January 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 01
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WVC CAPTURED ACCREDITATION, FOUGHT OFF SHELTER IN 2017 By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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12 people, the force is made up of various members in the city such as police intelligence, legal department and business licensing. Its strength is its coordination. “The task force has made us more savvy and powerful in our efforts,” Assistant City Manager Nicole Cottle told the city council in October. An ordinance that prohibits panhandling on major roadways to curtail accidents was passed unanimously in April. Pyle said they’ve had success in shutting that down. Pyle said they’ve also done encampment cleanups all over the city in undeveloped areas, vacant lots and most notably, along the Jordan River. They’ve partnered with the county health department, UDOT, Rocky Mountain Power among others to maintain the river. Probably the most meaningful preparation, Pyle said, “is the physical efforts we’re actually taking to make sure those problems are taken care of.”
n a year that was bookended by a potential homeless resource center and breaking ground for new development at Fairbourne Station, West Valley City experienced a little bit of everything.
Homeless Shelter Possibly the biggest event to take place in Utah’s second largest city in 2017 was its unwilling participation in the homeless shelter site selection. Seven possible sites were announced on March 10 for one of the county’s planned homeless resource centers. Three of those were in WVC. Salt Lake County was required to make a site recommendation to the state’s Homeless Coordinating Committee by March 28, a mere 18 days after the sites were announced. The legislation that was passed on March 9 appropriating more than $10 million to help build the centers also removed local cities from having any formal say on the matter. “It was interesting to me the process that had been set up,” said Mayor Ron Bigelow. “In order to force a decision, the legislature passed these extremely arbitrary time frames and methods.” Bigelow said not including any cities or interest groups in the selection process gave it a very negative perception. “You would have gotten a lot more buy-in by letting a lot of groups have their participation. I think you would have gotten better results too.” Though he did understand why it was done and the difficult position Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams was put in. After a month long process of mobilization by city employees, elected officials and residents protesting the sites selected by flooding open houses and implementing information campaigns; 3380 S. 1000 West in South Salt Lake was selected. City Manager Wayne Pyle said what he remembers most about that time period was how impressed he was with the city’s quick reaction going “from zero to 100 mph.” “To have that whole dynamic imposed on us and the response we were able to muster in that short amount of time and be successful, in my mind, was really gratifying,” Pyle said. It was a full-city effort, he said, from handing out flyers door to door to business owners making videos. “I have great respect for our whole staff, our elected officials who put their faces out there in front to deal with this,” Pyle said. “Our business community who was willing to do the same and our residents and neighbors who were willing to mobilize themselves.” He was also happy with how they presented their argument in a balanced way, making their point without being offensive or against this class of people. WVC has been working with homelessness for decades, Pyle said adding he would completely reject anyone who thinks the city doesn’t care or isn’t cognizant of the issues homeless people face. “We’re not doing them any favors by letting them live in these
Jeff Brotherson holds the street sign bearing the name of his oldest son during a one year anniversary memorial for the fallen officer. The city renamed a stretch of 4100 South from 2200 West to 3600 West to Cody Brotherson Parkway. (Kevin Conde/West Valley City)
encampments,” said Pyle, who has spent considerable time visiting transient areas with police officers. “The conditions are unsanitary, there are crime issues that occur, they have problems between them, some with criminal records are preying on the other ones.” Though the WVC sites weren’t selected, the SSL site is only a stone’s throw away from the city’s border so the city has continued to prepare for its eventual arrival. Before the sites were announced, WVC had already put together a Homeless Task Force in November 2016. Made up of 10-
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Economic Development Economic development within the city has blossomed over the last five years, with Pyle estimating just in the northwest section of the city it’s been over half a billion in capital investment with 2,000-3,000 jobs and another 3,000 ancillary jobs generated by development. Bigelow said it is significant growth to what the city’s seen in the past. “Compared to anywhere else in the state except Salt Lake, that’s huge,” Pyle said. He added 201 Commerce Park (approximately 4400 West and 2300 South, just north of Stonebridge golf course) also saw a number of big projects going on. But perhaps the most visible sign of progress happened in November where ground was broken for a nine-story, 225,000-squarefoot office tower built on Fairbourne Station. The tower will replace Staples and Toys “R” Us and will serve as a city center. Mark Nord, redevelopment agency (RDA) director, told the city council “this will truly be our shining star for a downtown Fairbourne Station.” For the city’s economic development, the tower will be a tangible sign of the city’s continuing progress and growth, Pyle said. The office tower, parking structure and potentially iconic bridge is part of a partnership between the city, RDA and Wasatch Commercial Management, owned by Dell Loy Hansen. Its expected completion is set for August 2019. At a ground breaking that featured Hansen, elected officials and city employees; Bigelow said this is a sign of WVC’s changing face. For a city that used to be known as a “bedroom community” where residents worked in SLC or Kennecott, it now brings a city center to them. Continued on Page 5...
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Losing is not an option #lexistrong By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
The West Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley City. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.
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During the #lexistrong softball tournament the team made and signed banners to support their teammate and her family. (Greg James/City Journals)
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he Granger High School girls softball team was blindsided by the news that their teammate, Lexi McArthur, had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). “Lexi is a bright, cheery and happy girl. She is always a bright spot to all of us. She has lots of energy and works very hard in practice and in games,” Lancer head softball coach Evan Kirschner said. “She plays second base and outfield. She loves this game and really identifies with the girls on the team. She has learned the game really well.” AML is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. Treatments can include chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. McArthur was diagnosed on April 13 and began chemo two days later. She will turn 16 on June 9. In a short two-week period, the Lancers players and coaches organized a Saturday tournament to raise funds to help with her medical expenses. “The girls felt it and were very sensitive. It has been very hard on them. We are very close as a team and have really bonded together. Our motto is all in and all out. I feel the girls have embraced that and we are close to getting to our goal,” Kirschner said. Jen Griffiths, the Lancer JV coach, and several parents organized the tournament. Teams from around the state lined up to play and support McArthur and her family. Umpires
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donated their time, a team that could not come because of prom raised money and businesses donated shirts and food. “We have had an amazing response. Chick-fil-A, Mrs. Fields, Paradise Bakery, Frito Lay, Pepsi, Tower Sports all donated lots of stuff for us. Lexi is a girl that works her butt off. (She’s) only a sophomore and asks a lot of questions. It was a horrible experience, her diagnosis, but she is very positive because of all the support she is getting,” Griffiths said. Despite the feelings of despair, McArthur’s teammates rallied together to support her. They arrived early, raked a rain-soaked field and sold concessions and T-shirts at the tournament. They have arranged visits and FaceTime her to keep her spirits high. “I was devastated, but I feel like we are playing for her now. It has made me grateful for everything in my life,” junior Aspen Earnshaw said. The Lancers lost six straight games after McArthur was hospitalized, but entering the final week of the season (press deadline) they still had an outside chance to qualify for state. “If we get a win here and there we could go to state. Our pitching has been good and we have had timely hitting. It has been a solid team effort. We have been trying to change the culture. We talk about going onto the field and being as successful as we can,” Kirschner said.
