City Weekly April 18, 2024

CITY WEEKLY FREE Life in the Slow Lane

Salt Lake’s modern tree canopy is a living legacy of the peoples of Utah.

By Wes Long

S AP

BOX

@SLCWEEKLY

Remembering Ted Wilson

The Salt Lake City Council sends condolences to Mayor Ted L. Wilson’s family and his friends across the globe.

Mayor Wilson was a trailblazer and public servant in every sense—whether braving dangerous mountain terrain to rescue stranded hikers as a park ranger, or courageously leading the charge to change Salt Lake City’s form of government to the more accountable and representative one it is today. The MayorCouncil form of government ensured representation from all parts of the city

and instituted the checks and balances of two branches of government: Administrative and Legislative.

Mayor Wilson’s leadership and dedication helped make Salt Lake City the wonderful place it is today. As mayor, Ted Wilson played an important role in preserving the historic character of the Avenues through the establishment of the Historic District and zoning changes. Mayor Wilson’s legacy of protecting and valuing the natural environment is evident in the preservation of our Foothill areas and the preservation of Salt Lake City’s watershed.

He also worked to invest in the city’s water and sewer systems, preventing them from falling into disrepair. Working with Western Airlines (acquired by Delta), he helped establish our airport as a major travel hub, providing Utahns access to more destinations.We will remember Mayor Wilson fondly and with much gratitude for everything he did for the people of our city.

SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL

Via email

[Ted Wilson] and his wife came into Hellenic House all the time. Great guy. May his memory be eternal.

ELLINESMAZI

Via Instagram

“Just Getting Along,”

April 11 Private Eye

[The Statue of Responsibility] will obstruct views and do nothing to bridge the growing gap in our state between those of Mormon and non-Mormon values. My family is Italian and came to Utah to work in the mines. There’s always been a gap between the Mormons and the non-Mormons. Some statue’s not gonna change that.

ROSSCO8585

Via Instagram

Grew up influenced by Mormon values, goes on to celebrate all the people of Utah that aren’t Mormon and then is surprised that they don’t have Mormon values. Keep Utah Mormon—downtown is a sewer.

BIGTABBYLOKO

Via Instagram

Why place all this identity BS into this? Why can’t it just be one person helping another— one American helping another?

Too many people want equality yet they don’t care to just shut up and be equal. They want to stand out and identify as something other than everyone else.

CHADGRAUEL

Via Instagram

Flip on its side! Two hands, neither higher, reaching to connect!

God created all mankind. Break bread with others you’ll find our commonality.

TROYRUSHTON.UT

Via Instagram

Such an ugly statue. We don’t need another eyesore (cough, cough, Draper Aquarium). Maybe try to find a beautiful way to communicate the same message?

BRINLIEBABE

Via Instagram

OK, but is it also a rock climbing wall? Cause that’d be sweet.

PRESCOTTMCCARTHY

Via Instagram

THE WATER COOLER

Utah has medical cannabis. What should be legal with a prescription next?

Benjamin Wood

Psilocybin is the easy answer, but there’s an argument for making it adult-use recreational. So I’ll say LSD with a script.

Kelly Boyce

Psilocybin mushrooms for sure. They have changed my life, and they can help so many people.

Krista Maggard

Psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms.” Studies are continuing to show positive outcomes for patients with depression, anxiety and PTSD—one of the largest studies to date was actually done right here in Utah.

Eric Granato

Most certainly psilocybin.

Pete Saltas

Make Utah go recreational for cannabis next. Keep the medical program to allow discounts for patients

Sofia Cifuentes

Psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Wes Long

I will do everyone one better and suggest Fire Flower from Super Mario Bros. Figure it out, science!

PRIVATE EYE

Utah’s Zane: Mike Lee

Last week’s Private Eye column got more than a few people talking about the proposed Statue of Responsibility that may be built at the old Utah State Prison site in Draper. The statue—set to stand a mighty 300 feet tall—is an interpretive art piece of two interlocking hands, ostensibly inspiring an observer to cogitate about helping efforts in two directions, up or down. It also is of a form that some persons interpret as being sexual, intended or not.

That said, well before the art piece is ever built, there has been plenty of commentary already. It would be a blind eye coaching a deaf ear to believe that such a statue in Utah would fire challenges regarding the intent of it being less about pondering what it means to be responsible and more about moral imperatives of living here. Utah life, after all, is rife with reminders of who is superior and who is not, a never-ending measurement of everything societal from religion to race, social status, gender, political party and all else.

Here is just one of the comments left on the City Weekly Instagram page, responding to a line in last week’s column: “‘Too many Utahns don’t really practice hand holding or helping Utahns not of their stripe’”… what the fucking fuck is this writer smoking?”—@atticus_maddicus. Many of the comments were aimed at me as much as the statue. Isn’t art interpretation fun?

Another comment: “My family came from Yugoslavia/ Croatia. They mined in Midvale and Kennecott. I was born and raised in Taylorsville. Just moved from Utah. Didn’t want my family growing up there.”—@silentswanart.

And that’s just the start. A user by the name of Andrew

BY JOHN SALTAS @johnsaltas

@manlyfidelity on X (aka Twitter) has beaten everyone to the punch with a daily post (currently on Day 43) directed at Gov. Spencer Cox, prodding him to abandon the Statue of Responsibility altogether, albeit it is not clear that Cox can do much considering the project is ostensibly a privately funded project. What Andrew proposes instead is a 300-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ built at the prison location. Concept appreciated, Andrew, but I doubt it will fly. Or even walk on water.

The Sistine Chapel reveals the hand of God merely using one finger to inspire mankind in one direction. If indeed the intent of the Statue of Responsibility, designed by artist Gary Lee Price and inspired by Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, is to inspire all sorts of interpretation, it’s most certainly doing that.

Instead, I propose Plan C. Last week’s column mentioned that over the course of 4,000 years, the Greeks learned a thing or two about not just building statues, but also what they symbolize. An example is a wall of statue pedestals that are near the entry to the original Olympic stadium at Olympia, Greece. Every athlete in ancient times walked by those statues prior to participating in their given event.

You know, like the statues of John Stockton and Karl Malone that are in front of the Delta Center, where the duo nearly won—but didn’t—an NBA championship? What child is not inspired by those bronze testaments of immortal basketball greatness? Well, me, for one. I can no longer look at either statue and separate their basketball genius from their off-court personas, neither of which family I’d bless a child to marry into. I now think of them for other traits that define them.

That’s why those statues at Olympia were carved in the first place—as permanent reminders of what kinds of peo-

ple those particular athletes were. They were the cheaters, the scurrilous, the benders of rules. The statues were called the Zanes. The name of those dishonored athletes were set into stone on the pedestal.

The statues are gone now, but the name and intent were the same, because those statues were carved so that all future athletes who passed by them would see those names and remember for all time the shame associated with them and to discourage them from acting similarly.

When the boxer Eupolos was found to have bribed three of his opponents, a statue was built with not only his name on the pedestal, but also the region he was from, Thessaly. All of Thessaly was thus shamed, too, so much so that no mother gives their child the name Eupolos in Greece any longer. Too much shame to carry.

Here’s a modest proposal then. Let’s use the prison site— an apropos location, after all—to instead construct a similar work with the intent of reminding people that dishonor is a path to avoid equal to honor being a path to attain. Plus, in Utah lingo: It’s easier to never smoke than to start smoking and try to quit. Let’s get the kids thinking right from Day 1 by showing them and the entire world what kind of person to never aspire to become.

There is one Utahn who checks every box when it comes to being two-faced, feckless, counterproductive, judgmental, pious, weak, ineffective and downright unlikable: Sen. Mike Lee. Let him be the first Zane of Utah. A 300-foot tall statue of Lee scaring the bejesus out of anyone remotely thinking of becoming a jackass is the artistic inspiration we can all use right now. CW

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY COLE FULLMER

MISS: Intervention Time

Utah, we’re worried about you. Let’s just say it’s about blind loyalty, or maybe just about political fog. No, it’s not about turning you all into Democrats. It’s about returning you to being thinking human beings. Let’s start with the latest poll from the Deseret News. It shows that 43% of Utah voters will check off Donald Trump’s name in the November presidential election. While 33% will go for President Joe Biden, another 24% want another candidate. Forget the othercandidate thing—as a winner-take-all state, Trump will win. Why worry? First, most women in Utah want reproductive rights, which Trump does not. Others would like good and humanitarian border policy. Rep. Celeste Maloy has thrown her fortunes behind Trump’s military-style deportation plan. And it seems like at least four congressional candidates are sucking up to Sen. Mike Lee, who not only endorses Trump but stands behind the debunked election conspiracy theories around January 6. Lee, a major public lands detractor, may also be the next chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Are we ready to think hard?

MISS: Daybreak the Bank

Utah—a developer’s haven. While we pretty much allow developers to do anything they want, the state might want to keep a close eye on The Point. A University of Utah metropolitan planning graduate student recently wrote to The Salt Lake Tribune about the pitfalls of taking your eye off the ball. Daybreak, for instance, was supposed to be a walkable, affordable community that would eliminate the need for the private automobile. But Daybreak, he said, became another commuter suburb for wealthier Utahns. So far, there are scant plans for affordable housing at The Point, but the Legislature did see fit to allow the kinds of conflicts that could help board members line their pockets. There seems to be no end to what lawmakers will give developers. Tooele residents, the Tribune says, worry about pollution and wetlands degradation with inland port projects. But they think it’s a losing battle. And maybe it is—unless you’re a developer.

HIT: All Natural

With all the talk about our shrinking Great Salt Lake and an ignored if apathetic west-side population, there’s one project that offers hope. Tracy Aviary’s Jordan River Nature Center is set to be renamed Pia Okwai following an $18 million expansion project. “The goal is to better connect the Salt Lake Valley’s more diverse and international west side with nature, wildlife and the river,” The Salt Lake Tribune wrote. The expanded nature center will host a three-story observation tower from which you can see from the canyons to the Jordan River. It will track animals and our migrating-yet-threatened birds. A garden offers plants and the hope that growing things bring. Hope is what the lake and the children of the future need. CW

Border Tripping

Seeking out your April 20th stash?

If you’re a Utah medical cannabis patient, the local pot shop might not be your first stop. Instead, you’re more likely to delve into the underground scene or embark on a border trip for this year’s 4/20 festivities.

