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Author aims to empower
Bernie Hayne donates her books to children’s hospitals Page 5
Education awards
Holladay saw four educators recognized by the schoool district Page 6
Emergency Preparedness Fair provides emergency disaster training for residents
By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Fifteen emergency preparedness booths provide valuable tips and innovative ideas.
The annual Northeast Holladay Neighbors Emergency Preparedness Fair sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Olympus Stake and Holladay City expanded from one location to three this year to localize the event and help community members to identify their local command center in the event of an emergency.
The two-day preparedness fair held in April featured 15 booths, where over 500 residents learned valuable emergency preparedness tips and ideas. Representatives from the Red Cross were on hand at each location to answer questions and provide demonstrations about their “Sound The Alarm” program. According to the Red Cross, this program has installed more than 2.5 million free smoke
alarms, making more than 1 million households safer nationwide.
“The Red Cross held CPR classes and provided important information about their smoke detector program, which includes home visits to check detectors,” said event director Scott Snow. “Their program offers the installation of up to four smoke detectors for free to ensure that citizens and seniors are safe.”
In the event of a significant disaster, the Rapid Damage Assessment Plan has been the adopted emergency strategy of the northeast section of Holladay for the past five years and is supported by Holladay City. This plan allows volunteers to assess damage and injuries after an emergency and quickly report their findings to government officials. Following the guidelines of the assessment plan, earthquake awareness classes were conducted to
Continued page 4
“We focused specifically on creating 72-hour emergency grab-and-go kits and their contents. Also, we provided visitors with resources to build their own,” said Emergency Preparedness Fair event director Scott Snow. (Photo courtesy Scott Snow)
Enjoy a Safe, Healthy, Active Summer
By Vincent Giron, DO
With summer here and everyone wanting to spend time outdoors and to be more active, there are four important health and safety tips that I recommend for all age groups and activity levels.
1. Stay hydrated. The No. 1 priority for summer safety is proper hydration before and after activity. Drinking lots of water and reducing the amount of caffeinated drinks is crucial for hydration. Adding electrolytes such as sports drinks is also helpful while avoiding excess sugar. Zero sugar or diet electrolyte sports drinks and hydration packs are an easy way to do this.
2. Use sunscreen. Sunscreen is crucial not only for skin health but can help with hydration as well. Sunburns put you at higher risk for dehydration. Applying sunscreen and reapplying frequently especially while swimming, playing sports, and hiking keeps your skin healthy and protected. Being conscientious about sun exposure helps prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, skin
discolorations and will help to keep your skin looking and feeling young.
3. Wear a helmet. Summer is a great time to go outdoors riding bikes, scooters and other fun activities while getting exercise. But anytime we bike, scoot, skate or participate in any riding activity, it is imperative to wear a helmet. No matter how short your ride is, you need to protect your brain. It only takes one fall or accident to cause permanent brain damage or life-long disability.
4. Stretch. People of all ages and activity levels from youth sports to the weekend warrior need to be stretching before and after activity. In the summer it is easy to skip the warm-up when exercising or playing sports because the warmer temperatures make us feel ready to go; however our muscles are still tight and are just as prone to injury as in the colder months. Taking the time to warm up by gradually stretching our muscles not only helps prevent injury but promotes muscle building and endurance. Stretching is especially im-
portant for elderly individuals. Stretching also helps reduce aches and pains as well as improve mobility and stability, which decrease the risk of falls.
Exercise is important for all ages. Summer is a great time to increase your level of activity. Exercise, especially outdoors, promotes physical as well as mental health and wellbeing. I hope we can all get outside, spend time with family and friends, and most of all, stay safe and healthy!
Dr. Vincent Giron is a CommonSpirit Health family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine. He is accepting new patients. His clinic is located at CommonSpirit Primary Care & Sports Medicine West Valley at 3336 S. 4155 W., Ste. 102 in West Valley. Phone:801-964-3925. He accepts most insurances.
Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
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.
When minutes count, count on our emergency care.
Get to know us before you need us. CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region does not discriminate against
1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711).
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.
CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake has been awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria for evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Dr. Vincent Giron, DO
CommonSpirit Primary Care & Sports Medicine West Valley
train attendees on how to respond in the event of an earthquake.
The Wasatch fault has the devastating potential to generate up to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. The Utah Seismic Safety Commission’s online survival guide, “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country,” highlights that over 85% of Utah’s population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch fault.
“We were moved by the events in California in January, where fires swept through populated areas.”
Scott Snow
In addition, 75% of Utah’s economy and most state facilities are near the fault line.
The Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities, formed by the Utah Geological Survey, a Utah Department of Natural Resources division, recently evaluated the likelihood of significant earthquakes occurring in the Wasatch Front region. Their findings indicate a 57% probability that the Wasatch Front will experience an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater within the next 50 years and a 43% probability of a quake reaching magnitude 6.75 or higher during that same timeframe.
The Unified Fire Authority, led by Captain Dan Brown, organized fire truck tours and demonstrated the specialized equipment used to protect lives and property. In conjunction with the firetruck tours for the young people in attendance, training classes emphasized the importance of grab-and-go emergency kits, a response to the recent devastating fires in California.
“We focused specifically on creating 72-hour emergency grab-and-go kits and their contents. Also, we provided visitors with resources to build their own,” Snow said. “We were moved by the events in California in January, where fires swept through populated areas. We concluded that one of the most helpful things for everyone would have been to have a bag filled with essentials they could grab quickly, allowing them to take care of themselves and their families in the days that followed.”
According to Allison Jester, Holladay Emergency Man-
The Holladay Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Holladay. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website.
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agement coordinator, the Holladay community would survive a disaster. The significant questions are how residents would survive and how they would recover.
“The city of Holladay seeks to provide information, tools and training to our citizens through various avenues,” Jester said. “We have many resources posted on our website to help residents understand what they can do to be better prepared including creating emergency kits, making plans and receiving emergency communications from authorities. In addition, we collaborate with our surrounding jurisdictions to provide Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) courses twice a year. These courses are free and available to anyone who would like to participate. Our CERT team meets bimonthly to do additional training, participate in volunteer work and community outreach, and hold exercises to practice response and recovery capabilities. I love working with our amazing citizens to answer questions, do presentations and spread understanding on this topic.”
Small or large, every disaster presents unique issues and requires cooperation between agencies, volunteer organizations and prepared residents during and after it.
“In the immediate aftermath of any large-scale disaster, the city of Holladay would open our Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) to begin communicating with partners across the valley to find, share and direct resources to the areas in most need,” Jester said. “Our primary concerns would be first saving lives and then working with partners to re-establish access to basic needs such as water, power and shelter in all areas of the city through whatever means possible. In addition, we will work closely with Emergency Management officials at the county and state level to advocate for further resources, assistance and funding to facilitate short and longterm recovery. Through timely and clear instruction to our residents, we will provide information on immediate actions, areas to avoid, how they can assist in the effort, and other pertinent information as soon as possible. At the appropriate time, a Recovery Task Force (RTF) will be established to explore the unique needs of the city of Holladay further, and plans will be developed to reach targeted goals.
In support of Holladay’s emergency preparedness plan and available resources, this year’s Emergency Preparedness Fair successfully provided comprehensive emergency disaster preparedness training for over 160 families, ensuring they can respond swiftly and effectively when it matters most.
For more information about Emergency Preparedness in Holladay, contact Holladay Emergency Management Coordinator Allison Jester at ajester@HolladayUT.gov.l
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Representatives from the Red Cross were on hand at each location to answer questions and provide demonstrations about their “Sound The Alarm” program. According to the Red Cross, this program has installed more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms, making more than 1 million households safer nationwide. (Photo courtesy Scott Snow)
Local author empowers young readers to develop positive mindset
Bernie Hayne has donated her books to all major U.S. children’s hospitals.
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
The Holladay Arts Council recognizes children’s book author Bernie Hayne for her global mission to empower young readers to cultivate a positive mindset and follow their dreams.
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Hayne and her sister grew up under the care of their single father, who carved out a meager living for his small family as a hardworking motor mechanic. After high school, Hayne found her passion for community service as a police officer, barber and airline flight attendant.
Hayne’s awareness of the challenging social class and economic hardship of innercity living grew as she served as a police officer in downtown Sydney. Her career in law enforcement provided the backdrop for her understanding of the secret to outstanding achievement: the special blend of positivity, persistence and resilience.
