Neil's Pro on the corner of 600 N and 1200 W - serving the community for over 55 years
You know when you go to rent a car and the car rental counter suggest you use your newest car's insurance and all you can offer is your 1996 Suburban that you realize someone has kept you going all these years. Ok, so I admit that I don't turn my cars over very often and until our recent acquisition of our 2008 Subaru Tribeca a couple of years ago, that was the case for me. Part of the reason I could do it, is the honest and reliable service I've received over the years from Neil's Pro Service in Rose Park. Originally started by Neil Draper in 1959, it has been a mainstay in our community. They've consistently supported community events like little league baseball and now run by Neil's son Chris Draper and his brother Scott, the business continues to be a gem for those of us who are just looking for an honest answer. Neil still opens up the shop every morning just after 7 a.m. and still does some minor repairs and helps around the shop. His secret to longevity is a Coke and a snickers bar. Not what my doctor told me yesterday at my checkup, but sure seems like a good idea!
In addition to my '96 Suburban and my '08 Tribeca, I have a '77 Ford Pickup. They never wince when I bring them in (at least not to my face) and have always found practical solutions. If they have safety issues, like my recent inspection of the Suburban, they told me. On the other hand, they replaced my headlight on my Tribeca for half the cost of the dealership. When my mother-in-law was told she needed a $350 car repair, I had her bring it down from Layton and Chris took a look at it. He acknowledge the repair, but told her if she just checked her fluids on the car regularly and with the limited mileage she put on it, would be fine. Four years later, it's still running and for a widowed mother on limited income, it was a real blessing. Likewise, my sister-in-law had a similar experience and she lives in Murray. We invited her to bring it down and today, she always gets her car repaired there and we take her to work. A few months ago, we needed new tires for my daughter's SAAB before she went back to Utah State. We checked a local discount warehouse and they couldn't get the tires in for a couple of days. I went back to Chris at Neil's and learned my lesson. He had them on later that day and for about $20 less a tire. Never going anywhere else.
To the Draper Family's credit, they've made it through some tough and difficult times and weathered the ups and downs like most businesses. However they've never cut corners, always been fair and honest. If it's going to cost you, they give you the bad news. If there is a practical solution that gets the job done, they give you that as an option. I want to be fair with them, and they have been fair with me. If you haven't been to Neil's you should give them a try. If you don't live in Rose Park, even better. Come see what a beautiful community that has been home to a great business for over half a century. Located at 1204 W 600 N, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 or you can call them at (801) 521-0604. Tell them Carlton sent you.
The other day, I was visiting my mother-in-law Lois Nielsen and noticed her toilet didn't stop running after I flushed it. After a little investigative work, I realized she just needed a new handle. Fixing anything for her is never a burden, she is one of the kindest, most deserving people I've ever met. She loves my kids for who they are, makes them feel valued and makes us quilts that keep us warm and remind us how important we are to her. Mom as I call her, always feels like she is troubling me when I fix something, but the reality is, I need the feeling of service in order to feel better about myself. In fact, whenever I serve someone else, I almost always feel better about myself and to do it for someone I love and care about, makes it even better.
When the savior admonished his disciple in John 19: 26-27 as he worried about his mother and wanting to assure she was in good care, really set the example. I think about that often, when you think of the widows and others who would fall in the same category, not the least of which is our own parents, particularly our mothers. I have a pretty good feeling that the Lord will hold us accountable on how we care for those special women in our lives.
It was my own mother, who helped me develop the skill sets to learn how to do repairs. It wasn't that my mother knew how to do it, but she was willing to invest resources in me learning. Frequently growing up, she would take me to the hardware store to get the necessary tools. She was always having Frank Dahn, the plumber show me how to do things and my step-uncle, MC Laird, frequently would take me and show me how things were fixed. As a fatherless boy growing up, my mother made sure I received the necessary training. She was intent on my home not being subject to a home with a skill-less father or husband. I've used those talents hundreds of times in the service of others, and each time, I do, I think of my mom and thank my Heavenly Father that she cared enough to have me care.
We have a fundamental need to serve. I do much on my own and in the community, but I also get the opportunity in my Church. As a Ministering Brother in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I get called on frequently to help in service of others. It's not a huge burden, but I know it's helpful when I'm asked. On occasion, I also require help and am grateful the Church gives us both the opportunity to serve. After all, it's a core element of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end, we all have that desire to be needed. Thanks to both my Moms for giving me the chance to serve!
