Garbage and recycling GM Pam Roberts rolls into retirement on her motorcycle
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is under new leadership for the first time ever.
Imagine being a freshly-minted college graduate and deciding the first thing you will do – before even receiving the diploma you worked so hard for – is jump on a plane, fly more than 7,000 miles, move in with complete strangers and begin your career. Every family member and friend you ever knew is back home… you are the only American at your new job… and it’s the days of no cell phone, no ZOOM, no internet and way, way too expensive long-distance phone charges.
That’s where recently retired Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District General Manager Pam Roberts found herself just over 40 years ago.
pakura, before returning to her native Utah to “start my real career.” Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson is among the many elected officials throughout the WFWRD service area who’s glad she did.
“Pam has been absolutely amazing,” Overson said. “She has had a very tough job. There have been so many cost increases in her field. She’s always been very transparent whenever a rate increase was necessary. Whenever I have had to call her, she always returns my call the same day. The district has been very lucky to have her. Pam will be missed.”
“Pam has been absolutely amazing. She has had a very tough job... The district has been very lucky to have her. Pam will be missed.”
Kristie Overson
“I flew out in May 1985, just before the Utah State University graduation ceremony, to join a women’s professional basketball team on the north island of New Zealand,” the 5-foot-11 Roberts said. “I moved in with a host family. It was going into their winter, and none of the gyms had any heat. Oh, and all of my opponents really wanted to prove they were tougher than the Yank. It was a rough league.”
If you really want to get a loud laugh out of Roberts, have this exchange: “Do you remember how much you were paid?”… “Wow, that was a long time ago, maybe $7,000”… “Per game?” …(cue the huge chuckle) “No, no, that was for the entire season.”
Roberts played that single season, based in the Auckland, New Zealand suburb of Pa-
Roberts officially retired from WFWRD on Sept. 30 – 28 years and two months after beginning her government service career with Salt Lake County.
“When I returned from New Zealand, I first cared for my father who had been diagnosed with cancer,” Roberts said. “Next, I worked in the private sector for several years. First, I worked with children; later, with seniors. I was with a private company that helped open the first Alzheimer care center in Salt Lake.”
But Roberts says she always wanted the stability of a government job. So, she started that clock ticking on her state retirement in summer 1997.
“I took a pay cut to move to the Salt Lake County Aging Services Division, starting as a case worker,” she continued. “I earned promotions in the division while also completing
Continued page 15
Now that they are both retired, Pam Roberts (L) and wife Renee plan to ride their beloved motorcycles even more than they have been for years. (Courtesy Pam Roberts)
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my Public Administration master’s degree in 2005 at the University of Utah.”
From the Aging Services Division, Roberts briefly transferred to Salt Lake County’s Criminal Justice Services Division. But by 2007, she found her “forever career home” – in garbage.
While there have been many name changes in the waste industry, Roberts has been the only “top boss” of what is now called Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District ever, until stepping down a month ago.
Taylorsville City Councilmember Anna Barbieri has served on the WFWRD Board of Directors ever since her 2020 election. Each city the district serves has one representative on the board.
“Pam has been just phenomenal,” Barbieri said. “She is a really strong leader. I think she is a teacher at heart. She’s very patient. Pam cares about all of her employees, from the lowest positions to the very top. I believe they are all going to miss her. I know, as a board member, I will.”
The public has also been pleased with the service provided by WFWRD, as evidenced by a 94% satisfaction rating in the most recent survey. The district hauls about 150,000 tons of household garbage, green waste and recyclables away from more than 86,000 homes each year. Among the areas WFWRD serves are: Brighton, Cottonwood Heights, Emigration Canyon, Herriman, Holladay, Kearns, Magna, Millcreek, Taylorsville and White City.
“The number of homes we serve and our number of employees have both remained pretty constant the entire time I’ve been general manager,” Roberts said. “We’ve grown by maybe five to six thousand homes: mostly just new construction in the southwest part of the valley – Herriman area. When I started, we had 72 FTEs (full-time equivalent employees). Now that’s up to 97 FTEs. A big part of that came because, along the
Four decades ago, Pam Roberts was a college and professional basketball star, before launching into her lengthy administrative career. (Courtesy Pam Roberts)
way we shifted our accounting and billing to in-house.”
WFWRD operates 56 side-load waste trucks, three front-load trucks (for hoisting dumpsters) and two rear-load trucks (and yes, for us dinosaurs, these are the trucks that used to have two guys standing on the bumper, hanging on for dear life, jumping off at every house to dump cans).
Following a nationwide search, the new WFWRD General Manager, Evan Tyrrell was hired in from Grand Junction, Colorado at the end of August. Just over three years
recent office gathering at the WFWRD headquarters included
Pam
and her
ago, Evans had served as a Grand County solid waste service district director in Moab.
Meantime, Roberts and her wife plan to ride off into the retirement sunset together.
“Renee retired from the IRS last December after working for the agency 38 years,” Roberts said. “I met her on a motorcycle ride 10 years ago and we got married in our backyard seven years ago. She gave me two step kids who I love dearly. I also have two sisters: one who lives in Taylorsville and another who I will soon help move back to Utah from Ohio. When we’re not busy with family, Renee and I plan to ride. We recently returned from a motorcycle trip to Glacier National Park. I’d like to ride our bikes all the way from here to New England.” l
recent retirement. (Courtesy Pam Roberts)
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EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN
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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS CITY JOURNAL 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070
PHONE: 801-254-5974 MISSION
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A
recently retired GM
Roberts (R)
replacement, Evan Tyrrell (L). (Courtesy Pam Roberts)
Pam Roberts was the only executive director, general manager and CEO WFWRD ever had, until her
A tail waggin’ good time had by all at Bark in the Park event
Butlerville Days no longer a Pioneer Day celebration as it moves to July 16-18 in 2026
Massive changes coming to Butlerville Days ‘26 to save on the $211,000 event budget.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Over the last 20 years, Butlerville Days has grown in popularity to become one of the most beloved summer celebrations in Cottonwood Heights. But at what cost?
Approximately $211,000.
During a Cottonwood Heights City Council meeting Oct. 7, Culture Manager Ann Eatchel broke this number down by specific expense and revenue budgets. Event activity costs accounted for $129,926 of that total while $81,000 went toward paying event workers from various departments within the city (primarily public works staff and police officers).
Butlerville Days does pull in its own revenue. In 2025, vendor fees from food booths and craft vendors totaled $15,880 while $22,725 was from sponsorships. The carnival brought in $48,499 so the total event revenue was $81,074.
“I think the premise of this discussion is that we thought it was costing us $25,000, which didn’t include the staff salaries, and it’s really costing us $130,000 so… it’s a different cost structure than we thought,” said Councilmember Suzanne Hyland.
With such a high expense within the city’s budget, the Butlerville Days Committee and council have been discussing significant changes to the city’s yearly event, usually held over the Pioneer Day weekend (July 24).
One of the biggest expenses within the Butlerville Days budget goes toward paying the event workers. It’s typically an all-hands-on-deck weekend for the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center team as well as the Cottonwood Heights Public Works team and Police Department. That means, many employees accrue holiday pay plus overtime pay.
