February 2024 | Vol. 21 Iss. 2
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IT’S HEAVY METAL TIME AS SALT LAKE CITY CRUSADERS PRACTICE ARMORED COMBAT AT MIDVALE PARK By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com
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ave you ever wanted to be a knight? Wear metal armor, yield a medieval weapon? Dual others in combat? The Salt Lake City Crusaders understand, and have made these dreams into a reality. These knights in shining armor have picked Midvale City Park to host their armored combat practices and can be found on Saturdays swinging swords. One such practitioner of the armored arts is Dallon Larson, who has been with the SLC Crusaders for about a year. He mentioned that he originally got into the Crusaders via social media and then met them at the Lehi Renaissance Faire last year and decided to join in on the fun. Larson also had the chance to boast his historically accurate armor that included a (very heavy) helmet, a chainmail collar, pauldrons, gauntlets and grieves. Larson, although the owner of this impressive set of armor, was not wearing it during this interview. He had graciously let a possible future-crusader use his armor that day. Oftentimes, members of the Salt Lake City Crusaders will let possible new members borrow their armor in the hopes that they might join them, and to make sure that those who might want to join know what they are getting themselves into. “Getting here
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is the easy process, getting the armor is a bit more difficult,” Larson said. “But once you get some armor you can do any event you want.” Larson discussed some of the ins and outs of getting such detailed armor for combat. He said that the best armors come from Ukraine, and this is where his armor came from, more specifically, Aleksey’s Armory. He said, “Anyone is welcome to come and practice.” Another armored combat aficionado is Jake Omer, who has been with the Salt Lake City Crusaders for over 10 years and is one of the founding members. Omer likes to sport Japanese-styled armor that he made himself. To make his own armor, he buys sheets of metal, takes those home and uses a template to cut them to the appropriate length and shape and mold them into armor. When asked about why he chose this type of armor over the typical medieval armor, he states with a smile, “I just like the way it looks.” Omer and several others created the SLC Crusaders over 10 years ago after seeing other countries compete in international armored combat, and they teamed together to create a more local group that they could pursue their Continued page 4 Several armored combatants talk over their fallen comrades. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)
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Continued from front page interests with, and thus, the Salt Lake City Crusaders were born, and have grown since. The SLC Crusaders meet in the Midvale City Park each Saturday morning. If interested in joining this group of armored combatants, they can also be found on Instagram and Facebook under slccrusaders. l
Jake Omer, one of the founders of SLC Crusaders, poses with his homemade armor. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)
Two knights post-battle as one lays “slain” while the other walks away triumphant. (Annabelle Larsen/ City Journals)
Dallon Larson (pictured here in a baseball cap) talks with those in armor. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)
Warriors mid battle. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)
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Midvale City Journal
Hillcrest students help raise funds for classmates in need By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t Hillcrest High, the free market just got a helpful boost. Thanks to its own students and community, Hillcrest raised $22,275.83 to help fund stocking its pantry, purchasing supplies, supporting community events and having money available for items in need. “Our market serves all of our students and families and their families at Hillcrest,” said Elena Foley, Hillcrest community school facilitator. “Last school year, we served about 750 total students (of the school’s 2,300 students). The year before that, we helped about 350 students. This year, we’re on track to serve about 750 or even more. We have more poverty than we’ve had in the past at Hillcrest.” The free market has a full pantry that includes items such as canned goods, pasta, oatmeal, Ramen and snacks in addition to fresh items. “We do stock our fridge with eggs, milk, and sometimes we’ll have frozen meat as well,” Foley said. “Twice per month, we have our fresh produce market where we have fresh fruits and vegetables. Quite a few students come regularly every week to get food.” Hillcrest also provides school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, laundry services and soap, and showers. “My job as a community school facilitator is when they need those resources, I can say, ‘Here’s where you can go,’ so if, for example, they’re needing help with mental health resources, here somewhere you can go,” she said. “Or if they’re in need of a food bank, I can tell them there’s one here or if you need insurance, and you’re undocumented, here are some options. We try to connect those resources to the families in the community. We also have our district community school resource closet as well as our own to help students and their families.” Foley said Hillcrest has a poverty level of 30%. “Kids who want to use the market can come to my office and check in with me or our students support staff to see what they need,” she said “If they’re hungry, we try to determine what the issue is first. We see if they have free and reduced lunch or is it that you are just hungry, and we can we get you a lunch. We try to learn what the situation is and build a relationship. We do have Ramen and mac and cheese if it is something that they need.” She also said she has snacks in her office “because every teenager is hungry all the time, and it is a way of connecting with all students, not just our students in poverty.” Foley said the city of Midvale recently has gotten a huge influx of new immigrants, including those from Colombia and Venezuela. “We have a lot of students who are
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Hillcrest High Athletic Director Scott Carrell takes a pie to the face to help raise funds to benefit the school free market. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
new immigrants, and we are the boundary school for the Midvale Road Home,” she said. “There’s also a lot of low-income housing going in the city right now, and so with that, we’re getting more students. Plus, after COVID, everybody is trying to figure out what to do, and this area got really hit hard. Everything contributes to this area having more need than in our surrounding schools in our district.” Part of the funds students raised not only will go toward stocking the school pantry but also toward community events throughout the year, such as a back-to-school night, a health fair and a cultural night, Foley said. School officials can also use funds in other circumstances. “The other day, we were looking for a bike for a student who had a long walk,” Foley said. “We used our donations and found a bike for the student. Or if someone doesn’t have a blanket, we’ll go purchase a blanket.” Student body officers were looking into different organizations to serve for the fundraiser. Foley learned from one of the counselors that they may be interested in helping refuges and talked to the student leaders. “We’re the first stop they go to for school supplies, backpacks, and we provide them with food and some school clothes,” Foley said. “We then connect them to other resources. So, when we pitched that to them, they decided to help the free market, serving their peers right here at Hillcrest. They
helped raise awareness of our market and fundraise for the services that we provide and get the community involved in that effort.” Student body officer Elena Parker said that once the group “learned some statistics about our school and how many people in our school are impacted, we decided we could best help students in our school, which also benefits our community.” Among the ways students raised money was through asking companies for donations, holding a dodgeball tournament and offering a kids’ movie night, “because that was pretty effective last year,” she said. They also held a “feast week,” partnering with local restaurants to receive a percentage of sales for the fundraiser. The SBOs also got money for the free market through their winter formal dance ticket sales, having students pay for activities, such as to pie teachers at the opening assembly and through contributions made to “save or shave” students’ and faculty’s hair at the closing assembly. “We also did odd jobs, where we went around to different neighborhoods and asked to do work for them in exchange for money,” Parker said. “Some were willing to give us a straight-up donation or donations of clothing for the free market. We learned that it isn’t scary to go out and talk to people and ask them for money, and the worst that can happen is they say that they’re not able to
donate.” Through the process, Parker said the SBOs practiced leadership skills. “We learned that we need to put in the effort, to work as a team and not be afraid to rely on our team,” she said. “Within the team, we need to have clear communication. We learned to be open to other people’s ideas and to be open to criticism. I personally learned how to ask for help and to ask in advance, not last minute. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish and that we’re able to help. I remember when it was first proposed to us; they said even $2,000 would be amazing so the fact that we were able to raise $22,000 plus some clothing donations was a big help for them.” Foley is appreciative. “We’re grateful that the SBOs did this for us and raised awareness for Hillcrest’s market because sometimes our diversity and our poverty level is overlooked when people look at Canyons School District,” she said. “It’s been really cool to see how the culture has changed this year.” Currently, Hillcrest’s free market needs durable school backpacks and other items such as granola bars, Ramen, dish soap, sweatshirts, socks, pajama pants and more. You can see a list of other items the school needs for the pantry by going to https://a. co/83QlSLK. l
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Canyons School District honors employees, volunteers, community for dedication, service By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t’s been said it takes a village to raise a child. For 14 years, Canyons School District leaders have given Apex Awards to those who dedicate themselves to teaching, advocating and helping mold the education of children. This year, a teacher, a volunteer, administrators, support staff and community leaders were recognized for making a positive impact in their community and with students. Leading the charge in schools are Jordan High’s Principal Bruce Eschler and Eastmont Middle’s Principal Stacy Kurtzhals, who were honored for their dedication to students. “It was a surprise,” Eschler said when he received a letter from Canyons Board of Education President Amber Shill. “I’m honored. I couldn’t do anything I do without my [administration] team and my family backing me up. If I’ve done anything, right, it’s because I’ve had good people around me, and I’ve had good mentors in my life.” Eschler has dedicated his three years at Jordan High by “bringing new programs that resonate and are unique to our community.” Under his leadership, Jordan officials introduced a drone program, which included electronics courses and a bike-repair program. He has seen to the addition of CTE courses, adding classes in game development and web development as well as bringing Alta High’s successful Step to the U program to Jordan and providing Salt Lake Community College’s Education 1020 or Intro to College concurrent enrollment class. Now, Jordan High is rolling out the Navy Defense Cadet Corps. “This will be beneficial to not only the students who are here, but students in the future,” he said. “I’m proud of our students— as students as well as our athletes, our unified programs, our performing arts, our career and technical organizations. We celebrate the amazing things our students are doing. I’m happy to see change within our school culture, like recognizing all our kids and having positive relationships. Those are impactful on educational outcomes. I’m personally a product of that. I’m here because a teacher saw potential in me and took the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, I’m an advocate for you,’ and that’s what I try to do for our students.” A positive school culture and advocating for students is key for Kurtzhals, who’s now in her eighth year leading the Eastmont Patriots. Not even flood, construction, nor asbestos, which forced the students to move to another temporary location, derailed her. Nominated by students, parents and faculty, she said: “This is everybody’s award. It’s not about me; it’s about we. I can’t do
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anything without them.” Instilling Patriot Pride from student leaders who took the initiative to welcome their classmates to a temporary new school building to creating a community of teachers who support each other, and their students has helped to “rebuild the culture, which was one of the best things that I’ve done,” she said. “The thing that motivates me the most is watching the growth in our students.” Under her leadership and teacher innovation, students have engaged in learning from hands-on STEM engagement to puzzling out escape rooms. She also has seen her students embrace learning through AVID, a program that helps students identify strategies for learning from note taking to problem-solving and collaboration. “It’s giving them the tools so they can be successful in school and in life,” she said, adding that the school is working to be a national demonstration school as well as a state STEM-designated school. “I love my kids. I want them to know what is possible.” The Apex teacher of the year award was given to Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington, who was a finalist for the statewide teacher of the year award. He taught at four schools before finding a home at Midvale Middle. “I try to communicate with every single student in every class every day,” he said. “I try to know things about them outside of academics and to find ways for them to know that I am not just a teacher, but I’m a person who cares about them.” Caring about students is a trademark of Apex district administrator of the year award winner, Charisse Hilton, who initiated Canyons’ Peer Court, where peers annually review about 100 cases of challenging behaviors within schools and provide positive outcomes. Also on the district level, Canyons’ library media specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff, received the Apex Student Support Services Professional of the Year award for her dedication in creating policy in among the political turmoil of books in school libraries. Canyons also honored four area legislators—Utah Sen. Kathleen Riebe and Reps. Gay Lynn Bennion, Steve Eliason and Andrew Stoddard—with the Apex award for elected officials of the year for their support of public education. Tacos El Cuñado, which has given free tacos to students at events such as Butler Elementary’s World Night, as well as to teachers during teacher appreciation or PTA conferences, was thanked for its dedication with the APEX community partner award. The Apex education support professionals of the year award went to nutrition
Eastmont Middle’s Principal Stacy Kurtzhals was amongst those honored at Canyons School District’s Apex awards. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
services. These individuals not only provide healthy food choices for students now, but even with a worker shortage, they came up with a solution to safely provide breakfast and lunch to thousands of students during the pandemic. The Apex Legacy Award was given to Bob Dowdle, who served as Canyons School District’s assistant superintendent after a career in education. His duties extended from recruiting and hiring directors as the district began to establish academic programs and helping lead students to successfully navigate their online learning through the pandemic. Honored for years of service without being on the payroll is Apex volunteer of the year Rebecca Martin. Mother of four, she has served as president or on the PTA executive board for the last 15 years at Peruvian Park, Midvale Middle and Hillcrest High as well as on several Canyons Districts committees. “I stepped up when the need arose,” she said. “I know it’s important to have parent volunteers in the schools. I’m here to advocate for our students. I’m a parental voice for our students with our own administration, with Canyons Districts, the school board and at a state level. I email legislators about issues that are affecting our children in education to help make things better in our schools.” At Peruvian Park, where in addition to PTA presidency duties, she organized the school’s 50th birthday party in 2015 that introduced the panther mascot costume, the writing and singing of the school song, a 50th birthday essay contest, a caricature artist, a timeline of events that took place, a creation of a time capsule and other activities.
