September 2026 | Vol. 20 Iss. 9
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City Council approves residential development featuring surf park/wave pool during drought
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Draper’s Planning Commission and City Council approved a development featuring a surf park and wave pool that will contain 4 million gallons of water.
Mayor Troy Walker and councilmembers Tasha Lowery, Fred Lowry and Bryn Johnson consider the addition of a surf park to a development on the west side of Draper. The council unanimously approved the project. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
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espite a statewide drought, the Draper City Council approved a westside development with townhomes, apartments and retail surrounding a featured surf park pool that can produce 8-foot waves. According to Jackson Shepperd, representative of developers Wasatch Residential Group, the surf park will be an Olympic training venue. “Other national Olympic teams use wave pools just like this. We’ll be the first in the U.S. to be an Olympic training pool,” Shepperd said. Per protocol, Draper’s Planning Commission reviewed the proposal first. Commission members warmed up to the idea of a pool containing 4 million gallons of water when representatives for the developers said the pool will
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have a water recirculation system and it’s projected to be “net neutral” because water lost to evaporation should, in a normal precipitation year, be replenished with rain and snow. “We’re counting on snow and rain despite this dry year,” Shepperd said. According to Shepperd, developers could build 75 single family homes in the same space and those could use 9.7 million gallons of water annually, on average. “This was the least amount of water. One hole on a golf course uses 18 times more water than this wave pool, so it’s actually a very efficient use of water,” he said. The development sits at 13708 S. 600 West in one of Draper’s designated Transit Station Districts where high densities are endorsed and encouraged by the state. Continued on page 8
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If you’ve saved more than $300,000 for retirement you could face significant taxes in retirement unless you take action now, warn Utah financial advisors Ryan Thacker and Tyson Thacker. “IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN $300,000 in a traditional IRA or 401K, you could have a big problem coming in retirement,” warns financial advisor Ryan Thacker. “The problem is taxes – and it’s going to get bigger and bigger unless you take action,” adds Tyson Thacker. Ryan Thacker and Tyson Thacker are the Founders of B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions, a Utah financial advisory firm that’s helped over 55,000 area families plan for a better retirement. For most traditional IRAs and 401Ks, the Thackers explain, it’s important to remember that you haven’t paid taxes on the money in these accounts. That’s by design. One of the biggest benefits of having an IRA or 401K is you don’t pay taxes on your contributions to these accounts – or on their investment growth – until you start withdrawing this money in retirement. “But that’s when this big problem could rear its ugly head,” explains Ryan Thacker. “You’ll likely face surprisingly large tax bills when you begin to with-
“The problem is taxes – and it’s going to get bigger and bigger unless you take action.” — TYSON THACKER, B.O.S.S. RETIREMENT SOLUTIONS
draw this money in retirement.” If you were to add up the total amount of taxes you’ll pay on these accounts in retirement, it’s not uncommon for it to add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But a skilled tax strategist could help you significantly reduce these taxes in retirement. “Most families want to think of the money in their IRA or 401K as ‘their money,’” says Tyson Thacker. “But withdrawals from your IRA and 401K are all treated like ordinary income. And you have to pay taxes on every dime of that income.” “It becomes even more complex when you include Social Security and other investment income,” adds Ryan Thacker. “Because typically all of this money gets thrown into one big taxable bucket.” The good news is you have more control over how much you pay in taxes when you retire, than any other time in your life. The key is understanding the new strategies available to you – strategies B.O.S.S. often helps their clients implement. The Thackers emphasize that B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions client families
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achieve these savings through tax planning, not tax preparation. By the time your CPA is filing your taxes for the April 15th deadline, what’s done is done. You’re just reporting history. However, if you take advantage of some specific tax planning strategies, you could significantly reduce the total amount of taxes you’ll owe in retirement – especially if you take these steps before you retire, or within the first few years of retirement. “The biggest thing,” stresses Ryan Thacker, “is to understand which strategies will work best for your family. Because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for everyone.” B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions offers a free, customized Retirement Tax-Savings Analysis that shows you a side-by-side
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Tyson Thacker and Ryan Thacker are the CEO and President of B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions. They are published authors of the Amazon best-selling book, “The B.O.S.S. Retirement Blueprint, Your Guide to a Secure and Independent Retirement.” Their award-winning firm has seven offices located throughout the Wasatch Front, and a new office in St. George. This is for illustrative purposes only, results may vary. Advisory services offered through B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm. Insurance products and services offered through B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions. The information contained in this material is given for informational purposes only, and no statement contained herein shall constitute tax, legal or investment advice. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. You should seek advice on legal and tax questions from an independent attorney or tax advisor. SPONSORED CONTENT
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COMMON GROUND
Property Rights Confuse Me
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. Where do I stand on property rights? Simple: if I own it, then I should have absolute control over it. And If I bought it and it is next to your property, I should also have some control over yours. For those who have followed Common Ground, I have left no doubt I lean fairly strong to the right end of the political spectrum. So when writing an opinion piece representing that end of the spectrum with the topic of property rights, I was certain what I’d say. Then last night as I prepared to write this I got confused. I stopped and prayed: Dear God, am I becoming a Democrat? A quick trip to my gun safe confirmed that I am good. But I am still conflicted. I know where I stand on my property rights, not sure where I stand on your property rights. Well, let me be clear, unless your property is near mine, I actually just don’t care about yours. To not look evil I will pretend that I care and that you should have the same property rights as me. To unconfuse myself, I broke down property rights into three categories: the ability to own property, the ability to control property, and property taxes. I see each category, but am conflicted where these fall on the typical right-left spectrum. Is everyone a Republican when it comes to property rights? Or maybe
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John J Walker Common Ground
everyone is a Democrat? I don’t know but I can’t imagine a world where we agree on something. I agree with my dear friends from the left (yes I have a couple) that everyone should have the opportunity to buy and own their home. Home ownership is an important part of the American economy and society. I think we can all agree people should be able to own property (our own homes) and enjoy all the benefits from it, and we can all recognize that property rights are protected by the Constitution. So once you own it, what control do you have? Enter Jekyll or Hyde, I am not sure. On one hand, I want full control of my property. On the other hand, I want control of my neighbor’s property. Not full control but enough control to protect my property, property value and property rights. If I want to build a second story to my house and add a man cave garage in the backyard, hand me a hammer and shut your mouth; it’s my property. But if my neighbor wants to build an apartment on his lot, whoa whoa whoa. If my neighbor wants to
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have 14 people live in his 3-bedroom house and each of them park a car on the front lawn, no way, not in my backyard and not in your front yard. Enter local zoning. WWII veterans should be the most respected people in America. Just behind them should be planning and zoning staff and volunteers. For now, my stance is that I should control my property and I should be able to do whatever I want to do with it. And I should also control your property so that it does not impact me and my property. Until you come up with a better plan, this is my plan. My first consideration concerning property taxes is back to property ownership. I question – do we really own property if we are required to pay forever to retain that ownership? When I go to the grocery store and buy a peach, I don’t have to pay for that peach the rest of my life. But when I buy a home, all of a sudden I have to pay property taxes for the rest of my life. Technically, I “own” my home in Bountiful, but I often say I “lease” it from Davis School District and Davis County. Our governor and state legislators in recent years have stated they want homes more affordable, but they have sat mostly idle while school districts, counties, and special districts have increased property taxes – making homes even more unaffordable.
