October 2026 | Vol. 23 Iss. 10
FREE
Midvale
Midvale buys land See Acquired from Sandy, the land will connect trail network Page 8 Inside...
WitchFest
Inside look at the cackling hosts
Page 18
Hillcrest students turn persistence into top entrepreneurship prize By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
After competing for three years, Hillcrest High students won the $10,000 grand prize in the 2026 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge.
A
Hillcrest High senior Om Sanghvi and junior Sashwath Narayanan, seen here, received the top prize for their team at the 2026 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge for their water purification cap. (Photo courtesy Kanagavarshini Narayanan)
fter three years of entering the University of Utah’s high school entrepreneurship competition, Hillcrest High School students reached the top. Hillcrest junior Sashwath Narayanan and senior Om Sanghvi, along with teammates freshman Swayam Sanghvi and senior Shreya Sanghvi, won the $10,000 grand prize Feb. 28 at the 2026 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge with MCAP, a project aimed at filtering microplastics from drinking water. The team’s first step in the contest began with a shoe entry. In 2024, they were a finalist with its
“All-in-One Shoe,” a footwear concept designed to combine innovation, convenience and affordability. As finalists, the students each received $1,000 from the contest, hosted by the University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. The following year, the team shifted its focus to environmental concerns, developing a portable microplastic purifier. The project earned second place and $5,000, as well as the $500 Top Online Vote Award. Each team member, upon graduation, could receive a spot in the Lassonde Founders program and a $1,000 housing scholarship for Lassonde Studios. This year, they refined that water purification focus, developing MCAP, a cap which can be attached to commonly used plastic water bottles to filter microplastics. The students also incorporated a silicon Continued page 6
Buy a MEXICAN COKE and get a six-dollar
SWEET PORK BURRITO! In-store only. One offer per guest. Must present coupon to redeem offer. Expires 11/15/26.
PURCHASE MEXICAN COKES
or canned soda for your party of 50+ and get
FREE DELIVERY!
TO REDEEM, CONTACT:
DOMINIQUE BELL summitcatering@ costavida.com
Catering orders only. One offer per order. Expires 11/15/26.
385-789-4447 Ho Ho or Humdrum? Navigating Mental Health During the Holidays
Thank O You
ur favorite big box stores and online ads have been reminding us for weeks that the holidays are to our Community Sponsors for just around the corner. Happy time, right? supporting City Surprisingly theJournals 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
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.
– 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
SPONSORED CONTENT
Page 2 | October 2026
Midvale City Journal
Sinus Problems? Allergies? Headaches? Asthma? Excessive Dust? High Energy Bills? Bad Odors?
WE CAN HELP!
Cleaner Ducts. Cleaner Air. Reduce dust, improve airflow, and help your heating and cooling system perform at its best.
BACTERIA
DUST MITES
POLLEN
PET DANDER
• VENT CLEANING SPECIAL •
49
$
10 SUPPLY VENTS + 1 RETURN VENT + 1 MAIN LINE
INCLUDES FREE SYSTEM ANALYSIS/INSPECTION Additional vents priced separately. With coupon. Call by 11/15/26.
$ FREE 49 DRYER VENT CLEANING
with complete duct cleaning
Not valid with any other offer. Call by 11/15/26.
The best pricing with superior quality
100% GUARANTEED AIR DUCT CLEANING DRYER VENT CLEANING ASTHMA & ALLERGY TREATMENT
MidvaleJournal.com
FURNACE SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Not valid with any other offer. Call by 11/15/26.
APEX CLEAN AIR
Heating & Air Conditioning www.apexcleanair.com
801-618-4649 October 2026 | Page 3
COMMON GROUND
A Vote of Confidence
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?
MIDVALE TEAM
The Midvale Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Midvale. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2026 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.
Peri Kinder
Common Ground
Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.
PUBLISHER
Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
EDITOR
Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR
Lindsay Andreasen | lindsay.a@thecityjournals.com Rack locations are also available on our website.
EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES
Stacey LaMont Lynne Burns Ty Gorton
CLIENT SERVICES
9500 S Sandy Parkway, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070
Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com Marc Davis | marc.d@thecityjournals.com Steve Hession | steve.h@mycityjournals.com Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media. Designed, Published, & Distributed by
MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL
PHONE: 801-254-5974
EDUCATING, ENTERTAINING, INFORMING: 35 YEARS SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
Page 4 | October 2026
sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.
FREE | COMMUNITY | PAPERS
Midvale City Journal
What Should You Look for in a Dog Daycare? EDUCATION MATTERS
When choosing a dog daycare, it’s important to look for more than just a place for your pup to play. You want an environment that prioritizes education, safety, socialization, and exercise. When many people think about dog daycare, they picture dogs simply running around and playing all day. While play is certainly part of the experience, quality daycare environments should also provide opportunities for dogs to learn healthy social skills and positive play behaviors.
The goal of daycare should not simply be exhaustion, it should be balanced socialization, education, exercise, safety, and fun.
Just like people, dogs communicate through body language. In a structured daycare environment, dogs should be encouraged when displaying polite, healthy play behaviors and gently redirected when interactions become too rough, overstimulating, or impolite. Over time, this helps dogs build better social confidence and safer play habits with other dogs.
A good daycare environment also allows dogs the freedom to simply “be dogs.” Barking, playing, wrestling appropriately, exploring, and interacting with their BFFFs (Best Furry Friends Forever) are all natural and important parts of healthy socialization. Dogs thrive when they have safe opportunities to interact, burn energy, and engage their minds in positive ways. In addition to social play, many daycare environments incorporate enrichment activities throughout the day. These may include
23 West 7200 South, Midvale, UT 84047 •
scent-based activities, simple problem-solving exercises, bubbles, splash pads, agility items, or other experiences designed to provide mental stimulation and variety. However, it is equally important that dogs are not constantly overstimulated. Dogs also benefit from time to use their own imagination, create their own games, and naturally interact with their environment and friends.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT where your dog can socialize,
learn positive play behaviors, and make some BFFFs of their own, schedule a Meet & Greet today to see if daycare may be a good fit for your pup. Learn more at: www.dogtopia.com/location-finder
801-923-5117
NOW OPEN IN MIDVALE
GROOMING WITH YOUR PUP’S COMFORT IN MIND One-on-one care. Less waiting. A happier grooming experience. • One-on-one attention throughout appointment • Less waiting and minimal kennel time • Most dogs finished in approx. 1.5-2 hrs • Quality, professional grooming in a caring environment
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT 7214 S. 900 E. Midvale, UT | 385-506-1933 contact@olivedogsalons.com | olivedogsalons.com
NEW CLIENT SPECIAL
$20 OFF your first full-service groom+ $10 OFF the second groom when you re-book before leaving your first appointment!
MidvaleJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 5
Continued from front page dioxide-based indicator intended to change color based on microplastic concentrations. “We created a cap system where users can put cap on any plastic bottles and then using membranes, we filter the microplastics so the users can drink cleaner water,” Narayanan said. The idea came from wanting to take their previous environmental work and turning it into a product consumers could use themselves. “We were looking into like direct consumer-based products,” Narayanan said. “Since our previous years’ projects were
targeted toward local companies and other environmental protection agencies, this year, we wanted to focus on where we can give a product to direct consumers and how they will benefit from it.” The team’s experience in the competition also changed the way it approached the project. Rather than creating a complicated engineering design, the students focused on simplicity, consumer buying and developing a business plan. “All of the years combined gave us experience into what we needed — the change into our product and idea to make it feasible as a business,” Sanghvi said. MCAP, who has a provisional patent and
is working toward using recyclable materials, plans to use the $10,000 prize to continue developing and testing their prototype. They hope to establish a local test-user group in 2027 before eventually taking the product to market. They estimate the cap could eventually cost less than $5, with a long-term goal of reducing the price to less than $1. MCAP wasn’t the only Hillcrest competitors in this year’s final. A team named AIOS proposed shoes with interchangeable soles, allowing users to switch between styles and functions, while another group of students, AloeFlex, developed an orthopedic brace featuring cooling aloe vera fabric,
impact protection and an injury-recovery tracking app. Other Utah finalists included Computerpreter from Skyline High School, which placed third and received $2,500, as well as teams from Bingham, Olympus, West and Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s. For Sanghvi, the years of competition have provided lessons beyond entrepreneurship. “Doing this for three years gave me that experience to fail and find where I can actually tweak things to be able to achieve success,” he said. “I know I’ll fail more in the future, but this experience has helped me to create a mindset for the future.”l
Children of all ages perform in Midvale Arts Council’s ‘The Lion King Jr.’
