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It’s finally open! Mountain Ridge Park welcomes Herriman residents
Though scaled down from previous designs due to funding concerns, Herriman’s new Mountain Ridge Park still offers plenty of amenities for all abilities.
The long wait is over—residents near 13800 South and Mountain View Corridor in Herriman at last have a park that was first conceived over three years ago. Phase one of Mountain Ridge Park, located at 13800 S. Greenford Lane, opened officially on Sept. 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Herriman’s Mayor Lorin Palmer and other city officials.
“Mountain Ridge Park provides much-needed space for organized sports and gives residents in that part of Herriman a nearby playground and open area for recreation,” City Communications Manager Jonathan LaFollette said. “It’s an important addition to our system of parks and gathering spaces.”
The 9.6-acre space is all-inclusive, meaning playground equipment was designed to accommodate children with diverse abilities; climbing structures, slides, swings and other features are accessible for all patrons. Mountain Ridge is Herriman’s second all-abilities playground beside L & L Hamilton Park on 6400 West.
Restrooms at the park came prefabricated from Texas, and once on site, the restroom building was positioned using a crane, after which plumbing was connected. Mountain Ridge is also the second park in Herriman to use prefabricated restrooms, along with the Juniper Canyon east trailhead.
Park visitors will also enjoy benches, a pavilion, tables, a walking trail and an ample parking lot. Sections of the park near the parking lot and the playground also include water-efficient landscaping.
In addition, the city has planted a vast area of grass that will be usable for organized sports in the spring. “We know we need programma-
By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com
City officials and park patrons attended an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept.
4. Top row from left to right: City Engineer Bryce Terry, the Herriman Yeti, Deputy Director of Parks Anthony Teuscher, Community Development Director Blake Thomas, Councilwoman Terrah Anderson, Project Manager John Nunley, Assistant City Manager Wendy Thomas, Mayor Lorin Palmer with his son and City Manager Nathan Cherpeski. On the bottom row are two park patrons. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)
ble space, flat space for team sports… That part’s not open yet… but it’s going to be great,” Palmer said.
Several years ago, the city solicited input from the surrounding community about park amenities. “[The city said] here are all the possibilities… [We asked] what do you want, and we’ll try to prioritize accordingly,” LaFollette said.
Some residents have expressed frustration that the park doesn’t reflect what was shown by early conceptual designs. “As someone who lives very close to the park, I’m disappointed in how it’s turning out very, very different… from the plans that were shared,” Herriman resident Krista Flinders commented on Facebook.
The 2022 concept design included a dog park, sports courts, a climbing wall, a mural art wall and stepped seating areas.
“We’ve been trying to emphasize this is phase one based on funding,” Palmer said. “There could be more to come, of course, down the road.”
“There’s been some conversation about this park… ‘we thought we were getting this list of amenities,’ and it ends up being this list of amenities,” LaFollette said. “We had to… pull back on some of the original vision of the park because we could no longer afford to do the amenities we hoped we [could] in phase one, based on funding sources changing. But we hope to do more later.”
“Costs have escalated… We’ve seen [tremendous] inflation… that’s affected all of our projects out here,” Palmer said.
Though the city hopes to eventually expand and improve the park, there are currently no solidified plans or timelines for future phases.
“It will depend on available funding… and how this project compares to other priorities across the community,” LaFollette said. “Rather than the city using impact fees paid by builders to compensate for the costs of new infrastructure, public infrastructure districts are increasingly being used by developers as a funding method for new roads, water lines, parks and sewer lines within new developments.”
PIDs bypass the city’s finances entirely and can result in a faster timeline for new infrastructure.
However, the city realized several years ago that impact fee revenue would decrease in the coming years as PIDs are used more frequently. As a result, the city has scaled down some projects that were initially going to be funded with impact fees, such as Mountain Ridge Park.
“It became clear that the scope of planned projects—especially for parks and trails—was beyond what impact fees alone could cover,” LaFollette said.
A local governing entity must approve a PID, which covers a designated geographical area, before a developer may use one. The district sells bonds to investors to cover construction costs up front, and the PID can then fund public infrastructure within the designated area. Developers, builders and future property owners in the development’s geographical area then pay additional fees or property taxes over time to repay the PID.
“That’s not to say… projects [funded by impact fees] won’t happen—it may just take longer and require more phases to fit within available funding,” the city said via its Facebook page. l
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Seven cities join forces in a trashy partnership opportunity
Trans-Jordan Cities’ new transfer station will streamline waste disposal for Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Midvale, Murray, Sandy and West Jordan, reducing travel times and improving regional solid waste management.
By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
There are few things that bring seven cities together. High school football rivalries? Not a chance. Water rights? Please— people would sooner agree on pineapple on a pizza. But garbage? Garbage is the great unifier. Enter the Trans-Jordan Cities agency, which has now given seven municipalities—Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Midvale, Murray, Sandy and West Jordan—joint custody of a gleaming new transfer station in Sandy.
Architects at Galloway, who actually brag about this, designed the place with a clear-span truss system so the tipping floor has no columns. Imagine a cathedral, but for garbage. “The facility is especially beneficial for the member cities on the east side of Salt Lake County, providing them with a closer disposal facility to handle curbside waste,” they note in their project summary. If you’ve been stuck behind a garbage truck lumbering down I-15, this is basically your redemption arc.
For the moment, residents will find the new station at 8813 S. 700 West open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., though Saturdays are mainly for residential use. The rest of the week, it’s a constant ballet of collection trucks unloading their cargo. You can watch, if you’re into that sort of thing, but be aware that staring dreamily at a pile of drywall scraps is frowned upon.