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Our Republican-led legislature and governor have provided taxpayer money to help subsidize the purchase of homes. I am sure this feels good for them. I guess on some baseline it should feel good; they are helping people live the American dream. But they are taking money from all taxpayers to give to a select few. It is clear to me that we must allow the housing market to operate in a fair and open market. As per taxes – property taxes make sense; there is a need for the government to provide amenities (roads, sidewalks, water, utilities, etc.) to homeowners that are associated with homeownership. These are expenses that I require and the value of my property is dependent on. A home that doesn’t have water or access is ultimately worthless. But remind me why we cover schools with property taxes. Don’t get me wrong, we should fund schools so our children get the best education possible. In Utah, that should come from income tax. Our legislation has lowered income tax every year but they did not change the spending with school districts so where does that “savings” come from? It comes from property taxes – your income tax goes down and your property taxes go up. A game of political whack-a-mole: slash-a-tax.
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September 2026 | Page 5
City changing to private company ACE for garbage and recycling due to rising costs
Change means seven devoted employees will lose their Draper City jobs. By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
S
everal months after contracting with ACE Recycling and Disposal for servicing the city’s private roads because of mounting liability costs on the often narrow, one-lane roads that are difficult for big trucks to maneuver, the council approved a resolution for an agreement with ACE for all residential solid waste services throughout the city because of rising costs. The change takes effect Aug. 17. “We’re not covering our costs with the fees we’re charging right now. As we went through the private street change, we also began looking at costs for us to continue to provide solid waste services to all residents and decided it would be in our best interest to put out a Request for Proposals. We got four qualified bidders and determined the best provider also happened to be the least expensive,” Draper’s Public Works Director Scott Cooley said. As a result, all Draper residents will soon pay more for garbage and recycling, but less with ACE than what the city would
have to charge to no longer be operating in the red. Draper City currently charges residents $15 a month for one garbage and one recycle cart and $10 more per month for an additional garbage cart. Sixty five percent of residents pay $25 monthly for two garbage and one recycle cart. Staff determined the city would need to increase the base rate to $25 for the single garbage and recycle carts and $40 for having an additional garbage cart in order to continue the service and cover costs. Meanwhile, ACE bid a $19 base rate and $10.50 for an additional garbage cart. A Draper City statement said continuing the city’s in-house service would require a 67% price increase versus a 27% increase with ACE. Cooley said customers likely won’t notice much change beyond increased rates because ACE plans to follow established routes and schedules while cart oversight and billing will still be managed by the city. Draper’s Finance Director John Vuyk said the city will be compensated for the services it will continue to provide through the contracted rates with ACE. Mayor Troy Walker was a member of the city council 16 years ago when Draper started providing solid waste services for
Art at The Park helps Utah artists flourish
Bryce Samuleson is a landscape artist whose work was displayed at a previous Art at The Park Show. (Photo courtesy of Rob Chipman) SPONSORED CONTENT
Page 6 | September 2026
UTAH ARTISTS RETURN to The Garden Place at This Is The Place Heritage Park (2601 Sunnyside Ave.) as part of the fifth annual Art at The Park event. The community is invited to attend the free art show Sept. 18-19, where they can meet the artists behind the works, watch live art demonstrations and explore a diverse selection of original pieces priced from $100 to $10,000. “We are so excited to be back for our fifth year at beautiful This Is The Place Heritage Park, where art lovers can see the amazing work of over 75 of Utah’s top fine artists,” said Rob Chipman, founder of Art at The Park and ArtThrive. “It is so satisfying to have enabled our artists to have sold well over $1 million worth of art since our founding. Now, as part of a new nonprofit organization, all of the net proceeds of the event will go towards helping local artists to flourish to an even greater degree.” The show is presented as part of ArtThrive, a new nonprofit organization that assists Utah artists and promotes art appreciation in the state. More than 75 local artists will showcase their work at Art at The Park on Friday, Sept. 18, from noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11:00 am until 7 p.m. Artists are expected from Cottonwood Heights, Bountiful, Kaysville, Draper, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray, Riverton, Sandy, South Salt Lake, South Jordan, Taylorsville and West Jordan.
Draper City has provided garbage and recycling services for residents for the past 16 years at a base monthly rate of $15, but rising costs and economy of scale issues led the city to contract with ACE going forward. “We’re out of the business,” Mayor Troy Walker said. (Courtesy Draper City)
residents at $15 a month. Back then, the city’s Finance Director convinced the mayor and council they were being overcharged by a private company and could provide the services in-house for less while also generating some revenue for the city. “It proved to be a well-run venture until the costs got to us. We have not raised the price one penny in the time we’ve provided the service, but the cost of delivering everything has increased substantially. I wish the numbers worked out better,” Walker said. The mayor pointed to other budget considerations influencing the council’s decision. Draper City currently owns 12 trucks and pays close to retail for each because the city isn’t a large-scale operation. Trucks cost approximately $450,000 each and require continual work. “The trucks are super heavy on maintenance and it takes a lot of mechanic time to keep them running,” Walker said. Simultaneously, the city is in need of a bigger Public Works facility, and if solid waste services were kept in-house, the facility would need that much more square footage. “If we stay with our own garbage service, we have to accommodate those vehicles in that facility which increases cost, and we have to have all the vehicles and a spare. I personally think getting rid of storage and maintenance of vehicles is going to be much more significant over time than if we try to maintain our own system,” he said. It’s Draper’s dedicated garbage and recycling employees who are paying a
steep price in the loss of their city jobs. “From the outset of this process, we were deeply concerned about the potential impact this decision would have on these employees’ livelihoods. It has been a significant relief to learn that every individual who wished to continue working received a competitive employment offer. This has been a difficult transition for the affected employees. We are grateful for their dedicated service, which has allowed Draper City to maintain uninterrupted solid waste collection until ACE assumes operations on Aug. 17,” Cooley said. Before voting in favor of the contract with ACE, Councilmember Tasha Lowery asked about potential cost increases from the private provider because of rising gas prices and other factors. Vuyk said the contract with ACE sets the price for one year, but it has built-in escalators for future years if the consumer price index increases. According to Vuyk, the city will sell the 12 trucks it owns after Aug. 17 and the funds will go back into the budget. “We’re out of the business. We’re not big enough to do it at the scale ACE can do it. It’s not the end of rising garbage prices, either. The future of solid waste is going to be a continual cost increase going forward, no matter what. In this country, we still bury our garbage, and as long as we bury it, we have to continue to find holes to put it in. Once the current one is full, all solid waste will be trucked to a new landfill that’s 100 miles roundtrip to get to and from. It’s not getting any cheaper,” Walker said. l