Hayne’s journey eventually led her overseas, where she lived in Indonesia and the United States due to her husband’s work relocations. While in Salt Lake City, she earned a barber’s license from Paul Mitchell and later used those skills to benefit the underprivileged in society. Upon returning to Australia, she volunteered with the Jack Reed Foundation in Brisbane, providing free haircuts to those in need. It was during this time in 2023 Hayne wrote her first children’s book, “Smile Your Way to Happy,” inspired by her growing interest in the importance of positive psychology. This book was soon followed in 2024 by Hayne’s second book, “Learn Your Way to Happy.”
“It’s important for children to develop a positive mindset as young as possible,” Hayne said. “When I was growing up, there weren’t as many opportunities
that fostered a positive mindset in children as there are now. Identifying the needed skills for success at a young age can help children cope with all sorts of situations. It enables young people to identify their strengths and set goals, helping children to make better choices, and find focus and direction in life.”
The first printing of Hayne’s book, “Smile Your Way to Happy,” has sold out, and the second printing is underway. Hayne has also donated her books to all of the major children’s hospitals in the U.S. She donated two boxes of books to the Holladay City Huntsman Cancer Center Christmas project. Locally, Hayne’s books are available at Holladay Library.
“A friend translated the books into Spanish and I will be donating several to the Guadalupe Center and to hospitals in Mexico,” Hayne said. Also, the books have been translated into Bahasa Indonesia. A friend helped distribute the books to hospitals and children’s cancer wards and also to orphanages.”
Hayne’s publishing success has primarily been due to her passion for helping to promote happiness for those in need.
“I supplied a copy of my books for each room at the Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane. Children living in the orphanage in Jakarta, Indonesia were happy to receive a book of their own. My books are about helping children to live their dreams and promoting happiness,” she said.
Hayne enjoys a close working relationship with her illustrator Valery Vell, an animator born in Poland, and who had spent time living in Russia, before moving to Indonesia. Hayne describes her books as a true collaboration between author, illustrator, translators and publisher.
In her free moments, Hayne enjoys fitness training, participating in community programs such as the Police Citizens Academy, and at the end of July, she will be representing Classic Utah in the Regency International Pageant in San Antonio, Texas.
Visit Bernie Hayne on Instagram to learn more about her books (@smileyourwaytohappy).
To nominate a Holladay resident for Artist of the Month, visit www.holladayarts.org/suggest-an-artist l
“Children living in the orphanage in Jakarta, Indonesia were happy to receive a book of their own,” author Bernie Hayne said. (Photo courtesy Bernie Hayne)
Holladay educators surprised with awards
Three teachers and one administrator were named outstanding educators this year, hailing from Olympus High, Bonneville Jr. High and Cottonwood Elementary.
“As teachers, we understand our unique position to move beyond curriculum and create spaces where young students from every walk of life can discover their talents, recognize their potential, and understand their role in shaping their community and their world,” Esquivias said. “Education must be more than a venture where students simply grasp society as it is but a place where students can use the knowledge they are acquiring not only to their advantage but also to improve their community and contribute to their society.”
Chantal Esquivias
As a high school principal, I think we naturally become a leader in our network, because all students end with us,” Christensen said. “Through vertical teaming we build strong relationships within our schools and build trust within our teachers. Teachers have worked hard together to better prepare our students for curriculum they need as they move on to the next level.
Jennifer Christensen
Olympus Principal Jennifer Christensen won an Excel Award this year, along with 10 others in the Granite School District, for their “efforts in forging a legacy of leadership and learning.” All of them were surprised at their respective schools with the award, a $1,500 check and gifts from community sponsors.
Chantal Esquivias, a world languages teacher at Olympus High, also won an Excel Award. Students and faculty lined the hallways to celebrate the awards.
As a teacher, I believe that learning should be exciting, hands-on, and full of experiences that students remember long after they’ve left the classroom. I strive to create lessons that spark curiosity, inspire critical thinking, and make learning come alive for students from all backgrounds and abilities.
Storytelling connects students, allows them to share their identities, and offers a meaningful way to practice complex language skills,” said Kendall, a sixth-grade science teacher. “My teaching approach reflects recognizing students’ experiences, making learning accessible, and encouraging personal expression through sharing their diverse languages, cultures and experiences. Celebrating their backgrounds. I see this as the foundation for learning.
Anna Kendall
Photos courtesy Granite School District
Bonneville Jr. High teacher Anna Kendall was surrounded by family, friends, students and staff when representatives from the Granite School District presented her with her Excel Award.
Ana Alamo, a fifth-grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary, was surprised at a school assembly to learn she was named an Excel Award winner by the Granite Education Foundation.
Ana Alamo
1,3,5 Fine Art Show coming soon to the Cottonwood Country Club
A tiered pricing structure is offered to provide the opportunity to find a piece of art that resonates with an individual’s personal style and budget.
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
The highly anticipated 1,3,5 Fine Art Show will open its doors on Saturday, June 14, for just three hours. Presented by the Utah Art Market, this event will showcase original works of art created by some of the most talented artists in Utah. The Cottonwood Country Club will provide an inviting atmosphere for patrons to come together to appreciate and acquire original works of art within reach of most spending plans.
The event offers a tiered pricing structure to provide the opportunity to find a piece of art that resonates with an individual’s personal style and budget while ensuring access to quality original art selections. Art pieces will be categorized into three main price points: $100, $300, and $500. Fine art will also be available for collectors or individuals looking for an exclusive original work by a renowned local artist to serve as a striking focal point in the home or office, with pieces ranging from $500 to several thousand.
The event attracts over 500 art enthusiasts and collectors across the Salt Lake valley each year. Several artists post previews of their work on Instagram before the event to assist collectors in researching the artwork they would like to acquire and add to their collections. As the art show approaches, the creator of the event, Nanette Amis, highlights one of the
GRANITE’S EFFICIENT ADMIN COSTS:
At just 0.7% of the overall distr ict budget, Granite spends less than 1/3rd the national average for distr ict administration.
26 participating artists each day beginning May 14 on her Utah Art Market Instagram site. This daily feature provides insight into the artists’ unique styles and builds anticipation for soon-to-be-available art.
“People line up for this show way before the doors open, which is very different from any of my other shows,” Amis said. “Individuals will be following a certain artist and want to make sure they get the first chance at what the artist has to offer. There is a rule during the show: if you take a piece of art off the wall, you must buy it, creating a sense of urgency—‘I’d better grab this off the wall because someone else will buy it if I don’t.’ When the doors open, people literally
SCHOOL DISTRICT SPLIT?
BOUNDARY STUDY
HAPPENS TO THE PROPERTY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GRANITE
Both smaller districts would not have the economies of scale in terms of students and funding to have access to Granite Technical Institute, some CTE programing, and other offerings of a larger district.
Both smaller distr icts would lose the current self-funded insurance plan and would likely need to use a more expensive pr ivate provider
Both smaller distr icts would need to drastically raise taxes in order to maintain the same level of ser vices
Both smaller distr icts would still face issues with declining enrollment and high home pr ices
Granite School Distr ict is currently carr ying out an elementar y boundar y and closure study in your area.
Two public meetings were held in March of 2025 Recordings and additional infor mation are available at the QR code below
The Distr ict has no plans to sell current proper ties of closed schools, but instead is wor king with local cities to maintain open spaces for our communities.
If the Distr ict does need to sell a proper ty, the local city has the first r ight to purchase that proper ty.
47,000 by 2029
Landscape artist Kristen Tye, whose artwork sold out last year, will return to the show. (Photo courtesy Nanette Amis)
Last year, Alison Prince brought 40 paintings to the show and sold 21. This year, she plans to show 50. (Photo courtesy Nanette Amis)
There is a rule during the show: if you take a piece of art off the wall, you must buy it, creating a sense of urgency—‘I’d better grab this off the wall because someone else will buy it if I don’t.’
Nanette Amis
run directly to the artist they are following and immediately pick the piece off the wall they have decided upon.”
Contemporary Impressionism landscape artist Alison Prince is highly sought after by collectors. She has been selling art at the 1,3,5 Fine Art Show for the last three years. Amis loves the highly unique style of Prince’s painting and says it is what she looks for in an artist.
“Gathering inspiration is what every artist does,” Amis said, “but it is so cool when artists create their own style like Alison has done. It’s so easily recognized.”
