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June 2022 | Vol. 8 Iss. 06

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TAX INCREASE PROPOSED AS CITY COMBATS INFLATION, PERSONNEL RETENTION By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

ity budgets run on fiscal years, meaning they don’t follow the January–December calendar. The budget in West Jordan begins July 1 and ends Jun 30 the next year. The city council must approve a budget by the end of June (or a tentative one if there is a tax-rate change proposal). The mayor is responsible for making the budget with city staff during the spring. The council reviews it, suggests changes, then approves or denies it. In May, West Jordan Finance Director Danyce Steck presented the tentative budget to the council. One of the biggest expenses this coming year is a costof-living adjustment. “[There will be a] 6% cost of living adjustment, citywide,” Steck said. “Other cities are doing 8% or 9%.” Many city employees have been significantly underpaid the average wage for their field in Utah, especially in public works and police. There are some new positions in public works to support the expanding city, and wage increases for police officers. The increase in officer pay is state and nationwide. “The total cost to implement [the compensation increase] is $887,437,” Steck said. “The majority of that will go to police, and public works.” Other factors pushing for higher numbers on the budget include inflation and increased service demands. “We are bringing on a brand-new park, Maple Hills City Finance Director Danyce Steck discusses the proposed budget with the City Council. (Erin Dixon/City Journals)) Continued page 27

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CHHS outstanding graduate: The total package By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

than Hepworth, outstanding graduate of Copper Hills High School, is the kind of student that inspires both students and teachers. “Ethan is the most impressive student I have had the awesome privilege of working with —and not just because of his academic prowess—but because Ethan is the whole package,” U.S. history teacher Andrea Hinojosa said. “He is a hard worker, a talented writer, a strong conversationalist, an informed and impassioned citizen, a good friend, a compassionate leader, a grateful student, and an all-around nice human being. I can’t wait for the day that I’ll be able to say ‘I knew him when…’ because Ethan is going places!” Ethan’s intelligence is undeniable but it is how he uses his knowledge that impresses his teachers most. Humanities teacher McKenzie Catten said that while many smart kids like to show off, as the smartest in the room, Ethan “elevates everyone’s level of awareness and knowledge.” “He challenges those around him to think at higher levels and he does it without an air of superiority but with a humility that makes him so approachable,” Catten said. Catten said that Ethan’s enthusiasm for learning inspires her to be a better teacher. His “insatiable desire to continue to learn” helped her to persevere through the challenge of teaching virtually in the spring of 2020. “Few students showed up for my Zoom classes and most kept their cameras off, but I always saw Ethan’s face, he was always taking notes and engaging with me, which helped keep me going,” she said. Language arts teacher Jeremie James has also been inspired by Ethan, whom he calls a “dream student.” “A student like Ethan is rare,” he said. “He is thoughtful and considerate. He is articulate and reasonable. He is knowledgeable and curious. He is comprised of many of the characteristics that I aspire to.” James regularly uses Ethan’s work as writing examples for his advanced classes. Catten said Ethan’s intelligence and writing skills were apparent in the first essay he wrote as a sophomore in her AP European history class. “I realized he was not just any student, he was extraordinary,” she said. “I am now 16 years into my teaching career and I can think of less than a handful of students with Ethan’s abilities.” Ethan is academically impressive: a National Mer-

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it Scholar, CHHS Mathematics Sterling Scholar, and AP Scholar with distinction. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, German Club and Hiking Club (which he co-founded), and participated in the Madrigals performance choir and the annual school musical. His parents, Donald and Cynthia Hepworth, have been impressed with Ethan’s ability to maintain a balanced schedule. “Ethan is just really dedicated to anything that he does,” said his mother. “He just really is committed to following through and he doesn’t require any follow up on our part.” Ethan said he has learned the value of working hard. “Even when it seems rewardless, if you keep pushing and doing your best to be a good person and a good student, then the opportunities will come, even if they’re unexpected, but they will come and you’ll be rewarded if you put in the work,” he said. Teachers are impressed with Ethan’s willingness to help others. Hinojosa said Ethan is self-assured and approachable so that his peers gravitate to him. That is why she asked him to be a peer tutor in the school’s Writing Center and Learning Lab for the past two years. “In addition to being a very confident and capable writer, Ethan has incredible knowledge in a variety of subject areas,” Hinojosa said. “These attributes, combined with his positive and approachable personality, make him an extremely valuable member of the peer tutor team. In this role, Ethan is responsible, dependable, patient, and kind.” Ethan enjoys helping others with their studies. “I try to always be an inclusive person who, if people are struggling in class or they have a question, they always feel like they can come talk to me,” Ethan said. His passion for helping others is a factor in his future plans. Ethan, who recently won the Westminster College Civility in Public Life Essay Contest, will be studying political science. “I hope to eventually enter the world of government and politics because I feel like, since the government is the one thing in everybody’s life, that affects everyone in the world, it’s the one place where widespread change can be affected and affected quickly,” he said. l

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Ethan Hepworth, on a trip to tour colleges which offered him scholarships. (Photo courtesy of Ethan Hepworth.)

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American Red Cross spearheading effort to ‘sound the alarm’ for fire safety By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

he Sound the Alarm Effort is about home fire safety. This effort is sponsored by the American Red Cross. “Sound The Alarm Campaign has been around since 2014, and in that time, the Red Cross has installed more than 2.2 million free smoke alarms nationwide and prepared more than 2.5 million people for home fires,” said Edgar Zuniga l, regional communications manager, American Red Cross Utah & Nevada Region.

Home fires claim seven lives every day, but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. The American Red Cross is preparing families to act quickly through their Home Fire Campaign with community partners. Its goal is to prevent fire-related deaths and injuries in the U.S. by installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and helping to make 1 million households safer in at-risk communities. “Home fires are the nation’s common-

place disaster. Each day, seven people die in a home fire in this country,” said Jeremiah Lafranca, executive director of the Greater Salt Lake Chapter of the American Red Cross “That’s why we’re installing smoke alarms and providing safety education: to save lives. We install up to three free smoke alarms and provide fire safety education so that families can create a two-minute escape plan. With a working smoke alarm and a fire escape plan, families double their chances of surviving a home fire.” The efforts are not just taking place in West Jordan. “We’ll be installing more than 200 alarms in West Jordan this Saturday and more than 200 alarms in Rose Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 21. Lafranca said. “This is a yearlong Program, and our volunteers install alarms around the state. Help us save lives by signing up at soundthealarm.org/utah.” On Average, seven people die every day from a home fire, most impacting children and the elderly More than 30 people suffer injuries from home fires every day. More than $7 billion in property damage occurs from home fires every year. Corporate and organizational members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving

Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder Program pledge strong contributions powering the American Red Cross with trained volunteers, technology and critical resources necessary to provide relief and support for those affected by a disaster. The support the survivors will get from ADGP and Responder Program will help them recover and help families and communities be more prepared in the event of a disaster. You can learn how to make your home safe. The Red Cross and Its partners are offering virtual education sessions on Home Fire Safety for residents of the Nevada and Utah from the comfort of your home. You can go to the website redcross.org and find out how to get involved. This spring you can join the national movement and pledge to keep your family safe by taking just two simple steps. First, practice your two-minute fire escape drill. Second, test your smoke alarms monthly. You can volunteer, join the fitness challenge and donate to support Home Fire Relief and help save lives. Find out more information at redcross.org Go to soundthealarm.org/utah to sign up for the Sound the Alarm effort.l

Red Cross Rep. speaking with someone. (Courtesy American Red Cross)

Red Cross Rep. and other man outside Courtesy American Red Cross

WestJordanJournal .com

Man Installing the Alarm. (Courtesy American Red Cross)

June 2022 | Page 5

West Jordan residents are among those who have utilized South Valley Services. (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

Lindsey Boyer is the Executive Director South Valley Services (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

South Valley Services is here to help with domestic violence and safe shelter By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

outh Valley Service in West Jordan is a 501(c) (3) organization providing survivors and shelter of domestic violence. South Valley Services has been serving the community since 1998 and started out as a grassroots effort. A group of professionals, community leaders and residents recognized there was a large need in the community. They recognized that survivors of domestic violence were having difficulty finding safety and accessible services to help them. They decided that a domestic violence shelter was of great importance for the safety of their community. On Feb. 10,1998, South Valley Services opened a safe shelter, referral services and programs for survivors of domestic violence. South Valley Services operates under a coordinated community that includes supportive services and shelter. The vision of South Valley Services is to end family violence, one survivor at a time. South Valley Services stands out as a leader in the community, and its core values are social justice, dignity, acceptance, determination and empowerment for everyone. The SVS mission statement is: “South Valley Services mission is to provide safe

shelter, advocacy, case management,and prevention services to men, women and children experiencing psychological, physical, emotional economic or sexual abuse at home. We aim to empower individuals and communities through education to recognize their self-worth and to develop the necessary skills to reach their greatest potential contributing to the collective well-being of our community.” South Valley Services provides supportive services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services include English and Spanish Translation available 24 hours a day. Services also include shelter, classes, children’s learning center, clinical therapy, community resource centers, and outreach and prevention. The Prevention and Education Department offers a large range of programs to educate Utahns of all ages and backgrounds about domestic violence. The Prevention and Education staff members can provide programs for individuals, groups, companies, churches, classrooms, schools and any other business or functions to provide information about domestic violence. South Valley Services has a helpful staff

South Valley Services provides support 24 hours a day. (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

