Helping a Hero

By Ryan Christensen

The three Welliver children honor their mother, Maggi, as a hero. For the past twenty years she has lived with Multiple Sclerosis, but has not let the disease weaken her spirits or keep her from being involved in life.

“She is just an amazing woman. She has never given up; she has always had a positive mental attitude,” said Sarah Welliver, daughter and event organizer. “Anyone that is around her, she puts a smile on their face, and makes them feel like the most important person in the world,” said Sarah.

MS has confined her to a wheelchair for the past five years as she is without motor skills on the right side of her body. MS is a degenerative disease that attacks myelin, the protective coating on nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Symptoms of MS include fatigue, walking balance and coordination problems, and possibly a loss of control on a wide range of normal bodily functions.

Despite these challenges Welliver has continued working as a librarian at Crescent View Middle School, and as a receptionist at the Artistic Dance Studio in Draper. She has astounded her family and friends with her determination.

Her children are stepping up to help improve their mother’s life through an event they call “Imagine Making it Happen.” “Our goal for this event is just over $23,000 and all of the money will go to help pay for the chair,” said Sarah. The chair is a new state-of-the-art wheelchair, the iBot.

The iBot’s advanced technology will allow Welliver new opportunities and abilities. Way beyond the standard functions of a conventional powered wheelchair, the iBot also has the ability to safely go up and down stairs, go “off road” on uneven terrain, and an impressive ‘balance mode’ that elevates the chair up to eye level, allowing more normal interaction with others, and allows users to reach countertops or shelves.

“She will be able to raise up to reach books, and get through the snow,” said Sarah. “She got stuck in a parking lot earlier this year at work, and there was no one around to help her. She will also be able to walk into someone’s home that isn’t typically handicap accessible, for example when visiting friends,” continues Sarah.

The fundraising event is a 5K run/walk scheduled for June 7, 2008 at Draper Park. There will also be live entertainment including singing and dancing performances at the park and a raffle and auction after the race.

The Welliver’s have a favorite family quote: “Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.” “Maggi has given so much to everyone else and has never asked for anything in return. It’s her turn to get something back from the people that mean the most to her, something that will change her life,” said Sarah.

Pre-registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and the race beings at 8:00 a.m. Event location is 1300 East and Pioneer Road in the North East section of Draper Park by basketball courts.

Donations can also be made at any Wells Fargo bank, under the account name “Imagine”. For more information on the event contact Sarah Welliver at sarahwelliver@gmail.com

Draper mom organizes free event for single moms

By Ryan Christensen

An upcoming event, organized by a Draper single mom, aims to help single mother’s raising children alone and working to provide for the family.

Money Critchley, event organizer and single mom said, “Single mom’s rarely get time for themselves, and children may go without any extra activities because of time and financial limitations.”

“Single mother’s have a more difficult than some may realize” said Critchley. For this reason, she is organizing an event she has called “Soul 2 Soul.”

“The event is an opportunity for single mother’s in our area to have a break” said Critchley. The idea is, “Take care of mom first, then I can better take care of the kids”, said Critchley.

Critchley continues, it’s important for single mom’s “to take care of themselves, even if it’s just an hour a week, to better your own self so you can come home, be rejuvenated and take care of your kids.”

On Saturday, May 31 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. single mom’s can drop their kids off at the Axis dance center. The event is free for all single mom’s and their children, ages six to twelve.

“While mom is out taking a much deserved break, the children will be learning to sing and perform a song,” said Critchley. When the mom’s come back they will be entertained with the children’s performance. “It will be memorable and touching for the entire family,” said Critchely.

The mothers will also receive a goodie bag filled with beauty and self-help items and a free t-shirt to help them remember themselves.

The Axis dance center is located at 3658 West 9800 South, South Jordan, Utah.

Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information contact Money Critchley at 801-870-5706 or e-mail monetcritchley@msn.com

Teen Chef Competition

By Ryan Christensen

Dressed in black and white checkered pants, wearing black shoes, white coats and white hats, it looked like a scene out of “Ratatouille.” Rather, it was, part of a national teen chef competition held by “the largest culinary school in the nation.”