“It was fun to bring in alumni, current and former teachers and principals with the kids at the school,” she said. At Midvale Middle PTA President for two years, she encouraged use of PTA money to purchase books. “We used money from the book fair to buy books for the school library and classrooms. We wanted to get books in kids’ hands,” she said, adding that another effort was to involve all kids in the school fundraiser. “We tried to make it more of a spirit event to include everyone.” At Hillcrest High, Martin’s volunteerism extended to helping get others, including her own family, to set up 500 flags at late notice for a memorial service for Hillcrest alum, Sgt. Taylor Hoover, who was killed in Afghanistan. Not only did the flags get set up, but she decorated for the reception and gave tours of the new school. During COVID and post-pandemic, she concentrated on teacher appreciation, making sure “faculty and staff felt appreciated and valued.” She also helped with activities her children have been involved in from cross country to drama. “Whenever I’ve interacted with the students, they are always very appreciative, very respectful to me and other parents,” she said. “They always say thank you, and that means so much to me—as much as the Apex. I want them to know that there are adults who support you, care about you, and we want to help you. I believe in community and connection. Everything I do in the schools is to help everyone feel part of the community that we are here together.” l
Midvale City Journal
Hillcrest High Meet the Pros’ speaker Wallace Barlow III demonstrated his haircutting talent on school counselor John Oliver. (Cher Burbank/Hillcrest High)
Professional barber, hairstylist inspires next generation as part of Meet the Pros series By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High students had the opportunity to not only learn from a professional hairstylist and barber but to see him work firsthand. During the school’s Meet the Pros lecture series, celebrity stylist and barber Wallace Barlow III of Black Sheep Barber Company in Midvale brought in his barber chair and trimmed school counselor John Oliver’s hair. Students also had the opportunity to see his own design of barber chair, the Barlow Barber chair, which he launched as a business in partnership with leading salon equipment manufacturer, Minerva Beauty. “A student came up to him after and asked about the price of barber chairs,” said Cher Burbank, who organized the session. “Wallace is in demand as a freelance educator and has been published on www. behindthechair.com with his business and clientele building class.” Barlow represents MAG shears, an upand-coming manufacturer of fine grooming shears and was appointed as a global educator/platform artist by “Woody’s Quality Grooming” a men’s grooming brand. He works as a national educator/platform artist for the Andis Company, an international manufacturer of grooming equipment, where he conducts education both in the salon and on stage representing the Andis brand. He also is a member of Barbers International and Bald for a Cause. Barlow entered the industry more than 30 years ago. With training from Aveda, Bumble and Bumble (New York), and Paul
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Mitchell, Barlow started his professional career at The Spa Esthetiques in Arkansas. After working as a stylist, he became a coach and educator, manager, and creative director. He also had a business sense, and through his guidance and work ethic, the shop revenues grew from $1 million to $2.5 million while he was there. After six years, Wallace relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to join the American Haircuts/Metro Men’s Grooming team. He focused on the men’s side of the business and served as the director of education. On the side, he maintained a women’s client base in his private studio, The Barber Studio. Burbank hoped students learned from the experience. “It’s cool to travel and go to hair shows and possibly get good enough to teach at the shows,” she said. “This is a trade [for our students] to consider.” Canyons Career and Technical Education Director Janet Goble said the Meet the Pros series is designed to give students a chance to widen their perspectives about professions. “Students are able to ask questions to industry professionals to deepen their understanding of the careers,” she said. In late January, students were slated to learn from Aniza Brown about The Rosie Project, a six-month paid information technology internship program for military spouses. l
February 2024 | Page 7
City receives additional funds for projects at resource center By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjouranls.com
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t’s almost like a late Christmas present weeks after the holiday. Midvale City received an additional $228,000 to the Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Fund in January with Midvale’s Project and Policy Manager Erinn Summers presenting the project and plan to the council. Those funds are then directed by the city to the Midvale Family Resource Center at 529 W. 7300 South (9th Ave.). The money comes on top of the almost $3 million the city received for the current fiscal year which was used for nine shelter resource officers, a part-time victim advocate, insurance and supplies, weekly cleanup of the 7200 South corridor and a sidewalk
and crosswalk along 700 West according to Summers. Councilmember Dustin Gettel liked the planned sidewalk for that area with the ground so worn by footsteps over the same patches of grass. “That will be great,” he said. The additional one-time $228,000 awarded to Midvale City, and must be used by June 30 of this year, will go toward daily bus passes for those at the resource center and Narcan for patrol and shelter resource officers when working within .5 mile of the center. Other projects, identified by city staff with stakeholders and service providers to
address one-time needs, include renovating a kitchen that has multiple stoves out of commission. This forces families to find food elsewhere navigating busy nearby roads like 7200 South during rush hour or after dark. Security in the parking lot will be improved with the funding with Summers saying cameras will be installed throughout the lot, which will also be resurfaced. Fencing will also be improved. Any leftover funds will go toward application fees, to help residents move into housing faster. With little funding available to support families with application fees while moving into housing, families are often forced to stay in the shelter longer, stretching center resources further.