Cast members ranged in age from 5 to 18. By Amanda Hemmert a.hemmert@mycityjournals.com
T
he Midvale Arts Council does around four theatrical shows every year, with at least one junior show each year. Junior shows have a shorter run time and a wide age range for cast members. This fall they presented “The Lion King Jr.”, which ran from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4. This hilarious, yet poignant musical was presented by 65 member of the community, ranging in ages from 5 to 18. The youngest cast member, John, said his favorite part of the show was “being in it.” Each child and teen’s enthusiasm was apparent as they performed. There wasn’t a single moment during their Thursday show where the energy lagged. Along with the high energies, the humor of the show kept up for many of the scenes. The actor for Timone, Caleb Swank, said his favorite part of the show was “cracking all the cheesy jokes and having people laugh at lines and jokes” and that he “loved all the comedy.” Lucy Mott, playing Shenzi, who is one of the hyenas in the show, also appreciated
Because Pets are Family Too! Cremation & Memorial Services by
385-243-7563 Page 6 | October 2026
The entire cast of “The Lion King Jr.” takes a bow. (Amanda Hemmert/City Journals)
the humor of the show, saying that her favorite part was “all the giggles that people gave us.” It helped that the hyenas were giggling up on stage as much as the crowd. Christopher Delgado, a member of the hyena ensemble loved “the creativity of the
show—it was really fun…all the makeup, all the costumes, and all the dances.” The choreography and costuming were highly praised by cast members. Mott said that most people did their makeup at home before the show, but that the little kids could have help when they got there. Many performers picked makeup that reflected their characters, with the actor for Pumba, Sione Tupouniua, doing white and black circular patterns and the actor for Mufasa, Sicily Greene, doing red makeup over her cheeks, jaw, and neck, helping her appear more masculine. The costumes and makeup reflected the North African inspiration for “The Lion King,” incorporating grass skirts, sometimes called ashenda, and colorful African prints called ankara. There was even a two-person elephant for the song “The Circle of Life,” with wiggling ears and white textured designs on the body of the elephant. Certain performers stuck out for their
unique takes on their roles. Rafiki was played by a teen girl, Janell Kalimasi, who combined singing and humor into the role. Scar was played by June Calder, and she played a genderbent role of Scar. Maggie Lawrence, a lioness, said that a couple of roles were genderbent because of the demographic of who is interested in and auditioned for the musical. That demographic challenge didn’t stop the casting for Scar and Mufasa from being spot on. Calder said that as she embodied a genderbent role for Scar. “I felt myself changing between the real Scar versus my Scar, almost switching between the vibes of masculine versus feminine.” Calder had also never played a villain before, but encapsulated the jealousy and cunning of Scar. Greene, playing Mufasa, mentioned more that the vocal range was challenging and new. Both Greene and Calder said they’d be willing to do more genderbent roles in the future. The tech crew also worked with unique circumstances to get the job done. The job of the tech crew is varied, but they are often the first line when things go wrong. Parker Nelson said that you just have to “Hakuna Matata” when things go wrong, and Jocelyn Thompson said that they have to remember that “as long as you can see them” the show can continue. The main job of lighting is just to make sure the actors “hard work isn’t kept away.” If you are interested in filling a role in the next performance from the Midvale Arts Council, they have several opportunities coming up. Auditions are starting in October for “Guys and Dolls Sr.”, which will have a cast with the age range of 55-plus and is shorter, just like a junior show, but with a musical many older adults will be familiar with. Next year there will be a junior show in February, and in the summer, a show that the entire family can audition for. To participate, visit midvalearts.com to sign up for auditions and updates. l
Midvale City Journal
East Midvale safety patroller honored for leading by example
Ten-year-old Charles Purdie was named AAA Safety Patroller of the Year, one of nine students recognized across the Intermountain West and the only honoree from Utah. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
B
y 7:30 in the morning, 45 minutes before the school bell rings, Charles Purdie is at East Midvale Elementary School, getting safety patrol equipment ready before the other students arrive. “We’re supposed to get here at 7:45, but sometimes people come later than that,” the 10 year old said. “I come earlier to get things out and ready for our patrol.” Charles does it because it makes the morning better for everyone else. “It’s easier to get everything out. Then people can go straight to the jobs without worrying about getting ready and rushing out,” he said. That kind of initiative helped Charles earn a prestigious honor: AAA Safety Patroller of the Year. He is one of nine students recognized throughout the Intermountain West and the only student from Utah to receive the award this year. For the honor, Charles received a plaque, while East Midvale’s safety patrol program received $2,000.
Fourth-grader Charles Purdie was selected as an AAA Safety Patroller of the Year for his dedication to the safety of East Midvale students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Principal Amy Sandgren said the recognition reflects both Charles’ character and the school’s commitment to student leadership. “To be able to represent our community with safety patrol means we’re a solid community which really values students who serve,” she said. “He is the person who really represents those values.”
Charles serves on a safety patrol program with 55 fourth and fifth graders. Members rotate through stations, helping at crosswalks, doors and other areas before and after school. They rotate being named captain. Community School Facilitator and crossing guard adviser Shelley McCall said Charles stands out. “He’s always early, and he helps direct the flow of traffic and the kids, being visible and responsible,” she said. “He’s a kind kid and helpful to everyone.” Charles also stays afterward to put equipment away, sometimes fixing broken flags and making sure everything is ready for the next day. McCall said the program teaches students more than traffic safety. They learn to work as a team, often beginning the year without knowing one another, while developing responsibility and accountability. Charles has embraced those lessons. He also serves on student council and as a junior recess coach, giving him several opportunities to practice leadership. “He has many opportunities to lead here and has shone in every one of them,” Sandgren said. The award also has inspired younger students. After Charles was recognized, Sandgren said several third graders approached
her asking how they could join safety patrol. “He’s an example to others and inspires them to serve their school,” she said. Charles said he wanted to practice leadership and service, but he joined for other reasons. “I thought it would be fun and I could make more friends, but really I like helping people,” he said. He understands why safety patrol’s responsibilities matter, particularly when students are crossing the street. “We’re helping them by letting them cross, because if they are not crossing (here), they could get hit by cars (elsewhere),” he said. “I want them to be safe around traffic.” Charles said he has learned from his roles with school activities. “I’ve become a better leader; I want to help people more and make sure everything is the best it can be,” he said. “I’m also helping teach my sister how to be safe.” McCall said the $2,000 award likely will help purchase new safety patrol jackets or warm vests, while also supporting other student leadership programs. Charles already wears his own orange vest. “My parents work in construction and shared it with me,” he said. “They’re always telling me the importance of being a leader. I’m beginning to understand that.”l
Union Middle School’s cultural night showcases a world of traditions
Student performances, cultural displays and shared recipes turned Union Middle School into a celebration of the cultures represented in its community. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
F
abrizio Negron wanted visitors to leave Union Middle School knowing one thing: Peru is much more than Machu Picchu. The eighth grader proudly stood beside his cultural display during Union Middle School’s “Union United” cultural night, ready to explain the food, history, geography, traditions and people of his native country. “I want to represent my culture and my country, because I’m proud I’m Peruvian,” Fabrizio said. “I want people to know more about Peru, what it’s like, who we are, what’s important, not just what’s it’s famously known for.” Fabrizio was born in Peru and lived there for 11 years before moving to the United States three years ago. His display included information about Peruvian dishes such as ceviche, lomo saltado
MidvaleJournal.com
Union Middle students perform a Venezuelan dance during the school’s “Union United” cultural night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
and pachamanca, along with information about Peru’s regions, holidays, dances and landmarks. He shared Peru’s diverse cultural influences, but he said his favorite part of Peru is its people. “They’re really hard-working and warm and welcoming,” he said. Fabrizio’s enthusiasm for his heritage is one example of the purpose behind Union
United, an evening that brought students, families and community members together to celebrate the many cultures represented at Union Middle. Union Community School Facilitator Dinitri Jackson organized the event, now in its third year. She said the idea came to her when she realized the school’s cultural diversity. “I always had this perception that Sandy