If Butlerville Days was hosted on a non-holiday weekend, the expense for employee paychecks could be significantly reduced within the event budget. Eatchel noted how city employees would be able to have their holiday weekend off.
“(Former) Mayor Cullimore, (former Mayor) Petersen and (former Councilmember) Scott Bracken always told me we built this on that day because there was nothing else going on,” Eatchel said.
In considering hosting Butlerville Days one week earlier in 2026, Eatchel did some research. She found the only two conflicting events would be Draper Days and Spanish Fork’s city event.
“The community view would shift away from thinking of it as a Pioneer Day event,” Eatchel said.
Eatchel shared how the Rec Center has wanted Butlerville Days to be moved earlier in the month for many years in order to give their grass time to recover from the celebrations before the Little League games start.
“We haven’t been able to do that before with the musical in place,” Eatchel said, referencing the Arts Council’s annual summer musical. “The Arts Council has agreed to hold off on the musical for the near future and focus on an arts festival in June and see where that might go.”
In addition to considering moving the dates for Butlerville Days as a cost-savings measure, Eatchel asked the Butlerville Days Committee and city council to examine one of the other highest expenditures in the budget: the parade.
Cottonwood Heights pays $18,000 every two years for their city float. (The city float goes to about 10 parades throughout the area each year. A minimum of three Cottonwood Heights employees are required to guide the city float so there is also a notable expense for employee pay attached here as well.)
Eatchel shared that the Butlerville Days Committee “would kill the float fast. They have no love for the float in the parade.”
Hyland shared how she did receive a lot of feedback this past Butlerville Days regarding the parade starting time of 9 a.m. being too early considering the rest of Butlerville Days wasn’t open yet. (Resulting in most parade-goers returning home after the parade to return to Butlerville Days in the evening, if they did at all.)
“Starting in the afternoon instead of the morning would be an estimate of $25,000 to $30,000 in salary costs,” Eatchel said.
The Butlerville Days Committee also discussed eliminating the parade altogether for the year which would be approximate savings of $50,000 to $60,000 (from $6,000 for barricades, $7,000 in candy and the other expenses mentioned above).
“I’m stuck on the parade and looking at the cost-savings there,” said Councilmember Shawn Newell. “We would see the barometer for what happens if we don’t do the parade.”
Besides the parade, the Butlerville Days fireworks show is one of the events’ main iconic features. The show has typically been held on the Saturday night of the event weekend. In addition, a drone show was added during one of the subsequent weekend nights in 2023. Both of these nighttime lighted visual displays
Musical performances are starting to increase their pricing which is straining the Butlerville Days budget. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
have been funded the last two years.
“It was thrown out there that we only do one,” said Hyland, noting the $15,000 price tag.
Eatchel shared how the Butlerville Days Committee would overwhelmingly cut the drone show over the fireworks.
“When we first approved the drone show, it was $6,000,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell.
Councilmember Matt Holton recalled that council approval because Open Sky Productions was offering Cottonwood Heights a significant discount to help them break into the market at the time. Now, their pricing has doubled.
“It’s a lot for our little city to put on these two extravaganza events,” Birrell said. “I would favor doing the drone show.”
Concluding the conversation, the three final recommendations for cost-savings were to: move Butlerville Days 2026 to the weekend earlier (July 16, 17, 18), eliminate a city float from parades and move the Butlerville Days parade to the afternoon. Mayor Mike Weichers also asked Eatchel to discuss eliminating either the fireworks show or the drone show with the Butlerville Days Committee. l
Fireworks or Drone Show? That’s the big question for the Cottonwood Heights City Council this month. (Cassie Goff/ City Journals)
Light the Heights, Christmas Concert offer family-friendly fun
Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with kids after the tree lightning.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
The city of Cottonwood Heights and the Arts Council will be hosting their annual Christmas events during the first week of December. On Dec. 1, Light the Heights will be held at Cottonwood Heights City Hall (2277 Bengal Blvd.) beginning at 5pm. On Dec. 5, the Eclipse 6 Christmas Concert will be held at Butler Middle School (7530 S. 2700 East) beginning at 7:30pm.
Light the Heights is the city’s annual tree-lighting celebration when residents gather in the outdoor plaza area at the front of city hall to watch as the decorative tree lights up for the very first time during the holiday season.
This year, the event will be held from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m on Dec. 1. Brighton High School’s music department will be providing live musical accompaniment.
“This year’s event will feature exciting new lighting effects during the tree lighting with Santa, adding extra sparkle to this beloved community tradition,” said Culture Coordinator Kate Holfich. “Join the city of Cottonwood Heights for an evening of festive, family-friendly fun!”
After lighting the tree, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting with attendees in the main walkway of City Hall. The Community Room will be transformed into the Arts Council’s kids’ craft room where families can partake in creating holiday crafts.
All of these activities during the Light the Heights celebration will be free. However, those who want to support local businesses and artists will have the opportunity to shop the Holiday Vendor Market.
As part of the city’s 20th anniversary since incorporation, city staff and Arts Council members are planning a handful of seasonal surprises during the Light the Heights event this year.
The Eclipse 6 Christmas Concert will be returning for the second consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 6. Eclipse 6 is a local acapella group known for their tight harmonies, humor and heartfelt performances. One of the singers is a resident of Sandy and has previously performed in the Arts Council’s summer musicals.
“We love being able to share something truly special with our community,” Holfich said. “Eclipse 6 brings such joy and positivity to the stage, it’s an uplifting, family-friendly performance.”
The Cottonwood Heights Arts Council is presenting this holiday concert as a way to bring families together through the joy
of music and live performance at a time when many are feeling financial pressures of the season.
The Eclipse 6 Christmas Concert is a free public event. However, all tickets are still required to be obtained on a first-come first-serve basis so the Arts Council can track enough general admission seating and note when the event is close to selling out.
The Butler Middle School Theater will be filled with music from 7:30pm until 9 p.m. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes before showtime, depending on the band’s readiness.
Tickets are available at: www.CHCItyArts.com.
More information about the Light the Heights celebration and other city events can be found on the city’s website, under the “Community” tab, at: www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov. l
Different this year, Santa will be lighting the Cottonwood Heights on Dec. 1 for the Light the Heights Event. (Cassie Goff/ City Journals)
The Arts Council is planning some surprises for the 20th anniversary celebration of Light the Heights. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
City recognizes new artwork, pays tribute to longtime resident
Golden Hills Park benefitted from Edy Wright’s love of nature and now benefits from a new mural.
By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Cottonwood Heights’s newest public art piece was unveiled during the mural ribbon cutting on Sept. 12. This event corresponded with a commemoration of Golden Hills Park’s (8295 Wasatch Blvd.) founder Edy Wright.
Jeff Anderson, a local artist, titled the new mural along the east side of Golden Hills Park “Metamorphic Seasons.” It features a vibrant stained-glass butterfly set against majestic mountain views inspired by the canyons that Cottonwood Heights resides between. “Metamorphic Seasons” also features wildflowers in the stainedglass foreground as a tribute to 54-year resident Edy Wright.