A significant slice of registered patients are sidestepping the regulated pathway. This isn’t just hearsay—it’s straight from the 2023 Utah Medical Cannabis Market Analysis. Despite the debut of cannabis pharmacies in early 2020, illicit cannabis still floods the state, with a staggering 59% of patients turning to unofficial sources. This lays bare the hurdles within Utah’s medical cannabis landscape, highlighting the urgency for reform and a revamped regulatory framework.

The report also exposes a daring 4% of cannabis seekers venturing into Idaho, one of the few states yet to embrace cannabis legalization. Their boldness highlights the shortcomings in Utah’s medical cannabis program.

The Beehive State’s foray into medical cannabis seems to have emboldened residents in taking risks once deemed unthinkable. With a perceived decrease in risk, residents are more willing to disregard cannabis laws they believe won’t be enforced. This raises the question: What’s the purpose of a registered card? Peace of mind?

Border towns like Evanston, Dinosaur, Wendover and Mesquite are lively hubs of cannabis tourism, echoing Utah’s tradition of liquor tourism. The allure is more than just affordable prices—it’s the variety of products available without a costly medical cannabis card, which costs between $100 and $200 annually. Utah’s bureaucracy tempts patients to seek easier access across state lines. However, legal risks abound, as bringing out-of-state cannabis into Utah is strictly prohibited.

Utah’s regulated market, though seemingly secure, presents challenges for long-time cardholders like David Sutherland. Part of the program since its 2020 inception, Sutherland’s Instagram posts tell a contrasting story. Supporting Utah’s legal cannabis scene has become an uphill battle, particularly after a recent business trip to Oregon, where he found cannabis products at significantly lower prices. “Implementing measures to strengthen local production and distribution channels could alleviate these shortages and decrease dependence on out-of-state options,” Sutherland argued. “This would guarantee a more stable and accessible supply for patients like me.”

The road to a thriving cannabis industry in Utah demands collaboration. Government officials and industry mavens must unite, armed with data and a commitment to equity. The 2023 Utah Medical Cannabis Market Analysis isn’t just a report; it’s a wake-up call.

Utah must lead in crafting a healthcare landscape that’s compassionate, progressive and inclusive, keeping our dollars local for the collective benefit.

If you’d like to dive deeper into Utah’s dynamic cannabis scene, grab a free copy of Salt Baked City magazine, available at all state dispensaries. CW

About Face

Images and stories in Faces of Salt Lake County reveal local demographic diversity

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

The 2020 census showed Utah as the fastest-growing state in the United States, but if you did deeper into those demographic trends, it also shows an evolution in what we might think of when we picture a “Utahn.” While we might be inclined to still think of this as a homogenous place, the immigrant population in particular grew by more than 100,000 between 2000 and 2019. And when it comes to Salt Lake County, that growing diversity is even more pronounced.

As a way of bringing that diversity to the forefront, Salt Lake County has put its energy behind Faces of Salt Lake County, a project that invited a broad range of individuals—ranging from brand-new immigrants to sixth-generation residents of the state—to share their experiences in interviews conducted by local youth groups, including the Salt Lake County Youth Government and Salt Lake County 4-H Teen Council. The book’s interview subjects were then captured in striking black-and-white portraits by award-winning local photographer Bry Cox. The Thomas S. Monson Center (411 E. South Temple) will host a reception, featuring an exhibition of the photographs and many of the interview subjects, on Friday, April 19 from 6 – 9 p.m. The book will be available for free to attendees, though donations are encouraged.

Tatyana Kovalova—an immigrant with ancestry in Moldova and Ukraine—is among those profiled in Faces of Salt Lake County. When approached through a friend about the possibility of participating, she didn’t hesitate. “I thought it was a wonderful project to get to know those from different countries,” Kovalova says. “I think projects like this could help with more inclusivity, with helping people, instead of being judgmental when they hear an accent, or when they see a different type of clothing or color of skin, they’d instead be curious. If you get to know a person, when you get to know their story, you start to like them.”

Kovalova herself has served an LDS mission, and she acknowledges that the state is somewhat unique in that respect in terms of people who have had direct experiences of other cultures. Yet as someone who has lived in other

states—including Vermont, Colorado and New York—she still believes that a project like this is beneficial. “I feel that Utah, for lack of a better word, is still a big bubble,” she says. “There still could be more to learn about others, about other experiences. There is more work to do, for sure.”

For photographer Bry Cox, his part of contributing to that work involved capturing the images that accompanied the subjects’ stories. While he notes that he did not have access to the text before taking his photographs, his own creative approach involves an openness to getting to know his subjects.

“Everybody comes in as a stranger,” Cox says. “I start with, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ and they share some aspect of themselves, and they light up. I like to have conversations with people as I’m photographing them. … These were stories of gratitude, and they love living here.”

Cox also notes that, as much as the interview subjects

were able to tell their stories through their words, his goal is also to tell a story through the portraits. “You have all these unique people, unique stories, unique faces, and how do you present it so it feels like you know a person?” he says.

“I sculpt people with light to capture their emotion— powerful, split-second moments frozen in time to tell the story of an individual,” he adds. “In some people I see strength, others excitement, and in others apprehension. But overall, I experienced their gratitude for the opportunity to live here in Utah.”

For Tatyana Kovalova, the overall result of Faces of Salt Lake County is something she wants to contribute to greater compassion in the face of an ever-diversifying population. “I really hope that having this project and this book available will bring people together and make them more [accepting], more loving and kind to others,” she says, “because we need that right now.” CW

Puok Puok

Tatyana Kovalova BRY COX

Amira Kherrallah BRY COX

Ivoni Nash BRY COX

theESSENTIALS

PICKS, APRIL 18-24, 2024

Ririe-Woodbury: Ascent

As Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company closes its historic 60th anniversary season, it offers a program in Ascent that brings together two key parts of that history. In a pair of world-premiere performances, current RWDC artistic director Daniel Charon and his predecessor in that role, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, show the creative thinking that has guided the company for years.

Boye-Christensen’s Chapters was commissioned specifically as part of this anniversary celebration, and the choreographer took the opportunity to explore the capabilities of RWDC artists. “This work is very much shaped and inspired by the current dancers in Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, who each brought a uniquely different approach and perspective to the material that they were given,” she writes in a press release. “It has been a privilege to work with these dancers who were fearless and dug deep, and I wanted to encourage the conditions for their talents to thrive.” Charon’s Storygraph, meanwhile, continues his collaboration with the musicians of Salt Lake Electric Ensemble for a work about the notion of immortality across generations. Rounding out the program is a return of Stefanie Batten Bland’s 2018 Look Who’s Coming to Dinner (pictured), a theatrical dance work about those who have found it challenging in the past to find “a seat at the table.”

Ririe-Woodbury’s Ascent comes to the Rose Wagner Center Jeanne Wagner Theater (138 W. 300 South) for three evening-length performances April 18 – 20 at 7:30 p.m. for $35 general admission. A family- and sensory-friendly “Moving Parts” 60-minute performance will be offered Saturday, April 20 at 1 p.m., $10 general admission. Visit arttix.org to purchase tickets or for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Tumbleweeds Film Festival

Every year, Utah is home to one of the country’s most prestigious film festivals, but it’s not the only one. While Sundance brings out the big talents of independent film from around the world, the Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds festival focuses on programming for younger budding cinephiles, including opportunities to learn about the art of filmmaking itself.

The events begin with the Kids’ Film Competition on April 19, showcasing agegrouped short films by K-8 students from around the state. Meanwhile, Saturday offers the festival proper, with two short films programs and four features, including the animated adventure Giants of La Mancha (pictured), the fantasy Rosa and the Stone Troll, the Norwegian tween comedy Dancing Queen and the French family comedy Coco Farm. In addition to the screenings, several special workshops offer age-appropriate guidance about a range of skills required to make movies: character design for animation; acting for the camera; introduction to stop-motion animation; editing and lighting; even special effects make-up. Special guests include alumni of the popular Studio C comedy series to secrets of family-friendly sketch comedy.

The 2024 Tumbleweeds Film Festival takes place at the Viridian Event Center of the Salt Lake County Library West Jordan branch (8030 S. 1824 West), with the Kids’ Film Competition April 19, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., and the main festival April 20, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Individual film tickets are free with online registration, workshops may have fee required, and VIP passes are also available. Visit tumbleweedskids.org for schedule, registration and other event information. (SR)

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Look at Us: Portraits of Endangered Species

New Mexico-based artist Scotty Mitchell has primarily focused on plein air landscapes, part of his focus, as he describes it, on “looking afresh at the natural world and seeing its rhythms and flow.” Yet he found himself drawn to another project that still falls within that same thematic idea, one that came to him unexpectedly.

“One morning, while drinking my coffee in a meditative state,” Mitchell shared on his website, “these words just dropped down from the ether: ‘Look at us, for we will be gone.’ And with that came the idea of a series of panels of animals that are endangered. I would do fifty panels to make a wall display of twenty feet by ten feet, or fifty feet by five feet. The feeling that I really needed to make this a reality was compelling. I felt and feel that the animals want to be seen, loved and appreciated, in all of their wondrous beauty and astounding diversity.” The result is a bright and compelling series of images of creatures including the tiger, the rhinoceros, the elephant, the polar bear and many more.

Images from Scotty Mitchell’s Look At Us, For We Will Be Gone series will be on display at The Leonardo (209 E. 500 South) April 19 – Aug. 31. An artist reception, sponsored by The Leonardo and Ken Sanders Rare Books, will take place Friday, April 19, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., free and open to the public. Visit theleonardo.org for additional event information, or scottymitchell.com for more information about the artist. (SR)

REVIEW

Under the Influence

The Beast ’s big thematic ideas are compelling, when nods to other filmmakers aren’t distracting.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

There’s an oft-repeated quote—generally attributed, perhaps apocryphally, to Pablo Picasso—to the effect that “good artists copy, but great artists steal.” It’s a pithy little line, albeit often a self-serving one, and not always particularly useful if you’re trying to parse the fine distinction between “copy” and “steal.” Every artist stands on the shoulders of giants, and comes to the act of creation having been inspired by those who came before. The trick, then, becomes threading the needle such that inspiration doesn’t feel like duplication.

All of which brings us to the fascinating and frustrating case of Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast, a genre-bending sciencefiction/romance/drama/thriller built on complex ideas about isolation and anxiety. The only problems emerge when you keep spotting the scaffolding of other stories on which Bonello and his co-screenwriters have built this work. It starts to feel like reading one of those books where half of every page is made up of footnotes.

