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Millcreek Journal | January 2022

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January 2022 | Vol. 04 Iss. 13

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REFUGEE WOMEN GAIN ACCESS TO SERVICE AND SUPPORT THROUGH LOCAL ORGANIZATION

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By Lindsey Baxter | l.baxter@mycityjournals.com

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an you imagine what life would be like if you were forcibly displaced from your home and country? Where would you get support? Who would you turn to? For many refugee women here in Utah, that answer is with WoW, or Women of the World. Their mission is to empower forcibly displaced women from all nations to achieve independence, economic success, and a voice in the community. WoW has been in Utah since 2010 and is currently located at 415 E. 3900 South in Millcreek. According to Samira Harnish, founder and executive director, WoW’s activities are broken down into three programs: • Customized Service and Advocacy. “Displacement from home and community is hard, most of our ladies do not even know who to turn to. Women of the World’s customized approach assures that our new neighbors have a fighting chance. We try to ensure that our ladies understand that insurance or other services are available to offset expense and the outcome of this program is to reduce our clients’ out-of-pocket expense,” Harnish said. • Community Building. “Women of the World strives to be the ‘third place’ (after home and work) for our women. Beyond being a safe space, we provide an environment in which women can learn English—the most essential skill in their integration into American society—by making mistakes and developing their English in those domains most important to their skills,” Harnish said. Continued page 13

Women of the World Annual Celebration of Success recognized women for their achievements. (Photo courtesy Heidi Baxter)

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Find joy in winter by embracing outdoor activities By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

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n just a few weeks, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, will emerge to predict when winter will end. For many people who hate the cold days, grey skies, and treacherous icy roads, they hope Phil does not see his shadow and predicts an early spring. When Herriman residents were polled about how they feel about winter, 25% replied that they absolutely hate winter and are already counting down the days until spring. The cold and darkness are some of the factors why winter months trigger the onset of seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a type of depression that is related to a change in seasons. Herriman’s Celeste Barrow Bruening said, “About mid-October I start to notice a drastic change in my attitude and outlook on life. I get an overwhelming feeling of dread just thinking about the cold. I hate everything about it. Not necessarily the snow, just the cold. The short dark days are a struggle and the grey, cloudy atmosphere is depressing.” According to Mental Health America, Bruening is not alone as SAD affects over 10 million Americans a year. If you experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, please consult a mental health provider. With the milder Utah winters in recent years, even winter haters admit that the snow is necessary for summer water levels. Herriman’s Katie Jo Stratton said, “I don’t love the snow like I did when I skied. But I want it to snow like it did in the ‘90s so we can have all the water we need in the lakes to play!” Although most Utahns recognize snow is necessary for our desert state, the darkness, the cold, and the dangerous driving conditions incite a teeth-chattering, snow-shoveling, white-knuckle-driving tolerance of the

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Amanda Brown revels in the snow with her son, 8-year-old Eli. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Brown.)

season. However, many Utahns absolutely love winter and all of the beauty and outdoor recreation it brings. The Brown family from South Jordan look forward to winter every year as they are avid skiers. Amanda Brown even works at Park City Mountain Resort every season for the sole purpose of providing ski lessons for her four children who range in age from six to 12. Brown said, “Winter can be long and dreary if you allow it to be. We wanted to instill a love of the season in our children at an early age by enrolling them in ski lessons since they were very young. Now we look forward to it every year as we can get outside as a family and enjoy something

active together.” Kaysville’s Margot Marrs Pauni said, “I absolutely hated winter and counted the days until it was over, and then I learned to ski. It made a huge difference in my attitude and mental well-being. Now I look forward to winter.” Pauni has been skiing for over 3 years. If gliding downhill at 20+ mph while dodging other people and trees is not your thing, there are a multitude of other winter activities to try to experience Utah’s famous “Greatest Snow on Earth.”. Exploring our spectacular mountains is extremely popular during the spring, summer and fall, but winter hiking is in a class of its own. A trail

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that you have hiked many times during other seasons will look completely different when it is covered with snow and provides a new experience. Creeks will have frozen sections with icicles adorning rocky edges. Waterfalls will be partially or completely frozen, giving you a breathtaking and magical view. Trails such as Ogden’s Waterfall Canyon and Layton’s Adam’s Canyon offer awesome winter adventures with picture perfect vistas that Jack Frost will be proud of. Herriman’s Rachel Dekker Moody said, “There is something magical about going for a ‘snow globe’ run early in the morning and hearing the crunch of snow under your feet and knowing you are the first footprints out for the day!” Though cycling is typically a warm weather sport, winter riding has become popular since fat bikes emerged on the market. While standard mountain bikes have tire widths anywhere between 1.6” and 2.6”, a fat bike’s tires are 3.7” to 5”, allowing the rider to cruise through on snow-packed trails with greater traction and better handling. Various local bike dealers rent fat bikes so you can give it a try. Visit www.cyclingutah. com for suggestions on the best fat biking trails. Sledding or inner tubing is another popular winter activity, and you don’t even have to go up into the mountains to enjoy it. Even a local park or neighborhood with a good slope can serve as a decent sledding hill. Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City and Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake have awesome hills that are free to sled and tube on. Or visit a designated sledding park such as Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway or Woodward in Park City. Avid fishermen don’t need to pack up their poles for the season as ice fishing is popular in Utah. Frozen lakes such as Straw-

