Midvale July 2016

July 2016

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Vol. 2 Iss. 7

FREE

130 Years OF TRUST Taking Care of

YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS

EVERY STEP

Copperview’s Junior Archery a Bullseye for OFProgram THE WAY. Midvale Rec Opportunities

By Sarah Almond | sarah@mycityjournals.com

PAGE 4

Five archers draw their arrows during a weekly Wednesday class and aim for the balloon target. Once an archer is able to hit the gold bullseye with three arrows, instructor Bryce Rypien moves the target back several feet as both a continued challenge and a sign of progression.—Sarah Almond

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PAGE 2 | JULY 2016

MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL

Kids, Queens, Animals Join Together for Library Reopening

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

The ribbon cutting was held in the lawn space behind the library to start the day of festivities.

—Liz Sollis

A petting zoo was held in front of the library throughout the day.

—Liz Sollis

T

Members could sign up for the library’s summer reading challenge during the grand reopening of the Tyler Library on Saturday, June 11. —Liz Sollis

hough the day was drenched with rain, no downpour could stop the reopening of a community institution in Midvale.

Saturday, June 11, marked the grand reopening for the Tyler Library, where festivities went on all day, starting with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m.

“We wanted to have a party to celebrate the community and invite everyone to come back to the library,” Sarah Wegener, library manager, said.

The day of activities included the ribbon cutting ceremony, a petting zoo, snow cones and cookies, visits from Elsa and Anna from “Frozen” and a performance by a dance group from the Royal Academy.

Wegener said she was ecstatic not only with the amount of people who came to the grand reopening but also with the general attendance since the soft opening.

“It was fabulous. I was delighted with all the people who came out and it was so wonderful to see all our patrons come back and enjoy the library and reconnect with all the people I’ve missed for the past three months,” Wegener said.

The library closed at the beginning of March to install extensive upgrades to the building. Most notable were the improvements to the air conditioning system, which had been around since the library originally opened in 1967.

While Tyler Library was closed, other features also received facelifts. New LED lights were installed, along with a new community conference room with seating available for 10, a new bike rack and a garden space in the back with a few benches, where the ribbon cutting

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Kids had the opportunity to interact with animals at a petting zoo set up in front of the Tyler Library on Saturday, June 11. —Liz Sollis

ceremony took place.

With the party and the festivities, Wegener said their goal was to let people know that the library is back.

“We have a lot to offer everyone,” Wegener said.

Located at 8041 South Wood Street, Tyler Library is surrounded by a suburban neighborhood. It has become, Wegener said, an essential part of the community.

“It’s like a daily part of people’s lives. With us gone, people who would just walk over here every day have to either get in a car or a bus or ride their bike to somewhere that was far away,” Wegener said.

“We’re small enough and in the neighborhood enough that we know our patrons, and I think a lot of them really missed having that connection.”

In their press release for the event, Wegener said that “community is the heart of Tyler Library,” and their “vision is to provide a free, safe public place where everyone is respected, accepted, inspired and informed.”

The new air conditioning system is more energy-efficient, so the occasion was marked by green decorations including balloons, ribbons and green paper where kids could write down why they love their library.

“The library has always been green. If you think about ‘reduce, reuse, recycle,’ then libraries are the ultimate model of that, because instead of everyone buying the same book, everybody just uses the same book,” Wegener said.

To find out more about Tyler Library events and services, go to slcolibrary.org. 

JULY 2016 | PAGE 3

M IDVALEJOURNAL .COM

School Festivals Focus on Traditions

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

BAD BACK? Don’t wait, be seen today!

Midvalley Elementary cultural fair goers could learn about different cultures, eat international cuisine and watch students dance at the school’s fifth annual cultural fair on May 23. —Julie Slama School Festivals Focus on Traditions

T

wo schools celebrated the end of the school year with annual festivals centering on traditions.

At Midvalley, the May 23 celebration was the school’s fifth annual cultural fair, and it attracted community members as well as students and their families.

“It helps us recognize the value of diversity in the world through food, music, dance and crafts,” Principal Jeff Nalwalker said.

Throughout the evening, students in each grade performed a traditional dance they had learned. Kindergarteners began with dancing to “It’s a Small World,” followed by secondgraders doing a square dance. First-graders performed an Irish jig and third-graders showed a Russian folk dance. The fourth-grade class performed a line dance from Translyvania and the fifth-graders ended the evening performances with dances from New Zealand.

Jessica Ynda said it took her classes a couple weeks to learn the New Zealand dance.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Jessica said. “I like to learn about different countries.”

Her mother, Tammie, appreciated the fair.

“The students get to experience a lot of different cultures and become aware of the diverse community that supports them,” she said.

The fair included several country booths, where families shared some of their cultural traditions such as clothing, musical instruments, pictures and crafts from different countries, Parent-Teacher Association president Barbara Hake said.

“It’s an opportunity for our families to celebrate all the different cultures and traditions they have that make up our community,” she said.

That includes Brodi Ika volunteering to come each year to teach students the haka dance from New Zealand.

That’s why sixth-grader Lexus Jensen returned to the festival, to watch her favorite dance.

Her mom, Tori, said she liked that the kids

learned about different cultures.

“They light up when they learn the dances, like the haka, and I like the spiritual meaning behind it,” she said.

Nalwalker said the food trucks included different ethnic foods.

In addition, there were two food booths to set up to help others: one sold hot dogs to raise money to help first-grade teacher Lydia LaPutka in her battle against breast cancer, and a local Girl Scout troop sold goodies to raise money to help with personal hygiene items for newly arrived refugees in the area.

Dances, crafts and food trucks were also at Copperview’s Living Traditions Festival on May 26, which about 700 students, family members and community members experienced.

“We have traditions in our school that were brought to us by families,” Copperview principal Chanci Loran said.