Structurally, it’s unquestionably compelling, winding its way through multiple timelines, and two people whose lives seem to keep intersecting across more than a century. In 1910 Paris, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) is a married pianist who finds herself drawn to Louis (George MacKay), a man to whom she confided

years earlier about the sense of impending doom that has haunted her life. In 2014, we find Gabrielle as a struggling model/actor in Los Angeles, with Louis as a troubled incel recording creepy videos about how women have ignored him. And in 2044 Paris, Gabrielle finds herself in a post-apocalyptic society ruled by artificial intelligence, engaging in a chemical pastlife regression in an attempt to “purify her DNA” of events that might still be shaping her emotional responses.

The 1910-set section proves to be the most effective, in part because of its fidelity to the thematic ideas in its source material, the Henry James novella The Beast in the Jungle. Seydoux captures the paralyzing fear that keeps Gabrielle from actively pursuing love and happiness, and how her inability to open up to emotional possibility even hinders her work as a musician. Placing the story in the context of the Great Flood of 1910 in Paris adds a nice dose of real-world disaster to the proceedings, suggesting the kind of event that anxious people can point to as a reminder that terrible things do happen. And Bonello understands the context of the era per-

fectly, finding all of the longing involved at a time when holding someone’s hand could feel like the most erotic, transgressive thing in the world.

Things start to get a little messier and less cohesive as The Beast leaves that story behind, and it becomes clearer that we’re in the realm of something like Cloud Atlas in following characters across time.

Bonello leans into not simply the connection between the Gabrielle and Louis characters across those eras, but individual moments that echo pointedly: an encounter with three women at a dance club; Gabrielle’s conversations with a psychic (Elina Löwensohn); the presence of an ominous pigeon. What begins as a suggestion that unhealed psychic wounds can continue to have ripple effects turns into more of a genre exercise in exploring Nietsche’s theory of eternal recurrence.

It remains compelling to watch, however—and might do so throughout, provided you’re not distracted by Bonello nodding to his influences throughout the final hour. On a micro level, it might be something like evoking Michael Haneke’s Funny Games in a scene where a home invasion

includes what appears to be a rewinding of time. And on a much more noticeable level, it might be multiple moments that recall David Lynch work, from the use of a plaintive Roy Orbison ballad á la Blue Velvet to the shriek of realization at the climax of Twin Peaks: The Return

Bonello clearly has his own sense of style and auteur fingerprints, even if it’s something as fundamental as the interest in sprawling commentary about societal pressures, which was also evident in his 2016 feature Nocturama. Maybe he just thought it would be cool to wrap those ideas in a package that paid homage to other modern genre masters. He just needed to be a touch more subtle about it. Great artists steal, but maybe keep it hidden in your coat on the way out the door so the guard doesn’t catch you. CW

THE BEAST BBB

Léa Seydoux

George MacKay

Not Rated Available April 19 at Broadway Centre Cinemas

Life in the Slow Lane

Salt Lake’s modern tree

canopy is a living legacy of the peoples of Utah.

By Wes Long wlong@cityweekly.net

“Ithink that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree,” wrote Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918).

Kilmer’s own 1913 poem, set to Oscar Rasbach’s music, likely strikes a familiar chord to Utahns of a certain age, who sang it with their contemporaries for Arbor Day celebrations across the country in the mid-20th century. Extolling the divine beauty of trees, the musical exercise reminded participants that regardless of the season, nature’s emerald groves possessed qualities that we could scarcely hope to approximate by our own wit and artifice.

In fact, as German forester Peter Wohlleben has argued, trees are sentient beings that live life in the “slow lane,” pursuing their own objectives and living interdependently with one another wherever they can. Such plants, Wohlleben emphasized in The Hidden Life of Trees, ought to be allowed to “fulfill their social needs, to grow in a true forest environment on undisturbed ground, and to pass their knowledge on to the next generation.”

That ideal has centuries-old roots in communities all around the world—and Utah is no exception. But like an actual plant’s vascular system, the nourishing lines of this generational knowledge can be pruned away through carelessness and ignorance. The lessons that Utahns once traditionally celebrated—even in their cities—can be lost amidst a rapacious culture of taking more than we actually require from our ecosystem.

Looking ahead to this year’s Arbor Day on April 26, it is hoped that this effort to shed light on Utah’s early treeplanting efforts may cultivate your own tree ethic to sprout with greater—yes, even poetic—splendor.

Taking Root

For thousands of years, Native Americans lived across the region later to be known as Utah, altering the environment to suit their needs as they hunted, gathered and associated. “The rise of agriculture and irrigation allowed the Anasazi and Fremont cultures to thrive,” historian Sara Dant contextualized in a 2019 volume of essays, “while the Utes and Paiutes encountered by the Mormons used fire for hunting and to promote open grasslands enticing to game.”

The open pastoral lands and streams enticed incoming settlers as well, but trees were relatively scarce along the Wasatch Front at the time—sagebrush and sunflowers were the more common vegetation around the valley.

For the arriving Mormon settlers—who, like the local Native cultures, often fused the material with the spiritual—this new home held great potential for collective survival as well as in demonstrating respect for the divine. Consequently, such activities as land distribution, irrigation and timber use were shared endeavors of supervised stewards utilizing public resources that could neither be owned nor monopolized.

“In their new Promised Land, the church was omnipresent, and it placed a strong emphasis on cooperation, community and environmental stewardship,” Dant wrote.

Clockwise from top left: The Utah County Courthouse in the early 1900s; Arbor Day 1901 at the University of Utah; Gov. Arthur L. Thomas planting a tree on Capitol Hill in 1909; The Capitol grounds in 1911.

Trees began to increase as city ordinances mandated street lots to be populated with various kinds of softwoods. Bringing seeds, grains and tree cuttings with them on their westward journeys, the early Mormons introduced many new species into the area and began what would in future years be important local green spaces.

Phoebe Young (1830-1901), in an undated recollection, described her husband Phineas’ (1799-1879) interest in covering Salt Lake City with shade trees and of his agreement with his brother Brigham Young (1801-1877) to furnish the venture. “There were locust trees around Temple Block and some but very few in different parts of the city,” she recalled. “With money scarce, the idea came to offer local boys a cup of sugar or honey for a cup of locust seed.”

News spread fast, and soon local children of all ages had gathered a bushel of seeds in exchange for some flour and “something sweet.” The genesis of what would be known as Liberty Park had begun in earnest.

This is not to say that the Latter-day Saints—as with those who came before and after them—consistently practiced what they preached or left a uniformly positive environmental impact.

In an accompanying essay to Dant’s, historian Thomas Alexander told of local loggers who cut enormous swathes through accessible stands, ignoring their own religious environmental teachings and leaving easily-harvested timber in short supply. “In one venture in Little Cottonwood Canyon,” Alexander reported, “a speculator cut one million board feet of timber. Unable to sell the logs, he simply left them to rot on the ground.”

These sorts of habits worsened as the earlier Mormon ethic on the sanctity of environmental life faded from prominence with the death of Brigham Young. Along with their neighbors, the Mormons became more and more intertwined with the national market economy—maximization of profit became the shared watchword. As the 19th century neared its close, overgrazing and overcutting along the Wasatch Front had become rampant and deteriorated mountain watersheds were sending water, soil and avalanches into the towns below.

A similar state of affairs was in fact taking place across the nation by the 1880s, leading to the creation of a national forest reserve system.

“Nothing is more certain than that, as the years roll

on,” the Scientific American lamented in 1889, “our children and our children’s children will look upon our wastefulness in the manner of tree destruction and our improvidence in providing for new growth to take the place of trees destroyed as among the reckless and wanton follies of the present generation.”

Planting Hope

Begun in Nebraska in 1872 and celebrated shortly thereafter by Iowa, Arbor Day was—even at that early date—noted with approbation among Utah newspapers.

“There is beauty for the eye, moisture for the earth and wealth for the commonwealth in such planting,” remarked the editors of the Woman’s Exponent, “and the example of those two states should be emulated by other communities of the West.”

By 1890, however, Arbor Day had still not fully taken root in Utah Territory, much to the dismay of then-Gov. Arthur Thomas (1851-1924). “In this arid region, the value of trees cannot be overestimated, and their planting should be encouraged,” Thomas said to the Territorial Legislative Assembly. “I think the people would welcome the Arbor Day.”

The assembly, however, failed to act on Thomas’ recommendation, to the annoyance of the Logan Journal. On top of traditional uses for survival, trees—as the paper asserted in August of 1890—“raise the man out of the sphere of the mere money or bread grubber and recognize him as one who makes for beauty.” The unnamed writer hoped to see “our broad acres dotted with these trees bearing green and shady boughs, with their fresh odor and faces in the spring, and their glorified tints in the frosty days of autumn.”

They would not have to wait for very long, thanks to some determined teachers in Utah County.

During their spring meeting at the old Central Schoolhouse in Provo, the Utah County Teachers’ Association discussed a number of items for the coming year, one of which being, on the suggestion of Superintendent Ervin A. Wilson (1856-1904), the enactment of Arbor Day exercises. With a favorable response from his colleagues, they set the date for April 10, 1891. Lauded in the press, the planned Arbor Day events were hailed as a boost for Utah’s schoolchildren, providing overdue beautification to their barren playgrounds and shadeless sidewalks.

On the morning of the appointed day, the Provo Daily

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Enquirer later reported, 800 children from the surrounding schools, along with spectators, marched to the Provo Courthouse square. Wearing bouquets of red and white— emblems of Provo free school education—each participant carried wands in their hands so as to keep the procession evenly measured as the clank of spades and shovels provided their rhythm. Some of the students held aloft a banner that read on one side, “Arbor Day: He Who Plants a Tree Plants Hope,” and on the other, “Arbor Day: She Who Plants a Tree Plants Hope.”

Arriving at their destination, the half-mile parade performed calisthenics and sang songs before being shooed away from the premises (court was in session, after all). Returning to their respective schoolhouses, the varied assemblages engaged in songs, games, recitations and planting ceremonies for more than 800 trees.

They commemorated trees to philosophers like Socrates, writers like William Shakespeare and Harriet Beecher Stowe, politicians like Abraham Lincoln and Mamie Wilkins, performers like Emma Abbott, religious figures like Brigham Young, reformers like Eliza Cook, and events like the signing of the Treaty of Shackamaxon, among but a few examples. Similar exercises were held in Payson, Heber and Pleasant Grove.