Last year, Prince brought 40 paintings to the show and sold 21. This year, she plans to show 50.
The excitement on the night of the show is unbelievable,” Prince said. “The atmosphere is filled with high energy and fun. Participation in the Utah Art Market and the 1,3,5 Fine Art Show really has helped to motivate and inspire me to pursue art as a professional.”
Landscape artist Kristen Tye, whose artwork sold out last year, will return to the show. Shelly Coleman, known for her realistic “rain droplet” paintings, will also be featured. Coleman says, “I love painting water. I enjoy how it reflects, distorts and skews reality.”
The 1,3,5 Fine Art Show takes place just once a year. It’s a high-energy show and a must-visit for art enthusiasts, individuals unaware they are art enthusiasts, and definitely all art collectors. The event will be at the Cottonwood Country Club, 1780 Lakewood Drive (5400 South) in Holladay, on June 14 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The 26 artists bringing their unique style of art to the 2025 1,3,5 Fine Art Show are:
Barbara Brandeburg
Shelly Coleman
Tricia Cook
Shannon Davis
Robert Fuerer
Kathleen Jones
Brian Kershisnik and Joe Adams
Jenny Klug
Rebecca Klundt
Alli Malmrose
Maureen Merrell
Jeanette Millward
Caylee Murdock
Heather Olsen
Anna Parkin
Alison Prince
Mark Rance
Heather Richardson
Marty Ricks
Stephanie St. Thomas
Rick Shorten
Annai Smith
Beki Tobiasson
Kristen Tye
Barbara Ward
For the daily artist spotlight visit Instagram @utahartmarket. For more information contact Nanette Amis at 385228-9434.l
Shannon Davis’s artwork centers around florals and plants with glass and shadow. “I enjoy landscapes and other still life subjects. Because I like to capture simple shapes, my work tends to have a graphic feel.” (Photo courtesy Nanette Amis)
Nature & Nurture art exhibit explores connection between growth, care and change
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Ina gallery-to-go format, the Holladay Arts Council invited local artists to submit work exploring the connection between growth, care and change—both in nature and everyday life. Inspired by the shifting seasons and the people and experiences that help us thrive, this broad and welcoming theme encouraged diverse interpretations.
Nature & Nurture, a three-day open art exhibition, captivated visitors with the work of 65 artists and 115 pieces of art from various visual mediums displayed in the Hallway Gallery at Holladay City Hall.
“We looked to the Holladay Arts Council mission statement of inspiring, engaging and unifying the community when creating this show,” arts council member Bonnie Nell said. “We came to a consensus that it would be a good idea to try a show around Mother’s Day with the inspiring theme of Nature and Nurture. We wanted community members to be able to buy a piece of art and take it home upon purchase for those looking for a Mother’s Day gift.”
Arts council members Susan McFarland and Brooke Barris led the event, which showcased the work of local artists along-
side that of Holladay arts council members. To celebrate the Mother’s Day theme further, the Nature & Nurture show was held in conjunction with Amy Banta’s debut play “Spartan Moms,” which featured afternoon and evening performances in the Big Cottonwood Room at City Hall.
Care fosters conditions necessary for growth, emphasizing nurturing’s role in positive development for all living things. Local artist Charlotte Mortimer’s painting of a robin on her nest with newly hatched chicks titled “Mother’s Watch” speaks directly to the theme of growth, care and change.
The image captures a quiet but powerful moment of transition—the emergence of new life, the instinctual nurturing of a mother bird, and the fragile beginnings that hold so much potential.
“The nest is a symbol of both safety and transformation. It reflects how care, whether in nature or in our own lives, creates the conditions for growth,” Mortimer said. “Just as the seasons shift and bring change, this scene reminds us that life is always moving forward, and that with support and connection, we can thrive through those changes.”l
Local artists submitted artwork exploring the connection between growth, care and change—both in nature and everyday life. This title “Last Saturday” is by artist Jim McGee. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
It’s time once again to get out calendars and reserve July 4th and your Saturday nights in July and August for Holladay’s Secret Suburb Concert Series! Holladay Arts has another great line-up ready for 2025 that includes several great new bands and a few returning favorites. Here they are!
● 7/04 - Charley Jenkins (Country - Patriotic)
● 7/12 - Hot House West Swing Orchestra (Big Band Swing)
● 7/19 - Changing Lanes (Motown - Soul tribute)
● 7/26 - Code Blue Revival (Simon & Garfunkel tribute)
● 8/02 - Alicia Wrigley Quartet (Carol King tribute)
● 8/09 - The PickPockets (Bluegrass Band)
● 8/16 - Senxao (High Energy Latin Fusion)
● 8/23 - The Discographers (80’s Teen Movie Hits)
Firework Safety this Summer
Summer is in full swing and the 4th of July is just around the corner – which means fireworks will be on sale soon. This year fireworks are permitted in parts of the city on the following designated dates: July 2 -5 and July 22 -25 from 11am-11pm, and until midnight on July 4 and 24. Please look at the city or UFA website to view the map before discharging fireworks. A $1,000 fine will be issued to anyone who discharges fireworks outside of the legally determined dates, times, and areas.
Please use extreme caution when using fireworks this season!
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:
• Postpone or discontinue fireworks in high winds, precipitation, and other adverse weather conditions.
• Secure all fireworks in place using bricks or cinder blocks.
Additional descriptions of each of the bands can be found on our website: holladayarts.org/summer_concerts. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Holladay Arts Volunteer Board and to local sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor - Holladay Bank & Trust, for making our Summer Secret Suburb Concert Series possible.
Holladay’s Blue Moon Festival
The Blue Moon Festival will undergo an exciting transformation this yearwith the date moving to mid-September (instead of at the end of the summer concert series). Stay tuned for more details to come.
Unified Fire Authority and Unified Police Department
Last month we celebrated “Public Safety Appreciation Week” to recognize and celebrate Holladay’s great partnership with Unified Fire Authority and Unified Police Department. At the end of the week, our UFA and UPD partners reflected our appreciation right back at Holladay by hosting a rager of a pancake breakfast event at Station 104. Attendance was estimated at up to 1000 people. Way to show up Holladay! And heartfelt thanks to our UFA and UPD officers for taking such great care of us!
You may recall, it was just over a year ago when our UFA and UPD came together to safely resolve a “literally explosive” situation in the south end of Holladay. This incident was a prime example of why Holladay belongs to Unified Fire and Unified Police. Usually Holladay is a quiet little haven. But when the unexpected happens, it’s great to belong to Fire and Police agencies that can draw on regionally shared specialized services when needed.
Spring Lane Elementary Park Project & City Hall
The Spring Lane Elementary Park Project continues to move forward. By the time you receive this edition of the Holladay Journal, the demolition of existing buildings should be underway. For your safety, the entire property will be off limits until further notice. But over the next couple of years, the Spring Lane Elementary property will re-emerge as new jewel of a park for all of Holladay
Lastly, planning continues for City Hall to undergo some upgrades that will allow us to continue to enjoy our historic and beautiful building for the long term. The upgrades will include some seismic event mitigation designed primarily for protecting our city staff and citizens in case of an earthquake. Watch for details of impacts and timelines here in the Holladay Journal and on the city website at holladayut.gov.
—Paul, Fotheringham
District 3
• Aerial fireworks should be placed outdoors on a hard level surface and a minimum of 30 feet from any structure or vertical obstruction.
• Always supervise children around ALL fireworks and similar products. Sparklers burn at 2000 degrees and account for more than 25% of ER visits associated with fireworks. In children under 5, that statistic jumps to nearly 50%.
• Do not attempt to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Let duds sit for 5 to 10 minutes before you dowse them with water and pick up.
• Keep a bucket and garden hose on hand while discharging fireworks.
Disposal of Fireworks: Fireworks can continue burning on the inside long after sparks have stopped. To ensure they don’t re-ignite or start a fire, put them in a bucket of water overnight. The next day, remove them from the bucket and place them inside a bag in your garbage can.
Movie nights are BACK!
June 7th and June 14th!
June 7th — Pink or Green, Pick your team we will be showing one of the biggest blockbusters of last year! Come dressed to impress—there will be a costume contest starting at 8:30 PM with the movie starting around 9PM. We will provide one snack and one water per person.
