Hillcrest wrestling
SheTech, botany, helping a student with leukemia
7
Huskies win five individual state titles
19
More families are raising chickens for fresh eggs and sustainability
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Demand for chickens similar to Covid era as more families are embracing the trend of homesteading.
Afew years ago, Barbara Ingebrigsten’s adult daughter, Heidi, was hiking near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon when she spotted three chicks abandoned in a plastic container near the trailhead.
Heidi brought them to her Sandy home, and after struggling to find anyone willing to raise them, she built a chicken coop. Together with her mother, they began raising the hens.
“We didn’t set out to do this, but we’ve loved the fresh eggs which have more Omega-3,” Ingebrigsten said. “It’s been quite a process to learn, but the hens love people. I open the back door, and they know I’m coming; they can recognize 100 different faces. We can hold them, one hops up and down for treats and they’re funnier than heck. Each has a different personality.”
Ingebrigsten isn’t alone.
There are more than 85 million backyard chickens in the United States, with 17 million households owning an average of five chickens, according to the National Institute of Health. The organization reports this trend grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m definitely considering it,” said Midvale resident Jaime Dawson about the possibility of raising chickens. Dawson was purchasing eggs at WinCo in early March. “(The price) is getting out of hand.”
IFA-Draper Assistant Manager Elizabeth Maycock isn’t surprised by the rise in chicken ownership.
“More people own chickens than you
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think; in my circle alone, four households have chickens,” she said about her Magna neighborhood. “This morning, we got 160 chicks with our weekly delivery at 11 o’clock and they were gone within 40 minutes. It reminds us of COVID, when we were selling out within an hour. Everybody wanted the chicks to kind of start their homesteads then and we're seeing the same kind of a demand.”
Maycock believes the current bird flu, which has reduced commercial egg production, plays a big role in the trend.
“Egg prices have skyrocketed and there’s a push where people want to go back to home-
steading and providing their own food. That movement has slowly risen over the last five years, but the panic surrounding the egg prices has really been an issue over the last three or four weeks and I've seen it getting worse. I've seen it creeping into Utah, up in Cache Valley. It's been hitting hard there,” she said.
Maycock, like Ingebrigsten, owns chickens herself. She currently has 14 and was purchasing five chicks to add to her flock.
“We get enough eggs for the five of us
living at home and then, we give some to my son and his family every once in a while, because the four he's allowed to have don't provide enough for his small family,” she said.
In the winter, her hens average four eggs per day, but in the summer, it increases to a dozen.
“I’m not selling any right now, but I know people are selling them around $8 per
Raising chicks into laying hens is a growing trend in light of raising egg prices and a desire of more people wanting to know what they’re eating. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Eggs prices reflected the reduced supply because of an ongoing bird flu outbreak as seen here at a Smith’s grocery store in Sandy in early March.
(Julie Slama/City Journals)
Donations needed: Help create a memorable prom experience for students with special needs
Canyons’ unified prom aims to create unforgettable night for students of all abilities.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
OnApril 30, more than 200 high school students are anticipated to attend the Canyons School District’s unified prom, where students of all abilities will enjoy a memorable evening of dancing and celebration.
Corner Canyon High junior Sasha Krull is one of the event’s organizers and is thrilled for her non-verbal sister, Savannah, a freshman, to experience some of the same fun moments she’s had.
“This is an event that’s a sensory-friendly prom,” Krull said. “Sometimes, a gen(eral) ed(ucation) prom has too much going on, it’s too loud. This is just something that is for them so they can have these experiences.”
As part of Corner Canyon’s Peer Leadership Team, Krull is helping plan the dance for Essential Elements Curriculum students, who follow grade-level alternate core standards designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The team is currently raising funds to cover costs for decorations, desserts, corsages, boutonnières, crowns and sashes for royalty, a photo station and more. Donations can be made at: https://sfnd.io/k78jp.
Corner Canyon special education teacher Kelsie Wilson said there will be alternative activities, such as balloon artists.
“We’re hoping to have more alternate activities as some of the kids don’t like to dance, but we all want to have a special night,” she said.
With The Ballard’s support, the venue for the event has been secured, and the students are also working to raise funds for its cleaning fee. Additionally, deejay Jason Gonzalez with Sound Lab Utah is donating his services, and
Chick-fil-A has agreed to provide box meals for the attendees.
The venue was chosen partly because of the option to convert the bridal suite into a sensory room, offering an alternative space for students who may become overstimulated by the event. While students are encouraged to dress up, they are also welcome to come in comfortable attire.
“At unified prom, some of the things, like wearing headphones, are part of its inclusivity; no one’s going to give a second thought,” Krull said.
Wilson added that many of her students will bring dates, likely peer tutors, and may also participate in a daytime activity similar to other high school dances.
The theme of the prom, “Core Memories,” will draw inspiration from emotionally significant memories that shape an individual’s identity and viewpoint. Corner Canyon’s PLT plans to incorporate colorful balloons to symbolize these “core memories,” inspired by the 2015 Pixar movie, “Inside Out.”
For Krull, the dance represents much more than just an evening of fun.
“After they graduate, a lot of the kids in these classes are going to go to Life Skills Academy and life is going to change a lot for them,” she said. “They won’t be with their same general education peers they know here at school, but with others at other schools.”
Wilson also emphasized the importance of this gathering.
“Because they’re all going to be mixed in with each other, this is nice to have a fun activity for them to meet each other and interact with each other before they go to school together,” she said.
Those interested in contributing in other ways can reach out to Kelsie Wilson at Kelsie.Wilson@canyonsdistrict.org for more information. l
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Canyons School District’s unified prom, seen here in 2024, included high school students of all abilities for an evening of dancing and celebration. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
dozen right now,” she said. “The stores are a little cheaper, but these are fresh while commercial eggs are sometimes three to four months old when you get them. The fresh eggs are much healthier. They have better vitamins and omegas. You can choose the feed your hen eats that then produces your egg, whether it be the organic, soy free, those types of things. Then you know what you're eating. That’s another trend; people are trying to understand what they’re eating. They're raising their own animals because they want their children to know where their food comes from.”
In early March, a dozen commercial eggs at a South Jordan Wal-Mart were selling for $6.12, while the national average was $8.53, according to the USDA in late February.
Before grabbing those cute chicks, Maycock recommends researching raising chickens.
“Read up on them before you get them. I always recommend that with any animal, so you know everything about them before you invest your time and your money. Basically, if you can take care of a dog, you can take care of a chicken; they need food, water and shelter,” she said.
Maycock said while raising chicks is enjoyable and they bond with their owners, another option is to adopt other people's flocks.
NOW NEWACCEPTINGPATIENTS!
Many people sell or give away their chickens when moving, allowing owners to start with adult laying hens rather than waiting six months for chicks to mature. She suggests starting with at least three hens, which will lay eggs for three to four years.
“They’re a flock animal, so they need each other to be happy. A lot of city ordinances won't allow you to have more than six and they won't allow you to have a rooster either,” she said.
Cost is another factor to consider, as it is with any pet. While her family built their hen coop, prebuilt three-hen houses cost about $300.
“It’s an investment initially since you won’t see eggs for the first six months. They need roughly one square foot per chicken. I give them a little bit more because I let them free range a little bit. Mine sleep in the coop, they lay their eggs in there. the rest of the time they're out foraging. They're out mingling with each other, even in the winter,” she said.
While many people don’t have enough space to grow their own food, Maycock estimates one-half to one cup of feed per chicken per day. For three chickens, expect to buy a 50-pound bag for $18 every two months. Her feeder, a treadle feeder which chickens step on to open the lid and access food, costs about $100. She said it helps keep rodents and other birds away.
Maycock mentioned chickens can pro-
duce a lot of manure, but it’s compostable and great for gardening.
Another consideration is having someone care for the chickens while on vacation.
“I find one of the drawbacks when people come in is that they still want to take their vacations; many will get their neighbor kids to come on over and they let them keep the eggs for the days they watch them,” she said.
Maycock believes the benefits of her children learning self-sustainability and responsibility outweigh any of her other initial concerns.
“They understand more about their food and what goes in to raising them,” she said, adding in the past they’ve had goats, rabbits and other birds for both food and to make yarn.
Her family got their chickens when her children were in elementary school. After a year of her teaching them, her children took over their care, which includes carrying buckets of water, carrying feed to the coop, gathering eggs and cleaning the coop.
“That’s probably the worse part,” said her daughter, Anna. “Thankfully, we don’t clean it that often. I have a Wyandotte (chicken) and she follows me around. I can call her and she comes running to me. I love her friendliness.”
She and her siblings have named their chickens after founding fathers, states and more. She is considering naming a yellow chick after her favorite flower, a sunflower,
MEET DR. HARARAH, M.D.
“Egg prices have skyrocketed and there’s a push where people want to go back to homesteading.” (Wikimedia)
because of its color.
“The chicks don't all have to be the same; you can mix breeds,” Maycock said. “You can go about two weeks in between shipments of chicks, and they'll still integrate. They all have their own personalities. Some will be more dominant in the pecking order, and some will be more docile. It’s fun to know each one.”
After enjoying raising their first three hens so much Ingebrigsten and her daughter added three more the following year, which Ingebrigsten’s grandchildren named. They even put party hats on their chickens to celebrate family birthdays.
