Author Archives: Fairpark Community

Homeless Resource Center Discussion with Mayor’s Office

Now that the Homeless Resource Center Sites have been chosen and community information sessions held, you probably still have questions about how those Resource Centers will operate. Please come to the next Fairpark Community Council meeting, February 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Northwest Community Center to learn more. There will be a discussion with Salt Lake City Mayor’s staff, David Litvak, Deputy Chief of Staff and Moana Uluave-Hafoka, Community Council Liaison.

The purpose of the discussion is to hear your ideas on how these Resource Centers can achieve their objective of assisting people experiencing homelessness into
homes. There will also be an opportunity for you to share your ideas on how the Mayor’s office and Salt Lake City Council can assist in the improvement of our community.
Your ideas are important! Don’t miss this chance to share them with officials from Salt Lake City. Please refer to the article on Homeless Resource Centers in the January 2017 edition of the Fairpark Gazette. The article is also posted at the Fairpark Community Council website.

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Dirt2Table: Spring is Coming! Plant your Seeds Now!

Isn’t it fantastic? The days keep getting longer, the low temperatures keep getting higher and the dirt is thawing out. Soon, we can get our hands in it and prepare it for giving us back the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor.

During the month of March, we should all take advantage of the dirt’s willingness to start growing an array of wonderful treats for our tables. Among those plants that can be planted by seed in March are greens such as kale, spinach, chard and lettuce. It’s also a good time to plant seeds for root vegetables such as carrots, beets and onions. There are many varieties of each of the food plants mentioned, so have fun and plant as many varieties as you can!
Don’t forget that the Fairpark Community Council will be working hard between now and April 29th to grow a delectable assortment of starter plants, ready for you
to plant out in your patch of dirt by May 1st. We will be starting herbs, tomatoes, eggplant and pepper plants soon so that by the end of April they will be established
and ready to thrive in your garden. This year, to create an event that provides more value to our Community than just a plant sale, we are having the First Annual Fairpark
Community Festival of Spring and Plant Sale. The event will feature a seed giveaway and plant sale like last year, but will also include many educational booths and workshops to help make your spring and summer more enjoyable for
all.

If you have any ideas to help make this Festival of Spring and Plant Sale a success, please reach out to Tom King at 801-502-1991 or write to dirt2tableslc@gmail.com.

Fairpark Community Council Bylaws: Proposed Revisions

The Fairpark Community Council Bylaws Committee has examined the Bylaws and are proposing revisions, which can be seen here. (Click link)
The revisions will be voted on at the February 23rd Fairpark Community Council Meeting. Please review the document and plan to attend the Feb 23rd meeting. Thanks!

Dirt2table: The Days are Getting Longer!

It’s not too early to plan your garden!

We have made it past the deepest part of winter, the days are getting longer, and before we know it spring will be here. In 2017 our Community will hold it’s First Annual Festival of Spring. This will be an enhancement of last years Plant Sale and Seed Giveaway, incorporating more workshops and useful information to enable all of us in the Fairpark Community to get more out of our gardens this year.

On Saturday April 29^th, in the park next to the Northwest Community Center, the Festival will be held. However, starting this month the preparations will begin. First we will be erecting a greenhouse, in partnership with All Chay restaurant. This will allow us to sow the seeds that will become the tomato, pepper, eggplant and herb plants that will be available for our gardens. The seeds need to be sown in February and early January to give them time to grow to a good size for putting into the garden.

Once the seedlings are started, volunteers will ensure that they are cared for and grow into vibrant little plants eager to get into your garden soil and thrive. In 2016 the event included a Plant Sale, a Seed Giveaway, a Children’s Plant a Seed and Watch it Grow activity, and a workshop for making cages to keep snails and slugs from eating little seedlings as they emerge from the soil.

This year, the Fairpark Community Festival of Spring will include all of that and more. We are working to arrange workshops in bee keeping, fruit tree grafting, water conservation and soil improvement. We are also open to suggestions for other activities that would improve and enhance this years event.

If you have any suggestions, for fun and educational activities or for varieties of plants you would like us to get started, please send those suggestions to: dirt2tableslc@gmail.com . We would love to hear from you!

So, Save the Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Park on the south side of the Northwest Community Center.

Also, if you are interested in volunteering to work on this fun and rewarding project, we could use your help from late January up to and including the day of the event there will be work to do. Just write to the above email address if you want to help. In the meantime, don’t forget to prune your fruit trees, and have pleasant dreams of fresh from the garden tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and all the other wonderful food that we grow in the dirt and enjoy at our tables!

Education Corner: How to Beat the Winter School Blues

The holidays are over and school has resumed. While parents may have been excited to get their little ones back into the classroom, children may not be as enthusiastic. Are your students as motivated about school as they were in September? Often, parents and teachers find that at this time of year many students experience the winter school blues. As a teacher, I referred to this as the “third quarter slump”. Here are a few things to consider to help your students snap out of it (or even prevent it!):

Atlanta author and columnist Adlen Robinson, and mother of six children, offers tips to help adults address those winter blues with their students:

Speak to your child’s teacher to get the true picture. Ask if your child is struggling in a particular area and how you can help.

Teachers are always happy to discuss ways to remedy or head off problems before they fester.

Buy some new school supplies. Remember how excited children are to buy school supplies for the first day of school?

Try letting your child pick out a new notebook or other items. This would also be a good time to examine the current notebooks and folders. Maybe their entire organizational system needs a checkup.

Take an interest in what your child is studying. Talk about what subjects you liked when you were that age.