June 14th — “You’re killin’ me smalls!” We will have a special guest(s) around 8PM with the movie starting at 9PM. We will provide one snack and one water per person. Come celebrate flag day in style!
Protect Your Pet from Summer Fun
More pets go missing in the summer months than at any other time of year. Make sure they always have on a collar with an ID tag, with up-to-date info. Microchipping your pet is also important in the event your pet goes missing.
Watch out for these sounds of summer:
Barbecues: If guests are going to be coming in and out of the front door or back gate, keep your pets in a secure area, or put them in their crate. An unsecured gate or door left open is the perfect opportunity for your pet to take themselves on an adventure without you.
Thunderstorms: According to the ASPCA, 1 in 5 pets goes missing after being scared by loud noises. Be sure to bring your pet indoors and keep them away from open windows when summer storms roll into your area.
Fireworks: The loud noise of firework displays, big or small, is scary and disorienting to pets. Leave them at home, inside with a loud fan, or calming music. If the fireworks display is in your driveway, be sure to clean up the leftover firework debris, never underestimate what your dog may try to eat. Fireworks are poisonous to pets.
All pets in Salt Lake County can receive a free microchip at Salt Lake County Animal Services. We welcome you to bring in your pet to Animal Services at 511 W 3900 S, Tue – Sat, 10 AM -6 PM, to get your pet microchipped.
Find a lost pet? Contact your local animal control! The first place pet owners look for a lost pet is at their local shelter. How you can help if you find a lost pet: post a photo of them, where you found them, and what shelter they went to on the NextDoor App or Utah Lost & Found Pets Facebook Group. All pets at Salt Lake County Animal Services can be seen online at AdoptUtahPets.org.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Rob Dahle, Mayor rdahle@holladayut.gov 801-580-3056
Ty Brewer, District 1 tbrewer@holladayut.gov 801-550-8747
Matt Durham, District 2 mdurham@holladayut.gov 801-999-0781
Paul Fotheringham, District 3 pfotheringham@holladayut.gov 801-424-3058
Drew Quinn, District 4 dquinn@holladayut.gov 801-860-6130
Emily Gray, District 5 egray@holladayut.gov 801-755-3477
Gina Chamness, City Manager gchamness@holladayut.gov
PUBLIC MEETINGS: City Council – rst and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Planning Commission – rst and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.
CITY OFFICES: Mon-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • 801-272-9450 4580 South 2300 East • Holladay, UT 84117
Development 801-527-3890 Justice Court 801-273-9731 Code Enforcement 801-527-3890
NUMBERS
Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling
International Plastic Bag-Free Day
On July 3rd, Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District will join other organizations around the world in support of International Plastic Bag-Free Day (plasticbagfreeday.org).
It’s easy to take part. Bring your own reusable bags when you shop. While you’re at it, gather up old plastic bags at home and recycle them at a local drop-off. Lastly, keeping a reusable bag in your car or purse makes it simple to skip plastic anytime — and some stores even reward you for it!
Recycling Transparency Reporting – HB107 Compliance
As part of our ongoing commitment to recycling transparency and in compliance with Utah House Bill 107, we are providing the following data for your municipality:
Holladay City Total Recycling Collected Curbside for the months of November 2024 to April 2025: 1,025 tons from the 9,083 homes in the city. District-wide, we collected 9,888 total tons from 86,000 homes during the same time period!
This information reflects the volume of recycling materials we hauled and delivered to a designated materials recovery facility (MRF) for proper sorting and processing.
Our goal is to ensure that your community remains informed and engaged in supporting effective recycling efforts. wasatchfrontwaste.org/DistrictStatistics
Automatic Payments
Did you know…you can sign up for automatic payments and/or paperless billing (e-Bill) for your Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District bills through Xpress Bill Pay?
1. Convenience: No need to remember due dates or write checks—your payment is automatically processed.
2. Peace of Mind: Avoid late fees and ensure your account is always up to date.
3. Time Savings: Spend less time managing your bills and more time on what matters to you.
4. Eco-Friendly: Go paperless and reduce waste by eliminating the need for paper invoices and writing checks.
5. Security: Payments are processed securely, protecting your information. Signing up is quick and easy! Xpress Bill Pay. Visit wasatchfrontwaste. org and scroll down to the “Sign Up for Auto Pay Today” section or scan the QR code to login through Xpress Bill Pay. By enrolling in either or both, you’re not only simplifying your life but also helping us in our ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability. Please note: All online payments are processed through Xpress Bill Pay. Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District does not accept online payments directly.
Come celebrate this year’s 4th of July with us at Holladay City Hall Park, located at 4580 S 2300 E!
Kick off your day with a delicious breakfast from Isabella’s, served from 8 AM to 10:30 AM. Enjoy a hearty meal for just $8 per adult and $5 for kids aged 4 to 10 years old . We accept VISA, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cash.
Then onto the BEST bike parade starting at 9AM at Pine Park. As the sun sets, gather with friends and family for a fabulous performance by the talented Charley Jenkins at 8 PM in the gazebo behind City Hall. The fun continues with our spectacular Patriotic Show kicking off at 10 PM, celebrating our nation in style!
Please note that the Skate Park will be CLOSED from July 2nd to July 5th, so plan accordingly. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
The Holladay Horizons Plan has made it to the final stage, drafting. Over the next three months we will be refining Holladay’s long-range goals and policies, and we need your help! To contribute your thoughts and ideas to the goals and policies please respond to the Second Questionnaire found on the General Plan page of the city’s website.
Before sending the Draft Plan through the legislative public adoption process this fall, the city will schedule open houses in August to review the Draft and receive comments to make final edits. If you’ve missed our previous events, you can still check out what people said and leave your comments on the General Plan page of the city’s website.
LIBRARY HAPPENINGS
Moon Tree Celebration!
Thursday, June 5th 2pm-4pm
Meet the tree that has orbited the moon. Learn more about the Artemis Mission that our astronaut tree went on. Activities and treats!
Knots & Thoughts
Saturday, June 21st 1pm-3pm
Kick-Off project: Embroider a Summer Reading image on a tote bag! Join us for our first fiber arts craft session! Bring your own project or embroider a fun design on a tote bag!
This program will be ongoing.. every 1st & 3rd Saturday from 1pm3pm
MTG Club for teens/tweens (Magic the Gathering)
Wednesday, June 25th 3pm-4pm
Come play the classic card game, Magic the Gathering. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your own deck or play with one of our starter decks! Ages 11 - 18.
This is the first time for this program, but it will be ongoing… every 4th Wednesday of the month.
Local elementary students receive Award of Excellence in the National PTA Reflections program
Students at Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary win top National PTA Reflections awards in film production and music composition.
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Utah led the nation with 20 Award of Excellence winners in the National PTA Reflections program 20242025. Granite School District students
Maximus Misner from Cottonwood Elementary and Grayson Hart from Rosecrest Elementary received National Award of Excellence recognition for their outstanding creative expressions inspired by the Reflections theme “Accepting Imperfection.” Each student received a $200 scholarship, a silver medal, and an official certificate from the National PTA. In May, PTA Region 5 Associate Director Allison Armstrong celebrated with the National PTA Reflection winners at Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood
Elementary. She feels the Reflections program in the schools is a great opportunity for all kids to showcase their art, whether they win nationally, locally, or are recognized as participants. She says, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to gain recognition, which helps to contribute to a more positive future for the children who participate.”
According to the National PTA website, each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through grade 12 challenge their critical thinking skills as well as explore their creative talents in dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, literature, and music composition to interpret a specific theme.
Maximus Misner, a student at Cottonwood Elementary, competed in the primary film production category and won the Award of Excellence in the national competition with his film “Scary the Clumsy Ghost.“ This Halloween story depicts a young ghost who hasn’t been very successful at scaring people. In the end, Scary does turn out to be the best friend anyone could want to have.
“Max had this idea that he wanted to create an animated film for Cottonwood
Elementary’s Reflections contest, which he did, all on his own,” Maximus’ mom, Kim Misner, said. “He wrote the story, drew the characters, uploaded them on Canva, animated them, and then recorded himself reading the story he had written.”
Julie Jackson, Granite School District Board Member representing Rosecrest Elementary and Cottonwood Elementary in Precinct 1 also celebrated at the schools with the national winners.
“In memory, I don’t remember having a student win at the Reflections National level, “Jackson said. “This is a huge deal. There are 23.3 million elementary kids in the US, and 230 were national winners— Max and Grayson were two winning students!”