Among the dances were the kindergartners dancing the Macarena and first-graders performing the Chicken Dance.

A performance by resource teacher Kathleen Ware surprised students as she and her sister, Mary, did an acrobatic aerial performance 15 feet above the ground on purple silk ribbons.

“Many of our students didn’t know she did this, and in the hallways days afterward, I heard, ‘Did you know that she does more than reading? She performs in the air,’” Loran said.

Crafts were a big focus at the fair, as students could make Japanese paper fans used in Obon, a Buddhist custom that honors ancestors’ spirits, Loran said.

Students could also create paper flowers that are typically worn in Hawaii to symbolize marital status, or they could make leis, used to signify love, honor, respect and friendship.

The final craft was a paper mask symbolizing the Catholic Carnival season, which typically includes street parades and parties.

“We recognize our culture and diversity year-round. The festival focuses on traditions that can unite us as a community,” she said. 

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PAGE 4 | JULY 2016

MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL

Copperview’s Junior Archery Program a Bullseye for Midvale Rec Opportunities

By Sarah Almond | sarah@mycityjournals.com

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hough he’s been an avid bowhunter and bow fisherman for decades, Copperview Recreation Center’s program coordinator Bryce Rypien never thought he’d be coaching children in the sport of archery. But here he is, teaching six-week-long Junior Olympic Archery Development courses to dozens of children ages 10 to 14.

Three years ago, when former program manager Jeff Burley approached Rypien with the idea of establishing an archery program at Copperview Rec, Rypien was quick to get on board.

“Jeff got in touch with Randi Smith, the USA Paralympic archery coach, and he ended up getting a grant from the adaptive group that we used to buy archery equipment,” Rypien said.

Soon after receiving the grant, Rypien earned his USA Archery Level 1 certification.

This authorized him to be an instructor for beginner archery programs to people of all ages and abilities. Then, at the beginning of 2016, Rypien earned his Level 3 NTS certification, which focuses on individual athlete development more than group instruction.

“I was fortunate enough to get to train with Randi for my classifications. She is all about using archery as a means of building the individual,” Rypien said. “By focusing on the individual, you will automatically become a better archer and you’ll get more opportunities.

I take a lot of Randi’s training styles and bring them into this class.”

Since becoming an established program at Copperview Rec Center, Rypien says archery has been nothing but a success.

“The kids love it. It’s amazing — I see kids that don’t typically have a lot of discipline actually discipline themselves,” Rypien said.

“We start with basics, like how to pick up a bow, how to form and the steps you move through to shoot, and the kids can see themselves succeed.”

Rypien explains that safety is the numberone rule in archery. And while he initially thought that teaching several children the importance of range safety and respect for the equipment would be a challenge, Rypien has been pleasantly surprised by the kids’ overall eagerness to follow directions.

“We talk a lot about things like rules of the range and the importance of respecting the equipment,” Rypien said. “And they are really disciplined. They know, ‘Okay, if I do all of these things right, I’ll be able to shoot all of my arrows.’”

While Rypien thinks movies like “Avatar,” “Brave,” and “The Hunger Games” have definitely influenced archery’s rise in popularity, he believes that ultimately, archery is a great alternative for kids who aren’t necessarily interested or involved in traditional sports or summer activities.

“I have some kids that are very athletic, but archery is also a great avenue for kids that aren’t into typical sports like soccer or football,”

Instructor Bryce Rypien looks on as students fire their three arrows. The children are very keen on maintaining proper form, following rules of the range and practicing focus. —Sarah Almond

Rypien said. “These kids come in and have no clue about archery, but we start with the basics and they find a passion for it.”

In fact, it was archery’s atypical traits that attracted many participants to the May-June course.

“I just thought that archery would be really cool to try out,” said 10-year-old Brayton Taylor. “I like that it’s not like a gun — it’s something you can control without having to pull a trigger.”

Taylor is one of the only archers this session who is shooting the target from a further distance. After an archer gets three arrows in the yellow center, Rypien moves the target back five feet as both a challenge and a signal of progression.

“For me, the hardest part about archery is getting everything lined up as perfect as I can,” Taylor said. “And sometimes I get a little nervous. But Bryce tells us to practice our form every morning in the mirror and when we are looking down our arm and have good form, then we are supposed to say, ‘Hey, good-lookin’!’”

Though fun and lighthearted, things like this morning ritual in the mirror are what Rypien refers to as “building the individual.”

Whether they realize it or not, these activities are helping to build the child’s self-confidence, improve technique and foster focus.

With beginner and intermediate archery classes being such a success, Rypien is hoping to offer an advanced group in the near future.

“I’ve even been getting a ton of requests from parents to start a parent class,” Rypien said. “So I’m looking into doing that in July or August.”

Though Rypien would like to host regular six-week archery classes, the schedule is largely contingent on the availability of gym space.

To find out when the next archery class will be held, to sign up or to get more information, visit the Copperview Recreation Center at 8446 S. Harrison St. in Midvale. 

education

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JULY 2016 | PAGE 5

East Midvale Crossing Guard Recognized for Quality, Quantity Service

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

F

ourth-grader Novalee Mounteer crossed the street to East Midvale Elementary as she has on other days, but on the morning of May 4, it was special.

Barbara Johnson was being honored for her 38 years as the school crossing guard on National Walk to School Day. “She’s so nice and sweet and pretty,” Novalee said. “But she tells you to stop if you want to run across the street and not cross with her.”

That’s the same memory RJ Graham had from Johnson’s early days as a crossing guard.

“I’d want to just dart across and she wouldn’t let me cross except at the crosswalk,” he said.

Kim Shell recalled how Johnson helped her cross years ago.

“As a kid, I just lived down the street, and if I would start to cross not at the crosswalk, she’d just shake her head,” she said. “Now I have a sixth-grader and third-grader she crosses, and I know she’s wishing them ‘good morning’ just like she did to me and making sure they get across to school safely.”