The Art Institute of Salt Lake, located in Draper, UT is one of 30 other schools nationwide giving an opportunity to high school students to learn and compete for scholarship money and the chance to be “Intern for a Day” at the Food Network Kitchen in New York City.

The twelve students competing were pre-selected from a pool of 35 total entries who had all applied by submitting a food recipe they had created on their own. Most applicants were from Utah with a few students coming in from out of state.

Contestants were judged on ten different elements of cooking: knife skills, sanitation and safety, “Mise en place” (French for organization), cooking techniques, clean-up, food temperature, taste and flavor, texture and doneness, portion size and presentation.

Using these skills contestants were required to prepare a full course meal including shrimp cocktail, sautéed breast of chicken, fresh broccoli and rich pilaf.

There were three judges, Chef Frank Krause, Academic Culinary Director, Chef Kim Larsen, Instructor at the Art Institute, and Chef Bryan Wooley, Chef for Channel 2 news.

The first place winner, Chris Bramon, a senior from Missouri, received a $3,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Salt Lake in Draper and will compete Las Vegas for the national prize. “It was great; really well organized. I had a great time,” said Bramon.

The Real Rain Man

By Ryan Christensen

The doctor told his parents that their son was mentally retarded. They were advised to institutionalize their son and just forget about him. They were told that he would never be able to walk or speak. His parents didn't listen and the world is a richer place because of their courage and love.

Kim Peek, mega-savant and inspiration for the movie "Rain Man," along with his father, now aged 80+ years, visited The Wentworth in Draper on 13 March 2008. "It's one of the most amazing stories you've ever head," said Kathy Leeper, friend of the family and event organizer. "Just wait and see."

Peek was born Nov. 11, 1951. At birth his head was a third larger than a normal infant. His head was so heavy he had to push it in front of himself as a crawling baby because he couldn't lift it off the ground. Peek couldn't walk until he was four years old.

At the young age of only 18 months Peek asked his parents what the word 'confident' meant. At age three he could read.

He was not allowed to attend public school. His parents hired 4 retired school teachers as tutors. He started school late, halfway through his eighth year, but finished by the time he was 14.

Peek's father, Fran, estimates that over his life Peek has read over 12,000 books. And that number continues to grow. Peek's normal routine usually includes spending five to six hours a day reading. What he accomplishes in that time is multiplied by the fact that he can both watch the news and read 2-3 books interchangeably.

Most impressive are the results from a study conducted at Stanford University. Peek was asked to read 8 pages from the book "The Hunt for Red October" while his eyes were being monitored by a camera. He read all 8 pages in only 53 seconds. After analyzing the captured footage for an hour the scientists determined that Peek's eyes could operate independently with each eye reading its respective page. The study also concluded that his immediate retention rate was 98%.

The Peek's have had as many as 7,000 books in their home and about 6,400 telephone directories. Peek has a fascination with telephone numbers and area codes. Tell him places you have been and he can shoot back the dialing prefixes and major roads for the area.

His common knowledge also includes the histories of countries worldwide, literature, music, the outcome of all major sporting events since 1983 and movie soundtracks. A fun part of each public appearance is for audience members to announce their birthday and in less than six seconds Peek will reply with the day of the week and major news headlines of the day.

The abnormalities in brain that allow him superior capability in some areas are also responsible for limited social and motor skills. His father still helps him shave, shower, brush his teeth, and dress. Peek has difficulty with abstract thought and struggles to interpret proverbs and metaphors.

His speech is generally simple and direct, yet comprehensive and accurate. He sometimes cries out loudly and consistently hits his forehead with his hand while talking imperceptibly to himself.

Despite these limitations, Peek and his father have spoken to over 4.3 million people, more than half of them children. Together they have traveled over 1.9 million miles.

Peek's message to all his audiences, ”Learning to recognize and to respect differences in others and treating them like you want them to treat you will bring the peace and joy we all hope for. Let’s care, share, and be our best. “