Category Archives: Community

Education Corner: “Operation Warm” SLC Firefighters to the Rescue

childcoatEach year the Salt Lake City Fire Department chooses an elementary school whose 2nd and 3rd graders will be recipients of brand new winter coats. This year’s school: Backman Elementary.

“Backman Elementary School in Salt Lake City has been chosen by the Professional Firefighters of Utah (PFFU) and IAFF Local 81 (Salt Lake City) to receive coats for their students. Backman Elementary School was chosen based on the needs of their students. 98% of their students qualify for free or reduced meals. “ (Salt Lake City Firefighters, Local 81 website. http://www.1645.org/mobile/index.cfm?highlightId=287)

Multiple media agencies reported on the event. Links are provided below to those articles.

Salt Lake City Fire Fighters Local 81 has a Go Fund Me page for community members to donate funds to support this project.

“This is a very low impact fast and easy way to raise the funds to make it possible to provide coats to provide coats. Continue reading →

Have a Heart: Community Coat Exchange

Annual Community Coat Exchange

The Annual Community Coat Exchange promotes principles of community and re-using the day after Thanksgiving.

Every year people all over the United States spend the day after Thanksgiving coatexchangehaveaheart1kicking off the holiday season by taking advantage of the many opportunities offered by retail outlets. The 11th Annual Community Coat Exchange provides an opportunity for people to reflect on their own shopping habits as well as provides a service to the community.

The Community Coat Exchange is a collection and distribution of winter coats and other winter clothing items. The event is held every year the day after Thanksgiving between 10am and 1pm. This year’s event is being held at Pioneer Park, 400 South, 300 West.

Deanna Taylor, co-founder of the event, reflects about past coat exchange events: “This event is brings the whole community together. We have schools participating, businesses and community organizations. The coat exchange has become an annual event that people look forward to. ” Taylor adds that there is no prediction about how many coats are received and given away. “It varies from year to year. Some years we have had upwards of 700 coats and other years as few as 200.”

Several locations around the country have organized Coat Exchanges besides Utah’s events, in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Oregon.

Coats can be dropped off before Thanksgiving or brought to the event itself.

At the event, no questions are asked: If you need a coat, come get one. If you want to exchange a coat, bring the coat you want to donate and take one in exchange. If you have a donation of coats, we know people who can use them.

Left over coats are donated to the Crossroads Urban Center Thrift Store, a project of the Crossroads Urban Center which advocates for low income and homeless people. The Crossroads Urban Center Thrift Store gives clothes away to low income people and also sells clothes and other goods in its retail shop to the general public to help fund the Crossroads Urban Center programs.

Information: 801-403-0121 or 801-502-1991; coatexchange@blueskyinstitute.org; http://www.coatexchange.org

The Utah State Fair: Perspectives on a United Community Tradition

The state fair is an annual event that brings our community together with the rest of the state – rural and urban folk alike. This year’s State Fair had something for everyone with the many exhibits,events and fun that brought out kids of all ages.

  IMG_9473 IMG_9514  Little Hands on the Farm, The Fishing Pond, 4-H Exhibits, an old-fashioned, under-the-big-top circus, comedians (who were also entertaining hip-hop dancers), cooking demonstrations, art exhibits, photography exhibits, creative arts exhibits (including some clever sculptures made from soda pop cans), demolition derby, carnival rides and a wide variety of food options.

The Fair means different things to many people in the Fairpark community. Perspectives from two Fairpark residents are offered here.

“Does no one else see the Fairgrounds as I see them? Beautiful in their humble but strong malleability.  I love the flexibility of these spaces and their untethered usefulness,” says Ann Pineda, Fairpark resident and artist. “At the Fairgrounds, hundreds of skills are showcased each year.  The work I showcase , only one of those skill-sets, has become a request for these beautiful spaces to be appreciated and in a way that is consistent with the history of this place.”