Draper City Journal
Tina Mercer, who goes by the nickname “Gator” because she’s a University of Florida graduate, is not only a referee for youth sports, she also a mentor. Mercer enjoys teaching and encouraging the kids on the court and the field. “I hope I can continue long enough to see the kids of the kids I’ve refereed through the years,” she said. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
Tina Mercer’s best friend and her family (minus brother Bob who was traveling for work) came to City Hall to see her recognized for all her years refereeing for Draper Recreation programs. “They mean the world to me,” Mercer said. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
Draper Rec referee honored for being a youth mentor, too The Draper Recreation referee known by many as “Gator” delights in encouraging kids in sports and seeing them succeed. By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
T
ina Mercer, a familiar face to anyone involved in rec-league sports, was recently honored by the Draper City Council. She’s been a referee since Draper’s programs began, and before that, she was refereeing rec sports in Sandy starting in 1996. “Time flies. I call it my fun more than a job. I love the recreation side, that’s where I thrive. I live and play in Draper,” she said. You may know her by the nickname “Gator,” given because she grew up in the Sunshine State and graduated from the University of Florida. “I played college ball,
soccer and basketball, but it wasn’t sanctioned by the NCAA in those days. We were still going through Title IX,” she said. Sports have always held a special place in her heart, and today there’s hardly one she doesn’t officiate. “I referee Jr. Jazz basketball, adult softball, youth soccer, youth flag football, adult kickball and youth softball,” she said, indicating she sticks to the “slower sports” because she’s had a lot of surgeries through the years. “My body isn’t all original parts, and if I have to change a body part to keep doing it, I will,” she said. Despite surgeries, she still runs around the field or up and down the court in her black and white uniform complete with a whistle. It’s the game with the orange ball that’s her favorite. “I love basketball, that’s my go-to,” she said. Mercer, a retired environmental scientist, has a full-time job at the Draper Post Office. She enjoys working there because she’s a self-proclaimed extrovert who loves
to talk. “People are what make the world go around,” she said. She can’t imagine not being involved in sports so she keeps herself moving. Refereeing all those sports means she has to stay up on the rules and her certifications for officiating in addition to her day job. “You have to brush up because rules do change,” she said. Those who know Mercer would say she’s much more than a ref, she’s a mentor, and that’s the reason Draper City recognized her with an award. Councilmember Kathryn Dahlin said she met Mercer when her daughters decided to try softball. “From the first game to the last, Gator was there teaching the girls how to pitch, hit and catch. Every player benefits from her support and everyone has positive things to say about the effect she has,” Dahlin said. It’s those positive experiences with youth and the memories they’ve given Mercer that keep her coming back. “I see their eyes light up when they hit the
ball, almost like they can do anything in life. Their whole future is ahead of them and it’s the greatest feeling in the world. That’s why I do it. I look tough, but I’ve got a big heart,” Mercer said. Her message for parents is, “Let the kids play. Try not to live through the kids. I can see kids’ parents or coach yelling at them, so they’ve got people yelling at them from every direction. Let them live their lives, let them enjoy the sport,” she said. Mercer’s going to keep moving and mentoring for as long as she can. “I’m going to keep at this as long as this body holds up. And if I have to change a body part to keep doing it, I will. That’s my happy spot, either on the pitch or the basketball court. Gator’s happy out there,” she said. “I just have a love for the city, and I do it for the kids,” she said. And the community has love and appreciation for her. “She’s a treasure,” Dahlin said. l
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continued from front page Townhomes and apartments at the site will all be rental properties. Commission member Mary Squire said transit zones have “ridiculous density allowances and probably consume more water resources (than would the pool).” Planning Commission Chair Andrew Adams said he initially had trepidation about the surf park/wave pool, but once he heard it was net neutral and based on German engineering, he was comfortable with it. Adams pointed to the lakes at South Jordan’s Daybreak development which are not net-neutral. Planning Commissioner Christine Green was the only vote against it and the planning commission forwarded a positive
recommendation to the council. In their presentation to the council in June, project representatives showed a Water Usage Table indicating the surf park would use 6-9 million gallons per year, high density residential would use 28 million gallons per year, commercial development would use 109 million gallons annually and data centers use 300 to 500 million gallons each year. “Almost every single use uses more water than this wave pool,” the applicant said. Project representatives said they shouldn’t ever have to drain the pool and the pool deck slopes downward to capture water lost to splashing and people getting out of the pool. For reference, a standard Olympic-sized pool typically contains 660,000 gallons.
Despite opportunities for public comment at both the planning commission and city council meetings, no one from the public spoke in favor of or against the development. “I think…this…will be a great amenity to the city,” Councilmember Tasha Lowery said. Mayor Troy Walker said he supports the council’s decision based on the water usage table presented by the developer and he’s pleased there will be retail at the site for sales tax purposes. “The developer is already entitled to build apartments or offices on that site and they’re already allotted water. We looked at it… and the surf park is much less intense water use than what they could do. If we don’t do this, a
lot more water is going to get used, so the tradeoff the council made in this is unique and uses substantially less water,” he said. The developers told the planning commission they hope to break ground this September and plan to open the wave pool in September 2027. The surf park will be open to the public at times and closed for members only at other times. Developers said the pool will be heated and open year-round though they suspect users might wear wet suits in winter months. Shepperd predicted Corner Canyon High School will have a surf club as a result of the project. “Surfing will become part of the culture,” he said. l
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Members of Wasatch Ownership Group listen as their representative Jackson Shepperd presents slides about the proposed project to the Draper City Council. Shepperd said the wave pool will require less water than high density housing or commercial projects that could go at the site which sits within a designated transit station district already slated for high density. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
GET TO THE RIVER! ALL SEPTEMBER! Enjoy experiences and make wonderful memories at Utah’s Jordan River Parkway throughout the month of September.
The Get to the River Festival is a month of recreational, cultural, social, educational, and stewardship activities and events. Join us for something familiar, or explore and discover something new. Check the Festival schedule and learn more at:
G e tToT h e R i ve r. o r g Page 8 | September 2026
Dozens of Free Community Events & Activities Throughout the Month Recreation Arts Community Education Stewardship
your watershed
LOVE YOUR WATERSHED Litter, chemicals, and organic material like leaves and pet waste, on our streets, sidewalks, and parking areas, wash into storm drains and then into lakes, streams, and the Jordan River each time it rains and snows, polluting these waterways. Organize a group clean up of the litter and leaves around the streets and storm drains in your neighborhood for the 9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance. Each month, make a habit to clean up the gutter and storm drains in front of your own home or business.