“Public art has the power to transform space, but also deepen our appreciation for what’s already there. This mural is my way of giving something meaningful back to the community. It doesn’t try to compete
with nature – it joins it, inviting the community to see the familiar through a lens of light, color and seasonal transformation,” Anderson said.
After Anderson, members of the Cottonwood Heights Arts Council, and a few of the Cottonwood Heights councilmembers spoke, they lined up to cut the ribbon to the new mural. Councilmember Ellen Birrell then invited attendees to walk across the park to gather around the newly-placed commemorative stone for Edy Wright to share some history and memories.
Edy Wright’s presence in Cottonwood Heights traces back to the 1970s when she started thinking about how to make the area around Wasatch Boulevard safer for children to play and spend time outside.
“It was through her vision, dedication and tireless work that by petitioning and working with Salt Lake County leadership, property was identified and what we now know as Golden Hills Park came to be,” said Birrell.
After Birrell familiarized attendees with Wright’s contributions to the community, she asked if anyone would like to share a memory. Her husband, Dennis Wright, shared memories of their life to-
gether.
The couple met on the other side of the world when Dennis was working in Sweden and she was living in Denmark. Their roommates from that time moved to Utah as well so they’ve been life-long friends.
Through the memories shared of Edy Wright’s life, one constant theme emerged: she loved nature. She especially appreciated mature trees.
Edy Wright passed away on Jan. 21, 2025. She is survived by her husband and children Stan and Lisa Long.
“My mom loved beauty and made it her life’s work,” said daughter Lisa Long. “Golden Hills Park is a testament to her love of beauty, but even more so her love for her Cottonwood Heights, neighbors and friends. On behalf of our family, thank you to Ellen Birrell, Ben Hill and so many others.” l
Dennis Wright stands with former Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore during the recognition ceremony for his wife Edy Wright. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
Canyons District libraries turn the page with $1.2 million in new collections
Canyons superintendent and District library media specialist receive awards for leadership in supporting student literacy.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
In recent years, the Canyons School District has launched a major effort to modernize its 43 school libraries, investing $1.2 million into refreshing aging collections to ensure they’re supporting literacy, inquiry and student engagement.
The Districtwide push aims to reflect the diversity of today’s students, including the 4,000 multilingual learners enrolled in Canyons schools. Many collections feature books in multiple languages, aligning with the district’s dual-language immersion programs. When the new Glacier Hills Elementary and Peruvian Park Elementary opened, they received brand-new collections. The rebuilt Union Middle School saw a major library investment when it reopened.
A 2022 review found Canyons’ elementary library collections were, on average, 17 years old, prompting the upgrade.
These improvements represent more than just new books. They reflect a growing recognition that libraries are dynamic, student-centered spaces that promote equity, elevate diverse voices and spark curiosity, said Superintendent Rick Robins.
Robins, who championed the transformation, recently was named Administrator of the Year by the Utah School Librarian Association.
Robins said he was honored by the recognition, but emphasized the credit belongs to the District’s educators and librarians.
“It’s more than a reflection on my leadership,” he said. “It’s a reflection on all the great teachers and teacher librarians that we have in Canyons School District. They’re dedicated to literacy and access for our stu-
dents. They’ve done great work with updating our libraries and helping students find books that they see themselves in, that they can relate to, at the same time making sure that students have safe books that are age appropriate.”
His love of reading stemmed from the arrival of a bookmobile in his rural hometown.
“When the bookmobiles came, I was always excited to go see the newest books,” he said. “Now, these students can walk into the library and experience the tactile feel of a new book to check out. That’s pretty special.”
Canyons School District Library Media Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff said the District now offers the strongest school library collection in the state.
“Rick is an excellent example of an administrator who understands the value of libraries in supporting literacy,” she said.
Zaitzeff was also recently honored with the Literacy Champion Librarian award at the Love of Reading conference. She oversees the district’s 368,525 physical books and a digital collection of nearly 71,000 titles.
“It’s a recognition for our ongoing efforts to support our students,” she said, pointing to programs such as Book Blitz, where middle school students read selected titles and compete in trivia-style challenges. The elementary version, Book Blitz Jr., is now in 23 of 28 schools.
“Reading is the most important academic skill that a student can acquire, and any effort that we can make to help support the student in learning to read and then practicing reading and learning to love reading is the most important work we could be doing,” she said.
Zaitzeff believes libraries are essential places for students to practice reading outside the classroom.
“You have to practice reading, so that’s what a library is for. It’s like a football field or basketball court. It’s where you practice reading, with a coach — the librarian
— and all the equipment —books — you could need,” she said. “If you like earthworms, I got books on earthworms. If you like rockets, I got books on rockets. Magic? I got books on magic. Taekwondo? Got that too. In the best libraries, we have them in multiple languages and formats to help all students become better readers.”
Beyond books, Canyons’ libraries support the curriculum, provide makerspaces, host author visits and teach research and media literacy skills.
“I can’t think of a skill that’s more needed than to be able to tell the difference between facts and opinions and accurate
information and misinformation,” she said.
Zaitzeff’s love of reading stems from childhood.
“I found libraries to be a welcoming environment that was a really great place to learn and grow, and there was just an excitement about books,” she said.
Now, she and the rest of Canyons’ dedicated team of K-12 share the same excitement with 31,000 students.
“Our K-12 librarians, they’re super dedicated to students,” Zaitzeff said. “They are supportive of teachers and classroom instruction. They work hard to make libraries welcoming and safe spaces for students.”l
Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins, seen here speaking to the crowd at Union Middle School’s 2023 ribbon cutting, recently was named Administrator of the Year by the Utah School Librarian Association. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Ho Ho or Humdrum? Navigating Mental Health During the Holidays
Our favorite big box stores and online ads have been reminding us for weeks that the holidays are just around the corner. Happy time, right? Surprisingly the holidays can be a time of increased stress and can trigger mental health challenges for many. A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 89% of U.S. adults feel stressed during the holidays, with more than one-third indicating they experience higher stress levels during the holidays compared with other seasons. Added holiday stress can cause physical ailments, anxiety, depression, and in some cases substance misuse.
So what’s the holiday stress culprit? Well actually there are several:
Money. The holidays create budget pressures – gifts, travel, events.
Social. Family gatherings can produce awkward moments, especially when there are unresolved conflicts or pressure to follow tradition.
Busyness. Schedules can become overloaded with shopping, cooking special meals and attending holiday festivities. Sometimes with all the extra activity and disrupted routines, the holidays can be exhausting.
Loneliness. The holidays can create a heightened sense of loneliness for those who are separated from loved one or grieving a loss.
According to Dr. Jared Lambert, a CommonSpirit family medicine physician in West Jordan, there are several things we can do to manage holiday stress and even find joy in a season that is meant to be joyful.
First – Set realistic expectations. You may not cook the perfect turkey. The gift that you spent hours searching for may not elicit the magical reaction from the recipient. You may not be able to attend all the holiday events you’re invited to. That’s OK.