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Shaylee Watkins and Cody Carter show off their ice fishing catches at Utah Lake. (Photo courtesy of Teal Anderson.)

berry Reservoir and even local ponds such as Farmington Pond and Bountiful Pond attract anglers of all ages once the ice is thick enough. The website Best Fishing in America said, “The season typically starts in mid to late December in Utah, depending on the weather. There are years when the hard water doesn’t set in until mid-January, while other years, it can happen in late November. A good rule of thumb is that 4 inches is thick enough for an average person, 5-6 inches is suitable for a snowmobile or 4-wheeler, and 8-12 inches will support a truck.” Ice anglers use an ice auger with a 6-8” bit to drill a hole in the ice large enough to pull caught fish through. In addition to the appropriate fishing equipment, other gear such as ice tents and tent heaters can be used for additional warmth and comfort. The Watkins family from Davis County look forward to ice fishing every winter. Kaysville’s Shaylee Watkins said, “I love ice fishing because it’s fun to sit and snack out in a heated tent on the ice and get nice and comfy and kick your boots off.” North Salt Lake’s Challis Watkins said, “Ice fishing is like fishing but way better.” It is important to be prepared before venturing outside during the winter months. Tolerating the cold is much easier with proper clothing and gear. Dressing in layers is a good practice because you will warm up as your activity level increases and you will be much more comfortable removing or adding layers as needed. REI’s website suggests three basic layers: “1) Base layer (underwear layer): wicks sweat off your skin, 2) Middle layer (insulating layer): retains body heat to protect you from the cold, and 3) Outer layer (shell layer): shields you from wind and rain. Even

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if you don’t wear all three layers at the outset, it’s a good idea to take all layers on every outing. You can peel off layers if things heat up, but you can’t put on layers that you didn’t bring along.” Other important gear includes warm head and ear coverings such as beanies and ear muffs, scarves, and waterproof gloves. Proper shoes such as waterproof boots that provide warmth and traction are a necessity. For additional traction, particularly on steep icy terrain, use crampons or microspikes, a mechanism that typically consists of spikes and chains that fit over your shoes and can be easily slipped off and on the trails as needed. Driving during the winter is a big reason why many people hate the season so preparing your vehicle for the cooler months is Adam’s Canyon in the winter can be magical. (Karmel Harper/City Journals) important. Tips for winterizing your vehicle include testing your battery and tire pressure as battery power and tire pressure drop when the air temperature drops, changing to winter tires, checking wiper blades and replacing if needed, and always keeping at least a half tank of gas. Tips for winter driving include driving slower, increasing your following distance, and accelerating and decelerating slowly. But if it is snowing heavily, the best practice is to stay home if you can and avoid unnecessary risks. Someone once said, “If you choose not to find joy in snow, you will have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow.” With proper gear, clothing, and other preparations to keep you warm along with an adventurous spirit to try something new, perhaps the multitude of winter activities Utah offers can coax your inner Elsa out as you declare, “The cold never bothered me anyway.” l

Sequoia loves winter and playing in the snow. (Photo courtesy of Bree Mooers)

January 2022 | Page 5


Utah Food Bank helps Millcreek residents through pandemic By Lindsey Baxter | l.baxter@mycityjournals.com

S

tarting in November 2019, the Utah Food Bank started a distribution center on Saturday mornings at a Millcreek church parking lot. Just a few months later the world would be struck by a global pandemic and hunger would hit communities even harder. The Utah Food Bank, established since 1904, has been there to help every step of the way through its network of resources, infrastructure, and management. The Utah Food Bank has a few different types of services to help fight hunger. In Millcreek, they offer a Mobile Pantry, with

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the available dates on their website at www. utahfoodbank.org. Utah Food Bank’s Mobile Pantries provide support to Utahns living in areas that are classified as food deserts or are inaccessible or underserved by traditional food pantries. Those needing food in Millcreek can visit their distribution location at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints parking lot on 3400 South and 1100 East most Saturday mornings from 11 a.m.-noon. This service is provided for anyone, but especially for those who are struggling and need assistance. All that is required

is name and zip code and after waiting in the car line so volunteers can safely distribute food, your trunk will be loaded with fresh foods for the week. Some people arrive as early as 9 a.m. to make sure they can get food because there is only a limited amount delivered each week to be distributed. Pepa Taufui, the volunteer lead for the pantry said, “The food comes from The Utah Food Bank, there’s cheese, chicken, butter, fish, just like going to the grocery store. They also get some canned food, fresh vegetables, and mangos this week. In the beginning we start with more food in each bag but as we see how many people are coming, we bring the numbers down. Today, we don’t have as much so each car is just getting the same amount.” Taufui knows there is a critical need for the community based on the increasing amount of people that come weekly. On Nov. 6, they ran out of food. He loves serving others and is grateful for the help and support of all the volunteers who come out rain or shine to dedicate time to those in need. Alice, a Millcreek resident, and volunteer of over a year and a half, comes out every Sat-