L o veYo u r Wa t e r s h e d . o r g Draper City Journal
Prostate/ Breast Cancer
Fall Into Action: Tackle Cancer Screenings This Season
FALL IS MORE THAN football and pump-
kin spice – it’s time for men and women to prioritize their health. As September spotlights Prostate Cancer Awareness and October approaches with Breast Cancer Awareness, our local medical experts are issuing a direct call to our community. This is your cue: men, actively engage with your prostate health; women, prioritize your breast health. Early detection is the most powerful tool you have to protect your life and your loved ones. The statistics are sobering. For men, prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer, and tragically, it stands as the second leading cause of cancer death, surpassed only by lung cancer. Similarly, for women, breast cancer is a significant threat, also ranking as the second leading cause of cancer death, second only to lung cancer. These aren’t just abstract figures; they represent real individuals whose lives can be profoundly impacted by timely action. “Too often, men delay necessary screenings,” explains Dr. Pursifull, a urologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point in Lehi. “But waiting for symptoms to appear
significantly reduces treatment options. Regular PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams are straightforward procedures that detect cancer early. Talk to your primary care physician about your risk factors, especially if you have a family history or are of African American descent. CommonSpirit hospitals offer comprehensive prostate cancer screenings and advanced treatment options.” For women, prioritizing breast health is equally critical. “Early detection is truly a game-changer when it comes to breast cancer,” states Dr. Raylene Natwick, a breast surgeon practicing at a Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley. “When breast cancer is identified early, the chances of successful treatment and a full recovery are remarkably higher. This is precisely why regular mammograms are so vital. They can detect subtle changes years before they would ever be palpable.” Dr. Natwick advises women to discuss screening guidelines starting around age 40, or earlier if risk factors warrant it. Monthly self-examinations and annual clinical breast exams are also crucial. “CommonSpirit hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art mam-
mography technology and a dedicated team ready to support women.” “As primary care providers, we are frequently the entry portal to the health care system.” said Dr. Grant Hawkins, an internal medicine physician with CommonSpirit in West Jordan. We encourage our patients to have their yearly wellness checkups. At that time we have the opportunity to review medical issues, make medication adjustments, discuss new concerns and arrange for screening tests that are so important in preventing serious problems in the future.” This Fall, make the decision to prioritize your health. Both prostate and breast cancer often have excellent prognoses when caught early. CommonSpirit hospitals are committed to providing accessible screenings, expert diagnostics, and leading-edge treatments. Schedule your screenings and engage in crucial conversations with your doctor. Your life, your future, and your well-being depend on it. For more information or to find a provider visit mountain.commonspirit.org SPONSORED CONTENT
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DraperJournal .com
September 2026 | Page 9
Happy birthday to J(ames) Clyde Crane, who turns 100 on Aug. 25
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The Draper centenarian is no stranger to beets, eggs and to his dismay, oatmeal mush. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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(ames) Clyde Crane may likely be Draper’s oldest resident. He was born and raised in Draper’s old beet farms, worked in Lark Mine during the ’40s, served as a firefighter for 20 years, and still resides in his home “near the furniture store” today. He’s determined to make it to his 100th birthday, which is Aug. 25. “I’ve been around for three-fourths of forever,” Crane said. As a boy, Crane would spend his days with his siblings working to thin out the beets on their family farm. He recalled what those days were like succinctly, gesturing back-and-forth with his pointer finger as to mimic the rows of the field. “Down and up, and down and up, and it was noon. Down and up, and down and up, and it was time to go home,” he said. The Crane family lived in Draper through the years of The Great Depression. Crane remembers his dad planting crops one particularly dry year. When the beets came up, the family didn’t have water to attend to the crop, so all the beats turned over and died. “Wooo!” he exclaimed. All the kids were excited because they didn’t have to work that year. “I didn’t know much about the Depression because everyone was as poor as I was,” Crane said.
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rebekah@wightmanlegal.com 10808 S. River Front Parkway, Suite #300 Clyde Crane served as a firefighter in Draper Jordan, UT 84095 10808 S. South River Front Parkway, Suite #300 for 20 years. This photo was taken in 1978. South Jordan, UT 84095 rebekah@wightmanlegal.com
(Hannah Howell/Crane family)
Clyde Crane and Ora Hatch know the secret to living a long and fulfilling life as this photo was taken when Clyde was 98 and Ora was 95. (Hannah Howell/Crane family)
What Crane does know for certain though is he’ll never eat oatmeal again. He recalls eating the oatmeal mush his mother would make him every morning. “I got so sick of that. I can’t stand to look at it anymore,” Crane said. The days of early Draper had quite a few cows, hundreds of chickens, and many horses, including one special little black horse named Smokey, who could be seen riding all around South Mount with young Crane on his back. Back then, Draper Feed & Egg (formally Draper Poultrymen and Egg Producers Cooperative) shipped eggs from coast to coast. “I worked there every chance I got,” Crane said. “The (eggs) that went overseas had to be dipped in oil to make the stronger. It preserved them.” After moving out of his first home, Crane moved into his second home in Draper…right down the street. In fact, his first, second, and third home were all in the same neighborhood. In the early 1950s, his sister set him up on a blind date with Ora Elsa Hatch (Suzie). Hatch had also been born into a farmer family in American Fork, farming on the shores of Utah Lake. “It went from there,” Crane said. And, boy, how it went. Jan. 24, 1951, the day they were wed, marked the start of a 74-year marriage. Crane eventually went to work in Lark Mine. He would run ore down the mine
chutes and raise up the little carts to be pushed down the tracks. He recalls how water would drip from the ceiling like rain all day long in deeper areas of the mine. “That wasn’t too bad of a job,” Crane said. Until the mine caught fire. He’s unsure of what specifically happened that day but he knows at least seven miners lost their lives. Crane didn’t go back to the mine. Even though he found a welding job, he was drawn to volunteer firefighting. In August 1947, the Draper first station was paying volunteer firefighters $2 per month and $2 per fire. (He also mentioned firefighters had to be at least 5-foot-8.) “Draper stayed the same for a long time,” Crane said. “When people started moving over here, Draper didn’t want them.” Crane recalls there being only about 500 houses in the area, so there was only one full-time staffed firefighter at the station at all times. The majority of everyone else was volunteer. They saw a lot of grass fires. “The biggest fire was when Draper Feed burned down,” Crane said. “I had a friend come over Point of the Mountain, (he saw the flames and thought) that’s gotta be the school house or the feed plant.” “We spent all night putting that out,” Crane said. Crane’s son, James Crane (Jim), followed in his father’s footsteps and became a firefighter around 1974. They both recall when air packs hit the scene as, what was at the time, a recent innovation.
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Page 10 | September 2026
Draper City Journal
“Before that, it was about how much smoke you could eat to prove you were a firefighter,” Jim said. Together, the Crane family firefighters witnessed one of the biggest foundational changes to the firefighting industry with the introduction of paramedics.
