Cottonwood Heights
This popular plant is sabotaging native landscapes
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Myrtle spurge growth is detrimental to local plants and wildlife.
Shannan Cochrane is on a mission and needs some help. The Cottonwood Heights resident wants to eradicate myrtle spurge from the canyons and foothills. Myrtle spurge is an invasive plant that chokes out native vegetation and can be a health hazard for people and pets.
The sinister succulent is often sold at nurseries as a waterwise landscaping plant, but it spreads quickly, wreaking havoc on nearby terrain. It’s also difficult to remove, as the spurge releases a toxic sap that can irritate the skin and eyes.
“It’s so bad in Millcreek Canyon that it’s made its way halfway up the canyon, especially on the south side,” Cochrane said. “Then I started noticing it closer to home, like the mouth of Big Cottonwood…That’s when I started pulling and I’ve been pulling for probably four years now to keep it from moving.”
Cochrane is not alone in her efforts to remove myrtle spurge from public lands. Robert Edgel, a habitat restoration biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said he’s been dealing with the plant for several years. At first, the division was hand-pulling the myrtle spurge, trying to eradicate it from the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, but the plant grew back so quickly that they started using herbicide to combat the invasion.
To remove the plant completely, Edgel said the spurge needs to be pulled up with at least four to six inches of root.
Plus, the seeds can remain active in the soil for up to eight years. Gloves, pants, long-sleeved shirts and goggles should be worn to protect the skin and eyes from the toxic sap.
“We need more public education because people need to remove it from their yards,” Edgel said. “The Division of Wildlife is working with the Forest Service and Salt Lake County. We’re all partnering together to treat it in the wild lands. But the infestation is coming from the private landowners, the homeowners. So, unless we get rid of it there, it’s going to come back. That’s a key piece.”
Edgel said the plant has been found on public lands statewide, taking over open space where native plants used to grow. Once the original vegetation is gone, it’s hard to replace due to cost and labor.
The DWR uses Roundup to kill the noxious weed since it seems impervious to other methods of removal. However, Edgel said he knows some people don’t want to use that herbicide and suggests Finalsan as an alternative. Its biodegradable formula leaves no toxins in the soil.
“As the federal government is cutting back on its spending, we need more state funding support for these efforts,” he said. “Let your state representatives know that the importance
Enjoy a Safe, Healthy, Active Summer
By Vincent Giron, DO
With summer here and everyone wanting to spend time outdoors and to be more active, there are four important health and safety tips that I recommend for all age groups and activity levels.
1. Stay hydrated. The No. 1 priority for summer safety is proper hydration before and after activity. Drinking lots of water and reducing the amount of caffeinated drinks is crucial for hydration. Adding electrolytes such as sports drinks is also helpful while avoiding excess sugar. Zero sugar or diet electrolyte sports drinks and hydration packs are an easy way to do this.
2. Use sunscreen. Sunscreen is crucial not only for skin health but can help with hydration as well. Sunburns put you at higher risk for dehydration. Applying sunscreen and reapplying frequently especially while swimming, playing sports, and hiking keeps your skin healthy and protected. Being conscientious about sun exposure helps prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, skin
discolorations and will help to keep your skin looking and feeling young.
3. Wear a helmet. Summer is a great time to go outdoors riding bikes, scooters and other fun activities while getting exercise. But anytime we bike, scoot, skate or participate in any riding activity, it is imperative to wear a helmet. No matter how short your ride is, you need to protect your brain. It only takes one fall or accident to cause permanent brain damage or life-long disability.
4. Stretch. People of all ages and activity levels from youth sports to the weekend warrior need to be stretching before and after activity. In the summer it is easy to skip the warm-up when exercising or playing sports because the warmer temperatures make us feel ready to go; however our muscles are still tight and are just as prone to injury as in the colder months. Taking the time to warm up by gradually stretching our muscles not only helps prevent injury but promotes muscle building and endurance. Stretching is especially im-
portant for elderly individuals. Stretching also helps reduce aches and pains as well as improve mobility and stability, which decrease the risk of falls.
Exercise is important for all ages. Summer is a great time to increase your level of activity. Exercise, especially outdoors, promotes physical as well as mental health and wellbeing. I hope we can all get outside, spend time with family and friends, and most of all, stay safe and healthy!
Dr. Vincent Giron is a CommonSpirit Health family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine.
He is accepting new patients. His clinic is located at CommonSpirit Primary Care & Sports Medicine West Valley at 3336 S. 4155 W., Ste. 102 in West Valley. Phone:801-964-3925. He accepts most insurances.
Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
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CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region, 2025. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: N
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Throw away that e-waste you’ve been holding onto in June.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Are there items in your home that you need to toss but haven’t yet because you know they’re technically recyclable but you don’t know where to take them? The Utah Recycling Alliance may have your answer. On Saturday, June 7, a CHaRM (Collection of Hard-to-Recycle Materials) event will be held in Cottonwood Heights. CHaRM pop-up events are intended to gather recyclable items from residents that may otherwise end up in the trash. Some examples of these hard-to-recycle items include: plastic containers, batteries, carpet padding, cell phones, chargers, cords, cables, string lights, e-waste, lightbulbs, mattresses, box springs, oral care, outdoor equipment, plastic bags, scrap metal, books, Styrofoam, plastic wrap, ink and toner cartridges, and bikes and their parts. Residents can also give their old tires and tire tubes to the Utah Recycling Alliance to dispose of for an extra fee.
Last year, a CHaRM event was held in Cottonwood Heights on June 8. At that event, the Utah Recycling Alliance was able to gather 4,016 pounds of recyclable material from residents. (To view our previous coverage of that event, visit the Cottonwood Heights Journal website and search for the article titled “CHaRM event helps residents recycle hard-to-recycle items.”)
Councilmember Ellen Birrell shared her experience attending the previous CHaRM event. “I thought maybe one of their table vendors would take those clamshell plastic containers your spinach, berries or bakery items come in. I came to
On Saturday, June 7, residents can attend the CHaRM pop-up event in the parking lot of Hillside Plaza, 2378 E. Fort Union Blvd. (Photo courtesy of Utah Recycling Alliance) The Utah Recycling Alliance has a vision for Zero Waste in Utah Communities. (Photo courtesy of Utah Recycling Alliance)
find out that the numerous vendors at the CHaRM event may not take my clamshell packaging but they take batteries and many other hard to recycle items.”
From 9 a.m. until noon, residents can bring any of these hard-to-recycle materials to the parking lot of Hillside Plaza (2378 E. Fort Union Blvd.) for the alliance to collect. Volunteers will help residents sort their materials so they can be aggregated for disposal at responsible recycling facilities.
“How we choose to conserve is important because Salt Lake’s TransJordan landfill is nearly to capacity. The regional plan is to begin trucking landfill waste all the way to southern Provo in a few years. Already congested Interstate 15 will become more dangerous with an influx of commercial waste trucks,” Birrell said.
CHaRM events help in part to support Utah Recycling Alliance’s vision of a Zero Waste culture. The aim is to build successful models encouraging practices that promote reuse, recycling and resource conservation.
“I really appreciate what their event does not only for actual recycling but also for building awareness for how our consumer driven society has a real task at hand to properly dispose of toxic and harmful items that should not go in the general landfill,” Birrell said.
She also emphasized how important she believes, what she calls, the “Six Rs” are for “having a safe and healthy lifestyle here along the Wasatch Front”—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Repurpose, Refuse.
To help support the alliance’s efforts, residents aren’t only limited to taking part in CHaRM events. There are also many volunteer and donation opportunities available: volunteers are needed to help sort materials at CHaRM events, work tables at special events, and host clean-up events; donations can be submitted directly to the Utah Recycling Alliance website as a onetime or recurring donation. The Utah Recycling Alliance is also looking for sponsorships and car donations.
To learn more about the Utah Recycling Alliance, visit: www.utahrecyclingalliance.org.
To RSVP to the CHaRM event on Saturday, June 7, visit the “Recycling Collection Event - Cottonwood Heights” event through EventBrite. l
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Kids scramble to gather eggs at city’s Easter Egg Hunt
Photos by Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
The first ever Cottonwood Heights Easter Egg Hunt began in 2006.
The Cottonwood Heights Youth City Council members helped distribute eggs to hunters.
More than 20,000 other candies and toys were available beyond simply Easter eggs.
The dog is wondering why there isn’t an Easter egg hunt for the four-legged family members.
Cottonwood Heights celebrates 20 years of Easter Egg Hunts as the city continues to celebrate its 20th year after incorporation.
“Everything happens within 30 seconds,” said Councilmember Suzanne Hyland.
Look! Wave hello to the Easter Bunny!
A few thousand attendees filled Butler fields in Cottonwood Heights for the Easter Egg Hunt.
After the 30 seconds of chaotic hunting was over, children returned to their families with their prizes.
The Easter Egg Hunt in Cottonwood Heights has four different “hunting” areas divided by age group.
No eggs? No problem! Attendees of the Easter Egg Hunt made due with decorations.
Some 16,000 eggs were scattered across the Butler fields.