Second – Make time for yourself. Carve out a few moments each day during the holidays to read, get outside, meditate, and remember that the basics of self-care
– sleep, exercise, and healthy eating – still matter at this time of year.
Third – Set a budget. Having a financial plan going into the holidays helps with avoiding excessive spending. There’s nothing quite so deflating as January credit card bills that exceed what we can afford.
Fourth – Find joy in small things. Make time to talk to a friend or family member who makes you feel good. Savor that favorite side dish at Thanksgiving Dinner, listen to a favorite holiday song – and look for reasons to be grateful each day.
Fifth – Take a time out from Social Media: By limiting time on social media feeds you can reduce feelings of inadequacy by avoiding depictions of others’ perfectly curated holidays.
“The holidays can be a beautiful time, but they can also bring to the surface a lot of underlying stressors,” Dr. Lambert says. “It’s crucial to be honest with yourself about how you’re truly feeling and to allow for imperfections. Prioritize your well-being over societal pressures to create a ‘perfect’ holiday.”
If you find yourself severely struggling, reach out for help. Talk to a trusted friend, call a helpline, or visit a mental health professional.
For more information or to find a provider visit mountain.commonspirit.org
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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New state board member wants to remain ‘in the trenches’
Erin Longacre fills the state school board seat vacated by Molly Hart, who became state superintendent.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Fromrooting on middle school mountain bikers to making statewide decisions, she’s “all in” when it comes to students.
As one of four mountain biking coaches for Draper Park Middle School, Erin Longacre spends hours surrounded by energy, passion and dirt trails, cheering middle schoolers as they take on nerve-wracking racecourses.
“It is so much fun,” she said. “These kids, I don’t know how they line up and not just crumble at the starting line, because it is high energy, high intensity and man, the nerves would get me. But they’re strong under pressure. I’m proud of them.”
Longacre’s coaching role, she laughs as she describes it: “I’m mostly a cheerleader. I love cheering on the kids, but I do need to know a little bit. As long as you can ride a bike, you can pretty much coach at the middle school level.”
That spirit of engagement is what defines her approach to everything she does — and Longacre admits, she does a lot.
Longacre is a substitute teacher of seven years; a crossing guard for Draper City; in charge of the middle school’s PTSA and the woman behind Teacher Appreciation Week. As a mother of three, with kids at Corner Canyon High, Draper Park Middle and Draper Elementary, her schedule is packed.
“My plate is full, but it’s a really good plate,” she said. “I love to serve. It gives you purpose.”
Recently Longacre added another title: Utah State Board of Education member.
“I’ve had a passion for education for some time now,” she said. “When this opened up, I was prayerful about it and I thought, ‘OK, I’ll put my name in and we’ll see what happens.’ The governor was gracious enough to pick me. I’m excited. It’s new territory. It’s a huge responsibility, but I’m up for the task.”
Longacre is representing District 7 Sandy, Draper, Cottonwood Heights and Alta — previously represented by Molly Hart, who was appointed in the spring as state superintendent of public instruction.
As per Utah Code, Longacre will serve on the Board the remainder of her predecessor’s term, through the next general election in 2026. This appointment comes three years after Longacre’s run for Canyons Board of Education ended in a loss.
“I remember when I lost, I was upset. I love education, and I want to improve it. But I feel when one door closes, another one opens. Now, three years later, this door opens, and I wouldn’t have been able to take it had I won
Erin Longacre recently was sworn in as a Utah State Board of Education member, taking the seat vacated by Molly Hart after she was named state superintendent. (Photo courtesy of Erin Longacre)
the local school board. So, this is the door I’m walking through right now,” she said.
Longacre acknowledges the legacy of her predecessor with deep respect.
“Molly is well respected. She’s done so much in education. One of the first things I said to Molly was, ‘I’ve got big shoes to fill.’ And she said, ‘You be you. You are going to do great.’ I love that about Molly and people on the board have great respect for one another,” she said.
Far from a distant policymaker, Longacre plans to stay rooted in classrooms and community conversations.
“Oftentimes the people who make critical decisions in education, they’re not in the classrooms. I plan on being that state board member you will see in faculty meetings, in the hallways, volunteering in the classroom — so I can see firsthand what we need to change,” she said.
Longacre knows the job will require navigating the legislative process.
“I’m only a month into this position; I’m still learning the ropes. As a parent, I thought I could go in and start making changes right away, but I’m realizing now there’s a process. A lot of what we do comes from legislation. So parents, teachers and board members need to have relationships with legislators. We can go to them and say, ‘Here’s our issues. What bill can we pass to help this?’” she said.
One thing, Longacre knows is schools need more support in classrooms.
“Our teachers have a hard job. Their plates are overflowing. I hear them saying, ‘We need help in the classroom,’ and I agree,” she said. “I plan to continue doing what I’m doing because I love what I’m doing,” she said. “I think it’s important to see what’s going on at the ground level to address it at the state level.”l
STEMfest sparks curiosity for all ages
Interactive exhibits, student leaders and curious minds turned out for the 11th annual event.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
mid thousands of students during the day and hundreds of families at night, an electric energy pulsed through the crowd at Utah STEMfest — and no lab coat was required.
Kids felt literal static electricity as they placed their hands on a plasma ball at the Clark Planetarium booth while others explored how electric currents work at a Rocky Mountain Power display. To cool off, they plunged their hands into insta-snow demonstrated by SheTech student leaders or touched sea stars, sea turtle shells and other marine life specimens at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium table.
Three-year-old Poppy, brought along her 1-year-old sister, Delilah, and her dad, Jed Hall, eager to dive into the hands-on experiences available at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy.
“We like to do experiments at home, so I’m trying to foster a love of STEM in my little girl,” Hall said. “I hope she can
have a better understanding of the world. I want her to develop a love of learning while she’s young so she will keep it up when she’s older.”
It wasn’t just kids who were learning — volunteer Dannette Rose said she was helping because she wanted to expand her own STEM knowledge.
“I like to learn all kinds of stuff when I help; it’s a good opportunity to learn and explore,” she said.
Rose was assisting Denise Taylor, a Utah 4-H STEM and strategic partner with Utah State University. Together, they guided attendees through the Utah 4-H night sky star dome, encouraging them to look to the heavens.
“It’s important kids get exposed to lots of different things because STEM is in everything we do,” Taylor said, listing a vast array of 4-H clubs which all include STEM. “We just need to point it out to students. They can garden, and there’s science behind the soil and the growing process. They do robotics and we can talk about coding. They read Harry Potter and explore potions and wands and learn about chemical reactions and magnetic fields. When we go into elementary schools, sometimes kids say, ‘I don’t do STEM,’ but they don’t realize our world is engrossed in it, and it will be a big
part of their future and is what they can do.”
Tami Goetz, director of the Utah STEM Action Center — the organization behind the 11th annual event, agrees.