“They picked up a bunch of firefighters and sent them to California to learn to be paramedics,” Crane said. “The fire chief was Charlie, so we called them Charlie’s Angels.” Advancements to fire equipment also changed significantly over the 20 years Crane was working as a Draper firefighter.
He fondly remembers a 1946 Dodge truck as the station’s primary apparatus when he first started. “It would pump 250 gallons of water per minute,” Jim said. “The newer apparatus can pump 2,000 gallons per minute.” Crane retired early, in 1980, and
promptly spent most of the next 20 years with Ora in a motorhome. After gallivanting across country to follow BYU’s football games and frequenting Sunflower RV Resort in Arizona, they returned to their family. He and Ora have six children, 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. “I have a wonderful family,” Crane said. “I’m happy now when I get everyone’s attention.” If you see Crane out and about in Draper, it will likely be at his favorite restaurant, which he refers to as the “pig trough” (it’s Chuck-A-Rama). Be sure to wish him happy birthday! l
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Clyde Crane and Ora Hatch’s 74-year marriage began in 1951. (Hannah Howell/Crane family)
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Draper City Journal
City Journals presents:
A publication covering local pets, their
humans and their care around the Salt Lake Valley
Give an old dog a new beginning By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com Puppies are cute but senior dogs have wisdom, manners and lots of love to share. While an older dog might not have the energy of a puppy or long years of fun and adventure left in them, for people willing to look past the slower walks and gray hairs, a senior dog can offer a life-changing experience at both ends of the leash. Guinnevere Shuster works as the Humane Society of Utah’s communication director. She said there are several misconceptions about adopting an older dog that can hold people back from a loving relationship, including the idea that the dog will pass away too soon. “When people are worried about that, I often bring up the fact that the time that you do have is really special, and you’re really making a difference for this animal,” she said. “You’re getting them out of the animal shelter into a home where they’re loved. Getting them out of the shelter and into a home is really rewarding.” Dogs are considered senior when they turn 7 and cats when they turn 10 or 11. Although aging differs between the size and breed of the animals, many pets live several more years. Shuster said one cat was 12 when she was adopted, but lived another five years.
She said most senior pets offer calm companionship and are deeply grateful for another chance to live with a loving family. While some of the animals had an established bond with their previous families, others might have led a rough life, but they usually have an easy time adjusting to a new home. “They’re really resilient, and they’re also very social creatures. So they are looking to make that connection with people,” Shuster said. “They want to be around you. They want to have their person. It might take them a little time to learn the ropes and get adjusted to everyone, but dogs and cats typically bond pretty quickly to who’s caring for them, especially to who’s feeding them.” Adopting a senior dog from the Humane Society comes with several benefits. All adoption fees are waived and they are spayed or neutered and microchipped. They receive all necessary vaccinations and are given medical and dental exams, including blood work and X-rays, if needed. If the animal has medical issues, or needs teeth pulled, those problems are taken care of before they are put up for adoption. Potential adopters receive full transparency when it comes to the animal’s physical condition. “When adopting an older dog, they know what they’re getting,” Shuster said.
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BlackJack is a 10-year-old Norwegian elkhound/husky mix. He’s one of the senior dogs available for adoption at the Humane Society of Utah. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society of Utah) including photos, at utahhumane.org. “One of the benefits is that when you get them home, you get that reward of giving an animal a home, an animal that’s often overlooked in the shelter environment and maybe not favored by most people,” Shuster said. “It’s really rewarding to know that you’re giving this animal a place to rest for their golden years.”
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5 unique animal rescue organizations By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com It’s not just cats and dogs that need rescue and love. When you think of animal rescues, you probably picture shelters filled with cute kittens or adorable dogs. But animal rescue is much more than that. Several organizations in Utah are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating everything from ducks to turtles and finding homes for these unique pets. Here are a few of these groups that help nearly every type of creature.
Wasatch Exotics Rescue
Founded by Angela Pollack, Marybeth Spencer and Mitchell Christiansen, Wasatch Exotics Rescue provides a foster-based model in which every rescue is placed in an approved foster home. The fosters set up a proper habitat for the animals and give the rescues love and attention until they find their forever home. The group accepts pets such as ball pythons, iguanas, geckos, bearded dragons, turtles and more. To adopt an exotic pet, surrender an animal, become a foster or volunteer, visit wasatchexoticsrescue. org for more information.
Clementine Ranch
Although they are not currently accepting new animals, Clementine Ranch is a sanctuary for livestock. Started by Lindsey Armstrong and Rob Fenn, the ranch
is intended to be a place of compassion, embracing a vegan lifestyle. The couple took over an existing animal sanctuary in Herriman that needed a lot of renovation to make it safe for humans and animals. The rescued or retired livestock include cows, sheep, goats, horses, emus and chickens who can live out their lives in peace and comfort. At clementineranch. org, information is available on how to support the organization to keep the animals fed and housed. Follow their adventures on social media @theclementineranch.
Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue
This animal rescue is focused on the care of abandoned, neglected or unwanted animals. Since it was founded in 2021, the organization has rescued 1,400 animals in need. Wasatch Wanderers is dedicated to educating owners about the care of domestic fowl, which are often dumped in rivers, lakes and streams once they outgrow their “cute” chick stage. Rescuers hope that by teaching people that domesticated ducks, geese and chickens cannot survive in the wild, it will stop the illegal dumping of these animals. Learn more about the organization, or donate to the cause at wasatchwanderers.org.
Community Animal Welfare Society (CAWS)
CAWS is Utah’s oldest animal rescue
When ducks are illegally dumped in ponds and streams, Wasatch Wanderers rescue and rehome them. It’s just one of the many organizations that help animals find loving homes. (Canva stock) group, providing foster care, adoption and education to save cats and dogs that are often overlooked or under-appreciated. This includes sick, elderly, injured or special needs animals looking for the perfect family. Most animals at CAWS are rescued from shelters across Utah and other
states. Families looking to adopt are carefully screened to ensure they get the best pet for their home. For information about adoption, fostering, volunteering or donating, visit caws.org.
Canines With a Cause
This organization offers a double bonus: it pairs rescued shelter dogs with military veterans struggling with PTSD. Animals are evaluated at shelters to find potential candidates to become psychiatric service dogs, then partnered with a vet. The duo trains together, allowing the vets to work with the dog to develop therapy skills and tasks. These can include interrupting distress, waking a vet up during nightmares, retrieving items and grounding. CWAC helps the pair develop a strong bond that supports both partners. Classes are offered to veterans at no cost. To learn more, visit canineswithacause.org.