“On the whole, Arbor Day was celebrated in a thoroughly becoming manner,” the Provo Dispatch concluded, although some teachers lamented that more parents weren’t present for the occasion. The event was the first of its kind in the territory, and more was still to come.

Growing to New Heights

By the start of the 1892 legislative session, Governor Thomas renewed his call for Utah to designate an Arbor Day of its own, decrying the “rapidly disappearing” forests around them. David Evans, Jr. (1852-1923), then a legislator from Ogden, took up the challenge and submitted an act to establish Arbor Day as an official holiday for every first Saturday in April. The act was passed, along with another territorial addition: Labor Day.

Issuing a proclamation that March, Gov. Thomas marked April 2, 1892, as a time to be observed for “the planting of trees and shrubs in private and public places,” according to contemporary reporting in the Deseret Evening News

The stormy weather that year put a damper on the fes-

tivities, but in the years that followed, Arbor Day became a regular time for city beautification and clean-up efforts, championed by groups like the Utah Forestry Association and other civic-minded individuals. Planting trees at schools and universities, in local parks, and especially along “Governor’s Row” atop Capitol Hill all became annual state traditions.

But by the 1950s, the grove of trees on Capitol Hill had been cleared away to make room for the Capitol building, schools and businesses no longer closed for Arbor Day and local garden clubs provided the main impetus for arboreal efforts. What’s more, many of the trees that had been so assiduously planted prior to statehood were disappearing.

“As we ride about the countryside, we see fewer and fewer of these early giants gracing the landscape,” Salt Lake City Shade Tree Commission founder Helen C. Wells—whose papers are archived at the University of Utah—observed in 1954. Acknowledging that some pioneering plants were softwoods and consequently short-lived, Wells was nevertheless disgusted that “we have permitted business expansion to eliminate the trees.”

Later laws re-affixed Arbor Day to the end of April and such governors as George Clyde (1898-1972) and Calvin Rampton (1913-2007) introduced initiatives like Tree Week and holding a million plantings statewide. The work of tree planting and education, however, generally fell upon municipal forestry divisions and local nonprofits, as it does to this day.

TreeUtah executive director Amy May, for instance, takes pride in her organization’s efforts of serving as a “matchmaker on behalf of trees,” working throughout the state to pair groups and individuals with a tree that will suit their elevation, wind conditions and soil types. One particular initiative that May’s organization has undertaken is working in areas that have been historically underserved, lowincome and apt to experience urban heat islands.

“Utah has some of the toughest conditions for trees,” May observed, noting that flooding, excessive heat and harsh cold are all ongoing factors from year to year. Planting for success is paramount in Utah’s salty and clay-like soils, but what trees give back in terms of cleaning air, cooling cities and creating positive experiences for mental, social and ecological health cannot be overstated.

“Trees do a lot more for us than we realize,” May added.

“We take them for granted.”

In urban forests especially—where trees are unnaturally prevented from commingling with one another while boxed into a hardscape—it is all too easy to overlook what an effort trees make to survive in the modern city. As Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division director Tony Gliot points out, however, “trees are amazingly resilient organisms, and we’re very fortunate that that is the case.”

Competing for space among a city’s other infrastructure needs, urban trees experience unique challenges apart from those of a natural forest and, consequently, require additional considerations.

Gliot notes that our trees do rather well “in spite of Salt Lake City being a location that does not really grow trees naturally,” and he credits our legacy forest to the “generations and generations of Salt Lakers” who planted and conscientiously cared for our canopy.

Amazingly, well over 200 species from all over the world are growing here, but they do require responsible watering and attention.

“In our climate, without care from people, our trees will not survive,” Gliot stressed.

Attributing Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s “Keep Your Cool” initiative to be a particular boon—with thousands of trees going into the ground every year—Gliot argued most of all that the “infectious, tree-loving spirit” of yesteryear is still alive among everyday Salt Lakers.

As Salt Lake City gets larger, drier, hotter and increasingly threatened by climate change and the toxins from a receding Great Salt Lake, the cleansing, cooling influence of the verdant spires about us may prove to be our godsend, as City Weekly reported in a 2022 cover story. Bequeathed to us from countless people before our time, our trees embody the wisdom of that old Greek proverb: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.”

Not yet fully matured, time will tell if a sapling city like our own still possesses a similar degree of foresight.CW

Arbor Day Activities

TreeUtah hosts multiple plantings per week, and many are open to the public (especially on Saturdays). Go to treeutah.org for weekly updates on new opportunities. Advance sign-ups will be available for the following planting events:

April 22: Earth Day celebration

Regional Athletic Complex, 2280 Rose Park Lane, SLC, 9 a.m.-noon

April 24: Oquirrh Park

5624 Cougar Lane, Kearns, 9 a.m.-noon

April 26: Arbor Day planting

Lodestone Park, 6252 W. 6200 South, Kearns, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

April 30: 9-Line Orchard planting/ribbon cutting

932 S. 1100 West, Salt Lake City, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

May 11: Fitts Park

3050 S. 500 East, South Salt Lake, 9 a.m.-noon

Clockwise from top left: Amy May with TreeUtah volunteers; Salt Lake City Urban Forester Tony Gliot; Salt Lake City Mayor John Bransford (with shovel) planting a tree at Liberty Park for Arbor Day 1911.

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In Noodles We Trust

The creative team behind Provisions dips into noodle wizardry with Millcreek’s Noodlehead.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Is it just me, or is Utah’s noodle scene really starting to take off? We’ve built a solid foundation of noodle joints around town—I’m looking at you, Chinatown Supermarket—but I’m feeling a paradigm shift a-comin’. We’re starting to see noodle “restaurants” evolve into noodle “bars,” which has the potential to change local noodle culture into more of what it was meant to be: social hubs where noods and brews are integrated into local nightlife.

Yes, friends, I think we are on the precipice of a true ramen renaissance. Or maybe the good people at Millcreek’s Noodlehead simply spiked my broth with something a little stronger than pork stock.

I kid, of course; the pedigree shared by the operation team behind Noodlehead doesn’t need to stoop to such dishonorable methods. Noodlehead was founded by Chef Tyler Stokes of Provisions fame, and its menu is a collaboration between Stokes and Provisions Chef de Cusine Landon Eastabrook. Branching out from the modern American menu they’ve all but perfected at Provisions, Stokes and Eastabrook have created Noodlehad as a love letter to ramen bars and Asian street food culture.

Noodlehead is tucked away inside Millcreek Common, a rapidly developing

recreational area complete with a rollerskating rink and a rock-climbing wall built right into the structure’s north side. Its dining space is cozy, and I recommend sitting at the counter where you can see the Noodlehead team fill, fold and pinch their homemade dumplings while you eat. As the place is called Noodlehead, you’re going to want to dive face-first into some ramen or pho during your first visit. I started with the pork ramen ($13), which is a delightfully rich celebration of everything you love about ramen. In addition to some thick slices of luxurious pork belly, you also get some plump pork dumplings, slices of spiral kamaboko fish cake, a smattering of tender shiitake mushrooms and a marinated hard-boiled egg. I’m a fan of places that give my ramen noodles plenty of company, and it’s clear that you’re in for quite a meal when this steaming bowl of goodness hits your table.

Of course, the foundational noodles and broth are stellar. The latter packs a healthy punch of pork flavor, and the former is perfectly firm—not a soggy noodle to be found in this house, my friends. I’m never going to complain about pork dumplings sharing space with sliced pork belly in my ramen, and both interpretations of the protein were excellent. The dumpling’s filling had anise-like notes of flavoring, and the belly was slightly crispy along the edges. If it wasn’t obvious at this point, you’re going to be very full after you power through this bad boy.

The drunken noodles ($12) on the dinner menu are also worth a spin. Borrowing the colloquial title of Thai cuisine’s pad kee mao to imply this dish was either created in a drunken haze of creativity or designed to cure a hangover, this dish is a firecracker. It’s full of Thai chili, red onions and peppers, but you’ve got some pastrami and pickled mustard seed that nudge the dish into delicatessen territory. Based on the ingredient list, I’m leaning toward hangover cure territory with this one; this bold combo of spicy peppers and acidic mustard seed meets the peppery,

fatty goodness of smoked pastrami will be on my mind next time I overdo things.

Though the restaurant’s noodle dishes deserve your attention, Noodlehead has plenty of non-noodle dishes that maintain the restaurant’s Asian-inspired vibes. The steamed pork buns ($11) are gorgeous little bites whose pork belly and hoisin come together with a bit of pickled cucumber to cut through the former’s robust flavors. I also think a full plate of marinated cucumbers ($5) is a good addition—especially if you’re grabbing one of the rich noodle soups, as they add a pop of brightness and contrast with each bite. These thickly-sliced cukes get a little mint, some crushed almonds and some togarashi chili paste. They’re cool and refreshing, but have a slight kick from the chili paste and a lovely crunch from the crushed almonds.

For my money, the best non-noodle dish you can find at Noodlehead is the Pho’rench Dip ($10), which puts a wonderful, deli-style spin on everything you love about pho and banh mi. It starts with a traditional banh mi preparation with roast beef, cilantro, jalapeño and hoisin stuffed into a toasted baguette. It’s then served with a cup of Noodlhead’s pho broth that becomes the au jus for a traditional French dip sandwich. I like to do this regardless of where I go for Vietnamese food, but the way the roast beef banh mi complements the pho broth is spectacular.

Chefs Stokes and Eastabrook definitely have a signature style, and it’s fun to see such talented ramen fanboys put their spin on this internationally renowned bowl of comfort food. As the Millcreek Common area evolves and expands, I’m thinking Noodlehead is poised to become a true ramen ambassador for our local food scene. CW

2 Row Brewing

6856 S. 300 West, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Midnight EspecialDark Mexican Lager

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Irish Lager

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: Boho Extra Dry Lager

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Liquid Lunch - IRANW India Red Ale

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake

LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Our brand new Helles!

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST 550 So. 300 West #100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Philly Sour Fruit Bat

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  Bulliet Bourbon barrelaged Brown

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Pomme PalomaGrapefruit & Hopped Cider collab with Pink Boots Society

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/

On Tap: DOPO IPA

Craft by Proper 1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: Gungan Sith LordDark Lager

Desert Edge Brewery 273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  La Playa-Mexican Style lager

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Horchata Cream Ale

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: Up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works 333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2

Helper Beer 159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: The Hunter: Kölsch

Kiitos Brewing 608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Limited Release IPACitra & Nelson Hops - 7.0% ABV

A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Draft: 7 C’s (IPA brewers with 7 ‘C’ Hops for our 7th Anny, April 20)

Brewers Select: MEGA Cloud Seeding Hazy IPA

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations

RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Cyclops Irish Stout

SaltFire Brewing

2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake

SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap: Chocolate cherry stout on draft

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com

On Tap: Injector Hazy IPA

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Jalapeno Ale

Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: Cached Out Hefeweisen -- Now available to go!

Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com

Proper Brewing: SLC PilsPilsner

Proper Burger: Salted Caramel Porter - Porter Brewed with Caramel and Salt

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com

On Tap: YRJB - Juicy IPA

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery 1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Holy Haze IPA 5% Love Local new release April 26

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT

StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap:  Easy Rider: Blackberry Amber Lager collab with Proper Brewing

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT

StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: Flyin’ Shoes: Rye Kellerbier

TF Brewing

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Japanese Style Rice Lager

On Tap: Luau Rider - Coconut Chocolate Milk Stout

Scion Cider Bar

916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: Scion Aelderkin 6.2% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider. com

On Tap: White Sangria Cider

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake

ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: Foggy Goggle Winter Lager

Live Music:  Thursdays

Shades On State 366 S. State Street SLC

Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Hellion Blonde Ale

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George StGeorgeBev.com

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters

On Tap:  S Salt Lake Brewing Co’s Staycation Pilsner

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com

On Tap: The Griffen- Citrus Wheat Ale in collaboration with the 419th at Hill AFB

Top of Main Brewing

250 Main, Park City, Utah topofmainbrewpub.com

On Tap: Top of Main’s Coalition Hellfire Chili Pepper Ale

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG

2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Golden Grant 5% ABV.

Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Wasatch Brew Pub 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ wasatch

On Tap:  Top of Main’s Mother Urban’s Parlor Blonde Ale

Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

Zolupez

205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden

Zolupez.com

BEER NERD

Pleasure Crafts

Two craft brews that’ll put you in your happy place.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Salt Lake Brewing - Black Sunshine: Cascadian Dark Ales are characterized with caramel malt and dark-roasted malt flavor. The hops usually feature fruity, citrus, piney, floral and herbal characters. This ale pours pitch-black, but not Imperial Stout dark. The foam is a light tan, and it looks pretty good overall. The aroma in this beer is already nice; it definitely has the American Citrusy hops required for anything that says IPA, but it also has some Schwarzbier qualities to it that are different. There is a dark caramel to mild toffee character coming out as the beer warms, but the whole time, the hops continue to be a force in the aroma. The flavor has a little more acidity to it than I was expecting from the aroma. It is still very bold, but leans more toward the malt in the finish, which I think is a good thing, otherwise the acidity from the dark malts might be overpowering. The beer is medium-bodied, with ample to slightly low carbonation. The finish is quite balanced, giving up more chocolate as the beer warms. The hops are expressive with citrus and pine, and are bright for the remainder of the finish. The alcohol stays reserved the whole time; you don’t really notice it until you have drunk most of the glass.

Verdict: This is a pretty good beer, and one of the better ones that I have had from this brewery. The beer itself seems rather simple, like they took a good Schwarzbier recipe, changed it to American hops and bumped up the flavoring additions quite a bit. That is what

you can expect with this beer—and I like it. Some people may be turned off by the malty balance in the finish, so it may be reminiscent of some American Brown Ales in that respect.

Saltfire - A Series of Singularities (Elixir Hops): Grown in the legendary Alsace region of France, Elixir is typically used as an aroma addition, contributing unique characteristics of leather, cognac and tobacco, with prodding flavors of herbal tropical fruits. This IPA features only Elixir, and pours a medium golden-amber with a fine half-finger white head showing great retention and lots of lacing. The aroma is dominated by tropical fruit—specifically pineapple and mango—plus light lemon citrus hops and caramel malt. The flavor is lemon and grapefruit, mango and some mysterious herbal notes. It starts very mellow and fruitforward, then develops somewhat resinous citrus and pine hops, with citrus rind and hints of pine and dankness. This really is appropriate for a spring ale, light and refreshing. The fruit is complex and well-balanced, while the sneaky hop bitterness finishes it off nicely. Frighteningly well-covered at 7 percent ABV, I would have guessed the alcohol level was much lower from the taste. While sampling for this review, I drank it much more quickly than I expected because of the interesting hop fruit component; I soon realized it packs a punch.

Verdict: Pleasant and deceptively light and bright—really different from a typical herbal NW IPA, but perfectly fits the broader West Coast style. Saltfire has a winner with this one, and it’s definitely worth seeking out if you’re a fan of single hop IPAs.

Both are limited in their respective batch sizes; Saltfire is available in cans to enjoy at the brewery or take home, while Salt Lake Brewing’s Black Sunshine is only on draft at the brewpub on Broadway. As always, cheers! CW

MIKE RIEDEL MIKE RIEDEL

BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

The Bruce Scottish Pub Opens

If you’ve spent any time at The Gateway over the past week or so, you’ve likely noticed that the space that housed Bout Time has ditched the sports paraphernalia for old-world heraldry. The space is now The Bruce Scottish Pub (169 S. Rio Grande Street), a public house inspired by the cuisine and pub culture found in Scotland. The menu includes plenty of Scottish favorites such as fish pies with tender haddock chunks, scotch eggs and sausage rolls. As someone who’s a bit more likely to visit a renaissance fair over a basketball game, I have to say I’m looking forward to making this my eatery of choice before catching a movie at the Gateway Megaplex.

Mamachari Kombucha Taproom Opens

Mamachari Kombucha (333 W. Hope Avenue) owner Amy Stott recently added a taproom to the brewery. It follows suit with other taprooms, allowing customers to come sample some Mamachari brews before buying a few bottles to take home with them. Customers can also purchase growlers and growlettes from the taproom and bring them in for refills to make sure your kombucha cup always runneth over. In addition to Mamachari’s signature kombucha, the local brewery offers bottled water kefir to keep those probiotics plentiful. This local brand has been keeping the Wasatch Front supplied with all kinds of tasty ’booch, and the taproom element looks to bring more ’booch to the masses.

Ogden Beer Fest

Speaking of brews, the time for the 2024 Ogden Beer Fest is upon us. This event promises to be a celebration of local breweries and distilleries; the vendor list includes luminaries like Bohemian Brewery, Level Crossing, Mountain West Hard Cider, Proper and Squatters, to name only a few. Admission to the event will include a commemorative sample cup, four sample pours and a $6 food voucher. If that’s not enough to wet your whistle, however, additional samples can be purchased onsite. The event takes place on April 20 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Monarch (455 25th Street), and tickets can be purchased via ogdenbeerfest.com.

Quote of the Week: “Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire.” – David Rains Wallace

CITY WEEKLY Rewind

BY WES LONG wlong@cityweekly.net

“When I began professionally writing on my old Model HH [typewriter],” Lance Gudmundsen related in April 2019, “my editors emphasized: Be accurate; be impartial; be aware; be truthful. Put another way: Don’t screw up the basics; don’t assume; don’t be duped. And seek the truth. Good advice for anyone, writer or not.”

In a time when hacks and fools styled themselves as reporters and commentators, when bloggers clogged the arterial paths with deranged bunkum, and when truthseekers were dismissed with the rest of them as “enemies of the people” and purveyors of “fake news,” Gudmundsen noted that power in any form and from any direction often has difficulty with the inconvenient reminders that good reporting fosters. “Truth, I find, especially bothers The Establishment, whether it’s the brie-andchardonnay crowd or the god-and-guns gang,” he observed. “But isn’t that the job of journalists: To comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable? I’d like to think so.”

This was a time when journalists like Jamal Khashoggi were murdered without consequence, when panics over nonexistent migrant “caravans” ran high, when another federal government shutdown took place and when the Trump administration’s immigration policy of separating children from their families at the U.S./Mexico border really started gaining attention.

In Utah, the inland port project was developing behind closed doors, San Juan County was fighting court orders to realign its suppression of Navajo voters and, in a consequence affecting sensitive wetlands and air quality, the truck ban on Legacy Parkway was allowed to expire.

Three voter initiatives on Medicaid expansion, medical cannabis and redistricting made it to the goal post. But while lawmakers like former Sen. Jacob Anderegg, R-Lehi, tried to repeal the Medicaid initiative in real time, his colleagues opted to gut or ignore all three measures after the fact.

Elsewhere, EnergySolutions was halted in its efforts to fast-track bringing depleted uranium into the state, Gov. Gary Herbert’s office donated to LGBTQ organizations working to prevent suicide, and a pilot program began for local municipalities to use Ranked Choice Voting. Electric scooters were popping up around the downtown

area, and Mitt Romney and Ben McAdams replaced, respectively, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Mia Love in Utah’s federal delegation.

As for City Weekly, we got new music editors with Nick McGregor and later Erin Moore, while John Saltas paid tribute to supporter and friend Terry Nish (19372018). Due to limited budgets, the paper was shrinking its page numbers, but that did not stop writers from covering unique topics. Emma Penrod looked at the damage wrought by an Illinois project similar to the inland port, Ray Howze examined the monarch butterfly population and Rich Kane explored the work of death doulas.

Greg Wilcox, meanwhile, raised awareness of the declining Great Salt Lake, Jordan Floyd profiled the Salty Bitches skater group and David Hampshire contemplated the fate of Allen Park’s “Hobbitville.” This doesn’t even get to Alex Springer’s work on local pinball, Matthew LaPlante’s Japanese skiing trip or Daria Bachmann’s report on Richfield’s Pando forest.

Amid an often complicated and troubled world, with limits on time and resources, did these writers (among others) pursue that elusive beacon called Truth? Did they maintain the standards that Gudmundsen learned so many years ago from his editors? Did they “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable?”

We’d like to think so.

Remembering Vol. 35: In detention

“Jonathan Paz looks like he’s having a staring contest with his office desk,” Kelan Lyons’s Jan. 31 cover story began. “He interrupts his tense glaring with periodic Post-it note scribbling and computer scrolling as he grips his phone and listens to a Department of Homeland Security attorney argue that his client, Mackenley Montfleury, should stay locked up in the Aurora, Colorado, detention center until the federal government decides whether he should be deported.”

With two of Montfleury’s three drug charges dismissed or withdrawn, Paz argued, “Mr. Montfleury is now not even deportable. So, I’m not even sure why we’re having a conversation about bond, because he, at this point, should just be released.”