The improvements are possible because of the State Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Fund established in 2018. “The purpose is to help cities that host shelters to mitigate the impact of that shelter on the city and surrounding neighborhoods,” Summers told the council. “They do this primarily through three ways: helping with public safety, helping with emergency services and helping with direct services.” Gettel said all of these improvements “are wonderful” for The Road Home, who operates the resource center, and hoped the Narcan would help immediately. “I love everything about this,” he said. l
PUBLIC NOTICE
Five-Year Review Planned for the former Midvale Slag Superfund Site Salt Lake County, Utah The Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (UDEQ/DERR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are conducting the fifth Five-Year Review of the remedial actions performed at the former Midvale Slag Superfund Site. The Midvale Slag Superfund Site was located between 7800 and 6400 South, 700 West, in Midvale, Utah. The Midvale Slag site was added to the EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1991. EPA and UDEQ completed cleanup in 2011 and deleted the site from the National Priorities List in 2015. The 446-acre Midvale Slag site encompassed an area where five lead and copper smelters, a mill, and waste disposal operations took place from 1871-1971. Potential human health threats included exposure to toxic metals in contaminated groundwater, soil, and onsite wastes. Cleanup activities involved excavating highly contaminated soil and disposing it off-site and less contaminated soil was capped with clean soil. Bank stabilization was also conducted to prevent erosion of site contaminants into the Jordan River. Groundwater monitoring is currently ongoing. What is a Five-year Review? It is a protective measure required by law to ensure that EPA cleanup actions are protective of human health and the environment. The review includes physically inspecting the site and all cleanup remedies in place, while examining collected monitoring data and maintenance records. Upon completion of the review, a report will be compiled and made available to the public. The review is scheduled to be completed by April 2024. UDEQ and EPA invites community participation in the Five-Year Review process: As part of the Five-Year Review process, community members are encouraged to contact UDEQ staff with any information that may help EPA make its determination regarding the protectiveness and effectiveness of the remedies at the site. Additional site information is available at: DERR Offices located on the 1st Floor, at 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114. Please call for an appointment to review records at (801) 536-4100, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Project documents are available online at: http://eqedocs.utah.gov/ using the search phrase “Midvale Slag.” Or visit the EPA website at: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0800641 If you would like more information about the review, please contact: Tony Howes UDEQ Project Manager Phone: (385) 391-5917 Email: thowes@utah.gov
Dave Allison UDEQ Community Involvement Phone: (385) 391-8143 Email: dallison@utah.gov
Athena Jones EPA Remedial Project Manager Phone: (303) 312- 6497 Email: Jones.Athena@epa.gov
The Road Home will receive an additional $228,000 on top of the $2,893,318 it already received this fiscal year. (City Journals file photo)
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A Riverview Junior High teacher and a payroll manager by day… are indie-rockers by night By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com
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wo Murrayites, Bri McCall and Danny Patiño, have combined their musical skills into a band they call The Alpines. Blending influences of Americana, psychedelic, dance, folk, synth and indie, the band’s first album, "Heading North" tells the story of four weary travelers finding a new home in a post-apocalyptic backdrop. One of their fans describes them as sounding like “a mix between Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd,” with unique guitar work, clear vocals and a haunting (yet easy to listen to) vibe. McCall is the lead singer, but she is also a Special Education teacher at Riverview Junior High. She loves living in Murray because of the small town feel of the community and the supportive environment of the Murray School District. “On nice days I love being able to bike everywhere, including to work, but I also feel like I’m close to downtown,” she said. A bit of an adventurer, McCall grew up in Moscow, Idaho then went to college at Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Summers she spent traveling, one in Michigan one in Nashville, and then a year in Nice, France. Before returning to the Midwest, she hiked the Appalachian Trail, an experience that influenced the narrative of their “Heading North” album. While she walked she listened to a post-apocalyptic book called “One Second After.” It was powerful because she was a lone backpacker with “only three days of food on my back and nothing better to do than think about the audiobook in my ears.” The journey through troubled times is apparent in the
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Bri McCall and Danny Patiño, have combined their musical skills into a band they call The Alpines. They’ll perform locally in Midvale on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. (Photo courtesy The Alpines)
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concept of the album, and McCall loves the storytelling aspect. “Lyrics have always been the most important part of my songwriting. I like to make story narratives and almost create a book inside my head when I write,” she said. Speaking of stories of an apocalyptic journey, bandmate Patiño is currently reading “The Stand” by Stephen King. But his contribution to the feel of the album may come from his love of films. “I watch every Tarantino movie once a year and I literally cannot watch a Kubrick film with anyone who is not also actively watching the movie.” Patiño’s musical start included Flamenco guitar, a style that differentiates him from his peers as it developed his dexterity with his right hand. Despite the exotic musical start, he’s a “bonafide local,” growing up in Layton and attending Weber State University. So, for something cool to do on a cold night, support your local artists. The Alpines will be at The Pearl on Main (7711 S. Main St. in Midvale) on Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. It’s an all-age venue www.thepearlonmain.com. Their full concert schedule and links to the album can be found at their website www.thealpinesmusic.wixsite.com/the-alpines. l
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February 2024 | Page 9
Three elected officials sworn in to start new terms By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
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he new year comes with a new face to Midvale City’s elected officials. Councilmembers for Midvale’s Districts 1, 2 and 3 were officially sworn in on Jan. 2 after earning election wins in November. While Councilmembers Paul Glover and Heidi Robinson won reelection for another term, respectively, Councilmember Bonnie Billings won District 1 after Quinn Sperry chose not to rerun. Billings defeated Dustin Snow and Ben Umeadi in the city’s first ranked choice voting election. She won 61% of the vote in the first round of voting, not even requiring a second round of voting. In her first council meeting on the dais, Billings thanked the residents of her district. “They were so warm and welcoming through my campaign, and I’m really excited to get to work for them,” she said, before adding she understands the commitment required for the position and a promise to “do the best that I can in this position.” Glover enters his fifth term representing District 2 running unopposed. Glover also ran unopposed in 2007 and 2011 before defeating his challenger in 2015 and 2019. His longevity was perhaps represented in his short and succinct comments during
the Jan. 2 council meeting. “I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be able to serve and be able to do that the best I can to help the citizens and city of Midvale,” he said. Robinson earned her second term on the council representing District 3. In 2019, Robinson won a tight race by 18 votes to sit on the council seat. November’s ranked choice voting saw her sitting in first after round one taking 40% of the vote before finalizing the victory in round two over Evan Feinberg. “I’m very excited to be working with city staff for the next four years,” she said during the Jan. 2 council meeting. Sitting Councilmembers Dustin Gettel and Bryant Brown both expressed their excitement and congratulations to the incoming and returning councilmembers. Gettel noted since they both joined the council six years ago, there was never two women serving on the council like there is now. “That is an amazing thing for our city,” he said. Three councilmembers were sworn in to the Midvale City Council on Jan. 2. (File photo) After the oath of office and members May 23rd were sworn in, Mayor Marcus Stevenson “There’s nothing Golden Corral, 665 East 7200 like going door to and really appreciate you all for putting in congratulated the council members and notdoor and having to explain and really sell that work.” l ed how difficult and “really weird” it is to South, Midvale yourself,” he said. “It takes a ton of work run for office.
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Leadership program aims to help teenagers make schools, sports more welcoming By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High senior Brooklyn Glover is a captain of her school’s basketball team and is learning how to lead. “It’s hard because you want to be a leader, but you also want to be a friend,” she said. “I’m learning to find that balance of leading and being a good teammate.” She is one of about 45 students from Hillcrest who are part of Canyons School District’s new student leadership program. Each of Canyons’ five comprehensive high schools can invite up to 60 students to participate in the program from sports teams and activities sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association as well as 10 other students who may be identified as leaders or future leaders in their schools. Partnering with Sunlight Works, an organization that helps deliver leadership and communication tools, about 300 students meet four mornings during the school year to address topics such as school culture, sportsmanship and resilience and then discuss them in break-out sessions. They’ve heard from guest speakers such as Brighton High alumni Bryan Kehl, who, as a former NFL linebacker, talked about what it means to be a champion; and former Utah State University basketball player Brock Miller, who addressed sportsmanship and accountability. Four other mornings, each high school group meets to take what they’ve learned in the districtwide sessions and apply it to their own school. Canyons’ Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is overseeing the district program, which began in September talking about school culture. “We’re wanting students to take ownership of their school culture and collectively, identify what they value and are about, and sharing that message with their community,” he said. “We want them to be intentional about what they’re putting out there, their behaviors with their peers and on social media, the interactions they may have on the court, in a competition and with people they’re interacting with.” In November, the students learned about sportsmanship. “We talked about what’s OK what’s not OK, how to be positive, supportive and how these extracurricular activities are an extension of the classroom where they’re learning to be part of a team, working hard and learning how to persevere through adversity and other life lessons,” Sherwood said. “We want everyone to feel welcome and safe—whether they’re a spectator, an athlete or participant— and it’s part of their responsibility to ensure that takes place.” In late January, the topic is slated to focus on resilience and positivity. Brighton High alumnus Todd Sylvester, who showed great promise as a basketball player only to be derailed with alcohol and drugs, will speak.
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“We’re wanting to make sure our students are taking care of themselves and their own social emotional needs, having that life balance, especially when they participate in extracurricular activities or sports, because it’s tough to do it all well,” Sherwood said. “They have to stay on top of things academically and make sure that they’re mentally good, and they have time to spend with family and with friends. We’re going to go over being self-aware and developing some stress management techniques and good organizational skills and prioritization.” Together, students and administrators will decide a topic for March. “I think we all—the school administrators, Brian (McGill, director of student services) Rick (Robbins, superintendent) and I—just saw a need to begin this,” Sherwood said. “We can help these students see things through a different light and learn what it means to be respectful and responsible and to help take some responsibility for their school culture. We hope they can influence their peers. That’s why this isn’t meant just for seniors; we want this to carry on, year after year and help change the culture. We’ve seen a significant uptick in challenging behaviors in the last few years, post-COVID, so we want to help students make smart choices whether it’s in the classroom, athletics, music or hanging out with their friends and have them share the message with their peers. This is a great leadership opportunity.” On months when they don’t meet together, school advisers lead discussions on the topics to focus on what they can do at their particular high school. Hillcrest High’s Athletic Director Scott Carrell is the school’s student leadership academy adviser. He has taken workshops at conferences about student leadership academies, saying there has been “a big push across the country.” “We want students to build a more positive culture and have students to be more involved in school,” he said. “Every school is different and has different issues, but at Hillcrest, we have a lot of students who work, so we want to find ways to involve them and have school be a positive experience. We brainstormed ways to pack the games and build a better atmosphere, one that is more inclusive with more school spirit.” During the first meeting at the school, Carrell challenged his students, who he calls Leaders of the Pack—tying into the Husky mascot, to come up with five things they could do personally to be more inclusive at Hillcrest. “A lot of them said they could constantly try to meet new people every day and invite them to activities, going to a game or seeing a play,” he said. “We were looking at small impacts they could do. Then, we talked about how they could take this back to their groups
During a student leadership program, Canyons Director of Student Services Brian McGill speaks to student representatives from all five comprehensive high schools. (Tom Sherwood/Canyons School District)
About 300 high school students attend Canyons School District’s new student leadership program learning leadership skills through activities, discussions and guest speakers. (Tom Sherwood/Canyons School District)
or teams and what they could do. We have some groups buying into this, and I’ve talked with the coaches and advisers to support this along.” Glover said they’ve taken that brainstorming into motivating their peers to become involved or attend school functions and games. “A lot of people know Hillcrest for the arts, so now we’re trying to support each other to play or come to the games,” she said. “We want to get rid of high school cliques and build community and have fun.” The program might still be in its infancy, but Carrell is optimistic. “I feel it is working,” he said. “It’s going to take us a year or two to get it implemented where it’s the norm. Hillcrest already is welcoming and inclusive, but we can build more on that. This was something that I wanted to do on a school level, but I think at the district
level, we’re not seeing as much involvement in school activities. I don’t know why. I feel this program can help us a lot and we want to have opportunities for our students, and we want them to be positive.” Carrell also said they break into groups to discuss situations and how, as leaders, they would handle the situation. “We help them develop some leadership skills that will benefit them with their teams or club, but also, ultimately they’re learning skills that will not just help them in high school, but after high school,” he said. Sherwood agrees. “The kids have genuinely felt they are learning something,” he said. “It’s been good to learn and get tips from different schools. We’re all in this together, and we’re here to learn. This, already, has been a game-changer.” l
February 2024 | Page 11
Spreading joy: Alta High students provide warm pajamas to elementary students By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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undreds of Midvale Elementary students donned their pajamas one wintry Tuesday morning for the school’s Polar Express Day. Since then, some students have worn them again to school for a class pajama reward day—and cozied up in them at night too. Thanks to Alta High students, every student at Midvale Elementary received a pair of pajamas along with two pairs of warm socks. The students brought enough pajamas that they also were able to provide them to 350 Copperview Elementary students as well as share some with local shelters. In total, about 1,500 pajamas were distributed, said Alta High senior Raehil Mason. Giving pajamas to each student was mind-blowing, said Midvale Elementary teacher Sarah Gonsur. “This is amazing for our students,” she said. “I’ve had some kids tell me, ‘I don’t have pajamas at home’ when they’ve earned a pajama day. How special is that? Now they’ll have these pajamas that other students got for them to wear. It’s just so thoughtful and caring.” Those elementary students weren’t the only ones with smiles on their faces, said Alta High teacher Shaley Louder, who advises several student groups. “My kids are as happy as the elementary students,” she said. “They’re helping other people, and I love that. I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from our Alta community wanting to donate.” The pajama drive started when Mason talked to her mother, Kristin, about doing a service project since she is an officer in her school’s chapter of National Honors Society. The two brainstormed and decided there was a need for pajamas at Midvale Elementary, where Kristin Mason taught. It resonated with Mason, snice pajamas are a gift she and her sister, Shaye, receive each year from their family for the holidays. With the support of Louder and Alta High administration, the Mason family sought the input of Heidi Sanger, Midvale Elementary’s Title I coordinator. Sanger provided information to share with Mason’s Alta classmates about the school with its vibrant, diverse population and its academic culture that offers Spanish dual immersion. The letter pointed out that “As a community school, we work together with various public and private partners to provide coordinated academic, social, mental and physical, physical and vocational supports for students, families and the community. We know that the time around the traditional December holidays can be a time of joy, but also of stress for children and their families, particularly when meeting basic needs is a daily consideration for many families, bringing a little bit of comfort and warmth to students can make a dark and cold month much brighter.”
