June 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 06
FREE BARELY SURVIVING ITS BIRTH IN 1980, WEST VALLEY HAS BECOME A STRONG, HEALTHY ADULT By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
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t was July 1, 1980 in America and a campaign was well underway that would lead to the election of Ronald Reagan in November as the 40th president of the United States. July also saw the start of the Summer Olympics in Moscow that the U.S. and a host of other countries would boycott because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best-selling car in America that year. Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up” topped the Billboard pop chart. “M*A*S*H” and “Three’s Company” tied for the highest-rated TV shows that week. Weeks earlier, the Jazz finished their first season in Utah after relocating from New Orleans. Oh, and West Valley City was born. Yes, it was 40 years ago on July 1 that West Valley City became an incorporated municipality. By the slimmest of margins in February 1980, voters in the communities of Granger, Hunter and Redwood cast their ballots in favor of cityhood and of determining the fledgling city’s future course instead of Salt Lake County government. Undaunted, opponents of incorporation quickly gathered enough petition signatures to put the matter of undoing the election results to another vote just a week later, on July 8. It failed and West Valley City could look to the future with surety. It was rough going at first. Money was tight, but as time went on, West Valley began to gain its financial footing and by the start of the 1990s, it was on a solid foundation that continues today. Recent years have seen unprecedented residential, commercial and industrial growth that has nearly
West Valley City turns 40 this year, having incorporated as a municipality on July 1, 1980. There is a tentatively scheduled 80’s theme celebration scheduled for July 1 at City Hall. (Photo by Kevin Conde)
doubled the city’s population of 72,000 in 1980 to almost 140,000 today, making it Utah’s second-largest city. As West Valley City turns 40, here is a look at some of the key events that have shaped what the city is today: 1983 - Pioneer Valley Hospital opened, The facility still stands today under the name of Jordan Valley Medical Cen-
ter-West Valley Campus. 1990 - The current city hall was built. The city cashflowed the construction—an indication of how financial times improved—and finally had a permanent home instead of the converted warehouse it used the previous decade to house government operations. Continued page 5
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I was tested for COVID-19. It was a lot easier than I expected By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com
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or a week, just as I was drifting off to sleep, my body seemed to forget how to breathe and I’d jolt awake, gasping. My husband suggested maybe I was developing sleep apnea. A friend said it sounded like asthma. I didn’t rule either of them out, but I also knew shortness of breath is one of the indicators of COVID-19. I didn’t have any other symptoms. Still, I wanted to rule it out while I sought other treatment. I decided to get tested. The morning of April 27, after a bad night’s sleep, I downloaded the app Healthy Together, which I’d seen friends mention on social media. I gave it basic information (my age and gender), and it asked me to identify my symptoms. Yes, I was experiencing “new or increased shortness of breath,” and yes, I felt short of breath while sitting or resting. The app said I needed to be tested for COVID-19. Since I’d indicated that I preferred to be treated in the Intermountain Healthcare System, and Intermountain performs telephone screenings, I was given a number to call before being approved for a test. I prepared to explain over the phone specifically what I was experiencing and justify why I wanted a test even though I was pretty sure it wasn’t COVID — but the Intermountain employee
didn’t ask me about any of that. Instead, we ran through the same list of symptoms the app had asked about. Yes, I did feel short of breath; no, I didn’t have fever, muscle aches, sore throat or diarrhea. After I gave my address, she told me the nearest testing facility was the Alta View InstaCare. She put my name on the list for testing that day, so I could have a drive-through test any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. My call ended at about 8:45 a.m., so I left for InstaCare right away. Signs in the parking lot pointed me in the direction of the drive-through testing site. I pulled into a numbered parking stall beneath a tent, where a posted sign gave me a number to call when I arrived. Over the phone, the employee confirmed my name, birth date, insurance information (though testing is free to all Utah residents, insured or not), and which stall I was in. Within minutes of hanging up, I saw a man in full protective gear at my window. This was the part I was nervous about: I’d heard the test was a nasal swab that went painfully deep. The tester asked me to look straight ahead with my head against my headrest. What followed was something like having my brain briefly dusted with a pipe cleaner; I forced myself not to sneeze or jerk away. It wasn’t terribly comfortable, but it
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was quick — just a few seconds in each nostril. Less than 10 minutes after I had pulled into the parking lot, I was on my way home, a tickle in my nose but no residual pain. Between the telephone screener, the tester, and the information packet I’d been given in the Instacare parking lot, I was told I would either receive my test results via phone call in three to five, five to seven or five to 10 days. I was tested on April 27 (a Monday); one week later, I still hadn’t received a call. However, by Wednesday morning, I was able to see my lab results using Intermountain’s online MyHealth portal. As I expected, SARS-Cov-2 (more commonly known as the coronavirus) was “not detected.” My results had taken less than 48 hours. Happily, I have joined the ranks of the 95% of Utahns tested for COVID-19 whose test was negative. Given the horror stories of inadequate testing across the country, I was pleasantly surprised by how quick and hassle-free the process was for me personally. No longer are tests being restricted to those who have recently traveled to China or Italy, who have come in contact with a known infected person, or who appear in the emergency room in severe respiratory distress. I was fortunate to receive a test simply because I asked for one. Given that widespread avail-
The state of Utah ranks fifth in the nation for percentage of the population tested for COVID-19, one sign that made officials comfortable loosening restrictions as long as people take precautions like wearing masks in public places. (Photo by Engin Akyurt)
ability of testing will be a prerequisite for safely reopening our state and resuming normal life, this seems like a hopeful sign. l
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West Valley City Journal
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Grizzlies end season on top, ready for next year By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com year for the team. “Overall, I am extremely pleased with this season,” Grizzlies head coach and general manager Tim Branham said. “We had an amazing group of young men who did wonderful things on and off the ice. We had a real good chance of making a long playoff run and it’s disappointing that the players don’t get that chance. They really believed in themselves.” At the time of the season suspension and eventual cancellation, the Grizzlies stood tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the East Coast Hockey League. Their .637 winning percentage was the best in franchise history. This was the second season of the team’s working agreement with the Colorado Avalanche. Under the agreement the National Hockey League team supplements the Grizzly roster with their contracted players. Forward Ty Lewis led the team with 25 goals. He scored four goals in one game Dec. 17. The team scored 207 on the season highlighted by a 10-goal game against the Allen Americans in November, the most goals they had scored in a game since 1995 against the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League. That night eight different players tallied a goal or an assist. Josh Dickson had a hat trick (three goals). Forward Tim McGauley led the league with 42 assists and was second in scoring with 62 points overall (assists plus goals). In December, the team posted nine wins, one loss and two ties. During the December run, the team went from last place to first. The players assigned to the Grizzlies Utah Grizzly forward Tim McGauley led the East Coast Hockey League with 42 assists. (Photo courtesy Utah play at this level to showcase their talent. The Grizzlies Hockey) abrupt ending to the season could sidetrack many hopeful careers, but Branham is hopehe Utah Grizzlies Hockey season end- sporting events in this country, but before ev- ful it doesn’t. ed abruptly on March 14, as did most erything was canceled it was an unforgettable “The end was extremely disappointing.