Rosecrest Elementary student Grayson Hart received the Award of Excellence in the intermediate category for his musical composition “Pineapple Jazz.”
Armstrong announced that the Reflections theme for 2025-2026 will be “I Belong!” and encouraged all students involved in both school celebrations to begin working on their entries today and to be ready to submit them beginning September 1. l
Suffering from Depression, Anxiety, or OCD?
Maximus Misner, a student at Cottonwood Elementary, won the National PTA Reflections Award of Excellence at the primary level for his film production, “Scary the Clumsy Ghost.” (Collette Hayes City Journals)
Cottonwood Elementary students celebrate Arbor Day with tree planting
Debbie, Sunny and Popcorn are the names of the three trees students helped plant.
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Astunning tree canopy covers about 40% of the city of Holladay, with some of the trees dating back to the 1850s. The trees maintain Holladay’s historic charm and keep residents rooted in the community.
Designated as an official tree city, Holladay participates in the Tree City USA program founded by the Arbor Day Foundation. A Tree Committee made up of residents, whom the city manager appoints and the city council approves, was created by the Holladay City Council to encourage the planting, maintenance, and preservation of the city’s tree canopy.
As an annual Arbor Day event, the Tree Committee, under the direction of committee member Wendy Frank, selects a school within the city boundaries to participate in a celebration of trees program.
This year, Cottonwood Elementary students gathered in the afternoon on the expansive lawns of their playground. The vibrant scene buzzed with energy as the students danced, clapped and sang to music, celebrating the beauty and importance of trees. Principal Teri Cooper welcomed the students and asked, “How many of you have wished for some shade on the hill by the playground on a very hot day?” The students cheered in response. “Today, we’ll plant a big maple tree on the hill. It will provide shade for many, many years to come.”
Next, Cooper asked, “How many of you have noticed how boring this area is, pointing to an empty alcove filled with grass? Students cheered again. “For years and years and years, there have been no trees over there. You look out your classroom windows, and it’s all kind of boring!”
“Thanks to these great folks who have come to Cottonwood Elementary today to help us plant trees, we’ll now have beautiful flowering cherry trees in this area,” Cooper said. “Let’s welcome the arborists, city officials and members of the Holladay Tree Committee to Cottonwood Elementary.” The students cheered in response.
Cooper then recognized and thanked PTA President Kristin Macey for helping organize the event in conjunction with the Holladay Tree Committee and seven Utah-certified arborists. She also thanked Daniel Allen from SuperTrees for his generous donation of a large maple tree and two large flowering cherry trees.
City Councilmember Matt Durham opened the event by reminding the students about the importance of Arbor Day and
how trees benefit the Holladay community.
“You’re all going to have a chance to help plant trees. Does that sound fun?” Durham asked. The students cheered. “Trees are important to our community because they provide oxygen and shade. It’s even been said that trees help with illness too. Patients with views of trees from their hospital windows seem to heal faster.”
Students were divided into three tree-planting groups, which were led by the arborists. During April, a poetry contest was held, and the winning poems were read by students prior to planting the trees.
Georgie Porter penned a winning poem from the second- and third-grade student entries. Her haiku poem is a literary welcome to the school’s new flowering cherry trees and a nod to the cherry blossom trees in Kyoto, Japan, known for their pink blossoms in the spring. Her poem read: Cherry Blossom Tree/Brown branches, pink leaves/Hopeful, colorful, petals/A tree that is true.
Arborist William Prutt, a self-proclaimed Lorax from the highly popular Dr. Seuss book, loves trees. Prutt symbolizes the environmental importance of caring for and speaking up for trees that cannot speak for themselves.
Prutt demonstrated to the students how to prepare the tree’s root ball for planting and answered a few interesting questions posed by the second- and third-grade students while preparing the tree for planting.
“How tall is the tallest tree in the world?” a student asked. “The tallest known tree in the world is Hyperion. Hyperion stands at an average height of 334 feet that is after 30 to 40 feet broke off the top. It has remained hidden to protect it,” Prutt said.
“What is the oldest tree?” another student asked. “The oldest known living tree is Methuselah, a Great Basin bristlecone pine. It’s estimated to be around 4,800 years old,” Prutt said.
Students took turns shoveling soil around the trees into the prepared holes. Earlier this month, they participated in a tree-naming contest. The arborists secured plaques with its name at the base of each tree. The maple tree on the hill is now known as Debbie, and the two flowering cherry trees in the alcove have taken on the names Sunny and Popcorn. l
Arborist William Prutt, a self-proclaimed Lorax from the highly popular Dr. Seuss book, really loves trees. Prutt symbolizes the environmental importance of caring for and speaking up for trees that cannot speak for themselves. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Each grade level at Cottonwood Elementary participated in a tree poetry contest. Georgie Porter penned a winning poem, “Cherry Blossom Tree,” from the second- and third-grade student entries. (Collette Hayes/ City Journals)
Community Heroes: High school choir director left lasting impression on thousands of students
Kerry Moore cared about his students beyond the classroom.
By Becky Ginos b.ginos@mycityjournals.com
Mostkids don’t remember their high school teachers let alone keep in touch for years after graduation but it’s different with Kerry Moore’s students. The Bountiful man was the choral music director and German teacher at Cyprus High School for 35 years and left such a lasting impact that former students still called him “friend.” Moore passed away April 16 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
“He was an amazing teacher and so much more,” said Brent Graham, who graduated in 1998. “He was the person I needed at the time. He was the closest thing to a father.”
Graham grew up without a father and his mother passed away after he graduated. “It left a big hole,” he said. “I was a scared little 19 year old. They (Moore and his wife Stacey) basically took me in. They’d invite me to Sunday dinner and Christmas. Otherwise I would have been alone.”
He loved teaching, said Graham. “It wasn’t a job, it was like a calling. He made you want to be a better person. His joy was infectious.”
“He was that guy,” said Blake Halladay who graduated in 1997. “You knew he cared beyond class. Many times I’d talk to him after school for hours. If kids had personal problems at home he’d step in to help. He was there for that.”
Kerry and Stacey were a power couple, Halladay said. “They could have done so much but they chose to teach high
school. That says volumes about their character.”
Once kids graduated it didn’t end, he said. “My wife and I would go places with them. There are three men who changed the trajectory of my life. My father, my father-in-law and Kerry.”
Halladay spent time with Moore a few days before his passing. “I told him ‘I’m a better man because of you.’ He said, ‘Me too.’ That really hit me to think he feels blessed by me.”
“The most interesting thing about him was the passion and love he’d put into every project,” said Liz Oates who graduated in 1997. “You never felt like an afterthought. He wanted us to succeed. He would push us but we always felt that love.”
Oates said Moore was close friends with her father. “He and my dad were such good comrades. My dad wrote some music and when he died unexpectedly from a heart attack Kerry played dad’s album at his funeral. It was so touching. He was busy in his life but it was so special that he took the time to do that.”
Her senior year, Oates said one of her classmates was homeless for a time and living in her car. “He would check in on her and another classmate who had a horrible thing happen to her. He sat down and consoled her. That’s why so many people remember him. If you were down and out he’d be a friend to help people to recover.”
“Kerry was so patient and loving,” said Jeremy Felt who graduated in 2019. “He helped us find success. He would check our grades and see what he could do to help.”
In addition to choir, Moore was involved with the school musicals, Felt said. “I did a lot of musicals with Kerry and his wife who did the choreography. When I was the lead in ‘Pirates of Penzance’ he told me to envision the music. He said music is the universal language to connect with people. He said the words
might fade but they would always remember that song—music is so impactful.”
Felt said he also took music theory from Moore. “I still have my binder that he created. I create music for fun now in remembrance of Mr. Moore. I’m involved with community choirs and theater because of Mr. Moore.”
He was like Mr. Rogers, said Felt. “I’m so grateful that I got to be a part of his life. He touched the lives of others. He’s going to be missed.” l
Kerry Moore (left) with former student Brent Graham. The pair continued to be close friends for years after Graham’s graduation. (Photo courtesy of Brent Graham)
Local volleyball club establishing a BYU connection
Five volleyball players heading south to BYU.
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
The Brigham Young University men’s and women’s volleyball teams have been consistently successful in playing at a high level for decades now. This year, some players from Utah will be joining their ranks, showcasing the growth the sport has been experiencing in the state.
