to obtain written permission from the landowner prior to hunting. Quail populations in this area weren’t impacted by drought since they are mostly located on the irrigated agricultural fields that still had water. In central Utah, the highest concentrations of California quail are in urban areas, which limits most hunting opportunities. The highest populations of quail are found in and around Tooele City. California and Gambel’s quail are hunted using similar methods – just in different habitats. When hunting Gambel’s quail, look for Joshua trees, dry washes and draws with black

Christmas Eve at noon. Immediately following each matinee (except Dec. 24), Ballet West hosts a Sugar Plum Party where young audience members can join the Sugar Plum Fairy and other favorite characters from the ballet for a special treat. “Each year, hundreds of Utah children from across the Wasatch Front audition for the opportunity to perform in Ballet West’s The Nutcracker, with just over 100 children being selected for the coveted roles,” Sklute said. “The story tells of a Christmas party at which little Clara, daughter of the house, receives the gift of a nutcracker from her mysterious uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer. After the party, she falls asleep and dreams of snow castles, sugarplums, and her nutcracker, which has turned into a handsome prince.” Ticket prices range from $25 to $104 and are available at BalletWest.org or 801869-6900. l

Ballet West Principal Artists Emily Adams and Adrian Fry in The Nutcracker. Photos courtesy of Beau Pearson

December 2021 | Page 21

Celebrating the history of Centerville’s Literature, Music and Art Club By Tom Haraldsen | tom.h@davisjournal.com CENTERVILLE—It was the mid 1930s, and three Centerville residents were getting together regularly “for the sheer pleasure of discussing books and exchanging our own ideas and opinions of the things of greatest interest that we read from time to time.” That was the recollection of Nora B. Miles who, along with friends Vera L. Smith and Lucille Reading, started what would become the Centerville Literature, Music and Art Club. Last month, the group of current members met to celebrate its nearly 84 years of existence. What a history the club has enjoyed. Long-time journalist Twila Van Leer, who serves as historian for the club, recounted a lot of its legacy. She said that in 1938, Centerville was “essentially a farming community. But the notion that every family needed at least one automobile was taking hold (and people) moving to the suburbs held an unprecedented promise of growth in Davis County. Conditions were prime for the birth of progressive ideas,” she said. So Smith, Reading and Miles felt there might be other women in the community who would like joining a literary club. As Reading later recalled, such gatherings would offer “a feast for the mind, instead of the body. Such things are even finer and more enjoyable when shared with others.” They visited with five other women, and on March 2, 1938, the club was essentially born. “I have great admiration and appreciation for the founding members of (the club),” said Dian Olsen, current club president. “They were women who loved books and derived great joy from meeting together to share what they learned and exchange ideas. This describes what we still are doing 83 years later.” Besides Olsen, other officers now are Pam White, vice president and president-elect; Judy Cella, secretary; Debbie Randall, treasurer; and Twila Van Leer, historian.

Olsen recalled that when she joined the club in 2000, one of the original members, Sylvia Tingey, was still an active member, and Olsen has also been acquainted with others of the early group. “They were amazing women and it is astounding that what they started is still going. I feel blessed to be a part of it,” Olsen said. The formal name of “Literature, Music and Art Club of Centerville” was adopted at a later meeting. The only requirement for membership was “an interest in the objectives of the organization.” Membership was capped at 24 so the group could be accommodated in a member’s home. Dues were set at $10 a year and for a time, a 10cent fine was imposed on those who turned up to meetings late. As general inflation took its toll, the dues increased, standing currently at $20 annually. Today, those dues cover the costs of a spring social event and a $25 donation to the Whitaker Museum in memoriam for deceased members. For a time, the Centerville group affiliated with the national Federation of Womens’ Clubs, but that involved additional fees and the association was dropped. Meetings have historically been on the second Tuesday of each month. What has kept the club thriving for more than 80 years? Van Leer said it’s the same interests that brought three women together in the 1930s – a love for the arts, literature, history and music. The list of topics that have claimed attention is long and varied. The members have focused on many elements of literature, from classic English and American poetry to folk and modern writing. A topic is chosen for a two-year period and each month (except for a summer and winter hiatus) one of the members is assigned to add something to the theme. Currently, the club is focused on women who have accomplished exceptional things or who have been instrumental in furthering the accomplishments of their husbands. Just a few of those whose life stories have been

Club officers are, from left, Dian Olsen, club president; Pam White, Vice President/president-elect; Twila Van Leer, historian; Debbie Randall, program coordinator; and Judy Cella, secretary.