Montfleury, a native of Haiti, relocated with his family to Orem after state-sponsored violence against critics of the Haitian government—including his father, Joseph

Montfleury—became too much. “Now, the couple work at a local grocery store,” Lyons wrote, describing the change to the family’s once-posh circumstances. “They drive themselves everywhere. There are no more servants. They’ve created proud, modest lives in a strikingly different country than the one in which they were born.”

The children grew older, and with that came rebelliousness in Mackenley Montfleury. He experimented with marijuana, moved out and was at odds with his father. He then got into an altercation with his dad and ran away. “We didn’t even think about that because we know he is here legally,” the elder Montfleury said of his decision to contact police, “and we [didn’t] even think ICE will get involved.”

Mackenley Montfleury was detained for months awaiting federal decisionmaking on deportation. All this, Paz wondered at the time, over minor drug charges. “Simply violating the law does not make someone a danger to their community,” Paz asserted during a phone conference with the DHS attorney and judge in Colorado. His client had been charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, not theft, and had not threatened or attacked anyone with a weapon. “This isn’t someone that’s hurting anyone.”

Such a state of affairs had largely come about, Lyons observed, due to shifting federal priorities. The Obama administration—which deported more than 2 million people—focused on those “who’d been convicted of violent crimes, joined a ‘criminal street gang’ or posed a threat to national security.” With the arrival of the Trump administration, the focus was vastly widened.

Montfleury was not even an undocumented immigrant, having received his lawful permanent residency (LPR)—or green card—in 2005. While the standard for deporting LPRs is higher than those without papers, the new administration stripped DHS lawyers of prosecutorial discretion regardless of mitigating circumstances.

Awaiting the prolonged legal morass to clear at the detention center, Mackenley Montfleury told Lyons that he hoped to eventually return to school and finish the degree he started in engineering technology at Utah Valley University. “I just see myself as a young man trying to find myself in this world,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, a lot of bad decisions, but I don’t

think that I’m a bad person.”

After months of legal battles, Montfleury was finally released from immigration detention in March 2019, his deportation proceedings officially dismissed.

In the debate

“What is most interesting about religious intolerance today is that it is the last socially acceptable form of intolerance. …

“Even more surprising is that some of the most intolerant are the ones who often call for tolerance. The Broadway community not only accepted intolerance, they gave it a Tony Award in 2011 when it awarded The Book of Mormon as best musical. The show, which still draws large crowds, including many Christians, mocks belief in God in general, but specifically LDS believers. Granted, the Broadway community has always felt under attack from religious groups and might be justified for their acceptance of this play, yet it still seems wrong.

“What we see is that religious intolerance has always been part of the American experience, and that is without even investigating the non-Christian religions. We also see that intolerance is not only of others outside your personal belief system, but from within as well. We are doing better in so many other areas today. There is no reason we cannot hope we can do better here as well.”

(James Finck, May 16,

2019)

In hindsight

Having spent 42 years as a Senator, Orrin Hatch’s imminent departure from public office was neither lacking in flowery tributes nor barbed retrospectives. John Saltas, for one, recalled when Utah had leaders like Calvin Rampton (1913-2007), Scott Matheson (1929-1990) and Frank Moss (1911-2003), and compared Hatch’s record unfavorably with these earlier public servants.

“Since Hatch first took office, Utah changed politically,” Saltas wrote in January 2019. “We became as insane as he is; as double-faced; as mean and narrow-minded. Democrats became hated. I hold Hatch in no high favor whatsoever, I cannot wait for him to leave office, and I wish that for even small pieces of his conspicuously vacant Senate career, he would have risen to more than an escort for financial absconders, bookended by [convicted swindler] George Norman and Donald Trump.”CW

On the Record

For Record Store Day, local music store employees share why physical-media music matters.

BY SOPHIE CALIGIURI

There are many ways to tend to the past.

Whether you pay homage to nostalgia or pander to remorse, reminiscing is more interesting when set to music. Enter the vinyl record, a conduit for history in two distinct ways. One: The record itself is a relic, recalling a time before the CD, before Walkman and certainly before Spotify, when vinyl was the only medium designed for music. Two: Music itself is memory. Tied to circumstance, people and the past, in many ways music is a momentary reenactment of time and space.

FEATURE MUSIC

If listening to a record lets such histories loose—conjuring spirits which come tapping upon your inner ear—then Record Store Day brings a shovel and ceremoniously digs up the grave of What Once Was, presenting it re-invented, rearranged, reformatted and fit for our 2024 inclinations. Designed to “celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role they play in their communities,” Record Store Day (RSD) annually boasts special, demo, live or re-releases of your favorite tunes by your favorite artists—only on vinyl, and only fashioned for indie record stores across the U.S. What started as a kitschy way to not just save but prove the importance of local record haunts has metamorphosed into a 15-year annual event fueled by 5 a.m. lineups in record store parking lots.

So, lest we forget what the day is all about—supporting locals and the music, man!—we’ve reached out to the staff at three Record Store Day participating shops in Utah, and asked them one simple question: Why do you love records?

Diabolical Records: Owned and operated by Adam Tye and Alana Boscan, since 2013, Diabolical Records has been known for slinging records pressed for those with provocative, alternative and exciting sensibilities. They’re long-time carriers of independent music labels as well as physically formatted local releases, and despite what the name suggests, the only truly diabolical thing about this shop is how fit the selections are for greedy fingers.

Tye’s favorite thing about vinyl is “the collectability of it.” “I think humans instinctively gather things. If you love something, you should want a physical representation of it,” he said. Besides fastening music to listeners on Record Store Day 2024, Tye is most excited for “the phone calls about the Olivia Rodrigo release to stop.”

So, leave Tye alone, and read it here once and for all: Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan are releasing two live singles on colored vinyl especially for RSD, with Kahan covering Rodrigo’s “Lacy,” and Rodrigo covering Kahan’s “Stick Season.” Now, instead, ask Tye this: “If I like Olivia Rodrigo, what indie label artist should I check out?” Bingo!

Graywhale Entertainment: Since 1986, Graywhale has been an oasis for the mediaphile and a cornerstone of record collecting. Carrying an all-encompassing array of genres on CD and vinyl formats, their eclectic selection has been known to satisfy both industry snobs and half-listening amateur music purveyors alike.

Allyson Katana, manager at the Taylorsville location, says she loves vinyl because, “The act of putting on a record is so mindful. You have to put it on the player, and flip it over. It’s a more zen way to listen to, and experience music.” Staff member Mady Ewell agrees: “I really love the look and sound of vinyl. It’s crazy that it is just a giant flat disc that you put a needle to, and it creates sound. I love the snap-crackle-pop you get off of some of the vintage records. It’s just really unique.” Collin Womeldorf also likes the vintage aspect: “I love finding old records, and thinking about where they’ve

been before, and how they’ve been enjoyed a lot, and now it’s your turn to enjoy them.”

Sam Stahura, a clerk at the Ogden Graywhale, loves “the ritualism of it all. The tangibility of it. I’m not a religious person, and even though it sounds pretentious, [listening to a record] is like a religious experience.” Fellow clerk Tyler (whose last name is “Don’t Worry About That”) says: “I just like music in general. That’s what it boils down to for me.”

And, their Record Store Day 2024 picks are just as diverse as their stores’ offerings, with the staff excited for the Witchfinder’s General Death Penalty, Sonic Youth’s Hits Are For Squares, Grateful Dead’s Nightfall of Diamonds and At The Drive-in’s In/Casino/Out RSD special releases, among others.

Lavender Vinyl: If you have love and will travel, Ogden’s local music brandishing bouquet, Lavender Vinyl, has plopped the quintessential browsing-amongthe-stacks-feel that big-business record stores fail to develop right into the beating heart of Ogden. Owned and operated by Kye Hallows and Blake Lundell, and with

friendly faces and knowledge to boot, this local shop shows that matching sounds to listeners is never quite as rhapsodical as when done here with vinyl blooming like flowers ripe for the picking.

Hallows says their favorite thing about vinyl is that it “forces you to slow down and take in the experience in this fast-paced world, where we are always looking at our phones and skipping tracks. It allows you to enjoy the work as the artist intended us to hear it.” They’re most excited not about a specific release, but about “hanging out with all of the fellow record nerds” on a day that many wait for round-the-clock.

Record Store Day 2024 is on April 20, so turn to your favorite local, indie store to see when they open for business. And please: If you buy the Olivia Rodrigo album (all the more power to ya!), try and buy something from a more underground label while you’re at it. Yeah, it might not be the resale ticket item of the year, but it will likely transport you to the past. But only as long as you’re listening closely. CW

THURSDAYS

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

WEDNESDAYS KARAOKE

SHARK SUNDAYS POOL TOURNEY HOSTED BY TANNER

INZO @ The Complex 4/19

Chicago-based electronic music producer/DJ INZO (Mike Inzano) tugged at our emotions with his song “Overthinker” in 2018, and we haven’t been quite the same since. INZO reshaped future bass music with that masterpiece alone, but has continued to build an intriguing career since then with songs like “Angst” and “Drift Like A Cloud, Flow Like Water.” The latter will give you chills, stemming from places of intense sadness or happiness. The light, euphoric melodies and sophisticated percussion puts INZO on par with producers like LSDream and Liquid Stranger. Similar to these heavyweights in the scene, he strives to connect with people’s emotions and bring people together, rather than making banger after banger. This wholesome approach offers fans an emotional safe space in INZO’s music, which is the exact atmosphere of his live sets. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a party side, just listen to his dubstep song “Hellavudrug” or the funky song “Let It Slide, these prove that he is a jack of all trades. The top-tier production and metaphysical journey of INZO’s music will be accompanied by stunning visuals with his signature calming, purple hue. Check out INZO’s Visionquest Tour brought to SLC by V2 Presents at The Complex on Friday, April 19. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $27 at thecomplexslc.com (Arica Roberts)

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WEDNESDAY, APR.

SATURDAY, APR. 20

THURSDAY, APR.