“I walk outside and say, ‘hi girls,’ and they come running over,” she said. “There’s nothing like raising them and the eggs are delicious.” l
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Ten-story buildings now possible in specific Midvale locations
The change comes as city officials look to spur redevelopment in key areas.
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Midvale could see tall buildings rise up along both 7200 South, near the freeway, and State Street, near Center Street.
This comes after the Midvale City Council approved to modify a section of the city code in a 3-1 vote in February.
City officials are hoping to inject redevelopment into two specific areas in Midvale: around the Fort Union and Center Street TRAX stations. The change aligns the city’s TODO (transit-oriented development overlay) zone with state requirements for HTRZ (housing and transit reinvestment zones) allowing the city to now capture tax increment to incentivize redevelopment.
Adam Olsen, Midvale’s community development director, explained several requirements, including being categorized as affordable housing and mixeduse, among other items. Olsen specified those two requirements because the council previously showed a preference for mixed-use in larger developments. With the mixed-use, there was also an openness to go taller.
A minimum of the ground floor for any project will be 50% restaurant, retail or office use (though the office must face away from 7200 South to encourage walkability).
“We’re hoping this can spur some redevelopment and attract some redevel -
Hillcrest
opment to these areas,” Olsen told the council.
The primary concern seemed to be building height, with the limit increasing to 10 stories, or 150 feet, and unlimited density. Olsen said they chose 10 stories to not only have a clean break, but heard from large development companies that to make these higher density projects work with mixed-use, they need 100 units per acre.
“It’s just a function of the cost,” Olsen said. He also highlighted that without the incentives, the height limit would be five stories.
But Councilmember Paul Glover would prefer a max of five stories in the entire city. He was the lone dissenting vote and said he was willing to do eight stories as a compromise.
“To me, that is not small-town Midvale at all, we’re pushing the limit of I think what we need,” he said. “I like the idea of having commercial [space] on the bottom. The whole idea I like, but I hate the height.”
Other councilmembers were amenable to eight stories as well, but for them, the height didn’t bother them much. Councilmember Bryant Brown noted having a tall, high-density 7200 South corridor could be the best potential way to improve that area.
To go that high, the incentives include specific affordable housing requirements: a reasonable percentage of units with more than one bedroom, located within a quarter mile of a transportation station, and being mixed-use.
Only three city TRAX stations with these changes apply, including Fort Union
High Robotics
The team, which earned the most prestigious award, now seeks donations to get to Houston to compete in the April 1619 championship.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
AMidvale high school robotics team got a big surprise at the conclusion of the 39-team Utah Regional FIRST Robotics Competition — Hillcrest High was awarded the Impact Award. “This is the big one; this comes with an invite to the world championships in Houston,” said Husky Robotics adviser Clief Castleton the day after the March 15 honor. “The impact award is given to the team that best exemplifies the mission of FIRST (For Inspiration
and Center Street stations. Bingham Junction can currently go up to seven stories.
Fort Union goes from the freeway to 180 West/High Tech Drive off 7200 South and about a block north and south. Center Street runs from the TRAX line on the west to State Street and is only a short distance north and south.
Olsen said there are no active applications right now for these two stations and the redevelopment changes put
mechanisms in place for the council to make decisions. All rezoning applications would still come before the council.
“We’re just providing some tools for when those requests come to you, you look at it and can say ‘this makes sense in this area’ or ‘this does not.’ If it does, these are the requirements and these are some of the incentives,” he said. l
goes global — to compete against the world’s
and Recognition of Science and Technology), evidenced by the team's total efforts over multiple years. This is the most prestigious award in all of FIRST.” The team, which has won other awards in past years, will now be fundraising to get its members and robot to Houston for the April 16-19 championship. To support the team, send funds directly to Husky Robotics at Hillcrest High School, 7350 S. 900 East, Midvale, Utah 84047. l
Hillcrest High received the prestigious Impact Award and now is scheduled to compete in April at the world championships. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Hendricks)
best
Midvale’s Center Station forms a key part of the city’s recent rezone around that TRAX station. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
EDUCATION SECTION
SheTech Day sparks creativity and curiosity into next-gen tech leaders
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Ninth-grader Julia Ashby, of Riverview Junior High in Murray, wanted to explore AI and ChatGPT while Hadley Miller, a Draper Park Middle School student, was looking into college chemical engineering programs. Callyn Mortensen, a ninth grader at Sunset Ridge Middle School in West Jordan, was discovering more about coding and freshman Chelsea Baker, from Brighton High in Cottonwood Heights, was investigating various technology-related careers at the event.
These students were among the 3,000 girls from ninth to 12th grade who attended SheTech Explorer Day, an event designed to introduce girls to the world of technology in a fun, engaging atmosphere. During the event, they had the opportunity to meet STEM role models and discover a wide array of opportunities in the field.
Throughout the morning, girls from high schools across the state participated in more than 40 workshops focused on topics such as programming, engineering, aerospace, robotics, product invention, entrepreneurship, biomedicine, digital marketing, web design and gaming.
In addition, they had the chance to experience the interactive TechZone, where local STEM companies and educational institutions provided opportunities to learn about internships, programs and industry experiences.
The day wrapped up with a collaborative small group exercise in which the girls worked together to brainstorm, innovate and pitch solutions in a TechChallenge, all while being guided by industry mentors.
Students learned about the event through fliers posted at schools, emails from counselors or by hearing from teachers in various classes ranging from interior design to computer science to manufacturing technology.
Hailey Derr, a ninth grader at Cottonwood High in Murray, wanted to explore
biomedical engineering careers, so she visited her career center and discovered the event was a good opportunity. She’s already planning to take medical terminology and medical math next year.
Reagan Fairchild, a ninth grader from Sunset Ridge, was learning “how they keep patients safe during surgery and other cool things in the medical field” as she explored the TechZone.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School had just finished astronaut training.
“I was clicking a button to spawn an object and grab it or flick it to a target; if I hit the target, it gave a score,” she said. “It was fun. I want to be an astronaut and this is better than online simulations.”
Rylee Blackwell from Hidden Valley Middle School in Bluffdale was trying out Alexa glasses.
“I like how you can hear music and nobody else can,” she said. “I was in my own little world while there’s so many people here. It was relaxing.”
Retired electrical engineer Shari Mann demonstrated how to use the Alexa glasses with built-in microphones, offering a hands-free experience.
“I'm really passionate about inspiring girls to go into engineering,” she said. “I like how excited the girls are to try on the Alexa glasses and not just learn how they work, but understand it.”
Mann’s father encouraged her to pursue engineering back when there were “just a handful of females studying engineering” at the University of Texas in the late 1980s. She has since programmed microchips and holds patents in the field.
“I always say, engineers invent the world, and we need all different kinds of people represented in inventing this world; it’s a great career and it’s been fun,” Mann said.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School took part of virtual reality astronaut training during SheTech Explorer Day. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
During SheTech Explorer Day, ninth-graders Julia Ashby, Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton of Riverview Junior High in Murray experimented with InstaSnow. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
From seed to sale: Entrada’s botany program offers hands-on learning
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Every year, just around Mother’s Day, Entrada High School hosts a plant sale, offering a wide variety of plants “dirt cheap.”
Patrons can find packs of Roma, cheery, and large tomatoes, as well as sweet and hot peppers, often selling for just a few dollars. There are also herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and others, along with geraniums and coleus.
These plants, and others sold at the event, provide valuable hands-on training for adult students working toward their high school diploma or GED, while also earning science and elective credits. The proceeds from the sale are reinvested into the program, buying supplies for the next year.
The botany-greenhouse program has been running this way since teacher Anita Leimbach and community education facilitator Cheri Prince took it over in 2014 after the previous instructor retired. While Prince now helps coordinate the sale, David Dau joined as the new instructor four years ago.
“These students learn how to be responsible,” Leimbach said. “One student could screw up hundreds of plants in 20 minutes if they don’t listen to directions. The sale from last year gives us the money to buy the soil and the pots for this year. So, they're all trading on last year's good students.”
In early March, the class was transplanting coleus into larger pots. Three teenage boys worked side by side.
Senior Sajjad Alsarifee, who hopes to grow a lawn in his yard, explained transplanting is important. His friend, junior Mohamed Hameed, said it helps the roots spread out.
Junior Khalid Khudair explained: “The roots are too smashed in together; when they germinate, you have to make sure they have space to live in. Being compact isn’t good.”
The boys came to Entrada for different reasons, none of which involved becoming botanists.
“I came because I wanted to get my credits finished faster and I can test out of classes,” Hameed said. “I’m getting science credit and it’s hands-on, which makes it more fun than some other classes. I like that we give back to the community when they buy the plants. It provides students more opportunities.”
Khudair, who had missed 1.5 months of class while on a vacation, was catching up on credits, while Alsarifee admitted he had skipped class his sophomore year.
“I always had something better
to do, like walk around,” he said. “I’ve made up a lot of credits here.”
Leimbach said her students come from a variety of backgrounds, including those who speak English as a second language, as well as students who are homeless or autistic.
“This is a rewarding class for many of our students. We’ve had students who excel in this who don't academically because it's hands-on; that's the difference. Everybody can do it, and some of these are smart kids. It just does my heart good to see these kids who have struggled to do so well. It’s the beauty of this program. They see progress and get to see projects completed. They come and see the plants remembering they may have transplanted them or made cuttings and now they’re in bloom,” she said, adding, “Some of them never even knew where a tomato came from.”