was not diverse until I started working at Union Middle School and realized there is so much culture,” Jackson said. “We’re rich with it, and I wanted an opportunity for the students to celebrate their cultures and their individuality.” The event has evolved each year. In the beginning, community organizations provided most of the performances. The second year featured a large presentation by dual language immersion students and a few individual performers. This year, more students stepped forward with performances of their own. “They could present poems, dance, sing or give a presentation they were comfortable presenting,” Jackson said. “I told them, ‘The sky’s the limit. You tell me what you want to do, and if it’s OK, and we’ll make it work.’” Seventh-grader Marcella Olmos was among the dancers performing at the event, her second time performing at the cultural night. “I performed a salsa dance from Venezuela,” she said. “I’ve been practicing for two weeks. It’s fun to dance with my friends.” The evening also included student performances in multiple languages, cultural displays, traditional clothing, recipe sharing and other activities.l
October 2026 | Page 7
Midvale buys land in preparation for canal trail Sandy City sold Midvale a parcel near a segment of the Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal for $15,000. By Giovanni Radtke g.radtke@mycityjournals.com
M
idvale City leaders approved the purchase of a plot of land from Sandy City on Aug. 18 to secure access for the planned Midvale Canal Trail. The parcel located at 7033 S. Greenborough Road is near the Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal and falls within Midvale City limits. Sandy City sold the property for $15,000, more than $3,000 below its assessed value, according to a summary report of the agreement. Acquiring the canal corridor property gives Midvale more control over the longterm development and maintenance of the planned trail network and eliminates the need to purchase additional property surrounding the canal segment in the future, the summary report states. “[City] staff believes that it would support this long-term vision to have a continuous regional trail that would connect Midvale
with Murray to the north and Sandy to the south,” Kate Andrus, Midvale’s Redevelopment Agency director, said in August. “It would provide us with direct ownership and control over a future trail segment. And it also helps to advance our recreation and active transportation opportunities.” Construction on a small stretch of the Midvale Canal Trail stalled last year. But the engineering firm Consor North America continues to develop a blueprint for the regional trail system, which will encompass two multiuse paths along the East Jordan Canal and the Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal. A feasibility study published in 2023 estimates the canal trail project will cost around $18.5 million. Funding for the entire project has not yet been secured; however, a recreation grant from Salt Lake County is funding Consor’s design work. Shortly after the feasibility study was released, Midvale made a formal offer to Sandy City to purchase the parcel in October 2023, according to the summary report. The property transaction must be completed within 30 days of both cities’ mayors signing off on the deal, per the interlocal purchase agreement. l
Map of the property near the Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal. (Courtesy of Midvale)
Page 8 | October 2026
Midvale City Journal
The Pause Project helps women learn about menopause
Two Utah event planners are turning their own perimenopause struggles into The Pause Project, a oneday conference Oct. 10 to replace “suffering in silence” with expert advice and community. By Rebecca Olds rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
S
arah Kyle and Brooke Tolman have been friends and business partners in the events industry for a long time, so it was natural for them to talk about anything and everything — even the topics the larger community still regards as “taboo.” “I hate to say it, but especially in Utah … we are supposed to have the perfect home … our children are perfect … there’s just this sense of like you can’t show any of your flaws,” Kyle said. Tolman started noticing strange symptoms: brain fog that made it impossible to remember details that once came easily, restless nights where her eyes snapped open around 3 a.m. and refused to shut again — what she and Kyle now jokingly call the “3 a.m. club.” Then came the hot flashes. Worst of all was a growing sense that she simply didn’t feel like herself anymore, and her confidence began to crack.
Talking it through with Kyle, Tolman was stunned to learn she wasn’t crazy — and she wasn’t alone. Perimenopause and menopause affect most women, often starting in their 30s and lasting up to 10-12 years. Yet many say they were never told what to expect. Very little information is passed down within families, and most OB-GYN and primary care training includes only minimal menopause education — lining up with what Tolman and Kyle heard about doctors getting “15-20 minutes of training” on hormones. “For a long time… women were supposed to hold it all together, right?” Tolman said. “The ‘suffering in silence’ is, I think, passed down from generations … you’re a woman, you just have to deal with it.” But Kyle and Tolman decided they weren’t going to “just deal with it.” “You’re just trying to feel normal,” Tolman said. “I think that is the one sign most doctors agree with: you don’t really know what is happening to you, you just know you don’t feel like yourself, and you may not know that any of this other stuff is all related.” On Oct. 10 at The Grand America Hotel, Tolman and Kyle are hosting The Pause Project, a one-day conference designed to give women both information and community around perimenopause and menopause. The event will feature local women physicians
and specialists from major health systems, along with Utah-based companies focused on women’s health, supplements and wellness. “We’re not the experts, so we are leaning on experts,” Kyle said. “We do events, we’re suffering from this and we know a lot of women are. So we want to bring this to the public space.” They hope women will come with friends, adult daughters or sisters, take advantage of group pricing and, most
importantly, bring their questions. Instead of 15 rushed minutes in an exam room, attendees will have a full day to hear from specialists, compare experiences with other women and leave knowing they’re not the only ones awake at 3 a.m. wondering what’s happening to their bodies.l
Brooke Tolman (left) and Sarah Kyle (right) created The Pause Project to help give hope and build a community of support for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. (Photo courtesy Frederick W. Hayes/ Still Photographer)
★LEADING THE WAY. DELIVERING RESULTS. PUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST. ★ PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST Protecting Salt Lake County through accountability, prevention, and strong community partnerships.
TRUST, FAIRNESS, & RESPECT Building community trust through transparency, integrity, and community-based policing.
PROVEN RESULTS • Ended jail overcrowding releases • Restored full staffing • Implemented treatment and re-entry services • Strengthened gang prevention
BUILDING ON OUR PROGRESS
In my next term, I will continue working with the Salt Lake County Council and Mayor to address jail capacity, invest in prevention and treatment, expand accountable alternatives to incarceration, and support the deputies and staff who keep our communities safe.
www.rosieforsheriff.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Rosie Rivera
MidvaleJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 9
Hillcrest High theatre students sew up a season of stories Hillcrest High’s theater department takes students from Shakespeare to a Victorian mystery this season, while its student costume team creates costumes from a variety of historical periods. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
H
illcrest High’s theatre season is taking students through centuries of storytelling — and giving a growing group of student costumers opportunities to learn along the way. The school’s theatre department will present a season that includes a Shakespeare competition, “Something Rotten,” “Jersey Boys,” “All My Sons” and “The Woman in White.” During the season, 15 students on the school’s student costume team will help bring the productions to life. Michelle Abbott, Hillcrest’s student and director support coordinator and costume designer, said the costume team’s first year was such a success that she decided to bring it back. “It went phenomenally well,” Abbott said. “The student costume team really pulled their weight. They did a lot of work and they were phenomenally mature and responsible.”
Before the Shakespeare competition, Hillcrest High thespians listened to a panel of 14 alumni, who shared with the team about making the most of the opportunity. (Photo courtesy Michelle Abbott)
The team is not a class. Students volunteer their time outside their regular classes, academics and other activities. Some even balance costume work with performing onstage. Last year, students learned sewing, organization, sketching, design, color stories, makeup application, facial prosthetics and wig construction. “They each were able to dive in at the level that they wanted to,” Abbott said. “They did a great job, so I wanted to give them the opportunity again.” This year’s season begins with the
MEET THE
TREE SERVICES
% 30 OFF
EXPERTS
EXPIRES 11/15/26
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
RUSSEL FOREMAN. ARBORIST. TREE CARE SPECIALIST.
Russel brings a trained arborist’s eye and a commitment to quality to every residential property. Specializing in professional tree pruning, he understands how proper pruning improves tree health, structure, safety, and appearance. From mature shade trees to detailed ornamental pruning, Russel leads his crew with precision and care—making thoughtful cuts that protect your trees and enhance your property for years to come.