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Page 14 | September 2026
Draper City Journal
The Dog’s Meow has been helping pets stay healthy for over 20 years in Draper By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com Employees at the independently-owned pet health food and supply shop greet canine customers with a treat. To paraphrase the old “Cheers” television show theme song, The Dog’s Meow is a place where everybody knows your pup’s name — and has a little treat waiting for them too. This personal touch, along with quality products and knowledgeable staff, has helped the independently-owned pet health food store thrive in the face of competition from online and big box store competitors. “We have one customer whose dog expects the same treat every time he comes in,” Draper store employee Brylee Knapton said. “We develop a really personal bond with our customers. I have some that I’ve helped the whole time I’ve worked here.” The Dog’s Meow sells specialty brands of pet food made from natural ingredients along with supplements, treats and accessories for both dogs and cats. The store also offers do-it-yourself dog washing facilities that are available by appointment. Founder and owner, Alexis Butler, established the first location of The Dog’s Meow in Millcreek in 1996. She has enjoyed building relationships with her customers over the years and spoke of watching their kids “go from strollers to college.” In fact, it
was one of those customers — now a good friend — who encouraged her to open a store in Draper in 2003. “There was nothing except for big box pet stores in the south,” Butler said. She added that at first it was a struggle to get the Draper location going. “But then the melamine crisis happened and people started thinking about what they’re feeding their pets,” she said. “That’s what put me on the map and kept the store going in Draper.” The melamine crisis occurred in 2007 when dogs and cats throughout the US were suddenly sickened from contaminated pet food. It was discovered that industrial chemicals such as melamine had been added to imported proteins used in many mainstream brands which lead to their recall. “I’ve always had a thing for healthy food,” Butler said. “You are what you eat as a human and as an animal too.” Currently, the most popular pet foods at The Dog’s Meow are both raw and lightly-cooked natural foods. “Lightly-cooked is fresh food, but you’re not handling raw meat,” Knapton explained. Fresh, whole-food ingredients are heated at low temperatures just enough to kill harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, while preserving natural nutrients. Butler emphasized that her staff is well-educated about the foods and
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Jada, a 9-year-old bulldog owned by Adam Pulsipher, waited for her turn to have a bath at The Dog’s Meow. (Katherine Weinstein/ City Journals)
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a small puppy. They often stop in to buy treats. “I’m studying for a Master’s in Social Work,” she said. “He is going to be my therapy dog.” Diesel eagerly picked out a dried beef chew treat. “He’s like, ‘This is my type of store!’” Harness said. The Dog’s Meow is located at 866 E. 12300 South and 2047 E. 3300 South. For more information about the store visit www.dogsmeow.com.
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supplements they sell and that they stay on top of new trends such as the lightly-cooked foods. “You can come ask us questions,” she said. “The only way we can compete is to be the best we can be.” Knapton, who has worked for The Dog’s Meow in Draper for over two years, said that she has applied the knowledge from her job to help care for her own dog whose allergies improved after a change in diet. “I love helping customers figure out what is best for their animals,” she said. “The relationships I’ve made with our customers and seeing the positive impact in how their pets feel and act is so rewarding. It can make a night and day difference.” While The Dog’s Meow in Draper sells products for both cats and dogs, Knapton said that the Millcreek location sees more cat owners. “Cats aren’t as big out here although we still do have our cat customers,” she said. Six years ago, the Draper store added an area where people can bring their dogs to give them a bath. Commercial DIY dog-washing stations have become increasingly popular across the country as they eliminate the mess of washing a dog at home. Clients at The Dog’s Meow can choose a deluxe wash or opt to bring their own shampoo and supplies from home. Customer Sterling Harness has been bringing her English cream golden retriever, Diesel, to The Dog’s Meow since he was
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September 2026 | Page 15
Draper Arts Council presents the world premiere of the swashbuckling new musical, ‘Zorro: A New Beginning!’ Draper Arts Council’s world premiere of a new musical, “Zorro: A New Beginning!” brings together talented artists and presents a unique opportunity for theatrical creativity. By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
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or the first time in its history, Draper Arts Council is staging a brand new musical. “Zorro: A New Beginning!” will have its world premiere at Draper Amphitheater with performances on Sept. 11, 12 and 14. While bringing a new, original script to life on stage presented a daunting challenge to the council, everyone involved has embraced the project with enthusiasm. Producer Tom Sharkey said, “Most community theaters put on shows that have been done before so we have an idea of what they’re going to look like. With this show we have to be more creative, but it’s also freeing. You can put your own spin on it.” “Zorro: A New Beginning!” was written by the New Jersey-based actor, singer, director and playwright John D. Smitherman. He remarked that the most rewarding aspect of this production is, “the excitement of the production team and the cast. Everyone is as excited and committed as I am.” Smitherman is also directing the show and is playing the role of Zorro. Over 100 years ago in Hollywood, actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr. was similarly inspired to write, direct and take on the title role in the first film version of “Zorro.” The character initially appeared in a work of pulp fiction, “The Curse of Capistrano,” written by Johnston McCulley in 1919. Since then, the dashing, masked vigilante who defends the commoners of colonial Spanish California against corrupt government officials and other villains has been the subject of over 40 films as well as many television series and spin-offs. Smitherman explained that he took the storyline for “Zorro: A New Beginning!” from the original book. “It happens years later,” he said. “Zorro is at the end of his career and is looking to pass on the torch. It’s a new vision of Zorro.” This is not the first musical that Smitherman has written. “The very first musical I wrote was a sequel to ‘Phantom,’” he said. As artistic director of the Broadway Theatre of Pitman, New Jersey, Smitherman staged and performed in a highly successful run of “Phantom,” an alternative musical take on Gaston Leroux’s “Phantom of the Opera” written by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit. Smitherman teamed up with composer Daniel Humbert to create
Page 16 | September 2026
McKenna Raff, EmmaLee Nelson and Rockwell MacGillivray, standing in for John D. Smitherman as Zorro, struck a pose during rehearsals for the Draper Arts Council world premiere of “Zorro: A New Beginning!” (Photo courtesy of Draper Arts Council)
a sequel, “The Return of the Phantom,” which premiered in 2017. “We had a wonderful response from the audience,” he said. Smitherman explained that he considers himself lucky to have a lifelong career as a performer. He began as an opera singer in his 20s but soon became interested in theater. He has performed both on and off-Broadway and toured nationally and internationally in concert. For a time, Smitherman had his own cabaret show and traveled the world performing on cruise ships. When most theaters were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smitherman developed his idea to write a musical version of “Zorro.” “It just came to me,” he said. “I don’t know what it was—another masked character.” He partnered with composer, producer and violinist Claudia Pellegrini to complete the score. “She is the primary composer,” Smitherman said. “Claudia brought the Spanish element to the music.” He described “Zorro: A New Beginning!” as “filled with action, adventure, comedy and some of the most beautiful Spanish-infused