Typically, about 15 students attend the class twice a week for two hours. The course lasts about a month and counts toward the 24 credits Entrada students need for graduation. Currently, most of the 800 Entrada students are between the ages of 17 and 20.
“We have at least one botany class every session. Dave often will do it in the summer. Then come January, we offer two classes till May, which is more than we’ve had in the past. They always fill up,” she said.
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen has taken the class five times.
“I love this class,” she said. “It just gives me an outlet for creativity and it’s a personal connection between me and the plants. It just gives me a sense of peace in my school day, it's a nice safe space. I’m proud of these little guys for growing. I've learned so much from this class. I've only really grown house plants before and now, I’ll probably play with plants for the rest of my life. Anita and Dave are good teachers. They let us do our thing and then help us when we need it.”
When Shafer-Pedersen came to Entrada, she had “zero credits.”
“I never went to high school before. When the whole COVID virus happened, everyone went home from school, and I never went back. I never stepped foot in high school,” she said. “I never thought I would come back until I tried Entrada. I love it here. It’s so different.”
After finishing transplanting, Shafer-Pedersen and the others asked if they should remove the growth from the geraniums, deposit old soil and move the bags of new soil into the greenhouse.
“That's another thing I like,” Leimbach said. “They say, ‘Should I do this? They know what needs to be done and take that initiative. They care about the plants and the program.”
The program has blossomed over the years. It’s no longer just rows of plants in the greenhouse. In a portable classroom under lights, 4,000 plants are growing. By the time the sale comes around, there will be 2,400 tomatoes,
3,400 squash and cucumbers, and 2,000 peppers, in addition to geraniums, coleus, and house plants.
“When Dave was hired, he brought it to another level. He built the grow stations, and they germinate better there than the greenhouse because we could keep them a steady temperature. Then we bring them all over to the greenhouse. He’s also done hydroponics in the winter in the classroom, so the students are learning about that. Every year we learn to make it easier, so students can have a lot of success, and we get better results. He’s taken it to a more scientific level where I come from a gardener perspective,” she said.
Dau not only helps with the 10,000plus plants at Entrada, he has set up a 3,000-plant sale at nearby Jordan Valley, a school for students that have severe multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, communication impairments, genetic disorders and syndromes, deaf–blindness and, for students who are extremely medically fragile.
He also runs a business from home, selling about 1,500 plants.
“Once we set the expectations for the class, everyone realizes the relevancy. They learn how to set up the greenhouse, how to plant with healthy soil, how to water correctly, how to work as a team. Anita helps them understand the importance of the plants and the process; I’m the mad scientist,” said Dau,
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen said working in Entrada’s greenhouse gives her an outlet for creativity and connection with the plants. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Entrada students Mohamed Hameed, Khalid Khudair and Sajjad Alsarifee water the plants after transplanting them. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
who has taken Utah State University’s master gardening class three times as “there’s always something new to learn.”
The former school principal said students get dirty in the self-sustaining program.
“They’re learning how to propagate plants, transplant them into pots, grow lettuce and kale in hydroponics using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, they’re learning that a controlled atmosphere and soil temperature has helped growth, so they’re learning the science behind it,” he said. “They’re understanding plants and what they need.”
He explained students gain confidence by realizing they can grow plants without killing them, that asking logical questions will get them answers, and that giving plants attention is key to their success.
“Growing plants is part art and part science. For many, this is outside their comfort zone so they’re learning to work in teams as they learn new skills and vocabulary, to take direction and work with others, to be resilient and to appreciate a job well done,” he said.
Working with some of his immigrant students has led Entrada to grow plants native to their homelands.
“Some of them are really excited they can grow plants in their apartments that are important to the foods of their culture,” Dau said.
This has also expanded the variety of produce grown. The program typically grows 36 varieties of tomatoes, six varieties of hot and sweet peppers, six annual herbs, six perennial herbs, and four types of basil.
Through the plant sale, Dau said the community doesn’t just come for “cheap plants.”
“It’s building a community for students. We aren’t a traditional high school where you rally around a sports game or a performing arts performance. We’re providing goodwill for the community and they’re providing support for our students.”
Continued from front page
Jenny Curtis, Jordan School District’s work-based learning assistant, said the opportunity is incredible for girls.
“It’s cool, just to see all of these industries here, providing support and information and bringing all of these wonderful, mostly ladies, in tech,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity for girls to see what's happening in the field.”
Eileen Kasteler, Brighton High’s workbased learning facilitator, has brought students to the event for years and appreciates the event’s accessibility.
“It’s astonishing that a professional event of this caliber is free to girls year after
Making Lucas smile
By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Antelope Canyon Elementary third-grader Lucas Ellis has been dealing with leukemia since 2023, with treatments, hospitalizations and medications, but one of the hardest things about the experience for the happy and social kid has been missing school.
“He has always been a very social kid— he thrives in having those interactions with his friends,” his mom, Marcela Ellis said. “When he first was diagnosed, we did a lot of online classes, which were helpful, but we could see that his emotional well-being wasn't being taken care of as well as we wanted it to be.”
When Lucas’ illness relapsed in January, his teacher Megan Dotson stepped into action to create ways for Lucas to remain connected to her, his classmates and the classroom.
She made T-shirts with Lucas’ signature smile and blue glasses which all her students and those in Lucas’ two siblings’ classes, as well as staff members and parents wear each Friday (which Dotson calls Lucas Friday.)
Through a foundation called Monkey in My Chair, Dotson arranged for a lovable stuffed monkey to sit in Lucas’ seat when he is not able to come to class. Students tote the monkey with them to the library, lunch and PE class, and send Lucas pictures of his adventures to help him feel included.
“We love getting the pictures of George the Monkey playing in the parachutes, or going to recess or at lunch—he loves it,” Ellis said. “What he considers the fun, the ‘not school stuff,’ he doesn't get to be part of that, so getting the pictures of the monkey and the letters describing all those things— he loves it.”
Dotson said the monkey sitting in his chair has helped students not forget about Lucas.
“Putting him in our room, it honestly feels whole again,” she said.
Students also stay in communication with Lucas by sending notes to him through a class mailbox. Dotson said she always emphasizes kindness and inclusion in her class-
year,” she said. “I like how the student ambassadors greet new girls, making it personal and welcoming.”
Gretel Diederich, a junior at Alta High in Sandy, completed her first year on the SheTech student board.
“I like the program and wanted to keep it going, so I thought the best way was to be an ambassador and support it,” she said. “I like exploring the booths and love talking to all the people to learn about all the programs I don’t know about. I also really love the girls. I made friends two years ago, and I still talk to them when I see them here. It says a lot about the SheTech community and the people.”
room but the last few months have given her students opportunities to put those values into practice.
“I've watched the empathy in each of these little kids grow by a million and a half,” Dotson said. “They just talk about it all the time, how excited they are for Lucas Friday, or how they're going to grab an extra this or whatever at home to put in his mailbox, or things like that. And just watching them care for someone else has been really, really cool, and then come up with ideas of how we're going to, or what we're going to say, or what they'd like to do to show him love. I encourage that a lot in this room, but I have watched it grow tremendously in the last little bit.”
Dotson comes to Lucas’ home to work with him regularly. She also visits him when he is in the hospital. Lucas said all the support from his teacher and classmates feels “awesome.”
Ellis said the support has been incredible.
“It makes him feel like people are there,
She was joined by her sister, freshman Leslie, who appreciated the event's schedule of workshops, and Alta High junior Audrey Semler, who was enjoying engaging with industry experts and participants.
“I love the energy here; everyone is having fun and it’s easy to talk to everyone,” she said. “I learned about different organizations for internships and college programs and scholarships.”
Kaitlin White, a freshman from Brighton, was eager to explore the booths at the TechZone, where girls could try several interactive activities as well as sample a new Coca-Cola flavor to checking out a Cybertruck. They could even test angular
even if he can't see them and if he can't hang out with them, people are there for him,” she said. “It's made a huge impact on his well-being emotionally. We noticed that when he is in a good mood or in a good emotional state, he recovers from the chemo or the procedures a lot quicker than when he's sad or feeling a little bit depressed.”
She said it was such a relief when Dotson took the initiative to arrange the zoom calls and the plan for keeping Lucas up with his classwork.
“That was a huge burden that she lifted,” she said. “As a family, we were worrying about all these other things that we had to do—his medication, finding a donor—all of it—and to not have to worry about that was just incredible.”
At the end of February, Lucas received a school-wide superhero’s farewell as he left school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant, which will keep him out of school for at least a year.
momentum.
“I find STEM stuff interesting, and I want to learn what I can do in the future in a tech career,” she said. “I also want to be a sci fi author so this definitely helps with that.”
Near the area where robotic cars were being driven, Riverview Junior High ninthgrade students Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton were experimenting with InstaSnow.
“There's so many more careers than I thought there would be here; it’s awesome,” Clayton said. Nelson added: “It’s all fun; I love the women empowerment.”
Megan Dotson leads her student Lucas Ellis through a hero’s farewell given by his classmates as he leaves school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. (Kraig Williams/JSD)
Last November, Salt Lake County voters considered a $500 million public safety bond on their ballot. The funding was intended to expand the Metro Jail by adding more jail beds, and a smaller portion was for a Justice and Accountability Center – a facility for low-level offenders offering mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and job placement assistance. Despite the need for jail services, voters rejected the bond by roughly 52-48 percent.
