INSIDE SUMMER 2020 No longer a missing link in the trail system — page 6 CITY NEWS | ACTIVITIES | PROGRAMS | INFORMATION | PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES | NEWS CITY INSIDE SUMMER 2020 3 MAYOR PIKE’S MESSAGE MAYOR PIKE’S By Mayor Jon Pike MESSAGE 4 SUMMER ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS By Rene Fleming 5 SUNSET ON THE SQUARE Summer Movie Series, 2nd & 4th Friday through Aug. 28 I grew up in a middle-class community in Salt empathy for all people. Our City is at its best Lake County during the 1970s. My exposure to when everyone feels included, supported and 6 ‘MISSING LINK’ IS NO LONGER MISSING black people was minimal. As you can guess, loved. We pledge to increase our understanding By David Cordero I was unprepared for what I would observe as I and treat everyone with dignity and respect. spent two years during the mid-1980s in South Africa as a missionary for my church. One small step toward achieving inclusiveness in 8 TIME RUNNING OUT TO CELEBRATE, I our community is the formation of the St. George While there I witnessed firsthand the effects of Multicultural Committee. As I discussed this APPRECIATE OUR WWII VETERANS apartheid and racism. I saw destitution in the with members of the City Council and staff, we If we don’t take the time to celebrate them, who will? financial sense. Even worse, their eyes conveyed realized that we can do a better job of engaging a destitution of hope. What so many white people with people in our community whose voices could not see at the time was that their legalized have, for whatever reason, gone unheard. racism was morally bankrupting their nation. 10 CITY BEAT This is a chance to open the lines of communication A quick look at current City news I am grateful that Nelson Mandela, who was and learn more about our community members. imprisoned when I was in South Africa, became There may be some fun new events that come VOICES | CITY PIKE’S MESSAGE MAYOR one of the most transformational government as a result of this committee. There are also sure 12 CITY LIFE leaders of the 20th century. to be some difficult conversations. But those are What’s going on around St. George? conversations we need to have if we are to live As I observed the recent protests in our City up to our mission statement, which is to “provide following the horrific and senseless killing of services that focus on people and advance a 15 CALENDAR OF EVENTS George Floyd in Minneapolis, I was proud of how thriving community.” our residents conducted themselves. Aside from a few instances in which poor judgment was We will announce more details about our new displayed, those who protested did so peacefully. committee soon on www.sgcity.org and on our 22 CONTACT INFO City’s social media platforms. I would also like to commend our St. George Police Department officers for how they handled I still can’t grasp the challenges and heartache the protests, protecting all who were involved. my black brothers and sisters in South Africa felt I believe the SGPD sets the standard for law 35 years ago. And I could do nothing about it. enforcement everywhere. We appreciate the But, as the mayor of St. George, I can — and will way they interact with our residents and carry — do what I can to unite our city. MAYOR CITY COUNCIL DESIGN/LAYOUT themselves in the line of duty. Jon Pike Jimmie Hughes Kami Wilkinson I want you to know that the City of St. George Michele Randall stands united in our condemnation of racism in CITY MANAGER Bryan Smethurst EDITOR any form. There is no place within St. George for Adam Lenhard Dannielle Larkin David Cordero discrimination and racist attitudes. We applaud behavior that creates unity, not division. Gregg McArthur SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 3 VOLUME SUMMER 2020 | Jon Pike As a city we are committed to listening more City of St. George Mayor Inside St. George is printed by AlphaGraphics. All information and editorial has been provided by the City of St. George and is intended for the education and enjoyment of its readers. The contents may and listening better, so that we can gain greater not be reproduced without consent of the publisher. Errors are not the publisher’s responsibility and 2 Photo by David Becker the publisher is not held liable for any inaccurate information. 