urday to help no matter what the weather is. “I just take my husband’s ice fishing boots that are thick and wear them in the winter, the rain, the snow, the sleet, OK, let’s go! It’s a lot of fun, it’s really rewarding, and I feel like we’re doing something for the community,” Alice said and added, “I love the people. There’s a lot of good people here, we all get along. We work as a team to get it done. Volunteers keep changing, they come, and they go, but it’s a great thing.” Ron Maier, another volunteer of two years, comes every Saturday morning to volunteer. Maier said, “It’s a lot of work, you come over and do a lot of work, sometimes it’s horrible weather conditions, on winter days and heat of summer, it can be aversive physically, but when it’s over, there’s a really good feeling like you’ve helped a lot of people. That’s what it’s all about for me, it’s about the people, and during the pandemic, it’s been really hard for people. There’s quite a few of us that as soon as we’re done here, we load up the food and take it to our neighbors.” If you would like to help donate time, food, or money, please visit www.utahfoodbank.org. l

Millcreek resident and volunteer shows off the giant carrots for distribution. (Lindsey Baxter/City Journals)

Millcreek City Journal


Kids get new bikes from FB4K

A

bicycle gives a child his or her first feeling of freedom. A bicycle is their first set of wheels. A bicycle is a means to explore their world, pedal to friends’ homes and to school and to enjoy just being a kid. "Every kid deserves a bike," Nick Ekdahl, the president of FB4K Utah, said. And with that in mind, folks from FB4K (Free Bikes for Kidz) spent Dec. 4 giving away 160 bicycles to eager young bicyclists. The event was a culmination of three months of collecting, repairing and organizing bikes. Giveaway day Working with agencies such as Promise South Salt Lake, Circles Salt Lake, and Hartland Community 4 Youth and Families, recipients' names were collected. They also collaborated with middle schools. However, they do not work directly with families. The young recipients and family members came to their current warehouse (2250 S. Main) to find their bike of choice. Dakota Pacific donated the warehouse. By 10 a.m. a line had formed, and the 30 FB4K volunteers worked quickly to accommodate each child. Finally, their name was checked on the list, and the child was given a name tag. The kids moved to the helmet line to receive a new bike helmet. Robert J. DeBry and Associates donated some helmets. However, most were purchased with donated funds. The kids headed to the show floor with their helmets in hand or on their heads. Volunteers welcomed each child as if they were buying a new car. First, the volunteer led the family to the area with the correct size of bikes. Then, just like a salesperson, volunteers suggested red ones or blue ones. Bikes with baskets. Bikes that roared like the Hulk. "We focus our attention on the kids. We want to treat them very special," Ekdahl said. Once the child selected their bike, they moved to the mechanic shop. Each bike was given a final check. Mechanics also explained how to use items like hand brakes and gears. A final step was to take the bike out for a spin around the parking lot. "It is pretty cool that people are willing to donate bikes for people who don't have one," Lyal Holder said. While sitting on his bike, his son yelled out, "I am going to ride this to school on Monday." "Bikes are important—the feeling of freedom. The feeling of air through your hair," Ek-

MillcreekJournal .com

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

Clockwise: A FB4K volunteer finds the right bike for a young bicyclist. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) A FB4K volunteer explains bike feature to the new owner, Seini. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) Volunteers help a child get fitted for a new bike helmet. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

dahl said. "For many of these kids, this is the first thing they own. It is their bike." FB4K FB4K is an affiliate of the national FB4K organization. The nonprofit start-

ed in Minneapolis and currently has 15 locations across the United States. Their goal is to give over a million bikes by 2025 and be in 110 locations. FB4K Utah collects bikes in September

and October and gives them away in December. Bikes can be donated directly to FB4K or at Guthrie Bicycle Company in the fall. They also want to scale up to provide more bikes and collect bikes year round. l

January 2022 | Page 7


The Skyline Eagles girls soccer team celebrates its state title at Rio Tinto Stadium after defeating Lehi 3-1 in the championship. (Photo courtesy Alex Baker)

Kids turned out in all sorts of costumes for the Millfreaks event. (Courtesy of Venture Out! Utah)

Children learn about instruments as part of The Mundi Project. (Photo courtesy of The Mundi Project)

Neighborhood kids smile with their stash of candy. The Millcreek neighborhood continues traditions created in the COVID year with a fun twist on an Easter egg hunt. (Lindsey Baxter/City Journals)

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If you didn’t know, Skyline High has a mountain biking team. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

The Skyline boys soccer team advanced to the 5A state championship game after defeating Brighton 3-1 in the semifinal match on May 25. (Justin Adams/City Journals)

Tina Njike was on a tear last season averaging a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds per game. Njike even had a four game stretch where she averaged 12 blocks per game and had three triple doubles that included blocks. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Millcreek City Journal


Skyline’s Hailey Louder unleashes a pitch against Cottonwood last spring. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

The Skyline High School ballroom team performs at halftime of a basketball game. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