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When you work as hard as the players did all year, giving so much blood, sweat and tears. It’s hard to see it end without any closure. I think it is too soon to tell how things will affect them, time will tell. I loved this team and hope every one of them is back next season,” Branham said. On Dec. 12, the Grizzlies acquired goaltender Martin Oueluette from the Atlanta Gladiators. He was awarded ECHL goaltender of the week in his first week with the club. He stopped 51 of 53 shots against the highest scoring team in the league. In 28 games with the club he allowed only 2.16 goals per game and had a .921 save percentage. The Grizzlies had qualified for the playoffs if the season had not been canceled. This would have made 12 of the past 13 seasons they have made the postseason. Branham has compiled 249 wins over seven seasons. He is the winningest coach in franchise history. This year a total of 37 players logged time with the team including five goaltenders. Hunter Miska began the year with the team and eventually spent time with the Avalanche in the NHL. As of press deadline, the future of the team and its players is up in the air. “I am in the dark just like everyone else,” Branham said about beginning the season on time. “I believe everyone is waiting on direction from the NHL, but we are extremely hopeful that we will have hockey in Utah next season and it will start on time. The support that we get from our fans is tremendous. We could not do it without them. The passion that they bring each and every night really energizes the boys.” The 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin in October, but the league is waiting for direction from local authorities before a final decision is made. l
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Continued from front page 1997 - The E Center opened as an additional area venue to host concerts, sporting and other events. Now called the Maverik Center, it is the home of the Utah Grizzlies minor league hockey team, which moved to West Valley City from Denver the previous year. The arena had its moment on the world stage when it hosted ice hockey during the 2002 Winter Olympics. 1999 - The West Valley City Family Fitness Center opened. The facility and surrounding Centennial Park gave the city a centrally located recreation and social gathering spot. Its presence spurred the development of nearby vacant fields into homes and commercial development, making the 5600 West corridor one of the busiest in the city. 2003 - The Utah Cultural Celebration Center opened its doors. It is a key city venue for theater productions, concerts and a variety of cultural events to celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of West Valley City. 2010 - Valley Fair Mall, which opened in 1970, underwent a complete makeover, including the renovation of the indoor portion of the shopping center and the addition of an outdoor component of eateries and specialty shops. 2011/2012 - The UTA TRAX and bus hub known as West Valley Central Station opened near City Hall and marked the start of a development called Fairbourne Station.
It now includes multifamily housing, a public parking structure, the city’s new police department building (2019), Granger Medical Clinic (2020), and an office and commercial tower that should be completed this year as the city’s tallest building. It’s all part of an effort to create a “downtown” core for West Valley City. 2019 - The ribbon was cut on the aforementioned police headquarters building. The structure marks the first time in West Valley’s history that the department has had a place to call its own with all the attendant state-of-the-art resources needed for policing Utah’s second-most populous city. The police department previously shared a building with the fire department. 2020 - It began several years ago and has exploded lately with construction underway seemingly everywhere in West Valley City’s northwest quadrant—a corridor of light industrial buildings, making the city a growing hotspot for warehouses and associated transportation to move goods in and out of those facilities to and from points all over the western U.S. and beyond. There are, of course, many other milestones and events that have occurred since 1980 that have transformed the city from barely surviving at birth to a mature adult that has grown to be strong and healthy four decades later. Happy 40th birthday, West Valley City. l
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When our state government took action to protect Utahns from COVID19, there wasn’t time to go through all the regular steps of legislative deliberation. That’s what emergency proclamations are for; they define situations that allow executive officials to take quick steps for the health and safety of the population. Even then, there are requirements and limits under such declarations, and we trust leaders to act with good information and the integrity of their office. We must be able to trust leaders in emergencies. We want to be able to trust them at all times. That is why elected leaders must be clear and open in their positions of representation and leadership, even in times of no emergency. That is why seeing and understanding elected officials’ actions is a primary consideration in voting. As the state pandemic response developed and we could note more details, some of us elected officials grew concerned about expenditures on questionable items, products and processes that didn’t align with valid information or with the guidance of our state public health or economic
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June 2020 | Page 5
Utah graduates showered with love in special Adopt a Utah Senior project By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com
Bingham senior Haley DelAndrae was adopted and her family adopted another senior as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior project. (Photo courtesy Kimmie DelAndrae)
H
igh school seniors across the Salt Lake valley are sharing a common experience they never anticipated…graduation during a pandemic. Although every school district is handling the end of the year differently, there is no doubt that the class of 2020 is not getting the graduation they dreamed of or deserve. One Utah mom is trying to soften the blow of unmet expectations through a project called Adopt a Utah Senior and teens across the valley and state are being recognized by strangers in a very special way. Monica Kennedy from Erda, Utah saw what her senior daughter Paige was experiencing and wanted to make a difference for all high school seniors. “I was really sad for my own senior,” Kennedy said. “I reached out to family and friends for ideas to get some excitement into this season because I can’t make up for the stuff she’s missed out on.” Modeling a Facebook group after a similar one in Alaska, Kennedy started the Adopt a Utah Senior project which has paired over 2,500 seniors with “adoptive” individuals and families. Parents or legal guardians share pictures and information about their high school graduates, and angel adopters offer to recognize the senior with cards and/or gifts. Once they are paired, the adopter is encour-
Page 6 | June 2020