Cottonwood Heights resident reflects on her journey to Miss Utah
Paris Matthews will hand her crown off to a new Miss Utah in June.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Despite losing 13 pageants, Paris Matthews refused to surrender. The Brighton High School grad persisted, eventually winning the titles of Miss North Ogden, Miss Panoramaland, and last June, she was crowned Miss Utah 2024.
Matthews spent nearly a decade competing in pageants before she had any success, but said the experience of losing time and again was an intense professional development opportunity where she emerged confident and powerful.
“My interview skills grew exponentially. I was such a nervous public speaker,” she said. “By my fifth pageant, I could confidently talk for about a minute on stage, and then I just kept becoming more and more confident. I thought this is fun. I’m getting better. Might as well keep trying. So I never was defeated. I just loved how much I was growing.”
Before winning the title of Miss Utah, Matthews was well on her way to becoming who she wanted to be. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and will graduate from Colorado Technical University with a master’s in health administration this fall.
Matthews works as a child life specialist at Primary Children’s Hospital, where she helps kids cope with hospitalization, scary medical procedures, grief, loss and death. She also published a children’s book in March 2024 titled “Mabel’s Hospital Adventure.”
“If a child loses their life at the hospital, I help siblings say
Brighton
goodbye,” she said. “We do memory making with mementos like handprints, footprints and hand molds. It’s really beautiful work. It’s tough, but it’s also what I was meant to do.”
Her pageant social impact initiative is also her nonprofit organization, “Power of Play: Advocating for Hospitalized Children.” She started Power of Play to help children adjust to life at a hospital and to bring a sense of joy through toys and play items. Her nonprofit accepts monetary or toy donations at powerofhospitalplay.com.
Matthews spent a lot of time during her Miss Utah experience visiting children’s hospitals, reading her book to elementary school kids, volunteering at numerous events and mentoring youth across the state.
As she looked back on her Miss Utah reign, Matthews felt incredibly lucky for the opportunity to meet with families, serve the community and enhance the voices of young women. She also realized her life was pretty great, even before she won a pageant title.
“I learned that I already had this within me. I didn’t need a crown to give me permission to chase my dreams or become who I already was. I have a licensed charity. I wrote a book. I’m in my dream career and these things all happened before I even had a crown. The crown has just given me opportunities to connect with more people.”
Matthews competed at the Miss America 2025 pageant in January. While she didn’t win, she cherished every moment of the event and was excited to cheer on her friend Miss Alabama Abbie Stockard, who won the event.
She will help crown a new Miss Utah on June 12-14 at the Miss Utah 2025 competition held at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. At 27, Matthews is ready to move into the next phase of her life, but credits her hometown of Cottonwood Heights for
High second best in unified basketball in the state
By Julie Slama j.slama@mcityjournals.com
I n a state finals, Brighton High’s coed unified basketball team played with heart in a close game, but came up short against Clearfield High.
The Bengals had secured the opportunity to play in the March 28 championship in their division at the Delta Center after advancing from the regional Canyons-Jordan-Murray school districts’ tournament. Unified basketball embraces students with and without intellectual disabilities to play side by side. The program, supported by both Special Olympics Utah and the Utah High School Activities Association, now boasts more than 200 high school coed unified basketball teams across the state. l
giving her a strong foundation.
“It was such a great place to have a childhood and it started my passion for pursuing higher education because of the education I received in Cottonwood Heights,” she said. “I owe a lot of my success to growing up here, and I still live here.” l
Grief is an individual journey with a path as unique as each one of us. To o er support and hope, we provide various Grief Support Services for those who are mourning a recent or past loss.
Paris Matthews will step down as Miss Utah in June. She said growing up in Cottonwood Heights shaped her future and destiny. (Photo courtesy of Faces Photography)
$1.3 million in Cottonwood Heights, alone.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
It’sbudget season and municipalities all throughout Utah are required to submit their 2025-26 fiscal year budgets to the State Auditor’s Office before June 20. That means, the proposed budget for the city of Cottonwood Heights must be adopted by the city council during their business session meeting at 7 p.m. on June 17.
Currently, the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget for Cottonwood Heights includes $8.4 million of estimated revenue from property tax and new $1.4 million property tax revenue for the bond debt service for the Hillside Plaza (2378 Fort Union Blvd.). These are only two of many revenue sources that the city pulls from, but they’re the ones that can be most accurately predicted.
For example, it wasn’t until mid-April that the city found out their Class C Road Funds had increased upwards of $120,000 and the Community Health Coalition found out they would be receiving more funding than anticipated from Salt Lake County with a grant of $22,315.
Since HB 368 Local Land Use Amendments (the state legislature’s attempt at regulating unincorporated “islands” by mandating annexation into the most populated neighboring city) only recently went into effect on May 7, it is unknown how property (and other) tax revenue will be redistributed.
“Several new annexations will be coming in mid-year so that will boost revenues,” said Administrative Services and Finance Director Scott Jurges.
Even though some anticipated revenue sources will “boost” the city’s budget, Jurges is still cautious with his expenditure estimations as the projections for revenue could be uncertain based on the current leadership of the nation.
Currently, the proposed budget includes a beginning Fund Balance of $6.5 million. One of the biggest expense categories for Cotton-
It’s how much for fire hydrants?
wood Heights includes city services partnerships, memberships and staff/personnel.
For example, United Fire Authority (UFA) typically raises their fees annually for members (cities) who use their safety services. Luckily, the annual increase rate came back lower than expected at an $140,000 increase during the earlier part of May.
“That change is the lowest percentage increase we will have with UFA for a long time,” Jurges said.
As Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Weichers serves as the UFA Board of Directors Chair, he was able to chime in on their decision.
“We made a deliberate effort and (the fee) went down over $130,000,” Weichers said.
Paying city employees has, pretty consistently, been one of the biggest expenditure line items in the city’s budget. Each year, the city council deliberates on how much of a COLA and Merit increase rate to award city staff members. This year, the council’s decision was to move forward with a 2% COLA increase for all employees, a 1% Merit increase for civilians, and a 3.63% average Merit increase for police. This equates to a $1.1 million expense increase in the city’s budget.
“It isn’t final per se, but close,” said Jurges on May 12. “This would be a change from the tentative budget of a savings of about $75,000.”
However, some of the city employees were not pleased with the decision to separate merit increases between civilians and sworn employees.
“As currently proposed, these changes reflect a clear disparity in how the City treats Police Department employees compared to all other City staff,” wrote ‘Concerned Civilian Staff of Cottonwood Heights City’ in a letter directly calling on the Mayor and City Council Members to reconsider the allocation of COLA and merit on May 13.
“The unequal treatment sends a troubling message: that the work and contributions of civilian employees are less valued. It fosters resentment and creates unnecessary division between departments, undermining the collaborative environment that should define our city government.”
These concerns were brought to the city
UFA will increase their municipal fee for Cottonwood Heights by $140,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
council’s attention during the public comment session of the city council meeting on Tuesday, May 20. A decision has yet to be finalized in the tentative budget (as of publication).
Cottonwood Heights plans to do a market study this upcoming year to evaluate exactly where they sit in terms of paying their employees based on the state’s local industry.
One of the unexpected hits to the city’s expenses in 2026 will be for fire hydrants. Salt Lake City Public Utilities increased the service fee by $125,000 per hydrant—totaling a $1.3 million increase from last year’s budget.
Additional new expenses Cottonwood Heights plans to pay this year include: increases to municipal fees for elections from Salt Lake County ($86,000), an increased rate for the city attorney’s services ($7,500), taking over Doverhill Park (3625 E. Doverhill Drive) where a previous church was torn down ($20,000), finding new travel arrangements for the Youth City Council as their old van needed to be sold, and implementing a new wellness program for city employees.
To stay up to date with Cottonwood
Heights news: sign up for city emails by visiting their website (www.cottonwoodheights. utah.gov) and navigating to the Community tab. Under the Connect category, click Emails to be taken to the sign-up form.
To view the Cottonwood Heights Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Tentative Budget, visit the city’s website (www.cottonwoodheights.utah. gov) and navigate to the Your Government tab. Budget & Financial Reporting can be found under the Finance category.
Residents can review the tentative budget and voice their insights to the city council during public comment sessions typically held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings (at Cottonwood Heights City Hall, 2277 Bengal Blvd.). Comments can also be submitted online through the city’s website under Public Records and Notices.
In addition, a public hearing for the Proposed 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget is scheduled for June 3 at 7 p.m. Jurges expects the public hearing to likely carry over into their council meeting on June 17 as well. l
Want to tell the Cottonwood Heights City Council how you really feel? Sign up here through FlashVote
One minute a month is all Cottonwood Heights needs from you (the resident).
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Doyou have opinions about how the city should address short-term rentals, road safety, ski traffic congestion, stormwater infrastructure, business development and trail recreation? The Cottonwood Heights City Council wants to hear about it (if you reside or work within the city’s boundaries, of course).
“If you’re a resident than this is your opportunity to give feedback on a lot of different issues,” said Councilmember Suzanne Hyland.