For years, the county has anticipated this issue. To help offset the cost, several years ago, I led an effort to set aside $100 million dollars for jail expansion, but this reserve isn’t enough. Although the jail bond didn’t pass, the need for jail expansion remains.
The county council recently implemented a small sales tax--one penny for every $5 spent. One quarter goes to Salt Lake County for public safety, one quarter goes to cities for transportation, and half goes back to the state legislature for transportation projects.
For now, the county’s portion will fund the temporary re-opening of a pod at the Oxbow Jail, adding 248 jail beds over the next six months as well as fund deferred maintenance at Oxbow until we can eventually expand the Metro Jail.
Salt Lake County operates two jails, the
By Peri Kinder
peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Public Safety is still top priority
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman|
District 3
Metro Jail and Oxbow. Both house inmates, but one has laundry facilities and the other has the kitchen that prepares meals for both. We are constantly transporting these services back and forth between the two which is costly and inefficient.
The bond was intended to help us permanently shut down Oxbow, an aging facility with significant deferred maintenance issues. For now, expanding Oxbow is a temporary solution with the goal to invest as little as possible until we pass a future jail bond to expand the Metro Jail.
Salt Lake County funds public safety services through our general fund, which totals approximately $600 million. Over 74% of that budget already goes toward public safety, covering jail operations, the sheriff’s office, prosecution, indigent defense, and related services. While we continually
seek ways to be more efficient, our current revenue simply isn’t enough to expand the Metro jail and add jail beds. Something has to change.
I’m sharing this with you for two important reasons. First, I believe in transparency. Second, we should have done a better job educating the public on why the public safety bond was necessary. We’ve asked the mayor and sheriff to bring back a more cost-effective option for expanding the Metro Jai and it will likely be on the ballot in
2026.
This future bond, called a "General Obligation Bond," will save taxpayers money. It has much lower interest rates than other types of bonds and is kept separate from the county’s overall budget. While taxes would go up either way, passing this bond will cost taxpayers less in the long run. When the time comes, I encourage you to take a closer look. Public safety remains our top priority, and we hope you’ll stand with us in addressing this urgent need.
8 genius ways to outsource your spring cleaning
Spring cleaning is a great idea until you have to do it. Fortunately, there are plenty of companies in Salt Lake County to help you declutter, deep clean, maintain, organize and refresh your space. Here are 10 local businesses that can conquer your mess while you take credit for a sparkling home.
1. TREE TRIMMING
Give your yard a spring makeover by re-
moving overgrown branches and winter damage. Broken limbs can pose a safety risk and make your yard look unkempt. Companies like Diamond Tree Experts can trim and shape your trees, preparing them for warmer weather. Visit DiamondTreeExperts.com for more info.
2. HOUSE CLEANING
If the thought of tackling baseboards, blinds and greasy cabinets is overwhelming, hiring a cleaning service like Daisy Maids can be a lifesaver. They’ll handle the grit and grime so you can breathe easy, and it’s proba-
bly cheaper than you think. Daisy Maids offers $25 off for first-time customers. Go to daisymaids.com to learn more.
3. ORGANIZE CLOSETS AND CABINETS
After months of winter gear and clothing, closets tend to look like disaster zones. Hire a pro to tackle closets, cabinets and storage spaces to make everything accessible and organized. Happy Home Professional Organizing offers a judgment-free service. Check out happyhomesprofessionalorganizing.com for information.
4. JUNK REMOVAL
How do you get rid of broken furniture, old TVs or rusty patio furniture? Call a junk removal service like Junk King to dispose of your stuff. They also recycle and donate up to 60% of gathered items. Visit JunkKing.com to get details.
5.
GUTTER REPAIR AND CLEANING
If cleaning out rain gutters isn’t your thing, The Brothers That Just Do Gutters can be your heroes. Rotting leaves can clog gutters and cause water damage to your roof, siding or stucco. Or contact Utah Gutters to get a leaf-protection gutter system that eliminates the need for gutter cleaning. Visit brothersgutters.com or
Utahgutters.com to learn more.
6. UPHOLSTERY REFRESH
Winter means lots of couch time. With family members and pets lounging around during those dark months, odors and stains can build up. Fratto Boys Upholstery Cleaning uses state-of-the-art cleaning solutions to eliminate stains, smells and allergens, making your home look and smell brand new. Check out FrattoBoys.com for a complete list of services.
7. FIX THE SMALL THINGS
Have you put off fixing that bent cabinet hinge, broken doorknob, or leaky faucet? Companies like Better Valley Handyman Services can take care of small repairs while you focus on other things. Refresh a doorframe, patch a hole in the wall or mount that TV you got for Christmas. Go to BetterValleyHandyman.com to get info.
8. WINDOW CLEANING
When it comes to spring window cleaning, skip the ladder and the streaky do-it-yourself disaster and reach out to a professional cleaner like City Creek Window Cleaning. Let their professionals scrape away the winter build-up, leaving windows squeaky clean. For more details, visit citycreekwindowcleaning. com.w
MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY
City Hall
801-567-7200
Finance/Utilities 801-567-7200
Court 801-567-7265
City Attorney’s O ce ......................... 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 801-567-7213
Court 801-567-7265
Paying For Tra c School 801-567-7202
Business Licensing 801-567-7214
Cemetery 801-567-7235
Planning and Zoning 801-567-7231
Code Enforcement .............................. 801-567-7208
Building inspections ........................... 801-567-7213
Graffiti 385-468-9769
PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS
EMERGENCY 911
UFA Fire/UPD Police
> Non-emergency .............................. 801-840-4000
Uni ed Police Department
> Midvale Precinct 385-468-9350
Public Works
In The Middle of Everything
City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
Mayor’s Message
801-567-7235
Rocky Mountain Power 877-508-5088
By Mayor Dustin Gettel
Diary of a Midvale Mayor – A (Snowy) Day in the Life
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
6:30 AM – The alarm goes o . Snooze button expertly deployed. Somewhere o in the distance, a rooster crows … wait, do we even allow roosters in Midvale?
6:55 AM – I actually wake up this time. Breakfast is burnt toast and lukewarm co ee, consumed while responding to a urry of city emails. Brie y daydream about becoming mayor of a city where breakfast makes itself.
7:00 AM – Head out on a snowy morning to the Uni ed Fire Authority Board of Directors meeting. With budget season looming, these meetings are crucial to ensure we keep costs down without compromising service. Time to settle in for a solid three hours of scal strategy!
10:30 AM – Arrive at City Hall. Kaitlin, my invaluable executive assistant, has my daily schedule perfectly organized. I check in with City Manager Dahl for any key updates I missed during the senior sta meeting earlier that morning. He promises to brief me later.
11:30 AM – Prep for a press conference with fellow county mayors to announce Midvale’s participation in the Utah Rivers Council subsidized rain barrel program. This initiative will o er discounted rain barrels to the rst 100 residents who sign up. Excited to share this eco-friendly project with the community!
12:30 PM – Time for some important phone calls. I touch base with the mayors of Millcreek and Holladay to coordinate ahead of our upcoming Uni ed Police Department (UPD) budget meeting. As a UPD board member, it’s vital that Midvale holds a scally sound position. We all agree to cap any potential budget increase at 5% for scal year 2026.
2:00 PM – We gather to bid farewell to our RDA Director, Cody Hill, as he embarks on a new job in Provo. I crack a few jokes about the terrible mistake he’s making and remind him that if things don’t pan out down south, there will always be a spot for him in Midvale. Cody’s work has left an indelible mark on Main Street’s recent successes.
3:00 PM – Finally, a quick break at home for lunch. I attempt to enjoy a sandwich, but Nova, my mischievous shih tzu (Midvale’s uno cial mascot and chaos agent), has other ideas. She swipes a bite. I let her have it. She’s earned it.
Salt Lake County Animal Services
3:30 PM – Back to City Hall for a quick check-in with senior sta on the UPD budget. We’re feeling more optimistic than we did a few weeks ago, but we all agree—5% is the absolute maximum increase the city can absorb for Fiscal Year 2026.
4:00 PM – Head to Beans & Brews for a quick co ee catch-up with a good friend. Life’s been so hectic we haven’t seen each other in months, and we make the most of an hour-long chat. A ca einated mayor is a productive mayor!
5:00 PM – One last check-in with city sta before the evening’s city council meeting. No new crises to report—a welcome win this Tuesday!
6:00 PM – Dinner with the city council and sta , followed by an exciting presentation from Torus, a group developing a renewable energy project on the CHG Healthcare campus. More details on that soon!
6:30 PM – The city council meeting kicks o , as always, with the Pledge of Allegiance. We hear from UPD Chief April Morse, get an update from the Arts Council, honor our brave re ghters who helped battle the California wild res, and surprise Councilmember Billings with a Cameo birthday message from her favorite Broadway actor. (Nailed it.)
The 4-hour meeting itself is lively, covering everything from a new townhome project on State Street to changes in our bulky waste program. We end with a closed session to discuss a potential real estate transaction. Stay tuned—big things are on the horizon!
10:45 PM – I nally leave City Hall and head home, just as the snowstorm kicks into high gear. Luckily, I’m driving tonight—too cold, too late, and way too windy for walking.
11:30 PM – Bedtime at last. As I’m dozing o , I feel Nova’s eyes boring into me. She’s standing on the bed, silently communicating her message: “One last bathroom break before bed, Dad!” With a sigh, I layer up and head back out into the blizzard. It’s clear who runs this household.