Page 12 | February 2024
After performing a skit, Alta High students give Midvale Elementary students high-fives and candy canes before they head back to their classrooms to get pajamas. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Sanger said having a new pair of pajamas “will wrap our students up in the love of community sending a positive note of encouragement from the big kids will also go a long way in their path to growth in their future.” At Alta, Mason and Louder gathered National Honor Society students, who regularly provide service to the community, to lead the charge. They got help from the Peer Leadership Team, which teaches fifth graders positive peer refusal skills and encourages them to make better decisions, and the student DECA business chapter, which is familiar with planning and marketing events. “The second that it was pitched to these students, the kids were all over it and ran with it,” Louder said. In October, each advisory, or homeroom class, team, club, organization and group were emailed asking to sponsor a Midvale Elementary class. Once on board, they were given a list of sizes of pajamas needed, which Midvale Elementary staff provided. “We said to email us back if you’d like to be a part of this,” Mason said. “It took off. I think every team and group got pajamas, wrapped, delivered or helped in some way.” During this time, Kristin Mason remembers her girls deciding that wasn’t enough. “They said, ‘Mom, let’s go get more for the kids,’” she said. “So several nights, my girls sat outside of Sam’s Club (in South Jordan) with signs saying they were gathering pajamas for children. We probably got 150 pairs from shoppers there. Then, they got our neighborhood involved.” Mason said they wanted to help as many youngsters as possible. “I really want everyone to have a happy holiday, because I’ve always been blessed,”
she said. “I expected my friends and people I know to support this, but a whole bunch of people at Sam’s Club gave, and it was amazing to see how generous they were.” Her younger sister helped each step of the way. “I just love giving things to people who are in need,” Shaye said. “With everything that I have, I wanted to give to them, to share this tradition that we’ve had.” Alta High senior Danika Miller not only serves as Alta’s PLT president but also in the seminary council presidency. “We wanted to get everyone involved and make this as special as possible for them, so the seminary donated fuzzy socks,” she said. “We got about 3,000 pairs of socks, so each kid had at least two pairs of socks. Everyone helped get pajamas because we didn’t want to be a single student left without a pair of pajamas. The drive was opened to our community, and our community is super willing to give, so we were we able to get enough pajamas for each child, then we had extra to share with the community.” The pairs of pajamas were donated by Nov. 15, and many student clubs came together to wrap them. At the Mason house, family and friends held a wrapping party multiple nights for the 750 pairs of pajamas they had gathered. Alta students’ efforts didn’t stop there. For each grade level, PLT performed a skit with songs and jokes about kindness, tying it into the season. “They tied the kindness into the holidays around the character Jingles and shared when you’re having a bad day, it can affect everyone, but we can make everyone’s day better by doing some simple things like singing, dancing and telling jokes,” Louder said.
Every student at Midvale Elementary, seen here, and Copperview Elementary received pajamas this school year from Alta High School students and nearby communities. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“I love that they incorporated kindness and then gave them that as a gift as well.” Afterward, other Alta students, including two members from each sports team, would deliver pajamas to the elementary students’ classrooms, Mason said. “We’d tell them Jingles and his friends got you guys gifts, and they were all super excited,” she said. “When we handed them their gifts, they were appreciative. They would open the pajamas, and they had these huge grins and gave us hugs. It was cool.” Shaye said many of them put them on over their clothes. “It was fun to see that they were so excited,” she said. Their mom said it was fun to see a family tradition be shared with the school. “It’s going to be fun because I will be here when all the kids wear their pajamas to school,” she said. “What started as a school project kept growing to another school and to a shelter. I loved watching my girls work together to bring their vision into a reality.” Sanger said she appreciated what the Alta students shared. “Our kids loved the program,” she said. “It was interactive, and the Alta students brought a fun energy to the school; they hit it out of the park. And it was amazing to see the high school kids rushing from room to room just trying to make sure that each kid got what the pajamas that fit and liked.” Alta High Principal Ken Rowley also had a smile on his face. “All you have to do is look at the looks on the Midvale kids’ faces and then look at the looks on the Alta students’ faces, and it’s the same look,” he said. “It’s joy and happiness in its purest form.” l
Midvale City Journal
In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
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FEBRUARY 2024 CITY NEWSLETTER By Mayor Marcus Stevenson
Understanding the Complexities of Criminal Justice within the Three Branches of Government Our governance system is broken up into three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. While this system is made clear at the federal level between the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court, many do not always realize that this system is replicated at the state and local level. In Midvale, this system is created with the mayor, city council, and justice court judge. In Midvale, the mayor, council, and judge share administrative staff who ensure that the day-to-day operations throughout the city take place. In this month’s message, I hope to explain more about how municipal justice courts work, and in which ways Midvale City is directly involved with the judicial system, and which ways we are not. JUSTICE COURTS While justice court staff are Midvale City employees and act as a department of our city, the State oversees court policies, ensuring each judge across the State has similar powers and responsibilities. Here in the State, justice court judges are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, but unlike the US Supreme Court, where justices may serve a lifetime appointment, in Utah, registered voters get to vote whether to retain a justice court judge every six years. The judge will serve as that community’s judge until they don’t receive enough votes to be retained or decide to leave the role. In Utah, only lower-level crimes come before local justice courts, meaning infractions, and class B and C misdemeanors. Anything above this (class A misdemeanors and felonies) goes to higher level courts, that cities do not oversee. A few examples of what may come before a city justice court are: infractions for parking or speeding tickets, class C misdemeanors for intoxication or driving without insurance, and class B misdemeanor for criminal trespass and assault. In Salt Lake County, none of these charges are likely to result in substantial jail time, unless someone is a repeat offender or is not compliant with probation. PROSECUTION Within the justice system, one of the city’s roles is to prosecute those cases that come before the justice court. Here in Midvale, we have one full-time prosecutor who represents the city on all matters before our court. As an example, if you receive a speeding ticket from a police officer, you may schedule a court date before our judge, and the Midvale prosecutor will have the opportunity to discuss the ticket with you. The prosecutor will decide how to proceed with a case and will weigh the available evidence and other relevant information to decide whether to set a case for trial, negotiate a plea deal, or even dismiss a case. In Midvale, we recognize that committing a crime does not necessarily make you a criminal. People make mistakes. Our goal is not to punish for punishment’s sake. Our goal is to hold people accountable for their actions, protect victims and the public at large, provide fair and respectful treatment throughout the court process, and address the root issue that led to the crime in the first place. With every case, our prosecutors try to craft resolutions that will help prevent someone from committing the same crime again. Is alcoholism leading to domestic violence? Is a drug addiction leading to shoplifting? Is a mental health issue leading to drug use or excessive alcohol consumption? Has too much time passed since someone reviewed com-
mon traffic laws? Instead of simply recommending a significant jail sentence or fine, we believe that people should be given resources to address their problems and be provided incentives that can encourage someone to change their behavior. In some instances—especially for repeat offenders—sometimes the only tool available to our prosecutors is recommending a harsh sentence.
Because Midvale City only has jurisdiction over lower-level crimes, if a charge comes before the city that could be enhanced, then the government with jurisdiction over that crime must agree to prosecute that case. As an example, if someone is arrested for a basic assault, but then when reviewing the case, our prosecutor finds that it qualifies as domestic violence and the defendant has previous domestic violence convictions, then they can try to get the county take that case and charge it as such. Most enhancements – previous domestic violence convictions, previous DUI convictions, gang crimes, hate crimes, amongst others – are charged at a higher level than a class B misdemeanor, meaning the county must agree to prosecute the case and charge it as such in district court. To avoid constitutional issues, the city will relinquish its case and dismiss it at the justice court level so the county can proceed with its prosecution. LAW ENFORCEMENT Clearly our law enforcement officers are going to have a role in the criminal justice system, as they are the ones who are tasked to enforce many local, county, state, and federal laws. However, once a police officer writes a ticket or arrests someone, their role is largely over. It is important to note that an officer only needs probable cause to arrest someone. A citation or an arrest does not mean someone is guilty of a charge, it only means that there was sufficient evidence at the time to lead the officer to believe that the person had more likely than not committed a crime. After collecting evidence and arresting a suspect or issuing a citation, it’s now in the hands of the prosecutor to prove those charges, and the hands of the court to weigh those charges while listening to both the prosecution and defense, and ultimately determine the final sentencing. While movies and TV may exaggerate the police role, our officers do not determine how long someone stays in jail or what crimes someone is convicted of. Further, while some of our favorite shows may depict officers hunting someone down for a warrant, at a justice court level, that’s generally not the case. Our officers do not, and frankly should not, go busting down doors to arrest someone for the vast majority of cases that come before a justice court. Instead, there are other ways to make sure you eventually address your war-
MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
In The Middle of Everything MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED rant. One example of this is that the State’s Driver’s License Division may suspend your license if you have a warrant for a driving violation or drug- or alcohol-related offense, and you may face additional fines or consequences. If you have avoided your warrant long enough, you may be taken to jail from a typical traffic stop until a judge is able to speak with you regarding your case. SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL Lastly, an area that plays into the criminal justice system and how certain cases are treated, is the jail. Since the Salt Lake County jail provides the jail service for every city within our county, this is also an area that is out of the hands of cities. Specifically for Salt Lake County, the jail is almost always at capacity, meaning that they tend to only hold the most violent offenders or those who are likely to flee before being seen in court. When someone is sent to jail, the Sheriff ’s office will determine how long someone stays in jail – a decision that neither police nor prosecutors and, in some instances, even judges don’t control. A COMPLICATED SYSTEM Clearly the criminal justice system is complicated, but it’s built this way to ensure individuals receive their constitutionally protected due process. The system is intended to provide checks and balances and protect the rights of accused individuals. For me, I’m proud that we have a judge and prosecutor who are focused on trying to address the root of a problem rather than just jailing our way out of the challenges we have as a community. While jail serves a purpose, and it’s an option we need to have available, our first resort should be trying to help people make better choices through accountability, incentives and consequences, support, and resources.
MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV
Midvale City Council Approves Station Area Plans to Boost Urban Vitality and Resilience The Midvale City Council approved the Midvale Center & Fort Union Station Area Plan on January 16, 2024. This initiative aligns with the requirements set forth by Utah State Legislature’s House Bill 462 (HB 462), which mandates municipalities with fixed rail guideways to prepare and adopt Station Area Plans (SAP). The focus of the SAP is to provide a clear direction for improvements in urban design, land use, economic development, and walking and biking facilities within a half-mile radius from the Midvale Center and Fort Union TRAX stations. The plan is designed to address specific needs of each station area, building upon Midvale City’s 2016 General Plan and other local and regional plans. Key objectives outlined in accordance with HB 462 include increasing transportation choices and connections, boosting the availability and affordability of housing (including moderate-income housing), promoting sustainable environmental conditions, and enhancing access to opportunities. The approval of the SAP reflects Midvale City’s commitment to achieving these objectives and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive community.
The Station Area Plan underwent a comprehensive community engagement process to gather feedback and insights from various stakeholders. Multiple activities were organized, including an online survey, stakeholders workshop, community workshop, open house, and bi-monthly discussions with the Midvale City Council. This inclusive approach ensured that the plan incorporated the perspectives and concerns of the community, fostering a sense of collective ownership and support. Following the Council’s approval, the next steps involve submitting a request for certification to the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). Certification by these entities is a necessary step to ensure compliance with the state requirements outlined in HB 462. The Midvale Center & Fort Union Station Area Plan sets a precedent for thoughtful urban planning and community involvement. Midvale City is poised to make significant strides in sustainable development, transportation, and housing accessibility. This strategic approach reflects a commitment to creating a vibrant and resilient city for current and future generations.
Highlights from January’s City Council Meetings January 2, 2024
January 16, 2024
City Council Members Paul Glover and Heidi Robinson, along with newly elected Council Member Bonnie Billings, were sworn into office for four-year terms on the Midvale City Council. The City Council approved a Federal Aid Agreement between the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Midvale City for the reconstruction of the bridge of the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal located at roughly 80 East 8000 South. The bridge qualifies for funds from the ‘Bridge Formula Program (BFP)’, a component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BFP necessitates a 6.77% local match, equating to $203,100 for Midvale City. UDOT will oversee the project. Aaron McKnight, Deputy City Attorney, provided an update to the City Council. Senate Bill 174, passed in 2023, introduced new rules for city subdivision ordinances. It requires cities to limit how many times they can review subdivision applications. The bill also stops city councils from being part of the approval process, and planning commissions can only approve preliminary subdivision applications. Midvale City’s Title 16, the subdivision ordinance, needs updating by February 1, 2024, to follow SB 174.
At the City Council meeting on January 2, 2024, Deputy City Attorney Aaron McKnight discussed the need to update Midvale City’s subdivision ordinance, known as Title 16, by February 1, 2024, to comply with Senate Bill 174. Recognizing the significant changes required by the bill, staff decided to rewrite the entire Title for better clarity and to follow state law. The updated Title 16 makes it easier to distinguish between preliminary and final subdivision applications, outlines the necessary documents for processing, and removes the distinction between “large” and “minor” subdivisions. It fully complies with state law and provides clearer definitions for prohibited land subdivisions. Changes in Title 17 (zoning code) match those in Title 16, and a new Title 18 is created to establish clear standards for infrastructure when developers build public structures dedicated to the city, protecting the city’s interests in roads and sidewalks during the subdivision process. The City Council approved amendments to the Midvale Municipal Code. The State Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation (HSCM) Fund, established in 2018, aims to alleviate the impact of shelters on host cities. Midvale City, receiving $2,893,318 this fiscal year, plans to use the funds for Shelter Resource Officers,
victim advocates, corridor cleanup, and infrastructure projects. An additional $228,000 was unexpectedly awarded, and Midvale intends to allocate it for bus passes, Narcan, kitchen renovation at the Midvale Family Resource Center (MFRC), facility improvements, and housing application fees. The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to direct the additional State Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Program funding to the Road Home to use on projects at the Midvale Family Resource Center. The Road Home, MFRC’s operator, will manage the projects. The funds must be utilized by June 30, 2024. The City Council approved the Midvale Center & Fort Union Station Area Plans (see story above/right).
FEBRUARY 2024 CITY NEWSLETTER MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV
Start Off on The Right Paw Salt Lake County Animal Services Owning a pet comes with a few yearly responsibilities that deserve a quick check at the beginning of the year before you get busy, and it slips your mind. Salt Lake County Animal Services recommends the following three tasks: 1. VACCINATE: Pet illnesses and diseases are preventable, make sure your pet is up to date on vaccines and rabies. Call to schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian. 2. MICROCHIP: Any pet living in Salt Lake County can receive a FREE microchip! Microchipping is a crucial step in reuniting lost pets with their owners quickly. Ensure that your pet’s microchip has current and accurate contact information. This simple act can make a significant difference in the event that your pet goes missing. 3. LICENSE: Utah state law requires all dog owners to license their pup by the time they are five months of age or within 30 days of moving into an area (or acquiring the pet.) Find out more about licensing at AdoptUtahPets.org. Questions? Email animal@slco.org. Or come in, no appointment needed, 511 W 3900 S, SLC, Tue-Sat from 10 AM – 6 PM.
Midvale City Asks Residents to Complete Survey About Their Water Service Line The Midvale City Public Utilities Division is conducting an inventory of water service lines within our community to help residents identify what type of pipes they have. Your water service line is the pipe that runs water from the city main into your home, for which the homeowner is responsible. This initiative is in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent update to the Lead & Copper Rule (LCR), which was finalized on December 22, 2020. Per the new rule, community water systems are required to compile and submit an initial service line inventory to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water Division by October 16, 2024.
Who Should Participate
Everyone who receives drinking water from Midvale City should participate, but if your home was constructed before 1990 we really need you to participate. Please identify your service line material and complete the online survey by the 2024 deadline as mandated by the EPA. By participating you not only gain knowledge about your water service line material, but also contribute to the completion of this important inventory project. Visit EngageMidvale.com/ lead-and-copper to learn more and take the survey.
Take Charge of Today for A Healthier Tomorrow Midvale Senior Center will be holding a wellness conference entitled Take Charge of Today for A Healthier Tomorrow on Tuesday, March 5, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. This conference will be helpful for those dealing with chronic illness such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or anyone who wants to take better charge of their health. Classes include Mind and Body Connection, Move Your Way-An Everyday Guide for A Better Life, Chronic Disease Management and Eating Healthier. Classes will be taught by Valley Behavioral Health, Salt Lake County Health Promotion and USU Extension. Call 385-468-3350 to register.
Copperview students get new shoes during RSL stadium field trip By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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eal Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac MacMath gets a new pair of cleats about every two months—and he said he’s still excited to try them on. “Getting a new pair of cleats is one of the best feelings for me,” he said while watching Copperview Elementary students try on new pairs of Adidas shortly before their winter break. “This is cool to see all the kids interacting with Santa and obviously lighting up when they get a new pair of shoes. I think we all get that same feeling with a new pair of shoes, having them fit, seeing the new colors. Most of these kids wear white tennis shoes, but the cameos are great shoes too. For me, helping these kids and seeing their reaction when they open the box is the best. It’s just very cool to be a part of this.” MacMath was helping with the America First Credit Union’s Warm the Soles shoe program at America First stadium where RSL and the Utah Royals play. “Not a lot of these kids have recognized me, but they all know Leo,” he said. “They’re also excited to talk to Santa.” America First President & CEO Thayne Shaffer stood up after fitting new tennis shoes on a Copperview student. “This is a great example of two partners working together to do something that we couldn’t pull off separately,” he said about the program where they collect funds to buy shoes for schoolchildren in need. “America First has been doing Warm the Soles for 29 years. Now we’ve got this great partner in Real Salt Lake, and they invited us here to give the kids a little bit of a field trip that they normally wouldn’t get and make it more of an experience. So, we thought we would up the game a little bit, bring them here to see the stadium and let the kids have fun while getting their new shoes.” Shaffer said it touches his heart to hear the kids’ stories. “There was a kid who was looking at the colors, and he saw the cameos and he told me, ‘I love cameo because I’m sneaky,’” Shaffer said. “And then I heard a little girl say, ‘You don’t know how much better I’m going to be at soccer because of these shoes.’ We had another girl earlier today whose shoes were too small. She was used to them being tight, we had a hard time convincing her to get bigger ones. The best part are the kids, their smiles, this joy; I love it. These shoes mean a lot to them; it seems to lift them. Sometimes kids show up to these wearing the shoes they got last year. It’s fun to see their smiles and watch them walk away with a shiny new pair of shoes.” About 25 America First employees, along with others from Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals and Copperview faculty, staff and administration, were helping about 340 students try on shoes. Earlier, America First
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employees helped school officials size students’ feet. “Almost all of that is volunteer hours for our employees,” Shaffer said. “Today, the kids are all getting Adidas. RSL gets preferential pricing from Adidas, so when we were talking to them about things we could do together, that was one of the things they said they could bring to the kids here. So we’re paying about 60% of what we would pay in the open market, and that lets us spread our dollars further and give shoes to more kids.” RSL President John Kimball, who also was fitting shoes on children’s feet, said when America First “brought this to us, we asked, ‘Is there any way we can be involved?’ This is exactly what we want to do for the community and to use our facility with our great partnership, we feel lucky. We have Zac, Nick (Rimando) and Michelle (Vasconcelos) here, and the kids are seeing the field and the locker rooms. But it’s a little bit lower than meeting Santa Claus and walking out with a brand-new pair of high-end Adidas. Bringing joy to these kids is what the season is all about.” Copperview was chosen because of its proximity to the stadium as well as being a Title I school, said America First Foundation Executive Director Amber Greenwell. “What’s cool about this is with our partnership with RSL, we decided to offer the entire school a field trip of a lifetime, giving them a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, see the locker rooms and go down on the pitch,” she said. “They’re meeting some players and the mascots and having that one-on-one connection that even if they come to a game, they wouldn’t get. Plus, they’re visiting with Santa, having a healthy lunch and then getting a new pair of shoes this holiday season. It’s an opportunity not just for a few students, but the entire student body. This is an experience these kids may never experience again, and it’s important that we, as corporate partners, build a stronger community, and that starts with getting involved with the kids.” Greenwell, who has been with the company 22 years, said Warm the Soles program kicks off every year in November to “make sure that those kids are getting a good pair of shoes during our winter months. We know there are some kids who will have cut off the fronts of their tennis shoes to make them fit. These kiddos who may get shoes in August already have their shoes hammered. We had a few already today who have had their toes scrunched in, so we want to make sure that they’re taken care of all year long. We still have some of our coldest months that are ahead of us, so we want to make sure those kids are prepared for winter.” She said it’s rewarding to help the community.