Residents are encouraged to sign-up for short, topic-based, surveys that will now be distributed throughout the year. Those who opt-in to participate have the option to select from receiving their surveys through email, text or phone call.
“Just three or four questions can be done in a minute. It allows for residents that don’t normally respond to not feel burdened with taking too much of their time,” said Mayor Mike Weichers.
The council intends to use the specific and thoughtful resident feedback on hot-topic narrowed-in issues to help them in their decision-making processes.
“By having shorter more numerous and more frequent surveying, it is my hope that the city council will have deeper insights into the needs and wants of our residents and business owners,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell.
The city has partnered with FlashVote to distribute, conduct and analyze these resident surveys. FlashVote ensures all personal and demographic information, as well as the re-
Continued from front page
courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)
sponses, are kept anonymous. They also work to gather feedback from residents across all four districts in the city, geographic location, age range, ethnicity and socioeconomic segment.
“We will be focusing on specific things like short-term rentals and intersection safety,” Hyland said. “We would like to have some representative idea of the broader opinion than just those who come to council meetings.”
Since the topic of short-term rentals is planned to be discussed during city council meetings in June, the council would like a chance to read through resident opinions before making any decisions.
The first survey was opened for participation in late April. However, it was not receiving much attention or response from residents (as of publication) so the council is hoping to encourage more residents to signup.
“We haven’t gotten up to the right threshold for the response rate so we are looking for more people to respond,” Hyland said.
Even though the council just recently contracted with FlashVote to distribute and conduct these resident surveys, this is far
of providing funding to the watershed restoration initiative is important to be able to continue to do this work on public lands.”
Cochrane will continue fighting the battle against myrtle spurge and hopes to recruit more people to her cause. She schedules weed-pulling activities in nearby canyons and has contacted local leaders and city officials regarding the nuisance.
“I’ve been living in Cottonwood Heights for almost 30 years now and I’ve just seen [myrtle spurge] continually spread,” she said. “No one person can do it by themselves. I’m trying to educate people. I made some flyers and anytime I see [myrtle spurge] on a property owner’s property, I stop and put a flyer in the mailbox. Or I’ll knock at their home and try to educate them about it.” l
from the first time the city has surveyed its residents. Previously, Cottonwood Heights partnered with Y2 Analytics to gather resident data through less frequent and longer surveys. These often 65-question surveys were distributed in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. To view our previous coverage of the Y2 resident surveys, visit our Cottonwood Heights City Journals website. Full details and links below.
“Though the city has been using Y2 Analytics for several years to perform expensive surveys approximately every 18 to 24 months, I found the long and mostly general survey questions often not as relevant and timely as need be,” Birrell said.
In addition to resident surveys, the council may be looking to citizen committees and volunteer groups to provide feedback in the future. They encourage residents to sign up for the city’s newsletter to stay informed on city happenings as well.
“We hope lots of residents will participate,” Weichers said.
To view our coverage of previous resident surveys, visit: www.cottonwoodheightsjournal.com and search for “Cottonwood Heights to survey public opinion” and “What Cottonwood Heights Residents Really Think.”
To stay up to date with Cottonwood Heights news: sign up for city emails by visiting their website (www.cottonwoodheights. utah.gov) and navigating to the Community tab. Under the Connect category, click Emails to be taken to the sign-up form.
To sign-up to participate in the FlashVote city surveys: call 775-235-2240 to participate by phone or text only; or visit www.flashvote.com/cottonwoodheights. l
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Visit the QR code shown to sign up for resident surveys through FlashVote. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)
Participants will receive a summary of the overall results to the survey to see how their individual responses compare to the overall group. (Photo
Myrtle spurge is sold as a drought-tolerant option for landscaping but spreads quickly, endangering public lands. (Canva stock)
Celebrate Public Works Week beginning May 19
Wave
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
“Thecouncil would like to recognize the Public Works Department for their tireless commitment to excellence providing unwavering service to the residents for infrastructure upkeep and important services,” said Mayor Mike Weichers as he proclaimed May 19 through May 23 as Public Works Week within the city of Cottonwood Heights.
All five council members, along with the city manager, recognized Proclamation 202502: Designation May 19-25, 2025 as Public Works Week. The proclamation document was signed on May 6.
The proclamation follows suit with the American Public Works Association designation celebrating the vital role public works professionals play in building, protecting and sustaining communities as part of National Public Works Week.
“The Public Works Department provides indispensable services, including road maintenance, water management, waste collection, snow removal and infrastructure upkeep, ensuring the safety, health and prosperity of our community,” Weichers read from the proclamation.
Assistant City Engineer Ben Nelson expressed reciprocal appreciation for the city council from the Public Works Department.
“Our people respond during everyday moments to do what is necessary in everyday moments. The council has been a steady partner in our mission who recognizes the people,” Nelson said.
Nelson presented the members of the city council with a Challenge Coin representing the valued partnership with Cottonwood Heights and the intent of making it stronger.
“Challenge Coins have been a way to recognize service and build community,” Nelson said.
“The employees are dedicated to proactivity in problem-solving, responding to emergencies and maintaining critical infrastructure,” Weichers said, recognizing the crew’s efforts in building the aforementioned community.
As he read the proclamation document, he added how the Public Works Crew “exemplify dedication, expertise and resilience in their daily efforts to address challenges.”
The Public Works crew is currently made up of 18 employees working out of the 1-yearold Public Works Building (6579 S. 3000 East). This is a long way from where the Public Works Department started in 2016 when the city council at the time decided to move public work service in-house instead of contracting them out.
“We kept a low profile under blue tarps,”
Public Works Director Matt Shipp reflected on how their 10-person crew used to work out of a trailer. “We feel like we are moving forward and in the right direction.”
them working throughout the city. The recognition goes a long way for the crewmembers because…
“If we are doing our job right, then no one knows we exist,” Shipp said.
“In that time, we’ve gone from doing mostly operations and maintenance to bringing engineering services and stormwater management in house,” Nelson added. “Our team is made up of trained professionals who take a lot of pride in what we do.”
To join in the appreciation for the Public Works Department during their week, Nelson recommended residents smile or give a friendly wave to the crewmembers when they see
In addition, Nelson asks for residents to be in open communication with their city officials and public works crew.
“If you see something that needs attention, letting us know is genuinely helpful—we rely on those reports to catch issues quickly,” Nelson said. l
The Public Works Department in Cottonwood Heights has a crew of 18 staff who double as truck and snowplow drivers depending on the season. (Cassie Goff/City Journals) The Public Works Building is celebrating its one-year birthday this month. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
No student should go hungry: One parent’s mission to end statewide school lunch debt complements new state law
Teen donates portion of college fund to help local elementary students eat lunch debt-free.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Starting July 1, about 40,000 students in Utah will receive free school meals, thanks to House Bill 100, the Food Security Amendments. This legislation eliminates reduced-price lunches, making them fully free for students who previously qualified for the reduced rate.
Sponsored by state Rep. Tyler Clancy, the new legislation aims to address food insecurity and promote share tables to reduce food waste. It guarantees free school lunches for eligible students — from kindergarten through 12th grade — at any school participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Darrell “DJ” Bracken, a West Jordan parent and community advocate, believes the new law also will help tackle Utah’s growing school lunch debt, which reached $2.8 million last year.
“I was just down at the capitol yesterday when Gov. (Spencer) Cox signed the bill,” he said. “I was a part of the coalition along with The Policy Project and Utahns Against Hunger; we advocated for it for about eight months. I think it was very hard for legislators to directly reject the idea of feeding kids at school. I think it’s something everybody can get behind.”
Bracken was shocked when he first learned the extent of lunch debt in his local school district.
“I thought that was impossible. I called Jordan School District and they confirmed to me not only is that number true, but there’s $88,000 in debt in elementary schools alone within my district. I was just completely blown away,” he said.
Motivated to act, Bracken began by paying off Bluffdale Elementary’s $835 lunch debt himself. That experience led him to start the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation to ensure no child in Utah schools goes hungry or accumulates meal debt.
“I thought other people would be just as upset as I am that this exists — and I was right,” Bracken said.
His foundation is designed as a temporary solution to a systemic problem.
“I didn’t want to fill a role I personally felt the government should already be filling so it’s in our charter we will exist until we have gone one full calendar year without any school lunch debt in the state of Utah. This bill is a great solution. It does many great things, taking the group of kids who are getting reduced lunch into getting free lunch. But there’s still going to be lunch debt. I view this as kind of a steppingstone toward healthy
school meals for all; that has been passed in a lot of other states. I would like to see that passed in Utah,” he said.
Bracken’s efforts gained momentum after a single Facebook post in July 2024.
“That got a lot more response than I expected, and we’ve been paying off schools ever since,” he said.
By mid-April, UTLDR had raised more than $51,000. The foundation has cleared meal debt at several schools: Bluffdale, Oakcrest and Aspen elementaries in Jordan School District; South Kearns Elementary in Granite School District; Liberty Elementary in Murray School District; Butler, Quail Hollow and Sandy elementaries in Canyons School District; and more schools in Davis, Provo, Carbon and Duchesne school districts.