12:00 AM – 6:30 AM – Dreaming of a peaceful Midvale, where the streets are pothole-free, the sidewalks clear of snow, the budget expertly balanced, and everyone feels safe and supported. Even on the busiest, craziest days, this is still the best job in the world. I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again … hopefully without Nova stealing my lunch!
Adopt a Shelter Pet
In 2024, Salt Lake County Animal Services welcomed 6,926 animals into the shelter, with 2,449 nding new homes through adoption. If you’re considering adding a pet to your loving family, please consider adoption as your rst choice. The most compelling reason to adopt is the opportunity to save a pet’s life. Choosing a shelter pet gives them a second chance and contributes to breaking the cycle of pet overpopulation.
We need families and individuals to adopt a pet and help free up some of our kennel space for the stray pets that come in every day. Visit our website at AdoptUtahPets.org to explore our adoptable pets or come see us Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm to meet your new furry best friend. Our friendly Adoption Team is here to help nd the perfect pet match for you! The adoption pro-
cess includes low-cost adoption fees, all pets available for adoption will already be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and will even go home with a new leash and collar.
Salt Lake County Animal Services provides a diverse range of highly adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, and birds. Our collection includes various cat and dog breeds, covering di erent ages, genders, and personalities. The diverse selection ensures there’s a perfect match for every potential adopter.
Questions about adoptions? Email: Adoptions@slco.org
In The Middle of Everything
Everything You Need to Know About Midvale City Government Spending & Redevelopment
Want to know how Midvale City carefully manages its funds to serve the community? Here’s a simple guide to where our funding comes from and how we put every dollar to work for you!
GENERAL FUND
Our General Fund is supplied through property and sales tax. It covers the costs of rst responders, street maintenance, park upkeep, and general government activities. We manage around $25 million in revenue and spending, and almost half of that goes to our police o cers.
The state and federal governments closely monitor our budget. We are accountable for every penny that comes in and goes out of our bank account. We also have third-party nancial auditors double-check our nances every year.
Midvale City is home to 36,000 people. Your government is run by 90 people. Many of our sta do the work of two or three positions because we want to make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely.
PROPERTY TAXES
Businesses and homeowners pay a small percentage of their property’s worth each year to taxing agencies. Sever-
al agencies collect taxes through the payments you make, including the county, school district, mosquito abatement, library, and, of course, the city. (For a complete list of where your property tax money goes, consult your property tax bill, which is typically distributed in July each year.) Midvale City only collects a small portion of the property tax you pay.
REDEVELOPMENT AREAS - RDA
A Redevelopment Area, also known as an RDA, operates with a separate budget from the city’s General Fund. Funding often comes from partner taxing agencies through a method called Tax Increment Financing (TIF). These other agencies pledge a small percentage of their increased revenue from the project area. Money is bonded upfront, and the increased tax revenue from partners pays back the bond. RDA money can only be spent on RDA projects and cannot be used in the General Fund.
MAIN STREET COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT AREA
You may have noticed improvements on Main Street. Several years ago, the Main Street area was declared “blighted,” meaning it was deteriorating and wouldn’t improve on its own.
In 2015, the Main Street Project was designated as a Community Development Project Area (CDA) by the City Council. Since then, Midvale sta and Council have been planning an “ecosystem” of complementary businesses, residential areas, parking, and lighting to make Main Street a destination that could be active all hours of the day. This includes beautifying the environment with murals, transforming the old museum into an art house, keeping the theater space active, and encouraging small businesses and low-income housing investments.
HOW WE WORK TO SERVE YOU
Midvale’s city government works hard to balance spending and improvements. Through careful planning, CDAs, and partnerships with developers, the city is able to improve areas like Main Street without taking money away from important city services. The goal is to create a thriving community with businesses that support your hometown and make Midvale a great place to live.
All of our nancial records are available to the public and we encourage you to review them. As always, if you have any questions please contact Midvale City Hall or your council representative.
Reviving Main Street: e Transformation of Midvale’s Arts & Culture District
Main Street, Midvale – Once a lively and vibrant destination, it slowly faded into neglect, crumbling with each passing year. The government word for this is “blight,” and Midvale’s Main Street t the de nition perfectly.
Then came Nate Rockwood. Rockwood, now the Assistant City Manager of Midvale, was hired in 2020 to help revitalize Main Street. His Master’s Thesis focused on Main Streets, and his early career took him across the U.S. to study thriving and drowning examples alike. When he saw Midvale’s Main Street, Rockwood thought, “Someday, somebody is going to come tell them how to make that work. It was such a rough, uncut gem that needed the right polish.” That person ended up being himself.
But, the only credit he wants is “to see people sitting and enjoying the space, and people taking pictures with the murals.”
The revitalization started with an investment in public art. Since 2021, Midvale has hosted a Mural Festival, which by the end of June this year will bring over 50 murals within six blocks.
Small business loans and restoration grants boost businesses that work together for a cohesive, comfortable, and exciting environment. “There is no one ‘anchor,’ but The Pearl on Main is close,” Rockwood said. “It’s a historic theatre that has a mix of movie nights, events, local band performances, and more.” The Pearl boasts a sel e-worthy facade, with Edison bulbs and sparkle in the concrete sidewalk.
The variety of local shops, cozy cafes, and delicious dining options o er entertainment, opportunity, and memories for hours on end. Cactus and Tropicals, housed in the former
Vincent Drug (famously featured in The Sandlot), opens into a lush greenhouse o ering a wide variety of plants, oral arrangements, and home décor. It’s also a beautiful venue for weddings and special events. Next door, The Bambino features artisanal wood- red pizza, known for its delicious pies and cozy ambiance. Tres Gatos Co ee o ers a perfectly brewed cup of co ee at this charming café. Stop by El Potrero for some groceries, then head to Señor Pollo for avorful, mouthwatering chicken plates and more. If you’re in the market for a tattoo, the street o ers a few options with skilled artists to help create custom designs that last a lifetime.
Adding to the vibrancy of Main Street is The Midvale Main Art House, which aims to amplify the cultural richness of Midvale by nurturing local talent and celebrating artists. By repurposing an existing City building for a ordable art
studios and community events, the Art House has become a unique community asset not readily provided by the market. Six studio artists currently reside in the Art House, and they welcome you to visit during open hours to view their artwork, witness the creative process, and participate in various events and workshops.
Another local gem is Rebel Paw, a small business dedicated to creating stylish bandanas and handcrafted culinary delights for four-legged companions. This unique pet brand brings a touch of charm and creativity to Main Street, catering to pet owners looking for high-quality, locally made accessories and treats.
“All the little elements add up to make something special,” Rockwood explains. “The businesses complement each other. On their own, they might struggle, but in the context of all the other elements, it works.”
Main Street is crafted intentionally to be a place that attracts people with di erent interests during all hours of the day. The future will continue to bring improvements, spurred by Midvale City’s Redevelopment Project. We are encouraging one-of-a-kind establishments, assisting property owners in renovating historic buildings, creating a unique destination space for Salt Lake Valley visitors, but most importantly, Midvale residents. We want to strengthen the connection between Main Street and the surrounding areas by expanding housing and employment opportunities.
Main Street is governed by a ‘form-based code’ that en-
APRIL 2025 CITY NEWSLETTER
MIDVALE. UTAH. GOV
Opening this summer, Midvale’s new Food Truck Plaza will breathe life into an underused space, transforming it into a vibrant gathering hub. Eachweek, food trucks will line the north end of City Hall on Main Street, o ering diverse cuisines from wood- red pizza to freshly brewed co ee, and everything in between.
“We’re adding some pizazz to City Hall,” said Mayor Dustin Gettel.
Not only will it add life to the north end of Main Street, it is also a strategic piece in the overall Main Street puzzle.
“It’s something to separate Main Street from Holden,” said Nate Rockwood, Assistant City Manager. “It’s also a vibrant pop of color to draw from the rest of Main Street.”
Nine hook-up stations will eliminate the usual noise and heat from generators that usually accompany food trucks. Seating is available on the north and south side of City Hall allowing ample space for diners. Both areas feature shade for the summer heat and ambient lighting for late-night dining. It will be a perfect place to relax, enjoy a meal, and socialize with neighbors.
The Food Truck Plaza will be more than just a place to eat—it’s a community destination designed to bring people together. With its lively atmosphere, diverse food o erings, and welcoming envi-
New Food Truck Plaza in Midvale to Add Flavor to Main Street I I DON'T BE THE
ronment, it will be a central hub for locals and visitors alike. On days when food trucks aren’t present, the plaza o ers a peaceful retreat for Main Street visitors to take a break, enjoy a cup of co ee, or simply unwind while appreciating the surrounding art.
As the Midvale Main Street project continues to unfold, this new addition plays a key role in attracting visitors to the whole street and adding a touch of excitement to the heart of the city.
MAIN STREET CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
courages housing intermixed with retail on the top oors. Midvale is determined to make this housing inclusive and truly a ordable for those who meet low-income housing qualications.
Mayor Dustin Gettel has been on the City Council since the shift on Main Street began.
“We want to make Main Street and The Pearl a destination where you can go and spend a few hours,” Gettel said. “I grew up in a small town where we got dressed up and drove to Main Street. We’re getting to that point now.”
Gettel keeps a close ear to public opinion and talks to residents regularly. “Some have been here 60-70 years. It’s exciting to them too, for the most part. They’re very excited about the changes even with growing pains with construction.”