music that you will hear.” Smitherman sought a special location for the world premiere of “Zorro.” He thought that an outdoor amphitheater might work best as most of the show’s action takes place outdoors. When Smitherman saw a friend’s Facebook post showing photos from the Draper Arts Council production of “The Sound of Music” at Draper Amphitheater, he was interested immediately. The posts were made by Draper choreographer Jessica Yergensen who had once worked with Smitherman on a commercial. “He saw the pictures I posted and reached out to me,” she said. “He sent us [Draper Arts Council] a script. People liked it and we just got the ball rolling.” While a combat director is choreographing the swordplay and fight scenes, Yergensen is designing the dance sequences in “Zorro: A New Beginning!” “I have some training in flamenco,” she said. “I’m trying to add a little Spanish flair in keeping with the story.” Choreographing a show that has never been done before is both challenging and
rewarding for Yergensen. “I’m listening to the music and I just do whatever comes to mind. I try to find movement that matches the music. Eventually I land on something that I like,” she said. She is enjoying watching the show come together. “I love the creative process,” Yergensen said. She appreciates the hardworking cast. “Everyone is very eager to jump in and try what I ask of them,” she added. Musical director Michelle Williams expressed similar feelings about the show. “I’m pretty lucky that I get to work with so many great people,” she said. “Being the first ones to try something is a really special experience.” Fine-tuning the music for the production is a process. “This is an interesting show because it’s a world premiere,” she said. “We get to see what works and what needs to be refined.” Besides conducting the orchestra and helping the actors prepare vocally, Williams is working with the composer and director to hammer out changes in the score. In one instance, parts that were written for alto voices had to be changed. “Two of our lead females are high sopranos,” she said. “I worked with Claudia who made the songs more comfortable for their range.” Williams said that conducting is her passion and that she is looking forward to conducting the small orchestra for “Zorro: A New Beginning!” “The music is absolutely beautiful,” producer Sharkey said. “There are different styles of music in it.” He spoke of the work that went into creating the score and the hours of practice and rehearsal on the part of the production team, actors and musicians. “We’re bringing together a lot of talent,” he said. Sharkey encouraged people to come to “Zorro: A New Beginning!” to “see something different.” “This is not one of the same old shows,” he said, adding, “It has a story line with a twist.” “This show is definitely fun for the whole family,” Smitherman said. He is hopeful that “Zorro: A New Beginning!” will develop a creative following and that other theaters will produce it. “I am happy to just get it out there,” he said. “This will be a good launching pad for that.” Draper Arts Council presents “Zorro: A New Beginning!” with book, music and lyrics by John D. Smitherman and music and lyrics by Claudia Pellegrini, Sept. 11, 12 and 14 at Draper Amphitheater, 944 Vestry Road. Gates open at 7 p.m., pre-show music begins at 7:30 p.m. and curtain is at 8 p.m. The link to purchase tickets can be found at www.draperutah. gov/events-programs/draper-amphitheater/ zorro-a-new-beginning. l
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The Point, University of Utah Health announce ‘landmark collaboration’ for medical campus State leaders signed an agreement for a 46-acre medical campus among the 600 acres at The Point which has been deemed “Utah’s Innovation Community.” By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
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ason Perry, VP Government Relations for the University of Utah, lauded a “landmark collaboration” when University of Utah Health, the state of Utah and The Point signed an agreement for a health care anchor at the master planned innovation community situated between the state’s most populous counties. The signing ceremony brought together state leaders in a ceremony at the state Capitol’s regal Gold Room. “One of Utah’s greatest strengths is the ability to bring people together to work toward a common goal. This reflects confidence in Utah’s future, confidence in this region, and confidence in the people who will work and raise children in this area in the future,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. University of Utah President Taylor Randall was among those who participated in the ceremonial signing of documents. “What excites us tremendously is the vision The Point has conceived, one of the most forward-thinking in the US. We will see innovations of all kinds for centuries to come, and for us to be the anchor of that is a thrill of a lifetime for the University of Utah,” Randall said. He predicted the agreement will have “unsurpassed societal impact.” Dr. Bob Carter, CEO of University of Utah Health, said it’s a matter of providing healthcare closer to home in growing communities. “Extraordinary care should be close to where Utahns live and work. There are families today who drive significant distances to access healthcare. We want to make that easier so parents can get their child to an appointment and not have it take their whole day, and people can get answers from specialists sooner,” he said. Carter noted the U’s recent healthcare expansions in other parts of the state including Eccles Hospital West Valley and the Huntsman Institute in Vineyard. “Now we’re adding another leg to that, a full academic campus … in partnership with Point of the Mountain State Land Authority (POMSLA). We’re proud to be growing as part of this community with
research-driven care,” Carter said. The 600-acre innovation community sits within Draper City limits and Draper Mayor Troy Walker serves on the POMSLA board. According to Walker, unlike other other projects at The Point which will lease land from the state for a continuous revenue stream, U of U Health will be “buying the dirt.” The medical campus parcel consists of 46 acres in the northeast corner of The Point, near the interstate. Draper is already home to Lone Peak Hospital, but Walker thinks the two will complement one another. “Lone Peak has been a great business and provides excellent medical care. The U is unique in that it has its medical school component as well as research. I think they’ll be able to live together well and maybe even feed off each other,” he said. At present time, The Point is still a construction site with dirt as far as the eye can see. In the last 18 months, 17,000 feet of sewer lines have been installed along with 36,000 feet of water/ irrigation lines and 54,000 feet of power conduit. Vertical construction is scheduled to begin later this year. A 5,000-seat event center and 363 residential rental units with ground-floor retail will be among the first things built. Because of the housing crisis, state officials pivoted and decided to sell about 50 acres for ownership homes at the site. Those are predicted to be a mix of townhomes, smaller homes and condos. The projected timeline for building the U facility at The Point is five to 10 years. “We know we need to be providing health care in areas where communicates are growing and it’s most needed. That’s the reason for this collaboration. That corridor is just exploding and now is the time to be forward-looking with that,” said Suzanne Winchester, public relations director for University of Utah Health. “It used to be a prison site but now the things going there are incredible,” Cox said. “Everybody coming together in partnerships like this one is where we get true synergies.” l
Days after the announced collaboration between U of U Health and The Point, U of U Health CEO Dr. Bob Carter and Draper Mayor Troy Walker pose for a photo at The Point’s groundbreaking ceremony. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium welcomes new Gentoo penguin chick By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
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oveland Living Planet Aquarium recently announced the arrival of a new Gentoo penguin chick this summer. The chick, which hatched on June 26, is healthy and thriving under the care of its parents, Meg and Ghost Rider. The Aquarium’s husbandry and veterinary teams have been keeping a close eye on the new addition to the Gentoo colony as it reaches important growth milestones. The chick’s gender will be determined after it has matured a bit more and gone through its first molt. Ari Fustukjian, Vice President of Zoological
Page 18 | September 2026