“I’ve discovered that fair food is a big draw for me,” states Brook Bernier, community resident.  “I have visions of Navajo Bread with melted butter and powdered sugar for weeks coming up to the opening day.  Something about Fair food – it just brings back so many good memories. I know exactly where the Navajo Bread pop-up is located at the Fair. I go there first, then I walk about 30 feet and get a super sweet corn cob, and turn around, walk over to Leatherby’s and get a big ice cream cone. I was short on time this year, so I made sure to fit in all my food priorities first. I rode my bike to the fair, which is also pretty awesome, so there was less guilt associated with eating all of that high-calorie food in a matter of minutes.”

Continue reading →

Adopt-A-Spot News

20150926_123714The September Adopt-A-Spot event was a bit more quiet than usual. It seemed as though there wasn’t much activity in the parks that day. Nonetheless, we were able to collect garbage along the north and south side of the river from Constitution Park, over to the Cottonwood Park, the trail along the north side of the river and up to 700 North. Everyone grabbed a big green garbage bag and trash-picker-upper and off they went in all directions.

20150926_123721The city provided us with sidewalk chalk to write friendly notes in English and Spanish, (in lieu of signage that is still in the works). You may have seen our sidewalk art and messages. We wrote notes such as: “Please use the garbage cans,” “No tiene basura, por favor,” “Love your parks!” “Please don’t litter” “Tiene un buen dia!” The kids loved writing helpful messages on the sidewalks – the notes seemed to last more than a week before it rained, so we know lots of trail-users were able to see them.20150926_115852

We are planning our last Adopt-A-Spot event on Saturday, November 7th, from 11-2pm. We will meet at the east parking lot of the Northwest Rec Center again – this is the area near the soccer field (and dumpsters) 1200 W 300 N. AND, if you’re coming, you might as well bring your glass to be recycled, and any clothing items to be donated. Both collection bins are located right at that location!

20150926_115906Thanks for coming out last month – it was great to see you, and we all appreciate your efforts in keeping our trail and river clean and beautiful. See you next month!

 

Look for announcements about the next Adopt-A-Spot event on our website and facebook page.

Art Exhibit: For the Fairpark

The artwork of Ann Pineda, local Fairpark community resident, is on exhibit at Anderson-Foothill Public Library October 8-Novembe 13.  A reception will be held October 8 from 7:00-8:30pm at the library.The Gazebo

Artist Statement:

For the Fairpark

Does no one else see the Fairgrounds as I see them? Beautiful in their humble but strong malleability. I
love the flexibility of these spaces and their untethered usefulness. Periodically, the dirt gets heaped up
into small, bumpy mountains for who knows what use and fences are moved around for various events.
I got curious.

For a number of years, I have been coming to draw and paint in the open spaces of the Fairpark. The different qualities of light playing off its surfaces and spaces wind up in the paintings. The Fairpark glows each evening under its peach-colored lights. In mornings, the light is soft, of course, as it is in late afternoons; but more usually, I have been working in the bright sheen of mid-day, trying to figure out what it is I’m seeing. It’s a bigger subject than I could paint in several lifetimes. I like that. I like trying to do more than I know I can presently do or even understand. (Oh, I believe I’m talking about “Reach.”)

Continue reading →

Fairpark Community Council Hosts SLC Mayoral Candidate Forum

The Fairpark Community Council hosted a Candidate Forum for Salt Lake City Mayor to a packed house at its meeting on June 25 at the Northwest Community Center in Fairpark.  All 5 candidates, or their representatives, participated in the brief introduction and overview of their races, followed by a group Q&A session. Good4Utah.com (Channel 4) recorded the session and posted their piece here.

The following is a recap of the candidate presentations.

Mayor Ralph Becker

Mayor Ralph Becker

Ralph Becker – Mayor Becker is has been in office for 8 years.  His administration has rejuvenated the downtown, made significant improvements in transportation and has implemented equal rights policies in housing and employment.  The city boasts #1 status in the U.S. for job creation and is in the top 10 cities for sustainability and livability. The city has initiatives in place that have decreased the carbon footprint, but there is much work still to be done, according to the Mayor. While the city has increased prosperity, the city has initiated a “5,000 Doors” campaign due to the increasing disparity with people regarding income and housing.

