Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dream Turns to Reality – Folsom Trail Design in Process

folsomThe Folsom Trail project has been in the works for over two decades and is finally starting to take shape through the leadership of the Fairpark Community Council based on feedback from residents like you!

Located between 500 W and the Jordan River, and between North Temple and 200 S, this area used to be an old rail line and will be replaced with a new park and trail. It is currently in the early stages of planning and design. The Folsom Trail is a planned off-street, paved walking and biking path designed to connect the Jordan River Parkway Trail to Downtown Salt Lake City.

pic2The concept of an east-west trail from Downtown to the Jordan River Trail is found in five adopted master plans. In the short term, our community will be the home to new off-street paths and parks, and improved street crossings. Long term plans include daylighting city creek and development of new urban neighborhoods.

The Folsom Trail will provide a route for people of all ages and abilities to travel between the Jordan River Trail, and the communities of Fairpark, Glendale, Poplar Grove to Downtown. Working in partnership with Salt Lake City, local community councils and community organizations such as the

Seven Canyons Trust, and the University of Utah’s Westside Studio, will move forward with a public design process to establish the design for upcoming trail improvements. Make sure to come to future Community Council meetings for updates on how you can make your voice heard for what you want to see in this new urban walking and biking trail!

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Education Corner: Students with Disabilities: Which Plan is Right?

edcornerThe school year is well under way and the first quarter has ended. After countless meetings, lack of progress despite numerous interventions, and lots of testing, your child has been classified with a disability. You have so many questions! There are various plans for students with disabilities in the educational setting – IEP or 504? What are they and which one is right for my child?

The Utah Parent Center, a training and information center founded in 1983 by parents of children and youth with all disabilities to help other parents facing similar challenges throughout Utah, has posted a webinar called “IEP vs. Section 504 Plans: Which Is Right for My Child?” (http://www.utahparentcenter.org/iep504webinar). The webinar is presented by the Utah State Board of Education and can be downloaded by viewers. Topics include:

IEP vs Section 504 Which is Right for My Child Slides

What-is-Section-504?

IEP Tips For Parents

“Children with disabilities who qualify for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) receive services under an IEP plan. However, some children with disabilities do not receive services under an IEP but are instead served under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). This interactive webinar, presented by Jennifer Slade and Naté Dearden at the Utah State Board of Education, will describe similarities as well as differences between the IDEA and Section 504. For some children, providing the appropriate modifications and accommodations they need is the only way they will be successful in their school experiences. A thorough understanding of the provisions of these two laws and how they differ can help you and your child’s teachers plan the most appropriate education for your child.”

After view this webinar, you are likely to still have questions and in need of support. Be sure to maintain contact with your child’s school and his/her educational team. Working together has great benefits! Outside of the school you can contact the Utah Parent Center for resources, trainings, and support. Services provided by this non-profit organization are free.

Parent involvement is crucial to the education of all children. Children with disabilities are at higher risk for not completing school, not being employed or not pursuing higher education. Family involvement is especially crucial for these children. Seek out the resources you need to help your child be successful!

More information or questions can be directed to Education Corner author Deanna Taylor, transitionuniverse@gmail.com

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Fairpark Community Council Meeting December 3 Agenda (and Annual Potluck)

turkeyEach year the November/December Fairpark Community Council meeting is combined due to the Holiday season. There is no meeting in November and an early December meeting is held along with a community potluck.

This meeting will also be an opportunity to be involved in a discussion about goals and initiatives for the Fairpark Community Council for the next year.

Meeting agenda:

6:00 Annual Fairpark Community Council Potluck – Turkey and some sides are provided, as well as drinks and utensils. Please bring something to share and enjoy the company of Fairpark residents!

6:30 Welcome and Start Meeting

6:35 Public Safety Report

— Det. Dustin Marshall, dustin.marshall@slcgov.com

— Fire Station 7- (801) 799-4103

6:50 Elected Official Report-Council Members/Representatives in attendance

7:10 Mayor’s Office Report – Michael Stott, Michael.stott@slcgov.com

7:20 State Fair Report

7:40 Discussion of Goals and Initiatives for the Coming Year

8:00 Adjourn

~HAPPY HOLIDAYS!~

October Safety Tips: Halloween and Falling Back

Reduce Fear This Halloween

Halloween-SafetyOne of our favorite times of year in Fairpark is Halloween.   Often a fun-filled time for children, however, there are many dangers associated with the holiday unrelated to ghouls, goblins and witches.  Parents should take the necessary Halloween safety precautions to make sure their children remain safe while still having fun. Check out the infographic on safe costume choices to help keep kids safe on Halloween: http://www.nsc.org/act/events/Pages/Halloween-Safety.aspx

Click here http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/halloween-safety.aspx for tips on Halloween safety, tips for motorist, tips for trick or treating and on costumes.

Fall Back on November 1st cusd fall back time change

When you change your clocks, it’s also a great time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  Check to see if your fire extinguishers need recharging.

Pedal in the City: Resources for the average Cyclist

pedalcityPedal in the City is a new column to promote and educate everything about bicycling in Salt Lake City.

Increasing numbers of Salt Lake City residents are using pedal power to commute and recreate.  Not only is it good exercise, it is environmentally responsible. This month’s column is dedicated to providing resources for people who currently cycle or who want to know more about how to incorporate cycling into their lives.

Salt Lake City has created a website as part of its transportation division devoted to bicycling, “Bike SLC” – http://www.bikeslc.com.  The website includes maps and safety tips and is a good starting point for information on biking in SLC.