And what if your garbage is… hazardous? Fear not: Salt Lake County’s health department has kindly provided a Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Center nearby at 8805 S. 700 West, open the same hours. That’s where you take paints, batteries, or anything that makes a sizzling noise when you look at it funny. Businesses can drop off their hazardous odds and ends, or the microwaved overcooked fish by appointment.
Meanwhile, the mothership itself—the Trans-Jordan Landfill in South Jordan—remains fully operational. Located at 10473
S. Bacchus Hwy. and open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., it is the beating heart of garbage life, home to mountains of yesterday’s leftovers and a surprisingly robust household hazardous waste program. Draper residents even get vouchers to reduce their
disposal fees, because nothing says municipal pride like subsidized dumping.
There is, of course, a rule: your loads must be covered. Salt Lake County makes it very clear—“a driver utilizing a landfill shall ensure that the vehicle’s load is securely covered from the destination of origin until the driver deposits the load at the landfill.” This isn’t just to keep debris from smacking into passing cars, but also to spare you the humiliation of everyone on I-15 learning you still own a floral couch from 1983.
So what does this mean for you? It means you can drive a shorter distance to toss out the mattress your cat has “remodeled.” It means fewer garbage trucks doing cross-county mar-
athons. It means your kids now have a local field trip destination they’ll talk about for minutes. Mostly, it means the valley’s trash continues its dignified journey toward the Bayview Landfill in Juab County, because even garbage needs a final resting place.
Tran-Jordan Landfill accepts approximately 365,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually from its seven member cities. In sum, the new transfer station represents a regional investment by seven cities to reduce travel times, improve efficiency, and extend the life of local landfill resources. For more information about seasonal hour changes, services and guidelines, visit the official site at transjordan.org. l
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Mayors of the Trans-Jordan Cities (Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Midvale, Murray, Sandy and West Jordan) cut the ribbon on the waste transfer station. (Photo courtesy of Sandy City)
UNIFIED
Garbage and recycling GM Pam Roberts rolls into retirement on her motorcycle
Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is under new leadership for the first time ever.
By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Imaginebeing 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.
“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 Papakura, 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.”
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 compa-
ny 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 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,” Barbi-
eri 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 zWhite 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 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 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
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)
Free radon tests could save your life
The pervasive gas is common in Utah homes.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
It’sodorless and colorless and could be the most dangerous thing in your home. Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in Utah’s soil and rocks, caused by the decay of uranium. When it accumulates, it can cause serious health risks, including lung cancer.
Utah resident Kerri Robbins found that out the hard way when she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-smoking lung cancer, which metastasized into brain tumors. She met oncologist Dr. Wallace Akerley at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, who guided her treatment.
“I was absolutely floored,” she said. “Dr. Ackerly asked if I ever smoked. I never smoked. He asked if I had tested my home for radon. I didn’t know that I needed to; that’s the first time I realized that radon was a possibility for causing my cancer.”
She got a free radon test from Utah Radon and was shocked by the results. She learned the radon level in her home was so high, it was equivalent to smoking three packs of cigarettes a day. Robbins and her husband, Ron, had the radon mitigated and now monitor levels in their home all the time.
The cost of mitigation is around $2,000. Robbins said that the price tag is less than having to go through a cancer diagnosis and treatments. “Let me tell you, mitigation is cheaper than cancer,” she said.
Now, Robbins partners with Utah Radon to educate the public about the dangers of radon gas. Her dedication earned
her the 2024 IEA Radon Advocacy Award, given to just one U.S. citizen annually.
Utah has high levels of naturally occurring radon due to the state’s geology. Gas can enter homes through cracks in the driveway and foundation and build up over time. Right after smoking, it’s the second most common cause of lung cancer.
Utah Radon uses giant inflatable lungs to raise awareness about the dangers of radon. Taking the display to community events and public gatherings, the lungs attract attention so families can learn about radon detection, an easy test that could save lives. Almost one in two Utah homes tests high for radon.
“Forty-nine percent of Utah homes have dangerous radon levels,” Utah Radon Board Member Brad Callister said. “The only way to detect radon is to test for it. Testing is easy and free through Utah Radon. If your home has high levels of radon, a permanent radon mitigation system can be installed by a certified professional.”
New studies also link radon exposure to childhood leukemia, which occurs at higher-than-average rates in Utah. Robbins faces more cancer treatments as her tumors continue to grow, but she hopes her message can help save lives so people can avoid going through her experience.
“Cancer has changed a lot of things in my life,” Robbins said. “If it had been 20 years ago, I think I would have been dead, but the technology they have today keeps me going. Get that test from Utah Radon; it’s simple to do.”
For more information, or to get a free radon test, visit UtahRadon.org.l
Herriman, UFA break ground on Fire Station 103
Construction is expected to be complete in late 2026.
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
What started for a mostly volunteer fire department decades ago will soon serve the modern day needs of Herriman.
City leaders, Unified Fire Authority officials and project partners broke ground in late September on the replacement for Fire Station 103 in Herriman. The new station will be located at approximately 12900 South 5600 West. The existing station is located at 5916 W. Main Street and will cease fire service operations upon the new station’s completion next year.
“This new facility is one we can all be proud of,” Mayor Lorin Palmer said in his remarks at the groundbreaking. “It will provide better living conditions for firefighters and paramedics.”
He added it’s strategically placed to ensure quick responses even as Herriman continues to grow.
“UFA has provided Herriman with outstanding service for many years,” Palmer said. “We are grateful for the men and women who serve here and want to give
them the very best conditions possible so they can continue fulfilling their critical role in protecting lives and property.”