Bracken’s goal is to pay off meal debt at an elementary school in every district statewide.
“We’re well on our way to doing that,” he said. “It’s mostly individual people finding our website and deciding to donate on their own, but we have had a couple partnerships with businesses. It’s really been an amazing thing to see how many people care about this.”
Some donations come from individuals moved by the cause. One is 17-year-old David “Van” Hafner, who contributed $2,500 toward paying Butler Elementary’s $6,050 lunch debt. Lunches in Canyons School District cost $3.
“I had my own college saving fund and I dipped into that, plus savings from my many summer jobs and money I saved from the stock market,” he said. “I had a lot of money saved up different ways, so I pulled it all together. I like the idea of doing philanthropy, and I thought this was perfect.”
The Alta High junior also volunteers at a West Valley City daycare and plans to join a humanitarian trip this summer. He was honored with the Smith’s Zero Hunger Award and intends to continue helping schools.
“It’s important I’m doing this because kids at a young age need to learn to help the community, to help other people. I wanted to make an example of that by giving my money to kids who can’t pay for their own lunch. The main concern is kids eat, especially a growing little kid,” said the student who hopes to become a doctor.
His generosity left a lasting impression at the Cottonwood Heights elementary.
“The people at the front desk were very thankful and the kids were excited. They said, ‘That’s a lot of money,’ and ‘That’s really cool.’ It made me feel great. That’s why I want to donate to another elementary school,” Hafner said. “Between this and the West Valley City daycare, it feels like I’m making a difference.”
Butler Principal Tracy Stacy said she was both surprised and grateful for the donation.
Another community member contributed; she encouraged her gym members to get involved and raised money to help pay off Sandy Elementary’s lunch debt, Bracken said.
At Aspen Elementary in South Jordan, Bracken’s foundation donated $2,100. However, debt stemming from $2 per lunch continues to be a recurring issue, said Principal Suzie Williams.
“We’re grateful for the donation, absolutely, and we’ve used it, but we don’t want it to be a crutch for people either,” Williams said. “We want to help them navigate how to pay or qualify for lunches. When he came, he tried to reach out to a bunch of families and educate them about filling out forms for free and reduced lunch and that helps, too.”
She noted despite the efforts, debt remains a challenge.
“His donation helped, but we got back up to $3,000 deficit (in late March). When you hit $50 in Jordan School District, then it goes to collections. We called several people today and told them that — and it’s awful. Our lunch debt is down now at $1,700 (as of late April); there always is a debt,” Williams said.
At Liberty Elementary where school lunch is $1.90, Principal Shana Mondragon echoed similar concerns.
“We are consistently in the negative. We’re constantly reaching out to families asking, ‘Do you need help? Have you applied for free and reduced lunch? Do you qualify?’” she said. “I think families are struggling. The responses I get when I call range everywhere from ‘I totally forgot to pay’ to they don’t know how to fill out the form, or didn’t know there was a form. There’s also everybody ate lunch for free during COVID so the assumption is it’s still going. I do appreciate in Murray, regardless of what their balance is, students have the option to get a full lunch every day. It doesn’t fix the budget side of it, but
the kids will always get a full meal. Murray District’s top concern is that the kids eat. We’ll figure everything else out later, but we need to make sure the kids have food. “
Mondragon praised Bracken’s dedication to helping families and spreading awareness. “DJ was helping to educate the families, making sure they had access to the information. He really wants to fix the problem. It isn’t a new problem. If anything, it just keeps getting worse. So, making sure there’s funds, making sure there’s accessibility to the resources and knowing what to do is important,” she said, adding Bracken was honored for his $560 donation to pay off the lunch debt as well as his contribution toward fixing the issue during a “hidden hero” school assembly. “The banner for his foundation is on our website and on our fence to recognize what he did.” Bracken said the foundation continues to expand its outreach.
“There are many great causes in the world. I have a 7-year-old daughter so this was easy for me to picture a world where there’s some kid out there who’s worried about getting school lunch, and how are you supposed to learn if you’re worried about being in debt instead of focusing on things like fractions?” Bracken said. “It struck me as a failure of the system. These are kids who are accruing debt for the right to eat at a place they have to be —– and we all want them to learn. We all want them to succeed. I was just completely aghast this could even exist, and it turns out most people are too. I couldn’t stand for it. Someone had to do something; I’m glad it’s made an impact so far. Hopefully we can make the full impact and make it so no kid ever has to worry about where they’re getting their lunch again.”
To support or learn more about the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation, visit utldr.org. l
Alta High junior David “Van” Hafner, seen here with Butler Elementary students, contributed $2,500 toward paying the school’s $6,050 lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of DJ Bracken)
Brighton girls golf is full of young talent
Team is a source of pride to school and community.
By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
The Brighton High girls golf team is looking to improve its No. 4 ranking in the state 5A classification in the UHSAA state tournament.
Head coach Ron Meyer, now in his sixth year at the helm of both the boys and girls teams, expressed optimism about the team’s prospects. “We’ve got a great team full of promising underclassmen,” Meyer said. “Even though we have no seniors this year, our goal is always the same: to develop self-control, to cultivate personal integrity and to foster a life-long love for the game of golf. That being said, we certainly want to not only be competitive within one of the toughest regions in the state, but we also strive to raise the level of competition at the Utah state championship.”
The team is led by co-captains Cate Cook, Phoebe Selander and Hannah Wixom. Cook finished in the top 10 at last year’s state tournament and has a 77.4 average through six tournaments. The Bengals have welcomed freshman Claire Olafsson to the varsity team. Olafsson has had a phenomenal year thus far achieving a 77.8 average through six tournaments.
Cook, a junior, has been playing golf since she was in first grade. “I’ve learned a lot about life by playing golf,” she said. “I think golf might be one of the most mentally challenging sports out there. We’re out on the course dealing with mental battles for about four hours. I’ve learned it’s really hard to play a good round of golf if I’m not positive and in a good place mentally. I think the same thing goes for life in general. If you keep a positive attitude and aren’t super hard on yourself when you mess up, you’re more likely to succeed.”
Cook’s favorite part of being on the team is building re-
lationships. “I’ve loved getting to know everyone on the team throughout the years and spending time on the golf course with them. Our coaches are also amazing and make practices fun and enjoyable. Also, the friendships you make with girls from other teams during tournaments is something so unique to golf. You are less of competitors with each other and more so just friends having fun.
Olafsson, a freshman who has been playing golf since she was a small child, has learned many things while on the Brighton team and playing golf in general. “Something that I have learned while golfing are the concepts of patience, as well as focusing on the process,” she said. “I have learned that when I concentrate on the next move and am only thinking about the shot I’m about to hit, as opposed to the outcome that I wish for, the results will eventually come.”
Her favorite part about being on the Brighton team is being able to make new friends. “I learn from both teammates and competitors,” she added.
Junior standout, Phoebe Selander, has contributed significantly this season. “The competition here in Region 6 is tough, but we’re working hard to improve our game,” Selander said. “The support from my teammates and coaches has been incredible.”
Brighton’s home course, Old Mill Golf Course, has been a significant factor in the team’s success. The challenging layout, with its narrow fairways and strategically placed bunkers, has helped the Bengals develop a strong short game and course management skills.
The Bengals’ schedule includes matches against tough Region 6 rivals like Skyline, East, Olympus, Highland, Alta and West. The Brighton JV team participated in several invitational tournaments, including a round with Corner Canyon’s JV squad, providing valuable experience against top-tier competition from other great teams in the state.
BHS Athletic Director Garrett Wilson praised the golf program’s consistent excellence. “Our girls’ golf team has been a source of pride for Brighton High School. They exemplify the values of sportsmanship, academic achievement and athletic excellence that we strive for in all our programs.”
As the season wraps up, look for the Bengals at the 5A state championship tournament at Glendale. With a blend of experienced leadership, emerging talent and strong community backing, the Brighton High girls golf team is poised for another exciting finish to the season. As they tee off at the championship, the Bengals are not just aiming for birdies and eagles – they’re setting their sights on making their community of Cottonwood Heights proud. l
5 habits to start in June for a healthier summer
Get your mind and body in summer mode to enjoy the season.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Juneis the perfect time to refresh routines and build healthier habits. Prioritizing well-being will lift your energy and allow you to enjoy activities during the summer months. Starting habits now will create an enjoyable summer where you feel vibrant, engaged and ready to get the most out of every sunshine-filled day.
When starting new habits, start small, stay consistent and be patient. Create a supportive environment and notice the wins. Even accomplishing one goal is a reason to celebrate.
Prioritize hydration. As boring as it might sound, staying hydrated offers myriad benefits. Water increases brain function, assists digestion, alleviates headaches, regulates body temperature and enhances physical performance. Average guidelines show drinking 8-10 cups of water each day is optimal for body and brain function.
To build this habit, purchase a reusable water bottle and set a reminder to drink throughout the day. For added flavor, infuse water with lemon, berries or cucumber. Get a metabolism boost by drinking a cup of water first thing in the morning.
