Connection Magazine: January 2024

Dates and deadlines

• Jan. 1: Registration opens for the pickleball league (residents), spring soccer, and 2024 baseball and softball. Non-resident pickleball registration opens Jan. 8. Sources: Page 10
• Jan. 1: First Day Hike, Antelope Island Mountain View Trailhead, 1 p.m., regular park entry fees. Sources: Page 12
• Jan. 5: Paint Night, Winter Birch Trees, Community Center, 6 to 8 p.m., ages 14+, $30. Sources: Page 10
• Jan. 6: Celebration of the West Davis Highway opening. Sources: Page 3
• Jan. 6: Kids painting class, Community Center, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., ages 10+, $20. Sources: Page 10
• Jan. 8: Christmas tree pickup. Trees in the park strip by the curb and on top of the snow by 6 a.m. Sources: Page 9
• Jan. 9 and Jan. 23: City Council meetings, City Hall, 6 p.m. In person, by Zoom, or on YouTube. Sources: Page 5
• Jan. 16: Senior book club, Syracuse Library, 2 p.m. Sources: Page 12
• Jan. 21: Pickleball league registration closes, or sooner if the league fills. Sources: Page 10
• Jan. 23: Noon deadline to RSVP for the seniors lunch and bingo. Call 801-614-9660, option 1. Sources: Page 12
• Week of Jan. 29: Pickleball league play starts, six weeks, 3.0 level Mondays and 3.5 level Wednesdays, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sources: Page 10
• Jan. 31: Seniors lunch and bingo, Community Center, 12 p.m., $3. Sources: Page 12
• Feb. 18: Spring soccer registration closes. Sources: Page 10
• March 11: Next Syracuse City Arts Council concert. Sources: Page 8
• March 15: Winter street parking restrictions end. Sources: Page 9
• March 17: Baseball and softball registration closes. Sources: Page 10
• April 2024: Auditions for the Arts Council’s production of Disney’s Newsies; performances July 18 to 22. Sources: Page 8

Everything else

Snow and winter rules (p. 9)

• From Nov. 15 to March 15 it is unlawful to park in the public right-of-way between midnight and 6 a.m., or at any time while snow is accumulating or being removed.
• Pushing snow from a driveway or sidewalk into the street is an infraction (Ord. 4-05-160C). Snow cleared from the street may go in the gutter.
• Keep a three-foot perimeter clear of snow around fire hydrants, and clear sidewalks and ramps around your property.
• Christmas trees taller than 8 feet must be cut in half. No stands, lights, ornaments, tinsel, or flocked trees.

Council actions, Dec. 6 and 12 (p. 5)

• Certified the general election results: Paul Watson, Brett Cragun, and Julie Robertson begin four-year council terms in January 2024. The magazine thanks outgoing members Lisa Bingham and Seth Teague.
• Appointed Colin Winchester as City Attorney and adopted a resolution asking for recertification of the Syracuse City Justice Court.
• Amended the Consolidated Fee Schedule, adjusting Storm Water and Transportation Impact Fees, and adopted updates to the Transportation Master Plan and Storm Drain Master Plan with their impact fee analyses.
• Approved a contract with Weber Basin Water Conservancy for 45 acre-feet of untreated secondary water.
• Changed the code so street trees must now be trimmed to a 13.5-foot clearance above the street surface.
• Updated Engineering Standards and Construction Specifications to match recent legislation and clarify street sign materials.
• Subscribe to agendas and meeting notices through the city’s Notify Me list at syracuseut.gov/list.aspx.

Mayor’s message (p. 3)

• The mayor writes that the freeway opening is the city’s biggest opportunity in decades and should broaden the tax base as more businesses follow Costco.
• He reports more than 30 new business license applications in 2023, and fewer than half as many single-family residential permits as the year before, with multi-family work mostly a continuation of existing projects.
• He reports the fire department took more than 1,000 emergency medical callouts again in 2023, about two-thirds of all calls, and notes a new emergency room hospital under construction.
• He cites SafeWise ranking Syracuse the third safest city in Utah for 2023, with theft down 30 percent, assault down 10 percent, and citations up 15 percent. Chief Atkin was elected vice president of the Utah chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.
• He lists 2023 park improvements at Monterey, Chloe Sunshine, and Founders parks, and says the first phase of a regional park is planned without a bond.
• He notes a new mural at the Syracuse Regional Museum, a new curator hired in 2023, expanded museum hours including four hours on Saturday, and youth volunteer opportunities there.