TREE REMOVAL
STUMP GRINDING
EXPERT CARE. STRONGER COMMUNITIES. Page 10 | October 2026
PRUNING
PROUDLY SERVING SALT LAKE CITY, UT AND SURROUNDING AREAS
PLANT HEALTH CARE
801-938-4345
DIAMONDTREEEXPERTS.COM
Shakespeare competition. Hillcrest has plans to send eight technicians to compete in the Tech Olympics and more than 50 students to participate in the acting competition at the 50th annual Utah Shakespeare High School Festival’s high school competition in Cedar City. The ensemble scene is based on William Shakespeare’s long-form poem “Venus and Adonis,” which tells the story of Venus, the goddess of love, falling for the mortal Adonis. Before the competition, students listened to a panel of 14 alumni, who shared with the team about making the most of the opportunity. “They give them advice about how to dedicate themselves to the rehearsal process, how to avoid mistakes that they made and ways to make the experience memorable,” she said. Following competition, the thespians will present “Something Rotten,” a comedic Broadway musical that pokes fun at both musicals and Shakespeare. “For ‘Something Rotten,’ the costume team is going to learn not only the importance of understanding the time period that we’re working within and having to nail that, but then also learning how to do that comedically and take liberties where it makes sense to take liberty and where you really have to be accurate,” she said. Abbott said students will study the Renaissance-era clothing while also considering creative departures, particularly during dream sequences. The season then moves to “Jersey Boys,” which Abbott said was selected in part because Hillcrest has a particularly strong group of male vocalists this year, along with dancers and other strong performers. Students will study Frankie Valli and the musical group’s era as they prepare for the production. In March, Hillcrest will present “All My Sons,” a smaller-cast play by Arthur Miller. The production will allow students to explore theater jobs beyond acting, including props, advertising, set design and student acting coaches.
The season concludes with “The Woman in White,” based on Wilkie Collins’ Victorian-era mystery novel. “This book is on many lists of the 100 best novels ever written, yet it’s not one that a lot of people know,” she said. “It’s a mystery novel and it features strong female characters, which is very exciting and rare for Victorian era writing. It’s told in multiple perspectives throughout the book, so you’re hearing the story of what happened from different characters’ perspective, and the mystery unfolds throughout the different perspectives.” Abbott said the original stage production will be created from the novel itself, which gives students an unusually deep understanding of the literature. “They just get to know the language really well by reading all it and then extracting the dialogue and information they think needs to be in the script to help tell the story. They get an intimate knowledge of the literature,” she said. The production also will give the costume team another historical period to explore, moving from Renaissance-inspired designs to mid-century American clothing and finally Victorian fashions. “The students will be getting a lot of variety work and have opportunities to learn from that,” Abbott said. That variety is intentional throughout Hillcrest’s theatre season. Abbott said directors consider the opportunities different productions provide for performers, musicians, dancers, technicians and designers. Abbott also hopes audiences will give this season’s less-familiar titles the same opportunity they gave last year’s recognizable productions. “I feel sad when people miss out on things,” Abbott said. “I want them to be able to experience the great shows we’re experiencing.” l HILLCREST THEATRE SCHEDULE Shakespeare Showcase: 7 p.m., Oct. 5 — featuring “Venus and Adonis” and individual pieces “Something Rotten”: 7 p.m., Nov. 19-21 and again, on Nov. 23 “Jersey Boys”: 7 p.m., Jan. 21-23, 2027 “All My Sons”: March 12, 13, 19, 20 and 22, 2027 — performance times vary Competition Showcase: 7 p.m., April 1, 2027 — featuring a TBA one-act and individual pieces “The Woman in White”: 7 p.m., May 13-15, 2027 — an original stage adaptation based on Wilkie Collins’ novel Season and individual tickets are available at HillcrestTheatre.com. Hillcrest High’s productions are held at 7350 S. 900 East in Midvale.
Midvale City Journal
In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
OCTOBER 2026 CITY NEWSLETTER
Midvale Monthly with Mayor Gettel New Midvale Recreation Center Funding Process Moves Forward MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall ...................................................801-567-7200 Finance/Utilities ...................................801-567-7200 Court ........................................................801-567-7265 City Attorney’s Office .........................801-567-7250 City Recorder/Human Resources ...801-567-7228 Community Development ...............801-567-7211 Public Works ..........................................801-567-7235 Ace Disposal/Recycling .....................801-363-9995 Midvale Historical Museum .............801-567-7285 Midvale Senior Center .......................385-468-3350 SL County Animal Services ..............385-468-7387 Communications .................................801-567-7230
MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS Mayor - Dustin Gettel Email: Dgettel@midvaleut.gov CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Bonnie Billings Email: Bbillings@midvaleut.gov District 2 - Paul Glover Email: Pglover@midvaleut.gov District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvaleut.gov District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: Bbrown@midvaleut.gov District 5 - Denece Mikolash Email: Dmikolash@midvaleut.gov
WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills ...............................................801-567-7200 Ordering A New Trash Can ...............801-567-7202 Permits ....................................................801-567-7214 Court ........................................................801-567-7265 Paying For Traffic School ...................801-567-7202 Business Licensing ............................. 801-567-7213 Cemetery ................................................801-567-7235 Planning and Zoning .........................801-567-7238 Code Enforcement ..............................801-567-7208 Building Inspections...........................801-567-7214 Graffiti .....................................................385-468-9769
PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY .............................................................. 911 Police Dispatch .....................................801-840-4000 Fire Dispatch .........................................801-940-4000 Unified Police Department > Midvale Precinct .............................385-468-9350 Public Works ..........................................801-567-7235 Rocky Mountain Power .....................877-508-5088
I’m excited to share an update on the funding process for a new recreation center in Midvale. While there are still several steps ahead, recent action by the Salt Lake County Council represents an important next step. For years, Midvale residents have expressed a desire for enhanced recreational amenities in the community. In November 2023, Midvale voters approved an $11.2 million General Obligation Bond to support recreation projects in the city. Of that amount, $10 million was designated for a future recreation project and $1.2 million was designated for dedicated walking and biking paths throughout the city. The proposed Midvale recreation project would support construction of a new full-service LEED Gold-certified regional recreation center featuring a family pool, multi-use gymnasium, elevated walking track, fitness rooms, community rooms, outdoor courts and an outdoor plaza. We are grateful to the Midvale residents who supported the 2023 bond and helped position the city to participate in future funding opportunities. Salt Lake County Takes the Next Step On August 4, the Salt Lake County Council voted to place a proposed recreation general obligation bond on the November 2026 general election ballot. The proposed bond would replace a 2016 recreation bond. County officials have stated that replacing the existing debt as the earlier bond is paid off would allow the new bond to be issued without increasing the county property tax rate.
E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety: Know the Rules Before You Ride E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular for recreation and transportation, especially among young riders. While they can be a fun and convenient way to get around, it is important to understand the rules of the road and practice safe riding habits to help prevent crashes and serious injuries. Before every ride, wear a properly fitted helmet, follow traffic signs and signals, and stay alert to vehicles, pedestrians, and other riders. Avoid distractions such as phones or headphones and make sure the e-bike or scooter is in good working condition. Parents should also ensure younger riders understand how to safely operate their device and follow all applicable laws. Riders should know that not all e-bikes are the same. Different classes of e-bikes have different speed capabilities and age requirements. Understanding what type of device, you are riding and where it is allowed to operate is an important part of staying safe. A few simple precautions can make a big difference. Wear a helmet, stay focused, obey traffic laws, and ride responsibly. By making safety a priority, everyone can help keep Midvale’s streets, trails, and neighborhoods safer for all. For additional safety information, watch the Unified Fire Authority’s E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety video: https://youtu.be/ OIusl2jG7hE.
What Happens Next? The proposed Salt Lake County recreation bond will be on the November 2026 ballot. Voters across Salt Lake County will decide whether to approve the bond. If approved by voters countywide, the bond would provide funding to help cover a portion of the cost of a new recreation center in Midvale. Midvale appreciates the support of our residents and our partnership with Salt Lake County as this process moves forward. We will continue to share updates and keep residents informed as additional information becomes available.
