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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXIII Issue XVI September 15, 2016 Annual Star Party Planned for October 1 North Fork Park, the world’s 21st International tion is unable to view the Milky Way; however, Dark Sky Park (designated four days ahead of Capitol Reef National Park and several months before Canyonlands National Park), will welcome the community and visitors for the annual star party. The star party will be held Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. Enter North Fork’s Middle Gate and follow the signs to Mustang Flats Bowery. If you bring a flashlight, please have a red filter/bandana to cover its light. Ogden Astronomical Society will be on hand with high-powered telescopes and knowledgeable members to interpret what we are able to see overhead in our marvelous dark skies. Sadly, 80% of the developed world’s popula- we are among the fortunate 20% who can—in spite of ever-increasing light pollution. Fortunately, too, the Wasatch Mountains shield the Valley from much of the light from the Wasatch Front where pollution levels are on par with those found in the Los Angeles Basin. The Valley’s dark sky ordinance also helps protect our valuable dark skies. Join Ogden Valley Starry Nights in this annual festival of stars, shooting stars, and enjoyment of the constellations. For more information, contact Janet at janet.e.muir@gmail.com or visit <www. starrynightsutah.org> Summer Heat in 2016 Sets New Records By Shanna Francis A news report by Judy Fahys of KUER News (“Summer of 2016: SLC’s 2nd hottest,” Sept. 2) quotes Brian McInerney, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office, who explains just how hot this summer was along the Wasatch Front. “Of the last 142 years (Utah’s temperature records go back to 1874), this was the second-hottest we’ve ever seen.” McInerney is referring to the summer months of 2016— June, July, and August—where, he reported, the average temperature in Salt Lake City was 80.3 degrees Fahrenheit, which only narrowly missed the record set in the summer of 2013 that saw an average temperature of 80.7 degrees While the summer of 2016 was only the second hottest on record, McInerney noted that it did offer the hottest June and a tie for the driest July. He added, too, that the summer of 2016 gave us 21 consecutive days of sweltering heat, pushing temperatures up to 95 degrees or hotter. It also gave us a record for the total number of days that reached 90 degrees or hotter (46, now the fifth highest number ever recorded), and also 100 degrees (16, the fourth highest). Another 2016 record for the books—the hottest nighttime temperature ever seen in the Salt Lake Valley, where one evening it only cooled down to a mere 80.1 degrees. KSL News reported that August also brought us the hottest in nine years. Salt Lake City’s Weather Forecast Office notes that the third hottest summer on record was in 2007, which had an average temperature of 79.3 degrees; the fourth hottest, 2012, saw an average of 79.2 degrees; and the fifth, in 1994, an average high of 78.6. The years 1960 and 1994 were especially hot, too; 21 summer days of 100 degree temperatures were recorded. In comparison, this year gave us only 16 days of three-digit temperatures. Also beating out 2016 with the number of days of 100 degree temperatures were 2013 with 20 days and 2003 and 2007 with 17 days of the oppressive heat. Ranking fifth and sixth for the number of days with 100 degree temps were both 1940 and 1961 with 15 days, and 1931 with 13. According to KSL.com (“Hot enough for you? Looking back at Utah’s hottest recorded temperatures,” June 23, 2016), Salt Lake City’s highest temperature ever recorded was 107 degrees, where the mercury topped out in both 2002 (July 13) and 1960 (July 26); the second hottest, at 106 degrees, was recorded in 1931, 1994, and again in 1995; and the third hottest temperature, 105 degrees, was seen twice in 2013, and also in 2007 and 2003. The hottest temperature ever recorded statewide was on July 5, 1985 in St. George, when the temperature rose to 117 degrees. For more weather information, visit <weather.gov/SaltLakeCity> DONATE NOW cont. from page 1 Ogden Valley Winter Sports Foundation provides competitive opportunities for youth skiers; Ogden Valley Emergency Response Team (OVERT) plans for possible emergencies by collecting supplies for community emergency stations throughout the Valley, and provides first aid and rescue education; Snowcrest and Valley PTOs supplement the educational experience of Valley school children; Weber Pathways builds our network of community pathways, including our wonderful Pineview Loop Trail; and Wolf Creek Foundation holds retreats for deploying servicemen and women. The volunteers who serve and manage these organizations form an essential part of what makes our community so incredible. As non-profits, they depend on contributions— money—in order to continue providing these great services. Your help is greatly appreciated. Remember, the reason that volunteers are not paid . . . they are “priceless!” Back Country Horsemen, which maintains and builds trails, often in places inaccessible by any other means other than horseback; Great Basin K-9 Search & Rescue, training and utilizing dogs to search for you when you are lost or injured; Huntsville & Liberty Town Parks, providing play and celebration; Mountain Arts & Music, promoting the visual and performing arts in Ogden Valley; Ogden Nordic, building, maintaining, and grooming trails in North Fork Park; Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports Foundation, providing outdoor experiences for persons with disabilities; Ogden Valley Land Trust, conserving and stewarding lands for the preservation of open space in Ogden Valley; and Ogden Valley Tennis Association, which provides tennis education for valley youth and adults… and get ready… they are now planning to raise funds for Valley Pickle Ball courts, so donate! RUGBY cont. from page 1 eventually got the