aged to send or deliver something to the grad within two weeks. Kimmy DelAndrae posted about her daughter Haley who is graduating from Bingham High School. After reading posts from other parents she decided she wanted to adopt another senior. “I wish I could adopt every one of these kids,” DelAndrae said. “They are missing so much. I want to let them know that one, they are not alone and two, everyone is rooting for them. The whole thing just made my heart so happy.” Haley helped her mom pick out another senior and together they put together a gift basket for him. “It was a really fun experience to get one and to give one,” said Haley DelAndrae. Luke Vickery, a senior at Alta High School, was adopted by Shalysa Meier from West Valley City. Meier also adopted two other seniors. “Anytime I see a good thing it is a no-brainer to be a part of it,” Meier said. “Not only do I feel it impacted seniors on the receiving end, it brightened my spirits on my end. It gave me something to look forward to and a project I could do to spread kindness beyond my social circle.” “As seniors, it’s a bummer we don’t get
Shalysa Meier gave a personalized gift basket to Alta senior Luke Vickery as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior project. (Photo courtesy of Kourtney Vickery)
to experience the traditions that most people do,” Vickery said. “Everyone is trying to make a difference and [the Adopt a Senior Project] is a really cool way that people are doing something for our class to brighten our days. It’s really cool.” Luke’s mom Kourtney, said she can’t believe how generous people have been. “I love reading the kids’ stories and seeing the things they are involved in,” Kourtney Vickery said. “[The project] is giving people a chance to forget about what’s going on, all of the negative stuff in the world, and focus on other people. It is a bright spot I think.” Kennedy said she was overwhelmed at how quickly the Facebook group grew. Along with a team of eight other volunteers, she is spending many hours a day trying to make sure each senior is accounted for and matched to an individual or family. “There is a lot of work involved,” Kennedy said. “We watch for posts that come in, make sure they have correct information including their high school and make sure they are posted by a parent or legal guardian. We tag them so it is easier for people to find who hasn’t been adopted and answer a lot of questions.” Kennedy said the stories and pictures that come from the adoptions have been
heartwarming. “I love it when they find a common interest,” Kennedy said. “We will get emails with people who want to find someone who plays a certain sport or went to the high school they went to. We have people adopting from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. It isn’t about getting stuff, it’s about cheering up the class of 2020.” Just like all good things, Adopt a Utah Senior must end. Kennedy said they will take their last senior on May 23 and allow 24 more hours for adoptions to be finalized. The following week they plan to allow gratitude posts. Kennedy isn’t worried about any of the graduates not being adopted because of all of the generosity she has seen so far. “Anytime we’ve gone on and said we need angels to take a referred senior we’ve had so much support,” Kennedy said. She is sad to see the project come to an end. “There has been so much love and random kindness,” Kennedy said. “It’s been so awesome to see smiles on these kids’ faces that have had so much taken away.” l
West Valley City Journal
More traffic on local trails as residents seek escape By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com
S
alt Lake County’s trails have afforded residents a nearby escape from COVID-19 restrictions. While crowded routes have added waste and social distancing concerns, they have also helped grow community appreciation of local trails. Mitt Stewart and members of the Wasatch Trail Run Series still hold out hope for some form of in-person running events later in the summer. Meanwhile, they have taken their popular series online. Stewart has worked on developing an online feature that will enable people to find challenges and trail routes to run, log their times, and compete with others. “The whole reason for doing this is to offer people some connection while we’re not connected,” Stewart said. “We’ll be running virtual races.” To do that, people can look up the race route and take it on individually. They can then submit verification of their effort using their favorite fitness app. Stewart hopes to help people connect as a running and biking community while they maintain a safe distance. Keeping that distance has been a challenge with increased trail usage. “Any increase in trail or usage is anecdotal, but it is clear that our public spac-
es have been a place of refuge during this time,” said Clayton J. Scrivner of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. “Last month we launched our ‘Be Park Smart, Stay Apart’ campaign that is designed to educate users of
our public spaces on responsible use according to current health guidelines.” Stewart has noticed the increased traffic on the trails as well. While more people on the trails can create problems, it also gives
people throughout the community a healthy outdoor activity. “A big reason to go out is to have solitude, so that’s been a bit of a buzzkill,” Stewart said. “On the flipside, it’s healthy and good for people.” Stewart likes the idea of people connecting by sharing their appreciation of local trails and their achievements on them. He also thinks measures could be taken to help vulnerable members of the community enjoy the trails. More signage at trailheads instructing people on trail etiquette and social distancing could help, he said. Stewart would also like to see special hours set aside for the elderly to enjoy trails without the crowds. Those crowds have plenty to enjoy, though. “Salt Lake County maintains over 100 miles of trails and pathways,” Scrivner said. “Jordan Parkway, Dimple Dell, Rose and Yellow Fork Canyons, Parley’s, and Utah and Salt Lake Canal trails are the most extensive.” While increased trail use has produced things like more garbage and animal waste bags left behind, it has also helped the community through unprecedented times. “People need to get out and exercise,” Runners have been able to connect online until they can race together in person again. (Photo courtesy of Stewart said. “It’s a great way to keep people Mitt Stewart) motivated.” l
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Courage never quits for this newly retired teacher By Kathryn Elizabeth Jones | k.jones@mycityjournals.com
Jackling Elementary teacher Linda Williams has a deep appreciation for kids. “This is my calling in life,” she said. “I am so lucky.” (Photo courtesy Linda Williams)
“
You don’t really have to change until you have to.” That’s what Linda K. Williams, who has just finished her last year as a fourth-grade teacher at Jackling Elementary and is retiring this year, said as school was coming to a close.
Williams has been teaching school since 1979. Her first stint was as a ninth-grade teacher of English in southern Idaho. “I was clueless,” she said. “I was given a class who was predicted to fail. They were in the high risk, gray area, and it was up to me to straighten things out.”