Part of those conditions is the design of the station. Unified Fire Authority Chief Dominic Burchett said there will be systems to reduce diesel exhaust, dedicated gear rooms for decontamination, immediate shower access to reduce fireground exposure and a separate workout facility free of diesel exhaust.
“Station 103 will stand as a station of readiness, safety and Herriman’s dedication to protecting its residents, its visitors and the firefighters that sacrifice each and every day to serve this great community,” Burchett said.
While health and safety for the firefighters is a focus, he also pointed to improved response times due to the building being a single story and two hallways allowing them to exit the station quickly, saving valuable seconds, as an intentional part of the new station’s design.
Palmer said funding for the project was possible since the city left the regional fire service taxing entity in 2020 as Herriman established its own, allowing fire service–specific tax revenue to remain in the community.
“By setting aside those funds carefully we are now able to build this station essentially with cash without the need for a public bond and I think that is so important,” he said. Construction of the new Fire Station 103 is expected to be completed in late 2026. l
Ron and Kerri Robbins stand by the Utah Radon lung display. Kerri, a lung cancer survivor, advocates for radon testing and mitigation. (Photo courtesy Utah Radon)
Mayor Lorin Palmer speaks at the groundbreaking of Fire Station 103. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)
Students explore a world of careers
Targeted field trips open up possible job pathways for students.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Monthly nontraditional field trips—to a car dealership, a dental office, a shoe manufacturing company—are carefully planned by Fort Herriman Middle School’s Career and Technology Education team to help guide students to future careers they will enjoy.
“We’re looking at students that have these aptitudes that aren’t showing any interest and inviting them to participate in these field trips and with these guest speakers, so that they can explore a new career that they’ve never even thought about or considered,” FHMS CTE department head Jacob Cope said.
Guest speakers and specialized field trips featuring a different industry are offered each month throughout the school year. Cope said exposure to a variety of jobs is important especially for youth who don’t know what they’re good at or what job they’d do well in.
As students enrolled in sewing classes were about to begin sewing a pair of pajama pants, their teacher Juli Andresen took them on a field trip to a fabric warehouse.
“That’s just not something you can show a picture of and feel the enormity of it, and inside that workplace, that’s just not something you can get out of the classroom, even if you showed a video,” Andresen said. “They have 100 foot ceilings with fabric stacked all the way to the top, just aisle after aisle after aisle of bolts and bolts and bolts of fabric and so many designs—it’s just everything you can possibly think of, every holiday, every pattern, every animal, covered, printed onto cotton fabric.”
The students, who are learning all the skills to transform fabric and a pattern into a finished product, were able to see how those skills could be applied to a career if it’s something they enjoy doing.
“Those are the exact same things that a person who works as a fashion designer or
who assembles clothing in a factory needs to know on a daily basis to do their job,” Cope said. “We’re trying to help them see that what they’re learning in school is actually useful information that they can make money with, they can build a career on.”
The group of 35 students invited on the field trip were not all sewing students. Students with an interest or aptitude for sewing, art, design or business were invited to visit the Riley Blake Designs warehouse, where they make custom printed fabrics at a large scale, as well as hear from a guest speaker who started a quilting business.
Other field trips planned for the year include the Jordan Valley Water Department, a Honda car dealership, a shoe manufacturing
company, Hill Air Force Base, SheTech, a cooking class, a dental office and the Salt Lake Valley 911 call center.
Last year’s visit to the 911 call center inspired one student to get certified in CPR and first aid. He plans to register for JATC classes in high school to become a CNA and possibly pursue a career as a first responder.
Cope said this is the kind of outcome they hope to see from the field trips.
“We’re trying to expose them to opportunities and ideas, get them networking, talking to industry professionals, seeing what’s out there,” he said. “It’s a lot of work on our end, but it’s awesome to see students out there talking to a pilot or talking to a 911 operator or seeing what people are doing and experiencing
in their job.”
Andresen said there’s also just something special about going on a field trip that helps students make connections to their learning and their community.
“They spend seven hours inside this building, and so the experience of being able to leave while everyone else is here is a little bit of an exhilarating feeling,” she said. “You’re with your peers. You get to leave school. You get to see the community during the day when you normally wouldn’t see them. You get to go to this building that you normally wouldn’t have gone in, and get to see these people working in an industry or career maybe you never even thought of. So I think all of those things combined make a real impression on them.” l
Fort Herriman Middle School students explore the career possibilities of the fabric industry on a field trip to the Riley Blake Designs warehouse. (Jenny Curtis/JSD)
Herriman High School offers a one-of-a-kind social skills class to prepare teens for real life.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
The communication, social and boundary setting skills
Herriman High School senior Bree Leeper learned as a sophomore in her social skills class helped improve her relationship with her mom, her friends, her swimming students, herself and even her phone.
“It was the most beneficial-in-life class,” Leeper said. “I was like, ‘Oh, wait, I’ll actually use this stuff, not like the Pythagorean theorem.’ It helped me communicate with my mom and show my point of view without hurting her feelings or, like, bulldozing her down. Because of the class, my mom said I have the best apologies in the whole family, because I learned not to ever say ‘you’ but always say ‘I’ in an apology.”
Leeper notices a difference in the communication and empathy skills of her friends who haven’t taken the social skills class.
“I noticed with my freshman friends, the communication with the coaches and things is totally different— there’s not as much respect and everything like that, because they don’t understand.” Leeper said. “I hear about other high schools—our high school seems genuinely pretty nice, like, everyone understands each other, kind of, and we’re all willing to communicate, and I think are in that mind because of this class, because we’ve all learned these things. We aren’t biting each other’s heads off. We all have respect for each other.”