Page 6 | June 2022

of educational directors. Lindsey Boyer is the agency’s new executive director. “Lindsey Boyer comes to SVS with impressive qualifications, proven leadership and a wealth of experience in case management advocacy and prevention services,” says Jeff Stott, SVS board chair. Lindsey served more than eight years as the executive director of the DOVE Center, a sister domestic violence agency in St. George. Prior to DOVE Center, Boyer worked at the Division of Child and Family Services with responsibilities in child welfare, case management and supervision. Boyer holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Phoenix. “I am perpetually inspired by the resilience and encourage survivors to discover within themselves while facing the many challenges that come with domestic abuse,” she said. “This work is incredibly important, and SVS is a critical service provider for the community. I feel it a privilege to provide services that support the path to healing.” Mikaylee Gray is the prevention and

education director for South Valley Services. She is over directing educational programs. Gray has an array of experience in educating the community. The programs include teen dating violence prevention presentation (designed for teens ages 12–18). This presentation is for classrooms (virtual), teen groups, church groups, etc. There is also the Domestic Violence 101 presentation (designed for adult groups). This presentation is for adults teaching the foundations of domestic violence and how to get help. Boyer is working to educate the community to recognize how closely related domestic violence and sexual assault is. “Seventy-five percent of women who experience domestic violence also experience sexual violence from their abuser as well,” Gray said. “One in six women in Utah will be raped in their lifetime. One in six men will have experienced abuse or sexual assault. These two forms of violence are closely related to each other. Generally, you don’t see one without the other. Part of what I am doing is recognizing that those two forms of violence are recognized. If we want to end domestic violence, we have to address

SVS staff work with children as well. (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

West Jordan City Journal

stigmas and the lack of support there can be from a community with survivors of sexual violence as well. It is so important to recognize this. We have to put an end to this.” Gray added more on this important subject. “With people staying home because of the pandemic, the violence went up exponentially in Utah,” she said. “We know that many survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault suffer in silence; they don not disclose to people. With the numbers that we can see in Utah it is one in three individuals will either experience domestic or sexual violence. Our neighbors, employers, people we go to school with, there is a high probability that some of these people have experienced domestic or sexual violence. We have to do our job as a community and support them to end that violence. It’s not something organizations like SVS can do without community support. When we have the community interested in its causes and awareness events our representatives know this, our legislators know this, and they are able to create policy and bills, then introduce this to our government because they see this out in the community. We have to show them this is something we are interested in for a better support system to do the work to introduce those bills and policies.” Gray explained her goals with the program.

“I want to create a space in the communities that allows for survivors of these kinds of violence to know they are supported, seen, heard and that they are cared for,” she said. “I believe that working toward creating those communities will also work for ending violence. But the first step is giving survivors a space to be heard and for them to know it is okay to talk about. That means making a lot of people uncomfortable in the process of having these conversations. I want all these survivors to be heard, and get help knowing there is a space for them to exit after they have this attack.” April is Sexual Assault Awareness month to help the community be aware and promote the safety to the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This event happens every April. Corporate Breakfast 22 is an event that South Valley Services is proud to announce. It is its premier corporate partnership event. The event is to connect local business community with the cause of domestic violence. SVS is excited to offer this opportunity for employers and corporations to take a stand Boston Farmer is an exemplary athlete, student, person. (Halen Farmer) against domestic violence. The event will help raise funds to provide shelter and support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. l

South Valley Services provides support 24 hours a day. (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

SVS staff work with children as well. (Jocelyn Third Sun Photographers)

WestJordanJournal .com

West Jordan High Outstanding graduate: Leads by example By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

hat is most impressive about West Jordan High School graduate Boston Farmer, a straight-A student and three sport athlete, is his outstanding leadership. “He does a great job of keeping the team together and calm even in stressful situations,” WJHS basketball coach Christian Wouden said. “I remember how great he played and how much he did for our team when we played Mountain Ridge at home. He was a game changer that day. Not because of his scoring, but because of how he led the team, which he did all year long.” Wouden said having Boston, who is a great competitor and team player, on the team is like having an extra coach on the court. His teammates selected Boston, who has played varsity point guard for three years, for the B.L.U.E. Strong Award, given to the player that best exemplifies the team’s values. Football coach Ron Halbert said Boston also led by example on the football team, as the varsity quarterback. “Our younger kids look up to him as a person, as a student and as a player,” Halbert said. “I’m glad that he was around to show those young kids because we hope we have a lot more because of him.” He said Boston strengthened the team. “He was always upbeat,” he said. “Even if we had something go wrong, he was able to put that away and bring his teammates and himself to a better attitude and to work on trying to get better.” Boston represented WJHS on the basketball, football and track teams. Despite the

frequent coach turnover, Boston stayed loyal to WJHS and believes he benefited from the experience. “Getting to know all these different coaches, having to adapt to their differences and personalities, I think that’s a valuable skill to learn in life, because change happens a lot,” Boston said. “I think that’s one of the best things, is being able to adapt to change and adapt to what life throws at you.” Boston said the biggest takeaway from his high school experience is the teamwork and leadership skills he gained. “I think that’s such a great skill to have in life with anything you do, because you’re always with people and you always have to communicate with them and work with them, and so being able to be on a team teaches you communication and patience,” he said. Boston organized service projects for the football team. He also started the Athletic Letter Club at WJHS to bring athletes from different sports together through social activities and service projects. Boston also served on the Seminary Council and is an Eagle Scout. Boston said high school has been the best time of his life and his advice to other students is to appreciate the experience. “You can learn a lot through high school, in athletics, and just going to school,” he said. “All those kids that skip school and hate school, they’re missing out on the best time of their life.” After graduation, Boston will be serving a mission for his church and then studying to become a mechanical engineer. l

June 2022 | Page 7

Cornhole competitions move from the backyard to the big leagues By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

nyone can play. Anyone can win. The American Cornhole League took up residence in Sandy at the Mountain America Expo Center May 6-8. The ACL pro league represents the highest tier of talent that the league has to offer. Over 250 pro competitors faced off in the most ultimate backyard and tailgating game around. “I am from Mississippi originally and my brother had this set up in his backyard,” Salt Lake City resident Ricky Mcgowan said. “I came home and bought a set off Amazon.” Salt City Cornhole is a local group of players. They host tournaments at Allstar Lanes and Pins and Ales in West Valley. There are also several other groups in the state. “It is a place for a beginner to more advanced players,” Mcgowan said. It is not just a backyard barbecue game anymore. “My first match I realized I had no idea what this game was all about,” Harry Stolzfus said. He is from Fort Collins, Colorado. He and his wife (Yetti Irwin) travel the country playing in tournaments.

Stolzfus began playing beach cornhole in Florida nearly 15 years ago. He first experienced the game as a Sunday activity. “I had never seen the game before. After my friend invited me to play I had to buy a set of boards at an RV show. I took them home and started playing. Soon I became one of the better players in our group so I joined a league,” Stolzfus said. Stolzfus and Irwin each play professionally individually and together in the doubles division. Cornhole is a fun game for anyone. All that is needed is some bags and cornhole boards. The boards are placed at a throwable distance. Official tournament rules state they should be 27 feet apart. The bags are tossed underhand to the other board. The players may not step in front of the board. Your team scores one point for each bag that lands on the board and three points for each bag that ends up in the hole. Leagues use cancellation scoring, meaning you receive the points you score minus your opponent’s points. “We travel all over the U.S. in our

RV,” Irwin said. “I really like the people we have met. They are all friendly. Throwing the bag really has some technique and strategy to it.” “The elite top players can make money playing this game. We became pros about two years ago. We lost quite a few matches in the beginning, but Yetti is getting pretty good,” Stolzfus said. The ACL will award nearly one million in prize money this season. It is televised on ESPN and the Super hole celebrity match in Salt Lake City included Lisa Barlow (“Housewives of Salt Lake City”), Kyle Van Noy (Patriots), Vernon Davis (49ers), and Joseph Baena (actor). The winner earns money for his or her charity. Baena won in this event and will advance to the Super hole finals. “The skill level has gone up the last two years,” Stolzfus said. “Yesterday, Matt Guy (top-ranked singles player in the ACL) nearly threw a perfect game. He tossed 16 bags and 15 went into the hole.” “I like the people. It is a good time,” Mcgowan said. “I would tell people who are interested to throw the bags.” l

Matt Guy (in the orange shirt) is the top-ranked singles cornhole player in the United States. He recently played in Sandy at the ACL championships. (Greg James/City Journals)

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Mountain Heights Academy outstanding graduate: A unique voice By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

hen she was born, Julia Reardon’s doctor believed her cognitive abilities would not likely progress enough for her to even recognize her own parents. Eighteen years later, Julia is graduating from high school with a 4.0 GPA, a published piece of writing, and the respect of her peers and teachers. “She is one in a million, and working with her has changed my life for the better,” said Sara Layton, Julia’s English teacher. “Despite the struggles that may seem insurmountable to some, she has emerged as one of my top students in English, and one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.” Julia is a nonverbal, functional quadriplegic. Through the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices, modified sign, keyboards and fingerspelling, she reveals her intelligence, kindness and determination. “I am disabled, however, the word “dis-

abled” means something completely different to me than anyone else,” Julia said. “It defines me, like having blue eyes defines me. It is part of who I am. My scars remind me of grit, perseverance, and battles won. It reminds me that I have more than earned my right to be here. Knowing this also humbles me. For everything that had to line up for me to exist right now makes me acutely aware of how much of a gift life is. I am here for a reason and knowing this inspires me as well as scares the daylights out of me.” Julia uses her unique perspective to educate others. When students were assigned to recite lines from Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” for an English assignment, Julia came up with her own interpretation of the assignment. “Julia created a video with original photographs of herself and other people that have been marginalized, set to music and

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Mountain Heights Academy graduate Julia Reardon is an exceptional student and advocate. (Photo courtesy of Anita Miller.)