“I have seen students trying to figure
how to balance their love of STEM with other interests and passions,” she said. “My advice to them has always been that they are lucky because STEM overlaps with so many other education and career paths.l
People of all ages engaged in activities during the 11th annual STEMFest. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Salt Lake County braces for water future
County drafts strategy for drought and development.
By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
Abrush fire erupts in the foothills in the peak of summer. Firefighters rushed in, but when they attached their hoses to neighborhood hydrants, the pressure dropped to a trickle. Tanker trucks were called in, but precious time was lost. Officials later conceded that water supplies, already strained from years of overuse, had left the system vulnerable. It’s a scenario county planners warn could become reality if water conservation planning fails to keep pace with growth.
Salt Lake County is in the process of updating its Water Use and Preservation Element— commonly known as the Water Conservation Element—for its unincorporated general plans. The work stems from new state requirements. “The county is updating its General Plans … to comply with state law,” the draft explains, “which require stronger coordination between land use planning and water conservation.”
The plan is intended as a roadmap, not an enforcement tool. As the county describes it, “The Water Use & Preservation Element is a planning/policy document rather than an immediate regulatory mandate. It suggests strategies, guidelines, and possible ordinance or incentive changes.”
Among those strategies are changes to the way residents use water outdoors. The document emphasizes “promoting low-water landscaping, ‘xeriscaping,’ and use of drought-tolerant (waterwise) plantings.” It further recommends “smart irrigation practices, efficient systems, [and] minimizing turf coverage in appropriate locations.”
County officials are clear on what the plan does not do. “It does not itself require existing property owners to remove lawns or retrofit systems immediately,” the element notes. “It does not set water rates. That remains under the
purview of water districts or utilities.”
The county points to its own operations as an example. According to the Division of Environmental Sustainability, adjustments to watering schedules and reductions in irrigation days “exceeded the county goal of 5% usage reduction by achieving 13% reduction during May–Oct 2021.” A pilot “Flip the Strip” program, funded with federal recovery dollars, is projected to save “~4 million gallons/year” by converting turf along county-owned park strips into water-wise landscaping.
The planning document also addresses land development. “How different development patterns (density, lot sizes, impervious surfaces) affect water demand and infrastructure” is a central theme. Denser development, it argues, can help reduce demand for outdoor irrigation while also limiting the strain on aging water systems.
The draft anticipates future changes to local rules. “The plan may recommend changes to zoning, development standards, landscape ordinances, and building codes to support conservation.” It suggests that while existing neighborhoods would be encouraged to conserve voluntarily—possibly with rebates or incentive programs—new construction could be held to stricter water-efficiency standards from the outset.
Another goal is to coordinate with water providers and agriculture. The Element states that it seeks to “integrate with regional conservation goals, systems, water districts, and agricultural practices.” In practice, that means aligning the county’s land use policies with the conservation targets set by the utilities that deliver water to homes, farms, and businesses.
Some residents have expressed concern that the plan could eventually force the removal of existing lawns. The county addresses that concern directly: “It does not itself require existing property owners to remove lawns.” Instead, the approach is to begin with new growth and voluntary retrofits.
The stakes, officials argue, are clear. Without tying conservation to land use, the county could face infrastructure failure in times of crisis, when water is needed most— whether to fight a brush fire or to sustain neighborhoods during drought.
For now, the Water Conservation Element remains in draft form. It is scheduled for public review and eventual adoption as part of the county’s general plan updates. As the draft concludes, “The plan is to include an implementation schedule, monitoring mechanisms, and evaluation of success.”
To learn more about the Water Conservation Element visit online: slco.to/WaterSurvey. l
Preserved and expanded our open space by opening two new parks for families to enjoy.
Stopped Hillside Plaza from becoming apartments, and now it will become a community asset as a downtown area for residents to enjoy.
Made our roads safer by installing crosswalk lights and reestablishing a traffic enforcement division.
Kept Cottonwood Heights tax rate among the lowest in Salt Lake County.
This planning effort will focus on three areas across the county: the Wasatch Canyons (blue), Oquirrh and western foothills (yellow) and Sandy Hills (red). (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County)
Hundreds of students face off in friendly book battles
From historical fiction to fantasy, students tackled every genre — and came away with memories, certificates and a deeper love for reading.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
The excitement was unmistakable as Eastmont Middle’s Team Peeta finished each other’s sentences and laughed over their favorite reads. Their enthusiasm matched their success: they had just won Canyons School District’s Book Blitz, beating Butler Middle’s We Love Dictionaries and Indian Hills Middle’s All About Books.
Book Blitz challenges middle school teams to read a curated list of books across genres, then compete by answering questions using book titles — and, when possible, authors. A similar competition, Book Blitz Jr., is held for elementary students
The book lists are available during the summer and students are already reading for the 2025-26 competition.
Eastmont eighth-grader Tawny McEntire started early, reading through the list last summer. Her teammates split the remaining titles in the fall.
Eighth-grader Mary Halladay credited their friendship to a love of reading — ranging from historical fiction to fantasy — for their win.
“We’re all best friends, and we did it to have fun since we like to read books,” she said. “We work well together, and we all just trust each other enough to go with what other people decide what the answer is.”
Eighth-grader Caraline Herzog added: “We talked things out and listened to each other, that’s important.”
Preparation was key. Tawny created 30 pages of study questions and attended every practice.
“Our team chemistry was a lot better and supportive because we practiced,” she said.
Naming the team was easy, said teammate Millie Rich.
“We were watching ‘The Hunger Games’ and said as a joke, we all are on Team Peta so that’s what we called ourselves,” she said, pointing to their team shirts with a Studio C parody quote on the back. “We laughed a lot, but we learned too. ‘Fallout’ was a phenomenal book. I didn’t think I would like it because it’s nonfiction, but I learned more than I think a lot of Americans know about our history.”
Midvale Middle School teacher librarian/media specialist Judy Rembacz sees the impact of Book Blitz.
“It’s exciting when everyone is reading books, sharing what they read with others,” she said. “They love the competition quizzes, seeing what they know, and it’s good to see how they support one another.”
Mt Jordan Middle teacher librarian Jana Mumford helped with Book Blitz Jr.
“Getting books in kids’ hands is a win and they love the competition aspect,” she said. “I love seeing the younger grades have fun with it. Their enthusiasm feeds right into our programs at the middle school.”
Each middle school brought two teams to the District competition. At the elementary level, 19 schools participated with more than 700 students.
District Library Media Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff, who organizes the program, praised the teamwork.
“The sportsmanship amongst the teams has been stellar,” she said. “And cheers should go out to the parent volunteers, who along with the school facilitators and coach-
Canyons School District middle school student teams reveal their answers in the final round of Book Blitz, where they answered questions by naming book titles and authors. (Juile Slama/City Journals)
es, have been working all year with our students to be successful at all the levels.”
Sandy Rotary has supported Book Blitz Jr. for two years.
“Locally, we help our community’s youth and focus on education so Book Blitz fits perfectly,” Sandy Rotary President Brenda Suta said. “We know these kids are the future and education uplifts them to learn and solve things in the world.”