3 By Rene Fleming, Energy Services It’s the time of year when most of us see our highest electric bills. The high bills of summer are usually driven by air conditioning costs. However, there are some ways to lower those costs with some easy energy efficiency tips. Use ceiling and pedestal fans. Fans keep the air moving, making people feel cooler. You can raise your thermostat up to 4 degrees higher and Seal and insulate. Inspect stay comfortable with the aid of fans. your home for air leaks and Remember, fans cool people not the poor attic insulation. air, so turn them off in empty rooms. Keep your vents clear. The Block out the sun. Keeping A/C can’t work efficiently if shades or blinds drawn on vents are blocked by rugs sun-facing windows is or furniture. Check all your an easy way to keep vents and make sure they your home cooler. are open, free of dust and Some window directing air toward the treatments such center of the room. as reflective shades, Get an air conditioner honeycomb tune up. Ideally, this blinds or is done in the early insulated drapes spring. A tune may work better up includes than others. cleaning the system, preventive maintenance and checking for proper fluid levels. Learn to love your microwave and grill. It’s hot enough outside that using the oven will make your A/C work harder. Outdoor grilling and microwave cooking are two ways to prepare food without generating extra heat in your home. Curb daytime use of big appliances. Some appliances such as dryers and dishwashers can put out a good deal of unwanted heat. Consider waiting until after dark or early in the morning to run these large appliances so your A/C doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool. More summer efficiency tips can be found at www.energy.gov/energysaver. We will hold an Energy Efficiency Workshop on July 15 at noon at the Energy and Water Admin Building 811 E Red Hills PUBLIC SERVICES | SUMMER ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS EFFICIENCY | SUMMER ENERGY PUBLIC SERVICES Parkway. The subject is “Net Metering: What do I need to know when considering installing Solar PV system on my home?” St. George Utilities customers that attend will be entered into a drawing to win a free WiFi enabled Nest Brand thermostat. 4 THE MISSING LINK By David Cordero 3050 E St George Blvd Mall Dr Riverside Dr Bluff St Missing Link Dixie Dr The time has arrived. What was missing has been found — or in this case, created. 3000 E On a glorious morning, cyclists from St. George, Washington and surrounding areas took part in the “Ride the Missing Link” event to celebrate the long- awaited completion of the Virgin North Trail. The T Brigham Rd June 12 ride began at Washington’s Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park and proceeded west all the way to SunRiver St. George. Prior to the Spring, a trip between those two locations along the trail had been possible — but it wasn’t Pioneer Rd pretty. There had been a stretch where cyclists had to either negotiate the heavily trafficked Riverside Drive or dodge pedestrians along the sidewalk before reconnecting to a paved trail path. Rd River Hence the moniker, “missing link.” Sun River “I think this is an awesome milestone,” said Millie Cockerill, Landscape Architect for the City of St. George. “It’s exciting to tie the two cities together | THE MISSING LINK | and continue our reach toward Zion National Park.” The hallmark of the project is the 400-foot-long The portion of missing trail was challenging due to boardwalk bridge that runs parallel to the river. topography and delicate ecology along the Virgin The approximately 1-mile stretch of Virgin River North River. The cost to construct a lengthy bridge ($1.89 Trail took four-and-a-half-months to complete and “We are celebrating two huge achievements million split among five agencies) was significant. involved the following agencies: — completing the Virgin River North Trail and However, once funding was secured, the Utah eclipsing the 50-mile mark in paved trails,” said Division of Wildlife was enlisted to help design the • Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Shane McAffee, Leisure Services Director for the bridge while ensuring fish and other wildlife were • Utah Division of Wildlife Services (UDWS) City of St. George. “We are proud to have such an not harmed. TRAIL SYSTEM TRAIL • Washington County extensive network of paved trails that everyone • Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation — cyclists, runners and walkers — can utilize to • City of St. George experience our gorgeous environment.” (Continued on page 14) 6 TIME RUNNING OUT TO CELEBRATE, APPRECIATE OUR WWII VETERANS By David Cordero A former army medic from the 1st Infantry We cannot forget Most people of a certain age have fathers, Division, now well into his 90s, was in grandfathers or uncles who served during Normandy, France, the morning of June 6, I’ve been fortunate to interview more than 100 WWII. I’ve been blessed to know several who 2020 — just as he was 76 years ago during the WWII veterans from all over the country.