West Jordan City Journal

quotes from Shylock’s famous speech ‘If you prick us, do we not bleed,’” Layton said. “In this beautiful video, Shakespeare’s message came alive with her modern, personal application. All who viewed this video were profoundly moved.” Julia loves to write, and uses her skills to help break down barriers and normalize people with disabilities. “I just like writing about things and the protagonist just happens to have a disability,” she said. “It doesn’t shape their psychological profile, just is, because if it becomes commonplace, then there’s no big deal about including us.” One of her essays has already been published as part of the The Humanities Moments Project through the National Humanities Center. “I love it when I get recognized before they find out I have a disability because then I know it was really about the work,” she said. That is why she opted to attend Mountain Heights Academy, a virtual charter school. “I did not put my camera on at first so everyone just knew me by what I turned in,” she said. “So then when they met me, my disability was a nothing burger [no big deal] . In my brick and mortar school before, they took one look at me and lowered expectations. I got very, very frustrated.” Julia has impressed students and staff members at MHA. School counselor Cara Wilson said, “She has a true gift for words, although she does not speak. Julia expresses herself in a way that is exceptional for anyone, let alone someone with a severe physical disability.” “Over and over again this year I have been astounded by her wit, insight, passion, and intelligence,” Layton said. “Any day that I feel tired or overwhelmed as a teacher, I think about Julia and the privilege it is to teach her, and I am humbled and gratified that I get to know and work with her.” Julia said often people look at severely disabled people and assume that because they don’t speak, that they don’t think. She is grateful to have adaptive technology which helps her communicate. There are many more options now than when she was younger, but her mom still needs to “McGuyver” adaptations

R U O Y s food onate d r e c cal gro mycityjournals.com

Lo Beat Writer | writer@ By local

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Mountain Heights Academy graduate Julia Reardon is an exceptional student and advocate. (Photo courtesy of Anita Miller.)

to everyday items to make them more usable. Wanting all students to have access to these types of tools, Julia has used money given to her through the Make-A-Wish Foundation to purchase adaptive equipment for special education students at Title 1 (low income) schools. “If they have something that lets them be successful, it is a cumulative effect, since so many kids in general just need that one thing, that one time, that can change their opinion of themselves,” she said. Julia has inspired others with her many accomplishments, which include completing a triathlon, and hundreds of charity races with her dad, Joe Reardon, and three Ragnars as part of the Neuroworx mixed-ability team. Julia’s mother, Anita Miller, is excited to see what the future holds for Julia. “As much as she’s done, there’s so much more that she can do,” she said. “If there’s something she really wants, she feels she can do it. I love the fact that with everything she’s been through—not all great—she still has such a good heart and wants to make the world a better place, even though the world hasn’t been that kind to her.” l

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Board of Education Update Did You Know We Do More with Less? • Jordan School District’s tax yield per student is well below the state average. Our total tax yield per student is $1,996. Neighboring districts yield up to $4,897 per student.

• Our local tax yield per student for operations like utilities and teacher salaries is $982 per student while the state average is $2,115. • Our Board Local Levy is the third lowest of 41 school districts in Utah. • Find out more at jordandistrict.org/financialfacts

New Literacy Launch Showing Early Signs of Success Thanks to Teachers & Students • The latest K-6 Acadience Reading scores increased 5.5% over last year. • K-6 growth from the beginning to the middle of the year went up by 12.8% over last year.

Jordan School District is One of the Fastest Growing Districts in the State

Projections show that Jordan anticipates an increase of 3,631 students in the next seven years. To house all of those students, we would need the equivalent of four elementary schools or 145 portables.

Excitement Building as District Prepares to Open New School

Oak Leaf Elementary in Herriman will open in August. The community is excited about establishing educational opportunities and creating new traditions.

Projected Enrollment

59,092

59,454

59,817

60,101

60,282

2027-28

2028-29

58,013 56,651

2021-22

57,143

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

2026-27

District Launches First “Unified Golf” Program in Utah

“Unified Golf” is a program for middle school students with and without disabilities to come together and play on a team in competitive golf.

For the latest news & information please visit us at jordandistrict.org or find us on Page 12 | June 2022

West Jordan City Journal

Council concerned with arts society’s financial report By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

est Jordan City has supported the performing arts since at least 1995, maybe longer, and until 2019 the art committee was part of the city government. The two split in hopes of making finances easier for the Arts Committee. The committee is now a nonprofit organization that receives regular financial support from the city, $60,000 each year. City officials ask for a list of all the committee’s finances each year, and this year’s submitted report came under fire during a recent council meeting. Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock noted she was “not pleased with their financial report, because it really didn’t show a good picture.” Councilmember Kelvin Green was also concerned. “If we’re spending money on the cultural art society of West Jordan and they’re not truly a community arts…We offer these shows and these older kids go from West Valley, Sandy. Why are we funding other people to come in and do those performances?” Councilmember Melissa Worthen voiced apprehension over the quality of the report. “I need to be able to defend their budget to the citizens. That finan-

cial report I don’t even know how to read it, let alone defend it.” The council unanimously concurred the agreement with the Arts Committee needs to be redone. They asked city staff to create a contract that asks for zip codes of attendees, ages of participants, how much was collected in ticket sales, and how many free tickets were given to special guests. Councilmember Chris McConnehey had his council seat before the city and art committee split, he pointed out they are still learning the ropes of the new arrangement. “It’s only in the last few years they became a private nonprofit,” McConnehey said. “These are folks who have a very rich background in theater, they aren’t as experienced with finance or running a non-profit.” l

The finances for the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, a supporter of local orchestras, was discussed by City Council. Changes may be made. (Image courtesy West Jordan Arts)

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WestJordanJournal .com

June 2022 | Page 13

Lisa Barlow was among the celebrities at the cornhole event in Sandy last month. (Photo by Marlon LeWinter)

Sandy’s Mountain America Expo Center hosted the ACL and 250 professional cornhole players May 6-7. (Greg James/City Journals)

Professional cornhole league hosts tournament in Utah By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

ornhole, played at the professional level, took over Sandy’s Mountain America Expo Center this past month. The American Cornhole League is the highest tier of talent the game has to offer. The ACL has over 250 registered pro play-

ers and their matches are televised on ESPN. “I was tailgating,” ACL founder and commissioner Stacey Moore said about starting the league. “We were using cornhole as an activation for sponsors at NASCAR races and NFL games. I saw a group

of players playing the game way more seriously than I was. The more I talked to the serious players I realized there is a lot of strategy to it.” ACL has been in existence for six years. It has a following of professional

players that compete in several tournaments held across the country. Salt Lake City is the home of one of the platform sponsors. Allcornhole is the title manufacturer of the professional board used on the circuit. The opportunity to host the

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You are invited & dinner is on us!

Kyle Van Noy was among the celebrities at the cornhole event in Sandy last month. (Photo by Marlon LeWinter)

league here was delayed by the pandemic, but this year event number three was held in Sandy. The league has over 150,000 active players and several formats including singles, doubles, and teams format. The teams have a season of 16 matches. Professional players are drafted to a team and play against the other drafted teams, similar to the NFL. The top team in the standings will win the championship at the end of the year. The Woodchucks sit atop the current ACL team standings. Sharpshooters are second and the Freeze third. “The pros come from all over the United States. The sport has increased in popularity. People play it casually all over the place, but more and more people are playing competitively. We are being proactive, cornhole is on track to become an Olympic sport. The singles and doubles divisions are gender-neutral. Last year, a male was against a female to become world champion,” Moore said. Isabella Surprenant, a 15-year-old from Lawton, Oklahoma is one of the youngest players in the ACL pro division and has become a top-ranked player. “I started playing beach cornhole in Florida nearly 15 years ago,” Harry Stoltzfus from Fort Collins, Colorado said. “I bought a set of boards at an RV show and now we travel the country playing in tournaments.” The ACL hosts Superhole competitions at all of the season events. They match a professional player with a celebrity all in the name of charity. “The celebrities play in a mini tournament. They get to know the sport and get some tips along the way. We are starting to see celebrities catch the bug and more and more are taking this seriously,” Moore said. There are local leagues around the

WestJordanJournal .com

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country. To find the nearest organization or for more information go to www.iplaycornhole.com “I am from Mississippi originally and my brother had this set up in his backyard,” Salt Lake City resident Ricky Mcgowan said. “I came home and bought a set off Amazon.” Salt City Cornhole is a local group of

players. They host tournaments at Allstar Lanes and Pins and Ales in West Valley. There are also several other groups in the state. “It is a place for a beginner to more advanced players,” Mcgowan said. It is not just a backyard barbecue game anymore. Anyone can play. Anyone can win. l

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Government 101: Does my vote count? By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

o elect a president of the United States, the votes of electoral delegates decides the winner. The popular vote, the vote of the citizens, is supposed to determine the electoral college votes. But in local, city and county elections, the popular vote directly decides the outcome. A small number of votes made a difference in West Jordan. In 2017, the population was roughly 114,000. But only 14,000 of those residents (number of residents includes 18 and under, who are not eligible to vote) voted to change the form of government. The margin was 68 votes. According to the U.S. Vote Foundation, “Fully half of all government spending...takes place at the local level.…Local government spending tends to impact our day to day lives in very direct ways: how we fund our schools, how we deal with key issues like transportation, healthcare, schools, public safety, housing, among others.” Some elections have clear winners. In 2020, South Jordan Mayor Dawn R. Ramsey won 11,951 of the votes, while Stone Fonua took 1,090. During that same election, Copperton Metro Township council at-large seat was won by one vote, Kevin Severson with 63 votes, Ronald Patrick with 62.