WGU President Scott Pulsipher (left) and Senior VP of Public Policy and Public Affairs Wesley Smith (right) pictured at the signing of HB 328, a bill which provides funds to older students finishing degrees. (Kristen Kerr with Exoro Public Relations)

MillcreekJournal .com

Millcreek’s best photos of 2021

Whether in the classroom, at home or at activities like a Skyline baseball game, Granite School District students and staff learned a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic that will influence education for years to come. (Granite School District)

January 2022 | Page 9


Thefts make up bulk of Millcreek Unified Police Department’s calls in October By Bridget Raymundo | b.raymundo@mycityjournals.com

T

he Millcreek Unified Police Department released a compiled report at the Millcreek City Council meeting in November. The report details activity from October 2021—a sum of 3,023 calls for service were made and a total of 932 cases were issued. Additionally, 417 citations and 54 arrests were made in the same period of time. The highest number of cases were due to larceny at 100 to count with family offenses as a runner-up at 71 cases. Assault and stolen vehicles were both listed at 44. On the report were 19 counts for drug offenses and 16 counts of burglary. Furthermore, the information includes no homicides, four robberies, and seven sex offense cases. Altogether, the most pressing problems dealt with by Millcreek law enforcement is theft. As for traffic enforcement on 3300 S. Highland Dr., a total of 19:58 man-hours were accumulated which accounted for 141 stops, 117 warnings, 79 speedings, 27 registration offenses, 24 citations, four stop sign incidents, and two DL violations and crosswalk cases. In a sample of 140 officer action responses, 16.4% comprised citations while the other 83.6% were issued warnings. Given the combined tally of offenses from 140 responses, speeding accounts for the majority at 56.4% while registration offenses (18.6%) was a second major contributor. For a look into one month on Highland Drive, the statistics prove the street to be highly prone to stops for mainly speeding leading to a warning and, less likely, a citation.

Cleaning up property

The Unified Police in Millcreek and the Salt Lake County Health Department have collaborated to produce the Transient Encampment Abatement program. The program’s

goal is to clean up campsites. Thus far, the properties which have been affected by this program’s establishment in the month of the report were: 1526 E. Millbrook Way — 1,920 pounds of waste Ivory Homes Millstone at Millcreek Way — 2,260 pounds of waste Big Cottonwood Regional Park, 1592 E. Murray-Holladay Road — 920 pounds of waste All of the properties disposed of items amount to 5,100 pounds which have been transported to the landfill. Compare the most recent data to the 2,000 pounds of waste removed by police in April, and the unwanted debris is seemingly growing. During this time, the TEA program also covered multiple large campsites at 1010 East Van Winkle Expressway. In addition to the regular job items police are expected to carry, the Millcreek Community Oriented Policing Unit participated in the Red Ribbon Week hosted at Upper Terrace Elementary School alongside the School Resource Officers. The aim of Red Ribbon Week is to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse in memory of fallen Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Enrique Camerena. Officers and students were able to discuss preventative measures together and watch police vehicles. Open dialogue is encouraging for the future of peace officers and the community at Millcreek and beyond. It is also worth noting the Millcreek Community Oriented Policing Unit, the Unified Fire Authority and IHC united together to bring Millcreek Elementary’s Trunk of Treat. The event was an opportunity for the public to enjoy Halloween

Are you looking at me?

Millcreek Unified Police Department front. (Photo courtesy Samantha H.)

festivities with a number of role models. The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake offer unique services listed on their website www.updsl.org underneath the “Services” tab. Some services listed online include graffiti removal, prescription drug drop box, project SafeCam, gang tattoo removal, project safeguard for the protection of people with autism, and more. l

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Utah organization celebrates 10 years of empowering local women

By Hannah LaFond | h.lafond@mycityjournals.com

G

uests gathered at Venue 6SIX9 in downtown Salt Lake City in November for a black-tie gala to honor nine outstanding women. Those celebrated women were the 2021 graduates from WoWUtah. “WoW” stands for “Women of Worth,” and the Utah-based nonprofit works to help women who have overcome difficult circumstances such as addiction, abuse or disease. The women selected for the program go through a year of workshops and training to help them gain self-worth and give them the tools they need for a fresh start. Each of the women is paired with a mentor, a volunteer who is there to help through the entire journey. Along with teaching them valuable life skills, each participant is given a makeover. According to WoWUtah’s Facebook page, they are gifted a collection of business attire and casual clothing selected by a team of stylists. “So she can feel confident and beautiful in her personal and professional life.” They also give each graduate formal wear and shoes for the gala event. While the program usually spans a year, the graduates at Friday’s event had been with WoWUtah for two years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, workshops and

classes that usually would have taken place in person switched to online. As a result, WoWUtah decided to keep the same participants for another year so they could better experience WoWUtah gala venue. the program. Gala at- (Courtesy of WoWUtah) tendees enjoyed watching videos made by the 2021 graduates to highlight their achievements. Following their video, each graduate walked across the stage, just like in a classic school graduation. Then they were invited to say a few words about their experience, all of them finishing with the proclamation of “I am a woman of worth.” Barbara Moeller, who graduated from the program in 2012, now sits on WoW’s Chair of Mentees. Speaking about her experience, she said, “WoW helped me to find out how amazing it is to be myself. I had gotten lost under the pressures and circumstances in life. The program gave