Create a morning movement routine. When you start your day with exercise, the benefits last all day. Morning movement has been shown to raise energy, boost your mood,
increase productivity, reduce the risk of disease and manage weight.
It doesn’t have to be a big time commitment. A 10-minute walk through a local park, a 15-minute online yoga session or five minutes of dancing can set you up for success throughout the day. If you take the practice outside, you get a bonus of sunlight exposure to raise vitamin D levels.
Incorporate fresh foods. Eating fresh produce has to be a conscious choice. Luckily, farmers markets are open again, so finding local food is much easier. Fresh foods are packed with nutrients, lower the risk of chronic disease and taste better than processed foods.
Visit Utahfarmersmarketnetwork.org to find a farmers market near you, then stock up on seasonal fruits and vegetables. Experiment with easy recipes like smoothies, salads and grilled veggies. Work your way up to having half of each meal dedicated to fresh produce.
Create recovery time. As summer activities fill our calendars, we often overschedule our time and end up fatigued. Quality rest is essential to overall well-being, aiding in physical recovery and increased mental health.
Schedule a couple of hours each week where you can do something you love. Maybe it’s hiking, reading, napping or gardening, make sure it’s something enjoyable and not a chore. If you have kiddos, maybe swap a couple of hours of child sitting with a neighbor or family member so you can enjoy a breather without distractions.
Put down the screens. We give our teens grief for scrolling on their phones, but we’re often doing the same thing. Studies show that limiting screen time reduces stress, en-
Utah’s mountains have hundreds of hiking trails. How many can you explore this summer? (Canva stock)
hances creativity and enhances focus. We all want to record the fun summer events, like celebrations and vacations, but looking at the world through a phone screen creates a barrier to real life.
Start small. Make a no-phone rule during meals or family activities (you can take ONE photo if you must), practice having real conversations with people around you, use app blockers, timers and trackers. Summer goes too fast to spend it staring at a phone.
BONUS TIP: Play outside! Warm days call for drinks by the swimming pool, a sunset bike ride, a breakfast picnic, outdoor readathons, pickleball games, paddleboarding, dancing on the patio, fishing in a river and discovering new hiking trails. Slather on the sunscreen and get outside. l
Pictured at the 17th tee at Old Mill Golf Course are (left to right): Hannah Wixom, Gwen Romney, Claire Olafsson, Cate Cook, Aubrey Bjorklund, Phoebe Selander, Mia Aoki and Izzy Reece. (Photo courtesy Ron Meyer)
Innovative mental health treatment is changing lives
NeuroHealth offers cutting-edge TMS care.
By Peri Kinder
The City Journals
NeuroHealth
is transforming the conversation around mental health therapy. In just over two years, the clinic has become a revolutionary option for patients battling treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety.
Under the guidance of board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Rayner, NeuroHealth offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a therapy likened to physical therapy for the brain. The process involves a 20-minute session, five days a week, for 36 sessions.
NeuroHealth’s co-owner and director of operations, Jason Corbridge, said 83% of TMS patients experienced reduced symptoms and 62% achieved remission over 12 months.
“It’s awesome, especially when you don’t have the side effects like medication,” Corbridge said. “It was a slow burn to get everything going with NeuroHealth and now it’s been great. Our schedule has been full for a long time.”
TMS has been FDA-approved since 2008 and accepted by most insurance plans since 2016. NeuroHealth uses a NeuroStar chair for its non-invasive treatments. A cushioned coil placed against the head allows magnetic pulses to deliver stimulation to the appropriate part of the brain.
Patients might feel discomfort during the first few days of treatment, including tapping or tingling, but the effect lessens with subsequent procedures. Jessica Brown, a NeuroStar practice development manager, said no other therapeutic modality brings such fast relief with virtually no side effects.
“Someone with depression is not depressed. They have depression in their brain. It’s in the left lateral prefrontal cortex, a golf ball-sized location. So what TMS is doing is
stimulating that area of the brain to increase that neuroplasticity,” Brown said. “As those neurons are starting to fire again, that neuroplasticity is strengthened and the brain now has the ability to adapt and to change.”
Once the full course of treatment is completed, NeuroHealth specialists monitor patients’ progress through self-assessment surveys and offer maintenance updates if a patient feels they’re sliding back into depression.
During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, NeuroHealth hosted an open house to introduce people to the TMS concept and provided activities that promote good mental health, including journaling, painting, guided breathing practices and quiet reflection.
“These are all activities that you can do on your own to be able to think positively and bring about that mental headspace that you need,” said Elizabeth Sweat, NeuroHealth patient experience coordinator.
Located in South Jordan at 10437 S. Temple Drive, NeuroHealth specializes in TMS but also offers some ketamine treatment.
“Anyone who has been suffering with depression, anxiety and OCD would be a good candidate for TMS, specifically people who haven’t seen any benefits from medications in the past or other forms of treatment,” said Karen Canul, NeuroHealth client coordinator. “All of the people who work here really care about everyone. We like to talk to our patients, get to know them and make them feel welcome.”
To learn more about TMS or to schedule a consultation, visit NeuroHealthUtah.com.
“I have coworkers who have been in remission for seven years,” Brown said. “What we’re doing is we’re making those lower days higher and more manageable for people to continue an adaptive lifestyle.…Depression is lifelong, but they’re learning different things as they go through TMS.” l
Elizabeth Sweat, NeuroHealth’s patient experience coordinator, visits with a patient during his TMS treatment. (Photo courtesy of NeuroHealth)
Brighton winter sports provide highlights for 2025 and hope for 2026
By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
Last year, Brighton Athletics was ranked in the top four of all 29 5A schools in the Deseret News High School Sports Awards rankings. Brighton is no stranger in these ranks—the school’s athletic programs held the No. 1 position for a record 12 years straight from 1980 to 1992. But as the sports have diversified (multiple new sports added) and the competition grows, Brighton seems to be consistently ranked in the top five. Last year, Brighton boys athletics was the second most prolific in all of 5A in terms of winning state championships and placing in the top 10 at state tournaments.
This year, after strong finishes in both the fall and the winter sports season, and with the promise of strong spring finishes in baseball and lacrosse, Brighton is poised to move up in the all sports ranking.
Girls Basketball
Brighton girls basketball ended the season in the top 10 with great promise to move up even further next year. Three players received postseason honors.
Sophie Nielsen was selected second team All State and first team All Region. Charlotte O’Neal was selected second team All Region. Lucy Chin was selected second team All Region and All Star team.
Sophie Nielsen, in just her third year hit a career mark of 1000 points. “Sophie is an amazing competitor and a dedicated student athlete” said Principal Marielle Rawle. “We look forward to what the next year will bring!”
Boys basketball
This was a senior-rich year for boys basketball when the experience of the years paid off. The Bengals entered the state championship tournament seeded ninth, meaning the team barely missed the coveted first-round bye. Undaunted the team defied the odds, pulling off the tournament’s biggest upset over top seed Orem and landing in the semifinals.
“We were led by our six seniors all season long in Josh Mawhinney, Bradley Easton, Jaxon Soto, Case Beames, Creighton Evers and Carson Janke,” said head coach Tim Gardner. “Our league is great and you better be ready to play every night. This prepared us for postseason play and allowed us to be playing our best basketball in February. Our toughness and togetherness was in full effect as we upset the No. 1 team in the state in Orem at the Huntsman Center. Great support from our student body and community.”
Mawhinny and Creighton Evers were both Academic All State. Mawhinney and Easton are Deseret News All State as well as All Region. Jaxon Soto was honorable mention All Region. The boys basketball achieved
a top four state finish.
Wrestling
Brighton wrestling fields two varsity teams for UHSAA 5A competition in boys wrestling and girls wrestling. A wrestler’s goal is to qualify as a state wrestler sometime in the four years of wrestling eligibility. The top eight wrestlers in each weight class who emerge from Divisional tournaments are designated as state wrestlers and then move on to compete in the mid-February state tournament for a state championship. The 20242025 campaign qualified a decade-record 14 wrestlers (including the entire girls wrestling team) for state while Brighton boys wrestling earned eighth place.
Mei Mei Engebretsen, a junior at 120 pounds took the next step by becoming a 2025 state finalist placing second. She took third in 2024. Landon Hill, a multi-sport junior at 144 pounds took third place. Fernando Cortez, a junior at 190 pounds took sixth place. Manoa Herb, a junior foreign exchange student from Germany took sixth place at 170 pounds.
"Wrestling is one of the greatest sports of all time,” Engebretsen said. “Not just because it’s a hard sport, but because everything you learn on the mat you can apply to your life off the mat. I have a sense of pride knowing that I was able to represent Brighton in my finals match and be the first girls finalist. I love my team and am so grateful for my coaches. Since the high school season has ended, I have been training with the Brighton club team and traveling to new places so I can have more mat time before my final year where I would like to become state champ.”