Page 16 | June 2022

With smaller numbers, a single vote means more and can push an election either way. While the federal government has widespread influence, the leaders in a city decide what to do with the federal support. The New York Times said in 2018, “Nationwide, only 27% of eligible voters vote in the typical municipal (local) election. “The result is that an extraordinarily unrepresentative set of residents determines how local governments distribute services and spend the almost $2 trillion that local governments control.” However, when four Utah city Facebook groups were polled about the importance of voting in local elections, there were few responses. Of the local residents that commented, there was passion in their encouragement. White City resident Marry Stewart has worked as a delegate in primary elections and votes regularly. “In a few elections it has been so close, requiring recounts and not for conspiracy theory reasons,” Stewart said. “[People] need to know their vote does count,” Stewart said. “So many people died so they could have the freedom to vote! Why waste that sacrifice?” (Writer’s note: All the voting percentages listed here are from traditional voting, not ranked choice voting.) l

Less than one-fourth of voters submit an election form for local elections. (Photo by Edmond Dantès)

West Jordan City Journal

Grizzlies and Jaguars place third and fourth at boys state volleyball tournament By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

he 2022 boys volleyball state championship included crosstown rivals West Jordan and Copper Hills. These teams battled hard for third- and fourth-place finishes this season. “Fourth overall at state, our boys fought long and hard to get where they are,” West Jordan head coach Paulasi Matavao said. “They made history for our school and the sport’s growth.” Copper Hills defeated West Jordan in three sets 23-25, 25-23, and 15-12. It turned out to be as close as a match could get, both teams played hard in the intense game. The state finals were held May 6–7 at Wasatch High School in Heber City. Twenty-four teams from across the state began the tournament in hopes of a state title. West Jordan and Copper Hills lost in the quarterfinals and played each other in the third-place match. The two teams had played several times throughout the season, including just three weeks before at the Salt Lake County high school tournament. West Jordan defeated Copper Hills and then and went on to win that tournament. “This is big, big, big,” Matavao said before the tournament. “Kids want to know what this sport is like.” At state, Copper Hills defeated Snow Canyon and Springville before losing to the

eventual state runner-up, Olympus. West Jordan defeated Farmington and Lone Peak before losing to Pleasant Grove, the state champion. Springville ended up fifth, and Lone Peak sixth. “We are a very well-rounded team. The boys are awesome, and they have worked super hard and are super competitive,” Copper Hills head coach Earle Fenstermaker said before the tournament began. “They have always wanted to be representatives of the school.” Copper Hills finished the regular season with a 17-7 record. It also finished third at the county boys tournament in April. Boys volleyball will be an officially sanctioned sport in Utah starting in the 2023–24 spring season. According to numbers from the Utah Boys Volleyball Association, there are currently 122 teams representing 64 of the UHSAA member schools. That is an increase of 13% over last year. Boys volleyball is one of the largest club sports in the state. This season nearly 1,600 boys are registered to play. Currently, 25 states have sanctioned boys volleyball programs; two more are in the stages of deciding. USA volleyball recently selected Salt Lake City to host the 2023 national championships. BYU is the only Division I univer-

Copper Hills placed third at the boys state volleyball championship held May 6-7 at Wasatch High School. (Photo courtesy of Brent Maruji)

sity with a men’s team. Sanctioning the sport could force other schools to add the sport. Boys volleyball will be the fifth addition to the UHSAA sports program since 2016. The UHSAA recently added boys and girls lacrosse, girls wrestling, and competitive cheerleading. Boys volleyball earned sanctioning status by completing the criteria of the UHSAA

emerging sports. The program is designed to help sports earn the opportunity to become supported by the governing body. Each sport is considered after its members host or begins teams in their areas. Sports that are currently on the list for the association include mountain biking, esports, color guard, rodeo, and ultimate frisbee. l

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West Jordan City Journal

G O OD NE IG HBOR

NEWS

JUNE 2022

Paid for by the City of West Jordan

M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E Get your calendars ready because West Jordan is gearing up for all our summer events and activities! As a resident, you know that West Jordan is a city that was built on fantastic traditions. Our first Western Stampede Rodeo was held in 1954, when The City of West Jordan was the Town of West Jordan. Back then, the town’s board president suggested it sponsor a fourth of July celebration as a community project. Board members agreed to chair different committees and assigned responsibilities to civic organizations and church groups to make the event happen. That’s when the Western Stampede celebration was born. Volunteers contributed their time, labor, and equipment. They laid cinderblocks for the ticket booth and refreshment stand; others went as far as bringing their own backhoe to help bury pipe for the new bathrooms. Today, the city offers a number of events throughout the summer. Many of which wouldn’t be made possible without the volunteers that offer their time and services. A lot has changed but many things still stay the same. Our events are made possible by hardworking residents who have a love for our city and for these spectacular traditions. If you’d like to become a volunteer for the city, please visit our website: westjordan.utah.gov. Sincerely,

Mayor Dirk Burton

The City of West Jordan would like to extend a special thank you to Itineris Early College High School for pulling weeds at the Big Bend Habitat Restoration along the Jordan River trail. Mayor Dirk Burton stopped by to pull a few weeds himself. Thank you, Itineris Early College High School Students!!

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

Salt Lake County Adopts West General Plan The Salt Lake County Council has voted to adopt the West General Plan, guiding the long-term vision for conservation and development in the westernmost unincorporated areas of the County, after four years of planning and engagement with municipalities and stakeholders. The Plan’s area has a diverse geography, from the shorelines of the Great Salt Lake to the Oquirrh Mountains and south to the Traverse Mountains. The Plan serves as a starting conversation for the region to manage the growth that is coming. “We want to come to a cohesive regional solution together,” said Helen Peters, Salt Lake County Planning & Transportation director. “The West General Plan is innovative in its vision and the result of years of listening and collaboration.” During the 4-year process, Salt Lake County met with the eight bordering municipalities, landowners, stakeholders, the military, and the public more than 125 times. “Early on, we set the standard with the team that the County would engage more with stakeholders and the public in this planning process than ever before,” Mayor Jenny Wilson said. “It takes a village to establish a vision for the future. I’m grateful to the municipalities, landowners, and residents who invested their time to produce the final plan we have today. The West

General Plan will be critical to smart growth in our unincorporated areas.” Surveys of thousands of residents showed top concerns in the Plan area were traffic and transportation, housing, air quality, and water. The Plan outlines goals and strategies for three elements required by the State: land use; housing; and transportation. But Salt Lake County also included five additional elements of importance in the Plan: environment and conservation; water conservation; parks, trails, and recreation; economy; utilities and public safety. The plan’s inclusion of and vision for water conservation is unique – a first in a County general plan and incorporated before 2022 Legislative action. It also emphasizes planned communities and smart growth for the open land that remains in the west. An important part of that is conservation and space for recreation and trails. Both will positively impact the valley’s air, as well as residents’ health and quality of life. Multiple entities support the adoption of the West General plan, including the City of West Jordan.

“Salt Lake County’s West General Plan sets realistic expectations for future growth on the west side for infrastructure needs,” said West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton. “It also provides a great jumping-off point for growthrelated discussions with neighboring municipalities, as well as County officials, moving forward.” To explore the different parts of the West General Plan, visit https://slco.org/west-plan.

Photo courtesy: Jake Young

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

The Right Documents, Right Now A MESSAGE FROM WEST JORDAN’S EMERGENCY MANAGER SCENARIO: The City of West Jordan just suffered a 7.0 M earthquake which caused a lot of damage to infrastructure and homes and forced many people into shelters. Imagine you and your family in a shelter and following a short stay, you return to your home, only to find a family “squatting” there, and claiming that it is their home. What about this scenario? Following the earthquake, you find the location where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up its disaster assistance unit, and they don’t believe you are who you say you are, because you’ve lost your wallet or purse. And they don’t believe that your children are yours. There are other examples, but you get the point. Proving your identity, ownership, and insurance/title information can make the difference between getting disaster assistance or having to go find proof. During a mandatory evacuation and curfews, good luck finding proof. A quick recovery is much easier with all the right information/documents. Build a binder that contains identification information for you and your family, which has an inventory of valuables in your home, photos, titles, deeds, insurance, wills, trusts, financial information, etc. This would also be a good place to stash some cash and a thumb drive with this data. You may be thinking, “That’s it! I have it all on a thumb drive, so no need for a binder.” During disasters, most often, the power goes out making information on a thumb drive a challenge to access. Flooding could cause damage to your electronic data as well. The above examples are not exaggerations. Assistance centers, law enforcement and other public safety organizations, have had to deal with these very problems during disasters. Having the right documentation could have made the difference in these family’s lives. Don’t wait, start gathering documents that will help you and your family help to recover more quickly, rather than being told, “…you’ll have to go have a seat and wait.” If you would like information for building your emergency binder, or about emergency preparedness in general, contact Jeffory Mulcahy, West Jordan Emergency Manager, 801-834-8502, or jmulcahy@westjordan.utah.gov.

1300 West Construction The City of West Jordan, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), plans to widen 1300 West between Winchester Street and 9400 South. The proposed project will create a consistent cross-section with one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, where possible, bike lanes and sidewalk. If funding allows, additional features could include full width pavement rehabilitation, street lighting, curb, gutter, and other drainage upgrades. Roadway construction will be phased as funding allows, with Phase 1 planned for 2023. More detailed phasing information will follow. The project has a dedicated communications team to assist with questions or comments. Please feel free to contact the public information team by phone: 888-556-0232 or by email: 1300WConstruction@gmail.com.