Just in case you wondered what my shirt
size would be!
I've always had a supply of white shirts, but over my years in the city council service, I mixed them up with a variety of colored shirts. However in my four months of service as Stake President of the Rose Park Stake in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my need to wear white shirts has increased! If you take the ones that head to the dry cleaners, and have some to wear during that week, I've had to add about eight shirts to my wardrobe. It's not that one is required to wear a white shirt, but it looks better and more neutral in its appearance. It also makes matching ties a little easier! The last four months have been challenging to say the least, but I have been blessed with two great counselors in Paul Fullmer and Brent Hyde. Paul is an insurance adjuster for Met Life and Brent is a manger for Church Security. Both are two individuals who love the Lord, and serve faithfully. None of us are paid, and when you look at a schedule that includes most of the day Sunday, a couple nights a week and frequent correspondence through most days, this is not a passive assignment. However I've never felt the spirit more, have a greater insight of what Heavenly Father wants for the members of Rose Park Stake and amazed at the genuine goodness of so many people. If this were just me, I would have been done in month two, but one doesn't do it alone and I can testify God's hand in the work that is done.
Not every moment is simple or without some heartbreak. However when you watch someone decide to make a change in their life, see it begin to improve and feel of their desire to be a better person, there is no better experience in my life. I've been blessed over the years to have some great experiences. In fact, from my public service alone, I have five volumes of large scrapbooks outlining that service. It will forever be a significant part of my life. However it is pale in comparison to the work I now experience. To stand in a congregation of a couple hundred people and feel a peaceful impression on the message I'm suppose to share with them, is such a humbling and touching experience that it has brought frequent tears to my eyes.
I enjoy my work at Salt Lake County and it is very challenging and demanding. It's a great balance from my life coming from elected office to continue in some realm of public service. However I truly enjoy serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to whomever I can associate with, either in words or example. I'm far from perfect. In fact, the list of needed improvement with me seems to grow each day. I need to get in better shape, write more often in a journal, pray more each day, but nevertheless the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect, just a broken heart that strives to be better.
I would be remiss to not mention how grateful I've been for my family. Cathy and the girls have been there for me so often, and I cherish them. At the end of the day, they are all that matters. So, if you see me wearing a few more white shirts, just know that I'm keeping busy, hopefully doing some good.
I've always wanted an apron, and Sarah made this one for me for Christmas!
One of Rose Park's own, Carolyn Bradshaw recently used her talents and knowledge of sewing and fabrics and opened a new store, ...and sew on located at 1625 West 700 North #H, Salt Lake City, UT 84116. As you probably can guess, I don't much of any talents in sewing, but I've been blessed over the years, by others who do, including my sisters Maribeth and Nancy as well as my wife Cathy. They made everything from Cathy's wedding dress, a Kangaroo Costume for Halloween for me, to children's clothes for Jessica and Sarah. I can't tell you how many times, I've torn my suit pant pockets on the arms of chairs and the list goes on. Over the years, fabric stores have closed and those who know how to use these skills have diminished. I worried that soon Salt Lake would have no options.
It was to my pleasant surprise, that we came across ...and sew on (yes that's the name of the store) and even more to find out Carolyn gives sewing lessons. At a very reasonable price, which includes the materials for projects, our Sarah has taken a number of classes and really has developed skills that would have taken a whole year of school to obtain, and that's if she had that option. Among Sarah's many projects were making aprons, and I'm wearing mine, which for the first time in years, protects my pants from any cooking projects!
I hope you'll take the time to stop by and see what Carolyn's new store has to offer. Trying to start a small business always has its challenge, but having the opportunity to develops skills, particularly for our kids, is priceless. Carolyn is located next door to Little Cesar's Pizza. Who knows you might even develop skills, you didn't know you have!
In my many years of service on the Salt Lake City Council, I interacted a great deal with Richard "Dick" Wirick or Mr. Downtown. His endless passion towards keeping downtown vibrant and his persistence in keeping his small shoe store open was unmatched. That was the irony when he was tragically killed in an accident involving a UTA Buss before he ever got to see the opening of City Creek, across from his store on 100 S, just east of the Salt Palace. It looked like for a while, that his store might not reopen, when his children didn't have an interest in continuing it. In stepped in the brother and sister-in-law of Dick's wife, Gunter and Carol Radinger, who opened the business around the time City Creek opened.