Johnson, who lives right across the street from East Midvale Elementary, was honored at her post with a plaque from the Utah Department of Transportation.

Canyons School District superintendent Jim Briscoe thanked Johnson.

“This is so exciting to celebrate the hard work and dedication you’ve given to keep school children safe for 40 years,” he said. “On behalf of Canyons School District, we love you and we thank you.”

As each student crossed, they told Johnson, “Thanks for being so nice” and “Thanks for keeping us safe,” as they handed her flowers and gave her hugs that morning. Many students signed a banner recognizing Johnson’s contributions.

“It’s just something I can do to help our community,” Johnson said. “I’ve had parents come to me and say, ‘You used to cross me when I attended East Midvale.’ And I remember them, maybe not always their names, but I can tell you who they are.”

Irene Larsen, who had 10 children cross under Johnson’s watch, said she does know every child’s name.

“They just love her,” she said.

Johnson’s niece, Heather Erickson, said Johnson started the crossing job when her children were in school at East Midvale, 15 principals ago, when Jimmy Carter was president of the United States.

“She’s truly amazing and has rarely gotten a substitute,” she said. “She does whatever she needs to as she knows it’s her duty. She and Uncle Ron know everyone and have done their crossing guard jobs for decades.”

Ron Johnson retired after 30 years of crossing at Midvalley Elementary.

“This is an absolute joy for her to be able to walk up the street and wish those children a

Students handed flowers to East Midvale crossing guard Barbara Johnson and gave her hugs on May 4 as she was honored for 38 years of service. —Julie Slama

good day,” he said. “When she broke her hip last year, it was one of the few times she wasn’t out there every day, but she was determined to get right back out there, being responsible for the kids she knows and loves.”

Terry and Tamara Jensen, who have lived in the school district for 61 years, have had nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, grandkids and their own children cross the street with Johnson’s help.

Their son, Trenton Jensen, said, “She was just like a mom, knowing she could help take care of us after school. I’d play with her boys, and her husband was my basketball coach.”

Tamara said she appreciated her neighbor and friend’s diligence.

“If we had a problem, she was more than just a crossing guard,” Tamara Jensen said.

“She’d take our kids to her house and tell them to get out their homework. She’s always looking out for the best interest of the kids.”

That included one day when a student knocked on her door, wanting to cross the street, but it wasn’t a school day.

“Mom just set down what she was working on, picked up her stop sign and went out to make sure that student got safely to the playground,” said her son, Jason Johnson. “She knows her neighbors count on her and knows her duty.

However, it was a double-edged sword. My parents always knew where I was and everyone knew my mom, so I knew if I ever got in trouble they’d know where to find her.”

Jason said that he flew in from Seattle to attend the ceremony.

“This is such a great honor that the school district and department of transportation is recognizing her,” he said.

Principal Justin Pitcher said she is a beloved part of the school community.

“We consider her part of us, as she is involved with our students every day, engaged in our community,” he said. “She is the sweetest lady, and people like her [are] what makes East Midvale special.” 

EDUCATION

PAGE 6 | JULY 2016

MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL

Copperview Elementary Earth Day Celebration Springs Step Into Healthy Summer

By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

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itness, healthy eating, improving school grounds and having fun were all part of the late April plans at Copperview Elementary.

It began with an April 21 “Fuel Up to Play 60” assembly that was designed to bring awareness to healthy eating and physical activity, said Principal Chanci Loran.

“The assembly talked about how to start the day off with a healthy breakfast and walked the students through different ways to play,” she said. “Former [University of Utah] quarterback Alex Smith videochatted with the students in a recording, and they had a sports dietitian join in the chat.”

The assembly, sponsored by the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada, included a dance contest between teachers and students, a fun milk-mustache contest, an appearance by cow mascot Trudy Moo and prizes, including Smith’s autographed photos.

This led into the school’s April 22 Earth Day celebration, which included the fifth annual fun run and a chance to pick up litter on the school grounds.

“I like the fun run, as it gets the kids outside and running,” fifth-grade teacher Robert Porter said. “This is the first year On May 6, fourth-graders pulled weeds and planted vegetables in Copperview Elementary’s garden. we’ve tied it into picking up trash, but what It was part of their soil unit that they learned about in the spring. —Julie Slama a great idea to get them outside and active and making our playground nicer.”

The run was one-quarter mile for finishing third place in the run was fun for him. kindergartners and first-graders and one-half mile for second“I play forward in soccer and I run every day at the rec and third-graders. The fourth- and fifth-graders ran one mile. center, so this was great,” he said. “There were lots of wrappers, “We’re encouraging healthy lifestyles by eating healthy, candy [and] cups left in our field, so we picked [them] up to put being active and having fun doing it,” Loran said. in the trash. I’m looking forward [to] taking care of the carrots I Community school facilitator Jenny Landward said that planted for our garden.” this run complements their fall Turkey Trot, and although they Wahlen, along with other fourth-grade teachers and 83 encourage everyone to be active, they don’t concentrate on students, took the celebration a step further by having students times. However, they did have prizes for top finishers. check their pumpkins, cucumbers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, carrots The winners of the fun run for each grade received a beach and jalapenos they planted in cups to prepare for transplanting pail full of summer activity prizes such as bubbles, jump ropes them in the school garden. and water bottles. The top finishers included kindergartners “We have a soil unit and learn the importance of soil, Henri Pinto and Melanie Garcia Hernandez; first-graders Yarrell decomposition and nutrients, so we thought, What better way Loya Dominguez and Evelyn Jerman; second-graders Tristan than to tie it into the school garden that they can tend to this Esau and Aizlynn Torres; third-graders Jaiden Cruzloya, Addison spring and summer?” she said.