COUNCIL CORNER Now that summer is knocking on our doors, let’s take another moment to talk about water. While swimming pools, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and splashpads are great places for family fun, they can be dangerous without following proper safety measures. There are several steps you can take to keep you and others safe while playing in water this summer. First, teaching children how to swim is not only a fun activity, but also a lifesaving skill. Small children should also be taught to stay away from drains or suction outlets in shallow pools, so they don’t get stuck. Second, even when there is a lifeguard at the body of water where your family is swimming, parents and caregivers should continue to serve as “water watchers.” “Water watchers are adults who are tasked with supervising children in the water,” explained Council Member Melissa Worthen. “A water watcher shouldn’t be reading, texting, or playing games on their phone while watching. Sometimes it is helpful to have multiple adults available to take turns being the water watchers during these outings so everyone can enjoy their day and find some time to relax.” Third, if you are boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, or floating, make sure you have life jackets on board that fit everyone properly. “According to the U.S. Coast Guard, you will know a life jacket fits properly if it fits snugly and does not rise above the wearer’s chin or ears while in the water,” said Council Member Kelvin Green. “Don’t forget that children 12 years and younger must wear a life jacket when participating in motorized, paddling, and floating water crafts. Following these tips can help you have a fantastic summer by creating a framework where you can “cool off ” in the water safely!

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JUNE

COMMUNITY MARKET

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Ron Wood Park 5 – 8 p.m.

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan

6 – 9 p.m.

JUNE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP

BIKE WITH THE MAYOR

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan

Ron Wood Park 5 – 8 p.m.

Ron Wood Park

JUNE

BABYSITTING CLASS

JUNETEENTH

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP

7 – 10:30 p.m.

JUNE

West Jordan Fire Department westjordan.utah.gov

(Observed, City buildings closed)

Ron Wood Park 5 – 8 p.m.

JUNE

PLANNING COMMISSION

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan

Ron Wood Park 5 – 8 p.m.

6 – 9 p.m.

JUNE

7 – 10:30 p.m.

The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation! (801) 569-5100 West Jordan – City Hall www.wjordan.com

West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch

What’s that BOOM!? West Jordan residents have reported hearing booms and feeling rumblings over the last few weeks. We now know the culprit and know to expect more booms throughout the Summer and Fall. The Tooele Army Depot’s detonation season lasts from April 1st through October 31st. The detonations start in the morning and go through the afternoon. Officials post schedules and updates for the week every Monday on what residents can expect. The Army Depot conducts detonations on old, obsolete, and damaged explosives. This makes way for safer storage of explosives for soldiers.

Steve DeBry to retire after more than 40 years in law enforcement By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

fter serving in law enforcement for more than 40 years, Salt Lake County Councilmember and Millcreek City Chief of Police Steve DeBry will hang up his badge later this year. His career path was started by his father who became a Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff when DeBry was 6 years old. “I remember my father came and spoke to my first-grade class,” he said. “I remember looking at him in his uniform, and I was just so proud of him. It made me so happy that he was helping people and that he was respected.” DeBry grew up on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, graduating from Cyprus High School before attending the University of Utah. His plan was to become a history teacher and coach, but when he worked as a court bailiff for Judge Reginald W. Garff Jr., he turned back toward law enforcement. His career path changed again when he met Lorraine Lyman, who wasn’t excited to marry a police officer. He tried different jobs but nothing felt right. In March 1982, DeBry became a deputy, working for Salt Lake County Sheriff N.D. Pete Hayward. Lorraine worked part-time as a hairdresser and DeBry worked several jobs as they raised their three children. “She stuck with me through thick and

thin for almost 43 years and that’s very difficult because with police officers there’s a high divorce rate,” he said. At the time, mental health wasn’t addressed with law enforcement officers. DeBry said it was difficult to come home from a tragic event without letting it affect their marriage. From the start, they established good communication, learning to compromise and listen. “I tried to be open, honest and sincere with her,” he said. “There were times when I wanted to talk about something and she would listen. Most of the time, she knew when I didn’t want to talk, and she didn’t push the issue.” DeBry advanced through different units, serving on the first SWAT team in Utah, and working in schools with the Sheriff Assisting Youth program. He was one of the first detectives assigned to the Metro Gang Unit in 1990 and worked as an internal affairs investigator when Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard promoted him to sergeant. Later, he oversaw the detective unit and COP officers in Millcreek, Cottonwood Heights, Brighton and Holladay, eventually serving as chief of police in Holladay. He’s been in Millcreek for five years and said a lot has changed in policing since

1982. There’s now an attitude from the public that’s proven deadly to some officers. Almost 150 police officers have been killed in Utah, since records have been kept. “I think the respect and admiration has decreased. Back when I started, people would give you a lot more trust and respect. Walls have gone up. It’s more of an us versus them feeling. I never felt that way myself and I’ve done everything I can to break down barriers and talk to people and get to know people…if you don’t have trust you can’t have a relationship.” He emphasizes the need to re-fund the police, get officers trained and paid well, hire the best people and support “the thin blue line that keeps everyone safe.” When he talks about the lives saved and the lives lost, he still gets emotional. The best change he’s seen over his career has been the approach to mental health. “Now we have help. Now we have mental health resources so our officers can be taken care of with what they’re dealing with,” he said. “I’m still dealing with stuff 41 years later. I can talk about it and things flood into my mind, the good stuff you did, the little kids that you find, the people you help along the way, and the tragedies you have to deal with.”

Millcreek City Chief of Police Steve DeBry will retire from law enforcement this year, after more than four decades of service. (Photo courtesy of Steve DeBry)

DeBry has served three terms on the Salt Lake County Council in the southwestern District 5 and is running for a fourth term this year. “I love my career. I would have done it over again. I think it’s the most honorable and fulfilling job anyone can have,” he said. “My legacy is that I hope I did some good and I hope I helped a lot of people along life’s journey.” l

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South Valley School outstanding graduate By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

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rincipal Rita Bouillon selected Jaid Anderson as the outstanding graduate of South Valley School. Teachers who’ve worked with Jaid over the past four years have been impressed with his progress. “Jaid has become a mature young man and is now able to handle stress in a positive way,” said Trevor Stookey, one of Jaid’s teachers. Stookey said Jaid is also a hard worker. “He prioritizes getting his work done before doing anything else and will often ask for extra assignments,” he said. Through job training experiences in the community, Jaid has learned skills that give him a high level of independence in the community so that he needs minimal supervision to complete his responsibilities. “He has completed all of his goals and is a model to others on preparing for post school life,” Stookey said. Luanne Sullivan has worked with Jaid at job training sites and said that while he has a lot of fun, he’s also an efficient and hard worker. One of Jaid’s best qualities is kindness toward others. “He greets everyone by name, asks

South Valley School graduate Jaid Anderson is a hard worker and nice guy. (Photo courtesy of Luanne Sullivan.)

pointed questions and makes us all laugh,” Stookey said. “This has improved the climate of our classroom and helped to make everyone feel welcome.” l

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Enjoy al fresco dining at eateries throughout the valley By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

arm June temperatures bring with them the option to dine outside. Many establishments with beautiful outdoor seating are for special occasions, like La Caille in Sandy, The Charleston Draper and Tuscany in Holladay. But a number of other locally-owned restaurants around the valley offer charming patio spaces for dining on a budget. Here are five al fresco dining spots that are easy on the wallet. Price guide: $ = entrees under $10 $$ = entrees $10 - $15 Bubble N Bean (Food For Thought) 12640 S. Fort St. in Draper This cafe, which is tucked up against the southeast corner of Draper Historic Park, specializes in coffee and boba drinks. The cafe ended dining room service in 2020, but food and drink are still available through the drive-thru or walk-up windows. Choose from a range of beverages that includes mint lemonade, s’mores hot chocolate and caramel apple cider as well as more traditional sodas, tea and coffee. The cafe also offers ice cream and a variety of baked goods, including breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast. Pull up a chair on the patio or lawn to enjoy the fresh air and watch locals enjoy the peaceful, historic park next door. $ - www.bubblenbean.square.site/ Landmark Grill - 760 Fort Union Blvd. in Midvale This family-owned diner has a charming patio tucked away from the bustle of Fort Union Boulevard. The Greek-inspired food includes one-of-a-kind dishes like Nick’s

Many ingredients are locally-sourced at Roots Cafe in Millcreek. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Original Round House, which is made of hash browns plus three kinds of meat and two kinds of cheese. “Landmark Grill stands out because it is a family-owned operation that take great pride in quality and service,” said Laurie Erickson, one of the owners of Landmark Grill. “This is proven by the number of regular diners that we have. Some even come in on a daily basis.” Enjoy breakfast or lunch surrounded by trees and shrubs and the sounds of singing birds. “Our patio is eastern facing with a view of the beautiful Wasatch range and has the

Landmark Grill in Midvale has a shaded patio tucked away from the bustle of Fort Union Boulevard. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Page 26 | June 2022