presented are Queen Victoria, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marie Curie, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Golda Meier. Club members put great effort into research and presentation and present uniformly excellent programs, Olsen said. In the meeting held Oct. 13 at the home of Bonnie McCauley, the hostess shared insights from the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, whose husband, Charles Lindbergh, gained lasting fame in aeronautics history as the first pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean in one flight. That flight in 1927, did as much to promote the growth of air travel as any other event since the invention of the airplane. Anne Lindbergh’s contributions as a pilot in her own right, and as a writer and successful mother paralleled those of her husband. Over the years, many friendships have been forged among club members. A sense

of shared interests and sociability makes a special bond among them. “There are lots of hugs and laughter,” Olsen said. The club has always been integrally involved in the larger community and during World War II and other critical times in its history has made significant contributions to joint efforts. During the height of the war, the club auctioned a pair of nylon hose for $70! The ladies contributed to the national drive to restore Independence Hall in Philadelphia and donated shirts to the Utah State Hospital, among dozens of philanthropic efforts they supported. But the Centerville Club members have always held to the mandate made in the beginning. Keep things simple. The effort has been focused on feeding the finer sensibilities. l

District hopes pay increase will encourage more substitutes to apply By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—The Davis School District has had a large number of open positions, including substitute teachers. The district announced that it will increase pay to encourage individuals already on the list to apply for those jobs. Currently, the district has nearly 2,000 people in the substitute pool. When they don’t apply for open jobs it creates a shortage, said Anjel Hislop, District SubSystems Specialist. The district has never had a problem

Page 22 | December 2021

with recruitment of substitute teachers but the difficulty lately has been filling open positions. Usually the district has had about a 94 to 95 percent fill rate for substitute teachers. Since COVID the number has dropped to about 75 percent. The full day amount has been increased to $85 for non-degreed substitutes, $105 a day for degreed substitutes and $113 a day for certified or licensed substitutes. For degreed and licensed substitutes, the long-term daily pay in-

creases to $140 a day. Long-term substitutes include those who spend 20 consecutive days in a classroom. Applicants must have a high school diploma and be at least 20 years old. The increase puts the district near the top of the pay scale in comparison to neighboring districts, said Assistant Superintendent John Zurbuchen. It keeps the district competitive which helps to attract temporary employees. Substitutes are vital to the district

team, he said. The district hopes this increase will show how much substitutes are valued. “Substitute teachers, especially those who work consistently in the district are invaluable to student learning,” said Zurbuchen. “They provide continuity in both curriculum delivery as well as promoting our Davis Culture. When we get the best subs, we get the best learning.” l

Kaysville | Fruit Heights City Journal

Life

Laughter AND

PERI KINDER

I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus

he holidays have arrived. Snow is falling, candles are aglow, the smell of cinnamon wafts through the air, and somewhere in Utah a middle-aged woman is screaming at a Walmart cashier because the store is out of the candied cherries she puts in her fruit cake. Blame the supply chain, but it’s not just dried fruit running low; it’s patience, compassion and the ability to be a nice human being. If you’re on TikTok, along with videos of flying reindeer and holiday proposals, you’ll see flight attendants being punched, teachers yelling at students, customers throwing coffee at baristas and whales capsizing kayaks. Even whales have had enough. You’d think being isolated last year would make us happier to interact with fellow humans this holiday season, but it seems to be the opposite. Social distancing and isolation has taken our stress levels to nuclear proportions. We’re reacting like the Tasmanian Devil, whirling ourselves off a cartoon cliff. News programs broadcast warnings about packages stolen from porches and backseats, felons posing as Salvation Army bell-ringers and spiteful elves spying on children and reporting back to Santa. Poor Kris Kringle will deliver a lot of coal this year . . . well, not coal because it’s

destroying the planet. Maybe since wind power is a sustainable coal alternative, Santa can bring naughty people a stiff, gusty breeze. We’re living in a heightened state of fear, and fear is the opposite of what we should feel this time of year. This season of love and light and joy has been co-opted by those who would divide us. The farther apart we get, the less we are able to see each other. Here’s an idea. What if we put all talk of politics on hold for December? That would be one month of no talking heads and finger-pointing and dire social media memes. What if we vowed to share only positive stories and heartwarming videos, and ban all holiday music featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks?

Let’s use this time to digest more than nine pounds of mashed potatoes and three types of pie. Let’s digest how we’ve treated each other during the last year, and try to do better. Even I, a freakin’ humor columnist, have received more angry emails and phone calls in 2021 than the previous 17 years combined. Whether it’s Democrats, Republicans, Big Bird, mask mandates, cancel culture or fruitcake, our division is growing. Any day, I’m expecting leaflets to be flung out of helicopters explaining how the COVID vaccine is turning us into carnivorous, zombie dinosaurs. Aren’t you tired of it all? Remember when Christmas meant acts of service and goodwill to all mankind? What can you do to return to love this holiday season? Maybe less judgement and more connection. Maybe less yelling and more listening. Maybe it’s taking a plate of homemade cookies to a neighbor. Maybe it’s building a bridge instead of a wall. Maybe it's apologizing and swallowing our inflated egos. This holiday season, it’s your job to love your neighbor, even the one you don’t agree with. Even the ones yelling at the Walmart cashier. They might need the most love of all.

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