Other high schools offer quarter-long career readiness or ACT prep classes in conjunction with drivers education classes, but Herriman High students take the social skills class.
This class is for real
Jen Glassy, the current class instructor, said the interactive lessons help the many students whose social skills are underdeveloped because of the social restrictions during covid.
“Covid changed education,” Glassy said. “Kids did not talk to each other like they used to. There was less socializing.”
The first time she taught the class a few years ago, Glassy was reluctant to hold an unstructured game day at the end of each week, as prescribed by the curriculum. During the first game day, she was shocked to see how just one week of class had improved the students’ social skills.
“It was so awesome to just see kids talking and laughing and having fun, and no one had a phone in their face, and no one was feeling awkward,” Glassy said.
HHS School Counselor Cindy Watkins, M.Ed, ACMHC, originally developed the social skills class in response to a rash of student suicides several years ago. She said the struggle all those students had in common was relationships, so she designed the class to be interactive and to encourage social connections.
Watkins said students begin the quarter awkward and quiet but by the end, they are laughing and talking with each other outside their normal friend groups.
“That’s my favorite part, to watch that happen,” Watkins said. “These kids that are normally outliers are playing with the kids that seem like they’ve got it all together because they found out they share a lot of the same problems.”
The class curriculum covers how to identify toxic friends, how to break off a relationship in a healthy way, how to give compliments and how to have empathy. Students also learn about their own brain development to help them respond to peer pressure, strong emotions and their natural impulsivity and to understand social media’s impact on their developing brain.
Watkins said over the nine weeks of class, students grow
as a person and as a member of society, becoming more confident, more generous to others and more prepared for future jobs and relationships.
“There’s not anything that is ever taught in the class that a parent does not want their child to know,” Watkins said.
Students are encouraged to talk to their parents about what they learn in the class and many assignments challenge them to try out their new skills on their family members.
One homework assignment, called mic drop, requires students to give a sincere and specific compliment to someone and then just walk away. Later, they write about how that affected their relationship with that person.
“Those reflections are my favorite to read,” Watkins said. “Students thank me for that assignment.”l
Weekly Game Day gives students an opportunity to practice relationship-building skills learned in their social skills class. (Photo courtesy Cindy Watkins)
Fall theatre preview: classic, eclectic, traditional and iconic
Get your tickets now to experience a wide range of genres this high school theatre season.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Local high school drama students are excited to perform their fall productions after months of rehearsals. Providence Hall High School will kick off the fall theatre season with their own drama teacher’s version of “Frankenstein.”
Knowing the performances’ dates would fall just after Halloween, Jason Purdie considered the macabre story of Frankenstein’s monster and searched for stage adaption that would work for his cast of 16 high school students.
“I looked at all these different versions, and I was just like, ‘I don’t like any of this,’ and then I was like, ‘What if I just write my own?’” he said.
Over the summer, he wrote (and his wife edited) a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s novel in which Frankenstein’s monster is female and has a past life, and Dr. Frankenstein spends some time as an actor and playwright before he becomes a mad scientist. Several other plot differences will surprise audiences but still deliver the creepy, horror vibe of the original story.
Students, especially the two main leads, have put enormous effort into accurately portraying the characters’ dispositions.
Senior Quinn Hanemann plays Victor Frankenstein, the doctor who is both the protagonist and the villain.
“Victor is, by far, the angriest character I’ve ever played,” he said. “I’ve played angsty, I’ve played annoyed, I have never played a character who genuinely has hate in his heart. And that’s what makes it really interesting, the transition from obsession and love to hate and how do I express that, while also expressing the nuance of the character to make him seem like a human and not just a cartoon villain.”
Ivy Purdie, a senior, plays the role of the monster, which she said requires a lot of physicality in her acting.
“I put way more thought into, like, how I carry myself and just how I move and how I speak,” she said.
Seven stage tech students have risen to the challenge of realizing Purdie’s vision of creating a creepy setting for the show within the budget, availability of equipment and physical parameters of the stage.
“I have some really great tech kids, and
Shear experience
Let’s not split hairs—but this barber shop benefits both future barbers and community members.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
High school students who’ve accrued hundreds of hours experience with hair design and barbering skills on mannequins and friends need to practice their skills on real heads of adult hair.
“We have to reach 1,200 hours to license, but most of us get our license right as we graduate,” Riverton High School senior Natalie Roberds said. “A lot of people have been super kind to come in and let us practice.”
She said working on people’s hair is her favorite part of the hair design and barbering program at Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, where she takes two classes each day.
“I love the hands-on experience,” Roberds said. “We don’t just sit in the classroom and do book work—we do have the days for that—but most of the time we’re in the salon actually working on people or doing mannequin work. That’s my favorite part.”
Program instructor Dacia Peterson said students get a lot of practice doing their friends’ hair and sometimes even pull students out of other JATC classes to practice on, but said that they are in need of more experience with other hair types and styles to become well-rounded professionals.
“Teens are not the number one demographic they will be working with,” she said.
Peterson would like to see older adults take advantage of the early morning barbering hours so students get more experience with adult hair styles and working with thinning and receding hair challenges.
JATC Vice Principal Stewart Hudnall is a regular client at the shop because he enjoys supporting his students but also because they do a good job.
“I am consistently impressed by the professionalism and growing skills of the students,” he said. “The instructors create an excellent, supervised learning environment, and it is rewarding to see the students’ confidence and talents develop with each visit. It’s more than just a haircut for me; it’s about contributing to their education and helping them prepare for their future.”
Hudnall believes the barbershop and hair salon are a valuable asset to the community, not only because they provide training opportunities for students, but also because
every day, we’re like, ‘What can we do?’ and they have lots of great ideas,” he said.