Diners flock to Lone Star Taqueria in Cottonwood Heights on May 5. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

warmth of the morning sun,” Erickson said. $$ - landmarkgrillutah.com Lone Star Taqueria - 2265 E. Fort Union Blvd. in Cottonwood Heights Eclectic patio furniture and quirky details like cowboy boot-covered fenceposts let you know you’re in for a treat at Lone Star Taqueria. Tacos made with fresh, housemade tortillas come filled with your choice of protein, including pescado (fish), camaron (shrimp), deshebrada (shredded beef) pollo asado (chicken) and three different styles of pork. Lone Star Taqueria has been around for a long time, and it shows in the vintage patio furniture and seamless service. The outdoor chairs lean back, almost forcing you to relax as you feel the sun on your face. If you prefer shade, snag a table under one of the many umbrellas encased in cement, ensuring that that will not topple over in the wind blowing down from Big Cottonwood Canyon. Karl Rottner has been coming to Lone Star since it opened in 1994. A mountain guide at Alta and substitute teacher, Rottner keeps coming back for the fish tacos and chicken burritos. “The feel is authentic,” Rottner said. “Tourists know it and remember it.” $ - lstaq. com Nielsen’s Frozen Custard - 3779 S. Jordan Pkwy. in South Jordan The South Jordan location of Nielsen’s Frozen Custard features a spacious patio where patrons can enjoy burgers, fries and, of course, their namesake frozen custard, which is similar to ice cream. The outdoor space is tucked away from traffic and just a short sprint from Rushton Meadows Park. $ - nielsensfrozencustard.com

Diners soak up early May sunshine at Roots Cafe in Millcreek. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

Roots Cafe - 3474 S. 2300 East in Millcreek The bright, sunny patio at Roots Cafe is perfect for enjoying a satisfying meal outdoors. Roots offers breakfast and lunch made with fresh ingredients used in creative ways, like the Spicy Peeto French Dip, which adds caramelized jalapeños, sweet onions, pepper jack cheese and an avocado horseradish aioli to the traditional thinly-sliced beef sandwich. There is also a variety of salads, breakfast items and fresh juices. Locally-sourced ingredients are used whenever possible. The generous patio is shaded by a mature sycamore tree, along with retractable awnings. You’ll want to sit there all day, but please don’t linger too long. The management requests that diners not “camp” because there are plenty of others waiting patiently for a table. Roots Cafe is housed in the historic Baldwin Radio Factory and shares an entrance with The Old Flamingo, an antiques and furniture store. $$ - rootscafeslc.com l

West Jordan City Journal

Continued from front page Park,” Steck said. “All of these parks are being paid by impact fees. Residents are not paying for the building of the new parks; these were paid for by developers. But, when you build a new park, you have to maintain it, water it, mow it. We also have increased demand on streets and sidewalk repair. We’re years behind street and sidewalk maintenance.” If the council approves the budget, there will be eight new full-time and one part-time positions. The jobs are for parks project manager, maintenance of Maple Hills Park, engineers, an assistant chief administrative officer and a passport office worker. The mayor’s office is proposing a tax increase this year. “I estimate the tax increase will be 10% to bring in a $2 million budget increase,” Steck said. “Ten percent is less than $3.50 per month per average home.” This would put West Jordan in the middle of the county’s city tax rates. Herriman has the highest rate; Draper has the lowest. Money for the city comes primarily from sales tax, property tax and other taxes (such as delinquent tax, fees in lieu of,

motor vehicle tax). At the time of publication there may be changes to some of the items covered here. More information on the final budget will be published in July. How tax rate is decided A city receives the same amount of property tax dollars as the previous year. For example, if a city received $15 million from property taxes in 2021, in 2022 the city will receive $15 million from those same property owners. If there is new growth, the city will receive property tax from the new residents for that year only. If values on homes go down, the rate for everyone goes up. If values go up, the tax rate goes down. This protects the city from losing money if the housing market struggles, it protects residents from paying more taxes just because the housing market is doing well. Anytime city leaders want to do a different rate, up or down, than set by Salt Lake County, a truth-in-taxation meeting that involves the public is required. The rate change can only happen once a year, in August. l

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West Jordan home to major data center By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

ovva Data Center in West Jordan is a 330,000-square-foot data center on a 100-acre campus. The headquarters is a two-story, 80,000-square-foot building. Novva is a private company that provides wholesale and multi-tenant colocation. The infrastructure services local, national and international clients. Novva offers turnkey and client-designed solutions of all sizes. Utah is the largest colocation data center in the country. There is a Novva Data Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Novva officials plan to expand to more locations in the country as well as throughout the world. “Novva means ‘nice’; we added an extra ‘v’ to make it ours.” said Wes Swenson, founder, investor and CEO of Novva Data Center. Novva is serving the West to help meet the demand for rapidly growing data resources. The locations include over 35 acres of data center environment. The locations are located in fast-growing metropolitan areas that help the need for organizations as the population migrates west. Novva’s top priority is to help mitigate the cost, risk and stress of managing your infrastructure with the size you need to grow your business. By partnering with Novva, you can eliminate costly data management overhead and be sure your infrastructure is secure. Swenson said high technology is his interest. He has been into data centers for 15 years. He was the former CEO and founder of Utah-based C7 Data Centers (acquired by DataBank in 2017). In 2017, he sold a company, located in Bluffdale. In 2019, he started Novva. He first acquired the land in 2018. In the summer of 2020, he started building Novva. “The world processes 2.5 quintillion

The Novva Data Center in West Jordan. (Erica Rascon Photographer)

bytes of data per day,” Swenson said. “In 10 years, [it will be] 25 quintillion bytes of data per day. It is hard to get the perception. In the past two years, 98% of data has been created in the world. If you think about it, the internet is 31 years old—a young technology. With the growth in the world, the internet requires more data centers. Metaverse, autonomous driving, gaming and education

The headquarters is a two-story, 80,000-square-foot-building. (Erica Rascon Photographer)

Page 28 | June 2022

are all changing. Ninety-eight percent is data created in probably the last two years. We are a byproduct of that growth. There is more usage of the internet, more usage with your phone. Technology keeps growing and growing. If you think about everything that is done today that wasn’t done yesterday in applications. It’s always changing. We approach local clients as well as national and global clients. We appeal to virtually everyone.” Swenson gave more examples of why his company’s solutions are important. “This is a very technical subject, but if you think about it, when touching your phone, applications, or GPS, it goes through the internet,” he said. “To give you an example, 300 milliseconds to blink, we are moving data 10-20 milliseconds. We are moving data at a tenth of that speed because we are moving data at the speed of light through fiber optics. When you click something on your phone or use an application, it’s going through the internet and going through the data center, or multiple data centers in the world to receive that data and get back to you.” One of the most intriguing features of the facility is the robot dog. He is equipped with a 360-degree camera, it can detect hot and cold, go on missions and object avoidance. The robot dog has facial recognition technology, can scan hardware and alert staff

of any abnormalities such as machines overheating. The autonomous drone sits outside and will work with the WIRE and patrol the exterior of the building using infrared technology Swenson has brought a unique design to Novva. “We believe in bringing a high-end product to the market, and that is what you see in the design,” he said. “I wanted Asian, Scandinavian minimalist design. I believe if I am going to build something, I’m going to build it beautifully.” The floors in the facility are black marble from Italy. “I wanted it to feel super premium; these have to last 30 years,” he said. Swenson was in software and security. He has been intrigued with the IT industry for years. He loves data centers, “because they are physical and tangible. I’m not a carpenter, but I’m a technical carpenter. I’m not just building cabinets, but it’s a symphony, so I am conducting a symphony where I have internet connectivity through fiber carriers to create your bandwidth, internet. I work with the power company because we absorb a lot of power. Then on top of that I have to cool equipment in the data center so it doesn’t overheat, so it runs at an optimal level. Then I have people, technology changing and different clients. I just love the business, it’s a constant challenge. I really feel like we can make a difference.”

West Jordan City Journal

The headquarters is a two-story, 80,000-square-foot-building. (Erica Rascon Photographer)

Novva is conscious of being eco sensitive. It makes great efforts to keep the emissions down as low as possible. “One of the things you’ll see a lot here is we use zero water,” Swenson said. “Most data centers use 90% water for their cooling system. We are sensitive to the environment. We try to source as many local materials as possible when building the structure. We use local contractors, local concrete businesses to keep carbon consumption down on travel. We use a lot of insulation in the data center. The exterior walls are 14 inches thick; the interior has almost 3 feet of insulation between exterior and interior. We try to be as eco sensitive as we can from bottom to top. The generators help keep the emissions down as low as possible. We have a design we think will be very popular in the next decade. Our electrical design is on a generator and batteries. In a decade, the generators and batteries will be gone. The network will heal itself if the data center loses power; it will go to another data center. We have developed a system that will adapt to not having generators or batteries.”

Swenson explained why customers should choose Novva. “Our solutions, Nova’s hyperscale data centers, are designed for organizations of every size, he said. “We match our capabilities with your specific data needs to create flexible solutions, because as you grow, so should your data infrastructure. We make that growth easy with scalable, customizable leases so you can rent capacity when you need it. From cabinets and cages to private suites or buildings, our solutions are ready for you.” Nova has turnkey data solutions, blended bandwidth solutions, autonomous client suites, private wholesale buildings and secure multi-tenant colocation. What solution you choose you will benefit from Novva’s hyperscale facility that includes equipment inspection and inventory review, cooling systems, adaptive power monitoring and density controls, onsite surveillance and security, exhaustive Rrsk management protocols, dedication to sustainable energy, climate control, and regulatory compliance. l

The Novva Data Center in West Jordan. (Erica Rascon Photographer)