Eager and Kayla Nkoy; fourth-graders Nathan Hallum and Sasha On May 6, fourth-graders were pulling weeds before Moore; and fifth-graders Izik Garrett, Zahid Crus Loya and planting their vegetables.

Cassandra Gonzales.

Fourth-grader Coby Trivitt said that he was OK with that Landward said that while the school usually does a spring task. cleanup, this was the first time to combine the two events.

“It helps with my upper-body muscles and it’s a good thing “We thought, we were running on Earth Day; why not for our garden before we plant tomatoes and peppers,” he said. celebrate the Earth and clean it up on that day? We handed out 23 “We’re doing a good thing for our community.” garbage bags for the kids to fill,” she said.

Classmate Susi Luna said the weeds were hard to pull.

Fourth-grade teacher Erin Wahlen said that students showed “We have to really pull to get the roots out,” she said. “I’m a lot of school pride by cleaning the grounds. planning on helping here in the garden this summer.”

“It’s been a day of teamwork, sportsmanship cheering on Office staff member Lisa Christiansen helped direct the their friends and pride in helping make their school beautiful,” garden planting. she said. “A lot of recreational teams use our fields and with the “This is good for the Earth and soil and it’s great for the wind, trash can blow onto our playground, so this shows the students,” she said. “It’s a skill many of them haven’t done students are caring and are part of the community.” before and it teaches them so much.”  Fourth-grader Eric Corchado said he likes to run, so

MIDVALE CITY MIdvale City

IDVALEJOURNAL. coM COM M idvaleJournal

As I See It

Midvale City 7505 South holden Street Midvale, ut 84047 Midvale City direCtory City Hall 801-567-7200 Finance/Utilities 801-567-7202 Court 801-255-4234 City Attorney’s Office 801-567-7250 City Recorder/H.R. 801-567-7225 Community Development 801-567-7211 Public Works 801-567-7235 Ace Disposal/Recycling 801-363-9995 City Museum 801-569-8040 Senior Citizens Center 385-468-3350 SL County Animal Services 385-468-7387 Midvale Precinct UPD 385-468-9350 Police Dispatch 801-743-7000 Unified Fire Authority 801-743-7200 Fire Dispatch 801-840-4000 Midvale City eleCted oFFiCialS: Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini 801-567-7204 Email: joanns@midvale.com City CounCil District 1 - Quinn sperry 801-255-5428 email: Qsperry@miDvale.com District 2 - paul Glover 801-561-5773 email: pGlover@miDvale.com District 3 - paul Hunt 801-255-2727 email: pHunt@miDvale.com District 4 - Wayne sHarp 801-567-8709 email: WsHarp@miDvale.com District 5 - stepHen BroWn 801-783-0962 email: sBroWn@miDvale.com Who to Call For… utility BillinG reGarDinG Water Bills (801)567-7258 orDerinG a neW trasH can, reservinG tHe BoWery (801)567-7202 permits (801)567-7212 Grama reQuests (801)567-7207 court (801)255-4234 payinG for traffic scHool (801)567-7202 Business licensinG (801)567-7213 property Questions (801)567-7231 cemetery (801)567-7235 Water line Breaks (801)567-7235 (801)567-7231 planninG anD ZoninG BuilDinG inspections (801)567-7208 (801)567-7209 coDe enforcement Graffiti nortH of 7200 s (801)256-2537 coDe enforcement/Graffiti soutH of 7200 s (801)256-2541 EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT INFORMATION: Public Works (7 am to 5 pm) (801)567-7235 Public Works On-Call (after business hours) 801)580-7274 or (801)580-7034 Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority (801)840-4000 Midvale Police Precinct (385)468-0350 or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department (801)743-7010 EMERGENCY 911 Midvale City Website for Emergency Alerts and Information www.midvalecity.org CITY WEBSITE: WWW.MIDVALECITY.ORG FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MidvaleCity TWITTER: www.twitter.com / MidvaleCity or @MidvaleCIty

ULY 2016 | Page AGE 1 7 July

By Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini

H

arvest Days will be August 1st through the 6th. This is our city’s celebration and I invite all of you to get involved in some or all of the events. A major activity is community picnics. City officials, police and fire representatives will come and visit with you at your neighborhood event. To schedule a neighborhood block party you must call the Midvale Police to reserve your party. This is a wonderful way for you to know what is happening in your neighborhood and to talk about concerns you may have. Block parties are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, August 1st and 2nd and the following Monday, August 8th. Call 385 468-9350 to schedule your event and make sure that city representatives can attend your neighborhood activity.

On Wednesday, August 3rd the Youth Ambassador scholarship awards will be given to this year’s Ambassadors. This year’s Ambassadors Mary Ruff, Nityam Rathi, Jacqueline Lopez, and Merry Joseph will report on their projects for the year. These are outstanding representatives for the youth of Midvale. Our Youth Ambassadors for 2016-2017 will be introduced and they will explain their projects for the coming year. Emalee Desarae Egelund, Ashley Jimenez, Elisha Gillis and

W

Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini Morgan Sharp have been selected. They will describe their yearlong project as well as act as representatives of the outstanding youth of Midvale. On August 3rd there will also be an art show and the winners of the art show will be announced. This is also the time when an outstanding individual or organization will be

selected to have a presence on Midvale’s Hall of Honors. This year’s presentation goes to the Boys and Girls Club of Midvale. This event will be in the Performing Arts Center on the corner of Main and Center street. Please plan to attend to meet the outstanding youth, artists, and the Boys and Girls Club representatives.

During this summer we have been fortunate to have concerts in the park every Friday.

During Harvest Days on August 5th the Five Strings will perform as well as Alex Boye`.

August 6th the Quick Wits will perform as well as Taylor Hicks. There will be food trucks, and as always, bring your own chair or blanket for the concerts.