WEDNESDAY, APR. 24 JACOB

FRIDAY, APR. 19

THURSDAY, APR. 25 BOBBY THOMPSON

Page Fish, Kaytlin Numbers @ Velour 4/19

It’s always fun to see folks from your home state go on competition shows. It makes you have some pride about your state, and their family and friends can look at the TV and yell, “There they are!” Singer/songwriter Paige Fish made the trek to try out for American Idol in 2022, and while she didn’t make it super-far into the competition, she’s gained a lot of recognition for her talent—which is rightfully deserved. Fish’s vocals are out of this world, and she wows people online with her power, tone and heartfelt lyrics. She’s released several singles post- Idol, including the beloved “26 and 24,” and her latest, “Ego,” which is different from past releases. “I think I have that niche subjective kind of breakup song that I have always written and released,” Fish told UCL Pi Media in Feb. “For people who have been listening for a long time, ‘Ego’ is totally different to songs I’ve released thus far, so there’s that new crowd of people I’ve been able to draw in and who like my music now.” Joining Fish is the incredible Kaytlin Numbers, a fellow singer/songwriter who has an incredible library of folky/indie jams, including her newest single “four leaf clover.” Come have a great time with these fantastic singers on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $12 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

Fuck Mike Lee Fest @ The Beehive 4/20

Let’s all go around the room and talk about what Mike Lee has said that’s driven you batshit crazy. The top one for me is his comments on climate change, stating “the solution to climate change is … to fall in love, get married, and have some kids.” Sounds great, Mikey; we’ll all get right on that. Perhaps for you it was the fact he blatantly disregarded masking during the height of COVID-19 that got under your skin. Or maybe it was when he was the lone vote against a bill to get disability benefits to those who suffer from ALS more quickly back in 2021. No matter the reason you’re not a fan of Mike Lee, you can join in with likeminded individuals for a night of good times. There are so many ways you can spend 4/20 (if you partake), but the Fuck Mike Lee Fest might be the perfect combo for you if you have beef with the senator, like many of us do. Come jam with great local bands including Summer 2000, Head Portals, Melancholy Club, Sleep Cult, Hurtado, The Apology Club, Tiger Bike, JimiDead, Rotten Boy and Cody Hsu. This all-ages bash is only $15, so come have a good time and air your grievances on Saturday, April 20. The show starts at 4 p.m. Grab tickets at 24tix.com. (EA)

Sessanta: Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle @ Maverick Center 4/23

I get the impression that Maynard James Keenan takes art seriously, but doesn’t take himself seriously. Maynard’s band Tool appeared on HBO sketch series Mr. Show as a fictional band called Puscifer—which became a real band years later. Sessanta serves as an unorthodox tour where Puscifer, A Perfect Circle and Primus team up and form like Voltron, with members of all three acts onstage at certain points. This special 30-song extravaganza is a celebration of Maynard James Keenan 60th birthday. “Quality of life is success in my opinion,” Maynard told Esquire. “My quality of life is finding puzzles and seeing them through. Whether it be a building, a wine, writing songs. They’re puzzles. Do I need to do all these things? No. But I have the means to instigate the puzzles and do them.” I think you can appreciate these artists for their music and for the subject matter of their lyrics without going too far out into space. With A Perfect Circle, Keenan participates with guitarist and songwriter Billy Howerdel to create a brand of haunting melodies with a more accessible sound than his other endeavors. With Puscifer, Keenan is in the cut with guitarist/ keyboard player Mat Mitchell and singer Carina Round. The group takes a trial-and-error process with exploration. And with Primus, circa Sailing the Seas of Cheese and Brown LPs were fairly jammy, but mostly produced tight four- or five-minute songs. Nowadays, one would expect the same tunes stretched into a 15- or 20-minute session with wah effects on the bass and solo, minus the Ronnie Dobbs skit. Yeah, they most definitely have a sense of humor. Catch them at the Maverick Center on Tuesday, Apr 23. Doors at 6:30 p.m.; show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show range from $75-105 at ticketmaster.com (Mark Dago)

Matthew Logan Vasquez @ Urban Lounge 4/23

Matthew Logan Vasquez has confronted his failures and emerged victorious. Now married, sober and settled in the pastoral plains of the Texas Hill Country, he initially found success as a member of the band Delta Spirit before joining the indie supergroup Middle Brother, and subsequently releasing three superb albums of his own. His worldview has been shaped from his own personal perspective, one that suggests that life is often a struggle and that it takes patience and perseverance simply to survive. That determination is evident in each of his efforts, underscoring the fact that Vasquez is a singular artist whose music is the product of both courage and conviction. He shares those insights at every opportunity, having toured the world many times over, become a festival favorite (courtesy of appearances at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk Festival, and Austin City Limits), and guested on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Later With Jools Holland. He’s a storyteller in the truest sense of the word, but his reflections are based on lessons learned through age and experience. Both reverent and rambunctious, he remains consistent in terms of conveying emphatic expression and illuminating intent. He also proves that emotion and insight needn’t be mutually exclusive. After all, Vasquez is a tuneful troubadour, both reputable and reliable when it comes to combining his poetry and passion. He sometimes struggles with tough realities, but he never allows his will to waver. Matthew Logan Vasquez performs a 21+ show on Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at The Urban Lounge. Tickets cost $20 (+ $6.85 service charge). Go to 24tix.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

Puscifer

Matthew Logan Vasquez

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

I suspect two notable phenomena will coalesce in your sphere sometime soon. The first is a surplus supply of luck. I’m not sure why, but the fates will be sending surges of good karma your way. The second phenomenon is this: You might not be entirely alert for the potential luck flowing in your direction, and it may not leap out and grab you. That could be a problem. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which means you are getting a heads-up about the looming opportunity. Now that you realize you must be vigilant for the serendipitous blessings, I’m confident you will spot them and claim them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

You will be wise to summon extra love and rapport as you ruminate on your vivid upcoming decisions. Wouldn’t you like to bask in the helpful influences of smart allies who respect you? How nurturing would it feel to receive healing encouragement and warm appreciation? I suggest you convene a conference of trusted advisers, good listeners, sunny mentors, wisdom keepers and spirit guides. Maybe even convene a series of such gatherings. Now is an excellent time to call in all your favors and get the most inspirational support possible as you navigate your way to the next chapter of your life story.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

If you drink alcohol, don’t operate a forklift or backhoe. If you gamble, protect yourself with safeguards and have a backup plan. If you feel called to explore altered states of consciousness, consider doing meditation, dancing or chanting holy songs instead of ingesting drugs. If you have an itch to go hang-gliding or sky-jumping, triple-check your equipment. And if you have the urge to try to walk on the water, don a lifejacket first. But please note, dear Gemini: I am not advising you to timidly huddle in your comfort zone. On the contrary. I highly recommend you stretch your limits. Just be secure and smart as you do.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

I plotted out my usual astrological reckonings for your current destiny. Then I slipped into a meditative trance and asked the spirits to show me future scenes that correspond to my assessments. In one prominent vision, I beheld you partying heartily, navigating your avid and inquisitive way through convivial gatherings. In other scenes, I saw you engaged in lively discussions with interesting people who expanded your understanding of the meaning of life in general and the meaning of your life in particular. I conclude that intelligent revelry will be a main theme for you. Productive excitement. Pleasurable intrigue. Connections that enliven and tonify your imagination.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

The theory of synchronicity proposes that hidden patterns are woven into our lives. Though they may ordinarily be hard to detect, they can become vividly visible under certain circumstances. But we have to adjust the way we interpret reality. Here’s a clue: Be alert for three meaningful coincidences that happen within a short time and seem related to each other. I predict the emergence of at least one set of these coincidences in the coming weeks—maybe as many as four. Synchronicities are coming! You have entered the More-Than-Mere-Coincidence Zone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Psychologists J. Clayton Lafferty and Lorraine F. Lafferty wrote a book called Perfectionism: A Sure Cure for Happiness It’s based on their work with clients who damaged their lives “in the illusory pursuit of the unrealistic and unattainable standard of perfection.” In my observation, many of us are susceptible to this bad habit, but you Virgos tend to be the most susceptible of all. The good news is that you now have an excellent chance to loosen the grip of perfectionism. You are more receptive than usual to intuitions about how to relax your aspirations without compromising your competence. As inspiration, consider these words from author Henry James: “Excellence does

not require perfection.” Leadership expert R. R. Stutman adds: “If perfection is an obstacle course, excellence is a masterful dance.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

“Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which they never show to anybody,” wrote author Mark Twain. I agree that everyone is a moon and has a dark side. But it’s important to note that our dark sides are not inherently ugly or bad. Psychologist Carl Jung proved to me that our dark sides may contain latent, wounded or unappreciated beauty. To be healthy, in fact, we should cultivate a vigorous relationship with our dark side. In doing so, we can draw out hidden and undeveloped assets. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you Libras to do this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Your current state has metaphorical resemblances to idling in your car, waiting and waiting and waiting for the red light to change. But here’s the good news: I expect the signal will turn green very soon—maybe even within minutes after you read this horoscope. Here’s more good news: Your unlucky number will stop popping up so often, and your lucky number will be a frequent visitor. I’m also happy to report that the “Please don’t touch” signs will disappear. This means you will have expanded permission to consort intimately with influences you need to consort with.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I think it’s time to graduate from your lessons in toxic kinds of enchantment and launch a new experiment with healthy kinds of enchantment. If you agree, spend the next few days checking to see if any part of you is numb, apathetic or unreceptive. Non-feelings like these suggest you may be under the enchantment of influences that are cramping your imagination. The next step is to go in quest of experiences, people and situations that excite your imagination, rouse your reverence and raise your appreciation for holy mysteries. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you connect yourself with magic, marvels and miracles.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Luther Burbank (1849–1926) was a practical artist. Using crossbreeding, he developed over 800 novel varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains and flowers. Among his handiwork was the russet Burbank potato, a blight-resistant food designed to help Ireland recover from its Great Famine. My personal favorite was his Flaming Gold nectarine, one of the 217 fruits he devised. I propose that Burbank serve as your role model in the coming weeks. I believe you have the power to summon highly pragmatic creativity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

L. R. McBride wrote the book The Kahuna: Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii He describes the role of the kahuna, who is a blend of sorcerer, scholar and healer. At one point, a kahuna gives advice to an American tourist, saying, “You have moved too fast for too long. You have left part of yourself behind. Now you should slow down so that part of you can catch up.” I’m offering you the same advice right now, Aquarius. Here’s your homework: Dream up three fun things you can do to invite and welcome back the leftbehind parts of you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

In the course of my life, I have heard the following three statements from various people: 1. “Everything would be better between us if you would just be different from who you are.” 2. “I would like you more if you were somebody else.” 3. “Why won’t you change to be more like the person I wish you would be?” I’m sure you have heard similar pronouncements yourself, Pisces. But now here’s the good news: I don’t think you will have to endure much, if any, of such phenomena in the coming months. Why?

First, because you will be more purely your authentic self than you have ever been. Second, because your allies, colleagues and loved ones—the only people who matter, really—are likely to be extra welcoming to your genuine self.