I had purchased two pairs of Florsheim shoes, just before Dick was taken from this earth and in his usuall way, was ever so courteous with me, and I felt guilty when he gave me a discount. They both have lasted a long time, but the black pair (I also purchased a brown pair) were wearing out, so I decided to go back and see if by chance they could order me a new pair. That's when I met Gunter and Carol and realized what great shop owners they were in continuing the tradition of great service. I had with me at the time, my daughter Sarah, who also has large feet, (I have size 18!) and both of us had been looking for some shoes. I sometime have luck at the Nordstrom Rack, but it's very much hit and miss. Carol Radinger, not only looked at her typical sources, but spent some time looking at different options for me and my daughter. She called us back a few days later and we went in and for the first time, I not only had choices, but Sarah did as well! Large shoes are seldom inexpensive, but just having a choice is a big deal. The Radingers are very patient people, extremely courteous and helped us both get in shoes, where I think they only made a very modest profit for their troubles. I use to have shoe options in Salt Lake City, but frankly they all went away when local stores sold out, or quit carrying them. Even some online options have diminished, so what a welcome blessing the Oxford Shop is for Salt Lake City and especially those of us with hard to fit feet!
Whether you have a need for large shoes or not, give the Oxford Shop a try. There is a good parking on the street at 65 West 100 South or easy access to City Creek across the street, where it's free for the first hour, or $1 for the second hour. Be sure to tell Carol and Gunter thanks for staying in business!
My Father's Funeral - January 13, 1976 - Standing with my brother Spencer
I am generally a sentimental person, my blog reflects it, but my father's death 38 years ago today, still bring tears to my eyes. I had just turned 10 years old in the December prior, and my father was everything to me. He was one of the kindest souls and treated me with such care and love that I really struggled in the years following his death. However he was such a great example to our family, that his memory and influence stays with us still today.
My father in is father, Chester Christensen's military uniform from World War I
Dad was born in September of 1926 in Richfield Utah Chester & Emma Magleby Christensen. Grandpa was a farmer, who was very frugal and a good steward of his land. Dad frequently hired out to other farmers in the area in addition to working the family farm. We always loved the stories of his youth and knew of his love for his home town. Because of Dad's size, and flat feet, he never served in the military during World War II.
Dad on his LDS Mission to Denmark, standing next to Danish Family relatives
My Dad attended the University of Utah, and later served a mission to Denmark. He went into Denmark shortly after World War II and was one of the first missionaries to arrive following the devastation and hardship that came from the war. My Dad actually preceded his Mission President by two months, a tough thing for a kid that had never been east of Utah and who also didn't speak the language. However many wonderful things would happen for him while serving, and we loved to hear his stories from his mission.
Robert & Verda Mae, Engagement photo from 1949
Shortly after my father returned home, he was introduced to my mother, Verda Mae Fuller by his sister Ora Nell Folkman. While not overly confident, my father really fell in love with my mother and she with him and they were engaged after a few months and married a few months later in September of 1949. Dad was finishing up School and my mother was a writer-producer for KSL Radio and TV.
Robert on his Graduation Day - standing in
front of their first Rose Park Home on 900 N, just west of 900 W
My Dad had left school with a few classes to go, intending to finish up by correspondence. Some poor health and other challenges kept him from completing things and it was a few years later before he returned to finish up his schooling. By then he had begun his career at ZCMI Department Store and soon started as the Division Buyer over Foods, including the snack bar, bakery, candy department and fine foods. We were always found helping him to stock shelves and even today in my own food storage, the older cans are brought forward and labels are turned to the front!
For the wopping salary of a hot dog and chips, we frequently helped
Dad stock the shelves
Dad always loved doing things with the other kids in the neighborhood. My friends loved his activities and he made it easy to be the favorite Dad among the crowd. He seemed to just know how to communicate with children and always made you feel important and loved.
Dad doing one of his frequent activities with the kids, always
looking for simple ways to have us entertain ourselves.