call up to play the 7—a side format of the game for professional state team.” Nicholls continues, “I ended up in Utah in 2010 when I was accepted into the physical therapy program at the University of Utah. My decision to come over here was all because of the Rigby family, who now lives in Eden. Larry [Rigby] served his [LDS] mission in Southern Africa and was a big part of my grandparents’ conversion story. Over the years, we have all been good friends and his invite over to Utah resulted in my applying to the U of U. Now I live here, just a few miles away from him! “While at school, I lived in the Avenues [in Salt Lake City] and met Candy [Froerer, of Huntsville], who was working as a nurse at LDS hospital. We were married in 2012. Once I graduated, we moved to San Diego to chase my rugby. I was contracted at the Olympic training center and was a part of the USA team for about eight months. Being an Olympic qualifying year, I was told I was not able to play the coming season for the USA, as I did not have an American passport. We decided, at that point, to come home to the valley! I continued to play one more season for my native country Zimbabwe and then packed up my short stint of a rugby career. “In February, I was approached by the governing body of rugby in Utah. Under KEN RIVERA and the new leadership, they wanted to try and get Utah rugby back on the map. The last time Utah had a men’s team that competed at the national championship level was in 2010—a team I played for, but short-lived. Due to lack of funding and sponsorship, we only played one season, placed third at Nationals, and were never heard of again. “I agreed to coach the startup team with the idea of bringing the best mens players together from around the state to form a new team known as Rugby Utah. I called some old friends, tracked down some of the better-known players who were lying around on their couches, and went and watched a few of the BYU and U of U games. We practiced three times a week at a field in Alpine, which was central for most players. We then hosted a state championship in Rose Park with the top mens clubs entering so we could find any unknown talent from around the valley. Most players invited were grateful for an opportunity to play teams from out of state, and have a shot at going to Nationals so joined our squad. “The Club 7’s Nationals is hosted once a year with the best 16 teams in the country playing a two-day tournament. Day one consists of four pools of four teams. Each team plays three games and by the end of day one, is seeded 1-4 in their pool. The top two teams in each pool progress to play for the cup; the bottom two in each pool play for lower tier positions. The three games on day two are quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. “The country is separated into eight zones and each zone gets two teams that qualify for Nationals. Our zone is called the Frontier Region and consists of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Sixteen teams entered to try and qualify in the Frontier Region, with three tournaments played throughout the summer—in Denver, Kansas and Salt Lake City. The best two teams overall qualified for Nationals. “In a couple of unscripted tournaments, Rugby Utah upset the hosts and won the first two legs in Denver and Kansas, respectively, which automatically qualified us as top seed. With a guaranteed spot at Nationals, in our final tournament we rested some of our key players who were nursing injuries, and still finished a respectable fourth. In the end, the team to qualify with us was Kansas. “The weekend before Nationals I had the team come spend the day practicing in my field [in Huntsville], and doing some fitness routines around the Middle Fork area, causing a stir with some of the neighbors! It was a great way to push the team in a different and fun environment before our final dance! “At Nationals, we won all three pool games: 38-5 vs. Little Rock, Arkansas; 21-10 vs. Belmont Shore, California; and 26-22 vs. Northern Virginia. Due to an upset in pool play, we got drawn to play against defending champions and top seed, the Seattle Saracens, in the quarterfinal. We won that game 33-5 and were, for the first time, seen as a threat after a massive upset. “Our semi-final was against New York, the second seed, who finished second last year. We won that game 28-14, scoring twice in the final three minutes. “Kansas caused a few upsets of their own and ended up being the team we played in the final. Our boys were full of confidence after beating the top two teams in our quarter- and semi-finals, and were comfortable with the prospect of playing a Kansas team we knew well from the qualification process. However, the final went better than expected, with everything going our way. We ended with an emphatic 48-12 victory!” NDA Director of Operations Steve Pierre stated on Rugby Utah’s website, “We wanted to represent our state with class and show the pathway of opportunities for our state’s players. Winning a national championship in just our first attempt would be a huge task, but that’s a credit to Ben Nicholls and Jeff Hullinger [assistant coach] for their leadership and, of course, the entire group of players who helped set up this opportunity for the twelve men who represented our state admirably . . . .” Rugby Utah’s roster for the USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship title included Robbie Ah Sue, Utah Brothers 7s; Vernon Ale, Mana Rugby; Josh Anderson, Brigham Young University (BYU); Naki Angilau, West Valley Lions; Iaone Iaone, Salt Lake Gladiators; Pei Kuli, Provo Steelers/Humless 7s; Joseph Nicholls, BYU; Peni Pahulu, Provo Steelers/ Humless 7s; Don Pati, Park City Haggis©; Jason Pye, Park City Haggis; Jared Whippy, BYU; and Zach Webber, BYU. Rugby Utah team shown with coach Ben Nicholls with a cup won at an all-star invitational tournament in Glendale, Colorado August 28. Subscriptions available for out-of-area residents at $18 annually. 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