McArthur remains hospitalized after her first round of chemo. Her friends and family have set up a GoFundMe account for those who might want to help out. “Lexi’s spirit is great. The girls on the cheer team and softball teams have been so supportive of her. It is so awesome to see the support. Our softball team is part of the family,” said Angel Alires, McArthur’s mother. l
Update: Lexi McArthur’s battle with acute myeloid leukemia is on hold, she hopes permanently. In September her doctors declared her cancer in remission. She spent her summer in the hospital during and after chemo treatments. Sometimes for as many as 30 days at a time, but despite the grueling procedures she never let her spirits drop. Her friends and family stood by her living by their slogan, losing was not an option. After her final treatment she rang the bell signaling her victory over the disease. “Lexi finished her treatment in September and is back to school participating in cheer and all the other social activities she does. All she ever wanted was for this to be finished,” Angel Alires, McArthur’s mother said. l
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Learning life skills with robots: Monroe program qualified for state By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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or the first time in the program’s fiveyear existence, Monroe Elementary School saw their robotics team qualify for the state competition at Weber State University in February. “It was really cool, I felt like we were idols cause we were the first ones in this school to go to state,” said sixth-grader Evan Potts. Sixth-grade teacher and robotics coach Melissa Trujillo said students got to see what they’ve been aspiring to all year. “That was a cool experience to take the kids on the campus plus give them the experience of a higher level of robotics team,” Trujillo said. From September through January, the 10-member team (with an additional five alternates) prepared for their region competition. Trujillo said the team is judged on three things: the functioning quality of their robot, core values where the kids display their ability to work together and a five-minute presentation that included a skit written by the students. “They’ve had to learn to work together, learn to talk to professionals, they’ve had to learn how to present in front of judges. There’s just so many skills that they’ve had to be able to do,” Trujillo said. Not only did they build the attachments to the robots with LEGOs, but with the Animal Allies theme of the competition the team had to learn about their chosen animal: sea turtles. “The kids had to know everything about sea turtles, research where they live, how humans are harming them, why they’re important to the ocean,” Trujillo said. It involved creating a solution to the six-pack soda rings that sea turtles become entangled in. Students developed a solution where a cardboard box with six holders was used—no rings and the box could decompose. Made up of fifth and
Monroe Elementary robotics team qualified for the state competition at Weber State University. (Melissa Trujillo/Monroe Elementary School)
sixth graders, the team is part of the after-school program at Monroe, funded by a grant received from the Community Education Partnership. “That our school’s able to give them these opportunities, I think that’s the neatest thing,” Trujillo said. “Even if these kids don’t go to state, even being able to come together in a program like this is super cool because it’s not offered everywhere.” She added it gives students a chance to see other career opportunities besides sports. The program originally began with Utah State graduate students who were former Monroe Elementary students. After the USU students had graduated, Trujillo took over for the first time this year that saw 30 kids try out. With the team’s success, the team can expect higher numbers at tryouts next year. While the idea of building a robot was cool for the students and their coach, they said the benefits will far exceed the trophy they brought back to the school. “This is something the kids will always remember,” Trujillo said. Whether it was team work, communication, formal debates or friendship; students learned skills that
will be important for the rest of their lives. “I thought it would be a great part of my life,” said sixth-grader Abdi Mohamed of why he joined the team. “When I grow up, I’ll have more opportunities to get jobs.” Sixth-grader Caden Trujillo, son to Melissa, said many careers involve the programming skills they learned. “There’s lots of jobs out there that you need programming with like programming games, programming robots, drones, all that stuff,” Caden said. Evan said being in the program helped him improve his social skills. As a result, the group is now filled with friendships they possibly might not have had otherwise. “It combined like a lot of different people,” Caden said. “Because me and Abdi have been best friends since first grade, but other people like Evan and other people in there, we never really talked to each other, but this made us come together and be able to be friends with each other.” The three plan to continue their robotics education next year when they go to West Lake STEM Junior High School to join their team. “We’re taking them to state,” Abdi said. l
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West Valley City Journal
Whittier celebrates autism with shaving cream, Dr. Seuss, understanding By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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elanie Blackburn heard cheers when she entered the classroom. It was from her students with autism dressed in celebratory Dr. Seuss shirts. “I mean who gets to hear that at your job?” asked Blackburn, a paraeducator at Whittier Elementary School. A paraeducator is a classroom assistant that provides specialized or concentrated assistance to students. April served not only as Autism Awareness Month, but it also served as a time for celebration at Whittier Elementary School. Whittier, with its unique wraparound services for kids with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities, commemorated World Autism Day on April 7. “What we like to do is take a day like this and say these kids have unique things about them that make them special,” said Principal Lynette Golze. “We’re a better school because of having these kids.” Celebrations began in the morning with an
Students scoop rice as part of a sensory activity at Whittier Elementary where the school has an entire wing with close to 100 students with autism or other moderate to severe disabilities. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
Michelle Nielson works with a student during a sensory activity as Whittier Elementary celebrated World Autism Day. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
assembly where students from the wraparound services wing taught the rest of the school a signing song. “We love our kids to be able to see the uniqueness of these students,” Golze said. They continued with Dr. Seuss-themed sensory activities before culminating in a shaving cream sensory activity—students throw shaving cream filled balloons at each other. “That is the highlight of the year, this is bigger than Christmas for us,” Blackburn said, who helps oversee a class with lower functioning students. With awareness of autism spreading every year, it’s something Blackburn is happy to see. “It really did used to just be us who would get so excited and passionate about it,” Blackburn,
who has a child with cerebral palsy, said. “But it seems like society as a whole is getting more excited about it and realizing it doesn’t have to be this big scary thing or this huge disability.” It’s something to be celebrated, accepted and understood. “That’s the biggest thing,” said Camille Gregory, special education teacher. “Is understanding and acceptance of when things look slightly different or someone behaves slightly different it doesn’t make them less of a person.” Blackburn said the students will be successful when people stop being afraid and start celebrating them. Whether those students are launching balls of shaving cream in your direction or trying to give teachers paper hats
they made. “I’ve worked with a lot of these kids since they were in first grade and I can tell you firsthand that their progress is worth celebrating, it really is,” she said. Educators noted the development in the way students are deflating their aggression, using verbal cues or using the bathroom by themselves. “It’s a good day to celebrate how far we’ve come,” Gregory said. And celebrate they did. Students threw bean bags at plastic cups, scooped American flagcolored rice and played with Silly Putty found inside green eggs. Gregory estimated they use about 300 balloons and 20 pounds of shaving cream for the shaving cream balloon fight. Classes for the nearly 100 children take place in a separate wing from the rest of Whittier Elementary. It’s a section of the school designed to meet the needs of these students. Golze said they have private duty nurses, applied behavioral analysis rooms, functional life skills rooms, a sensory room, motor skills room, a weight room and an occupational therapy staff. “It is very unique,” said Golze, who is in her fifth year at the school. Gregory, in her third year at Whittier, said the wing is like a “small little family in its own way” and it allows her to have “the best of both worlds” with all the help. In the lower functioning class, there are nine students with a staff of eight to ensure there’s almost constant engagement, Blackburn said. Students also interact with the general education students during adaptive PE or when they are academically ready to integrate. “It’s a real benefit to have both,” Golze said. Working with these unique kids may have its challenges, but Blackburn said for the teachers and educators at Whittier, special needs is their life. “These guys, they just work so hard and their reward is all emotional,” she said. l