On Saturday there will be a 5K run Sponsored by the Midvale Rotary Club. Breakfast in the park will be provided by the Midvale Community Council. In the evening, Quick Wits, an improvisation group will perform at 6:00 and a concert with Taylor Hicks will start at 7:30. Entertainment and games will occur during the afternoon in the park. And best of all, the Fireworks display will begin at 10:00 PM. I look forward to visiting with all of you at neighborhood parties and at activities in the City Park.

Proposed Property Tax Increase

hen you receive your property tax notice from Salt Lake County in late July, you will see that Midvale City is proposing a property tax increase. The increase on a $200,000 home is about $8 per month, or $100 per year.

Only about ten percent of your total property tax bill goes to Midvale City. The majority of your property tax is distributed to the School Districts and Salt Lake County. The accompanying graph illustrates how much each taxing entity receives from the property taxes you pay.

The notice will show that your Midvale taxes are increasing almost 150%. The percentage increase looks high because our tax rate has been extremely low since joining the Salt Lake Valley Fire Service Area (SLVFSA) in 2011. At that time, the City reduced its property tax rate to offset the rate of the SLVFSA. The increase proposed by Midvale is about 6% of your total property tax bill.

As reported in last month’s newsletter, this is the first property tax Midvale City has proposed since calendar year 2010. If the proposed rate is adopted, the City’s revenue will increase by $1.4 million. The additional revenue is needed to pay for road improvements, increases over time in our contract with the Unified Police Department, and capital projects. The City has been able to cover cost increases over the past six years, but in order to continue providing vital services such as public safety and road maintenance, a property tax increase is necessary.

Funding road maintenance is one of our most pressing issues. The Utah State Legislature increased the statewide Gas Tax by

5 cents per gallon effective January 1, 2016, adding $77,000 per year to the City for road maintenance; however, Salt Lake County voters rejected a .25% general sales tax for transportation, which would have provided the City with an additional $540,000. The budget for road maintenance is $800,000 this year, up from $530,000 in FY 2016. The desired funding level for road maintenance is $1.5 million per year.

We hope that you were able to attend the June 21, 2016 public hearing on the proposed FY 2017 Budget. A second public hearing to adopt the proposed property tax increase is scheduled during our Midvale City Council at 7 p.m. on August 9, 2016. The Fiscal Year 2017 budget is available on the City’s website (www.midvalecity.org). You may also call the Finance Director at (801)567-7238 if you have questions.

Estimated 2016 Property Tax $200,000 Midvale Residence Total estimated tax = $1,725

$88, 5%

Canyons School District

$219, 13%

Jordan School District

$75, 4% $771, 45% $168, 10%

Salt Lake County Midvale City S.L. County Library Special Districts

$309, 18%

Unified Fire Authority $95, 5%

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Midvale Experiences a 200 Year Storm

Tips on Contracting for Home O Improvement or Repairs • Always get estimates for the job from two or three contractors who are recommended by a friend or family member who is familiar with the contractor’s work.

• Get references from the contractor and then speak to the references. Discuss their satisfaction with the contractor’s work, whether the work was done on schedule and within the original contract price.

• Check to make sure that the contractor has a business license from your city or local jurisdiction if required.

• Check the Better Business Bureau of Utah at (801)892-6009 or at www.saltlakecity.bbb.org for complaints against the company.

• Check to make sure the contractor has a contractor’s license and liability insurance. You can verify a contractor’s license by contacting the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing : (801-530-6628) • Make sure the contractor agrees to the following in writing: the price, a summary of the work to be done and materials to be used, the day the work is to start and the estimated completion date, responsibility for clean-up, any guarantees, and if applicable, the financing and credit terms, including payment schedules.

• Read and understand all papers before you sign anything.

• Have the contractor agree in advance that full payment is not due until the work is complete.

• Don’t pay a contractor a large sum of money in advance. Always get a receipt for any partial payments made.

• Avoid contractors who: • Tell you the repair is urgent, when in reality it is not.

• Quote or advertise a price, but then say it will cost more because it must be customized or the materials are out of stock.

• Misrepresent the benefit of the repairs.

• Misrepresent the financing terms.

• Only have a P.O. Box and/or answering service. Do not do business with a contractor that does not give out its business address or telephone number.

• Say they have leftover materials from another job and can give you a discount.

• Say that they will use your home as model to give you a special discount.

This “model home” pitch is frequently used by sellers of siding, swimming pools, storm windows, and fencing.

• Come to your home seeking business, unless you are able to thoroughly check them out by verifying their contractor and business licenses and following the other tips outlined above.

• Use “scare tactics.” If a contractor tells you that your furnace will blow up, your roof will collapse, etc., get a second opinion.

• Promise you a discount or commission if you supply names of other potential buyers.

• Say they are working in the neighborhood and have extra time and materials to offer you a deal. That rarely turns out to be true.

n June 13, Midvale City experienced one of the largest rain storms in the last few years.

Within a five hour time period the City received almost 1.25” of rain.

The pumping stations at the underpass’s on 8000 south, and Center Street were having a difficult time keeping up with the amount of water we received in that short amount of time.

There were other areas in the City as well that had issues too.

We would like to congratulate the Midvale City Public Works Department for their response to the issues and helping out where needed.

Between the Unified Fire and Police re-

sponding to emergency calls, Public Works found themselves acting as traffic controllers trying to keep the flow of traffic moving in a safe manor. This was in addition to responding to the many calls they were receiving.

I would ask Midvale City residents to “adopt” a storm drain. If you have a grate, or box near your home, please take the time to clean any debris from the surface and around the grate. If you don’t have the time to throw it in the trash can, place it on the park strip and give Public Works a call. They will notify someone and they can stop and pick it up when they are in the area.

Remember that “We all live downstream”.