Volleyball
Brighton’s newest UHSAA-sanctioned sport is boys volleyball. While girls volleyball has long been a staple of the high school sports offerings, boys volleyball, like hockey, rugby and water polo was a club sport. The nascent program is growing at Brighton under the guiding hand of veteran coach Mondo Begay the team finished the winter season ranked 12th in Utah 5A.
Cheer
The cheer squad and competitive team is coached by Taylor Ekstrom. While the cheerleaders support all sports at Brighton throughout the year, their competitive season is during the winter. The season highlights included qualifying for state in all three competitive routine areas. The team continued to nationals where the team turned in its best performances of the season finishing with fifth place among the 28-team national cohort.
“This year we chose to attend USA nationals in California for the first time in a few years. Our goal was to qualify for day two and after hitting a perfect routine on day one we couldn’t wait to see what place we were in. We ended up going into finals in sixth place, hit another perfect routine, and moved up to
fifth place in our division,” Ekstrom said.
Swimming
Nationally recognized Coach Todd Etherington, a Brighton alumnus, produced record-breaking swim results yet again this winter season. Etherington coached both the girls and boys swim teams.
“Our swimmers are amazing...not just in the water, but out of the water as well. Amazing students, amazing friends, amazing teammates. This team wanted all of those around them to be the best that they possibly could and it showed throughout the season. Looking at what we accomplished during the year and not just at the state meet, this group was tremendous and I couldn't be more proud of who they are, what they accomplished and what they learned about being the best versions of themselves and how to become even better. I look forward to see what they become in the years to come,” the normally taciturn Etherington said.
Both teams finished in the top 10 at the state championship tournament at BYU. The boys team took fourth in state in 2025 after a second place finishes the last two years. The girls team finished 10th in 2025 after a fifth place finish in 2024.
The individual swimmers were headlined by junior Luan Barnard the new 200 freestyle state champion who set a new 5A state record. After he repeated the record-breaking feat in the 100 backstroke to become a second state champion (a 5A and overall state record at
48.53 seconds) he said, “It feels amazing to come out here and swim my best - exactly what I have been doing in practice all these years.”
“Luan is one of those rare athletes that is willing to always find a way to work harder, smarter, faster, stronger, whatever it takes to be the best version of himself that he can be,” said Etherington. “Everything that he has experienced in the sport of swimming has been used as a learning experience to improve upon what he is already doing.”
Another individual, Etherington’s own son, Dylan Etherington, became the Unified 50 and 100 Freestyle State Champion.
Other individuals claiming hardware at the state tournament include:
Boys 200 Medley Relay (Luan Barnard, Thomas Powers, Benjamin Schiffman, Drake Doyle) second place with a new team record
Drake Doyle: 100 freestyle second place, 100 breaststroke third place with a new team record
Benjamin Schiffman: sixth place 200 IM, sixth place 500 freestyle
Girls 200 Freestyle Relay (Simone Turcotte, Evie Powers, Jennifer Labuschagne, Aoibheann Bradley) eighth place
Thomas Powers: sixth place 100 breaststroke
Boys 400 Freestyle Relay (Luan Barnard, Benjamin Schiffman, Thomas Powers, Drake Doyle) third place l
Upset! The Bengals take down the No. 1 ranked Tigers of Orem in the state quarterfinal round 65-53. (Photo courtesy Brighton High School)
Soccer officials rally for fair pay and improved working conditions
By Greg James g.james@mycityjournals.com
Apetition
is circulating in the community in an attempt to raise the pay of soccer officials and improve sportsmanship, which has become an important topic amongst association officials.
“This is more than just a way to ask for a pay raise,” one of the petition organizers Joel Rincon said. “We are asking the UYSA to recognize the invaluable contribution of referees to the game. We play a significant role in maintaining the integrity of the league. It is a call for respect and acknowledgement. We implore the UYSA to raise the wage of referees.”
The Utah Youth Soccer Association is taking the initiative seriously.
“We are discussing the petition with the group of referees who created it,” UYSA Chief Executive Officer Bryan Attridge said. “We have an official meeting scheduled with our state referee committee. We know being a referee is hard, but we were just notified of this petition.”
A close offsides non-call in a youth
game was further evidence something needs to be done. The coach stood on the sideline wildly waving his arms and berating the referee. Finally the referee yielded a red card to the coach, grabbed the ball and stood at midfield waiting for the coach to leave the field. The game was eventually forfeited.
“Sportsmanship is becoming a huge problem,” Rincon said in the petition.
The petition includes several comments from past officials and parents. “My son almost quit. We make stressful decisions, Utah is one of the lowest paying states, plz [sic] change for the better,” and “This is a great first job for some teens, but
is it worth it,” are among some.
Over 650 people have signed the online petition on change.org. The petition states that referees feel “berated, slighted and improperly enumerated.”
More than two years ago the UYSA adopted a zero tolerance policy toward referee abuse. Any team that has a fan, player or coach that abuses a referee can receive a strict no spectator ruling. The team will not be allowed to have anyone on their sidelines for the entire season.
In March, USA Soccer adopted a similar referee abuse prevention policy, violations could include lifetime bans.
“Soccer is a beautiful game that brings out a passion in its players, coaches and fans. When passion crosses the line it harms the games integrity and the safety of those who work in it. Referees are essential to our game,” USA soccer released in its abuse prevention packet (policy 53-91).
According to Utah State Soccer Referee Program, the current pay scale for the UYSA was adopted in 2022 and ranges between $30 to $65 per game. The USSRP serves soccer associations by increasing the number and quality of officials and achieving excellence among those officials through education and administration.
“It is time for us to stand up for change,” Rincon said. l
Your Turnkey Solution for the Ultimate Remodel
Chasing kids around the pitch is more difficult than it seems, but making perfect calls has become nearly impossible. Soccer referees ask youth associations to consider pay increases and sportsmanship improvements. (Greg James/City Journals)
Raise the Future builds a bridge to belonging
and transition for so long?”
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Raise the Future has a simple but powerful goal: ensure each young person has at least one caring adult they can count on. It doesn’t seem like much, but accomplishing that goal makes a measurable difference to children aged 14-21, who often struggle as they age out of the state’s foster system.
About 1,500 children in Utah fall into this category, but Raise the Future, a nonprofit focused on finding permanent homes for youth, provides support through family services and community engagement.
“The kids we work with are not just passing through the foster care system, they are growing up there. They are transitioning from home to home. We can have kids who have been in foster care for 12 years and have been through 22 different homes,” said Raise the Future Vice President of Development Lindsay Kaeding. “How are they going to manage life as an adult when their life has been in turmoil
Raise the Future, originally called the Adoption Exchange, was founded in 1983 in Denver, Colorado, and expanded to Utah in 1986. It addresses the challenges faced by children moving out of the foster care system, including homelessness, a lack of higher education, mental health issues, addiction, a gap in life skills, an increased risk of trafficking and the likelihood of creating generational foster care, where their own children end up in the system.
Matching youth with caring mentors, guardians or adoptive parents can make the difference between a lifetime of success or obstacles.
“If you want to talk about homelessness, mental health services, drug addiction and everything like that, you’ve got to focus on the most vulnerable population, and that is youth in foster care,” Kaeding said. “They end up within our criminal systems. So they are just transferring from one system to the next.”
Lives are changed once a caring adult steps into the picture, letting these kids know they don’t have to navigate the world alone. Kaeding said once youth in foster care know they have someone willing to show up for them, maybe help them
stay in school or find a job, they begin to believe they can achieve goals and live a meaningful life.
Shawn Davis and her husband, Matt Affolter, have adopted two daughters through Raise the Future. Ellie was 19 when they adopted her in 2017. She’d been through multiple foster homes and struggled with mental health issues. It was difficult at first to establish trust, boundaries and respect on both sides.
“A lot of people struggle because they want the kids to fit into their life but you’re talking about kids who haven’t had support, who’ve dealt with a lot of trauma, who haven’t been raised the same way. Teenagers, especially, have their own lives,” Davis said. “It’s more about fitting into their life and building that trust, and then making some of those smaller changes.”
18 when she came to live with the family in 2023. She had placed herself into foster care but had poor experiences in several foster homes. Davis expected to foster her until she graduated from high school, but Ramona was adopted into their family this year.
“It makes a difference because they have people to talk to, people who have their best interests,” Davis said. “It gives them the confidence to try things and know there’s a safety net. Life’s a little harder if you have no safety net to try new things.”
Raise the Future serves hundreds of youth, providing families with resources and education, but the waiting list is growing. Kaeding said about 200 youth age out of the foster care system each year in Utah and the organization is doing its best to reach as many of those kids as possible.
Their second daughter, Ramona, was
There are several ways to help, including volunteer opportunities for longterm mentors, donating school supplies and providing Christmas gifts for kids in foster care. The option to become adoptive parents is always on the table and Raise the Future creates communities for these families, giving them the support they need for success. For more information, visit Raisethefuture.org.