Cast members believe audiences will like the play but warn that sensitive or young children may be upset by some gruesome scenes and loud, disturbing noises.
Providence Hall High School’s theatre department presents:
“Frankenstein”
Written and directed by Jason Purdie Nov 5, 6, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 adults/$5 students.
Herriman High School’s theatre department presents:
“Spongebob the Musical” Nov. 19, 20, 21 and 22 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 adults/$8 students and can be purchased online or at the door.
Mountain Ridge High School’s theatre department presents:
“Fiddler on the Roof”
Nov. 20, 21, 22 and 24 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 adults/$8 students and can be purchased online or at the door.
Riverton High School’s theatre department presents:
“High School Musical”
Directed by Clin Eaton
Nov. 20, 21, 22 and 24 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 adults, $8 students/seniors and can be purchased online or at the door.l
they offer more affordable hair services for members of the community.
Haircuts and hair styling appointments are $8 and a shave is $10.
“It’s way cheap because we are students, and they have to have their risk of us being students,” Roberds said. “But we have teachers to help us, so we’re going to give them the service they need.”
She said students are taught to work carefully so the service may take a little longer.
“There’s a lot of different ways you can cross check and, like, make sure your work is good, so they’ve been really good at teaching us those type of things,” Roberds said.
Riverton High School senior Daphne Brown said clients can expect to get a quality haircut.
“Since it’s our second year, and the first year we learned so much, that now I’m like, ‘Okay, I can do any of it,’” she said. “Teachers are always there to help us fix things, so nothing’s ever gone terribly wrong.”
Additional services offered by students include deep conditioning, scalp treatment, braiding, coloring and other chemical services.
The barber shop is open MondayThursday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for appointments and walk-ins.
Hair services (including coloring) at the barber shop and hair salon are available Tuesday - Thursday afternoons and evenings by appointment only.
The barbershop and hair salon are located on the second floor of the JATC South Campus, 12723 S. Park Avenue in Riverton. Appointments can be scheduled by phone at 801-412-1324 or email at JATChair@jordandistrict.org. l
Quinn Hanemann and Ivy Purdie rehearse for Providence Hall High School’s production of “Frankenstein.” (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
Deen Dzanic gets hands-on experience in JATC’s barber shop. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
Veterans
A publication covering veterans around the Salt Lake valley in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day
Veterans find community at Warrior Revival events and activities
When clinical psychologist Katie Fry, Ph.D., recognized that the military veterans she counsels needed more community support and opportunities to socialize, she decided to do something about it. Two years ago, she founded Warrior Revival, a Utah-based nonprofit that supports veterans and their families’ transition to civilian life through recreation opportunities, mentorship and retreats. Among the many social activities offered by the organization is a monthly book club that meets in Draper.
“When we first started, we thought we’d have one activity per month,” Fry explained. “It has just taken off. We now have 10 to 12 activities per month. Everything is free and it’s all run by volunteers.”
She noted that veterans who return to civilian life face unique challenges when they leave the military. “I see it through my patients,” she said. “There’s a loss of community and sense of meaning and connection. We want veterans to feel safe and supported.”
To that end, Fry started Warrior Revival as a way to bring veterans and civilians together. “We try to partner with organizations in the community,” she said. “The goal is to give back and break down barriers.”
Currently, over 500 veterans from throughout Utah have participated in Warrior Revival events and activities. “We’ll have between five and 20 meet up for coffee hours and the book club,” she said. Over 100 signed up for the Hook & Honor Warrior Fishing Classic that was held at Strawberry Bay Marina last September.
Other activities the organization has sponsored include scuba diving opportunities, hiking and biking trips, a whitewater rafting retreat and off-roading excursions. All of these events are made possible thanks to corporate sponsorship and foundation support. “We really rely on fundraising,” Fry said. “We rely on the
community to help us.”
In addition to the larger events, Warrior Revival members also gather for coffee hours and a monthly book club. The book club meets after business hours at Houzd Mortgage, 11550 S. 700 East, in Draper. Brandy Tilo, a realtor who served in the Navy, initiated the book club last year. “It kind of morphed into Warrior Revival,” she said. “We just got more and more veterans but anyone can come.”
Tilo explained that while some of the books they have read specifically address how to transition from the military, other books contain life lessons with more general appeal. “We read ‘The Let Them Theory’ by Mel Robbins and books by David Goggins,” she said.
“It’s funny how we end up,” she added. “There is a lot of crying and a lot of laughter. It’s become almost a self-help therapy session.”
The meetings, which start at 6 p.m., usually begin with a little socializing before the club members share their thoughts and perspectives on the book. They then collaboratively select a book for the next month.
“I never thought I’d get so much out of a book club,” Tilo said. “I look forward to that last Tuesday of the month.”
The Warrior Revival book club is made up of both men and women of all ages. “It’s a very mixed bag. Not all are military but I think that’s even better, we get different perspectives,” she said.
“We average about seven to eight people in the club,” Tilo said. “It’s our safe space so we don’t want it to get too big. But we certainly have room for more. It really is a good time.”
Fry emphasized that Warrior Revival serves all veterans. Recently, the organization hosted a virtual get-together and a lunch meeting just for women. “We are working on adding space for women to come together,” she said.
“We truly welcome everyone to join our community,” she said. “We welcome those who want to give back to our service members — those veterans and their families who have selflessly given so much to us.”
To learn more about Warrior Revival, visit warrior-revival.org.