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When the current teacher quit right before Christmas, she was asked if she could take over the class. The previous teacher was afraid to teach junior high. “Let me at them,” Williams recalled. She has been a teacher ever since. Though Williams has taught kindergarten, first, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, she said her favorite grade has to be fourth. But she didn’t know that fourth-graders were her favorite age group until “I wasn’t teaching fourth,” she said. “Fourth graders are independent thinkers, but they’re not quite teenagers yet.” Williams believes all children have an “infinite possibility” to be great. She throws down the “labels” they many have come with and gets to know each member of her class as an individual. “It’s such a privilege,” she said. Williams has had many students see themselves differently after being taught in her class, and many of these students she’s watched grow into successful members of society. “They are successful as an adult, successful as a parent,” she said. When the recent COVID-19 outbreak shut her school’s doors, Williams was surprised along with everyone else.
“I didn’t even have a map,” she said. Things were tough in the beginning — planning, the delivery of materials, connecting online and making sure her students felt like they were a part of a class that was no longer physically together. Eighty percent of Williams’ class has made contact with her since her class has gone online. And those who have, have been able to “work at their own pace.” “They are currently operating like kids a lot older,” Williams said. Williams doesn’t miss the bullying and behavior problems within the school settings she’s experienced for many years now. She feels sure that though the end of this school year is quite different than what she has experienced previously, including the fact that this is her last year, that her students are taking on this new experience with positivity and courage. “I am so fortunate to have had the wonderful class I’ve had this year. We’re going through this historic time together. I love them. I will miss the large groups of kids I am used to teaching and my wonderful colleagues, but I plan on staying connected. How grateful I am to Granite School District for the experience.” l
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West Valley City Journal
COVID-19 helps shelter pets in West Valley City get new homes By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
Following a rush to adopt and foster pets, this dog was one of the few remaining residents at the West Valley City Animal Shelter during the local peak of the coronavirus pandemic. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
W
hile the spread of COVID-19 has taken a toll on humans in a variety of ways, it has been a boon to man’s best friend and its feline counterpart. Mirroring a nationwide trend during the
peak of the pandemic, West Valley City Animal Services had nearly all of its dogs and a smaller but sizable number of cats go to new homes as either adopted or foster pets. The period of March 28 to April 30 saw 98 dogs and cats walk out with new owners to begin life outside the animal shelter. That is nearly double the 54 that were adopted or fostered during the same period in 2019. The vast majority were dogs. West Valley City Animal Services director Maranda Weathermon says a combination of coronavirus-induced factors unleashed the demand for furry companions. One is that adults and children were working and schooling from home because of the “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive in effect at the time which gave them an earlier-than-usual jump on the summertime spike in pet adoptions. “It’s the perfect time to get a new dog and get them acclimated to their new home before they go back to work,” Weathermon said. Another motive: “Some people just needed an excuse to get a second dog,” she said with a laugh. Weathermon said that before leaving the animal shelter, new pet owners are counseled on caring for their four-legged additions to make the pairing a mutually satisfying, longterm relationship. “This isn’t just a coronavi-
rus pandemic puppy. We’re trying to educate people on how to prepare their dogs for going home, for being alone,” when their human family members return to work, school and other normal routines. Weathermon hopes to avoid situations where the novelty and commitment fade and dogs and other pets are returned to the shelter. After the run on adoptive and foster pets, the West Valley animal shelter was down to just three dogs in its kennels. The shelter received new canine residents from the Salt Lake City operations of Best Friends Animal Society, the national no-kill animal sanctuary based in Kanab. The local office has channeled hundreds of companion animals from Kanab and other shelters unable to care for them because of COVID-19 closures or lack of resources to facilities that had high demand for pets, West Valley among them. Temma Martin, spokeswoman for Best Friends Animal Society, said Best Friends in Salt Lake City saw 329 pets adopted from March 13 to April 21, compared to 90 during the same time frame in 2019. That five-week period this year had 564 animals enter foster care. It was just 132 a year ago. “This has represented an amazing opportunity to get pets out of shelters and into foster homes, which is good for both the pets
and the people. We expect that many people will get attached to their foster pets and discover that they enjoy having a pet around and choose to adopt in the coming weeks or months, if they haven’t already,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “A lot of people are fostering or adopting for the first time or just choosing this time to do it, because it is a convenient time to bring an animal into the home,” Martin said. Prospective adopters get to know more about the pets they are interested in by way of video “meet and greets.” “The potential adopter can ask all the questions to the foster caregiver and learn all about the animal, how it behaves in a home, and what it likes and doesn’t like,” she said. The rush to fetch a new pet is not just a local phenomenon. Animal welfare organizations and shelters around the country reported a sharp rise in pet adoptions and fostering, largely for the same reasons cited by the West Valley shelter. Despite the circumstances that brought it on, Weathermon is pleased with the local interest in pet adoptions and fostering. “Everybody is really working toward getting animals in homes. That’s really, really exciting as long as people are doing it responsibly.” l
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Stuck at home? Play a game By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
C
heckmate!” “Uno!” “Do not pass go!” Nowadays you are bound to hear those expressions around the tables of many a family cooped up in their homes during the quarantine. “Right before all of this Covid stuff we absolutely saw an uptick in sales,” said Game Night Games employee Tyler Lashlee. “We have been mostly curbside delivery recently and are not hosting events right now so lately it is hard to say.” Google trend searches for board games are typically at their peak from mid-November to late December. In 2020, March through April saw equal search numbers. Board games, best board games and online board games topped the charts in Google searches. Utah has a higher proportion of queries on the subject than any other state. “We do lots of puzzles and play lots of games in general,” West Valley resident Brittany Kluge said. “Since coronavirus I’ve been teaching more board games to my kids. Specifically strategy games.” What are the most popular games? “Two-player games and puzzles are the most popular right now,” Lashlee said. “Ironically, Pandemic is a popular game right now. Online Dungeons & Dragons has also happened a lot. Lots of people play on Zoom calls now.” Personal connection might be a major reason for gaming popularity. “I think people are looking for a friend group,” Lashlee said. In a City Journals’ poll, 40% of those asked said they play games at least twice a week and 70% enjoy strategy games. What did they say are the most popular games they are playing right now? Here are the top five:
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Produced by Stonemaier Games, this game was released in March 2019. It’s a card game that you attempt to attract a diverse collection of birds to your preserve. The winner is the one that scores the most points in four rounds of play. It is designed for one to five players. “My kids learned a lot about birds from playing it,” Kluge said. “We simultaneously had a nest in our backyard that we watched birds hatch from the eggs. It (the game) is hard to find right now. I think it is sold out everywhere.”