This year, a four-way tie in the early rounds led to a playoff. Peruvian Park, Ridgecrest and Willow Canyon shared the win, with Alta View as runner-up. All four teams received books and book bags.
Ridgecrest fifth-grader Safron Schneider recalled the tense tiebreaker.
“It was nerve wracking when we got called up there,” she said. “We told each other ‘We got this’ and we joked about one of the boys at our school who wore his lucky socks for us, so we thought about that and were able to focus.”
Safron, who read all 12 books, began last summer.
“‘Select’ is about a girl who is a good soccer player, and I also play it, so I could relate a lot. ‘The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary’ had a lot of fifth-grade
experiences I feel a lot of fifth graders can relate to,” she said.
Aiming to become a writer, Safron values reading.
“Reading always helps me improve my knowledge of words, and I always get lost in a good plot line,” she said.
Granite fifth-grader Brent Fillerup of the Book Bears team also read all 12 books.
“This was my first time competing and it was really good,” he said. “I wanted to read ‘Cookies and Milk’ as I wasn’t familiar with it and heard it was based on a true story.”
Willow Springs fourth-grader Kate Simons of the Sugar Readers team was eager to participate.
“I really like books and read every day,” she said. “‘A Wolf Called Wonder’ was a fun book. It was from the point of view of wolf, which I never have thought about before.”
Her classmate, Rebekah Sutton, enjoyed both the books and the friendships.
“I liked ‘Saucy;’ it’s about a pig and I love pigs,” she said. “A lot of the competitions were close, but that’s part of the fun. I’m planning to read all the books this summer.” l
Parents at multiple elementaries voice concerns about proposed school closures
The Canyons Board of Education will hold public hearings ahead of a vote to decide the possible closure of elementary schools.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
AsCanyons Board of Education continues its boundary and consolidation study, families from Bella Vista, Park Lane and Granite are voicing concerns. They’re raising points over the timing, safety and equity of every student.
District leaders say changes are needed to address declining enrollment and optimize resources.
After slated regular board meetings and three public hearings were held in October, a new proposal could be announced at a November board meeting.
A third reading and vote are expected in December. According to state law, school closure decisions must be finalized by Dec. 31 if they are to take effect the following school year.
Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins said the board of education is following the state law.
“The board hasn’t made any decisions,” he said. “The proposal is an option the board is looking at, a starting point, but with that, they aren’t making a definitive declaration that any school is closing or not. The board will decide by the end of December about the closure possibility and if they feel like there should have been more time, they can decide to continue to study.”
Meanwhile, parents at each of the three schools were meeting, uniting in their efforts to save their schools including petitions, talking points, counter proposals and newspaper ads.
Timelines and transparency
From the outset, many families felt the process has moved too quickly and without sufficient community input.
On Sept. 2, when Canyons Board of Education announced its proposals — merging Bella Vista Elementary with Ridgecrest Elementary in Cottonwood Heights and combining Park Lane Elementary and Granite Elementary in Sandy — Park Lane School Community Council chair Chris Sharp was frustrated.
“The most common concern throughout the Park Lane Elementary community has been the lack of transparency and timeline,” he said, noting when the study was announced, he didn’t believe his children’s school was at risk, yet through the process,
there was a growing concern as it became evident it was.
Across communities, parents believe the District should have begun engagement earlier and presenting more than one proposal for each of the two cities.
“One community meeting is where we get all the transparency. It comes back to doing longer term planning and more engagement to begin with. Now, they want to be done before the end of the calendar year to show they’re being effective and resourceful with taxpayer dollars in a timely manner. Our feedback on that is, we are the taxpayers and we’d rather see a careful decision made,” Sharp said.
Bella Vista PTA chair Juliana Jackson said the proposal moves not only all of Bella Vista students out of the nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School, but also 100 Ridgecrest students to another elementary.
“We’d rather see a careful decision made over a few years than a rushed one that displaces 400 kids,” she said. “It’d be easier to re-boundary 50 or 100 kids into our building, so not all the schools are at capacity, especially since our enrollment is supposed to increase with the Hillside Plaza development.”
Parents say there needs to be time to adapt; teachers need to know where they’ll be assigned; students need emotional readiness; and parents need to plan transportation and have time to permit into schools if they opt out on their new boundary schools.
“I’d like more transparency in this process,” said Granite parent Julia Sorenson, who is the SCC chair.
Safe walking routes
At the heart of many objections is a shift from walkable campuses to routes where children will have to cross heavy traffic.
Park Lane currently functions as a walkable school for neighborhood students.
“We don’t have any buses for the general ed students,” Sharp said. “My middle schooler bikes to the elementary school to shepherd my younger kids home. He went there and loves that school. He wants his younger siblings to share that love.”
But with the proposal being unclear about which elementary would close — Granite or Park Lane — it would send either Granite or Park Lane students crossing Highland Drive, Wasatch Boulevard and other major roads, he said.
“We’re concerned about safety; we don’t want to put one community from one side of Little Cottonwood Canyon and combine them with the other side, just to make numbers work,” he said.
Sharp also said if Park Lane were to close, there are parents concerned their children would be crossing Highland Drive to go
to Willow Canyon Elementary, based on the new proposal.
“I’m not sure they thought about that,” he said.
Jackson raises similar concerns.
If Bella Vista closes, children would cross Fort Union and Highland Drive — “Ten lanes of busy traffic” — and pass by homes with known registered sex offenders, she said.
“We have serious safety concerns of them trying to implement this by next school year; it’s rushed and sloppy and dangerous for our kids. It’s not safe,” Jackson said.
She also pointed out flawed bus planning: “The proposal would have one bus. I don’t know how you’re going to get 200 kids on one regular bus.”
Sorenson also said if Granite students would go to Park Lane: “they said, it will be four busses and that’s concerning. It would be 10 busses. We have five common core (general education) busses and five extended core (special education) busses that currently goes to Granite every day.”
Equity for all students
Equity also is a deeply felt issue. In all three schools, the special education programs are integrated into the general studentbody.
At Park Lane, Sharp hears his “kids say, ‘So-and-so from ECC (extended core curriculum) joined us for science.’ These students are part of our studentbody. It’s very integrated.”
Under the draft proposal, these programs are being relocated, fracturing bonds which have been carefully built, he said.
“We see the ECC as being very strong at our school. Our faculty is helping students to pass RISE (year-end standardized) tests and to get to a point where the support level changes. They still might need Resource, but it’s almost like they’re graduating, and they feel this great accomplishment. The board said with the study, they’re trying to keep schools together. Our boundary students will stay together, but not with the EEC program. That is concerning because that’s not keep-
ing us together; we want to stay together,” Sharp said.
Jackson questions if the schools serving special education populations are being targeted disproportionately. With special education enrollment numbers require dedicated space and staffing, as well as pre-kindergarten classes, their “full capacity” number may be lower than what the building indicates.
Jacob Jensen’s two youngest children — one who is in a special education program — attend Granite.