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WestValleyJ ournal.com “What a great time to be here today, what a great opportunity it is for our city to shine on and for others to see what is possible in Utah’s second largest city,” Bigelow said at the groundbreaking. Police and Fire WVC’s public safety experienced an eventful year. From the police department becoming the only nationally accredited force in the state to the fire department sending four firefighters to help with the wildfires in California. And that doesn’t include the one year anniversary memorial of fallen officer Cody Brotherson or that WVC is now searching for a new police chief. WVCPD was awarded the accreditation certificate in May and is considered the gold standard in law enforcement, held by fewer than five percent of police departments nationwide. The city renamed a stretch of 4100 South from 2200 West to 3600 West to Cody Brotherson Parkway. While the city has other streets named after people such as Martin Luther King Jr., this was the first named after a West Valley resident. Pyle said people have responded well to the street being renamed. “It’s a nice reminder to me of the efforts, not just of Cody and his sacrifice, but what everyone is doing out there every day.” Efforts are underway to hire a new police chief after former chief Lee Russo retired in September describing some of his achievements with the city as “some of the proudest of my career.”
It was a retirement city officials were prepared for, Pyle said, knowing this might be Russo’s last place of work. Their search for a new chief has gone nationwide with the city advertising in national publications, trade and government journals. Pyle said the goal is to have the new chief on and accepted of the job by the end of February. Bigelow expects more scrutiny from the public on this than other items of business “because of the visibility of what’s happened in the past and the accomplishments of our former chief with (accreditation).” “Having had great success there, (residents) will want us to repeat that,” he said. The mayor and city council identified public safety as its highest priority in spring 2017, primarily the police department. When city council approved the city budget in August, they authorized $1 million for police personnel (adding six more police officers) and another $350,000 for non-sworn officers. That can range from security at WestFest to relationships with the business community. While law enforcement numbers are down almost 10 percent across the state, WVC has been no exception as it struggles with recruitment and retention. Though Pyle estimated they’ve hired around 30 officers in the past year, in terms of turnover and addition. “We’ve still got a ways to go with that but we feel we’ve made some really good strides in the last year,” he said. WVCPD also purchased 192 Glock firearms
in October after discovering a defect in the Sig Sauer pistols that had been purchased the year previously. Progress on two new fire stations is right on track, Pyle said, with stations 72 and 76 being built and station 71 being remodeled. The fire department also sent four firefighters to California in October to protect homes as wildfires blazed. Those firefighters were recognized by the city council in November.
Kevin Astill retired as the director of the parks and recreation department in 2017 having started the department 32 years ago. His replacement was Nancy Day, who was serving the city’s assistant parks and recreation director and as facility director for the Family Fitness Center. “I’m proud that the city has thought enough of me to give me this opportunity. It is crazy,” Day told the Journal after her appointment.
Elections and Personnel 2017 also saw four elected seats up for grabs: mayor and city council seats for an atlarge, District 2 and 4. Mayor Ron Bigelow earned a second term over challenger Karen Lang, city councilwoman for District 3. “I was very excited for that opportunity to serve again and to actually bring to closure some of these things we’ve been working on in the city,” Bigelow said. While city councilmen Lars Nordfelt and Steve Buhler both retained their seats, respectively, newcomer Jake Fitisemanu Jr. will replace Steve Vincent, who had been on the council since 2002. “I’m honored that I’ve been selected by the community to represent them, and I’m ready to get to work,” Fitisemanu Jr. said. Of the 40,618 eligible registered voters, according to the Salt Lake County Recorder’s office, 12,976 cast a ballot which means an almost 32 percent voter turnout.
Upcoming Projects 2018 will see some projects begin or continuing into 2019. Preliminary work is in progress on three new capital facilities buildings for public safety, public works and parks and recreation. Granger Medical is set to begin its construction in 2019. Implemented in 2017, the city is running a pilot program to diminish property crimes. The Ring Program uses a security camera that turns on when its sensors are tripped by movement. A flashing red light comes on the doorbell to scare off potential criminals. Whether it’s public safety or economic development, city officials are focused on ensuring residents enjoy where they live. “That’s what it’s all about. For the residents, that’s what you’re looking for is do they consider where they live a livable and enjoyable place to be?” Pyle said. “It’s maybe the best single measure of everything we’re trying to accomplish whether that’s ED or public safety.” l
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One Voice Children’s Choir empowers youth, sows hope throughout world By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com
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n Saturday, July 8 the One Voice Children’s Choir partnered with Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks to perform a free outdoor concert at Hunter Library in West Valley City. “I knew that we wanted to serve the community out in West Valley and that was a really neat performance,” said assistant director and accompanist Anne Cecala. “I felt like it really made a impact on those kids in the audience.” Attendees were treated to patriotic and pop songs pulled from their inspiring repertoire designed to enrich the lives of their audience including “America the Beautiful” and theme songs from the Vancouver Olympics. The choir later went on to perform at the 21st annual Survivors at the Summit at Snowbird Resort to support cancer survivors from the Cancer Wellness House. They performed at Follow the Flag closing ceremonies in Pleasant Grove celebrating the flying of the largest American flag ever flown among what Cecala called a “sea of people” paying tribute to the military and servicemen and women. The One Voice Children’s Choir originated when Masa Fukuda, who had recently graduated from BYU in media music composition with Golden Key International Honor Society Certification, was asked to direct a children’s choir for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The children had so much fun that many asked to stay on and keep singing with Fukuda. “Masa has a gift working with children and they love working with him, he really does a great job of pulling po-
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The One Voice Children’s Choir performs patriotic and pop songs at the Salt Lake County Hunter Library. (Jeanette Liddell)
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WestValleyJ ournal.com tential out of kids and encouraging them and seeing their potential to start with,” said Cecala. The choir consists of 150 children, ages 4-18 singing uplifting and inspiring music that Fukuda composes or arranges and records in his home studio. Two rehearsals are scheduled every week in Lehi and Salt Lake City in order to accommodate children coming from all over the Wasatch Front, Heber, Ogden, Manti, and Wyoming. The group averages 60 performances at a variety of venues throughout their season. After a collaboration music video of the choir singing “Let It Go” with Alex Boye in 2014 went viral, they were contacted with the idea to audition for that season of “America’s Got Talent” where they would travel first to perform at the live show in Hollywood and then go on to the quarterfinals at Radio City Music Hall with the top 48 contestants. The impact on the group was significant and expanded their reach so far that they were later invited to sing at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama in 2015 and involved with Operation Underground Railroad. “I never thought that I would be meeting the people that we’ve met or we would be involved in the causes that we’ve been involved in,” said Cecala who studied choral education and vocal performance. She never realized how much she would be involved when her daughter auditioned and began performing with the choir six years ago. She believes the scope of the program has expanded exponentially. “Maybe we can carry out our mission and expand our influence on a global scale instead of just a local one.”