“It only takes one person to show up for you in your life, to absolutely change the direction that you’re going,” Kaeding said. “If we all rallied together, we could prevent so many kids from aging out of the foster care system. Not only that, we can end that cycle and create healthy people and healthy communities.” l
(From left) Ellie, Shawn Davis, Ramona and Matt Affolter have built a family thanks to Raise the Future. The nonprofit helps youth in foster care find permanent homes before they age out of the system. (Photo courtesy of Shawn Davis)
Blueprints for the unthinkable: Inside Salt Lake County’s disaster doctrine
Salt Lake County ramps up emergency preparedness with community-driven planning.
By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
Salt Lake County is reinforcing its emergency preparedness strategy with a comprehensive, coordinated, and community-centered approach to disaster readiness. Tina Brown of the Salt Lake County Emergency Management team provided an in-depth overview of the county’s current efforts, upcoming goals, and lessons learned from past disasters.
At the heart of the county’s preparedness efforts is the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), which serves as the foundational document for all emergency response operations. “The CEMP is the base plan; the annexes cover specific types of disasters,” Brown explained. Complementing the CEMP are specialized plans, such as the Emergency Response Plan focused on hazardous materials and the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), which is currently under revision. “The MJHMP is updated every five years to reconsider whether the hazards are still appropriate, identify complete mitigation projects, and define new ones,” Brown said.
The updated MJHMP, once reviewed by the State Division of Emergency Management and FEMA, will help secure federal mitigation funding. “Some of our key takeaways from this update are the importance of ongoing coordination on mitigation activities,” Brown emphasized. “The value of continually engaging the community in understanding our hazards cannot be understated.”
One of the most pressing threats facing the county is the potential for a major earthquake along the Wasatch Fault. Brown noted, “According to the Utah and U.S. Geological Surveys, there’s a 57% chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake along the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years.”
To prepare, the county is prioritizing planning, exercises like The Great Utah ShakeOut, and infrastructure retrofits. Residents are urged to build emergency kits, secure heavy furniture, and consider earthquake insurance. “The best time to prepare for a disaster is before it happens,” Brown stressed.
Communication and public engagement play a critical role in readiness. “We engage the community through multiple channels,” Brown said.
These include social media and the county website, where residents can access resources on emergency kits, communication plans, and hazard information. Brown added, “We encourage residents to get involved with their local emergency man-
agement office by attending preparedness events, trainings and community outreach activities.”
Salt Lake County also places a strong emphasis on interagency collaboration. “We activate the Emergency Coordination Center to unify efforts across jurisdictions and disciplines,” said Brown.
This central hub manages mutual aid and ensures that local needs are communicated to state and federal agencies. Partnerships extend to the Salt Lake County Healthcare Coalition, local city councils, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, which meets regularly to align plans and conduct training.
Technology underpins much of the emergency management system. “We operate within a statewide interoperable radio network that allows emergency responders to coordinate across city and county lines,” Brown explained. Backup communication channels include amateur radio groups, and public alerts are delivered via Wireless Emergency Alerts, the Emergency Alert System, and social media.
Training is another key pillar. “We offer FEMA Incident Command System courses and run disaster exercises that test our plans in realistic, low-risk environments,” Brown said. These exercises are tailored to help participants—from local officials to volunteers—understand roles, improve response times, and identify areas for improvement.
Brown pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for some of the department’s most significant recent changes. “One of the most important lessons was the importance of strong interagency coordination and communication,” she said. “The pandemic showed us that preparedness is not just about checklists—it’s about partnerships, relationships, adaptability and mutual trust.”
Looking ahead, Salt Lake County Emergency Management has set priorities focused on training, outreach and funding. “Our greatest strength and capability is our people,” Brown said. “An informed community is a prepared community.”
The department also continues to pursue federal grant funding for vital resources, such as damage assessment tools and emergency shelter supplies.
Through what Brown calls a “whole community” approach—engaging non-profits, businesses and local groups—Salt Lake County is working to ensure its residents are ready for the unexpected. As Brown put it, “Effective mitigation strategies involve the whole community… We work together to become better prepared to respond and recover effectively.”
For more information on how to get involved or prepare for emergencies, residents can visit the Salt Lake County Emergency Management website at slcoem.org. l
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake is forecasted to hit the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)
Winter weather provides multiple risks that Salt Lake County residents should prepare for. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)
Wildfires not only are prone to Salt Lake County foothill areas but also freeway corridors and trailways. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)
Community Heroes: High school choir director left lasting impression on thousands of students
Kerry Moore cared about his students beyond the classroom.
By Becky Ginos b.ginos@mycityjournals.com
kids don’t remember their high school teachers let alone keep in touch for years after graduation but it’s different with Kerry Moore’s students. The Bountiful man was the choral music director and German teacher at Cyprus High School for 35 years and left such a lasting impact that former students still called him “friend.” Moore passed away April 16 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
“He was an amazing teacher and so much more,” said Brent Graham, who graduated in 1998. “He was the person I needed at the time. He was the closest thing to a father.”
Graham grew up without a father and his mother passed away after he graduated. “It left a big hole,” he said. “I was a scared little 19 year old. They (Moore and his wife Stacey) basically took me in. They’d invite me to Sunday dinner and Christmas. Otherwise I would have been alone.”
He loved teaching, said Graham. “It wasn’t a job, it was like a calling. He made you want to be a better person. His joy was infectious.”
“He was that guy,” said Blake Halladay who graduated in 1997. “You knew he cared beyond class. Many times I’d talk to him after school for hours. If kids had personal problems at home he’d step in to help. He was there for that.”
Kerry and Stacey were a power couple, Halladay said. “They could have done so much but they chose to teach high
school. That says volumes about their character.”
Once kids graduated it didn’t end, he said. “My wife and I would go places with them. There are three men who changed the trajectory of my life. My father, my father-in-law and Kerry.”
Halladay spent time with Moore a few days before his passing. “I told him ‘I’m a better man because of you.’ He said, ‘Me too.’ That really hit me to think he feels blessed by me.”
“The most interesting thing about him was the passion and love he’d put into every project,” said Liz Oates who graduated in 1997. “You never felt like an afterthought. He wanted us to succeed. He would push us but we always felt that love.”
Oates said Moore was close friends with her father. “He and my dad were such good comrades. My dad wrote some music and when he died unexpectedly from a heart attack Kerry played dad’s album at his funeral. It was so touching. He was busy in his life but it was so special that he took the time to do that.”
Her senior year, Oates said one of her classmates was homeless for a time and living in her car. “He would check in on her and another classmate who had a horrible thing happen to her. He sat down and consoled her. That’s why so many people remember him. If you were down and out he’d be a friend to help people to recover.”
“Kerry was so patient and loving,” said Jeremy Felt who graduated in 2019. “He helped us find success. He would check our grades and see what he could do to help.”
In addition to choir, Moore was involved with the school musicals, Felt said. “I did a lot of musicals with Kerry and his wife who did the choreography. When I was the lead in ‘Pirates of Penzance’ he told me to envision the music. He said music is the universal language to connect with people. He said the words
might fade but they would always remember that song—music is so impactful.”
Felt said he also took music theory from Moore. “I still have my binder that he created. I create music for fun now in remembrance of Mr. Moore. I’m involved with community choirs and theater because of Mr. Moore.”
He was like Mr. Rogers, said Felt. “I’m so grateful that I got to be a part of his life. He touched the lives of others. He’s going to be missed.” To submit your Community Hero, email hero@ thecityjournals.com. l
Kerry Moore (left) with former student Brent Graham. The pair continued to be close friends for years after Graham’s graduation. (Photo courtesy of Brent Graham)
Local nursing programs graduate thousands of Utah residents
Nursing education is anticipated to grow by at least 8% in the next 10 years. Utah’s local nursing programs are ready to help students move into the backbone of the healthcare industry.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
ThroughoutMay, graduating nursing students have been walking across stages at their graduation and pinning ceremonies. Thousands of new nurses will begin and/or continue their careers in health care in summer 2025.
“Nurses make up the largest single group of healthcare professionals in the nation and are increasingly taking on more responsibility in healthcare up to and including taking on the role of primary patient care at doctoral levels,” said Bridgerland Technical College Practical Nursing Director Eric Haskell.
“The growth of nursing programs in Utah has been widely recognized as a proactive and necessary response to the state’s ongoing nursing shortage,” said Communications Director at Mountainland Technical College Maile Richardson. “Institutions across the state, including MTECH, have expanded their programs to meet the increasing demand for qualified nurses.”
In Utah, there are over 27 different nursing programs available through post-secondary education institutions for aspiring students to choose from. Students may apply to different programs depending on their options for their hybrid flexible schedules, smaller class sizes, networking opportunities and variable tuition rates.
For example, MTECH’s nursing program (new location in Provo) focuses on hands-on training with industry experts, lab simulations and clinical sites. While Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Nursing program (South Jordan) offers specialty and leadership roles during twoand four-year programs.
“Many of our LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) students are returning to school after a significant break, balancing education with parenting, work or caregiving responsibilities. This life experience gives them maturity, resilience and a strong sense of purpose,” Richardson said. “Students learn relevant and industry-standard best practices from current nurses.”
Some of these local nursing programs even partner with one another. For example, the two technical colleges mentioned above partner with local universities to help nursing students continue through their education and career goals.