Grace Fredrick, a setter from Skyline High School, joined the women’s team this spring and five young men—Corbin Batista, Soren Jepsen, Tennison Lighthall, Evan Olmstead and Trey Thornton—have committed to the men’s program.
“We could not be prouder to help showcase the incredible talent that Utah has to offer and it makes us so happy to know that thousands of young athletes across the state have been inspired to set goals, work hard and realize that dreams really can come true,” said Club GSL Volleyball founder and owner Warren Van Schalkwyk. “Thirty-five years ago, I attended BYU on a volleyball scholarship. It’s an amazing full-circle moment that now, all these years later, we have sent these six athletes to that same program.”
Grace Fredrick
Fredrick, the daughter of Nathan and Natalie of Millcreek, graduated early to get down to Provo and said that her experience so far is “everything I dreamed of.” “The coaches [Heather Olmstead, Dave Hyte and Daniel Jones] are amazing and the team is awesome,” she said. “The competitiveness is insane though as it’s a whole different level.”
The 5-foot-10 setter actually had her sights set on playing collegiate soccer, attending BYU soccer camps, and “just for fun” would also participate in BYU volleyball camps with friends and family. But, after making the Skyline High volleyball team as a freshman—with limited rec league experience at that point—she “found a love” for volleyball that changed her athletic trajectory.
By her sophomore season, Fredrick was starting varsity and earned First Team All-Region honors. “At that point, I was just thinking volleyball was fun, but then I started received some interest from colleges and I was like, ‘What the heck? OK, I better lock in on a club and get better,’” she said. She began working with Andrew Clark at Club GSL to develop her skills further and get wider exposure.
As a junior, she received Honorable Mention All-State recognition but her senior season, in leading the Eagles to the 5A state championship as the Most Valuable Player, showcased her abilities to more Division I schools and she found a spot at Brigham Young University, her top choice. “It’s in-
credible that it worked out academically and athletically for me to be able to have ‘No Sunday play’ or practices and be around such high standards,” Fredrick said. “Committing there was the happiest day of my life and just reaffirmed to me that God is in my life.”
Her journey in volleyball has helped her learn how to work hard and “put it all out there” to play her best and let that be enough. “Volleyball is a sport of mistakes where literally every point happens because someone made a mistake,” she said. “While I do get frustrated when I make a mistake, I’m not a perfectionist to the degree that I let my performance affect my internal value, so as to not be only defined as just a volleyball player.”
Corbin Batista
Batista, the son of Victor and Nicolette Batista of Draper, is following in his dad’s footsteps in the BYU men’s volleyball program where his dad was on the 2004 national championship team. “BYU has always been a very successful program and I desperately wanted to be a part of it. Then when I was able to see the amazing culture this team creates and the energy they play with, that drew me even closer to it,” Batista said.
The senior has been using his tall, athletic frame—now 6-foot-7—on the court for the past six years with Club GSL South and high school ball at Snow Canyon for three years until he transferred to Alta for his final season.
The two-time Utah All-Star, All-State and All-Region player helped the Hawks to the Region 6 title this season while also earning Academic All-State recognition.
“This year I moved away from family in order to be up here to play for GSL and this season has been better than I could ever imagine,” he said. “The coaching from Shawn Olmstead [who will be his coach at BYU] has been absolutely mind-blowing. This team is filled with some of the best players and people I have ever met, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be here.”
Batista said that volleyball has taught him resiliency and consistency. “There have been some tough decisions I had to make and some adversity to overcome and it’s all taught me how to be a better person,” he said. “It translates to all parts of life whether it’s school, work, social life and just life in general.”
With BYU, he has seen an opportunity “with the extraordinary coaching staff” to grow in the sport at a high-level and possibly even professionally and academically in the field of Exercise Wellness.
Trey Thornton
Thornton, the son of Jeff and Alisha Thornton of Spanish Fork, grew up playing basketball and swimming competitively but something about watching his older sisters on
the volleyball court stuck with him. “As soon as it was an option to play volleyball I took it and fell in love with the team and social aspect of it,” said the now 6-foot-7 senior.
Thornton lived mainly in Alabama, competing at Hoover High School and with Alabama Performance and Tennessee’s C2 Attack for club volleyball where playing collegiately became the goal. “That really prepared me and steered me in the right direction,” he said.
His family’s move to Utah put him at Maple Mountain High School where he earned the state’s first-ever Mr. Volleyball Award after leading the Golden Eagles to the 5A state championship last spring. The FirstTeam All-State and Region 7 Most Valuable Player helped his squad successfully defend that title in early May.
His experience with GSL the past two years has given him “the opportunity to compete at a high level with a really fun team and great coaches.”
The sport that has taught Thornton to work hard and overcome adversity has brought him to BYU, his “dream school” and the same campus where his mom, Alisha Griffeth, played basketball in the late 1990s. “It was a big dream for a kid from Alabama where volleyball was very rare for boys,” he said. “When schools started reaching out to me and BYU contacted me, I knew that was my path forward.”
Tennison Lighthall
Lighthall, the son of Dirk and Heidi
Lighthall of Pleasant View, played soccer, baseball, football and basketball growing up until he was introduced to volleyball by a mom who coached the sport and taught him the basics. “Without those little things I learned from her, I wouldn’t have been as successful. I quickly fell in love with it and stopped playing all other sports from that point on,” he said. “I chose volleyball because of the friendships created, as well as the way I feel when playing. As soon as that first serve goes up, everything else completely disappears. My body and mind just click into a flow state and it’s addicting. That feeling when you get a good dig, hit, or block is so sweet and you always strive to get another one.”
Lighthall is a 2023 graduate who played just two games during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season in Arizona during his freshman year. Then he was only able to play on Weber High’s club volleyball team— where he was a three-time Utah volleyball All-Star and All-Star Game Most Valuable Player—for the next three years when his family moved to Pleasant View and the sanctioning of boys volleyball didn’t begin until 2024.
He credits his ability to play at a high level with playing for Club GSL in tournaments against nationally-ranked teams and attending USA Volleyball National Team Development Program camps. “Without GSL I would not be where I am at today,” he said. “It is not just a volleyball club, but it is truly a family. The people there are there to build you up as
Former Olympus High middle blocker Soren Jepsen will join the BYU men’s program next fall following a two-year church mission in Argentina. (Photo courtesy Katie Jepsen)
a person, as a player and to provide opportunities for your future. I am beyond grateful for each coach, teammate and friend I was able to make there.”
Lighthall is grateful for learning how to work hard, sacrifice and communicate—skills he has used on and off the court. “To be successful in volleyball, you have to really want it and then work harder than others to get what you want,” he said. “A lot of people ‘want’ to play in college, but only those who are willing to work hard and sacrifice can really make it. For me to get where I am, I had to sacrifice by waking up early and working out before school and then travel by train an hour and a half away for practices throughout most of high school. I also heard coaches say 10,000 times that ‘communication is key,’ and I have learned how true that is, not only on the court, but in real life.”
Being able to play collegiately has always been on Lighthall’s radar and, although he actually hasn’t stepped foot on the court for BYU yet as he’s been serving a two-year LDS mission in Australia, he will join the team this fall. “Where I am at now, is a dream come true,” he said.
Soren Jepsen
Jepsen, the son of Bret and Katie Jepsen of Holladay, started playing basketball when he was young—the sport his dad and uncle played at BYU—but he switched courts in seventh grade and began his journey in volleyball.
At Olympus High, he led his team to the state championship during his junior year in 2023 and then was able to play one season in the newly-sanctioned sport, earning All-American status and being recognized as the 5A Player of the Year as a senior.
As a freshman, he began dreaming of playing at the college level so he trained with Reed Carlson at Club V and then with Van Schalkwyk at Club GSL in 2024. “It was awesome and a super fun time, working really hard,” he said. “We had a good time traveling and playing together.”
The key life lessons Jepsen has gained from volleyball are team coordination and communication, taking “fundamental roles of players that work together to achieve something.”
Choosing between several schools to take his talents to wasn’t too difficult despite enjoying good relationships with several coaches at Long Beach State, Pepperdine and Loyola Chicago on the recruiting trail. “BYU had the whole package for him,” his mom Katie Jepsen said. “They had a competitive team with a history of being great, a phenomenal coaching staff, plus a great education and college environment that aligned with his goals.”