Members of Warrior Revival were photographed at a recent skydiving event in Tooele made possible through a partnership with the J. Parker Christensen Memorial Fund. (Photo courtesy of Katie Fry/Warrior Revival)
Hikers at a Warrior Revival retreat in Bruin Point, Utah paused for a selfie. (Photo courtesy of Katie Fry/ Warrior Revival)
How
More than just loud noises:
Camp Williams serves our community, nation and helped
By Elisa Eames |
On July 25, a fun adventure turned into a harrowing ordeal for a man who was hiking near Idaho’s Leatherman Peak. While negotiating the rough landscape, he fell and sustained severe injuries, including compound fractures in both legs, stranding him at an extremely high altitude. Knowing that Utah Army National Guard teams receive specialized high-altitude training at Camp Williams, the state of Idaho asked Utah for help that evening.
“Due to the extreme altitude, low moonlight and rugged terrain, local search and rescue personnel were struggling to reach the stranded hiker,” the 97th Aviation Troop Command said in a statement. The 97th Aviation Troop Command is the brigade headquarters, or the
unit overseeing the command and administration of a brigade, for Utah National Guard Aviation Battalions, including the 2-211th General Services Aviation Battalion, which supplied rescue volunteers.
In an HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter equipped with just the kind of rare machinery the situation demanded, a West Jordan-based medical team of volunteers from the 2-211th General Services Aviation Battalion began its hurried flight to Idaho. Following a stop in Idaho Falls to refuel, the team was able to locate the hiker in near pitch-black conditions after reaching his last known position.
“[They] conducted an extremely difficult and technical hoist operation, lowering their on-board medic onto the steep terrain to begin immediate care of the
hiker,” the 97th Aviation Troop Command said.
When the medic was able to stabilize the man, the helicopter used a hoist cable to bring him on board while hovering in mid-air. The operation took place at approximately 10,500 feet above the average sea level. The hiker continued to receive lifesaving medical care as the Blackhawk sped to meet a waiting civilian emergency transport helicopter, which transferred him to a medical center.
“This is a mission that the Citizen-Soldiers of the Utah Army National Guard are uniquely qualified for and stand ready to conduct at a moment’s notice,” the 97th Aviation Troop Command said.
Many locals don’t realize that the training that makes rescues like this possible happens in our own backyard. “All units within 97th Aviation Troop Command train at Camp Williams routinely as a primary training site for members of the Utah National Guard,” Tamara L. West said. West is the public affairs officer for the Utah National Guard, which was organized in 1894.
Camp Williams was established in 1914 as a training ground for the National Guard during World War I, though it was a fraction of its current 24,063 acres and hadn’t yet received its official name. In 1927, permanent and semi-permanent structures were built on the site, and a year later, the camp was named for Brigadier General William Grey Williams to recognize his role in founding the training location and for his service in the Spanish-American War.
The camp continued to grow, and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. Army took control of the complex, using it as a main training center for
win two world wars
active-duty troops. Oversight of Camp Williams was returned to Utah in 1947, and since then, it has played an important role in training troops who would serve in Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, the War on Terror and even during the state’s COVID-19 response.
Today, the camp provides extensive combat and rescue training for the Utah National Guard, serves active-duty and reserve soldiers and hosts youth and civic groups. It also supports civilian, federal and state entities, including local, state and federal law enforcement organizations. The 97th Aviation Troop Command even executes flyovers for Provo’s annual Stadium of Fire celebration.
“The Utah National Guard performs missions at the request and approval of our governor and trains [at Camp Williams] to support our state and civil authorities in a wide range of capabilities,” West said. “[It] regularly supports our state and communities with wildland fire support, technical rescue, debris removal and hazardous materials monitoring and assessment…”
“Herriman City values its longstanding partnership with Camp Williams and the Utah National Guard,” Herriman Communications Manager Jonathan LaFollette said. “We work closely on land use, public safety, wildfire risk mitigation and community coordination to ensure residents and the Guard can thrive side by side.”
In addition to a mine detection course, small arms firing ranges and a land navigation course, there are ranges for artillery, mortars, grenades and demolition, offering training and certification for every weapon the Army has. “The Camp plays an important role in national
A fraction of its current size, Camp Williams was established during WWI in 1914. (Photo courtesy Utah Army National Guard)
When the United States entered WWII in 1941, Camp Williams had grown significantly. (Photo courtesy Utah Army National Guard)
Camp Williams has been instrumental in training soldiers for multiple wars in the 20th and 21st centuries. (Photo courtesy Google Images)
defense and in supporting emergency response, training and coordination across Utah and neighboring states,” LaFollette said.
The camp also includes classrooms, warehouses, dining facilities, a fitness center, workshop spaces and administration and maintenance buildings.
The training sessions are often the cause of the startling booms that residents sometimes hear and feel.
“Camp Williams is a primary training area for the 65th Field Artillery Brigade… as well as the 640th Regiment Regional Training Institute,” West said. “Loud booms heard are practice and live artillery rounds being fired, usually from M109A6 Paladin howitzers and M119 howitzers as
part of required training and certification. Artillery units work diligently to balance their training requirements with the impact their activities have on the populations surrounding training areas.”
To ensure units and individuals are always ready to serve, the camp receives soldiers from around the state and the nation for training in authentic and harsh conditions. “The Utah National Guard is comprised of citizen soldiers and airmen, neighbors and friends, and is proud to assist our communities, state and nation when called upon,” West said.
“We recognize the sacrifices and contributions of Guard members and appreciate the strength they bring to our region,” LaFollette said.