Bridgerland Technical College partners with Weber State University to guarantee BTECH’s graduates a spot in Weber State’s
“Bridgerland Technical College graduates are highly coveted in our local market. Most end up working at one of two local hospitals, local skilled nursing facilities or clinics and a few seek and gain employment at large trauma centers such as Primary Children’s or St. Marks,” said Practical Nursing Director Eric Haskell. (Eric Haskell/Bridgerland Technical College)
Registered Nurse program.
“We share space in our building with Weber State so (students) would attend all of those classes here at BTECH,” Haskell said.
A similar partnership agreement exists between MTECH and Utah Valley University, as students can move directly into UVU’s RN (Registered Nurse) program.
“All of our most recent LPN graduates plan to go to UVU in the fall,” Richardson said. “Students are excited about this transfer credit opportunity and have found it very valuable.”
The majority of students attending the nursing programs listed above are Utah residents. BTECH currently has 96 nursing students per year primarily local to northern Utah, most from Box Elder and Cache County. While MTECH does draw some nursing students from out of state. Last year, 2,093 students graduated from Western Governors University’s nursing programs during their 100th commencement class.
“The goal of nursing…is a science and an art. The science is obtaining research-based nursing knowledge, judgement and skills. The art is the establishment of a caring relationship through which nurses apply nursing knowledge, skills and judgement in a compassionate manner,” said Roseman University’s Director of Marketing Rachel Thomas.
For readers who may be considering nursing school in the future, a few recommendations were offered. Richardson recommended taking the prerequisites of anatomy and physiology beforehand. Haskell echoed that sentiment with the addition of medical terminology and psychology cours-
“Once students are in the program, students can expect hands-on, engaged learning. During their time in the program, students will experience classroom-style lessons, hands-on lab simulations, and have opportunities to work in clinical sites.” (Maile Richardson/Mountainland Technical College)
Bridgerland Technical College has been recognized regionally and nationally for their outcomes, affordability and resources. (Eric Haskell/Bridgerland Technical College)
es too. Some of the local nursing programs look for students to have already obtained their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license.
“When nursing school starts, you’ll have plenty of work and studying that you'll need to do,” wrote nursing student Molly Jae Cox through the Nursing Programs Facebook group. “You need a stethoscope and a pen light, and they’ll give you scrub specifications as well.”
Beyond the nursing programs listed above, Utah offers nursing programs through (listed from least-expensive to most-expensive on average tuition costs): Davis Applied Technology College, Night-
ingale College, Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, Utah Tech University, Galen College of Nursing (Draper), Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Joyce University of Nursing & Health Sciences and Westminster College.
“Nursing education programs generate more than $8.5 billion in annual revenue, representing nearly 3% of all higher education revenue,” said Alyssa Reynolds, public relations associate for Validated Insights Market Research. “By 2030, the nursing education market is projected to be worth $14.6 billion.” l
Working together to plan for the future
Utah’s Wasatch Front is growing faster than almost any other region in the nation, and nowhere is that more evident than here in Salt Lake County. Today, more than 2.8 million Utahns—over 80% of our state’s population—live along the Wasatch Front and Back. By 2050, we’re on track to nearly double that number, reaching around 5 million Utahns. Protecting the quality of life that drew families, businesses and adventurers to our valleys and mountains in the first place means making smart, coordinated choices right now.
Utah was recently recognized as the best state in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. While we have so many great things going for us—a strong economy, volunteerism, social capital and incredible people—one of the things that helps with our success is our willingness to work together.
When it comes to planning for the future, it’s vital that we collaborate at each level of government. I’m proud to be a board member for a planning body that does just this. Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) brings together elected leaders and staff from the state, counties and cities across our region. WFRC ensures that transportation investments, land-use decisions and economic development strategies all align with a shared vision—what we call the Wasatch Choice Vision.
The Wasatch Choice Vision is organized around four key strategies:
1. Real Transportation Choices - Expand travel options beyond the single-occupancy vehicle. By investing in transit, bike networks, sidewalks and more efficient roadways, we help everyone—from commuters to families running errands—get where they need to go safely and affordably.
2. Housing Options for All - Encourage development patterns and zoning that support a wide range of housing types—single-family neighborhoods, starter homes, workforce apartments and townhomes—so that people at every stage of life can find a place to call home that’s close enough to jobs, schools and services.
3. Plentiful Parks and Open Spaces - Preserve and enhance parks, trails and open land for recreation, environmental protection and community gathering. These green assets keep our air and water clean, support mental and physical health, and maintain the outdoor lifestyle Utahns cherish.
4. Vibrant City and Town Centers - Strengthen walkable downtowns and neighborhood hubs where people can live, work, shop and play. By focusing growth in these centers, we relieve pressure on suburban and rural areas, reduce drive times and foster stronger social connections.
No two communities are identical. What succeeds in Sandy or South Jordan might look different than what works in Murray or West Valley City. That’s why WFRC’s member jurisdictions—from the state Department of Transportation to Salt Lake County and its constituent cities—work side by side to adapt the Wasatch Choice Vision’s strategies to local circumstances, ensuring each community charts its own course while staying connected to its neighbors.
Putting the Wasatch Choice Vision into action will have concrete impacts right away—and pay dividends for decades: more jobs, conserved open space, less water used, billions saved in infrastructure costs, and reduced household budgets through more housing and transportation options. This translates to stronger communities, healthier families and a sustainable economy that can thrive even as we welcome more neighbors—along with our children and grandchildren—to our mountain valleys.
None of this would be possible without the active partnership of the state, county planning commissions, city councils, transit agencies, business associations and civic groups. Through WFRC, these diverse interests come together at the same table—an inclusive forum where big-picture goals align with local aspirations.
I’d encourage you to learn more about the Wasatch Choice Vision. Our region’s future quality of life depends on informed, engaged residents—and on leaders who listen, collaborate and act. Visit wfrc.org to see the Vision and learn more about how to stay informed. l
A Puppet Regime
It took decades, but Ronald Grump finally found a way to evict the residents of 123 Sesame Street. Grump (played by Joe Pesci) visited the TV show in 1994 with plans to demolish the beloved neighborhood to build Grump Tower.
Sesame Street doubled-down in 2005 when a selfish, orange-haired muppet, Donald Grump, tried to hire an apprentice to help with his trash empire. In the episode, Oscar the Grouch sings about Grump, “Whose name equals trash, to you and to me?”
Maybe he holds a grudge, but a U.S. president with a similar name signed an executive order to cut funding for PBS, a nonprofit provider of educational shows like Arthur, Elmo’s World and Sesame Street.
The move could throw the Muppets into the gutter. Bert will have to sell his paper clip collection, Elmo will be forced to pawn his tricycle and Count von Count will have to join an accounting firm.
From the beginning, Sesame Street championed diversity, equality and inclusion: three things the current administration is gleefully destroying. Humans on the show included Gordon and Susan (a Black couple), Maria from Puerto Rico, Luis from Mexico and the elderly Mr. Hooper, who was Jewish and ran the corner store.
The multicultural cast attracted big guest stars. Carol Burnett, Stephen Curry,
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Robert De Niro, Billie Eilish and James Earl Jones are just a few celebrities who visited Sesame Street, proving you’re never too famous to be silly.
Not only does the show teach children basic reading and math, it also teaches cooperation, respect and kindness. It’s tackled divorce, same-sex marriage, racial literacy, anger, sadness and even has a Muppet whose parent is incarcerated. The show never talks down to children.
When Will Lee died, his Mr. Hooper character died with him, leaving Big Bird distraught as his friends tried to explain the concept of death. That episode won an Emmy, one of more than 120 Sesame Street has collected.
Sesame Street has its furry finger on the pulse of American culture. The show is as much for parents as for kids. My favorite characters are the loveable Grover and Guy Smiley, the enthusiastic gameshow host.
I can still sing the show’s theme song,
along with “Rubber Duckie,” “I Love Trash,” “Doin’ the Piegeon” and hundreds of tunes from the show. I couldn’t begin to choose a favorite skit but I always loved the baker falling down the stairs. That remains my level of humor maturity.
The show is iconic. Big Bird is an international star. He visited Michelle Obama at the White House, made the cover of Time magazine, has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and his picture on a postage stamp. I spent several months cross-stitching Big Bird’s face on a Christmas advent calendar our family still uses nearly 40 years later.
Maybe it’s because Muppets don’t vote. Maybe it’s because Oscar started teaching kids about recycling. Maybe it’s the Sesame Workshop’s mission statement, “Helping
children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.” Maybe the president just doesn’t like watching people have fun. My husband and I paid thousands of dollars in federal taxes this year, but if funding is cut for things I value, like PBS, science, national parks, higher education, Head Start programs and world health initiatives, maybe I don’t have to pay taxes anymore. I mean, seeing all these tax-free billionaires… tax evasion isn’t a crime anymore, right?
Sesame Street promotes kindness and community, while the president seems to only find value in wealth and power. As he said in 2011, “Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich.” For anyone who’s ever loved Sesame Street, beauty has a much deeper meaning.
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