Family picture on the bank of the Susquehanna River
Dad loved LDS Church History. Many of our family vacations were to Church History sites. In fact, it was his last trip in coming home and following the Mormon Pioneer Trail, that he started to show signs of being ill. By mid August, they diagnosed Hodgkin Disease, a cancer of the Lymph system. From August to January, he became increasingly ill and in November, he was released as Stake President of the Rose Park Stake where I now serve in the same position. The final months, he held his first grandchild, Evan, son of Elliott & Jennifer
Dad dictating his life history to my brother Clayton
In a certain form of irony, my father's autobiography came back from the printers on the day he died. It is one of my most cherished treasures. I use it often to remind me of my father and more importantly, remind me of the lessons he taught us. I wonder often how he might look at my life, and if it would reflect his hope for me. I love him, he has been there for me often, even after his death. One belief I hold, is that our lives are eternal and if lived according to the Savior's plan, we can be together as families for an eternity. I hold to that same faith and hope to live my life in such a way that I can once again embrace my father and tell him how much I love him and what an honor it has been to be his son. One of the things I cherish most is his final testimony as he related an experience he had before his death. From his history, it reads:
"On my first visit to the hospital in August of 1975, after being informed that I had a potentially terminal illness, I lay thinking over my life, my future and my family. A remarkable vision was given to me at that time. I first saw a large pile of goods, and I recognized them as my own physical possessions. With them were other worldly goods which I dealt with every day in my work at ZCMI. Suddenly, they disappeared from my view, and I did not feel the slightest desire to look for them or to inquire as to where they went. My vision then showed me three things: one was my righteous family, the second was my knowledge, understanding and testimony of the restored gospel, and the third was the work that I had accomplished in the building up of the kingdom of God. Then, as though the person were standing at my side, a voice spoke to me and said, “This is what life is all about. That’s all there is that is important. That’s all there is to life.” I was then filled with a very comfortable feeling that the Lord had accepted my work and my life.
I want my family always to remember this story, and to place their values on the spiritual rather than the material things. I hope they will live their lives in such a way that theirs will be the riches of eternity. I want my family to know that I know with all my heart that God lives and is willing to bless us constantly through our lives, and that he wants each of us to succeed in living the gospel so that we can return and live with him in the Celestial Kingdom. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind, that he is the Lord of this earth and that he stands at the head of this church today. He reveals his will to his prophets and to every righteous priesthood holder and member of the church who seeks for divine guidance.
I have a great belief in the Holy Ghost, and on many occasions in my life, the power of the Holy Ghost has descended upon me and given me the knowledge and help which I needed in accomplishing the Lord’s work. I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth. And it is only by membership in the church that we can receive the ordinances of salvation and the principles and doctrines which are needed for entry into the celestial kingdom. I believe in living prophets and that as members of the church, we need to follow the living prophets. While we glean much wisdom and guidance from the prophets of old, it is the living prophets who show us the way to go today. I leave this testimony for the guidance of my family, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Sixteen years ago as I began this journey as a member of the
Salt Lake City Council, the skyline was a little different, I had less white
hair, and I was this 31 year old unknown kid from Rose Park who is Bob and
Verda Mae Christensen’s son. I-15 had
yet to be rebuilt, the North-south line of Light Rail was under construction
and the Gateway Area was just a discussion, hidden by overpasses and freeway
off-ramps coming into Downtown Salt Lake City.To really date myself, I was one of the first non-IT users of Microsoft
Outlook because I needed an email system that could be used outside of city
offices!
On a personal note, my daughter
Jessica had just turned 7 and was in First Grade. Now she is a senior at Utah State and will
graduate a year from now as an Elementary School Teacher. Sarah was a long awaited present, who came to
us after taking office and she just started Innovations High at age 14 and will
most likely be graduating three years from now, with a chance of having her
Associates Degree from Salt Lake Community College as well. Nearly their entire lifetimes have been
accompanied by this service and I will forever be grateful for their love and
devotion and the fine representation of the future success of the youth of our
community.
To Cathy, who has literally been my partner
in every way, words cannot express my thanks for your love and devotion. Putting up with endless political functions
and being dropped off at the grocery store door so you could go in and out in
less than 15 minutes, rather than the 30 to 45 if I accompanied you. You have carried the disproportionate burden
of our household and today’s recognition is as much yours as it is mine. As a point of personal privilege, I would
like to ask not only my immediate family, but extended family who have been
there through the years as support to us, to please stand and ask for your
applause.
In spending every Tuesday night and
earlier in my tenure Thursday as well, I spent over 800 evenings in City
Council Meetings over the last 16 years.
For better or worse, you get to know people well, and many have become
life-long friends. I express my thanks
to my colleagues both past and present, who include Joanne, Tom, Deeda, Roger,
Bryce, Keith, Van, Nancy, Dave, Eric, Jill, Dale, Soren, Luke, JT, Stan, Kyle
and Charlie, 18 in all. While not every issue was in agreement, I learned from
each of you and appreciated the perspective you brought to the discussion. One of the sorely missed elements of the
public discussion today, is the notion of respectful disagreement and the need
to compromise. For the most part, I’ve
experienced this over the last 16 years and am grateful to each of you for
being part of that experience. Jill,
thanks for sticking around for 12 of those years and putting up with me and
teaching me how we may have different approaches to a common goal.