In The Middle of Everything Thank You, Midvale, for Making Water Conservation a Community Effort This year, Midvale residents, businesses and the City worked together to conserve water, and the results are clear. In May, Midvale City implemented a temporary drought surcharge to encourage water conservation during the months when water demand increases significantly, particularly because of outdoor watering. The surcharge was implemented in response to ongoing drought conditions and the increased importance of conserving water supplies. Midvale will continue to work with our partners to find creative ways to conserve water and ensure a high quality of life for our residents. The surcharge was designed as a seasonal conservation measure, not as a way to increase City revenue. With the outdoor watering season coming to an end, the temporary surcharge is also ending. Midvale Answered the Call to Conserve Midvale residents and businesses made a noticeable difference in water use this summer. Water use across the entire community also declined compared with 2025: • June: 5.5% decrease • July: 17.7% decrease • August: 10.2% decrease These reductions reflect the many ways residents and businesses responded. From adjusting irrigation schedules and shortening watering times to being more mindful of water use throughout the summer. The City Did Its Part, Too Conservation wasn’t just something Midvale asked of residents and businesses. The City also took meaningful steps to reduce water use across its parks, facilities, and operations. As a result, Midvale City’s water consumption declined significantly compared with the same months in 2025: The City’s water use decreased by 36.6% in June, 50.5% in July, and 26.2% in August. These reMonth
2025
2026
Decrease
June
3,165,000
2,007,000
36.6%
July
6,851,000
3,392,000
50.5%
August
5,516,000
4,070,000
26.2%
ductions were achieved through operational changes and a focus on using water more efficiently throughout the summer. At the community level, residents and businesses also responded to the call to conserve. Compared with 2025, overall water use across Midvale declined by: • June: 5.5% decrease • July: 17.7% decrease • August: 10.2% decrease These reductions reflect the many ways residents and businesses adjusted their water use, from modifying irrigation schedules and shortening watering times to being more mindful of water use throughout the summer. Water conservation is a community effort, and this year’s results show what can be accomplished when residents, businesses, and the City work together toward a common goal. The Surcharge Was About Conservation, Not Increasing Revenue The temporary drought surcharge was implemented to encourage water conservation during the months when outdoor watering places the greatest demand on the water system. Some residents have asked whether the surcharge was intended to increase City revenue. The data shows otherwise. As residents and businesses reduced their water use, the amount of water revenue collected also declined. In August 2026, total water revenue was $763,783, compared with $855,203 in August 2025, a decrease of $91,420, or 10.7%. WATER CONSERVATION CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV
OCTOBER 2026 CITY NEWSLETTER MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV
WATER CONSERVATION CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE The table below shows the amount billed for water usage in each water tier in August 2025 and August 2026. Water Tier
August 2025
August 2026
Change
Tier 1
$144,372
$140,193
-2.9%
Tier 2
$310,262
$257,664
-17.0%
Tier 3
$89,099
$76,027
-14.7%
Tier 4
$311,470
$289,899
-6.9%
Total
$855,203
$763,783
-10.7%
The purpose of the surcharge was to encourage conservation during the months when outdoor watering puts the greatest demand on our water system. When people use less water, they also pay for less water, and that is exactly what we wanted to see. The Drought Surcharge Is Ending The temporary drought surcharge was tied to the outdoor watering season and will end as seasonal water demand declines. Midvale has two utility billing cycles. To ensure customers in both cycles were treated consistently, the surcharge was applied for the same seasonal period but began and ended on different service dates based on each customer’s billing cycle.
The surcharge was applied during the following service dates: • Billing Cycle 1 (West): May 15 through October 15 • Billing Cycle 2 (East): May 1 through September 30 For customers in Billing Cycle 2, the first bill that will not include the drought surcharge will be mailed November 1. For customers in Billing Cycle 1, the first bill that will not include the drought surcharge will be mailed November 16. Not sure which billing cycle you’re in? Check the service dates listed on your utility bill. Customers whose billing period ends around the end of the month are generally in Billing Cycle 2, while customers whose billing period ends around the middle of the month are generally in Billing Cycle 1. Thank You, Midvale! The success of this this year’s conservation effort belongs to the entire community. Thank you to every resident and business that adjusted watering schedules, reduced outdoor watering, fixed leaks, or simply made a conscious effort to use less water. Your actions added up to significant reductions in water use. And thank you to our City staff, who also worked to reduce water consumption and help our community meet the challenges of the summer watering season. The drought surcharge is ending, but water conservation remains important. We encourage everyone to carry the lessons from this summer forward and continue using this valuable resource wisely. Thank you, Midvale, for doing your part. Together, we made a difference.
Midvale Elementary celebrates Utah through first Family Brain Booster Night Midvale Elementary families explored Utah’s history, culture and natural beauty through student projects, hands-on activities, food and an after-school play during the school’s first Family Brain Booster Night. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
M
idvale Elementary families recently gathered for an evening of art, science, reading, food and theatre as the school hosted its first Family Brain Booster Night, an event designed to showcase the work students and booster (specialized subject) teachers do throughout the year. The evening centered on Utah, giving families an opportunity to see how students were learning about the state through different subjects and activities. “We’ve had literacy or STEM nights, but we’ve never had a night where we highlight all of the work our booster classes do,” said Heidi Sanger, Midvale’s community school facilitator. Booster teachers work with every student in the school, but much of their work happens outside students’ regular classrooms. “The idea is to highlight all of the work,”
At the first Family Brain Booster Night, Midvale Elementary families could vote for favorites based on posts students had created about books they read. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Sanger said. “This way, families will be able to see the work that was done and what they’re working on.” Throughout the school, families could view student artwork inspired by Utah, including beehives, dinosaurs and renditions of the Delicate Arch. STEM activities included fossil-related projects and rubbings, while another area featured a sensory path inspired by a hike through Utah’s hoodoos. The library offered a special take on the state’s Beehive Book Awards. Students created posts about books they had read, then families could vote for their favorites. The favorite was “Can I Be Your Dog?” and close
rebel paw
VOTE KEN
for STATE REPRESENTATIVE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES Ken Ivory is delivering real results for Utahns. Utah was just named the “Best State in the Nation” for the 3rd year in a row! Source: US News & World Report
Ken is also a leader in the fight to put Term Limits on Congress!
VOT E I VORY.COM PAID FOR BY COMMITTEE TO ELECT KEN IVORY
Page 14 | October 2026
behind were “Buffalo Fluffalo,” “Ninja,” “Flat Cat” and “The Wonders of Nature.” Media Instructional Technician Jessica Brown said the activity also helped encourage students to read. “This year I’ve seen major amounts of kids coming in. They’re asking, ‘Can I do another one?’ It’s become exciting,” she said. The night also featured a Utah-themed picnic, with common foods including scones, taffy, gelatin and chili. A highlight of the evening was the afterschool drama program’s production “Utah A to Z,” directed by Jordan Nelson, a Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program specialist.
The performance celebrated Utah’s cultural heritage and natural beauty, with student guides leading the audience through history from Native American heritage and pioneer settlement to statehood while highlighting Utah landmarks. Kindergartner Lily Bennett was excited to see her fourth-grade sister, Sky, serve as one of the guides in the performance. She was with second-grader Zoe Cameron and her mother, Jessica. The group was munching on scones. “The best parts tonight so far are the fossils and dinosaurs,” Zoe said. Fourth-grader Michael Gonzales had showed his mother, Dixie Hensley, his artwork of Delicate Arch on display. “We learned about it first; the arches were made by water,” he said. “We didn’t make our arches all at once, but a little at a time just like they were made.” Sanger said the event was intended to encourage students to look beyond what they learn in school and explore the state around them. “Tonight was about the awareness of this beautiful state we live in and all the unique opportunities we have in encouraging kids to learn about them here,” she said. “We want them to also go out and explore their state.”l
Stylish handmade
bandanas cakes treats pe t food & su pp li es your dogs’s favorite store! 7681 S main street, midvale www.rebelpaw801.com
Midvale City Journal
Midvalley students find their stories through the arts
A PTA art night invited Midvalley Elementary students and families to explore culture, creativity and what makes up their community. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
F
ourth-grader Will Taggart recently tried to fit culture on a paper pyramid. The Midvalley Elementary student carefully added pieces representing his favorite foods and animals, but he also included something less tangible: friends and family. “I’m putting on things that identify who I am like my activities I like,” Will said. “I’m including my favorite food and favorite animal, but also friends and family because they help make up who I am.” His second-grade brother, Theo Taggart, had his own ideas. “I like mangoes and I’m putting my bike in there too,” he said. The brothers were among the students and families taking part in Midvalley Elementary’s PTA art night, “What My Culture Means to Me.” Armed with paper passports, families could stroll through the school, make crafts, learn cultural songs, listen to tales and watch live cultural performances.
At the Midvalley PTA art night, families could check out the colorful paper houses featuring students’ culture and community. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
The evening grew out of lessons students had been exploring throughout the year in brain booster classes, including STEM, music, art and with Playworks at recess. PTA President Bethany Joseph said the goal was to help students recognize that everyone has a culture and something meaningful to contribute. “We love celebrating our diversity and everybody recognizing they belong,” Joseph said. “We had a lot of students, when we were discussing different cultures, think they didn’t think they had a
culture, but they learned their family, their school, their community help make up their culture.” That cultural message appeared throughout the school. Students created colorful paper houses featuring their culture and community, put stickers on maps where their families are from and created self-portraits of themselves on the hallway wall outside the performances. For parents, the night offered a chance to see that work — and to see their children in their element.