Similarly, admit what you struggled with. My children all knew about my childhood struggles with certain subjects.

Start a reading club in your family. Choose a book that you can all read and then discuss during dinner.

The classics are great, of course, but try alternating who selects the book. Keep an open mind when they ask you to read their latest favorite.

Read more tips for parents here http://www.forsythnews.com/archives/22708/

The National Education Association recommends that teachers re-energize the second semester with things that will keep up the momentum of the school year:

“A Sneak Peak” – Before winter break, review what has been learned up to that point and provide a teaser for what students will be learning after they return

“This created anticipation among his students, says [Carl]Clausen. “When do we start?” they would eagerly ask. “

“Ownership Over Learning” – “I stress how grown up [the children] are, and I recognize their maturity as students,” [Michelle Wise Capen]she explains. “I have shown them a number of ways to work on spelling words during the first semester. In the second semester, I ask students to assess how they learn best and allow them to choose a learning approach on their own. Since the classroom expectations are still the same, children begin to take ownership of their learning without it being micromanaged by me.”

“Nothing Works Like Space and Technology” – Vicki Vieau’s class at Salem Grade School in Salem, Wisconsin, participates in the NASA cloud cover project, in which students record observations daily about the weather as the CERES (Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System) satellite passes over their town.

Read more tips for teachers here http://www.nea.org/home/30024.htm

There are many ways to help your students beat the winter blues. Check out the resources and re-energize!

Homeless Resource Center at 648 W 100 S

Last month Salt Lake City announced four sites for the new homeless resource centers. One of these sites is half a block from the Fairpark Community Council area at 648 W 100 S. Currently, the land is owned by the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency (RDA), and there is a community garden run by Wasatch Community Gardens at the site.

The criteria the city used in choosing this site were:

that neighborhood and homeless services are easily accessible
it is highly connected through multiple modes of public transportation
the size and location allow for creative integration with the surrounding neighborhood.

This site will require a zoning text amendment and conditional use approval. The process could take about a year before breaking ground at the 100 S site.

While we as a Community Council welcome the new Resource Center close to our neighborhood, we recognize that for many, this is a worrying prospect. We hope
that with the new scattered site model and the eventual closure of the Road Home Shelter, the concentration of people experiencing homelessness and those who prey
on them will be reduced in the area, and the spillover effects we have seen in our community the past few years will also go down.

We will continue to stay engaged in the conversation about the design of the Resource Center, what populations will be housed there, and how to mitigate any
negative effects that may come from the proximity of this site to North Temple and our Community Council.

At our February 23rd meeting, we will have representatives from the city in attendance to answer questions/concerns from community members.

Winter is Coming… Make Sure You are Prepared!

· Drive Safely in the Snow

o Driving in the winter means changes in the way you drive. Snow, sleet and ice can lead to hazardous road conditions. Prepare your vehicle for the upcoming winter season with these helpful tips.

· Avoid Strain while Shoveling

o Shoveling snow is a major winter activity in many parts of the United States. Taking a few precautions can help you prevent unnecessary pain and suffering.

· Treat Frostbite Immediately

o Use first aid to help someone who may have hypothermia or frostbite. Online and classroom courses are available through NSC.

· Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

o Carbon monoxide detectors save lives, but less than one-third of American homes have one installed. Install one today.

o Replace the battery for your home’s CO detector each spring and fall.

o Do not heat your home with a gas range or oven.

o Never run a car or truck inside an attached garage.

· What to Wear

Continue reading →

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

The 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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Pedal in the City: Women and Bicycling: Do Men Ride More Than Women?

If you are a woman, do you ride your bicycle for recreation or transportation – or both? Do you have a functional adult bicycle in your house?

An interesting study conducted in 2014 by PeopleForBikes revealed some interesting facts about women and bicycling.

“We decided to ask. In late 2014 we commissioned the U.S. Bicycling Participation Study, an unprecedented comprehensive survey of bicycling participation. We measured all kinds of riding by all kinds of people, including women. It turns out that much of what we thought we knew was wrong. There are some important and interesting findings from the study.”

Read about the gap between men and women who ride bikes,

Who rides more – women or men?

Do parents ride more or less?

Do men and women have similar aspirations when it comes to bicycling?

Comparing safety concerns between men and women,

Do older women ride more or less than younger women?

How are women represented in bicycle racing?

Find out more:

Article:

Download the study: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/pages/u.s.-bicycling-participation-benchmarking-report

Winter Spotlight: Annual Community Coat Exchange

Can you believe how cold it is getting out there?! The Fairpark Community Council was proud to participate as a partner in the Annual Community Coat Exchange again this fall. The Annual Community Coat Exchange, a project of Blue Sky Institute, has been an ongoing event in Salt Lake City, Utah since 2005. The event is held annually at Pioneer Park from 10am to 1pm the day after Thanksgiving. “Need a coat? Come get one. Have a coat? We know someone who can use it!” the website says.

We wanted to learn more about the individuals that this event helps so we met with Glenn Baily, Executive Director of the Crossroads Urban Center. With over 50 years of service, Crossroads Urban Center is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that assists and organizes Utahans with low incomes, those with disabilities, and people of color to meet basic survival needs and to address essential issues affecting quality of life. Crossroads runs an Emergency Food Pantry and helps over 4,000 families each year. Mr. Bailey is passionate about getting individuals to participate in Community Council events. “We want to continue working with individuals in the neighborhood to discuss real issues of homelessness and affordable housing, and make sure that individuals that haven’t traditionally been involved in Community Council are able to have their voices heard.” Continue reading →