My recent change in employment in
working in the Administration of Salt Lake County Mayor has given me a new
appreciation for the challenges of the other have of governmental process! However even before that, I was appreciative
of the mostly productive dialogue that existed with the three Mayors the
residents of Salt Lake City have afforded me the opportunity of association and
I express my thanks, to Mayor Corradini, Mayor Anderson and Mayor Becker for
your respective leadership of our city and your willingness to find productive
solutions for the city and residents we have been honored to serve. Mayor Becker in particular, have afforded me
your friendship and concern and your genuine interest in my personal life, I
wish you the best as you continue to lead our city into one of the Great American
Cities
I have really enjoyed my association
with other local and appointed officials from around the State, including four
governors who have given me the opportunity to serve on many State and Regional
bodies. This year I concluded my
services as President of the Utah League of Cities & Towns and was reminded
time and again, that despite our size, we share many of the same needs as other
communities in this State. Additionally,
I express my thanks to my colleagues from around the State who afforded me that
opportunity to represent them in important discussions and decisions.
My thanks to the City Council and
Redevelopment Agency Staff and other city staff members who have worked with me
over the years. They are dedicated and
committed to their work and many have become great personal friends as we have
watched our respective families grow and mature as we have served together. My thanks to both Cory and Cindy
Gust-Jenson. Cindy because she took
endless calls from me and Cory because he put up with them. Perhaps the most difficult aspects of turning
out the lights and handing in the keys, will be to say good bye to one of the
most competent and effective staffs that I’ve ever been given the opportunity
to know.
One of the more interesting phone
calls we would receive on occasion at our home is a constituent who would call
our home to talk with me and be surprised, that I was at work, not realizing I
also had another job. Over the years, I
was dependent on employers and supervisors who would support my public service
and I wanted to personally thank my former colleagues at Zions Securities
Corporation, Zions Bank, and now Salt Lake County. In particular, Scott Anderson, who recognized
the value of community participation by me and other employees and expressed
support as we gave our time in those efforts.
And to Mayor Ben McAdams, who was under some kind of influence of some
substance, when he appointed me as Salt Lake County’s first Director of the Office
of Regional Development. His willingness
to let me finish my commitment as both President of the Utah League of Cities
& Towns and my final months of service on this council, has allowed me to
keep my commitment to the residents of my district.
When I first took office, I like
many new elected officials, talked of making a difference, not only in how our
community develops, but how we interacted and prepared the future for those who
would follow. Decisions that represented
the courage of making good decisions that would serve generations to come. I hope that’s the case, and certainly hope it
reflects my efforts. I’ve participated
in one form or the other, in every new transit line coming into our community,
the development of the Gateway area, decisions that led to the rebuilding of
City Creek Center, a beautiful plaza at the head of Main Street, the rebuilding
and revitalization of North Temple, a new Fleet Facility that maybe only Rick
Graham will appreciate, new Main and branch libraries, a new public safety
facility, finally rebuilding our airport and the construction of a regional
sports complex and somewhere in there we carried out an Olympics in 2002. In a more personal realm we found common
ground in how we treated our employees in regards to benefits, how we protected
individual in both employment and housing fairness and maybe more importantly,
how we have dialogue while understanding our differences and respecting each
other’s viewpoints.
Finally, my thanks to the residents
of Salt Lake City District 1, who took a chance on me in 1997 and allowed me
the opportunity to serve. You have been
fair and supportive over the years and will be served well by James Rogers as
he takes over the privilege of representing you in January. You are my friends, my neighbors and with me
share the desire for a strong community.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to continue to serve
many of you in my faith as Stake President of the Salt Lake Rose Park Stake as
well as in my new role with Salt Lake County.
We bring different perspectives in solving common problems and I am
grateful that you have afforded me the opportunity of being a footnote in the
history of Salt Lake City. Some chapters
are written in part in the landscape of our community, but most are written in
the hearts of those to whom we serve.
From the bottom of my heart, please accept my thanks as I close this
chapter of our story together. Thank you very much for your honor and
recognition received today as I wish you best in the chapters that will be to
follow. Thank you.
Tribute Video shown at the beginning of our City Council Meeting