Sara Morton, Will and Theo’s mother, was eager to see Will’s stop-motion film, created for the PTA’s Reflections competition. She also enjoyed seeing her sons’ everyday school lives firsthand. “I like seeing them in their habitat,” Morton said. “They’re here all day at school, and we don’t get to see them at work. It’s cool to get to watch them do their thing.” Third-grader Aaliyah Jackson was excited about the evening. She placed a sticker on a map in Mexico and Utah, drew her portrait and built her own culture pyramid. “I’ve learned more about my culture from DLI (Spanish dual language immersion) classes,” Aaliyah said. Her favorite part was drawing herself. “I made it look like me; I like being myself,” she said. Her father, Zach Franzoni, said the family came to celebrate Aaliyah’s accomplishments and take part in the activities. He said they were looking forward to the live performances, which included invited cultural groups. Joseph said the night’s purpose was intentional: “We’re creating a purpose tonight and having students recognize their cultures and celebrate them rather than just displaying work. We want to embrace that.”l
FREE DR
Y
Every Tu ERS! esday and We dnesda y
Leave the
Laundry
Come try Utah’s Best Barbecue Restaurant Scan for $10 off your next order
to Us
More time for what matters. We’ll handle the rest.
Same Day Wash, Dry & Fold
Drop Off Services
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 7 AM - 10 PM 630 W Center St Midvale, Utah 84047
MidvaleJournal.com
MIDVALE
7171 Bingham Junction Blvd. Midvale, UT
www.randrbbq.com October 2026 | Page 15
Midvale Middle is woven together by culture
A paper quilt, traditional dances, family recipes and more brought together the community for Midvale Middle’s annual cultural night. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
paper quilt stretched across a wall at Midvale Middle School, but it was made of much more than paper. Each square represented a student: a favorite food, a family tradition, a language, a religion, a sports team, a song or something else that helped tell the story of who they are. “This gives every student a chance to show what’s special to them,” said Jenna Ward, a Midvale math teacher who led students on the project in her classroom. “At Midvale, there’s a lot of cultural and ethnic diversity, and every single student got to make a quilt square. I liked that it got every kid involved.” The quilt was one of the schoolwide projects connected to Midvale’s annual We Are Midvale Cultural Night, an evening that brought students, families and the broader community together to celebrate the many cultures represented at the school. For two weeks, students worked on their quilt squares during the 30-minute Rise Up class period that focuses on study and character skills. The assignment was intentionally
open-ended, allowing students to decide what aspects of their culture they wanted to share. “Many of them were so excited to show me their mom’s favorite thing to make or a statue from the country they’re from. A lot of them got really into it, which was fun,” Ward said. Teacher librarian/media specialist Judy Rembacz said the quilt offered another way to see their studentbody. “I like looking through all of them and seeing all the creativity and diversity of our students,” she said. That diversity was especially visible during the cultural night, where students performed dances, helped run booths and participated in activities alongside their families. Eighth-grader Jernee Garcia had the opportunity to learn about her friend’s culture. Jernee, who is Native American and African American, joined five friends performing a traditional Samoan dance after her friend and her family taught them the movements. “It’s a very gorgeous culture,” Jernee said. “I love the song. I just love the gracefulness of the dancers and exploring the dance moves. I love how they do their makeup, their outfits, their language.” Parent Samantha Gangapuram watched her eighth-grade daughter, Iyra Maringanti, perform Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, a tradition Iyra has studied from native dancers
our tradition and I’m grateful for the teachers recognizing that and encouraging us to keep tradition alive.” Jessica Olmos, Midvale’s community school facilitator and event organizer, said the event drew more than 600 people this year, exceeding the previous year’s attendance. She credits the students with helping make the celebration successful. About 53 students participated in organizing and helping, including members of Student Council, Latinos In Action and the Community Connectors. “I love student involvement,” Olmos said. “This year, our kids were invested. They knew this was coming up and they wanted to be a part of the planning.” The celebration also featured a cultural recipe project, with students, parents and staff contributing recipes and explaining why the food is meaningful to them. PTSA treasurer Kimber Menssen said the plan is for the collection to become a Midvale Middle recipe book. Midvale Middle eighth-grader Iyra MarinOlmos said the night is about more than ganti checked out local food trucks’ cuisine performances, food or displays. at Midvale Middle’s annual culture night “It is an opportunity for students to see after performing an Indian classical dance, their own backgrounds reflected and to disBharatanatyam. (Julie Slama/City Journals) cover something about someone else,” she said. Jernee agrees: “We can teach other peosince she was five. ple about our cultures and learn from our “I’m an immigrant to the US,” she said. friends, which helps us know more about the “I’ve worked here 26 years so this is an oppor- world around us and to help understand other tunity here, so far away from home, to celebrate people’s cultures.” l
Check it out: Union Middle students love their library
Union Middle School students lead with the most print library book checkouts at a Canyons School District middle school. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
U
nion Middle eighth-grader Whitney Graham looks forward to the regularly scheduled visit to the school library. She loves checking out books, where she’s always looking for something different to read. This visit, she likes “books about monsters and mummies” and found “The Big Book of Monsters.” She checked it out so her “dad can read it with voices” with her. Her enthusiasm for books is contagious at Union, where students checked out more than 6,600 print library books from August through February last school year, more than any other middle school in Canyons School District. Districtwide, students checked out more than 282,300 print books during that period, including 33,779 by middle school students. Union averaged 7.2 checkouts per student. Teacher librarian Elaine Zhang said the library is for every learner. She makes sure students have a reason to come through the
Page 16 | October 2026
Union Middle School students boast the most checked out print library books from August through February last school year as every class regularly visits the library/media center. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
library doors. “I want to build on the momentum from the elementary schools,” Zhang said. “I talked to the teachers and invited the classes to come in.” Students regularly rotate through the library. Zhang connects library activities and book recommendations to classroom learning. “I try to connect with their curriculum,” she said. “If they’re studying ‘Charlie the Chocolate Factory,’ for example, I do fantasy books, or what entails fantasy.
If they’re doing a poetry unit, I pull those books. When eighth graders are reading ‘The Giver,’ we do dystopian activities. It deepens their understanding.” The invitation includes special education students. During their half-hour library sessions, Zhang reads a picture book and pairs it with an activity or craft. Last spring, it highlighted leprechauns and a craft; another day’s activity included an Easter egg hunt hidden amongst books. “I love they get to do an activity with the librarian,” teacher Emma Clark said.
“I love the activities she does with them because they’re fun and they enforce literacy.” For students who may not have a natural interest in books, she said those activities can be a gateway. Clark said students also learn responsibility by checking out a book, keeping track of it and returning it themselves. They can choose books connected to their interests, giving teachers another way to learn what excites them. Peer tutors add another layer. Students who cannot read independently have peers read their chosen books with them, reinforcing literacy while building relationships with schoolmates. Seventh-grader Damian Estrada is one of those tutors. “I enjoy helping them,” he said, adding that being a peer tutor has helped him become a better student. Damian also has his own library favorites: playing board games to checking out dragon books “because they’re fun to read.” While Union’s checkout statistics may tell the story in numbers, that isn’t the full story. “When we have students looking forward to coming to the library to check out books and discover the joy of reading, it’s just awesome,” Zhang said. l
Midvale City Journal
Hillcrest held its fifth annual academic bowl. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest’s Academic Bowl puts students to the test Photo by Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
record-breaking 24 six-member teams spent an afternoon tackling a mix of fun, challenging and surprising questions at Hillcrest High’s fifth annual academic bowl. Students puzzled over questions ranging from straight academics to pop culture: Who was granted the right to vote first — African Americans living in Washington, D.C. or Caucasian women living in New York City? Which had more calories — a McDonald’s Big Mac meal with a medium Coca-Cola or a
large Reese’s Caramel Craze from Dairy Queen? Which is more: the number of U.S. presidents born in a country of 50 states or the number of monotremes? Between rounds, teams took on an additional challenge to list the six U.S. presidents with the first name of James. The teams represented every high school grade level and competed not just for bragging rights, but the opportunity to list their team’s name on the academic bowl team plaque as part of a lasting legacy. l
seminar dates & Locations: Oct 6th & Oct 7th both at 12 PM
Le Jardin (Sandy) (1910 E. 10600 S.) Oct. 6th at 12 PM Chubby’s Cafe Riverton (1276 W. 12600 S. Riverton, UT 84065)
Oct. 14th at 12 PM OR 6 PM Larkin Mortuary (2350 E. 1300 S. SLC, UT 84108) •
No adjustments will be made on pre-existing contracts.