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MIDVALE CITY MIdvale City

Midvale Website Gets Revamped

uring our Midvale City Council meeting, on June 7th, we launched our new website. With representatives from each department, the website committee met regularly to discuss content, functionality and design elements which would be included in our new website. The committee reviewed many municipal websites, identifying features which they wanted to incorporate into our new site. We hope that you find the new site to be useful and easy to navigate.

On the main page, at the top right, you will find quick links for public meetings documents, including minutes and agendas for City Council and Planning Commission. You can sign up for eNotifications, which will alert you when new content is added to certain sections of the website or when the city needs to get information out quickly. There is also a Contact Us link where you can send comments about issues you’re seeing in the city (i.e. potholes, sidewalk hazards, etc), suggestions for or experiences at city events, or reporting problems with our website.

When we need to share urgent information, a red bar will appear that the top of the website with details and a link to more information, if available.

In the middle of the front page, you will find current news articles and upcoming events. Each tab will display several items with a link to display more. To the right of the articles and events is a spotlight area. This is currently used to display Mayor Seghini’s “As I See It” article, but this space will also be used to highlight special events, employees spotlights, and other notable information.

At the bottom of the main page are quick links to frequently used sections of the site. The first provide quick access to paying your utility bill or a ticket. There are also quick links for the calendar of events, public notices, information about preparing for emergencies, links to police and fire departments as well as a section for those looking for a career at Midvale City.

To make it easy to find what you’re looking for, we have divided the menus into sections.

• In the Government section, you can find out about your elected officials, public notices, city laws, codes and policies.

• In the Departments section, each city division posts information and news about their responsibilities for the City.

• Under the residents section, information is included about the Community Council, local schools, Midvale Harvest Days, Midvale Arts Council, and other programs geared toward citizens.

• In the Business section, local companies can find city resources to support them including business license application and renewals, as well as a list of new businesses that have opened in Midvale.

• The Visitors section includes information about our parks, the Midvale Museum, upcoming events, lodging, food and attractions.

If you’re not sure where to find what you’re looking for, use the How Do I… section. This menu will contain links to the most requested parts of the website. It is an easy way to jump right to the pages you want to see.

We’d like you to be a part of our new site, too! We’d like to showcase everything good about Midvale using the photo slide show on the main page. We would like residents and visitors to submit photos of places and events in Midvale. If your photo is selected, credit will be given with the image. For details on how to submit photos, please visit the Submit a showcase photo, in the How Do I… section.

Come check out our new site, and give us feedback! Some of our pages are still under construction, but we’re working to update all of our pages. We want to know what you like about it and how we can improve! We may not be able to take all suggestion, but we will do our best. For more ways to stay informed, please find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@MidvaleCity).

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The annual Midvale Harvest Days’ Visual and Literary Arts Show showcases art and artists of every level from Midvale and the surrounding communities and will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at the Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 West Center Street.

Winners will be announced at 7:00 pm. The arts show will be open from 5:00 – 9:00 pm.

There is no age or professional limit requirement. We encourage all Midvale residents and neighbors to consider their artistic creations and join with us. The show is juried.

Categories A. Traditional Media Arts (painting, drawing, etc.)

B. Electronic Media Arts (photography, graphic arts, etc.)

C. Heirloom Arts (crochet, quilting, needlepoint, etc.)

D. Three Dimensional Arts (sculpture, pottery, etc.)

E. Literary Arts (flash fiction, poetry, etc.)

F. Children’s Art (art of any kind by children aged 0-10 and 11-15)

MIDVALE CITY HARVEST DAYS 2016 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

This is your personal invitation to attend the traditional community event that started in 1939 Monday & Tuesday, August 1st & 2nd and the following Monday, august 8th NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES

Requirements: Artists must drop off their artwork on Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Midvale Performing Arts Center (695 W. Center St.). Artists must pick up their artwork on Wednesday, August 3rd between 9:00 pm & 10:00 pm unless other arrangements are made. Artwork not picked up becomes property of the Midvale Arts Council.

Entry information: An individual can enter up to three pieces in each category listed above. Please specify artist name, age, residence city, category, medium, general description of size, and title of work. Each piece will require a statement identifying the work as your own.

All visual art pieces must be ready for display. Artist will be required to hang his or her own art. The Midvale Arts Council will provide display stands and appropriate hooks.

Please have a frame or hanging wire on the back of your work. Your artwork will not be displayed without a method of hanging it.

Literary art pieces should include the title on the top of the work and limit the length to 1 page. Attach a second sheet identifying the artist, category, title, and a statement identifying the work as your own.

The Midvale Arts Council Arts Show Committee reserves the right to not display any entry.

Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each category (decided by judges), Best of Show (decided by judges), Chairman’s Choice (decided by the Board of Directors), Business Leaders Choice (voted on by business members of the community), and People’s Choice (decided by votes from the general public), and special recognitions may be given in each category.

Other prizes may also be awarded. Categories and prize amounts may be altered depending on the entries received.

Saturday, August 6th

ALL DAY IN THE PARK 455 W. 7500 S.

THE HARVEST DAYS RUN

Kick-off the festival with neighbors and family in your own Midvale neighborhood. This establishes relationships that strengthen our union of communities.

PLEASE CALL (385) 468-9350 TO ARRANGE A VISIT FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, UNIFIED POLICE & UNIFIED FIRE (Limited to 10 parties per night – First Come First Serve)

Join the Midvale Rotary Club in the annual 5K Run and Walk.

Starting line registration will be from 6:30 – 7:15 am at the Boys and Girls Club- adjacent to the City Park.