America First President & CEO Thayne Shaffer helps a Copperview student with a new pair of Adidas after he and his classmates toured the stadium and saw Real Salt Lake’s MSL trophy. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Utah Royals forward Michele Vasconcelos, who grew up playing soccer while attending Sandy schools, helped distribute hundreds of pairs of shoes to Copperview Elementary students as part of America First Credit Union’s Warm the Soles shoe program at America First Field. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Midvale City Journal
CELEBRATING 10 Years in Riverton! Copperview Elementary students got a behind-the-scenes tour of America First Field, including Real Salt Lake’s locker room, seen here, and received new shoes as part of America First Credit Union’s Warm the Soles shoe program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“One little guy hugged me and said, ‘Thank you; my feet no longer hurt,’” Greenwell said. “That is a real thing, a real individual out who needs help. For me, it’s taking that heavy burden off these littles so that they can focus on their education and not have to bear the weight of the world. Because when you’re hungry and you are not clothed properly, your focus on education comes secondary to your immediate essential needs. Being able to put a smile on a kid’s face and lifting that heavy burden of not getting lunch or not having a new pair of shoes, we’re evening the playing field for these kiddos who may be less fortunate.” This is the first time America First has given shoes to students at the stadium. Typically, administrators at schools and school districts identify who needs shoes and they deliver pairs gift-wrapped. “This year, we will be delivering shoes to 41 different schools in five states this year, totaling 3,200 pairs of shoes,” she said, adding shoes will be delivered to students in Jordan and Granite school districts. Principal Colleen Smith said America First reached out to the community school facilitator Jenna Landward after learning that 70% of the students at Copperview are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Currently, through an application process, all students receive meals at no cost. Landward said the opportunity was offered three weeks before the Dec. 7 visit, with enough time to get parent permission slips and size students’ feet. “The kids were really excited about the opportunity to visit the stadium and getting new shoes; that’s always exciting for them,” she said. First grade teacher Shelby Stanger said this was her students’ first field trip this year.
MidvaleJournal.com
“They started off being excited, as it’s the first time they’ve ridden the school bus,” she said. “Then, for many of them, it’s the first time being here at the stadium, on the field, seeing the players, the mascots, Santa and now, getting the shoes. Their excitement keeps building. It’s amazing; they’re giving us such a great gift of an experience and shoes they can take home. They’ll remember this forever. All the kids love soccer. They play in at recess every day, so this is just incredible.” Many of her students checked out their favorite players’ lockers and admired the MLS trophy RSL won in 2009. They learned how the pitch is taken care of, and a few kids identified former goalkeeper Nick Rimando handing out shoes after seeing his picture on the wall. “I love being a partner with America First to be able to bring these kids shoes right here at the stadium,” he said. “They’re thrilled to see Santa Claus, and when they hear him say they’re getting a brand-new pair of shoes, there’s excitement in their eyes and joy on their faces. To be a part of that with America First, Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals, it’s really special during this season of giving.” Utah Royals forward Michele Vasconcelos, who grew up playing soccer while attending Sandy schools, including winning three state titles before graduating from Alta High, said the day brought her joy. “They’re really excited about seeing the different colors of the shoes, telling me they talked to Santa and how big the stadium is,” she said. “They’re so grateful. One kid told me, ‘These are the best shoes ever.’ Another kid said, ‘This is the best day of my life.’ It’s fun to see how excited they are about simple things.” l
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Duty and service: Hillcrest’s first professional athlete saved lives in Vietnam, became Jordan’s legacy coach By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t wasn’t the scripted storybook ending for a local Midvale boy who grew up shooting hoops in his driveway with his two older brothers and went on to become Hillcrest High’s first professional athlete. But it turned out “all right” for the state basketball champion both as a player and as a coach who later received awards for saving lives in Vietnam. Hal Hale, who still lives in his childhood home, grew up the fourth of five children on a farm with cows, horses, pigs and chickens. With friends, he and his two older brothers played basketball, shooting on a backboard and rim mounted to the side of the garage. “My brother Gary—he’s nine years older and was an All-American basketball player at the University of Utah— he went back east to a tournament and played on a regulation basketball standard where you could go underneath it,” Hale said. “He got the instructions, and we ended up building that when I was about 12, so we didn’t bang into the garage anymore. We had the only real standard around, so a lot of people came to play, and we became really good ballplayers through some competitive games.” His first organized team experience was for Midvale Junior High, and they’d play other schools in the area — Murray, Union, Mount Jordan and Bingham junior highs. “I could handle the ball, so I played point most of my life,” Hale said. Hale played under Art Hughes at Jordan High his first two years of high school. “My brother Cleve was Jordan’s student body president when I was a junior there. We had a good team,” he said about his teammates, Cleve and another who were All State and several others who played at college. “There were 16 teams in the tournament and West was favored to win. We met them in the finals and beat them fairly easily. Our only loss that season was to Highland in the preseason. We met Highland in the semifinals and blew them out. We had a big celebration afterward, and they awarded the trophy to our coaches.” Then, came the big blow that Jordan High’s student body would be divided with the new Midvale school, his team split in half. Hughes also went to Hillcrest; the Huskies floor is named after him. The point guard became Hillcrest’s first student body president in 1962–63, running a campaign “Be a Pal, vote for Hal.” Mickey Dowd ran against him. “He was not only being the basketball star but a genuinely nice guy who beat me to be student body president,” said Dowd, who ended up being the vice president. Hale remembers there were four juniors on the state championship team; two stayed at Jordan and two went to Hillcrest, but the other player ended up not playing for the Huskies. “In the playoffs, we ended up losing to Bountiful by one point,” Hale said. “Jordan ended up beating Bountiful for the state championship. We were all coached by Art; he was a great coach. He could get the most out of his players; he was a real good motivator.” During the playoffs, Utah State University’s head basketball coach LaDell Anderson attended nearly every game and “showed the most interest in me. He was the assistant coach at the U of U when my older brother was there, and Gary really liked him,” Hale said. “I had a scholarship to go to any of the Utah schools and Jack Gardner (U of U’s coach) thought I’d go there, but LaDell was the main rea-
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Former Hillcrest High basketball star Hal Hale still can swish a ball on his Midvale childhood home court. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
son I went to USU.” After that one Hillcrest season, Hale never played on his homecourt again — although he did see it before the old gymnasium was torn down in April 2020 as part of the school’s rebuild. As a USU senior, his team was ranked “fourth or fifth in the nation; we were a good team.” Hale was named the most valuable player. After the season, he received a letter in the mail: the American Basketball Association drafted him to play for the Houston Mavericks. “I didn’t know I was going to be drafted,” Hale said. “There wasn’t any huge draft party back them, just a letter. If I didn’t go to Houston, then I might have stayed on as fifth-year athlete, so I could have played baseball all four years, and the football coach wanted me to play defensive safety. But I decided to go to Houston and get my teaching certificate, so I did that and graduated in physical education and recreation.” It was never Hale’s dream to play professionally, but he embraced it. “Playing pro was exciting,” he said. “When I played, it was because I had a passion for the game. There wasn’t any fame or fortune. We had a two-hour practice in the morning and six hours later, we’d go two hours again. To me, it was invigorating and fun. I thought it is fantastic to do something I really loved to do, to stay in great shape and to get paid for it.” Hale’s salary that year was $10,000 with a signing bonus of $2,000. “When we made the playoffs, we got another $500, and they had already talked to me about the next year about giving me this big pay increase,” he said. “I was thinking I would play a lot better because that season, I had an injury, a hip pointer.” Even with his injury, he was the sixth-best three-point shooter in the league. Hale didn’t return to the ABA. He was drafted to serve in Vietnam. His pay was cut to $90 per month, with an additional $50 for combat pay. His two older brothers also were serving. “I felt strong about our country and the constitution, but I didn’t want to be part of this,” Hale said. “I had a
Former Hillcrest and Jordan High basketball point guard Hal Hale went on to play for the ABA Houston Mavericks. (Photo courtesy of Hal Hale.)