“We literally moved into the area so that the kids could go to Granite,” he said. “I’m impressed with the quality of Granite and with the programs they have. Granite has created a place for these special needs kids that’s so inviting and welcoming. My sister has Down syndrome, and the inclusions Granite is doing vastly improved from 20, 30 years ago when she was in school. It would be devastating if they closed Granite.”
Next Steps
Robins said the board will continue to take feedback before making final decisions.
“We have had some public comment on our special ed units and what’s best for them,” he said. “These schools are amazing. They’ve been very inclusive and built a strong culture of support for all students. So, it makes it that much harder to consider this. I’m glad our schools are as good as they are because people are passionate, and they care. It’s great that no one wants any of their schools to close — that’s a good thing.”
Robins said the board is considering busing and safety as well as keeping students together in their feeder systems.
“Transportation and safe walking routes have been a big part of this and the place we’re operating from is trying to keep kids together. Is that possible in every aspect? Maybe not, but that’s why we’re in this period right now of public input,” he said. “We’re learning from parents and constituents, and it’s helpful for the board to gather input and consider lots of different perspectives.” l
A Canyons School District image shows actual school boundaries and a proposed change with the closure of Bella Vista Elementary. (Courtesy of Canyons School District)
Brighton continues to finish in the top 10 of 5A in most fall sports.
By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
Brighton remains strong in fall sports
ly that the Region 6 title will be shared among multiple schools.
Girls Tennis
The new region configuration brought Woods Cross into the mix. Woods Cross girls
ray is Brighton’s odds-on favorite to be named to the all-state first team. Cross Country
A highlight of the fall sports season for Brighton is cross country. The sophomore
gy. While I was running, I wanted to try and smile and repeat positive mantras to myself that would help me through the finish line. I am so grateful for everyone that was there to support me, and I can’t wait to finish this season strong!”
The state cross country race is in late October. l
Bridget Smit sets a new Brighton 5K record as she races to the Region 6 championship. (Photo David Edmunds)
Bella Vista students ‘paws’ to learn about care, compassion and belonging
Humane Society of Utah brings Luna to teach third graders about pet care and a lesson in empathy and responsibility.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Bella Vista third graders recently received a heartwarming lesson in empathy and responsibility when representatives from the Humane Society of Utah visited their classroom, bringing along Luna, a gentle 11-year-old dog adopted from the shelter.
The visit gave students the opportunity to examine how their lives and needs mirror those of animals and how both humans and pets benefit from care, connection and belonging.
“We share the same needs as our pets,” said Isabel Olsen Rodriguez, Humane Society of Utah education coordinator. “We also need water, sleep, shelter, medical care and everything else we’ve been talking about. And we share the same feelings as pets. Like us, pets can get bored. They even feel lonely when they have no one to spend time with.”
However, she pointed out a key difference: animals rely on people to meet their needs.
“Do you all think a dog could learn to drive itself to the vet? Of course not,” Olsen Rodriguez said. “That’s why when we invite a pet to be part of our family, it’s our job to make sure we’re caring for them properly.”
She encouraged students to research different animals and breeds before adopting as their needs and behaviors vary.
Huskies, she pointed out, require regular brushing and lots of exercise.
“If Huskies don’t get enough exercise, they turn into escape artists,” Olsen Rodriguez said.
Rabbits need a quiet, secure environ-
ment and specific diets.
“They can be really easily scared of loud movements or loud noises — and they can have up to 14 babies at one time and they can have babies every month,” she said.
She also touched on the importance of spaying and neutering animals. Last year, the Humane Society of Utah helped more than 6,360 pets find homes.
“That’s a huge number to think about, just for our one shelter. They all have needs and wants like we do,” she said.
The highlight for many students came when they got to meet Luna and practice how to safely approach a new dog using the acronym “BARK”: Be calm, Ask the owner, Reach out a fist to sniff, and Kind pets.
“We also never want to put our face right up to a new dog’s face, or try to hug them or pick them up,” Olsen Rodriguez said.
Third-grade teacher Wendie Nielson said the presentation reinforced classroom lessons about traits, habitats and belonging.
“This connects well with what we’re doing in class in a way they can relate,” she said.
Humane Society Education Manager Haley Kroepfl said their presentations align with common core from kindergarten through 12th grade.
“We touch on how human language and how people talk about animals and how that impacts how we actually care and interact with them,” she said. “It also ties to how they use language with one another. We also introduce what empathy is. We break it down for how they interact with one another, with empathy, so picking up emotions and body language. We relate that back to our animal friends and how animals might not tell us in language they’re feeling sad or unhappy, but they do still let us know, so it’s important to pay attention to treat them with kindness, and sometimes we even touch on how animals
express empathy too.”
Third-grader Quinn Lewis made the connection. She helps care for her goldendoodle, Archie.
“You need to take care of them and meet all their needs, otherwise they can get sick really quick,” she said. “They want love and things we do.”
The Humane Society of Utah offers
youth involvement opportunities, which are listed on their website, www.utahhumane.org.
Olsen Rodriguez wants experiences like this leave lasting impressions.
“Empathy for animals creates empathy towards people,” she said. “We want kids to understand the responsibility of pet ownership, but also to develop compassion that extends beyond animals.” l
Bella Vista third graders learn tips on how to approach and pet a dog from the Humane Society of Utah. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Show Up for Teachers uplifts 2,500 Utah educators
From massages to mental health strategies, the conference blended fun, purpose and professional learning for Utah’s educators.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
During a break between sessions at the Show Up for Teachers conference, Altara Elementary fourth-grade teacher Clifford Lowe stopped by the STEM Action Center booth—one of 120 offering curriculum ideas, resources and giveaways.
“The STEM Action Center booth was awesome; I got some cool stuff from them that I’ll incorporate into my classroom,” said the Canyons School District dual immersion teacher. “The community here is really big
The full-day event, at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, featured keynote speakers, 40 breakout sessions, and an exposition hall filled with businesses and organizations celebrating and supporting teachers. Session topics included classroom engagement, personal finance, nutrition and sleep, stress management, leadership, and conflict resolution.
Afternoon keynote speaker Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, addressed the crowd, while local authors signed books and the “Superintendents of Rock”— including Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey—performed live.
Attendees earned re-licensure points from the Utah State Board of Education or could opt for university credit from Southern Utah University. The free event was spon-
versity of Utah Wellness Hub, RC Willey, Operation Literacy, Salt by Sabrina, Albion Fit, Symbol Arts, Felt Right, Beddy’s, Hogle Zoo and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
At the BYU Arts Partnership booth, educators learned about the Native American Curriculum Initiative.
“It’s an initiative that partners with the eight sovereign nations in Utah to co-create authentic and accurate lesson plans that teachers can teach to students in their classrooms,” said program coordinator Brenda Beyal. “We go to these sovereign nations and ask them, ‘What would you like the children of Utah to know about your tribe?’ All eight sovereign nations have said they want people to know they’re still here, they’re thriving, they’re resilient, and they continue to work to better their communities.”