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Page 12 | January 2022

Members of WoWUtah’s board with founder Judee Guay and husband, Lewie Guay, at the center. (Courtesy of WoWUtah)

me the tools to defend myself against challenges that eroded my self-worth. The magic is being paired with a mentor for a journey of self-discovery. I not only found my worth again but learned to be responsible and accountable for how I comport myself.” Along with honoring the 2021 graduates, the gala also celebrated the 10 years WoWUtah has been in operation. Judee Guay, who founded WoW and now works alongside COO Marie Jess to keep it running, spoke about the organization’s beginnings. She started WoW after she got a second chance at life. Guay recalled her years spent in an abusive marriage and how hopeless she’d felt. Hopelessness, only made worse by autoimmune diseases she was suffering from at the time. But, slowly, she was able to put the pieces back together. She left the abusive marriage, lost 100 pounds, and started to heal. Going through such a life-changing experience made Guay want to help other women overcome their struggles. So, she started WoWUtah in 2011. Though she had a vision, Guay said their first gala was nothing like the event that evening. “If anybody had told me that 10 years later this would be here, I wouldn’t have believed them,” she said, looking out at the crowd. The guests were also invited to participate in a silent auction to raise money for WoW’s continuation. The auction included prizes such as theater tickets, gift baskets, romantic getaways and several cakes. The evening presenter and a member of WoW’s advisory board, Ty Bennett, joked that

he’d won several cakes that his children had bid on for him. Speaking of how WoWUtah has operated and will continue to operate on donations, Guay said, “[WoW] has been supported by volunteers, including the directors, executive board and advisory board. No one has received remuneration, and it will stay that way with all donations going toward the women being served now and in the future.” After presenting the graduates, Guay and Jess took turns presenting awards to those who’d helped WoWUtah throughout its 10 years. One of the award recipients included Chad Hymas, a highly respected international speaker who is also on WoW’s advisory board. Hymas was given the Inspiration Award. Sheri Thompson, who’d come all the way from Arizona for the event, was given the Soul Sister Award. Guay told The City Journals, “Sheri's incredible connection with her WoW sisters and the mentees is why she is so deserving of this award.” They also surprised Bennett, the presenter, with the Legacy Award, for being with WoW from the beginning. Guay finished by surprising her COO Jess, and her husband, Lewie Guay, with the Founder’s Awards. After the awards, they finished the evening by inviting the women of WoW to perform a special musical number. They stood on the stage to sing “Breaking Free; Becoming My Best Me,” WoW’s official theme song, written by Nina Angela Lee, the president of Wow’s Executive Board. WoWUtah will be helping another group of women in 2022. l

Millcreek City Journal


Continued from front page • Economic Empowerment. “Finally, displaced women have unique skills and value propositions to share within American society. WoW works closely with xgetting promoted into careers, and educating themselves and their children,” Harnish said. On the afternoon of Dec. 4, over 150 people attended “The Annual Celebration of Women’s Success” held by WoW. “With the exception of 2020 for the pandemic, we have handed our certificates of appreciation each of our 12 years,” Harnish said. “This event recognizes the milestones of self-reliance achieved by our clients through intelligence, hard work, and perseverance. Everything meaningful to our women’s custom view of self-reliance, from learning to drive to getting a Ph.D. is recognized.” Pictures of the event were taken and shared by Heidi Baxter and can be viewed at photos.app.goo.gl/PF4y5XuVGgTrJnSQ8. “Attending the ceremony for Women of the World at the county building has been exhilarating,” said participant Dauphanie Daniels. “Seeing women from so many corners of the world celebrate, honor and respect each other’s successes and share their love made me realize having a world that works for everyone is within reach if we all just do the same. My favorite aspect of the ceremony was watching women perform dances to music from their part of the world. Some participants wore gorgeous clothing native to their countries which added to the specialness of the event. A deep felt thank you to all in the community that helped to make this happen.” The impact that WoW has made on the community and for the women it helps is noteworthy. According to Harnish, in 2021, WoW has: • Helped in 700 different service and advocacy cases, resulting in $159,000 of expense savings (like healthcare and housing). • Secured new employment for 30 women, resulting in $853,000 in annual earnings growth available to their fami-

MillcreekJournal .com

Women of the World Annual Celebration of Success recognized women for their achievements. (Photo courtesy Heidi Baxter)

ly’s budgets. • Even with the ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of the pandemic and maintain social distance, WoW conducted over 150 hours of training both virtually and in-person, mostly English Language Learning courses for all levels of language learners. • For every $1 invested in WoW, they produce a $2.81 return through job assistance and expense reduction in women’s lives.