A Blackhawk helicopter like this one was used to rescue an Idaho hiker in July. (Photo courtesy Utah Army National Guard)
Camp Williams stretches across 24,063 acres in Utah County. (Photo courtesy Utah Army National Guard)
Training sessions at Camp Williams with M109A6 Paladin howitzers like this one are responsible for many of the loud noises residents hear. (Photo courtesy Pixabay)
Youth groups and camps are hosted at Camp Williams. (Photo courtesy Utah Army National Guard)
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.
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
count, count on our emergency
Get to know us before you need us.
When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.
Congratulations to CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley for receiving the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade-A Accreditation for the fourth consecutive time. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are determined based on a rigorous assessment of various safety measures.
Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
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Herriman football enjoys best season since 2019
The Mustangs won eight of their first nine games this year, earning the team its first winning season since before Covid.
Photos by Pat McDonald
Herriman High football took down Lehi 22-21 on the road in late September. The Mustangs went undefeated in nonregion play with victories over Bountiful, Desert Hills, Taylorsville and Lehi. At press time Herriman was 8-1 heading into the season finale against Cedar Valley, its best run since 2019 when the Mustangs finished 9-3. The lone blemish was a 24-8 loss to Mountain Ridge.
Junior Filisi Felipe has been Herriman’s most effective running back, tallying 660 yards and seven rushing touchdowns through the first eight games.
Senior Tyler Messer has devastated defenses this season both on the ground and through the air. Messer leads the team in rushing touchdowns with 11.
My Gluten Free World Expo serves up flavor
The event attracts people living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
estimated that at least 3 million Americans struggle with celiac disease, an autoimmune illness triggered by consuming gluten. Not only does eating products with gluten cause pain, bloating and cramping for people with celiac, it can ultimately damage the small intestine.
Gluten is a protein found in a variety of grains, including wheat, rye and barley. While doctors say most people shouldn’t avoid gluten, for those diagnosed with celiac or gluten intolerance, cutting out gluten products is the best way to feel better.
Eight years ago, organizers introduced the first My Gluten Free World Expo to people in Utah and this year it included more than 100 vendors introducing gluten-free foods and products. The event was held at the end of September at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy.
Local company, Grandpa’s Kitchen, was started in 2007. McKaelle Kauwe’s great-grandfather began the business to help family members with celiac disease who struggled to find quality gluten-free breads and cakes. The company offers gluten-free flour, mixes and recipes to improve the quality of life for those who can’t eat gluten.
“There was no good, gluten-free food in 2007,” Kauwe said. “He created a good flour blend and went through a lot of bad iterations to get to this point and now we’re trying to share it with the world.”
Kauwe said many gluten-free products are made with chickpea flour, which can leave a bitter aftertaste, and gluten-free bread can be dense, gritty and prone to falling apart easily.
The vendors at My Gluten Free World Expo are trying to build better products by using different flour blends and ingredients to create a more realistic flavor and texture to gluten-free foods. Amanda Wuerz started Hugz Snacks in Utah, selling vegan and gluten-free cheez bread inspired by her Brazilian heritage.
“It stands out for a couple of reasons,” Wuerz said. “First, I use freshly-grated cheese. My Colby Jack cheese is freshly grated and put into the dough. And I don’t use seed oil. It’s pure avocado oil and it’s made in small batches.”
Other products at the expo included seasonings, soups, cooking oils, lotions, soaps, cooking utensils, drinks, protein bars and desserts. Gluten-free testing kits were a big hit at the expo, giving people the opportunity to test foods in restaurants to ensure food safety.
Jill Smith is the chief technical officer of Leo Verified, a gluten-free detection kit to help relieve the stress of dining out. It only takes three minutes to get results, so people can make healthy choices quickly.
are the bridge between businesses and the community in Bluffdale, Herriman, and Riverton.
We welcomed our newest Chamber members
LiveWell Veterinary Clinic in Herriman, Quick Quack Carwash in Riverton and Chubby’s Neighborhood Café in Herriman with a ribbon cutting. Please check them out and enjoy the services they provide for our community.
Boosting Local Business
Mountain West Chamber of Commerce is excited to launch a new marketing program called Local Link. This program aims to increase foot traffic to local businesses using an app called Goosechase. Businesses can sign up to be a “destination” on the app and offer a unique experience or discount, known as a “mission,” to customers who visit their location. Potential customers can download the app for free, complete missions, and earn points. The customer with the most points at the end of each month wins a prize. Scan QR code to download app, create a team and start saving by shopping locally.
“I had not eaten au jus with prime rib for 31 years,” Smith said. “So I ordered prime rib, with the au jus on the side. Then I tested it and it was gluten-free. I wondered how many other things I’d been missing out on.”
Groups like Advanced Research Clinic attended the event to educate people about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, and to recruit patients for a clinical trial that tests cutting-edge treatment for the disease.
Lynae Sorensen is an advanced practice nurse working with ARC. She said research into celiac and other autoimmune diseases is growing. Statistically, women are much more likely than men to be diagnosed with an auto-
immune disease and it can take years before it is identified. The average time for an autoimmune diagnosis is four to five years, but it’s often much longer.
“I spoke with a patient who had it for 11 years before she was diagnosed,” Sorensen said. “We’re learning more about specific chemical messengers that are attached to this disease. That’s where we can make specific medications to target those things. There’s a lot that they’re coming out with now and that’s exciting.”
For a list of My Gluten Free World Expo vendors, visit MyGlutenFree WorldExpo.com. l
Thousands of people attended the two-day My Gluten Free World Expo to stock up on gluten-free products and find new favorites. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Mrs. Hewitt’s vendor booth at My Gluten Free World Expo sold its popular bread, cake mixes, waffles and cookies. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
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
Amid 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
VA 2705169445, WA LEAFFNW822JZ, WV WV056912.