Dominion
A deck building game for two to four players, each player starts with the same deck and buys other cards as they can afford them. As players construct their deck they attempt to gain the most victory points before the game ends. It was awarded the best new family strategy game by Game Magazine in 2010.
Ticket to Ride
A simple game to play for two to five
As the pandemic hit in March, game stores across the state saw an uptick in sales. (Greg James/City Journals)
people. Players collect train cars and use them to claim railway routes. The longer the trains, the more points they can score. The game has a successful board version and online play is an option. “Trying to beat my friends online is becoming my hobby,” Jill James said. The game has expanded with several versions including domestic and foreign locations.
Escape puzzles
Ravensburger, a game company, has designed a new concept combining two favorite gamer pastimes. The puzzle is only the first step to the game. After it is assembled you most solve the clues to help you solve the mystery. “The first one we did we had to figure out how to keep the vampire in his coffin,” Wendy Wood said. “They are not easy and once the puzzle is together you have to figure out the clues.”
Dungeons & Dragons
“As the DM (Dungeon Master) here at our store, I have slowed down playing quite a bit (in the last few weeks), but I have several friends playing through Zoom or (Google) Hangouts quite a bit,” Lashlee said. Made famous by “The Big Bang Theory,” role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons have seen exponential growth in recent years. Traveling exhibitions like Comic-Con have helped expand their popularity. The fantasy role-playing game was designed in 1974. Players embark on imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. Traditional games like Monopoly and Sorry were also mentioned in the survey. l
West Valley City Journal
Census count continues as city looks to increase response rate By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
The census can be taken in multiple languages. (City Journals)
C
ensus collecting forges ahead during the coronavirus pandemic. Toward the end of April, West Valley City had a 56% response rate according to John Rock, a West Valley City management analyst in the city manager’s office and head of the city’s Complete Count Committee. That number was right in line with the state average at the time, above South Salt Lake’s 49%, but beneath Salt Lake City’s 57%. Of the 56%, only about 5% have re-
sponded by phone or mail, while the other 51% via internet. The areas of the city with lower response numbers have been along the Redwood Road areas with lower income housing and where English is the second language. “There’s less internet access, probably less trust in the census,” Rock told the City Council in April. “We were really hoping our festival was going to bring a lot of those populations into a place where they could feel like this was something they could trust.”
That festival was the International Census Festival at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center originally scheduled for April 4, which was canceled due to mass gathering restrictions. Rock said it was their marquee event where they expected a few thousand people. Many of their plans, Rock said, were based around placing physical resources like information booths in different locations. Those plans were moved to June when field operations anticipate resuming on June 1. Goals in May were included to increase the response rate by 5%, focusing on low response areas, and exceed the state average. Rock said they planned to coordinate with faith leaders in the community to help with outreach. Another idea was to distribute information at food banks and other essential services that serve harder to count populations. West Valley City is comprised of a number of census tracts, or geographic areas as specific as certain neighborhoods, where census data is gathered on the makeup of the people living in those areas—everything from age, gender, race, nationality, number of people in households and an array of socio-economic factors. Rock told the West Valley Journal in
March that each person that is counted within those tracts is worth $1,086 in direct federal aid to the city. If a person is not included in the tally, the city loses out on that money. “If we are undercounted by 10%, that’s tens of millions of dollars we don’t get in federal aid,” Rock said. “That’s money that pays for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), school lunches, after-school programs, Section 8 housing, pretty much a lot of programs people rely on in their day-to-day lives.” Grants awarded to cities are also based in part on the number of people within their boundaries. Rock said the return to the city of sales taxes collected is predicated on population statistics. That money helps pay for public safety, roads, and other programs and services that benefit residents. A 10% undercount of people would mean the potential loss of $2 million for the city. “If they’re not counted, that’s money we’re not getting,” Rock said. For more information on West Valley’s census efforts or to fill out the census online, visit wvc2020census.com. Darrell Kirby contributed to this story. l
Virtual County Library available as reopening takes shape By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com
R
esidents of Salt Lake County have gone without a lot of things over the past couple months. Some resources and services previously taken for granted have suddenly been dearly missed. One of those resources is the Salt Lake County Library system. Since midMarch, all 18 full-service physical branches
have been closed. However, many of the library system’s services have been available online, and its staff members have worked to expand virtual offerings while the community stays at home. “Everything is online right now,” said Sara Neal, marketing and communications
manager for Salt Lake County Library. “Limited staff is going into branches to do some prep work for opening the libraries.” In the meantime, and for the past several weeks, librarians have worked to make themselves more available online to the community. They started a daily online story time for kids on the library’s Facebook page each morning at 10:30. The library’s focus on children home from school has driven an expansion of online book offerings for kids of all ages. The County Library has developed programs like its Stay at Home Challenge encouraging people to do things like write a letter to a grandparent they can’t see in person. Kids were also challenged to read a short book in a half hour. “We wanted to help people fill some time and try to take their minds off things,” Neal said. Online offerings have expanded to include access to more books, magazines and movies. People can even get their library card by applying online. “Librarians are not at a desk right now, but they are still getting resources available Salt Lake County Library is offering many of its usual programs and events in a digital format during to the community,” Neal said. The virtuCOVID-19 shutdowns. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Library) al Ask a Librarian service offers the kind
Wvc Journal .com
of help that librarians typically offer when physical branches are open. People can ask their librarians online for help with research, writing a resume, or how to apply for unemployment. That type of online assistance will not go away when physical branches start to reopen. “We are working on how to serve members of the community who might be high risk,” Neal said. The County Library has worked with government officials to plan how to reopen safely. “We are working closely with the county and state,” said Cottonwood Heights Communications Manager Timothy Beery. “We have to take into account our needs and the needs of our neighbors.” As communities work toward reopening, the County Library has worked on how to keep patrons safe when libraries reopen. Everything from a safe curbside pickup program to properly cleaning materials as they come in has to be considered. “How do you monitor a 6-foot distance in a library?” Neal asked. “We are looking at what other urban libraries are doing to find what’s safest for the community.” l
June 2020 | Page 11
Proposed budget authorizes city manager take out $3.5 million from rainy day fund if needed By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
The West Valley City Council approved the tentative budget on May 5, with the final vote to occur on Aug. 11.