Women of the World Annual Celebration of Success recognized women for their achievements, including Leila Abdul seen here. (Photo courtesy Heidi Baxter)

The next event hosted by WoW is their Annual Fashion Show and Cultural Gala on March 9. Harnish said it is their largest fundraiser. “Our event is designed to help connect our cultures and provide you with an excellent opportunity to meet many of your amazing neighbors,” she said. “The fashion show gives women that are connected to Women of the World a chance to show off the parts of their homeland they love and teach you about their beautiful cultures. You will also be able to meet and interact with

these women, hear their stories firsthand, and share yours with them. These personal exchanges increase understanding and will empower you to help others overcome their misplaced fear of our amazing neighbors.” Tickets are available at: www.womenofworld.org/events-1/2022FashionShowTickets. If you want to get involved, support, or donate to WoW, visit www. womenofworld.org. l

January 2022 | Page 13


A ‘treasure to our community’ helps feed the hungry each Saturday By Lindsey Baxter | l.baxter@mycityjournals.com

I

Millcreek Community Champion, Pepa Taufui, front left, and his team of volunteers at the end of a Saturday morning donation shift. (Lindsey Baxter/City Journals)

f you go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints parking lot on 3400 South and 1100 East in Millcreek any Saturday morning and ask about a man named Pepa, you are sure to be greeted with a huge grin (even under the masks). A Millcreek resident of 34 years, Pepa Taufui, started volunteering his time every Saturday morning, even before the pandemic started, to help families who are struggling to provide food for their families. Dwight Marchant nominated Taufui for the Millcreek Community Champion over the summer for the work and effort that Taufui has dedicated to the community over the years. In the nomination, Marchant states, “Pepa Taufui spearheads the Saturday morning food distribution for the food bank. The event takes place at the church building located at 3400 S. 1100 East each Saturday. Dozens of volunteers have been recruited by Pepa and he coordinates the effort with the food bank. It is a big job to get it set up, organize and distribute the food to hundreds of folks in need. Pepa has also organized annually, a Thanksgiving dinner for citizens at the Midvale homeless shelter at a nice restaurant including entertainment. Pepa has donated his time and effort for many years

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without asking for recognition. He is a local hero and a treasure to our community.” On one November Saturday morning, over 20 volunteers filled the parking lot, each with a smile and nice comment to say about Taufui. Volunteers said Taufui is the heart and soul of each Saturday morning and it’s a delight to know and serve with him. Just as Marchant described through email, “Taufui isn’t looking for notoriety, so it doesn’t surprise me that he plays hard to find. ” In November Taufui celebrated his two-year anniversary of this volunteerism and when this program began. Taufui did not want just his picture taken by himself as he said he can’t do this work without the help of the volunteers. Taufui even shared how the Mayor comes out to help distribute food often. Taufui wanted to make sure that there was a special thanks given to: City of Millcreek, Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and all Millcreek City Council Members, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Grant Stake/President Douglas Sampson, weekly volunteers, his wife Meridian and Utah Food Bank President and CEO Ginette Bolt and staff. If you know someone you would like to nominate for a Millcreek Community Champion, let us know at mycityjournals. com. l Millcreek community champion, Pepa Taufui, and his wife. (Photo courtesy Pepa Taufui)

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January 2022 | Page 15


Help wanted: Officials for youth sports By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

Hockey officials like DeOrr Wight stand right in the line of fire, coaches and players have direct access to them throughout the game. (Greg James/City Journals)

he number of high school referees and sports officials is declining rapidly across the country. Until recently, Utah had not experienced much of a decline, but this season it has finally hit home. Why is this happening and what can be done to make sure athletes don’t miss games because of it? “If high school is in session I am doing a sport,” Harley Gold said. “I have officiated since 1967. I started because I was invited to a little league umpires clinic then and I became an umpire. I enjoy all of the sports and picking a favorite is like picking my favorite child.” Gold is not alone, many of the officials started young and have continued for years. Former USA Hockey Supervisor of Officials Jim Mckenna started officiating youth and adult recreation hockey games in 1994. He continues working collegiate and junior league games as well as games in the ECHL. “I was looking for a way to earn some extra money back then,” Mckenna said. “I dealt with the assignment of officials and contracts with leagues and organizations and helped with training. It was a lot of work, but it was fun.”

Both of these longtime arbiters enjoy what they do. “I like being around the game and with the kids,” Gold said. According to an Ohio University study many states are reporting a decrease in officials. Oregon alone saw a 12% drop in registered football referees this fall. The shortage has finally hit Utah. Two weeks before the boys basketball season began the Utah High School Activities Association had 450 people registered for the job, nearly 250 less than what they need to complete the season. In northern California they have seen a decrease of nearly 30%. Utah has also increased the number of schools therefore increasing the number of games. Making this a two-headed problem for officials. The lack of officials has forced postponement and cancellation of many sub-varsity games in the state. Some schools are moving games to make it easier to find people to help. “Every year in the last five or six years we have seen a decline in the number of officials,” McKenna said. “The abuse from parents and players contributes. The younger officials wonder why they would