Race starts at 7:30 am

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3RD

MIDVALE COMMUNITY COUNCIL “ALL YOU CAN EAT” PANCAKE BREAKFAST 7:00 am – 10:00 am (Cost $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors & children)

HALL OF HONORS, ART SHOW & YOUTH AMBASSADORS INDUCTION CEREMONY

FLAG RAISING CEREMONY 7:15 AM Midvale Boys and Girls Club Unified Fire Authority

HARVEST DAYS PARADE

Midvale Performing Arts Cntr (695 W. Center St.-7720 S.) Arts Show - 5:00 – 9:00 pm Induction Ceremony/Reception & Awards – 7:00 pm Midvale City honors those who have dedicated their lives to making Midvale a better place. Midvale artists of every level are also showcased in the annual juried arts show.

Light refreshments will be served.

ENTERTAINMENT & GAMES FOR THE FAMILY Noon to 5:00 pm

THURSDAY, August 4th

FREE CONCERTS - AMPHITHEATER STAGE

DINNER AND BINGO IN THE BOWERY 5:00 – 6:30 pm

Dinner – Midvale Mining

6:30 pm Free Bingo in the Bowery Must be 12 or older to play & win. Raffle for kids under 12.

Bingo sponsored by Midvale City and local merchants. *Free giveaways for adults and children

FRIDAY, August 5th

(Food Trucks Available – Bring blankets and chairs) 5:00 – 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 8:00 pm

SAFETY FAIR Free Concert – The Five Strings FREE CONCERT - ALEX BOYE`

10:00 am – Locate the parade route at: www.midvalecity.org or www.midvaleharvestdays.com

(Food Trucks Available – Bring blankets and chairs)

6:00 pm Quick Wits 7:30 pm TAYLOR HICKS

Fireworks 10pm

M IDVALEJOURNAL .COM

JULY 2016 | PAGE 11

MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL

PAGE 12 | JULY 2016

Nelson Brothers Student Housing: The parent’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Fit 1. Does it make life efficient and easy?

Securing housing that places your student in proximity to everything he or she needs can be tricky, but will make a big difference over time. “People don't realize how much 10-15 minutes a day adds up over four years,” said Nelson. “Make sure you choose a place that makes your student’s life efficient so they spend time on what is most important.” Ultimately, if Jacob’s life is more efficient, mine will be too.

S

tudent housing has been on my mind as my son, Jacob, prepares for college. While we’re focusing on ACT prep, perfecting his GPA, and finishing that Eagle Scout for the finishing touch on his college applications, my mind is going full speed ahead.

Finding the right type of housing in Utah will help define Jacob’s college experience. So, I was excited to sit down with Pat Nelson, CEO of Nelson-Brothers Property Management (managing over 19 student housing properties throughout the country, including University Gateway, University Towers, 9 & 9 Lofts, Park Plaza, 900 Factory, and Alpine Flats in Utah) to get some tips on how to choose the best student housing.

Here are four things to consider before you put money down on that first month’s rent.

2. Is it safe?

The location is a plus, but the condition of the property needs to be evaluated. For example, are the units equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and lighted hallways? Is it in a good neighborhood? How well does the management care for the property? Do I feel comfortable around the other residents?

Look for properties that are near public transportation and provide safe and well-lighted parking.

3. Is it priced right?

Do you rent the nicest apartment or the one that’s budget friendly? The answer is to consider your needs and the amenities the housing provides. “Some properties may charge more, but they offer on-site laundry facilities, a fully furnished unit, a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, or a game room,” said Nelson. “The cost of many of those features is

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figured into the rent and could save you money overall. Even more importantly, it can give students more time at the library instead of hassling with the laundromat or constantly searching for the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot.”

Before you scratch the upscale apartments off your list, add up the cost of the perks—it might be worth it.

4. Does it have the right vibe?

Different apartment complexes have different vibes—you’ll be happiest with one that suits your student's lifestyle best. “A law student may not want to live in a highly social complex,” said Nelson. “Rather, he or she will probably need a quieter, more academic environment. In contrast, an incoming freshman may enjoy an environment with a robust social network.”

To ensure your student’s home away from home will be sweet, allow yourself enough time to consider factors like the freshman experience, location, safety, price, and social element of the available properties.

For more information on Nelson Brothers’ Utah properties, please visit: www.nelsonbrothersutah.com.

Next article: “Why You Should Live in Student Housing Even When You Are Local” 

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M IDVALEJOURNAL .COM

Gardner Village

G

ardner Village is a staple and award-winning gathering place in Salt Lake County for holidays, weddings and community events as well as a living, breathing snapshot of Utah history.

The central historical icon is a flour mill built by pioneer Archibald Gardner in 1877. Gardener, a Scottish immigrant, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley with the original Mormon Pioneer in 1847.

In what is now West Jordan, Gardener Village began to exist in its first modern iteration in May 1980 as Country Furniture

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and Gifts, founded by Nancy Long.

Long purchased originally the property in 1979. The mill and surrounding property had passed through several ownerships and had become vacant. Long first converted the mill into a house. But her entrepreneurship drove her to open the furniture store and added a restaurant, Archbald’s Restaurant in Jan. 1990. The restaurant is housed in the old mill to this day.

Country Furniture and Gifts has since rebranded to CF Home Furniture & Design, offering unique many pieces, including Flexsteel Upholstery and a Capel Rugs.

Long, her family and hardworking staff transformed the dilapidated area into a charming retail community featuring several relocated and restored historic buildings that make up the Gardener Village shops. Historically themed features include covered bridges, red brick paths and enchanting gardens.

Gardener Village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The register is a list of historic builds deemed worthy of preservation and thus receive certain benefits from government.

The ownership of the project has since transferred to two of Long’s children: Joe Long and daughter Angie Gerdes.

Popular annual events like Gardner Village’s WitchFest always bring a family crowd to enjoy the atmosphere of restored historic buildings year after year.

Gardner Village’s WitchFest received the 2016 Best of State Award for best fair, festival and event. WitchFest landed

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in Gardener Village in 1999 and has become a well attended family tradition since.