Jepsen is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina, and will join the Cougars program in the fall of 2026 with his eyes on national team and professional pursuits beyond college. Academically, he plans to pursue business investing and real estate. l
Cottonwood
boys’ volleyball puts up a fight before its elimination from the 4A state tournament
Colts take Logan to a five-set thriller before winning that first-round match and nearly reached the consolation title game at UVU
By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
You can say one thing about the Cottonwood boys volleyball team, those boys never give up.
Not this team.
Coached by Jean Sutterfield, a teacher who was approached by retiring AD Greg Southwick to helm the new program before the 2023-24 season, year two of the Colts was much better than the first edition.
“Maybe not the way we would have liked to end the season, but proud of the growth we have seen from the boys this year and excited for what the future will hold,” said Sutterfield.
Cottonwood finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 13-13 record and were 7-5 in Region 10 Class 4A.
Heading into the 4A state tournament, Cottonwood was given a No. 14 seed and would play No. 19 Logan in the first round.
At home, the Colts played inspired in the first set, winning 25-22. But Logan made life interesting in the second, taking it 23-25.
Would Cottonwood seize control of this match in the third set?
The Colts gave it all they had, but fell, 24-26.
That meant Cottonwood had to take the fourth set—or their season would be over.
The boys volleyball team was trying to do something that neither the girls basketball team nor the baseball team was able to do: win a first round state playoff game—or series, in the case of baseball—at home.
In the fourth set, the Colts set themselves up for a fifth tiebreaker set by winning 25-16.
What was unique about this Cottonwood team is that they only played one senior in Matthew Engebretsen.
At 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds, Engebretsen wasn’t exactly what you would call your typical outside hitter.
But, the senior sure made up for it with effort and hops. And, in the tiebreak, he helped lead Cottonwood to a 15-7 win. In all, the Colts won this first round marathon 25-22, 23-25, 24-26, 25-16 and 15-7.
Engebretsen had a team-high 16 kills in the match. Junior Ray Davidson blasted down 13 and sophomores Jacob Moberly and Connor Sandusky had seven each.
That moved the Colts on to the second round at state—at UVU.
Ironically, the Colts would be playing Desert Hills, the same team that eliminated Cottonwood last year in four sets.
The No. 3-seeded Thunder blasted the Colts from the outset, sweeping Cottonwood 18-25, 18-25 and 18-25.
For the Colts, it had to have been tough to lose to the same team two years in a row—but there was still ball left to be played in the consolation round.
Cottonwood turned right back around and defeated Ridgeline in a best-of-3 match, 25-23, 19-25 and 25-22 to move on to the consolation semifinals.
Having lost the first set to Pine View 24-26 in a brutal battle, the Colts won the second by the score of 25-22.
Would Cottonwood have anything left in the gas tank to pull out another victory and move on to the consolation championship?
The Colts finally ran out of fuel, having taken several teams to the brink during this 4A state tournament.
They lost by the final score of 11-25 and were officially eliminated from a highly entertaining and thrilling weekend at state by Pine View, 24-26, 25-22 and 11-25.
For the Colts that were led by Engebretsen with 101 kills and 62 receptions in his final year, the future is indeed bright should the team remain the same in 2025-26. l
The 2024-25 Cottonwood Colts boys volleyball team. (Photo courtesy Jean Sutterfield)
No student should go hungry: One parent’s mission to end statewide school lunch debt complements new state law
Teen donates portion of college fund to help local elementary students eat lunch debt-free.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
StartingJuly 1, about 40,000 students in Utah will receive free school meals, thanks to House Bill 100, the Food Security Amendments. This legislation eliminates reduced-price lunches, making them fully free for students who previously qualified for the reduced rate.
Sponsored by state Rep. Tyler Clancy, the new legislation aims to address food insecurity and promote share tables to reduce food waste. It guarantees free school lunches for eligible students — from kindergarten through 12th grade — at any school participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Darrell “DJ” Bracken, a West Jordan parent and community advocate, believes the new law also will help tackle Utah’s growing school lunch debt, which reached $2.8 million last year.
“I was just down at the capitol yesterday when Gov. (Spencer) Cox signed the bill,” he said. “I was a part of the coalition along with The Policy Project and Utahns Against Hunger; we advocated for it for about eight months. I think it was very hard for legislators to directly reject the idea of feeding kids at school. I think it’s something everybody can get behind.”
Bracken was shocked when he first learned the extent of lunch debt in his local school district.
“I thought that was impossible. I called Jordan School District and they confirmed to me not only is that number true, but there’s $88,000 in debt in elementary schools alone within my district. I was just completely blown away,” he said.
Motivated to act, Bracken began by paying off Bluffdale Elementary’s $835 lunch debt himself. That experience led him to start the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation to ensure no child in Utah schools goes hungry or accumulates meal debt.
“I thought other people would be just as upset as I am that this exists — and I was right,” Bracken said.
His foundation is designed as a temporary solution to a systemic problem.
“I didn’t want to fill a role I personally felt the government should already be filling so it’s in our charter we will exist until we have gone one full calendar year without any school lunch debt in the state of Utah. This bill is a great solution. It does many great things, taking the group of kids who are getting reduced lunch into getting free lunch. But there’s still going to be lunch debt. I view this as kind of a steppingstone toward healthy
school meals for all; that has been passed in a lot of other states. I would like to see that passed in Utah,” he said.
Bracken’s efforts gained momentum after a single Facebook post in July 2024.
“That got a lot more response than I expected, and we’ve been paying off schools ever since,” he said.
By mid-April, UTLDR had raised more than $51,000. The foundation has cleared meal debt at several schools: Bluffdale, Oakcrest and Aspen elementaries in Jordan School District; South Kearns Elementary in Granite School District; Liberty Elementary in Murray School District; Butler, Quail Hollow and Sandy elementaries in Canyons School District; and more schools in Davis, Provo, Carbon and Duchesne school districts.
Bracken’s goal is to pay off meal debt at an elementary school in every district statewide.
“We’re well on our way to doing that,” he said. “It’s mostly individual people finding our website and deciding to donate on their own, but we have had a couple partnerships with businesses. It’s really been an amazing thing to see how many people care about this.”
Some donations come from individuals moved by the cause. One is 17-year-old David “Van” Hafner, who contributed $2,500 toward paying Butler Elementary’s $6,050 lunch debt. Lunches in Canyons School District cost $3.
“I had my own college saving fund and I dipped into that, plus savings from my many summer jobs and money I saved from the stock market,” he said. “I had a lot of money saved up different ways, so I pulled it all together. I like the idea of doing philanthropy, and I thought this was perfect.”
The Alta High junior also volunteers at a West Valley City daycare and plans to join a humanitarian trip this summer. He was honored with the Smith’s Zero Hunger Award and intends to continue helping schools.
“It’s important I’m doing this because kids at a young age need to learn to help the community, to help other people. I wanted to make an example of that by giving my money to kids who can’t pay for their own lunch. The main concern is kids eat, especially a growing little kid,” said the student who hopes to become a doctor.
His generosity left a lasting impression at the Cottonwood Heights elementary.
“The people at the front desk were very thankful and the kids were excited. They said, ‘That’s a lot of money,’ and ‘That’s really cool.’ It made me feel great. That’s why I want to donate to another elementary school,” Hafner said. “Between this and the West Valley City daycare, it feels like I’m making a difference.”
Butler Principal Tracy Stacy said she was both surprised and grateful for the donation.
Another community member contributed; she encouraged her gym members to get involved and raised money to help pay off Sandy Elementary’s lunch debt, Bracken said.
At Aspen Elementary in South Jordan, Bracken’s foundation donated $2,100. However, debt stemming from $2 per lunch continues to be a recurring issue, said Principal Suzie Williams.
“We’re grateful for the donation, absolutely, and we’ve used it, but we don’t want it to be a crutch for people either,” Williams said. “We want to help them navigate how to pay or qualify for lunches. When he came, he tried to reach out to a bunch of families and educate them about filling out forms for free and reduced lunch and that helps, too.”
She noted despite the efforts, debt remains a challenge.
“His donation helped, but we got back up to $3,000 deficit (in late March). When you hit $50 in Jordan School District, then it goes to collections. We called several people today and told them that — and it’s awful. Our lunch debt is down now at $1,700 (as of late April); there always is a debt,” Williams said.