Thanks to the increased media exposure, the One Voice Children’s Choir was requested by the US Department of Defense to travel to France in June 2017 to perform at the D-Day Commemoration ceremonies in line with the “Families in the Military” theme. 102 kids and parent volunteers traveled to France to participate and film a music video on Omaha Beach singing the song “When You Believe.” “That was just an amazing opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Cecala, who felt that the kids were absorbing the significance of the event. “The kids were able to learn so much about World War II and D-Day that they never could have gained from their history books.” Cecala believes that the choir is there to help dreams come true while inspiring and enriching both the Utah and global community and giving the kids the chance to learn leadership, new talents and confidence. “When there’s so much negativity in the world, I just think the only thing to combat that is positivity and encouragement and hope and that’s the music that we sing,” said Cecala. The One Voice Children’s Choir is a non-profit organization funded through grants, private donations and money raised from songs bought on iTunes. For more information about the choir for upcoming events and booking, visit: http://onevoicechildrenschoir.com/. l
When there’s so much “ negativity in the world, I just think the only thing to combat that is positivity and encouragement and hope and that’s the music that we sing
”
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Update:
2017 saw a lot of new opportunities for the One Voice Children’s Choir which performed along the Wasatch Front as well as in France on Utah Beach. Along with the music video, “When You Believe” shot on Utah Beach for the D-Day celebration, the choir of more than 140 children shot a music video for the song “Symphony” by Clean Bandit and a Christmas video for “When Love Was Born” which was recorded and filmed at the Tank Center for Sonic Arts in Rangely, Colo. Director Masa Fukuda had read an article about the space—an empty and abandoned storage silo turned into a recording studio—and insisted that the children’s choir create something there. “It was a really fun and unique experience to record there,” said Susan Campbell, the new executive director since September. “‘When Love Was Born’ was a perfect fit because it’s such a melodic song. It’s a beautiful melding of the sounds.” The choir also performed at the Utah Women’s Walk when they unveiled a new statue, “Connexion” by Ben Hammond, at Thanksgiving Point on September 16. Campbell said it’s been fun to watch the whimsical process that goes into the making of music videos and that it can only take a few weeks to go from an idea to a song to recording to the video’s release. “You never know what we’re going to be doing. Sometimes we’re singing Christmas songs and other times, we’re doing Imagine Dragons covers,” said Campbell. l
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Food trucks bring local chefs to the community
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By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com
ouncing to the beat of the Red Rock Ramblers—a Salt Lake bluegrass band that sports a hammered dulcimer along with the guitar, banjo, bass, and mandolin—West Valley residents found themselves enticed by the smells of a gathering of food trucks as eclectic as West Valley itself on May 25. The meet up, which took place at Fairbourne Station, is a collaboration between West Valley City and the Food Truck League of Utah that takes place most Thursday evenings throughout the summer. “I love food trucks. During the summer, I eat at them a couple of times a month,” said West Valley native Richard Allred. The Food Truck League is a platform to connect food truck owners with events and customers along the Wasatch Front. With more than 100 active food trucks festivals, cities and private functions have an easy way to connect with the gourmet, the unusual, and the delicious with endless menu options from local chefs who can come to them. “People love to be able to buy locally and support local businesses,” said Taylor Harris, general manager of the league. “These people are so creative.” Harris, along with his business partner
and Director of Operations Todd Christiansen, saw the need to bring easier access to food trucks, both individually and on a wider scale to help build local businesses. The first Food Truck League event was in May 2015, and they have continued to grow exponentially. “We just live down the street and we always see them so we thought, ‘Hey, let’s try it out,’” said Connie Voa. “This is our first time. I think this is now our every Thursday dinner, so I don’t have to cook.” The food truck scene offers a wide variety of culinary options. Maxime Ambreza came to Utah to teach French, looked around and saw that there weren’t any other French guys making crepes and decided to open Monsieur Crepes, using his certification as crepe maker from France. “It’s my grandmother’s recipe. That’s what makes it kind of special,” said Ambreza. “And people love it so we’re happy.” His wife, Raysha, who is from Puerto Rico, thinks it’s not just the authentic crepe recipe that people come for. “More than the crepes, I think people like the experience. People come to our trailer and try to speak with him in French,” she
said. The couple started last July with just the two of them, which they soon realized was overwhelming due to high demand. “This summer we are ready, we have
more people working with us. I was inside making the crepes and now I’m outside with the people and speaking French, and people love the experience,” said Ambreza. Owning a successful food truck is a lot
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WestValleyJ ournal.com more work than people think. “People don’t realize how hard these food truck owners work. They get up early in the morning to prep their food for a three-hour event and don’t get to be done and go home until really late,” said Harris. Spencer Herrera, who runs Facil Taqueria with her chef-husband, Dallas Olson and friend Maizee Thompson, agrees that the learning curve can be the biggest obstacle to finding a groove. “It’s crazy because when you start a food truck, you’re everything. You’re the dishwasher, you’re maintenance, we’re also mechanics by owning a food truck. We became accountants, marketers,” said Herrera. “What people don’t realize is that driving around in a kitchen doesn’t make sense. We learned that bungee cords were our best friends.” Facil Taqueria is a farm-to-table concept that sources all of its produce through local farmers and uses ethically-raised meats, including using Matt Moganti of M & M Farms who also supplies the Copper Onion restau-
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your new school opening fall of 2018 Benefits Include: rant. “That’s what I love about our food truck, we’re trying to do a lot of things that a restaurant does, just out of a truck,” said Herrera. “We just try to be good to the planet and make good food.” The Food Truck League just launched a new app in 2017 called the Food Truck League Finder, across all platforms, that helps connect more people to new and favorite trucks around the valley. For information about upcoming Food Truck League events or how to schedule a catering event, go to: https://thefoodtruckleague.com. l