The next phase to open is the food truck plaza on the north end of City Hall, with electricity hookups for the trucks and shaded seating for the guests. Parking garages are going up – an incredible feat for a place that once barely had foot tra c now requires a ve-story parking garage to accommodate visitors.
We are excited for the continued growth of this destination Main Street. With festivals, food truck nights, new businesses, homes, art, and improvements, Main Street will become a vibrant place for visitors and, most importantly, the Midvale community.
4/2/25
4/3/25
(9236 Village Shop Dr, Sandy, 84070)
4/10/25
(260 E South Temple, SLC, 84111)
Exploring the world: East Midvale Elementary’s Living Traditions event celebrates global culture
East Midvale students and families go on a cultural journey exploring European countries from the hallways of their own school.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Walt Lake has been a regular attendee at East Midvale Elementary’s Living Traditions event for years, learning about countries from the expertise of his children. This year, his son Maddox took the lead, guiding him through the booths showcasing different European countries.
“We just came from Albania,” the thirdgrade son. “The country has lots of castles and they turned their World War II bunkers into art pieces.”
This marks the 10th year families have gathered to explore different parts of the world. The event blends traditional culture with geography, music, science, history, and more, as families complete a passport booklet, highlighting the key features of each country.
This year’s journey included discovering the names of French mountains, identifying the three Greek gods who were brothers, learning about the two-headed animal on the Albanian flag, understanding what makes the sand on Iceland’s beaches black, naming the Irish stone
kissed for the “gift of the gab” and even finding out how much chocolate a Swiss resident consumes annually.
Several attendees also enjoyed a concert by the Wasatch Alphorns, where they learned the 12-foot-long instruments were originally used to call cows in from pasture for milking.
“Living Traditions for me is the perfect school family engagement event,” said Shelley McCall, East Midvale community school facilitator. “It weaves learning into an event that is fun, entertaining and filling with food for the whole family. Students are proud to show their parents the projects they made and point out the parts of the country displays that they contributed to.”
McCall said each grade level comes up with the country to study. This year, they added food samples from the country for attendees to taste as well.
“They really embrace the task of creating engaging displays in the halls that teach us all about a country and a region,” she said, adding several area businesses — Sprouts Market in Midvale, Paris Baguette in Midvale and Beirut Café in Murray — donated the food items.
Fourth-grader Milo Parry was eager to share the Greece display his grade had worked on with his parents, David and Kayla.
“They started almost everything in the world, including the Olympics,” he said.
cheer took fourth place at nationals in California. (Photo courtesy of Annyka Scherschligt)
Hillcrest cheer: Top five in nation
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Hillcrest cheer is raising the bar, coming home from the USA Cheer Nationals in Calif. after placing in the top five. Annyka Scherschligt, who, alongside her sister Amelya, is coaching the squad for their first year, said it was an unforgettable moment. “Nationals was such a successful, fun and
His first-grade sister, Amelia, and her classmates studied Ireland.
“Ireland is an island and my favorite country so far,” she said. “I’d like to go there sometime.”
For a couple of weeks, first graders delved into Irish national symbols, typical foods, famous landmarks, and folklore, including leprechauns and shamrocks.
“It’s important to learn about different cultures of the countries because our school
deserving week,” Annyka Scherschligt, said.
“We took two routines to California. The first was our song team, (which) hasn’t been at any local Utah competitions for a few years so it was exciting to be able to bring that with us to compete against others in the country they killed it. Our second was our show cheer routine. It placed fourth in the nation. They earned this and we couldn’t be more excited.” l
is so diverse,” said first-grade teacher Delmy Kislowski.
First-grade teacher Lesina Green said her students enjoyed listening to traditional Irish music.
“We talked about how the Celtic harp makes them feel and how beautiful it was,” she said. “We watched a couple Irish dance videos. I’d love to expand on this the rest of the year so they can gain new perspectives and discover cultures outside of their own.” l
Hillcrest
East Midvale families gathered to listen to Wasatch Alphorns during the 10th year of Living Traditions Night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Beyond the game: Unified basketball builds bonds and breaks down barriers
Canyons middle school unified basketball teams learn skills, teamwork, sportsmanship while bringing joy and becoming friends off the court.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Onthe basketball court, sixth-grader Wyatt
Shipp receives a pass from a teammate and takes the shot. The ball goes in, and a smile spreads across his face. His teammates, along with players from the opposing team, celebrate with high-fives.
“Basketball is my favorite sport,” he said. “I practice a lot in my driveway and with my friends on my team.”
Wyatt is part of Draper Park Middle School’s unified basketball team, where students with and without intellectual disabilities play together. The team was participating in the Canyons School District’s middle school unified basketball tournament.
Cheering from the stands was Wyatt’s grandfather, Doak Duncan.
“It’s thrilling to see the joy of these kids making baskets,” he said. “We didn’t know Wyatt was ever going to be able to do any of this. He’s got a very rare gene where he has low muscle weight, experiences a lot of seizures and has low retention. We weren’t sure he would be able to sit up or stand or even walk. It’s a miracle he’s playing basketball.”
Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson appreciates the value of unified sports.
“Unified Sports are the absolute best,” he said. “They aren’t just about the game; they’re about breaking barriers, building friendships and teaching every student the true meaning of inclusion and teamwork.”
Wyatt’s coach, special education teacher Morgann Collins, believes unified sports provide students with a chance to develop both
sports and social skills.
“They get to be part of a sports team when they might not have the opportunity on, like a typical sports team,” she said. “They are excited for our basketball practices to learn how to play and to practice together. They came in this morning, screaming and so enthusiastic, saying ‘It’s game day.’”
Collins added it’s not just the athletes who are excited, but also the partners who support them.
“Our partners do an amazing job of making sure everyone is getting opportunities to shoot and involving everyone. They’re good to cheer on our own athletes as well as the athletes on the other team. This might be their first interaction working with people with disabilities, and as they’re transitioning to being older kids, they recognize they’re a partner and the game is for the athlete. And their parents are appreciating it as well. I had a parent of a peer tutor tell me that he’s super grateful his son had the opportunity to be part of this team and he was able to just witness the greatness of unified basketball,” she said.
The opportunities extend beyond the court, with the school’s Buddy Club offering a chance for students to sign up and eat lunch with peers in Collins’ classroom.
“They can go outside after they’re done eating lunch or they can play games they want to and stay inside. A lot of our kids are social, and the kids want to be friends; they don’t see them as students with disabilities, but as equals they want to hang out with them,” she said.
At Butler Middle, special education teacher and coach Noah Filzer said his team meets every Friday for lunch before practicing drills.
“Everyone is smiling because they’re comfortable with one another,” he said. “We’re building camaraderie as a team. None of them have the same classes since they’re
all different grades, but they come together for unified sports.”
Filzer highlighted the inclusivity of the program.
“Anybody can participate so everybody has the equal opportunity to get out there and compete and have fun,” he said.
Eastmont sixth-grader Zacc Turner agrees, appreciating the experience of playing with friends.
“I like playing the game and playing with my friends,” he said. “We’re about to go up against my best friend’s team; I played with him last year at recess at Sandy Elementary. It’s just fun to compete and hang out with my friends.”
Zacc’s coach, career and technical education teacher Mark Snow, said some athletes were nervous at first, but their excitement grew as they played.
“Now, they’re all excited and having fun,” he said. “This means everything to these kids. It’s fun to watch them play together as a team. It was a big deal for them to represent Eastmont. They love picking their jersey numbers.”
Since basketball was a new skill for some students, the team practiced daily for 45 minutes starting in January.
“We taught them how to dribble and do layups. We talked about sportsmanship and to have fun. You don’t always have to win to have fun when you play sports,” he said.
Canyons Board of Education member Karen Pedersen saw the sense of community and inclusivity firsthand when an opposing team member helped push a player in a wheelchair just to include them in the game.
“It’s fun because they’re really friends out on the court,” she said. “Many students want to know each other. The focus isn’t on winning and losing. It’s everyone having that opportunity to succeed and be seen — and support one another.”
Midvale Middle School students also appreciate the camaraderie.
Eighth-grader Jose Dina said when he got the ball, he shot it.
“I threw it right up there, and it went in,” he said. “Then I got a high-five afterward.”
Seventh-grade partner Emily Wallace said cheering is an important part of unified sports.
“I like to cheer people on; during practice when we divide our team and play each other, I get asked why I cheer and I tell them because we’re all doing great, and in the end, we’re all on the same team,” she said. “Even here, I’m cheering on everyone. I want everyone to do well.”
Emily often leads the cheer after each game with a loud “unified!”
Midvale healthy lifestyles teacher and coach Katelyn Parry said her team focuses on encouragement.
“Our aim is to have fun and encourage each other, whether it’s our own team or the other team,” she said. “Everybody’s here for the same reason, and it’s to play and be part of something bigger than just our school. This is a great opportunity for our students to meet new friends, learn some skills, participate in such a huge community event and be supported by peers and parents. It’s awesome.”
Canyons Board member Jackson Lewis watched several games and appreciated the positive environment the students were creating.