Green Bike SLC is a bike sharing program. Bike sharing is different from bike rentals.  Your read all about bike sharing at:  https://greenbikeslc.org

The Salt Lake Bicycle Collective provides education and refurbished bicycles to the community.http://www.bicyclecollective.org/
BIKE SAFETY TIP OF THE MONTH:

This month’s safety tip comes from Bicycle Safe ~ http://bicyclesafe.com

Ten Ways to Not Get Hit

How to avoid the “Right Cross”:

This is the most common way to get hit (or almost get hit).(source1, source2)  A car is pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on the right.  Notice that there are actually two possible kinds of collisions here:  Either you’re in front of the car and the car hits you, or the car pulls out in front of you and you slam into it.

How to avoid this collision:

1. Get a headlight.  If you’re riding at night, you absolutely should be using a front headlight.  Even for daytime riding, a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists who might otherwise Right Cross you.  Look for the new LED headlights which last ten times as long on a set of batteries as old-style lights.  And headlamps (mounted on your head or helmet) are the best, because then you can look directly at the driver to make sure they see your light.

Read the rest of the tips for avoiding the Right Cross Collision here.

Fairpark Community Council Elects New Board

Every two years the Fairpark Community Council elects new Board members (see the Fairpark Community Council Bylaws) .  At the April 23rd meeting, a new slate was voted in.  A huge thanks goes to Steve Johnson, outgoing Chair, for his tireless work for the good of the community in that capacity.

Here are the Board members for 2015-2017:

Executive Committee Board Members

At-Large Board Members

Dirt2Table: Spring Planting and Container Potatoes

The experimental planting of two kinds of Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, Onions and Peas dirt2tablethat were planted February 15th are up and growing. They didn’t get frozen and are fairly well advanced for this early. But now it is almost getting late for planting peas and greens. I plan to plant another area of them on the 18th of April. I suggest you do too, while you are waiting to plant tomatoes.

Even though it has been really warm, I still advise against planting any of the tender annuals like tomatoes and peppers until at least the 1st of May. It is even safer to wait until the end of the first week of May.

About a week ago we started some seed potatoes in a 32 gallon inexpensive trash can. We read about this method and we’re trying it with three trash cans. It starts with drilling drainage holes, then putting in 6 to 10 inches of good soil. You can use a mixture of 50-50 compost and peat moss, or any good rich soil. You plant the potatoes in this layer near the bottom, then every week or two as the plants grow up from the surface, you add more soil until your entire barrel is full. Then just let the plants grow and trail down the sides of the barrel. When the plants leaves are frost killed in the fall, it is time to harvest the potatoes. Just turn the barrel on its side and gently roll and work the soil and potatoes loose. Just brush off the potatoes, don’t wash them until your ready to cook them. They can be stored in a cool dry place for several months after harvest.

More information on container potatoes can be viewed here.  Be sure to read the comments on what has and hasn’t worked for people who have tried this.

Hold on to your hats: The Great Utah Shakeout

edcornerSchools, Individuals and other organizations all over Utah participated in the Great Utah Shakeout in April. The official date was April 16th  when, at 10:15am,  schools and businesses “ducked and covered” for one minute. Events are being held all during April.

The event is part of the larger The Great Shakeout (http://www.shakeout.org/).

Utah’s website with The Great Shakeout information is: http://shakeout.org/utah/.

The site is filled with resources.  There is also an interactive “game” that families can play together at http://www.dropcoverholdon.org/beatthequake/game.

Be prepared!

Fair to the Fair?

by Steve Johnson

When the Monarchs fluttered away from the deal with the Utah State Fair to build a soccer stadium, many Fairpark Community residents felt that the Utah Fairpark was, again, at risk. While a soccer stadium was not everyonfair_soccere’s ideal, people recognized that the Fairpark had to increase its financial stabilityty. The soccer stadium seemed to offer this.

Nor did the Utah State Fair get a long-term lease with the State – a fundamental component of any sublease that the Fairpark would make with the Monarchs or another group.

Why did the REAL Salt Lake drop out of the deal? According to Micheal Steele, Executive Director of the Utah State Fair, Dell Loy Hansen, owner of the REAL Salt Lake soccer team simply, did not want to deal with politics surrounding the Utah Fairpark at the Utah State Legislature.

The nature of these politics was revealed by introduction of bill late in the legislative session that would have rewritten the law defining the relationship between the Utah Legislature and the Utah State Fair, Inc., a private, nonprofit corporation created in 1995 by the Legislature.

In the existing law, the Utah Fair organization is mandated to enter into sponsorships and other agreements that will help the Utah State Fair be self-supporting.

When the Utah Fair’s Board of Directors entered into an agreement with the Monarchs, it was following this dictate.

But, it seems that some members of the Legislature disliked this show of independence by the Utah State Fair. Late in the legislative session, HB340 was introduced by Rep. Froer. At it’s core, the proposed legislation would have required that any sublease for property on the Utah State Fairpark (like the property for a soccer stadium) to be approved by two separate Legislative committees. This legislative language was going to make it nearly impossible for the Utah State Fairpark to negotiate sublease agreements with other groups – too many fingers in the pie. Anything negotiated by the Utah Fair could be changed or vetoed by either of the two Legislative committees.

The bill passed the House. It was not acted upon in the Senate.

And there another bit of good news. The Utah State Fair received its annual $675,000 appropriation to help cover expenses beyond the receipts of the annual Fair and other events.