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Millcreek City Journal


want to go and get yelled at for two hours.” Sportsmanship, specifically the lack thereof, has become a key factor in the decline of officials. Sportsmanship refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control and courage. In today’s sporting culture those virtues can take a back seat to winning at all costs. “We have really lost the sense of what is appropriate. It seems OK to scream at some official and tell them how crappy they are. Society is a lot less accepting and willing to come to an understanding,” McKenna said. In a National Association of Sporting Officials survey, adult recreation and youth competitive sports had the worst sportsmanship and 47% of officials surveyed feared for their safety because of a fan, player, coach or administrator. According to UHSAA assistant director Jeff Cluff, poor sportsmanship is “probably the No. 1 reason an official does not return. We lose about 75% of first-year officials. It is hard if you don't have the personality to handle it. There is no place for bad sportsmanship.” In early November, at a 13-14-yearold division hockey tournament in Colorado, Ron Groothedde, a 25-year veteran referee, was sprayed in the face with a large can of Lysol by an angry parent. The suspect was arrested for harassment. Incidents of poor sportsmanship are

numerous. “I think it takes communication. I see a lot of officials that get yelled at and they yell right back and all that does is fuel the fire. Talking to a coach and explaining what you saw in a conversation and come to an agreement,” McKenna said. “Some of the younger officials are intimidated by the coaches.” The extra money of a part-time job like officiating was a big draw to begin with, but many potential officials have found other jobs that also pay well. In March of 2020, when the pandemic started many games and competitions were canceled. For six to eight months officials sat at home. Many have not returned, citing COVID concerns and also a lack of interest. “We have tried a few different things,” United States Specialty Sports Association’s Utah Director Jerry Ong said. “We work hard on having good compensation, umpire treatment and fan control. I know as an industry we have suffered with the loss of referees.” The UHSAA pay scale for officials varies by sport and level. A varsity football referee can take home $74 whereas a volleyball official makes $59. Some schools offer dinner and food stipends to help with travel expenses. The current pay rates have increased nearly 10% across the board. Some offi-

cials can get paid mileage to travel to an event. “Basketball and softball have been affected the most,” Cluff said. “We have games in rural areas that need to have officials. We are paying more to get guys to travel to those places. We are looking for ways to recruit new help.” The athletes and coaches of today are the officials of tomorrow. Cluff said getting them involved when they are young could help increase numbers. “Our coaches make the best officials,” Cluff said. “A basketball coach can be a great baseball umpire or football referee. They have great relationships with kids and know how to work positively with them. It also gives kids a better understanding of the game.” The UHSAA encourages its athletes to participate in little leagues and youth sports programs. Its older referees also attempt to persuade friends to join the organization. “You can never find a more fulfilling part-time job,” Gold said. “I get to set my own hours, work when I want to work. There is also plenty of help available. Training every year and other mentors to keep you straight.” According to a recent NASO survey, 48% of all current officials started because of an invitation from a friend. There are also numerous other rea-

sons why many people get involved. They include extra money, the love of sports, a way to stay active, and giving back to a game they love. “I get to work the ECHL games and there are times that I think ‘why do I still do this.’ I just got berated for the entire game, but there are times when the action is intense and the game is back and forth. It is awesome to be involved in a game that is back and forth and the guys are playing well,” McKenna said. “I have also worked with other officials that have gone on and had great careers in the NHL.” The hard work of officials does not go unnoticed. “I definitely think officials have the hardest job to do. No matter what they do it will upset one side or the other,” West Jordan boys basketball head coach Christian Wouden said. “We have some great officials and they work extremely hard.” In 2021, Tammy Spencer and Lance Nielsen were awarded officials of the year by UHSAA. Many leagues offer training for new officials. The UHSAA has set up official associations and they provide constant training and are always looking for new hires to try it out. l

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Eagles off to flying start Photos by Travis Barton

Yorgio Golesis leads the Eagles in points (19) and assists (three) so far this season as Skyline got off to a 4-0 start (at press deadline).

Senior Andrew Rasmussen shares a laugh with the Hunter players while at the foul line.

Peter Broadbent high-fives a teammate after draining a three against Hunter in December. The Eagles would win the game 77-55, pulling away in the second quarter before a monstrous third quarter put the game to bed.

Kolton Smith celebrates with the bench after draining one of his 10 three-pointers in the game. Smith’s 30-point outburst led the Eagles to a dominating 77-55 win over Hunter.

Page 18 | January 2022

Millcreek City Journal


The Millcr Millcreek Rotary Club: 2020 UTAH CLUB OF THE YEAR

Skyline rebounds with winning streak By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com Abbie Leonard, seen here in a game last season against Highland, is one of multiple returners for the Skyline High girls basketball team this season. Leonard, along with Tina Nijike, Erica Clark and Lauren Johnson are among the key contributors back this year. The team also features two newcomers in freshmen Ayla Williams and Leelu Bare who lead the team in points and assists, respectively. After two season opening losses to Riverton and Bountiful, the Eagles rebounded to win the next four over Viewmont (62-56), RSL Academy (55-46), Orem (52-34) and West (58-33) to be 4-2 at press time. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

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Auto pedestrian accidents at Olympus high raise concerns about jaywalking culture By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