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Update: In 2017, Taylor Harris and Todd Christiansen have seen a boom in the food truck industry between the Food Truck Round Up in Daybreak to community festivals all over the Wasatch Front. Several food truck owners like Monsieur Crepes have also opened brick-and mortar-stores. That also includes James Veylupek of Special Courses, who won the Taste for the Space competition in Sandy. “[It has been] a really good year for food trucks with a lot of growth as people are starting to really embrace and get more familiar with the
concept of the food truck,” said Harris. The flock of food trucks offering a variety of cuisines has increased to include 150 trucks that gather or can be hired for special events. They continue to add more trucks too. Along with increasing the choices of food and getting the word out about their trucks through their new tracker app, Harris also said they have plans to roll out some exciting new plans for spring of 2018. l
(385) 275-0909 | AscentUtah.org
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Page 14 | January 2018
West Valley City Journal
One enters, two stay as residents elect city councilmen By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
J
ake Fitisemanu Jr. wanted something low-key for election night. The recently elected councilman for district four had just finished a time-consuming campaign and planned to have his family and campaign team over to the house for a laid-back evening as the results came in. Then his mom called. “She said, ‘No one else in the family had done this before. We’re going to go big, win or lose,’” Fitisemanu Jr. recalled. So his mom and aunts put together a luau with a little projector and bounce house for the kids. Then the preliminary results came in. “The place erupted in applause and we were all hugging each other. It was a really fun night,” he said. Fitisemanu Jr. beat out Lynn Sanderson 55-44 to become the first West Valley City council member of Polynesian descent. Fitisemanu Jr. is Samoan American. “I’m honored that I’ve been selected by the community to represent them, and I’m ready to get to work,” Fitisemanu Jr. said. Both candidates had beaten 16-year incumbent Steve Vincent in the August primary to reach the general election. Fitisemanu Jr., a health clinic manager, said he didn’t have political aspirations, but he was passionate about the community where he raises his kids. It was at the backing of those around him that decided to enter the race. “I really threw in my hat at the encouragement of folks around me who thought I could really do a good job of raising
Jake Fitisemanu Jr. poses for a photo with his wife and two children. Fitisemanu Jr. will represent district four on the city council. (Keil Creations Photography)
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WestValleyJ ournal.com the issues we have in the community and elevating our voices at city hall,” he said. With the full support of his family and what Fitisemanu Jr. called a “dedicated volunteer team,” he ran a campaign that saw him help a lot of people register to vote and discuss the issues people care about. “What I enjoyed most was really canvassing. I can say that I personally knocked on houses on every street in district four,” he said and later added, “it was definitely a great opportunity for me to learn more about the community that I’m now going to be representing as well as a great chance to put myself out there and let folks know who I am and what I stand for.” Fitisemanu Jr.’s campaign website focuses on safe neighborhoods, open and transparent communication and accountability. Though he will be only the new face in the city council chambers come next year, he said if there is a dynamic he could bring to the city council, it’s the reexamination of those most affected by the council’s decisions. “Maybe something fresh that I would like to inject into the city council is really to reinvigorate the council’s commitment to the communities, the individuals and to the families that elect us,” Fitisemanu Jr. said. He wants to make sure people are being engaged by the city council. “That’s a two-way street. If anything, I think that’s the most important thing.” Mayor Ron Bigelow said his advice to Fitisemanu Jr. as he enters the city council would be to both enjoy the experience and speak his mind. “Don’t be afraid to bring your comments, your experience, your background, your opinions to the table and share them. Because it will make us better,” he said. Returning incumbents While Fitisemanu Jr. brings a fresh face to the city council, voters overwhelmingly chose to keep two men in their current positions. Lars Nordfelt was re-elected to his atlarge seat defeating challenger Frank Bedolla 60-39 as Steve Buhler saw off Philip Wayman 62-37 to retain his seat as representative for district 2. “I was happy to see the results,” Buhler said. “You don’t know how many people are going to vote. You’re always concerned about it, (but) you can’t ever have too many votes.” Buhler will now enter his third term starting in January 2018. For the West Valley lawyer, who didn’t consider running in 2009 until his neighbors asked him too, it’ll be nice to get back to work after campaigning. “I like the work. I like being involved. I am committed to helping West Valley become a better place to live and work and raise a family and do business,” he said. Things Buhler is excited to see progress on over the next four years includes the new buildings planned around Fairbourne
Station, reconstruction of 4100 South and the “beautification and improvements” along 2700 West. After eight years serving as a member of the city council, Buhler said he’s learned that making changes can be time consuming since most of the city’s money is already committed for a few years. “It’s a big ship and turning it takes a lot of effort and a lot of persistence and work to try to get things in place that you want to have in place,” he said. Buhler, whose law office focuses on family law, adoptions and estate planning among other things, is known for the humor he brings to city council meetings. “I think I am serious because these things are serious to me, but I also like to see the humor in things and what people say,” Buhler said. “I think you can do hard, important work and still have fun doing it. If it wasn’t fun I wouldn’t want to be there at all.” For Nordfelt, whose father served as the city’s mayor from 2002-2010 and police chief prior to that, he was out gathering campaign signs on election night when he heard about the results. “I am excited that enough of my fellow residents expressed their confidence in me that I can continue to serve them,” Nordfelt wrote via email. Though he was gathering his signs, he probably wasn’t collecting as many as other candidates this election season.