WestJordanJournal .com

June 2022 | Page 29

Champions of preservation—How one nonprofit helps save historic Utah buildings By Deb Schoenberg Hafner | d.hafner@mycityjournals.com

hen David Amott was little, he built entire cities from the heavy clay soil in his backyard in Cottonwood. He was fascinated by form, and his yard became a diorama where he built everything from native adobes to engineered masterpieces modeled from books. “As a five year old I had a book about a haunted house,” recalls Amott, “and I didn’t care about the ghosts. I wanted to remove the cobwebs and paint it and fix it up.” Amott, without exception, is “absolutely riveted by structure.” He earned a degree in historic architecture and is the Executive Director of Preservation Utah, a nonprofit that advocates for historic preservation in Utah. At the end of April, Preservation Utah hosted their annual conference, after a hiatus for the pandemic, at the renovated and preserved Art Castle on the west side in Salt Lake City. This year’s conference, “Preservation Engaged: Celebrating Utah’s Communities,” hosted representatives from cities throughout Utah who were in attendance to learn how to combine economic development with community driven, comprehensive downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Preservation Utah advocates for preservation-oriented public policies by supporting legislation, working with elected officials and administrators, and providing creative and sustainable solutions in collaboration with property owners. But the preservation seed has to be planted deep at the local level, with individuals, towns, and communities coming together to initiate, advocate and sow preservation projects. The preservation movement has swept across America in the last few decades and has established itself as powerful and an important part of cities and towns, with preservation being an accepted practice at the local government level. Draper’s historic committee has spearheaded efforts to preserve aspects of the soon-to-be-relocated prison, Taylorsville recently added its first building to the National Register of Historic Places, and Millcreek recently nominated a seven-member Historic Commission to work on preservation efforts and to fix outdated ordinances. Their first meeting was in May, and they have a big job ahead. “The greenest building,” says Amott, touting the quintessential preservationist belief, “is the one that’s already been built.” At any given time, Preservation Utah has 25 to 30 preservation projects from around the state that need funding for preservation. These days, with housing prices reaching all-time highs, residents in towns and cities across America have become increasingly interested in turning existing buildings around with adaptive reuse—restoring and

Page 30 | June 2022

The inside main room of the Art Castle where conference attendees gathered for the keynote speaker, Claudia Loayza, the communications and community engagement coordinator for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs. (Deb Hafner/City Journals)

updating historic buildings and utilizing the space in new ways to meet the needs of the community. The Art Castle is one such example. According to the EPA, a new, green, energy-efficient office building that includes as much as 40% recycled materials would take approximately 65 years to recover the energy lost in demolishing a comparable existing building. “A remarkable example of adaptive reuse in Salt Lake is the Granary,” Amott said. One of Salt Lake City's oldest districts, it used to be a busy manufacturing, processing and storage center, but it was in danger of being demolished. It was rescued and restored and today is home to restaurants and shops. The Granary took part in the Main Street America initiative, a federal program adopted and administered in every state. In Utah, the program falls under the auspices of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and the Utah Main Street America Program helps communities revitalize their economy, appearance, and image of downtown commercial districts. Salt Lake City (The Granary), Brigham City, Price, Heber and Tooele, in addition to about 15 more Utah cities, have a Main Street designation and have received funding for revitalization. Brigham City and Price were Utah Main Street pilot program cities, each receiving facade rehabilitation grants and ultimately seeing increased economic activity and success from the program. Nan Groves Anderson, the Utah Main Street Program Director, on a panel at the Preservation Utah conference, reported that

nationwide, since 1980, over 2,000 communities have participated in the Main Street program, with $61 billion in new investment, 525,000 net new jobs, and 251,000 buildings rehabilitated. Closer to home, Preservation Utah has advocated in many cities in Utah, including Millcreek. Amott said they have two historic easements on houses in the city that are regularly monitored, the summer house of the Silver Queen and a modern glass house by architect John Sugden. But, as with all preservation efforts, you win some and lose some. After Millcreek City was established, recalls Amott, Preservation Utah advocated for the George Merrill Estate, which was eventually demolished and is now an Ivory Homes development. Preservation Utah also stepped in on the Old Meeting House building, which became controversial when it was approved to be demolished and replaced with townhomes. Garbett Homes has been approved to build on the site, and since the meeting house sits on a fault line and is structurally older, it was determined it was not a good candidate for adaptive reuse. Although the effort to save the building was lost, some good came out of it. Preservation Utah helped advocate for an improved city preservation ordinance and the establishment of the new historic commission, and city officials requested Garbett install an historical marker to commemorate the building. Preservation and sustainability models have gained traction in the race to develop places to accommodate the population

A view of the Art Castle, a project by Utah Arts Alliance to acquire, preserve, renovate, and activate the historic 120-year-old 15th Ward Chapel located at 915 W. 100 South. (Deb Hafner/City Journals)

The Old Meeting House at 4120 Highland Drive in Millcreek is important historically because it was designed by the grandson of Brigham Young, Joseph Don Carlos Young, and his son Don Carlos Young, and built in 1905. (Photo credit EstateSales.org)

growth. “You can’t build your way to affordability,” Amott said. It is greener to remodel a home and to repurpose a large building or district, and through community effort and advocacy, new resources and funding it is a path many are taking. At their conference, Preservation Utah shared myriad resources, including how to access the Main Street America Program, tax credits, and funding available to anyone interested in preserving a home, district or land. If you are interested in finding out more about the home you live in, discovering more about historic places in your city, or how to place make and advocate, Preservation Utah website is a good place to start (preservationutah.org). l

West Jordan City Journal

Itineris Early College High School outstanding graduate: An extra-mile student By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Brooke Peterson, outstanding graduate of Itineris Early College High School. (Brooke Perkins.)

rooke Peterson, outstanding graduate of Itineris Early College High School class of 2022, is an extra-mile student, said her teacher LeAnn Nisson. “She not only does what is required, but often pushes herself to go beyond what is expected,” Nisson said. “Her essays, analyses, and assignments are polished and perfected.” These traits make Brooke a positive influence in the classroom and school, said Nisson. “The classroom atmosphere is uplifted both academically and socially in her presence, and other students are inspired by her academic achievement,” she said. “Students like Brooke don’t come along often, and it has been a privilege and a delight to teach her.” Tami Updike, another of Brooke’s teachers at IECHS, said Brooke is an exceptional student because she strives to thoroughly understand what is being

Brooke Peterson loves the outdoors and uses time hiking, fishing, hunting and four-wheeling to balance her challenging academic load. (Brooke Perkins.)

WestJordanJournal .com

taught. “She is a model student who comes to class eager to learn, asks questions when she doesn’t understand material and she is delightful to teach,” Updike said. In addition to Brooke’s academic work ethic, Updike appreciated that Brooke came to class with a positive attitude and that she always took the time to thank her for the lesson at the end of every class. Brooke completed classes required for a high school diploma as well as an associates degree, working hard to maintain a 3.997 GPA at IECHS and a 4.0 GPA at SLCC. She is proud to be graduating high school with her associate degree. “I have worked very hard during my high school years, and I have studied a lot,” she said. “I focused on being very organized and tried to never procrastinate. Working hard and putting school as my top priority has made this possible and I am very proud of it.” Brooke has always been extremely organized and self-motivated, said her parents. “She is driven to do things well because that is just who she is,” said her mother, Sharon. When Brooke decided she wanted a job, she researched her options and found a way to start her own lawn mowing business. “She has saved enough money to pay for her future monetary needs and college,” Sharon said. “She is also not a normal teenager. She gives 110% in anything she does.” Brooke used her high school experience to try new things, taking a wide variety of classes and getting involved in school clubs. She served as vice president in the National Honors Society during her senior year. Brooke’s love of the outdoors has helped her balance the demands of her busy life. “Hiking, fishing, hunting, and four-wheeling have become a major part of my life and have been a way for me to get out and enjoy nature while still being able to focus on school,” she said. Quiet by nature but with a love of making others laugh, Brooke likes to look around for those who are struggling and to help them, said Sharon. After graduation, Brooke plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, and then to pursue a major in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation at BYU. l

Murray 2022 Fun Days

Monday, July 4, 2022 Breakfast

Rotary Club Community Breakfast 6:30 – 10:00 am Murray Park Pavilion #5 $8 Adults, $6 Child (12 & under)

Sunrise Service

7:00 am Murray Park Amphitheater Music by Murray Concert Band

Chalk Art Contest

6:00 am – 2:00 pm, Winners announced at 2:30 pm **Pre-registration Required 5K and Kids Race Both races begin and end near Constitution Circle, Murray Park 5K Race 8:00 am, Kids Race at 9:00 am $20 early registration until June 19 $25 registration June 20-24 $10 for Kids Race by June 24 Register online at mcreg.com no later than June 24 No day of registrations.

Coed Doubles Outdoor Volleyball Tournament

Adults, Youth, Parent/Child Divisions 8 am – 4 pm, Softball Field in Murray Park $30 per team Register online at mcreg.com no later than June 30 No day of registrations.