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uto-pedestrian accidents near Olympus High School this autumn have prompted city leaders and school administrators to consider new measures to improve safety around the high school, whose 5A student body produce high levels of foot traffic on some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. One of the accidents involved students who were hit by a motor vehicle while crossing the street at 3900 S. and 2300 East when returning to school from an off-campus break. The students sustained no major injuries. Two weeks later, another auto pedestrian accident occurred less than a block south on 2300 East when students darted into the road without the use of a crosswalk, causing the driver of a vehicle to swerve and collide with the driver of another car. No injuries were reported from the event. The accidents have put pressure on leaders to allay community worry and improve safety for the 1,585 students who attend the school along with community members who traffic its surrounding roads. Holladay Precinct Chief Justin Hoyal will meet with school principal Jennifer Christensen and city council delegate Sabrina Petersen this month to discuss potential changes to parking policy and the possibility of additional infrastructure to improve safety. The discussions will be guided by the results of a November monitoring effort by UPD officers, who observed pedestrian activity around the high school at peak hours on various dates. Officers identified several risk factors and targets for improvement, Chief Hoyal explained to the Holladay Journal. Hoyal believes safety may be improved by infrastructure enhancements, including additional lighting to increase visibility; the installation of a pedestrian safety island on 2300 East; and new crosswalk paint to augment light reflectivity. Albeit the most significant factor of auto-pedestrian risk cannot be addressed by new infrastructure, according to Hoyal, who witnessed numerous students jaywalking between the school and a church used for parking on the west side of 2300 E. “The biggest concern we saw was kids crossing from the church parking lot, running right out into traffic.” The practice is so engrained that even police officer admonitions did little to influence the students. “There were times when our traffic officers asked students to use the crosswalk,

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but they kept on trucking across the street and didn’t listen to them,” Hoyal said. Students are occasionally slapped with jaywalking tickets, but Hoyal’s team is focusing on “positive reinforcement” measures, like handing out pens and pencils to students using the crosswalk, which they did on different days in November. Nonetheless, the practice continues, according to those familiar with the issue, suggesting pens and pencils may not suffice to rewrite the long-standing habit. Olympus High principal Jennifer Christensen plans to tackle the issue with education. “I think the biggest part of this is education. We need to reinforce crosswalks in a positive way. For some students maybe it feels like [using the crosswalk] is a long way away and a big hassle when your late from class. But it really is not,” said Christensen. “The thing that’s hard with jaywalking is that there is not a school policy consequence,” leaving the only deterrent force to the school officer who has the authority to issue citations, she explained. Besides asking faculty to regularly remind students to use the crosswalks, Christensen’s administration has not yet come up with a concerted strategy for overturning the student body’s jaywalking habits. If push comes to shove, however, both Christensen and Hoyal say that the additional church parking space will have to be revoked. “That parking could go away if they don’t start using the crosswalk,” Hoyal said. Eliminating the church parking lot, which is utilized often by sophomores who are not allowed to purchase parking permits on campus, would create additional issues as cars may stretch further into the adjacent neighborhoods, lining community streets and adding greater distances for students to travel from car to class. “It’s especially tough at a school like Olympus where almost every student has their own car,” explained assistant principal Ryan Shaw, whose been with the school for six years. Chief Hoyal reiterated that whatever leaders decide to do, the reason is safety. “We don’t want to punish anybody or make things harder for students. But we’re worried that someone might get hurt, or even killed,” Hoyal said. l

January 2022 | Page 21


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maybe the sequel to Dune. Once the dust was hauled away and the walls were beautifully painted, we turned our attention to the floors. Our carpet crossed the prairie in the back of a handcart, survived nuclear testing in Southern Utah and was definitely sprouting tentacles. Time to toss it before it murdered us in our sleep. Then came the discussion of wood versus carpet. My husband is old school and likes soft carpeting, probably so he doesn’t break a hip if he falls. I like the clean line of wood. We compromised with me getting wood flooring in my office, and carpet everywhere else; except the bathroom. We’re not animals. When it came time to move furniture out of the house, I threw things away willy-nilly.

I took bags of clothes and shoes and children to Goodwill. My husband followed behind me, taking things out of donation bags and hiding them. He has sentimental attachments to items like water bottles and lanyards and the blouse I wore when we saw the Blue Man Group in 2008. Finally, the walls were painted, flooring was complete, furniture was moved back and everything was right with the world. But our dog was hyperventilating. Before renovation (BR), she’d nap under the guest bed, which is now in another home. She wandered the halls, forlorn and lost, carrying her bone from room to room, trying to navigate her apocalyptic new world. Not only that, but the wood floor distressed her and she refused to walk on it. She slept on the couch until midnight. Then I heard her toenails clicking as she walked across the floor and threw herself onto her bed, sighing loudly, so we’d know she’d been inconvenienced. For a while, we played The Floor is Lava to keep the carpet looking bright and new. But walls get scratched and carpet gets stained because life is a messy, dirty, grimy experiment where sometimes you don’t know if the stain on the carpet is blood or pudding, and your dog needs therapy, and your husband unpacks the donation bags. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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DECKS & HANDRAILS

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VEHICLES WANTED

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CONCRETE

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visit www.KineticoUtah.com or call 801-890-5344

January 2022 | Page 23


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Millcreek Journal | January 2022 by The City Journals - Issuu