doctor friend who didn’t believe in the Vietnam War, and he said he would cut my knee so I wouldn’t have had to go. I could have stayed and played pro basketball, but I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d do that. A lot of people were going to Canada they were trying to get out of this, and I couldn’t do that. LaDell said he could get me to play basketball for the U.S. Special Forces in Europe as my duty, but when he called, they couldn’t accept me because I played pro, and that was against the rules.” Hale was in Vietnam 13 months and 18 days. He served as a medic, having taken lot of anatomy and physiology at USU, and received training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. His first three weeks in the 101st Airborne were quiet. Then came a battle in the A Sau Valley. “We were in the jungle, and we were getting hit every day,” Hale, who was awarded a Bronze star, said. “They were getting rockets coming in. You could hear a highpitched sound, and they come in from about 5, 6 miles away, and it was a ping sound. You could actually hear ‘ping, ping, ping,’ and you knew you had to find some cover before these big rockets would come in and blast away. Most of the time, it happened in the daytime when we were moving around and didn’t have any protection. We had 84 of us in our battery, and I had to treat a little over half of them. Four people were killed. Other times, we were being hit by the enemy, but that was the worst one as far as loss of life and most casualties that I had to treated at one time.” The attacks also were at night. “Some of those rockets went through the bunkers,” he said. “We had a guy hit in the throat, and it was really bad. I was trying to set up an IV, and some guy came crawling for help. I saw he was shot in the leg, but I told him to stick his
Midvale City Journal
hand in the other guy’s throat to block the stop the bleeding. Growing up, I had seen cows’ blood spurt out, but never this. It was a hose coming out, so I knew I had to stop that immediately. I was able to set up the IV and then a helicopter took him, and I was able to treat the other guy with the leg injury that wasn’t as severe.” Hale studied the medical manual the military provided him. “Every opportunity, I had my nose in the book, making sure that I knew what to do to be ready for different situations that could possibly happen,” he said. “I also studied what to do if you got malaria, dengue fever and all sorts of types of fungus infections. Sometimes, I just had to be creative ,doing my best under fire, in the rain, without the supplies that were needed and having just 10 weeks of training. They call me Doc; they trusted me.” At times, Hale had a comrade watching out for him as he provided care, but “there were times we were taking fire and I had to stop treating people to help save myself and fire my M16 back.” At times, Hale went outside the perimeter to treat his fellow soldiers. One of those times, about six months into his Vietnam stint, he returned from treating others and went to see his captain. “He saw blood coming down on my arm,” Hale said. “I didn’t even realize it at the time. I had been hit by shrapnel. The side of my face and my ear, I had had some little pecks
where it had hit.” Hale treated himself. His Purple Heart and Bronze Star with “V” device and other honors that was bestowed upon him aren’t on display. “When you’re treating people that lost their arm or whatever, this didn’t seem to be significant,” he said. Right before he was to head home, Hale was treating comrades who had fought on Hamburger Hill. “Supposedly everything had been taken care of, but as we were getting ready to go up there, fire started coming from Hamburger Hill,” he said. “So, our mission was canceled. The next day the helicopter picked me up, and I was the ‘freedom bird,’ heading home. I had mixed emotions, because I was taking care of people and I got so close to them. I was happy I was leaving, but I felt I needed to be there to help them. Mostly, it was such a relief because every time I heard somebody scream out ‘medic,’ or ‘doc,’ it was a burst of adrenaline. It was such a relief to sit on that plane, not hearing that scream because every time I’d hear that, I knew it was something real serious. Sometimes, I heard that person made it after treating him and then other times, I never heard it he made it or not. The ones that had passed on, we knew, and they had body bags. What helped me it was probably going through college and playing some basketball and having the knowledge I have in the gospel helped me stay centered.” He planned to return to basketball, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“I had little blisters down in the bronchial tubes, and when I tried to exert myself, it just burned,” he said. “I also had broken my wrist four times and had the injuries from the shrapnel. So, I used the GI Bill and got my master’s degree in health science at Utah State.” He ended up teaching at Jordan High and served as the head basketball coach for 29 years and won the state title in 1984. He was also the head baseball coach at Jordan for two years, the head boys tennis coach for 25 years and the head girls tennis coach for 31 years. He was named as Utah’s boys basketball coach of the year and the National Federation of High School coaches’ boys tennis coach of the year. “I’d shoot around with some of my Jordan players,” he said. “When I was 40, I could still dunk.” While teaching, the nephew of the Hale Centre Theatre founder took care of his mother, who lived to be 100. She was there to see him be recognized on the Wall of Honor at Jordan High and at their centennial celebration. He is featured in “Pictures Past: A Centennial Celebration of Utah State University” and in the Gallery of Honor at the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. “I have a lot of trophies and medals somewhere in the basement,” he said. “But it’s the friends and teammates I’ve made in school and sports and in church and the service that have carried me.” And he still grins when he swishes the ball on his childhood driveway. l
Canyons, other districts settle Title IX lawsuit, aim to promote equality in sports By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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ix years after filing a discrimination lawsuit for not providing sanctioned girls tackle football teams in Utah high schools, the three named school districts—Canyons, Jordan and Granite—reached a settlement. Brought about by former football standout Sam Gordon and five other female players who lived within those districts’ boundaries, the settlement reached this past fall will hopefully result in increased opportunities for girls in high school athletics, said Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood. “Basically, it spelled out some things that we need to do better as school districts in terms of honoring Title IX,” he said. “One of the agreements in the settlement is we will be more intentional in promoting girls high school sports beginning as early as elementary schools and in middle schools.” That is one of Canyons District’s focuses in 2024. “We have assigned all the high school [athletic directors] to help promote Title IX at their elementary and middle schools and in addition, each middle school now has a middle school administrator assigned to be a Title IX specialist,” Sherwood said. “We’re in the process of creating more intentional recruitment in spring to the middle schools specifically talking about girls sports. We’ll be doing promotional posters and being more proactive in promoting girls high school athletics. Before, we would go to the schools and say: ‘Hey, get involved in high school. We have lots to offer. We have sports, choir, band, dance and all the activities,’ but this is very specific to promoting girls sports in middle schools and even elementary to narrow the participation gap.” Sherwood, who was named as the director of high schools, also is the Title IX compliance athletic officer. He said as part of continuing to seek student input, Canyons District will survey female students to determine interest level in female sports and activities in future years. Sports, such as girls tackle football, may apply to become a student-led club sport within the district and can advertise on campuses and request to use school facilities.
MidvaleJournal.com
Six years after filing a discrimination lawsuit, Canyons and two other school districts settled this fall, promising an increase in promoting girls high school sports. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
While Title IX doesn’t specifically say athletics, it’s commonly known in the sports world as a way to equalize opportunity for girls and women. “There is a three-prong test (practiced by the National Federation of State High School Associations) that’s been accepted by the Office of Civil Rights to determine Title IX compliance in schools,” he said. “One of the three prongs is proportionality in funding, facilities and participation, meaning that the ratio of female participation is close to the ratio of female enrollment. So, for example, Jordan High has 50:50 enrollment (of males and females), and they have 50:50 participation. Our other four comprehensive high schools are all within 6% in variability between participation and enrollment.” Sherwood added that in late January, he will present those findings within athletics to the Canyons Board of Education in compliance with new state code 53G-6-1101 that
states each district must report it annually and have an action plan to address discrepancies greater than 10 percent. However, Sherwood isn’t just reporting the numbers. The other parts of the three-prong test are to show the district is striving to increasing opportunities for female athletes and accommodating interest. “I’m aware that there’s a 6% gap, and even if I never achieve complete equality, what am I doing to close the gap?” he said. “How could we support and expand opportunities for females specifically? In terms of expansion, [Utah High School Activities Association] recently added lacrosse, but again, that’s for both boys and girls. Cheer is much more participated in by girls than by boy,s and that was the last dominant girl sport sanctioned; however, in spring 2024, boys volleyball will be sanctioned, so it put us back in achieving participation equality. One thing we’ve learned from all this is that UHSAA does not receive any federal funding, so they are not responsible for being compliant in the local school districts. It’s the districts that need to follow the tenants of Title IX, to find that balance and to ensure we’re supporting growth in female sports.” Sherwood said the UHSAA, which also was part of the lawsuit, was not included in the settlement. In interest of equality, Sherwood reviews budget, gear and facilities. “There’s been a light shined on equity of facilities,” he said. “Canyons School District has been very intentional through its facilities’ improvements to ensure there is equality in our facilities, uniforms, equipment, gear and financial commitment uses of gyms and other rooms. We’ve had a lot of progress in just the past few years in terms of how we approach girls and boys athletics. As far as the spirit of Title IX and Canyons District, by our current levels of participation, facilities’ compliance, and efforts to expand female participation, we’re doing a pretty good job.” l
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From novice to captain: Unlocking her potential on the court through hard work, grit, leadership By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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our years ago, 5-foot-4-inch Brooklyn Glover stepped onto the hardwood having never played organized ball before. Now, she’s a captain of Hillcrest High girls basketball team nearing the end of her high-school career. Glover and other seniors, including co-captain 5-foot-10-inch Aaisa Julia, whom she has played alongside all four years, will be honored at their last home game Feb. 8 versus Tooele High. Their last regular-season game is Feb. 13 at Murray High. “I love my teammates and know at the end of the season, I’m going to be proud of us,” said Glover, who likely will hang up her competitive basketball career and, with her seal of biliteracy in ASL, will head to BYU– Idaho next year. “I remember I wasn’t even going to try out my freshman year; I saw the posters and fliers around, but it was one of my friends who said, ‘We should try out,’ so we did. It’s kind of funny because she didn’t come back after that year, but I stuck with it.” Glover, who leads the team with 38% from the three-point line, said she had to work for that—as well as every skill, as she didn’t even play Jr. Jazz or recreationally beforehand. “I played with my brother, who was on the boys team then, and with my dad in the driveway,” she said. “I would rarely make a lay-up. I had so much anxiety my freshman year that I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll get a year of high school in and then try out.’ I wanted to get involved in high school, and basketball seemed like a good shot. But I didn’t even think about it initially.” At practices, her teammates would explain the drills she and other newcomers didn’t know. “It was hard when we did drills with everyone because I got so scared that I’d mess up,” Glover said. “Some of the varsity girls who were good players and had played for years likely got annoyed because I was still figuring out the drills and didn’t have that confidence.” Glover played some and sat on the bench some in those early freshman-sophomore team games. “My first game I ever played, I made a two-pointer and I airballed a three,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Maybe the three isn’t my shot.’” After team practices were over, Glover didn’t stop. “I’d practice at my house,” she said. “My dad would push me. I remember I tried so hard, but I’d still get it wrong. Then at one point, I got it right. You just get better with practice. In [team] practice when we’d split up to do drills and I played with girls of my ability or just a little better, I began to feel more comfortable. That helped a lot. It was