T
he West Valley City Council approved a tentative budget in early May that would allow City Manager Wayne Pyle to take $3.5 million out of the general fund, more often known as the rainy day fund. City administration would only use that money if needed. With multiple cities across the valley hit hard economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. West Valley City is no exception. The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1, projected a 17% decrease in sales tax revenue, almost $5 million less than the adopted budget from last year. Pyle told the council in an April 28 study meeting that interest on income and sales tax revenues would take the largest hit. “We are definitely going to be hit by this from an economic standpoint,” Pyle said, but adding they didn’t know “how hard.” Numbers from sales tax revenues don’t come in until two months after the fact, making the situation hard to project. Though city officials have asked 20 of the city’s largest businesses to send those numbers in quickly
Page 12 | June 2020
to get an earlier picture. The proposed $85.5 million budget includes no cuts to services, notably the police or fire departments. It does include a hiring freeze and little in new funding. The $3.5 million would be delayed expenses. Mayor Ron Bigelow, who spent his career as an accountant, preferred that money not be included in the budget at all. Since the council meets on a weekly basis, they have the flexibility to make modifications as needed, Bigelow said. He added he’d like to wait a little longer to get a better picture of the economic landscape. “It’s an interesting time, it’s a difficult time to budget accurately,” Bigelow said. But rather than go through a budget opening process, Pyle said he’d prefer to have the money already in there to give him more maneuverability. “The budget is balanced,” Pyle said prior to the May 5 vote. “We are asking for significant flexibility in terms of using the fund bal-
ance, however, our intent is that actually we think with the structure of this budget, if the economy isn’t worse than what we projected, we could very likely still be at the same level of fund balance as we are currently at the end of next year. We don’t know that for sure, that’s why I’m asking for the flexibility.” The mayor, who served as the chair of the house budget committee during the last recession, reiterated several times he felt the budget was balanced. He was simply worried about hitting the fund balance too much too early, preferring to limit it to $1 to 1.5 million. “I’m not a fan of being too quick to draw the money out of our fund balance or rainy day fund,” Bigelow said of his only concern with the budget. “But it is a concern because I tend to be very conservative on financial matters, more so than most.” Councilman Tom Huynh said he would prefer to use the rainy day fund rather than increase property taxes, though the mayor did not suggest raising property taxes.
“When it’s a rainy day, we pull the money out of the general fund, that’s what it’s for,” Huynh said. “Some people are struggling to pay mortgage, rent and put food on the kitchen table for family…I’m OK using money from general fund to cover for this time and hopefully we’re gonna get over this.” Councilman Steve Buhler was “pleased” the budget did not include layoffs or a decrease in services, as well as a healthy fund balance that’s been built over the years since the last recession “so that we can maintain status quo as best we can” for the near future. He said they don’t know what the future holds, whether there is a “complete shift in society and the way governments function. But as for now, we have set a course to continue business as close to usual as possible.” The tentative budget can be found online at wvc.ut.gov. The council will vote on the final budget on Aug. 11 when residents can also comment publicly. l
West Valley City Journal
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County paying overtime shifts for WVC Police to enforce COVID health orders By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
West Valley City Police will now have patrols to enforce public health orders at places where large crowds could gather, such as parks. (City Journals)
K
eep your distance, even at the park.
The West Valley City Council unanimously approved an agreement on May 19 with Salt Lake County that will see the County pay overtime shifts for West Valley City police officers to patrol parks and enforce county public health orders. “The intent on our side as the police de-
partment,” Police Chief Colleen Jacobs told the council during a May 12 work meeting, “is to make positive citizen contacts and encourage social distancing and all the other CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) regulations.” “I do not anticipate a great deal of enforcement,” Jacobs added. “It’s more for contacts and education.”
The County’s public health orders (as of May 15 with West Valley City operating in the orange moderate risk phase) related to COVID-19 include social gatherings of groups of 20 or fewer, social distancing of 6 feet from others, not touching high-touch surfaces like handrails, maintaining social distancing during outdoor recreation, and face coverings worn in public. When asked by Mayor Ron Bigelow to clarify what the enforcement would look like, Jacobs responded she anticipates enforcement to be “asking people politely to comply with the health department’s directive.” At that time, she said everyone they’d engaged with had been compliant. But if law enforcement needed to take action, it would be enforced under disorderly conduct because it’s cleaner to enforce, Jacobs said. The patrols would be staffed and supervised by WVCPD with officers working in 12-hour shifts (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.). The County will work in conjunction with the police department to schedule officers. According to the agreement, the County will assign officers patrol grids from locations within the city’s jurisdiction “where large crowds could potentially gather, such as parks and other common public places.” Councilmember Steve Buhler was concerned the County could prefer stricter en-
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forcement than what the police chief intends. “I’m also concerned if we need this at all,” if there are no staffing shortages or “great crowds that are uncontrollable and unruly and need to have intervention,” Buhler said. Jacobs assured the council that if the County intended to dictate how they handle these contacts, “we will just simply not do them.” With the orange phase, there’s “a lot of gray area,” Jacobs said, adding that enforcement to the point of making arrests didn’t seem necessary at this point. Jacobs said patrol staffing has not been affected, but overtime opportunities for officers have been reduced with the cancellation of so many events. These shifts give officers a chance to supplement their income, she said. Jacobs said the County originally wanted to put together a task force, but after listening to the police chiefs, decided to let each agency do their “own parks in their own style and way.” Bigelow said he appreciated Jacobs’ approach, adding he likes keeping it under our jurisdiction. “It’s a tough situation,” he said. “Fortunately, most people with encouragement are responsive.” l
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West Valley City Journal
Council denies auto center next to neighborhood By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
CENSUS 2020 BEGINS ONLINE MARCH 12, 2020 The area in question where a business owner wished to have a city ordinance changed to allow an auto emissions center be built within the designated area. (Google maps)
T
he West Valley City Council voted 6-1 to deny a request that would have seen an auto emission center built along 4700 South near 3600 West. Councilmembers cited no compelling reason to change the ordinance for one particular business, nor did they feel it was an appropriate location. The request, filed by Erik Hoffman, was to amend the city ordinance to allow auto emission centers in residential business zones. Auto services are currently not allowed in the residential business zone. Hoffman requested “automobile emissions center” be removed from the auto service definition, since the business would only serve as a place for emissions, inspections and registration renewals. All of which would be done inside the building. Hoffman also argued his business would be quieter with less impact on the area than other businesses currently allowed in the zone such as the Granger Medical on 4100 South or the credit union just west of the property. Councilman Steve Buhler said it would be a slippery slope if this was allowed. He felt Hoffman should find an appropriate place for his business rather than change the ordinance. Councilwoman Karen Lang was the lone dissenting vote, but only if certain design standards were applied such as requiring the entrance to face other commercial property (to the west) and that it not look like an auto center. She agreed that a credit union or medical office would have more traffic. The Planning Commission, which recommended denial, noted during its meetings that this decision would affect the whole city. Jody Knapp, planning and zoning admin-
Wvc Journal .com
istrator, said there was potentially 12 other Under the residential business zone curproperties in the city that would have been rently in place, only commercial uses like affected. Most of which were already devel- banks, medical or dental offices and veterioped and a couple that are currently vacant, nary clinics would be allowed there. l she said.