Each nation then wanted to spotlight other points: the Paiutes highlighted their fight for federal recognition, the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone shared traditional songs, and the Navajo Nation emphasized
“All these nations have stories or things they want people to know and we use the arts
to help tell those stories — and teachers can use the lessons we’ve created on our website along with podcasts and other resources,” she said.
Nearby, the Special Olympics Utah booth promoted Unified Champion Schools. Boston Iacobazzi, college-growth coordinator, said at least five colleges, 85 high schools, 25 middle schools, and 35 elementary schools participate in programs pairing students with and without disabilities.
Special Olympics Utah CEO Scott Weaver said teachers were enthusiastic about the inclusive programming.
“We have gotten some positive feedback from teachers who currently have the program,” he said. “We just had a teacher in her second year rave about the leadership program with youth engagement and a lot of these teachers see the value for their students, both for special education and regular ed students. It’s becoming a regular part of the school culture from reading together in elementary to playing sports, taking classes and becoming school leaders together. It’s rewarding to hear how inclusion is becoming part of the schools’ cultures.” l
Teachers from across the state attended Show Up for Teachers conference where they could attend education sessions, learn curriculum ideas and resources or even get massages. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Educators had the opportunity to listen to superintendents, including Jordan District’s Anthony Godfrey in the center, in a different format — through music – as they performed at the conference. (Photo courtesy of Jordan School District)
Turning Down the Political Temperature
The recent shooting of Charlie Kirk was a wake-up call for Americans who value free speech. What drives someone to fear opposing views so deeply that violence feels justified? If we want to cool our nation’s overheated politics, each of us can start with three changes.
1. Don’t call names or label the other side. Our country was founded on the belief that open debate makes us stronger. The Founders argued fiercely when crafting the Constitution—and that was healthy. But when disagreement turns into name-calling, the conversation collapses. History shows that dehumanizing language can fuel tragedy; in Rwanda, propaganda that labeled the Tutsis as “cockroaches” helped spark genocide. Calling people “evil” or “dangerous” never changes minds. Respectful discussion does. Express your beliefs firmly but without vilifying others. The moment you deny someone dignity, your argument loses power. One way to rebuild civility is to teach debate skills in middle school and
high school classrooms so the next generation learns how to disagree productively.
2. Listen more than you speak. None of us is right all the time. Listening with empathy to those who see things differently can preserve friendships and strengthen our communities. Try this: ask someone with an opposing political view to explain their perspective for 5-10 minutes. Repeat back what you heard, thank them, and resist the urge to argue. It’s hard—but it’s how understanding begins.
During my 12 years on the Salt Lake County Council, I’ve served on a body
that’s often split almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats. We debate passionately, sometimes disagree strongly, yet still shake hands afterward. We recognize that each member represents different constituents and experiences. Even when votes fall along party lines, mutual respect keeps us working together. I’m proud of that example of civil governance.
3. Recognize how you’re being manipulated. Social media algorithms are designed to provoke emotion, not inform. Once a platform detects your political leanings, it floods your feed with fear or anger-inducing content to keep you scrolling—and advertisers paying. Limit your time online. Keep in mind that each side is driven by this algorithm that fuels the flame of conviction. We question how the other side can be so out of touch, yet they simply don’t see what we see. Those on the other end of the political spectrum have never been shown the version of the story we know. Perhaps we are both right, but perhaps we are both wrong. It’s time to pause
before the contempt destroys our country.
Cable news isn’t much better. Filling 24 hours of airtime pushes networks to amplify outrage and tailor coverage to partisan audiences. Try this experiment: if you watch a story on Fox News, switch to MSNBC for the other perspective, or vice versa. The truth may lie somewhere in between.
As we navigate the future, it’s important that we put down our phones, turn off the TV, and talk to real people. Human connection improves mental health and builds relationships. When the political climate feels toxic, step away from social media and find a friend to visit with—no debating required.
Our democracy depends on citizens who can disagree without demeaning, listen without shouting, and stay informed without being manipulated. By resisting name calling, listening with empathy, and unplugging from outrage, we can help lower the temperature, strengthen our communities, and set an example for the next generation that is watching us closely.
Embracing the Darkness (With Mashed Potatoes)
It’s not a good sign when a season has its own mental disorder, but here we are, entering the dark, cold, abysmal days of post-Daylight Saving Time when Seasonal Affective Disorder destroys all joy. Darkness descends like a roiling thunderstorm in a fantasy novel, erasing all sunshine and leaving us cowering in the cellar.
My husband thinks I’m dramatic, but I tell him to stop calling me names, as I drape across the fainting couch, gently dabbing my tears with a silken handkerchief.
Anyway.
This year, Seasonal Affective Disorder has been changed to Seasonal Affective Despair as we watch the nation’s slow descent into malevolence and madness. Night falls immediately after lunch, pajamas are my goto wardrobe and my serotonin levels drop as quickly as my faith in humanity.
As we move toward winter, light deprivation should be considered a national crisis. Maybe we need a Vitamin D shot mandate or, at least, red light therapy lamps to replace all street lighting. Utah recently eliminated fluoride in the water; could we add a dash of Xanax?
I know there’s a fine line between hibernation and hiding, but maybe the bears have it right. Spend the summer and fall eating ev-
erything in sight, yank fresh salmon right out of the river, compete for the World’s Fattest Bear and then sleep until the sun returns.
Therapists recommend regular exercise, a healthy diet and sufficient sleep to improve mental health and reduce Seasonal Affective Despair symptoms, but nobody listens to their therapist; otherwise, we wouldn’t be in this national mess.
Someone on TikTok suggested organizing craft projects to get me through the dark months, but my closet is already full of discarded creations, including featherless pinecone turkeys and the unfinished baby blanket I was making for my first grandchild (who is now 21).
As I sorted through a tangle of thread from my last embroidery project and a cubic pound of glitter I bought when I thought making glitter angels with the grandkids was a good idea, I decided starting something
new wasn’t a good idea. Plus, I still have glue gun scars from my Halloween projects.
Maybe I can spend the next few months snuggled with a book by the fireplace (if we had a fireplace), enjoying a bowl of minestrone (just kidding, my husband hates soup) and trying to live with someone who hates soup.
I’ll be poppin’ melatonin gummies like, well, like gummies, and giving it my best to be optimistic in a season created when a god of the underworld kidnapped a young girl and held her hostage for six months. On a coincidentally bright note, pomegranates are back in stores.
At least Thanksgiving is coming up, when I can get my emotional support food: mashed potatoes.
As we move toward the end of the year, November offers an invitation to look back at the previous months to see…nope…never mind. Don’t do that if you’re looking for sunshine and rainbows. In fact, maybe throw your phone in the Great Salt Lake (if it still had water), disconnect from the internet, delete your social media pages and go off-grid until May.
Mentally prepare yourself to spend several months trapped in a home with kids, or grandkids, who won’t stop saying, “6-7” or muttering Italian Brainrot nonsense.
Maybe this year’s Seasonal Affective Despair will be the start of my superhero origin story. When the light finally returns, I’ll stumble into the sunshine, wearing wrinkled pajamas and gripping a glue gun, ready to battle the forces of evil.