• •
Cannot be combined with any other offer. Discounted funeral/cremation plans must be from a selected package & excludes immediate burial or direct cremation.
(801) 363-5781
801-266-2600
www.larkinmortuary.com
4861 S State Street, Murray, UT | DesertStarPlayhouse.com MidvaleJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 17
Gardner Village WitchFest: An inside look behind the spellbinding scenes and cackling hosts When the witches fly at Gardner Village, visitors come from every corner of the United States for a chance to dance, dine and mingle with these bewitching, green-faced ladies. Creative designers Keri Taylor and Jami Christensen reveal how the magic begins. By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
F
or many years, WitchFest has cast its spell over Gardner Village. It begins with an unusual mid-September breeze from the east stirring the village with the first hints of the witching season. The crisp air, tinged with the scent of fall and something mysterious, carries a faint cackle of laughter drifting on the wind, hinting that magic is on the move. Swirls of capes and shivers of mischief can be seen and heard as brooms swoop down into the village. Long before WitchFest became the village’s signature celebration, Gardner Village hosted another autumn tradition. The village began hosting the Scarecrow Festival in the early 1990s to benefit the Utah Boys Ranch. The event grew so successful that the village could no longer accommodate it. “In 2000,
Page 18 | October 2026
we knew we would lose the festival because it became too big for our location and available manpower,” village Marketing Director Marcia Johns said. As they went their separate ways, the village generously gave the event’s trademark name and the festival’s core traditional format to the Utah Boys Ranch. Yet one pressing question lingered: What would happen when hundreds of visitors arrived at the village during the UEA weekend, as it was formerly known, anticipating the excitement and enjoyment of the Scarecrow Festival? In the midst of a routine business meeting, only weeks before the Scarecrow Festival was scheduled to occur, village co-owner Joe Long sparked an idea: “Let’s do witches,” he suggested. Then added, “What if we do an event called Witches Night Out? He looked across the table at Marcia and said, “You be in charge.” And with that, WitchFest was officially created. “The first year of Witches Night Out we hired a DJ and played music and gave away $100 gift certificates the night of the event,” Johns said. “The second year, 2001, is the year we decided to add the witch displays. The original creator, freelance designer Becky Hogan, was tasked with creating larger-than-life witches. The first
year we displayed 10 witches with some even being motorized.” The village worked with David Breitenbeker of Design Werks, a local firm specializing in special effects and designs, to create the faces. According to Johns, village designer Keri Taylor now makes the witches’ faces from sculpted Styrofoam and also carves the eyes and noses. The basic form of the witches is then created and welded together. After the bodies are assembled, Taylor and her sister, Jami Christiensen, custom-make all the clothes, with an exception this year, when they squeezed a large farm gal who had flown in on her broom from Kansas into a pair of store-bought size 52 overalls. “Most years, the witches get redressed,” Taylor said. “Jami is great at coming up with the main ideas, and then we make and handsew the clothing onto the witches.” For years, Lucinda the Gardner Village witch has enchanted promotional media with her charm. She is the creative person behind the live Gardner Village witches often seen strolling and cackling throughout the village. “Lucinda used to be a hostess at Archibald’s,” Johns said. “She just worked at the restaurant as a little job when her kids were at school. Someone at the restaurant called me and told me I needed to hear her “witch cackle.” I ran over to the restaurant, and after a brief audition, I hired her immediately for a live village witch.” Generations of families have enjoyed visiting WitchFest every year. Among the familiar sights and traditions, one witch in the village is set up as a photo-op place. Lucille sits on a park bench with her arm resting across the back of it. Guests mark the growth of their children every year by having them cozy up to her for a photo. Beginning in 2011, Tara Bowcut started photographing her son with the witch when he was just a toddler. She comments on the Gardner Village Facebook page, “This witch is my son’s favorite! We’ve taken a picture with her every year!” Each village store centers around spellbinding witch vignettes and offers all kinds of tricks, treats, potions and pointy Halloween hats for little witches needing a new one. Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. Take advantage of free entry to the Big Splash Competition, where each year witch Pamela Anderson—affectionately named by her creators—shows off her Olympic-worthy diving form as she plunges into the village pond. Practical pest control gardening tips, like how to ‘whomp’ tarantulas with a broom, are always available from witch Turnip, who can be found bustling around tending her garden throughout the festival. These magical happenings are just a
Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
small part of what draws an ever-growing crowd to the village each fall. WitchFest has grown in popularity, attracting guests from all over Utah and the U.S.—some even booking flights around the scheduled time of their favorite events. Admission is free to the public, except for a $10 per-car fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, which covers the parking lot service hired to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who visit, as well as common-area maintenance and cleaning crews. A late morning walk through the village in the fall is filled with enchantment. Make sure to stop in for a bowl of Archibald’s butternut squash soup or a slice of their famous seasonal pumpkin pie cake. If a live witch or two happen to pull up a chair at your table, which is quite possible, smile and snap some photos for an album soon to be filled with magical mischief, making your friends green with envy. WitchFest 2026 at Gardner Village takes place from Friday, Sept. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 31. For event schedules and details, visit https://www.gardnervillage.com/witch-fest.l
Midvale City Journal
Thinking About a Bathroom Upgrade?
Choose West Shore Home
®
Dear Reader,
The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
MidvaleJournal.com
les Tons of Stytions a in & Comb From! to Choose FULL BATHROOM REMODELING • WALK-IN SHOWERS • BATHS • TUB TO SHOWER CONVERSION
Bathroom Remodeling Experts!
SAVE BIG ON YOUR BATHROOM REMODEL EXPIRES 12/31/2026
Exclusive Designs & Styles On-The-Spot Installation Scheduling Fully Licensed and Insured Highly Trained Employee Installers Flexible Financing Subject to credit approval
Evening & Weekend Appointments Available
POWERED BY
4.8/5 4.9/5 4.8/5 Company reviews across all locations as of 8/03/2026
Ready to Renovate?
Scan the QR Code to schedule now!
CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TO GET STARTED!
801-928-7568
WSHPromotion.com
New orders only. Offer not valid on previous sales or estimates and cannot be combined with other offers. See design consultant for details. Other restrictions may apply. 1. $1,500 off. Discounts taken from 1 year price and applied before other promotional offers. 2. Financing offers a no payment - no interest feature (during the “promotional period”) on your purchase (at an APR of 13.99-23.99%, rates vary by state). No finance charges will accrue on your account during the promotional period, as set forth in your Truth in Lending Disclosures, and you will not have to pay a monthly payment until the promotional period has ended. If you repay your purchase in full before the end of the promotional period, you will not have to pay any finance charges. You may also prepay your account at any time without penalty. Financing is subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only. Normal late charges apply once the promotional period has ended. Call 888-697-4033 for financing costs and terms. Expires 12/31/2026.