Gardener Village has grown to include more than 20 shops and eateries, an animal rescue, event hall, and a ballet conservatory. The shops are brimming with the latest trends in home décor, clothing, jewelry, candy, quilts, antiques and more.

The combination of the historic buildings and one-of-akind shops make fore a truly vintage experience for locals and tourists alike.

From Christmas elves to enchanted springtime fairies, there is always magic in the air for families to enjoy. 

Gardner Village’s WitchFest received the 2016 Best of State Award for best fair, festival and event.

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MIDVALE CITY JOURNAL

PAGE 14 | JULY 2016

Nothing to do with Coupons – An Evening at Red Butte Gardens with the Monkees

L

ast week some friends and I enjoyed the musical stylings of the Monkees at Red Butte Garden. Being a Monkees generation Baby Boomer, who dreamed of one day marring Davey Jones, I could not wait to see them. Dawning my tie-dyed style neon shirt I was ready to sing every song right along with them.

Now, I could go on about how to save money when attending a concert at Red Butte. What’s allowed, what to bring, how to get tickets, where to park, but I’m feeling the need to deviate from the money saving genre for a moment.

When the Monkees performed Shades of Gray they expressed that it was time for us to rock out with the dearly departed Davey Jones. They told us because of the shootings in Florida just 3 days earlier, this song was far too emotional for them to sing it alone. They then brought up video and the voice of Davey singing the song as they played and we sung along.

In light of what’s going on in the world and right here in our own country the audi-

ence and the performers (Dolenz and Tork) were overwhelmed with sorrow while performing. It was an emotional moment that left me, and I imagine a great many of the audience with tears in our eyes.

Some dear friends of mine are an interracial couple that have been married for many years. They are an amazing family raising 4 great kids, that routinely give back to the community. She mentioned the other day that while dining at a restaurant right here, in the self proclaimed most tolerant state in America, that when the server presented the check(s) they had been separated for each to pay their own. When asked, the waitress admitted she had made assumption and apologized. My friend chuckled and went on to tell me that this was not an isolated incident and that these things happen all the time. It was just something they live with, something that has become routine. She stated that this was mild compared to some of what they’ve experienced.

Our religious leaders of every faith preach kindness and tolerance daily, that it

is not for us to judge. They are right, it isn’t.

Yet, I’m often scratching my head as they are the very ones that fight against protecting all peoples right to live peaceably within their own core religious values. They judge other religions as wrong and untrue, they fight for laws remaining restrictive, passing judgment on those who don’t conform to the attitude that they “know best” what is right for each of us. Then when something like Florida happens they tell us we must be a less hateful and a more tolerant people.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a very spiritual person, but until all leaders of this country start teaching the real meaning of peace and tolerance and lead by example instead of words, how will it ever get better? Won’t we just continue on this slippery path? As someone that lived through the hate that was going on during the Shades of Gray era, myself, and I’m sure the 47 families, that today are living without a loved one, can say it’s definitely not getting any better. 

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M IDVALEJOURNAL .COM

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

S

ummer means camping. Outdoor living is a wonderful way to acquaint your children with Lyme disease, tourniquets, tick removal, poison ivy, skunk identification, rabid chipmunks and tent life. Why go to a hotel when you can sleep on the ground in a Ziploc bag?

It’s a mythological fact that camping builds character. Okay, I’ll admit camping builds some characters; the Unabomber comes to mind. After living in a remote cabin with no electricity or running water, Mr. Unabomber started a nationwide bombing crusade.

But still, families plan extravagant camping adventures and look forward to spending an inordinate amount of time living like squatters in the mountains with their loved ones.

Their days are filled with card games, sing-alongs, murderous rage and fishing.

And by the way, fishing is not a sport. “Sport” indicates a level of exertion, sweat and training. I’ve never seen a sport that involves kicking back in a camp chair and swilling a cold beer while holding onto a stick. It could easily be confused with the sport of TV watching.

One of my daughters refused to even cast a fishing line, afraid she might hit a trout on the head with a lure, causing it to need glasses for the rest of its fishy life.

Hiking is another fun camp activity, if “fun” means you enjoy carrying toddlers for a 4-hour hike that would have taken

MIDVALE

only 20 minutes if they would walk like a functioning person.

And who can forget the hellish outhouses where you just know there’s a snake coiled up behind you or a spider creeping around the toilet seat or a swarm of wasps waiting for you to exit.

When nighttime rolls around and it’s time to build a fire, you soon realize it should be called building a smoke. All the green wood your kids gathered creates billows of hot, grey air that infiltrates every piece of clothing you own. Plus, the wind blows through the campfire, distributing hot ash, eye-melting

smoke and pieces of exploding branches so everyone around the fire can enjoy the great outdoors.

Once you finally have a campfire merrily dancing in the pit (usually around 2 a.m.), it’s fun to roast marshmallows that your kids won’t eat because they’re burnt, and look at the stars.

Me: Aren’t the stars beautiful?

Daughter #1: It’s making my neck hurt. Can I stop looking?

Me: No. Daughter #2: What if a star fell on us right now?

Daughters #3 and #4: (Crying because they don’t want a star to fall on them.)

Me: Forget it. Go get in your Ziploc bags.

Safety is always a concern when camping. “Don’t Feed the Bears” signs encourage campers to lock food in the car so bears don’t get into your Oreos. Shouldn’t the signs also warn you that a bear can easily shred your tent, looking for juicy, humanflavored tidbits? But, hey, as long as the Oreo cookies are safe.

Once camp is over, a miracle happens. Everyone forgets the scraped-shins, fire-singed fingers, burned breakfasts, lost underwear and temper tantrums. And suddenly you’re planning next year’s camping trip to acquaint your children with dehydration, crazy hermits, leaf toilet paper, stinging nettle, wet socks, outdoor swearing and organic granola. Because why go to a restaurant when you can eat soot-covered hot dogs in a rainstorm? 