Operations, stated via press release, “Welcoming a new penguin chick is always an exciting moment for our team. It’s incredibly rewarding to share these special milestones with our guests and inspire a deeper appreciation for these amazing animals.” Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Penguin Research Station at the Aquarium in person or view footage of the new chick by following Loveland Living Planet Aquarium on all major social media platforms. (Photo courtesy of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium) l
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September 2026 | Page 21
Built on faith, guided by trust
“You have to trust in God,” Galey Colosimo said. It’s a lesson that shaped the founding of the Skaggs Catholic Center and now unites both the retiring Juan Diego Catholic High principal and the new administrators leading the Draper campus into its next chapter. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
T
he 57-acre campus Galey Colosimo spent a quarter-century building almost never happened. In the mid-1990s, when Catholic leaders lost a bid to purchase the former Jordan High School property for a new educational center, Colosimo saw an opportunity. “You have to trust in God,” he said. “There’s things that happen to you that you think are the worst thing ever and they ended up being the best thing.” With a donation from Sam and Aline Skaggs, Colosimo helped build the Skaggs Catholic Center, one of Utah’s most recognized Catholic educational communities. Now retiring after 26 years leading Juan Diego Catholic High School, Colosimo will be succeeded by Vanessa Jacobs. Jacobs also sees faith as the foundation for leadership. “I’ve found in my life, if I think I have a plan, then the plan changes,” said Jacobs, who wanted to be a lawyer before becoming a teacher. “I’m now letting God lead.” After teaching and coaching at Judge Memorial High, Colosimo helped establish several Catholic schools in Utah, culminating with the Skaggs Catholic Center, which includes Juan Diego and St. John the Baptist middle and elementary schools. “Twenty-five years ago, Juan Diego was a piece of farmland,” he said. “Now it’s this thriving, active community with parents and students and faculty and coaches and alumni and grandparents, and they all come together and are part of this enclave of Christianity.” That community Jacobs embraced, first as teacher and vice principal at Juan Diego and more recently, as principal of St. John the Baptist Middle. Under Colosimo’s leadership, Juan Diego earned a National Blue Ribbon School Award, won eight consecutive Best of State honors and became known for educational innovation. Yet, he believes success began long before awards or test scores. “We start with ‘you already matter’ before students have won anything, before they’ve passed any test,” he said. “We are loved before we achieve, before we fail, before we prove anything.” Jacobs hopes to preserve that culture while leading in
At this year’s baccalaureate mass, Galey Colosimo in his robe is pictured with incoming principal Vanessa Jacobs (second from left) and her family. (Photo courtesy Juan Diego Catholic High School)
Galey Colosimo helped build Juan Diego Catholic High School and served as principal for 26 years before retiring June 30. (Photo courtesy Juan Diego Catholic High School)
her own way. “When people say you have big shoes to fill, I say I have my own shoes,” she said. “I have to be myself, and I have to do the things I think need to be done. We’re two different people; God made everybody different.” For Colosimo, one of the school’s defining programs has been the Senior Service Project, where students volunteer in community nonprofit organizations. “The extension of a Catholic education is to go out and serve your fellow man,” he said. The school has served the community in many ways, from providing food and necessary items to offering shelter and refuge during the 2008 Corner Canyon fire. Jacobs’ priorities include increasing enrollment and strengthening collaboration across the campus schools. “I would like to increase enrollment so more people can have access to quality Catholic education,” she said. Joining Jacobs are vice principal Christine Celestino, new middle school principal Kayra Wood and vice principal Michelle Moynihan. Gina Parker continues leading St. John the Baptist Elementary.
Looking back, Colosimo said the buildings and accolades are not what matter most. “The most fun part about being in a school is being around young people,” he said. “They’re young and impressionable, enthusiastic and funny, just a joy to be around.” It’s a passion shared by Jacobs, who not only has taught secondary students, but continues to teach history online at Fletcher Technical Community College in her home state of Louisiana. “I like that we get to walk life with them,” she said. “I love being with them when amazing things happen. I love being there on their worst days, when they get broken up with, when they lose the championship, when they make the bad grade, because real relationships are formed in the bad and the good times.” Colosimo will continue advocating for private school families through scholarship programs and the Utah Private Schools Association he founded. He hopes God remains central in students’ lives, much as the 99-foot cross tower anchors the campus he helped build. “The kids hopefully realize they’re on a faith journey and will go out in the world and continue to pursue that,” Colosimo said. “That’s what you want.” l
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I
’ve always wanted a beautiful front porch where I could drink tea, read a book and listen to the neighbor’s fight. A porch was one of the first social media platforms. It just took a while to get the gossip; you had to sit patiently and wait for it to walk by. Now, our inability to be still keeps us from the simple joy of lounging on the porch to watch the flowers bloom, see the boy down the street learn to ride a bike, notice where the stray cat hides so you can leave it a treat, or watch your neighbor back into a light pole. At my childhood home, we didn’t have a fancy porch with swings and flowers; we had a concrete slab in front of our door, with two cement steps leading to the walkway. That was our porch and we sat on it all the time. If we were seated on the stoop, our friends knew we could play. There was no texting to see if we were home. There were no parents on a group chat arranging a play date. Kids just rode by on their bikes and invited us to go to the park. We’d gather friends along the way who were sitting on various porch steps until we had an entire gang. When I had a stomachache, Mom gave me a can of Coca-Cola. Apparently the medical treatment for an upset stomach in those days was carbonated, caffeinated sugar. Because drinking Coke in Utah at the time was borderline scandalous, I took my demon
DraperJournal .com
Leave the porch light on Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
beverage to the porch and sipped it while my friends watched, concerned about the state of my soul. Porches were the center of neighborhood communication. We’d leave treats on people’s welcome mats and Valentine’s cards on doorsteps. It’s where the paperboy threw the newspaper every morning and where the neighbor stood to accuse us of doorbell ditching, which also happened on a porch. How many first kisses happen on the front porch? People came to our porch every day. When the doorbell rang, we’d run to the front door, racing to open it first. We didn’t have Ring cameras. We had curiosity. It might be the Fuller Brush Man, a neighbor returning a casserole dish or Mom’s friend stopping by to gossip. The porch was where you sat in the rain, enjoyed the sunset, ate homemade cookies and watched a moth throw itself against the porch light. It was the place where nothing
happened, but also everything happened. A porch held no expectations but promoted childhood observations like: Is that mysterious car a kidnapper and does he have candy? Maybe we got rid of our front-porch communities because a porch required us to do something we’re increasingly uncomfortable with: nothing. We humble-brag about our busy schedules, eliminate downtime and use our phones to entertain us during the three minutes it takes to microwave a frozen dinner. Ironically, there’s an app called Front Porch Forum that’s supposed to connect people to their neighbors and communities. But you don’t have to download an app to build
connection. In fact, I challenge you to disengage from tech and go outside. If you have a porch or a stoop, sit down. Wait for the world to come to you. Talk to the woman walking her dog. Visit with the teenager slouching past your house. Watch the neighbor washing his car or the kid selling lemonade. If you’re lucky, listen to the neighbor’s fight. It’s really the perfect location. Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
September 2026 | Page 23
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