October 2026 | Page 19
Parents have a voice in how School LAND Trust dollars help students
School community councils help determine how funding can address each school’s needs. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t one Utah school, the priority might be reading intervention. At another, it could be additional classroom support. A third school might decide educational software is what students need most. Who sets the priorities? In Utah, parents have a voice and a vote through school community councils. For the 2026-27 school year, $134 million in School LAND (Learning and Nurturing Development) Trust funds will be distributed to Utah district and charter schools, benefiting more than 658,000 students at more than 1,000 schools. School allocations are largely based on enrollment. For parents who want a greater voice in their children’s education, serving on a school community council can be one of the most direct ways to make a difference, said Jessie Stuart, assistant director of the School & Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office. “I feel like the trust lands story is one of the coolest stories out there,” she said. “These lands are put in trust to generate revenue for public schools.” Utah’s trust lands were established
when the state entered the Union. Revenue is generated from trust lands through activities such as oil and gas, mining, solar power, real estate development and other uses. The money is invested, with earnings distributed to beneficiaries. “The beneficiaries of these trust lands are the K through 12 school kids who these teachers are teaching every single day,” Stuart said. When funding is distributed to schools, parent involvement in the local decision-making becomes critical, Stuart said. At Draper Elementary, Principal Scott Jameson starts by explaining the LAND Trust program to council members — parents, employees in addition to himself. “We start with data, identify our highest needs, then we develop goals and come up with an action plan,” he said. “We can put that money toward meeting our highest needs.” Draper’s 2026-27 plan includes goals to increase mathematics and literacy proficiency by 1% to 3%. “The greatest power of this whole thing,” he said, “is all that money is based on what the school needs.” Principal Suzie Williams, of Columbia Elementary in West Jordan, said LAND Trust dollars often support paraprofessionals who provide interventions and classroom assistance. “We typically use it for support staff so
At Draper Elementary, the school community council has a say and vote in where LAND Trust dollars are spent. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
we can provide intervention and individualized instruction for students with instructional aides and classroom aides,” she said. “We can provide rotation teachers to give our teachers planning and collaboration time.” Principal Justin Pitcher, of Cottonwood High School in Murray, said last year’s council determined the $265,000 LAND Trust dollars would support instructional coaching, assessment coordination, additional teacher periods and educational software. “We need parents to be involved in our school community councils, so we can appropriate the funding in ways that will benefit our students with the parent input,” Pitcher said.
50% OFF EXPERT INSTALLATION
• FREE no-obligation design consultation • CUSTOM-BUILT to fit existing spaces • FAST, professional installation • LIFETIME WARRANTY* for peace of mind
SCHEDULE NOW: 1-801-878-6917
• • • •
FREE no-obligation design consultation Custom-built to fit existing spaces Fast, professional installation Lifetime Warranty* for peace of mind
Local School LAND Trust distribution 2026-27
AS SEEN IN
©2026 ShelfGenie SPC LLC. All rights reserved. Locally owned and operated franchise. Offer valid at participating locations only. Limit one offer per household. *Applies to Classic and Designer line. EXP 12/31/26.
Page 20 | October 2026
Parents bring a perspective educators may not always have. “Parents themselves give input and insight to a school which we don’t always see,” Jameson said. “Educators are experts in instruction. They’re experts in working with large groups of kids, but parents help us to hone down to individuals.” Pitcher said SCCs bring together those perspectives. “The power of a council allows us to be able to work through really hard decisions, and come to a consensus,” Pitcher said. That parent voice has a long history in Utah. Utah PTA members began advocating for reform of the trust-land system in the 1980s. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,” Utah PTA President Julie Cluff said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” That’s an important lesson: the LAND Trust fund isn’t simply money to spend. “They are an investment in students and school community councils that give families a voice in determining how that investment can have the greatest local impact,” said Williams, who served on a LAND Trust committee for three years. “Parents do not need to be education experts. They simply need to know their community, care about students and be willing to participate.” l
Canyons District $6,039,052 Davis District $12,599,737 Granite District $10,227,609 Jordan District $10,473,694 Murray District $1,269,968 Salt Lake District $3,505,362 All Charter Schools $17,295,728 Source: School Children’s Trust Office, Utah State Board of Education. As required by law, estimates are based on October 2025 enrollment data.
Midvale City Journal
Jordan Valley students celebrate ability at first Special Olympics A new school tradition built around inclusion and joy gives students the opportunity to compete, build skills and be celebrated for what they can do. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t Jordan Valley, every student had a place on the starting line when the school held its first Special Olympics this spring. “It’s about having a place where everyone could participate and belong,” said Principal Matt Nelson. Last spring, students prepared for a day of floor hockey, soccer, bowling, bocce, golf and track and field. The events were adapted to meet students’ individual abilities, giving each athlete an opportunity to try, compete and experience the excitement of being cheered on by their school community. Jordan Valley adaptive physical education teacher Ashlin Stephens, who also coaches with Special Olympics Utah, said creating that opportunity was the reason for bringing the games to Jordan Valley. “I work for Special Olympics Utah, so I wanted to give my students the opportunity to also have their own Jordan Valley Special Olympics,” she said. Stephens wanted students who might
MidvaleJournal.com
not be able to participate in traditional Special Olympics or unified sports programs to have their own chance to experience the competition. The event was complete with opening and closing ceremonies, awards and cheering from the community. “I want to get more community involvement and awareness,” she said. “No matter the disability, the severity of it, our kiddos can still participate in sports,” she said. Making that possible meant thinking beyond traditional sports equipment. Students used switches, fans, bowling ramps and modified hoops to participate. In one basketball activity, pressing a switch turned on a fan that pushed the ball toward the basket. A similar adaptation helped students send a bowling ball toward the pins. The goal was to find a way for every student to experience success. “We figured out ways for students to participate at their level,” Nelson said. The activities also reinforced skills students work on in their classrooms and daily lives, including communication, visual tracking, gross- and fine-motor skills, responding to verbal prompts and understanding cause and effect. Stephens said the most rewarding moments came from watching students who don’t always participate in physical education become engaged in the games.
Jordan Valley students took part in the school’s first Special Olympics, giving everyone an opportunity to participate and shine. (Photo courtesy Ashlin Stephens)
“Seeing the smiles on my kids’ faces, just how excited they get, being celebrated and getting to do things made it worthwhile,” she said. Staff members shared their excitement with her. “They told me, ‘This is awesome;
this is what our students should get to do every year,’” Stephens said. The inaugural event was a significant undertaking for the school. Stephens and adaptive PE coach Rick Marino worked together to develop the event. The games included an Olympic-style opening ceremony. Students created banners representing different countries with Jordan Valley Beverley Taylor Sorenson teacher Jonathan Hale creating a lit-up torch for the occasion. At the closing ceremony, athletes received awards recognizing accomplishments in sportsmanship, perseverance, teamwork and personal growth. “Every student is celebrated; every student was successful,” Nelson said. Stephens hopes the first games will become an annual tradition. Next year, she would like to involve more families, community members and students from other schools, including peer partners who already work with Jordan Valley students throughout the year. Her vision is simple: make the event bigger while continuing to make sure every student has a place in it. Nelson shares that hope. “We want to celebrate our students having fun participating,” he said. “That is our biggest victory.” l
October 2026 | Page 21
Give people grace
S
eptember 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost Salt Lake County someone that close to me so suddenly, and Councilmember it was jarring. In the days that followed, I District 3 thought often about how precious life is— and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. Their car slid off the road and rolled several but his heart was broken by the loss. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. times. My mom was killed instantly. My dad survived with only a few bumps and bruises, George and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery store after the funeral, everything felt strangely normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their limit 1 per customer with coupon errands. Meanwhile, my life had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt broken and numb, still trying to understand how my mom could be here one day and gone the next. 4879 South Redwood Rd I probably looked fine—just like any Taylorsville, UT 84123
Aimee Winder Newton
Have a
12oz. Coffee on Us!
801-288-9898
other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our best selves. Do you ever see people who seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day. It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the coworker who
snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a marriage falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.
hiddenpeakscoffee.com
Page 22 | October 2026
Midvale City Journal
W
hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a
MidvaleJournal.com
Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised
by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?
Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
October 2026 | Page 23
Stop cleaning-out your gutters this season
Debris Buildup Stands No Chance U L E YO U R
IN
Heavy leaves
Pinecones
Pine needles
Seed pods
N
ED
SPECT
I
O
SCH
With LeafFilter Acorns
Stainless Steel Micromesh
Storm debris
EXPIRES: 11/30/2026
uPVC Frame Custom Fit To Your New or Existing Gutters
AN ADDITIONAL
25% OFF + 10% LeafFilter
*
Discount For Seniors + Military
Promo: 285 Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-385-578-0076 *Promotional offer includes 25% off plus an additional 10% off for qualified veterans and/or seniors. Cannot be combined with other offers. See representative for full warranty details. DC 420223000087, AZ ROC 344027, AR 0366920926, CA 1035795, CT HIC.0671520, FL CBC056678, ID RCE-51604, IA C127230, LA 559544, MD MHIC164488, MA 213292, MI 262300331, MI 262300330, MI 262300329, MI 262300328, MI 262300318, MI 262300173, MN IR2025-810524, MT 266192, NE 50145-24, NV 0086990, NJ 13VH13285000, NM 408693, ND 47304, OR 218294, PA PA179643, RI GC-41354, TN 10981, UT 10783658-5501, VT 174.0000871, VA 2705169445, WA LEAFFLH763PG, WV WV056912, WI 537-DCFRR