At Liberty Elementary where school lunch is $1.90, Principal Shana Mondragon echoed similar concerns.
“We are consistently in the negative. We’re constantly reaching out to families asking, ‘Do you need help? Have you applied for free and reduced lunch? Do you qualify?’” she said. “I think families are struggling. The responses I get when I call range everywhere from ‘I totally forgot to pay’ to they don’t know how to fill out the form, or didn’t know there was a form. There’s also everybody ate lunch for free during COVID so the assumption is it’s still going. I do appreciate in Murray, regardless of what their balance is, students have the option to get a full lunch every day. It doesn’t fix the budget side of it, but
the kids will always get a full meal. Murray District’s top concern is that the kids eat. We’ll figure everything else out later, but we need to make sure the kids have food. “
Mondragon praised Bracken’s dedication to helping families and spreading awareness.
“DJ was helping to educate the families, making sure they had access to the information. He really wants to fix the problem. It isn’t a new problem. If anything, it just keeps getting worse. So, making sure there’s funds, making sure there’s accessibility to the resources and knowing what to do is important,” she said, adding Bracken was honored for his $560 donation to pay off the lunch debt as well as his contribution toward fixing the issue during a “hidden hero” school assembly. “The banner for his foundation is on our website and on our fence to recognize what he did.”
Bracken said the foundation continues to expand its outreach.
“There are many great causes in the world. I have a 7-year-old daughter so this was easy for me to picture a world where there’s some kid out there who’s worried about getting school lunch, and how are you supposed to learn if you’re worried about being in debt instead of focusing on things like fractions?” Bracken said. “It struck me as a failure of the system. These are kids who are accruing debt for the right to eat at a place they have to be —– and we all want them to learn. We all want them to succeed. I was just completely aghast this could even exist, and it turns out most people are too. I couldn’t stand for it. Someone had to do something; I’m glad it’s made an impact so far. Hopefully we can make the full impact and make it so no kid ever has to worry about where they’re getting their lunch again.”
To support or learn more about the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation, visit utldr.org. l
Alta High junior David “Van” Hafner, seen here with Butler Elementary students, contributed $2,500 toward paying the school’s $6,050 lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of DJ Bracken)
Working together to plan for the future
Utah’s Wasatch Front is growing faster than almost any other region in the nation, and nowhere is that more evident than here in Salt Lake County. Today, more than 2.8 million Utahns—over 80% of our state’s population—live along the Wasatch Front and Back. By 2050, we’re on track to nearly double that number, reaching around 5 million Utahns. Protecting the quality of life that drew families, businesses and adventurers to our valleys and mountains in the first place means making smart, coordinated choices right now.
Utah was recently recognized as the best state in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. While we have so many great things going for us—a strong economy, volunteerism, social capital and incredible people—one of the things that helps with our success is our willingness to work together.
When it comes to planning for the future, it’s vital that we collaborate at each level of government. I’m proud to be a board member for a planning body that does just this. Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) brings together elected leaders and staff from the state, counties and cities across our region. WFRC ensures that transportation investments, land-use decisions and economic development strategies all align with a shared vision—what we call the Wasatch Choice Vision.
The Wasatch Choice Vision is organized around four key strategies:
1. Real Transportation Choices - Expand travel options beyond the single-occupancy vehicle. By investing in transit, bike networks, sidewalks and more efficient roadways, we help everyone—from commuters to families running errands—get where they need to go safely and affordably.
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3
2. Housing Options for All - Encourage development patterns and zoning that support a wide range of housing types—single-family neighborhoods, starter homes, workforce apartments and townhomes—so that people at every stage of life can find a place to call home that’s close enough to jobs, schools and services.
3. Plentiful Parks and Open Spaces - Preserve and enhance parks, trails and open land for recreation, environmental protection and community gathering. These green assets keep our air and water clean, support mental and physical health, and maintain the outdoor lifestyle Utahns cherish.
4. Vibrant City and Town Centers - Strengthen walkable downtowns and neighborhood hubs where people can live, work, shop and play. By focusing growth in these centers, we relieve pressure on suburban and rural areas, reduce drive times and foster stronger social connections.
No two communities are identical. What succeeds in Sandy or South Jordan might look different than what works in Murray or West Valley City. That’s why WFRC’s member jurisdictions—from the state Department of Transportation to Salt Lake County and its constituent cities—work side by side to adapt the Wasatch Choice Vision’s strategies to local circumstances, ensuring each community charts its own course while staying connected to its neighbors.
Putting the Wasatch Choice Vision into action will have concrete impacts right away—and pay dividends for decades: more jobs, conserved open space, less water used, billions saved in infrastructure costs, and reduced household budgets through more housing and transportation options. This translates to stronger communities, healthier families and a sustainable economy that can thrive even as we welcome more neighbors—along with our children and grandchildren—to our mountain valleys.
None of this would be possible without the active partnership of the state, county planning commissions, city councils, transit agencies, business associations and civic groups. Through WFRC, these diverse interests come together at the same table—an inclusive forum where big-picture goals align with local aspirations.
I’d encourage you to learn more about the Wasatch Choice Vision. Our region’s future quality of life depends on informed, engaged residents—and on leaders who listen, collaborate and act. Visit wfrc.org to see the Vision and learn more about how to stay informed. l
A Puppet Regime
It took decades, but Ronald Grump finally found a way to evict the residents of 123 Sesame Street. Grump (played by Joe Pesci) visited the TV show in 1994 with plans to demolish the beloved neighborhood to build Grump Tower.
Sesame Street doubled-down in 2005 when a selfish, orange-haired muppet, Donald Grump, tried to hire an apprentice to help with his trash empire. In the episode, Oscar the Grouch sings about Grump, “Whose name equals trash, to you and to me?”
Maybe he holds a grudge, but a U.S. president with a similar name signed an executive order to cut funding for PBS, a nonprofit provider of educational shows like Arthur, Elmo’s World and Sesame Street.
The move could throw the Muppets into the gutter. Bert will have to sell his paper clip collection, Elmo will be forced to pawn his tricycle and Count von Count will have to join an accounting firm.
From the beginning, Sesame Street championed diversity, equality and inclusion: three things the current administration is gleefully destroying. Humans on the show included Gordon and Susan (a Black couple), Maria from Puerto Rico, Luis from Mexico and the elderly Mr. Hooper, who was Jewish and ran the corner store.
The multicultural cast attracted big guest stars. Carol Burnett, Stephen Curry,
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Robert De Niro, Billie Eilish and James Earl Jones are just a few celebrities who visited Sesame Street, proving you’re never too famous to be silly.
Not only does the show teach children basic reading and math, it also teaches cooperation, respect and kindness. It’s tackled divorce, same-sex marriage, racial literacy, anger, sadness and even has a Muppet whose parent is incarcerated. The show never talks down to children.
When Will Lee died, his Mr. Hooper character died with him, leaving Big Bird distraught as his friends tried to explain the concept of death. That episode won an Emmy, one of more than 120 Sesame Street has collected.
Sesame Street has its furry finger on the pulse of American culture. The show is as much for parents as for kids. My favorite characters are the loveable Grover and Guy Smiley, the enthusiastic gameshow host.
I can still sing the show’s theme song,
along with “Rubber Duckie,” “I Love Trash,” “Doin’ the Piegeon” and hundreds of tunes from the show. I couldn’t begin to choose a favorite skit but I always loved the baker falling down the stairs. That remains my level of humor maturity.
The show is iconic. Big Bird is an international star. He visited Michelle Obama at the White House, made the cover of Time magazine, has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and his picture on a postage stamp. I spent several months cross-stitching Big Bird’s face on a Christmas advent calendar our family still uses nearly 40 years later.
Maybe it’s because Muppets don’t vote. Maybe it’s because Oscar started teaching kids about recycling. Maybe it’s the Sesame Workshop’s mission statement, “Helping
children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.” Maybe the president just doesn’t like watching people have fun. My husband and I paid thousands of dollars in federal taxes this year, but if funding is cut for things I value, like PBS, science, national parks, higher education, Head Start programs and world health initiatives, maybe I don’t have to pay taxes anymore. I mean, seeing all these tax-free billionaires… tax evasion isn’t a crime anymore, right?
Sesame Street promotes kindness and community, while the president seems to only find value in wealth and power. As he said in 2011, “Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich.” For anyone who’s ever loved Sesame Street, beauty has a much deeper meaning.
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