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
insurances?
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)
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World Cup speedskating event coming to the Utah Olympic Oval
Top speedskaters from around the world will compete in the ISU Long Track World Cup race No. 1 at the Olympic Oval in Kearns Nov. 14-16.
By Tom Haraldsen
t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
The2026 Olympic Winter Games may be a few months away, but some of the world’s best long track speedskaters will gather in Utah this month for the ISU World Cup No. 1 competition at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
The Oval is home of the U.S. Speedskating program, where both long and short track teams have been in training to prepare for international competition prior to the Games. The U.S. team is expected to have a large number of contenders for Olympic medals when the Games start Feb. 5 in Milano, Italy.
Among the top U.S. competitors in Kearns during the Nov. 14-16 competition are world record holders Brittany Bowe and Jordan Stolz.
Bowe still holds the world record in the 1000 meters which she set on Oval ice in 2019. She has the American record in the 1500 meters set in Calgary, Alberta in 2015. She has two Olympic medals and is considered among the most successful speedskaters in U.S. history.
Stolz began his climb toward becoming the top male long tracker in the world with three gold medals in the 2023 World Championships, three more in 2024, and two silvers and a bronze in 2025. He has also won the overall World Cup title.
Also other top women competing in Kearns will be American Erin Jackson, defending Olympic champ in 500
meters she won in 2022 in Beijing; Kimi Goetz, who has won multiple medals in world competitions over the past five years; and Mia Manganello, a multi-metal winner in long distance and team racing events. Among the other men skaters are Ethan Ceparan, Casey Dawson, Austin Kleba, Emery Lehman, Conor McDermott-Mostowy and Cooper McLeod, all of whom had great seasons last year and could contend for medals on the Kearns ice.
The Olympic Oval, billed as “The Fastest Ice On Earth,” host site for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and future host for the 2034 Olympics, will welcome a number of speedskating competitions over the next few months.
The 2025 Beehive Burn for long track international will precede the World Cup event on Nov. 7. The U.S. Ju-
Defending World Cup champ Jordan Stolz will be among the world’s best speedskaters at the first World Cup event at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns Nov. 14-16. (Tom
nior Short Track Championships will be held Dec. 19-21, as well as the UOO Winter Challenge for racers ages 5 and up on Dec. 20 and 21. The U.S. Junior Long Track and AmCup Championships will be held Jan. 16-18, 2026, on the Kearns ice. The ISU Junior World Short Track Championships are coming to Salt Lake City, likely at the Delta Center, from Jan. 2-Feb. 1, 2026. l
Summit Veterinary Urgent Care offers compassionate, comprehensive medicine without the need for an appointment. Our kindhearted staff is dedicated to providing prompt and thoughtful care when your beloved pet needs immediate attention.
Our proprietors, Dr. Taylor Howard (DVM) and Cassie Czerny (CVT), founded SVUC in 2024 and are passionate about providing same-day care at an affordable price.
From broken nails to surgeries and life-threatening emergencies, we treat it all. Anal gland expressions? We love them! Call for a same-day appointment or just come on in. If your fur baby is just a little off and you don’t want to wait, we’re here for you. Even if your baby hates going to the doctor, no one has a knack with spicy kitties like Dr. Howard.
Small car and a big dog? No problem. We offer transportation for those who need it. Not only to and from your home, but to an overnight facility should your pet need extended care as well.
On-site, top-of-the-line laboratory testing, radiology and advanced imaging get us answers without having to wait, so we can get a diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible. Our fully equipped surgical suite provides advanced surgical care in a comfortable and sterile environment.
With our extensive in-house and online pharmacy, you can get Fido feeling better quickly,
without extra stops on the way home.
We are proud to be a privately owned and woman-owned business. Supporting and caring for Salt Lake Valley pets and their amazing families. Our team is well-trained and dedicated to helping your pets live their healthiest lives in a clean, comfortable environment while still offering services at a reasonable price. Our same-day services are comparable to a regular veterinary clinic, and we will always provide an estimate and work within your budget without judgment.
We understand unexpected medical expenses can add up quickly. Therefore, in addition to keeping our prices as low as possible, we offer financing options to further help ease the burden.
We will work with your regular vet and communicate all treatments, plans and medical records so your baby can get back on the road to health and wellness.
We welcome everyone! Two-legged or fourlegged, furry or not. We provide care Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With the growing number of pets in Salt Lake City, getting in to see your vet the same day can be difficult; that’s where we come in. We are trustworthy, caring, knowledgeable and experienced. Pet problems don’t wait for an appointment, and now you don’t have to either.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram: @summitveturgentcare
Haraldsen/City Journals)
Top ranked-world speedskaters Mia Manganello, left, and world record holder Brittany Bowe, right, will be among the best American skaters at the World Cup competition. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
HERRIMAN RESIDENTS
Don't Forget to Vote on Tuesday, November 4th
Utah has a very small voter participation in municipal elections!
In 2021, Herriman City had 55,144 residents
35,000 were eligible to vote
Only 6,789 people - 19.3% of those eligible, voted in the 2021 municipal election
These are highly contested Mayoral and City Council elections this year, with important issues affecting our city:
•High taxes
•Crime prevention
• Traffic congestion
•Fire prevention
•Service fees
• Water quality and availability
•High density housing
•Construction contractor accountability
•Attracting desired commercial businesses to the city
It's important to understand the issues and the candidates — scan this QR code to see who will be on your ballot:
NOT REGISTERED?
You can register to vote up to and on Election Day! Scan this QR code for info and to register:
Turning Down the Political Temperature
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-
HERRIMAN
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
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.
PROFESSIONALS