Big-D Corporation (dba Big-D Construction) seeks Project Engineer (Salt Lake City, UT) Under direct supervision of Project Director of large licensed general contractor, manage site development projects. Write & track RFI’s & process or assist in change orders. Prep & maintain construction drawings, maps, blueprints, aerial photography, survey reports, & other topographical / geological data to plan projects. Hybrid telecommute role, requiring 3 days/wk in office & reports to Salt Lake City, UT HQ. Up to 10% travel to unanticipated construction sites in metro. Salt Lake City UT area, during project lifecycle. Equal Opportunity Employer/ Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. Email resume to careers@big-d.com Ref. 20240315NS

Media Relations Specialist (West Valley City, UT) sought by Family Medicine Practice/Chiropractic Wellness Clinic, with exp. in the following: (i) handling event coordination activities, including pre-production and post-production, to establish and maintain company brand and image, and (ii) acting as company representative in creating digital material and content, such as promoting company services or products on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok. No travel or lang. fluency req. Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Business, or related field (or foreign equiv.) + 6M exp. in the job duties req. Please send resumes by postal mail only to: Jackeline Robledo Dunn, CEO, CORE Health & Wellness, LLC DBA CORE, 2222 West 3500 South, Ste B1-B2, West Valley City, UT 84119.

Want to Run Away?

Ihave a lot of friends who say, “If Trump gets reelected, I’m moving to Canada and buying a home there!”

Um, sorry kids, but, as of January 2023, unless you’re a Canadian citizen, you cannot purchase residential property.

So how does one become a Canadian?

Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship; you must first apply for and get permanent resident status. Then, you must apply for Canadian citizenship and meet the same requirements as any other person seeking Canadian citizenship.

To become a citizen, you must be a permanent resident; have lived in Canada for three out of the last five years; have filed taxes in Canada; prove your language skills; pass a citizenship test and then take the oath of citizenship. If you committed a crime in or outside of Canada and/or have been in prison or on parole or probation, you may not be eligible to become a citizen for a period of time, either!

How is that different from becoming a U.S. citizen? Generally, people born here are considered citizens, but there are similar steps for a foreigner to be granted citizenship in this country.

Utah has a major housing problem, with low inventory and very little affordable inventory. Canada has the same problems, so much so that the initial ban on foreigners buying property in Canada was extended for two years until January 2027.

This past February, their deputy prime minister and minister of finance stated, “For years, foreign money has been coming into Canada to buy up residential real estate, increasing housing affordability concerns in cities across the county, and particularly in major urban areas. By extending the foreignbuyer ban, we will ensure houses are used as homes for Canadian families to live in and do not become a speculative financial asset class. The government is intent on using all possible tools to make housing more affordable for Canadians across the country.”

Canadian legislators have spent more than $14 billion through an Affordable Housing Fund to build 60,000 new affordable homes and repair 240,000 homes. They’ve allocated $4 billion though a Rapid Housing Initiative that’s expected to help build more than 15,500 affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing needs, and another $200 million to build 4,500 new homes by repurposing surplus federal lands and buildings.

The Canuck’s have also come up with a brilliant Tax-Free First Home Savings account that allows residents to contribute up to $8,000 per year (up to $40,000) for their first down payment.

Utah legislators have not, in my opinion, offered many solutions for our housing crisis. Giving $20,000 to firsttime buyers to use as a down payment or closing costs primarily benefits developers of new construction.

For anyone wanting to live in our major cities, there is little new construction for rent other than high-rise

performer

33. Computer music format

35. Company that merged with Minolta in 2003

37. Nab some showy jewelry from jail?

43. “Brigadoon” lyricist Alan Jay ___

44. Mononymous Irish singer

45. Seattle setting, briefly

47. Like lost files

51. Talking bear film-turned-TV show

52. Analgesic’s targets

54. “Pale” drinks

56. Trash talk about a doctor handing out phony cold remedies?

63. “You’ve Got a Friend ___”

64. Bear up there

65. Bellybutton type

66. PFC superiors

67. Call it ___

68. Cornball

69. Frobe who played Goldfinger

70. Curt agreements

71. Frequently

DOWN

Last week’s answers

X Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to

No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the

with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and

Democracy in Action

As the November presidential election looms, with incumbent President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 77, squaring off once again, some American voters would like to see literally anybody else on the ballot—and Literally Anybody Else, of North Richland Hills, Texas, wants to give them that chance. A 35-year-old, seventh-grade math teacher and U.S. Army veteran who legally changed his name from Dustin Ebey, the candidate says his goal is to inspire change.

“America should not be stuck choosing between the ‘King of Debt’ (his self-declaration) and an 81-year-old,” reads the declaration on Else’s campaign website. “Literally Anybody Else isn’t just a person, it’s a rally cry.” NBC-5 Dallas Fort Worth reports that Else needs the signatures of 113,151 registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary, by May 13, in order to run as an independent candidate.

Ssssurvivor!

We’ve heard of dogs and cats going missing, only to turn up at their owners’ doorsteps weeks, months or even years later; now we can add snakes to that list. The BBC reported that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were recently called to a residence in Spennymoor, County Durham, to rescue a 3-foot-long corn snake atop a garage roof; the snake had escaped from a crow that had attempted to carry it off. When a neighbor came by to see the rescued critter, she recognized it as her pet snake, Agnus, who had been missing for a year. RSPCA inspector John Lawson was surprised the snake had survived out in the cold for so long. “The vet believes Agnus had gone into brumation mode, similar to hibernation, and her body had shut down in order to survive,” Lawson said. Agnus received treatment for a respiratory infection before being reunited with her owner.

Have It Your Way, Pal

Some people go to extremes to get a great deal, but on March 31, one disgruntled customer at a Burger King drive-thru in Willowick, Ohio, pulled a firearm on an employee who was trying to give him a discount on his breakfast items. The employee, Howard Vernon, 38, told WOIO-19 News that when he gave the customer his total, the man argued that it should cost more. “I’m, like, trying to explain to him that we had a promotion going on ... and he started cussing and getting all loud,” Vernon said. The enraged man drove his gray Honda sedan out of the drive-thru but quickly returned, then stepped out of his car and pointed a gun at Vernon. After threatening him and calling him racial slurs, the man returned to his car and sped away. “It was about some bread and sausage sandwiches at 9 o’clock in the morning on Easter,” Vernon said, “and you’re that mad that you’d put a gun in somebody’s face?” Authorities are still searching for the customer.

Male Pattern Boldness

Hey, fugitives have feelings, too! After the Avon and Somerset Police posted a wanted notice on Facebook on April 1 describing Daniel Kellaway, a wanted fugitive, as “white, about 5 ft. 9 in., of average build, with brown eyes, receding hairline ...,” Kellaway (or someone claiming to be him) replied, “No need to mention the hairline, guys.” A comment posted by the same account the next day reminded the police that Kellaway’s birthday had passed since the information was compiled for the notice, and that he was now 29. Kellaway is being sought in connection with driving offenses, criminal damage and threatening behavior, so while social media users got a kick out of Kellaway’s comical posts, authorities have warned the public not to approach him and to call authorities if he is spotted.

Ghastly

After having lurked quietly on the shelves of Harvard’s Houghton Library for the better part of a century, the philosophical meditation Des Destinees de l’Ame has undergone a facelift, according to a statement issued

by the library in March. The book was acquired by the school in 1934, along with a note explaining the process of preserving human skin. The book’s previous owner, an eccentric French bibliophile named Dr. Ludovic Bouland, claimed to have added the “human touch” (read: human skin) to his prize because “a book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering.” The cover’s origin could not be confirmed until 2014, and NBC News reported that this eventually led to an ethical review in 2023 and the recent decision to rebind the book in something less macabre.

Youth Inaction

n Young people are cutting loose and losing their blues in Cambodia, but rather than embracing the Footloose of it all, the Guardian reports that Prime Minister Hun Manet is now cracking down on the source: vehicle owners and operators who replace their cars’ standard horns with ones that blast popular tunes. So enticing are these familiar refrains that young Cambodians are literally dancing in the streets, which the prime minister says poses a traffic hazard. He has directed the ministry of public works and transportation, along with Cambodia’s police force, to crack down on vehicle operators whose horns emit anything other than the standard honk.

n Students and parents at Alston Ridge Elementary in Cary, North Carolina, have been dealing with a unique carpool annoyance recently: an aggressive pest of a turkey. WTVD in Durham reports that the local bird pecks at cars, windows, people—any perceived threat in “his” territory. “This was a young male turkey who probably was looking for a mate ... and was unable to find one,” said Cary Animal Services Officer Beth Wilson. “He was trying to claim a territory, and I guess he decided the carpool lane was going to be it.” Wilson predicts Lonely Tom will chill out—just as soon as his hormones die down.

Heart in the Right Place

Thinking she had spotted an abandoned baby hedgehog on the side of the road, an animal lover in England carefully gathered the creature into a box lined with newspaper and took it home, setting out some cat food and leaving it undisturbed overnight. After realizing it hadn’t moved or eaten, she took the box to Lower Moss Wood Nature Reserve & Wildlife Hospital in Cheshire the next morning, where hospital manager Janet Kotze “realized ... it wasn’t a hedgehog.” The fluffy, spiky, hedgehog-colored “creature” was actually the pompom from a winter beanie. Because the elderly rescuer had kept her distance through the night, she hadn’t noticed the ball’s lack of eyes or ears. But her compassion melted the staff members’ hearts; Kotze said the woman “did absolutely the right thing—aside from the fact that it wasn’t a hedgehog.”

All the Luck

A Pennsylvania shopper took home one heck of a giftwith-purchase: the cashier’s diamond wedding ring. Cindy Tristani, a cashier at a Burlington in Uniontown, told WPXI-TV that she looked down during her shift and realized her ring was gone. Her co-workers joined her in a panicked search, but found nothing. In what she called “a long shot,” Tristani posted on a local Facebook group’s page: “If anyone was shopping at Burlington Uniontown today, I think my diamond ring might have fell in someone’s bag.” This all happened on Tristani’s mother’s birthday—”She’s been dead for three years, but she could always find anything”—so the cashier included a plea to her mom in a quick prayer before getting back to work. Lo and behold, customer Cait Giles checked Facebook on the way home (no, she wasn’t driving), saw the post and checked her shopping bags. Jackpot! Returning the missing ring “made my heart so full,” Giles said. “It was the best moment.”

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