Parade

8:30 am Begins at Fashion Place Mall and ends at Murray Park

Activities

10 am – 4 pm ...... Car & Bike Show (Behind swimming pool) 11 am – 4 pm ........ Food Trucks & Game Booths 1 pm – 2 pm .......... Bingo 12 pm – 4 pm ........ Park Center Hours 12 pm – 6 pm ........ Aquatic Center Hours

Activities for Kids

11 am – 2 pm ......... Games 11 m – 2 pm ............ Fishing Booth, Face Painting (minimal fee)

12:00 om ..................................Balance Bike Race (pre-register) 12:30 pm .................. Firemen Squirt (free)

Daytime Entertainment

Murray Park Gazebo 11:00 am .................. Noa Polynesia, Dance 11:45 am.................... Arts in the Park Musical Reviews 12:30 pm .................. Michael Paine Band

Evening Entertainment

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(leave personal fireworks at home)

June 2022 | Page 31

Page 32 | June 2022

West Jordan City Journal

Free Comcast lift zones provide hotspot connections across the state By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

ccess to internet connection can mean the difference between staying ahead or falling behind. As the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated, families without access to the internet struggled to keep kids engaged with online school and remote work became a challenge. To address digital equity, Comcast has equipped more than 30 locations across Utah with free Wi-Fi Lift Zones to get students and adults online. “We are committed to digital inclusivity for all Utahns no matter where they live or their financial status,” said Deneiva Knight, external affairs director, Comcast Utah. “Offering free Wi-Fi Lift Zones with Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which provides internet services to low-income customers, is a huge step toward connecting students and adults to online resources in safe, reliable locations.” Working with a network of nonprofit, community, and city partners, Comcast added Lift Zones in its service areas including West Valley, Millcreek, Murray and Bountiful. Lift Zones will complement Comcast’s Internet Essential program, which has helped connect more than 160,000 low-income Utahns to the internet at home. Since 2019, Comcast has worked with

Utah partners to install free internet services to sites, which provide low-income students with a space to participate in distance learning and complete homework. Adults are also using Lift Zones to work remotely, apply for jobs, and learn digital skills, all at no cost. “Community partners and organizations that align with our promise to create a dynamic community are leveraging South Salt Lake’s three Lift Zones,” said Lucas Horns, a City of South Salt Lake employee. “It is enhancing resources around the city and promoting a sense of community at the same time. What’s more, Comcast’s Lift Zone has become a hub for small businesses and other organizations to use.” A full list of Utah Lift Zone locations can be found at utah.comcast.com/lift-zones. “Increasingly, broadband access has become vitally important for Utahns across the state,” said Knight. “Combining more Lift Zones and the groundbreaking Internet Essentials program…not only makes sense, it’s a game changer. It literally opens a new world for students’ educational opportunities and for adults to connect online for better employment, something that was out of reach before.” l

Comcast’s Lift Zones will give low-income families access to online learning, remote work, job applications and more. (Photo courtesy of Comcast)

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June 2022 | Page 33

Salt Lake County receives EPA funds to clean up contaminated sites for development By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

rownfield areas in Salt Lake County can hinder development because, without proper cleanup, redevelopment or reuse they could spread contamination to surrounding areas. Most brownfields are properties with old gas stations, auto repair shops and dry cleaners, or near smelters, railroad lines and mines. But the Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Salt Lake County nearly $4 million in an effort to clean up these sites and create vibrant communities and business centers. “We’re grateful for the EPA’s substantial investment in Salt Lake County,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “It expands our ability to effectively leverage the revolving loan fund and make a difference.” The EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund allows the county and its coalition partners (Salt Lake City and Ogden) to issue loans to public or private property owners who meet EPA qualifications for assistance with brownfields. Funds are expected to help clean at least 10 properties in the next few years, many of which are in former industrial areas that need significant cleanup to be safely redeveloped. Loans are available to qualified governmental entities, site owners, or developers with lowto zero-interest rates.

“With our community’s history of industrial and mining work, there’s no shortage of properties that could use this EPA money for cleanup efforts,” said Kersten Swinyard, program manager for the Wasatch Brownfields Coalition and Salt Lake County senior economic development manager. “We’ll use this money to accelerate redevelopment on those contaminated properties and make our cities safer and cleaner for everyone.” In 2021, Centro Civico Mexicano received funds to work with the county to remove asbestos, mercury, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants in the soil. The remediated property now features a community center and 61 apartments for low-income seniors. The cleanup led to more than $25.2 million in leveraged redevelopment funding on the project. The Wasatch Brownfields Coalition works closely with the EPA and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality throughout the cleanup processes. The EPA has awarded $5,850,000 in total to Salt Lake County throughout its program history. Property owners not responsible for the contamination who are interested in financial assistance to clean up properties can visit slco. to/brownfields or contact Kersten Swinyard at 385-468-4869 or kswinyard@slco.org. “This award will set up Salt Lake County

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A multi-family housing development in Murray is remediating contamination related to historic mining. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County)

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June 2022 | Page 35

Honorees selected at the inaugural Comcast RISE Black Excellence Event By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

ardware Creative Collective and Comcast partnered to host the inaugural Comcast RISE Black Excellence Event in Salt Lake City on Apr. 20. The celebration honored Utah Black Creatives in a range of industries from the arts, business, education and film to mental health, armed forces, tech and venture capital. Honorees were selected based on their ability to showcase their creativity through inspiration, intersection and innovation. “It was truly amazing to see something that started as a vision and brainstorming with folks around a kitchen table turn into an extraordinary celebration of Utah’s Black creatives,” said Deneiva Knight, External Affairs Director, Comcast Mountain West Region. “For me, Hardware Collective is a platform for Black creatives to acknowledge and celebrate themselves and their peers versus waiting and hoping to receive accolades from outsiders. The love and appreciation in the room that night were unmatchable.” Honored at the event were Kenneth Boggs (fashion), Kimmy Paluch (tech), Dr. Jackie Thompson (education), Col. Jenise M. Carroll (military), Melanie D. Davis, LCMHC (mental health), Mauli Bonner (music), and Tenisha “Isha” Hicks (beauty). The celebration acknowledged the efforts of talented entrepreneurs who continue to innovate and succeed despite facing financial challenges. Comcast RISE recognizes small business owners through its brands Comcast Business and Effectv. Empowering business owners with knowledge and resources allowed them to navigate economic difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As I was sewing, Motown music used to play all the time,”

said Boggs, CEO of Kenneth Boggs Suit. “Most people wanted to be like Michael Jackson, but I wanted to be David Ruffin from The Temptations because he looked really good in his suit. . . By the end of the day, my goal is to create your own story. I’m proud to be a chosen honoree for the Hardware. It makes me feel blacknificent.” Honoree Carroll serves as the 75th Air Force Wing Commander at Hill Air Force Base. She is the first African American female to hold this position in the 75 years of the Air Force. “I ask that everyone look at me as being an American first. Don’t judge me by the color of my skin or by my gender. Look at me as an American serving proudly in her country wearing this uniform,” Carroll said. “I’m standing before you letting you know there’s nothing impossible if you believe.” “Thank you to our presenting sponsors, Comcast and Zions Bank, for co-sponsoring the inaugural launch of the Hardware Creative Collective, '' said Sui Lang L. Panoke, founder, Hardware Creative Collective. “Additionally, we thank our investment sponsor, the Andrus Family Foundation, and our community sponsors, the Utah Black Chamber, and Utah Arts Alliance.” Panoke and Scott Anderson, president and CEO, Zions Bank, were inspired by the honorees and their accomplishments. “As I look upon your faces and I listen to your stories, I have been touched,” Anderson said. “I thought of the comment from the prophet Gibran, 'Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.’ So thank you, thank you very much.” “The most advanced levels of diversity, equity and inclusion are evident when communities and organizations maximize and capitalize on their ability to stimulate and cultivate creativity

Seven honorees were recognized at the Comcase RISE Black Excellence Event including (from left) Col. Jenise M. Carroll, Installation Commander, Hill Air Force Base; Dr. Jackie Thompson, Assistant Superintendent, Davis County School District; Mauli Bonner, Director/Filmmaker/Producer/Artist, Lift Up Voices. Photo courtesy of Comcast.

and innovative thought,” said Panoke. “And that… is how Utah does business!” Find out if you qualify to apply for small business support at www.comcastrise.com. l

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A one-horse race

hen I was in eighth grade, I was elected to the class senate. In ninth grade, I was elected as a cheerleader. Did I deserve these titles? Probably not. But I’d bribed fellow students with copious amounts of candy because that’s the American way. After a series of decidedly terrible life choices, my scholastic career drove off the rails and I never ran for election again. When I turned 18, I registered to vote and I’ve cast a vote in every election since. I also respond to Twitter polls, fill out Amazon reviews and take surveys at the bottom of yard-long Kohl’s receipts. Now that I’m a semi-functioning adult, it’s up to me to choose the right people to lead us into the future. Since the future is nuclear bomb-shaped, we won’t need leaders much longer, but elections are important, at least until that mushroom cloud rises over the mountains. Here’s why voting is funny. You’ll get a kick out of this. When I vote for new leadership or more progressive ideas, the person/issue I’m voting for rarely wins. Why? Because I live in conservative Utah.

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

People tell me to just move to a different state. I don’t want to. At least not until I can afford a lighthouse on the East Coast where I can replace the light bulb with a bat signal. So, for now, I’m here in Utah, voting for things that matter to me and to many other people, without a Popsicle’s chance in hell of it working out. In fact, we started an election night drinking game. For every winner who isn’t a conservative white male, we take a shot of tequila. We’ve been sober for decades. Because here’s the truth: My vote rarely counts in Utah. Oh, our esteemed leaders say my vote counts, but they know it’s a lie. With their abstract-painting, gerrymandered districts they’ve effectively shut down my voice. I feel all I can do is

sit back with a bucket of chicken and wait for the Red State hate laws to take effect across the country. Sure, I can protest, but not too loud, right? I wouldn’t want to sound shrill. I reach out to my U.S. senators and representatives and get a form letter in response. The vast majority of my state leaders are conservative white men, afraid of losing control. I admire the elected women in Utah, fighting in the trenches for wom-

en’s rights, access to health care, gun control and education. That’s a difference I see between male and female roles: men want power, women want to lead. After being mansplained to since birth, I understand my female brain can’t comprehend the problems involved with running the state. Like, how can our leaders make money if we don’t let them relocate a prison across the valley so they can develop prime property? How can the state generate revenue on alcohol without ridiculous licensing fees and policies? How can we possibly treat educators, minorities, or uteruses with respect, without creating laws to rein them in? And then they have the gall to say, vote in the leaders you want. How? Tell me how and I’ll do it! Phew. I must be off my anti-hysterical meds. If I learned anything from running for office in junior high, it’s that voters will follow the candy. But as a female voter in Utah, I’m tired of the sugary-sweet, syrupy condescension.

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