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Hillcrest High post Aasia Julia looks to pass when the defense collapses on her. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest High guard Brooklyn Glover starts a play against Duchesne High in December. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)
later in the season, I made a three from the corner, and realized I can shoot.” Even so, Glover knew she had work ahead for herself. She set goals to handle the ball better, to practice her shots and to gain confidence—and she has continued to work on those every year. After team practice, she’s known to practice free throws on her own, which has helped her to lead the team at 80% from the charity stripe. Her family still practices with her at home, and they are regulars on game days in the bleachers, cheering for her and the Huskies. “My dad has never missed a game (except for during COVID when no fans were allowed); my mom is there almost every time,” she said. “I learned nothing is given to you; you still need to work hard. Some games I would play a lot, and there’d be some days where I would not play at all. I knew I needed to work harder if I wanted to play. I knew I needed to have the dedication and work hard, not just have the desire.” The transition from freshman-sophomore team to JV and varsity was smoother for Glover since her freshman-sophomore coach Alyssa Nielsen had stepped into her first full year as head coach. Throughout the past decade, Hillcrest High girls basketball has had several coaching staff changes. Nielsen now is in her fourth year coaching in the Husky program. “Alyssa cares for me and tries to help me,” Glover said. “She makes sure she has connections with all the girls and not just her varsity team.” With hard work and support, Glover’s
confidence grew and when the Huskies needed a three, often they’d look to her. “It wasn’t until my junior year that I began to truly feel more confident on the court,” she said. It showed as Glover was a regular varsity player who would come off the bench her junior year. “My brother stopped playing and started running track and cross country, but he still helps me, and I’ve learned from him,” she said. “Basketball is something he always has done, but he’s also an amazing runner.” What has kept Glover going despite “our rough start” (0-10 this season) is her teammates. “After my freshman year, I came back because I had fun and made a lot of friends, like Aasia,” Glover said. “We’ve been friends here since day one. So having those connections with other girls in school that I wouldn’t normally have is important and makes the difference.” Remembering her anxiety freshman year, Glover added team inclusion to her goal checklist this year. “This year is different as a senior and captain,” she said. “I think more about other teammates and making sure they feel involved. Before, I always thought about myself, wanting to feel included and wanting to have a good experience. Now I want other people to feel included and have good experiences, not just myself.” She involves others by giving them the opportunity to lead warm-up stretches and encourages doing activities with each other. “At practice, I may shoot with other
people, not just my close friend group, but with some younger players,” Glover said, adding that she recently went rollerblading with a teammate. “We often make those connections as a team, but it’s also good to have those one-on-one interactions.” Further helping to unify the team was playing three teams at a recent tournament in St. George. In January and February, the Huskies will be fully engaged in battling their new region—Class 4A’s Region 10. “This year, we have a lot of new faces,” Glover said. “I think there’s only seven people from last year who tried out. It feels like a fresh start. Even though we haven’t won any games, we all get along well and have fun together.” The tournament also helped Glover and Julia and the team’s third captain, junior center Asinate Mafuahingano, who leads the Huskies mid-season in points, rebounds and steals per game, come together to lead the team. “I’m seeing improvement, and our team chemistry has gotten better,” Glover said. “Yesterday, we had some alumni come practice with us, and that helps us to compete. They’re not giving us anything; we have to work for it, and that’s helping us get ready to play against good players from other schools.” Hillcrest High Athletic Director Scott Carrell said during the holiday break a couple Huskies were gone, leaving the team on a short roster, so he was looking to games in 2024 for the Huskies’ first win of the season. “To be honest, if we could have made better passes against Stansbury, I think that could have been a closer game,” he said. “I think between Park City and Tooele, we got some good chances right there.” Glover, too, is looking forward to the second half of the season. “We have our heads up,” she said. “We’ve learned that nothing comes easy and that we need to work for everything. We all still want to win.” l
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February 2024 | Page 21
Midvale Middle book club empowers students to make connections through discussion By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
E
very Wednesday, every lunch period, Midvale Middle students come to the library to discuss the book they’re reading that month. They may talk about characters and their interactions, the writing, the plot or how it ties into their own lives. One particular day, they talked about the Wednesday Book Club itself. One student voiced liking being able to have discussions about books and then, being able to keep the books afterward. Some said that they’ve appreciated reading different genres of books, including books they normally wouldn’t read. Someone else appreciated the good writing in the books. One student said she appreciated it as a break from homework and “reading simply for the joy of it.” Teacher Librarian/Media Specialist Judy Rembacz has overseen Midvale Middle’s Wednesday Book Club the past four years. “I select different genres; this year, I stayed with some classics I thought they’d enjoy,” she said. “Last year, there were more popular books, but I’m finding students are really enjoying these.” Students have read novels such as “Where the Red Fern Grows” and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” and were planning to read “Call of the Wild” and “The Hobbit” in the winter months. “The Princess Bride” and “The Hound of Baskervilles” were among their spring reads. “We started with ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ with 15 students, and most of them loved it after thinking they wouldn’t,” Rembacz said. “They all were bawling and connecting to this story even though there’s a generational gap between the book and the students who are reading it. That’s what is so great about the classics; we all can connect through the protagonist or the character in the book. We all still have the same issues
Midvale Middle School students circle around at lunchtime each week for book club discussions. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
as they did in the book. We still have that emotional connection. It’s all about relationships. In ‘Where the Red Fern Grows,’ it’s about the relationship with your dog and about coping as a person and these kids get that. It’s that foundation we are teaching our kids about coping with life and how to handle whatever’s going on in their life.” Rembacz said the initial group told their friends about it, and the next month, the book club doubled in size. She gave each student their own copy of October’s book, her all-time coming of age favorite, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” “They get to take the book home with them to keep and to help build their own library,” she said. “We do that every month.” They also explore different cultures in the books. For example, in November, they
read “The Light in the Forest.” “The kids have loved this one,” Rembacz said. “It teaches about racism and cultures, and acceptance and tolerance between other cultures. These kids picked up on that; I never said anything. They came back to book club and said, ‘The author truly shows the difference between each culture and acceptance of them.’” She has students of different cultures participate in book club, sharing different viewpoints. Some are English language learners, and they are welcome to belong to the group and often, soak up the English language. Sometimes, Rembacz acknowledges that a student hasn’t read the entire book or may not like it. “I ask for a fair try of the book, like
50 pages before abandoning the book,” she said. “They have that freedom; nobody is being forced to read it, but I ask them to tell us why you don’t like it.” Discussions aren’t preplanned; students direct the conversation. “Sometimes when we meet, we may not get to discussing all the book,” she said. “We’ll be making a connection between what they’re reading and something else going on in life, and that’s OK too. What I love is the difference between this and being in a classroom setting. Often with curriculum, we teach the kids what they have to say and what’s different is this book club is allowing them to lead it themselves through conversation. It’s not me coaching them or saying, ‘Hey, you need to say this about this book.’ Instead, they’re discussing it on their own and making those connections and making inquiries into the book and its meaning. Through this, they’re all building relationships and connecting with each other, and sometimes that wouldn’t have happened outside this group. Making connections is really what this book club is about; it’s not just about reading the book. It’s about coming together and connecting with one another and creating human kindness with each other.” Rembacz said she steers away from having a “checklist” with the book club or knowing the points to write a report. “I want them to read the story, understand it and discuss it,” she said. “I want them to enjoy it and to have fun. That’s something I love about our library. I have the freedom to offer these kids a place where they can find themselves whether it’s in a book or hanging out with friends playing in our Makerspace here. They can have a break, even if it’s a few minutes, to have a refuge from everything else going on in their world.” l
New canal bridge coming to 8000 South
T
he bridge over the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal at approximately 80 East and 8000 South is getting a makeover. The Midvale City Council unanimously approved a resolution in January that sees the city enter an agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation to reconstruct the bridge. Work is estimated to begin this fall after design work is completed this spring and a contractor is selected. “Obviously canal companies don’t want you working around it when there’s water in the canals so work will probably begin after October to mid-October timeframe,” City Engineer Keith Ludwig told the council.
As part of the UDOT’s Bridge Formula Program, money is provided to rehabilitate or replace bridges in poor condition and not already part of the federal aid system. The bridge will be done in a package with four bridges in Sandy and one in Draper. UDOT will administer design and construction contracts with city officials providing input in all phases of the process. Financially, $203,100 from city coffers, is a required 6.77% match. l
The canal bridge near 80 East and 8000 South will be reconstructed. (City Journals)
Page 22 | February 2024
Midvale City Journal
Coming up for air
F
or a state run by legislators who sneer at tobacco products, I find it confusing they don’t give a flying cigar about our state’s dangerous air quality. GOP legislators balk at green energy initiatives like a vampire facing the sunrise and a head of garlic. A 2023 American Lung Association report said Salt Lake ranks among the nation’s most polluted cities for ozone and short-term particle pollution. I don’t know what those words mean, but it doesn’t sound good. Lawmakers say Salt Lake has always dealt with inversions, we just have to work around a valley filled with pollution. That’s like saying the kitchen’s always been filled with rotting banana peels, crushed egg shells, open yogurt containers veiled in mold, and a greasy chicken carcass. We just have to work around it. Studies show polluted air is a bigger threat to our health than alcohol or tobacco. Maybe not breathing polluted air should be included in the Word of Wisdom next to wine (the devil’s fancy beverage) and tea (the witch’s drink). Then, perhaps, our lawmakers will pay attention. It’s true the valley’s design creates Utah’s crappy air quality. Temperature inversions trap cold air under a layer of warm air, like putting a lid on a pot of soup. Only this soup is filled with vehicle pollution, smoke from wood burning stoves, industrial emis-
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sions, and glitter from gender reveal parties. Reducing the number of cars using fossil fuels is a good way to cut down on emissions but “leaders” like illustrious Sen. Mike Lee often fight against renewable fuel programs. And don’t talk about closing coalfired power plants. Republican lawmakers embrace coal energy like it was brought down from Mount Sinai. While other states are running away from coal as fast as humanly possible, Utah lawmakers delay closing coal power plants that leave behind tons of coal ash, a lovely bouquet of radioactive waste, arsenic and old lace. Utah has around a dozen coal ash dump sites and you can bet your sooty lungs each site contributes to our bad air quality. Oh, don’t our legislators wish it was still the 1970s, when coal was king, and you could use your wood stove all day (even in the summer) and no one was trying to take your gas-operated vehicle?
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February 2024 | Page 23