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Sensors to be placed along major streets for traffic counts By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
W
est Valley City will have nine sensors placed along Redwood Road and 3500 South to assist with traffic counting. Sensors will be placed at the 3500 South entrance from South Salt Lake and one every quarter mile along the road until Redwood
Road, then head north every quarter mile. The sensors come from Blyncsy, a data and analytics software company in Salt Lake City. Sensors will be paid for by the Utah Department of Transportation, who are piggybacking on West Valley City’s contract with
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TAXES Too often, it seems, government officials seem to forget whose money is being spent. One reason I sponsored the Utah 2019 Tax Referendum was to stop the direction of the legislature that would have made it easy for them to balance the state budget, but it would have been harder for Utahns to balance their budgets. YOUR RIGHTS The US Constitution specifically says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”. This is an area that is worth fighting for. A STABLE & GROWING ECONOMY Utah is among Forbes best fiscally managed States and one of the best for business and careers. Many families are still struggling. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back with too many regulations.
Page 16 | June 2020
CIVILITY We should engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that others come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion for solutions to our challenges.
It also states the data is aggregated. “We believe in collecting anonymized data to better understand the habits and trends of groups of people,” the website states. “We do not visualize data on any one particular person or device.” Signals that ping the sensors accumulate into billions of data points and are analyzed at “a population level, not at the individual level,” according to the website. l
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3500 South leading up to Redwood Road from the east. From South Salt Lake to Redwood Road and turning north, there will be traffic sensors placed every quarter mile. (City Journals)
Blyncsy. UDOT will provide West Valley City officials with all data from the sensors. Mark Nord, redevelopment agency director, told the City Council in an April 7 study meeting they would like to expand these sensors into other major thoroughfares. Nord said the traffic counts will help them pinpoint where retail customers are coming from and know where to focus their marketing. Traffic counts are requested at times when the council is considering rezones or development agreements that would approve a subdivision, apartments or townhomes. Once up and running, the sensors will report real time data, down to the hour. “We’re excited about what this could give us in the future,” Nord said. The sensors will ping off a person’s Bluetooth or possibly low tire sensors in newer cars if the Bluetooth is turned off. When Councilman Lars Nordfelt brought up the concern of privacy, Nord said it is all anonymous. “We wouldn’t be able to see any private info, just a cell phone,” Nord said. According to the Blyncsy website, the company does not track serial numbers or phone numbers, only “anonymized data emitted through electronic signals.”
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE
AS-10720472 (100%) ADVERTISER: GORE LENDING GROUP
PROOF CREATED AT: 1/10/2020 8:59:13 AM
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PUBLICATION: AS-Ashland Times-Gazette
SOLUTIONS NOT PARTIES I have no problem working with different political parties. That was the key reason the 2019 Tax Referendum was a success.
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That fight continues."
West Valley City Journal
New Granger Medical Clinic adds another piece to Fairbourne Station By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
What’s your legacy?
Granger Medical has opened its new clinic at Fairbourne Station in West Valley City. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
A
nother piece of West Valley City’s burgeoning city center is in place with the opening of the new Granger Medical Clinic. Located at 2965 W. 3500 South, Granger Medical Clinic’s $25 million facility joins a nearly completed multi-level mixed-use office and commercial building, the city’s new police headquarters, the Embassy Suites hotel, a UTA transit hub, a public parking structure, and multi-family housing as part of West Valley City’s Fairbourne Station development. It has transformed the area into the city’s version of a downtown, anchored by City Hall and Valley Fair Mall. The four-story building owned by Granger became fully occupied in phases this spring following a 22-year stay at a complex it leased at 4100 South and Bangerter Highway. “We’re very proud of it. It’s a beautiful building,” said Dr. Mary Jane Pennington, president and CEO of Granger Medical Clinic and a pediatrician herself. The new clinic is proof that bigger is not always better. It’s 94,000 square feet is 11,000 fewer than its former home. “This building is more efficient in terms of use of space,” Pennington said. The state-of-theart facility has new equipment, an updated technology infrastructure, and patient exam, treatment, and staff areas and entrance and exit points that provide more privacy for everyone involved. Like the old clinic, the new facility includes urgent care services and a pharmacy. Pennington added that the new clinic has a warmer, more inviting feel to it than the rather plain, sterile environment of the old location. A good portion of Granger Medical’s providers and staff were moving into the new facility when the 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck on March 18, unexpectedly testing the sturdiness of the structure. “That building responded the way it was supposed to. It kind
Wvc Journal .com
of swayed with the earthquake,” Pennington said. There were some cracks in the drywall, but those were repaired quickly and structural engineers gave the building an overall clean bill of health. Granger bought the land for the building from West Valley City and then worked closely with the city to design the structure in a way that would fit the development plan for Fairbourne Station. “We love the way the building ended up. We’ve loved working with West Valley City on it,” Pennington said. West Valley Economic Development Director Mark Nord said that a future Granger Medical Clinic was envisioned when the city acquired parcels totaling 40 acres for the development of today’s Fairbourne Station. “We were interested in getting the right development partners who saw the vision and were willing to invest in West Valley City. Granger Medical is definitely one of them,” Nord said, noting that medical and other businesses have taken notice of Granger’s move. “We’ve already had an uptick in specialty offices looking for space in West Valley City because of it. We’re looking at more building space for those types of users.” Granger Medical Clinic is a fast-growing physician-owned health care network that today has 170 providers and 29 specialties at 28 locations in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Tooele counties. Granger Medical was founded in 1954 by physicians LaVere Poulsen and Glen Wilson to better serve the community of Granger, which later became part of West Valley City. Its new building ironically is across the street from its original clinic. Pennington said the feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. “They love the building. They’re excited to come to this beautiful, modern, up-to-date medical facility.” l