Nordfelt is against placing campaign signs on public property throughout the city. While he admits the possibility of receiving fewer votes due to a lack of name visibility, he felt some voters appreciated him not wasting materials and littering the streets with signs. “It shows how I approach my work in the city: I care more about what is best for my city than I do about my own political career, and I am careful with the funds that I oversee,” Nordfelt said. A mathematics teacher at Park City High School for 17 years, Nordfelt said he ran to see WVC continue to improve as “a great place to live, in the near and distant future.” That’s why, of the many things he’s working on for the future of West Valley, police and sustainability are his two priorities right now. Nordfelt said he’s excited for the opportunity they have to appoint a new chief of police. “I’m committed to making sure our new chief takes our police department to the next level to serve our residents and reduce crime.” He also plans to continue his encouragement and support of the city to reduce energy consumption and air pollution, including expanding recycling, bike routes, walking trails, green construction and walkable neighborhood developments. “I love my city and I want to do my part to help West Valley City improve,” he said. l
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Page 16 | January 2018
West Valley City Journal
Hanging Around the World concert brings cultural awareness and collaboration By Keyra Kristoffersen | keyrak@mycityjournals.com
U
tah is home to many international students here to study to increase their knowledge and training so that when they return home they can apply those skills to create better futures for themselves and their families. LudoNation is an organization dedicated to assist in the process of acclimating international students and refugees to United States culture and how best to navigate what can sometimes be a complicated system. “It’s a platform for international students and refugees to come together and be involved and get accustomed to culture in the US,” said Ludovica Giusti, the founder of LudoNation. Giusti is the current title holder for Miss United Nations USA and founded LudoNation over a year ago as the service platform for the pageant because it was something she cared deeply about and finally had a loud enough voice to make people listen. “I ran for this pageant, and I promoted my foundation, and now I’m Miss Nations of the World. I own LudoNation and this is our very first big event called Hanging around the World,” said Giusti. Over 23 performers came out on July 1 to the Utah Cultural
Celebration Center to celebrate various cultures and people through music and dance including groups like Bless4, who flew in from Japan and Keilana Mokulehua, from Honolulu, Hawaii. “I’m super happy that Ludo asked me to come up here,” said Mokulehua. “This is an amazing opportunity.” Mokulehua has been singing and playing guitar for five years and began making Facebook Live videos of some of her originals songs when, she said, Giusti saw one and got in touch with her to come be a part of the festival. She loves music because, despite her shyness, performing has brought her out of her shell and allowed Mokulehua to express herself. “My dream is to build a following around the world to just promote positivity and being able to express yourself,” said Mokulehua, who is currently working on releasing her first album later in 2017 and is travelling to other countries, like New Zealand, to perform. Giusti hoped that the music festival has an impact on how different communities interact and share with each other because it’s important to her that everyone has the opportunity to share themselves but also break down walls that keep them
Participants from around the world learn more about the Kombat with Kindness movement that began at Utah Valley University. (Keyra Kristoffersen)
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January 2018 | Page 17
WestValleyJ ournal.com from great experiences. “It pushes people from other cultures and other walks of life to come together and share their talents, especially in a community that is not your own,” Giusti said. One group in attendance was Days for Girls, an organization with over 850 chapters in 100 countries throughout the world that began in 2008 as a way to make feminine hygiene kits along with educational materials to give to adolescent girls who wouldn’t have access otherwise. “A lot of the girls stop going to school, drop out after they start their periods, so giving them these kits, hopefully they can go to school, get an education, get a better position in life,” said Amy Cannon, who has been interning with Days for Girls for six months after volunteering on and off for several years before that. The kits are sewn by individuals and supplies are donated by communities and the goal is to donate kits to one million women and girls before the end of 2017. Joseph Robinson was there to represent Kombat with Kindness, a movement that started at Utah Valley University in 2016 after the Department of Homeland Security began contacting schools to help combat violent extremism and sow harmony on social media. “Basically,” said Robinson, “there’s a lot of bad out there in the world that’s broadcast through social media, so instead of
hearing all the bad that’s on social media, we think people are a lot better than that, we just want to flood the media and just combat all that darkness.” Allies of Kombat with Kindness are asked to share positive stories and images as a way to break up the negativity that has been circulating the nation at a near constant rate and believe that as Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” The Hanging Around the World event, which Giusti says she plans on having every year, was a big effort designed by herself and interns from BYU and UVU, where LudoNation is an official internship program. “We put a lot of work into this and we’re really excited it’s actually happening. We got pretty awesome performers,” said intern Caroline Serreira from UVU. Giusti said she is hoping to grow the internship program to other schools in Utah because it helps the students and the people that they work with have a purpose and feel needed in society. “People are one word away from knowing what you think, so put yourself out there and pursue your dreams,” said Giusti. To learn more about the LudoNation foundation, go to: https://www.ludonation.org/ For information about getting involved with Days for Girls, visit: https://www.daysforgirls.org/ l
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Update: Ludovica Giusti was proud of the overwhelming response to her first large cultural event, Hanging Around the World, this past summer. “To consider that that was my company’s very first out in the community cultural event, it was a great turnout,” said Giusti. Many of the artists who performed in West Valley were able to network with each other, and some are releasing Christmas music, and continue to follow their passion and inspire their communities. Giusti, with her company Ludonation, have been working on several collaborative projects, including the Legacy Initiative to collect and donate over 5,000 items of clothing to Salt Lake’s homeless population and partnering with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the 2017 Light the
World campaign. Ludonation released a music video in English, Italian and Spanish bringing focus to refugees, the homeless population and helping communities. To thin cultural stigmas and raise cultural appreciation, which Giusti said is their main mission, Ludonation will also be releasing a calendar in January 2018 called UNITE. Each month will feature Giusti and two models from 12 countries showing off traditional outerwear from countries like the Philippines. The purpose, said Giusti, is to appreciate the beauty of traditional clothing around the world. On January 6, Giusti will also be performing in Salt Lake City for African students to financially support African students in Utah and will begin taking applications for her spring 2018 internship program. l
Page 18 | January 2018
West Valley City Journal
Salt Lake County passes 2018 budget with no tax increases
Salt Lake County Mayor’s
MESSAGE
Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton
Aimee Winder Newton County Council District 3
S
alt Lake County funds a multitude of efforts throughout the valley. The largest portion of our general fund goes to criminal justice in one form or another, which includes the Adult Detention Center (county jail) and the Oxbow Jail. Between that and the many recreational amenities, regional government services, necessary elected office functions, and contributions to various efforts, the county budget can have a significant impact on a number of different issues. My priority for every budget process is the same, and I ask the following questions of each expenditure or proposal we review: 1) Is this the proper role of county government? 2) Does this invest in an area that will save taxpayer money in the long run? 3) Does this needlessly duplicate efforts already under way by another entity? 4) Is this the highest and best use of these dollars? This year, I made it clear during the budget deliberations that I would not support
a final budget that exceeded the dollar amount proposed in the Mayor’s initial budget of roughly $1.3 billion. Growth in spending, even if marginal on a year over year basis, contributes to the growth of government and eats into our fund balance (savings account). That’s why I supported $1.2 million in cuts, which would have avoided the need to dip into that fund balance, and further stave off any talk of tax increases in future budgets. Since the final budget exceeded the Mayor’s recommendation by more than $360,000, and there were still plenty of prudent cuts we could have made to avoid using fund balance, ultimately I decided to vote against the budget. The budget passed on a 5-4 vote, with a majority of council members voting in favor. My goal is to always ensure that every taxpayer dollar we spend is used wisely, efficiently, and allocated through a transparent process. This budget process was certainly transparent, and includes
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many prudent expenditures in line with county priorities. Though I opposed the final version of the budget for the reasons mentioned above, I still appreciate the noteworthy and important items we were able to fund. First and foremost, our budget provides funding to fully open the Oxbow Jail. This, combined with optimizing the jail bed space at the Adult Detention Center will have a significant impact on criminal justice challenges in the county. Having sufficient jail bed space so our law enforcement officers can arrest offenders and have a place to take them is vital. Resources for more beds gives officers this tool as they do their jobs to keep our streets free from dangerous or disruptive individuals. Coupled with the council’s support of and funding for treatment beds, this improvement will yield tangible benefits for reducing crime and drug use in our communities. These are needed components
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of Operation Rio Grande and, along with other investment in our criminal justice system, will go a long way to positively impact neighborhoods negatively affected by crime. This will also better equip the county to connect people trapped in homelessness or drug addiction with needed treatment and resources to help their situation. Most importantly to me, this budget accomplishes all of these goals without a tax increase. I will always be committed to doing whatever we can to find areas to trim unnecessary county spending, finding more efficient ways to use the funding we already do have, before asking taxpayers for an increase. I voted to refrain from the temptation of using fund balance to pay for add-ons to the budget in large part to prevent a future tax increase for as long as possible. I’m confident that 2018 will be a great year, and I look forward to all the good things to come in Salt Lake County. l
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WestValleyJ ournal.com
Outliers hockey makes home in West Valley
H
By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
ockey players from around the world have joined forces at the Accord Ice Center in West Valley. The Utah Outliers began their third season in 2017 as a member of the Western States Hockey League. “We are a tier two junior team. Many of our players will move on to play college hockey or they could get drafted (into the NHL), that is our goal. We want these kids to move to the next level. We want to be a part of their process,” Outliers Director of Player Development Kevin McCloskey said. Last season, 10 Outlier players moved on to new opportunities at colleges in the United States and Europe and professional teams in foreign countries. Players in the league range in age from 1620 years old. Some attend on- Goalie Otto Saxin captured his first win of the season against the South Oregon Spartans 6-1. (Action Sports Photography) line high school classes or college courses. Two players are “I think we were a little inconsistent at times. We could attending college courses at Salt Lake Community College. have finished our chances a little better and scored a lot “We have a lot of really good players. We have high-end more. Sometimes when we get a lead early we tend to take players that are being sought after. From a skill level, we our foot off the gas,” Taylor said. have a big team that has size and aggressiveness. This team Taylor and McClosky along with the team staff have is very exciting,” head coach Paul Taylor said. recruited players from five different countries including LatThe team plays its home games at the Accord Ice Center via, Russia, Canada and Sweden to make up the roster. The in West Valley. The games resemble a professional atmo- amateur players train three hours a day at an off-ice training sphere. There is music, a pep band, promotions, concessions facility and spend two hours on the ice in the afternoon. and souvenirs. “The team is very driven and determined. These guys They started the season off splitting their first six games, are young guys, but they are very serious. They have moved three wins and three losses. They opened the season against from all over the world to play here and get this chance,” their rivals the Ogden Mustangs Sept. 29-30. They dropped Taylor said. the first game 6-5 and pulled out a victory in the second The Outliers next home game is scheduled for Nov. 3 3-2. In its second weekend series, they traveled to Denver, against the Casper Coyotes. A full schedule and more inforColorado and played the Colorado Jr. Eagles taking one of mation can be found on the team’s website www.utahoutlithree games. ers.com l “The expectation is for us to be a top team. It takes some time for the team to come together and get used to Update: each other’s tendencies and style. We are demanding about puck possession and it takes some skill to master,” Taylor The Western States Hockey League is approaching the said. halfway point of the season and the Utah Outliers currently Brandon Krumpshmid leads the team after its first six stand in second place with 18 wins and only five losses. games with four goals. Zack Hoffman, Gianni Vitali and Twenty-two different Outliers have scored goals and every player has at least three assists. Kane Toriumi leads the Dylan Massie each have five assists. potent Outlier attack with 15 goals. Gianni Vitali and Zack In the team’s first home game, Oct. 13, the Outliers polHoffman have 24 assists. Defensively, the team ranks fourth in ished off the visiting South Oregon Spartans 6-1. The Outgoals allowed with only 1.8 per game. liers controlled the puck from the opening faceoff netting Three capable goaltenders have shared time between the three goals in the first period, one in the second and two pipes and are among the league leaders. Newcomer Trenton more in the final stanza. Wendt has two wins. Dawson Rodin and Otto Saxin each have “Tonight was a mental test for our goalkeeper to stay eight wins. Saxin has stopped 93 percent of shots against him, alert when the game was so quiet for so long. He made some Rodin 94. big saves,” Taylor said. The Outliers are undefeated at home this season. They Goalkeeper Otto Saxin faced only 10 shots the entire defend their 10-0 record again Jan. 19-21 at the Accord Ice game. The lone Spartans goal came from a mishandled puck Arena in West Valley against the Superior Rough Riders. l at center ice that the defender was able to misdirect towards the net.