Recreation (p. 10)

• Soccer leagues run from Little Kicks (age 3 by Sept. 1, 2023) through 7th to 9th grade. Baseball and softball run from T-ball through junior high.
• Adult fitness at the Community Center: Step It Up (Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m., $3 drop-in or $20 for 10), Pump It Up (Tuesdays, 9 a.m., same price), High Fitness (Thursdays, 9 a.m., $5 drop-in or $30 for 10), and senior yoga (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m., $1 for ages 50+, 50 cents for 60+, free with a membership). The first class is free.

Senior center (p. 12)

• Think Tuesday game mornings run free at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in January. Pickleball runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, 50 cents for seniors 60+ or free with a Community Center membership.
• Pick up the Senior Citizens Newsletter at the Syracuse Community Center, 1912 W 1900 S, 801-614-9660 option 1.

Library (p. 12)

• Davis County Library, Syracuse Branch, 1875 S 2000 W, 801-451-1850. All events are free. January: adult book club Jan. 4, Learn to Crochet Jan. 8, chess nights Jan. 9 and 23, tween Book Bunch Jan. 11, LEGO @ the Library Jan. 18, and a young adult program Jan. 22.
• Weekly: story time Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., virtual story time Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. (sign up for a link), and Play and Learn Fridays at 11 a.m.

City news (pp. 6, 13)

• The city welcomed two new businesses: Elevé Arts Academy Dance Studio (385-367-6693) and DNG Enterprises, a wholesale food service equipment and supply distributor (801-546-2484).
• Report maintenance problems through the “Fix-it Request” link under the “I Want To…” tab on the city website. Sources: Page 9
• The employee spotlight features a firefighter and AEMT engineer with 16 years in the Syracuse Fire Department, more than 25 certifications, and repeated Firefighter of the Year recognition.
• City job openings are listed at syracuseut.gov under Government, then Employment Opportunities.
• City Hall (1979 W. 1900 S.) is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City Museum is open Tuesday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. Community Center winter hours are Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

Community (pp. 8, 14)

• The Disaster Preparedness Committee column makes the case for short-term and long-term food storage, water, and backup cooking options such as a solar cooker or rocket stove, framing preparedness as a way to help neighbors rather than need help.
• The Arts Council thanked the city Recreation Department for co-sponsoring its December symphony orchestra and jazz band concert.
• Students of the Month features two Clearfield High School students, a junior and a sophomore.

School calendar (p. 12)

• Davis School District: no school Jan. 1 to 3 for winter break and Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Syracuse Arts Academy has no school Jan. 15 and 16.
• Syracuse High: practice ACT for 10th and 11th grades Jan. 9 (no school for seniors), FAFSA night Jan. 10 from 3:30 to 7 p.m., preference dance Jan. 27 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
• Syracuse Jr. High: talent show auditions Jan. 10 to 12, drone competition Jan. 13 at 8 a.m., talent show Jan. 24, robotics tournament Jan. 27 at 8 a.m., Hope Week Jan. 29 to Feb. 2.
• Legacy Jr. High: girls basketball tryouts Jan. 4 at 3:15 p.m., VEX robotics tournament Jan. 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday school Jan. 6, 13, and 20 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
• School sporting events are no longer listed in the magazine.

Nearby events (p. 12)

• Jan. 1 to 4: 2023 Student Art Exhibit, free, Davis Conference Center. Jan. 1 to 11: Bicentennial Art, A 1976 Historical Exhibit Redux, free, Kaysville City Administration Building north foyer during office hours.
• Jan. 5: The Jeppsen Boys, free Small Stage Series, 350 S. 100 W., Layton, 7 p.m., davisarts.org. Jan. 19: Canyon String Quartet, same series and time.
• Jan. 5: First Friday Art Stroll, downtown Ogden, 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 20: Storytelling Festival, free, Clearfield Community Arts Center, 140 E. Center Street, 7 p.m.
• Jan. 15: National Parks free entrance day, nps.gov fee-free parks. Jan. 19 to 20: Hof Germanfest, Eccles Conference Center, $5 to $8, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 27: Chamber Orchestra Ogden, Peery’s Egyptian Theater, $10, 7:30 p.m.

Unofficial digest of a city newsletter. The official version is linked below.