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THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR THOUGHTFUL STUDENTS
by
CASSIE GOFF
Thoughtful gifts for thoughtful students Spring is the time for new beginnings… after graduations. During those events, you might overhear stories about someone’s parents buying them a new car for graduation, or someone’s rich relative flying them and their three closest friends to an island for a few weeks. Depending on how many people you know who are graduating, and how high the expectations have been set for you, buying gifts for grads can be expensive. Instead of spending more money, try one of these doit-yourself (DIY) gift ideas. One of the most common DIY graduation gifts are graduation leis, similar to those Polynesian garlands of flowers, but without the flowers. You’ll need a lot of plastic wrap for this one. Gather the things you wish to include in your lei. This may include snacksized candy bars, gift cards, rolled-up dollar bills, mints, etc. Be very careful as you lay out a long piece of plastic wrap. (Alternatively, you may choose to use smaller pieces of plastic wrap and tie all the pieces together at the end.) Place all your goodies out, side by side, leaving about 2 inches between each item, down one edge of the plastic wrap. Roll that plastic wrap over to trap the goodies in their new packaging. After you have wrapped all the items thoroughly, tie each of the spaces between goodies together. Alternatively, if you’re talented with origami, you
can fold dollar bills and tie them together to create a beautiful flower-resembling lei. If you, or your graduating human, really likes being cheesy (like me, I usually go so-cheesy I approach Gouda territory), you can make small graduation caps to put on almost anything you may think of. You’ll need a circular base, something resembling a lid of a jar or a bottlecap, some parchment paper, a button, and some string. Wrap the parchment paper around the circular base and glue or tape it down. Then, glue or tape a square-shaped piece of parchment paper on top of the circular base to create the top of the cap. Glue or tape (hot glue might work best for this part) a button to the middle of the top of the squareshaped parchment paper. Lastly, wrap the string, (which needs to be tied to create a circle, with cut segments of the string draped through the middle, and tied together to create a tassel) over the button. As mentioned, almost anything can be
capped. You might buy a small jar from your local Michael’s or Handy Dandy (my nickname for Hobby Lobby) and make the lid of the jar a graduation cap. Then you can fill the jar with candy, gift cards, anything your heart desires. You can do the same thing with a lightbulb and use a cheesy saying about how bright the graduate’s future is. You could put little graduation caps on a handful of different candies. You might even attach a cap to the lid of a drink tumbler and fill the tumbler with confetti and the aforementioned goodies. Lastly, you could stick a cap on the top of a money cake: a cake made out of rolled-up dollar bills placed in a circular shape.
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In a subtle attempt to calm me down, my husband enrolled me in a meditation course. I love meditation, in theory, and had a random practice that included meditating in bed, grocery store lines and during TV commercials, but I didn’t have an actual sitdown meditation practice. Now I do. Twice a day I sit for 20 minutes and watch the thoughts in my brain battle to the death. According to Instagram, nothing proves to the world how spiritual you are more than sitting for a long time in silence. The longer you sit, the better a person you are. Fact. So now I’m a super-spiritual Zen person. I make sure I talk about my meditation practice all the time. The more you talk about how you’ve merged with your inner self, the more interested people around you become. They could listen to you talk about your meditation practice for hours. You also need an expensive meditation cushion. Here’s a conversation I had with my husband, who just couldn’t understand the complexities of meditation. Husband: Can’t you just sit in a chair? Me: To be uber-spiritual, I need an $80 meditation cushion so I’m closer to Mother Earth. Husband: Why don’t you just sit on the floor? Me: Don’t be crass. I tried sitting on the ground to meditate. I was in San Luis Obispo at a conference, and I went to the beach early in the morning. I listened to the waves, communed with my inner being and radiated calm as I left the
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Soon, I can’t feel my toes and my knees are screaming for help. But that just proves to the Universe that I’m dedicated to my meditation practice. Sometimes I fall asleep and jerk awake before I hit the floor. I expect I’ll achieve enlightenment any day now since I’m so good at meditating. If there’s one thing I excel at it’s doing absolutely nothing. Fact.
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beach to go back to the hotel. As I ran up the trail from the beach, I tripped on a rock and fell face-first onto a wooden stair, nearly breaking my nose and spending the rest of the weekend with a bruised and swollen face. If I’d been sitting on a beautiful cushion instead of the ground, my inner being wouldn’t have been pissed off and try to kill me. Fact. Meditation in nature is supposed to be super-relaxing, but right when I close my eyes I feel an ant crawl across my foot and I have to look to make sure it isn’t a spider because then I have to jump up and scream. The only reason to meditate outside is so people can see you mediate and understand you’re a super-spiritual person. I’m teaching my puppy to mediate with me, hoping my calm energy will soothe her. After 10 minutes of getting her to settle down, I’ll place my hand on her back, syncing our breath and heart rate. Just as I create an intense connection to her heart chakra, she jumps in my lap to lick my face and ruins everything. She’ll never be as spiritual as me. Fact. People ask what I do when meditating. First, I sit quietly on my expensive cushion, noticing the thoughts running across my mind. I spend several minutes trying not to notice the thoughts running across my mind. I achieve two seconds of stillness before the thoughts start up again. Soon I become numb from the waist down. The more numb you feel, the more spiritual you are and the more disconnected from those pesky thoughts you become.
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