Jackie Biskupski

Jackie Biskupski

Jackie Biskupski – Jackie Biskupski’s representative was on hand as she was at a scheduled campaign event. “She will listen” was the prevailing theme of her platform. Biskupski was a legislator for 13 years and enjoyed a close working relationship with the city during her tenure on many issues. She understands the West Side issues, including resources for things like infrastructure, street lights, clean river, a safe community, protected bike lanes, safe crosswalks, and economic development.

George Chapman

George Chapman

George Chapman – According to Chapman, issues have been ignored with regards to transportation, homelessness, safety and many other city issues. Chapman’s platform is based on the need for more police, more transit service, protection of open space and better air quality.

 

City Council Chair Luke Garrott

City Council Chair Luke Garrott

Luke Garrott – Currently a Salt Lake City Council Chair, Garrott’s campaign is focusing on public transit, clean energy production and affordable housing options in all neighborhoods. All neighborhoods should have better resources and be engaged in “participating budgeting” to have a voice in what is funded in their areas.

 

Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson – Robinson is a first time candidate for office in the political system. An owner of multiple businesses, he has a strong interest in building and development. Robinson’s platform will focus on better public transportation, homelessness, the rights of property owners, issues that affect the housing market and affordable housing.

 

Q & A (Ms. Biskupski was not represented in the formal Q&A due to her prior commitment)

Continue reading →

Summer Crime Prevention in Fairpark

As the temperatures begin to rise, so does the opportunity for criminals to commit memb1 acts against Fairpark. Protecting our neighborhood is very important, so
we wanted to provide you with some tips and resources for keeping you, your family and your property safe this summer. Did you know that you can research crime in your area through the Salt Lake City Crime Statistic page? http://slcpd.com/crimes-tatistics/ From this site, you can search crime data going back to 2009 in order to see the ebb and flow of criminal activity and other public safety issues based on data contained in the department’s records. Use the crime map to view the latest incidents near you.  You may also choose toreceive email crime alerts to stay informed and help improve the safety of our neighborhood and community.

To reduce our neighborhood’s crime rate, it’s important to get to know your neighbors, or come to meet our Community Intelligence Officer at our monthly Community Council meeting.

Did you know that the SLPD has a special unit devoted to grass-roots problem-solving within our community? The Community Intelligence Unit has 8 officers who attend monthly community council meetings within the City’s 7 Council Districts. While CIU officers share and receive a lot of information at these meetings, it is daily interaction with residents that fosters the trust necessary to tackle public safety issues together.

If you notice a problem on your street – from graffiti to loud parties, drug dealers to gangs – our CIU officer is ready to connect you with the law enforcement and community resources necessary to address the issue. Feel free to contact him directly. For District 2, Detective Dustin Marshall can be reached through email at district1@slcgov.com or by phone at 801-799-3626.

Here are some specific tips to help keep your home safe this summer. Continue reading →

A New Church is Forming in the Fairpark Community

RLC GraphicRedeeming Life Church, a newly formed church serving Fairpark and Rose Park, will be hosting an Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 am on April 5th at Riverside Park in the northwest corner by the Lion Terrance Pavilion. Everyone is welcome!

Starting on May 3rd, Redeeming Life Church will be meeting at the Northwest Recreation and Community Center on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. (1300 West 300 North).

Tracy Lynn Harris, member of the new church states:

Redeeming Life Church has a deep desire to serve the community of Fairpark and Rose Park. Out of love and a belief that Jesus is the healer of all things and all people they are committed to bring love, hope and life to the community. And they hope you might join them.

This love and hope drives Redeeming Life Church to love and serve the Community.

For more information, contact Theresa Fall at:  tfall310 at gmail dot com.