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January 2018 | Page 19
WestValleyJ ournal.com
Checkered flags fly for young driver
T
By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com
o race a car fast, a driver’s license is not necessary, apparently. Chaz Groat is making a name for himself on the threeeighths mile oval at Rocky Mountain Raceway. At 13 years old it is not legal for him to be behind the wheel of a car on the streets, but at the track he is beating more experienced and older drivers. “We are a racing family. I have been around racing for a long time. He ran a go kart out at the Larry H. Miller track for two years starting when he was four years old. Soon after that RMR (Rocky Mountain Raceway) started the quarter midget program for kids, he progressed up through that program,” said Chaz’s father Chuck Groat. In the quarter midget program at RMR the cars are generally half the size of a normal midget race car and run in classes with engine restriction rules. Drivers range in age from 5-16 years old. Last summer Chaz moved into a junior stinger class on the larger oval. This class is for drivers age 12-16. He said he always wanted to drive a midget car. After some discussion with officials the age was lowered to match what other Intermountain race tracks were offering and Chaz found a car. “I joke with my wife that I feel like I am completely helpless. I just sit back and try to watch him do what he does,” Chuck said. In 2016, he was invited to Meridian Raceway in Boise, Idaho to race for the first time in his midget car. He also ran his car in Pocatello, Idaho. His first main event victory came at Meridian. This season will be his first complete season in the racing class and he has made the most of his opportunity. Midget cars run a Ford Focus alcohol-injected engine. At this altitude it generally has about 155 horsepower and weighs about 1,100 lbs. The engine is sealed and cannot be tampered
with. The competitive edge comes from suspension set up and setting up the fuel. Chuck owns two complete cars. He has raced alongside his son. Chaz’s racing career is funded by his parents. He also is sponsored by Powder Works Powder Coating and Roto Grip Bowling Balls. “He kicked my butt. It was thrilling to watch. I figured this was his first year and he should just get some seat time. He has taken to it. I think it took me three years to get my first win,” Chuck said. Chaz captured his first main event victory Aug. 5. He was fast qualifier and started the main near the back of the pack. He patiently made his move towards the front. At one point he was nose-to-tail with his father, passing him with about five laps remaining in the event. Natalie Waters has followed Chaz’s same path in the series. Waters is also 13 years old and lives in West Jordan. “From a dad perspective I think these kids are doing something amazing. People should come watch what they are doing in these race cars,” Chuck said. They plan on going to the Bullring in Las Vegas at the end of October. “I really just look for the best opportunity. I watch the cars around me and try to figure out the best way to get around the track. It was an amazing feeling to win the main. We have an amazing car. My dad is my favorite race car driver it has to be,” Chaz said. Chaz is in eighth grade and attends Kennedy Junior High in West Valley. He is the son of Chuck and Julie Groat. “The thrill of it is amazing. Going 100 miles-per-hour down the track at RMR, it is exciting,” Chaz said. l
Update:
Natalie Waters is amongst the youngest drivers on the oval at Rocky Mountain Raceway. (Creative Resource & Design)
Chaz Groat captured his first-ever class championship this summer at Rocky Mountain Raceway. The 13-year-old Groat was in second place headed into the season’s final weekend Sept. 16. His deficit was just four points. A main event victory would secure enough points to capture the championship. That night he qualified fourth fastest with a 15.854 second lap around the ⅜-mile oval. In the heat race he started fourth, but by lap six he had moved into the lead. In the 20-lap main event, Groat started second and by lap 11 he had taken over the lead. His father Chuck finished second just .182 of a second behind him, securing a midget class championship. On Nov. 18 he took his midget car to Las Vegas, Nev. and competed in the West Coast Short Track Championships. He placed 14th out of 18 drivers at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On Dec. 7 Rocky Mountain Raceway announced they would close following the 2018 racing season. l
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January 2018 | Page 21
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Page 22 | January 2018
West Valley City Journal
How to beat the January Blues
by
JOANI TAYLOR
Christmas is over, money is tight and our waistbands are even tighter. We can’t help but feel a little let down. After eating too much, spending too much and maybe a few too many parties for many people January means buckling up the spending and the prospect of hitting the gym. I can’t help but feel a little bleak however, this year I’m determined to have the best January yet without breaking the bank. Here are some things I’ve got planned for the month that build up the cheer and won’t demolish the budget. Check out the Wildlife - Hogle Zoo is free the last Wednesday of the month from November through February (January 31 and February 28 2018). Plus, Tracy Aviary offers $1 admission the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month through March. Go to a Hockey Game – The Grizzlies play at the Maverick Center in WVC through April. If you’ve never been to a hockey games, they are fast paced and exciting! You can
get discounted tickets for $6.50 a person at UtahCoupons.com. Get Outside - There is nothing quite like a brisk walk in our beautiful surroundings to blow away the cobwebs and beat the winter city air. Visit one of our National Parks. They are much less busy than during the summer months and just as beautiful. For more information about Utah’s National Parks in winter go to www.visitutah.com/ places-to-go/most-visited-parks/national-parks-in-winter Volunteer – When the holiday’s end the giving shouldn’t. In fact the need is higher for volunteers in January then any other time of year. There are plenty of opportunities all around us like the food bank, animal shelters, elementary schools or just take a minute to shovel someone’s driveway after a storm. Plan a Vacation - Part of the joy of Christmas is all the planning, preparation, and excitement leading up to it. Now is a great time to start to plan a summer family vacation. A vacation to look forward to can
Go to a Hockey Game- The Grizzlies play at the Maverik Center through April.
help you overcome some of the post-Christmas blues and starting to plan early makes it easier to save for it too. Cook! Pretty much everyone seems to be on a health kick in January, so you may as well make it fun. Put on a bright colored apron
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January 2018 | Page 23
WestValleyJ ournal.com
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
SOUTH JORDAN
Virtual Competition
W
e all have that one friend whose life could be a Hallmark movie. She spends her days organizing family sing-a-longs, has slow-motion snowball fights, and she snuggles with her family by the fireplace, drinking cocoa and wearing matching pajamas. The Golden Retriever has a matching neckerchief. And the toddler doesn’t spill hot chocolate on the white, plush velvet couch. This woman is too amazing to hate. I imagine she cries one beautiful tear that rolls slowly down her cheek as she ponders her incredible existence. The soundtrack to her life would be all violins and cellos. My life’s soundtrack is basically a record scratch. So how do I know this perfect woman with her perfect hair and her perfect family and her perfect life? I follow her on social media. (Stalking is such a harsh word.) She posts pictures of her family cheerfully eating dinner that didn’t come from a freezer box, or shares a video as she dances out the door in a slinky red dress that she’s wearing to a charity event where she’ll donate her time to help orphaned goats in Uzbekistan. I’ve never owned a slinky red dress.
I’ve never saved orphaned goats. This woman has a circle of friends that travel to spa retreats and spiritual workshops. I imagine them talking on the phone, laughing at the extraordinary circumstances that allowed them to live on this planet with such good fortune. My friends need to ramp up their game. Her Instagram feed is an advertisement for excellence. Her children willingly pose for family photos, her redecorated bathroom (that she did for less than $50) is chic and stylish. My family photoshoots turn into a fistfight, and my effort at redecorating my bathroom consisted of a sloppy repaint in a color that was supposed to be “seafoam green,” but looks more like “hospital lunchroom.” Her LinkedIn profile. . . (Okay, I admit it. This sounds suspiciously like stalking.) Her LinkedIn profile is a list of accomplishments that makes me wonder if she has a body double. She sits on charity boards (hence, the Uzbek goats), founded her own company and has won several awards. It took me three weeks to write a LinkedIn profile because I had nothing to say. Good thing I have experience in cre-
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Page 24 | January 2018
West Valley City Journal
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