“I’m appreciating how the students together are creating positive environments for their teams,” he said. “It’s great some of these partners are passing the balls so everyone gets an opportunity. You can see the looks on these kids’ faces when they shoot and they score, and when they get the support from their fellow teammates, they’re loving it. This is an incredible inclusive community.” l
Mt. Jordan Middle School players bring up the ball in a game against Albion Middle during Canyons School District’s middle school unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Midvale Middle looks for an open shot during Canyons School District’s middle school unified basketball tournament in a game against Butler Middle. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)
Hillcrest swimmers finish season at state
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Hillcrest boys’ and girls’ swim teams qualified 17 athletes to compete at the state meet at Brigham Young University. Top 10 finishers were junior Alex Skorut, sophomore Andrew Shupe, freshman Paulo Saldanha and freshman Jacob Molina in the 200-yard medley relay; they swam to a fifth place overall finish and a new school record
with a time of 1:41.22. Individually, Skorut finished second in 100-yard backstroke with a time of 53.76 and fourth in 50-yard free with a time of 22.2. Saldanha finished sixth in 100-yard fly with a time of 54.79 and Shupe was eighth with a time of 55.01. The 400-free relay of senior Jose Avila and juniors Skorut, Joel Curtis and Daniel Emett claimed eighth place with a time of 3:28.26. l
Hillcrest drill wins lyrical national
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Returning from the Contest of Champions national competition in Orlando, Hillcrest drill members had to find room for four trophies. With its dance routine to Dolly Parton’s rendition of “Purple Rain,” the team won the lyrical title, while placing second in military and pom and fourth in hip hop. Hillcrest also was selected to perform its military routine, one of seven teams, at the closing awards ceremony. “This season has truly been a dream season,” said coach Chelsea Divine. “From day one, the girls set out determined to accomplish their goals and they absolutely achieved it all. But what truly made this year a success was our ability to come together as a united team, working together to become the best we could be no matter the obstacle and to have fun every step of the way, too. Not only did our team go undefeated this season (winning a back-to-back state championship), but we have made countless memories that will last a lifetime. I love what we’ve built and accomplished together. The trophies are just the cherry on top of it all.” l
Local elementary, middle school students to shine in musical performances
Hundreds of students took part in popular musicals from “Beetlejuice” to “Willy Wonka” this spring.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Fifty-eight Sprucewood second- through fifth-graders will step up to perform “Cinderella, If the Shoe Fits” this April.
The musical, directed by Christina Van Dam and featuring choreography by Madeleine Guymon, will be performed at 6:30 p.m., April 29 at Sprucewood Elementary, located at 12025 S. 100 East in Sandy.
This is just one of several student productions taking place this spring. Here are a few others:
• Sixth- through eighth-graders at Mt. Jordan Middle School will present “Beetlejuice, Jr.”, directed by Melissa Quinones. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. from
April 17-20 at the school, located at 9351 Mountaineer Lane in Sandy.
• “The Wizard of Oz” will be presented by Altara Elementary students at 7 p.m., April 22-23 in the school’s multi-purpose room, 800 E. 11000 South in Sandy. It is directed by Lisa Pixton and Kirbie Dennison.
• “Willy Wonka Kids” will be staged at Glacier Hills Elementary in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The musical, directed by Camilla Duncan, will be performed at 6:30 p.m. from May 13-15 at the school, located at 1085 E. Galena Drive in White City.
Additionally, “Curtains,” a murder-mystery whodunnit, was performed in March by 105 students at Draper Park Middle School, under the direction of Erica Heiner and with music direction by Carl Tensmeyer. Oakdale Elementary also staged “Willy Wonka” in late March. l
title
Hillcrest “HD” drill team, which was named national champions for its lyrical routine, placed in every routine performed at nationals. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Divine)
Elementary schools and middle schools are performing in spring musicals; seen here are Altara students in their 2024 production, “The
Journals)
Midvale Senior Center
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Knight the Castle Rocked.” (Julie Slama/City
Hillcrest swimmers, seen here in a dual meet in December 2024, had several top 10 finishes at state led by junior Alex Skorut. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest girls’ lacrosse team ready to tackle tough season despite construction disruptions
Despite no home field and season-ending injuries, coach anticipates successful offseason work to lead to wins on the field.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Thisseason, the Huskies won’t have the benefit of a home field advantage.
The girls’ lacrosse team, which made its debut last year and played its games at Hillcrest High’s stadium, will only host two “home” games this season. However, both will take place at nearby Brighton High’s fields because of construction work expanding the track to eight lanes around the field.
Despite the change, Coach Tucker Gamble remains confident in his team’s potential.
“We should win quite a few games because last year we came close in a lot of games, and we didn’t have any experience,” he said. “This year, they worked hard during the offseason and several of the players were playing in different leagues in our offseason and quite a few of them went to camps and clinics.”
The girls’ lacrosse program has 37 players spread across varsity and junior varsity teams, with a nearly even balance of upperclassmen and underclassmen.
“Most of our players are returning,” Gamble said. “We have a lot of talent coming in, too.”
Returning players include junior midfielder Claire McCann, who earned second-team all-state honors last year, junior
midfielder Taylor Jones, who was named first-team all-region, and sophomores midfielder Josie Haddock, attacker Avi Mossman and attacker Sadie Benns, who earned second-team all-region recognition. However, both Mossman and Benns are out for the season due to injuries before the Huskies’ first game.
Gamble also highlighted three freshmen who made the varsity roster: midfielder Charlotte McCann, attacker Shayla Raider and attacker Anika Hardman.
When it came to scheduling, Gamble intentionally arranged for a matchup with Bear River High, the state champions in recent years, early in the season.
“I wanted their girls to see how they can do against the team and not be scared about it because they’re so highly ranked,” he said. “I also put Corner Canyon, which is a good team, mid-season on purpose so they have another challenging game. Waterford is a powerhouse. So, it will good to see how we do against these teams. The rest of the games, we should have a decent chance to win.”
The girls last regular season game is May 1 against Judge Memorial Catholic High School. The first round of state is May 13.
Many of the players have participated in open gyms to prepare for the season.
“We have the basics down and we’re conditioning, getting our agility and speed training, harder. I spent the whole offseason researching plays, both defensively and offensively, and we’re going to start work on those at practice. I set our schedule a little
smarter, and I pushed our games back one more week so we can have an additional week before our games,” Gamble said.
Practices, held at nearby Union Middle School, are led by Gamble and his five assistant coaches. These practices also focus on mental health and overall preparation.
“During our cooldown, we always do something in relation to team bonding, like mindfulness exercises. We may have the girls compliment their neighbor on something they did well at practice or at school
Hillcrest basketball builds successful season
that day, or I’ll have them lay down on the grass, close their eyes and run them through different questions and scenarios to make sure they have confidence in themselves, and let go of stress so they can connect their feelings with their body. Basically, it’s a big thing in the PT (physical therapy) world, which is my profession, and it helps a lot with sports psychology, too,” he said. “They need to hear the good and positive to help them focus so they’re mentally ready and confident to play.” l
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Hillcrest boys’ and girls’ basketball teams built on last year’s records, with the girls’ program accumulating the most wins since the 2019-20 season and the boys team, which reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017, had its fourth best record in 25 years. The girls were led by senior Dayana Mulamba with 7.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game and senior Amelia Lapore with 6.4 points per game and 34 3-pointers made during the season. The boys finished 16-9 overall, led by senior Myles Mahler averaging 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game and his twin, Anton Mahler with 10.4 points per game and 54 3-pointers made during the season. l
Hillcrest High senior Myles Mahler makes a move to the hoop past Murray High’s defenders. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest girls’ lacrosse, seen here in April 2024 against Juan Diego Catholic High, returns to action in its second season with a promising team of veterans and new talent. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Zimmerman family legacy continues as Hillcrest wins five state wrestling titles
Juniors Eleni Nonu and Moroni Mahe, along with the Zimmerman sisters, cemented their legacy in Hillcrest wrestling history
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
It was a historic state championship for Hillcrest.
For the first time in school history, three sisters were crowned state champions.
Not only did 100-pound sophomore Katie Zimmerman stand atop the podium for the first time, but her sisters, 110-pound junior Eva and 125-pound senior Eliza, followed up their back-to-back championships with their third individual state wrestling titles.
In the five years girls wrestling has been sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association, the Zimmermans have dominated the sport and next season, Eva Zimmerman has the potential to be the first to win state titles all four years of high school.
Hillcrest’s monumental day extended to fourth individual girls’ title when junior Eleni Nonu, who wrestled at 175 pounds, was crowned champion.
The Huskies’ success didn’t stop there.
Junior Moroni Mahe won his 215-pound title on the boys’ side. It had been 20 years since the Huskies had won an individual boys’ title.
“The kids were hungrier this year,” said Hillcrest coach Nick Pappas, who was named 5A Coach of Year from Utah Wrestling Coaches Association. “They wanted to work and wanted to see what they could do.”
With fewer athletes wrestling this year, the Huskies conceded points in several dual meets.
“Our boys, I don’t think we won a dual in region. Our girls won more than they lost,” he said. “We don’t put a lot of stock into that. Winning tournaments is fun, but we’re not a big enough team to have that be our goal so we put more time in individual performance and that was reflective of the result.”
In the friendly rivalry between Hillcrest and Brighton, the Battle of the Axe, the boys fell short of retaining the axe which they have held onto for the past three seasons. Three boys qualified for the state competition.
On the other hand, the girls triumphed in the Battle of the Axe and captured the 5A region 4 championship. They finished third at state with 11 athletes.
Even though they worked hard, they had to battle through injuries. Katie Zimmerman had her knee bursa sac drained
“It was a lot of fun. We were the only team with four champions, and the only team which had everybody who was in the finals win a title,” Pappas said.
just a day before the state tournament. Wrestlers Eva Zimmerman and Mahe were dealing with shoulder injuries and Nonu was recovering from an elbow injury.
“They didn’t make excuses; they came to win, but you just never know how those injuries will impact them,” he said.
Katie Zimmerman, who finished third as a freshman at state, began the girls’ state tournament by advancing to the finals to face Olympus senior Rhiannon Towers, the returning state champion. Although the two were expected to meet earlier in the season, illness kept them from facing off until the finals.
“We hadn’t seen that Olympus girl all year and we wanted to see what Katie could do before wrestling her in the state finals, but that didn’t happen. I was excited for her, obviously concerned as she just had her bursa sac drained in her knee. Her knee was incredibly swollen, and she was limping at the tournament that first day. She had just sustained the injury Wednesday before wrestling Friday and Saturday. But she went in there to fight. She was down three points in the first period and tied it up in the second. Then in the third, she defended a shot and ended up countering and scoring off the counter. They were on the edge of the circle, so nearly out of bounds, and Katie was able to get a good pinning combination and ended up winning by 10. She has a mental toughness and wants to get in there and compete. It was incredibly impressive, especially with a bum knee, and a fun way to start the finals.”
Her sisters, Eva and Eliza, who were
“heavy favorites,” then took their titles.
Eva Zimmerman pinned Salem Hills junior Hannah Coyne in the finals to claim her championship. Older sister, Eliza Zimmerman defeated Alta junior Riley Levin for her crown.
“Eva’s locked in to wrestling. In the offseason, she wants to represent Utah on the national team, so she’s doing everything she needs to. She’s going to be tough to beat,” Pappas said.
The three Zimmermans earned their state titles before Nonu took to the mat.
“It was a fun thing; they were all excited and celebrating each other,” Pappas said.
When Nonu stepped onto the mat, the coach was confident in her ability.
“I was confident she had what it took with her work ethic and attitude and the way she’s been wrestling all year, especially after the winter break,” he said. “There were girls in the bracket who she hadn’t seen, but the way the bracket played out, she wrestled the girl in the finals, she already had won twice against. Eleni is deserving of it.
She just wanted it and worked incredibly hard. She’s always ready to compete; I’ve never had to pump her up for a match.”
Also earning podium placements for the Huskies were 105-pound senior Antonia Ingabire, who took third; 105-pound sophomore Kallie Doverspike, who finished fifth; 125-pound sophomore Silei Batimana, who also took fifth; and 135-pound senior McKenzie Manning, who placed fifth.
While Hillcrest seniors Noah Slack and Hunter Hansen both competed at state, with Hansen winning his first-round match, it was Mahe who was in the spotlight.
“He wrestled a senior from Salem Hills and beat him 14-0, that kid ended up taking third. Then, in the semi-finals match, he wrestled the Viewmont kid who he lost to the year before and got some revenge and that kid took fourth.
In the finals, he wrestled a junior from Spanish Fork who was the bracket buster on the other side and that was a good match. He won on points. It was the well deserved. Moroni put in a lot of work in the room all year long.”
Pappas hopes following Mahe’s leadership, “the other boys can see Moroni’s work ethic and what it’s going to take to get them there. He’s a fantastic teammate and he can give them the recipe to help them out.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to create programs at nearby Union and Midvale middle schools, which will help foster even more success in the future.
“We’re hoping we can get them going earlier before they get to Hillcrest. We’ll take mats over to those schools and maybe have a dual Union versus Midvale with a traveling trophy,” he said. “We finished our season on a high note. This is something we’re excited to build on. It’s great we have champions on both sides, boys and girls, so the other kids can have role models to look up to. I’m expecting more success next year; we’ll see where we go.” l
Hillcrest boasted four individual state girls wrestling champions. (Photo courtesy of Hillcrest High Athletics)
Hillcrest coach Nick Pappas was named 5A Coach of Year from Utah Wrestling Coaches Association. (Photo courtesy of Hillcrest High wrestling)
What to know about visiting the E.R.
By Dr. Alex Drake
At CommonSpirit Health, our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity. This extends to all the care we provide our patients, whether it be in our doctor’s offices, our clinics, or our hospitals.
We want your visit to our care sites to be as comfortable as possible, and we know that visiting the Emergency Department (ER) is difficult for any patient and their loved ones. I would like to share some information about what to expect in the ER, so that you can be as prepared as possible.
Our emergency caregivers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to serve our community. We accept all patients – regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. A typical visit to the ER can take two-to-three hours, but please know that in the ER we must evaluate and treat our patients based on severity of their condition. This might mean longer wait times in the lobby or even after being placed in an exam room. However, this also means that if you’re having a life-threatening emergency, you will have the undivided attention of our doctors and nurses.
If you have mild-to-moderate symptoms – such as fever below 103 degrees without a rash, flu-like symptoms without shortness of breath, or sprains and strains – you may wish to consider calling your primary care provider or visiting an urgent care center, as these options may be faster and are often less expensive. Symptoms or health issues that require immediate medical attention may include the following:
• Chest pain
• Sudden weakness or trouble talking
• Difficulty breathing
• Spinal injuries
• Severe head injury
• Major broken bones
• Major burns
• Sudden change in vision
• Heavy bleeding
• Large open wounds
You should never drive yourself to an ER if you are having severe chest pain, severe bleeding, if you feel like you might faint, or if your vision is impaired. When in doubt, please call 911 — what matters most is that you get to the emergency room quickly and safely. If you arrive by
ambulance, you will be triaged and we will determine the level of care required.
All emergency physicians at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are board certified in Emergency Medicine and have trained for many years to help you in your emergency. The doctors also have specially trained midlevel providers who can also help. Your provider may order tests like X-rays, CT Scans, Ultrasounds, bloodwork, urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or others, depending on your health problem.
After receiving test results, the doctor will discuss the findings and diagnosis with you. If needed, they will advise admission to the hospital. If your condition does not need admission, they will give you written instructions about treatment to be followed at home. This may include prescriptions, tips for home care, and any referrals needed for following up with either a primary care or specialized doctor. While we hope for the health and safety of those in our community, know that we are here if you need us. Our excellent doctors and nurses at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are ready to provide high-quality, compassionate, and timely care.
As CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.
Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
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By Dr. Alex Drake Emergency Physician CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital Jordan Valley West
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Russia
is our ally. Canadians are the enemy. Tariffs will make us richer but we’re cutting staff at national parks. Measles is back. Gaza is the new Riviera. The economy is crashing and it’s tax season when I pay thousands of dollars to the government so it can purchase Tesla Cybertrucks to send to Jupiter.
The newspeak and doublethink we endure each day can be a bit overwhelming, but I’ve found a way to get through the endless cycle of breaking news: denial.
Denial is a beautiful, hazy way to spend your day. Instead of crying through a CNBC report, denial allows you to drift on a cloud of puff pastry surrounded by cherry trifle and savory scones.
This specific form of denial is “The Great British Bake Off” and it saved me during March when I was knee-deep in tissues, cough syrup and tariff wars. There’s only so much idiocy one can endure while healing from pneumonia.
Let them eat cake
the best Victoria sponge cake or sticky toffee pudding. The contestants are kind, positive and willing to offer a helping hand.
I love British television because everyone looks real. There are no plastic surgery junkies or steroid-addicted chefs, just regular people doing something they love. When the judges, Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith, make a criticism, it’s done with a British accent so it doesn’t sound so awful.
When Prue tuts and says, “This bake is a disaster,” she could easily be tucking a blanket around your shoulders and handing you a steaming cup of Earl Grey.
Instead of watching Elon Musk wield a chainsaw, I tune into GBBO which is filmed on the grounds of an English manor. Bunnies and squirrels scamper through grassy meadows like a Disney movie. There’s even a fanbase dedicated to identifying the different bird songs heard during the show.
the CDC and FAA. GBBO hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding wander through the competition, amusing bakers with their British humor and offering pep talks to stressed cooks.
Each episode has a specific theme. There’s bread week or pastry week or biscuit week, and each chef creates a signature bake, completes a technical challenge and makes a jaw-dropping showstopper. It’s a heartwarming alternative to the 24/7 chaos of the Trump administration.
Who knew there were so many British bakery items? But I have to admit, there are things they make I would never eat, including black pudding and chorizo buns topped with mustard custard. Nope.
baker can create a pie crust that doesn’t have a soggy bottom. The judges hate soggy bottoms. I’ve also learned to worry about fallen focaccia, overcooked tarts and croissant dough that’s not properly laminated. Even the mistakes feel cozy.
I’m impressed at how quickly chefs can whip up a batch of pistachio macarons, ginger tarts or spanakopita (a spinach and feta pie my husband would NEVER eat) with minimal tears or tantrums. It’s a reminder things can get done without fits of temper, vengeance or manipulation.
Unlike American reality shows that foster cruelty and conflict, GBBO features a dozen creative bakers who just want to make
Denial is not a permanent solution but it’s a tool when messages from Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth get to be a bit much. Just turn on the TV and float away in a delicate orange buttercream or raspberry whipped cream. It’s some sweet positivity in a decidedly bitter time. The newspeak and doublethink we endure each day can be
The pastel-colored set, with its matching counters, ovens and fridges, distracts me from personnel cuts at federal agencies including
Instead of worrying about the breakdown of our country’s system of checks and balances, I worry about whether my favorite
